[3RD POV]

Walking on the steel floor hallway, eyes front with an aura surrounding him. Isang taon lamang ang lumipas, ang laki na ng pinagbago niya. 

His black hair is slightly messy, but still neat to look at. His body is bigger, his muscles and biceps are showing underneath his black shirt. It shows how much training he had for the past year. The sounds of his boots were loud with every heavy step he took. 

His eyelids were straight until a voice called him.

"Captain Ark!"

Natauhan si Ark sa narinig at napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Rushing towards him was a not-so-familiar face. Wearing a black shirt and loose pants, long brown hair in a ponytail. Their black eyes met. A member of his old troop that his last captain led, whom he thought wouldn't last on the field for having a weak heart after witnessing the death of their comrade.

Rivera. A hunter who proved her worth during the past year, worthy enough to be called his co-captain. Together, they're leading the troop that Cyrene left behind.

"Oh, Gemi. What is it?" Ark asked.

"The captains' meeting is about to start, captain. I was told to inform you."

Napaangat ang dalawang kilay ni Arc nang maalala ang dapat niyang gawin. It was in his mind all day but after a rough training with the new hunters, it slipped his mind.

He has a meeting with 5 other captains, 2 of them are someone he knows well.

Those two captains are the ones he fought with during that night. Now, he fights with them as co-captains. 

"Thank you for reminding me, Gemi." Ark gave the woman a gentle pat on the head, making her blush, as he walked past her. 

He didn't waste time and went straight to their meeting place, the small auditorium. Despite being a captain, Ark got used to being the co-captain, the one doing the errands, the one making sure that their captain, Cyrene, was always on time.

Until this day, not once did it slip his mind off his former captain. That she should be the one here in his position. That he failed his duty to protect her . . .

Despite having deep thoughts, he reached the auditorium with a calm, his usual, expression. He immediately caught the attention of everyone in the room. A total of 3 people could be seen at one glance. One of them is Captain Aurie.

The other two are not that familiar to Ark due to little interaction, but he knows them and at least met them once. 

An old captain, but not old in age. Matagal na siyang kilala ni Ark, at hindi lang dahil sa bihira silang magkita, iniiwasan niya talagang makasalubong ang taong 'to. Kitang-kita ang gintong mga hikaw na nakalantad sa tenga niya, sinisimbolo ang isang bagay.

"Captain Ark!" He immediately rushed towards Ark. "We meet at last!" Nilahad niya ang kamay niya kay Ark, nakakurba ang ngiti. Sumilip mula sa suot-suot niyang jacket ang tattoo sa pulso niya.

A project. Project 03. One of the most bitter captains and projects to his captain before. Among all of them, 03 is the worst. Ryo is the worst.

"When was the last time I saw you? During the first project's funeral, right?" Natatawa niyang dagdag.

Malalim ang mga mata ni Ark na nakatingin sa kaniya, kitang-kita na mula rito ang gusto niyang sabihin. His eyes then went on Ryo's hand, waiting for him to shake it.

"If we can't be professional, let's be civil instead, Captain Ryo," Ark answered with a monotone voice. Calm yet full of judgment.

Ryo's eyebrow rose, amazed by his answer, sarcastically. "Oh? What? Is the wound still fresh? Don't tell me that you haven't moved on yet?" he scoffed. "It's been a year. She died because she was weak. She's a fraud. Anyone could've been project zero. She's the first." He showed a grin.

Ark didn't falter, his expression didn't change. Tinapatan niya lang ng tingin ang kaharap niyang nakangisi. Sumulyap sa pulso ni Ryo at tinignan ulit siya sa mga mata.

"Remind me what's the number written on your wrist again?" he answered, wiping off the smirk on Ryo's face.

"Huh?-"

"That's enough," pagsingit ng isang boses. Isang malaking babae ang lumapit sa kanila. 

Compared to both of them, she's obviously older—bigger as well. Halos nadagdagan ng apat na talampakan ang tangkad ng dalawa kumpara sa babaeng palapit na mababa ang tingin sa kanila.

Curly hair, bigger body. A noticeable scar on her right cheek. Another captain that Ark rarely sees, only because she's always on a mission.

Captain Moria, not a project, but could be mistaken as one because of her strength and skills. A respectable woman.

Tumalim ang tingin niya kay Ryo. "Show some respect and honor to the hunter who saved yours and our asses over a hundred times. Don't hate like a little girl when you're a project and a captain yourself, Ryo," mariin niyang sabi na nagpababa ng tingin sa kausap niya.

Her eyes went to Ark who was intimidated. "And Captain Ark, you know better how to act as someone who worked with Captain Cyrene."

Both of them shut their mouth, and have no answer nor excuse for themselves. Moria's voice was enough to make anyone shut up. It's deep and husky like a man, more intimidating coming from a big woman.

"Now, now. Let's not fight, okay?" Captain Aurie, who's watching, joined the conversation. "We'll have to see each other more often now, so it's better if we're on good terms," she said with a chuckle, trying to lighten up the mood.

Pag-ismid ang naging sagot ni Ryo bago umalis sa harapan ni Ark. Kinuha ni Aurie ang chansang 'yon para lumapit sa kaniya.

"Hey, are you alright?" she casually asked, sincerely worried.

"Yeah." Ark brushed it off and also walked away.

Napabuntong-hininga si Moria at napailing. "This will be hard."

Aurie chuckled. But before she could answer, the 5th captain who just entered the room caught all of their attention. Not just how loud his entrance was, but also the sudden drop of atmosphere and temperature. 

He really changed a lot.

"Captain Jake."

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