Susumu and Lied, at last face to face…!

Lied and Susumu were taken to the police station. None of them spoke a word during the trip. Out of the two, Lied stressed about his situation the most.

It wasn’t a bustling place as most officers were out on duty. They were inside an interrogation room, with a table and two chairs.

“Before you ask, I don’t know much. About ‘them’... and about me...” Lied said.

The detective could tell that Lied had no intention of hiding anything. One of the qualities that earned Susumu the title of “prodigy” was the skill to read between the lines and see beyond the obvious.

In this respect, Lied showed a frightening sincerity. Usually, a young person who went through everything he went, couldn’t bear the pain of remembering pitchy memories.

“Both odd and suspicious” Susumu thought.

“Understood. In that case, I have but one question.”

...

The nightfall brought desired re-encounters, predestined by something greater.

Naomi chased the red-haired kid. It was only a glance, but he was surely the boy in her dreams, since he also wore a cross around his neck.

“Please, wait!”

The few people on the street stared at Naomi. Apparently, she was the only one able to see him. Naomi came to a dead end. She lost sight of him.

“Huh…? He’s gone...”

Frustrated, she turned back home.

...

“Can you guess... why you are at the center of everything?”

In other words, what they really wanted from Lied. Why did this case revolve around him?

His question piqued Lied’s curiosity – the “golden apple” would be the most logical reason. Lied preferred to leave his guesswork to himself. He trusted no one in the world.

After this short interrogation, Susumu left the police station to carry on with his investigation. He made sure of asking an officer not to allow Lied to leave.

Nevertheless, Lied wasn’t the type to stay quiet and heed orders… The policeman wasn’t very skilled and, taking advantage of that, the teenager escaped his watchful eyes. Outside, he looked for the white hooded man...

...

Rumors circulated in school about a missing student. Naomi kept her mouth shut, as it concerned her as well but didn’t want to involve herself in it either. She had her mind overrun with thoughts of the crimson-eyed lad at the same time.

Would she ever see him again...?

...

In the classroom next to hers, the wildest rumors were starting to spread. A student from this class, Core, tried not to pay too much attention despite knowing a lot.

The teacher closed the book and everyone immediately stood up. Another boring day for Core. Just having to wear the uniform bugged her…

Bag over her shoulder, she headed straight to the gang’s base in Ganeden. As she walked to the park, Core sensed a somehow nostalgic energy nearby.

She found the source of this energy: a child in white and blue jacket, scarlet eyes and hair. Their gazes met briefly, the boy smirked and fled right away.

“Wait a second!” Core shouted.

...

Friday. Naomi didn’t look forward to the weekend too much.

On her way home, she noticed a girl rushing away from her school. The observation helped her distract herself, but not for long...

...

Core was compelled to run as fast as she could, the boy was that fast. And judging by his attitude, he could go even faster. Core felt like she was being mocked by him.

Their race dragged on until they reached an alleyway far from the park.

“Eeeeeeh...? Ain’t ya pretty tough?”

The antsy Core carefully examined his spiritual flow. She had a feeling that it wasn’t the first time meeting him.

“Who are you?!”

The lad shook his head in disapproval.

“So straightforward... but ya know, that’s not how it works with me – the great Iduma!! AH! I just said who I am!! But that name doesn’t ring a bell… right?”

Core didn’t talk back. Iduma got up on the edge of the ledge.

“HMMM… how about this: ever played tag? Eh? No? Never?! Not once?! Aw, you’re no fun!”

“What’s his deal?” Core thought.

He’s as annoying as Nemo…

“If ya take life too seriously, you’re gonna have early wrinkles!”

Iduma stopped with the monkey business. Iduma grinned as he spiritually scanned Core, meaning they truly were acquaintances…

“Explaining in an easy way…” Iduma was saying.

“…If I catch you, you’ll tell me your identity. Let’s go” Core said.

“To give ya a chance, I won’t run with my full speed. Huuum, let’s see... how about 50%? 20% faster than before!”

Iduma started a light and quick warm-up. A white aura clothed his body, his crimson eyes became snow colored. A swinging white cross appeared around his neck. This change of appearance took Core by surprise…

“That cross...!”

“LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!”

...

Naomi strolled, crestfallen. That’s when she glimpsed a lad flashing by at supersonic speed down the town. Naomi could feel gleams of that familiar energy in the atmosphere.

Would she blow off this opportunity, waiting for time to take away lost memories and unanswered questions? But if she does this... what’s left then? Didn’t she wish, from the bottom of her heart, for an extreme change in her boring life?

“Hum, did you happen to see a boy with red hair and eyes?!” Naomi asked a middle-aged lady who watered flowers.

“Red hair and eyes...? No, I didn’t see anyone like that.”

“I see... thank you.”

Wearing a long face, Naomi said goodbye. How was she going to find him if no one could see him?

No, it was possible! Naomi concentrated…

Idealize.

She idealized the person she was looking for.

Feel.

A click triggered an unseen pathway. Trusting her magical guidance, the lass ran. Naomi always had bendy legs; a fortunate gift given by the Heaven.

The road opened with each step taken. One last narrow street followed, where her destiny awaited… her legs almost giving out. Next to Naomi stood that other girl. In front of them, the enigmatic child.

“Finally... gasp... gasp... found you...!”

“Finally, yeah?” Iduma giggled.

...

At the base of the mysterious group...

“Damn it, what is Core doing?! Extra work maybe?” Nemo scoffed.

“Indeed, she’s taking longer than usual” Zechariah said.

Varius remained silent.

“Whatever…” Martyr, laid-back, stepped out of the room.

“…I don’t know what you intend to do, but we have only one job” Zechariah reminded.

“Aye, aye. Now’s... my turn” Martyr smiled eagerly.

His target, Lied, didn’t imagine what was to come.