RECORD REQUIEM
- HEAT HAZE CHORUS BATTLE -
ROUTE 1: RED
"As the memories are recalled, why won't the words come out?"
Eight teenagers stand in front of a bakery, smiling brightly and posing as the summer sun beams down on them.Suzuca studies the photo held between her hands, searching for traces of a distant yet familiar feeling. The image, taken shortly after her high school graduation, captures her group of high school friends as all but one left for the start of their adult lives. Their fervent emotions—excitement, fear, hope—are all encapsulated in their expressions, pure and unknowing of where the future would lead them. They surely would not have imagined the reality where their dreams wore down and they drifted apart, messages in their group chat growing less frequent until silence became its only inhabitant.Looking back now that they had entered adulthood, it wasn’t surprising that they had gradually lost touch with each other. They each had gone down their own paths and had grown into different people, enduring the challenges of adulthood in their own ways. Yet that knowledge did nothing to ease the bittersweet ache in Suzuca’s chest as she mulls over the image of the past. She wonders how those children would feel seeing their older selves, no longer sharing that burning, unbreakable bond and having grown distant beyond the closeness they promised to maintain.The frown that unconsciously slipped into her expression deepens. ‘No, I shouldn’t think like that. Even if we don’t talk much, we still have a strong bond. We have so many shared memories. If I just do something, say something…’ She sweeps over the photo again, almost as if the key to the future she wished for lies within the grain.Her eyes freeze. Her breath catches in her throat, a sudden sense of anxiety beginning to bubble in her chest. Behind her younger self, staring into the camera with a slight smile, she senses a faint darkness. Easy to dismiss as a shadow cast by the sun when not looked at closely, the developing figure darkens as her gaze remains. She can’t tear her eyes away as the form continues to morph, shifting to resemble a humanoid figure. The darkness clings to her younger self, seemingly haunting the girl that once had so much faith in the future.She looks to the others. Shadowy figures stand behind every person in frame, floating behind them as if there was a separate ghost to haunt each one of them. And on the edge of the photo, she notices an unexplainable change. Kio—who somehow always stares straight into the camera in every photo with them—has turned away, looking straight at the figures.The following rush to reach World’s city branch of his family bakery is filled with unease. The stack of photos in Suzuca’s bag weighs heavily on her mind, each print hosting the mysterious figures. Despite checking each photo many times, she finds that the shadows have appeared in every single one.She arrives at the bakery shortly after closing. Despite her outwardly neutral expression, World knows that something’s up as soon as she steps through the door. The furrow in her brow and slight eye lip twitch that tipped him off don’t fade as she jumps into an explanation, grip filled with uncertainty as she hands the photos to World. She holds her breath, hoping that the figures are just a hallucination—that World won’t see them, that something terrifyingly unknown is happening.Her heart drops as he confirms that he sees the shadows standing behind everyone. Fear flitters between the two, the tense atmosphere growing more strained. World seeing the darkness meant that the figures are real—that she isn’t making it up. The fear that something only they can see is seeping into their lives beats through their hearts. Neither of them can say anything for a moment, confusion and fear and shock twisting in their chests. This isn’t normal, and this can’t go ignored.A call to return home in a group chat that lay dormant for years ignites an unexpected reunion.Suzuca and World are the first to arrive in their hometown. The seaside town in Shonan greets them with a warm breeze, but it does nothing to quell the creeping sense of unease. The streets seem emptier than usual, and the buildings that aged far more than they remembered seem to be calling out that the town in their memories is no longer here. Even the cicadas are quieter than usual, as if they too could feel the suffocating atmosphere amidst the sweltering heat.They follow the path to the family bakery, memories flashing through their minds as instinct guides their steps. When they arrive, an unfamiliar building stands on the plot where they had spent their childhood. Within the last year an earthquake had shaken their hometown, sparking a fire that took the life of World’s grandmother and the home that he had grown up in. Grieving yet unable to rest because of the threat of their livelihoods collapsing due to a lack of a storefront, the family built a new bakery as soon as they could. The two stand outside silently, taking in the unfamiliar building and drawing comparisons to the place they had spent their childhood. The new walls and windows with no sign of wear seem to present itself as proof that times have passed, that they’ve really grown into adults. Their childhood is over, and there’s nothing they can do about it.Kio’s arrival shakes them out of their thoughts. Their silent approach went unnoticed by the two who were caught in their own thoughts until a polite cough broke through their musing. The pair turned to greet them, and despite having not seen each other in years, could tell that they were ruminating. It wasn’t a revelation, as the stoic researcher had a habit of being in constant thought since their youth, but it felt a bit surreal to see it again after so long. The familiar tells were the same as before, yet deep down the pair knew that the Kio from their memories was not the one standing before them. The Kio in their memories was one who could pick things up as if no time had passed. But was that same Kio the one standing before them? While they occasionally caught glimpses of them in the background of Zwib’s social media posts, they hadn’t properly talked in ages. They’d all changed and grown up, and they did not know how the friends of the present compared to their younger selves.Trying to ignore the terrifying reality that they did not entirely know the once familiar friends they called back to their hometown, they enter the unfamiliar bakery and sit down.Next to arrive was Jun. Attention avoidant as ever, he arrived early so as few people as possible saw him enter. He hunches ever so slightly, head tipped down as he takes a seat next to Kio. His heart raced, trapped between feelings of familiarity and the unknown. His timidity had held him back from reaching out all this time, and the only person he had consistently kept up with was Kio. He cared about everyone else, but his occasional visits to World’s bakery was the only other interaction he had with his old friends. Kio’s presence reassures him a little, but he still nervously keeps