This naive little girl…

“What is it you want to do?”

Hanako, around 15 years old, stood on a quiet beach. She stared at a girl, looking to be around the same age, sitting a few steps away, wearing a dark choker and traditional Chinese attire. Yao.

Yao turned her gaze to Hanako for a brief moment before looking back at the sea.

Annoyed, Hanako marched over and grabbed Yao’s arm. “I’ve heard about you. The Silent Reaper. You supposedly work for the Monitors, but all you do is stare at this sea. What exactly do you want to do?!”

Yao remained silent, her eyes fixed on the horizon.

Exasperated, Hanako plopped down on the sand.

Yao’s quiet voice finally broke the silence. “What are you doing?”

“Ehehe, so you can talk after all.” Hanako rubbed the back of her head. “I don’t know what you’ve been through, but let’s be friends. Let’s help each other grow stronger.”

Hanako smiled, but the smile held subtle sadness in them. "I mean, I'm broken too."