A receptionist sits at her desk, staring blankly at a painting on the wall, her expression listless. The soft sound of footsteps approaching pulls her from her thoughts. She glances up, and her eyes widen in recognition."Excuse me for being direct, but aren't you—" she starts."I'm here to see my father," Katai cuts her off, his voice flat, his gaze unwavering as it settles on her. The receptionist, suddenly energized, fumbles to respond."Ah, yes! Sorry!" She sits up straighter. "He's on the rooftop right now. Would you like me to call him?""I'd appreciate that.""J-Just a moment!" She gestures to a holographic interface, her fingers scrolling through a list of contacts. Katai's eyes flicker as he watches her work, his expression barely changing. "I can't see the screen she's using... must be restricted to staff.""Hello? Could you let Mister Sousaku know his son is here?" the receptionist asks into her headset. A brief pause follows. When she ends the call, she turns back to Katai with a smile. "He asked if you could wait in room 103 on the tenth floor.""Thank you," Katai replies curtly, already walking toward the elevator. As he reaches the door, the receptionist calls out after him, her voice almost hesitant."Um... your father said he's very pleased that you came to see him!"Katai steps into the elevator without a word. As the doors slide shut, he taps the panel for the tenth floor and folds his arms, staring ahead."Very pleased to see me..." he mutters under his breath, the faintest hint of sarcasm lacing his words.~ 2102 (30 years ago), Glendale, California ~It's an ordinary summer afternoon in Glendale, California. A middle-aged man with a scruffy beard walks leisurely down the busy streets, his face lost in thought, eyes glued to the holo-phone in his hand. Occasionally, his lips move as he mutters to himself, engaged in some private conversation with his mind.As he walks, his focus remains locked on an article about Genesis, a cutting-edge project. "What a waste of potential," he mutters under his breath, scrolling through the screen, skimming over statements from the researchers of New Pangaea. His mind races, trying to piece together the reasons for their latest setback. Distracted by his thoughts, he doesn't notice a black-haired woman coming from the opposite direction, equally engrossed in her smartphone.Neither is paying attention to their surroundings until—thud! They bump into each other, both stumbling back in surprise."Oh!" The woman quickly clutches her phone and steps back, her face flushing as she stammers, "I-I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"The man steadies himself, brushing off his shirt before offering a calm smile. "No harm done," he replies, glancing at her smartphone. "Just glad you didn't drop your phone. They're easy to break these days."The woman, visibly relieved, nods. "It's fine, thankfully! Not many people are so considerate about smartphones anymore, so thank you!"The man chuckles softly. "In a world like this, we should try to hold onto the little things, not cut them off.""Exactly!" she responds enthusiastically.After a brief pause, he asks, "Mind if I ask—English isn't your first language, is it?"She blinks, surprised. "How did you know?""Your phrasing, the accent. You sound... Japanese?""You're right!" she exclaims, a little embarrassed but impressed. "I'm here on a business trip, but I think I'm lost..." She pulls out her phone and shows him the screen, pointing to a picture of a building. "I'm supposed to be heading here."The man's eyebrows lift in mild surprise. "That's funny—I'm heading there too.""Really?" she asks, her voice tinged with hope."Yeah, want to walk together?" he offers with a slight smile.She nods eagerly. "Yes, thank you so much!"And with that, they fall into step beside each other, walking toward their shared destination.The woman looks up at the man as they walk. "By the way, what's your name?" she asks."Kian. Kian Ventura.""Such an exotic name!" she remarks with a smile."I get that a lot. And you are?""Akahana Sousaku," she responds warmly."Nice to meet you, Akahana."Their walk, though only about twenty minutes, seems to stretch out as if time itself had slowed. They enjoy the easy conversation, and before they know it, they've arrived at their destination. After the event, they cross paths again in a busy hallway."Kian-san!" Akahana calls out."San?" Kian raises an eyebrow, caught off guard."Oh, sorry! Is that rude?" she asks, her cheeks flushing slightly.Kian shakes his head. "No, not rude—just unexpected. I don't get called '-san' often," he chuckles. "Where are you headed now?""I'm going back to my hotel," she replies. "I'm staying here for a week before I return to Japan."Kian's expression falters for a moment, a flicker of disappointment passing through his eyes, though he tries to hide it. Akahana notices but says nothing, letting the moment linger."Well, uh..." Kian starts to turn away, but Akahana quickly digs into her handbag, pulling out her smartphone."Excuse me!" she calls after him.Kian turns back, eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Yeah?""Could I have your contact info?" she asks, her tone a little shy but hopeful. "I don't have many friends from abroad, and...""Sure," Kian interrupts with a smile. They tap their phones together, and after the soft chime of connection, their numbers are saved.Later that evening, as Kian walks home from another event, his phone buzzes. He rotates his palm, bringing up the holographic screen. The message reads, "Sorry to disturb you, Kian-san. Are you able to..." Kian mumbles the rest, furrowing his brows and leaning in closer to the screen."Huh?" he mutters, stopping in his tracks. That message would be the first of many. Over the following week, Akahana extends her stay in California, and the two grow closer. Days turned into months, and before they knew it, a year passed. By that time, they've become inseparable—a couple navigating their futures together.Around that same time, Yuuhi was founded—a venture that would soon change their lives. But three years later, everything shifts...