StoryThe quiet Numata Hiroshi is being blackmailed by his classmate, Himehara Yoritake. One day, Himehara orders Numata to steal the exam answers off the teacher's desk, which sets off a chain of events culminating in the two men being among the captives taken by a criminal impersonating a police officer. Their captor is a deranged, cruel man, and if they’re going to survive, they have no choice but to comply with his demands… CharactersThe cast of Masquerade is a diverse group. As well as Himehara and Numata there is Hachiouji, an honor student; Mr Shimeno, a teacher; Oizumi, a local TV reporter who becomes embroiled in the hostage situation, and Takaura, a police officer. Then, of course, there's the