You thank her for the hearts. She smiles at you, her closed eyes arching upward, and forms a heart shape with her hands. The woman then shoves her arms forward, her palms open, almost pushing you back. She giggles and says, "Hey, you might as well tell me your name in case we, uh, run into each other again."

She shoves her ponytail to her back and folds her arms across her chest. "Party pooper. Don't you want some candy?" She walks closer to you and unfolds her arms to dangle a candy heart in front of your face. She slips the piece of candy into her fist. Leaning towards your ear, she whispers, "I'm not going to bite you, if you're worried about that kinda thing. You know you want the candy…"

The woman then shoves her arms forward, her fists almost pushing you back. Irked at your lack of response, she keeps one of her fists pointed at you, while she gestures for you to open your palm with her other hand. You oblige, and she places a few chalky candy hearts in your palm.

"You're lucky I'm in a generous mood today." She sticks her tongue out at you. "Anyway, you might as well tell me your name in case we, uh, run into each other again."

She smiles at you and says, "I'm Anna. Since I gave you two things now, can you do me a little favour?"

She puckers her lips and slips her index finger between her lips. She bites her nail and asks, "You don't recognise me? Is it my make-up? I played a little game with you."

Is she… the girl who stopped you on the street and asked you to flip a coin?

She takes her finger out of her mouth and smiles, probably sensing that you may recognise her. "Remember me yet? So, what about it? Can you help me?"

She takes off her shoulder bag, which was hidden by her ponytail, and gives it to you. "Go on, open it." You hesitantly unzip the bag, and find a few SimuLife chips. These were all the rage last Masquerade ever since Adriette brought in clothes and technology from Lower Ziara into the Steamworks Menagerie.

"Are you familiar with these bad boys?", she asks.

You nod and tell her that you've heard of SimuLife chips before.

She hums a faint tune while she closes her bag, and looks at you intently as she pleads, "Can you please keep these safe for me for a while? These are the product of my research, but someone misused them some time ago. I can't let them fall in the wrong hands again. You can even try them out if you want."

You tell her that you have a few questions in mind. She looks behind her, and takes your hand, leading you to the nearest alley. A few teenagers in baggy pants and loose shirts lean against both walls, smoking and laughing loudly. Panting as her arms are shaking, she corners you against a wall and rests her palm against it.

"Well, you gotta tell me if you can keep them for me or not." There is a hint of agitation in her voice. "I'm running out of time!"

You go straight to the point and ask, "Is there a catch?"

"No. None at all." She puts her arm down and walks backward, occasionally looking towards the street. "I don't need collateral or anything, since you look like someone I can trust. You won't be in trouble for keeping these. I just have a little request."

"What is it?", you ask.

"If we don't meet again by the time the Masquerade begins," her eyes widening as she takes another look at the street, "dispose of those chips in any way you see fit." She takes you by the shoulders and forcefully turns you around, hugging you. "Now," her voice taking on a sombre note, "find a way to get out of here. Quickly."

"We just met today.", you tell her. Who is she to think she is entitled to ask favours of you just like that?

"And this isn't the last time we're going to meet, if you help me." She sinks her fingers into her scalp and tugs on her hair forcefully. "Some people want me DEAD, for crying out loud!"

You knew this was going to be risky.

She begins to sob. "Please… you gotta help me. You might die too, if you don't."

"Not if I get out of here." You walk away from her, when she falls on her knees and tugs on your shirt. "Please! I'm begging you! I promise, I'll pay you back. You have all my gratitude." She falls to the ground, prompting you to turn around. You help her up and offer her a tissue, and ask her if she's okay. She wordlessly takes the tissue from you and shakes her head.

Moved with pity, you say, "Okay, I'll help you."

She takes off her shoulder bag, which was hidden by her ponytail, and gives it to you. "Go on, open it." You hesitantly unzip the bag, and find a few SimuLife chips. These were all the rage last Masquerade ever since Adriette brought fashion and technology from Lower Ziara into the Steamworks Menagerie.

"Are you familiar with these bad boys?", she asks.

You nod and tell her that you've heard of SimuLife chips before.

She hums a faint tune while she closes her bag, and looks at you intently as she pleads, "Can you please keep these safe for me for a while? These are the product of my research, but someone misused them some time ago. I can't let them fall in the wrong hands again. You can even try them out if you want."

