Naoya dreamt of an old memory. The three of them, him, Kazuya and Maki, had been playing at the park. It was late afternoon, around 4 or 5, so the sun's rays weren't that intense.

There were other children there as well, but the three of them paid them no mind, instead caught up in their own little world. They played in all the areas – the slides, the swings, the see-saws. He remembered how all of them had so much fun.

It was then that Naoya got into an accident. He fell off the see-saw and cut his knee. Because of that, the three of them had to return home.

Kazuya had taken out the first-aid kit bandaging up his knee. Naoya winced as he felt the stinging pain as the gauze pressed against the wound.

"Geez…" Kazuya sighed. "You should be more careful, Naorin."

He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "Sorry…" he said. His eyes were fixed to the floor. "We couldn't continue playing at the park because of me."

Kazuya just smiled back at him. "Don't worry about it."

But the smile on Kazuya's face only made Naoya feel more ashamed. "Yeah, but it feels like I'm being a burden to you."

Kazuya shot him a look. "What did I just say? Naorin, look at me."

Reluctantly, Naoya complied and looked up, meeting his brother eye-to-eye. It was honestly like looking at a mirror. Everyone always gushed about how the two of them looked alike. They were twins after all.

"You're not a burden," Kazuya said. "I'm sure you would do the same thing for me if I was in your shoes. Brothers are supposed to look out for each other, right?"

"I guess…" Naoya managed a smile. "Thanks, Kazuya."

His brother flashed him a grin. "No problem. Baby brother still as a lot to learn."

"Hey! We're both born on the same day!" Naoya pouted.

"Mum and dad said that I came out first. That makes me the older brother."

"Yeah, by a few minutes. That doesn't count!"

The two of them soon had a good laugh about it, all the worries Naoya had were immediately cast aside.

The darkness came again, and Naoya heard more voices.

"So you guys all had the same dream..."

"Indeed. It's rather extraordinary, to say the least…"

"Think Naoya's seeing it too?"

Naoya heard a familiar voice mention his name as he slowly began to stir. He let out a soft groan as he opened his eyes, vision still blurry. As it cleared, he noticed a woman with unkempt auburn-brown hair, sitting at his bedside. She was dressed in lab coat, with a stethoscope hanging loosely around her neck.

"Oh, Todou-kun. Good to see that you're finally awake." The woman replied.

"Yoshino-sensei?" Naoya groggily murmured, immediately recognising the woman as the school nurse.

Yoshino-sensei smiled coyly at him, which he promptly ignored. Naoya already knew from multiple visits that she was only teasing him, as she often did with the male students who would come to visit the sick bay.

"Your friends have already woken up. They're waiting for you right now." She said, pulling open the curtain to reveal Mark, Yukino and Nanjo all standing outside.

"Yo, Nanjo. How're you feeling?" Mark asked.

"Like I just got a hangover." Naoya mumbled as he pushed himself to sit up, his head feeling as if a jackhammer had been pounding into it. "How long was I out?"

"About half an hour. We woke up just a few minutes before you did." Yukino replied.

Suddenly, the door slid open as a familiar woman appearing in her mid-twenties barged in.

"Natsumi-san! Are they alright?" She panted heavily; face flushed with concern.

"Saeko-sensei!" Yukino exclaimed in surprise at the woman's sudden entrance.

Saeko Takami was Naoya's homeroom teacher, though she had insisted that her students refer to her by her first name. Although she was only a few years older than her students, her experiences as a former St. Hermelin student, her passion for teaching, and kindness all made her popular among the students.

"Thank goodness you're all awake! Imagine how worried sick I was when I heard you four collapsed during that tremor earlier." Saeko-sensei said as she heaved a sigh of relief. Turning to Yoshino-sensei, she gave a grateful bow. "I'm sorry you had to deal with my students, Natsumi-san!"

"C'mon, Saeko-sensei! Taking care of students is her whole job! What's so bad about us?" Mark interjected, only to be promptly elbowed by Yukino in the ribs.

