I can see you behind the screen.

“You’ve surely had fun. I can sense it from your expression,” said the man. Unlike the prior cheeky tone, he sounded much sedater. Looking up, Jason saw the dim pupils behind the glasses, with barely any light of hope burning within.“Who are you?” asked Jason.“I am Setsuki Tasogare, the shattered third observer,” answered the man. “My broken pieces ascended on the day I was gone. So long I’ve been watching you and others. I was the voice that led you here, also the placer of the photo in Miri’s room. I had to use another tone to hide myself from the usurper.”Jason stepped closer. Snapping his finger, the singular ornaments across his clothing vanished. He was now in his usual black windbreaker again.“I didn’t expect to see you here,” remarked Jason. “Everyone’s saying you’re dead.”“There’s no need to feel surprised. I did cross the red line and received my punishment—eternally forsaken in this blank space,” returned Setsuki, smiling bitterly. “I am about to disclose a cruel secret to you, a secret that exceeds your limit of comprehension. I’ve discovered the truth of the world, the truth out of every truth.”“Huh...”“We’re very close to The Fourth Dimension, yet the one last barrier sealed us away from every possibility of physically reaching there. It’s right above you. Why won’t you check it out with your own eyes?”In spite of growing skepticism, Jason obeyed Setsuki’s command. He noticed some huge blocks levitating midair, extending in the horizon, and seemingly arranged under an orderly standard. Then, he found those blocks actually legible and readable, and he spelled them out.“Calibri, brackets, Segoe UI, size 4, a lot of different letter ‘A’, bold, italic, underscore...”“The one beyond our world cannot be more familiar with those icons, Jason Parstenach. You’re living in a world architected by someone else’s own hand,” explained Setsuki. “In fact, all of us are.”Jason maintained his stare into the sky. No one was able to observe the current reaction on his complexion.“I thought you’d be surprised at this fact. Everything is made up, including your friends, your enemies, your world, your past, and yourself, like what your companion said—everything’s been attached to the red strings of destiny, the mythical concept centering the serious preposition of every philosopher throughout the entire history, ending up run by CPU 0... this is but the truth of our world.”“Thus... everything I’ve experienced so far is but a plot... is it?” murmured Jason.“And this finally marks the first terminal of your journey,” said Setsuki. “You and your little companion seem to be keen with those sophisticated questions, but... doesn’t the same fixation apply to every human in this world?”Jason slowly turned back, wiping his nose, sniffing.“I feel sad when I come over this question,” stated Jason. “I don’t know exactly why... but... now I think it is for everyone coming into my life that died in the strenuous pursuit of answer. I feel like they don’t deserve it, to end like this.”“Don’t deserve it?”“If it was made possible that the fate blessed everyone, in my imagination, they should move into a large and bright mansion. In most of times they are busy with their own things and sometimes get into a little friction. Under some occasions, they throw a party, enjoying a great meal made by Sakura or Kalpas, lighting up fireworks, watching them flying and blooming in a night of stars, or sitting around a stove or on a carpet, sharing everyday routine, laughing.”Setsuki fell silent like Jason did. He meaningfully cast his eyes away, considering whether to ask him the final question carefully, and he did in the last.“Despite that everything can be fake in the end?”“If I don’t deserve the true reality, I’d rather live forever in a fake world,” answered Jason. “My teammates, my friends... they did bring me authentic happiness. I love the world I live in.”“Really?” remarked Setsuki, shocked at the answer. “This world has taken away your friends, and this world has taken away your motherland, and this world has left you alone with a path of misery. Why are you still going to love it?”Jason seriously looked into Setsuki’s eyes.“For every moment I live in this world, the world calls for me and I call back to the world. It won’t take you a single second of pondering to notice the irregularity of it—it’s filled up with tons of things that revolt you, go against you, but also something that you cherish for, and you want to protect. I won’t falter regardless what this world actually is, even if it was but a dream.”“Well?”“My goal is simple. I don’t wish to see anyone to meaninglessly die anymore. I failed to protect my friends, and I committed irreversible errors. However, I can prevent the same mistake from happening again, to save the billions far in the universes and dimensions. Regardless they’re human or monsters or what, I shall help them, weed away the catastrophes that long to whether take away their lives or the lives of their families. Even that means to expose my own life to danger. That’s the reason why I still exist in this world! That’s what I’ve been living up for!”The silence of Setsuki retained. The edge of his lip began twitching.