《Ice Cream for The Planet》


 Prologue

    If there was an opportunity to grant whatever you wanted for a massive fee, would you still do it?


    Even if it will take away your identity until you are no longer recognized by the people you care about. Alone in the void, rethinking your decision to sacrifice everything for selfish desires is right.


    "I like you, Arisa. This feeling hasn''t changed since the incident at the outer zone border until now."


    The man took a deep breath, trying not to be mistaken in his words. His pace was heavy. His head felt full and dizzy. The girl beside him just sat there in silence. She felt compelled to wait for the man to say his next words.


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    "After all these years with you leaving school, I can finally see you again. Don''t you know that my chest beats wildly when I recognize you sitting here? Inside my head now¡­ it''s a mixed thought."


    However, this man didn''t let his vortex of emotions mess things up. He still had to convey all his heart had been buried at the bottom of his consciousness for many years.


    After several years of fruitless efforts, he is now reunited with the person he is looking for purely by chance.


    Who would''ve thought that someone he is eager to meet isn''t on his timeline, instead, she is here in the past?


    "Will you be my lover?" asked the man firmly.


    "Ah¡­ that''s-"


    The girl stopped moving her tongue to say something further. Her head patiently processed every strand of the man''s words and feelings.


    Her eyes lowered for a second before looking back at the guy''s gaze, waiting for an answer. The girl''s soft lips began to move as they should since someone''s hope depended on her reply.


    Those words were the ultimate answer to the man''s feelings after all this time.

 1st Fragment – Departure of Humanity

    ¡°The ceremony of the journey to the past is about to begin.¡±


    The announcement was the reason for the large crowd gathering in the large hall. The inside of this building is square-shaped, with one side higher than the others. There¡¯s a brand new pulpit up there that can be seen.


    This room is large enough with a capacity of almost four hundred people. The holographic ornaments on the walls display the figure of someone beautiful with inspirational words and the image of the blue Earth behind her. Not to forget, dozens of circling drones enliven the atmosphere by spouting confetti in the air. Loud cheers rang out from the audience, waiting for the event to start.


    Several drones for media crews also spread out in various directions looking for an optimal and representative viewpoint for their coverage. Everyone understands that this event is a historic step for the survival of humanity.


    A man walked towards the pulpit to do his noble job. He made a few touches on the pulpit and turned on the super-wide projection screen behind him.


    Only one man stood as the center of attention between the hundreds of people sitting in their seats. He took a deep breath and readied his throat to signal the start of the event.


    ¡°My people! Thank you for being here. We will gratefully remember that your presence here is one of the major factors that decide the fate of the Earth in the future!¡±


    There was thunderous applause and shouts of cheering again following. The orator bowed to respond to the satisfaction that emerged from the audience¡¯s passionate spirit. He smiled and cleared his throat to get their attention back.


    ¡°As we know, the Earth has reached its dangerous stage. Thanks to our ignorance and arrogance as human beings, the planet is experiencing dire consequences. War, overexploitation of resources, and a capitalist system that knows no boundaries are the main cause of this planet¡¯s horrible fate. Now, our only home in this solar system is about to be destroyed! Just look at the reality that has happened. Humans can only survive under an artificial oxygen dome. There is no more natural and beautiful ecosystem out there. Only air with a very high level of pollution will welcome us!¡±


    Again, his words can touch everyone¡¯s heart as they keep listening. A girl with long brown hair that reaches her back is trying to focus through her eyes to pay more attention to how the figure on the pulpit can easily influence others. One of her distinct features is anyone can see her ice cream hair ornament with a color foundation similar to the original.


    ¡°Therefore, we as human beings who caused all of this must be held accountable for our actions! Humanity has agreed that the only way to save the condition of the Earth in these conditions is to go back in time. In that era, we will carry out our mission so that the fate of destruction will not happen to our beloved planet!¡±


    The orator spreads his arm wide.


    ¡°Our departure into the past is a humanitarian mission. For a better Earth! For the sake of the clear blue sky we are supposed to inherit from our ancestors! For the survival of all of us!¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡±


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    Everyone present has made up their minds to carry out the mission of atonement for what humanity has wronged. Some stood up to show their seriousness, except the girl with the ice cream hairpin earlier.


    Her eyes lit up, and her face wore a friendly smile. Arisa is thinking about something she wishes she could have done in the past.


    ¡°The clear blue sky is beautiful. But, I¡¯m also curious about other things that can only be found in that timeline. I hope the ice cream tasted good,¡± she said flatly but hopefully.


    Someone was sitting firmly in his seat on the other side of the hall, watching the orator trying to galvanize the audience. The man with short hair was reminiscing about his plan when he arrived in the past.


    ¡°Bro, try to be excited, please. The others were screaming passionately, and you just kept quiet? Where¡¯s your determination, man? Where is it?¡± said the blonde-haired man as he firmly pats someone beside him. Her complexion was so attractive, and he understood that.


    ¡°Shut it, Val. I¡¯m already excited, you know! But in my own way,¡± defended Rio angrily.


    ¡°I never heard of someone being excited but keeping quiet while others are expressing it so excitedly? Come on, Rio. Get your voice out. Groar!¡± he teased again with his mischievous smile.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you just leave me alone? Go away.¡±


    ¡°There is no other place to sit. Everything is occupied, ¡°said Valerie nonchalantly.


    Rio ignored Valerie and focused on the center of attention on the pulpit.


    ¡°Give our salutation for the creation of scientists as our gateway to the past! Prepare your determination once again. We¡¯re leaving now!¡±


    The signal had been given along with the wall behind the orator being pulled up like a curtain. Hundreds of life-sized tubes could be seen as thin smoke drifted out of the room and slowly evaporated.


    ¡°What you guys are looking at is a time travel tube! This thing will send us to our destination safely and instantly. Rejoice, O mankind! We will succeed in this historic first step! Let¡¯s go together to save the world.¡±


    As the orator descended from the pulpit, the audience immediately stood up and gave the final salute. They then walked to the left and right, where the orator was standing, entering the new room. Each of the volunteers will enter their time travel tube respectively. Some were palpitating when they saw what the tube looked like up close.


    It¡¯s time to go on a journey that humanity had never done before, thought a girl with short black, slightly puffy hair. Her eyes scanned every inch of the outer shape of the tube. Nothing seemed odd, so the girl pushed the button to open the transparent cover and enter.


    Hopefully, we can meet again in the past safe and sound, Rio and Valerie.


    As the girl entered, everyone was already in their respective tubes.


    In another tube, Arisa looks at many interfaces about the information on her tube. It shows her vital condition monitor on the left and right in the form of a hologram. This girl examined one by one of them and shook her head slowly.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t understand a bit. As long as there¡¯s no alarm, everything should be fine,¡± she muttered.


    A holographic screen displays a view of the city from a height. Arisa widens the holographic view in three dimensions until it is seen to the most detailed level. Her fingers twirled the display from various angles. Then, she reversed the display so a clear blue sky could be seen.


    ¡°Tantoris. A natural city in the past that could survive without the need for an oxygen dome on top¡­.¡± Arisa read the caption that happened to appear on display.


    ¡°Good. I hope it¡¯ll be a nice trip,¡± she said with her mouth muscles moved to form a smile.


    Thin smoke gradually entered and filled the contents of the tube. Slowly, extreme drowsiness attacks Arisa. Her eyelids felt so heavy that she immediately yawned.


    ¡°Departure is about to begin! Let¡¯s countdown together! Ten! Nine! Eight!¡±


    The faint sound of the orator can be heard from inside the tube as the consciousness of the volunteers fades away. The outside temperature of the tube gradually rises as a sign that enormous energy is being used to move the human body to the timeline where they¡¯ve not come initially.


    ¡°Three! Two! One!¡±


    As the countdown ended, each time travel tube had emptied its contents. There were no more human figures to be found inside except for a thick, cold mist that slowly spread throughout the room.


    The orator¡¯s lips stopped seeing the empty travel tube. He checked once again to see if no one was present.


    ¡°Travel to the past¡­ is a success!¡±

 Character Illustration

    Arisa


    "Don''t you get curious about how the ice cream tastes in that place?


    In my opinion, every shop must have its own unique flavor. Moreover, if the ice cream was made in a different era.


    Can''t wait to go see the natural blue sky and fresh ice cream in the past!"


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    Rio


    "As human beings, it''s only natural that we participate in time travel to save the earth. If not us, then who will?"


    Rita


    "Rio, Val, you guys working overtime today?


    Hm, then I''ll bring hot tea for your overtime, so you will get it done quickly."


    Valerie


    "Greetings, my name is Valerie. You can call me Val.


    First of all, here is my contact. I''m sure you''ll call me again five hours from now, miss.


    Hmm? Too confident, you say? Haha, no. I''m just stating the facts from my experience.


    Want proof? No need to rush. Let''s have a leisurely chat first this afternoon."

 2nd Fragment – Arrival

    She slowly moved her eyelids as she regained consciousness. Arisa gradually felt her muscle contraction in various parts of her body. Waking up from a soft mattress made her unable to remember what was going on with her quickly. Her gaze goes throughout the room as her head is still hazy, remembering what had happened.


    "That''s right. I''m in the past right now, am I?" she said faintly, followed by a yawn.


    Arisa walks up to the mirror in her room weakly. She notices her reflection¡ªapparently, she is wearing pajamas. Her brown hair looks messy, and she still has a perfect physique without missing limbs. Not to mention that her ice cream cone hairpin perched on her head.


    "Good. Then, now..."


    A soft touch on the communication ring she wears activated a hologram screen that appeared above her left hand. Arisa opens the relevant files using the other hand, and the device displays the information she is looking for.


    The Record of The Past.


    "If we look here, Arisa is a student living in a family. So, everyone in this family should treat me like their own."


    The girl reads the information while her legs tiptoe and make other small movements. Every profile she should have understood before her departure is being reread several times. Just make sure.


    "My father''s name is Zebulun Tanjung. And my mother is Sasmita Tanjung. Also, I have a little brother named Tirto Tanjung, who is seven years younger than me. That''s it, so..."


    She tightened her palm and turned off all the display of information, Arisa unlocked her door and stepped out.


    It''s the same as what this girl saw earlier in the three-dimensional projection from the future. Her room is on the second floor, connected to the other two rooms. As Arisa recalls, one of those rooms belonged to her past brother, and the other was still empty.


    But that is not important for now. Arisa must prepare herself to treat strangers as her family as long as she is in the past, outside her original timeline.


    Treating strangers as the closest people because they''re supposed to be her family is something she''s never experienced before.


    As she goes to the first floor, a rare sight greets her without warning beforehand. The mother, who was preparing breakfast, realized someone had come from the second floor. She smiles toward Arisa kindly¡ªa very rare sight in the girl''s memory.


    "You''re awake. Good, let''s have breakfast together."


    "Yes," she replied shyly. Arisa carefully watches her move as she obeys her request, sitting in a chair and looking at the view of the whole house with her own eyes.


    It''s weird that someone I''ve just met is telling me for breakfast like this, she thought.


    Arisa catches a glimpse of the interior of the house. Following the three-dimensional display she saw in the future, this place looks different compared to future housing. The furniture is old-fashioned for Arisa since it is less sophisticated than her own house.


    The girl found her brother sitting across in front of her seat. He still looks sleepy. Sometimes, the little brother puts his face on the table.


    "Well, breakfast is ready," said the mother, putting a plate of bread and sunny-side eggs on the table. Arisa is examining how the figure of the woman preparing breakfast so curiously.


    Why has Arisa been accepted in a family of total strangers? It''s all thanks to the Records of the Past.


    The scientists created a feature so the volunteers could blend with the past community. By creating a pseudo-hierarchy slipped into an existing community, the community''s memories of the past will adapt and treat a volunteer as someone who initially existed in the past.


    The achievement of scientists is genuinely outstanding, she thought.


    A man wearing old chain goggles is also present at this small morning gathering. The girl understands very well that the man is the head of this family. He didn''t talk much and ate his breakfast straight away.


    Like a signal, Arisa followed what her ''father'' did. But as the simple sandwich went inside her mouth, Arisa''s eyes were sparkling.


    This flavor... is something I never had before!.


    Closing her eyes while chewing, Arisa compares what she has been consuming in the future with her breakfast now.


    ... it tasted completely different!


    Mom realizes her daughter has finished her meal quickly. She chuckles and smiles at Arisa.


    "Are you really that starving? I''ll make it again if you want."


    "Yes, I do. I want more, Mom," Arisa replied enthusiastically.


    The mother returns to the kitchen, preparing more for her daughter, who enjoys a new taste on her tongue. It won''t be enough for Arisa to eat just a single portion if it''s that delicious.


    A moment later, Arisa remembered something when she noticed her ''brother and father'' were enjoying their breakfast.


    What about the others, huh? Do they also feel this foreign sensation like me?


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    The long-haired girl tries to guess what others are going through as she waits and looks out the window. It''s so bright and warm, thanks to the morning sun.


    In the same city, a different place where Valerie lives with his past family.


    "Hmm..."


    The man sat in the living room smiling awkwardly as a strange feeling was inside his chest. Indeed, he can easily get along quickly with new people. Still, if the said person is supposed to be his family from now on, he can''t help but feel uneasy.


    A woman with shoulder-length curly hair sits in front of him on a carpet with a gaze glued to a large television in the living room, enjoying a series of internet subscription programs. Her attention is focused on the series, so she''s unaware that Valerie sits beside her, fidgeting.


    "Val, what''s wrong?"


    Another voice is calling Valerie from behind the couch. A graceful woman with long hair up to her shoulders wearing casual clothes walked close to him as he turned around.


    "Sis? No, nothing. Just got in a little bit of thought," he replied.


    "What kind of thought? Do you mind if you tell me about it?"


    I''m thinking about how strange it is to call you my big sister when we just met, Valerie answers inside his mind.


    "It''s okay. It''s just a matter of silly debate on the internet. Don¡¯t worry, Sis Alana. Everything is safely under control," he joked.


    "Alright, then," she chuckles. She didn''t think about it any further and walked into the kitchen to pick something up.


    It does take time to adjust myself. But it will take a little time. I can do it, right?


    Valerie smiled, got off the couch, and joined her cousin, who was still watching with focus.


    "Okay, Nia. Can you give me a quick summary so I can understand this episode?" said Valerie casually, who was starting to watch the actors doing their job on the screen.


    The girl''s attention is shifted to the man who should be her cousin. Her eyes look at the attractive figure who slowly becomes interested in the screen''s various scenes.


    Valerie''s cousin then returns to watch as she prepares for the synopsis of what has happened in the series. It only took a few seconds for him to explain his cousin''s request.


    "This series tells the story of mafia life, whose main character wants revenge. In previous episodes, I was only told how he looked for clues about the person responsible for the accident. Then¡ª"


    Now his attention is entirely on his cousin, who is explaining the story in such detail. Valerie chuckles, not expecting Nia won''t stop talking while presenting the synopsis of the series.


    Maybe Valerie will enjoy the process of adapting to his new family.


    Elsewhere in Tantoris, a short-haired girl with a dark color is currently preparing a warm tea inside the teapot. Then, she carefully brings it into someone''s room and puts it on a small table.


    "Grandma, I make you a warm drink. I hope you like it."


    "Thank you, Rita. Sorry for bothering you."


    "I don''t mind, Grandma. I also happened to want to have some tea, so don''t worry."


    The fragile, hunched figure with white hair finally looked sideways after a long stare out the window. The sun is still out there. However, today''s temperature is below average¡ªcolder than usual.


    That''s why Rita thinks making a warm drink for grandma might be helpful. The girl understands that if she is as old as her grandma, she would feel colder than relatively young others.


    Rita pours tea into a cup and takes it to grandma''s front. She nodded and took the cup carefully.


    "It is very delicious. I feel like my body is getting warmer."


    Rita smiled when she heard grandma''s comment.


    Thank God my existence got accepted quickly. Initially, I was worried, even though my position in my Record of the Past was to be her granddaughter. I thought she''d still reject me.


    Rita breathes a sigh of relief quietly without grandma knowing. Her feelings are much calmer now.


    How are Rio and Valerie doing? Hope they''re okay.


    The last one is Rio. Is he able to instantly blend with his past family as the others do?


    Rio is currently at the dinner table. He looks around without knowing what to do as the oldest brother in his past family. Breakfast was over for a while, and the whole family was relaxing right now.


    His eyes are looking at the twins talking to each other. According to the profile Rio read before, their names are Vemia and Nando. Both are twelve years old, with Vemia as the elder sister.


    "There are many kinds of sea animals. According to this book, fish at a depth of five thousand meters will have a strange shape than fish on the surface." Vemia explains that based on the information she just read.


    Arnando was quiet for a moment to process the information he had recently got. "Five thousand meters is about the distance from the midtown bridge to the police station, isn''t it?"


    "Yes, about that far. But imagine if the direction goes deeper into the sea."


    Rio understands that his twin siblings are discussing sea creatures that are still a mystery. In fact, all animals in the depths have almost been identified thanks to future technology. However, in the next few hundred years, the earth also experiences destruction due to human selfishness.


    That''s right. If I''m in the past now, then...


    The man stood up and walked to the door, which Nando later noticed.


    "Brother is going to go outside?" the boy asked.


    "Where are you going?" continued Vemia.


    "Ahh... just want to find some fresh air," Rio replied, entirely unprepared for the question. How could he not think of people at home and walk away?


    "Oh, that''s it. Be careful, Brother," Vemia said, followed by Arnando waving his hand.


    Rio smiles and finally seeks to see what the past earth has to offer.


    The first time the man set foot outdoors, a warm light landed on his face as the first welcome for those who successfully managed to get to the past.


    His gaze was savoring all of this rare sight before him. And then, he looks at the clear sky filled with soft, cotton clouds¡ªthings Rio had never seen in person because everything is in blue-and-gray in the future''s sky due to the oxygen dome.


    Rio took a deep breath and breathed it slowly.


    Fresh air.


    He smiled and looked at the clumps of cotton floating in the sky. It''s time to take a first-hand look at the city''s atmosphere in the past with his own eyes.


    Suddenly, part of his mind says that someone he''s been looking for over these years is also participating in a trip to the past. What will that person thinks when she sees this kind of sight?


    ... I kinda miss her.


    Rio is going to get around further to fulfill his curiosity.


    The housing structure is so different compared to the architecture of the future residence. The road is made of asphalt that gets warmer thanks to the relentless sunlight. Plants and trees grow naturally because the soil is still abundant with minerals, followed by the sounds of such noisy insects. It really gives Rio an experience that he has never felt before.


    It''s not that there''s no vegetation at all in the cities of the future. However, every plant is always contained in a medium with enough soil because it needs to be monitored. No insects live on such caged plants. It is completely sterile and quiet.


    The young guy spotted several vehicles passing by on the main road. Rio thinks cars in the past definitely need improvement, especially in their gas emissions factor. Rio wonders if he would try to change that for the sake of better earth in the future.


    "But I''m not sure that the technology in this era is capable of supporting an environmentally friendly transportation system," he said as he continued to walk.


    His footsteps slowly take the young man to the town''s riverbank. Rio looked back on the information about the Tantoris City that he had studied before this departure began. Basically, the city''s location is close to two mountains cut off by the Main River in the middle. The Main River has several branches that spread throughout the other side of this city.


    The topography structures were quite common for cities in the past. It''s really different when I compare it with our city''s topography.


    Rio is walking down through this riverbank to see how a natural river formed in the past. It is as depicted as his communication ring says. Still, this is the first time Rio has seen a naturally flowing river with his own eyes.


    As he looks the other way, someone sits on a long bench near the riverbank.


    "Eh?"


    That figure feels familiar to Rio. The girl is relaxing with an ice cream stick in her hands while enjoying the sound of the river''s flow.


    Is it her?


    Is she someone Rio has been looking for all along this time?

 3rd Fragment - Since That Day I

    The memory buried among the fragments of other memories began to rise again. How Rio is reminiscing about him going back and forth to the teacher''s room and database room to look for Arisa''s whereabouts, who suddenly disappeared from the school, made him uneasy.


    Rio also tried to go to the police station to look for relevant information. Unfortunately, he was too young at the time, so almost everyone has yet to actually listen to his request.


    On another occasion, Rio spent his spare time while lacking sleep looking for information through the communication ring to meet his classmate again.


    After everything he has been through¡ª


    Rio couldn''t believe his eyes. He quickly activated his communication ring by tapping it once. The holographic display hovering above Rio''s fingers appeared and immediately received input from the user.


    When the young man compared the photo from the projection with someone enjoying her ice cream, he nodded slowly.


    There''s no mistaking it.


    Rio walks closer. His steps gradually quickened as if he was about to jog. His feelings and thoughts were jumbled, and he couldn''t think straight at all. That figure¡­


    He has to meet her now!


    And then, the man arrived in front of the girl. She looked up to see who was blocking her line of sight. That look¡ªit''s what Rio had been looking for all this time.


    "Arisa, is that you?" he greets in an almost shaking voice, "I don''t know that you joined this project as well."


    The girl stays quiet as she stares at Rio''s face intensely. Getting a glare like that made Rio uneasy.


    "H-hello?" said Rio once again.


    "Yeah, just a minute. I''m trying to remember your face. Hmm, hmm," said Arisa, who didn''t blink at all.


    "¡­oh."


    He doesn''t expect it if Arisa forgets about him. There''s a chance that the girl doesn''t remember. To be honest, the young man really wanted to hug the girl as soon as possible. However, he is still able to restrain himself.


    Since that incident, I can''t forget you for a second, Arisa.


    "Damn, my memory really sucks. Don''t you have anything to help identify you again?" Arisa said.


    Rio racked his brain for a moment. How to make her remember him again?


    There is no other way but to display photos of their previous school and classroom as the learning activities are taking place. Rio enlarged the photo to become a three-dimensional display so that they could recognize the figure of the teacher who was teaching or their former classmates.


    "This is proof that we were in the same class," said Rio while showing little Arisa, who was focusing on the lesson.


    "Ah, I finally remembered. Rio, you are Rio, right? Then that incident at the Edge of the Safe Zone¡ª"


    "You already remember it. That''s good."


    Arisa moves her facial muscles to show her signature smile once the fragments of her memory have returned. Hearing that, Rio sighed with relief and laughed bitterly. Luckily, Arisa still hasn''t completely forgotten about him.


    At least his struggle to find Arisa has paid off through this coincidence.


    "Then just sit beside me, Rio. Let''s chat since it''s been a while since we saw each other," said Arisa, patting the spot beside her. There was no reason to refuse the offer, so the man complied with the girl''s offer.


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    "Excuse me then."


    "No problem!"


    Arisa throws an ice cream stick into a plastic trash bin since she is finished with it. Her throw was so accurate and went in flawlessly. Rio silently clapped in his heart.


    And then, what will Rio do? Indeed, all this time, he has always been chasing the figure who has been occupying his mind, sacrificing a lot of time to find information about Arisa''s whereabouts.


    But, the girl was here now, beside him. So, is hugging her now the right thing to do?


    "Long time no see huh, Rio. Since I left that school," Arisa suddenly started a conversation.


    Rio looked at the girl in confusion for a moment.


    "The last time we met was when we were in the elementary class. Then, you suddenly disappeared without any notice to the school. Even the teachers and the school database had no data regarding your whereabouts. I miss you, you know. How many years have passed, and finally we meet again." said Rio firmly.


    "Wow," Arisa didn''t expect that her former classmate would pay attention to her that much. An interest arises in Arisa''s mind regarding Rio''s desire towards her, "thank you very much. But there is an urgent family matter, so I have to leave school quickly."


    This is the first time Rio knows the reason behind Arisa''s disappearance from school. A reason that even the teachers at school didn''t know about before. Still, why is Arisa trying to keep all the information regarding her whereabouts a secret?


    "Oh, I see. You should have told me before you just disappeared like thin air," Rio complained.


    "Haha, sorry. But I had to hurry up then. It''s pretty urgent."


    "Alright, then. I understand" Rio decided not to pry any further because it could be Arisa''s privacy. "How are you?"


    So he chose to talk about a safe topic.


    "Been doing great! A first-hand experience to see what the past looks like really made me barely sleep the night before we go. Indeed, there are many things we already know before, thanks to detailed research from scientists. But seeing it with your own eyes is something else."


    Arisa points to the river that flows gracefully. A twilight glow reflected on the water, showing its dazzling glitter to anyone from the future.


    "I agree. We can''t see something like this at our place."


    "That''s right. Video or three-dimensional projection can not match it. Because of that, I wanted to see more things here. Tasting more ice cream in this era included!"


    "That''s right. Oh, before I forgot. May I have your contact?"


    "Sure thing. Give me your ring."


    Their fingers were close and touched each other. Finally, Rio got Arisa''s contact so he could call any time. He didn''t have to worry about looking for this girl anymore when she was not around.


    "With this, we are reconnected again," said Arisa.


    "I hope you don''t disappear again."


    "I will not. At least, I have no thoughts of disappearing right now."


    Rio chuckled at that answer. "So, what are you going to do next in this era?"


    "Let me think about it. At first, I thought I would do¡ª"


    The two of them engaged in a casual chat until dusk came. Like two people who haven''t seen each other in a while, they share many things to tell about. Although most of it Rio listening to Arisa share her views and experience.


    When the man is focused on what the girl has to say¡ª


    Rio''s memory jolted once again.


    Arisa once gave him ice cream in the future when he had tears running down his cheeks.


    The man smirks as he lets out a relieved breath.


    "I guess that part of you will never change."


    "Have I ever changed, Rio?"


    "I can''t say right now. But I think up until now, you''re still the old Arisa who was my classmate."


    "If you say so."


    Arisa''s smile blows Rio''s feelings, which are slowly getting messy. The man was again reminded of his efforts to meet the person he had always dreamed of. This girl is his sole motivation and always fills the void in the man''s heart all this time.


    It was no exaggeration that this girl could be considered Rio''s life goal.


    The feeling of love slowly building up, regardless of the man''s attempts to hold it began to affect his mind. Of course, there is nothing wrong if he feels euphoric just by meeting his idol.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Rio pressed between his left thumb and forefinger to reorganize his feeling crawling to the surface. He knew it would be strange to express a sensitive corner of his heart in front of someone he had just met a few minutes ago. At the very least, he wants to start his relationship again with Arisa as a friend.


    "I forgot to say one thing, Rio."


    "Hmm?"


    "Thank you for finding me again in this timeline. I''m sure this mission would be even more fun if you are here."


    "Ah¡ª"


    For some reason, the girl''s expression of gratitude turned off the logic of her old friend.


    I will say it now.


    Rio got up from his seat and faced Arisa. His fists are clenched now, and he looks serious. He can finally arrange his thoughts in such a way that he can convey them correctly. One deep breath, and¡­


    "Rio?"


    "I like you, Arisa. This feeling hasn''t changed since we met at the Edge of the Safe Zone until now."

 4th Fragment - Since That Day II

    "What''s with the atmosphere this afternoon? It''s like something''s not right..."


    Rita paused a bit when she was going to prepare a warm porridge for her grandmother. Her eyes looked out the window to meet the sunset, giving a gentle warmth to this city. Unfortunately, something unpleasant appeared in her chest.


    Does Rita''s body still need to adapt after just arriving in the past?


    "No. That shouldn''t be it," she grumbled to herself.


    Rita shook her head and refocused on preparing warm chicken porridge. Carefully, she prepared two servings and served them on the dining table. The soft food is still steaming hot, so the girl must blow it a few times before giving it to Grandma.


    "Looks like it''s still too hot. Be careful, Grandma."


    "Does not matter. Thank you, Rita."


    Rather than dwelling on such unpleasant feelings, Rita preferred to enjoy the company of the only occupant of this house.


    Hopefully, it''s not something unfortunate.


    At the same time, in another place, Arisa sits in silence, her eyes still fixed on the man''s figure. She is still focused on watching Rio''s body movements and waiting for another sentence to be heard.


    Rio recalled his reason, so he could see tomorrow and face whatever came to him. It is to continue to live and meet the goal he had been looking for.


    "After all these years with your sudden departure from school, I can finally see you again. Don''t you know that my chest beats wildly when I recognize you sitting here? My head now¡­ I don''t know. It''s a mixed feeling."


    Rio''s overflowing emotions are interesting enough for Arisa to concentrate on listening to him carefully. Every word that enters, sinking inside her sense of reason, slowly creates a common thread to conclude what his former classmate wants.


    But a big question mark appeared in the girl''s mind. Arisa isn''t used to facing a raw feeling like that, as she has no previous experience.


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    "So this is what they called a feeling of love. Then, what do you want from me with this kind of feeling?"


    The question makes him confused. However, there needs to be more time to consider why Arisa is asking such a thing. If she needed clarification, then Rio had to answer.


    "Will you be my lover?" Rio asked firmly.


    Oh, I see. My guess is correct, after all. It''s going that way.


    Now, what kind of answer should I give?


    "¡­"


    The girl racked her brain quickly to process all the possibilities and information she knew about the feelings of another human, her former classmate. That phrase is a crystallization of his deep feelings. Arisa has to consider the response she will give fully.


    My feelings¡­ not yet. I can''t.


    The long-haired figure stood on the same level as Rio, who was petrified on the spot. Arisa gazes into Rio''s eyes and opens her lips.


    "Can I have some time to consider it? We''ve just arrived in the past, and I''m sure there''s still a lot of urgent matters to take care of."


    Rio''s consciousness was flicked by something hard when he heard that answer.


    That is true. Today is the first day we are in the past. I''m rushing things this time, the man thought.


    "Can you wait?" Arisa confirms once again.


    "Of course, I can. I apologize for saying this on the first day we came in the past when we were about to start our mission."


    It''s awkward for Rio. He looked the other way while scratching the back of his head, trying to calm himself. He couldn''t believe his action, which prioritized his personal feelings over the mission to save the earth.


    The man could only laugh awkwardly in front of the girl he had just confessed to. Arisa just smiled in response.


    When the sun was about to set, they parted ways to return to their respective home in this timeline.


    During the walk home, Rio''s face heated up, constantly rubbing the entire surface of his cheeks. He couldn''t truly understand himself as he had just now expressed his love for someone he had just met a few hours ago.


    Rio reminisces about some part of his past. Since when did he fall in love with a girl with long brown hair?


    It was a moment he would never forget.


    "Alright, don''t cry anymore. Use the respirator properly. I need you to stay alive."


    That sentence is still engraved in Rio''s memory. A few words pushed him to keep moving with his life.


    A small request from her became his lifesaver.


    "Ah well," Rio muttered while looking at the already dark sky.


    At last, the stars began to be seen in the transition of the evening sky into a night one. It is an entirely different view of the sky if he compares it with one made of artificial oxygen domes in the future city. Once again, Rio can''t help but admire the sparkling stars in the sky.


    "I must do it. To save the earth in the future."


    Their life in the past timeline will start from now on.

 5th Fragment - Friends Meeting

    "This is called meatball, right?" asked the man with slightly messy blonde hair as he sat across from Rio, "It looks delicious."


    "While we are in the past, I think we should make the most of the opportunity. It''s not bad to try some of the food here." Rio replied.


    Rio and Valerie were enjoying their lunch break at the town hall canteen. According to their Record of the Past, those two worked as staff in the city layout division. So, they must play the role that has been given without any mistakes.


    Meeting with superiors and colleagues from one division has been done. However, the two of them still needed to look more at what was around them.


    One of them is this employee canteen.


    "I agree!" Valerie was so excited and pointed at his best friend, "By the way, have you understood enough about the information regarding this city?"


    "Kinda covered it," said Rio briefly as he tried his food. "Wow, this is delicious."


    "So, is the city described like what it is stated in the Ringnet?"


    "Didn''t you have time to go out these days? You can check it yourself." Rio looked at Valerie questioningly.


    "I didn''t. Some matters need to be dealt with first."


    Rio didn''t reply immediately and took a few bites before clearing his mouth.


    "Tantoris is a small town close to two mountains. There is a stream of water which is contained by a dam between those mountains. Thanks to the position of water source which comes from the mountain, the city is divided by the main river in the middle. It has two large bridges connecting the west and east sides."


    Valerie was busy sipping his noodles while still focused on listening to his best friend. The seasoning flavor is strong enough to automatically stimulate his hands to shove more noodles into his mouth.


    "It doesn''t have an airport, but it still has access to out of town via city roads, both for logistics and other things. Trains are also among them. I guess it''s because this is a small town."


    "Thothall agreesss."


    "Don''t talk with your mouth full." Rio is pissed.


    Valerie didn''t heed the warning and made an exaggerated noise while sipping his food instead. After hearing such a voice, Rio wanted to sprinkle his friend''s face with pepper on the table.


    Until then, someone came and joined them at the table.


    A girl with a sweet stature, short black-haired that covers the back of her neck, was also present at the meeting of those two. She smiled faintly to see that her two best friends were still together as they did in the future.


    "So, Rio. I heard something really interesting." Valerie finally talks without his mouth being full.


    "Something that interests you the moment we''re arrived in the past?"


    "Yes. It''s almost like an urban legend. But, do you know there''s a hidden feature in every communication ring we wear?"


    Rio is making sure that he isn''t misheard anything. "Huh? What''s that?"


    Valerie smirks. "They said it can grant whatever the wish of the bearer."


    "Are you sure that you''re not reading a hoax information right there?"


    "Good afternoon, guys. Finally, we meet again."


    Someone suddenly popped out in the middle of them, along with her gentle aura that''s almost like a breeze.


    "Rita!"


    "It''s nice to see you around again. It''s been a while since our preparation meeting for this journey to the past," said Rio.


    "Um. It feels like a long time because we all have to go through training."


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    "Fortunately, we also work in the same place and in the same city," said Valerie.


    "Yup. So being able to gather like this is easy enough," said Rio while drinking from his glass, "So, Rita. How do you feel after coming to this timeline?"


    "Not bad. I have a grandmother at this time, and she is quite friendly. We spent a lot of time chatting on the first day."


    "Oh. Pretty fun too. Well, for me¡ª"


    The three shared their first impression when they had just arrived in this city. How they tried to get to know their families of the past¡ªeven though everyone doesn''t realize they came from the future thanks to the manipulation caused by ''Records of the Past''¡ªseeing cities of the past with their own eyes and appreciating how the earth looked when humanity didn''t destroy the environment yet.


    Fresh air, blue skies, and some stars that illuminate the earth at night are something they can''t take for granted.


    Rio relax his muscles and leaned back into his chair, "Indeed, yes. Lots of unexpected things can be found here. The weather is clear, the sun is so safe against the skin thanks to the atmosphere that still exists in the sky, and meeting with Arisa."


    "Meeting with Arisa, you say?" Valerie quickly shifted his focus towards Rio and Rita, who couldn''t help but listen more carefully. "Is it the same person you''ve been looking for all this time? I haven''t heard of this. Tell me more."


    "So¡ª"


    Just before Rio started, he smiled awkwardly and looked away from his two friends. "Uh, somehow, I can''t tell."


    "What the hell? You met the person you''ve been looking for, Rio. Your hard work has paid off! I remember clearly how you were still busy trying to find information about Arisa''s whereabouts. So, now tell the story!"


    Compared to Valerie, who was eager to hear Rio''s story, Rita lowered her head slowly. The girl also wanted to know what Rio did when he met someone who always locked half of his brain.


    "Sorry, I''m busy. Have to find information about Arisa first," said Rio when they were still at school


    "Today I can''t attend. There''s something I have to do. Yes, it is true. It''s related to Arisa''s whereabouts."


    "I want to find her. I think you know who."


    And several other excuses Rio has said as he quickly withdrew his presence from Rita. She also remembers that her friend would leave when there was something related to his childhood friend.


    Arisa is someone who likes ice cream very much, as far as Rita knows from Rio''s narrative, Arisa is someone who once saved his life when they were little. That is why Rio was so determined to find her due to her sudden disappearance.


    "We met by the river while she was enjoying his ice cream. We kind of talked a lot because we never saw each other again until now. And then," Rio paused for a moment.


    However, the gaze from the two friends forced him to tell everything that had happened to Rio at that moment.


    "I confessed to her in the end."


    Valerie throws his face away so exaggeratedly that several people around them look at their table. Rio quickly reminded his very reactive friend before everyone''s attention was pointed at those three.


    "Are you stupid or what?" Valerie seemed to want to curse in a whisper, "What sane-minded person confessed to a girl when they''re just reunited after a long time?"


    "I know, I know! But¡­ it feels so tight in my chest when I think about the possibility of not being able to see her again. So while there is a chance, I immediately reveal and ask her to be my girlfriend."


    Valerie slaps Rio''s cheek lightly.


    "What the hell are you doing?!"


    "Tell me, what is her answer?" Valerie asked, ignoring his friend''s protests.


    "Ah... then," Rio bit his lower lip, wondering whether this was a good sign or not, "Arisa asked for some time to consider it."


    "Oh, Arisa should have rejected you on the spot."


    "What did you say?!"


    "Okay, okay," Rita tried to calm the two of them down, "I''m sure Arisa has her own thoughts. There''s no problem with that. You just have to wait for a bit more, Rio. All that matters now is that you met with her again after all this time."


    "I see. Yeah, you''re right. Rita," said the man who was worried by his thoughts.


    The girl smiled in response. However, something at the bottom of her heart appeared. It feels a little dark and painful.


    Is this why she felt uneasy yesterday?


    Rita lowered her head until she couldn''t hear Rio and Valerie talking. Her mind wandered about Rita''s insecurities. Arisa apparently also joined this project of the journey to the past and appeared in front of Rio.


    The girl clenched her hands tightly, holding back something slowly emerging from within her chest.


    No, you can''t. Rio is my friend, and I have to support him too. Moreover, he has also been trying hard to find Arisa all this time.


    The fact that Rio has already confessed his feelings to Arisa is too sudden for Rita. Her mind is unable to process the sudden information like this.


    "Guys. I''m sorry, but I have to come back soon. Still need to adjust here and there."


    Rita left the table before Rio and Valerie could reply. The girl quickly disappeared to the hallway that connected the cafeteria room with other rooms.


    "Ah¡­"


    "Yeah. She suddenly left us. As expected, anyway," said Valerie briefly.


    "Because she still needs to adapt?" asked Rio


    "No. There''s something else."


    Valerie knew that Rita''s reaction just now was a way to save herself. It''s easy for him to tell when he saw her face when she first heard Rio had confessed his feelings for Arisa.


    "I think¡­ I like Rio."


    Valerie tidied his lunch, "Let''s go back to the office. We still have a lot to learn with today''s work."


    "I agree," said Rio, following his friend to return to the office.

 6th Fragment - Disappearance

    The sky is clear blue and dazzling today. For a moment, passing clouds formed an easily recognizable pattern¡ªa bear. Its shape resembles that of a furry mammal, although with a larger head composition than usual.


    The girl raised her hand as if drawing an imaginary line to reshape the bear''s cloud. Then, she tried to push another cloud to move towards the bear cloud through her hand.


    It doesn''t really have anything to do with how the clouds move and the movement of one''s finger, but it''s worth a try, she thought.


    The girl struggled to push the cloud out of the room where she was sitting, looking out the window. Her fingers rushed to the right and left, hoping the other cloud would meet the bear-shaped cloud.


    However, all her efforts to bring the two clouds together were fruitless. Instead, the cloud moved away from the bear cloud.


    "Ah."


    As far as she could remember, there wasn''t anyone who could move the clouds in the sky with just a finger. Thus, she did not regret too much of her wasted efforts.


    Now the girl is looking towards the north¡ªa large city dam. The distance is indeed quite far from the school where the classroom she is currently attending. However, she could see the water-retaining concrete from here, thanks to the absence of skyscrapers.


    Large enough to be seen from here, she thought.


    Indeed, she knows this city has a large dam nearby, in the northern area. However, seeing directly like this gave the said girl a new experience.


    She is curious and planning to come there shortly.


    "Arisa!"


    "Guh! Nita?" Arisa turned to meet her two friends. A person with a ponytail whose name is Nita. Behind Nita''s back, the other girl with neat shoulder-length black hair is named Tesa.


    "That''s right, the one who just slapped your shoulder was Nita. I didn''t do it at all."


    "You were the one who suggested hitting Arisa''s shoulder from behind," said Nita quickly.


    "No! It was just a joke!" Tesa defended herself.


    "I thought it was serious!" Neta said


    "Awawawa¡­"


    Arisa lets out a dry laugh to react to what her schoolmates are doing. She doesn''t mind that her friends greet her like that. After all, she didn''t experience the feeling of having classmates in education for a long time since she left her school in the future timeline.


    It''s been a few days since Arisa met with Nita and Tesa, so she is pretty used to their behavior. Being directly involved with the two of them is pretty interesting for Arisa.


    "So, this morning we talked about to go to the cafe after school. Let''s go now!" Nita exclaimed


    "The cafe in the eastern part of the city. Quite famous for a variety of cheap dishes, very compatible to students'' pockets." Tessa added.


    "After all, we haven''t been to the cafe in a long time. Students also need refreshing, obviously!"


    "About that, I have another suggestion. How about we go to the dam instead? I''m really curious about it." Arisa raises her hand like a student trying to answer the teacher''s question.


    "Refreshing is reall good idea. I''ve heard that a student did poorly on his exams because he never took a break for once."


    "Therefore, fish and chips is a must! The extra pancakes aren''t bad either!" Nita clenches her hands.


    "When a junk food is combined with something very sweet, it''ll leave a weird taste on our tongue, Nita." Tesa looked disapproving.


    "You should try first!"


    "Um, girls? How about my suggestion for us to go to the water dam?"


    "The palate is totally different. Something oily should not be combined with sweets. It''s a common sense." Tesa is still steadfast in her opinion.


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    In short, Nita embraced Tesa''s arm and walked away from the classroom while they kept arguing about what menu to enjoy at that place. Arisa is still not moving from her chair, quietly watching her two school friends going further.


    "You girls are still want to go to the cafe?"


    Arisa guessed that her two friends couldn''t accept her suggestion. So, she immediately stood up and followed her friends approaching the school gate.


    "Girls. Alright, I''ll join you to the caf¨¦!" exclaimed the girl with an ice cream accessory on her hair.


    "By the way, Tesa."


    "What''s wrong, Nita?"


    "I think we forgot something?"


    Nita blinked and looked up slightly, then shook her head. "I can''t think of anything. Everything is in place."


    "Okay!"


    Arisa realized that everything she said to Nita and Tesa was utterly ignored. They also seem to forget about her existence just like that. Arisa steps back to see her friend keep walking away and disappear from sight.


    "I wonder why? It''s like they can''t hear me," she muttered. She thinks of various possibilities why her two friends were behaving like that. A slight feeling of something unpleasant appeared in her mind because Nita and Tesa had just left while totally ignoring Arisa.


    However, Arisa dwells on her mind no longer and tries to focus instead on something else.


    She tried to greet another student who happened to be nearby to test her hypothesis.


    "Excuse me, you. Can you hear my voice?"


    The man keeps walking while using his cell phone and bumping into Arisa, unbothered.


    Seeing this, the ice cream girl concluded about what had happened this evening.


    There is a possibility that my existence has suddenly disappeared, so he can neither hear nor see me. But why can this happen?


    This girl keeps racking her brain as her footsteps walk away from school. As soon as Arisa came to her senses, she was already in front of a small shop selling various snacks for small children.


    Arisa doesn''t think much of how her footsteps brought her here automatically. She picks up one of the ice cream sticks with strawberry flavor and brings it to the counter. She waited a few minutes until the cashier realized something was on the counter.


    The woman picked up the pack of ice cream and looked at it closely. Her eyes were so curious as she looked at it for a few minutes straight. Arisa could tell that the cashier was so confused by having the ice cream in front of her.


    The girl with the ice cream-shaped hair clip stays silent for a moment. Her eyes observe the person standing in front of her, who also doesn''t seem to notice that Arisa is right under her nose. Shortly after, the cashier returned the ice cream packet to the store freezer.


    "Ah, I''m really that invisible," Arisa muttered.


    So, when the cashier returned the ice cream to the refrigerator and returned to her desk, Arisa took the ice cream back and put some money on the counter before walking out.


    Using her hands, she looks for where the stick is, unwraps the ice cream, and throws it in the trash.


    When Arisa is enjoying her ice cream, her brain feels better thanks to the sweet flavor and cold feeling that spreads on the surface of her taste buds. Her thoughts can move faster, and her mood is gradually better.


    After a few more bites, a single conjecture appeared in her brain.


    "So, my guess is that my existence is now disappeared. No one can see nor hear me. So, that''s the reason why Nita and Tesa forgot my whole existence and the reaction of the cashier who was so confused seeing the ice cream on the table."


    What if she could no longer be seen by everyone anymore? Can she go back so everyone can be aware that Arisa is here?


    The girl arrived at her house safely when she finished her ice cream. She comes in and greets everyone inside.


    However, the situation is changed. No one responded to Arisa nor cared that the girl had entered the house. Then, she goes to the kitchen, where her mother is currently preparing dinner.


    "Mom, I''m home."


    She keeps going to make toast while not answering Arisa at all. The aroma tickled the taste of the ice cream girl. Still, Arisa prefers to return to her room to think about the absurd phenomenon happening to her.


    She walks over the stairs to the second floor and sees her little brother walking past her. Arisa waves her hand to say hello. Yet, he keeps walking down to the lower floor.


    "Of course, you won''t notice me," Arisa muttered before she entered her room. Just in case, she remembered to lock the door.


    Now, she sits cross-legged on the bed, folding her arms and looking at the wall with great focus. There''s nothing on the wall, but Arisa is trying to concentrate on this particular spot.


    Feeling deadlocked, Arisa accessed her communication ring to access the Ringnet. There was a holographic display floating in no time as Arisa put a few more display screens to search for more information simultaneously.


    "¡­"


    She can''t find the answer. In the end, Arisa closed the entire hologram screen and lay on the bed.


    "Should I try to discuss it with Rio, huh?" she hissed.


    Rio, her former classmate, had been looking for her all this time since her departure from Elementary School a couple of years ago. Thinking about him, she suddenly remembered what happened on the first day of her arrival in the past. The man came to her and confessed immediately as soon as they reunited.


    "Will you be my lover?"


    Arisa recalls the definition of dating. She previously understood that ''dating'' means a close relationship between two individuals who love each other. This relationship often continues until marriage or stops when the two individuals don''t feel comfortable anymore.


    The girl is trying to consider how the individual named Rio is meant for her.


    "Rio is¡­ my classmate whom I saved his life when we were in Elementary School," Arisa recalled while flashing other memory particles in her head.


    This is the story of a friend named Rio.

 7th Fragment - Rio

    There was a time when the sky was dark gray without any clouds. Fortunately, it was bright enough for the future townspeople. One could say that there are no clouds in the sky because the scope of the oxygen dome used for this city was not as high enough. If someone sees a slight formation of the said sky cotton, it will be enough to cause a stir and posts related to rare clouds on the Ringnet.


    Several people were passing each other along the street near some high buildings. The building proportions are various and have quite complex forms, such as a combination of two or three architectural styles that are merged into one. It is stacked up into a balanced multilevel unit that can contain many people.


    ¡ªat the shopping area, where each place is busy with its own business, someone who shouldn''t be there is moving slowly among those crowds.


    The little boy walks down a busy shopping street, sometimes looking at the floating vegetation and holographic advertisement displays with empty eyes. His gaze was no longer than five seconds, and he kept walking without any destination in mind.


    Seeing his yellow backpack and wearing a distinctive hat, one could immediately tell that this boy was still a student.


    Little Arisa happened to take this shopping area route to walk home until she found a figure she was familiar with. She sees the boy who runs until he bumps into someone, apologizes with a tearful voice, and starts running again.


    "That''s Rio if I remember correctly."


    The boy went down to the underground terminal where people used to take public transportation. However, according to Arisa, this underground terminal is the route to go farther from the city center, towards the corner of the city, which is not a friendly place for children.


    As the little girl tries to keep watch of where her classmate is heading, Rio hastily boards one of the underground buses at the last minute. Arisa knows she won''t catch up with him, so she gets on another bus in the same direction.


    This is also Arisa''s first trip to the city''s outskirts¡ªthe border of the safe zone. The girl spread her gaze full of curiosity inside the vehicle. Several adults are standing on one arm because the available seats are occupied, seemingly immersed in each ring''s hologram. Nothing much to see aside from indifferent adults on their own business.


    The underground bus arrived at one of the destination terminals in approximately fifteen minutes. Arisa wasn''t sure if Rio got off at this place, but she chose to stop here and try not to fall over among the other people who got off as well.


    "Does he got off here?"


    Arisa is aware of a figure going quickly farther from where she stands. She can see that Little Rio runs from the underground terminal and goes up to the surface, followed by her afterward. Arisa is also aware that her friend is crying to the point that several people turn their heads as Rio run past them.


    The little boy continues to run, followed by Arisa behind. Rio does not care about anything else and keeps running, sneaking into the sidelines of the building without caring about anything.


    "Rio! Hey, Rio!" Arisa shouted.


    The little boy didn''t hear and kept running, not heeding Arisa''s call from behind. This did not make the girl affected, and she continued to pursue him.


    Until Arisa realizes they will arrive at the area filled with deserted buildings on either side. Even the path is dilapidated and looks dangerous¡ªthey are at the border of the safe zone. This zone is shunned by most of the city''s residents because this place is the corner of the oxygen shield. So, anyone would understand the risk if they were around this place.


    Therefore, the little girl wears a respirator that is always in one corner of her school bag. Rio doesn''t seem to carry his school bag around, so Arisa doubts if her friend brought it too.


    However, she didn''t bother with that and immediately put on the breathing apparatus before going back to chase Rio. The boy''s figure looked distant. However, as Arisa gets closer, Rio slows down and falls to the ground.


    The tiny body tried to get up again even though his tears were still there, messing with his face. Rio is panting, trying to control his breath again, and finally aware of his current situation.


    He could no longer breathe freely. The clash of emotions and the struggle to live messed up his mind, so Rio gradually loses himself. The little boy did not expect that he had arrived in the zone that everyone had abandoned.


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    "Ah! Aah¡ª"


    "Do not panic. Take this."


