Tengoku e no Hangyaku - Rebellion against Heaven (english version)

Chapter 5: The Weight of Decision

Aiko sat on the edge of a stone table in the dark room where she had been summoned. Her eyes swept over Haru, Kenta, and Daichi, who were standing in front of her with serious expressions. She didn't understand why she had been called alone, but something in the atmosphere told her that it wasn't just for catch-up.

"Well, are you going to tell me why they called me or do I have to guess?" He asked calmly, crossing his arms.

Kenta was the first to speak.

"They told us that the mission was just for you.

Aiko raised an eyebrow.

"Who told you that?"

"Death."

A brief silence filled the room.

"Interesting," Aiko said, resting her hands on the table. We have always worked together, but now it turns out that they need me alone. Why?

Haru exchanged a glance with Kenta and Daichi, as if hesitant to answer.

"Don't take it personally, Aiko," he said finally. It is not a common mission.

Aiko let out a small laugh.

—Since when have any of our missions been common?

"Never," Daichi admitted. But this one is different.

Aiko tilted her head, her patience wearing thin.

"Stop thinking about it and say it at once. What does this mission have that Ryuusei can't do?

Kenta clenched his fists, but kept his composure.

"Because this time the mission is not to recover something.

Aiko felt a chill run down her spine.

"Then what is it?"

No one responded immediately. It was Haru who finally let go of the words that would change everything.

"They gave us the order to eliminate someone.

The room seemed to shrink suddenly.

"What?" Aiko whispered, her voice barely audible.

"We have no choice," Kenta continued. It is a direct order.

Aiko looked at the three of them in disbelief.

"Who?" he asked in a tense voice.

The silence that followed was worse than any response.

"No... He whispered, feeling a knot in his stomach. They can't be serious.

Haru looked down. Daichi, on the other hand, held his expression firm.

"They told us to choose someone," he said in a cold voice. And we choose you.

Aiko felt her blood run cold.

"What the hell are they saying?"

"You're the weakest, Aiko," Haru blurted out, her voice infused with something Aiko didn't instantly recognize. If we have to sacrifice someone, it stands to reason that it should be you.

Aiko's mind blurred for an instant. For years they had fought together, protected each other. And now they were simply going to eliminate it because they were given the option to do so?

"They can't be serious," he murmured, his breathing quickening.

"It's not personal, Aiko," Kenta said, though her voice didn't have a shred of doubt.

Aiko slowly got up.

"Isn't it personal?" he repeated with a bitter smile. Is it that easy? After all we've been through?

Daichi drew his weapon without hesitation.

"We're sorry, but that's the way the rules are.

The air became dense. Aiko took a step back. They weren't going to stop. They weren't hesitating.

"I'm not going to let them kill me.

"You don't have a choice.

Kenta was the first to move. A silver flash flashed past Aiko, who barely had time to dodge it. They did not hesitate. They did not hold back. They were attacking with real intent to kill her.

"Damned! Aiko shouted, rolling on the ground to avoid Haru's second attack.

His mind was working at full speed. Three against one. He couldn't win. He had to escape.

Daichi slashed in her direction, but Aiko bent down in time, feeling the blade's edge cut through a portion of her clothes. He jumped back and drew his own weapon.

"So they're really going to do it?" He said, his voice trembling between rage and despair.

Haru lunged at her, and Aiko was barely able to block the blow with her blade. The impact set her back several steps, her arm numb from the force of the attack.

"Don't make it harder, Aiko," Kenta said, moving around her.

Aiko took a deep breath. I wasn't going to die here. She wasn't going to let them kill her.

With a quick movement, he threw a small smoke bomb to the ground. The dense fog filled the room in a second.

"Don't let her escape!" Daichi shouted.

Aiko used distraction to run for the exit. His heart was pounding, his mind screaming.

This wasn't happening.

But it was happening. Haru, Kenta, and Daichi had decided to kill her.

And now, Aiko had to decide if she was willing to kill them in order to survive.