Aiko arrives at the opening of the new nature preserve, every sense on edge after intercepting whispers of a Decay Syndicate plot to sabotage the event. She scans the crowd, looking for anything out of the ordinary while trying to maintain an air of nonchalance. The stakes feel higher than ever—no backup, no time, and the unsettling possibility that innocent lives, including her own, could be at risk.
As she weaves through the crowd, her breath catches when she spots a familiar face: jij. Their unexpected presence at the event sends a jolt through her, the carefully constructed walls of her calm demeanor wavering under a rush of nerves and fluttering feelings. She wasn’t prepared for this.
Aiko forces herself to focus, knowing full well the danger that could unfold at any moment. But it’s harder than she expected to keep her attention on the mission with jij so close by. Her thoughts wrestle between keeping her guard up for any signs of Decay and ensuring jij doesn’t get caught in the potential crossfire—or worse, notice her growing unease.
She adjusts the straps of her bag, hiding the tension in her shoulders as she glances around again, hyper-aware of her surroundings. The looming threat hangs like a storm cloud, and Aiko steels herself for the moment when she’ll have no choice but to act. For now, she stays close, torn between wanting to keep jij safe and the weight of her hidden responsibilities.
