It was dark. Darker than usual. The sound of thunder and rain filled the darkness like none ahead. also a voice came — a really tired one " I am a architect in my own eyes, but the verity is that I am nothing further than an ambitious burro schizophrenic 15- time-old. I am nothing but a hedge to everyone around me." As his eyes opened, he saw the same thing again, like hundreds of other times. A house — two bottoms. Light on. Same road in the same position in South Kolkata. The road lights were fluttering. A voice was coming from inside the house. " THIS SUMMER IS Anticipated TO BE THE COOLEST IN Times!" Subhadip said with a blank smile on his face," The 100th time this time, huh?" He pushed the half-open door and went outside. Blood was flowing on the bottom. " Damn, seems like this time it's the kitchen. Let me guess, this time it's her head in the pot? " As he went towards the kitchen, he felt like commodity was burning upstairs but he ignored it. As he reached the kitchen, he saw two bodies, both headless, lying beside the islet, where on the pot commodity was boiling. He allowed to himself, " Every time I see these two bodies I can not suppose straight each time worse than the former bone . " He also explained to himself, " It's okay. It is n't real. Or indeed if it's real it's not his timeline but I ca n't bring myself to see it. " And continued to suppose, " I might be schizophrenic, but I'm still mortal. I'm not the Subhadip I created I'm not. " The lid on the pot fell off. The heads inside the pot. It was none other than Tonma's mama 's and her son's heads. Their eyes bulging out, the meat nearly coming off the craniums . Subhadip started laughing and said, " I'm not the chosen one. I'm just an idiot who ca n't indeed be someone. " A horselaugh came from upstairs it was Tonma's. Subhadip ran over there, but when he reached the place, he realized the door was locked. He was really confused because in the other times he'd this dream, Tonma was dead in all of them. But this was commodity differently. He demurred the door. It opened, and the room was filled with bank to the brim. And among everything stood one person — it was Tonma, with a shady figure not completely visible. Subhadip cried, " Bastard! Come out! I said fucking come out! " But as the water dropped from his hair, he saw commodity that set him. A gun in Tonma's hand. And with a smile — and also a kiss to the girl beside him — he first shot the girl. also, as he refocused the gun to his own head, Subhadip ran to save him. But with a " Bye bye, " Tonma pulled the detector. It all ended. And the agony ended. " I am not the chosen one. I was noway the bone . No bone believes in my ambition. No bone cares about my passions. All they do is taradiddle . But I am not going to give up." " ALSO, THERE IS NO GOD IN THIS awful WORLD. TO ME, THE macrocosm IS GOD." He also got out of the room and looked around. His father was watching television — some Bollywood song playing. His father, who had a neurological condition from birth that affected his brain. He was indeed surprised that he was still alive. Because how could it have been? But also comes the aspect that he himself has some internal problems. But he loves his father indeed after all this — indeed if his father had claimed he was n't his child. He playfully asked, " Hey, adipose, where is my mama ? " But as his father stayed silent, Subhadip understood that his mood was n't good. A voice came from the reverse, " She went to your ma- bari. " It was his grandma. Subhadip asked, " When, Thami " She replied, " About an hour agone , " also continued, " Your mama told me to call her when you wake up. " Subhadip was lost again when his grandma said, " Remo, can you go to your pishir bari and give her the macher jhol? " Subhadip said, " Is Dada home " She said, " Who knows. " " Where's the jhol? I'll go, " he replied. Subhadip was allowing about adopting plutocrat from his kinsman family, Goldi. Goldi was n't his real name, but his precious name. As Subhadip's grandma was filling the coliseum with the jhol, Subhadip went to the frontal deck. But on his way, he saw the portrayal of his forefather. He stopped and asked himself " WILL I REALLY BE suitable TO CONTINUE THE FAMILY heritage?" His forefather was a man who lost nearly everything due to his own fault. He was a innocently argentine joe. He lost a lot of his wealth helping others was tricked because he was really hot- headed. He noway took advice but gave advice to all. He erected two colonies as a leader — Marapota and Yani Sarani. He lost all his wealth and, at the end, only had a million bones . Out of that, he used about$ 800k or indeed more just to make a house that could feed his son and his grandchild — because his son did n't work. Only if he'd saved the plutocrat duly, they might have been a rich family. He'd to run out of his motherland, Bangladesh, right after the partition due to the violence. He was n't suitable to study after the age of 14. He was