"Now, now, Inaba-kun! I want you to think about what you've done! I'm sure you know very well that this isn't the first time you ended up in the sick bay." Saeko-sensei scolded with a pout.

"What?" Mark sputtered. "But it was Brown's –" he tried to protest but he quickly shut up upon seeing the stink eye that Yukino was giving him. He decided to settle for grumbling under his breath.

Saeko-sensei cleared her throat, having calmed herself down. "Anyway, your classmates told me what happened, so no helping out for you today. Instead, the four of you ought to get checked out at the hospital before you go home. I'm worried that you might have hit yourselves when you fell."

Yukino sighed. "You worry too much, Saeko-sensei… But I suppose we'll be heading there now."

"Speaking of the hospital," Yoshino-sensei commented. "Wasn't a student in your class staying there?"

"You mean Maki-chan?" Mark asked.

Naoya frowned. Maki was a friend of their little group, but Naoya and her had especially been close friends ever since they were kids. Their parents had known each other as they lived in the same neighbourhood. She had gone to St. Hermelin with him, but after she suddenly collapsed last year, she had to be admitted to the hospital and was confined there ever since.

Maki had always been a rather frail girl, but to be hospitalised for so long…

Saeko-sensei gave a sympathetic smile. "Since you guys will be at the hospital, why don't you pay her a visit? She's been laid up there for over a year now, so I'm sure she's lonely."

~.~

As Naoya stepped out of the infirmary, he saw a female student whose dark hair was braided into twin pigtails waiting outside.

"Oh, Naoya-kun…" she said meekly.

"Yuko-san? Do you need something?" Naoya asked the girl.

Yuko Himeno had been another close friend of Maki's while she was still in school. From what Naoya knew, Yuko's family had a few money problems, and they lived in a relatively small apartment not too far from school. Naoya can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be for her, having to work multiple part-time jobs in order to support her family.

"Um, I hate to ask but…" she hesitated for a brief second. "I overheard that you're planning to visit Maki at the hospital. Can you tell Maki-chan I'll return the book I've borrowed from her next time I visit her?"

"Sure. I'll make sure she knows about it." Naoya replied.

Yuko managed a smile. "U-Um… thanks. I'm sorry to ask you to go out of your way like that… It's just that it was a really good book, so I wanted to read it again before I return it."

"That good, huh?" Mark inquired, smiling at Yuko. "What's it called?"

A blush formed on Yuko's cheeks at Mark's questioning. "U-Um, Gate to Paradise…" she answered softly.

"Whoa, that's some deep stuff!" Mark exclaimed. "I never knew Maki was into that kind of thing."

"If you enjoyed it that much, why not simply buy your own copy?" Nanjo asked, frowning.

Yuko seemed to shrink at Nanjo's question. "W-Well… it's kind of expensive… and I need my part-time salary to buy my little brothers and sisters some new clothes."

Well, this wasn't awkward at all.

Yukino elbowed Nanjo in the ribs, causing him to cry out in pain. "Nanjo!" she scolded. "Have you already forgotten that Yuko-san's family has money troubles? Honestly, you should watch what you say sometimes."

"Oh, no. It's alright…No offense taken." Yuko murmured.

Mark flashed her confident smile. "Alright, Yuko-san. We'll be sure to pass your message!"

Bidding Yuko goodbye, the four made their way to the school gates, deciding to discuss what had transpired earlier this afternoon.

"So, you too saw that dream…" Nanjo mused.

"Yeah…and some guy who called himself Philemon. He said something about Personas and an 'other self'." Naoya said.

"Hmm…" Nanjo stroked his chin, looking deep in thought. "If I remember correctly, that would be Carl Jung's theory of psychology."

"You've already lost me." Mark mumbled as he scratched his head in befuddlement.

"Carl Gustav Jung. He was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, and his works were incredibly influential in the fields of not just psychiatry and psychology, but also in the sciences and humanities. He has occasionally mentioned both Philemon and the concept of Personas in his works."

Mark gave Nanjo an annoyed look. "You coulda just explained it without telling us the guy's life story, y' know?"

