-HOSPITAL, WAITING AREA-
-12:31 AM, MARCH 10, 2017-
The hallway was quiet.
Too clean.
Too calm.
Rikuu sat on a bench.
Leaning forward slightly.
Hands clasped.
Still.
Ichika sat beside him.
Not speaking.
But present.
A nurse passed by.
Footsteps soft.
Distant voices echoed faintly from other rooms.
Normal hospital sounds.
But to Rikuu—
Everything felt muted.
Distant.
"…This is my fault."
The words came out low.
Barely above a whisper.
Ichika turned to him immediately.
"…No."
Rikuu didn't look up.
"…I made the choice."
A pause.
"…I knew they would act."
Ichika's voice stayed steady.
"…You didn't cause this."
He clenched his hands slightly.
"…I triggered it."
Ichika leaned slightly forward.
"…Listen to me."
Rikuu stayed silent.
"…They were going to do something either way."
A pause.
"…This isn't on you."
Rikuu exhaled slowly.
"…Maybe."
A pause.
"…But it still happened."
Silence.
Heavy.
Ichika softened her voice.
"…Then we focus on what we do next."
Rikuu finally looked up.
"…Next…"
Her eyes met his.
"…We stop them."
Something shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
Rikuu's expression changed.
Not anger.
Not panic.
But something sharper.
Clearer.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…We do."
A doctor approached.
"…Family of the patient?"
Rikuu stood immediately.
"…Yes."
The doctor nodded.
"…She's stable."
A pause.
"…She needs rest, but there are no critical injuries."
Rikuu's shoulders lowered slightly.
Just a bit.
"…Thank you."
Rikuu stood by the bed.
Watching his grandmother rest.
Breathing steady.
Alive.
Safe.
For now.
Ichika stood near the door.
Quiet.
Respectful.
Rikuu spoke softly.
"…I won't let this happen again."
Ichika heard it.
Even though it wasn't directed at her.
-UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-1:12 AM-
The man observed the data.
New reports.
Hospital activity.
Response times.
"…He's stabilizing emotionally."
Another voice responded.
"Expected."
The man nodded.
"…Good."
A pause.
"…That makes the next phase more effective."
-HOSPITAL ROOM-
-1:20 AM-
Rikuu stepped back from the bed.
Turning toward Ichika.
"…We're not reacting anymore."
She looked at him.
"…No?"
He shook his head slightly.
"…We move first."
A pause.
"…We take control."
Ichika held his gaze.
Then—
A small nod.
"…Okay."
Outside—
Snow continued to fall.
Quiet.
Cold.
Endless.
But now—
Something else had formed beneath it.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
But resolve.