• STEP1 BIGGER PICT.URE

Hikaru and Yamino made their way toward the exit of the dimly lit alley, their footsteps echoing softly against the damp pavement. The tension from the recent fight still hung heavily in the air, but Hikaru seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed ahead as if he was already envisioning a distant horizon. Finally, breaking the silence, he turned to Yamino and began to speak.

"Yamino, there's something you need to know," Hikaru said, his voice low but steady. "I haven't been honest with you about everything. The truth is… I'm a regressor."

Yamino's eyes widened in confusion. "A regressor?"

"It means I've died before," Hikaru explained, his tone heavy with the weight of his revelation. "Not just once, but many times. This is my 50th attempt at getting things right." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Every time I fail, I'm sent back to the same point in time, forced to try again. I've seen countless outcomes, made countless mistakes, but I've never been able to break the cycle. Until now… maybe this time, we can do it."

Yamino stared at him, the gravity of Hikaru's words settling over him like a heavy shroud. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Because i didn't remember." Hikaru replied. "In all my past attempts, I've tried to do everything on my own, but it always ends in failure. This time, I need your help. We need to look at the biggest picture we can imagine—surviving not just the threats ahead but the destruction of the Earth itself."

Yamino blinked, his mind reeling. "The destruction of the Earth? What are you talking about?"

Hikaru's expression hardened. "It's coming, Yamino. Sooner than you think. If we want to make it, we'll need power and money. And for that, we have to take separate paths."

"Separate paths?" Yamino asked, his voice tinged with apprehension.

Hikaru nodded. "I'll take the Grim Website's entrance exam. I know everything about it—every challenge, every trap. I can use that knowledge to gain power quickly. But you… you have a different role to play. For starters, you need to go back to the village immediately."

"Why the village?" Yamino asked, his brow furrowed.

"Because a meteorite is going to fall on the mountain behind the village," Hikaru said, his voice filled with urgency. "That meteorite holds something special, something that can grant you power. You need to be there to claim it. After that, you can use that power. And you need to buy lottery tickets, start a business, and move to the city. You'll need to build a foundation for us while I'm inside the Grim Website."

As they continued walking, they entered a small convenience store. Hikaru picked up a pen and a piece of paper from the counter, borrowing it with a nod to the shopkeeper. He quickly jotted down a series of numbers and names, the pen moving across the paper with practiced ease.

"What's that?" Yamino asked, peering over his shoulder.

"Lottery numbers and some key contacts," Hikaru replied. "You'll need these to get started. Trust me, it'll all make sense once you're back in the village. We don't have much time, so stick to the plan."

Yamino took the paper, his hands trembling slightly. He looked at Hikaru, a mix of fear and determination in his eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

Hikaru placed a reassuring hand on Yamino's shoulder. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life. This time, we're going to make it."

With those words, the two cousins exited the store, each of them heading toward an uncertain but vital future. The weight of their decisions bore down on them, but they knew that their survival—and perhaps the survival of the entire world—depended on their actions in the days to come.

While Yamino sprinted toward the bus station, his heart pounding with urgency, Hikaru made his way toward his intended destination, his mind a whirl of calculated thoughts. The streets grew quieter as he approached the location, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows that seemed to reach out like fingers of the past. As he turned a corner, Hikaru stopped abruptly, his breath catching in his throat.

There she was—the principal's elder daughter, a young woman with an air of quiet resilience, her figure framed by the soft light spilling from a nearby café. She was sitting alone, seemingly lost in thought, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the table. Hikaru's chest tightened as a wave of recognition washed over him. This was the one. The one destined to truly love his cousin, Yamino, in a future they had yet to shape. But that future hinged on one fragile condition: her survival tonight.

Hikaru's fists clenched as a surge of protective determination filled him. He couldn't afford any mistakes. His gaze darted around the area, scanning for potential threats. The weight of his many past attempts bore down on him, a reminder of how precarious their situation truly was. Tonight wasn't just about survival—it was about preserving the fragile threads of a future worth fighting for.

The girl led Hikaru into a small, dimly lit cyber café tucked away in an inconspicuous alley. As they entered, a faint hum of old machinery greeted them. She guided him to a secluded room at the back of the café, where three outdated computers sat on a worn wooden table, their screens flickering faintly in the low light. The room had an air of secrecy, its walls lined with faded posters and faint stains that hinted at years of use.

Once they were seated, the girl leaned forward, her sharp gaze locking onto Hikaru. "So, what's going on with Yamino?" she asked, her tone direct but not unkind. There was curiosity in her eyes, mixed with a hint of suspicion.

Hikaru remained silent, his expression unreadable. He averted his gaze, feigning disinterest as he adjusted his seat. The girl waited for an answer, but Hikaru simply stared at the nearest computer, its screen glowing with the faint promise of information. His lack of response created a tense atmosphere, the silence growing heavier with each passing second.

Sensing that he wouldn't speak, the girl sighed and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Fine," she said, her tone carrying a hint of resignation. "Keep your secrets, but don't expect me to sit here quietly if things go south." Hikaru offered a small, almost imperceptible nod, his mind clearly focused elsewhere, already planning his next move.

Suddenly, the computer screen flickered and went dark for a moment, filling the room with an eerie silence. Then, in a flash, a vivid red website materialized on the screen, its interface glowing ominously against the dim light. Cryptic symbols and a pulsating header in an unknown language appeared, drawing their attention. Before they could react, a sharp, metallic sound echoed around them, and in the blink of an eye, they were no longer in the small room.

Instead, they found themselves standing in a dimly lit chamber, its walls lined with ancient inscriptions that seemed to shift and writhe like living organisms. The air was thick and heavy, carrying a faint metallic scent. In the center of the room stood a circular stone table, and around it were three more people, each of them equally bewildered.

The strangers looked at each other with a mixture of suspicion and unease, their shadows stretching unnaturally under the flickering glow of a mysterious orb suspended in the air. Hikaru's instincts kicked in immediately, his body tense and ready for whatever was to come. Yamino, on the other hand, was frozen in place, his eyes darting from one figure to the next, trying to piece together the surreal turn of events.