"I'll try and dumb things down from now on then," Nanjo said dryly.

But he had a troubled look on his face. "Normally, I would dismiss the entire thing as rubbish. But for everyone to experience the exact same dream…Not to mention that mysterious girl… This is far from a coincidence."

As they finally arrived at the school courtyard, Mark caught a glimpse of something. "Who's the old geezer over there?" he asked, pointing in the direction of the school gates.

"What are you talking about?" Nanjo wrinkled his nose as he turned to where Mark was pointing. But suddenly, his body froze like a deer in the headlights, a horrified look on his face.

Standing at the entrance of the school gates was an old man, appearing to be in his sixties. His grey hair, neatly slicked back aside from a few loose strands, showed signs of turning white. He had thick eyebrows and a moustache that if not for his thin frame would have made him resemble a walrus. But what caught Naoya's attention was the old man's attire: a black suit with coattails, white gloves, black leather shoes and a red bow tie. He was dressed like one of those fancy butlers that Naoya saw on those dramas on TV.

"Ah! Young Master!" The old man called out to them in a raspy voice.

Nanjo's face was flushed. "Y-Yamaoka! What are you doing here?!"

The old man, Yamaoka, glanced at Naoya, Mark and Yukino. "Oh my! Young Master Kei is leaving the premises with his group of friends! I'm… I'm so happy to see this…!" he choked out, taking out a handkerchief from his front pocket to wipe his eyes.

Mark suppressed a snicker. "Young Master…Kei?"

Nanjo's face became even redder than before. "I've told time and time again to not call me that, dummy!"

"Wow, 'dummy'?" Mark couldn't contain his laughter any longer. He finally found a chink in that insufferable prick's armour. "Real sophisticated there, Nanjo."

Nanjo angrily shook his head, flustered. "Look, Yamaoka, I don't need a ride today! Just… go back home without me!"

Yamaoka put his hands to his mouth in surprise. "Oh my! Will you be going out on the town with your chums, Young Master?"

"I'm only going to the hospital! And how many times have I told you to stop calling me that!?"

"The hospital?! Heavens! Does that mean that mean that the Young Master is injured?!" The butler gasped in horror. It looked as if he was going to have a heart attack.

And suddenly without warning, he began sobbing hysterically. "Then how can I bring myself to return home, without knowing of your current condition!? For all my years under the service of the Nanjo family to care for Young Master Kei, there hasn't been a moment where I wasn't concerned for your well-being!"

"Aww… ain't that sweet. Young Master's got his own nanny." Mark cooed, before bending over and clutched his belly. He was already laughing so hard that he was already starting to cry. Naoya had to bite his lip as hard as he could to stop himself from laughing as well. Even Yukino was unable to control herself, her hand covering her mouth in a futile attempt to stifle her giggles.

Poor Nanjo finally had enough and stomped his foot. "Enough! It's time we're on our way! And Yamaoka, do NOT think about even following us!"

He quickly stormed off in a huff, with Naoya and the others following right behind him.

"Oh…Young Master…" Yamaoka sighed.

"Don't you think that was a little harsh, Kei?" Naoya asked, finally calming himself down.

Nanjo simply huffed, pushing up his spectacles. "Yamaoka will be fine. He tends to be overdramatic when it comes to my well-being."

"Well, I think it's nice to see someone act so affectionate. He must really care for you for him to act that way." Yukino said.

Upon hearing Yukino's words, Nanjo's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink. "Alright, this conversation is over." he said crossly.

They finally arrived at Mikage hospital, walking through the sliding automatic doors. It was about your average hospital; the lobby's floor had beige carpeting and its walls were slate grey. Several patients were sitting down on the benches, while nurses and doctors scurried about to tend to their patients.

"To be cooped up in a hospital for over a year…" Yukino murmured to herself. "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to stand it."

As Nanjo was registering their names in for their examinations at the reception desk, Naoya glimpsed from the corner of his eye a familiar figure huddled in the corner, barely obscured by the vending machine. Walking to the vending machine, Naoya saw that it was Nanjo's butler Yamaoka.

