The hotel room was dimly lit, the air thick with unease. The silence among them wasn't from comfort—but from fear, frustration, and confusion.
Ash paced the floor, running a hand through his hair. "We still have no clue about the Hero Hunter," he muttered, his voice sharp with irritation. "It's like chasing a ghost."
Rei leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her eyes heavy with concern. "If we don't find them soon… the Hero Hunter will keep going. One by one, every hero will fall."
But Luna, always the one to notice the details others missed, shook her head. "No. They're not killing every hero. Just the bad ones." Her voice was quiet, but confident. "The corrupt. The ones who betrayed the people."
Just then—
BANG.
The door burst open. Drax stumbled inside, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.
"Kaien… I… I got something," he wheezed.
Kaien didn't move from his seat. His eyes, cold and unreadable, focused sharply on Drax. "Sit down. Catch your breath. Then speak."
Drax nodded, falling into the nearest chair like his legs were about to give out. After a few moments of rapid breathing, he finally spoke.
"They're using casinos," Drax said, eyes wide. "Hero Hunters. They gamble… win money. But that's not all. That's how they get their missions. Each casino gives them information. Names of heroes. Who to target next."
Ash's eyes went wide. "What the hell?!"
Luna frowned, her mind already racing ahead. "Then we track the casinos. All of them. If that's their base of operations, we can find them."
Just as the tension began to shift into motion—
The door creaked open again.
This time, it wasn't chaos that entered, but calm confidence. A man in a black coat stepped in, sharp eyes surveying the room.
"Looks like you could use some help," said Naoto Yatsuki, his tone casual—but his presence commanding.
Everyone turned to face him. The room, once drowning in uncertainty, suddenly felt like a fuse had been lit.
"Heeyy Kaien… we don't even have money to give Naoto Yatsuki," Drax said nervously, scratching the back of his head.
The room went silent again.
Misaki, sitting on the armrest of the couch, blinked. "Naoto Yatsuki again?" she asked, clearly unimpressed.
Kaien didn't even glance her way. "I didn't call him."
Naoto gave a sly smile, raising a hand casually. "Relax. I'm not here for money."
"Then why are you here?" Kaien asked, his eyes sharp and unmoving.
Naoto shrugged. "I saw Drax running like a madman through the city. Figured something interesting was going on."
"You followed me?!" Drax blinked, then frowned. "Stalker much?"
Naoto ignored him and walked deeper into the room, hands in his coat pockets. "Don't worry. I've got something you need. And no, it's not a trap. I've got a new mission—a lead that might just connect to your Hero Hunter."
Kaien narrowed his eyes. "Start talking."
Naoto leaned against the wall, flipping a coin between his fingers. "The Hero Hunter… He's connected to a game."
"A game?" Luna raised an eyebrow.
"Casino games," Drax said, catching on. "He told me earlier. They gamble to earn money… and information about which hero to kill next."
Naoto smirked. "Exactly. But here's the thing—you're only seeing the surface."
Kaien's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Naoto flipped the coin once more before catching it. "There's a man named Valko—the one who runs the underground gambling circuit in Minato Ward. He's not just funding Hero Hunters… he's testing them."
"Testing?" Ash asked. "For what?"
"For fun, for money, for chaos—who knows? But if you want to stop the Hero Hunter, you need to start with Valko's casino." He pulled out a silver chip and tossed it on the table. "I've already got you an invitation. Tonight. No hero name. No powers. Just the game."
Kaien caught the chip and stared at it.
Flashback - Earlier That Day
Rain poured over the alley as Naoto leaned against a flickering neon sign.
"Thought you retired, Yatsuki," said the tall, suited man with a dragon tattoo peeking from his collar.
"I came back for one last round," Naoto replied, slipping a chip across the table. "I want in on Valko's table."
"You're late," the man said. "But Valko likes chaos. Just don't die."
Naoto grinned. "No promises."
Back to Present
"So," Naoto said, eyes glinting with mischief, "what do you say? Want to play a game?"
Kaien stood up slowly. "If it leads to the Hero Hunter… we're in."
The hotel room fell quiet as Naoto Yatsuki stood near the window, the city lights glowing behind him like flickering stars.
