-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-10:57 PM, MARCH 7, 2017-
The atmosphere had changed.
Heavier.
Tighter.
Rikuu stood still in the center of the room.
Watching.
Waiting.
The man in front of him observed him closely.
Then spoke.
"…Let's go deeper."
A pause.
"This time, no distractions."
Rikuu's expression didn't change.
"…Start."
-UNKNOWN MONITOR ROOM-
-10:58 PM-
Ichika watched the screen.
Her breathing steady.
But her eyes were focused.
"…They're escalating…"
She stepped closer.
"…I need to act."
Her fingers hovered over the system controls.
Then—
She moved.
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-10:59 PM-
The man spoke calmly.
"Imagine this."
A pause.
"You must choose."
Rikuu's gaze sharpened.
"…Between what?"
The man smiled faintly.
"Your future."
A pause.
"…Or someone else's."
Silence.
Heavy.
Rikuu didn't respond immediately.
Because he understood.
This was a trap.
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-11:00 PM-
Ichika's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's not fair…"
She moved faster now.
Typing.
Adjusting.
Trying to interfere with the system.
"…If I can disrupt this…"
Her expression tightened.
"…I can stop this."
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-11:01 PM-
The man continued.
"Answer honestly."
A pause.
"If you had to choose—"
Rikuu cut him off.
"…I won't."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"Won't?"
Rikuu's voice remained steady.
"…I refuse your scenario."
Silence.
The other observers shifted slightly.
Rikuu stepped forward.
"…You're trying to force me into a false choice."
A pause.
"…I don't accept it."
The man studied him carefully.
"…Interesting."
Rikuu's expression didn't waver.
"…I make my own choices."
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-11:03 PM-
Ichika froze.
Her system attempts hit resistance.
"…They're blocking me…"
Her expression tightened.
"…No…"
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-11:04 PM-
The man smiled faintly.
"…Then let's adjust."
A pause.
"Remove the illusion."
He gestured slightly.
The lights in the building shifted.
The monitor feed flickered.
Then—
Static.
Rikuu's eyes sharpened.
"…What did you do?"
The man didn't answer.
But his smile said everything.
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-11:05 PM-
Ichika's screen went dark.
"…No signal…"
Her breathing quickened slightly.
"…Rikuu…"
For the first time—
Her composure slipped.
-ABANDONED BUILDING-
-11:06 PM-
Rikuu stood still.
Listening.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
He moved.
Not aggressively.
But decisively.
He stepped forward.
"…Enough."
His voice was calm.
But carried weight.
The man tilted his head.
"…What will you do?"
Rikuu met his gaze.
"…I'll end this."
A pause.
"…My way."
Silence.
The tension peaked.
The observers shifted.
The man's expression softened into something closer to approval.
"…Good."
A pause.
"You're beginning to understand."
-UNKNOWN ROOM-
-11:08 PM-
Ichika stood still.
The screen remained dark.
But she didn't stop.
"…Rikuu…"
Her voice was soft.
But determined.
"…Don't face this alone."