"No, go ahead.", she replies, gesturing at the vacant seat. You thank her and take your seat.

Wait a second. She sounds a bit different.

He takes one of the stools behind the bar and tells you that he'll let you know when a table is free. You settle down, just to see Aria stand up and walk to where you are seated.

"The seat in front of me isn't taken.", she says with a big smile on her face.

Wait a second. She sounds a bit different.

And what was that about letting go of a friend? Could she be the person behind the death of Cess?

"What are you doing here, Aria?", you ask, nearly raising your voice.

With a confused look on her face, Aria returns a question at you: "Excuse me?"

"I'm leaving pretty soon so you'll have this table to yourself in a few moments. Are you from around here?" The lady gently swirls her glass, dangling from a loose grip formed by her fingers.

You admit to her that you're not a local, if that's what she meant.

"Oh, are you on vacation then?"

"I was here for this year's Masquerade but decided to extend my stay for a little while." You decide not to say anything about the festival, especially since Aria is rumoured to be there. You know, just in case this woman is actually Aria.

"You know, Ziara is quite lonely when all the tourists leave Atebus once the Masquerade is over, but you didn't hear that from me." She brings the rim of her glass to her lips and drinks the rest of its contents. "If you have some time to spare today, I have spare tickets to a music festival in Pina Park. Would you like one?"

"I have proof that I'm not Aria, either. Check our fingerprints and DNA. I don't understand why people mistake us for each other even if she's my fraternal twin.", she confidently says before she downs her drink in one shot.

She then stands up and leaves the bar.

"Is there something wrong?", she asks.

"Do you not see Aria Serosa is in this bar? She's a wanted criminal." You point at the table, and upon realising that she is no longer there, the front door.

Although the waitress' eyebrows are furrowed together as though she is confused, she also appears to be stifling a laugh.

"You must not be one of our regulars. You do look new to Ziara." You nearly object to that last statement of hers when she continues, "That's Donna Serosa, her sister. She's a pianist who performs here every Saturday with her band, the Stained Glass Saints."

Oh. That was embarrassing. Does that mean the woman you encountered was Donna the entire time? You think of something to ask the waitress to confirm your suspicions.

"Has she performed here for the last two months?", you ask. That was around the first time you encountered the lavender-haired lady in Centropolis.

"Every Saturday since we opened last year."

If you'll take her word for it, then it's very unlikely that the woman you met in Centropolis is Donna. That really must be Aria, and this lady could be Donna.

You decide to check Blue Moon first because it's unlikely for her to head to the direction of the Revolution Ballroom now that Masquerade had been over for nearly a week.

You see her insert a 2 point Wizard Token into the vending machine, and pushes the red button beside the token slot. As a happy planet plushie shoots out of the prize box, a smile spreads on the woman's lips.

She turns around and upon seeing you, she asks, "Do you need something?"

You say that you don't. She pulls her wallet out of her pocket, and shows you two IDs, instead.

(Art by Hound3 and naomochi.)

As soon as she notices you examining her ID, she asks, "Is this satisfactory enough for you?"

You take another look at the card, and feel that it's probably not a fake ID, if she's that confident to show it to you. Just to be extra sure, you ask for her permission to take a photo of her ID on your phone. You can show it to Vera and Makoto the next time you see them around.

"Well, just don't use it to falsify my identity or something. Not that it'll get you anywhere. I'm just a starving musician.." She lets out a nervous laugh, when her eyes suddenly light up. "Speaking of which, I have a spare ticket for a music festival in Pina Park later today. I'm actually on the way there right now. Maybe you'd like to watch me play the piano?"

"I already told you that I'm Aria's twin sister. I'm Donna."

You decide that you might as well introduce yourself to her.

"Good to meet you. You don't seem like you're from around here. Are you spending your vacation in Ziara?"

Donna is about to say something, but you quickly interrupt her. "Wait a second, I'm the one asking questions here."

"Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Do you know anything about what your sister did?", you ask.

