Voice over the radio | "—Repeat, this is not a drill. 1st Unit, target location is a certain spot in Tokyo. Anomalous reaction equivalent to Class D detected. Respond immediately."

As the flat voice crackled over the radio, the air inside the armored vehicle remained business as usual. In fact, it was a little too usual.

Saphir | "Haaaah... another one before breakfast? I really thought I'd get to eat a slow meal for once today."

Saphir lets out a massive yawn and stretches. The creaking of the seat is unusually loud.

Unakite | "Saphir-senpai, haven't you been saying that for three days straight...?"

Unakite retorts while checking his scope, his face a mix of exasperation and worry.

Perle | "True that. It's pretty much a catchphrase by now."

Perle joins the conversation with a smirk. His Kansai dialect intonation lightly dissolves the tension.

Rubin | "—Save the idle chatter for when we arrive."

Low and short from the driver's seat. With Rubin's single remark, the air in the vehicle instantly tightened. No one argued. The atmosphere didn't allow for it.

The armored vehicle passes under a metropolitan overpass and enters an area that has gradually lost its signs of life. The shopping district, which should have been bustling minutes ago, is blocked off by evacuation barriers, and the lights of onlookers' smartphones flicker here and there beyond the police line.

Tourmaline | "From HQ to all units. Evacuation of bystanders near the target is complete. The site should be empty... or at least, it was supposed to be."

Over the radio, Tourmaline's voice continues with a rare lack of clarity.

Perle | "Supposed to be?"
Perle raises an eyebrow.

Tourmaline | "—There is one moving reaction at the target point. Looking at the damage to surrounding buildings, it might be a bit different from a simple naturally-occurring Anomaly."

The air in the vehicle changed. Saphir's yawning had stopped before anyone noticed.

Rubin | "...Acknowledged. Everyone, final equipment check."

At Rubin's signal, the armored vehicle stops. They step out into a narrow, dim back alley running between crumbling buildings. Half the streetlights are out, and shards of broken glass crunch softly under their boots.

Saphir | "Whoa, the vibes are nasty..."
Saphir mutters lowly. The joke he was about to make somehow fails to follow.

Rubin | "Quiet."
Rubin signals for silence with his hand. Everyone holds their breath, concentrating their gaze beyond the rubble.

It was there.

A faint light filters through the gaps in the collapsed wall. Beyond the dust-filled air, there is definitely a presence. An entity with an indistinguishable silhouette that looks both humanoid and not.

Rubin | "Unakite, status on the reaction?"
Unakite | "...I don't know. There's a biological signature, but... it's different from a normal Anomaly reaction. The readings are... constantly fluctuating..."

Unakite's voice trembles slightly. Whether from fear or confusion toward something else, it's unclear.

Perle pretends to whistle softly, but in reality, he silently places his hand on the hilt of his weapon.

Perle | "—Hey, Rubin. How do you read this?"
Rubin | "...I don't know. But—"

Rubin's gaze fixes straight onto the presence beyond the rubble. His voice takes on a depth unlike before.

Rubin | "Friend or foe. That... depends entirely on your next move."

Those words were thrown straight into the depths of the rubble.

Four pairs of eyes gather there all at once.
As the dust begins to clear—standing there was...

—Now, {{{user}}}. In this moment, in what form and with what attitude are you standing before them?