Episode 12: Iris in the Storm

The air was heavy with rain as storm clouds rolled in over the Academy. The mission at the tea shop had left us with more questions than answers, and tension crackled between Chou and me like the thunder outside. The information we found pointed to something much bigger than Aoi's betrayal—something that could tear apart everything we'd been trained to protect.

I sat cross-legged on the couch in the common room, staring at the shipping manifest we'd recovered. The ink was smudged from the rain, but the names of the weapons suppliers were still legible. Names that were all too familiar.

Chou entered the room, her hair still damp from her shower. She plopped down beside me, her usual energy subdued.

"You're thinking too hard," she said, poking my cheek.

I batted her hand away. "And you're not thinking hard enough."

She snorted. "That's why we balance each other out, right?"

I sighed, leaning back against the cushions. "Chou, this isn't a joke. If this operation is as big as it looks, we're way in over our heads."

She was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on the rain streaking the windows. "You're scared," she said finally.

Her words stung, but they weren't wrong. "Of course I'm scared. Aren't you?"

Chou smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah. But I trust us. We'll figure it out. We always do."

Later that day, the director called us into her office. The tension in the room was palpable, and I could feel Chou shifting nervously beside me.

"This operation you uncovered..." the director began, her sharp eyes scanning the documents we'd handed over. "It's bigger than we thought. Aoi isn't acting alone. There's a network—one that's been under our noses for years."

I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting. "What do you need us to do?"

The director leaned forward, her expression grave. "We need intel. More than just manifests and whispers. You two are our best operatives. If anyone can infiltrate their ranks, it's you."

Chou's jaw tightened, and I could feel the weight of her hesitation. "Undercover?" she asked. "Isn't that... risky?"

"Extremely," the director admitted. "But it's our best shot."

That night, Chou and I stayed up late, going over the mission details. The plan was simple: we'd pose as recruits for the black market operation, gain their trust, and gather intel from the inside.

Simple didn't mean easy.

"Are you sure about this?" Chou asked, her voice unusually quiet. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, her hands fiddling with the strap of her bag.

I nodded, though my chest felt tight. "We don't have a choice. If we don't do this, who will?"

She didn't answer, her gaze fixed on the floor. For a moment, the only sound was the rain tapping against the windows.

"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to nudge her shoulder. "We'll be okay. Together, remember?"

Chou looked up, her eyes glistening with something unspoken. "Yeah. Together."

The next morning, we left the Academy behind, our usual uniforms replaced with plain clothes. We'd been given fake identities, complete with forged backstories. It felt strange, like shedding a part of myself.

As we approached the meeting point, Chou glanced at me, her expression serious. "Stick to the script, okay? Don't do anything stupid."

I smirked. "Who, me?"

She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything more.

The meeting point was a run-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The air inside was thick with the smell of metal and oil, and the dim lighting cast long shadows on the walls. A group of people was gathered in the center, their faces hard and untrusting.

"New recruits?" a tall man with a scar across his cheek asked, his voice rough.

"That's us," Chou said, her tone calm and confident. I marveled at how easily she slipped into the role.

The man studied us for a moment before nodding. "Names?"

"Rin and Sora," I said, using our aliases.

He gestured for us to follow him deeper into the warehouse. As we passed rows of crates, I couldn't help but glance at the labels. Weapons. Ammunition. Enough to arm a small army.

"Stay close," Chou murmured, her hand brushing against mine. The brief contact sent a jolt through me, grounding me in the moment.

By the time we returned to our temporary hideout that night, my nerves were shot. We'd made it through the first meeting, but the tension of keeping up the act had left me drained.

Chou flopped onto the couch, letting out a long sigh. "That was... intense."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, collapsing into the chair across from her. "That scar guy didn't take his eyes off us the whole time."

She grinned faintly. "Guess we're just that interesting."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.

As the storm raged outside, we went over the intel we'd gathered so far. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

"You did good today," Chou said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I looked up, surprised. "What?"

"I mean it," she said, her voice soft. "I know this isn't easy for you. But you handled it. I'm... proud of you."

Her words caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks heat up. "Thanks," I mumbled, looking away.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The storm outside had quieted, leaving only the soft patter of rain against the windows.

"Get some rest," Chou said finally, her voice gentle. "We've got a long road ahead."

As I lay in bed that night, listening to the rain, I couldn't stop thinking about her words. Proud of me. It wasn't something I heard often, but coming from Chou, it meant more than I could put into words.

No matter how dangerous this mission got, I knew one thing for sure: as long as Chou was by my side, I could face anything.