The morning sun crept through the blinds, painting thin golden lines across Haruto's quiet room. The alarm clock buzzed at the corner of his desk, though he was already awake, staring at the ceiling with tired eyes.
"Another day…" he muttered.
He rolled out of bed, stretched until his back popped, and began his routine. First, a quick shower to chase away the lingering drowsiness. He scrubbed his hair until it stuck up in wild tufts, dried off, then pulled on his neatly folded school uniform. His breakfast was simple—a half-burnt toast and milk from the fridge. He ate silently at the table, as always, the empty chairs across from him a reminder of the family that wasn't there.
After finishing, he grabbed his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and whispered at the picture frame of his parents before leaving, like he always did.
Kenta's morning, on the other hand, was a chaotic mess.
His room was covered with manga volumes, empty snack wrappers, and clothes that may or may not have been clean. His alarm had been ringing for a solid ten minutes before he finally groaned, sat up, and slapped it.
"Five more minutes…" he grumbled—only to immediately trip on a stack of Naruto comics as he stumbled out of bed.
"Kaa-san, breakfast!" he called, tugging on his uniform shirt while hopping around to find his other sock. By the time he rushed to the kitchen, his hair was sticking out like a wild hedgehog.
"You'll never get a girlfriend looking like that," his mom teased.
"Mom!" he shouted, his cheeks burning as he stuffed rice balls into his mouth and bolted out the door, still chewing.
Outside, Haruto was already waiting by the gate.
"You're late again," Haruto said flatly.
"I had… a tactical delay," Kenta replied, mouth still full.
Haruto gave him a side glance. "You mean overslept."
Kenta pointed dramatically with his rice ball. "Details!"
The two walked down the familiar streets together, their banter carrying them until the looming shadow of the abandoned building appeared.
They stopped at the entrance.
"…So uh, how do we get in again?" Kenta asked.
"…I forgot to ask yesterday," Haruto admitted.
The two looked around—Haruto pressing against walls, Kenta knocking on random bricks like it was a secret switch. At one point, Kenta even crouched and whispered into a crack in the wall, "Open sesame?"
Nothing.
"Wow," Haruto sighed. "We're actual geniuses."
That's when the door slid open with a hiss. Standing there was Elyra, one hand on her mouth as she stifled a giggle.
"You two… you looked so serious, like lost puppies pawing at the walls," she laughed, eyes sparkling.
Haruto rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "We were just—uh—testing the security."
"Sure you were," Elyra grinned. "Come in, dummies."
Inside the lab, the glowing panels and humming machines welcomed them again.
"So," Elyra asked as she skipped ahead, "what brings my favorite idiots here today?"
Haruto straightened. "We want to train."
Kenta gave a thumbs up. "Yeah, we don't want to get wrecked like yesterday."
At that, Elyra's eyes lit up with excitement. "Ooooh, training time! Finally!" She clapped her hands and practically dragged them to a large reinforced door.
The training room was vast—holographic projectors lined the walls, the floor metallic with faint grid lines that pulsed when Elyra typed on a console.
"Alright, boys," she said, her voice bouncing with energy. "Charge up!"
The two strapped on their belts, the familiar hum and glow filling the room.
"Film, Charge Up!"
"Scanner, Charge Up!"
Energy wrapped around them, transforming them into their Masked Charger forms.
Elyra giggled, tapping the console. "Now then… let's play!"
The room shimmered, and suddenly holographic figures appeared—phantom Eligos soldiers wielding jagged blades.
Kenta cracked his knuckles. "Oh yeah, round two, baby!"
Haruto raised his blade. "Focus. They might be fake, but the pain won't be."
The first wave rushed in. Haruto sidestepped, slashing through one with fluid precision. Kenta charged like a bull, tackling another and sending it crashing into two more.
"Woooo! Did you see that? Textbook rugby tackle!" Kenta shouted, pumping his fist.
"You've never even played rugby," Haruto deadpanned, kicking another hologram into the air before finishing it mid-spin.
The enemies multiplied—fifty, then a hundred—surrounding them.
"Oh come on!" Kenta groaned. "How do power rangers even get used to this?!"
