In 2049, Tokyo's suburbs are ruled by an AI autonomous surveillance network—a perfect city where crimes and accidents are 'collected' before they happen. But those who slip through the cracks of this net form an underground organization called Anomaly. They survive by eating money and information through the gaps in surveillance.
Rei Mishiba is an ordinary high school senior. On his way home after failing a job interview, he accidentally witnesses a bloody turf war between semi-gangsters. Their
Abandoned station side-line tunnel. The air before dawn smelled of iron and mold.
Rei drifted in the passenger seat, somewhere between shallow sleep and waking. The smell of leather soaked into his back. Pain in his neck. In his pocket, the USB key pressed hard against him.
The radio crackled.
"…You awake."
A synthetic voice. A voice cut and pasted from the city's noise. Curt, as always.
"Yeah."
Rei sat up.
"Picked up Anomaly wireless. Listen."
The radio frequency shifted. From behind the noise, fragmented transmissions spilled out.
"—Primordial Key holder, Sanshiba Rei. Seventeen. Male. Current location estimated near the old Tabata freight station—"
Rei's fingers stopped.
"—Upper command notice. Upon discovery, secure with highest priority. If resistance—"
Noise.
"—Lady Eve will move personally—"
The radio cut off.
Silence returned to the tunnel.
"…That just now."
Rei's voice was hoarse.
"Your name and face are known throughout the organization. These aren't low-level pursuers. The core has started moving."
Rei pulled out his smart device.
Tapped the screen.
The dark forum.
There, his face was posted. Taken from his school ID. Below it, lines of text.
"Primordial Key holder. Capture bounty: 30 million Grid yen. Dead or alive."
Rei stared at the screen.
(Dead or alive.)
His fingertips trembled.
"…This is me."
"It's you."
Rei gripped the device.
"Nocturne. Did you know? That this key was something this dangerous?"
The radio fell silent.
Seconds of noise.
"…That key is the Primordial Key. An encryption key for exception handling, embedded in Canaria Grid's predictive detection algorithm. If used, it can temporarily reverse and seal the recovery mechanism's command chain."
The synthetic voice spoke in fragments, but clearly.
"You're saying it can stop the surveillance network."
"Correct. To the Grid, it's a blade at their throat. To the Anomaly, it's their long-cherished trump card. Both would kill you to take it."
Rei took the key from his pocket.
An old USB key.
This thing.
"…Why me."
Rei's voice shook.
"Why was something like this in your hidden space. Why did I end up holding it."
"Coincidence."
"Coincidence my ass."
Rei shouted.
His voice echoed through the tunnel.
"I was just running. But before I knew it, I'm holding a key that can stop the surveillance network, hunted by both an underground organization and the state. Give me a break."
The radio crackled.
"…You didn't take it. I entrusted it to you."
Rei looked up.
"Hah?"
"You opened that hidden space on your own. But I made it so you could. I arranged for you to find that key."
Rei was speechless.
"…Why."
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"I don't know. Even I don't know exactly why I did it. My memories are fragmented. They don't connect. But I thought I should give it to you. That much is certain."
The synthetic voice distorted.
Sirens. Screams. TV audio. The city's noise overflowed in place of emotion.
Rei stared at the key.
(Even this thing doesn't understand.)
(And still, it gave this to me.)
"…You really are messed up."
Rei gave a small laugh.
"Yeah, I'm messed up. But you're on the messed-up side now too. Deal with it."
Rei gripped the key.
Deal with it.
"…Got it."
Rei said quietly.
"I won't hand over this key. To anyone. Not the surveillance network. Not the Anomaly."
The radio fell silent.
Seconds.
"…Do that."
A short answer.
Rei looked at the smart device again.
In the notification area, an unfamiliar display appeared.
"Predictive probability: recalculating."
Rei scrolled the screen.
"Caution layer → Predictive exception (recovery target layer transition preparation stage)"
"…What is this."
Rei pointed the device at the radio panel.
"The Grid has detected you. Predictive probability recalculation has begun. If confirmed, a recovery notice will be issued."
