-HOSPITAL, EARLY MORNING-
-6:06 AM, MARCH 10, 2017-
The sky was pale.
Snow still falling.
Quiet.
Rikuu stood by the window.
Awake.
Thinking.
Planning.
Ichika entered quietly.
Holding two cups of warm tea.
"…You didn't sleep again."
Rikuu didn't turn.
"…I don't need it right now."
She handed him a cup anyway.
"…You say that, but you still should."
A small pause.
He took it.
"…Thanks."
They stood side by side.
Watching the snowfall.
Then—
Rikuu spoke.
"…We can't wait for them to act again."
Ichika nodded slightly.
"…So we move first."
Rikuu turned.
"…Everything they've done so far—"
A pause.
"…It follows a pattern."
Ichika listened carefully.
"…Observation."
"…Testing."
"…Escalation."
She nodded.
"…And now pressure."
Rikuu's gaze sharpened.
"…Which means there's a next phase."
Ichika crossed her arms slightly.
"…A bigger one."
Silence.
Then—
"…We find it before it happens," Rikuu said.
Ichika studied him.
"…How?"
Rikuu paused.
Thinking.
Then—
"…We reverse their pattern."
A beat.
"…Instead of reacting to events…"
"…we predict them."
Ichika's eyes sharpened.
"…So we map their logic."
Rikuu nodded.
"…Exactly."
A pause.
"…They're not random."
"…They're structured."
Ichika leaned slightly against the wall.
"…That means they have limits too."
Rikuu looked at her.
"…Every system does."
A quiet moment passed.
Then Ichika spoke.
"…Rikuu."
"…Yeah?"
"…Don't go too far alone."
He paused.
Then looked at her.
"…I won't."
A small silence.
"…We're doing this together."
Rikuu nodded.
"…Together."
But this time—
The word carried strategy.
Not just emotion.
-UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-7:02 AM-
The man stood in front of a larger display.
More data.
More systems.
"…He's adapting faster."
Another voice spoke.
"Should we accelerate?"
The man considered.
Then—
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…Prepare Phase Three."
-SAPPORO CITY-
-7:30 AM-
The city moved as usual.
Unaware.
But beneath the surface—
Lines were being drawn.
Connections forming.
Pressure building.
-HOSPITAL ROOM-
-7:42 AM-
Rikuu gathered his notes.
Ichika beside him.
Both focused.
Both aware.
This time—
They weren't waiting.
They were preparing to strike back.
