Make Them Love Me Or They'll End The World

"We're closing in on the target! Crew, keep formation! We might not have the numbers, but we've been chosen for a reason!"

"YESSIR!"

Boots pounded against the rooftops of Oshawa's main street. The Cradle search team leapt from tile to tile, eyes locked on the hooded figure darting ahead. From the moment they spotted the stranger peering over the edge of the roof, watching someone below, they knew something was off. Nobody had any business being up here; it was reckless, dangerous, and suspicious as hell.

The figure glanced over its shoulder once before cutting right, cloak flaring, then vaulted down into the streets below.

"AFTER THEM!" The leader of the small squad barked.

They gave chase, weaving through alleys and side roads until the pursuit ended at a dead end, stone walls on either side, a towering wall ahead, and the patrol squad closing off the exit.

The leader grinned, chest heaving. "Nowhere left to run."

The cloaked figure pressed against the wall, cornered. If they didn't act, capture was certain.

With a sudden burst, the fugitive leapt, scrambling up the wall. But the Cradle team had been waiting for that. Hands shot out, yanking the figure down hard onto the pavement.

"Haha! Got you now!" one of the squad jeered, pinning the stranger.

The leader strode forward, smirking. "Reveal yourself. Why were you skulking around the rooftops?"

There was no response from the mystery person.

"Playing the silent game, are you... Very well, you leave me with no choice." The leader said, a small smile growing on his face, a smile that was relieved that they caught their guy.

He walked over to the apprehended suspect and grabbed the hood, yanking it back.

And froze.

His grin shattered. His eyes widened. He stumbled back in shock.

"H-h-how is that even possible?!"

The soldier holding the captive's arm gasped, her voice trembling.

"That... Doesn't make any sense? Commander… It's you!"

The rest of the squad fell silent, staring in horror.

There was no mistaking it. The face beneath the cloak was identical, every scar, every strand of hair, every line. It was their leader.

The real commander's blood ran cold. "What trick is this?! Who the hell are you?!" He shouted, both fear and rage mixed in.

The doppelgänger only smiled before sticking his tongue out.

"ANSWER ME!" He roared, veins bulging, but the copy didn't speak. Its calm grin was infuriating, like it existed only to mock him.

The commander's rage boiled over. Someone parading around as him, carrying out suspicious acts, it was more than an insult; it was dangerous. If this fake act were to be blamed, the blame would fall on him.

He activated his comm, voice sharp. "This is a patrol unit. We've apprehended the suspect, and…" He paused, giving the fake him a disgusted look, a look you would only give to your worst enemies. "You won't believe this, it's my double. I don't know how or why, but prepare containment. I'm bringing him in."

Cutting the line, he glared at the imposter. His fist curled tight, shaking. "You bastard…"

With a roar, he swung down to smash the fake's face-

-but in a blink, the double slipped free. The squad holding him was sent crashing into the alley walls like ragdolls.

"WHAT?!" The leader staggered back as his twin sprinted past, cloak snapping in the air, bursting into the empty street.

"SHIT! AFTER HIM!" The commander bellowed.

But when they rushed out of the alley… Nothing. No footsteps, no shadow, no trace.

"Shit…" The commander growled, chest heaving, eyes darting across the deserted road.

He clenched his teeth, barking orders. "Fan out. Keep out of public sight. If you see him, you report to me, no one else. Understood?"

"YESSIR!"

And the Cradle squad scattered onto the rooftops, hunting the impossible.

*

Munch. Munch. Munch.

The crunch of crisps echoed through the apartment, mixing with the faint noise of the TV. Whoever was lounging on Kentaro's couch was clearly living their best life: free food, free sofa, free entertainment. What more could anyone ask for?

At least until the door creaked open.

Kentaro stepped inside with the girls close behind, and all of them froze.

The culprit turned her head slowly, cheeks puffed with chips still crunching between her teeth, eyes wide like a kid caught stealing candy. Her first word slipped out in a whisper as she looked at Kentaro, then the three girls at his back.

"…Harem?"

Kentaro's jaw nearly unhinged. A stranger. In his apartment. A girl with short, layered pink hair that shimmered in the light. Her white tank top that she was wearing was plain, yet it fit her perfectly, showing off all her curves.