The butler jumped in shock and cupped a gloved hand over his mouth, startled by Naoya appearing in front of him. "Oh dear, I've been spotted." he whispered out in dismay.

Well, duh… Naoya thought to himself.

Yamaoka cleared his throat. "Sir, would you mind if I ask you to keep my presence a secret from the Young Master? I'd doubt he will take it well if he realises that I am here."

Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Naoya couldn't help but smile. Yamaoka clearly cares for Nanjo's well-being, and while the heir did not show it, it's clear that he felt the same way. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." He whispered back, giving the butler a wink.

Yamaoka bowed again. "Thank you, sir. I'm grateful for that."

Upon re-joining the group, he saw Nanjo return from the reception desk. "There's still time until our examinations." He stated, adjusting his spectacles. "Let's visit Sonomura first, then. Best not be idle, after all."

"Sure, let's go…" Naoya flashed a sly grin. "Young Master Kei."

"Todou…not you too!"

~.~

Taking the elevator up to the third floor, the four of them walked down the hallway towards Maki's room: Room Number 302. As they approached the door, they heard voices coming from inside.

"There. All done, Ms Sonomura." A young woman's voice spoke in a friendly and reassuring tone. "That's the last of the medication for today. From tomorrow onwards, you'll be fine just taking the pills."

"Okay…" A girl's voice replied, clearly sounding exhausted. It was Maki's.

"Then take a good rest, okay?"

"Wait! Aren't we going to talk today?"

"I'm sorry, Ms Sonomura." The woman's voice said apologetically. "We're currently short-handed today, so I'm afraid I don't have the time. But I'll make sure to drop by tomorrow, and we can go for a walk."

"Promise?" Maki weakly asked.

Mark grimaced upon hearing the anguish in Maki's voice. "Geez, for her to go through all this… Hasn't her mom been visiting her?"

Naoya had already knocked on the door before gently pushing it open, the others following him inside.

"Guys! You came!" Maki's face immediately lit up upon seeing the four of them.

Maki was dressed in her pink pyjamas, her petite body leaning against the bedframe. A young nurse in her twenties was standing at her bedside, a clipboard in her hands.

"Ah," upon noticing them enter, the nurse gave Maki a reassuring smile. "It seems like your real medication has arrived. I'll leave you guys to talk things out."

The nurse walked past the four and left the room, closing the door behind her. It was just the five of them now.

Maki's room unsurprisingly had the same personality as the hospital itself, dull and sterile. Its walls were cream in colour, with no decorations with the sole exception of a large painting that hung by her bedside. Naoya recognised it as Maki's entry for St. Hermelin's 24th annual art competition – The Gates of Paradise, which came in first place. After her hospitalisation, the school had it transported to her room, in hopes that it would help cheer her up. Other than Maki herself, the painting was probably the only thing that breathed any sort of life in this room.

As for the rest of the room, there was a multicoloured set of toy blocks on the nearby table, built to resemble a castle of sorts. It was rectangular and had three towers, with the one in the middle standing as the tallest. At Maki's bedside was a stuffed teddy bear that sat on a chair, a gift from the group shortly after she was admitted here.

With her dishevelled hair, a frame as thin as a rail, and skin as pale as sheet, Maki really looked like a shell of her former self. Her normally warm, chocolate-brown eyes were now bloodshot, either from her medication or from crying. Whatever energy the girl had was long gone. It was honestly really sad…

Naoya gave Maki an apologetic smile as the four gathered by her bedside, holding her bony hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Sorry that my folks and I weren't able to visit you these past few days, Maki…"

Maki simply giggled. "It's okay. Masao-kun came here by himself to visit me last time, and I told him I wanted to see everyone next time. That's why you're all here, right?"

Mark sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, his cheeks turning a luminescent pink. "Aww, it's nothing really…"

Nanjo raised an eyebrow and asked. "What are you talking about? This is the first time I've hea—ulp!" He suddenly cut himself off, his body immediately tensing up and he bit his lip.

