Morning came. Soft sunlight streamed into the white cityscape of Piltover. In a room of an apartment in the academic district, Victor sat before a desk, staring intently at two filter masks. "[whispers] Zaun, huh…" Gray eyes traced over the masks. Zaun—that underground city filled with toxic fumes, the place where Victor had spent their childhood. But returning there in this body was a first. (*It's fine. Theoretically, as long as I have the filter masks, it's safe.*) They picked up a mask, as if trying to convince themself. Their black hair, grown to shoulder length, kept getting in the way, and they tucked it behind their ear several times. Just as they were about to press it to their face— *Slip.* The mask slid right off their nose. "[frustrated] Wha…" Once more. This time, they tightened the strap firmly. But because of their hair tied in the back, the band wouldn't secure properly. *Slip.* "[scared] W-why won't it…?" (*Insufficient data. The strap adjustment mechanism of this older model mask was designed based on the occipital bone structure. My current skull is approximately 8% smaller than when I was male—*) "[laughing] What are you doing, Vic!" A voice rang out, and they looked up. Jayce stood in the doorway. His brown hair was as messy with bedhead as ever, and his golden-tinged eyes sparkled with amusement. Tall and solidly built. The familiar sight of their best friend. But—he'd seen them. Struggling with the mask like this. "[embarrassed] N-no, it's not what it looks like, Jayce. This is, um…" "[laughing] Ah, I get it. It doesn't fit, right!" Jayce laughed openly as he approached. "[gentle] Here, let me see it. I'll fix the strap for you." Victor held out the mask, and Jayce's large hand took it. Their fingers touched. Just for a split second. A faint contact through the mask. "[whispers] Ah…" "[scared] Uh…" Both of them froze at the same time. The air in the room came to a complete standstill. Jayce's fingers, trying to hook the strap beside Victor's cheek—stopped moving entirely. A distance of mere centimeters before his hand would touch their cheek. "[embarrassed] …!" Victor tried to gasp and couldn't. Their heart began pounding loudly. This sensation couldn't be explained theoretically. There wasn't enough data. But— "[embarrassed] I-it's nothing! There, all done!" Jayce hastily pulled his hand away and thrust the finished mask at Victor. His face was bright red up to his ears. "[hasty] I-I'm heading out first! I'll wait at the Liftgate!" With a clatter of footsteps, Jayce bolted out of the room. Left behind, Victor stood frozen, clutching the mask. "[whispers] …Insufficient data." They murmured quietly, then pressed the mask to their face. This time, it secured properly. But the sensation of Jayce's fingers lingering on the mask's surface still hadn't faded. A warmth spread gently deep in their chest. (*This is most likely a residual effect of the accident.*) (*Theoretically, that's what it is.*) Victor pulled out their notebook and, with a trembling hand, wrote: *'Subject V: Heart rate increased upon contact with Subject J. Hypothesized to be caused by accidental proximity during the practical action of strap adjustment. Probability of residual effect: 95%.'* But the remaining 5%— The pen tip stopped. "[whispers] …I have to go." They placed the notebook on the desk, picked up the other mask, and followed after Jayce. ―――― Liftgate Number 3. A massive cargo-passenger elevator connecting upper Piltover to lower Zaun. The iron box, capable of carrying 200 people and 15 tons of cargo at once, descended underground with a low, rumbling drive sound. "[serious] Vic, are you really okay? Zaun's a dangerous place." Inside the elevator, Jayce spoke with concern. "[serious] I'm fine. It's… a place I know." "[surprised] You know it? Why?" Victor fell silent for a moment. Their gray eyes gazed beyond the elevator's iron grating. "[gentle] …I'm from Zaun." Jayce's eyes widened. "[surprised] Huh… You were from Zaun!?" "[gentle] Yes. I never mentioned it." Jayce opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. His golden-tinged eyes stared intently at Victor's profile. (*This guy grew up in such a dangerous place?*) (*Why didn't they ever tell me?*) The elevator stopped. The iron doors opened. In that instant, a gray-green haze enveloped them both. ―――― Zaun. The air was different. Pale green gas—the Gray Breath—drifted as if crawling along the ground. Neon signs crowded the walls, purple and blue light bleeding and wavering in the fog. Somewhere, the sound of hammering metal and angry shouts could be heard. "[serious] …Nostalgic." Through their filter mask, Victor surveyed the alleyway scenery. Nothing had changed since those days. Dim passageways, cramped markets, the weary faces of people passing by. Everyone walked with their heads down, cheap makeshift masks pressed to their mouths. "[surprised] You were in a place like this…" Jayce's voice was quieter than usual. "[gentle] Yeah. I grew up here. At the Greatest Artisan Guild, repairing machinery." "[gentle] …I didn't know. I'm sorry." "[gentle] It's nothing to apologize for. It's my fault for not telling you." So saying, Victor started walking. Jayce followed silently behind. But his stride was much slower than usual. Carefully matching Victor's smaller steps. (*You've been fighting alone in a place like this all along.