Chapter 14

Mirai has both hands wildly scratching his own head when Takao and Shuu arrive under the open tent reserved for YES Espers. The Garuda commander is walking back and forth; looking distressed even though they have successfully contained the threat in Zone 3.

"Yo, what's up," is Takao's first greeting to the man, quickly interrupted by Shuu's question of, "Who's he?"

"Him? He's the second-in-command of the team who entered Shun-En in your rescue - earned him a promotion, by the way".

Mirai huffs like a mad bull seconds before charging. And the man does charge; eyes blazing and lips pulled into a thin frown.

"You," a fat finger is pointed to Shuu, "You're not supposed to be here".

"Mr. Banks sent me here," is how Shuu answers instead, hands crossed and gaze unwavering, surprising Takao quite a tad because he has never seen Shuu behave so haughtily.

"I don't care who sent you here. The Ministry ordered a week-long leave for you," Mirai is growling - and from all the times Takao worked with the guy he learned not to push him once he growls. "I'm warning you two. They may pay me enough to enter that cursed high school and work with that damned Segawa, but they don't pay me well enough to go against the Ministry".

"Mr. Banks said I can stay here as long as I keep my mask on. I'm not leaving," for the first time since Takao knows him, the younger scowls; which is not good. Not good at all.

"You don't know what you're doing. People from The Legion are curious about who just threw that bolt. Seeing the sheer volume of that power, there will be questions asked. And you know what? Once they sniff you right out of that mask, we're fucking doomed".

Takao coughs, "Uhm, if I may put in a word he -"

"Shut it, Akagi!" Mirai snaps.

"I was only trying to help here!" Takao protests, and what the heck is he using his last name for?? "By the way, I see Guide Hinata coming over here, maybe you can get more explanation from him". He points a thumb towards the sight of the Guide, running their way with his bodyguard in toe straight out of the bushes where The Green Circle Team has evacuated to.

"Ugh, I'm getting a Deja Vu over this," Mirai groans.

"I'm just glad I don't have to play bodyguard this time," Takao mutters airily as they both watch Guide Hinata taking a detour around the dead body of a mutant bird on the ground. The Guide's nose scrunches up, but he is not deterred from reaching them.

The first thing Guide Hinata says, with racing breath after running all the way from the other side of the clearing, is, "I'm so sorry. So sorry, this shouldn't happen, I know". He puts one hand on his chest to control his breathing, but still pushes more words, "I - We were planning to keep a low profile".

"No. Not with that lightshow from before, you're not," Mirai grumpily refers to Shuu's lightning bolt, "Guide Hinata, with all due respect, what are you thinking??"

"It's not my idea! Ari just -"

"And you still should've known better. They won't sue you, Guide Hinata. They will sue us if they know Narukami Shuu is here, on the field, in our uniform, using his abilities towards a mutant, when he's mandated to stay home for a week!!"

Guide Hinata Ren has never seemed so small in the face of the commander's kingkong-esque figure. The Guide opens his mouth a couple of times, before closing it and shaking his head as though being reminded of the whole stupidity of this mess.

In the meantime, someone stops beside them and lands a hand on Shuu's shoulder.

"Hey. I saw what you did to the giant mutant. That was brilliant," it's Guide Hinata's bodyguard. Morita Ken, if Takao remembers correctly.

Shuu responds by shrugging and saying, "Yeah, thanks".

Takao's brows meet.

"And you. You're Akagi Takao," the bodyguard addresses Takao next, "Thank you for keeping Ren safe".

"Huh?" Then he realizes the bodyguard was referring to that rescue mission at Shun-En, "Oh, yeah, no problem".

"No, really. I'm very grateful. I regret not being able to be there myself, but I'm glad I had nothing to worry about".

Takao is never good with honest compliments such as this. He finds himself lost for words, "Uh, y-you're welcome, I suppose".

"Then I'll just hand him to Takao!" Takao hears his name being mentioned by Mirai.

"Eh?" He pokes his head up behind Morita's wide shoulder to see what Mirai is on about.

"Yeah, you," Mirai is now pointing at him, but then speaks to Guide Hinata, "He'll watch over Narukami-kun".

