As I sank deeper into the ocean, I struggled desperately to reach the surface, fighting for a single breath of air. The icy darkness wrapped around me like chains, dragging me farther and farther away from the night light above. No matter how hard I pushed, the cold depths refused to let me escape.

For the first time, I truly believed I was going to die.

I would never reach the goals I had worked so hard for. I would never have the chance to say goodbye to my grandfather. Worst of all, I would never be able to tell my best friend how sorry I was.

As the darkness closed in around me, those regrets weighed heavier than the ocean itself.

My body grew heavier with each passing second. The little strength I had left slowly slipped away, and my movements became weaker and weaker. The light above faded until it was nothing more than a distant memory.

I closed my eyes.

Maybe this was the end.

But just as the last traces of hope began to disappear, a faint glimmer of light pierced through the darkness. At first, it was no bigger than a star in the night sky, but it grew brighter and brighter, chasing away the cold shadows surrounding me.

I reached out toward it instinctively.

The warmth of the light enveloped me, and the crushing weight of the ocean suddenly vanished.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

A bright white light greeted my vision, forcing me to blink several times before I could focus. The steady beeping of a machine echoed in the room, replacing the sound of rushing water.

For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling in confusion.

Then I realized I was lying on a bed.

The scent of disinfectant filled the air, and pale curtains hung around the room. It wasn't the ocean.

It was a hospital.

And somehow, against all odds, I was still alive.

I glanced around the room, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Everything felt unfamiliar. The steady beeping of the monitors and the faint scent of disinfectant were the only things grounding me in reality.

Then I heard footsteps.

At first they were distant, but they gradually grew louder, drawing closer and closer to my room. Moments later, the curtain surrounding my bed was pulled aside, and a nurse stepped inside.

The moment her eyes met mine, surprise flashed across her face.

For a second, she simply stared, as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Then her expression brightened with relief.

"You're awake," she said, a smile spreading across her face.

Before I could respond, she quickly set the clipboard in her hands aside and hurried to my bedside. She checked the monitors beside me, making sure everything was normal.

"Please stay calm," she said gently. "You've been unconscious for two days."

(Two days?)

The words echoed in my mind.

The nurse glanced at me reassuringly before continuing.

"Could you tell me your name, miss?" she asked kindly. "You didn't have any identification with you when you were brought here."

"Serena Quinn," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

The nurse smiled warmly.

"Serena. That's a lovely name." She jotted it down on her clipboard before looking back at me. "Miss Serena, could I also have a contact number for a family member? We'd like to inform them that you've regained consciousness."

At the mention of family, my grandfather's face immediately came to mind.

I recited his phone number, and the nurse carefully wrote it down.

"Thank you," she said. "I'll contact him immediately when I get to the nurses' station."

A wave of relief washed over me. At least my grandfather would finally know that I was alive.

The nurse finished writing and placed the clipboard against her chest. As she turned toward the curtain, she paused and glanced back at me.

"Well then, I'll be leaving for now. I'll inform the doctor that you're awake, and I'll also call the girl who helped you."

"The girl who helped me?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.

The nurse nodded.

"She's the one who found you and called for help. Ever since you were admitted, she's visited every day."

Before I could ask anything else, the nurse offered me a reassuring smile.

"Try to get some rest, Miss Serena. The doctor will be here shortly."

With that, she stepped out of the room and pulled the curtain closed behind her, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

(Who was this girl, and why had she been visiting me every day?)

As I sat there, wondering about the girl the nurse had mentioned, the curtain suddenly rustled.

A moment later, it was pulled aside.

A young woman stepped into the room carrying a small bag filled with fruit. She froze when she saw me sitting upright in bed.

Her eyes widened.

She had striking red hair that fell past her shoulders and vivid blue eyes that seemed to sparkle beneath the hospital lights. For a moment, she simply stood there, staring at me in disbelief.

Then relief flooded her face so quickly that it was impossible to miss.

"Thank goodness... you're awake," she said.