“Of course... that’s exactly the reason why you are here,” said Setsuki. “The creator needs a character of absolute power and morality to carry what he wants to express.”“The creator?” murmured Jason.“The creator of our world, the one who writes our story,” answered Setsuki. “He has in fact talked to you through words— Far away in The Fourth Dimension, your creator is likely a normal person. He wants you to know something that happened in reality. The reality is not peaceful.”Setsuki took out a laser pointer. He pressed the button, and a few numbers appeared right beside him.“Do you know? There’s also human in reality, and they never cease the tragedies that are ironically born in their own cradles. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, the frauds in northern Myanmar, the drug lords in Mexico... you may not understand what kind of meaning do these nouns contain, but someone will do.”“Then, what can I do?”“Your creator doesn’t have any miraculous power as you do, but he can at least affect something with his creation... Do you know how many people die to heart diseases every year? Let me tell you, over 6 millions. On an average of every second, a person dies of heart attack. In spite of it, human still cannot attach enough importance to it. Thus, your creator wants you to make a game. Don’t worry, he has set up the main structure for you. You only need to test it out and say something to the people above you. That way, you will affect the reality with your voice.”A computer appeared right beside Setsuki.“Like the computer in Miri’s room, this computer holds special connections with The Fourth Dimension,” explained Setsuki. “Read these words out.”Jason stopped before the computer for quite a while. In the meantime, he recalled those entities again. Those pathetic creatures were no real beings. They were but an artistic interpretation to the aftermath of people’s death, a clumsy portrait to at least tip something off. He held up the microphone and began speaking something.After a while, Jason got up from the computer, and then, the computer disappeared, and Setsuki handed over a floppy disk to him.“Take this with you, and upload it through Miri’s computer. Your interface with the reality shall end then. The creator will appreciate your effort,” said Setsuki. “However, there’s one last thing I need to beg you.”“I am all ears,” returned Jason.“In the world I originally lived, I didn’t get to see my child. My wife was gone, and so, my child died in the womb. However, I saw a different probability in the worlds below me. There, I saw my daughter. My dead wish has been reborn since then, and I swore to myself that I have to make her life happy, at any cost,” said Setsuki.“So you interfered with the layer below and got yourself crushed?”“Yes, because the things happened there were too... heartbroken. The I, in the layer below, had a daughter, and a son. The daughter died to a car crash, and the son was fallen in trauma, to a point that my son didn’t even want to be a boy anymore.”Setsuki began to choke up in sorrow.“...I am sorry to hear that. Besides, it’s really shocking to hear someone taking a surgery for PTSD,” returned Jason.“I could have stood by all the time, but I can never withstand the suffering my child had. I brought enlightenment to the other me, yet, something has gone loose.”“What happened?”“The other I created a large virtual reality headset attached to a huge terminal called The Duskbreaker, in the Sunrise Foundation.”“No way, isn’t the Sunrise Foundation a producer of amenities?”“That was another foundation that shared the same name in the original world. The one in the layer below is much different. The other I committed a huge mistake. He attempted to cure his child with the headset, yet it ended up causing his child being trapped within the terminal. I’ve witnessed everything, including his foolishness, but I can’t do anything with that now.”“Okay... so that is a virtual layer.”“You’re the only one who can save my daughter apart from Miri, Jason Parstenach. Your power is too remarkable to be neglected, and I can affirm, the Duskbreaker is able to configure your power into something far less radical.”“Really?”“It can’t be wrong, according to years of my observation,” replied Setsuki. “You and Miri are my last hope. I’ve had no prospect to this world since a long time ago. To me, my daughter is the whole world. Perhaps, any moment you leave this zone, I will be completely gone. However, if my daughter can be saved, no cost is too great.”A fissure to the original layer was opened behind Jason.“Very well...” said Jason. “I’ve fully comprehended your mission, Setsuki Tasogare. I’ll leave no stone unturned.”He turned around. Through the fissure, he saw the red sun rising up from the horizon. A ruin was revealed. Under the irradiation of the sun, another crumbled world was shown. He recalled his homeland. The pain, the struggles, the poignant memories were forged into the scene. However, in the meantime, that was also where hope was rising up. Among the dust and ash, a new campaign awaited him steadily, and his day was still young.