"I said stop following me, William!" Evelyn shouted, coming to an abrupt halt at the edge of a quiet Tokyo sidewalk.

William, panting behind her, kept walking forward.

"And I said I can't pretend not to care!"

Evelyn turned around. Her eyes were red, her voice trembling with emotions long held back.

"Why do you keep chasing me? Haven’t you suffered enough because of me?"

"I’m chasing you because I can’t stop caring!" William’s voice rose, nearly cracking.

"I don’t need a reason anymore."

Evelyn shook her head and quickly walked toward a small studio she had just rented in a narrow alley. William followed in silence.

---

Evelyn’s Studio...