The Unbreakable Four

On the night before they were to rescue her father, Zel couldn't sleep. Giving up on trying to fall asleep, she got out of bed and wandered through the empty, dimly lit corridors of the building that Meijiu had kindly provided as their hideout. As she passed a row of identical rooms, their doors shut tight and barely visible in the darkness, she thought about what had happened there earlier. She remembered Charles training in one room, and Oliver practicing his skills under Meijiu's guidance in another. But wait... was there light coming from under that door? Zel stepped into the room and scanned it cautiously. The first things she noticed were the furniture and training equipment Oliver used. A dim bulb cast a feeble glow, but she managed to make out a figure in the far corner, shrouded in shadow. A man was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, his form almost blending into the darkness. “Oliver?” she called softly. He jerked awake and looked up at her. “Zel…” he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. It was as if she'd startled him from a deep sleep. Zel smiled. “Decided to turn in a late-night training session? Not a good idea. You should get some rest.” Oliver shook his head stubbornly. “I'll stay here a bit longer. Don't worry.” Even as he spoke, his eyes were drooping, and it was clear he was fighting to stay awake. If he kept this up, he'd simply collapse. Zel leaned in and gently touched his shoulder. “Listen to me. You need to rest. I’ve seen how hard you’ve been pushing yourself these past few days, and you’re doing great. There’s no need to wear yourself out.” “It’s not that…” Oliver mumbled something unintelligible, and Zel tilted her head in confusion. Before she could ask him to repeat himself, he shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts. Then, with a smile, he asked, “What are you doing here at this time of night? You weren’t looking for me, were you?” “If I’d known you were up doing this instead of sleeping, I would have come over much sooner,” Zel replied with a smile. “But... I can’t sleep either.” She let out a long breath. Oliver patted the spot next to him. “Then stay.” Zel smiled wider and settled beside Oliver, leaning her head against his shoulder. He turned his head toward her so that she could feel his breath on the top of her head. “What's keeping you awake? Something on your mind?” “Yes. I keep thinking about everything we have to do. I'm... really nervous. I can't calm down.” Zel pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, her fingers tightly clasped. Oliver put his arm around her shoulders and spoke in an unusually soft tone, “We'll certainly manage. You see, we're doing everything we can. Believe in us. Together, we'll definitely save your father.” “I believe in you,” the corners of Zel's lips twitched into a weak smile. “I believe, but,” for a moment she looked at Oliver, then lowered her gaze again, “honestly, that's not what I'm most worried about.” “What about then?” Oliver asked, surprised. Zel looked up and met his gaze. “I'm worried about you all. About you, Nina, and Charles. You're risking so much for me. Anything could happen.” She turned away, feeling a lump form in her throat. She swallowed, trying to quell the surge of emotions threatening to burst out. Oliver's hand slid along her back. “I told you... or rather, we told you—we're willing to do anything for you. We fully understand what we're getting into.” “You think that makes me feel better?” Zel exclaimed, turning sharply towards Oliver, who startled and moved back a little. “I…” she looked away, and her lips trembled, “If any of you get hurt, I'll never forgive myself...” “Zel…” “And I know,” she looked back at Oliver with a gaze full of undisguised worry, “that you're more likely to sacrifice yourself than anyone else. So, when that day comes... please, remember that you have to survive, first and foremost!” For a moment, Oliver stared at her with wide, surprised eyes, then turned away, saying nothing. His face darkened noticeably. “What's wrong, Oliver?” Zel asked, growing concerned. He gave a wry smile. “Nothing much, really. I just remembered that I've been having the same dream lately.” “A nightmare?” Zel suggested. Why else would he be talking about it with such a look on his face? “No, it's not. I see you, Charles, and Nina. You look the same, you act the same. In short, you do everything we could do in reality. And the three of you look so natural together that I forget it's a dream.” “Wait.” Zel noticed something. “You don’t see yourself as if from the outside?” “Not only do I not see myself,” Oliver twisted his lips into the same wry smile, “I don't even feel like I'm with you. I'm simply not there. And it doesn't seem to you that someone is missing. As if it's supposed to be that way.” Zel went cold. As soon as she imagined the picture Oliver had painted, a cold sweat broke out on her back. “That's