She walked over to my bedside and took a seat in the chair nearby.

"I was worried," she admitted with a small laugh. "You've been unconscious for two days. I was beginning to think you'd never wake up."

As she spoke, she reached into the bag and pulled out an apple and a small knife. With practiced ease, she began peeling the fruit.

The atmosphere felt surprisingly comfortable despite the fact that we were complete strangers.

After a brief silence, she glanced up at me.

"By the way, miss, can I ask for your name?"

Then, as if realizing something, her smile turned sheepish.

"But it's okay if you don't want to tell me," she added quickly. "I know we've only just met."

"Serena Quinn," I replied without hesitation.

For a second, she looked genuinely surprised.

Then a bright smile spread across her face.

"That's a beautiful name."

She finished peeling the apple and carefully sliced it into pieces.

"My name is Yurika Mizuno," she said. "Can I call you Serena?"

She held out a slice of apple toward me.

"Sure, if you're okay with it."

I accepted the apple from her hand.

"Really!?" Yurika's eyes lit up.

Her excitement was so genuine that I couldn't help but smile.

"Yes," I said with a small laugh. "And can I call you Yurika too?"

For a moment, she blinked.

Then her face broke into an even bigger smile.

"Of course!"

For some reason, seeing her smile made the sterile hospital room feel a little warmer.

And for the first time since waking up, I felt completely at ease.

But as Yurika's name lingered in my mind, it continued to bother me.

(Yurika Mizuno.)

(Why did that name sound so familiar?)

I felt as though I had heard it somewhere before, yet no matter how hard I tried to remember, the answer remained just out of reach.

As I searched through my memories, Yurika continued talking.

"You know," she began, taking another slice of apple for herself, "when I was heading home that day, I saw you lying on the ground."

I looked up at her.

"At first, I thought you were drunk," she admitted with an embarrassed laugh. "So I went over to check on you."

She paused before continuing.

"But when I got closer, I realized you didn't smell like alcohol at all. That's when I noticed something was wrong."

Her expression grew serious.

"You weren't moving, and no matter how many times I called out to you, you wouldn't respond."

I quietly listened as she recounted the events.

"There was no one else around except me," she said. "So I immediately called an ambulance from a nearby hospital and stayed with you until they arrived."

I frowned.

(Lying on the ground? .... Ambulance?......

I remembered the panic as I struggled to stay afloat. I remembered the darkness beneath me and the endless stretch of water surrounding the cruise ship. Most of all, I remembered being pushed overboard.)

A chill ran down my spine.

(I should have been in the middle of the ocean. Not lying unconscious on some random street. Nothing about that made sense.)

My grip tightened around the apple slice in my hand and was about to say something, Yurika tilted her head slightly.

"It was really strange, though."

"What was?" I asked.

She looked directly at me.

"You suddenly appeared out of nowhere."

My breath caught in my throat.

"What?"

Yurika nodded.

"I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true. One moment the street was completely empty, and the next moment you were just... there."

She laughed nervously.

"Honestly, if I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed it either."

My heart began to pound.

Suddenly, Yurika Mizuno.

The name.

The red hair.

The blue eyes.

The strange feeling of familiarity.

Everything clicked into place.

(No... That couldn't be possible.

Yurika Mizuno was a character from Idol of Starlight. The very game I had spent countless hours playing.)

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.

My thoughts were already spiraling out of control when the curtain suddenly opened again.

The nurse stepped inside, holding a clipboard in one hand.

For a moment, I thought she had returned with good news.

Instead, her next words made my stomach drop.

"Miss Serena, I tried calling the number you gave me, but it appears to be invalid. The number doesn't exist."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

The nurse gave me an apologetic look.

"Perhaps there was a mistake when you gave it to me?" she suggested gently. "Would you like to try another number?"

My heart began to race.

(That wasn't possible.

The number I had given her was my grandfather's number. I had memorized it years ago. There was no way I could have gotten it wrong. Unless...)

A terrible possibility crept into my mind.

(No.... That couldn't be it.)

