Enternite Studio, late afternoon.

  The orange light from the large window hung lazily in the air, creating a warm yet overcast atmosphere. The sound of keyboard tapping, crew footsteps, and assistants murmuring formed the backdrop of a world that continued to move on despite the silence of loss.

  Akane Kurokawa sat alone in the dressing room, staring at her own reflection.

  Her thick makeup concealed the fatigue beneath her eyes. She had attended more than five interviews in a week—each one asking the same question.

  "Do you know Aqua Hoshino's last secret before she died?"

  She wore a forced smile during every interview. But today, she felt exhausted.

  Not because of her job. But because of Ruby. The girl hadn't responded to her messages. She hadn’t answered her calls. She hadn’t even shown up for the filming of their last music video.

  And someone new had emerged around Ruby.

  Fitran Fate.

  A name that was absent from agency lists, nonexistent in social media searches, and even unregistered as a resident of Tokyo.

  However, when Akane met him that night—outside the studio, in the drizzle that fell like unspoken secrets—she knew the man was no ordinary person. He likely had a deeper story than she could perceive.

  His dark eyes held an unfathomable depth, as if concealing pages of untold stories. There was a subtle hint of danger—a blend of calmness and sharpness—that made anyone who gazed at him feel scrutinized. In an instant, Akane felt as if her life was laid bare in every glance he cast upon her.

  The way he looked at her... it was as if he could see through the layers of her personality.

  As if he knew the script of her heart even before she spoke.

  As the moonlight illuminated his face, Akane noticed a faint smirk at the corner of Fitran’s lips, as though he were waiting to unveil some profound truth, choosing his words with care. There was something suffocating about the uncertainty of who he truly was, making Akane's heart race to an uncomfortable rhythm. Vague messages from fate and choices began swirling in her mind, dismantling the sense of security she once possessed.

  And it left Akane... unsettled.

  “Akane... sorry. I haven't had the chance to reply...”

  “It's alright,” Akane cut in, her gaze immediately scanning the room. “How about you?”

  Ruby bit her lip. “No.”

  As if in response, soft footsteps could be heard from the living room.

  A man appeared from behind the wall—tall, slender, with a calm gaze. His eyes were like mirrors of the cosmos. Occasionally, his expression hinted at deep uncertainty, as if he were revealing a story without words. Every movement he made seemed deliberate, as if he knew exactly what lingered on the tip of Akane's tongue, yet chose to remain silent.

  Akane stood frozen.

  “Ah,” the man said gently, “You're the actress who can mimic others' emotions, aren't you?”

  For a moment, Akane sensed something mysterious in his tone, as if a challenge lay hidden beneath his words. He wasn't just speaking; he was probing the surface of an identity she might have long buried. Her curiosity sparked doubt, making her question who Fitran truly was. How long had he been keeping his story? What led a man like him to choose a life in the shadows?

  “You...” Akane raised an eyebrow. “...that's quite impolite.”

  Fitran smiled, seemingly unfazed. “Just being honest.”

  Ruby interjected. “Akane, he… saved me from something terrible. He’s only staying for a few nights.”

  “Who is he?”

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  “Fitran,” he answered himself. “I... am slowly learning to live in this world.”

  “This world?” Akane squinted. “You speak as if—”

  “—I’m not from here? Yes.” Fitran cut in softly, his voice echoing in the quiet room. He appeared to carry an invisible burden, his brow furrowed, signaling deep and mysterious thoughts. He paused for a moment, stirring curiosity among them. “I... come from a place I can't fully understand.”

  Akane fixed her gaze on him, but inside... she felt intrigued. Then she sat down, on the sofa, across from the man.

  “Alright. Let me play my part.”

  “I’m an actress. You’re an actor, right? Or an illusionist?”

  “Neither,” he said with a faint smile, as if his words were being delivered from a deep grave. He seemed like someone who had witnessed many things but still kept all the secrets to himself. His fingers played on the table, creating patterns that seemed to reflect a desire to delve deeper into the sorrow that surrounded him.

  “Then how could you calm Ruby in just one night, while we... have failed for months? We’ve tried, but it always ends in disappointment.”

  Fitran hesitated before responding. He gazed out the window, the darkness of the night reflecting the complexity of his thoughts. A sense of exhaustion enveloped each breath he took, as if this moment had been long awaited yet still felt foreign.

