(Begin the commission)

(Open Tutorial/(Character Intro) Asaba Harumasa)

Asaba Harumasa: Let's search for clues in this area and see if we can find anything on the suspicious drug.

(Enter combat)

Asaba Harumasa: Whoa, looks like we've got a big one over there.

(Approach the helicopter)

Asaba Harumasa: Well, well. To think I'd find a helicopter here of all places.

Asaba Harumasa: Though it's a shame — this big guy's outta commission, and the clue I was hoping to find isn't in it.

Do you like helicopters?

Asaba Harumasa: ...

Asaba Harumasa: When I was little, I once fantasized about riding the wind.

Asaba Harumasa: That way, as long as there was wind, I could go anywhere.

Asaba Harumasa: ...As if I were born free.

Asaba Harumasa: ...Actually, shouldn't I just learn how to pilot a helicopter?

I thought you already knew how.

Asaba Harumasa: Haha, you really think highly of me. As expected of my partner~

I support that! Go learn it!

Asaba Harumasa: Haha, I'm just kidding.

Asaba Harumasa: You probably won't believe me, but my phone's lock pattern is always an arrow pointing to the upper right, like a plane.

Asaba Harumasa: Though that symbol's got a few other meanings...

Asaba Harumasa: Oops, I'm rambling. Let's keep moving.

Fairy: Alert.

Fairy: A suspicious biological signal has been detected ahead. Please remain alert.

Fairy: Additionally, a control switch for a container has been located on the opposite side. Use it if needed.

(Open Tutorial/Asaba Harumasa Special Interaction)

(Shoot the target)

Asaba Harumasa: A bow is so convenient at times like this~

Asaba Harumasa: It's perfect for someone as efficient as me.

Bangboo (Wise / Belle)Bangboo (Wise / Belle)Protagonist in disguise: I think you mean lazy...

(After defeating the enemies)

Asaba Harumasa: Oh my, now there's a familiar face.

Asaba Harumasa: If someone from Public Security is here, I must have found the right place.

Asaba Harumasa: C'mon, let's go say hi!

(Approach Seth Lowell)

Unraveling the Past

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 "The Past"

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Video Summary: When he gets serious, it's hardly ever for something good.

Story Description: Public Security is hunting for clues in the Hollows related to illegal meds. Harumasa confirms that the meds in question are counterfeits. At this very moment, a strange young man approaches, seeking help...

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Asaba Harumasa: How do you do, my fellow officers! Great work!

Watt: That uniform... Is he an Executive Officer?! What is he doing here... Don't tell me those guys from HSO are trying to take our credit again?

Asaba Harumasa: Relax. I'm not the type of person to take credit for someone else's work.

Asaba Harumasa: Right, junior Seth? Oh, please say hi to your brother for me.

Watt: Junior?

Seth: Uh... He and I both graduated from the same academy, just not in the same year.

Seth: So Asaba... Uh, Executive Officer, what are you doing here?

Asaba Harumasa: Oh, nothing much, really. Just a teensy little favor.

Asaba Harumasa: I know PubSec is investigating the illegal drug case. Can I take a look at the samples you seized?

Watt: Th—That's crucial evidence! You're definitely trying to steal our credit... This case hasn't been transferred over to HSO yet!

Asaba Harumasa: The drugs are connected to an important case I'm investigating. According to the Public Security handbook, rule number... What was it again? I forget...

Asaba Harumasa: In any case, PubSec officers are obligated to assist Executive Officers with their investigations inside the Hollows.

Asaba Harumasa: In other words — you can't say no to me.

Watt: Mister Executive Officer, it's not that we don't want to provide them. It's just that all the confiscated drugs have been sent to the evidence room, and we don't have any with us right now... Right, Seth?

Seth: Huh? Uhh... Th-That's right!

Asaba Harumasa: Has anyone told you that you're terrible at lying?

Asaba Harumasa: Since you aren't willing to cooperate, I guess I'll just have to take them myself.

Harumasa dashes over to Seth with incredible speed...

Seth: Such clean moves... Wait, d—did you just go through my pockets?!

Asaba Harumasa: Aha, found it.

