*Leo is walking by looking around the store as well with his eyes closed. He seems to be looking for something in specific but is having trouble finding it with the large array of stores.* Maybe, they don't sell it here?

[Kazuma gets lost in the sea of products and looks around with some fright, until he notices a young man wearing a fedora with both eyes closed. Kazuma walks up to him waving weakly.] M-Mister Leonardo, i-it's nice seeing you again...!

*Leo turns towards Kazuma with a bit of surprise at first before settling down.* Oh, it's you, Kazuma. You surprised me there. Are you feeling better from last time I saw you?

Hm? [The young boy looks at him with confusion in his eyes.] W-What do you mean? W-Was I sick or something...?

*Leo laughs a little as he smiles jokingly at Kazuma.* Nothing like that, but you didn't quite seem yourself. You scared me a bit, to be honest, but it seems like you're back to your usual self now.

What...? [Kazuma bows to him one time after another.] I-I'm very sorry Mister Leonardo, I-I-I don't quite get it but I truly am sorry...!

*Leo puts his hand up in front of him and tries to get Kazuma to stand up straight.* H-hey! It's fine! It's not like anyone got hurt so no harm was done, right? There's really no need to apologize. *Leo rubs the back of his head as he laughs a bit more.*

[Kazuma nods a couple of times, smiling.] Y-Yes...! [After this, he laughs nerviously.] Oh! B-By the way, h-have you seen Mister Gamma...? I haven't in a while...

Gamma? *Leo scratches his head for a moment.* Is that the guy with the weird hair color? I haven't really spoken to him but I think I saw him a while ago, haven't seen him since though.

Oh, well you know how he can get. He's probably off brooding somewhere. [Hazama is leaning against a vending machine not far away, his arms folded. He gives Kazuma a wave, it's been a while since they've met after all.] Hey there Kazuma, or I suppose I should call you Kazuma-senpai right?

T-That's too bad...I-I actually wanted to... [Kazuma turns around as he heard the Detective talk, but the moment he does, all he sees is a man of similar aura as Terumi. A chill runs down his spine as he waves at him.] M-Mister...Detective...?

*Leo looks over towards the new voice from behind Kazuma. As soon as he sees Hazama he begins shaking slightly.* Y-your aura... Why is it so.... different from before...? Not only that but...

I guess you would call me that still wouldn't you? Well I was only really a detective by name, I had lost my memories you see. My true name is Hazama. [He removes his hat, and bows to Kazuma.] I didn't realize the real meaning the our meeting before, but now I am truly honored to know you, Kazuma-senpai.

*A certain girl was shopping casually in the store. She was wearing a white hoodie today, keeping her hood over her head as she shops. She has a bag packed with bandages, ointment, and various medicines... Now in the food section, she grabs instant ramen and potato chips*

H-Hazama...M-Mister Hazama then... [Kazuma's heart feels heavy, and his sweat is cold. He instinctively takes a step back, but his eyes open up with curiosity.] B-But why "senpai"...? Y-You look older than m-me...

*Leo steps back to simply observe the scene. His eyes open as if to take in every detail of what's transpiring.*

Why, of course you're my superior. After all, you were Terumi's first... Well, it may be more accurate to say you're going to be his first partner. The two of us, both mere tools. Never meant to exist on our own. I wonder...what could the two of us become if we were to work "together"?

S-So you know Mister Terumi... [Kazuma takes a step forward, although still frightened. "To exist" is something he still doesn't understand. No memories, no real bonds, it already feels as if he didn't exist, it always felt like this until Terumi showed up with promises of "Azure".] M-Mister Hazama, what do you mean by "partner" and "tool"...?

Kazuma. You're tempted by Terumi's offer are you not? The offer to feel alive, to feel your own existence. To search for the Azure. Don't you want to feel alive? I'm the same way. Everything is empty to me. Nothing has meaning to me, but I found a way to enjoy being alive. To enjoy my own existence, without Terumi! Do you want to know what it is, Kazuma-senpai?

[Kazuma's eyes have a strange glimmer. Curiosity, excitement, hope, and yet...a certain wickedness.] What is it, Hazama...? [Perhaps, with a reason to exist he can comeback to Ishana, to Miss Trinity an live a quiet life. Maybe something even better.]

My friend, there is no greater feeling in this world than hate. Hate is the single most intense emotion one can feel toward another. If people hate you, then they acknowledge your existence! If they become aware of, or "observe" your existence, then your existence in our world becomes concrete! If you are acknowledged or observed, then you can truly feel, you can truly EXIST! So, by that logic, the way to make yourself exist is... [He trails off, seemingly waiting for Kazuma to finish his sentence.]

