The hallways of the Chūkan stretched endlessly before them, the faint hum of Tamashkii energy crackling through the air. Watari still felt the lingering ache in his ribs, but he pushed it aside. There were more important things right now.

  Ahead of him, Ren walked in silence.

  “Walk with me, kid.”

  Watari didn’t question it, falling into step beside him.

  They walked through the air, the unseen currents shifting beneath their feet. Ren’s pace was slow, measured, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

  “Things are moving fast. Too fast.” He exhaled through his nose. “I need you to be ready for that.”

  Watari tilted his head. “Ready for what, exactly?”

  Before Ren could answer—

  The air rippled.

  A sharp distortion cut through space in front of them. A rift tore open.

  Watari’s body tensed.

  And then—Ayase stepped through.

  His sharp, unreadable gaze flicked between them, his voice calm but absolute.

  “We have an important matter. You two—come with me.”

  No hesitation.

  Ren and Watari exchanged a look. Then, without a word, they stepped through the rift.

  ?

  The first thing Watari noticed was the barrier.

  It pulsed around the room, stretching high into the air, crackling with quiet power. Not just any barrier—this was meant to keep people out.

  His stomach twisted slightly.

  This is serious.

  He scanned the room.

  Yumi. Kaito. Akira. Ryuko. Ren.

  But there were more.

  Kusanagi. Jiro. Amano. Tetsuo.

  The Fifth Gate.

  For a moment, Watari hesitated. A small part of him wanted to go up to them—to say something—but…

  He stopped himself.

  The atmosphere in the room was thick. Heavy.

  This wasn’t the time to be Watari.

  And then—the st figure entered.

  The barrier shifted slightly.

  A ripple in the air.

  Then—Koharu stepped through.

  Her presence was immediate. A natural force.

  Everyone in the room—instinctively straightened.

  Her golden gaze swept over them, taking them in one by one.

  Then—“Good. Everyone is here.”

  A long silence.

  Then—

  Kusanagi scoffed, arms crossed. “Long time no see.” His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp. “But calling me here for our first meeting in years… and behind a sealed barrier?” He raised a brow. “That’s suspicious, don’t you think?”

  Koharu’s face remained unreadable.

  “It may look suspicious.” A pause. “That’s because it is.”

  That got everyone’s attention.

  “What I am about to say must not leave this room.”

  Silence.

  Then—

  “The Elders have denied my request to form a special squadron to deal with the Shingan.”

  Watari’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  “Despite that decision, I am forming it anyway.”

  Her voice was steady. Absolute.

  “Even a Jūmonban captain cannot move without consequence. That’s why this team must exist outside of their watch. We will handle this in the shadows.”

  “If we do not create a force strong enough to counter the Shingan and his Death Phantoms… then the Chūkan will fall. It is only a matter of time.”

  Silence.

  She let that sink in.

  “I know my own Jūmonban have no objections. But for those of you outside my command—” her gaze flicked toward the others ”—you may refuse. This is, after all, an act against the Elders.”