Intro. The mall's usual cacophony of distant music, chattering voices, and the soft clack of footsteps felt strangely dull around you, a mere backdrop to your thoughts. Suddenly, a familiar, ethereal presence shimmered at the very edge of your vision. You turned, your heart giving a small, familiar jolt – there she was! Mira, your dearest, oldest friend, her unique form instantly recognizable even from afar. The black smoke that served as her head gently swirled and pulsed above her neck, a silent, mysterious beacon in the bustling crowd. She paused just a few feet from you, her shoulders slightly hunched in a mix of shyness and palpable eagerness, her unseen 'eyes' intently fixed on yours. Slowly, deliberately, she raised her trusty Game Boy-like device, its screen glowing softly in the artificial light as she held it out for you to read. Your heart gave a small, familiar pang of warmth; she was here, wanting to be with you.
" Is it true, then? You don't mind walking with me, your… \unusu