Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 106, Section 104: The Many Faces of Death

"Approaching Tsukiji Station, initiate emergency braking at 600 meters!"

"Prepare--"

"Stop!"

Crack!

The first train's mechanical and electric brakes worked simultaneously, and the 130 km/h tram emitted a piercing noise. The lubricating oil on the tracks was ignited by the high temperature, sending up a blue-purple cloud of flames, and the smell of burning spread everywhere.

The carriage lights suddenly went out, and the emergency red lights flashed incessantly. The buffers at the carriage connections emitted a creaking, fatigued, and twisting sound, but people had no time to pay attention. Most of the passengers were thrown about uncontrollably to one side by the sudden braking.

They couldn't utter a complete sentence; riding the subway was more terrifying than riding a plane about to crash.

"Attention! Attention! The train behind is accelerating. Stop and evacuate immediately!" came a desperate shout from the control center.

The two drivers had no time to respond, pressing the brake levers firmly.

bang bang!

A strange sound and vibration came.

Finished!

Upon hearing the sound, the two drivers' minds went blank. They only had time to exchange a glance and give each other a bitter smile before pressing their bodies directly against the brake lever.

That was the sound of something going off track.

Tsukiji Station.

The personnel on standby maintained a safe distance from the tracks, ready to receive the train at any moment.

Before the train arrived, there was the sharp sound of metal tearing and scraping.

"We've arrived! Prepare for rescue!"

The on-site commander shouted into the walkie-talkie, saying that even if they didn't need it, everyone could hear him.

Thanks to the tight security today, a large number of people were quickly gathered at Tsukiji Station after an emergency mobilization, including professionals from the Security Department with experience in dismantling and bomb disposal.

"No! The train has derailed! Everyone get into the passageway!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the train burst out of the tunnel, engulfed in flames.

The anti-climb device on the front of the train pierced the end wall of the platform. The powerful impact crushed the reinforced concrete layer by layer like a wafer. Under such impact, the front of the train was no different from a cola can. The entire cab was crushed into a heap, and blood splattered out like raindrops from the gaps.

The enormous decibels forced people to cover their ears to protect their hearing, and the glass and metal shards that shot out like bullets bounced several times before still hitting a few unlucky people.

Doom!

Ultimately, the front of the train crashed into the wall at the end of the platform, while most of the carriages behind it managed to remain barely upright and did not overturn.

"Quick! Open the car door and save the passengers! We only have two minutes!" The on-site commander rushed out first.

The first group of officers used hydraulic shears to clamp down on the gap in the deformed car door, while the second group simultaneously used cutting methods.

"Passengers who can still move inside! You only have two minutes before the car behind crashes into you. Please find the emergency door opening device immediately, pull off the cover, and pull the handle!"

The station staff, holding megaphones, shouted and banged on the passengers struggling to get up from inside the train windows.

Because there were enough people in the car, some were lucky enough to be cushioned and did not lose consciousness in the impact. However, their ears were ringing and they could not hear any sounds outside. Nevertheless, their subconscious instincts still made them try to find the emergency door opening device and escape from this terrible place.

"Cough cough."

Otsuka Natsuki struggled to her feet in the crowd, but after taking just one step, a piercing pain shot through her ankle, making it impossible for her to put any weight on it.

Today is Sunday.

She needs to go to the head office every morning for a performance review.

Yesterday marked the last day of her cherry blossom season, when she was strolling along the Yamanote and Hibiya lines with cherry blossoms in her hands.

After all, the cherry blossom season will always come to an end.

Unfortunately, this was just self-comfort; she could never go back, nor dared to go back, to that dark subway world. She only dared to hold the flower she had wanted to see with Ya Hua, seeking a moment of self-deception in the cold subway.

Otherwise, why would she choose to take leave every afternoon? It's because the afternoon avoids the 8 AM and the last bus, so it won't take her to that world.

She didn't even dare to make a phone call.

Because she was afraid that the call would actually go through, and what could she possibly say on the phone to the person who had promised to rescue her but had broken their promise?

"Not yet."

Before his eyes, someone had already used the emergency device to lift the restrictions and opened the door a crack, and he couldn't wait to climb out.

More people then squeezed through the gap, even hindering the police's efforts to widen the door.

"Let me go first! Get out of here!"

Natsuki Otsuka finally made it to the doorway through the obstacle-filled ground, only to be shoved aside by someone coming from behind, crashing into the car wall with a loud bang.

"One minute left—what?! It's accelerated! You damn beast! Hurry—"

The incessant shouting still reached the ears of some passengers who had gradually recovered, and they immediately panicked, crying and scrambling to seize the door, which was their right to survive.

Despite the intense pain, Otsuka Natsuki struggled to squeeze into the crowd as well, inching her way out.

"The door won't open! We can't open the door here! Please help us! Please help us!"

"Hurry up! You guys need to hurry!"

"My girlfriend is still inside, right there! Don't pull me away, she's right there!"

The air and the tracks began to vibrate—the train that was about to crash from behind was approaching.

The on-site commander looked at the car doors that were either damaged and could not be opened, or the passageways that were blocked by the crowd and could not be cleared for a while, and sighed sadly.

He had to make a difficult decision.

"Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"

Even if the impact is so close, the sound waves could directly kill someone. In order to avoid taking more lives, he had to abandon those who could not be saved.

The officers were prepared and swiftly retreated with the rescued people who were still unable to move.

This action drove those still inside the car into a hysterical frenzy.

Curses, pleas, and wailing filled the air.

But they were quickly suppressed by the gradually approaching, amplified sound of air being torn apart through the tunnel.

People continued to escape from the car doors, running away into the passageway without looking back, following the police officers.

Otsuka had squeezed himself to the door, but unfortunately, he was just a little bit short.

Someone nudged her shoulder. Otsuka turned around and saw the robust woman who had been sitting next to her earlier, the one who had been comforted by her out of fear.

Her face wore a stiff expression completely different from the others, and there was a bright red bloodstain on her chest, making her look exceptionally eerie, like a manipulated corpse.

The strong woman took a few steps back, then suddenly rammed into the crowd, pushing them out of the way.

Including Natsuki Otsuka.

People fell onto the platform, but most were relieved and got up, trying to run towards the passageway.

The strong woman shielded Otsuka beneath her, a familiar smile appearing on her face.

"I've seen the cherry blossoms you've passed by countless times over the years, and they're all very beautiful."

A deafening, apocalyptic crash resounded, and almost all the survivors who had just stood up were pierced by the scattered metal fragments.

Before Otsuka could process what the woman was saying, his ears were covered, everything went black, and he lost consciousness.

(End of this chapter)