The unveiled side

Misha stood there, her eyes fixed on the retreating figures in the distance.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she felt a strange sense of elation wash over her. Her body tingled with an unusual kind of energy, a feeling she couldn't quite put her finger on.

For a moment, she considered dwelling on the bizarre sensation, but then she simply brushed it aside, dismissing it as mere silliness.

Time skip.

5:57am

Misha checked her watch, noting that it was a little before six in the morning.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and quickly laced up her sneakers, giving them a few test jumps to ensure they were comfortable for her jogging.

To get her blood pumping, she performed a series of stretches and warm-up exercises, feeling the tautness in her muscles gradually dissolve.

She glanced at her watch once more, making sure she had enough time for her jog. Satisfied, she bid farewell to her temporary abode and set off down the streets.

6:05am

As Misha jogged through the neighborhood, she took in the early morning atmosphere.

The cool air nipped at her exposed skin, but she welcomed the refreshing sensation.

Birds chirped sweetly from their perches on rooftop ledges, and a black cat perched on the gutter, its eyes locked on the street below.

She continued her jog, passing by familiar faces and greeting her neighbors.

She even caught a whiff of fresh pastries from a nearby bakery.

It was a typical morning... yet there was something strange about it.

Misha couldn't quite put her finger on what was causing the odd feeling, but it lingered in the back of her mind like a faint whisper.

She tried to push it aside, focusing on the rhythmic sound of her footsteps on the pavement and the pulsing beat of the music in her earbuds.

As she continued her jog, she noticed a few more unusual things.

Her legs felt unusually strong, as if she could run faster and further than usual without breaking a sweat.

Her breathing was perfectly steady and controlled, despite the pace she was maintaining.

6:50am

As Misha arrived at the school where she worked, she saw Satoshi, a familiar face who often arrived early.

They gave each other a wave, and Misha huffed as she stopped jogging, catching her breath for a moment.

Satoshi approached her with a smile, ready to greet her, but as he got closer, his eyes widened and his smile faltered.

He paused in his tracks, his expression changing as if he had seen something unexpected.

Misha tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face as she looked at Satoshi.

His unexpected reaction had thrown her off and left her feeling a little concerned.

"Is something wrong?"

she voiced her question.

His lips parted slightly, and his eyes betrayed a mixture of surprise and worry.

Satoshi shook his head somewhat awkwardly, followed by a nervous chuckle as he hastily tried to explain his sudden shift in demeanor.

"It's nothing, really. Just a random thought that popped into my head,"

He explained, clearing his throat and trying to regain his composure.

As they walked through the halls of the school, Misha couldn't help but notice the strange and awkward atmosphere that had settled between them.

It was as if something unspoken hung in the air, creating a palpable sense of discomfort.

She glanced at Satoshi, who seemed distracted and deep in thought, further adding to the tension.

They continued walking towards the faculty office in silence.

Satoshi looked over at Misha as they walked side by side, his gaze lingering on her for a few moments before he spoke, breaking the silence.

"Misha, did anything unusual happen?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of concern.

Misha cast a sidelong glance at Satoshi, a little taken aback by his unexpected query. She then turned her gaze back forward, resuming their walk as she pondered his question for a moment.

Misha let out a soft hum, her thoughts drifting back to the previous day.

She turned her head to face Satoshi once more, a hint of playfulness in her voice as she spoke.

"No, nothing particularly remarkable happened... But I did see an old friend yesterday,"

She began, a slight chuckle escaping her lips.

"Let's just say, yesterday was quite an interesting day,"

She added, her gaze returning forward.

Satoshi simply nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes lingering on her face for a brief moment before they flicked forward again.

He remained quiet for a few seconds, a slight frown creasing his brow as if contemplating something.

Few moments later.

9:34am

In the school yard.

Misha glanced up from her students' performance checklist as she diligently recorded their progress.

She absentmindedly twirled her pen between her fingers with practiced ease, her focus shifting back to the students she was monitoring.

Meanwhile, at the third-floor window, Satoshi stood with a severe look on his face, his gaze fixed on Misha as she worked below.

He watched her for a few moments before turning away and disappearing from the window.

Misha exhaled deeply, satisfied that she had completed the task of monitoring and recording the students' progress.

She placed her checklist and pen neatly on the bench beside her, then raised her gaze to the sky above.

Her mind involuntarily wandered back to the peculiar incident with the boy yesterday, the memories replaying in her mind like a flickering film.

Few moments passed.

11:34am

After finishing some work, Misha let out a yawn, her gaze flicking towards Satoshi's desk. It was empty, indicating that he was still in class.

Being the playful person that she was, Misha walked over to his desk and plopped down on his chair, spinning it around a few times in a childish manner, a small smile playing on her lips as she did so.