Harumasa picks up the syringe he "confiscated" from Seth and carefully examines it in the sunlight.
Then, under the shocked gazes of the officers, he squeezes a few drops onto his palm before lowering his head to sniff the scent...

Then, he casually tosses the drug back to Seth.

Asaba Harumasa: This is an unfinished product. You haven't completed the potency tests, have you... The active ingredients are too minimal to increase Ether aptitude.

Asaba Harumasa: If you ask me, this isn't the real stuff, just a cheap knock-off.

Seth: You... How did you manage to gather so much information from just a few looks and a couple of sniffs?

Asaba Harumasa: Because I'm an elite from Section 6. So... do you regret choosing Public Security when you graduated?

Watt: Hey, you really know how to piss someone off, don't you?

Asaba Harumasa: Thanks for the compliment~ By the way, I should probably mention that there's a whole bunch of Ethereals over there sprinting this way. I'll leave them for our brave and skilled Public Security officers to handle!

Watt: Wait, you're just gonna hide behind us like that?!

Asaba Harumasa: I'm sure you don't need me to deal with these Ethereals, right? Besides, I'm busy protecting my Bangboo here. I believe in you, go team~

Huh?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Huh? Um... Sure, you do that, keep me safe...

Asaba Harumasa: Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you~

Don't use me as an excuse...

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍Come on. Using me as an excuse now?Come on. Using me as an excuse now?Text for Wise / ...Hey, don't use me as an excuse at a time like this!...Hey, don't use me as an excuse at a time like this!Text for Belle‍)

Asaba Harumasa: You're making me sad... I genuinely wanted to protect you from the bottom of my heart.

Seth: ...Just ignore him. Let's fight.

After a fierce battle, the Public Security officers defeat the swarm of Ethereals...

But right at that moment, a boy appears nearby, stumbling towards the group.

???: Help... Help me...

Asaba Harumasa: ...

Seth: Young citizen, have you gotten lost in the Hollow? Do you need help?

???: They... are still... there... help...

Watt: His eyes... What's happening? Is that a sign of corruption?

???: ...There's no... time...

Seth: I don't think he can see us... Maybe he can't hear us, either?

Asaba Harumasa: *tsk* Stay away from him!

???: I... I can't... Ahhhh...!

Rest in Peace

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 "Rest in Peace"

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Video Summary: One day, we will all reach the same end.

Story Description: The strange young man transforms into an Ethereal right in front of everyone, prompting Harumasa to adopt a rare serious stance for battle...

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???: Roar—

Watt: Th—The kid's turning into an Ethereal!

Seth: But why... His corruption symptoms were pretty mild...

Seth: Plus his core came out in seconds?! That's impossible...

Watt: Oh no, he's gonna attack!

Asaba Harumasa: ...It's too late.

Asaba Harumasa: This Ethereal is tougher than it looks.

Asaba Harumasa: If you don't want to fight, then get behind me, now.

Asaba Harumasa: I'll... take him down.

(Enter combat)

Seth: This guy... Why do I get the feeling it isn't your average Ethereal?

Asaba Harumasa: You're right, but worry about yourself first.

Asaba Harumasa: I'd rather not have to scrape you off the floor here.

Seth: ...Damn it, don't underestimate me!

(Defeat the Ionized - Thanatos)

Unpleasant Reunion

The following is recorded in the Video Archive

 "An Unpleasant Reunion"

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Video Summary: They say it is a "curse disguised as a blessing." but who did it really bless, and who did it curse?

Story Description: After defeating the Ethereal transformed by the young man, you come across Harumasa's senior, who seems suspicious. You learn that the young man was the senior's patient, suffering from an illness called "Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome."

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Asaba Harumasa: ...It's over now. Rest in peace.

Seth: What happened to him? His corruption symptoms were unlike anything we've seen in the handbook. And his core appeared almost instantly, there was no chance we could've saved him...

Asaba Harumasa: That's because those weren't signs of corruption, they're indicators of a late-stage disease.

???: Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome.

???: People with this condition are naturally frail, with lesions appearing on their skin. But they have a higher Ether aptitude than the average person.

