The doors closed, sealing out the dead world. The elevator began to descend, plunging them into the earth. Once the roof of the elevator was level with the surface, a mechanical layer of soil and debris slid back over the top, hiding the entrance from any wandering Reapers.
Slowly, they continued descending deeper into the dark.
Takashi stood near the back door of the vehicle, his muscles tensed under Nitsuki's weight. Sami, Nayashiki, Yakuzo, and Kento sat on the benches, while the military man and driver stayed up front.
"Finally, we'll get some relief from this hell—at least for a while," Nayashiki said, leaning her head against the wall.
"Yeah," Yakuzo added, "but we can't spend our whole lives hiding like this. We'll have to fight back eventually."
Sami looked at the metal floor. "Agreed. We should take some time to rest, gather more information, and then make a proper plan."
As they spoke, Yakuzo's eyes drifted toward the teenagers. He looked at Sami, Takashi, Kento, and the unconscious Nitsuki with a growing sense of suspicion.
"Hmm… where did these four come from?" Yakuzo thought. "And why are they taking the Soul Apocalypse so seriously so quickly? I mean, we still can't fully understand what's going on, but they… they're in a completely different mindset."
Yakuzo decided to break the silence. "So… where did you all come from? I'm Yakuzo. I'm a guy from Shibuya. I lost my parents in this Soul Apocalypse."
Sami looked at him, her expression softening with empathy. "I am Sami. I came from Tokyo. I also lost my family in this Soul Apocalypse."
"Ohh… sorry," Yakuzo muttered.
"It's okay," Sami replied.
Yakuzo then turned his gaze to Takashi, who was staring straight ahead. "So, tell me about yours."
"I am Takashi. I am also from Tokyo," he said, his voice flat.
"And what about your family?" Yakuzo pushed.
Takashi didn't say a word. The silence stretched out, becoming heavy and uncomfortable. He didn't even blink. Seeing that Takashi wasn't going to answer, Yakuzo fell silent for a moment, feeling the weight of the boy's grief.
Sami leaned over toward Yakuzo. "Umm.. Sorry. Never mind. Don't ask him about his family."
"Oh, I see. I won't. I am sorry," Yakuzo whispered.
Finally, Yakuzo looked at Kento. He raised his eyebrows, signaling with a nod. "Now you speak."
Kento looked at him with a frown. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Umm, if you don't mind, can you tell me about you?"
"About me?" Kento said, blinking. "I am a boy."
Yakuzo stared at him. "...…"
Kento stared back. "...…"
"I know that!" Yakuzo snapped, exasperated. "But can you tell me where you are from? And about your family?"
"Huh. I am also from Tokyo," Kento said, his voice losing its playful edge. "And.... I don't have any family."
Sami's head snapped toward Kento, her eyes wide with surprise. "Really?"
"Really what?" Kento shot back, his eyes flashing with irritation. "Don't talk with me on this topic."
"Ahh, sorry," Sami said, looking away quickly.
Takashi was secretly watching Kento from the corner of his eye. He felt a strange pull of recognition, relating to the cold, empty space Kento was clearly guarding.
Suddenly, the military man stood up, checking a monitor on the wall. "We are almost there."
The elevator slowed, a final chime ringing through the cabin. The doors hissed open, and as they pulled the vehicle out into the vast open space, the teenagers froze.
Beneath the destroyed crust of Kyoto, a separate, glowing underground city had been established. Rows of houses, bustling shops, and a massive hospital with a glowing red cross dominated the landscape. It was a world they hadn't believed could exist anymore.
The elevator doors opened, and the group was met with a sight that defied the nightmare of the world above. Stretching as far as the eye could see was a fully functional, underground metropolis. Neon signs flickered over storefronts, rows of residential blocks were carved into the rock, and a massive hospital stood as a beacon of sterile white light in the center.
"OHHHH MY GOD!!!!!!" Kento shouted, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "How is this possible? A whole new city down here!"
The military man let out a booming laugh, clearly enjoying their shock. "Hahaha, our engineers really outdid themselves, didn't they? This is humanity's last stand. Alright, enough staring. First, let's take your friend to the hospital."
"Yeah," Takashi said, his voice returning to its serious tone. "Go there first."
Nayashiki and Yakuzo were equally stunned, their mouths hanging open. "I never expected this," Nayashiki whispered.
