E.Y.E.S: FRACTURED DESTINY
Arc 1: Sync of Destiny
At the headquarters of Miracle of Technology, the main hall—usually filled with scientific genius and the overwhelming superiority of elite researchers—
WAS A COMPLETE FUCKING DISASTER.
Scientists?
Panicking.
Technicians?
Clueless.
Security personnel?
Looking like a bunch of kids who'd just gotten pulled over by the cops for the first time in their lives.
Everyone stood there in silence.
TENSE.
HEADS DOWN.
Waiting for the storm that was about to blow the whole place apart.
And that storm had a name.
DR. FUSHIDA.
Fushida, the genius scientist who'd sacrificed decades of his life to this project, was absolutely losing his shit.
His inspirational speeches were currently being delivered at the volume of a dying air raid siren.
His usually neat silver hair was now a complete mess, like a coconut-fiber broom that had just been hit by a fucking tornado.
His eyes bulged. The veins in his neck stuck out so much they looked like a three-dimensional map of the Amazon River.
He pointed at the head of security, whose face had gone as pale as a burial shroud.
"YOU PEOPLE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON SECURITY SYSTEMS!"
"YOU'VE GOT ALL THESE GODDAMN DRONES!"
"YOU'VE GOT ADVANCED SENSOR TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN TRACK A BUTTERFLY TAKING A SHIT IN AFRICA!"
"AND YOU STILL LET A SINGLE BOX JUST FUCKING DISAPPEAR?!"
"AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN?!"
BOOM!
He slammed his clipboard onto the table.
Several scientists instinctively held their breath.
One of the security guards looked like his soul was about to disconnect from the server.
Sweat poured down their faces and soaked into their uniforms.
Meanwhile, behind him...
Other scientists pretended to be deeply focused on their work, when in reality, they were pinching themselves to keep from bursting out laughing.
They'd seen Fushida lose his shit plenty of times before.
But this?
THIS WAS LEGENDARY.
One scientist bit his lip until it turned pale. Another had to bite the end of his lab coat. Someone else buried their face in a desk, desperately trying to keep the laughter from escaping.
And just when Fushida's rage reached its absolute peak, with the entire room practically holding its breath—
SUDDENLY.
FUSHIDA SLIPPED.
Whether it was divine karma or his own sweat, his foot caught on a cable, and in a dramatic, slow-motion tragedy worthy of an award-winning documentary—
HE FELL.
SLAMMED INTO THE FLOOR.
AND HIS PANTS SLIPPED DOWN.
HALF A PAIR OF WHITE UNDERWEAR WAS NOW EXPOSED TO THE WORLD.
The room: SILENT.
The scientists: LAUGHING INTERNALLY SO HARD THEY WERE READY TO BITE THROUGH THEIR LAPTOP CABLES.
The technicians: TRYING TO COVER THEIR MOUTHS WITH THEIR OWN TIES.
The security guards: HAVING A FULL-BLOWN EMOTIONAL AFFAIR WITH THEIR OWN FEELINGS.
But the most legendary part?
FUSHIDA GOT BACK UP WITH ABSOLUTE COOL-GUY ENERGY.
AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED.
He adjusted his glasses, fixed his hair, and then, with all the dignity of a world-class scientist—
KICKED THE PERSON STANDING CLOSEST TO HIM.
"YOU LAUGHING?!"
The poor bastard froze on the spot. His eyes were watering, and his shoulders were shaking as he desperately tried to hold it in.
The guy next to him was also turning red, gasping for air while pinching his own left hand like he was possessed.
Fushida glared at them one by one, radiating pure murderous intent.
"YOU ALL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?!"
"..."
"..."
"NO, SIR!" they answered in unison.
Fushida let out a long breath.
He was still pissed.
But suddenly, the atmosphere changed.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Every step sent a chill through the room. A thin trail of cigarette smoke drifted through the air.
A man appeared.
Tall. Hair neatly combed back. A charismatic face, with tired-looking eyes—not because he was exhausted, but because his entire vibe was just that laid-back.
A black cane in his hand tapped against the floor at a slow, steady rhythm.
Everyone held their breath.
Not because they were afraid.
But because this man...
WAS DIFFERENT.
He looked straight at Fushida.
"Fushida."
One word.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
Fushida raised his head, his eyes narrowing. Irritation and caution mixed in his expression.
