A heavy pause.

  Then—Ren stepped forward.

  “I didn’t carve my way through that door just to stand still.” His voice was even. Unshakable. “The Chūkan needs us. I’m stepping forward.”

  Kaito followed, pcing a hand on his hip. His grin was zy, but there was weight behind it.

  “If my reckless Jūmonban’s in it, then obviously I’m gonna be the one watching his back.”

  Ryuko scoffed, rolling his shoulders. “If there’s a fight, I’m there. Simple.”

  Koharu gave a small nod. As expected.

  Then—the real test.

  The Fifth Gate.

  Kusanagi exhaled, shaking his head. “So the first thing you ask me to do after all these years is go against the Households?” He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “Tch. You’ve always been reckless since we were kids, huh?”

  Koharu smirked. “I take that as a yes?”

  Kusanagi sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I guess I have to be the one pulling you out of trouble per usual.”

  Jiro stepped forward without hesitation. “If my Captain’s in it, then I’m in it. No question.”

  Then—all eyes turned to Amano and Tetsuo.

  Amano immediately shook her head. “Oh hell no. That sounds like death.”

  Tetsuo nodded. “Agreed. Sounds like a lot of work.”

  Amano turned to him. “So you’re scared too? Good. Let’s stay alive together—”

  Tetsuo walked forward. “On second thought, Miss Captain, please accept me as part of this mission.”

  Amano gawked.

  “YOU TRAITOR!”

  Laughter rippled through the room.

  Then—Amano gnced around.

  She saw it.

  The resolve in their eyes.

  The decision already made.

  For a moment, she hesitated.

  Then—Kaito pced a hand on her shoulder.

  “You can do this.”

  Silence.

  Then, finally—Amano stepped forward.

  “Fine. But I better not die.”