"That's right." Yukino offered a sweet, motherly smile. From the corner of his eye, Naoya could see the heel of Yukino's shoe digging into Nanjo's toes.

Yukino honestly scares him sometimes, especially if she acts all nice even as she's angry.

"How have you been, Maki? Are you feeling okay?" she asked.

Maki seemed to hesitate for a split second, but she nodded. "It's still lonely around here. The nurse comes to play with me, but she's often busy. And Yosuke-kun and Chisato-chan… they haven't been visiting me…"

The four of them gave one another worried glances. Those two have been close friends of Maki, with Chisato being her best friend since middle school. The two of them were practically inseparable, even joining St. Hermelin's art club together. Yosuke's case, however, was a bit more complicated…

Naoya already knew of Maki's crush on Yosuke. Yosuke is a genuinely nice guy, on top of being a star in the school's soccer club. So it didn't come off as a big surprise that Maki would end up falling for a guy like him. And from what Naoya had seen, Yosuke clearly liked her back. He thought that the two would eventually get together.

Which was why Naoya, and everyone else in school for that matter, were surprised when Chisato and Yosuke announced that they were now dating. Although Naoya gave the couple his support, something about the relationship felt…off to him.

It wasn't that Chisato wasn't an unattractive girl, oh no. Chisato Kasai was known to be one of the most attractive and popular girls in school. It's just that she never really expressed interest in Yosuke before… So why now?

And just two months ago, the couple went missing. No one, not even their parents, had any idea where they might have gone.

There were rumours that they might have eloped after one of them had a falling out with their parents, but Naoya knew better than to trust rumours. It wasn't like them to run away without telling anyone. He wondered if they were at least safe.

Seeing the worried expressions on her friends' faces, Maki spoke again. "Oh, but I've been doing well these days. I wonder if it's because of those nice dreams that I've been having…"

"Dreams?" Naoya asked.

Maki placed a hand over her chest, closing her eyes as a serene expression formed on her face. "I don't remember them clearly, but it's a magical place. The entire city on the other side has all these pretty flowerbeds for me to play in. Nothing bad happens there, and everyone is nice. Especially that man…he's like a father to me…"

Naoya frowned. Maki must really miss her father…ever since the accident.

"A father? Like your doctor?" Yukino asked. "He seemed pretty nice the last time we were here."

Maki's warm expression quickly turned icy, the smile on her face evaporated. "I don't like him…"

"Why? Did he do something to you!?" Mark demanded, concern etched on his face.

"Mark, calm down!" Yukino chided, gripping Mark's shoulder to hold him back.

Mark, realising his overreaction, quickly shrank back. "S-Sorry…" he said quietly.

Maki shook her head. "It's okay, Masao-kun… It's nothing like that. I just… don't like doctors…"

But Maki suddenly stiffened, her face began contorting in pain and she clutched the sides of her head. "N-Nooooo!" she let out a sharp cry, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Maki!" Naoya immediately rushed over to hold her by the shoulders. "Maki, what's wrong!?"

But Maki did not answer. One hand clutched at the bed sheets in front of her while the other grabbed at her chest, both white-knuckled from how tight her grip was. Her face was even paler than before, sweat was dripping down her forehead, and her breathing came in ragged gasps. "No…No…" she whimpered hoarsely.

"Damn it! What the hell's going on!" Mark demanded.

"She's hyperventilating!" Nanjo answered, placing a hand over Maki's forehead. "Her body temperature's also starting to rise up!"

"This isn't good! Call a doctor!" Yukino cried out.

Mark did not need to be told twice, for in a split second he bolted out the door, slamming it behind him with a violent thud.

Meanwhile, Naoya grabbed Maki's wrist that was still holding the bedsheets, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Come on, Maki… Hang in there!" he pleaded.

To his horror, Maki slumped forward, her ragged breathing coming to a halt. Had Naoya not been holding her, her head would have hit the bed. Naoya quickly rested her body against the pillow, but she remained motionless.

"Maki! Maki!"

