The sun burned bright above Hollywood Boulevard, casting long shadows between the towering palms. Tourists surged in every direction—snapping selfies on the Walk of Fame, crowding around costumed performers, ducking into shops packed with glittering "I ❤ LA" shirts and plastic Oscars.
Emily spun in place, eyes wide, hair catching the light. "This is insane."
William offered her a corndog like a microphone. "On your first day in Hollywood, how do you feel?"
"Overstimulated," she replied, biting into the corndog without missing a beat.
Lucas struck a pose, adjusting his sunglasses dramatically. "Stick with me, rookie. Best taco truck's two blocks that way. Worst tattoo parlor's right there. Don't ask how I know."
They laughed, weaving through the crowd like they belonged—easy rhythm, natural flow.
Ryunosuke trailed a few steps behind, sketchbook in hand. He watched more than he spoke—capturing flashes of life: Emily clapping for a breakdancer, William fake-posing with a giant Elvis statue, Lucas doing a terrible moonwalk across Michael Jackson's star.
And then—
Everything shifted.
Not sharply.Not all at once.
Just enough.
The temperature dipped.The air thickened.The noise of the street muffled—just slightly.Shadows stretched longer than they should have for early afternoon.
Ryunosuke stopped.
A quiet tension threaded up the back of his neck.
"Do you guys feel that?" he asked, voice lower.
Lucas paused mid-dance. "Feel what?"
William glanced around. "The vibe just got… weird."
Emily turned slowly, her smile fading. "There."
They followed her gaze.
Half a block down, a woman in black stood perfectly still—planted in the middle of the crowd. People walked around her without pause, like she wasn't even there.
Small. Delicate. Face obscured beneath the wide brim of a dark hat.
Her coat—a soft lavender—seemed to shimmer faintly at the edges, as if wrapped in mist that didn't belong in daylight.
"Is that—?" Lucas started, but the rest never came.
Ryunosuke's breath caught.
She lifted her head.Just slightly.
And through the distance, the motion, the sunlight—He saw them.Violet eyes.Locked on him.
No smile.No wave.Just a look.Quiet. Unwavering.
Then—
She turned.Stepped into the crowd.And vanished.
Sound returned all at once—car horns, laughter, music blaring from speakers. Someone shouted about Spider-Man. The world snapped back into place.
Emily whispered, "What just happened?"
Lucas scratched his head. "Okay… that was creepy."
William turned to Ryunosuke. "You good?"
But Ryunosuke didn't answer.
He stood frozen, sketchbook clenched tightly in his hand, staring at the spot where she'd stood.
Like a dream had surfacedjust when he thoughtit had let him go.