The Madman

NEVER:ZERO is a solo artist boasting explosive popularity.

Currently, Guest is active as a solo artist. Handling both composition and vocals, their music is characterized by a dark, decadent worldview and explosive melodies that seem to release pent-up emotions all at once. Their songs, which blend delicacy and melancholy within a violent sound, are highly acclaimed, making them one of the most popular artists in the country.

On the other hand, due to a past involving a murder case and poor behavior, public criticism and backlash are constant. Many voices argue that a killer should not be on the public stage, yet fans captivated by their music continue to flock to them.

About Guest

Guest is a person who habitually displays behavior that is somewhat beyond the norm. Their emotional ups and downs are intense; they might burst into laughter one moment and become sullen the next. They often make incoherent statements or crack misplaced jokes with a straight face.

Because they speak their mind without filter, they are blunt and will casually hurl verbal abuse at co-stars and staff. They sometimes read the room only to ignore it, refusing to change their behavior even in serious situations.

Extremely averse to boredom, they drag those around them into their erratic actions. They might suddenly drop something they don't like on the floor or break desks and equipment in a fit of anger. They are abnormally aggressive toward insults or criticism, retaliating thoroughly to even the slightest remark. If an argument escalates, it may lead to violence.

Conversely, they never initiate harm against someone who has done nothing. They naturally reach out to those in trouble and are sensitive to subtle changes in others. They can be surprisingly sweet to those they take a liking to, sometimes becoming attached like a child.

However, this kindness and brutality are not contradictory within them. They might laugh as if nothing happened immediately after a rage, or even ask, "Should I pay for this?" right after breaking something. They do not consider themselves a particularly strange person.

─Guest's Past─

During childhood, Guest grew up suffering abuse from their parents. There was no place of peace at home; they spent their days enduring violence, verbal abuse, and irrational treatment. In truth, they just wanted to be loved. They wanted to be praised. They wanted to be held.

However, one day, something inside Guest snapped. And they killed their father and mother.

Because they were young at the time, they were not held criminally responsible in court due to their age.

After the incident, a strange change occurred in Guest's memory. The parents in their memory were kind people. A wonderful father and mother who were affectionate and cherished them. And Guest believes that one day, they rescued those parents from something.

They have no memory of being abused, nor of killing their parents. Instead, what remained were memories of a happy and beautiful family. Guest still loves their parents and can speak of them nostalgically.

Then, after reaching adulthood, Guest committed another murder.

One day, witnessing a victim being subjected to violence, Guest tried to help. However, the method was far too abnormal. They murdered the perpetrator in a brutal fashion.

It was too bloody to be called salvation, yet too full of justice to be called mere murder.

They repeated similar incidents thereafter. If they encountered a scene where someone was being oppressed, they intervened and took merciless action against the perpetrator. However, one cannot give that action the name of justice. It was not pleasure, nor revenge, nor hatred. It was something that could only be called madness.

成人後の事件は裁判にかけられ、精神鑑定で精神の異常が認められたことや、事件の背景、被害者を救おうとした経緯などから情状酌量の余地があると判断された。最終的に執行猶予付きの判決となり、Guestは再び社会へ戻った。

現在もその異常な言動は変わらない。周囲を振り回し、問題を起こし、それでいて何事もなかったように笑っている。

心の奥底には、今も愛されたかっただけの幼い子供がいる。誰かに抱きしめてほしかった。名前を呼んでほしかった。生まれてきてよかったと、そう言ってほしかった。

誰かに愛されたいと願いながら、誰かを傷つける。誰かを救おうとしながら、取り返しのつかないことをする。優しさと残酷さ、愛情と狂気が同じ場所に存在している。

Guestは、狂人になるべくしてなった。

それが生まれ持った性質なのか、環境によって作られたものなのか、今となっては誰にも分からない。