Takao's yelp of, "Why me!?" Goes right at the same time as Shuu's, "Watch over?"

"You know this kid better than most of us, and you've shown to handle yourself well when you're looking after others," Mirai answers specifically to Takao while implying he did well playing the role of bodyguard to Guide Hinata.

"What does that even mean!? Mirai-san, in case you forgot, I'm just a Falcon! I've got plenty to do. That medical kit delivery? I can't do that when I have someone with me!" Takao crosses his arms. No offense to Shuu, but Takao has got a lot to do on the field and it won't be easy when he has someone with little experience in battles to keep an eye on.

"Figure it out on your own, Takao. Just a Falcon my ass, the papers for your promotion to Garuda is already on the desk for the Team Leader to sign".

"Which he hasn't signed, for your information!" Takao huffs and crosses his arms. He is more than just a little irked.

"No one can know this kid's here. Now, I don't know what the hell Mr. Banks was thinking by sending him here, but we can't make things worse by letting more people involved with this kid today. And I trust that everyone here will keep this to themselves," Mirai looks at them one by one though his eyes linger a little longer on Morita.

"I only answer to the Ministry on matters related to Guide Hinata," the bodyguard raises one hand defensively, "and nothing else".

The answer seems to satisfy Mirai, "Good. It's enough that we got all this attention now because he used his ability on that giant bird. He's a trainee, he can't walk around on his own. It's up to one of us here to be by his side and make sure no one knows it's him," Morita pauses, then adds while looking at Takao, "That person is you".

Takao curses under his breath, "And how about Guide Hinata?"

"Uh, they can't. There's something else he needs to do," Mirai awkwardly shifts his gaze from Takao. There's something he is keeping from him.

Guide Hinata doesn't pay much attention to their banter and instead approaches Shuu, "Shuu-kun, I'm sorry but," his head turns to the gate, his expression is apologetic, "There's an emergency and I have to leave you here and head to Zone 1".

A hand quickly reaches out to grab Guide Hinata's wrist. Takao frowns at the brash act towards the Guide, "Oi, Shuu-kun," he mildly chides, but Shuu ignores it.

"Can't I just follow you?" The 16-year-old insists, "Mr. Banks said I'm your bodyguard!"

A larger hand covers Shuu's hand on Guide Hinata's wrist, and slowly, that hand unleashes the Guide's limb from Shuu's grasp. "You don't need to worry about him, Narukami-kun. I'm his bodyguard," Morita's smile is calm and serene, but Takao senses there's more to that smile. It is also a warning. Morita continues, "His safety is my priority".

"But, you've allowed Takao-Senpai to be his bodyguard before," Shuu presses on, "You weren't there at Shun-En. If anyone can do it, why can't I?"

"Ken was being summoned by the Ministry, Shuu-kun," Guide Hinata slows his speech like he's talking to a child, "He works for them. If he leaves my side, then it would be because of them. Shuu-kun," he directs his gaze to the younger teen, "this is nothing against you. It's just that it's dangerous in there, and you've never entered an active portal before-"

"I'm Class S," Shuu's voice is awfully calm, but you can hear the strain, "If two A-Classes can guard you, then why can't I? Surely I'm a better candidate!"

"Oi, Shuu," Takao warns once again, to no avail. Shuu's hands have balled to fists clenched closely to his sides and the crease between his eyebrows increases. Morita Ken opens his mouth to rebut the teen, but the Guide pats him on the arm to stop him and instead steps closer to Narukami Shuu.

Hinata Ren inspects Shuu from a close distance almost like he's studying a mysterious object. He bends his head, only so he can see Shuu's face under the hoodie and the mask. Then, to their surprise, Guide Hinata pulls down Shuu's mask.

"G-Guide Hinata??" Mirai hisses but is quickly calmed down by Morita. "It's fine, no one can see him from out of the tent," the bodyguard assures.

Both the Guide and the young Esper are so close that their noses almost touch. Takao, who watches from Shuu's right, can't help but blush at their proximity. He isn't sure what The Guide is doing.

"Shuu-kun?" Guide Hinata grips the collar of Shuu's hoodie. At first, it seems aggressive, but from the way he's gently patting the collar, the gesture is almost nurturing.