"What?"
The man took a slow breath and exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke. His cane tapped the table once.
"You're talking too much."
Silence.
The scientists went still. The security guards didn't move. Even the computers seemed to stop making noise.
"Instead of throwing a tantrum without a plan..." His gaze sharpened. "Why don't you find a solution?"
Fushida clenched his jaw, holding back whatever insult was about to come flying out of his mouth.
But he didn't argue.
He knew exactly who was standing in front of him.
"Whatever," he muttered.
The orders went out.
Security personnel scattered to search for E.Y.E.S.
The scientists began tracking its signal.
But the data that appeared on their screens?
NOTHING.
E.Y.E.S seemed to have vanished from this dimension entirely.
The man with the cane remained silent, staring at the empty monitor. Another cloud of cigarette smoke rose into the air.
"Could someone else have interfered?" one scientist whispered.
But who?
Everyone in that room realized one thing.
Who had the device now?
THE FOLLOWING MORNING
Blue skies.
A gentle breeze.
Birds chirping.
The school was beginning to fill with students.
And in the middle of that peaceful morning...
ONE SPECIES THAT SHOULD'VE GONE EXTINCT FROM THE EDUCATION SYSTEM MADE ITS GRAND ENTRANCE.
KRISHNA.
His bag hung off one shoulder. His face practically screamed troublemaker, and his footsteps followed the rhythm of a song only he could hear inside his own head.
"IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE BY BECOMING A QUALITY HUMAN BEING!"
Krishna danced as he walked.
Hips to the left. Shoulders to the right. Head bobbing like a pigeon that had just discovered a plate of nasi Padang.
He even managed a half-spin while patting his bag.
"Hehehe... MY LIFE IS FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!"
The problem was, this little shit wasn't taking the route normal students used.
HE WAS TAKING THE SECRET ROUTE.
The same route he'd used yesterday to climb the fence because he was scared of getting jumped by EVANA.
Why?
BECAUSE TRAUMA DOESN'T NEED A REASON TO MAKE A COMEBACK.
At the school gate, Evana stood watch over the students.
Beside her was Mr. Udin, the bald security guard with the thick mustache and the kind of stare that could make a sandal thief reconsider his entire criminal career.
Evana narrowed her eyes while casually snacking on mosquitoes.
SMACK.
One mosquito's life came to an end.
SMACK.
A second mosquito followed it into the afterlife.
Meanwhile, inside Krishna's head, yesterday's memories began playing.
Evana chasing him with a baton in her hand.
FUCK, I CANNOT RUN INTO THAT GIRL AGAIN!
He immediately sped up his dancing.
YES.
HE WAS DANCING EVEN FASTER NOW.
Evana?
Still busy monitoring the students.
Mr. Udin?
Still standing there with the aura of a man who could steal someone's life force and leave them apologizing for it.
And Krishna?
CONVINCED HE'D JUST PLAYED EVANA LIKE A DAMN FOOL.
"HAHAHAHA! NOBODY CAN CATCH ME!"
Elsewhere in the school, Lira was on morning duty with Maudy.
She cheerfully wiped down the desks and straightened things up, occasionally chatting with her friend.
"Lir, have you filled the bucket yet?" Maudy asked.
"Yep! I'm gonna get some water first, okay?"
Lira was the kind of girl who got straight to work whenever someone asked her to clean up.
After filling the bucket, she headed upstairs to clean the outside area of the classroom on the second floor, carefully carrying the water she'd use for mopping.
Meanwhile, in another classroom...
SRADA WAS LYING ACROSS HER DESK.
But don't get the wrong idea.
Behind that permanently grumpy face, her hand was busy writing something in a notebook.
The words read...
Krish today...
She paused for a moment.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
OOOOOOOOOOH, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT!
SOMEONE'S WRITING ROMANTIC FANFICTION DURING SCHOOL HOURS!
SRADA: "HUH?! WHO?! WHERE?!"
Srada immediately slammed her notebook shut, faster than someone hiding evidence of corruption.
Her face turned red.
Her eyes darted around the room.
"WHO SAID THAT?!"
Even though the classroom was empty.
There was nothing but chairs, desks, and her dignity, which had just fallen from the second floor.
Srada snorted, then hugged her notebook.
"Stupid-ass narrator..."
SHE'S TALKING TO ME. THE NARRATOR. WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK.
