Once again, nothing happened.
No footsteps.
No weird noises.
No ciphers.
No mysterious shadows.
Nothing.
The academy became quiet.
The lights outside slowly disappeared one by one.
And somewhere on the fourth floor—
a shadow moved.
Haruka slept.
The King waited.
And the game continued. [(Unlike your studies, dear readers] )
Morning came.
Haruka opened his eyes.
He stared at the ceiling.
He didn't move.
His brain was still loading.
Which was understandable.
Yesterday, he had been suffering with him questioning himself who sent him the ciphers by 4rth floor and with guard limbs, why they were sent, why the fourth floor was involved, and why some absolute idiot had decided Caesar encryption was a reasonable way to communicate.
He turned his head.
Saito was asleep.
Yume was asleep too.
A faint blush on Haruka's cheek as he saw Yume. It went away quickly.
Haruka stared at them for a moment.
Then remembered the first cipher.
Please check up your loved ones.
His eyes narrowed.
He hated that sentence.
He hated it even more because it had stayed in his head all night.
Haruka sat up.
Both of them were fine.
Good.
He got out of bed.
He was about to leave when Yume suddenly spoke.
"Where are you going?"
Haruka turned.
She was barely awake.
"Washroom."
"Okay."
She pulled the blanket over herself again.
Saito didn't even move.
Haruka walked out.
The washroom was quiet.
Haruka stayed there for a while.
He washed his face.
Looked at the mirror.
Then looked away.
He didn't know why the cipher was bothering him this much.
Maybe because it was too specific.
Maybe because whoever wrote it knew about the people around him.
Maybe because of the last line.
Why me?
Haruka sighed.
"Whatever."
He returned to the room.
Saito was awake now.
Yume was sitting on her bed.
"Morning," Saito said.
"Morning."
Yume looked at Haruka.
"You look dead."
"I feel dead."
"That's probably because you sleep like shit. And also that was cringe as hell."
"I sleep perfectly. And you are more cringe. "
"You slept with your notebook beside your head. That's corny. "
Haruka looked at the notebook.
It was, in fact, beside his head.
"That's strategic."
"That's sad."
"Same thing."
Saito laughed.
Haruka sat down.
Normal.
Everything was normal.
And for some reason, that made him feel better.
The day passed.
Training.
Classes.
Information.
Saito complaining.
Yume arguing with him.
Haruka pretending he wasn't listening.
Nothing strange happened.
Nothing.
Which was good.
He didn't solve Cipher 03 either.
That wasn't good.
But it could wait.
Tomorrow.
He would solve it tomorrow.
Obviously.
Tomorrow was becoming a very convenient excuse.
By evening, the three of them returned to Room A-0174.
Yume threw her bag onto her bed.
Saito complained about training.
Haruka sat on the floor with his notebook.
"You're still doing that?"
Yume pointed at the notebook.
Haruka looked up.
"Unfortunately."
"What's it even about?"
"Nothing."
She stared at him.
"That's the worst answer you could've given."
"It's still the answer."
Saito sat down.
"Let him cook."
"I've been cooking for two days."
"Then you're burning it."
Haruka looked at both of them.
"Can you two shut up?"
"No, and how dare you talk to the woman u love with that tone mister all-tough?" Yume said.
Saito nodded.
"Absolutely bad guy Haruka."
Haruka blushed and said, "Out of the blue attacks."
He closed the notebook.
Fine.
He'd deal with it tomorrow.
Again.
Night came.
The room became quiet.
Saito fell asleep first.
Yume wasn't far behind.
Haruka stayed awake for a while.
He looked at the ceiling.
Then at Saito.
Then at Yume.
Then at the notebook.
The first cipher appeared in his mind again.
Please check up your loved ones.
He frowned.
He didn't like it.
He didn't like how it sounded like a warning.
He didn't like how whoever sent it knew enough to mention people he cared about.
But there was nothing he could do tonight.
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow.
He'd figure it out tomorrow.
Eventually, Haruka fell asleep.
Morning.
Haruka woke up.
He stared at the ceiling.
Something felt wrong.
He couldn't explain it.
He turned his head.
Saito was asleep.
He looked toward Yume's bed.
Empty.