    Arisa thrusts the breathing apparatus on Rio''s face, which he immediately puts on. The boy took a few breaths and calmed himself down before being picked up by the little girl again.


    "I only brought one. Where''s yours?" asked Arisa.


    Rio shakes his head, and Arisa nods.


    "Then, let''s get out of here first," she said, pulling little Rio away from the border of the safe zone.


    Along the way, the two exchanged breathing apparatus until they reached where it was safe to breathe again. Once there, Arisa put it back in the corner of her school bag, looking back at his friends, still sobbing.


    "You almost died earlier, you know," said Arisa. "Why did you run to such a dangerous place without carrying a bag?"


    Rio didn''t answer. He cannot meet Arisa''s gaze as he only looks at the ground. And then, the tears started to flow again.


    Arisa knows that she won''t be able to hear why Rio did such an outrageous thing. So, she brings him to sit in the corner of the abandoned bus stop while waiting for the boy to calm down. Silently, the little girl watched how Rio vented his emotions. She almost did not blink and observed Rio closely. His cry emanates in this deserted place for a few dozen minutes.


    A small conclusion appears in Arisa''s head. She comes closer to his classmate and hugs him tightly, to the point it is suffocating. The little girl doesn''t intend to let go of her embrace until Rio finishes his whimpering.


    Arisa is currently feeling the sensation of how the human body is warm. The erratic heartbeat, sobbing breaths, and small muffled groans she felt so close gave her a new perspective.


    So this is of it feels to hug someone.


    She hugs him so tight that Rio is no longer wailing and trying to breathe instead.


    "Uh¡­ I can''t really breathe..."


    "I see. If I let you go, you won''t cry anymore?"


    "I won''t."


    Arisa let her embrace go, looking deeply into the face of a classmate who looked so confused. She wanted to ask Rio about what had just happened now that he was calmed down.


    "Do you realize that you''re running into this place?"


    "No¡­ I didn''t know that I had arrived at this place," replied Rio, who was still sobbing a bit, "once I realized it was already hard for me to breathe."


    "You''re so emotional to the extent that you are not aware of endangering yourself. Why are you running while crying?"


    Rio looked down, trying to reorganize his heart before revealing something that made him act this way.


    "¡­my parents fought again. This time it was so terrible that all the kitchen''s stuff was being thrown around."


    Arisa nods. Quietly listening is the right thing to do for now.


    "I tried to stop them. However, my father didn''t like it and slapped me so hard until I fell," said Rio with a trembling voice. Arisa can see how her classmate''s cheeks have bruises.


    "That''s why¡­ I¡­ I¡­ don''t know. I don''t want to go back home again. Really do not want to."


    Rio is about to cry again, so Arisa quickly hugs him back. The little guy widened his eyes at this treatment and was silent for a while.


    "You can''t die, okay?" Arisa asked.


    "Why?"


    Arisa thinks about the best answer to that question.


    "You know, we always heard from the teacher''s warning about the outer zone countless times. The border of the safe zone is no different either." Arisa exclaimed, "As a human being who only has one life in our body, it''s only natural that we have to take care of ourselves no matter what.


    Listening to that explanation, Rio can''t say anything back.


    "So don''t die, okay?" asked Arisa once again.


    The little girl looked at Rio so earnestly. Her classmates don''t really understand Arisa''s answer just now because of his scrambled emotion.


    However, there was one thing he could understand. Arisa doesn''t want Rio to die in vain here.


    How Arisa was willing to follow him to this dangerous place and lend him her only breathing equipment left quite a big impression on Rio. He couldn''t stop staring at the face of the person who had saved him just now and given him a piece of obvious advice.


    Thus, Rio finally smiles and hugs Arisa this time.


    "Thank you, Arisa," Rio said quietly.


    Little Arisa smiles and rubs her classmate''s back gently.


    That is a faint, fleeting memory of Rio in their timeline.


    Rio is a classmate she had saved at the Safe Zone border in Arisa''s eyes, nothing more.


    "If I''m not mistaken, Rio''s parents divorced a few days after that incident," Arisa muttered.


    Arisa glances out the window, looking at the dark sky with clouds illuminated under the moonlight. A few sparkling stars above greet Arisa with their faint light due to the light pollution. Indeed, it''s a calm evening.


    "I know that if I reject his feelings, he will be definitely sad about it. After all, that''s how a human''s emotion works."


    That night, Arisa decides to gaze at the night sky for a bit longer before bed.

 8th Fragment - The City Dam

    As usual, the sky is filled with velvet orange nuance, combined with a few floating pieces of cotton going around without any reason. The scenery is captivating for a certain girl from the future and never makes her bored. She hums on her way to the cable car station at the northern end of the city¡ªthe most popular transportation for the citizen of Tantoris when they''re going to see the water dam. It is a free public station that uses an automated system for visitors. As far as Arisa knows, it is pretty safe.


    "Basically, this dam is supposed to be a tourist attraction. Still, looking at its popularity, I doubt if that place is crowded with visitors."


    Arisa notices a large square-shaped machine that has blunt ends. Rather than a square, it may look more like a parallelogram-shaped vehicle. In a few minutes, an empty cable car stopped in front of the girl with an ice cream-shaped hairpin.


    "This thing is similar with the vehicle in the future. It''s just that the design is more old-fashioned, and the colors are not attractive at all," she commented.


    When the door opens automatically, Arisa gets inside and sits on one side that facing the dam. As she observes the interior design of the cable car she was in, she nods a bit.


    "The seat is quite soft. It feels comfortable. The inside doesn''t have air conditioning, but it doesn''t matter since this vehicle got decent ventilation. It''s a good thing that air in this era is quite cool and fresh."


    After waiting a few minutes, the cable car begins to move and slowly pace up a constant speed, getting higher and higher. Arisa also noticed a continuous creaking sound due to the friction of the thick cables that became the rails for this vehicle.


    The sight that the girl witness outside the window is quite mesmerizing. There is a dense vegetation transition between Tantoris and the dam area, which is being split with the Major river, which originates from the dam''s water. This area is not a wild forest with wild animals inside. It is only a conservatism area maintained by the city government for fundamental purposes such as water absorption and others.


    When the girl turns to look in the direction of the city of Tantoris, the panorama she sees is also breathtaking. There are no skyscrapers, only a few buildings gathered around with a river in the middle. Tower Cafe is the only place striking enough towards the sky as the highest building in this city.


    Arisa glanced at the backside of this cable car, she saw two other cable cars following her at their constant speed. Apparently, other visitors also want to see around the water dam.


    So, I''m not alone up here.


    Half an hour later, she arrived at the cable car station. The door opened automatically, and the girl slowly got off. As soon as she steps out from the station, the landscape of the dam that seemed to be surrounded by two mountains greets Arisa with its incredible charm.


    "Wow..."


    As Arisa walks to the side of the dam area, which was fenced off, she can hear the sound of water flowing through the dam''s concrete into the river below as the girl looks down to confirm the source of the sound. Arisa nodded, finally got the information about that while experiencing it first hand, and continued her tour around the area.


    The place where the girl was right now is an area designed for public visits, despite it being supposed to be built to supply electricity for this town and another. Standing there, one could see in more detail the condition of the dam walls and how it is actually designed for public visits. For example, the width of the concrete is wide enough for the government to build a road on its surface for the size of two cars.


    Looking around elsewhere, Arisa finds a reasonably large office building. It seems that this office is entrusted with managing this dam by the city government, even though it is now closed.


    Several large lamps are starting to turn on with their yellowish light in the office area, visitor area, and the dam wall itself. The sun is going to set soon, so the light is being turned on automatically. Arisa plans to visit this place another time when the sun is still in the sky.


    "But, a view like this is not bad either," she muttered again as she spread her gaze just to find several visitors capturing this panorama with their cellphone.


    It''s just, Arisa''s curiosity is still not satisfied yet. So she decided to retake a tour, down to the lower part of the dam even though some places were isn''t that covered with that big lights. The girl doesn''t mind that while humming happily to follow the path that could be passed.


    Her steps stop when she begins to see some garbage scattered in this particular corner of the dam. Apparently, this area also lacks the necessary lights, so Arisa must focus on adjusting to the darkness.


    "Uh, the smell," said Arisa while covering her nose. Nevertheless, her footsteps continued to accelerate because of this big question mark inside of her head.


    I wonder what kind of place is this since there''s a lot of garbage around.


    Until she arrived in front of a building that could not be said to be suitable for living, Arisa was able to hypothesize the cause of the previous sight. The most pungent stench is also present in this place, much worse than before. So Arisa guessed that this place was a temporary landfill for the dam area.


    Thus, there is nothing to see here, and the girl turned to leave this smelly place.


    "Hey."


    A flat-tone voice prevents Arisa from going any further. When the girl tried to see who was calling for her. It''s a figure with a shabby appearance and surrounded by an unpleasant odor. She is carrying a large plastic bag full of trash.


    The little girl has a petite stature, messy short hair, wrinkled face, and empty eyes staring at Arisa. Like an unkempt doll, she is so filthy and uncomfortable to look at. A figure that Arisa won''t expect to see in this kind of place.


    "What do you need here?" she continued to ask.


    "I''m just curious. I''ve never been here, so taking a look at this place would be a good idea," Arisa answered while adjusting her facial muscles in such a way to smile. Even though half of it was covered with her hands.


    "Okay. But, this is a landfill. Usually, people are not going here," said the little girl.


    "Thank you for the information. I''ll go soon because I''ve seen some places here."


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    Suddenly a big question mark appears on Arisa''s mind. There was a tiny girl alone who was around in a foul-smelling place like this. She''s also carrying a pile of garbage even though the size of the plastic bag is almost as big as her body.


    This little girl¡­


    "Are you the landfill staff?" Arisa asked curiously.


    "Yeah," replied the girl shortly.


    As I guessed. However, underage workers in this era should already not be allowed.


    Arisa is approaching the girl as she no longer covering her nose and looking down in front of the girl. She is forcing herself to adjust her sense of smell to the stench around her so that she can show her whole face towards the little girl. The brown-haired girl thinks that there is something she should know from this little girl in this dam.


    "Your hair clip is cute."


    "Oh, this?" Arisa touched the ice cream hair ornament with her right hand, "This thing is quite special to me. So, I always use it. Thank you."


    "No problem."


    "I want to ask you something, do you mind?" Arisa said with a low tone.


    "I don''t."


    "Good. There are many questions I would like to know, but for now, let\s ask just some important stuff. So, what''s your name?"


    "Vanilla."


    Her name immediately reminds Arisa of the ice cream she often eats for some reason.


    "Okay, Vanilla. I''m going to ask about some of your private information. First of all¡­."


    Arisa asks about her origins as well as other relevant personal data. She knew that this girl had absolutely nothing to do with the Tanjung family¡ªher current past family. So, it will be challenging to find all the information about her from Ringnet. Vanilla is totally outsider from this project.


    So, asking the little girl directly is an effective way.


    While Vanilla answered the questions she received, Arisa listened attentively while squatting down to be on par with the little girl.


    And Arisa makes sure to adjust her face so Vanilla can see her always smiling.


    After a few minutes of question and answer, Arisa stands back and looks around her surroundings once again. She tried to process the information she got until now.


    "Okay, I''ll repeat it again. You are Vanilla, a little girl who lives in this dam, precisely in the administrative office of the water dam. Your father died of illness, and your mother left you. Since your father was originally the one in charge of cleaning this dam, and he has passed away, now you are in charge of your father''s place." Arisa concludes.


    "Right. The dam administrator office asked my help while they are looking for replacements."


    "As far as I understand it, it''s still not right for you, a little girl, to take on such a responsibility. However, it''s not my place to decide everything. So tell me, little girl. Are you happy with this kind of life?"


    Vanilla is not answering.


    "Why don''t you refuse the requests of the people from the dam office?" asked Arisa.


    "Where will I sleep then?"


    "Don''t have any other siblings?"


    "I don''t have any."


    Arisa concludes his talk with Vanilla. So far, Vanilla has lived a miserable life and can only depend on the existence of this dam office. So, it''s only natural that this girl doesn''t want to lose her only home.


    If a place to live is the only thing Vanilla is afraid of losing¡­


    The girl with the long brown hair claps her hands once, taking Vanilla''s attention entirely back. Arisa gives the little girl the best friendly smile she can try.


    "Can we meet again at this place tomorrow, Vanilla?" Arisa asked in a gentle tone.


    Vanilla widened her eyes, hearing the request. However, she nods upon Arisa''s request.


    "It''s settled. Then, I''ll be going home. Good evening. Don''t forget to wash everything on your body."


    The ice cream-loving girl walks away, heading to the cable car station and going down to the city, leaving Vanilla alone once again while looking at the town of Tantoris from the side of the dam for a while. That little gaze is following the cable car Arisa was in until it is out from her sight.


    "Strange person," she muttered.


    Then, the little girl goes back slowly towards the dam office, illuminated by the dim yellow light from the dam''s headlight.


    When Arisa arrived at her house, she immediately did intense research with the information inside the Ringnet. Several holographic screens are projected on the walls of her room as she reads through the extensive captions.


    Her gaze jumps from screen to screen, reading every piece of data she got gathered.


    "Hmm, hmm." Her head was nodding as her brain digested the information. There was no stopping Arisa until it got pretty late.


    The next day at the dam administrator office, which is starting to get busy with incoming workers, a girl with an ice cream-shaped hairpin stood in front of the office receptionist. She looked with such a strong eye and smiled confidently, to the point that the person in charge of the reception desk was a little uncomfortable.


    "Like I said before, to meet the office head here, you have to make an appointment."


    "It won''t take much time. Can''t he come over to listen to me for a second?"


    "I''m sorry, but¡ª


    "What is it?"


    A chubby man comes out from inside, seeing the receptionist overwhelmed with Arisa, who insisted on meeting the head of this office. Seeing him, Arisa is confident that he is the one who is in charge here.


    "What do you need this early in the morning, miss?"


    "You are the head of this office, I assume?" Arisa confirmed.


    "Yes, it is true. What can I help you with?"


    When Arisa wants to say something, the figure of a little girl comes out from a different room. She met the eyes of the girl with long hair on her back and was dumbfounded.


    "Vanilla, we meet again."


    "G-Good morning"


    "Since the person concerned is also here, let me go straight to the point." Arisa takes a deep breath. "I want to adopt Vanilla as a member of my family. So, automatically, Vanilla will be released from all the responsibilities she bears until now."


    Both the head office and the receptionist couldn''t contain their surprise, especially Vanilla. She needs time to fully process Arisa''s request is. Following Vanilla''s routine, she should be getting ready to go to the warehouse, take her cleaning equipment and go around the dam to watch the garbage around and keep the water dam clean.


    However, a girl suddenly came here and claimed that she wanted to adopt her.


    "Wait a moment. We still need this child¡ª"


    "Is it essential to employ a small child with housing compensation in this place?" Arisa asked.


    Hearing this conversation, Vanilla felt something must be going on and getting closer to the three people near the entrance.


    "Um..." said the little girl as she was about to pull Arisa''s clothes. However, Vanilla didn''t know what to say, so she gave up and walked back slowly.


    "I will take all the responsibility. Vanilla deserves a better life, just like the other kids around her age. Not getting an assignment, so she doesn''t lose her place to sleep."


    "But you can''t just suddenly barge in like that, Miss!"


    "Should we talk about the law regarding minors'' employment?"


    "You can say something like that. But, I bet that you don''t even know how the laws are going to work here."


    "I''m confident that at least I know if some company making someone as young as Vanilla to work full time, it is truly illegal. When there''s something too complex, I know someone that can help me."


    "You''re just all talk."


    "Should we bring our matter to the court right now?


    The Office Head wants to say something until he realizes that Arisa''s gaze is somewhat weird to him. Her voice didn''t stutter. Her eyes are powerful and honest¡ªhe can tell that Arisa isn''t bluffing about it.


    The Office Head fell silent with that posture of her alone. Nevertheless, Arisa carefully observes the chubby man''s expression, and she is sure that he will not prevent her from adopting Vanilla.


    She then walked to Vanilla and crouched down, then gazed deep into her eyes.


    "From now on, you are my sister. Vanilla."

 9th Fragment - Heartbreak, Grudge

    For so many times today, Rio let out a long sigh. His gaze is not focused on anything, and his steps are wobbly. He doesn''t give off an aura of life at all if Valerie may say something about it.


    The man with messy blond hair observes his best friend, who''s still breathing heavily while drinking water. He can guess the cause of Rio''s current state even though he hasn''t confirmed it yet.


    "Watch out. You spilled the water." Valerie reminded.


    "Hah? Oh¡ªah! Ah, it got spilled!"


    "So if you want to drink or something, please be aware of it. Where does your mind go, anyway?"


    "I know, I know. You''re annoying."


    "Hey, I don''t even get thanks, and you got angry at me? Are you going to get your period? Alright, alright. I won''t bother you for now. Screw that. Bye."


    Valerie grabs his bag and leaves the room hastily. Rio doesn''t pay attention and walks over to his desk to drink the water in three gulps. Then, he sighed again. What Arisa said then made a dark cloud that hazily surrounded his head.


    Rio looks at his tidy desk. He checks the other empty tables before he looks at the clock on the wall.


    "Everyone has gone home. There is no overtime schedule for today either."


    So, it''s better to go home.


    That evening, Rio decided to go back when the atmosphere in the city hall was already quiet. Only a few rooms with their light on and two security staff passed through as Rio greeted them.


    Before long, Rio arrived at his house. He sighs again as he opens the door.


    "I''m home." the man gives out the greeting. He then notices that his past parents are not around.


    "Rio is home," said Arnando while waving at his future brother.


    Unlike usual, Vemia watches his brother very closely so that Rio can sense that an intense gaze is piercing his back with whatever he is doing¡ªchatting with Arnando, taking a cold drink in the kitchen, or watching television.


    Vemia won''t let him go even for a second wherever Rio enters the house. But, of course, it doesn''t mean that his little sister is always following behind everywhere. So it was only when he was around Vemia area of sight. Finally, Rio can no longer avert his attention from that kind of treatment and decides to do something about it.


    There was a time when no one was around, only Vemia, who was watching television. She immediately turned around when she realized Rio was in the living room, checking the situation outside through the window.


    Of course, the young man also knows Vemia is still watching him.


    "Vemia. Is there anything you want to say?" asked Rio carefully.


    The little girl is not moving, watching her brother closely until Rio feels awkward.


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    Out of nowhere, sudden dizziness attacks Vemia''s head, to the point that one of her eyes blinked reflexively at the sudden sensation. As if something stabbed a blunt object inside her head without warning.


    "Ugh!"


    "Vemia?!"


    Rather than a feeling of dizziness, it would be more appropriate to call it a strange feeling when one''s memories are jumbled and swirled in the head so that Vemia feels a distinct pain in the head. She tried hard to withstand an unknown force from the inside that almost robbed her consciousness.


    "Vemia? I''ll call an ambulance right now!"


    "Wait! There''s no need¡­ it feels like... it''s getting better¡­."


    Vemia''s gaze is towards the floor as if she is enduring the pain. Meanwhile, Rio is trying to remember the procedure for what to do in this situation and carefully looking at his sister''s reaction and considering if he will need an ambulance.


    However, it''s unnecessary when he sees Vemia slowly standing back on her feet and looking at him again.


    "Vemia, are you feeling okay now?"


    "You¡­ who are you? Why are you in my house?" asked Vemia suspiciously.


    That question struck him hard.


    --o--


    "You see, Adel. Those journeys to the past have been successful. Now, we will go there too so we can overthrow everything."


    A man with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses walks up to the tube as tall as an average human. He checked the information related to the condition of the white device from the projection of his communication ring. Even though the room was so dark without any light, he could still see the object in front of him clearly.


    "Don''t get it wrong. There''s no obligation for me to assist you with your business. We happened to need to go back in time together, that''s all." The girl standing next to the man is also looking at her device. She wears dark thin shorts and a black scarf. Her long dark hair that almost reached her hips looked a little crumpled. Yet, that is something unimportant for her.


    As far as the girl knows, there is no difference in shape compared to the tube the man had just examined using his glasses.


    "Hmph! My goals will be achieved a lot faster if we work hand in hand."


    "Like I care, Johann," Adel sneered, "we''ll split up, of course. But when the time is right, I''ll visit your city later."


    "Alright, then. I''ll be waiting for you when you visit Tantoris."


    "Sure, sure. Let''s get to business."


    The two tubes open their glass curtains together as the sterile smoke comes out, crawling on this dark room''s floor. Johann and Adel carefully step inside just before the glass door closes again.


    Time travel is about to begin when Johann starts to lose consciousness. In the last seconds, he glances over the dark space visible from inside the tube''s glass screen before his consciousness flashes into the past.


    He recalled his reason for travelling through time. It''s no other than to make this human project fail.


    No matter what, the journey of the past must be stopped.


    "Huh¡­?"


    Johann opened his eyes as he sat on the bed. His consciousness still hadn''t wholly come back after that instant past transmission.


    His vision is blurry as he looks around. Then, for a second, he closes his eyes to catch his breath until he feels better. Slowly, that method helps him to readjust his mind again.


    "This room¡­ well, it seems like I''ve been transported."


    As far as his eye could see, several pieces of ancient furniture for him filled this room. He then walks around to stop in front of the window curtain.


    "I should pull this up manually, it seems."


    When Johann opens it, warm sunlight greets him that making him close his eyes in reflex.


    "..."


    He walked away and tapped on his communication ring to bring up a small display showing today''s date along with the weather and other relevant data. When he read the information, the man gave a slight nod.


    "Now that I have arrived safely in the past, I''ll know what to do next. Hmm¡­"


    The room is filled with a holographic display with just one tap. Although some of the data moves up and down, another screen displays a particular place within the city of Tantoris and other complicated information that continues to move without stopping.


    "I will definitely prove that the journey to the past is a huge mistake!"

 10th Fragment - Discussion

    "Hi, Valerie."


    "Hi, Rio, my dear friend."


    Valerie smiles wide at Rio, who has just arrived. The man hugs and pats Rio''s back gently.


    ¡ªand pushing him roughly on his shoulder.


    "What the hell?!" Rio is definitely pissed.


    "Can you not call on weekends? I''m supposed to have my date today!"


    "Huh, you able to get a date on this timeline?"


    "Heh, that''s right. It''s only natural that I find it easy to find companions, no matter what era I''m in. Want me to tell you how?" Valerie puffed himself up while smiling mockingly in front of his friend.


    "No need. That''s not what I want to talk about right now."


    "Okay, let''s get into the matter. Don''t waste time! So, tell me the reason you called me here?" Rio''s best friend folds his arms across his chest, hoping his friend has a good reason for calling him out in his precious free time.


    "There is a major problem. It''s something to do with the secrecy of my identity as a person from the future."


    "Wait a minute. So you got caught¡ª!"


    "Ssh! Tone down! We can''t talk about things like that here," Rio exclaimed with his fingers in front of his lips to hint at Valerie.


    When the man with messy blond hair looked around, they were now on the sidewalk of the city shopping center area. This place has many shops and stalls on the left and right sides of the highway, and that goes without saying that there are a lot of customers around.


    Valerie sighed. "Sure. Let''s go somewhere more private. Caf¨¦, maybe?"


    "I agree," Rio responded.


    Valerie had no idea about that. How could Rio be careless and leak his identity as a volunteer who came from the future? This made him think about some worst possibilities if the identity that was supposed to be strictly confidential, no matter what happened, was known by someone in the past.


    Maybe we''ll be caught by a cop agent who went into the past? No, it''s not that severe a crime, if I may say. Indeed it has something to do with the consistency of the times and so on. I don''t know. I forgot the details. However, considering how they are always wary of our very secret identity status, something unimaginable could happen.


    Rio feels awful while they search for a suitable place. He notices that Valerie is thinking something because of what he has said. Because leaking one''s identity is risky enough for this trip to be exposed to everyone in the past.


    "Val, how about that cafe," said Rio as he pointed to a coffee shop with greenish nuances for the theme of the place. The simple sign shaped like a turquoise coffee cup is quite eye-catching from afar. When Rio looks closely through the window, it also looks really quiet. It''s the perfect place to talk about something past-era-resident don''t need to hear.


    "That one can do. Let''s go there."


    "Roger."


    Rio stops when he sees someone quite familiar who happens to walk in front of them. He never expected his next meeting with her would be here and now.


    "Arisa?"


    "Oh, hey. Rio. A coincidence that we crossed paths here, "said the girl who was eating her ice cream.


    Valerie is looking from Rio''s behind and notices a girl he has heard about. She carried two bags in both hands. They crossed with her while she was finishing shopping.


    Rio feels that this is not the right time to meet her. Secretly, he didn''t want to hear her answer for now. What if-


    "Wow, Arisa, huh? I''m Valerie, Rio''s best friend and coincidentally his classmate too. Nice to meet you," the blonde-haired man approached for a handshake, to which Arisa responded kindly


    "My name is Arisa. I used to be Rio''s classmate. Pleased to meet you too."


    Facial muscles are adjusted to look as friendly as possible... Yes, it fits.


    "Right, right. Sometimes, Rio told me about you when we hung out. Is that right, buddy?" said Valerie casually while glancing at his best friend.


    "Yeah, right," said Rio flatly.


    "You also said that Arisa is a nice person to talk to. Isn''t it?"


    "That''s right. I agree," Rio replied again.


    "¡­"


    Valerie slaps his best friend''s back which makes Arisa almost gasp.


    "What is your problem?!"


    "Why is your reaction really flat, flatter than any whiteboard, even? Give a response that is a bit long, cake," said Val angrily.


    "There''s.... stuff!"


    "Then what is the stuff you said just now?!"


    "You should know it already."


    "I''m not. That''s why I''m asking." Valerie grins.


    Arisa still maintains her smile, seeing the two men fighting alone until she recalls something.


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    "So while we happened to meet right now, do you guys happen to be busy now? I want to discuss something," Arisa asked with a lowered tone, "it''s related to my existence that disappeared suddenly."


    The two young men look at Arisa with gazes that explain they have no idea what she means. Rio wasn''t the only one who had some problems related to this journey.


    "In that case, we really need to talk about it as soon as possible. So Arisa, it''s okay for you to join us. Do you mind, Rio?" asked Valerie.


    "I don''t mind," Rio replied. This time it was flatter than before.


    Shortly, the three of them arrived at a caf¨¦ that Rio pointed to, taking a table in the corner of the room for the sake of guaranteed privacy. As far as the eye could see, only one or two people were at the table about five meters from them.


    "What do you want to order, Rio?"


    "Warm drinks, please."


    "How about you, Arisa?"


    "A banana split. Then, after about fifteen minutes, I will order a caramel apple pie ice cream."


    Valerie is silent for a moment before writing it down on the order list. "Alright. As guessed, you would like ice cream a lot."


    "Is it because Rio told you?" asked Arisa, which had made Rio focus on her because she mentioned his name.


    "No, this is just the result of my deduction. You know, I''m actually a person who can easily guess people''s personalities," said Val pretentiously, "after all, that hairpin of yours has given me quite a hint."


    "I''ve never heard of such a thing, Val. Besides, I did tell you that Arisa''s favorite is ice cream," said Rio to himself. But, knowing Val, he just let him say stuff that is primarily a joke.


    "That is interesting for me. In that case, can you guess some of my other traits?"


    "Easy!"


    Before Valerie guessed Arisa''s personality, she gave her order to the waitress first to have more time to discuss while they waited. Then, he cleared his throat to get the attention of the other two people at the table and was ready with the answer he would give.


    "Okay, I''ll guess some of your traits according to my analysis. So," Valerie focused his attention on the girl beside her, "Arisa. You are a fun person, generous, loyal, easy to get along with, and give away a lot of positive vibes for those around you."


    "I think those guesses are mostly using the Barnum effect," said Rio, who Valerie ignored.


    "Regarding that¡­" Arisa doesn''t know what to respond to because, more or less, his guesses now seem pretty random. She only smiles, though.


    "There''s more," continued Valerie, "as a human being, of course, there are certain qualities that are lacking. I''m guessing, for this part, you''re a stubborn, selfish person¡ª"


    At this point, Arisa can finally confirm that Valerie is just blatantly guessing.


    "¡ªand cold-hearted."


    "¡­"


    There has yet to be a response from Arisa. And yet, there''s a sudden bad feeling coming from Rio. But, still, he is not saying anything and just looking at those two.


    "I think I also can guess some of your traits, Valerie," replied the ice cream girl without losing the smile on her face.


    "Go ahead. It''s your turn to guess," Valerie replied nonchalantly. Rio is also curious about Arisa''s prediction.


    "I will follow your previous pattern, starting with the positive traits first. So first of all, you are sociable, know how to please people, know what others want to hear, and are quite insightful."


    Valerie doesn''t answer, but he nods in agreement.


    "Then, as for your lacking traits¡­ you are a person who needs more attention and always wants to be the center of it. Also, you like to play with lots of women."


    Rio didn''t think the sentence just now could make Val freeze for a few minutes. The young man''s gaze was blank, which was returned by a smile from the girl. He only returned to his senses when their orders arrived at the table.


    "¡­wow, it looks delicious," said Val, changing the conversation.


    After the pleasantries were done and each tasted their orders, Rio put on a severe face.


    "We''ll start discussing the problems that we experienced in the past," said Rio, which responded by nodding from the other two people.


    First of all, Rio explained his experience in his house. There was a time when Vemia, her past-era sister, thought of Rio as the eldest according to his records of the past. But, there''s also a time when she recognized him as a total stranger. Rio tried to convey everything entirely so that everyone got all the details.


    Now it''s Arisa''s turn to share her problems. The girl tells them about the disappearance of her existence. There''s a moment where her presence disappears so the past people will totally ignore and completely forget about Arisa. No one could hear or see this girl except those from the future just like her.


    Each listened to the discussion with extra care and racked their brains to understand what had happened.


    "That''s strange¡­ so you two have similar problems. Both have something to do with your identity as a past-era resident. I think this must have something to do with the records of the past," Valerie concluded.


    "I agree. The pattern of this problem is identical. If I try to guess, the error in my records of the past caused Vemia''s original memory to return. So, she doesn''t recognize me as her older brother anymore." Rio added.


    "Ah. so we can also say that due to the error of my records of the past as well, people can''t recognize my existence."


    Rio nods in agreement, and so does Valerie. The blonde-haired man couldn''t think of any possibility other than the alleged connection due to a certain error in their Record of the Past. It''s a problem they cannot solve on their own.


    "For now, I think it would be best if we report this matter to the scientists in the future," Valerie muttered.


    "Yeah. This problem can only be reviewed by scientists because they''re the ones who created the records of the past. Hopefully, it can be resolved quickly, "Rio added.


    Arisa has missed something. "Wait a moment. Can we still communicate with scientists in the future?"


    "Yes, we still have an open channel on Ringnet. I''m not very technically savvy, but it''s still possible to transmit data to the future to get help from the scientists there. Sending information to the future doesn''t need to require a lot of energy. It''s different from sending us back to the future," replied Rio.


    "Amazing. Because of that feature, our communication ring also gathers energy over time, and it''s estimated to be enough to bring us back after a year of being here, right?" Arisa said.


    "I think we''ve created a super item that can practically do anything, making our communication easier. I heard there''s a hidden feature inside it." Valerie added more information.


    "Is that true?" asked Arisa.


    Rio butted in. "It''s just a rumor. It''s still not yet proven, and the said feature''s purpose is unknown. It''s best that we leave that urban legend and do something else better."


    "Tch, you must be fun at the parties." Valerie frowns.


    "Shut it. Still, I can''t understand how we were able to send information to the future that shouldn''t have happened because we were here. You know, we''re trying to change the future, right? Will everyone in the future will have a bad effect or something if we mess up in this timeline?"


    "Hey, Rio. You can''t understand something so simple like that?" Valerie sneered.


    "What about you? Can you explain it to me?"


    "No."


    Rio sneezes.


    "Okay. We have reached a temporary conclusion for our situation. Then, I will make a report for the scientists when I can access the Ringnet later," said Arisa.


    Unknowingly to the two guys there, Arisa''s banana split has gone during their conversation. The atmosphere in the cafe is quite relaxing for her. So, she calls the waitress to bring her second order.


    "More or less, we know what to do next. So¡­" Valerie glanced at Rio and Arisa briefly as Rio noticed that, "I remember that there is still a date I have to attend. So, you two, try to get along now. Haha!"


    "Val! Wait a minute!"


    "Hah? What else are we going to talk about? The only thing that we can do right now is to send a report to the future and wait for the scientists to resolve it, right?"


    "Erm, yeah. You''re right."


    "We can do that later, maybe in the evening or night. Now, ciao, you all."


    The blond man walks away towards the door of this cafe, ignoring his friend''s plea. While he is at it, Valerie gives a small flirty greeting to one of the servers by inviting her to out later, making the said person blush.


    Now only Rio and Arisa are the only ones left at the table.


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    Not any conversation was heard between them as Arisa continued to enjoy her ice cream.

 11th Fragment - Reason

    "To think that the two of us experienced the same problem... turns out some stuff is really unexpected, isn''t it?" Arisa started the conversation when she finished her second ice cream.


    "Y-Yes. That''s right. I guess, even though all the technical stuff has been well planned and tested through the experimental journey that scientists claimed, some problems have still appeared here and there." Rio tried to respond casually.


    "That''s given. This is our big project for humanity after all these years. Also, it''s because we are just human."


    "I agree."


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    Is this silence between us supposed to be natural? What else should we talk about next?


    Rio can''t calm his mind in the middle of this deafening silence, especially when he notices Arisa playing with her ice cream scoop until it makes small noises. He guessed that Arisa was starting to get bored and would definitely leave this place soon!


    Wait a minute, no matter how I see this situation, our meeting today will be over sooner. But when I think about it, I''m still not ready to receive her answer since we met at the riverside. So, is it better to bore her and meet sometime later when my heart is prepared?


    No, definitely not good! As a man, I have to face it straight away and should never run away!


    As he struggles with his thoughts, Rio notices two shopping bags placed on the empty chair. He also finally remembered that Arisa had brought the said bags when the girl met him and Valerie. Rio has wholly forgotten because of the discussion regarding their record of the past earlier, which takes priority.


    "Arisa, when we met previously, you were carrying two bags. Did you just finish your monthly shopping?" Rio asked curiously.


    "Ah, this?" Arisa pulls and places the two bags on the table now, "I bought some supplies that I need. Such as little girl clothes, cute shoes, and other things. Mostly clothes for little girls."


    Rio raised one of his eyebrows.


    "For your sister? So, you have a younger sister in this era."


    "That''s right. Just recently."


    "Recently? Is it because your record of the past has some errors somewhere?"


    "No. I asked her to live with me instead of living at the dam. Hence, I adopted her."


    "Wait a moment. Adopt?" Rio is trying to confirm.


    Arisa is smiling wide. "Yup! I think sleeping in my house is much better than sleeping alone on the city dam."


    So, she also helped someone in need no matter what era, huh.


    Rio''s thoughts fly back to when the girl in front of him ran after him, who foolishly went to the Safe Zone''s border without being aware. Good thing that Arisa caught him, lent her breathing apparatus and took him out from that inhabitable place.


    That''s who Arisa was. Because of that, I fell in love with the girl in front of me right now.


    "I''m just making sure. Does helping that child is listed in your agenda to contribute to our mission as volunteers from the future?"


    "Not really. I did it because I really wanted to do it. After all, the girl agreed with my proposal and wanted to come with me. That means there is no problem taking her to my house," said the ice cream girl straightforwardly.


    Rio chuckled. "Good luck taking care of that little girl. You were the one who adopted her, so you should be in charge, right?"


    "I''m aware of that."


    "What about your past-era family''s opinion? To add someone to the family means there''s more mouths to feed. And I guess your family has something to say about it. "


    "About that¡­," Somehow, Arisa plays with her spoon and makes the clink noises louder than previously, "there''s a little bit of fuss when I introduced her. But my mom really listened to me. So, my family approved of me bringing her home. It''s just a matter of time for them to finally accept her as our family member."


    Arisa gives a thumbs-up gesture to Rio, to which he also replies with two thumbs up.


    Shortly, they leave the caf¨¦, and Rio doesn''t miss this opportunity to help Arisa carry her shopping bags. A line of his feelings just hoped that this girl would be so grateful to him later.


    Until Arisa remembered something.


    The girl walks first, having a for a few meters away from Rio. Before he could follow, she looked back.


    "Rio, about what you said by at that time¡ª"


    The young man''s heartbeat almost stopped when he heard it. Rio''s face starts to get red before he looks away. He didn''t expect Arisa to talk about it now.


    It''s pretty chilly this afternoon, especially when the breeze is passing this area. Right now, the sun is covered with gray clouds a few hundred meters above as if telling everyone that sunset may come sooner today. The sun peeks a little from behind the clouds, wondering what will happen in the small town underneath. Due to the light breeze, Arisa''s hair flutters a little.


    The girl is looking intensely at him. Her eyes which seem indifferent sweep through Rio''s thoughts as if she is dissecting every layer of his head just to find his vulnerable self.


    He averts his gaze because of that, just a few meters from where Arisa is standing. Noticing that, the girl brushed her hair and enjoyed the moment the sun returned from behind the gray clouds.


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    Somehow, Arisa is recollecting her memories from a few moments back. Her experience was when she first arrived in the past and was surrounded by everything that seemed ancient. And then, she met Rio without any notice after so many years. She also met Vanilla, and a certain warm feeling came from her chest when she was around her family of the past.


    "¡ªis that you confessed your feelings to me."


    Silence is deafening for a moment as the man tries to muster his strength to reply to those words.


    "That''s right. After all this time, I''ve been looking for your whereabouts. It''s because my feelings are so strong towards you. Since that day, you are always the one on my mind, Arisa. I don''t know what you think about our time together at that time--when we were playing at the places I''ve never been, when you introduced me to your favorite ice cream and asked me to live. For me, those are precious days that happened in my life."


    Arisa returned a smile. Rio is now looking into the girl''s eyes with a determined look.


    "It''s because of my feelings that have driven me until this point. It''s because I love you. So, I want you to be my girlfriend, Arisa."


    "I understand. I can tell that you are so passionate about your own feelings, just like other people who are just human. But because of that¡­ yeah, because of it. I''m sorry. I can''t return your feelings."


    Immediately the world seems to stop turning for Rio. Somehow it''s hard for him to breathe. His head also suddenly feels dizzy. What Arisa said just now pierced the young man''s chest. Rio should have guessed that Arisa would give him that kind of answer by now. But, somehow, he had hoped that Arisa would accept his feelings.


    He fixes his gaze on the ice cream-loving girl in disbelief. His feelings were rejected by someone who had saved his life back then. Even if he is trying to look for her with all of his efforts, it is not enough to make Arisa look his way.


    Arisa approaches him. That smile is still written on her face. However, something was different this time. That expression isn''t the usual one.


    "When we arrived at this time, and I was in the midst of my past family, something strange popped up from inside of my chest. I don''t know what kind of sensation it is. To be honest, this is the first time I felt like that," said Arisa.


    Even though his heart is still a mess, Rio tries to composure himself and listen to what Arisa has to say. At the very least, there was a reason behind his rejection as his self-temporary solace.


    The girl continued, "Every day, I interact with them because I am under the same roof. It is obligatory, isn''t it? Well, I can say it felt weird at first, of course. For years I lived alone and did everything by myself but never did once. I felt like that when we were on our own timeline. I''m fully aware that we will live with family in the past as the requirement of scientists'' records of the past. However, staying with the said family gave me a new experience."


    Arisa glances across the street to see three people walking together. They seemed so close and were chatting with each other all the time. The girl guessed they were siblings who enjoyed this street in the evening too. Seeing that, a smile spread across the girl''s face.


    ¡ªa natural smile, different from what she had been doing all this time with her facial muscle.


    "My heart sometimes beats abnormally. But, when my mother invited me to just chat or cook together, and my sister just wanted to play something, it made my heartbeat relax. An idea comes to mind directly when I feel that kind of sensation, not by reading the data we got in Ringnet. This kind of sensation¡ª"


    Rio nods slightly as he interprets what Arisa is feeling now.


    "¡ªit feels so new to me. Is this what they said about being comfortable?"


    "Comfortable¡­ is one of many words that may be close to describing what you''re feeling. The sensation you have right now definitely comes from your family, which makes you fond of them and really enjoy being in the middle of them. This is quite rare for us to experience in our timeline," explained Rio.


    "If I''m not mistaken, your parents divorced, right?"


    "Yeah. They''ve been separated for a long time."


    Shortly after the incident at the safe zone border, Rio''s parents separated, and his mother took custody of him. Since then, Rio never showed a sad face again in front of the ice cream girl at the school.


    "You know for yourself that I have accepted that since forever. Perhaps, it''s best for them to not be together, even if I''m around, "said Rio.


    Arisa looks at him once again. "Do you feel like a family while living with your mother?"


    Rio thinks about it for a moment. "I do not know. Even though my mom cared about me and was kind enough to raise me all by herself, her busy schedule in another town made our interactions only happen in the virtual world. Outside of that, pretty much I''ve been living with myself. However, she also made an effort to return to the city and spend time with me."


    "I see. But does having a family in this era also feel like that?"


    The young man pondered again, diving into his heart just for a second to understand her question. To compare what he feels with his real family in the future era¡ªhis biological mother¡ªwith his family of the past who constantly interact directly every day until now. It feels strange to suddenly treat strangers as one''s own family and live within the same house. However, something had indeed stuck inside Rio''s chest after a while since his arrival in the past. Perhaps, the same feeling that Arisa has experienced.


    There''s a time when his mother likes to be around in the living room to chat with his father after doing kitchen work. Or how Vemia and Arnando often mess up stuff together, so their mother scolds them. And at another occasion, the twin always invited Rio to play something silly or hang around together.


    "Do you feel the same, Rio?"


    "¡­ perhaps. I can say for sure that just being at home is fun enough."


    Arisa smiled.


    "I will continue to try to understand more about my family in the past. Especially about Vanilla, the orphan girl I adopted from this city dam."


    "Is there something wrong with her so that you invited her to your house?" Rio asked curiously.


    "Individuals like Vanilla sometimes exist in the wrong place at the wrong time. Someone without protection, without parents, and without a future that caught my attention at that time. I have confirmed that she doesn''t have any ties to the Tanjung family¡ªmy family of the past¡ªso it''s hard to find any information about her on Ringnet. My mind has been telling me that she also deserves a better living."


    "So, that''s the case..."


    "I think the opportunity to go to the past is not something that can be repeated in the future. It''s once in a lifetime. So, I want to do something as long as I can do it this time. Because of that--"


    What was on Arisa''s mind has been understood by Rio at this point.


    "¡ªI''m still not ready to feel the feelings of romance between guys and girls."


    "...alright."


    Rio nodded and lowered his head. Even though he is trying to understand Arisa right now, the pain in his chest doesn''t dissipate. If possible, he doesn''t want to face Arisa for a moment. It hurts to see her.


    "Then I will go home first. Thank you for today''s discussion and help to carry my bag. Until we meet again, and don''t forget to treat your family in the past well."


    After the brown-haired girl took back the shopping bag brought by him, Arisa walked away and was swallowed by the warm twilight light. Everything he does is the one who brings him here. He had finally met the person he had been looking for because of his decision to join this journey to the past. However, it turns out his feelings were only one-sided. He no longer has a goal to chase.


    Over the years, his feelings for Arisa are attached deeply, shattered on the base of his heart while trying to catch them all. He doesn''t want to let go of his feelings. Or should it be better if he opened up his hands, letting his shattered feelings fall to the deep of his heart?


    Before long, Rio decided to walk back home. His steps were almost unsteady as he got away from this place.


    From behind the corner of the shopping complex, Valerie sent a text via his cell phone to someone. He is gazing at the figure who has been rejected recently. Then, the blonde guy put his cell phone close to his lips while thinking about something.


    Without saying anything, Valerie also walks away in the opposite direction.


    The sun was getting lower and left a dim remnant. The stars appear in the sun''s place to continue illuminating this very planet.


    On the way home, Arisa looks up at the evening sky. The celestial gems were so mesmerizing that she decided to gaze up longer so that she could record the sparkling stars well in her memory.


    "Not yet," Arisa muttered quietly.

 12th Fragment - Consolation

    Morning comes with sunlight smeared over Tantoris without clouds as its filters. Apparently, today will be a sunny day, along with the chirping of birds that spoiled Valerie''s ears. The blonde man is in the middle of preparing his hot coffee and places it on his desk as he sits down casually.


    Valerie inhales the aroma of his coffee for a moment. A wide smile appears as he takes a sip of the dark water. Slowly, the bitter liquid of acidity flows down his mouth and throat.


    "Oh, perfect."


    A stark contrast to what happened next to his table. Rio is looking at his monitor screen with a gaze like a dead fish. His fingers moved automatically to open some of his work files here and there. However, when Valerie looks carefully at his friend, Rio is not reading anything. Just staring without focus.


    Then Rio closes his files to open another file. Still, Valerie could tell that Rio''s brain wasn''t fully functional yet, so occasionally, he stared at the monitor for the next few minutes without really doing anything.


    Valerie takes another sip before he starts to open the data needed to start work this morning. He thinks that if Rio doesn''t start talking about the rejection he received yesterday, he will keep quiet for a while so Valerie won''t offend him.


    At the very least, I wonder how Rio will do next if his heart is broken like this, he said this to himself with curiosity and being nosy merged into one.


    So, he decided to overlook how Rio''s current state was until he vented on his own accord. However, after several days had passed while observing his friend, Valerie had enough.


    Several times Rio got scolded by the boss because he frequently made small mistakes. Such as late reports, often inaccurate work details, and several other things that give Valerie more stuff to work on due to Rio''s errors. At other times, Rio spilled his coffee all over the floor because he wasn''t paying attention.


    The blonde man slaps himself on the forehead.


    "Rio turned into this mess, huh..."


    "What did you say?" Rio caught Valerie''s soft mutter.


    He tried to get closer to Rio and bring his lips to Rio''s ear. After all, there was little work to do for today, and their superiors were nowhere to be seen in this room.


    "I said you suck, you know!"


    Rio pushed Valerie away and covered his left ear without expecting that kind of answer right beside his ears.


    "What''s your problem, Val?"


    "I should be the one who asked that! It''s clear as day that something definitely happened when I left you with Arisa at that cafe. So, would you be so kind as to tell this clueless me what actually happened at that time?"


    "I-that¡­"


    "You don''t have to hide it from me since it was pretty obvious. Come on, tell me everything. I will listen to anyone who confides in me. Although, at this point, I can already guess what you''re going to tell me."


    Rio bit his lower lip slowly. Seeing that, Valerie prepared a seat in front of his desk before sitting in his chair.


    Rio sits with his head down, looking at the floor as he can''t see Valerie in front of him. After a moment, he turns his gaze in another direction as long as he does not see Valerie right in his face.


    The blonde guy snorted.


    "Rio, are you really won''t tell me after we''ve been together for years?" asked Valerie with a gentle tone.


    Being asked like that made Rio realize his friend''s intention. When he is done adjusting his jumbled feeling back in order, he looks at Valerie now and approaches the chair that had been prepared.


    "Alright. Please bear with me since I don''t know where to start."


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    "Take it easy, huh. It''s just two of us at this place, so we got plenty of time."


    Rio tells everything that happened after Valerie left the caf¨¦ and why Arisa rejected his feelings. The attractive man listened quietly.


    When he is done pouring his heart out, Rio breathes a sigh of relief while leaning his back on the chair.


    "It feels like d¨¦j¨¤ vu," Rio murmurs as he stares at the ceiling, "back then, you were in my position. To talk about how your ex left you and whatnot."


    "Oh please, spare me. Can we not talk about her?" Valerie laughs it away dryly.


    His mind drifted back to the moment they were alone in the classroom. At that time, Rio was surprised when the automatic door opened with the figure of a blonde-haired guy who looked annoyed with puffy eyes behind it. His breathing was ragged, and sweat was around his neck. Rio, who was reading on the hologram screen, didn''t understand what had come to him.


    "Rio, I need to vent."


    "Huh, what''s the matter?"


    "Listen to me first!"


    Rio can''t forget the moment Valerie lowered his head, lamenting his fate because his girlfriend left him because of someone else.


    It''s because she has engaged with the said guy, he said. For whatever reason, she had to marry someone who wasn''t Valerie.


    "Please take note that I''ve changed now, not the same Valerie in that classroom at that time. I''ve become a better person," said Valerie.


    "And also a playboy," Rio added.


    "Hey, hey, I''m just being friendly to all people, especially girls." Valerie winks. Then, not long after, he smiled mockingly. "Let''s not get derailed. Basically, Arisa dumped you, and that made you like this. So, I guess I have a few pieces of advice that probably you want to hear."


    "Yeah, go on. Let me hear it from you."


    "Easy. Be a playboy."


    "Piss off."


    Valerie chuckled. He couldn''t imagine how Rio would tease every woman he met, "In my opinion, accepting and rejecting someone''s feelings is totally natural, and Arisa is no exception. If she decides not to accept your feelings, then respect her choice. You shouldn''t really dwell with her now that it has come to this because there are much other fish in the ocean! So, make yourself more attractive, and expand your social circle so that girls will come themselves.


    "That suggestion is still too subjective, but I''ll take it," Rio sighed.


    "There''s more. One way to get rid of that painful heartache is to keep ourselves busy. It sounds clich¨¦, but it''s always effective. If you''re busy with something and focus on it, you won''t have time to think about that rejection." Valerie snapped his fingers.


    Rio smiled. "I''ll take your advice. I guess that kind of thing is what I really need right now. By the way, I just discovered that telling all of this makes my head feel light again."


    "Yup, sharing burdens from one''s mind has been proven to make a person feel better," said the blonde man with a big smile. "Just tell me what''s troubling you whenever you need it, buddy!"


    Valerie gives Rio an open fist as he accepts the high-five invitation from his friend.


    "Oh right, here''s a thing. Do you remember about a certain feature of our communication ring?"


    "Nghh¨Cyeah. I remember. You said, there''s something hidden in our device and then Rita came. What about it?"


