Chapter 15: First Mission pt.2

After our team was briefed, we set out for the Hero Organization headquarters. The building loomed before us, a towering monolith of steel and glass. Its cold, imposing presence mirrored the unease swirling in my chest. Somewhere inside was my father, Itzuki Tsukumo—the man who had once been the center of my world, only to cast me aside when he decided my mother and I no longer fit his picture-perfect life.

I hadn't seen him since that day. I hadn't heard from him. A part of me had always wondered if he ever thought about us, but that thought was quickly extinguished by the anger and pain he left behind. I wasn't ready to face him now, not like this.

"Heesung," I said, pulling him aside as the rest of the team prepared to enter. "Can you talk to him? I… I just can't."

Heesung studied me for a moment, his gaze softening. He didn't say anything, just gave a small nod.

We entered the building, our masks firmly in place. Each of us wore the black, eye-matching uniforms that marked us as Elites. My heart pounded as we were escorted to Itzuki's office. When the doors opened, I felt my breath hitch.

There he was.

My father sat behind an ornate desk, his posture rigid, his expression unreadable. His sharp eyes scanned each of us, lingering on Heesung. For a moment, something flickered across his face—recognition?

As Heesung stepped forward, Itzuki rose from his chair. Without hesitation, he walked around the desk and embraced him.

"It's been too long," he said quietly, his voice heavy with something I couldn't quite place. "How are you doing, son?"

Heesung stood stiffly, his hands at his sides, not returning the gesture. "I'm not here for a family reunion," he said coldly. "I'm here to ask questions."

The warmth drained from Itzuki's face as he stepped back. He returned to his seat, his expression hardening. "Go on, then. I don't have all day."

Heesung didn't miss a beat. "We've received intelligence about a faction of heroes plotting to destroy the Elites. Are you aware of any group like this operating within your organization?"

Itzuki frowned, his fingers drumming against the desk. "I've heard whispers of discontent, but nothing concrete. There are those who resent the Elites, yes. It's no secret that some heroes think we've overstepped, that we've taken what should belong to them. However, I doubt all of them would go as far as to plot something so drastic."

"Do you have names?"

He listed several individuals, most of whom matched the suspect list we'd already been given. "I can't promise they're involved, but they've been vocal in their dislike for your kind."

We thanked him for his time and left. My hands trembled as we walked out of the building. Seeing him again, even from a distance, had dredged up memories I'd worked so hard to suppress. Memories of him tucking me in at night, of his laugh, of how safe I used to feel when he was around. It made my chest ache in a way I hadn't expected.

---

The rest of the day was spent tracking down the suspects Itzuki had mentioned. Each interrogation was tense, our questions sharp and pointed, but no one cracked. Either they were innocent, or they were exceptionally skilled at covering their tracks.

By the time we returned to Elite headquarters, frustration weighed heavily on all of us. Sora was waiting in his office, his sharp gaze sweeping over each of us as we entered.

"What did you find?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with authority.

I stepped forward, my exhaustion evident in my voice. "Nothing. We questioned everyone, but no one seemed connected to this. Either the information was wrong, or they're covering for each other."

Sora nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "Fortunately, my spy uncovered more. Two members of this faction have been identified. One is indeed on the suspect list you investigated, but the other is an underground hero operating off the grid. Their location is still unknown, but we're working on it."

The news was a small victory, but it did little to ease my frustration. We left the office, each of us weighed down by the day's events.

---

That night, sleep eluded me. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. Between the mission, the growing tension, and seeing my father again, it felt like my thoughts were spinning out of control.

Eventually, I gave up and made my way to my secret place. The Elite headquarters was perched near a cliff overlooking a vast, shimmering lake. During my time as a Low Elite, I'd often come here to clear my head. The cool breeze, the gentle sound of the water—it always brought me a sense of peace.

I sat at the edge of the cliff, hugging my knees to my chest, and stared out at the moonlit water. The quiet was comforting, but I couldn't shake the heaviness in my chest.

The sound of footsteps behind me made me turn. I wasn't surprised to see Kaito approaching.

"Couldn't sleep either?" he asked, his voice soft as he sat down beside me.

"Something like that," I replied, looking back at the lake.

For a while, we just sat there in silence. It was… nice.

"You did well today," he said suddenly.

I glanced at him, confused. "What do you mean? We didn't find anything."

"That's not your fault," he said, meeting my gaze. "You pushed through, even with everything going on. That takes strength."

His words caught me off guard. My cheeks grew warm, and I quickly looked away. "Thanks, I guess."

He chuckled softly. "I mean it, Akari. You're stronger than you think."

I risked a glance at him, finding his expression sincere. "You're not so bad yourself," I said, trying to keep my tone light.

He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "I'll take that as a compliment."

We stayed there for a while longer, talking about everything and nothing. For the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe again.