What Hell Looks Like
(The screen flickers—static cuts to a classified military recording. Grainy footage shows a concrete cell, chains bolted to the walls. A Hunter—eyes hollow, Seishu Mark cracked—strains against his restraints as men in black ops gear approach with scalpels humming with Seishu/suppressant tech.)
Voiceover (Shin's voice, detached): "Day 47 of Project Eclipse. Subject 09's regenerative properties remain active despite 80% organ removal."
(The camera pans slightly—revealing a younger Shin standing in the corner, gloved hands clasped behind his back. His uniform bears no name tag.)
Present Day – Ramen Shop Aftermath
(Back in the dimly lit shop, Shin drains his sake cup in one swallow before continuing.)
Shin: "We called it 'research'. But really? It was just sanctioned torture." (His thumb traces a faded scar on his wrist absently.) "Most of my unit slept fine after. I didn't."
(Kota looks sick; Ryo's jaw tightens but he doesn't interrupt.)
The Weight of Remorse – Shin'S Dark Secret
(Shin exhales through his nose, staring into the empty cup as if seeing things far away.)
Shin (voice hoarse): "I couldn't stand it. Watching them—the ones that should've been protected from humans. I… I started gathering evidence, documenting everything, getting it out to someone with influence."
(A faint, humorless laugh escapes him.)
Shin: "It didn't take long for me to get labeled a traitor."
A Hunter's Judgment – Ryo's Quiet Acknowledgment
(Ryo studies Shin—really studies him—for a long moment. Then, with a slow nod, he speaks in that gravelly voice of his.)
Ryo: "…You did the right thing." (A pause.) "Doesn't erase what happened… but it makes you better than the bastards who gave those orders."
(Shin looks up at him sharply—as if surprised anyone, let alone a Hunter, would say that to him. Kota watches them both with wide eyes.)
A Hidden Truth – Shin's Buried Connection
(Shin's fingers twitch—an involuntary reaction to something stirring deep inside him. A memory, long buried, surges forward like a ghost clawing its way to the surface.)
The First Hunter He Couldn't Forget
(The scene shifts—years earlier. A dim interrogation room. A bound female Hunter slumps in her chair, blood dripping from split lips... yet she smiles at Shin as he enters.)
Unknown Hunter (weakly chuckling): "Heh… You look worse than I do."
(Younger Shin freezes midstep. Her Seishu Mark pulses faintly—not with pain, but defiance.)
Shin (internal monologue): "This one… She wasn't begging or breaking." (His gloved hand trembles slightly as he reaches for the torture tools.) "...Why?"
(Presentday Shin flinches almost imperceptibly at the memory—his nails digging into his palm.)
(Ryo stands abruptly, chair scraping against the floor. The weight of Shin's confession still hangs thick in the air, but Ryo—ever pragmatic—knows when to step away from a conversation that could spiral.)
Ryo (to the waiter): "Check's on me." (He tosses a heavy pouch of coins onto the counter without counting.)
(Kota scrambles up after him, still processing everything. Shin remains seated for a second longer before exhaling and pushing himself up as well.)
Shin (muttering): "…Shouldn't have said anything."
Ryo (without looking back): "You needed to."
"Life is a journey through time. Moving forward is the only way to find redemption."
(Ryo, looking back at Shin, his voice carrying determination that belied his stoic expression.)
(Kota nods quietly to himself, understanding the gravity of the conversation.)
Kota: "Yeah… keep moving forward."
Shin (nods slowly): "Right…"
(Ryo leads them down a quieter street, the city's shadows longer now. Shin and Kota trail behind, still digesting everything discussed over dinner.)
Ryo (without glancing back): "I know a place where we won't be bothered."
Shin (skeptical): "…Which is?"
Ryo (dryly): "Let me worry about it. Just… trust me."
(Shin and Kota exchange uncertain looks as they reach an alley. In the semidarkness, Shin looks particularly wary. Kota, though, seems curious as he grabs onto Ryo's offered hand without hesitation.)
Shin (with a raised eyebrow): "…What exactly are we doing?"
Ryo (matter-of-fact): "Shortcut.)"
(Reappearing in front of an old warehouse, Shin and Kota blink in surprise. The faded sign on the building identifies it simply as a 'Warehouse Storage.' Nothing about it screams 'home.')
Shin (raising an eyebrow at Ryo): "You live in a warehouse?"
Ryo (unlocking the padlock with a click): "Not particularly, Come inside."
(The door creaks open, revealing a surprisingly cozy interior: the warehouse has been converted into a home of sorts. An old man emerges—Kurobe—his face lighting up.)
Kurobe (smiling warmly): "Well I'll be… look what the wind blew in."
(The Kizugami Blade impales the shadowy corner—only for a hand to dramatically clutch at the wall beside it as Tenjo stumbles into view, unharmed but thoroughly startled.)
Tenjo (fake exasperation): "Ryo, my dear student—has no one taught you manners?! You can't just throw swords at your elders!" (He pulls the blade free with an exaggerated sigh.)
