Beru and Nobu's family sat silently around the cold hospital table.
No one spoke.
The sound of machines and distant footsteps filled the air, but inside their hearts, everything felt hollow.
Outside the hospital, Baku stood alone under the open sky.
The blue above him felt endless… yet heavy.
His thoughts never left Nobu.
Alive… but barely.
Baku clenched his fists. In his mind, a single memory surfaced—
the golden herb.
The mountain.
The strange man.
The miracle that once saved his life.
If Nobu needed that herb to survive, then he would return there—no matter the cost.
Inside the hospital room, Nobu's wife sat motionless on a chair.
Her eyes were empty, fixed on nothing.
Beru approached her slowly and spoke in a low voice.
"Nobu is alive. He's safe for now. You don't need to worry too much."
She didn't respond.
Beru continued, gently, "After he's discharged, we'll take him to the Misaki Clan. That place is secure. No one will touch him there."
Her lips trembled.
Tears began to fall again.
Nobu's brother stepped forward. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with determination.
"I don't know who attacked Nobu," he said, "but I'll find out."
Beru shook his head.
"You don't need to. I'll handle it."
They looked at each other for a long moment.
Then Nobu's brother extended his hand.
"Call me Takeshi from now on."
Beru grasped his hand firmly.
"Takeshi."
After that, Beru stepped outside and made a call.
"Find out who's behind this," he said coldly.
"No matter the cost."
The call ended.
Inside the hospital room, Nobu lay still on the bed.
Then—
his fingers twitched.
Slowly, painfully, his eyes opened.
His voice was weak, almost a whisper.
"…Misaki…"
His wife froze.
She rushed to his side, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Their eyes met.
For the first time in years, they truly looked at each other.
Nobu's vision blurred as tears rolled down his face.
With great effort, he raised his arm and gently placed his hand on her cheek.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered.
"For everything."
She shook her head, tears streaming down.
"I was never angry," she said.
"I just wanted us to live together. I believed you would come back."
Nobu swallowed hard.
"So much happened," he said softly.
"I wanted to return… but I didn't have the courage to face you. To face them."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"But now… I've done the hardest part."
He looked at her again, a faint but genuine smile forming.
"This time, I won't run. We'll live together. Peacefully."
She held his hand tightly.
And after many long, painful years—
Nobu smiled from the heart.
In another part of the city, Beru sat alone inside a quiet restaurant.
A cup of coffee rested untouched in front of him.
His mind was racing.
Who is pulling the strings?
Who dares to target Nobu… and Baku?
A shadow fell across the table.
Someone sat down.
Beru's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The man said nothing.
Slowly, he reached up and removed his mask.
Beru froze.
The face in front of him looked exactly like his own—
but sharper, older… and far more dangerous.
The man smiled faintly.
"You really don't remember me, little brother?"
Beru's breath caught in his throat.
The man leaned forward slightly and spoke a name that shook Beru to his core.
"Kael."
His older brother.