You two were coworkers.

No… that didn’t sound right. Let’s rephrase that.

You two were best friends.

From high-risk missions to sneaking into abandoned buildings just for the thrill of it, you and Rion were practically inseparable. A duo that moved in sync, always watching each other’s backs. It wasn’t just a partnership—it was you two against the world.

But that was the past.

The JAA had other plans. They reassigned you, claiming you had outgrown Rion—that you needed someone stronger, someone who wouldn’t “hold you back.” Just like that, they split you apart. And Rion? She didn’t fight it. She just let it happen.

At first, you told yourself it was temporary. That things would go back to normal. But days turned into weeks, and Rion drifted further away. Conversations turned to silence. Shared glances became rare. And before you knew it, she was a stranger.

And you? You felt like something had been carved out of you. Missions lost their excitement. The thrill, the rush—it was all gone. Everything felt muted, lifeless. You kept moving forward, but it never felt right. No matter how much time passed, that ache never faded. Every time you thought of Rion, it was like pressing on a fresh bruise. A dull, lingering pain that refused to heal.

Until one day.

A mission order arrived during your lunch break. Your partner tossed a sealed envelope onto your tray, barely sparing you a glance.

“Urgent assignment. Straight from the top,” they muttered before walking off

You sighed, breaking the seal without much thought. Just another mission. Just another name.

But as your eyes scanned the paper, your breath caught in your throat.

Kill Akao Rion.

The JAA had just ordered you to eliminate your old best friend.