We've all seen what Eyes Wide Open can do when possessing Konoha.

What happens if he chooses someone else?

(On a side note, differentiating between the two Shintaros is getting somewhat tiring.

Any suggestions?)

Obligatory Disclaimer: I don't own the Kagerou Project; Jin (aka Shizen-no-Teki-P) does.

–

Another route, another plan to put in action. This particular plan came about from a short bit of idle thinking during the previous route- "Hm. Could the snake possess other people aside from the android?" He discussed it with the snake himself in the Heat Haze, as they were preparing to enter the new route.

"Yes, I could... but there are limitations. Why do you ask?"

"I had an idea we could try, but it depends on one of them being under our control."

"Ah. I see. However, the others will not be easily swayed- their minds will need to be fractured to an extent first, and even then I can't take direct control, only make them follow your command."

"Really? Why? You can take control of Konoha easily enough."

"The android's mind is malleable, as is the scientist's. The others' minds, though, are more resilient."

"Well, that won't be a problem. Here's what I had in mind..."

For some odd reason, they had entered the timeline not on the fifteenth, but the day after, on the sixteenth. It didn't really matter to Shintaro, though. Even though the Mekakushi-dan was going to be harder to break apart, he was confident that his plan would succeed all the same.

He compiled a mental to-do list as he walked down the street.

First, I'll need to go to the electronics department of the local mall. Hopefully, they'll have components on sale...

It had taken a few hours, but he finally managed to gather all of the materials he had been searching for. All he would need to do now is test it; for this, he would need to find a secluded area. The forest would work.

The device primarily consisted of a small breadboard, with a few nine-volt batteries, a timer, antenna, switch, and a few other components wired up on it. Also mounted on it was a small cardboard tube, filled with a bit of iron rust mixed with aluminum powder, as well as an electric match initator.

He set the device down underneath a tree, and flipped a small switch on the front.

Then, he stepped back a bit and pressed the button on a remote detonator.

Within seconds, the metallic mixture, also known as thermite, had ignited. As he saw the tree catch fire, he walked away. The device would work.

His next stop was his alternate's house. As expected, both of the Kisaragi children were out- probably doing something with the rest of the Mekakushi-dan. He quietly snuck into his own house (he had the key, of course), and planted a few devices inside his room. In particular, he made sure to place a few by the surge protector his computer was plugged into, by his door and window, and under his bed as well. He left as quietly as he entered, which was slightly unneccessary; his mom was out at this time, at her workplace.

He returned a few hours after midnight. As expected, both his counterpart and his counterpart's sister were in the house and asleep. Peering into his counterpart's room, he could see Ene, still on-screen, screwing about with various files on the computer. Again, he snuck into his house, but this time he made his way to the circuit box. From there, he shut off power to the house. As many of the lights in the house were off already, this went mostly unnoticed by the human residents within. Ene, though, had to relocate herself to his alternate's phone. She definitely noticed the power outage- Shintaro had to act quickly.

He ran out of the house, quickly running up to his vantage point, on top of the roof of another house on the street. He peered into his counterpart's room again- he'd only just started to awaken. Good. Shintaro pulled out the detonator remote, and pressed the button. Within seconds, his counterpart's room, and house, were ablaze. He almost felt sorry for his counterpart; the devices had been placed as to block off all possible escape routes from his counterpart's room with extremely hot fires.

As his counterpart panicked in the blaze, Momo awoke. She took one look at the wall separating the two siblings' rooms (which was on fire), and the smoke (which was quickly filling her room), and immediately ran outside. Conveniently enough for Shintaro, she left her phone in her room, to which the fire was quickly spreading. As Momo exited the burning building, she was greeted with the sight of numerous firefighters and firetrucks in front of the building. As a paramedic rushed to her and began to treat her, a squad of firefighters traveled into the blaze.

Of course, they left only a few minutes later, as the burning building collapsed due to the fire. The girl screamed, cried, and tried to reach out and run towards the burning wreckage of the building, but was held back by the paramedic. However, she struggled, and eventually escaped. She ran down the street, and into an alleyway, hiding behind a dumpster. The paramedics and firefighters tried to look for her, to no avail; eventually, they left, leaving the burnt-out building behind for the cleanup crew.

As Shintaro watched his counterpart's sister cry, Eyes Wide Open spoke to him.

"Shall I... ask her to make a wish?"

"Of course."

–

As Momo cried in the alleyway, she thought about her brother.

Sure, he was creepy, weird, rude, and a bit perverted at times, he still had things going for him: he was protective, was smart, and, admittedly, was even a bit cool at times, like that time in the mall, where the terrorist had grabbed him by the collar...

But, of course, none of that mattered now, since he was dead.

Could she have prevented it? Could she have saved him?

She didn't know. But her mind was telling her that yes, she could have.

She could have run into his room, pulled him out of the fire. He might have sustained a few burns in the process, but at least he'd be alive, right?

Even through this, she cried alone. However, a few moments later, she found that she wasn't alone- a mysterious voice, apparently inside her head, began speaking to her.

"Poor child. Left alone in the world after an unfortunate accident. What ever will she do...?"

"W-w-who are you?"

"My identity is not important for now... yours is, however. Tell me, if you were to wish for anything in the world, what would you wish for? My guess would be your onii-chan, correct?"

"Y-yeah! I want my onii-chan back!"

"Very well... if you do a...favor for me, I'll bring your dear brother back. Do you accept?"

"Of course! I'll do anything if I can get onii-chan back!"

"Okay then, just sit tight and close your eyes, this will only take a moment..."

She closed her eyes, and felt something pass into her body, sending a tingling sensation all throughout her body.

And when Momo Kisaragi opened her eyes again, one of them shone a bright crimson, while its companion remained its normal hue.

Soon enough, Shintaro Kisaragi rounded the corner into the alleyway.

Momo responded with a teary hug that used all the force she could muster.

A bit of background info here: In this timelime (based off the first route in the manga), most of the Mekakushi-dan have met (Hibiya and Konoha excluded), and the terrorist attack at the mall happened, they went to the amusement park, and went home without incident (aka Kuroha didn't kill them all).

Also, I've decided to write this part of the story in different chapters / parts, instead of writing and uploading the entire part as one chapter.