*Yukisaku City, 2 pm , Wednesday, sunny*
- Why? Why can't you find money in our unfair world? - the guy Takumi Nagato shouted in his head.
- I'm 14 years old, I don't have anyone, what should I do? No money, nothing!
"There's a cafe, maybe I should come in and ask for some food, otherwise I'll completely die from stomach pain," Takumi thought when he saw a sign about food.
"I won't get there," Takumi said, and his eyes began to turn pale, the whole world became slightly pale.
- I'm dying? - said the falling Takumi.
- Toons-toons, hey, be careful! - said a man passing by who caught Takumi and saved him from falling.
Takumi looked into the eyes of this man and was surprised by the coldness ; Takumi could read people just by looking at their faces.
"Th-thank you, more mmm," Takumi said.
- What happened to you? "Boy," asked the perplexed man.
- I-I-I'm hungry! Damn I'm very hungry! - Takumi replied in a very strong tone and a slightly trembling voice.
- Do you want me to give you something to eat? Just tell me where this magic comes from in you? - this guy suggested.
- Magic? What are you talking about? Don't I have any magic? Magic doesn't exist, and I don't need to eat, I'll refuse. - Takumi turned around and walked further, but in an instant he almost fell again.
- So? Shall we talk at the table? — the guy caught Takumi again and again offered to feed him.
"Okay," Takumi agreed through gritted teeth.
Takumi and the stranger took a taxi towards the center of Yukisaku and started talking inside the car.
- How old are you? - asked the stranger.
- W-what? Shall we talk right in the taxi? — Takumi was a little embarrassed.
- Relax, this machine of the Investigation Committee, the organization for which I work.
— An organization machine ? Investigation Committee! Aaaaaaaaaah let it out! I didn't break anything or steal food! — Takumi got nervous.
"I asked you to relax, no one wishes you harm and you are not a serial criminal, so relax and enjoy the trip."
- Answer my question. — There was silence in the car.
- I am 14 years old.
- Why go out alone, and so hungry at that? No food at home? — the stranger was perplexed.
- Who are you, anyway? Why am I in the car of your organization and going somewhere with you?
- My name is Haruki Kazuki, I am a member of the committee , my task today was to find you, and now I found you! - Haruki replied.
— I haven't heard anything about such a committee. — Takumi looked out the window.
"I understand, you shouldn't have heard or known anything about him, we are engaged in magical investigations, but we can also do ordinary ones, but there are police for that, and besides, it's not interesting to solve ordinary cases, it's too easy."
- What kind of magic is this? Are you talking nonsense! - Takumi objected and looked at Haruki.
"You'll soon understand, maybe the Special Patrol will want to arrest you , but we need you, so now you have to listen to me," Haruka's voice asked in a calm voice.
- God... I don't understand anything
- The committee has been looking for you for 2 weeks, this is very offensive for our organization, so behave more respectfully, I tried so hard to find you, no need to run away.
"Okay," Takumi agreed.
- So, you are 14 years old, so why are you starving?
- My parents died. I am alone. My relatives refused to take me. I ran away from home and am homeless. I don't want to be in an orphanage. - Takumi said and his eyes filled with pain.
- Sadly. How long has this all been going on?
- About a month.
- Here you go! You have a great chance to turn your life around for the better! - Haruki rejoiced.
- Don't even know.
"Don't worry, there's no need for you to think about it." We're almost there.
The car became quiet. They continued their journey in silence for another 10 minutes, sometimes tapping their feet on the interior and touching their knees. All around stretched wide open spaces, surrounded by thick silence.
- We arrived! You can go out! - Haruki said with a smile on his face.
- I'm already leaving.
- Here's the restaurant, let's go! — Haruki pointed his finger in front of Takumi's eyes.
Takumi saw the huge KOTIN sign and realized that this was the most expensive and high-quality restaurant in Yukisaku.
- I think I will go! Well, I'll take a walk further! — Takumi was about to leave, but Haruki grabbed him by the hood.
- Don't be shy, let's go! Went! - Haruki dragged Takumi with a pouty look.
- Don't drag me to such a luxurious establishment! Even if I had a good life, I couldn't go there! Ahh! - Takumi shouted.
