Chapter 21

The next day—

"Souta Kiryuu, please come with me."

"Alright."

Souta was just about to dig into his bento when his teacher personally came to fetch him. Though surprised, he already had a guess.

"No need to be nervous, Souta. Just answer whatever they ask."

The teacher pushed open the small conference room door, and just as Souta suspected, two female officers in uniform were seated inside. One was a short-haired, young-looking officer—probably just out of the academy, still carrying the scholarly air of a student and visibly uneasy. The other exuded confidence and experience; clearly the leader.

Souta put on an appropriately surprised expression and froze at the doorway until the senior officer stood up with a smile and gestured.

"Souta Kiryuu, right? Please, have a seat."

"Ah, o-okay..."

Acting like a typical student suddenly facing the police, Souta sat stiffly across from the officers and glanced at his teacher.

"Mr. Enonagi, don't worry. We're not here to cause trouble for the student. Could you give us a moment alone?"

It was obvious the teacher cared deeply for Souta. No wonder—with his clean uniform, well-groomed appearance, and the aura of a model student, Souta was the type any teacher would be proud of, especially in a public school filled with delinquents.

"Alright."

With that, the teacher reluctantly left and shut the door.

"Let's begin."

The officers took out a recorder and writing materials.

"Souta Kiryuu, do you know a student named Yamamoto Nogi?"

As expected.

"Ah, Yamamoto? Yes, I know him."

Souta blinked in apparent confusion before nodding.

"But... he hasn't been at school for the past three days."

"That's exactly why we're here," the senior officer cut in, taking control.

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"It was in the third-floor boys' restroom."

"You see, due to some family issues, I've been targeted by certain students for bullying."

Souta calmly and honestly recounted his experiences. His tone was emotionless—no hatred, no anger, just quiet resignation. What was the point of holding grudges against the dead?

The real issue was the mess Yamamoto left behind.

"...That's when I pushed past them and ran out, and happened to run into the class president, Nao Iai."

After summarizing the incident, Souta hesitated.

"Did something happen to Yamamoto?"

A valid question. If the police were already involved after only three days, it had to be serious. Typically, over 30,000 people go missing annually in Japan, and 80% reappear within a week. The rest... are found in places like Aokigahara, Tojinbo, or rail tracks, or are never heard from again.

The two officers exchanged glances but didn't answer.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Souta."

The senior officer stood and extended her hand.

"Oh, you're too kind."

He shook her hand, signaling the end of their talk.

Yamamoto was just a nobody. The real problem was the three gang members.

Standing in the hallway, Souta watched the officers leave and touched his chin thoughtfully.

Those three thugs were affiliated with the "Fanged Fang Group"—a fringe organization. That was likely why the police were taking this seriously. It was because of them that Souta had chosen the Fanged Fang as his first target.

Looks like the police still have ample manpower.

Lowering his gaze, Souta walked back to class. Meanwhile, two crows silently took flight from the rooftop.

"Senpai, why are we investigating a delinquent who's only been missing for three days?"

Inside the patrol car, the young officer couldn't help but ask. Her name was Mai Kawai, a fresh recruit at the Adachi Police Station, the lowest rank of "Patrol Officer."

Disappearances were commonplace in Japan, especially for delinquents like Yamamoto. They often crashed at friends' places for weeks, ignoring their families.

"This one's different."

The experienced officer driving the car shook her head.

"Yamamoto is linked to the Fanged Fang Group, which is connected to a case that could shake the nation."

Though called "senpai," officer Fujiko Hijiri was only a Patrol Supervisor—still far from the top. Unlike elites like Iori Ichika, who entered as Assistant Inspectors through the Civil Service Exam Class I, Hijiri was a regular high school grad who had worked her way up over five years.

"Next, we're heading to Ousakura School to speak with Souta Kiryuu's younger sister."

?!

A crow perched on the police car tilted its head, a glint of red in its eye.

"Ousakura School... So jealous."

Officer Kawai clasped her hands with a dreamy expression.

"Graduates from there can take the Civil Service Exam Class II directly—"

RUMBLE~~

???

A violent tremor shook the road. Not just their car—every vehicle lost control.

Cars screeched, skidded, and collided. Sirens, alarms, and horns blared all around.

"Senpai! What is this—"

"An earthquake?"

Earthquakes were common in Tokyo. The city experienced around 40 perceptible quakes annually. Level 4 or 5 tremors weren't rare.

"Watch out!"

Shouting a warning, Officer Hijiri jerked the wheel, steering into a fire hydrant.

BANG!!

The hydrant crumpled and stopped the car. Water began trickling out.

"Cough, cough—"

Seconds later, both officers crawled out, pushing aside airbags and undoing their seatbelts.

"What the hell is the Meteorological Agency doing? They missed a quake this big?"

Officer Kawai had lost her cap and was rubbing her shoulder in pain.

"It's not that easy to predict quakes—"

Hijiri froze mid-sentence.

BOOM!!

The building beside them suddenly rose upward. Cracks spread like webs before the structure collapsed like a crumbling cookie.

"What the hell is that?!"

Dust cascaded like a waterfall, debris flying as a giant creature emerged.

It was a massive, black, fish-like beast with a flat head and rows of sharp teeth. Two long whiskers writhed like serpents. On its back, it carried a vermillion torii wrapped in sacred white ropes.

"Move—!"

Hijiri shouted just as a flying chunk of debris struck Kawai in the head.

Blood splattered. She collapsed silently.

???

"Mai... Damn you, monster!"

Seeing her junior fall, rage surged. Without thinking, Hijiri drew her sidearm.

To hell with rules, reviews, consequences—

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

All bullets hit their mark, but the beast didn't even acknowledge her.

Its mountain-like body crashed down, flattening another house.

Then, like a fish diving into water, the enormous creature began "sinking" into the rubble.

"A monster... it's a..."

Her best weapon useless, Hijiri trembled, lowering the gun.

Was she supposed to charge it with a baton?

Pssshh...

A hissing sound emerged. Gas stirred the dust, carving a trail through the air.

A gas leak?

Before she could react—a spark.

BOOM~~~

A burst of flame exploded, forming a giant burning skull.

"Keh keh keh keh keh keh~~"

Laughter pierced the chaos. The fiery skull sprouted skeletal limbs.

"Now what kind of monster is this..."

Hijiri instinctively raised her gun again. The incoming heatwave scorched her skin and singed her hair.

Though still standing as a police officer, what could she even do?

Bullets didn't work on the fish. They'd do nothing to a creature made of fire.

Just when she felt truly hopeless, white mist surged in.

What...?

The fog rolled in like a curtain, swallowing the city, the roads, and the ruins.

Then, a figure emerged from within.