Shibuya Hal was the leader of Neo-Porte and a man who kept protecting his friends. But his kindness was slowly shaving away his own life. One day, overwhelmed by a relentless streaming schedule and mental exhaustion, he collapsed. When he woke up, he found himself in a strange, pure-white space. There, a self-proclaimed 'Manager of Fate,' a girl named Chloe, appeared. She told him, 'You were supposed to die three months from now. But I want to give you a chance to do it over.' Hal laughed it off
Neo-Porte Regret: Shibuya Hal Dies Twice - A Smile's Repayment and a Vanished Best Friend: Rei's Trap Begins to Move
Shibuya Haru stood before the streaming studio on the second floor. His light brown hair still had bedhead sticking up from this morning. The dark circles under his amber eyes had grown darker over the past three weeks. The old wristband on his right wrist caught the fluorescent light, revealing faded fabric.
(Three weeks since the time leap, huh.)
Since he met that girl named Chloe in that pure white space. Since she told him he'd die in three months. And since he returned to this world one month in the past.
Takase Mina had vanished. Suddenly, leaving only a resignation letter, changing her contact info too.
Same as two years ago. Just like when one of the founding members disappeared without any warning.
Haru held his IC card over the reader. A beep. The lock released.
Inside the studio, it was chilly. A room about fifteen square meters, surrounded by soundproof walls. High-performance PCs, microphones, cameras, lighting. About three million yen worth of equipment per studio.
His feet stopped in front of Unit Three.
He pressed the power button. No response.
Again. Press.
The screen stayed black.
"...Again, huh."
Haru moved to Unit Five next to it. Powered it on the same way.
Nothing.
(Unit Three and Unit Five. Two at once.)
Haru reached behind the computer. Checked the cables. Nothing unplugged. The power strip light was on.
(Not a mechanical failure. This is—)
Deep in his chest, a bad premonition pulsed faintly.
"Haru-san."
A voice made him turn around.
At the studio entrance stood Tanaka Yoshiaki, the equipment manager. Forty-five years old. A former sound engineer, with salt-and-pepper short hair and a scruffy beard. In work clothes, a towel wrapped around his neck.
"Good morning. Checking the equipment again?"
Tanaka spoke in a calm voice.
"Yeah. Units Three and Five won't boot."
Tanaka came over and crouched in front of Unit Three. Pressed the power button, touched the cables, opened the back panel.
"...This is bad."
Tanaka's voice dropped.
"What do you mean?"
"The storage is physically damaged. Both units. The data inside—recovery is basically impossible."
"Backups?"
"Last night's scheduled backup is gone too. To be precise, the entire server folder where backups are stored."
Haru exhaled.
(Following last month's archive loss, now this.)
"Tanaka-san. About last Tuesday, late at night."
Haru lowered his voice.
"Rei said he borrowed the studio IC card, right?"
Tanaka's shoulders tensed slightly.
"...Yes. Rei-san did. He said it was 'for equipment checks.'"
"That day, did anything seem off?"
Tanaka wiped his forehead with the towel around his neck.
"Actually... that day, after Rei-san entered the studio, he stood in front of Unit Three for a long time, just staring at something. When I called out to him, he smiled and said, 'Ah, it's fine. Just checking something.' But his eyes at that moment were, how should I put it..."
Tanaka paused.
"His eyes—what about them?"
"...He wasn't smiling. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes alone were incredibly cold. For a moment, I felt a chill down my spine."
Haru clenched his fist.
(Rei. What the hell are you—)
"Got it. Thanks, Tanaka-san. I'll look into this myself."
"Haru-san. Let me say one thing."
Tanaka looked Haru straight in the eyes.
"I believe in you, Haru-san. If anything comes up, tell me anytime."
Haru felt a slight warmth in his chest.
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
Haru left the studio.
——
Fourth floor. Talent lounge.
Haru was passing by the lounge when—
"Ah, Haru-kun!"
A bright voice stopped him.
He turned.
