All three of them laugh it off and enjoy a small meal made by Akihiro. Saito and Rinka’s eyes light up as they see the masterpiece created by their friend and dig in. After their meal, Saito, and Akihiro retreat to Saito's bedroom. Akihiro walks around the assorted boxes and takes a seat on a chair nearby Saito’s computer desk. They begin talking.

“Welcome to my room, as you can see, I still haven’t completely finished unpacking and setting things up. But the important things are right over here. I came back with some key things you might love. I made some metal coatings and brought back some high-quality metals you can work with. Bought some iron sand, mercury, and made these gloves thing might help you out. The gloves are laced with powdered metals. I did the same for my bandages so I can block with my right arm and use it as a conductor to help charge my lightning.” Saito says.

[Author’s Note:

Hey, you’re probably wondering what the hell Saito’s talking about. If you didn’t look at the title and tags, this isn’t a regular light novel. Continue with caution. Stick around and find out the fate of our characters.]

Akihiro looks at the materials with bright eyes and puts them down before hugging Saito.

“See as I told you. We really do complete each other. You’re the blacksmith and I’m the mechanic. Most of my inventions could never go well if I didn’t have you. Now we can bring our A-game when we go into battle. Speaking of which, I signed us up for a mission while you were submitting your paperwork at school. We have some time to head over there and start it at the right time.” Akihiro whispers in Saito’s ear.

Saito pulls back and looks at Akihiro in the eyes, about to form tears and questions Akihiro.

“Really? The transfer should take a lot longer to get redeployed after you switch branches. Did you pull some strings for me? And don’t we need a three-man cell to even enter Alter Space?”

“Well, I only briefly asked about it to Director Odama and he was completely on board with it. It did come out of my paycheck though. My cut went towards paying the staff team to remain for a while longer to ensure your documents were handled quickly.” Akihiro says while letting out a needed sigh.

“Seems like I gotta pay you back which reminds me of the money situation I’m going through now. I know how important the money is for you considering how Oyume is suffering.” Saito says as he walks around the room.

“Hey. Don’t worry about it, she’s gonna be okay, I’ll make sure of it. I’ve been very wise with how I manage my money.” Akihiro says while he jumps on Saito’s bed.

“Alright, I’m gonna grab my equipment and a few presents I bought for the others at the base. They asked for souvenirs last time I left and didn't wanna disappoint. Although, it’s probably long overdue since I’ve been gone for six years.” Saito as he runs over to his closet.

Saito finds his bag of equipment and heads downstairs with Akihiro. He tells Rinka, he’s off to work and Rinka wishes them safe travels. Yunyin jumps up to Saito and brushes his face on Saito’s cheek and does the same to Akihiro. They pack up and take the Hibiya line at Hatchobori Station where the two met this morning, towards the Chiyoda City. They leave the Chiyoda line and walk towards a business airport office. They turn the corner to an alleyway and continue to walk through. They come across a vending machine and insert a coin, grabbing a drink and leaning against a moss-covered wall. They enter the moss and emerge in an empty room. Akihiro and Saito touch a tile on the wall and say.

“Manko.”

The small empty room starts sinking into the ground. The room appears to be an elevator and slowly moves downward. As they go down a level, blue lights flicker as they keep descending until they see an illuminated white room with a strange structure that appears to be a warp pad in front of them. They step in the round circle in front of them and lights encircle them. The light flashes and they open their eyes. They see the same warp pad below them, but they appear to be in an illuminated black room. They see the same room as they traveled downwards from. The room goes upwards and red lights flicker as they keep ascending. They come to a stop and the door slides open revealing an artificial waterfall. The rushing water comes to a stop and they exit. They step out of a waterfall fixture and survey the area around them. The pavement before them is none other than the grounds near the Imperial Residence, in the center of Chiyoda.

They appear in front of the Kain-tei building and see a pentagon-like building not too far away.

Akihiro looks over at Saito and says.

“I really think they might’ve wasted too much of the budget for that type of entrance when you can just drive here. But it does keep this place under wraps and we don’t have to keep constantly causing trouble for the Police Dept. Then I guess, I’ll use this pathway more often.”

“That was a whole experience. At the branch in New York, it’s really just a roadway towards a hexagon building floating in the Upper Bay. It’s not too far away from the Statue of Liberty so it’s pretty great at night. See?” Saito says while he whips out his phone.

He opens his phone and opens the map of the five boroughs of New York City.

He zooms in on a landmass near the Statue of Liberty. This Hexagonal Building floating on top of the New York Bay, caught between Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty.

“But isn't it strange to have the base be so close to the public eye? Especially near a tourist location?” Akihiro ponders.

“It was weird at first but considering the gate that opened there made a sinkhole, the public seems to be glad that the hexagon is there. They think we plugged it up, which technically is right. But all they did was built around it and use it as a base to enter Alter Space.” Saito shrugs.

They walk over to the pentagon-shaped building and enter the facility. In front of them, at the entry terminal, they pull out their ID badges and scan them at the entrance gate. They take the escalator upwards and reach the lobby for operations. Many people start clapping for the arrival of their returning colleague, Saito Kazami. Two young girls come over to Saito and Akihiro.

These two girls, Kotone and Yumi, are holding an item in their hand. Kotone, the short, dark-skinned, redhead with straight hair, mixed Black-Asian woman holding a compound archery bow, and Yumi, the tall, fair-skinned, messy blonde Japanese woman holding the Japanese harp instrument named a Koto, contrary to their names.