Trying to keep my panic from showing, I forced a smile.

"Uh... I'll call him myself, Nurse. Maybe he's just busy right now."

The nurse studied me for a second.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

"Hmm... alright, if you say so, Miss Serena."

She turned to leave, but suddenly stopped as though she had remembered something.

"Oh! I almost forgot."

Reaching behind her, she picked up a purse and a transparent plastic bag.

"These are your belongings, Miss Serena."

She handed them to me.

"Since you didn't have any identification on you, we've kept these safe while you were unconscious."

"Thank you," I said as I accepted them.

The nurse smiled before excusing herself and leaving the room once more.

The moment the curtain closed behind her, my attention immediately shifted to the items in my hands.

Just as I was about to inspect them, a sudden scream made me jump.

"Ahh!"

I quickly turned toward Yurika.

She had jolted upright in her chair, her eyes wide as she stared at the phone in her hand.

For a brief moment, I thought something terrible had happened.

Then panic spread across her face.

"AHH—I'm sorry, Serena!" she exclaimed, nearly dropping her phone. "I completely lost track of time!"

She hurriedly stood up and grabbed her bag from beside the chair.

"I have a part-time job, and I'm already three minutes late!"

Watching her frantically gather her things was almost comical.

She shoved her phone into her bag, nearly missed the strap, fixed it, then rushed toward the curtain.

Before leaving, she stopped and turned back to me.

"I'll come visit you again tomorrow!"

A bright smile spread across her face as she waved enthusiastically.

"Get lots of rest, okay?"

I couldn't help but smile back.

"Okay."

"Okay then—Goodbye~!"

With one final wave, Yurika disappeared through the curtain and hurried out of the room.

The room suddenly felt much quieter.

My gaze drifted back to the purse and plastic bag resting in my lap.

The warmth left behind by Yurika's cheerful presence quickly faded as uneasiness crept back into my chest.

There was still one questio to be answereded.

"Why did my things get here?" I muttered under my breath.

I stared at the purse resting on my lap, unable to tear my eyes away from it.

(How had it gotten here?)

A moment ago, I had been focused on the impossible revelation that Yurika Mizuno was a character from Idol of Starlight. But now, another mystery demanded my attention.

Taking a slow breath, I opened the purse.

The moment I looked inside, my confusion deepened.

Everything was there.

My phone.

My wallet.

My red lipstick.

Even the purse itself was the one I had left behind in my room aboard the cruise ship.

I frowned.

"How did it get here?" I muttered.

"I'm sure I left my purse in my cabin before I went out to get some fresh air on the deck."

None of it made sense.

If Yurika was telling the truth, then I had appeared out of nowhere on a street in this world. But if that was the case, how had my belongings followed me here?

My hands tightened slightly around the purse as I searched through its contents.

Then I picked up my wallet.

As soon as I opened it, my eyes widened.

Nestled among the cards was a familiar black card.

For a moment, I could only stare at it.

This wasn't an ordinary credit card.

It was the special black card my grandfather had given me years ago—a card connected to an account containing millions. He had insisted I keep it for emergencies, saying that no matter what happened, I should always have a way to take care of myself.

Seeing it here sent a chill through me.

The card should have been in my room on the cruise ship.

Yet it was now sitting in my hands as though it had crossed worlds alongside me.

My heartbeat quickened.

If my belongings had truly come with me...

Then maybe this wasn't a dream.

Maybe I had really been transported into the world of Idol of Starlight.

_______________

The next afternoon, sunlight streamed through the hospital window, bathing the room in a warm golden glow.

Serena sat quietly on her bed, gazing outside.

From the window, she could see rows of buildings stretching into the distance, small houses nestled between them, and mountains rising beneath the clear blue sky.

It was a beautiful view.

A peaceful view.

Yet despite the calm scenery, her mind was anything, but peaceful.

The events of yesterday continued to replay in her head.

Yurika Mizuno.

Idol of Starlight.

The invalid phone number.