~.~

Setsuko bit her lip as she watched the computer screen flashed the words 'DOWNLOADING 98%'. The blue progress bar was creeping at a snail's pace. Every passing second only made the nauseating feeling in Setsuko's stomach worse, but she tried her best to ignore it.

She knew very well that there was no turning back. This might cost her everything, but she had to do it.

Setsuko Sonomura had joined SEBEC as a promising young Tokyo University graduate with a PhD in Engineering. But despite her merits, despite what she could offer to the table, none of the higher-ups were willing to spare her any thought. All because she was a woman.

Despite this, Setsuko still had a happy life outside of work. At the age of twenty, she had married a salaryman – a sweetheart of hers back in her days as a university student– with an income decent enough to support the two of them. They had a daughter, Maki, not long after. Though Maki was a frail girl prone to bouts of illness, both mother and father had pooled their efforts to care for their daughter. It all seemed well.

That is, until the accident. Her husband was on his way home from work when another car collided into his. It was drunk driving, they had said. Setsuko not only lost her husband but the glue that kept her life together.

And just last year, her daughter had another relapse, forcing her to be admitted to the hospital.

Setsuko was then thirty-six, her once youthful enthusiasm dashed. A single mother with a sick daughter who had to be confined to a hospital.

Trapped in a workforce with zero prospects of a promotion, it was truly a dark time in Setsuko's life.

Then one day, SEBEC's new Chief Operating Officer (COO) invited her out for lunch.

It may be hard to believe, but the president was nine years her junior; not even in his thirties and he was already head of the company. He was apparently the heir to a well-known family. It has been a common practice in the country; one's family name and what it carries is guaranteed to determine their status in society.

As a major executive of the company, the president would usually do business at headquarters in Tokyo. But there were rumours that he pulled some strings to instead work in Mikage-Cho, which was apparently his hometown.

Being nothing more than your rank-and-file employee at the time, Setsuko never met the man in person. But now she found herself sitting at an expensive seafood restaurant, sharing a table with him.

"How has work been for you, Sonomura-kun?" The president asked.

"It's been fine, sir." Setsuko replied, avoiding eye contact with the man.

The president shook his head. "There's no need to lie. I've looked up on your resume, Sonomura-kun. A talented young engineer, unable to achieve her full potential, all because you're a woman. After all, a man will always have better credentials than what a woman could offer. I can't say that it's right, but that is sadly how the world had been working for centuries."

Once he finished, he reached for his cup of sake, lifting it up to his lips and taking a sip.

"I don't understand, sir…" Setsuko murmured.

Setting down his cup, the president continued. "What I'm saying is that it would be a shame to see someone of your calibre let their talents go to waste. How is your daughter, by the way?"

"She's still in the hospital… Doctors aren't sure how long she will have to stay there." Setsuko said, her voice trailing off.

The president gave a sympathetic look. "And I'm sure that hospital bills aren't cheap, given your current position. But it won't be easy to find another job either, especially at your age. Thirty-six, was it? By then, engineers or researchers would have already made their mark in the world."

Setsuko remained silent.

He slowly leaned forward across the table, his voice became significantly lower. "I'm starting on a project – one that is going to change the world. And I want you to be its head engineer."

Setsuko's eyes widened. "Sir…?" She wondered if it was some kind of joke, if Fate was simply yanking her chain.

The president smiled, using his chopsticks to effortless pull apart the legs of a soft-shell crab. "I'm serious. I'm offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and this is your chance to take it. All it takes is my good word, and all your problems will be settled."

One week later, Setsuko found herself as head-engineer for SEBEC's secret project. Setsuko now had the accoutrements for success: a high position with a stable income, her picture gracing last year's annual report, and more than enough money to pay for Maki's hospital bills. And Setsuko owed it all to the magnanimity of her employer, who made it all possible.

Setsuko made sure to work hard to earn her new position. She spent long hours sifting through every single detail to ensure that there were no mistakes. She had been working on the project alongside a foreign engineer, Doctor Nicholai, who was personally requested by the director himself. Together, their efforts had shown a lot of promise. And during her time under the director's wing, Setsuko saw the various sides of him: his charismatic side, his visionary side…

And his ruthless side – the one that frightened her the most.

