The colony didn't wait for them to settle in.
It reacted.
A low pulse spread through Tokyo Colony 1 like a bell ringing through broken glass.
Kogane's voice chimed in Takeru's ear.
"…Game activation delayed. Adjusting participant dispersion."
Yuji turned sharply.
"…Wait—what?"
Megumi's eyes narrowed.
"…Delayed activation?"
Takeru scanned the surroundings.
"…Spatial reallocation incoming."
A split second later—
the world fractured.
Yuji vanished from sight.
"…Yuji!" Megumi snapped forward—
But it was already too late.
Takeru clicked his tongue.
"…Separated."
Silence followed.
Only two remained together now.
Megumi and Takeru.
Tokyo Colony 1 — Side Sector
They landed hard.
Concrete.
Broken signage.
A quieter section of the colony, but no less dangerous.
Megumi stood first.
"…So we're split."
Takeru nodded once.
"…Confirmed."
Megumi exhaled.
"…We stick to the plan. Find Hiromi Higuruma."
Takeru adjusted his stance.
"…Objective remains unchanged."
A new voice cut through the air.
"…You two look lost."
A girl stepped out from between broken structures.
Smiling too easily.
Too casually.
Megumi's eyes narrowed immediately.
"…Who are you?"
The girl tilted her head.
"…Remi."
Takeru scanned her presence.
"…Hostile intent detected."
Remi's smile widened.
"…Not hostile. Just… helping."
Then—
she moved suddenly.
Too fast.
A strike aimed at Megumi's side.
Megumi reacted instantly—
But Takeru was already there.
SLAP.
Flat.
Clean.
Efficient.
Remi stumbled sideways.
Surprised.
"…Huh?"
She tried to recover—
another step forward—
Megumi followed immediately—
SLAP.
A second impact.
Sharper.
More precise.
Remi dropped to the ground.
Dust rising around her.
Silence.
She blinked up at them.
"…You're stronger than I thought."
Takeru looked down at her calmly.
"…You initiated aggression without verification."
Megumi crossed his arms.
"…Bad idea."
Remi slowly sat up, rubbing her cheek.
"…Okay, okay… noted."
Takeru exhaled.
"…We are not interested in conflict with non-priority targets."
Megumi nodded slightly.
"…We're looking for Hiromi Higuruma."
Remi's expression shifted slightly at the name.
"…Oh… him?"
A pause.
Takeru narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You know his location."
Remi hesitated.
Then shrugged.
"…People talk."
Megumi stepped forward slightly.
"…Then talk."
Silence stretched.
Then Remi sighed.
"…Fine. But don't expect it to be easy."
Takeru glanced at Megumi.
"…Route confirmed?"
Megumi nodded once.
"…We move."
Remi watched them stand.
"…You two are weird."
Takeru responded flatly.
"…Acknowledged."
And just like that—
they left her behind.
Heading deeper into the colony.
Toward judgment.
Toward Higuruma.
And somewhere else in Tokyo Colony 1—
Yuji was alone.