[At a secluded police training facility late afternoon. The sky is overcast, wind stirring the leaves.]
[The quiet hum of tension lingers in the air. Shirou double-checks the laces on his sneakers, while Kei stretches with exaggerated confidence. Reina, firm and unreadable, stands before them. To her left are Officers Yui, Ryou, and Shin-each embodying a different kind of discipline.]
Reina: This isn't a game. The next time we engage, we won't have the luxury of a second try. Kei-former criminal. Shirou-civilian. You're both liabilities in the field unless we make you less of one. Starting now.
Kei: smirking Didn't know I signed up for boot camp.
Shin: cold and direct If you don't take this seriously, you won't make it past the front lines.
Ryou: grinning slightly
Easy, Shin. Let them warm up before you chew them out.
Yui: We'll be splitting you up. Kei, you're with me and Shin. Shirou, Ryou and the Captain have you.
[Cut to simulation course - makeshift combat grounds filled with obstacles, moving targets, and auto-turrets rigged with paint rounds.]
[Shirou stumbles behind a barricade as simulated fire pelts nearby. Reina kneels beside him, her voice calm but sharp.]
Reina: Focus on your breathing. You panic-you die. Understand?
Shirou: swallows hard Y-Yes, ma'am.
[He peeks over the cover, aiming shakily. A target pops up-he misses.]
Ryou: off to the side Hey, don't beat yourself up. First time's always rough. Try again. Adjust your grip-like this.
[Ryou walks over, gently correcting Shirou's hands on the training weapon.]
Ryou: calm Feel the pressure on your palms, not your fingers. Don't tense up. Let the shot flow.
[Shirou breathes in and fires-he hits the target this time.]
Reina: watching Better. But don't rely too much on someone holding your hand. Out there, you stand alone.
Shirou: nodding I'll remember.
[Meanwhile]
[Kei dashes into the obstacle field with cocky swagger. Shin stands in front of him with arms crossed.]
Shin: Arrogance will get you killed. You think your street instincts are enough? Let's see.
[Yui throws Kei a training pistol and initiates the simulation. Moving drones whir to life, firing paint rounds. Kei rolls and hits two, but leaves his flank exposed. A paintball hits him square on the side.]
Yui: flatly Dead.
Kei: wincing Okay, okay. That stings.
Shin: In real combat, that's a bullet. You'd be dead. And so would the people relying on you.
[Kei lowers his weapon, irritation flickering across his face.]
[Later, the team gathers. Sweat clings to their clothes, and tension lingers but feels changed-sharpened.]
Ryou: patting Shirou on the shoulder You've got heart. Just don't forget to use your head too.
Shin: to Kei You still have a long way to go. But you're not hopeless.
Yui: to Reina They're rough. But they're learning.
Reina: looking at Shirou and Kei Tomorrow, it gets harder. For now-rest. You'll need every ounce of strength for what's coming.
[As the sun sets beyond the treetops, the training ground fades into shadow-but something within Shirou begins to shine brighter. Resolve. Determination.]
Shirou: softly, to himself Shizuka... I'll be strong enough next time.
[SOVEREIGN CIRCLE'S HIDEOUT - BASEMENT CELL - NIGHT]
[The air was thick and still, heavy with the scent of damp concrete. A single, flickering light cast ghostly silhouettes along the walls of the isolated cell. Behind rusted iron bars, Shizuka stirred awake.]
[Shizuka - blinking, disoriented, her breath shallow]
[Her head pounded. She reached up, wincing at the soreness on the back of her neck. Slowly, her memory began to return-the ambush... the masked figures... the panic in Shirou's voice before everything went dark.]
Shizuka: (softly)
Shirou...?
[She pulled herself up, her fingers grazing the cold floor for support. Her surroundings were unfamiliar-clinical yet decayed, like a forgotten basement turned into a prison.]
[Footsteps approach - echoing, deliberate]
[A large steel door creaked open. A tall figure in a dark coat entered, his face half-concealed by a hood. Behind him stood two more men, armed, silent.]
???: Greetings, Shizuka.
Shizuka: squinting Who are you? Where's Shirou?!
???: calmly Alive... for now. Which is why you're here. You're... important to him. And that makes you useful to us.
[She flinched, fists clenched tightly.]
