Warehouse No. 7 stood silent in the abandoned Kurogane industrial zone.
No lights. No people. Only the wind slipping through rusted steel frames, producing a dry, hollow sound—as if something here had long since begun to decay.
Kairi stepped inside, slow but without hesitation.
The metal door behind him shut with a heavy echo.
He didn't look back.
"…right on time."
A voice came from above.
Kairi looked up. Sato stood on the steel framework, staring down as if observing prey already cornered.
"I thought you wouldn't come."
Kairi didn't respond. He simply stood there, silent.
Sato let out a quiet laugh and tossed something down.
A metallic object hit the concrete floor, rolling to a stop near Kairi's feet.
A gun.
Then—
a small piece of paper.
Kairi glanced down.
A single word was written on it.
"Head."
"…pick it up."
Kairi didn't move.
Sato shrugged. "Suit yourself."
He jumped down, landing lightly, then walked forward and picked up the gun. His gaze never left Kairi.
"…you've always been like this."
"Click—"
The gunshot followed instantly.
The bullet pierced straight through Kairi's leg.
Blood splattered. He dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth without a sound.
"…but not stupid enough to this extent, right?"
Sato lowered the gun, a trace of amusement in his eyes.
"I didn't expect you to come here without even the slightest bit of caution."
He lifted the piece of paper, giving it a small shake.
"See… if I choose 'Head'—" he smiled faintly, "no matter how you try to dodge, there's only one outcome."
The paper fell in front of Kairi.
"Once the condition is set… the result will find its way to you."
Kairi breathed heavily. Blood began to spread across the cold concrete.
"…you're not killing me."
His voice was hoarse.
Sato smiled. "Correct. Because I don't feel like it yet."
He stepped closer.
"I want you to hear this."
A brief silence.
Then his voice dropped.
"…I'm a Time Breaker—a returner from the future."
Kairi didn't react.
Sato continued, as if telling a story he was deeply proud of.
"That project… was yours."
"But I was the one who completed it."
"And the one who turned it into something valuable."
He looked down at Kairi.
"…and you?"
"Just an idiot who didn't know how to use it."
Kairi clenched his hand.
But said nothing.
Sato let out a quiet chuckle.
"…Akane."
The name lingered in the cold air.
"That girl… was annoying."
"Digging all the way to the truth."
"She almost reached me."
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile appearing.
"…but you've already seen how it ended."
"Easier than I expected."
The air grew heavy.
Sato took another step forward.
"…as for your parents—"
He paused, as if considering his words.
Then spoke casually.
"…just a test."
No emotion. No hesitation. Just a cold statement of fact.
Time seemed to slow.
Kairi didn't respond. Only his breathing remained—growing weaker.
Blood continued to flow.
Sato looked down, the interest in his eyes fading.
"…this is getting boring."
He raised the gun.
"Now then…"
He crouched down, slowly bringing the gun to Kairi's head. His expression remained calm—as if every outcome had already been decided.
"Let me send you off."
At that very moment—
Kairi moved.
A small motion.
Almost impossible to notice.
His hand had already reached a broken piece of metal behind him at some point.
Sato didn't notice.
Or—
he didn't think Kairi was capable of anything anymore.
The distance was too close.
Kairi gathered every last bit of strength he had left.
And thrust.
The metal shard pierced straight into Sato's neck.
"—Ack—"
A choked sound escaped.
His eyes widened.
No time to react.
No time to use his ability.
Blood burst out.
His body froze—
then collapsed.
Silence.
Absolute.
Kairi let go. The metal shard clattered to the ground.
He fell backward, his breathing broken, eyes staring up at the dark ceiling.
"…is it over…?"
No answer came.
Only the sound of the wind.
His body grew colder. His consciousness faded.
Then—
a voice echoed in his mind.
Emotionless. Source unknown.
"Acquisition successful."
Everything went dark.
—
At the same time—
In different places.
Different people.
All of them stopped.
For a single moment.
A notification appeared.
"The player 'The Catalyst' has died."
"A replacement has been selected."
Silence.
Then—
everything resumed.
As if—
nothing had ever happened.