why you're sitting here,” she stated, and Oliver nodded. “I don't want to see it again.” He leaned back, resting his head against the wall, and smiled a detached kind of smile. “I know I'll have to eventually, but... I want to delay that moment as long as I can.” Zel was silent, trying to think of how she could reassure him now. If she said it was just a dream, unrelated to real life, he probably wouldn't find it convincing. She wouldn't either. In the end, she simply pressed herself against him, burying her face in his shoulder, causing him to flinch slightly but not say a word. “I promise, I'll personally make sure nothing happens to you,” she said softly. She felt Oliver smile against her head. “Sorry. I'm just making you even more nervous.” Silence filled the room. They remained pressed against each other, listening to the steady beat of the other's heart. The stillness and warmth of the body beside her wrapped around Zel, strangely calming her nerves—so much so that she even thought she might fall asleep like this, next to him. Oliver suddenly chuckled, slightly disrupting the peaceful moment that had settled between them. “It's probably all because I am the way you said. I'll do everything to survive, honestly. I'll be as careful and sensible as possible. I've been listening to everything you say for a long time—you know that.” Zel smiled, still not raising her head, and pressed closer to him. “That's right, good job.” Oliver said nothing, but Zel could feel his body tense slightly—apparently, being this close to someone made him a little embarrassed. Giggling, she pulled away and looked at him, but he immediately looked away. “By the way, I wouldn't say your dreams are very realistic.” Oliver stared at her in bewilderment. Zel explained, “Because we're a team of four. If one of us were gone, the others couldn’t just go on as if nothing had happened. And we certainly wouldn't forget the person who was with us. Without one of us, the team wouldn’t be complete—each of us is irreplaceable.” She didn't take her eyes off Oliver the entire time she was speaking, and she saw his tense features gradually relax, his gaze brighten, and a soft smile appear on his lips. “Yes, you're probably right,” he said. The next second, he pulled her toward him, his hands clasped around her waist, and Zel gasped, forgetting to breathe. Shivers ran down her skin as Oliver buried his face in her hair while whispering in her ear, “Thank you. Everything you say, for some reason, is very calming.” Then Zel felt a longing that almost twisted her insides. She already knew that she felt more for Oliver than just friendship, but she was perfectly content with everything as it was. As long as she could spend time with him, talk to him, sometimes hug him, and occasionally be close enough to feel his skin—just like recently, when there wasn't even a millimeter between them—she was happy. Now, for the first time, she thought about the possibility that he might feel the same way about her. And there was nothing good about that. Zel struggled to suppress the urge to tell him about her feelings. She simply wrapped her arms around his shoulders, burying her nose in his neck, feeling his skin tingle in response. Most likely, he would reciprocate, but that was precisely why she had to remain silent. If the upcoming operation to free her father from captivity was successful—and it couldn't end any other way—she and her father would have to leave this country as soon as possible and go as far away as they could. Of course, Zel wanted to believe that she could one day return here, but not knowing for sure how things would turn out in the future, she preferred not to give any promises or false hopes. And yet, on impulse, she reached out to Oliver's face and lightly kissed him on the cheek, just at the corner of his lips. His reaction was immediate—he jerked back, staring at her in shock. “What...?” He couldn't even finish the question, his face flushing red. Zel laughed and stood up from the floor, extending her hand to him. “It's so you'll have something to think about when you go to bed. Maybe your dreams will be different then. Come on.” She smiled as Oliver hesitantly placed his hand in hers and stood up. “We should both go to sleep—tomorrow is going to be another tough day.” And just before turning to the door, she noticed a smile on his lips—a smile that, to her, seemed full of understanding. He would probably need more time to fully understand his feelings. Zel decided that if she ever returned to Japan and Oliver made it clear his feelings hadn't changed, she would definitely confess to him. And if fate were kind to them, perhaps they could even be together. Undoubtedly, it would be the best possible outcome. However, if, when she returned, she found that he had already moved on, it wouldn't be terrible at all. She would even prefer to see him with someone else, someone who would hold a cherished place in his heart instead of her. It would be much better than... Seeing the painfully familiar name and dates of life engraved on a cold gravestone.   