[Somewhere in the Streets of Yomihara.]
In a single tiring day since he'd been having trouble sleeping, he'd learned a few key things about this place. Yomihara sat 300 meters below Tokyo, built around a powerful demon gate, which explained the city's "interesting" population. The people with strange features weren't mutants or yokai, they were just demons. He wasn't used to seeing so many to appear… not bad. They were still ugly, but they weren't the visceral nightmares like the ones from his world. The real shock was their behaviour, holding conversations with humans instead of ripping their throats out, and using currency instead of brute force to get what they wanted. Though they might be common here, he had no doubt the world's criminal organizations employed the truly monstrous kind.
According to the calendar, the year was 2077. Part of him thought it was incredible; he'd practically time-travelled to the future. But that feeling was instantly crushed by the reality of which future he was in. Who would ever praise him for getting transported into the world of an eroge visual novel? They'd just laugh.
As for the food, it was okay at best. He'd worked hard to find a decent restaurant with reasonable prices, noting an over-reliance on mushrooms in the local cuisine. Anything with actual meat was expensive.
He already thought of a plan to escape this place, which is simple, infiltrate Under Eden, locate the captured Taimanins, and work with them to get out. They would lie low in his Sanctuary until the heat died down, then use the Taimanin help to reach the surface.
As he walked the grimy streets, doubt crept in. 'Can I even do this? What if something goes wrong, and I get captured?' His mind conjured horrible imagery, which he quickly shoved aside. This was the world of Taimanin, after all. Would he suffer a bad ending like the characters in the visual novel? The thought was terrifying. He'd already been harassed at the bar, proof that men weren't immune to that danger here.
A moment later, a lone figure caught his eye: a boy with short purple hair and eyes, dressed in a hoodie and track pants. He looked ordinary, but his aura was anything but. Thanks to his Third Eye, Ryuji could see the energy radiating from him. It was… strange. At first, he assumed the boy was a magic user, but then he noticed something odd. The boy's innate aura and the external magical energy surrounding him were separate, failing to blend seamlessly, like oil and water. The boy looked familiar, and then it clicked.
Akiyama Tatsurou. The younger brother of Akiyama Rinko and childhood friend of Mizuki Yukikaze. What were the odds? 'What is he doing here? On a scouting mission? Or perhaps simply gathering information?' There wasn't anything about this in the visual novel, he was supposed to in the Special Camp. Though there must be something he missed, since he just skips almost all the dialogue.
The energy Tatsurou emitted, if Ryuji wasn't mistaken, had to be Taima Particles. A stupid name, in his opinion. The fundamental difference between these particles and magic had never been properly explained to him. While he could see the distinction, understanding it was another matter entirely.
Well, since his plan involved making allies of the Taimanins, he might as well start here. "Hey," Ryuji said, stepping closer. "I want to talk to you."
"Y-yes? Can I help you?" the young Taimanin stammered, surprised by Ryuji's sudden approach and with a stoic voice. The boy looked up, quickly scanning the stranger. He appeared to be in his early or mid-twenties and was tall, probably taller than his sister. His eyes were tired, marked by faint shadows beneath them, yet they held an intense, sharp focus. The boy couldn't lie to himself, he felt a bit intimidated.
"Just wanted to talk. Are you a Taimanin, by any chance?" He decided to be direct, but it was clearly a mistake, seeing as Tatsurou froze and his face paling.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Tatsurou panicked, his hand darting toward the short blade hidden in his hoodie. He hesitated to draw it in public, so he held his position, waiting for Ryuji to make a move before deciding whether to fight or flee.
Tatsurou's panicked voice drew a few glances from pedestrians, but they looked away just as quickly, dismissing it as another gang fight and continuing with their day.
Sensing the spike of hostility, Ryuji quickly raised his hands. "Hey, calm down! I'm not your enemy!"