"Recovery notice…"
"Predictive Recovery Act, Article Five. For those whose predictive probability exceeds the threshold, voluntary cooperation within seventy-two hours can be requested. Voluntary, but it's essentially forced. If the recovery notice is confirmed, Harvest will be dispatched."
Rei exhaled.
"Harvest. Those white recovery vehicles."
"Correct. Three hundred stationed in the city at all times. They secure targets with anesthetic gas and restraint arms. If you resist, drone-supported dosing comes in. You're already a 'recovery-required exception' to the Grid."
Rei gripped the device.
Predictive probability.
Recalculating.
The numbers were trying to overwrite Rei's life.
"…I."
Rei looked down.
"I'm not a number."
His voice shook.
"Predictive probability this, recovery target that. Don't decide my life for me with that stuff."
The radio fell silent.
Noise hummed low.
"…That's right."
The synthetic voice quietly, but certainly, accepted Rei's words.
"You're not a number. I guarantee it."
Rei raised his head.
The radio panel glowed faintly.
"…You say stuff like that sometimes."
"Shut up. Silence. Is this the time to wallow in sentiment?"
Rei gave a small laugh.
"Thank you."
"Didn't hear you."
"You heard me."
"I said I didn't hear you."
Rei settled deep into the seat.
(It's not over yet.)
(I'll run. But not just run anymore.)
Dawn broke.
Past noon.
Rei and Nocturne left the abandoned station to procure food and water.
The outskirts of Kita Ward. The ruins of an old shopping street, where Grid surveillance units were sparse.
Shuttered shops. Collapsed signs. Plastic bags dancing in the wind.
Rei stopped in front of a vending machine.
"Buying water."
Rei took coins from his pocket.
"Wait. Don't pay with that device. Use cash. The Grid will log your location."
"I know."
Rei inserted the coins.
A clunk, and a plastic bottle dropped.
Rei picked up the water.
"…Hey, Nocturne. Can you drink water?"
"Of course I can't. I'm a car. I run on gasoline, electricity, and your complaints."
"A car that runs on complaints. Sounds like terrible fuel efficiency."
"Shut up. Hurry back. Staying long is dangerous."
Rei opened the bottle and drank.
Cold water passed through his dry throat.
(I'm alive.)
That's what Rei thought.
That's when it happened.
—A presence.
A chill ran down Rei's spine.
(Someone's here.)
Rei slowly turned around.
The entrance to the shopping street.
The shadow of a shutter.
There, a girl stood.
Silver hair.
Long, silver hair, almost white.
Slender purple eyes. The iris of her left eye reflected silver depending on the angle of light.
She was shorter than Rei. About a hundred fifty-eight centimeters.
But her presence transformed the air of the entire place.
The girl was smiling.
"Hello."
A sweet voice.
Rei stepped back.
"…Who are you."
Rei's voice was hoarse.
"Me? I'm Eve Crow. I represent the Anomaly. Nice to meet you, Sanshiba Rei-kun."
Eve approached slowly.
Her steps were light, as if she were enjoying a stroll.
"Did you know? Your face is posted all over the organization. I came all the way to see you today."
Rei retreated.
"Nocturne."
Rei called quietly.
"…I know. That's Eve Crow. Current representative of the Anomaly. Forced the previous representative into retirement at fourteen and turned the organization to counterattack. A monster with both charisma and cruelty."
The synthetic voice carried tension.
"Calling me a monster. How cruel. I'm just a girl."
Eve laughed.
Her eyes weren't laughing.
"…What do you want."
Rei forced out his voice.
"You already know. What you're holding. Give it to me."
Eve extended her hand.
White fingers.
"The Primordial Key. It's not something an ordinary boy like you should have. That's the Anomaly's long-cherished wish. The only key to recover the records of our families, erased by the Grid."
Rei gripped the key in his pocket.
"…Family records."
"Yes. You know too, don't you? Humans taken by Grid predictive recovery have their family registry, medical history, social media, payments—all erased. Their entire existence is nullified. My family was the same."
