005. The Holly Flower (Gratitude to "Leyela, One of a Kind in the World" for their grand patronage)

Page 1/3

Entrusted by the Supreme Commander of the S.T.F. with the secret mission to locate the heir of the Hiiragi family.

Passing by agents from the second execution team along the way, their solemn expressions and fragmented conversations hinted at something...

“So they’re still investigating the ‘Reaper,’ after all.”

Anri Tooru withdrew his gaze.

Though he had long prepared himself mentally, the investigation involving his former comrades inevitably stirred an indistinct sense of vigilance deep within him.

Adjusting his tie and collar, he descended the stairs, surfacing at the outermost layer of the Public Security system.

At the corner, sunlight was blocked by a railing, casting a simple yet sharp shadow ahead, laying out a path bristling with thorns.

...

Having left the S.T.F. headquarters far behind, Anri Tooru entered the public smoking area beside the station.

The once spirited and determined special officer instantly deflated.

He leaned lazily against the wall, reaching into his pocket only to find it empty.

Only then did he realize that his savings had nearly run out due to renovating the attic of “Yayoi,” so it had been a long time since he last bought cigarettes.

Even such a minor memory had been erased... no wonder Margaret said no one had dared to attempt memory deletion surgery before.

Glancing toward the sparsely populated station entrance on one side, Anri Tooru recalled the task assigned by Kirishima and sighed.

This kind of matter should have been handled by the Intelligence Bureau’s specialists, so why was it handed to me? Could it be because the previous manager of “Yayoi” also bore the Hiiragi name?

Yet he remembered that both the official statements released by the S.T.F. and the internal bulletins were exactly the same: “The four members of the Hiiragi family managing the Sakurakami District liaison point perished in a traffic accident, and their residence was destroyed in retaliation by enemies.”

Now, recalling Kirishima’s repeated parting admonition, “Tooru-kun, you must keep everything you see and hear during the mission confidential; do not tell anyone except me,”

Could it be that I’m about to be drawn into an invisible conflict?

I hope the Supreme Commander will intervene when the Hiiragi family’s enemies come after me...

And ideally, perhaps even give me a raise, a bonus, and discreetly point me toward promotion opportunities.

Such are the workplace fantasies of Tokyo’s corporate drones: sitting in managerial positions, sipping tea and fiddling with computers, barking orders at subordinates, doing the least amount of work while earning the highest salary...

Alas, reality is always harsh. Promotions and raises often have little to do with merit or talent; connections and family background matter more. Even the little tricks of social grace are at best used to smooth over embarrassing work mistakes.

Page 2/3

Anri Tooru tapped his heels and, embracing the resolve of a laborer, headed toward the train station across from the smoking area.

The early spring sun failed to warm; it was much like the occasionally clear winter skies—fleeting rays like a gauzy veil covering the body, while cold winds blew down the street, causing involuntary shivers.

It was lunchtime, and groups of high school students from nearby schools passed by the station in twos and threes.

Anri Tooru scrolled through his phone throughout the train ride.

Discussions about the “Reaper” online had almost vanished.

A few scattered forum posts appeared sporadically, but their views were alarmingly low, clearly the result of the S.T.F.’s heavy-handed intervention.

He lowered his eyes to the anonymous email notification popping up on his screen.

Ah, so this is the mission target...

Anri Tooru opened the document labeled “Hiiragi Sakurao.”

...

Though he had been prepared, seeing the photo of the Hiiragi family’s heir in person...

Even with Anri Tooru’s critical eye honed during his internship at the Intelligence Bureau, he was undeniably shocked.

Girl, are you even human?

No, wait, how could someone who looks like that go missing for a whole month before the Intelligence Bureau found out?

The girl in the picture wore the uniform of the private Sakurakami Academy’s elementary division.

Standing beneath blooming cherry blossoms, her mysterious white hair spread in the evening breeze, and her gem-like deep purple eyes gazed into the camera. Her youthful face seemed to possess a beauty that defied human comprehension, evoking an ethereal, almost unreal sensation—as if she had stepped out of a manga.

With Anri Tooru’s professional expertise, he could easily discern that this was a beauty not belonging to humans...

A “yokai”?

Many yokai fabricate appearances that push the limits of human aesthetics to lure victims into isolation before striking.

Hiiragi Sakurao was somewhat different; she was born with this appearance, which only amplified her fatal allure.

Yet the passersby in the photo seemed completely oblivious to her presence, walking past as if she were invisible.

What’s going on? Am I the only one bewitched?

Page 3/3

Lost in self-doubt, Anri Tooru flipped through two more photos and came upon the [Registered Cognitive Lifeform File]. Especially upon reading the traits categorized under “yokai” and “urban legend” that the S.T.F. listed with an almost eager desire to publicize, he suddenly let out a relieved laugh.

Now he finally understood why the Intelligence Bureau’s specialist hadn’t provided him with specific locations where “Hiiragi Sakurao” had appeared, even through Kirishima.

Because the moment Anri Tooru tried to commit “Hiiragi Sakurao” to memory, all cognition related to her began to tangle and blur.

Just remembering her name was especially hard—let alone tracking her movements...

Unconsciously, he found himself beside the train tracks when a sudden, invisible sense of danger shot through him like electricity.

Instinctively, Anri Tooru lifted his head, diverting his eyes from the phone screen.

Ahead of him, on the opposite side of the tracks, stood a girl dressed in a magician cosplay outfit.

Her oversized witch’s hat covered her shoulders, emphasizing her slender, delicate figure.

It was a striking costume, complemented by a cascade of white hair flowing over her shoulders beneath the hat... she should have drawn the attention of passersby.

Yet not a single person passing by noticed the little witch’s presence.

Even Anri Tooru, standing directly opposite her, was ignored.

The nearby signal light flickered and switched.

From afar came the sound of wheels rapidly meeting the rails, producing a dull vibration.

The polished, semi-elliptical metal shell reflected dazzling spots of sunlight, and the train approached the skyline with the roar of its engine and the metallic clang of wheels on tracks.

Several pine trees stood by the gravel, their lush green leaves swaying in the wind.

The train cars swept through his field of vision one by one until they vanished completely.

Then, as if cut by an invisible force, time seemed to snap for a moment.

In the blink of an eye, Hiiragi Sakurao had appeared out of nowhere right before Anri Tooru.

She held the brim of her wide hat, lifting her small face as if to come closer, yet her wary, surprised eyes regarded him like a stray cat.

So close, he could faintly discern a subtle fear lingering in those beautiful deep purple eyes.