    "Turns out, if you can activate it, any of your wishes can be true, no matter how impossible it is. Maybe you want to use that feature so you''ll forget Arisa easily."


    Rio chuckles a bit. "Really? How convenient and illogical at the same time."


    "Well, it called an urban legend for a reason."


    "But, nah. I won''t use it even if it were true."


    "Alright, man."


    Feeling satisfied, Valerie got up from his chair to get a glass of water to clear his throat from his coffee.


    "Ah, right. Rio, are you free when our workhour is finished later?"


    "I think so. I got no schedule at all."


    "Nice. Let''s hang out somewhere then. Rita will join us too."


    "Good idea," Rio accepted.


    Break time was over, and everyone returned to their desks. When Valerie glanced at his best friend, Rio could do his job again. Valerie''s decision to ask Rio to tell everything that troubled him was a good call.


    He must often do that, though. It''s not good to keep everything to himself, Valerie said to himself.


    In short, the late afternoon comes when they have finished their work for today. Rio stretches his muscles for a bit before tidying up his table and shutting down his work laptop. Valerie is already at the door, looking at Rio without any shred of patience.


    "Come on, quickly!"


    "Oh my gosh, it''s barely just seconds ago when our work hour ended!" Rio replied.


    "Why can''t you do everything fast, anyway!"


    "If you''re in such a hurry, then you can go yourself!"


    The two of them got into a very petty argument until someone knocked on the door. It''s just that Rio and Valerie didn''t pay attention because they were still arguing so fiercely. Rita could hear from outside and decided to go inside since she''s been ignored for a few minutes.


    "Good afternoon, friends. I see that you''re still energetic after the work we had to do a whole day. So, we''re going to the caf¨¦ in the city¡¯s tower, right?" asked the girl with the short hair to reconfirm.


    She finds Rio and Valerie pulling each other''s cheeks and turning their heads toward her.


    The two of them pull off their attacks on each other, straighten their clothes back, and nod in agreement.


    "As planned, we will go there right now. I heard that the view of the city from a height is quite fascinating, "said Valerie.


    Rio nods firmly while adjusting his collar, "Let''s go."


    As long as Rita got her answer, she had nothing to worry about.


    Maybe the rest of this day will be pretty fun for Rio to hang out with his friends after a while.

 13th Fragment - Afternoon Hanging Spot

    "Wow, it''s so beautiful."


    Rita can''t take her eyes off from the view from above while feeling the strong breeze sweep across her face at the height of several hundred meters. The decoration design for the cafe''s outdoor area has been arranged so that the wind can be filtered out and makes it not blow too hard. However, the comfort of being on the terrace depends on the weather conditions at that time. Thus, her hair flutters several times when a strong breeze occasionally goes through.


    Valerie smiles with satisfaction seeing how he saw this scene with his own eyes. What he had seen through a detailed three-dimensional projection display could not beat the first-hand experience he is now witnessing. The fresh air and breezes give of more relaxing vibe that goes straight to his heart.


    As far as he could see, most of the Tantoris could be seen from this height. The Major River, which divides the city in half, is accompanied by two large bridges in the north and south parts of the city and a large dam near the mountain in the north area. The city station and the Ferris wheel playground can be seen in the south region if one is observant enough.


    When Valerie gazes upon the city''s outskirts near the dam, greenery spreads like a wide carpet on the mountains. It''s mesmerizing for everyone who sits in the cafe right now, including those three.


    "It turns out that this is what our planet looks like in the past. I know that we''ve studied it many times while we''re in our own era. A gentle reminder that we will never experience anything like this if this planet is not saved in the future," said Valerie.


    Rio takes his drink slowly before responding to his friend. "Definitely. So that''s why we are here to carry out a mission of humanity. I hope we can give our best contribution so that we can still be able to see the natural greenery like this when we come back."


    Rita averted her attention to the fish and chips she had ordered earlier and chewed on it very solemnly. Once again, she was reminded by the variety of cuisines of the past that were so otherwordly to the palates of those who came from the future. Even though she had been around in this era for a while, there were still many dishes that she had never tried. So, Rita is trying hard not to eat the whole thing right now since her two friends are in front of her.


    "It''s delicious, isn''t it?" Rio guessed while getting curious at the same time. He tried one of the french fries and then chewed it carefully.


    The girl with short dark hair waited with a bit of curiosity. "How?"


    "Splendid. Really makes you chew it nonstop."


    "Alright, Don''t mind if I take it!" Valerie shamelessly grabs the french fries that Rio is about to take.


    He gives Valeria an elbow on his guts by reflex. Rita laughs at them and blames Valerie with her cheerful tone. Like cats and dogs who couldn''t stay still when they met, the two guys mocked each other to their heart''s content until they finally ran out of their mocking vocabulary.


    At that moment, Rio truly feels his chest is less heavy because of Valerie''s annoying attitude or Rita''s crisp laugh. He just realized that spending time together on this late afternoon under the fresh air like this can heal him somehow.


    Shortly after, his eyes happen to catch the city dam in the far north. Rio was reminded of something by looking at the massive concrete wall that enclosed the water.


    "I remembered Arisa told me yesterday that she adopted a child that originally lived at the dam," said Rio with eyes still glued to the water source of the Major River.


    Valerie smiled mischievously. "Ah, I see, said the one who had just been dumped by Arisa recently."


    Rita almost choked in the middle of the snacks when she heard that. However, she avoids jumping to conclusions and listens carefully to learn more about Valerie and Rio''s conversation.


    Even though a slight pain in her chest could be felt, the girl tried not to spoil the atmosphere by acting normally like a friend who is also interested in the story from others.


    "Something has happened?" asked Rita.


    Valerie sneered. "You can see the boy who was rejected by the person he has been looking for years. If it were me, I''d just skip work and go to travel for a week."


    "Haha, thanks, Val. Excellent advice."


    "No problem!"


    Rita tries to sympathize with Rio. "Then, are you really okay now, Rio?"


    The man takes a deep breath. "Indeed, it takes quite a toll for me. Because I''ve been looking and chasing her after all this time. It took me a few days to come to terms with the fact that she rejected my feelings."


    "That''s right. I am a living witness to Rio''s turmoil," Valerie added.


    "However, when I told Val everything, it just lifted the weight off my shoulders. Little by little, I accept that Arisa really doesn''t feel the same way as me. But I also should say this to you. Being here with you and Val really makes me feel better."


    Rio smiled wryly. When Rita saw this, she could relate to how he was feeling.


    Because the girl imagined a scenario when Rio had been rejected, her feelings too, it is pretty sure that it''ll be painful.


    "Rio, don''t forget that I''m here for you too. I can listen to all of your troubles, really."


    Rita''s sweet smile had taken Rio''s full attention. Hearing this, the man in charge smiled faintly.


    "Thank you. For the time being, being here with you and Valerie is enough for me," Rio said.


    The wind blows lightly to give more comfort to his wounded heart. The short-haired girl nods. Another feeling immediately replaced the pain that had settled in her heart when Rio said those words. A feeling that makes her think that he genuinely needs her.


    "Right, Right. I totally understand what you feel, Rio. Anyway, guys, have you heard about--"


    As Valerie butted in, their conversation was flowing again, talking about anything interesting. Valerie made sure that the topic always involved both Rio and Rita talking more and more since he was interested in watching how these two friends interacted a lot.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    For a moment, Valerie smirks with satisfaction.


    "Rio, I''m curious because you said Arisa adopted a child that originally lived at the dam. Is that because of her past record being inconsistent?" asked Valerie with a spoonful of pudding that immediately went into his mouth.


    "About that¡­ I don''t think that Arisa''s record of the past influenced her decision. She adopted the child of her own free will on a whim, I''m sure about that. Arisa is that type of person, after all.


    Valerie swallowed his pudding and said something. "Is such a thing possible, adopting someone and merging them with one''s family of the past?"


    Rio shrugs. "I don''t remember that they forbid us to actually adopt someone. The most important for the volunteers is the secrecy of our identity."


    "Alright. We assume it''s not a problem for now. By the way, have you submitted a report to the scientists in the future, Rio?"


    "Yeah, since a few days ago. There is still no response other than asking me to be patient and live a normal day more carefully."


    "Guys, I don''t understand this conversation about records of the past. Is there any problem with yours?" asked Rita.


    Rio scratched his head slowly. "About that¡­"


    He explained every detail related to the error on his records of the past and what had happened with his relationship with Vemia. Not to forget, Rio also told how Arisa''s records of the past are no better. Rita listened with a look of disbelief but was also quite interested in the matter.


    Valerie also added his opinion regarding this matter, so that''s a chunk of the information Rita suddenly received that afternoon.


    "Basically, it''s just like that," Rio concluded. Rita nods in understanding.


    "This is the first time I''ve heard of any problems related to someone''s records of the past. I don''t have any other comment and agree with what the scientists said. You should be more alert, Rio."


    "I agree. It''s quite impactful for me. My past sister, Vemia, was affected by that. I can''t be careless at home when I''m alone with her."


    "Right," Valerie seemingly agrees while french fries are in his mouth.


    The three talked for a while longer before the sun finally set and headed home.


    At the same time, two figures were sitting in front of each other in a different places. The atmosphere is relatively calm and fresh, thanks to an air conditioner combined with a soft fragrance that gently pampers one''s sense of smell. The small cafe is so cozy for anyone who wants to relax, including Arisa and Vanilla, who are inside.


    The girl with the ice cream hairpin enjoys a few scoops of ice cream at once before tasting it slowly. Seeing that, the little girl in front of Arisa couldn''t help but try how the parfait on the table tasted like, even though something was still bugging her. Vanilla can''t help thinking that maybe Arisa is not an average person, so she puts the spoon on the table and asks her adoptive sister instead.


    "Big sister."


    "Hmm, what is it?"


    "Why can you gobble ice cream without feeling stings in your head at all?"


    Arisa is silent for a moment while tilting her head. Presumably, she just realized that she never received any questions about it. As far as she could remember, she couldn''t know for sure since she was fine eating so much ice cream without a headache.


    "Perhaps my body has adapted in any way, so I can enjoy ice cream without any problem. It can''t be helped. It tastes delicious, you know. Come on, you should quickly enjoy the parfait before most of it melts! The combination of ice-cold cream with sweet toppings and bananas will definitely be outstanding!"


    Vanilla turns her gaze to the shape of the parfait in front of her. It is the first dessert she has seen in front of her eyes. From the color combination alone, it is pretty appetizing. Especially if she had tasted it, that''s what Arisa thinks.


    The adoptive big sister patiently waits for Vanilla as she takes a spoonful of the sweet dessert. She is curious to see how she would react when she tasted her big sister''s carefully chosen parfait.


    "How does it?" asked Arisa with a light smile.


    "¡­"


    Vanilla''s tears started to spill as her mouth filled with that sweetness.


    "¡­it tastes delicious."


    "Wah! Vanilla, why are you crying?"


    The little girl didn''t answer right away. She swallowed more of the parfait until it hurt her head and looked down, trying to hide her tears.


    "This is the first time I''ve eaten something this sweet and delicious," Vanilla replied quietly.


    Arisa''s smile is even wider. "Eat a lot, please. I will buy more if you really want them. Don''t worry about anything now, Vanilla. When you''re with me, you can eat as much parfait and ice cream as you want."


    Arisa is gazing out at the twilight sky, slowly turning dark. The dim, warm light that enveloped the Major River began to disappear, replaced by the lamps around the river that divided the city of Tantoris.


    It''s time to go home, Arisa thought.


    She just needed to wait for Vanilla to finish and walked out of the cafe, enjoying the sights of the Tantoris'' night.


    Arrived at the house, the younger brother¡ªTirto¡ªwelcomed the two of them. His eyes are fixated on what Arisa has brought home. The big sister certainly understands the meaning of his past brother.


    "Hi, Tirto. I brought some delicious ice cream from the cafe," said Arisa while gently patting his brother''s head. "It''s not much. But, you have to share with Vanilla."


    "Yay! Thank you, sis! I''ll take it just a little bit."


    The little boy almost jumps for joy when he knows what is inside. It contains several pieces of ice cream in a medium cup with various flavors. Tirto''s can''t take any longer to choose, so he grabs one of them randomly and hurries off to enjoy his dessert.


    Mom also came closer to check if anything caught her attention in the box that Arisa had brought. However, she then points to the dining table, which is already filled with dinner.


    "I''ll put it in the fridge first, okay? We will eat it later since I''ve been waiting for you two to have dinner together."


    "All right, Mom!"


    "Please tell Dad to come, Arisa."


    Arisa nods and approaches someone who is currently reading the newspaper in the living room.


    "Dad, it''s dinner time," Arisa called.


    Dad turns and stands up to come. At the table, the three of them are already waiting for Arisa and Dad to join.


    Being in the middle of this family makes Arisa smile wide. It''s no longer a smile that requires manipulation of the muscles on her face without really feeling it in the heart. That is a genuine smile that comes from the heart. She somehow reminded what Rio had said at that time.


    Something like this¡­ Indeed, I never felt this kind of feeling when I was in the future. I am genuinely grateful to have this journey into the past.


    Arisa is starting to have tonight''s meal with her past family members with a warm heart. The presence of Vanilla adds to the warmth that surrounds this house as Mom helps her enjoy the dinner. The atmosphere is quite lively because Tirto tries to talk to Arisa and Vanilla until Mom tells him not to forget his dinner, while Dad prefers to enjoy his meal slowly, watching how his wife tries to calm the situation.


    This may be one of the greatest gifts she had ever experienced.


    Soon, dinner was over, and everyone rinsed their stuff in the kitchen. When she is done, Arisa intends to take one of the ice cream cups she brought as a snack before going to bed.


    However, Tirto hurriedly opens the refrigerator door and hits Arisa with it. He takes out two fruits and goes away without saying anything to her.


    "Oh. My existence is gone again," she muttered.


    No problem. It''ll be only temporary until the scientists can fix my records of the past.


    She walks around the house, observing every family member at this time. Mom is busy preparing breakfast for the following day. Dad returned to his favorite sofa and resumed the newspaper. At the same time, Tirto talked with Vanilla, who was currently having her ice cream.


    Everyone is doing business as usual without Arisa''s presence in the middle of them.


    There''s a slightly unpleasant feeling started to emerge from Arisa''s chest.

 14th Fragment - Stranger

    "I''m home."


    It''s almost sunset when Rio enters the house while carrying a white box¡ªa medium cheesecake he had bought from Tower Caf¨¦, where he had hung out with Valerie and Rita before. When Rio was about to rush home, he remembered his conversation with Arisa that afternoon.


    "¡ªdon''t forget to treat your past family well."


    Rio interprets that bringing something small to his house could be a good start. Still, he didn''t know what to choose when he was looking at the cafe''s sweets. His face reread the menu several times to ensure that his choice would suit everyone at home. But, no matter how hard Rio thought, he didn''t know what to buy.


    He had never done this before in his original timeline. The sudden idea¡ªbringing something for people at home¡ªwas completely alien to Rio.


    But he still had to do it, so he decided to consider once more carefully what he needed to buy.


    "Rio, what are you so confused about?" Rita suddenly appeared beside that man.


    "Ah, Rita. Look, I don''t know what to choose to bring home."


    "For your family?"


    He nodded. Rita approached and checked the menu list on the counter together. Her eyes were glued to one name while thinking about other possible options. After a few minutes, Rita pointed to one of the menus, which she believed was quite right.


    "¡­cheesecake?" Rio asked, not so sure.


    "Yup. There''s nothing wrong with bringing the cake home. Unless your past family was allergic to cheese or dairy products, maybe."


    "As far as I remember, none of my family members are allergic to dairy products. I have read their bios carefully on my communication ring."


    "That''s good. In my thoughts, bringing anything would be okay, and from their reaction, you will know their taste precisely. It''s not the matter of bringing something they like, but your thought of it," said Rita with a friendly tone of voice. "Even my choice of cheesecake is my safe guess because I think other menus got a strong flavour."


    Rita smiled awkwardly as Rio nodded. He considers what Rita has pointed out about bringing something home and decides to follow his friend''s advice. A medium cheesecake might be the best option for now.


    "Much appreciated, Rita," said Rio gratefully.


    "No problem," she replied with a small smile.


    So, Rio had high hopes for this cheesecake to be accepted by his past family. He feels uncertain as he walks to the dining table and puts the box there. When the man looks around, his mother seems engrossed in watching the television program accompanied by Arnando and Vemia.


    "I brought cheesecake. Anyone feel free to have it," calls Rio from the dining table. Suddenly, those three people approached and examined it. When the mother sees the box from the living room, she smiles wide. Patiently, she opened the entire box, moved the cake onto a plate, and split it fairly.


    "Well, take the cake yourself, will you," said the mother to others and sat down at the dining table to enjoy her sweets.


    "Where''s Dad?" asked Rio.


    "He was out for a while," replied one of the twins.


    "Oh, I see. So, it''s better if we spare some for Dad," Rio suggested.


    Arnando had no problem with that and took a slice of his cheesecake to enjoy the sweets immediately at the dinner table, joining his mother. Rio also did the same and joined in because he wanted to feel this sense of togetherness when he had the chance.


    "It tastes pretty good, doesn''t it," said Rio, who had just tasted a spoonful of it. His tongue is like being spoiled with snacks or high quality sweets that can only be found in this era. Secretly, he praised all kinds of cuisines from the past since the taste of food in the future is nothing compared to this timeline.


    "I heard everything from Tower Caf¨¦ is quite good. That place is usually very crowded at the weekend because of the quality of the taste, and the view is also beautiful," Mom added.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "I''ll have more cake later, okay!" Arnando is enthusiastic enough that his cake only remains in half.


    "You can''t hog all of it by yourself, Nando. Remember, Dad has not tasted the cake yet," declared the mother.


    Arnando pouts and ends his snacking session when all of his cake is gone down to his stomach. Then, Rio tried to chat more with his mother regarding anything related to the tallest tower in this city. Tonight was quite peaceful and warm for Rio.


    Except for Vemia. She remained alert while staring at Rio with a look that was enough to make someone''s hair stand on end somehow. Of course, the said man is aware of that and curious why Vemia behaved like that.


    "Vemia, are you not going to take a bite? Perhaps, are you allergic to cheese?"


    His little sister stares at him intently without blinking and won''t answer that question as if Vemia sees something else in Rio. The young man immediately guessed something¡ªhis record of the past was starting to get messy again, so Vemia didn''t recognize him as her older brother.


    "Vemia. You have heard me, right?" Rio is trying to make sure.


    Vemia walks away to go back to her room, leaving the others still at the dining table. Rio knows his guess is right, and he gets some cold sweat flowing down. What if Vemia suddenly accused him of being a stranger and told everyone in this house about Rio''s true identity?


    He should be extra careful. Who knows what a person from the past will do if they find out the identity of someone from the future? Various possibilities could happen, and most can lead to bad things.


    Several days passed since Vemia''s erratic attitude, and Rio made sure to live his life as usual. When he is at home, he will be more alert and avoid being around Vemia. He also warns himself always to pay attention to all the people in the house, just in case this error could affect other people besides his little sister.


    According to his observations over the past few days, the unstable effect of Rio''s record of the past had only affected Vemia. There is no similar problem that occurred to the rest of the family. Mother is still engrossed with her internet series shows that are always engaging things to watch, Arnando sometimes likes to ask Vemia questions and discuss things together, and Father often goes outside to tend to his own business.


    Only Vemia showed an unstable self. There is this particular moment when she saw Rio as the eldest brother and invited her twin to discuss anything that caught their attention at that time. On other occasions, Vemia was quite aware of Rio''s existence in her home like a stranger who came suddenly, and her gaze pierced Rio''s very being.


    On one of many nights, Rio''s room is slightly bright even though the lights have been turned off. A projection screen display emanating from the communication ring was attached to one side of the bedroom''s wall. A man with blonde hair relaxing on the bed with his arms folded as a headrest could be seen on display.


    "So, your record of the past isn''t stable either?" Valerie asked.


    Rio nods his head while checking every message he receives on the other projection screen. "There is no satisfactory answer from scientists. They gave us ambiguous answers to see if this problem could be resolved. And no information about the exact date for this problem will be solved."


    "So that''s the case. Even if scientists are human. So, there is stuff that they can''t control. There''s nothing we can do about this aside of being alert at all times," Valerie said


    "That''s tiring, you know. If the situation continues like this, then my identity could be exposed, and the possibility of endangering the other volunteers could also occur."


    Valerie strokes his chin with his mouth pouting. Rio''s worries have a point. Still, he also doesn''t know the right solution to mitigate that.


    The blonde man sighs softly. "Sorry, Rio. I don''t even know what to do if I''m in your position right now. So, basically¡­ good luck!"


    Valerie cut off his communication before Rio could interrupt. The projection screen hanging on the wall only shows the standby notification, which takes up almost the entire display.


    "Ah, damn it," he curses as he turns off the display on the wall.


    He stands up and scratches his hair in frustration. However, Rio doesn''t give up and opens another two projection screens floating nearby. He intends to conduct research assisted by information from Ringnet in overcoming this problem.


    Not to mention, Rio made an open thread in the discussion forum in the middle of Ringnet''s network so that other volunteers could be aware of this phenomenon. In detail, he shared his story¡ªbut did not include Arisa''s case because he hadn''t asked her permission yet. To share is caring, that''s what he thought.


    "Who knows, there are others also experiencing the same thing and can provide a solution," he muttered.


    Rio lightly slapped his cheeks to make up his mind. Then, his fingers will get so busy looking for relevant information related to the concept of this record of the past.


    Opening the records and track records in the Ringnet database, Rio''s gazes are so keen to absorb the information he needs. He is more or less struggling with the screen''s projection floating in the air without a break. Slowly, the man''s mind began to be filled with notes, concepts, and how a record of the past was supposed to work. It is a high-level algorithm that can change the social order in the past society so that someone from the future can blend in.


    "It''s just that there are few limitations to the said program..."


    Records of the past cannot influence the social order associated with important figures who have had a tremendous effect on the course of history. For example, a person cannot position himself as the president of a country or anything on that similar level. Their existence is naturally strong enough to be disturbed by this record of the past.


    He sighs while turning the two projection screens off and throwing himself to the bed. His eyes staring at the ceiling with his mind leaving this room, searching for the answer he truly needs.


    There is no way that Vemia is a past figure equal to a president. I''ve checked her profile, and there is no related data correlated to that.


    Rio sits on his bed and scratches his head roughly. A moment later, he stands up and intends to go out and get a drink.


    ¡ªuntil he realized that his bedroom door was slightly opened. Rio forgot to lock it, and suddenly, he shudders in horror at his carelessness.


    When his hand opened the door, the figure of a little girl carrying a smartphone in front of him was seen.


    "Hello, a foreigner named Rio," said Vemia.


    He feels that the floors beneath are crumbling down into the deep abyss.

 15th Fragment - Identity

    The room was tightly closed, and the lights had been turned on back so that two individuals sitting facing each other could see each other clearly. Vemia sat up straight with her eyes, piercing the heart of someone who should be her brother. Meanwhile, Rio cannot return that sharp gaze while thinking of a suitable way out of this situation. It was like that stare peeling all the identities and secrets from the inside out of him.


    In other words, Rio is a criminal who used vile tricks to live at this house, and Vemia will interrogate him to justice!


    Vemia clears her throat. "Explain everything, down to the last detail. How come you can enter this house, have your own room while Dad, Mom, and Nando treat you like our family. That''s super weird."


    The young man is trying to think quickly in this situation. He doesn''t know how far he should disclose the volunteers'' identities who came from the future. However, what he understood very well from the training results to prepare for a trip to the past was: whatever happens, don''t leak the fact if someone from the future comes to the past era.


    "Wait a minute, I need time to properly put my explanation into proper words," Rio pleaded as he looked the other way. Other thoughts mess around his head like a hurricane when he tries to find the right thing to say.


    "Hmm? Okay, since you''re asked," Vemia replied lightly while meddling with her cell phone, "just so you know, I recorded you in the middle of your conversation until you removed that weird floating screen."


    What Vemia said just now makes Rio shudder in horror. Turns out she already knows about the projection screen.


    Due to this confusion, Rio is genuinely concerned about the risks for those in the future if someone from the past knows about people from the future. Will it cause a timeline disaster or something? On the one hand, he is also unsure of what will happen to his past record. Perhaps it''ll no longer be effective, so the whole house knows Rio is not their real family? Then, what if they informed the authorities about this, and the entire world will know?


    The situation is clearly going to get even more chaotic if I''m not handling this properly, he thought.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Vemia is still patiently waiting and puts down her cell phone with the screen facing the table. Her eyes were almost magically sharp comparable to the most tapered blade in the world, staring at the figure who didn''t budge at all.


    The night is quite late. There are no noises outside other than a few cars passing through and the rush of water from the river a few dozen meters away. The silence is deafening for Rio.


    The little girl leaned back to get more relaxed. "You know, my memories sometimes got mixed together when I know you as my own brother, which was originally not true since I don''t know you. But, I know that you are not a bad guy. You treat me and the others like your own family. However, what I still don''t understand is: What''s the point of you playing family with us like this?"


    Rio listened to Vemia''s carefully.


    "Vemia, I know this is a confusing situation for you, but¨Ccan you trust me?" Rio asked with a low tone, just to make sure.


    "I don''t know, Rio. I don''t know. I believe that you are a good person but.. for you to live at the same house with me and the others acting as they know you¡­ just what happened here?."


    After a few decisive minutes of pondering in his head, and then¡­


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "Okay, I''ll tell you everything, but I want you to trust me for everything you''ll hear. However, this is supposed to be top-secret information, so I ask you politely to delete your recordings before I explain everything."


    "Why should I delete that? I need prove just in case."


    "Because the world will be destroyed if anyone sees your recording¡­."


    "H-huh, for real? I don''t want that."


    A minute later, she shows Rio her phone and how she deletes everything right away.


    "It''s done. So you talk now."


    "Phew, alright. For the starter, I am a person from the future."


    Starting from that sentence, Rio reveals everything that was supposed to keep secret from the original inhabitant of this timeline. A grand journey from the future for earth-saving missions, tools used to travel through space-time, technology that has been brought and used to mingle with the society of the past, and some slight information of several other volunteers.


    He can tell that Vemia''s facial expression gradually changed from being full of suspicion towards him to someone with eyes sparkled with every new information she got. It''s just like her when she was reading an encyclopedia, she was also so focused on listening to every word Rio had to say.


    Rio concluded that the others were sleeping soundly, so he didn''t hesitate to show a projection that Vemia had seen earlier. Not to forget, Rio also explained his friends'' identity who came along to this period.


    "Starting from Valerie, who works in the same division as me, Rita also works in the same place but in different divisions. And lastly, Arisa. She chose to be an ordinary schoolgirl for her role at this time. From what I''ve heard, recently she adopted someone who used to live at the dam¡­."


    "I see. Yes, I see," Vemia nods excessively, which Rio isn''t expecting that she can move her head like that, "I don''t know that you guys can actually pull off something like a time-traveling. Are you the first who could do it?"


    "I do not think so. We''ve done time travel as a trial run before."


    "A-Amazing¡­ So, you are in my family here because of this record of the past technology stuff."


    "Precisely."


    "Nngh¡­ it''s difficult to follow, but mostly I understand!"


    Rio let her process the information that sounded like the grandiose fantasy of someone who had read too much science fiction. The young man also has a moment to consider whether it is really okay to explain things like this.


    He almost doubted himself. But he doesn''t know the other way to handle this situation properly.


    "Okay, okay. I understand enough. Then, I should formally welcome you into this family. Nice to meet you, Rio. I''m Vemia, someone who will be your little sister in this family," she welcomed him with a smile.


    Rio let out a sigh of relief hearing that.


    Thankfully she can understand and accepted me as his brother. It''s not a mistake to share everything with Vemia. As long as she keeps her mouth shut, everything will be fine.


    "Thank you, Vemia. My name is Rio, and I''ll be your older brother from now on. Please take care of me."


    "No problem. If this journey means saving the planet in the future, I''ll help as much as I can. My soul feels like screaming at me to help with anything that you need!" Vemia replied until she stood up from her chair.


    The chair is almost knocked down because of that.


    "Include me in several activities that need to be carried out for the mission, too, okay!"


    "Wait for a second! I don''t know if that''s a good idea or not."


    "Do you mean that I can''t really participate in your plans?"


    "I meant, so far, our contributions have varied depending on the current conditions and record of the past that we programmed to. However, for Vemia, who has no such program, I don''t know if you actually can do something."


    "Okay, I understand. What a bummer."


    Rio is trying to come up with something quickly. "How about starting from something small first? For example, try to pay attention more to the environment around you. From this house, the road that you usually use and your school. Vemia can ask your friends always to pay attention to the plants and maintain cleanliness. Small steps at the time and will be bigger later."


    "Okay!" Vemia is almost shouting.


    Who would have thought that today was the day his identity was revealed to his little sister among all people? Not long after, Vemia returns to her room to rest while Rio rushes to lie on the bed because it is exhausting his mind.


    At least the crisis is successfully averted!


    However, apparently, Rio couldn''t sleep well. His head was still mulling over some of the worst possibilities of sharing the secret about the volunteer''s identity from the future. In fact, to the point that he got nightmares.

 16th Fragment - Greenhouse

    Dawn has come on the eastern horizon when Rio wakes up feeling tired all over his body. Of course, He was still sleepy, but he quickly got up and got ready for work.


    ¡°Haah,¡± he grunts as he reaches his desk at the office. The sun is long appeared to give its warmth to the city, yet his eyes are still heavy, his body is quite hot, and overall, Rio feels like a dead fish. This morning is definitely not his day as he still struggles to turn on the computer.


    ¡°So what did you do last night so you almost comparable with a sloth? Are you not sleeping at all?¡± Valerie teased by gently patting Rio¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°No. A lot is going on at home, one of which¡ª¡±


    ¡°Whatever, just make sure you¡¯ll be okay this whole day. After this, we have to make a visit to the forestry division,¡± Valerie concludes while walking back to her desk and tidying things up.


    But I¡¯m not done talking yet, said Rio with annoyance. He also doesn¡¯t understand why they suddenly have to make a visit.


    ¡°I can guess your thoughts. Why do we have to visit today of all days?! Do not worry. I, Valerie, are indeed quite sensitive to my surroundings,¡± he commented out of nowhere while clearing his desk, ¡°my suggestion to visit was approved by my superiors effective by today. Hence, we have a full day to be there.¡±


    ¡°Wow, so that¡¯s the case. Is this one of your steps to undertake a collaborative project with the forestry division? Considering they are a division formed due to the influence of the scientists¡¯ records of the past that shouldn¡¯t exist in this timeline originally.¡±


    Valerie smiled stiffly and looked away.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just looking for an excuse to keep us from working here. I need some moment to breathe, you know.¡±


    ¡°Wha¨CI feel betrayed.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to think about unnecessary details. C¡¯mon, let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡°You two, are you ready?¡± Mr. Rudi, the superior of Rio and Valerie in the division, comes out from his room and greets the two, followed by several other division members behind him.


    In short, Valerie and Rio were in a specially created chamber for the forestry division. Instead of being called a chamber, this place is more appropriate to be called a greenhouse because it more or less consists of fertile soils for planting research. Roughly around 20% of this place is used for an office and other administrative things. This place is definitely the only one that is different from other divisions¡¯ workplaces.


    ¡°By the way, this is the first time we see a room for the forestry division,¡± said Rio.


    ¡°Well yeah. We barely got any time to check out other places here.¡± Valerie looked excited.


    ¡°Welcome, city planning Division. Have you been well, Mr. Rudi? Fine?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Rubert! It¡¯s been a while. Of course, I¡¯m usually alright. Just usual stuff, you know.¡±


    A middle-aged man greets Mr. Rudi and the division members at the entrance of the greenhouse. Behind that man, all the other division members follow to exchange greetings, including Rita. Roughly counting, it¡¯s about ten people there. Mr. Rudi and Mr. Rubert shake hands before going for the day¡¯s main activity.


    ¡°We, the forestry Division, welcome you. I think the group would be better divided into several groups to be more efficient and not idle around for too long. Each group will be guided by the person in charge,¡± he explained kindly. Before long, they split into separate groups and began to disperse.


    A girl with her usual short dark hair smiles and pulls the uniform on Rio¡¯s arm. When he turns around, a sweet smile greets him like a transparent river that quenches thirst in a prolonged drought. There was a quiet and calm feeling coming from her for some reason. Perhaps, because there¡¯s a lot of green vegetation that could be seen directly behind the smiling girl¡¯s figure.


    ¡°Want me to guide you, just the two of us?¡± Rita offered.


    Rio, who saw no reason to be always in the group, nods. ¡°Certainly. I don¡¯t think I can look around at my pace and gather the information if I have to always follow the group. Being around them, especially my division¡¯s head can be unnerving.¡±


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    ¡°Haha, alright then. Follow me.¡±


    The two of them slip from the group when the others focus on explaining a particular plant from the other. Rio thought that Valerie might want to come with them. However, since he was in another group and had already walked quite a distance, Rio felt there was no need to call him to join. In that case, it¡¯s fine if it¡¯s just Rio and Rita this time.


    As the girl steps forward to guide, the boy follows her behind. Rio doesn¡¯t take long to find various objects in this greenhouse which makes him interested in knowing more. Vertically positioned tubes lined up at a calculated distance, and several shelves filled with greenery could be seen as Rio strolls around.


    Several soils are still empty, and some have been planted. A few people check the plants by taking notes on the wooden pads there waves a warm gesture to Rita. The girl smiled and waved back in response.


    For some reason, Rio no longer feels tired and is replaced by a sense of awe seeing all of this. The green objects around him that are being nurtured using various media are pretty eye-catching to look at.


    ¡°Is it really okay to let the people from the City Layout Division tour here? This Forestry Division shouldn¡¯t have existed in the past, right?¡± Rio asked, which was responded to by Rita¡¯s nod.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. Actually, none of the agricultural technology we currently use here uses technology from the future. We only use agricultural technology already implemented today and improve it to be more efficient to achieve our current goal. Suppose we happen to use the technology from our era, we keep it hidden in the laboratory,¡± Rita explains while pointing to one corner of the place covered by a green wall.


    ¡°Is that where the laboratory is located?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great to know. But sometimes, I wonder, what are you actually doing here to contribute to the mission?¡±


    ¡°Our activity here is officially to support your division related to layout planning for the greenery and water infiltration. Meanwhile, our agenda as a volunteer from the future is to do genetic engineering on the plants in this city so that they will become vegetations that are quite helpful in the earth¡¯s ecosystem in the long term,¡± Rita explains in a lower tone.


    ¡°Interesting. Basically, collaborating with this division can significantly achieve what we have to do. Can you tell me more about that?¡±


    ¡°No problem. So, specifically¡ª¡±


    His attention is solely attached to the girl in front of him, who explains various things related to plants and future technology and how they can be implemented for the mission. The greenery behind him carries the atmosphere as if they were walking in a beautiful valley, somewhere out there. Plus, it¡¯s interesting for Rio to see how Rita is immersed in her specialty while carefully explaining it to him.


    Rita also showed some of the products she had manipulated. To be honest, Rio didn¡¯t understand the difference between the said plants compared to the non-manipulated ones. Because of that, he kept quiet and listened to every detail of Rita¡¯s explanation with pleasure.


    Talking with Rita about plants can indeed take days, isn¡¯t it? Rio laughed inside.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the dark-haired girl covered her mouth reflexively, ¡°I¡­ talk too much, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Rio giggles. ¡°No big deal. It¡¯s just the usual you. I still remember that when we have a discussion in the school library, it will be night in no time.¡±


    The girl¡¯s memory brings her back to when the two of them spent together in a room full of information for students stored in a few big servers. They always meet there because Rio is often there to study architecture and city planning independently. Meanwhile, Rita was looking for references related to botany and often drowned in the data without caring about the world.


    It didn¡¯t take long for them to notice each other¡¯s presence. So, Rio invited Rita when he needed some opinions from other people. Since then, Rio will ask her to discuss something related to Rita¡¯s science field whenever they meet in the library.


    Her face turns red. She turns away as Rio is busy taking a closer look at every plant he comes across with his fingers without really noticing that he got a little bit close to her. Rita doesn¡¯t want Rio to see her, even just a glance.


    Taking almost more than half a day, today¡¯s tour ended simultaneously with office hours. So all the City Layout Division members give their regards to the Forestry Division and leave one by one. Except for Rio, Valerie, and Rita.


    ¡°I¡¯m still glad that my proposal got accepted. Doing things outside of routine is quite fun too. What do you say about it, Rio? I did a good job, didn¡¯t I?¡± said Valerie with his usual smirk as he relaxed his shoulders.


    Rio laughed sneeringly, ¡°I think it will be quickly discovered if you do it too often.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Rita chose not to speak her mind.


    ¡°Time to go home, guys. You two aren¡¯t going to hurry up right away?¡± asked Valerie, who was going to get ready.


    The girl suddenly remembered something. ¡°Any of you will be going to be busy this evening? I need someone for company.¡±


    ¡°Sadly, I already got a schedule coming up. Yes, you guessed it right. I have a date,¡± Valerie refused, ¡°how about you, Rio?¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t any. I can go straight home if there¡¯s nothing else to take care of.¡±


    ¡°There you have it, Rita. You got Rio there,¡± Valerie suggested.


    Rio and Rita look at each other for a moment.


    ¡°Alright, sure,¡± replied Rio.


    ¡°Okay! I¡¯ll go first. Have fun, you two. See you!¡±


    Seeing Valerie, who had disappeared, Rio tidied up his stuff and stood up. ¡°Come on, Rita.¡±


    ¡°O-Okay,¡± the girl replied with a slight blush.


    Deep inside, Rita bounces joyfully to have this moment with Rio.

 17th Fragment - Terrarium

    Those two walk side by side, going through the sidewalk in the evening at their own pace. Several other people also passed each other without care. Some were still wearing their working uniforms while trying to do their own business. Several potential buyers were crowding some shops actively promoting its goods. A few others enjoy this warm twilight that illuminates the city inside the small cafe in this shopping district.


    The mild warm breeze almost pulled Rio¡¯s drowsiness back. He almost forgot that he didn¡¯t sleep well last night. He rubs his eyes slowly to provide a little stimulation for his sense of sight to keep awake.


    Inhales exhales.


    Inhales and exhales again.


    Soon after, he smiles faintly to feel how fresh the air is in this Tantoris city.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± asked Rio when he remembered that Rita hadn¡¯t mentioned her destination yet.


    ¡°To the gardening store. I have something to get this evening,¡± answered Rita.


    He chuckles softly. ¡°That¡¯s very you.¡±


    ¡°W-what do you mean, Rio?¡±


    ¡°Nevermind. So, what are you going to buy there?¡±


    ¡°You see¡ª¡± Before Rita finished her sentence, she smiled faintly, ¡°you¡¯ll find out later, Rio.¡±


    ¡°Huh, what¡¯s with that? Is that supposed to be a secret or something?¡± Rio couldn¡¯t accept that answer while Rita only chuckled mysteriously.


    Rio and Rita keep each other busy with their own talks on the way there. Small chats that unknowingly give each other a slight warmth or just lame jokes have filled the moment between them. The intensity of Rio meeting Rita like this is not so much, so many things can be told.


    ¡°Suddenly, I reminded a moment of our time at school,¡± said Rita.


    ¡°Which one?¡±


    ¡°When Valerie took you into the school¡¯s greenhouse and met me there alone.¡±


    ¡°That one, huh. Valerie was curious because we¡¯ve never really seen what it looks like from inside. Once we got in and surprisingly saw you inside by yourself, Valerie called you wondering if you¡¯re the one in charge,¡± Rio added.


    ¡°Since then, you always greet me when we meet at the library.¡±


    ¡°Because we¡¯re friends, right?¡±


    ¡°Haha. I also remember when we had a picnic in the greenhouse,¡± said Rita.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ something unexpected. But, when you know Val, you should expect the unexpected.¡±


    ¡°I know, right. Still, I had fun. I¡¯ve never done anything like that, so it was really thrilling, thinking what will happen if the teachers saw us.¡±


    ¡°Actually, I also felt that way at the time,¡± Rio giggles.


    They both laughed bitterly at each other. It happened roughly a year ago, not that long. However, just remembering it was fun enough.


    The girl stopped at a simple stall selling chicken meats as snacks. Rita is coming closer to ordering one. It should be just a few minutes before she receives her order.


    ¡°You want some, Rio? It tastes better when it¡¯s quite cold like this,¡± said Rita after chewing her part and offering some others.


    A thin vapor coming out from inside the paper bag caught Rio¡¯s attention. A few pieces of seemingly delicious chicken look too good to pass up. So, he takes her offer to have some bites.


    ¡°How?¡± Rita became hesitant with her opinion just now. Perhaps it¡¯s not as delicious as she thought?


    ¡°As you said before, it¡¯s nice to take during this cold evening like this. It also helps me to think of something,¡± Rio concluded.


    ¡°Phew, thankfully it fits your tongue,¡± said Rita, ¡°what are you thinking about?¡±


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    Rio picks another piece of meat and rearranges the fragments on his head.


    ¡°I thought about what kind of significant contribution I should make to give a big impact on the environment. However, I still have a few rough ideas, and I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s realistic enough or not.¡±


    The girl tries to help by coming up with the right idea. However, what Rio has said just now is just too vague.


    ¡°You can think about it slowly, Rio. There¡¯s no need to rush,¡± Rita said and later was greeted with Rio¡¯s smile.


    They both enjoyed the chicken snack while brainstorming on Rio¡¯s idea. When one of them realized that there were no pieces of chicken left, Rio could see a shop with a green pattern in front of him. The door and its front walls are made of glass, so potential buyers can glance straight at the stuff without going inside.


    The view that can be seen from the outside alone is enough to attract Rio¡¯s attention.


    Rita opens the shop¡¯s door, followed by Rio after. When he finally goes inside, she can feel the shop¡¯s calm and serene atmosphere for his soul. One of the sides is full of shelves filled with pots containing various groomed plants that simultaneously look pretty fancy and beautiful. While on another side, there are multiple glasses or transparent containers arranged neatly so they stick to the wall to create an eye-catching harmony.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Interesting, right?¡± Rita¡¯s tone is quite cheerful.


    The girl walks to the cashier to talk about her order. The cashier understood immediately and asked Rita to wait for a moment. While waiting, Rio takes a closer look at the displays of this shop, especially the side that uses glass as its container.


    Glasses, bottles, or other models have been modified in any elegant shape possible. Some plants are more like a garden miniature that quickly captivates Rio, especially those several combined decorations such as wood, rocks, or mounds of dirt are formed in such a specific way. It is small and practical enough to maintain that it can be used as a table decoration.


    ¡°Perhaps you are interested, Rio?¡± Rita caught Rio looking closely at the containers to get all the details inside the glass container.


    ¡°Huh¨Coh. Well, you could put it that way. I¡¯m intrigued by everything in this place. Ornamental plants in this era have their own distinct allure. Correct me if I¡¯m wrong but, there is also something like this in our era, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but the place where the plants grow and its aesthetics are very different. In our era, terrariums don¡¯t have fertile soil and use other media instead,¡± Rita said as she pointed to the soil visible in the bottles, ¡°Basically, I want to have some terrariums or simple ornamental plants and put them in the house. It will definitely make my dinner with grandma feel more calming and enjoyable.¡±


    Rio nods slowly and continues his window shopping a few minutes later until the cashier calls for Rita. A terrarium, according to the girl¡¯s order, has arrived.


    The shape of the mini garden is just like a miniature dystopia portrait. The ground part, as the basis of the terrarium is filled with greenery, the railroad tracks, and a small train located in the middle of miniature remains of buildings overgrown with moss.


    ¡°Amazing. It¡¯s elegant but has its own sadness,¡± blurted Rio.


    Rita, who didn¡¯t think that way, is looking at Rio. ¡°So that¡¯s your interpretation. Interesting.¡±


    ¡°Eh, there¡¯s another interpretation for this?¡±


    The girl chuckled, ¡°No, that¡¯s okay. I think a terrarium is similar to a work of art. Thus, people are free to interpret their respective assumptions. Coincidentally, that¡¯s what you think.¡±


    ¡°Then, what¡¯s your opinion about this, Rita?¡±


    The girl looks at the green diorama with a relaxed gaze. She recalled why she wanted a custom¨Corder terrarium like this, not just buying an existing model instead.


    ¡°¡­I think it serves as a reminder of why we are in this era,¡± she answered quietly.


    Indeed, the interpretation of this object may vary, depending on one¡¯s personal views. Somehow, he understood where his friend¡¯s thoughts were coming from. Those ruined buildings, those trains that almost say that it is still going to run everywhere it wants, and the greenery on the dirt give a conflicting yet beautiful vibe. If you saw how the moss grew on the miniature ruins of that building¡ª


    ¡°Rita, is there any kind of plant that can strengthen a concrete structure?¡± Rio asked out of nowhere.


    ¡°Hm? if you ask about it¡­ I think if some plants or trees grow in a building and have roots that are big and strong enough, it will weaken the foundation structure of the building. Logically, any substance that breached inside a perfectly cemented building would mess things up, right? There will be gaps here and there that make the structure weak.¡±


    ¡°Right. Then, is it possible to use a genetic-engineered plant and make it able to blend inside the concrete and strengthen the structure?¡±


    ¡°About that¡­¡± Rita tries to rack her brain for a while and eventually reaches a conclusion, ¡°it¡¯s theoretically doable. I¡¯ve read some information about manipulating plants to strengthen building structures. Thanks to the technology of our era, we can achieve that. Though it¡¯s not a popular method to use¡­.¡±


    ¡°Then, do you think the said technology is also there in the city¡¯s greenhouse laboratory?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We happened to bring that technology from the future. It¡¯s a tool that is capable of manipulating the genetics of the plants to our needs, to put it simply.¡±


    ¡°Great. Thank you very much, Rita. I think I know what kind of contribution I will make,¡± Rio said confidently, ¡°would you please help me to do research related to a plant engineering to strengthen building structures? This research plays a crucial role in my plans and can potentially take up a lot of your time. So, I want you to carefully consider it first.¡±


    He takes Rita¡¯s hands and hugs her. Rio is really serious about his plan, while the girl doesn¡¯t know what is happening.


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t really understand what you mean. However, we can discuss this further when we¡¯re out here. I want to help you, really,¡± Rita answered by looking the other way because she couldn¡¯t meet Rio¡¯s earnest gaze.


    ¡°Is that true? It¡¯s settled, then!¡±


    The girl¡¯s mind is perplexed. His two arms hug her tight and mess up Rita¡¯s thinking ability. But, to get him this close to her means anything to Rita.


    I didn¡¯t think Rio would want to involve me in his idea. I¡¯m delighted.

 18th Fragment - Reunion

    It''s raining in Tantoris tonight, which almost covers the whole town. However, this weather doesn''t prevent Arisa and her family from going to the family restaurant. Mom didn''t really want to cook for this day, so everyone decided to eat out. It''s also an excellent change of atmosphere, so no one complied.


    Not long after, the Tanjung family''s car drove through the rain at a leisurely pace. Father is busy looking at the road with Mom in the front passenger seat and the rest in the back seat. They arrived at one of the most famous family restaurants in the town in less than fifteen minutes.


    "Dad likes grilled fish, so this restaurant is his favourite since there''s no other place can grills how Dad wants," Mom replied when Vanilla asked why she chose a place quite far from home. Listening to that, Arisa will remember her father''s favorite dish.


    The family chooses a table on the second floor for tonight. The menu ordered was quite a lot, so the table used by five people had almost no gaps left. Arisa herself is pretty amazed that her father has a high appetite just because there''s a grilled fish there.


    The sight of Father, usually expressionless, cramming his favorite down is enough to attract Arisa and Vanilla''s attention.


    "Father is amazing. He can finish several grilled fish at once. Because of that, I ordered more than usual. It''s our night out together so don''t hold back." Mom gives Arisa more food near her plate.


    "I agree. But I think I can''t have more," Arisa refused respectfully.


    "Vanilla. Come on, eat the others. Mom has ordered a lot, you know."


    The little girl obeys and takes more bites that have been on the table. Arisa smiles kindly, noticing that Vanilla still has an appetite left to gulp down more delicious stuff. Perhaps, it''s because she experienced how to live at the dam alone, so Vanilla appreciates how many blessings she got now.


    For about an hour, Arisa and the others were satisfied with the meal at this family restaurant. All that''s left is chatting with each other and finishing the drinks for more minutes before they go home. At that time, Arisa excused herself to the restroom before they hit the road again.


    Arisa finishes her business and then washes her hands for a moment while looking at her appearance in a large mirror. Her gaze stared at her own reflection. Something reappeared in her chest as the girl blushed.


    Tonight should be cold due to the rain. But my chest''s temperature is going up. This phenomenon¡­ I''m really feeling it.


    The girl smiled unconsciously. Arisa immediately returned to the table where her family was waiting to go home. That''s how it''ll go inside her mind.


    However, what was in front of him was an empty table that had been cleaned. The Tanjung Family was no longer there except for the staff cleaning the table. Analyzing the situation as she understood what was happening, Arisa ran downstairs hastily.


    Arriving downstairs, which was full of people enjoying dinner, Arisa swiftly looked around the whole place. From those occupied tables, the cashier and toilet on the first level and eventually outside the window. It is raining harder than before as Arisa knows that her family''s car is no longer there.


    The light brown haired-girl let out a long breath. She walked to the cashier and waved to the staff to confirm something.


    "Can you see me?" asked Arisa casually.


    The cashier is still busy with his work on the computer. A moment later, he looked at his cell phone just a moment before serving the guests who had finished their dinner.


    "As expected. He doesn''t recognize me at all," Arisa muttered as she walked over to get a better look at the window.


    The rain outside looks like it wouldn''t stop in any minutes now. If she wanted to go home by taxi, it would be useless because the driver would not heed a phone call from someone who had temporarily lost her existence. Perhaps they''ll be confused about why there''s a phone call without any voice from the other side.


