Chapter 4: A PORTAL TO THE TRUTH

Late-night Tokyo streets passed in a blur. Kirino and Kyousuke trailed behind the mysterious group—Takumi, Mikoto, Rimuru, Rin, Kazuma, and Ruri—each step echoing with the tension of unspoken questions. Curiosity overshadowed fear, propelling the siblings forward. They needed answers about these supernatural powers that had upended their lives.

Finally, they arrived at Takumi's apartment building: a sleek high-rise with automatic doors, discreet lighting, and a quiet lobby. Takumi scanned his keycard, leading everyone into an elevator large enough to accommodate their unusual entourage.

Kirino eyed the reflective elevator walls, glimpsing her own uncertain expression. She glanced at Takumi's reflection. He looked calm, but the slight tremor in his fingers told another story.

> Kirino thought: *He's nervous too.*

Meanwhile, Kyousuke stood at her side, arms crossed, brows pinched. Part of him wanted to pull Kirino away from all this, yet he couldn't deny that his own curiosity burned, the memory of that swirling portal still fresh.

Ding! The elevator reached Takumi's floor. They stepped out into a clean, warmly lit corridor. Takumi paused at his door and glanced back.

Takumi: "My place is just inside. I, uh, hope it's not too cramped with all of us…"

He tapped in a passcode, the door unlocking with a soft click.

---

Once inside, the siblings took in their surroundings: the apartment was spacious, at least by Tokyo standards. A well-kept kitchen opened into a living area furnished with shelves of anime merchandise, a medium-sized TV, and a few potted plants. Large windows showcased the city skyline, luminous even at this late hour.

Kirino hovered near the entrance, unsure where to stand. "This is… nice," she muttered, half to herself.

Kyousuke offered a polite nod, scanning the interior. "So you live here alone, Takumi?"

Takumi set his keys on a small table. "Yeah. My parents passed away, but they left enough for me to manage this place."

Kirino's expression softened. "Oh… I see."

Noticing the awkward silence, Rimuru stepped forward with a welcoming smile. "Don't just stand there; make yourselves comfortable. You two must have a million questions."

A small hush fell as Kirino and Kyousuke hesitantly took seats at the couch. The chat group members arranged themselves around the living area—Rin leaning against a wall, arms crossed; Mikoto claiming an armchair; Ruri perched on the edge of a small ottoman, tome resting on her lap; Kazuma casually dropped onto the floor, back propped against the couch.

Takumi cleared his throat. "So… you want to know who we are, right?"

Kirino nodded firmly. "Yes. Everything."

Rin Tohsaka: "We can't share 'everything,' but we'll tell you enough so you can understand what's going on—and why you need to keep it under wraps."

Kyousuke: "We promise. We're not looking to cause trouble or go public with this. We just… need an explanation."

Kazuma snorted. "You say that now, but you'd be surprised how quickly things spiral once normal folks discover magic."

Kirino bristled at his words. "We're not clueless. We just… found ourselves in that alley with a swirling portal. That's not exactly 'normal.'"

Ruri coughed softly. "He's not insulting you. He's warning you. There are forces bigger than any of us at play."

Takumi: "Alright, enough tiptoeing. I'll start from the beginning."

His gaze swept across the group, garnering silent approval.

---

Takumi took a seat across from Kirino and Kyousuke, leaning forward with elbows on his knees. "We're part of a… let's call it an organization that watches for interdimensional anomalies. Those rifts you saw—they're tears in reality that can let dangerous things in."

Kyousuke's eyes flickered with apprehension. "Like that creature we saw at the warehouse tonight?"

Mikoto nodded. "Exactly. Some anomalies are random, but we suspect something is causing them on purpose. Our job is to locate, contain, and neutralize them."

Kirino blinked, trying to process. "So you all have these powers—like electric blasts, weird slime abilities, magical gems, or that teal energy Takumi used—just to fight off these… dimensional threats?"

A moment's pause. Rimuru, in a gentle tone, replied, "We weren't all born with these powers. We… acquired them from a shared source."

Kirino's brow furrowed. "A 'shared source'? Like some mystical artifact?"

Rin exchanged a glance with Ruri, then answered, "We call it the 'Chat Group System.' It's complicated. Think of it as a cross-dimensional network that grants abilities to chosen members."

Kyousuke let out a low whistle. "So you're like a group of interdimensional vigilantes."

Kazuma grinned. "If you want to glamorize it, sure. But it's more like a part-time job with weird perks."

Kirino's eyes dropped to the floor as she tried to parse the enormity of it all. Another wave of questions threatened to burst from her, but she forced herself to focus.

