Kara sat on her bed, textbooks and notes scattered around her. She had already mastered the material, but the thought of taking the entrance exams bored her to tears. Tossing the books aside, she flopped back onto the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. There had to be something more exciting she could do with her time.
Kara reaches for her phone and dials Haruka's number. After a few rings, he picks up.
"Hey, Kara. What's up?" Haruka's voice comes through the line.
"Hey, Haruka. I was wondering if you're free to hang out today?" Kara asks, a hint of hopefulness in her voice.
"Yeah, I don't have any plans. Did you have something in mind?" Haruka replies.
"Well, I was thinking we could grab some lunch or maybe catch a movie or something. I'm kind of tired of studying for these exams," Kara says, letting out a small sigh.
"Sounds good to me. Where do you want to meet up?" Haruka asks.
"How about that cafe downtown? The one with the really good sandwiches?" Kara suggests.
"Alright, I can be there in about 20 minutes. Sound good?" Haruka confirms.
"Perfect, I'll see you then!" Kara says, a smile spreading across her face.
Kara hangs up the phone, a smile spreading across her face. She feels a flutter of excitement at the prospect of spending time with Haruka. Quickly, she darts over to her closet, rifling through the clothes at super speed. Kara pauses in front of the mirror, holding up a few different outfits, evaluating each one with a critical eye.
"Hmm, maybe this green dress?" she muses, holding the fabric up to her body. "Or the blue blouse and jeans?" Kara tilts her head, considering the options. With a decisive nod, she settles on the blue blouse, quickly changing into the outfit.
Kara smooths her hands down the front of the blouse, admiring how it flatters her figure. "Perfect," she declares, giving herself a satisfied smile in the mirror. She grabs a light jacket and heads out the door, eager to meet up with Haruka.
The cafe is bustling with the lunchtime crowd when Kara arrives. She scans the tables, quickly spotting Haruka sitting in the corner. Taking a deep breath, she makes her way over to him.
"Hey, Haruka!" Kara greets him brightly, sliding into the seat across from him.
Haruka smiled and gestured to the seat beside him. "Kara, this is Megan. I found her earlier and she didn't have anywhere to go, so I brought her along. I hope you don't mind."
Kara's smile faltered for a moment. She recognized Megan from their earlier run-in, and there was something about the girl sitting so close to Haruka that made her feel uneasy. Her eyes darted between the two, taking in how relaxed they appeared together.
"Oh, hi Megan," Kara said, her voice tight. "Nice to see you again."
Megan smiled brightly, seemingly unaware of the tension. "Hi Kara! Nice to see you again, too!"
Haruka, Kara, and Megan settled into a comfortable booth at the cafe. Haruka ordered sandwiches for everyone, chatting easily with both girls. Megan sat close to him, her shoulder occasionally brushing against his arm. Each time this happened, Kara felt a strange twinge in her chest - a mix of irritation and something else she couldn't quite name.
"So, how did you two meet?" Kara asked, trying to keep her voice casual. Her eyes darted between Haruka and Megan, watching their interactions carefully.
Megan launched into a story about how Haruka had found her near the bus station and offered to help her. She spoke animatedly, her hands moving as she described their first meeting. Haruka listened, occasionally adding a detail or laughing at her description.
Kara picked at her sandwich, suddenly not very hungry. She noticed how Haruka's eyes crinkled when he smiled at Megan. The way he leaned in when she spoke. The casual way he seemed to care for her.
Her heart felt heavy, and she couldn't understand why. They were just friends, right? Haruka was just being kind to someone who needed help. But something about their closeness made Kara's stomach twist uncomfortably.
When Megan reached out and touched Haruka's hand while laughing, Kara's grip tightened on her water glass. She looked away, trying to calm the unexpected surge of emotions bubbling up inside her.
As Haruka and Megan continued their playful conversation, Kara felt increasingly uncomfortable. She cleared her throat, forcing herself into the dialogue.
"Remember that time we went to the museum, Haruka?" Kara interjected, her voice slightly louder than necessary. "We spent hours looking at those science exhibits, and you were so interested in the quantum physics section."
Haruka glanced at her, surprised by the sudden interruption. Megan's smile wavered slightly.
Undeterred, Kara pressed on. "And then we grabbed coffee afterwards, and you spilled your latte all over your shirt. We laughed so hard!" She emphasized the word "we", her eyes darting between Haruka and Megan.
An awkward silence fell over the table. Megan looked confused, and Haruka shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The forced reminiscence hung in the air, feeling forced and unnatural.
Haruka turned to Kara, his brow furrowed with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, sensing something was off about her behavior.
Kara shifted in her seat, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her water glass. "I'm fine," she said, her voice slightly higher than usual. The word hung in the air, unconvincing and strained.
Haruka studied her for a moment, his eyes searching her face. Megan glanced between them, sensing the sudden tension. The cafe's background noise - the clinking of cups, the low murmur of conversations - seemed to fade into a distant hum.
"Are you sure?" Haruka pressed, his concern evident. A small furrow appeared between his eyebrows, a telltale sign he wasn't entirely believing her response.
Kara forced a smile. "Absolutely fine," she repeated, her tone now deliberately casual. But the brightness felt artificial, like a thin veneer barely concealing something underneath.
The café's atmosphere shifted instantly. A distant rumble grew louder, punctuated by the unmistakable sound of an explosion. Haruka, Kara, and Megan turned simultaneously toward the window, their conversation forgotten.
Outside, a massive robot lumbered down the street. It looked almost cartoonish - like an oversized child's toy come to life, but its movements were anything but playful. Cars scattered, pedestrians ran screaming, and the robot's mechanical steps crushed parked vehicles with casual indifference.
Why did things have to take a turn for the worst?
///
Please give power stones daily to support this story.
Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz, which is also the best way to support me.