part of the Naxal movement and was a enough big leader in it until he was caught and had to pledge in court noway to do politics again. He noway wanted power — but wanted the poor to live happily. also a lot happed. But what did it all mean? At the age of 89, he failed after being bedridden. His brain dead. For one whole time, Subhadip witnessed him suffer. Only because Subhadip's aunt and her youngish son were high- ranking nursers at a central sanitarium, he survived. About which Subhadip talked all the time. And as everything went blank, he said — Subhadip talked about his family heritage all the time. Subhadip did n't like his forefather all that much at first. But over time, his opinion changed. He realized his forefather was n't a perfect man, but Subhadip could actually learn from his life and avoid his wrongdoings. As he was looking at the sky, suddenly a hand touched his. It was Himiko — his novel's main character's love interest. He said, " Oh, you came? " She had been coming since his last birthday, and Subhadip had taken it as a sign that he was going insane, since he was the only bone who could see her. " YOU WERE Allowing ABOUT IT AGAIN, RIGHT? " Subhadip scowled and said, " This world is a enough insane place, you know? " " REMO, come! I've filled the coliseum. Tell your pishi that the tail is for your pishai. " Himiko followed him. He went to their house, which was just beside theirs, erected by his grandpa when he came to Jenney Sarani. It was also one of the 5 – 6 houses his forefather had erected over the times. He went upstairs and saw his kinsman eating. As he was opening the caff door, he said, " Hello, bro, when did you come? " His cousin replied, " I guess at 11 pm history. " also continued, " Are you going to play moment? " Subhadip said, " perhaps no, but Shankar and others might come. " Subhadip also asked, " Bro, could you lend me 3k? " " For what? " Goldi asked. " I ordered a many books. But mama is n't home. I'll give the plutocrat back when mama comes back, " Subhadip said. Goldi said, " Hmm, I can do it, but stay, let me finish eating. Till also, you can sit in that room. Boltu is there. " Subhadip allowed to himself, " Hmm, that's why the place is so quiet indeed after I've been then. " Himiko said, " Let's go. I have n't seen Boltu for a while now. "
Subhadip and Himiko entered the room, and there she was—Boltu."Ohhh Boltuuuu!" Subhadip exclaimed.The dog came running, wagging her tail happily. Himiko bent down, smiling, and cuddled Boltu gently. Subhadip looked up at the clock. 1:10 PM. A call came through—it was the delivery guy.
He picked it up, told him to wait downstairs. It wasn't something urgent—just Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Machio Kaku and a manga. He'd got $50 from a loyal reader. Though it wasn't much, it meant a lot to him.But since the money was in his mother's account, and she was out at his uncle's place, Subhadip had to take help from his elder brother, who lent him ₹3,000."Thanks, bro," Subhadip said. "I've actually got some work to do now."
As he began writing again, Tonma called."Aye, aren't you coming for tuition?""Nah," Subhadip replied. "Tell Indresh Sir that I'm working on the project."
The clock ticked on. 4:23 PM. Subhadip closed his notebook and headed to the bathroom. As he turned the shower on, the water hit his skin like tiny echoes of thought. Himiko sat on the closed toilet lid beside the shower, legs crossed."Why didn't you go?" she asked softly."I don't know," he replied. "This home is my only comfort."
Lathering shampoo into his hair, he asked himself, Am I even real?Is this… a simulation?
As the water flowed over him, he closed his eyes. And suddenly—He felt her grabbing him.Himiko.
He got lost in the moment. Her presence, her touch. But then—It's fake, he reminded himself. Just like me.
He opened his eyes. Himiko was still sitting."You think you're insane," she said, "but you're just like Okaryn from Gate of Stiens.""Shut the fuck up," Subhadip snapped. "It may be my favourite sci-fi, but that doesn't mean Stiener's Reading is real."
He dried himself off quietly. As he stepped out of the bathroom, a chill swept through the air. Something felt… wrong. Unnatural.The lights flickered. Silence wrapped around the house like a noose.
And then—He saw it.His father's dead body. The head served on a plate.
He stumbled back, running to the front balcony—There lay his mother's body.
He clutched the railing.Himiko was beside him the whole time.
A shadow stepped into the room. His grandfather.He looked at Subhadip with empty eyes and said,"Believe in yourself."And then—blankness.
Subhadip gasped, water still running over his skin in the shower."What… was that?""Déjà vu," Himiko whispered.
He dried his hair and messaged a friend on Nativechat—the girl who helped him learn Japanese. Her name was Haruna. Kind, same age, and the only one he had ever opened up to.He told her about what he saw again. She said gently, "You should get counselling."
