ZZZ:Through the Frosted Mirror

Ellen woke up early in the morning, feeling the comforting weight of Miyabi resting on her chest. The soft, rhythmic purring of the fox Thiren filled the quiet space, a warm contrast to the cool morning air. Ellen's arm was draped loosely around Miyabi's back, her fingers idly stroking the soft fur of her tail, which twitched slightly in response. Even in sleep, Miyabi nuzzled closer to her, her face nestled into the crook of Ellen's neck.

Careful not to disturb Miyabi's slumber, Ellen reached for the living room remote and turned on the TV, lowering the volume to a quiet murmur. The morning news began with routine reports—current temperatures, the weekly forecast, and a surprising announcement of an unexpected snowstorm arriving in New Eridu by Wednesday. The unexpected turn in weather was a rare occurrence, and the reporters discussed the potential disruptions it might cause.

As the broadcast shifted to lighter topics, Ellen absentmindedly continued to pet Miyabi's back. The next segment covered trending topics on social media, including an uproar over Astra Yao's canceled concert. Astra, widely regarded as New Eridu's most iconic singer, had announced that the upcoming storm had forced her to cancel her highly anticipated performance. Fans who had already purchased tickets expressed their disappointment, causing a stir online.

Ellen started to tune out—celebrity gossip had nothing to do with her. But then, a familiar name caught her attention.

Her own.

Ellen's brows furrowed as she focused back on the TV. The news anchor's voice carried a weight that sent a prickle of unease down her spine.

"Ever since the recent attack on New Eridu, Section 6, the city's enigmatic special operations unit, has gone silent. No public statements have been made, and their members have not been seen—until today."

Ellen's stomach twisted as she listened, her fingers pausing mid-stroke on Miyabi's back. The anchor continued.

"An anonymous source has revealed the identity of one of Section 6's newest members—the mysterious Thiren seen during the city's defense. The individual has now been confirmed as Ellen Joe, a high school student who previously worked at a local maid café. And, if reports are to be believed, she is also the lover of Section 6's leader, Hoshimi Miyabi."

Ellen's breath caught in her throat. The words hit her like a freight train. Her grip on the remote tightened, her pulse quickening as she stared at the screen.

Miyabi stirred slightly, her purring stopping for a brief moment as she sensed the shift in Ellen's body language. But she remained asleep, blissfully unaware of what had just been broadcasted to the entire city.

Ellen lay on the couch, Miyabi still curled up on her chest, purring softly in her sleep. The morning news played on the television, the usual weather updates and local affairs filling the room with background noise. She absently ran her fingers through Miyabi's hair, smiling at the soft nuzzles and the slow, rhythmic wagging of her tail.

Her attention was only half on the broadcast until she suddenly caught something that made her eyes widen.

"…following the attack on New Eridu, Section 6 has been noticeably absent from the public eye. However, an anonymous source has now confirmed the identity of one of its new members, the Thiren known as Ellen Joe, a high schooler formerly employed at a maid café. Additionally, sources confirm that she is in a romantic relationship with Section 6's leader, Hoshimi Miyabi."

Ellen sat up quickly, causing Miyabi to stir with a grumble. Her heart pounded in her chest as the news continued.

"If that wasn't enough, footage has also surfaced showing Ellen Joe entering and leaving her apartment at various times—such as recent trips to the mall for groceries and clothing. This revelation has led many to question whether other Section 6 members may be in hiding within the city."

Ellen's stomach dropped.

"Miyabi," she whispered urgently, shaking her gently. "Wake up."

Miyabi groaned but opened her eyes, blinking groggily. "Ellen…?" Her sleepy expression quickly hardened when she saw the look on Ellen's face.

"They revealed my identity," Ellen said. "And they just showed footage of my apartment."

Miyabi's ears twitched, her sleepy haze vanishing instantly. "Tch. So it's already come to this." She sat up, immediately switching into action mode. "I'll pack everything we need. I need to contact my father."

Ellen gave a nod before heading straight to her room, where Mira was still fast asleep. She crouched down beside the bed and gently shook the little oni awake.

"Mira," Ellen murmured. "We have to go."

Mira stirred, rubbing her eyes. "Huh? Why…?"

"I'll explain later, but we need to leave soon, okay?" Ellen said, grabbing some clothes for both of them. Mira nodded groggily, and Ellen led her to the bathroom, helping her shower quickly.

Once they were done, Ellen dressed Mira in a thick, navy-blue hoodie with little horn designs on the hood, black leggings, and soft indoor boots. Ellen herself threw on a simple black turtleneck, cargo pants, and her usual boots, opting for something comfortable and mobile in case they had to move fast.

When they returned to the living room, Miyabi was sitting on the couch, her face serious.

"My father isn't answering," Miyabi stated. "That only happens when he's in important meetings."

Ellen frowned. That meant they couldn't rely on him for immediate backup. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and dialed Victoria Housekeeping.

The call barely rang before Von Lycaon answered. "Miss Ellen, a pleasure as always." His voice was calm and refined as ever.

Ellen wasted no time. "Lycaon, I need a favor. The news just outed my location, and we need a place to stay until things settle down. Can we come to Victoria's?"

A brief pause. Then Lycaon's response was firm. "Of course. You will be safe here. Come as soon as you can—we will make arrangements."

Ellen exhaled in relief. "Thank you."

"We will be waiting," Lycaon assured before the call ended.

Ellen looked at Miyabi, who nodded. "Let's move."

Ellen made sure to bring Sharkboo with her this time. There was no way she was going to forget them again. Just as they were about to leave the apartment, a sudden noise caught their attention—the sound of people screaming.

Curious, Ellen walked over to the window and peeked outside. A massive crowd had gathered below, all of them donning various Miyabi-themed merchandise. Some waved banners with Miyabi's name, while others clutched glow sticks and posters featuring her face. Public Security officers were already on the scene, struggling to control the enthusiastic fans and disperse the chaos.

Miyabi groaned, visibly embarrassed.

"This is a nightmare," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Ellen smirked. "We can just parkour our way out."

Miyabi shot her a skeptical look. "Wouldn't that bring even more attention to us?"

Ellen waved off the concern with a confident grin. "Nah. We're the fastest things in New Eridu. Best they'll see is a blur."

Before Miyabi could argue, Ellen hoisted Sharkboo under one arm and scooped up Mira with the other. With a powerful leap, she launched herself out of the window, vaulting onto the rooftops in one fluid motion.

"Wooohoooo!" Mira cheered, her excitement echoing out as Ellen effortlessly traversed the skyline.

Miyabi sighed, rubbing her temples. "Idiot."

Still, she had little choice but to follow. With a swift motion, she leapt after them, gracefully landing atop the nearest building. Below, the crowd and Public Security officers stared in stunned silence, watching as the trio disappeared into the cityscape, leaving only a trail of fading echoes behind them.