The morning sun cast long shadows over the REDs base, the air still carrying the tension from the previous night's battle. Mine stood in the quiet hallway, her fingers curled into fists at her sides. She had barely processed everything that had happened—Seryu's relentless assault, the sheer power of the REDs, and now, this.

Sheele and Bulat stood before her, both looking as real as they did back in Night Raid, yet impossibly out of place. The last time she had heard from Bulat, he had died in battle. And Sheele—Sheele had turned on her, forcing Mine to flee after Dr. Stylish's fall. Yet here they were, standing before her as if nothing had changed.

She took a sharp breath, stepping forward, her chest tightening. "You..." Her voice wavered, emotions colliding in a storm of relief, confusion, and anger. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to steady herself. "Why are you here? Why didn't you come back to Night Raid? Do you have any idea what we went through after you were gone? Do you have any idea what I—what all of us—thought?"

Her voice cracked slightly at the end, but she forced herself to stand firm. The questions had been festering in her mind from the moment she laid eyes on them, and now that she had the chance, she wasn't going to let them go unanswered.

Sheele's expression was calm, yet there was a trace of sorrow in her violet eyes. Bulat, ever the composed warrior, exhaled slowly before answering. "Mine… it's not that simple."

"Not that simple?" Mine repeated, her voice rising as frustration bubbled to the surface. "Bulat, you died. I saw what happened. We all mourned you. We had to move on without you!" She turned sharply to Sheele, her breath hitching. "And you— You pushed me away! You attacked me! You made me think you were lost forever! I thought I'd never see you again, and now I find you both alive and well, hiding out with these mercenaries?"

Her hands were shaking now, anger and disbelief clashing in a tempest within her. "Do you have any idea what that did to us? To me? We kept fighting, kept risking our lives, thinking you were gone! And now you're here like nothing happened? Like you just decided to vanish and join some secret war without even telling us?"

Her voice wavered, a mixture of anger and something far more vulnerable. She clenched her fists, trying to steady herself. "You should have come back. You should have told us!"

Sheele flinched, her hands tightening around the hem of her dress. "It wasn't my choice… Not entirely."

Bulat stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on Mine's shoulder, but she shrugged it off. He sighed. "I know it's hard to understand. Believe me, I would have gone back if I could. But things… changed. The moment we ended up here, we realized there was more at play than just our old war."

Mine clenched her fists tighter. "What does that even mean?" she demanded. "Are you saying you abandoned Night Raid? That we weren't worth coming back for?"

Sheele's eyes softened. "No… We never abandoned you. We just couldn't return."

Mine scoffed. "Couldn't return? What, were you locked up? Brainwashed?" She paused, hesitating. "Or… was it a choice?"

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with words unsaid. Sheele and Bulat exchanged a glance before Bulat finally spoke. "Technology. Fate. Maybe something beyond even that. We were given a second chance… but at a cost."

Sheele hesitated, then took Mine's hand gently. "I wanted to go back. But by the time I could think for myself again, things had already changed. I was… different."

Mine looked at her, seeing the sadness behind her gentle smile. The anger that had flared inside her slowly began to subside, leaving behind a hollow ache. "Different how?" she asked, her voice quieter now, almost afraid of the answer.

Sheele exhaled, her grip tightening slightly. "I don't remember everything… but the moment I woke up here, it was like something inside me was rewritten. Like I was part of something bigger before I could even question it."

Bulat nodded. "The REDs gave us a purpose. We've done things here that changed the tide of battle—things that might've never been possible with Night Raid alone. But it's not just about fighting the Empire anymore. It's about something bigger, something beyond just us."

Mine shook her head. "That's ridiculous," she muttered. "You sound like you're making excuses."

Bulat's expression remained firm. "Maybe. But it's the truth."

Mine stared at them for a long moment. "So… that's it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're just… gone from Night Raid forever?"

Bulat smiled, warm and reassuring. "Not gone. We'll always be with you, no matter where we are."

Mine swallowed, closing her eyes for a moment before exhaling sharply. "Tch. That's a stupidly sentimental answer."

Sheele giggled softly. "But it's true."

Mine crossed her arms and looked away. "You better not forget about us," she muttered.

"Never," Bulat said with certainty.

The tension in Mine's shoulders eased, though uncertainty still lingered in her heart. She didn't know if she could ever truly accept this, but for now, she had at least one answer: they hadn't abandoned Night Raid. They had just found themselves in a war far larger than they had ever expected.

