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special story
Bronya: "The lights are flickering again."
V: "That's the third time today."
Himeko (sipping wine at 10 a.m.): "We should start charging the base rent for atmosphere."
Captain: "Has anyone seen the power grid diagnostics?"
Theresa (from under the table): "Has anyone seen my emergency candy stash?"
Kiana: "I didn't eat it."
Everyone: "You totally ate it."
Kiana: "It looked at me funny!"
Mei (sighing): "That doesn't even make sense."
V (expressionless): "Nothing here ever does."
Suddenly, the lights went out. A low buzzing sound echoed, followed by something that sounded suspiciously like a moo.
Captain: "…Okay. I'm calling it. We're officially cursed."
Himeko: "We've been cursed. This is just the sequel."
A screen on the wall flickered to life, showing Ai-chan looking frazzled and upside down for some reason.
Ai-chan: "EMERGENCY! Kiana plugged the blender into the quantum server and now half the base is stuck in 1997!"
Bronya: "How."
Kiana: "It was a cool plug! I thought it went to the snack machine!"
Mei: "Kiana… that socket was glowing purple."
Kiana: "Purple means snack!"
Theresa: "Purple means 'don't touch,' not 'snack.'"
Captain (tapping his communicator): "Can someone explain why the floor is slanted now?"
Himeko: "Gravity's just drunk. Like me. Cheers."
V (deadpan): "I'll fix it."
Bronya: "Do you even know what 'it' is?"
V: "No. But I'll stare at it until it stops misbehaving."
Ai-chan: "Oh also—minor update—there are now two Kianas."
Everyone: "WHAT?!"
Ai-chan: "Don't worry! One of them is polite. The other one… well… she's building a throne out of vending machines."
A loud BOOM echoed in the hallway. Sparks flew. A vending machine rolled by—screaming.
V (turning to the fourth wall): "If you're still reading this… just know… this isn't fiction."
Mei: "Please send help. Or snacks. Preferably snacks."
Himeko (holding a wine bottle): "Make it red."
Theresa: "Or chocolate."
Captain (trapped on a tilting floor): "Or a manual on how to fire people who break reality."
Kiana (from outside): "I REGRET NOTHING!"
Bronya: "…This is fine."
V: "No, it's not."
The screen crackled. The walls hummed. Somewhere in the distance, someone shouted "ALL HAIL VENDING-KING KIANA!"
And then… the lights came back on.
Ai-chan: "Never mind. I unplugged the blender."
Everyone: "THANK YOU."
Kiana: "...Can I plug in the rice cooker next?"
All: "NO."
And the scene faded to black—briefly—before a vending machine exploded in the hallway.
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Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Rita walked down a separate hallway, her expression composed yet contemplative.
Rita: "(I didn't expect that meeting the captain would also bring me face-to-face with one of my observation targets)."
This mission wasn't a simple one.
She was tasked with closely monitoring two key individuals: the experimental subject known as K-423, and Vrater Amano — the enigmatic man currently under silent surveillance by the Overseers.
Unbeknownst to them, their quiet encounter had just set a subtle but significant shift into motion.
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[Inside the Captain Office]
The room was quiet except for the soft hum of a holographic interface.
The captain sat behind his desk, reviewing reports, while AI-chan hovered nearby, assisting him with administrative tasks and occasional reminders.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room.
Captain: "Come in."
As soon as he gave permission, the door slid open and V entered, followed closely by Bronya.
Captain (raising an eyebrow): "Well, this is rare, You two showing up together doesn't happen often So, what brings you here?"
There was a hint of curiosity in his tone, though he quickly masked it behind his usual composed demeanor.
V stepped forward, his gaze calm but firm.
V: "I want you to follow through with the promise we made… last time."
The captain's expression shifted, growing more serious as he leaned back slightly in his chair.
Captain: "You're sure about this? If something goes wrong, we'll be dealing with more than just consequences—it could turn into a full-blown disaster."
