?? Reset

  Chapter 12: The Bar

  Nagi walked down the wind-swept street, pulling his jacket tighter around himself.

  (Did he really invite me to some shady bar? What kind of nonsense is this… What are we even supposed to talk about in a place like that?)

  He pushed open the heavy door. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and noise. Yuto was already sitting at the counter, thoughtfully swirling a glass filled with something amber. Nagi dropped onto the stool beside him.

  — Are you even eighteen, drinking that stuff? — he muttered instead of greeting him.

  Yuto set the glass down and smirked.

  — I’m nineteen. According to this city’s laws, I’ve got every right.

  He took a sip and lowered his voice.

  — That dark entity… What is it? If you saw it too, then it’s not just my imagination. It’s real.

  — It’s real, — Nagi confirmed, staring at his reflection in the polished counter. — It can “reset” this world. Literally erase time so everyone forgets everything.

  Yuto froze with the glass near his lips.

  — And how… how do you know that?

  — Because I remember everything, — Nagi replied, his face twisting with pain. — All the blood, the fires, the screams… Every death. I remember it all.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  (Is he lying? Yuto wondered. From his tone… it doesn’t seem like it. But how is that possible?)

  Nagi looked away. In the corner, a group of men played dominoes with loud enthusiasm, unaware their lives could be cut short at any moment by someone above.

  — Why do you remember? And who do you think that thing is? — Yuto leaned forward.

  — I think he’s some kind of Creator. And we… — Nagi hesitated, his hands trembling at the sound of his own words. — We’re just his toys. A set of data.

  — A Creator? Bold theory. But if he really has that panel you mentioned, he can do anything! — Yuto glanced around nervously. — What if he’s listening to us right now?

  Nagi stiffened, feeling an unseen presence against his skin, but the bar remained ordinary. He slowly shook his head.

  — Unlikely. We’re not the only ones who could interest him. He’s too arrogant for that.

  Yuto finished his drink and threw on his jacket without even zipping it up.

  — Doesn’t matter. If there’s a Reset, I’ll forget everything anyway. So what difference does it make? — He flashed a wide smile, though bitterness seeped through it.

  Nagi forced a faint smile in return.

  (Even knowing he’s just a “puppet,” he still manages to laugh. I almost feel sorry for him.)

  They stepped outside. A sharp gust of wind hit them in the face, carrying the season’s first snowstorm.

  — Snow… — Nagi whispered, catching white flakes in his palm.

  Yuto suddenly stopped and clenched his fists.

  — I want to find that “Creator” and kill him. I don’t want to be a piece in his construction set! Help me, Nagi.

  — If I knew where he was hiding, I would’ve done it already, — Nagi replied. — But I have no idea where to search for his “home.”

  Yuto pointed up at the clouded sky.

  — I’m sure he’s where all gods are — above us.

  Nagi followed his gesture.

  (Maybe… But unfortunately, we’ll never reach there.)

  The Creator sat in his observatory, mesmerized by the blizzard beyond the panoramic glass.

  | I’m not very fond of the cold, but watching it from warmth is a true pleasure. Winter climate officially launched. Some “story arcs” will have to wait until spring… A pity. |

  Suddenly, boredom became unbearable. He stepped out onto the observatory balcony, where snow had already piled up, and began rolling snowballs manually, without using the panel.

  — Object: Snowman. Status: Complete! — he announced, sticking a carrot into the top sphere.

  He returned to his chair and tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the desk.

  — Should I go down again? I want to play snowballs for real! — His eyes gleamed with excitement. He summoned the panel and quickly entered transformation parameters.

  A moment later, the adult man was gone. In his place stood an eight-year-old boy.

  — Now this will be fun! — he giggled.

  The Creator stepped into a portal…

  Nagi and Yuto wandered along the snowy sidewalk.

  — Early this year, — Yuto remarked about the snow.

  — Maybe that’s for the best. At least it makes everything look clean, — Nagi replied.

  He turned toward Yuto, but didn’t finish his sentence — a dense, wet snowball hit him straight in the face, filling his mouth with freezing slush.

  — Bon appétit! — Yuto burst out laughing, already running to a safe distance.

  Nagi spat out the snow, his face shifting into a vengeful expression. He quickly scooped up snow, shaping his own projectile.

  — Hey! Stop right there, discount detective! I’m about to serve you dessert!!

  Not far away, around the corner, a small boy with unnaturally white eyes was forming his very first perfect snowball…