Tatsumi sat near the outskirts of the makeshift camp, staring into the dying embers of the fire. The distant murmurs of the RED mercenaries barely registered in his mind. He had barely processed everything that had happened—the brutal clash, Sheele's unexpected return, Bulat's survival, the REDs' growing influence—when a familiar presence materialized beside him, silent as a shadow.

"A lot on your mind, non?" Spy's voice was smooth, almost amused, yet laced with a knowing edge. Tatsumi flinched, glancing at him before sighing and rubbing his temple. "You could say that. Everything's just... piling up. Too much at once."

Spy took a slow step closer, slipping his hands into his coat pockets. "Oui. War has a way of doing that, especially for those still learning its rules. And you, mon ami, are still learning."

Tatsumi scoffed, shaking his head. "I don't need another lecture. I know how serious this is. It's just—" He hesitated before exhaling sharply. "—I didn't expect this. I didn't expect to see them again. Not like this."

Spy studied him carefully, then chuckled. "Life enjoys such cruel ironies. The dead return, and the living must decide what to do with them. That is why I am here—to offer some clarity before you act on impulse."

Spy, ever composed, reached into his coat and retrieved a cigarette. He lit it with a flick of his lighter, the tiny flame briefly illuminating his sharp features. "A word of advice, mon ami," he said as he exhaled a stream of smoke. "Keep their survival a secret."

Tatsumi blinked, his head snapping toward Spy. "What?"

"Sheele and Bulat. Do not tell Night Raid," Spy said plainly, as if discussing the weather.

Tatsumi frowned. "Why would I keep something like that from them? This is huge! Najenda—everyone—would want to know that they're alive!"

Spy met his gaze, his eyes sharp and knowing. "And what would it do to them? Think, boy. What happens when warriors who have already grieved their fallen suddenly learn they have been deceived? They have buried their dead, steeled their hearts, and moved forward. To bring ghosts back into their world without warning? It fractures trust, casts doubt on the cause they fight for. Do you truly believe they would simply rejoice and carry on as if nothing happened?"

He let the words sink in before continuing, his voice quieter but no less firm. "Some will question their own grief. Others will feel betrayed. And some may wonder what else has been hidden from them. Do you want to see hesitation in their eyes when the next battle comes? Do you want them to falter when their resolve matters most?"

Tatsumi hesitated. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind before now, but Spy's words gnawed at him. How would Najenda react? Would it shake her leadership? Would it throw everyone off balance? What about Akame? Would she feel betrayed? Would Leone and the others resent Sheele and Bulat for staying away?

Spy continued, flicking the ashes from his cigarette. "You tell them, and it changes everything. It sows doubt, weakens their resolve. They will wonder why Sheele and Bulat did not return, if they were abandoned, or worse—if they chose to leave."

Tatsumi clenched his fists. "That's not fair to them. They had their reasons."

"Yes," Spy acknowledged with a small nod. "And those reasons do not matter now. What matters is the mission. Do not shift the balance."

Tatsumi remained silent, his mind racing. He wanted to argue, to fight against the cold logic in Spy's words, but deep down, he knew the man had a point. A reveal like this could change the dynamics within Night Raid entirely. It could lead to division, hesitation, questions that no one could easily answer. Could he really afford to take that risk?

Spy observed him carefully, his smirk faint but present. "You are young, Tatsumi, and you have a good heart. That is admirable. But do not let it cloud your judgment. The right truth at the wrong time can be as dangerous as a lie."

Tatsumi let out a slow breath, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again. "Fine," he muttered. "At least for now."

Spy's smirk widened ever so slightly. "Bon. Then let us move forward. But before we do... there is something you should know."

Tatsumi turned to him, wary. "What is it now?"

Spy glanced around, ensuring they were alone, then leaned in slightly. "The REDs have plans. Soon, we will take control of Shisuikan Fortress—an essential stronghold. With it, we will have a secure base of operations, away from Imperial oversight."

Tatsumi's eyes widened. "You're planning to take over an entire fortress? That's... that's huge."

"Oui," Spy nodded. "And after that, we will arrange a meeting with the Revolutionary Army. A proper one. Not just skirmishes in the shadows—true cooperation."

Tatsumi exhaled, absorbing the weight of the information. "And you're telling me this because...?"

Spy's smirk remained, but his voice was measured. "Because whether you realize it or not, boy, you are caught between two worlds. And sooner or later, you will have to decide where you stand. And when that time comes—when we finally meet with the Revolutionary Army—that will be the moment you must choose. Only then will you decide whether to reveal their survival, or take that truth to your grave."

