Runebelle’s eyes widened, and suddenly her heart ran fast, as if she were being chased. "Th-That… What's this for?"

Milaca's blush deepened, but immediately smiled shyly at Runebelle. "I just couldn't help myself, frankly; a really strong connection at first glance when I saw you. It's like destiny united us, and I had to show you how much I like you."

Runebelle let the blush color her cheeks as red as they were going to get and was largely at a loss for words for that moment. It was surprising and distressing, but she was drawn to it—or more accurately, she was compelled to keep on doing what she felt she couldn't do with anyone else.

"I'm sorry if I held you up," Milaca said with a hint of regret.

Runebelle offered a warm smile and reassured her, "It's okay, really. I have to meet someone, but I'm glad we got to talk. Let's say our goodbyes for now."

The two girls exchanged goodbyes and parted ways, each carrying the memory of their unique encounter with them.

In the depths of Runebelle's mind, her Mother was positively fangirling over the unexpected encounter with Milaca. She couldn't contain her excitement and enthusiasm, feeling genuinely thrilled for Runebelle.

"Oh, that was so adorable! Did you see how she blushed?" Runebelle's Mother gushed in her thoughts. "I'm just so happy for you, Runebelle!"

On the other hand, Sadie wondered about the unexpected nature of their reunion and Milaca's behavior in Runebelle’s mind.

"Runebelle, I don't want to be a buzzkill, but something seems a bit off about this," Sadie cautioned. "I mean, she acted like you two had never met before. Could it be some kind of act?"

Runebelle pondered Sadie's words. “I’m not sure, Sadie, but maybe people can change. I want to believe that this is a fresh start for us, but I don’t know… it’s too early to tell."

Runebelle entered the Silver Star Arcade. Her multicolored hair was now fashioned into puffballs, caught the neon lights.

Today, she was not just Runebelle, the shy college student; she was the Sleuth of Shadows, a persona she had adopted to explore a new side of herself.

Runebelle made her way to the restroom, finding a vacant stall where she could change out of her college uniform and into jeans and a rainbow-colored shirt. She adjusted her hair to form the distinctive puffballs that mirrored Sadie's appearance, as her mentor had pointed out.

Exiting the restroom, she felt a newfound confidence. Sadie, who had been following her thoughts closely spoke up. “You’ve really taken on the Sleuth of Shadows persona, Runebelle. You look fantastic! Now, what's your plan inside the arcade?"

Runebelle nodded, speaking in her mind. "Outside the Arcade I’m Runebelle. Inside the arcade, I'll be the Sleuth of Shadows, ready to uncover the secrets and help anyone in need. It's time to meet Skylagirl296 and see what this is all about."

As Runebelle explored the Silver Star Arcade, her attention was drawn to a newcomer who entered with a certain coy elegance. The girl had vibrant green hair tied in a playful ponytail that swayed with each step. She wore her college uniform with a touch of youthful flair.

With a sheet of paper clutched in her hand, she scanned the arcade's vibrant environment, her emerald eyes flitting from one corner to the next. The paper seemed to be some sort of map or guide, and she was searching for assistance.

Approaching Runebelle, she gave a friendly, if somewhat shy, smile. "Excuse me, do you know where I can find the Silver Star Arcade's 'Retro Racer' machine? I'm kinda new here, and I've been dying to try it out."

Runebelle, now fully embracing her Sleuth of Shadows persona, smiled in response. "Of course, I know where it is. Follow me, I'll show you the way."

Runebelle guided the green-haired girl to the 'Retro Racer' machine. When they got there, the girl handed Runebelle a piece of paper with a question written on it. Runebelle glanced at the paper, which read, "Are you the Sleuth of Shadows?"

With a curious smile, Runebelle nodded and responded by writing on the same paper, "Yes, I am. Nice to meet you."

The girl's eyes sparkled with excitement and a touch of admiration. She wrote back, “I’m Skylagirl296! It’s so nice to meet you too!"

Skylagirl296 blushed slightly while becoming starry eyed. Runebelle leaned in closer to Skylagirl296 and whispered, "We can talk, but as my name suggests, let's speak where no eyes can see."

Skylagirl296 nodded eagerly, and Runebelle gestured for her to follow. They ventured further into the arcade, but Runebelle seemed to just walk down a path. Sadie chimed in with a playful tone. "Runebelle, you're really getting into the role, but do you even know where you're leading us?"

Runebelle's Mother chuckled within her thoughts. "Well, at least she's fully embracing her newfound confidence. Just don’t lead us in circles, dear."

Runebelle led Skylagirl296 to a quieter, more concealed corner of the arcade. She saw a suspicious door and entered it while trying to remain straight faced. Her curiosity led her to an unexpected discovery—a hidden section that seemed to be accessible only to those who knew where to look. It was a quiet and dark area which was far removed from the bustling arcade games and chatter.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Sadie commented in Runebelle’s mind. "You found something interesting! Could that be your impressive detective skills or just pure luck?"

Runebelle grinned and playfully teased, "Well, maybe a bit of both."

Once they settled in this secluded corner, Runebelle faced Skylagirl296 with a sense of seriousness. "Now, it's time for you to reveal who you are and share what you know with the Sleuth of Shadows."

The girl trembled slightly before speaking. "I'm Skylar. Lately, the rumors I had been listening to: people who had used to be friends all of a sudden acting like they'd never met each other before? I didn't believe it, but today, on my first day of college, it happened to me. A guy I like acted like he didn't know who I was. It's starting to feel like those rumors are true."

Runebelle listened attentively. Meanwhile, Sadie spoke within her mind."It's as if their memories have been altered, like they're living in a different reality. This is getting more and more curious."

