Numerous reports began flooding local television channels following the massive explosion near Aoshima's Sealed Tunnel. News stations interrupted their regular broadcasts to cover the incident, displaying footage of the enormous plume of smoke rising above the surrounding buildings. Witnesses from nearby streets had reported hearing a deafening blast, followed by violent tremors that rattled windows and startled pedestrians.
"Breaking News. We have received multiple reports of a massive explosion near Aoshima's Sealed Tunnel. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the incident, while emergency response teams have been dispatched to the area. Citizens are strongly advised to avoid the surrounding streets and remain at a safe distance until further notice."
The footage shifted to a reporter standing behind a police barricade, with emergency vehicles and flashing lights visible in the background.
"At this moment, the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown. However, given the tunnel's history of Ghoul-related incidents, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of another attack."
"Emergency services have yet to confirm whether there are any casualties. The surrounding area remains inaccessible to civilians, and authorities are urging residents to report any unusual activity or sightings of unidentified creatures."
The broadcast had spread across the entire city, reaching countless households and public establishments. Even inside Masato's hospital room, the news continued playing on the television while he remained in bed, still recovering from his previous injuries.
"Gotta be kiddin' me? Already another one. Hell's the Institute doin'?"
Despite being explicitly instructed to remain on bed rest until his recovery was complete, Masato's stubbornness quickly got the better of him. He shifted his body and forced himself into a sitting position, his eyes fixed on the television.
"I gotta get there and help 'em."
However, the moment he attempted to move further, a sharp, agonizing pain shot through his abdomen. His expression tightened, and he immediately groaned, clutching his stomach as his body instinctively recoiled from the pain. It was a harsh reminder that he was nowhere near ready to return to the battlefield.
His attention returned to the television, where the live broadcast had switched to an aerial view of the incident. The footage showed the aftermath of the enormous explosion, with thick clouds of smoke lingering above the sealed tunnel. However, what caught Masato's attention wasn't the destruction itself, but the creature visible within the recording.
His eyes narrowed as he recognized its appearance. It was the very same Malform that had previously massacred a large number of civilians at Aoshima's shopping centre.
Masato's expression gradually turned sour as he watched the live footage unfold.
"Is it after Takumi again? That kid's been attractin' so many Malforms lately, it's safe to say there's somethin' special about him."
His eyes continued scanning the screen until something else caught his attention. Amidst the thick clouds of dust and scattered debris, a lone silhouette could be seen struggling to get back on its feet.
Masato leaned forward, squinting as he tried to make out the figure. The camera eventually zoomed in, revealing a familiar-looking girl.
For a moment, he simply stared at the screen, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. He recognized her face, but seeing a first-year student standing in the middle of such devastation was something he hadn't expected. His expression gradually tightened as the realization sank in.
"Hold on... Isn't that the girl from Class 1-A? What the hell's she doin' there? She's supposed to be in class!"
His eyes widened as he watched her struggle to regain her footing.
"Bro, you're tellin' me that girl's out there dealin' with that thing all by herself? She can't take that bastard on alone, damn it!"
His stubbornness quickly overtook whatever common sense he had left. Throwing the covers aside, Masato swung his legs over the edge of the bed and forced himself upright. His feet touched the floor, but the sudden movement sent another sharp reminder through his abdomen. He clenched his teeth, briefly hunching forward before forcing himself to stand straight.
"I gotta get out there..."
"Why the hell's nobody helpin' her?! Didn't she call for backup?!"
He staggered toward the exit, practically dragging his feet across the hospital floor. Every step aggravated his injuries, but he continued pushing forward. Reaching the door, he grabbed the handle and pulled, only to discover that it wouldn't budge. He tried again, putting more strength into it, but the lock held firm.
"Yo! Somebody open this damn door!"
Masato slammed his knuckles against it, his voice echoing through the corridor as he demanded to be let out. The movement aggravated his abdominal injury, forcing him to briefly press a hand against his stomach. He winced, but the discomfort did little to discourage him. If anything, his frustration only grew.
Fortunately, a familiar figure soon appeared behind the glass panel. Dahlia glanced through it, taking in his disheveled appearance and the fact that he was clearly standing when he had been instructed not to.
"You're supposed to be resting, Shindó."
Her voice remained composed and professional, carrying the sort of authority that made it clear she wasn't interested in entertaining his protests.
"Fuck rest! I need to get outta here! There's one of our students out there fightin' for her life!"
Masato struck the door again, restraining his strength before he accidentally damaged it.
"We can't afford to lose anyone else, bro! So quit standin' there and unlock the damn thing!"
"I'm afraid I cannot do that, Shindó."
Dahlia didn't raise her voice or show any signs of being intimidated by his outburst. She simply maintained her position, speaking with the same measured composure.
"We have already been informed of the situation. Several of our nearest units have been dispatched to deal with the Malform, and Cinder is among them. There is no need for you to involve yourself."
Masato's fists gradually loosened against the door. He leaned closer to the glass, using it to support some of his weight as he stared directly at her with an increasingly frustrated expression.
"God damn it, Dahlia! You can't just keep me locked up in here while there's a Malform runnin' loose!"
He gestured toward his abdomen, almost as though trying to prove a point.
"These wounds ain't nothin', man! Sure, they hurt like hell, but I can still fight! Just let me out, bro!"
