Chapter 4: Operation Skuld
In 1963, Lorenz published a paper titled *Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow*, in which he established a simplified system of three-variable ordinary differential equations.
This equation has a more poetic name—the "Butterfly Effect."
This effect is often used to illustrate how tiny things can have massive impacts. According to this theory, many transmigrators who enter fictional worlds try their best to avoid being active, even choosing to remain invisible to avoid affecting the original plot.
But in Hikaru Hoshino's view... such precautions were entirely unnecessary.
Weather is a continuous model where a change in initial conditions easily spreads to the whole; society, however, is far more complex. Many people or events actually have limited influence. Cases where "a single hair moves the whole body" are perhaps more accurately explained by "logical chains."
As long as one does not produce a direct impact, the wings unintentionally flapped by a transmigrator won't actually stir up a hurricane.
In other words, up until this moment, Ai's ending has not changed.
Correspondingly, Ryosuke's ending hasn't changed either.
—After killing Ai, he would also commit suicide at his own home.
As the murderer who personally killed both Dr. Amamiya and Ai, this was the ending the original author had mapped out for him.
Hikaru Hoshino wanted to change the illusion of Ai being murdered, yet still arrive at the reality of Ryosuke's suicide.
The path forward was clear.
This was the moment to deceive the world.
"I told you Mr. Kindaichi was gone. No matter how dedicated he is, he wouldn't be working at eight or nine in the evening." Keigo Miura led Hikaru Hoshino to the Lalalai Theatrical Company and pointed toward their floor; as expected, it was pitch black.
"The actors' rehearsal time is over too; it's off-duty hours now. As for those who need to shoot night scenes, they obviously wouldn't be filming inside the theater."
"It's getting late. Why don't we discuss this tomorrow?" Miura turned his round face and asked expectantly.
It seemed he didn't want to work overtime either. No one likes working during their rest time.
"Alright then," Hikaru Hoshino shrugged. "You head back first. I'll be fine on my own."
"Eh?" Miura turned pale with shock.
"Kamiki was an actor with great skills; I have to see if I still have that talent. There are sets and props ready here, and no one around—it's the perfect place for me to try a scene."
Hikaru Hoshino paused, patting Keigo Miura on the shoulder. "Of course, don't think about staying to watch. I'm a bit thin-skinned; I'll feel more at ease alone."
Hearing this, Miura could only give up his thoughts of spectating, though he was still a bit uneasy. "This is technically your first time here; are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Also, you won't do anything bad alone, will you?" he said suspiciously, but he still saw Hikaru Hoshino up.
"Relax, what could happen? I'm an adult; I can take care of myself."
Hikaru Hoshino chuckled and followed Keigo Miura into the elevator.
The theater was located inside an office building. In a place like Tokyo where land is literally worth its weight in gold, taking over an entire building was clearly unrealistic, so only the surrounding theater at the bottom and one floor in the middle belonged to them.
However, most of the other floors were also rented out to performance studios. Everyone was in the industry; it was a good place to network when free.
After entering the theater's workspace, Hikaru Hoshino immediately began shooing people away. Keigo Miura couldn't win the argument and left the scene helplessly.
Once he was sure Keigo Miura was far away, Hikaru Hoshino began wandering around the theater.
Keigo Miura was right—he did indeed intend to do something "bad."
"Hmm, this is the rehearsal room."
"This side is the production office, it's pretty big." "Where is the prop room... found it."
Hikaru Hoshino pushed the prop room door open a crack, observed for a moment, and then slipped in quietly.
There didn't seem to be any surveillance. Was it because there were no valuable props?
Then he wouldn't hold back.
*Take more blood packs; those are top priority.* He checked to see if anticoagulants were added—clotting would be a disaster later.
*Get plenty of capsules too; vomiting blood needs to be dramatic.*
Hikaru Hoshino found a black woven bag and began his "zero-dollar shopping." He might be discovered afterward, but he couldn't care about that now.
