-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-10:48 PM, MARCH 7, 2017-
The air inside the building felt still.
But not calm.
Controlled.
Like something on the verge of shifting.
Rikuu stood in the center.
Unmoving.
His eyes locked on the man in front of him.
"…I won't break."
The words were simple.
But firm enough to echo through the room.
The man studied him carefully.
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
"…Good."
A pause.
"You're responding correctly."
Rikuu didn't react.
Because this wasn't a game to him.
-UNKNOWN MONITOR ROOM-
-10:49 PM-
Ichika watched the screen.
Her breathing steady.
But her hands were clenched.
"…They're pushing him too far…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"…I won't let this continue."
She stepped forward.
Closer to the screen.
As if proximity could change the outcome.
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-10:50 PM-
The man gestured slightly.
"Next phase."
One of the other men moved.
Adjusting something off-screen.
Rikuu noticed immediately.
"…What are you doing?"
The man didn't answer right away.
Instead—
He stepped closer.
"…Let's see how you handle loss."
Rikuu's expression tightened slightly.
"…What are you talking about?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Someone you care about."
A pause.
"…Will be affected."
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-10:51 PM-
Ichika froze.
"…Affected?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…No…"
The screen flickered.
The signal shifted.
Then—
A new feed appeared.
Not the building.
But a blurred image.
A street.
Snow falling.
And a figure—
Standing alone.
Ichika's heart tightened.
"…That's…"
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-10:52 PM-
Rikuu's expression changed instantly.
"…Don't."
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Sharper.
The man tilted his head.
"You're reacting."
Rikuu stepped forward slightly.
"…Stop this."
The man raised a hand calmly.
"This is the test."
A pause.
"Control under pressure."
Rikuu's jaw tightened.
"…That's not control."
The man smiled.
"Then prove me wrong."
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-10:53 PM-
Ichika stepped back from the screen.
Her expression tense.
"…This is targeting me…"
She clenched her hands.
"…Rikuu…"
Her voice lowered.
"…Don't let them control you…"
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-10:54 PM-
Rikuu stood still.
Breathing steady.
Thinking.
Then—
"…You want a reaction."
The man's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Correct."
Rikuu's gaze didn't waver.
"…Then you won't get what you want."
A pause.
Then—
He stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
"…I choose how I respond."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
The man studied him.
Then—
Smiled.
"…Interesting."
A pause.
"You're resisting the intended outcome."
Rikuu stopped walking.
"…That's right."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
"…You're learning," the man said.
Rikuu didn't respond.
But his eyes were steady.
Unshaken.
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-10:56 PM-
Ichika stared at the screen.
Her expression softened slightly.
"…Good…"
But her worry didn't disappear.
Because this—
Was only getting started.