⌝ Nemesis ⌟

3 || Short-Term Failure

"They're harboring a MEGA-WEAPON?! Are you joking?!?!" I couldn't hold back my yell. This was ridiculous, where did they even get it? A massive mech-based weapon. Even professional racers don't get access to stuff like this, let alone a legally grey, self-owned agency!

Ciel and Takara ran into the room behind me, out of breath. Ciel had his hands on his knees, barely keeping in his tears - crybaby. Takara, leaned against the door frame, a finger up as if telling me to wait. The two looked absolutely wiped, like they were running for something. I had totally forgot, the alarms! Love Dive probably noticed we were here by now.

I turned around, my eyes closed as I began to walk over to the two. "Right, we should get go-" 

A hand on my shoulder.

"Stop right there, thief." A girl from behind me spoke. Her voice was high and cutesy, but her tone was menacing as her eyes narrowed. I saw her over my shoulder, and even I shivered slightly.

I froze entirely. Take a step forward, Mirai, just take a step! I could hear my heart pounding through my ears, the rhythm off beat to the one my body had been playing to the whole mission. I could feel my mouth dry as my tongue choked me, making me struggle not to gag. My eyes felt even dryer, like someone had used a towel to scrub them. My legs like lead, my body feeling heavier than F51, I could barely stand.

"Who...?" My voice trembled, my normally calm and confident demeanor fading. I still tried to stay strong. What would the others think of me if...?

"The name's Riley. And you, thief? Introduce yourself!" She glared at me. You would've assumed from the cute pink outfit, she'd at least be a little bit nice.

"Now, now, Riley, let's play nice." Another girl walked in, dragging the rest of the team with her. Did we really get caught that easily...? 

"But Ririiii! They stole from us!"

"Oh, please, I doubt they got far. Let the green one go, mk?"

Riley whined for a second before shoving me away. I coughed, the dryness in my throat catching up to me. It's like my heart was trying to rip itself out of my body. My lungs stung as if they had been set on fire. It was like the anxiety of the crash repeating all over again....

My eyes feel like they're filled with dirt, as at that very moment my ears start to ring alarms. Ciel stares on, Takara unchanging. Why am I so affected? Why am I so...?

"Well? I've been nice enough to release you, so you should run away. After all, I might change my mind." The girl sneered with an air of snarkiness. I couldn't stand that look. Jeering at me like I'm some sort of jester? I'd show her! Of course, Takara began to drag me and Ciel away before Ciel burst into tears again or I punched somebody.

It was a long walk out. A wave of defeat hung over IrisTech. I was supposed to lead us to glory, yet I'd failed everyone again. C'est la vie, I suppose. Life is such, and I have been destined to fail from the moment I let fame get to my head.

I'm sorry, IrisTech. Perhaps I was in over my head...