- Stop it! Hhah," Haruki said mockingly.
Haruki entered the restaurant with Takumi and took a table on the fourth floor, the entire KOTIN restaurant has 13 floors. The cost of repairs here starts from one hundred dollars.
- Listen! Who are you? A swindler? I do not have money! — Takumi said in a whisper, leaning in front of the table.
"Relax, let's talk, discuss an important matter with you," Haruki said confidently.
"You and I can't have important things to do!" - Takumi objected.
- You will see! — With a smile, Haruki went to call the waiter.
Takuma began to make an escape plan and thought about how to escape from this terribly rich restaurant, he got up from the table, but turned around to see Haruki already placing an order.
- Takumi, where are you going? Have a seat.
- You win.
"How did he come back so quickly? How?" - Takumi thought.
- So, I ordered golden shrimp in batter, borscht soup made from fresh vegetables, two seafood salads and a cappuccino with a sprinkle of edible gold. All this is for you, I'm not hungry.
- To me? Ahh! Is gold sprinkles food grade? What? What the heck? How much did it all cost?
"Well, it cost 6 thousand dollars, for me it's small," said Haruki.
— 6 THOUSAND DOLLARS? YOU WILL PLACE ME RIGHT? SCAM!!!
- Relax, Takumi. Let's eat and walk and talk.
Takumi clumsily picked up the fork, his hands shaking with nervousness. He gazed with embarrassment at the golden shrimp in batter, borscht made from fresh vegetables, two salads with seafood and a cappuccino decorated with edible gold. Despite the fact that all this cost a huge sum of 6 thousand dollars, Takumi felt like a duck to water.
They were on the fourth floor of the KOTIN restaurant. The building was exquisitely decorated, with crystal chandeliers and gold patterns on the walls. The windows offered picturesque views of the city, which stretched to the very horizon. While Takumi was enjoying his extravagant lunch, the restaurant was in a real commotion. Superbly dressed waiters deftly maneuvered between the tables, offering their guests exquisite dishes and drinks. The noise of conversations and the light sound of classical music filled the air, creating a special atmosphere of refinement and sophistication. The boy Takumi, embarrassedly looking away from his plate, could observe all this splendor. His heart was filled with admiration and gratitude for the opportunity to plunge into such a luxurious experience that would remain in his memory for a long time. After his meal, he looked at Haruki.
- Thank you, although I don't know who you are, but thank you. Thank you for finding me, thank you for taking me and feeding me, I'm ready to thank you with anything," Takumi thanked.
- Great. We can go and, as I said, we'll walk.
"But before we go, I want to say that my leg hurts," Takumi said.
- Let's go already! - Haruki shouted to him.
Takumi slowly stood up from the table, leaving behind the dishes that had recently contained his gourmet dishes. He looked pale and exhausted, his face was distorted with pain. His leg seemed to be in great pain. Together with Haruki, they began to go down, systematically walking along the steps. For Takumi, every step was a real challenge. He could hardly stand on his leg, sometimes stopping for a moment to cope with the piercing pain.
- What's wrong with you? "My leg hasn't hurt this much recently," Haruki said.
- This is her attack, I have such attacks when I am very nervous.
Coming down from the fourth floor of the restaurant was especially difficult. The staircase was marble, elegantly decorated, but for Takumi it seemed like an endless barrier. He held onto the railing with his trembling hands and slowly stepped down. The air is filled with the quick rustling of ceilings and the sounds of quiet footsteps on the stairs. Takumi gave the stairs his own rhythm, extinguishing each pain, step by step.
- Here we are on the first floor! Your life is a whole test for you! Haruki laughed.
- Okay, it seems to have gone away. Went! - Takumi said confidently.
Takumi got up from the bench and they headed towards the exit, leaving Takumi saw skyscrapers and successful people around.
- Let's go that way! — Haruki pointed to the right.
"Let's go," Takumi agreed.
"You said something about magic, but it doesn't exist!" — Takumi started the conversation.
"You see, my magic allows me to see and control someone else's aura of magic, a powerful aura of magic comes from you, let's go around the corner and I'll show you," Haruki suggested.
- OK. But you can't convince me!
Takumi and Haruki turned the corner. Haruki touched Takumi's shoulder and some sparks appeared and lines formed around Takumi.