Back on the second floor...
Lira stood near the edge of the classroom roof, preparing to dump the dirty mop water somewhere safe.
She glanced down.
And right at that moment—
KRISHNA WALKED BY.
Still dancing.
"DUDUDUDUDU! KRISH THE IDIOT, DUDUDU!"
SPLAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!
THE WATER CAME POURING DOWN.
AND AT THAT EXACT MOMENT—
Krishna stopped dancing.
"Huh?"
The first drop landed on his head.
One second later—
SPLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!!!
KRISHNA GOT ABSOLUTELY DRENCHED IN DIRTY MOP WATER.
From his hair to his shoes.
Krishna stood completely still.
His bag was soaked.
His hair was plastered to his head.
His face was blank.
"..."
From the second floor, Lira froze too.
"..."
She looked at the empty bucket in her hands.
Then at Krishna.
Then back at the bucket.
"OH MY GOD!"
Lira immediately panicked.
"KRISHNA! I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!"
Krishna looked up with the expression of a man who'd just been betrayed by the weather itself.
"HEY! WHAT AM I, A FUCKING PLANT?!"
"FUCK! NOW I'M SOAKED! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAU—"
But before he could finish his sentence—
ZZZZRRRRTTTTTTT!!!
A BLUE LIGHT BEGAN GLOWING FROM INSIDE HIS BAG.
Krishna's jaw dropped.
"Huh?"
ZZZZRRRRTTTTTTT!!!
"AAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH!!!"
HIS BODY IMMEDIATELY JOLTED UPWARD.
HIS LEGS KICKED AT THE AIR.
HIS ARMS FLUNG WIDE OPEN.
"FUUUUUCK! WHY THE HELL IS MY BAG SHOCKING ME?!"
ZZZZRRRRTTTTTTT!!!
He spun halfway around in the air, then landed hard on his ass.
THUD!
Five seconds later, he got back up with his hair sticking out in every possible direction.
From above, Lira had gone deathly pale.
"KRISHNA?! WHAT'S WRONG?!"
"HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW?!"
ZZZZRRRRTTTTTTT!!!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Krishna jumped while clutching his bag, then hurled it to the ground.
It hit the pavement with a heavy—
THUMP.
Suddenly, silence.
Krishna stood there, panting.
Lira hurried downstairs, nearly tripping over her own feet.
"Krishna! Are you okay?!"
"IS YOUR DAD GETTING SCAMMED BY THE REFEREE?! I'M GETTING ELECTROCUTED OVER HERE!"
Lira grabbed his shoulder, absolutely frantic.
"But how did you get shocked?! Were you touching a wire?"
"NO!"
"Then did someone shock you?"
"HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW?!"
The two of them stared at the bag lying on the ground.
Krishna swallowed.
Slowly, he approached it.
He unzipped the bag.
Inside were some crumpled books, a food wrapper from God knows when, a pen without a cap, and a BLACK BOX he'd assumed was just a pencil case.
The box blinked blue.
BLINK.
BLINK.
BLINK.
Krishna narrowed his eyes.
"..."
Lira leaned over to look too.
"..."
Krishna pointed at the box.
"What the hell is this? Why's my pencil case glowing?"
A MYSTERIOUS DEVICE FROM A CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY PROJECT, WANTED BY AN ELITE LABORATORY...
HAD JUST BEEN MISTAKEN FOR A PENCIL CASE BY A RANDOM SCHOOL KID.
Lira shook her head quickly.
In another part of the world...
Krish was crouching beside a motorcycle, his hands covered in grease and a wrench wedged between his fingers.
He'd been messing around with the thing for a while because he had to head over to Mrs. Yati's house soon to fix her TV.
He'd already promised her.
Krish tried starting the motorcycle.
CLICK.
Nothing.
He tried again.
VRRRRMMM—
The engine started for a fraction of a second, then died.
Krish stared at it.
Glanced at the motorcycle.
KRISH: "Goddamn it. I've got work to do."
He continued checking the wires beneath the seat.
As he lifted a pile of stuff wedged underneath, several old documents came loose.
Krish almost crushed them along with the cleaning rag in his hand.
KRISH: "Oh, shit."
He quickly put down the rag and unfolded the documents.
His eyes stopped on a name.
DR. ELBERT.
Krish turned to the next page.
There was a MoT logo.
