Airi wakes before sunrise. Not because she wants to. But because the System won't let her sleep.
Her interface vibrates softly against the back of her mind, like a whisper brushing too close. She sits up, hand trembling. The Main Quest timer hovers in front of her, cold and merciless.
Contact Event Time remaining: 65 hours, 12 minutes
She had hoped it was a nightmare. But the numbers are real. Too real.
Her bedroom is quiet. The early morning light is pale and fragile, slipping between her curtains as if afraid to enter. She presses a hand to her forehead. Her body feels cold, not from temperature but from the residue of yesterday's surge.
Fracture Sync. An ability she didn't ask for. A power she doesn't understand. One that the Unknown User recognized instantly. That alone terrifies her.
Her phone buzzes. A message from Ren.
—Are you awake?—
She hesitates.
—I am.—
His reply comes within seconds.
—Meet me at the courtyard. We need to talk before classes start.—
She exhales shakily. Talking means confronting what happened. Talking means facing the reality she's been avoiding.
But she sends back:
—Okay.—
She dresses slowly, her body still aching from the shockwaves she generated. Every movement feels slightly off, like her limbs aren't fully synced with her thoughts.
A side effect? Or the beginning of something worse?
She doesn't know.
And the System isn't volunteering answers.
When she steps outside, the morning air is crisp—but unusually still. It feels like the world is waiting.
Ren stands near a lone sakura tree at the center of the courtyard, arms folded, jaw clenched. His interface flickers faintly beside him. Not glitching. But stressed. Overloaded.
He turns when she approaches. His voice softens, but the tension stays. "Airi. Thanks for coming."
She nods. "I couldn't sleep anyway."
He studies her face carefully. "You look pale. Are you feeling any aftershocks? Any disorientation?"
She hesitates. "Everything feels a bit… delayed."
Ren frowns. "That's consistent with temporary System desync. It happens when an ability activates at a level beyond your User Tier."
"That's what Fracture Sync did?" she asks.
He shakes his head. "I don't know. That ability—whatever it is—shouldn't exist. Your System registered an override beyond standard frameworks. That means…"
Airi takes a small step back. "Means what?"
Ren chooses his words carefully. "Means your System is built differently. And older. Maybe not meant for typical Users."
Her stomach drops. "That's what he said."
Ren stiffens at the mention of the Unknown User. "We'll deal with him. But Airi—what you did yesterday wasn't normal. You pushed everyone back without consciously activating anything."
"I didn't mean to," she whispers.
"I know." His voice gentles. "That's why I need to run diagnostics. I can't fix what I don't understand."
She hesitates. Letting Ren examine her System feels both necessary and terrifying. But she trusts him more than anyone.
"Okay," she finally says. "Run the diagnostics."
He nods. "I'll keep it external only. No direct link."
Airi exhales. "Thank you."
Ren raises his hand. A soft light emanates from his interface and wraps around her like a scanner.
The System in her mind reacts instantly.
Warning: External Scan Detected
But the warning is mild, not restrictive. It allows Ren to continue.
He steps closer. "Airi… your System pathways…" He pauses, eyes narrowing. "They're branching."
"Branching?"
"Like your System is evolving. Or preparing for something."
Her pulse spikes. "The Contact Event?"
He doesn't answer. Because he doesn't have to.
Suddenly— Her interface flashes violently.
System Disturbance Detected Source: Unknown User Distance: 340 meters
Airi staggers. Ren catches her. "Another anomaly?"
She nods. "Same signature."
Ren's voice turns cold. "He's getting bolder."
Students begin to fill the courtyard as the school day nears. Airi's gaze darts around. Nothing looks out of place. No glitching figures. No static shadows. But her System doesn't lie. He's close. Watching.
Ren lowers his voice. "We can't confront him here. Too many civilians."
"But he keeps interfering," she whispers. "He keeps appearing wherever I am. Why?"
Ren's expression shifts—frustration mixed with helplessness. "I don't know. And that's the problem."
Another chime echoes inside her vision. A notification she's never seen.
Unknown User attempting indirect contact. Reject / Ignore
Airi's breath freezes. "He's trying to speak to me."
Ren steps in front of her instantly. "Reject it."
She tries.
But the option flickers.
Reject: System Denied
Her heart drops. "It won't let me."
Ren's jaw clenches. "The locks on your System… they're like nothing I've seen."
A sudden pulse strikes the air. Not physically. Digitally.
Airi winces. Ren reacts instantly, shielding her though nothing visible approaches.
Then— A voice slips into her mind. Soft. Neutral. Familiar.
Airi Kisaragi.
She gasps and grabs Ren's sleeve. "He—he's in my head."
Ren's eyes widen with alarm. "Block it! Try to focus on noise, anything to drown him out."
She tries. But the voice continues.
You don't have much time.
Airi shakes her head violently. "Get out!"
Ren grips her shoulders. "Airi! Stay with me. What's he saying?"
She forces the words out. "He said—I don't have much time."
Ren grimaces. "He's manipulating you. Don't listen."
Another pulse. Another message.
Your System is waking. You need to understand it before the Contact Event.
Airi's knees weaken. Ren supports her again. "Airi, fight it."
But the messages keep coming.
You are the last one with this version. The others were… removed.
Her vision blurs. Removed?
Ren sees her expression and stiffens. "What did he say?"
Airi whispers, trembling. "That… I'm the last one."
Ren's face drains of color.
