Another World

Roughly half an hour had passed since the group exited their imprisonment. Sato initially tried to break away from the masses, aware that the civilians beside him were liabilities. His plans failed swiftly.

Murmurs had arisen from the group as he attempted to slip away. They looked on as the only man with actual combat experience set off without them, and panic spread like wildfire. It wasn't long before they were on him like flies to a trash heap, clinging to his every move.

'I should've known this would happen,' Sato thought with slumped shoulders. He looked back and scowled at his countrymen's mindless grins as he walked down the decrepit halls.

"Frustrating..." he muttered. 

Despite his annoyance, the soldier made no attempt to cast them aside. 'I can't worry about them now. I need to focus on getting out of here.'

A plan which was easier said than done. 

Thanks to the labyrinthine halls stretching ahead and a lack of mounted floor plans or windows, the soldier had no idea which way could lead to freedom. He could've been on the ground floor or a hundred meters in the air, it was simply impossible to tell. 

The only option was to pick routes at random, hoping one would lead to the outside.

'There can only be so many doors in this place. I'll get the right one eventually,' Sato groaned.

Meanwhile, his thoughts were broken by a loud gasp from the crowd behind him.

"Duuuuude, how'd you do that?! You gotta tell me!"

"Yeah! That was badass!" another chimed in.

Sato turned his head to see Takagi had become the center of attention. The soldier's countrymen were swarming around him, chattering away with unending questions.

"Leave me alone, you damn gnats!" Takagi snarled in response. He swatted at them like bugs as he pushed forward. "I've got nothing to say to any of you!"

"Come on! Pleaseeeee!"

"You gotta tell us!"

Over and over, Takagi growled and roared in various ways to say "No." Within every refusal, he wove creative ways to insult those around him, but the group's persistence never tired. It wasn't long before Takagi's will to fight was ground down into defeat.

By the time the group had reached the bottom of a long set of winding stairs, Takagi let out a loud and frustrated sigh.

"Alright! Fine! You're all just so…annoying. Listen up! I'm only saying this once. Anyone who asks me again is getting thrown out the window, got it?!"

One from the group raised a hand timidly and asked, "Um… There are no windows, thou-"

"SHUT UP!" Takagi snapped with bared fangs. "You know what I meant! Ask another dumb question and I'll use your body to make one!"

"Th-That wasn't a ques-"

"Keep going," Takagi said, his eyes twitching with fury as he stared at the questioner.

"O-Okay! I'll stop! I'm sorry!"

"That's what I thought. Now…" Takagi took a deep breath and halted in place, glaring at the eager faces surrounding him. 

The audience followed suit and stopped dead in their tracks, watching with pure excitement gleaming in their eyes. 

'I guess it couldn't hurt to listen,' Sato shrugged and leaned against a wall. He crossed his arms over his chest and thought, 'I doubt this'll go anywhere, but might as well.'

"Okay… So… All you idiots have to do is lift your leg," Takagi paused. He lifted his right leg into position and made a kicking motion. "Then shout 'Get the hell out of my way!' as loud as you can in your mind and push it forward as hard as you can. Let nothing stand in your way, got it? Alright?! I won't say it again, so stop pestering me!"

A moment of silence fell over the crowd as Sato's countrymen exchanged dissatisfied, dead-fish stares.

Takagi looked around at the rabble and grunted, "What? You guys didn't like my explanation? Well, too bad! Get better and get outta my way!" He shoved through the sea of spectators, frozen by surprise, and headed toward Sato. As the others followed, murmurs of varied reactions rippled through the crowd.

"Could it really be that easy? He literally just described how to kick..." one muttered.

"Doubt it," another said. "I bet the kid just doesn't wanna share with us. Little brat."

One shifted his head up with a smile. The light of understanding shining from his face almost revealed an invisible light bulb hovering over his head.

"No no, maybe I get it! Maybe it's about feeling, you know? Maybe that's what he meant!"

"Yuh huh. Go ahead and try it then," a girl replied in a sarcastic tone.

"Uh… I'll get back to you on that."

Sato scoffed to himself as he watched Takagi and the others approach. 'Figures. I was right to not expect much.' He shook his head and started back down the hallway.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps echoed from the crowd as Tachibana approached Takagi. Ultimately, the fiery-red haired boy stopped just beside him.