his eyes cast downward.His gaze snaps up when World gently calls his name. Set on the table before him is a seal melon pan and strawberry milk—the order he would always get from the bakery during high school. Jun was a frequent patron of the family bakery before graduating, and he always stuck to plain options whenever he dropped by. Yet World noticed his eyes lingering on the bakery’s specialty seal melon pan and strawberry milk during every visit. The first time World pushed a bag containing said treats into Jun’s hands, he was stunned by the sheer kindness of the action. The consideration to package the items in a bag to avoid attention was a level of care he was not used to being the recipient of. But that kindness was not a one time thing, and the two boys fell into a routine of smuggling sweet treats into Jun’s hands without drawing attention.World smiles with the same friendliness he always has, pushing the treats toward Jun. A familiar warmth rises in Jun’s chest, and for the first time since he arrived, he smiles back.The two men begin an easygoing conversation, starting with pleasantries but quickly moving on to catching each other up. The tense atmosphere that had suffocated the room began to lift, especially once they pulled Suzuca and Kio into the conversation. The talking is mostly done by World, as the other three are notoriously quiet. But it’s comfortable, and that feeling of familiarity softens their anxiety.The creak of a door opening pauses the chatter. Strolling in with a heavy bag that seems all too large for her small frame, Ririsa offers a nervous smile and wave. Trailing behind her is Kaien, whose unbothered expression completely opposes that of his travel companion. He offers a casual wave and moves to sit, making himself comfortable without a word. Ririsa quickly jumps into greetings and details their journey back to their hometown.The two Tokyo University students traveled from campus together shortly after receiving the message, spurred by Kaien’s insistence. Despite his casual demeanor, he had been the one to push the trip home to start as soon as possible. Truthfully, he was happy for a chance to avoid his responsibilities, and also saw an opportunity to get Ririsa’s nose out of her books for once. There had been a brief moment of confusion when Kaien appeared in the library and told Ririsa that they needed to head home, but the unread message that had gone unnoticed in the midst of studying told her enough. She could tell the matter was serious, and assured herself that the sooner they resolve the issue, the sooner she can get back to work.The chattering picked back up as everyone settled in. They were waiting for the last two to arrive, and resumed catching up in the meantime. It was comfortable, but it also served as a temporary distraction from the anxiety lingering in the back of everyone’s mind.The conversation had slowed by the time Zwib and Mara arrived at the bakery. The list of things to talk about had neared its end, and the time spent away from each other grew louder. Their appearance was a welcome break from the awkward situation, yet renewed a bit of the tension. Now that everyone was present, they could finally learn why they had all been called home.Dressed in clothes far too fashionable for a small town, Zwib and Mara maintain everyone’s attention as they apologize for their late arrival. Due to the sudden, urgent message, they had to figure out a route and move extra carefully to avoid being spotted by fans. Zwib’s followers exist everywhere, and getting stopped would have delayed them further from their destination. They couldn’t risk it when traveling so far on such short notice.This information didn’t come as a surprise, as Zwib was the one person that everyone saw in their everyday life. Her fanbase is undeniably massive, and her influence over both the digital and physical world make her appear everywhere you look, whether you’re searching for her or not. And despite not engaging in influencer activities herself, the others knew that wherever Zwib went, Mara would be close behind. The pair had been inseparable since middle school, and they trusted no one more than each other. They protected each other however they could, and Mara especially always kept an eye out. Her caring nature and willingness to call others out was one of her greatest strengths, and led her to be the one watching out for others more often than not.They latecomers settle into their seats, and everyone’s attention turns to Suzuca and World. The uneasiness that had temporarily faded returned and overshadowed the warmth that had been present moments earlier. The room remains silent as Suzuca reaches into her bag, holding the photos between her hands. It takes a moment before she speaks, retelling the night where she was looking through photos and discovered the unexplainable phenomenon. She lays the photos across the table as she introduces the shadows, and watches as each pair of eyes locks on to the figures floating behind their younger selves.Confusion, fear, doubt, curiosity—a feeling that something is coming. Despite the varying intensity and emotions in each reaction, they all share an unshakable anticipation. No matter how hard they tried to dismiss the figures as some sort of printing error, a shadow from the building, some sort of misconception—the heavy dread that sat in their chests did not allow them to. Even if they tried to be as logical as possible, their instincts screamed that this was real.Waiting a moment before speaking, Kio stands and draws everyone’s attention. With panicked eyes searching for answers staring straight into them, they explain that they have been keeping an eye on everyone, and that a pattern had emerged within the group. Over the past few years, each person has survived a fatal event on August 15th. After each event, something seemed to fundamentally shift in the survivor. Some were subtle, managing to keep their emotions under wraps and never expressing the thoughts plaguing their minds. Others felt a massive impact, their appearances suddenly changing or their daily performance improving without a clear reason.The room was stunned into silence. Many of them had never spoken of their deaths, even less of the supernatural happenings after they came back. The trauma and regret from leaving another person in the Daze clung to their psyche, haunting them and choking them before they could speak of it. And even less explainable were the strange, unexplainable powers that they had developed. Some had spent hours upon hours learning how their abilities worked, while others had barely even noticed that it existed or shied away as it brought back memories of that day.‘Why? Why us? What do we do? What’s coming for us?’These questions emerge in everyone’s mind, twisted by dread so powerful it renders them unable to think clearly. The uncertainty and unrealness of the situation drives straight through their hearts, and as they look to each other, they make a silent promise:We will find out what’s happening. And we’ll solve it together.