She hangs her head and bites her lip, her voice hushed and shaky. "I don't want to believe she can do that, not after everything she sacrificed just to give me a good life. She can't just ruin herself like that, can she? Someone else has to be behind this."

It's understandable that she'd be in disbelief. Aria is family to her.

"Well, I really have to be on my way somewhere right now, so I couldn't stay here and talk for long. If you have some time to spare today, I have spare tickets to a music festival in Pina Park." Her lips ease into a smile and her face relaxes. "You'll see me and my band play there. It's my first time in a music festival, so I'm pretty excited."

Her lips ease into a smile and her face relaxes. "You'll see me and my band play there. It's my first time in a music festival, so I'm pretty excited."

Uh-oh. Is this why Makoto mentioned that Aria will be at the festival? He did mention that Aria will be a runner for one of the bands, but not that she would be performing with one of the acts.

"What? Don't you like music festivals?", she asks you.

"It's not that, I'm just worried for some reason."

Looks like the cat almost slipped out of the bag.

"So it's not just me, huh? I have this feeling I can't shake, that something might happen to one of the performers or someone in the production team. I've been having nightmares about the festival lately. I just want it to be a fun time, and I'm hoping that I'm just too nervous for my performance later." She earnestly looks at you before she hands you the ticket and stands up. "Please take care out there, okay?"

"That's amazing!", she gleefully exclaims. "You'll see me and my band play there. It's my first time in a music festival, so I'm pretty excited."

Uh-oh. Is this why Makoto mentioned that Aria will be at the festival? He mentioned that Aria will be a runner for one of the bands, but not that she would be performing with one of the acts.

"What? Don't you like music festivals?", she asks you.

"It's not that, I'm just worried for some reason."

Looks like the cat almost slipped out of the bag.

"So it's not just me, huh? I have this feeling I can't shake, that something might happen to one of the performers or someone in the production team. I've been having nightmares about the festival lately. I just want it to be a fun time, and I'm hoping that I'm just too nervous for my performance later." She earnestly looks at you before she hands you the ticket and stands up. "Please take care out there, okay?"

"I already told you that I'm Aria's twin sister. I'm Donna."

You decide that you might as well introduce yourself to her.

"Good to meet you. You don't seem like you're from around here. Are you spending your vacation in Ziara?"

Donna is about to say something, but you quickly interrupt her. "Wait a second, I'm the one asking questions here."

"Is there anything else you want to know?"

"Do you know anything about what your sister did?", you ask.

She hangs her head and bites her lip, her voice hushed and shaky. "I don't want to believe she can do that, not after everything she sacrificed just to give me a good life. She can't just ruin herself like that, can she? Someone else has to be behind this."

It's understandable that she'd be in disbelief. Aria is family to her.

"Anyway, do you want to attend the music festival?", she asks.

"If that's the case, why are you offering me this ticket? And if you feel so bad about it, why are you going to the festival?"

She hangs her head down and shakes her head. "It's my dream. It's my band's dream to perform in front of so many people. And I think this is just my anxiety. My sister won't even be able to watch me right now, I think I just want someone to be there. To watch me."

She seems to be close to tears. "I know you might have heard of the news, but I know Aria, my sister, well. She would not do such a thing."

"That's what they always say.", you quip.

With pleading eyes, she looks at you and says, "Harden not your heart. There's always two sides to a story." She turns around and walks away from you.

She closes her eyes and nods slightly, a grin on her face. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks. It's just my first time in front of such a huge crowd and I'm so scared of messing up. Or things not going the way we always practiced. Or some kind of emergency we didn't foresee. I hope everything will be okay."

"Well, I hope to see you among the crowd." She turns around and walks away from you.

The next day, you set off for the festival, hoping it will push through this time. After roughly an hour on the road, you arrive at Pina Park, where banners for the Infection Control Music Festival are prominently displayed. A stage is propped up in front of the Ikumoradeekanox tree. A sizeable standing crowd gathers near rows of seats reserved presumably for VIPs. Some of those seats are occupied, while a few others are still cordoned off.

