Field trip!
The Ayase Residence was, for once, unusually quiet. Evening had fallen, and the sun’s setting rays painted the sky with a soft pink glow that stretched from the distant horizon right up to the house. Every surface, from the sprawling grounds to the sturdy walls, basked in this warm, gentle haze. Birds chirped and chittered softly nearby, while a light breeze rustled through the leaves, crafting a soothing backdrop that seemed to calm the hearts of anyone fortunate enough to see it.
The shrine, much like the house itself, remained impeccably maintained, its timeless charm untouched. In the dimming light, it appeared even older and more mystical, as green foliage intertwined with weathered gray stones beneath the deepening twilight. The faint aroma of curry drifted lazily through the Ayase Residence, blending seamlessly with the tranquil scene.
Inside, Momo stood at the kitchen counter, her animated conversation with Granny Seiko filling the room with warmth. A bright, genuine smile illuminated her face as she eagerly described an exciting event planned for the end of the month, the anticipation clear in her tone. Ken sat in the living room, happily enjoying the half-eaten curry Momo had handed him.
A firm knock on the front door cut through the otherwise serene atmosphere, drawing the trio from their usual evening activities. “I’ll get it,” Seiko said, setting down the pot she had been cleaning.
She walked over to the door and answered it, the two teens locked on her as she did so. They could just barely see someone speaking to Seiko. From what Ken could see, it looked like a man, tall and built like a brick wall. He appeared to be dressed in some sort of uniform, something akin to what a soldier or agent would wear. There was some sort of silver badge or emblem pinned to his chest, just over his right bicep. It was vaguely shaped like some sort of shield. The idea that someone from the government was here made Ken feel uneasy. Unfortunately, the front door was just out of earshot. Seiko’s conversation with the man couldn’t be heard clearly. Though if Ken really strained, he could hear the tension in the man’s voice. Seiko responded with her own indiscernible tone. She occasionally shot a glance back at Momo, then sometimes at Ken, as if silently debating something. The conversation briefly paused when Seiko asked something, to which the man turned and spoke with someone standing just out of sight.
After a moment, the man turned back to her and nodded, then turned and stepped back outside. Seiko returned to the living room with a serious expression on her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her jaw was set in a tight line. “Come on,” she said, gesturing for Momo and Ken to get up. “We’re heading out.”
Momo stood up and looked at her grandmother with wide eyes, while Ken simply tensed. “Right now?” she asked incredulously. It was the evening, almost nighttime now. There was no reason to be leaving this late in the day. Besides, Momo had already changed into her pajamas, as had Ken, who’d been planning to stay the night.
“Yes, right now.” That was Seiko’s only response. She gave Momo a look that told her to listen and do anything but argue with her. Any rebuttals Momo had died instantly on her tongue.
She huffed, crossing her arms. “Fine.”
Seiko, sensing her granddaughter’s reluctant obedience, sighed. “Look, I’ll explain everything later. You’ve just got to trust me on this. Oh, and Four Eyes,” she then pointed a lazy finger at Ken. “You’re coming with us.”
Ken froze at that statement. He tensed even more, almost as if preparing for the worst. He could tell that this was something serious—something that, despite his efforts to reason with himself, allowed a sense of unease to settle in his gut. He looked like he wanted to argue, but upon being leveled with the same glare that Momo had faced, he decided against it. Not like he had any reason to stay behind. His parents were out of the city (like always), he didn’t have any other friends, and he basically lived alone at the ripe old age of fifteen.
Faced with no other options or potential excuses, he agreed. “Alright.”
So, still in their pajamas, the trio stepped outside. Momo and Ken looked slightly disheveled, but no one commented on their appearances this late into the evening. Outside the house stood a group of what Ken assumed were agents. All of them were dressed in the same uniform as the man from earlier, some with a badge that others lacked. Each one bore a serious yet unreadable expression. The man gestured for the trio to follow him, then turned and headed toward the nearby rice fields. The cool night air brushed against their skin as they followed silently, the only sounds coming from the soft crunch of their footsteps on the dewy grass and the distant chirping of crickets. The moon hung low, casting a pale silver light over the neatly arranged paddies. Momo glanced back briefly at the Ayase Residence, its warm lights still glowing softly through the darkness. She wished she could go crawl under the covers and fall asleep. Judging by Ken’s exhausted expression, he was likely thinking the same thing.
Ken’s senses pricked with unease — this was no ordinary midnight errand. The agents moved with disciplined purpose, conversation virtually nonexistent between them. As they reached the edge of the farthest field, something large and metallic came into view. It was a helicopter of some sort, large enough to fit at least six people inside, not including the pilot or co-pilot. Its black paint and rotor blades reflected almost no light, the sun having fully set by now. It was... surprisingly intimidating for a piece of machinery.
The man turned to face the trio, his expression remaining stoic and his posture tense. He gestured toward the helicopter. “Get in.”
The trio carefully climbed into the helicopter, with the two teenagers receiving a bit of help from the agents. Once they were strapped in, the man and his team climbed in afterward, sitting down in their own seats. One of the agents pulled the door shut behind them. The soft clicking of buttons could be heard as the pilot prepared for takeoff. It was not long before they were up in the air, soaring through the skies toward their destination—wherever that might be. The rice fields—and Kamigoe City, by extension—looked tiny from such great heights. The foliage took on a more bluish-green hue in the moonlight, with the shadows becoming far more pronounced. The gentle sounds of the wind and chirping of the birds could no longer be heard over the sound of the rotor blades.
As they flew, Ken could not help but feel anxious. He had no idea where they were going or why they were being taken in the first place. Normally, he might have chalked this up to someone catching wind of his interest in aliens, potentially linking him (and possibly Momo) to the Serpo’s recent appearances. But this late at night, he was inclined to think otherwise—especially since it seemed like these agents were more interested in Seiko than they were in him or Momo. He didn’t know what exactly they wanted, but he certainly hoped it was not anything… unfavorable.