Traitor

Ervin: [BLACK: SHADOW BEAST MANIPULATION, MNEMOSYNE]

Giles: (to himself) Damn it. I can't move.

Mnemosyne's ability allowed it to access the memories of anyone it touched. Everything it uncovered was relayed back to Ervin. With Giles still immobilized from the effects of ARATA, Ervin seized the opportunity to delve into the motives of the Kaimi Daja and their identity.

Mnemosyne placed its hand on Giles' head and began sifting through his memories. As it scanned Giles' mind, Ervin saw what Mnemosyne saw. The memories revealed plans, motives, and a truth that shook Ervin to his core. He sent Mnemosyne back into his shadow, his mind racing.

Ervin: (to himself) They have such formidable allies… Shadows and Lighters working together? No hate, no conflict. Just like the world I'm trying to build. Even he's there too… but I didn't expect to see—

His thoughts were interrupted. The effects of ARATA wore off, and Giles was already back on his feet, albeit breathing heavily.

Giles: (breathing heavily)

Ervin: Still want to go at it? I'm fine with that, but I have questions for you and your meddling group.

Giles: (grinning, reaching for his book inventory) Questions? (laughs) Didn't you look inside my head? You've got your answers, man. You should already know why we're here. This is just a distraction so we can take the kid. And I'm going to make sure you stay right here.

Giles opened his inventory book and released a swarm of shadow monsters. His book, containing over a hundred pages, could hold two items per page. Normally, Giles used it as both a canvas for his art and a tool to store his creations. In this moment of desperation, he unleashed all the shadow monsters he had stored.

Ervin: (eyes widening at the sight of the swarm) He had this many monsters stored? That book's mysterious. Too bad I didn't check his memories for its origin. (notices Giles climbing onto a flying shadow monster) Damn it. He's getting away. I'll shoot him down with SHADOW BEADS.

Giles: (noticing Ervin preparing to attack) Don't you think you need to worry about the other things?

Ervin's attention shifted to the shadow monsters. They weren't attacking him—instead, they were heading for the unconscious civilians lying on the road.

Ervin: Damn it. (to Giles) Targeting innocents so you can escape? A cowardly move.

Giles: (scuffs) Call it what you want. As long as it keeps you here, I'm fine with being a coward.

The monsters closed in on the civilians. Torn between chasing Giles and saving the innocents, Ervin chose the latter. He rushed in, killing the shadow monsters one by one. As he fought, Giles escaped into the evening skies on the back of the flying shadow monster, carrying Dylan with him.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Kato sat silently by his mother's bedside. She was still in a coma. Arou stood quietly at the door, watching him. Whenever Kato visited the hospital, he never said a word, simply sitting in silence for an hour or two before leaving.

After an hour, Kato rose from his chair and motioned to leave. Arou followed him to Dana's office to inform her.

Dana: You're leaving already?

Kato: Yeah (bows his head) Thank You for taking care of my mother, ma'am.

Dana: (concerned) Oh, no need to thank me. I'm just doing my job. But… are you okay?

Kato: Honestly, I don't know. I haven't felt this down since my dad left. Knowing there's nothing I can do to save my mom… I feel hopeless.

Arou: (concerned face)

Kato: (puts on a fake smile) But, you don't need to worry about me. Let's go, Arou.

Arou: (checks a message on his phone) Yeah.

Dana: Yeah. I'll see you guys later.

As they left, Kato's necklace—a gift from Ervin—concealed his identity, allowing him to walk unnoticed. A few blocks from the hospital, Kato stopped.

Arou: What's wrong?

Kato: There's somewhere I want to go. Do you mind?

Arou: Sure. Lead the way.

Back in her office, Dana's phone rang. It was Ervin.

Dana: (answering, irritated) Where the hell are you? You're an hour late! I told you I had something important to tell you!

Ervin: Whatever it is, it can wait. Where's Kato?

