Chapter 3 - Operation Erasure Begins
Deep beneath Tokyo, in a hidden facility masked by pharmaceutical fronts, the true architects of the time regression experiment began a new initiative—Operation Erasure.
The goal: eliminate all subjects who went rogue, especially those who resisted reactivation, refused surveillance, or attempted to rebuild normal lives.
Akio Hukitaske was marked Priority One.
"Subject 9 has re-established influence, drawn community around himself. This could create sympathy. Even protection," said the Director.
"We end it before that happens," replied another.
Teams were formed. Data reviewed. Lives tracked. They weren't sending a message.
They were sending a warning.
And Akio would be the first target.
Scene 1: The Rain Before The Fire
Akio awoke to his alarm. The rain tapped his windows like a gentle prelude.
He made tea. Rechecked inventory. Goofed around with Raka when she walked in with the jokes. Greeted customers with his usual calm.
But something was off. People lingered in the street too long. A person passed by the window three times. There was a dark van parked two buildings down.
Akazuchi noticed. "We're being watched."
Akio's eyes narrowed.
When night came, someone slipped an envelope under the door.
Inside—photos of him and his staff, timestamped. Printed warnings. One line underlined in red:
YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO KEEP THIS LIFE.
The fire hadn't come yet.
But the storm had begun.
And their plans to erase him—because he was never doing their bidding—had just begun.
[Next: Chapter 4 — The Fire at Block 9]