- W-What is this? Damn it! - Takumi was scared. At that same second, Takumi turned into a 60-year-old woman.
- Nevermind! Your magic allows you to change your appearance! Apparently the structure of organs and cells also works! You are the one we were looking for! — Haruka was surprised with a smile. It was clear from him that Haruki was playing the role of sarcasm and he was portraying emotions, but Takumi didn't understand why he was doing this and was acting like a child?
- Why bother, why are you playing with emotions? — Takumi asked a direct question.
Abruptly, Haruki removed the smile and joy from his face.
- You see, oh well, I'm mentally ill, I don't experience emotions and feelings, I have to play a role so that those around me don't die of despondency, I've been like this since birth.
"I see," Takumi was not particularly surprised.
"So magic exists..." Takumi was also not particularly surprised.
"This is the first time I see such a reaction when people find out about their magic," said Haruki.
- How to get back? - Takumi asked questioningly.
- And now! — touched Takumi and he accepted his real self.
Haruki took out his phone and called the driver.
- Hello, come on, the last place is the Committee office, yes, that's right!
After 2 minutes, a car drove up to them and took them to the Restaurant.
-Where are we going? - Takumi asked.
- To our main headquarters, to the headquarters of the Investigation Committee.
- It's clear.
All the way, Takumi and Haruki looked silently out the window and enjoyed the view of the city center. The car stopped and Haruki got out.
- Hello garage! Get up, come on! — Haruki tried to wake up the sleeping Takumi.
- Aah! What? I fell asleep?
- Let's go already! They're already waiting at headquarters!
Takumi quickly jumped out of the car and ran after Haruki, while he was running he saw an underground parking lot and the words "Investigation Committee" were written on the walls. Takumi realized that Haruki had not lied to him about the magical investigation committee.
- Come on in! — Haruki was already standing in the elevator.
- Elevator? Why not stairs? - Takumi asked.
- Because our headquarters is underground.
- Wow, cool!
As soon as Haruki pressed the door close button, the doors instantly closed and the elevator rushed down, it felt like it was falling into a shaft. Takumi fell to the floor, but Haruki stood there as if nothing had happened.
-Who the hell are you? — Takumi cried out in surprise while the elevator was moving.
- You'll get used to it.
The elevator stopped. The doors opened into a beautiful room, the lighting was soft, and a man with glasses and a stern look stood on the threshold.
"Well, hello, Takumi Nagato, 14 years old, lost his parents, social status: homeless, nice to meet you," he said and extended his hand to help him get up.
- Oh, khkhkh, thank you! - Takumi stood up.
- Do you already know so much about me? — Takumi was surprised.
- Well, of course, we overheard your conversation with Haruki.
- Oh, well then it's clear.
"Go to the medical unit, our doctors will examine you and treat you; if anything happens, we'll meet there," Haruki suggested.
Takumi went to the office of the medical unit and they immediately began to examine him; the entire committee entered this office and the chief investigator of the committee was the first to start a dialogue.
- My name is Yukio Sato, I am the chief investigator of our committee, we want you to become a member of our committee and start helping us, refusing would be an irrational decision: the special patrol will arrest you.
- Mm, my name is Kazuto Yamamoto, I hate weaklings, I adore strong men, if you bother us, I'll shoot you.
- Hello! I'm Ryoma Takashi, one of the committee's investigators, I don't know what else to add.
- Well, Takumi, two more committee members are missing, they only come to complete tasks. You will meet them later," Haruki said.
- Do you have a boss here? Or is the chief investigator the leader? - Takumi asked.
"I'm in charge here," a middle-aged man suddenly appeared at the office door.
- My name is Masao Ito, I am the head of the Investigation Committee, are you ready to join us?
- Come on! I do not know! How much time do I have to think?
"One minute," said Masao Ito.
- A! Well, I agree, okay! - Takumi exclaimed.
Masao walked up to Takumi and touched him with his finger, a seal appeared on Takumi's palm.
- uh! What it is? — Takumi was indignant.
- Seal. All members of the Committee have it. This is my magic, with the help of it I can control your powers and magic.
"Welcome to the Investigation Committee!" all the investigators hugged and shouted to Takumi.