The belongings that should have remained aboard the cruise ship.

Every answer she found only seemed to create even more questions.

Lost in thought, Serena barely noticed the passage of time.

Then suddenly—

The curtain was pulled open.

"Serena! I'm here!"

A familiar cheerful voice filled the room.

Yurika stepped inside, slightly out of breath as if she had hurried all the way there.

But the smile on her face slowly faded.

Her eyes landed on Serena.

Serena was still staring out the window.

Her expression was calm.

Too calm.

The life that usually lingered in her eyes was gone.

For a brief moment, they looked empty.

Hollow.

Like the eyes of someone who had lost everything.

Yurika froze.

A chill ran down her spine.

"Serena...?"

She called her name cautiously.

No response.

Her heart sank.

The woman sitting by the window looked less like a patient recovering in a hospital and more like a lifeless doll.

"Serena."

This time, her voice was softer.

Serena slowly turned her head toward her.

The same empty eyes met Yurika's gaze.

For a second, Yurika felt as though she were looking at a dead woman.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the emptiness vanished.

Life returned to Serena's eyes.

The corners of her lips curved upward into a gentle smile.

"Yurika?" she said.

Her voice sounded completely normal.

"You really came back."

The warmth of her smile contrasted so sharply with what Yurika had just seen that she almost wondered if she had imagined it.

Almost.

But the uneasiness in her chest refused to disappear.

"Wait—don't tell me you ran all the way here just to see me?" Serena asked with a soft chuckle.

The tension in Yurika's chest instantly eased.

The unsettling image from moments ago began to fade, replaced by the familiar Serena she had met yesterday.

Yurika let out an embarrassed laugh and rubbed the back of her head.

"Haha... maybe a little."

A faint blush crept onto her face.

"It's because I want to get to know you better," she admitted with a bright smile.

The sincerity in her voice caught Serena off guard.

There was no hidden motive.

No hesitation.

Just simple, honest kindness.

Yurika pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.

"Besides," she continued cheerfully, "after finding someone unconscious out of nowhere and then visiting them for two days, I'd say we're already halfway to becoming friends."

Serena couldn't help but laugh.

"That's a strange way to make friends."

"I know, right?" Yurika grinned.

For a moment, the weight that had been pressing down on Serena's shoulders felt a little lighter.

The hospital room no longer felt quite as lonely.

"Then I'm going to start asking a lot of questions," Yurika declared, pointing a finger at Serena with determination.

Serena couldn't help but smile.

"Okay. But if I answer your questions, then you have to answer mine too."

"Deal!"

Yurika immediately reached into the bag she had brought and pulled out an orange.

"Here."

She handed it to Serena before sitting up straighter in her chair.

"Let's start with something simple. Age and birthday."

She proudly placed a hand on her chest.

"I'm twenty-two years old, and my birthday is June 15."

Then she leaned forward expectantly.

"What about you?"

Serena peeled the orange and popped a slice into her mouth.

"I'm twenty-three. My birthday is January 28."

Yurika's eyes widened.

"Ohhh! You're older than me!"

"By a few months."

"That still counts."

Yurika nodded seriously before grabbing her phone.

"Okay, next question!"

And so the interrogation began.

One question became ten.

Ten became twenty.

They talked about their favorite foods, hobbies, embarrassing childhood memories, and countless other topics. Occasionally, Serena would ask questions of her own, and Yurika would answer without hesitation.

Before either of them realized it, hours had passed.

The afternoon sunlight had gradually turned orange, casting a warm glow throughout the hospital room.

Yurika happened to glance at her phone.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh!"

She immediately sat upright.

"I have to go home now."

Serena looked up from the book she had been absentmindedly flipping through.

Yurika stood from her chair and slipped her phone into her bag before looking back at Serena.

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

"It's a good thing you're being discharged tomorrow."

"Yeah."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Yurika's shoulders drooped slightly.

"But..." she began.

Serena tilted her head.

"But what?"

Yurika looked away for a second before meeting Serena's gaze again.

