The morning bell rang, echoing through the hallways of Crestwood High.
Aria adjusted her bag strap, blending in with the crowd, yet her mind raced ahead to tonight's mission.
By day, she was just Aria, a normal schoolgirl with homework, exams, and a best friend who always made her laugh.
By night… she was someone else entirely. Someone precise, dangerous, feared, but with a purpose: justice.
"Hey Aria!" a familiar voice called.
She turned to see Ryan jogging up, slightly out of breath.
"You're late again! Were you hiding from me, or just pretending to be normal?"
Aria smiled lightly, masking her inner tension.
"You know me," she replied. "Always on time… mostly."
Ryan bumped her shoulder playfully.
"You're impossible."
She glanced at the sky. By evening, Victor would call her for another mission. The city had its shadows, and Aria was ready to step into them.
Nobody could know. Not Ryan, not anyone.