Iris turned her head instinctively, her brows knitting slightly as a familiar sound reached her, cutting through the music and conversation.
Hairene: "I'M TELLING YOU, this is NOT how gravity works!" A short pause. "Actually… maybe it is…"
Iris: "…No way."
She stepped away from the group, weaving through the crowd toward the source of the commotion. Hunters nearby were trying very hard to pretend they weren't watching, while also absolutely watching.
And there she was.
Hairene.
Standing at the bar.
A bottle of beer in each hand.
Completely unfazed by the fact that this was one of the most prestigious gatherings in Shioto.
Hairene raised one of the bottles slightly, as if making a point to someone who had already stopped engaging: "You ever think about how weird elbows are?"
The Hunter in front of her looked like he regretted every decision that led him to that spot. He approached her because he found her attractive, but that was clearly a mistake.
Hairene turned and locked eyes with Iris. Her entire expression lit up: "IRIIIIS!"
Before Iris could react, Hairene moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
She closed the distance instantly and wrapped Iris in a tight, unrestrained hug, nearly lifting her off the ground.
Hairene: "YOU'RE HERE!"
Iris stiffened for half a second. Then relaxed just a little: "…Hi, Hairene."
Hairene pulled back just enough to look at her, hands still gripping her shoulders: "You look fancy."
Iris glanced down at her dress: "You do too. Except… you got some beer on your dress."
Hairene: "Uh oh. Well whatever."
Iris let out a small breath, already accepting the situation: "I'm glad to see you."
Hairene: "I knew you would be!"
Kagura and Nicholas approached, drawn in by the noise and the energy shift.
Kagura: "Who's this?"
Nicholas: "A friend of yours, Iris?"
Iris: "That's a good question."
Hairene: "I'm Hairene, you must be Iris's friends! I'm her best friend, we're connected at the hip. Actually maybe I'm more like her older sister."
Iris: "Eh…?"
Kagura: "She's like your older sister?! Why haven't we met yet?"
Iris: "Uh… she's one of the relatives you don't meet until way later on in life."
Nicholas stepped up beside them, his expression shifting the moment he got a proper look at her: "…Hairene? Oh, I remember now. Some people call you the Fang of the Blackout Tempest."
Kagura bursts out in laughter: "What's with that over-the-top name?!"
Iris: "Actually, it fits her well."
Kagura: "Haha, that's hilarious!"
Hairene: "I think it should be more flashy. Bwahahaha!"
Nicholas glanced at the bottles in her hands: "How much have you had to drink?"
Hairene: "Not that much."
Iris and Nicholas: 'What an obvious lie.'
A soft chime echoed through the hall.
The music lowered slightly.
A voice followed, clear and composed: "The banquet room is now open."
Kagura: "FOOD."
Diego: "Finally."
Esmarie: "I've been waiting for this!"
Marlon cracked his neck slightly: "Let's chow down."
Caesar: "Time to indulge."
Yuji: "About time."
Chifuyu: "I starved myself all day in preparation for this feast."
Ariel: "Donuts, donuts!"
The transition from the main hall to the banquet room felt like stepping into a different kind of luxury. The doors opened wide, revealing a long, expansive room bathed in warm golden light that reflected off polished floors and glass displays. Chandeliers hung lower here, casting a softer glow over rows of tables that stretched deeper into the space than any of them expected. The scent hit first—rich, layered, overwhelming in the best possible way. Roasted meats, butter, spices, fresh bread, sweetness from desserts lingering beneath it all like a quiet promise.
Kagura: "We're going to war."
Diego cracked his knuckles: "No survivors."
Chifuyu: "Dedicate your hearts!"
Esmarie: "Let's go, men!"
The buffet stretched across the entire length of the room, organized into sections that flowed seamlessly into one another. Plates stacked high, silver trays polished to a mirror shine, chefs stationed behind certain areas preparing dishes fresh on demand.
The group gathered around a long table, plates landing one after another with satisfying weight. Food covered every inch of space, stacked high, barely contained.
Hairene slid into the seat beside Iris: "What you got? Looks good."
It looked like she was about to start drooling over her food.
Iris: "You can't have any..."
Across the room, Shoyo and Ina stood in the line for food. A man they hadn't seen in a while came up to them. Ina's expression softened.
Shoyo smirked: "Look who decided to show up late. The new Special-Rank Hunter."
Emelio.
Back at the table, between bites, laughter, and absolute chaos, a soft voice spoke behind Chifuyu.
Sylvie: "Excuse me… is this seat taken?"
Chifuyu turned.
A girl with brilliant red hair stood there, composed, elegant, her presence quiet but immediately noticeable.
Chifuyu: "The person sitting there went to go get thirds."
Esmarie froze, then jolted out of her seat: "SYLVIE?!"
