An Introduction to the Anti-Extraterrestrial Creatures Platoon

With that being said, I found myself at the Disciplinary Committee’s doorstep a few days late. How did I get here? It’s a total mystery.

Well, if I were to try explaining myself, I’d say curiosity got the best of me. Ever since my encounter with Amamiya, she was constantly on my mind.

As I solved my math homework, as I revised my English vocabulary, as I listened to my history teacher talking about a famous historical figure I’d never heard of.

I could not focus at all. I kept thinking about Amamiya and what she told me. I imagined how fun it’d be to play along with her, how happy I’d be if she wasn’t making things up.

But something this absurd does not align with my beliefs at all. Even if it sounds fun, this obviously won’t contribute to my goal of living a proper life.

Yet I have to get her out of my head, or else my grades will be effected. That’s how I consoled myself as I walked to the Disciplinary Committee’s room.

I knocked on the door once, before someone who thankfully isn’t Amamiya slid it open, greeting me.

“Hello there! I’m Uehara Aya, the Disciplinary Committee’s president. What business do you have here today?” She was almost as tall as me, and had her long blonde hair tied in a bun.

Wait, I thought this was the Disciplinary Committee? I didn’t know our school’s rules were this lax…No, this is definitely against the rules. Are you sure you’re the president?

I’m starting to get kind of scared, what if everyone here’s like Amamiya?

I tried to stop thinking such terrifying thoughts.

“I’m Natsume Shun, a second year. I’m here becau-“

Before I could continue explaining my made up reason for being here, Uehara-san interrupted me.

“Shun-chan!”

Excuse me?

“Rin-chan told me all about you! Come in come in, I’ll serve you tea,” she said as she pointed at a couch for me to sit on, as far as I can see, we were the only ones here, “Do you prefer red tea or green tea?”

“Uhm…green tea, no sugar.”

“Coming right up!”

“So, what exactly did Amamiya-san tell you about me?”

“She told me you’re the new recruit for the Platoon, and what a promising recruit indeed. I can feel the powers surging through you,” she said so in an excited tone, but she didn’t seem to be joking.

Can I leave now?

“Ah, that’s not quite right, maybe she was talking about someone else…”

She placed the cup of tea on the table in front of me with a thud, “I’m pretty confident about my memory, I definitely remember her talking about a Natsume Shun.”

I forced a fake laugh, “Well, she sure likes to play around with that colorful imagination of hers,” I tried to talk as quickly as possible before she interrupted me, “But on a serious note, I’m here to join the Disciplinary Committee, can you tell me what the requirements for joining are?”

I took a sip of the tea.

“So, you’re still not admitting it?”

The tea tasted wonderful, I found myself wishing I could enjoy it under better circumstances.

“Admitting what?” I smiled, or at least attempted to.

“That you can see them.”

My terrifying thoughts have become reality, I will have to be more careful with my thoughts from now on.

“Listen, I’m sure Rin-chan has already told you this, but it is our duty as the ones who can see them to fight back. That is why we formed the Anti-Extraterrestrial Creatures Platoon, and why you cannot keep ignoring the reality any longer.”

I looked up at her, she had her hands on her hips and was making an ‘angry’ expression, it just looked like when your older sister was pretending to be mad. Not that I’d know for sure.

“You and Amamiya-san keep talking about ‘them’, but I genuinely have no idea what you guys are talking about. Is it a new game? Or is it an anime? Uehara-senpai, I won’t understand unless you guys explain everything thoroughly.”

She sighed, “I’m sure you already understand everything. You’re pretty smart, from what I’ve heard…But whatever, we’ll play along. We’ll explain to you when Rin-chan comes back.”

“Mhm, thanks.” I went back to sipping on my tea. I made a mental note to never step into this room again once I’m out of it.

“But,” she broke the momentary silent with an unnecessarily loud voice, “If you keep lying to us, we won’t forgive you. We won’t force you to join the Platoon, but we would at least like to confirm the situation.”

For a moment, I consider telling them.

The story of everything that happened during the past five years.

I rack my brain, trying to think of a scenario where something good comes out of telling these strange girls anything.

I don’t find a single scenario like that, so I decide against it.

“I can’t keep lying if I wasn’t even lying in the first place.”

The silence fell again.

“Aya-chi!!! I’m back!” The door bursts open after a few minutes. Amamiya comes in, pulling a boy alongside her. He was wearing the middle-school’s gakuran, and his hair was long enough to get scolded for if this Disciplinary Committee actually did their job.

any reasons left to stay here since finding out that Amamiya likes younger boys. I get up, preparing to leave.

She gasped upon noticing me, “Natsume-san, you came,” she was smiling very happily, while still holding the boy’s hand.

Did she notice me glaring? Because she let go of it.

“So, did you finally decide to join the Platoon and stop pretending you don’t see them?”

“Unfortunately, he’s just demanding an explanation.” Uehara replied in my stead.

“Then why’s he getting up like he’s about to leave?” The boy pointed out.

I glanced at him and lamented my fate, praying that I would be reborn as Amamiya’s type in my next life.

So much for not being interested in her as a woman anymore.