Shizuka: You're using me... to get to him?
???: tilting his head Not just to get to him. You see, your bond with him-your presence-it stabilizes something within him. He doesn't even realize it yet... but you're the last thread keeping his dormant potential in check.
Shizuka: eyes widening What are you talking about?
???: stepping closer to the bars He was never supposed to survive. But he did. That anomaly? That was you. And now that he's aware, he's becoming unpredictable. Dangerous. We can't allow that.
[He pauses, voice hardening.]
???: So we keep you alive. For now. As leverage. As insurance.
Shizuka: fiercely You think this will stop him?
???: grinning No. We think it will push him... exactly where we want.
[The man turns and exits. The door slams shut. Silence returns-punctuated only by Shizuka's labored breathing.]
Shizuka: softly, to herself, eyes glinting with determination Shirou... whatever they're planning... don't fall into their trap.
[Later that night, the dim light overhead buzzed faintly, casting long shadows that stretched like claws across the cracked concrete floor. Shizuka sat quietly in the corner of her cell, her knees pulled to her chest, silently planning-thinking. Then, the steel door creaked again.]
[This time, the figure who entered wasn't the same as before.]
[The figure who stepped inside was unmistakable-jet-black hair like shadows, face partly hidden behind a pale mask.]
Shizuka: coldly, but restrained Yggdrasil...
[Yggdrasil said nothing at first. She approached with calm steps, holding a water bottle and a wrapped piece of bread. She knelt beside the hatch of the cell bars and gently slid them through.]
Yggdrasil: softly You remember me.
Shizuka: eyes narrowing Of course I do. You were the one who knocked me unconscious... and dragged me into that van.
Yggdrasil: quiet, a hint of guilt Yes... I did. I won't deny it.
[Shizuka stood now, slowly approaching the bars, her voice cold but controlled.]
Shizuka: Why? Why didn't you just kill me then and there?
[Yggdrasil met her gaze, unflinching.]
Yggdrasil: Because it was never about killing you. You were just part of the target. If anything... I saved you. If I hadn't acted, they would've made it far worse.
[Shizuka stared in silence. Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up the water bottle.]
Shizuka: You have a funny way of showing mercy.
Yggdrasil: gently I don't expect forgiveness. But I don't want you to starve either. You're not a prisoner because of anything you've done. You're here because of Shirou... because of what he means to all of this.
[Shizuka's expression shifted-not in fear, but in suspicion mingled with curiosity.]
Shizuka: What do you mean?
[Yggdrasil hesitated, her voice lowering into something almost fragile.]
Yggdrasil: You care about him. And he cares about you. That connection-it terrifies them. It's more powerful than they can control. That's why they're keeping you here. But I'm not like them. I still believe in... bonds. Even broken ones.
[She stood, slowly backing away from the bars.]
Yggdrasil: Eat. Rest. When the time comes... you'll have to make a choice. Not just for yourself-but for him too.
[And with that, she turned and exited the cell, leaving only the sound of the locking mechanism behind.]
[Shizuka stared at the bread in her hands. Her heart was pounding-not from fear, but from a truth she couldn't quite piece together yet.]
Shizuka: softly, to herself Yggdrasil... what are you really planning?
[The question hung in the air like a blade. Yggdrasil's gaze softened, but there was a hint of sadness in her expression, as if the answer weighed too heavily to speak.]
Yggdrasil: quietly There are things happening behind the scenes, things I can't talk about yet. If I tell you now, it'll put both of us in danger.
Shizuka: clenching her fists But I deserve to know-don't I?
[Yggdrasil stepped closer, lowering her voice to a near whisper as if the walls themselves had ears.]
Yggdrasil: You do. And when the time is right, I promise I'll tell you everything. But not here. Not yet.
Shizuka: frustrated That's not an answer.
Yggdrasil: It's the only one I can give-for now.
[She turned fully toward the door again but paused one last time.]
Yggdrasil: Until then... stay strong, Shizuka. Things are moving faster than you think.
[And with that, she exited the cell, the door locking behind her with a mechanical click. Shizuka stared at the bread and water once more, then at the cold steel bars. Her mind was a storm-half-truths, mixed signals, and an ally who might be walking on the edge of betrayal or salvation.]
