Chapter 28 : Ashes of the trinity

The morning inside the hideout was quiet. Almost too quiet.

A faint breeze slipped in through the small cracks in the windowpanes. The air was cold, but not more than the heaviness sitting on everyone’s chest.

Kaito stood near the wall, arms crossed, his jacket partially unzipped. His dark eyes weren’t focused on anything in the room—they were looking ahead, beyond the crumbling walls, beyond the battlefield of thoughts in his mind.

Mikuya sat on the edge of her mattress, her fingers toying with the frayed bandage wrapped around her hand. Sora leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, watching Kaito.

“You’re leaving,” Mikuya said softly, breaking the silence.

Kaito didn’t deny it.

He nodded slowly. “Today’s the day.”

Sora frowned. “Daigo’s finally going to tell us what the Masked Trinity decided?”

“Yeah.” Kaito turned to them both. “Whether we’ll use cursed energy in battle or not… today we get our answer.”

Mikuya stood up.

“I’m going out,” she said.

Sora straightened. “You’re not healed yet.”

“I don’t care.” Her voice was firm, her eyes unreadable.

Kaito stepped forward. “You should rest more, Mikuya. We don’t know who’s lurking out there.”

“I need air.” She looked between them. “I won’t go far.”

Sora reached out, but she was already brushing past him, grabbing her coat from the hook. Sora made a move to follow, but Kaito stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“Let her go,” Kaito said. “She needs time. After what happened…”

Sora looked down, his jaw clenched. “She almost died.”

“And she survived,” Kaito said. “Barely. But she did.”

Sora said nothing for a moment, then turned around, walking toward the training corner of the hideout. “Fine. I’ll train. I won’t let what happened last time… happen again.”

Kaito watched them both—the one walking into the world, and the one trying to change his own.

Then he zipped up his coat and turned toward the exit.

“I’ll see you both later.”

And with that, he left.

---

Scene Shift: The Agency’s Heart

The agency’s main headquarters didn’t look like a building. It looked like a fortress that had survived a hundred wars. Tall, grey walls, ancient designs carved into every stone. A place that felt like it watched you, even when no one was there.

Daigo walked through the hallways with silent urgency. His cloak brushed against the marble floors as he passed rows of guards standing stiff and still. He reached a large door guarded by two figures in black.

Daigo bowed respectfully.

“I seek an audience with the Lords and Lady of the Trinity.”

The guards looked at each other, then nodded once. The massive door opened slowly.

Inside, shadows and smoke swirled like living things. And seated at the end of the long, dark chamber—three figures. Their faces hidden behind intricate masks, each symbolizing a different element: Fire, Ice, and Void.

Daigo stepped forward, bowed deeply.

“My Lords. My Lady.”

The one in the center, the mask of Void, spoke. “You may enter.”

---

Scene Shift: Cold Streets

Outside, the wind howled through the narrow alleyways of the city.

Mikuya walked with her hands in her pockets, her boots crunching against bits of broken glass and frost. The city felt colder than usual. Or maybe it was just her thoughts.

She kept walking. Not toward anywhere, really. Just… away. From the past. From weakness. From guilt.

---

Scene Shift: Sora’s Resolve

Sora’s fists struck the wooden training post again and again. Sweat dripped down his temples, his breath steaming in the cold.

“I couldn’t protect her that time…”

Kurogami’s face flashed in his mind—his laugh, his power, the pain Mikuya endured.

“No more,” Sora whispered, slamming his palm into the post.

His arms ached, but he didn’t stop.

---

Scene Shift: Meeting of Fate

The hall filled quickly. Soldiers. Leaders. Strategists. Kaito sat among them, tapping his fingers anxiously on the table.

“Do you think they’ll say yes?” someone whispered.

“Who knows. If they say yes, everything changes.”

Another murmured, “More power… but at what cost?”

Just then, the doors opened. Daigo entered, calm and composed.

Everyone stood.

“Thank you all for waiting,” Daigo said, voice echoing through the grand hall.

He paused.

Then spoke:

“The Masked Trinity… has approved the use of cursed energy.”

Gasps. Whispers.

Kaito sat frozen, eyes wide.

Renzo, seated at the end of the table, smiled darkly.

“Well well… now this is going to be fun.”

Daigo held up a hand. “This is not a game. This comes with great risk. We will begin training all soldiers immediately. You are to follow protocol. This power is dangerous if misused.”

Everyone nodded, still whispering behind their hands.

The meeting ended shortly after, but Kaito remained seated.

This isn’t good, he thought. Things just got darker.

---

Scene Shift: The Encounter

The cold gnawed at Mikuya’s skin as she kept walking. Her mind replayed Kurogami’s laughter. The pain. The helplessness.

How do I get stronger? How do I make sure I never feel that weak again?

Then—

“Mi!”

She froze.

Her body locked in place.

That voice…

She didn’t have to turn. She already knew.

There they were.

Nene. Hana. Emiko. Yuka.