On another page, the logo of PROJECT E.Y.E.S.
His brow furrowed.
KRISH: "Elbert... Who the hell is that?"
He stared at the name for a while.
The MoT logo was on the same document.
Krish wiped the dust off the paper, then separated it from the pile.
"Whatever. I'll ask Uncle later."
He put the documents somewhere safe, then went back to checking the motorcycle.
Back to Krishna and Lira.
Krishna narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell is this thing...?"
BLINK.
BLINK.
ZZZZRRRRTTTT!!!
"NGEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
HIS BODY SUDDENLY WENT RIGID.
The box slipped from his hands.
THUNK!
Krishna fell flat on his back.
Lira, standing right in front of him, FROZE SOLID.
"KRISHNAAAAAA?!"
She hurriedly crouched beside him, both hands hovering over his body, not knowing where the hell she was supposed to touch him.
"Krishna?! What's wrong?! Krishna, wake up!"
Krishna was still twitching slightly.
Lira instinctively reached for his shoulder, but the moment she saw his body jerk again—
"AAAA! S-SORRY!"
She immediately pulled her hand back.
She wanted to help, but she was terrified of touching him.
She wanted to call a teacher, but couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone.
"Oh my God, what do I do?! Krishna, please don't scare me like this!"
In the distance, two people strolled down the corridor.
Hamada and Brandon.
"I'm telling you, Don. If you wanna get close to a girl, you can't just act all cool right away."
Brandon munched on a snack.
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Just talk normally. Ask her name, her hobbies, stuff like that."
"I did that yesterday."
"NOW THAT'S A START. So what'd you say?"
Brandon answered with a completely straight face.
"'What's your name?'"
"AND THEN?"
"She answered. I said, 'Oh.'"
Hamada stopped walking.
"...You just said 'oh'?"
"What else was I supposed to say? 'Wow, your name is fascinating and could potentially change my life'?"
"YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"
Brandon shrugged and kept chewing.
"At least I asked."
"THEN WHY THE HELL DID YOU ASK IF YOU WERE GONNA RUN OUT OF THINGS TO SAY?!"
"So we could get to know each other."
"NO WONDER YOU'RE STILL SINGLE!"
Brandon was about to fire back when—
CRASH!
Someone came running from behind them and nearly slammed into both of them.
"OUT OF THE WAY! MOVE!"
Maudy rushed past them, her face filled with panic.
Hamada had to lean sideways to avoid getting hit.
"HEY, MAUDY?!"
Maudy didn't even have time to look back.
"KRISHNA GOT ELECTROCUTED! LIRA'S PANICKING TOO! HURRY!"
Hamada and Brandon immediately looked at each other.
"...Krishna?"
"Electrocuted?"
"Lira's panicking?"
Brandon stopped chewing.
They immediately ran after Maudy.
And when they finally reached the scene—
THEY SAW KRISHNA LYING ON THE FLOOR, HIS BODY STILL TWITCHING.
Lira was crouching beside him, her face deathly pale.
"Krishna, please wake up!"
Her hands were trembling. She finally worked up the courage to grab his shoulder and gently shake him.
"Krishna! You can hear me, right?!"
Hamada's jaw dropped.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO KRISHNA?!"
Brandon stood beside him, snack still in hand, but for once, he wasn't shoving it into his mouth.
Lira turned toward them, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.
"Please help him! I don't know what to do!"
Hamada rushed forward, but just as Krishna's body jerked again—
ZZZZRRRT!
"AAAAH!"
Hamada instinctively jumped back and crashed into Brandon.
"HEY! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU RUNNING INTO ME?!" Brandon protested.
"HE'S SHOCKING PEOPLE, YOU IDIOT!"
"SERIOUSLY?!"
Lira panicked even more as she watched the two of them start arguing.
On the floor, Krishna remained motionless between the occasional twitch, his breathing labored.
The black box lay not far from his hand.
Hamada swallowed.
Then he sprang into action.
"...Okay. We're getting a teacher. NOW."
They immediately took off running.
Brandon followed, but briefly turned toward Lira.
"Don't touch the thing that shocked him, okay?!"
Lira hurriedly nodded.
"O-okay!"
Brandon caught up with Hamada.
Lira turned back to Krishna. Her lips trembled, and tears began to gather in her eyes.
"Krishna... Come on, wake up..."
