Wednesday night. The Nakatsuka Trading Company office building scattered its overtime lights across the darkness. Ren descended from the elevator on tired feet, passed through the first-floor lobby, and stepped through the automatic doors. The outside air was cold. November night. The noise of Shinjuku echoed distantly. A man was standing there. A short distance from the building entrance. Arms crossed, positioned as if waiting for Ren. Deep green short hair. Bangs swept to the right. Behind glasses, eyes of different colors—left red, right silver. About 178 centimeters tall, standing quietly. (Who the hell is that?) The moment Ren approached, the man spoke. "[serious]Namba Ren. Twenty-nine years old. Nakatsuka Trading Company, Sales Department Two, seventh year since joining." "……Huh?" "[serious]You're a participant in Marriage Connect's first party. The only non-reincarnator—a blank slate." Ren stopped walking. "[surprised]……Were you at that party?" "Shinomiya Shu. I work as a library clerk. My previous-world skill is the ability to tell whether someone's words are truth or lies when facing them—Judgment Line." The man spoke matter-of-factly. It was hard to tell if this was self-introduction or interrogation. Ren stared at Shu's face for a while. Then he said plainly: "[sarcastic]You looked up my workplace and age, then waited for me here—that's just regular stalking, right?" Shu stopped. A brief pause. (……Why'd he stop?) Shu slowly pushed his glasses up and spoke. "[serious]……No red line appeared." "Huh?" "[serious]When I talk to someone who's lying, a red line floats in my vision. It appears even with exaggeration or social pretense. Your statement just now—not a single red line appeared." "That's because I told the truth." "[serious]……No red line." Ren tried to make sense of the situation. It was impossible. "[sarcastic]Stop grading my words like you're checking something. It's creepy." "[serious]……No red line." "That's why it's creepy!!" Shu's eyebrows moved slightly. Whether surprised or exasperated was unclear. "[serious]……You really don't have a false side. Everyone I've talked to before had some exaggeration or unconscious embellishment mixed in. Not a single exception." "[sarcastic]I mean, if you're complimenting me, I'm happy, but that doesn't justify stalking." "[serious]……No red line on that either." "I know!!" * * * A family restaurant was a short walk down the street. Shu said "Can we talk for a bit," and Ren answered "Well……better than standing around." Inside the restaurant it was warm. Plastic menus and fluorescent lights. A part-timer brought water and left with an expressionless face. A completely ordinary Wednesday night scene. "[serious]How do you feel about attracting reincarnators?" "[sarcastic]I don't know, so I'd like to ask you." "No red line." "Don't say it every time." He ordered coffee. The two sat across from each other at the table. Shu sat with his back straight. He had more the atmosphere of an interrogation room detective than a library clerk. "[serious]Have you ever thought about why Marriage Connect invited you to the party?" "[sarcastic]Yeah. All night. Couldn't come up with an answer." "[serious]As far as I've researched, there's no record of a non-reincarnator attracting reincarnators. Which means you——" A voice came from the next booth. "[laughing]Oh, perfect timing." Ren turned around. A girl was sitting in the adjacent booth. Smiling brightly. She looked about sixteen years old. Wearing soft, bright-colored clothes. Sipping orange juice from the drink bar through a straw, as if she'd been there all along. Her eyes weren't smiling. "[gentle]I'm Tsubaki Shiori. I work as staff for Marriage Connect." "……Staff?" "[gentle]I've been watching you the whole time. Since the party." She continued with that smiling face. "[gentle]Would it be okay if I called you Sample?" Ren froze. "[surprised]……Sample?" "[gentle]A non-reincarnator who attracts reincarnators—you're the first one on record, Namba. That makes you a very precious sample. For Marriage Connect." His hand holding the coffee cup stopped. "[gentle]This isn't something you can stop by choice. Everyone's already drawn to you. Running away is pointless." "[angry]……I'm not a lab rat!!" His voice came out. Louder than expected. Every table in the restaurant turned to look at them at once. Five or six people. All with "what's going on?" expressions. Shiori let out a small "eek." "[gentle]Your voice is loud……but well, I'll record this reaction too." "Stop recording!!" Shiori twirled her straw and took a sip of juice. She stood up and placed a receipt on the table. "[cold]Running away is pointless. This has already begun." She walked toward the restaurant exit. The door