HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 15

[HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch — Administration Building | Conference Room | 8:43 A.M.]

Unlike yesterday—

There were no countdowns.

No alarms.

No helicopters.

Only paperwork.

Stacks upon stacks of paperwork.

Inside the Administration Building—

Every conference table had disappeared beneath mountains of folders.

Graduation certificates.

Failure evaluations.

Medical reports.

Withdrawal forms.

Transfer clearances.

Equipment return records.

The aftermath of Day Zero.

Instructor Faye rubbed her temples.

“…Next file.”

Instructor Monique immediately handed one over.

“Candidate Number 084.”

“Failed due to voluntary withdrawal.”

Approved.

Stamp.

Next.

Instructor Jonathan adjusted his glasses while reviewing another folder.

“Candidate Number 112.”

“Medical elimination.”

Approved.

Stamp.

Next.

Nearby—

Instructor Arch Jude organized the final ranking sheets.

Instructor Syndie verified signatures.

Instructor Mark compared biometric records against evaluation reports.

Instructor Landrieu handled graduation authorizations.

Instructor Azhette finalized instructor recommendations.

Nobody looked rested.

Nobody looked energetic.

Everyone simply endured.

Outside the Administration Building—

The remaining instructors were equally busy.

Instructor William guided eliminated trainees through exit processing.

Instructor Hazel checked medical discharge papers.

Instructor Abigail explained return procedures.

Instructor Khione helped collect temporary identification bracelets.

Instructor Zeirah answered countless questions from disappointed trainees.

Instructor Hajime quietly carried luggage toward transport vehicles.

Instructor Renesmee comforted several trainees who couldn’t stop crying.

Instructor Deia silently helped another trainee finish paperwork.

Yesterday’s brutal Day Zero Test had ended—

But its aftermath continued.

Out of the original three hundred trainees—

Only one hundred forty-four had even reached Day Zero.

Yesterday—

One hundred seven of those remaining candidates had failed.

Only thirty-seven had officially graduated.

The success rate was merciless.

Exactly as HSBA intended.

Many accepted the result.

Some cried.

Some smiled despite failing.

Some promised to return next year.

Some quietly thanked their instructors before leaving.

Everyone processed the outcome differently.

Then—

The main conference room doors suddenly opened.

Several instructors looked up.

Standing there—

Still wearing a medical wristband—

Was Trainee Kaycee.

One of Instructor Azhette’s former trainees.

Her injuries were obvious.

Fresh bandages still wrapped around one shoulder.

Bruises remained visible.

Yet—

She wasn’t looking at anyone else.

Only Instructor Azhette.

Her eyes were already red.

“…Instructor…”

Instructor Azhette slowly stood.

“…Kaycee?”

Before anyone understood—

Trainee Kaycee suddenly bowed deeply.

Very deeply.

“…Please…”

Her voice trembled.

“…Please don’t make me leave.”

Silence.

Every pen stopped moving.

Every instructor froze.

Trainee Kaycee kept her head lowered.

“I didn’t quit…”

“I swear…”

“My body just…”

“…gave out.”

Tears finally began falling.

“I never wanted to stop.”

“I never wanted to fail.“

“I only passed out because of my injuries…”

She slowly dropped to both knees.

“…Please…”

Several instructors instinctively stepped forward.

Instructor Azhette’s expression immediately changed.

“Kaycee.”

“Stand up.”

But Trainee Kaycee shook her head.

“No…”

“…Please…”

“If I failed…”

“I accept it.”

“But…”

She clenched both fists.

“…Please let me stay.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“I don’t need to graduate today.”

“I don’t even need the graduation ceremony.”

“You can give me the lowest position inside the camp.”

“I’ll clean.”

“I’ll organize equipment.”

“I’ll help medical staff.”

“I’ll do anything.”

“…Just…”

Her voice finally broke.

“…Please don’t send me away.”

The conference room became completely silent.

No one spoke.

Because—

None of them had ever witnessed something like this before.