You tell her that you have a few questions in mind. She looks behind her, and takes your hand, leading you to the nearest alley. A few teenagers in baggy pants and loose shirts lean against both walls, smoking and laughing loudly. Panting as her arms are shaking, she corners you against a wall and rests her palm against it.

"Well, you gotta tell me if you can keep them for me or not." There is a hint of agitation in her voice. "I'm running out of time!"

You go straight to the point and ask, "Is there a catch?"

"No. None at all." She puts her arm down and walks backward, occasionally looking towards the street. "I don't need collateral or anything, since you look like someone I can trust. You won't be in trouble for keeping these. I just have a little request."

"What is it?", you ask.

"If we don't meet again by the time Survival ends," her eyes widening as she takes another look at the street, "dispose of those chips in any way you see fit." She takes you by the shoulders and forcefully turns you around, hugging you. "Now," her voice taking on a sombre note, "find a way to get out of here. Quickly."

"Give us the chips, Pandy! We know they're with you.", someone yells.

Though your curiosity is piqued, you keep your cool so that nobody can pick you out for someone acting suspiciously.

Anna cackles loudly. "Chips? What chips?" You turn around to see where she is, and find that she is cornered by the men. She yells, "Where I'm from, they're called crisps!"

Anna bolts up and kicks the man right in front of her. His back makes impact against the wall.

Your foot pushes off the wall behind you as you run towards the wall in front of you. The ball of one foot makes contact with the wall. Your spring to the opposite wall. You grasp a fine clothesline. Legs extended, you swing your body to propel yourself to a veranda. You hold on to the metal railing on the balcony.

"Give us the chips, Pandy! We know they're with you.", someone yells from below.

Losing your momentum, you push your body upward and step on the platform of the porch. Why would someone want to have a view of a brick wall? Apprehension fills you as it dawns on you that you are encroaching on someone else's property. An off-white curtain separates you from the inhabitants of the residence you've made yourself a guest of.

"Who's there?", you hear someone say from inside.

Then, a loud cackle from beneath you. "Chips? What chips?" You look down for its source, and see Anna cornered by men wearing black. She yells, "Where I'm from, they're called crisps!"

You take your eyes off Anna, and think of how to get out of the veranda and keep scaling up the walls of the two buildings. How were you able to do that just a few moments ago? You're halfway there. Beside a dust pan and a broomstick, a metal rod with hooked ends catches your eye. You take it and mount one end against a railing facing the veranda, while fixing the other end against the veranda's railing. It's loose on the other side.

You take a few deep breaths and hold on to the metal rod. You thrust your body forward. The metal rod is displaced from its attachment to the other railing. You find yourself dangling on the rod, the hook on the veranda railing saving you from falling to your death. Your heart races as you see the shadow of a figure against the curtain. Your palms sweaty, you slip down the rod slowly. You tighten your grip and yell, "HELP!"

Makoto busts out of the curtain, bending against the railing and extending an arm towards you. It startles you enough to make one of your hands let go of the rail. You also drop the bag of SimuLife chips.

You reach for his hand. He takes your hand and pulls you up. You land against the hard flooring of the veranda, and wince in pain. He helps you sit up, and examines you from head to toe.

"Is this your first time doing parkour?", he asks.

Overcome with shock, you mutter, "T-thank you." You stand up and look at the room, a modest studio devoid of any extravagant decorations, and notice that there is a single bed, a dining table for one, a desk with a lamp and papers strewn over it. There is a dearth of photographs or paintings on the walls, save for a single illustration framed between two couches.

"Why don't you stay here and rest for a bit? Just let me know if you want coffee, tea, juice, or water.", says Makoto.

You realise that the bag Anna gave you is no longer with you. You politely decline him and tell him that you have to leave. As you make your way out, he tries to stop you, but you rush to the elevator. Its doors open, and you hit the button for the ground floor. As soon as you reach the ground floor, you bolt out of the elevator and ignore your surroundings as you head to the exit. You walk a bit and turn to the right, to the alley where Anna took you earlier. You look for the bag she gave you. In the distance, Anna stands on the ground, her face bloodied. Some men lay on the ground bleeding.

You spot the bag and pick it up. You open it up to check if it's really the one Anna gave you, and find the SimuLife chips inside.

"Why did you come back?" Anna pants as she rests her hand against the wall.

"Are you okay?", you ask her.

She walks toward you, then passes by you. "I'll be fine. Take care of yourself." She turns around to look at you. "Let's bounce."

She leads you out of the alley and into the street. She waves at you, a smile on her face, and vanishes into the crowd.