Harem Quest: Love or Escape?

Chapter 12 - I Hate This Mission

Kai reluctantly climbed into the car, grumbling under his breath. "I'll finish this mission fast and go home to sleep. That's all I want." But of course, Hyo-Rin just had to ruin his peaceful plans.

"Haaah... I don't have a choice," Kai sighed dramatically, like the lead in a tragic K-drama.

And their ride for the mission is a Jeep huh?

Wait..a Jeep?!!

"Whose brilliant idea was it to use a Jeep?!" Kai thought bitterly. They didn't look like spies at all. More like... kidnappers in a B-grade action movie. He groaned and shook his head. Honestly, even a grandma with a cane would run the other way if she saw them.

Eventually, Kai squeezed into the middle seat next to Hyo-Rin, while Kitty sat up front beside the driver.

Then it happened.

"Kai, change into this uniform," Hyo-Rin said, tossing a set of clothes into his lap.

He stared at her. "Here?! Now?! In the car?!"

"Yes. What, never changed in a tight space before?" she said, eyes glinting like she was daring him to say no.

The space was cramped. The tension was real. And Hyo-Rin was staring at him like a hawk eyeing a snack. Kai hesitated but reluctantly peeled off his shirt, moving slowly like he was doing some kind of awkward strip tease.

And then—

Hyo-Rin burst out laughing.

"Pfft—What is that?! Where are your abs?! That's not even a six-pack, that's a one-pack hahah!!"

Kai wanted to die on the spot. His soul almost left his body.

Flustered, he hurriedly pulled down his pants, leaving only his underwear—big mistake.

Hyo-Rin laughed even harder. "Oh my god, are those cat-print boxers?!"

Kai turned beet red. He had completely forgotten that today he wore his favorite pair—the ones with the little cartoon kittens. They were cute, okay?! And super comfy!

There was no way he could've predicted that he'd be forced to change clothes in front of a girl today. What was this, a rom-com anime?

He quickly covered himself and shouted, "D-Don't look! Turn around!"

Hyo-Rin smirked and clicked her tongue. "Tch.."

Still blushing furiously, Kai changed into the new outfit. To his surprise, the clothes actually fit him perfectly. The fabric was stretchy, snug but not uncomfortable—like it was tailor-made for him.

"This feels... kinda nice," he muttered.

Hyo-Rin nodded proudly. "That's high-tech combat gear. Ultra-flexible, bullet-resistant, and stylish enough to impress girls. Maybe."

Kai blinked. "Wait, bullet-resistant?!"

Suddenly, the suit felt way cooler. He sat up straighter. "Okay, this might not be so bad after all."

Once everyone was geared up, they drove toward their first mission location. Hyo-Rin briefed them along the way.

"Tonight is just recon. We're on patrol duty to monitor for any YBD activity."

"YBD?" Kai asked.

"Yeah," Hyo-Rin said seriously. "They've been targeting girls at night. Over the past month, five girls have gone missing. The strange part is, it always happens after an idol group concert."

Kai raised a brow. "Wait... So they're kidnapping fangirls?"

Kitty chimed in from the front seat. "Not just fangirls. Some of the missing are actual idols. YBD seems to be targeting beautiful women coming home late at night—especially those near Tokyo Dome and surrounding subway stations."

"That's why I went undercover as an idol," Hyo-Rin added. "We needed someone to bait them out."

Kai processed the info. "So... pretty girls are the targets. Which means you are basically walking bait?"

"Exactly," Hyo-Rin replied. "Don't worry, the Twinkles are safe. I assigned them to our other team. But we're still short on people, so you're helping tonight."

Kai sighed. "Just my luck..."

Eventually, they reached their first checkpoint near Korakuen Station.

"We're here, Miss Hyo-Rin, Miss Kitty," the driver announced calmly.

"Alright," Hyo-Rin said, snapping into full commander mode. "Stay sharp. Kitty, monitor the right side. Kai, take the left. Report anything suspicious."

Kai nodded obediently—though part of him was freaking out.

Not because of the mission.

Because Hyo-Rin was sitting so close, he could still smell her shampoo. Why did she have to smell like flowers and danger?! And her face... when did he start thinking she was this pretty?!

Focus, Kai, focus...!

They spent the next thirty minutes patrolling, moving between Suidobashi Station, Kasuga Station, and eventually Iidabashi Station. The theory was that YBD targeted girls who missed the last train, meaning their patrols had to rotate between stations until 1 a.m.

By the time the clock struck 1:00, they returned to Kasuga Station, the streets now mostly deserted. Only a few groups remained, mostly girls still hanging out, probably unaware that they were basically walking targets.

Kai frowned. Why are they so relaxed? Don't they know what's going on lately?

Suddenly, Kitty signaled from the front, pointing discreetly at a group of five masked men following a lone girl.

"They're following her... Suspicious behavior," Kitty whispered.

Hyo-Rin's eyes lit up. "Move out! Let's tail them—Kitty, Kai, with me!"

She jumped out of the Jeep like a ninja. Kitty followed right behind her. And Kai?

Kai ran.

For ten whole meters.

Then promptly died.

Okay, not died died, but he was wheezing like a boomer after Zumba class.

"Wh-Why are they so fast...?! I'm not built for this!!"

"Damn it! This is humiliating," Kai growled, still panting as he chased after Hyo-Rin and Kitty. He finally caught up, wheezing like a broken vacuum.

They all paused at the corner of the street, watching the scene unfold ahead of them.

A lone girl walked nervously, clearly being followed by a group of suspicious-looking men.

Kai narrowed his eyes. Something felt... off.

