The city of Guarly pulsed with life—a lively, beautiful place to live. Among the busy streets walked Alexa, a striking girl with black hair and green eyes, her charm drawing glances from passersby. She strolled alongside her two best friends when, at the corner, they spotted a girl colliding with a boy, scattering her belongings across the pavement.
Alexa started forward to help, but one of her friends grabbed her arm."Come on, Alexa! If we stop now, we'll miss the new blueberry-strawberry shakes they're releasing today at Kiryoku!"
The thought made Alexa hesitate. For a moment, she watched the struggling girl with guilt, but then she turned away and followed her friends, running down the street.
The trio wandered through downtown, laughter and chatter bubbling between them. But the joy was interrupted when Alexa froze: a stray cat had appeared. She squealed, scooped it up, and cuddled it tightly. The cat purred, content in her arms, as if wrapped in her radiant energy.
Her friends exchanged smiles and said in unison:"You'll never change, bestie."
But immediately, they bickered, each demanding the title of true best friend. Alexa stopped their argument with a warm laugh, hugging both."Calm down. You're both my best friends. You've always been there when I needed you most."
They all laughed, and harmony returned.
Yet life always seeks balance. Nearby, at a construction site, a crane struggled to lift several heavy concrete pipes at once. Two slipped from their restraints and rolled free, barreling toward the entrance.
Without hesitation, Alexa bolted toward the danger. Her friends gasped, confused—until they realized what she was after: the cat, stretching lazily in the deadly path of the pipes.
Heart pounding, Alexa sprinted, every step a desperate gamble. She scooped up the cat at the very last instant. Knowing she couldn't escape, she flung the animal out of harm's way, sacrificing her chance at survival. The pipes thundered down toward her.
But instead of death, she found herself atop the scaffolding. In the blink of an eye, she had been pulled from the ground.
Alexa's breath caught. She was alive. Relief flooded her—until she remembered the cat. Her eyes darted frantically, searching. Then she heard it: a soft purr.
Turning, she saw the stray nestled in the arms of a hooded man. He wore a light-blue jacket, black pants, dark sneakers with white trim, and on his back—a yellow backpack.
Alexa's heart skipped. She smiled gratefully, calling out:"Thank you! I owe you one, sir!"
But the man gave no reply. Without a word, he leapt gracefully to a nearby rooftop and vanished into the cityscape, leaving only silence—and questions—behind.