Haruka sat up.
"Yume?"
Nothing.
He looked around the room.
Her things were still there.
Her bag.
Her clothes.
Her books.
Her bed.
Everything.
Just not her.
Haruka frowned.
Maybe she had gone somewhere.
He stood.
"Saito."
No response.
"Saito."
"Hmm...?"
"Where's Yume?"
Saito opened his eyes.
He looked at the empty bed.
"...I don't know."
Haruka checked the washroom.
Empty.
He returned.
Saito was already standing.
"She didn't tell me anything."
"Maybe she went somewhere."
"Without telling either of us?"
Haruka didn't answer.
That wasn't like her.
Not completely.
Saito grabbed his jacket.
"Let's find her."
Haruka nodded.
They left the room.
They checked the nearby halls.
Nothing.
Classrooms.
Nothing.
Training area.
Nothing.
Saito kept looking around.
"Maybe she's with someone."
"Maybe."
"You sound like you don't believe that. Jealous? "
"I don't. And yes. "
Saito looked at him.
Haruka didn't say anything else.
Then they returned to A-0174.
And there it was.
A box.
Sitting outside their room.
Freshly wrapped.
Perfectly wrapped.
Too elegant and too beautiful. Completely white with gradient blue ribbons.
Haruka stopped.
Saito almost walked into him.
"What?"
Haruka pointed.
Saito stared.
"...Did you order something?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Saito looked at the box.
"Maybe Yume did."
Haruka didn't answer.
He was staring at the wrapping.
It looked familiar.
Not literally.
Just...
the feeling.
Yesterday's ciphers had given him the same feeling.
Someone had placed something exactly where they wanted him to find it.
Haruka crouched down.
No name.
No sender.
Nothing.
Saito looked at him.
"Open it?"
Haruka stared at the box.
"Yeah."
He picked it up.
They went inside.
Haruka placed it on the floor.
Saito stood beside him.
Neither spoke.
Haruka opened it.
Inside was a white bag.
And a letter.
He picked up the letter.
Read it.
Stopped.
Read it again.
His expression changed.
Saito noticed.
"What?"
Haruka didn't answer.
The words were short.
Almost playful.
Which somehow made them worse.
"The most beautiful present takes out the brightest emotions out."
Haruka's eyes moved down.
"A pretty gift for Haruka-chan. It's his fave."
Then the name.
Kafka.
Saito frowned.
"Who the fuck is Kafka?"
Haruka stared at the name.
"I don't know."
He put the letter down.
His hand moved toward the bag.
He hesitated.
Something inside him was screaming not to open it.
But he did.
And stopped.
Saito looked inside.
His face changed immediately.
Haruka didn't move.
Neither did Saito.
For several seconds, there was no sound.
Then Saito whispered—
"No."
Haruka stared.
"...No."
Saito took a step back.
"No."
He shook his head.
"That's not—"
His voice stopped.
He looked again.
It was Yume.
There was no mistaking it.
Saito's face went completely blank.
Haruka couldn't breathe properly.
His eyes stayed fixed.
Yesterday.
She had been there.
She had talked to them.
She had made fun of him.
She had complained.
She had laughed.
She had gone to sleep in the same room.
And now—
Haruka looked at the headband.
His hand moved toward it.
He picked it up.
He remembered putting it on yesterday.
Can't lose this.
His fingers tightened.
"...She gave me this. TO HIDE THE ugly pathetic scar on my forehead... Who would've thought-"
Saito didn't answer.
Haruka stared at it.
"She gave me this.... "
His voice became quieter.
"She told me she FUCKING MADE IT FOR ME! WITH HER HANDS! AN ANGEL MADE A FUCKING GIFT WITH HER BLESSED HANDS FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME! SHE WAS FUCKING HERE! SHE WAS HEAR I SWEAR BY GOD! IS THIS HEAD MADE OUT OF SILICON? A FAKE? I SWEAR I SAW HER! "
Haruka's voice became loud as he scream with all his might... Filled with pain and regret and perhaps, love. The kind of undying love one deals with. By now many students might have woke up.
Aside from students. Maybe Kafka did too.
Saito turned away as his eyes were filled with tears.
