I quickly set up a real-time task dashboard on Solak where every dancing number will be a measure of survival for this "Diary of Dreams" project.
[DASHBOARD: OPERATION NOISE SWEEP - DEPARTMENT 1031]
[Status: Active | Priority: S+]
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FIELD PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT:
Current Roster: 20 Diplomatic Team Officers.
Status: Dispersed by sector, operating within Tokyo metropolitan area.
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ANOMALY TRACKER:
Districts reporting abnormalities: 05/23.
Eliminated: 01 (Krasue).
Tagged: 00 (Need to accelerate).
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RISK THRESHOLD CHART (CASUALTY QUOTA):
Level [Green] (< 15 deaths): Normal. Process as household accidents or natural strokes.
Level [Yellow] (15 - 50 deaths): Warning. Activate tabloid network to spread rumors of widespread food poisoning.
Level [Red] (50 - 200 deaths): Critical. Initiate localized brainwashing. (Note: Consumes massive FP, requires Ariel's budget approval).
Level [Black] (> 200 deaths): Department Restructuring. Team leader prepares resignation letter.
Staring at the "Level Black" threshold, I can't help but feel a chill. If I let Gakai send more than 200 souls packing in a week, this body of mine will probably end up as a doormat for the big bosses. After pressing confirm to sync the data to all subordinates' devices, I attach an ultimatum to the group chat:
ItsukiK: "Dashboard is up. Anyone slacking off and letting a talking Anomaly slip through in their sector can voluntarily hand over this month's salary to me. Get to work. Don't make me come over there and knock some sense into you."
I toss the phone aside, flopping onto the mattress, my head buzzing with stress. This accursed "Soul Summoning Sound" trick is driving me insane. Just answering gets you killed. How are we supposed to protect that many people?
Morning sunlight filters through the curtains, shining directly onto Kaito's face, making the boy squint as he crawls out of bed. His complexion looks much better than the half-dead state he was in last night. At least his eyes have regained some life.
"Up already?"
I slap Kaito on the shoulder, not giving him a moment to orient himself. "Brush your teeth and wash your face, quick. Skip school today. Head to the Sensitive Inn. We have urgent business."
Kaito freezes mid-yawn, jaw hanging open like he is trying to catch flies. He whips his head around to look at me with sheer terror.
"Skip... skip school? Are you kidding me, Itsuki-sama?" Kaito groans, clutching his head. "If my mom finds out I skipped without a reason, I'd rather face Gakai!"
"Relax, would I steer you wrong?" I roll my eyes, pulling out my spirit-phone. "Handling attendance is easy. I just finished printing a 'stunt double' for you."
My finger glides across the Solak screen, selecting [Object Print: Body Double - Premium Package].
Immediately, the phone in my hand emits a pale blue light that scans over Kaito. Then, in an instant, particles of matter slowly gather, twisting and braiding together to print a perfect copy of the boy right in front of us. From the messy hair and thick glasses to the slightly wrinkled uniform, everything is identical to the original.
"Holy crap..." Kaito steps back, eyes popping as he stares at his double. "Do I really look that dopey?"
"Did you think you looked like a male idol?" I pout, walking around the robot to inspect it.
"Hmph, sensory deception filter is stable," I nod in assessment. "It looks plastic to us, but normal people like your friends or teachers will definitely believe this is Kaito in the flesh."
Seeing Kaito still standing there dumbfounded and skeptical, I grab the robot's left wrist and flip it over. In the palm of its hand is a faintly glowing QR code.
"Come here, scan this," I order.
Kaito tiptoes over, raising his phone camera.
Ding!
The boy's phone screen flashes, then switches to a first-person camera mode.
"Huh? This is..." Kaito turns around, freezing for five seconds. On the screen is his own goofy face looking back.
"Am I... seeing what it sees?"
"Exactly. Real-time visual and auditory synchronization," I explain, then casually press the [Start] button on the Solak interface.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The copy blinks once, then starts swinging its limbs. It stretches, adjusts its glasses, and flashes a... radiantly weird smile.
"Good morning! Today is a wonderful day for learning!" The robot speaks, its tone overflowing with positive energy.
Both Kaito and I stand rooted to the spot.
"What the hell..." Kaito grimaces, pointing at the copy. "I would never talk in such a cheesy way! And standing straight like that? It looks... incredibly fake!"
I scratch my chin, feeling a bit off too. Seems the default algorithm of this thing is a bit... over-idealized.
"Admitted," I concede. "It looks way more reliable than you. Your friends will probably think you took the wrong meds or got possessed, no one will suspect it's a robot."
"Reliable, my ass!" Kaito yells, snatching the phone. "If it smiles like a creep like that in class, Takechi will faint on the spot! Let me fix it!"
The boy busily taps on the control panel on the Solak interface.
"Hello hello? 1, 2, 3, mic check," Kaito speaks into the phone.
Immediately, the robot's mouth moves, emitting Kaito's voice, but this time accompanied by the familiar hunched posture and lethargic eyes.
"Ah... um... morning... yawn..." The robot yawns long and loud, its sluggish demeanor identical to the original.
"There! That's how it should be!" Kaito slaps his thigh, looking strangely proud. "Now I bet they can't spot the fake."
