Kenji
The hangar was a vast, cavernous space, cold and silent in the pre-dawn gloom. High above, the first pale rays of sunlight cut through the hangar's tall, grimy windows, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air and casting a long, imposing shadow from the ship that waited on the central platform.
Team 7 was already there, geared up and ready, their forms silhouetted against the weak morning light. The usual chaotic energy that surrounded them was gone, replaced by a quiet, focused professionalism that felt almost alien.
Kiana leaned against a large supply crate, her arms crossed, her usual boisterous grin replaced by a taut, serious line. Mei stood a few feet away, expression focused as she performed a final methodical check of the clasps on her gauntlets.
And Bronya, ever the stoic, had her datapad out, her fingers swiping silently across its surface. Kenji peeked at what she was doing only to see her swiping on short form videos.
'The brainrot…'
They were Valkyries on duty now, well more accurately Valkyries and a Knight. The shift in their demeanor was not lost on Kenji. Even if this was still a supervised exercise, it was still a mission to them, and they were a little nervous.
Well except for Kenji, as his eyes were glued to the transport ship.
It was a sleek military-grade dropship, its matte-black hull absorbing the faint light. It had sharp angular lines making it look predatory, with swept-back wings designed for high-speed flight and multiple maneuvering thrusters visible along its chassis.
The Schicksal insignia, a stark white emblem, was stenciled cleanly on its side. It wasn't a colossal battleship like Himeko's or the other one he saw before, but it was still awesome.
'Holy shit,' Just a few months ago, his primary mode of transport had been a sputtering scooter and normal vehicles. The technological leap was staggering, moments like these were when he was reminded that he was in an entirely different world.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he finally spoke, his voice sounding a little too loud in the echoing hangar. "You guys know what this is?"
Kiana glanced over, "It's a VTOL. It basically just gets us from A to B, nothing too special" She casually said.
"It's a rapid deployment shuttle," Mei added, her eyes now also focused on the vessel. "For small squad insertions into hostile territory."
Their answers gave him some insight, but they didn't satisfy the awe bubbling in Kenji's chest. Before he could ask another question, Bronya looked up from her datapad, her usual impassive expression fixed on the ship.
"This is a 'Valkyrie-class' rapid deployment VTOL, model VH-7 Kestrel," she stated, her monotone voice containing a tinge of pride at her knowledge.
"Its primary propulsion is generated by twin fission turbines, allowing for near-silent vertical takeoff. For atmospheric flight, it engages a plasma-burst engine capable of reaching hypersonic speeds. The hull is a composite of Titanium-Soulium alloy, rated to withstand small-arms fire and minor Honkai energy corrosion."
Kenji stared not at the ship this time, but at her. "So the wings." he found himself asking, pointing to the swept-back appendages, "They aren't just for stabilization? They adjust based on atmospheric density at high speeds?"
His response seemed to surprise Bronya, not expecting him to understand most of what she said "Hey, I have been studying a lot about these things ever since I got here you know."
That wasn't a lie. Ever since he got into St Freya, he had been pestering Himeko about anything he could use to catch up with everyone else. Usually he wouldn't be as eager to study at all, but when your material is super futuristic tech and info that is actually interesting, studying becomes a lot easier.
"Bronya apologises, it seems that she may have underestimated Subject Kenji."
She gave him a one over, a small, impressed smile on her face. "To answer your previous question, you would be correct. The variable-geometry wings optimize lift and maneuverability during complex flight patterns. It allows for precise landings in compromised urban environments."
"Thats fucking awesome." He replied, a wide grin on his face as he allowed himself to admire the hunk of a machine a little more. Unaware of the persistent stare that Bronya is giving him.
Their little moment was shattered by the sharp, rhythmic clicking of heels against the hangar floor. At the sudden sound, the team instinctively straightened, their focus snapping to attention.
Rita Rossweisse approached, her expression as professional and as ever with a smile on her face. "Good to see you all here on time." Her sharp gaze swept over each of them, a thorough inspection that missed nothing. Her eyes lingered on Kenji and Bronya for a fraction of a second, noting their proximity, before moving on.
She stopped in front of them, her presence filling the space with a formal, tense energy. "The convoy is en route. We are departing. Be sure not to forget anything."
Without another word, the team filed up the ramp into the transport's interior.
