Stage 2-12

**Stage 2-12** is a story stage of Chapter 2: The Meet-Cute Conspiracy.

## Script

Expand for script.

* **Gavin**: Who was that, making you laugh so much?
* Hanging up the phone, the voice of Gavin from behind startled me.
* **MC**: It's... a consultant for my show. Is the interview over?
* Gavin threw me the helmet.
* **Gavin**: Uh-huh, let's go.
* **MC**: To where...?
* **Gavin**: Verdant Plaza.
* We spent that whole afternoon investigating all 8 locations related to the case.
* The four people who filed reports all lived very far away from each other. Then I thought of the call.
* Four women, all from different locations, suddenly show up somewhere else. Could this be space folding?
* **MC**: And they were all returned safely... If this was the act of a criminal, what was the point?
* **Gavin**: What if he's "practicing"?
* **MC**: Practicing? (Tentatively) So he's practicing... space folding?
* Gavin gave me a look, dropped his head, and laid out all of the victim testimonies in order.
* **Gavin**: With each successive case, the "space folding" has covered more time and distance.
* I carefully checked the files.
* **MC**: It was true!
* **Gavin**: If he has this 'space folding' power-- be it via some special device or these superpowers you speak of--
* **Gavin**: Then, he either just gained this power and is testing it out, or he's brushing up his skills after a long break.
* I suddenly remembered the special sight showed to me. My heartbeat sped up.
* **Gavin**: What?
* **MC**: No, nothing.
* **Gavin**: If we're correct, then we can assume that-- he hasn't achieved his final goal, and he will strike again.
* **Gavin**: And this time, it might be not as simple as teleporting through space.
* I couldn't imagine that Gavin, such a bad student back in school, could make such a thorough analysis.
* **MC**: Then what should we do?
* **Gavin**: I'll look into all the people they've met recently--And you'd better stay at home.
* **MC**: Why?
* **Gavin**: To avoid any danger.
* He said it so casually, but my heart thumped so loud I could hear it.
* At 5:30 p.m., Gavin dropped me off at my building.
* **Gavin**: If anything happens, call me right away.
* **MC**: Sure.
* **Gavin**: And take this.
* A bracelet glimmered in the setting sun, swinging in a beautiful pendulum as it fell into my palm.
* **MC**: What is this?
* I look down at it. It's a silver chain with a delicate golden gingko leaf attached.
* Memories set to piano music from when I was 16 come flooding back, like an old forgotten melody.
* The late autumn when the gingko leaves started to fall was always my favorite time of year in high school.
* That oft-remembered afternoon, and the music sharply rising to a climax...
* Outside the french window, the gingko leaves suddenly dance to the piano melody and roar up into the sky.
* That moment takes my breath away.
* The scene is so deeply engraved in my memory, it's still vivid after 6 years.
* **Gavin**: MC, what?
* **MC**: Nothing... Gavin, why are you giving me this?
* **Gavin**: I put a tracker on it.
* **MC**: ...
* The lingering feel brought on by the memory vanished in no time.
* **Gavin**: Put it on.
* He put on his helmet, staring forward.
* **Gavin**: So in an emergency, I can respond instantly.
* I don't dare object. I put on the bracelet.
* **MC**: Sure.
* From under his helmet, he gave me a glance, seemingly satisfied.
* **Gavin**: Mm.
* The motorbike sped away in a cloud of dust.
* **MC**: Then little golden gingko leaf shines softly under the setting sun.
* Gavin... seems like he's changed since high school.