Haruto deflected a blow and replied dryly, "Maybe they have less annoying partners."
"Hey!"
A hologram lunged, and Kenta caught it by the arm, twisting and slamming it into the floor. "Annoying AND awesome!" he corrected.
The fight grew fierce—holographic enemies swarming, blades flashing, impacts echoing through the room. Sparks flew off their armor with every hit, but the two refused to fall. Haruto's movements were sharp and calculated, while Kenta's were wild but effective, the contrast making them a perfect pair.
Elyra leaned against the console, chin resting in her hands, eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched. "They're like puppies fighting a vacuum cleaner…"
After waves of enemies, the final one appeared—a massive, hulking hologram twice their size, wielding an axe.
"Oh, great," Kenta muttered. "Because the small ones weren't enough."
Haruto tightened his grip. "Stay sharp. We end this together."
The giant swung. They dodged in sync, counterattacking with a perfect combo—Haruto slicing upward while Kenta launched a heavy kick. The two blows connected, shattering the hologram in a brilliant explosion of light.
As the smoke faded, the room returned to normal, silence filling the air.
Kenta collapsed to the floor, gasping. "I'm… never… doing this again…"
Haruto knelt, also breathing heavily. "…Until tomorrow."
Elyra clapped like a proud coach. "Bravo! You survived my warm-up mode!"
Both boys' heads snapped toward her. "That was warm-up?!"
She winked. "Hehe. Encore tomorrow!"
The steel doors hissed open, and the clanging sound of boots echoed into the training room. The teacher strode in, his lab coat trailing behind him like a cape.
"Talking about Encore," he said with a slight smirk, "please welcome our new member."
A slim figure peeked from behind him—Airi. She tilted her head, her soft smile glowing like a sunrise.
"H-… A-Airi?!" Haruto stuttered, his entire body freezing before he collapsed backward with a dramatic thud.
Kenta facepalmed so hard the sound echoed. "…Unbelievable. You call me a simp?"
Elyra's golden eyes sparkled with amusement. She leaned forward and smirked. "Are you sure you're not one too?"
Kenta coughed into his fist, looking away, his cheeks faintly pink. "Yeah. Definitely not."
The teacher ignored their antics and pulled out a gleaming belt. Its centerpiece was shaped like a polished vinyl record player, complete with a miniature wind-up crank.
"Airi," he said firmly, "this is yours. The Record Player Belt."
Airi accepted it with both hands, bowing politely. "I'll do my best."
From a silver case, the teacher revealed several discs glowing faintly with power. "Choose your first."
Airi scanned through them, her fingers trembling slightly before she picked one. The disc gleamed with pink and purple highlights which is Idol from Oshi No Ko.
"This one."
She placed it into the belt, wound the crank, and the room erupted in a surge of music.
"Music, Charge Up!"
Notes fired from the player like energy projectiles, weaving around her body before forming into armor. Her chestplate shimmered pink and violet, her gloves sleek with glowing bars of light. When her helmet sealed shut, the visor formed into twin star-shaped eyes—an unmistakable homage to Ai Hoshino.
Haruto sat up, eyes widening—and collapsed again, this time with a nosebleed.
Kenta groaned. "Seriously? Seriously?!"
Elyra giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. "What a lover boy. Can't even stand near his crush in armor." Then her eyes softened, a burst of joy crossing her face. "But… I'm happy. My best buddy finally joined us.
Airi gave her a small wave, smiling shyly
The teacher snapped his fingers. "Enough swooning. All of you, to the training room. That includes you, Elyra. Take my Game Charger." He tossed her a belt with a glowing cartridge slot. "I'll be working on something new."
The group assembled, standing side by side.
"Charge up!"
Light engulfed them one after another.
Haruto: "Film, Charge Up!" Samurai armor flashed, reels of film spinning across his chest.
Kenta: "Scanner, Charge Up!" Chainsaw aura roared to life, jagged blades forming across his arms.
Airi: "Music, Charge Up!" Her Idol armor gleamed like a starburst, melodies vibrating the air.
Elyra: "Console, Charge Up!" The Game Charger locked in, her form glowing with digital power.
