tainly didn’t want Shiba-san to know what they're capable of, do they? If they had shown their full strength, they couldn’t have lured him out even with a hostage.”

“So they kidnapped Mitsui and tried to kidnap Shibata in order to lure Tatsuya to them?”

“We believe that's what happened.”

Tsukasa answered Leo's question without pretense.

“I know your abilities, but I don’t think that everything would have ended for you without injury if you were faced with a serious Illegal MAP. So leave the pursuit to us. Also, I would like to ask that you also withdraw SMAT.”

It seems like Tsukasa answered the questions of Erika and Leo, in order to finally say this.

“Good day, then. We're advancing in pursuit of the remaining saboteurs.”

Tsukasa said, who saluted (today Tsukasa was wearing combat gear and a helmet, and looked like it was no different from the other male soldiers), turned away from Erika and Leo, and walked away to join up with her comrades.

As Erica watched the army convertible cars leave the area, she spoke to Shoji, who had just arrived.

“Even though the army said it, but what will SMAT do?”

“Regardless of who the adversary is, any crimes within the country are under the jurisdiction of the police. Even if the army tells us to withdraw our forces, we won’t obediently sit idly by.”

The corners of Shoji's lips lifted, showing the audacity and insolence inherent in people from the Chiba family dojo.

“Erika-ojousan, could you escort the victim home? And tell the details tomorrow.”

“...Well, okay.”

Erika didn’t persist. She came here to help Honoka, and wasn’t particularly interested in arresting terrorists. The desire to do this, though present, was weak.

She was a little concerned that the goal of the enemy was the murder of Tatsuya. But, they are unlikely to succeed in killing him. Erika was sure of this, without even listing all the reasons to prove it.

Erika decided to follow Shoji's request and escort Honoka home. At the same time, she politely refused the offer of the squad leader to provide them with support from their personnel. Instead, she reluctantly took Leo as her escort. They put Honoka, who was still unable to move on her own, in the Cabinet of the electric transportation system, and went to her house.