Chapter 7: A New Anomaly

Kaito Sora collapsed onto a bench in a quiet park, his lungs heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The night air was cool, but sweat dripped down his face, soaking his shirt. Across from him, Yuki leaned against a tree, looking as calm as ever despite the chase they'd just escaped.

"Next time, remind me to install a treadmill in my apartment," Kaito groaned, wiping his brow. "I wasn't built for this kind of cardio."

"You weren't built for much, honestly," Yuki teased, smirking.

"Not the time, Yuki," Kaito muttered, shooting her a glare.

Aria, standing a few steps away, scanned their surroundings with sharp, calculating eyes. She'd been unusually quiet since their escape, and the tension in her posture made Kaito uneasy.

"We should keep moving," Aria finally said, her voice clipped. "The Moderator won't stay confused for long. It's only a matter of time before it picks up your trail again."

Kaito groaned, throwing his head back. "Are you saying we'll never get a break? What does the System even want from me? I just want to live my life!"

Aria's gaze softened slightly. "It's not about what you want, Kaito. The System views you as a threat to its order. Until it's dealt with you, it won't stop."

"Great. I'm the System's public enemy number one," Kaito muttered. "Just my luck."

"Maybe it's not just your luck," Yuki said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "You've been breaking rules left and right, Sora. The System doesn't like people who think outside the box."

"Thinking outside the box? I barely even know where the box is!" Kaito shot back.

Yuki chuckled. "Well, whatever you're doing, it's definitely shaking things up. Maybe that's not such a bad thing."

Aria cut in, her tone sharp. "It's a dangerous thing. The more Kaito defies the System, the more aggressive it will become. We need to be prepared."

Kaito sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "Prepared for what, exactly? I can't fight that thing. I barely managed to confuse it!"

"Not alone, you can't," Aria admitted. "But you're not alone."

Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Kaito felt a flicker of reassurance.

"Alright," he said, standing up and stretching. "What's next? Do we hide? Fight? Move to another dimension?"

"First, we regroup," Aria said. "There's someone I think we should meet."

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Another one of your mysterious contacts?"

"Something like that," Aria replied cryptically.

The trio made their way to the edge of the city, where the neon lights gave way to crumbling buildings and overgrown streets. It was clear they were leaving the System's carefully controlled zones and entering an area it had seemingly abandoned.

"This place is… creepy," Kaito said, glancing around.

"That's because it's off the System's radar," Aria explained. "A glitch zone. Areas like this exist where the System's influence is weaker. It's the perfect place to hide—and to find others like you."

"Others like me?" Kaito repeated.

Aria nodded. "People who don't fit neatly into the System's structure. Anomalies, outcasts, rebels. They've all ended up here at some point."

Yuki frowned. "Sounds more like a junkyard for humans."

"It's more than that," Aria said, her voice firm. "It's a sanctuary."

As they walked deeper into the glitch zone, Kaito noticed strange details—the flickering streetlights, the warped edges of buildings, the faint hum of static in the air. It was as if the world itself was unraveling at the seams.

"Are you sure this place is safe?" he asked nervously.

"As safe as it gets," Aria replied. "Stay close."

They finally reached an old warehouse, its rusted doors hanging slightly ajar. Aria pushed them open with a creak, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with makeshift furniture, glowing monitors, and scattered tools.

"Homey," Yuki said, wrinkling her nose.

"Welcome to the hideout," a voice called from the shadows.

Kaito tensed as a figure stepped into the light. It was a young man, probably in his mid-twenties, with tousled dark hair and an easy grin. He wore a patchwork jacket covered in strange symbols, and his sharp eyes sparkled with mischief.

"This is Ryuu," Aria said. "He's… unconventional, but he knows more about the System than anyone I've met."

"Unconventional? I like that," Ryuu said, giving a mock bow. "And you must be the famous Kaito Sora. The guy who's been giving the System a headache."

"Uh, yeah, that's me," Kaito said, scratching the back of his head.

Ryuu grinned. "I like you already."

"Great," Yuki said dryly. "Another weirdo."

"Hey, I'm not just any weirdo," Ryuu said, wagging a finger. "I'm the weirdo. The one who's going to help you survive."

Aria sighed. "Ryuu, focus. We don't have much time. The Moderator is after Kaito, and it's only a matter of time before it finds us."

"Ah, the Moderator," Ryuu said, his grin fading slightly. "Nasty piece of work, that one. But don't worry—I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

Kaito crossed his arms. "Like what?"

Ryuu smirked. "Like this."

He tapped a button on one of the monitors, and a holographic map appeared in the air. It displayed the city, marked with glowing dots and lines.

"This is a map of the System's activity," Ryuu explained. "The red zones are where its control is strongest. The blue zones are glitch areas, like this one. And these—" he pointed to a cluster of green dots—"are potential escape routes."

"Escape routes?" Yuki repeated.

Ryuu nodded. "The System isn't perfect. There are gaps in its network, places where its influence doesn't reach. If we can get Kaito to one of those, he might be able to slip out of its reach entirely."

"That sounds… too good to be true," Kaito said skeptically.

Ryuu shrugged. "It's not a perfect solution. The System adapts quickly, so the gaps don't stay open for long. But it's better than sitting around waiting for the Moderator to find you."

Kaito glanced at Aria. "What do you think?"

Aria hesitated, her expression thoughtful. "It's risky, but it might be our best shot. If we can get you to safety, it will buy us time to figure out a more permanent solution."

Kaito sighed. "Alright. Let's do it. What's the plan?"

Ryuu grinned. "Oh, you're going to love this…"

As Ryuu outlined his plan, Kaito couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and dread. They were about to launch a full-scale operation to outwit the System—something he never imagined himself doing in his wildest dreams.

But as he looked around at the people standing beside him—Aria, with her unshakable resolve; Yuki, with her fierce loyalty; and Ryuu, with his chaotic brilliance—he realized that he wasn't alone in this fight.

For the first time since his Integration began, Kaito felt a flicker of hope.

"Let's break the System," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.

And with that, the next stage of their journey began.