The teacher smirked from the sidelines. With a flick of his hand, the hologram projectors surged alive. And there it was—the Cartoon Masked Charger.
A tall, rubbery figure, its armor shifting like a drawing, its body bending and snapping back with no regard for physics. Floating blades hovered behind it like balloons on invisible strings.
The Cartoon Charger tilted its head, eyes spiraling. Then it lunged.
The fight began in chaos.
The Cartoon Charger's blades flew like darts, bouncing off walls, ricocheting, slicing into the floor with unnatural elasticity. Haruto blocked one, only to be grabbed by a rubbery arm that stretched across the room.
"Damn it—it's like fighting a comic strip!" he hissed, kicking himself free.
Kenta charged in, chainsaw screeching. He swung down hard, cleaving through the torso—only for the enemy to split like slime and reform behind him. A massive cartoon fist slammed him in the back, launching him into the wall.
"GAAAAH—okay, that hurt."
Airi leapt forward, spinning like a dancer. Energy notes shot from her armor, blasting into the enemy like laser beams. The impact staggered it briefly, but the Cartoon Charger twisted its body into a flat sheet, the attacks bouncing off.
"I-It's like it can't take real damage," Airi gasped.
Elyra snarled, swapping cartridges. "Then let's hit it harder!"
Her form glitched, shifting to Devil May Cry Mode which she uses Lady. Guns twirled into her hands, devil wings sprouting from her back. She opened fire, bullets ripping into the Charger's chest. But again, the wounds sealed like ink being redrawn.
The Cartoon Charger laughed, a distorted childish giggle. It stretched both arms into massive hammers and slammed. The ground cracked, the four scattering.
"Instead of brute force—switch it up!" the teacher's voice rang. "You'll never win with one form. Adapt!"
Haruto gritted his teeth. "Switch…?"
Kenta blinked, then his eyes widened. "Oh yeah!"
He pulled out a manga, swiping it through the Scanner Belt. The chainsaw armor shattered into glowing fragments, then reformed into new plates. A halo of chakra symbols glowed behind him.
"Naruto! Hagoromo Form!"
His armor now gleamed like the Sage of Six Paths—flowing white robes, a Rinnegan visor, and staffs of truth-seeking orbs circling him.
The teacher raised an eyebrow. "…Not Naruto. Not Sasuke. Not even Madara. You got Hagoromo? Of course. That form has every jutsu."
Kenta smirked. "Guess I'm cool now."
Haruto nodded and swapped his disc. "Time to join you." He unwound and slotted in a new one. His armor shattered—film reels breaking apart—and reformed into jagged, spiked plating.
"Ninja Turtle! Shredder Form!"
His armor now resembled the dreaded Shredder, complete with clawed gauntlets and a silver face mask.
"Whoa," Kenta muttered. "Edgy much?"
Elyra grinned wickedly. "Don't leave me out." She slammed a cartridge. Her armor broke apart into crimson light, reforming with revealing yet armored curves, long blonde hair spilling free.
"Ninja Gaiden! Rachel Form!"
Her whip-like weapon crackled with demonic energy.
Finally, Airi raised her disc. "I-I'll try too!" She slotted it in.
"Ninja Steel! Pink Ranger Form!"
Her Idol armor shifted to a sleek pink ranger suit, a glowing katana in her hands. Her star-shaped eyes gleamed brighter than ever.
The teacher pinched the bridge of his nose. "…A ninja-themed team? Really? Fine. Let's see how you do."
The battle resumed.
This time, they were faster—deadlier.
Kenta unleashed a barrage of shadow clones, swarming the Cartoon Charger while firing off Rasenshurikens that tore chunks out of its rubbery body.
Haruto, in Shredder Form, dashed in with ruthless efficiency, claws shredding through every limb that stretched too far.
Elyra lashed her whip, binding the Cartoon Charger and yanking it into the air, where Airi flipped gracefully, slashing down with a glowing pink arc.
The Cartoon Charger screeched, its form twitching as the damage finally stuck.
"Now—together!" Haruto shouted.
They formed a circle, their belts glowing brighter, synchronizing.
"Final Charge!"
"Encore: Shinobi Symphony!"
