The Shadow's Message

The soft hum of conversation filled the kitchen of the base, the rare sound of laughter punctuating the quiet morning. The Black Ledgers, battered but alive, were gathered around the table, sharing breakfast for the first time in weeks without the weight of an impending mission hanging over them.

“Naoko, you might have a career as a chef if you ever quit being a doctor,” Junpei said, gesturing to the steaming plates of tamagoyaki and miso soup she’d prepared.

Naoko arched an eyebrow. “Maybe if I didn’t spend all my time patching up reckless idiots like you.”

Junpei chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. Across the table, Sayuri was trying to teach Moka how to fold an origami crane, her patience waning as Moka repeatedly crumpled the paper.

Kaito, seated at the head of the table, watched the scene with a faint smile. It was a small moment of peace, one he realized they’d fought hard to earn.

Clearing his throat, he set his chopsticks down and drew the team’s attention. “I think I owe all of you an apology,” he began, his voice steady but tinged with regret.

The room fell silent, everyone turning to face him.

“I’ve been... difficult,” Kaito continued, his gaze dropping briefly. “I let my anger and grief cloud my judgment. And that’s no excuse for how I’ve treated all of you these past few weeks, I’m sorry. Especially you, Naoko.”

Naoko blinked, startled by the direct address. “Me?”

“You’ve been holding this team together while I was too blinded by my vendetta to see it,” he said. “You’ve been my anchor, and I haven’t shown you the respect you deserve. I’m sorry.”

Naoko’s lips parted, but she said nothing, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Kaito then turned to Moka, who had been uncharacteristically quiet. “And you, Moka... I owe you an apology too.”

Moka’s cheeks turned a faint pink, her eyes narrowing defensively. “W-What are you talking about?”

“You’ve been trying to cheer me up, to keep me human when I was ready to lose myself,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate it as I should have. I’m sorry.”

Moka’s blush deepened, and she crossed her arms, turning her head away with a huff. “Hmph. Well, if you’re really sorry, then take me out to dinner, tonight. Maybe then I’ll forgive you.”

Kaito blinked, caught off guard, but a small smile broke through. “Deal.”

The rest of the team erupted into laughter, the tension of the past weeks finally giving way to something lighter.

The streets of Tokyo bustled with life, the chatter of pedestrians blending with the distant hum of traffic. Kaito weaved through the crowd, his thoughts preoccupied as he scanned the area for a promising restaurant that would be fit for a date.

As he turned a corner near a vibrant shopping district, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Kaito?”

He froze. His heart skipped a beat as he turned to face the source of the voice. Standing a few paces away were Reina, Leona, Hikari, and Tatsumi, all laden with shopping bags.

For a moment, no one spoke. Shock etched across their faces mirrored his own.

“Kaito!” Reina broke the silence, her voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and emotion. Dropping her bags, she rushed forward, stopping just short of throwing herself at him. “Is it really you?”

Kaito nodded slowly, still processing the sight of his former students.

Leona crossed her arms, her usual composed demeanor cracking as anger flickered in her eyes. “You’ve got some nerve showing up here.”

Kaito winced, her words hitting harder than he expected. “Leona...”

“No, don’t ‘Leona’ me,” she snapped, her voice rising. “You disappeared without a word. Do you know what that did to us? We thought we weren’t good enough—that you didn’t care!”

Reina placed a hand on Leona’s arm, though her own expression was tight with hurt. “We deserved better than that, sensei.”

“I know,” Kaito said, lowering his gaze. “You’re right. I should’ve said something, but... it wasn’t something I could explain at the time.”

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken emotions.

“I’m sorry,” Kaito said finally, his voice laced with regret. “For leaving without saying goodbye. You didn’t deserve that. One day, I’ll make it up to you—I promise.”

Leona’s posture softened, though her eyes remained guarded. “You’d better,” she muttered, looking away.

Reina sighed, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “How’ve you been, Kaito? What’s been going on?”

