Chapter 0: Girl Ran Towards The Starting Point.

“Ah… Ah….”

I tapped the microphone in front of me, starting the test.

Beyond the large reinforced glass wall, a young girl sat motionless, staring blankly at me.

“Are you feeling okay?”

As always, no answer came.

While she followed instructions obediently, it was impossible to get a response from this small girl.

She could clearly hear my voice in the room where she sat, yet she ignored all my questions as if she couldn’t hear me.

I began jotting down notes on her condition on a white document.

Whether she had any injuries, whether anything had changed from yesterday, or if she wanted anything special—just simple observations.

For the parts she wouldn’t answer, I filled them in with fabricated information, though no one ever questioned the documents I submitted.

This new job was far too easy.

And utterly dull.

All I had to do was talk to the girl while watching her through the glass wall all day.

Nothing unusual today.

No injuries.

Nothing requested.

Since electronic devices weren’t allowed, I passed the time reading the books I’d brought.

Occasionally, the girl disappeared from beyond the glass wall, but I wasn’t concerned.

I knew she was likely taken to the lab for experiments while I was engrossed in my books.

I had no idea what kind of experiments she underwent, only that she would return exhausted and fall asleep right away.

I felt sorry for the girl—her life reduced to that of a lab rat after one mistake with her powers—but that sentiment only lasted the first week.

Now, the girl who showed no more reaction than a doll no longer felt like an equal being.

The work became mechanical.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow were all the same.

I wrote down her condition perfunctorily and submitted the report.

Then I’d go home, watch TV, or play games until I fell asleep.

Every morning, I’d head back to work, repeating the same routine.

But one day, I received a peculiar proposal.

“Do you think that makes any sense?”

“What choice do we have? This came from higher-ups. Who else is there besides you?”

“Wait, you’re asking me to try talking to her in a body identical to hers?”

My supervisor, who had sought me out, made a suggestion.

He wanted me to engage with the girl while in a body identical to hers, claiming it might provoke a reaction.

“You said you needed money, didn’t you?”

It was absurd.

If money was the bait, it wasn’t entirely unthinkable. But whose ridiculous idea was this?

“What about the doppelgänger specialists?”

“Do you think we haven’t tried that?”

Dr. Hebrum, my supervisor, chuckled as he lit a cigarette.

“So, are you going to do it?”

“Do I even have a choice?”

“You could refuse, sure. But you’d better start looking for another job tomorrow if you do.”

I ran a hand down my gaunt face, feeling hopeless.

It wasn’t an offer I could turn down.

“How long would it last?”

Before I could finish my sentence, he produced a pile of documents from his coat.

“Just a week. The higher-ups will forget about it by then.”

I took the paperwork from Dr. Hebrum’s hands.

It wasn’t as thick as I’d expected.

“Is this safe?”

“Absolutely. Completely safe.”

“It’s really only for a week, right?”

“Care to read the contract thoroughly?”

His sly grin unsettled me.

I wanted to punch the smirking middle-aged man in the face, but that would’ve landed me on the streets.

“Just pay me well.”

“You’ll get half a year’s salary for this week.”

After skimming the contract and cautionary documents, I realized they were no different from the ones I’d signed when I first became Hebrum’s assistant.

The work wouldn’t change; only my body would, temporarily.

Taking a deep breath, I signed the contract right then and there.

“All done?”

“Yes.”

“Great! Let’s go!”

Snatching the contract from me, Hebrum grabbed my arm and began running down the hallway.

His white coat flapped like a cape, making him look like a pig in a superhero costume.

The lab we reached exuded an eerie atmosphere.

Experiment subjects inside large glass chambers remained utterly motionless, as if dead.

“They’re alive, just without their consciousness.”

“So, my body will end up in one of those soon?”

“Exactly.”

A creeping unease began to rise.

With a smirk, the fat man continued.

“You’ll fall asleep briefly, and when you wake up, the change will be done.”

He led me deeper into the lab, where a separate, specially designated chamber stood.

“Looks identical, doesn’t it?”

Inside floated a girl, her eyes closed, suspended in fluid.

She looked exactly like the girl I’d been observing daily for a year.

“Perfect….”

“Say hello. She’ll be your body for the next week.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

As I lightly touched the chamber’s surface, I sat on the bed beside it.

“Here, take this. When you’re ready, swallow it.”

Hebrum handed me a small pill.

It looked identical to the ones he’d given me for insomnia in the past.

I knew from experience how effective they were; the moment I swallowed it, I’d be out within minutes.

After a moment’s hesitation, I tossed the pill into my mouth and swallowed.