Hydranomaly

Chapter 15: Aunt, Mother, Son

"The Monarch Butterfly? Y-you're bluffing... sending one of the Seven Kōeidesu for her?" Yamikumo gasped, his voice trembling with a blend of disbelief and raw, desperate fear. It was as though the floor beneath him had given way, leaving him struggling to keep himself upright. His breathing turned ragged as the weight of the revelation crushed him, every muscle in his body tight with anguish. "I apologize, but you can't just tell me that and expect me to stay put, Captain!"

"I'm afraid it's the harsh truth, Yamikumo. You would have found out sooner or later," Max murmured, his words deliberate and carefully measured, each one coaxed out as though trying to handle an explosive. The sound of Yamikumo's frantic breaths seemed to shake his own resolve, but he pressed on, speaking as gently as he could manage. "The Mistress wants no further intervention with this ordeal. I tried reasoning with her-fought tooth and nail-but... she's dead set on it. If push comes to shove, she'll have her killed."

Max's voice softened as he watched Yamikumo crumble before his eyes. His gaze lingered on the young man's taut frame, his form visibly shaking as he gripped the edge of the counter for support. It took everything Max had not to reach out, to pull him into some semblance of a comforting embrace, but he knew any touch would be cold and hollow right now.

"That's why I want you to stay behind. Today's mission is going to be brutal. You know you wouldn't be able to focus properly, not with this weighing on your mind," he continued, voice almost a whisper, every word heavy with an unspoken apology. "So please... rest, pace yourself-for your own sake, alright?"

Yamikumo's one eye burned, its emerald iris reflecting both fury and despair. He forced himself to stand tall, despite the quiver in his legs, a strained grin pulling at his lips. "I... I can't. I already starved myself for years, sold my own blood just to pay for her damn treatment," he spat through gritted teeth, his tone wavering between defiance and breaking. "She's my mother. I owe her everything. Just fucking kill me before you even suggest I stand by and watch her die!"

The sheer intensity of his words seemed to resonate throughout the kitchen, leaving a chilling silence in its wake. Max recoiled, eyes widening as he saw the full extent of Yamikumo's pain laid bare, the thin veneer of composure shattered in an instant. There was no facade, no calm indifference-just raw, unfiltered grief.

"The Mistress' word is final... and you know how she is, Yamikumo," Max finally managed, the words bitter in his mouth. His voice broke slightly, a faint tremor betraying the emotions he struggled to suppress. "I wish there was more I could do. This is all I can offer-one day. One day of peace. I'll report you sick, give you time to think... Akari will stay with you."

But Yamikumo didn't move. He stayed rigid, his hands trembling as if holding on by a thread. His silence was deafening, each second a tangible reminder of his helplessness. The vibrant fire in his gaze had dulled, replaced by a hollow, desperate glint that made Max's chest tighten painfully. For a brief, agonizing moment, he felt like a failure-not as a Captain, but as someone who was supposed to protect this young man's hope.

Max took a step back, his heart warring between the desire to shield Yamikumo and the knowledge that he was inadvertently holding him back. Every decision he made felt like a betrayal, every word a small nail in the coffin of Yamikumo's freedom. Yet what choice did he have? What could he do but watch as the young man he cared for slipped further and further into despair?

"Try to hold on, Yamikumo. Just for today. It's all I can ask."

Yamikumo's shoulders drooped, his head bowing as if defeated, his voice a mere breath. "...Fine."

It was a single word, but it carried with it the weight of his shattered resolve, a bitter resignation that cut through the room like a knife. Max felt his own resolve crumbling, guilt swirling deep within his chest, but he had no answers. Not now.