Long ago, in a faraway place, there lived a giant with a hundred eyes.
Since the giant could only rest its eyes in turn,
it had never slept a wink in its entire life.
Because the giant would spend the whole day watching,
able to see everything and everywhere, and learning all,
the people gave it the responsibility of looking after the world.
The giant was glad to be of service.
Under the watchful eye of the giant, the people enjoyed quiet, peaceful lives.
Here.
One day, the giant witnessed someone doing something treacherous,
and informed the people about it.
However, after incurring the wrath of not just the traitor but everyone,
the giant was killed.
The people had come to fear this giant who never slept.
Existing beyond time, and out of reach,
this giant that was able to see everything that happened, no matter where or when,
had become an object of fear.
But in time, people took pity on the giant, and turned its hundred eyes
into the pattern on the feathers of the beautiful peacock.
And so, the giant that had never known rest became the feathers of the peacock,
and was able to sleep at long last.
Got it.
I. Love. Ai.
There you have it.
The things we must value as citizens of the island city of Tom Sawyer are...
The Adventures in Tom Sawyer
empathy, cooperation, and respect for one another's personal space.
Yes, thanks to the Customer Center, we are living in...
the purest expression of liberalism ever to have existed.
In order to live a life full of love, one must love others, as well as themselves.
Love is approval. Love is value.
Which is what gives us our social valuation system, distributing precious Love.
I-I wasn't asleep.
And so, with Love approximated as a score,
it serves as a currency required for public services.
And what's the platform for this system, everyone?
Decos!
Correct.
The Decoration Customizer, or Deco for short.
It is what allows each of us to curate
comfortable and pleasant surroundings without infringing on others,
Okay?
comfortable and pleasant surroundings without infringing on others,
with 97% of the current generation of citizens
having them implanted in both eyes by the age of four.
And with the adoption of Decos,
How's that?
And with the adoption of Decos, Perfecto!
our society has become one in which mutual surveillance is now a reality,
Good job. Ya gotta teach us how to make these Deco barriers.
our society has become one in which mutual surveillance is now a reality,
resulting in the elimination of crime.
Hm? It's not that easy, y'know. So what did you want?
There's been a sighting. On 4th street in District 17.
Of who?
Of Zero!
Phantom Zero?! That's Love-y!
That's over by your place, isn't it?
When was this? We gotta go check it out!
At around 18 on the Timeline.
If we can scrounge up some trace data, it'd earn 100,000 Love, easy.
Maybe we can find something in the Hyperverse's backup files?
Don't be stupid. This Zero's a phantom for a reason.
Plus, we're talking ground zero for the Zero Phenomenon.
There's not gonna be any data, and all the Love will have reset to zero.
Yeah...
The terrifying Zero Phenom!
But that's what makes it so Love-y.
The idea of something that's "not in the records" is so out there.
You're really into this Zero stuff, huh?
It's Love-y!
But you've never seen Zero before, right?
Well, nobody in this town has seen Zero.
You'd have to be a ghost to even catch a glimpse, never mind haul that phantom in.
Seriously. And that's what makes it Love-y.
You three! No muting without permission during class!
The barrier's gone? But why?
You at it again, Berry?
Well, y'know...
Aw, crap. My Deco's acting up.
Ah, excuse me, I think I'm freezing up. I'll play the lesson back later. See ya!
Hey! Get back here, Berry!
I panicked...
My Deco just doesn't wanna work right.
He's right about Love being essential for life, though.
I wish I had more.
Get enough Love and you can go to class looking way more Love-y,
since you get to choose Love-lier avatars.
Life would be way more exciting with lots of Love.
That's why you always gotta keep an eye out for Love opportunities.
Let's check out my score for today.
Berry.
Mom! Would it kill you to knock?
You logged out partway through class again, didn't you?
It'll be fine. I'll run through the whole class from the beginning later.
I've heard that one before.
But there was a sighting in District 17!
Who was sighted?
Phantom Zero! Who else?
That's always your excuse for slacking. Don't come crying to me when you're missing credits.
I can go to school anytime.
But, but, but! When it comes to Zero, the data gets overwritten right away.
I seriously don't understand you.
Well, you may as well go get your Deco checkup done.
It's been acting up, hasn't it?
My right eye freezes up every now and then...
I made an appointment with the ophthalmologist.
It's fine for now.
Stop being lazy and get a move on!
Fine!
Come on, look sharp.
And be careful out there.
Approved. Approved.
Rejected.
Approved.
What's up?
She's skipping out on class and going on about that phantom of hers again.
Zero, huh? If it's not causing trouble, what's the harm?
Think of it as people finding ways to stay entertained in a city with no crime.
Man, it really isn't working well.
It's so darn flickery...
Well, nothing I can do about it!
Hey, Berry!
Hey, Isda!
You got a new avatar!
Well, yeah. What d'ya think?
It's pretty Love-y!
Let's post it. Here we go.
And up it goes.
That didn't take long! Look at that Love.
Nice!
I hardly ever see you out and about. What's up?
Oh, well, you know... Off to see the eye doc.
Oof, good luck with that.
Yeah.
This is such a pain.
Right! It's been a while since I went out last, so I may as well change my Deco for the town.
You do not have enough Love.
Not enough Love.
Gotta be more careful with how I use it.
I'll have to get more.
But... that's where Phantom Zero Nation comes in!
It's the most popular game in town, and if I can catch Phantom Zero in it...
People are gonna shower me with Love!
"Zero is a lie."
"And everything that isn't zero is reality."
That's the way adults talk about it.
But what Phantom Zero is can't be put into words...
