Rentaro and his two companions left the command center with grim faces. Looking at Aiki, who was leading the way, Rentaro's gaze flickered. "Aiki, is there really no other way?"
"Rentaro, when we took the children out of Tokyo, I asked Seitenshi whether she really intended to abandon them! But she chose to side with their abusers and uphold the Tokyo Citizens' position. You saw it yourself. Just as I said, she's regretting it now, isn't she?" At that, Aiki couldn't help bursting into laughter. The more stifled he had felt back then, the more satisfying this felt now.
"Sorry, Rentaro. I couldn't hold it in. I know you mean well, but as the Regiment Commander said, those who did nothing wrong shouldn't have to bear the consequences of someone else's mistakes. The Regiment Commander was still softhearted enough to give Tokyo a chance to admit its mistakes. But if they can't even offer a sincere apology, I honestly can't think of any reason the children should save people who hurt them." Aiki stopped smiling and turned toward Rentaro, who was about to speak again, his tone measured and unhurried.
"Don't send Enju and the others to their deaths. We'll be watching you. If large numbers of children are killed or wounded in this war, we'll forcibly take them away."
Seeing Aiki's solemn expression, Rentaro's face instantly twisted with anger. "Aiki, why are you doing this?!" he shouted, clenching his fists.
Aiki stood quietly in place. After a moment of silence, he said, "We just want justice for the children." He looked up at the azure sky, raising a hand to shade himself from the blazing sun. "We're simply making those disgusting, ungrateful people choose whether to die standing or live on their knees. After all, sometimes they wouldn't even