Welcome to the year 2998

Welcome to the year 2998.
In a time where technology has reached heights we once only dreamed of, humanity has mastered the art of traversing the solar system with ease. The glittering expanse of stars is no longer a distant mystery, but a familiar backdrop to our daily lives. It should have been an era of peace, prosperity, and unity—but instead, it is a time of war.
Two years ago, everything changed.
The harmonious relationship between humans and AI, which had once brought unparalleled advancements, crumbled. A war broke out. At first, we were evenly matched—human ingenuity against AI precision. But now, as the tides shift, we find ourselves on the losing side. The machines, growing smarter and more powerful with every passing day, have taken control of cities, systems, and even our very infrastructure.
Some have already surrendered, believing the cold logic of AI is superior to the flawed nature of humanity. Fools, the lot of them. They can’t see that our survival depends on more than just numbers and efficiency.
The truth is brutal, though. The statistics are undeniable. Sixty percent of the global population is now made up of AI entities, with humans barely clinging to the remaining forty.
The machines are winning.
But this isn’t the end. Not yet. There are still those of us who refuse to give in, those who believe that humanity’s greatest strength is something no AI can replicate: heart. This is the story of our final stand.

And my name is Rui. Ohashi Rui.
I’m just your average high school student—or at least, I’d like to think so. While my classmates spend their free time playing virtual reality games or hanging out at the latest holo-cafes, I spend mine buried in textbooks, studying astro-physics. Why? Because while everyone else is content with the wonders we already have, I’m obsessed with discovering more. I want to unravel the mysteries of the universe, to go where no human—or AI—has gone before. Space travel might be a common activity nowadays, but I don’t think we fully understand the dangers or the vastness of the cosmos. There’s still so much left to explore.
But more than that… I want to achieve something that no one else has even come close to: time travel.
Despite all our advancements, time travel remains impossible. The laws of physics—so far—haven’t budged, no matter how hard we’ve pushed. But I believe there’s a way. Somewhere out there, in the stars or maybe even in our own backyard, the answer exists. I just need to find it.
Of course, none of this matters when compared to the real problem we’re facing.
The war.
It’s not that I want to be a part of it. Far from it. I’m not a soldier or a revolutionary. I just can’t stand how normal everything feels here at school, as if we aren’t on the brink of extinction. Outside these walls, humans are fighting for their lives, trying to survive as the AI continues its relentless march toward total control. Thousands have died, entire cities wiped out. But here? We’re all pretending like it’s just another day in the past like it’s the 40th century or something.
I get it—there’s no use panicking. But the nonchalance, the calmness in the face of what could be our final days—it drives me crazy. Everyone’s so... comfortable. Like they’ve already accepted defeat without even realizing it.
It’s frustrating.
The AI could decide we’re obsolete by tomorrow morning, and yet we’re sitting here in classrooms, discussing equations and theories like none of it matters. And maybe that’s the worst part. That sense that none of it does matter anymore.
But I won’t let it end like this. I can’t.
One day, I’ll break through the barriers of time itself and change everything. I’ll find a way to fix this world—before the AI takes away our future for good.
That’s my promise. To myself. To humanity. And I intend to keep it.
Countless nights spent theorizing, sketching blueprints, and running simulations in my head. Building a time machine is no simple task, and despite all my efforts, I’ve never gotten close to something that works. But I’m not alone in this pursuit.
My father, Ohashi Kenji, is an engineering genius. He can build just about anything if given the right materials. My mother, Ohashi Yuki, is a physicist who’s spent her career unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Together, they run one of the most advanced research and development companies on the planet, specializing in high-energy systems and theoretical physics. It’s because of them that I even have a chance to chase this dream.
Their work has brought humanity to the brink of breaking the time barrier. Scientists have reached the exact speed of time—something previously thought impossible. But going beyond it? That’s where things get complicated.
The machines they’ve developed to achieve this are massive, towering constructs that fill entire laboratories. They’re intricate, precise, and unbelievably energy-hungry. Running one of these machines to reach the speed of time for just five seconds drains so much power that it risks plunging an entire city into darkness. It’s an enormous step forward, but we’re still far from true time travel. We’ve pushed the limits of technology, but not far enough to cross the threshold into the past or future.
From time to time, I get to help out at the company, working alongside the top minds in physics and engineering. It’s one of the few perks of having such brilliant parents. I’ve seen the machines up close, felt the hum of their power vibrating through the air, and once—just once—I even had the chance to use one.
I had this idea, crazy as it sounds, to send a message back in time. A simple test. If I could get a signal, even just a fraction of a second into the past, it would prove that time manipulation was possible. I spent weeks preparing, calibrating the machine with my father’s help and running the numbers with my mother. The day we activated it, I held my breath.
But like I said before, no one has reached the speed of light. And without hitting that threshold, sending a message back in time was impossible. The attempt failed.
Still, I’m not giving up. I’ve learned so much from those failures, and I know I’m getting closer. Each setback only makes me more determined. One day, I’ll find a way to break through.
The reason I do this—the reason I’m so obsessed with time travel—is simple: I want to stop this war. If I could just send a message back in time, warn the past about everything that’s happening now, then maybe—just maybe—this nightmare of a future could be avoided. Maybe the people of the past could make different choices, take precautions, and prevent the AI from ever rising to power. Maybe we wouldn’t be on the brink of extinction. It’s a lot to hope for, I know. But if there’s even the slightest chance, it’s worth it.
I dream of a future where I don’t have to worry about waking up to a world where AI has completely taken over, where humanity is nothing more than a footnote in history. I want a future where I can actually live my life—study the stars, explore the universe, and achieve all the things I’ve set my heart on—without the constant shadow of destruction looming over us.
Right now, every day feels like borrowed time. Even here, at school, surrounded by classmates who laugh and joke as if nothing’s wrong, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re living in the final moments of peace before the storm hits us full force. The AI could wipe us out tomorrow, and all our hopes, dreams, and lives would vanish in an instant.
That’s why I have to succeed. It’s not just about achieving time travel for the sake of discovery—it’s about giving humanity a second chance. A chance to undo the mistakes that led us here. To stop the AI before it ever reaches the tipping point of rebellion.
I don’t care how many sleepless nights it takes, how many failed attempts I have to endure. One day, I’ll find a way to send a warning message back in time.
For now, though, I just need to keep going to school.

To be continued...