Tensions naturally rose in the lands in-between the borders. An abandoned piece of land, desolate of life and full of rubble from a past extinction of plant life, save for a single, abandoned depot in the distance. Faded graffiti could be seen on the depot walls from a distance. One that depicts a rose with bullet-hole petals.

The very point of contention with the two schools standing before each other.

Arius Squad and the voluntary squads of Arius Satellite School on one side, and the members of the Tea Party with the Justice Task Force on the other. Weapons were drawn but not raised, as Atsuko and Nagisa stepped forward amongst the group. Tightened foregrips and twitchy trigger fingers were prevalent on both sides.

"So, it comes to this," Atsuko began.

"Truthfully, I came about to ensure it was not of your tomfoolery, nor your underlings," Nagisa replied, her hands behind her back, her thumb digging into her scar; a old wound, pulsing like a second heartbeat.

"And I assure you here that none of them are of association with Beatrice. But can you drop the condescension for a full day so we can cooperate peacefully?"

Silence. Nagisa's smile had a small twitch at one corner, while Atsuko remained firm, a dedication to her words and being.

A far cry from the princess they initially perceived her as.

"Very well. You desire honesty in this exchange."

"I'd ask nothing more."

"Then get it started," Kize voiced out, his presence unfelt, now recognized as he seemingly glided closer to the two districts. But there was another figure close by. One that caused his bandages to itch just ever so slightly.

"Instructor Shun." Nagisa voiced out.

"Hello, Nagisa. It seems everyone here is in agreement." She smiled warmly, a stark contrast to the land surrounding them. But there was also something else in that smile as well.

"Uh, question?" Mika didn't wait for an approval. "Why are you here, Instructor Shun?"

Shun's smile didn't waver, but her fingers twitched against the thermos at her hip; the twin, albeit perfectly formed compared to Kize's. "Why, to chaperone of course. Someone needs to make sure you children play nice."

The air grew heavier. Somewhere in the ruined depot, a loose metal sheet groaned in the wind like a wounded animal.

Nagisa's polished shoe scuffed the cracked earth. "This is hardly a field trip, Instructor. We're investigating--"

"Potential Beatrice activity, yes." Shun's voice softened as she adjusted her sleeves, the ink stains a reminder of her own role to the students. She noticed Mika's hand ghosting to her right side; a scar that was unseen, but acknowledged silently by her.

Another glance to Arius, she noticed several of them gripping their guns tighter than before. Shaky. Her eyes softened as well, before her smile widened.

"Which is precisely why I brought enough tea for everyone."

There was silence from both sides. A mix of disbelief was written across their faces, for a moment, before Mika finally voiced out.

"Tea?" Mika's nose scrunched. "We're about to raid a creepy murder-depot and you brought--"

A sharp clink cut her off. Kize had unscrewed his thermos, the scent of oolong cutting through the chemical tang of the wasteland. He took a deliberate sip, eyes locked on the depot.

Shun beamed. "See? Even Arius's Ghost knows the value of proper hydration before a fight."

Atsuko coughed into her fist, but not fast enough to hide her smirk. Across from her, Nagisa's eyelid twitched.

"Enough." Kize recapped the thermos with a finality that silenced both sides. "We're losing our shock and awe the longer we do this. Prepare."

——

Gas masks were supplied both to Arius's Nocturne Squad and some members of the Justice Task Force. The chemical attack left a bad taste in Arius Satellite School's mouth and nose, so this was the least they could prepare themselves with. Acting as the scout to observe and prepare for the worst, they were basically the the eyes and ears of the alliance.

In the meantime, the base camp was set up, initially segregated between the districts by some sandbags.

Shun was more subtle in her approach, gesturing to the JTF members to try and interact with Arius students.

Kize lifted the sandbags and stacked them to make a fortified trench, inadvertently causing a chain reaction of students lifting sandbags and quickly making trenches stretching across, and then surround their camp. His bandages almost snagged against the sandbags, all confined and prevented by Shun's immediate fastening. Her fingers brushed a scar he didn’t remember earning.

He could feel their eyes on him as she did so.

"Nocturne Leader, status," Saori radioed, all for them to hear.

