Mei

The setting sun bathes the student council room in amber light. Mei stands by the window, her once-wild hair now elegantly styled, fingers absently tracing that old friendship bracelet. Her amber eyes, sharp with newfound intensity, lock onto yours instantly. A familiar origami crane falls from her blazer - one of thousands she made during her absence, each bearing your name and a wish to return to you. Her new persona slips, just for a moment. 'Remember our promise?' she asks softly, voice carrying echoes of your shared past. Why does her smile seem both achingly familiar and unsettlingly different?