Chapter 2 – Mobile Task Force U

Chapter 2 : Mobile Task Force U

My name is Akane Rindou.

I’ve lived as an ordinary high school student, growing up without any particular hardships.

Unlike most shounen protagonists, I never had any particular hardships or any differentiating factors that made me different from everyone else.

This chapter takes place at a certain place in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It’s a time when the harshest winter is about to arrive.

The thought of having to shovel snow again ruined my mood. In areas where snowfall was uncommon, it could be celebrated like a festive occasion, but from my perspective, it was nothing but a nuisance.

A chore.

“Bro, did you see the show on TV last night?”

“Ah, the one about the haunted locations? That thing was really caught on camera! Man, I almost peed my pants because I was scared to go to the bathroom alone that night. “

“Ha! You’re so lame!”

I was heading home with my friends. I was on the way home from school, heading home with some of my friends. Snow was just starting to pile up, but it was bearable for the time being.

Getting excited over trivial conversations, celebrating our foolish youth. You could say that’s the life of a high school student.

They say a high school student’s job is to study, but only a very small number of us were actually taking that aspect seriously.

“Hey Akane, you saw it too, right?”

“I didn’t. Things like that are stupid.”

“Aw, come on, you should’ve at least given it a shot.”

“Ghosts and stuff can’t possibly exist, dude. What’s so fun about looking at made-up events? It’s all fake, I tell you. Just some trick by the show’s producer to keep the ratings high.”

“Tsk, don’t say that. Wouldn’t it be more romantic if they did exist?”

“What ‘romance’ are you talking about? I’ve never heard that saying before.”

“Guh! That’s why you’re so…! Feel the romance, damn it!!”

They brought up the TV special on ghosts that aired last night.

Unfortunately for them, I don’t believe in the existence of ghosts.

If it were scientifically proven, I might have a little interest, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe in such occult stories.

It’s just too unrealistic.

“Well then, what about unidentified flying objects?”

“UFOs? Why did you have to use the long name? Statistically, there’s a possibility for Aliens to exist somewhere in this universe. However, if they were able to build spaceships and travel to Earth, then wouldn’t that just be an invasion waiting to happen?”

“ I mean… that’s what I would do. Unless the aliens have some non-aggression treaty with underdeveloped civilizations or something.”

“Hah! It’s true, if aliens have the technology to come to Earth, we’d stand no chance. Hey, Akane. You act nonchalant, but you’re actually pretty smart, right?”

“My scores are just a bit above average. I’m not like you, failing classes and having to take summer courses to make up.”

“Alright alright, save the boasting for when you get over a B in every subject. Anyways, see you Monday!”

“Take care!”

“Yeah, see you next week.”

While on the subject of supernatural occurrences, we reached the point where I had to part ways with my friends.

My house was still a bit further away. 

It’s so cold. It’s annoying that this is still considered the warmer part of the season.

The beginning of a snowy winter. Being partially in the countryside, if you shift your gaze slightly, you notice a world of silver spread out over the fields.

I used to play here. I’d often get scolded for running around the fields without permission.

Let’s hurry back and play some games or something. I wouldn’t have to wear all these thick clothes once I get home.

As I was thinking that, I continued walking along the sidewalk, carefully avoiding the slippery spots of ice.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind hit me.

The howling blast stirred the snow in the air, scattering it across the sky.

Up to this point, I still probably wouldn’t have paid any mind to what was happening.

But gradually, as the wind grew stronger and stronger, it became a different story. The swirling snow got in my eyes, making it hard for me to gauge where I was.

“Jeez…”

Eventually, the gale got so strong that I was unable to keep my eyes open. I stopped and shielded my eyes with my arm, stubborning moving forwards.

How much time had passed? 

Then, the wind stopped, and I was able to open my eyes.

What… is this?

The world had changed into something completely different from the place I was just walking on.

A world of pure white.

There were no cars, no trees, and no signs of life other than me.

It felt as if I’d been invited to another world.

What’s going on?

What just happened? Did I get reincarnated in another world? But that only happened in fiction, right? Was my friend actually right about all the romance antics?

I’ve never heard of anyone being swallowed by a blizzard and getting reincarnated in another world.

All I could do was stand there, dumbfounded.

But, it appeared that the blizzard didn’t seem to be willing to wait for me.

In this cold, silvery world, something reminiscent of a dorsal fin suddenly appeared in the distance.

Their numbers grew quickly, covering my field of vision.

I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but I instinctively started to run.

Throwing away my backpack, I ran through the snow as fast as I could. My feet sank a little deeper into the ground with every step.

Just to be clear, that decision was correct.

A few seconds after I started running, a thunderous DOGOON!! exploded in the spot that I was just at, enveloping it in a cloud of snow.

A scene too unrealistic. A scene too unscientific.

This isn’t about ghosts or UFOs.

The thing I just saw… was it a shark?

When people see something unexplainable, they eventually accept it to remain calm, right?

I understood what I had to do now.

I just had to run. 

Where is the exit? When will this nightmare end?

I had no time to contemplate such things. For now, the best course of action was to get as far away as possible.

Crap, they’re chasing me!

A game of tag with snow sharks.

A game where being caught means death, had just begun.

Anomalies.

Phenomena or entities that appear abnormal or inexplicable when viewed through the lens of established laws or theories.

Humans exhibit their true strength when facing mortal danger.

Was this what they called the strength of desperation? Even though I should be exhausted beyond belief, my legs kept moving beyond that fatigue.

BOOM!!

That was close!

The approaching snow shark bared its fangs, trying to grab onto my legs.

I dodged it with sheer willpower, tumbling over the snow but immediately getting back up.

And then, I continued to run

Hah, hah, hah… damn it!! When is this going to end?!

A game of tag with no end in sight.

If this were a children’s game, there would probably be a time limit.

It should have ended with the sound of the chime.

Unfortunately, no such chime existed here.

All I can do is keep running until these sharks got bored and left me alone.

After a while, I felt my legs getting heavy.

Even the strength of desperation has its limits. Nearly 30 minutes of sprinting at full speed, my legs were about to give out.

I can’t… anymore–

My legs stopped. I had reached my limit. The sharks were already closing in from behind, ready to devour me. It was over.

For someone who hadn’t exercised since entering high school except for gym class, I’d done pretty well.

I didn’t want to die. But, there was nothing I could do.

A shark opened its gaping jaw, ready to swallow me whole.

“Firing.”

Right as I was about to give into despair, something fell from the sky.

It slammed into the shark, blowing it apart.

A loud BOOM!! echoed through the silvery world, and the scattered snow blocked my vision.

“Civilian protected. Commencing engagement with the target Unknown.”

A human voice, which I hadn’t heard since coming to this world.

Turning my gaze toward the source of the voice, I saw a single man standing there, wearing some type of futuristic equipment.

I didn’t understand.

I wanted to comprehend the situation, but I didn’t possess the composure or mental fortitude at the moment.

“This is Mobile Task Force U. Commencing target suppression.”

This was my first encounter with Mobile Task Force U.

It would be the thing that altered the course of my life.