Kenji took one last look at the hangar before stepping inside. The heavy ramp of the VTOL began to rise, sealing them in with a solid, definitive hiss. The interior lights turned on, and the low hum of the engines began to build, vibrating through the floor as the journey to Nagazora began.
/ — /
Kenji
The inside of the VTOL was wider than he expected, it was still a world away from the other battleships he's seen, but still impressive. The cabin was lined with stark metal plating, with enough room for the four of them to sit comfortably in the troop-bay seats.
The only sounds were the deep, powerful hum of the engines vibrating through the floor and the quiet, rhythmic tapping of Bronya's fingers on her datapad. As the ship ascended, cutting through the pale morning sky, Rita gestured for them to gather around a small holographic table that flickered to life in the center of the cabin.
"Let's get down to business." Rita said, her tone all business as she took her position at the head of the table. "To start off, what do you think of this?"
Kenji flinched as a three-dimensional map of the targeted district suddenly materialized above the table, glowing with a soft blue light.
Before he could even start and analyse it, Bronya was already answering "Designated landing zone is LZ-Alpha, on the northern edge of the sector. Population estimates are approximately 300 survivors, though this number is unconfirmed. The civilian supply manifest includes 500 units of food, 1000 liters of purified water, and 200 standard-issue medical kits. The convoy will arrive 15 minutes after our landing. Public servant and reconstruction material have also been analysed."
She swiped the screen, and the map was replaced with detailed logistical charts. She was in her element, processing data with efficiency that was both impressive and a little intimidating.
'Damn', even if he's done a lot to try and catch up to everyone, he still has a long way to go.
"Yeah, yeah, logistics are cool and all," Kiana interrupted, leaning forward eagerly and planting her elbows on the table. "But what's the combat forecast? Any stragglers we need to clear out? Any leftover Honkai beasts we get to smash?"
Rita's gaze settled on her, a little amused at her eagerness but still held a stern look. "Our primary objective is humanitarian, Miss Kaslana," She stated, with a little sharpness in her tone. "Your priority is the safety of the civilians and the efficient distribution of supplies. You will engage a threat only if it presents itself and poses a direct risk to the evacuees. Do not seek one out."
Kiana slumped back in her seat, chastised but not entirely deterred, a familiar pout forming on her lips. Mei however, asked a more productive question. "Are the kits equipped for treating Honkai-related infections, or just standard trauma?"
"Standard trauma," Bronya answered before Rita could. "Honkai infection or poisoning cases have already been handled by personnel at the site. Major injuries have already been treated, we are just resupplying resources."
The briefing continued for a few more minutes, and Kenji tried his best to remember everything that was said.
After they finished, everyone just went to do their own thing and he felt a restless energy thrumming under his skin, needing a moment, he moved towards one of the reinforced viewports set into the hull.
The VTOL had cleared the clouds, and below him, the familiar skyline of Nagazora stretched out to the horizon. But it wasn't the city he remembered. It wasn't even the ruined city he had fought through. From this high altitude, the destruction became a lot more evident.
It was like a graveyard.
His body froze as he looked at the skeletal husks of skyscrapers clawed at the sky, their glass facades shattered, leaving behind empty, black eyes that stared into nothingness. He could see the massive, jagged crater presumably created by the shockwaves from his punch to Ganesha.
Further east, he could trace the path of destruction from his own desperate battle with the Templar, a scar of collapsed buildings that cut through what was once a bustling commercial district he used to frequent on his delivery routes.
It had been more than a month since it happened. While he could see some parts of the city being rebuilt, most of it was just rubble.
He had fought here. He had bled on these streets. But seeing it from above, the true scale of the tragedy hit him in a way it never could on the ground.
His mind flashed back to the eruption. The screams. The smell of acrid smoke and spilled blood. He saw the terrified face of the young boy clutching his dead father's hand, his small body trembling in the shadow of a Seraph.
He remembered the young mother he had carried to a shelter, her desperate cries echoing in his ears. He thought of the child he had told to hide in the mall, the child that probably didn't make it. He had saved so many, but for every life he had pulled from the fire, he had watched a dozen others be extinguished.
His breath hitched, and the guilt he had suppressed with relentless training surged back with a full force.
'Why me?' The thought was a bitter, familiar poison that coiled in his gut. 'Why was I the one given this power, this second chance, only to fail so spectacularly?'
