“Shh, shh…”  Hakuba pulled the little girl into his arms, settled on the floor of the darkened lab. He cradled her, one hand over her back, the other nestled in her hair, and bent over her protectively, chin resting on the top of her head. “It’s all right, Shiho… it’s all right. I’ll assist with the antidote; you’re not alone anymore.”

He could only imagine how frustrating it had been for her all of this time, how difficult to go through what she had, and he only knew bits and pieces. Nevertheless, he was determined to help.