Memento's HQ was crammed the next morning. The air felt heavy and unsettled. Members crowded into the main hall, where an unscheduled gathering had been ordered an hour before. Tsuki maneuvered through countless bodies—late as always, and searching for the others in her squad.
"Excuse me," she said just above a whisper continuously, until she spotted Neko's jester hat perched above a sea of heads.
She made her way over, using it as a waypoint, eventually reaching his position. There, Viper Squad stood eagerly awaiting an explanation. Beside them, Geo, Hatori and Azumi all stood with equal uncertainty.
"Huh, who would've thought," Geo smirked.
"Thanks for waking me up guys," Tsuki said with a sarcastic scowl. "Real friends, aren't you?"
Azumi crossed her arms. "Gotta learn to wake yourself up at some point."
Tsuki tilted her head in slight annoyance, until the boom of Danzo's interrupted.
"Attention! Attention everyone!" he called. He stood atop the raised platform on the far side of the hall, stepping forward in his cloak. His hair was parted differently today—split into a sixty-forty that complimented his eyes well.
Beside him, an old friend stood wrapped in bandages like a mummy. Ringo hunched slightly with an arm supporting his abdomen. He looked rough, but alive nonetheless.
"Ringo..?" Tsuki said in surprise. "I haven't seen him since before the raids!"
"Heard he was in critical condition when they found him," Geo explained. "Tough kid, supposedly he was unconscious below a large slab of concrete."
Azumi jerked her head back in shock. "How in the hell?"
Geo widened his eyes and gave a dramatic shrug. On stage, Danzo had been covering Galion matters that didn't concern them. That was, until he cleared his throat and a heavy sigh escaped his lips.
"With that being said… the true reason I called you here is something much more important."
That left the audience on edge. Tsuki jolted her attention back to the leader, curiosity taking over.
"I'll make it quick, for such matters are never fun to linger on. From this point forward, Tona Norasachi—the Ghost—is expelled from our ranks, and will be marked as a rogue operative."
The news struck like an uppercut to the jaw. Every soldier crowded together opened their mouths in shock.
Tsuki didn't believe it at first. Her lips curved into a faint smile, until she saw Danzo's expression. He was dead serious.
"No further information will be given at this time. Who was once part of our family, will now act on his own accord."
He spoke firmly, drowning any doubts with a booming voice and ill-humored face. His fists that were clenched at his sides—told another story.
"That is all."
The crowd erupted into whispers and murmurs that echoed in the stone-enforced walls. Danzo had left the stage, Ringo followed shortly after, still hobbling.
The realization had hit Tsuki now, that this wasn't a prank. A mistimed, and immature joke. Her hands shook as her brain flooded with questions without answers.
"W—what? What is he talking about?"
She looked around—Geo and Azumi had similar reactions. Hatori's eyes narrowed in on the ground. His mouth opened to speak, but nothing was said.
"He's just abandoning us?" Geo asked, shaking his head. "What the hell is he thinking?!"
Beside him, Azumi's fists curled tight at her sides, knuckles paling. Her expression mirrored Tsuki's—betrayal etched in every line of her face.
"What is going on? We need him!" Tsuki said in a quieter tone, laced with uncertainty.
Geo looked back up at the stage, where their leader had just broken news like it was expected. "Maybe he's acting out of emotion? I don't know… I'm so lost."
"Wherever he goes," Azumi whispered, "he'll be taking attention with him. The APC will know he's alone now…"
Tsuki's trembling hands rose in front of her. She traced the creases, as though it would reveal the truth she sought.
Dammit Tona… whatever you're doing, please be safe.
The tension within the squad fractured in a moment's notice. Danzo's voice boomed, as his taller frame approached from the sea of soldiers.
"Judgment, Viper, Phantom. With me, now."
He didn't slow to explain, turning on his heel before the squads could exchange more than a glance.
No time for questions—boots echoed against stone as they followed him through Memento's HQ. Torches along the walls cast long shadows across their path, the familiar flicker of flame offering no warmth. The atmosphere grew even heavier, as if the building itself had absorbed the weight of recent losses.
Danzo led them into the war room. Papers and maps lay scattered across the long table, unrolled scrolls crumpled at the edges. It wasn't the neat, commanding space Maro once kept—it was the den of someone working without pause, and maybe without rest.
"We need a new offensive," Danzo blurted without a second to waste. "This one… will need to succeed."
The squads traded uneasy glances. Not a single squad member spoke.
"The second invasion of Igumi will be held within a week."
