"Don't act like you aren't part of team, come over here" Lady Naga suddenly commented sternly as she grabbed Shikaku and went into the bunker. "Woah..." Shikaku muttered in surprise as he gave in to the dragging of Lady Naga. Right after, the rest of the team got into the bunker.
After a few minutes, Lady Naga pressed a concealed button near the steel hatch, and with a soft hum, the hatch opened, revealing a narrow staircase leading underground. The team descended cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the enclosed space. Ashiro, still processing everything, followed at the rear, his gaze fixed on the dimly lit steps.
As they reached the bottom, the air changed. The heavy, suffocating miasma of the outside world was gone, replaced by a cool, refreshing breeze that smelled faintly of antiseptic and metal. A wide door slid open with a smooth hiss, revealing an interior that left Ashiro and Ino speechless.
The underground bunker wasn't a grim, utilitarian shelter. It was a luxurious technological haven, illuminated by soft, ambient lighting that shifted hues subtly. The floors were sleek and polished, reflecting the light from the ceiling panels above. The walls, lined with sleek black and silver panels, pulsed faintly with energy, displaying various holographic readouts and maps of the region.
The main hall sprawled ahead, dominated by a central lounge area furnished with plush chairs and a massive curved screen that displayed a live feed of Yokohama's streets. Around the lounge, small alcoves housed advanced-looking equipment and weapon racks, each neatly organized. To the left, a transparent glass door led to a kitchen and dining area that looked like it belonged in a high-end home rather than a bunker. On the right, another hallway led to a series of rooms with biometric scanners.
"Whoa..." Ashiro whispered, taking in the sight. "This is... not what I expected."
"Impressive, isn't it?" Hanabi said, smirking as she plopped onto one of the chairs. "Not exactly five-star living, but it's home."
Kyoto whistled as he inspected one of the holographic panels. "This place is a fortress. Shikaku really knows how to set things up."
Ino, still standing by the entrance, glanced around, her bewilderment growing. "You live here?" she asked, her tone a mix of disbelief and admiration.
Lady Naga nodded, her usual stern expression softening slightly. "It's been our base for years. Every inch of this place is fortified and self-sustaining. We built it for one reason—to survive."
Ashiro wandered further in, his eyes darting to the rooms along the hallway. Each door was labeled with names and symbols, suggesting they were personal quarters. At the far end of the hall, a larger door stood slightly ajar, revealing what looked like a command center filled with glowing monitors and controls.
Suguru stretched and leaned against the wall. "It's not paradise, but it's better than being up there." He jerked his thumb toward the surface.
Lady Naga placed a hand on her hip, scanning the group. "Get settled. We have work to do soon. Ino," she added, her gaze narrowing, "you'll have temporary quarters, but don't get too comfortable. You're still under observation."
Ino raised her hands defensively. "Hey, I get it. I'm just happy to not be out there. And besides, got a place where I can wash off, I smell like shit here."
"Well you got a point there, we still got some stains from the tentacles we encountered along the way. Just follow me, as for you Shikaku, wait here" Lady Naga said with a confirmed look on her face before she began going towards the hallway right beside the living room.
"Roger that Lady Naga"
"I think I will join you guys"
"Me too"
Both Hanabi and Kaguya muttered before they followed Lady Naga and Ino down the same trail. As for Kyoto and Suguru, they suddenly glanced at each other before they began to go towards the same hallway sneakily.
As the team began dispersing, Ashiro couldn't help but marvel at the juxtaposition of the bunker's luxury against the desolation above. For the first time in a while, he felt a sliver of safety. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't last long.
"Yo kid, what's your name?" Right as Ashiro was getting more mesmerized by the infrastructure he is in, Shikaku suddenly asked Ashiro which brought him back to his senses. "A-Am Ashiro" He responded in a timid tone.
"Ashiro huh? Well then you better buckle up from here on out, because you will have a thrill of your life" Shikaku said as he sat down on one of the couches and made some gestures which surprisenly brought out a screen that capture the view outside the bunker. "Ok..." Ashiro replied as he observed Shikaku with clenched fists.
Then right after, Ashiro lounged on one of the plush couches in the living room, his eyes scanning the holographic feed of Yokohama's streets on the massive curved screen. Shikaku sat nearby, his expression unreadable as he cleaned one of his five blades with meticulous care. The silence between them was oddly comforting, a moment of peace in their chaotic lives.
Boom!!
That peace was shattered by a sudden, thunderous explosion that echoed down the hallway. Ashiro bolted upright, his heart racing.
"What the hell was that?" he stammered, glancing at Shikaku.
The seasoned warrior only sighed, his hand tightening around the hilt of his blade as he stood up. "Let's go check it out," he said, his tone resigned.
Before they could take a step, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing louder. In the next moment, Lady Naga and Ino burst into the living room, each of them barely wrapped in short, hastily-tied bathing towels that seems to be on the verge on failing on them. Their damp hair clung to their smooth and tender skin, and their flushed faces suggested they'd just been in the middle of bathing when the explosion interrupted them.
What truly caught Ashiro's attention, however, was the fact that they were each carrying a boy under their arms—Lady Naga with Suguru and Ino with Kyoto. Both boys looked utterly sheepish, their faces pale from whatever ordeal they'd just been through.
"I swear to all things holy, if either of you touch anything explosive in the bathroom again, I'll make you wish the Kaiju had taken you!" Lady Naga snapped, her tone a mix of fury and exasperation.
Ino, though clearly annoyed, couldn't suppress a smirk. "You're lucky we were close enough to drag you out before things got worse."
Kyoto laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "It was an accident, I swear! We didn't think the old shower regulator would... you know, blow up."
"Yeah," Suguru chimed in, his voice barely above a whisper. "We just wanted to see if we could get it to heat faster…"
Shikaku pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing heavily. "Idiots," he muttered, clearly unamused.
Ashiro, on the other hand, was completely frozen, his gaze flickering between Lady Naga and Ino. The towels clung precariously to their bodies, leaving just enough to his imagination, their very deep cleavage bouncing involuntarily as they both talk as the towel seems to cling to their body with everything it could muster. His cheeks burned red as a faint trail of blood trickled from his nose.
Ino raised an eyebrow when she noticed Ashiro's dazed expression. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, shifting Suguru slightly to get a better grip on him.
Ashiro quickly covered his nose, stammering incoherently. "I-I'm fine! Really! Just—uh—fine!"
Lady Naga rolled her eyes, unceremoniously dropping Suguru onto the couch. "We don't have time for this," she said sharply, glaring at the boys. "You two are cleaning up every inch of that mess, understood?"
Kyoto nodded frantically as Ino released him. "Understood!" he squeaked, scrambling to his feet.
As the two boys scurried away, Lady Naga turned back to Shikaku. "If this is what I have to deal with every day, you owe me a drink," she muttered before storming off down the hallway.
Ino shot Ashiro one last amused look before following, leaving him and Shikaku alone once again. Shikaku shook his head, muttering under his breath, "This is why I prefer fighting Kaiju."
But suddenly, Ashiro replied unconsciously. "Am afraid of Kaijus"