Dahlia stared at him for a moment before slowly shaking her head. She briefly closed her eyes, seemingly growing tired of his stubborn refusal to cooperate.
"Remain inside the Institute's hospital, Shindó. That is an order. If you continue disregarding your recovery instructions, I will have no choice but to inform Dr. Mozen of your behaviour."
Her tone remained polite, but the warning was unmistakable. Masato could only grit his teeth. Being threatened with a report to Mozen was hardly what he wanted, but the thought of someone fighting that creature without sufficient support bothered him far more than another lecture from the doctor.
His expression shifted. The frustration in his eyes faded, replaced by a much more serious look. He straightened himself despite the pain, keeping his gaze fixed on Dahlia.
"Bro, ain't no way you're seriously tellin' me to stay in bed while that kid's out there fightin' for her life. What, you tryna lose more of our future Vanguards or somethin'? What's your deal, Dahlia?"
He scoffed, shaking his head.
"I knew you were a rule freak, but c'mon, man! There's a damn Malform out there goin' berserk, killin' people and wreckin' half the city, and all you care about is whether some student followed the damn rules? That's just stupid!"
Dahlia didn't seem particularly bothered by his choice of words. She calmly folded her arms before answering.
"That student skipped class and decided to investigate the Malform's whereabouts on her own. If anything, she is the one behaving irresponsibly. We have rules for a reason, Shindó. Students are expected to follow them."
Her eyes briefly shifted toward the television.
"She clearly lacks the experience required to handle a threat of this magnitude, yet she chose to put herself in danger regardless. If this continues, we will revoke her Binder privileges or, should it come to that, expel her from the academy. Whether she likes it or not is her own concern. Students can be replaced."
Masato's jaw tightened. Her words were really getting under his skin, but he knew well that losing his temper wasn't going to get him anywhere. He took a breath, then leaned against the door.
"Alright, then. Lemme ask you somethin'..."
He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
"We're already short on Vanguards. Half our students have been through hell, and you seriously think sittin' in a classroom and readin' books is gonna make 'em stronger? C'mon, be real. That's not how this works."
He raised his hand, pointing toward the television.
"Look at that girl. See what she's doin'? She's out there puttin' her ass on the line to protect this city while the rest of our students are stuck behind their desks, learnin' about Malforms from some damn textbook."
He shook his head, visibly frustrated.
"And what happens when another attack hits? What, they gonna pull out their notebooks and start writin' down notes while people are gettin' killed? Hell no!"
His voice grew louder, but there was something genuine behind his frustration.
"These kids need room to breathe, man. They need more freedom, more actual field experience, more chances to get their hands dirty and figure out what they're capable of. They gotta build some confidence before they're thrown into the deep end."
He paused, briefly wincing as another wave of pain crept through his abdomen. Still, he refused to back down.
"I'm not sayin' we should throw every student into a battlefield and hope they figure things out. That's just stupid. But there's a difference between protectin' someone and holdin' them back. You gotta give 'em opportunities to learn, make decisions, and understand what they're capable of before their lives depend on it."
Dahlia's expression remained unchanged.
"And what would you have me do, Shindó? Allow every student to make their own decisions and send themselves into situations they cannot handle? Would you still defend that freedom if another student ended up dead because they mistook recklessness for courage?"
Masato fell silent for a moment. His gaze drifted toward the television, where the girl was still struggling against the Malform.
"Of course not. I don't want any of these kids dyin'. That's the whole damn point."
He looked back at Dahlia.
"I've seen what happens when people aren't prepared for the real thing. You can memorize every weakness a Malform has, learn every damn combat theory in existence, and still freeze when one of those things is standing right in front of you."
His voice became a little quieter, though the conviction behind it remained.
"Experience isn't somethin' you can teach entirely through a textbook. Sometimes, people need to face reality before they understand what they're actually fightin' for."
He paused, glancing back at the television. The girl was still there, struggling against the Malform, refusing to give up.
"That girl? She's got somethin' most of our students are missin'. Guts. She's not sittin' around waitin' for someone to tell her what to do. She saw the city in danger and went out there to do somethin' about it, even knowin' she could get her ass whooped."
A faint, almost impressed grin tugged at his lips.
"And honestly? That's the kinda person I'd want standin' beside me in a fight. Someone with the balls to step up when things get ugly."
Masato turned back toward Dahlia, his expression firm.
"So, tell me. What kinda Institute are we tryna build here? One that pumps out a bunch of bookworms who can recite every damn rule but freeze up the second a Malform shows its ugly face? Or one that actually gives these kids a chance to become stronger, tougher, and confident enough to protect themselves and everyone around 'em?"
He leaned closer to the glass, holding her gaze.
Dahlia remained silent for several seconds. For the first time during their exchange, her expression seemed to shift slightly. She glanced toward the television again, watching the young student struggle against the Malform.
"Your intentions may be admirable, Shindó, but good intentions won't bring someone back once they're dead."
Masato's expression hardened.
"Neither will a damn rulebook."
He took a breath, his gaze never leaving hers.
"Because last time I checked, we're supposed to be trainin' Vanguards, not a bunch of damn librarians. And if we keep treatin' 'em like they're made of glass, how the hell are they ever gonna protect this world?"
To be continued...