Scene 1 – The Announcement & Laughter
Location: Cruise Ship – Dining Hall (Night)
The dining hall glowed with warm light and soft chatter. Laughter mingled with the gentle hum of the ship's engines.
Then, a voice echoed through the speakers:
[Ship Intercom Announcement]
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Night Sky Show will begin in just fifteen minutes! Please make your way to the upper deck to enjoy the performance. Thank you!"
The room stirred with excitement.
Zeno (grinning):
"Finally! The Night Sky Show is happening again!"
Ren (smiling):
"Yeah, Zeno… I really wanted to see it this time."
Lyra (holding up her camera):
"Good thing I've kept my camera ready since last time!"
Ren (teasingly):
"Just make sure your camera doesn't quit again. Last time you took three hundred photos of one firework—remember?"
Zeno (laughing):
"Yeah! I heard her camera applied for early retirement after that!"
Everyone bursts out laughing.
Emi (laughing):
"Zeno, you too! Stay with us this time, okay? Don't make us search for you again!"
Zeno (pretending to protest):
"Oh, Emi…"
The whole table laughs together, the sound blending with the soft music and clinking of dishes.
The camera drifts upward through the glass ceiling — the sea gleams below, and the stars twinkle above, like the world is smiling with them.
Scene 2 – The Shadow on Deck
Location: Cruise Ship – Upper Deck (Night)
Two crew members worked quietly on the top deck, setting up the skyshot launchers.
The night breeze was cool, carrying the scent of salt and sea.
Worker 1:
"That's the last one. The Captain wants this show perfect."
Worker 2:
"Yeah. Let's double-check the—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
A lone figure walked slowly across the deck — Sylar.
His coat fluttered slightly in the wind, his steps calm and deliberate.
Worker 1 (frowning):
"Hey! You're not supposed to be here. This area's restricted! Didn't anyone tell you?"
Sylar (quietly, almost to himself):
"Restricted…? Who decides what's restricted for me?"
Worker 1:
"I said get out before—"
Sylar (softly smiling):
"Before what? Hmm… fine, I'll leave. Just after a little moment."
Worker 1 (snapping):
"You're not listening, are you?!"
Sylar raised his index finger.
A faint purple aura shimmered around it, swirling like liquid shadow.
Sylar (calmly):
"...The Dominion Finger."
No shouting. No movement. Just silence — and power.
The worker froze as his own shadow began to crawl up his body — slow, alive, whispering.
It wrapped around his legs, chest, and face… then merged with his skin.
His veins turned black, eyes flooded with violet streaks.
He screamed, laughed, and cried all at once — then fell silent.
Sylar (coldly):
"Not dead. Just… trapped in the darkness. He'll wake in a few weeks — with no memory of tonight."
The second worker staggered back in horror.
Sylar (glancing at him):
"I assume you won't be telling anyone?"
Worker (trembling):
"N-No… never!"
Sylar (smirking):
"Good."
He looked once more at the fallen man, then said quietly —
Sylar:
"Finish your job. The show's about to start… and I'd like to enjoy the Night Sky too."
He turned away, laughing softly as he walked down the stairs.
The purple aura dissolved into the darkness behind him.
Scene 3 – The Night Sky Show
Location: Cruise Ship – Upper Deck (Fifteen Minutes Later)
[Announcement]
"Only ten seconds to begin the Night Sky Show! Get ready!"
Excited voices echoed across the deck.
Ren and his friends rushed out with the crowd, eyes wide with anticipation.
All (counting):
"10… 9… 8…"
Ren (grinning):
"Come on, hurry!"
All:
"5… 4… 3… 2… 1…!"
The first firework burst into the sky — brilliant red.
Then blue, gold, violet — the night exploded in colors.
The sea shimmered with reflections, as if the ocean itself had caught the stars.
Ren (in awe):
"Wow… fireworks!"
Zeno:
"This is amazing!"
Emi:
"Lyra! Camera—now!"
Lyra (smiling):
"Already on it!"
Flashes sparkled as Lyra clicked photo after photo.
Ren and his friends laughed, posed, recorded — every frame full of joy and light.
Around them, the crowd cheered, eyes lifted to the glowing sky.
[Ren's soft inner thought]
"Some moments can't be kept forever…
but they stay in your heart — shining quietly,
just like the night sky smiling above us."
The camera pans upward — fireworks blooming beside the stars.
At the far end of the deck, Sylar stands alone, watching silently.
For a fleeting second, even his cold eyes reflect the colors of the sky.
[Soft music fades out]
Text on Screen:
"To Be Continued…"