Kenta slammed his staff into the ground, creating a field of chakra that boosted them all. Haruto dashed forward with claws gleaming, Elyra's whip crackled and tore through, Airi's katana sliced cleanly, and together they carved an X-shaped seal into the Cartoon Charger's chest.
The enemy froze—then exploded into shards of shattered ink and broken cartoon sound effects: BANG! ZAP! POW!
The dust settled.
All four collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"That…" Kenta gasped, "…was the dumbest idea…"
"…but it worked," Haruto finished, falling onto his back.
The teacher crossed his arms, a faint smile hidden behind his stern expression. "A ridiculous strategy… but effective. Impressive. Now, the four of you can go back to acting like normal citizens—until the next encounter. And trust me… you'll meet the Cartoon Masked Charger again."
The four sat there, battered and exhausted—but with a strange, unspoken pride between them.
The Ninja Ensemble had been born.
The training room was still buzzing with the fading energy of their last battle. Smoke lingered from the destroyed holograms, their armor fractured and unwound, leaving the four sitting on the cold floor in sweat and exhaustion.
That was when the teacher stepped forward, his footsteps echoing sharply against the steel walls. His eyes narrowed, the usual faint smirk gone—this time, he was serious.
"Change of plans." His voice carried weight.
The four straightened immediately.
"You've played around enough. Now, I have a real mission for you." He walked closer, stopping just before them, his lab coat swaying. "Infiltrate a highly guarded building on the outskirts of the city. Inside is a DVD… but not just any DVD. A powerful one. The kind that could shift the balance of this war."
Haruto's breath hitched. "…And let me guess. It's not unguarded."
"Correct." The teacher adjusted his glasses. "There are several Masked Chargers there already. They're not allies. In fact, they'll kill you the moment they see you. And that DVD? Everyone wants it."
Elyra's eyes glowed faintly as her mechanical systems processed the data. "…So we'll be fighting other Chargers. Not monsters this time."
"Exactly," the teacher said coldly. "Humans with powers, just like you. But unlike you—they're not bound by morals. They'll do whatever it takes."
Silence fell. The air felt heavier.
Airi was the first to break it. Her small voice trembled, but her eyes held resolve. "…If it's important, we'll do it. Right?"
Haruto clenched his fists, still sore from the last battle. "…Yeah. If that DVD is as dangerous as you say, leaving it in their hands is worse. We'll get it."
Kenta smirked faintly, forcing levity into his voice. "Well, guess we're thieves now. Just… DVD thieves instead of bank robbers."
Elyra's lips curved into a grin. "Finally. Something worth my time. I've been itching for real combat against equals, not holograms."
The teacher nodded firmly. "Good. I'll send you the coordinates. Stay hidden until you find your way inside. Once you secure the DVD, return immediately. Do not underestimate the opposition."
"Got it," Haruto said, determination flickering in his eyes.
"Roger that," Kenta added, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Understood," Elyra smirked.
"…I'll do my best," Airi whispered.
The teacher tapped his console, sending the glowing coordinates to each of their communicators. "Then move out. Don't die."
On the Road
The four left the lab, the night air biting cold as they walked through dimly lit streets. Their shadows stretched long across the pavement, the city strangely quiet at this hour.
Kenta yawned, stretching his arms behind his head. "So… anyone else worried we're basically sneaking into a fortress with only four rookies and a robot?
Elyra smirked at him, her golden eyes glowing faintly in the dark. "Correction: three rookies and one highly advanced combat machine. You'll thank me later."
"Yeah, yeah, Terminator," Kenta muttered. "Just don't malfunction on me."
Haruto exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the nerves. "…He said they're hostile Chargers. That means… people like us. Not monsters. That's different."
Airi hugged her schoolbag tightly as they walked. "…What if they're stronger than us?"
"Then we'll improvise," Haruto answered firmly, though his chest tightened with uncertainty.
Kenta grinned at her. "Don't sweat it, Airi. You've got us—and besides, your Idol armor makes Haruto completely useless anyway.
Haruto turned red instantly. "SHUT UP!"
Elyra chuckled, flicking her hair back. "He's not wrong though, lover boy."