Instructor Jonathan whispered quietly,

“…First time.”

Instructor Monique slowly nodded.

“…In all these years…”

“…This is the first trainee who begged us to stay.”

Instructor Landrieu sighed heavily.

Instructor Faye remained silent.

Instructor Azhette looked visibly conflicted.

Very conflicted.

Because she knew Trainee Kaycee.

She knew exactly how hard the young woman had trained.

But rules—

Were rules.

Finally—

Instructor Mark spoke.

Quietly.

“…Kaycee.”

“You understand what you’re asking.”

She nodded immediately.

“Yes.”

“If we pass you because we pity you…”

He looked toward the nearby graduation folders.

“…Then what about the others?”

Silence.

“What about the trainees who also collapsed?”

“What about those who fought until the very end?”

“What about those who failed fairly?”

Trainee Kaycee lowered her head.

“…I know…”

“I know it isn’t fair...”

“But…”

She looked toward all eight main instructors.

“…Please.”

“I don’t want to leave HSBA.”

“ finally found a place where I belong.”

The room grew heavier.

Nobody answered.

Because every instructor present—

Was thinking the exact same thing.

If they made an exception—

Would it still be fair?

Then—

Suddenly a footsteps can be heard.

Several of them.

The conference room doors opened once again.

This time—

Instructor Sapphire entered first.

Followed by—

Instructor Britney.

Instructor Skyrish.

Instructor Amethyst.

Instructor Bailey.

Instructor Raphael.

Instructor Nexcialine.

Instructor Ravielle.

Instructor Sahm.

Instructor Patrick.

Instructor Blade.

Instructor Bryce.

Instructor Louie.

The thirteen injured instructors had arrived together.

Still wearing fresh bandages.

Still obviously recovering.

They had merely intended to report for duty.

Instead—

They stopped.

Because they had witnessed everything.

Silence.

Instructor Sapphire looked toward Trainee Kaycee.

“…What’s happening?”

Instructor Faye quietly explained everything.

No interruptions.

No embellishments.

Only facts.

By the time she finished—

The thirteen exchanged glances.

Then—

Trainee Kaycee slowly turned toward them.

Still kneeling.

Still crying.

“…Please…”

She bowed once more.

“…Please help me.”

“…I don’t want to leave…”

One by one—

She looked toward each instructor.

“…Please…”

Then—

Her eyes landed on Instructor Ravielle.

She froze.

“…Huh…?”

The entire room noticed.

Trainee Kaycee blinked.

Once.

Twice.

“…No…”

Her breathing became uneven.

“…That face…”

“…Impossible…”

She stared.

Unable to look away.

“…Squad Leader…?”

Silence.

“…No…”

She immediately shook her head.

“…That can’t be right…”

Her voice became confused.

“…You’re supposed to still be at the military training camp…”

She stared at Ravielle’s instructor uniform.

“…Maybe…”

“…You’re her twin sister…?”

Everyone looked toward Instructor Ravielle.

Who—

For the first time—

Actually looked surprised.

Nearby—

Instructor Britney quietly leaned closer.

In a voice only Instructor Ravielle could hear—

“…Do you know her?”

Instructor Ravielle answered just as quietly.

“…Yes.”

A brief pause.

“…She enlisted last year.”

“…She was injured while saving someone during leave.”

“…She couldn’t complete the final military evaluation.”

“…So she never graduated.”

Instructor Britney blinked.

“…Seriously?”

Instructor Ravielle nodded once.

“…I didn’t expect she’d become one of HSBA Delta Branch’s trainees.”

Instructor Britney looked toward Trainee Kaycee again.

Then smiled faintly.

“…Oh…”

“…So she’s one of our junior sisters.”

Instructor Ravielle suddenly looked at her.

“…Britney…”

Before Instructor Ravielle could continue—

Instructor Britney stepped forward.

She faced the eight main instructors.

“…Instructor Faye.”

Everyone looked at her.

