A new day rose, veiled in thick fog. Hide washed his face, the cold water doing little to ease his lingering exhaustion. He dressed differently than usual—wearing a short-sleeved sweater and shorts. As he walked into the living room, the others looked up in surprise.
"What's the occasion, Hide?" Giro asked with a curious grin.
Hide shrugged. "I just felt like it."
No more questions followed. The room returned to its quiet routine. Hide stepped outside and disappeared into the fog. With a snap of his fingers, he transported himself to a familiar beach.
He sat in the sand, the waves crashing nearby. "This is the day we all came here," he whispered. "I wish you guys were all here too."
After some time, he returned to the house and changed back into his usual clothing. Pierre and Izumi arrived shortly after from a trip to town. Pierre pulled Hide aside.
"Word's spread fast," Pierre said. "You're not just a rumor anymore. The top guilds—and the kingdom—are all searching for you."
Hide looked down. "Thanks for letting me know."
As the sun set, the house gathered for dinner. Hide ate in silence, his thoughts a storm. Later, in the living room, Minoa sat beside him.
"Hide-kun, what are you thinking?"
"That I need to leave," he said gently. "If I stay too long, it'll put everyone in danger. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
Tears welled up in her eyes. She hugged him tightly. "Promise you'll visit again. I don't want to lose you."
Hide hugged her back. "I promise."
That night, while the house slept, Hide stayed up writing a note and left behind a small toy for Minoa. He slipped out the window, whispering into the night, "Master... I'll see you again. Something major came up."
Back to wearing his mask, Hide sprinted through the dark forest. His master's warning echoed in his mind: If the corruption spreads fully, you'll die.
Ahead, he spotted guild patrols—Vigil and another he didn't recognize. He tried to slip past, but someone noticed. Alarms blared, lighting up the forest.
Arrows and bullets whizzed past him. Some found their mark, forcing him toward a cliff. A group surrounded him.
"Guildmaster Droggard, we've cornered the masked figure," said one member.
"Well, well," said Bremen smugly. "Nowhere left to run."
Their eyes fell on Hide's corrupted arm. Whispers rippled—monster, fiend, cursed. It was the beach incident all over again.
Droggard stepped forward. "Capture him. No matter the cost."
Bombs flew. Hide deflected a few with a gust of wind, but more followed. A blast threw him back, tearing his clothes and cracking his mask.
"He's weakening! Now's our chance!" Droggard ordered.
As the guilds advanced, Hide knew capture meant death. He conjured a thick smoke screen and leapt off the cliff.
The smoke cleared. Droggard scanned the edge. "He jumped… into the fiend portal zone. We can't follow. Not safely."
"He's lucky. But next time, we'll get him," Bremen said.
Below, Hide lay on the rocky bottom, battered but breathing. He limped through the darkness, creating a new mask. Then he noticed a campfire nearby—and someone else.
"Stop hiding. I know you're there," a voice said.
Hide stepped out. It was the girl who'd once been hired to kill Butch.
"You're running too, huh?" she said, barely glancing at him. She sharpened her blade. Hide patched himself up in silence.
Then she spoke again. "You don't remember me, Hide? It's me—Rin. Two years sure changed a lot, huh?"
Hide's eyes widened. He removed his mask.
"I should've known it was you at the manor," Rin said softly. "You've changed... a lot."
"Where's the others?" Hide asked.
"They're nearby. Searching."
Rin's gaze dropped to his arm. "That black mark—what is it?"
"Corruption," Hide said. "If I overuse my power, it spreads. If it covers me completely—I die."
Rin's voice trembled. "You've become the target of the whole kingdom. Why?"
"To draw them out. The people from Eden's Garden. I wanted to end it all. But I was wrong."
Silence stretched between them.
"How's Jin?" Hide asked.
Rin blushed slightly. "He's fine. But he still hasn't asked me out. Maybe you can push him a little."
Hide smiled faintly.
"And Ringo? Lucy?"
Rin's smile faded. She looked down. "Ringo's guild is small, but he's holding strong. We joined it too."
Her voice dropped. "Lucy didn't make it. During the escape… she protected us. Held off the mercenaries. We buried her in a place only we know. You know it too. Where we paid the price."
Hide looked at the night starry sky.
Footsteps approached. Jin appeared. He grabbed Hide by the shirt.
"You caused all of this," Jin snapped. "You left us."
But then he saw Hide's pain. The corruption. The exhaustion. He let go.
"You're barely standing. And you're still trying to take it all on. Alone."
"I'm sorry," Hide whispered. "Even my time is running out."
"Did you see her?" Jin asked.
"Charlotte or should I say Sona. She sure is a terrible liar. But I didn't want to make it obvious when we encountered each other."
"She sure is." As Rin somewhat smiles.
"So this corruption… it's what's killing you?" Jin asked.
"Yeah. Every time I fight, it grows."
"You've been through hell, Hide," Jin said.
Hide nodded. "So have you. All of you. I'm glad we met again. Maybe one day… we'll go to the beach again. And visit Lucy. Together."
"Yeah." As Rin and Jin somewhat seems saddened by it.
They sat in silence, the fire crackling softly.
Above them, the stars shone bright.
Hide looked at his friends and smiled faintly.
For now, he could rest.