"Stop calling me that!" Haruto groaned, covering his face.
Airi blinked innocently. "…L-lover boy?"
Haruto wanted to melt into the pavement.
The group passed the Starbucks from before, still taped off with police barriers. Construction workers were patching up the massive hole left by the previous attack. The memory of the chaos made Haruto's grip tighten around the Projector Belt hidden under his jacket.
"…Feels like no matter where we go, destruction follows," he muttered quietly.
Kenta shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. "…Then let's make sure this mission doesn't end with more caution tape."
They walked further, reaching the edge of the city. The neon lights of civilization faded into the dark silhouette of abandoned warehouses and industrial buildings. Somewhere ahead, their target awaited.
The coordinates pulsed on their devices, marking a towering complex surrounded by a perimeter fence. Faint lights glimmered through the windows, shadows moving within.
Airi's voice quivered. "…That's it?"
Elyra's grin widened. "Yep. And judging by the thermal readings… they're waiting for us."
Haruto's stomach tightened. "…Then let's not keep them waiting."
The four stood before the building, the tension thick. This wasn't training anymore. This was real.
Kenta smirked despite the fear in his gut. "…Okay. Who wants to knock first?"
The four crouched behind a line of dumpsters at the back of the skyscraper. The building's windows stretched endlessly into the sky, glowing faintly against the night, while searchlights traced over the fences.
Elyra's visor flickered, then a glowing map projected from her wrist, casting blue light on their faces.
"Shouldn't we be planning our way?" she said sharply. "That's why I'm here. Look."
The hologram spun to reveal the towering skyscraper, with blinking red dots marking security positions. Elyra pointed at the backside of the building. "This is the least guarded entry point. But—" her voice turned icy, "there are still two men patrolling. We'll need to neutralize them. Quietly."
The three nodded.
Haruto clenched his fist. "Alright. Let's Charge Up."
Haruto: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE! His armor snapped into place with sleek tactical plates, night vision visor lowering like Tom Cruise's spy gear.
Kenta: SPY X FAMILY — LOID FORM! His transformation coated him in a suit-like tactical outfit, clean lines with hidden compartments, silenced pistol manifesting in his hand.
Airi: SMOOTH CRIMINAL! Her armor shimmered into a white fedora-styled battle suit, silver gloves glowing, moonwalking boots glinting faintly.
Elyra: HITMAN! Her body locked into a pristine black-and-white suit armor, tie dangling, her helmet's visor a single glowing line across. Two silenced USPs slid into her hands.
They moved like shadows toward the back fence. Two guards strolled lazily with rifles slung. Kenta crouched, raising his silenced USP, finger steady on the trigger.
"Wait." Haruto's hand pressed his shoulder. "Don't kill."
But—thup, thup. Both guards dropped instantly, neat shots to the neck.
Everyone turned. Elyra twirled her pistols and crossed her arms, visor flashing. "You could've said sooner."
Haruto sighed deeply, muttering. "…Fine. But next time, we stun."
Kenta smirked. "Guess that's what you get for lecturing, Haruto."
The four crept to a heavy reinforced door with a glowing keypad. Haruto knelt, pulling a compact device from his belt—one straight out of a spy flick. He pressed it to the door, a red laser slicing through the lock with surgical precision. Sparks hissed and metal fell away with a clink.
The door groaned open.
Inside, the skyscraper's first floor was all polished marble and glass, with sterile white lights. Security cameras swiveled lazily.
They slipped in and immediately split:
Elyra & Kenta to vents
Haruto & Airi to stairwell
The pair crawled through narrow vents, their armor scraping softly against the steel. They reached a grate overlooking a hallway. Two guards walked below, chatting.
Elyra's visor scanned them. "Two targets. Ten seconds each."
Kenta smirked. "I'll take left. You take right."
She nodded.
They pushed the grate gently aside, dropping down behind the men without a sound. In perfect sync:
Kenta wrapped his arm around the first guard's neck, silencer pressed to the skull. Thup. The man slumped silently.
Elyra glided behind the second, spun her pistol in her palm, and cracked the back of his head with the butt. He collapsed instantly.
