The Starting Hour - Chapter 1

At Aunt Betty's house

Reiji is in the bathroom.

Water pours endlessly.

Reiji stands under the shower, head lowered.

He slowly raises his eyes to the foggy mirror.

On his forehead, an X mark. An old trace that never faded.

He extends his hand.

A sharp blade between his fingers.

No hesitation.

He slides the blade in a straight line over the mark, then another line beneath it.

He stops. Looks again.

No longer an X.

It has become an hourglass⧖.

He turns off the water.

—

Aunt Betty suddenly opens the door.

She sees him in front of the mirror.

Blood is light, his gaze calm.

She freezes.

“…Reiji?”

Reiji doesn’t respond. No smile, no movement.

“What is this…?” Aunt Betty’s voice trembles.

She cautiously steps closer.

“You can’t stay here… I won’t let you get hurt.”

She grabs him quickly.

Takes him away from the house.

She decides the orphanage is the best place for him, where it’s said a famous psychologist works.

—

Days pass as Reiji stays at the orphanage.

—

After some time, on his eleventh birthday,

Aunt Betty decides to dedicate the whole day to him and comes to celebrate.

She enters through the big gate and encounters a large crowd of orphanage staff and police in the middle of the yard.

Chaos.

While Reiji sits alone on a chair in the yard, playing with his feet, seemingly uninterested in what’s happening.

Screams, crying, terrified faces.

The director’s body lies in the yard, slowly decomposing.

The police try to evacuate the area.

Aunt Betty fears for Reiji.

She approaches him slowly, takes his hands, looks into his eyes.

“Reiji, are you hurt?”

Reiji remains calm.

No expression, no words, no emotion.

The hourglass on his forehead glimmers silently.

—

Location: Police Station

Time: 11:30, a few minutes before lunch

The police chief calls for “Shouma.”

Shouma – Detective

Age: 52

City: Gojō – 五條市

Years of service: Over 30

Closed cases: 487

Police station in Gojō, papers scattered, phone ringing.

Police Chief: Shouma, we have a critical case at the city orphanage. The director’s body was discovered this morning in the yard.

Shouma: Understood. What are the initial details?

Police Chief: The body shows traces of chemicals that gradually dissolved the skin. Death appears to have been caused by corrosive substances, with clear signs of psychological and physical torture.

Shouma: Any symbols or signs?

Police Chief: Yes, beside the body in the dirt, there is an hourglass symbol.

Shouma: Hourglass… suggesting passage of time or premeditated revenge. Any signs of suspects?

Police Chief: Children and staff didn’t see anything specific. No witnesses.

Shouma: Then we’re facing a meticulous crime, leaving very few clues. Chemicals, method, and the symbol all indicate a calculated act.

Police Chief: I’m assigning this case entirely to you, Shouma.

Shouma: I will start analyzing the crime scene, collecting samples, and evaluating the chemicals used. I will review the orphanage records and staff, and investigate any interaction between the symbol and the victim.

Police Chief: Note that the symbols could indicate a future pattern. Document everything precisely; every detail may be useful later.

Shouma: I will. Any mistake in evaluation could obscure the truth. Hourglass, method of death, traces of chemicals… everything will lead us to the real culprit.

Police Chief: Give it your all.

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