Cherreads

Chapter 110 - Step Into the Snow

-ABANDONED STORAGE BUILDING-

-10:12 PM, MARCH 7, 2017-

The night was quiet.

Snow fell in thick, steady layers.

Rikuu stood outside the building.

Hands in his pockets.

Still.

The message replayed in his mind.

"If you want to protect her, come alone."

"…Of course."

He stepped forward.

And walked inside.

The interior was dim.

Cold.

Silent.

Rikuu moved deeper inside.

"…I'm here."

His voice echoed slightly.

Then—

Footsteps.

From multiple directions.

Slow.

Controlled.

Three figures emerged from the shadows.

The same group.

Watching.

Waiting.

The man who first approached him stepped forward.

"…You came."

Rikuu didn't respond.

"…Where is she?"

The man smiled faintly.

"Safe."

A pause.

"For now."

Rikuu's expression tightened slightly.

"…Let her go."

"No."

The answer was immediate.

The man studied him.

Then spoke calmly.

"This is a test."

"…I don't care."

"You will."

A pause.

"Because this determines everything."

Rikuu's gaze sharpened.

"…What are you talking about?"

The man walked slowly around him.

"Your choices."

"Your reactions."

"Your limits."

Rikuu stayed still.

"…I'm not playing your game."

The man smiled.

"You already are."

Then—

A faint sound.

From somewhere deeper in the building.

Rikuu's eyes narrowed.

"…What was that?"

The man didn't answer.

Instead—

He stepped aside slightly.

Revealing a monitor.

On the screen—

A separate location.

A small room.

And inside—

Ichika.

Rikuu's expression changed instantly.

"…What did you do."

The man raised a hand calmly.

"She's not in danger."

A pause.

"Yet."

Rikuu's voice dropped.

"…Let her go."

"Not yet."

The man's tone shifted.

"This is where you make a choice."

Rikuu didn't respond.

"You can leave."

"Walk away."

"And she remains untouched."

A pause.

"Or…"

The man smiled faintly.

"You stay."

"And we begin properly."

Rikuu's fists clenched slightly.

"…You're insane."

"Perhaps."

A calm reply.

"But this is how we measure you."

Silence.

Heavy.

Rikuu stood still.

Then—

"…If I walk away…"

The man nodded.

"…She's safe?"

"Yes."

A pause.

"But you'll lose control."

Rikuu's eyes narrowed.

"…And if I stay?"

The man smiled.

"Then we see what you're really made of."

A long silence.

Then—

Rikuu stepped forward.

"…I'm staying."

The man's smile widened slightly.

"Good."

A pause.

"Then let's begin."

-UNKNOWN LOCATION-

-10:30 PM-

Ichika stood inside a dim room.

Watching a screen.

"…Rikuu…"

Her hands tightened slightly.

"…What are you doing…"

Outside—

The snow continued to fall.

And inside that building—

The test had begun.

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