01-02-2345 Celestial Era, 21:34
T+07:00
The artificial sky of the Astral Foundation Academy's orbital colony shimmered with an expanse of stars, perfectly simulated by the weather control system to resemble a calm night — with a gentle chill carried by the wind.
"Ugh, it's freezing! I know they've cut the heating budget for the core central area, but this is ridiculous!" Kiana's voice trembled slightly as she complained, rubbing her arms.
The cold breeze brushed past them, making Revan sigh as he glanced to his left — where Kiana stood with an annoyed expression."I told you, you should've worn a jacket," he said lightly.
"There's a specific contract I must follow," Kiana replied firmly. "I can't wear any accessories resembling a cloak unless it's from Avalon's product line — exceptions only apply for formal events. So, is it still far?"
Revan nodded and took a few steps ahead. Kiana, visibly uncomfortable, grabbed onto his right sleeve with her delicate fingers."Wait a second! I don't even recognize this area! I've never seen this training zone before!" she said sharply.
"This is part of the restricted mechanical training grounds," Revan replied flatly. "Just follow me."
"How surprising — you almost sound persuasive," Kiana muttered, narrowing her eyes. "But I've got my eyes on you. Don't even think of trying something weird. Let's focus on reaching the stadium."
Revan exhaled deeply again and continued walking. About fifty meters ahead stood a gray, 30-meter-tall building — its exterior slightly weathered from years of disuse.
After taking only three steps forward, Kiana suddenly tugged his sleeve and sniffed the air sharply."Impossible! That smell — it's tea leaves! Untreated, natural leaves with no chemical additives! Perfect for my diet plan!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "This place just keeps getting stranger!"
Her gaze followed the scent to a small roadside stand with three tables and four chairs, manned by a young vendor."Let's go there first!" Kiana ordered decisively.
"Of course," Revan said with mild sarcasm. "A food stand — probably a culinary student's project."
"We have to support them! Come on, motivation matters!" she snapped, dragging him by the wrist toward the stall.
The vendor, a brown-haired student with a cheerful smile, greeted them eagerly."Hi there! Are these teas certified as eco-friendly?" Kiana asked politely.
"Absolutely," the vendor said proudly. "As you can see, these are naturally grown leaves — no laboratory synthesis involved."
He opened a small metal container, revealing heaps of fragrant green tea leaves, then began grinding a portion with practiced precision.
"Natural processed! A luxury beverage indeed. Then I'll have a warm matcha, please," Kiana said with a refined smile.
The powder was placed into a small clay cup and whisked with hot water until it foamed lightly. The vendor stirred it gently, placed it before her, and bowed slightly.
Revan glanced up. "Do you have strawberry parfait blast?" he asked with a calm tone.
"My apologies, that'll take a little longer," the vendor said seriously.
"Okay," Revan replied simply.
Kiana lifted the cup carefully and sat at one of the nearby tables."This aroma — so strong! Natural processed organic!" she said joyfully before taking a small sip, her face relaxing as she savored the flavor.
"So you like it?" Revan asked with mild amusement.
She lowered the cup and smiled warmly. "Of course. For a street-side stand, this is rather impressive. And it doesn't violate my Avalon contract either. But tell me — what did you mean earlier by 'we talk too much'?"
"As I said, your sentences are too long," Revan replied dryly.
"What I meant," Kiana continued with a slight huff, "is that I can speak normally. It's just that the linguistic processing capacity in a genetically perfect brain like mine is limited — or else my quantum frequency could destabilize, which requires specialized treatment."
She took another sip of her matcha and smiled faintly before setting it down again."And, before we were born, we were designed with specific behavioral parameters. Preferences and aversions like this aren't really our choice — so please, try to understand that," she added coolly.
Finishing her drink, Kiana sighed. "And… I've just realized I finished the matcha. Since warm drinks are restricted, I might get in trouble for this. Anyway, where's your drink?"
"It should be ready soon," Revan said casually.
Just then, the vendor approached with a tall glass — strawberry ice cream layered with berry syrup and topped with a bright red cherry, complete with a transparent aluminum straw.
"How much for everything?" Revan asked kindly.
"112 bits," the vendor answered cheerfully.
"Seriously? The price went up again? Wasn't it 30 bits per glass before?" Revan asked, frowning.
"This lady ordered another cup, and the parfait's base ingredients have become pricier," the vendor explained nervously.
Revan sighed, reached into his jacket, and pulled out his holo-phone, scanning the quantum code on the counter."Payment sent. Plus a tip — total 120 bits," he said politely.
