Section 12: The beginning at the end of the news
Yue was finally asleep. Haruto stood beside him, gently stroking his hair. At that moment, the door opened and Kaito entered the room. As always, he looked handsome and charismatic, his cold, serious gaze falling first on Yuki, then on Haruto.
Kaito:
"Haruto, it's time to go."
Haruto smiled, stood up, and pulled the blanket over Yuki a little more before turning to Kaito.
Haruto:
"Isn't he adorable? His green hair, his yellow eyes… By the way, just like you, he has a mole under his left eye—and on his hand."
Kaito looked surprised.
Kaito:
"Really? That's just great. As if we needed that."
Haruto chuckled, then his smile slowly turned sad.
Haruto:
"Just like us… he's the same."
(He quickly wipes the sadness from his face.)
"By the way, Kaito, he was mumbling in his sleep. Between his words, he kept mentioning the name Asahi."
Kaito's expression hardened.
Kaito:
"Hm… I see. We'll talk about it later. Lady Akira is waiting for you. Actually, everyone is."
Haruto scratched the back of his neck and smiled.
Haruto:
"Ah—right."
The two of them head toward the meeting room and arrive at the fourth floor. They enter the room.
Kaito:
"So, you finally managed to bring him."
Haruto looks surprised and slightly annoyed.
Haruto:
"What do you mean? I was taking care of Yuki."
(With an apologetic smile.)
"Anyway… sorry, everyone."
Haruto looks around but doesn't see Kenji.
Haruto:
"Where's Kenji? All the hunters are here. Where is he?"
Tatsuya speaks up.
Tatsuya:
"Haruto, Kenji felt unwell while he was in the archive room with Yoona. He went to rest in his room and said he doesn't want to go on missions for a few days."
One of the hunters, Yue, joins the conversation.
Yue:
"But I didn't see him enter his room. I was in the library until the meeting started. As you know, that section of the library is open, and you can see his door from there. I was near the entrance, but I didn't see Kenji."
Yoona interrupts.
Yoona:
"Hunter No. 183, Yue Aoti, you were busy with your assigned task. You may have missed it."
Yue nods silently.
Lady Akira speaks.
Lady Akira:
"Very well. Daichi, tell us what happened that day."
Daichi takes a deep breath.
Daichi:
"Everything was normal while I was heading to the mission site. But after a while, I noticed the carriage changing direction, and then the coachman—"
San cuts in.
San:
"Let me guess—you heard a scream?"
(He laughs.)
Sora rolls her eyes.
Sora:
"Enough. Continue, Daichi."
San stops laughing after meeting Lady Akira's glare.
Daichi lightly touches the scar on his arm and continues.
Daichi:
"I felt the carriage suddenly stop. When I got down to see what happened, I saw a shadow standing in front of me, and then—"
(He pauses. Everyone listens intently.)
"It was Hiroshi. I saw Hiroshi."
Everyone stands up, the room erupting into chaos. At that moment, Ren notices Yoona entering the room.
Yoona:
"I'm sorry I'm late. I already know what happened—you don't need to explain."
Suddenly, Kaito slams his hand on the table.
Kaito:
"HOW CAN IT BE HIROSHI, DAICHI?! WE SAW HIM OURSELVES! I WAS THERE! I HEARD HIS LAST WORDS!"
Haruto grabs Kaito's arm.
Haruto:
"Kaito, stop. Get a hold of yourself. Calm down."
Kaito clenches his teeth and sits back down. Noah speaks from behind.
Noah:
"So then… how did you get that wound, Daichi?"
Daichi:
"I was about to draw my sword when I felt that shadow behind me. Just as I was turning around, I was struck. I don't know what kind of attack it was. After that, I rode straight back to headquarters. That's everything."
Lady Akira breaks the silence.
Lady Akira:
"That's the whole incident. Whether that person was truly Hiroshi or merely someone who resembled him, I don't know. However, there is a possibility that he was a Kuiru."
Haruto speaks.
Haruto:
"But… even if Kuiru resemble humans, they can't become completely human, can they?"
Ren responds calmly.
Ren:
"They can now, Haru. Thanks to a certain substance."
Tatsuya and Lady Akira widen their eyes in shock. The hunters begin whispering among themselves.
Lady Akira speaks firmly.
Lady Akira:
"From now on, be extremely cautious—especially you, Ren. Your next mission will be there."
Ren:
"Yes, Lady Akira."
Haruto and Kaito exchange glances. They notice Yoona leaving the room. Both of them freeze—there is a small stain of blood on Yoona's collar.
San calls out.
San:
"Miss Yoona, it looks like something spilled on your collar during dinner. Please, use this to wipe it."
Yoona:
"Oh, how kind of you, Mr. San."
Lady Akira concludes the meeting.
Lady Akira:
"This meeting is adjourned. Good night."
As the hunters leave, Yue approaches Haruto and Kaito. The three walk down the corridor together when Yue speaks with a troubled expression.
Yue:
"Do you remember the number Mr. Tatsuya mentioned earlier?"
Kaito:
"Yes. Why?"
Haruto:
"I think he said 183."
Yue swallows nervously.
Yue:
"That's the problem… 183 is mine. But I don't have a number like that."