... [Kazuma stops himself for a moment. Hate...is this what it takes? Why do it? Being ignored? Always being looked down by others?] Hate...? But what about Miss Trinity? Why should I h-hate, or make her hate me when she's always so kind, even though I don't get why... O-Or Mister Leonardo or Mister Gamma...!

*Leo finally decides to say something.* Hate...? Why are you so obsessed with existence anyway? What does it mean to you to exist? I can see you both here clearly even now, so isn't that good enough? Sorry if what I'm saying is out of a lack of understanding but it seems like you both already exist as yourselves to me.

Kazuma don't you get it?! You can't feel anything towards those people, your existence is hollow, fleeting, MEANINGLESS! You were created to be nothing more than a tool to be used, and tossed away when your usefulness is gone. I was the same way. However, if we embrace how we really feel, if we hate everyone, and make them hate us... [His eyes trail downward to a mouse that seemed to get inside the mall somehow. Suddenly, the snake-like hook of the Ouroboros darts out of the ground and snatches it up before disappearing, leaving nothing behind but a small bloodstain. Hazama grins badly.] ...then we can make our existences mean something.

[Kazuma holds his head in fear as he sees the mouse get attacked, and out of pure instinct, a snake-like chain surround his own body.] My existence...how can I be without a family or bonds, how can I be alive without feelings? Are those feelings real or just something I learned? What is a heart? What is a soul? Do I even have a soul? Am I a "tool"? Pain, the fear, the violence that surrounds me, it makes me curious. What do I...!?

*Setsuna finishes her shopping. She attempts to approach Hazama, but stops as she notices Kazuma and Leo present. She listens to Leonardo's words, looking down as if doubting herself... If she was already alive... Why does she feel so empty? She felt confused*

*Leo looks over to Kazuma with a sullen expression.* Kazuma... That depends on you now, but regardless, know that no matter what you do, I will never hate you. We already became friends, didn't we? Maybe I don't quite understand concepts like what it means to exist or have a soul but I know what it's like to feel like a "tool". I once questioned my own use but I don't really think a use is what defines who you are. To me right now, you're just Kazuma, isn't it enough to just be you?

Leo, I must ask that you just stop talking. You were born with a purpose, you weren't created by a megalomaniac in a lab for a shitty god to use as a vessel! You were born with the world open to you, with your own life to live! Kazuma and I were made to be used, and then thrown away like trash! Kazuma, you have the urge too right? The urge to hurt others, to hate them, to make them hate you! You're made for Terumi, so there's no way you can't! Just give into it Kazuma, give in to that desire and eradicate everything!

*Leo backs down at Hazama's harsh words.*

You...i-if Terumi, if you were his "tool"... [Kazuma looks up to Hazama. He is still holding his head as if in pain, but his golden eyes are wide open. The chain surrounding his body moves in a bizarre way, making a deep, hissing sound.] Then y-you must have it...the "Azure"...i-if you do, please...s-show me the "Azure"...!

[Hazama's own weapon coils around him, the green chain matching Kazuma's to a T. He bends down and slashes a hole in the ground, revealing what appears to be a Cauldron on the other side. Hazama seems to have opened a rift to his own world, or at least another instance of it. The swirling mass of energy that is the Boundary can be seen inside of the cauldron, and even seems to be interfering with the Nexite-powered device Hazama used to open this portal. It struggles to stay open before Hazama dismisses it.] That was just a glimpse, sadly it seems getting back home is going to be tough. Not that I'd really want to of course, I much prefer life here, but was that enough Kazuma? That was just a GLIMPSE of the true Azure, but can't you feel something from seeing just that?

[Kazuma fall to his knees as he tries to get a closer look through the rift. But once the rift closes, he just stays there in complete silence. He was dumbfounded by what he just saw. The very thing Terumi asked him to look for.] The information...the power... I...I think I get it now...

*Leo begins backing out of the store.* I think, I better go now. *He turns to look towards the exit before casually trying to walk away.*

[Hazama holds his hat in place, and begins laughing. He tries to stammer a few words out here and there, but it's overridden by his unstoppable laughter.]

[Kazuma's body lets out a few ripples of wind, making some of the shelfs fall down at the mere touch. The young boy begins laughing very softly, and just a fter a few seconds of this, his laughs mimic Hazama's, as if they were one and the same.]