Deeper In

While walking down the tunnel, the bad smell kept getting worse.

Eugh! Do they even maintain this?

When I wasn't looking where I was going, I tripped over a cable.

"Agh! Who-"

The cable seemed to lead toward a door.

Hmm, maybe this could lead me toward the container?

As I thought more about it, I opened the door. There was a lot of trash and a stairway that led further down. I slowly started walking down the stairs.

After getting to the bottom, I was left shocked. The container of Insergen was in a large room that was probably 50 meters high, with the container being the same height.

"He wasn't kidding..."

Looking around, I found what I needed.

"Can of sealed argon..."

For some reason, when you mix Insergen with argon they destroy themselves and make a huge explosion. Because of that, you can't bring spray cans to transportation points.

I grabbed the can and looked for a hole in the container.

"Um... Ah! Here it is!"

The hole was in the shape of the can.

"Can I... No... This'll be interesting..."

I tried to look for a timer option for deactivation on the small display, but it seemed like it didn't have one.

"I guess that I'll have to rely on luck..."

Inserting the can, I started running as fast as I could.

Hurry dammit!!!

When I got back to the top of the stairs, I heard an explosion. It shook the ground, and almost blasted me into the wall. 2 minutes later, the explosion stopped, and I got up.

"Hah... I almost died twice today... Haha..."

I felt wobbly and lightheaded when I walked back towards the entrance.

"...maybe I'm exhausted..."

Before I could collapse, my handphone rang. Shaking my head a bit, I answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi Noboru! It's me, Ko!"

"Yeah, I know it's you."

"I called you because of Masato. It seems like he'll get a robotic leg."

"Thank god! I'm happy that he'll get to walk normally."

"Me too! Anyway, how did Masato even put Insergen inside a container?!"

"You don't know?!"

"No!"

"Hah... If you combine the chemical structure of the thing with Insergen, then it won't pass through the thing you used the chemical structure from."

"That's a little complicated to me!"

"See it as this: If you mix Insergen with any element, it won't pass through it."

"Oh! I get it now!"

"You can even specify the location of teleportation by using the same molecular structure of other Insergen."

"Woah! I didn't know that!"

"Of course, you didn't..."

"Ah, I totally forgot to ask you if you deactivated the container!"

"Really... Yeah, the thing exploded."

"Exploded?!"

"...how do you not know these things?"

"Ahh! It was too confusing!"

"Okay, okay. I'll be on my way now."

"Alright, see ya."

Hanging up, the tiredness creeps up again.

"Just... A few more minutes..."

I trip over a container, and land on the ground.

"Just..."

My consciousness faded.

...

-5 days until disaster-

When I awoke, I was in a hospital bed. 

Huh?! How am I here? Didn't I...

"Noboru! Rise and shine!"

Ko barged into the room. She looked bright as always.

"Good morning, Ko."

"Oh, you're already awake."

"Yeah. I slept well."

"That's good. Now, the only problem is how do we deactivate 9 containers in 5 days..."

"We'll have to make a plan. Anyway, how did I get here?"

"Oh, you teleported yourself through the transport point. You almost got frostbite on your hands..."

"Gah! That's scary to think of! I tripped over  a canister, so that's probably why!"

"Were you pushing yourself too much last night?"

"You could say that... I almost got blasted into a wall..."

I shivered at the thought.

"Well, I'm glad you're safe."

"Me too. How's Masato?"

"His operation went successfully, and he is ready to leave today."

"That's good. Thank god for the robots!"

After our silly chat, Ko went to see Masato.

"I have to check up on that idiot. Last time, he almost kicked another patient accidentally! They shouldn't let people use these robotic legs freely when they're new!"

"Okay. I'm glad you two grew close."

She immediately punched the desk near the door.

"We're not that close! He still annoys me!"

Her face was unreadable again. Was she flustered? Embarrassed? Angry? I didn't know.

"Hey, who's speaking ill of me?"

The white-haired guy in question walked into the room.

"Oh, were you listening in?"

"A little. I heard the last part only."

Ko looked like she didn't know how to react.

"Ko, do you really think that way?"

"I... I don't know what I see you as..."

"Ko, it's okay. Just-"

"I don't know if I see you as an acquaintance or a friend."

Masato's jaw dropped to the ground.

"W-Why?!"

"Just kidding!"

She gave him a cheeky grin.

"Of course, I see you as a friend!"

He still looked a bit down but smiled anyway.

"Thank you."

I clear my throat.

"Okay, everyone, we need to discuss our plan for today."

"Right! Come on, Masato!"

"Coming..."

They both stood around my bed now.

"Alright, I left the folder home, so Ko, could you bring it for us?"

"Aye, captain!"

With that, she ran off.

"I know I asked her, but how is your leg Masato?"

"Fine, I guess. I'm still adjusting, but it isn't too hard."

"Good to know."

We spent the next 10 minutes mindlessly chatting before Ko returned with the folder.

"Great."

Opening it, the files once again pop up.

"Clue 2..."

I looked over the files.

"Here!"

" Thanks, Masato!"

Grabbing the file, I read the text out loud.

"Fly high, fly low, it follows you wherever you go."

"Why is he giving us a puzzle?!"

Masato gave an irritated sigh.

"Because he knows you're bad at them?"

Ko joked.

"I'm not! It's just that flying is my thing!"

"Sure..."

"Okay, can we please focus now?"

"We're sorry..."

They both said in unison.

"Hmm, I can't think of anything right now...

I look toward them, only for them to shrug their shoulders.

"This isn't getting us anywhere... Maybe we should try more clues?"

I grabbed the third clue.

"This one seems more easy..."

"Wait!"

Ko jumped up.

"Don't we have to solve clues by numbers?"

"Nobody said we had to do it by numbers."

"Oh! You're right!"

"The plan is simple, we solve the easy ones first, then return to the harder ones. Just like when you're doing a test in school."

"Sounds good to me."

Masato spoke up.

"Me too!"

Ko peeped in.

"Let's get to solving then."

I hand them a random stack of holographic documents.