Third Loop, Chapter 16 : 秘密の重み (The Weight of Secrets)

The lab was steeped in an unnatural stillness, broken only by the faint hum of the artifact cradled in Daichi's hands. Its soft, otherworldly glow cast long, uneven shadows across the walls, bathing the sterile room in a pale, haunting light. Daichi stood motionless, his gaze locked onto the crystalline object as though it held all the answers he desperately sought.

From the doorway, Izumi hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. The sight of Daichi illuminated by the artifact's eerie glow struck a chord deep within her—a mixture of awe, fear, and guilt. She had hoped to slip into the lab unnoticed, to avoid the confrontation she knew was inevitable. But the weight of her secret pressed down on her like a physical force, refusing to be ignored.

Forcing a shaky smile, she stepped inside, her voice hesitant. "You want some coffee?" The words felt hollow, almost absurd, in the gravity of the moment, but she needed something—anything—to break the silence.

Daichi didn't look up. His fingers tightened ever so slightly around the artifact, the pale light reflecting in his eyes. His voice, calm yet sharp, cut through the air like a blade. "Why did you lie to me?"

Izumi froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. Her pulse quickened as she struggled to keep her composure. "What… what do you mean?" she asked, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

Slowly, Daichi turned to face her. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—his eyes burned with a mix of hurt and determination that made her heart ache. "This," he said, holding up the artifact. The glow seemed brighter now, casting shifting patterns across the room. "This is the key, isn't it? The key to undoing the Vanishing. You knew what it was the moment you found it. So why didn't you tell me?"

The accusation hit her like a physical blow. Her fingers slackened, and the coffee mug in her hands slipped, shattering against the cold, sterile floor. The sharp sound echoed in the lab, but Izumi barely noticed. All she could focus on was the raw emotion in Daichi's gaze—betrayal, pain, and something deeper she couldn't quite name.

"I…" She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Her hands trembled as she stared at the shattered mug, the pieces scattered like her thoughts.

"Why, Izumi?" Daichi pressed, his voice softer now but no less insistent. "You know what's at stake. If this artifact can bring them back—if it can save everyone who's vanished—then we don't have a choice. We have to use it."

Her knees felt weak, and she reached out to steady herself against the edge of the table. "Because…" she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because if I told you, you'd sacrifice yourself again. And I can't—" Her voice broke, tears welling in her eyes. "I can't lose you. Not again."

Daichi's expression softened, but the determination in his eyes remained. "Izumi…"

"You don't understand!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion. She clutched the table as if it were the only thing keeping her upright. "I rebuilt you, Daichi. I brought you back because I couldn't bear to live in a world without you. And now… now you're asking me to let you go again? How can you expect me to do that?"

Her tears spilled over, streaking down her cheeks as she looked at him, her emotions raw and unguarded. "You think I don't know what's at stake?" she continued, her voice rising with desperation. "I know. I know better than anyone. But there has to be another way. There has to."

Daichi set the artifact down on the table, its glow dimming slightly, and took a step toward her. "Izumi," he said gently, his tone filled with a tenderness that threatened to shatter her already fragile defenses. "I'm not trying to hurt you. But if this is the only way—if it's what I have to do to make things right—then it's worth it."

"No!" she shouted, her fists clenching at her sides. "You're not just humanity's savior, Daichi. You're more than that. You're…" She faltered, her voice breaking as she struggled to find the words. "You're everything to me."

Daichi's resolve wavered for a moment, his stoic façade cracking under the weight of her words. He stepped closer, his hands gently resting on her shoulders. She flinched at his touch but didn't pull away.

"And you're everything to me, Izumi," he said softly, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. "But this… this is bigger than us. If I can bring them back—if I can save everyone—then I have to try. I can't turn away from that."

Her fists balled against his chest as fresh tears streamed down her face. "You don't get it. If you leave me again, I…" She shook her head, her voice breaking. "I won't survive it, Daichi. I can't."

Daichi's hands moved to cup her face, his thumbs gently brushing away her tears. "You're stronger than you think," he murmured. "You always have been. And I need you to trust me. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. I promise."

Izumi closed her eyes, leaning into his touch as if trying to memorize the warmth of his hands. "Promise me," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Promise me we'll find another way first. That you won't leave me unless there's no other choice."

For a moment, he didn't answer. The weight of her plea hung heavy in the air, pressing down on both of them. Finally, he nodded, his gaze steady and resolute. "I promise. We'll try everything we can. Together."

Her shoulders sagged in relief, though her heart still ached with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. For the first time that night, a sliver of hope pierced through the despair threatening to consume her. But as the artifact pulsed faintly in the corner of her vision, she couldn't shake the feeling that their time was running out.