After the school festival, the New Year was approaching. Haruto, Miyako, Takumi, Mizuki, Tsubasa, Itsuki, and Ayame were all sitting on the school rooftop, enjoying the crisp winter air.
"Let's go somewhere," Takumi suggested, brushing snowflakes from his golden hair. "Christmas is coming, so let's go and enjoy ourselves."
"Yaa, it's gonna be fun. Let's go!" Haruto agreed with a grin.
Soon Christmas Day arrived. They all met up—and this time, Sayo joined them. They exchanged gifts with cheerful smiles, laughter echoing in the winter air. Afterward, they headed to karaoke, where everyone took turns singing songs—some beautifully, others hilariously off-key, but all enjoying the moment.
When they finally stepped out, Takumi stretched. "It's time."
Sayo nodded. "Yaa, it's time for fireworks."
They made their way to a high vantage point. The view was perfect. As they prepared, Sayo said, "I'll be back in just a second. Wait here for me." She walked off quietly.
Not far away, a man appeared. He didn't look human—there was something strange, almost otherworldly, in his presence.
"It's time to complete your mission," he said coldly. "Tonight is the last night."
Sayo's eyes darkened. "…Okay."
She returned to the group, smiling as if nothing had happened.
"I'm going to buy something to eat and drink," Takumi announced.
Mizuki raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you eat at karaoke?"
Tsubasa smirked. "His stomach's a black hole."
Everyone laughed.
Takumi went shopping with Sayo and Mizuki. Haruto turned to Miyako. "I'll go find something to sit on."
"I'll come too," Miyako replied.
"Wait, I'm coming as well," Tsubasa added, and the three of them headed off.
That left only Itsuki and Ayame.
"Well, it's just us now," Ayame said softly. "School life is really fun, don't you think?"
Itsuki smiled gently. "Yes, it is."
The first fireworks lit up the sky.
"No way—they won't make it in time," Ayame murmured.
"Yaa, it's not good. I thought there was still time left…" Itsuki replied.
Ayame looked at him seriously. "Whatever. There's something I want to tell you… Ren… jiro…"
Itsuki froze, eyes widening. "What did you say?"
"Renjiro," she repeated.
"So… you remember everything," he said quietly.
"Yes. I know everything. I know my Price of a Heartbeat."
"…Aika," Renjiro whispered.
"Yes. It's me—Aika. My real name. And your real name is Renjiro."
They stared into each other's eyes as fireworks burst overhead. Then, without another word, they kissed beneath the shimmering lights.
"I remember everything… from the moment I was made," Renjiro said softly.
"I remembered after some time," Aika replied, "but I decided to go with the flow."
"I did the same," he admitted.
The others returned just then.
"Sorry we're late," Takumi said, glancing at the sky. "It's already started. I checked the time—they said it would start at eleven!"
Haruto and the rest caught up. "Well, there are still some fireworks left."
As more bursts lit the sky, Sayo handed out drinks. "Here—cheers."
After a while, Ayame turned to Renjiro. "Can we visit the shrine?"
"Yaa, sure… Aika."
Takumi smirked. "So you both remember now."
They didn't realize that Takumi, Mizuki, and Tsubasa had overheard.
Haruto frowned. "What's that mean? You're really them?"
Renjiro sighed. "There's no point hiding it. Yaa, I remember everything. And Aika does too."
Sayo asked, "What's going on here?"
Takumi shrugged. "Nothing—just a normal conversation."
But Renjiro's eyes narrowed, ready for a fight.
Takumi raised a hand. "I don't want to fight you. And I won't tell anyone—not even the bosses. But… don't say your real name in front of them for now."
"…Okay. But what do you want from me in return?" Renjiro asked.
"Nothing," Takumi said simply. "I just want to enjoy the life we have right now. And I know you're so powerful we wouldn't stand a chance against you."
Mizuki's eyes widened. "He's really that strong?"
"He's Code Zero One," Takumi explained. "You know about him, right?"
Tsubasa and Mizuki exchanged shocked looks. "So he's Code Zero One…"
Haruto frowned. "I know a little, but… explain it."
Takumi sighed. "We three—me, Mizuki, and Tsubasa—are Team Elite. We're enhanced experiment subjects. And one of the god-level experiment subjects is Renjiro… and Aika. We were assigned to keep an eye on him, but it was pointless from the start. He's beyond us."
He glanced at Sayo. "Don't tell anyone about this."
"…Alright," she said quietly.
Takumi called for a car, and a sleek black vehicle arrived. "Let's go to my place. We'll discuss this there."
They arrived at Takumi's house and went straight to the basement—a secure, reinforced room where no one could leave without his permission.
As they sat down, Tsubasa and Mizuki suddenly collapsed.
"What happened?!" Takumi shouted.
Sayo stepped forward. "So, you all have powers… That's why I was assigned to remove you. But a little poison can't kill people like you."
One by one, Haruto and Miyako also collapsed. Even Takumi, Renjiro, and Aika started to feel dizzy.
Two men entered. "Lady Sayo."
Sayo pointed at Renjiro. "This one's strong. Keep the girl—her name is Aika."
The men grabbed Aika. Renjiro tried to stop them, but collapsed before he could move. Takumi also lost consciousness. They took Aika and vanished.
Moments later, Earth came under attack from alien ships. Cities burned, countless lives were lost. Experimental subjects fought back, but it wasn't enough.
Inside the security command center, a desperate operator tried to contact Takumi. No response. "Check his house cameras!" she ordered.
Footage showed them all unconscious on the basement floor. Outside, chaos reigned—fires, destruction, death.
Eventually, Takumi, Mizuki, Renjiro, Haruto, and Miyako woke. Searching for Aika, they stepped outside and froze. The world was gone—only ruins remained. Flames licked the sky. Survivors were few.
Takumi's voice was heavy. "What… happened? Everything is over…"
A black car screeched to a stop beside them. "Get in—we're going to the laboratory now."
Takumi looked at Haruto and Miyako. "Come with us."
They climbed into the car. The engine roared to life.
The chapter 6 ended