Season 2, Chapter 3: Unmasked

Itsumi dropped from the broken bridge, landing lightly on his feet. The agents below instinctively tensed, but Zhu Yuan just smiled as he approached. Itsumi stopped in front of her, tilting his head with a calm, almost playful glint in his eyes.

"Well, Zhu, you seemed happier to see them than me. Should I feel offended?" he teased, his tone light but carrying a hint of mischief.

For a split second, Zhu was caught off guard, but then she laughed, ruffling his hair. "Oh, come on! Give me a break! You can be so dramatic sometimes."

The tension in the air eased, at least for Zhu's team. The other agents, however, stared in disbelief at the easy banter between the infamous DDU operative and their respected colleague.

Nicole was the first to break the silence. "Wait… you know him?" Her eyes darted between Zhu and Itsumi, searching for answers.

Wise, still brushing dust from his jacket, blinked in surprise. Belle, ever the curious one, stepped forward. "Yeah, how do you know him? And who is this guy, anyway?"

Zhu Yuan blinked, genuinely confused. "Wait… I never mentioned him? I could've sworn I did…" She sighed, realizing how much had happened in the past few years. "Sorry, everyone. This is Itsumi. He's a good friend of mine—and part of the Special Damage Defense Unit. He's… had a rough past, but trust me, he's a good guy."

A ripple of surprise ran through the group. Itsumi looked far too young to be a legend, but there was something about the way he stood—relaxed, yet alert—that made people instinctively keep their distance.

Miyabi, still gripping her sword, narrowed her eyes. "He doesn't look like much, but… that presence. It's not normal."

Anton, from Belobog Construction, crossed his arms. "He saved the Proxys, didn't he? That was some move."

Grace from Belobog Construction, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "He's a bit… cold, isn't he?"

Itsumi sighed, catching the whispers. He glanced at Zhu, then at the group, his expression unreadable. "Well, it doesn't matter. I have better things to do. See you later, Zhu."

With that, he turned and walked away, his movements precise and almost too smooth to be natural. In a blink, he was gone, leaving only a faint breeze behind.

The agents watched him go, each with their own thoughts.

Nicole muttered, "He's kind of full of himself, huh?"

Belle shook her head, a small smile on her lips. "No… I think he's just awkward. Did you see how he looked at Zhu? Like she's the only person in the world he trusts."

Wise shrugged. "Who cares? He saved us. That's enough for me."

Miyabi sheathed her sword, still watching the spot where Itsumi had vanished. "He's dangerous. But… maybe not to us."

Zhu Yuan smiled softly, her gaze lingering on the empty space. "He's not what he seems. But he's trying. That's all anyone can ask."

The group slowly gathered themselves, the adrenaline fading, replaced by a sense of awe and curiosity. For a moment, the world felt a little bigger—and a little stranger—than before.

And somewhere in the shadows, Itsumi walked alone, but for the first time, he didn't feel completely isolated.