Shattered Time and Scarlet Echoes
Time began to move again, and all the colors started returning, as if someone was painting on a blank canvas.
George's fist hit the hard ground, and he quickly pulled his hand back in pain, realizing Aiko was no longer beneath him. He slowly turned his head and saw Aiko standing behind him, his face twisting in terror.
George: ["H-how... how... you... how are you... there?"]
George pointed a trembling finger at Aiko.
Aiko aimed a magic orb at George and smirked.
Aiko: ["Bye-bye."]
---
Aiko stepped out of the room, now littered with George's bloodied corpse, a smile playing on her lips. Blood flowed through the entire mansion.
Aiko: ["So he really did kill them all."]
Her eyes caught a message scrawled in blood on the wall:
**{Join Firizip}**
Aiko burst into laughter, her voice echoing through the empty mansion.
---
**Note:** (The main story takes place in 2027.)
**April 7, 2024** – <3 years after Aiko joined Firizip>
In an unknown location, inside one of Firizip's countless bases, Aiko sat reading a book in her office. The room was decorated like a library, with paintings adorning the walls. A desk and chair sat in the corner where Aiko was seated.
The door creaked open, and a boy with fair skin, blue eyes, and bright yellow hair strode in, a wide grin on his face. Aiko kept reading and spoke flatly.
Aiko: ["You knock before entering."]
She glanced up, studying him.
Aiko: ["And who are you?"]
The boy smirked playfully.
Boy: ["I'm Tohito Owa, 16 years old, lover of pizza, and—"]
Aiko cut him off.
Aiko: ["I didn't ask for your life story."]
She exhaled softly and rested her chin on her hand.
Aiko: ["So, Tohito, what do you want?"]
Tohito gave a thumbs-up.
Tohito: ["I'm your new teammate."]
Aiko: ["Great. Another idiot."]
Tohito flashed a genuine smile.
Tohito: ["Look out for me."]
At those words, Aiko's face flushed deep red, and she stammered.
Aiko: ["I-I'll... try..."]
A warmth spread through her—a strange sense of familiarity.
Tohito blinked.
Tohito: ["Why're you blushing? It's not *that* hot in—"]
Aiko interrupted.
Aiko: ["I'm Aiko Wachai. Seventeen. Nice to meet you."]
---
Tohito stepped out of the shower and pulled on a red T-shirt with gray shorts.
He yelled loudly.
Tohito: ["AIKO, WHERE ARE MY SHOES?"]
Aiko's voice floated back.
Aiko: ["Dunno. Check the closet?"]
Tohito: ["Already did... Haru probably stole them."]
He yawned and checked the clock.
Tohito: ["It's midnight. Let's go to bed."]
When no reply came, he frowned.
Tohito: ["Aiko?"]
He scanned the room—empty.
Cautiously, he walked through the house.
Tohito: ["Where are you?"]
Suddenly, a searing, oppressive force slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. He clutched his chest, gasping.
Tohito: ["W-what... is this... power...?"]
Footsteps approached. With effort, he lifted his head—a girl with pink hair and crimson eyes grinned down at him, her smile unnervingly cheerful.
Girl: ["Hehe~ Hello, Tohito-chan! How ya feelin'?"]
Tohito couldn't speak, the pressure crushing him.
The girl laughed, twirling a strand of hair.
Girl: ["I've heard *so* much about you! They say you're the new powerhouse who'll 'fix' time."]
Her grin widened.
Girl: ["But you're *way* weaker than I imagined! Let's see... your magic system has five tiers, right? You're Tier 1, yeah?"]
She tilted her head, petting Tohito's hair mockingly.
Girl: ["But in *my* ranking? You're, like... a thousand. Maybe ten thousand."]
She yanked his hair.
Girl: ["You can't even scream under this pressure. Pathetic."]
Releasing him, she stood.
Girl: ["You probably think your enemies are the ones who killed you before..."]
Her smile vanished.
Girl: ["But your *real* enemy... is *you*."]
A pause.
Girl: ["This timeline's a mess *because* of you. Time isn't stable—it keeps jumping, warping. And it's *all your fault*."]
Her grin returned.
Girl: ["Once you beat this world's strongest... I'll come get you. We'll go on a trip—*beyond* time and space."]
She sneered.
Girl: ["Oh, and don't bother trying to fight back. I tweaked your mind so you can't use your weak little powers. Wouldn't want you wrecking the house~"]
A casual wave.
Girl: ["And don't worry about *her*. She'll be here when you wake up."]
Tohito's breathing turned ragged.
Girl: ["Oops~ Too much exposure to my power might *kill* you."]
His vision blurred—the last thing he heard:
Girl: ["Sweet dreams, *monster*."]
---
Tohito's eyes fluttered open. His body was numb, paralyzed. Darkness surrounded him—yet it felt *warm*.
*Am I in the void? Why's it so hot here?*
A familiar voice spoke.
???: ["Welcome back, kid."]
Tohito weakly turned his head. A man in a black suit stood beside him, smiling kindly.
Man: ["Long time no see."]
Tohito smirked.
Tohito: ["Pretty sure this is our *first* meeting."]