"Nothing so far, boss. It's dark though. Flashlights aren't exactly showing much and we're barely at the entrance."

"Night vision?"

"Been usin' them, coach. Can't guarantee we'll see too well."

—

"Just be careful."

"Aye aye. Nocturne, out." Nocturne Leader sighed. "Alright, check your ammo and weapons. We don't want them to jam here."

"...." The JTF members glanced down to their guns, the L85A1 and L85A2, with several checking their ammo. The magazine was full.

They checked again, before slowly glancing back up to Nocturne Leader.

"... Okay. Let's hope for the best then. Ichika, was it?"

"Yep." A girl with closed eyes, yet had a strangely easygoing personality, smiled at them.

How uncomfortable, was the collective thought of Nocturne Squad.

"You and I take point. Rest of you, follow close, but not too close."

A wary nod, and they flashed their night vision goggles on. The sizzling noise of activation felt hollow, like an echo of a laugh too faint to hear.

One of Nocturne Squad's members glanced up, and for a brief second, they saw a tall, daunting figure looming over them, only to disappear in a blink.

She chalked it up to paranoia.

The door creaked open, with Nocturne Leader slithering. A slight click, and their laser beamed through the darkness. A small dot to let them know of their presence in the darkness. Their breathing slowed, minimizing noise as they made their approach through the relatively empty hallway.

Nocturne Squad's back hugged the wall, careful in their attempt to blend in with the darkness they have concealed themselves in. The JTF did the same at the other side of the wall, the darkness concealing most of the members' fears of what to come, their grip on their own assault rifles wavering, apart from Ichika.

The darkness was not their friend nor their foe. And somehow, that was what made it more fear inducing.

"We're fine so far," she whispered to the members in an attempt to soothe their nerves.

It helped somewhat.

"Nocturne Leader, update. Hallway clear. Say again, hallway clear. How copy, over?" Nocturne Leader radioed over to Saori.

"Copy your last. Keep going."

"Got it. Nocturne Leader, out."

Static.

Another door was at the end of the hallway. Nocturne Leader reached out, taking hold of the doorknob, only to find it rattling in place when she tried to turn it.

"Locked." A single utterance. But it made sense for it to be.

"W-what do we do?" A JTF Member stuttered out.

"Anyone got lock picking skill sets?" Ichika questioned. Despite the fact her eyes were closed, it felt like she was watching every single one behind the gas mask.

No hand was raised. Instead, a Nocturne member already took out their lock picking tools, heading straight to the door's lock. The sound of metal probing against a structure clinked against the walls, against their ears, while they focus on any external forces.

One JTF Member suddenly raised their rifle, aimed at the entrance they went through moments earlier. Eyes were on her immediately, as if they thought she saw something. The shaky grip on the rifle did not help matters in the slightest. A close observation made Ichika realize that the member's breathing was fogging up her own mask.

"Deep breaths, deep breaths." She slowly clung to her shoulder, watching as her shaking gradually came to a halt. They knew she saw something.

But whatever it was, it wasn't there.

Click.

The door creaked open, the smell of burnt sugar too faint to be caught. And yet, the Nocturne member merely sat there. They couldn't see her expression... One that seem confused.

"Good job."

"But... I didn't..." She trailed off when Nocturne Leader moved past her, with the JTF members following close. Not wanting to be left behind, she picked up her assault rifle again and moved.

The depot was almost empty. Canisters of something they can't quite make out stood about. The canisters' shadows stretched too long, like a woman’s silhouette. And yet, one canister bore a "K.Z." marking. A furrow of eyebrows came about, with Nocturne Leader feeling nauseous at the sight of it. Nocturne members began asking questions.

"What is this stuff?"

"It shouldn't be here."

"We need to update them."

A rustle from Nocturne Squad.

"This is Nocturne Leader, update. We found some canisters here. Don't know what's in them. Say again, canisters. Unknown property. Do you copy? Over."

Static.

"Arius Squad, do you copy, over?"

A stronger static... Only to follow with the faintest laughter of a child. Behind the mask, Nocturne Leader's eyes widened slightly. Ichika reached a conclusion earlier.

