Kaito lay asleep on the living room couch, his chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm. The laptop rested on the table, its screen dimmed, abandoned. Airi sat nearby, eyes locked on her own screen, scrolling through article after article, her brows furrowed with worry.
I'll handle the research tonight, she had thought. Let him rest, just for a while.
The room was silent except for the soft hum of electronics and the occasional clink of a teacup. She sipped from hers, then paused—her eyes catching something odd in an article.
Crack in the sky...?
She leaned in.
"Numerous civilians have reported sightings of what appear to be fractures or 'cracks' in the sky—described by some as resembling portals. No official comment from authorities. The phenomena seem to vanish without trace..."
Her pulse quickened.
---
An hour later
"Kaito…" she said softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
He stirred slightly.
"Kaito," she said again, firmer this time.
Kaito's eyes fluttered open, dazed. He blinked at the ceiling, then turned toward her. "...Airi? What time is it?"
"9:30 PM," she replied, smiling faintly. "You slept well."
Kaito stretched, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah… I feel good now. Thanks, Airi."
"You're welcome." She hesitated, then continued. "Kaito… I found something. Something strange."
His expression sharpened instantly. "What is it?"
She turned the screen toward him. "An article. People across the globe… they're seeing cracks in the sky. Like portals."
Kaito's heart sank. "What…? That's possible?"
"I don't know. I was shocked too. But it's not just here—these reports are worldwide. And…" she hesitated, her tone darkening, "...people are dying. Not just in Japan. Everywhere."
Kaito leaned forward, his face pale. "Then the unknown organization… they're bigger than we thought."
"I'm starting to wonder," Airi said, biting her lip, "if Japan is even safe anymore. Every day there are deaths with no explanation. People just… vanish, or are found with no cause of death. What are they killing for?"
Kaito looked down, fists clenched. "I don't know, Airi. But maybe this world is already crumbling. Maybe… we're just weak. Humans. If something like that is happening, we're just prey."
He stood abruptly, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Wait—where are you going?" Airi stood too, alarmed.
"I need to check something. The cake shop."
"Eh? Chocolate cake? Now?"
He smirked. "Stupid. There's no cake shop open this late."
"Then—why say it?"
"Just trust me." He winked.
Airi sighed, crossing her arms. "Okay, but… be careful. You're making me worry again."
"I'll be fine," he said, his voice softening. "Thanks, Airi."
He grabbed his jacket and stepped out into the night.
Outside – 9:45 PM
The air was cold. The streets nearly empty. Kaito's breath misted in front of him as he jogged through the familiar path toward the back alley near the abandoned cake shop. His thoughts raced.
That forum post… the guy mentioned a glowing red star-shaped emblem in a trash bin behind this place.
He skidded to a stop in front of the bin and flipped the lid open.
Nothing.
His heart dropped.
"Damn it…"
"Hey," a voice called from behind. "What are you doing here so late?"
Kaito turned. A young man stood near the alley entrance, hands in his pockets. His hair was messy, his expression cautious.
Kaito stepped closer. "I'm looking for something. A red, star-shaped object that glows when touched. You seen anything like that?"
The stranger paused. "You… saw the gloves too?"
Kaito's eyes widened. "Wait… you saw them?"
"Yeah. Thought I was the only one." The guy approached, his tone wary.
Kaito squinted. "Hey… were you on the Veil forum? Username Nelnel120?"
The guy narrowed his eyes. "How do you know that?"
"I was kayto139pi," Kaito replied carefully. "You sent me a photo of a red star emblem on a wall. Do you remember?"
The guy's face darkened in confusion. "I… don't remember ever doing that."
Kaito froze.
So this time… we didn't talk. Which means…
This really is a new loop. A new branch.
Time reset again the moment I fell asleep.
He swallowed the realization, then composed himself. "Got it. That makes sense."
"What makes sense?" the stranger asked, suspicious.
"Nothing important." Kaito held out a hand. "I'm Kaito Ishida. Nice to meet you."
The guy looked hesitant, then shook it. "Aoi. Just Aoi."
"Aoi, you said you saw the gloves too?"
"Yeah. I read about them on the forum. Someone said they allow you to interact with the glowing emblem.
"I see," Kaito said, nodding slowly. "Can you tell me everything you know? Everything you've heard."
Aoi looked him over, then nodded back. "Alright. I'll tell you everything I've got."
The deeper Kaito digs, the more reality begins to unravel. The sky cracks, timelines blur, and strangers remember different truths. As Kaito steps further into the unknown, one thing becomes clear—this world is no longer what it seems. And he might be the only one who can uncover why.