-DOWNTOWN SAPPORO, QUIET SIDE STREET-
-6:47 PM, FEBRUARY 24, 2017-
Snow fell in thick, steady sheets.
The city felt quieter than usual.
Rikuu walked alone.
Hands in his pockets.
Shoulders relaxed—but alert.
He had just finished a short errand near downtown.
Then—
He stopped.
"…You again."
A figure stood ahead.
The same man from before.
Dark coat.
Calm posture.
Watching.
The man smiled faintly.
"I was wondering when you'd notice me."
Rikuu didn't move closer.
"…You've been following me again."
"Not exactly."
A pause.
"I prefer 'observing.'"
Rikuu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What do you want?"
The man tilted his head.
"To confirm something."
"I'm not interested."
"I know."
The man took a step forward.
"Which is why you're more interesting."
Rikuu remained still.
The distance between them was now smaller than before.
"Say what you want," Rikuu said quietly.
"Or leave."
The man studied him for a moment.
Then—
"…Very well."
He reached into his coat.
Rikuu's posture shifted slightly.
But he didn't react aggressively.
The man pulled out a small folded document.
Then held it out.
Rikuu didn't take it immediately.
"…What is that?"
"Information."
"…About what?"
"About you."
Silence.
Snow landed on the paper.
Rikuu stared at it.
Then took it slowly.
Unfolded it.
His eyes scanned the contents.
A pause.
Then—
His expression changed.
Subtly.
But noticeably.
"…Where did you get this?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
"…You've been hiding quite a past."
Rikuu's grip on the paper tightened.
"…This isn't your business."
"No."
The man nodded slightly.
"It's not."
Another pause.
"But it will be."
Rikuu looked up sharply.
"…What does that mean?"
The man's voice remained calm.
"Someone very powerful is interested in people like you."
"…People like me?"
"Those who can adapt."
A slight pause.
"Those who can endure."
Rikuu didn't respond.
But his eyes didn't leave the man.
The man continued,
"You think your life is small."
A faint smile.
"But it's about to expand."
Rikuu's voice dropped slightly.
"…I don't care about your games."
"I expected that."
The man turned slightly, looking at the snow falling around them.
"But whether you care or not…"
A pause.
"…you're already part of it."
Rikuu stepped forward slightly.
"…Then tell me what you want."
The man looked back at him.
And this time—
His expression was more serious.
"I want to see how far you'll go."
A beat.
"And what you'll become when pushed."
Silence.
Heavy.
Still.
Rikuu didn't respond.
Because now—
This wasn't just curiosity.
This was a test.
And for the first time—
The world around him was no longer something he could ignore.
-UNKNOWN LOCATION-
-7:03 PM-
Inside a dimly lit room—
A group of individuals sat around a table.
A report was placed in the center.
"Subject: Arakawa Rikuu."
One of them spoke.
"He's been confirmed."
Another leaned forward.
"And?"
The first man responded calmly.
"He's stable."
"Adaptable."
"Still developing."
A pause.
"Potential is high."
A faint smile appeared on one of the figures.
"Good."
Another voice spoke.
"Then we proceed to the next phase."
The room fell silent.
And somewhere—
Far beyond the snow-covered streets of Sapporo—
Rikuu Arakawa's life was no longer just his own.