The story we started

[Those tombstones that filled an entire area of ​​the cemetery seemed to have appeared out of thin air, and the grief and accusations of the deceased family members were all ignored. All the truth about the accident was buried in the darkness, and no one was allowed to read it anymore.]

[But since such an important person died in such an unclear manner, it was impossible for Zaimokuza and his family members to let it go. They each formed a mutual aid group and began to work together to investigate the accident.]

[Zaimokuza has tried to find those who seem to know the inside story in his own way, but the result in the end is not much better. ]

[Every time he went through so much trouble to find those people and brought up this topic during the conversation, their originally peaceful attitudes would suddenly change 180 degrees on the spot. It was common for them to rudely kick him out of the room after their faces changed drastically. Some even overreacted and directly pulled out a gun from the cabinet and pointed it at him, scaring Zaimokuza so much that he had to crawl out of someone else's house before they could shoot.]

[But the true weirdness of this matter has only just been revealed at this time. ]

[He was unwilling to give up and later mustered up the courage to continue to seek the truth from those who knew something, but what happened afterwards was completely beyond Zaimokuza's expectations.]

[When he arrived at those people's residences for the second time, he was shocked to learn all kinds of unfortunate news from their grieving families.]

[After being found by Zaimokuza, those people either suddenly disappeared or chose to commit suicide for unknown reasons.]

[Zaimokuza had come across such a suicide scene once, and was even suspected of committing murder by the police and taken to the police station for detention. He was not released until the investigation was completed and it was confirmed that he was not a suspect.]

【Zaimokuza still remembers the scene he saw at that time.】

[The windows facing the outside of the spacious bedroom were completely sealed with newspapers, and even the makeup mirror was not left out. In addition, the ceiling, floor, and walls were all covered with "DON'T HURT MY FAMILY!" written in marker pen. The handwriting was frantic and sloppy, which was completely consistent with the mental state of its owner during the last period of his life.]

[The person who committed suicide had hanged himself half a meter above the ground with a rope connected to a ceiling fan. He lived alone, so when Zaimokuza visited him and found something wrong, he broke into the bedroom and found him. His skin was already covered with corpse spots and the stench was hard to cover up.]

[What impressed Zaimokuza the most was the corpse's eyes that were looking straight toward the door of the room. Although the pupils and irises of the eyes had long since turned white and faded, one could still see the negative emotions such as despair and fear in his eyes.]

[For many days and nights thereafter, those eyes continued to appear in Zaimokuza's nightmares.]

[After a forensic autopsy and evidence collection, all possibilities of homicide were ruled out. The police confirmed that the death was a complete suicide and cleared Zaimokuza of murder suspicion, but he did not feel any joy at having his innocence redressed.]

[——Because according to the forensic autopsy, the time when this person committed suicide was the day when Zaimokuza first visited him, or even the same day.]

【After this incident, Zaimokuza was finally able to conclude that there must be some horrible conspiracy behind the accident.】

[But what he really couldn't imagine was what kind of shady plot could make the insider choose to commit suicide without hesitation on the first day of being visited by others in order to conceal the truth, without even the slightest desire to live? ]

[Although Zaimokuza still hopes to find out the truth, he no longer dares to look for those who know the truth, fearing that he will implicate them. ]

[And now, no matter how strange the process is, a corner of the truth is about to unveil its mysterious veil in front of Zaimokuza. ]

[After entering the laboratory, Hikigaya Hachiman walked in front of him and headed towards the huge transparent cube, taking out the mysterious card holder from his white coat as he walked.]

[All the researchers around him stopped their work after seeing him, and stared at Hikigaya and the card holder in his hand with fervent eyes, their eyes were filled with curiosity and greed and jealousy that could not be concealed.]

[The desire to explore is for the truth that will be revealed to oneself and others, while greed and jealousy are the reluctance to not be the glory of grasping this truth.]

[“Let’s get started, Assistant Hikigaya!”]

[Professor Martin rudely pushed away a researcher standing in front of the table, and stared at Hikigaya who was looking up at the cube with an unbearable look.]

[“Let us welcome this moment together! Welcome this great moment of uncovering the truth of the world with our own hands! This supreme honor belongs to all of us present here!!!”]

【"""oh!!!"""】

[The researchers present, regardless of their positions, waved their arms and roared together, and the enthusiastic atmosphere filled the entire laboratory.]

