Kenmochi Minato took a deep breath in front of a tightly closed door.

「Fuuu, It’s fine…… I am strong…… Relax and calm down……」

The room that Kuriyama Rintaro, aka the heinous mysterious Death Green, had been assigned to was a superb suite in Ark Dominion’s underground secret base.

It has been about a week since she was suddenly abducted, or rather, sent out on an intense training mission. Including the time Rintaro was shut in, they had not seen each other for almost two weeks.

Today, Minato visited Rintaro’s room with a certain determination.

（Let me join your legion…… Let me join your legion……! Alright!）

Once again, Minato repeated in her mind the words she had practiced many times.

In order to relieve her tension, she had already swallowed more than 100 of ‘person’ word written on her palm last night.

But when the time came, she felt as if she was a junior high school student about to confess her love for the first time in her life, her body stiffened, and she felt thirsty.

（Don’t worry, …… I’ve showered, so I’m sure I don’t smell bad. My appearance should be fine too…… and I’ve even put on new underwear just in case……）

It was difficult to determine whether her enthusiasm was subconscious or deliberate.

「……Rintaro, are you there?」

Minato gathered up her courage and knocked fearfully, but there was no answer. Curious, she put her ear to the door, but did not hear any sobbing as before.

「I wonder if he went outside……?」

With her ear flattened against the door, Minato leaned her weight against it. The unlocked door then opened by itself.

「Fugyah! ……Uuu, it hurts……」

Minato looked up, holding her nose. It was pitch black in the room, apparently he was really outside.

（I see, you’ve recovered enough to go outside……）

Although disappointed at the absence of the desired person, Minato was a little relieved.

At that moment, however, Minato heard a conversation echoing from outside the hallway.

「Anikii~! Samecchi is lonely, ssu~!」

「You have also worried me, so we are even. Let’s keep that in mind.」

There was no mistaking the friendly voice of Samecchi and the owner of the room, Rintaro. Judging from the tone of his voice, Rintaro seemed to have recovered completely.

（Thank god…… He seems to be doing fine……）

After she felt relieved, Minato realized the situation she was in. There was an adult woman who had taken advantage of the owner’s absence to enter his private room without permission, without even turning on the lights.

Blood drained from Minato’s face in an instant.

（This is bad…… Wh- wh- wh- wh- wh- what should I dooooo!）

The worst thing that could happen is for them to enter the room.

『Hey Rintaro, I see you are all better now!』

『Oi Minato, what the hell are you doing in my room?』

『This is caused by an irresistible force, you know. Don’t worry about it, teehee ☆』

（This is a bit of a stretch.……）

Minato did not have the dexterity to make a good excuse and go straight into negotiations. There were no longer many options available to Minato.

For example, let’s say that she left the room with a nonchalant look on her face.

The underground secret base has long corridors with almost no blind spots. Inevitably, she will run into Rintaro in the corridor.

『Hey Rintaro, I see you are all better now!』

『Hey, why did you just come out of my room?』

『Ufu, So I’ve been caught. This is bad, Teehee ☆』

『I see ☆　Then let’s meet in the court next time ☆』

『P- Please wait a minute! A misunderstanding, this is a misunderstandiiiiing!!』

（N- No…… That’s too suspicious……！）

In Minato’s brain simulation, no matter how hard she tried, she could only see a future where she would be treated suspiciously and kept at a distance. If this situation continues, Rintaro will suspect her of something and she will be declared a stalker.

「Huh, It’s open, ssuyo? Did aniki forget to lock the door again, ssuka?」

「Hmmm?　Well, I don’t think there’s any burglars in the secret underground basement, but we’ll have to be careful.」

Samecchi put her hand on the doorknob, and the door was about to be opened. Minato hurriedly groped her way under the big bed in the darkness.

「……？　I feel like there was someone…… Was it my imagination……?」

「Is aniki feeling tired, ssuka? aniki is surely not completely recovered yet, ssuyo.」

With these words, the two of them sat down on the bed which was used as a replacement for sofa. Minato felt the creaking springs at close range.

（Hawawawwa…… What should I do, Will I be forgiven if I come out and apologize now……? No matter how I look at it, I would just be considered even more perverted…… Uuu）

Her situation is now being surrounded from all direction, or in shogi terms, a deadlock. As the embarrassed Minato held her breath under the bed, she could not help but listen to their conversation, although it was difficult to hear.

「By the way, Samecchi. Where have you been for the last week?」

「Fufufussu… That’s a maiden’s secret. Samecchi is a good girl, Samecchi also has a lot of secrets, ssuyo.」

「Well, General Bearion has told me most of the story.」

「Anikii! Asking even though aniki knew is against the rule, ssuyo!」

Hidden and secretly listening to the story is objectively quite bad, isn’t it? Minato held her breath as she held her stomach that was aching with anxiety and guilt.