A pang of guilt twisted in his stomach. 'Maybe I should have warmed up to him first before revealing I knew his secret.' This was a demon city, after all. Here, Taimanin were the enemy.
Quietly, Ryuji channelled a soothing, warm energy toward Tatsurou, a comforting warmth that felt like shelter on a winter day. Gently, he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Calm down, I'm not your enemy." Ryuji's voice was no longer stoic, but filled with a tranquil warmth.
Tatsurou noticed the change immediately. The voice that had seemed intimidating now felt comforting, and the man's eyes softened. Yet, in that same instant, Tatsurou caught a flash of brilliant orange in his eyes and quickly that colour vanish to his normal brown eyes.
"Let's go eat some ramen," Ryuji suggested. Good food always made conversation easier. And it would fill his empty stomach while he was at it.
"Y-yeah," Tatsurou agreed, his tension easing slightly.
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[In a Ramen Restaurant]
They sat eating ramen. Tatsurou had ordered a common Shoyu Ramen, while Ryuji had chosen a Sapporo-style Miso Ramen, though it paled in comparison to the restaurants back home. 'I should've just ordered the Tonkotsu,' he thought with a hint of regret.
After swallowing a mouthful of noodles, Ryuji took the initiative. "Let's introduce ourselves properly. My name is Miyatake Ryuji. You can call me Ryuji if you want."
"Akiyama Tatsurou," he replied, his voice steadier now. The initial fear had faded, replaced by a strange calm in Ryuji's presence. He wondered if Ryuji was a Taimanin himself, sent to assist with their mission.
"How did you know that I'm a Taimanin?" Tatsurou asked before slurping more noodles.
"Let's just say I have a sixth sense for these things," Ryuji said with a smirk, slurping his own noodles. He continued, even with food in his mouth. "Anyway, I'm here with a proposal."
"A proposal?" Tatsurou eyed him warily. This man had not only discovered his secret but had just bought him ramen. Now this?
"I know you're sceptical, but hear me out. I'll help you save your friends who were captured in Under Eden. In return, you help me escape from this city." He knew they had 'infiltrated,' but at this point, they might as well be considered captured if they needed outside help to get out.
"Escape? You were brought here by force?" Had he been captured?
"You could say that," Ryuji replied. Getting yanked into another world against his will felt pretty forceful.
"I don't think you need to worry, Miyatake-san. My sister and my friend can handle themselves. They're considered elite back home." A hint of bitterness crept into his voice.
"Akiyama…" Ryuji contemplated how to break through the boy's naïveté. Tatsurou seemed to have no idea what his comrades were truly facing, blinded by a confident faith in their abilities. He needed to make him understand the horror of their situation. "They are in real danger."
"What?" Them? In danger? He couldn't imagine it. On their last mission, he'd barely contributed. Yukikaze had eliminated multiple beastmen using her lightning, and Rinko had felled demons with her sword alone, never even needing her Ninja Art. He'd just stood there, afraid of getting in the way. If they were truly in trouble, couldn't Rinko simply teleport them to safety with her Void Art? Besides, this was an infiltration; they would have a plan if things went wrong. They couldn't possibly need help.
"Do you know how someone becomes a prostitute here?" It was time for a harsh revelation.
Tatsurou shook his head. Was it bad? He assumed one just had to be pretty and apply at the brothel's counter.
"They're forced into a magical contract, essentially becoming slave prostitutes. They can't break it lest they suffer the consequences, like their limbs exploding. Then they undergo 'training,' which is just brainwashing and drugs. After that, their bodies are modified to become more sensitive to pleasure." Ryuji locked eyes with Tatsurou, his voice low and serious. "No matter how strong they are, they will break."
"It can't be…" Tatsurou whispered, the horrifying truth sinking in. Before it could fully take root, panic did. "I need to go!" He shot to his feet, rushing for the door.
Ryuji's hand snapped out, grabbing his arm. "Calm down, Akiyama! You can't just run in there. It's the most famous brothel in Yomihara, the security is going to be tight." He commends the boy's initiative, but charging in blindly would get himself killed. They needed a strategy.