Sylvie: "Esmarie."
Esmarie ran around the table without hesitation and pulled her into a hug: "It's been so long!"
Sylvie returned it gently: "It has. It's good to see you two as well, Yuji, Marlon."
Marlon: "You're looking good."
Yuji: "You have too much red on."
Sylvie: "Heh. I should've gone with a different color, huh?"
Esmarie: "Everyone, this is Sylvie! She was Erika's best friend at the Academy!"
Chifuyu's eyes widened: "…Erika's best friend?"
Sylvie nodded: "She told me a lot about you."
Chifuyu scratched the back of his head slightly: "Ina told us you'd be joining Odd Jobs next year."
Sylvie: "That's the plan."
Esmarie: "You're gonna love it."
Kagura: "Nice to meet you, Sylvie. I'm Kagura, the leader of these misfits."
Shinatsu: "You're the biggest misfit out of all of us."
Sylvie laughed lightly.
They talked for a bit longer, the energy shifting into something warmer, like pieces of different timelines finally connecting in one place.
Then, Sylvie stepped back slightly: "I should return to my family." She glanced at all of them. "It was nice to finally meet Odd Jobs."
Chifuyu: "Yeah. Same here."
Esmarie waved.
Shinatsu: "She was nice."
Yuji: "I bet you guys would get along well."
***
The ballroom opened wide before them, polished floors reflecting the soft glow of crystal chandeliers that hung like constellations overhead. The music had changed here, no longer background, but the main event. A live ensemble played near the far end, strings weaving into a melody that carried just enough weight to pull people onto the floor without demanding it.
Couples moved in slow, practiced rhythm.
Kagura leaned slightly toward Shinatsu, eyes bright but quieter than usual: "Can I have this dance?"
Shinatsu: "Yes."
It was simple. But it wasn't casual. Kagura smiled, softer than usual, as she took Shinatsu's hand and pulled her gently toward the floor. Shinatsu followed without resistance, her posture composed, but there was something just slightly less guarded in the way she moved. They stepped into rhythm. Kagura's movements were lighter, instinctive, while Shinatsu matched her with precision, their contrast blending into something unexpectedly natural. Kagura's laughter was quieter here, her eyes locked on Shinatsu more than the room, while Shinatsu's usual sharpness softened just enough to let the moment exist.
Nearby, Diego extended his hand toward Beatrice with a dramatic flourish: "May I?"
Beatrice looked at him for a moment, her expression calm as always. Then placed her hand in his: "You may."
They moved onto the floor, Diego's confidence carrying him forward while Beatrice's elegance grounded the rhythm. He led with just enough flair to make it his own, while she followed with effortless control, her movements smooth and refined, like she had done this before in another life.
Diego: "You're good at this. Do you have experience dancing?"
Beatrice: "No, but I'm good at adapting."
Diego chuckled: "I like that answer."
Chifuyu stood still for a moment longer.
Then, Ariel stepped beside him: "You're thinking too much."
Chifuyu glanced at her: "Am I?"
Ariel nodded: "Yes."
They stepped onto the floor without much ceremony, their movements less refined than the others, but steady. Chifuyu wasn't flashy, and Ariel didn't try to be. They moved in sync more than style, comfortable in the simplicity of it. Their synergy as partners took the spotlight.
Across the floor, Shoyo stood near the edge, watching: "Ina."
She looked at him: "Shoyo."
A pause lingered between them.
Shoyo extended his hand: "Dance with me."
It wasn't playful.
It wasn't smooth.
It was honest.
Ina looked at his hand.
Her expression didn't change.
But something behind it did.
For a moment, it seemed like she might refuse.
Then, she placed her hand in his.
Ina: "Just this once."
Shoyo: "I'll take it."
They stepped onto the floor. And for a moment, the distance between them disappeared. Their movements were precise, practiced, like something they had done countless times before. There was no awkwardness in the dance itself, only in the silence between words they didn't say. Shoyo's hand rested at her waist. Ina's posture remained perfect, her gaze forward, but she didn't pull away. There was a spark that hadn't completely gone out.
Then music eventually ended. Applause followed lightly as the dancers stepped away from each other, the room shifting once again.
Ina released Shoyo's hand first: "I must take my leave."
Shoyo: "Guess I'll see you later."
Ina nodded. Shoyo watched as she walked off.
The lights shifted.
Subtle at first.
The live music faded, replaced by a low hum of bass that grew stronger with each passing second. A DJ stepped forward, mic in hand, his voice cutting through the room with a sudden burst of energy: "Hunter Ball, let's wake this place up!"
The room changed completely.
The lighting dimmed, colors shifting into deeper tones as the beat dropped, heavy and alive. The polished elegance of the ballroom gave way to something louder.
