The morning was fresh. A cold wind brushed through the city streets, carrying with it the quiet promise of a new day. The soft glow of the rising sun touched the buildings like a divine blessing, painting the concrete in pale gold. Markets slowly began to open, metal shutters rattling upward, while the scent of flavors and spices drifted into the air as restaurants lit their stoves and prepared for the day.
The scene shifted to the apartment where Hikaru used to live.
At the main gate, several police officers were present, their uniforms dark against the pale morning light. Yellow tape fluttered gently in the breeze as officers moved back and forth, photographing the scene and examining the bodies of the two guards lying on the ground, stiff and lifeless, dried blood clinging to their clothes and skin.
One officer approached a woman who lived in the same apartment building as Hikaru.
"So, can you tell me when it happened? Anything abnormal before this scene erupted?" he asked,his tone formal and polite.
The woman replied in a concerned tone, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"I don't know, officer, because I was absent at that time. I do late shifts at the hospital. But a girl knows what happened… though she is sick now because of what she saw last night."
The officer nodded and noted the statement in a small notebook, the pen scratching softly against the paper.
He then ordered two cops to investigate Hikaru's room.
The cops nodded and headed inside the apartment. The wooden stairs creaked under their boots as they climbed, each step echoing in the narrow stairwell. The air inside felt stale and heavy, carrying a faint, unpleasant odor even before they reached the fourth floor.
After a few more steps, they arrived at Hikaru's room number.
One of the officers cautiously pushed the door open.
The scene inside was horrifying.
Blood was splattered across the walls, smeared over the table, streaked along the sofa, and pooled unevenly on the floor. Dark stains marked where bodies had fallen and been dragged. The metallic scent was thick and overpowering, crawling into their throats and making their stomachs churn.
Both officers instinctively covered their noses with their thumbs, eyes narrowing as they scanned the room. The silence inside felt heavy, broken only by the faint buzzing of flies and the distant sounds of the city waking outside.
It was clear—whatever had happened here the night before was nothing short of brutal.
The scene shifted to a dark street alley.
The walls were cracked and damp, streaked with years of neglect. A mouse scurried across the narrow street, disappearing into a small hole between broken bricks. Potholes along the road were filled with rainwater from the previous night, reflecting faint, distorted glimmers of light. Thin mist still lingered in the air, drifting calmly, wrapping the alley in a cold, suffocating hush.
The cold air brushed against Hikaru's skin as he stood on the footpath, wearing his usual all-black hoodie, cargo pants, and blue slippers. His hands were buried inside his pockets, shoulders slightly hunched. His eyes stared at the cracked wall in front of him, unfocused, distant.
His thoughts rose inside his head, sinking deep into his heart.
"Am I taking the wrong decision… no. It's for the safety of Sarah and Mina. I have to end this as soon as possible."
The words echoed silently within him.
As his thoughts grew heavier, he suddenly snapped out of it.
Hikaru turned his head sideways.
From the darkness of the alley, a black car unhurriedly approached. Its headlights were dim, barely cutting through the mist. The car rolled to a stop right in front of him, the engine idling softly.
Hikaru hesitated.
For a brief moment, he simply stood there, staring at the door.
Then he made his decision.
He stepped forward, reached for the handle, and opened the door.
As soon as he entered the car, the door automatically closed beside him with a soft mechanical click. The windows darkened, tint deepening until the outside world completely vanished from view.
The inside was hushed.
Yet the silence did not make Hikaru feel anything.
The driver, calm and expressionless, extended a hand and passed him a letter.
The engine started.
A low hum filled the interior, killing the silence.
Hikaru took the letter.
Slowly, he opened it.
In the letter, it was written:
[Hello, Hikaru.
We are contacting you on behalf of the Specialized Assassination Operatives (S.A.O.).
As per the application you submitted through the Hitmen Entrance Application Request (H.E.A.R.), we hereby inform you that your request has been approved.
Please take note of the following primary rule of the entrance test:
Any execution or harm directed toward staff members present during the examination will result in immediate disqualification.
All remaining instructions, regulations, and details regarding the test will be provided by the assigned instructor upon your arrival at the designated entrance test area.
We advise you to arrive prepared.
— Specialized Assassination Operatives (S.A.O.)]