“Hmm...?”Timey was evoked by some sort of vibration within her body. She was in Yoko’s bed, and a faint orange ray of sunshine cast down through the gap of the white curtain. Earlier in the night, she was suddenly invaded by a wave of tiredness investigating the mysterious photo. Thus, Yoko agreed to let Timey sleep with her because Miri’s bed was too small to fit two people at the same time. Moreover, Yoko looked delightful with this agreement. She noticed that Yoko had been casting occasional glances upon her from time to time during the entire process.She attempted to move, yet she was wrapped by Yoko’s arm so tightly that she could only budge a bit.“Ay, Yoko?” said Timey, petting her forehead. “Wakey wakey.”“What—?” yawned Yoko. “God—what time is it... it’s just five in the morning! Just let me sleep for like... another hour... alright?”“I’ve perceived through my telegraphy that he’s back,” returned Timey. “I can feel excitement running through his nerves. I bet he just had some sort of fight earlier.”“Ah—that’s good to hear!” responded Yoko. “Hold on—”“Should I leave for a while?”“Yes, just wait for me at the door. I’ll be done in a minute.”Timey headed to the door, facing it until Yoko called her.“Alright, Timey! I’ll wake Miri up and then we’ll look for Jason together!” said Yoko.“Um, Yoko, I have a question a little bit awkward.”“What’s that?”“Are you... fond of me or something?”Yoko burst into chuckles.“Oh no... I just really like little kids or anything that looks small, but I’ve only got to find these in anime or TV program until you appear. To be frank, I’ve never seen a face cuter than yours—as delicate as a doll!”Timey had her cheeks sullenly puffed out, looking frustrated.“Fine, at least you didn’t tease my height,” spat Timey.Yoko and Timey both walked out of their rooms, knocking on the door of Miri’s room. After a while, Miri gathered with the duo, and they all headed outside. Walking out of the building, the trio embraced the flaming sunrise, painting the sky in heated orange.“Hmm, he should be staying on the top of that mound covered in scraps we’ve seen yesterday,” said Timey. “Oh, wait a second, I saw him standing there.”Facing the red sun, Jason idled among the rusty bars and scraps. The edges of his windbreaker bobbed in the gentle blow of the wind. The sunlight cast down upon him, going through the black fabric, blooming within his heart having swarmed by guilt.“Ay, human!” yelled Timey.“Ay, Herrscher!” returned Jason. “I was just enjoying the sunrise here alone. It does remind me of my homeland. I used to view it every morning.”“Did you find out the truth behind the voices?”“Yes, I did. Those voices are from the fourth dimension.”“Really, Jason? I thought you had never known about the fourth dimension!” gasped Miri.“Yes, I’ve come to realize that the world we’ve been living in is probably a story created by someone else. Also, those voices are the symbols of those who suffer in the fourth dimension, the reality. Something attempted to lure me with them, but I just straight up killed it,” answered Jason. “They shouldn’t be problem as for now.”“What—isn’t the fourth dimension a place of miracle?” retorted Yoko. “Miri told me that the people there can bring miracle.”“Well... the people in reality are actually also facing problems. War, poverty, hunger, discrimination, death... we can tackle them with hyper technologies or supernatural power, but people in reality don’t have that. At least, through the story we live in, we can demonstrate something to them.” Jason smiled. “Besides, I’ve also brought up some news for you.”“Me?” returned Yoko.“Both of you. In the lair of the voices, I received help from Setsuki Tasogare,” answered Jason.“Oh my... I... I thought he was dead!” yelled Miri.“First, he gave me a floppy disk and told me to upload it to the reality through your computer. Second, I’ve changed my mind about your rescue mission,” explained Jason.“You... really?” stammered Yoko.“Setsuki told me a lot about the dimensions and layers, as well as his daughter. To sum up what he said—we always need to look forward. I did make some mistakes, and I won’t forgive myself for committing them, but it’ll only be a bigger mistake if I cannot save another life when it is possible. So... after careful consideration, I will assist Miri in whatever she’s going to do next.”Yoko bloomed in happiness.“MY GOD!” exclaimed Yoko, breaking out in delight and dragging Miri’s arm back and forth. “MIRI! Did you hear that? HE AGREED! You won’t have to risk your life anymore!”“Woah! Be easy! Well... I guess that’s an unexpected twist,” muttered Miri. “Jason, thank you. As far as I am concerned, I owe you a life from now on. Now, we can begin our work on Saturday. This will be an extremely tough, yet great task.”“Eh, what day is today? Friday?” questioned Jason.“What?” returned Yoko.