Setai Headquarters.

  The control room was dim, lit only by the glow of monitors. The Setai advisors huddled around, tracking the battlefield from what little data they could still receive.

  Then—

  “Sir, we have a report—”

  The advisor’s voice faltered.

  “The squad’s helicopter has been… shot down.”

  Silence.

  Samberg’s fingers curled into fists at his side. He inhaled slowly.

  ”…So it begins.”

  A brief pause. Then—

  “Also sir, there’s a call for you.”

  Samberg barely reacted.

  “Who is it?”

  The advisor hesitated.

  “It’s… young Hayashi, sir.”

  Samberg’s breath hitched.

  He turned, eyes widening slightly.

  “The kid? Patch him through.”

  The Setai transport vehicle rumbled down an empty road, heading toward headquarters.

  Inside, Watari sat in silence, staring out the window. The city lights blurred past.

  Then—

  “Kid, you there?”

  Samberg’s voice came through the speaker.

  Watari blinked, snapping back to reality.

  “Yeah.”

  A pause. Then—

  “Listen. I know I gave you my number before you left, but I didn’t actually think you’d use it…..The fight’s already started. If I get you there, you’re gonna be te. We have no comms. No idea what the situation is.”

  Watari exhaled sharply.

  “That’s fine.”

  Samberg studied him through the monitor.

  ”…You don’t even hesitate.”

  Watari smirked faintly.

  “If there’s one thing I’ve learned recently… it’s that there’s no point in hesitating.”

  Samberg’s gaze narrowed slightly.

  He turned, eyes flicking toward the two Setai guards standing by the entrance.

  Between them—Chizuru.

  Bound. Restrained. Silent.

  Her usual smirk was gone. She stared at the ground, expression unreadable.

  Samberg’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned back to the monitor.

  “The others have their reasons, you know. Ryuko, Ren, Yumi, Akira… they’ve been tied to this fight for a while. They have personal stakes.”

  A pause.

  “But you?”

  “You’re eighteen, kid. You don’t have to be part of this. You still have a choice.”

  Watari chuckled softly.

  “A lot of people have been telling me that recently.”

  Samberg watched him carefully.

  “Then tell me—why?”

  Watari was silent for a moment.

  Then—

  “You know, there’s not too many differences between a warrior and a hero. They both protect. Heroes usually protect who they hold dear, but warriors?”

  “They protect those who hold others dear as well.”

  Samberg’s breath caught.

  “And I have people I hold dear now… who have lost people they hold dear.”

  “I know it’s a lot, but if I can somehow manage to protect it all…”

  A small smirk.

  ”…That’d be pretty great, huh?”

  The words lingered.

  Then, after a beat—Samberg let out a slow exhale.

  “I’m not gonna tell you what to do, kid.”

  “But I’ll get you there.”

  Samberg gnced at Chizuru again.

  “And don’t worry about her. I’ll put her in Setai containment,” he muttered. “She won’t be walking free again.”

  He turned to the advisor.

  “Get another super chopper ready.”

  The advisor hesitated.

  “Sir… the only chopper we have left… is the one we received from the Chūkan.”

  A pause.

  “We have no one who can sync with its Tamashkii systems.”

  A long silence.

  Then, Samberg’s gaze shifted.

  To Watari.

  A slow realization flickered across his face.

  “This kid’s been there. He can sync. Riding in it shouldn’t be a problem for him. Now piloting…”

  A deep breath.

  Then—

  “I’ll be the one to pilot it.”

  The advisor’s eyes widened.

  “Sir, I’ve heard the rumors but… you shouldn’t be the one to—”

  Samberg cut him off.

  “We have no other option. We don’t know the situation, and this kid… might be the st hope we have.”

  His voice was firm. Absolute.

  “Now get that chopper prepped.”

  The advisor hesitated.

  A glimpse of Sato came into his mind. He knew Sato had picked the right guy to take over.

  Then—

  “Yes, commander.”

  CUT TO BLACK.