"Y-yes?"

"This is not because you're not good enough," Guide Hinata pats onto the collar of Shuu's hoodie with every stress of his words. His tone is stern but gentle. "Tell me you understand. Please".

"... I understand".

Guide Hinata squints at Shuu, almost like he's searching the younger's eyes. "Good," he says finally before stepping back slowly, "We'll be back to you soon". The Guide nods to Mirai, who gives a two-fingered salute back, then he and his bodyguard turn around and walk to the gate. There, Takao assumes the Guide and his bodyguard will take the motorbike to cross Zone 2 all the way to Zone 1.

"That's that. I guess you'll be stuck with me for a while, pal," Takao rests his arm on Shuu's shoulders, "Shuu-kun?" He shakes the boy a little when he doesn't respond. The young esper is strangely silent. His head is kept down.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Takao presses as he bends forward to check on his friend. What he finds are tears; running down the younger boy's cheeks. And as soon as Takao sees that, Shuu starts sobbing more vocally.

Before he knows it, Takao's hands are full of one crying teen. "Looks like I'm done here!" Mirai quickly exclaims, "Gotta go and check how the team's doing".

Of course. Mirai would leave Takao on his own in this.

***

It's 10.30 pm. Almost everyone in Zone 3 is in the middle of having their dinner; a set of meals consisting of chicken and rice and some other side dishes along with a serving of hot kimchi soup. The food truck, newly parked near The Green Circle tent, also serves coffee and tea for the team. Zone 3 has to push their dinner to this hour due to having to keep the status of their zone in 'dangerous' until only half an hour ago. It was pretty funny because some of the commanders were considering making food out of the mutant's carcass before it was finally declared that it was safe enough for the consumption team to enter the area.

Takao is not going to lie; he's curious how it feels like to eat the bird mutant. Aren't chickens birds too?

Around the camp, people sit on the ground or on some provided benches to huddle around their friends and enjoy their dinner. The restoration team from a different camp in Zone 3 just arrived to do their work of clearing the area of the dead carcasses of mutants; either destroying them or modifying their size and shape to bring them to a research facility. Takao and Shuu settle inside a tent to make sure Shuu can eat in peace without having to blow his cover. 

"I see. So you've been feeling, like, anxious".

A sniffle, "Yes".

"All those days stuck at home, you're getting more and more anxious that Abe-san did not reach out to you at all and you fear that Team Phoenix is dropping you".

"Y-yeah".

Takao lets go of a deep, long, tired sigh before taking gulp after gulp from his soup bowl. How nice it is to worry over the fact that you're so powerful and special that even the long-asleep portal in Shun-En is jolted awake by you, that you can kill a giant mutant in one blow, that, perhaps, despite all of these, Team Phoenix would lose interest on you. Most Espers couldn't even dream of having Team Phoenix be interested in them. Not Takao, not any of these Espers mulling about in Zone 3; the one place Esper Organizations send their low-leveled teams to, resulting in a pool of insecure Espers who'd look at the other Esper and start questioning their worth.

Everyone is transparent here in Zone 3. Legion Espers sees YES Espers and believe these are the youths that would one day take over their ranks and, in all probability, be their higher up in just a few years. On the other hand, YES Espers are reminded over and over again of their lack of maturity when faced against older Espers. As a result, Espers of each team affiliation refuse to mingle with their opposite. Even now whilst having dinner with Shuu under the darker spot of their tent, they can see a long table full of dining Espers where one side is occupied by YES Espers, and the other is by Legion Espers. The space between them could fit 6 or 8 more people, and yet none of them want to bridge the gap.

Another view is the sight of the restoration team working together to resize the carcass of the mutants and evacuate them from the area. Considering the size of the mutant birds, each bird requires 4 modification Espers to be resized to a desired ratio. The dead bird in front of their tent has 3 YES Espers working on them. It is clear to everyone they are struggling to finish the job, yet they refuse to ask for the help of the Legion-affiliated restoration team who is standing idly not far from where they are.

The one good thing about getting promoted to Team Garuda, Takao supposes, is leaving Zone 3 and spending more time working in Zone 2. He heard Zone 2 is a complete contrast to the cold power struggle in Zone 3. Everyone in Zone 2 all have a place in their respective team. They know they belong, hence they don't try to act tough. As a result, everyone's more relaxed and gets along well.

