Ultraman cubs begin to wreak havoc.

Page 469

Riko Saito patted her chest. The monitor screen reflected the blank face of a woman. She was broadcasting government propaganda in a detached tone.

The street at night is like the deep sea.

For some reason, Riko Saida suddenly thought of something.

Whether it's the buildings standing like tombstones or the pedestrians walking on the street, everything slowly sinks into the sea.

Furthermore, there are floating displays that move among them, drifting slowly like deep-sea fish.

Just as she was thinking this, Riko Saito suddenly found it hard to breathe. A feeling as if she were being submerged by seawater washed over her.

I know nothing about this world yet.

Riko Saida began to realize this. The same was true of the document she'd seen before, titled "Sea God." There were still so many things in this world that I didn't know. And the world continued to operate through mechanisms I was unaware of.

It's not me who's acting strange. Perhaps, it's the world that's acting strange.

Riko Saito trembled violently. "Go home already." Just as she was about to take another step, she let out a heart-wrenching scream.

This was because, as she turned the corner of the building and watched the floating display disappear into the distance, she felt the huge announcer's eyes turn towards Riko Saita as he left.

As soon as she got home, Riko Saito crawled into bed alone, curling up like a timid kitten.

It's okay, it's okay.

She gently reassured herself. It was a habit she had developed since childhood. She would do this when faced with something sad or unbearable.

I am always alone.

But being alone is nothing.

From a young age, Riko Saito's parents raised her in a strict and loving manner. She had virtually no friends with whom she could open her heart and confide in.

She had to freeze her heart with ice.

Without realizing it, she had this thought. If she closed herself off, she wouldn't feel anything, and everything would be fine. Loneliness or sadness, it would be much more comfortable if she couldn't feel them.

That's why Riko Saida, wearing an expressionless mask, coldly followed the path laid out in advance by her parents or society.

Even though there was almost no time for games due to the strict education, I didn't feel anything.

Although she was assigned to the Ministry of Science after graduating from university, most of the work there was rather monotonous and administrative, but she didn't feel anything special about it.

So Riko Saida crawled into bed once again.

There is no change compared to the past.

However, she gradually began to notice the meaning behind the nightmares that had been troubling her since the past.

The darkness that attacked me in my dreams was deep and cold.

Could that be the world surrounding me?

From that day on, Riko Saito began to fear the gazes that were always fixed on her, as if they wanted to stab her to death. No matter where she was, the feeling of being watched by someone never disappeared.

Whether it was her colleagues at work, pedestrians on the street, or the announcer on the floating monitor, everyone seemed to be watching her, which sent chills down Riko Saita's spine.

On this day, she was walking home from the Ministry of Science, her body shivering with fear.

With a soft patter, she felt the touch of raindrops on her skin. As she looked up at the twilight sky, a torrential downpour suddenly began from the low-hanging, dense clouds.

This perfectly reflects my state of mind, Riko Saito thought as she opened her umbrella. Even I, if I could, would want to have a good cry.

I'm being watched...

She discovered this. The reason was that she had seen documents related to the Poseidon Project, and that someone controlling the project was monitoring her, now that she knew the secret.

One after another, pedestrians with umbrellas walked past Riko Saita. She couldn't help but feel that there were gleaming eyes staring at her from under those umbrellas.

She dragged her heavy steps as she tried to cross the pedestrian crossing.

The sound of a car approaching from a distance rang out just a step away.

There is no sign of it stopping.

Surprised, Riko Saito turned to look.

It was a black car. It was approaching. It didn't seem to be planning to brake; it was hurtling towards Riko Saito, who had stopped in her tracks, at an extremely high speed.

I have to run!

Riko Saito tried desperately to run away. But her feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, and she couldn't move.

The metal beast roared as it approached. In the distance, someone's mournful cry echoed.

I'm already dead!

She closed her eyes tightly, and just then, she noticed a dark figure appear in the corner of her field of vision.

"Danger!"

A strong voice came from beside her ear, and it felt like someone had pushed her from behind. In that instant, Riko Saito moved her feet.

The figure running towards her with all its might pushed Riko Saito towards the edge of the road. With a snap, the umbrella she was holding was crushed to pieces under the wheels of a car.

The two fell on the asphalt road.

At the same time, the car sped past the spot where Riko Saida had been moments before, like a bullet.

After a deafening screech of brakes, the car, attempting to change direction, crashed into the building's wall. The vehicle was severely damaged, and a loud roar could be heard emanating from it.

Riko Saida's face showed fear.

"Are you OK?"

Upon hearing this voice, Riko Saito's eyes widened.

The person standing there was backlit by the streetlights, the backlighting outlining his figure. That silhouette, bathed in light, was simply...

Savior?

"Are you okay?"

Riko Saita finally got a good look at her benefactor. He was a vibrant young man, about the same age as Riko Saita, wearing a black trench coat.

It was as if he had saved his own life, which was frozen in fear.

"...Um...thank you."

Riko Saito finally made a sound. She realized the rain was falling directly onto her skin. The pain in her body gradually returned. Fear, along with the sense of reality, returned to her. Seeing the umbrella crushed beyond recognition, a chill ran down her spine.

If I hadn't received this person's help, I would be...

Seeing this tragic scene, the crowd began to gather and watch from a distance.

"Are you driving to your death? What on earth is going on?"

The young man spoke angrily as he walked toward the car that had crashed into the building.

The tire tracks were clearly visible, extending all the way to the wall. The car, dented by the wall, was spitting fire with crackling sounds.

The young man peered into the driver's seat through the cracked glass.

There was no one inside.

"That car is an autonomous driving model."

The young man explained this to Riko Saida.

"Autonomous driving?"

"I think someone must be controlling it remotely. That car drove right up to you, but neither tried to brake nor steer. That means..."

"Are you saying it planned to kill me from the very beginning?"

Riko Saida took the initiative to pick up on the young man's hesitant words. The young man looked surprised and nodded in agreement.

Do you have any clues, such as whether you're being watched by someone?

There are plenty.

Riko Saito immediately remembered. It was that one. It was all because of that document. Someone wanted to silence me completely for knowing the secret. Was the document I saw really that important?

"Yes, there are, but..."

But should we tell this whole story to the young man?

Seeing Riko Saito with her head down, not daring to say anything, the young man nodded as if he understood the unspoken meaning.

"I understand. Anyway, you'd better be more careful from now on."

"Ah."

Riko Saida answered frankly.

"The rain just won't stop." The young man looked outside. "I should probably go now. You can take mine as an umbrella."

After saying this, he prepared to put down his umbrella. Riko Saida hurriedly stood up.

"This, this won't do! You saved my life, even the umbrella—"

However, he shoved his umbrella into Riko Saida's hands.

"It's alright. I'm used to getting soaked in the rain. After all, I'm an exceptional rain man. Maybe I even brought this rain on myself."

Without thinking, Riko Saida called out to the man who was about to leave.