Kirino: "Then… why are these rifts appearing in our neighborhood?"

Ruri cleared her throat. "We don't know yet. Possibly random cosmic fluctuation or maybe something attracted to your area. But we suspect a more deliberate cause."

Takumi: "And that's why we're investigating. We didn't mean for you to get involved, but after what you've seen, you deserve at least this much."

A restless quiet settled in the room. Kirino's mind spun with a dozen new questions. She raised her gaze, eyes locking with Takumi's. "What about you? How did you get involved? You seem like an ordinary high school student…"

Takumi hesitated. He could sense the chat group members mentally cautioning him not to reveal too many personal secrets—especially the truth of his reincarnation. "I… stumbled upon the system by chance," he said, carefully. "I lost my parents at a young age, but I found purpose through these powers. And now, well… this is my life."

Kyousuke exhaled. "This is… a lot to take in. But thank you for telling us."

Kirino: "So what now? Do we just go back to pretending everything's normal? Because it's not."

Mikoto's posture softened. "For your own safety, it's probably best to keep your heads down. If new rifts form, we'll handle it. You don't have to be involved again."

Kirino gritted her teeth. "But we—"

Ruri held up a hand. "Kirino, we're not saying you're powerless. But this is dangerous territory. We have specialized training and a… certain advantage." She tapped her tome, arcs of magic flickering in demonstration.

Kyousuke placed a calming hand on Kirino's shoulder. "She's right, Kirino. We almost got killed. Maybe letting them handle it is wise."

Kirino pulled away, crossing her arms. "Fine," she muttered, though frustration burned in her eyes.

Rin stepped in, her voice level. "That's all we can share for tonight. If you have more questions, contact Takumi. But please, don't go chasing these anomalies on your own."

Kirino opened her mouth to protest but stopped short, noticing how serious everyone looked.

---

The gathering ended on an uneasy note. Kirino and Kyousuke rose to leave, each weighed down by the partial truths they'd learned. Takumi offered to walk them out.

In the hallway, Kirino hesitated. "Takumi…"

He waited, keys in hand, while the elevator dinged open. "Yeah?"

She fumbled with the hem of her uniform skirt, something almost vulnerable about her. "Thanks… for saving us. Twice. I'm still mad that you guys are hiding so much, but… I guess it's better than being in the dark completely."

Takumi gave a small nod, sympathy flickering in his eyes. "I understand. If… you need anything, or if anything weird happens, just call me."

Kirino stiffened. "Call you? I don't even have your phone number."

He blinked, then grabbed a pen from his pocket, scribbling on a scrap of paper. "Here," he said, handing it over. "Use it only if something urgent happens. Please keep it under wraps."

She accepted it grudgingly, shooting him a sidelong glance. "Fine."

Then, without further ceremony, Kirino and Kyousuke stepped into the elevator. Takumi watched the doors close, an odd mixture of relief and apprehension knotting his stomach.

> Takumi thought: *I hope we haven't put them in more danger.*

---

Back in the apartment, the group exhaled collectively.

Mikoto: "They took that… better than expected."

Kazuma: "Better? She looked like she wanted to punch a hole in reality."

Rin massaged her temples. "This complicates things. Now we have civilians—these siblings—on the edge of discovering more than they should."

Ruri shut her tome with a soft thump. "Kirino's curiosity won't just vanish. She'll keep digging. But perhaps that's unavoidable now."

Takumi sank into a chair, exhaustion evident on his face. "Let's just hope no more rifts pop up near them. The last thing we need is them wandering into another fight."

Rimuru: "Agreed. We'll maintain vigilance. For now, we should regroup at HQ, gather more data, and rest."

Takumi: "You guys go ahead. I'll meet you in a few minutes."

They nodded, each one initiating a private teleport or stepping out onto the balcony to vanish in a swirl of light. One by one, they disappeared, until Takumi was left alone in the quiet living room.

He stared at the city lights outside. In the distance, neon signs glowed in pinks and blues, painting streaks of color across the night sky.

> Takumi thought: *When I reincarnated here, I never imagined I'd be juggling a double life like this… Let alone pulling normal people into it.*

With a heavy sigh, he activated his phone, tapping the Chat Group icon. A subtle hum enveloped him as he teleported to HQ.

---

Arriving in the Chat Group's dimension, Takumi stepped into a high-tech chamber known as the War Room—a circular space lined with holographic screens. The others were already there, poring over data from the night's incident.

Rin paced beside a central display, detailing the dimensional scans. "I see traces of a strong, singular signature—like a beacon from beyond our world. That might be what's attracting these anomalies."

Mikoto leaned in, scanning the readouts. "So something is actively *pulling* these rifts open?"