    As far as Arisa''s gaze goes, she notices several car headlights going through the road''s heavy rain. Basically, there''s nothing unusual about the traffic for now. Her choice is to wait for the rain to stop, walk home through the rainfalls using the umbrella provided by this restaurant, or wait for her existence to return without knowing when it will come back so that she can order a taxi.


    But she won''t pick any of that options.


    She walks around the dining area on the first floor to find something else that could be her next option. Her eyes slowly observed everyone who was enjoying their dinner. Some guests enjoy the meal together with their families, filled with laughter and respect for each other. Arisa is sure that a few minutes ago, she must have also looked like that amid her family.


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    ¡°¡­¡±


    There is a negative feeling that comes to the surface of her heart. Arisa can''t accept why her family left her alone in this family restaurant. She should have had more time with her parents and siblings tonight.


    If only my existence isn''t disappeared at random times like this.


    "Arisa. Hello!"


    Someone waves to the girl. When Arisa looked who that was, the blonde-haired man called her to come to his table.


    "Valerie, you can see me?" asked Arisa looking in disbelief.


    "What do you mean¡ªoh. Let me guess, your records of the past made your existence disappeared again."


    "Correct. It''s to the point that it''s quite troublesome," complained Arisa in a flat tone.


    "I can imagine how difficult it would be to be in your position. First, you may want to sit down."


    Arisa accepts Valerie''s offer and sits across from him. She can see a laptop and a cup of hot tea already in half, along with its teapot about to run out.


    "So, care to tell me how you got here alone?" Valerie was curious.


    "I''m here because I had a dinner with my family. Then, my records of the past was unstable at incorrect times. My existence is gone and they came home without me."


    "That sucks, alright. Moreover, the rain is still so heavy as we know it. How about calling a taxi?"


    Arisa shrugs. "I doubt they can hear a voice of someone who had lost her existence."


    Valerie raised his eyebrows, "You got a point. Basically, your existence seems to have been erased so it''s logical for the others unable to hear your voice. Then, why I can having a conversation with you like this?"


    "I suspect that my lost existence only affects natives from this era. I also just found out that you can still see me, Valerie. So, I don''t think volunteers from the future are affected by this unstable records of the past," hypothesized the girl with the long brown hair.


    The boy sips his hot tea while typing for a while before closing his laptop.


    "Soon, I will be picked up by my past sibling. Want to tag along?" Valerie offered.


    "Good advice, I¡ª" Arisa''s communication ring received an incoming message. So, she opens it by showing her projection screen, "Give me a moment."


    "Hey, hey! Is it okay that you activate your ring in this place?" Valerie almost grabbed Arisa''s arm.


    "My existence is now non-existent. I doubt they can see the screen," Arisa answered while reading the message she had just received.


    Still, according to Valerie, activating the communication ring in public is very risky regardless of the situation. However, he doesn''t prevent Arisa further while keeping an eye on the surroundings, just if someone notices Arisa and sees the projection screen floating in the air.


    Arisa''s eyes widen as she read the message. She thinks for a moment before hastily closing the projection screen.


    "So, how? Are you coming with me?" Valerie asked, making sure. He signaled a car that had just arrived in the parking lot. Turns out his sibling has just arrived.


    "Thank you for your offer. However, my friend will be here in a moment. Please go home first."


    "Alright, so that''s what the message is all about. Okay. See you, Arisa."


    Valerie excused himself as Arisa waved her hand. He quickly runs into the car as fast as possible to not be soaked by the rain. Arrives inside, a woman in her twenties greets him.


    "Valerie, do you have a habit to chat by yourself?"


    The man raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean, sister?"


    "Earlier, I saw you talked even though your table is empty. Is your friend in the restaurant?"


    "Ah, that¡­ Did I tell you before that I can see things that shouldn''t be seen," Valerie joked.


    "Hush! It''s not funny, eh."


    Valerie''s sister grabs the steering wheel to turn the car around and leave the place. Arisa ensured that Rio''s friend was out of sight before heading towards the exit. The girl is looking for an umbrella for a few minutes before she sighs softly.


    "I''m sorry, but I''ll be taking this umbrella," she muttered as she took it from near the cash register.


    He pops out a projection display from her communication ring to set up a GPS direction to lead her somewhere. Then, the girl who wears an ice cream cone-shaped hairclip walks out into the rain.


    The projection screen floats, following where Arisa walks. It shows a map of the city and the route the girl takes to find the person who had sent her the coordinates. The girl keeps walking no matter how heavy the rain wets her shoes and skirt. She definitely has to meet this person for her own sake.


    The address of the sender is unknown and cannot be traced back. However, the sentence accompanying the coordinates really caught Arisa''s attention.


    ''Come if you want to know how to correct your record of the past. You have a trouble of your disappered existence, don''t you?''


    The girl doesn''t have to think twice about taking the offer. Or it could be that Arisa was reckless enough to go straight to mysterious coordinates from an anonymous sender. Obviously, danger lurks from such an obscure source. This girl should have considered the risks if she had gone to that place.


    However, Arisa doesn''t care. She will do anything to repair her record of the past back to normal.


    After a few minutes, the coordinates ended up inside the pavilion of a small garden. As Arisa approaches, the figure stands inside, looking at the other side. She turns off her GPS and enters the pavilion.


    "Finally you have arrived, Arisa."


    The figure turns and greets the girl dryly¡ªa man wearing glasses with cold eyes covered with a wet hoodie.


    "¡­Johann?"

 19th Fragment - That Person at That Time

    The laboratory, dominated by pure white, was busy as usual. People in their lab coats filled this place and it looks like they couldn''t be disturbed by any second, fiddling their fingers with the projection or discussing stuff with others that is hard to comprehend. All of the meeting rooms were occupied, filled with intense discussions. While most of the research rooms using the latest technology are examining substances measured in nanometers without difficulty.


    ¡°Arisa, follow Papa.¡±


    "Yes, Papa."


    The little girl with long brown hair walks fast, trying to catch the man''s pace in front of her. Several people who met her in the hallway waved friendly, to which little Arisa replied back with a straight face. Her mind still couldn''t guess which room it would be for her Papa''s destination today. However, it doesn''t bother her. The important thing is that she should follow, no matter her Papa''s order.


    "Johann, meet Father in the usual room after lunch. Father''s schedule happened to be empty at that moment."


    "Understood, Father."


    The two small children who shouldn''t be in this place met each other''s eyes. In the ocean of adults who can''t pay attention to those underages, Arisa meets someone who isn''t that busy, unlike others. Both of them remember each other''s faces since then.


    Arisa''s memory takes her far back to when she stopped attending her formal education at some point since someone she met in this pavilion is the trigger for that. The guy standing before her is not someone she could expect to meet in this era. Her mouth almost dropped open before she confirmed that he was someone Arisa used to know.


    "Johann¡­ you''re Johann, aren''t you?" Arisa asked in disbelief.


    "Nice to meet you again, Arisa. You seem happier than last time we met." The man who had previously looked stern disappeared instantly as he smiled kindly.


    "Is that so? I feel nothing has changed. Everything goes on as usual."


    The man got closer so he could take a closer look at Arisa''s face. Johann smiled, seeing how his childhood friend grew up after not seeing each other a few years ago.


    "Wow, I remember how we spent our time in that laboratory. You asked me to study together, or play hide and seek to annoy people who are working there and play video games using the lab facilities."


    "Heh, those times, huh. Actually, I did it because I want to see you laugh. That look on your face is really stiff at that time, never once I see you smile. I wonder if something died inside you or something."


    "Can''t really remember walking around with a frown on my face when I''m at the lab. I often smile in front of you, remember?"


    Johann nods slowly. "That smile was definitely different from one you had when you first saw me here. I think, traveling to this time slowly changes you, significantly."


    "Indeed, those who can tell if I am changed or not are someone who isn''t me. At least, it''s not a bad thing, right?" commented Arisa. "There are many things I want to talk about after these years, Johann. What''s your opinion on our planet in this era? It''s beautiful, right?"


    The bespectacled man adjusted his glasses as he looked outside the pavilion. It is still raining, though not as hard as before. Johann nods once to reaffirm Arisa as he walks closer to the pavilion''s edge and stretches his arms forward, deliberately wetting his fingers and rubbing them.


    "Fresh air, harmless natural rain, shady trees and fertile soil everywhere. To witness this kind of environment that is supposed to be ours makes me wonder why humans are willingly destroying everything in our era."


    "Because of that reason, mankind is undertaking this project to undo our mistakes. To revert the earth to a safe planet for humans to inhabit again," said Arisa. "By the way, you know what happened with my record of the past, right? How do you know about that? That''s amazing."


    "Oh, about that," Johann adjusted the position of his glasses, "I took a peek at the data of volunteers, specifically who came to this city, along with the information regarding their record of the past in Ringnet. Then, I realized that there was an anomaly with yours."


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    Johann doesn''t need to say that the data shouldn''t be accessible in the public domain. He managed to breach most of the volunteers'' information using his communication ring. As long as he is connected to the Ringnet, Johann can retrieve the information he wants.


    "Nice. I remember that you''re mostly interested in programming when we''re still at the laboratory. I guess, you are very skilled now," Arisa commented.


    "More or less," he replied shortly.


    "So, according to the message you sent earlier. How do I fix my record of the past? Not having a stable existence in this era has really bothered me all this time."


    "Why should I repair it if this journey is going to end soon?"


    Arisa stares at Johann with a dumbfounded face. Perhaps the rain sounds interrupt her ears, so she is unsure what he has said.


    "Johann, I don''t understand what you mean."


    "Arisa, my childhood friend. I will say again, listen carefully," Johann smiled kindly and then looked at the girl with his cold gaze, "I am here isn''t for saving our planet in the future, unlike you. Instead, I will make what you guys called a mission of humanity a total failure."


    She instantly knows that his words are profound. That piercing, sharp gaze isn''t something she has witnessed before. Johann isn''t her friendly childhood friend anymore. He was someone different from Johann she once knew.


    "¡­ you''re kidding, aren''t you. Johann?"


    The man sighs mockingly. "You know why your record of the past behaves like that, Arisa? It''s because a magical program designed by scientists to allow anyone from the future to blend into this era''s society has a fatal bug. Knowing so, they still undergo a journey with big risk like that. Humanity''s great project actually sucks, doesn''t it?"


    Arisa doesn''t have anything to say to her old friend. The girl falls silent in the middle of Johann''s explanation.


    "You know how much they wanted this project to be executed no matter how big the unknown risks are? They will do anything, Arisa, to the extent that they killed my father. Those bastards don''t care how filthy their hand was to make their agenda in this project work. How naive, those volunteers."


    "Your father¡­ uncle was killed?" asked Arisa in disbelief. "I''m¡­sorry to hear that.."


    She remembered that she had received news of the death of Johann''s father, whom she knew well during her times at the laboratory. But, it''s when she has lost contact with Johann, so she can''t convey her condolences. However, Arisa didn''t expect that it would be related to this project.


    "Right. My father was sacrificed so they can carry out this mission without any objection. That''s kinda long in the past before this project was announced, tho."


    He walks closer and holds out his hand as if trying to invite Arisa.


    "Arisa, join me to destroy this project. This mission stands on the pointless sacrifices of human beings, since I believe it isn''t only my father who was getting killed. It seems that they believed that to keep some people to live, there are others that should be killed. Including my own father."


    Johann''s voice was solid and firm. Perhaps, nothing else can stop him from doing everything he would, so this human project will fail miserably. Arisa isn''t moving at all, looking at Johann''s hand, still waiting for her answer.


    No. Not like this. What Johann wanted was wrong.


    "No, Johann, I don''t understand why you want to stop this project. I know how angry you are that your father died. But we are doing this so that we still have a place to come home to. If this project fails, then we all will die in the future.."


    "So you agree that my father must have died to make this trip possible?" Johann''s voice began to rise. "Arisa, just so you know. My father is one of the many who suggested postponing this project because it wasn''t ready yet. He wanted to avoid any possible harm to the volunteers. What you are experiencing with your unstable record of the past is one of many risks that potentially can happen to any volunteer."


    That statement made Arisa take a step back. She wasn''t sure what was right and wrong due to her childhood friend''s grief. Do the values she has¡ªnamely, to travel the past for the sake of mankind''s future¡ªabove the corpse of Johann''s father should be held true?


    Or¡­


    Is it true that Johann''s father was murdered for the sake of this project?


    "So what''s your answer?" Johann asked impatiently.


    Arisa meets Johann''s cold gaze before answering. "Johann, I refuse to go with your invitation. Please don''t do anything that will make this humanity''s mission fail for the sake of our future. I''ll help you to find justice for your father without sacrificing this project."


    Johann pulled his hand back and put it inside his pocket. And then, he stares at Arisa as if he is looking at the rotten trash.


    "I thought you would understand since we were childhood friends. Yet, it''s disappointing. You are one of the fools who don''t know their place and invaded this era because of your own interest." Johann grits his teeth in annoyance. A second later, he turned around to walk away. "It''s a shame that we can not reach a compromise. Goodbye, Arisa and your stupid goal."


    "Wait¡ª"


    Just as Arisa was about to stop Johann, he took out a device that covered his fist with a half-rounded tip aimed at the girl''s head. At a glance, Arisa knows what is in Johann''s hands.


    A laser gun from the future.


    The girl stood still. Johann smirked a little and turned back around, breaking through the rain and leaving his childhood friend alone in the gazebo.

 20th Fragment - Introduction

    The clock shows it¡¯s time to go home for almost everyone in this office. Valerie is tidying up his desk and preparing to go home before he takes a glance at his best friend¡¯s desk and gives a slight grin. Suddenly, some idea popped out when he saw Rio¡¯s face, which almost looked like a dead fish. So, the blonde man approached and put his hand on Rio¡¯s table to support his body.


    ¡°Alright, brother. Let¡¯s go out quickly. I really don¡¯t have any mood for work today so let¡¯s hop out. Are you interested in some donuts? There¡¯s nice a promo for today.¡±


    ¡°Ah no. I have overtime,¡± said Rio briefly.


    ¡°What overtime?¡± Valerie furrowed his brows. He doesn¡¯t feel their current workload requires overtime, even though it¡¯s packed enough.


    ¡°I have a plan to contribute more to our mission. So, I need to prepare for it.¡±


    Valerie noticed Rio¡¯s gaze as he straightened his back. Perhaps, that¡¯s something he saw in Rio before. ¡°Ouh, seems like it¡¯s a big thing. Are you sure you want to do that? As far as I know, we can still contribute well by incorporating a pre-planned work program from the future in this division. You know, we only need to do what our standard operating procedure should.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m certain. Thus, I can¡¯t go with you this evening.¡±


    ¡°No big deal. Alright, see you tomorrow.¡±


    Since Valerie left the room, Rio shifted his attention to focus on the information he had gathered last night. One by one, he reviewed the data to formulate a firm idea by identifying which were doable and which were not.


    Several other co-workers greet Rio as they go home. He responded casually and got back to working on his proposal. Not long after, the figure of a middle-aged man realized that one of his subordinates was still glued to his desk.


    ¡°Rio, still working hard at this hour?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Rudy. Pardon me, sir. I still have some things to work on.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course, sir!¡±


    As Mr. Rudi¨Chis superior¨Cdisappears behind the door, Rio is the only person who stays. It is getting darker when he gazes out the window to take a break for a bit. After one full gulp of a glass of water, he went back to his seat and stared at the screen once again, unfazed.


    It¡¯s almost two hours off total concentration as Rio retakes a break for a little longer. He is certain that there are no other people here, so he activates his communication ring to display Arisa¡¯s profile. He could see how she smiled, looking straight to follow the requirement for a profile picture inside the Ringnet.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Rio closed the display and went back to his work again on his computer screen.


    Don¡¯t be distracted.


    Rio admitted that he wanted to do all of this to forget the ache of rejection. His head remembered Valerie¡¯s advice back then. He wants to prove what Valerie said by making himself busy.


    To kill two birds with one stone, right? Hopefully, it can work that way.


    Two full hours of total focus had passed as the room¡¯s temperature had become chilly than before. Rio turns off his computer while stretching and yawns, then stretch his neck until he hears light-crack sounds. It seemed enough for today, so he tidied his desk. The lights outside were also blazing brightly, dispelling the darkness with artificial light. It¡¯s time to go home since he still has to work tomorrow.


    When Rio made sure all the lights were turned off and cleaned up, he walked out and closed the door of the office room¡ª


    ¡°Good work, Rio.¡±


    Someone is waiting for him to finish outside the room while leaning against the wall. Her smile is almost like a torch amidst this calming darkness.


    ¡°Rita? You¡¯re not home yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, haha. I¡¯m working overtime too.¡±


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Basically, you¡¯re in the greenhouse alone?¡±


    ¡°Correct.¡±


    The dark-haired girl offered a warm drink with faint steam fog on it. He didn¡¯t expect to meet Rita by chance when it was quite late like this. He can guess that aside from the security staff, the people remaining in this place are only him and Rita.


    Rio smiled as he received the drink gently. Then, he leans against the wall imitating the girl¡¯s current position since there¡¯s no seat nearby. A faint sweetness quickly spreads on his tongue, and somehow, he can feel his fatigue fading away. Perhaps, this is the best tea Rio has ever had.


    The hallway of the building is quite dark as far as his eyes can see. Only a few places were lit faintly, including the passage where Rio and Rita were. The hums of crickets can be heard under this cold night, giving the two of them more comfort in this darkness in the absence of other noises. Rio feels like he can rest with Rita, just being together like this. He can also feel his chest warm aside from the sweetness and warm sensation on his tongue.


    Tantoris is located near the mountain, so the temperature can be freezing when night comes. Still, Rio doesn¡¯t mind it at all. He needs no scarf nor any thick wear to keep his temperature. Just that tea will do.


    ¡°¡­why I doubt it when you said you got overtime, huh?¡± asked Rio suddenly.


    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡± Rita was utterly unprepared for that assumption.


    ¡°Just trying to guess. I also guessed that Valerie told you that I haven¡¯t gone home yet. So, you¡¯re doing something else while waiting for me to finish,¡± he said casually.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Rita is facing away because she doesn¡¯t want him to notice that her face is bright red right now.


    No way! Why could he see me through?!, Rita thought in panic.


    Rio is looking curiously towards her because Rita seems to throw her face away suddenly.


    ¡°Rita?¡±


    ¡°A-ah! How about we just go home? It¡¯s getting late, you know,¡± suggested the girl hurriedly.


    Rio nods to her suggestion, so they walk together through this dark hallway. There¡¯s nothing to talk about between the two individuals until they reach the exit and greet the security staff. Even though what actually happened is, Rio can¡¯t help to think about his plan all the time. At the same time, Rita¡¯s thoughts are scattered over the place just because of Rio¡¯s question.


    ¡°Alright, we will part here. See you later, Rita.¡±


    ¡°Ahem. See you, Rio.¡± Now, she can control her thoughts.


    ¡°It¡¯s just that what you gave me tonight really astonished me, in a good way.¡±


    And her thoughts scrambled once again while Rio was walking away in a good mood.


    Geez. What do you mean by that, Rio?


    Rio looks up to the night sky while enjoying the cold breeze on the way home. Some glowing celestial object from thousands of kilometers away respectfully greets his gaze. He saw the sky several times, but he couldn¡¯t get bored of this era¡¯s night scenery.


    He couldn¡¯t enjoy this kind of atmosphere in the future. Therefore, he truly hopes that this journey to the past will bring significant changes to the planet in his original timeline.


    So that humanity can undo the mistakes they¡¯ve been regretting.


    Rio arrives at his house and goes inside, tiptoeing. He knows that everyone is asleep at the moment.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Vemia is watching a television show about marine life documentary. Even though it¡¯s already late, one of the twins is still glued to the information about the activities of the fish hundreds of meters below sea level.


    ¡°Vemia, you haven¡¯t slept yet?¡± greets Rio as he notices that there¡¯s someone who is still awake.


    ¡°Rio!!¡± the little girl suddenly stormed to her brother excitedly. ¡°Did you know that there is a type of jellyfish that cannot die aside from being eaten? Its name is Turritopsis dohrnii or I call it never-die jellyfish!¡±


    He is not convinced by the random trivia that is suddenly thrown into his face and quickly confirms it. Rio pats his sibling¡¯s head gently as a reward for memorizing such a complicated scientific name.


    ¡°Tomorrow you still have school, right? It¡¯s better if you go to bed now,¡± suggested her brother.


    ¡°I will soon! I will only go to bed when I¡¯m finished reporting what I¡¯ve did to help you to save the planet in the future!¡±


    ¡°Interesting. So what do you got?¡± Rio takes a seat in the living room and starts to listen to his sister.


    One of the twins told him an almost detailed report about how she tried to help Rio¡¯s mission through her way. Slowly but still enthusiastically, Vemia explained what she did at school. She discussed with her teacher how to improve her school¡¯s environment, found realistic ideas that could be implemented, and made a pro-environment proposal with the teacher¡¯s guidance. By doing so, Vemia could realize her ideas by submitting them to the school¡¯s schedule.


    Witnessing how one of his siblings was so passionate about helping him touches Rio¡¯s feelings when this has nothing to do with Vemia, a native of this timeline.


    Rio didn¡¯t regret it when he revealed his true identity to this little girl.


    ¡°...that concludes my report. I¡¯ll tell you again when I¡¯ve done more!¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the hard work, that was amazing. I hope that you also enjoy this process, okay? Don¡¯t stress it out.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, no problem! I really want to help my own brother!¡±


    Your brother, huh? I guess you¡¯re something on your own, Vemia.


    ¡°Vemia, come along to my room.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    The moment Rio closed his door, he made a call using his communication ring for a few minutes. The other party accepted the two-way communication as their faces appeared on the floating screens.


    ¡°What do you mean calling me this late,¡± Valerie yawns and wipes his eyes. ¡°Do you really have something urgent?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I wonder why too¡ªwait a minute. Rio, that one beside you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Alright, guys. Let me introduce her to you. This is Vemia and she already knows that the three of us came from the future.¡±


    Those two shouts are in sync.

 21st Fragment - Overtime

    ¡°What about the data I asked for?¡± the glasses-wearing man asked through the projection display hovering nearby.


    ¡°I will send it soon. Tonight it¡¯ll be available, depending on my guess, ¡°said the girl with confidence.


    ¡°Also, when will you be here?¡± Johann asked in a cold tone while checking on other data on another projection screen, one after the other.


    ¡°Who knows. The guy I¡¯m after over here is slippery as an eel. No one can predict what he will do next. Still, he is no match for me. Anyway, are your plans going to start soon?¡±


    ¡°No. I¡¯m just making sure. If I could include you in my steps then it would be great.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you come up with a plan that you can do alone? Truthfully, it¡¯s quite troublesome for me,¡± said the voice from the other end mockingly.


    Johann is silent for a moment.


    ¡°¡­I just know that if you¡¯re a great asset for me.¡±


    ¡°Woah hey, I¡¯m not your property, you know. I¡¯ll notify you when my business ends here and will be in Tantoris shortly. There¡¯s something I need to do there.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes. Johann. I have this little note you need to listen to.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t dwell too much in the abyss of revenge.¡±


    He chuckles sarcastically.


    ¡°¡­said someone who came here because she wanted revenge.¡±


    Johann cuts the communication by turning the display off. He went to his desk, where several busy laptops tried their best to run programs Johann had built.


    He lowered his head and adjusted his glasses while typing a few things into each laptop. He did it simultaneously while re-checking the fluctuating graphic information on the communication ring¡¯s display screen.


    ¡°This timeline¡¯s input device is very outdated, can¡¯t receive a quick voice command nor mind-based inputs. But, it¡¯s still within my expectations. Or maybe¡­¡± He is looking at the ring he is wearing now, ¡°should I access the hidden feature inside this ring?¡±


    He shakes his head as Johann sinks himself among the dozens of projection screens that hover around his room, dedicating all his time to finding an effective way to thwart this past journey. He got around twenty or more screens floating around him, waiting to be used so he could ultimately achieve his goal.


    Each individual who comes from the future is busy with their own activities and goals that each of them wants to achieve. Rio and Rita are no exception.


    After finishing his daily work, Rio is still glued to his computer screen almost daily. Be it looking for reference materials, revising according to Mr. Rudi¡¯s supervision, or resolving the issues with the relevant data and budget provided.


    Valerie helps Rio several times because the blonde man is also excited to see his friend being diligent like that, to the point Rio pushes himself hard. Letting Rio try his best is a good thing in the long run. That¡¯s what Valerie believes.


    The next few days were a little different than usual. Valerie found Rio more relaxed for this afternoon. The man prefers to relax while enjoying a warm drink and relaxes his shoulders.


    ¡°Oh, someone¡¯s in a good mood, apparently? How¡¯s your proposal going?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting for Mr. Rudi¡¯s reivew. I could say that every input from him is valuable and the proposal is already on his desk this morning. The review would be done this evening, I suppose.¡±


    Valerie sneers a bit. ¡°But, man. You really nailed it, eh? I thought you¡¯ll drop it soon enough since we actually don¡¯t have to do that when we¡¯re being sent here. This way, I¡¯m sure what you¡¯ve been worked with all of your efforts will benefit a lot of people later.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean I¡¯ll drop it, huh? Well, I think it¡¯s also because you¡¯ve helped me here and there. I appreciate it, Val,¡± Rio replied with a similar-looking sneer.


    ¡°No problem, man!¡±


    Suddenly a short text appeared on Rio¡¯s cell phone. From Mr. Rudi, asking him to come into his room. Rio shows his cellphone screen to Valerie, and the blonde man gives a thumbs up.


    Watching his friend face his superior, Valerie returns to his work, which only needs a minor touch-up before he can go home. He got a schedule tonight, so Valerie wants to leave today with his head unburdened by unfinished work.


    Sums up, it takes Valerie roughly an hour and a half to wrap everything today.


    ¡°Phew, finally done,¡± Valerie muttered as he leaned back in his work chair to stretch a bit. ¡°However, seems like stuff hasn¡¯t finished yet inside Mr. Rudi¡¯s room.¡±


    A few minutes later, Rio is back with unsteady steps and immediately sits while lying down on the desk.


    ¡°¡­not very good, huh?¡± asked Valerie while tidying his desk.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mr. Rudi said he needs more time alone to evaluate my proposal,¡± Rio sighs, ¡°it turns out that there are still some things that need to be added and improved. I¡¯ve been discussed about this with him for a while just recently¡­.¡±


    ¡°Frankly, for about an hour and a half. I take it that you will be working late today too?¡±


    Rio nods weakly. Valerie pats Rio on the shoulder gently as he walks away.


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    ¡°Good luck tonight. I¡¯ll be off.¡±


    ¡°Alright, sure. See you tomorrow.¡±


    Soon after, other co-workers excused themselves to go home and greeted Rio. He is still seated at his desk and can¡¯t really go yet because there are still no words from his superior.


    Ah¡­ are there many errors left? I¡¯ve ensured that everything has been taken care of. Where did I go wrong?


    After a series of self-doubt, Mr. Rudi finally comes out of his room. He gives an approving smile that Rio has been waiting for as his superior walk closer to his desk.


    ¡°I like your idea, Rio. However, we must consider it carefully when we¡¯re going to implement the proposal because it will use a lot of resources and high cost. You just need to overcome this final hurdle and everything will be settled.¡±


    ¡°I understand, Sir!¡±


    ¡°Good luck, Rio. I¡¯ll be going home first.¡±


    ¡°Thank you and be careful on the way home, Mr. Rudi.¡±


    Rio will do what he needs to finish this day without being ordered by his superior. Indeed, the proposal will not be made today because of the said revisions and still need more data to be added. However, he is determined to do what he can first.


    Several hours passed until Rio hit his break time. He is relaxing his muscles while leaning on his work chair. At that moment, someone enters Rio¡¯s room.


    ¡°Rita, you¡¯ve finally come.¡±


    ¡°Good evening. I brought you a warm porridge. You definitely haven¡¯t got your dinner yet.¡±


    Rio smiled kindly, welcoming the girl who came at the right time. Aside from a porridge, Rita also brings warm drinks like she is going to a picnic. He pointed at the empty desk¡ªValerie¡¯s desk¡ªand they were having dinner together.


    It¡¯s been a while since Rio and Rita were together during their overtime like this. Without realizing it, Rita is used to coming and bringing something to enjoy together, considering that Rio was always focused on his proposals, so most likely, he barely gives more thought to his dinner. Rio also got used to Rita coming to his office and continuing her research using the communication ring.


    ¡°How¡¯s Grandma at home?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s doing well. She often invited me to take care of plants in the yard when I¡¯m not doing any overtime.¡±


    ¡°Things we can¡¯t possibly do in the future, huh? Then, how about the terrarium you brought home? Does she like it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. In fact, she wants us to make our own terrarium and we are in the middle of making it.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a lot of fun.¡±


    Small chats while enjoying warm food together, joking, and laughing with Rita almost filled Rio¡¯s busiest moments every day. Rita¡¯s presence beside him because they¡¯ve agreed on a joint project gave him a new sensation. At the very least, the lonely recesses in his heart were slowly filling up with the warmth that Rita brought.


    And then, about three days have passed since Mr. Rudi¡¯s previous review of Rio¡¯s proposal, and Rita was never absent from Rio¡¯s side. Valerie came along just once, and that night, Rio felt it was noisier than usual. But on the other two days, Valerie chose to leave two of them alone.


    One night, Rio was late to go home as usual, and he walked away from his desk. He checked the clock on the wall since Rita should be at Rio¡¯s office at this time.


    Soon after, the door opened with a girl behind it.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m late, we had this peculiar event to welcome visitors so it took time. It¡¯s just hot tea for today, okay?¡± Rita seems in a hurry to get here.


    ¡°Ah, there you are. No problem at all. It¡¯s quite cold tonight so hot tea will help a lot,¡± said Rio lightly.


    Rita nodded with her usual warm smile. Her fingers painstakingly prepared two glasses of tea that were still spewing thin steam fog to be ready to drink as Rio suddenly stopped her.


    ¡°Eh?¡± she looks at Rio in disbelief.


    ¡°We can prepare it together, you know. The tea is for both of us. So, it¡¯s totally free for you to ask me for help.¡±


    ¡°A-ah, right. Then¡­ Can you help me?¡± Rita averts her gaze.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    When Rio thinks about it, it¡¯s almost like Rita is always right beside him. Sometimes, she can¡¯t join his overtime due to her Grandma needing company. But other than that, Rita ensured she was always available for him.


    Was Rita being here with me until now a coincidence? All this time, I¡¯ve been using my personal project as a way to make me occupied, so I don¡¯t have to think about Arisa, according to Valerie¡¯s suggestion. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t expect that she will always be at my side.


    High chance that this is also Valerie¡¯s doing here. It¡¯s pretty logical because it could be he doesn¡¯t want me to be alone here. Thus, encouraging Rita to meet me while Valerie himself is on a date somewhere. Heh, what kind of friend is he? Seriously¡­


    ¡°Should I bring another tea when I¡¯m coming next days? I¡¯ve been bringing you the same one, aren¡¯t I?¡± asked the girl from across the table,


    ¡°It¡¯s okay actually. As long as it¡¯s warm enough during these cold nights, then it¡¯s delicious. Or perhaps, it¡¯s you who want a little change of the taste?¡±


    ¡°It is not like that. But, just maybe, I think you¡¯ll get bored with the tea.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as you¡¯re here, then I can feel how the tea is unusually tasty.¡±


    Rio drinks his tea while Rita looks at him with a light reddish blush on her face. Before Rio knew it, she had already turned her face away.


    To be precise, Rio knew that Rita was deliberately averting her face. But he won¡¯t talk about it.


    ¡­little by little, I can¡¯t see Rita as a friend anymore at this rate.


    ¡°By the way, I was quite surprised when you introduced me and Valerie to Vemia.¡±


    Rio is looking at Rita, trying to remember what she meant and laughing aloud at that. ¡°I wanted to surprise you. Because I told her about you guys when she found out that her brother was a person from the future.¡±


    ¡°Is it really okay to tell her our true identity? You can¡¯t make sure that she won¡¯t tell everyone that originally from this timeline.¡±


    ¡°Initially, I did that to earn her trust. At that moment, my head was quite messed up. I can¡¯t think straight at all so I have to use anything that I feels she¡¯ll definitely trust me if I do that. Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry. I can say that it¡¯s fine to share information about us to her. Vemia is a trustworthy person, I can assure you.¡±


    Rio smiled warmly. Seeing this, Rita could breathe a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll continue with my proposal first,¡± Rio said as he put down his cup of tea and returned to his computer screen.


    Rita nods and lets her friend focus again for the remaining time.


    Like other previous nights, Rio finished at nine o¡¯clock. Soon after, the two of them walked down the dark hallway, bid farewell to each other, and headed back to their respective homes just like usual. Taking overtime to complete the proposal seems to have become his routine, so Rio doesn¡¯t feel tired this time.


    Rio realized that the living room¡¯s light was still on as he arrived at the house. Vemia peeks from where she sits before closing her book and waves. ¡°Welcome, Rio. Good job for today!¡±


    The eldest brother smiled. ¡°Thank you. You too, Vemia. You¡¯ve been doing great for getting your homework done. Will you be back in your room soon?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think it¡¯s better to sleep when there¡¯s nothing else to do. What about you?¡± asked Vemia while rubbing her eyes.


    ¡°I still need something to do so I¡¯ll hit the bed later.¡±


    Vemia turned towards Rio. Then, she quickly went to the dining table chair to sit opposite his brother. Her eyes lit up, expecting more explanation than the sentence just now. ¡°It¡¯s about your mission from the future, right? Tell me more about it. Vemia wants to help!¡±


    ¡°About that,¡± Rio takes the seat to satisfy Vemia¡¯s curiosity, ¡°I will first briefly explain the purpose of my proposal I¡¯ve been working on.¡±


    ¡°Okay! Tell me all!¡±


    He explained patiently to his younger sister, who didn¡¯t look sleepy anymore. Rio emphasized that to apply his ideas in protecting the environment, he needed a vital object in this city. However, he felt that many buildings were necessary enough in Tantoris that he could not choose.


    Vemia nodded while Rio was talking quite enthusiastically.


    ¡°Okay, Rio. I understand what you¡¯re saying. So, Vemia has a suggestion! How about we go looking around the town? I have a few places that I think are vital to this city and you will definitely want to see them with your own eyes.¡±


    ¡°Good idea. Let¡¯s go around the city together this weekend.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡±


    They exchanged a high-five before hitting the bed to end the day.

 22nd Fragment - Town Scouting

    "What about this bridge?" The cheerful voice asked Rio.


    Rio noticed how busy this road was¨Cwhich always passed by vehicles from both directions. He then examines it thoroughly as much as he can by walking around the river bank and seeing the bridge''s structure with his bare eyes.


    The second main bridge in Tantoris is located on the city''s southern side. It serves to connect the two areas, which the Major River separates. It goes without saying that this construction is vital enough to meet Rio''s requirements.


    "This bridge definitely fit the criteria. However, it would be wise if we go around more to get more view," commented Rio.


    "I understand! How about we go to City Station next because there''s only one train station in this city?"


    "Good advice. Let''s go, Vemia."


    The two of them quickly got back on the motorbike as Rio steered it, heading south, the city''s outskirts.


    They arrived at a building with a distinct architectural model in less than fifteen minutes compared to other surrounding structures. Rio quickly remembers that the architectural design for the Tantoris'' City Station was not being renovated to preserve historical values unless some parts of the buildings were broken.


    "Nevertheless, this building remains solid because it has been revitalized many times without really changing its basic model, hmm," Rio muttered.


    "Wanna take a look inside?" Vemia suggested.


    "Ah, sure. I think we really need to look at the interior."


    The little girl nods and runs first, with Rio following behind. Previously, Rio saw the overall design of this station from the three-dimensional display of the communication ring. However, this is Rio''s first visiting the place in person. The bustle of people passing by and trains stopping for a moment to wait for the schedule is enough to grab his attention.


    Then, a loud sound made Rio cover his ears before one of the iron carriages departed towards its destination.


    "The sensation is really different compared to when I see it on the projection," said Rio.


    "Hmm? Is the rain station at the future look really different compared to this one?" Vemia suddenly appeared beside her brother.


    "Hah¡ªoh, Vemia. You almost make my heart stop," Rio worried if his mumbling was heard by those who didn''t need to know, "of course. The design and technology that we use is far different compared to this station. However, the basics are still the same. People are waiting on the platform for the trains and getting abroad to travel."


    "I wonder what it looks like! You have the record of it?"


    "I''ll show you when we get home."


    Vemia is jumping in joy. Rio chuckles, seeing how his sister behaves.


    "Rio, let''s go the Tower Caf¨¦ next, please?" asked Vemia.


    Rio raised his eyebrows. "Little sister, the tower only serves as entertainment for the residents and it is hardly can be considered vital. So¡ª"


    "Come on! Come on, come on!" Vemia sulked, embracing her brother''s arm, and had no intention of letting go.


    Rio had no other choice and agreed to his sister''s invitation. The sun is on top of their heads now, and perhaps Vemia''s stomach has been growling for a while. It''s an ideal time to take a break.


    The motorbike takes them from the southern side to the city''s eastern side for roughly twenty minutes. It''s not too crowded on the road this weekend because Tantoris is not big enough. So Rio can ride his motorbike freely.


    When they arrived at the top floor using the tower elevator, the caf¨¦ was quite busy as far as Rio could see. Most of the tables also have been occupied. They got a little late.


    "It''s really crowded. But, I''ll find an empty table."


    Before Rio could react, Vemia had sped off already to look around. He laughed wryly and joined in, looking for a table they could use.


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    "Vemia, I''ve found a place for the two of us. Come here!" said Rio, waving his hand so his younger sister could stop looking.


    In short, they take a seat in the corner of the room because there''s no other choice. Rio couldn''t see the view of the city from above in that position and silently complained. However, Vemia is so excited to see some stuff Rio has ordered. A full-course meal accompanied by a few snacks is enough to make her eyes sparkle.


    "Vemia is really hungry, huh?" Rio is amazed at how his sister almost quickly swallows everything in front of her.


    "It''s lunch time, brother. Are you not hungry?"


    "Of course I''m hungry."


    "Then, let''s dig in!"


    Vemia continues to enjoy the dish along with other snacks on the table. Rio smiled and joined in enjoying his lunch while having a light chat with his sister.


    I think we''ve reviewed some of the vital facilities for the town. And yet, somehow, I can''t really decide, he thoughts as he chews on the food.


    When Vemia was nearly finished, roughly an hour later, some guests of this caf¨¦ had left. Thus, Rio can see the surrounding scenery now, free of obstacles. Still, his table is not ideal for eating while enjoying the panorama.


    "What''s wrong, Rio?"


    "Perhaps it''s because we can see a helicopter-view of this town so this place is often got crowdy. Too bad that the only table we''ve got in this corner. We barely can enjoy the sight while eat."


    Vemia chuckled. "I know that it feels like something is missing. We barely see anything."


    "Maybe next time."


    "No. We can see it now. You''re done eating, right? Come on, big brother!"


    Like a squirrel that couldn''t stay in its nest, Vemia jumps and rushes to the cafe''s terrace. Sometimes Rio wonders where his little sister got that much energy from. However, since they had filled his stomach, he followed his sister.


    Arriving at the terrace, Rio can immediately see the view from above. Vemia seemed to enjoy seeing almost the entire city from this place.


    "Woah, this is amazing. Maybe if I often visit this place, I still can''t get used to how cool this view is," said the hyping little girl.


    "Oh ya? I thought that since you lives in this city, you will visit here often."


    "No, I cannot. This place is not a place that student can frequent visit to, Rio," the little girl smirked.


    "Haha, I understand."


    While the sun was tilting slightly to the west, they enjoyed the atmosphere a bit longer before Rio took Vemia back for a city tour. Until that moment, his sister stopped him from leaving.


    "Rio. Instead of going around again, how about we just go there?" Vemia pointing somewhere.


    The destination is the city dam, which is visible from this tower.


    Seeing Vemia''s suggestion, Rio smiled and gently stroked his sister''s head. "You really have a talent for finding something, huh? Alright, let''s go there."


    "Hehe thanks!"


    The two of them immediately raced towards the northern end of Tantoris. It takes about fifteen minutes of travel plus half an hour by cable car to get to the top of the dam.


    Once the two of them reached the top, the sunlight was warmer. Perhaps, an ideal time to check the place while not feeling too hot. The sound of water falling from the concrete wall that flows through the Major River greets Rio when he ganders around.


    "Let me guess. This is also Rio''s first time visiting the city dam."


    "Good guess. Turns out there are still some places in the city I''ve never been to before. I should have made a thorough tour around while I was still in this period."


    "Then Vemia will be your guide since I''ve been here before."


    Vemia went first while calling out to her brother, who was behind. This dam is just a reasonably wide water barrier without any other purpose besides generating electricity when they see around. The giant walls contain roughly 15.5 cubic kilometers of water, and the other area of ??the dam is limited to the dam''s staff.


    The bright color of the water that reflects the color of the sky combined with a green mountain that almost looks like a carpet stunned Rio.


    "This place is a type of dam that utilizes hydropower inside its walls. Thanks to this dam, Tantoris has become an important city that can supply electrical energy to other places," said Rio to remember.


    "I don''t really remember, but you may be right," said little Vemia.


    "Still, it''s pretty quiet, huh. The view is pretty good so though there is a lot of tourists here."


    Vemia shrugs. "I don''t know. I never heard my friends talk about this place as one of their destinations to see when the holiday comes. I think I know the reason. All we can see here is the dam management office complex, boring."


    "The said office is above on this hill, isn''t it?" Rio asked while pointing to the building that could be seen from their position.


    "You''re right."


    Rio got his own thought about this place. Geographically, the position of the dam being built right around the mountains¨Cwhich are pretty far from settlements¨Cis not very good. The construction of this building must always be maintained periodically because if there is a leak and water overflows through the slopes of these mountains, Tantoris will be severely damaged.


    So, suppose you implement genetically engineered plants to strengthen this dam. In that case, I think it can reduce the maintenance cost because it''ll automatically enhance its structure.


    "How?"


    "It''s decided. I will use this dam for my proposal. Thank you, Vemia. Because of you, I can continue my idea."


    "Glad that I can help!" Vemia smiled widely.


    "Rio?"


    They both turned to the origin of the voice. A girl wearing an ice cream hairpin and a small child beside her greets Rio and Vemia.


    "We meet again."


    "Eh, Arisa?"

 23rd Fragment - Their Feelings, One More Time

    ¡°How have you been lately, Arisa?¡±


    ¡°Been doing well. School life these days is really fun,¡± said Arisa.


    The two were in the pavilion for the dam visitors while watching each other¡¯s younger siblings. Vemia dragged Vanilla to enjoy the view of the sunset.


    ¡°However, just now I didn¡¯t expect you to introduce me to Vemia as one of the people from the future.¡±


    ¡°As I explained earlier. Because my unstable record of the past led to Vemia knowing my true identity. Then, she asked for a reasonable explanation for my existence in the midst of her family.¡±


    Arisa nodded. ¡°But, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary for you to reveal who else is coming at this time besides you, Rio.¡±


    Rio turned his face away. ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry since I can¡¯t really think straight in that situation. So, I accidentally mentioned the other volunteers as well.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that Vemia is a good girl so that our secret is still safe until now. Imagine if she wasn¡¯t the person you thought she was and leaked everything to everyone,¡± Arisa commented.


    ¡°I know, I know. You could say that I¡¯m lucky enough that the one who knows my identity is Vemia, not some other shady person.¡± Rio took a short breath, ¡°For now, we don¡¯t have to worry about our identities. Vemia also eager to help me in contributing to the mission. After all, I can¡¯t pretend anymore because my record of the past no longer works for her.¡±


    ¡°So whenever our real identity is revealed to this timeline¡¯s resident, it¡¯ll be no longer have an effect. I never heard something like that in our briefing before. Does the scientist in the future respond with your case?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t sent anything yet to them. How about you? You sent your report before, right?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no answer yet and my record is still unstable as usual. However, I¡¯m used to it.¡± Arisa smiled bitterly.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯ll always be okay. Since your unstable record of the past can make everything messy, am I right?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. I know very well what to do.¡±


    Rio smiled in response. When he saw where Vemia and Vanilla were, they were busy talking about the flock of birds that had just crossed over the dam towards the city¡¯s south. Rio guessed Vemia must have given some trivia related to the said herd to a girl who was a few years younger than her.


    ¡°Rio, I apologize for not accepting your feelings back then.¡±


    He looks at Arisa with an expression that is hard to explain. Or actually, he also didn¡¯t know what to reply.


    ¡°I understand how much it means to you. You said that you¡¯ve been looking for me all this time, right? Driven by that feeling for years, I believe that your feelings definitely important for you until now. However, I turned you down because I do not feel the same. I also have no intention at all to have a close relationship in term of romance.¡±


    ¡°Ah, about that¨C¡± Rio stopped because he wasn¡¯t sure whether someone should apologize because they turned down others¡¯ feelings. His brain only caught half of what Arisa said. His feelings and thoughts were suddenly not in sync, so it was difficult to digest what she meant.


    After all, being accepted and turned down are two sides that cannot be separated if someone decides to confess their feelings. Rio can¡¯t imagine what if she accepted his feelings just out of pity, not because Arisa liked him back.


    So, how should Rio respond to this?


    When he wasn¡¯t sure what to feel, his cell phone vibrated. Rio takes it from his pocket and reads the text carefully.


    ¡®Yo, bro. Go to the forestry division ASAP. She wanted to take my cell phone so I couldn¡¯t tell you, hahaha. Rita is so focused on her research so she didn¡¯t notice me coming.¡¯


    Rio smiled and gave a reply. Arisa, who was beside him, didn¡¯t understand his expression.


    ¡°There¡¯s something funny on your phone?¡± asked the girl.


    ¡°It is nothing. Let¡¯s go back to our conversation earlier.¡± Rio clears his throat. ¡°Indeed, as you said, Arisa. It¡¯s true that all this time I¡¯ve always been looking for you who suddenly disappeared from my life. It¡¯s because I like you, that¡¯s why I keep looking for you until we meet again in this city. Who would¡¯ve thought that I need to travel through time to meet you.¡±


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    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s why I appreciate any of your answer for my feelings. I think your honest refusal is far better than you accepted my feeling yet you don¡¯t feel the same.¡±


    Arisa is silent to hear Rio say it so straightforwardly. The girl turned her gaze to the artificial lake, which was losing its twilight light. And then, she nods.


    ¡°So that means it¡¯s okay for me to not accept your feeling?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say when you put it like that, haha. But, I learned that a feeling is so dynamic, Arisa. Human feelings cannot be forced to accept something they couldn¡¯t or they will never be able to truly connect to each other. One has to experience that a feeling should come naturally in order to be genuinely appreciated.¡±


    A dynamic feeling, huh? I guess that¡¯s how actual human feelings work, similar to the information and data I¡¯ve read in the laboratory. How could I have forgotten if those feelings would naturally emerge on their own?


    Perhaps, It¡¯s the same thing when I feel comfortable amid my past family. Perhaps, that¡¯s what Rio meant about a genuine connection.


    Arisa turns her gaze forward, seeing the two little girls approaching the two of them. Without realizing it, the girl smiled faintly. Realizing that, Rio sighs while smiling too.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go home soon with Vanilla,¡± said the girl.


    ¡°Me too,¡± added Rio shortly.


    ¡°Okay. Until we meet again another time.¡±


    The four of them say goodbye to each other as they go their separate way.


    It was getting late, and it was natural for this time to be used to rest. So, the two volunteers from the future decided to go back home with their own siblings.


    Still, Rita isn¡¯t having a relaxing weekend, just like Arisa or Rio. She is still determined to carry out the genetic engineering that could match Rio¡¯s ideas. She didn¡¯t even realize that she¡¯s been at the greenhouse for more than six hours. Her mind returns to the past few hours when she finally takes a break for a while.


    It¡¯s when Valerie came with his usual nosy smile, suddenly arrived in this place uninvited.


    ¡°Wow, so there¡¯s someone who is coming to work on weekend,¡± teased the blonde man.


    ¡°V-Val? Since when did you come in?¡±


    ¡°About five minutes ago. But, you were too fixated on your plants that you didn¡¯t notice someone else was here,¡± he replied with a smug smile.


    ¡°¡­nobody should be coming in on a Sunday like this. So why are you here on the weekend?¡±


    ¡°I have an appointment for a date today. Coincidentally, our meeting point is close to the office. So, I stopped by for a while because I left something in my room.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see¡­.¡±


    ¡°More importantly, are you here because you are doing research related to Rio¡¯s proposal?¡±


    ¡°This one?¡± she is referring to one of the mixed greens that shouldn¡¯t exist in this era. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s still in the development stage. It would be easier if Rio had already decided what building he wanted to implement these plants into.¡±


    ¡°Oh, ahem. Yes, yes. Of course Rita would do it for Rio, right?¡±


    ¡°W-what do you mean? If you have nothing else to do, you¡¯d better go away!¡±


    Rita seemed to want to throw something nearby, and Valerie was ready to dodge.


    ¡°Why the sudden hostility, hmm?¡± The blonde man laughed bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ll be going right away, don¡¯t worry. I was just checking things out and reporting to my best friend, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°You will tell him that I am here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, I just sent it,¡± Valerie replied while showing his cell phone screen.


    Rita ran to grab the device and failed successfully. He is swift enough to dodge every attack from his friend.


    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s time to go! See you tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°Hey, wait!¡±


    Valerie quickly disappears, running away, so his phone doesn¡¯t fall into the wrong hands. Rita sighed and continued her research after that. Her face was quite red for some reason, and she quickly washed it off with water.


    Why does Valerie need to tell Rio, anyway?!


    The evening has arrived, and Rita is relaxing her muscles under the artificial light in the greenhouse. When she checked the clock, she had spent quite a time here.


    Time to go home. There is still work to be done tomorrow. Better to rest now.


    She rushed to pack up everything and headed out of the room.


    ¡ªand found that Rio was waiting there.


    ¡°R-Rio?¡±


    ¡°Good job today, Rita. Here, I bring warm milk. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±


    Rita isn¡¯t answering. She leaned down and took her warm milk, and Rio smiled and went to enjoy his portion. While Rita is still looking at him with a face that begins to blush slightly.


