[Morning – 10:00 AM]
Rei couldn't sleep.
No matter how tightly he shut his eyes or buried his face into the pillow, his mind kept returning to that picture. That haunting image he couldn't forget—no matter how hard he tried.
One question echoed endlessly in his thoughts:"Who… am… I?...who...is...he?"
The image of Kai didn't leave his mind.
The words barely left his trembling lips, more breath than voice.
He lay on the unfamiliar bed of his small apartment in Hora City, the sheets wrinkled from his restless tossing. The silence was thick, broken only by his shallow breaths. He wanted this city to shield him from everything he had left behind—from the ache of memories that never surfaced, and the questions that never stopped gnawing at him. But even here, miles away, the truth found a way to reach him.
His chest rose unevenly. His fingers trembled against the pillow's edge.
He was exhausted—mentally, emotionally, completely.
Everything he remembered began at that hospital. And everything before that… was a blank void.
"Pathetic," he muttered, disgust curling his lips.
"My life… it's pathetic."
He turned on his side, clutching the pillow tightly, eyes staring blankly out the nearby window. The morning sun spilled through the glass, lighting up dust motes in the air. It should have felt warm. Comforting. But it didn't.
"Who am I?" he whispered, barely audible."Who are they? Will I ever know?"
Then—suddenly—something inside him snapped. Or perhaps clicked.
He sat up. Determined.
No more lying around. No more wallowing. If the truth was hidden, he'd dig it out himself. No matter what it took.
Swinging his legs off the bed, Rei walked straight to the full-length mirror leaning against the wall. His reflection looked back at him—messy hair, hollow eyes, skin too pale.
"I'll find out," he said softly. "Even if it's just for myself."
He sighed heavily, rubbing his face with both hands."But first… I need to change my look"
If he was going to search for answers without attracting attention, he couldn't look like this. He couldn't look like this.
He needed to become someone else.
Without wasting another second, he grabbed a towel and rushed to the bathroom. A cold shower jolted his nerves awake. He brushed his teeth like he was scrubbing away every piece of his past.
Then came the breakfast.
He stood at the small kitchen counter, cracking eggs into a pan. The smell of warm, buttery scrambled eggs filled the air. He had bought a loaf of bread and a carton of eggs last night, right after arriving in Hora City—something to ground him in this new place. He was grateful he'd booked the apartment while on the subway.
It wasn't much, but it was something.
He reached for the ketchup and squeezed a generous amount over his toast."Whoops… too much."
Using his finger, he scooped the excess off the bread and licked it clean.
"Mmm. Sweet," he murmured, almost amused.
For a moment, there was peace in that bite of ketchup-laden bread.
But he knew it wouldn't last.
Today, Rei would begin again—not to build a new life, but to uncover the one stolen from him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Rei threw on a black hoodie, tugging the hood low over his head before slipping into a soft, sky-blue flannel—its checks neat and faded from wear. He slid into a pair of loose, baggy black pants, the kind that gave him room to move and disappear. He glanced once in the mirror. Not suspicious. Not memorable. Perfect.
Grabbing his worn black backpack, he bolted out of the apartment. His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest as he skidded into the hallway, rushing toward the elevator. He jabbed the ground floor button with more force than necessary and began tapping his foot rapidly, a nervous rhythm on the cold tile.
Ding!
"Finally," he muttered.
As soon as the doors parted, he burst forward, barely weaving between strangers. A man shouted, a woman cursed as he brushed too close—but Rei only glanced back, breathless and grinning with awkward guilt.
"Oops! Sorry! Please forgive me—ah! I didn't mean to—!"
He threw up a quick wave of apology as he kept running, already pulling his hood up tighter.
Outside, the sun glared overhead. The sidewalk buzzed with noise—cars honking, voices shouting, dogs barking in the distance. He paused at the edge of the street, breath caught in his throat, eyes darting in every direction.
"Uhh…"
He didn't know where to go. Not yet. Not clearly.
