Snublar Island, 11:58 PM, December 16, 2024
The red light from an emergency lamp illuminated a room full of cabinets and thick, neatly stacked files. A man in a white robe, his uniform stained with blood. On the chest of the robe, an identification tag read Shimokawa Akira. He stood facing a fourteen-year-old boy. The boy's hair was pitch black, as dark as a lightless sky, and his eyes glowed blue like a blue moon on a frozen night. In his hand, a Glock 20 pistol was aimed precisely at Akira's chest, who was still gripping his cell phone.
"Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to your beloved little brother?" the boy asked flatly.
"Goodbye is only said when there is a farewell," Akira replied, his breathing labored.
"Hmm… whatever," the boy said coldly.
A single gunshot was heard.
Before the voice could finish, a second shot severed the phone call.
Yahama, 4:23 PM, December 19, 2024
In a small diner owned by a fifty-four-year-old middle-aged man, the aroma of broth filled the air. His hair was long, tied back in a ponytail, and a bandana covered his forehead. In the corner of the room, a television was broadcasting live news: a report on the destruction of an extreme educational facility on Snublar Island.
> "In a single night, 70% of the facility was destroyed. A total of 356 casualties—156 children aged 11 to 15, 152 military personnel, and 48 support staff.
> From the investigation, 12 children's identities were reported missing and are strongly suspected of having successfully escaped."
>
"It is suspected that the destruction was the result of a battle between two factions: the children and the military. It is hard to believe, but it seems they truly fought back and won," said the newscaster.
> "Before being detained, the person in charge of the facility uttered a controversial sentence: 'It only takes one of those twelve children to change the world. Find them before it's too late.'"
>
"The police are now offering a reward for anyone who can find the twelve children, dead or alive."
Photos of the missing children appeared on the screen.
The middle-aged man stopped stirring the noodles, his eyes fixed on the screen. He was silent for a long time.
That night, heavy rain poured down on the rural road. The man was now driving an old pick-up truck through a rice field area, hauling something covered by a tarp.
His vehicle slowed down when he saw two small children walking on the side of the road. They were holding hands, covering their heads with plain black cloth to avoid getting soaked.
The man opened the passenger door.
"Get in," he said briefly while turning on the cabin light.
The two children looked at each other. The white-haired girl gave a small nod, and then they got into the car. The light revealed their faces—a black-haired boy with dark purple eyes, and a red-eyed girl that sparkled like a ruby.
Seeing them, the middle-aged man was silent for a long time, taking a heavy breath, and then continued driving his vehicle.
"I won't ask where you came from," he finally said. "Instead, I want to know your destination."
"A place where we can live peacefully," the boy answered flatly.
The man stared at the dark road, his mind racing.
<"What should I do? These two children are fugitives sought by the whole world. Should I lie to the world for them… or sacrifice them for the world?">
Snublar Island, the same time.
On top of the highest building ruins, a boy stood looking at the tents of detectives and scientists below. In his right hand, a monocular telescope was pressed against his face. His lips moved slowly, mimicking the words of the people he was observing.
> "...the survivors said the children were equal to—even stronger than—soldiers..."
> "...they were all trained as super-elite spies, capable of doing anything..."
> "...the deputy in charge tried to eliminate them, but the night of the raid coincided with the children's escape plan... and then this disaster happened..."
>
The boy lowered his telescope. A faint smile formed on his lips, his eyes narrowed as if he was planning something. He stepped down from the wreckage with light and measured movements.