  “I once lived in ruin. I understand the emptiness that cannot be healed by time. Sometimes, a person just needs to know… that there is someone who continues to stand by them.” Fitran's voice gradually flowed, accompanied by haunting memories of the past. He recalled times when darkness seemed endless, as if the world had no place for him.

  Akane frowned. “Are you reading a script, or...”

  “Truth does not need a script, Akane Kurokawa,” he replied in a calm tone, yet his gaze seemed to communicate so much more—holding memories that words could not express, like a pile of stories waiting to be revealed.

  He fell silent.

  For the first time, Akane felt tested... and defeated. The doubt radiating from Fitran created a tension between them, as if the emotional wall built between them could collapse at any moment.

  Akane stood on the balcony, and Fitran followed her. He paused for a moment, sensing the mysterious aura that radiated from Akane. It seemed there was something within the girl that, like him, was also seeking an escape from the shadows of the past.

  “You’ve changed him,” Akane said softly.

  “He hasn’t changed. He’s just... found new footing.” Fitran attempted to keep his tone neutral, despite the turmoil swirling within him. He knew that every word he uttered was a trap that could expose his true self.

  “Do you want to save all the girls who lost Aqua?” Akane's voice was sharp. “Do you want to be a hero?”

  “No. I just want to see this world not fall apart. One person... one step... one smile can make a difference.” His words hung in the air, catching Akane's attention, a statement reflecting a life full of wounds and regrets.

  Akane turned toward him, moving closer. She felt the tension intensifying, as if they were both on the brink of an identity shift.

  “Maybe you managed to soothe Ruby... But I'm not easy to approach.” Akane's voice was firm, yet there was doubt within it. She longed to dissolve into something—be it love or sincere presence.

  “You don't need to,” Fitran whispered. “You're already too close to your own wounds.” Acknowledging the bitter reality of his life, he understood what was consuming Akane without needing to elaborate further. He felt a connection between them in an unspoken uncertainty.

  Akane fell silent.

  In that moment, she felt something—a small crack in her emotional fortress. A strange feeling coursed through her heart, stirring her curiosity. Who is this man beside her? What lies hidden behind the distant gaze in his eyes?

  “Don't think you can read everything, Fate.” Akane's voice was firm, yet there was a softness emerging in her tone, hinting at a vulnerability that contradicted her toughness.

  Fitran leaned in slightly. “I’m not reading. I’m listening.” He wished he could reveal more, but his desire clashed with the fear of explaining who he truly was.

  “And what do you hear from me?”

  “A vendetta against yourself. And a longing to be... loved without pretense.”

  Akane felt her breath catch, as if stabbed by a newfound awareness, realizing that this man was penetrating her defenses like no one else ever had.

  She had never allowed anyone to touch the core of her being. But this man—this stranger—seemed to draw that soul out of her without force.

  Akane observed Fitran's deep and slightly confusing expression, as if he harbored a secret far greater than words could express, adding layers to his enigmatic character. There was a calmness in the way he moved, as though each step was thoughtfully calculated, like a dancer who knows precisely when to advance and when to retreat in their performance.

  “You’re dangerous,” she finally said.

  Fitran smiled. “Then why haven’t you left this balcony?”

  As his smile graced his face, Akane felt an unusual warmth behind his mystery, drawing her further into the desire to learn more about this man. She caught a glimpse of a shadowy flicker in his eyes, and her heart fluttered as if reminding her that there was much more beneath the calm facade of this man, and perhaps, behind that smile, a longing for something lost.

  Akane lowered her gaze. “Because... I also want to listen.”

  As the night grew colder, Akane remained on the balcony.

  Fitran sat inside, reading an ancient book whose origins were a mystery. His fingers softly traversed the pages, suggesting he was absorbing not just the words, but the stories woven between the lines. The gentle light from within the room cast a serene silhouette — reminiscent of a wounded hero striving to heal in a world that did not belong to him.

  As for Akane?

  She found herself reflecting on Fitran, an enigmatic man who had challenged her perceptions of the world, awakening a realization that perhaps there was new hope to be discovered beyond her sadness.

  She couldn’t help but think about Fitran.