They didn't rush.
They didn't need to.
The hunters had already found the area.
Not by sight.
Not by noise.
By pattern.
Things that didn't make sense.
Reports that didn't line up.
Time gaps.
Missing footage.
And something else.
Something they didn't say out loud.
One of them stood on the rooftop across from the warehouse.
Looking down.
Still.
"You feel that?"
The one beside him didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…Yeah."
Not strong.
But wrong.
Like a signal that wasn't meant for them.
"Two of them," the first one said quietly.
A pause.
"Or one… split wrong."
That got a reaction.
"That doesn't happen."
"It just did."
Silence again.
Below them
the warehouse sat still.
Dark.
Empty from the outside.
But they both knew better.
"Orders?"
The first one exhaled slowly.
"We don't engage yet."
"Why?"
Another pause.
Longer this time.
"Because if we're right
He didn't finish.
Didn't need to.
The second one looked down again.
More carefully this time.
"…He's not stable."
"No."
A beat.
"He's not alone either."
Inside the warehouse
Kenji was already on his feet.
He didn't know why.
Didn't hear anything.
Didn't see anything.
But his body knew.
Something was coming.
His shadow stretched slightly behind him.
Not matching the light.
Not matching him.
And for the first time
Kenji didn't ignore it.
He looked directly at it.
Silence.
Then
quietly
"…What did you do?"
The shadow didn't answer.
But outside
the hunters moved.
Not fast.
Not loud.
Certain.
And this time
they weren't watching anymore.