-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE, ENTRANCE-
-12:01 AM, MARCH 9, 2017-
The cold air cut through the doorway.
Snow drifted in.
Rikuu stood firm.
Between Ichika—
And the men outside.
The leader stepped forward slightly.
"…We won't do this here."
Rikuu's eyes narrowed.
"…Then leave."
A faint smile.
"You misunderstand."
A pause.
"This isn't a request."
Two more figures shifted behind the man.
Not aggressive.
But ready.
Controlled.
Rikuu didn't move.
"…If you're here to start something—"
"We already have," the man interrupted calmly.
Silence.
Then—
"…What do you want?" Rikuu asked.
The man looked at him.
"…You."
A pause.
"…And your decision."
-LIVING ROOM (BEHIND RIKUU)-
-12:03 AM-
Ichika stepped closer.
"…He's already made it."
Rikuu didn't look back.
But he knew—
She was right there.
The man glanced at her.
"…No."
A pause.
"…He's only made part of it."
-ENTRANCE-
-12:04 AM-
The man reached into his coat.
Rikuu's posture tightened slightly.
But the man only pulled out a small device.
He pressed something.
-UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-12:04 AM-
A distant building.
Quiet.
Dark.
Then—
A faint flicker.
Something subtle.
Unnoticed by most.
-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE-
-12:05 AM-
Rikuu's eyes sharpened.
"…What did you just do?"
The man looked at him calmly.
"…A demonstration."
A pause.
"…Of scale."
-ENTRANCE-
-12:06 AM-
Ichika's expression tightened.
"…You're threatening us."
The man shook his head slightly.
"…No."
A pause.
"I'm showing you reality."
Rikuu stepped forward.
"…Say what you came to say."
The man nodded.
"…Very well."
A pause.
"You have two choices."
Silence.
Heavy.
"Come with us."
"…Or stay."
Rikuu's gaze didn't waver.
"…And if I stay?"
The man's expression didn't change.
"…Then everything around you becomes unstable."
-LIVING ROOM-
-12:08 AM-
Ichika clenched her hand slightly.
"…That's not a choice."
The man looked at her.
"…It is."
A pause.
"…Just not a fair one."
-ENTRANCE-
-12:09 AM-
Rikuu exhaled slowly.
Then—
"…I'm not going with you."
The answer was immediate.
Clear.
Final.
Silence.
The snow fell harder.
The man watched him.
Then—
"…As expected."
A pause.
"…Then we proceed."
-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE-
-12:11 AM-
The man stepped back.
Turning slightly.
"…This is your last moment of calm."
He looked at Rikuu one last time.
"…Protect it while you can."
Then—
They left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't the same.
Ichika spoke softly.
"…Rikuu…"
He didn't respond immediately.
Because now—
He understood.
"…This is just the beginning."
-DISTANT LOCATION-
-12:16 AM-
The faint flicker from before—
Grew.
Slightly.
Quietly.
Unnoticed.
But real.