"Stop lying to everyone!" he shouted, pointing accusingly. "Just admit you used magic already!"

"Huh? Of course I didn't use magic," the punk replied while dismissively waving his hand. "Are you stupid? That doesn't exist, moron."

"It does too! Didn't you listen to anything that old guy was saying?!"

Takagi stared vacantly ahead, digging into his ear with his pinky. "Huh? I wasn't listening to you. I only pay attention to those worth my time."

Tachibana's cheeks reddened with frustration. He raised his hands in exasperation and swore, "Gah! You're such an ass!"

"Ohhhh, big words for a lemming too scared to fight. You sure you wanna go down this road again?"

The two began to loudly bicker and growl at one another. As they did, a frustrated Agawa could be seen amongst the crowd..

"So stupid and immature," she mumbled to herself. She picked up her pace and quickly walked past them as if to avoid an imminent landslide.

Unlike her, the crowd's attention shifted entirely to the punk's and red hair's escalating confrontation. Some watched in amusement, almost egging them on, while others sighed and backed away, anticipating a physical altercation.

Still, Sato was too deep in thought to care. As the two teens growled at one another, the soldier furrowed his brow, considering the strange events.

'Magic or not, there's no doubt what Takagi and the old man did was similar. Those weird lights were too close in likeness for that to be disputed. So what could the two have done? If they're capable of whatever that was, does that mean I am, too?'

The soldier parted from his internal deliberations and looked ahead. A smirk began to curve on his lips.

'Who knows. But that's not important right now. What is,' he gazed forward to see a massive door encased in carved stone that lay just ahead at the end of the hall. It was different from every other he'd encountered thus far, giving it an exciting significance, 'is right in front of me.'

The rest of Sato's countrymen saw it too. They all hushed with bated breaths while trailing close behind. Even Takagi and Tachibana ceased their bickering as they grew closer.

Anxious breaths and uneasy whispers were all that could be heard now. Even so, the group pushed on - spurred forth by their incessant curiosity in spite of their fear.

Now upon the door, its gargantuan stature even larger up close, Takagi narrowed his eyes with a smug sense of pride.

"Heh, guess I get to break another," he said while cracking his knuckles.

"Pfft, good luck," Tachibana taunted. "You gonna use more magic to do it?."

"Nope. Doesn't exist. I'll kick it though."

However, as it turned out, there was no need for brute force. Sato reached for the door handle to find it was never locked. He pushed forward and felt the vibration of the door's internal mechanism as it ground against wood.

"Hehehe, too bad for you, Mr. Delinquent," Agawa giggled.

"Hmph… Whatever." Takagi turned away and crossed his arms in a pout. "I'm sure it would've gone down too easily, anyway."

'I don't know about that,' Sato thought through gritted teeth. Even unlocked, the door proved an unyielding obstacle, requiring more elbow grease than the soldier cared to admit. He pushed with all his might, veins pulsating against his skin, and boots scraping against the floor.

'Why is it so damn difficult to open?' the soldier seethed. 'It's a door, right? Not a wall painted like one?!'

A pair of hands appeared beside Sato's. He turned to see the delinquent's strained face as he pushed against the door.

"Heh, struggling huh? I'll help out, so you better be grateful!"

"Sure, sure. I'll sing your praises once we get it open," Sato tiredly snarked.

Even with their combined effort, the door seemed unyielding. The soldier could almost hear it laughing at his effort as he leveraged his entire body weight against it. It was only after two others joined in that their labors began to bear fruit. 

Slowly, the door was giving way.

"J-Just…a little…more…" the soldier groaned.

The punk chuckled and snidely replied, "H-Heh… I'd ex…pect more from someone like you. You w-waiting for an order or something? Here: put y-your back into it…lemming."

"Yes, sir," Sato remarked and rolled his eyes.

Then, the impossible happened. As another person joined in to push, the door's resistance fully faded as momentum carried it forward. The groaning of aged wood paired with the squealing of unoiled hinges resounded through the hall.

"Damn, too loud,' Sato cursed as he heaved. He had wanted to be quieter and maintain the element of surprise. After all, 'I've no idea what's waiting for us on the other side.'

