Yumix; Unveiled Chapter 34: Safety First

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The Original Web Light Novel Project ( ARC 5 ) The Fall Of The Counterplans Volume 02, Chapter 17: [ Safety First ] Original work. By the author 'Pili.' (Italic dialogues represent character inner monologues) That night, the cafeteria was as usual, alive with noise and activity. Utensils were clinking against plates, laughter erupted from nearby tables, and the hum of conversations drifted around. But unlike the others, only one person appeared completely detached from reality… Hiroki, who sat alone at a corner table, staring blankly at the cold cup of water in his hands. He wasn't really focusing on the water. While his gaze was fixed on the ripples, his mind was somewhere far away. Beside him sat his untouched tray. He wasn’t hungry. Not really. Yet, he hadn’t moved it far away either. Letting the food go cold felt easier than deciding to eat. Outside, the courtyard was visible through the glass of the window. A few recruits passed by casually, some walking in pairs. Everything seemed ordinary. Hiroki kept gazing for a moment. That scene brought something back from the depths of his memory… something from his past life. He remembered back then, walking home from school. The sky always seemed grey in his memories. He would often see the children walking briskly, holding their parents' hands. He was just watching from a distance, pretending he hadn't noticed them. But in reality, those scenes reminded him of his own mother. Hiroki’s fingers tightened slightly around the fork. That house… When he would open the front door late in the evening, hoping, just for a second, that things might be different. But reality had never been that kind. As he walked in, the smell of alcohol hit him first. Bottles scattered on the floor. Furniture was out of place. And far there, his father was asleep in the living room, mumbling something he never bothered to understand. He used to stand there for a few seconds, walk up the stairs, and close the door of his room, just like he always did. Silence was his only sanctuary back then. Even at school, it was the same. Sitting in the back row, next to the window. The other students would laugh, make plans, and talk about their lives. He was there, but just as a spectator. Just a ghost haunting the back of the classroom. There was one girl, though. With her long black hair and quiet dark purple eyes. She used to glance his way sometimes, curiosity mixed with hesitation. But he never returned the gaze. Not because he disliked her. He just wouldn't bother. "Why do I have to remember all this now…? I thought I had buried that life deep enough." Hiroki exhaled sharply, his gaze dropped to the table. The sound of footsteps passed behind him, pulling him back to the present. This world. The PHG. "The weight we've been carrying so far seems now to be impacting our mental state." Hiroki settled in, relaxing as he rested his left hand against his cheek. "Still, this seems like nothing compared to what Amaya has gone through so far." His gaze was quite dull. *A few days ago…* The place was initially wrapped in a heavy silence. It was the meeting room. Hiroki and his group were present, looking anxious. On the opposite side, behind the desk, stood Seina Karino, her posture straight, and her hands resting on the table. Ryuuji was beside her, his arms crossed, and his eyes fixed on the group. Additionally, there was an extra guard standing at the gate. "Before anything else," Seina finally began, her voice was calm but firm, "I need to make something clear." She raised her gaze slightly, meeting each of them in turn. "From today onward, Hiroki’s group will be suspended from main operations." The room fell silent. Yoru was the first to react, standing up in disbelief. "…Suspended?" Her brows furrowed immediately. "You mean all missions?" "Only main missions," Seina corrected. "Anything involving large-scale movements, high risk, or outsider regions." "So we’re not out," he said, trying to keep it light. "Right…? But