    She is somehow getting shy. So she drinks her milk in a hurry, and her tongue suffers the hot temperature.


    ¡°Why are you here on the weekend?¡± she asked quietly when her tongue is alright.


    ¡°Nothing in particular except that I want to thank you for cooperating with me even to the extent of working overtime on a weekend like this.¡±


    ¡°¡­no problem, really. After all, this is also for our volunteer agenda, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you could put it like that. Also, I would like to repay for everything you¡¯ve done to me. You always came when I¡¯m doing late night work and brought something to enjoy together, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­thank you,¡± Rita replied quietly.


    Rio ganders at his friend, who is sipping warm milk slowly as he smiles faintly. There was also a warm feeling in his chest.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s quite late, how about we have dinner together?¡± Rio offered.


    And Rita couldn¡¯t get happier more.

 24th Fragment - The Gathering

    ¡°Is that everyone?¡± asked a chubby person to someone who has a contrast to his body shape.


    ¡°I think so, Mr. Davide. You can start the meeting now,¡± replied his assistant, who wore a white coat.


    He walks towards the wooden podium in front of the assembled audience and assesses everyone¡¯s face again. Less than 50 people gathered, including Arisa, Rita, Rio, and Valerie. His eyes were so keen to identify everyone in front of him as his memory matched the information he had seen in his communication ring.


    Young and old, most of the volunteers from the future residing in Tantoris have already come to this hall. Some of them discussed on their own until Mr. Davide was seen in public.


    ¡°Thank you for coming here, dear volunteers. In accordance with the invitations that you all have received in each of your communication rings, there are important things that must be conveyed personally. I know it will be easier if we do the conference online. However, in order for us to have a safer atmosphere, I decided to meet face-to-face with all of you. Once again, thank you for coming.¡±


    Emphasis on the word ¡®safe¡¯ made Rio think about the current safety of this time travel project. Still, he had absolutely no idea about the real reason for the person on the podium called the volunteers residing in Tantoris like this. The message broadcast is also ambiguous, so no other information can be obtained.


    I know there¡¯s a severe situation coming up. Perhaps it¡¯s because Vemia knows my real identity and the truth about people coming to this timeline? No, I don¡¯t think these people knew about that.


    Like Rio, Valerie and Rita also got a big question mark when they arrived in this hall. They remained silent to listen and waited for Mr. Davide to explain everything.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go straight to the matter. As one of the leaders of the police division from the future, which my service area is including Tantoris City, I received two fairly significant reports. One of them is about the unstable record of the past. Mr Rochel, please?¡±


    ¡°Let me explain.¡±


    Someone wearing a white coat is going closer to the podium. He taps on his communication ring to display a projection that can be viewed by the entire audience. They clearly see a few statistics data and some other relevant information.


    Rio swallowed his saliva when he saw the data.


    Mr. Rochel continued. ¡°The numbers you see right now are the total of complaints related to the record of the past, which is obviously being sent to our scientists. This phenomenon occurs not only in Tantoris, but also in other neighboring cities. It¡¯s not even a hundred cases yet. However, it is still quite concerning. The confidentiality of our identity is essential to be kept. If any information is leaked, I could say there will definitely be chaos in this timeline.¡±


    His hand, equipped with white gloves, pressed the projection screen to open a few more additional screens. ¡°Most of the complaints also say that some native resident of this timeline has come back to their senses. So, they recognize that the volunteers are a stranger to them, not their real family nor a work colleague.¡±


    Arisa realized that the complaint about existential loss due to an unstable record of the past only has one submission reported¨Cmeaning no one besides her experienced the same thing. Still, she¡¯s not saying anything about that and keeps listening.


    The man in a white coat continues. ¡°This situation can actually be solved by rewriting the said record of the past program. Sadly, to rewrite means it¡¯ll take a long time, for a few years. As the number of complaints continues to grow, scientists are trying to implement an emergency patch for the unstable record of the past one by one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure some of you are also suffering because of this inconvenience. I had read the summary of the reports and some of them came from this city,¡± Mr. Davide added.


    The audience started to get a little noisy hearing that revelation. Each one issued their own hypothesis regarding this unfortunate event. Except for Rio and Arisa, who really understand what it feels like to have unstable Records of the Past. Instead of making baseless, empty assumptions, it¡¯s better to focus on continuing to listen.


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    The chubby man claps his hands a few times to get the audience¡¯s attention back. ¡°Regarding the cause of this damage, we are still in the middle of the investigation. In the meantime, I kindly encourage everyone here to always stay alert and inform us if someone who should know you begins to forget your identity. Our humble advice is to refrain from from any unimportant interaction with the person affected by the unstable record of the past for a while.¡±


    A boisterous voice responded immediately to the police¡¯s suggestion. After a few minutes of unsolicited opinions from the audience, Mr. Davide cleared his throat to calm everyone down as he gandered around the room one last time.


    ¡°That is all from me. Stay safe and alert, don¡¯t be careless. Everyone can return to their respective activities. Thank you very much for coming.¡±


    A small commotion is still happening in the hall. Some of them approached Mr. Davide personally to discuss several things related to this matter. While the others decided to leave.


    Rio, Valerie, and Rita prefer to wait for the crowd to exit before moving from their seats.


    The blonde man noticed someone he knew pretty well among the people leaving the room, so Valerie waved her hand.


    ¡°Hey, Arisa!¡±


    ¡°Ah, Rio and Valerie. And¨C¡±


    The gaze of the two girls met. Rita¡¯s internal alarm gives her a quick alert as she meets Arisa for the first time. Meanwhile, Arisa is still trying to recognize the girl with dark hair. However, Arisa is confident that they have never met before.


    No¡­ you don¡¯t have to do anything. Arisa was Rio¡¯s classmate back then¡­ I was too defensive, Rita thought, trying to calm herself down.


    So, Rita reaches out her hand for a handshake. Not to forget, she also gives her usual smile¨Cwith a lot of effort to make it natural.


    ¡°I am Rita. Rio and Valerie¡¯s friends. Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Arisa greets the handshake without any comment and pulls Rita closer. Seeing this, Valerie and Rio¡¯s eyes widen.


    ¡°Why are you gave me a made-up smile like that?¡± Arisa whispers softly so only Rita can hear.


    ¡°¡­!¡±


    Rita hastily withdrew her hand and took a step back.


    ¡°¡­hah?¡± Rio and Valerie were getting more and more confused. ¡°You two, is there something wrong?¡±


    ¡°N-no! It¡¯s okay. Ha ha ha!¡± Rita replied with a forced laugh.


    The two guys look at each other and shrug their shoulders since neither Valerie nor Rio have any slight idea. And then, Valerie checks his watch and grins mischievously.


    ¡°Now, this is a rare occasion. While the four of us are here now, how about we grab some bites together? Arisa, you¡¯re not in a hurry, right?¡±


    ¡°What a nice idea. That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve got a permit for today so I don¡¯t need to go back to school.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s decided, then! Let¡¯s go !¡± Valerie exclaimed.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Rio asked curiously.


    Valerie smiled widely.


    Shortly after, in a food court. Valerie¡¯s mouth almost sucked a whole of his noodle before looking at the three people seriously.


    ¡°The point is, there¡¯s something I want to discuss with you all.¡±


    ¡°Chew your food first,¡± said Rio curtly. Valerie swallowed it quickly before clearing his throat.


    ¡°Okay. We know that there is a shocking announcement today from the future police division. Mr. Chloride¡ª¡±


    ¡°Mr. Davide,¡± corrected Rio.


    ¡°Right, I mean Mr. Davide called every volunteer in this town because of the emergency. From his explanation, we know that it¡¯s not just Arisa and Rio that are experiencing the record of the past¡¯s anomaly. But, there are others too!¡±


    ¡°Are we really not supposed to travel to the past with a large number of people? The experimental results that scientists claimed are also for those who time-travel in small groups, right?¡± asked Rita worriedly.


    ¡°It¡¯s too soon to conclude that. We really lacking data regarding this. The scientists also don¡¯t know much because they are also busy fixing the record of the past one by one,¡± Rio answered.


    ¡°It¡¯s worrisome, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s true that we don¡¯t have any solution for this situation. But, what if it¡¯s my next turn to experience the unstable record of the past? It¡¯ll definitely hinder me during my date!¡±


    The three friends exchanged opinions and guesses about why this anomaly occurred in the first place. Supposedly, the record of the past is a future scientist¡¯s program that has been tested many times and proven reliable. However, this mandatory pseudo-hierarchy for the volunteers seems to have a significant flaw that most scientists couldn¡¯t detect before.


    Arisa, who is listening to their discussion while crushing her ice cream, has some ideas that could lead in another direction. She remembers someone who pointed a laser gun at her face the other day. His threat to sabotage this humanity¡¯s most remarkable project revolved around in her head.


    After the last bite of the cold snack, Arisa catches the attention of those three people.


    ¡°I have a reasonable guess as to why this anomaly could happen. Perhaps, this someone did something to our record of the past so that time travel can fail,¡± she claimed.


    Rio, Valerie, and Rita don¡¯t expect that information to come from Arisa.

 25th Fragment - The Perpretator

    There was a knock on the door as the sun peeks into Mr. Davide¡¯s room. Someone in the middle of his twenties entered the room while giving a brief salute.


    ¡°Excuse me, Sir. There are volunteers who want to meet with you,¡± reported Sato, head assistant of the Tantoris future police division.


    ¡°Is there something important to report?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They said that there was someone who deliberately messed up with the record of the past. I¡¯d believe this is related to our meeting this morning.¡±


    Mr. Davide pondered for a moment. He put down his pen and stacked the paperwork onto the left side of the desk.


    ¡°Let them in.¡±


    At the same time as Mr. Davide takes a deep breath, the four teenagers entered as Sato opened the door. The assistant reassessed their faces once again and lowered his head, inviting them to speak with his superior.


    Arisa, who led the group, came closer to the table of the head police. Mr. Davide stares intently, trying to recognize the girl¡¯s facial features.


    ¡°Good afternoon, sir. My name is Arisa and we previously came to our meeting this morning due to your calling. Sorry to interrupt your time. But, there is a report I have to share regarding the increasing number of complaints because of unstable record of the past.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it. I hope this information will give us any lead, no matter how small it is.¡±


    ¡°Alright. The name who has been manipulated the record of the past in any way is Johann Accialini,¡± Arisa explained.


    ¡°¡­interesting. I feel like I¡¯ve heard that name before. Go on.¡±


    Arisa explained more about her meeting with Johann, her childhood friend, and what he said regarding the project to travel to the past. Sato was standing next to Mr. Davide, listening carefully to understand the information.


    More or less, Rio and the company have listened to what Arisa said beforehand. Therefore, he suggested that they all go to see Mr. Davide at that very second, considering this sensitive information.


    ¡°I see, Sir. I agree that Johann is someone we should start looking for.¡±


    Mr. Davide has not responded. He opened a projection display showing the data of the volunteers in Tantoris. As he couldn¡¯t find what he was looking for, the head police opened more extensive information related to the personal data of volunteers outside this city.


    ¡°¡­Johann Accialini not on the list of the volunteers. Are you sure you met this Johann person at that night, not mistaken with someone else?¡± confirms Mr. Davide once again.


    ¡°I am certain that I met him that night, not someone else,¡± answered Arisa while giving out data from her ring. When Mr. Davide accessed it, it was a photo that the girl secretly took when she met Johann.


    ¡°We can temporarily conclude that Johann is illegal visitor on this era. He shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± said Mr. Davide flatly while examining Johann¡¯s face in the picture.


    He had asked Sato to conduct further investigations while sending the data Arisa had given to his assistant. Sato nods respectfully and leaves the room swiftly to do what he must.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s all the report you need to submit?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Davide. Until this second, I never saw him again. My guess is that Johann is most likely related to the volunteer¡¯s record of the past. Because he can tell exactly that my record of the past is unstable before I tell him,¡± said Arisa.


    ¡°Noted. Alright, I appreciate the report you¡¯ve been given, Arisa. This will be valuable for us and definitely give us lead to conduct our investigation.¡±


    Arisa turns to look at her friends. Valerie gives a thumbs up, and Rio nods firmly.


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    ¡°I think that concludes my report. So, we will excuse ourselves. Good afternoon, Mr. Davide. Please also give my regards to Mr. Sato.¡±


    The four left the room when Sato walked into Mr. Davide¡¯s room. Not to forget, he also lowered his head to express his gratitude to Arisa and company before actually leaving this place.


    ¡°But, Arisa. Are you sure about this?¡± Rio asked as they had just got out of the police station.


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°Johann is your childhood friend, right? To report him to Mr. Davide, the police officers will be looking for him now. Is that all right?¡±


    ¡°I think¡­ it¡¯s a bit late for you to ask this, Rio,¡± Arisa replied.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right¡ª¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Valerie nudged Rio¡¯s arm. However, he ignored it and focused on Arisa¡¯s answer.


    ¡°If indeed Johann is planning to do something dangerous and could damage something that all of humanity¡¯s effort to save each other¡¯s future, then this is the right thing to do,¡± said the girl with an ice cream hair accessory with a smile.


    Of course, that smile is just a form of manipulation of Arisa¡¯s facial muscles.


    Mr. Davide looked out from his office¡¯s second-floor window, ensuring the four teenagers walked away from here. At that moment, Sato was ready with the information on the projection display of his communication ring.


    ¡°Sir, regarding Johann Accialini. I¡¯ve found some facts that you should be aware.¡±


    ¡°Continue.¡±


    Sato takes a breath. ¡°Johann Accialini is the son of Bascio Accialini, one of many renowned scientists. The said scientist died while in the middle of the development of time travel. The news stated that the cause of death was an accident in the laboratory. However, the forensic results said something different. Somehow, the inconsistency is ignored so that the official cause of death only says it was a natural accident.¡±


    ¡°I think you must have a good guess for what actually happened, right?¡± Mr. Davide sighed as he sat back in his chair. ¡°Do me a favor to find this Johann guy. Search all over the Tantoris Town. Don¡¯t miss anything.¡±


    ¡°Roger, sir!¡±


    Sato left the room to carry out his duties. Mr. Davide turned his chair to face the window while gazing at the sunset.


    ¡°A person who can come to the past without following the official program of the scientists. It raises my suspicion that there were several people who possessed time travel technology on their own. Hah, what a hassle,¡± he cursed.


    The evening has come in no time. Arisa seems to be leaning on the railing of the north main bridge to enjoy the view of the evening river. The ice cream stick hangs in her mouth while Arisa plays it around. She slightly takes at the dam, a few couples of kilometers away. Even though it¡¯s pretty far, the barrier can still be seen.


    She pulled out the ice cream stick from her mouth and walked home.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just eat the remaining ice cream along the way,¡± she muttered.


    Unintentionally, her shoulder bumped into someone.


    ¡°Ah¡ªsorry. I don¡¯t see¡ª¡±


    ¡°Oh, no problem,¡± she said it short.


    When Arisa looks at this person, she feels that her clothing choices are a little off. A brown scarf around her neck so that the girl¡¯s beautiful face is half covered, a dress with dark shades combined with very short black pants and stockings covering almost her entire legs.


    She also noticed that the said girl was also wearing a communication ring.


    ¡°Hmm, what¡¯s wrong?¡± the girl asked, noticing that Arisa was staring at her appearance.


    ¡°Are you a volunteer from the future too?¡±


    ¡°You could say that. Are you usually staring like that towards people you never meet before?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Arisa. I¡¯m just blown away by the way you dress, I¡¯m sorry. I guess all the volunteers from the future have adjusted their appearances so they can blend in more easily according to their record of the past. That¡¯s what they teach us in the future, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Heh, this is my own choice of fashion, you know. So far, I haven¡¯t got any problems with the past society,¡± the girl sneered.


    ¡°Oh, I see.¡±


    Arisa moved her facial muscles to smile. Then, she gave one of the remaining ice creams to the said girl.


    ¡°Why are you suddenly giving me something?¡±


    ¡°I just happened to buy too much ice cream.¡±


    ¡°Is that safe to eat?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Ice cream always safe to eat. It¡¯s also super delicious.¡±


    After staring at Arisa¡¯s hand, she smiled behind the scarf and accepted Arisa¡¯s gift.


    ¡°Alright. Thank you for the ice cream. Have a nice evening.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    They go away from each other as Arisa continues to walk home. The scarf-wearer girl ate the ice cream given by the person he just met and got a taste she had never had before. It was so alien and cold, yet the lingering sweetness made her smile slightly.


    The girl walks down on the sidewalks and crossroads with poor light without any worry, as if she is getting used to this kind of environment. The quietness didn¡¯t affect her as she continued to enjoy the ice cream until she arrived at the apartment.


    She finished her ice cream when she got inside the lobby. She throws it in the trash nearby while waiting for the elevator to come. When the elevator doors opened, she went inside and pressed the button engraved with the number five on the surface.


    The elevator opened in just a few minutes, and Johann was there, waiting for the girl.


    ¡°Welcome, Adel¡± said someone with glasses.


    ¡°Like what you see?¡± she smirks.

 26th Fragment - Division Changing

    "Let''s discuss this particular crucial aspect, in my opinion. Your proposal said that the plant''s speed of growth is far above average," commented one of the men over 40 years old.


    "Exactly, sir. I have also included relevant supporting theories and the projection data in the future." Rio replied with his chest pounding harder than usual.


    Once again, He reads the contents of Rio''s idea carefully before looking at one of the other participants and Mr. Rudi. A minute after, he shook his head and closed the proposal on the table.


    "This proposal is well written. Yet, we still need more than a convincing idea because your proposal will definitely need a significant budget, Rio. Simply put, we need a proof. Indeed, the theory and observation reports of the genetically-manipulated seeds and plants is quite helpful. However, a real results will be easier for us to believe. Now, is there anything that you want to show us?"


    "About that¡­" Rio bit his lip. There are no results yet that can be brought to the committee.


    The man''s brow wrinkled. "This idea is definitely out of the box. It feels like I''m reading a fiction narration. In your concept, I understand that you intend to use your genetically-engineered plants to strengthen the building''s foundation, which is unthinkable because any substance that penetrates the concrete would open a gap between it, instead of strengthen it. Is that right?"


    "I agree, sir."


    "Now, we''re talking the impossible. As if you''re going to make a campfire bigger by showering it."


    A few seconds of silence as Rio racks his brain.


    "Since there is no evidence I can show you, I can''t answer that argument, sir," he said slowly.


    "¡­ that''s how it is. Good work, Rio. I think the meeting ends here."


    Those three men¨Cincluding Mr. Rudi¨Cpack up their documents and leave their seats. Rio tries to control his breath, facing this umpteenth rejection of his proposal. His head repeatedly spun, still trying to find the correct argument, so the committee would stop and back to listen to what Rio got.


    In the end, Rio can''t come up with anything.


    "Rio. If you want your proposal to be included in the city''s service work program, make sure you bring what we want to see. Because a theory without proof is just empty talk. We should have a strong basis if this project will involve quite significant resources."


    "¡­acknowledged, Mr. Wira."


    Valerie is still in his seat, waiting for Rio outside the meeting room as he sees that the committee has already left. Apparently, his best friend did not immediately come out, making him wonder.


    A few couple seconds later, Rio comes out with a long sigh. Valerie could already guess what was going on inside. Thus, the blonde man approaches and pats his friend gently because he walks like a drunk person.


    "Basically, they asked for evidence that can be seen with their own eyes¡­."


    "Then what you need to do is create the said evidence, right?" Valerie responded lightly.


    "Easy for you to say. I''m still trying what to do here and¡ªoh, I have an idea."


    Valerie smiled wide and slapped Rio''s back hard.


    "Ouch!"


    "Well, that''s how it is. It doesn''t matter if your proposal is still get rejected many times as long as you can quickly stand back to achieve your goals."


    Rio winced in pain. However, he also smiled soon after. "It''s just like you said. But to do this, I need to discuss it with Rita first."


    "I think that girl will definitely comply whatever your idea is. Just my five cents."


    When they arrived at their usual office, Rio went straight to meet Mr. Rudi in his room. Valerie sighs with his usual smile as he returns to his desk to do the remaining work.


    Half an hour passed as Rio returned to his seat. He starts to tidy up everything on his table as if he is going somewhere soon.


    Valerie raised his eyebrows. "Hey, you''re going home during office hours?"


    "No. I''m going to temporarily transfer to the Forestry Division. Mr. Rudi has given his permission."


    Valerie widened his eyes.


    "Wait a minute. Don''t tell me you''re changing your division permanently? How dare you leave me alone?"


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    Rio sneered. "I don''t care if you''re alone or something here. After all, you still have to do your job as a good city servant. And no, I''ll staying there until my proposal is approved. Need to do some intensive research with Rita, I guess."


    Valerie rubs his own nose and gives Rio a weird smile as he claps.


    "Great! Go away, then. To change the work environment is never a bad idea. Well, give my greeting to Rita and good luck doing your research."


    Rio nodded and hastily went away. He already got an idea of what he needed to do to win the committee over.


    Armed with a laptop, the young man arrived in the greenhouse. One of the Forestry Division members invited Rio inside while calling for Rita to be his work buddy.


    She arrived shortly while catching her breath, welcoming her friend who had just come to her division.


    "Mr. Rudi has notified us beforehand. He said from now on you will work in the greenhouse?" asked the girl.


    "Yeah. But, only until my proposal is approved by the committee. I need we to work together so we will obtain convincing evidence."


    "So your proposal still hasn''t made it to the city''s service work program?"


    Rio nodded slowly. "It sucks, yeah. However, I understand their reason since my idea would definitely need many resources. We''re trying to insert some manipulation from the future in this timeline, so it''ll not be that easy.


    "¡­Okay. Before we discuss about this further, let me take you to your new place, Rio."


    The two of them arrived at one side of the greenhouse, at the corner of the laboratory.


    Rita beckoned Rio to one of the clean, tidy, and vacant rooms. A comfortable work desk, other supporting facilities, adequate ventilation, and ornamental plants can make anyone productive in no time.


    "Nice. I think it''s a lot more comfortable than my previous room."


    "Really? I think every place here have a nice standard to support the worker?"


    "Because Valerie is there," replied Rio briefly.


    Rita chuckles.


    "So, are you currently in the middle of something, Rita?"


    "Not really. I focused My work to support your proposal now through my research here. The Division Head has approved the change of job description because it also aim to contribute to our mission."


    "Well, that''s great. All right. Can you take a look for a second there? I''ll explain my next plan."


    Rita approached to sit next to Rio as he explained everything on his laptop. How to bring actual evidence is a priority now since it is a final obstacle to the realization of his proposal.


    His co-worker listens patiently without missing any details. Although, sometimes Rita realizes how really close they are in that situation. While Rio is still focused on explaining the existing data, Rita is already bright red. Her focus is flying away with the soft breeze as if trying to tease her. Her heart is beating faster than usual.


    "Pretty much, that''s what I can say for now. Any better suggestions?" Rio asked in return.


    "Eh? A-h, uh! I think it''s good for now!"


    "Really?" Rio looked at Rita unconvinced.


    "Yes! Your idea is right on target. Now what we need is to find the right materials for the media of growth and record the growh process of the genetically-engineered plants."


    "I see¡­ well," Rio stepped away from the laptop and reviewed what he had been doing in his head. "To reconfirm, the theories we used are really possible to be realized, right?"


    Rita smiled. "Don''t worry about that. I''ve got a lot of data regarding its practical uses in the future so we definitely got a strong basis. What your superior said about the foundation of a building overgrown by plants would make a gap and weaken its structure is already an old knowledge in our era. I understand why they think like that due to their technology level in this timeline. Therefore, we do have to provide authentic evidence so that they can accept the theory that we used."


    She displayed a three-dimensional projection and conveyed the image in her head. It is a planting medium made of concrete, and Rita applies a simulation for it to be overgrown by genetically-engineered plants.


    "As you can see, the simulation reports that it''s totally doable to enhance a concrete structure with our plants. By setting up a growth medium like this, we can make comparisons in front of them and prove our theory."


    "That''s amazing. But, I assume that they will treat it as a normal even thought what will we bring to the superior is supposedly the product of our era''s technology?"


    "Correct. They won''t think that our product is something that shouldn''t be on this era. As you are aware, the principle is similar to why my division can be created from nothing on this place."


    "Due to the effect of record of the past, people from this timeline won''t notice any works we do as something out of the place. Just like they won''t treat us as a stranger the moment we infiltrated their family and social system," Rio reconfirmed.


    "Exaclty."


    "I see¡­ Hopefully that won''t be affected by someone who caused the record of the past going awry, according to Arisa''s report we heard on that day or anything we do could cause uproar."


    "I hope so too," replied Rita with a weak tone.


    She knows what is currently happening regarding the error of record of the past could potentially affect the implementation of Rio''s project. People will be informed about the future technology trying to invade this era. Indeed, it''s something she doesn''t want to happen.


    "It''s okay, Rita. It won''t affect us since people aren''t noticing that your division supposed doesn''t exist in this city yet. We can rest assured that we can slip this agenda to be implemented in this era for the sake of the future."


    At least that''s what Rio wants to believe.


    "If you say so, then¡­."


    "Yes, we can continue, Rita."


    Rita nods to reaffirm her resolution. "According to the data I have gathered, my calculations said that assuming the Earth''s climate will not change drastically in the near future, this genetically-modified plant will grow to perfection in three months. Plants with cambiums normally don''t grow that fast in this era."


    Rio took the newly created model of growth medium and reworked it using his communication ring''s simulation. "If we consider the duration we need, more or less, we can prepare the prototype in just three weeks. Is this true?"


    "Yes. It''s relatively short for cambium plants to grow. Even though there are types of mosses that are combined to strengthen the genetics of this plant to enhance its strength, its structure mostly still consists of cambium," added Rita.


    A confident smile appeared on Rio''s. "That means, I will be here for a month or so to prepare my report and documentation of our progress. Please support me, will you?"


    "I''ve been involved with your proposal for a while, Rio. You don''t have to ask," she replied with a warm smile.


    Then, they go to their own place to work on what they must do.

 27th Fragment - Hold Me Dear

    Rio has been occupied in the greenhouse among the floating data around him for a few hours after his arrival. Rita is on the other side of the room, focusing on processing the data related to the design of a planting medium and carrying out the production trial using machines outside the room.


    It doesn¡¯t feel like time has passed when Rio and Rita focus on their task. Amid his work, Rio looked out the window while keeping hydrated as he noticed that the sun was about to set. Rita seems to finish her research and approaches Rio just out of curiosity about what he saw.


    ¡°Planting medium has been printed. We should be able to apply the engineered plants tomorrow,¡± Rita reported.


    ¡°Wow, I don¡¯t expect it to be ready that fast. Alright, we can go home without overtime and¡ª¡±


    Rita catches Rio swiftly as he suddenly loses all of his strength. He quickly regains control in just a few minutes and stands back up, although Rita still needs to help him sit.


    ¡°Rio?! I¡¯ll call an ambulance!¡±


    ¡°N-no need. I¡¯ll just need to rest for a bit now. No need to make any calls.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Rio relaxed his elbows on the table while his head rested on them. He tried to gather his consciousness again and yawned, taking as much oxygen as his body needed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know that I¡¯ve hit my limit. At this rate, I can¡¯t go home since I feel like I will pass out any second later.¡±


    ¡°You always work until late, Rio?¡± asked the girl while rubbing Rio¡¯s back gently.


    ¡°Yeah¡­. I need to make sure the proposal is ready for the next meeting ¡­.¡±


    ¡°Gosh, you need to be more careful from now on. Would it be better if I take you to your home so you could get some rest right away?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, really¡­ It¡¯s okay. How about you make me some hot tea like usual? I¡¯m sure drinking your tea will make me better.¡±


    Rita takes a deep breath. ¡°Really, I don¡¯t understand why my tea can push your fatigue away. But, okay. Wait a minute. I¡¯ll make it quick.¡±


    She rushed out, leaving Rio, who was trying to inhale as much oxygen as he could.


    About five minutes later, Rita returned with a glass of hot tea as requested by her friend. However, she found Rio is currently snoring at the table. She can see how Rio¡¯s shoulder moves slowly as his breath goes, as if his body is trying to make up for the sleep hours he has lost.


    ¡°Hah, I know it,¡± said Rita sighing in relief. She put the hot tea somewhere else and let him sink into his sleep.


    A few hours have passed. Rio¡¯s consciousness is returning back as he tries to move his muscles that had been limp on the table. When he turns to look out the window, it is evening since the lights are on. He noticed that he had slept for two and a half hours.


    He wipes his eyes with his left hand because his right hand feels heavy. His hand grips something that feels warm, making him sleep even more soundly, as if someone was protecting him while he was off guard.


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Rio notices that Rita is also asleep across the table, with their hands gripping each other. Rio couldn¡¯t remember when his hands interlocked with Rita¡¯s fingers which were so soft and gave him a feeling of security. He panicked and was about to pull his hand back.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Rio is trying to calm down and let his hand stay that way. He looks at the girl who sleeps before him while stroking Rita¡¯s fingers gently. More or less, he understood why he could hold Rita¡¯s fingers tightly like that.


    Who knows, if I pulled my hand, Rita would wake up soon. I don¡¯t want to disturb her.


    He rested his chin on his hand while observing Rita¡¯s facial features. When Rio thinks about it, he never really looked into Rita properly all this time.


    No other sound could be heard other than the soft chirping of insects and the light snoring of his female friend. Rio guessed that there wasn¡¯t anyone left in the greenhouse beside them.


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    ¡°We¡¯re finally together again, huh?¡± Rio said to Rita quietly. Even though he knew Rita wouldn¡¯t be able to reply.


    Rio slightly strengthened his grip and smiled.


    ¡°Rita, thank you for always being by my side.¡±


    He smiles, a genuine smile coming from deep in his heart. Rita, who is sleeping, makes it easier for Rio to express his feelings. Perhaps, speaking in one direction does provide a sense of comfort for him.


    Rio doesn¡¯t get tired of looking at Rita and nods.


    ¡°I must admit. At first, I tried to make this proposal as an attempt to comfort my rejected feelings toward Arisa. At that time, my thoughts were scrambled. What is more important, between personal feelings and our mission for the earth in the future? If we calmly think about it, the second is undoubtedly why we¡¯re in this era from the beginning, right?


    However, I am just an ordinary man. I have my own feelings, and it made me chase someone who suddenly disappeared from my life for years, and accidentally, we met again here. I really didn¡¯t expect that opportunity to come back to me at that time. I managed to meet Arisa again, isn¡¯t that what I¡¯ve been looking for all this time?


    Maybe because I was filled with euphoria even though I tried to act normal before her, which ultimately affected my decision to confess to her right away. As if covered in fog and trying to get out, my mind urges me to express my feelings immediately while there is still a chance. I¡¯m afraid of losing Arisa a second time.¡±


    His interlocked hand is getting more relaxed as Rio takes a deep breath.


    ¡°On the other hand, I¡¯m also glad that Arisa thought about my feelings seriously, so she needed some time to consider it. The answer she gave was an honest one. Since pretty much that¡¯s the outcome of my confession, I shouldn¡¯t dwell on my feelings so deeply anymore. In the end, I¡¯m still deeply hurt.


    ¡°According to Valerie¡¯s suggestion, someone can forget any painful memories if they focus their mind to keep occupied. For me, this method is quite successful. I don¡¯t have time to think if I¡¯m regretting my choice to confess at that time. Instead, I put all my mind and energy into this proposal.¡±


    Rio takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. It feels lighter when he expresses his feelings like this. Rita is deeply asleep, so she probably wasn¡¯t really listening. However, the grip of her hand really gives him a sense of comfort.


    ¡°And then there you are, as you came every night when I worked on it. At first, I didn¡¯t think much of your presence. My proposal is my most priority. However, day by day, I slowly noticed your support. Well, Valerie is also supportive. But, it¡¯s not much compared to you.¡±


    Rio chuckles.


    ¡°So, I no longer see you as my friend anymore. Instead, you are someone who means more to me. Oh, don¡¯t get me wrong. Rita is not a substitute for Arisa for me. However, she is someone who happened to catch my attention while I was learning to let Arisa go. The girl who likes ice cream very much is great in her own way. However, Rita is the one who can make my heart warm.¡±


    Rio strokes Rita¡¯s hair as gently as possible so she won¡¯t wake up.


    ¡°Stay right by my side, Rita.¡±


    Rio re-checked the laptop regarding his proposal without letting go of that hand. After a few minutes, he yawned again. He still needs more rest.


    So, Rio tried to find a comfortable position to relax his muscles and fell asleep shortly after. Only the sound of the night insects remained if anyone was still present to listen.


    Until then, Rita slowly lifts her head and looks at Rio in disbelief. Her face was bright red, and one of her hands covered her tiny lips. The girl was clearly listening to what Rio had said from the beginning.


    She held her chest to check her heartbeat. Of course, it¡¯s beating wildly. She feels her face burning right now.


    I¡­ earlier¡­ woke up when Rio¡¯s grip started moving¡­


    At first, I didn¡¯t feel like sleeping here because Grandma was alone at home. However, I also don¡¯t want to wake up in the middle of Rio¡¯s talk.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    What a shame! Why did I accidentally hold his hand when Rio was still asleep! And I fall asleep too when I think I need to rest my eyes just a bit! Haah¡­


    Rita wants to run away and bury her head deep in the ground. However, she couldn¡¯t do that because her hand was still locked with Rio¡¯s.


    It took her a few minutes to look at his face, looking at the window, looking back at Rio¡¯s face, back again at the window, and like that several times.


    Until she can calm down and exhales slowly. The girl tried to slowly pull her hand, escaping Rio¡¯s fingers. Apparently, He didn¡¯t wake up when Rita managed to pull it back.


    ¡°Oh, really. He really that tired,¡± said Rita with a chuckle.


    The girl decided to head outside to reheat Rio¡¯s tea and make another one for herself in ten minutes before returning to Rio¡¯s desk. Looking at the clock, Rita thought that it was time to go home, so she rubbed Rio¡¯s shoulders until he woke up.


    ¡°Ah¡ªoh. What¡¯s the time now?¡±


    ¡°Eight past twenty minutes, at night. We should go home now,¡± answered Rita while enjoying her hot tea.


    Rio scratched his head while trying to gather his senses back. He found a cup of hot tea ready and tasted it just a little. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s time to go home. Our house should be waiting.¡±


    Rita smiles. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to have an immediate sleep. Let¡¯s call it a day since our research will be safe here. Proper rest is needed to give our all in our project.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. I¡¯d listen to you since our project will be delayed again if I were to catch the flu.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±


    They cleaned up this place and turned the lights off. They ensure that everything has been done as they walk out of the greenhouse, quickly greeted by the bright moonlight. Finally, the usual dark hallway can be seen as they walk through it to leave the office.


    Rio is still enjoying his now lukewarm tea as he has been careful on his walk. Meanwhile, Rita is peeking sneakily while keeping Rio on watch since he looks pretty tired in her eyes.


    ¡°Stay right by my side, Rita.¡±


    Those words are now deeply engraved inside her mind. She can¡¯t help but blush as Rio¡¯s request almost confuses her senses.


    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°W-wha?! There¡¯s nothing wrong as far as I know?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s weird. Perhaps, are you seeing things at this time and place?¡± teases Rio.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say something absurd like that. C¡¯mon, we gotta go home quickly!¡±


    Rita definitely can¡¯t forget what happened that night.

 28th Fragment - After School I

    The sky is clear at this time. The plump fluffy clouds that adorn the vast blue space above are bright in color. Thanks to the location of Tantoris, which is surrounded by the highlands, the temperature it¡¯s not that hot. So, Vanilla doesn¡¯t mind waiting longer at the bus stop. She is swinging her legs back and forth since this afternoon is one of the moments she is waiting for.


    This is the first time the little girl has set foot at a stop near the Tower Caf¨¦, allegedly one of the city¡¯s most popular spots. So, Vanilla got off the bench and walked over to look back at the tall nearby building.


    To the point that she tried to keep looking up to see the top edge of the tower.


    ¡°It¡¯s really high,¡± she murmured.


    Soon, a bus arrived for a moment at the stop. Three students are getting off while in the middle of their banter. Vanilla turned her head as soon as she heard a familiar voice calling her name.


    ¡°Vanilla, do you wait for a long time?¡± asked the girl with an ice cream-shaped accessory.


    The little girl shakes her head. ¡°Not really.¡±


    Arisa nods and turns to her classmates. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce her to you girls. Her name is Vanilla, my adopted sister.¡±


    Vanilla¡¯s eyes widened slightly when she heard it. She didn¡¯t know that Arisa would immediately tell her classmates about her whereabouts.


    ¡°Hey, nice to meet you, girl. My name is Nita, Arisa¡¯s number one friend, because she always comes to me when it comes to homework,¡± said one of the girls with a wide grin.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. We often hear stories from Arisa about you. Greetings, I¡¯m Tesa.¡±


    ¡°... I¡¯m Vanilla.¡±


    The two girls smiled at the little Vanilla. When those two leaned closer, she was unsure what to say, and Vanilla lowered her head.


    ¡°Awawa... Are you afraid of Nita?¡± asked Tesa worriedly.


    ¡°Impossible! I guess we just recently met, so it¡¯s a bit awkward for her. Well, in that case, come on, Arisa! we¡¯re going to the caf¨¦ now.¡±


    ¡°Okaay,¡± Arisa replied as she brought Vanilla together by embracing her petite shoulders.


    Vanilla followed the three girls going up by elevator to take them straight to the floor where the Tower Caf¨¦ is located. She was unfamiliar with the presence of such a friendly new person. Since before she met Arisa, only the figure of a self-ignorant adult was around him. Aside from Arisa and her family, who welcomed Vanilla, Nita and Tesa were the only ones Vanilla felt comfortable with.


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    When the elevator door was opened, Nita and Tesa walked first into the caf¨¦, followed by Vanilla and Arisa behind.


    ¡°Hmm? You don¡¯t look enthusiastic, Vanilla. Do you not want to go here, by chance?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡­ Are your friends a good person¡­?¡±


    Arisa smiled. ¡°As far as I know, I really enjoyed the moment when I was with them.¡±


    ¡°Hey, let¡¯s go in! I¡¯ve found the right place!¡± called Nita.


    Arisa pulls Vanilla¡¯s hand so they can join the other two as she whispers.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    Nita is waving to Arisa and Vanilla from the tables on the terrace that happens to be empty. As the four of them finished with their order, Tesa and Nita returned to their excitement with a far-view scene they could enjoy.


    ¡°Look! Look at that, Tesa. No matter how many times you¡¯ve seen this, small buildings are always cool to gaze to! Look, that¡¯s our school, isn¡¯t it?¡± Nita exclaimed so excitedly.


    ¡°Awawawa... please be careful. You can fall,¡± Tesa suggested. Although there are strong fences around for safety, she is still worried.


    ¡°The view¡­ is good,¡± Vanilla responded softly.


    ¡°Is the view here pretty different from what you saw from the dam, Vanilla? This is your first time here. So, take a look at more,¡± suggested her adoptive sister.


    ¡°... right. The building I saw here... is different.¡±


    Vanilla¡¯s eyes twinkle as she enjoys the brand-new view of the city. When Vanilla ganders at the scenery in the northern part of the city, the dam she recognized is quickly visible even though it is located far away.


    Soon, the order arrived. Arisa¡¯s two friends paid particular attention to what was on Arisa and Vanilla¡¯s side of the table.


    ¡°Tesa, look. Do you see what I see?¡±


    ¡°Mhhm, mhm. I know, Nita.¡±


    ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s the matter?¡± asked Arisa with her mouth full of ice cream.


    ¡°I have no question anymore with your order, Arisa. But, I want to ask why Vanilla¡¯s order is not much different from yours?!¡±


    In front of Nita and Tesa was some kind of ice cream snack with various flavors, a lot of them.


    ¡°Uhm, is it wrong to order ice cream...?¡± asked Vanilla in a soft tone.


    Tesa forced her smile. ¡°No, really. It¡¯s not wrong at all¡ª¡±


    ¡°Haah! Arisa, what are you doing?! You¡¯ve brainwashed this innocent kid!¡± Nita got furious suddenly and snatched the ice cream that Arisa enjoyed and ate a few mouthfuls in front of the rightful owner.


    ¡°Aah! Mine!¡±


    ¡°Shut up! This is as punishment for poisoning Vanilla¡¯s pure mind!¡±


    The little girl was confused to see the ruckus of the high school girls. Tesa tries her best to calm the other two, even though it is useless. Nita and Arisa keep on their banter until it slowly catches Vanilla¡¯s sense of humor as she laughs at what her adoptive sister is doing with her friends.


    Until she also laughed at the silly jokes that had never been felt before.


    ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t realize that my ice cream has run out,¡± said Arisa as her spoon couldn¡¯t bring anything anymore to her mouth. ¡°Do you want to have an additional snack or something? I¡¯ll call the waitress to come.¡±


    No one asked Arisa¡¯s question. Nita and Tesa still joked while occasionally asking Vanilla¡¯s answer while still being overwhelmed. Once again, Arisa is excluded from her social interactions due to her unstable record of the past.


    ¡°Ah, my existence is gone again?¡± she said flatly.

 29th Fragment - After School II

    Although it has happened many times, the girl is still not used to her existence disappearing any sudden like this. A hint of pain resurfaced inside her chest, which was not the first time.


    "What else can I do? I only could wait until my record of the past goes normal again," Arisa murmured as she calmed down by picking up one of Nita''s snacks. She stayed in her seat to observe the conversation between her friends and Vanilla.


    Even though this anomaly is quite annoying for her, Arisa has her own way of spending time when her existence disappears. She remembered what Tirto''s¨Cher brother due to record of the past¨Creaction when Arisa suddenly appeared behind her when he took a drink in the kitchen. He had almost thrown the cup somewhere when Arisa giggled behind him.


    Arisa did the same to Vanilla since her modus operandi did not vary. She will follow her from behind to wherever her adoptive sibling is inside the house to see what kind of reaction she''ll show when Arisa appears out of nowhere.


    "By the way, Vanilla. How are you feeling about your new family?" asked Nita suddenly.


    "Eh...?" Vanilla is not ready at all.


    Arisa agrees that Nita asks an honest question because she never thought of that. So, she puts on her ears and will not blink for any second while observing Vanilla.


    "Nita, what are you asking her? That''s totally inappropriate!" Tesa protested.


    "Shh, shut up for a bit, Tesa. Let her speak."


    "Regarding that...," Vanilla tried to compose the right words in her head. She doesn''t know what to answer if someone asks that kind of question.


    "Hmm, hmm?" Nita is leaning closer.


    "I... quite comfortable with my new family," Vanilla replied lowly.


    Upon hearing that, Nita nods a little. "So that''s how is it."


    Tesa still feels terrible about the little girl. Yet, she feels relieved knowing that answer.


    While Arisa is still engrossed in stealing Nita''s snacks just because. Of course, she is still listening.


    "... I am very grateful to Mom, who doesn''t mind raising me as her own child¡­. Thanks to them, I felt like I understood something that I had never experienced in my entire life..."


    Arisa is aware that when her existence is disappeared temporarily this time, her mom is the one who takes her place. She is aware that when her presence disappears several times at some point in the past, she will be replaced by one of her parents. So, everything she did would still be engraved in people from the past''s memory. It''s just that they won''t remember if the girl named Arisa is the one who did it. Instead, her mom or dad was the one who did it.


    Following the current conversation, Vanilla remembers that the mother of the Tanjung family is the one who adopted her, not Arisa. Arisa has no problem with that because her position will return once her record of the past is stable again.


    "...I just found out if there is a life like this. I don''t need to deal with the stench¡­ warm food on the dinner table has been prepared without me doing anything¡­."


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Arisa fell silent while sipping on Tesa''s cold drink when Vanilla''s words pierced her ears. Arisa''s mind brings her memories back to the first time she met the little girl. When she is on top of the dam alone amid the landfill garbage with a shabby appearance and pungent smell.


    At that time, Vanilla''s gaze was the sight of someone who had never seen anything more beautiful in this world than the view of the city dam.


    "It''s rare to see Vanilla speak this much. I wonder what else she will say next?" commented the adoptive sibling.


    "So," Vanilla continued, "I''m really grateful to be in this place. To eat a very delicious snack¡­ and, importantly¡­ yummy ice cream.


    Arisa will never forget that sudden smile coming from the little girl, which appeared nowhere.


    "Guh¨C-so¡­ I understand that muuuch!"


    "Huh! Tesa? Why are you crying?" Nita definitely didn''t see it coming.


    "You can''t understand that much¡­? I can''t imagine what Vanilla has been through this time until she got adopted by her current family, huhuhu..."


    Arisa swiftly returned to her previous seat and hugged Vanilla as tightly as possible. Although her little sister could not feel it, Arisa would still want to hold her. She understood what Vanilla had been through so far.


    Her petite shoulders, along with the warmness through her tiny fingers, go through Arisa''s hands¨C


    I don''t know about this feeling. Is this what they called sympathy?


    "Huh?! Arisa! Why did you suddenly appear out of nowhere!" Nita almost shouted, seeing her friend.


    ¡°Awawawa... how come? You can play magic, Arisa?" asked Tesa incredulously at Arisa''s appearance in front of her.


    "Oh, hi, guys. I just went back from the toilet," Arisa replied with her usual smile.


    Wow, my record of the past is so unstable today.


    Vanilla almost dropped her ice cream spoon, sensing her sister''s sudden presence. When she turns to her brother, Arisa gives her a mysterious smile.


    "Again, disappear and appear casually?" asked the little girl.


    "That''s right. Can''t surprise you anymore, isn''t it?"


    Vanilla neither answered nor broke free from Arisa''s arms. She allowed her adoptive sister to be around her like that for the next few minutes.


    And then, nothing else happened that time. Nita and Tesa have a heated debate about Arisa''s ability to appear from nothing until they give up without an answer, while Vanilla is under Arisa''s hugs until dusk comes. They decide to go home.


    Arisa tells Vanilla it''s time to go home. Yet, she shakes her head.


    "I want to be here longer."


    "I see. Perhaps, the evening sun catches your attention."


    Vanilla stays silent. She stands up and leans against the fence to see the scenery further. Her eyes capture how the twilight''s rays shimmered on the Major River, giving her an illusion of sparkles on its surface.


    Then, Vanilla gazes up, looking at the orange sky that warms her eyes.


    Arisa follows what Vanilla does and stays by her side. After all, she can also enjoy the fresh air at this height. The breezes were not too strong either, and that was enough for Arisa to stay at this place a little longer.


    "... Big sister, I definitely will go to school so I can repay you and our family for what you''ve done to me."


    "Oh? That''s great. Basic education is a right for everyone, so you should get it. Education is the primary need of humanity, you know."


    "Yes. By going to school, I''ll become someone who deserves to be adopted by you or the Tanjung Family."


    As Arisa turns her head, Vanilla looks at her with an intense gaze¡ªfilled with determination and great devotion. She smiles while she strokes Vanilla''s head softly.


    Yet another strange feeling arises when she witnesses Vanilla, who wants to do something about her life without being told by anyone. In fact, Arisa didn''t expect anything in return from Vanilla when she decided to adopt her. However, she is sure now that she''s delighted about it.


    Is this what they called the pride of a little sister who is eager to achieve something?


    "Point taken. We will tell Dad about it later. Now, let''s go home first, and don''t forget to bring ice cream or snacks for your brother. He will definitely appreciate it, just like us."


    Vanilla nods and follows her sister to order a takeaway.


    As someone who was once saved from a life with a giant cage called a dam, Vanilla is determined to return the favor to anyone she considers important to her. Especially to Arisa, who has introduced her to the world and given her life a fresh, cold, and sweet new start.

 30th Fragment - The Attack

    The rustling sound of leaves and night insects¡¯ characteristic echoes accompanied the girl walking alone in the quiet housing complex. She wears a dark scarf covering the lower part of her face as if using it as a mask. As if she is blending with the night¡¯s breeze, her steps are so gentle and vibrant at the same time. One could tell she trained those steps to the point that perhaps even a cat couldn¡¯t hear them.


    The said girl tries to blend within the lightless walls at this darkest hour, moving quickly between the streets. Even some people who happened to pass by on that street were utterly unaware of her presence.


    Adel continued to stroll to the police station. When she was only a few hundred meters away, she put a device in her right hand¡ªa silver-colored future technology with its endpoint shaped like a half ball. The machine slowly spread over the girl¡¯s arm like a living thing. Adel continued to step closer until the device covered the upper part of her arm up until her shoulder.


    ¡°Good thing that it is late enough that no one was seen strolling around here. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not expecting it, though,¡± she muttered as she surveyed the situation.


    Adel was here because of Johann¡¯s decision, and she agreed with him. She is supposed to terrorize the police force so they¡¯ll slow down on their attempt to track Johann¡¯s disturbance.


    A few hours ago, before Adel approached the police headquarters, Johann¡¯s apartment was filled with monitor projections hovering in the air. Adel sat and crossed her legs while observing the floating data around her.


    ¡°As per the information I managed to obtain after a few breaches in the intranet of the Tantoris City¡¯s police, I know that there are some members stationed in the police headquarters tonight. We will take advantage of this momentum to disrupt their movement,¡± Johann explained.


    ¡°Is it because they¡¯re still trying to track you down?¡± asked Adel.


    ¡°Exactly. They tried to scan different corners of the city to find my whereabouts, both physically and by utilizing information rings. A futile attempt, since I am completely immune to various trackers that are online.¡±


    ¡°Showing off your skills, huh? So that¡¯s the situation¡­ even the police team can¡¯t find you since you¡¯re still connected to the Ringnet of the volunteers. It¡¯s great. I wonder what kind of trick you¡¯re pulling off, hmm,¡± Adel sneered.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything else you can do besides teasing me? Let¡¯s go back to discuss our plan. Listen carefully, to slow down their movements in an attempt to find me, we need something big. For example, a small bang.¡±


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    Adel raised her eyebrows. She knows where this conversation will go.