Tachibana Hinata rose from the lounge sofa and ran toward him. Twenty years old. A rookie talent who'd been with Neo-Porte for about half a year. Shoulder-length black hair braided on the right side only, tied with a yellow ribbon. A white dress with a light pink cardigan. Her large eyes sparkled.
"Good morning! I was hoping I'd get to see you today, Haru-kun."
Hinata spoke slightly out of breath.
"Morning, Hinata. What's up, so formal?"
"Um, well... I heard you watched yesterday's stream. I was so happy, I wanted to thank you."
Hinata's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Yeah, I watched. The singing stream, right? It was really good. The comments were popping too."
"Really?! I'm so happy... I was really nervous yesterday. But then I remembered what you told me—'having fun is the most important thing'—and after that, it was just, so much fun."
Hinata clasped her hands in front of her chest.
"Thanks to you, Haru-kun, I'm here. If I hadn't seen your stream back then, I never would've auditioned. So I'm truly grateful."
Hinata's voice was direct and warm.
Haru felt something tighten deep in his chest.
(My stream changed this girl's life.)
(I'm happy. But more than that, I'm scared.)
(I'm going to die soon. Can I protect her?)
"...Hinata."
Haru forced the words out.
"You're already shining on your own. I just gave you a little push."
"That's not true! Because you were there, Haru-kun, I'm who I am now. So I'll keep working hard. So I can repay you even more."
Hinata smiled.
That smile was a clear, direct light.
Haru felt like he was saved by that light.
At the same time, deep in his chest, something black sank heavily.
(I have to protect it. That smile. Everyone.)
(But the time I have left—)
"Hinata. Don't push yourself too hard. If you ever have trouble, tell me anything. I'll handle it."
Haru said his usual phrase, as if convincing himself.
"Yes! Thank you, Haru-kun."
Hinata bowed.
Just then, another voice came from the lounge entrance.
"Oh my, Hinata. What are you talking to the CEO about?"
Yamada Hanako entered the lounge. Thirty-five years old. Neo-Porte's manager, in charge of Hinata. A capable woman with black-rimmed glasses.
"Ah, Hanako-san! Good morning. I was thanking Haru-kun for yesterday's stream."
"I see. But the CEO is busy too, so don't hold him up too long."
Yamada gave Haru a slight bow.
"Good morning, CEO. ...You look a bit tired. Haven't you been overdoing it lately?"
"I'm fine. Thanks for worrying, Yamada-san."
Haru forced a smile.
"I see. But if you collapse, CEO, we'll all be in trouble. Please take care of yourself."
Yamada looked at Haru with concerned eyes.
Haru felt a slight suffocation under that gaze.
(Everyone worries about me. But I can't tell them the truth.)
"Thanks. Well, I'm heading back to the CEO's office."
Haru left the lounge.
——
Fifth floor. CEO's office.
Haru sat at his desk.
On the desk were reports of the equipment troubles from last night through this morning.
Units Three and Five's PCs won't boot. Backup data lost too.
Following last month's archive loss, now this.
(Rei was in and out of the studio late at night.)
(The equipment removal permit had Rei's signature.)
(Mina said Rei was acting strange, and then she vanished.)
Haru gripped the wristband on his right wrist with his left hand.
The fabric absorbed sweat, cold.
"...I can't stay silent anymore."
Haru stood up.
——
Third floor. Large conference room.
Haru called an emergency meeting.
Those who gathered: Manager Yamada Hanako, Equipment Manager Tanaka Yoshiaki, Editor-in-Chief Suzuki Kenta, and several staff and talents.
Mitsurugi Rei was also seated in the corner of the conference room. His black hair in a crisp seven-three part, cold gray eyes fixed on Haru.
"Sorry to call you all so suddenly."
Haru spoke standing.
"From last night through this morning, in the second-floor streaming studio, Units Three and Five's PCs won't boot. Backup data is gone too. Following last month's archive loss—this is no longer a coincidence."
The conference room stirred.
"Someone is intentionally destroying equipment and data."
Haru's voice echoed through the room.
"And I believe the culprit is Mitsurugi Rei."
