?? Reset

  Chapter 13: Snow War… or a Trap?

  Nagi sprinted after Yuto at full speed, kicking up fresh snow with his sneakers.

  — Stop right there, detective! You’re not getting away from me! — he shouted, feeling a long-forgotten thrill.

  They burst onto an open clearing. Yuto slipped and crashed into a snowdrift. Nagi seized the moment, pouncing on top of him and slamming a snowball straight into his laughing face.

  — Take that! That’s for “bon appétit”!

  Breathing heavily, Nagi slid off and dropped into the snow beside him. Yuto, spitting snow from his mouth, stared up at the gray sky.

  — You know… even if that “Creator” is a complete sadist, he’s got taste. The weather is PERFECT, — Yuto exhaled.

  A few meters away, a small boy in a blue jacket was carefully rolling a snowball. Yuto propped himself up on his elbows and called out cheerfully:

  — Need some help, kid?

  The boy slowly turned his head. His movements were too precise — almost mechanical. He gave a hesitant nod. Yuto winked, quickly packed a firm snowball, and placed it in the child’s hand.

  — Aim at that grumpy old man over there! — he pointed at Nagi.

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  Nagi jumped up indignantly, brushing off his jacket.

  — Old man? I’m only sixteen!

  He didn’t get to finish — the snowball, thrown by the child’s hand, struck him in the chest with unexpected force. Nagi staggered, then fired back. The boy didn’t dodge in time and toppled backward into the snow from the impact.

  — Attack, my subordinate! — Yuto commanded, building an entire snow barricade. — Let’s bury him!

  (Damn it, that’s two against one! Fine, idiots — bring it on!)

  Nagi crouched, preparing to charge.

  (I’ll ram straight through them!)

  Yuto watched him carefully.

  (Is he seriously about to bulldoze us? No… that’s not the ending I need in this story!) — his detective instincts suddenly screamed in alarm.

  At the last second, Yuto dove aside, dragging the boy with him. They both vanished into a snowbank as Nagi shot past, nearly slamming into a tree.

  — That was close! — Yuto shouted, emerging from the snow.

  Nagi spun around for another attack. Yuto took aim, trying to predict his trajectory.

  (How do I lure him into a trap?..)

  But Nagi was faster. With a powerful lunge, he knocked both of them down. In the heat of the struggle, Nagi pinned the boy to the ground.

  — Let me get up, mister… — the child muttered, his voice strangely deep for an eight-year-old.

  Nagi looked into the boy’s face — and froze. His breath caught.

  From beneath the hood, eyes stared back at him… completely white, without pupils, glowing with a cold digital light.

  — YUTO! IT’S HIM!!! — Nagi screamed.

  He pressed the child down with a death grip. Reacting instantly, Yuto pulled out a folding knife. The blade flashed in the winter sun and plunged into the boy’s shoulder.

  — Who’s “him”?! Nagi, what are you talking about?!

  At that very second, a tall dark figure wove itself into existence behind Yuto. The air turned icy and heavy as lead.

  — I’m right here, — came a calm voice that made their ears ring.

  They turned at once. The Creator stood before them in his true form. His white eyes pulsed in rhythm with some invisible code.

  — It seems, Forty-Three, you really are a system bug… You retain memory. I like you… such a toy deserves special study!

  With a shout, Yuto lunged at the entity, knife raised. But the Creator lazily flicked a finger through the air.

  — RESET. ISOLATION.

  The world around Nagi shattered into millions of white sparks.

  Nagi opened his eyes.

  There was no snow. No Yuto. No city.

  He was sitting on a hard chair in the middle of an endless white room. He tried to stand — and couldn’t. His arms and legs were shackled to the seat with heavy steel restraints.

  (What happened?! Where am I?!)

  He struggled desperately, metal biting painfully into his wrists.

  — Hey! Is anyone here?! Yuto! Help! I’m stuck! — he shouted until his voice broke into a rasp.

  But no answer came.

  In that blinding white emptiness, there wasn’t even an echo.

  Only silence.

  And the terrifying realization that this time, the Reset hadn’t gone according to plan.