KAIEN
- Focusing Eyes -
| Age | 23 |
| Occupation | 6th year undergrad student |
| Height | 178 cm / 5’10” |
Hailed as a genius since childhood, Kaien has been breezing through life. Skipping his last year of high school and graduating alongside his older brother World, he entered Tokyo University at 17. Pair his academic excellence with his cool exterior and good looks and it's no surprise that a fan club inevitably forms wherever he goes.But at his core, Kaien spends his days looking for something to give his life meaning. Aspirationless and blindly following other’s expectations for his entire life, he's searching for something more than the droning adult life that's waiting for him. Hoping to put off that looming reality, he continues to push his graduation back and remain where no one is relying on him.
Focusing Eyes allows Kaien to perceive objects, locations, and people from any distance at an aerial view.He uses his ability to hone in on anything that piques his interest. Whether it's an object, a person, or anything else, he studies it closely to glean as much information as he can.He also uses his ability to aid in social and academic situations. If he's blanking during an exam he imagines the textbook in his head and finds the answer. If he forgets something about someone he imagines them and recalls the information.
Death
Six years ago, during his first year of university, Kaien ran wild with his newfound freedom. No longer shackled by entrance exams or lectures from his parents and grandmother, he tried out anything and everything he could join. He met all sorts of different people during his escapades, and for the first time in his life, accepted an invitation for a date. On August 15th, he met up with his date to show off his home region.He took his date to the Enoshima Iwaya Cave, hoping to hide from the sweltering heat for a bit. Always one for breaking rules, Kaien and his date decided to trespass into restricted areas of the cave. Completely immersed in exploring the cave, the pair continued to venture further in.They were deep in the cave when they realized that water was beginning to lap at their shoes. They were too far in to hear the sudden downpour outside, and noticed too late that the water levels were rising. Panicked, they tried to retrace their steps back to the public area of the cave, but couldn’t find the way. Knowing that no one would come to save them this deep in, they grew frantic and searched for an exit blindly. But no matter what happened, they couldn’t find a way out. The water continued to rise—slowly reaching their waists before a sudden flood hits them.Dragged by the violent rush of water, Kaien was forced under. Fully submerged and out of breath, anguish bubbled up in his chest.It’s gonna end like this? Before I’ve found something with meaning, before I’ve even lived?Their bodies were discovered after the water receded. Initially assumed to be dead, the rescuers were stunned when they found that the young man still had a pulse. Kaien was rushed to the hospital, and his survival was deemed a miracle. No one understood how he could possibly be alive, and as he woke up—injured and dazed—relief washed over him. He had another chance.
Trivia
Lives far from campus. Has poor class attendance because he can't be bothered to make the commute some days.
Majoring in interdisciplinary studies and changed his major in his 3rd year to avoid graduating. He had a full ride scholarship for his first 4 years of university, but lost it once he failed to graduate on time.
Has very strong opinions on his favorite food, shirasudon. The thought of getting it anywhere outside of Shonan is positively offensive to him.
Loves ragebaiting World. Especially enjoys pointing out their 3 cm height difference in particular.
Grandmaster in a certain competitive MOBA. He's been playing since the beginning of high school with Zwib, and it's been one of his only consistent hobbies through his adolescent life. Plays flex and can't commit to a single role, otherwise he would have been scouted by a pro team at this point.
Met Ruz, a master student studying material science, through Ririsa. Ruz's passion for his subject and Ririsa's endless determination to work hard are alien to him, so he sticks around them to try and pick up what he can.
