As Jason walked out of the HFA Headquarters, he spotted Joshua waiting for him. Apparently, Joshua had been standing there the whole time while Jason made his report to the board of directors and Gabriel.

Joshua: How'd it go?

Jason: Oh, it's you, four eyes. Same old thing. Gave my report to those corn dogs on the board. Then Gabriel tells me to drag Sanito back.

Joshua: Oh, right. You and Sanito were in charge of that investigation.

Jason: (grimacing) Yeah, because someone decided not to help, and now Sanito's deep in enemy territory. (glares at Joshua)

Joshua: (sheepish) Ooh... I'm sorry.

Jason: It's not like you mean it anyways.

Joshua: (mock pouting) Is your opinion of me that low?

Jason: Anyway, the boss says you're in charge of the new recruits with Marlo, and I’m supposed to join you guys.

Joshua: You? Teaching? (bursts out laughing)

Jason: (cartoonishly annoyed) What’s so funny?

Joshua: I’m sorry, it’s just... you don’t exactly scream "patience" or "teacher material." You’d scare the students off with those dark circles under your eyes.

Jason: (cartoonishly furious) You wanna fight, four eyes?

Joshua: No way, no way. Besides, you’d just lose, like you did in our academy days. (grins)

Jason: NOW YOU’RE ASKING FOR IT!

Joshua continued laughing as they walked, only to run into Marlo, who had overheard their conversation on his way to the Hunter Force Academy to welcome the new students.

Marlo: Man, I’m amazed you two are even best friends.

Joshua: Oh, hey Marlo.

Jason: Best friends? With this bozo? (sighs)

Marlo: It’s been a while, hasn’t it? We haven’t all been together for a year.

Joshua: Yeah, a lot of missions have kept me busy.

Jason: Busy? You declined 99 out of 100 missions you get, man.

Joshua: (cartoonishly unfazed) Oh, right, that’s true.

Marlo: (laughs) I’m headed to the academy. They put me on staff.

Jason: We’re headed there too. They asked us to teach.

Marlo: Teaching? You, Jason? Really?

Jason: (cartoonishly exasperated) What is with you guys? Why does everyone think I can’t teach?!

Joshua: (laughing harder)

Marlo: Huh?? I mean it’s just......

Jason: JUST SHUT UP OR I’LL KILL YOU BOTH!

Laughing, the trio made their way to the Hunter Force Academy, located a bit away from the main headquarters compound. When they arrived, the students hadn’t shown up yet, but Lisa was already waiting for them.

Lisa Arimoto, a 26-year-old woman with dark skin, black hair, and golden eyes, was one of their closest friends. She’d been part of their group with Jason, Marlo, Joshua, and Sanito for years.

Lisa: Long time, guys. How’ve you all been?

Jason: (waves casually) Hey, Lisa.

Joshua: (teasing) Trying to act cool, huh?

Jason: Shut up, four eyes.

Marlo: (to Lisa) As you can see, not much has changed.

Lisa: (giggles) Yeah, I can tell. Glad you guys are okay. Where’s Sanito?

Jason: He’s still out. But I texted him—he should be back today, so you’ll see your boyfriend soon.

Lisa: (blushing) I see...

Joshua: It’s cute seeing your soft side, Lisa. 

Lisa:(cartoonishly irritated) Shut up, idiot!

Marlo: You know what? Let’s hang out once Sanito’s back, like we used to. It’d be nice to bring back the good old days.

Jason: (smiles) Well wouldn't that be nice?

Joshua: I'm in 

Lisa: Yeah, let's do it.

Jason: We should call Haruto and Koichi too. They wouldn’t want to miss out

Marlo: That's right. Wait, I thought you didn’t get along with Haruto. 

Joshua: (laughs) When does Jason get along with anyone?

Jason: SHUT UP, FOUR EYES!!!!!!!!

Marlo and Lisa burst into laughter as Joshua dodged yet another outburst from his friend.

Somewhere in the city, deep in an abandoned alley, Veto, a notorious member of the Kaimi Daja and a skilled Lighter, had cornered Sanito. The ambush caught Sanito off guard, and before he could react, Veto’s swift strike had severed his right hand. The air was tense, filled with the sounds of Sanito’s strained breathing and the heavy clink of Veto’s weapons.

Sanito: (gritting his teeth) Damn it! How could I have let this happen? I should’ve sensed him!

Veto grinned, watching the confusion in Sanito’s eyes. He didn't need to explain how he’d mastered hiding his presence—he enjoyed the look of fear far too much.

Sanito quickly tied a piece of cloth around the stump of his arm, trying to slow the bleeding. He couldn’t afford to panic. Not yet.

Sanito: How did you know I was a spy?

Veto: (laughing) Everyone knew. We just let you leak the information we wanted the HFA to have. Why do you think Zero never talked about the real plan? He knew all along. 

Sanito’s heart sank. He had walked right into their trap, and now it was too late to warn anyone.

Sanito: (thinking) I have to get out of here...

Sanito’s unique Lighter ability, Ghost Transformation, allowed him to make his body intangible, capable of phasing through solid objects. But the technique required him to use the "Kyo" hand signs—impossible now with his missing hand. He cursed under his breath. Veto had cut off his hand knowing it was the key to his survival.

With no other options, Sanito reached for the small dagger he always kept hidden. But being right-handed, wielding it with his left hand would be difficult. His odds were slim.

Veto: What now? Think you can take me on with that knife? You’ll just embarrass yourself, Ghost Man.

Veto didn’t have a Lighter technique, but he didn’t need one. His mastery of swords and kunai knives had cut down far more dangerous opponents.