The room went dead quiet. Only the crisp crunches kept it from being unbearable.

Munch. Munch.

"ARE YOU JUST GONNA SIT THERE?!" Kentaro finally snapped, voice cracking.

The pink-haired girl's eyes bulged as if she'd only now realised what she'd done. She scrambled, leapt off the couch, and slammed into a dramatic dogeza on the floor.

"I'M SORRY, GREAT SIR, FOR USING YOUR HOME TO WASH, EAT, SLEEP, AND DRINK!" She wailed, forehead pressed to the floorboards.

Kentaro's brow twitched violently.

"Oh, so my place is a bloody hotel now, huh?"

But before he could continue, Yura pushed past him. Her sharp eyes darted across the room, widening with horror. Crumbs scattered everywhere, empty wrappers on the shelves, and… Bras dangling off the TV. Some belonged to them. But the white set hanging dead-centre? That wasn't any of theirs.

Yura's blood boiled. After all the hours she and Serica had put into cleaning, seeing their hard work trashed was unbearable. She jabbed a finger toward the intruder, her voice dripping with venom.

"You inconsiderate, feeble creature! How dare you ruin my and Serica's work!"

"YEAH, YOU TELL HER!" Serica shouted from behind Kentaro, fist pumping.

The pink-haired girl twitched on the floor, guilt written all over her face.

And Serica wasn't done. "AND WHY'D YOU TOUCH OUR LINGERIE?! Who even owns that white set?!"

The girl lifted her head slowly and forced a sheepish grin. "Heh… Sorry. I just found it fascinating to see such big bras. Plus," she said, lifting a pair of Serica's white bras, "some of them had cute scorpion designs, my favourite animal, so I couldn't resist trying them on."

Yura's eye twitched. "Feind. And the white bras with the scorpion design?"

The girl sat back on her knees, looking up at Kentaro now with a grin that was half-apologetic, half-mischievous.

"Well… I used your shower, and I don't like wearing anything after. So underneath this…" she tugged at her top, voice dropping to a purr, "…I'm commando."

"HUUUUH?!" Kentaro shrieked, his face blazing red.

The girl smirked and prowled toward him on all fours, her hips swaying deliberately. Kentaro stumbled back until his foot caught Serica's, and he toppled flat onto the floor.

"Oh my~" She cooed, picking up the white panties and biting the strap between her teeth, crawling over him like a cat playing with its prey. "I'm really sorry, Master… But I'll make it up to you. How about I let you sniff these? Or…" She lowered her dress, revealing just enough cleavage to make Kentaro's brain short-circuit, "…I wear them and let you sniff after."

Kentaro's breath caught in his throat as she leaned closer.

But.

BANG!

The girl let out a choked yelp as her stomach hit the floor, Yura sitting primly on her back with arms folded and legs crossed.

"Hmph. Serves you right for trying to seduce my Kentaro."

The pink-haired girl squirmed and groaned in pain while Kentaro sat up, dizzy from it all. But then, Aria crouched beside the intruder, her green eyes warm, her smile soft.

"So… What's your name?" She asked gently.

The girl blinked. Her lips parted in shock, like she'd expected nothing but hatred. "M-my… Name? Why ask that? Aren't you just going to throw me out?"

Kentaro sighed, dragging himself upright. "Honestly… After all that? Maybe I should." He crouched down too, his expression softening. "But listen, if you'd just asked nicely instead of breaking in, I would've let you stay. There's not much room… But you didn't have to sneak around."

Her eyes shimmered. She muttered something so low it almost wasn't heard. "Then… I'll leave."

But Kentaro shook his head. "No. For punishment, first, you'll tell me your name. Then, you'll clean this entire place. And then, you can stay."

The girl froze. Her wide eyes glistened before a small, grateful smile curved her lips. She hadn't expected kindness. Not after what she'd done.

"…Shaula," she whispered.

Kentaro nodded, smiling as he helped Yura up off her. "Very well then, Shaula. Nice to meet you. From now on, you stay here however long you need, but you clean. That's the deal."

Shaula's heart thumped at the words. For the first time in a long while… she felt wanted.

But before she could say a word...

Click.

The apartment door opened. All of them snapped their heads toward it, tension spiking.

"…Who the hell now?" Kentaro muttered, slowly turning around.