The sirens wailed.
One looked up.
"Oh."
Hunters arrived.
Fast. Organized.
The first one stopped dead upon seeing the alley.
"...What the hell is this?"
Another checked his screen.
"Energy spike at catastrophic levels."
"Source?"
The screen blinked.
Then displayed a name.
ONE
Silence.
One raised his hand.
"Hello."
The hunters froze.
One of them went pale.
"He's conscious…"
"That's impossible."
Captain Man hadn't arrived yet.
But his name was already making the rounds.
"Call number 5."
"Right away."
One tilted his head.
"Did I do something wrong?"
No one answered.
The squad leader approached cautiously.
"Are you injured?"
One looked at his arms.
"No."
"Tired?"
One hesitated.
"A little… I haven't eaten."
They exchanged a look.
"We can't just let him go back."
"Protocol?"
"Protocol."
One frowned.
"Can I go home after?"
"...No."
——
Captain Man, number 5 in the hunter rankings, arrived on the scene.
He looks at One.
He looks at the alley.
He sighs.
"...Did you eat today?"
One shakes his head.
"Come on."
"Where to?"
"My place."
One smiles.
"Okay."
He follows him.