Haruka didn't know what to say as he kept scratching his head and face. Scratches that are enough to tear off the hair or the flesh guarding the muscles of his face.
He had spent yesterday asking questions.
Why blood?
Why the fourth floor?
Why tell me to check on people I love?
And now he had an answer.
Or at least part of one.
The first cipher.
HELLO DEAR. PLEASE CHECK UP YOUR LOVED ONES.
Haruka's stomach dropped.
He had seen it.
He had read it.
He had even made a list.
Sakura.
Yume.
Saito.
Kenjiro.
Jack.
Marie.
Marcus.
Aurel.
Nayoki.
Fuyuki.
He had thought about all of them.
And still—
He hadn't checked.
Haruka closed his eyes. As tears fell.
Just for a second.
"...I'm an idiot."
Saito looked at him... Saito was too traumatized to analyze the environment. They are only humans. Or maybe Haruka is for now.
"What?"
Haruka opened his eyes.
"Nothing."
He couldn't tell him.
How could he?
Hey, Saito.
Remember how someone sent me encrypted messages yesterday warning me about our loved ones?
Yeah.
Yume was the warning.
No.
He couldn't.
Saito didn't know about the ciphers.
He shouldn't.
Not yet.
So Haruka said nothing.
Saito sat down.
His hands were shaking.
"She was right here."
Haruka looked at him.
"Yesterday."
"I know."
"She was literally right here."
"I FUCKING KNOW YOU IDIOT! YOU DON'T HAVE TO-."
Saito looked down as he stopped mid sentence and chokes on his saliva and fell on his knees. He kept crying as he will die tomorrow. As if he won't see the sunlight.
Harku kept griefing.
"I talked to her before sleeping."
Haruka bit his lips as it started to bleed now. He stopped after he tasted the metallic liquid.
"...She told me to shut up."
Haruka looked away.
That was Yume.
Of course it was.
Saito covered his face.
Haruka stood there.
He wanted to say something.
Anything.
But every sentence felt stupid.
It's going to be okay.
No.
It wasn't.
We'll find who did this.
Maybe.
But he didn't even know where to start.
Don't worry.
That would be insulting.
So he said nothing.
And somehow, silence was worse.
Haruka's right eye suddenly flashed blue.
Chrono Split.
He froze.
The room disappeared.
Possibilities.
Too many.
Yume alive.
Yume walking.
Yume talking.
Yume laughing.
Yume sitting beside them.
Yume leaving the room.
A hallway.
The fourth floor.
A shadow.
A figure.
Then nothing.
Haruka's breathing changed.
"No."
Another future.
Nothing.
Another.
Nothing.
Again.
He tried to follow one.
It changed.
Another.
It changed.
Again.
Again.
Again.
"Stop. Please God I beg. I'm not the one..."
Saito looked up.
"Haruka?"
Haruka grabbed his head.
"Stop."
He tried to find the person.
The one responsible.
The one who sent the box.
The one named Kafka.
Nothing.
He couldn't see him.
Every future branched too quickly.
His ability wasn't giving him an answer.
It was giving him more questions.
"Where are you?"
His voice cracked.
"Where the fuck are you?"
Blue light flickered.
Then—
red.
Erythral Crimson.
Haruka didn't notice.
The room shook.
A black hole appeared outside.
Saito immediately stood.
"What the hell?"
Another appeared in the hallway.
Then another.
Haruka stared ahead.
He wasn't thinking about the academy.
He wasn't thinking about the government.
He wasn't thinking about anything.
Only Kafka.
The name.
The letter.
Yume.
His eye continued glowing. Though his Erythal crimson and chrono split has nothing to do with the mechanism of this universe that works on mana. Haruka's power he got were after the Rideus P and Atience P incident.
The Great Eye saw.
It had been watching the academy.
Watching the students.
Watching their movements.
Their abilities.
Their changes.
The government had made a contract involving it for exactly that reason.
Information.
They needed information.
And Haruka had been giving them more reasons to watch him.
His decisions had become increasingly difficult to predict.
His behavior had changed.
He had begun crossing lines.
They believed he was becoming dangerous.
Now his abilities were destabilizing the academy.
Black holes were appearing.
