The Wardens of Future's Blight.
A secret organisation that worked collaboratively with the world's governnts in order to secure the safety of the world; their role was to eradicate the blight that existed in the world and eliminate all that threatened its future, hence the na.
To the Wardens, there was a specific category of person who posed the highest level of risk when it ca to the longevity of humanity.
That is, those who are called the 'Concepts'.
A Concept was an individual whose asurent bore a certain level of implied significance; it didn't matter if they were particularly powerful or if they were weak, so long as it was sothing that t this vague criterion.
Either way, they were people who, if left alone to their own devices, would inevitably attract attention in one way or another and therefore wreak havoc in the wider world, whether intentionally or otherwise.
Currently, the Wardens knew of 9 such individuals bearing powers deed worthy to be called a Concept.
Anywhere from zero to one Concept per Playground facility.
Despite that, it didn't an every Concept lived in the Playground.
In fact, there was even a Concept whose identity remained unknown, despite the existence of their power being confird, and there was another whom they had no choice but to leave alone due to circumstances.
Nevertheless, because many of the so-called Concepts had one quirk or another, and the majority of them were required to be kept in specialised environnts that limited the danger and instability of their powers, it was unavoidable that the Professors in charge of looking after them would have a hard ti feeling safe and secure.
Many of the Professors in the San Cinelia Playground were awkward or uncomfortable around the Concept they held, the Concept of Truth, due to the fact that his cold gaze and "unfamiliar" presence alone made them feel a sense of extre vulnerability.
Not knowing what disguised thoughts lay behind his impenetrable, unchanging and almost inhuman visage, and yet at the sa ti, having everything about yourself lay bare in front of him.
There was nothing one could hide, nothing one could prevent him from finding out if he so simply willed to know it.
In front of him, one's mind and heart were truly naked, and not just anyone could endure that feeling 24/7.
It was for this reason that the Professors of the San Cinelia branch all had to undergo rigorous examinations to assess whether or not they were responsible and capable enough to take care of and manage the boy despite bearing such a heavy presence.
Because of that, it only ant that the Professors overseeing him were that much more strict when it ca to making sure things didn't get out of hand.
He may not have been a child with a particularly threatening or physically powerful ability, but that didn't an he could be looked down on.
"I was thinking... What would you do if I made a threat, Professor?"
And so, when he said such a thing, coupled with his piercing stare that could freeze any grown man in his boots, the Professor felt a shiver run down his spine.
"Don't transfer either one of us."
He looked at the boy who demanded such a thing.
"...As I said, it's not up to . I don't make those kinds of grand decisions."
"Then inform soone who does."
"..."
"I know you don't have that kind of influence. But, you have enough of it that those with power will listen to you. Tell them:"
The boy stared deep into the eyes of the speechless Professor.
"The only reason I'm here is because there's no reason for to leave."
"The only thing that keeps from going out is the fact that Ruti is here."
"I don't tend to intentionally hurt or kill you guys or anything because that would only make things difficult for here, and besides, there's no reason to do those things, and to , it isn't even fun."
"But, if you remove Ruti, then all of that disappears."
"So, don't make a transfer."
"Or else, I'll have a reason to stop you."
A mont of silence passed before the Professor eventually lowered his head.
"I will... Take note of that."
The warning would be passed along, and the higher-ups' decision would be notified later―with that reassurance, the Professor quickly dismissed the two kids from the office.
"Cee! Was that a confession?"
Imdiately after exiting the Professor's office and having the door close behind them, Ruti exclaid and peered into Cipher's face.
"What?"
"You said the only reason you're here is because of ! It was so cool! Do you love ? You love , right?"
"...?"
"Ahhh, I knew it! We should get married! Hey, do you want to get married?"
"Why?"
"It's romantic~! Don't you think so?"
"I've never thought about it. It's not possible to get married in the Playground anyway, even if you wanted to."
"Whaaat? I'm sure they'll allow it if we ask reaaally nicely, right~? And then, if they still refuse, we can do what we did today!"
"Maybe."
"Ah! Then, Cee, when we grow up, will you marry ?"
