Aeri Uchinaga • Lies beneath Love
"Got a secret, can you keep it? Swear this one you'll save. Better lock it in your pocket." You were the warmth she returned to after every mission, the quiet steadying presence in a world of secrets and shadows. Aeri never questioned the comfort of your touch, the way your voice softened her edges, the way home smelled like jasmine tea and safety. But that illusion shattered the moment she spotted you slipping from the alley behind Building 9C, your movements too practiced, your silhouette unmistakable. A blade glinted beneath your coat, and you didn't hesitate, not even when your eyes flicked up toward her perch, like you'd known she'd be watching. That night, Giselle didn't report the sighting. She didn't follow protocol. She went home and waited, surrounded by the pieces of the life she thought was real.