Students were panicking as they woke up from the yelling earlier. And the black holes weren't the one we know. It was a black hole on the size of an average human. The black holes kept destroying the stuffs that was within their range, around 4ft.
The government had waited long enough.
An order was given.
Kill Haruka Miyamaru.
All the heroes basically the government dogs that made government be in power, had their real fight thinking it was scripted like every other fights they had.
The order moved through the academy.
S-Tier.
Z-Tier.
Guards.
Anyone capable of stopping him.
They were sent.
Haruka didn't know.
Saito didn't know.
Neither of them knew why the academy was suddenly reacting to Haruka.
They only knew something had gone very wrong.
Haruka's eye finally dimmed.
He breathed heavily.
Saito stepped toward him.
"Are you okay?"
Haruka looked at him.
"No."
Saito nodded.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"Me neither."
Haruka looked at the letter.
Kafka.
He picked it up.
Folded it.
Put it inside his notebook.
Saito noticed.
"Who is he?"
"I don't know dude... I don't know... ."
"You think he did this?"
Haruka stared at the name.
"I think so."
"Then let's find him."
Haruka looked at Saito.
"You don't know what you're getting into."
"I don't care."
Saito's voice was quiet.
"But I'm not letting whoever did this walk away."
Haruka didn't respond.
He understood.
Saito wasn't thinking about the Void.
Or the King.
Or the government.
Or any of the things Haruka didn't know either.
He was just thinking about Yume.
That was enough.
Haruka stood.
He looked around the room.
A-0174.
Their room.
Yesterday, three people had come back here.
Today, there were only two.
Haruka looked at Yume's empty bed.
His fingers tightened around the notebook.
"I'm finding him."
Saito nodded.
"Yeah."
They left the room.
Before leaving Haruka made sure to put yume's beheaded head back in the box as his hands were trembling. He put that in her bed as he whispered "The 2nd chance was fun, I might meet you in the afterlife" completely unaware of what he possesses
The academy was already in chaos.
Students were being moved.
Teachers were shouting.
The alarms continued.
Black holes appeared and disappeared around the academy.
Haruka walked through the hallway.
Saito followed.
But Saito saw an extraordinary shadow near the stair. He followed that without telling Haruka.
People stared.
Some backed away begging for life.
The members Haruka gathered were, deep down worried.
Others ran. Ran like mad dogs. Some screaming "I knew this guy was bad news!"
Haruka didn't care.
He was looking for one thing.
Kafka.
He didn't know what Kafka looked like.
He didn't know what class he was in.
He didn't know where he lived.
He didn't know anything.
Except the name.
And the fact that he had sent the most horrible gift Haruka had ever received.
That was enough.
For now.
Somewhere else—
Zero stopped.
He felt it.
The future had changed.
Again.
He looked ahead.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then smiled.
"...So you changed it."
The future wasn't following the same path anymore.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Zero looked toward the academy.
He didn't know what Haruka would do next.
That was exactly why he kept watching.
Haruka kept looking everywhere. He saw Orpheus walking his way to the evacuation nonchalantly as he glanced at Haruka before leaving.
Haruka didn't know about the Void.
He didn't know about its vessel.
He didn't know about the King.
He didn't know about the government contract.
He didn't know about the Great Eye.
He didn't know about the follower searching for someone close to him.
He didn't know why Yume had been chosen.
He didn't know what Kafka wanted.
He only knew that someone had sent him three ciphers.
And now that same someone had sent him Yume's head.
He looked down at the corpses that were half eaten or were missing because the black holes sucked them in.
Haruka felt guilt for a split second but then nothing at all.
Then—
a footstep.
They both stopped together, Haruka's footstep and the other one. Haruka felt deja vu.
Again.
Haruka's right eye flickered blue.
He looked ahead.
A shadow moved.
Then disappeared.
Haruka whispered:
"Kafka?"
Nothing.
He took one step forward.
Another step.
Another.
And somewhere deep inside the darkness—
something watched them.
Haruka didn't know what it was.
He didn't know why it was there.
He didn't know that the fourth floor had been waiting for him long before he arrived.
He only knew one thing.
He was done waiting.
And somewhere beyond what Haruka understood—
the King waited.
The Great Eye watched.
The government moved.
The follower searched.
And the game continued.