-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE, NIGHT-
-9:12 PM, MARCH 3, 2017-
The apartment was quiet.
Too quiet.
Rikuu sat at the small table, the lights dim.
The document lay open in front of him.
But this time—
He wasn't just reading.
He was deciding.
"…If I keep waiting…"
He exhaled slowly.
"…I won't get answers."
His hand tightened slightly.
Then—
He stood.
"…I'm done being passive."
-CITY STREET, UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-10:03 PM-
Snow fell heavier now.
Rikuu walked alone through the quiet streets.
Following the patterns.
Tracing the connections.
Looking for the next point.
The next clue.
The next step forward.
His breath visible in the cold air.
"…They're using locations like markers."
He stopped.
Looking up at a dimly lit building ahead.
"…This might be it."
He approached slowly.
-ABANDONED STRUCTURE-
-10:11 PM-
The building stood silent.
Dark.
But not empty.
Rikuu stepped inside.
The air was colder.
Still.
But there was something else.
Presence.
He walked forward.
Then—
"…You're early."
Rikuu turned.
A man stood near the shadows.
Not the same one as before.
But clearly part of the same group.
"…I expected you to wait longer."
Rikuu's gaze sharpened.
"…I'm not here to wait."
The man smiled slightly.
"Good."
A pause.
"Then you're ready to understand."
Rikuu stepped forward.
"…Start talking."
-ABANDONED STRUCTURE-
-10:14 PM-
The man studied him carefully.
Then spoke.
"You're not the only one."
Rikuu frowned slightly.
"…What does that mean?"
"There are others."
A pause.
"People like you."
Rikuu's expression tightened.
"…Like me?"
"Adaptable."
"Observant."
"Resilient."
Silence.
Rikuu didn't respond.
Because that didn't sound like praise.
It sounded like classification.
-UNKNOWN STRUCTURE-
-10:18 PM-
The man continued,
"This world doesn't reward the weak."
"…I know that."
"No."
The man shook his head.
"You know survival."
Rikuu's eyes narrowed.
"…And what's the difference?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Survival is reacting."
"Control is choosing."
A pause.
"And you?"
He stepped closer.
"You're being trained for something bigger."
Rikuu didn't move.
"…I didn't agree to anything."
"You didn't have to."
That answer made the room feel heavier.
-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE-
-10:31 PM-
Ichika sat alone.
Her phone in her hand.
No reply.
Not again.
She stared at the screen.
Then placed it down slowly.
"…Rikuu…"
Her expression tightened slightly.
"…You promised."
But this time—
Even she could feel it.
Something was slipping.
Not breaking completely.
But shifting.
-UNKNOWN STRUCTURE-
-10:39 PM-
Back inside the building—
Rikuu stood still.
"…If I refuse?"
The man smiled.
"Then you'll still be watched."
A pause.
"And eventually…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"You'll be forced anyway."
Silence.
Heavy.
Rikuu's expression darkened slightly.
"…Then I'll choose when."
The man looked at him.
And smiled.
"That's the answer we wanted."
-CITY STREET-
-11:02 PM-
Rikuu stepped outside into the snow.
The night felt colder.
He exhaled slowly.
"…This is getting bigger."
He looked down at his hand.
Then clenched it.
"…I need to control this."
But somewhere—
In the back of his mind—
Ichika's face lingered.
And the distance between them…
Was still there.