2008, March 17; 2:00 AM
It’s late at night in Tokyo, and the rain has just stopped, leaving the air thick with moisture. Ryuji wanders aimlessly under the street lamps, the sound of his footsteps echoing against the wet sidewalk.
“Ryuji, you won’t leave me… will you?” a voice whispers in his head. “No, Mom, I’d never do that. I’d do anything to bring you back,” he replies, almost in a trance. “Good, just keep walking. You’re almost there,” she encourages. “Where… are we going?” he asks, but silence follows.
He stumbles into a narrow alley and pushes open an unlocked backdoor of a shop. Ryuji makes his way through the darkened space until he reaches the counter, where a mysterious piece of paper and a pen await him. “You’re a good person, Ryuji. Sign the paper for me, please?” the voice urges.
“Is this a—” he starts, but the voice interrupts, “Yes, Ryuji. Sign it and bring justice for Mom.” After a moment’s hesitation, he picks up the pen and signs.
For a heartbeat, nothing happens. Then pain pierces his skull, and a voice echoes in his mind: THIS WORLD IS PROSECUTED; YOU MUST BE THEIR JUSTICE. Ryuji writhes as the Justice Manifesto takes hold, consuming his emotions until only one remains: A striking sense of Justice.
His body transforms grotesquely into a faceless embodiment of Lady Justice, blind yet powerful. With a crash, it bursts through the front door and ascends into the night sky.
“THIS WORLD WILL BE HELD TRIAL, AND I’LL BE JUDGE AND EXECUTIONER!” it declares, soaring through the streets. Spotting a group of thugs breaking into a house, it chants, “SENTENTIAM TE AD MORTEM PRO FURTO!”
With that, beams of light descend from the clouds, striking down the thugs and annihilating the house. Satisfied, it nods at her work and flies off into the night.
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2008, March 17; 2:32 AM
[Miyako—]
“I’m aware,” replied Miyako as alarms blared at the Tokyo Branch B.S.A. Headquarters.
Division One deployed to tackle the Justice Embodiment, loading into a black van and speeding into the heart of Tokyo. As they arrived, the embodiment spotted them. “ALL OF YOU ARE CRIMINALS. THIEVES WHO DECIDE WHO LIVES AND DIES. THIS IS WHERE PLAYING GOD GETS YOU!”
It raised its hands, striking the buildings around it. Division One launched a strategic charge. “Stop moving!” shouted one operative, using her signature from the Manifesto of Authority. Justice halted momentarily, allowing another operative to stab it with his blade while chanting, “Pain, Totality!” from the Manifesto of Pain, intensifying the wound. The embodiment shrieked, causing the others to cover their ears.
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“SENTENTIAE OMNES…” it began, its torch burning brighter as Division Two and Division Three arrived. “Guys! I don’t think anything good is gonna happen if it finishes that chant!” warned a new operative.
Captain Shiro from Division Two quickly assessed the situation. “We need someone who can shut that thing up.” Panic flickered among the operatives as Justice continued its chant. “AD MORTEM…” Beams of light struck down, killing several nearby operatives and heightening the pressure.
“We’ll all die if we don’t think fast,” Shiro declared, pushing through the crowd. He hesitated before dialling an unnamed number.
[Hello?] came the voice on the line. “Miss Miyako—” Shiro began but was cut off. [I know.] she replied, catching him off guard. [You are about to die.]
“Yes, all of us are,” he said, hinting at the need for help. [Mmm. I see; follow my words.] she instructed. Shiro steeled himself and faced Justice head-on. [Justice, oh Justice, your words so sublime | may I ask, what was my crime?” he challenged, shifting the battle to a war of words.
“THE CRIME OF PLAYING GOD IN A WORLD OF SUFFERING,” Justice shouted back. [That is an ethical dilemma; thus | charging us with a punishment like death is unjust of you”, Miyako's voice echoed through Shiro’s mouth.
Justice’s annoyance grew, and it began to finish its chant. “PRO IUSTITIA—” But as it did, it contorted and erupted in a violent explosion.
[You’re welcome], Miyako said, still on the line.
Amidst the chaos, the embodiment twisted and devolved back into Ryuji, lifeless on the ground. The divisions breathed a sigh of relief as they prepared to leave. “Thank you again, Miss Miyako,” Shiro said, sensing her smile on the other end.
[It was the least I could do], she replied before hanging up. Shiro picked up the Justice Manifesto from Ryuji’s body, storing it away as he gathered Division Two for their departure.
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2008, March 17; 5:00 AM
[The situation was cleared, I suppose?]
“Mhm,” Miyako replies before hanging up the call with the Board. She stands outside the shop where it all began, then steps through the broken front door. Inside, the shop is primarily intact, save for the damaged entrance. She inspects the counter, brushing off some dust, then squats to pick up a fallen can, placing it back on the shelf. Satisfied, she glances around one last time before heading out.
Two operatives are waiting outside and enter to begin the cleanup once she steps out. Miyako approaches her B.S.A.-issued Toyota Century. “You can go now,” she says to the driver, giving him a slight nod. He starts the car and drives off.
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