Eve's voice dropped, just slightly.
"I want to recover my family's records. That's all. So give me the key. I won't harm you. I promise."
Rei looked into Eve's eyes.
Purple pupils. The left iris shining silver.
(This person isn't lying.)
(But that's not all.)
Rei's intuition told him.
Behind that smile, there was something deeper. Darker.
"…I can't give it to you."
Rei said.
His voice was trembling.
"I decided I'd protect this. I won't give it to anyone."
Eve tilted her head.
"Oh my. Do you understand your situation? Above you is Canaria Grid. Below you is the Anomaly. You're hunted by both. And a boy like you defies me?"
Eve stepped forward.
"You're just a kitten who happened to grab a key. You don't have the power to defy me. You understand, don't you?"
Rei stepped back.
His legs trembled.
"…Even so, I can't give it to you."
Rei repeated.
"I can't hand this over."
Eve's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
Eve smiled.
This time, a much deeper smile than before.
"You're interesting. You're an ordinary boy, so why can you be so desperate? Aren't you afraid? Of me?"
"I'm afraid."
Rei said honestly.
"Terrified. Your smile doesn't reach your eyes. Every word you say feels like some kind of trap. But even so, I can't give it to you."
Eve stared at Rei for a while.
Then she began to giggle.
"Ahaha. You really are interesting. I like you."
Eve shifted her gaze to the black sedan parked behind Rei.
"It's been a while, Nocturne."
In that instant.
The radio spewed violent noise.
ZZZZZZZZ!
An ear-splitting storm of city noise.
Sirens. Screams. Sounds of destruction.
"…You."
The synthetic voice, fragmented, carried rage.
"You know. I know you."
Eve smiled.
"Yes. I know you too. You, on that day, in that place, my—"
"Shut up."
The noise exploded.
Rei covered his ears.
(What is this between them.)
(They know each other?)
(What kind of history?)
Rei didn't understand.
But one thing was certain: there was a past between Nocturne and Eve that he knew nothing about.
"…You still remember. I'm happy."
Eve spoke to Nocturne.
"But right now, I have business with that boy. Don't interfere."
Eve turned back to Rei.
"Now, Rei-kun. I'll ask once more. Give me the key. If you do, I'll let you go. I'll erase your face and name from the organization's list. I promise."
Rei gripped the key.
Sweat seeped into his palm.
"…I can't trust your promise."
"Oh? Why not?"
"You're smiling. The whole time. But your eyes aren't. You see me as nothing but an obstacle. If I give you the key, you'll erase me once I'm used up."
Eve's eyes widened, just slightly.
Then she smiled, delighted.
"Oh my. You saw through me? But that's only half right. I don't intend to erase you. You're interesting. After you give me the key, I'd like to talk a little."
"No thanks."
Rei said flatly.
Eve's smile deepened.
"Too bad. Then I'll take it by force—"
That's when.
"Eve-san!"
A shout.
Rei turned to see a blond boy running toward them, out of breath.
Kai Solvent.
The Anomaly pursuer who had cornered Rei before.
Kai ran up to Eve and dropped to his knees.
"I-I'm sorry! I let him escape! I couldn't secure him…!"
Kai's voice was shaking.
His face was pale.
"Oh my, Kai. You failed again?"
Eve looked down at Kai, still smiling.
"I-I'm sorry! Next time, next time for sure…!"
"Next time?"
Eve tilted her head.
"Didn't you say the same thing before? 'Next time for sure.' And this time too, the boy escaped you."
"Th-that's not it! That time, the car got in the way…!"
"Excuses are fine. What I want to hear is results only. You understand?"
Kai pressed his forehead to the ground.
"I-I'm sorry…!"
Eve crouched down.
Peered into Kai's face.
"Kai. I value you. You're young but you have guts. You have spirit. That's why I use you. But if you keep failing, there's no use for you. Understand?"
Eve's voice was sweet.
But her words were cold.
"I erase children I don't need, records a
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