"I wanted to hang out with you more."

A faint pout appeared on her face.

"And I still want to know more about you."

The disappointment in her voice was obvious.

Serena stared at her for a moment before a smile slowly spread across her face.

"Then why don't you come here again tomorrow?"

Yurika blinked.

"Huh?"

"After I'm discharged, we can go somewhere together."

Serena's smile softened.

"Outside the hospital."

For a moment, Yurika simply stared at her.

Then her eyes lit up.

"Really?!"

The excitement in her voice echoed throughout the room.

Serena laughed.

"Really."

Yurika clenched her fists in victory.

"Then it's a promise!"

Her bright smile was so dazzling that Serena found herself smiling back.

For the first time since arriving in this strange world, she found herself looking forward to tomorrow.

__________

After leaving the hospital, Yurika walked down the sidewalk with a light step.

The promise she had made with Serena lingered pleasantly in her mind.

Tomorrow.

They were going to spend time together outside the hospital.

The thought alone was enough to make her smile.

As she walked, her phone suddenly vibrated inside her bag.

"Hm?"

Yurika stopped, and reached for her phone.

A new message notification appeared on the screen.

The sender was an unknown account.

She opened it.

Unknown Account:

«You have composed beautiful songs.»

Yurika blinked.

"... What?"

After a moment of hesitation, she typed a reply.

Yurika:

«Who is this?»

The response arrived almost instantly.

Unknown Account:

«Someone who appreciates talent.»

Yurika stared at the screen.

Then she sighed.

Yurika:

«That's not creepy at all.»

A few seconds later, another message appeared.

Unknown Account:

«My apologies. I simply wished to compliment your work.»

Yurika frowned.

Yurika:

«What work?»

Unknown Account:

«The songs you uploaded to your account.»

Her fingers froze above the screen.

A strange feeling crept into her chest.

Yurika:

«What account?»

The typing indicator appeared immediately.

Unknown Account:

«The one you deleted several months ago.»

Yurika's breath caught.

Her heart skipped a beat.

That account...

It was an old music account she had created years ago.

A place where she uploaded songs she had written herself.

Nobody knew about it.

Not her coworkers.

Not her friends.

Not even her family.

And she had deleted it months ago.

So how could this stranger know about it?

Yurika quickly typed another message.

Yurika:

«How do you know about that account?»

There was a brief pause.

Then—

Unknown Account:

«Because I listened to every song.»

Yurika's grip tightened around her phone.

Yurika:

«That's impossible. The account doesn't exist anymore.»

Unknown Account:

«The account may be gone. The songs are not.»

A chill ran down her spine.

Yurika:

«Who are you?»

This time, the reply took longer.

Several seconds passed.

Then the message arrived.

Unknown Account:

«Someone waiting for your next song.»

Yurika immediately typed back.

Yurika:

«I stopped writing songs.»

The response came almost instantly.

Unknown Account:

«No. You only stopped sharing them.»

Yurika's eyes widened.

For a moment, she couldn't move.

Because the stranger was right.

She still wrote songs.

Late at night.

In notebooks.

On her phone.

On scraps of paper.

She simply never showed them to anyone anymore.

A final message appeared.

Unknown Account:

«Don't let your talent disappear, Yurika Mizuno. It would be a waste.»

Yurika stared at the screen.

A dozen questions raced through her mind.

But before she could type another reply—

The chat vanished.

The account disappeared as if it had never existed.

Leaving Yurika standing alone on the sidewalk, staring at her phone in stunned silence.

_________

The next morning, Yurika arrived at the hospital at exactly 9:30 a.m.

A bright smile rested on her face as she made her way through the hallways.

Today was the day Serena would be discharged.

Just thinking about the plans they had made yesterday filled her with excitement.

Before long, she reached Serena's room.

"Good morning, Serena—"

The greeting died on her lips.

The room was empty.

The bed had been neatly made, and Serena's belongings were nowhere in sight.

For a moment, Yurika simply stood there in confusion.