All of them, the people who had died down there, they had belonged here. They had roots, histories, and futures that were woven into the very fabric of this city.
They had families to go home to, dreams they were working towards, lives that mattered. He was just… a visitor. An anomaly. An imposter who had stumbled into their tragedy and somehow walked away when so many of them hadn't.
His life didn't feel as valuable. It was a borrowed existence in a world that wasn't his, and the thought crushed him. He stared down at the city, unable to blink. Hands clenching into tight fists at his sides.
As much as he loved this world, he never forgot that he was never supposed to be in it.
/ — /
Mei
Mei's mind was a flurry of organized thoughts, thinking of every detail that had been laid out. The mission was straightforward, but its success depended on their discipline. Giving humanitarian aid should be simple in principle… besides the fact that everyone would notice who she was.
The daughter of Raiden Ryoma. The girl despised by everyone but her closest allies…
"Hahh…"
She lightly smacked her cheeks, 'Everything is going to be fine' She was with her team, what other people thought or said about her didn't matter, not anymore.
At least that's what she tried to tell herself.
She mentally reviewed the distribution protocols, her gaze fixed on the holographic map as she cross-referenced it with the population estimates. Their assignment was clear, to ensure their operation was as seamless as possible, to bring a semblance of relief for those who went through so much.
Her gaze swept over her teammates. Kiana was still pouting, but Mei could see the underlying focus in her eyes. When it mattered, Kiana's resolve was unshakable. Bronya, as expected, was already coordinating with the convoy on a secure channel.
Then her eyes fell on Kenji.
He had moved to one of the small viewports, his back turned to them. He was unnaturally still, a stark contrast to the restless energy he usually carried.
She watched as his shoulders tensed, his hands clenching at his sides. A disquieting feeling crept into her heart. From her angle, she could see the faint reflection of his face in the reinforced glass.
His usual easygoing smirk was gone. In its place was an expression of such… sadness, such guilt, that it made her breath catch in her throat. She saw his forehead press against the cool glass, his shoulders slumping as if under an invisible weight.
It was a look she had seen before and something she was all too familiar with.
She had her own painful memories of Nagazora, of the eruption that had nearly torn her and Kiana apart. She remembered the fear, the desperation, the oppressive weight of the Honkai.
But she at least had people to support her, to lift her up when she was at her lowest. Kenji… she doesn't really know much about what he's been through. He never told them what he saw in the eruption.
Even if she didn't know exactly what he was thinking about, the look on his face showed a feeling of guilt.
Quietly, Mei walked over to the viewport, her footsteps soft against the metal floor. She didn't call out his name but simply came to a stop beside him, her gaze following his down to the scarred city below. The silence stretched between them for a moment, punctuated only by the deep hum of the VTOL's engines.
"It's hard to look at, isn't it?" she said softly. "Even now."
He flinched, startled from his thoughts. Surprised at her sudden presence, he tried to quickly conjure a small smile. "Yeah," he quietly said. "It's just… a lot to take in from up here."
She could tell he was hiding a much deeper hurt, he must have seen a lot in his battle with Himeko.
But she knew it wasn't her place to pry, not now. Pushing him would only make him withdraw further.
At least that's what she would do.
Instead, she reached out and placed a brief reassuring hand on his shoulder.
She then stepped back, giving him his space as she rejoined the others. As she walked away, she noticed Rita watching their interaction from her position. Mei felt a slight shiver, wondering what the S-Rank Valkyrie made of the scene.
The VTOL's engines shifted pitch, a low whine signaling their descent.
"Approaching landing zone," the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom. "Five minutes."
Rita's voice cut through the cabin, snapping the team back to mission focus. "Alright everyone, prepare yourselves." she commanded. "The people down there need Valkyries. Whatever you are feeling right now, put it aside and focus on the mission."
Mei glanced back at Kenji one last time. The sadness in his eyes was gone, burned away and replaced by a strong focus.
The transport touched down with a gentle thud. The deep hum of the engines quieted, and with a hiss of hydraulics, the heavy ramp began to lower.
Bright, harsh daylight flooded the dark cabin. Through the opening, Mei could see the weary, hopeful faces of the survivors waiting for them.
Placing a hand on her chest, she steeled herself, and took a step forward.