[In such a place filled with a fanatical atmosphere, the only person who never changed his expression was Hikigaya Hachiman. ]

[He is like a wise man standing on a cliff, looking down at the various forms of life in the world. No matter joy, anger, sorrow or happiness, it cannot touch his detached heart in the slightest, nor can it make his indifferent face, which has never changed, show any emotion.]

[Hikigaya quietly raised his head, staring at the huge cube that completely enveloped him, and muttered to himself.]

[“Finally, it’s time… I’ll be there soon.”]

[For the first time, his eyes, which always seemed to be without any emotion, showed some emotion other than indifference, but because of the angle, no one saw it.]

[It was a deep tiredness, and a sense of relief from seeing through everything. ]

【“——”】

[At that moment, he seemed to whisper someone's name, then he held the brake in one hand and slowly raised it toward the huge cube.]

【boom--】

[When Hikigaya aimed the card holder at the cube, the originally transparent surface of the cube suddenly vibrated for a moment, and a dazzling white light spread out from the center of the cube to the surrounding areas, and the different numerical lines on the computer screens of all the tables around suddenly rose at the same time, soaring straight up at an alarming speed.]

[The alarm of the research institute immediately buzzed, and the red light shone on everyone's face, illuminating their suddenly changed eyes.]

[“Professor, something seems to be wrong. The energy response is too high! It has far exceeded the maximum value we originally expected!? This——”]

[“Go on! Leave it alone!”]

[One of the researchers seemed to realize that something was wrong, and tried to persuade Professor Martin, whose authority over the experiment was second only to that of Hikigaya Hachiman, to stop, but he refused without hesitation.]

[Professor Martin's eyes were no longer clear as before, and he stared at the shining cube with a dazed look. Deep in his eyes was an extreme madness that was suppressed by reason.]

[Every successful scientist is a potential madman. There is often a fine line between genius and madness. This is not nonsense, but an objective evaluation of these people. The desire for knowledge occupies the first place among all the desires in their brains.]

[For these madmen who have devoted everything to science, when a chance to visit the door to the real world appears before them, they are willing to give up everything in exchange for a ticket to enter.]

【Professor Martin is such a person. His reason has long been driven away by the excitement of knowing the truth. Therefore, he who was originally cautious now completely ignores the dangers that may arise from continuing, and suppresses all objections with a wave of his hand.】

[“But! The energy supply has reached its limit. If it continues to operate at overload, this laboratory may explode violently!”]

[“Open your eyes and see clearly! We will be able to redefine this world soon! What’s the point of a possible explosion!?”]

[“Soon, we will become the new writers of the scientific community and write a new history! For this honor, what does it matter if we die!?”]

[The researcher wanted to say something else, but Professor Martin, who had already lost his mind, grabbed his collar and stared at him intently.]

[Looking at those eyes that were completely filled with passion and madness, the researcher was completely stunned by the other party's terrifying spirit and no longer dared to say even a word of opposition.]

[Hikigaya Hachiman ignored what was happening behind him and stared calmly at the glowing cube.]

[“——Now, it’s time.”]

【Buzz——————】

[“Hmm!?”]

[“What’s that sound? It never happened in previous experiments!?”]

[“What, what is that? Something has appeared!”]

[After Hikigaya finished speaking, a strange noise suddenly sounded from the cube, resonating in the entire laboratory at an extremely high frequency.]

[Everyone in the laboratory, including Zaimokuza who was blocked outside by the mirror, covered their eyes with their hands in pain.]

[What is going on?! ]

【Zaimokuza covered his ears tightly. He felt that the sound was just like an awl, digging into his brain along his ears. For a moment, he felt a splitting headache and was completely unable to think.】

[In this sudden change, unlike the researchers who looked painful, Hikigaya Hachiman remained calm, but made another move instead.]

[He used his other thumb to hold the notch of the card holder and pulled out a card.]

[“Wait! Assistant Hikigaya, what are you doing!?”]

[A premonition of great danger suddenly climbed from the soles of his feet along his cervical spine to his brain. This sense of danger was so strong that it was like a giant python entwining his body, and it woke up Professor Martin, who was originally completely dominated by fanaticism.]

[He looked at Hikigaya who had drawn the card and pointed it at the cube. This strange move that the opponent had never made in previous experiments made Professor Martin feel for the first time that the situation seemed out of control. He immediately changed his expression and shouted.]

[“What the hell is that! What on earth do you want to do? Stop it now!”]

[However, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't pay any attention to the shouts coming from behind him, nor did he have any intention of stopping. ]

【"bring it on--"】

[Hikigaya points the card at the glowing cube, facing the glass surface that glows brightly again because of his action.]