One could stuff cotton inside a dress, but the feeling of stabbing it would definitely be wrong.
Pig muscle fiber structure is similar to human tissue and is often used for medical training or special effects testing.
So... sorry, little piggy, I have to hurt you one more time after you've already passed.
After preparing the props, Hikaru Hoshino tidied the shelves slightly so they didn't look too cluttered, then left the theater.
There were many convenience stores on the street, but unfortunately, very few sold pork. It took Hikaru Hoshino a while, but he finally found a 24-hour mega-supermarket near the station and bought several pounds of fresh pork.
He gathered everything into his left hand and waved his arm toward the road. Even though it was late at night, there were still many empty taxis speeding by. Seeing Hikaru Hoshino hail, one immediately pulled over warmly.
When Hikaru Hoshino gave the address without batting an eye, the middle-aged driver with a thick beard let his eyes light up.
These days, passengers brave enough to take a cross-district taxi were rare!
The driver patted his chest: "Young man, are you in a hurry? If you are, I'll get you there even if I have to collect a few tickets!"
Hikaru Hoshino: "...It's not quite that urgent."
He was mostly prepared. Now he planned to head toward Ai's place first and think about how to contact her.
The vehicle hummed and vibrated twice before slowly starting, sluggishly merging into the sparse traffic and driving toward the corners of the city along the neon shadows.
Hikaru Hoshino's thoughts also scattered with the night.
At 6:00 AM tomorrow, Ai will wake up to prepare for the Dome performance, and Ryosuke will arrive to deliver flowers—everything will play out normally according to the written script.
There won't be a single change.
Ai will be stabbed in the abdomen with a knife, letting her beautiful life come to a screeching halt. Those star-shaped eyes, like amethysts, will slowly lose their highlights until they go completely dark. The fluorescent strands of hair will lose their luster, becoming dull and dry like withered violets.
Aqua and Ruby will be raised as the children of the Saito couple, trapped in a whirlpool of hatred from which they can never escape.
Hikaru Hoshino took a deep breath, his heart filled with resolve.
He would be the one to sever the chains of this hatred.
Ai had called Hikaru Kamiki a while ago to tell him her current address, and Hikaru Hoshino was glad that Kamiki had recorded that call.
He didn't know what kind of psychological state Kamiki had been in to do that.
The taxi stopped near the area of Ai's small villa. Hikaru Hoshino paid quickly under the driver's smiling gaze and stepped out carrying his luggage.
Before he knew it, late night was approaching, and there were few people on the street. Ai had a small villa in Suginami Ward. This ward wasn't as noisy as Shinjuku or Shibuya; at least there were no homeless people slumped on the ground or performers in bizarre costumes on the street. Most of the buildings were low-rise residences, interspersed with tastefully decorated izakayas and antique shops.
Hikaru Hoshino walked quietly on the sidewalk, but his pace became slower and slower, until he finally stood still on the deserted street like a statue.
The streetlight suddenly flickered, then brightened again, casting a beam of dim yellow light from above Hikaru Hoshino's head, stretching his shadow long and flickering.
It wasn't that he doubted his plan—there is no such thing as a perfect plan, and any action carries risk. It's just that geniuses can foresee all risks and prepare accordingly. While Hikaru Hoshino wasn't a genius, he had already prepared a fallback measure for a crisis—he would hide in the bushes nearby, and if the plan went wrong, he would charge in immediately...
The reason Hikaru Hoshino stopped was because he felt awkward.
He was a bit afraid to see Ai.
Though she wasn't his ex-girlfriend, and those weren't his children... no, rather, that made it even more complicated. He had no idea what position he held or what identity he should use to meet her.
A gust of cold wind blew past, the faint chill making Hikaru Hoshino shrink his neck. He suddenly snapped out of it, driving his stiff body to continue forward.
It was no big deal. He would just let nature take its course.