~ Present Day ~Katai cautiously pushes open the heavy wooden door to room 103, his fingers lingering on the handle as he steps inside. His eyes sweep across the room, taking in the neatly arranged furniture, the rows of bookshelves lining the walls, and the large, imposing desk at the centre. He pauses for a moment, letting the quietness of the room sink in. The air feels thick with stillness, a heavy weight pressing on his chest. Finally, he walks over to the desk and sinks into one of the chairs, exhaling a deep, weary sigh that echoes softly in the otherwise silent room.Meanwhile, at a house far from Tokyo, Keiko finishes setting up Katai's device and immediately begins working on creating a gate. Aiko watches from behind, her eyes fixed on the countless holographic screens flickering in front of Keiko."You're fast," Aiko says, impressed."Not as fast as you," Keiko replies with a grin. "Did you really buy this place just yesterday?""Yep! I've done it a few times before.""Oh, to be rich..." Keiko mutters with a playful sigh.Aiko chuckles and ruffles the top of Keiko's head. "You've got a genius mind. What you've accomplished with Kai is worth more than money."Turning around, Aiko pulls up her holo-phone, her fingers gliding over the screen as she makes a call. Katai, still seated in the empty office, notices the notification of the incoming call on his holographic display. He straightens up, clearing his throat before answering."I take it you found a place?" he asks, his voice measured."Yeah," Aiko replies. "Keiko's preparing the gate. Could you send us a picture of where the device is? It'll help with accuracy."Katai pauses, his gaze drifting toward the door as he hears muffled footsteps approaching from outside. "I would," he begins slowly, "but I'm not on the roof right now. I'll call you once I get there."He hangs up and rises from the chair, turning just as the door creaks open with a low, deliberate sound. Kian steps into the room. The moment Katai sees his father, the atmosphere shifts. The air becomes electric, charged with tension that seems to seep into Katai's skin, rooting him to the spot. His thoughts scatter, replaced by a swell of anger and anxiety that threatens to choke him.Kian moves closer, his arms spreading slowly, speaking in a voice that Katai barely registers—muffled, distant, as though underwater. Rage flares inside him, his pulse quickening. But suddenly, one phrase cuts through the fog: "...brings you here."Katai blinks, taking an instinctive step back, rubbing his eyes in a vain attempt to regain focus. "Sorry," he stammers. "I-I didn't catch what you said."Kian stops, his expression one of concern. Katai forces himself to meet his father's eyes, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Could you repeat yourself?"Kian's voice softens as if he's choosing his words carefully. "I asked what brings you here. It's been... so many years. I'd love to sit down and talk. We could catch up. How has life been treating you?"Katai clenches his fists, his mind racing. Each word feels like a trap, and yet there's an undeniable ache in his father's tone—a plea for connection that only deepens the storm inside him. He brushes past his father, his voice cold and distant. "I've had enough reunions this week... I didn't come here to reminisce—I came for your device."Kian slowly turns his head, a mix of confusion and hurt in his eyes. "What are you talking about?""You think I don't know what you've been up to?" Katai spins around, his tone rising with accusation. "You're still trying to bring Mom back, aren't you?"Kian's face pales. "Katai...""We're having this conversation now." Katai crosses his arms, his gaze unwavering. "Why? Why are you still doing this? You've failed so many times already. How many more attempts until you give up?"Kian's voice trembles as he responds, "She's... she was the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't just... I can't accept losing her forever. You, of all people, should understand that."Katai's expression hardens. "Understand? Why do you think I left all those years ago?" He takes a breath, the old bitterness seeping into his words. "You changed, Dad. After she died, you locked yourself in that workshop, chasing a ghost. Every day you buried yourself in your work, and when you came home, it was like you weren't even there. I lost my mom, and then I lost you.""Katai, please—" Kian's voice falters."I left because I had to," Katai cuts him off, his voice cracking. "I couldn't stay and watch you destroy yourself. You were so obsessed with her that you didn't even notice when I was gone. I was your son, Dad. I still am. But you couldn't see past your grief."Kian's fists tighten, his eyes flashing with