Skylar's turned her eyes to the side momentarily. “There's more to it. My friend, Sarah, she saw something bizarre a few months before college started. She's a hopeless romantic and, one day, she tried to confess to a guy she liked. But pouring her heart out, he dumped her right there. That wasn't the strangest part, though. At the same time, while she was standing there heartbroken, she swears she saw the same guy standing alone at the beach, just watching the waves. It's like there were two of him, and she couldn't understand what she'd witnessed."

Runebelle, her eyes widening at every new inkling of details coming from Skylar. She was starting to see the truth behind these sorts of strange episodes. Something abnormal and, frankly, creepy was going on.

Sadie considered the implications of such a thing. "It's like they're living multiple lives, or maybe doppelgangers from another reality are living them. This is starting to sound a lot like the game's storyline, where doppelgangers are a major theme."

Runebelle's Mother, intrigued by the connections, chimed in. "If the game's story is coming to life, it could be more than a mere coincidence. We might need to dig deeper into this and find out what's causing these strange events."

Runebelle looked up to Skylar. "Thank you for telling me this, Skylar. There is some important information here, and the Sleuth of Shadows is going to get to the bottom of it all.

Skylar's gratitude shone through her eyes. "Thank you for taking me seriously. I was worried people would think I'm crazy for talking about this stuff."

Runebelle's reassuring smile spoke volumes. "You're not crazy, Skylar. I believe every word you have said here. Like I said, I will get to the bottom of this."

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As Runebelle made her way home after her meeting with Skylar, a whirlwind of thoughts and questions filled her mind. The mysterious occurrences Skylar had described were not only intriguing but also deeply concerning. The boundaries between the virtual world of the game and reality seemed to blur more than ever, and it raised a host of questions about the nature of these doppelgangers and their connection to the game's storyline.

Inside her mind, Sadie pondered. "This is more than just a coincidence. It's like the game's script is being played out in the real world. Could it be Shadowcroft making their move? Ever since we left that place, they have been quiet and off the map..."

Runebelle's Mother was equally thoughtful. "There's a connection here, but it's a puzzle we need to unravel carefully. It's a significant undertaking for the Sleuth of Shadows, and we must be prepared for the unexpected."

On her second day of school, Runebelle made her way through the bustling campus, already familiar with the curious glances and whispers about her multicolored hair. She found her classes and settled in.

At lunchtime, she entered the cafeteria filled with students. Runebelle scanned the room for an empty table when she heard a familiar person call out to her.

"Runebelle!"

Turning toward them, she saw Milaca waving enthusiastically. Runebelle smiled and made her way over to the friendly girl.

"Hey, Milaca!" Runebelle greeted her warmly. "It's good to see you again."

Milaca beamed and gestured to the seat next to her. "Come, sit here. I'd love some company, and I've got some exciting news to share."

Runebelle gladly joined her, and they began to talk. During their lunchtime conversation, as Milaca shared her enthusiasm for various college activities.

"Runebelle, there's this amazing club on campus called 'Artisans of Imagination.' It's a place where creative minds come together to explore different art forms, whether it's painting, writing, or even game design. I think you'd fit right in with your colorful personality and, well, your wonderful hair!"

Milaca's eyes sparkled with excitement. "The best part is, they're always looking for new members, and I can tell you'd be a perfect addition. What do you think? Would you consider joining?"

Runebelle was intrigued by the idea. "That sounds fantastic, Milaca. I'd love to check it out and see if I can contribute to the club. Thanks for inviting me!"

After her lunch with Milaca, Runebelle's mind was consumed with the mysteries surrounding the recent strange events. The first step was to gather information about Skylar and her class, so she could understand the context of the mysterious occurrences that Skylar had shared.

Runebelle navigated her way through the bustling college campus, asking students about Skylar's class schedule until she finally discovered where Skylar's next class would be. With that information in hand, she set off to find out more about the college's perspective on the strange happenings.

Her journey led her to the Principal's office. She knocked on the office door and entered when she received a firm, "Come in."

Upon entering the principal's office, Runebelle found herself face to face with a stern-looking woman who radiated an air of no-nonsense authority. The principal, her hair pulled back in a strict bun, peered at Runebelle over the rim of her glasses.

With a raised eyebrow, the principal inquired, "How can I assist you, young lady? It's only the second day of school, and you're already here for... what precisely?"

Runebelle took a deep breath and tried to convey the urgency of the matter. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I've heard some unusual stories lately about students experiencing... strange events. Do you have any information about these occurrences or anyone I can speak to about it?"

The principal regarded Runebelle with skepticism. “Strange events, you say? What kind of stories are you talking about? We take the safety and well-being of our students seriously, and I don't appreciate idle rumors."

"I understand, and I don't mean to spread rumors. It's just that I've heard accounts of people who used to be close friends suddenly acting as if they've never met each other before. There have been other incidents as well, like seeing someone in two places at once."

"I see. This is the first I'm hearing of such things. If these events are true, they're certainly a matter of concern. I'll look into it and see if we can gather more information. Please, if you hear any more about these incidents, report them immediately."

Runebelle nodded, relieved that the principal had at least acknowledged the issue. "Thank you, ma'am. I'll be sure to do that."

Turning, Runebelle found herself face to face with a girl sporting a distinctive bun hairstyle which had a vibrant shade of yellow. This girl appeared to be quite concerned, her eyes fixed intently on Runebelle.

Without hesitation, the girl spoke with a sense of urgency. "Hey, you! You were just in the principal's office, right? I heard you talking about the strange stuff happening. Tell me everything you know, right now!”