Misha stopped spinning the chair when the dizzying sensation became too much to handle.

She groaned, trying to regain her bearings, and her eyes fell on the picture frame placed on Satoshi's desk.

Misha studied the picture intently, her eyes tracing Satoshi's face he looked young and then fixating on the child standing next to him.

The child in the photo bore an uncanny resemblance to the boy she had met the previous day, an unsettling feeling washing over her.

As Misha sat there in Satoshi's chair, her mind still reeling from the unsettling connection between the boy in the photo and the one she encountered yesterday, she would eventually hear the sound of the door opening and Satoshi's familiar voice as he entered the room.

Satoshi would pause for a moment when he saw Misha sitting at his desk, curiosity on his face as he approached her.

"What are you doing..?"

He asked, a slight edge to his tone as he tried to decipher the look on her face.

Misha would look up at Satoshi, her mind still preoccupied with the thoughts racing through her head.

She would attempt to mask her unease with a smile, but Satoshi would likely notice that something was clearly bothering her.

"Just spinning around in your chair,"

She said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's too tempting not to, you know?"

Satoshi raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by her lighthearted response.

He leamed against his desk, crossing his arms and studying her for a moment before speaking.

"You seem... distracted,"

He said quietly, his voice betraying a hint of concern.

"Is everything alright, Misha?"

Misha would let out a soft sigh, her gaze flickering away from Satoshi's for a moment before meeting his eyes again.

She would hesitate a moment, conflicted about whether to share her thoughts with him or not.

"I... I saw someone yesterday,"

She said slowly, her voice lower than usual.

"A boy, and he looked a lot like the one in your picture,"

She gestured briefly toward the photo frame on his desk.

Satoshi followed her gesture to the photo frame, his eyes widening slightly as he registered her words.

When he looked back up at her, there would be a flicker of surprise in his eyes, quickly followed by a hint of desperation.

"You... you saw him?"

He asked, his voice betraying a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Where did you see him? Was he alone?"

Misha nod, her expression turning solemn.

"In the city park."

She replied quietly.

"He was with someone, a woman..."

Satoshi listened intently, his body tense as he absorbed the information she was sharing with him.

There was a hint of unease in his eyes.

"I was at the park yesterday,"

Misha continued, her voice laced with a hint of confusion.

"It was almost dawn when I saw him near a bush. He approached me, looking lost and cold. He asked if I could help him and mentioned that he was cold... So I, umm..."

She'd pause, a slight pink tinge coloring her cheeks as she admitted to her next action.

"I gave him a hug to make him feel better. And there was something odd about him, he was wearing a hospital gown and had a bandage on one of his eyes."

Satoshi listened intently, his expression growing more troubled with each word she spoke.

"A hospital gown and a bandage?"

He repeat, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"That doesn't make any sense. Was he... was he hurt or sick in any way?"

Misha shakes her head in response to Satoshi's question.

"No, physically he looked fine. A little bit pale maybe, but otherwise okay,"

She said, recalling her brief interaction with the boy.

She then turn her gaze back to Satoshi, her curiosity piqued.

"But I was wondering... what's your relationship with that boy, anyway?"

Satoshi shift uncomfortably under her gaze, his expression guarded.

"It's... a long story,"

He respond, his voice low and measured.

"That boy, he's..."

He trail off for a moment, visibly struggling with how much to tell her.

Misha observe him intently, sensing that there were more layers to the story than Satoshi was letting on.

"Satoshi,"

She said quietly.

"You can trust me. What's going on? Who is that kid?"

Satoshi let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly as he seemed to accept that he was going to have to share a part of his past with her.

Satoshi took a deep breath, his expression turning sad.

"The boy in the picture... his name is Koro, and he's my younger brother, he went missing."

He say, his voice tinged with a mixture of sadness.

"I'm so sorry, Satoshi,"

She said quietly.

"That must have been... incredibly difficult for you."

Satoshi looked down at Misha's hand on his arm, his expression complicated. He shift his gaze back up to her face, his eyes dark with emotion.

"When I saw you earlier this morning... I don't know how to explain it,"

He said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But there was something about you that made me feel Koro's presence. It was like... I could sense his energy in you somehow."

Then his expression became more serious.

"That picture was taken 11 years ago."

Time skip.

5:43pm

Misha walked home lost in her thoughts, her mind swirling with the conversation she had with Satoshi.

She remains absorbed in thought until she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Ah, Misha,"

Hanzo, the landlord of the house, greeted her with a small smile.

Misha would jolt slightly, snapping out of her thoughts, and look up to see Hanzo standing there.

"Oh, hi Hanzo,"

She said, her voice slightly distracted.

