-SAPPORO CITY, OUTSKIRTS-
-11:08 AM, MARCH 10, 2017-
The snow hadn't stopped.
It blanketed everything in white—
Quiet.
Deceptively calm.
Rikuu and Ichika walked side by side.
The address they traced—
Led them away from the city's center.
Toward something less visible.
Less obvious.
"…It's isolated," Ichika noted.
Rikuu nodded.
"…Which makes sense."
A pause.
"…Fewer variables."
-INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT-
-11:16 AM-
The buildings changed.
Less residential.
More abandoned.
Warehouses.
Old facilities.
Unused structures.
The kind people stopped noticing.
They slowed down.
Ahead—
A large, worn-down building.
Minimal markings.
No visible activity.
But—
"…This is it," Rikuu said quietly.
Ichika's eyes scanned the area.
"…Feels wrong."
Rikuu agreed.
"…It is."
They stopped a few meters away.
Neither moved immediately.
Observing.
Listening.
Waiting.
"…Too quiet," Ichika whispered.
"…Yeah," Rikuu replied.
"…They know we're here."
A faint sound.
Inside.
Movement.
Subtle.
But deliberate.
Ichika glanced at Rikuu.
"…We still going in?"
A pause.
Then—
"…Yes."
Rikuu stepped forward.
Pushed the door open.
It creaked.
Loud against the silence.
They entered.
Dim light.
Cold air.
Empty space.
But not abandoned.
Not really.
Something lingered.
Invisible—
But present.
Footsteps echoed softly.
Ichika stayed close.
"…Stay sharp."
"…Always," Rikuu replied.
They moved further in.
Then—
A voice.
"…You're right on time."
Both stopped instantly.
Rikuu's gaze hardened.
Ichika's posture tightened.
The man stepped out from the shadows.
Same calm expression.
Same controlled presence.
But now—
No screens.
No distance.
Just him.
And them.
"…I was wondering how long it would take," he said.
Rikuu didn't respond.
Ichika didn't either.
They just stood their ground.
The man gestured slightly.
"…You've done well."
A pause.
"…Faster than expected."
Rikuu finally spoke.
"…End it."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…End?"
A faint smile.
"…We're just getting started."
Ichika stepped slightly forward.
"…You've made your point."
The man looked at her.
"…Have I?"
A pause.
"…Or have you just begun to understand it?"
Rikuu's voice lowered.
"…You targeted my home."
The man didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…That was a warning," the man continued.
A pause.
"…The next one won't be."
Ichika's expression hardened.
"…Then stop."
The man smiled faintly.
"…That depends on him."
All eyes turned to Rikuu.
"…Your decision still stands," the man said.
A pause.
"…But so do the consequences."
Rikuu stepped forward.
Closing the distance slightly.
"…You think pressure will change anything?"
The man met his gaze.
"…No."
A pause.
"…I think loss will."
Silence.
Cold.
Sharp.
Ichika's hand clenched slightly.
Rikuu didn't move.
But something shifted in his eyes.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something deeper.
The man turned slightly.
"…This was your chance."
A pause.
"…Now we move forward."
Rikuu's voice cut through the silence.
"…Then we'll stop you."
The man paused.
Then—
A faint smile.
"…Try."