-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE, LIVING ROOM-
-9:02 PM, MARCH 4, 2017-
The room was quiet.
Snow tapped softly against the window.
Rikuu stood across from Ichika.
Still.
Thinking.
Then—
"…Fine."
Ichika blinked slightly.
"…What?"
"I'll tell you."
The words came out carefully.
Measured.
But real.
Ichika didn't interrupt.
Rikuu exhaled slowly.
"…But not everything."
She nodded.
"…Okay."
Rikuu walked toward the table.
Sitting down.
Ichika followed, sitting across from him.
The document lay between them.
"…There's a group," Rikuu began.
Ichika listened closely.
"They've been watching me."
"…Since when?"
"…Recently."
A pause.
Rikuu continued,
"They're tracking people like me."
Ichika frowned slightly.
"…People like you?"
Rikuu hesitated.
"…They said I can adapt."
A small silence.
"They think that matters."
Ichika studied him carefully.
"…And what do they want?"
Rikuu's expression tightened slightly.
"…Control."
The word felt heavier this time.
Ichika's eyes softened slightly.
"…Control over what?"
Rikuu looked at her.
"…Over people like me."
Silence.
Ichika leaned forward slightly.
"…And you're involved because…?"
Rikuu looked away briefly.
"…I don't know."
She didn't push immediately.
Then—
"…Do you think they're dangerous?"
He paused.
"…Yes."
The answer was simple.
And honest.
Ichika nodded slowly.
"…Then we have to be careful."
Rikuu looked at her.
"…You're still choosing to stay involved."
"Yes."
No hesitation.
That surprised him.
"…Why?"
Ichika met his gaze.
"Because you're involved."
A pause.
"…And I'm not letting you face this alone."
The answer was firm.
But warm.
The tension between them had changed.
Less distance.
More understanding.
But the situation itself—
Was still growing.
Rikuu leaned back slightly.
"…There's something else."
Ichika listened.
"They've been watching your surroundings too."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Me?"
"Indirectly."
A pause.
"…You're part of my life."
That made her expression soften slightly.
"…So I'm already connected."
Rikuu nodded.
"…Yeah."
Silence.
Then—
Ichika spoke quietly.
"…Then let's be careful together."
Rikuu looked at her.
And for a moment—
He didn't respond.
But this time—
He didn't push her away.
-UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-9:27 PM-
The man from before stood in a dim room.
Watching monitors.
Footage.
Data.
"…Interesting."
Another figure stood beside him.
"They're working together now."
The man nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
"Good."
The other man frowned slightly.
"Is that a problem?"
The man smiled faintly.
"No."
A beat.
"It makes things more efficient."
He tapped the table lightly.
"Now we don't have to separate them."
The room fell silent.
Then—
"…Begin Phase Two."
-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE-
-9:41 PM-
Rikuu and Ichika sat quietly.
The conversation had shifted.
But the weight hadn't disappeared.
Ichika spoke softly.
"…Rikuu."
"…Yeah?"
"I'm glad you told me."
He looked at her.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Then—
"…Don't regret this."
Ichika smiled faintly.
"I won't."