An usher approaches you, asking for your ticket. She expresses surprise on her face when you hand over your ticket to her, offering to take you to the tent where Veritas is preparing for their performance. She slaps a band of coloured paper on your wrist, which loosely snaps around it.

You catch up to her as she stops just in front of the tent with a banner that reads "Stained Glass Saints". You think of how to approach her while she is oblivious to your presence.

As soon as you enter, it is immediately apparent to you that Makoto and Vera are not inside the tent. You ask Gloria where both of them are.

"They haven't returned since they left for their soundcheck. I'm starting to get worried." Her smile turns into a frown, a look of sorrow in her eyes.

You give her a hopeful look as you say, "Don't worry, Gloria. They'll probably be back soon."

"What brings you here, anyway?", she asks.

"I think I found Aria.", you calmly tell her.

Gloria's eyes widen. You do not sense fear from her expression, but rather, an odd kind of anticipation. "Oh, really?"

"Be on the lookout for someone with long, flowy, black hair. There's someone around here with the same eyes, who calls herself Donna Serosa. Do you remember if Aria has a sister?"

Right then and there, Makoto and Vera, who is carrying a rectangular instrument bag, enter the tent.

"So, you found Aria?", asks Makoto.

Gloria, still looking at you, nods. "Yes. I know Donna. She doesn't seem to know anything about Aria's whereabouts."

You then look at Makoto and describe the appearance of the person you assume to be Aria.

Vera raises an eyebrow. "That is a vague description. Did you see any identifying marks? What about her clothes? By describing her hair and skin colour, you might as well be referring to me."

Before you can speak, her eyebrows furrow as she asks in an irked manner, "Do you know me?" Her voice confirms her identity as the woman you met in Centropolis.

With less hesitation than ever before, you tap her shoulder and ask, "Hey, what's your name?"

Her back straightens for a moment, then she turns around to face you. She exhales through pursed lips. "My name's Finella. You can call me Fifi. I'm part of the festival production team. What's yours?"

She winks at you playfully.

Vera folds her arms across her chest, looking at you with a straight face. You uncomfortably stand in silence for two seconds that seem like eternity, before she dryly says, "I would not take the risk of shuttling myself back to Atebus if I were Aria."

"It seems quite dumb of Aria not to disguise herself if she really is back here in Atebus.", quips Makoto. "Anyway, I'm 200% certain that Vera isn't Aria in disguise. I've known Vera for a long time. This girl we're looking for is no older than 25."

Vera clears her throat and shoots a piercing glare at Makoto.

Makoto sweeps the locks of hair covering his forehead backward, and whistles.

Turning to the side to look at you, Vera asks, "Do you remember what our suspect looks like? I would rather not go into this manhunt blind."

"That is a better description.", flatly declares Vera.

"Was her shirt orange and blue?", asks Makoto.

"Yes."

Makoto rubs his chin. "I think I've seen her on the way to the bathroom earlier, someone with the same hair and clothes. She wasn't looking at me, thankfully."

"That was a close call. At least we know who we are looking for." Vera sets the instrument bag on the ground. She turns around, her back facing all of you, and raises her arms. She tugs at her sleeves as she prepares to undress herself.

"Really? Not even warning me or our guest?", asks Makoto.

"Oh, yeah?" She raises an eyebrow. "Tell me who I am to you, if you dare.", she taunts.

"I sense the lack of confidence in your voice. If I look familiar, you oughta say it!"

"So, what are you here for?" She gives you a curious look.

Careful not to bring Makoto and Vera into the conversation, you make no mention of them. All you tell her is that you received a VIP ticket from a friend.

"That's super cool!" She brings her fists to her cheeks and beams a wide grin at you. Her facial expression shifting to that of mild irritation, she continues, "I had to audition to be part of the production team. How crazy is that? Who even holds auditions for production staff anyway?"

