[Scene: After the blinding light of Layer Zero fades. Silence fills the underground chamber.]
Naizaka: [slowly stands] "It's all back… every second."
Yuki (shaken): "What do you mean? What did you see?"
Naizaka: "We were part of something bigger than any of us realized. We weren't just children. We were created… to fight something."
Mio: "To fight… or replace something. They never told us what exactly."
Aoi (calmly): "But now they will. Because they're watching again."
[Scene: Surveillance room – Somewhere unknown. A dark room with screens showing Naizaka, Yuki, and the others in Layer Zero.]
Unknown Man: "So... the experiment stabilizes. He remembered."
Female Voice: "Then we activate Project Echo."
[Scene: Above ground – School rooftop, same time. Toma, Riko, and Sena stare at the ruined building.]
Riko: "Guys… I think we should tell someone."
Toma: "And say what? 'Hey, our friends are from a secret experiment lab under the school?' Yeah, we'd be expelled and sent to therapy."
Sena: "Still… something's coming. I feel it."
[Scene: Next morning – Homeroom class. Everyone's tense. Naizaka returns to his seat silently. Yuki sits beside him.]
Yuki (whispers): "You okay?"
Naizaka: "I remember you crying… in that facility. Not like now. A different you."
Yuki: "I… I think I'm starting to feel it too. Like pieces floating inside me."
Mio (whispering behind them): "The memory contagion. Once one unlocks, others nearby can begin remembering."
[Suddenly, the door opens. A new transfer student walks in.]
Teacher: "Everyone, meet your new classmate—Naoya Takane."
[Gasps echo. Naizaka's eyes widen. The new boy looks exactly like him… but his eyes are red instead of green.]
Yuki: "He looks like…"
Naizaka (tense): "Me."
[Scene: Hallway after class. Naizaka follows Naoya silently.]
Naizaka: "Who are you?"
Naoya (smirking): "A reflection. A version of you that was never supposed to exist."
Naizaka: "You're from the facility?"
Naoya: "I'm from what came after. Project Echo—meant to replace the originals. Smarter. Stronger. Better."
Naizaka: "Then why come here?"
Naoya: "To see if you're worth keeping alive."
[Scene: School courtyard. A sudden gust of wind. Leaves rise in a perfect spiral around them.]
Aoi (approaching): "He's not human."
Naoya: "Neither are you."
[Naoya raises a hand. Energy cracks around his fingers. With a flick, he blasts Aoi backward through a tree.]
Naizaka: "Enough!"
[Naizaka's eyes glow. He rushes in with taekwondo speed—low sweep, high kick. Naoya blocks effortlessly.]
Naoya: "Still too slow, Original."
[Scene: Meanwhile – Yuki, Mio, Toma, and Riko watch from the distance.]
Riko: "We should help!"
Mio: "No. This is between them. If Naizaka falls here… it's over."
Toma: "He won't. I believe in him."
[Back to fight – Naizaka lands a spinning back kick, but Naoya catches it mid-air.]
Naoya: "You still fight like a boy. I was trained by the same people who made you. And improved."
Naizaka: "You're just a weapon. I'm a person."
Naoya: "That's your flaw."
[Naoya charges with blinding speed, aiming a final strike. Naizaka closes his eyes.]
[Suddenly—A burst of violet energy erupts between them.Naoya is pushed back. Naizaka turns—**
It's Yuki. Eyes glowing. Hand extended.]
Yuki (panting): "Don't touch him."
Naoya (smirks): "So she's waking up too."
[Scene: Everything goes quiet. Naoya backs off.]
Naoya: "We'll continue this later. When you're ready… to die."
[He vanishes into the trees like smoke.]
[Scene: Later – Nurse's room. Aoi lies bruised. Naizaka sits nearby, Yuki holding his hand.]
Naizaka: "He knew everything about me. My moves. My past."
Yuki: "But not your heart."
Mio (entering): "There's more. He's not just a clone. He's a weapon set to activate something below the school. Something called the 'Heart Core.'"
Naizaka: "Then we find it before he does."
To Be Continued…