"But sir," Hajima said, stepping forward. "You saw how the first went. We can't just walk through the front gate again. The APC will chew us up, same as last."
Danzo raised a single finger, not meeting Hajima's eyes. Instead, they laid on a map—the one Nighthawk had just brought from Riche.
"Getting there," he pointed at the circled section of the map. "The Old Igumi Underbelly," he read slowly, like he expected them to know its existence.
"Oh, right…" Neko said, rubbing his chin. "What's the Old Igumi Underbelly?"
"Nighthawk brought these plans from a mission in Riche. Supposedly, this area has a cave entrance through the circled area."
He exhaled, taking a sip of his coffee like it was routine. "However, that convoy was an inside job… meaning they were likely sneaking the supplies through this cave—to someone inside Igumi. It'll likely be heavily guarded, and possibly awaiting these shipments."
"So, what's the plan sir?" Naru asked, folding his arms.
"Judgment and Phantom, you two will infiltrate Igumi from the inside using the underbelly."
"Oh great… back in the sewers," Azumi groaned.
"Think I've still got the scent of Riche stuck in my hair," Geo joked, straightening a strand that fell to his eye.
"It was supposedly an old festival ground," Danzo continued, ignoring their inputs, "with a few entrances to the surface—making it perfect for an unprecedented attack."
Both squads saluted, with a unified "yes sir."
"As for you, Viper," he said, pointing at a region just east of the main city. "You'll be with me, leading our men through the gates after our infiltration force does their job."
Makoro threw a fist into his opposite hand, with a toothless grin. Enzumaki followed suit, though softer.
"Me want to beat ass. Pretty please?" Makoro jut out his lower lip like a pleading pup. Danzo waved a hand dismissively.
"Plenty of time for that in the near future, Makoro," Danzo finalized, settling into his chair.
Hajima leaned against the table, squinting his eyes in thought. "What can we expect defensively?"
"Likely similar to last time—unless you're asking in regards to the underbelly. In that case, I'd have no idea."
Hajima nodded slowly. Danzo met his gaze in confidence. "But this time… we'll be ready. Trust me."
"Already fitting in Maro's role, aren't you?" Hajima chuckled.
"Doing my best."
"And that's all we ask for!" Valera smiled, ridding the room of its tension, even if just for a moment.
Danzo's lips curved up, faint but genuine. "You're dismissed," he said, shoulders feeling a little lighter than earlier. The squads filed out one by one, but a pair of boots stayed behind.
"What's wrong, Tsuki?" he asked, masking the fact that he already knew the reason.
She lingered by the doorway, hand tightening around the frame as if she was debating whether to speak at all.
"I'm just… wondering about something. Can I sit?"
Danzo looked up from the scattered maps on the table—district outlines inked over with hasty notations. A half-burnt candle guttered between them, its faint smoke curling upward. He nodded once.
"Of course."
She crossed the room, her boots dull against the wooden floor. She settled into the chair opposite of him, eyes resembling something she'd lost.
Danzo folded his arms on the table, reading Tsuki in silence. Eventually, he broke it.
"It's about Tona, isn't it?"
She gave a short, hesitant nod. "I can't believe it… I can't. He wouldn't do something like this. He wouldn't just leave us behind…"
She shook her head, before sharpening her gaze onto Danzo. "Why'd you let him go?"
His eyes flickered for only a heartbeat—something almost like guilt—but he quickly suppressed it.
"It wasn't about letting him. It was a matter of understanding him. He believed walking alone would shield us from the danger he brings… that he was protecting us."
Her head shook violently, frustration breaking through. "But that's stupid! He saved us, Danzo. He's who we look to for—"
"I understand, Tsuki," Danzo said, cutting her off. "Listen to me. I've fought among many people, and seen many traits with those people… and I've never seen the level of selflessness he carries."
That caught her attention. She stumbled for her words, but Danzo raised a finger to halt them.
"If you'd have seen his eyes last night… you'd know too. That he's leaving not because he stopped caring, but because he cares too much."
Tsuki's eyes fell to the floor, her fingers curling into tight fists against her knees. Uselessness, loneliness, and anger all churned in her chest—until something else took root. The fierce flame of determination.
"Then… I'll take his place. If he won't be here to protect the others, I will."
Danzo studied her for a long, quiet moment, his expression unreadable. Then the faintest smile crossed his face—thin, almost reluctant.
"Then he'd be proud."
But as she rose to leave, she didn't see the way his gaze followed her to the door or the way his jaw tightened. Danzo knew Tona's choice hadn't been made on a single night's reflection. And there were truths—darker ones—he had no intention of telling her. Not yet.
