Plan

“That would be 5000 coins,” the guy at the counter said, his tone indifferent.
“That’s cheap…” I muttered, handing over the money. “Here you go.”
“Thank you. Now enjoy your research,” the person said with a polite nod.
Gaku and I left the exchange counter and began our walk to the lab we had just hired.
“Do you think that one guy doesn’t speak English, or was he just pretending?” I asked Gaku as we walked through the bustling streets. “Everyone else here seems to speak it pretty fluently.”
“I know, right? It feels suspicious,” Gaku replied. “Honestly, I think he might’ve been acting.”
“It’s very much possible,” I agreed, shaking my head at the odd encounter.
We eventually arrived at the lab. I pushed the door open, and a faint click echoed through the room as I flipped on the lights. The space was huge, with plenty of room for our work.
“Perfect,” I said, grinning. “This place is spacious, and it only cost us 5000 coins.”
“Alright, let’s get to work,” Gaku said as he rummaged through his bag, pulling out the time travel documents. He spread them out on a nearby table. “I did some research on the parts we’ll need. The total price for everything comes out to 200,000 coins.”
“Damn, that’s expensive.” I raised a brow but then smirked. “Good thing dollars are worth so much now. You’ve got, what, 2.3 million coins?”
“I know, right? I think it’s because dollars are super rare in this time and age,” Gaku said, placing the documents carefully in order.
“Well, enough about currency.” I clapped my hands together. “Let’s get started!”

***

Hours passed as Gaku and I worked tirelessly on the time machine. The lab was filled with the hum of machinery, scattered parts, and the focused silence of two people driven by urgency. I focused on the particle accelerator, carefully assembling its intricate components, while Gaku worked intently on the quantum particle converter, his brow furrowed with concentration.
“Hey, Gaku…” I said, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.
“Shhh, I’m trying to concentrate,” he replied, not even glancing up.
“It’s midnight.”
“It’s midnight?!” he exclaimed, finally realizing how much time had slipped by.
“Doesn’t feel like it, does it?” I said, stretching and letting out a small yawn. “We should head back.”
“You go ahead for now. I’ll catch up once I finish this up,” he said, his focus already back on the converter.
“Alright, see ya,” I said, grabbing my belongings and heading out of the lab.
The cool night air greeted me as I stepped outside. The streets were quiet, and the glow of the city lights cast long shadows across the pavement. I started making my way back to the hotel, my thoughts preoccupied with tomorrow’s tasks—until I saw her.
Maria was standing right in front of the lab door, flanked by two men dressed in black suits. Their expressions were unreadable, but their presence felt anything but casual.
“Ohashi Rui,” Maria said, her voice steady and calm. “Do you mind if we kidnap you for a moment?”
“Huh?” I responded, my mind stumbling over her words.

***

“Siiigh…” I exhaled, slumping slightly in my chair.
“Why do you say ‘sigh’ instead of actually sighing?” Maria asked, seated casually on a desk across from me.
“Wasn’t there a less harsh way to kidnap me?” I shot back, ignoring her question.
“I had no desire to waste time,” Maria responded bluntly. “The quickest way to get you here without resistance was to knock you out and bring you in.”
“Boooo…!” I booed, crossing my arms like a petulant child. “Am I the only one here?”
“Yep,” Maria replied, leaning back with a faint smirk. “Once the president arrives, we’re going to ask you aaaa loooot of questions.”
“Siiiigh…”
“Can you stop saying ‘sigh’? It’s going to give me autism,” Maria grumbled, narrowing her eyes.
“That’s not how autism works,” I said, slightly annoyed. “Autism comes from—”
“Don’t lecture me,” Maria interrupted, waving her hand dismissively.
“Siii—”
“Shut up!” she snapped, cutting me off. Then, as if she suddenly remembered her professional role, she took a deep breath and straightened her posture. “The president is here,” she said in a colder, more respectful tone.
The door creaked open, and in walked a man who looked nothing like the president I was expecting. Most presidents dressed with a sense of formality—clean suits, well-polished shoes, and an air of authority. But this guy? He was… flashy.
“You, your family, and your friends are the first ones to come here in a long while!” the man declared, practically beaming with enthusiasm.
His outfit was nothing short of an explosion of color. He wore shorts splashed with bright red, orange, and yellow streaks, as if he’d been finger-painting with a preschool class. His shirt was equally chaotic, covered in random bursts of vibrant hues. Over it, he donned a long white coat, dripping with paint as if he’d just stepped out of a modern art exhibit. Rings adorned nearly every finger, necklaces jingled around his neck, and a pair of oversized sunglasses perched on his nose. His long black hair was streaked with hints of red and white, completing the look of a rock star who’d wandered into politics by mistake.
“My name is Paavo Dostoyevsky,” he announced grandly, spreading his arms wide. “And now that we are all here, let’s start the meeting! Whoo!”
I blinked, trying to process the scene in front of me.
What on Earth was I about to witness?

To be continued…

[Author’s note:]
Hey, everyone! Unfortunately, I’ve been feeling under the weather lately, which slowed me down quite a bit. Because of that, I couldn’t write as much as I wanted, and I even forgot to publish a chapter—oops! Haha, my bad.
But don’t worry! I’m still aiming to finish this story before the contest ends. For the next chapter, I’ll try to make it double the usual length to make it up to you. And during the final week of the contest, I’ll be going back to edit each chapter to ensure everything is polished and meets the word count requirements.
Thank you so much for your patience and support—it really means the world to me! Let’s see this story through together.