**The Grand Palace – 7:35 PM**
Banayote and the girls walked inside the hall, stopping in front of two doors. The maids opened them, revealing a grand party inside. People were talking and laughing. Hannah was excited and quickly went to get drinks. Yuki was enjoying the moment, while Jessica stood close to Banayote.
Then, Banayote spotted someone familiar across the room. He glanced at Vivian, Yuki, and Jessica and said, "I'll be right back—just a moment, okay?" Before they could respond, he walked away. Yuki and Vivian didn't understand why he was leaving.
Banayote continued walking until he reached the person. "Um, excuse me, miss?" he said. The woman turned, and Banayote froze in shock—it was Hanako.
Hanako's eyes widened. "Banayote? Is that you? What are you doing here?" Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed his hand and pulled him into a corner.
Meanwhile, Yuki and Vivian enjoyed the party, Jessica admired the view, and Hannah drank and laughed with the crowd. The men challenged her to a drinking contest, cheering as she outdrank them. One man, defeated again, grinned and said, "Well, I'm beaten. Care for another round? This time, I won't go easy on you."
Hannah smirked. "Another round, then!" The bartender nodded. "Coming right up."
In the corner, Hanako confronted Banayote. "Can you explain what's going on? Where were you? Why did you run away? Do you know what you caused? The Mistress has been worried sick—she hasn't slept or eaten for days! And here you are, at a party? You're coming with me, Master, whether you like it or not!"
Banayote's voice softened. "Is Kanako okay?"
Hanako sighed. "Yes, she's fine."
Relief washed over Banayote's face, his eyes glistening. "That's good… I missed her a lot."
Hanako noticed his sadness and gently said, "Look, it's okay. Don't be sad. Come with me—let's take you back home."
Banayote shook his head. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"I need to remove the demons from the city. Millions will die if I don't act."
Hanako hesitated, then relented. "Fine. But promise me you'll return to the Mistress, okay?"
"Okay, I promise."
"And promise you'll be safe."
"I promise."
Hanako nodded. "Good. Now, be careful. Miss Kanako hired a lot of people to find you."
Banayote smiled weakly. "Thanks for the warning."
"You're welcome."
As Hanako turned to leave, she suddenly stopped, spun back, and hugged him tightly. Banayote stiffened in surprise.
"We missed you so much, you big dummy," she whispered.
Banayote hugged her back. "I missed you all too."
Hanako pulled away and left without another word. Banayote returned to the girls, who were waiting for him.
"Where were you?" Vivian asked.
"Just talking to someone," Banayote replied. "Where's Hannah?"
Yuki and Vivian pointed to the bar, where Hannah was passed out on the counter. The man she'd been competing with lay sprawled on the floor, completely wasted.
Banayote chuckled. "Well, I bet Hannah had a great time."
Vivian suddenly grabbed his arm. "So, Banayote—" She yanked him onto the dance floor. Yuki and Jessica followed.
The DJ froze for a second before starting a new song. Vivian began dancing, and Banayote, smiling, joined in. Yuki and Jessica soon followed, and soon, the entire crowd was moving.
Banayote and Vivian danced in sync, their moves electrifying the room. One overexcited man even ripped off his shirt, waving it around like a flag.
Vivian grinned at Banayote. "This is so fun! Thank you—I really love you!"
The crowd pressed closer, but suddenly, Vivian's expression shifted. "That was fun," she muttered. Then, she slammed her fist into the ground, sending everyone tumbling.
Banayote stumbled back in shock. Vivian scooped up Yuki and Jessica, shouting, "Banayote, get Hannah!"
He immediately understood. Nodding, he turned—but before he could move, demonic figures surrounded them. Banayote's six spectral arms materialized as Vivian took a fighting stance.
The demons lunged. Banayote's arms lashed out, punching through them, while Vivian kicked with enough force to send them flying. More poured in, forcing Banayote and Vivian to retreat.
Banayote grabbed Hannah, and they bolted for the exit—only for demons to block the doors.
"Upstairs!" Vivian yelled.
They sprinted up to the rooftop, demons hot on their heels. Reaching the edge, they leaped, shattering concrete as they landed on the next building.
Jessica pulled out her gun, firing at the pursuers. The jostling woke Hannah, who blinked groggily. "What the hell is going on?!"
Banayote and Vivian kept running, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Banayote glanced ahead—no more buildings.
"We're jumping anyway!" he shouted.
Vivian nodded. They leaped—only to plummet toward the ground.
Yuki and Jessica screamed. Hannah shrieked, "AHHHHH—!"
Then, a portal opened beneath them. They fell through, and it snapped shut behind them.
The demons skidded to a stop at the roof's edge, peering down in frustration. One groaned, "Oh no… We're so gonna get scolded."