    ¡°Basically, you want me to attack the police headquarters tonight?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I have also prepared the right tools for you.¡±


    Johann put the said tool on the table. When Adel examined the object, she understood clearly what was in front of him.


    ¡°Laser cannon?¡±


    ¡°The current model, yeah,¡± Johann replied confidently.


    ¡°Do we really need a weapon this strong?¡±


    ¡°To give them a significant impact so they¡¯ll slowing down¨Cyes, it¡¯s necessary. This laser cannon is the right solution.¡±


    The girl holds the weapon slowly while examining it closer. It¡¯s a bit heavier than what she usually carries. However, she¡¯s confident she can use this in no time since she¡¯s used it in the past.


    ¡°If it is this strong, then there could potentially be casualties,¡± the girl commented.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m aiming for. It would be great if there were, indeed, casualties.¡± Johann emphasized.


    ¡°... tch. You know that I don¡¯t like casualties.¡±


    ¡°Still, this is the best method to buy us time. Unless, you¡¯re going to confront them directly and make a ruckuss, while I¡¯m doing what I have to do. But, you won¡¯t do that, won¡¯t you? You need to stay low, as I recall.¡±


    ¡°Noisy.¡±


    Adel grit her teeth while leaving Johann¡¯s apartment. More or less, She still has to do this because she still needs Johann to be around for a little while.


    ¡°...¡±


    The night breeze pokes at her skin, resuscitating Adel in her reverie. Her sight found the police building, which is no more than six floors. The whole windows had been dark, except for two windows on the fourth floor, still brightly lit.


    ¡°Hardworking as ever. Knowing how they operate in the future, that¡¯s given.¡± Adel commented. Perhaps, those policemen whose working overtime don¡¯t even realize that one of the people they were looking for is currently nearby.


    The girl went back down the dark streets of a housing complex nearby to ensure the situation was favorable for her. Then, make her stance while preparing the laser gun to gather energy as the semicircular end of the weapon turns brighter and brighter.


    It only takes about two minutes, and the temperature of the tip end of the weapon is not less than 3000 degrees Celsius.


    Adel pointed the gun at the window with the lights still on.


    ¡°¡ªIt would be great if there were, indeed, casualties.¡±


    Fuck it.


    Adel shifted her target a few degrees above before releasing a hot light beam. Like butter, it instantly melts the walls of the police building¡ªfollowed by the collapse of the building¡¯s structure and the rumbles of the concrete.


    The construction is getting razed to the ground within minutes.


    ¡°I definitely don¡¯t feel good at all about this.¡±


    She ran away swiftly before the building¡¯s dust hit her clothes, leaving panic emerging from nearby residents who had just come out of their houses.

 31st Fragment - Rios Progress

    "Here is our documentation of the plant growth rates for a whole month we''ve researched for this project."


    The hanging white screen displays a video originally from the meeting room''s computer. Rio is showing time-lapse documentation about how the combination of cambium plants and moss could cover the growing concrete media in just one month. The participants, who consisted of three people, listened quietly until the video was over.


    "Thus, what you''ve seen is a brief view of the result of my proposal. Now, I will prove it to you to fully support the theory used in the concrete-strengthening concept."


    Rio stood in front of the three gentlemen ¡ªMr. Rudi, Mr. Wira and Mr. Hendra. They occasionally reread the proposal before closing it to observe the prototype Rio has brought upon it entirely. Rita, who has always stayed by Rio''s side, served two growth mediums on the table¡ªboth have the same dimension. The only difference is one is covered with greenery while the others are not.


    Rio put a hammer on the table. "Please, gentlemen. You can try to break it using this."


    The three participants exchanged glances before Mr. Wira stood up from his seat. He looks closely at the two growth media and swings the hammer three times at the plantless concrete. A few seconds later, it broke into pieces.


    He is trying to do the same with the other medium covered in greenery¡ªthree hits on the miniature construction. However, after the third blow, there were no cracks whatsoever.


    "¡­wow."


    Mr. Rudi and Mr. Hendra are having a closer look. Mr. Wira tried to hit a few more times again before the growth medium finally collapsed. How the mini construction collapsed was also not as messy compared to other mediums.


    "I think this prototype is eligible enough to serve as supporting evidence for my proposal," Rio concluded carefully.


    Mr. Wira looked at Rio in disbelief. "What can I say? This is incredible. Rio, your prototype definitely makes us confused. It feels like you have presented something very original. I can''t recall if we have something like this before, but, the media would be excited if they know about this."


    "Can''t agree more. Usually, it''s very possible for plants to damage buildings or any concrete structures since they made gaps for them to grow. But strengthening the concrete as the plants enveloped it on their grasps¡­ that''s something I''ve never encountered before," said Mr. Hendra while closely observing the genetically-engineered plants.


    "Still, the evidence is in front of you all, sir. Mr. Wira has proven it himself to see how the growth medium covered by the plants takes more several hard hits before the construction collapses," Rio added.


    The three middle-aged men were speechless for a few more minutes. So, Rio tried to confirm once again.


    "So, does my proposal got accepted?"


    Mr. Wira glances once more at his other co-workers as Mr. Rudi and Mr. Hendra nod firmly. There was nothing more they could doubt on this matter.


    "Congratulation, Rio, you''ve proven your idea greatly. We will take your proposal to our program which will improve the city''s infrastructure. But first, we will have more study about it so our local budget can truly support it. From now on, you''ll be busy dealing with the legal issues for using your engineered seeds along with our vendors'' meetings," Mr. Wira answered while patting Rio''s shoulder.


    "Ah! Thank you very much, Mr. Wira!"


    "No problem. Thanks for the hard work so far, Rio."


    The applause came from the other participants for those who had worked hard until this moment. Mr. Rudi did not forget to give Rio a light high-five while laughing with satisfaction. The meeting was soon dismissed, with Mr. Wira and Mr. Hendra leaving the room.


    "Good job, Rio. Perhaps you can slow down on your overtime. Soon, you have to prepare yourself to meet with the water company since they''re our partner who usually handles the dam management."


    "Thank you. Of course, sir. I''ll do my best."


    "Then again, your engineered-seeds makes me think that those stuff are not actually coming from this era. You''re so amazing that you can use that to improve this town''s infrastructure, hahaha!"


    Rio grins awkwardly while Rita gets goosebumps upon hearing that. Indeed, those genetically-engineered seeds can only be produced because of the future technology they''ve brought to this era. Thanks to the records of the past, no one will suspect that and accept that invention simply as a creative solution to a problem.


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    When those three men were nowhere to be seen, Rio gave a high-five to Rita while jumping with joy.


    "We did it, Rita! It worked well!"


    "Y-Yes. Congratulation for your proposal!"


    "Our hard work was finally paid off!"


    Someone is knocking on the door that caught those two''s attention. Valerie also comes with his usual smugness and notices how his two comrades hold each other''s hands.


    "Congrats, you lovebirds. Here, a small gift," Valerie gave a pack of chicken skin snacks with a delicious smelling seasoning.


    "Much appreciated. I feel hungry all of sudden when I smell it," said Rio while tasting the snack before giving it to Rita.


    "So, it''s been decided already? Since you guys are so happy while holding hands like that?" Valerie asked again with his unsettling smile.


    Rio choked while awkwardly letting Rita''s hand go. At the same time, Rita herself is looking away.


    "What do you mean by that, huh?" Rio tried to dodge.


    "Yeah, sure. You''ll get an Oscar for that act. Well, sadly there''s something urgent to talk for, thus your celebration will be postponed for a bit. Hear me out."


    Rita and Rio exchanged glances.


    In short, the three of them arrived at Rio''s place in the greenhouse. Valerie played the emergency message while Rio and Rita received the same message since they turned off the ring during the previous presentation.


    Those three were focused on the projection screen floating in front of them. Rio can''t help to wonder what kind of urgent situation will occur to them.


    "Greetings, volunteers from the future. I''m Sato, Mr. Davide''s assistant, the head of the future police department. With this message, we want to raise awareness regardless our urgent situation."


    He is someone they had met in Mr. Davide''s room way back then. His face is quite severe and tense¡ªonly Sato, who was on the screen, while his superior is nowhere to be seen.


    "The Tantoris City''s police building was attacked last night. Local media have reported it because the building is one of the city''s important infrastructure. Our investigation says that the building has been hit by a laser cannon, a weapon commonly used in our timeline," reported Sato calmly.


    "How did that weapon is here?" Rio asked incredulously.


    "It''s easy to think that Johann brought it here. While I was listening to this report, I instantly remembered Arisa has told us about that person," Valerie commented.


    "That''s right¡­ the volunteers like us have no means to bring that kind of weapon. Perhaps, the police division got their hands on it, but even so, they''re still using this era''s weapon for protective purposes. So, it makes sense that it has something to do with Johann," Rita chimed in.


    Sato continued, "Regarding the casualties, we can safely report that no one died in this incident. It happened when the majority of the police officers from the future were working overtime at the office. It''s evident that this attack was aimed only at people from the future. Regarding Mr. Davide''s condition, he was harmed and is currently being treated at a local hospital.


    On the one hand, we also received reports that the condition of the records of the past of some volunteers was deteriorating. There is no relevant evidence yet on whether this attack also affected the existing state of the record of the past. Thus, we will continue to investigate this matter.


    We want all volunteers, especially those in Tantoris City, to stay alert and immediately report anything suspicious. Thank you."


    The finished video report left a bitter taste in Rio''s mouth. Their existence in the past is no longer safe anymore because there are people out there trying to mess up the record of the past, an essential aspect needed for this project to succeed.


    "No wonder Mr. Rudi seemed to have realized that our ideas shouldn''t exist in this era... Maybe it was also caused by the deteriorating records of the past?" Rio guessed


    "That might be the case. If we don''t do something about this, it could be serious. People will be more aware that there are people who shouldn''t be at this timeline," said Valerie uncomfortably.


    "Is there anything we can do?" Rita is starting to get anxious.


    Rio and Valerie shrug.


    "I think we''d better stick to our routine without causing any suspicion. Definitely don''t let your guard down with," Valerie replied.


    "That''s how it is. I''m agree with Valerie," Rio added.


    "Alright, that''s it for now! It''s time for me to go back to my desk. How about you, Rio?" asked the blonde guy while he checked the wall clock.


    "I do the same. After all, my experiments has been successful and my proposal will go to the next step necessary. Still, I have to tidy up this room first."


    "Okay. See you in our room, Rio. Until we meet again, Rita."


    Valerie left the room while waving his hand. Rio will pack up some things since he has occupied this place for a whole month.


    "Like I said earlier, our documentation is over so I will return to my previous place."


    "I understand. However, we still have a lot to do, right?" Rita confirmed again.


    "I guess so. When my proposal has been approved as an official program, it doesn''t mean our work is finished. We will start to prepare everything so that this idea is truly realized. For the sake of this planet''s future, this contribution is necessary." Rio replied confidently, "our two divisions will continue to be in touch because your geneticaly-engineered plants and seeds are the crucial part of my proposal, Rita."


    "Sure. After all, 90% of my division''s job description is to support any volunteer missions in this office. So, both from me personally and from the Forestry Division itself will fully support your program, Rio," said the girl to ensure everything.


    Rio smiled slightly at Rita''s positive response. He took his pocket and handed Rita something in his hand¡ªa mini terrarium.


    "This is my thanks after everything you''ve done from the beginning. I know it''s not much. But, thank you very much for your support, Rita."


    She looks at the greenery stuffed in the small bottle and chuckles. "This terrarium is cute. Thanks for the gift, Rio. I will definitely take care of it."


    Rio takes his cell phone, which is vibrating. When he is done reading the text, Rio claps his hands once and says goodbye to Rita.


    "Mr. Rudi has called me for a survey of the city dam. We''re just getting started."


    "Go for it, Rio."


    Rita waved lightly as her close friend went away. When Rio has disappeared, Rita looks once again at the small gift he had given her.


    She couldn''t help but smile wide for the next few minutes.

 32nd Fragment - In Search

    Arisa reads carefully the urgent message regarding the Tantoris¡¯ police chief, who is currently at the hospital.


    ¡°So, this particular software is used exclusively for members of the police division. However, because I personally know Johann, Mr. Davide asked for my help to track him down as well. That means, am I now a member of the police as well?¡±


    She installed the application a few minutes ago while reading Sato¡¯s message. It¡¯ll notify Arisa if she gets closer to her childhood friend. The application will scan around the ring-wearer for a certain radius. That way, Arisa could help track down Johann while going through every part of the city.


    ¡°Reporting Johann¡¯s whereabouts to the police will also contribute to our mission, right? Since he wants to sabotage our purpose for being here.¡± Arisa muttered while checking the interface of the app she had just installed.


    Shortly after reviewing the app, Arisa turns off her projection screen and checks the clock on her bedroom table¡ªten o¡¯clock at night. She nods firmly and rushes out of the house. The rest of her family are already in their respective rooms so that Arisa can stroll around without worry.


    ¡°I guess I will try to find him. Since, I don¡¯t really agree with what Johann wants right now.¡±


    Deep inside her heart, Arisa doesn¡¯t want Johann to ruin everything she has worked on until now. Especially if he messes up her record of the past more and more, erasing the girl¡¯s relationship with her family in the past timeline.


    In another place, the city hall¡¯s office.


    Rio and Rita are now busy supporting the implementation of their project, which, according to Rio, will be potentially dangerous if even the slightest flaw is detected. Valerie also helped with the work program when he finished his usual work.


    Since there¡¯s nothing those three can do regarding Johann, they¡¯ll do what they can now.


    ¡°I can say that I am on the same team as you, Rio. I asked Mr. Rudi to help you fully,¡± said Valerie with his usual nosy smile when Rio asked why his friend sometimes skipped his work to help with this project.


    ¡°I doubt that you really want to help me. I bet, you just want some excuse so you won¡¯t do your daily task.¡±


    ¡°Hey! You don¡¯t have to call me out like that, okay! With me on your team, everything will be finished in no time!¡±


    They rushed to the city dam after some final computer checks to conduct a survey and discuss it with the people in charge.


    Dusk is coming when they get the completed report in hand. At the same time, Rio knew that this project would take some time, so he guessed they would visit here often.


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    ¡°Thanks for the help today, sir. We appreciate your hard work today to support our project,¡± said Rio as he shook hands with one of the dam office¡¯s staff.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I also look forward to to support you.¡±


    At the same time, Arisa will start her action soon. She prepared everything she¡¯d need to stroll around the town in pursuit of someone.


    The girl begins to circle from the east part of the city¡ªone of the areas where the main road to the town was to the north part, where she can find the cable car station. She ensures she is taking a route through the residential area since she thinks Johann would be hiding there. Arisa makes sure to look around even though sometimes she must stop buying ice cream.


    The majority of the houses which Arisa passed through had their lights on, while some others were dark. Her eyes accidentally caught the beauty of this serene night atmosphere.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I haven¡¯t stroll around Tantoris yet, especially during the night. Who would¡¯ve expected that eventually I¡¯m here, looking throught the corner of the town because of something else,¡± she muttered while enjoying her ice cream stick.


    Arisa is quietly listening to the rustling of leaves, feeling the gentle night breeze, and enjoying the sound of the night insects, making a harmonious tone in her ears. She knows she can¡¯t have this kind of feeling when she returns to her future timeline.


    Walking under the sprinkled stars alone gives Arisa a new unforgettable experience. To begin with, that is why she came from the future. To make the future earth liveable, Arisa must immediately find Johann.


    ¡°Johann¡­ we have to meet soon.¡±


    Arisa hopes she is the first to find him before anyone else does.


    At some point, Her legs slowly lose their strength to walk more. She is aware that she can¡¯t rush her search.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll just continue at midnight. I¡¯ll be looking for you, Johann.¡±


    She continued to walk through the night to find somewhere to sit. Sometimes, Arisa rubs her arms to keep the heat on. Still, the blaze of her strong will to find Johann is the one that tells her to ignore anything and keep looking for her childhood friend.


    That¡¯s Arisa¡¯s new routine each night: leaving the house when it¡¯s late and coming back in the middle of the night. For about two weeks, Arisa has gathered enough data by circling half of Tantoris.


    The result is nil. Right now, she is relaxing her legs in the supermarket, which is open for 24 hours, while enjoying ice cream. The cold night doesn¡¯t prevent Arisa from enjoying her favorite cold snack until she finishes her second stick.


    ¡°Still can¡¯t find him. I wonder where Johann would be hiding¡­.¡±


    The police division investigation didn¡¯t get any significant results yet. Then, it¡¯s given if Arisa can¡¯t find Johann alone, right?


    However, she couldn¡¯t accept such hopeless thoughts. She needed a good few minutes to regain her resolve, and Arisa stood up to continue her search.


    ¡°There¡¯s only half an hour before midnight. Just a bit more.¡±


    Arisa hastened to explore the western part of Tantoris.


    On the other hand, Johann is busy with dozens of projection screens. Now and then, he would look at one of the screens and enter multiple inputs. Then, a notification will appear that the police attempt fails to retrace his whereabouts.


    ¡°Their effort is commendable. Still, that¡¯s how far they will be,¡± he muttered sarcastically, turning his attention to a few other screens.


    Then, Johann typed a lot of stuff on his communication ring and did the same on the laptops. Today, he hasn¡¯t left his room for once and only focuses on distracting the police on the local intranet.


    Just like Arisa, Johann also has a solid determination to sabotage this journey to the past at any cost.


    Those in Tantoris tried their best to achieve their respective goals until a month had passed swiftly.

 33rd Fragment - Unlikely Encounter, Once Again

    ¡°How dare you to lie to me, you shithead! What a shitty plan! Do you value human life that lightly, Johann?!¡±


    Adel slashed the projection screen in front of her as it faded away. She is looking at the person with glasses, with her sharp gaze filled with intense emotion. She thinks that the plan Johann had just proposed is purely rubbish.


    ¡°I know this one is going to have a huge impact and definitely got the potential to force the volunteer back into the future. A surefire plan.¡±


    ¡°Listen here. Those people¡ªthe human lives you said were necessary to stop this time travel journey for once and all¡­ is that how your stupid head works, huh? I told you before that I¡¯m agreed to work with you if we exclude those innocents out from our plans. And now, you want to the people here indiscriminately, be it they¡¯re from the future or not, just because of your ego? Then, how are you different from the person who killed your father? Much worse, damn you!¡±


    Johann doesn¡¯t budge. Gazing deep into his eyes, Adel understood what kind of person he was.


    ¡°Go to hell,¡± Adel curses at Johann and leaves the room.


    Just when Adel is about to open the door, her footsteps stop. The person behind her back is pointing at her a laser gun.


    ¡°Haha, really? Johann, how low can you be?¡± asked Adel sarcastically.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just let people who know about my plans to walk out. There are no guarantees if you betray me later.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let me say it straight, loud and clear. I have no interest in getting involved in your business anymore. I¡¯ll just go home and, who knows, perhaps I can find peace in the hell hole called our planet? Do everything you want, I don¡¯t care. Now, lower the weapon,¡± Adel ordered.


    However, Johann doesn¡¯t faze at all. Adel grits her teeth.


    ¡°You do it, and you¡¯re dead.¡±


    The laser gun starts to gather energy as Adel quickly faces her companion.


    She throws something that looks like a rope as it hits Johann¡¯s gun and pulls it off forcefully. The weapon is flung to the side of the room that Johann can¡¯t reach. He didn¡¯t expect that Adel still had something on her sleeves.


    ¡ªan electric whip, something else that can¡¯t be found on the past timeline.


    ¡°Are you treating me lightly, you safe zone citizen?¡±


    Adel slams the door hard and walks away until her footsteps are gone.


    Johann retrieved the laser gun and let out a slight relief. However, he bit his lower lip when he understood Adel had left him for good.


    ¡°Ah, damn it,¡± he curses as he hits the wall.


    Adel is finally going outside without any further harm. She clicks her tongue, glancing at the building behind¡ªa factory that had been abandoned for a long time.


    ¡°Damn with everything. I¡¯ll be out of here soon.¡±


    She adjusted her scarf before stepping away from the building, shrouded in the silence of the night. Adel is thinking of catching the night train to leave this town for good.


    The train station is located at the southern end of Tantoris. Adel walks toward the place at her own pace when she¡¯s done checking the GPS on her communication ring. It was still not too late at night, so many vehicles were still around when she arrived at the sidewalk near the highway.


    Adel doesn¡¯t care much and continues to walk. To get there, she must cross the south bridge that connects the two sides of the city from which the Major River separates.


    As she continues walking to the middle of the bridge, a familiar figure leaning against the fence while gazing towards the dark river catches her eye. The said person seems to enjoy her ice cream while looking at something far away.


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    I never thought that I would run into her again.


    As she approaches, the girl who wears an ice cream hair ornament doesn¡¯t notice her presence.


    ¡°How come he is difficult to find, huh...¡±


    The girl wearing a scarf is leaning against the bridge fence beside Arisa. When Arisa realized someone was present next to her, Adel swiftly grabbed the untouched ice cream in the box Arisa had brought.


    ¡°Ah¡ªthat¡¯s my ice cream!¡±


    Adel doesn¡¯t respond. She stares back at Arisa for a second while unwrapping the ice cream and then putting it on her thin lips. Arisa tried to let it go with a heavy heart seeing Adel enjoying the snack she had intentionally saved for last.


    Adel¡¯s gaze softened as her tongue tasted the cold sensation. The sky is dark already, and a cold breeze welcomes the girls on the big bridge. One could say this is not the right time to enjoy ice cream.


    But Adel doesn¡¯t care. She wants to stop for a moment, enjoying the sweet sensation on her taste bud amid the sparkling lights of the town on either side of the Major River, whose headwaters are located in the north, nearby the mountains. Slowly, Adel can feel that her head feels light. Even her quarrel with Johann just a while ago doesn¡¯t bother her anymore.


    ¡°What are you thinking right now?¡± asked Arisa, looking at Adel in surprise.


    ¡°A lot of things, previously. Until I tasted your ice cream which cooling down my head. Are you a super scientist that able to calm others with your cold snacks?¡± Adel takes a glimpse of the ice cream stick before looking back at Arisa, ¡°it¡¯s a coincidence that we meet again. Are you in search for someone?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m currently looking for someone.¡±


    ¡°His name is Johann?¡±


    Arisa¡¯s facial expression changes upon hearing that. ¡°How¡¯d you know¡ª¡±


    Adel put her index finger on Arisa¡¯s lips before she could continue. The girl with the scarf smiled, beckoning Arisa not to say anything further.


    Adel pulled her finger back to continue eating her almost-finished ice cream.


    ¡°For your information. Johann uses a firewall that blocks all future applications or technologies that try to track his whereabouts. He is pure genius, you know. So, whatever your efforts to find him using your ring, Johann has already anticipated it.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ no wonder he¡¯s so difficult to find. In fact, the police division also can¡¯t do much for matter,¡± said Arisa.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯ll tell you his current location. I don¡¯t think anyone can find him but you.¡±


    Adel opened the projection to transfer the relevant information to Arisa¡¯s ring without being seen by the passing vehicles behind them. The transfer of information was completed when Arisa¡¯s ring vibrated.


    ¡°A-ah, thank you. With this information, I can meet him again.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s something you should know: you better bring someone else when you meet him. Don¡¯t be alone, because he is armed. Bring someone who can guarantee your safety. He is in a place surrounded by energy generators that he brought from the future. It takes a large of energy to carry out his ambitions,¡± the scarf girl explained while playing with the ice cream stick on her tongue.


    Arisa tilts her head in confusion. There was something she still didn¡¯t understand from Adel¡¯s statement just now. ¡°Why does Johann need that much energy? What will he do?¡±


    Adel looks at Arisa with a cynical look as she sighs softly.


    ¡°¡­Johann plans to upload a shred of evidence regarding the existence of people from the future like us. He is also trying to rewrite the scientists¡¯ record of the past as well. Especially for his second goal, a lot of energy is needed because he is dealing with a pseudo-hierarchy that affects a the original population of people of the past. Limited only for this town, tho.¡±


    Listening to Adel¡¯s explanation, it was clear what Johann would do. Arisa nods and looks at her interlocutor earnestly.


    ¡°Then, I have to hurry now. Thanks for everything you¡¯ve told me just now. With this, my search is over.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Adel responded lightly.


    ¡°By the way, how did you know that I was looking for Johann? Actually, who are you to know the information related to his whereabouts? Can I trust you?¡±


    The row of questions made Adel look back at Arisa. She considers something to say carefully before answering a complete stranger.


    When I think about it, He didn¡¯t want me to tell his plan to others, so he pointed the laser gun toward me. Then look what I did right now, telling someone I¡¯ve only met twice about it. Haha, I¡¯d be lying if I said I don¡¯t care about his ambitions anymore.


    There must be something telling me that this person is the one who should know everything about Johann. So¡­


    Adel smiled faintly. ¡°Instinct.¡±


    ¡°Instinct?¡± Arisa doesn¡¯t seem to understand.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve always followed my instincts to survive until now.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Feel free to trust me or not. However, I¡¯ve sent you the coordinates of Johann¡¯s location. I also recommend that you invite someone else for safety reasons. To check the place or not is entirely your wish.¡±


    There was silence between the two of them. Only the sound of the engine of vehicles passing over this bridge is present. Arisa looks at Adel to consider whether she can trust her or not.


    She nods as she turns around to run to where Adel told him. In the middle of her run, Arisa waves at Adel.


    ¡°Thank you so much! See you later!¡±


    Arisa had disappeared at the end of the bridge heading towards the southeastern part of the city before Adel could reply. She sighed with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. I¡¯m not sure if we¡¯ll meet again after this. However, there¡¯s nothing wrong with being optimistic.¡±


    She is going back to walk to the station. The night breeze hits her face again to remind her that it¡¯s getting late. She lifted her head, looking at the sparkling stars in the dark sky.

 34th Fragment - Lets Stop Him Now

    Arisa runs hard to follow the GPS that gives directions straight into her ears. Since there were still many people around her who occasionally turned to look at his figure that seemed to be chasing something, he couldn''t bring out the projection display from his communication ring.


    She is beginning to pants for running after a while. Arisa''s stamina has improved since she routinely walks around the city at night. Thus, she is still strong enough to force herself to go where Johann was, located on the city''s east side.


    After about fifteen minutes of running, the girl arrived at a clearing with a four-story building in its corner. As Arisa observes her surroundings, several abandoned fences are being overgrown by wild plants and an old, almost blank signboard. The former factory has no sign of life when someone sees it looks from the outside. However, this is where Johann is hiding, according to the girl with the scarf.


    "That must be the place," Arisa muttered as she thoroughly observed the building from a distance.


    This place is quite far from residential areas and the main road. So, there is no proper lighting around here, aside from a few old lamps that haven''t been used for a long time, ideal for a hideout. Arisa wonders if the police from the future mostly skipped the area like this. However, she can find the answer later.


    As she checked her surroundings, her ears caught approaching footsteps from behind.


    "Thank you for coming... guys," said Arisa.


    Rio, Johann, and Rita have arrived. They got the emergency message Arisa sent when she was running here.


    "I thought you called Mr. Davide or Sato?" Rio asked for sure.


    "Yes, they said that it would take a little more time to prepare everything since most of the other staff are already on patrol at another side of town. Mr. Sato suggested that we wait before entering. But¡­ I want to speak to Johann first before the police come. So I ask you to go together with me. Can you do that for me?" asked Arisa.


    Rio and Valerie exchanged glances. Then, Rito looks at Rita as if asking for her approval. Unfortunately, she is also unconvinced and shakes her head slowly.


    Rio scratched the back of his head slowly before making up his mind.


    "You know that it would be very dangerous to go inside, Arisa? You were the one who told me that Johann is armed," said Rio.


    "That''s right. But, I''m sure we can still talk to each other," Arisa said, almost sounding to plead.


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    "Valerie, what do you think?"


    He put his finger on his chin. "Yeah, it''s very risky to go inside just with the four of us. Moreover, we don''t have any countermeasures at all if Johann points us with his gun..."


    "¡­ it''s alright. I''m sure Johann is still open for negotiation. We can''t wait any longer with the volunteers'' existence at stake," said Arisa confidently.


    The two guys glance at each other again with wary eyes. Johann was a person who could do things like manipulate the Record of the Past. Plus, he was carrying a gun, and no one knew if he carried something else that was dangerous.


    "How?" asked Arisa once again.


    It''s the first time Rio has seen Arisa with this strong determination. Judging from the girl''s face, it looks like nothing much happened. Just usual Arisa with her usual expression. However, there was something else in her eyes. Rio could understand why Arisa wanted to meet with Johann before the police caught up.


    ¡ªthe feeling of someone who wants to stop her friend who was walking down the wrong path.


    "There is one thing I need to confirm. Let''s say that we all don''t agree with your invitation to go inside, will you still go alone, Arisa?" Rio asked.


    "Of course."


    Rita shuddered. "But, Arisa¡­ going inside is¡ª"


    "Okay, I''ll help you to meet Johann," Rio cut in firmly.


    "R-Rio?" Rita gasped.


    "I guess if it''s the three of us, then we can still do something. Right, Val?" Rio looked at Valerie, who still couldn''t make up his mind.


    "¡­So you really want to do this, Rio?" Valerie asked, confirming.


    He nods. His friend smiled widely.


    "Okay! Let''s do this together, Arisa!" Valerie.


    Valerie''s approval is the last thing Arisa needs. A warm sensation comes to her chest when Rio and Valerie agree to help her.


    "Wait! Are we really going inside?" She couldn''t imagine at all what if something terrible happened to one of the four of them.


    "¡­I think you''d better stay here, Rita. You''ll be the one to meet the police when they arrive. Tell them the situation," suggested Rio.


    "Really¡ª"


    "Rita, I beg you to wait here."


    Rio holds Rita''s hands. He doesn''t want her exposed to danger. Rio still didn''t want Rita to participate, even if the risk of going inside was low.


    Rita is trying to hold back her tears. She can''t understand why her friends would face someone who could mess up the whole situation of the volunteers alone. Especially about Rio. She couldn''t imagine if something happened to him.


    However, Rio has already given his answer to Arisa.


    So¡ª


    "You guys must be extra careful. Especially you, Rio. We still have our project for this city, and I definitely don''t want something to happen to you," Rita said in a shaking voice.


    Rio smiles sweetly. "Of course. We won''t be long. Wait for the police to come, Rita."


    Rita nods, trying to brace herself. Arisa comes closer those the two and suddenly hugs Arisa without a word for a few seconds.


    "Follow us inside when Mr. Sato has arrived," suggested Arisa.


    Rita nods in response.


    Finally, Arisa, Rio, and Valerie started to go into the abandoned building under the darkness of the night, pushing away the cold due to the temperature and the fear that had plagued their minds.


    Rita is silent, hoping there is no bloodshed on this solemn night.

 35th Fragment - Abandoned Factory

    ¡°The door is not locked. Supposedly, an abandoned building like this should be locked so everyone can stay away. This way, we can go inside easily,¡± Valerie analyzed as they arrived at the front door of the former factory.


    ¡°Somehow, it give us clue that if there are people who have used this place,¡± Rio added.


    "...Johann," Arisa muttered.


    ¡°I guess we are going inside according to the plan?¡± Rio asked Arisa.


    ¡°Mhm. Like I explained earlier, we¡¯ll split up. Come on, let¡¯s go in now.¡±


    ¡°¡­okay. Don¡¯t be rash, Arisa. Val?¡±


    ¡°Behind you, Rio.¡±


    When they enter the building that almost has no light inside, a room on the second floor emits blue light. Arisa understands right away what the color of the light means.


    Arisa heads to the second floor while Rio and Valerie go in another direction into the darkness when they exchange glances and nod. She carefully steps on the iron plate for the flooring of the second floor so she won¡¯t make a sound. If Johann discovers someone is trying to infiltrate this place, everything could turn worse.


    As they walked into this building from the initial meeting place, Arisa briefly explained her plan against Johann as their attempt to stop the worst. Suppose the information provided by the mysterious girl wearing the scarf was accurate, then they could stop her childhood friend¡¯s plan tonight.


    ¡°...¡±


    Arisa is moving while squatting, treading extra care to avoid the window which is barely visible in this darkness. Thanks to the blue light from inside the room, Arisa could watch her steps.


    She is focusing on her steps¡ªslipping slowly, without making a sound, until she reaches the door that separates her from someone who is trying to give his all to stop this journey to the past project.


    Arisa stands back and opens the door as dozens of projection screens greet her.


    ¡°Johann.¡±


    The person in the middle of this sea of ??projections faces Arisa. His sharp gaze immediately pierces her figure while she is still standing in the doorway.


    ¡°How the hell can you find this place?¡± Johann asked coldly.


    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Let me guess. Adel told you about this, Arisa?¡±


    ¡°Ah, so her name is Adel? We didn¡¯t get to know each other further.¡±


    Johann chuckled a bit and burst out laughing after while covering his face. Arisa doesn¡¯t understand why Johann is laughing out of nowhere. Is she being trapped with another Johann¡¯s scheme or¡ª


    ¡°As expected from people from the outside zone! Of course, she would betray me as soon as she left this place! Damn her! I should have just shot her in the head!¡±


    Arisa somehow understands that someone in front of her is no longer Johann she knows. Johann is far more gentle and has a reserved laugh along with his kind gaze.


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    Johann is someone who always invites Arisa to learn new things together, gets to know people they¡¯ve never met before in the lab, and gets a bunch of silly jokes. Her childhood friend should be the one who motivates Arisa to observe and care about her surroundings.


    ¡­not someone who looked at her as if he were looking at a disgusting insect.


    ¡°Hmm, what is this?¡± Johann asked as he walked closer.


    He swiped the projection screen in front of him to the right and left, going closer to Arisa. The girl is unmoving, still in her place.


    ¡°Your facial expression right now is something I¡¯ve never seen before,¡± Johann sighed when he got close enough.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Heh, hahaha. Your face tells me as if you met a stranger,¡± Johann tugs Arisa¡¯s chin, ¡°you no longer treat me as someone you¡¯ve known before. Am I right?¡±


    Arisa quickly pushes Johann¡¯s hand away. ¡°I don¡¯t treat you as such. I just disagree with your current motive.¡±


    ¡°Since when you learn to have feelings?¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    Arisa¡¯s eyes widen in disbelief. Johann still gazes at her cynically. However, a disdainful grin appeared on his face.


    ¡°What do you mean, Johann? I¡¯m an ordinary human. Of course, I have what is called feeling.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious? Remember again, O doll named Arisa. What is your reason for being in that laboratory?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because¡ª¡±


    Something sticks out from the corner of Arisa¡¯s memory. A lump of remembrance, something that she unconsciously locked away. She regained a familiar yet sickening sensation simultaneously because of that. Her interactions with people in white coats who passed her in the corridor, a discussion room for meetings she frequently visited, and special data rooms where she could easily access any data she needed flashed in her eyes.


    ¡®Arisa. I¡¯m still busy so study on your own.¡¯


    ¡®Arisa, let¡¯s study! My father told me to review something and will test me after lunch. So we must hurry so that I can be ready!¡¯


    ¡®Your father is busy again, Arisa? Indeed, Mr. [ ] holds a position as a senior researcher so he is always unavailable when work calls. In fact, he takes no more than a ten-minute meal break before returning to work again.¡¯


    ¡®Huh, what are you doing? Are you starving? Gosh, ask your parents to go to the cafeteria right away. O-oh, you can¡¯t find your father so you can¡¯t access the cafeteria?¡¯


    The words she had heard in the past again filled her head. Like a dough stuffed with random ingredients and then kneaded forcefully, Arisa¡¯s brain feels the burden in her head.


    A quick reminisce about why she could always use her fake smiles until now.


    On the other hand, the factory¡¯s first floor is quite dark.


    Two guys are looking for the objects according to the image shown from the projection of their respective communication rings. Aided by the flashlight that came from the ring, Rio and Valerie entered a room with a warmer temperature.


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely here,¡± Rio said.


    As they entered, several small red lights were flickering all over the place. Valerie aimed the light towards it, and they both agreed that this was the generator Arisa referred to.


    ¡°This thing called a generator? Never seen this model before,¡± commented Valerie.


    The generator is a cube-shaped cube with a length of approximately 35 centimeters, dominated by dark colors throughout its surface. The upper surface has an information display that shows how much energy is contained by percentage. It directs the energy flowing toward the room where Johann was.


    ¡°According to the information I got, this generator is an energy supply machine that is commonly used by energy plants in the future. Based on the fusion of magnetized targets, this tool is quite effective to fulfill the internal energy needs for industrial machines,¡± Rio explained.


    ¡°Okay. Then, how to turn off this tool?¡±


    ¡°In that case,¡± Rio is going back to his research on the screen. He needs time to find information on how to deactivate this generator.


    While his best friend was trying to find relevant information, Valerie swept his flashlight to another corner of the room. He finds several objects of the same shape, flickering on their upper side.


    ¡°There are about a dozen here,¡± said Valerie, ¡°we definitely need a moment to turn them all off. How about it, Rio? Have you found a way?!¡±


    ¡°Just a second. This thing is definitely not on the list of the volunteers¡¯ stuff to bring from the future to this place. The improved search engines are also in the process of collecting data. Just give me a little more time!¡±


    Rio is also thinking about Arisa¡¯s safety on the second floor. So far, there have been no worrisome sounds coming from there. Does that mean her attempt to persuade is a success?


    Hopefully, nothing will happen to her.

 36th Fragment - The Corner of Memories

    ¡°Now, tell me. What is the purpose of you coming here, Arisa?¡± asked Johann.


    Arisa is holding her forehead with her left hand as her jumbled memory swirls uncontrollably in her head. That¡¯s right; she must try to persuade Johann to stop everything he does right now.


    Can I talk to him when many things from the past suddenly fill my head without warning¡­


    ¡°Would you be so kind as to speak?¡± asked Johann sarcastically.


    ¡°Wait, just a bit¡­.¡± Arisa makes sure that at least she can stand straight.


    Johann is still staring with his usual cold, sharp gaze as she tries to temporarily get rid of the memories that came like a flood. For a few seconds, Arisa tried to wrap her memories just a bit, and she could focus now.


    ¡°Johann¡­ can you stop all of this?¡± Arisa begged.


    ¡°I should have known. But, you asked for an impossible, Arisa. No one can stop when they¡¯ve reached this far.¡±


    ¡°People are working hard for the future of our planet. Many reports said that their long-term efforts to maintain the beauty of the earth are finally coming into a fruition. This is for our future, Johann.¡±


    ¡°By justifying my father¡¯s murder, you meant? Remember, this journey can happen because my father died,¡± Johann emphasized with a very cold intonation.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened to your father, Johann. I understand how it feels because I also lost my father.¡±


    Johann smirked slightly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, Arisa.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I really can¡¯t believe you understand my feelings as a father and son. Weren¡¯t you abandoned by your father? Because of that, you were brought into the laboratory where your father worked so at least he can watching over you. However, in reality he absolutely paid no attention to you.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? My father was a hard worker and cared about his child. I definitely understand how it feels to lose a father figure like that.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your father¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°Well, his name is¡ª¡±


    Her throat tightens. Arisa can¡¯t remember her father¡¯s name at all.


    Why? What is his name again? That person wearing that white lab coat is my father, isn¡¯t it?


    Obviously, his name is [ ]


    ¡­what?


    ¡°You make me wait.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­ wait a minute. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll remember it soon enough. His name is¡­.¡±


    ¡°Go back to our childhood, Arisa. When the two of us were playing in the white hallway along with people wearing white lab coat. Find your father¡¯s name again and tell me!¡±


    Johann brought Arisa¡¯s memories back to several years ago when the two of them were still together in an unusual place for children their age.


    A place that bears witness to Arisa and Johann¡¯s history in their early days.


    That day goes as usual. The oxygen dome provides clean air to the residents of the safe zone and reflects the blue-gray color of the sky. There are no clouds because there is no water circulation in this artificial dome. However, that did not affect the activity inside the building with a broad, T-shaped shape that, on its widest side, got fifteen floors high. The place usually referred to as the laboratory operates busily.


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    A girl had nothing to do besides playing with her utensils at the employee cafeteria. An ice cream cone on her table is the only thing she can easily interact with when almost everyone here has a considerable age difference, and it seems they can¡¯t be bothered with anything.


    Now and then, Arisa notices some people in white coats passing in front of her while talking about things she doesn¡¯t understand. Feeling that she could do nothing, she forced herself to enjoy the cold snack, which was not much to her liking.


    ¡°That¡¯s Arisa, the daughter of the head of Team 23?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that one. She is here because his father is going to do a personal check up on her. So, she left his school for a while and received intensive care here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like she¡¯s got a disease or something.¡±


    ¡°Well, the report might say otherwise.¡±


    When the little girl turned her head, those two who had been whispering for a while immediately turned and left before Arisa could recognize their faces.


    ¡°...¡±


    She neither confirms nor denies them as she will scoop more of her ice cream. Arisa continues to wait since her father said he would come here soon. She then tries her best to have those ice cream, even though she really wants to throw it somewhere and have other snacks instead.


    About half an hour had passed. Arisa¡¯s ice cream has run out, and she looks at the cup blankly. She wonders when the father will come here to talk to his daughter. There was nothing she could do but sit back and watch people he didn¡¯t know pass by.


    Until someone approaches her as the little girl notices his familiar face.


    ¡°¡­Arisa. Dad is done with everything Dad needs to do. Let¡¯s go to the examination room.¡±


    Before Arisa could answer, the figure wearing a lab coat stepped out of the cafeteria. She had no other choice but to follow him.


    Arisa and her father arrived at a room containing several complex tools similar to a hospital room, including a full-body scanner. He gestured for his daughter to climb on top of the scanner.


    ¡°We¡¯ll start the inspection.¡±


    Arisa nods and lays down on the engine while its see-through lid is already opened. Her father presses his communications ring to close the lid down, and the orange laser goes through Arisa from head to toe.


    The machine inspection didn¡¯t take five minutes to send the scanning report to her father¡¯s ring.


    ¡°Hmm...¡±


    He sits on the available empty chair near the table while on his projection screen for a detailed view. The information regarding Arisa¡¯s health doesn¡¯t show any significant concerns.


    ¡°Physically, your body is fine. The function of every organ is running normally, especially with your brain,¡± Arisa¡¯s father rested his head on his hand on the table, ¡°but why is your academic performance isn¡¯t going to get any better? To the extent that your teacher needed to call me there even though he knew that my schedule is fully packed. What¡¯s really going on here?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Apparently, you can¡¯t answer this simple question.¡±


    He checked the clock displayed on the projection of his ring. And then. Arisa¡¯s father straightened his suit and stood up.


    ¡°I will return to my research again since break time is over. Do as you please, just don¡¯t disturb others. Oh, it might be useful if you learn about human expressions. It can help you stimulate your stiff facial nerves.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    Before Arisa could finish, her father¡¯s figure disappeared behind the automatic door. Now, only a little girl is sitting on top of the laboratory¡¯s health check machine alone.


    She sighs softly and gets off the machine to leave the room as well. This place isn¡¯t suited for her to learn anything, just as her father told her to.


    ¡°So, today I will just go there. As usual,¡± Arisa muttered.


    She arrived at a reasonably large file room on the bottom floor of the building, in which blue color dominated its walls. Several other researchers are also here to complete the data on their respective rings. They seem focused on the information displayed in front of them.


    Little Arisa continues to step past some people who are indifferent to her.


    Her little eyes glance at that one corner of the room with several cushions and flexible seats, surrounded by short walls with projection lines above it, encircling the space like a fence¡ªthey named it the reading room. The room is currently empty because it is still rush hour. No problem. After all, Arisa mostly spends her time alone in this archive room.


    ¡°The study topic for today: how can someone smile?¡±


    Information appears on the projection walls, which provide relevant data and recordings to support the question. This place¡¯s artificial intelligence is as reliable as ever.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Arisa to sink into the sea of information related to human expressions and emotions¡ªthe essential that eroded within her. Her gaze was so focused on reading the projection and learning the facial expressions of a human being. That goes for hours.


    ¡°Arisa,¡± called a boy¡¯s voice from behind her.


    He doesn¡¯t wait for Arisa to reply to enter the reading room. As he looked around, he understood what his friend was studying.


    ¡°Human emotions and facial expressions again?¡± asked Johann.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. If you¡¯re interested, let¡¯s study together,¡± said Arisa with a smile.

 37th Fragment - Arisas Past

    Several months passed as the wheel of life made Arisa and little Johann drift apart without warning. At first, Johann is still trying to meet Arisa, no matter how tiring his schedule is. Until later, each of them no longer has time to see each other.


    Arisa is occupied with her checkups and personal study on her father¡¯s orders, while Johann is also busy due to a lot of programming he is interested in. Two underage individuals had forgotten how to play at some point. All they know is to interact briefly with other adults before returning to their business.


    ¡°Johann, let¡¯s go to attend the closed seminar. There is a lot of insight there that may be very useful for you. I bought the tickets already so we can sit next to each other. Today is a day off school, right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, school is closed for a few days. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to teach myself more programming.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Not onlu we¡¯ll learn something new at the seminar, but also to build a new connection with others There¡¯s nothing wrong with exchanging knowledge together with other attendees there.¡±


    ¡°I understand, father.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s that then. Let¡¯s get ready so we won¡¯t be late.¡±


    The little boy is following his father with a smile on his face. Johann can¡¯t wait to know what kind of knowledge he¡¯ll attain in this seminar. It¡¯ll be no problem for him to understand since his father will always be around Johann to explain patiently.


    In the corner of a specific laboratory, Arisa¡¯s father is accessing some information before sending the data to the system on the desk, which will upload the said data to his data clouds. His eyes remained as cold as ever before, closing them reflexively as he massaged this nose bridge.


    ¡°I have gathered the material you need to study for today on the table,¡± informed her father.


    ¡°Okay, Dad. I¡¯ll look at it soon,¡± Arisa responded slowly.


    ¡°You should finish it within seven hours. Of course, it will take more time if you review what you¡¯ve learned after that. Study hard while Dad is away. As usual, Father will ask you some questions regarding today¡¯s material.¡±


    He waves at Arisa with a stiff face before disappearing from the laboratory room completely. There¡¯s not much Arisa can do other than start accessing the lessons she should have learned if she is still in school.


    Everything is going like that until one day when a disaster occurs.


    The nurses and doctors are checking the data related to the accident just now in a room dominated by green. They looked at each other before nodding slowly in unison in front of a few corpses.


    The bodies were still intact enough for the victim of yesterday¡¯s unfortunate event. Thus, experts can quickly identify the identity of unlucky people.


    ¡°The following are data related to the victims of this accident, doctor. I¡¯ve transferred it to your ring.¡±


    ¡°Let me see for a moment,¡± the man responded as he lit his ring, ¡°hmm¡­ a traffic accident while visiting the outer zone?¡±


    ¡°Could it be¡­¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we¡¯re thinking about the same thing. It¡¯s the rebels. Even though the police report is still incomplete, I know that people outside are responsible for this.¡±


    A nurse entered the emergency room, and everyone¡¯s attention turned to her. The said nurse clears her throat.


    ¡°The family of the deceased has arrived. There¡¯s only one, she is the daughter of the deceased. She asked permission to go inside if it¡¯s allowed.¡±


    ¡°Let her in,¡± replied the doctor.


    The sound of tiny footsteps echoed in the room, and Arisa could smell a thick sterile scent immediately. The little girl ignored it and kept walking toward the doctor. He nods and gestures to the nurses to show Arisa one of the corpses lying stiff.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Arisa short.


    She approached as one of the nurses opened the cover over the corpse while the others helped Arisa remove the thin veil. When the veil is halfway down, the little girl can clearly see the face of the deceased.


    Her father was supposed to be in another city doing his research, lying in a cold bed made of stainless steel. He almost looks like someone who is in a deep sleep. The nurse cleaned a few bruises here and there, so they were barely visible.


    The doctor waits for Arisa¡¯s reaction. If this child were the only deceased¡¯s family, it would be natural for the girl to break down immediately. He is considering what he would try to do to calm Arisa when that happens.


    ¡°¡­Oh, I see. Father is dead now and I am all alone. There are no other members of the family apart from Father.¡±


    The silence breaks in each person¡¯s feelings in the emergency room, somehow forcing everyone not to say anything. The nurses were also waiting, looking at the girl without saying anything. What they will do next depends entirely on what the child will do soon.


    As Arisa looks at the staff there, she bows respectfully in front of the doctors and nurses.


    ¡°Thank you for taking good care of my father¡¯s body. Please take care of his body to his final resting place.¡±


    ¡°¡­eh?¡±


    Little Arisa walks out of the sterile room with her usual footsteps. The nurses look at each other dumbfounded until one of them whispers to the doctor.


    ¡°Doc¡­is that kid really okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t understand either. She was very calm almost like she obeyed right away any words her parents said.¡±


    ¡°But, Doctor, my feeling tells me that there¡¯s something about her that shouldn¡¯t be there. The deceased was her father and he is the only one of her family. Something¡¯s not right.¡± The nurse commented slightly with a lower voice.


    ¡°¡­we have no right to interfere any more than this. If the child really wants us to take care of her dad, then that¡¯s that. We just need to do our duty as medical personnel.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ understand, Doctor.¡±


    The emergency room¡¯s door closed again as little Arisa walked further toward the administration office. She is going there to prepare for everything related to his father¡¯s death.


    Johann and his father suddenly appeared before her. Behind those two, several other researcher colleagues also could be seen.


    ¡°Arisa! you¡ªare you all right?¡± cried the boy.


    ¡°Oh, Johann. We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time¡ª¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not important right now!¡±


    Her playmate in the laboratory a while ago lunged and hugged Arisa. The little girl doesn¡¯t understand at all why Johann suddenly hugs her without her permission. Her brain whirled quickly to find the exact reason for Johann¡¯s reaction to the point that his embrace was so tight and suffocating.


    When a family member dies, those left behind will feel incredibly sad. Crying and wailing are normal reactions for those experiencing that moment. But for me, I don¡¯t feel that way.


    ¡°You¡­ must be sad, right? Arisa? I¡¯m sorry for not being around all this time.¡±


    Sadness. A feeling that no matter how I simulated my surrounding, it always failed to come to me. Even when I saw his face for the last time, I felt nothing.