A final message burns across her interface.
Meet me. Alone. Or you won't survive the Event.
Then— Silence.
Airi collapses to the ground, shaking violently. Ren kneels beside her, voice sharp with fear. "Airi! Look at me. Breathe. Focus. What did he do?!"
She forces her eyes open. Her voice cracks. "He wants me to meet him."
Ren's expression darkens into something lethal. "Absolutely not."
Airi grips his sleeve. "He said I won't survive otherwise."
Ren grabs her wrist. "He's lying. He's isolating you. That's how anomalies work—divide and destabilize."
"But what if he's right?" she whispers.
"Airi, listen." His voice is firm, grounding. "You are not meeting him alone. We face this together."
Her throat tightens. "I don't want to drag you into this."
"You already did. And I walked in willingly."
She freezes. The honesty in his voice is startling. Comforting. Dangerous.
Ren softens. "Airi… I'm your ally. Not because the System says so—because I choose to be."
Her eyes sting. She didn't realize she needed to hear that.
The bell rings, shattering the moment. Students rush past them, unaware that the world is tilting beneath Airi's feet.
Ren stands and offers his hand. "Come on. Let's get through today. Then we prepare."
Airi takes his hand. Not because she's steady. But because she needs something to hold on to.
Classes feel unreal. Teachers speak. Students laugh. Papers shuffle.
But Airi's world is shrinking. Focusing. Tightening around the countdown.
Her System occasionally flickers with residual messages—shadows of the Unknown User's voice. She forces herself to ignore them.
But the memory of his words lingers.
You're the last one.
Removed.
The others were removed.
She can't focus. Her pencil shakes in her hand. Her heartbeat won't slow.
At lunch, Ren sits across from her. He watches her carefully but doesn't push. She appreciates that.
"Are the disturbances still happening?" he eventually asks.
"A little," she admits.
Ren looks troubled. "I need to run a deeper analysis, but I don't want to trigger another surge."
Airi hesitates. "What if… the ability isn't a threat? What if it's something I need?"
Ren's jaw tightens. "Even if it is, using it without control is dangerous. You saw what happened yesterday. If those shockwaves had been stronger—"
"I know." Her voice cracks.
He softens. "I'm not blaming you."
Airi looks down at her hands. "I'm just scared."
Ren leans forward slightly. "Then let me help you carry that fear."
Her chest tightens. She nods, eyes stinging again.
The day drags. Every hour feels heavier. Every minute closer to the countdown.
When school ends, Ren walks her home. The sky is dimming. Shadows stretching.
Halfway there— Her System jolts.
Warning: Localized Fracture Detected
Airi freezes. "Ren…"
He steps in front of her instantly. "Where?"
The environment shifts subtly. The air grows heavier.
A figure materializes at the end of the street. Not glitching. Not distorted.
Clear. Real.
The Unknown User.
Ren's stance hardens. "Stay behind me."
Airi's breath catches.
The boy meets her eyes. No aggression. No smile. Just a calm expression that makes her even more uneasy.
"Airi," he says quietly. "Time is running out. You need to come with me."
Ren snaps, "She's not going anywhere with you."
The boy ignores him. "Airi. Your System is destabilizing. You felt it today. You won't make it to the Event without guidance."
Her knees weaken. He's right. But she can't trust him.
Ren steps closer to him. "If you touch her System again, I'll—"
"You'll what?" the boy asks, voice calm. "Fight me? Risk another environmental collapse? You know what she is now. You know you can't protect her from this."
Ren's fists tighten.
The boy's voice softens. "Airi. Please."
Airi shakes her head. "No. Not until you tell me everything."
He hesitates. Not from fear. From conflict.
Then— Her System flares violently.
Fracture Sync: Auto-Activation
A blinding pulse erupts. Ren shields her. The boy braces.
The ground trembles. Lights flicker.
Airi screams.
Then— Darkness.
She comes to slowly. Her vision is blurred. Her head throbs.
Ren's voice is shouting her name from far away.
The Unknown User kneels over her. Face pale. Eyes steady.
"Airi. Listen carefully."
She tries to push away but she's too weak.
He continues.
"Your System reacted to the proximity of another anomaly. That's why it surged. If you don't learn to stabilize it, the next surge could kill you."
Ren grabs the boy by the collar and slams him back. "Don't touch her!"
The boy doesn't resist. He just speaks calmly.
"She has 65 hours left."
Ren snarls. "Stop acting like you're helping her."
The boy's voice stays steady. "I'm the only one who can."
Airi forces herself upright, dizzy and shaking. "Why? Why me? Why my System?"
The boy turns to her.
"Because you're the final anchor."
Ren freezes. Airi's heart stops.
The boy continues.
"The Contact Event isn't coming." He meets her eyes.
"It's coming for you."
Airi's vision cracks at the edges. Her breath comes in short, frantic gasps.
Ren catches her before she collapses again. "Airi—stay with me. Stay with me."
The boy steps back as the air distorts around him. His form glitching.
"We'll meet again soon," he says quietly. "And when we do—your choice will decide everything."
Then he vanishes.
Ren holds her tightly. "Airi. Look at me. It's okay. I'm right here."
But Airi knows it isn't okay. Not at all.
Her System pulses violently.
Contact Event: 65 hours remaining. Target: Airi Kisaragi.
Her world fractures. Her breath shakes. And for the first time— She realizes she might not survive what comes next.