▼ 11:31 am
Area 4, Outer Ring
In Front of the Elevator Hall
AFTER discovering Hiyama’s body, we gather in front of the elevator hall and explain what happened to Ukita and Yuuri. Fear twists Ukita’s face and Yuuri is on the verge of tears. Moribe wraps her arm around Yuuri’s trembling shoulders, but she’s the one with a more grieved look on her face.
Tachibana eventually squeezes out, “…Being killed in the line of duty is something we must be prepared for in our line of work.”
“But, Tachibana—”
“Please don’t say another word, Captain. We can mourn after everything is over.” Her voice shakes, and sorrow mists her eyes. Shaking off her feelings, she addresses Moribe. “Get a hold of yourself, Moribe. You threw aside your feminine emotions when you entered SIRIUS.”
“B-But this is my first time losing a colleague…on the field, ya know? And it keeps happening!”
“It’s the same for me… But even so…”
Tachibana and Moribe have sustained quite the emotional blow. Even the always calm and collected Tachibana can’t suppress her feelings. And here I am, unable to grieve the loss of a squad member. Anything I say will have a hollow ring to it.
Damn it all! What can I do?! I stand there doing nothing but grinding my teeth.
“…What are you doing, Captain Kasasagi?” Miss Ena quietly whispers beside me. “You need to take charge here.”
“What?”
“Aren’t you the man? And a captain? Then that makes you the only one qualified to lead us.”
It took her giving me that little push for me to realize that’s indeed my duty. It’s exactly because I’m not mourning Hiyama’s loss that I should be the one to lead the group while Tachibana can’t.
Tachibana is putting on a brave front, but she’s deeply grieving. After all, two squad members she’s endured a lot with passed away within hours of each other. But she doesn’t let her grief show because she’s with survivors—and because we’re still on duty.
How will the other survivors feel if the whole rescue squad gives in to despair? We can’t let Yuuri, Miss Ena, and Ukita lose faith in us.
In which case, I need to be strong, as the captain of this squad. I may have unreliable memories and no confidence in my skills, but I’m still a rescue squad captain. I’m Watase Kasasagi, the man Tachibana and the others respect and serve under.
A fire is lit in my soul, giving me new strength. “Tachibana, Moribe, can I have a word with you?”
“What is it…?” They shuffle over to me on unsteady feet.
I clear my throat. “Tachibana, I’m taking over as leader. I’ll guide the group from here.”
“Captain…?”
“Don’t look so shocked. We’re just returning to our normal roles. Just until you both put your thoughts in order.”
“B-But—”
“You won’t listen? Then I’ll order you—as SIRIUS squad captain.” I snap my feet together and command them in an authoritative voice. “As of this point on, Lieutenant Kazami Tachibana and Ensign Jun Moribe will hereby defer to Captain Watase Kasasagi’s command.” Those words come very naturally from my mouth. Tachibana and Moribe tremble. “Repeat it!”
Strength and willpower return to their eyes. They click their heels together and reply in unison.
“Sir, yes, sir! Lieutenant Kazami Tachibana deferring to Captain Watase Kasasagi’s command!”
“E-Ensign Jun Moribe deferring to Captain Kasasagi’s command, sir!”
“Good!” I grin and give them both a pat on the shoulder. I continue in that spirit as I hand out orders. “All right, let’s press onward… Hiyama went through a lot to leave that Level 6 card for us. We can reach the next area with it.”
Tachibana and Moribe look at the elevator hall.
“Indeed… We can’t let what he left for us go to waste.”
“You’ve got that right! Hiyama will be annoyed with us if we sulk forever!”
“That’s the spirit.” I share a smile with Moribe, then face our civilians. “Sorry for the wait, gang. Are you all ready to go?”
“Yes, I’m ready,” Miss Ena replies.
“No problems here. I can go anytime,” Ukita says after her.
Yuuri is clearly shaking in her boots, but she gives a solid nod.
As I’m grinning at them, Tachibana lays her hand softly on my shoulder and whispers, “…Thank you, Captain.” A faint smile touches her lips.
After getting everyone’s morale up again, we decide to leave Hiyama’s body in the elevator hall. I lean the axe against the wall near his body as a makeshift grave marker. Then we head out again.
Using the card Hiyama had, I get us into the connecting passageway leading to Area 5. The Procyon’s only reading 3,451 mSv, so we’re back within the safety standard.
“Let’s pick up the pace,” I call from the front of the group. “The security cameras showed the kids escaping in this direction.”
“…The other survivors are most likely somewhere beyond here,” Tachibana agrees.
“Yeah. We don’t have to worry about fires anymore, so let’s prioritize the survivors and AD,” Moribe adds.
They’re both still in shock, but they’re gradually returning to themselves. I set foot into the next area with a rare feeling of relief.
✦ ✦ ✦
▼ 11:37 am
Area 5, Outer Ring
AREA 5’s outer ring is markedly different from the other areas. Doors still line both sides of the corridor, but the walls and ceiling are stark white. It feels like a hospital ward.
“Hey, Ukita, what’s this area for?”
“This is where high-level researchers conduct experiments. This division has far more advanced equipment than the areas we normal researchers have access to.”
I look around while he explains. “Neuroscience Laboratory” is written on a plate next to the nearest door. “‘Neuroscience Laboratory’? What does neuroscience have to do with nuclear research?”
“A lot. First of all, this facility’s official name is the 6th Laboratory of Atomic and Biological Organization. Both nuclear science and biology are studied here. That’s why we were able to develop a drug like AD.”
“I see. So which science does your research fall under, Ukita?”
“Sorry, but I cannot answer any questions of that nature.”
“Huh? Why not?”
“I’m bound by confidentiality. Some research is related to national policy, so it can’t be shared with uninvolved parties.”
“Yeah, I get that, but…you won’t stop us from searching the labs, right?”
“You think I would start doing that at this point? Of course I’ll allow it under the circumstances.” Ukita follows up his permission with a firm warning. “But the confidentiality level is extremely high from Area 5 onward. If you want to continue living in peace after getting out of here alive, I highly recommend you never utter a word about what you’ve seen here.”
He seems to be hinting at something more. Unfathomable fear roils in my stomach as I remark, “…Well, we can think about stuff like that after we escape. Searching comes first.”
I imitate Tachibana and split our group into two teams. The team breakdown is the same as the last time. Moribe, Miss Ena, and I make up one team, while Tachibana, Ukita, and Yuuri form another. I leave the rooms on the right side of the corridor to Team Tachibana and take responsibility for the left side.
We check room after room. There’s a lot of weird equipment in them, but no survivors. The fifth room we arrive at has a completely different layout and appearance from the rest.
“Is this…an infirmary?”
There are several hospital beds, medicine cabinets, a refrigerator, ventilator, blood transfusion kits, and other medical equipment inside the room.