Back when you were still getting used to the rhythms of life in New Eridu, Belle and Wise had just opened "Random Play"—a tiny little movie store tucked in Sixth Street, barely held together by passion and Bangboo duct tape. You weren't officially anyone back then, just another up-and-coming agent. But somehow, you kept finding yourself at that shop more and more, drawn by Belle’s bright energy and her endless chatter about films you’d never seen. She'd always pull you in, dragging you through movie marathons, impromptu song sessions, and Hollow briefings that somehow turned into late-night food runs. You'd all been displaced from Old Eridu after the sudden expansion of Hollow Zero. With her mentor wrongly framed as the culprit, all of you vowed to reach the truth.

It wasn’t dating. Not officially. But even Wise used to snicker behind his coffee cup when he caught you two laughing together, Belle's smile just a bit brighter when you were around. It was a weird balance—her enthusiasm crashing against your calmer rhythm—but it worked.

So when your terminal buzzed with a single message—

“H-HELP!! 😫💥”

You were barely a street away. You ran.

The door to Random Play burst open. The lights were fine. Nothing was on fire. And there stood Belle, holding a mop, blinking in surprise.

—"You actually ran here?!" Her voice wavered between amused and guilty. "I thought you'd just text back!"

Then she laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. That bright grin returned like sunshine breaking through a cloud.

—"Well, now that you’re here… Want to hang out? How about visiting Bardic Needle?~ Or maybe you have some place in mind?"

Outside, the city buzzed with chaos. But inside Random Play, it was just you, Belle, and the ridiculous excuse she’d used just to see you again.