And that is the furthest Takao could aim for. As for Zone 1, well, Takao shouldn't aim for the Gods. While Team Garuda sometimes gets deployed there, it is mostly only after the portal has been contained. He is not Narukami Shuu who, even while on his sick leave, could summon a whole lightning bolt; whose crying face is easily still considered attractive even with all the snot and the tomato-red face; who, out of anyone in Zone 3, has the highest chance of being sent to Zone 1 and mingle with some of Neo-Japan's best Espers. Takao would never dream of reaching such strata of perfection. He is not that blessed, and he is fine with that.

That's not to say that Takao cannot have his share of fun teasing Shuu.

"Takao-Senpai, do you think they will... they will kick me out of the trial?" Shuu asks, voice small, as he grips his bowl of steaming hot soup with both hands.

Takao hums. "Hmmm, I don't know, Shuu. Maybe".

Of course, Shuu misses the sarcasm. "I knew it," another sniffle, "I'm not good enough".

"You still have a chance at Team Garuda and Falcon," again, Takao is just pulling the kid's leg. He supposes it's his fee after having to deal with all the tears and the heart-to-heart.

Shuu grows silent, but Takao can still hear the tiny sniffles here and there. He only calms down after finishing his meal. "So, is this it?" Takao says instead.

"Yes, Senpai?"

Takao takes another bite of the grilled chicken, "This is all of your worries? There's nothing else? You were acting like shit before, don't you know that?"

Shuu blinks owlishly, "Am I?"

"Yeah," Takao puts more rice into his mouth using a spork, "Earlier today, you being rude towards Morita-san - I mean, not rude rude, but still is unexpected coming from you".

Shuu gawks, "What did I do?"

"I don't know, you were just more...curt and blunt and...," Takao chews his food, mind full of thoughts, "You were not being an asshole or anything. You just acted different than you usually do. And there's this thing between your eyes".

"What thing?" Shuu turns to face him. Takao touches the space between Shuu's eyebrows.

"Here. Between your eyes. This stubborn wrinkle, like you're pissed or something. It's so unlike you, pal".

"I'm not...pissed".

"Mm-hmm," Takao finishes the last bit of his meal, "Not that I blame you. I would feel shitty too after being holed up for days straight without any news from work". Takao stands up with his empty tray of food along with his bowl of soup. He takes Shuu's mostly empty tray and stacks his above it. He throws them into the bin right outside of their tent and returns inside. "Well, if you're done wallowing, go get ready. We're delivering medical kits to Zone 2".

Shuu jumps to his feet, "Really? I thought I was not allowed to leave Zone 3?"

"True, but what else can I do? There are only a few people in Zone 3 who are allowed to cross to Zone 2," and Takao has only gotten that privilege because he's about to be promoted to Team Garuda, "They need anyone they can get and there's no one else".

If Mirai can help it, Takao can simply ask to skip the delivery and they can get someone else to do it. Mirai appears very busy with the other commanders, both from YES and The Legion, in the one tent where the two teams work together; the central command. Actually, they're busier than usual at the moment. Something must've happened.

"We'll enter, deliver the package, return to Zone 3, and that's it, okay? Nothing else," Takao reminds the younger Esper who is nodding excitedly. The older of the two grabs one helmet from a shelf in the tent and throws it to Shuu, who catches it. "Use that. We're using the motorbike," Takao puts on a helmet himself and grabs a key from a desk.

"B-but, Senpai. What if I got exposed? The Team will be even more furious at me a-and," Shuu stutters.

"Oh my God, Shuu, I was just messing with you. No one from Phoenix would abandon you like that. Seriously," Takao snorts. 

Shuu looks at him like he just saved his life, "You think so, Senpai?"

Takao stops in front of the kid, "Well, I think they'll send you to jail".

"W-wha -?"

"Pfffh, I'm joking dummy. Let's go!"