*) Staring at the slender back walking ahead, Jayce felt a sharp pang deep in his chest. ―――― The Greatest Artisan Guild. A fifty-year-old steel-frame warehouse converted into a base for Zaun's engineers. Upon entering, the smell of oil and metal stung the nose. Machine tools and workbenches were crammed tightly together, with several engineers absorbed in their respective tasks. "[excited] Old man Garm, are you here?" At their call, an elderly man with graying hair poked his head out from the back of the workshop. "[surprised] Ooh… Little Vic!? I heard your appearance had changed… Well, this is a surprise." Old engineer Garm. A mentor-like figure from when Victor had trained here long ago. With a grim face, he beckoned the two of them to a workbench in the corner of the workshop. "[serious] So? What does the Council's errand runner want?" "[serious] I'll get straight to the point. A few weeks ago, there was information that impure Hex gems were circulating in Zaun. Do you know anything about it?" Garm's complexion instantly changed. "[scared] …Where did you hear that?" "[serious] They were used in our equipment. I want to know who sold them." Garm glanced around and lowered his voice. "[whispers] Listen, this is a story I intended to take to my grave. The one who distributed those gems was a fixer connected to the Shimmer Syndicate. A young broker named Leonard… Apparently, he went back and forth between Piltover and Zaun multiple times, transporting suspicious chemicals." "[serious] The Shimmer Syndicate…" Victor's hands clenched tightly. The Shimmer Syndicate. A feared underworld organization that peddled the purple enhancement drug "Shimmer." They had lurked in the shadows of this city for ages. "[scared] Don't dig any deeper than that. If those guys set their sights on you, it's over. I'm just an old man now. I want to spend the rest of my life quietly." "[serious] But—" "[angry] Go home! This conversation is over!" As if driving them out, Garm pushed the two outside the workshop. The door slammed shut. "[worried] …Let's go." Victor walked away, head bowed. The Shimmer Syndicate. That organization might be behind this incident. How could they stand against them, with the power they held in Zaun? Old memories cast a dark shadow over their gray eyes. "[gentle] Vic, you okay?" Jayce spoke softly. "[gentle] …I'm fine. Let's go, Jayce." Victor answered curtly. Their eyes met. But they quickly looked away. Right now, they didn't have the composure to explain this feeling. ―――― On the way back. The neon lights of Prism Alley flickered hazily in the fog. "[sarcastic] Well, well, ain't you a cute little lady." Suddenly, three men crept out from the shadows of the alley. Filthy clothes, sharp eyes. Dealers peddling drugs in Zaun's black market. "[sarcastic] On a date with that guy? Pretty high and mighty, coming to a dangerous place like this." "[scared] …" Victor took a step back. When they were male, they could have just shouldered their way through. But now—they were in this small, female body. Three opponents. The physical difference was too great. "[angry] Don't touch them!" Jayce leaped forward. His 185-centimeter frame stood protectively in front of Victor. "[laughing] Ooh, scary, scary. The topside boy's playing brave." "[sarcastic] But you think you can win three-on-one?" The dealers slowly closed the distance. Jayce raised his fists, but they were outnumbered. "[scared] Damn it…" They were being cornered against the wall. That's when it happened. In the corner of Victor's vision, something lying on the alley ground caught their eye. Scrap parts. Hextech remnants—fragments of a light-emitting tube, a small resonance coil, and a discharge terminal. (*This could work.*) Victor's gray eyes narrowed sharply. They quickly picked up the parts and began assembling them with a series of clicks in their hands. Their fingers moved as if playing a musical instrument. "[surprised] Hey, what are you—" "[cold] —It's over." A flash erupted. *BAAANG!!* "[scared] Aaaagh!! My eyes!!" "[scared] What the—!? I can't see!!" The makeshift flash grenade painted the alley white. The dealers stumbled, clutching their eyes, screaming. "[excited] Run, Jayce!!" Victor grabbed Jayce's arm and sprinted at full speed. They turned down an alley, dashed up a staircase, and slipped into an even narrower back lane. The two stood with their backs against the wall, gasping for breath. "[excited] Hahh… hahh…" "[surprised] Y-you… how did you do that just now…?" Jayce stared at Victor, eyes wide. "[gentle] …A makeshift flash grenade made from scrap parts. Theoretically, with Hex gem residue and a discharge terminal, directed light amplification was possible." "[laughing] …You're as brilliant as ever." Jayce let out a soft laugh. "[embarrassed] No, I… I'm always just being protected by you." Victor looked down. Earlier, Jayce had stepped forward to protect them. They were happy about that. But in the end, they'd had to manage on their own. (*If only I were more capable—*) "[gentle] Vic, you've always been amazing." They looked up with a start. Jayce was looking straight at Victor. The fear from before was gone from his golden eyes. In its place, a soft light dwelled. "[gentle] I've always thought you were incredible. Perfect in theory and practice, but never arrogant. …Even now, you get yourself out of a pinch like this with your own hands. You really are amazing." "[embarrassed] …Th-that's not…" That's when it happened. Jayce's hand gently touched Victor's. "[whispers] Huh…?" "[scared] Ah…!" Both of them realized what they were doing at the same moment. Jayce, unconsciously, had taken hold of Victor's hand. Silence fell over the back alley. "[embarrassed] —!!" Jayce hurriedly let go, and Victor also pulled their hand back sharply, turning toward the wall. Both of their faces were bright red. No words came out. Only the sound of their hearts pounding echoed in the back alley. (*Why did I grab their hand?*) Jayce stared at his right hand, desperately searching for a reason. But there was no reason. He was just—he was scared, and Victor was amazing, and even though he was supposed to protect them, he ended up being saved instead—and he felt relieved. (*I wanted to hold their hand.*) (*That was all.*) Meanwhile, Victor, facing the wall, felt like their chest was about to burst. (*Jayce… held my hand—*)