Hanazawa wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, the cigarette now consumed at his feet. The roof was cold, and the biting wind seemed intent on stealing away his last remnants of strength. The metal door leading to the roof had been barricaded by the detective, and it trembled under the relentless pounding of the corrupted officers trying to break through.
"I need to buy time... I can't stay here," he thought, searching for another way out. His shoulder still burned, blood slowly seeping from the bullet wound. He touched the injury, gritting his teeth against the pain.
He leaned against the cold wall, his breath ragged. For a moment, memories of his past missions flooded his mind—moments when fear was a companion, but never a master. This time, however, the stakes felt different. These weren't just criminals or delinquents; they were his own colleagues, twisted into something monstrous.
The blows against the door intensified. "Damn it, they're all under his control... I need to come up with something—fast."
Hanazawa glanced at the unconscious officers he had knocked out earlier. The eerie violet light had faded from their bodies. "So, it has limits... It's like hypnosis! They need to be stunned somehow. But I can't fight them all," he muttered through clenched teeth.
His thoughts raced, trying to analyze the situation. "If stuns work, it means the control isn't absolute. Maybe it's linked to their consciousness... or their willpower."
He looked around and spotted the radio antenna on the roof—a spark of hope igniting within him. "Maybe I can send an emergency signal... if I can connect my walkie-talkie to the antenna..."
Moving quickly, he began fiddling with the cables, trying to establish a connection while the pounding on the door grew louder. His hands trembled from a combination of adrenaline and fatigue, causing the wires to slip from his grasp.
"Focus, Ien! You've been through worse," he whispered to himself, slapping his own cheek lightly to snap out of his panic.
The door was starting to crack under the pressure, and the wind howled around him, as if warning of the impending danger. After what felt like an eternity, Hanazawa finally managed to connect the walkie to the antenna.
"Yes, finally!" he exclaimed, allowing himself a brief moment of relief.
The banging was louder, more desperate. He tuned the frequencies, hoping to catch a signal. Then, one channel synchronized with his radio. Hanazawa didn't waste time and pressed the button.
"This is Detective Hanazawa. I'm at the Shinjuku Central Police Station. I need reinforcements, over."
Only a deafening noise of static responded.
"He cut off communications... but how?" Hanazawa leaned over the edge of the roof, looking at the city below. The lights were on, people moved as if nothing was happening. It was like the station was isolated from the world. But how was that possible?
He pulled out his smartphone to check the signal. "How can the network be intact, but communications cut off? How is this possible?"
Suddenly, the radio crackled to life with a distorted, almost mechanical voice.
"Detective, are you enjoying your stay in what used to be your police station?" said Azrael, his tone mocking.
"It's you, Azrael?" Hanazawa replied, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Yes, I'm the one who called fifteen minutes ago."
"What do you want? Release my colleagues immediately!" Hanazawa demanded, his grip tightening on the walkie.
"I don't think you're in a position to give orders, Ien," Azrael sneered.
"How do you know my name?" Hanazawa snapped, his pulse racing.
"I know many things. But since you've managed to survive this long, I'll give you a hint," Azrael's voice faded briefly before continuing, "You are in Shinjuku, and yet... you're not."
Hanazawa let out a nervous laugh. "Is this a joke? I see the city, people moving around..."
Cautiously, he stretched his hand toward the cityscape, but his fingers hit something—like an invisible veil, shimmering as if touching the surface of water. His hand seemed to pass through it, but he could still see the world beyond.
Hanazawa pulled his hand back, fear creeping into his thoughts. Azrael's voice returned, colder than before. "Now do you believe me, Ien? You're alone. Solve my case, Detective. Survive... and maybe you'll make it back to the real world."
The communication cut off abruptly, leaving Hanazawa shocked and paralyzed as the banging on the door grew more intense.
A few floors below...
Kairo and Yuto moved cautiously through the deserted corridors of the station, keeping an eye on every corner. Kairo stopped abruptly, not turning around. "Yuto, I need to ask you something."
Yuto kept his eyes on his smartwatch. "Yeah? Go ahead."
"If... if I start acting like them..." Kairo hesitated, but Yuto cut him off with a firm voice, devoid of his usual playful tone, "I'll bring you back!"
Kairo couldn't help but smile, turning to adjust his younger brother's crooked hoodie. "Dad would be proud of you. You definitely inherited my determination."
Yuto blushed briefly, pushing past his brother. "Yeah, but I'm cooler and smarter than you," he retorted.
Kairo chuckled, following him. "I wouldn't say cooler—samurais are way cooler than hackers—but I can't argue about the brains part."
As they moved, Kairo's mind wandered for a moment. "I hope Aenna, Lyra, and Riven are okay," he muttered under his breath.
Yuto heard him and smirked mischievously. "So, it's true—you're always thinking about Aenna, even in a situation like this."
Caught off guard, Kairo flicked his brother's neck playfully. "Of course, she's my best friend."
Yuto teased, "And you're totally into her, just like I'm into Lyra."
