Sora Rescue Operation (2)

"You know, Hoshino-chan."

 

 

 

 

 

"I... well."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"When I first saw you, Hoshino-chan, I pinched my cheeks again and again, wondering if it was a dream."

 

 

 

 

 

"Having a cute, strong, and dependable underclassman like you by my side makes me so happy..."

 

 

 

 

 

"Uung... I'm an idiot, so... I can't explain it properly..."

 

 

 

"Being able to face you like this, Hoshino-chan, feels like a miracle to me..."

 

 

 

 

 

"We see each other every day."

 

 

 

 

 

"You saw me yesterday, you see me today, and you'll see me tomorrow. What's all the fuss about something so obvious?"

 

 

 

 

 

"Hauung... but still..."

 

 

 

 

 

"Miracles are much more grand and rare."

 

 

 

 

 

"...Mm. No, Hoshino-chan. I think differently."

 

 

 

"I may be an idiot... but I can guarantee that."

 

 

 

"You know, Hoshino-chan, someday, when you have cute juniors too..."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"...Senpai... Hoshino-senpai!!"

 

 

 

"Ah, uh, yeah...?"

 

 

 

"Are you okay?"

 

 

 

"...Ah, yeah, this old lady is fine. More importantly, we need to hurry."

 

 

 

'Why am I remembering that now...?'

 

 

 

Hoshino shook her head from side to side to clear her mind and gripped her gun once more.

 

 

 

Just moments ago, Executive Kaiser had shown them Sora's seemingly hopeless state to demoralize the Countermeasures Committee.

 

 

 

"...Die."

 

 

 

"Ugh!"

 

 

 

However, this act only fueled their anger and boosted their morale.

 

 

 

"...Was there really a need for us to come?"

 

 

 

"......"

 

 

 

The presence of the After-School Sweets Club, who came to help, faded into the background as the all-out battle against Kaiser ended in a landslide victory for the Countermeasures Committee.

 

 

 

After the battle, Hoshino briefly fell into thought, but quickly shook it off and started moving again.

 

 

 

"We've located Sora-senpai!! She's there! Underground, below that bunker!"

 

 

 

They found Sora's location in no time.

 

 

 

"Let's hurry, we need to get Sora to the hospital as soon as possible."

 

 

 

At the same time, they held onto hope.

 

 

 

"Sora-chan is right there!!"

 

 

 

Seeing Sora in such pain on the screen was difficult, but

 

 

 

"It won't break. One more time."

 

 

 

Her being in pain meant she was still alive.

 

 

 

"Ah, Ayane-chan? How..."

 

 

 

"We came by helicopter, borrowed from Schale! So, Sora-senpai is...?"

 

 

 

However, there was one thing they overlooked.

 

 

"It's here! The door won't open...!"

 

 

 

The amount of blood she had lost was enough to kill anyone.

 

 

 

"Move!!"

 

 

 

Therefore,

 

 

 

Clank!

 

 

 

"Sora-chan!! ...Sora...chan?"

 

 

 

"""""...."""""

 

 

 

They could only watch.

 

 

 

Sora, is no longer bleeding, no longer moving, lying cold.

 

 

*

 

 

 

The Countermeasures Committee finally reached their destination, but what greeted them was Sora lying still and cold in a pool of blood.

 

 

 

But perhaps, there was a sliver of hope. Because the halo, a means of determining the fate of a Kivotos students, was still existent yet unstable.

 

 

 

"""""Sora-chan (Senpai)!!!!"""""

 

 

 

They, especially Hoshino, threw down their weapons and rushed towards Sora.

 

 

 

"Sora-chan!"

 

 

 

"...Ah... Hoshino-san... Everyone..."

 

 

 

Sora, with a flicker of consciousness, managed a small reply.

 

 

 

"Yeah...! It's this old lady! We came to save you! So..."

 

 

 

Hope surged in Hoshino as she gently held Sora, ready to take her to the hospital.

 

 

 

"...Huh?"

 

 

 

But the moment she held Sora, she froze.

 

 

 

Sora's body was ice cold, like hugging a block of ice.

 

 

 

And more importantly,

 

 

 

"...No, no way? Sora-chan...?"

 

 

 

Her heartbeat was fading.

 

 

 

As if she was about to die at any moment.

