It was the next day. This year's exams had been cancelled due to the sudden attack from the organized alternate group, they were deemed to be too dangerous. The Chairman had assumed there was a reason they decided to attack during the exams even though all the SOMA agents would be together and one would think that's a stupid move. They were trying to achieve something that needed the exams to be going on. After convincing from Yoru, The Chairman had allowed the shifting of the group members.
"You did well yesterday, Ken. You've grown even more since we last met.", The Chairman said.
The Chairman was saying his goodbyes to Ken at the entrance of Shimisu Corporation. "Thank you, sir. It's unfortunate we couldn't fight alongside for longer. I wish you good luck with that organized group of alternates... In over 30 years of SOMA's history, we've never encountered something like that."
"Yes... They are a complete mystery. We don't know how they bypassed being sensed us at the time of their awakenings and we don't know their goal and we don't know how they're getting information about us. But, we will begin to uncover it soon no matter what."
"Well... If you guys are ever in need of help against them, the Kyoto team is just a call away.", Ken said with a slight smile.
The Chairman nodded.
"Who was that?", Takeru asked. Takeru and Rento were watching from an upper platform still on the ground floor leaning on the glass railing. "That was Kobayashi Ken, a member of The Kyoto Team's Group 3. He was sent here to help The Chairman with killing the alternates while we were at the exams. He's being sent back early due to the exams being cancelled."
"Oh... The dude looked cool."
Rento scoffed. "Well... not that cool."
"Nah, he looked pretty cool. He had a scar on his face and sick katana with him and everything. You can just tell the dude has a sad backstory by how he looked."
"What? What do you mean you ca-"
"What the hell are you two blabbering on about up there!?", The Chairman shouted.
"Sorry, sir!", They both replied in scared voices. "Get down here immediately.", The Chairman said. Both Takeru and Rento rushed downwards. Takeru was still nervous around The Chairman but not as much as he would be if Yoru hadn't told him what he did about The Chairman.
The Chairman looked towards Takeru and said, "Oi, Takeru."
"Yes, sir?"
"I apologize."
"Huh?"
"It was an error in my judgement. I should not have confined you there and even though I did not intent to punish you, that is what I ultimately did. For that, I am sorry. The true fault was mine for sending in a new SOMA agent against a 1st Class Medium Alternate. We didn't know that your alternate could takeover if you subconsciously let it in a moment of terror but it was still a bad decision since you could've easily died. I was under pressure due to those two things, the teleporting alternate and you being a special case, and ended up making a stupid choice."
"Wow... I didn't expect this from him at all." Takeru was so shocked he didn't say anything for a few seconds. Rento was shocked too but his thoughts were different. "You're damn right its your fault, you're a piece of shit that locked up an innocent kid. AND I STILL HAVEN'T FORGIVEN YOU FOR CALLING IKARI-SENPAI BY HER GIVEN NAME WITHOUT EVEN ANY HONORIFICS, YOU BASTARD!"
"Uhh... Thank you, Chairman-sama but you shouldn't blame yourself either. If you had to pick who was at fault between you and me, the better choice would be me."
"What!? What are you talki-" Rento shut himself up.
"Takeru, it wouldn't. It will be bad for your mental health if you continue to believe that, that is all I'll say."
Takeru stayed quiet and Rento was looking annoyed. The Chairman cleared his throat and said, "Anyways, I called you both here to give you some important details. Those alternates could attack us at any point meaning we're in danger when we're out there patrolling but does that mean we'll stop going out there to protect lives and slay those filthy creatures?"
"No, sir!", Takeru and Rento both said.
"Exactly. Now, this how its gonna work. All the groups will head out and operate like regular but if there is any moment where a group feels that the alternate group is attacking them for any reason, they will call Hikari or Shiori, our two High Alternate-Users, as they are the ones that can easily deal with and capture those 1st Class Medium Alternates. Inform that to everyone when you momentarily go up to the 21st floor for your breakfast."
"Yes, sir!"
"And for Group 5, there will be a temporary change. We know that those alternates want the help of Takeru's alternate which is supposed to somehow make the alternates takeover the planet and replace humans but we don't really know. The teleporting alternate said that knowing Takeru, a SOMA Agent, was also there listening. That could've been him trying to throw us off, we cannot trust his words but even so... It is a safe bet that Takeru's alternate is one of their targets and that is why, Hikari will temporarily be on patrol with you."
"NO-"
"YES-"
"HUH!?"
"Why would you want him on patrol with us!?", Rento asked looking pissed.
"Why wouldn't you!?", Takeru asked feeling offended for Hikari.
The Chairman was not pleased. "Shut up, you two! It was my decision so therefore, it is final. There is no point in you idiots shouting about it."
"Yes, sir!"
The Chairman sighed. "Alright... Go get your breakfast." Takeru and Rento started heading towards the elevator.
"Oi, Rento."
"Now he's calling me by my first name... WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT, YOU BASTARD?" "Yes, sir?", Rento politely asked.
"Be nice to him, he needs a friend."
"Uhh-"
"..."
"Of course, sir."
Takeru, with an annoyed voice, shouted, "Get in the elevator already! I'm hungry over here!"
"Alright, alright! I'm coming!"
There were 4 alternates hiding among the humans of Tokyo blending into society. They were monsters, they were a ticking timebomb, they were looming threats. With one clear goal in mind and determination beyond this world, they were ready to stoop so low to the point that they became willing to live the life of humans.
At Gakushuin Girls' Junior & Senior High School located in Shinjuku City, Tokyo, there were 3 girls patiently waiting for their friend.
"Come on! You're taking too long!"
"Yeah, they'll run out of Yakisoba at the cafeteria!"
"Don't listen to them, you can take you're time."
"Shut up, Yuki!", Both Hana and Sora shouted.
"What's wrong with what I said, huh? My girl can take as long she wants!", Yuki replied.
"Fine...", Hana replied.
"That's what I thought!", Yuki said with a smug look.
"Yeah, I guess it's fine if you're okay with the cafeteria running out of Hojicha as well...", Sora replied.
"..."
"..."
"..."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
"GET OUT ALREADY! COME ON! THE CAFETERIA WILL RUN OUT OF HOJICHA! YOU'VE TAKEN ENOUGH TIME!", Yuki shouted banging on the restroom's door.
Hana and Sora both started laughing hysterically.
The door finally opened and their friend, a pretty girl with white hair, came out. "Alright, alright... I'm done."
All three of them sighed with relief. Sora then looked a bit annoyed and said, "You sure took your time, Yui."