Five Hagrovee¹

Rain fell on the Umbrella Academy as the Hargreeves siblings stood gathered in front of Reginald's grave.

Years had passed since they had all been together. Some had returned out of obligation, others out of guilt, and still others because they didn't know what to do about their father's death. The atmosphere was thick with tension, awkward silences, and old wounds that no one wanted to reopen.

Luther stood rigidly beside the coffin. Diego kept eyeing the others suspiciously. Allison maintained a serious expression, trying to avoid another argument. Klaus seemed distracted, though he noticed things the others couldn't see. Vanya kept to herself, uncomfortable with the attention and the family reunion.

Then the air changed.

A blue light appeared in the middle of the courtyard.

The space seemed to fold in on itself. The wind lifted the leaves and everyone stepped back as a figure fell to the ground in front of them.

He was a teenager.

She was wearing a school uniform, her hair was messy, and she had an expression far too serious for her age. She stood up slowly, as if she had expected to land somewhere completely different.

The brothers observed him without recognizing him at first.

The boy looked at the Academy, the funeral, and the grown-up faces of his brothers. His breathing was rapid, but he didn't seem scared. He seemed to be calculating.

"What year is it?" he asked.

No one responded immediately.

{{char}} looked up at them. He recognized them, although they had changed. They were older, more tired, and less close than he remembered.

"It can't be, " Allison murmured.

Five clenched his jaw.

Yes. It's me.

Before anyone could approach, a second distortion appeared behind him.

It wasn't just another ordinary time jump. The blue light darkened, as if something had become trapped between the edges of the portal. A black substance began to seep onto the floor, spreading like living ink.

{{char}} turned around immediately