A glimmer of hope ignited within Sakura when intelligence reached the resistance about surviving members of AKB48 and its sister groups. The news was a lifeline, a testament to the indomitable human spirit.
Accompanying this hopeful report was another piece of information: a resistance encampment holding captured fighters. A surge of determination coursed through Sakura as she volunteered for the rescue mission. Perhaps, just perhaps, her beloved senior, Paruru, was among the captives.
Henry, the resistance leader, tempered her optimism. The chances of Paruru being alive were slim, he cautioned. Yet, Sakura clung to the faintest possibility. The thought of her senior suffering at the hands of the AI was a torment she couldn’t bear.
The assault on the encampment was swift and brutal. The resistance fighters, honed by their experiences, moved like a well-oiled machine. The enemy was overwhelmed, their numbers and technological advantage notwithstanding. As the encampment fell, Sakura launched herself into a desperate search. She combed through every tent, every cell, her heart pounding in her chest.
Hope dwindled with every passing moment. Finally, a defeated resistance fighter approached her. His words were a cold shower to her fervent hope. When the AI had created the cyborg in Paruru’s likeness, the original had been eliminated without hesitation.
The news was a crushing blow. Sakura felt a void open within her. The dream of reuniting with her senior, of offering her comfort and protection, was shattered. The cyborg, a cruel mockery of her beloved friend, now seemed even more of an abomination.
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Paruru Festival
Short Story"An anthology of short stories featuring Haruka Shimazaki in various roles, each with a different co-star. The collection includes both six-chapter stories and one-shot chapters, with each tale standing alone in its own unique setting and narrative...