"Yeah, me neither," Yakuzo added. "This is… it's too much to take in at once."
As they drove through the streets toward the medical center, Kento's head was on a swivel. "Whoa… I'm definitely going to find some delicious food here! Look at those shops!"
Sami looked at him with a tired but firm expression. "Yeah, yeah, Kento. But our first priority is Nitsuki. We go to the hospital. Then we eat."
Kento slumped back, muttering to himself. "Ahh, okay, okay!"
The vehicle arrived at the entrance of the hospital—a building that looked as clean and modern as any in pre-apocalypse Tokyo. Everyone climbed out, though the driver stayed behind the wheel.
"Follow me, everyone," the military man commanded.
"ROGER!" the group shouted in unison. The soldier smiled a little at their enthusiasm as he led them through the automatic glass doors and into the sterile, white halls.
As they walked, Nayashiki leaned in toward Sami. "By the way, Sami, you didn't tell us about your friend Nitsuki. What's his story?"
Sami's expression darkened. "Nitsuki? His situation is the same as mine. He lost his family… so brutally. He's been through so much."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Nayashiki said softly. "It must have been so hard for him."
"Yeah," Sami sighed. "By the way, you didn't tell me about yours either."
Nayashiki gave a small, sad smile. "Oh, really? I must have forgotten. I'm Yakuzo's sister."
Sami blinked in surprise. "Oh! So you two are siblings."
"Yeah," Nayashiki nodded, looking toward her brother.
They reached a set of double doors, and the military man entered a room labeled for the head physician. Takashi followed right behind, Nitsuki still tied to his back, while the rest crowded in.
"Dr. Ishimiya," the military man said, addressing a woman in a white coat who was reviewing digital charts. "There's an important matter. Please check up on this boy."
Dr. Ishimiya looked up, her sharp eyes scanning the group. "So, what happened to him?"
Takashi stepped forward. "We were in Tokyo. When the stone fell, we managed to get close to it. Sami, Kento, and I touched it and gained these powers. But after Nitsuki touched it, he fell unconscious. It's been a long time, and he still hasn't woken up."
Dr. Ishimiya froze. "Really? That means… you three have Phore?"
"Um, actually, yeah," Takashi confirmed.
The doctor's expression changed instantly from professional curiosity to intense focus. "Don't worry about your friend Nitsuki. He will be okay. You all are special guys. We need you."
"I understand," Sami said, her voice trembling slightly. "But please, first, just take care of Nitsuki."
"I will, don't worry," Dr. Ishimiya reassured her.
The military man stepped in. "Leave him to Dr. Ishimiya. She is highly skillful. Come on, let me drop you all off at your new room."
"But I want to stay with Nitsuki!" Sami protested.
"You don't need to," the doctor said firmly. "I can take care of him fully. Just listen to the officer."
Sami looked at Takashi, her eyes pleading. "But Takashi…"
Takashi put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Sami. He'll be okay. We better listen to them for now."
Sami finally nodded, her shoulders slumping. "Okay."
Kento, watching the emotional exchange, let out an irritable huff. "Alright, alright! Now that the drama is over, let's go to our new room and eat!"
Nitsuki was carefully lifted onto a high-tech hospital bed and wheeled away into a specialized ward. The rest of the group returned to the military vehicle, which began moving toward the residential sector.
"Oh, Nitsuki…" Sami whispered to herself, looking out the window at the passing city. "Please wake up soon. Nothing feels good without you."
The vehicle slowed to a stop in front of a block of clean, newly built apartments. As Nayashiki and Yakuzo gathered their things to get out, the military man raised a hand.
"Wait, you three," the soldier said, looking at Takashi, Sami, and Kento. "We need to talk with you. Don't get off."
The siblings looked confused but stepped out onto the pavement. The driver immediately put the vehicle back into gear and started driving again, leaving Yakuzo and Nayashiki behind.
"Huh?" Yakuzo said, watching the truck pull away. "Why didn't they come with us?"
"I wonder that too," Nayashiki replied, her brow furrowed. "Why are they taking them to another location?"
Inside the truck, Takashi's grip on the seat tightened. "Where are you taking us?"
The military man looked at them, his face grave. "Just wait. You will see it for yourselves."