Tokyo, Japan – 00:14, March 24, 2026
In an apartment inside a residential building, a woman in her forties was relentlessly pounding on a door, from behind which extremely loud music was blasting.
"Riku! Turn the volume down immediately! Our neighbors have already come to complain! And open this damn door!"
Despite her continuous demands, Riku on the other side showed no apparent reaction.
He was, in fact, lying on his bed in a curled-up position, hiding his face between his knees.
Riku was a seemingly normal boy, aside from his very fragile build. He had medium-length dark hair, and his knuckles were bloodied, though the blood had long since dried.
"This isn't what I wanted…" the boy whispered in a melancholic voice.
The room was dark and cold, illuminated only by moonlight slipping through the window above the bed, casting its pale glow across the four walls. That light reflected cruelly off the metal blade of a kitchen knife lying just a few centimeters away from Riku.
That glint drew his attention, revealing his darkened expression.
Memories suddenly resurfaced—shaken students, chaos—but his mind focused mainly on the face of a crying, terrified girl.
Riku became even more distressed.
"Why did I do it!"
Without hesitation, Riku grabbed the knife.
"I'm useless!"
He turned the blade toward himself, pressing it against his throat. Tears streamed down his young face.
His breathing grew heavier.
Moments of absolute silence filled the room.
"I can't do anything anymore… let's end this," he said in a resigned tone.
"I don't deserve second chances!"
Riku stabbed himself.
USA – 12:05, March 23, 2026
Sounds of laughter, footsteps, and lockers echoed through the school corridors.
Yet, for one girl, none of it existed.
Her eyes moved constantly.
She wasn't looking for someone—she was trying to avoid him.
I need to get out of here…
Her dark hair fell messily in front of her face as she walked quickly, disorganized strands breaking every attempt to keep herself composed.
She clutched a small piece of paper between her fingers, now completely crumpled.
Her pace increased, but after one… two steps, she stopped.
Her blue pupils widened, as if the world in front of her had narrowed into a single presence.
At the end of the corridor stood a hooded figure who had just entered through the school's main entrance.
No… this is bad. He's waiting for me.
The world seemed to slow down around her.
The boy began walking toward her.
The girl immediately turned around.
She walked fast—faster and faster.
Don't run… don't draw attention…
She turned a corner, trying to stay calm, but a few seconds later she crashed into a student, knocking him to the ground.
"Damn! Celia, be careful!"
The sound of the impact drew attention.
Celia glanced back for only an instant.
The hooded figure had changed pace. Now he was moving faster—toward her.
He saw me!
Celia's heartbeat quickened, and her legs moved on their own.
At that point she stopped holding back and started running.
She crossed the corridor, ignoring the voices around her, pushed open a fire door, and found herself in front of a staircase.
She climbed without stopping.
One, two, three floors.
Her breathing grew heavier, but she didn't slow down.
Footsteps could still be heard behind Celia.
He wasn't far.
She reached a metal door.
She pushed it.
It didn't open.
She tried again, harder.
The door gave way just enough for her to slip outside.
The wind hit her full force.
She was on the roof.
She took a few steps forward, then stopped.
There were no other exits.
Only the edge of the building.
She slowly turned around.
The door opened behind her.
The hooded figure stepped inside calmly, unhurried.
As if he already knew how it would end.
Celia backed away until she reached the edge, feeling the void beneath her.
The boy kept approaching.
One step at a time.
Celia's breath broke apart.
Tears blurred her vision.
"D-don't… don't come any closer…"
She stepped back again.
Her foot touched nothing.
For a moment, she froze.
The wind struck her face.
The boy took another step.
Too close.
She instinctively leaned back.
Her body lost balance.
Her hands reached for something.
They found nothing.
Only air.
Time seemed to slow.
The sky above her.
The wind.
The void.
A thought crossed Celia's mind.
It can't end like this…
Then her body disappeared over the edge.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Judgment awaits.