Then she called.
Her voice was warm, polite. "Is everything okay?"He diverted the topic. They chatted for a while, smiling at each other through words. But inside, Subhadip was thinking:I don't know the entire Haruna. Maybe she's different elsewhere. But if I've loved this Haruna… I'd love every single Haruna in the multiverse.
They said goodbye. Haruna wanted to say something but paused, whispering, "Later…"
Subhadip shrugged. Scrolled through Layedit. His handle: The Traveler: TOWCH.As he scrolled, he saw a post.Her birthday.Himiko smiled slyly. "I knew you forgot."
Subhadip looked at the time. 5:37 PM. He threw on a T-shirt and track pants."Let's go out."
He rode his cycle, Himiko sitting on the carrier seat behind him. They passed through Yani Sarani Road, beside the Charial Khal. The weather was lovely—grey skies, a gentle breeze.
They got on Kathpole, then moved through to the Diamond Park area.Beautiful streets, once filled with grand houses now being demolished. Tall, soulless buildings rose where memories once lived.
They reached Diamond Park Lake. But it was closed. The lights were off.
Without a second thought, Subhadip jumped over the gate and into the darkness."This is the only place," he said softly, "where I can openly talk to you. Otherwise… people would think I'm insane."
Himiko leaned in, teasing. "You're stupid."She ran, laughing.He chased her. She fell gently onto the wet ground, laughing.The moment intensified. Their eyes met.
It started to rain.
Subhadip leaned closer, about to kiss her—She turned her face. "We should go under the shed. Or we'll get wet."
He smiled. "Thank God my phone's waterproof."
Just then, Tonma called.They chatted. Subhadip said, "I was thinking of coming over."Tonma replied, "Indresh Sir was fuming today."
Subhadip looked at Himiko.Her face…More beautiful than ever.
He zoned out of the call, couldn't hear a word."I'll call you back," he said, cutting the line.
He walked to Himiko. Hugged her from behind. Kissed her back."I don't know why you appear… but it feels like you're mine."She turned, her eyes glistening. "You notice me?""I love you in my story. And I do in this timeline too.I don't care if you're just my imagination. Or something higher.I even once thought you were a 4D being.But it doesn't matter.To me… Haruna and you are the same.She doesn't know. But you do."
They leaned in. Closer. Almost touching—A call rang.She vanished.The message was clear.
Reality always interrupts.
He stood still, blinking.
Then he answered.
It was Haruna. Her voice brought warmth back into his frozen mind. They talked. For a moment, things felt okay.
Then she said it."I've accepted a proposal from a boy."
Subhadip went pale.
Inside, a storm.Outside, silence.
"…Congrats," he said, emotionless.Then he cut the call.
Why is it always me?But he didn't cry.
He just stood there. Still.With the ghost of love fading in the rain.Advanced Generate OutputSubhadip shuffled into the familiar, comforting dimness of his house, Himiko close behind. "Ohhh, Boltuuuu!" he called out, his voice instantly lightening. A flurry of happy tail wags announced Boltu's arrival, a small, joyful whirlwind. Himiko, ever gentle, crouched down to shower the dog with affection. As Subhadip glanced at the clock – 4:10 PM – his phone buzzed, a delivery notification. He told the driver to hold on, knowing it was just the two books he'd splurged on: "Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos" and a new manga volume. The $50 donation from a supportive reader had finally arrived, and while modest, it meant the world. He'd even had to borrow ₹3,000 from his brother since the funds were tied to his mother's account. "Thanks, bro," he said, "I've actually got some work to do now." Settling back into his routine, the phone rang again, this time it was Tonma. "Aye, aren't you coming for tuition?" "Nah," Subhadip replied. "Tell Indresh Sir that I'm working on the project." Later, as the clock ticked on, Subhadip paused for a shower, the water a welcome cascade of sensory input. Himiko sat patiently on the closed toilet seat, and they talked of the day. After, Subhadip found himself lost in thought, a disquieting feeling creeping in. He dismissed the worries and continued on, only to be met with a series of disturbing, hyper-realistic visions. A gruesome discovery of his parents' bodies, a cryptic message from his grandfather, all before snapping back to the reality of his shower. "What... was that?" he whispered. Himiko responded with a one word answer "Déjà vu." Seeking solace, he reached out to Haruna, a friend who understood him, a confidante to whom he could reveal his deepest anxieties. They spoke with warmth and familiarity, but as he hung up the phone, a bittersweet revelation struck him: he was falling for both Haruna and the ever-present Himiko, a figment of his imagination, or something more? He shook off the thought and on impulse, and with a sly grin from Himiko, he grabbed his jacket. "Let's go out," he announced, a sudden need to escape the confines of his unsettling reality. He hopped on his bicycle, and pedaled off with Himiko sitting on the back, towards an evening destined to blur the line between what's real and what's imagined. But as they approached, Subhadip couldn't shake the feeling that this was all building to something.
