Morning in 2065 Tokyo used to be something children dreamed about: hover-buses sliding through glowing streets, digital billboards dancing in the air, and drones delivering groceries before you even realized you needed them. A future built on innovation.
But to Kento Yaka, it all felt like a disguise — technology wrapping around a city that was slowly rotting inside.
At 37 years old, Kento worked as a simple private office employee in a mid-tier data company. He handled names, records, tiny fragments of people's lives stuffed inside servers. It wasn't much different from moving files in a dusty police archive. His childhood dream of becoming a police officer — a fearless protector of justice — had shrunken into nothing more than paperwork and digital noise.
He buttoned up his shirt, tugging a bit too hard — stressing over time, deadlines, and expectations that no longer mattered. The mirror reflected a tired man with hopeful eyes that refused to die.
> "Nine-year-old me would beat me up for becoming this…"
"…then probably run off to fight crime again."
He grabbed his worn briefcase — the same one he'd bought in his early twenties, still pretending to be a man destined for greatness.
Just as he reached for the doorknob…
BANG!!!
The door swung open so violently that Kento nearly fell backward. His heart leapt straight up into his throat.
"KENTO-NII!!! IT'S A LIFE-OR-DEATH CRISIS!!!"
He blinked twice, calming his pulse.
There stood Hamari — the whirlwind known as his 13-year-old neighbor, wearing her junior high uniform and a backpack that seemed heavier than her entire body. She had no sense of boundaries. To her, Kento's home was simply "Apartment #2 of Favorite Big Bro."
Her ponytail bobbed aggressively as she stomped into the room.
"Look!" she shoved a paper into his hand dramatically. "Math Homework. It's evil. I'm dying."
"It's seven in the morning…" Kento sighed.
"Exactly! No one can do math at this hour! Do you want me to fail school and become a menace to society? You must save me!"
She dropped to her knees, clutching his pant leg like some desperate soap opera character.
Kento tried to hide a smile, but Hamari's dramatic despair was too infectious.
"Okay, okay," he chuckled, "show me which part."
He guided her through the equation with simple steps. Hamari's eyes widened with mystical awe.
"Ohhh! So x isn't a monster number! You're secretly a genius!"
"Hardly," he replied.
"No — it's true. You could totally be a detective! Actually, wait—"
Hamari leaned suspiciously close to his face.
"If you were in an anime… you'd be that mysterious office worker who battles crime every night!"
Kento froze for half a second too long.
Hamari narrowed her eyes.
"…Why did you pause like I'm right?"
"Coincidence," he coughed, grabbing his briefcase. "And don't break into people's houses."
"It wasn't breaking in! Your door was unlocked. Also, I have a spare key. My mom gave me one so you don't starve to death."
Kento's eyebrow twitched.
"Since when do you have a spare key to my house?"
Hamari grinned like she had just confessed to stealing cookies.
"Since always!"
She pranced to the door but stopped suddenly, voice softening.
"Kento-nii… things feel scary lately. Mom says crime keeps getting worse."
Her fingers fidgeted with her sleeve — a nervous gesture Kento only saw when she was truly scared.
"You should be careful, okay?"
Kento's chest tightened.
It wasn't fair that someone her age was already worried about the world's darkness.
He placed his hand gently on her head.
"I'll be careful. And I'll always be here close by."
Hamari brightened instantly, her fear replaced with sunshine.
"Good! Now go conquer office evil! And don't skip breakfast or I'll drag you home by your tie!"
She saluted him with the math sheet like a flag and hurried toward school — ponytail swinging, laughter echoing.
As she disappeared into the street, Kento let out a slow breath.
> She's like the daughter I was never meant to have.
I must protect her — always.
---
Downstairs, the convenience store was the usual stop.
A place where cheap canned caffeine and bad life choices met.
Behind the counter stood Haruto Mori, Kento's best friend and the loudest man alive.
Haruto leaned forward with a dramatic sigh.
"You look like a warrior heading to his final showdown… against paperwork."
"That's exactly what I'm doing."
Haruto nodded gravely, handing him a coffee can.
"Crime's getting worse, bro. Even my mom installed lasers around her goldfish."
"Goldfish don't need lasers."
"Well don't tell her! She's emotionally invested in Sparkles-chan's safety."
Kento snorted mid-sip.
Haruto pointed at him like he discovered a clue.
"Aha! A smile! Rare sighting! Must be Hamari again."
Kento tried to act unfazed.
"She brought homework."
"And love. And chaos," Haruto added. "That kid worships you like you're some hero."
Kento looked away.
Hero.
He once wanted to be that word.
Instead… he was an invisible cog.
Haruto leaned closer, lowering his voice for real this time.
"Listen, man… if something ever happens, I'll back you up. Even if it's… weird or dangerous. Just say the word."
Kento blinked — surprised.
Haruto laughed it off, scratching his neck nervously.
"Anyway! If a robber comes, I'll bravely use you as a shield!"
"And our touching moment is ruined," Kento muttered.
They both laughed — but Kento's heart felt heavier leaving the store.
---
Tokyo's street screens flickered with news:
> "CRIME RATE SURGES AGAIN — POLICE STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP"
"TEEN DISAPPEARANCES RISE IN MULTIPLE DISTRICTS"
Another siren screamed somewhere far… then closer… then gone.
People walked faster now. Eyes downward. Trust vanished.
> The justice system isn't protecting anyone anymore.
Someone has to act.
Someone ordinary… yet willing to step into the shadows.
Kento's fist tightened around the coffee can.
He looked up at the towering skyline — bright lights masking the void.
As wind pushed against his tie, a memory sparked:
A boy of nine watching Death Note, idolizing Light Yagami.
Not for the killing…
But for the courage to confront evil when no one else dared.
That boy had made a vow.
> "If justice collapses… I will become its foundation."
Now, that vow returned — no longer childish fantasy.
Kento exhaled slowly.
"Light… show me the path."
In that moment — for the first time in years —
Kento felt something burning inside him…
Purpose.
Something dangerous.
Something unstoppable.
His new life hadn't started yet — but the world was already trembling.