Chapter 33: CorneredTaro groaned in pain. Neya's hand was buried beneath his chest.
"Ugh… ahh—!"
He tried to pull away, but her hand pushed even deeper.
"AHHH—GNN!"
Neya laughed.
Her body began to change. Her skin turned into a black, fluid-like substance. A dark aura coiled around her neck. The pale pink in her eyes vanished, replaced by a glowing purple. The color drained from her yellow hair.
Smiling, she spoke:
"What? Should I be worried just because you noticed from that headache? Ahh… you're really naive."
Despite the blood loss, Taro struggled to stay on his feet. His voice trembled.
"Ugh… you… that headache… you manipulated time, didn't you? To mess with our memories…"
Neya smiled and pressed into the wound.
"AHHH!"
"Heheh… you still think I'm Neya? I remember some of her memories, yes—but I'm not just Neya."
She tapped her finger against her lips, thinking. Her hand was still inside Taro's body. He trembled, unable to move.
Laughing lightly, she continued:
"Ahh, got it. I just borrowed her body. That's all. May she rest in peace."
She softened her voice, pretending to sound sad—then laughed.
Suddenly, her expression twisted.
She felt sharp pain.
Her arm had been severed.
She gasped and turned around in shock—
—and a knife struck her head.
She staggered and collapsed.
At the doorway stood Mitsuni, breathing hard.
"TARO!"
He rushed to Taro's side and supported him.
Taro forced the words out:
"Mit… Mitsuni… where are Yuki and the twins…?"
Mitsuni clenched his teeth.
"I don't know. But I have a really bad feeling. I warned the others."
They tried to leave together.
Then laughter echoed behind them.
"Hihihaha—HAHAHAHA!"
They turned.
Neya was standing.
Perfectly fine.
Laughing, she said:
"I think… that's my arm."
She pointed at the severed limb still embedded in Taro's chest.
"Ah… haha… ahh…"
—
"YUKI, MOVE!"
Zen's voice echoed.
Shin ran after him.
"Damn it… the whole headquarters is swarming!"
One Hour Earlier — Flashback
Yuki woke up in Kaito's room and rubbed his eyes.
"Ahh… I still feel sleepy…"
The room was empty.
Confused, he stepped out and headed toward the twins' room.
When he knocked, they answered together:
"Come in!"
Yuki entered.
"You're not sleeping? I couldn't find Haruto or Kaito. Their rooms were empty, so I came here."
Shin smiled brightly.
"Good thing you came, Yuki. You're the only one who won't tell anyone we're awake at this hour."
Zen nodded.
"Yeah."
Yuki sat down, smiling.
"So… what are you doing?"
"Just talking," Shin replied.
Zen sighed.
"I have a bad feeling."
"Me too," Shin agreed.
"What kind of feeling?" Yuki asked.
"There's a strange energy here," Shin said.
Yuki paused.
"Can you sense energy like Sora does?"
Zen shook his head.
"No. Our main ability is smoke."
"Smoke?" Yuki asked.
The twins nodded.
"It can be poisonous," Shin said with a grin. "Or—"
"Not invisibility," Zen cut in.
"Just enough to distort vision."
"That's all we can do for now," Shin added.
Zen leaned forward excitedly.
"What about you, Yuki? Everyone says you're really strong."
Yuki looked down.
"Honestly… I don't know."
Shin glanced at Zen, silently telling him to stop.
Zen quickly changed the subject.
"Uh… is everyone asleep? I'm craving sweets."
Suddenly, a scream echoed.
They looked into the corridor.
Running assistants. Injured Hunters.
Shin swallowed.
Zen tried to stay calm.
"This is bad. Yuki, follow me."
"What?" Yuki asked.
"Just trust me," Shin said. "We're getting out."
Zen turned to the wall and pulled a table aside.
Yuki stared.
"Whoa…"
Zen smiled proudly.
"A secret passage."
Shin jumped in.
Yuki followed, excited.
"That's awesome!"
Zen slid the table back.
"Well… thanks to Sora."
Present Time
"So… where are we going?" Yuki asked.
Shin smiled while running.
"There's a shelter nearby."
"Did Sora make all this?" Yuki asked.
Zen laughed.
"No. Takashi, the librarian, did. With Lady Akira's help."
Yuki smirked.
"Seriously? That's interesting…"