WORLD
- Stealing Eyes -
| Age | 24 |
| Occupation | Bakery owner |
| Height | 175 cm / 5’9” |
The kind and ever caring boy next door, World has always been a beacon of community. He spent his childhood helping out at his grandmother's bakery, constantly interacting with all kinds of people and nurturing him into the amicable man he is today. With an earnest desire to help however he can and a warmth that can melt through the most frigid of exteriors, he manages to reach even the loneliest of hearts.While he was never exceptional academically like his younger brother Kaien, his people skills have led him to be just as—if not more—popular within their hometown. Always pulling Suzuca along with him to hang out, he's universally loved by all and brings sunshine everywhere he goes. As the older child and the less academically bright of the brothers, he took over the family business to give Kaien the chance to attend university. He's opened a second branch of the bakery to be closer to his friends in the city.
Stealing Eyes allows World to read information from his target's mind, being able to read their true feelings and memories at full power.He uses his ability to look into people’s hearts so that he can bring out their real feelings. He typically avoids using his ability, as his natural charisma is normally enough for most to open up to him. But when he senses that someone is lying or being disingenuous, he uses his ability to try and find the truth.Even more rare is using his ability at full power, since he can usually deduce feelings from thoughts alone.
Death
One year ago, World and Suzuca traveled back to their hometown. Having noticed Suzuca's lingering eyes on their high school photos everytime she visited the bakery, he recognized the longing for the past that reflected in her eyes. Determined to do something, he insists on taking a trip back home together. Rei, Suzuca's high school photography teacher, had offered the school equipment to her if she ever wanted to develop photos. World practically drags her to their old high school after arriving, prattling off about everything they could print and how to send it to their friends.Splitting off shortly after they arrive, World heads home to his family bakery. Now primarily run by his parents, he takes note of the changes that have been made since he left to started his own branch in the city. His heart aches knowing that his childhood home is changing without him, but he reminds himself that it's what's best for the business and his family.He's speaking with his grandmother, who still insists on working in the kitchen, when a sudden earthquake hits. Before anyone can act a fire breaks. Unwilling to leave his grandmother behind, World lifts her up and stumbles to the exit. But the smoke filled his lungs and engulfed his vision, disorienting him and leaving him unable to find the exit.As he fights to keep going, suffocating more with each step, he thinks of the people who he grew up with in this small town. They had countless memories in this exact building, yet here he was—dying in the room that he knew his friends would never return to, not after he let them all drift away or pushed them too hard. He regrets not doing more, not making more memories with them, and wishes that they could all be together again.In the aftermath of the fire, the emergency responders find World crushed under debris. They say it's a miracle that he was encased by fire-proof material, thus shielding him from the fire and allowing him to survive. Months later, at his grandmother's funeral, he makes a promise to himself. He won't let anyone else drift away, and will learn to be consistent without prying. He will put in the effort, no matter how hard.
Trivia
Lives in an apartment above his bakery in a neighborhood between Ebisu and Daikanyama. Many commuters pass through the area, keeping business consistent.
Created the seal melon pan that his family's bakery is known for. He's always had a deep love for seals, and his desire to combine two of his greatest loves led to his greatest invention as a child.
Serial midnight snack enjoyer. Grandma would scold him whenever she caught him as a kid, but it was never enough to fully deter the habit. Kaien would often catch him shoveling handfuls of shredded cheese or raw onions into his mouth when they were in high school.
Even if he's not in direct contact with everyone often, he still makes an effort to make sure they're all fed. Whenever Kaien comes by the bakery to steal bread, he always makes sure to hand off a bag of treats for Ririsa.
Despite his normally calm and friendly personality, he turns into a complete idiot when drinking. He and Kaien are dubbed idiot 1 and idiot 2 whenever they're drunk together. Suzuca and Mara pretend to not know them, but often end up having to stop them from doing something stupid.
Has a strange friendly rivalry with Zwib. They're both popular and often at the center of attention, but not in a way where they're actually competing. They gave each other headaches when they were both class representatives in high school, but they enjoy hanging out together since they can both be themselves. Zwib doesn't ask anything from World, and World's detachment from Zwib's world of glamour makes her feel normal for a bit.
SUZUCA
- Favoring Eyes -
| Age | 24 |
| Occupation | Museum curator |
| Height | 168cm / 5’6” |
Always seen with a camera in hand, Suzuca quietly captures the memories she cherishes. She has a hard time putting her feelings into word and grew up rather quiet and withdrawn, but has always had the company of her best friend World and his younger brother Kaien who would get dragged along. Even if their classmates thought of her as stoic and uncaring, World knew of the gentle heart beneath her cold exterior and would often drag her along to hang outs.Deep down, she values her friends deeply and does her best to show her love through small actions. Whether it's remembering birthdays, an interest that was mentioned off handedly once, or an unconscious habit, she keeps as much as she can in her memory to make her friends feel cared for. This manifests in her habit of always taking pictures when with friends, as she hopes to keep a snapshot of the moment even after it's passed.
