As Kumakawa drove back to Tokyo from Shinjuku, the assassination of the president still lingered in the air. The ride home was quiet. He drove along the coastal road, the ocean beside him. Kumakawa liked the view — the rising sun reflecting on the sea, lighting up the world with warmth and gold.
> "Kumakawa, did you hear what they said? They caught the wrong guy and put him in handcuffs! I'm almost offended they think it wasn't us!"
Hiroki was still on the phone with him. Kumakawa agreed, though he knew they needed someone to take the blame for the incident.
> "Of course, Miss Amane. They need a scapegoat — otherwise, the people would panic."
Hiroki laughed, her voice full of joy.
> "Humanity is strange sometimes. They crave war and killing, as long as it doesn't touch them."
They talked until Kumakawa arrived in Tokyo. It took him only thirty minutes to reach the office building.
> "Let's talk more when you're back, Kumakawa. Bye."
She hung up — unusually abrupt for her.
Kumakawa's mind raced like a speeding car. Why did she hang up so suddenly? Was she in danger? A meeting, maybe? But she would have told me… What's going on?
He sighed, calming himself. Whatever it was, he'd know once he got back.
Meanwhile, in Hiroki's office, something strange was happening. She had begun a ritual she'd learned online — something about an ancient war of ages.
> "I summon you, my dear servant. Come forth to my will. I alone am the true ruler of this world. My words are yours to follow; my soul is yours to bind with."
The office filled with golden light. A woman emerged from the floor, standing tall before Hiroki, her eyes filled with strength and resolve.
> "Tell me," the woman said, "are you my Master — the one who summoned me?"
Hiroki's eyes gleamed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
> "Yes, I am. Bow before me — I am your Master, Hiroki Amane."
The woman instantly knelt before her.
> "Understood, my Master."
She accepted Hiroki's command and awaited her next order.
> "Stand by my side in this room. I need someone to protect me from possible assassins."
The summoned woman's eyes narrowed as she scanned the room for threats. Finding none, she returned to a still, regal stance — like a queen guarding her throne.
Thirty minutes later, Kumakawa arrived and parked his car, unaware of what had just occurred. He nodded at the receptionist on his way in, still holding his suitcase — his only reliable companion. He took the elevator up, mentally preparing to ask about the sudden call.
He sighed as he stepped out, passed several people, and stopped before Hiroki's office door.
> "Here goes nothing," he muttered.
He opened the door — Hiroki sat behind her desk, wearing that mischievous grin. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He entered and sat on the couch, reassembling and cleaning his sniper rifle.
Hiroki looked at him warmly.
> "Welcome back, Kumakawa. Don't you want to tell me how the assassination went this time?"
Kumakawa nodded slightly, still focused on his weapon. He explained that he had asked around, found the president's location, and even spoke to the target to understand his motives — though he didn't like what he heard. The rest, Hiroki already knew.
In the middle of their conversation, he finally asked,
> "Was it my attitude? Or was I too relaxed — is that why you hung up earlier?"
Hiroki waved it off with a smile.
> "No. I was simply focused on your next mission."
She slid a new document across the desk.
> "This boy — a high school student. He needs to be erased."
Kumakawa looked at the photo: a blue-haired boy with blue eyes and an inflated ego. Then he noticed the woman standing motionless nearby — dressed like a medieval queen.
> "Miss Amane… did you get a new statue? Why would you order a medieval woman for your office?"
Hiroki giggled softly, glancing at the armored woman, then back at Kumakawa with a sly grin.
> "That's no statue. She's alive — my new bodyguard while you're away."
Kumakawa stared at her, skeptical.
> "What's your name, miss?"
The woman opened her eyes — sapphire blue, glowing like the ocean under moonlight. Her hair was white as light itself.
> "Sakura," she said firmly, her voice distant, as if waiting for Hiroki's next command.
Kumakawa remained wary but allowed a faint grin to show. Hiroki noticed it and smirked knowingly.
> "Now, back to business. Your mission is simple: gather information on this boy and report to me immediately."
Kumakawa nodded, taking the picture and fewer documents than usual. He left the office with his suitcase and headed for the elevator.
It didn't take long to arrive near the school — only fifteen minutes. He walked around, talked to people, and soon confirmed the target's identity. Following the boy home, he kept watch. From the boy's room, a strange pink light appeared — a woman rose from the ground as if teleported from another realm. Kumakawa noted it all down, deeply unsettled by what he'd seen.
After three days of observation, he returned to Hiroki's office. This time, her bodyguard was gone.
> "I'm back. I brought the information you asked for — but something strange happened. A pink light appeared, really bright, and then a woman emerged from the ground. That's all."
Hiroki's eyes narrowed.
> "Pink light, you say? Interesting…"
She smiled mischievously. The room grew colder — but Kumakawa acted as if he hadn't noticed at all.