Part Way

My surroundings darken.

Their eyes are wide open because of the shock.

Even Ernesta.

Traitor? Who can be the traitor? Even I can't answer that.

One of the humans, my team, my friends is a traitor to humanity.

A human that helps the Outsider who's trying to eliminate humans is unimaginable.

But, why?

Who's even the traitor in the first place?

Ernesta is one of the orphans in the Orphanage of Novus. She always takes care of orphans when she's still a student. She's kinda annoying but she's kind. She's so clingy especially to Relaine that she never goes somewhere else without someone with her. I don't think she has a connection to the Outsiders at all.

Same With Lulu who's been with us almost of her life. She lost her parents at a very young age. She rarely went outside except if she had a mission. She had never been alone outside.

Rick is from the family of the Gunner who's known for making guns and other weapons. His family is well known and famous for his place. There's no way that an Outsider could meet him.

Darius Gladiolus is from a wealthy family. They're the biggest producers of agricultural products in this country. With peaceful and healthy life, I don't think he will betray humanity.

Greg Griffin's village is known for having great samurai's that kill many Outsiders, their place is one of the safest from Outsiders. His father trains him even when he's still a kid to protect himself from Outsiders.

Vinna Rosefield is the daughter of the king of Moirai. Vinna is well protected and has never been outside of Moirai until she joined us.

Hiro's parents died when he's still an infant. His possibility of being a traitor is low since he's the target of the Outsiders.

As for Barbara, I thought she's the traitor but I disregard that idea. After all, if she's the traitor, our enemy should be aware of the traps they're making.

So, who's the traitor? Is there only one? What if it's two or more of them.

Why there's a human helping the Outsiders? They those Outsiders hostage one of his/her parents?

Is there a traitor after all? Or were just dancing around the palms of that Outsider.

"Lisa!"

"Ah? Yes?"

"About those things..."

"Don't think about it. This is just my opinion."

"Yeah, but I think you're the one who's deeply thinking about that. You're sweating so much."

"What?"

I can feel my face. It's so wet.

"Don't worry, I'm okay. You can now dismiss."

*Maybe I shouldn't think about it seriously. No, maybe I should start investigating.*

"Wait!", I stop them.

"What is it, Lisa?"

"If there's really a traitor on one of us. Please tell us right now, I can guarantee you're safety. You can tell me directly. Please show yourself soon, before I change my mind."

I look at their eyes one by one.

I don't see anyone could be a traitor after all.

"Come on Lisa, there's no way that there's a traitor. After all, all of us are friends."

Even though she said that I can see in her eyes the sadness.

She's convincing herself that there's no traitor.

*Maybe I should call Relaine after this.*

________________________________________________________________________________________

After that meeting, there's not a single noise heard from us.

Even Ernesta who's always loud becomes silent.

*A traitor huh.*

A word that makes us think.

Why does a human help the Outsiders?

Why did that person betray us?

What is that person even thinking in the first place?

Does that person even think about what will happen to humans? to his/her friends? to his/her family?

Just why?

Looking at Hiro's face.

I can feel the dark aura around him.

Is he mad? sad?

I don't know.

I want to protect him and the others from our enemies.

"Hey, Hiro."

"Yeah?", he said with a very low voice.

"Commander said it was just her opinion. Let's not think about it."

"Yeah."

I wonder, who's the traitor is.

________________________________________________________________________________________

"I can't sleep."

The same day at night.

I keep thinking.

*Why did I even say that.*

I wish I didn't say those things to them.

They might be the same as me whose still awake at this time.

I wanted to check Ernesta in her room.

If Relaine has here, she going to sleep with her for sure.

Even though with her energetic vibes, she's still a cry baby.

I have already looked at the files containing the identities of my team so many times.

I don't see any clue that leads to the traitor.

"Maybe there's no traitor after all."

*Or maybe, that person is good at hiding. After all, one of the Outsiders is really smart.*

"Haa..."

*I'm going to sleep. I wonder, what will happen tomorrow.*

____________________________________________________

Early in the morning, I was in my office already when someone approached the door.

"Go in.", I said before that person knock.

That person is Hiro.

He looks like he didn't get a good sleep last night.

I can see the eyes bags on his eyes.

He also looks tired.

I notice that he's not wearing his uniform.

"So, what do you want. Are you here because of what I said yesterday?"

"..."

"You're not telling me that you're the traitor right? After all, you're the target of those Outsiders."

With those looks, I wonder, what is he going to say to me.

"...I!"

________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hiro..."

Running towards the commander's office.

I'm searching for Hiro, I check on him to his room but he's not there.

His uniform is still there but his amulet is nowhere to be found.

When I search the commander's office.

The door is open. Commander is sitting on her chair. She's touching her forehead with her right hand.

"Commander."

"Hiro..."

"Yeah, where's Hiro."

"He...quit."

"Quit? What do you mean."

"He said he can't work with us if there's a traitor."

"What? Why! Why you didn't stop him."