closed. "……" Shu spoke quietly. "[serious]That woman's statements. There were no lies." "All of it?" "[serious]Not a single red line appeared." Ren looked at his coffee. It was all true. Sample. Record. Running away is pointless. Something cold slowly spread through his chest. * * * Outside the restaurant window at that moment. Akane was looking in through the glass. She'd sent Ren a message in the evening. It wasn't read. Worried, she'd found herself near his workplace building. Then she saw him standing next to a man she didn't know. She'd used her skill reflexively. Voix du Cœur—the ability to hear the hearts of people within a five-meter radius. The man's inner thoughts flowed into her. (This man doesn't lie—for the first time. A human I don't have to doubt their words about, for the first time——) She felt it change rapidly. Curiosity slowly transforming into something else. Affection for Ren. "[cold]……How troublesome." She whispered to no one. After watching the two enter the restaurant, Akane stood outside the window. Ren's heart was as always, completely silent. She could never know what he was thinking. That man was beginning to feel affection for Ren, but what Ren felt—she couldn't know. Beyond the glass, the two sat facing each other, talking. Then that girl appeared. Sat in the next booth, said something, stood up, and left. Even through the glass, Akane could see Ren's expression change. * * * When they exited the restaurant, Akane was standing right outside. Their eyes met. "[surprised]I-I just happened to be passing by……and happened to see——" Ren thought for a moment. "[sarcastic]……Akane, isn't that the same pattern as when you came to my apartment after the first party?" Akane's face turned bright red. Beside them, Shu spoke quietly. "[serious]Her statement has multiple red lines. Almost all of it is lies." "[angry]You should stay quiet!!" Akane's voice echoed through the residential street at night. Shu didn't change his expression. Akane moved to stand between Ren and Shu. She looked directly at Shu. "[cold]Shinomiya. Until the Marriage Connect problem is resolved, don't introduce unnecessary variables. Don't get close to Ren." "[serious]Whether it's unnecessary should be his decision, shouldn't it?" "[cold]He can't grasp the situation yet. He doesn't have enough information to judge." "[serious]I think you're in the same position. ……I see. Are you worried about his judgment, or——" "[angry]I don't need the rest." Their gazes crossed over Ren. Ren thought quietly to himself. (Variable. Worried. ——Why do both of you talk about me like that?) But at the same time, something deep in his chest warmed slightly. These people genuinely cared about him. That much was certain. Yet Shiori's voice kept repeating in his head. Running away is pointless. This has already begun. He couldn't accept that warmth straightforwardly. Shu pushed his glasses up. "[serious]I'll stop here for tonight. But—next time we talk, I'll get your permission first. I promise." He said it looking at Ren. Words directed at Ren. With that, Shu walked into the night. His deep green hair receded quietly under the streetlights. The two left behind sat in silence for a while. Akane tugged slightly at Ren's coat sleeve. "[gentle]……Let's walk." * * * The residential street at night was quiet. They walked side by side. Neither spoke. A motorcycle engine in the distance. The smell of dinner from someone's house. An ordinary Wednesday night. Ordinary darkness. Ren walked while remembering Shiori's face from earlier. That smiling face. Eyes that weren't smiling. Sample. Precious sample. After a while, Ren stopped. "[sad]……Akane." "Yes?" "[sad]I'm starting to feel like I can't go back to a normal life." He'd put it into words for the first time. Akane paused slightly. She looked at Ren's profile. She could tell without using her skill. This was the first time she'd seen Ren's face when he was truly afraid. "[gentle]……I'm here." She said it shortly. Ren paused before responding. "[serious]That's why I'm scared." Akane went silent. She understood what he meant. That he might drag her into this. That he was afraid not for himself, but for her. She tried to say something. At that moment, Ren's phone rang. Both looked at the screen. From: Marriage Connect 'Namba Ren. We will inform you of the special program details. The next party is Friday next week. Attendance is mandatory.' "Mandatory." Ren and Akane looked up at the same time. Their eyes met. The anxiety from before shifted. Before fear, anger came. "[serious]……I'm going. With you." "[serious]Yeah. I'm going." The two stood in the night street, staring at the phone screen for a while. Friday next week. The words "mandatory" glowed in the dark screen.