“Miri said she’ll get started on Saturday,” responded Jason.“Oh no, Saturday Tasogare, that is.”Jason was utterly stunned, so did Timey.“Is that a name??” exclaimed Jason, along with Timey, and then he pursued, “Pardon me, but I’ve really never heard of anyone named SATURDAY in my life.”“So she’s Setsuki’s daughter?” added Timey.“Yeah, Setsuki Tasogare has a daughter called Saturday Tasogare,” explained Miri. “Frankly speaking, I don’t get why she picked that name, but we need to respect someone else’s freedom.”“Fine, she won,” returned Timey, clapping upon her face in a defeated expression. “Ahh! I am going to turn on lazy mode. I am going to put myself in somewhere comfortable, bye!”Timey disappeared in a snap, returning to the core within Jason.“Let’s move on, girls.”Following Miri and Yoko, Jason stepped into Miri’s room again. He first inserted the floppy disk into the master device. The computer was automatically turned on, revealing a flowing page of the game.“Miri, are you sure we can upload a game to the reality above us?” questioned Jason.“Yes, in fact, we’ve known the presence of the reality a long time ago, because we found the terrains around us kept on changing, as if someone has been updating it again and again. And it turns out that we’re indeed correct. Our creators left this special computer here to help establish a connection with the worldwide web in the reality,” explained Miri.“Huh, I’ve never heard of such technology. That’ll explain why the voice was within this computer,” returned Jason. “Anyway, how long will it take?”“Just a few seconds... there, done. App-d025l3kzowzl, that’s its label. If a person in reality puts it as the suffix or searches up the term AED on a specific AI-coding platform, they’ll be able to access your game.”“Cool. What about the rescue mission?”“This one is much more complex. Basically, here, I have a system named TVO on my screen. It stands for The Vivid/Stasis Operation. It’s showcased as a rhythm game, but through playing it, the corresponding data will be transmitted to the layer below us, the layer where Saturday is trapped within. With enough data accumulated, Saturday will be able to reach somewhere she can’t reach without our help.”“Hmm, I see. She probably needs tons of data, and thus, you need to upload the entire game to the reality as well.”“Yes, I uploaded it to Steam, free for everyone. However, the players in the reality can only help Saturday progress a certain period of the game. The rest is unknown. Thus, if I want to guarantee Saturday’s safety, I will have to infuse myself with the game’s data, and then transmit myself into the Duskbreaker, in order to get administrator privileges. I will then shut down the firewall so I’ll able to synchronize you with the layer where Saturday is trapped. The rest is up to you.”“So, to protect Saturday from any potential danger, that will be my task.”“Yes, as long as you don’t mess up the main storyline, otherwise, you will trigger the Duskbreaker’s detection system. Remember, only engage when the danger truly harms her life. About other functions you may use, I will explain in details once we get into the Duskbreaker.”“Wait, Miri! You said you won’t have to risk your life!” exclaimed Yoko, cutting in the conversation.“Sorry, Yoko, I lied. The Duskbreaker simulates the layer within. It will naturally repel an outsider like Jason if I don’t intervene in its system beforehand,” responded Miri. “I feel so sorry. But, there’s no point of return for us. We have everything prepared.”“I’ll try my best to protect her life as well, Yoko,” said Jason. “I’m ought to protect those who approach me for help. I won’t let my power go wasted. It is why I started my entire journey at the very beginning.”“God, I don’t know how I can express my gratitude to you.”Yoko pretended to be okay before Jason, and then, she wrapped Miri tightly and began sobbing.“Oh! Miri... my goat Miri! For decades I’ve only desired to live a normal life with you... I know it is just me throwing temper because I cannot stand a life without you—I will miss you for every day you are away, and please miss me for every day away from me too! Okay? Okay?”Miri turned around to hug her as well.“I will, I will,” she answered. “Besties forever.”“Besties forever!”Yoko hurried away from the room, and her weeps could still be heard miles away. Deep in Miri’s heart, she knew that Yoko just couldn’t stand Miri disappearing right before her, and in fact, so did herself.“Alright then... I’ve summarized everything you may need to know in my notebook. Here, you can refer to it while I’m setting up the transmission channel,” said Miri, handing over her notebook to Jason.Jason quickly scanned its content.“Well, well, well, this is getting interesting,” said Jason. “The Schrodinger Cycle? 8266 rounds of iteration? The Liberator? The Worldkeeper? And the Storyteller? The 1028 adaptive AI? The ED/EP system? And... the Ultimation? I feel my adventurous spirit boiling up.”“Are you ready?”“There’s no reason to reject. Well, nothing shall stop me now.”