"I can't, it's in the rules that if someone wanted to quit whatever his reason, we can't stop him."

"But why? Why did he give up?"

"I don't know."

"Is he going back to Moirai?"

"I'm not sure, he said he's going to find a way. I don't know what he means by that."

"I'm going to find him."

"He already left an hour ago."

"Hiro..."

Right now, I feel that I'm so weak.

I couldn't protect Hiro and I wasn't able to stop him.

Now, he's going to resolve things again on his own.

________________________________________________________________________________________

"What?! Zod is dead?!"

Inside the cave where we're hiding.

I shouted to Cerex because of what I heard.

"Yeah."

"But how?!"

"Zod underestimate that guy."

"Don't joke on me! How come Zod was defeated by a boy? With his ability, there's no way that boy land a hit on him!"

"You know, things are not about strength, speed, or ability you have. Most of the time, intelligence surpasses them all."

"But it was a surprise attack! That guy amulet is not for combat. His fighting skills wouldn't stand a chance against Zod!"

"You're right, the only thing I can think of is that that guy already plans everything in advance."

"What do you mean by that?"

"In the battle of two or more people, the person who has the great plan always wins."

"Shut up! I don't care about those things. The fact that Zod died because of your orders."

First, we almost died but now is different, one of us already eliminated.

"It's not my fault that he's been outsmarted by a human. But forget about him. If someone died, we have just to replace him."

"Replace him?"

"Yeah, let me introduce you to her."

"What?"

A woman walking towards me.

She has short hair.

Gray skinned just like me.

We're also the same ...eyes.

"You!"

I grab Cerex's neck and slam him to the wall.

"What? You're not impressed with our new comrade?"

"Why? Why?!"

"Master, is there something wrong?"

"Don't mind her, this is how we greet each other. Right?"

"You bastard! How could you!"

I'm so mad that I could kill him right now.

"What? You're getting mad because she's the same as you? A half-Outsider and half-human?"

__________________________________________________________________________________

After that day when Hiro left, the pain in my chest is fresh as when that happen.

"Vinna! Vinna!"

Ernesta shouting behind the door.

I stand up to the bed and open it.

"Hey!"

She smiles at me while raising a plastic bag.

"What is it?"

She walks inside my room without my consent.

She places the plastic bag on the table and removes what is inside one by one.

It contains some chocolates, drinks and other sweet food.

"Let's eat.", she said while presenting those.

"I'm not hungry."

"Come on! You haven't eaten since yesterday."

"I'm still not hungry."

"You're still worried about Hiro?"

I nodded to her.

"You know, Hiro is a smart guy. He will find a way to survive. Maybe he will come back someday. Let's wait for him. He must have some plan on his head."

"...."

"Also, you can cry on me you know."

After hearing those words, tears start to appear in my eyes.

Ernesta widely opens her arms.

I lean on her chest and Ernesta wrapped her arms around me.

That day, I cry and cry until I fell asleep.

___________________________________________________

The day after that, the commander call us to the meeting.

"You might already know that Hiro is no longer here."

She looks at us first before is continue.

"Hiro is a great member of A-1, I know most of you are unwell after hearing that his quitting. But that does not mean we're going to give up. There are still many problems and enemies we have to face."

I look at the face of my team.

They look unwell like me.

After all, after hearing about having a traitor on the team and Hiro quitting, of course, they become like that. It can't be helped.

"For now, there's a village that has been attacked by Outsider. I want you all to save many people as possible. Minimize damage and make sure all of the Outsiders there are dead."

""Yes!""

"Now, A-1. Dismiss!"

________________________________________________________________________________________

Sitting on the roots of the tree in the middle of the forest.

I was searching for someone.

"Haaa..."

I'm already tired.

Not just that, it's already started to rain.

Thankfully, I haven't met a single Outsider.

My body getting wet.

If I don't dry myself I'll get sick.

That would bring me to a tough situation.

While looking at the ground.

I notice that the rain stopped pouring and it gets darker for some reason.

When I look up I saw a woman holding an umbrella.

"Yow."

"You..."

"Nice to meet you again, kiddo."

It's the woman who absorbs the fire and just vanished without a trace.

"Need some shelter?"

She lends me another umbrella.

She starts walking and I follow her.

We walk for so long that I almost fainted.

Finally, we stop.

We're standing in front of a huge building.

The color of the building is mostly red with a little bit of blue, that which makes me think of it as a terrifying place.

I look at the person beside me.

She didn't break a sweat with our long journey.

She notice that I was looking at her.

She smiles at me and says.

"You look really tired. We just walk for a short time. You should build up some stamina."

"How come is only a short time of walking?"

"Hehe, come in."

I look again at the building.

I can't believe a huge building like this exists in the middle of the forest.

When we step in front of the door, it automatically opens.

We continue to walk until we reach a room.

When we enter, I saw other people there.

"Hey, tell me. Just who are you?", I asked.

She walks towards the people and faces me.

She both extended her arms to her side.

"Welcome, to the secret Headquarters."