Sanito swung his dagger with his left hand, but it felt unnatural, clumsy. Veto dodged effortlessly, his kunai flashing as it sliced across Sanito's shoulder. Pain flared through his body, but Sanito grit his teeth, refusing to fall just yet. 

Veto’s smirk deepened as he toyed with Sanito, every strike calculated to cause maximum pain with minimal effort. Sanito staggered backward, barely able to lift the dagger with his trembling left hand. Veto moved like a blur, his kunai slicing through the air before Sanito could react. Another cut, this time deeper. Blood poured from the gash in his side, weakening him further.

Blood stained the alley, and Sanito’s vision blurred. Lisa... he thought. I have to make it back to her..

However, the battle was a short one and it was obvious who would win. Approximately ten minutes after the fight started, Sanito had lost his second hand and was bleeding from multiple injuries inflicted on him by Veto.

Within minutes, Sanito was a mess of blood and broken bones. His second hand had been sliced clean off, leaving him unable to fight back. Veto stood over him, smirking as Sanito fell to his knees, blood pooled beneath Sanito's body.

The fight was over before it began.

Veto: I’ve slit your throat already, and yet you’re still clinging to life. Pathetic.

Sanito, barely able to breathe, was fading fast. Through the haze of pain, one thought kept him going—Lisa.

Sanito: "(weakly) I... can't... die here... Lisa... I promised..."

Just then, Zero, Desmond, Jokita, and Lorra arrived on the scene, curious to see if Veto had finished the job.

Zero was a young man in his late 20s with dark eyes & gray hair which he was born with.

Desmond was a man in his late 30s with brown hair and a sad look on his face. He also wore earrings on both of his ears.

Jokita was a man in his late 20s as well with blonde hair and blue eyes but he always seemed like his thoughts were occupied with something else.

Lorra was a woman in her early 20s who had pink hair and green eyes. She also had noticeable scars on her face, neck and her arms which had refused to heal.

Desmond: (to Zero) Huh? When you said we had a mole I didn't know you meant him.

Lorra: (shrugging) That shows how clueless you are Desmond. And you call me clueless.

Desmond: I wasn't asking you

Jokita: (grimacing) Veto, did you have to make such a mess?

Veto: (laughing) What? It would've been boring if I did anything less.

Zero, always calm and calculating, crouched near Sanito's dying body.

Zero: He's still alive?

Veto: (grinning) Yup. Barely.

Zero: (to Sanito) Tough guy ain't yah? Assuming you knew the Harmonic Restoration technique you would be able to heal from this but that's too bad. But at least I can get something from you before you die. 

Zero touched the pool of blood surrounding Sanito and tasted it, much to Lorra’s disgust

Lorra: (cartoonish face) Gross!

Zero: (mocking Sanito) I suppose the hand signs go like this?

Zero formed the "Kyo" signs, and to Sanito’s horror, Zero’s body became translucent, just like his own technique.

Sanito: (coughing blood)You copied it?..... How... how is a human able to use my power...?

Zero: Human? Oh…it seems you can’t sense it. (coldly) If you weren’t a spy, I might’ve explained it to you. But it doesn't matter now.

Sanito tries to speak again but he realized that he can't and then his life begins to flash before his eyes and an image of Lisa was all he was seeing. 

Lorra, standing nearby, made her move without warning. Vines sprouted from her fingertips, piercing through Sanito’s chest, ending his suffering. Blood splattered across her as Sanito's body went limp.

Everyone turned to look at her.

Lorra: (annoyed) What? I was putting him out of his misery

Desmond: (sighing) Women.

Lorra: (cartoonish face) What did you say?!

Desmond: (sighing) Nothing.

Sanito’s vision blurred, and with his last breath, he whispered the only name that mattered.

Sanito: Lisa... I’m sorry...

Sanito then died. He was 27 years old.

Lorra, hearing him, realized he had someone he cared about. She silently walked away, needing to wash off the blood that stained her hands.

Zero: (to Jokita) Help Veto dispose of the body. Make sure the HFA finds it.

Jokita: (groaning) Why me?

Zero: (standing up) Because Veto will screw it up.

Jokita: That's true 

Veto: (gloomy face) Is that what you all think of me?

Zero: Let's make sure the HFA sees it. So they'll know what happens if they send more spies or if they get impatient. Let's discuss the plan after Lorra gets back

Meanwhile, Lorra stood motionless in front of the mirror, her eyes tracing the scars that marred her skin, reminding her of the past she wanted to forget. The fluorescent light cast a harsh glow over her body, making the jagged lines look even more pronounced, more permanent. With a sigh, she turned away from the mirror and stepped into the shower.

As the hot water cascaded down her body, the blood began to wash away, swirling down the drain in dark spirals. But the scars stayed—etched into her skin, as unshakable as the memories attached to them. Lorra stared at the water, watching it flow, hoping it would carry away more than just the grime of the day. But no amount of scrubbing could wash away what was already inside her.

Sanito’s final words echoed in her mind. Lisa. The name had caught her off guard. She hadn’t known he had someone—someone waiting for him, someone he cared about. Lorra leaned her forehead against the cool tile, the water now running cold, but she didn’t move. A strange heaviness settled in her chest, one she hadn’t expected. She was used to killing, to being ruthless. But this… this was different.

Her hand drifted to a deep scar running across her abdomen, her fingertips tracing its rough edges. It had been years since she’d gotten it, but the pain still lingered—more in her mind than in her body. Back then, she had been so good at turning off her emotions, at becoming numb to everything. But now, as she stood here, drenched and exposed, she felt it creeping back in. Guilt. Regret. Things she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in so long.