Rimuru: "Yes, or at least it's weakening the boundaries, making spontaneous rifts more likely."

Kazuma folded his arms. "Any guess on who or what is behind it?"

Ruri tapped her tome, frowning. "No data yet. The system's archives don't match this signature. It's… new."

Takumi rubbed the back of his neck. "Meaning we're dealing with an unknown threat. Great."

Rin: "We'll need to coordinate a thorough search. Possibly deploy watchers across Tokyo in short shifts."

They debated strategies, the conversation drifting between advanced magical wards, scanning technology, and potential infiltration. At one point, Kazuma yawned dramatically.

Kazuma: "This is important, but can we not do it all tonight? We spent an entire evening fighting a translucent monster."

Mikoto threw him a look. "You can rest if you want, but we should at least set up the watchers."

Kazuma rolled his eyes but didn't argue further.

Eventually, they hammered out a plan: Rimuru would create a network of slime proxies to discreetly roam the city, scanning for anomalies. Mikoto would handle any electrical disturbances that might hint at rifts. Ruri and Rin would craft a protective seal near the Kousaka district to minimize further tears. Kazuma was assigned to general support, while Takumi would coordinate everything from HQ or jump in as needed.

Rin: "With the time dilation here, we can plan for a week if we want—only a few minutes pass in Takumi's world. Let's use that advantage."

And so, they set about finalizing the deployment. Takumi felt a surge of relief. They were on it.

---

In the Chat Group world, an entire week of strategizing, training, and preparing soon passed—yet in Takumi's Tokyo, only minutes ticked by. He spent hours in the simulation chamber refining his teal energy or sparring with Mikoto, while Ruri and Rimuru tested new magical seals.

Kazuma, in between naps, tinkered with gear from the HQ armory. Rin meticulously updated the mission board with new data. By the end of that "week," the group had a workable defense system in place—though no new anomalies had cropped up in the HQ's logs.

Finally, in what felt like day seven of intense activity, Takumi exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow.

Takumi: "Okay, I think we're set. Let's head back."

One by one, they teleported to Takumi's apartment once more—only to discover the clock reading 3:03 a.m. The city outside was unchanged, though it had been roughly half an hour since they originally left for HQ.

Mikoto: "It's always so surreal, that time difference."

Rimuru: "At least we're well-prepared now."

The group parted ways for the night. Some teleported back to HQ to rest in personal quarters. Others vanished into vantage points across Tokyo, ready to respond if a rift formed.

---

Morning arrived too soon for Takumi, who dragged himself to school with heavy eyes. By lunch break, he found himself dozing in class—only jolting awake when a classmate poked him.

He made it through the day, focusing mainly on routine tasks. But as soon as the final bell rang, his phone buzzed:

Kirino: *We need to talk. Meet me at the café near your neighborhood, 6 p.m.*

Takumi's heart jumped. She had his number now, courtesy of last night's exchange. Did something happen again?

He typed a quick reply, verifying the address. Then, steeling himself for another complicated conversation, he headed out.

---

At 6 p.m. sharp, Takumi arrived at a small café nestled in a quiet side street. Through the window, he saw Kirino already seated at a corner table, wearing casual clothes—a stylish top and skirt that matched her trendy aura. Kyousuke was there too, stirring a cup of coffee.

Takumi slipped inside, the bell chiming softly over the door. Kirino's gaze locked onto him as he approached.

Kirino: "You're on time. Good."

He took a seat across from them, noticing how tense both siblings appeared. "What's going on?" he asked, keeping his tone gentle.

Kirino leaned forward, expression earnest. "I did what you said—tried to keep my head down, not get involved. But I… can't just pretend everything is normal. I told you, I need to know more. The truth, about *all* of it."

Takumi rubbed his temples. "Kirino, we told you as much as we could. More than we should've, honestly."

Kirino's voice rose, but she forced it back down to a hush, mindful of the other patrons. "You gave us the basics, but not *everything.* And then you just vanished into thin air with your weird electric friend."

Kyousuke: "What Kirino's trying to say is, we appreciate the explanation, but we don't fully trust that you told us the whole story. And… we worry about potential dangers if these 'rifts' keep appearing."

Takumi sighed. "We… can't reveal certain details. It's not just my secret."

Kirino set her jaw. "Then at least tell us how we can protect ourselves. If a monster appears again—like that translucent thing—what do we do? I'm not naive enough to think it won't happen."

This gave Takumi pause. The Chat Group had indeed only told them to 'stay put.' That wasn't exactly reassuring. He glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. Then he spoke in a low voice.

