Chapter 3- To Hokkaido We Go

The Next Morning,

A deafening BOOM rattles the entire room, snapping me out of my dream about, well… something peaceful. My eyes shoot open to find smoke filling the air and Yora standing at the foot of my bed, cradling a grenade launcher with a proud expression.

"Rise and shine, Takumi-dono," he says with a formal bow, "It was imperative you wake up promptly. The Hyakuren cannot afford tardiness, after all."

"What the—YORA!" I yell, coughing on the lingering smoke. "What part of 'normal wake-up call' involves blowing up my room?!"

He tilts his head, "Oh, but this is the Morning Boomstick Mk. III. A guaranteed wake-up solution! I've calculated the perfect—"

"Yora, I swear—" I groan, throwing my blanket off. "And look, enough with the 'Takumi-dono' stuff. We're the same age. You don't need to act all formal around us. Just… be yourself."

Yora blinks at me. Then, his face lights up like a kid at a candy store.

"You mean I don't have to keep up the 'dignified warrior' act?" he asks, dropping the launcher.

"Exactly," I say, rubbing my temples.

The change is immediate—and horrifying.

"Brooo! you should've told me sooner!"

He flops onto a nearby chair, throwing his legs up on the desk. "Man, being all formal was exhausting. Anyway, what's for breakfast? Oh, and where's Shizuka-san? She's a total babe, by the way. Like, chef's kiss."

I freeze. "Wait, what?"

He grins, completely unbothered. "You know what I mean. I mean, yeah, her aura's scary, but damn. Those curves? That smile? Top-tier."

Before I can throw something at him, the door slides open, and Shizuka-san walks in, holding a steaming cup of tea. Her long hair bounces slightly with each step, and her loose sweater—let's just say it's doing a terrible job hiding her figure. She looks at the two of us, wide-eyed, her childish demeanor instantly lighting up the room.

"What's all this noise?" she asks, pouting slightly. "I was trying to enjoy my tea, and then—boom! You guys are so loud!"

Yora practically jumps out of his chair, his eyes sparkling. "Shizuka-sama! My sincerest apologies for disturbing you!" He bows deeply, but I catch him sneaking a glance at her.

"Stop staring, idiot," I mutter, elbowing him.

Shizuka-san, oblivious as ever, tilts her head. "Yora-kun, there's no need to apologize so formally." She walks over and sets her tea on my desk. "Oh! And Takumi-kun, your face is all black again. Did you two blow something up?"

Yora straightens up, grinning. "Shizuka-sama, I assure you, it was merely my Morning Boomstick Mk. III. Takumi-dono here is perfectly fine!"

"Morning Boomstick?" She repeats, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "That sounds awesome! Can I try it?"

"NO!" I yell, grabbing the launcher off the floor before things escalate further.

As I glare at Yora, he raises his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, dude. I'm just trying to keep things exciting around here."

"Exciting? You're going to give me a heart attack!"

Shizuka-san giggles, completely unfazed. "You guys are so much fun!"

I sigh, realizing this is my life now: explosions, chaos, and a walking disaster who somehow thinks he's smooth.

--

The entire Hyakuren HQ looks like a battlefield. Paperwork is scattered across the hallway like confetti, and stray weapons are left carelessly strewn around like discarded toys. Pieces of broken technology are half-dismantled in the lounge, and the usual quiet atmosphere is replaced by the chaotic hum of malfunctioning machinery.

I step out into the main hall, eyes wide at the utter destruction. The smell of burnt food lingers in the air—probably from Yora's last "experiment"—and there's an odd buzzing noise coming from the direction of the kitchen. A couple of chairs are tipped over in the corridor, and I'm almost certain I see a few of the clan's members dodging some sort of malfunctioning droid.

"This place is a disaster," I mutter, rubbing my temples.

Yora appears out of nowhere, grinning like a maniac. He's got a ridiculously large cleaning tool slung over his shoulder. "Nothing a genius inventor like me can't fix!" he declares, clearly undeterred by the wreckage around us. He waves his arms dramatically as if preparing to unveil some magnificent new contraption.

I glance around. "Uh-huh. If 'fixing' means making it worse, then sure."

