At least Seiya's voice - now naggingly familiar - seemed equally close. "Careful!" Kota called back. "I... there's definitely someone else here."

"Still acting like you care. Do you think they'll believe it?"

Kota turned sharply. "Shut up!"

"Brave words from a coward."

"Says the guy who's hiding in shadows," Kota shot back, only to hear laughter. And suddenly he could make out a form sitting on a mound, its limbs weighed down by thick, formerly white ropes. The person raised his head, and Kota took a step back, seeing his own face.

"Who's hiding? Maybe you just didn't want to see." The Shadow's yellow eyes then looked past him, addressing the other two. "I told you I didn't want you here."