"Maybe they just needed to screen the people helping out in the event." You shrug.

Finella rubs the skin under her lips with her index finger as she asks, "Is your friend performing today?"

Quick. Think of someone who isn't Makoto or Vera.

"Yeah! Actually, it was Donna Serosa who invited me today."

Finella freezes, as though in shock. You notice her hands shake.

Looks like you caught her.

"Is Finella really your name?" You raise an eyebrow and fold your arms across your chest.

As Finella's eyebrows furrow, she asks you in an irked manner, "Do you verify the name of every person you meet? I'm pretty sure you don't. If you have something to say to me, spill the beans!"

To your surprise (and relief), you see Makoto leave the tent.

Er, you opt to just keep looking at Makoto and Gloria.

Gloria stifles a laugh. "I thought you were married to someone before? Aren't you used to this--"

Makoto covers Gloria's mouth with his hand.

"Chiharu was right. You are a prude." Vera reaches for a white dress shirt and slips it on.

A look of surprise spreads on Makoto's face. His hands shake, betraying his attempt to keep his cool. "Have you-- Never mind." He heaves a sigh.

"Go on." Vera takes her coat and wears it, facing all of you again.

"It's... I don't feel good." Makoto heads outside the tent. You notice him frantically slide his hand inside his coat pocket.

"Stop lying. If you were trying to hide, you'd try harder than this.", you tell her.

Finella flicks a lock of her hair that the wind swept on her face. "Okay. For the sake of rhetoric, let's say I'm this Aria you're talking about. What now?" Her eyes slightly pop out of their sockets.

With confidence, you declare, "I will report you to the police and have them send your sorry self back to jail."

Feigning indifference, Finella asks, "So, what exactly did this Aria do?"

"Do you really not know who Aria is?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Nah, man." She gives you a blank face as she shrugs.

"She's been in the news for escaping from a prison here in Atebus. She's apparently some kind of serial killer.", you say, adding emphasis to "Atebus" and "serial killer".

Finella gasps and places a hand over her chest. She appears to be appalled by your statement. "Where do you get your information? That's fake news."

Coyly, you ask her, "How do you say that? Is it because you're Aria?"

"Dude. What the hell. You're creeping me out." Finella flexes her elbows and crosses them in front of her as she shakes her head.

You return to Makoto and Vera's tent so that you can report her. After a bit of searching, you eventually locate the tent with a banner that reads, "Veritas", and ask to enter it. You hear Gloria say, "Come in."

Makoto and Vera put on their coats as soon as you enter, and invite you to take a seat in front of them.

"Did you find her?", Makoto asks.

You respond, "Yes. She has long black hair today, and she's wearing an orange and blue blouse that has a fish-scale pattern. She's hard to miss."

Makoto claps, and reaches forward to pat your shoulder. "Good work. We'll take it from here. Feel free to mingle with the other artists in their tents, or have a look around."

Vera looks at him, then at you. "It would have been better if you took her here before we lose her again." She leans forward and bites her lip. "There is nothing to worry about. You did well."

"Did she ask you to leave?", he asks.

You tell him that you left on your own accord, and ask him if he's okay.

"I was hoping a little walking might make me feel better, but I'm more nervous than anything else.", he laments.

You ask, "Is it about your performance?" You recall someone telling you that they had a bad feeling about the festival, but decide not to tell it to Makoto, fearing that it might exacerbate his anxiety.

"I was looking at the profiles of all the performing acts for possible leads to Aria. There's a cello player with the same name as my daughter. If, just like Al, that woman who looks like my wife--"

"You're thinking that this woman might be your...", you hesitate, "...her daughter?"

"Right."

The entrance to the tent behind you rustles, and a lady with a short haircut emerges from it.

She looks at you, then at Makoto. Her eyes widen as she asks with a shaky voice, "D-dad?"

"Are you… Fuyuka?" You note a twinkle in Makoto's eyes, although his posture stiffens.

