The television flickered beside Kairi, broadcasting a feature on the successful entrepreneur Sato Mitsuhiro.
The host smiled at him."Could you share with our audience about Paradox—the project that's currently attracting nationwide attention?"
Sato nodded, his eyes filled with passion."Of course. Paradox is an application that digitizes the soul. Users simply wear a headset and provide memories, voice data, facial features, and experiences of the deceased. From there, Paradox reconstructs them as a lifelike hologram."
The host frowned slightly, intrigued."That sounds extraordinary! But to achieve something like this, you must have gone through countless difficulties, right?"
Sato smiled faintly, a trace of sadness in his eyes."A lot. There were nights I stayed up until dawn in front of my computer, running experiment after experiment, failing over and over again. At times, it felt completely hopeless… but my belief that Paradox would one day be complete kept me going."
The host nodded, turning to the camera."So would you say this project is your greatest life's work so far?"
Sato's expression grew serious."Yes. Every line of code, every piece of hardware design… is the result of years of effort. I want Paradox to be more than just technology—it should be a way to preserve the most precious memories of humanity."
Kairi sat motionless.
His eyes widened. His heart pounded violently. His chest tightened.
He couldn't look away.
Everything felt… too familiar. Painfully familiar.
Fragments of memory began to surface—scattered, yet vivid.
Eight years ago.
He and Sato had joined the company at the same time. Sato was well-liked, always treating Kairi kindly.
One night, after a company drinking party, the group walked home together. Sato walked beside him under flickering streetlights.
"Hey, Kairi," Sato said with a gentle smile, his voice warm."Remember that idea I mentioned? Bringing back the dead through holograms? I think you'd be perfect to develop it."
Kairi blinked in surprise, but still smiled. His heart skipped a beat."Bringing the dead back as holograms… That's similar to a memory digitization system I once thought about. Why don't you develop it yourself?"
Sato shrugged, a hint of sadness crossing his face."I know I don't have the ability or knowledge to pull it off. But I believe it can be done."
Kairi fell silent for a moment. Then his eyes lit up."I see… I'll think about it."
Kairi began developing the project—Links Star.
He poured his youth into it: experiments, software design, hardware construction, digitizing memories, voices, faces, experiences… everything needed to preserve a person in a lifelike form.
Two years later.
Another night, another company gathering. The group wasn't ready to go home yet. Sato turned to him.
"Hey, Kairi, why don't we go to your place and keep drinking? It'll be more comfortable."
Kairi hesitated. But Sato's trusting gaze made him nod. His hands trembled slightly."Alright… let's go to my place."
They laughed and chatted along the quiet streets. Streetlights shimmered. Voices mixed with distant traffic.
At Kairi's home, they set up chairs, turned on music, opened drinks.
The atmosphere was warm, lively.
For the first time, Kairi felt… alive.
And nervous.
His heart beat faster. This was the first time he had ever invited so many people over.
Amid the noise, Sato leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"How's Links Star coming along?"
Kairi took a deep breath, trying to hide his unease. His chest tightened."The hardware is complete. It'll be finished soon."
Sato nodded, eyes full of trust."Among everyone here… you're the one I have the most hope in."
The night stretched on.
Laughter. Clinking glasses. The smell of food. Music. Yellow light blending together.
Kairi's hand unconsciously tightened around his glass.
His heartbeat wouldn't slow down.
That night, everyone eventually left.
When Kairi woke up, the house was silent.
A strange feeling lingered—exhaustion mixed with excitement.
And deep inside… a faint unease.
The next morning—
Sirens.
Loud. Piercing.
Police stood outside his door.
Someone had reported him for embezzlement.
His house was thoroughly searched.
On his desk—instead of Links Star materials—
confidential company documents were found.
Financial records showed multiple suspicious transfers—
all under his name.
He was handcuffed.
Dragged away.
Fired immediately.
Ordered to compensate five million dollars.
Links Star—
the project he had devoted his entire youth to—
vanished overnight.
Rumors spread quickly.
Neighbors whispered. Gossiped.
They called him a criminal. A gang member. The one behind local thefts.
Kairi withdrew from the world.
He barely stepped outside.
He lived in isolation—
despised.
His parents visited him many times, trying to comfort him, urging him to move forward.
But one day—
on their way back from seeing him—
they got into an accident.
They never made it.
The loss hollowed him out completely.
Loneliness swallowed him whole.
Day after day.
And now—
hearing Sato talk about Paradox—
the memories flooded back.
That gaze.
That smile.
That voice—
"Among everyone here… you're the one I have the most hope in."
But now—
that hope—
felt like a wound that would never heal.
Kairi's heart pounded violently.
His chest tightened.
His eyes burned with rage.
"Damn it… that was my project. My life's work. The one standing there… should have been me. Not him."
Then—
he closed his eyes.
Took a deep breath.
In the darkness, he whispered to himself:
"…I can't really blame him. He was the one who gave me the idea in the first place. Maybe… it's not impossible that he developed something similar."
Years of isolation—
of being looked down upon—
had crushed his confidence.
He could no longer trust his own judgment.
Another wave of memory rose—
alongside pain, anger—
and something else.
A faint spark.
Determination.
If there was still a chance—
he would take everything back.
Not just the project—
but himself.
Kairi closed his eyes.
Memories flowed like a river.
His trembling hand slowly clenched into a fist.
His heart still pounded—relentless.