Chapter 3: Foreseen Invasion

     The group arrived at an abandoned subway station. The girl with the lopsided pigtails spoke up. “I think I remember coming here when I was little, my how it has changed.” She slowly turned around while reminiscing.

“This is great and all, but demons could easily follow us down here, I don’t think any condemned signs are going to stop them.” Kanako scoffed, putting her fists on her hips.

Hisakawa approached a graffitied wall, she placed her hand on it, creating a door. “No, this is just the cover. In here is where we will be hiding out.” Hisakawa hit the lights, revealing the chaotic glory of the hideout. The group walked in to find a common room filled with thrifted furniture. There were several doors up on a balcony, under the balcony were doors to the washrooms, a laundry room and a forge. There were archway leading to a library on the ground floor adjacent to a few strained cafeteria tables.

“This place is a lot cozier than I expected.” Shingo commented.

“I’ve been anticipating the attack for some time, I thought I should prepare a safe haven.” Hisakawa mentioned.

“What do you mean?” Kanako questioned.

“Please get comfortable, I will explain.” The group settled in the furniture; Hisakawa stood in the center and told her tale. “I used to work for Zushitsu Tech Company. A few years ago, one of my former colleagues made contact with a demon lord known as Barminuis. The demon lord completed work that would take ten employees a month in a day, all from the comfort of his castle in Hell.” Hisakawa took a deep breath before continuing. “I knew that Barminuis would want something in return, that this wasn’t just a charity. I spoke out against him, as a result, I was fired. While I was leaving the company, two robots kidnapped me, they took me to the roof and threw me off.” The teens shifted after hearing what Hisakawa said.

Hisakawa continued, unfazed. “Yuzuru-san found me and called an ambulance, even though he didn’t know me, he visited me everyday in the hospital. Barminuis had cursed me, my limbs all had to amputated, my flesh was beyond repair. My old boss said I had become paranoid and was acting crazy, he said I had been watching a messed-up anime when I was supposed to be working. Fake warning documents had been made, courtesy of Barminuis. The official reports say I jumped in an attempt to end my life. Yuzuru-san could see through the lies, he knew I was telling the truth.”

“Wow. So that’s why the robots are working with the demons.” Kosuke stated, his fingers twitching in annoyance, he was trying to hide how upset he was, but everyone could see it.

“Indeed. Yuzuru-san brought me the materials I needed to create myself the cyborg body you see before you. It took a while to learn how to use my element with my limbs to do so. I had a feeling that the demons were going to attack, so I asked my brother for some money to buy this place from the city to make our base.” Hisakawa finished explaining. “Oh, I just hope he is alright, I’m sure he was prepared, he has always been cautious.” She thought out loud.

“So, I guess we should introduce ourselves. I am Matsuoka Kosuke, and I just watched my dad die.” After stating that, Kosuke leaned back, placing his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling. Tears started to fall as he let his emotions free while listening to the others.

The girl with the pigtails introduced herself next. “I am Kagawa Kotone, I was heading to school when I realized I had forgot my guitar at home, when I left for school the second time, the attack started.”

“Why do you need a guitar for school?” Kosuke asked with a shaky voice, not taking his eyes off the ceiling.

“I go to the Wada Arts Academy, I’m a music student training to become a popstar. For the program I’m in, we are required to have an instrument to practice. Or I guess, I was.” Her light orange eyes began to fill with tears.

Kanako took her turn next to get the attention off of Kotone. “I’m Tsukuda Kanako, my grades rank number two in my class.” She boasted.

“Really?” Yuzuru raised an eyebrow. “Can anyone vouch for you?”

“What!?” Kanako shrieked. “Why don’t believe me?”

“You seem kind of dumb, no offense.” Yuzuru shrugged rudely.

“We can vouch for her.” Kosuke cut in. “Yeah, I’d hate to say it, but she beat me last time our grades were calculated. Kana-kun was in the number two spot.”

“The way you are talking, is like your number three.” Yuzuru commented while crossing his arms.

“I am.” Kosuke turned smug, a massive grin appeared on his face as Yuzuru processed what he just said.

Yuzuru looked to Shingo. “Are you number one?” He growled.

“Heh, no.” Shingo laughed. “I’m fourth. We keep the competition between us, well more so Kanako and Kosuke. No one stood a chance of beating Morita-chan out of the first place, she always got perfect scores.”

“That’s not true.” Kosuke reminded him. “Remember that time she got a eighty-three percent on a test last year.”

“Oh right!” Shingo remembered. “She did not take that well.”

“What’s your name anyway, brown hair kid?” Yuzuru asked.

“I’m Muto Shingo.” He introduced himself. “So, you two must have a plan, and where is your family, Yuzuru?” Shingo asked.

“My father abandoned us many years ago, he fell in love with woman in the west while on a business trip. He returned home only to serve the divorce papers and leave again, apparently, I have a half sibling. My mom,” Yuzuru’s quick words slowed for a brief moment, “she died last year, cancer. I was able to take care of myself, the sensei from my dojo waved my fees so I could keep going there after she passed.” Yuzuru grimly explained.

Shingo stared at the ground. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up sad memories.

“It’s alright. I miss mom, but she wouldn’t want me to spend my whole life constantly grieving her. As for the plan,” he changed the subject. “We are going to have to fight. I’m a swordsman, my school was going to do special lessons with my dojo today, that’s why I have all these training swords. I will do my best to teach you what I know, so we can hopefully, eventually take back our city.”

Kanako raised her hand. “I already know how to use a sword. I train over the summer break, top of my class.” She bragged.

Yuzuru tossed her a training sword from the basket. “Alright then, show me what you can do, if your beat me then you teach the others.” He grabbed a sword for himself and got in a stance.

“Don’t kill each other.” Hisakawa instructed. “I’m going to begin working on the swords. Have fun.” She then walked away, free of any responsibility from what was about to go down.

Kanako and Yuzuru squared up. Kanako was the first to attack, the older boy was able to block. The girl tried again from a different angle, but to no avail. Yuzuru became more aggressive, the two practically danced around the room to the beat of their wooden swords banging against each other. Kanako hopped onto one of the chairs, it fell backward, she didn’t stumble, she kept moving. Yuzuru climbed a table when Kanako began another push. Suddenly, he dodged he swing instead of blocking, he got behind her and kicked her in the back. She slid across the floor, trying to get up as quickly as possible as Yuzuru approached her. She couldn’t get her sword at the ready when Yuzuru struck her again, sending her flying. She slammed onto her back, Yuzuru stepped on Kanako’s shoulder, holding her down. He took his sword in both hands, he raised it and gently placed it at the base of her neck. Kanako lost.