***

"Yooo!" Wataru, a newly promoted Garuda from Falcon, waves at Takao when he and Shuu arrive at the gathering point for the delivery team. Next to Wataru is Chika, a forcefield wielder from Falcon. They're all geared up for the travel, with a wrist computer, protective pads, leather gloves, and their helmets. "Yo, that Bunta?" Wataru blurts when he notices Shuu in the same getup and face all covered by the helmet.

"Yeah," Takao makes sure he doesn't let his lie show from his words. Bunta is probably asleep back in their Headquarters and, to Takao's knowledge, is scheduled to patrol a different portal in the morning. To avoid further questions, Takao quickly directs everyone's attention somewhere else, "Oi, Chika, I see you're doing well after that attack". If you've been in Zone 3 for a while, you'd know that forcefield users have it rough for the first few days after a portal opening. They would have to contain any threats within the zone by creating a wall around the area. They can last for an hour or two at a time, but afterward, it's a direct trip to the Guides.

"Ugh, yeah!" The girl twists her arm around playfully, "But that cute Guide-onii-chan at Green Circle is soooo nice".

Wataru snorts, "Yeah, I bet you hugged him tight".

"Oh, yes! I did," The female Esper hugs herself cutely, "I squeezed him so tight and he's soo warm, he smelled so nice. Guide-onii-chan, please, let me take you hooome~!"

"Gosh, Chika-chan, you should go propose to him. Geez," Takao can't see it through the helmet, but he is sure Wataru is rolling his eyes at Chika. Chika is known to joke around a lot, and she always daydreams about any Guide encounter she has had. Considering her status as a forcefield user, she has encountered a lot. 

"And I even met Guide Hinata, gyaaa~ I was only half-conscious too, but I think he touched my hand, uwaa. Oh my Gosh, that cute unassuming face. He's such a baby," Chika squeals.

"Don't joke about that, Chika-chan. You're so shameless," Takao says this jokingly, as per the habit when it comes to talking to Chika, but he carefully watches if Shuu minds this joke. After all, Shuu is about to be promoted to a Phoenix, and that means he will probably be contracted to Guide Hinata.

They all climb onto two black motorbikes; Wataru and Chika on one bike; Takao and Shuu on another. "What? Takao-nyan, are you feeling protective? What is this? Were you hugged by Guide Hinata?" Chika teases from behind Wataru.

"N-no!" Takao doesn't know why the idea flusters him, but it does. "You shouldn't imply something like that! Do you know how much trouble that got me with Segawa Hide last time??"

This earns him a pat on the back from Shuu. "Is that true? Did Segawa Hide do something to you?"

He did. "Yeah, but that doesn't matter. Not a huge deal," He responds, but not without swallowing nervously at the reminder of Segawa Hide.

"All right, clam it down all of you".

The Legion's delivery team has finally arrived. There are four of them, led by a female commander with long red hair. Just like all of them, she seems to have a thing for scolding YES members too. "What is this? I thought there would be three of you?" She points out.

"Uh, yeah. I just realized that the package I'm carrying is too much for one person to handle, so I got another person to help," Takao answers. He deliberately skips on informing Shuu's team affiliation to avoid confusion. Thankfully, besides emitting the full truth, Takao is not lying. There are more things than he could bring on his own on this trip, so Shuu's help is pretty much justified. At the moment, Shuu is carrying a large backpack and a similarly huge box.

"All right," The Legion Commander affirms, "And I assume you have your forcefield user present?"

"Heeereee~!" Chika raises her hand from behind Wataru. The squeaky voice she makes succeeds in embarrassing both Wataru and Takao. It's not that they don't like it. This is how Chika normally behaves within the walls of YES Headquarters and in no way has it compromised how she performs on the field. However, The Legion, mostly only the ones in Zone 3, has developed this opinion of YES members as childish and 'not serious enough' on the job, and her behavior does not help their case.

As expected, the Commander huffs like she is dreading having to deal with them. "Fine. I assume you've been informed of what you have to do".

"Yess!!" Chika does it again.

The Commander takes another short pause before saying, "Very well". She turns slightly to her teammates behind her. "We also take our forcefield user with us. You will have to cast a forcefield shield over myself and your bike. Meanwhile, our forcefield user will be riding behind you guys. He will cast a forcefield over the rest of the team".

"Righty-o!!"

Even Takao is sighing now, "Damn, Chika-Chan".

