The sudden appearance of the helicopter threw everyone inside the house into a state of unease.
Their refuge was out in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing around for miles. So why did a helicopter just have to come here? Had the lights exposed their position? Or was there some hidden base nearby?
Although Takashiro Kyoko had already recognized the helicopter's markings as belonging to the Ground Self-Defense Force, that did not guarantee anything. There was always the possibility that someone else had gotten their hands on the aircraft.
After all, she herself had ended up with a JGSDF armored vehicle by sheer accident. And with those scum from before as a precedent, Kyoko was still wary of the Self-Defense Force.
If the people coming were hostile, then Kyoko's side had almost nothing capable of dealing with an aerial target.
Small arms were too little of a threat to a helicopter like this. She had no anti-air missiles. The autocannon on the armored vehicle might do something.
But there was no need to panic. The Gauss rifle in Kyoko's hands could reliably punch through the frontal armor of an armored vehicle. A helicopter would be easy work for it.
"For fuck's sake. Flying a helicopter out here in the middle of the night just to bother me?" Kyoko muttered. "If I ever get the chance later, I'm building a full-on underground vault like something straight out of Fallout. Anything on the surface is way too obvious."
Fortunately, the aircraft still had not made any aggressive move.
Kyoko's instincts were also telling her there was no danger at the moment. Even her long-unused Bullet Time skill had not triggered.
For now, she was willing to assume the newcomers were at least neutral.
Otherwise, if they had been enemies, they would have opened fire already. If it were her, she would have launched the rockets by now.
"Seriously, I can't stand this. Want me to do all the work, then also drop surprises like this on my head?" she grumbled inwardly.
Even so, Kyoko still moved to open communications.
Better to talk first and avoid a misunderstanding.
"This is... Winterwood Shelter. I'm the leader here. Welcome to our humble refuge, members of Special Operations."
She had not actually prepared a name for the shelter, so she made one up on the spot.
The answer came back at once.
"We are landing now. Please take care. See you shortly."
"See you shortly…"
Cradling her rifle, Kyoko headed toward the landing area.
At the same time, several guns behind her quietly trained themselves on the helicopter's direction.
Inside the aircraft, the others did not think much of it. They simply felt that the girl's voice was distinctive—one that left a strong impression.
But Kono Chiyo had already gone stiff.
The moment she heard that voice, she came alive.
That was Kyoko's voice... wasn't it? I didn't hear wrong. Right? Right. That was Kyoko. No mistake.
Her sharpened instincts told her at once—
that was her daughter.
Chiyo's heartbeat skyrocketed.
At this point, tracing cause and effect no longer mattered. She just wanted to get off the helicopter and see the girl she had spent the last month aching for.
Kyoko. I knew you were alive.
"Helena, hurry up and land," she urged, practically vibrating with anticipation. "I want to see just what kind of extraordinary person could keep this little shelter running."
She yanked off her gloves and tossed them aside, revealing long, slender fingers flushed slightly red from being cooped up all day.
Helena, meanwhile, was far too sensible to ask questions that had nothing to do with her.
The old rule held true—curiosity killed the cat.
The helicopter circled and descended onto the clearing farther out from Kyoko's shelter.
From the watch platform, Kyoko kept her eyes fixed on it, weapon ready.
The rotors whipped the snow into a spinning ring, blasting it across the ground.
A few figures stepped down from the aircraft—soldiers in gray-white protective gear, their helmets fully sealed, along with two specialists bundled in heavy outerwear.
Nine people in total.
Seeing that they made no hostile move, Kyoko lowered her gun slightly and stepped forward.
Trusting in Bullet Time and the protection of her combat suit, she took point alone.
The others followed far behind—nearly half a school field away.
One of the soldiers, tall and broad-shouldered, walked up and offered her hand. Kyoko accepted the handshake without refusing.
"Hello. I'm Helena, commander of this team."
"I'm—"
Kyoko had only just opened her mouth to introduce herself when a voice she knew all too well cut across her words.
"Kyoko—it is you! I knew you were still alive!"
Kono Chiyo tore off her protective mask and rushed straight at her.
For an instant, Kyoko's body reacted on pure instinct, ready to dodge. But the moment she recognized who it was, all her caution vanished.
The two of them crashed into each other in a tight embrace.
The soldiers nearby froze, startled by the scene.
