Sector C-1 was deserted. After the incident with the courier and Aoi Sanada's intervention, only silence and hidden tension remained.
"What now?" Aoi asked, scrolling through the final reports. "We've got evidence of interference, we've got the culprit, and the connections."
"That's not enough," I said. "To expose the Holder, he needs to reveal himself."
Mina stood by the window. Her silhouette was lit by the dim glow of the lab panel.
"We're near the finish line. Tomorrow the curator announces the results. Anyone who failed is at risk."
I knew: if we didn't strike now, we wouldn't get another chance.
The next morning, the curator summoned all class representatives to the main hall. The screen displayed a map — sectors marked in red showed recorded breaches.
"According to the rules of the 'Maze of Trust' trial," the curator began, "the class responsible for the most serious violation will lose one student. The decision will be enforced by this evening."
Goosebumps ran across my skin. The hall was tense, like the moment before a storm.
"However," he added, "there is an exception. If the violator is voluntarily identified and registered by the system before the deadline, the class will retain its numbers."
Everyone froze.
This was our chance.
Two hours later, a new message appeared in the main terminal. Sender: unknown. But the content was precise.
> "He was hiding in Class 2-C. Involved in data tampering, manipulated sector movements, and fed false coordinates. Holder: Codename 'Zero'."
The curator confirmed: investigation complete. Verified. The exception was canceled — 2-C loses a member. The violator's identity remained classified. But he was gone.
That evening, the three of us sat together. Mina, Aoi, and I.
"So, it's over?" Mina asked quietly.
"No," I shook my head. "It's only the first move."
"But the trial's over," Aoi argued.
I took out my terminal. On the screen — a new message.
> "The next trial begins in three days. Title: 'Core Intercept.' Be ready, Takumi. This time, they'll play without masks."
No signature. But I knew who sent it.
Ai Sanada.
Late at night, Mina stayed with me on the rooftop. The city slept. The school was quiet. Only the two of us — alone.
"Do you really think we can win?" she asked.
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "But I do know one thing: if we stay together, we have a chance."
Mina looked into my eyes. Smiled for the first time in days.
"Then I'm with you. All the way."
I reached out my hand. She took it.
> We made it through the maze.
> Now the real game begins.