The headquarters of the Hunter Intelligence Agency stood in the heart of Tokyo, hidden behind layers of security and secrecy. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary government building. But inside, it was the center of everything—the place where decisions were made, where hunters were deployed, and where the truth of the world was kept buried.
The medical wing was quiet.
White lights illuminated the sterile halls, the faint hum of machines filling the air.
Hina sat on the edge of her bed, a bandage wrapped around her arm. Across from her, Aoi rested quietly, her katana placed carefully beside her. Shin lay on another bed, her body covered in more bandages than either of them, though her expression remained as composed as ever.
For a while, no one spoke.
Until Hina finally broke the silence.
"…Shin."
Shin didn't look at her. "…what."
Hina hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"…who is Rukia?"
The room fell still.
Aoi glanced up, her fingers tightening slightly over the blanket.
Shin closed her eyes briefly, as if deciding whether or not to answer.
"…and Mizorogi," Hina added quietly. "…why did he become like that?"
A long pause.
Then Shin exhaled softly.
"…before I joined," she began, her voice calm but heavy, "Asuka wasn't alone."
Hina listened closely.
"He had a team."
Shin turned her gaze toward the ceiling.
"…two people."
"Mizorogi… and Rukia."
Aoi leaned forward slightly, attentive.
"They met at the Academy. Same class. Same teacher. They started working together when they were thirteen."
Her voice remained steady, but there was something deeper beneath it.
"…they were inseparable."
Hina swallowed.
"…Rukia…"
Shin nodded.
"Fujiwara Rukia."
At that name, Aoi's eyes widened slightly.
"One of the three great clans within HIA in Japan," Shin continued. "A prodigy. Talented. Elegant. Strong."
A faint pause.
"…and the only girl at the Academy who managed to catch Asuka's attention."
Hina blinked.
"…seriously?"
Shin didn't react to her tone.
"They worked as a team for years. Missions, training, everything."
Her gaze softened just slightly.
"…they trusted each other."
She continued.
"At fifteen, Asuka achieved Special Grade. Faster than anyone expected."
Even Hina couldn't hide her surprise.
"…that fast…?"
Shin nodded.
"Even Rukia, despite being from the Fujiwara Clan, couldn't reach his level."
A brief silence followed.
"After the Fukushima incident—his fight against Rajau—one of the three great clans tried to recruit him."
"…but he refused," Shin said.
Hina tilted her head. "…why?"
"Because he chose to stay loyal," Shin replied. "…to Rukia."
Aoi's expression softened.
"And to support the Fujiwara Clan."
Hina looked down slightly.
"…so they were…"
Shin didn't finish the sentence.
But she didn't deny it either.
"…their bond grew stronger," she said simply.
Then—
Her expression darkened.
"…until Mizorogi changed."
The atmosphere in the room shifted.
"…two years later," Shin continued, "a Special Level Demon appeared in Hokkaido."
Even saying it seemed heavy.
"The situation was bad. The available forces were limited."
"So they sent the three of them."
Asuka.
Rukia.
Mizorogi.
Hina felt her chest tighten.
"…what happened?"
Shin's eyes hardened.
"…Rukia was killed."
Aoi covered her mouth again.
"…killed…?"
Shin nodded slowly.
"…by Mizorogi."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Hina's mind froze.
"…without reason?"
"…no one knows," Shin replied. "There was no warning. No explanation."
Her voice lowered.
"…just betrayal."
A long pause filled the room.
"After that… Asuka fought him."
Hina looked up.
"…and won?"
Shin nodded.
"He killed Mizorogi."
But then—
She looked toward the window.
"…that's what we thought."
Aoi whispered softly, "…but he's alive now…"
Shin's gaze sharpened.
"…and in the past two years, there have been sightings."
Her tone grew colder.
"…hunters who encountered him."
"…and rumors."
Hina clenched her fist slightly.
"…that he eats demons…"
Shin didn't respond.
But she didn't deny it either.
The room fell into silence once more.
Neither Hina nor Aoi knew what to say.
Elsewhere, inside the command office—
The atmosphere was far heavier.
A woman sat behind a large desk, her posture elegant, her presence commanding.
Fujiwara Akane.
Rukia's older sister.
A commander.
Semi-Special Grade.
Standing beside her was another woman—expressionless, almost doll-like.
Cold eyes.
Still as stone.
Kurosaki Kuro.
Shin's older sister.
Also a Semi-Special Grade.
And in front of them—
Stood Seiichi Asuka.
He spoke calmly.
Detailing everything.
From Claw…
To Mizorogi.
When he finished, silence lingered in the room.
Akane folded her hands slowly.
"…so."
Her voice was composed.
But heavy.
"…our threat is no longer just demons."
Her gaze sharpened.
"…but Mizorogi as well."
Asuka didn't respond.
Akane continued.
"You said… he felt different."
"…like something in between."
Asuka nodded once.
"…half human."
A pause.
"…half demon."
Kuro, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"…unstable existence."
Her voice was flat.
Emotionless.
Akane's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…this isn't a normal case."
She leaned back in her chair.
"…a traitor who surpassed death."
"…a being that consumes demons."
Her gaze turned toward the window.
"…and now… he's hunting Special Grades."
Silence.
Then—
Akane spoke again.
Firm.
Decisive.
"…we are entering unknown territory."
Her eyes returned to Asuka.
"…and this time…"
A pause.
"…we may be dealing with something far worse than any demon."
The room grew heavier.
And for the first time—
Even the strongest hunters—
Felt the shadow of something beyond their understanding.
But at the fastfood cafe, Versa and Misturi see a message from HIA headquarters that Mizorogi is still life. Free says it's interesting, how strong this person is that it allows Asuka to unlock many dangerous technique.
To be continued…