“…I’d like to formally request that Trainee Kaycee be given another chance.”

The room froze.

Instructor Ravielle looked genuinely caught off guard.

“…Britney…”

But it didn’t end there.

Instructor Sapphire stepped forward.

“I support Britney.”

Instructor Skyrish nodded.

“So do I.”

Instructor Amethyst smiled.

“I agree.”

Instructor Bailey folded her arms.

“She deserves another opportunity.”

Instructor Raphael gave a short nod.

“I support it.”

Instructor Nexcialine raised one hand.

“Me too.”

The eighth main instructors blinked.

Then—

Something even stranger happened.

Instructor Sahm stepped forward.

“…We support our junior sister.”

Instructor Patrick nodded.

“So do I.”

Instructor Blade.

“…Agreed.”

Instructor Bryce.

“…She deserves another chance.”

Instructor Louie smiled.

“…We’re asking as well.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Every eye slowly turned—

Toward Instructor Ravielle.

She remained quiet for several seconds.

Then—

She stepped forward.

Looked directly at Instructor Faye.

Then bowed respectfully.

“…Please.”

“I ask the same.”

“If possible…”

“…Allow Trainee Kaycee to remain.”

The conference room became deathly still.

Instructor Mark slowly looked around.

“…All thirteen of you…”

“…Are pleading for one trainee?”

Nobody denied it.

Instructor Jonathan adjusted his glasses.

Very slowly.

“…You’ve just transfered here yesterday…”

“…You people didn’t even know who Trainee Kaycee was.”

Instructor Sahm answered calmly.

“…We know exactly who she is.”

Instructor Bryce smiled.

“…She’s our junior sister.”

Instructor Patrick nodded.

“…Family doesn’t disappear just because uniforms change.”

That sentence only confused everyone even more.

Instructor Landrieu looked completely lost.

“…Junior… sister?”

Instructor Monique frowned.

“…All of you?”

Even the seven HSBA Delta instructors—

Instructor Britney.

Instructor Sapphire.

Instructor Skyrish.

Instructor Amethyst.

Instructor Bailey.

Instructor Raphael.

Instructor Nexcialine—

Simply nodded.

Without hesitation.

The eight main instructors exchanged bewildered looks.

Nothing made sense anymore.

Yesterday—

They discovered these thirteen clearly shared years of history.

Today—

They had united to protect a single failed trainee.

A trainee none of them should have known.

Especially—

Instructor Ravielle.

Who had only arrived yesterday too.

The mystery surrounding her only deepened further.

Finally—

Instructor Sapphire stepped beside Instructor Faye.

She spoke quietly.

“…This is ultimately your decision.”

A pause.

“…But…”

She looked toward Trainee Kaycee.

“…I am requesting that an exception be made.”

Instructor Faye closed her eyes.

The room remained silent.

Several long moments passed.

Then—

She exhaled slowly.

“…Very well.”

Trainee Kaycee looked up immediately.

Instructor Faye continued firmly.

“This exception will never be based on pity.”

“It will be recorded as a special probationary admission under direct instructor supervision.”

She looked directly at Trainee Kaycee.

“You will not receive special treatment.”

“You will train harder than anyone else.”

“You will be evaluated continuously.”

“And the moment you fail to meet HSBA standards…”

“…your admission will be revoked immediately.”

Trainee Kaycee’s tears flowed freely.

“…Yes, Instructor!”

She bowed repeatedly.

“…Thank you…”

“Thank you so much…”

Around the room—

The thirteen instructors quietly smiled.

Relief spread through the group.

Yet—

The eight main instructors weren’t smiling.

Not because they regretted the decision—

But because another mystery had just been added to an already growing list.

Who exactly was Instructor Ravielle?

Why did these thirteen share such an unbreakable bond?

And why did they all call Trainee Kaycee—

“Our junior sister”?

No one had an answer.

But everyone knew one thing.

The mysteries surrounding the newly arrived instructors had only grown deeper.

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