Runebelle’s eyes widened, and suddenly her heart ran fast, as if she were being chased. “Th-That… What’s this for?”

  Mica’s blush deepened, but immediately smiled shyly at Runebelle. “I just couldn’t help myself, frankly; a really strong e at first gnce when I saw you. It’s like destiny united us, and I had to show you how much I like you.”

  Runebelle let the blush color her cheeks as red as they were going to get and was rgely at a loss for words for that moment. It was surprising and distressing, but she was drawn to it—or more accurately, she was pelled to keep on doing what she felt she couldn’t do with anyone else.

  “I’m sorry if I held you up,” Mica said with a hint ret.

  Runebelle offered a warm smile and reassured her, “It’s okay, really. I have to meet someone, but I’m gd we got to talk. Let’s say oodbyes for now.”

  The two girls exged goodbyes and parted ways, each carrying the memory of their unique enter with them.

  In the depths of Runebelle’s mind, her Mother ositively fangirling over the ued enter with Mica. She couldn’t tain her excitement ahusiasm, feeling gehrilled for Runebelle.

  “Oh, that was so adorable! Did you see how she blushed?” Runebelle’s Mushed ihoughts. “I’m just so happy for you, Runebelle!”

  Oher hand, Sadie wondered about the ued nature of their reunion and Mica’s behavior in Runebelle’s mind.

  “Runebelle, I don’t want to be a buzzkill, but something seems a bit off about this,” Sadie cautioned. “I mean, she acted like you two had never met before. Could it be some kind of act?”

  Runebelle pondered Sadie’s words. “I’m not sure, Sadie, but maybe people ge. I want to believe that this is a fresh start for us, but I don’t know… it’s too early to tell.”

  Runebelle ehe Silver Star Arcade. Her multicolored hair was now fashioned into puffballs, caught the neon lights.

  Today, she was not just Runebelle, the shy college student; she was the Sleuth of Shadoersona she had adopted to explore a new side of herself.

  Runebelle made her way to the restroom, finding a vat stall where she could ge out of her college uniform and into jeans and a rainbow-colored shirt. She adjusted her hair to form the distinctive puffballs that mirrored Sadie’s appearance, as her mentor had pointed out.

  Exiting the restroom, she felt a newfound fidence. Sadie, who had been followihoughts closely spoke up. “You’ve really taken on the Sleuth of Shadows persona, Runebelle. You look fantastiow, what’s your pn ihe arcade?”

  Runebelle nodded, speaking in her mind. “Outside the Arcade I’m Runebelle. Ihe arcade, I’ll be the Sleuth of Shadows, ready to uhe secrets and help anyone in need. It’s time to meet Skygirl296 and see what this is all about.”

  As Runebelle explored the Silver Star Arcade, her attention was drawn to a newer who entered with a certain coy elegahe girl had vibrant green hair tied in a pyful ponytail that swayed with each step. She wore her college uniform with a touch of youthful fir.

  With a sheet of paper clutched in her hand, she sed the arcade’s vibrant enviro, her emerald eyes flitting from one er to the . The paper seemed to be some sort of map uide, and she was searg for assistance.

  Approag Runebelle, she gave a friendly, if somewhat shy, smile. “Excuse me, do you know where I find the Silver Star Arcade’s ‘Retro Racer’ mae? I’m kinda new here, and I’ve been dying to try it out.”

  Runebelle, now fully embrag her Sleuth of Shadows persona, smiled in response. “Of course, I know where it is. Follow me, I’ll show you the way.”

  Runebelle guided the green-haired girl to the ‘Retro Racer’ mae. When they got there, the girl handed Runebelle a piece of paper with a question written on it. Runebelle g the paper, which read, “Are you the Sleuth of Shadows?”

  With a curious smile, Runebelle nodded and responded by writing on the same paper, “Yes, I am. o meet you.”

  The girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement and a touch of admiration. She wrote back, “I’m Skygirl296! It’s so o meet you too!”

  Skygirl296 blushed slightly while being starry eyed. Runebelle leaned in closer to Skygirl296 and whispered, “We talk, but as my name suggests, let’s speak where no eyes see.”

  Skygirl296 nodded eagerly, and Runebelle gestured for her to follow. They ventured further into the arcade, but Runebelle seemed to just walk doath. Sadie chimed in with a pyful tone. “Runebelle, you’re really getting into the role, but do you even know where you’re leading us?”

  Runebelle’s Mother chuckled withihoughts. “Well, at least she’s fully embrag her newfound fidence. Just don’t lead us in circles, dear.”

  Runebelle led Skygirl296 to a quieter, more cealed er of the arcade. She saw a suspicious door aered it while trying to remain straight faced. Her curiosity led her to an ued discovery—a hiddeion that seemed to be accessible only to those who knew where to look. It was a quiet and dark area which was far removed from the bustling arcade games and chatter.

  Sadie ented in Runebelle’s mind. “You found something iing! Could that be your impressive detective skills or just pure luck?”

  Runebelle grinned and pyfully teased, “Well, maybe a bit of both.”

  Ohey settled in this secluded er, Runebelle faced Skygirl296 with a sense of seriousness. “Now, it’s time for you to reveal who you are and share what you know with the Sleuth of Shadows.”

  The girl trembled slightly before speaking. “I’m Skyr. Lately, the rumors I had been listening to: people who had used to be friends all of a sudden ag like they’d never met each other before? I didn’t believe it, but today, on my first day of college, it happeo me. A guy I like acted like he didn’t know who I was. It’s starting to feel like those rumors are true.”

  Runebelle listetentively. Meanwhile, Sadie spoke within her mind.“It’s as if their memories have been altered, like they’re living in a differey. This is getting more and more curious.”

