Professor Genjiro was not an organized person. His laboratory, which was built by the government for him to do his research about bio-weapon originally. Midway, he met a woman who tried to find a new way to cure children with fatal disease. Integrating his bio-weapon research into the woman as a partnership, they were successful in the end with the cost of many lives but two survivors.

It was unknown what happened to one of them afterward, though the other one was alive and well. The latter currently stood in front of the laboratory entrance, or we could say the front door of Sawatari household. He pressed the bell and a girl opened the door for him.

“Morning, Maika. Is professor already in the lab?”

“You don’t need to ask that. He’s always there. Like, seriously.” Wataru merely chuckled seeing Maika sighed at her father’s antics. She let him in and asked if he already had breakfast.

“Now that you ask, my bread fell after being chased by a dog.” Replied him sheepishly.

“I already expect that. Eat first, I made miso soup.” She told him to sit and she prepared the food. Wataru often eats breakfast with the Sawataris when he came over in the morning to check up his condition. Maika’s mother worked overseas and because of that, Maika was in charge of housework since she was a child.

“Mmm, the usual Maika’s menu. Ittadakimasu.” She sat across him afterward to eat as well. Seeing Wataru’s satisfied expression every time he ate her meals warmed her chest. She had a crush on him ever since they know each other thanks to Wataru became the test subject. Despite all of that, Professor Genjiro and his wife never treated Wataru badly and looked after him as if he was their own son.

“Delicious. Like always. You know, you should open a restaurant Maika. Your cooking skill must not be wasted.”

“Huh, I don’t have any interest on that. My interest is...” She tried to answer, but when their eyes met, she couldn’t control herself and avoided him.

“Well, that’s a shame. But, I guess you’re free to do things you like.” He continued gulping down the rest of the soup before putting the chopsticks next to the bowl.

“Thanks for the meal.” He got up and picked up the bowl to the sink, but Maika stopped him.

“Let me do it. Just go see dad now. I don’t want you to be late.” Maika took the bowl and began washing them. Wataru then went downstairs to see Professor Genjiro.

Downstairs or should we say basement, had a long hall leading towards a room with a wooden door. Left and right of the hall was dark. Wataru asked long time ago about it to Professor Genjiro, but he always refused to explain. He knocked on the door, to check if he was inside.

“Yes, come in.”

Wataru went inside. He saw Professor Genjiro was yawning and scratching his face. His beard started to grow and his eyebags were visible. He often stayed up late to do lot of things, but he rarely leaves the lab.

“Good morning sir.” Wataru greeted him with a small salute and a smile. Professor Genjiro slowly nodded.

“Yes... good morning Wataru. Now, what are you doing this early? Shouldn’t you be at school?” asked Professor Genjiro while reaching for his mineral bottle.

“Maika said you wanted to meet me, sir.”

“Oh yeah right. I simply want to do a check on you after what happened.”

“Okay. So shall we?”

Professor Genjiro led him towards a tube. The tube was connected with the large computer next to Professor Genjiro makeshift bed. The other parts which weren’t connected to the computer were connected to a drum. Wataru took off his clothes with only his underwear attached then enter the tube. Professor Genjiro typed the command from the computer to set up the test.

“Here we go.” Pressing the activation button, the tube lit up and Wataru’s body scan appeared on the screen. Different numbers of each part came out while Professor Genjiro read through all of them. It went on for 5 minutes before the machine turned off and Wataru came out of the tube.

“Nothing’s wrong in the scan. I guess good night sleep helped you recover faster.” Professor handed Wataru a glass of water. He drank it and sat next to him.

“I suppose. Though, not everyone can do that.”

“What’s wrong boy?”

“My friend. She is...” before he could finish his sentence, Maika walked in carrying a tray with food.

“Dad, here’s your-KYAAAA!!” Surprised by her scream, both men looked over to her before Wataru received a slipper and to his face.

“PUT ON SOME CLOTHES FIRST!”

“You... could... have... just... told... me…” He fell to the ground, unexpected. Professor Genjiro just sheepishly laughed.

After that, Wataru and Maika left for school together. Maika went to a different school which was closer to her home. She glanced at Wataru who was humming a song.

“What are you singing?”

“Ah, just an anime opening I watch last night. Quite catchy.” Without looking at her, he replied casually. She sometimes wondered about things Wataru likes, since he never told her about them that much.

“I don’t know you’re an otaku. Do you still watch tokusatsu shows too?”

“You bet! There’s no way I’m gonna miss it!”

“Oi, you’re already in high school now. Shouldn’t you, you know, watch more shows fits for your age?” Wataru stopped, then glared at Maika. Maika shuddered all of a sudden. It seemed that she hit a nerve.

“Maika, anime and tokusatsu are everyone to watch. The only thing prevents me from watching it are the ratings. As long it is not R-18, then it’s okay. And don’t say that in front of others. You are being rude.” Wataru scolded her in a serious tone. Maika agreed, she didn’t need to say it like that.

“Yes. I’m sorry.” She apologized with a look of guilt.

“There you go. Good girl.” Her breath was caught when he suddenly pat her head. She was happy that he always treated her nicely, but she felt that he was treating her more like a little sister instead of a girl.

“I do watch other shows too, y’know. But my priorities are that.”

They continued walking until they reached Maika’s school. Just as they prepared to part, Wataru felt something from his back. He quickly turned around but was greeted with nothing.

“Something wrong?”

“No. See you later, okay?”

“Going to the hospital today?” Wataru nodded.

“I just want to check on Marufuji. After that, we do the usual.”

“Don’t say it casually! People might take it in a different way.” Maika became flustered because everyone turned into them after Wataru said those words.

“Ahahaha, well gotta go. Bye!” He ran away towards his school. Maika sweatdropped at his figure.

“Careful.” She whispered the words she hadn’t said to him because of his sudden retreat. She went towards her own school while being greeted by her friends.

“Wataru, it seems this person will cause more chaos in the city.” Professor Genjiro was having his breakfast while conversing with Wataru after the ‘incident’.

“He had some powers to summon snakes and let out some strange liquid.” Professor Genjiro listened intently. He finished his meal and was about to drink his tea.

“He knows I’m type-A.” Professor Genjiro spilled out his drinks which made Wataru helped him wipe it off.

“Impossible! How could he...don’t tell me he is!”

“I’m not sure. Even if he is ‘that person’, he shouldn’t have that kind of ability.”

“You’re right. Though I wouldn’t rule out any possibility. Just be cautious and quickly report to me if you meet him again.”

“Understood Professor.”

While heading towards school, Wataru recalled his morning conversation. It was unlikely that the person was part of the test, but that means someone from the higher-ups was doing double-duty.

“I don’t understand complicated things. But since the situation has turned to this, I have to be prepared too. Nagatsuka-senpai deserves to know, though I probably should wait until we are sure who are we facing.” He clenched his fist while once more looking back one at a time.

“No one’s around. I suggest you come out or I’ll force you.” Silence. Wataru relaxed and walked again. From the shadows, came out a woman with a pink kimono and a fox mask. She opened up a folding fan and raised it, letting out a gentle breeze. It eventually reached Wataru and stopped him. He turned around again, seeing nothing but a flower trail. He raised his eyebrows.

“This might be a warning. Alright then.” The woman smiled from above. Her lips moved, forming shapes of sentences before vanishing.