"Can I hold your hand, dad? Am I dreaming? Mum told me she saw you, but I can't believe it." The woman places a hand over her forehead, then frantically feels both sides of her neck.

Makoto nods. She shakes her head and takes both of his hands in hers, a smile slowly forming on her face as she leans forward to embrace him. Makoto returns the gesture and strokes her hair.

"My darling Fu, so this is how you look like, all grown up?"

Fu nods and wraps her arms around Makoto more tightly. "I gotta tell mum about this. I've been telling her that I've been seeing people I thought were dead ever since we arrived in Atebus." Trembling, she releases her arms from him, and looks him in the eyes. "Dad, if I can see and feel you here, does that mean I'm dead?"

"I think you and I are very much alive." He chuckles.

"But I don't understand, mum and I were at the hospital when you died. I couldn't take it back then. I still can't believe…"

Makoto rests both of his palms on Fu's shoulder and rapidly asks, "Is your mum here?"

"Yes, she'll be watching me play strings with my friends!", Fu giddily replies.

"Okay. Promise me you won't tell her that I'm here. I want to surprise your mum."

"What do you have in mind? Is it something I can help with?"

You could swear Makoto is bouncing on his toes. "You know our theme song, right? After I perform on stage, can you come up on stage when I call for you, and play it on the cello?"

Fu's smile grows into a pure grin. "I would love to, dad!" She tip-toes and leans forward as she throws her arms around Makoto's shoulders. He hugs her in return.

"Well, make your mum and I proud today. I'll be cheering you on." He rubs Fu's head, messing up her hair slightly, and runs back to his tent. You follow after him.

"Dad, wait!", you hear Fu yell from the distance. Without looking back, Makoto hastens his pace.

The man with pink hair says in a placating voice, "Sir, I need to have a word with your companion."

Makoto hesitantly steps aside and watches you from outside the next tent. Your pulse racing, you slightly flinch backwards.

"What are you doing here?", the man asks you.

"How many times have I warned you not to interfere in events that do not concern you?" He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. "That's the problem with youngsters like you. You think you know more about life than your elders."

He gives you a stern look. "You must leave. If you decide to stay, you must avoid that woman."

"Which woman are you talking about?", you ask.

"The doctor. You know the one. If you see her, pay her no mind." He pauses, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Would it be erroneous for me to surmise that you are here because of someone's game?"

"The truth of the matter is... I haven't.", she says sombrely. Her head in a slight bow, a pout forms on her face. She lifts her head back up after a moment, and says in a more ecstatic voice, "My daughter is part of one of the performing bands, so I'm here to support her."

"Is that so? Who is she performing with?"

Al looks around at the tents close to both of you, and points at one of them. With motherly pride, she declares, "She's part of the Stained Glass Saints. I just enjoy music but never got around to learning an instrument, so I'm happy that she has this as a creative outlet."

"Where are we going?", Al asks you inquisitively, moving her head to each side as she observes your surroundings.

You keep quiet, deciding to keep it a surprise that you're taking her to Makoto. Before you can push through with this plan, you ask her what kind of ticket she has.

Al pulls out her ticket from her bag. It looks identical to yours, barring the serial number. "Oh, I have a VIP ticket and backstage pass. My daughter gave it to me, since each member of her band got complementary tickets for family and friends."

"It's very sweet of you to make time to watch your daughter's performances. I'm sure she'll be delighted.", you happily remark.

As you approach Veritas' tent, she asks, "Where are you taking me?" Turning around to look at you, she raises an eyebrow. "Is this some kind of surprise? I don't take them well."

A laugh comes out of you spontaneously, taking you aback. "It's a secret. I hope you'll like it." You stop in front of Veritas' tent and peek at the opening in front. With a smile on your face, you turn around and invite Al inside the tent. Inside are Makoto, whose eyes widen as soon as Al enters the tent, and Vera, who is facing away from you and Al.

