Chapter 45 The Break Point

The moment the coffee spilled, everything snapped into place. It wasn’t just a trick of the mind. The memory surged through him like a flood breaking through a dam, rushing back in vivid detail. He had lived this before. He remembered.

Shachiku stood up so abruptly his chair screeched against the floor, his body moving before his mind could catch up. He barely noticed his coworker’s startled apology, barely heard the murmurs of those around him. His focus had narrowed to a singular point—Ichiban. He had to see her. Now. Without another word, without bothering to explain himself, he turned and started walking straight toward the exit.

Shachiku slowed to a stop, barely five steps from the door as a voice like nails on a chalkboard cut through the air, freezing him in place.

“Oi, oi, oi! Where the hell do you think you're going, Giseisha?”

Shachiku clenched his teeth as he turned to face the last thing he wanted to deal with—Tanaka Schacho, his supervisor, standing with arms crossed, flanked by his usual pack of sniveling corporate parasites. Behind him, his lackeys were already snickering, waiting for their turn to chime in with whatever pathetic remarks they could muster.

"You've got piles of work on your desk, and you're taking a break?" Tanaka sneered, "You think that’s setting a good example for the others? Get your ungrateful behind back on that office chair and finish your work! And you better be grateful for letting you off so easily."

Like clockwork, the yes-men joined in.

"Yeah, we’re busting our asses while you just walk off?" one cackled, nudging another.

"You should be working harder than any of us, salaryman," another added. 

"After all, that’s all you’re good for, right?"

For a brief moment, Shachiku simply stood there, silent. But inside, something had shifted.

These people—this whole office, this entire world of meaningless work and empty obligations—they were already dead. They just didn’t know it yet. In two weeks, they would all be nothing but dust, wiped away by the catastrophe looming just beyond their understanding. And Tanaka, with his delusions of power, his endless belittling, his smug, worthless existence, was standing here, wasting his time with this?

He wasn’t going to explain himself. He wasn’t going to argue. He wasn’t even going to waste a single word on these people.

Shachiku slowly turned his head toward Tanaka. The moment their eyes met—

He swung.

CRACK.

A thunderous impact echoed through the office as his fist collided with Tanaka’s jaw.

The man’s body twisted—no, launched. His feet left the ground as he went into a full somersault, flipping twice—no, three times through the air before crashing straight into a table. Office supplies went flying, papers scattered like confetti, and the entire floor fell silent.

The yes-men froze, their grins melting into pure horror as they watched their boss groan in pain, struggling to lift his head from the wreckage.

Shachiku turned to them. He didn’t say a word. Didn’t need to.

His gaze alone crushed them—pure, seething, undiluted pressure pressing down on their very souls. They collapsed onto the floor, scrambling backward like cockroaches, whimpering like children.

Shachiku exhaled slowly. Then, without another glance, he walked past them. Straight out the door.

He stormed out of the building without looking back, his hands gripping the wheel the second he got in his car. The city around him blurred as he weaved through traffic, pushing the speed limit, barely aware of the angry horns blaring in his wake. His only thought—Ichiban.

He still remembered her schedule. University. Morning lecture. If he hurried, he could catch her before she left for Helios-9. He didn’t know what he would say yet, but that didn’t matter. He’d figure it out when he saw her.

The tires screeched as he pulled into the university’s parking lot. Without bothering to lock the car, he rushed through the main gates.

And then—

"Whoa, whoa! Hold it right there, buddy! Where do you think you're going?"

A security guard stepped in front of him, blocking his path. His uniform bore a name tag: Kataomoi Tomoichi.

"You can’t just barge in here. University students and staff only. You got an ID? A reason to be here?"

Shachiku exhaled sharply, time slipping through his fingers. He didn’t have time for this. Ichiban was getting further away with every second.

"Get lost," he snapped, trying to step past the guard.

 "I don’t have time for this crap."

