The story broke wrong.
Not heroic.
Not clean.
"Transit Hub Incident Averted by Unknown Group"
"Authorities Investigate Civilian Interference"
"Were Lives Risked—or Saved?"
The city argued before it understood.
And once people argue, memory sets.
The Public Doesn't Agree
Some called them reckless.
Others called them lucky.
A few called them criminals who interfered with "natural outcomes."
Kirito watched the news silently.
"They're scared," he said.
"When people realize nothing will be undone, they look for control."
Rakesh scoffed.
"They already had control," he muttered.
"They just outsourced responsibility."
Abinaya didn't argue.
She was reading comments.
One stopped her cold.
If nobody resets anything anymore, then heroes shouldn't exist either.
She closed the screen.
"…That one's honest," she said.
Ren Feels the Shift
Ren walked through campus and felt eyes on him.
Not awe.
Suspicion.
He overheard whispers.
"That's the guy."
"They say things happen around him."
"Does he decide who lives now?"
His chest tightened.
Abinaya noticed.
"They're building myths," she said quietly.
"That's dangerous."
Ren nodded.
"I don't want to be necessary," he said.
"I just want to be present."
She smiled faintly.
"That may be harder."
Nada Breaks Down
Nada washed her hands for the seventh time.
They were already clean.
She stared at her reflection.
"I saved him," she whispered.
"I remember not saving him."
Her knees gave out.
Abinaya found her on the floor.
Nada laughed weakly.
"If I can change outcomes now," she said,
"how do I ever stop?"
Abinaya knelt beside her.
"You don't," she said honestly.
"You just decide where you stand."
Nada nodded, tears falling.
"…Then I stand here."
Loraine Gets a Visitor
A knock at 11:46 p.m.
Too precise.
Loraine opened the door to a woman in a plain coat.
"Ms. Loraine," the woman said.
"You've been mapping anomalies."
Loraine's fingers twitched.
"…Who are you?"
"Someone who'd like to make sure you don't do it alone."
A badge flashed—real, but unfamiliar.
Behind the woman, a car idled.
The world was starting to organize.
Hawa Changes Tomorrow
Hawa went back to the transit hub.
Alone.
She found the man who almost detonated it.
He sat on the steps, face in his hands.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He looked up, startled.
"…For what?"
"For hating you tomorrow," Hawa replied.
"I won't anymore."
He didn't understand.
But something loosened in his chest.
Later, Hawa would not regret this.
Kirito's Line Is Crossed
That night, Kirito received a message.
Encrypted.
Military-grade.
You interfered with a stabilization event.
Stand down.
Kirito deleted it.
"They're forming something," he said to the group.
"Not the old system."
"A replacement?" Rakesh asked.
"No," Kirito replied.
"A leash."
Ren looked at him.
"And you?"
Kirito met his gaze.
"I've worn one before," he said.
"Never again."
Quiet Moment
On the rooftop, Ren and Abinaya sat close.
Not touching.
Not distant.
"Do you ever miss it?" Ren asked.
"The certainty?"
Abinaya thought of infinite retries.
Of perfect outcomes that meant nothing.
"No," she said.
"I miss the illusion of safety."
Ren smiled.
"…Me too."
They watched the city lights flicker—real, fragile, stubborn.
Far below reality—
The Watcher did not intervene.
But it did mark something.
Not Ren.
Not Abinaya.
The idea forming around them.
A future where correction was replaced by collective will.
That was new.
And it frightened even something ancient.
Vote & comment if you want the next chapter faster