Favoring Eyes allows Suzuca to instantly project her own emotions, thoughts, and memories onto others.She uses her ability to share the past if she needs to remind others of the memories she keeps close to her heart. Those precious moments mean everything to her, so she's always quietly watching to document as much as she can so that nothing is forgotten.She very rarely uses her ability though, as her aversion to vulnerability causes her to overthink showing others her true feelings directly.
Death
One year ago, Suzuca and World traveled back to their hometown for a visit. Having noticed Suzuca's eyes lingering on their high school photos, World recognized the nostalgia reflecting in her eyes and insisted on taking a trip back home together as soon as possible. He pushed Suzuca to visit her old photography teacher from high school—Rei—who had offered the school equipment if she ever wanted to develop photos.She was talking with Rei while in the midst of developing film when an suddenly earthquake hit. The equipment in the room was thrown every which way, knocking things over in the dark and smashing materials. Rei escaped the room as soon as he felt the room shake, but quickly realized that Suzuca was not with him. He swung the door open and saw her frantically trying to save whatever photos she could, and ran in to grab her.Yet right as Rei is at Suzuca's side, a cabinet falls over and crushes both of them. As she's suffocated by the furniture, she realizes that Rei would not have been crushed alongside her if she had not stayed. Putting all her emotional value into pictures cost them their lives, and she wished that she could have expressed her love more instead of hiding in moments of the past.When searching through the high school for survivors, the emergency responders find Suzuca and Rei's bodies together. Despite being heavily injured, Suzuca's still alive and is treated at the hospital. With every ache in her body, she thinks of Rei. She regrets not telling him how much he meant to her, and thanking him for everything he did. Now he was gone, and she could never say those words to him.
Trivia
Lives in Futako-Tamagawa and works at a museum in Ebisu Garden Place.
Majored in art history in university. Took multiple photography classes as electives.
She was well behaved as a child, and would often sit to the side as World and Kaien's mother scolded them. She would often hear her say "why can't you two be as good as Suzuca?!"
She has a large collection of cameras, but she especially loves film cameras. She was one of the most frequent visitors to the campus dark room before she graduated.
Was often dragged off to take photos for Zwib's social media during high school. She's always been good at taking photos and also has a good sense of fashion, so it was a given that she'd be roped into helping the social media grind.
ZWIB
- Awakening Eyes -
| Age | 24 |
| Occupation | Influencer |
| Height | 174 cm / 5'8.5” |
Since she could remember, Zwib has always drawn attention. Born half Japanese and half foreign, her effortless popularity after entering the modeling industry as a child came unsurprisingly. She grew up with people flocking to her, including her classmates, who wanted to be friends with someone famous. The only true friend she made in school is Mara, who she shares a mutual love of video games with.She started influencer activities in high school alongside her modeling career, and only continued to grow in popularity. She entered fashion school where her already sizable fanbase grew to a cult following. After a mysterious disappearance from the media for a short time, she came back more beautiful than ever and went completely viral.
Awakening Eyes granted Zwib the ability to remake her body into one that she finds "ideal" as she escaped the daze. Reborn with an unnaturally mesmerizing form, her presence spread across the internet like wildfire.With a hauntingly beautiful form and a voice that enchants everyone who listens, it's no surprise that her already established fanbase developed into a die-hard army. Her original following that originally consistened of fashion fanatics has expanded to include anyone and everyone—from salarymen to middle schoolers to people with no interest in fashion.With little effort on her part, she can control the masses and draws people in to do as she wishes. The wave of her hand or a quick glance is enough to command everyone's attention.
Death
Zwib has been in the limelight since her childhood and is no stranger to obsessive fans and creepy stalkers. 5 years ago, she encountered one such fan while on her way to visit Mara's apartment. It was dark out, and thinking that it was a good cover to not get recognized, Zwib left her home to hang out with her best friend.She was disappointed but not surprised when someone called her name out from behind her. Sighing to herself before turning around, she acknowledges the fan and gets a good look at him. She can't pin it on one thing, but there's a bad feeling in her gut. It could be the fact that he's wearing all black and has a mask on, or maybe that he's calling out to her on the street while she's alone. He quickly approaches her, his obsession pouring out as he begins bombarding her with questions and statements.Zwib can't get a word in, anxiety growing as the fan keeps getting closer and closer. She snaps when he grabs her hands, tugging them out of reach and punching him. She starts to run, but she's caught and forced to the ground. With a knife in hand and a declaration that "if I can't have you then no one can", the fan stabs her repeatedly. She screams and fights back, but she can't get loose. The last thing she sees as she bleeds out is the fan staring at her before turning the knife on himself.When she awakens, she's in the hospital with Mara by her side. Mara had grown worried when Zwib never showed up, and went out to look for her only to see the aftermath of the murder suicide. The attack had spread to the news quickly, and a flood of people were sending their well wishes. As she shared what had happened while Zwib had been asleep, Mara holds her hand gently while looking over her best friend's appearance that had changed after the attack.