Outside, the midday air was warm with a gentle breeze. The sun sat in the sky proudly, casting its beams across the ruins of Persetta.
Even so, it wasn't the architecture that made a city—it was its people.
Geo awaited Tsuki just in front of the HQ doors, tapping a foot into the ground to occupy himself. With each kick, a little crack appeared below his boot.
Her expression wasn't grim, but it wasn't light either. Caught somewhere between the weight of recent conversations and the faintest satisfaction of minimal understanding.
"You okay?" Geo asked, tilting his head slightly.
She paused mid-step, considering her words. "Will be."
A faint smile tugged at her lips—not forced, but small and quiet. The kind that she'd seen on her idol more than once, when words weren't enough but reassurance was still given.
Geo caught the subtle nod that followed, a silent 'thanks.' His own lips curved just slightly in return.
"Food?"
Tsuki chuckled at that, slipping just before she could help it. "You and your damn food."
He shrugged. "What can I say? Some fight for survival, while others fight for a decent meal."
"Well, I wouldn't turn that down," she said, already setting off. Geo grinned, falling into step beside her. Their boots hit the cobblestone in a rhythmic beat, strolling through a beautiful Persetta day. The conversation wasn't constant—it didn't need to be. The quiet companionship was enough for both of them.
Across the district, Hatori's boots carried him through the open plaza. The day was getting cooler, the wind threading through the stalls and rustling the banners that hung between buildings. He and Azumi had parted ways back at HQ—she had gone to the Memento stone, while he had told himself he wanted to walk alone.
It didn't stay that way for long.
"Hatori!" Correna called, voice instantly recognizable through the quiet hum of the plaza.
He turned instinctively, spotting her near a fountain. She wore a beautiful white silk dress with a blue flower pattern. Her bright hair caught the breeze in soft strands, and her eyes were nearly closed in a squint—testament to her terrible eyesight from a distance. Yet she still knew it was him.
"Correna, hey!" he called, stepping over to her. He hid how his heart thumped a few beats quicker behind a masking smile. On the inside, he was melting away.
"I've been looking for you," she said, tilting her head to the side. Hatori had just now noticed, but she held a basket behind her back—it was barely visible, but the woven edges stuck out just a bit.
"Looking for me? You need something?"
"Not need something, necessarily…"
Her gaze dipped, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. The words hung between them, carrying a weight that wasn't entirely casual.
"Tona visited me the other day," she said, raising her eyes to him. The quick glance flustered Hatori too, leaving a pair of tomato-red faces in brief awkwardness.
Hatori lifted his brows slightly. Even then, the name carried weight—especially since he'd met him on the cliffs.
"Yeah?"
"Yes. We talked the day before he left… and he told me something that I've been thinking about constantly."
Hatori let her continue, keeping his gaze on her.
"He said… that I'm too patient. That if I keep waiting on things to happen—that it'll be too late."
"What're you saying?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head. She cracked her knuckles—a tick Hatori had long remembered from their early days of knowing one another.
"I'd like for you to come visit me," she said in a calmer tone. "From time to time. Of course, not if it's a hassle—only when it's convenient!"
Hatori smiled mischievously. "Yeah sure! The others and I can stop—"
"I wasn't meaning the others," she interrupted. Hatori smiled genuinely now, stepping a bit closer in an upburst of confidence that was abnormal even to himself.
"I'd love to. I can always make time to stop by."
Her cheeks were a beautiful light pink, and blessed with a blooming smile now. It was radiant, and infectious. Hatori couldn't help but mirror it.
"Great! Stop by anytime, okay?"
"Yeah, of course," Hatori chuckled. Correna turned to leave, but Hatori reached out, grasping her hand gently.
"Wait!" he blurted out. Unfortunately, all sense of immediate confidence faded as soon as he held her hand.
"Hm?"
Hatori let go of her hand, stepping away for a second—reality catching up to his brain.
"I uh—was thinking… if you're heading back to HQ, I could walk you there."
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd love that."
Score.
They fell into step together. Hatori glanced at the sky for a brief moment, the stars above faint against the darkness.
Tona… all thanks to you, buddy. Best damn wingman a stoic like me could ask for.
A small grin pulled at his lips. Correna turned, shifting her head a bit.
"This is the most I think I've seen you smile in years," she said playfully.
"Yeah… I think so too."
The two walked on, laughter gradually bubbling between them, the sound carrying softly through the quiet Persetta streets as they made their way toward Correna's quarters.