They had been told that they were taken in under Official Ayanaki Business. Though, judging from their attire and looks, even their presence, there was a whole lot more to it than that. They could tell that much at least.
However, what struck them as odd was the weird symbol on their backs. It was black, a bunch of triangles that met in the center, with the center having different numbers inside.
The one on Hinasuke, on their left, was 7.
The one on their right was 6.
The ones in front were 5, 4 and 3.
And the remaining three behind were 8, 9 and 10.
And yet, even with the unnaturally long halls that had nothing but glowing tubes in the walls, the air was still stiff.
That is... until goldilocks said something.
"So, are we being arrested or being kidnapped?"
Yano immediately pinched his arm, "Are you trying to get us killed—"
"We are merely taking you to our Headquarters for further questions." One said, the one in the front, number 3.
He had long blue hair and his voice was weirdly smooth. Unsettling, yes, but it was better than the grin that number 8 kept giving Akira whenever she'd peer over her shoulder.
Her brows furrowed, but she kept quiet. Something about that grin told her that 8 was definitely a nut job.
"Talk about a sweet welcoming, huh?" Akira muttered beneath her breath.
"I suggest you keep your comments to yourselves. It would be...for the best." Number 4 said, her voice as cool as ice.
For a long moment, nothing but the surgical smell of sanitation and sterilized steel was all that filled the emptiness, apart from the soft thrum from the light beams that was visible through the hexagonal windows.
"So this is Ayanaki..." Akira thought, her lips twitching as she looked at Hina, who seemed focused on the three individuals in front of them, "From what I've learned, these guys keep balance throughout the entire world, they're the ones responsible for keeping us safe from Shrill attacks and other threats, but..."
She glanced over her shoulder again, and upon meeting that sinister grin, felt a cold shiver run up her spine, "Great. She's still staring at me—"
Just then, Yano boldly spoke, "I just wanna know one thing."
There wasn't an immediate response just yet.
"Speak." Number 7 said simply.
Yano glanced outside the windows again then at Akira, before looking ahead and then saying, "If we choose to cooperate with you, do we live..." Her tone darkened a little, "...or are you gonna kill us?"
There wasn't a reply. Just cold silence punctuated by the hum of energy in the air.
The door, which was a thick slab of stainless metal, turned into liquid as it fused into the ground, making way for them.
"You were caught trespassing, miss. We only want to talk and ask if you saw anything particular at all. That's all we want." Number 6 said, her voice was smaller, a little bit shakier and uncertain. They could immediately tell, she was the youngest.
The Ayanaki Order, or better know as The Ayanaki Legion was a facility that was mainly for the sole purpose of one thing: Protect Humanity. It had been around for more than Essentials had been roaming the earth, but at this, it was basic common knowledge.
What wasn't common knowledge was how or even when it was established. Many rumors hinged on the possibility of ancient beings, perhaps older than the planet itself, came with their already advanced ideals and taught the natives and thus creating a basic culture. But there were too many questions surrounding that matter and to be completely honest...no one cared.
Not even the members of the Ayanaki themselves knew how it came about. Some say, Ayanaki was a waste of good money. But, even then, it didn't matter, fact remained; They were useful.
These mystery members of the Ayanaki took all four of them into separate interrogation rooms, each room being—quite literally—nothing but a table and chair.
They interrogated Yoshida first. Quite the experience.
"What were you doing there?"
"Look, I already told ya, we were just looking for a thing a friend of ours needed to get real quick, that's all."
"Why wait so long if they needed it with such urgency?"
"Beats me, man. I just followed the beautiful girl with freckles, can't blame me for being a hopeless romantic."
The interrogation was meant to go on for at least 15 minutes, but Yoshida got let off by the 6th.
Yano on the other hand...
"Why'd you answer my question? Why not your boss?"
Number 6 simply chuckled, soft and surprisingly human enough to lower Yano's guard a little, "Well, my boss as you call him, isn't exactly the most social person. Hope you didn't take offense to it, Ms...?"
Yano hesitated for a second. Something about her was uncharacteristically too natural, like she was more human than the people she'd imagined in her head. It was strange. It was weird. And maybe it was dumb of her to trust her, even for a moment, but she did anyway, "Yubanai. Yubanai Yano..."
"Well, Ms Yubanai, in most cases, people found trespassing on Ayanaki property don't...well, get the chance to explain. It's usually far much more...brutal."
Yano's arms tensed on her chest, pressing them further together as she leaned back on the chair, "So I've heard. You lot aren't the kindest organization out there."
"But we are the safest. Afterall, our sole goal at the Ayanaki is simple. To protect you."
Something about the way she said that made her stomach churn.
What was this girl's deal? She was clearly younger than Yano, maybe by a year or two and yet...it felt as though she was talking to someone who'd had years of experience in interrogating.
It was like she already knew something she didn't. That calmness, and for someone her age, was unsettling. So she chose to play her cards safe.
"Protection is easier said than done."
"We have the manpower to fulfill that claim..." She replied cooly, her eyes, those brown eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned in,
"Kind of like how you have the power to fix Ms Hashinada's phone whenever she smashes it."
Yano's eyes dilated.
"How the fu—"