Yora throws me a glance, eyes gleaming. "Watch and learn, Takumi! My next creation will make all of this cleaning look like child's play!" He marches off with exaggerated confidence, nearly tripping over a stray rope.

I stand there, unsure if I should be terrified or impressed.

Attempt #1: The Robo-Cleaner

Minutes later, Yora returns, dragging a massive, clunky robot behind him. It's an absolute monstrosity of a machine—like a vacuum cleaner crossed with a lawnmower. It rattles and squeaks as it's hauled into the center of the mess.

"This is it! Behold the Robo-Cleaner 5000!" Yora announces, brushing a non-existent speck of dust from his sleeve like he's unveiling a masterpiece. The robot looks more like a pile of scrap metal held together by duct tape.

"Doesn't look like much," I comment, raising an eyebrow.

"It looks like much! Trust me. This bad boy's gonna clean the HQ in under five minutes. Maximum efficiency!" Yora presses a button on the side.

The robot roars to life, its arms flailing wildly as it begins vacuuming the floor at full speed. But instead of sucking up debris, it's throwing dust around like confetti, while its spinning brushes knock over furniture in its path.

"Yora!" I yell, narrowly dodging a flying chair. "It's making it worse!"

"Not possible," he says, not even flinching. "It's working fine. Just needs to—"

The machine lets out a horrific screech, sparks flying from its wires, and the entire thing collapses in a heap, the vacuum hose spurting out an obnoxious cloud of soot.

"Yep. Definitely worse," I say dryly, looking at the mess now doubling in size.

From down the hall, Kaito-san emerges, his expression unreadable. "What now?"

Yora stands proudly amidst the chaos. "It was just a minor malfunction. I'll fix it!" he declares, despite the disaster in front of him.

Attempt #2: The Vacuum Bazooka

Yora, ever the optimist, returns with a strange contraption that looks like a cross between a bazooka and a vacuum cleaner.

"Ahh, now this one—this one will work. This is the Vacuum Bazooka 9000." He points it at the nearest pile of mess, grinning like he's about to launch an attack on a fortress.

"Wait, are you sure—" I start to ask, but it's too late.

Yora pulls the trigger.

A massive gust of air blasts through the room, sending debris flying in every direction. It's like a storm hit the HQ—papers swirl through the air, some landing in the rafters, while dust and dirt coat every surface.

"Good job, Yora. You just created a new mess," I say, glancing around at the now even bigger disaster.

Yora stands there, rubbing his chin, pretending the storm of dust hasn't just enveloped us. "Hmm. Interesting. The suction power was too strong. But I'll just make the adjustments," he says, completely unfazed.

Shizuka-san walks in just as the vacuum explodes in a puff of smoke. "Yora-kun… what are you doing this time?" she asks, hands on her hips, staring at the wreckage.

"Oh, just a little housekeeping," he says, trying to act casual while looking like a total wreck himself.

Shizuka-san shakes her head, the corners of her lips twitching as if she's trying not to laugh. "You've made it worse, Yora-kun. Again."

Yora grins sheepishly. "Well, it's not my fault. The Vacuum Bazooka 9000 was ahead of its time."

Attempt #3: The Clean-Up Drone

After his last disaster, Yora is looking a bit more serious. He returns with a drone in hand, the size of a small pet, and with a sleek design that looks far more sophisticated than his previous creations.

"This one is guaranteed to work," he says, holding it up like a proud parent showing off their child.

I look at the drone with suspicion. "And this one won't try to blow up half the building, right?"

Yora grins. "No explosions, I promise." He releases the drone, and it begins hovering just above the floor, its tiny mechanical arms sweeping up dust and dirt with precision. For a moment, I actually think we might have a winner here.

"Maybe this one's—"

Suddenly, the drone jerks in the air, zipping wildly in random directions.

"What the—?"

The drone flies up, knocks over a stack of crates, and ends up entangled in a pile of laundry. In a panic, it whirs to life, now tumbling and spinning through the room in all directions like an out-of-control kite.

