Hey, there.
I apologize if my whistling was bothering you.
Oh, no. I was just wondering what you were doing in a place like this.
I'd like to ask you the same thing.
What are you doing in a place like this?
Who might you be?
My name is Echoes.
Ah, so you're Echoes.
You know me?
You're Kamikishiro Naoko-san's friend, are you not?
And you came from somewhere not of this world.
Who are you?
My name is Boogiepop.
That's a rather strange name.
I could say the same about yours, no?
But your name is far more poetic.
I didn't exactly receive this name in the best way, though.
And your name... How did you get your name?
That's a pretty long story.
I suppose I need to start by telling you about the scarecrow.
Huh?
A scarecrow. A straw man used to keep the crows away.
Boogiepop and Others
For Rent
Seeking tenants
Dengeki Bunko
Oh?
Actually coming to the office today?
Yes, though I'm waiting for a job to come in.
I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with this recession.
Wow, I guess even detectives have to worry about the economy.
'Scuse me...
Oh? Looks like you have a customer.
My pet pigeon seems to have flown off.
Do you think you can find it for me?
Kuroda Detective Agency
So, what did you want, Pigeon?
I have a mission for you.
They want you to check up on Teratsuki Kyouichirou again.
That again?
The Towa Organization raised Teratsuki Kyouichirou's observation level to A.
Meaning eliminate him at any sign of suspicious activity?
That's not very pleasant.
Well, that's the fate of a synthetic human.
I mean, it goes for us, too.
I look forward to this every time I come here.
You're basically a pro at this.
Detectives are picky about their coffee.
True.
You can set aside your primary mission for now.
Not that you've found any MPLS around here anyway.
I'm not sure if I like finding enemies among us, either.
You mean Teratsuki?
Yeah. Why's he being treated like a traitor?
It's his job to make it easier for the Towa Organization to do their work.
What? You're defending him?
I mean, I guess that's fine.
But you're still not getting out of this job, no matter what.
I know.
I won't let sympathy get in the way of my work.
You're better off that way.
You have to be alive to enjoy that aroma, huh?
Precisely.
We aren't human, so we can't live without the Towa Organization.
We've got no choice but to do what we have to do.
"Scarecrow." That's my real name as one of the Towa Organization's synthetic humans.
For Rent
My primary mission is to track down any MPLS.
It's pretty distant from the missions I get to find random people.
For Rent
What I'm looking for are people who possess possibilities that do not exist yet.
Possibilities that no one—especially the ones in question—are aware of.
In that respect, this job is probably much easier.
A long interview with "The Monster", Teratsuki Kyouichirou We break down the rise of MCE!!!
They flew in just for this! A famous psychic from the US reveals the true suspect in an unsolved case!
Weekly Asuki
The latest and exclusive information obtained by Asuki
We break down the rise of MCE!!!
They flew in just for this!! A famous psychic from the US reveals the true suspect in an unsolved case!
Weekly Asuki
The latest and exclusive information obtained by Asuki
A long interview with "The Monster," Teratsuki Kyouichirou
A credit inquiry on MCE?
Yeah, that's not happening.
You can poke around all you want, but you're not gonna find anything.
Causes for concern?
I can't think of a single one!
It's definitely good at its work,
though I hear it's just one guy.
Currently, Teratsuki's company, MCE,
is a very influential company within this country.
I guess being too successful can be a problem, too.
I happened to find an article about a donation to a certain hospital.
Considering he was a philanthropist, this was nothing out of the ordinary.
But something about this hospital caught my eye.
The giant system known as the Towa Organization
continues to observe and conduct experiments all around the world.
It wants to track down whatever it was that gave humans their intelligence,
and it wants to detect whatever is next.
Most of its research centers around evolution.
But it doesn't know what exactly comes next.
That's why it's trying to preserve what makes us human.
It's basically a struggle for survival.
To ensure that humans prevail in the inevitable evolutionary war.
If Teratsuki truly betrayed the Towa Organization...
Garden
Does this Teratsuki guy just like constructing odd-shaped buildings?
You seem pretty passionate.
This place is pretty impressive.
So, was whomever you came to meet just not here?
Something like that.
You're lying.
You wanted to snoop around inside, didn't you?
What gives you that idea?
If you were visiting someone, you wouldn't bother going through every single floor.
Going up and down floors, holding that bouquet...
I could see you from here.
Kuroda Detective Agency
I see. So you're Kuroda-san.
And what's your name, Little Miss Detective?
I'm Nagi. Kirima Nagi.
Nagi-chan, huh? That's a rather unusual name.
My dad's such a weirdo.
"Always remain calm, no matter the situation!"
That's the "calm" that "Nagi" comes from.
I see.
Say, Kuroda-san... Your investigation doesn't have anything to do with me, does it?
Do I look bored enough to actually go along with that joke?
You sure do! Anyone would think that when you're just wandering around here.
So what sort of condition do you have?
You don't exactly look sick...
To be honest, it's a pain in the ass...
They're not sure what's causing it.
My body just starts hurting out of nowhere.
It starts hurting? Like how?
So much that I can't put it into words.
Well, I can't really explain it, but the doctors say it's just growing pains.
Growing pains?
Hey, don't look so grim.
S-Sorry.
Kirima-san!
You need to return to your room soon.
That's Dr. Kisugi.
I've gotta go.
See ya, Mr. Detective.
