Chapter 43 - Mio's Decision
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**Corridor outside Command Room. Night.**
A shadow moved—quiet, small.
Mio.
She walked fast—ponytail swaying, fists clenched. She had come to talk to Hasegawa. To beg. To explain.
But the door was cracked.
Voices leaked out.
"…major breakout in the Western Peninsula…"
Mio froze.
The words hit like a blade.
Western Peninsula.
Her legs stopped moving.
Her breath caught.
Eyes wide—frozen.
Scared.
Like a girl who just saw the future she feared most.
She pressed her back to the wall.
Listened.
"…multiple large signatures… outposts silent…"
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Not the monsters.
Not the danger.
The place.
Western Peninsula.
Her sister was there.
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Inside the room, Hasegawa didn't turn.
"Mio? What are you doing here?"
Mio stepped in—slow.
Head down.
Voice low—dark.
Not her usual bright bounce.
"I want to talk."
Hasegawa turned.
Saw her face.
The energy was gone.
No smile.
No teasing.
Just… shadow.
Hasegawa's tone shifted.
"What is it?"
Mio looked at the floor.
"I want to come with you."
Hasegawa blinked.
"What?! Are you out of your mind? I'm not taking kids to a dangerous place."
Mio's voice cracked—just once.
"Why won't you take me?"
Hasegawa sighed—walked closer.
"Because we don't put family in danger."
Mio lifted her head.
Eyes wet.
Shining.
"Exactly."
She looked straight at Hasegawa.
"I'm doing this for my family."
Hasegawa froze.
"My sister."
Tears spilled—silent.
Hasegawa had never seen her like this.
Not in training.
Not in battle.
Never crying.
Hasegawa's voice softened.
"Your sister is in the Western Peninsula?"
Mio nodded—small.
"Yes."
Hasegawa exhaled.
"I didn't know. But still… I can't take you. You're a mech pilot. Without a male inside, you can't fight."
Mio wiped her eyes.
"You don't have to worry about that."
She turned.
Walked out.
Hasegawa shouted after her.
"You can't! You're not coming! You can't just put assets into the fight!"
Mio didn't stop.
The door closed behind her.
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**Short memory. Fireworks night. Years ago.**
Small Mio—tiny, wide-eyed—held a bigger hand.
Fireworks exploded overhead—red, gold, blue.
Her eyes sparkled—reflected light dancing.
She laughed—pure, happy.
The silhouette girl beside her knelt.
Smiled—soft.
"You look good when you smile."
She brushed Mio's cheek.
"Don't cry. Just smile. From now on—in every situation. Because if you cry… I'll be sad. So all you have left is happiness."
Small Mio nodded—fierce.
"Okay, big sis."
The fireworks bloomed again.
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**Kaito's room. Night.**
Door slid open—quiet.
Kaito slept—shirt off, sprawled across the bed.
Mio stood in the doorway.
Silhouette against hallway light.
She looked at him—long.
Eyes wet again.
But determined.
She stepped inside.
Closed the door behind her.
The room went dark.
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*Word Count: ~850 words*