"I didn't see you there."

Hanzo chuckled lightly, not failing to notice her distraction.

"You seemed pretty deep in thought there, Misha,"

He said, his voice friendly.

"You didn't hear me say your name the first time I called out to you."

He gestured towards the small table inside the doorway, where an envelope rested.

"Oh, and this came for you today,"

He added, his eyes flickering toward the envelope.

Misha heave a sigh as she returned to her room, shutting the door behind her.

She kick off her shoes and walk over to her bed, collapsing onto it with a weary exhale.

She'd lie there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, before her gaze landed on the envelope on her desk.

She sit back up in bed, eyeing the envelope with a slight frown.

"Who even sends letters these days? How old fashioned..."

She mutter aloud to herself.

Despite her initial skepticism, Misha's curiosity would start to get the better of her.

She stand up and walk over to her desk, plucking the envelope from its resting spot.

Curiosity piqued, she run her fingers over the smooth surface of the envelope, noticing the small handwriting on the front.

"Misha"

Misha paused, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she recognized her own name written on the envelope.

She took a closer look at the writing, recognizing it as something familiar but not quite placing it.

Misha examined the envelope more closely, searching for any clue about the sender.

However, there was no return address or any other identifying information written on the envelope.

Just her own name, neatly written in the center.

Misha carefully unfold the piece of paper and her eyes widened slightly as she was met with a single phone number written in neat, almost elegant handwriting.

"What...?"

She muttered quietly to herself, confusion evident on her face. She instinctively reach for her phone, its weight reassuring in her hand. But she pause, hesitating as she looked down at the number.

Then she typed in the number with trembling fingers and held the phone up to her ear.

She waited anxiously as it rang, her heart beating faster with each passing moment.

Ringing...

Suddenly, the ringing stopped, and someone picked up.

Misha's eyes widened.

1 day ago.

Men and women in sleek black suits and masks stood in perfect line, not a muscle twitching.

Suddenly, a sound broke the silence - footsteps echoing through the room.

A man in a crisp white suit and matching mask confidently strode past them, his stride purposeful and unhurried.

A male voice echoed in the man's earpiece, a sense of urgency coloring it

.

"Sir, the child has been retrieved, but there's an issue."

The man in the white suit paused in his tracks.

A hush seemed to descend on the room, the air thick and charged, as the male voice continued.

"There are no signs of energy left in him."

In another place.

A place that looked like a hide out.

Silence stretched for a beat, the tension in the air palpable.

Finally, a man in a sharp black suit and mask that concealed his face spoke out, his authoritative demeanor leaving no room for doubt.

"You must be more cautious with your actions,"

he said firmly.

"I don't care if you're new. But let me make one thing clear - I'll ensure you're out of a job if you make so much as a single mistake. Understood?"

The last sentence was spoken with a harsh, non-compromising tone, each word emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

The smaller man stood there, feeling the weight of the warning.

Then a voice called out from behind them, cutting through the tension.

"Naoko."

Naoko's shoulders tensed at the sound of the familiar voice.

He turned to see a woman in a black suit, her face covered by a mask that concealed her features.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me by my first name?"

He said, his tone serious and annoyed as he faced her direction.

The woman stood a few feet away from him, her pose casual yet poised. She seemed unfazed by his irritation, as if she was used to his sharp responses.

The woman watched as Naoko, now understanding her silent signal, nodded and swiftly exited the room.

The door closed with a soft click, leaving her alone with the newbie.

"He still hasn't learned how to control his temper, I see,"

The woman remarked sarcastically, her voice smooth and unbothered.

She darted a glance at the newbie, her demeanor calm and collected.

"You know what you did was reckless, don't you?"

She said, her tone flat and void of any emotions.

"Don't screw up next time. Just a piece of advice..."

With that, she turned and walked out of the room, the door closing softly behind her, leaving the newbie brooding alone in the empty room.

The once sunny day was quickly turning into a downpour, the warm air replaced by a cold drizzle.

Misha dashed through the rainy streets, unfazed by the dampness seeping into her clothing.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, spurring her on in her haste.

The park came into view, and Misha sprinted towards it.

The rain drenched her, the sound of the raindrops pelting the ground around her.

She ran as fast as she can, her footsteps splashing against the wet pavement.

She finally came to a halt near the familiar bench, the same one where she had met Koro before.

A chill ran down her spine as an unfamiliar presence made itself known.

Misha spun around, her eyes widening as they landed on the man in the white suit.

A couple of steps behind him was a group of figures clad in black suits and masks, their presence ominous and intimidating.

"Hello..."

The man in white greeted her, his tone seemingly warm yet laced with an underlying tone of menace.

"I'm glad you could make it."