15

By the time they stepped out of the café, the sun had finally started casting a warmer glow over the streets. The morning chill lingered, but at least the caffeine had done its job- most of them were awake enough to function.

Tsubasa, however, still looked like he was running on pure misery.

"Why," he muttered, shoving his hands into his coat pockets, "do we have to do this now?"

"Because it’s our job," Ren answered flatly.

Tsubasa groaned, stretching his legs like it would somehow help. "Why is it our job?"

"Because the school assigned it to us," Ren answered again, this time with a sharp look.

"Yeah, but why?"

Kaede patted his back. "Cheer up! Maybe we’ll see something cool."

"Or we’ll spend the next few hours walking around for nothing."

Hikaru stretched his arms over his head. "Either way, a walk sounds nice."

Tsubasa shot him a look. "Only you would enjoy this."

"I find joy in the little things," Hikaru said, grinning. "Like how you look half-dead right now."

Tsubasa sighed deeply.

The group made their way toward Sumida Ward, where today’s mission was assigned. The area was noticeably different from the busier parts of the city- streets wider but emptier, buildings a mix of old and new, with some looking abandoned while others seemed barely holding on. The farther they walked, the more the modernity of the city faded into something rougher, quieter.

Kuroya, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "...Feels off."

"You say that like you don’t already look like you belong in a horror movie," Kaede teased.

Kuroya ignored her. "This area's usually empty, but it’s too quiet today."

Ren frowned slightly, scanning their surroundings.

"Alright," Yuna said, pulling up the mission details on her phone. "We’re covering three zones today. This is just routine patrol, so we’re only looking for signs of unusual activity."

Tsubasa perked up. "So we don’t have to fight anything?"

"Not unless something attacks us first," Yuna replied.

Tsubasa visibly relaxed. "Finally, some good news."

Kaede looped her arm around his. "Aww, don’t worry, Tsuba! If something does happen, you can hide behind me."

Tsubasa deadpanned. "You don’t even have an ability."

"Exactly! Which means I’m not a target."

Ren sighed. "Can we focus?"

Hikaru smirked. "Not my fault, this is more entertaining than the mission."

Kaede shot him a thumbs-up.

"This is the real team bonding experience."

***

They walked past a row of shuttered shops, their metal grates covered in fading graffiti. A single vending machine stood in front of a closed bookstore, its screen flickering like it hadn't been serviced in years. When Hikaru passed it, the machine beeped and shook, as if registering his presence, then went silent again.

Weird.

"So," Kaede said, hopping onto the curb, "where are we going first?"

"There’s an old subway entrance nearby," Yuna said, checking the map. "It’s been sealed off for years, but reports say people have heard trains passing underground."

"A ghost train?" Kaede gasped. "We have to check it out!"

"It’s probably just noise from the active subway lines," Ren said.

Kaede crossed her arms. "Boring answer."

"Correct answer," Ren corrected.

"Still boring."

Tsubasa groaned. "Can we just get this over with before my soul leaves my body?"

"Don’t worry, Tsuba," Hikaru said. "If your soul does leave, I’ll be the first to catch it."

Tsubasa shot him a deadpan look. "Thanks, I hate it."

Still, despite the complaints, they continued forward- toward the old subway entrance, where the air felt just a little still.

A little too still.