She gripped the hem of her own uniform, desperately trying not to cry.
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER — THE SCHOOL INFIRMARY
Krishna was still lying on the infirmary bed.
Unconscious.
His wet uniform hung near the window, while a thin blanket covered his body.
His face was pale.
His hair was a mess.
Beside the bed, Nurse Karina was busy checking his condition.
Meanwhile, Lira sat in the nearest chair.
Her face was pale.
Her fingers occasionally twisted the hem of her skirt.
Her eyes kept darting between Krishna and the floor, then back to Krishna again.
In short, she hadn't been able to sit still for a single second.
Maudy sat beside her, occasionally glancing at Krishna, then at Lira.
She was starting to get suspicious.
Suspicious that her best friend was about to explode from overthinking.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room...
Hamada and Brandon were there too.
At first, they sat nicely.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Fifteen seconds.
Hamada accidentally stepped on Brandon's shoe.
Brandon glanced down.
Hamada pretended not to notice.
His face was innocent.
Way too innocent.
Brandon retaliated by stepping on Hamada's foot.
Hamada retaliated.
Brandon pressed harder.
Hamada refused to lose.
And they just kept going until both of them looked like complete idiots.
And sure enough—
Nurse Karina stopped examining Krishna.
Slowly, she raised her head.
Turned toward them.
And then—
THE SIDE-EYE.
Sharp.
Cold.
Deadly.
The look of a medical professional who'd dealt with unconscious patients, feverish children, panicking parents, and now two biologically grown humans whose brain development had apparently gotten stuck fighting over an eraser in seventh grade.
Hamada immediately sat up straight.
Brandon adjusted his posture.
Both stared straight ahead.
Obedient.
Peaceful.
Tranquil.
Nurse Karina returned to checking Krishna.
"He's still unconscious, but his condition is starting to stabilize. Don't cause a disturbance, okay?"
They nodded rapidly.
Nurse Karina then stood up.
"It's class time now. The four of you should return to your classrooms. Let Krishna rest here. I'll keep an eye on him."
Lira immediately turned toward her.
"But, ma'am... what if Krishna wakes up later—"
"I'll be here. If anything changes, I'll take care of it."
Lira fell silent.
She still looked uncertain.
Her eyes returned to Krishna.
For some reason, seeing him lying there made her chest feel even heavier.
Maudy stood first, followed by Hamada and Brandon.
"Lir, come on," Maudy whispered.
"Okay..."
Lira got to her feet.
She bit her lower lip.
"Krishna... I'm sorry."
Her voice was barely audible.
She briefly clutched the edge of the blanket near the bed, then hurriedly let go when she remembered Nurse Karina was still there.
Maudy gently touched her shoulder.
"Come on. We can come back later if they let us."
Lira nodded.
She was the last one to head toward the door.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
BUT SUDDENLY—
Krishna's fingers moved.
His hand, resting on the bed, suddenly reached out and grabbed Lira's hand.
Lira stopped dead.
"...Huh?"
She turned around.
Krishna's eyes were still closed.
His breathing was steady.
But his hand...
WAS HOLDING LIRA'S HAND.
Lira froze.
Her eyes dropped to their hands.
Then back to Krishna's face.
Then down to their hands again.
Then back up.
"...K-Krishna?"
No answer.
Nothing.
As if his body had reacted on its own, without conscious thought.
Lira swallowed.
Her face began turning red.
"O-oh my God..."
She stared at Krishna.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
Meanwhile, deep inside Krishna's body...
Something stirred.
The residual energy that had previously interacted with his nervous system pulsed faintly.
The tiny activity traveled between neural impulses, creating a subtle ripple that was almost impossible to distinguish from his body's ordinary activity.
For a brief moment, the signal changed.
Then it sank back into silence.
It was such a small, subtle event.
So insignificant on the surface.
Lira didn't notice anything at all.
And that was more than enough to trigger a localized apocalypse inside her brain.
"E-eh, Krishna... I need to go to class..."
She tried to gently pull her hand away.
Krishna's grip finally loosened.
Lira immediately pulled her hand to her chest.
She took half a step back.
Then covered her burning cheeks with both hands.
"AAAAH..."
Her voice was tiny.
Barely more than a breath.
From the doorway, Maudy called out.
"Lira? What are you doing?"
"NOTHING!"
Maudy blinked.
