GATE: Task Force Guillotine

Chapter 24: Laying Low

Inside Risa's Apartment

April 2, 2028, 17:10

Risa's apartment was small but tidy—a lived-in space with tightly packed bookshelves, a kotatsu at the center of the room, and a kitchen that looked more like a decorative fixture than a place for actual cooking. The faint scent of coffee lingered in the air, mingling with the soft fragrance of fabric softener from laundry hanging near the window.

As the group stepped inside, Itami gestured toward Risa with a nod.

"Everyone, this is Risa Aizawa, detective with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. If there's anyone in this city I trust, it's her."

Risa crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Flattery won't get you out of this mess."

The group shuffled inside, some more cautiously than others. Adam and Caldwell instinctively positioned themselves near the door, their training kicking in. Meanwhile, the girls gathered near the couch, their eyes sweeping over the unfamiliar surroundings. Tomita, Kuribayashi, and Yanagida hovered near the dining table, exchanging silent glances.

Risa remained by the entrance, arms still crossed, her sharp gaze locked onto Itami. The tension between them was immediate, palpable.

She let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples. "Of all the places in Tokyo, you show up here, dragging people from another world and two Americans?"

Itami met her stare with an easy grin. "You saw the Diet broadcast, didn't you?"

Risa scoffed, shaking her head. "I did. Who knew you were even capable of responsibility?"

Itami chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I surprise myself sometimes."

She exhaled sharply before stepping aside. "And? What do you want from me?"

"Help, mostly," Itami admitted, shifting his weight. "These guys need a place to lay low, and you're the only person I trust not to turn this into a media circus."

Risa rolled her eyes. "Oh, fantastic. So now I'm your unofficial babysitter?"

She cast a glance at the group—Rory smirked knowingly, Lelei was already scanning the bookshelf, and Pina studied the kotatsu with fascination. Meanwhile, the Americans eyed the room.

Itami raised a hand. "You'll barely notice us."

Risa gave him a flat look. "That's hard to believe." She sighed, then stepped aside. "Fine. But you're explaining everything."

She turned toward the kitchen, shooting a last warning glance over her shoulder. "And don't touch anything."

As she moved away, Itami exhaled and launched into an explanation, condensing as much as he could—their run-in with foreign agents, the redheaded girl sitting in her living room being an actual princess from an empire beyond the Gate, and the relentless pursuit of operatives who would stop at nothing to capture her.

Risa arched an eyebrow. "Wow. First, you become a national hero, and now you're playing bodyguard?"

Itami shrugged. "Life has a way of throwing random shit at me."

She pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling deeply before exhaling through her teeth. "Alright, ground rules. One—no weapons drawn in my apartment. If you can't follow that, you can sleep outside. Two—keep your voices down. My neighbors don't need to know I'm harboring a bunch of fugitives. Three—if you make a mess, you clean it up. I am not your maid. Got it?"

"Got it," Itami said immediately, while the rest of the group murmured their agreement. The Americans exchanged glances but nodded, recognizing a no-nonsense tone when they heard one.