The northern districts of Azure City were always busy.
Unlike the center of the capital, where towering buildings cast long shadows over the streets and luxury vehicles flowed through polished roads, the northern side felt alive in a different way. Vendors lined the sidewalks, small stores competed for attention beneath bright signs, and people moved through the streets in an endless stream.
Office workers.
Students.
Families.
Tourists.
Thousands of lives brushing against one another for only a moment before separating again.
The further north one traveled, the closer they came to the roads leading toward the northern city, Datcha.
And among the countless people walking those streets, there was a girl.
At first glance, she wasn't special.
A dark blue long-sleeved top.
A black skirt that swayed gently with the wind.
Simple shoes.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing memorable.
Just another face among thousands.
Yet despite appearing ordinary, there was something about her that felt disconnected from the crowd.
As though she was physically present while her mind remained somewhere far away.
The girl walked quietly through Ashford District.
Her pace wasn't fast.
Nor was it slow.
Just steady.
Aimless.
As though she had chosen a direction and simply continued moving.
North.
Towards Datcha.
Her jet-black hair fell over her shoulders.
Near the ends, the darkness gradually faded into a lighter shade, creating a subtle contrast that became visible whenever sunlight touched it.
Her face appeared young.
Soft.
Delicate.
Yet there was a quiet emptiness behind it.
The most striking feature were her eyes.
Grey.
Not ordinary grey.
A pale, dull grey that seemed almost colorless.
If they became any lighter, they would nearly blend into the sclera surrounding them.
They looked less like living eyes and more like faded memories.
The eyes of someone who had cried until there were no tears left.
The eyes of someone who had already exhausted every emotion she possessed.
The girl continued walking.
Then stopped.
Her footsteps froze.
A strange feeling crawled across her skin.
She felt eyes.
Not one.
Many.
People around her were talking.
Laughing.
Shopping.
Yet for some reason she suddenly felt as though countless gazes had landed on her.
Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
Slowly, she glanced over her shoulder.
Nothing.
Just ordinary people.
A woman carrying groceries.
A student looking at his phone.
A couple arguing over where to eat lunch.
Normal.
Completely normal.
Yet the feeling refused to disappear.
The girl stood there.
Motionless.
Ten seconds passed.
Then twenty.
Then thirty.
The crowd flowed around her like water moving around a stone.
She remained still.
Until finally she looked away.
To her left stood a small coffee shop.
Without hesitation, she walked inside.
A soft bell rang above the entrance.
Warm air greeted her.
The smell of coffee instantly filled her senses.
The atmosphere was quiet.
Comfortable.
The gentle hum of conversations mixed with the distant sounds of brewing machines.
For the first time all day, she felt slightly less exposed.
Her eyes scanned the room.
Most seats were occupied.
Families sat together near the windows.
Students chatted around laptops.
Friends laughed over drinks.
The remaining tables were mostly filled by groups.
Only one seat appeared available.
A table near the back.
Occupied by a single person.
The girl hesitated.
Then turned slightly.
Perhaps it would be easier to leave.
Before she could take a step—
"Excuse me."
A calm voice stopped her.
She looked over.
The lone man raised his eyes from a book.
He appeared to be in his twenties.
Perhaps older.
It was difficult to tell.
His white hair fell neatly around his face.
Silver-rimmed glasses rested on his nose.
A book about psychology sat open before him.
In his other hand was an iced coffee.
His appearance wasn't particularly intimidating.
Yet something about him immediately made the girl alert.
"You can sit here if you'd like."
His voice was smooth.
Relaxed.
As though he was speaking to an old friend rather than a stranger.
The girl looked around.
The other seats were occupied.
She had already traveled farther than usual today.
Leaving now would only mean searching for another place.
After a moment of thought, she quietly nodded.
Then sat down.
The man returned his attention to his book.
At least on the surface.
Yet the moment she sat down, a strange sensation appeared.
It felt as though he was watching her.
Without actually looking at her.
Like a doctor examining a patient through peripheral vision.
Like someone analyzing every movement she made.
The feeling made her uncomfortable.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of her seat.
Several moments passed.
Then the man closed his book.
"What is your name?"
The question was simple.
Ordinary.
Yet it immediately caused her guard to rise.
She should leave.
That was the logical choice.
Ignore him.
Stand up.
Walk away.
Yet for some reason, the words escaped before she could stop them.
"My name is Mei Hua."
The moment she spoke, she regretted it.
The man nodded slightly.
As though confirming something.
This girl was indeed Mei Hua.
The same Mei who had once sat alone in a hotel room, drowning beneath grief.
The same Mei whose heart had shattered.
The same Mei who had lost something she could never regain.
And yet...
Not the same.
Something had changed.
The person sitting here looked identical.
Yet she felt different.
Like a flower that had withered, then somehow continued growing.
Not healed.
Not recovered.
Just changed.
The man studied her quietly.
Then spoke again.
"Do you need closure of some sorts?"
Mei froze.
The words struck her harder than expected.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The coffee shop suddenly felt quieter.
Too quiet.
She slowly looked around.
People continued drinking.
Talking.
Laughing.
Yet none of them seemed aware of the conversation occurring at the table.
It felt as though she and the man existed inside a small bubble separated from the rest of reality.
Her heart began beating faster for some reason, and words started to cross her mind.
"How did he know?"
"How could he know?"
The man observed her reaction.
Then unexpectedly laughed.
A soft, apologetic chuckle.
"Sorry."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I suppose that sounded strange."
Mei remained silent.
The man tapped the psychology book resting on the table.
"I've been reading a lot lately."
His expression softened.
"A friend of mine works as a therapist."
He leaned back slightly.
"When he lost someone important to him..."
His voice paused.
"...he looked a lot like you do now."
Mei's fingers tightened.
The man continued.
"The body language."
"The eyes."
"The way you keep looking around despite having nowhere specific to go."
He smiled faintly.
"I noticed it because I've seen it before."
For a long moment neither of them spoke.
Then the man reached into his pocket.
He removed a small piece of paper.
On it was an address.
A workplace.
He placed it gently on the table.
"If you're interested."
Mei stared at it.
She didn't move.
Part of her wanted to refuse.
Another part wanted to crumple it up.
Yet another part...
Wanted to know.
Wanted answers.
Wanted something.
Anything.
Eventually she reached forward and took it.
The man nodded.
Satisfied.
He stood from his seat.
Picking up his book.
Finishing the last of his drink.
Then he walked toward the register.
A few moments later he paid.
As he passed her table, he stopped.
"Do you need anything else?"
His tone remained calm.
Gentle.
Mei looked up.
Then slowly shook her head.
The man smiled.
"Take care of yourself, Mei Hua."
Then he left.
The bell above the door rang.
The door closed behind him.
And instantly—
The feeling vanished.
Mei blinked.
The atmosphere shifted.
Conversations suddenly sounded louder.
The room felt smaller.
More crowded.
For the first time since entering, people began glancing in her direction.
Not staring.
Just noticing her existence.
A student briefly looked up from his laptop.
A woman glanced over before returning to her conversation.
Normal.
Ordinary.
Human.
As though something invisible had disappeared alongside the white-haired man.
Mei lowered her gaze.
The small paper remained in her hand.
She stared at it.
At the address written neatly across the surface.
The answer to a question she hadn't yet decided to ask.
Outside the window, people continued moving through Ashford District.
The city remained alive.
Uncaring.
Unstoppable.
After several moments, Mei stood.
The chair slid back softly.
She folded the paper.
Placed it in her pocket.
Then left the coffee shop.
The bell rang once more as the door opened.
A cool breeze greeted her.
And without another glance backward, Mei Hua continued walking north