The rest of the hike passed with a strange sort of silence—awkward tension laced through the group like a tripwire no one wanted to step on again. Raika and Akemi kept a wide berth between each other, throwing occasional glances and half-formed remarks, while Yumi tried her best to pretend she wasn't deeply confused about everything. Raito, as always, kept quiet, walking a few paces ahead of them all with Emi nestled securely in his arms.
The descent wasn't difficult. The air was still cool, and the sun had begun to rise high above the trees. By the time they reached the bottom where the buses were waiting, Raito was already shifting his posture—his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
"Yumi," Raito said suddenly, turning to face her.
She blinked, standing beside Raika who looked just as surprised by his direct tone. "Yeah?"
"I need you to watch over Raika and Emi for a bit."
Before either of them could react, he gently transferred the sleeping baby into Yumi's arms. Her eyes widened as she instinctively cradled Emi with care.
"Wait—what? Why?"
"I have a former client in this area," Raito said simply, brushing some dust off his coat. "Thought I'd check in on them while I'm here."
Yumi narrowed her eyes, not buying it completely, but too caught off guard by the warm weight of Emi in her arms to argue. "You're just… leaving?"
Raika frowned. "Again?"
Raito gave a subtle nod. "I won't be long. You three enjoy lunch."
And before either girl could protest, Raito turned, walking briskly toward the parking lot without so much as a backward glance. Yumi watched him go, sighing. "Does he ever explain anything?"
Raika shook her head. "Nope."
The drive back to the hotel was uneventful—if only because Raito was locked entirely in his own head. He didn't slow down, didn't play music, didn't take detours. He returned only long enough to grab something from the room—a notebook, tucked away in the lining of his bag—and then was gone again.
His car sliced through the mountain roads, swift and deliberate, until finally it came to a familiar turnoff, a dirt path leading deeper into the woods, out of sight from any marked trail.
Raito pulled to a stop.
He opened the door, stepped into the fresh pine air, and stared out at the veil of trees.
"You're going again?" Kurai's voice finally emerged in the back of his mind, slow and lazy like she'd just woken up. "Didn't you already decide it wasn't worth the effort today?"
"I changed my mind," Raito said coolly, locking the car behind him.
"You really think poking around there is a good idea? What if someone sees you? What if she sees you?"
"I don't care," Raito replied, walking with purpose now, deeper into the woods. "I need to see it for myself. I want to know exactly where the threat lies."
Kurai sighed. "You're obsessed with staying on top, you know that?"
"No. I'm just prepared."
There was a pause before Kurai spoke again, this time with her usual teasing lilt curling at the edges.
"…So, how'd it go with the girls? I sensed chaos on that hike. Little love triangle action? You and that Akemi girl getting cozy up there?"
Raito didn't respond.
"Oh come on, at least pretend to be flustered. Or was that blush from Raika? Or Detective Yumi? I'm losing track at this point."
"I'm here for your sister," Raito muttered, brushing a branch aside.
"Sure, sure," Kurai chuckled, "but let's not pretend you're not dragging your emotional mess up this mountain too. Don't make me possess the baby just to get your attention."
"I'll exorcise you."
"Ha! You wish."
The banter faded as Raito continued forward, the trees growing denser, the light dimming slightly overhead. The deeper he went, the quieter everything became—until even Kurai's teasing voice fell silent.
And ahead, hidden beneath moss and time and magic, was where she slept.
Raito's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer.
No distractions this time.
He was going to find out exactly what kind of monster she was.
And whether he could destroy her if necessary.