Izumi staggered through a dark city hallway at night, panting heavily, using the wall to keep himself from collapsing under the weight of what had just happened. His vision blurred — then everything went black.
When Izumi woke up, he found himself lying on an unfamiliar bed. Confused, he scanned the room.
"Where am I? Whose house is this?" he thought.
Just then, the door creaked open, and a girl stepped inside.
"You're awake? I found you passed out in the hallway," she said.
"Yeah... Thank you. Where am I?" Izumi asked.
The girl explained that she brought him to her home. She recognized him from the IPhO competition last year — she had competed too. They talked, and Izumi learned her name was Ren, a 17-year-old survivor like himself.
"So you're saying your friend got shot in the head at the beach? And you think you're being targeted next?" Ren asked, concerned.
"Yeah... I think so. I should go now. Thanks for helping me," said Izumi, trying to leave.
But Ren grabbed his hand.
"Wait... I think I recognize the gas mask guy you mentioned. I'm also a survivor of the Narita Mall incident. He... he killed my friend right in front of me. I swore I'd get revenge, but I'm too scared. I couldn't bring myself to investigate like you did..." she said, breaking into tears.
Izumi was stunned. He comforted her, knowing exactly how it felt to lose someone close — almost like family.
"Please... don't go home tonight. It's too dangerous," Ren pleaded through sobs.
After thinking it through, Izumi agreed. He stayed the night in Ren's guest room.
—
Meanwhile, at The Reminder HQ, late afternoon.
Lust, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, Envy, and Pride were gathered, but Wrath was absent.
"Where's Wrath? Taking a shit?" Gluttony joked.
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances — Wrath had been acting strange lately, always arriving late, always secretive.
"He never even takes off that mask. Only Pride and The First know his real identity," Envy grumbled.
Moments later, Wrath appeared, calm as ever. He told everyone to sit. The room darkened and the screen flickered on: The First's voice echoed.
"I know you're wondering why the ambush date changed. There's been a shift in plans. Raidon is smart — we can't attack his home directly. He has too many connections to the government, military, and police.
Instead, we have his vice-manager — and fiancée — Mio."
On the screen, Mio sat tied to a chair.
"Good job, Gluttony, on jamming the police signals. Every 911 call got redirected to me. We made them think help was coming. With Mio as bait, Raidon will come straight to us," The First said, chuckling subtly.
Envy glanced at Mio with pity.
"How many people must suffer just to reach one man?" he muttered.
—
Back to Kiyoshi, that same night.
Lying in bed, he stared at the gauntlet Raidon had given him. He chuckled, pulling out his phone to tease Aoshi.
"Hahaha guess who couldn't bring their rapier home? Damn, what a shiny gauntlet I have here."
"Shut up! Raidon's still improving my rapier, unlike your heavy-ass gauntlet!" Aoshi replied.
"Feels like we're Power Rangers, lol," Kiyoshi texted.
"Hahaha, true. Anyway, you called Izumi six times. No reply?"
"Maybe he's tired after today's madness. Fighting a whole zoo and Queen of Animals wannabe wore me out too," Kiyoshi answered.
They both laughed it off.
—
The next morning, at Ren's house.
Izumi stood at the door, backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Are you sure you want to come with me to the construction site?" he asked.
"Yes! I'm excited! All this time I've wanted revenge, but was too scared to act. Now, I want to help!" Ren said, smiling bravely.
Izumi sighed. He warned her:
"This isn't a sightseeing tour. It's dangerous. People die."
But Ren insisted. She wouldn't back down.
Finally, Izumi nodded.
Together, they set off — toward the construction site, and toward whatever danger waited for them there.