Trivia
Lives in Daikanyama with Mara. They share a luxury two bedroom apartment.
Went to fashion school. Her already decently sized fanbase grew to a cult following through her work as a model.
Highest alcohol tolerance out of everyone. Sometimes it feels like she can hold more liquor than the entire group combined.
While they were in high school, she would occasionally show up to the bakery after closing with bottles of beer. The first time she did this, World questioned her, but after her response of "do you really think I don't have that much influence?", he quieted down and drank with her. She yaps about crazy things that have happened recently while World looks at her in disbelief.
Terrifyingly bad cook. Mara has to make sure she doesn't die from food poisoning. She's not allowed to use the stove anymore, and instead has a plethora of fancy kitchen gadgets to make up for it.
Absolute sucker for in-game cosmetics and is the number 1 microtransaction warrior. She needs her in-game characters to be just as fashionable as she is in real life. She often gives her duplicates to Kaien, which he happily takes.
MARA
- Opening Eyes -
| Age | 24 |
| Occupation | Manager |
| Height | 168cm / 5’6” |
A true girl's girl at heart, Mara shows up for others when they need her. Her friendly nature and immediate willingness to stand up for others has given her the reputation of being an amazing friend but a terrible person to mess with. Since her school days she's always had the ability to pull strings behind the scenes, whether it's through her genuinely good rapport with authority figures or the connections she's made through other sources.Yet her struggles with poor memory hinder her daily life, causing her to be haunted by the lingering feeling that she's always forgetting something important. She has to remind herself to write down anything and everything, putting her smart watch to use more often than the regular person.
Opening Eyes allows Mara to split her consciousness from her body. Through her ability, she sends her consciousness into the digital realm while her body remains in the real world.Already proficient at researching even before gaining her ability, Mara's efficiency in collecting intel is unmatched when she's zooming through the cyber world. Ask her anything and she can get a full debrief with pages of detailed information by the end of the day.She can also use her ability to appear in others' devices, often using it as an instant way to share or gain information.
Death
Two years ago, Mara was on her way to her first day of work. Freshly graduated and nervous to enter the job force, she stood on the old train platform and checked her watch to triple check she didn't forget anything. She'd been so anxious that she'd written down everything she could think of, sorting them into different lists and memos to make sure she didn't forget anything.While sorting through a multitude of lists she had, she noticed a group of middle schoolers enter the platform. She glanced over at the students, reminiscing on when she was their age. She remembered spending her days after school playing games with Zwib for hours on end and sharing snacks. She dearly missed those days where she wasn't burdened by the responsibilities of adulthood.She's snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a scream. The children had begun pushing each other, and one had been too forceful. Time felt like it slowed as she watched the girl falling into the tracks, and before she could think, she was reaching out to grab the little girl's hand. The momentum was too great though, and the adrenaline pumping through her veins drowned out the sound of the oncoming train as they fell.Mara woke up to Zwib's furrowed brows watching her. An immediate call for a doctor rang in her ears as she felt the pain all hit her at once, looking down to see her body covered in bandages. Her mind was blank. The memory slowly trickled back in, and she could do nothing but think. The scenario looped in her head, and she desperately wished to remember anything else. But nothing came, and the image only stopped when Zwib returned to her side.
Trivia
Lives in Daikanyama with Zwib. Works a day job at a tech company is Akasaka.
Majored in data science. She worked part time for the university's IT department while attending.
Enjoys creating 3D models of desserts and pastries in her spare time. Sometimes she begs World to take reference pictures for her.
She's always looking out for her friends, and carries a plethora of items in her bag just in case anyone ever needs anything.
Loves dolling out compliments. She's extremely honed in on her friends' expressions, and takes note of what compliments elicit a reaction, no matter how small. In particular, she's found that calling Kio cute elicits the slightest flustered reaction.
Despite knowing that the childhood trio have known each other for years and have a deep bond, she's still protective of Suzuca. She's not afraid to call the boys out whenever they do something stupid.
JUN
- Concealing Eyes -
| Age | 24 |
| Occupation | AV technician |
| Height | 178 cm / 5’10” |
Perpetually hiding in the background, Jun's tendency to linger quietly behind the scenes is a direct symptom of his timidity. From the days that he was bullied as a child, he's consistently held himself in low esteem. He avoids standing out, even if it means ignoring his wants for the sake of going unnoticed. Because of this, his love for singing and dreams of performing are rarely unknown.While he's anxious and runs away from almost everything that scares him, his strong love for his friends is one of the few things that pushes him out of his comfort zone. Whether it's taking note of someone's busyness and bringing them food or showing up to an opening show, he's willing to do scary things if it means his friends feel seen. Even if he can't be the bravest person around, he still wants to try to be the person he needed when he was younger.