  Skyr’s turned her eyes to the side momentarily. “There’s more to it. My friend, Sarah, she saw something bizarre a few months before college started. She’s a hopeless romantid, one day, she tried to fess to a guy she liked. But p her heart out, he dumped her right there. That wasn’t the stra part, though. At the same time, while she was standing there heartbroken, she swears she saw the same guy standing alo the beach, just watg the waves. It’s like there were two of him, and she couldn’t uand what she’d witnessed.”

  Runebelle, her eyes widening at every new inkling of details ing from Skyr. She was starting to see the truth behind these sorts of strange episodes. Something abnormal and, frankly, creepy was going on.

  Sadie sidered the implications of such a thing. “It’s like they’re living multiple lives, or maybe doppelgangers from another reality are living them. This is starting to sound a lot like the game’s storyline, where doppelgangers are a major theme.”

  Runebelle’s Mother, intrigued by the es, chimed in. “If the game’s story is ing to life, it could be more than a mere ce. We might o dig deeper into this and find out what’s causing these stras.”

  Runebelle looked up to Skyr. “Thank you for tellihis, Skyr. There is some important information here, and the Sleuth of Shadows is going to get to the bottom of it all.

  Skyr’s gratitude shohrough her eyes. “Thank you for taking me seriously. I was worried people would think I’m crazy for talking about this stuff.”

  Runebelle’s reassuring smile spoke volumes. “You’re not crazy, Skyr. I believe every word you have said here. Like I said, I will get to the bottom of this.”

  As Runebelle made her way home after her meeting with Skyr, a whirlwind of thoughts and questions filled her mind. The mysterious occurrences Skyr had described were not only intriguing but also deeply ing. The boundaries between the virtual world of the game ay seemed to blur more than ever, and it raised a host of questions about the nature of these doppelgangers and their e to the game’s storyline.

  Inside her mind, Sadie pondered. “This is more than just a ce. It’s like the game’s script is being pyed out in the real world. Could it be Shadowaking their move? Ever since we left that pce, they have been quiet and off the map...”

  Runebelle’s Mother was equally thoughtful. “There’s a e here, but it’s a puzzle we o unravel carefully. It’s a signifit uaking for the Sleuth of Shadows, and we must be prepared for the ued.”

  On her sed day of school, Runebelle made her way through the bustling campus, already familiar with the curious gnces and whispers about her multicolored hair. She found her csses aled in.

  At lunchtime, she ehe cafeteria filled with students. Runebelle sed the room for ay table when she heard a familiar person call out to her.

  “Runebelle!”

  Turning toward them, she saw Mica wavihusiastically. Runebelle smiled and made her way over to the friendly girl.

  “Hey, Mica!” Runebelle greeted her warmly. “It’s good to see you again.”

  Mica beamed aured to the seat o her. “e, sit here. I’d love some pany, and I’ve got some exg o share.”

  Runebelle gdly joined her, and they began to talk. During their lunchtime versation, as Mica shared her enthusiasm for various college activities.

  “Runebelle, there’s this amazing club on campus called ‘Artisans of Imagination.’ It’s a pce where creative minds e together to explore different art forms, whether it’s painting, writing, or even game design. I think you’d fit right in with your colorful personality and, well, your wonderful hair!”

  Mica’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “The best part is, they’re always looking for new members, and I tell you’d be a perfect addition. What do you think? Would you sider joining?”

  Runebelle was intrigued by the idea. “That sounds fantastic, Mica. I’d love to check it out and see if I tribute to the club. Thanks for inviting me!”

  After her lunch with Mica, Runebelle’s mind was ed with the mysteries surrounding the ret stras. The first step was to gather information about Skyr and her css, so she could uand the text of the mysterious occurrehat Skyr had shared.

  Runebelle navigated her way through the bustling college campus, asking students about Skyr’s css schedule until she finally discovered where Skyr’s css would be. With that information in hand, she set off to find out more about the college’s perspective orange happenings.

  Her journey led her to the Principal’s office. She knocked on the office door aered when she received a firm, “e in.”

  Upoering the principal’s office, Runebelle found herself face to face with a stern-looking woman who radiated an air of no-nonsehority. The principal, her hair pulled ba a strict bun, peered at Runebelle over the rim of her gsses.

  With a raised eyebrow, the principal inquired, “How I assist you, young dy? It’s only the sed day of school, and you’re already here for... recisely?”

  Runebelle took a deep breath and tried to vey the urgency of the matter. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ve heard some unusual stories tely about students experieng... stras. Do you have any information about these occurrences or anyone I speak to about it?”

  The principal regarded Runebelle with skepticism. “Stras, you say? What kind of stories are you talking about? We take the safety and well-being of our students seriously, and I don’t appreciate idle rumors.”

  “I uand, and I don’t mean to spread rumors. It’s just that I’ve heard ats of people who used to be close friends suddenly ag as if they’ve never met each other before. There have been other is as well, like seeing someone in two pces at once.”

  “I see. This is the first I’m hearing of such things. If these events are true, they’re certainly a matter of . I’ll look into it and see if we gather more information. Please, if you hear any more about these is, report them immediately.”

  Runebelle nodded, relieved that the principal had at least aowledged the issue. “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll be sure to do that.”

  Turning, Runebelle found herself face to face with a girl sp a distinctive bun hairstyle which had a vibrant shade of yellow. This girl appeared to be quite ed, her eyes fixed ily on Runebelle.

  Without hesitation, the girl spoke with a sense ency. “Hey, you! You were just in the principal’s office, right? I heard you talking about the strauff happening. Tell me everything you knht now!”