is the reluctant muscle. As an immortal, he can be blown to pieces and still regenerate. He acts as the "proof" for Kotoko’s lies. If she says a monster cannot be killed by steel, Kuro will walk into a steel crusher to demonstrate his immortality. He is stoic, depressed, and haunted by his past with Rikka.
: The core tension comes from Kotoko trying to convince a skeptical online community or the police of a fabricated version of events. Kyokou Suiri
The climax of the arc is a verbal duel, not a physical one. Kotoko engages in a live-streamed debate with the malevolent intelligence controlling the ghost. Her goal is not to prove what actually happened, but to construct a counter-narrative—a lie—that is more plausible, more compelling, and more "truth-like" than the internet rumor. is the reluctant muscle
The story takes place in the fictional town of Kyoto, where Aoi Minase, a second-year high school student, lives. Aoi's life changes when he meets Kirika Akatsuki, a transfer student who possesses supernatural abilities known as "Spirit Energy". Kirika is being pursued by a group of individuals known as the "SCEPTER 4", a secret organization that aims to eliminate people with Spirit Energy. If she says a monster cannot be killed
, must often craft a "logical fiction"—a plausible lie that satisfies the public or the spirit world to maintain order. The Protagonists