A crowd formed. The ballroom had turned into something like a concert or a club.
Diego threw his hands up: "NOW WE'RE TALKING!"
Esmarie: "OH YEAH!"
Chifuyu: "This suits us more."
Even Yuji agreed: "You can say that again."
Diego stepped forward and started break dancing. His body spun, twisted, balanced on one hand, feet cutting through the air in clean arcs that drew immediate reactions from the crowd.
Cheers erupted.
Kagura: "GO DIEGO!"
People were jumping, shouting, singing along to the music as it blasted through the room. Odd Jobs blended right into it.
***
Eventually, Chifuyu slipped away. The noise faded behind him as he stepped out of the ballroom, the shift in sound immediate, the bass becoming distant, muffled. He walked into the restroom without much thought, stepping up to a urinal and exhaling lightly.
Then—
Footsteps.
Another man stepped in.
And chose the urinal directly next to him.
Despite there being plenty of others.
Chifuyu side-eyed him immediately.
The man didn't look at him: "You must be Chifuyu."
Chifuyu frowned slightly, not turning fully: "A lot of people have been approaching me tonight. You couldn't wait until I finished taking a piss?"
The man chuckled lightly: "Hey, I had to hit the John myself. Just a coincidence."
Chifuyu didn't believe him.
He finished, zipped up, and stepped over to wash his hands, watching the man through the mirror.
Man: "Name's Shiosuke. Just wanted to give you some friendly advice. Hunter to Hunter."
Chifuyu: "What would that be?"
Shiosuke's expression didn't change. But his eyes did: "I'd watch my back if I were you. There are some people who don't agree with fighting alongside vampires."
Silence.
Chifuyu turned slightly, facing him now.
Their eyes met fully.
Chifuyu didn't say anything. He raised his hand and flipped him off: "Thanks for your shitty wisdom."
He turned and walked out. Leaving Shiosuke standing there.
Smiling.
***
Four hours had passed, though it didn't feel like it. The energy had shifted too many times, elegance to chaos, restraint to indulgence, quiet tension to loud celebration for time to move in any normal way. Now, things were settling again. The ballroom still carried a pulse, though softer than before, a few lingering groups hanging out under dimmed lights. The banquet room remained active, some people unwilling to part with the food just yet, returning for second, third, or unapologetic fourth rounds. But most had drifted back into the main hall, where conversations resumed in calmer tones, the earlier intensity mellowing into something more composed.
The Hunter Ball was nearing its end.
Near one of the pillars, Caesar stood still.
His hand trembled slightly at his side, though he quickly hid it by adjusting his sleeve. His breathing was controlled, but shallow, his eyes locked on something across the room.
Someone.
Dwayne.
Standing there.
Alive.
Caesar's stomach dropped.
His mind rejected it instantly.
That's not possible.
He and Shiori—
They killed him.
Or they thought they did.
Caesar's expression paled, the color draining from his face so quickly it was almost unnatural. For a moment, he genuinely thought he had seen a ghost.
But no.
This wasn't a ghost.
This was real.
He turned away.
Carefully.
Not too fast.
Not suspicious.
His mind raced, but his body stayed composed, years of discipline forcing him back into place.
Caesar: 'It's fine. He doesn't know. He didn't see my face.'
Caesar slipped a hand into his pocket, pulling out his phone with practiced subtlety. His fingers moved quickly, typing without hesitation.
"We have a problem. Dwayne is alive."
He hit send.
Then slipped the phone away.
And smiled.
Like nothing had happened.
Across the hall, the atmosphere shifted again. A presence entered. The President of the Hunter Agency. Conversations quieted just slightly as he moved through the room greeting Hunters. His presence carried authority. People made space without being told. Acknowledged him without having to be told to. And eventually, he made his way to Odd Jobs.
Shoyo: "What's up, pops?"
The President stopped in front of him, his expression unimpressed: "Don't call me that." His gaze shifted to the rest of the group. "Odd Jobs, you've grown."
Chifuyu straightened just slightly. Ariel did too. There was a subtle shift in both of them, out of respect.
President: "Staying out of trouble I hope?"
Chifuyu: "We're trying to."
President: "Good. Enjoy the rest of the night."
Shoyo lifted his glass slightly: "Always do."
The President moved on. The interaction was short, but it was the most meaningful one of the night.
As he passed through the hall, he walked by Hairene who was still drinking.
Hairene spotted him and raised her bottle slightly: "Oh—hey. What's up, Prez?"
The President didn't stop: "…Lay off the alcohol you buffoon." A disappointed look crossed his face as he kept walking.
Hairene: "The Prez hates me... Hiccup."
The room gradually quieted as the President took the podium, the low hum of conversation fading into stillness. Glasses lowered, conversations paused, and even those lingering near the edges turned their attention toward him.