"Did she already leave?"

A hint of panic crept into her voice.

She quickly stepped back into the hallway and looked around.

Just then, a nurse happened to be passing by.

Yurika immediately approached her.

"Excuse me, Nurse," she called out politely. "Have you seen the woman who was staying in this room?"

The nurse glanced toward the room before recognition appeared on her face.

"Oh, you mean Serena Quinn?"

Yurika nodded.

"Yes!"

"I think I saw her a little while ago," the nurse replied.

She pointed down the hallway toward a nearby staircase.

"She went that way. If I remember correctly, she was heading up the stairs that lead to the rooftop."

"The rooftop?" Yurika repeated.

The nurse nodded.

"That's right."

"Thank you!"

Without wasting another second, Yurika hurried in the direction the nurse had indicated.

As she approached the staircase, a strange feeling settled in her chest.

She wasn't sure why.

But for some reason, she suddenly felt the urge to find Serena as quickly as possible.

After the doctor finished my final examination, a nurse guided me through the discharge process.

Most of it was routine.

Sign a few forms.

Listen to instructions about rest and recovery.

Accept a small packet containing my medical documents.

The nurse explained everything patiently while I sat across from her desk.

"Your condition is stable, Miss Serena," she said as she handed me the papers. "However, you've only recently regained consciousness. Don't push yourself too hard."

"I understand."

She smiled.

"If you experience dizziness, headaches, or anything unusual, please visit a hospital immediately."

"I will."

The nurse seemed satisfied with my answer.

"Then that's everything."

Everything.

Such a simple word.

Yet hearing it felt strangely unreal.

Just three days ago, I had been drowning in the middle of the ocean.

Now I was being discharged from a hospital in what appeared to be an entirely different world.

I thanked the nurse and left the office.

Instead of returning directly to my room, I found myself wandering through the hallways.

My discharge papers rested in my hands.

The black card was safely tucked inside my wallet.

The questions filling my head, however, remained unanswered.

Eventually, my feet carried me toward a staircase.

I paused.

A small sign hung nearby.

ROOFTOP ACCESS

For some reason, I felt drawn toward it.

Maybe because I needed air.

Maybe because I needed space to think.

Or maybe because I simply wanted to see the world I had somehow ended up in.

Without overthinking it, I climbed the stairs.

The higher I went, the quieter everything became.

The sounds of nurses, patients, and machines gradually faded behind me.

A few moments later, I pushed open the rooftop door.

The cool breeze immediately greeted me.

My hair fluttered as sunlight washed over my face.

For the first time since waking up, there were no walls around me.

No curtains.

No hospital monitors.

Just open sky.

I slowly walked toward the safety railing.

And then I looked out.

My breath caught.

The city stretched endlessly before me.

Countless buildings filled the horizon.

Cars moved like tiny dots along distant roads.

Clusters of houses sat between larger structures, while mountains rose proudly in the distance beneath a brilliant blue sky.

The view was breathtaking.

And terrifying.

Because it made everything feel real.

This wasn't a dream.

It wasn't a hallucination caused by nearly drowning.

It wasn't a coma-induced fantasy.

This world existed.

I could see it.

Feel it.

Touch it.

A sudden gust of wind swept across the rooftop.

I gripped the railing tightly.

"Idol of Starlight..." I whispered.

The words disappeared into the wind.

The game I had spent countless hours playing.

The world whose story I knew better than most people knew their own lives.

A world filled with idols, music, friendship, and secrets hidden beneath bright stage lights.

And somehow...

I was standing inside it.

My gaze drifted toward the distant skyline.

Somewhere out there, the characters I had only known through a screen were living their lives.

The thought sent a chill through me.

I lowered my eyes.

There were still countless things I didn't know.

How I got here.

Why my belongings had followed me.

Whether I could ever return home.

The weight of those questions settled heavily in my chest.

Yet as I looked up at the endless sky, another realization slowly surfaced.

No matter how confused or frightened I felt...

This was my reality now.

And if I wanted answers, I would have to find them myself.

