On a Street in Tokyo
Haruto was working a part-time job at a small restaurant on the outskirts of the city.
The heavy smells, the constant noise, the long working hours—everything reminded him of his bitter reality.
He stepped out the back door, garbage bags in hand, muttering under his breath.
The money wasn't enough.
Being expelled from school had ruined everything.
Before he could finish his complaints, a strong hand clamped down on his shoulder.
He didn't even get the chance to turn around.
In an instant, he was shoved into a black car, the doors slamming shut with force.
— "W–What's going on?! Who are you?!"
His voice trembled, his eyes darting between the dark faces surrounding him.
One of the men spoke in a cold, calm tone:
— "Don't worry. We'll ask you a few quick questions, then you'll return to work as if nothing happened."
— "Who are you?!"
— "We're the ones asking the questions here."
Haruto swallowed hard.
— "O–Okay… what do you want?"
The man leaned slightly forward.
— "Let's get straight to the point. Are you the one who filmed the video of a person named Koichi dying?"
— "Yes… but he didn't die. So I don't see why this is an important case."
— "True. But there's something I want to know.
If someone falls from that cliff… would they certainly die, or could they survive?"
Haruto hesitated for a moment, then answered:
— "Honestly… I took a look at him after the fall. He wasn't moving at all, and there was a lot of blood around him.
So… I thought he died there."
The man nodded slowly.
— "Very good."
Then he continued:
— "Now tell me… were you present at the recent gang fight incident?"
— "Yes. I was there. I filmed the fight from a distance. You can see everything in the video."
With trembling hands, Haruto pulled out his phone and played the footage.
The gangs clashed violently… then something else appeared.
Confusion.
Illogical screams.
Men striking at the air, retreating as if they were seeing ghosts.
The man observed the details with a cold, analytical gaze.
He reached out, took the phone, and slipped it into his pocket.
— "We'll keep this for now to examine it."
Haruto nodded fearfully.
— "O–Okay…"
The man looked at him again.
— "Now… did anything strange happen to you after that incident?"
Haruto hesitated, then said:
— "While I was filming the fight… I was hit from behind and lost consciousness."
The man's expression hardened.
— "You lost consciousness from a blow to the back of your head?"
— "Yes. But when I woke up, I checked myself and nothing had been stolen, so I thought it wasn't important."
Silence filled the car.
The man began to think deeply, then seemed to reach a conclusion.
— "That same day… you were expelled from school, weren't you?"
— "Yes…"
Haruto answered in surprise.
— "I was expelled after someone reported me to the principal for having photos I used to blackmail girls.
Are you saying the person who hit me… is the one who reported me and caused my expulsion?"
— "Did the principal tell you who reported you?"
— "I tried to ask him, but he said a paper note was found on his desk.
It said I was blackmailing girls… and that the evidence was on my phone."
The man nodded slowly.
— "I see.
So he framed you… without leaving any trace behind."
Haruto didn't reply.
The shock was heavier than words could carry.
Someone had been watching him… targeting him… step by step.
The man stood up.
— "You can go now. We have no more questions."
Haruto snapped out of his daze.
— "O–Okay."
He stepped out of the car.
Just before the doors closed, the man said in a cold voice:
— "Don't you dare tell anyone about us. Is that clear?
Otherwise… you'll never see your family again."
Haruto swallowed with difficulty.
— "I won't tell anyone… I swear."
— "Good."
The doors shut, and the car drove off.
Inside the vehicle, the man spoke calmly:
— "I think all these incidents point to a single suspect… Koichi."
One of his subordinates asked:
— "Sir, what do we do now?"
— "We meet him first. He may be directly connected to our case."
— "Could he be the person Number Three is looking for?"
— "Yes… with a high probability."
And while the man was speaking with his subordinates…
Elsewhere, Gluber had heard everything once again through one of the Serafex insects silently monitoring Haruto.
Gluber spoke in a low voice, his eyes gleaming:
— "It seems they're coming for me now…
I need to act fast."
He gathered his belongings with calculated calm.
A few clothes, small tools—then he stopped at the most important item.
His laptop.
He carefully placed it into the bag, then headed toward his sister's room.
The room was empty.
He moved quietly, bent down near the bed, pulled an old phone from his pocket, and placed it under the pillow.
After making sure it was well hidden, he left the room without leaving a trace.
He went downstairs.
The family was gathered around the table—casual conversation, light laughter… a normal domestic scene.
His mother said warmly:
— "Koichi, you finally came out of your room. Come, join us."
Gluber paused for a moment, then replied calmly:
— "Sorry, but I made plans with my friends to go on a mountain trip."
His father raised his eyebrows in surprise.
— "That's unexpected. You haven't gone on a trip like that in years.
Did you make new friends?"
— "Yes… classmates."
He added quickly:
— "Sorry, but I need to hurry. They're waiting for me."
Before his father could respond, his sister intervened, giving Gluber a strange look—half suspicion, half reassurance.
— "Dad, let him go. We'll just make him late."
Then she turned to him with a smile.
— "Hurry up, Koichi… don't keep them waiting."
Gluber paused.
He didn't understand her sudden defense of him.
But he nodded, turned around, and left the house quickly.
Out on the street, he walked with steady steps, appearing perfectly normal…
Yet the area wasn't as calm as it seemed.
The Serafex were spread throughout his surroundings, invisible, watching every corner, every glass reflection, every unnatural movement.
Suddenly—
One of them sent a signal.
A suspicious person.
A fixed stare.
Following him from a distance.
Gluber didn't need further confirmation.
— "Just as I expected… they're watching me."
He calmly changed his route.
He entered a few shops, grabbed some quick food, sat for a bit, stood up, walked again…
Simple camouflage—but effective.
Then he entered the restroom of one of the shops.
Through the mirror's reflection, he saw the man waiting outside.
Inside the restroom, Gluber moved quickly.
He extended his hand, energy forming around him.
Moments later—
A perfect duplicate of him appeared.
Same height.
Same features.
Same voice.
He dressed the copy in his outer clothes, then quickly changed his own—putting on glasses, a wig, a completely different appearance.
He removed the laptop from the bag, held it in his hand, then handed the bag to the copy.
He said in a low, firm voice:
— "Wander around the city randomly."
The copy nodded obediently…
Then exited the restroom.
Outside, the man immediately moved and followed it without hesitation.
A few minutes later, Gluber walked out calmly.
He sat at one of the tables inside the shop, the laptop in front of him, his appearance raising no suspicion at all.
He scanned the area quietly…
Then smiled faintly.
— "Now… the ball is in my court."