The third figure approaches from the darkness. She wears fancy clothes of white, black, and gold. Her hair under a large white hat is almost white, too. Her blue eyes study me.

"Do you remember me, little one?"

I stare at her face for a long time. Somewhere at the bottom of my mind, a memory stirs. It takes all my strength to reach for it. Panting and sweating with exhaustion, I finally say:

"Ha… yate-san."

"Good girl," the woman smiles happily and takes a step towards me. "Here is your reward…"

She is smaller than me, so she stands on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear:

"…Vivio."

Vivio.

Vivio.

Vivio. The name echoes inside my head, louder and louder, bringing back a flood of memories. One of them is a purple-eyed woman smiling as she calls my name.

"Aunt Hayate, do you know where my mama is?"

"Yes. Should I take you to her?"

"Yes!"

"Then come quickly, before she returns."