The deeper they moved, the more the colony felt like it was narrowing around them.
Walls closer. Air heavier. Sounds further apart.
Megumi stayed in front, scanning routes and exits.
Hana and Angel followed at a measured pace behind Takeru.
Takeru kept walking.
Same rhythm. Same posture.
But his attention wasn't fully forward anymore.
He noticed it again.
A glance.
Hana.
Quick.
Then gone.
Takeru didn't respond outwardly.
But his eyes shifted slightly.
"…Repeated observation confirmed."
Megumi glanced back slightly.
"…What are you talking about?"
Takeru kept his tone even.
"…Hana Kurusu continues to visually track me."
Silence.
Hana immediately spoke up.
"…I told you, it's not—"
Angel cut in through her expression.
"…It is not mission-critical."
Takeru stopped walking for half a second.
Not dramatic.
Just precise.
Then he turned his head slightly toward her.
"…Correction."
"…It is not irrelevant."
Hana paused.
Megumi frowned.
"…Why does that matter?"
Takeru answered without hesitation.
"…Behavioral patterns do not repeat without cause."
Silence stretched.
Hana looked away for a moment.
"…You're overanalyzing it."
Takeru didn't agree.
Didn't disagree.
Just watched.
And then—
another glance.
Longer this time.
Not accidental.
Takeru saw it clearly.
"…Confirmed."
Megumi exhaled slightly.
"…We really don't have time for this."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Agreed."
But he didn't dismiss it.
Not fully.
Because even if it didn't change the mission—
it changed something.
Hana spoke quieter now.
"…You don't trust anyone, do you?"
Takeru answered immediately.
"…Correct."
A pause.
Then, slightly softer:
"…Trust is non-essential for operation success."
Angel responded calmly.
"…But it is still a variable."
Takeru didn't deny it.
Hana studied him again.
This time longer.
More deliberate.
Not a glance.
An assessment.
Takeru noticed.
And this time—
he didn't just classify it.
He acknowledged it.
"…Noted."
Megumi finally stepped forward again.
"…We're still moving."
Takeru nodded.
"…Confirmed."
But as they continued—
the pattern remained.
Hana's eyes kept returning.
Even when she tried not to.
Even when Angel said nothing.
Even when she turned her head away too late.
And Takeru, walking ahead—
understood something he didn't say out loud.
It wasn't random.
It wasn't tactical.
It wasn't nothing.
It was something he would have to account for.
Eventually.