Someone called her name, snapping Zel out of her reverie. The sounds around her sharpened—conversations, laughter, the soft clinking of glasses at the Wild Dogs' usual bar. The memory faded like a dream as she looked up at one of the guys at the table and responded with her usual smile. When everyone's attention shifted, she slipped back into her thoughts. Unlike the others, she had long come down from the high of their final, successful showdown at the cemetery. Now, only one question echoed in her mind: What next? She wanted to stay. This was her country, and her countrymen lived here. Her closest, most loyal friends were here—the ones she'd shared so much with. Right now, those two sat beside her, chatting animatedly, fielding endless questions about their incredible victory over Maurice Monobe. Their faces were alight with satisfaction, their eyes shining with pride. They had everyone's attention, so no one really noticed that the leader of the Wandering Dogs was lost in thought. Except maybe Wayne. He mostly listened, letting his subordinates do the talking. Zel often felt his gaze on her, and somehow, she was certain he could read her mind. She wished her father could return here and stay as well. If that were possible, she'd have nothing else to ask for. All her loved ones together, living in their homeland—it was a beautiful dream, but one that was probably never going to come true. That meant she had to go. Back to that distant land where her father was waiting for her. A heavy weight settled in her chest as she looked at Charles and Nina, who were completely unaware of her plan. She knew they wouldn't be thrilled about another goodbye, especially not so soon after they'd been reunited. But... I'm sorry, guys. It looks like our group of four is about to shrink by half.   “Wait, are you sure about this?” Charles's voice was thick with concern. He looked at Zel as though expecting her to change her mind or at least hesitate, but she only looked away awkwardly. At that point, many of their friends had either left or wandered off to different parts of the bar, so the three of them could finally have a heart-to-heart at a small table. That was when Zel told them she planned to leave Japan soon and suggested they spend her last few days there together. “And what did you expect, Charlesy?” Nina replied with a smile, while Zel was at a loss for words. “You know as well as I do that it's dangerous for Zel to stay in this country.” Charles glanced at Nina, momentarily taken aback, then lowered his head. “Yeah, I know,” he mumbled, biting his lip. “But—” He didn’t finish, but there was no need. They all knew that discussing it further would only make the inevitable parting even more painful. After a brief silence, Zel looked at her friends and broke into a wide smile. “This isn't goodbye forever,” she said. “We'll definitely meet again someday. And until then, I'll write to you, and you can keep me updated on how your progress is going. I'll leave you my address.” Charles and Nina smiled, but despite their efforts, their smiles were anything but cheerful—more like forced grins. “Well, that's an improvement from before,” Charles remarked. Nina chuckled. “Yeah, definitely. We really missed staying in touch with you before.” The corners of Zel’s lips dipped down. She knew this all too well and had already regretted how things had turned out back then. But one way or another, she would have been late anyway. “Things will be different now.” Zel tried to smile again, but this time, her smile mirrored her friends'. “Make sure to tell me everything—what's happening with you, how you're feeling... write to me as if we were talking in person. And... whatever happens, please, be careful first and foremost.” When the two looked at her with wide eyes, she lowered her gaze. That last part had slipped out involuntarily, and of course, they couldn’t help but understand what she truly meant. “We will,” Nina replied. Zel looked up at her. “But that goes for you too. We're asking the same of you, aren't we, Charles?” A flicker of surprise crossed Charles's face, but it quickly shifted to understanding. He nodded at Nina with a smile, then turned to Zel. “Exactly. And don't forget—no matter where you are, you'll always be part of our team... our leader.” “Yes, you're right. Thank you, guys.” Zel noticed her friends' eyes glistening with tears—and only then did she realize she was crying too. Quickly wiping her face, she leaned forward and pulled Charles and Nina into a tight hug. Charles couldn’t help but sniffle. “You'll really come back someday, won't you?” “Don't ask her that,” Nina hissed. “How can Zel promise that now?” Zel shut her eyes and rested her forehead against theirs—the two she would soon leave, perhaps forever. She couldn't say it out loud, but they knew anyway, and so they cried with her. Fully understanding the circumstances, they didn’t try to stop her, no matter how much they wanted to. Once again, they were losing a friend, their group growing smaller. But at least this time, it wasn’t death that was tearing them apart. None of them spoke, but in that moment, they shared the same thought: If he were here with them now, would things be the same?   