"Hey! That's not true!" Kairo protested, slightly flustered.
Yuto just grinned. "Come on, you're fooling yourself. I'm your brother—I know you better than anyone. You're just hurting yourself if you don't admit it."
"Focus on moving forward and tell me where we are," Kairo countered, trying to change the subject.
Yuto shrugged, checking his smartwatch again. "We should be near the evidence storage room. If we cut through it, we can reach the staircase."
"Alright, let's see if there's anything useful."
They found a small, neglected storage room. Kairo pushed the door open, gesturing for Yuto to follow. The room was dark and abandoned, dust hanging in the air like a forgotten memory.
Inside, among lockers and shelves filled with confiscated items, Kairo spotted an old katana, surprisingly intact. He picked it up, testing its weight, and noticed kanji etched on the blade—a symbol belonging to the old Yakuza gang, the Black Dragons.
"What the hell is something like this doing here?" Kairo murmured.
Yuto glanced over curiously. "Thinking of using it against those crazies out there?"
Kairo nodded. "Better than nothing. I can't fight them bare-handed. It might not be sharp, but it'll hurt," he said, sheathing the blade.
Yuto rummaged through a drawer, finding flashlights and a first aid kit. "These might come in handy," he said, stuffing them into his backpack.
"If we're going to help Hanazawa, we need to move fast. If they leave him on the roof, he's done for," Kairo said, gripping the katana more firmly.
"We still have control of the security system. I could trigger a distraction," Yuto suggested, lighting up his smartwatch.
"Good idea, but how do we neutralize the officers? It won't be easy breaking Azrael's control," Kairo leaned against a shelf, deep in thought.
"Right. We can't just leave them under his influence either," Yuto agreed.
Kairo's mind raced through possibilities until an idea struck him. "Yuto, I've got it!" He put a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Got what, Kai?" Yuto asked, confused.
"I think I know how to stop it, but it depends on the officers themselves," Kairo said, pulling out his phone and searching through his archive.
"Kai, I have no clue what you're talking about," Yuto replied, still puzzled.
Kairo found what he was looking for and showed Yuto the screen—a digital cover of an old comic.
"Really, Kai? What does 'The Amazing Spider-Man #546' from 2008 have to do with this?" Yuto snickered.
"I thought you were smarter than this. Haven't you read it?" Kairo asked, a little irritated.
"No, I don't read that American trash. I'm more of a manga guy—gotta support our own," Yuto grinned, handing the phone back.
Kairo persisted. "Just read this part." He pointed to a specific section of the synopsis.
Yuto scanned it, eyes widening as he reached a certain line. "Mister Negative? What kind of stupid name is that?" he laughed.
"Shut up! You'll get us caught, you idiot!" Kairo hissed, motioning for silence.
"Sorry, but come on, that name's embarrassing."
"Show some respect to the great Stan Lee!" Kairo threatened, cracking his knuckles.
"Alright, alright. But what's special about this 'Mister Negative'?" Yuto paused as he read further. "Negative corruption... with a single touch, Mister Negative brings out people's inner demons, rewriting their morals and ideology under his will. The subjects have glowing eyes with a sinister white light... That's just like—"
"—how Azrael manipulated the officers," Kairo finished the thought.
Yuto nodded, finally connecting the dots. "You might be onto something, Kai. Do you know how to reverse it?"
"If his powers are similar, maybe... but it's risky," Kairo admitted.
Yuto's mind spun with ideas. "If he's rewriting their minds, maybe an electric shock would disrupt the neural link. It's a gamble, though. If they're not strong enough mentally, it could make the control stronger."
"It's worth the risk. At least I've got you watching my back," Kairo said, offering his hand to pull Yuto to his feet.
"Always, brother," Yuto replied, high-fiving him.
Together, the brothers left the storage room, ready to face whatever awaited them on the roof.
Meanwhile, Aenna reached Lyra's apartment. Her friend was already waiting in the lobby, wrapped in a jacket that seemed too big for her small frame.
"Did you bring everything?" Lyra asked, tossing her a backpack.
Aenna nodded, still shaken by the throbbing pain in her head. "Yeah... but are you sure you want to go to Kairo's place at this hour?"
Lyra smiled. "If he and Yuto are in danger, we have to do something. I can't just sit around and do nothing."
They headed towards the exit, but as they turned the corner, Aenna noticed a shadow creeping along the wall. She stopped, her heart pounding.
"Lyra, did you see that too?" she asked, pointing at the spot.
Lyra turned but saw nothing. "Maybe your nerves are playing tricks on you, Aen..."
Aenna shook her head, still visibly disturbed. "No... I'm sure... there was someone there." She instinctively clutched her pendant.
The two girls continued walking, unaware that two glowing eyes in the shadows were silently following them.
---
Nakano District
Riven finally arrived at the Kaiaba house, immediately noticing the absence of Sayuri's car. "They're not home?" he wondered, approaching the door.
He moved cautiously, the autumn wind sweeping through under the moonlit sky.
