Deep in the city streets, while everyone slept, a hooded stranger slipped between shadows.
Silent steps.
Cold eyes.
A tattoo of King Sable's crest hidden under his sleeve.
He perched on a rooftop across from the Silver Needle Tavern, watching the windows carefully.
"The fugitives are here…"
he whispered into a small crystal.
A faint voice on the other end replied,
"Keep eyes on them.
Do not approach."
The spy smirked.
"…Yes, my king."
He vanished into the night.
Haruto's Vision
Inside the tavern, Haruto tossed in his sleep, sweating and trembling.
Arkhamis appeared again in his dream — towering, monstrous, his voice dripping with venom.
"You are being watched."
Haruto thrashed.
"No— leave me alone—"
"Eyes in the dark…
A hunter in the shadows…"
"STOP—"
"Soon you will choose.
Soon you will kill."
Haruto jolted awake with a scream—
but his voice caught in his throat.
He grabbed his glowing pentagon hand and gasped for breath.
"…Sataro… someone's coming…"
But his brother didn't hear him.
Sataro & Nova's Morning Problem
In the other room—
Sataro blinked awake.
"…What the—"
Nova groaned beside him.
"…five more minutes…"
Then both froze.
Both realized.
Both SAT UP at the same time.
Naked.
Fully naked.
Nova grabbed the blanket.
"S-SATAR— WHY ARE WE— WHY ARE YOU— WHY AM I—?!"
Sataro grabbed a pillow and covered himself.
"I—I—I DON'T KNOW!! WHAT HAPPENED!?!"
Nova's face exploded red.
"SATARO, DID WE— DID I— DID YOU— DID WE…??"
Sataro stared at her, horrified, then at the room, then back at her.
"I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING!! DO YOU?!"
Nova covered her face.
"Oh my GOD—
Oh my GOD—
WHAT IF WE—?!"
Sataro shook his head quickly.
"I don't think we… uh… did anything— did we?"
"I DON'T KNOW! WE'RE NAKED!"
"YES I SEE THAT—!"
Nova panicked.
"YOU BETTER NOT HAVE DONE ANYTHING!"
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
"THEN WHY ARE WE—?!"
"I DON'T KNOW—!!"
They both sat there, flushed, embarrassed, buried in blankets, staring at each other like idiots.
Silence.
Then Nova whispered:
"…you didn't see anything… right?"
Sataro lied instantly.
"N-No."
Nova glared.
"You hesitated."
"I— I DIDN'T—!"
Mira Walks In
The door slammed open.
Both screamed.
Mira stood there with her arms crossed, expression flat.
"Well, well, WELL…"
Sataro and Nova shrieked and dove under the blanket.
"MIRA GET OUT—!!"
"WE'RE NOT DRESSED—!!"
Mira rolled her eyes.
"Oh please, I've seen more skin in a morning than a nurse."
Nova turned redder.
"MIRA—!!"
Mira flicked the door with one finger.
"Get dressed, lovebirds.
The kids are waiting for you."
Sataro stuttered.
"W-We're not— lovebirds—"
Mira smirked.
"Uh-huh.
You two 'accidentally' woke up naked together and you're NOT lovebirds."
Nova threw a pillow at her.
"GET OUT—!!"
Mira dodged without even blinking.
"Breakfast is getting cold.
Hurry up, Romeo and Juliet."
She slammed the door behind her, laughing as she walked away.
Sataro & Nova Alone Again
Silence.
Both wrapped tightly in the blanket.
Nova whispered:
"…What if we did…?"
Sataro swallowed hard.
"…Let's… just get dressed first."
"…Yeah."
They looked away from each other, faces red, hearts pounding, hands shaking.
Something definitely happened.
But neither of them knew what.
And deep down—
Neither was sure
if they wanted to know.