When they reached the camp, it was surprisingly quiet. The area had a calm, almost serene atmosphere, though Tomoki could see that most of the camp's inhabitants were either on guard duty or busy with various tasks. Everyone seemed hardworking and focused, which made sense—without their dedication, they wouldn't stand a chance against the Ghosts. Yet, despite the tension that lingered in the air, there was a sense of camaraderie, like a big, tight-knit family.
Suddenly, a boy and a girl came running toward Rika, their faces lighting up with excitement as they saw her. The girl reached her first, throwing her arms around Rika in a tight hug, and the boy joined in a few seconds later, his smile wide and genuine.
"We're so happy you're back!" they both exclaimed simultaneously, their voices filled with relief and joy.
Rika smiled warmly, clearly happy to see them too. "Nice to see Squad 14 complete again," she said, her tone softening as she hugged them back.
Tomoki, watching this reunion unfold, couldn't resist throwing in a comment. "So, Cat Eyes, you've got a squad?" This time, he dropped the "Ponytail" nickname, but couldn't help targeting her distinctive eyes instead.
All three of them—the boy, the girl, and Rika—turned to glare at him with expressions that could kill. Their eyes narrowed, and Tomoki could tell they were ready to beat him senseless. For a moment, he was reminded of his last days before ending up in this mess—only three days ago, spending time with Yuki, Hiriko, and Yumi. The memory was bittersweet, but it quickly faded as he realized the trouble he was in.
Rika, the boy, and the girl continued to stare at him, their anger palpable. This time, they weren't joking around; they were seriously pissed off. Tomoki felt the tension in the air, a sinking feeling in his gut telling him he'd gone too far.
Before things could escalate further, Kimir stepped in like the wise and experienced guy he was. Being older and more seasoned, it made sense for him to take control of the situation.
"Alright, everyone, let's settle down," Kimir said calmly, his voice carrying authority as he placed a hand on Tomoki's shoulder, guiding him away from the potential brawl.
They all sat down near the camp, forming a loose circle. The boy and girl sat close to Rika, their eyes still glaring daggers at Tomoki. They leaned in, whispering furiously to Rika, their voices too low for Tomoki to make out, but it was clear from their expressions that they were not saying anything good.
Tomoki shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of their judgment. Kimir shot him a warning look, silently advising him to keep quiet and avoid further trouble.
As the whispers continued, Tomoki couldn't help but wonder what he'd gotten himself into. The peaceful camp he had seen just moments ago now felt like a powder keg, ready to explode if he made one more wrong move. All he could do was sit back and hope that things didn't get any worse.
As they settled near the campfire, Tomoki finally got a good look at the two people who had been so excited to see Rika. The boy was around Tomoki's age, with tousled black hair and sharp, narrow eyes that gave him a fox-like appearance. His lean build and confident posture suggested he was quick and agile, someone who could easily outmaneuver an opponent. The girl, on the other hand, had vibrant red hair tied up in a messy bun, with a pair of striking green eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. She was slightly shorter but had a fierceness about her, a kind of energy that made it clear she was not to be underestimated.
As they sat close to Rika, they both leaned in, whispering furiously in her ear while shooting occasional glares at Tomoki. The boy was the first to speak, his voice barely audible but filled with irritation. "Rika, who the hell is this dickhead? Do we need to shut him up for you?"
The girl chimed in, her tone just as annoyed. "Seriously, who does he think he is, calling you Cat Eyes? If he keeps it up, I'm going to rearrange his face."
Rika sighed, glancing at Tomoki out of the corner of her eye. "He's new. Annoying, yes, but he's harmless," she whispered back, trying to calm her squadmates.
The boy wasn't convinced. "Harmless? With a mouth like that? You want me to make sure he stays harmless?"
Rika shook her head, trying to stifle a grin. "Relax, Kaito Junior. I can handle him."
The girl crossed her arms, still glaring at Tomoki. "Well, if he steps out of line, just say the word, and I'll put him back in his place."
Tomoki, noticing their intense expressions and the way they were huddled together, couldn't resist chiming in. "You know, I can hear you guys, right? If you've got something to say, say it to my face."
The boy, now identified as Kaito Junior, shot him a smirk. "Oh, trust me, we were just talking about how much we'd love to rearrange that smug face of yours."
The girl grinned mischievously. "Yeah, we figured you might want to try on a new look—maybe one that's a bit quieter."
Tomoki raised an eyebrow, leaning back with a grin. "Well, if you're offering free makeovers, I might just take you up on that. Though, I have to warn you, it's hard to improve on perfection."
Kaito Junior rolled his eyes. "Perfection? You've got some nerves"
Rika shook her head, trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. "Honestly, Tomoki, you've got a death wish with the way you talk."