    ¡°Arisa...?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    The little girl nods. Her facial muscles move so that she still looks like the usual Arisa¡ªgiving a friendly smile to everyone she meets. Including Johann, her friend.


    ¡°I am definitely alright. The one who was involved in the accident is my father, not me. I¡¯m still healthy as you can see. Now, can you let me go?¡±


    Johann choked upon hearing that. ¡°No¡­ you shouldn¡¯t have that expression. Arisa, why do you put a fake smile like that?!¡±


    ¡°Johann.¡±


    Johann¡¯s father gestured for his son to let Arisa go. He stares at his father while wanting to cry before Johann finally steps back. And then, Johann¡¯s father walks closer and kneels in front of Arisa.


    ¡°My condolences, Arisa. Your dad is an excellent person who contributes so much to our society. We¡¯re all here to pay our respects for the last time before we truly can¡¯t see him again. Will you give us your permission to do that?¡±


    ¡°Of course, uncle. Please say farewell to my dad.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Arisa. You¡¯re such a kind and excellent child.¡±


    He stands up again and bows as he grabs Johann¡¯s hand to go to the emergency room. The little boy still stares at Arisa with disbelief because he hasn¡¯t gotten an answer to his question. However, he had to go inside.


    Arisa is not saying anything as she watches everyone enters the emergency room and disappear behind those automatic doors.


    There is no feeling of suffocation, hurt in her chest, loss, or disappointment.


    ¡°...¡±


    The little girl walked down the hospital hallway, away from the emergency room, towards the administration office. She glances at each of their faces when she gets past everyone there.


    And then she sees her reflection on one of the glass walls. Her mirage stares at Arisa blankly¡ªa blank look confused with herself.


    Her right hand gently touched her cheek as if trying to calm down the person in the mirror. Arisa¡¯s mind starts spinning, trying to understand what¡¯s happening.


    I couldn¡¯t cry when I lost my only family. As the lesson I¡¯ve learned so far, a person can cry due to the death of a family member.


    ¡­


    What has become of me?

 37.5th Fragment - Ice Cream

    Evening comes on the day when Arisa''s dad is cremated. His coworkers visited Arisa''s house to pay condolences to the little girl. Arisa receives their good wills and bows respectfully to those who are concerned for her.


    "Thank you for your support. I think Dad will be fine over there. So, I''ll also be fine here. Don''t worry about it."


    She is not trying to be strong or anything because Arisa is an orphan now, and the officials put her into a childcare support association backed up by the city government. The adults look at each other with worry before they eventually go home.


    Johann also visited her in the afternoon with his father. Arisa respects that.


    The burial procedure and ceremony last almost a whole day, which takes a toll on Arisa''s body. So, the little girl can finally take a break after those visits to the chair. She stares at the ceiling for a bit before turning on the television for the atmosphere to change.


    "...the police are currently undergoing the investigation for the accident that resulted in a scientist passing away. The clues lead towards the Outer Zone''s bandits that can be held accountable for this matter. The head sector of the police said that¡­."


    "Even the news is talking about Dad."


    Little Arisa turns off the television and takes a peek towards the window. Everything is going on just as usual. Those flying buses, people on the street being busy on their own, and others who are busy inside those tall buildings are doing what they usually do.


    Even if Dad''s death happened, the world is still moving as usual.


    So, what am I going to do now? Go back to that school? Or going back to that laboratory?


    ¡­


    Where do I belong, exactly?


    Feeling bored, Arisa goes outside to take a walk.


    She doesn''t have anything in mind. Arisa will make her feet decide for her as long as she can see a different scene than her house at the moment.


    Upon a closer look, little Arisa observes some people busy on the street. Some are talking to each other. Some are trying their best to promote their goods. A police officer is having a coffee while answering the question of his friends who are having a hot dog. Arisa also needs to pay attention so she won''t bump into the floating bike.


    Nothing interests Arisa at the moment, so she resumes her walk.


    She arrives at one of the food centers of the city since she might try to take a little bite. Arisa is looking through every stall nearby. It''s easier for her to compare or browse through what kind of food she will buy.


    The little girl goes inside the cafe on the corner with its walls made from glass, and they''re selling some cold snacks. Arisa wonders why they''re making a cafe here when the others are just small stalls. Still, the place isn''t that big, and they only got four cute-designed tables aside from the long table in the center for the staff to serve.


    Arisa comes inside and sits on one of the tables. Accessing the menu that automatically connected with her ring, she looks through the variation of the ice cream served there. There are other cold snacks, but they specialize in ice cream.


    "... I''ve been here," she mumbles while choosing what kind of flavor she will have.


    Indeed, she''s been there. But she can''t recall exactly when she visited this place. It''s like the memory is in the corner of her brain and hard to reach. Arisa will leave that aside and pick a vanilla flavor.


    It''s been a while since I had ice cream. I''ll have some now.


    A drone flies towards her and gently drops the vanilla-flavored ice cream in front of Arisa. She waves at the staff at the back of the long table to gesture thanks before enjoying the cold snack.


    The moment the cold, sweet sensation hits her taste bud, that memory in the corner finally comes.


    "Oh, right. It''s when I got lost and met that person."


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Arisa is quiet while scooping her portion steadily. Yet, her mind reassessed those memories that she put in the corner in the first place.


    Around four years ago, when Arisa was going home, she wanted to try something outside her routine¨Csince going home meant she would meet her dad, and he would assign something for her to learn. As a result, she got lost in this place¨Ca food court between tall buildings offered many options to eat.


    Little Arisa can easily find her way again using a GPS on her ring. Still, her attention is quickly taken away by a particular cafe that sells ice cream. She stares hard at the staff serving the cold snacks since Arisa has never tried them.


    "Hey, you''re looking at them really hard, you know."


    "Ah¨C"


    She doesn''t notice that someone much older is standing right beside her. The stranger smiles sweetly to greet little Arisa. Her appearance is similar to Arisa''s when she looks at this stranger squatting in front of her so they can talk at the same level. She just got her hair longer than the little girl.


    "Are you curious what their ice cream tastes like? Want to go inside together?"


    Little Arisa steps back a bit since she knows she shouldn''t get involved with a stranger. Looking at the little girl, the stranger giggles a bit.


    "I can assure you that I''m not suspicious. All I want is to have ice cream together with you. It''s totally okay for you not to go with me."


    She smiles once again. And that makes Arisa wonder if her words can be trusted or not.


    She is giving Arisa five minutes to think about the offer. Since it''s been five minutes, she stands back up.


    "Alright, then. I guess you''re not interested in having their ice cream. See you later."


    "Wait, take me with you." Little Arisa is muttering up her courage. But she really wants that old snack.


    The stranger smiles a bit. "Are you sure?"


    "Yes, I''m sure."


    "I can tell since you''re drooling. Alright, then. It''s settled!"


    They go inside the cafe shortly as the staff greets them. Arisa looks thoroughly at every aspect of that cafe with her own two eyes, especially those desserts on another table. It''s pretty crowded now as the staff and the drones are going back and forth to serve the orders.


    "Right, now that we''ve got our own table, what do you want to choose?"


    Little Arisa is staring hard at the menu projection. It''s her first time, so she has yet to learn what the menu means. She wants to find the information beforehand using her ring, but it''ll take more time to do that. The stranger is waiting for her patiently.


    "I can give you some nice suggestions for what kind of delicious ice cream you can take here. Want to hear me out?"


    Arisa is looking at the stranger as she nods hesitantly. "....please."


    "Alright. For starters, we never go wrong with the classics. Let''s see, chocolate and vanilla will do for now."


    The little girl is paying close attention to her, who is currently picking the flavors, to learn what kind of ice creams she could have in the future. The stranger seemed to know what to choose as she quickly submitted the orders.


    "Now, we just have to wait for the drone to give us the ice creams. Aren''t you excited?"


    "Seems so. I never tried this ice cream thing."


    "Ah¡­."


    The stranger shifted her sitting position and straightened her back, looking at the little girl in front of her gently.


    "I''m sure you''ll like it. It''s quite different from other foods because of its low temperature, obviously. If you''re not careful, you can get a brain freeze."


    "Is that something bad?"


    "It''s something that you would not rather get. Well, it''s harmless as far as I know, just a heads up. Also, since it''ll feel cool and refresh our minds, ice cream can become our friend. So, try eating some ice cream whenever you feel lonely, and your mind will be fresh."


    "You treat food as a friend?"


    "You can treat anything as your friend, actually!"


    The cold treats finally arrived on their table. Arisa is taking a careful approach to inspecting what kind of food is prepared before her. When she hesitantly scooped some into her mouth, Arisa''s eyes widened.


    "It''s delicious, super delicious."


    "Take it easy. Or, it''ll freeze your brain."


    "Aaahh, my head!!"


    "Now, listen to me, will you? Hmm, what is this? Did we order this?"


    The stranger looks at a small box wrapped nicely with a ribbon. When she opened it, she found an ice cream-shaped hair clip. Little Arisa peeks in.


    "This is rare. When I scanned it with my ring, it said that we''d got a hair clip as a bonus from this cafe. Look, isn''t it nice?"


    "Yes. It''s cute."


    "Right. I can''t really wear it, so you take it."


    "Eh?"


    She put the hair clip on Arisa''s hair suddenly. Before Arisa knows it, the hair clip is on her head.


    "That looks great on you."


    "You really meant it?"


    "I don''t have any reason to lie just for saying that it really looks good on you."


    Arisa nods and goes to have her ice cream again. It''s so mesmerizing for her taste bud, so she can''t stop tasting that sweet cold sensation on her tongue. Looking at her companion enjoying the desserts, the stranger is also taking her ice cream.


    "Thank you very much. It''s sweet and delicious that I want to eat more."


    "It''s no big deal. Enjoy it while you can."


    Arisa, at that time, smiles wide. She doesn''t expect that she will find another thing that can lighten her mood between her monotonous routine.


    And Arisa, this time, sits alone at her table. There is no one else besides her and the staff behind the long table. She is still quiet and keeps scooping her portion.


    "In the end, I don''t know that kind person''s identity. We parted right away without anything to exchange."


    When she finished chewing on a spoonful of ice cream, Arisa put her spoon and stared into the ice cream cup.


    "The dark clouds in my head aren''t going away. Are you lying about eating ice cream can make me feel better?"


    Arisa is looking at the side of the table where a single portion is left. She picks it up and quickly eats it away without pause.


    If a brain freeze can clear her mind from those hazy clouds, then that''s what Arisa is looking for right now.

 38th Fragment - Johanns Past

    Arisa is looking at the floor while holding her head. She breathes slowly, carefully inhales and exhales, then does it once again profoundly. When everything felt better, she stood straight again and looked at Johann with a glazed look.


    ¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t understand myself. How can the only child of a certain father be so calm when I saw him as a corpse like that.¡±


    Johann is listening carefully. If his childhood friend had reasonable reasons for asking him to stop doing all this, then at least he should have listened to her first.


    Arisa continued, ¡°Just like human emotions closely related to other external factors. I fell to the point where I could no longer feel at all. Who knows since when? Maybe the final trigger was when my father died, which didn¡¯t affect me at all. Or perhaps, my feelings have deteriorated long before that.¡±


    ¡°¡­emotional detachment, right? It¡¯s only my guess since I¡¯m not an expert. But, anyone could tell that he was not a good father. He abandoned you, Arisa.¡±


    Arisa nods weakly. ¡°Like what you said, Johann. When he passed away, I realized we had no genuine connection between father and daughter. Yet, I can¡¯t comprehend the concept of human relationships afterward.¡±


    ¡°Because of that, you are immersed in information about human emotions and feelings.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m trying to understand it. However, in the end, I could only understand it theoretically, not actually feeling it.¡±


    ¡°...Then, you¡¯re are wrong all this time, Arisa. How could you understand how I feel about my Dad? We have a genuine bond, unlike you!¡±


    Johann almost screamed at Arisa while trying to restrain the big urge contained in his heart.


    ¡°About that¡ª¡±


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know what happened, do you? The media reported that accident only for a short while and quickly overtaken with this stupid humanity¡¯s development to go to the past. Listen carefully, Arisa. Crave it inside your ears. I¡¯ll tell you what happened.¡±


    The bespectacled man begins his story.


    A few years after his last meeting with Arisa at the hospital, Johann has grown into a teenager skilled with his programming ability primarily related to communication rings, thanks to his father¡¯s upbringing.


    So, Johann often handled various kinds of research or freelance work related to information security systems, especially cryptography.


    ¡°Join me to have a meeting with a client. We need a quick brief related to the project we will handle together with Dad¡¯s team.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Dad. I¡¯ve prepared some related materials that might be useful at the meeting.¡±


    ¡°Great. You¡¯re so reliable, Johann.¡±


    Choosing to study independently while his father fully supported his interest, Johann continues to give his best for his contribution to the team. At a relatively young age, Johann got experience in helping and handling various programming, mainly concerning network security.


    The political elites quickly heard about the team¡¯s success led by Johann¡¯s father. So, they also invited them to participate in handling more prominent projects, which mainly aimed at the planet¡¯s wellbeing.


    Anyone knows if earth which has been solely a home of humanity since the beginning of time is on the brink of destruction. So, humanity, known for its resilience, is finding a way to solve problems and save itself in the long run. Time travel is one of the ideas which they want to realize soon.


    Still, it is a mysterious realm for humankind. It¡¯s like a sailor in the past who sailed the oceans to discover a new world. It definitely takes perfect preparation so humans would remain safe and return alive.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I¡¯ll say it once again. There are still many spots that haven¡¯t been ventured yet related to the Records of the Past. I understand that the idea of ??implementing the Records of the Past program is crucial for this trip to be a successful one. However, we also can¡¯t take big risks if we know that the program still has many flaws in its algorithmic structure,¡± Johann¡¯s father protested at the time travel conference.


    ¡°We understand your concern, Mr. Bascio. Therefore, our team is still doing its best to follow up on any issues related to the Records of the Past. When we are ready to send the masses to the past, we will ensure that this program will be safe to use.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°No. That won¡¯t do. As the head of network security system development, I can¡¯t allow something incomplete and not secure as the basis of a vital human project.¡±


    Someone raised their hand to interrupt. ¡°Mr. Bascio, I understand your concern considering your other position as a member of the System Security Institute outside this project. With all due respect, I want to remind you that we are really short on time right now. I¡¯m afraid that focusing too much on improving the Records of the Past algorithm will delay the project execution, and the earth will turn worse to the point of no return.¡±


    Sitting next to his father, Johann could only hear and express his own opinion deep inside his mind. The conference where important people gather and debate their opinions is undoubtedly not the right place for someone who lacks experience like him.


    He could only watch his father trying to convey the essential points in this forum until it ended and disbanded for today so that the great project of humankind would still secure and prevent any casualties.


    When the two of them return to their room, Bascio takes a deep breath.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Dad?¡±


    ¡°You see¡­ I don¡¯t know if you understand or not. However, as we witnessed earlier, the other committee insists on continuing this project. As expected, there is a separate plan behind it.¡±


    ¡°Is it really true?¡±


    His father accessed the projection between them with low-quality video footage playing on it. Johann did not fully understand what his father was trying to say but quietly listened to what was in front of him.


    ¡°¡­allegedly someone detected a significant transaction of resources for energy in enormous sums for the sake of a time travel project. Since this is practically the interest of the whole world, most of these transactions will not be charged due to a particular treaty between the authorities.


    It is suspected that there is a big game behind the said transaction involving the political elite because they also want those resources for later uses.¡±


    Johann¡¯s father nodded. ¡°In other words, the political elite doesn¡¯t care about the success or execution of this project. The most important thing for them is how this project acts as a gateway to do their agenda.¡±


    ¡°For example, if something fatal happened¡ª¡±


    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t care.¡±


    Johann finally understands why his father stands firm in his opinion about the Record of the Past as the safety net for volunteers who are going to make the journey. For him, the conspiracy between the political elites should not exist in earth¡¯s final days.


    Johann feels bitter knowing that. He reaffirms himself to help his father to ensure the Records of the Past will be perfect and genuinely safe.


    One month later, when Johann is out elsewhere.


    There is a mysterious explosion at the network security assurance team¡¯s research facility. Bascio Accialini was also trapped in a building filled with black smoke that blocked the oxygen for those who inhaled it.


    The fire brigade quickly evacuated the trapped people while calming down the fire. The police union was also present to block the access for the unauthorized party until Johann ran and bumped into one of the police.


    ¡°Let me in! My Dad is still there!¡±


    ¡°Hey, watch out! It¡¯s hazardous there! Let the fire brigade take control of the situation!¡±


    ¡°Dad!¡±


    The incident had taken the only member of Johann¡¯s family from him. Authorities officially declared the death of Baccio Accialini and his team members, who were charred by fire. The officers immediately investigated to uncover the mystery that took those unfortunate souls. Of course, the media are trying their best to gather as much information as possible, but that¡¯s how far they can go.


    Johann noticed that his dinner table at home was lonelier than usual without his father being around. He tried to keep everything together year after year, yet the vast hole deep inside his heart will never be gone. At the same time, Johann is slowly learning to live alone until an electronic message enters his communication ring. It¡¯s a message with high-level encryption and distinctive security patterns.


    Johann adjusted his glasses since the pattern was familiar. Using knowledge from his father, he immediately decrypted the data he had just received, only to discover that it contained a video from his father.


    ¡°If this video reaches you, Johann, it means they have successfully erased my existence, I¡¯m afraid. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m a bit regretful of humanity¡¯s current situation.¡±


    ¡°¡­Dad.¡± Johann is calling out to his father in his hoarse voice. However, this is just a video and not a two-way communication and just a late message from him, who is no longer around in this world.


    ¡°Looking back at the current humanity¡¯s biggest project¡¯s developments turns out that it is impossible for a researcher like me to try to stop the political agenda. Humanity¡¯s journey to the past will continue no matter what.¡±


    Johann¡¯s father massaged the bridge of his nose for a moment.


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry for not being able to protect myself, Johann. This conspiracy is too big for Dad to fight alone. It¡¯s to be expected that there are members of the police on their side, so it¡¯s better that you watch this video just for yourself.¡±


    Johann¡¯s chest gradually tightened. Still, he had to listen to the message to the end.


    ¡°From now on, I think it¡¯s better that you make your best contribution to the survival of this planet. It¡¯s up to you which path you choose, Johann. For example, if you want to join the trip to the past, that¡¯s alright. As long as you understand the risks of your decisions.¡±


    The bespectacled man bit his lower lip.


    ¡°It¡¯s the best for you to distance from the corrupt system of this world, my son. Be a good citizen and watch how humankind creates their miracles.¡±


    Johann looked down at the floor blankly. Gradually, something popped out of his chest. A strong feeling from the innermost of his heart rejects the idea of ??avoiding any risk to stay safe, even from his father.


    ¡°What the hell? No, you¡¯re mistaken, Dad. I can¡¯t fully agree with Dad¡¯s advice this time, I¡¯m sorry. I bet those bastards who killed you are still alive, enjoying their dirty money without concern for this planet¡¯s condition.¡±


    From that moment, a firm determination enveloped whole Johann¡¯s mind. Even though his father¡¯s last will asked him not to fight back against anything, he had to channel his grudge.

 39th Fragment - Her Choice

    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± Arisa quietly commented, listening to Johann¡¯s story. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve done until now finally makes sense. So, you¡¯re still a kind Johann back then.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your compliments. Now ask yourself, does asking me to stop now even possible?¡±


    ¡°¡­of course.¡±


    Arisa stares deep at her old friend. Johann could tell right away that his friend would not back down easily.


    ¡°My travels in the place have taught me a lot. Slowly, I know what it¡¯s like to have a genuine family,¡± said the girl.


    ¡°A fake family thanks to the Records of the Past? Hah! When someone revokes the program, you don¡¯t know if they still think of you as their family! They¡¯ll treat you as a stranger who dares to enter their house without being invited.¡±


    ¡°I know exactly that¡¯ll happen without Records of the Past, Johann! My mind was already imagining what would happen if they finally regained their senses. But¡­but!¡ª¡±


    Arisa walks closer. Johan takes a step back, witnessing her immense stare of her.


    ¡°I feel something inside my chest, Johann! I love Mom, Dad and brother! I also love Vanilla, who has nothing to do with my family¡¯s Records of the Past! I feel pains in my chest when my existence disappears in front of them from time to time! So, I can¡¯t let you do as you please with my family.¡±


    Johann bit his lower lip.


    ¡°Arisa. Stay where you are, or something bad will happen,¡± Johann said coldly.


    Johann takes out a projection screen with a red button on display. Arisa¡¯s hunch tells her to obey Johann since that projection got a different color than any other floating endlessly around them. She decides not to move without letting her childhood friend out of her sight.


    ¡°¡­this button is the last trigger to delete the Records of the Past from this place for good. At the same time, it¡¯ll upload the data related to the identity of the volunteers to the internet of this era. Thus, the secrecy of your existence will be lost, and everyone will be aware that there are people who can travel through time.¡±


    Several laptops behind Johann change their displays. It says that the system is ready to upload the data, Johann said. One wrong move and the team¡¯s secrecy will be no more. She can¡¯t imagine what will happen when people from this era are finally aware of the volunteer¡¯s existence.


    For the next few minutes, Johann eventually clenches his fist since the sight of Arisa, choosing not to do anything while not going back off simultaneously, makes him lose his patience. He needs to do more to make Arisa back down and squirms at her wrong choices after all this time.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, Arisa. Too bad that you didn¡¯t accept my offer that night. I would let you out from here just to be safe.¡±


    ¡°Johann, wait¡ª¡±


    He stares back, which almost pierces Arisa¡¯s willpower, and is about to press the button on his ring¡¯s projection. All the other projection screens suddenly disappeared when his finger almost touched the button. The laptop monitor also issues a notification if the energy required for the necessary decryption process is insufficient.


    The room is pitch black now without the projection screen¡¯s light. Only the dim glow of the laptop enables the two to see each other,


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    ¡°What¡ªwhat happened?!¡± Johann shouted.


    He frantically presses the red button on the projection until he sees those error notifications pop out right away. He can¡¯t execute his order due to a technical problem.


    ¡°This¡­ can¡¯t be¡­.¡±


    Rio and Valerie entered the room at the same time, joining Arisa.


    ¡°Arisa! Are you okay?!¡± Rio shouted and immediately took a position in front of the girl. Valerie also did the same.


    ¡°You¡¯re Johann, right? Now, your plan stops here. We took care of all the energy generators that you need downstairs. There¡¯s nothing you can do,¡± Valerie confirmed.


    ¡°You¡ªbastard!¡±


    Arisa approaches Johann slowly, trying not to intimidate her childhood friend until she passes Rio and Valerie, who are trying to protect her. As a childhood friend, she wants to understand the turmoil in Johann¡¯s heart all these years.


    ¡°Johann, I can only imagine the hardship that you¡¯ve been through. To think that there are people who took the life of the one you love.¡­ My chest tightens whenever I think about what if I lose the family I have now because of someone¡¯s ill intentions. But, I beg you, this time. Johann, let¡¯s find a better way together, not a dangerous one like this. I am still your friend so that we will find justice together for your father¡¯s sake.¡±


    Suddenly, Johann pointed the laser gun at Arisa¡¯s head. Rio and Valerie moved swiftly to pull the girl behind their bodies and tried to cover her up.


    ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to talk, Arisa. Do you think after all this time, I am just sitting idly and letting them normally live over my Dad¡¯s body, huh?! I tried alone to find out who was responsible for what happened at the research site! But what I¡¯ve got?! The police didn¡¯t help at all. Their official statement always said that it was just an accident, nothing more! Arisa, I¡¯ve made it this far on my strength. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to back down.


    He is out of control. It¡¯s very dangerous for us because of that weapon, Rio thought. He racked his brain quickly on how to get out of this situation without any casualties.


    Was lunging at him a good idea? The laser shot would hit his body first before Rio caught Johann. What if they surrendered and begged so Johann will not kill them? Considering he and Valerie sabotaged the energy generator successfully, there was no guarantee that Johann would be able to think clearly and be willing to let them go.


    ¡°¡­ damn,¡± Rio muttered quietly. It seems like there¡¯s no way out.


    The threat on the journey to the past was prevented for now. But another danger is visibly seen by the weapon Johann is currently wielding. Even Valerie begins sweating.


    ¡°All of you, die,¡± said Johann coldly.


    Here it comes! Rio shrieked quietly in his mind, preparing for the worst.


    A distinctive gunshot roared out from the window. A projectile hit the laser gun in Johann¡¯s hand. It released a rigid substance that enveloped the weapon instantly and its owner¡¯s right arm and turned hard like concrete. Within seconds, Johann can¡¯t move his right arm.


    ¡°¡ªdamn it!¡±


    ¡°Johann, we¡¯ve disarmed you! Surrender!¡± Sato ordered sternly from the outside window with his hand holding a gun shaped like this era¡¯s pistol dominated by dark blue.


    ¡°You¡ªhow come? There shouldn¡¯t be footholds, and this is the second floor!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the technology the police force got.¡±


    Johann had no idea about what Sato had said at all. He could only guess because he was utterly unfamiliar with the technology owned by the authorities. Wait a moment. Don¡¯t tell me Sato is currently floating outside the second-floor window.


    ¡°Give up, Johann Accialini. Your actions so far have greatly harmed the continuity of the traveling to the past project. Hence, I¡¯ll have to subdue you.¡±


    An overweight man with a cast on his left arm entered the room along with Rita. Mr. Davide also has arrived at this place. Seeing the police chief of Tantoris City coming in front of him, Johann glared at him fiercely. To the extent that Rita feels goosebumps just looking at Johann.


    Sato immediately barged inside and lunged at Johann. He definitely can¡¯t react quickly because his arms feel heavy from the substance fired earlier. Thus, the police assistant quickly grabs Johann¡¯s body and holds him to the floor.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, Johann. Now you have been arrested,¡± said Mr. Davide as he walked closer.


    ¡°You think I¡¯m done?¡± challenged the young man on the floor.


    A projection appears suddenly in front of the man¡¯s face. Johann bites the projection screen while Sato is off guard, and the notification of something being activated echoes in the room.


    ¡°What are you¡ª¡±


    Sato pushes Johann¡¯s head down to stop whatever Johann is trying to do.


    ¡°Too late. There¡¯s nothing more you can do. Even if you break my ring.¡±


    Arisa got this bad feeling that something terrible will going to happen.

 40th Fragment - Premonition

    The girl who wears an ice cream-shaped hair ornament runs swiftly towards Johann with a stern face.


    ¡°What have you done?¡±


    Johann sneered. ¡°Take a look at the city¡¯s water bank. Tell me what happened there.¡±


    Arisa quickly ran out of the room, and her friends followed after. Sato takes Johann under his custody following the direction of Mr. Davide by dragging him to come to the police car, ignoring the state of his freezing arm. At the same time, Mr. Davide follows Arisa and others to see how the situation turns out.


    Arisa and co quickly arrived at the highest spot in this abandoned factory. Fortunately, the door there was unlocked so Arisa could reach the right height to view the city dam at the north end. Even though it¡¯s located at the furthest end of this place, it¡¯s still visible from where Rio is standing now.


    A thin thread of blue light descends from the sky. Judging from the direction in which the light fell, the dam was precisely underneath that mysterious light. Mr. Davide could tell right away that this might turn everything into a mess in an instant, so he rushedly broadcast to all the police officers on standby all over the city.


    ¡°Level 4 threat! Listen carefully, all of you! Perform evacuation procedures for the entire city right away! Prioritize the residents in the northern area of ??the city without exception! There is no difference between the original inhabitants of the past and the volunteers of the future. Everyone should get out of there immediately! I repeat, this is a level 4 threat!¡±


    No one knows what will come after the light. However, they all knew that it was a premonition of danger.


    The light particles gather into the shape of something round, like a giant ball. At a glance, Rio swallowed his saliva when he guessed what would happen due to Johann¡¯s actions.


    If the thing that would appear soon were something I imagined, it could threaten every citizen in this city. A dam must not receive the slightest damage, or the consequence will be fatal!


    Rio and Valerie look at each other. They agreed in silence that this would be very dangerous for everyone in Tantoris.


    The shards of light keep gathering into the dam¡¯s center and condensing even more. The massive circular object is almost perfectly formed, and its upper side sticks out from the dam¡¯s wall.


    ¡°--that!¡± Rita squealed.


    ¡°¡­a communications satellite. As we all know, they orbit in space to transmit the signal that we use for our all forms of communication. It shouldn¡¯t be on this timeline,¡± said Valerie with a worried tone.


    ¡°Mr. Davide, the situation will only get worse as we speak. How is the progress of the city¡¯s evacuation?¡± Rio hurriedly asked the head of the police force next to him, who also couldn¡¯t move from his place.


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    ¡°Considering our tight time, I can¡¯t hope much for the evacuation. We have mobilized other authorities on behalf of the Tantoris¡¯ police force. However, I¡¯m not sure we can save everyone, especially those who live in the north area,¡± Mr. Davide replied while biting his lip.


    The thing finally reached its final shape, which is rock solid, mostly made from steel. The lights flickered alternately, which resembled a wave moving from one side to the other. A second later, the massive wall that had stored water on the northern edge of Tantoris for decades breaks due to the sudden appearance of a satellite from the future, effectively adding a ton of volume inside.


    The concretes at the top of the dam were thrown several meters away. Everyone can see that the water dam Tantoris has always been proud of is being destroyed into pieces. Its contents start spilling like a giant waterfall, ready to drown everything that stands in the way since the spherical satellite pushes the water from its enormous container.


    The dam¡¯s water rushes down, going through the sloping terrain to follow its nature gravity.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡± Rio muttered. The worst-case scenario that became the basis of the proposal that he and Rita had been working with happens before his eyes, a few kilometers ahead.


    From the very beginning, he came up with an idea to strengthen the structure of the dam¡¯s wall so that it could remain safe for the next countless decades, enhanced by Rita¡¯s plants.


    However, the situation unfolding before his eyes right now made him unable to utter a single word. Rita covered her mouth while goosebumps hit her skin, witnessing the event where a chunk of concrete was thrown away and fell on other parts of the city.


    It¡¯s over. Everything is over now.


    ¡°¡­no, no. This is bad,¡± Arisa muttered tremblingly, ¡°I have to make sure my family is safe.¡±


    Rio quickly grips Arisa¡¯s arm before she reaches the stairs. When she turned her head, Rio shook his head slowly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty, Arisa. I know that the current state of the city¡¯s north is quite dangerous. That¡¯s why Mr. Davide ordered the evacuation right away and the police personnel are doing their best as we speak. Please cool down your head first.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Arisa!¡±


    Rio raises his voice as Arisa flinches. Still, she notices that Rio¡¯s hand holding her arm is shaking right now.


    ¡°Rio¡­ Rio. Please¡ª¡±


    She understands very well that Rio, perhaps, is also worried about his family. But Arisa can¡¯t contain her reasoning in telling her to see her family until she suddenly loses the strength in her legs. She kneels with a trembling voice, and tears fall from her eyes.


    This is the first Rio sees her like this. He has never seen Arisa so vulnerable and begs for something.


    Rio bites his lip and tries to help Arisa stand back up.


    ¡°Alright, Arisa. We¡¯re going to the center of town now, Arisa. Let¡¯s check our family together,¡± Rio said firmly.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the same position right now. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll get through this together,¡± Valerie added. Beside Valerie, Rita hesitantly nods.


    Everyone looks at Mr. Davide, followed by Arisa, who is the last to look at him with pleading eyes. The middle-aged man is racking his brain for proper judgment at this urgent time.


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll take you to the center of town. After that, I will go to help my men. I¡¯m sure everyone will be in dire need of help when we get there. Once you all got there, I don¡¯t take any responsibility for your safety, you understand?¡±


    ¡°Noted, sir,¡± said the group of teenagers simultaneously, except Arisa.


    ¡°Follow me now.¡±


    They quickly got off the building and got into one of the police cars on standby. Sato was already in his car with Johann secured in the back seat, watching his boss go with another vehicle with the teenagers.


    When Mr. Davide is moving, Sato follows him from behind.

 41st Fragment - A Single Bad Day

    The situation in the city''s east and center is indeed never crossed the original residents'' imagination. A tsunami came from the plateau originally from the dam, along with debris, boulders, and trees pushed with a strong current. One hit and anyone could die instantly.


    Perhaps some divine forces brought the flood to the mountain without warning?


    Instead, it''s the consequence of one man''s anger.


    Several houses and buildings in the area closest to the dam are currently asleep. Perhaps the ones who notice that the disaster is coming upon the city are the dam administrator. And yet, most of them died or disappeared because of the sudden destruction of the massive wall itself. Thus, the civilians carrying out their night activities were not expecting the deluge to hit the entire city''s northern region at any minute.


    It doesn''t stop there as the flood still flows to the city''s center. The Major River that divides the town in half cannot contain the massive water flows. All buildings, trees, and people that happened to be on the water bank were sunk by the current.


    Arisa couldn''t stop looking out the car window while she was on the way. She couldn''t get her mind off her family''s safety back home. She always hoped that they were all safe. Rita, who saw her, takes one of Arisa''s hands and holds it tightly.


    At the very least, the flood doesn''t cover the entire city. Thus, Mr. Davide could drive his car, speeding non-stop from the east side of the center area.


    "We''ll be there soon, Arisa. Hopefully the people who are important to us will be fine," Rita whispers.


    "¡­thank you," Arisa replied shortly.


    The girl wearing an ice cream-shaped hair ornament takes her smartphone out. Arisa''s slender fingers pressed the touch screen to contact her family. It''s just how long Arisa wants to wait, there''s no answer from the other side.


    Rio and Valerie are busy accessing the latest information, both from official media and from the Ringnet. Sufficiently severe damage was continuously reported from the volunteers who survived and were still in the evacuation process. There are also complaints that some other volunteers could not be reached with the said ring.


    It''s quite evident that there are missing and deceased victims due to the accident¡­ I hope they are found quickly and are still alive, Rio thought.


    He roughly shifted the projection display in front of him to look for relevant information for him and his friends. However, reports of damage and loss keep popping up, making Rio even hastier in processing the data.


    "Rio. Calm down a bit."


    "I know, Val. I can only hope for the best in a situation like this. I really dont know¡­ what to do." Rio closes the projection of his ring and leans back without so much energy left on the front passenger seat.


    Just like Arisa, Valerie and Rita also take out their cell phones to contact their respective past families. However, there was one thing Valerie realized. His phone couldn''t make the call either due to a signal problem.


    "Suddenly no signal?" Valerie shouted as he rechecked his cell phone.


    "You''re right. Now, my cellphone can''t contact anyone anymore," Arisa added while showing her screen.


    Rita didn''t understand at all. "Why? A few minutes ago, Arisa''s phone dial tone was still connected."


    Rio''s gaze catches the massive round object at the far north end, emitting its flash of light that is still moving like a wave. "This is just my guess¡­ but, the satellite seems to be interfering with signals that are not for our ring."


    "No wonder my handy-talkie was suddenly cut off. My phone is also no more. As I thought, the satellite was the cause, damn it," Mr. Davide cursed.


    Before long, the car arrived at the end of the traffic jam. Many vehicles ahead stop and watch from afar what is happening in the city''s center. Some seem to capture from afar the broken dam that had begun to recede through their cellphones. Some tried to contact their families using cell phones, but their signal was also gone.


    Rio goes out of the car, followed by the others.


    "As you can see, the road is blocked by various things. For sure, we can go to the northern side as you aware," muttered the head of the police division.


    "Then, we will try to return without any vehicle from here. Thank you for bringing us here, Sir." Rio nodded respectfully.


    "Okay. Be careful. The situation is pretty dire."


    The four of them nod and run on each their own, heading for their respective homes as quickly as possible.


    Valerie headed south of the city, close to the station. As far as he is concerned, the flood''s damage was insignificant. Only puddles of water slowly flow in various places, carrying debris swept away by the current. According to the information he accessed back in the car, there were no casualties as far as he knew. Several vehicles could still pass through the mini river that had just formed to evacuate themselves.


    When he arrived in front of his house, his two sisters were in the yard and trying to contact him. Alana¡ªthe older sister, dashes to hug Valerie.


    "You''re okay, Valerie¡­ Did you hurt somewhere?"


    "We''ve been trying to call your cellphone. But, our phone signals were gone not long after the dam broke. How strange," Nia added as calmly as possible. However, Valerie could still see that her body was shaking a little.


    "The important thing is, I''m now safe and unharmed. I''m sorry to make you worry, everyone, " said Valerie casually with an assuring smile.


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    His two sisters smiled in relief as Nia hugged Valerie before they entered the house. Fortunately, the situation around them was better than those in the north. Thus, Valerie feels he does not need to evacuate himself.


    After all, Johann has been arrested by Sato. I hope the danger will be no more.


    Rita got a similar situation to Valerie. She couldn''t help but feel very relieved when grandma was still in her favorite seat, looking out the window. Her house is in the southwest of the city, the safest place from everything that has happened.


    "¡­Rita. Have you arrived home?" asked the old woman in a low voice.


    "Yes, it''s me. I''m home, grandma."


    "Gosh, do you know about this? Earlier, I heard a loud voice from the north. The dam really broke this time, huh? Are you okay, Rita? Grandma has checked this house, there is no damage at all. Fortunately."


    Rita approaches grandma and hugs her. She tries her best to keep her tears around her eyes when she knows that grandma is always okay. Her hand gripped the senior''s shoulder tightly.


    Sensing that, grandma smiled. She returned Rita''s hug and stroked the girl''s back gently.


    Elsewhere, at the same time.


    Rio runs to his house, located in the west of the city, as he passes some places still flooded with brown-colored water. He can see a lot of things around him in a messy state because it was swept away by the current. Because of the same reason, cars or motorbikes cannot move in this area. Some people were also seen evacuating to get away while carrying their belongings in the dark because of the blackout.


    "The city has turned into this state¡­ This is crazy. If we could realize my idea sooner, something like this could still be prevented."


    ¡­or not? Not even genetically-engineered plants can withstand the impact of the sudden appearance of a communication satellite like that.


    However, there is nothing we can do right now. So, my current priority is to be reunited with my family and secure ourselves.


    He had a bad feeling because the flood in this place reached most of the area and got a heavy current. Several times Rio had tripped and almost got swept away by the brown water as he tried hard to regain his footing. He presses his teeth together, and his hands clenched into fists. Rio is still breaking through the current that hindered his steps from reaching his destination.


    "Finally¡­ arrived."


    His house looked pitch black as he examined every corner of the place. He can see the damages on the property, albeit not large enough to collapse the house. His yard was flooded, so Rio struggled to reach the front door.


    He used his shoulder to open the door and went inside. As far as his phone''s flashlight could reach, he could see that the water had flooded the house too.


    "Father! Mother! Nando and Vemia! Are you all right?" shouted Rio.


    "Rio? Is that really you?"


    Arnando appeared from behind the darkness and ran as he could to hug Rio. After a few seconds, he burst into tears, expressing his emotions after what he has been through. Rio quickly hugs him and comforts his little brother.


    "Okay, it''s alright. Nando. Now I''m here, it''s safe now. Are you alone here?"


    "When there was a very loud noise from the dam and the flood came into the house, Mom and Dad went out to pick up Vemia."


    "Vemia¡­where did she go?"


    "I don''t know. She''s been out from this afternoon."


    Rio felt something invisible choking his neck, and even his saliva is very difficult to swallow. All possibilities, mostly the worst ones, come across his mind. He shakes his head slowly, pushing away those unnecessary thoughts as he hugs Arnando tightly before letting him go.


    "Wait a minute. I''ll try to contact Mom and Dad," said Rio, and Arnando nodded.


    When he opened his cell phone, he saw a red notification sign.


    That''s right. Earlier we couldn''t use our cellphones because the satellite was jamming our signal. Damn it! Should I search for them outside? It''s better not. I don''t know where Mom and Dad are. Plus, it''s unsafe for me to move in this total blackout.


    "Nando. I''m going up to the roof to get a signal. Maybe this phone can be connected later. You stay here."


    Rio moves fast to go outside the house while carefully watching his steps. Rio''s residence doesn''t have a second floor, so he had to think of a way to search for signals in a high place.


    His mind is telling him that there might be something that could help him in the warehouse. When Rio inspected the dusty room, a folding ladder was tucked away in the warehouse''s corner. He immediately used it to access the roof and find a safe spot to stand. When Rio found a secure location, he opened his phone again.


    Rio briefly shakes his phone above his head before rechecking the signal condition. Apparently, not much different from a few minutes ago.


    "Come on¡­ where''s the signal¡­."


    Rio is aware that his attempts were perhaps wholly futile. The stranded satellite may transmit a signal frequency covered throughout Tantoris so that their cell phones cannot perceive the signals wherever people are. Rio doesn''t know what else to do at this point.


    Suddenly his cellphone vibrated because of the many incoming short message notifications. Apparently, it was texts from his parents. His cell phone was finally able to pick up the signal, even though it was feeble and almost non-existent.


    Rio decided to call his mother immediately and hoped that her cell phone also happened to have a signal.


    "Come on, come on¡­."


    A connected call pops out, along with a commotion coming from the other end. Rio quickly put the phone on his ear to better capture what was happening there. The call finally connected!


    "Mother? Hello, Mother? You can hear me, right?"


    No response. Only the sound of people calling for help, seeking shelter, and anguished screams.


    "Hello! Mother! Please answer! Father?! Is Father over there too?!"


    Rio calls out with all his might, hoping that an answer will await on the other side. His mind doesn''t want to guess the worst that might happen to his past parents.


    Another faint voice could be heard amidst the noise of chaos, like calling for someone.


    "¡­¨Cio. Rio."


    "Mother! This is you, right? Mother, are you okay?!" Rio couldn''t control his tone anymore. His chest feels tight at the thought of how his mother is doing. "Yes, this is Rio, Mother. Where are you now? How''s Father? Does Vemia safe too?"


    Rio can hear the voices of residents seeking help and helping each other on the other side again. There was no answer from mother. Rio was still trying to wait a little longer. Maybe the situation there is dangerous. Still, he can''t wait since he worries that his cell phone signal will be gone at any moment.


    "¡­thank goodness you''re okay¡­ Mother and father here are fine too¡­."


    Rio sighed in relief heavily. His mind gets a little calmer when he knows his past parents are safe. He gives a hand gesture as a sign to Arnando in the yard that everyone is okay.


    "So, Come back soon, Mother. Nando is very scared here and we are waiting for the three of you."


    "Rio... about that¨C"


    There was a sob from the other side. Rio doesn''t understand why his mother suddenly cries. His head felt frantic again, listening to his parents of the past.


    The call was cut off when Rio wanted to say something because the signal disappeared again.


    Rio put the phone back in his pocket with a blank stare. He looks up, seeing the clear night sky with many stars because almost half of the city has lost its power.


    It''s indeed a beauty amidst this chaos.

 42nd Fragment - The End of the World

    The girl gasped for air while walking through the current at a knee-high level, enough to hinder her footsteps. Her house is close to the most damaged location due to the broken dam¡ªin the city''s center, almost in the northern area.


    Her mind keeps raging while she is sweating profusely. The air is humid and unpleasant, enough to make someone stressed enough and hurriedly go away from Tantoris. However, Arisa ignores that as she tries to get closer to where the flood''s current doesn''t flow so hard.


    "Haah¡­hah¡­"


    She found debris that seems safe to sit on. After about half a minute of catching her breath, Arisa resumes her walk.


    "Help¡­! someone, please help! Someone got hit by the rubble!"


    "Mom, come here quickly! Let''s follow the evacuation route!"


    "Mama! Where are you? Mama¡­!"


    Arisa had never experienced anything like this in her lifetime. Her mind has been thinking of a million scenarios since she doesn''t know what to do in this dire situation. Is being silent and leaving the search for her family to the authorities the best choice she can take now? What if it turns out that Johann still can do something hazardous one more time again?


    "No¡­ I have to find them myself. Everyone, including the police, is very busy and definitely can''t afford to search everyone¡­."


    Only we can save ourselves in these conditions. I can''t rely on others.


    Finally, Arisa arrives at her house, yet what welcomes her is unfavorable. Her house is wrecked since it''s crushed here and there. The roof is barely there. And she can see a flow of current that enters the house and flows out in other parts.


    Arisa''s chest hurts witnessing the state of her house. She went inside in a hurry and opened the door, which fortunately was not severely damaged.


    "Dad! Mom! Tirto! Vanilla!"


    Her voice dismissed the silence that had previously dominated the ravaged house. The flow of the flood water that just passed through the living room, family room, and out between the doors near the kitchen took Arisa''s attention for a moment. On the other side of the house, the walls had broken down. She swallowed her saliva and immediately aimed the flashlight at her surrounding side that almost collapsed. Arisa then walks over to the place that she considers to be safer.


    The darkness inside the house and the faint light from outside almost make Arisa not recognize this place anymore.


    No voice heed her call. Only the noises of some furniture shifted slightly due to the continuous flow of the flood current.


    The strange feeling that creeps into Arisa''s heart makes her really uncomfortable. She tried to catch her breath a few times before continuing to walk. Aided by the flashlight from her cell phone, Arisa swept her eyes around the house to look for the potential survivor.


    "No one is answering¡­ how about on the second floor?"


    Her footsteps finally free from the current the moment Arisa steps into the stairs. She walks through the dark stairs in search of signs of the life she hoped for. The flashlight pointed to the bedroom doors, each closed tightly. Thankfully, there was no significant damage on this second floor.


    Arisa''s slight hunch tells her to open the door of her sister''s room. When she steps in and lits up the room with her phone, she sees two figures shivering in the corner.


    "Tirto?! Vanilla? Is that you?"


    The trembling figure moved slowly. When Arisa turned off her flashlight and got used to the darkness, they were really her two siblings. Arisa instantly feels all her anxiety in her chest gone and starting to tear up.


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    Arisa approaches Vanilla and Tirto, and they hug each other so tightly.


    Arisa can''t help but kiss the foreheads of her siblings, who are still in good health and without any harm.


    "What a relief that you''re all right¡­ I''m really panicking earlier¡­."


    The two of them didn''t say anything. However, Arisa feels that Vanilla''s grip on her clothes is getting stronger. Realizing this, Arisa gently strokes her adopted sister''s back so that Vanilla feels safe again.


    Arisa has found her siblings. But what about her past parents?


    Her heart is beating fast once again.


    "Do you know where Mom and Dad are?" asked Arisa carefully.


    Vanilla and Tirto looked at each other for a moment before Vanilla answered her sister''s question. "They were still on the first floor. Mom and Dad didn''t come up to the second floor."


    "¡­what?"


    "Yes," Tirto confirmed. "Earlier we saw Mom and Dad helping us going up because the flood was very strong. Suddenly, something big hit the wall. The power went out and dust came. They were both gone when we called them."


    And then, Tirto cried while calling his parents. Vanilla froze on the spot as she lowered her head. Arisa can only bite her lip and find out what to do now.


    I have to find both of them.


    She, who wears the ice cream hairclip, pats her sister''s shoulder. She smiled bitterly as they both focused on his brother.


    "You guys stay here for now, okay? I will look for Mom and Dad and call for help. Do not go anywhere since you will be safe here. I want Vanilla and Tirto to be good children, okay?" asked Arisa in a slightly hoarse voice.


    As the two of them nod, Arisa quickly walks out to find where her past parents are. Her footsteps sink again as she reaches the first floor and struggles to get out.


    Arisa frantically looks right and left when she is back outside the house. It happened that someone was evacuating his belongings from the flood near the girl, so she approached and pulled his arm gently.


    "Sorry. Where is the evacuation route?"


    He was startled a bit by Arisa''s sudden appearance. However, he quickly responded and leaned his chin in the intended direction because his hands were busy carrying things on his shoulders.


    "There. I''m also heading to the evacuation site. They said, the area around there was not too damaged and was not exposed to the flow of water."


    "Okay, thank you!"


    Arisa immediately runs with all her might, leaving the person still confused and breaking through the flood. Her mind remains fixated on one thing: looking for her parents. Hopefully, they''ll both be there because her attempt to call Mom or Dad''s phone is futile for now.


    It takes a dozen minutes to reach a distance of approximately five hundred meters. Arisa witnessed how the impact of Johann''s selfishness taking place in this city. Most were injured, and some were trying to save themselves. The police and firefighters are trying their best even though it''s not much. Some of them wept bitterly because their families were missing or found dead.


    Even though the world shattered without warning like this, a minor side of Arisa''s mind wishes for the best. Even though her logic continued to say everything had gone awry, she still wanted to meet her parents without any harm in the slightest.


    "Miss, are you hurt? You can immediately see the medical team if you have an injury. We happened that there are nurses and doctors here." A policeman who noticed Arisa entering the temporary evacuation area approached her.


    "A-ah, no. I am here looking for someone. Do you know my parents?" asked Arisa almost in high pitched tone, while checking around a few dozen people there.


    The policeman shakes his head when Arisa shows the picture of her parents. She frowned for a moment as she didn''t know where else to look. Just when Arisa was thinking of leaving, someone who looked in his thirties and wore glasses approached to call the police. He talked about someone''s medical condition and the possibility that they could move from here soon.


    "Understood, sir. I''ll try to see the situation first before we go. But, have you seen someone like this picture?" asked the policeman while pointing at the screen of Arisa''s cell phone. He, who was called the doctor, narrowed his eyes before pinching the tip of his nose.


    "¡­yes. I know," he replied.


    "Really?! Where are they now?" Arisa butted in between their conversation.


    "¡­follow me."


    The doctor takes a breath and nods slightly as if sending a signal to the policeman to leave the two of them alone. Arisa follows him with her chest pounding hard since anxiety and hopes mix together because she doesn''t know how her parents are.


    Of course, she is hoping for the best.


    Arisa arrives at a place where she sees several people, neatly lined up, sleeping beside each other. The others beside them looked devastated and shed tears while calling the names of those who closed their eyes.


    When Arisa glances at the particular spot of the lined people, she sees two faces that she knows very well.


    "¡­ I''m sorry for you to see this," said the doctor quietly.


