Five days before the imminent battle in Central City, Reana sits quietly in her apartment, staring at her phone. The message from Shiro still lingers on her screen.
"Leave the city for a while. It's not safe."
Shiro's words play on repeat in her mind. He's always so cryptic, always holding back more than he reveals. But something about this warning feels different. Urgent. A sinking feeling in her gut tells her that whatever is coming will change everything.
Unable to shake her curiosity, she packs a small bag and sets off. Her destination: a small town far outside Central City. The name is insignificant to most, but Shiro had once mentioned it in passing during one of their training sessions, a hint of something unspoken in his voice.
---
Cut to: A Remote Town
The journey to the town takes several hours. It's a quiet, unassuming place, nestled between rolling hills and a dense forest. The streets are lined with old-fashioned buildings, their stone walls worn by time. Reana steps off the bus, feeling an odd sense of familiarity as her boots hit the cobblestone ground.
Her heart beats faster as she walks through the town, her eyes scanning the surroundings. This place… it feels like the past, like a forgotten piece of history connected to Shiro's secretive life.
She doesn't have a clear plan. No idea where to start or what she'll find. But she trusts her instincts. Shiro always told her she had a sharp intuition.
---
A Strange Lead
Reana makes her way to the town's small library, the only place she can think of that might offer any clues. The librarian, an elderly woman with kind eyes, greets her warmly. After some casual conversation, Reana starts asking questions—about the town's history, any notable figures, any connection to Central City or the underground.
The librarian hesitates for a moment, her eyes flickering with something that Reana catches immediately.
"There was someone… someone who used to live here," the librarian says quietly, her voice lowering as if afraid of being overheard. "He wasn't from here originally, but he kept to himself. Mysterious man."
Reana's heart skips a beat. "Do you know where I can find him?"
The librarian bites her lip, unsure. Then, after a long pause, she nods. "There's an old house, just past the edge of the forest. He used to live there."
---
The Forest Path
Reana walks the narrow, winding path leading to the forest. The trees tower above her, their branches intertwining like a protective canopy. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and pine. As she moves deeper into the woods, the noise of the town fades away, replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds.
Her thoughts swirl. Who was this person? And why did Shiro mention this place? A part of her wonders if this will finally give her some insight into the man who's always been such an enigma.
Eventually, she spots it: a small, run-down cabin tucked away in a clearing. It's old, the wood weathered and covered in moss. Yet, there's something oddly familiar about it.
She approaches cautiously, her footsteps light, almost as if she's afraid of disturbing something long forgotten. The front door creaks as she pushes it open.
---
The Revelation
Inside, the cabin is sparse, with only a few pieces of furniture: a wooden table, a chair, and a bed. Dust clings to every surface. But what catches Reana's eye is a stack of letters on the table, their edges yellowed with age. Her fingers tremble slightly as she reaches for one.
As she scans the first few lines, her breath hitches. The handwriting is unmistakable. Shiro's handwriting.
The letters are addressed to someone, but the name is smudged, unreadable. Yet, the content of the letters is clear. They speak of regret, of choices made, of a hidden life far removed from the present.
Suddenly, a noise outside the cabin startles her. Reana freezes, her heart pounding in her chest. She cautiously peeks out the window, and that's when she sees them.
Someone is standing at the edge of the forest, their face obscured by shadow. But Reana can sense something familiar, something that makes her stomach drop.
Before she can react, the figure steps forward, revealing themselves fully.
Her eyes widen in shock.
It can't be…
The person standing before her is someone she never expected to see. Someone tied deeply to Shiro's past.
The chapter ends here, leaving the audience in suspense, unsure of what Reana has uncovered, but knowing that this discovery will change everything.
---
End of Chapter