Then, although the atmosphere was friendly at first, she could sense that Rintaro’s air had changed in some way.

「Samecchi, I have something to tell you. Rather than telling, it’s more like a request though.」

「What is it again, ssuka? Samecchi will listen to any request aniki make, ssuyo!」

When Rintaro sat on the bed, Samechi followed his example and sat facing him.

「I’ve thought about it a lot and as expected I need Samecchi. Are you willing to continue to follow me?」

「Do- Dokiiiii, ssu!?」

（…………!!!!!!!!!????????）

Rintaro’s sudden confession, which was more serious than ever, made the startled Samechi jump on the bed. Thanks to the shock, neither of them seemed to notice Minato jumping under the bed.

Minato was so shocked that he involuntarily covered her reddened face.

（I- I- I- I- I did think they were pretty close, B- B- B- But this way……!?）

Rintaro, seemingly unaware of Minato’s concern, continued to speak.

「As you know, I am no longer just a soldier. I am a commander in charge of an army. I have to keep my surroundings tight.」

「Aniki, Th- Th- Th- That…… Is that a confession!?」

「That’s how it is(Member solitication). How is it, will you continue to stay with me……」

「Samecchi will be with aniki foreveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer, ssu!!」

「Uoo!? Is that so! aniki is happy!」

Samecchi gave a big smile and jumped to the side and hugged Rintaro. Rintaro’s body bounced on the bed as he was pushed down.

Minato felt the springs squeak and creak as she blew bubbles under the bed.

（Rintaro…… Samecchi…… Awawawa, Auau……）

Of course, for Rintaro, it was just a matter of making the first move because he did not want to be pestered by a rascal like Kirika. His words were misinterpreted not only by Samecchi but also by Minato, who was listening under the bed.

Their words were no longer coming to Minato’s ears. Minato closed her eyes, covered her ears, and curled up her tall body like a dung beetle.

「Anikii! This week, Samecchi got a little power up, ssuyo! Samecchi learnt various pro wrestling move under Colonel Usanyi-chan, ssu!」

「Adadada!? You don’t have to try it here, do you!?　Geez it can’t be helper, Samecchi sure is a bad girl!」

「Waiwai kyakkya!」

「Ufufu! Ahaha!」

Samecchi was enjoying the greatest joy of her life, and Rintaro was in a good mood having secured a member of the group, jumping up and down on the king-size bed.

Creak!　Creak, creak, creak! Gikkonbatan!

（Awa…… Awawa…… Auauauau…… Uuuu……）

…………

Two hours later, Minato crawled out from under the creaky bed. It was after Rintaro and Samecchi received an emergency dispatch order and left the room.

In the room where the lights had gone out again, the tall maiden cast a vacant glance at the sheets, which were disheveled and in disarray. She left the room with the gait of a demon on the verge of becoming a Buddha.

「Ah, Minato-sensei. Goof after…… Ui!?」

「……………………」

「Um, are you okay Minato-sensei, your complexion look weird, ui?」

「……………………」

Mysterious beings passing by in the corridor were gaping at the sight of her. Some called out to her in concern, but Minato’s ears no longer heard them.

Minato continues to walk aimlessly through the large underground secret base, spilling her willow-leaf knife every time she ran her head against the wall.

How far had I walked since then? At some point, She had descended to a much deeper level.

Minato stopped in a corridor surrounded by bare piping and darkness, with no sign of anyone else around. Illuminated by the emergency lights, she slumped to her knees.

「Ugh……」

I want to stay by Rintaro’s side forever.

As long as she could fulfill this desire, Minato had no intention of being particular about the kind of relationship. She had always told herself that she wanted to be useful to Rintaro, even if only as a pawn.

So whether or not Rintaro has a particular partner, that is a separate issue that has nothing to do with Minato at all.

But why does her heart feel so painful?

No matter how many questions Minato may have, there is no one anywhere who can answer those questions.

Even though she had enough time to think and prepare herself. Courage, self-confidence, guts, passion, and the “hasty preparation” for today’s day crumbled away.

It was as if a dam was about to break. What had been held back inside her finally overflowed as a muddy stream.

「Fugu…… Ugh…… Fueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen……!」

At the bottom of the abyss, where even the mysterious beings do not stir, the maiden’s cries continued to echo sadly.

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<102: Glowing Kirameki Sentai, Shiny Romeo Five
104: Person in Distress in The Abyss>