Standing on the doorstep was Ms. Lorraihe friend of her mother who Runebelle had overheard talking to her on that fateful day. Runebelle’s eyes widened in surprise, and she greeted her with a soft, “Ms. Lorraine? What brings you here?”

  Ms. Lorraine’s face went through a whirlwind of emotions as she looked at Runebelle. There was sadness, and a hint of guilt in her eyes. It didn’t look like she couldn’t tain herself any longer. Without a word, she stepped forward and pulled Runebelle into a tight, heartfelt hug.

  Tears welled up in Ms. Lorraine’s eyes as she held Runebelle close. It was a hug filled with both the weight of sorrow and the warmth of uanding. She had e to deliver difficult news, hat Runebelle had likely already sensed.

  After a moment, Ms. Lorraily released Runebelle from the embrace but pced her hands on the girl’s shoulders. “Runebelle, I’m so sorry. Your mother Rune...she’s not ing back. She’s gone and I…. and I wish I could have protected her from all of this!”

  Runebelle felt a lump ihroat. The reality of her mother’s absence was beginning to sink in even deeper for her. She looked into Ms. Lorraine’s eyes and searched for answers in this moment of despair.

  Runebelle, though trying to hold back her tears, asked, “What do you mean, what happened?”

  Ms. Lorraine’s eyes glistened with uears.“Runebelle, I tried my best to stop her from turning to darkness but something in her...something broke. She became ed by her own pain and anger. She couldn’t distinguish betweey and her own inner demons anymore.”

  Runebelle’s heart sank as she heard those words. The image of her mother who was once so loving and g was now shattered into someone unreizable. This mere image was what filled her with a profound sense of loss and sorrow.

  Ms. Lorraine tinued while being filled with sorrow, “I’m truly sorry, Runebelle. I wish there was more I could have done. But it was beyond anyone’s trol. She left, and I haven’t seen her sihat day.”

  “Rune was not just a friend to me, Runebelle. She was like the sister I never had. We helped each other through thid thin, and our advice always guided us in the right dire.”

  Runebelle couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth amidst the sadness. She had known Ms. Lorraine for years, and she was grateful for the support and care she had shown.

  Ms. Lorraine’s shifted her tone and smiled at Runebelle, “Runebelle, I want you to know that I’m here for you. I want to be more than just a friend or a mentor. I want to be yal guardian, to officially adopt you as my own.”

  Runebelle’s eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. The offer took her by surprise, but it filled her with a newfound sense of belonging.

  Runebelle, overwhelmed by the ued offer, was momentarily speechless oside. However, within her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder about this new memory that seemed to have emerged.

  She thought to herself, “I don’t remember being adopted by Ms. Lorraine. Is this real?”

  The System, with its characteristic cheerfulness, responded, “This is a new memory, Runebelle. As you uncover more fragments of your past, some memories resurface or even develop as a result of yrowing uanding of your life’s story.”

  Runebelle pohis for a moment as the implications of this new memory was sinking in. This memory made her sider the offer presented before her. She didn’t know how she responded before. How should she now?

  Ms. Lorraine offered a f smile and said, “Runebelle, before you give me an answer, I want you to meet someone very important to me.” She motiooward the door and called out, “You e in now.”

  The door slowly opened and a young woman stepped inside. She had warm brown skin and long hair that cascaded down her back. It was Mica, Ms. Lorraine’s daughter. Ms. Lorrairoduced her with pride, “Runebelle, this is my daughter, Mica.”

  Runebelle’s mind raced as she looked at the teenage girl who had just ehe room. It was Mica, or at least that’s who Ms. Lorraine had introduced her as. However, a nagging feeling of fusio over Runebelle.

  “Wait a minute,” Runebelle thought to herself, “I met Mica for the first time in college, not here. This doesn’t make sense…”

  The System, atteo Runebelle’s thoughts and s, chimed in, “Runebelle, it appears that your memories are still being pieced together. There may be gaps and insistehat arise as you explore your past. It’s essential to remaio these discoveries and allow your uanding of your life’s story to evolve.”

  Runebelle tried to push aside the fusion and focus on the present moment, where Ms. Lorraine and the teenage Mica stood, awaiting her respoo the adoption offer.

  “I Um… I appreciate your offer, and I really am grateful for everything you do for me, but this is all happening so fast I—I… need some time to process all of this. I do want to and I want to e and live with you but....”

  Ms. Lorraine smiled uandingly, her passion evident in her eyes. “Of course, Runebelle. Take all the time you need. We’re here for you whenever you’re ready.”

  Ms. Lorraine made her way toward the door, ready to leave. Suddenly, she turo Mid said, “Mica, at least say goodbye properly.”

  Mica’s stayed silent, but a noticeable blush colored her cheeks. She finally mao raise her hand in a hesitant wave, and her lips curled into a shy smile.

  Runebelle felt her own cheeks flush with warmth as she returhe gesture. There was an unspoken e in that brief moment, a sense of intrigue and curiosity that lingered.