For a moment, the conference room went silent.
Everyone's eyes gathered on Rei.
Rei slowly pushed up his glasses.
"...Haru. What are you saying right now?"
Rei's voice was calm. But his eyes were cold as ice.
"I heard from Tanaka-san. You borrowed the studio IC card last Tuesday, late at night. It overlaps perfectly with the time the data was erased."
"Yes, I borrowed it. For equipment checks. I told Tanaka-kun that too."
"For equipment checks, you were alone in the studio for three hours late at night?"
"That's right. I often work late. Late at night, I can concentrate better."
Rei smiled thinly.
"And you're saying I broke the equipment? For what? I'm a co-founder of Neo-Porte. What benefit is there in destroying my own company's equipment?"
Haru was at a loss for words.
(I don't know the motive. But I'm certain.)
"...What did you do to Mina?"
Haru spoke with a trembling voice.
"To Takase Mina? I did nothing. I was surprised when she suddenly quit too. If anything, didn't you say something to her?"
"Why would I—"
"Who knows. You've been a bit... off lately."
Rei tilted his head.
That's when it happened.
"CEO."
Yamada Hanako spoke quietly.
"I understand how you feel. But Rei-san breaking the equipment—that's simply impossible. How much has Rei-san done for Neo-Porte all this time? We know."
"That's right, Haru-san."
Editor-in-Chief Suzuki continued.
"I've known about Rei-san doing equipment checks late at night for a long time. He's really dedicated. To suspect him like this is too much."
"Haru-san, aren't you just tired?"
Another staff member spoke with concern.
"You've been working overtime constantly lately. You look pale too. You should rest a bit."
"Rei-san would never do something like that. CEO, what's gotten into you?"
"That's right. Rei-san is your biggest supporter, isn't he?"
The atmosphere in the conference room shifted completely.
The gazes directed at Haru turned to sympathy and confusion.
(No. That's not it. I'm not losing my mind.)
"Everyone, listen. I have proper evidence—"
"Haru."
Rei stood up.
He straightened his suit lapels and approached Haru.
"You're tired. Takase-kun's situation, the equipment—none of it is your fault. I'm saying this for your sake. You should rest a bit."
Rei placed his hand on Haru's shoulder.
That hand was cold.
"...Rei, you—"
"It's fine. I'll handle everything in your place. Okay?"
Rei smiled gently.
But his eyes, as always, weren't smiling.
"...I'm sorry, CEO. I also agree with Rei-san. Please rest today."
Yamada bowed.
"That's right, Haru-san. Don't push yourself."
"I'm not pushing myself! All of you, listen to me!"
Haru raised his voice.
The conference room went silent again.
Everyone looked at Haru with troubled expressions.
Those gazes hurt.
(No one believes me.)
(My words reach no one.)
Chloe's words echoed coldly in his head.
'Your future death—even if you tell those around you, they won't believe you.'
Haru bit his lip.
The taste of iron spread in his mouth.
"...Sorry. It was my fault."
Haru squeezed the words out.
"I'm going home today. Sorry for the trouble, everyone."
Haru left the conference room.
Behind him, he heard someone let out a small sigh.
——
Fifth floor. CEO's office.
Haru opened the desk drawer.
He pulled out the crumpled equipment removal permit.
Unfolded it.
Approver: Mitsurugi Rei
Date: Last Tuesday, late at night.
(This date. This time slot.)
Haru booted up his computer.
Opened past work records.
Two years ago. When one of the founding members, Sakura, disappeared.
He scrolled through the screen.
(Sakura's last day at the office was November, two years ago. Around that time, Rei's late-night shifts suddenly increased.)
Haru traced the screen with his fingertip.
The numbers in the work records clearly showed that fact.
Around Sakura's disappearance, Rei had stayed at the office late at night more than three times a week.
(The period when Rei increased his late-night shifts.)
(The period when Sakura vanished.)
(And now. Before Mina disappeared, Rei was in the studio late at night too.)
Haru gripped the permit tightly.
The paper crinkled.
"...The disappearance two
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