"I have one deal," Naoto said, his tone calm, but sharp enough to cut the silence.
Kaien crossed his arms. "We don't have money."
Naoto turned, expression unreadable. "I don't want your money."
Everyone blinked.
"What?" Luna asked, confused. "Naoto… are you saying you'll help us for free?"
Naoto's boots echoed as he walked slowly toward her. "No. I said I have a deal."
He stopped just inches from her. His face was dangerously close to Luna's. She could feel the warmth of his breath, his presence overwhelming.
Luna's eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed red. "You'll do anything for money, right?" she whispered.
Naoto gave a faint smirk, then took a step back, leaving the tension hanging in the air like smoke.
"I said," Naoto repeated, louder this time so the whole group could hear, "I have a deal."
Ash narrowed his eyes. "What kind of deal?"
Naoto's gaze turned serious. "Don't kill the Hero Hunter leader. And I'll help you."
"What?" Drax stood up. "Why not kill him?!"
Kaien stepped forward. "Explain, Naoto. Why are you protecting the leader?"
Naoto stared back, unwavering. "Because he's not your enemy… not yet."
The room filled with silence again—only now, it was heavy with mystery and doubt.
"Tell us who he is," Kaien demanded, his eyes sharp and unblinking.
Naoto Yatsuki looked down for a moment, his hand tightening into a fist.
"I want to..." he said softly, "but I don't know yet."
The tension in the room spiked.
"What the hell does that mean!?" Ash barked, stepping forward. "Then we don't do anything! We're not going on some blind chase while heroes keep dying!"
Naoto's eyes flicked up. Cold. Calm.
"If you think you can stop me, catch me," he said coolly. "Send me to prison if that makes you feel better."
Ash flinched. "You—"
"Enough," Kaien interrupted, his voice like steel. "Naoto... are you protecting someone?"
Naoto didn't respond. He turned his back to them, walking toward the window once more.
"Sometimes," he said quietly, "monsters wear masks that even they don't know they're wearing."
The room went still.
Luna looked at Naoto's back, her heart uneasy. "Naoto... are you one of them?"
He didn't answer.
Ash clenched his fists. "We can't trust him."
"Maybe," Rei said, voice calm but serious. "But we also can't ignore what he knows."
Naoto finally turned around, a strange smile tugging at his lips. "I told you. I have a deal."
"We're not killing the Hero Hunter leader just because you asked," Kaien said, crossing his arms.
Naoto stepped closer, slow and deliberate. His gaze swept across the room before locking onto Kaien's.
"You don't have to kill him. Just don't interfere when I make my move."
Luna narrowed her eyes. "You're planning something."
"I always am," Naoto said.
Kaien exhaled sharply. "If you betray us—"
"I won't," Naoto interrupted. "Because I'm not your enemy."
He headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Drax asked.
"To gamble," Naoto said without looking back. "The Hero Hunters love casinos, remember?"
The door clicked shut behind him.
Silence fell over the room.
Kaien turned to the team. "We follow him. From now on, no more mistakes."
Ash nodded. "If Naoto crosses the line... I'll be the one to stop him."
Rooftop
The city lights flickered below as wind rustled Kaien's coat. He stood beside Naoto on the edge of the rooftop, eyes fixed on the sprawling streets far beneath.
"I know you," Kaien said, voice low. "You don't care who lives or dies. So why are you here?"
Naoto didn't deny it. "You're right," he said simply.
Kaien turned to him. "Then why do you look sad?"
Naoto's expression twitched, just for a moment. It was fleeting—almost invisible—but Kaien caught it.
"That look in your eyes… it's not like you," Kaien continued. "This isn't the real Naoto Yatsuki, is it?"
Naoto exhaled, his gaze lost in the distance. "The Hero Hunters… they don't have a leader."
Kaien blinked. "What are you saying? Someone has to be controlling them."
Naoto smiled faintly, bitterly. "Hah... when the time is right, you'll understand everything."
The wind howled softly between them, carrying the weight of unspoken truths. Kaien didn't press further. Not yet.
He just watched Naoto—his ally, his mystery—and wondered what storm was coming.