The next day had arrived, and Kira and Milly made their way out of Kira's apartment bright and early. They had to report back to Cradle, update Isak on Kira's recovery, and get the latest on the newly flagged Alberline case. Kira still had college on her mind, mainly because she wanted to see Kentaro. College itself was more of a backup plan than a passion, but she figured having it as a fallback made her feel like a responsible adult. Milly, though, was different. Standing by the door in her fresh uniform while Kira slipped on her shoes, she had no backup plan. All her eggs were in Cradle's basket. The pay was good, but more than that, she finally felt like she had purpose, something school had never given her.

"You coming? We're gonna be late if you don't hurry." Milly called out, tapping her boot impatiently.

"Two seconds!" Kira answered from her room. A moment later, she stepped out in her usual black jacket, black trousers, and a plain black top. Her outfit screamed practicality, not fashion. Milly grinned at the sight, then followed as they left the apartment together.

The trip wasn't long. They caught the bus just in time, and soon enough, the sprawling, modern Cradle base loomed before them. The Oshawa branch was sharp glass and steel, buzzing with police officers taking smoke breaks and operatives in constant motion. As the two entered, they made their way past security and into the A.A.S. section, the part of the building few outsiders ever questioned. To the public, it was just "official access only." But to insiders, it was the beating heart of Cradle's Alberline operations.

After a few corridors, they arrived in the locker room. Isak was already there, leaning against a bench, surrounded by the rest of their squad in casual chatter. He looked up as the door opened.

"Ahh, finally. Kira, how're you holding up?" His voice was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp.

Kira gave a small smile. "Doing good. Thanks for asking."

Isak nodded approvingly, then turned toward Milly. "You filled her in?"

Milly saluted with a smile. "She's up to speed."

"Good. Because not long ago, confirmation came in, a reading pinged an Alberline presence. Looks like we can't catch a break." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Kira's shoulders slumped. That meant no college. No Kentaro. Not today.

Milly noticed her expression dip and shot her best motivational grin. "Don't worry! Once we deal with this, we'll celebrate. Drinks, food, karaoke, the works!" She raised her fist high.

"YEAH!" the other operatives cheered back, energy crackling through the room.

Isak chuckled, clapping his hands to settle them. "Alright, alright. Listen closely. This reading, this Alberline, it isn't as strong as Ice-Breaker, Dominance, or even Siren. But…" His voice dropped. "That just means it's trickier. Crafty. Don't underestimate it."

Everyone nodded silently, the weight of his words sinking in.

But then, as if something clicked in his memory, Isak's expression turned darker. He leaned forward. "Speaking of those… Reports came in Today. Two girls, spitting image of Ice-Breaker and Dominance, were spotted at your college, Kira."

The room froze. His words hung in the air like a knife.

"…What?" One of the operatives muttered. "Alberlines. At school?"

Isak nodded grimly. "We're not sure. We can't just storm in and accuse them, and even if we had evidence, an attack in public would cause chaos. You know the rules; we can't expose this to civilians. Which puts us in a hell of a bind."

Kira stared at the floor, tension building in her chest. "…I see. So what's the plan?"

His eyes locked on hers. "Since they're at your college, you'll need to keep watch. Quietly. We'll work behind the scenes to gather what we can. The higher-ups, Takeshi, and Ino, they'll figure out how to handle the evidence. Our job, for now, is the new Alberline. At least we know we're not the only ones on this trail. That gives us a bit of breathing room."

Milly frowned. "But how do you get evidence against an Alberline without tipping them off?"

Isak shrugged. "Not my department. Like I said, Takeshi and Ino will figure that out."

Silence thickened the room. The thought of Alberlines blending into everyday college life was too surreal, too dangerous.

Isak noticed the mood sinking and suddenly clapped his hands again, snapping everyone out of it. "Alright! Enough brooding. Another squad's on patrol right now, so we're grounded until further notice. That means one thing: training. Stay sharp, stay ready, and when the call comes, we'll show them what this team can do. Understood?"

"YESSIR!" the room barked back in perfect unison.

Kira and Milly exchanged a glance. Both of them knew the weight of what had just been said. This wasn't just another mission. If Alberlines were walking their college halls… everything was about to change.

*

*Squish. Squish.*

"Hnnnn…" A deep moan echoed close by.

Kentaro's dream had him running. Breath short, heart pounding, he darted across an endless field of strange, sponge-like orbs bouncing after him. They weren't scary, not quite, but they weren't pleasant either. Every time one caught him, it pressed into him, threatening to knock him off a cliff. The texture was soft, springy, suffocating, and every time he grabbed one to pull himself back up, that strange, moaning sound surrounded him.

