Let's go back a little in time, to the moment the first explosion occurred.

The location is a room on a plane.

"Tsk, those girls really tied me up tightly."

The young man struggled weakly, clicking his tongue. He wanted to find a way to free himself while no one was around, but he couldn't succeed.

At that moment, with a "creak," the door to the room suddenly opened.

Who?

The young woman naturally looked over and, upon seeing the person clearly, revealed a calm smile.

"Oh, isn't this boy? Why are you here alone? Are you perhaps interested in me, big sister?"

In response to the young woman's teasing, Ryuto calmly replied.

"Although I would like to say that's the case, it's not. I came here simply because I have something to say."

"Can you help me get untied, then?"

The young woman gestured to the rope binding her.

To this, Ryuto only half-closed his eyes and said,

"Why do you think I would help you get untied? Besides, if I did help you, you would immediately run away. After all, I have no fighting ability, and I would have no chance of winning against you."

"Well, big sister won't run away."

"...Even if you guarantee that, it wouldn't matter. If you escaped, Asuka would probably kill me."

"Oh... I didn't expect boy to be so afraid of his little sister."

"No, it's not because of me. Anybody would be afraid, after all..."

He didn't finish his words in the end. He must have been worried that someone might overhear them. If someone caught wind of their conversation, it would be over.

"Well, since boy is so afraid of his little sister, big sister won't make things difficult for you. So, what does boy want to say to big sister? Is it that you have feelings for me? Do you want to pursue me, big sister?"

"No, it's not that. You're just overthinking."

"Oh... so boy is shy, huh? And..."

The young woman smiled slightly as she said this.

"Since you're so afraid of your little sister, that means you like girls who are older than you."

"...What kind of logic is that? Although it's not very pleasant to say, you're quite narcissistic."

"Hmm? Did big sister misunderstand?"

"You definitely misunderstood. Why are you so confident?"

"Well, big sister won't tease you anymore. So, what does boy want to say?"

...

Ryuto suddenly seemed like a different person, unnervingly calm.

"Let's keep it simple. First of all, no matter what, at least tell me your name."

"Oh, boy, you're so direct. Girls don't like that, you know. But in reality, it seems like girls really like you."

Having grown tired of the other person's rambling, Ryuto became a little impatient.

"Although I feel a bit embarrassed saying this, I've always only been disliked by people. Anyway, let's get back on track. It's time for you to tell me your name."

Ryuto urged the person once again.

The young woman, who had been observing Ryuto's reactions since earlier, seemed to have discovered something as she narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly.

"Oh... I feel like you're different from before. More composed than earlier, to be precise. What's going on? Well, it's more attractive this way."

Although there was a smile on his face, there was no joy in it.

However, Ryuto did not answer the other person's question.

"Are you trying to buy time? When the plane has already exploded."

"From the way you speak, did you arrive after the explosion?" "No, to be precise, the explosion happened on the way here."

Upon hearing this, the young woman narrowed her eyes again.

"Although maybe it's just me thinking too much, but from the way you speak... it seems like you knew the explosion was going to happen from the beginning."

Ryuto had no intention of hiding it and admitted openly.

"Well, you could say that."