When Nira arrived at work that morning, all eyes were on her. It wasn't just her pale skin or quiet demeanor—she carried a strange, invisible weight. As if her presence didn't quite belong… yet was somehow impossible to ignore.
Aria leaned toward Sei, whispering:
– "Is it just me, or is she kind of… creepy?"
– "More like... familiar," Sei replied calmly.
He turned to his screen again, the memory of last night's strange code flickering in his mind. Something about Nira's sudden appearance felt connected to it—though he couldn't explain how.
His phone buzzed. A message from Leo:
"Is that a new girl at work? I saw something on the morning news. A missing-person case being placed in a private company—super hush-hush."
Sei called immediately.
– "What news?"
– "You seriously haven't heard? Some girl with no memory, taken into protection and placed in a tech company under special supervision. They didn't show her face, but... you know I've got good instincts."
– "Her name is Nira."
– "Exactly. Doesn't feel like a coincidence, does it?"
Sei rubbed his temples. Everything felt like it was slowly unraveling, and he wasn't sure he wanted to pull on the thread any further.
Just then, the office door opened.
Darius entered—tall and sharp in a dark suit, deep red shirt, and black tie. His mere presence made the air tighten. Aria immediately straightened her posture.
He walked straight toward Nira.
– "Are you feeling alright?"
– "I think… so," Nira replied, barely audible.
Sei felt a cold ripple inside. Darius's voice wasn't unfamiliar—but now it carried something else. A layer of secrecy. And Nira… she wasn't just another employee.
Their eyes met.
For a second, there was silence between them. Not awkward silence—a silence that echoed. Like a memory pressing from behind the veil.
One thing Sei knew for sure:
This girl hadn't just wandered into his life by accident.