After a late-night drinking session at the bar, Charles woke up to find the sun streaming into the room. Its rays cut through the space, illuminating the corner where he had thrown together a makeshift bed on the floor. He lazily turned his head, expecting to see his friends still there, but the opposite corner was empty. “Nina! Zel!” No answer. Charles sat up and looked around, alarmed. The bed where the girls had slept was neatly made, and their clothes were nowhere to be seen—only his things were scattered on the floor. Had they already left without him? Why would they do that? And hadn't they agreed to spend the whole day together? “Nina!” he yelled louder. “Zel! What the hell did you leave me for?” Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and soon Nina appeared in the doorway, her hair wrapped in a towel as she tightened the belt of her bathrobe. “What are you yelling about so loud? I let you stay here last night, not so you could scare all the neighbors with your screaming. And besides,” her tone softened, and her frown turned into a smile, “who left you?” “Oh, you're here,” Charles breathed a sigh of relief. “Where's Zel?” “She left ages ago, while you were still sound asleep.” Nina sat on the made bed, vigorously rubbing her wet hair with a towel. “Left where?” Charles asked cautiously. Nina sighed and looked away. “To Oliver's, I think.” “Oh…” Charles faltered. Of course, he thought, if she had decided to spend some quality time with friends before leaving, then Oliver deserved a piece of that time too. “Maybe we should go there too?” “No need,” Nina shook her head. “She probably left so early just to be there alone. And so we wouldn't ask any extra questions,” she added with a smirk. Charles looked down. He was silent for a moment, then forced a weak smile, leaning back against his rumpled bed. “Do you think we should tell her?” he asked. “How often he talked about her, how he always tried to succeed primarily for her approval, not for big bro Wayne’s? About how he waited for her return... no, maybe we shouldn't tell her this.” Charles glanced at Nina, who was watching him with a slightly condescending smile. “I think she already knows how he felt about her,” she replied.   It was a cold, gray morning—nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year. But here, in the cemetery, the air seemed to bite a little harder. Zel shivered and quickened her pace, passing row after row of identical-looking tombstones. If you looked closely, the years of life inscribed on them were almost the same—the year, and even the day, of death identical on each. Here lay the Wild Dogs, young men who, on that fateful day, had become unwitting sacrifices to a reckless, monstrous plan devised by their own allies. Zel no longer felt the need for blame or hatred. After all, those responsible were likely dead. And the situation itself was a stark reminder that holding onto anger only served to poison one's own soul. All she had left were precious memories and feelings that she would never allow to be tainted by darkness. “And yet, yesterday, we avenged you, Oliver. You and everyone else.” Zel leaned down and placed the flowers, clutched in her frozen hands, onto his grave. Then she knelt. The ground near the grave was slightly damp—probably from the rain that had fallen during the night. There was no trace left of yesterday’s brutal massacre, and a stunning tranquility pervaded the place, as if it had always been that way. “I can't say it didn't make me feel better,” Zel continued. “But... nothing can bring you back. And nothing can take me back to that moment two years ago so I could tell you that...” She fell silent, lowering her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. Memories were all she had left, but they also brought pain, shattering her fragile peace in an instant. She didn’t know if she would ever be able to cope—with the regrets of what she hadn’t done, with the dreams that would now never come true. “That I...” Choking back another sob, Zel took a shaky breath. “Love you. And I... I never felt this way before.” And I don’t know if I ever will again. She remained like that for some time—until her legs grew too cold from the damp earth. Finally, she stood, brushing off the lower part of her dress, then stepped back a few paces, her gaze fixed on the headstone before her. “What I know for sure is that I will never forget you. And I don’t want to forget these feelings for you—no matter what. Even if it hurts…” Zel wiped away her tears and smiled as brightly as she could. “I want