✔ The Hunters | Garou

TWENTY FOURTH HUNT

SETTING OFF

The world has too many heroes. It needs a monster.

- Dracule Mihawk (One Piece)

The setting sun streamed through the open windows as Bad, Zenko, and I watched the live news report of the battle in Z-city.

"Emergency sirens have been activated all over Z-city and neighbouring regions."

The camera footage on TV panned to show an enormous tower-like structure emerging from the cracked ground.

I thought of grandpa and my uncle, and the heroes they were with, and hoped they were okay.

"According to the Hero Association, S-class heroes have been dispatched to deal with the situation." said the reporter.

Bad looked at me, and I at him. He stealthily reached down to his duffel bag and quietly handed it to me, his eyes flickering at the window. I took his bag, and my bag too, and very discreetly threw it out of the window.

A tremor from the battle far away shook the hospital, and Zenko squeaked. She said in a trembling voice as she fearfully looked out the window, and then at her brother, "The heroes will win, right?"

Bad put a hand on his sister's head and assured her with a smile, "Don't worry. They will."

Zenko smiled, and even though I had not meant to, I did too.

He then put his legs out of the bed and stood up. Zenko asked where he was going, and he said he was going to the toilet. Just as he turned to the door, he met my eye for a moment, and then left. I pursed my lips and inhaled sharply.

It will soon be time.

Bad took a long time to come back from the toilet, and Zenko kept looking at the door worriedly. She asked, "Onee-chan, he sure is taking a while."

"Maybe I'll go look for him," I said, also putting my legs out of the bed.

"Onee-chan, don't. I'll go look." she insisted.

"No, my dear." I said, now standing up, "You stay here in the room and I'll look for him. My body is all sore and I need a little walk anyway."

Zenko relented. As I walked past her, I also put my hand on her head and said, "We'll be back soon."

With large strides, I walked out of the hospital and met Bad at the back. He was already dressed up and leaning on a tree, waiting for me.

"Hurry up and let's get going," he said as soon as I was near.

"Give me five minutes," I replied as I took my bag and stepped into the thicket.

I quickly changed out of my hospital clothes and stuffed them in the bag to return it to the hospital staff later if I could. I kept the bag aside in the bushes and was about to leave.

"Oh wait." I blinked and turned back to the bag. I had left something important. Opening the zipper of the pocket inside the bag, I pulled out the tattered rose barrette and sighed, feeling a twinge in my chest. I pinned it to my hair above my ear and headed out of the thicket.