Despite that, Setsuko pushed her feelings aside, and continued to work hard as the diligent employee that she was. For Maki's sake.

But now, she wasn't so sure that she could bear it anymore. Not with the risks involved.

The screen finally flashed 'DOWNLOADING 100%', and Setsuko acted quickly. Her fingers, all greased with sweat, jabbed at the keys. The computer whirred, and a disk ejected from the console.

She took it out from the console and tucked into her coat pocket. Everything was stored inside this disk. Shutting off the computer, she glanced at her watch. It was almost 5 – the end of today's shift. All she had to do now is get this down to the police. It should contain more than enough evidence to put an end to this madness.

But she heard the door creak open. Setsuko froze like a mannequin.

"Sonomura-kun?" An all too familiar voice spoke. A voice that sent a chill up her spine.

Maintaining her composure as best she could, she turned around and saw the president standing at the door, smiling at her. That charming smile that made her skin crawl.

"Mr President!" Setsuko forced herself to speak, ignoring the tightening knot inside her stomach. "What brings you here?"

"I've come to check up on your progress," he said. "After all, we're on a very tight schedule."

"Everything's going smoothly so far, sir. Everything has already been assembled." She answered as best she could, shifting her feet nervously.

"Good. Because we shall be having a test run today."

What? Setsuko felt sick. No, no, no. This wasn't right. The testing phase shouldn't be ready until another month at the very least.

"T-Today, sir?" She shakily asked. Her face was now pale as sheet.

The president's eyes, still trained on her, narrowed. "Yes. Is there a problem, Sonomura-kun?"

Setsuko bit her lip. This had thrown a massive wrench into everything. If they proceeded with the testing phase, then all her efforts would be for nothing.

Which means she was left with no other choice. She had to make him see reason.

Finally steeling herself, Setsuko spoke up. "As a matter of fact, I do, sir."

"Oh?" The president cocked an eyebrow, almost in amusement.

"The system is still too dangerous for testing! T-The lab had to be assembled so quickly, and the equipment provided is subpar!" she pleaded. "If we are careless and something were to happen during the operation, the results will be catastrophic! Worst case scenario: it will not be just this building, but the entire city as well!"

The president remained silent, but Setsuko was determined to make him see reason, for the sake of everyone's lives. "Sir, I'm begging you! Please…! At the very least, I need more time!"

"And what of it?" he asked. "To run a successful business, you need to make some tough decisions. I'm sure you learned that when I placed you under my wing, Sonomura-kun."

No. He wouldn't. "Wh-What does Doctor Nicholai have to say about it? How can he approve of this?"

The president shook his head. "I'm afraid the good doctor has already made his decision."

Seeing the blasé smile on his face, the cold gleam in his eyes, Setsuko knew she had no other choice. She knew that it may cost her the job that was keeping her daughter alive, but she would never forgive herself if something went horribly wrong. She walked past the president, heading straight for the door

As soon as she walked out the door, however, she felt herself slam into something hard, causing her to stumble back with a startled cry.

Standing at the door was Takeda, the head of security. Setsuko's heart thumped rapidly as Takeda approached her, a cold impassive look on the massive man's face. His gigantic frame blocked the doorway, preventing Setsuko from slipping through.

"I'm afraid that would be quite troublesome." she heard the president let out a sigh. "Such a shame… You have been an extremely talented engineer, Sonomura-kun…"

Suddenly, Setsuko felt an arm snake around her neck, putting her into a chokehold. She tried in vain to wrench herself free from the president's grip, kicking at the air, but he was just too strong. She tried to scream for help, but before she could do so, she felt a sharp pain the back of her neck.

The effect was almost instantaneous. Setsuko's eyelids started to feel heavy. Her arms and legs, which had already stopped kicking, were starting to go limp.

As her vision went black, she heard the president's voice speak. "Now, about those files that you stole from me…"

A/N: That's the end of the first chapter! It would be great to hear your thoughts on how the story is for you guys so far.