Dana: Huh? He just left now with Arou. Why?

Ervin: DAMN IT!! He's already left?

Dana: What's wrong?

Ervin: Listen carefully. I know you're busy, so get Kayomi to track him down. Kato's life is in danger.

Dana: (shocked) IN DANGER!?

Ervin: We've had a mole leaking info on Kato to the Kaimi Daja. I found out after accessing one of their memories.

Dana: (horrified) A mole? Who is it?

Ervin: The Mole is...….

At the Hashido estate, Kayomi and Kinara were admiring baby items for their child on the way. Kinara was thrilled, though Kayomi's enthusiasm was more subdued.

Kinara: (cartoonish face) OMIGOSH!!! THESE BABY OUTFITS ARE SOOOOO CUTE. I REALLY HOPE WE HAVE A GIRL.

Kayomi: (holding tiny clothes) They're small… and expensive.

Kinara: (cartoonish face) HEY KAYOMI. WHAT GENDER DO YOU THINK THE BABY IS GOING TO BE?

Kayomi: A boy.

Kinara: (cartoonish face) A BOY???? I WANT TO HAVE AN ADORABLE LOOKING GIRL CHILD FIRST!! BOYS ARE SUCH WUSSES.

Kayomi: Whatever works I guess?

Kinara: (not satisfied with his reply) AT LEAST SHOW SOME ENTHUSIASM. IT'S YOUR BABY TOO YOU KNOW. YOU'RE GOING TO BE A DAD AND I DON'T WANT OUR KID TO THINK HE HAS A GLOOMY AND BORING FATHER.

Kayomi: AM I GLOOMY AND BORING?

Kinara: NOT TO ME THOUGH. BUT EVERYONE ELSE THINKS SO.

Kayomi: EVERYONE?

Kinara: YEAH. I ASKED DANA, AROU, ROSHI, YOSHI, ERVIN, MIRA AND THE OTHER KIDS AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. EXCEPT FOR KATO SINCE HE DOESN'T KNOW YOU ALL THAT WELL.

Kayomi: (gloomy face) I see.

Kinara: (cartoonish face) You're being gloomy right now. Smile a little.

Kayomi's phone rang. It was Dana.

Kayomi: Dana? You hardly call me. What's the occasion?

Dana: I know you're busy Kayomi but this is important. Kato's life is in danger and you're the only one who can find him right now.

Kayomi: (shocked) Kato's in Danger? What's happening?

Dana: You see...…

After Kinara teleported Kayomi to the hospital, he began tracking Kato's location. He moved quickly, hoping to make it in time.

Meanwhile, Kato and Arou arrived at Kato's old home. The house remained untouched since July, shrouded in an eerie stillness. Inside, memories flooded back—Takimo waiting for him at the kitchen table, his mom teasing Takimo about his Studio Ghibli obsession.

Kato: (to himself) Why couldn't things stay the way they were?

Arou: Come on, Kato. We need to leave before anyone sees us.

Kato: Right.

Outside, Kato apologized to Arou for dragging him along.

Arou: Don't worry about it. I get how you miss the life you used to have.

Kato: Yeah. I wish things had stayed the same, but… (recalls Gaki's words about the world's indifference to desires)

Before Kato could finish, Kayomi appeared, startling both of them.

Kayomi: Found you.

Kato: (confused) Mr Kayomi? What's going on?

Kayomi: (running towards Kato) KATO!!!! GET AWAY FROM HIM RIGHT NOW!!!! HE'S…..

Kayomi didn't have the time to finish his sentence because, at that moment, Arou grabbed Kato by the hoodie and disappeared from his sight, taking Kato with him.

Kayomi: DAMN IT!!! I WAS TOO LATE!!!

Kayomi briefly recalled what Dana had told him on the phone. It was the same thing that Ervin had shared with her—there was a mole among them who was secretly a member of the Kaimi Daja. That mole was Arou.

Chapter 43: Traitor