[The corridor outside the basement was silent, only the faint humming of distant machinery echoing through the metallic walls. Yggdrasil walked with composed steps, her expression unreadable-but as soon as she reached her quarters, she locked the door behind her and leaned her back against it, finally allowing the mask to slip.]
[Her calm composure gave way to a storm of unease.]
Yggdrasil: murmuring to herself I shouldn't have gone down there... but I had to. I had to see her. After everything...
[She walked to a small desk, resting her hands on its edge. Her eyes fell on a torn photo, partially hidden beneath a leather-bound notebook. Carefully, she picked it up. It showed two young girls-one slightly older, smiling confidently while the other clung shyly to her side.]
Yggdrasil: ...Reina.
[Her mind drifted back. The memories returned in fragments-]
[Flashback: Several years ago]
[Gunfire, smoke, the chaos of their burned hometown. Yggdrasil-still known by her real name then-crouched behind cover. And there she was-Reina. In the center of the chaos, standing tall and refusing to abandon anyone.]
Young Reina: shouting Everyone fall back-now!
[In that moment, Yggdrasil froze. That voice, that face-it all came crashing back.]
Young Sera: Nee-san...?
[Present - Yggdrasil's room]
[Yggdrasil clenched the photo tightly in her hand.]
Yggdrasil: softly It really was you. Reina... you were alive all this time. And now you're leading the squad that's hunting us...
[She lowered the photo and let out a long breath, the weight of conflicting loyalties sinking in. Her duty to the organization-and now, the revelation that the woman chasing her was her long-lost older sister.]
Yggdrasil: How did it come to this?
[She sat on the edge of her bed, mind racing. Could she truly keep playing both sides? Could she protect Shizuka without turning against her sister?]
[One thing was certain-the walls were closing in. And the time to choose was drawing near.]
[Yggdrasil sat on the edge of her bed, the weight of everything pressing down on her chest like a heavy stone. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of conflict, memories of her sister mingling with the harsh reality of her mission. The photo of Reina still lay in her hands, the edges crumpled from the tight grip she'd held it in. Her breath caught in her throat, and a tightness formed in her chest as something unexpected washed over her.]
[For the first time in years, tears welled up in her eyes. They weren't just tears of frustration or anger, but something deeper-something far more personal. It was a kind of grief. A grief for the sister she'd once known, the sister she'd lost to the war, to the cause. She didn't know who Reina had become now, or who she herself had turned into, but the truth was undeniable. The woman she was about to face again... was her blood. Her family.]
[Yggdrasil wiped her eyes fiercely, as if trying to erase the weakness that threatened to break through her steel exterior.]
Yggdrasil: whispering, voice cracking Why now? Why did it have to be you, Reina?
[She could see it-the Captain's face. Strong, determined, the person who always had her back. Yggdrasil remembered the years they spent together, side by side, fighting the same battles. It wasn't supposed to end like this. But now, everything felt like a betrayal.]
[Her grip on the photo tightened again. She glanced at the calendar on the wall, her eyes scanning the date she'd already marked. The day of the final confrontation.]
Yggdrasil: in a choked whisper
You and me, Reina. We're going to finish this.
[She stood up abruptly, pacing the room, fists clenched in frustration. She knew what she had to do-what she had already decided on. No matter the emotions stirring within her, no matter the bond she shared with her sister, she had already made her choice. She couldn't back down now. Too much was at stake. The fight, the mission, everything depended on it.]
[The conflict between family and duty tore at her, but her resolve hardened once more. She had made a promise, to herself and to Shizuka, to see this through. She would face Reina, no matter the cost.]
Yggdrasil: breathing deeply, her voice cold with finality
I won't stop. Not now. I'll keep my word. This fight will end one way or another.
[Her gaze hardened, locking onto the calendar. The day was fast approaching-the day she would meet Reina once again. And this time, nothing would stand in her way. Not even the sister she had once loved.]
[She let the tears fall, silently, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability before her resolve snapped back into place.]
Yggdrasil: I'll finish what we started. For better or worse, this is the path I've chosen.
[With a final, determined breath, she wiped her tears away, shoved the photo into her drawer, and shut it with a force that echoed in the silent room.]
[The battle was coming soon. And she would be ready.]