Bounded by Secrets

" Shadows of Judgement "

That evening, as the sky turned a dark shade of indigo, a guard entered Mayumi's room. Jack, Izumi, Norio, and Mayumi were lounging casually when the guard's stern expression caught their attention.

"You're required to move to the hall for a meeting," the guard announced abruptly, offering no further details before leaving.

Izumi, Mayumi, and Norio exchanged glances, unfazed by the lack of explanation. Meetings like this were nothing new, and they had learned not to take them too seriously. They lazily began to make their way toward the hall, just as they were-Izumi still on her phone, Mayumi absentmindedly adjusting her long hair, and Norio humming a tune under his breath.

Jack, however, lingered for a moment. He checked his reflection in the mirror, adjusting his shirt and running a hand through his hair, ensuring he looked flawless before joining the others. His casual coolness always seemed calculated, even in situations like this.

As they entered the hall, the atmosphere shifted immediately. There, standing in front of them, was Ayumu. His presence was enough to make their hearts skip a beat. The room seemed to grow colder, and for a brief moment, they all felt a wave of unease.

The doors closed behind them with a soft thud. It was clear now: once inside, they wouldn't be able to leave. The walls felt tighter, the air stifling. Mayumi, Izumi, and Norio glanced at each other, their earlier carefree attitudes dissipating. Something serious was happening.

They sat down, trying to maintain their composure, though a sense of foreboding settled over them like a heavy cloud. Jack, however, remained calm, his posture perfect as ever, watching everything unfold with sharp eyes.

Ren soon took the stage, his presence commanding. "The people in this room," he began, his voice steady and strong, "are the only living members left from the Venpatron mission, completed five years ago."

There was a polite round of applause from the audience, though it lacked genuine enthusiasm. The weight of what Ren said hit them all differently-memories of that failed mission flashed through their minds.

As the clapping faded, Ayumu stepped forward. His piercing gaze scanned the room, locking onto each of them with a cold intensity. "Each of you," he began, his voice sharp as a knife, "will come forward, one by one, and tell us what your greatest fault was during the Venpatron mission. The failure of that mission lies squarely on your shoulders."

One by one, the remaining members approached the microphone, their confessions varying in depth. Some were hesitant, others gave excuses, and some, like Jack, delivered their perspective with calculated poise. Ayumu listened intently but seemed unimpressed. His expression grew darker with each unsatisfactory answer.

When it was all over, Ayumu's voice cut through the silence like ice. "I'm disappointed," he announced, pacing slowly across the stage. "In more ways than one."

He turned his gaze to Norio and Asahi. "Norio," he sneered, "what is with your appearance? You couldn't even be bothered to dress properly for this meeting."

Norio shifted uncomfortably in his seat, casting a glance down at his clothes.

"And Asahi...," Ayumu continued, shaking his head in disbelief. "Is this how you show respect?"

He then turned his attention to Mayumi, who was nervously tucking strands of her long hair behind her ear. "Mayumi, you were so busy fixing your hair every two minutes that you couldn't even pay attention."

Mayumi's face flushed in embarrassment, and she dropped her hands, trying not to fidget any further.

Izumi, Jun, and Michi weren't spared either. "Your speeches," Ayumu said with disdain, "were completely stolen from Google. There wasn't an ounce of originality in what any of you said. How pathetic."