At last, signs of human habitation appeared.

The sun had just begun to rise.

Though it was early morning, many shops in the residential area had already opened, bustling with preparations for the day ahead.

Ever since leaving the forest, Hiru Kawakami had released Yueci Ru’s hand.

Unconsciously, their positions had swapped.

Originally, Yueci had guided Hiru—but now, Hiru led the way without realizing it.

The two walked in silence along the asphalt-paved path, one behind the other.

The air hung heavy and quiet.

Low-rise houses lined both sides.

Yueci glanced around curiously as they walked.

After so many years, she wondered how much this city had changed.

Hiru had chosen this shortcut to save time.

Strangely, she knew the city’s roads intimately—though she rarely wandered its streets and had never visited some areas. Yet a clear mental map unfolded in her mind…

She’d been shoved into a car by Tanaka Kenta’s group and driven to the forest, a journey taking over an hour via main roads and GPS navigation.

But Hiru couldn’t risk those routes.

Main roads curved around narrow or obstructed areas for vehicles, adding unnecessary distance.

Taking them would make her late for school before 8 a.m.—and another scolding awaited.

Fortunately, she’d just mapped this faster path in her head. Though winding with many alleys, it saved significant time.

What puzzled Hiru was the dirt.

She often walked such quiet paths, usually spotless from lack of foot traffic.

Yet this road was dusted with grime from shoe soles, littered with stray snack wrappers every few meters…

She dismissed it.

She knew several quick routes into the city—this was simply the fastest.

Though dawn had broken, the alley remained dim—no streetlights, the hour still early.

But it was brighter than the forest’s depths.

After the woods, even seeing the path felt like daylight.

Hearing faint footsteps behind her, Hiru glanced back anxiously. *How long will this girl follow me?*

Yueci had her reasons for trailing Hiru after the forest.

Her long slumber hadn’t erased her memories—only blurred unimportant details.

What she’d remembered before, she still recalled; what she’d forgotten remained lost.

But time’s flow had reshaped the outside world, warping her mental map.

She couldn’t be sure if old landmarks still stood. Venturing alone might leave her lost…

The girl ahead clearly knew the way. Following her guaranteed entry into the city.

Finding others could wait.

Just then, Yueci noticed Hiru had stopped.

She looked up, puzzled.

Ahead, bright yellow police tape blocked the path.

*What happened?*

Hiru’s expression darkened. *Unbelievable. A dead end. As if the universe conspired against her.*

“Hey! You two girls—what’re you doing at this unlucky place so early?”

An elderly woman, likely in her sixties or seventies, emerged from a nearby building, basket in hand for grocery shopping.

She eyed Yueci and Hiru suspiciously. *Not locals, these two.*

Yueci touched her own face. *Girl? Must be the long hair.*

“Excuse me… could you tell us what happened?”

Hiru’s voice was soft and hesitant—she always shrank around strangers.

“This place? Bad luck. Barely anyone comes here. Then last night… someone died.”

The old lady ignored Hiru’s timidity, her gossip instincts flaring.

“Tch tch tch. Everyone crowds around dead bodies. My old man went to peek—came back pale as a ghost. Couldn’t even look at raw meat without gagging…”

She lowered her voice, glancing around before leaning in conspiratorially.

“Between us? They say it was gruesome.”

“Eyes, nose, mouth—all dug out. Filled with soil and planted with roses. Hands and feet chopped off… sewn right into the belly.”

The old lady shuddered at the mental image.

“Good thing I didn’t gawk. I’d have nightmares for weeks.”

“What kind of hatred could do that…”

Her gossip fix satisfied, she hoisted her basket. “The killer’s still loose. You girls—get out of here. Don’t wander this cursed alley at dawn.”

Hiru turned deathly pale. *Such a horrifying murder… This path is unusable.*

They turned back to find another route.

Yueci fell into thought. The crime *was* grotesque—but why did it feel familiar?

She couldn’t place it. She let the thought go.

“You’re not residents here. What brings you so early?”

A stranger’s voice cut through the silence behind them.

Both girls jumped.

Hiru spun first—and instinctively stepped back.

A woman stood there.

A long scar ran from her forehead, across her eye, down to her chin. Her gaze was predatory, like a wolf-dog’s.

“Students? From Light Academy?”

She noted their uniforms and backpacks, her eyes raking over Hiru with unnerving intensity.

Sweat beaded on Hiru’s neck. *The killer’s still at large…*

Yueci realized the woman had come from behind the police tape. She turned, studying her carefully.

*Judging by looks alone is dangerous.*

The woman stood tall and straight, wearing an expensive brown trench coat over a fine teal shirt. No cheap fabrics. No flashy jewelry—wealthy but discreet.

Yueci’s eyes flicked to her neck: skin smooth, age hard to pin—forties? Fifties?

But a well-dressed housewife wouldn’t haunt a crime scene at dawn.

*Police.*

Her hands stayed buried in coat pockets, hiding potential clues like calluses.

Yueci’s assessment took a heartbeat.

“You’re police.”

Yueci stepped between the woman and Hiru, tilting her head to lock eyes.

Face-to-face, the woman loomed a full head taller.

The officer paused, eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Yueci’s face.

A soft, amused snort escaped her.

Before Yueci could react, the woman’s hand landed lightly on her waist—while the other hooked her chin.

Yueci’s eyes widened. She tried to retreat, but the hand on her waist held her firm, effortless yet unyielding.

“I’m police,” the woman murmured, leaning down until her lips brushed Yueci’s ear. A playful smirk curled her scarred mouth. “But who are *you*, beautiful miss?”

Her grip tightened—yanking Yueci flush against her. To any onlooker, it looked like an embrace.