For Kono Chiyo, there were no words that could have carried this much feeling.
Language was too pale. Too weak.
So she let her body say what words never could, wrapping Kyoko in both arms and holding her fast.
"Chiyo-nee?! Why are you here?"
Kyoko stared at her in open shock.
There had been one instant, just one, where she had almost thought she was hallucinating—some kind of psychic infected trick.
But she discarded that thought immediately. She was not the sort to sink into paranoid fantasies. Who would go to this much trouble to stage an elaborate trap around her? No one.
Pressed against Chiyo like this, all she felt was shock, then joy.
She had never imagined she would reunite with her guardian so soon.
She had assumed Chiyo was still in Hawaii.
Now, finally, she could let herself feel relieved.
Being reunited with family really did feel wonderful.
Kono Chiyo might have been strict with her allowance, but her guardian had never once done anything to harm her. Especially not when it mattered.
Kyoko trusted her completely on that front.
Off to the side, Helena quietly pieced it all together.
So that was it.
No wonder Commissioner Kono had insisted on this mission. It was not just work. She had personal business here too.
Still, Helena was not angry. Kono Chiyo did have a legitimate reason to come, and from Helena's point of view, someone in power using a little of that power for themselves was hardly rare.
As long as it was not her squad paying for it in blood, she could live with it.
"Come on, Chiyo-nee, let's get inside," Kyoko said, catching herself first and tugging her along. "It's freezing out here."
"All right, all right. Helena, come with us."
"Understood. Move out, people. We're heading in with Miss Kyoko."
Footsteps crunched through the snow as the whole group headed toward the shelter gate.
"Kyoko-nee! Are you okay?!"
Huaxiu had run all the way down from the lookout tower, watching this entire scene unfold with wide eyes.
"Open the gate," Kyoko called back. "It's fine. They're safe."
"Oh—right! I'm opening it!"
Huaxiu hurried to have the heavy wooden gate swung open.
The others in the shelter came out as well, though their welcome was nowhere near as warm.
Especially not among those Kyoko had rescued before.
After being enslaved by what had once been their own military, they no longer trusted anyone wearing an official uniform.
With Kyoko leading the way, Kono Chiyo stepped into the shelter grounds.
As they walked, the two of them were already talking, and fast.
Kyoko barely spared anyone else a glance.
Huaxiu, standing off to the side, could only stare.
"Chiyo-nee, have you eaten? If not, I'll cook right away."
"Still my thoughtful Kyoko," Chiyo said warmly. "I'm starving."
She pinched Kyoko's hand and smiled. "Everyone else has gone gaunt in this world, but somehow you've actually gotten a little healthier."
"I have not gotten fat! You're imagining things." Kyoko huffed, but she still held onto Chiyo's hand. Then she suddenly frowned. "Chiyo-nee... why are your hands damp?"
"Nothing. They just got sweaty inside the gloves."
Her eyes were still slightly red, and the excuse sounded weak.
But Kyoko was too happy to notice anything strange.
By now, the people outside had all gathered around, openly curious.
Huaxiu in particular was beyond puzzled.
Kyoko's parents were gone. That much she knew.
And this "Chiyo-nee" was supposed to have been in Hawaii.
So if she was not a relative, then what was she?
A family friend? A guardian? An older-sister figure?
Huaxiu had no answer.
The others, meanwhile, kept their distance, tense and uncertain.
The soldiers accompanying Chiyo did not seem overly concerned.
From their perspective, this little mountain refuge posed little threat.
Then Kyoko, after shepherding Chiyo and the others inside, stopped and turned.
For one brief moment, System Girl watched the whole thing from the shadows, delighted beyond reason.
Would this turn into a full-blown bloodbath of a love triangle?
Maybe even a mother-versus-lovers conflict?
This was exactly the kind of chaos she lived for.
Serves you right for neglecting me, she thought happily. This is your punishment, Kyoko.
Back in the warm shelter, Kyoko had already started bustling around, getting ready to feed everyone.
And Chiyo, still holding her daughter's hand, did not intend to let go anytime soon.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter125)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter250)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 80
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 70
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 80
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 57
The Uma Musume Who Became 55
I'm Definitely Not the King of 60
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 35
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 34
I, the Elden Sword Saint 27
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 24
No One Knows Pokémon Better 18
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 20
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