Fragments of Life

Asahi’s laughter didn’t stop.

It didn’t fade. It spiraled. Deep, unhinged, like a violin string pulled too right – until it snapped into something that wasn’t amusement anymore. It was release. Catharsis. Madness

He clutched his forehead with one hand, doubling over. Each breath ragged between fits of laughter that echoed like mockery through the hollow sanctuary. The light overhead flickered in sync. The sanctuary itself made a low rumble.

Haruto didn’t move.

Yume’s hand hovered near her belt.

Ren simply stared, silent.

When Asahi finally straightened, wiping a tear from his eye, the smile on his face had curdled.

“You knew, didn’t you?” he said at last. “You suspected. So tell me, Haruto… why didn’t you just kill me the second your little theory came true?”

Haruto’s eyes narrowed.

“Because I didn’t have everything yet,” he said flatly.

Asahi’s grin widened, as if he was pleased with Haruto’s answer.

“Exactly. You didn’t yet. Bet it all clicked right after our meeting with Emi and Jiro, didn’t it?”

“And the photo,” Haruto said.

Asahi’s smile froze mid-way.

Haruto took a step forward, boots crunching against scattered debris on the sanctuary floor.

“You shouldn’t have kept it. Aiko’s photo. Folded and hidden in your back pocket. You thought no one saw. But I did.”

Asahi opened his mouth before shutting it again. His fingers twitched at his side.

“I told you before,” Haruto continued, “this world… this timeline… it’s stitched together with half-truths and missing faces. But the moment I saw her face in your things, I knew.”

Yume looked between them in uncertainty.

Silence. Ren stirred.

Then, quietly, Asahi spoke again.

“Fine. So let’s say you did piece it together. But you still let me lead you here. Why?”

Haruto’s answer was immediate.

“Because I needed you alive.”

A pause. Asahi blinked.

“The rogues that had attacked you,” Haruto went on, “they were my people. Though their meeting with you was unfortunate, but quite insightful. I told them to strike at the heart – but not yet. Not until you led us here.”

Asahi frowned. “So the ‘safe haven’ you kept talking about…”

“Was just a lie,” Haruto said. “A thread to pull you forward. And I hoped – gambled, really – that Yukawa would be waiting. That he’d finish the job once we got close enough.”

He exhaled.

“But then something unexpected happened.”

Asahi said nothing, but his jaw clenched.

“You died,” Haruto said. “Too early. And not by my hand.”

Yume’s breath hitched.

“Yukawa wasn’t supposed to kill you,” Haruto said. “He was supposed to imprison us, while you’d finally awaken, and we’d be brought here. But that’s when I realized…”

He trailed off.

Then looked up with a sharp gaze.

“That Yukawa’s not with the Order anymore. Or at least, not on your side. If he killed you… it means he’s trying to claim the Veil’s power for himself.”

A silence fell over them.

Then Asahi stepped forward, until the space between them closed to mere feet.

“And yet,” he said softly, “here I stand.”

Haruto’s lips curled into the faintest grimace.

“Because Ren brough you back.”

At the boy’s name, Asahi’s eyes flicked sideways. Ren remained still.

Yume stepped closer to Ren instinctively.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it? You kept thinking you were the one manipulating us… but it was the other way around. You were the puppet. And I was the one pulling your strings.”

Asahi’s fingers curled into fists.

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I’m not,” Haruto said. “I’m warning you.”

Just then –

BOOM.

The ground shook.

Lights above flickered – then surged into red emergency glow. A high-pitched alarm began whining in the distance, followed by the unmistakable clang of metal being breached.

Asahi turned.

Yume ran to the nearest terminal, fingers flying across it.

“Something’s coming through the outer gate.”

More explosions now – closer.

A voice crackled through the speakers, distorted but familiar.

“Vanguard here. Haruto, we’re in. The outer seals are broken. Where the hell are you?”

Haruto grabbed the comm.

“Basement of Sanctuary Zero. Get the others inside. Prepare for the finale.”

“Finale?” Asahi echoed.

Haruto didn’t look at him.

“You’ve failed, Asahi. We don’t have time to play your games anymore.”

Ren stood slowly, eyes drifting towards the nearest corridor where the walls had begun to shimmer, like oil on water.

“You made your move too early,” Haruto told Asahi, voice flat. “Now, the board’s collapsing.”

He turned his back on him.

“Finally, the time has arrived. Your demise is here– “

“ – And there won’t be a Painter to bring you back.”