Subhadip trudged into the house, Himiko right behind him, and there she was – Boltu, their exuberant dog. "Who's a good girl? Boltuuu!" Subhadip exclaimed, his voice instantly brightening. The dog, a whirlwind of wagging tail and happy yips, bounded towards him. Himiko, a gentle smile gracing her lips, knelt down to offer the dog a loving cuddle. Subhadip glanced at the clock – 4:10 PM. Just then, his phone buzzed; it was the delivery driver. He answered, instructing him to wait downstairs. The delivery wasn't urgent, just a new book, "Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos," and a new manga – a small splurge with the $50 a loyal reader had gifted him. That seemingly small gesture meant the world. However, the money was in his mother's account, and she was visiting his uncle. Subhadip had to borrow ₹3,000 from his older brother. "Thanks, bro," Subhadip said gratefully. "I actually need to get some writing done now." As he settled back into his work, Tonma called. "Hey, aren't you coming to tuition?" Tonma asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Nah," Subhadip replied, already lost in his thoughts. "Tell Indresh Sir I'm working on the project." The clock ticked on, each second pulling him further into his own world. By 4:23 PM, Subhadip decided he needed a break, closing his notebook and heading to the bathroom for a shower. As the water cascaded over him, a wave of introspection washed over him. Himiko sat quietly on the closed toilet lid beside the shower, her legs crossed casually. "Why didn't you go to tuition?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible above the sound of the water. "I don't know," he confessed, his voice tinged with a strange melancholy. "This home… it's my only comfort." As he massaged shampoo into his hair, a disquieting question surfaced: "Am I even real? Is this... a simulation?" The warm water continued to flow, a soothing balm to his troubled thoughts. He closed his eyes, seeking a moment of peace. And then, suddenly, he felt her grabbing him. Himiko. He was lost in the moment, her presence, her touch, intensely real. But then, a stark, cold thought crashed over him: "It's fake," he reminded himself, a bitter taste on his tongue. "Just like me." He snapped his eyes open. Himiko was still there, still sitting calmly. "You think you're insane," she said softly, "but you're just like Okaryn from *Steins;Gate*." "Shut the fuck up," Subhadip snapped, the words laced with a raw frustration. "It may be my favorite sci-fi, but that doesn't mean *Steiner's Reading* is real." He finished drying himself in silence, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Stepping out of the bathroom, a sudden chill swept through the house, making the hairs on his arms stand on end. Something felt wrong... unnatural. The lights flickered erratically, casting long, dancing shadows across the walls. Silence, heavy and suffocating, wrapped around the house like a suffocating noose. And then he saw it. His father's dead body. The head served on a plate. The gruesome image slammed into him with the force of a physical blow. He stumbled back, his mind reeling, and ran to the front balcony, desperately seeking air. There, laid out on the cold concrete, was his mother's body. He gripped the railing, his knuckles white, a silent scream trapped in his throat. Himiko was beside him the whole time, her presence a strange comfort in the face of unspeakable horror. A shadow stepped into the room, long and menacing. His grandfather. He looked at Subhadip with vacant, empty eyes, and said in a monotone voice, "Believe in yourself." And then... blankness. Subhadip gasped, his body jerking violently. He was still in the shower, the water still cascading over his skin. "What... was that?" he stammered, his voice trembling. "Déjà vu," Himiko whispered, her voice barely a breath. Shaken to his core, he dried his hair and sent a message to Haruna on Nativechat, the girl who had patiently helped him learn Japanese. Kind, the same age as him, and the only one he had ever truly opened up to. He recounted the horrifying vision he had just experienced. Her response was gentle, laced with concern: "You should get counselling." Almost immediately, she called. Her voice, usually bright and cheerful, now held a note of worry. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice warm and polite. He quickly diverted the topic, steering the conversation towards lighter subjects. They chatted for a while, exchanging smiles through their words, a fragile connection in the face of his internal turmoil. But inside, Subhadip was battling a maelstrom of doubt and fear. *I don't know the entire Haruna. Maybe she's different elsewhere. But if I've loved this Haruna… I'd love every single Haruna in the multiverse.