Though Kenta looked impassive, Hayate noted the minute nod he gave Kotetsu's answer. Yes, Kotetsu had abandoned his post, which was generally frowned upon. Ninja needed to follow orders. But there were worse reasons for deserting stations than providing backup for a comrade against an unknown threat.

It still did not look good.

Hayate clacked his candy against his teeth and felt his smile turning thin and brittle with irritation. They'd done the best they could. True, they'd made mistakes. He'd been so focused on a job he'd felt was out of his skillset, he'd neglected to think about what he could do. It had been a mistake. One that, had they been so less lucky, could have killed them.

But they were alive, they'd done their job, and in the end wasn't that all that mattered? What was done was done and couldn't be changed. It was useless to pick apart or justify his and Kotetsu's actions because it was done. Over and past. Useless to rehash it. And rather maddening to be forced to dissect and discuss what was done.

"Gekkou. You threw the kunai that killed Ono Okita. Why?"

Hayate took a moment to be completely still and remember to be polite before he answered. His polite smile had turned thin enough to be sharp, sharp enough to show exactly how false that little straight smile was.