"Hey now, no need to be aggressive. I'm just doing my job. Listen, my name’s Kataomoi, I handle security here. Tell me who you're looking for, and I'll radio in. Maybe I can help. No need to get heated like that. Last thing I want is this getting ugly. Listen, I’m just doing my job. If you tell me who you’re looking for, I can check with the front office. Maybe I can help you out—without you making a scene."

Shachiku forced himself to take a breath. He wasn’t in the office anymore and he couldn’t just punch his way through every problem.

"Fine. I'm calm. I’m looking for Dr. Ichiban. Is she still here?"

Kataomoi considering him for a moment. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, a voice echoed from down the hall.

"Hey, big bro! What’s the problem? I can hear you all the way from the other side of campus!"

A younger man, probably a student, jogged over, his expression curious but cocky. He was lean, maybe early twenties, with a restless energy in his step. 

He sized up Shachiku with an amused smirk. 

"Dude, aren’t you a bit too old to be going back to school?"

Kataomoi shot him an irritated glance. 

"Shut up, Akarui. Don’t escalate this." 

Then, turning back to Shachiku, his tone softened slightly. 

"Look, I was just about to tell you—Ichiban already left."

"She left?"

"You just missed her. She left not long ago—I think I heard her saying she was heading back to Helios-9."

"Yeah," Akarui added, "She practically ran out of here. Looked worried. Lecture was about to start when she got some call and just bolted."

Kataomoi frowned at that.

 "Sir, why are you looking for Professor Ichiban?"

For the briefest moment, Shachiku hesitated. He couldn’t tell them the truth. Not yet. Not when he barely understood it himself. If he sounded too desperate, too suspicious, crazy even, it could slow him down.

"She forgot to sign a document this morning. If I don’t get it done today, my boss will kill me. So now I gotta go to Helios myself. That’s all. Thanks for telling me."

Kataomoi still looked uncertain, but Akarui just gave a short laugh. 

"Pfft, man, your life sucks. Alright, alright, good luck with that."

Shachiku turned, already heading for his car, but Akarui wasn’t done yet.

"Oi, oi, hold up a sec," the younger man called out, jogging after him. 

"You’re going to Helios-9, right? Mind giving me a lift?"

Shachiku barely slowed his pace.

 "What for?"

 "What do you think? I wanna see what’s going on. Professor Ichiban’s not the type to just bail mid-lecture. Something’s off, and my gut’s telling me it’s something big."

 He caught up and nudged Shachiku’s shoulder with his fist. 

"Come on, man, don’t look so grumpy. You already look like you’re carrying the whole damn world on your back. By the way, I'm Akarui Tomoichi, nice to meet you."

Shachiku stopped.

Akarui’s words hit harder than they should have. Carrying the whole world, huh? If only he knew.

He turned his head slightly, staring at the young man beside him. 

"Nice to meet you, Akarui. Shachiku Giseisha, just an ordinary salaryman."

He remembered him. Clearly now.

Not from now—but from two weeks from now.

He remembered the way Akarui fought Conor, the way he stood his ground when everything collapsed. He remembered his optimism, how he refused to give up even when it was hopeless. He remembered his death—blood-streaked, coughing, a knife in his back.

He had died. Right there in front of him.

Shachiku exhaled slowly, forcing the memory back into the depths of his mind. He wasn’t ready for this. Not yet.

Akarui, still waiting, raised an eyebrow.

 "Yo? You good?"

Shachiku looked away, staring at the parking lot instead. His first instinct was to refuse. If Akarui went with him, it would only get more complicated. The more people got involved, the harder it would be to keep things under control.

But then again…

Akarui had fought for the world before. What if, this time, Akarui live?

"...Tch." He clicked his tongue in annoyance, there was no time to wate.

"Fine. But don’t slow me down."

Akarui grinned. 

"Ha, I’ll be the one carrying you, old man. Oh boy! If only Shujinko knew I'm getting first seats to see what happened in Helios and talk to Ichiban first, he would flip his shit!"

Shachiku didn’t respond. He just unlocked the car and got in.

Akarui hopped into the passenger seat, still smirking, completely unaware that Shachiku was already trying to figure out how to keep him alive.