Inside the Secret Government Facility
An underground conference room.
Insulated metal walls. Massive screens. Cold, sterile lighting.
The Numbers stand around a circular table.
The former Number 5 sits at the center, his features exhausted but composed.
Number 1:
"Tell us everything in detail… Did you make contact with him?"
Former Number 5:
"Yes. We spoke… but he didn't harm me. He left me there deliberately."
Number 3 (tense):
"He just left you? That easily?"
Number 5:
"He said I wasn't his target… and that the battle wasn't with me."
A heavy silence fills the room.
Number 2:
"That's worse… Maybe we were the real target."
Number 4:
"Or perhaps we walked straight into a trap without realizing it."
They exchange uneasy glances.
Number 1 (quietly):
"The ninja… hasn't contacted me since yesterday."
Their expressions shift instantly.
Number 3:
"That's not like him."
Number 2:
"If he hasn't called… then either he's still fighting… or—"
He stops.
An electronic tone cuts through the tension.
The massive screen lights up.
Three senior leaders of the organization appear, their faces stern.
One of the leaders:
"We've received reports that you were unable to handle him."
Another leader:
"We have already deployed special forces to his last known location."
A third leader:
"We also received reports of thick smoke erupting in an alley in Tokyo. The walls were riddled with holes."
Another leader:
"And several civilians reportedly lost consciousness suddenly."
Number 1:
"Sir, we request permission to participate in the capture operation."
The leaders exchange looks.
First Leader:
"Very well… but your authority will be limited."
Number 1 (firmly):
"That's acceptable."
A brief silence.
One of them exhales softly.
Leader:
"Fine… just don't interfere with the operation."
The screen goes dark.
The meeting ends.
An Unseen Moment
Number 1 rises from his seat.
From the edge of his jacket—
A small insect detaches silently.
It slides along the table's edge…
Then hides beneath it.
The lights shut off.
The screens power down.
The room sinks into dimness.
The insect trembles—
Its shape gradually shifting.
It transforms into a tiny black ant.
It climbs the wall.
Slips into a ventilation shaft.
Its mission has begun.
In a Skyscraper — Far from Sight
glober stands behind darkened glass, the city sprawling beneath him.
His eyes half-closed…
Observing through a neural link with the insect.
glober (coldly):
"So those old men… are the ones who took my ship."
His fingers twitch slightly.
The building's blueprint is etched into his memory.
"I will make you regret touching what belongs to me."
Minutes pass.
The ant crawls through ventilation ducts…
Descending into an isolated laboratory.
There—
A strange metallic structure. Half-biological. Half-technological.
His ship.
Scientists surround it.
Analysis equipment hums and flickers.
glober's eyes flash.
"I found it."
At that same moment—
A report reaches him from another of his copies.
glober's copy:
"The weapon is complete."
A faint smile forms.
"Everything… is ready now."
But—
His expression shifts briefly.
"There are still some side matters to resolve."
He exhales softly.
"I must return the body to them… at least so it can be buried with dignity."
A pause.
"But first… I need to visit Yuki. I made her a promise."
The Disguise
In a narrow room,
glober places an advanced mask on his face—purchased from the black market at an extremely high price.
It was worth it.
The features of an elderly man.
Fine wrinkles.
Synthetic skin adhering seamlessly to his face as if it were real flesh.
He adjusts his posture.
Slightly hunches his back.
Slows his movements.
He looks into the mirror.
A complete old man.
Then he heads to the location Yuki told him about during the festival.
He arrives in front of the restaurant.
A family-owned place.
Warm lights.
Children's laughter.
The smell of homemade food.
glober takes a seat at a side table.
Yuki approaches, wearing a waitress uniform.
Yuki (professionally smiling):
"Welcome, sir. What would you like to order?"
He slowly raises his head.
glober:
"Yuki? I thought you were a skilled cook here."
She freezes for a moment.
Yuki:
"Umm… Have we met before, sir?"
He leans slightly toward her.
glober:
"Didn't you recognize my voice… It's me… Koichi."
Her eyes widen.
Yuki:
"Koichi?! Did you… did you age that fast?!"
glober (lightly sarcastic):
"Your foolishness never ceases to amaze me… It's a mask."
He moves it slightly—the artificial skin appears disturbingly attached.
Yuki recoils.
Yuki:
"That's disgusting… Why are you wearing an old man's mask? Are you being chased?"
glober (faint smile):
"You could say that… I came as I promised."
Her cheeks puff adorably.
"So you came just because of the promise… not to see me?"
He chuckles softly.
"Seeing you is part of the reason I came."
Her face turns red.
"Do you want to try our new dish? It's really delicious!"
"I'll taste it later… but I need to talk to you about something important."
She hides her face behind her order pad.
"Are you going to confess and ask me out on a date?"
"No… don't let your imagination run wild."
Disappointment crosses her face.
"Fine… I'll tell my mom and come back."
She leaves, then quickly returns.
"Can we talk somewhere private?"
Her face reddens even more.
"W-Why?"
"I told you not to let your imagination run wild."
"Fine… but just so you know, I practice karate and I have a black belt."
"So you're the violent type."
She smiles despite her nervousness.
She leads him to the kitchen in the back.
In the Kitchen — Behind Closed Doors
The room is quiet.
Only the faint clatter of utensils from outside.
Yuki:
"So… what is it?"
He looks at her for a long moment.
His voice grows deeper.
More serious.
"I'll get straight to the point… Yuki…"
A brief hesitation.
"In truth… I am a being from outside this planet."
Yuki freezes.
Her smile disappears.
A heavy silence fills the air.
From outside—
Soft laughter.
Normal life.
While inside this kitchen—
Her world is about to turn upside down.