I watch the kid excitedly controlling his copy to do clownish things like picking its nose or scratching its butt, unable to help but shake my head in resignation.
"Alright, enough goofing around," I wave my hand. "It has an autopilot mode, you only need to intervene if it starts talking nonsense or gets called to the board by a teacher. Now get your ass moving, we have a lot to do today."
The Shoji doors slide open gently with a satisfying glide. Kaito steps forward, holding his spirit-phone in his left hand, scanning the QR code on the wall expertly as if he's done this a hundred times. Gone is the clumsy, fearful look of the first day; the kid now looks like a proper "trainee," at least in the door-opening department.
"Not bad," I nod in approval.
We enter the grand lobby of the Sensitives' Hub. Today the main hall is unusually noisy and chaotic, a stark contrast to the typically quiet space scented with agarwood.
In front of Old Man Tanuki's reception desk, a long line of burly, muscular guys are checking out. Just a glance from afar reveals familiar faces, all members of the Security Team.
I scan the crowd, quickly spotting a familiar grey wolf head leaning against a pillar, holding an iced black coffee.
"Yo, Xiaolang!" I approach, slapping him on the shoulder. "Why so lonely today? Where's that lazy cat?"
Xiaolang turns, his wolf ears twitching once, then snorts with dissatisfaction.
"He's been on patrol since last night, Itsuki-san" he grumbles, jutting his chin toward the reception desk. "And not just him. The Diplomatic Team checked out yesterday, running around like headless chickens even before their shifts started. Ruined my morning, have no one to grab breakfast with."
The smile on my lips stiffens.
Ah... so that's it.
My dashboard and the threat to "hand over salary" yesterday seem to have worked a little too well. The usually lazy staff are now probably scouring every corner of Tokyo hunting Anomalies like bloodthirsty zombies.
"Ah... haha..." I laugh awkwardly, averting my eyes, trying to act as natural as possible. "Well... things are tense lately. Big operation, so they have to put in a little effort."
"Effort, my ass," Xiaolang narrows his eyes at me suspiciously. "Yesterday Nanao was packing his bags while cursing up a storm in his room. He kept mentioning your name, accompanied by some very colorful adjectives. You pulled some stunt to exploit them again, didn't you?"
"Nonsense!" I wave my hand, the fur on my neck bristling in protest. "That is high-level personnel management strategy. You only know how to punch and kick, how could you understand the art of leadership?"
Kaito, standing nearby and listening silently, suddenly widens his eyes and speaks up. In his naive worldview, the idea that I—the "great savior deity"—am hated by my staff is something extremely blasphemous.
"Huh? How can that be?" Kaito asks, bewildered. "Why would everyone hate Itsuki-sama? He is so kind and cares about his subordinates."
Xiaolang chuckles darkly. He leans down, patting Kaito on the shoulder.
"Kid, hate isn't exactly the word. The relationship between the Diplomatic Team and this Old Fox... how to put it, it's a classic toxic relationship. Love-hate."
"Love-hate?" Kaito blinks, even more confused.
I clear my throat, intending to shut this blabbermouth wolf up before he ruins my reputation. "Hey Xiaolang, talk less..."
But Xiaolang is faster. He winks at Kaito, whispering loudly enough for the whole lobby to hear:
"He forces staff to chase deadlines like crazy, exploits labor down to the marrow. But the strange thing is, every time the higher-ups cut the budget or impose fines, he uses his own bonus to cover it. At the end of the quarter, everyone receives their full salary and bonus, not a cent missing."
Xiaolang nods toward me, grinning. "So, they curse just to vent, but if Itsuki-san coughs once, the whole bunch follows orders instantly. No one dares to disobey. Afraid he'll be sad... er, afraid he'll actually cut their salary."
I stand rooted to the spot, feeling my ears burning hot.
That damn Nanao...
Usually, he opens his mouth to say "stingy old fox boss," "blood-sucking capitalist," yet behind my back, he spreads rumors like this? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you... or rather, biting the hand then licking it?
"Shoo, shoo!" I wave my hand to chase Xiaolang away like chasing away evil spirits. "Security folks worry about security business. You talk too much, no wonder you never get promoted to Vice Leader."
"Nanao told me, I'm just recounting it," Xiaolang shrugs innocently, then turns to merge into the crowd leaving.
Not letting Kaito digest the chaotic information about this "weird" leadership style, I grab his collar and drag him toward the elevator area.
"Let's go, don't listen to his nonsense. Focus on professional matters."
"But Itsuki-sama..." Kaito tries to look back while being dragged, his stomach suddenly letting out a loud growl, shattering the serious atmosphere. "I... I haven't eaten anything..."
I stop, releasing his collar.
"Ah, right..." I scratch my head. "Was in such a rush this morning I forgot about that. Strange though, didn't your mom make breakfast? I thought Japanese mothers were meticulous about bento boxes?"
"No," Kaito rubs his flat stomach. "Every month Mom transfers allowance plus food money to my bank account, says if I want to eat I should buy it myself at the school canteen or convenience store. She says it helps me learn financial management early."
"Financial management, my ass. She's just lazy," I mutter, but then realize I have no right to judge others on laziness.
"Alright, consider yourself lucky today," I pat Kaito on the shoulder. "Come on. Let me open your eyes to what the Sensitives' Hub canteen looks like."