Concealing Eyes allows Jun to divert attention away from oneself, people, and objects within two meters of the user, making it seem as if they are invisible and unable to be heard.As someone who's used to purposefully holding himself back from doing anything flashy, he doesn't think of using his ability often since he's so used to keeping attention off him. But during stressful moments his ability activates on its own, hiding him from unwanted attention.If he notices that a friend is stressed or anxious though, he'll use his ability to hide both of them so that they can calm down.
Death
Since his high school days, Jun has always admired a specific singer. The singer's music reached his heart, writing emotional music and managing to always be melancholic yet powerful on stage. Jun related to his music deeply, feeling understood and seeing the singer as someone like him who was brave enough to perform on stage. While he was too scared be on stage himself, Jun chose to go into AV tech to be able to be close to those who were chasing their dreams. If he could never fulfill his own dream due to his overwhelming anxiety, then he could do the next best thing and live vicariously through the musicians he worked with.It was after a summer festival concert 2 years ago where he dared to make a single step. The crowd had all moved to watch the firework show, and he was the only one left in the area. His coworkers had begun tearing down the stage, but left halfway through to join the firework viewers. Confident that no one was around after checking multiple times, he walked on to the empty stage that his idol had just performed on and sang. He'd never do this with an audience, but he could at least pretend for a little bit.What Jun didn't know was that someone was watching. His idol had left something behind, and came back to get it during the fireworks show so as to not be swarmed by fans. As the singer approached the stage he heard a beautiful voice, and his curiosity brought him to the stage where Jun was singing. As Jun finished his song, sudden clapping shocked him. He whipped around to see his favorite singer cheering him on, and in a panic, dashed away. In his frantic running, he ran straight into a half torn down pillar. It crumbled under the force, and Jun could do nothing as he looked up and watched the stage collapse on top of him.Numerous condolences were paid to Jun when he returned to work after recovering. He was touted as a hard worker, the only staff member who stayed behind to keep tearing down the stage while everyone was gone. The story spread that the singer had been there to help Jun, yet his inexperience had caused the entire stage to collapse. Jun said nothing to quell the rumors, the same that engulfed him keeping him from speaking. The one time he had tried to do something different ended in catastrophy, and he swore to never make that mistake again.
Trivia
Lives in Kouenji and works in Omotesando. He gets nervous when it comes to renewing his commuter pass, so Kio always renews his alongside theirs. Their purchase dates and validity periods are always exactly the same because of this.
Went to vocational school for AV tech after high school.
Despite his shyness, he loves karaoke and is known as a monster on the mic. His friends would frequently bring him to karaoke since it felt like the one place where he could truly let loose.
He was pulled into dying his hair together with Kio. He was initially honored that they wanted to include him in their style update, but he was over it before the first round of bleach was even over. In the end some strands didn't lift properly, so Kio ended up dyeing them black again.
Has a hard time talking about his problems with most people. When it's someone he's comfortable with though, it feels like all his complaints come flooding out. Expect him to be talking for at least 2 hours.
RIRISA
- Deceiving Eyes -
| Age | 23 |
| Occupation | 4th year undergrad student |
| Height | 147 cm / 4’10” |
Sweet, hard working, and always cute, it's no surprise that Ririsa is well liked amongst her peers and faculty. Her reliable reputation follows her everywhere, as her ability to balance top grades at a prestigious university, student council activities, various extracurriculars, and social life shows that she's capable of handling whatever's thrown her way.Yet hidden beneath her seemingly perfect exterior is a girl controlled by anxiety and perfectionist tendencies. Believing that her worth is rooted in her usefulness to others, she's always overworking so that she remains "valuable" and won't be left behind. To her, giving up the perfect act means giving up her worth as a person.
Deceiving Eyes allows Ririsa to change how others perceive her and control how she looks, sounds, and even feels to others.She uses her ability to appear as a perfect, cute girl to others every time she leaves home. Her hair, makeup, and outfit are always perfectly in place, and she always maintains an angelic demeanor. Constantly using her ability drains her, causing her to endure intense exhaustion once she's hidden behind closed doors.Her control over her ability is well practiced when it comes to making herself look perfect, but her ability to impersonate others is weak.
Death
In the late hours of a recent sleepy night two years ago, Ririsa and her friend exited Ruz the library studying the day away. They regularly studied together, as Ruz's graduate research in material science made him a valuable person to bounce off of for Ririsa. But an important difference between them made their mindsets and habits completely different. While Ririsa studied for hours upon hours to be the perfect student and meet expectations, Ruz worked out of passion. He understood when he needed to take a break, especially after hyperfixating on a specific problem for an entire day and not resting at all.Walking home, they both comment on the peacefulness of the night. The warm breeze and openness is a welcome change from sitting in the same chair for hours on end. Ririsa keeps yawning, stumbling occasionally as she talks about her comfy bed at home. Ruz gently scolds her, repeating a lecture she's heard from him time and time again. He tells her that she needs to rest more, and that studying all day every day isn't efficient. She waves him off as they stop at a crosswalk, commenting that she's fine and has done this for years.She fights through the exhaustion and dizziness as she waits for the light to turn. She feels her mind spinning, but grips her bag tighter and tells herself to get it together. She's barely listening to Ruz's voice, putting her effort into staying awake. A few seconds pass by, and before he has a chance to react, Ririsa collapses into the road. He quickly jumps into action, moving to pick her up. But as he's lifting her, oncoming lights flood his vision and a blaring horn overwhelm his senses.Ruz's death hits Ririsa and Kaien hard. In just one night, they'd lost their dear friend and someone they admired greatly. While Kaien skipped school and worked through his grief, Ririsa forced herself back to working as soon as she could. It had happened because she wasn't focused enough, she had to work harder, she had to be better. And plus, filling your brain with formulas is an easy way to ignore your grief.