[His eyes narrowed slightly due to the strong light, and his drooping eyelids covered his eyeballs at the back, but they could not hide the emotions in his eyes.]

[That is the ultimate madness.]

[At the moment before achieving his goal, Hikigaya Hachiman no longer needed to hide anything. 】

[This situation is unexpected to others, but it is exactly what he wants. ]

[A sentence full of religious feeling came out from Hikigaya's mouth, echoing throughout the entire laboratory, making everyone's eyes widen. ]

[…I offer here everything I have, my bones, my blood, as a sacrifice.]

[“Break through the boundary between reality and illusion and come to my side——”]

【“With me, ■■■■.”】

Author's message:

PS: I woke up in the morning with a severe cough, and even coughed up blood, it was unbearable...

Chapter position: 163 / Chapter price: 15 / Word count: 3033 / Update time: 2023-06-18 23:04:30

25. Interlude (3K)

[The entire laboratory was completely out of control at this moment. Many people realized that the development of the situation had completely exceeded the control of everyone present, and they fell into great shock and anger and panic about the unknown. ]

【Especially Professor Martin, who was originally the most immersed in it, realized that he might have made a big mistake unintentionally, so he pushed aside all the researchers in front of him and ran towards Hikigaya Hachiman who was standing in front of the cube, roaring.】

[The old body rapidly secreted adrenaline under the stimulation of the sense of crisis. The old man who had lived in the laboratory for many years ran at a speed comparable to that of a professional athlete at this moment, and stretched out his palm towards the hand that Hikigaya raised the card, wanting to snatch the thing that caused this situation from his hand. ]

【But it's too late. 】

[When the old professor's hand was about to touch Hikigaya's shoulder, an incomparable light burst out from the cube, and the laboratory was completely covered by the blazing white light.]

[Everyone had to scream and stretch out their arms to shield their eyes before this light, otherwise their eyes would be blinded by this light that was as strong as the sun.]

[This subconscious action made them miss their last chance. ]

[In the center of the light, a huge and twisted shadow is gradually taking shape——]

【when.】

[The time displayed on all computer screens in the laboratory was frozen at the same number at the same time, and even the hands of the quartz clocks hanging on the wall stopped at the same moment.]

[The minute hand, still in its original position, swayed gently left and right, unable to move even a fraction of a second to the left. It was frozen in place and unable to move at all.]

【This is the final scene.】

【——Snap. 】

[A small crack emitting white light appeared on the mirror surface, then spread to the front glass at an extremely fast speed, and finally shattered with a loud bang.]

[The broken mirrors still reflected the scenes just now, whether it was the back of Hikigaya Hachiman, Professor Martin's panicked eyes, or the confused and uneasy expressions of the other researchers, all of them fell to the ground like falling stars, and then turned into light and disappeared into dust.]

【“…”】

[The noise in his ears disappeared at this moment, Zaimokuza slowly put down his hands that were blocking his ears, and stared blankly at the dark mirror in front of him.]

[“What the hell is going on???”]

Chiba Prefecture, Sobu High School, health room.

"Well!!!"

At the same time when the piercing sound rang out on the light screen, everyone in reality covered their ears in pain, enduring the strange echo like scratching a blackboard with fingers that kept roaring deep in their brains.

Therefore, they did not hear what "Hikigaya Hachiman" in the light curtain said next.

When the sound faded away, Yumiko Miura, the most extroverted person present, started to attack.

"What's going on!? What an awful sound!"

Miura Yumiko said quickly with her brows furrowed almost protruding. She only felt an indescribable irritation rising from the depths of her heart after hearing the voice, and she felt an unbearable disgust physiologically.

"What did Future Hachiman do... What happened at the end of that experiment?"

Zaimokuza shook his head, as if to expel the voice that still lingered in his mind, and turned to look at Hikigaya beside him in confusion and said.

"..."

Faced with his and other people's questions, Hikigaya remained silent, with a very wrong expression on his face.

Rather, his facial expression had remained strange ever since he saw his future self appear on the screen.

Hikigaya had always believed that the reason his future self died before the story began was simply an unfortunate accident caused by the experiment, but the scene that appeared before completely overturned his guess.

Everything that the future "Hikigaya Hachiman" on the screen did after he appeared in the dream memory of "Zaimokuza Yoshiki" was as if the words "problematic" were engraved on his face, and every action and behavior was unpredictable to the viewers.