The atmosphere at the Alien Management Organization headquarters was somber as dusk settled over the facility. Most of the staff had gone home, leaving the halls eerily quiet. Reiji, known for his unwavering cheerfulness, sat alone at his desk, the shadows of the dimly lit office accentuating the sadness etched on his face. His usually bright eyes were now clouded with pain, lost in a reverie of a past he had worked so hard to keep at bay.

His longtime, usually grumpy friend entered the office, drawn by the unusual silence. They had noticed Reiji's uncharacteristic demeanor all day and felt a pang of concern. Approaching slowly, they observed Reiji staring blankly at a photograph clutched in his hand—a photograph of a young child with a radiant smile, forever frozen in a moment of innocent joy.