He adjusted his cuff slightly, then spoke, calm, composed, and effortless.
President:
"First, thank you all for coming tonight."
His gaze swept across the hall, acknowledging familiar faces and new ones alike.
"The Hunter Ball is not a frequent occasion. Once every five years, we gather like this, as one."
A faint pause.
"We don't often get the luxury of nights like this."
"Moments where we can set aside duty, even briefly, and simply… exist among one another."
His expression remained steady.
"But it's important that we do."
Another pause.
"Because the work we do, what we face, it isn't something anyone should carry alone."
A few heads lowered slightly.
Some nodded.
Then—
His tone shifted.
Not drastically.
But enough.
"A Hunter is not defined by their blade."
A brief pause settled over the room.
"Nor by their rank."
"Nor by how many enemies they've slain."
His gaze moved across the crowd, steady and deliberate.
"A Hunter is defined by what they protect."
Another pause.
"Families. Strangers. People who will never know your name."
"The future of a world that may never thank you for what you've done."
The room stayed silent.
Listening.
"That is the burden we carry."
"And the reason we stand."
He let that sit.
"And yet… strength alone has never been enough. It is trust that holds the line. It is unity that keeps us from collapsing under the weight of our own battles. It is the willingness to stand beside someone…"
A slight pause.
"…even when you don't fully understand them. There will come a time—soon—when your beliefs will be tested. Not in battle. But in judgment."
His eyes scanned the room again, slower this time.
"Some of you will cling to what you know. To what feels safe. To what you've always believed is right. Others will step forward into something uncertain. Something uncomfortable. Something new."
Another pause.
"When that time comes… ask yourselves a simple question. What are you truly fighting for?"
The silence deepened.
He exhaled softly.
"Tonight is a celebration. A rare one. So enjoy it."
***
The hallway outside the ballroom was quieter now, the distant bass fading into something softer, more distant. Shinatsu stepped into the restroom, the bright lighting washing over her as she let out a small breath.
Shinatsu thought to herself: 'The restroom is where you always see the people you want to see the least, so I have to be quick.'
A voice came from the mirror: "Oh, if it isn't little cousin Natsu."
Shinatsu closed her eyes and sighed: "Long time no see, Ameka."
Ameka leaned casually against the counter: "You look nice with your hair down. I almost didn't recognize you."
Shinatsu: "You haven't changed."
Ameka: "That's because I don't need to."
Shinatsu walked to the sink.
Ameka: "I heard about the Academy."
Shinatsu didn't react.
Ameka: "Quite the fall."
Shinatsu: "Gonna make fun of me for it?"
Ameka: "Relax. I don't care enough to." Ameka straightened slightly, folding her arms. "You're with that Odd Jobs group now, right?"
Shinatsu: "Yeah."
Ameka: "Hm. You always did have strange taste."
Shinatsu dried her hands: "And you always did talk too much."
Ameka smiled: "There she is."
The restroom door opened again.
Shinatsu looked and regretted coming to the restroom.
Sophia Ayase. She stepped in slowly, her heels clicking against the tile as her eyes landed on Shinatsu almost instantly. A smile spread across her face: "Wow. Who haven't I seen tonight?"
Ameka: "Well look who it is. I wish I had some popcorn with me."
Sophia: "Have you been enjoying yourself? Running around with your little group."
Shinatsu let out a sigh then smiled mockingly: "The best time of my life. I have you to thank for that."
Sophia's smile twitched.
Shinatsu turned toward the door and brushed shoulders with Sophia.
Sophia: "Someone's gotten full of themselves. Does she need to be put in her place again?"
Shinatsu: "I'm over you. But if you ever want a coffee, I'll gladly serve you, just stop by our cafe again. I'll make a special cup just for you, full of laxatives."
Ameka let out a muffled laugh: "Natsu can joke now, that's great."
Sophia rolled her eyes as the door shut behind her.
The night was winding down.
The energy that once filled the penthouse had softened into something quieter, more tired. People began filtering out in waves, conversations fading into soft laughter and final remarks as heels and shoes clicked against marble floors and jackets were draped over shoulders. Outside, the city lights stretched endlessly, the cool night air washing over those stepping out. Odd Jobs regrouped near their cars.
Diego leaned against the car, stretching his arms behind his head: "Man… I'm glad he didn't show up."
Chifuyu: "Your dad?"
Diego: "Yeah. Figured an event like this would drag him out."
Caesar's phone buzzed, it was a message from Shiori. It was a moment, but his expression darkened. Beatrice saw it.
Engines started.
Doors closed.
Odd Jobs' banter filled the air one last time as they piled into their cars, voices overlapping, energy still lingering despite the exhaustion.
The city stretched out before them.
The night ended in laughter.
But not everything that began tonight would end so peacefully.