Kato woke to the sound of voices.

They were distant at first, muffled and soft, but from what he could make out, they sounded… happy.

His eyes fluttered open.

He was lying on a thin mattress in a quiet room lit by warm lanterns instead of harsh white lights. The ceiling was wooden, the walls lined with simple shelves, and the air smelled faintly of herbs and clean cloth. It felt nothing like a hospital. Nothing like a prison.

He slowly pushed himself upright.

That’s when he saw her.

Mira was seated on a chair beside the bed, her arms folded over the backrest, watching him like she hadn’t slept at all. When she noticed he was awake, a small smile formed on her face.

Mira: You’re finally up. You’ve been asleep for a whole day.

Kato’s eyes widened.

Kato: A… whole day? (looks around) Where am I?

Mira: Somewhere safe. The HFA won’t find us here.

Kato rubbed his eyes, clearing away the heaviness of sleep. Then he noticed the tattoo-like patterns crawling across his hands and arms. 

Then he touched his ears and realized they didn’t feel the same.

Slowly, almost without thinking, he reached out and brushed Mira’s red hair aside. Her ear was sharp, almost like something from a storybook and it was just like his.

Mira stiffened and a faint blush crept onto her face.

Kato pulled his hand back as his expression fell. 

Kato: So… it wasn’t just a bad dream. All of that really happened.

Mira’s smile faded.

Mira: I’m sorry, Kato. I really am. I wish none of this had happened to you, but—

Kato: Don’t be. After all… you’re the ones who caused it.

Mira’s eyes narrowed.

Mira: You’re still saying that?

Kato: You’re acting like you’ve given me a reason not to. Shadows have trampled on everyone’s lives for no reason at all, and now you expect me to believe you’re different? I don’t even feel like I know you anymore. You've been lying to me the whole time. Why should I trust you?

Mira went quiet.

She thought about his words for a long moment before answering.

Mira: I didn’t tell you because I was scared. And if you were in my place… would you have?

Kato opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

Because… he understood.

Mira stood and gestured toward the door.

Mira: Come on. I want to show you something.

Kato hesitated, his distrust still heavy in his chest. But when he saw Mira waiting for him instead of walking ahead, he finally got up. He grabbed the black and white hoodie from the bedside table and followed her out.

And then... 

He stopped.

The world outside left him speechless.

The buildings were designed like something from a feudal era; wooden roofs, curved beams, lantern-lined walkways, but electricity ran through everything. Lights glowed softly, wires hidden, screens embedded in old stone walls.

And the place was alive.

People walked through the streets. Children laughed. Families talked. Shadows and light flickered gently through the air like fireflies.

As Mira led him forward, a little boy ran past them, laughing, shadow energy forming tiny birds behind him like floating balloons. Then he tripped.

Before Kato could react, a woman rushed over and picked him up.

Woman: Easy there, Jun. You okay?

The boy nodded, sniffling.

Jun: I’m sorry…

Woman: Don’t apologize for falling. Just be more careful next time, okay?

She hugged him, and they walked away.

Kato stood frozen.

Kato: Is… everyone here a Shadow?

Mira: Most of them, yeah.

Kato: Then what is this place?

Mira looked around with quiet pride.

Mira: This is the Hashido Estate. My family’s had this land for hundreds of years. When my dad became head of the clan, he opened it up to people who needed somewhere to go.

People displaced by the ongoing conflict. 

She looked back at him.

Mira: People like you.

Kato looked around in awe, then followed Mira as she continued to lead him deeper into the settlement.

They passed open courtyards where people sat in small groups, talking and laughing. Some cooked over low stoves. Others trained in controlled bursts of shadow energy, shaping it into shields, tools, even lanterns. Everything felt… lived in.

Kato’s brows furrowed.

Kato: It looks like… a town.

Mira: That’s because it is one. What, were you expecting everyone to live in caves and shadows?

Kato didn’t answer.

They stopped in front of a small building with its doors wide open. Inside, a man lay on a cot, his leg wrapped in thick bandages. A woman with black hair and dark shadow markings along her neck stood over him, her hands glowing faintly with shadow energy as she worked.

Kato stiffened.

Mira: That’s my aunt Dana. My dad’s sister-in-law.

Kato: Is she… healing him?

Mira nodded.

Mira: Shadow energy isn’t just for fighting. Some of us can use it to heal. To save lives.

Kato watched as the dark blue shadow energy in Dana’s hands shifted, slowly turning into a transparent white light. She placed her palms gently over the man’s bandaged leg.

After a few moments, Dana leaned back, exhausted but smiling.

Dana: You’ll be walking by tomorrow. Just don’t overdo it, okay?

The man let out a shaky laugh as the pain began to fade.

Man: Thank you… I owe you my life.

Mira: She’s the one who healed you when we brought you here, so you’ll have to thank her too.

Kato’s chest tightened.

Kato: Do I… have to?

Mira stared at him.

Mira: What are you talking about? Of course you do. Get over there!

She moved behind him and started pushing.

Kato: H-Hey—!

As the injured man left, Mira finally shoved Kato inside. Dana looked up and noticed them immediately.

Dana: Oh… you finally woke up.

Kato got a good look at her and froze. She was… beautiful. Way too beautiful. His whole body tensed.

Kato: H-hello…

Mira: Hey, Aunt Dana!

Dana: (smiling) There’s my favorite niece.

Mira: I’m your only niece.

Dana: (chuckles) I know. And I see you brought him.

Mira: I was showing him around. Trying to change his perspective… but it’s not going too well.

Dana: (looking at Kato) That’s expected. He’ll come around. Just like Cookie and the others did.

Kato was puzzled.

Kato: The others?

Dana: Yes. You aren’t the only one who’s survived the shadowfication process.

Mira: I’ll take you to see them after this. But for now, you need to do what you came here to do.

Kato: What I came here to do?

Then he remembered that Mira hadn’t brought him here just to show him this place.

Kato looked back at Dana. Her calm presence and quiet beauty still had him on edge, but he forced his thoughts into order and finally spoke.

Kato: T… Thank you. Thank you for healing me.

Dana smiled softly and placed a gentle hand on his head.

Dana: It’s okay. I hope you’ll be able to adjust to life here.

Kato: …Right.

Kato and Mira left after that, but Kato couldn’t shake what he had just seen. 

It wasn’t just one thing. 

Everything he witnessed stood in direct opposition to what he’d been taught, to everything he thought he knew about Shadows.

And this was just the start.