"MAUDY, LET'S GO TO CLASS!"
Lira immediately bolted out of the room.
NOT WALKING.
NOT EVEN RUNNING NORMALLY.
SHE FLED LIKE SOMEONE WHO'D JUST BEEN CAUGHT STEALING FROM A CHARITY BOX AND WAS MAKING A NARUTO-STYLE ESCAPE.
Maudy could only stare at her best friend's retreating figure.
"...Okay?"
She scratched her head.
Then followed her.
Inside the infirmary, Nurse Karina had noticed Krishna's hand moving earlier.
She approached the bed again.
Checked his pulse.
Watched the rise and fall of his chest.
Then checked his condition one more time.
A little later, the infirmary door opened again.
Mr. Yanuar entered with a serious expression.
"How is he doing, Nurse?"
"He hasn't regained consciousness yet, but he's starting to stabilize."
Mr. Yanuar approached the bed.
He had some basic knowledge of physical examinations, so he checked Krishna's pulse and observed his breathing too.
"His pulse is still there. His breathing is regular as well."
Mr. Yanuar let out a relieved breath.
"Apparently, he was electrocuted earlier?"
"Yes. But we still don't know the exact cause."
Mr. Yanuar nodded slowly.
Then his gaze shifted toward the table.
Krishna's bag was still lying there.
An ordinary-looking shoulder bag.
Nothing unusual about it.
But through the gap in the zipper...
A blue light appeared.
BLINK.
Dark.
Mr. Yanuar furrowed his brow.
He stared at the bag for several seconds.
"...Huh?"
Before he could approach it, Nurse Karina returned to examining Krishna.
On the bed, Krishna remained unconscious.
ROADSIDE — LATE AFTERNOON
The sun was beginning to set.
The sky glowed orange.
A gentle evening breeze drifted through the air, carrying the smell of hot asphalt, dust, and exhaust fumes that seemed to hold a personal grudge against human lungs.
Vehicles rushed past the roadside.
Motorcycles roared.
Public minibuses stopped wherever they pleased.
Their drivers shouted for passengers, even though the people already sitting inside looked like political prisoners.
And in the middle of all that noise...
Krishna sat alone on the sidewalk.
His back was slightly hunched.
One hand held his head.
His shoulder bag lay beside his feet.
His face was a mess.
His hair was disheveled.
His shirt was no longer nearly as neat as it had been that morning.
"Fuck..."
Krishna closed his eyes.
His head throbbed faintly.
It wasn't an ordinary headache that could be fixed with a nap or some medicine from a local shop.
It felt strange.
Something seemed to be moving behind his forehead, spreading briefly before disappearing again, vanishing before he could understand it.
Krishna rubbed his temple.
"What the hell is this..."
Suddenly—
ZZZT!
A tiny flash appeared at the tip of his finger.
It was barely visible.
Almost impossible to notice unless someone was looking closely.
A thin streak of blue light flickered for a fraction of a second, then disappeared.
Krishna's eyes snapped open.
"...HUH?"
He stared at his hand.
Turned his palm over.
Examined each finger one by one.
Nothing.
Normal skin.
All fingers accounted for.
He waited a few seconds.
Maybe it would happen again.
One second.
Two seconds.
Five seconds.
Nothing.
Krishna frowned.
"Maybe I haven't been sleeping enough..."
He nodded to himself.
"Or I've been playing too many video games."
Krishna let out a long breath, then returned his hand to his head.
But before he could consider any other possibilities—
"KRISHNA!"
A female voice called from a distance.
Krishna immediately turned.
Across the sidewalk, Srada was walking toward him.
Her bag hung over one shoulder.
Her ponytail was slightly messy from the breeze.
The moment she reached him, Srada stopped right in front of him.
She planted her hands on her hips.
Her eyes narrowed.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING SITTING HERE?!"
Krishna looked up.
Saw Srada.
"Uh, sitting, Princess. What does it look like? Am I mixing cement?"
SRADA IMMEDIATELY REGRETTED ASKING.
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT, YOU MORON!"
"Then what did you mean?"
Srada took a very long breath.
A really, really long one.
"What happened to you this morning?"
Krishna blinked.
"Huh?"
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT 'HUH' SHIT! I'M ASKING WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU THIS MORNING!"
Krishna tilted his head.
His face was still as smug as ever.
"What about it?"
