"Envy is something that leads us to our own destruction."
Tanaka Riko and Tanaka Rina were identical twins. Their father, Mr. Tanaka Haruto, was a well-known businessman. Unfortunately, their mother died when they were only seven years old. Riko and Rina were both raised by their father, who loved his daughters equally. Every birthday, they received similar presents, and as the days passed, they grew up under the same roof. The bond between them was unbreakable—until one day, tragedy struck.
During a college trip, Riko and Rina went out with their classmates. A few hours later, Mr. Haruto received a call from the college authorities. His heart stopped when he heard the news—one of his daughters had drowned in the river. His whole body froze, his hands shook violently, and his mind went blank.
March 4, 2024—Tanaka Riko was confirmed dead.
After Riko's death, Rina became awfully quiet. She didn't communicate with anyone, didn't speak to her father for a long time, and withdrew into complete isolation.
[System - Punisher Deployed]
September 22, 9:23 AM
Two months passed, and things slowly began to return to normal—or at least, the illusion of it. Mr. Haruto and Rina somehow managed to move forward, but the emptiness never left. Mr. Haruto became eerily silent, but Rina… no one could tell what she was truly thinking. Sometimes, she smiled, hanging out with friends after college. Other times, she locked herself away, disappearing into solitude.
That morning, Rina and Mr. Haruto sat at the breakfast table, preparing for the day ahead. Rina chatted about her college life, her voice light and cheerful, while her father remained motionless, his expression unreadable.
At one point, Haruto's patience snapped. He slammed his fist on the table, making the dishes rattle. Rina flinched, her smile fading as she stared at him.
"Just stop… please, stop," Haruto whispered, his voice trembling. "How can you be so calm? So playful? She's not here anymore. Don't you feel even a little sadness?"
Rina's breath hitched. She didn't respond, her eyes locked onto her father's face as a single tear rolled down his cheek. Without a word, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked out. The moment the door closed, Haruto broke down, his sobs echoing through the empty house. The void inside him was beyond explanation.
3:00 PM
After college, Rina walked home alone. The streets were quiet, the afternoon sun casting long shadows. But then, she noticed something—or rather, someone. A girl was following her.
At first, Rina ignored it, assuming it was a coincidence. But the girl kept pace, her presence growing more unnerving with every step. Rina quickened her stride, her pulse rising. She turned a corner, hoping to lose her, but the girl only followed closer. Desperate, Rina ducked into a bookstore, weaving between the shelves. She hid behind a row of books, peering out to see if the stranger had given up. Then—a cold presence behind her. Rina spun around, her blood turning to ice. The girl stood inches away, smiling, her fingers forming a playful peace sign. "Wow, you're quite fast, I have to say," the girl giggled. Rina stumbled back, her legs weak. Sweat beaded on her forehead as if she were staring at a ghost."Who are you?" Rina demanded, her voice shaking. "Why are you following me?" The girl tilted her head. "Ohhh, my my… don't you remember me? Riko."Hearing that name sent a jolt through Rina's body. Her feet refused to move. "I-I'm not Riko," she stammered. "I'm her sister, Rina. You're mistaken."
The girl said nothing, only smiled before stepping closer. Her expression turned cold. "I'll be waiting outside, Riko. Don't take too long." Rina stood frozen, trapped in a nightmare she couldn't escape. After fifteen agonizing minutes, she finally stepped outside—and there the girl stood, watching her. "Who are you?" Rina asked again, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's your name?" The girl sighed. "Oh, come on, Riko. Quit the act already." Something inside Rina snapped. "I AM NOT RIKO!" she screamed, drawing stares from passersby.
The girl—simply grabbed her hand, her grip firm. "I'm Misa. Remember me now?" Rina yanked her hand away, her mind racing. She turned and walked off, but Misa's voice followed her. "Don't worry. I know everything… Riko."
This time, Rina ran. And Misa didn't chase her. She just stood there, watching with an unreadable smile.
Then—the air glitched.
A system screen flickered in front of Misa, displaying garbled, incomprehensible code:
[System - Punisher 286, ∆¶§μΩμ|∆¶∆Ω∆¶∆]
[System - ¶§μΩμ|∆¶∆Ω∆¶§μΩμ|∆¶∆Ω∆]
Misa's smile widened as she read the distorted text. Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the system vanished.Without another word, Misa walked away, her footsteps silent against the pavement.