Charisma

Yabuike is a seasoned detective called in to rescue an MP held hostage by a lunatic. In a brief moment of uncertainty, he misses the opportunity for action. Chaos ensues, and kidnapper and hostage die in aftermath. Yabuike is banished and makes his way to a mountain forest. A single tree stands in a clearing. It is called Charisma. Encircled by strange accessories, the tree is as mysterious as an object d’art. As he drifts through the forest, Yabuike discovers that its inhabitants are pitted against each other in a battle over the tree’s destiny. A young man who lives in an abandoned sanitarium dedicates his days to nurturing Charisma. An opinionated botanist who studies the forest’s ecosystems credits the tree with monstrous properties, claiming it excretes a toxin that will annihilate the rest of the forest. A team of foresters plan to cut Charisma down. A group of plant hunters arrives, scheming to buy or steal the rare tree for a wealthy collector. Captivated by the tree, Yabuike struggles to understand the truth. He wavers, and then finally acts.