    Arisa''s cell phone falls as the screen breaks. Her legs lost strength suddenly, so she kneeled immediately. She couldn''t get closer to check at the two of them. Her face feels hot, her throat feels choked, her tongue tastes bitter, the dizziness in her head is getting worse, and her heart is crushed.


    As if the world couldn''t get worse before her, a negative emotion she had never felt before permeated the most sensitive part of his feelings.


    "Dad¡­ Mom¡­"


    Since then, Arisa has forgotten how to fake a smile.

 43rd Fragment - An Old Friend I

    The sky is quite clear this day. Arisa is holding her chin while looking out of the window. The chirping birds that had crossed her line of sight made her thoughts blurry for a moment, and then she quickly came back to her senses from her daydream.


    Her eyes catch the warm evening light enveloping the town from one side of her classroom. When Arisa turns her gaze slightly, she can see a city dam that is no longer in shape with a giant black sphere inside. The ball was silent, no longer emitting lights that moved like waves on its surface.


    "From afar, it''s not beautiful anymore," Arisa muttered.


    Several months had passed since the big accident in the city caused by a satellite that was originally not from this era. The town could be said to have calmed down again. The electricity that had been cut off in Tantoris has been resolved by supplying it from another place. Construction for the city''s restoration is also underway as the people are busy going back to their respective activities. More or less, everything has returned to normal.


    "Arisa, let''s go home?"


    "Oh, right. Sure, let''s go," Arisa responded.


    "Yeah, let''s, let''s. Or maybe we can stop by somewhere first?"


    Nita greets from behind as Arisa turns around. Tesa is right beside her with a backpack already on her back. Seeing that her two friends seem ready to go, she puts her books on the table and stands up to follow her friends.


    "I don''t know if I will stop by somewhere. But, I''ll follow you two to the school gate," said Arisa.


    "Oh, I see. No problem. Come on!" cheered Nita, who walked first.


    "Eh, wait a minute, Nita. Don''t leave me!"


    The three walked down the aisle, bustling with students rushing home. Some run to the canteen or club room to do other activities, while Nita and Tesa joke with Arisa, who occasionally chimes in and laughs together.


    When they arrived at the school gate, two tiny figures stood there and looked at the three. One tends to avert his eyes while the other stares flatly as usual. Apparently, they had been waiting for Arisa to leave class.


    "Vanilla, Tirto," greets Arisa shortly. Then, she turns to her friends. "I''ll part with you here. There is a place I need to visit with my siblings."


    Nita and Tesa nod almost simultaneously. "Alright, Arisa. See you later. Be careful on the way."


    They parted while waving their hands. Then, Arisa strokes her siblings'' heads before they go together to a corner of the city.


    It is a public cemetery dedicated to victims of the dam accident several months ago, located on the city''s east. The graveyard is approximately 50,000 square meters and was made as quickly as possible for the last tribute to victims. Arisa''s parents are no exception.


    After paying their respects for a few minutes, the three of them walk to the exit, and Arisa sees three familiar figures there.


    "Arisa," greets Rio.


    "Rio, Valerie and Rita. It''s a coincidence that we meet here."


    "Yeah. I don''t expect that we could meet here," said Rita with a sweet smile.


    "Rita and I only accompanied Rio to visit this place. He said he wanted to go here after work," Valerie added nonchalantly.


    "Yeah. I just finished visiting Vemia," added Rio.


    "Vemia¡­" Vanilla mumbled lightly, "Big sis, I want to visit Vemia first."


    Arisa nods as the little girl goes to the mentioned grave, followed by her brother behind. The four people from the future stare at Vanilla and Tirto until they are out of sight.


    "By the way, this is the first time we meet since the dam accident happened. How have you been?" asked Arisa kindly.


    "Everything goes as usual. My family has accepted that Vemia is gone for good. Sometimes, Mother is still missing her, but that was it. We can''t always look back and drown in sorrow, right? This planet is still moving and should as we," Rio replied with a small smile. Valerie pats Rio''s shoulder from behind and embraces him.


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    "Just like what you said, bro. Just accept it deep inside your heart and it will feel lighter and better!"


    "I know that, Val. Now, let me go."


    "I won''t."


    She, who wears an ice cream-shaped hairclip, giggles a bit at Rio and Valerie.


    "Arisa, how about you?" Rita is worried about Arisa. Who knows that she is still shaken by what happened at that time.


    "I''m feeling better now. Thank you for asking, Rita."


    "I''m glad that you''re okay. Just tell me if you need someone to talk with." Rita breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Hehe, that''s how it is. Besides, there''s one more thing I need to give you."


    The three pairs of eyes focus on Arisa, who is smiling meaningfully. No, it''s not the manipulation of facial muscle movements that she used to do all this time. That smile is something pure from deep in her heart.


    The girl takes something out of her school bag and opens her hand. It''s an ice cream stick-shaped keychain with green, yellow, and purple colors. Arisa gives the green one for Rio, yellow for Valerie, and purple for Rita.


    Rio checked what was in his hand. "This is¡­"


    "¡ªwhat is this for?" continued Valerie quickly.


    "Should I really say it for you what is the purpose of a keychain, Val?" quipped Rio.


    Valerie scratched the back of his head that didn''t itch while sticking out his tongue. Rita and Arisa laughed loudly, seeing the two joking around as usual.


    "I was looking around for what would suit the three of you. After a few minutes of consideration, I finally chose this keychain, hehe. I know it''s not much. But¡­ thank you for accompanying me to meet Johann that night. I was really lucky to have you guys in my side."


    Arisa smiles while baring her teeth. His three friends smiled back.


    "No problem, Arisa. We used to be classmates and it''s only right that I help you because of that."


    "Look, Rita. Rio is acting cool in front of Arisa right now," Valerie pouted while whispering to Rita. In fact, he deliberately spoke like that so that Rio would also hear it.


    "Hah?!"


    "That''s how it is," Valerie shrugged his shoulders, "put Rio''s motivation aside, it''s only right that I help a friend of my friend in need! Do you agree, Rita?"


    "Yes, of course. Helping you guys stop Johann''s plans to sabotage this project is like throwing a stone and hitting two birds at once¡ªwe can solve several problems at once," Rita added.


    "A-ah. Thanks again, guys! But still, I think a keychain doesn''t really pay it up, right?"


    "Don''t worry about that. I''m okay with anything you gave us. By the way, how is the condition of your Records of the Past? Has it stabilized again?" asked Rio.


    "Regarding that, my Records of the Pas has returned to normal. I don''t know, I really don''t understand why it''s like that."


    Rio and Valerie exchanged glances and agreed in silence to let that matter be since it''s been fixed anyway. Thus, Rio decided not to discuss it anymore.


    As long as everything goes well as usual, then there''s no need to worry anymore, he thought.


    "So, what are you going to do from now? I heard we were advised to go back to the future when the energy accumulated in the ring is enough," Arisa asked curiously. "Maybe they were also worried about what just happened here, so the scientists suggested that we return to the future for the better."


    "About that," Rio scratched the top of his head, "Val and I decided to finish our responsibilities as urban planner staff. As you see it yourself, the condition of this town is quite severe because that incident. So¡­ we still have a lot of work to do."


    "Right, right," Valerie agreed.


    "Especially after this, the local government will focus on rebuilding the dam. My previous proposal will be implemented in this construction so I have to make sure for it to actually work," Rio continued.


    "Ah, so that''s how it is. What about you, Rita?"


    "More or less, my situation is almost the same as Rio and Valerie. My division is heavily involved in reconstructing the city and supporting the dam restoration project. So, I will be just as busy as them," Rita answered.


    "How about you, Arisa? I''m guessing you still want to be here until you graduate from school?" Rio guessed.


    "I don''t know. However, one thing is certain. I can''t leave my siblings. The eldest sister should guide them to grow up into a good person, right?"


    Rio smiled. "I see. If that''s what you want, then, may every one of us travel safely and our contributions to the planet in the future will be meaningful. See you around, Arisa."


    "Yup. See you."


    As Rio and everyone else disappeared from Arisa''s sight, Vanilla and Tirto returned.


    "Your friends have gone home?" asked the little girl with short hair. Arisa nods.


    "We''re also going home, let''s go," said Tirto.


    "You guys go home first, okay? I still have one more thing to do."


    "Ah. Why not we go home together? You can do it later, right?" said Tirto.


    "Ssh, if you become a good boy, I''ll buy you ice cream later. How?"


    "Okay, we''ll go home first. Big sis, be careful, okay?" said Vanilla swiftly, and she immediately dragged her stepbrother home.


    Confirming that her siblings are on the way home already, Arisa rushes to the essential building in this city, which is also undergoing renovations due to the damage caused by someone earlier. She is looking for Sato when Arisa arrives so that someone can take her inside.


    "Alright, Miss. Take your time here. If there''s anything, just press your ring."


    "Thank you very much, Mr Davide. However, I don''t think anything could happen."


    The door made from metal bars is closed while Arisa goes inside, and the head of the police division walks away. Mr. Davide is watching someone who sits with his arms wrapped around his legs while burying his face in between.


    "Hi, Johann."

 44th Fragment - An Old Friend II

    "Why are you coming here?"


    Johann slowly stood up, revealing his unkept face and hair. His eyes stare coldly at Arisa, still filled with the rage and determination to seek justice for his father.


    Yet, Arisa stands still while staring at him back. She then smiles to reply to Johann''s piercing gaze just now.


    "I just want to see an old friend. There''s no harm in it, right?"


    "Nonsense. There''s no reason for you to come here. Look, I''ve killed a lot of people. So I ask you: Does your family still around? Your parents, or maybe your stupid siblings perhaps? So, are you going to make me pay because of that, Arisa?!"


    Arisa''s chest feels hurt hearing Johann''s question. Who wouldn''t feel disturbed when someone who had indeed caused such a disaster and snatched away her family is in front of that girl, provoking her further?


    Still, Arisa has been thinking about this many times. Her parents as her past families who had given her the warmth of a family relationship, her childhood friends who had taken extreme paths to avenge his only family due to political agenda, and the resemblance of her loss to Johann¡ª


    ¡ªboth lost someone who made their chest warm and feels safe.


    Arisa understood very well what Johann was feeling all this time.


    "No answer. So your family is gone. Then, what are you going to do with me now?"


    "¡­"


    "So as you know, I''m not regretting what I''ve done so far. I won''t apologize to you either. Just you wait, I will definitely be get out of here and avenge my father."


    "Johann¡ª"


    "This is the pain I''ve been feeling all this time, you understand?! Let all the volunteers know how I feel about this goddamned planet! Damn you all!"


    "I care a lot about you, Johann. Because that''s the main reason I came here."


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    Arisa''s calm reply made Johann feel grith his teeth. If Arisa continued her words again, then he would¡ª


    The girl with the long brown hair hugs Johann tight suddenly. His eyes widen, totally not expecting his childhood friend to do that. Why would Arisa embrace the killer of her parents?


    "What the hell? Let me go."


    Johann struggles to push Arisa. However, she is much stronger somehow. Perhaps it''s because Johann had been confined in this place since the accident, so he doesn''t move that much.


    As her friend is still trying to push her off, Arisa pushes Johann''s body first until he hits the wall hard. He groans weakly because his head hits a bit and almost falls if only Arisa doesn''t catch his body first.


    "Ahh¨C"


    "Have you calmed down a bit?"


    "Kuh, damn¡­"


    Johann is no longer saying anything and letting Arisa do as she pleases. Even though Johann is no longer showing signs of struggle, Arisa doesn''t let go of her arms even a bit. In fact, she tightened her hug even more, just like what she did to Rio when they were at the border of the safe zone. Or when Arisa found her younger siblings during the dam accident. She hugs Johann so tightly that she feels breathless herself.


    "¡­now I understand how you feel, Johann. Why would you do such a risky thing for the sake of your only family¡­ even at the cost of our planet''s future? Therefore, I apologize that I cannot understand your feelings at that time."


    "¡ªuh¡­"


    Arisa apologized. Johann is really confused because of what Arisa has said. However, his ears didn''t lie. Arisa really apologizes to him.


    Even after everything that he did.


    "Seriously. What do you mean, Arisa?"


    "I''m really sorry for not being able to understand you since we met again that night, under the heavy rain."


    "..."


    Arisa is breathing heavily. And somehow, Johann also feels the same way¨Che can''t understand Arisa''s viewpoint. Deep beneath his consciousness, a little bit of guilt appeared, even if it was just an atom-sized.


    For the first time, they reconnected in a long time since their last meeting when Arisa''s biological father died.


    Is it okay for Johann to let his guard down in front of his childhood friend?


    Is it really okay for him to be weak in front of Arisa?


    "To me, you are still my friend. You are Johann, who always accompanies me when we are in the laboratory to study and to play," said Arisa quietly.


    Johann closes his eyes.


    He secretly wishes that if possible, Arisa will no longer be affected when Johann gets the chance to seize his opportunity back to seek justice for his father.

 45th Fragment - Serene, Peaceful Night

    The light green-colored car drives at an average speed on the main bridge, Tantoris'' north. The sun is setting in the far west, letting the moon appear soon along with the stars in the sky. Someone driving down the road hums cheerfully, following the rhythm of the radio she is playing. She glances at the rearview mirror to check the vehicle behind her for a moment. She adjusted the ice cream-shaped hair clip in her hair before turning her gaze to the road again.


    "Hah, a week-worth work is finally done!" Arisa cheered and then followed the soft music again


    It''s been seven years since the event at the dam. The restoration is a big success as indicated by the latest construction substituted damaged property due to the flood. When Arisa glanced out the window from a distance, she could see the dam was still in the restoration process¨Cabout a quarter more to the completion. The structure got some green spots in the lower half, almost covering all available concrete. It''s a feast for Arisa''s eyes seeing the dam with greenish addition like that.


    "Amazing. Rio''s plan has come to fruition. He should be able to see how it turns out in the future. I think they focused on restoring the city first and when it was finished, they''re going to the dam. If I heard it right¡­."


    Not long after, Arisa arrived at her house. This residence is also one of the objects that are the result of restoration from the city government. When Arisa gets out of the car, she takes a glimpse of her perfect home with her arms folded on her chest.


    "After all, Rio and Valerie worked hard until all the damage had been taken care of before they returned to the future. Although there are some minor changes, it''s not a problem. Those two are really diligent people," Arisa commented.


    Entering the house, Arisa finds her siblings wearing aprons and preparing dinner.


    "What a surprise, Big Sis is already home at this hour. Usually, you''re stuck with overtime," said the younger brother.


    "Hehe, I feel very diligent today so there''s no need to work overtime. Wow, what are you making for dinner?"


    "I''m in the mood to eat some chicken. We also already have the ingredients in the fridge so we decided to make chicken curry," Vanilla replied in a cold tone. Her hands are still busy preparing the dish inside a hot pot. The brownish orange color and scrumptious aroma quickly fill the dining room, arousing Arisa''s appetite after a long work day.


    Later, the two take off their aprons and join the eldest sister, who was already prepared with her plate at the dinner table. When Tirto served the dish, Arisa''s impatient hand quickly took a large spoon which Vanilla slapped lightly.


    "Don''t be hurry. We have to take Mom and Dad''s portion too," the bob-haired girl rebuked flatly.


    "Ahaha, right, right," Arisa replied awkwardly.


    Arisa glanced at the two empty seats right next to Tirto. Those chairs are where Mom and Dad usually sit. Now, only three people are occupying the table. So, it feels quieter than before.


    Everyone is silent for a few minutes before Arisa takes her curry. When Vanilla helps Arisa take her portion of chicken curry, Tirto waits patiently.


    "As usual, it''s so spot on. Good job, you two."


    "Slow down, big sis. You''ll choke yourself," Tirto warned.


    "You should be more polite even though it''s just the three of us," Vanilla sneered.


    "Hahaha, because it''s so delicious I can''t control myself¡­."


    The dinner went by as usual, just like the previous night.


    Vanilla and Tirto are in high school now, and usually, they say goodbyes in the morning while wearing uniforms to Arisa, who is still half asleep, forced to wake up still wearing her pajamas. Seeing them leave the door daily to school made Arisa proud as the eldest.


    She feels she successfully raised her siblings, according to her determination, seven years ago.


    So, Arisa is puffing her chest to see how Vanilla and Tirto are in their teenage years now. All the hard work she did has paid off.


    Saturday has arrived. On that day, both Arisa''s siblings got a day off from school. She also has no work schedule this weekend. So, everyone is currently free, and it''s suited to Arisa''s plan.


    When morning came, everyone in the house wore pajamas to laze around. Vanilla is playing on her cell phone while sitting on the sofa, and Tirto is on the floor, watching the news on the television.


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    "For next news, we will bring you to the progress of construction for the Tantoris City''s dam. The city government stated that the construction of the vital facility is progressing smoothly. They also claim to have found the right formula for reinforcing concrete structures using a special type of vine or plants. It is enough to get the attention from abroad regarding the implementation of the plant related to the safety of dam construction. Our source said it''s estimated that the dam will be able to function again after the next five years."


    Vanilla shifts her gaze from her cell phone to the television screen. A glimpse of nostalgia greets her memory as the former resident of the said place. However, she doesn''t think much about it and returns to her cell phone.


    "Next, we will bring you the mysterious round object that caused the collapse of the dam seven years ago for the next topic. Investigations have been conducted for years and the analysis report which stated that the object is a product of far more sophisticated technology than ours remains unchanged. Theories regarding the origin of the object have not yet received any significant proof. Is the round thing coming from outer space or is there someone from the future who visited us here? Hopefully, we will get the answer soon from the authorities."


    Tirto enjoyed his snack while his gaze was still on the screen. He glances at his cell phone lying on the floor but quickly loses interest and returns to the television.


    "Today we are going on a picnic!" the eldest sister cheered suddenly, piercing the ears of his siblings lying around on the weekends.


    Arisa is already dressed when the two of them turn their heads. They''re having the same thought: What''s this all of a sudden?


    "Wait a moment! Before you ask why, I will answer it first! You see, I got a promotion at work yesterday, so I want to celebrate it today since everyone mostly are free. Let''s play until we beat! Don''t be lazy, you''re still young!"


    Arisa''s siblings look at each other before Tirto nods slowly. Without words, they rushed to prepare themselves with the excited eldest sister waiting on the sofa.


    Arisa drives her green car to go around the western''s town. Tirto was in the front passenger seat to help his sister navigate, and Vanilla was in the back seat, looking out the window.


    "So where are we going?" asked Vanilla.


    "Of course to have fun!" said Arisa from the driver''s seat.


    "What an abstract answer¡­let me guess. Will we go to the shopping complex first?"


    "Good guess, Tirto. I really want to go shopping first."


    In short, they arrived at the city''s shopping complex. Since today is Saturday, the situation looks crowded. People spend their time just looking around or unwinding by buying various things they want, just like what occurred in Arisa''s head.


    Vanilla grabbed her sister''s arm when she was going to enter an electronics store that featured a new refrigerator promo with a bonus set of ice cream makers.


    "We don''t need that," Vanilla said flat. Arisa just laughed dryly.


    Ultimately, they decided to go around while enjoying ice cream in each other''s mouths. For Tirto, he did not follow his two sisters, who were able to eat cold snacks continuously, so he preferred a hot dog perched on his lips.


    Those three arrived at the eatery, which was located about fifteen minutes using a vehicle from the shopping area. Vanilla and Tirto couldn''t stop looking around because it was their first time here.


    "I''ve never been here before. This place looks fancy," said Tirto as Vanilla nodded in agreement.


    "It''s necessary to be fancy when I want to celebrate something. This place is perfect, all right." Arisa replied as they took their seats while looking through the menu book. She doesn''t mind the dishes'' price there.


    "Big Sis, are you sure we''re going to eat here?" Vanilla asked to be sure.


    Arisa smiled wide and she puffed out her chest. "I''m hundred percent sure. Now! Order as you please!"


    Since that was the final straw Tirto needed, he started to list what he should eat. Vanilla is looking through the menu while carefully choosing because she doesn''t want to let this opportunity go by.


    Arisa guesses each of the choices of her siblings. Most likely, Vanilla will order something cold plus ice cream as her mandatory dish, while Tirto prefers western dishes.


    "Big Sis, why are you smiling by yourself?" Tirto asked when he noticed that Arisa was watching them.


    "No. It''s nothing," Arisa replied casually.


    When the waitress brings over the dishes, Arisa feels like she has achieved a moment in her life because her guess is quite correct. Vanilla ordered light snacks accompanied by a large portion of ice cream, while Tirto chose a steak.


    In short, those three left the restaurant satisfied. When Vanilla gazes up, the sun is setting in the west.


    "Next, we will go to the Ferris wheel as the last destination. You still don''t want to go home yet, do you?" asked Arisa while driving the car.


    There was no objection from her siblings. Thus, the girl wearing an ice cream-shaped hairclip rides her vehicle to the city''s south, where they can find various kinds of night rides and the Ferris wheel Arisa refers to. They''re going around to enjoy most of the rides on a weekend night first, then ride the Ferris wheel.


    The three of them couldn''t while enjoying the view from above even though they had seen it several times from the Tower Caf¨¦. No matter how often they see the evening sparkle of Tantoris City from above, something magical always takes their attention in a grasp. Arisa can see the city dam shrouded in bright construction lights at the city''s northern end this time.


    "Thankfully the repair of the dam is progressing smoothly so far," Tirto commented.


    "Precisely what''s the news anchor said," Vanilla added.


    "On the other side, This city is indeed very charming when viewed from above like this. It''s like a firework that never goes out." Tirto smiled a bit with his gaze locked on every corner of the city.


    "I agree," replied the girl with the bob cut while looking at the area she had rarely seen.


    "Yeah. No matter how much several years have passed, this sight can''t be compared to anything else. It feels warm and makes me feel comfortable, even though it''s supposed to be cold because it''s nighttime already," Arisa added.


    Instead of enjoying the night view of the city, Arisa stared intently at her siblings, who watched outside the window. Perhaps, Arisa is talking about something different than the previous topic.


    There''s a smile on her face, a smile that came from the heart of someone who loved ice cream so much that she wore an ice cream-shaped hairclip on her head.

 46th Fragment - Something That Need to be Said

    The house''s atmosphere is quiet when everyone has entered the room to rest. The wall''s clock showed one o''clock in the morning when there was no longer the sound of passing vehicles could be heard. Now and then, the sound of night insects fills the night''s quietness.


    However, Arisa is still awake. She is looking at the moon, which is quite bright on this particular night, infiltrating her dark room. The girl opened a drawer on her desk, and a ring moved slowly inside.


    "It''s been seven years since I haven''t worn this anymore," she whispered.


    When Arisa puts on and reactivates the communication ring, she reaccesses her inbox. Several messages brought her mind back to seven years ago when she decided to stay in the past and cut off any contacts from the future. Several texts or videos from Rio could be seen in her inbox. She reread most of the messages with a small laugh.


    I wonder what effect we bring to the future because of this journey. Is this mission can be counted as a success?


    Arisa no longer knows the current state of her original timeline since she cuts off any contacts coming from the ring. She starts to speculate and wonders about the condition of this planet and the news from her friends.


    "¡­ I''m sure they''ll be fine. Okay. Focus, focus on the main goal."


    The girl closes her desk drawer and walks out into the kitchen. It''s pretty dark in the living room and kitchen, yet Arisa doesn''t need to turn on the lamp. She looks for the refrigerator and opens the freezer to take the ice cream box out.


    "Yes, this will be enough."


    She reorganized the box and prepared to go out.


    "Big Sis, where are you going?"


    "Eh¡ª"


    Arisa turns and finds Vanilla wearing pajamas and rubbing her eyes. She doesn''t expect her adopted sister to wake up at this late hour. Arisa is planning to leave this house alone.


    Vanilla is looking at her sister closely. She won''t move if Arisa doesn''t answer.


    "About that¡­"


    "Where are you going?"


    Arisa averts her gaze while scratching the left side of her head in search of the correct answer.


    Meanwhile, Vanilla''s gaze feels more pressing and piercing. When she tried to find what kind of answer she''ll say, the purpose of why she was still awake this late at night and wore the ring back after seven years flashed through her eyes.


    There is a bitter smile under the darkness. This time, Arisa wants to be selfish for the last time.


    "I''m going to the dam. Do you want to come?"


    "Dam? What are you going to do there?"


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    Arisa doesn''t answer and smiles quietly instead. Vanilla still doesn''t get the answer she wants and yet doesn''t feel like thinking further, chooses to nod.


    "What about Tirto?"


    "Let him sleep well tonight. He must be very tired after a whole day we''re outside."


    And then, Arisa drives her car towards the dam, which is still shrouded in the bright lights of the restoration project. The construction of the dam is still going on for 24 hours non-stop.


    During the way, Arisa''s gaze is looking straight ahead. Now and then, Vanilla glanced at her sister. However, Vanilla feels that her throat feels stiff for some reason. Her mouth is also sealed somehow since they pass through the house door. No matter what she wants to say, she just can''t say it.


    Vanilla''s head throbs. She had never felt like this before, even when she was still living in the dam. This uncomfortable feeling continued to haunt her until she realized they had arrived at the cable car station nearby.


    "Alright, let''s go," said Arisa while taking the ice cream box and stepping out of the car.


    Vanilla looked around to check the situation. It''s cold and silent, and no single vehicle is parked beside Arisa''s. Naturally, who would go to the dam being renovated at a time like this?


    Nonetheless, Vanilla accepted the ice cream offered by her sister as they walked to ride the cable car to go to the top of the dam. This facility moves automatically, so it stays functional at any time.


    "Big Sis. What are you going to do here?" Vanilla asked again when she finally gathered her courage.


    "Hmm?" Arisa glanced at her sister. Then, she turned her gaze out the cable car''s window. "Vanilla, have you ever thought of rewinding back the time?"


    "Hah?" Vanilla doesn''t understand at all.


    "If we could turn back time, would you do that at any cost?"


    Arisa isn''t looking at Vanilla. However, Vanilla understood that her sister was serious about the question. Maybe Vanilla doesn''t notice. However, Arisa stares at Vanilla from the reflection of the cable car''s window.


    "¡­if we can really do that, I want to turn back time."


    "Why?"


    "There''s a moment I want to bring back. A crucial one. So, the pace of fate won''t be going like this."


    "¡­so that''s what you think. Oh, we''ve arrived."


    Vanilla watched her adoptive sister get out of the cable car first and follow her from behind. When she set foot, the air felt colder than when they were at the cable car station below. This is also Vanilla''s first return to this place since seven years ago.


    Although everything is quite bright due to the project lights being everywhere, only the occasional clank sound can be heard from various places in the dam. There is barely any work during this late at night, or they may be taking a break. Not too loud, but not too quiet either.


    "Apparently, there are some parts that can''t be visited, huh? Look. They put something on the roads," said Arisa while pointing to the closed area because it was still under construction.


    Even so, she continued to walk down the dam, followed by her adopted sister behind. Arisa is reminiscing about what happened on this dam as they go around.


    "Thinking about it, we''ve got some moments here too, right? We meet for the first time and introduce ourselves here. We also come back here often at your request at that time, don''t we?" said Arisa while looking around. Then, she turned to Vanilla, who stared at her flatly.


    "That''s right. I asked you to bring me here a few times."


    Arisa nods slowly and continues her steps towards the dam''s edge to lean against the guardrail. Vanilla just followed behind.


    "In the past, this place collapsed for some reason. Now, everything has returned to normal. On the west side, Tower Caf¨¦ looks charming with its sparkling light. Oh, the Ferris wheel on the south can''t be seen from here."


    Vanilla leans against the guardrail to check with her eyes that the Ferris wheel is not visible from the dam''s height. The flickering city of Tantoris makes her vision blurry, and she rubs her sleepy eyes a few times because everything is too bright for her. Vanilla realized that her sister had handed her another ice cream.


    "I''ve got mine before."


    "I know. But, do you want more?"


    "..."


    Vanilla takes Arisa''s offer and eats theirs for a while. The low temperature around the dam and strong winds did not stop them from eating their favorite cold snacks.


    The younger sister approaches Arisa and pulls her clothes. "You''re finished with the ice cream? Let''s go home."


    Arisa turns and shakes her head. She takes off her hair clip and hands it to Vanilla.


    "For now on, please take good care of this hair clip."

 47th Fragment - Wishmaker

    Arisa''s memory goes back to seven years ago when she was in a cramped cell to meet someone.


    "I''ll tell you one thing before you leave here," said Johann out of nowhere when Arisa was about to leave.


    She turns with a confused look.


    "You know the rumor about the ring''s hidden feature? I saw on RingNet that some volunteers were talking about it."


    "I know that. They say this ring can grant any wish of the wearer, right? Practically, everyone can get their wish granted somehow. However, no one has found how to access the feature until now. Do you know anything deeper about it?"


    "It''s as you said. I know all about it while ensuring the feature is inside the communication ring."


    "¡­is it really true?"


    A little thought that her wish could be granted appears in Arisa''s mind if the rumors are true. She stares at Johann a bit impatiently, waiting for her childhood friend to reveal the information.


    When Johann moved his mouth to explain further, Arisa listened carefully. What she heard had wholly changed her mind at that moment.


    Since that day, Arisa got her goal back: to use the hidden feature of the ring worn by everyone from the future.


    "Are you seriously giving me this?" asked Vanilla looking at Arisa in disbelief.


    The eldest sister nods. Vanilla widens her eyes because she still can''t believe her ears. She carefully picks the hair clip. Indeed, Arisa gave her something that has always stuck in her head.


    My hunch is telling me that something I don''t like will happen soon, the short-haired girl thought.


    "Why? What is the reason you gave this hair clip? I almost never saw you take this off and now you give it to me?"


    Arisa stays silent and smiles instead. That smile increases Vanilla''s confusion even further.


    As if she''s going for a departure, far from here. I don''t want that.


    "Vanilla, I was asking if you could turn back the time before, right?"


    "That''s right."


    "And your answer is¡ª"


    "I want to do it. To turn back the time."


    Arisa strokes Vanilla''s hair gently. "So am I. If possible, I will turn back everything to make things right. To undo all of this so matter the risk that will arise. I will face all of the consequences."


    "Wait a bit, Big Sis. Why are you keep mentioning to turn back the time?"


    Arisa takes a few steps back and activates her ring in front of Vanilla. Seeing something she has never seen before, Vanilla gasps and covers her eyes by reflex.


    It''s time to grant the wish hidden in Arisa''s heart for seven years.


    Arisa''s mind flashed back to Johann''s words at that time.


    "That''s how to access hidden features of our ring. Now, we are both aware if the feature to grant someone''s request really exists there. It''s just that there are still many things that I don''t understand, "said Johann while remembering what he had learned related to the feature.


    "...and that thing is?"


    "To activate this feature, it takes a tremendous amount of energy. In fact, the energy needed is far greater than the amount we need to go to the future. It could be that gathering the energy in the ring for five years is still not enough."


    "I see. Have you ever tried to activate it?"


    Johann shook his head. "Because I know that the amount of energy needed will be an an absurd amount, I don''t really bother to use it. No one knows whether there has been a human''s wish that has been granted before. What is clear to us is the method to activate it." He shrugs for a bit. "You know, when a feature can guarantee one''s wish no matter how impossible it is, don''t you think if it can even cost a life?"


    "Do you think this ring can kill someone because of that, Johann?"


    "Just a guess. I''ve said I don''t bother with the said feature."


    "...okay."


    If the energy needed is really that much, then accumulating it for seven years should be enough, right? I''m sure that much can fulfill the activation requirements.


    I''ll be accessing the hidden feature of my ring by then. Thank you, Johann.


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    A warning notification appears in front of Arisa, asking if the user wants access to the hidden feature. She answered the question from the system deep inside her heart. Vanilla is witnessing the absurdity in front of her and cannot comprehend what happened here.


    "Big Sis!? What''s the light coming from your hands?!"


    In an instant, everything around Arisa suddenly changed. There is no more dam nor Vanilla. The view from above of Tantoris is also disappeared.


    "This...?"


    She is floating in the middle of nowhere as if she is in water depths. As far as Arisa''s gaze goes, everything around her is like an endless twilight sky. She adjusted her body so that she could stand up even though she wasn''t actually standing. Somehow, Arisa can adapt herself to the void of twilight.


    A notification screen reappeared in front of Arisa.


    "This feature is able to grant all human requests, no matter how impossible and can transcend the boundaries of space and time. It will take a tremendous amount of energy to do this. Are you sure to proceed?"


    The girl smiles proudly. She is aware of her wish very well. And to achieve that, she wants to turn back time. So, she raised her ring to present the energy she had accumulated over the past seven years and¨C


    "I do. Let''s proceed."


    A projection screen shows that the energy that Arisa has accumulated is decreasing. Arisa''s wish will come true soon. She closes her eyes and relaxes all her muscles because her body falls into the infinity of warm twilight clouds.


    Far before her, there is a vast mechanical clock with the size of the moon. Or perhaps much bigger. Arisa is sure that if the earth''s satellite comes closer to the atmosphere, it might look this huge.


    Arisa notices countless clocks or timepieces with past, present, and future types suddenly appearing around her. The objects rotate slowly, surrounding the girl while vivid images come into her head¡ªviews of various possible futures and other streams of time.


    A what-if vision suddenly appears inside her head: when she didn''t adopt Vanilla, when she didn''t meet Rio, or when she didn''t meet Johann again. And a scenario when the incident at the dam never happened.


    But then, Arisa is firm with her greatest wish: to turn back the time.


    Suddenly the twilight sky around her turned into a warning screen numbering thousands. There was a small notification that always accompanied Arisa when she was falling. Each of those alerts carried a message:


    Not enough energy to activate this feature.


    "Really!?" Arisa shouts in disbelief. She didn''t expect the seven years of energy she had accumulated isn''t still enough.


    "Then, how much do you want? Ten or fifteen years'' worth of energy? How unfortunate. Then, it''s better to cancel this feature," she told the system.


    A projection reappeared.


    If you cancel this function, the energy used can''t be recovered.


    "That can''t be¡­ do you know how long I must wait, so I use my energy now? Are you saying that the energy I''ve accumulated over the years has been wasted?"


    A scene appears inside her head. Arisa can see how long she waits, for the energy accumulated inside her ring will always not be enough. Be it twenty or thirty years to come, it''ll not suffice. Even though Arisa used up all her lifetime, she couldn''t accumulate the energy needed.


    Trying hard to grasp her hopes that are about to disappear, a projection reappears by offering an alternative for Arisa, who is currently falling among thousands of warning notifications:


    "The lack of energy needed can be covered with my existence as the cost. What does it mean?"


    Suddenly an image of the meaning of her disappearing existence flashes into her mind. It only takes a few microseconds to make Arisa smile.


    "I see. To wish something impossible does require a fair price. That explains why I can''t have enough energy even though I used up all my life''s worth."


    It''s good I handed over my hairclip to Vanilla beforehand.


    Then, she whispers, "I''m ready to use my existence so my wish can be true."


    All the warning projections disappeared instantly and were replaced by the night sky full of stars. Her eyes widen when she witnesses the road of beautiful stars similar to the milky way as if her wish hidden in her heart is blessed.


    The moon-sized mechanical clock''s hour hand is moving backward.


    It''s final. Arisa''s request will be granted soon.


    When Arisa wakes up, she is back at the city dam with Vanilla, waiting for her with almost-cried eyes. From her perspective, Arisa had just now emitted a strange square-shaped light from her ring. Then, the light just disappeared.


    "Big Sis...? Are you okay?"


    Vanilla approached with unsteady steps. For some reason, the strength in her legs almost disappeared. It felt hard to approach her older sister, who had lived with her all this time. When her sister came, she could clearly see Arisa''s face¨C


    ¡ª¡ªwho is crying beautifully that the view of Tantoris at dawn behind her is no longer charming.


    "...?"


    Arisa sobs, and a second later, she tries to smile in front of her little sister. At least she still knows a bit about how to fake her expression even though her tears are overflowing.


    "I''m sorry, Vanilla but this has to be done. There is a wish that I must grant at any cost."


    "What are you saying, Big Sis? I don''t understand anything. What kind of wish that you want grant?! Please explain it to me!"


    Vanilla can''t hold back the burning feeling in her chest; this is the first time she shouts in front of Arisa. Her eyes start to water, trying to express everything to her sister.


    "This has to do with you gave me your hairclip, right? This also has to do with your question before, right? No wonder you invited us all to spend time together and gave me this very important hairclip! Big Sister, are you going to leave me too?!"


    Her cry echoes in the cold night as Vanilla throws herself into Arisa. She quickly hugs Arisa tight and buries her face in her clothes.


    "I don''t need to turn back the time if it means you go far away! No! I don''t need it! Please don''t go! You should always be here!"


    Listening to her sister''s cry touched Arisa''s heart. In fact, this is the first time Arisa knows that Vanilla can express her emotions like that.


    It feels unfortunate. But I want to do this from the bottom of my heart.


    Vanilla pulls her head and looks at her sister with a puffy face. Arisa''s tears flowed more with her smile before she hugged her sister tightly. On this night, two people are conveying their feelings to each other.


    One is crying because she doesn''t want to lose someone she holds dear.


    The other one is crying because of satisfaction and relief.


    The ring in Arisa''s hand gives off a lukewarm light. Like the arms that hug so gently and serenely, the sparkle shines more and more, enveloping the two. It also engulfs the dam and everything in it, overlapping the lamps installed there.


    The light continues to expand, touching all corners of the city, starting from the north side. And then to the cable car station, the Mayor Bridge, Tower Caf¨¦, Arisa''s house, to the city station at the south end.


    At dawn, before the sun truly comes out, Tantoris is enveloped by a mysterious light that is so comforting to fulfill the wish of a girl who likes ice cream.

 48th Fragment - At The End of Her Wish

    The bird chirps sweetly around the dam and their wings flap when the sunlight finally comes to encourage them to greet the morning.


    Someone slowly started to wake up. Not because of the cold air and warm light from the eastern horizon that teases her eyes, but because someone shakes her body.


    "Hey, Vanilla. Wake up. Why are you sleeping here?"


    She slowly comes to her senses and recognizes the voice clearly. When most of Vanilla''s consciousness comes due to the morning sun''s direct light, she looks around and has no slightest idea of why she is in a place where one shouldn''t be sleeping.


    "Ngh¡­"


    She wipes her hands from the dirt and looks at the figure before her.


    "¡­Tirto? Why you are here?"


    "I''m asking you the same thing. Why did you spend the night here? There''s a small note on the dinner table that says you went to the dam last night."


    "I slept here¡­?"


    "Look at you, still in your pajama. The last thing that I remember, we went to our own rooms, and when morning came, you''re not in your room," said Tirto.


    "Uhh¡­"


    Vanilla holds her forehead to check her condition since she feels unwell. Somehow her body felt so exhausted, but she didn''t know the cause.


    "I don''t feel well¡­."


    "We should just go home right now. When you feel better, you must tell me why you''re here in the first place alone."


    Alone?


    Vanilla looks back to search for something. Everything looks normal and quiet as far as she sees. Only the birds'' chirps or tree rattles because of the wind. The dam is functioning as it should without any slight trace of damage. Tirto raises his eyebrows seeing his adoptive sister acting weird.


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    "What are you looking for?"


    "No¡­ I shouldn''t be alone," Vanilla replied uncertainly.


    They find an ice cream box with scrambled sticks and melted ice cream inside. Vanilla doesn''t understand why there is an ice cream box nearby.


    "Maybe I brought it," Vanilla mumbled cluelessly.


    "Maybe?" Tito doubted, "Never mind. Let''s just go home quickly."


    She nods while standing up with the help of her adopted brother¨C


    Something fell on the ground. Vanilla immediately picks it up and observes the thing that has just fallen.


    An ice cream-shaped hairclip.


    "That''s yours?" asked Tirto.


    Vanilla froze for a moment. "I never wore this."


    "Then, whose hairclip is that?"


    "¡­I can''t remember."


    Tirto shrugs and starts to walk away. A strange feeling suddenly crushes Vanilla''s heart when she goes to follow him. Her chest tightened as she stared at the hair clip in her hand. Her tongue feels dry like a desert, and her eyes are watery until tears slowly flow down her face.


    Vanilla tries to hold back her tears in front of Tirto, yet she can''t. She wipes her tears because the sad foreign feeling is overflowing inside her chest without restraint. Her sobs are getting louder and louder, and Tirto is calming her down despite his surprise.


    "Sobs¡­uuh¡­ ahhh.¡­."


    "It''s okay.. Don''t worry about it. Just be calm, alright?" said Tirto gently while patting his sister''s back without questions.


    With this bubbling sadness out of nowhere, the girl is perplexed about what she is crying about. She feels like she is losing someone significant to her, and it is impossible to meet that person again.


    After a few good minutes of Vanilla releasing her emotion, they''re going from the dam to return home. They exchanged no words until they finally arrived home.


    When Vanilla and Tirto enter the house, Mom immediately hugs her daughter while Dad is behind her, waiting anxiously.


    "Where have you been, Vanilla? Mom was very worried when Tirto said that you were not in your room!"


    "¡­Mom? Dad?"


    Vanilla looked at her adoptive parents for a moment. A nostalgic feeling engulfed her mind and heart upon this sight, almost making her cry again. However, she isn''t sure about her feelings because her memories tell Vanilla that she had always been living in this house with her adoptive family all this time.


    She glances at the ice cream-shaped hairclip in the palm of her hand.


    She grabs it gently and tight. Then, Vanilla smiles warmly.


    "I''m home."


    On that day, Vanilla joins her family and has breakfast with a warm feeling in her chest. She feels that it''s been a long time since she met her adoptive parents, who had always been there all this time. So, Vanilla wants to stay at home until today is over.


    Witnessing her family sitting together at the dining table makes her smile. She hopes that she can stay together with her family until the end of time.

 Last Fragment

    In a different timeline, far in the future.


    A teenage guy just woke up because of the alarm that appeared from the wall of his room, yelling around. He immediately turned it off by pressing something on the projection screen that happened to appear nearby and scratching his head lazily.


    "It''s morning."


    Rio walks towards the bathroom and washes his face for a bit, putting on his clothes assisted by the automatic system integrated into his house in no time. Then, he prepares breakfast while reading the morning news from his ring''s projection.


    "It has been a few weeks since the return of the volunteer team. The good news about the results of this project keeps popping up," he commented with a mouth full of toast. "They also said our environment is improved somehow. Oh, where''s the report¡­."


    Rio accessed his ring and opened several environmental change reports with the required graphics and video documentation that ran automatically. His eyes carefully look at the information and nod firmly.


    His thoughts go back to when he was about to part with his family of the past. Of course, Rio couldn''t say openly that he would return to the future to everyone. However, Vemia knowing that Rio wasn''t someone of the same timeline as her, made the girl whimper.


    "I also want to the future! I want to see what the future looks like!"


    Finally, Vemia understands if Rio has to return, and he can''t bring Vemia over.


    "Well, perhaps I can send some texts to her to tell Vemia that we''ve been alright. Good thing that she stayed behind in the past¡­ who? Wait a moment."


    His head spins suddenly when Rio recalls his memory. His gut feelings told him that he had said farewell to another figure other than Vemia long before returning to the future. However, Rio''s memory firmly believed he only bid farewell only to his little sister of the past, not to anyone else.


    His memories overlapped for a moment.


    "¡­weird."


    Rio glances at the clock on his ring''s projection and quickly finishes his breakfast before going out.


    "I''ll be late if I don''t hurry," he muttered as he jogged.


    Rio''s footsteps take him to the crowded downtown district. The officials adjust the atmosphere of the oxygen dome. Hence, it feels colder than usual while simultaneously smelling sweet and giving out such a refreshing feel. As far as his eye could see, everyone was enjoying the festivities vibes of the event that was currently being held.


    "The ice cream festival this time looks fun," Rio commented.


    Rio walks down the street and passes by several people looking at the ice cream shops and other complementary snacks. Different dessert variations are featured, along with cold snacks and several other foods. Somehow, the atmosphere itself can lift Rio''s mood.


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    He finally arrives at the place with an automatic door opening slowly¡ªa comfortable caf¨¦ with a synthetic green-colored theme. When Rio steps inside, his two friends are already waiting at one of the tables while looking at him.


    "Well, just in time. We were just talking about you," said Valerie with a sneer.


    Rita smiles sweetly. "Hi, Rio."


    Rio just smirked in annoyance because of Valerie.


    Shortly, those three were relaxing in the shady cafe atmosphere because of the plants arranged inside, originally decorated to calm anyone who entered the cafe. This place also provides a special dish for the ice cream festival, so the three don''t think twice about ordering it.


    "So, this is the first time we''re meeting each other again after those busy first weeks when we first arrived from the past. How are you guys?" greets Valerie.


    "Other than those troublesome reports that we have to make and adapting again to this era, it''s pretty normal for me," said Rio lightly.


    "Pretty much the same with me. We have been too long in the past so we forgot what it feels like to be on our own timeline. There are a few things I need to remember at first. Such as, how to activate some of the tools at my home," Rita chuckled.


    They share more stuff to catch up and find out about each other''s situation after a long busy time with administration work because of the journey to the past. At least, the great project of humankind is proven to be bearing fruit and improving the earth''s condition for the better. According to later analysis, the threat of planetary destruction will not come early.


    While they were chatting, three sets of cold snacks arrived. Funnily enough, each of the ice cream shapes resembled an animal. Rabbit for Rita, Ostrich for Rio, and wolve for Valerie.


    Rio is tasting his ostrich for a bit. He smiles awkwardly after a few spoons.


    "It''s kind of lacking compared to the ice cream that was in the past," Rio whispers.


    "Oh, I agree. It feels less¡­ kicking," commented Valerie.


    Meanwhile, Rita doesn''t say anything and decides to take more spoons.


    "Enjoying ice cream together like this reminds me of someone," said Valerie while swallowing his portion.


    "Vanilla?" guessed Rita.


    "Correct. That kid really likes ice cream, doesn''t she? To the point that I thought maybe she should eat ice cream at least four times a day or she''ll get sick, "said the blonde guy.


    "But, I can''t remember why we got to know her. He''s not our family or relative of the past, is she?"


    Rita and Valerie looked at Rio with a realizing-about-something face because of what he had just said. Then, each of them tried to dive into their respective''s memories.


    If none of them adopted Vanilla while on the trip to the past, why did they know the fact that Vanilla was the adopted child of the Tanjung Family?


    Rita suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. There is one thing that was carried over from the past but I can''t remember where I got this thing."


    Rio glances over. "What''s that?"


    She opened her fist and showed an ice cream-shaped keychain. Rio and Valerie also take out the same thing when they see what Rita has to bring.


    "Val, Do you remember where we got this keychain from? The shape is the same. Only the color is different," Rio asks.


    Valerie shakes his head in confusion. "No¡­ I have absolutely no recollection of when we got this thing."


    "But what is clear for me is I feel that this object is precious and we must keep it," Rita continues.


    Rio and Valerie nod in agreement. They agreed that the keychain never loses it, no matter what. Even though they all do not remember the origin of the little thing, their chest feels warm seeing the supposedly cold object on their hands.


    Valerie got up from his seat.


    "Where are you going, Val?"


    "Whatever you''re assuming me to go, yeah that''s true," he smiles as he walks away.


    Valerie immediately left the place while waving to his two friends.


    It''s become quiet the moment Valerie is gone. Rio and Rita were both at a loss for what to do next. Today is an ice cream festival that the whole city celebrates. So, it''ll be a waste to skip this day and go back to rest.


    "Rita."


    "Y-yes?!"


    "Want to see the festival together with me?"


    Rita glances at the flustered Rio. The girl smiles and nods.


    "Yeah, sure."


    With beaming faces, the two leave the caf¨¦ to enjoy the festival together while holding hands.

 A Tiny Fragment in the Past - Epilogue

    The afternoon of that day feels hotter than the previous days somehow. So, Vanilla decided to relax at the Tower Caf¨¦ to read a book and enjoy the breeze at the heights. Her hand takes a few bites of the ice cream she ordered before and adjusts her glasses to focus on the sea of words before her.


    "Hey, Vanilla. That ice cream-shaped hair clip suits you well."


    When the girl averts her gaze, someone that could perhaps make the others say to her, ''hey, you''ve got a nice fashion sense,'' sits on the opposite seat of her. She smiles for a greeting while the girl with an ice cream-shaped hair clip stares with a cold expression.


    "Vemia? What a surprise."


    "Today is a holiday. After all, it''s only an hour away by train. This place isn''t really that far," she replied politely.


    "Okay."


    Vemia sighs with a smile. "Heh, that''s a short response. No wonder, everyone calls you an Ice Queen. I bet your habit of eating ice cream also can be held responsible for that nickname too."


    Vanilla stares at Vanilla sharply. "Where did you hear that name?"


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    "Ehehehe," Vemia is laughing it away lightly.


    When Vemia glances outside, the dam looks so green. Seeing that building far away made the college girl remember someone who had come to her family at some point to disguise himself as a member of her family.


    "The guys from the future are amazing, huh. They can do something that seems like a magic for us. I don''t know how they technically can visit us from far from the future. But, basically that''s what technology from the future capable to, isn''t it?"


    Vanilla looks at Vemia without commenting, then closes her book. She takes off her glasses and puts them on the table to stare at the dam from a distance.


    When Vemia turns her head, she sees the silhouette of a brown-colored hair girl coming out of this place. Vanilla widens her eyes and spontaneously stands up.


    "Vanilla?"


    Vanilla''s body is moving by itself to chase after that figure¡ªthe silhouette of someone who might be very important to her. Vanilla couldn''t remember who, but her feelings told her to stop her quickly. The sentiment is intense, as if her chest could burst at any time. If Vanilla could meet that person right now, then¡ª


    When Vanilla arrives at the entrance of the caf¨¦, she doesn''t see anyone. The lift isn''t moving at all and stays on the caf¨¦ floor. That means no one has taken the ride recently.


    Vemia, who is so curious, immediately follows behind Vanilla and looks around as well. "What is it?"


    Vanilla exhales with a small smile. "Nothing. There isn''t anything."


    "I thought I''d meet someone who I''ve been long to see."