"Yora!" I shout. "Stop it before it—"

The drone crashes into a wall with a loud bang, causing a shelf full of weapons to topple over. Several swords and daggers clatter to the floor, and a few of them just barely miss Yora's head.

"I thought you said it was safe this time?" Shizuka-san asks dryly.

Yora pats his head nervously, watching the wreckage with a strained smile. "It's still a prototype. The bugs are—uh—still being worked out."

Attempt #4: The Human Way (for once)

Finally, after his drone is reduced to scrap, Yora sits down on the floor, utterly defeated.

"Okay, okay. Maybe… Maybe I should try it the old-fashioned way." He grumbles under his breath, picking up a broom like it's an alien artifact.

"Wait… what?" I stare at him, my jaw dropping. "You're actually going to—"

"I mean, it's a bit embarrassing, but fine. I'll sweep the place," he says with a sigh, clearly relishing the chance to act like a regular human for once.

So, Yora gets to work, sweeping around the HQ while grumbling about how "primitive" it all feels. And honestly, after all the chaos of his inventions, I can't help but chuckle at the sight of him sweeping with exaggerated effort, making a bigger deal of it than it really is.

Kaito-san walks in, surveys the chaos, then looks at Yora sweeping the floor. "Now you're doing it the right way," he says flatly.

Yora doesn't even respond, just gives a half-hearted shrug. "Yeah, yeah. But you try making a Robo-Cleaner work, man."

"Maybe just get a broom next time," Kaito-san mutters, shaking his head as he walks off.

And so, after all of that, the HQ is finally… semi-clean. Yora's embarrassed, I'm exhausted, and Shizuka-san can't stop laughing.

"Next time," I mutter, "I'm hiring a professional cleaner."

But for now, at least the mess has been contained… sort of.

---

After all the chaos with Yora's inventions, I needed a breather. The mess outside still lingers in the air, but it's no longer my problem for now. I make my way to the office, hoping for some peace—or at least a distraction.

I walk into the office. Kaito-san's sitting at the desk, flipping through some papers.

Beside him is...Ruby-san? She is leaning back in her chair, arms folded, staring at the ceiling as if trying to figure out what to do with her life.

The President... she's usually out of the HQ doing her own thing. But today, it seems like she's just killing time, or maybe she's here for some company. Either way, I'm not complaining. It's a rare moment to catch her at the base.

"Takumi," Kaito-san greets without looking up. "What's up?"

I shrug. "Any missions? Or just the usual?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing urgent. Oscuro activity's under control for now."

Ruby-san, The President, glances at me with a grin. "You sure you're not just looking for an excuse to escape? I heard you're going on a school trip tommorrow."

I nod. "Yeah, the field trip to Hokkaido. Needed a break."

She raises an eyebrow, smirking. "Hokkaido, huh?"

"Yes, Hokkaido."

"Umm...speaking of Hokkaido, I just remembered something." She leans back in her chair, her feet casually resting on the desk, a lazy smirk playing on her lips. "So, about a month ago, I was in Hokkaido. Just strolling around, minding my own business when I felt this weird sensation, unusual Seishinsu, like something was lurking. Wasn't the usual vibe I get. But, I had better things to do than investigate at the time," she says, almost as if she's too bored to care but still in control of the situation. "But now that I'm back and feel like getting my hands dirty... Kaito, you're gonna look into it."

"Sure." He glances up his screen and concentrates, his fingers flying over the keyboard. A few moments later, the screen flashes, and he stares at a faint signal that pops up on the radar. "I've got something," he says, his voice shifting from casual to more focused. "There's definitely a weird signal coming from the mountains, but it's faint. Not sure what it is yet."

The president raises an eyebrow, her tone sharpening just a little. "Faint, huh? That's definitely suspicious. I want to know what we're dealing with. Keep digging. Let me know if you find anything useful."

"Understood." He keeps his eyes locked on the screen, scanning for more details, while the president leans back, watching him, the smirk returning to her face.

"There's something... strange. Dark, ominous Seishin swirling around that area. It's definitely not normal. Whatever it is, it doesn't feel right."

"So, a portal, huh?" she says, raising an eyebrow. "That's unusual. I thought I already took care of those things."

