After some reflection, Kara decided that, if she had the opportunity, she would go to college.
Her adoptive parents were very understanding and supportive of her decision, as they had saved enough money to cover her tuition. She didn't need to work to help with the costs. However, Kara expressed her interest in getting a job on her own to stay active and gain experience, so her parents stopped insisting that she focus solely on her studies.
Still, Kara noticed that Clark, her younger brother, seemed a bit down ever since he heard the news that she would be leaving for college. Amused by the situation, she decided to talk to him. That night, after dinner, she went to his room.
Clark was sitting on his bed, head down, lost in thought.
—What's wrong, Clark? —Kara sat next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders—. Are you feeling lonely because your sister is leaving home?
Though Kara already knew the answer, she asked him anyway. After all, being an older sister had its perks, and despite the ten-year age gap between them, she always enjoyed teasing him a little. Clark nodded, not even trying to hide it.
He had never made many friends at school, and Kara was practically his only companion with whom he could talk about anything. However, Clark still didn't know that Jonathan and Martha were not his biological parents; he believed they were his real family. Even so, he felt that only Kara understood his true nature since she shared his abilities.
The thought of his sister leaving for college affected him more than he could admit.
Kara smiled and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
—Come on, let's go to the secret base.
The "secret base" was a small paradise they had discovered a few years ago: an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean. It wasn't too large, but big enough for both of them to explore and unleash their powers without worry. They often dove into the sea, gathered seafood, and cooked it on the island. It had become their favorite place, where they could be themselves without restrictions.
That night, Kara and Clark left the house, and within minutes, they were soaring through the sky toward the island. As they flew over the city, Kara pointed downward.
—Look, that's the city where I'll be studying. It's pretty close, so I'll be able to come home every weekend or at least once a month.
—Can't you come home every night? —Clark asked hopefully.
Kara couldn't help but laugh. Though she found it endearing that her brother was so attached to her, she knew that someday they would have to spend time apart.
When they arrived at the island, Kara and Clark landed among the tropical palm trees. Kara picked a couple of coconuts and, with a swift motion of her hand, split one open with such precision that even the coconut itself didn't seem to realize it had been cut.
—Here you go —she said, handing one to Clark—. It's sweet, right?
Clark nodded as he sipped the juice, but he continued to watch her, knowing that his sister had something important to tell him.
Kara looked at him seriously.
—Clark, I know you're worried about me leaving, but I want you to understand something. I'm leaving because I hope you can grow, become independent, and learn to stand on your own. Even though I'd love to stay by your side forever, you know that's not possible.
Clark listened attentively.
—You're the future Superman, Clark. I've always believed in you, and I know that, in time, you'll become someone we can all rely on.
Kara knew that, although Clark was still very young, his destiny was already written. She herself had heard stories about General Zod, imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, and she knew that eventually, he and other Kryptonians could escape. Clark would be their main target, and Kara would have to be ready to support him.
—Clark, with great power comes great responsibility —Kara continued—. I know that one day, you and I will face enormous challenges, and I hope that by then, you'll be prepared.
Kara had been secretly training for years, developing her own fighting style based on what she had seen in movies and TV shows. But she knew that she needed more than that. One of the reasons she wanted to go to college was to learn more about the world and find ways to train more effectively.
—Besides studying, I also want to learn how to fight better. Maybe I'll join a combat club —Kara said with a smile.
Though still a bit sad, Clark began to understand that all of this was part of growing up, and that even if his sister left, their bond would always remain strong.