* They said goodbye, the call ending with a hesitant whisper from Haruna: "Later..." Subhadip shrugged, trying to shake off the unease that clung to him like a shroud. He absentmindedly scrolled through Layedit, his online handle, The Traveler: TOWCH. As he scrolled, he stumbled upon a post, a subtle reminder he'd overlooked. Her birthday. Himiko, ever observant, smiled slyly. "I knew you forgot," she teased gently, a hint of playful accusation in her voice. Subhadip checked the time. 5:37 PM. He quickly threw on a T-shirt and track pants, a sudden impulse driving him forward. "Let's go out," he announced, the words carrying a newfound determination. He grabbed his cycle, Himiko hopping onto the carrier seat behind him. They pedaled along Yani Sarani Road, the Charial Khal flowing alongside them. The weather was lovely, a welcome respite from the turmoil within – grey skies, a gentle breeze whispering through the trees. They turned onto Kathpole, navigating their way through to the Diamond Park area. The streets, once lined with grand, stately houses, were now a scene of demolition and change. Tall, soulless buildings were rising from the rubble, replacing cherished memories with concrete and glass. They reached Diamond Park Lake, but found it closed, the lights extinguished. Without a second thought, fueled by an almost reckless need for escape, Subhadip jumped over the gate and into the darkness. "This is the only place," he said softly, his voice echoing in the quiet night, "where I can openly talk to you. Otherwise… people would think I'm insane." Himiko leaned in, her eyes sparkling with a playful challenge. "You're stupid," she said, a teasing smile playing on her lips. She turned and ran, her laughter echoing through the darkness. He chased her, the sound of their footsteps breaking the silence. She fell gently onto the wet ground, her laughter bubbling up from deep inside. The moment intensified, the playful energy shifting to something deeper. Their eyes met, locking in a silent connection. It started to rain, a gentle drizzle that quickly intensified. Subhadip leaned closer, about to kiss her, drawn in by an invisible force. She turned her face away, breaking the spell. "We should go under the shed," she said, her voice soft, "or we'll get soaked." He smiled, a hint of relief washing over him. "Thank God my phone's waterproof," he said, trying to lighten the mood. Just then, Tonma called, the shrill ring of the phone cutting through the rain. They chatted, the mundane conversation a welcome distraction. Subhadip said, "I was thinking of coming over." Tonma replied, his voice slightly exasperated, "Indresh Sir was fuming today." Subhadip looked at Himiko, her face illuminated by the faint glow of the city lights. He zoned out of the call, the words fading into a meaningless drone. Her face... more beautiful than ever. "I'll call you back," he said abruptly, cutting the line. He walked to Himiko and hugged her from behind, his arms wrapping around her protectively. He kissed the back of her neck, a gesture filled with unspoken longing. "I don't know why you appear… but it feels like you're mine," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. She turned to face him, her eyes glistening in the rain. "You notice me?" she asked, her voice barely audible. "I love you in my story. And I do in this timeline too. I don't care if you're just my imagination. Or something higher. I even once thought you were a 4D being. But it doesn't matter. To me… Haruna and you are the same. She doesn't know. But you do." They leaned in, closer and closer, almost touching, the world around them fading away. A call rang, shattering the fragile moment. She vanished, disappearing into the night, leaving only the echo of her presence. The message was clear: reality always interrupts. He stood still, blinking, trying to process the abrupt shift. Then he answered the call. It was Haruna. Her voice brought a flicker of warmth back into his frozen mind. They talked, their words flowing easily, a familiar comfort. For a moment, things felt okay, a brief respite from the storm raging within him. Then she said it, the words hanging in the air like a death knell: "I've accepted a proposal from a boy." Subhadip went pale, the blood draining from his face. Inside, a storm of grief, betrayal, and despair raged. Outside, he remained silent, impassive. "...Congrats," he managed to say, his voice devoid of emotion. Then he ended the call, severing the connection with a final, decisive act. *Why is it always me?* But he didn't cry. He just stood there, still and silent, with the ghost of love fading in the rain.
