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Chapter 11 - Episode 11: “The Reset Clock”

[Scene: One week later – School appears normal on the outside, but inside… strange things happen.]

Riko (watching her pencil float): "Okay… that's not supposed to happen."

Toma (dodging flying papers): "EVERYTHING'S glitching. Even the vending machine gave me three juice cans."

Sena (checking her phone): "Half my photos are blank. And one's got Yuki twice... smiling."

[Scene: Hallway – Naizaka and Yuki walk in silence. She seems distant.]

Naizaka: "You okay? You haven't said much since the Core sync."

Yuki (softly): "I remember too much now. I don't know where the real me ends… and the old version begins."

Naizaka: "You're still you. And you chose to save us."

Yuki: "But what if that version… wasn't supposed to exist?"

[Scene: Teacher's office. Mio spreads out corrupted digital files.]

Mio: "Something called 'The Reset Clock' started the moment the Core stabilized. Look here."

[She plays a file. Static. Then, a robotic female voice:]

SYSTEM: "Time until synchronization collapse: 48 hours. Reset will begin. Erase all anomalies."

Aoi: "We're the anomalies…"

Mio: "And we have two days until we're deleted."

[Scene: Abandoned classroom – Riko and Sena explore.]

Sena (pointing at a sealed locker): "This one's locked from the inside."

Riko (kicks it open): "What the—?"

[Inside is a dusty file folder labeled: "Project Y – Resurrection Protocol." Pictures of the entire cast. Notes in red marker: 'Mimics. Copies. Not originals.']

Sena: "We were all… replacements?"

Riko (reading): "But then—where are the real versions of us?"

[Scene: Rooftop. Naizaka stands alone, breathing deeply. Suddenly, Naoya appears across from him—eyes fully glitched, voice distorted.]

Naoya: "The system needs balance. You're the corruption."

Naizaka: "You failed. We stopped the Heart Core."

Naoya: "You only delayed it. I'm not just me anymore."

[Naoya raises his hand. His body morphs—his veins glow like neon wires. His voice doubles.]

Naoya: "I fused with the failsafe. I am the reset."

[Scene: School yard. The sky warps—clouds freeze, colors invert. Students collapse, forgetting names and places.]

Toma (grabbing his head): "I... I can't remember my sister's face!"

Riko (yelling): "Hold on! Stay together!"

Sena: "Where's Naizaka?!"

[Scene: Memory Void – Naizaka and Naoya float in a realm made of white static. Flashbacks of both boys swirl around them.]

Naoya: "I was made in your image… because you were too emotional. Too human."

Naizaka: "And that's why I'll win."

[They clash midair — glowing fists, martial arts, light distortions. Each punch causes real-world tremors.]

[Scene: Yuki watches from above. Her hands tremble.]

Yuki: "If I go down there again… I might not come back."

Mio (hand on her shoulder): "Then let me go. I found a backdoor into the system."

Yuki (tears in eyes): "No. This is my choice now."

[Scene: Final clash — Naizaka is down. Naoya prepares a killing strike.]

Naoya: "Goodbye… obsolete version."

[But before he strikes, a light stabs through his chest. Yuki stands behind him, eyes glowing, holding a data blade formed from her memories.]

Yuki: "Goodbye… broken reflection."

[Naoya glitches violently, screaming. Then: silence.]

[Yuki falls into Naizaka's arms.]

Naizaka: "Why?"

Yuki (weak smile): "I remembered why I was created. To protect you."

[Scene: Real world. The glitches fade. Students regain consciousness. Colors return to normal.]

Toma: "It's… over?"

Mio: "For now."

[Scene: Later – On the rooftop, sunset. Everyone is present. Some are bandaged, some quiet.]

Riko: "So… what now?"

Aoi: "The system's down. But the world still thinks we're just normal kids."

Naizaka (looking at Yuki): "Then maybe we get to choose our story now."

Yuki (smiles): "For once… it's real."

TO BE CONCLUDED…

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