The room falls silent for a moment as her words sink in.

"Portal?" I ask.

"Yeah, portal. After the Blood Night four months ago, a bunch of dark portals appeared all over Japan. They're not like the ones the Devoids use. Theirs are like...private, but these… these are public. And permanent. Anyone from their kind can step through."

I blink, trying to process what she's saying. Public? Permanent? Anyone can step through? It sounds insane.

"When you guys thought I was just out goofing around, I was actually hunting down and disintegrating these things. I thought I got rid of all of them, but seems like there are still some hanging around."

I swallow hard. "So, you're sayin—"

She cuts me off, standing tall with an air of authority I don't often see from her. "So, Takumi, as your president, I'm giving you a mission. Your job is to go up to that mountain and get rid of the portal. And while you're at it, protect your schoolmates from creatures that might appear."

Kaito-san raises an eyebrow, "You're sending him by himself?"

She shrugs casually. "Don't worry, Kaito." She waves her hand in denial. "The kid's got potential. And besides, we've got his back, don't we?"

I feel the weight of her words on me. Potential? I can't tell if that's a compliment or a setup. But one thing's for sure—I can't let this portal disturb my school trip. I have to remove it.

I nod, my resolve hardening. "I'll do it, President."

"Just don't get yourself killed, alright?"

I give her a quick nod. "I won't."

With the mission set, the room feels a little heavier. But I can't back down now. Not after everything that's happened. This is my chance to prove I can handle more than just fighting Oscuros.

"Good luck," she says, and I hear the playful edge return in her voice.

I step out of the room, determination coursing through me.

---

Next Day,

The sun's shining bright, and the schoolyard is buzzing with excitement. It's the day of our school trip to Hokkaido, and I can feel the energy in the air. Everyone's talking about it, packing last-minute things, and laughing in groups as they gather around the buses.

I glance around and spot Hana, waving at me from the other side of the yard. She's already holding her bag, clearly excited, and wearing that smile of hers. I wave back, but there's a part of me that's distracted. My mind keeps wandering back to the mission President gave me. The portal. The weird energy.

I shake my head to focus. No use stressing over it now. This is supposed to be a break, right? I'll deal with that mess later.

"Oi! Hinoyama!" I hear a familiar voice. I turn to find Ren and Daichi walking toward me, both of them looking ready for the trip, backpacks slung over their shoulders.

"Hey, you two ready for the trip?" I ask, trying to push the nagging thoughts aside.

Ren grins. "You bet! Hokkaido here we come!"

We start walking toward the bus, the cool morning air hitting us as we step onto the paved path leading to the vehicles. The excitement grows, and for a moment, it feels like the school trip is the only thing on my mind.

Before we board, The Principal steps forward, clapping his hands to gather everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone, listen up! I'm going over the trip rules one last time, so pay attention!" His voice booms across the yard, instantly silencing the chatter.

Ren leans closer to me and whispers, "Bet he's going to spend half the trip yelling at someone for not following those rules."

Daichi smirks. "Yeah, probably you."

I nudge them both to quiet down as the principal continues, listing out the usual rules: stick with your group, no wandering off alone, respect the locals, and don't bring anything you shouldn't have—cue his stern glance at the back of the group, where a couple of pranksters are whispering. "And, most importantly, be on your best behavior! We represent the school, after all," he finishes with a proud nod.

"Best behavior, huh?" Daichi mutters. "Guess that rules out Ren from the start."

"Hey!" Ren protests, but before he can say more, Hana pulls me by the sleeve toward the bus.

"Let's just find good seats before those two drag you into their nonsense," she says.

The teachers start ushering everyone into the buses, and as we board, I can't help but feel the shift in atmosphere. It's like the closer we get to this trip, the more real everything becomes. The laughs, the jokes—it's all so normal, but I know what's waiting up there isn't.

We take our seats, and the bus lurches forward, starting the journey to Hokkaido. Hana's next to me, looking out the window with excitement, while Ren and Daichi are a couple of rows behind, already arguing over snacks.

I rest my head against the seat, trying to focus on the good things. This is just a school trip. Just a regular school trip. Right?