Then his body froze. The air was squeezed out of his lungs, his vision dimmed, and the orbs collapsed around him. He fell, smothered in softness, until everything went black.

"Hhhmmmnn!" His eyes shot open. He lurched forward, or tried to, but something was on his face. No, on him. His windpipe was blocked.

He blinked, confused, and realised in horror what it was. Serica.

Or more accurately, Serica's massive "assets" pressed right down over his mouth and nose. Her nightgown had slipped open, leaving nothing between him and… Well, direct suffocation.

"Mmphhh!?" Kentaro flailed, jerking his head away from the forbidden fruit. But in the panic, his left hand clenched on reflex.

Squish.

"Hmmnn…" Another moan.

Kentaro froze. Slowly, with mounting dread, he turned his head to the left.

There was Aria, still sound asleep beside him on the couch. And in his hand, God help him, was a full grip of her breast.

Steam practically exploded from his ears. His entire face flushed crimson.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The scream tore through the room. Serica bolted awake, blinking, until she realised her entire right breast was exposed, wet, no less.

"KYAAAAAA!" she shrieked, yanking the gown up, her knee rocketing straight into Kentaro's groin.

"AGHHHHHHH!" Kentaro folded like a dying accordion, tumbling off the couch and dragging a dazed Aria with him. They rolled off the coffee table, slamming to the floor in a heap.

BOOOOM!

The door burst open.

"IS EVERYTHING OKAY?!" Tenka and Yura shouted in unison.

Their eyes immediately went wide. Serica was on the couch, red as an apple, hiding her face and whispering over and over: "Th-they're wet… My breasts…"

And Kentaro… Was sprawled on top of Aria.

Aria's face was frozen in a mix of mortification and shock. Kentaro, meanwhile, stared at the ceiling and cried out, "WHY NOW OF ALL TIMES?!"

"YOU BRUTE!" Tenka roared. Without hesitation, she launched herself at him, fists raining down in righteous fury.

By the time Yura managed to explain the "situation," Kentaro's face was swollen, his body aching. He swore he couldn't feel his jaw anymore as he staggered back to his feet. Tenka stood nearby, arms crossed, pouting furiously, her own face pink.

"Again, Tenka, it was all a misunderstanding-"

"SHUT IT!" she snapped, storming off to change clothes.

Serica, Yura, and Aria exchanged glances. Serica, though still mortified, suddenly burst into laughter. Yura followed, and even Aria let out a small chuckle.

Kentaro's eyebrow twitched. He didn't find it funny at all. He'd been crushed, humiliated, and beaten, none of it his fault. But seeing the three laugh together, he bit back his complaint. If this helped Aria fit in, maybe it wasn't a total loss.

After everyone got changed and ready, the group stepped outside. The sun was still climbing, the air crisp. They had plenty of time before classes began. Serica had suggested grabbing breakfast together, which doubled as another chance for Aria to bond. Tenka agreed, and soon they were riding the train, hopping off a stop early to explore the bustling morning streets.

Skyscrapers loomed overhead like steel titans. Workers rushed past, shops clattered open, and the smell of fresh bread and coffee drifted through the air. Serica and Tenka led the charge, pointing out diners and cafes they wanted to try. Behind them, Aria and Yura stuck close together, chatting quietly. Kentaro trailed alongside, hands in his pockets, listening with half a smile.

Yura was technically starting her "first day" of college today. The irony wasn't lost on him; both she and Aria had slipped into enrollment thanks to Tenka's cousin cover story. Now, somehow, all three, Serica, Yura, and Aria, were officially "Tenka's cousins." The absurdity of it made Kentaro chuckle under his breath.

But the laugh died in his throat.

Something moved.

His eyes flicked down to the pavement, shadows. Flickering. Elongated. Not theirs.

He looked up.

The rooftops stretched high above, concrete and glass framed against the morning sky. And there, dashing across the ledges, he saw them. A figure leaping from rooftop to rooftop. And behind, three others, in pursuit. Their silhouettes shifted, darting, chasing. Too fast. Too unreal.

Kentaro's breath caught.

The lead figure jumped, almost gliding through the air before it disappeared over the far edge. The others followed, one after another, vanishing into the air.

He blinked, heart thumping. Did he imagine it?

"…I swear," he muttered, voice low but sharp enough that the others turned, "there were people on the roof just now."

The girls followed his gaze, but saw nothing. Just blue sky, sunlight, rooftops still and quiet.

Serica tilted her head, then giggled, skipping back to grab his arm. "Silly Kentaro. There's nothing there. Come on, I'm hungry!"

The others nodded. Must've been his imagination. Maybe just hunger.

"…But I swear…" Kentaro whispered, still staring upward as Serica dragged him along.

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