As Hina entered the building, Haru followed closely behind. Dried blood still clung to her clothes and cheek—the remnants from when she had hugged Jin. The metallic scent lingered, but she didn't seem to care.
They stepped into the elevator, the soft hum of machinery filling the silence as they ascended to the ninth floor.
"Send someone to pick up the car I left on the road—and repair the damn road too," she ordered coldly, her gaze fixed on the elevator doors.
Haru nodded. "Sure, I'll send some people." He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his voice careful. "But, Miss Hinata… why did you take a car? You left for Osaka by bullet train, didn't you? But you returned by car…"
Hina let out a sharp breath. "Some idiotic insects attacked the station. They had to shut it down temporarily," she said, irritation clear in her voice. "My work was finished earlier than expected, so I figured driving back was a good idea. Never thought this would happen." Her voice was cold, laced with frustration.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
"Are they all here?" she asked without looking at Haru.
"Yeah, they're all waiting in the meeting room," Haru replied, his voice softer now.
They strode down a long, sleek hallway before stopping in front of a large set of doors. Without hesitation, Hina pushed them open.
Inside, about thirty people sat in chairs arranged in neat rows, their faces serious. The air in the room was thick with tension.
Hina's gaze swept over them as she walked to the head of the room, taking her seat.
"Thirty Evolvers. Twenty-two A-ranks and eight S-ranks," she began, her voice sharp and unforgiving. "And yet, not a single one of you was present when it mattered. Every single one of you was outside the city. So tell me…"
She leaned forward slightly, her cold eyes scanning the room.
"What's your excuse?"
Her words sent a ripple of unease through the room. Some lowered their gazes, while others stiffened in their seats. A heavy silence settled, the weight of her anger pressing down on everyone present.
"Chief… you're just mad because it was your husband in trouble. And it's not like anything serious happened—Mr. Jin took down those bounty hunters on his own," a man said softly, his tone calm yet slightly amused.
The speaker was Asahi, an S-rank Evolver. He was in his early thirties, strikingly handsome—his looks comparable to that of an actor. Unlike the others, he seemed completely unfazed by Hina's anger.
Hina turned her sharp gaze toward him, her eyes like ice. "The issue here isn't just my husband—it's the fact that not a single one of you was in Tokyo today." Her voice was cold, unwavering. "And as for my husband, of course I'm mad. Do I look like a hero to you?" She scoffed. "You all work for me. This isn't a government organization where I have to keep my personal matters separate—I have every right to give you orders as I see fit."
The room remained silent. No one dared to argue with her.
Unlike other branches that worked directly under the government, this one was different. It was a private organization—owned and controlled by Hina herself. They cooperated with the government on certain terms, but ultimately, she was the one who called the shots.
That was why, unlike military or police forces, none of them wore uniforms. Instead, they were dressed casually, a reminder that this place operated under its own rules.
"Chief, today was a holiday for all A and S-rankers. The ones on duty were lower-ranked Evolvers," a gentle voice spoke up.
It was Yuna, another S-rank Evolver. She was only 20 years old, yet her presence was calm and composed. Her soft tone carried no fear, only respect.
"And… I have to tell you something," Yuna continued, her voice steady. "The reason we didn't rush to the scene was because, after the bounty was taken by hunters, it was suddenly removed completely. And the one who placed the bounty on Mr. Jin's head… is already dead."
Silence fell over the room.
Hina's eyes narrowed, and a wave of unease spread through the gathered Evolvers. Shock was evident on their faces.
Removing a bounty was one thing. But the one who issued it being killed? That was an entirely different matter.
This wasn't some low-level thug putting out a bounty—whoever had done it was strong, likely not weaker than an S-rank Evolver. And yet, they had been eliminated before anyone could act.
They had captured members of that group before. They knew how dangerous they were.
"Who was it?" Hina asked, her sharp eyes narrowing. It wasn't just her—every Evolver in the room was waiting for the answer, tension thick in the air.
"It was Ryuto," Yuna said softly.
The room fell into complete silence.
Kido Ryuto.
A man whose power surpassed even S-rank Evolvers. But that wasn't what shocked them the most.
The real question was—why did he do this? Why did he kill the person who put a bounty on Jin's head?
Why?
No one spoke at first. The air in the room felt heavy, as if even breathing too loudly would shatter the moment.
Hina glanced around, searching for some kind of response, but all she saw were blank, unreadable faces. Someone shifted uncomfortably. Someone else clenched their fists.
"…I didn't know that," Yuna murmured again, almost to herself.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight behind it was undeniable.
For a moment, it seemed like someone would ask more—demand answers, argue, anything. But exhaustion was setting in, dragging down their thoughts like an anchor. It was too late for this.
"…We should talk more in the morning, Chief. Mr. Jin must be waiting for you—it's already late," someone said softly.
The tension in the room didn't fade, but the Evolvers present grew even more nervous. Their chief's anger was something they all feared, and bringing up Jin was the only way they knew to avoid it.
A silent agreement passed between them, and one by one, they got up to leave. Hina followed.
