Scene 1 – A Gentle Morning
Location: Cruise Ship – Dining Hall (Morning)
Soft morning sunlight streamed through the glass windows of the dining hall. The clinking of plates, the aroma of breakfast, and low conversations filled the air.
Ren and Zeno sat at a table, having breakfast with Fynn, Lyra, and Emi.
Lyra (smiling warmly):
"The show last night was so beautiful. I really loved it."
Emi (nodding):
"Yeah, it was truly amazing."
Zeno (to Lyra):
"You must've taken some great photos, right?"
Fynn (grinning):
"Yeah! Where are the group photos, Lyra?"
Lyra:
"They're saved on the memory card in my bag. We can look at them anytime."
Ren (surprised):
"You saved them to the memory card last night itself?"
Lyra:
"Yes, Ren. I saved all the photos last night."
Ren (pleased):
"That's really great."
Fynn (laughing):
"Good thing you did. Otherwise, Lyra's phone battery would've fainted before we saw anything."
Everyone bursts out laughing, the table filled with warmth and ease.
Scene 2 – The Uneasy Gaze
Location: Same Dining Hall
A few tables away, Sylar sat quietly.
His eyes were fixed continuously on Zeno.
Zeno (thinking):
"Why has he been staring at me since earlier…?"
Ren noticed Zeno's expression.
Ren (thinking):
"What's wrong with him? Why does he look so tense?"
Lyra also glanced at Zeno.
Lyra (thinking):
"Is something bad still going to happen? What's going on with Zeno…?"
Lyra (out loud):
"Zeno, what happened? You look worried."
Ren:
"Yeah, Zeno. You seem really disturbed… is something wrong?"
Zeno forced a smile.
"No, nothing happened…"
Then, still smiling, he subtly pointed behind Ren.
"Look… five tables back."
Ren turned around.
Sylar was still watching them.
Without saying anything, Ren stood up and walked toward Sylar.
Zeno (thinking, alarmed):
"Where is he going now…?"
Fynn (thinking):
"What's wrong with Ren? Why is he going toward him?"
Lyra & Emi (quietly):
"Where is Ren going?"
Fynn (serious):
"Look ahead of Ren… see who that is."
Lyra and Emi froze when they saw Sylar.
Scene 3 – A Brave Conversation
Location: Dining Hall – Near Sylar's Table
Ren sat down at the table beside Sylar.
Sylar looked at him with a calm, normal smile.
Sylar (thinking):
"No one has ever dared to come this close to me…
This boy is impressive."
Ren (direct):
"Why are you staring at us?"
From afar, Zeno grew even more anxious.
Sylar (thinking):
"He's innocent… surprisingly so."
Sylar (softly):
"If Zeno is disturbed by my looking at him—"
Ren:
"Yes, he is disturbed."
Sylar (slight smile):
"Everyone is disturbed by something."
Ren:
"But it's not like that. You weren't just looking at Zeno… you were watching all of us.
I didn't feel disturbed."
Sylar:
"That much is obvious.
You seem to know Zeno well."
Ren:
"He's my best friend."
Sylar (standing up):
"Very well, Ren. I'll leave.
I won't trouble your friend Zeno."
He steps slightly aside and speaks quietly—
Sylar:
"But would you like to be my friend… Ren?"
At that moment, Zeno rushes over.
Zeno (sharply):
"Ren, step away from him!"
Sylar (smiling):
"Your friend doesn't seem to have a problem with me."
Zeno:
"That's just how he is."
Sylar (light laugh):
"Very well. I'm leaving now."
His soft laughter sends a chill through Zeno and Fynn.
Scene 4 – Relief and Laughter
Ren:
"What happened, Zeno?"
Zeno (angrily):
"Ren, are you crazy?!"
Ren:
"No."
Zeno:
"He's a member of the Silent Shadow Troupe!"
Ren:
"I know."
Zeno:
"And you still went to him?!"
Ren (simply):
"Yes."
Then Ren suddenly smiles.
Ren (joking):
"I just thought… if he's dangerous, I should at least say good morning first.
Bad guys should never skip breakfast."
Fynn, Lyra, and Emi arrive, and everyone breaks into laughter, the tension finally easing.
To be continued...…