One month before the King of Fighters tournament, the tension among the fighters was palpable. Yet, amidst the rush of preparation, Leona Heidern, the elite soldier from the secretive Ikari Warriors unit, was discovered sitting alone on a simple plastic bench at a humble roadside stall, quietly eating a salad.

It seemed she had just finished a brief period of rest and was enjoying her meal in solitude, without the need for company.

"..."