"Group A here. We’ve reached our security positions."
"Group B, same. No suspicious activity to report so far."
"Everyone, stay alert. Your vigilance will save lives today. If you sense even the slightest anomaly, report it immediately."
On the day of the Water Thanksgiving, the district serving as the venue was swarming with people.
Yugo couldn't hide his astonishment at the bustling crowd. It was hard to believe a riot caused by a criminal organization had broken out just yesterday.
While he didn't quite grasp why the festival was such a monumental event, he shook off his confusion. Since the crowds were here, he simply had to do everything in his power to protect them.
Currently, he was stationed at the task force headquarters near the venue, waiting on standby alongside Jinba and the others.
This was Jinba’s call. Since Regen had seen Yugo's face during yesterday’s riot, it was deemed safer for him to stay out of sight. Furthermore, being at the hub of incoming information would allow him to move more quickly in an emergency.
As Yugo listened to the conversations between Jinba and his superiors, a sense of restlessness gnawed at him. Setsuna, the other standby member, noticed his tension and spoke up.
"I know you're anxious, Yugo, but we have to trust Melt and the others out there. For now, we wait."
"Yeah, you’re right... Waiting is all we can do."
The Security Force’s defensive strategy was straightforward: place uniformed guards in conspicuous spots to monitor the crowd, while plainclothes members patrolled the venue.
By making the uniformed guards visible, they intended to restrict the movements of Regen’s syndicate. Meanwhile, the undercover students and officers would keep a sharp eye out from their designated positions.
Melt, Marcos, Anhel, and Sakura were currently playing that undercover role, blending in as students enjoying the festival.
Fee and Yui had been left behind for their own safety, and Raiha was absent because she had been assigned a different task.
The reason Setsuna was on standby with Yugo was to provide long-range support. Once they confirmed which suspicious individual was carrying the Birdcage, she would snipe the item from a distance.
The Security Force had their own sniper units, but the high command placed great stock in Setsuna. By using a Yamato Magic Item—something Regen likely didn’t even know existed—they hoped to catch him completely off guard. This meant Yugo and the others had been entrusted with a role far more vital than they had initially imagined.
Preventing the damage from spreading and rescuing the kidnapped children... The realization that they held the key to the mission's success weighed heavily on Yugo.
In contrast, Setsuna remained as cool and composed as ever. Seeing her like that, Yugo took a long, deep breath and spoke.
"You’re amazing, Setsuna. You’ve been given an even more important role than me, yet you’re acting like it’s just another day."
"The foundation of marksmanship is composure. An archer’s skill is determined by how well they can suppress excitement and tension before they loose an arrow. Because this moment is so critical, I must keep my heart still. That is more important than anything else."
Setsuna spoke with a calm certainty that suggested she had spent years mastering that very discipline.
A state of "clear and serene," Yugo thought. He exhaled slowly, his mind drifting back to the story Jinba had shared yesterday.
Thomas, Jinba’s former partner and the original owner of that crossbow, had been an expert sniper.
But when Jinba was taken hostage, Thomas had lost his cool—and that lapse had cost him his life. As Yugo pictured the grief on Jinba's face while he told that story, the man himself interrupted his thoughts.
"You okay, Yugo?"
"U-Uh, yeah. I’m fine, sir."
"Sorry about all this. When I asked you to get my partner's memento repaired, I never dreamed it would lead to you being dragged into a mess like this," Jinba said with a wry smile.
Watching the man’s profile, Yugo spoke up.
"I’m really fine. It’s you I’m worried about, Jinba-san."
"Me? Why’s that?"
"You seem... pretty worked up about this. I understand wanting to take down the guy who killed your partner—I really do—but please don't go thinking you have to sacrifice yourself to do it."
"..."
Jinba fell silent, his expression unreadable.
Under the concerned gaze of Yugo and Setsuna, Jinba’s face suddenly broke into a grin. He let out a boisterous laugh before looking at the two of them.
"To think I’d be getting lectured by a student... I must look pretty pathetic. Don't worry, kid. I know the stakes. I’m not going to do anything stupid."
"Well, if you say so... just don't forget. A real detective fights with a burning heart and a cool head."
"Ha! What is that, some line from a show? You really are a strange kid!"
Jinba chuckled at the odd phrasing, but the sentiment behind it reached him loud and clear.
He took a moment to let the words sink in, exhaling slowly before looking back at Yugo.
"...Yugo."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"...Thanks."
Yugo watched with a small smile as Jinba spoke with a hint of bashful sincerity.
As the two shared that moment of understanding, a transmission crackled through the headquarters, signaling that the situation was finally beginning to move.