  With a final wave, Runebelle watched as Ms. Lorraine and Mica left the room, leaving her aloh her thoughts.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Runebelle now found herself transported to her very first day with Ms. Lorraine and Mica after being officially adopted. After finishing school for the day, she stood outside the school gates, her heart pounding with excitement and nervousness.

  In the distance, she spotted Mid Runebelle, who seemed equally unsure about this enter.

  Mica couldn’t help but g Runebelle’s unique hair, the striking bination of blue and pink that she had never seen before. With a shy smile, Mica asked, “ I...touch your hair? It’s so different, and it looks amazing.”

  Runebelle nodded with a warm smile. “Of course, go ahead. It’s not something you see every day, I suppose.”

  Mica gently reached out to touch Runebelle’s hair briefly.

  As the day went on, Runebelle and Migaged in various games and activities, slowly breaking down the barriers of shyness and f a genuine e. They ughed, shared stories, and discovered on is, all uhe watchful eye of Ms. Lorraine, who observed them with a smile of satisfa.

  Inwardly, Ms. Lorraihought to herself, “They’ve bee fast friends. Runebelle and Mica have a unique bond f, ohat I hope will only grow stronger with time.”

  It was a heartwarming sight for her to see two young girls from different backgrounds e together and find on ground.

  As night fell, Mid Runebelle found themselves sharing a bed, their newfound friendship taking aep forward. Runebelle’s room wasn’t quite ready yet, and Ms. Lorraine had to leave for work. Before she departed, she leaned down aly kissed both of their foreheads, her motherly affe shining through.

  “Goodnight, my dears,” Ms. Lorraine whispered to the sleeping children. “Sleep well, and I’ll see you both in the m.”

  With that, she left the room, leaving Mid Runebelle to settle in for the night, their hearts full of the promise of a new aing chapter in their lives.

  The days passed, and Runebelle and Mica tio grow closer as they shared stories, pyed games, and built their friendship. But one day, something peculiar happehey were in the midst of sharing a particurly happy moment when suddenly, Runebelle felt an odd sensation wash over her. Mica seemed to se too, and they both stopped and stared at each other, as if a deep uanding had passed between them in that fleeting moment.

  However, before they could explore this newfound e further, the sound of Ms. Lorraine calling them for dinner interrupted their thoughts.

  “I don’t get it,” Runebelle thought to herself, “How do those childhood memories ect to what happened in college, or the fact that Mid I seem to have fotten each other entirely? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

  The System responded, “Project Rune, our memories are intricate and interected, like a vast puzzle with many missing pieces. It’s possible that these early moments in your life hold a key to uanding what occurred ter. Sometimes, the full picture only bees clear wheher all the pieces of the puzzle.”

  As the Memory unfolded further, Runebelle found herself in the past, standing outside her school, and waiting for Mica to arrive. It had bee a daily routine for Mica to pick her up after her own school csses were over.

  Runebelle, with her unique hair that drew curious looks from her cssmates, felt a sense of fort knowing that her friend would be there to walk her home. It was a small but cherished part of her day.

  And sure enough, there was Mica, approag the school gate with a bright smile. Runebelle’s heart warmed as she saw her friend, and they greeted each other with ahusiastic hug before setting off on their journey home together.

  One day, Runebelle found herself waiting outside her school as usual, but this day was different. Hours passed, and Mica didn’t show up. Runebelle’s curiosity grew, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had happeo her friend.

  She stood he school gate, her eyes sing the familiar surroundings in search of any sign of Mica. But as the miurned into hours, a sense of utled in her chest. She asked herself over and over, “What could have happened? Why isn’t she here?”

  Runebelle’s mind raced with possibilities, and she felt a growing sense of worry for her friend. It was a stark departure from their usual routine, and Runebelle couldn’t help but fear that something had gone wrong.

  Runebelle’s desire to find Mica propelled her to run toward her friend’s school. However, just as she approached the entrance, a group of girls with yellow hair, led by the one who resembled Risebelle and Roselle, blocked her path. Their arms were folded, and their expressions were stern.

  The yellow-haired girl spoke with arrogance, “Where do you like, think yoing, huh? Like, what’s your deal ing here, huh?”

  Runebelle with her worry for Mica overing her usual shyness, responded, “I’m…looking for my friend, Mica. Have you seen her?”

  The girls exged gheir smirks growing more pronouhe yellow-haired leader leaned in closer to Runebelle and said, “Oh, we’ve, like, seen her, you know. But she’s not your friend anymore. She’s, like, one of the cool kids now.”

  Runebelle’s heart sank at those words. She couldn’t prehend what had just happened. Mica, her dear friend, had seemingly been taken away by this group of girls.

  Meanwhile, the girls in the group began chatting among themselves with a flurry of versation.

  “Totally, like, ’t believe she’s trying to interfere.”

  “Right? Mica’s, like, way cooler now.”

  “She should just, like, totes go away. Mica’s, like, one of our club members now.”

  Runebelle quivering with fear mao ask one question, “Why?”

  The yellow-haired leader, with a cruel grin on her face, “Like, today’s the day we, like, deal with you food, you know.”

  The group of girls began to encircle Runebelle, their iions being increasingly clear. Runebelle knew she had to find a way to protect herself and, if possible, to find out what had happeo Mica.