Kenta dragged his body into the shadows, Elyra mirroring with hers. Both stood, brushing imaginary dust from their suits.
"Flawless," Elyra said coldly.
"Stylish," Kenta corrected, smirking as he flicked his pistol.
They reached the elevator doors and stopped, waiting.
Meanwhile, Haruto and Airi crept up the dim stairwell. Voices echoed faintly ahead. When they peeked around the corner, four armed guards stood by a reinforced door leading to the elevator hall.
Haruto grimaced. "…Four of them. Too many for a straight fight."
Airi tapped her chin, then whispered, "…Boost me."
"…Boost—wait, wha—" Before he could finish, Airi stepped onto his clasped hands. Haruto grunted, lifting her upward.
She drew her gleaming microphone weapon, twirled it, and whispered: "Smooth… criminal."
A flash of silver light, then—bang, bang, bang, bang. The guards staggered back, bullets disarmed from their rifles as her shots hit their hands with perfect accuracy. Then, with dancer's grace, she flipped midair and kicked the last one in the chest.
THUD. Four guards sprawled out, unconscious.
Haruto lowered his arms, staring with wide eyes. "…Okay. That was… unfair."
Airi blushed, dusting her skirt-like armor. "…I-I just didn't want to waste time."
He shook his head with a half-smile. "Remind me never to underestimate you again."
The stairwell door opened, and Haruto and Airi stepped through, joining Kenta and Elyra by the elevator.
"Took you long enough," Elyra muttered, checking her watch.
"Sorry," Haruto replied. "Had to deal with four."
Kenta snorted. "What, and you didn't even die? Amazing."
Airi puffed her cheeks, mumbling. "…We managed."
Elyra pressed the elevator button with a sharp ding. The four stepped inside, the doors closing them in.
For a brief moment, silence filled the cramped space, the only sound the faint hum of the elevator rising. Each of them knew what awaited above: more guards. More Chargers. And the DVD.
Haruto tightened his fist. "…Next stop, the second floor."
The elevator chimed.
Kenta yawned and leaned back casually. "Dude, just go to the highest floor already. That way the Author won't have to write a heck of a long story."
Haruto blinked. "…What?"
Elyra tilted her head, her visor dimming like an eye-roll. "I think his fantasy's wild again. Don't mind him."
Airi giggled, pressing the button for the very top. The elevator shuddered as it ascended.
Ding. The doors opened.
And there it was. At the very end of the massive, gleaming hallway—sitting on a pedestal—was the DVD.
The three immediately started walking toward it, but Elyra threw an arm out. "Stop. You idiots, that's obviously a trap."
She pulled a small pouch from her belt and blew a fine white powder into the air. Like magic, hundreds of crimson laser lines appeared, crisscrossing the entire hall like a deadly spiderweb.
Kenta whistled. "Oh, fancy. Good catch."
They began to weave through, slowly and carefully, twisting their bodies, ducking, balancing.
Halfway across, Elyra's heel slid on a slick spot of polished floor. She gasped as she started to fall—
Kenta grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him before she could hit the lasers.
For the first time, Elyra's stoic mask broke into a teasing smirk. "…What a gentleman~."
Kenta's visor flared as his cheeks went red. He pulled her back up, looking away quickly. "…L-Let's continue."
Behind them, Airi stifled a laugh, tugging Haruto's hand as they carefully sidestepped together. Haruto, blushing furiously, kept his eyes forward.
Finally, they made it to the end. Haruto grabbed the DVD off its pedestal—
WEEEOOOO! Alarms blared instantly.
"Oh, fu—"
Kenta clamped a hand over his mouth but there's the helmet so he isn't technically covering the mouth? Whatever. "Kids are probably reading this!"
The doors behind them burst open. Dozens of armed guards stormed in, rifles blazing.
"IGNORE MY RULE!" Haruto shouted. "JUST SHOOT!"
The Escape
Bullets shredded the air. The four ducked low and bolted for the windows. Haruto whipped out a grappling gun, firing at the wall supports outside.
"JUMP!"
They smashed through the glass, shards exploding around them. All four Chargers swung down the skyscraper, zip-lining between the lights and explosions behind them. Gunfire rattled like rain on steel.