Something caught his attention: strange, twisted symbols carved into the wood near the entrance. He frowned. "What the hell are these? Kairo and Yuto aren't the graffiti type."
He touched them with his fingertips, and suddenly, a vivid flash rushed through his mind: Kairo and Yuto in danger, a creeping darkness trying to consume them, and Azrael, his ominous white mask expressionless, looking down at the city from above.
Riven stumbled backward, his breathing ragged. "What the hell... am I losing my mind?" he whispered, trying to rationalize the vision.
"Mmhmm! You're not losing your mind, Riven," a voice whispered in his head, disturbingly eerie.
He whipped around, gripping his training bokken. "Who's there?" But the area was empty.
"Oh, don't be so tense. It's thanks to us that you're not under Azrael's control yet," the voice continued, becoming more guttural, almost like a growl.
Riven, still alert and spinning around, was at a loss. "And who the hell are you? And what do you mean by not being under his control?"
The voice chuckled, becoming increasingly animalistic, but Riven couldn't pinpoint its source.
"Don't worry about that. But if you want to save them, they're at the police station, and they're in deep trouble. I'd hurry if I were you."
"And who the hell are you, anyway?" Riven shouted.
"All in good time... but since you insist, call me Gremit. We'll meet soon, Riven."
A roar echoed through the courtyard.
Then, the night silence returned.
"It doesn't matter... I have to find them. But first..." Riven approached a window, smashing it open. "Sorry, Mrs. Kaiaba, but finding out what that idiot son of yours is up to is more important than your window."
With a leap, he entered the house and moved toward Kairo's room, the door still slightly ajar.
"This has to be his room... what a nerd," he muttered, noticing the collection of Funko Pops and manga displayed everywhere.
Something else caught Riven's attention: Yuto's laptop was still on, but the screen displayed a distorted message.
Riven moved closer, picking up the laptop.
He read the message, his eyes widening in shock before he dropped the device, rushing out the window and sprinting toward the police station.
As he ran, a strange feeling crept over him, as if something was trying to infiltrate his mind.
"What kind of joke is this? What the hell does... Memory Drift mean?"
Meanwhile, a shadow with scarlet reflections watched from a rooftop as Riven kept running, worried for his friend, before vanishing into the darkness. Back on Yuto's laptop, the message flickered:
"Subject: Yuki Aenna - Memory Drift 18%, Subjects: Kaiaba Yuto and Kaiaba Kairo - Memory Drift 5%, Subject: Aokai Lyra - Memory Drift 7%"
Then the message changed:
"Subject: Tetsuya Riven - ####Gremit 1%."
Sayuri parked in front of the station and got out of her car, approaching the entrance. The internal lights flickered as if the power was fluctuating. She knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Just as she was about to enter, an officer with violet-hued eyes stopped in front of her, staring vacantly.
"Mrs. Kaiaba... your sons... are... anomalies..." the officer murmured, pulling out a baton.
Sayuri stepped back, confused and worried. "Officer, what are you doing? I'm here to pick up my boys!"
The man didn't respond, moving forward with stiff, mechanical movements. Sayuri tried to retreat to her car, but another officer appeared behind her, blocking her way.
"Stop!" Sayuri shouted, but the officers didn't react.
Before she could respond, one of the officers grabbed her arm, twisting it behind her back. Sayuri struggled to break free, but the second officer roughly grabbed her wrists, handcuffing her.
"Let me go! My sons... I have to find them!" she cried, fighting back.
One of the officers, in a monotonous and unnatural voice, whispered in her ear: "Azrael... ordered... eliminate... the anomalies..."
Sayuri felt a chill run through her. They dragged her inside the building, ignoring her desperate attempts to escape. The officers' eyes gleamed with that eerie violet light, and Sayuri realized that something terrifying was unfolding.
Once locked inside a small cell, Sayuri slumped to the floor, breathing heavily. "Kairo... Yuto... please, be safe..." she whispered through her tears.
From a nearby rooftop, Azrael stared at the police station, holding a phone.
He dialed a number.
Calling...
"Saito Corporation, how may I assist you?" responded a customer service operator.
"Put me through to a manager," Azrael spoke, his voice cold and distorted.
"Okay, sir, but may I know the reason for your call?" the operator asked politely.
"No, just do it," Azrael replied, his tone ice-cold.
The operator hesitated but passed the call to the supervisor.
"Hello? Who am I speaking to?"
"My name is irrelevant. I just want to let you know that soon, you'll have a new general manager—me," Azrael declared. With a wave of his hand, he removed the barrier, causing the corrupted officers to start shooting at each other, the noise spreading into the streets and sending people fleeing in panic.
The department head approached the glass wall of the skyscraper, watching as people on the streets below scattered, cars honking in chaos.
"Do you see those people running? That's one block away from the police station. Sooner or later, the Saito Corporation will be mine," Azrael said before hanging up.
The few night-shift employees stared out the windows, watching the chaos unfold below with growing fear.