The Raid

Takeshi Oyama was finally finished at work. He had to stay late again.

Over the past few years, his company, Sen Tech, had made it a focus to streamline their workforce. In practice, this just amounted to laying off domestic employees and replacing them with AI and offshore workers.

Of course, Takeshi didn’t have much to complain about. He had survived by securing a stable, senior position. However, the company just never felt the same to him after almost all his coworkers had left.

As Takeshi left the office for the last time, he heard his phone buzz. Checking it, he saw a text from his girlfriend, Yuka.

Hey, we’re still hanging out tomorrow night, right?

With a sad smile, he replied, Of course.

***

Nishikiyama Apartments was a rundown building deep in Taito City. It was the kind of place nobody would even look at twice, meaning it was perfect for the kind of plotting that was happening inside.

“While Takeshi Oyama is the leader, the apartment they’re operating out of is rented to Yosuke Tanaka,” Yoji explained. “It’s apartment 508 which is at the end of the right hallway on the top floor.”

“What do we know about their demons?” Naoki asked.

“Sorry, I couldn’t get anything yet. But they’re planning their attack for tonight, so it’s now or never.”

Naoki sighed. He looked at the building from a distance.

The SSU’s 9th Squadron was only made up of the four of them, and Hamazaki didn’t fight, so it was really just three.

“I really wish we could’ve gotten some backup…”

“You know how it is. People who can actually use Helel are in short supply. The other squadrons are too busy, and we can’t exactly rely on beat cops for this.”

“Still, this operation’s risky…”

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

Naoki grunted. The apartment building was filled with civilians who could easily get caught up in the chaos. With just three of them, they wouldn’t be able to properly secure the area. Even just fighting and defeating the Ghosts would be risky, considering the nature of their demons was unknown.

However, orders were orders, and if left to their own devices, these terrorists would carry out their plan, so they had to do what they could.

A moment later, Naoki’s phone rang. He picked it up quickly. “Chiaki?”

“Hey. I’m done scouting. All of Yoji’s intel checks out, at least from what I can tell. Right now, they’re making the final preparations for their plan.”

“All right then. Are you guys ready?”

“Yeah…” Yoji responded flatly.

Chiaki nodded. “Of course.”

Naoki called Hamazaki. “We’re in position. Are we clear to begin the operation?”

“You’re clear.” Hamazaki was currently monitoring the mission from his office.

“Okay.” Naoki confidently stepped forward, as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a visor. “Let’s go!”

***

Takeshi looked over the device they had been working on tirelessly for weeks. It was his own design, but Yosuke and Haruto had been the ones to put it together. “You two did all the tests, right?”

“Yup. It all checks out.” Yosuke flipped through a few of the test documents. It was all well within the parameters. “We just need to bring it and Haruto to the cell towers.”

“Good… Very good…” Takeshi got in close, examining every inch of the device.

“Actually, there’s one last thing we should cover…” Yosuke walked over to discuss a finer detail.

But as Takeshi and Yosuke hashed out the specifics, off to the side was Haruto. He was the youngest of the group at only seventeen years old, and he was very nervous. Especially since this entire plan hinged on him.

“Haruto, are you doing all right?” Takeshi had noticed.

“Y-yeah…! It’s just, um…” Haruto looked away.

With a smile, Takeshi walked over and put his hand on Haruto’s shoulder. “Relax, Haruto. Everything’s going to be fine.”

“Yeah, of course…”

Haruto’s resolve hadn’t weakened, per se, but it was hard to keep calm now that the rubber was hitting the road.

But before they could continue, an alarm went off on Yosuke’s laptop.

Immediately, Yosuke went to check it. “Damn it!”

“What is it!” Takeshi ran over.

“I think the SSU’s here. Two guys it looks like. We have to go now!”

Takeshi clenched his fists. “Is it just the two?”

“Probably…”

With a deep breath, Takeshi came up with a plan. He snapped his head around. “Haruto, take the device and get out! Take the fire escape! We’ll hold off the SSU!”

“What!?” Haruto nearly froze.

“You’re the most important person here right now! As long as you make it out, that’s all that matters!”

“Come on, Haruto!” Yosuke joined in. “You have to do this!”

As their pleading eyes burned into him, Haruto’s resolve wavered for a second. However, it quickly hardened, becoming even stronger than before. With a heavy heart, he agreed. “I understand.”

***

Nishikiyama Apartments was a total dump. Not only was it old but also poorly maintained. Peeling wallpaper, stained carpets, and worst of all, a musty smell that persisted throughout the whole building. Naoki couldn’t even imagine living in a place like this.

On the other hand, Yoji seemed completely unbothered. He was used to such dumps, after all.

Naoki stopped at the door at the end of the hall. “Room 508…”

Naoki and Yoji both took out their phones and adjusted their visors. Demons could only be seen through AR, augmented reality, either with phone cameras or ideally specially made visors.

Naoki and Yoji nodded at each other, and with a swipe, Naoki summoned Michael who appeared on his visor.

Fully prepared, Naoki knocked on the door. “This is the Special Security Unit! Please open the door immediately.”

No answer.

Naoki sighed. They could never surrender and make things easy…

With a signal, Naoki told Yoji to stand back.

Silently, he commanded Michael to bust down the door.

With a single powerful kick, Michael knocked the door right off its hinges.

Cautiously, and with Michael watching his back, Naoki entered.

The apartment was as shabby as the rest of the building, although it was clear that it had been used more like a workshop than as lodging.

Naoki kept slowly stepping through the apartment, that was until he stepped into something squishy. Looking down, it appeared to be some kind of clear ooze. It was cold and tacky, and when he tried to pull his foot up, it gripped tight, holding it down.

But before he could even register what was going on, Takeshi Oyama jumped out hiding with his demon behind him. His demon was a figure clad in all black, looking almost like a moving shadow, and in a second, it threw out a flurry of shining projectiles.

Michael immediately came to Naoki’s aid, deflecting the projectiles with his sword, but that only left their flank completely bare.

Naoki heard a rattle, and as he craned his neck to look over his shoulder, he saw Yosuke Tanaka already charging at him, knife raised.