Chapter 24 Two Weeks Later

The loud explosion ripped through the air, shaking the ground and jolting Kataomoi from his despair. His training kicked in instantly, overriding the self-pity and emptiness that had consumed him moments before. He leapt to his feet, his eyes sharp and focused as he assessed the situation.

Without hesitation, he hit the emergency button on his console, triggering the automatic closure of the main gates. The heavy metal barriers slid shut with a loud clang, securing the campus perimeter. He grabbed the intercom, his voice calm but authoritative as it echoed through the campus speakers.

“Attention all students and staff. This is an emergency. Please remain calm and follow instructions. All students are to stay in their classrooms. Teachers, lock your doors and proceed with standard emergency protocols. Do not leave the buildings until further notice. Repeat, this is an emergency. Stay calm and follow instructions.”

He repeated the message twice. The campus, which had been buzzing with activity moments before, fell into a tense silence as everyone followed his orders.

He dialed the headmaster’s office, his mind racing through the protocols he had drilled countless times. The phone rang once, twice, before the headmaster’s voice came through, sharp and urgent.

“Kataomoi-kun, is everyone alright? Anyone hurt?”

“I’m not sure yet, sir. But I’ve initiated lockdown procedures. The gates are closed, and I’ve instructed everyone to stay indoors. Do we have any information on what’s happening?”

The headmaster’s tone was grim. 

“Not yet. I’m contacting local authorities now. Keep the campus secure and maintain order until we know more. Contact the rest of the guards and go on patrol, see is anyone need help.”

“Understood, sir,” Kataomoi said, ending the call. 

He took a deep breath, his mind already shifting to the next steps. He grabbed his radio and began coordinating with the other security personnel.

“Team, this is Kataomoi. Lockdown is in effect. Secure all entry points and monitor the cameras. Report any unusual activity immediately. We need to keep everyone safe until we know what we’re dealing with. I'm going on patrol, notify me if you see trouble on cameras.”

"Roger that!" a voice came through. 

The intercom crackled to life again as Kataomoi issued another update before going on patrol. 

“This is security. The situation is being assessed. The explosion had come from outside the campus, but we are taking no chances. Please remain indoors and stay calm. Further instructions will follow. Thank you for your cooperation.”

 After ensuring the campus was secure and helping a few shaken students to the nurse’s office to treat their minor bruises, Kataomoi returned to his post. His mind was still focused on maintaining order, but the weight of the situation was beginning to settle in. The explosion had been massive, and the uncertainty of what was happening outside gnawed at him.

As he approached the main gates, he heard shouting.

  “Hey! Open the gates already! What’s the big idea?!” 

 Makiko was banging on the metal bars, her face flushed with frustration. Shujinko was clinging to her shoulder, trying to calm her down.

  “Makiko, please, let’s just wait. They’ll open the gates.”

“Hey, bro, hurry up! We ain’t got all day!” Akarui added, leaning against the gate with his usual carefree grin, though his eyes betrayed a hint of unease.

Kataomoi quickly unlocked the gates and ushered them inside.

  “You three! You were in town? What the hell happened? What’s with these explosions?”

“Mountain Kuro, big bro. Helios-9 exploded. The whole place is a mess—military everywhere, people panicking, chaos all over. But right after the explosion, we saw a helicopter leaving. Probably evacuated personnel or something.”

Kataomoi froze. The words Helios-9 exploded echoed in his mind, drowning out everything else. His radio slipped from his hands, clattering to the ground, but he didn’t notice. His face went pale, his breath catching in his throat. The world around him seemed to fade away, replaced by a deafening, white ringing in his ears.

"Helios-9. Professor Ichiban."

His mind raced, images of her rushing to her car, her urgent phone call, her cold dismissal of him earlier that day flashing through his thoughts. She had been heading to Helios-9. She had been there when it exploded.

"No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening. Not her. Not like this."

The voices of Akarui, Makiko, and Shujinko blurred into an indistinct hum, their words meaningless against the storm of panic and despair raging inside him.

“Hey, bro? Big Bro! Hey! You, okay?” Akarui’s voice broke through the haze, his tone laced with concern. He stepped closer, waving a hand in front of Kataomoi’s face. 

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

The sharp ring of the phone snapped Kataomoi out of his spiraling thoughts. He grabbed it quickly, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

“Security post, Kataomoi speaking.”

The headmaster’s voice came through, calm but urgent.

  “Kataomoi-kun, I’ve just received word from the authorities. There’s been an incident at Helios-9. I’ll be making an announcement shortly, but the short version is this: we’re closing the university. All students are to leave immediately until further notice. I’ll inform you of any further actions later.”

Kataomoi’s grip tightened on the phone. 

“Understood, sir. I’ll ensure the campus is cleared safely.”

“Good. Keep me updated if anything changes,” the headmaster said before ending the call.

Kataomoi set the phone down and took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.

"You three, go home, now!" 

 He grabbed the intercom and began broadcasting the headmaster’s announcement, his voice calm and authoritative.

“Attention all students and staff. This is an important announcement. Due to the ongoing situation, all university activities are suspended effective immediately. All students are to leave the campus in an orderly manner and return home until further notice. Please remain calm and follow the instructions of staff and security personnel. Thank you for your cooperation.”

He repeated the message twice, his tone steady despite the growing unease in his chest. The campus, which had been tense but quiet, erupted into a flurry of activity as students and staff began gathering their belongings and heading for the exits.

As the gates closed behind the last of the students, Kataomoi took a deep breath. The university was quiet now, but the storm was far from over.

Two weeks had passed since the explosion at Helios-9, and the world had changed in ways no one could have predicted. 

Shujinko sat in his living room, staring at the TV screen as the rain poured relentlessly outside. The phone rang, startling him out of his thoughts. He picked it up, and Akarui’s voice exploded through the speaker.

“Did you see the news?! The fucking news, man! The world is ending! The government’s announcing something about the planet’s core crystallizing and all this crap! Eel Schmuck’s spitting some garbage about having a few solutions on saving the world and shit! Some cure nonsense and all! He’s asking people to keep calm! I bet you this has to be related to Helios-9. It has to be!”

Shujinko slammed his fist on the table, his frustration boiling over.

  “Yeah! Yeah, I heard the news. Things are insane right now, and I think you’re right—there’s definitely something going on. I tried to sneak out a few times to get closer to Helios-9, but the military’s everywhere. It’s impossible to get near the place. Maybe you got something from your dad? He works in military, you have to know something.”

Akarui’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. 

“My dad hasn’t come home since yesterday. I tried calling him, but no answer. He’s probably busy with whatever’s going on. Also, have you seen outside? It’s been pouring rain since yesterday. But yeah, I got something. He didn’t tell me directly, but I overheard a few phone conversations and took a peek at some documents when he wasn’t looking. I’ve got some info, but let’s not go over it on the phone. I think we better meet and talk.”