Hey, wait!
You can have these.
Thanks!
Say, Mr. Detective...
You should investigate me sometime.
You'll probably find something interesting.
Yeah? Guess I have something to look forward to.
What were you doing? You know you're not well.
Periodic report regarding my mission
Periodic report regarding my mission.
First, regarding the investigation of Teratsuki Kyouichirou,
I could not confirm any acts of disloyalty against the Towa Organization.
The only thing that caught my eye
were his investments in a certain medical facility,
but this provided no proof that he would pose harm to the Towa Organization,
so I've concluded that this was of no concern.
Next, regarding my primary mission to track down any MPLS...
...to track down any MPLS
Well, I can't really explain it, but the doctors say it's just growing pains.
Coming! Who is it?
I'm a detective that Kirima-san summoned.
Naoko, I know him.
Did you find something out, Mr. Detective?
Indeed. To think the unfortunate little girl happened to a billionaire.
A detective? What?
You investigated Nagi?
She was the one who told me to.
Kirima Nagi.
The only daughter of the writer who suddenly died four years ago, Kirima Seiichi,
who happened to inherit the rights to all of his works.
Naturally, inheriting those rights came with never-ending troubles.
Wow... I'm surprised you found all this out.
I thought you might actually be faking your illness so you could hide.
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.
Why's that unfortunate?
Wouldn't you prefer not to be sick?
Yeah! You need to hurry up and get better.
I don't wanna end up being another grade ahead of you in school.
Well, I'm gonna head home.
I guess I should head out, too.
Could you stay a little longer, Mr. Detective?
So... Why'd you do it?
What's this about?
Don't play dumb with me!
You found out my agent was embezzling money from me and got him fired, didn't you?
Well... I asked him a few questions...
Were you trying to win me over?
What good would that do?
I don't understand.
Understand what?
Even if I were to be cured one day, what kind of person should I become?
Nothing sounds right.
I'm not sure if it ever sounds right to anyone.
What about you?
I dunno... Detective work is a dirty business.
I see.
Hey... Did you ever want to be anything other than a detective?
Let's see...
Maybe a superhero.
A superhero who gets to solve crimes without dealing with any other kind of crap.
I guess I'd like to be something like that.
Then you should! I'm sure you could do it!
I'll even sponsor you!
Come on, now. You shouldn't say things like that so carelessly.
Someone will take advantage of you.
I wouldn't mind if it was you, Kuroda-san.
Uh... I...
Are you having an episode? I-I'll call a doctor—
Seriously... Think about it.
I mean it!
As I thought, this girl...
Kirima-san, please calm down.
...is evolving.
Are you on Nagi's side, Mr. Detective?
I guess I don't consider myself her friend or foe.
In that case, be her friend.
Please.
...to track down any MPLS
Hello, this is Sasaki.
Caution!! Slow down
D3 in progress. Mo Murder, accept this order.
The target's name is Scarecrow.
Kill on sight for committing traitorous actions.
The target has destroyed facility RS20TTU and is currently on the run.
Severe casualties. Motive unknown.
He destroyed RS20TTU?
Was he after some kind of drug?
Oh?
That's strange.
I-Is someone there?
Wh-What's going on?
Damn! I was careless.
Kirima Nagi
I-Is someone there?
But what in the world was Kirima Seiichi's daughter doing in a place like that?
That drug was able to accelerate the evolution of any human.
But that girl had already started to evolve.
That drug should offset that possibility within her.
And so what if it does?
A crematorium?
Well, isn't that fitting...
What are you doing?
Nothing, really.
But aren't you dying?
I guess I am.
Aren't you scared?
Well... yeah.
Then...
Then why are you so calm?
What are you?
A reaper?
A reaper, huh?
Well, if you're a reaper, I might as well tell you.
I'm really pissed off right now...
at how lame I am.
You mean the way you're dressed?
I'm wearing this because I'm a scarecrow.
I like black things, just like crows do.
Then why are you so mad?
I tried to save a girl...
With a drug that I risked my life to obtain.
Did she not make it?
I'm not sure, to be honest.
But if it did work, she should be able to go back to being a normal human being.
That's a good thing, then.
But you see... in my final moments,
I'm having some regrets.
I feel like I've done something incredibly stupid.
This is far from being a superhero.
Even though she said I could become one...
I need to be judged and punished for what I've done.
But I'll die any minute now... stuck in this half-assed situation...
Would you like me to judge you?
I wonder if you'll be able to become a superhero if I judge you.
Would you be able to cast your regret aside and return again?
Return to the moment when your heart was at its most beautiful?
What... are you?
You called me a reaper, didn't you?
Actually, you're probably just a delusion.
You're like a bubble that will pop and disappear at any moment...
A fragile hope that appears as you die...
You're pretty creepy, though.
So I'm some kind of creepy bubble?
It's pretty funny, isn't it?
To think that the last thing I see is something strange like you...
You...
You haven't answered yet.
Will you be able to return?
Through their endless research, the Towa Organization
was able to create countless synthetic humans.
But the basis of the research remained top secret.
Therefore, there will be more people who will suspect
that the source was something that had out-evolved mankind.
But I have my apprehensions.
There it is.
If that source was not from the future,
and just happened to be an individual, freak mutation,
wouldn't that make what we're doing a ridiculous farce?
But I wonder...
How was he able to die with that expression on his face?