---
By the time she reached their new apartment, the city streets were nearly empty. The cool night air did little to clear her mind, but at least the silence gave her a moment to breathe.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The faint scent of fresh soap and warm fabric softener greeted her. In the dimly lit living room, her husband was already waiting. He had showered and cleaned up—there was no trace of blood on him anymore. Just the soft fabric of his usual clothes—a white T-shirt and comfortable cotton jeans—and the quiet way he watched her enter.
Hina said nothing. Without a word, she walked past him and headed straight for the bathroom.
By the time she finished showering, the tension in her chest still hadn't eased. She joined Jin at the table, and they ate dinner in complete silence. Neither of them spoke—not because there was nothing to say, but because the weight of the day still lingered between them.
After dinner, Hina quietly cleared the table and went to wash the dishes. The sound of running water filled the air, masking the unspoken emotions pressing down on her.
Jin moved behind her, his presence warm and steady. Without a word, he turned her toward him and wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't stay so quiet like that—it doesn't suit you," he murmured, gently petting her hair. "I'm fine, see? Not even a scratch on me."
Hina's grip tightened around him. Her fingers clenched into the fabric of his shirt as she buried her face in his chest. Then, as if something inside her finally broke, she started crying—soft, muffled sobs, like a lost child who had been holding back for too long.
All this time, the frustration, the coldness, the walls she had built—it was all just to hold herself together. But the moment she had heard about the sudden bounty on Jin's head, she had been terrified. Even though she found that he was an Evolver didn't erase the fear.
She was frustrated with herself—despite being one of the strongest people in the country, she hadn't been there when her husband's life was in danger. Thoughts swirled in her mind.
What if Jin had been a normal human? What would have happened to him then?
""Let's go to sleep. We'll talk about it tomorrow, okay?" he said gently.
Before she could respond, Jin scooped her up into his arms with ease. Hina didn't resist—she was too drained, both physically and emotionally. She rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The warmth of his embrace, the quiet strength in his touch, it all made the exhaustion settle in deeper.
Jin carried her to the bedroom, gently laying her down on the bed before pulling the blanket over her. He lay beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist, holding her close.
Hina didn't say anything, but she shifted slightly, pressing herself against him. The warmth, the comfort—it was enough.
Within moments, exhaustion took over, and they drifted into sleep.
__
The next morning, like always, Jin was the first to wake up. The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm light across the room. He stretched his arms and let out a small yawn before getting out of bed, his movements quiet and precise.
After freshening up, he went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast. The familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm toast filled the house. Hina joined him at the table, eating quickly before grabbing her coat.
"I'm going then. Bye," she said, adjusting her sleeves.
"Okay, bye. Take care," Jin replied casually, watching as she left for work.
Once she was gone, Jin went about his usual routine—cleaning the house, washing the dishes, and tidying up every corner with practiced efficiency. The scent of detergent mixed with the lingering warmth of breakfast, making the place feel cozy.
After finishing the chores, Jin grabbed his car keys and drove to the supermarket.
Once inside, he moved through the aisles, filling his cart with everything on his list. After gathering all the necessary items, he stopped near the checkout counter, double-checking to make sure he hadn't missed anything.
"Heard you had a bounty on your head yesterday."
A calm, familiar voice came from behind.
Jin turned, spotting a man as tall as himself, dressed in simple clothes. His white hair contrasted sharply with his black eyes.
"Yeah, some bounty hunters came after me too," Jin replied casually, still scanning his list. "So, how's life as a househusband?"
It was Shun—Kurosawa Shun—Jin's best friend.
"Just like yours," Shun said with a slight smirk. Then, his tone turned knowing. "Since the bounty was completely removed, I assume your sword had something to do with that?"
Jin let out a small chuckle. "Well, you're not wrong."
As they finished shopping, they walked toward the checkout counter, paid for their items, and stepped outside. Holding their shopping bags, they made their way to a nearby bench and sat down.
"So, any progress on your new comic?" Jin asked, his tone relaxed.
"Not much, but soon I'll be finished with the first chapter," Shun said softly, pulling a chocolate bar from his shopping bag and taking a bite. "I was actually planning to meet you. Lucky I ran into you here."
Jin casually reached over and took the chocolate bar from Shun's hand, biting into it without hesitation.
"And why were you planning to meet me?" Jin asked gently, taking another bite.
Shun's eyes widened. "You seriously took that big of a bite?" he said loudly, snatching the chocolate back and taking another bite for himself. Then, his tone shifted, becoming quieter. "It's something important. I found something... disturbing. Thought I should tell you."
Jin looked at him, his gaze steady. "Something that disturbs you? That's rare. What is it?" he asked gently.
Shun exhaled, his expression unreadable. "It's complicated. Better to show than explain," he said softly. Then, a small smirk played on his lips. "Let's take a little tour first."
Snap!
A sharp flick of his index finger against his thumb echoed through the air.
FWOOOSH!
A surge of black smoke erupted around them, swallowing everything in an instant. And just like that—they were gone.
[Chapter 4 end]
Author note:
"Hope you're enjoying the story so far! The next chapter will be released this Saturday—stay tuned!"