(Kota bursts into nervous laughter; Shin just pinches his brow. Ryo smirks.)
Ryo: "If you weren't eavesdropping like a creep, I wouldn't have to."
(The moment Tenjo and Shin lock eyes, there's a brief flicker of recognition. Shin shifts his weight ever so slightly, and the way his expression tightens betrays a deeper history between them.)
Kota (looking between them with wide eyes): "…You guys know each other?"
Shin (nodding tersely): "We… have history."
(Ryo exhales through his nose, shaking his head slightly—almost amused. Of course Tenjo would have ties to someone like Shin. The old man always had a way of popping up where he was least expected.)
Ryo (dryly): "Should've figured." (He crosses his arms, watching the two with mild curiosity.) "Just another thing I don't need an explanation for."
(Kurobe chuckles in the background while Haru and Sora exchange excited whispers—clearly enjoying the drama.)
(Sora eagerly holds up a small device—seemingly simple at first glance, but Ryo recognizes the intricate Seishu circuitry humming faintly within it.)
Sora (grinning proudly): "It's not finished yet, but… I figured out how to convert unstable Seishu into temporary energy pulses! Like artificial Hunter abilities!"
(Ryo studies it carefully before nodding in approval.)
Ryo: "Impressive. Just don't blow anything up."
(Haru crosses the room, joining the group as she gives Ryo a onceover.)
Haru (slightly worried): "You look… tired."
Ryo (with the slightest hint of a smirk): "Thanks for noticing."
Haru: "I meant like... exhausted. How long has it been since you slept properly?"
(Ryo shrugs off Haru's concern—a familiar response, one that never fails to get under her skin a bit.)
Ryo (quietly): "There's always someone who needs help. If I've got a duty to protect people, that's more important than a few hours of shuteye."
(Haru sighs, knowing better than to argue. She's had this conversation with him far too many times.)
(Tenjo chuckles as he observes Ryo's perplexed expression—a familiar sight whenever the discussion of Gentoki arises.)
Ryo (slightly annoyed): "…What about him this time?"
Tenjo (grinning teasingly): "Oh, nothing. I just noticed a recurring pattern. It's quite endearing really."
(Ryo sighs heavily, knowing he's not getting out of this conversation anytime soon.)
(Tenjo chuckles as he observes Ryo's perplexed expression—a familiar sight whenever the discussion of Gentoki arises.)
Ryo (slightly annoyed): "…What about him this time?"
Tenjo (grinning teasingly): "Oh, nothing. I just noticed a recurring pattern. It's quite endearing really."
(Ryo sighs heavily, knowing he's not getting out of this conversation anytime soon.)
(Ryo runs his fingers along the Kizugami Blade—its steel hums faintly under his touch, resonating with a presence beyond mere metal.)
Ryo (quietly): "Lately… I can see it clearer. The spirit inside. It's responding more than it used to."
(Tenjo's teasing smirk softens into something knowing—an understanding that this is a significant step in Ryo's journey as both a warrior and an inheritor of the blade.)
(All eyes turn to Shin as Ryo poses the question. Shin, his expression serious for a moment, responds slowly.)
Shin: "My goal… Well, it's simple really. I want justice. There are people out there, good people, who've suffered enough because of the Hunter wars and the Agency's bullshit. I swore not to turn a blind eye anymore. I'm going to make things right… in any way I can."
(A hush falls over the group as Ryo brings up Kota. Shin and Tenjo exchange curious glances, realizing they're about to uncover something important.)
Shin (curious): "What's shocking about Kota..? He's a kid."
Ryo (serious): "Yes, but there's more to him than meets the eye." (He indicates for Kota to come closer)
(Kota takes a step forward, his eyes wide with confusion.)
Ryo (softly): "Kota… Do you know what your Seishu is?"
(Shin and Tenjo lean in, waiting for the young boy's answer. The room seems to hold its breath.)
(Kota shakes his head, looking from face to face.)
(The revelation that Kota has no knowledge of his own Seishu takes everyone by surprise—especially Shin, who looks a little shocked.)
Shin (surprised): "He… doesn't even know what his own Seishu is?"
Kota (confused): "…What is Seishu?"
(Haru gasps—her eyes widening as she finally catches on to what this means.)
(Everyone stares at Kota—processing the implications. There's a moment of stunned silence before Shin speaks up, his voice trembling slightly.)
Shin (horrified): "Are… are you telling me he doesn't even know…?" (His eyes shift to Ryo, silently pleading for this to be some kind of joke.)
Ryo (grimly): "Kota's never even heard of Seishu. He has no idea he's a Hunter."
(Silence grips the room—Shin's breath catches as he stares at Kota with new eyes. The boy who he thought was just a lost, frightened child… was something else entirely.)
Kota (utterly confused): "I… I don't understand." (He looks down at his own hands—innocent, unknowing.) "...What's a Hunter?"
(The weight of the revelation lingers in the air like static before a storm. Shin exhales shakily as Ryo watches them all, knowing this changes everything.)
⛓️💥🌌🪖 End Of Chapter Fifty Five