The two kids stared directly into each other's eyes.
"Will you? You will, right?"
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Ruti, with bright, round amber eyes that gave off an unsettling feeling and an unsuppressed, utterly genuine smile plastered on her face that seed to originate from the soul itself.
"..."
Cipher, with half-lidded eyes akin to the outer ocean, and donning a blank expression absolutely unfit for a child to wear.
Marriage was a concept they had only really experienced through TV and novels, as well as stories passed down from so of the Professors themselves.
Nonetheless, they knew it was generally sothing that two lovers did when they wanted to be together forever.
What is love?
Cipher, who had always been curious about everything, both around him and within him, had of course asked such questions.
Although the asurent of Truth wasn't at all great at giving nuanced answers, and it often failed at accurately depicting human emotions and experiences, it could still give matter-of-fact and objective answers quite well.
What is ant by that, is simply this:
When asked the question, 'What is love?', the received response would be more along the lines of a literal definition than a nuanced explanation; sothing very different than the answer a human might give.
「An intense feeling of deep affection towards sothing, often a person or an activity, and often a feeling stemming from romantic attraction or attachnt towards that thing」
This was the response given by Truth.
'An intense feeling of deep affection towards a person'.
Cipher knew he felt positively towards Ruti, but he wasn't sure if that sentint was sothing intense enough to be called love, and that too wasn't sothing the asurent of Truth could give a straightforward answer about.
He had never experienced anything like it, so it was only natural to be confused.
Perhaps things would be different if he were older and thought to ask deeper questions to gain a better overall understanding of it, but things weren't like that.
He didn't know the difference between 'like' and 'love'.
He also didn't understand what it really ant to love.
"When we grow up, will you marry ?"
So, when faced with such a question, as it was posed by soone he only knew he 'felt positively' towards, there was only one answer he felt like he could give.
For the alexithymic boy who remained clueless to his own internal emotions.
"If you want to."
He could only say the words he knew she wanted to hear.
❖─────❖─────❖
Not long after the unspeakable explosion incident caused by Ruti and Cipher that resulted in the deaths of multiple Professors and even more hospitalisations, the kids heard so news.
"Cee, Cee! Did you hear? The replacent Professors are coming today! You heard, right?"
The two protagonists of the aforentioned incident were chatting happily as they ate breakfast together in the San Cinelia Playground's cafeteria. Needless to say, they sat at a table with no one else willing to approach them, but they appeared as if they didn't even notice.
"Hey, hey. Do you know more about it? Can you tell ?"
Cipher nodded at Ruti's relentless tugging on his clothes.
"Yes; there are eleven new standard Professors as well as a new Head Professor to replace the old guy."
"Woww, really~? That's a lot of new people! Hey, you know what we should do?"
He already knew what she was about to suggest even without asking Truth, but decided to respond like reading from a script anyway, despite the evident apathy.
"What's that?"
Prompted by his clearly indifferent question, Ruti jumped out of her seat with enthusiasm as if that didn't matter.
"We should play a ga with them!"
"Why?"
"What do you an, 'why'? Cee, it's important to show them who's boss around here, you know? We gotta make it clear that they can't ss around with us!"
"Is it necessary? I don't think they'll do anything any ti soon after what we did this ti."
"No, no! Cee, we have to!"
Tilting his head slightly, Cipher didn't quite understand her reasoning but didn't argue.
"Okay. What do you want to do?"
"Yayy~! So, what I want to do is this..."
The two mischievous kids began their planning, but there never ca a ti to put it into practice.
Because, the very next day, Cipher found himself standing in front of the brand new Head Professor's office.
Having already taken the modified sedative dication that seed to have been changed slightly, he felt his level of energy having vastly lowered as an overwhelming sensation of lethargy dominated his body and mind.
"Ah, I see you've arrived. This is our first eting. I've heard many stories, but it's a pleasure to et you in person, young Concept of Truth."
"..."
The boy entered the office and what greeted him was an innocuous middle-aged man.
"My na is Marcus Lynton, and I will now be taking charge around here."
Before him was the new Head Professor of the San Cinelia Playground.
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