~~~>It's Getting Worse<~~~
The next day didn't feel normal.
Even the air felt heavy.
Yuji was sitting on the stairs, thinking.
"…Why is this happening?" he muttered.
Megumi was standing nearby.
"…Because we didn't end it completely."
Nobara walked in, holding a drink.
"…So basically, we messed up?"
Megumi didn't reply.
But his silence said enough.
~~~>More Reports<~~~
That morning—
More calls came in.
More strange cases.
More people frozen.
More "fragments."
Yuji frowned.
"…So they're spreading."
Megumi nodded.
"…And faster than before."
Nobara sighed loudly.
"…Can we get one day of peace?"
Yuji shook his head.
"…Doesn't look like it."
~~~>Another Location<~~~
They moved out again.
This time—
A train station.
But something was wrong.
No trains.
No people.
Just silence.
"…This is creepy," Nobara said.
Yuji looked around.
"…Too quiet."
Megumi stepped forward slowly.
"…Stay alert."
~~~>Not Just One<~~~
Then—
They saw it.
Not one fragment.
Three.
Floating.
Flickering.
Watching them.
"…Oh great," Nobara said. "Now they travel in groups."
Yuji clenched his fists.
"…Let's finish this."
~~~>The Fragments Move<~~~
All three moved at once.
Fast.