[Chapter 1] Memento Mori Episode 25: The Phantom

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It was still before dawn, but people were already beginning to gather at the departure lobby of Haneda Airport Terminal 3. After confirming the Air France flight to Paris on the electronic monitor, Watanabe decided to look down at the lobby from the floor above. As he paid attention to his surroundings, he could see travelers taking naps and foreigners lying on the floor, but the drifting scent of coffee made it feel comfortable.
About forty minutes later, he saw the figure of a tall man in the distance. He knew at a glance that it was the person he was looking for. Although he was posing as a passenger, the alert manner in which he kept an eye on his surroundings was likely an unconscious habit.
"He's the same kind as me."
Watanabe had never met Pierre, but he headed down to the lobby below with conviction.

International flight announcements played from time to time, but the lobby remained orderly while maintaining a certain level of quiet. Pierre turned his steps toward Watanabe, who was standing without slouching near the first-class check-in lobby.
"Good morning, Mr. Watanabe. It is an honor to meet you."
He had long, dark-blonde hair that wasn't quite dry yet tied back carelessly, and he carried an elegant air about him. However, Watanabe sensed instinctively that this man was a tricky character. There was something he had become certain of when he received the report from Naoto last night. To confirm it, Watanabe had been waiting for Pierre to appear at the Haneda Airport departure lobby since five in the morning.
"Why did you approach Naoto? Is it an order from the phantom in Switzerland?"
His eyes, filled with a sharp light, stared straight at Pierre.
"Of course not!"
Pierre smiled pleasantly and said,
"I merely introduced myself as a fellow |Ability User|."
As he said that, he cast his gaze down at the watch on his left wrist. For a moment, Watanabe saw something at the base of Pierre's left thumb, but he continued the conversation.
"Don't approach him out of curiosity. Did you know about Naoto's ability?"
"Since it's not appropriate to stand and talk in a place like this, I would like to invite you to the lounge, but..."
"Are you telling me to buy a first-class ticket?"
"Heh heh heh, is the place upstairs already open?"
Pierre asked as if he had seen through the fact that Watanabe had been looking down from the fourth floor.
"You can get coffee upstairs, but I don't intend to have a long conversation."
"If it is a message for the Master, I will accept it."
Saying that, Pierre kept his eyes on the elegant door of the check-in lounge and said,
"I will finish checking in first, so I will see you later."
Leaving a smile behind, he disappeared beyond the door.

"It seems you've managed to win Naoto over."
He sat at the table furthest away, as if to keep his distance from other guests. Through the glass, he could overlook the lobby below and see the travelers checking in.
"I have heard many things about you from the Master. You are brilliant, have the ability to take action, and—"
Pierre lifted his cup of espresso and said,
"You are also a person of interest."
He wore a daring smile, but Watanabe scoffed.
"My father wanted you to be his successor. You are excellent not only in intellect but also physically... He must have been very regretful."
The latter part sounded like Pierre was talking to himself.
"I see, you are that man's son... You have a certain resemblance."
"My father retired ten years ago."
Pierre replied without changing his expression.
"Twenty years ago, I made the right choice, and I still believe that today. It's just that I regret not being able to save my friend."
"It is not your responsibility."
Pierre stared at Watanabe, who was sitting across from him, and said,
"Humans cannot resist their instinctive curiosity."
He placed his espresso cup on the table.
Depending on the situation and position, it is sometimes more beneficial not to have knowledge. In his younger days, Watanabe had a period when he was driven by a thirst for knowledge along with his best friend.
But twenty years ago, Watanabe chose his family. As a price for that, he was caught up in a criminal trial, lost his |career|, and eventually lost his family through divorce. It was a bitter experience, but on the other hand, it allowed him to see things from a neutral perspective.
Pierre, who had been observing the silent Watanabe, opened his mouth.
"Regarding your earlier question, the Master does not know about Naoto-kun's ability."
"Of course not. Only I and Naoto's uncle know. If you people intend to recruit Naoto, I will stop you with all my might."
"That is not our intention. However, as I proposed to Naoto-kun, ability users should cooperate with each other."
"Cooperate on what? Your research? Why is it reconstruction instead of memory restoration?"
"Ahahahaha, as expected of you, Mr. Watanabe."
Laughing in an amused voice, Pierre replied.
"It is valuable research to protect the world and lead it to peace... At least they truly believe so. I am just entrusted with a part of it."
"Then tell your Master this."
Watanabe raised his eyebrows and stared at Pierre.
"Does he think he can protect the world when he cannot even protect his own family, the smallest unit of society?"
As if looking at a dazzling light, Pierre narrowed his eyes and said,
"I envy Naoto-kun. If I had someone like you by my side, I might have lived a different life—"
His words trailed off.
Suddenly, Watanabe grabbed Pierre's left wrist and checked the base of his left thumb, which he had seen for a split second earlier. A small three-star tattoo was engraved there. Watanabe let go of Pierre's hand and asked,
"How many years have you been in that |organization|?"
"Since I was sixteen."
It was longer than he had expected. Watanabe fell silent, but Pierre didn't seem to mind and said,
"If one choice had been different, your subordinate would have been me, not Naoto-kun, Mr. Watanabe. It is ironic."
Saying that, he stood up from his chair and began to pack his things.
"The past cannot be changed. That is why it is useless to think about 'what if' timelines."
"Is that philosophy, Mr. Watanabe?"
Pierre finished getting ready, turned back to Watanabe, and said,
"Connecting with Naoto-kun during this visit to Japan was also part of my plan. It was not the organization's plan. It was my own judgment. I never expected to meet him by chance at the university... and I was surprised that he was also an ability user, heh heh heh."
Laughing happily, he concluded that his meeting with Naoto was the result of ability users being drawn to each other, and that it was "inevitable."
"Well then, I have received your message. I have given Naoto-kun my private contact information, so please feel free to come to France anytime. Well then, Mr. Watanabe, thank you for your time."
Pierre bowed slightly and left the spot.
"I'll pray that your plane doesn't crash."
Watanabe threw a sarcastic remark, but,
"Since I have already died once, I am living a second time in a special way, so there is no need to worry."
Without even looking back, the |phrase| Pierre returned was one he had heard before.

"He was indeed a man connected to the Swiss organization, but it seems he has his own circumstances. I'll tell you the details after you return to Japan."
International flight announcements played frequently, and the lobby was beginning to bustle with travelers. As Watanabe left the airport, he called Soichiro in Washington. Since there is a time difference of more than half a day with the US East Coast, it was still Saturday evening there. Watanabe could hear Soichiro's sigh over the phone.
"Even if you promised Keiko, it would be counterproductive if the two of you get involved in something dangerous. Keiko wouldn't want that either."
The person to whom Keiko entrusted her regrets was not her son Naoto, nor her brother Soichiro, but Watanabe. The feeling of having grasped something for the first time in a long while brought memories from twenty years ago back to the depths of Watanabe's heart. He didn't want to admit it, but the promise to Keiko was likely just an excuse.
"In the end, humans cannot resist their instinctive curiosity."
Saying that, Watanabe hung up on Soichiro.