The rain was relentless, each drop a shard of ice against the skin. Subhadip, lost in the muted hues of the sky, was jolted by a sudden commotion – splashes that hinted at something amiss. A figure thrashed in the rain-soaked ground, momentarily resembling a drowning man. Subhadip, startled, yelled out, only for the figure to right itself and calmly ascend the stairs. A familiar wave cut through the downpour. "Shankar?" Subhadip questioned, squinting to make sure. "What are you doing here?" Shankar retorted, wringing the water from his soaked shirt. A weak smile played on Subhadip's lips. "Just visiting. Let me guess – you're here for advanced calculus?" "Nah, puddle algebra," Shankar chuckled, water droplets flying. Before Subhadip could respond, his phone vibrated insistently. Tonma. He knew the lecture that was coming. "You absolute jerk!" Tonma's voice boomed through the speaker. "You never called me back!" "Alright, alright, calm down," Subhadip replied, a playful grin spreading across his face. The conversation shifted to a private call, but the lightheartedness was about to be shattered. A sharp, echoing bang cut through the air – a gunshot, distant but unmistakable. Subhadip froze, a cold dread constricting his insides. Tonma's voice turned to a frantic scream. Then another deafening bang, followed by a chilling silence. Subhadip's hand trembled violently. "No. Not again..." he breathed, his voice barely audible. Without another word, he leaped onto his bicycle, his mind already racing. "Where are you going?!" Shankar shouted after him, his voice laced with concern. But Subhadip was already gone, his legs pumping furiously, a single thought echoing in his mind: "Not again... and this time... it's real?" Then, a sudden, jarring CRASH. A car clipped his bike, sending him sprawling onto the unforgiving asphalt. The driver cursed under his breath. Subhadip tried to stand, but his leg screamed in protest. His phone lay shattered beside him. Adrenaline surged through him, momentarily masking the pain. Shankar rushed to his side, dragging him out of harm's way. "You're crazy!" he exclaimed. "I already called the police," Subhadip mumbled through gritted teeth. "Now, help me up." Together, they pressed onward. Subhadip borrowed Shankar's phone, dialing Tonma's number with trembling fingers. Someone answered, but instead of Tonma's familiar voice, a cold, mocking laugh echoed through the line before the call abruptly ended. He knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the bone. They reached the scene – a chaotic tableau of flashing sirens, panicked voices, and grim-faced police officers moving bodies. Ignoring the searing pain in his leg, Subhadip pushed his way through the throng, his senses heightened, his focus narrowed. He surged towards the terrace – and then, he froze. There he was. Tonma. Lifeless. Gone. Subhadip didn't scream. He didn't cry. He simply stared, his mind struggling to comprehend the incomprehensible. Police officers pulled him back, their faces etched with professional detachment. "You're the one who called?" one of them asked. He nodded slowly, numbly. "We'll be in touch." Shankar led him back home, the silence thick with unspoken grief. As they left, Tonma's brother appeared, his face contorted with anguish. Subhadip couldn't bring himself to meet his eyes. Later, on the dimly lit stairs, Shankar finally broke the silence. "Was he... close to you?" Subhadip's voice was barely a whisper. "Closer than you." He continued his ascent, each step sending a jolt of pain through his injured leg. Reaching the top of the stairs, he found her waiting. Himiko. She seemed like a glitch in the fabric of reality, radiating a soft, ethereal glow and an impossible serenity. A gentle smile touched her lips. Subhadip blinked, trying to make sense of her presence. "You again?" She stepped closer, her eyes filled with an unreadable depth. "Hey! Are you fine? If not,I can fix that." "You can't," he replied, his voice laced with bitterness. "I can. But only if you agree to come with me," she countered, her voice soft but firm. "Where?" he asked, a flicker of hope igniting within him. "Far from this life. Far from all this. And Tonma will be safe." "…Is that even possible?" The question hung in the air, heavy with disbelief. She nodded, her eyes unwavering. "Yes. Because… you were right. I am a 4D being." Subhadip's mind reeled. He tried to formulate a question – "What do you mean?" – but before he could utter a single word, she leaned in and kissed him. And then— Time warped, twisted, and folded in on itself. He was back. Back at the moment when he received the call from Haruna, but now… Himiko was still there, her lips pressed against his, anchoring him to this altered reality. He picked up the phone, his hand surprisingly steady. Haruna's voice filled his ear. "Hey… I wanted to talk about a boy who confessed to me." Without a moment's hesitation, Subhadip whispered into the phone, "I love you." A gasp escaped Haruna's lips. "Baka Janai No !" she exclaimed, before abruptly ending the call. He didn't even flinch. His gaze remained fixed on Himiko, his expression a mixture of calm and bewilderment. "I don't want to know anything," he said, his voice low and resolute. "But," he added, his voice barely a whisper, "promise me… when all this ends—you'll explain everything to me." A soft smile graced her lips as she gently took his hand in hers. "I promise."