But then, across the road, something caught his eye:A row of sleek bicycles lined up outside a small rental booth, bright in the morning light.
His gaze sharpened.
"A cycle rental!"
Without hesitation, Rei dashed forward, ignoring the red pedestrian light and the cars honking in protest as he sprinted across.
There were bigger signals to worry about.
Moments later, he emerged from the booth, panting, wheeling a bicycle beside him. Its paint was a deep navy blue with streaks of crimson flashing along the frame. A bit too flashy, but it would do.
Rei swung a leg over the seat, gripped the handlebars, and smirked to himself.
"Time to hit the streets."
The city was alive. People hustled in every direction, phones in hand, bags slung over shoulders. Rei paused only for a breath, letting the chaos soak into him. It was strange—he felt like a single drop in a storm, invisible yet completely exposed.
He exhaled softly."...For myself."
With a push, he launched forward. The tires hummed against the asphalt as he pedaled harder, faster. The wind rushed past him, tugging at his clothes, stinging his cheeks. His heart raced—not just from effort, but from the thrill of movement, of escape.
Rring! Rring!
His phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He gritted his teeth, pushing harder.
Not now.
But the buzzing didn't stop.
With one hand, Rei clumsily fumbled into his pocket, trying to fish the device out while keeping his eyes on the road. The phone slipped, wobbled, nearly fell.
"Woah—ah!"
He caught it just in time. Glancing down, he squinted at the screen.
"Kai...?" he breathed.
His blood ran cold. He'd forgotten to block the number.
"No—no, not today!"
His thumb raced over the screen, hurriedly navigating to the block option. One tap. Done. He had to make sure Kai couldn't trace him. Not yet. Not while he was still just a ghost chasing shadows.
In this small city, it wouldn't be long before Kai came looking.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and didn't stop to think. He pedaled harder, faster, until his legs burned and his lungs begged for air.
Then finally—he skidded to a stop in front of a modest-looking salon tucked between a convenience store and a bakery. The glass windows were fogged slightly from the air inside.
Rei looked up at the faded sign, then down at his reflection in the glass.
His chest rose and fell with each breath.
"Time to get a new face," he murmured. "Completely."
And with that, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
A soft chime rang as Rei stepped into the salon.
A woman, around her twenties, behind the counter looked up, blinking in mild surprise. Her gaze flicked over his oversized hoodie and flannel—odd attire for a beauty salon customer—but she recovered quickly, her smile radiant and professional.
"Well, hello there, sir!" she greeted cheerfully.
She wore a form-fitting black dress that stopped just below her knees, a denim apron tied neatly over it. Her long dark hair was tucked into a messy bun, and her lips were painted a gentle coral pink. Stylish, but not overdone.
"Come in, come in—please, sit!" she said, already pulling out a cushioned salon chair for him with a warm, practiced grace.
Rei hesitated for a second before stepping forward. The inside of the salon was far from what he'd expected. From the worn, faded signage outside, he assumed it'd be dusty, dark, maybe even abandoned. Instead, it was cozy and welcoming. Everything inside was dipped in soft baby pink—walls, chairs, curtains—even the spray bottles and combs had a gentle pastel hue. It felt like walking into a dollhouse.
He glanced around. Something was… off.
"You work here alone?" he asked, puzzled.
The woman was bent over a line of potted plants on the windowsill, watering them gently. She paused, then turned with a sheepish smile.
"Oh! No, no," she laughed, straightening. "Not usually. My staff's off for the day, family emergencies and such. I'm just holding the fort."
Rei raised his eyebrows. "You own this place?"
"Sure do," she said with a proud nod.
"Huh." A small, genuine smile tugged at his lips for the first time in hours.
She walked over, patting the salon chair. "So, what can I do for you today?"
With practiced ease, she swiveled the chair so Rei was facing the mirror. He flinched slightly. His reflection stared back at him—lavender hair tousled and unruly, pale skin shadowed beneath tired eyes, a look of someone running from everything, including himself.
"I… I want to be different," he murmured.