Finally, the obstruction swung open completely, exposing the soldier and his countrymen to an assailant waiting in ambush: the gilded rays of an afternoon Sun.

'So bright,' Sato thought as he shielded his eyes. A thought that was interrupted by a loud celebration behind him.

"We're outside! We made it!"

"Hell yeah!"

"This is it! Our first step to going home! I can't wait!"

Each group member expressed themselves with boisterous excitement. Something which deeply frustrated Sato.

'Yeah. Let's be sure to let everyone know we broke out from captivity. Maybe even send a postcard. Now that is a good plan.'

By the tenth gasp, his patience had utterly evaporated.

"Hey…" Sato turned to his countrymen with lips curved into a twitching half-grin. He was disciplined well enough not to be openly hostile with civilians, but a tinge of passive-aggressiveness still leaked through. "Why don't we all calm down and keep quiet, alright? There's no telling who might be out here, so it's wise to stay cautious."

Tachibana swiveled his head toward Sato and laughed.

"What? Are you serious? Why would we do that? We're heroes! We should be flaunting ourselves with pride and act the part!"

His attitude already reeked of superiority and arrogance. Sato's expression twisted into a subtle grimace as he returned the kid's gaze.

'He's letting everything go to his head. Ugh…'

Doing his best to remain professional, the soldier took a brief breath. Then, in an authoritative and stern tone, he said, "Just. Stay. Quiet. Alright?"

The group fidgeted among themselves with uneasy glances. Various murmurs of discussion sounded as they considered whether or not to follow Sato's command.

'They really don't understand, do they? Maybe they need a reminder.'

Sato crossed his arms with a smirk of smug satisfaction splitting his face.

"You know…" he paused and chuckled. "...none of you have to follow me. It's either go off on your own and hope for the best, or listen to what I say. I don't mind which you choose. But choose one and stick with it."

"..."

Suddenly, the crowd went quiet and hung their heads low. None spoke against Sato's ultimatum, not until Tachibana stepped forward.

"Uh, we'll listen to you," he nodded in submission. Then, like sheep to a shepherd, the rest of Sato's countrymen followed suit.

"Y-Yeah… You probably know best. Sorry."

"We won't be loud again, Sir. Just tell us what to do."

"Uh huh," Sato replied with impatience.

Meanwhile, he could spot a smiling Takagi in his periphery. The punk had his gaze fixed upon Sato with a wide smile.

'Great. He better not try for a fight. I'm out of patience,' the soldier tiredly sighed to himself.

Only a fight wasn't what was on the punk's mind.

'I think I might like you a little, Soldier Guy. You could make a useful underling,' he thought while professing his complete respect. 

Upon one last wary glance, Sato turned away from the punk. 'I can't let him distract me. I've got a million problems already.'

One of which was discerning his location.

Sato focused his senses on the scene surrounding him.

There was an incessant buzzing of local insects. The rustling of branches as the billowing winds blew through them echoed over the landscape. A strange animal's low-pitched shriek resounded from the distant hills, and a pleasingly aromatic earthy scent laced the breeze.

There were no city skylines, only the green canopy of towering pine trees. No reflections off the windshields of distant automobiles, not even the gray of paved roads. The very word "modern life" appeared to be a fictional concept within this place of vast and untamed overgrowth.

Sato brought a hand to his chin in wonder.

'Another world…huh?'

He paused and stared outward to absorb the landscape. Then, with a frustrated sigh, the soldier chuckled to himself.

"What the hell… It might actually be true."

That's when one of Sato's countrymen loudly gasped and pointed a finger toward the right flank, startling the soldier from his thoughts.

"Hey, look! I think it's those summoner guys! They're over there!"

"What is it?! Where?!" another loudly exclaimed.

More members averted their stares to see a group of hooded figures standing several yards away. Likewise, thanks to the commotion, the figures spotted Sato and his countrymen.

They nodded to one another, then began a steady approach.

'So much for staying quiet,' Sato narrowed his eyes and scoffed at the countrymen to his side. 'People just never listen.'

The consequence of their recklessness was quickly closing in, leading Sato's countrymen to grow increasingly nervous. They winced with each step the figures took closer.