"Miyatake-san… you will help me, right?" Tatsurou's voice was desperate. He was putting his trust in a stranger, but Ryuji was his only hope to succeed.
"Didn't I already say I'd help you?" Ryuji's tone was firm, but not unkind. "Just get yourself ready. And bring your companions' weapons. Meet me at the top of this building here," he instructed, sliding a crudely drawn paper map across the table. "We're infiltrating the place ourselves."
"Understood, Miyatake-san!" With that, Tatsurou quickly left the restaurant.
"What the hell was that all about?" a waiter asked, watching the hasty exit.
"You'll understand soon enough, if the news breaks tonight, that is." Ryuji paid for the food and left without another word.
While waiting for Tatsurou to arrive, he had his own preparations to make. First, he needed to find a discreet spot to create a gateway to the Sanctuary—a potential escape route. Then, he would scout the area surrounding Under Eden, checking for any powerful opponents. Finally, he ensured his gear was ready: his trusty katana, a short knife, and a couple of miscellaneous items like magical talismans, just in case.
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[On Top of the Building, Overlooking Under Eden]
Tatsurou arrived at the designated spot, hauling a large bag containing his sister's and friend's weapons. Ryuji inspected him, noting the Shinobi-style gear. It struck Ryuji as odd; in the official Taimanin artwork, even the male characters, wore the signature tight spandex suits. Tatsurou's equipment, however, seemed to consist of nothing but the single sword strapped to his back.
"Akiyama, is that sword the only thing you brought?" Ryuji's voice took on a commanding tone, a habit he'd developed on missions as a mage.
"Y-yeah…" Tatsurou couldn't help but feel a pang of shame.
Ordinarily, Ryuji would lecture anyone this unprepared about the necessity of tools like bombs and throwing knives. But he let it go, dismissing Tatsurou as a true novice.
"Well, it's okay. Just don't make a habit of it. You have to be thoroughly prepared when infiltrating an enemy stronghold."
"Y-yes, senpai!"
'He started calling me senpai.' The title caught him off guard, and he felt a faint warmth rise to his cheeks. Had Tatsurou warmed up to him that quickly? Did he really come across as that reliable? His mind drifted back to his own world, where many had relied on him, seeking his advice on missions. Even his own seniors had sometimes called him senpai. 'I guess I do have that kind of presence.'
"Anyway," Ryuji said, quickly regaining his composure and hoping Tatsurou didn't see his blush. "Explain your Ninja Arts to me."
"Hai! My Ninja Art is called Wind Art. It allows me to control the air, but…" He trailed off into a long, hesitant pause. "I only know one technique. I can use it to make my blade sharper."
"Oh? I was expecting worse."
"Huh?" Tatsurou was confused.
"A single, decisive attack can change the entire course of a battle. You just need to know the perfect moment to strike."
He focused back on Tatsurou. "But if you feel you're lacking, I don't mind helping you train once this is over." The words were out before he could stop them, an old habit, this instinct to guide anyone who seemed unsure of their strength.
"Really, senpai?" Tatsurou's mood instantly brightened.
Ryuji couldn't help but smile at the younger boy's lifted spirits. "Yes, my kouhai." Well, for this one person, it's fine. It's not like they will ever see each other again after leaving this city.
Tatsurou couldn't help but smile at the promise. "I won't disappoint you!"
"Alright, enough chatting. It's time to focus on the rescue operation."
Ryuji knelt, placing both hands on the floor. He closed his eyes, concentrating as he expanded the range and accuracy of his Third Eye to encompass the entire structure of Under Eden. His senses flooded with the auras of the inhabitants, a chaotic mix of demons and humans. Then, he found the. Two distinct auras that shimmered with the same unique quality as Tatsurou's.
"I've got their location," Ryuji announced, rising to his feet. "Let the operation begin!"