Tomoki shrugged, his grin widening. "Hey, if I didn't keep things interesting, you guys would be bored out of your minds."
The girl leaned forward, a sly smile on her lips. "Oh, we've got plenty of ways to stay entertained. How fast can you run, Tomoki?"
Before he could respond, Kimir, who had been quietly enjoying the show, finally spoke up, his voice laced with amusement. "Alright, alright, let's not terrorize the new guy too much. He's already got enough on his plate."
Tomoki shot Kimir a grateful look. "Thanks for the backup, Kimir. I was starting to think I'd need to sleep with one eye open."
Kaito Junior chuckled, finally easing up. "Don't worry, newbie. We'll let you off the hook—for now. But watch your mouth, or you might find yourself on the wrong end of a joke."
The girl nodded, her tone playful now. "Yeah, we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to our new 'perfect' friend."
Tomoki, sensing the shift in their attitudes, relaxed a bit. "I'll try to behave—no promises, though."
Rika smirked, shaking her head at the whole exchange. "Just try not to cause too much trouble, alright? We've got enough to worry about without having to babysit you."
Kimir, still clearly entertained by the banter, leaned back and stretched. "Well, this is shaping up to be an interesting team. Let's just make sure we don't kill each other before the Ghosts get a chance."
The group finally settled into a more relaxed mood, the earlier tension fading as they continued to chat around the campfire. Despite the challenges ahead, there was a sense of camaraderie starting to form, even if it was built on a foundation of teasing and jokes. Tomoki could feel it too—maybe, just maybe, he could fit in here.
Kimir stood up, brushing off his pants as he tried to calm the situation. He looked around at the group, a smile playing on his lips as he said, "Why don't we start with some introductions? Since we're going to be stuck together for a while, might as well know each other's names."
Rika glanced at him and nodded, signaling her agreement. "Yeah, good idea. So, who's going first?"
Kaito Junior smirked, nudging Tomoki with his elbow. "Well, since our loudmouth here has already made quite the impression, why doesn't he start?"
Tomoki rolled his eyes, but couldn't help grinning. "Alright, fine. I'm Tomoki. I'm new to this whole mess, but I'm here to survive, just like the rest of you. And if you need someone to keep things lively, I'm your guy."
The girl with the vibrant red hair laughed, her green eyes twinkling. "Lively, huh? More like annoying. But I guess we'll see. I'm Anya, by the way. And just so you know, Tomoki, I'm Russian, so if you mess with me, I'll show you exactly how tough we can be."
Tomoki raised his hands in mock surrender. "Noted, Anya. I'll be on my best behavior—when you're around, at least."
Kaito Junior chuckled, clearly amused. "I'm Lukas. Originally from Germany, but I've been around here long enough to know my way around this hellhole. And Tomoki, you might want to tone it down a bit, or Anya here might follow through on her threats."
Rika smirked, finally relaxing as the tension in the group eased. "I'm Rika, as you all know, and I'm glad to see Squad 14 back together again—well, almost."
She shot a glance at Tomoki, who was still grinning like a fool.
Kimir crossed his arms, nodding approvingly. "Now that we all know each other, let's keep things civil, alright? We've got enough to deal with without turning on each other."
Tomoki, never one to let an opportunity pass, leaned back and grinned. "Civil, huh? I can do that. As long as no one here tries to 'rearrange' my face, we'll be just fine."
Anya laughed, clearly warming up to the playful banter. "Don't worry, Tomoki. Your face is safe—for now. But step out of line, and I'll be the first to remind you why they call me 'Russian Fury.'"
Lukas shook his head, chuckling. "Tomoki, you've got your work cut out for you. Anya doesn't mess around."
Kimir, watching the banter unfold, couldn't help but smile. "You know, I think this group might just work out after all. As long as we don't kill each other before the Ghosts get a chance."
Tomoki grinned at Lukas and Anya. "Well, as long as you two don't go all Russian-German alliance on me, I think we'll get along just fine."
Rika rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Alright, Tomoki, you've officially passed the initiation. Just don't push your luck."
Lukas, still smiling, gave Tomoki a playful punch on the shoulder. "Welcome to the team, loudmouth."
Tomoki rubbed his shoulder, pretending to wince. "Thanks, Lukas. I think."
Anya leaned in, her expression mischievous. "And remember, Tomoki, if you ever need a reminder to behave, I'm just a shout away."
Kimir chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, now that the introductions are done, let's focus on not getting ourselves killed. But I have to admit, this group is already a lot more fun than I expected."
The group settled into a comfortable rhythm, the earlier tension all but gone. The jokes and teasing continued, with Tomoki at the center of most of it, but it was clear that a bond was starting to form. Even in the middle of chaos, they had found a way to bring some humor and camaraderie to the situation.