She tilted her head slightly behind him, waiting.
He met her gaze in the mirror. His voice was quiet, hollow.
"Change my look. Everything—my hair, my face… me."
There was a pause.
The woman smiled softly, folding her arms. "Heartbreak?" she guessed with a sympathetic chuckle.
Rei's expression didn't shift. His eyes darkened.
"Worse," he said flatly.
That made her still for a beat. Then she nodded slowly and grabbed a pair of gloves from the nearby counter.
"Well," she said, slipping them on, "while I work my magic, how about you tell me your story?"
Rei looked down at his hands resting on his lap.
He shrugged. "Sure... it probably won't interest you much anyway."
She smirked, tying the gloves tight. "Try me."
The woman went to the front of the salon and flipped the 'Open' sign to 'Closed'.
She was going to be committed to Rei for a while.
[3 Hours Later]
"There!" the woman announced, spinning the salon chair around with a dramatic flourish.
Rei blinked against the warm lights overhead, still reeling from the blur of the past few hours. He had been scrubbed, massaged, colored, cut, styled, powdered, and polished. A full transformation—from head to soul.
She hadn't just kept her word. She had gone beyond it.
His hair was now a striking, deep crimson, like embers caught mid-burn. The left side had been slicked back, exposing the sharp line of his cheekbone and temple, clean and severe. The right side fell loosely, soft waves framing his face like they hadn't been touched. A perfect contrast—structured and wild, all at once.
He looked...like an Alpha.
Not just because of the hair or the subtle makeup that sharpened his features—no, it was something more. The way he sat now, the way his eyes caught the light—there was power in it. Presence.
The woman exhaled, hands on her hips, beaming like she'd just painted her finest canvas. "Hah!" she sighed in satisfaction. "The mirror's over there." She jerked her thumb toward it, her smirk practically glowing with pride.
Rei stood slowly, legs stiff, unsure.
He walked toward the full-length mirror in the corner. The moment he saw his reflection, he stopped in his tracks.
"Oh… what… the fuck," he breathed.
His own face stared back at him, and yet it didn't feel like his at all. The bone structure was the same, the eyes still that unusual shade of lavender—but everything else had shifted. His expression carried weight now. A silent, simmering intensity. Like someone you couldn't quite look away from… or trust.
He lifted a hand and touched his cheek, dragging his fingers across his skin like he was making sure it wasn't some illusion.
She really had changed him.
Completely.
"The name's Minji, by the way," she said, her voice light and casual. "Don't go forgetting that." A playful smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, and…"
Rei turned just as she walked toward him, something small tucked in her hands.
"What is it?" he asked, eyeing the package warily.
"Well," she said with a teasing chuckle, "after hearing your story, I figured you might need more than just a new hairstyle. Some colored contacts… and maybe a change of clothes too."
Rei's smile faltered. Something heavy pulled at his chest.
"Is it really… that funny to you?"
Minji's playful expression instantly softened. She paused, registering the hurt in his voice.
"No, dear. Why would I ever laugh at that?" she said gently, stepping closer.
She placed both hands on his shoulders, grounding him. Her tone was sincere now, the salon lights casting a soft glow on her face. "I helped you change your outside so you could hide, run, or restart—whatever it is you need. But…" Her hand shifted, one finger tapping lightly against his chest, just over his heart, "sometimes, the problem isn't what's out here."
She looked him square in the eye.
"It's not always about changing. It's about adapting. And owning who you are. Confidence isn't something you find in a mirror—it's something you decide to have when the moment comes."
That warm, reassuring smile returned.
Rei exhaled slowly and sank back into the salon chair, resting his head against one hand. His gaze was distant, swirling with guilt and confusion.
"I can't believe I just told you everything," he muttered.
Minji quirked an eyebrow, folding her arms as she leaned slightly to the side. "What, don't trust me?" she asked, tilting her head. "Well, too late now," she added with a faint smirk.
"No, it's not that," Rei sighed, running a hand through his newly dyed hair. "I—I'm just too open sometimes."
