Prologue

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Tokyo's streets, life flowed like an endless river of opportunities. However, in my sixteen-year-old heart, there was an undeniable longing, a burning desire for adventure and excitement. I am Akira Arigawa, a young man who, in appearance, is just an average student, but beneath that facade lies a restless spirit yearning to break free from the monotony of everyday life.

Life as a student can be a whirlwind of monotony and repetition. Day after day, the same classes, the same assignments, the same schedules. I feel trapped in an endless loop of boredom, where each morning the alarm clock rings punctually, dragging me back into a reality devoid of color and excitement.

Classrooms become gray cells where time stretches infinitely, and subjects seem like a set of lifeless rules and formulas to memorize. Teachers talk and talk, but their words fall on deaf ears, and I wonder if I will ever break free from this spiral of tasks and duties.

Evenings are no different. Endless hours are consumed in front of textbooks, and nights become heavy with worry about exams and grades. It seems that the life of a student is reduced to an endless pursuit of good grades and the uncertainty of an unknown future.

Memory, a gift and a curse at the same time. Every second of my life is etched in my mind with a sharpness that borders on the obsessive. I don't have to make any effort to remember, but over time, those perfect memories have lost their luster. I don't want my life to become an endless succession of unsatisfying memories.

I long for something more, a spark that ignites the passion for living. I want to feel the excitement of discovering new things, to explore a world beyond the school walls that imprison me. Routine suffocates me, as if I were trapped in a gilded cage of perfect yet unsatisfying memories.

I desperately desire something that allows me to break free from this reality, to take me out of my comfort zone and experience life in all its fullness. I crave adventure, risk, and uncertainty. I want to feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins and experience the unknown.

I want a life that is a blank page I can fill with my own stories, a life full of unexpected twists and challenges that make me grow as a person. I need something that makes me feel truly alive.

And that something arrived one starry night in Shibuya, where, as always, I was caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. I ventured into the depths of my mind, where thoughts flowed like a wild river. But the peace of that night was shattered by a dull sound, a noise that ripped through the silence like a sharp knife.

Abandoning my musings, I let curiosity guide me and followed the sound. I ventured into a narrow, dark alley where the city lights dared not penetrate. As I advanced, darkness enveloped me, and mysterious whispers seemed to dance around me. I couldn't anticipate what I would find at the end of that path of shadows.

And there, in the midst of a scene I couldn't have imagined even in my darkest dreams, lay an lifeless body. It was lying on the ground, its motionless figure bathed in a chilling cloak of blood. The moonlight, though dim, revealed the scene before my eyes. He was young, about nineteen years old, with light hair that stood out even in the darkness.

My instinct told me to stay, to watch with inquisitive eyes the macabre tableau before me. In the distance, I noticed movement, a feline stealth that revealed the presence of someone else. A figure slipped away from the scene, fading into the darkness of the night.

With precise movements, my fingers glided swiftly and gracefully across my phone's screen, dialing the emergency police number. The call was brief and concise, reporting the situation I had encountered. Then, with care, I leaned toward the victim's body, fully intending to check their condition.

My fingers sought the pulse on the wounded person's neck, a life hung by a thread. The heartbeat was weak but still persistent. The body lay motionless, vulnerable to the uncertainty of its fate. Blood flowed from the wounds, a grim reminder of the fragility of human life.

A few minutes later, the shrill siren of a police patrol filled the air, its blue and red flash reflecting on the surrounding walls as officers surrounded the lifeless body. The scene was filled with palpable tension, and everyone present eagerly awaited answers.

The inspector in charge, a man with a cold and piercing gaze that radiated experience, approached Akira with evident interest. His scrutinizing gaze indicated that he was a seasoned detective who knew how to extract valuable information.

"What did you see, young man?" he inquired in a professional tone, his sharp gaze leaving no detail unnoticed.

Akira nodded, aware of the importance of his testimony. "I think I saw the murderer, Inspector," he began with determination, trying to recover the fleeting details he had glimpsed amid the confusion and chaos. "It was a quick glimpse, but I noticed some things."

The inspector nodded again, urging Akira to continue. "Can you provide us with more details?" he prompted, aware that any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving the case.

Akira immersed himself in his fleeting memories, trying to reconstruct the image. "He was of medium height, I'd say around 1.75 meters, and he was wearing gloves," his voice filled with determination as he spoke, his thoughts gradually organizing. "They weren't regular gloves; they were surgical gloves. That made me think he had planned this carefully, if you know what I mean." He looked at the inspector for validation of his theory.

The inspector nodded again, impressed by Akira's keen observation. "Please continue, any detail is important," he said, his eyes reflecting gratitude for the potential help of the young witness.

Akira delved into his fleeting memories again before continuing, "Furthermore, I didn't hear any noise. It seems he was very stealthy." He expressed this last observation with a mixture of concern and amazement, aware that the murderer could be a formidable adversary.

The inspector took note of all the details Akira had provided and nodded, recognizing the importance of the information. "Thank you, young man. You've been a great help. If you have any other memories, please share them immediately." His tone was reassuring, and it was clear that he valued Akira's collaboration in the search for the murderer.

The inspector took meticulous notes, and his expression revealed admiration for the young man's perspicacity. This event marked the beginning of Akira's astonishing career as an amateur detective, venturing into a world of mystery and crime solving that would change his life forever. A new chapter had opened before him, one filled with dangers and mysteries, and Akira was ready to delve into the unknown to seek answers and live a life of excitement and purpose.

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