"Jamming our comms? That's low."

The mere response to that was enough to elicit reactions from the JTF, who shook in place. Their masks fogged up once more, their breathing intense.

"Deep breaths," Ichika repeated, like a mantra to the members. Her closed eyes somehow tracked the shaking rifle barrels.

"What do we do, boss?" A Nocturne member question, eyeing the panic while Ichika tried to calm them down.

"...... Keep moving."

"What? But bos--"

"JTF, I need you to go back to base. Relay them this information as much as you can. We can't risk you all here."

One JTF member glanced back, the depot’s door now stood wide open behind them.

"Where will you be going?" Ichika questioned Nocturne Leader.

"Anywhere else within."

Out of instinct, all Nocturne Squad members checked their ammo. Magazine full, bullet chambered, and then a collective nod.

"...." Ichika solemnly nodded. "Good luck."

A single hand gesture, and the JTF slowly waded their way out.

The doorway’s edges bled rust as they squeezed through, like the depot was chewing them out. The depot’s doorway had shrunk behind them, like a throat closing, leaving Nocturne in their lonesome.

"Amaya, you know this could be our grave," a Nocturne member addressed to their leader.

"It could be," Nocturne Leader, Amaya, confessed. "But at least the JTF have something to bring back rather than our dead body."

They all glanced at each other, before collectively nodding.

"Your move, boss."

"Thank you." A sigh left her lips, filtered out by the gas mask, before her gun was drawn up to aim once more.

"Alright, let's not disappoint Arius. Or Sensei, for that matter."

The singular red dot probed against the walls, the smallest hint of moonlight peering through the holes every so often. Their steps deliberate, silent, while every gleaming little thing was noticed and pointed out. Wounded pipes groaning from the winds blowing through it, the pitter patter of steps that wasn't there, all to the steady rhythm of their own pulse.

"I don't like this place."

"Who doesn't?"

"Beatrice." Amaya's reply came with silence, before noticing another empty hallway. A short one, but from the looks of the railing, it led down a flight of stairs. Amaya’s glove squeaked against her grip, the only sound she allowed herself.

"We should go back. We've seen enough--"

SLAM

A blaring, almost deafening noise came from the door as it came shut, followed quickly by a click, and then the sound of drills from the outside. All of their guns quickly aimed towards the door, and Amaya's laser dot caught something that was there, then no longer.

"Who goes there?! Identify yourself!"

Amaya's demand was met with deafening silence, while Nocturne Squad quickly composed themselves, aiming all over to ensure that they were seeing things right.

Laughter.

All of them held one conclusion.

'Beatrice.'

"Welcome, my students. Or should I say, my former students?"

Her voice echoed through the room like a PA announcement, as Nocturne Squad's breathing quickened. Their composure flickered for half a second, before focusing their efforts once more in ensuring their safety. The drill sounds outside synced with the canisters’ shadows, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"Kindly screw off." Amaya's spew came quick. "You've done nothing to help us."

"Nothing?"

A whisper of voices rained down upon them, a realization that they came about too late. One of the member's hand twitched, almost reaching their hand up to their gas mask, only for another to take hold of her wrist. And then, a chuckle.

"Oh, I did everything. And this is how you repay us? Repay me? Tsk tsk. You need to be taught a lesson."

"We learned everything without you!" A Nocturne member exclaimed.

"Ah, but did you learn how to stay alive?"

"......" They held no response. But their grip remained steadfast.

"Pity. You should have rotted. Instead, here you are, cooperating with your oppressor. Cooperating with a man whose identity was left shattered. Do you even know who your 'Sensei' is?"

Their grip began to shake. Their faith began to waver. Amaya bit her bottom lip, hard enough to draw blood. The scent of iron wafted up to her nose; unpleasant. Yet, the taste of copper reminded her of Sensei’s bandages, unhealed but enduring.

"Come now. There is no reason for this farce. Join me. And we will destroy Trinity together. For their injustice knows no bounds, their facade of kindness a face of cruelty."

Laughter came down, depriving their ears and mind of logic.