“It’s because I am.”

“No you’re not, Shun-chan.” Uehara shot me a dirty look.

I’ll hear them out for a little while after all.

Uehara sits down next to me, and the boy drags a chair to sit on. Amamiya keeps standing.

“Ah, first of all, let me introduce you. This is Amamiya Shiro, my little brother. He’s a second year in middle school. Shiro, this is Natsume Shun, same year as me, he’s our new soon-to-be Platoon member.”

Little…brother?

“It’s good to know you, Shiro-kun!”

“Ah…good to know you too.”

“Why’re you so pleasant all of a sudden?” Uehara has a point. I’m acting too suspicious.

“Uh, I just, find it easier to talk to boys? I mean, all boys are like that, right, Shiro-kun?”

He nodded reluctantly.

“Natsume-san’s unusual enthusiasm aside, let’s start the explanation,” Amamiya dragged a whiteboard in front of us, is that really necessary? “Well, I’m not exactly sure where to start, so how about you ask questions and we’ll answer, Natsume-san?”

“That’s fine by me,” I took a deep breath, I mean, even I wasn’t sure where to start, there has just been so much on my mind, “What’s the Anti-Extraterrestrial Creatures Platoon?”

“The Anti-Extraterrestrial Creatures Platoon, AXC Platoon for short, is an organization formed for the purpose of fighting the aliens trying to take over this world,” Amamiya started drawing some sort of mind map on the board, “I’m the Platoon’s Lieutenant, and you might think that our headquarter is this room, but it’s actually somewhere else that we can show you when you become a member.”

“AXC? Not AEC?”

“Well AXC sounds cooler.”

I’m amazed she can say all this with a straight face. She’d written out three points on the board with the title of ‘The Platoon’s goals’. Stop the alien invasion, find out the secret behind our power, save the world.

I really cannot help but let out a heavy sigh.

“So, what are these aliens? Do you know for sure they come from outer space?”

“Aliens are the strange creatures that call themselves our teachers. I know that you’ve seen it, how our teachers sometimes have non-human parts,” she drew something that, I assume, was supposed to be one of our teachers. It’s safe to say drawing isn’t one of Amamiya’s skills.

“It’s obvious they’re not from Earth, if they were wouldn’t they be more widespread? But no, they’re only here at this school. It’s likely this is their starting point towards world domination.”

“Then, why can’t everyone see them, and how do you know that I do?”

“Well, they have the ability hide their alien parts and blend in with humans, it’s kind of like how some animals can camouflage, but there are certain humans who can see through that camouflage,” she pointed a finger at me, “and that is us at the Platoon, Natsume-san”

“And, it’s hard to explain, but I can just tell,” she crossed her arms as if she just gave a satisfying explanation.

“Then, how do you fight them?”

“I can only show you have if you join the Platoon!”

I sigh again, I don’t think I have enough years in my life to make up for today. I ask one final question that’s really been weighing on my mind.

“Are they really an enemy that needs to be fought? Aside from how they look, I don’t think they’ve really hurt us…”

Amamiya, or rather everyone in the room, seemed rattled.

“What do you mean? Of course they’re evil, they’re aliens after all! No matter how you look at it, they want to take over Earth.”

I’m honestly starting to get a headache and this conversation doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. There are way too many missing pieces and no matter how smart Amamiya looks in front of that whiteboard, I don’t feel like she can give me reliable information.

That’s why, I gulp the last of my tea and get up from the couch, “Well then, thank you for explaining all of this, Amamiya-san. I sure made you talk a lot. And Uehara-senpai, thank you for the tea, it was delicious. Shiro, take care of your sister, this fighting aliens thing seems pretty dangerous. Good day.”

“Excuse me?!” Uehara jumped up, “Aren’t you going to join? Do you have no interest in fighting evil and saving the world?”

“Yeah, my curiosity is satisfied.”

“You have a terrible personality, how could you see your schoolmates in need of help and not give it…” Shiro grumbles.

Well, sorry about my personality, but I’d say your sister’s personality is way worse.

I glanced at her.

Amamiya Rinko looked like she was on the verge of tears.

I have to do something about this, anything but joining this weird organization, “Hey? It’s okay you know, just find another member-“

“Well, I wanted Natsume-san to join!”

Is this a manipulation tactic? Whatever it is, it’s working.

“I mean, can’t you just show up to our meetings after school? You’re not even in any clubs, I’m sure you’ll be fine if you spend some time with us,” her voice was trembling. I don’t know how to feel about any of this, I just know I absolutely cannot make a decision right now.

“Okay, listen. Can you give me some time to think?”

“You’ll think? About joining?”

“Mhm.”

Her face immediately lit up, “Alright then, we’ll see you later!”

I don’t understand. Were those real tears or not?

“Ah…sure, see you guys later,” I bowed slightly then left the room. I have more questions than before I came here.

Oh wait, I totally forgot to ask about Uehara’s hair. Come to think of it Shiro’s hair was a little too long too. What’s with this disciplinary committee?

I might be focusing on the wrong things.

I just want to go home and sleep.

But that was fun.