Chapter 17:Next Mission

"If I ever start acting like the old me again meek, scared, second-guessing everything… slap me."

Lexie smirked. "Gladly."

Then her tone softened. "But honestly? I don't think that girl's coming back."

A beat passed between them.

Then Samantha whispered, "Me neither."

Just then, a soft chime echoed in her skull.

[System Alert: New Main Mission Unlocked.]

Samantha's body tensed immediately.

Lexie noticed.

"What is it?" she asked, tone shifting in an instant. Alert. Focused.

Samantha stared at nothing—no, not nothing. At the glowing blue notification box only she could see, suspended quietly in the upper right of her vision like a HUD in a video game.

Her lips parted slightly. The flicker of her earlier smile vanished.

"…This isn't over," she whispered.

Lexie frowned. "What?"

Samantha blinked. "It's... nothing. Just... stress, I think."

Lexie didn't believe her. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't press.

Mochi materialized quietly over Samantha's shoulder, floating like a cautious balloon.

"Um... Samantha?" he whispered.

Samantha didn't respond. Her eyes flicked toward the System notification.

[Main Mission #3: Protect the School From an Incoming Threat]Difficulty: ★★★★★Time Limit: 30 DaysReward: High-Level Ability (Randomized)Failure Penalty: System Lockdown for 6 Months

Her throat dried.

Lexie, still watching her, raised an eyebrow. "You look like you just saw a ghost. And not the squishy kind."

Mochi coughed nervously.

"Well, technically, she kinda did."

Samantha glanced at him and hissed under her breath, "Now's not the time."

"Actually," Mochi said, "it kind of is."

He floated closer, lowering his voice like he was delivering a forbidden prophecy.

"You have three Main Missions, Samantha. Total. For this cycle. This is number three."

She stiffened. "Wait—cycle?"

Mochi nodded gravely. "Every three major missions is considered one full 'cycle' by the system. Think of it like a full arc. If you complete all three within their deadlines…"

He paused dramatically, tiny arms spread.

"…you get a big prize. Like, crazy OP."

"What happens if I don't?"

Mochi winced. "Well. Uh. That depends. Could be nothing. Could be that the system decides you're not worthy and resets your progress. Could take away your buffs. Could lock you out."

Samantha closed her eyes, pulse thudding in her ears.

Protect the school. From what?

And why her?

"…Can I at least know what the 'incoming threat' is?" she muttered.

Mochi raised his arms. "Hey, don't look at me! I'm just the messenger!"

Lexie leaned forward suddenly. "Okay, seriously. Who are you talking to?"

Samantha blinked. "Huh?"

"You keep muttering under your breath and staring off into space like you're having a psychic break. I'm used to you being weird, but this is... peak weird."

Samantha forced a shaky laugh. "Just, uh… talking to myself. Nerves, you know?"

Lexie narrowed her eyes. "If you start pulling a split personality on me, I'm putting you in therapy."

"Duly noted."

She tried to push the mission to the back of her mind, but it stayed there, pulsing like a ticking clock.

Thirty days.

Three missions.

She'd survived a warehouse of would-be predators. Helped Lexie bring down monsters.

Now the battlefield was going to be the one place she never expected—school.

She shivered.

Lexie leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.

"You know," she said after a beat, "if someone had told me my Friday would involve near-murder, a car chase, and a trip to the hospital, I would've skipped the mascara."

Samantha snorted. "You're still scary with or without it."

Lexie gave a grin. "Damn right."

They both fell into a quiet moment.

Then the doors opened with a click.

A man in scrubs and glasses stepped into the waiting room, clipboard in hand. He was maybe in his mid-thirties, professional but warm. His eyes scanned the room and landed on the two girls immediately.

"Kisaragi family?"

Both Samantha and Lexie stood at the same time.

The doctor gave a reassuring nod. "Your brother's stable."

Samantha nearly collapsed again.

"He had bruised ribs, a minor concussion, and he's severely dehydrated," the doctor continued. "But you brought him in just in time. The asthma episode was critical. A few more minutes, and…"

He didn't finish.

Samantha bit her lip, tears threatening again.

"But he's stable now. Awake. Talking. He's been asking for you two."

Lexie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Can we see him?" Samantha asked, already stepping forward.

The doctor smiled. "Of course. This way."

They followed him through the double doors, the hallway sterile and quiet. Samantha's heart thudded with every step. Her palms were damp. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous now, after everything.

Then the doctor stopped in front of a door.

"Room 212," he said, pushing it open.

Ren sat upright in bed, tubes hooked into his arm, oxygen line under his nose—but alive. Pale. Bruised. But alive.

His eyes lit up when he saw them.

"Took you long enough," he rasped.

Samantha rushed forward, nearly tripping on her own feet.

"Kuya!" she cried, grabbing his hand. "You're okay—"

"Barely," he said, chuckling weakly. "You drive like a demon, by the way."

Samantha sniffled and laughed through her tears. "Takes one to know one."

Lexie walked in last, slower, quieter. Her eyes met Ren's.

He smiled faintly. "Hey, you."

"Hey yourself."