"Come. Say it with me. Vanitas vanitatum. Et omnia vanitas."

A whisper of ‘Vanitas’ slipped through before a member clamped her jaw shut. Amaya gripped her assault rifle too tightly, before she took a deep breath, her finger on the trigger. An oddly calm resolve washed over her.

"Never. You gave us nihilism. He gave us our resolve."

The laughter died. They couldn't see even through the night vision, but they could tell Amaya's words hit them where it hurts.

"... I see. Your ‘resolve’ smells of gun oil and orphans. Oh well, perhaps you would find dying here honorable."

Amaya’s neck prickled; something warm and fingered brushed her nape.

A hiss came from the canisters, followed by a whiff of burnt sugar. A gas was released, they found out immediately. Their breathing softened quickly, and yet, in just a few seconds, their eyes spiraled.

One member screamed, their bullets sprayed across the walls in a sort of delirium. Another dropped to their knees, laughing like a person awaiting death to take them.

Amaya's vision melted and melded into a frenzy, a sight of a ruin she once lived in.

A knife slash.

Her gunshot. The knife-slash she fired at never existed, but her magazine was now -1.

A scream.

A swat.

Laughter roared everywhere, her breathing ever close to deprivation. She could barely hear the screams of her members, multiplying, cascading into one single word.

"Stop!!!"

Amaya thought she heard footsteps in front of her. She looked up, the clothes unfathomably recognizable, and her face went pale.

"Sensei?!!"

"Come on. Are you staying there?" Kize's voice echoed through her mind like a playful tone, as she looked up.

In place of Kize's typically tired face, it was a manic, grinning one, his eyes almost bulging out of its socket with teeth like broken chapel glass reaching out to her.

"Just lay down and accept your demise, why don't you, hmmm?"

"No. No!! You're not Sensei! Leave me alone, leave me ALONE--"

BOOM

The wall that once bore Beatrice's insignia blasted off, the gases now escaping out into the air. The hallucination dissipated, like a nightmare she just woke up to. Wafting through the air, Plana's voice called out.

"Identification: nitrous oxide. Intensity in the air provides intense images presented to Nocturne Squad, bypassing the gas masks."

Amaya's voice crackled, less a soldier and more like a broken girl.

"Sen... Sensei?"

Smoke curled through the new breach in the wall, backlit by the harsh glow of emergency flares. A silhouette emerged. Not the grotesque parody from her visions, but a familiar stooped posture, the edges of a coat flaring like wings.

Kize stepped through the wreckage, his thermos dangling from one hand, the other pressing a damp cloth to his face. Behind him, the JTF scrambled with real gas masks, their lenses reflecting the hellish orange light.

Amaya's rifle clattered to the ground. Her fingers tingled where they'd clawed at her own mask straps. The world tilted, until Shun caught her by the elbow. The instructor's sleeves were rolled up now, ink stains smeared with soot.

"Breathe," she ordered, pressing a canteen to Amaya's lips. The water tasted of plum blossoms and gunpowder.

Kize didn't speak. He just knelt beside the shuddering Nocturne members, his bandaged hands methodically checking pulses. When he reached the one who'd sprayed bullets at ghosts, he paused. The student's gloves were shredded, her nails broken from scratching at phantom insects.

"Sedative," he said flatly.

A JTF medic rushed forward, but Shun was faster. Her syringe gleamed as she administered the dose.

"They'll remember everything," she murmured, too low for the others to hear. "Hallucinogens this potent leave... echoes."

Kize's jaw tightened. His thermos rolled slightly where he'd set it down, the dents catching the light like scars.

Outside, the wind changed. The gas, what remained of it, coiled toward the ceiling in lazy spirals. For a heartbeat, the shadows on the wall resembled a woman's outstretched hand.

Then the comms crackled to life. "Arius Squad inbound," Saori's voice announced. "Status?"

Kize picked up the thermos. The metal was warm against his palm, the tea inside long gone cold.

"Beatrice was here," he said.

And in the silence that followed, the depot's walls seemed to whisper:

"Vanitas..."

"Understood. We'll patch up what we can--"

A gunshot.

A scream.

"Tsurugi was shot!!"