4

Déjà Vu

Chapter 4: The Fracture

Denji sits on the couch, staring at Aki like he just grew a second head.

"You're messing with me, right?" Denji's voice comes out rough, too dry, like something inside him already knows the answer.

Aki doesn't respond. He just exhales, slow and shaky, his hands still clenched at his sides.

Denji drags a hand down his face. "C'mon, man. This ain't funny."

Aki's eyes snap to him, sharp, exhausted. "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Denji's stomach twists. He doesn't. Aki looks like someone took a crowbar to his ribs and left him there to bleed.

Power stomps into the room, fangs bared in a dramatic yawn. "Oi! Why doth thou whisper like thieves conspiring against the great Power?" She flops onto the couch, shoving Denji's legs aside like he's furniture.

Aki doesn't even react. He just keeps staring out the window.

Power flicks an eye toward him, then snorts. "Bah! Why dost thou sulk? We emerged victorious, did we not?"

Denji swallows. "Power. Do you… remember Himeno?"

Power squints at him. "Who?"

Something in Denji's gut goes ice-cold.

"Himeno," he repeats, slower this time. "Y'know. Eye patch? Smokes like a chimney? Always messing with Aki?"

Power blinks. "What nonsense dost thou spew? No such person exists!" She huffs. "Are you ill? Hath the battle rattled your brain?"

Denji stares at her, his pulse pounding in his ears. "No. No, that's not—"

His voice cuts off as Power stretches again, completely unbothered.

Aki, though. Aki looks wrecked.

Denji stands up too fast. His head spins.

This isn't just about Himeno disappearing.

The world isn't just forgetting her.

It's being rewritten.

And Makima—

Makima knew.

The memory slams into him all at once—her voice from the day before, too smooth, too knowing.

"You moved unusually fast today, Denji."

She knew. She was watching.

And now Himeno was gone.

Denji's hands curl into fists.

This isn't like last time.

This loop is different.

Aki lets out a slow breath and straightens. "Forget it." His voice is calmer now, more distant.

Denji turns to him. "What?"

Aki exhales sharply, rubbing his temples. "Maybe I'm just… remembering wrong."

Denji's blood runs cold. "The hell you are."

Aki doesn't answer. Doesn't even look at him. He just heads toward the kitchen like the conversation never happened.

Like the grief already started slipping through his fingers.

Denji's breath stutters. "No. No, don't do that."

Aki pauses but doesn't turn around.

Denji's hands shake. "You remember her. You know you do."

Aki's silence stretches too long.

And then—

"…I don't know."

Denji feels something crack.

Aki walks away.

Power starts rambling about breakfast.

And Denji—

Denji stands there, drowning in something he doesn't have a name for.

Makima's hands are already pulling at the strings.

And if he doesn't do something soon—

There won't be anything left of them to save.