"YOU GOT ELECTROCUTED!"
"Oh."
"OH?!"
"Yeah. Oh."
SRADA WANTED TO RIP UP A FLOOR TILE AND BEAT THIS KID OVER THE HEAD WITH IT.
"YOU WERE UNCONSCIOUS FOR ALMOST THE ENTIRE DAY!"
Krishna raised an eyebrow.
"And now I'm conscious."
"I CAN FUCKING SEE THAT!"
"Well, good news. Your eyesight still works."
Srada fell silent.
Her mouth hung open slightly.
She stared at Krishna.
"Oh, my God..."
She rubbed her face.
Then looked at him again.
This time, her expression was a little more serious.
"Enough. Stop joking for a second."
Krishna tilted his head.
Srada pointed at his forehead.
"Before you got shocked, did you feel anything weird?"
Krishna went quiet for a moment.
His grin faded slightly.
The question reminded him of something.
Not the electric shock.
Not waking up in the infirmary.
But a few seconds before everything had gone dark.
There was something he'd seen.
Or maybe something he'd only thought he'd seen.
Krishna rubbed his temple.
"...Actually, something weird did happen."
Srada immediately leaned closer.
"What?"
Krishna lifted his head.
"When I woke up..."
And at that very moment—
The memory in his head seemed to pull him backward.
FLASHBACK — THE SCHOOL INFIRMARY, EARLIER THAT AFTERNOON
The infirmary still felt stuffy.
Krishna lay on the bed.
Mr. Yanuar stood beside him, observing his condition with a serious expression.
"Krishna, can you hear me?"
Krishna blinked slowly.
"Yeah, sir..."
"Good. Don't try to get up just yet."
Krishna tried to move his body.
His head still felt heavy.
"Sir..."
"Yes?"
"What happened to me?"
Mr. Yanuar exhaled.
"You suffered an electric shock. We still don't know exactly what caused it."
Krishna frowned.
"An electric shock? But I didn't touch any wires, sir."
"That's what we're trying to figure out."
Mr. Yanuar studied his face.
"Do you remember anything that happened before you lost consciousness?"
Krishna fell silent.
He tried to remember.
Everything felt blurry.
There had been a strange sensation in his body.
A flash of light.
Then—
Something that had made him stop thinking altogether.
Mr. Yanuar's eyes.
Not his entire eyes.
Just his irises.
For a few milliseconds, a blue light reflected from behind them.
A BLUE FLASH.
Brief.
Extremely brief.
Krishna blinked.
The light was gone.
Mr. Yanuar's eyes looked completely normal again.
"...Sir?"
"Yes, Krishna?"
Krishna slowly shook his head.
"Never mind."
Mr. Yanuar frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, sir. Maybe I'm still dizzy."
Mr. Yanuar nodded.
"Then get some rest. Don't push yourself."
Krishna lowered his head onto the pillow again.
But his mind remained stuck on one thing.
That blue light.
Had he really seen it?
Or was his brain just hallucinating after getting electrocuted?
BACK TO THE SIDEWALK
The memory slowly faded.
Srada was still standing in front of him, waiting for an answer.
"AND THEN?!"
Krishna looked at her.
"There was a light."
Srada frowned.
"What light?"
"A blue light."
Srada fell silent.
Then she looked up at the sky.
Then back at Krishna.
"...Did you get electrocuted or possessed by an LED lamp?"
Krishna immediately scoffed.
"SEE?! I KNEW YOU'D SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT!"
"WELL, WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?! YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU SAW A BLUE LIGHT, KRISHNA!"
Krishna flashed a wide grin.
Srada finally sighed.
"Whatever. At least you're okay now."
Her voice was softer this time.
More sincere.
Krishna looked at her for a moment.
For once, he didn't immediately fire back.
Unfortunately, the peace lasted all of two seconds.
Krishna smirked.
"So you were worried about me, huh?"
Srada stiffened.
"Huh?"
"You came looking for me, asked how I was doing, and got all worried..."
Krishna nodded thoughtfully.
"Wow, Srada. I didn't know you cared."
"GET OVER YOURSELF!"
"Relax, Princess. I get it."
"GET WHAT?!"
Krishna put on a wise, philosophical expression.
"I know it's hard for you to express your feelings."
Srada's eyes bulged.
"WHAT FEELINGS?!"
"Your feelings for me."
