Quintessential Shadows: Quintessential Quintuplets x Male Reader

3rd POV

The dimly lit storehouse carried an eerie silence, broken only by the faint rustling of wood and the occasional creak of the old floorboards beneath them. The air inside was slightly dusty, the scent of aged wood mingling with the lingering aroma of the field outside.

Ichika and Y/N had been stuck for over ten minutes now, fruitlessly knocking and calling out in hopes of someone hearing them. No luck. Frustration was beginning to set in, especially for Y/N, whose patience was wearing thin.

His brows furrowed, and his jaw tightened slightly as he let out a breath through his nose.

"That's it," he muttered, stepping forward with clear irritation. "I'm breaking this damn door down."

His voice carried a low intensity, a sign that he was done waiting around. He flexed his fingers before balling his hand into a fist, stepping back to ready himself. "Stand back a bit, Ichika," he instructed, gesturing with his hand for her to move away.

Just as he was about to unleash his strength on the door, Ichika suddenly called out in alarm.

"Ah, wait!"

Her voice startled Y/N, causing him to stop midway, muscles still tense from the force he was about to exert. His gaze snapped toward her, brows raised in question.

Ichika, slightly flustered, pointed toward the upper corner of the storehouse.

"Up there," she said, her eyes locking onto a small device near the ceiling.

Y/N followed her direction, his gaze landing on a small, black box mounted on the upper wall, a tiny red light flickering on its surface.

"That's a security sensor, I think," Ichika continued, voice steady despite the rising tension. "The type where if we break down the door, security staff will come running."

Y/N exhaled sharply, the weight of her words sinking in. He crossed his arms, his irritation not entirely gone but momentarily held back by reason.

A smirk formed on his lips as he rested one foot against the door, testing its sturdiness.

"If that means someone will come find us, then I'm even more willing to do it now," he mused, shifting his weight slightly as he prepared to kick the door down.

Ichika's eyes widened in alarm.

"Wait! If that happens, the entire field trip would be ruined!" she exclaimed, stepping forward instinctively.

A brief silence followed, but Ichika's mind was racing.

'Plus… if Miku were to find out…' she thought, biting the inside of her cheek.

Y/N clicked his tongue before stepping back from the door. "Alright, fine," he relented, tilting his head toward her. "See if you can disable the sensors, then."

Ichika let out a small, awkward laugh as she scratched her cheek.

"I could do that if I were at least two meters tall…" she said, half-joking.

Y/N blinked, his expression flat.

"What are you on about?" he asked, genuinely puzzled by her remark.

Without another word, he crouched down slightly, gesturing toward his shoulders.

"Come on, get on my shoulders."

Ichika's eyes widened slightly, a bead of sweat forming on her temple as she processed his words.

"A-Ah…?" she stammered, staring at him as if he had just said something absurd.