Trivia
Lives in an apartment 5 minutes away from Hongo Campus. She practically lives on campus though, considering that she spends most hours of the day in class, studying, or doing extracurriculars.
Majoring in architecture. She took a ronin year to ensure that she could enter Tokyo University.
She met Ruz, a material science graduate student, at uni and became fast friends. They're both hard working and can often be found studying in the library, surrounded by a plethora of study materials. Along with Kaien, they often hang out together.
Was often compared to Kaien during high school due to their consistent top placements. She greatly admired his intelligence, and wished that academics came to her as naturally as they did to her upperclassman. While she's sad to see him performing poorly in university, she still has the utmost faith in him and believes that he can do anything he sets his mind on.
Kitty whisperer. The stray cats on campus all love her, and she can call them over with a realistic meow. She carries cat treats in her bag at all times in case she encounters a little friend when walking between buildings.
Has lethal pleading eyes. 🥺
KIOKU
- Drawing Eyes -
| Age | 24 |
| Occupation | Psychology researcher |
| Height | 168cm / 5’6” |
With a gaze that can pierce through anyone's soul, many people feel uneasy when they notice Kio's stare. Always watching and always analyzing, they have an unusual sense of morality and an unending curiosity for how other people function. They enjoy picking apart others’ psyche and learning what makes them tick, and though their intentions are difficult to grasp, they don’t hide anything and answer honestly if asked.The child of wealthy business owners, Kio's parents were often too busy to take care of them growing up, and were instead primarily raised by a nanny. Their parents always got the best for them—the best private tutors, the newest devices, the trendiest clothes, but that couldn’t make up for their absence. Their nanny was kind and fostered their curiosity, teaching them to always be inquisitive and to learn as much as they could.
Drawing Eyes allows Kio to draw people's attention to their target regardless of their preferences.With a deep interest in psychology and an unshakable habit of people watching, Kio often uses their ability to run experiments and sense where others' attention is drawn to, whether with their intervention or not. Sometimes they'll even draw attention to themselves as a part of a test.They also use their ability to draw attention away from themself so that their observations aren't disturbed.
Death
Before they headed off to their first year of university six years ago, Kio was spending their summer with their nanny. Their parents were busy as usual, so they opted to hang out with the woman who had raised them since they were a child. Now that they had all the time in the world until the semester started, they took trips together and explored new locations. The curiosity that had been instilled in them as a child was just as strong, if not stronger than before. And even if their stoic face didn't show it, they were happy to be with their nanny.Their nanny mentioned a famous festival in the big city that she wanted to see, so the two of them went to see it together. The two sat quietly at the center of the festival, eating treats while people watching and making the occasional comment. They both enjoyed their time, relaxing and indulging their curiosity.As Kio turned to talk to their nanny, they spotted a man in a heavy trenchcoat running toward the crowd. They immediately felt something was off, since no one would wear a coat like that in the sweltering heat. They grab their nanny's hand, standing up quickly. But the man shouting grabs their attention, and before they realize, he's detonating an explosive in the middle of the festival.The nanny, ever protective of Kio, instinctually moved to block their body from the blast. As they laid there in shock, feeling their body failing on them, they cry. It couldn't end like this. There was still so much to see, still so much to learn. If they died here, they could never be satisfied. They fight their closing eyes, and eventually awaken in the hospital.
Trivia
Lives in Asagaya. Works at Keio University as a researcher.
Majored in psychology with a specialization in cognitive psychology. Their stoicism landed them roles as a participant in a few test studies, but nothing interesting ever came out of it.
Despite mainly taking candid photos, they're always looking straight into the camera in Suzuca's photos. This led to a mission between Suzuca, World, and Kaien to try and take a picture without them looking at the camera. The trio were unsuccessful despite their best efforts.
Used to dress in plain clothes, but got converted into a fashion icon by Zwib and Mara. The other two got fed up with their scientific approach to everything and played dress up with them, turning them into the third member of their fashion entourage.
Obsessed with spicy instant noodles. Their food tastes still largely reflect their wealthy upbringing, but you can't tear a bag of spicy instant noodles from their death grip. One time Jun suggested that they eat less for their health, and the resulting expression was the scariest face he's ever seen them make.