"Mission Over Aika's Demand"

Kai and Hannah stood in the center of their bedroom, both freshly showered, their damp hair still clinging to their shoulders. Kai held the phone firmly in his hand, the line connected to Alexander Hoffman-Klein.

"We should head there now!" Hannah urged, her tone filled with a mix of panic and impatience. She reached out, grabbing Kai's arm as her concern deepened.

Kai looked down at her, his usual calm expression unwavering. He nodded slowly, his eyes softening for a brief moment, before he spoke into the phone. "We'll head there now," he said firmly, cutting off the line before Alexander could respond.

Without missing a beat, Kai reached for the key hanging near the door. As he grasped it, he felt Hannah's grip tighten on his arm. Together, they quickly exited the bedroom, moving through the hallway and down the stairs.

But just as they were about to step outside, a soft voice halted them.

"Brother! You said you'd take me to school…" Aika's voice was gentle, yet there was a trace of confusion in it.

Kai and Hannah froze, the tension between them palpable.

Hannah turned slowly to face Aika, a hint of unease creeping into her expression.

Kai swallowed hard, panic surging within him. He had completely forgotten. His eyes darted between Aika and Hannah. Aika stood before them, dressed in a neat German school uniform, her shoulder bag slung over one arm. Her cheeks were dusted with a faint blush, and her lips were painted red with lipstick, a small but noticeable touch of maturity that made her seem more grown up.

"Aika," Kai said softly, his voice carrying a note of regret. "I don't think I can do that today. We've got an urgent mission. I'll make it up to you next time, okay?" His words were gentle, but they didn't mask the weight of his guilt.

Aika's shoulders slumped, and her eyes fell to the ground. The disappointment was evident in her expression as she clutched the strap of her bag tightly, her face clouded with sadness.

Hannah watched quietly, her gaze flicking between Kai and Aika. The unease in the air was thick, but Hannah knew this was a side of Kai that no one else could see: his struggle to balance the unyielding demands of his duty with his care for those he loved.

Kai approached Aika, his movements slow, almost reluctant. He placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning in slightly, his voice lowering to a soft whisper. "Don't be mad at your brother, okay?" he said. "I'm just having a tough time right now."

Aika didn't respond. She kept her gaze averted, her lips pressed into a thin line, but her expression softened, a trace of understanding settling in, even if her disappointment lingered.

Kai stood there for a moment longer, his hand still resting on her shoulder, before he pulled away. He looked at Hannah, guilt written on his face. There was no easy way to juggle it all. But right now, there was no choice.

With a deep breath, he nodded at Hannah. "Let's go."

They exited the mansion, walking briskly down the cobblestone path toward their car. The early morning air was crisp, and the quiet of the estate surrounded them, yet neither Kai nor Hannah spoke much as they made their way to the vehicle.

Kai opened the car door first, sliding into the driver's seat, while Hannah followed closely behind him. He started the engine with a soft hum, and the car eased into motion. As they approached the gate, it opened automatically, allowing them to drive through and leave the estate behind.

The sound of the engine was the only noise between them for a few moments, the tension in the air thick as both of them processed the conversation they'd just had.

Hannah, her gaze fixed on the dashboard, broke the silence with a soft sigh. "I feel bad," she murmured, her voice tinged with guilt. "But I know we can't help her."

Kai didn't look at her, his focus solely on the road ahead. His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his sharp blue eyes scanning the road with the same cold intensity he always wore when on a mission.

"You know," Hannah continued, her eyes drifting to the window beside her, watching the scenery blur past. "You shouldn't promise things to others when you can't make it up. It only makes it worse."

Kai's jaw clenched at her words, and he took a deep, calming breath. The weight of their mission, the one that took priority over everything else, settled in his chest like a lead weight. "I feel sorry," he said, his voice laced with regret. "I'll make sure to pay her back for this… somehow."

Though his words held genuine guilt, his expression remained stoic, unreadable—his emotions locked behind the calm facade he'd perfected over the years. The road stretched ahead, endless, like the choices they'd made and the paths they had to walk.

Hannah's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she turned her attention back to the passing landscape. She understood the burden he carried—one that couldn't be easily shared. But still, a part of her wished that for once, they didn't have to carry it alone.

They arrived at CIZA Headquarters, the imposing gates and tall metal fences standing as a fortress around the estate. The sleek, modern building loomed ahead, its sharp lines and white facade cutting through the landscape with a quiet authority. The headquarters, a sprawling complex with multiple floors, had always felt like a place where the world's darkest secrets were kept under lock and key.

"We're here..." Kai muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving the path ahead. He drove forward toward the massive gates, where armed guards, their tactical uniforms pressed and sharp, stood ready. The CIZA badges on their chests gleamed under the light as they opened the gates to let them through.

The moment the car rolled inside, Kai parked it swiftly, his focus never wavering from the task at hand. The urgency of the mission hung heavy in the air, and without a word, he and Hannah both exited the vehicle in sync, moving with practiced efficiency.

Their footsteps echoed as they hurried toward the entrance, the weight of their next move pressing down on them. The gates behind them closed with a heavy thud, sealing them into the high-security world of CIZA once again