Chapter 0: The chaos that broke the red thread

May 15, 20*5 – 18:02

21 minutes before landing

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon begin our preparation for landing at New Chitose International Airport. Please make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened, your seat backs are upright, tray tables locked, and window shades open. All large electronic devices must be switched off and stowed, while smaller devices may remain in airplane mode. Thank you for your attention, and enjoy the remainder of your flight with us.”

Passengers began preparing for landing, turning off their phones and laptops, folding up tray tables, and opening the window shades.

Soon, the seatbelt sign lit up above, signaling everyone to fasten their belts. From children to adults, everyone obeyed without question.

“NAMC YS-22, descend to three thousand feet, reduce speed to two-one-zero knots for approach to New Chitose—” the ATC’s voice crackled through the radio.

The First Officer adjusted the autopilot, slowly pitching the aircraft downward. On the primary flight display, the speed needle dropped steadily, while the seatbelt sign glowed in the cabin. Out the window, the coastline of Hokkaido emerged faintly—the airport was close.

The captain sat calmly in his left seat, left hand gripping the throttles, right hand resting on the yoke. Four golden stripes adorned his shoulder, while a dark-gold name tag gleamed on his chest: TRAF YUTHERFORD. From time to time, his eyes shifted to his First Officer to ensure every ATC instruction was carried out precisely.

“Jacob, how far are we from Chitose?” the captain asked.

“About thirty-five miles, Captain Traf. Weather looks clear from the latest report, surface winds calm,” Jacob replied.

“Good… looks like we’ll have a smooth landing today.”

“Hopefully, Captain. Though coastal winds can change quickly—we’ll keep monitoring.”

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17 minutes before landing

“NAMC YS-22, turn left heading two-seven-zero. Cleared for ILS approach runway 25R, New Chitose.”

“Left heading two-seven-zero, continuing ILS 25R approach, copy NAMC YS-22,” Jacob responded.

The aircraft banked steadily toward the runway. From the windows, Hokkaido stretched vividly below. The steady drone of the engines filled the cabin.

But then, something unthinkable happened.

“Light? Excuse me, miss… is this some kind of pre-landing show?” a passenger asked in confusion.

Near the feet of a flight attendant, glowing symbols formed on the cabin floor—lines of strange runes pulsed with an otherworldly brilliance.

“What is this?” another passenger muttered, squinting as the symbols climbed over the attendant’s body.

“Julie, what’s happening?!” another stewardess rushed over, panic in her voice.

“I-I don’t know! Why am I glowing?! These symbols—help me, someone!”

Julie tried to step out of the glowing circle, but it was as if an invisible glass wall blocked her. She pounded the air, her voice breaking—yet strangely, no one outside the circle seemed to hear her cries.

“M-my head… my eyes—” Julie staggered as the symbols spun faster, the glow shifting red. The runes expanded beneath her feet, and with a blinding flash—she vanished, leaving behind a shockwave that rocked the cabin.

Passengers screamed. Flight attendants burst from the galley in panic.

“What just happened?!” a man shouted.

“Julie?!” another attendant cried, searching frantically for her missing colleague.

“That’s not funny—we’re on a plane!” another passenger yelled, trembling. “What the hell was that? Explain!”

Before anyone could regain composure, the plane shook violently. Tremors rattled the baggage compartments, turbulence jolting passengers against their seats.

Oxygen masks dropped automatically from the ceiling.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing turbulence! Please secure your masks and fasten your seatbelts!” a stewardess called out, while another rushed to check passengers row by row.

“Pull the mask toward you, secure it properly, and breathe normally! Stay seated and calm!” another attendant instructed firmly, hurrying toward the cockpit.

But the tremor from the front felt different—heavier. Something was wrong.

She banged on the cockpit door. “Captain? First Officer? What’s happening inside?!” No response. She pounded again, trying the handle, but the door felt pressurized shut. Her breathing quickened.

Peeking through the small window, her blood ran cold. The First Officer slumped unconscious, blood trickling from his temple. The right-side windshield was shattered, shards littering the panel.

The Captain’s seat—empty.

“No… the windshield… the Captain’s gone?! The First Officer’s unconscious… That means no one’s flying this plane… and it’s descending on its own!” Her body trembled in horror.

Outside, high winds battered the fuselage. A shard of glass was sucked into the right engine.

Moments later, a deafening BANG! erupted. Flames burst, then the engine flamed out completely, trailing black smoke.

The airframe shuddered violently, the nose dipping steeply downward. Alarms wailed across the cockpit, but Jacob remained limp in his seat.

The aircraft was now in free fall.

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May 15, 20 – 18:09

The NAMC YS-22 hurtled toward the ground, while Riota and Keina were walking home from school—unaware of the fate rushing toward them.

“I’m grateful, Kei. At school, you always defended me from those rumors. You encouraged my mom at her flower shop too… I know that. So, thank you.” I stopped walking, meeting her gaze.

“That’s nothing compared to what you’ve done for me, Riota. Remember when I was bullied for not speaking well? You defended me. When my glasses broke, you walked me home. When my desk was vandalized, you helped clean it. Even when my bag was filled with flour, you never hesitated to help me. That’s why I changed. I wanted to be someone worthy of standing by your side. To me… you’ve always been my savior.”

Keina’s voice trembled, but her eyes held steady. “…Riota, you’re my first love. I want to stay with you forever. Even if the world separates us, I’ll never let go. So please, listen carefully. I’ll say it again—this time for real.”

She drew a deep breath. Her face flushed crimson. “I love you. I want to be with you. I want to live with you… forever.”

I pulled her into my arms. I would never let go again. Even if the world hated me, as long as she was here, I could endure it all.

“I love you too. I want to stay by your side. I promise—we’ll never be apart again.”

We embraced as though the world itself had vanished around us.

Then Keina’s voice whispered against my shoulder. “Riota… what’s that? You see it too, right?”

I looked up. A plane cut through the sky, trailing thick black smoke. Its roar grew louder, shaking the earth beneath us.

My heart pounded. “Kei… close your eyes.” I pressed her head into my shoulder, shielding her from the horror above.

The sky thundered. A crimson light exploded across the horizon, as if ripping open the very fabric of the world.

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Another World

Year AD 135, Month of Studeni, Day 7

On an endless plain under the night sky, two tents stood by a campfire where three travelers were resting. Suddenly, the ground quaked. A red glow flared across the distance, descending like a meteor.

“Chris, Grats, you saw that too?” asked a muscular woman, Instructor Manta, setting down her bowl.

“Yeah. It’s near Corbu Dungeon,” Chris replied, panic flickering in his eyes.

“Guess we’re working overtime tonight. Looks like I’ll miss your big day, Chris,” Grats said casually, patting his shoulder.

“You’re too relaxed, Grats!” Manta snapped. “What if this is the beginning of another calamity that will strike all mankind?”

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Thank you for reading this :3