The five huntsmen approached the small reinforced metal hatch that was only a few feet away from the enormous structure.

“And you’re sure this’ll get us inside?” Mia asked, her face reflecting her suspiciousness.

Yuai, Hikaru and Hetomo bore the same expressions, but stood cautiously in silence.

“Of course, of course. I’d never lie to two beautiful women!” Eiduro rubbed his hands together in an aggressively creepy way.

Mia turned to Hikaru. “Oi, are you sure we can trust this guy? He doesn’t exactly give off the trusting vibe.”

Hikaru stood calmly, weighing his options. “It’ll be fine. If he does anything, then we’ll be in the green. After all, it’s four against one.”

Mia nodded, agreeing with his logic.

Hikaru does have a point. If this Eiduro dude tries anything, we should be able to wipe the floor with him easily. He also said that he’s a seventh seat, that’s lower than Hetomo… though, I’d be unseated… Just how strong are Hetomo and Yuai. Am I strong enough to keep up with them? Though, when Hikaru and I were fighting that massive beast in Nomi’s village, he did get his ass beat… I guess there’s a lot I don’t know.

“Mia. Miaaaaaa, Oi. Are you even there? Yep.”

Mia shook her head, regaining her focus.

“Huh? What? Sorry, I must’ve gotten lost in thought.

“That’s like totally okay, but we like have to get going, yep.”

Yuai threw a peace sign and smiled, “We gotta like totally watch that guy, he’s super sus, yep.”

Hetomo chimed in, “Agreed, I wouldn’t trust someone who would wear such an uncool hat like that. He clearly has no sense of style.” Hetomo flipped his hair, “And to be comple-”

The girls continued walking without him.

“Hey wait! I haven’t finished talking.”

Hetomo proceeded to run after them, weeping at the fact of the girl’s lack of interest.

–

Mia and her comrades continued to follow Eiduro down the long, poorly lit corridor, each of them wrapped with suspicion and unease.

Eiduro stopped.

“Well, it was truly fun leading you all here, but alas, this is as far as I can go.” He wrapped his arms around himself in a self-serving manner, “It’s a shame that none of you can see my magnificence, but I must return to my duties.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

And this way I won’t have to deal with that blonde-haired lieutenant giving me the stink-eye. He’s seriously freaking me out… Now that I think about it, I lead them here. I might get some credit for their arrest, and maybe even a promotion!

Eiduro rubbed his hands together, smiling creepily. “Promotion, promotion, promotion.” He whispered.

“What do you mean ‘this is as far as I can go’?” Hikaru gave him the side eye.

“Well, I mustn’t abandon my duties, those duties being outside, not here. I said I’d lead you inside, and well, here we are.”

Eiduro paused for a moment. “Hm, actually, I will do one last thing for you. Would you all be so kind as to look around? You’ll notice that this corridor we’ve been walking down is at a dead end… or?”

The group looked around, noting the dead end in front of them.

Eiduro began walking to the side of the corridor. He held his hand up against a panel in the wall. As he pushed against it, a loud click sound echoed throughout the long expanse. Slowly, after he pressed the now button-panel, a small latch opened, revealing a lever.

“Here we go.” He said.

He continued to pull the lever down in one swift motion.

Rumble.

They could hear the sounds of gears and metal clicking and clacking all around them. Dust fell from the ceiling and the ground began to shake.

“Eiduro Saiichi, what the hell is going on? Explain yourself!” Hikaru stared at him. “This is a trap, isn’t it? Isn’t it!”

“Now, now, calm down, lieutenant. As if I’d ever do such a thing.” This is my ultimate gift to you.”

The group’s facial expressions that were initially filled with suspicion were now bordering a multitude of other emotions. Hikaru was just trying to maintain his balance, Hetomo was holding his mouth to avoid vomiting. Mia and Yuai sat on the ground, embracing each other on the opposite side of the corridor.

“Eiduro, you bastard. What is this shaking?” Hikaru slowly edged towards Eiduro. Menacing energy emanated from the young lieutenant.

“I said before, this is a gift. You said you wanted to go to Seiren, didn’t you? I’m just giving you a very ‘deep’ push.”

“What the-”

“Lieutenant, hold me! This is not cool at all!” Hetomo latched onto Hikaru’s leg with the grasp of an iron clamp.

“Get off of me. Since when does shaking bother you so much?” Hikaru began trying to shove Hetomo off, but to no avail. The ‘only thinking about being cool’ division member had no intentions of letting go.

“Well, you see, I’ve always had issues with shaking… Ever since that day when I was just a semi-cool child. ”

“What? You were on a Seshi earlier??”

“That-that’s different.”

“HOW?”

The shaking worsened and grew more violent.

“Damn it, what’s happening?” Hikaru glanced at the huddled girls. He then returned his gaze to the man who caused this entire ruckus. “Eiduro, when this shaking finished, I’m gonna beat you.”

“Hahahaha! Well lieutenant, when this shaking ends, I imagine that will be rather difficult. I don’t think you’re capable of flying!”

“Flying?”

Suddenly, the floor panel beneath Hikaru and Hetomo shot open.

Hikaru stood in mid-air for a moment. “Oh. Oh, shit.”

“AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Him and Hetomo began plummeting into the pitch-black hole that suddenly appeared beneath them.

Eiduro chuckled to himself, “Goodbye lieutenant of division two.” He looked over and stared at Mia and Yuai. “Oh, I guess I didn’t pull it all the way down. Sorry about that.”

He yanked the lever down, causing the floor panel beneath the girls to suddenly open.

“Kyaaaaaaaah!”

The girls screamed as they fell down into the pitch black abyss.

“Hm, I guess those fugitives have got to see my magnificence after all.” He smiled and turned around. “Well, I best be off. Good luck with your future endeavors! Now to rehearse my promotion-thank-you speech.”