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The neon buzz of the Voice of Tomorrow sign dimmed in the distance as Cassy Rivera walked alone, clutching her tote bag tightly to her chest. Her shoulders were hunched, eyes flicking toward every small sound in the dark.

It was the opening night of the Toyohashi Night Market. Curious locals filled the streets, drawn by the new excitement—but Cassy had no time for it. After a quick phone call to her lola, she made a beeline for the bus station to Futagawa.

She turned a corner.

A soft footstep echoed behind her.
Then another.

Cassy slowed, her breath catching. Her heart thudded in her ears.
Cassy (to herself, whispering):
"Someone's following me..."

Cassy (voice trembling, half pleading):
“I’m sorry… I don’t know who you are. I really have to go. I’m not chasing dreams for the spotlight. This isn’t about fame. It’s for my lola. She’s all I have left.”

She turns to leave, but Sam steps forward gently.
Sam (softly, almost afraid to say it):
“I’m Sam.”

Cassy stops cold. Her breath catches. The name—too familiar. Like hearing a half-forgotten melody in a place it shouldn’t be. She turns slowly.
Sam (holding out a worn lyric notebook):
“Here. Take this. If you ever want to find me… press it to your heart. It’ll listen—to your rhythm, your desire. And it will guide you.”

Cassy stares at the notebook for a long beat, then takes it—hesitant, but drawn. She clutches it close, as if shielding something sacred, then turns and bolts toward the station.

Wolf – Marvin (with a flicker of longing):
“We’ve been silent for hours… almost seven. Why can we speak now?”
Ere (gently, like explaining to children of the stars):
"Because your souls were chasing only pain. Grief. Regret. You were alive—but trapped in the shape of sorrow. Riza let something else in. Her heart... it remembered love. And that love reached the wolf’s heart too. That’s what awakened the voice.”
Wolf – Riza (blinking, bewildered, then gasping softly as realization hits):
"I… I don’t understand. This is all too much."
(turning toward Henry, voice trembling)
“Honey… what are you doing here?”
(stepping closer, desperate)
“Do you recognize me? It’s me. I’m Riza!”

One rider on horseback. Four wolves at his side.
Ere leads them, her cloak catching the wind.
Their silhouettes move as one—slow, deliberate—heroes walking into the mist, toward battle… toward rebirth.

They emerge from the glowing portal at the Gamagori Motorboat Race Field.
Above them, on the massive display board, the time flickers into view:
3:02 AM.

Billy Spence stands at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the room—Judith, Dr. Takahashi, Ryuji. None of them speak. The stillness is thick. No one's in the mood for games.
Billy Spence (voice low, deliberate):
“This is a closed-door meeting. Just the four of us.”

He lets the words settle. Steps forward slowly, the click of his shoes echoing softly, like a clock ticking toward something dangerous.
Judith Mirano (arms crossed, coolly defiant):
“You’ve been more concerned with your side gigs than this company. And guess what? We’re still standing—without you.”

Billy smirks. His eyes flick with amusement. But there’s fire behind them.
Billy Spence:
“I still have the right to know what’s happening in my company.”
(he paces, each step in sync with an invisible, rising bassline)
“Sure—I’ve had my fun. But while I’m enjoying my ‘leisure,’ I’m also sitting down with the Mexicans. Inking deals. Making moves.”

Dr. Takahashi (impatient):
“What do you want from us, Billy? I’m doing my part. Paid to deliver, and I deliver. Clean. Efficient. No drama.”
Billy Spence (halting mid-step, turns slowly):
“It's not about parts. It’s about the whole. The mission.”

He sits, leans in, voice dropping just above a whisper.
Billy Spence:
“What do we truly want?”

A beat.
Billy Spence:
“I’ll go first.”
He taps the table twice. A nerve-like tic. Then, razor-sharp:

Billy Spence:
“I want the white aragonite stones.”
The others freeze. Silence again.

Billy leans back, relaxed now. The hunter in the room.
Billy Spence:
“Still quiet? Fine. Let me remind you...”
(points at Ryuji)
“You dream of becoming the greatest music producer in Japan. For that, you need residues from the creative juice extractor—enough to manufacture a green capsule that sparks brilliance from the inside out.”
(gestures toward Takahashi)
“You? You want money. Lots of it. Enough to revive your publishing house. To write your little exposés again—Yakuza, corrupt mayors, deep-state whispers. You live for the ink.”

Then finally… Billy locks eyes with Judith.
Billy Spence:
“And Judith… you’re not just chasing legacy. You want revenge. You want the storm to rise. To burn a realm to ash with the Storm Maker Machine—fueled by the same extractor we’ve all bled for.”

He pours whiskey. The sound fills the room.
Billy Spence (takes a slow sip, voice now cold and sharp):
“You don’t want justice. You want power. Enough to make the sky cry for you.”

[Next: The Spark In Quiet]