SILENCE.
Srada stared at Krishna with a completely blank expression.
Then—
"KRISHNA, I'M GONNA PUNCH YOU!"
Krishna immediately stood up, raising both hands.
"WHOA! SO AGGRESSIVE! WE'RE JUST TALKING!"
"YOU ALMOST FUCKING DIED, AND YOUR MOUTH IS STILL MAKING PEOPLE WANT TO DIE!"
"Means my system's still working."
"WHAT THE HELL IS NORMAL ABOUT THAT?!"
Krishna picked up his bag from the sidewalk.
He slung it over his shoulder, then looked at Srada with that smug grin that should've been reported to some kind of public protection agency.
"Come on. Let's go home."
Srada snorted.
"Is your house even on the way to mine?"
"If it's with you, I'll gladly take the long way around."
Srada froze.
Her cheeks changed color ever so slightly.
Krishna noticed.
His grin immediately widened.
"...Hey. You're blushing."
"SHUT UP!"
"You're really red."
"KRISHNA!"
"Like a traffic light."
Srada immediately walked ahead.
Fast.
Her face scrunched up.
Her ears were red.
Krishna followed behind her, chuckling.
"HEY, PRINCESS! WAIT UP!"
"DON'T CALL ME THATTTTT!"
"OKAY, PRINCESS!"
"KRISHNAAAA!"
Their voices gradually faded into the noise of the busy street.
Krishna was still laughing.
Srada was still yelling.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
INSIDE THE CAR — LATE AFTERNOON
On the other side of the city, a car moved through increasingly heavy traffic.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the clean seats and dashboard.
In the passenger seat, Lira sat quietly.
Both hands rested in her lap.
Her eyes stared out the window.
But her thoughts?
They were nowhere near the road.
Nowhere near the traffic.
Ever since leaving school, Krishna's face had kept appearing in her mind.
Krishna lying in the infirmary.
Krishna unconscious.
And the thing that bothered her the most...
Krishna going through all of that after what had happened earlier.
Lira lowered her head.
Her fingers twisted together.
"...If only I hadn't..."
She stopped halfway through the sentence.
She let out a quiet breath.
The guilt wouldn't leave her alone.
Especially whenever she remembered Krishna lying helplessly on the infirmary bed.
Her chest felt tight.
"Krishna..."
His name slipped from her lips.
Quietly.
Almost inaudibly.
But the person sitting beside her heard it.
TERRA.
She sat beside Lira with a blank expression.
She glanced at her younger sister.
Once.
Lira was still staring out the window.
Terra glanced again.
Twice.
Lira bit her lip.
Terra sighed.
Then slowly shook her head.
"...Good grief."
Terra looked forward again.
"Honestly..."
Lira turned toward her.
"What is it, Sis?"
Terra shook her head.
"Nothing."
Lira returned her gaze to the window.
SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY — LATE AFTERNOON
On a park bench by the roadside, someone sat alone.
A cup of coffee in his right hand.
His left hand rested against the side of his head, holding a phone to his ear.
He was speaking to someone.
His voice was calm.
Flat.
"The box... has been found."
Silence on the other end.
Then a voice answered.
"Location?"
The man glanced up at the sky.
"It's somewhere... unexpected."
Silence.
"The source?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"A child."
Several seconds passed.
"Hoo... Interesting."
The man took a sip of coffee.
The black liquid rippled gently inside the cup.
He stared at its surface for a moment.
Then...
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I'll keep watching him for a little longer."
The voice on the other end immediately responded.
"Don't make any rash moves."
The smile slowly faded.
The man leaned back against the bench.
His gaze shifted toward the road in front of the park.
Vehicles passed by.
People walked home.
Children laughed.
Everything looked ordinary.
A LITTLE TOO ORDINARY.
"This might be bigger than we thought."
His voice remained calm.
He placed the coffee cup beside him.
Then stood up.
He walked away, leaving the bench behind, still holding a little warmth from where he'd been sitting.
A few steps later, his figure began disappearing into the shadows cast by the buildings.
The phone call ended.
The screen went dark.
And beneath the evening breeze...
One unanswered question remained.
WHAT WAS THE BOX THEY'D FINALLY FOUND?
And more importantly...
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY DISCOVERED WHO WAS CARRYING IT?
We're hanging, but it's not like we're in a relationship or anything. 😜
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