Inside the Base

Sena didn’t know what to do, so he could only run after Shiori toward JMB’s main base.

In front of the large building, he saw not only JMB’s personnel but also police officers, soldiers, and firefighters. 

The scene was so chaotic, showing how devastating the attack was. JMB alone wasn’t enough to handle the aftermath.

“Excuse me.” Shiori showed her ID card to one of the officers. “I’m with JMB, and he’s with me. My superior told you that he wants me to be there, right?”

After receiving a nod from the officer, she and Sena crossed the police line and continued running toward the building.

Before entering, Shiori suddenly stopped and gave a salute to a man in his forties with slicked-back white hair and a neat beard.

Sena couldn’t focus on their conversation. His mind hadn’t settled yet. In just a few minutes, he would be controlling an MCF, one of humanity’s mightiest weapons, and he didn’t even know how to.

“So, you’re Sena Sakazaki.” The superior walked toward Sena with a calm but heavy expression. “I’m the Director-General of this place, Souji Arakawa. I’m sorry about this, but we really need your help.”

Because of his mental state, Sena could only stare at the Director’s hand instead of shaking it.

Souji sighed deeply and pulled his hand back. “I know this sounds ridiculous, but we really don’t have any other way.”

“I... I can’t do this!” Sena shouted, his voice cracking. Tears welled in his eyes. “Two days ago, I was just a high school student with no military training! How can you adults expect me to do something like this?!”

People nearby turned toward him. Sena’s breathing grew heavier as he glared at Souji in desperation. The Director didn’t reply, only looked back at him in silence.

A sudden roar echoed from the distance, sending chills down Sena’s spine. His eyes widened. He had an idea of what it might be, but he didn’t want to think about it.

“That’s the giant monster,” Shiori said. She was now standing beside the Director, holding a tablet in her trembling hands. Her eyes glistened again. “It’s changed direction. The monster is moving toward Sector Twelve.”

Sena froze. His lips trembled as the words sank in. After a few seconds, he finally whispered, “That’s... where my house is.”

“And the monster is speeding up,” Shiori continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “The evacuation is ongoing, but we don’t know if everyone can get out in time. There’s also a chance the monster will release smaller ones into the town. They move faster and can spread poison through the air, just like the one that attacked our base.”

Sena’s voice faltered. “You’re saying my family could die at any time?”

Shiori closed her eyes and nodded with a grim expression.

He fumbled for his phone. Too many missed calls. His fingers shook and he couldn’t even tap the screen.

“We can’t wait anymore,” Shiori said, snatching the device. “If you want to keep them safe, fight.”

Sena looked around and saw several soldiers surrounding him, ready to act if he tried to resist. He realized he had no choice.

“I’m really sorry...” Shiori’s voice broke as she took his arm and guided him forward, not daring to meet his eyes.

Once again, Sena could only follow his teacher. When one of the JMB personnel handed him a gas mask, he put it on without a word. 

He wasn’t thinking anymore; his body simply moved like a machine driven by instinct.

“Eyes forward! Don’t look at your surroundings!” Shiori shouted. She tried to sound firm, but her voice wavered.

Even if the command was clear, he couldn’t stop himself from glancing to the sides. Personnel in hazmat suits were handling large yellow bags lying on the floor.

From their shape, he knew what was inside. Human bodies.

The deeper they went into the base, the worse it became. Some bodies still lay on the ground, covered only by jackets, clothes, or papers, anything people could find.

Sena could hear his own breathing through the oxygen mask. Each sound echoed close to his ears. He wanted to scream, to run, but he couldn’t.

If he ran now, his family would die.

He flinched as they entered the docking bay. The air reeked of blood, and he could still smell it even with the mask.

Finally, they saw the monster’s corpse. It looked like a humanoid green turtle with long limbs and a head shaped like a massive flower.

Its body was full of bullet holes and burn marks. Parts of its shell were cracked, and fresh red blood still dripped from the wounds.

It wasn’t ‘small’ at all. Maybe it stood over two meters tall with long limbs, though it was nothing compared to the dormant monsters around the world.

“Come on.” Shiori pulled Sena’s hand again and led him to the changing room. She opened a drawer and took out a purple bodysuit. “This is your pilot suit, made with JMB’s advanced technology. It can dampen the shocks from the MCF’s movements and…”

Sena fell to his knees, clutching his head. A broken gasp escaped his throat, half a scream, half a sob. His mind couldn’t take it anymore.

Seeing that, Shiori wiped her eyes, walked toward him, and knelt before him. She wrapped her arms around him, pulled him close, and held him tight, sending her warmth into him.

“Once again, I'm sorry, Sena.” Her shoulders shook as tears streamed down her cheeks. “After this, you can hate me. You can hate JMB for doing this to you. But this time, please... please do it. Not for humanity, not for this nation, but for your family.”

Sena kept crying, his voice cracking. “Why? Why me? This isn’t fair.”

Shiori slowly released her hug and looked at him. Then she gently wiped his tears.

“I know it’s not fair. There are people who would give anything to pilot one of those mechs.” A bitter smile appeared on her lips. “Including me. But I can’t.  I don't have any magia inside me. So, we can only ask people like you to help.”