Takumi: "We can provide you with a small ward—like a protective charm. It might help if you're near a rift."

Kirino's eyes lit. "Really?"

He nodded reluctantly. "It won't give you superpowers, but it might buffer you against stray attacks. I'll talk to my friend Rin about it."

Kyousuke: "That would be… helpful."

Relief briefly crossed Kirino's features, though her posture remained guarded.

> Kirino thought: *It's something, at least…*

---

They chatted a bit longer about day-to-day matters—school, errands, the mundane side of life. Kirino made a show of sipping her latte and glancing around as if paranoid about being overheard.

Kyousuke finally asked, "So, these wards—what do they look like? Like talismans from a shrine?"

Takumi chuckled softly. "Something like that, yeah. We can pass them off as good-luck charms. Just… treat them carefully."

Kirino's phone buzzed, and she glanced down, scowling. "I have a modeling session soon. I need to go." She stood abruptly, grabbing her bag.

Kyousuke blinked. "I'll walk you. We can finish this conversation later."

Kirino hesitated, then nodded. "Sure." She paused, meeting Takumi's gaze. "Thank you… for listening."

Takumi offered a faint smile in return. "You're welcome. I'll be in touch about the ward."

And with that, the siblings exited the café, leaving Takumi alone. His coffee sat untouched, going lukewarm.

> Takumi thought: *So they want some semblance of control over their lives. I get it.*

He pulled out his phone, scanning the Chat Group updates. No new rifts reported. That was good news, for now.

---

As evening fell, Takumi found himself wandering aimlessly. After so many nights battling dimensional threats, he craved normalcy—just for a moment. He passed by a bustling arcade, bright neon flashing invitations to play. A handful of students from his school giggled at the entrance, heading inside.

He sighed, realizing how distant he felt from typical teenage fun. Yet, perhaps a quick break wouldn't hurt. With a fleeting smile, he stepped inside.

The arcade was loud, machines beeping and pulsing with lights. Takumi tried a few crane games, failing spectacularly. He ended up at a fighting game cabinet, tapping combos out of habit. For a few sweet minutes, he was just a regular kid blowing off steam.

He lost track of time until a notification on his phone reminded him: [HQ] Meeting in 15 minutes.

Duty called. He exited the arcade, the cool night air a stark contrast to the neon chaos he left behind.

> Takumi: *So much for normal.*

---

Back at HQ, the War Room was in full swing. Holographic screens displayed city maps, each dotted with potential rift sites. Rimuru, Ruri, and Rin were deep in discussion about barrier enhancements.

Kazuma: "There you are, Takumi. Ready for more fun?"

Takumi rubbed his eyes. "Yep. What's the situation?"

Rin gestured to the map. "We've detected fluctuations near two more districts—Harajuku and Shinjuku. We'll set watchers there. So far, no full-blown portals."

Ruri added, "But the energy signature is increasing. It's only a matter of time."

Takumi nodded, recalling Kirino's request for protective wards. "Rin, about that charm—can we make something for Kirino and Kyousuke, to keep them safe if a rift opens nearby?"

Rin considered, tapping her chin. "I can craft minor wards. They'd repel weaker dimensional energies or buy them time to escape a threat."

Mikoto: "Good call. We don't want them interfering again, but it's better they have some protection."

Rin promptly drafted a blueprint for small protective amulets, forging them with the help of Ruri's incantations. Within an hour of HQ-time—only moments in the real world—two discreet talismans lay on the forging table, glowing faintly with purple runes.

Rin: "These should do. Give them to Kirino and Kyousuke as soon as you can."

Takumi picked them up carefully, admiring the subtle craftsmanship. "Thanks, guys."

---

By the time Takumi returned to his apartment, the real-world clock showed midnight creeping in. He collapsed onto his bed, talismans safely tucked away in his desk drawer, ready for Kirino's next request.

> Takumi thought: *I hope this at least brings them some peace of mind.*

Outside, Tokyo glowed under the hush of night, the city unaware of the silent watchers—Chat Group members—patrolling for the next anomaly. And though the cause of these dimensional tears remained elusive, a fragile sense of preparation took root.

Kirino and Kyousuke, once ordinary siblings living ordinary lives, now stood at a crossroads they never anticipated. Their small request for wards was just the start. In Takumi's heart, he suspected they wouldn't rest until they truly understood the Chat Group's world.

And for Takumi himself—an orphan gifted with cosmic power, juggling two realities—he stood on the cusp of forging new alliances. In the secret nights to come, the lines between the "normal" and "extraordinary" would blur further, weaving Kirino and Kyousuke deeper into the Chat Group's orbit.

One thing was certain: the next rift was only a matter of time.