-ABANDONED BUILDING EXIT-
-11:58 PM, MARCH 7, 2017-
The door closed behind them.
The cold air hit immediately.
Snow fell gently.
Rikuu and Ichika stood outside.
Silent.
Processing.
The building behind them—
Was quiet again.
Like nothing had happened.
-OUTSIDE, NEAR THE BUILDING-
-12:00 AM-
Ichika exhaled slowly.
"…That was intense."
Rikuu nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…You did well."
Ichika looked at him.
"…So did you."
Silence.
But not an uncomfortable one.
-SNOWY STREET-
-12:02 AM-
They started walking.
Side by side.
The snow covered the ground softly.
"…They've seen everything now," Ichika said quietly.
Rikuu nodded.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…Which means they won't hold back anymore."
Ichika looked ahead.
"…We expected that."
Rikuu spoke.
"…That test wasn't random."
Ichika nodded.
"…It was structured."
"…They were measuring us."
"…And adjusting their approach."
Silence.
Then—
"…So now what?" Ichika asked.
Rikuu looked ahead.
"…Now we prepare."
A quiet moment passed.
Then Ichika spoke softly.
"…Rikuu."
"…Yeah?"
She looked at him.
"…Do you trust me?"
Rikuu didn't hesitate this time.
"…Yes."
Ichika smiled faintly.
"…Good."
Rikuu glanced at her.
"…You didn't hesitate either."
Ichika tilted her head slightly.
"…Of course not."
A pause.
"…I trust you too."
The words settled between them.
Warm.
Even in the cold.
-SOMEWHERE ELSE-
-12:15 AM-
The man stood in front of the monitors.
Watching the footage.
Observing their performance.
"…Confirmed."
A pause.
"They're compatible."
Another figure spoke.
"Next step?"
The man smiled faintly.
"…Now we refine the variables."
-SNOWY STREET-
-12:22 AM-
Rikuu and Ichika continued walking.
The tension wasn't gone.
But something had changed.
They weren't just reacting anymore.
They were moving forward.
Together.
-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE-
-12:41 AM-
They stopped at the apartment.
Ichika turned to him.
"…Are you okay?"
Rikuu nodded.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…You?"
"I'm fine."
Another pause.
Then—
"…We'll get through this," Ichika said softly.
Rikuu looked at her.
"…Together."
She nodded.
"…Together."