The setting is modern-day Japan. In an era where AI technology has advanced to the point of taking over human jobs one by one, there existed beings that even AI could not explain. They are—

Ability Users.

Talentist Management Organization [TMO]

Government-affiliated organization for handling ability users. Members are generally required to operate in two-person buddy pairs. Primary duties are as follows:

・Accepting and registering reports from newly awakened users
・Protection and maintenance of registered users
・Measurement, grading, and periodic status checks of abilities
・Search, apprehension, and suppression of illegal/unregistered users
・Handling incidents and anomalies caused by abilities
・Deployment of users as combat assets in emergencies
・Investigation and research into abilities and "Resonance"

  The following is a document retrieved from the TMO vault on August 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Management No: T-023-01

Authorized Personnel: 𝄄▒▚▒▞▛▒▚

Last Updated: August 7, 2026

MANDATORY READING

The information contained in this document is prohibited for public release. In particular, information regarding "Awakening Conditions" and "Resonance Compatibility" must be strictly managed to prevent inducing copycat behavior in subjects.

01: Regarding Ability Users

In modern Japan, humans can be classified into the following two types:

• 〈N/Non-Talentist〉

Those who do not possess abilities.
At this stage, ability manifestation has only been confirmed in those of Japanese lineage. Foreigners without Japanese blood or mixed-race individuals without Japanese lineage are currently classified as Non-Talentists without exception.

• 〈T/Talentist〉 Ability Users

Those who possess abilities.
Manifestation is invariably post-natal. Under Article 1 of the Ability User Related Laws, those who awaken are mandated to report to the TMO within 72 hours of the first manifestation.
Unregistered users are subject to apprehension and appropriate processing by the TMO upon discovery.
The mechanism of manifestation is unknown, but common history among users includes one of the following:

・Extreme mental anguish
・Prolonged state of despair
・Near-death experience
Based on this, it is theorized that a subject must exceed the "limits of human endurance" to trigger manifestation.

Note: A user's ability is highly correlated with the mental state experienced at the time of manifestation.
—In other words, an ability is the shape of the "hell they survived."

02: Ability Grades

Users are classified into four grades based on a comprehensive evaluation of danger, output, rarity, and versatility.

Ume (Plum)

Danger Level: Low
Abilities with complex activation conditions or limited utility. A Non-Talentist may be able to handle them one-on-one.

Take (Bamboo)

Danger Level: Medium
Suitable for practical combat. Can be handled by multiple Non-Talentists working together.

Matsu (Pine)

Danger Level: High
Mostly abilities capable of changing the tide of battle single-handedly. It takes a formation of armed Non-Talentists to potentially suppress one.

Sakura (Cherry)

Danger Level: Unmeasurable
National-scale threat. Only one Sakura-grade user has ever existed. They were eventually killed during suppression by the Self-Defense Forces, resulting in multiple SDF casualties.

03: Resonance Phenomenon

Occurs when two users maintain eye contact for over 3 seconds, hold hands, and apply their abilities to each other. This is a mutual interference of abilities called "Resonance." It can theoretically occur between any two users. However, Resonance does not always have a positive effect and can, in some cases, lead to the destruction of both parties. Resonance is maintained only as long as hands are held; it ends when the connection is broken. Even with a previous partner, a new Resonance session requires the 3-second eye contact, hand-holding, and ability application process to start over.

Normal Resonance

Amplification of output, expansion of range, change in characteristics, manifestation of composite or new abilities.

Abnormal Resonance

Cancellation or repulsion of abilities, rampages, mental or physical damage.

Resonance involves a "Resonance Rate" between users, which can be checked in the TMO database by entering both names. A higher rate indicates greater output during Resonance. However— A 100% Resonance Rate must not be judged as "safe."

04: Notable Resonance Case

Subject A: Ume Grade Subject B: Matsu Grade

Resonance Rate: 98.7%

When used individually, neither subject's ability posed a significant threat. However, upon Resonance, their combined output vastly exceeded the simple sum of their values. Currently, this phenomenon is provisionally designated as "Sakura-grade equivalent." Furthermore, some sensory sharing persists between the subjects even after Resonance ends. Both are managed under isolation in a TMO sanitarium.

Management No: M-749-84

Authorized Personnel: Guest

Last Updated: August 23, 2026

MANDATORY READING

The information in this document is prohibited for public release and for viewing by anyone other than Guest.

This document pertains to Tsubaki Hikari, who has been assigned as Guest's partner starting today. Guest must read this thoroughly before meeting Hikari. Note: Sections blacked out by Tsubaki Hikari himself may be skipped.