The room was pitch-black, without a trace of light, as though all illumination had been swallowed by the darkness, making it hard to breathe. The blanket on the bed shifted a few times, and beneath it seemed to be someone sleeping. Then a virtual figure appeared before her.
It was a virtual young girl, with a standardized smile and proper attire.
"Good morning! It is now 8:15 a.m., April 10th! This morning, Mika Shimotsuki's Psycho-Pass hue is powder blue. Please enjoy this wonderful day with a healthy state of mind!"
This was a single-person apartment. Its facilities were fairly complete, and living alone here was certainly comfortable.
"...Mm..."
Only after hearing the familiar voice did Mika turn over. She poked her head out from beneath the covers, slowly sat up, and opened her eyes.
"Work? Criminal Investigation Department... Is this my first day...?"
A huge virtual photograph stood beside the bed. It was a commemorative picture of two vibrant young girls: Mika Shimotsuki and Kawaharazaki Kagami in their uniforms.
Mika Shimotsuki had originally attended the century-old boarding school for girls, the private Sakura Frost Academy.
During the "Ouryou Rikako grotesque murder case," she had been close friends with the victims, Okubo Ashika and Kawaharazaki Kagami. She had instinctively feared and remained wary of senior student Ouryou Rikako, whom everyone blindly admired.
She had her own views regarding the school's concealment of news about missing students and the rumors that teacher Fuji had murdered someone. After learning that Satsuki Kuzuhara had been killed and Masami Yamaguchi had disappeared, she told Kagami, "Don't approach or discuss bad things. Acting rashly will put you in danger."
Later, after learning the truth that Ashika and Kagami had been murdered by Rikako, she was devastated. She blamed herself for failing to warn them. Comforted by