Makoto and Al wordlessly stare at each other for a few moments. You can see a glimmer on Makoto's eyes. He slips a finger under his glasses to wipe one of his eyes.

Vera turns around. Her expression-less face turns pale and stiffens into the look of someone who just had seen a hostile lion.

Makoto grins. "Al!" He opens his arms as though he is about to give her a hug, but at the last moment, his arms fall to his sides. "What a surprise to see you here.", he says, his voice shaking.

Vera falls on her knees, then turns around and looks up at Makoto. "W-what is the meaning of this?", she screams.

"What do you mean?" Makoto looks at Vera, and crouches down to help her up.

"Makoto, is she your girlfriend?" Al gives him a pained smile.

"G-girlfriend?", yells Vera, as she points at Makoto. "Of this sick bastard?" She turns around to look at Al, and slightly leans towards her. She curls both of her hands into fists, which shake as she exclaims, "What kind of joke is this?"

Tears welling up in her eyes, Al asks, "Your new wife, then?"

"Al, no--" Makoto runs to Al and wraps his arms around her stomach from behind. He pulls her backward as he embraces her tightly.

Vera stands up and walks behind Makoto. She tugs on a tuft of his hair and pulls him downwards. Her breathing laboured, her eyes narrow into slits, her eyebrows furrow together, and she seethes with rage. "Since when did you know that Chiharu was alive?"

Al's feet are lifted from the ground as Makoto struggles to keep his balance. His lips tremble with every word, as he says, "I-- it's been a few weeks. I... she looks like her... I don't think she's the same person, even if the resemblance is uncanny."

Vera raises her free arm, hand in a fist, over Makoto's head, then sends her fist flying towards Makoto's cheek. Al squirms slightly, but he tightens his hold on her.

"How DARE you keep this a secret from me!", Vera yells.

Al frees herself from Makoto's embrace, and pushes Vera away from Makoto. "Please, stop!", she pleads.

Tears well up in Vera's eyes, and a single drop rolls down her cheek. "Chiharu. If you were alive all this time, how could you leave Makoto like that? How could you leave us and feign your death?" She takes Al by the neckline of her shirt and shouts to her face, "Why… did… you leave us?"

Al calmly pushes Vera back, and earnestly declares, "I am not his Haru, and he is not my Mack. I come from a different world."

Her eyes widening, Vera retorts, "That's a load of crap!"

Makoto squints his eyes and walks to Vera. He rests a hand against her shoulder, which she brashly brushes off. "Vera, I think she's telling the truth. I was there when my wife died. This woman looks like her, and it's giving me conflicting feelings. She's my wife, but at the same time, she's not. That's how I see it. I know that it's hard to understand right now, but please spare her from your rage."

"I need answers. I NEED JUSTICE!", Vera yells at the top of her voice.

Gloria wheels herself into the tent, gasping as soon as she sees Vera with her eyes widened and her bared teeth. She asks, "What happened here?"

"Oh, I have to go somewhere." You glance at your watch to make it seem more natural.

"Okay. See you around, then?", Al responds.

You nod and say, "Yeah. See you around."

As soon as Al is a considerable distance away, you keep moving in the original direction you were searching for Aria, when you feel something touch your arm, and eventually, grasp it. You nearly shriek as you look to your side and check who it could be, just to see Makoto.

"Sorry, did I catch you by surprise?", he asks as he removes his light grip from your arm.

You nod. He stifles a chuckle, then straightens his face. "I can't let you go alone. It's too risky. What if she does something to you?"

"I'll be fine.", you appreciatively say. "Thanks."

"Follow after me." Makoto runs towards the tents further away from the stage, scanning the sparse gaggles of VIP-ticket holders laughing among themselves and chatting with some of the artists performing later.

Makoto turns to you and asks, "Where did you last see her?"

"It was outside one of these tents. I can't remember. She was inside one of them, and then she ran outside when I was peeking." You know that it's not a very helpful description, but all these tents look the same, barring the banners on top of them.

