"Oh no," Leo muttered as Hana sprinted toward Haruka, who was finally awake. She threw her arms around him, relief written across her face. Haruka turned toward her—
And froze.
Alice stepped out of the shaft. Her eyes locked with Haruka's, and for a fleeting moment, he saw the ghost of his mother in her silhouette.
"You. With me," Alice ordered, pointing straight at him. "Now."
They entered the shaft. Silence thickened as it carried them downward.
"I never said thanks," Alice said flatly, not looking at him. "Back then. You saved my ass." She paused. "So… yeah."
Haruka gave a respectful nod. No words needed.
"Name?" she asked, glancing at him sideways.
He barely had time to respond—the shaft hissed open. Alice smirked and walked out without waiting for him.
They stepped into the armory bay, its cold lights casting long shadows across the racks of weapons. "Walk," she said, leading him down the corridor.
Eventually, she stopped at a locked weapons room. Inside, the scent of oil and steel hung heavy.
"What kinda fighter are you?" she asked, grabbing a desert eagle with a slick blue line snaking along its barrel. "Me? I like firepower." She tossed the pistol toward him casually.
He didn't reach for it.
Alice raised a brow. "Huh. Thought you'd bite." She returned the gun to its place, then turned back toward the locker. "Maybe you're the blade type."
She reached deep inside and pulled out something familiar—his katana.
He moved for it on instinct, but she yanked it back with a step.
"Uh-uh," she warned. "Not yet."
Alice held the weapon loosely in one hand, watching him. "I lead Mama's Fangs. You want this back? Fine. But there are conditions."
She raised a finger.
"One. Keep it sheathed unless I say otherwise. And when I say sheathed, I mean I don't want to see even a sliver of steel, got it?"
Second finger.
"Two. You report anything strange. Visions. Warnings. Anything the mask shows you—you come to me first."
Third.
"And last—if you disobey me, endanger my crew, or go rogue?" She stepped closer, her voice low and sharp. "I'll put you down myself. No hesitation."
A beat of silence.
She held the katana out, calm but firm.
He took it—and sheathed it without a sound.
—
Back at the cafeteria, Mama's Fangs crowded around the shaft entrance, tension rising.
PSSSSSHT. The shaft door opened.
Haruka stepped out first. Before anyone could react, Hana grabbed his arm and tugged him away with quiet urgency.
Alice leaned against the shaft's edge, arms crossed. "Get some rest," she called. "We roll out soon."
She paused.
"Oh—and Haruka…"
Everyone turned.
"Welcome to Mama's Fangs."
Silence.
Hana stopped walking. Her eyes wide.
"Your name… is Haruka?" she whispered.
Before he could respond, Leo slipped into the shaft behind Alice. The doors closed with a hiss.
"Leo? What's gotten into you?" Alice asked, watching him square up to her.
"Ma, you gotta listen to me," Leo said, panic lacing his voice. "You can't control him."
"What are you talking about?"
"He's a ticking time bomb!" Leo snapped.
"Whoa, calm down." Alice took a step closer, her voice softening. "Come on, remember our breathing exercise?"
Leo hesitated, but followed her lead. The two began breathing deeply, steadily—an old ritual.
"You good?" Alice asked once their breathing settled. She stepped back, eyes on him. "Now… talk to me. What's this about Haruka?"
Leo pulled out his worn notebook, pages packed with notes. "Our last intel on Obsidian said they're searching for someone. I think it's him."
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"Hana told me when Haruka rescued her, he got pinned down. One of the Obsidian goons said the name Raito."
That made her pause.
Alice leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a slow smirk forming. "That's a bluff. You've been buried in that notebook too long."
Leo's face tightened.
"Leo, I get it. You're obsessed with the mask. But it's getting to your head. You're seeing patterns that aren't there."
A beat.
"Look," she added, pushing off the wall. "Take a nap. We head out for a major scavenge soon. Clear your mind before then."