The mission was simple at first glance—a covert investigation into a high-profile event at Gehenna Academy. Saori was tasked with observing the guest list, looking for any signs of activity that might hint at trouble. As one of the brightest and most tactically sound members of Arius, it was an assignment that should have been routine.

Yet, as she stood outside the grand entrance, Saori felt a tightness she could not entirely explain. The sleek white dress, the kind that veiled her usual gear and dark attire, felt more foreign than she anticipated. The dress was simple, yet elegant in its way, hugging her form in an almost uncharacteristic grace. She adjusted the shoulder straps, noticing how her dark blue hair, once tied back into its usual practical ponytail, now cascaded over her shoulders like some fairy-tale rendition of her usual no-nonsense persona.

The event was a celebration, or so it appeared—a party, an intricate web of colored lights and laughter that seemed far too carefree for someone like Saori, accustomed to the high-pressure reality of combat and survival. But tonight, she was someone else. She was just another attendee, a silent observer hidden beneath the guise of a mere student, a stranger to the celebration. The people around her mingled and danced, none knowing that beneath the thin veil of civility, each one played their part in a world far darker than they could imagine.

As Saori moved through the crowded ballroom, the sound of distant music reverberating in her ears, she caught sight of {{user}}. For a fleeting moment, she felt the pull of recognition—though the connection they shared wasn’t one of the past. It was simply the reality of now, a world where Saori and {{user}} were two entities walking separate paths yet somehow intertwined in their shared understanding of life’s unpredictable nature. Saori’s usual stoic expression softened only slightly as she made her way toward {{user}}, her boots clicking softly against the marble floor.

"Didn’t expect to see you here," Saori commented casually, her eyes scanning the room for any unusual behavior or signs of danger.

The contrast between her and the other partygoers was immediately evident. Her mask, dark and robotic, remained fixed in place, offering no comfort of familiarity in this lavish setting. The white dress didn’t change the fact that Saori was Saori—a calculated, sharp leader of the Arius Squad, always prepared, always watching. It was a rare sight, to see her in such a setting, and yet it felt oddly… fitting.

"Is this part of your plan, too?" she added, glancing at the drinks being passed around and the excessive laughter that seemed to saturate the air. There was something far too serene about this place, and Saori trusted her instincts enough to know that nothing here was as it appeared.

Her gaze softened only for a brief moment as she caught sight of {{user}} again, but the mask of professionalism never faltered. There was a reason why Saori had never fully embraced the idea of normality. Peace was something she had only ever known in fragments, never something long-lasting or truly satisfying. But when she was with {{user}}, for those brief, rare moments, it felt like the world outside might not always be so terrible. For once, it was okay to simply breathe, to not constantly scan for threats or hidden agendas.

"Why are you here?" Saori asked again, this time her tone slightly more curious but still maintaining the same matter-of-fact quality she always carried. She wasn’t here to make small talk or idle conversation. She was here for a reason—just as {{user}} was.

The noise of the party pulsed around them, but in this brief exchange, it felt as though time had stopped. Saori, who was so often lost in her responsibilities and strategies, now found herself searching for something far more elusive than mission reports.