 

 

 

Just like that person.

 

 

 

"...Hoshino-san..."

 

 

 

"It's, it's okay! Sora-chan! If we get you to the hospital right now, you'll be fine! Ah, Ayane-chan!"

 

 

 

Hoshino spoke rapidly, ignoring Sora's words.

 

 

 

"Yes, yes! The helicopter I came in is right outside. If we get on it!"

 

 

 

"...Hoshino-san..."

 

 

 

"So it's okay... everything... will be okay..."

 

 

 

She had to believe that, or she wouldn't be able to bear it.

 

 

 

But contrary to Hoshino's wishes, Sora's heartbeat grew fainter and fainter, until it was barely audible.

 

 

 

"So... so..."

 

 

 

The thought of losing Sora sent Hoshino into a panic.

 

 

 

Tap!

 

 

 

"...Hoshino-san...!"

 

 

 

"So, Sora-chan!?"

 

 

 

Seeing Hoshino's distress, Sora forced herself to move, turning Hoshino's gaze back to her.

 

 

 

"I..."

 

 

 

She forced a smile as she spoke to Hoshino.

 

 

 

"...I'm fine... so please calm down...?"

 

 

 

She wanted Hoshino to stop worrying because she was okay.

 

 

 

"...What are you..."

 

 

 

"What nonsense are you talking about, Sora-chan!!!"

 

 

 

But those words only angered Hoshino... angered everyone.

 

 

 

"How can you say you're fine when you're this hurt!!"

 

 

 

"That's right! Where are you fine?!"

 

 

 

"We need to get you to the hospital."

 

 

 

"Yeah, just hang in there, Sora. We'll take you to the hospital in Schale's helicopter."

 

 

 

Finally, they lifted Sora, desperate to get her to the hospital.

 

 

 

"I... I'm really fine...! Cough! Cough!!!"

 

 

 

Suddenly, something went wrong, and Sora started coughing up blood again.

 

 

 

There shouldn't have been any more blood to cough up.

 

 

 

"So, Sora-chan!!"

 

 

 

Hoshino panicked once more at the sight.

 

 

 

"Cough! I-I'm fine... you know...? I'm tough..."

 

 

 

Sora gently stroked Hoshino's head as she spoke.

 

 

 

"...If I take a nap... I'll be fine..."

 

 

 

"Sora-chan...?"

 

 

 

"So..."

 

 

 

"No... no, Sora-chan...!"

 

 

 

"Just a moment..."

 

 

 

"Please, please, please!!"

 

 

 

"When I wake up..."

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Sora's body was no longer moving.

 

 

 

Right after saying she would be fine after a nap, Sora lost consciousness, and her halo disappeared.

 

 

 

But they knew. Sora would never wake up again.

 

 

 

No one in the Countermeasures Committee could speak.

 

 

 

Or rather, they didn't want to speak.

 

 

 

Even though they knew, if they voiced it, they wouldn't be able to bear it.

 

 

 

"...Sora-chan..."

 

 

 

In this situation, Hoshino, more than anyone else, gently shook Sora and spoke.

 

 

 

She didn't want to accept it more than anyone else here.

 

 

 

She didn't want to lose another precious person before her eyes.

 

 

 

"...Wake up... this old lady was wrong..."

 

 

 

But sadly, Sora didn't respond.

 

 

 

"Huh...? Sora-chan... please wake up... let's go back...?"

 

 

 

...Her heartbeat, her halo, were gone.

 

 

 

Still, as if denying reality, Hoshino kept talking to Sora.

 

 

 

"...Sob, please... this old lady was wrong..."

 

 

 

Hoping for the miracle of Sora waking up and answering.

 

 

 

"I won't try to leave you alone again..."

 

 

 

"Please wake up..."

 

 

 

But despite her earnest plea,

 

 

 

"......."

 

 

 

The miracle of Sora answering didn't happen.

 

 

 

In the end,

 

 

 

"Sob... sob... So, Sora..."

 

 

 

Unable to bear the cruel reality, she,

 

 

 

"Sob... hic!... Sora-chan..."

 

 

 

The shield of Abydos,

 

 

 

"Please... sob... please wake up..."

 

 

 

crumbled.

 

 

 

'Uh... um... I think I screwed up...?'