He flicked his cigarette away, the tiny ember snuffed out against the dirt. Tatsumi watched as the man disappeared into the shadows once more, leaving behind only lingering smoke and the weight of a difficult decision.

Tatsumi remained seated, staring at the spot where Spy had vanished, his thoughts a turbulent storm. The implications of their conversation clawed at his mind. The secrecy, the deception—it all felt so heavy. Could he truly keep this from Night Raid? Could he look Akame, Leone, and Najenda in the eye, knowing he carried a truth they had no idea existed?

His hands trembled slightly as he ran them over his face, frustration creeping in. If he told them, it could cause a rift in their ranks. If he didn't, he would be complicit in keeping a secret that should never have existed in the first place. Spy made it sound like a simple choice, but Tatsumi knew better. Nothing about war was simple.

He clenched his fists, his breath slow and measured. Spy's words made sense, yet they left a bitter taste in his mouth. Would keeping this secret truly protect Night Raid, or would it just weigh on him until the burden became too much to bear? And when the time came—when he stood before the Revolutionary Army—would he have the courage to make the right choice?

For now, there were no answers. Only the quiet crackle of the dying embers, the cool night air pressing against his skin, and the suffocating weight of uncertainty settling deep within his chest.


Tatsumi stood in the cool night air, his thoughts still weighed down by his conversation with Spy. The flickering torchlight of the REDs' camp cast long shadows across the ground, their figures moving with purpose as they prepared for whatever came next. He had agreed, for now, to keep Sheele and Bulat's survival a secret. But as he watched Mine standing a short distance away, arms crossed, gaze fixed firmly ahead, he knew that agreement wouldn't sit well with him forever.

He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. He wanted to say something to her—to break the silence that had settled between them ever since they reunited with Sheele. But what could he say? That he understood? That it was just as overwhelming for him? That wouldn't change what she was feeling right now. Mine had always been strong-willed, and she wasn't the type to share her emotions so easily.

"You ready to go?" he finally asked, stepping beside her.

Mine hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."

She didn't look at him. Tatsumi wanted to say something—to ask what was on her mind, to assure her—but the words wouldn't come. He knew she was still shaken from seeing Sheele and Bulat alive. It had been too much, too sudden. Maybe she needed time, just like he did.

The two began walking, leaving behind the REDs' camp and the uneasy revelations it had given them. The sound of equipment shifting, murmured conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter from the mercenaries trailed behind them. Sniper stood near the edge of the camp, cleaning his rifle, but he gave a small nod of acknowledgment as they passed. Heavy sat nearby, sharpening his massive fists with a whetstone, humming a quiet tune in his deep voice. Engineer was busy discussing something with Medic, and Tatsumi caught snippets of their conversation about a "new prototype" before they faded into the background.

Just as they neared the outskirts, a familiar voice called after them. "Oi, don't look so serious! We both know you'll be back sooner or later!"

Tatsumi turned to see Scout leaning casually against a crate, arms crossed and a lopsided grin plastered on his face. "C'mon, you two lovebirds are way too into this whole 'tragic goodbye' thing. This ain't a dramatic anime or whatever."

Mine bristled instantly, spinning on her heel. "Who are you calling a—!?"

"C'mon, c'mon, don't be like that!" Scout threw his hands up in mock surrender, but the smirk never left his face. "I'm just sayin', the way things are goin', you two won't be able to resist coming back. Especially you, Short Stuff."

Mine's face turned red in an instant. "What did you just call me?!" She stomped forward, hand twitching toward Pumpkin, but Tatsumi quickly grabbed her wrist before she could reach it.

"Ignore him," he muttered, gently but firmly pulling her away. "We really need to go."

Scout let out a bark of laughter, completely unfazed. "Yeah, yeah, get outta here! But don't forget—we got unfinished business! I still owe ya that rematch!"

Tatsumi gave him a small, amused shake of his head. "We'll see."

Mine, still grumbling, turned away, and the two of them continued their walk toward the forest. As the sounds of the REDs' camp grew more distant, Mine's shoulders gradually relaxed, though the tension between them remained. She hadn't spoken much about what happened—about Sheele, about Bulat, about how she felt seeing them alive after believing them to be dead for so long. But Tatsumi knew that silence spoke volumes.

"Mine…" he started, but she cut him off with a sigh.

"Not now, Tatsumi," she said, her voice softer than he expected. "I just... need to think."

He nodded, understanding. Some things took time. Some wounds, even when given hope, didn't heal overnight. But as they walked further into the night, Tatsumi couldn't shake the feeling that Scout was right.

They would be back.