Chapter 3
The morning sun rose like it always did—but to Renjiro Kurogawa, it meant nothing anymore. Not after last night.
He woke up, lying in bed fully clothed, dried blood staining his uniform. His fingers still gripped the fabric tightly, as if he'd been clutching something in his dreams. Maybe a memory. Maybe her.
The world outside buzzed with chaos.
Two billion people had died.
One blink. One breath. One bell.
And the world would never forget it.
As he stepped out of his house, people whispered around him.
"Did you hear? That entire country… vanished." "In a single second, all of them… gone!" "Who could do that? A god? A monster?"
Renjiro kept his head low.
He already knew the answer.
It was him.
He didn't kill them because he wanted to. He killed them because he thought he was protecting someone. His favorite person. The one who once made him feel human.
Aika Yukishiro.
School hadn't changed. The halls still echoed with laughter and chatter. Life moved on like nothing happened. But inside Renjiro, something had shattered forever.
He walked into class, sat at his bench silently.
Across the room, Aika, Haruto, and Miyako were together—laughing again. Smiling like they always had. Just like before their memories were erased.
Even that has been stolen from me, Renjiro thought. Even their memories… are not mine anymore.
He looked out the window.
Clouds floated gently across the sky.
They move on, even after storms. Why can't I?
Then a thought bloomed in his mind. Quiet. Cold.
If I destroy the organization… if I eliminate Father, and the others… then no more orders. No more killing. No more pain.
He clenched his fists.
Code 07. Code 06. 05. 04. 03. 02. They're all in the way.
That night, Renjiro stood atop a building. His white mask covered his face. His black coat fluttered in the wind.
The bell rang.
And in a blink, he vanished.
He arrived at the lab where all the Codes were gathered. Father sat at the end of the room, beside the investor who funded their creation.
"So," Shiori Akebono said, sipping wine, "you finally arrived, Code 01. Judging by your eyes, you're not here for a reunion."
The room went silent.
Renjiro's eyes locked with hers. Cold meeting colder.
The Codes readied themselves. 07, 06, 05… all prepared for war.
And then…
Renjiro drew his blade.
The battle erupted like thunder.
The lab burned. Screams echoed. Steel clashed. Blood splattered on machines meant to build monsters.
And one by one…
They fell.
Every last Code.
Slaughtered by the one they once called brother.
Only one remained.
The woman they called Father stood calmly, brushing dust off her suit.
"You know," she whispered, "they built me to be your end. I am Code 00. The origin. The executioner."
Renjiro's eyes glowed.
"Let's find out," he said, lifting his sword, "who dies today."
The battle was brutal.
Renjiro was powerful—but Code 00 was terrifying. Faster. Stronger. Sharper.
She stabbed him through the heart.
"You did well, boy," she whispered. "But this is the end."
As she pulled the blade out, a violet glow shimmered briefly along the wound.
"A custom poison," she said softly. "Designed just for you. You won't feel it now. But it'll bloom slowly. Three days. That's all you have."
Blood filled his lungs. Pain lit up his chest.
Then—
Slice.
A flash of silver. A smooth bell. Her head rolled.
Renjiro stood over her lifeless body, panting, victorious…
…Broken.
He had done it.
He destroyed them all.
He was finally…
Free.
Renjiro staggered home.
No strength left to wash, to eat, to think.
He collapsed onto the bed and blacked out.
Three days passed.
The poison worked slowly, eating away at his organs, choking his breath. He didn't know it yet—but his time was counting down.
When he awoke, everything was quiet. Too quiet.
He cleaned up, got dressed, and rushed to school.
But Aika wasn't there.
After class, anxiety clawed at his chest. He teleported to her home.
There, in front of her house, he saw her photo.
A funeral altar. Candles. Tears.
"What… happened?" Renjiro whispered.
Aika's mother turned to him, her eyes swollen.
"She had a heart attack… two nights ago. She's gone."
Renjiro's knees buckled.
Gone?
His heart… stopped.
No.
No.
He ran—he ran through streets, alleyways, tears streaming down his face.
Why?
Why did I kill two billion people? Why did I destroy everything… just to lose her anyway?
He collapsed in the alley where he first met Father. His breathing was heavy. Ragged.
Then it hit him.
A memory.
Father's words…
> "Why do you follow my orders so obediently?"
The truth hit him like a knife.
Aika's heart was bound to his.
If she died… after he killed Father…
That meant—
He killed her.
He killed the girl he loved.
Something inside him shattered completely.
"I can't do this anymore."
"I'm tired."
…Let's end this world."
Suddenly—
"Renjiro!"
Haruto's voice cut through the wind.
They found him—Haruto and Miyako. Their eyes were wide.
"We… we remember now!" Haruto said. "I don't know how, but our memories came back!"
Miyako was crying. "Did you hear? Aika's… Aika's gone!"
Renjiro turned to them.
Dead eyes.
Empty soul.
"It's my fault," he whispered. "I killed her."
They gasped.
His hair turned snow-white.
"Renjiro, stop—!"
But it was too late.
Bell.
Gone.
He stood in the sky, above the world.
The blood moon rose behind him.
People everywhere screamed. Kids cried. Sirens blared.
They all remembered the city he erased.
Now they knew…
They were next.
Renjiro raised his hand.
"I'll end this."
"This world is full of pain. Adults pretend they know everything, speak lies, judge others, and never see how much it hurts."
"No one is innocent."
He spread his arms.
"Let's end this."
He was about to release his final power when—
"Wow," a soft voice said. "You really did all that for me?"
He froze.
That voice.
He turned.
Aika.
Her soul, glowing softly, smiled at him.
"You made my life so expensive. I never thought I was worth more than two billion souls," she teased gently.
Renjiro dropped to his knees, tears flooding.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to—please don't leave me again…"
She walked up, hugged him gently.
"You didn't kill me. My time just… ended. But because of you, I got more time to smile. You gave me the best days of my life."
"Don't carry this pain anymore."
"Let's meet again. In a new world. With new names. As friends."
She began to fade, light scattering like cherry blossoms in the wind.
"Please… wait…"
But she was gone.
Renjiro closed his eyes.
His body floated in the sky, falling like a star.
The poison was complete now. It was over.
He saw her smile.
Her hand in his.
Their laughter.
Their moments.
And then— Darkness.
He crashed into the sea. Three great shadows approached. Sharks. His body was gone.
Haruto and Miyako stood where they last saw him.
Crying.
Then, two souls appeared before them.
Renjiro and Aika.
They waved.
"Goodbye," Aika whispered.
Renjiro smiled softly. "Thank you… for being my friends."
They turned and walked toward a great, warm light.
But before stepping in, Renjiro's soul stopped.
He appeared inside his old home.
His little sister lay asleep, curled up with a book they used to read together.
He knelt beside her, brushing hair from her forehead.
"Grow up strong," he whispered. "Smile a lot. Protect others. Live for both of us."
He kissed her forehead.
"Bye-bye, little one."
He vanished.
The End.