Leaning against the bathroom wall, Bane stood in silence, letting the cool water cascade down his face.
The steady stream washed away the dried blood and grime, offering a rare moment of solace. His half-open blue eyes savored the sensation as the fatigue of the day melted away.
After thoroughly cleansing himself, he dried off and changed into fresh clothes, a simple T-shirt, a brown coat, and jeans.
From his spatial storage device, he retrieved a white metallic belt shaped like a coiled snake and secured it around his waist.
He approached the sink, where his mask rested, worn and battle-scarred.
The once-pristine surface was now marked with scratches, cracks, and dried blood, a testament to the years it had accompanied him.
For five long years, it had been both his shield and his identity. To those in the revolutionary base, the demon mask symbolized "Immortal Wraith," not Leo.
Despite its battered state, Bane cherished the mask, treating it as an extension of himself. But he knew its time was running out, just as all things eventually wore down.
With care, Bane washed the mask in the sink, scrubbing away the blood and grime until it looked clean once more. Holding it in his hands, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror.
The figure staring back appeared more human than the one from years ago. Red hollow scars still marred his face, save for his piercing blue eyes.
He was bald, with no eyebrows, but the slight improvements in his features hinted at the healing effects of Jörmungandr.
Even so, his condition puzzled him. 'Why hasn't it healed completely?' he wondered, the thought lingering.
Maybe that notebook holds answers, he thought, recalling the journal he had planned to study.
For a fleeting moment, a forbidden hope crept in. 'Could it even offer a way to bring Liya back?'
Bane shook his head, cutting off the thought. "Who am I kidding?" he muttered bitterly.
He set the mask over his face, letting it snap into place with a satisfying click.
The masked persona stared back at him in the mirror. With renewed focus, he turned and headed toward the meeting room.
---
Reaching the meeting room, Bane opened the door and froze at the sight before him.
Tatsumi stood in the center of the room, shirtless, surrounded by three women.
Najenda held him from behind, Akame leaned against his chest with her hands cradling his head, and Leone crouched in front of him, holding his fallen pants.
Thankfully, Tatsumi's undergarments remained intact, sparing what little dignity he had left.
Bane blinked, processing the scene. 'Did I make a mistake joining this squad?' He thought, his hand still gripping the door handle.
Without missing a beat, he said, "I should come back later," and started closing the door.
"STOP!"
The collective shout from inside startled him, and a hand shot out to stop the door from closing. Leone, moving with her usual agility, wedged herself in the gap.
"It's not what it looks like!" Leone said quickly, flashing an awkward smile.
"No, it's fine," Bane replied evenly. "I can come back. Finish whatever… business this is."
"I said it's not what it looks like!" Leone growled, her tone rising. She activated her transformation, shoving the door open with such force that the hinges creaked.
Bane, still holding the handle, froze. Is breaking base property allowed? he wondered, but his thoughts were interrupted when Leone grabbed him by the arm and dragged him inside.
Inside, Tatsumi stood red-faced, frantically trying to cover himself. Najenda smirked, cigarette in hand, while Akame remained unfazed, calmly examining Tatsumi as if it were a routine matter.
Najenda took a long drag from her cigarette. "We were just giving Tatsumi a little extra care after his first mission," she said with a sly grin.
Leone quickly stepped in to explain. "Don't take her words seriously! Akame was just checking him after his mission. That's all this is—nothing weird!"
Bane glanced at Tatsumi, whose blush deepened as he nodded vigorously in agreement. "I understand," Bane replied flatly, though his tone implied otherwise.
Najenda chuckled at the scene. "Quite lively, isn't it?" She exhaled a puff of smoke, her amusement evident. "Don't worry, Bane. As Leone said, Akame was just being cautious about our newest recruit."
Tatsumi, still half-dressed, approached Bane with newfound enthusiasm. Thumping his chest, he proudly declared, "I'm now an official member of Night Raid's assassination unit after completing my first mission!"
Feigning ignorance, Bane replied, "Is that so? Congratulations." His gaze flicked to Leone, who grinned knowingly. She had clearly sensed Bane's presence earlier while he trailed them from a distance.
'What a freak,' Bane thought, though he quickly amended. 'Well, most of us here are.'
"But first," Bane said, gesturing to Tatsumi's state of undress, "put on your pants. I'm not interested in men."
Tatsumi's confidence deflated instantly as he was reminded of his half-naked state. Leone burst into laughter, seizing the opportunity to tease him further. "Looks like Tatsumi's making moves on you, Bane! Maybe you should consider it. You'd make a cute couple."
"Shut up," both Bane and Tatsumi said in unison, their synchronization drawing more laughter from Najenda and even a faint smile from Akame.