to always remember.” And then she shuddered at a sudden sensation, and her smile faded. Her heart pounded faster at the too-clear, intrusive feeling that someone was behind her. Without daring to turn around, she called out in a trembling voice, “Oliver? Can you hear me?” She could have sworn that in the gust of wind that suddenly swept through the previously still cemetery, she heard a soft, whispered ‘yes’. Zel shook her head. No, really—what was she imagining? As much as she wanted it to be true, the dead couldn't appear among the living in broad daylight. She braced herself to look around, needing to see with her own eyes that she was truly alone. And her heart nearly stopped when she distinctly heard footsteps behind her. It was no illusion—at first quiet, the steps grew louder as they approached. Suppressing a shiver, Zel summoned all her courage and abruptly turned around, ready to face whoever was there. And when she met Wayne's gaze—this time, he was dressed in the familiar white suit she had seen him wear so often—she struggled to suppress a sigh of relief. Wayne noticed the name on the grave behind her and immediately guessed that she had come to say goodbye. Zel smiled in confirmation, wondering what had brought Wayne here at such an hour. Although he had approached her to greet her, he clearly felt uncomfortable being in the cemetery with someone else, so he looked away, avoiding her direct gaze. Each of the boys buried here was special to him, and he probably still couldn't come to terms with their deaths, perhaps even blaming himself. Of course, Zel didn't say any of this out loud. No matter how Wayne was feeling, he definitely didn't need her comments or sympathy. It was best to leave him alone. She hadn't expected Wayne to continue the conversation, but he asked for her opinion on the new Madame and her capabilities. Zel replied honestly. While she acknowledged Madame Jeanne's abilities and merits, she still didn't believe that she could significantly change the situation in this country, especially in this city. No one could, not even the strongest and most persistent leader—not when their people were a minority, oppressed by foreigners who had seized power. But Wayne spoke so firmly and resolutely about his faith in Jeanne and his intention to always support her that Zel stared at him wide-eyed. She had already lost all hope, yet here he was, refusing to give up—it seemed he was more determined to fight than ever before. Slightly embarrassed by the look directed at him, Wayne glanced away, but the determination in his voice did not waver at all. “What if we really can change something? For example, make sure every Japanese person feels safe here? If I tell you that this is one of our goals, can you believe in us and rely on our strength?” With this question, he finally met her gaze, and Zel smiled at him, forcing back a lump in her throat that blurred her vision. She was experiencing a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, she was all too aware of how terrible the situation was in modern Japan, knowing that she and her father wouldn't be able to return for many, many years. But... looking at Wayne, who confidently declared his desire to help them, she wanted to believe in the miracle he spoke of. So she replied with all sincerity that she would wait for that moment to come.   When Zel returned to Nina's apartment, her two friends were astonished by her cheerful smile and upbeat mood. It seemed like she shouldn't be so happy considering where she had come from, and yet... what could have happened to make her feel so invigorated? “Already awake? Then let's go! We don't have much time left, and we have so much to do. Let's go everywhere you want, maybe even buy something. Or, at least, just have fun. Come on, hurry up!” Nina was the first to wake up and jumped from her seat. “Of course! We've been ready for a long time, just been waiting for you!” she smiled. Zel smiled back and headed out into the hallway, her footsteps fading into the distance. Charles looked at Nina, puzzled. “What's gotten into her?” he asked quietly. “Hehe,” Nina let out a strange, slightly nervous laugh. “I don’t know. But I'm glad she's feeling this way.” “You're right,” Charles smiled, watching Zel go. “I like her like this too. It reminds me of old times. Even though Oliver's gone, having her around makes things... easier. It's a shame she's leaving.” “You and me, we'll just have to figure out how to survive here together,” Nina chuckled, grimacing slightly at the bitterness in her mouth. “Alright, let's hurry up, Charlesy. I think we're keeping our goddess of luck waiting.” They hurried into the hallway, and soon the trio stepped out into the street, bathed in the warm rays of the morning sun. They were cheerful and energetic, a team that would always be bound by strong, unbreakable bonds. And even if one of them wasn’t around, he remained in the hearts and memories of everyone.