Just then, I heard the rooftop door open behind me.

__________

Yurika hurried up the stairs leading to the hospital rooftop. Her footsteps echoed through the stairwell as she pushed herself forward, her heart pounding for reasons she couldn't quite understand.

When she finally reached the rooftop door, she grabbed the handle and pushed it open.

The cool breeze greeted her immediately.

And there she was.

Standing only a few inches from the railing, Serena gazed silently at the world below.

From where Yurika stood, she could only see Serena's profile, but even that single glimpse was enough to leave her breathless.

The city stretched out before them, a sea of buildings, winding roads, and distant houses nestled beneath the towering mountains. Tiny figures moved along the streets far below, living their ordinary lives, unaware of the scene unfolding above.

Yet Yurika found herself unable to look at any of it.

Her eyes remained fixed on Serena.

Serena's long black hair danced gracefully in the wind, strands swaying across her face before drifting away again. The sunlight painted a soft glow upon her features, making her seem almost unreal—as though she belonged to the scenery itself rather than standing before it.

She looked peaceful.

Quiet.

Beautiful.

For a moment, Yurika simply stood there, watching.

The breeze carried the scent of fresh air and distant rain, but all she could focus on was the girl before her.

There was something about Serena's expression as she looked out over the city.

Not sadness.

Not happiness.

Something deeper.

A feeling Yurika couldn't quite put into words.

And as Serena continued gazing at the horizon, her hair fluttering in the wind, Yurika felt as though she were looking at someone who carried an entire world of untold stories behind her eyes.

Yurika's gaze remained fixed on Serena.

As if sensing it, Serena slowly turned her head.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Yurika's breath caught in her throat.

(Ohhh... No matter how long I stare at her, she's still unbelievably beautiful. It's like she's from a completely different world.)

Warmth rushed to Yurika's cheeks.

Serena tilted her head slightly before a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"Yurika?"

As she spoke, Serena stepped away from the railing and began walking toward her.

"When did you arrive?" Serena asked. "You should have contacted me."

Yurika froze.

Her mind immediately went blank.

(...Right. I could have done that. Why didn't I think of that?)

"Uh—ah!" Yurika stammered, her face turning even redder. "R-Right! Why didn't I think of that?"

Serena blinked in confusion before letting out a soft laugh.

"You ran all the way here without even calling me first?"

"W-When you say it like that, it sounds really embarrassing."

"It is a little embarrassing."

"Serena!"

The corner of Serena's lips curved upward as Yurika puffed out her cheeks in protest.

"Shall we go out and have some fun while we're at it?" Serena asked.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Yurika shouted without a moment's hesitation.

A bright smile spread across Serena's face.

And just like that, the two left the hospital behind.

For the first time in days, Serena felt the weight pressing against her heart begin to fade. The worries that had haunted her thoughts seemed distant beneath the warm afternoon sun.

At the same time, Yurika found herself forgetting about the mysterious message she had received the night before. Whatever it was, it could wait.

Today was for them.

The two spent the afternoon wandering through the city.

They visited parks lined with blooming flowers and towering trees. Yurika eagerly dragged Serena from one place to another, excitedly pointing out every little thing she found interesting.

"Look! Those ducks are following that old man!"

"I think he's feeding them."

"Then let's feed them too!"

"Yurika, we don't even have bread."

"Oh."

A moment later, they both burst into laughter.

They stopped by a cozy café afterward.

While Serena quietly enjoyed her drink, Yurika couldn't sit still for more than thirty seconds.

"Serena, look at this."

"Hm?"

"And this."

"You just showed me that."

"Oh. Right."

"And that was five seconds ago."

Yurika buried her face in her hands.

"Why are you bullying me today?"

"I'm not bullying you."

"You absolutely are."

The gentle smile on Serena's lips suggested otherwise.

As evening approached, they found themselves in a small arcade.

The moment Yurika spotted the claw machine, her competitive spirit ignited.

"I'm winning that bunny plush."

