Shin walked onto the rooftop and called out to me. "Arihara, we're back."
I turned towards him and greeted the rest of the team. "Welcome back, everyone."
Saori stretched her arms and exclaimed, "Expedition's finally over!"
Sora and Yuki, clearly fatigued, sat down next to me. "I'm tired," they said simultaneously.
"Good work, both of you. How are your injuries?"
"Our wounds were immediately closed up thanks to your healing, Arihara," they replied in unison.
"Good."
"I'll be right back... I'll go call the agency and request a cargo helicopter." I said to the team and turn around.
"Please do," Saori replied with a tired sigh.
I nodded and made my way to the radio comms, preparing to contact the agency. "This is Arihara Rei, leader of Squad 014. Come in."
There was a moment of static before a response came through. "This is Eagle. What do you need?"
"Finally," I muttered under my breath, relieved to have made contact. "The expedition in Zone E has been completed. I am currently with Squad 04 as well."
"Roger that. We will send a cargo chopper to your location. Can you provide your coordinates?"
I provided the coordinates to the agency, ensuring they had the correct location for the pickup. Eagle, the contact on the other end, acknowledged the information and relayed the estimated time of arrival for the cargo chopper.
"The cargo chopper will be there E.T.A. 1350 minutes," Eagle responded through comms.
"Roger."
With the confirmation of the pickup, I walked back to the rest of the team.
"The cargo chopper will be here in approximately 1350 minutes," I informed them. "We just need to hold out until then."
Saori let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, some rest."
"Yeah, we can use the time to recharge and recover," Alice added.
We get inside the building and found a safe spot inside to settle down, knowing that help was on its way. And so, as the rain continued to pour and the night grew darker.
"I'll keep watch," Alice offered.
"I'm with you," Shin chimed in, his gaze focused on Alice.
"Thank you, Shin," Alice responded with a grateful smile.
"Yeah, you guys get some rest," Shin added before they both left the room.
I nodded, watching as they departed. Turning my attention back to the twins, I saw that they had already fallen asleep on the ground, their bodies exhausted from the intense battle. I couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness over them as I stood there, keeping a watchful eye.
The rain continued to pour outside, its rhythmic pattern providing a soothing backdrop to the dimly lit room. In the midst of the darkness, Atsuko skillfully created a makeshift candle using gunpowder. As she ignited it, the flickering flame cast a gentle glow, offering a sense of warmth and solace in the otherwise somber surroundings.
"I'll go get some sleep too," I murmured, feeling the fatigue weighing heavily on my body.
Hoshiko, with a mischievous grin, lay down beside me. "You didn't let me suck your blood today~" she teased playfully.
"Not now... I'm tired," I replied, my voice laced with exhaustion.
She looked at me for a moment, understanding in her eyes, and nodded. "Have a good rest~"
I nodded in response, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. Slowly, I closed my eyes, allowing the weariness to wash over me as I drifted into a well-deserved sleep.
Flashback to the past.
After Airi and I were isolated in our home, the outside world grew eerily quiet. We had managed to survive for three long months, cut off from any information about what was happening beyond our walls. All we could do was stay silent, ensuring that our house remained shrouded in darkness.
We continued to struggle during those long months, our food supplies dwindling with each passing day. Then, after two months of isolation, a knock echoed through the silence, jolting me awake from my sleep.
"Hello? Anyone there!?" The voice called out.
Cautiously, I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and approached the door, peering through the peephole. Outside stood individuals in green uniforms, their heads adorned with helmets. "JSDF...?" I whispered to myself, uncertainty gripping my heart.
"Brother... W-Who is it?" Airi's voice trembled as she peeked out of her room.
"It's the JSDF... I think," I replied, my voice filled with cautious hope.
"A-Are we saved?!" Her eyes widened with anticipation.
"I think so."
Slowly, I opened the door, revealing the soldiers from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces standing outside. They took a step back, their eyes widening in surprise. "We have survivors here! Two kids!!" one of them exclaimed.
The other soldier rushed to his side. "You're right... Good lord... These two are safe."
I looked at Airi and smiled, tears welling up in my eyes. We were finally saved. The soldiers escorted us to a safe location where we were reunited with other survivors.
Six months later, the soldiers trained us relentlessly, preparing us for the impending battlefield. Rumors circulated among the survivors, spreading fear and uncertainty.
"Hey, have you heard? The east base of the JSDF has been overrun by the demons," someone whispered.
"Hahh... I hope they won't come for us," another replied with a sense of resignation.
"You're right..."
A week later, a group of people wearing white robes arrived at the base, led by a mature woman. We were ordered to gather in the middle as they announced their intentions. "All of you! I'm sure you have heard that the east base has been overrun by those monsters out there!"
The crowd nodded as they whisper among them.
And so, we have invented this!" The girl gestured toward a soldier. The soldier swiped his hand, summoning a sword out of thin air. Gasps of astonishment filled the air as whispers of disbelief echoed among us.
"How did he do that?"
"That's incredible."
The mature woman speaks. "This is what we call... SPC, System Panel Command. By joining the Aegis Defense Agency, you will all be equipped with this technology to fight the monsters out there!"
"Aegis Defense Agency?" I repeated silently, my curiosity piqued.
"They already have people in there gaining experience by defeating demons. They grow stronger every time."
The mature woman gestured to another soldier, who conjured a hologram in the air. With a click of what appeared to be a pen and paper, the hologram transformed into a sign-up sheet. "To those who want to fight! Sign this paper and be ready!"
The woman and her escorts then left, leaving behind a charged atmosphere.
"I want to sign up... but..." I hesitated, thinking of Airi. "I'll go tell Airi first." I turned around and hurried back to the tent where we were staying.
To my surprise, Airi was not there. I asked her playmates if they knew where she was, and a few minutes later, Airi returned.
"Airi! Where have you been!?" I exclaimed, relief washing over me.
"E-Eh? I'm sorry, brother... I was just listening to the woman in the middle," Airi replied innocently.
"Ahh... Don't scare me like that," I said, my heart still racing.
"I'm sorry... Brother," she murmured, looking down.
"It's okay..." I reassured her, gently rubbing her head.
"So... I wanted to tell you and show you this." Airi swiped the air, and my eyes widened in astonishment. "Hehe, I have the hologram thing that the soldiers were doing!"
"...How did you...?"
"I signed up! I thought you would be happy if I had this!" Airi beamed, her eyes shining with excitement.
"You signed those papers...!?"