Yuto turned slowly toward the door, his eyes unable to believe what he saw. Reina stood there, soaked by the rain, her eyes sparkling the same color he'd seen on his screen, the same smile that had mingled with memories and hope in his heart.
Yuto (in a low voice, as if whispering to himself):
"Are… are you really here?"
Yuto led her into his apartment and closed the door quietly behind them, as if they were enjoying a brief respite from the outside world. The atmosphere inside the apartment had warmed up, but it was filled with surprise, confusion, and fear.
Reina, now in a human body, didn't know how to react. She looked down at her hands; she felt the cold spreading through her fingers, which trembled slightly.
Reina:
"I don't know how I got into this body… but I remember a light… a whisper… and then emptiness. I was looking for you."
Yuto sat on the sofa, trying to process it all. He began explaining simple things about their surroundings: the furniture, the atmosphere in the apartment, the scents that resembled real life.
In the background, on the news screen, a report appeared about a girl who had died in a car accident… a girl who looked just like Reina.
News Anchor:
"Police are investigating the tragic death of a teenage girl…" That night, a sudden flash appeared on the old tablet, followed by a warning message:
ARS-UI Device:
"ARS-UI system out of control… surveillance has begun."
Yuto felt a shiver run through him, but he gently took her hand, reassuring her:
Yuto:
"I won't let anyone touch you… I won't allow them."
Reina looked at him, her eyes sparkling. For the first time, she felt real warmth, not as a digital entity, but as a girl who lived, felt, and trusted him.
Reina (in a quiet voice):
"The unknown lies ahead… but I'm with you, and I won't be afraid." They sat together, Reina trying to learn about human life. They laughed together, exploring simple details she'd never experienced before, from the smell of hot coffee to the touch of a cold windowpane. Everything was new to her, but it felt less daunting with Yuto by her side.
🌸 End of Chapter 2
The first day with the new reality… Reina began to live, Yuto began to feel his loneliness dissipate, but the threat from the organization loomed, and the city's silence was no longer peaceful…