She looked lost. Totally confused about where she was going. Then, in a burst of frustration, she kicked a soda can down the road like she was playing street soccer.

"She looks... kind of familiar," Kai muttered, squinting. "Nice body with big breast... long blue hair... an idiot face... and super bad temper..."

His jaw dropped.

"Wait a second... that walk... that dumb, arrogant stride..."

Kai's eye twitched.

"No way. No freaking way."

He rubbed his eyes like they were malfunctioning.

THAT GIRL... IS KAMIYAMA AI?! THAT STUPID GODDESS OF LOVE WHO WRITES DUMB HAREM NOVELS AND FREELOAADS AT MY PLACE?! WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING OUT HERE THIS LATE?!

Kai was shaken. Absolutely, thoroughly, soul-crushingly shook.

Ai was supposed to be at home, hogging his bed, eating his food, and ruining his life from the comfort of his own house!

Kitty and Hyo-Rin noticed his stunned expression.

"What's wrong, Kai?" Kitty asked.

"Y-Yeah. You look like you've seen a ghost," added Hyo-Rin.

Kai laughed nervously. "Oh, haha, uh... nothing! I mean, she probably doesn't need our help. She looks... totally fine, haha. Let's just ignore her—move along!"

Hyo-Rin glared. "What kind of cold-blooded thing is that to say?! She's clearly in danger! Those creeps are dragging her into a narrow alley!"

Without waiting another second, Hyo-Rin dashed after them, with Kitty right behind.

Kai palmed his face. "Innocent girl?! That's the idiotic goddess who cursed me to live with her dumb fictional characters—including you, Hyo-Rin! Ugh, maybe I should let her get kidnapped."

He grumbled as he followed.

"But who am I kidding? Kamiyama Ai can't be kidnapped. Because..."

He reached the alley and froze beside the girls.

Inside, chaos reigned.

"Yep... saw that coming."

The alley looked like a tornado had exploded. The men who'd tried to attack Ai were flying—literally flying—through the air.

Kitty and Hyo-Rin stared, stunned.

"That's impossible," Kitty whispered.

"Is she... human?" Hyo-Rin added.

The answer was a big fat "no."

Ai unleashed her signature move [Goddess Punch] the skill that she used to kill me once.

One guy hit a wall. Another went airborne. A third cried for his mom.

"STOP!! PLEASE, STOP!! YOUR ANGER IS TOO HOT!!! HIT US HARDER!!"

"DON'T TAKE OFF MY PANTS—I'LL NEVER GET MARRIED!! AAAAAHH!!"

"KYAAAH!! MOMMY!! THIS IS SO GOOD!!"

"UGGHH...HARDER...!!"

Kai's face turned bright red. "WHY ARE THESE GUYS ENJOYING THIS?!"

When the last guy fell, twitching on the ground, Ai stood triumphantly over them like a street-fighting queen.

Kai sprinted over before things got worse. He had to stop Hyo-Rin and Kitty from learning the truth about Ai.

But just as he got close—

"GODDESS PUNCH—!!"

Ai's fist flew towards him with a psycho gaze and killing intent.

Kai screamed, ducking. But she stopped right before it hit.

"Huh? Bakachin? What are you doing here? And pfft—what's with that tight black outfit? Are you playing secret agent?" Ai smirked, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kai nearly burst a vein. "YOU IDIOT! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?!"

"I didn't mean to wander around!" Ai snapped. "I just went out to buy some cup noodles using the coins in your piggy bank because someone didn't come home to cook me dinner!"

"I kept looking for a minimarket and somehow ended up here! And those gross creeps tried to bother me!"

Kai looked like he was about to cry. "Wait, wait... You used my piggy bank?! That's my hard-earned money, you freeloading goddess!!"

"I had no choice! I'm broke! And this is all your fault for leaving me hungry and abandoned!"

Kai clenched his fist in frustration.

"Hiiiik!" he yelped as Ai raised her fist again.

Just then, Hyo-Rin and Kitty came up from behind.

"Kai, what's going on? Do you know her?" Hyo-Rin asked, concerned.

Kai panicked.

He couldn't let them find out Ai was a goddess. Or that she lived with him. Or that she had the strength of a mythical gorilla on steroids.

He whispered, "Ai! Pretend to faint!"

"Huh?! Speak clearly, you idiot—ahh... I'm hungry..." And just like that, Ai actually fainted. Her stomach growled like a dying walrus, and she collapsed.

Kai caught her just in time.

"That dumb goddess... She looked unstoppable, but apparently hunger is her true weakness," he thought, shaking his head fondly.

"She's, uh... my neighbor," Kai said quickly. "One of those guys must've hit her and knocked her out. I'll take her to her home and get her some food."

Kitty looked worried. "Are you sure? We can bring her to our HQ—"

"No! I mean—it's fine. She just needs rest. And, uh, snacks."

"...Okay. If you're sure," Hyo-Rin said. "Thank goodness she's safe."

The creeps were now tied up by Kitty, ready for interrogation.

As Kai slung Ai over his shoulder, Hyo-Rin called one of her men to drive him home. Kai gladly accepted.

Before he left, Hyo-Rin quietly said, "Thanks for helping tonight, Kai... See you tomorrow at school."

"...Yeah. Thanks, Rin-chan. See you."

He smiled awkwardly and waved before stepping into the car.

As the vehicle disappeared down the road, Hyo-Rin stood in silence.

"Heh... I didn't expect that," she murmured, a strange sadness flickering in her eyes. "He seems... close to that girl..."

A trace of jealousy slipped into her voice.

And Kai, blissfully unaware, had just triggered a chain of chaos that would haunt him for days to come.

...

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