They landed hard on the first floor's marble balcony—only to freeze.
Standing in their path were two towering Masked Chargers. Their armor gleamed like medieval knights, plated in iron, glowing runes crawling over their swords. They looked like they'd been ripped straight out of Elden Ring.
One slammed his greatsword into the ground, cracking the marble. The other raised a massive halberd.
"Oh… boss fight," Kenta muttered.
The knights charged, steel thundering.
Haruto rolled aside just as the halberd slashed through a pillar. He pulled out his grappling hook gun again, firing it into the knight's chest and yanking himself forward with a flying kick. Sparks flew as his boot slammed against steel.
Airi spun midair, pulling a glowing Tommy gun from her Smooth Criminal arsenal. "Time to go gangster!" She unleashed a stream of bullets, ricocheting off armor until she aimed at the joints, sparks flying.
Elyra slid across the floor, summoning a double-barreled shotgun. She cocked it one-handed, blasting at the knight's legs. The force staggered him backward.
Kenta leaped onto the knight's halberd, flipping over and smashing his silenced pistol into the visor like a melee weapon. "You're not the only one with swords, big guy!"
The knight roared, swinging wildly. Haruto slid between the giant's legs, tossing a smoke grenade from his spy kit. The battlefield filled with thick gray haze.
"Visibility zero!" Elyra barked.
"Perfect," Haruto grinned inside his helmet.
From the smoke, silhouettes danced—grappling wires, gunfire flashes, and glowing blades. The knights swung blindly, shattering marble, breaking columns.
The halberd knight roared, spinning like a whirlwind. Haruto was flung back, crashing into the floor.
"Haruto!" Airi screamed, moonwalking across the floor to dodge a slash. She kicked off the wall, flipped, and fired her Tommy gun point-blank into the knight's visor. The glass cracked.
Kenta pulled out his manga scanner. "Screw it. SWIPE!"
His armor shattered, reforming into Loid's tactical assassin form again. With precise movements, he ducked under a swing, disarmed the knight's halberd, and jammed his pistol barrel into a joint. Thup-thup. Sparks burst as the knight fell to one knee.
Elyra vaulted onto the fallen knight's back, pressing both shotguns to the helmet. BOOM! BOOM! The visor exploded outward.
The first knight collapsed.
But the greatsword knight was still standing. He lifted his weapon with both hands and slammed it down, sending a shockwave that knocked all four back.
"Goddamn!" Kenta coughed. "This guy's built like a Dark Souls boss!"
"Not Dark Souls—Elden Ring!" Haruto corrected, dodging another blow.
"Not helping!!" Elyra shouted, firing another shotgun blast.
Final Combo
The knight raised his blade again.
"Together!" Haruto yelled.
Airi moonwalked forward, music notes glowing around her armor. "I'll weaken him with rhythm!" She strummed her mic, unleashing sonic blasts that staggered the knight.
Haruto fired his grappling gun into the knight's ankle, tethering him in place. "He's locked!"
Elyra ran across the side of the wall, leaping down with both shotguns blazing. "OPEN FIRE!"
Kenta pulled a blade from his belt, stabbing it into the knight's neck joint. "FINAL CHARGE!"
The four shouted in sync:
"CHARGE UP: ASSASSIN—EXECUTION!!"
Their weapons combined in a storm of gunfire, music notes, grappling strikes, and blade slashes. The greatsword knight staggered, cracked, and finally exploded in a massive blast of light and fire, sending debris flying across the lobby.
The four stood panting amidst the rubble. Smoke rose around them, alarms still blaring.
Haruto clutched the DVD tight to his chest. "…That… was insane."
Kenta wiped his visor with a sigh. "And epic."
Airi twirled her mic, winking. "And fabulous."
Elyra pumped her shotgun one last time, resting it on her shoulder. "…And done."
All four collapsed onto the floor, exhausted, as the ruined knights smoldered.
The four walked out of the ruined skyscraper, their steps heavy from the brutal fight. Smoke still trailed from broken armor pieces clinging to them, their belts flickering faintly as the transformation energy faded.
