Tomoki was both shocked and slightly amazed when he finally saw a building after two days of wandering through the dense forest. His mind immediately wandered to thoughts of sleeping in an actual bed instead of huddling in caves while on the run. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn't shake the memory of that man in the forest—the one with the terrifying presence that seemed to cling to him. Even though the man's face had been hidden, his killing aura was unforgettable, sending chills down Tomoki's spine every time he thought about it.
The base they had stumbled upon was nestled deep within the forest, fortified with six watchposts at each corner, all equipped with machine guns. The whole setup looked like something out of a war movie. As they approached, Kimir scanned the area, mentally estimating their numbers. He guessed they had about 2,000 people at most, a small force that wouldn't stand a chance against the Ghosts.
"Hey, Ponytail, your base is huge!" Tomoki quipped, unable to resist poking fun at Rika.
Rika shot him a glare, her patience wearing thin. "Stop calling me Ponytail, you dumbass!"
Tomoki smirked, clearly enjoying how easily he could rile her up. "Ooo, someone's getting angry—PONYTAIL!"
Rika clenched her fists, her face flushing with irritation. "I swear if you don't shut up—"
Before she could finish, Kaito's commanding voice cut through the air. "Follow me, Kimir. I've got questions for you." His tone left no room for argument as he led Kimir away, heading toward a room that was located underground, more like a bunker than anything else. It had the cold, sterile feel of an interrogation room.
As Kaito and Kimir disappeared into the bunker, Tomoki and Rika were left standing outside, the tension between them palpable. They reluctantly sat down on a bench nearby, the silence thick and awkward.
Tomoki glanced at Rika, his smirk returning. "So, is this where you bring all the guys you like? An underground bunker? Kinda kinky, don't you think?"
Rika shot him a withering look, clearly not in the mood for his jokes. "You've got a big mouth for someone who barely knows how to survive out here. Maybe you should focus on staying alive instead of running it."
Tomoki chuckled, leaning back against the wall. "Oh, come on. You love it. Admit it, you'd be bored out of your mind if I wasn't around to annoy you."
Rika rolled her eyes, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, almost like she was trying not to smile. "You're delusional. I'd be perfectly fine without your constant yapping."
Tomoki raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Fine, huh? Then why do you keep responding to me? If I'm so annoying, you'd just ignore me. But you can't, can you?"
Rika turned away, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're not worth the effort."
"Sure, sure," Tomoki said, nodding as if he didn't believe her at all. "It's okay to admit that I'm growing on you. I mean, who wouldn't like me? I'm charming, funny, and let's face it—this face is pretty hard to resist."
Rika finally let out a sigh, shaking her head. "You don't know when to quit, do you?"
Tomoki leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Nope. It's one of my best qualities. That, and my irresistible charm."
Rika couldn't help it; a small smile finally broke through her serious facade. She quickly covered it with her hand, pretending to rub her face. "You're impossible."
Tomoki laughed softly, feeling a small victory. "See? You're smiling. I knew you had it in you, Ponytail."
Rika's smile faded as she gave him a sideways glance. "Call me that again, and I'll show you exactly how impossible I can be."
Before Tomoki could reply, the door to the bunker opened, and Kaito emerged with Kimir. The seriousness in their expressions immediately shifted the mood.
Kimir's face was a mask of silence and seriousness, and Kaito seemed unnerved, clearly shaken by something Tomoki and Rika weren't yet aware of. The room fell into an uneasy quiet as two guards exited, leaving the four of them alone in the dimly lit space. The tension was palpable.
"Should I tell them, or will you, Kimir?" Kaito asked, his voice calm now, lacking its usual boldness.
Kimir sighed, his expression grim. "Alright, I'll be honest with you," he began, his tone serious and tinged with frustration. "Tomoki, our route to the base has been blocked by Ghosts. The rebels and Nova's involvement have stirred up trouble, and now we're caught in the middle."
Tomoki blinked, absorbing the news before cracking a grin. "So, we're stuck here, huh? I guess that means we're stuck with Ponytail and her merry band of allies," he quipped, clearly not letting the seriousness of the situation dampen his sense of humor. It was exactly the kind of comment that Yuki would have predicted, the reason she always said he'd never have a girlfriend.
Rika, already on edge, snapped back immediately. "Shut up! Stop calling me Ponytail!" she shouted, her frustration boiling over.
"Both of you, shut up!" Kaito barked, his voice sharp and angry, cutting through the tension like a knife. The sudden shift in his tone startled both Tomoki and Rika into silence. "Rika, take them both to a camp and wait for me. I have to discuss our plans with the council," Kaito added, his voice still laced with irritation.
Tomoki, always quick with a retort, couldn't resist. "Council? You guys have a whole council with just a few members?" he asked, half-joking but genuinely curious.
Kimir, however, was more focused, glancing slightly to the right, catching the edge of Kaito's cape as he moved. "Not exactly a one-man show like the Ghosts, huh?" Kimir remarked dryly.
Kaito didn't turn back, but there was a hint of a smile in his voice as he responded. "We're not amateurs, Kimir. We actually believe in teamwork."
Rika stepped forward, her earlier anger simmering just below the surface. "Alright, follow me, both of you," she instructed, her voice clipped.
Tomoki, of course, couldn't resist one last jab. "Sure thing, Ponytail," he said with a mocking tone, chuckling to himself.
This time, Rika didn't even bother with words. She simply glared at him, her eyes narrowing with frustration as she subtly showed her gun, a silent but clear threat. Tomoki quickly got the message, his grin fading as he raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Okay, okay, point taken. No more Ponytail," he said, though the hint of a smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
Kimir, walking alongside them, just shook his head, choosing to ignore the banter as they made their way out of the room. "You really know how to make friends, don't you, Tomoki?" he muttered under his breath, a smirk playing on his lips.
Tomoki shot him a sideways glance. "What can I say? It's a gift."
Rika, still leading the way, couldn't help but interject. "More like a curse," she muttered, but there was a grudging hint of amusement in her voice.
As they walked, Tomoki leaned over to Kimir and whispered, "Do you think she secretly likes me? I mean, who else would put up with all this?"
Kimir chuckled softly. "If by 'like,' you mean 'barely tolerates,' then sure."
Rika, overhearing their exchange, didn't bother turning around. "Keep talking, Tomoki, and I'll show you just how much I 'like' you."
Tomoki grinned, knowing he was getting to her, but wisely decided to keep quiet as they continued walking. The camp wasn't far now, and the tension, though still present, was eased slightly by the banter. Even amid uncertainty, some things never change.