Chapter: The Headquarters
Morning sunlight filled the massive hall as Ayu walked ahead of the team with calm steps.
"Follow me," he said.
Shadow, Kaito, Miko, Milosevic, and Yoi walked behind him, observing everything carefully. The headquarters was far bigger from inside than it looked from outside. The walls were clean, metallic, and reinforced. The place didn't feel like a home.
It felt like a system.
They entered the first large section.
"This," Ayu said, "is the Training Hall."
The room was enormous. Different sections were marked across the floor. Combat zones. Obstacle areas. Target walls. Reinforced pillars for impact testing.
Kaito's eyes lit up. "We can go all out here?"
"Yes," Ayu replied. "This place is built to withstand your powers. If you cannot control your abilities here, you cannot control them outside."
Shadow walked silently across the floor, noticing small cameras placed in corners.
Milosevic noticed them too. "Monitoring system?"
Ayu nodded. "Every movement here is recorded. You will rewatch your own fights and learn from mistakes."
They moved ahead.
Next was a quieter room filled with screens, maps, and digital panels.
"This is the Analysis Room."
Milosevic stepped forward instinctively.
"Crime reports, city layout, emergency alerts, government communication line," Ayu explained. "Before fighting, we think here."
Yoi leaned on a desk. "So this is where the boring part happens."
"This is where battles are won before they begin," Ayu corrected.
They walked down a corridor.
A heavy door opened into a medical bay.
White walls. Equipment. Stretchers. Storage of supplies.
Miko looked around carefully.
"This is where you will work the most," Ayu told her gently. "Healing is more important than fighting."
She nodded seriously.
Next, they entered a weapons and equipment section.
Racks of gear. Protective suits. Communication devices. Utility belts.
Yoi whistled. "Now this is nice."
Ayu picked up a small earpiece.
"These are communicators. During missions, you stay connected. No one acts alone."
He looked at Shadow specifically.
"No matter how confident you are."
Shadow gave a slight nod.
They moved again.
Ayu stopped in front of a large digital board mounted on the wall.
"This is the Mission Board."
Empty for now.
"But soon, this will not stay empty."
He turned to them.
"Small robberies. Missing people. Monster sightings. Government requests. We don't choose missions based on fame."
He tapped the board.
"We choose based on need."
They continued walking.
They passed a kitchen and common dining area.
"This is where you talk," Ayu said. "A team that doesn't speak outside missions will fall apart during missions."
Kaito smiled. "So food is also training?"
"Yes," Ayu replied calmly. "In a way."
Finally, they returned to the central hall where they started.
Ayu turned to face them.
"This headquarters is not for comfort."
He looked around.
"It exists so that you can improve, plan, heal, prepare, and think."
He paused.
"A hero who only knows how to fight is dangerous."
Silence filled the hall as everyone absorbed his words.
Ayu finished quietly.
"This place will shape you… if you let it."
For the first time, the team didn't see the headquarters as a building.
They saw it as the place where they would slowly become heroes.