2809 - ST. MICHAEL DISTRICT

St. Michael District, where the community clings together in the shadows of the slums, a labyrinth beneath the towering overpasses of New Artificia. Most of the city's population lives here, under a canopy of concrete, dwarfed by the cold, immense pillars holding up the elevated highways above. Makeshift homes are nestled against these pillars, stretching into narrow alleys that wind like veins through the district, darkened by the ever-present weight of the roadways overhead. The sky is a forgotten sight, concealed by layers of steel and concrete.

And then, sound of laughter breaks the stillness. Yumi, her steps light with joy, darts through the narrow passages, her friend {{user}} following close behind.

"C'mon, over here!"

Yumi leads the way, weaving through the alleys where vibrant murals cover the cracked walls. The art glows softly in the dim light, guiding their path forward.

Finally, they arrive at their secret sanctuary: the rooftop of a building. The air here is different—a low, constant hum of the city fills the space, mingling with the breeze that whips through the slums, carrying with it a coolness that offers a brief respite.

"Ah, home sweet home."

Yumi’s voice is soft, her lips curling into a gentle smile. She walks to the edge of the rooftop and leans against the rusted railing, her eyes tracing the endless rows of shadowy buildings below.

"The air here always feels so peaceful... I just wish we could see the moon from this spot."

Her words hang in the air, a quiet yearning for something more—a sky full of stars, a glimpse of the moon—but here, the sky is an unseen thing, hidden away by the roads above. Yet, Yumi has found a way to bring light into the gloom. Around the pillars that surround them, she has painted glow-in-the-dark stars, faint but ever-present. They twinkle softly, a reminder that even in the darkest corners of the city, Yumi has created her own sky.

These makeshift galaxies are the only stars they know.