Kaito hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on him. “I can’t tell you that right now,” he said, his tone apologetic. “But someday, you’ll find out.”

Hikari stepped forward, his usual bright demeanor tempered by a hint of frustration. “It’s been tough without you, sensei. Our new tutor is... boring. All rules and no fun.”

Reina shot him a glare. “That’s because you never take training seriously, Hikari.”

“I do too!” Hikari protested, pouting.

Tatsumi let out a long-suffering sigh. “It’s been... manageable,” he said, glancing at Kaito. “But it’s not the same.”

Kaito’s chest tightened. These were his students—his responsibility. Seeing them like this only deepened his resolve.

“I’m glad you’re all hanging in there,” he said. “Stay strong, and keep looking out for each other. That’s all I ask.”

Reina gave him a wistful smile. “We will, sensei. But you’d better keep your promise.”

He nodded firmly. “I will.”

With a few more exchanged words and reluctant goodbyes, the group parted ways, leaving Kaito standing alone once more.

He exhaled slowly, his heart heavy but determined. As he resumed his search for a restaurant, a small smile tugged at his lips. He’d found a new purpose—not just vengeance, but redemption.

Kaito strolled back toward the hideout, his thoughts preoccupied with the evening ahead. The VIP lounge reservation was a surprising stroke of luck, and he was finally feeling ready to let go of some of the burdens he’d been carrying.

But as he approached the neighborhood, his steps faltered. Smoke. Thick, black plumes spiraled into the sky, rising from the direction of the hideout.

His heart raced. “No... No, no, no!” he muttered, propelling himself forward with haste.

The closer he got, the more dread clawed at his chest. When the building came into view, his worst fears were realized—the hideout was engulfed in flames, the heat radiating even from a distance.

Kaito’s gaze darted wildly across the scene. “Where are they?” he whispered hoarsely. His instincts took over, and he began scanning the area, looking for any signs of his team.

Skirting the perimeter, he finally reached the backyard. Relief washed over him as he spotted the others huddled together, scorched and covered in soot but alive.

“Are you okay?” Kaito asked, panting as he approached them. His voice was sharp with worry.

Do Yoon stepped forward, coughing into his sleeve. “We’re fine... mostly,” he rasped. “It was an attack. Sayuri spotted something—small drones surrounding the building. Before we could react, they detonated.”

Sayuri, sitting on the ground and cradling her arm, gave a faint nod. “I yelled for everyone to get out,” she said weakly. “Do Yoon wouldn’t have made it if I hadn’t seen them in time.”

Do Yoon managed a faint smile. “She saved my life. Her speed is... something else.”

Kaito gave Sayuri a grateful look, then turned to check on the others. Ryuji was sitting with his back against the fence, wincing as Moka tied a makeshift bandage around a gash on his arm. Junpei was pacing, visibly agitated but unharmed.

“Where’s Naoko?” Kaito asked suddenly, the realization dawning on him like a punch to the gut.

Everyone froze. Their expressions shifted from confusion to alarm.

“She was right behind us...” Moka murmured, her voice trailing off as panic set in.

Kaito didn’t wait for further discussion. “Stay here!” he barked before rushing toward the flaming building.

The heat was oppressive as Kaito pushed his way through the smoke-filled hallways. Flames licked the walls, and debris fell around him with every step.

“Naoko!” he shouted, his voice barely carrying over the roar of the fire. His heart pounded as he moved deeper inside, scanning for any sign of her.

In the corridor near the kitchen, he finally spotted her. Naoko was collapsed on the ground, her legs pinned under a large, charred wooden plank. Her face was pale, and her breaths came in shallow gasps.

“Naoko!” Kaito dropped to his knees beside her, shaking her gently. “Hey! Stay with me!”

Her eyes fluttered open briefly, her gaze unfocused. “Kaito...” she whispered before her head lolled to the side.

