The buzz of daily life within the base had finally returned. Missions were being assigned, training resumed, and the halls no longer echoed with grief. But beneath the surface calm, Hanzo's instincts scratched at him like a whisper in the dark.
He'd seen the way Reina looked at people—not with interest or admiration, but calculation. She didn't speak unless it was to manipulate, didn't smile unless it was to bait. And more than once, he'd caught her watching Kazu from a distance when she thought no one noticed.
He watched. And waited.
That morning, Hanzo made his way to Kaku's office. She looked up from her tablet, eyes tired but alert.
"Kaku, I need a minute," he said, voice low.
"Shoot."
"It's Reina," Hanzo began, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "She's planning something."
Kaku set the tablet down slowly. "What makes you say that?"
"She's not here for the mission. She's here for Kazu. Or worse—Unmei. I've seen her watching him too. She's been tailing him off-duty—when he thinks he's alone."
Kaku's expression darkened instantly. "And you're only telling me this now?"
"I wanted proof first," Hanzo said calmly. "But now? I don't need it. I know a predator when I see one. And she's hunting."
Kaku stood, her tone sharp and cold. "Then I'll make sure she's the one who gets caught."
Meanwhile, Unmei walked along the edge of the outer training grounds, hands in his pockets, soft music playing in one earbud. He was humming under his breath, lost in thought about Shiro's clinginess lately—cute, but intense.
But he stopped short.
That feeling.
Someone was following him.
He turned quickly, scanning the area. Nothing. No footsteps, no breath, no presence. Yet the hair on his arms stood up.
Reina watched from high above, cloaked by shadows and a strange artifact that masked her aura. She licked her lips thoughtfully.
"He's cautious... Good. Makes it more fun."
Back in the base, Hanzo met Kazu in the hallway and gently tugged him aside.
"You doing alright?" he asked.
Kazu raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Why?"
Hanzo hesitated. "Just… be careful. Reina's not what she pretends to be. She's dangerous."
Kazu blinked. "You think she's after me?"
Hanzo paused. "Not just you. But you might be the key to whatever she's planning."
Kazu frowned. "Then we better be ready."
Hanzo touched his arm softly. "I already am."
Far away, Reina stood at a hill overlooking the city, eyes glinting under the moonlight.
"You'll all know soon enough… exactly what I'm capable of."