They both sandwich Saito with a hug, tilting their head with a smile and say.

“Welcome back, Kazami-kun! It hasn’t been too long for us since we saw you at our concert back in New York, when we were on tour.”

“Hey, you two! I’m glad to be back home. Rather than me, I heard when you finished your tour, yall finally proposed to each other. Congrats!” Saito says overjoyed.

“Yup! It’s gonna be later this year. We’ve been preparing so much, it's gonna be amazing I swear. You’re definitely invited. Hell, even propose to Tsubaki there while you’re at it.” Kotone says.

Yumi looks down at Saito and gives him a stern look. She then says.

“I think it’s about time you say something, especially since you’re back and here to stay, right? I swear you guys are just tiptoeing around it.”

Saito embarrassed. Turns around and sees the crowd of people waiting for a response from him. Saito turns to Akihiro and sees Akihiro leaning on a chair trying to whistle his way out of this one. Saito turns back around to the Kotone and Yumi, who are anticipating his answer. Saito sighs and gives his response.

“Look after seeing her this morning, I’m not even sure if she wants me to ask her out or anything of the manner. Plus, work is important to all of us here. Would it really be appropriate to have a relationship at work?”

“Saito. You actually can’t use that excuse as Kotone and I are about to be wedded. Our teamwork has been even better now that we’re open about our feelings.” Yumi says as she facepalms.

“Yeah, you idiot! Don’t makeup excuses like that. If you’re gonna make an excuse, at least make it believable.” Kotone teases.

Akihiro finally enters the conversation with a legible reason.

“Let’s calm down a bit and really think about it. Tsubaki’s dad, Hagakurai would never let her date any regular boy. Dating should be out of the question for Tsubaki.”

“Akihiro, I understand you want to help Saito out of this, but you forgot one thing. Saito’s not a regular boy. He’s the only boy his age that ever stood up to him.” Kotone and Yumi speak in sync.

“Owww. She has a point, Saito. Hagakurai wouldn’t respect someone who couldn’t stand their ground against him in battle or in a debate.” Akihiro says as he retreats.

Saito freezes up and plops himself on a chair, defeated.

“Aww Saito, we didn’t mean to break you. We just want you to confess to her already. Since you guys met, you’ve been in love with each other. Take the shot.” Kotone says as she bends down in front of the boy.

Akihiro looks at the time on his phone and before he can utter a word. The PA interrupts him.

“Welcome back, Saito Kazami. I hope you are doing well, you’ve been issued a survey mission by the Director. Suit up and head to the transporter room so you can enter into Alter Space, with Akihiro Nekomaki and Tsubaki Tsukiko. ETA: 5 MINUTES.”

“They beat me to it. However, they’re right. Let’s head over to the lockers quickly.” Akihiro says as he starts walking.

They head to the men’s lockers and suit up in their gear. Akihiro suited in a black spandex top with an opening for his belly button. Over the spandex, he wears a brown tactical vest that stops at his ribcage. On his arms, he wears elbow padded arm sleeves. His bottom attire consists of a tattered hakama that looks like shorts, and spandex shorts leading to his ninja tabi. Putting on his newly received gloves from his partner who’s also dressing.

Saito wears a blue short sleeves coat that ends at his waist. Under the coat, he wears a black styled karate gi with a crescent moon-like style pattern. He wears a navy blue padded glove on his left hand and adjusts his bandages on his right arm. His bottom half, he wears shinobi pants and sleek stylized recon boots with metal tips and heels. He wraps heavy athletic tape over his shins and boots. They rush over to the transport room, the metal doors slide open and they see an abnormally large room equivalent to a large auditorium. The first thing they see is a small tear in the air, surrounded by robotic arms kneading a laser-like thread, opening it slightly inside of a vacuum chamber that can fit up to eight people. Behind the vacuum chamber, many widescreen monitors display grids, maps, and calculations that flood each screen. Looking upwards, people are sitting at their stations, typing fast calculations, and signaling to each other that they’re ready to proceed. Along the walls, seats are arrayed and we see Tsubaki seated, waiting there in her battle attire.

Tsubaki adorns a stylized karate gi in the shape of a crop top with one sleeve. On her right arm, she wears the sleeve of her two-colored kimono that sits on her waist held by a belt. On her arm, she has an arm sleeve. Her wrists adorned with a bracelet on each wrist, the left being a triangular block of flint, the right being a rose gold tinted iron bangle. She wears purple pumpkin pants, with plum-colored tights. Her iron boots are custom made with flexible metals, padded over each other like Suneates.

All three of them sit in awkward silence along the wall and wait for the announcement.

“Expanding the GATE to Alter Space for three operatives. Step towards the chamber and press the button to receive the weapons and other fighting equipment you submitted. Along with your equipment, please rip off the adhesive on your communication device and place behind your neck After taking your additional equipment, equip it and wait in front of the door until I tell you to enter.”

The trio looks at each other and loosens themselves up to check if anything isn’t sturdy. Akihiro glances at Saito, and they both respond with a nod. Saito and Akihiro turn to Tsubaki, and she immediately folds her arms and turns the other way. The PA begins the countdown.

“Stay alert. We will countdown and you will enter the chamber and step through the gate.

10 seconds till opening.

5 seconds till opening.

3.

2.

1.

Enter.”