Hence, zero.
Whenever Zero shows up, the Love we're all so excited about gets blown away.
There can be no love in the face of zero.
It's totally unreal...
Like a phantom, in other words!
I. Love. Ai.
Isn't this roughly where Zero was spotted?
What's this thing?!
Wow!
What am I looking at?
Left.
Right.
Where the heckity heck is it?
Who's that?
Could it be...
Where the heckity heck is it?
Left.
Right.
I knew it! Wow!
Oh well. Got a missing thingy...
What was that? So Love-y!
Giga! Tera! Peta! Exa! Zetta! Yotta! Harpo!
Love-y!
There we are!
Ring-a-ding! He might be a good mark.
He's got Love to burn. What a goofy doofus.
Got it.
Where the heck am I?!
Huh? Dad?
What... are you doing here?
Come now, boy.
Remember what I told you?
If you want to make me proud, yadda yadda yadda.
But instead, you...
But Dad...
You're dead... aren't you?
Goofy doofus, instead of handling my affairs, you've laid claim to my Love.
The Love that I earned.
Uh, well... I was...
I was gonna do it... I've just been busy.
No, that Love belongs to me, and you're going to hand it over.
I'm sorry, Dad.
Love Transfer
My Love!
Hey, goofy doofus.
Spend the rest of that Love on the funeral, y'hear?
Who's there?!
You tricked me! Where are you?! Get out here!
I. Love. Ai.
Wait... Was that Phantom Zero?!
Phantom Zero?
I gotta tell the others!
Phantom Zero Response Office
Found the mark!
Don't tell me...
Phantom Zero?!
Bingo!
I was over on 4th Street, and I saw this weirdo who was half invisible.
That's awesome! What was this weirdo like?! Let us see your Deco data!
Well, here's the thing... It was super hard to see 'em.
I could only see 'em out of the eye with the busted Deco...
There's no data left, either.
If there's no data, we've got nothing to work with.
"Zero is a lie."
"And everything that isn't zero is reality."
Fine! If you don't believe me, I'll catch that weirdo myself!
Where's that missing thingy?
There!
Huh? Where'd that weirdo go?
Where oh where are you?
I. Love. Ai.
What are you? Some kinda nerdy-birdy?
Just staaaring like that.
Are you Phantom Zero?
Time to bail!
Wait up!
Try and catch me, nerdy-birdy!
You bet I will! I'm gonna catch you!
You'll be swoony-loony when I'm done with ya!
Hold it!
Get back here!
Around we go!
Man!
I've got you now!
And I'm bringing you in.
What... the heck?
We'll get you in to see the data ophthalmologist at Central Hospital.
No, no, I didn't mean that.
Then, what did you mean?
Um... well... you see...
Oh, right! I didn't manage to get in. I wonder if they got my time mixed up...
Don't scare us like that.
That's odd. I know I made the appointment.
Ah, it's fine. I can always go tomorrow.
Hold it.
Having a Deco on the fritz has got to be a pain.
It's okay.
Well, until it's fixed... Here.
Thanks.
Who was that weirdo?
I'm home.
Talk about a draggy-waggy.
Don't sweat it, Pup. I just had some nerdy-birdy staring holes into me.
Oh, yeah.
Nerdy-birdy thought she was onto something, but she was swoony-loony after that chase!
Left her busted and dusted!
You're talking about me, aren't you?
I didn't understand most of that, but I could tell you were making fun of me.
Still gonna make jokes after I show you this?
My missing thingy!
Give it!
Tough luck. This is just my avatar.
Welcome to a little Hyperverse space I created.
Rage, rage, ragey-rage!
I was able to track down your little hideout by tracing the data
your origami was broadcasting.
I'm gonna chew up your nerdy-birdy *!
Pretty cool, right?
So are you really Phantom Zero?
Rage... Rage...
My name's Berry.
Snappy-yappy!
Look, I don't know what you're up to, but if you really are—
Quit yappin' already, nerdy-birdy!
No! Wait—
Aw, I was so close! This *s!
Being able to force a Hyperverse space to shut down like that...
Maybe that weirdo really is...
No way!
How'd you find me?
I was able to trace back your data the exact same way.
Don't think this makes us even, though, nerdy-birdy.
I don't even get what you mean.
What are you, a nincompoop?
Huh? What kind of poop?
I already bailed on that spot from earlier.
Ya ain't gonna get to stare it up a second time. How d'ya like that?
Look, if you are Phantom Zero...
What if I am?
That's Love-y!
Why does everyone say "Zero is a lie, and everything that isn't zero is reality"?
Gimme my missing thingy!
Oops! Falling, falling, falling!
Give it!
Oh, come on. You don't think I'm that stupid, do you?
Just give it back!
Not happening!
Not unless you tell me about Zero...
No way. Is this the Zero Phenomenon?
Zero... Phantom Zero...
...is glitchy-witchy.
Wow, amazing! What is this?!
Are we in the Hyperverse now?
Did you do this?
No. It's glitchy-witchy.
Ixnay!
We gotta bail, nerdy-birdy!
What's going on?!
Touching that stuff's a big ixnay!
"Ixnay"?
I don't get what's going on, but it's Love-y!
Kilo! Mega! Giga!
Wow!
Shoot!
What now?
Peta! Exa!
Nerdy-birdy!
Zet-ta!
Nice one!
Got my missing thingy back!
Hold it!
Time to hotfoot it outta here!
Wait up!
I've got you now.
So what now?
Creepy-creeping...
What is that?
That's glitchy-witchy...
Phantom Zero.
Really?!