Chapter 13
1269words
No, only four minutes and thirty seconds remain now.
Time, a concept that once meant nothing to me except to measure how long I'd been spacing out, now hung over my head like the Sword of Damocles, cold and heavy.
Rin's face was as pale as paper. She gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. Those eyes that were always as sharp as an eagle's were now filled with chaos and pain. She looked at me, then at the innocent-looking Yui behind her, her lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.
I could "hear" the storm raging within her mind.
That was a mad battle between loyalty and betrayal, reason and emotion. It was the first time that her two guiding principles—"protect the mission target" and "protect innocent civilians"—which she had always held sacred, came into such fierce, life-or-death conflict.
"...System conflict. Logical paradox. Unable to generate optimal solution..."
"...Plan A: Sacrifice Ayashiro Ai. Consequence: Mission failure, S-class catalyst falls into enemy hands, world peace threatened."
"...Plan B: Sacrifice Sato Yui. Consequence: Innocent civilian dies because of me. Violation of the core humanitarian principles of the 'Chronos Charter'."
"...Two options, both leading to hell."
Looking at her suffering, I felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing my heart mercilessly.
It was all my fault.
If it weren't for me, Yui wouldn't have had that terrible thing implanted in her.
If it weren't for me, Rin wouldn't be caught in this impossible dilemma.
I was that "S-class catalyst," a walking disaster.
"Yui, could you go into the room first, please?" I turned my head and spoke to Yui in the most steady voice I could manage.
"Eh? Why, Ai?" Yui looked at us in confusion, "Who's outside? Is it your friend?"
"No! He..." I took a deep breath, not knowing how to explain, "Just go inside first, lock the door, and don't come out. I'm begging you."
Yui looked at my unprecedentedly serious expression, then glanced at Rin whose face had turned pale. Although she was still completely confused, she obediently nodded and walked into my bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Good.
At least, she was temporarily away from the center of danger.
In the entryway, only Rin and I remained.
And outside the door, like the Grim Reaper, was the man patiently waiting for us to make our choice.
"Three minutes left." The "Professor's" voice sounded again, gentle yet cruel, "Kurosawa, what's your decision?"
Rin's body suddenly trembled.
She raised her head and looked at me.
Those beautiful eyes were bloodshot.
Then, I saw her slowly, with an almost self-destructive determination, place the kitchen knife she had been hiding behind her back against her own neck.
"If both options lead to hell..."
Her voice was as hoarse as sandpaper scraping.
"...then I'll create a third option."
"At the cost of my life, I request the activation of Article Zero of the 'Emergency Avoidance Protocol'... to expose your crimes to headquarters, 'Professor'!"
"Rin! Stop!" I exclaimed in horror.
"It's useless, Kurosawa." The "Professor" outside the door chuckled, his tone full of contempt. "Activating the 'Emergency Avoidance Protocol' requires the joint authorization of at least two A-class members. You alone cannot activate it. This is just pointless suicide."
"Still better than... handing either of them over to you!" Rin roared, the first time I had ever heard her lose composure like this.
"Is that so?" The "Professor's" tone became playful, "Are you sure? If you die, Ayashiro Ai will lose her protection, and Sato Yui will die as well. You're just avoiding making a choice."
"I..."
Rin's gaze completely dimmed.
The kitchen knife in her hand trembled slightly.
This won't do.
This can't continue.
I can't just watch them fall into desperate situations because of me.
All this time, I've hated this ability, it has brought me endless pain and trouble, turning me into a reclusive monster.
But...
What if this ability could do more than just "hear"?
During the cultural festival, didn't I successfully transmit "information" to Rin?
Doesn't that mean... that I could also, actively, do something?
An unprecedented rage and determination erupted like a volcano in my chest.
I'm sick of passively accepting everything, only able to watch helplessly as tragedies unfold!
"Rin."
I issued a command to her through mental transmission.
Not a request, not a negotiation, but an indisputable command from a "partner."
"Trust me."
Rin froze, looking at me with confusion.
I ignored her and closed my eyes.
I concentrated all my spirit, all my consciousness together.
No longer passively receiving the noise around me like before.
But instead... actively twisting my spirit into a single strand, turning it into an invisible, sharp needle!
My target was not the "professor" outside the door.
He was too powerful; my mental strength before his abyss-like malice was like a toothpick, completely incapable of shaking him.
My target was...
The so-called "dormant program" parasitizing inside Yui's body!
What was it? A miniature receiver? An electronic pulse generator?
Whatever it was, it must have its own "signal," its own "frequency"!
I couldn't hear it, but I could "feel" its existence!
It's like searching for a discordant, wrong note in a noisy symphony!
Found it!
I "see" it!
Inside Yori's body, there's a faint, cold energy point that's completely at odds with her warm life force!
It's like a dormant, ugly spider, quietly waiting there!
The "Professor" can detonate it using a signal.
Then couldn't I... also use my mental power to interfere with it? Or even... destroy it?!
"What are you... doing?" Rin asked in shock, sensing the unprecedented powerful mental waves erupting from me.
"I'm defusing a bomb!" I roared in my mind.
I concentrated all my mental power into the sharpest point possible and thrust it fiercely toward that cold energy point!
"Whoosh—!"
My brain felt as if it had been struck violently by a heavy hammer, stars exploded before my eyes, and a sweet metallic taste of rust surged up from my throat.
That spiritual backlash was stronger than anything I had ever experienced before!
But I didn't stop!
I could feel that energy point trembling violently under my impact!
It's working!
"One minute left." The "professor" outside the door issued his final ultimatum.
Once more!
Without hesitation, I frantically launched second and third waves of mental attacks toward the target!
Each impact felt like I was using my own soul to crash against an unyielding wall!
My consciousness began to blur, with warm blood seeping from all seven orifices.
"Partner! Stop! You'll die!" Rin screamed in terror. She had already dropped the kitchen knife in her hand and tried to support my swaying body.
"...not...finished...yet..."
With my last ounce of strength, I unleashed my final and most ferocious mental roar!
I poured everything into it—all my anger, my unwillingness to yield, and my determination to protect them!
"Get...OUT!!!"
"Crack."
I seemed to hear the sound of something shattering.
That cold energy point lurking within Yui's body completely collapsed, disintegrated, and finally turned into nothingness under my mental roar.
At the same time, the "Professor" outside the door let out a startled, disbelieving soft "Eh?".
His heartbeat, which had always been steady and machine-like, showed a hint of disorder for the first time.
It worked.
I... succeeded.
The moment this thought flashed through my mind, I could no longer hold on. My vision darkened, and I completely lost consciousness.
In the final moment before falling, I seemed to fall into an embrace that was cold yet incredibly comforting.
In my ears was Rin's anxious call, tinged with tears.
"Ai!"