pain. "Shut up!" His voice erupts with anger before he quickly reins it in, lowering his tone. "Is that why you came here? To scold me like some child?""No," Katai replies evenly. "I came because there's something else going on—something bigger than either of us. There have been supernatural incidents happening all over the world. No one knows the cause, but I have a pretty strong suspicion it's connected to you."Kian's face goes blank. "What are you saying?"Katai's voice is sharp and unrelenting. "Your device—every time you activate it, the other Genesis shards around the world start reacting. It's like they're all connected somehow. I'm not sure of the exact mechanism, but I think you're the one triggering it."Kian's eyes widen, stunned. "You 'think'?"Katai presses on, his tone firm. "Even if I'm wrong, you've done enough damage. To yourself, to the people around you. You need to stop this—before things escalate even further. Let her rest, Dad. Before you lose everything."Kian facepalms and turns away, his voice low and strained. "I can't stop."Katai steps closer, his frustration mounting. "What? Didn't you hear a word I just said? What could possibly be stopping you?""I've come too far," Kian mutters, his tone almost desperate. "Earlier this week... I made her heart beat, Kai. Just for a few seconds."Katai stares at him, dumbfounded. "What?""Your theory was right," Kian continues, a faint smile creeping onto his face. "By synchronizing all the Genesis shards worldwide with mine, I can channel their collective energy into one target. I can manipulate reality, even if only for a moment." His grin widens, pride creeping into his voice. "It's incredible, isn't it?"Katai looks down at his trembling hands, thoughts racing. Just like commands... but in reality? Does he even need Vakora?"I had a surgeon examine her body while they were under the influence of Genesis," Kian says, pacing now, the words spilling out. "Afterwards, the radioactivity wore off, and the surgeon showed no signs of illness. No adverse effects. Do you know what that means, Kai?"Katai stands there, speechless, the weight of Kian's revelation pressing down on him.Kian sighs and steps past him, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Come with me. I need to show you something."Minutes later, Kian and Katai enter a stark, sterile room bathed in white light. Through a large window, a group of researchers can be seen prepping for the next experiment in an adjacent observation room. Kian walks ahead, inspecting the space, and stops in front of a glass chamber with frosted panels."Katai," Kian calls out, breaking his son's trance. He raps twice on the glass, and the frost dissipates to reveal Akahana's body inside, dressed in hospital clothes. The sight of her makes Katai recoil in shock."Hey! What the hell is this?!" Katai steps forward, his voice rising. "Why is she here?! What are you doing with her body?"Kian remains unnerved, smiling as he responds, "Calm down. She was never buried. After she died, I had her body transferred here immediately. Isn't it something? To see your mother... like this."Katai hesitates, drawn to the chamber. His hand presses against the cold glass as he gazes at his mother's lifeless face. There's a strange ache in his chest—memories of her flicker, hazy and distant. "I barely remember her..." he murmurs. "I was a baby when she died. My only memories of her are from photos, videos, holograms... But now..." His voice falters. "This... this is her. This is the real thing."Kian nods, his tone almost gentle. "That's right. You've recreated her in your simulations, but no copy could ever compare to the real Akahana. You wondered what she was like—how she moved, how she spoke, what kind of mother she could've been. Now you get to see her for who she really was."Katai clenches his fist, pulling his hand away from the glass. "I want to know everything about her... But not like this. This isn't right."Kian frowns. "What do you mean? This is the only chance you'll ever have.""She wouldn't want this." Katai's voice is firm now, a quiet conviction settling in. "You've always told me how she kept your ambitions in check, kept you grounded. Maybe losing her is what drove you off the edge, Kian." He turns to face his father, his eyes hardening. "This... this obsession isn't about her anymore."Kian chuckles darkly, his smile returning. "Maybe you're right. But this is my last gamble. Once I bring her back, the world changes. I'm prepared for whatever comes next."Katai's brow furrows. "What do you mean, 'prepared for what's to come'?"Before Kian can answer, the door behind them slides open. Johan steps inside, his hands buried in his pockets. His gaze sweeps the room before settling on Katai. There's a flicker of something in his eyes, but his face remains impassive."Oh, he's here," Johan says with a low, disinterested tone.Katai's heart sinks as he faces him. "Johan..."Kian brightens, turning to greet Johan. "Perfect timing! I was just explaining everything to Katai. Maybe you can help him understand."Johan shrugs, giving a resigned glance to Katai. "Yeah, sure. Why not?""I'll leave you two to it," Kian says, his voice casual as he heads for the door. "Meet me on the roof in thirty minutes, Johan." Without another word, he exits, leaving the room heavy with silence as Katai and Johan stand facing each other, the tension thickening between their locked stares.