???: In the late stages, their bodies will rapidly deteriorate until they gradually lose all sensory perception under severe pain. In the end, just like that kid, even the slightest contact with Ether causes severe corruption.

???: Their high Ether aptitude makes this disease turn a blessing into a curse. And there's no cure yet.

Asaba Harumasa: ...

???: Long time no see, Harumasa. How have you been these past years?

Seth: Do you... know each other?

Asaba Harumasa: We're old acquaintances. What are you doing here?

Kirishima: Look at you, all grown up. What happened to my little pal?

Kirishima: Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kirishima. I'm a doctor, of sorts. That child who just turned into an Ethereal was my patient.

Kirishima: His condition had progressed to late stages. He couldn't take the pain anymore, so he decided to enter the Hollow and end his own life...

Kirishima: Sorry you had to see that. Children suffering from this disease usually don't live long. I wish I'd noticed his emotional struggles sooner.

Seth: So all those strange things just now were symptoms of a disease...?

Seth: At any rate, Public Security will need to look into this. We'll have to bring you in for a statement.

Kirishima: No problem. I'll fully cooperate with Public Security's work. But first, could you please give me a moment to catch up with my dear classmate here?

Seth: ...Go ahead.

Seth and the other officer step aside to start examining the evidence left by the Ethereal...

Asaba Harumasa: I don't really see any need for us to catch up.

Kirishima: C'mon now, I thought we'd have a lot to share. Honestly, I never imagined you'd still be... and become such an outstanding Executive Officer. Impressive.

Kirishima: But you've always been a well-behaved, diligent, and hardworking kid. It looks like all your effort has paid off.

Diligent?!

Hardworking?!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): "Well-behaved, diligent, and hardworking"... (‍None of that sounds like the Harumasa I know...None of that sounds like the Harumasa I know...Text for Wise / Is this satire?Is this satire?Text for Belle‍)

Asaba Harumasa: I'll take that as a compliment.

Asaba Harumasa: So, since when did you become a "doctor"? And one who takes on patients like that?

Kirishima: I run a sanatorium that treats patients with Ether Aptitude Regression Syndrome... to make up for my past mistakes.

Asaba Harumasa: I'm genuinely surprised hearing those words coming from your mouth.

Kirishima: I may have done some bad things, but I was deceived by that man just like you were. You know that, otherwise I wouldn't have been acquitted.

Asaba Harumasa: Whatever you say. What does any of this have to do with me?

Kirishima: If fate has reunited us here, there must be a reason — you and I, we should work together.

Kirishima: I've found some leads on him already. You've been looking for him for a while too, right? If you want, we can find him together as classmates—

Asaba Harumasa: You've been investigating master?

Kirishima: That's right. I found a shelter that he used to hide in years ago. It was corrupted by a Hollow, but there're still many clues left behind.

Kirishima: If we work together and investigate the shelter, we might be able to follow the trail and locate where he's hiding now.

Asaba Harumasa: ...Let me think about it.

Asaba Harumasa: By the way, master told me that I was his only student. And you... were just an assistant.

Asaba Harumasa: We're not "classmates." I was clueless as a kid and didn't care about these things, so I'd appreciate it if you stopped acting like we're friends.

Kirishima: Come on, but we're indeed...

Seth: Sorry, how much longer will you need? It's not safe, we should get out of here ASAP.

Kirishima: We...

Asaba Harumasa: We're done talking. The rest is Public Security's job and I won't interfere. Goodbye, everyone~

Harumasa grabs the Bangboo beside him and rushes toward the Hollow exit, as if he's afraid someone was going to ask him to stay and work overtime...

What were you guys talking about?

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): (‍WhatWhatText for Wise / Uh, whatUh, whatText for Belle‍) were you guys talking about? I couldn't follow at all...

No secrets allowed in MY New Eridu!

(ProtagonistProtagonistWise / Belle): Ever heard of that old saying? "No secrets allowed in MY New Eridu"...

Asaba Harumasa: Ahaha, sorry, sorry... That wasn't intentional.

Asaba Harumasa: We can talk about it once we get somewhere safe.