"You've said that ten times."

"And this time I mean it."

Ten attempts later, the plush remained exactly where it was.

"..."

"..."

"That machine is rigged."

Serena couldn't hold back her laughter anymore.

The sound caught Yurika completely off guard.

For a second, she simply stared.

Serena was laughing.

Not the polite smile she usually wore.

Not the gentle chuckle she sometimes let out.

A genuine laugh.

Bright.

Warm.

Beautiful.

Yurika felt her heart skip a beat.

The arcade lights reflected in Serena's dark eyes as she laughed, and for a moment, Yurika found herself smiling too.

The two continued spending the evening together, talking about anything and everything that came to mind. As the city lights began to illuminate the streets and the sky slowly darkened, neither of them wanted the day to end.

For now, all that mattered was the time they shared together.

As the night grew darker, the two finally found themselves standing at a crossroads.

"I guess this is where we part ways," Serena said with a gentle smile.

Yurika scratched the back of her head.

"Yeah... I had a lot of fun today."

"Me too."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Yurika suddenly pointed a finger at Serena.

"You better call me next time!"

Serena blinked.

"Shouldn't that be my line?"

"Details aren't important."

A soft laugh escaped Serena's lips.

"Alright. I'll call you next time."

"Good."

Satisfied, Yurika nodded before waving goodbye.

"See you later, Serena!"

"See you, Yurika."

Yurika turned and disappeared into the crowd, her cheerful figure gradually becoming smaller and smaller until she was gone.

Serena stood there for a few moments.

The smile on her face lingered as she watched the bustling city around her.

Today had been nice.

Far nicer than she had expected.

Taking a quiet breath, she turned and headed toward the hotel district.

Since she had nowhere else to stay for the time being, finding a place to spend the night seemed like the most sensible option.

A short while later, Serena arrived at one of the city's most luxurious hotels.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated the grand lobby, while polished marble floors reflected the warm lights overhead.

The receptionist offered her a professional smile.

"Good evening, ma'am. How may I assist you?"

"I'd like to rent a room."

"Of course."

The receptionist began preparing the necessary paperwork.

"May I have your identification and payment method?"

Serena reached into her bag and retrieved a sleek black card.

The card had no visible numbers on the front.

Only an elegant emblem engraved in silver.

The moment the receptionist saw it, her eyes widened.

Her professional expression instantly vanished.

That card...

She had only seen it once before during her training.

A card reserved for the hotel's highest-ranking VIP guests.

People whose status and wealth were beyond ordinary imagination.

The receptionist immediately straightened her posture.

"Welcome to Evermont Hotel, ma'am. Please allow us to provide you with the finest service during your stay."

Her voice became noticeably warmer and more respectful.

Serena smiled.

"Thank you."

The receptionist quickly bowed her head.

"There is no need to worry about availability. We will prepare our finest suite for you immediately."

Before Serena could even respond, several staff members appeared as if they had been summoned from nowhere.

One took her luggage.

Another prepared the room information.

A third offered refreshments.

The receptionist smiled brightly.

"Please stay as long as you like, ma'am."

Serena looked at the black card in her hand.

(Hmm... I didn't expect people in this world to recognize this card.)

"Please bring my things to my room. I'm going out for a bit," Serena said.

"Of course, ma'am," the receptionist replied with a respectful bow.

Serena handed over the room key card before turning toward the exit.

The cool night air greeted her as she stepped outside the hotel.

The city was still alive despite the late hour. Neon signs illuminated the streets, while people laughed and chatted as they moved from one place to another.

With no particular destination in mind, Serena simply walked.

A few minutes later, her attention was caught by a poster attached to the wall of a building.

She stopped and read it.

[Wanted: Singer]

For One Night Only

Reward: ¥1,000

Serena stared at the paper for several moments.

Then a faint smile appeared on her face.

It had been a long time since she had done something purely for herself.

"Well then," she murmured.

"Let's have some fun for a bit."

Without hesitation, Serena pushed open the door and entered the building.