Project Utsuro

I took out the first file, seeing Satoru’s stamp as the initiator of the project on the folder.

After opening it to the first page, I was already disgusted.

2006/03/11:

Today, a new test subject was taken into the Hiroshima Testing Facility in order to examine the effect of the traumatic energy density of the site combined with a new testing regimen, forcing complete isolation to observe the evolution of the subject’s potential Traumata. The subject’s eyes already showed perfect signs for developing a Traumata with intense ties to the realm.

First sings of compliance have not yet shown, administering partial sensory deprivation in response to an outburst.

After finishing the entire folder, detailing the age of the subject, I couldn’t believe my eyes. How could he have done something like that to another child my age. I continued reading the next folder

2006/03/19:

After seven days of light deprivation and starvation, full compliance was achieved. The subject has already shown responsiveness to the coming psychological conditioning. Continuing as noted.

2006/07/22:

Throughout continued sensory deprivation and establishment of a treat system, the subject has remained compliant. Escalation to physical measures is hereby approved.

His signature was right under that sentence, followed by his stamp. Who on earth would even willingly sign any of this with their own identity? I continued reading:

2006/08/10:

Response to physical measures was taken advantageously. Their mental deterioration has reportedly reached the required threshold to establish a full routine. Continue unchanged until further notice.

The more I read through the files, the stronger my urge to tear out the pages became. Still, I needed to know what happened in Hiroshima. I skipped ahead multiple folders of files, to one written in 2015:

2015/04/23:

After the evaluation of Utsuro’s effect ended with miscalculated casualties, there is only one thing to say: the project has been a full success so far. Authorization for further participants will follow soon.

2015/06/24:

After establishing an educational regimen, the subject’s literacy has been steadily increasing. Complete effectiveness can first be determined after further observation.

I couldn’t and didn’t want to read any more, for fear of killing Satoru the next time I saw him. I skipped to the last folder in the line.

All there was in it was a photo of a giant black sphere filling up the entire background, while the focus laid on a small purple speck floating above it. The title on the back called it “Destruction of Hiroshima Testing Facility, failure of Project Utsuro.”

I closed the Hiroshima pillar and headed toward the Nagasaki pillar, the facility Takako had mentioned. After rummaging through over a dozen folders all stamped by Satoru, I finally found what I was looking for: A few folders under the category “Matsumoto”.

I simply read the last few pages of the last folder, to not intrude Takako’s privacy too much.

After taking in Matsumoto, she had already shown great compatibility with enhanced combat training. I heavily advised against any enhancement therapy to not breach her low mental stability threshold. Her “Erde” awoke at 10, the youngest previously recorded awakening being at 12, she truly makes her name of “precious child” all honor. Matsumoto’s potential seems yet to develop a true limit.

A long-term solution for her mental instability has yet to be found, with her current stabilization measures only delaying her inevitable collapse. For her transfer to Tokyo Command Center, I advise granting her full autonomy and a commanding position to prevent further mental decay.

Her survival is of utmost importance to ensure our dominance over the other departments, especially the People’s Spiritual Liberation Army and the Ouroboros. To repeat my previous statement: she truly is a precious child. I hereby authorize her transfer to Tokyo’s branch office.

From what I’ve read just now, it seemed like he never even planned on helping anyone in the first place. Maybe I should actually kill him. With his stamp being scattered all across every single file I had seen so far, it appeared as if he was the glue holding the entire department together in the first place.

IS there a file about me? There must be, but where? There’s neither a pillar entitled Europe or Any place near Hokkaido, where it happened. The other two pillars weren’t titled separately, simply called “international affairs.”

I continued searching throughout the room, when I finally spotted a piece on the wall entitled “Asahidake”. That’s where it happened, as far as he told me back then.

I pressed on the wall, revealing a hidden drawer with a single folder inside. Also stamped by him.

After Adelheid’s and Patrick’s tragic passing, I have decided to take in their daughter, Laura. With their gained research, I am sure to gain leverage in the department to secure myself a lead position in the research department.

Since Laura meets the known requirements for a Traumata developing, I will administer my own, personal experiment on her. By nurturing compassion from an early age, perhaps the results after her awakening could bear fruit.

No further documentation will be produced about the progress of project henceforth.

It really was all an act. He never actually cared about me. Maybe he did, and decided not to send me to one of his facilities because of that, or maybe it was just an obligation owed to colleagues.

Immediately after I finished reading the file, sirens began blaring and a bright red light filled the room, followed by some kind of gas.

Before the door fully shut, I managed to barely squeeze through it. On the other side, the Agent who led me here was already waiting.

“I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, Miss Wada. My name is Agent Takahashi, and I stand under direct command of Miss Matsumoto. Whatever you did inside there does not concern me in the slightest, and as per my orders I have not seen a thing if questioned about it.” He reached out his hand for a short handshake.

“Also, we need to hurry back before the extermination task force arrives, which Dr. Wada most likely ordered here. You should simply get back to rest when we get back, since the Commander plans on taking you out for a “hunt” tomorrow.”

I did as he said and we ran back to my room, with me locking the doors after getting in. The rage within me alone was enough to make me fade to sleep.