"If she's an usher, she should be somewhere here. We could check the backstage later if she's not around any of these tents, then we search the seats and standing areas." Makoto slows down his pace, and you walk more slowly to match him.

"Halt!" A man blocks your way past the tent of Lili and Aya.

Each time you and Makoto try to side-step him, he follows you and extends his arms to his sides, obstructing you from moving any further. He also squats, concomitantly lowering the level of his arms whenever you duck, in an attempt to "cross his line".

"My child, misguided and blinded are you by your own hubris.", he says in a feeble voice. The impression would have been convincing, had he worn a grey wig and had wrinkles on his face. Maybe he's one of those teenagers who think he was born in the wrong generation, and sees himself as high and mighty over his peers.

"Aren't you the youthful one, yourself?", you ask.

He raises an eyebrow, and remarks, "Do not try to flatter me."

"There is a reason why I do this.", he says. His eyebrows furrow as he continues, "There is something I am trying to protect, but some of you try to interfere with my plans."

"Oh yeah? What are you trying to protect, or who? I'm not doing anything.", you say.

He momentarily takes a glance, then at you. You wait for him to say something, but after a tense moment of silence, you break the awkwardness by asking, "What?"

"I will only say this once. Your endeavours are futile. You've been running after a dead-end this entire time.", he says.

"Isn't this all just a game?", you respond. You're not sure what's in it for you, but you've played it by ear for the last few weeks.

As though he paid you no mind, he says, "I will only say this once. Your endeavours are futile. You've been running after a dead-end this entire time."

"I did this on my own accord.", you confidently say.

"I will only say this once. Your endeavours are futile. You've been running after a dead-end this entire time."

"Why do you think so?", you ask.

He brushes his bangs to the sides of his face with his hand. "It has been eons since anyone ever called me by my true name. All those who know me in this day and age call me The Chronicler."

You could use the company of a psychiatrist right now. Someone's not right in the head, and you're certain that it's not you.

Gloria shoots a look at Makoto, and mouths something. His eyebrows twitch as he shrugs.

Gloria folds her arms across her chest. "Don't tell me that you never told Vera about this.", she says, hitting her forehead with her palm.

Vera looks at Gloria, and reaches her arms towards her, as though to seize her. She stops midway, and pulls her arms back. Biting her lip, her body shakes as she asks, "Did you know about this, too?"

She then looks at Makoto, and screams, "You never really changed. You keep secrets, as always. You dare to sing about the truth with me, yet you spin a web of lies yourself! For all I know, Chiharu's death was another one of your deceptions!"

Makoto takes Vera by the shoulders. "Vera, I was going to tell you when--"

"When? After you get back together? On my death bed? On my grave?" She lets out a pained cry, and slams her fist against her keyboard bag. "Remember that you're not the only one who loved Chiharu, Maki. I loved her too. I deserve to know where she is, too."

Al gives Vera a look of confusion. "Who are you, anyway? Does that mean you were an ex-flame of Makoto's wife?"

An usher enters the tent. Before Vera can say anything, he says, "Is Veritas here?"

Makoto raises his hand and asks, "Yes?" On the other hand, Vera looks at him without saying a word.

"Please get ready. SURGEONFISH will start their performance in around five minutes. Do you need us to set anything up on stage for later?", asks the usher.

Vera takes the keyboard bag and drags it on the ground. She hands it over to the usher, who asks what it is.

"It should be apparent to you that the bag contains a keyboard. Set it up before our performance.", Vera flatly says.

The usher nods and leaves the tent. Vera glances at Al, and asks in an indignant tone, "Where were we?"

"I was asking you who you are. I have not been in Subeta for an awfully long time, so I don't really know that many people.", Al earnestly replies.

Uncharacteristically, Vera covers her mouth to hide a gasp. "Huh. So you really are not Chiharu?" She raises an eyebrow and folds her arms across her chest. "I am not convinced."