Chapter 12 - "First Run"
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The alarms hit like a slap.
Red lights flashing everywhere, sirens screaming through the corridors. Students started moving fast—organized, no panic, like they'd drilled this a hundred times.
I was still in my room, half-dressed after the morning routine, when the door burst open.
Akane. Full combat gear, sidearm holstered, face serious.
"Mana monster breach. Sector 9 perimeter. Level 4. Shiraishi Rei and Tachibana Mio are deploying. You're going with them."
I stared. "Me? You said combat was just self-defense. Why am I—"
"High-value asset protocol," she cut in. "If the breach escalates, you need to be secured in a combat unit. Move."
*Self-defense my ass. They're throwing me at monsters now?*
No time to argue. I yanked on the combat pants and boots she tossed me and followed her out.
The halls were controlled chaos. Girls in tactical gear running to stations. Drones humming overhead. And everyone kept glancing at me like I was a walking bomb.
Outside the dorm wing, I nearly ran straight into Ren.
He was heading the opposite way, those same two girls trailing behind him, looking annoyed that their schedule got interrupted.
"Yo," Ren said, slowing. "You too?"
"Apparently."
He grimaced. "This is the part I hate most. Everything else is fine, but getting shoved into a cockpit while giant mana freaks try to eat you? Not my vibe."
One of the girls tugged his sleeve. "Ren, shelter—"
"Yeah, yeah. Go on. Duty calls."
He clapped me on the shoulder. "Don't die on your first run, newbie. See you after."
Then he jogged off toward another hangar bay.
Akane didn't let me stop. She marched me straight to the deployment hangar—massive space, rows of combat mechs standing like silent giants, glowing blue lines running across their armor.
Rei and Mio were already there.
Rei in black tactical gear, silver hair tied tight, expression cold and focused. Mio in lighter yellow-trimmed suit, ponytail bouncing, looking excited despite the alarms.
Akane handed me a headset. "Unit 03. Tachibana Mio is internal partner. Shiraishi Rei is external support."
"Internal…?" I started.
No answer. Mio grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward one of the mechs—fifteen meters tall, humanoid, chest hatch already open.
"Get in," Mio said, climbing up first. "Strap tight."
I followed. The cockpit was small. Two seats side by side. Screens, controls, barely any room to move.
I sat. Mio dropped into the pilot seat right next to me. Our shoulders touched. Thighs pressed together. No space at all.
The hatch sealed. The mech hummed awake.
Outside view showed Rei leaping onto a hover platform, rifle ready, positioning herself ahead.
Mio's hands flew over the controls. The robot took a smooth step forward.
I gripped the armrests. "So… we just fight the monster?"
"Pretty much," Mio said, voice bright. "You handle shields and targeting assist. I pilot. Rei covers us from outside."
She glanced at me, cheeks a little pink.
"First time riding with a male partner," she added quietly. "Usually it's all girls. The sync rate's supposed to be… higher with a guy inside."
I felt heat crawl up my neck. The cockpit was warm. Too warm. And she was right there—close enough that I could smell her shampoo mixed with metal and ozone.
"Sync rate," I muttered. "Right."
Mio grinned. "Don't worry. I'll be gentle."
The mech stepped out of the hangar into open ground.
In the distance, something roared—deep, distorted, mana energy crackling like lightning.
Rei's voice came over comms, calm and steady. "Target acquired. Engaging."
I swallowed hard.
First real fight.
First time in a giant robot.
First time this close to Mio.
I had a feeling this "ride" was going to stay with me for a while.
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*End*