Early the next morning, faint sounds reached Anamika’s ears, waking her up.

  She slowly stood up.

  It was the same man—the one who had kept her imprisoned here.

  Seeing her awake, he smiled and said, “It’s been a long time since this place was cleaned, so… sorry for waking you up.”

  Anamika turned her gaze away.

  At that moment, it felt exactly like this— as if a beautiful and precious creature had been locked inside a cage, and someone was now cleaning that cage.

  Anamika sat right in the center of her cage.

  While cleaning the room, the man said, “Six months… you’ve been here for six months, yet you never once asked anything about me! Don’t you even want to know my name?”

  Anamika stayed silent.

  His expression went blank.

  He quickly finished cleaning and turned to leave, when Anamika finally spoke, “I want… to read the newspaper.”

  The man turned back and replied, “No… that won’t be possible.

  Knowing what’s happening outside won’t benefit you anyway. Instead, paint something to pass your time.

  If you want, I can bring you other things too—but only what I approve of.”

  After saying this, he turned to leave again, but Anamika stood up and shouted, “Wait! Please… I need the newspaper! I want to know what’s happening outside… how things are going!”

  With a strange smile, the man said, “You can’t even protect the information you already have, and you want news from the outside world? Do you really think I’ll do that?”

  “I know your name,” Anamika said softly.

  Hearing this, the man stopped in his tracks, his expression changing again.

  Confused, he walked back to her cage and sat in front of it.

  “Alright,” he said. “Tell me—what’s my name?”

  “Koyo. Your name is Koyo,” Anamika replied, lifting her eyes slightly.

  Koyo smiled brightly, like a happy child.

  “Absolutely correct!! My name is Koyo! But—” he pouted, “—how do you know?”

  “The day we first met,” Anamika said calmly, “I saw an autumn leaf tattoo on your hand.”

  Koyo lowered his gaze and looked at the tattoo.

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  “Oh… right! That’s what my name means. But did you guess just because of that?”

  “No,” Anamika replied.

  “I said I saw the tattoo the day we first met—not that I guessed. I remember… We had met before. In childhood.”

  Koyo froze. “So… you remember that we met when we were kids?”

  Anamika nodded. “Yes. When I told my mother about you back then, she told me a little about you.”

  Koyo suddenly became excited, like an eager puppy.

  “Did the Master talk about me?! What did she say? How did she describe me?”

  “She said you were her first and last student. That’s all.”

  Koyo made a face.

  “Oh… fine. That’s still something. Anyway—” he stood up, “—I’ll grant your wish. I’ll bring you a newspaper along with breakfast.”

  At the door, he stopped and added, “But remember— I’ve allowed you to know what’s happening outside, not to dream of going outside.

  Don’t even let such thoughts enter your mind, because it will only hurt you.

  And I don’t want to see my Master’s daughter in pain.”

  With that, he left.

  After he was gone, Anamika thought to herself, “You must truly have been special to Mom… When I asked about you, she smiled instead of hating you.

  She not only told me about you, but even asked me to greet you properly if we ever met again. But I won’t tell you that… not yet.”

  A while later,

  There were many fruits.

  He placed the bags near her cage and handed her the newspaper.

  Taking a plate and a knife, he sat down and began peeling and cutting the fruits.

  Anamika started reading the newspaper silently.

  Koyo watched her with great curiosity while working.

  On the front page was the news of Aditya winning the “Businessman of the Year” award.

  Reading it, a smile appeared on Anamika’s lips.

  Seeing this, Koyo said, “That boy—he’s the one you keep painting, right?

  When I was buying the newspaper, I wondered how you knew him, so I did some digging.

  Turns out, he’s the same boy from six years ago—the one whose family Master destroyed. And those photos I sent you with the letters… he was everywhere in them too, wasn’t he?”

  Fear filled Anamika’s eyes.

  Her hands started trembling.

  She didn’t dare look up.

  Seeing this, a dangerous smile appeared on Koyo’s face. “Don’t worry. The past is the past.

  I only intend to protect my Master's legacy, so I won’t complete her unfinished work. But—” his expression turned serious, “—if he creates the same kind of trouble now that he did during Master’s time, I won’t stop myself.”

  Anamika immediately turned the page.

  On the next page was news about an art exhibition—a platform for new artists to showcase their work.

  The exhibition was being organized by Rivan and Ira.

  Reading this, Anamika remembered her promise:

  Her eyes filled with sadness. Her grip tightened.

  Koyo watched every emotion silently, without reacting.

  After preparing a plate of fruit, he entered her cage and sat in front of her.

  Seeing him so close, Anamika instinctively moved back.

  Koyo, with childlike innocence, held out the plate and said, “Your breakfast.”

  She placed the newspaper on her lap, took the plate, and began eating while looking away.

  Koyo stared at the newspaper.

  “I brought you the newspaper today,” he said. “I won’t bring it every day.”

  “But—” before she could say anything, he made an innocent face.

  “I’m a poor man, you know. I can’t afford newspapers daily.”

  Anamika glanced at his expensive branded clothes and luxury watch— things he wore once and never touched again.

  She knew it was just an excuse, but she couldn’t say it aloud.

  She nodded silently.

  Koyo smiled. “Good girl.”

  He reached out to place his hand on her forehead, but Anamika pushed his hand away.

  Rubbing his hand, Koyo said, “Sorry… I forgot you don’t like being touched.”

  Standing up, he added, “Alright… see you later. Bye-bye.”

  Anamika remained silent.

  Ignoring her silence, Koyo left.

  Looking at the newspaper, Anamika whispered to herself, “I have to keep my promise.”

  She drifted into thought like an innocent child.

  Meanwhile

  It was the same close-up painting of beautiful, shining human eyes— the same image that was his phone wallpaper.

  Looking at the words written in the corner—“Viva La Vida”—he murmured,

  “It’s so beautiful… I wish I could tell you this. I want to tell you that your gift is as beautiful as you are.”

  Just then, his phone rang.

  Aditya answered.

  “Sir, we’ve found some information related to TRINITY. We’ve captured a man who knows about it.”

  “Bring him to me,” Aditya said coldly.

  “Sir… actually, he’s an assassin. He tried to escape, and there was a violent struggle.

  Many of our men were injured, and so was he. Everyone has been admitted to the hospital.”

  “Alright. I’m coming.”

  “Sir, please come quickly. That man is extremely dangerous. If he regains consciousness, it’ll be difficult.”

  “Okay.”

  After hanging up, Aditya thought, “Who is this man who injured so many people single-handedly?Why was he so desperate to escape? He’s injured—yet they’re afraid of him? I need to see this for myself.”

  Putting on his coat, Aditya left.