Rin shouted, "Don't do this, Berko! You don't know what might happen to him!" Ren, in disbelief, added, "Do you want us to hide the fact that there's a Light among our squad? No law punishes such a crime because no one ever assumed someone would cover up for them!!" He flicked his fingers at Ren's head and said, "Will you wake up?! What did that kid ever do to you?! Since when have you been a dog for these filths?!" Rin yelled back angrily, "He's the one who saved us! We wouldn't have made it back without him!!" Berko snarled, "All that, just to save his friend… He doesn't care about us or about anyone in Frata... He doesn't even care about the people of his own town…"
The atmosphere in the public lounge area of the building was tense… Most of the Iron Hands were gathered there… Rin turned to the other leaders, pleading, "Sabana… Sol… He saved you two as well… You were both about to die!" Sabana remained silent, but Sol coughed and said, "Ren! That was only because his friend was in danger! What if next time his friend is safe, and we all die? What if his friend doesn't go on the mission?" Sabana spoke, arms folded in discomfort, "He's right, Ren… We can't trust him…"
All of them still bore the marks of the battle. Sabana's leg… She still couldn't walk on it properly… Sol… though he'd lost consciousness in the middle of the battle, he was still having difficulty breathing from inhaling so much smoke… And Rin… He'd taken the brunt of the injuries, his leg… He forced his body to stand and left the hospital to talk to Berko. Anger and helplessness took over Ren. He shouted despite himself, "What about you?! Where were you, Berko?! You left me there and ran away! You abandoned me so you could survive! How can I trust you now?!"
Berko's eyes widened in shock, glistening. Silence fell over the room. Rin shut his eyes, regret washing over him the moment he said it, and he muttered, "Berko…" Berko stepped toward Ren, clearly furious. He came right up to Ren's face and said, "If it weren't for— You.. you the pet of the Lights! If you hadn't endangered all of us just to save his friend… I wouldn't have left you behind!" Rin replied calmly, "So that's all it takes for you to leave me to die… How heroic of you, O son of the president!"
Berko glared at Rin in anger, about to raise his fist, but Sabana intervened and pushed Berko back, saying, "Can you two just stop it?!" She turned to Rin and said, "Ren, it's not our decision anyway! We have to report this… That's what we're supposed to do! You're putting the entire team in danger by keeping this secret!" Then she turned to Berko, "And you! Stop flaunting your strength around us and threatening to hit people. Some of us actually finished that battle, as you know…"
Berko glared at them, then turned to leave the room. Sol, who'd been silent, left as well, heading in another direction. Sol walked a short distance until he reached the clinic where the injured Iron Hands were being treated. He went in and sat next to Heemi's bed. Next to hers were beds with Noel and Ino. Sol bowed his head, looking utterly exhausted sitting next to Heemi…
A weak voice called him, "Sol…" He lifted his head to see that Heemi was awake. Sol cried out, "Heemi! Are you okay?!" Heemi was lying on the bed; her left arm and the left side of her neck were burned and wrapped in bandages. Some minor burns speckled her face around her chin. She answered, "I'm fine… How are you?" Sol spoke emotionally, "Heemi… Look at you…" He fought back the turmoil inside him. Udia had trusted him… Had trusted him and asked him to protect Heemi… But he… He had failed.
Heemi let out a weak laugh and said, "This is nothing—just some burns…" Sol spoke with seriousness, "Listen, Heemi. You have your whole life ahead of you… What if— What if that arrow had hit you somewhere else? You're leaving this army as soon as you're healed!" Heemi looked at him, wincing, "Don't insult me, Sol!" Sol was taken aback, "What…?" Heemi said, "It was enough that I fell in the early part of the fight… I got complacent in my training… I assumed all the burden would fall on the Black Wings… But… I fell early, leaving my subordinate behind! That's unforgivable! And now you're telling me to leave the army?! And do what? Live my entire life carrying this shame on my shoulders?! Is that how my family name should be remembered?!"
Sol's eyes widened, "None of that matters!" He shouted, "It doesn't matter—honor or shame—if you're dead, Heemi!" Heemi's face twisted in anger, "Yes, it does! Or are you saying my brother's honor doesn't matter because he died?" Sol lowered his head, voice subdued, "I… I didn't mean…" They both fell silent for a while, with only the drip of IV fluid in the background. Heemi sighed and said, "I know he asked you to look after me… But he raised a strong girl." She smiled, continuing, "So don't worry about me." Sol forced a smile, but worry still gnawed at his heart.
Heemi glanced at Noel and asked, "Has Noel woken up?" Sol said, "I don't know… Same with Ino… I'll ask the doctor." Heemi, resting her head back, said, "These painkillers they give me… I can't keep my eyes open!" Sol patted her shoulder, "Then I'll let you rest." Heemi smiled at him, closing her eyes… Thinking to herself, If Noel hasn't woken up… Then who does that muffled crying belong to that I hear every night from her bed?