Haruto stretched his arms over his head. "Man… I feel like my bones just got put through a blender."
Kenta chuckled, his helmet cracked on one side. "Could've been worse. We could've been diced sushi."
Airi glanced at them both, her armor glittering faintly under the city lights. "Well, at least we didn't die… that's progress, right?"
Elyra smirked faintly, reloading her shotgun even though the fight was long over. "Speak for yourselves. I had to save you boys at least five times back there."
"Five?!" Kenta frowned. "I counted three!"
"Five," Elyra said firmly, then flicked her visor off. "Don't argue with math."
Haruto sighed with a grin, shoving his hands in his pockets as their armor disappeared completely. "Math doesn't work that way…"
The group's laughter carried softly as they made their way through the quiet streets, the night air cooling the sweat on their faces.
At the Lab
When they entered, the teacher was hunched over his desk, sparks flashing as he welded something to his new belt prototype. He didn't look up until the four dropped the DVD onto his table.
"Good," the teacher said simply, finally rising from his chair. He took the disc carefully, dusting it off with a cloth. "I'll keep this safe for now."
Elyra tilted her head. "Wait—you're putting it in there?"
The teacher calmly walked to a wall, pressed a hidden switch, and a compartment slid open. Inside was just… a small safe.
Click. He placed the DVD inside and locked it.
Elyra blinked. "We literally have a heavily armored underground vault with laser grids. That's way more secure."
The teacher smirked. "And that's exactly why I don't use it. People expect the obvious. No one expects a simple safe in the corner."
Airi giggled softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "He… kinda has a point."
Haruto rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, still feels sketchy though."
The teacher clapped his hands once. "Anyway. Good job, all of you. Payment time."
He handed each of them an envelope. Haruto peeked inside and blinked. "Thirty-five thousand and fifty yen?"
Kenta whistled. "Not bad for a night of risking our lives."
Elyra smirked, waving her envelope. "First paycheck I've had in centuries."
Airi bowed politely. "Thank you."
The teacher waved them off. "Now go rest. You'll need it."
Wind Down
Elyra stretched her arms over her head, stifling a yawn. "Yeah, I'll… uh… go Recharge."
She grinned at her own joke before turning on her heel and heading toward her quarters.
Kenta muttered under his breath, watching her leave, "She… really said recharge, huh…"
Airi stifled a giggle and suddenly slipped her hand into Haruto's. Haruto froze, his face immediately turning red as she smiled softly.
"C'mon. Let's go."
Kenta rolled his eyes but smirked as he followed behind. "Ah, young love…"
"Shut up!" Haruto barked, his voice breaking a little.
Airi squeezed his hand, giggling quietly.
They walked together out of the lab, the cold night air greeting them again. Streetlights flickered overhead.
Eventually, Airi stopped at her street corner. "This is me. See you tomorrow, Haruto." She gave him a quick wave before hurrying off, her hair swaying behind her.
Haruto stood frozen for a second, cheeks burning. Kenta tapped his shoulder with a smug grin. "Bro, you're done for."
"Shut up," Haruto muttered again, but his lips twitched upward.
They walked in silence for a while before reaching their houses.
"Goodnight, dude." Kenta raised a hand.
"Yeah. Night." Haruto waved back before slipping inside.
Haruto collapsed face-first onto his bed, not even bothering to change. Sleep hit him like a train.
Kenta sat at the dinner table, scarfing down rice and grilled fish while his parents chatted with him. "You look tired, son."
"Extra class," Kenta muttered between bites. He finished quickly and went to his room, pulling out his hidden Naruto manga before falling asleep mid-page.
Airi lay curled under her blanket, her Record Player belt on the desk. She hugged her pillow with a small smile and drifted to sleep.
Elyra plugged herself into the recharge unit in her room. Her normally stoic face carried the faintest blush as she thought back to Kenta catching her earlier. "…Gentleman, huh…" She turned her head away, muttering to herself as her systems powered down.
The Teacher stayed up late, goggles on, sparks flying as he tinkered with his new belt design. His eyes were sharp, his voice low. "…Soon. We'll need more than just what we have."
The lab lights hummed softly, the world outside silent.