-ARAKAWA NEIGHBORHOOD-
-11:36 PM, MARCH 9, 2017-
Sirens cut through the night.
Red lights reflected against the snow.
Neighbors gathered at a distance.
Voices low.
Uneasy.
Rikuu stood nearby.
Silent.
Watching.
Emergency responders moved quickly.
Checking the house.
Containing what remained.
The fire was no longer spreading.
But the damage—
Was clear.
Ichika sat beside Rikuu's grandmother.
Holding her hand gently.
"…You're safe now."
Her voice was soft.
Steady.
The older woman gave a faint nod.
"…Thank you…"
Ichika shook her head slightly.
"…You don't have to thank me."
Rikuu stood apart.
Not far.
But not close either.
His gaze fixed on the house.
On what was left of it.
"…They did this."
The thought wasn't loud.
But it was absolute.
A responder approached.
"…She'll need to be checked."
Ichika nodded.
"…Of course."
They carefully helped Rikuu's grandmother up.
Guiding her toward the ambulance.
Ichika looked back.
"…Rikuu?"
He didn't respond immediately.
She stood.
Walked toward him.
"…Hey."
He finally spoke.
"…They said things would become unstable."
A pause.
"…This is what they meant."
Ichika didn't deny it.
"…Yeah."
Rikuu's hands clenched slightly.
"…This wasn't random."
Ichika nodded.
"…No."
A pause.
"…It was targeted."
Silence.
Rikuu exhaled slowly.
"…They're escalating."
Ichika looked at him.
"…So do we."
He glanced at her.
"…This isn't a game anymore."
Her gaze didn't waver.
"…It never was."
-UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-12:03 AM, MARCH 10, 2017-
The man stood before the monitors.
The house.
The aftermath.
Rikuu.
Ichika.
"…Emotional response confirmed."
Another voice spoke.
"Next step?"
The man paused.
Then—
"…Increase pressure."
A faint silence.
"…Gradually."
-HOSPITAL ENTRANCE-
-12:18 AM-
Rikuu and Ichika stood outside.
The ambulance had already gone inside.
A quiet moment passed.
Then—
Ichika spoke.
"…She'll be okay."
Rikuu nodded slightly.
"…She has to be."
Snow fell gently.
The city looked calm again.
But both of them knew—
That calm wasn't real.
Not anymore.
Rikuu looked ahead.
"…This is only the beginning."
Ichika stepped beside him.
"…Then we don't let it end the way they want."
He glanced at her.
A small pause.
Then—
"…Yeah."