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, voice quieting.
"It's not about you. It's about me. What if I slip up again? What if I say too much to the wrong person next time?" He rubbed his temples, overwhelmed. "God, what was I thinking…"
Minji let out a soft laugh as she pulled up a chair across from him. She sat down with one leg crossed over the other, resting her elbows casually on her knees.
"My, oh my…" she said, half amused, half exasperated. She rolled her eyes and offered a lopsided grin.
"Boy, you've got to stop second-guessing yourself so much. Learn to be confident. Trust your instincts. And believe in yourself—not as you were, or as you're pretending to be—but who you are now. Right here."
Rei looked at her for a moment—just a second—and without meaning to, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Minji caught it, and in response, she held out a small case of contact lenses.
"These are brown—natural-looking. Should help your unconfident ass blend in," she teased, chuckling.
Rei rolled his eyes, snatching the lenses from her hand with a mock scowl.
He turned back toward the mirror and carefully put them in, blinking a few times as the world shifted slightly through the warm brown tint.
That's when the thought hit him.
"Hey?" he called, turning back around.
"Ye—" Minji's voice cut off mid-word.
She froze, a faint pink blooming on her cheeks.
The lenses suited him too well. The rich brown against that bold red hair, the smudged eyeliner, the way his expression had started to change—more grounded, more intense. He looked like someone else entirely. Someone dangerous. Someone beautiful.
She blinked herself out of it, clearing her throat. "U-uh, yeah?"
Rei hesitated, scratching his neck. "So… what if, I don't know, during my little mission the makeup smudges or something messes up?"
Minji didn't answer.
She was still staring—at him, through him—completely zoned out.
Rei squinted, then waved a hand. When that didn't work, he snapped his fingers twice.
"Hello?"
"Erk—!" Minji jolted, blinking rapidly. "S-sorry! You were saying?"
He tilted his head. "What if something goes wrong with my look? Like, the makeup fades or I mess up my hair or—whatever. And besides…" he shifted on his feet, suddenly unsure. "I don't really know how to change my attitude, you know? The way I talk, the way I carry myself. It's easy to look different, but feeling different…"
He trailed off, then added awkwardly, "And you—you seem like you know a lot about stuff I… don't."
Minji raised an eyebrow, arms crossing. "You want help with your plan?"
Rei nodded silently, looking at her with quiet, pleading eyes.
Minji scoffed gently. "And what makes you think I know anything useful?"
He paused, choosing his words.
"I don't really get emotions that well," he said slowly, "but I read a lot of books. I observe things. And from what I've seen… you're confident, yeah—but something holds you back. Like… you understand people, even when their stories sound ridiculous. You listened to mine—some stranger rambling about mafias and memory loss—and you didn't flinch. You helped me. That means you've got something in you… something that knows what pain looks like."
He glanced down, then back at her.
"And your advice? Pretty damn good," he added with a soft, genuine smile. "Actually… the best."
Minji sat still.
She didn't respond at first. Her usual spark dimmed a little. She looked at him—no teasing, no grin—just a flicker of quiet in her eyes. Like he'd peeled back something she didn't expect anyone to see.
And then… a smile. Small. Faint. But not quite real.
"You really can read people, huh?" she whispered.
Her gaze dropped for a second, lost in thought.
But then—just like that—the confidence returned. Her posture straightened, her eyes lit up with that familiar gleam.
"Well then," she said, clapping her hands together. "I'm gonna help you."
Rei blinked. "Really?"
"Not just a makeover," she continued, grinning wildly. "We're talking a whole new personality. A different walk, talk, vibe—everything."
Then she put on an exaggeratedly stern face, crossing her arms.
"But—only for the mission. Got it?" she sniffed, turning her head away dramatically. "Nothing else."
She held that expression for a second… before breaking into laughter.
Rei couldn't help it—he laughed too.
For a moment, the heaviness lifted.
Two strangers, laughing in a pink salon—on the edge of a storm neither of them could predict.
To Be Continued... ...