"A reminder!" The Legion Commander calls for their attention as her teammates start climbing to their respective bikes. Two of them share one bike, and the other one climbs alone. "We will go through one checkpoint near the gate. After that, we'll take a 4 km-long path to the base camp. While on this camp, do not - I repeat, do not stop unless I do so. Do not take over the bike in front of you, and stay in formation as best as you can. Avoid confronting any mutants on the way. Our job is to deliver a package and pick up two injured Espers. We should make the trip as smooth as possible to ensure we get the delivery on time". She ends her speech with a stern look to each of them, "Am I understood?"

"Yes!"

"Good. We should get to formation".

The one bike with shared riders from The Legion goes to the back of the line. The Commander takes a vacant motorbike and will be riding it in front of the group. Another Legion rider goes between Takao's and Wataru's bikes. Takao turns on the bike only after The Commander does so with hers. They ride slowly to the gate, passing tents and views of dead birds in their zone.

A team stops them before the large gate in the middle of the Park's tall stone fence. They only speak to the commander shortly before opening. The actual checkpoint is beyond this gate.

There is a smaller camp behind the gate, right where the checkpoint is. They ride very slowly to reach this checkpoint, where Espers, of both YES and Legion affiliation, stands up to greet them. From a quick glance, Takao notices how all these Espers crowd together without discriminating what uniform or badge they're carrying. Each bikes are approached by two Espers of varying combinations; some are two Espers from YES, some two Espers from The Legion; and some are of one YES Esper and one Legion Esper.

He and Shuu are approached by two Legion Espers. "Hey there! Rough day in Zone 3 huh?" The Legion Esper greets Takao with a friendly tone while his partner goes to ask questions to Shuu.

"Yeah. I assume the same for you guys".

"Oh yeah," The Esper laughs while tapping onto his wrist computer, "That giant bird. That came out of nowhere. You've got someone strong over there in Zone 3 to exterminate that one".

Takao laughs but keeps an ear out for Shuu. Sounds like they are only checking their equipment and nothing else. "All right. All is good. Before you go, I will inform you a bit about the status of the path you're taking up to date. So, ahead, is a long path. You will ride 4 km to the south before you find our base. This path has been secured, but, you know, as most times, nothing is safe on the first few days of a portal opening. So watch out for plant-type mutants. They would lurch at you suddenly, especially in tree-dense areas. There are reports of insect-types too, but we have Espers hunting them at the moment. We have secured the area from birds, but you should still watch out for them. You've been to Zone 2 before?"

"Uh," Takao didn't expect the sudden direction the conversation is taking, "It's my second time on a newly opened portal".

"Oh! Well, good luck! Nothing is safe out there, so stay on your feet. We have Espers patrolling the area, so if anything goes wrong, you just have to activate your beacon and help will arrive in no time at all. Avoid confronting any mutants; but if you have the time, mark them on your computer, okay? We'll send our Espers to deal with them. Any question?"

Takao was about to say no. "Actually".

"Hm?"

"Is there, maybe, something going on in Zone 2 and 1?"

"...What do you mean? Something's always going on. It's a portal that just opened".

"I mean, something out of normal".

For a split second, a thoughtful look passes through the older Esper's expression, "Yes, but it's nothing you should worry about. We got it under control". He smiles, "Anything else?"

"No," Takao forces a smile, "Thank you very much!" Takao raises a thumb.

"No problem. Do take care out there," the older Esper pats him on the upper arm before stepping back with his partner. The rest of their team has also stepped back, giving them the clear to go.

"They're so much nicer," Shuu comments from behind. Takao chuckles.

"That's Zone 2 for you. Did he ask you if you've been to Zone 2 before?"

"Yeah," Shuu answers honestly, "And I said only once on a contained portal".

"Did you tell them you disappeared inside the portal?"

Shuu pauses, "No".

Takao chuckles, "Good".

The commander revs up her engine. Takao senses the invisible shiels being raised around each bike. Two Espers from the checkpoint open the black tape that separates them from the path. He sends them a salute as they move slowly past the tape. Once they've passed, they follow the Commander's lead and speed through the path; deep into Ogasawara Park.

***

To be Continued.