Yumi crouched low behind a row of overturned benches, holding Emi close as she strained her ears to catch every word of the tense conversation between Wolf and Commissioner Yudaina.
It was terrifying—but enlightening.This wasn't some random group of criminals.This wasn't even an average mercenary job.This was personal.
If Yudaina Watanabe herself had come to the scene—the woman known for dismantling some of the most dangerous organizations in the country—then it meant one thing:These men were the real deal.
And worse, they weren't just following a chaotic plan.They had history.They had grudges.
The call ended, leaving a thick, suffocating tension in the air.
The mercenaries—particularly the rougher, younger ones who didn't seem to share Wolf's discipline—began pacing, snarling at the hostages.Some began lashing out, kicking over displays, shoving civilians who so much as coughed too loudly.
A teenage boy who'd been on the school trip was grabbed by the collar and thrown to the ground for asking for water.An older woman got slapped across the face just for trying to adjust her seating.
Yumi's stomach churned.She tightened her arm around Emi, who whimpered softly but thankfully stayed quiet.
The "elite" hostages—Raika, Akemi, and the others from prominent families—had been forcibly separated earlier.Now, they were being guarded more heavily than ever.
Two mercenaries stood by them at all times, eyes sharp, hands resting on their weapons.
Yumi assessed the situation quickly, mind racing like a detective back at headquarters, trying to find an opening, a weak point, something.But everything looked airtight.One wrong move would get them—and maybe others—killed.
Raika sat quietly, her hands clenching her skirt.Akemi, unusually quiet for once, wore her mask and sunglasses, but Yumi could see the way her fingers trembled in her lap.
They were holding up—but just barely.
And Raito...For a fleeting second, Yumi allowed herself to think of him.If Raito had been here... maybe...
No.Better he wasn't.Better he was safe, somewhere outside of this madness.
As her mind raced, a stroke of luck—or maybe recklessness—fell into her lap.
The fake leader, still high on his own bravado after speaking on the microphone, strutted by them.He was careless, his phone practically dangling from his pocket as he barked at one of the mercenaries.
Without thinking, without hesitating, Yumi's hand shot out.Quick. Silent. Precise.
She grabbed the phone.And he didn't even notice.
Heart pounding, she turned away slightly, shielding herself behind her long hair and the way she cradled Emi.She unlocked the phone with a quick swipe—no password.Sloppy.
Good.
She opened the call screen and dialed the emergency line attached to her badge—a direct forwarding line to higher authorities.The moment it connected, she whispered, "Detective Yumi Aikawa, badge 4382. Hostage inside. Requesting immediate contact with Commissioner Watanabe."
The line clicked once—and then connected.
"This is Commissioner Yudaina," came the sharp, steady voice."Speak quickly, Detective."
Yumi didn't waste a second.She rattled off everything she knew: the increased aggression of the mercenaries, Wolf's real control behind the scenes, the separation of elite hostages, the physical abuse beginning to spread through the crowd.She detailed the locations where the mercenaries had gathered supplies, how they moved, their basic patrol patterns—everything her trained eyes had picked up in the short time she'd been observing.
"We have several high-profile hostages inside," Yumi added, lowering her voice."Including Akemi Inoue—the actress.""If this leaks to the media, it will cause a national scandal."
There was a beat of silence on the line.
And then, surprisingly, a soft chuckle.
"Smart girl," Yudaina said."I didn't expect one of mine to be inside. This changes things."
Yumi felt a slight weight lift from her chest.They weren't abandoned.Help was moving.She just had to buy time—and stay alive.
"Understood, Commissioner," Yumi said firmly."Awaiting orders."
"Maintain cover," Yudaina instructed."Do not provoke. Gather as much intel as you can without alerting them. When the time comes... we'll need someone inside to move."
"Copy," Yumi whispered.
She hung up, wiped the call record, and slipped the phone back into the fake leader's pocket as he stomped past again, oblivious.
Yumi glanced at Raika and Akemi.Both girls looked exhausted, frightened, but when Yumi gave them a tiny, reassuring nod, their eyes steadied a little.
It wasn't much.It wasn't a rescue.Not yet.
But it was the first step toward survival.
Now they just had to hold on.