The plan was simple: get in, get Azusa, get out.

Except nothing was ever simple when Nyx was involved.

Azusa, still bound in a straitjacket, grinned like she was having the time of her life. "Alright, alright, so what's the plan? Because I'd rather not be tased again."

"We walk out of here and pretend nothing is happening," Nyx deadpanned. "Simple."

"Nyx, that's the worst plan I've ever heard," Hifumi muttered. "There are literal armed guards."

"Then Mika and Hifumi can do the fighting!" Koharu chirped. "Because Nyx is banned from using her FAMS-V1, and Azusa has no gun."

Azusa tilted her head. "No gun? No fun."

Nyx crossed her arms. "Hey, I could fight."

"No. You're literally why we're in this mess," Mika said, eyes blank as she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her hair.

Nyx groaned but before she could retort, an alarm blared through the hospital. Red warning lights flashed, the sound of boots hitting the floor echoed down the hall. And standing at the entrance to the ward, arms crossed, eyes glowing with absolute irritation-was Reisa Uzawa.

A high-level guard.

A problem.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Nyx muttered under her breath.

Reisa stepped forward, cracking her knuckles, her gaze locking onto Mika first. "You."

Mika blinked. "Huh?"

"Of all the people I expected to see trying to break a high-level prisoner out of confinement, it had to be *you*." Her voice dripped with venom. "The one who led Trinity to its downfall. The one who let everything crumble under her watch. And on top of that, you're *still* putting your faith in *Nyx*?"

Mika stiffened. For once, she didn't have some airy, nonsensical response. The words struck deep, and even Koharu looked worried.

Reisa turned to the rest. "You trust her? After everything? After all the failures? She ruins everything she touches, and you still-"

Mika cut her off. "Seia and Nagisa trusted her. So I do, too."

The room fell silent.

Nyx sucked in a breath but didn't say anything. Koharu stepped forward, her hands clenched. "We're taking Azusa with us. She doesn't belong here."

Reisa's eyes darkened. "You think she belongs out there? After what she did? After what *all of you* did?"

Mika exhaled, stepping closer to Reisa, her voice softer now. "You lost people too, didn't you? We all did. We're just trying to make things right."

Reisa's fists trembled. "...This is stupid. This whole thing is stupid. You're all idiots."

Nyx smirked. "Yeah, well, welcome to our world."

For a long moment, Reisa stood there, breathing hard. Then she sighed and turned away, muttering under her breath.

"I didn't see anything. Get out before I change my mind."

Koharu blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Don't push your luck."

Azusa snickered. "Hah. Knew you had a soft spot."

Reisa shot her a glare so sharp that Azusa quickly shut up. The group wasted no time; they made their way down the hall, careful but quick. Hifumi whispered, "We actually made it?"

"Don't jinx it," Nyx muttered. "Just keep moving."

They slipped out of the building, stepping into the cold night air. The world outside felt vast, empty, and uncertain.

Azusa stretched as much as she could in her restraints. "Well, that was fun. Now what?"

Nyx exhaled, glancing up at the sky. "Now? Now we figure out how the hell we keep going."

None of them had an answer to that.

But at least, for now, they were free.

As they entered the building, the atmosphere was thick with unease.

"Sensei," Hifumi began cautiously, "we need to discuss-"

But Sensei cut her off sharply. "There's nothing to discuss. Nyx's actions have brought nothing but chaos. I won't allow this to continue."

Nyx stepped forward, her voice steady but tinged with regret. "I know I've made mistakes, but we're here to make things right."

Sensei's expression hardened. "Your idea of 'making things right' has cost too much already."

Without further warning, he gestured to the GSC guards. "Detain them."

The guards moved swiftly, restraining the group despite their protests.

In the dimly lit cell, they weren't alone. A figure sat in the corner, her presence both unsettling and intriguing.

Wakamo looked up, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Well, well, what do we have here? New cellmates?"

Koharu narrowed her eyes. "We're not here by choice."

Wakamo chuckled softly. "Few are. But perhaps our meeting is... fortuitous."

Nyx met Wakamo's gaze, sensing an opportunity. "You seem to know your way around here. Any chance you'd be interested in a mutual escape?"

Wakamo's eyes gleamed with interest. "An alliance with the infamous Nyx and her companions? How could I resist?"

As they began to formulate a plan, the weight of their predicament pressed upon them. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, a flicker of hope ignited-a chance to set things right and confront the shadows of their past.