"Thank you for your purchase!" the vendor replied brightly.
Revan sat beside Kiana, staring at the cold dessert in his hands.
"Eating strawberry ice cream in this cold? Don't be ridiculous! You'll catch a fever!" Kiana scolded.
"Whatever. Ice cream helps cool my head," Revan said with a faint smile, taking a spoonful.
At that moment, both founders of the Astral Foundation arrived — Asterius and Steiner — followed by several officials and businessmen, all stopping to see the two students seated side by side.
Steiner crossed his arms, glaring at them with a mix of authority and disbelief."Leave you two alone for a moment, and you're already on a date? There's a special clause in your contract, young lady — you are not allowed to engage in romantic relationships with anyone, my granddaughter!" he barked.
"It's not a date!" Kiana protested instantly, almost spilling her cup. "I was just... appreciating the warmth of this matcha. It's a natural processed organic product!" she added nervously.
The adults behind Steiner exchanged glances before turning their attention to the terrified vendor standing behind the stall.
"You— second-year student, Largus Nurus," Asterius said sharply. "Assist us in clarifying this situation. Show us your supply right now."
"Y-Yes, sir! Of course, Chairman Asterius!" the vendor stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "You can inspect everything you want!"
Asterius walked behind the counter, his expression focused. Rows of glass jars lined the shelf — filled with roasted coffee beans, dried herbs, and natural tea leaves. He checked each one carefully before straightening up with a nod.
"Clean. No violations here," he declared. "My apologies, young man. In that case— would you mind preparing coffee for everyone present? I can see you have some excellent beans here."
"R-right away!" the vendor replied, relieved yet trembling.
Steiner, meanwhile, turned back toward Revan and Kiana, who were still seated — Revan quietly enjoying his strawberry parfait while Kiana stared into her empty cup.
"So, natural processed organic, huh?" Steiner said dryly. "We're all heading to the station together tonight. It's been confirmed that there'll be a mock battle with the pilot division… yet I see you've discovered a little side business here?"
Revan paused mid-bite, smiling faintly. "Of course. It's perfectly normal to feel thirsty during matches, right? Naturally, I'd come here to refuel before heading back."
Steiner raised an eyebrow. "You realize this opens up potential for local enterprise integration. However, wouldn't it be more appropriate to establish such stands inside the stadium itself — for everyone's convenience?"
"Like the Grand International Stadium in Central District?" Revan replied coolly. "That's managed by the International Astral Gear Foundation — meaning you guys. Not really my concern."
Steiner's tone hardened, though a hint of amusement slipped through. "You should know something, boy. The Steiner Estate is currently seeking ways to offset losses from the uphill-state parking complex restrictions. Four floors, covering nearly 490 square meters, are now unused. If those could be repurposed for small local enterprises, that would be far more productive."
"You mean… like a shopping mall?" Revan asked cautiously.
Steiner smirked. "A mall — precisely. Excellent idea. Your business instincts remain as sharp as ever."
Revan blinked in mild disbelief before glancing at Kiana. "Excuse me… is there some sort of expansion plan happening here?"
"Ah, yes," Kiana said with an exasperated sigh. "Steiner Estate recently built a new stadium, but it wasn't chosen as Avalon Team's official headquarters — which means we lost around 900 million bits in investment. So now they're trying to recover some of that by repurposing the unused structure as my training ground for mock battles."
"I see," Revan said simply, returning to his dessert while several businessmen murmured among themselves.
Moments later, steaming cups of coffee were placed before the officials. The rich aroma filled the air, earning approving nods from everyone.
"Speaking of which," Asterius said, sipping his cup, "we'll all depart at midnight sharp. And as for this little café— I'll personally invest a few million bits into it. Consider it part of the academy's local support initiative."
The vendor froze, his hands trembling as he bowed repeatedly. "T-thank you, sir! I—I don't know what to say!"
Revan leaned back in his chair, smiling slightly at Kiana. "See? Told you stopping here wasn't such a bad idea."
Kiana crossed her arms, pretending not to be impressed — though her cheeks warmed slightly."Hmph. Pure coincidence," she muttered, turning away. "But I'll admit… the matcha was worth it."
Asterius chuckled softly at their exchange before turning to Steiner."They remind me of us when we were young — before you turned into such a strict bureaucrat."
Steiner scoffed. "Don't start." But the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as the group began to move toward the training hangar in the distance, leaving the stand behind — its little neon sign flickering under the artificial night sky.