"Uh, is this bad? Will they be mad?" one of Sato's countrymen nervously asked.

"They definitely will! We weren't supposed to leave that room! What if they attack us?!"

"Nooooo! You guys are all worrying about nothing. We're heroes, remember?" Tachibana laughed with a nonchalant smile. "They wouldn't be mad about that. It's not our fault that we can't help our curiosity!"

"No? What about the door?! They're gonna be pissed about it!"

"Stop worrying. It was ancient, anyway. The thing was bound to fall off, one way or another."

"Are you stupid?! You're being too reckless!"

"And you're being too much of a coward! Just smile and look the part!"

Like every group in a tense situation, it split down the middle with two factions.

One dreaded the approaching strangers with bated breath, characterized by caution. The other maintained an air of casual arrogance, completely disregarding the possibility of consequences, led by none other than Tachibana himself.

Tensions between the two had grown to an apex by the time the figures were in speaking distance.

"Ohohoho, you heroes are certainly a cheerful bunch!" the middle-most figure exclaimed through the arguing. It ceased as he spoke his next words. "We could hear you from quite a distance! I'm glad to see our saviors have so much vigor in their blood! It will certainly please your hosts, no doubt!"

The group didn't respond. Instead, they tightened their formation, even the ones who'd preached that worrying wasn't necessary.

Only one was left to confront the figures at the forefront.

Like oil on water, Sato was shifted forward as the group's reluctant ambassador. An unwilling shield for his countrymen to retreat behind.

The soldier looked back toward the group behind him, his brow twitching with frustration. 'So what? I'm the leader now? What about Tachibana? I guess he's the boss until things get dirty. Figures.'

The soldier turned back to the figures and rolled his eyes, muttering "cowards" beneath his breath. Then, he braced himself: he spread his feet apart for a quick reaction, his muscles tensing as he prepared for any sudden movements.

'Let's just get this over with,' Sato thought. His eyes were locked upon the figures and his muscles tensed. He was ready for anything. 'Guess I'm dealing with them alone.'

That's when two others approached Sato on either side. Takagi sauntered up to the right, and a confident Tachibana stepped to the left.

"Heh… Guess the rest of 'em don't like a little fun," Takagi curved his lips into a bladed grin toward Sato. "We don't need them. I think you and I have got this. We'll bury these weirdos, no problem."

Tachibana leaned forward to look past Sato toward Takagi. His eyes widened with worry and desperation as he loudly whispered, "Bury? Are you insane? These guys are friends! Don't even think about fighting them!"

Takagi flexed an arm and bared his teeth toward Tachibana. "Pfffft! Like I'd listen to you! I'll start a fight if I want to. I don't smile and wag my tail for someone because they said some nice words. You're just a lapdog waiting for praise."

"Wh-What?!" Tachibana recoiled from the insult then shot Takagi with the most insulted look. "I'm not! I'm just accepting my position as a proud hero, that's all! It's not surprising a delinquent can't understand being heroic. I bet you've been an outcast all your life!"

For the briefest of moments, Takagi froze. His face was caught between two expressions: deep anger and shock. His glare at Tachibana, though not openly hostile, carried with it a cold fury.

But, surprisingly, the punk made no move toward Tachibana. Rather than attack, he simply rebuked, "Shut up… You don't know what you're talking about," before focusing back on the figures.

"Huh? Did that strike a nerve?" Tachibana sneered.

The punk shook his head and took a breath, visibly regaining the composure he'd lost. Once calm, he looked at Tachibana and continued with his usual belittling tone.

"No. And keep barking, little dog. Bark, bark. So long as you stay out of my way, I don't care what you do."

"You…" Tachibana narrowed his eyes, his lips twitching with obvious irritation. But, in the end, he took a deep breath and muttered, "Nope. Not now. Not in front of our summoners," to himself. 

'I can't let that guy get to me. I have to make a good impression if I want the best starting conditions. I need my starter gear!'

With that, Tachibana straightened his posture and looked ahead with a serious expression, like a cadet awaiting their sergeant's arrival.

Meanwhile, Sato uneasily sighed.

'So, I have two bickering kids at my side to back me up. I'd say it's "better than nothing," but I'm not too sure. Hopefully, things end well.'