V: "I'm sure. This is the best path forward… at least for now."
Silence fell over the room for a few seconds.
The captain didn't respond immediately—he simply looked at V, as if searching for hesitation.
Then…
Bronya (cutting in): "What are you two talking about?"
The captain turned toward her, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Captain: "Hmm? He hasn't explained it to you yet?"
He glanced at V, who shook his head slightly.
V: "Not yet."
Captain: "Then listen carefully, Bronya…"
He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk, silently inviting her to sit.
Whatever they were about to discuss, it wasn't going to be light.
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[Inside the Captain's Office – Continued]
Bronya narrowed her eyes slightly as she processed what had just been said.
Bronya: "So you're saying… we're going to lie to everyone and pretend we're going on a short break, when in reality, you, V, will be out searching for the blueprint of the Second Divine Keys?"
V: "Exactly When we cross paths later, just act like you don't know me That's all I need."
The captain leaned forward, fingers interlocked under his chin.
Captain: "It sounds simple when you say it like that But if anything goes wrong, it won't just be a setback—it'll be a full-blown crisis."
Bronya: "That may be true, but… Bronya's still curious. How are you planning to analyze and reconstruct the Divine Key blueprint in the first place?"
It was a fair question—one that carried the weight of many failed attempts before. Countless researchers, even the best among them, had tried to decode or replicate the Sacred Keys' structure. None had succeeded. So her suspicion wasn't out of place.
V: "That… is a secret."
He turned his eyes toward the window, as if looking beyond the room and into something far more distant—perhaps a memory, or a plan that he had long kept hidden.
The room fell quiet again.
AI-chan, floating near the corner, had even stopped beeping, sensing the tension.
The captain exhaled slowly and leaned back.
Captain: "If you're serious about this, then it's already set in motion I'll take care of the cover story But remember—this operation is off the record, No backup, No safety net, You're on your own."
V: "That's how I prefer it."
Bronya: "Bronya still thinks this is reckless… but she trusts you."
A brief silence followed her words, filled only by the soft whirr of the data panels in the room.
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[Departure Day – At the Air Terminal]
The atmosphere at the terminal was light.
Laughter echoed from the group of friends preparing for their trip, the buzz of anticipation wrapping around them like a warm breeze.
But V stood slightly apart, hands tucked in his coat pockets, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular—watchful, quiet, distant.
Mei stepped toward him, her bag slung over her shoulder, a small crease of worry forming between her brows.
Mei: "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"
V turned to her
V : "I'm fine I prefer rest over travel."
There was a flicker in his tone—just enough for someone like Mei to catch.
She studied him for a second longer, as if searching for something more behind those blue eyes.
Mei: "...Alright."
A quiet understanding passed between them.
She wanted him to come, but she wouldn't push.
Not this time.
Not far from them, the rest of the group was gathering.
Himeko chuckled under her breath, arms crossed.
Himeko: "Hoho…"
Kiana: "Why are you making that sound, Aunt Himeko?"
Himeko (grinning): "No reason Just feels like something big about to happen."
Theresa: "I envy them, Youth really does have a special kind of energy."
Captain (half-joking, half-serious): "So why do I suddenly feel like I'm sending someone to war…?"
Bronya: "Bronya thinks you're being overly dramatic again."
V let out the faintest breath of amusement—too quiet to be a laugh, but enough to hint at it.
Then he turned back to Mei.
V: "It's time Go, before they leave without you."
Mei: "You'll be alright?"
A pause He nodded.
V: "I've made it this far, haven't I?"
She lingered for a moment, her gaze lingering on him before she nodded and rejoined the others.
V watched her walk away.
Watched all of them.
And only after they disappeared into the crowd did he finally let the small shift in his eyes settle into place.
He whispered—more to himself than anyone else.
V: "Let's hope everything goes according to plan."
The terminal noise continued around him, but for V, it all faded into the background. His path was different. And starting now, it would be walked alone.