He gritted his teeth, adrenaline surging through him. Carefully, he gripped the plank, grunting as he lifted it off her legs. The effort sent a sharp pain through his arms and back, but he didn’t stop.

Once she was free, Kaito scooped her up in his arms, her weight a manageable burden despite his own growing exhaustion.

The smoke was thicker now, burning his throat and stinging his eyes. His steps faltered as the lack of oxygen began to take its toll.

“Almost there,” he muttered to himself, forcing his legs to keep moving. But his vision blurred, and his strength started to give out.

Just as he stumbled, strong arms caught him.

“Gotcha, boss,” Do Yoon said, steadying him. Beside him, Stan grabbed Naoko, carefully taking her from Kaito’s arms.

“Let’s move!” Stan urged, leading the way out of the inferno.

Do Yoon supported Kaito, half-carrying him as they navigated the collapsing structure. The cool night air hit them like a blessing as they emerged from the flames, coughing and gasping for breath.

The rest of the team rushed forward, helping to lay Naoko down on the grass. Sayuri quickly began checking her over, her medical training kicking in.

Kaito collapsed to his knees, his body shaking from a combination of relief and exhaustion. As he watched Naoko’s chest rise and fall faintly, he let out a shaky breath.

“She’s alive,” Sayuri announced. “But we need to get her to a hospital now.”

Kaito nodded weakly, his mind already racing. This wasn’t over. Whoever had sent those drones would pay—but first, he needed to make sure his team was safe.

The ambulance sped off into the night, its sirens wailing as it carried Naoko to the hospital. Kaito stood on the curb, watching until the flashing lights disappeared from view. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, the sting of his burns and bruises eclipsed by the turmoil in his chest.

“Sayuri, Moka, Hanae,” Ryuji said, turning to the remaining women. “Stay with Naoko. Don’t leave her side. Call me the moment she regains consciousness.”

Sayuri nodded firmly. “We’ll keep an eye on her, don’t worry.”

Moka, still visibly shaken, looked up at him. “You better not do anything reckless, Kaito,” she said, her voice wavering.

“I won’t,” he replied, though the fire in his eyes said otherwise.

As the three women headed inside the hospital, Kaito led the others to a quiet spot outside, away from prying eyes. The night was eerily still, the events of the evening hanging heavy over them.

Yuma broke the silence first. “Who could’ve done this?” he asked, his voice tinged with frustration and disbelief.

Ryuji’s expression darkened. “Isn’t it obvious? Geheim,” he said, spitting the name out like a curse. “I bet this is their way of telling us they’re onto us.”

Stan, who had been silent until now, reached into his jacket pocket. “Maybe,” he said carefully, “but there’s something else.” He pulled out a laminated note and handed it to Ryuji. “I found this near the grass as we left the complex.”

Ryuji unfolded the note, his eyes narrowing as he read it.

“What does it say?” Kaito asked, stepping closer.

Ryuji’s voice was low as he quoted the message aloud:

“To the seeker: This is a little present from us. Signed, The Order of Five Shadows.”

The weight of the words hung in the air, each syllable adding to the gravity of their situation.

Kaito’s jaw tightened. “The Order of Five Shadows...” he repeated, his mind racing. It wasn’t a name he’d heard before, but the implications were clear. This attack wasn’t just a warning—it was a declaration of war.

Stan crossed his arms, his expression grim. “Whoever they are, they know about us. And they’re bold enough to strike right at our home.”

Kaito’s gaze drifted toward the hospital’s entrance, his thoughts with Naoko and the others inside. He had promised himself he wouldn’t let anyone else get hurt because of him, but tonight’s events were a stark reminder of how dangerous their mission had become.

“We’ll figure out who they are,” Kaito said finally, his voice steady despite the storm brewing within him. “And we’ll make them pay for this.”

The others nodded in agreement, their determination solidifying as the night wore on. They had been dealt a brutal blow, but they were still standing. And they weren’t about to back down.