In the blink of an eye, three years have passed since that incident.
Now Kara is finally eighteen years old. If nothing unexpected happens, she will graduate from high school this year.
In the past few years, Kara has gradually started to keep a low profile, likely aware that her reputation has been affected by the actions of those troublemakers.
However, Kara seems destined to stand out. Her stunning beauty makes it inevitable. Every time a new batch of freshmen arrives, some boys—whether earnest or less so—pursue her.
If the suitor is a genuinely good person, she politely declines.
When it comes to someone with bad intentions, Kara no longer deals with them physically. Instead, she uses her growing mental strength to make them experience inexplicable stumbles or accidents throughout the day.
Her more subtle approach has eased her adoptive parents' worries, and they are glad there have been no major issues in the last few years.
At the same time, Clark, now eight years old, has started elementary school and is gradually learning to control his strength.
Unfortunately, Clark remains shy and struggles to make friends, which saddens Kara.
Nevertheless, Kara has always been there for him. Over the past few years, she has trained him, even teaching him how to fly. However, Clark's speed and strength are nowhere near hers yet.
Being ten years younger, he has a long way to go to catch up.
Kara, being older and already accustomed to her Kryptonian abilities, continues to hold a significant edge over him.
At noon one day, Kara sat alone on the school lawn, leaning against a tree while engrossed in a book.
She was reading a college guide, still debating whether she wanted to pursue higher education.
Going to college would require substantial tuition fees, but it would make finding a job easier in the future.
If Kara planned to remain in her small town, a high school diploma would suffice for most jobs.
But since her town is located within Metropolis' borders, attending college in-state would be more affordable.
Her advanced learning abilities might even help her secure scholarships and grants, making the costs manageable.
While she was deep in thought, a boy suddenly appeared before her, his face flushed with anticipation.
"Kara," he stammered, "You're Kara, right? Well, I wanted to say—"
"You'd better not say anything," a crisp voice interrupted him.
Kara looked up and saw two familiar figures approaching. One was Dani, dressed casually in a shirt, jeans, and sneakers.
The other was Jennifer, who had fair skin, big wavy blonde hair, and a polished outfit—a blue blazer paired with high heels.
Jennifer smirked at the flustered boy. "It's already the last semester, and now you're confessing to Kara? Go try your luck with the underclassmen."
The boy turned beet red, mumbled an excuse, and left.
Dani chuckled. "That was harsh, Jen. What if he's Kara's type?"
Jennifer scoffed. "Oh, please. Kara doesn't like guys from around here."
Kara sighed and spoke up. "Jennifer, don't forget, I'm from 'around here' too, and my family lives outside the city. There's nothing wrong with that."
What she didn't say aloud was that she wasn't particularly interested in anyone—especially since, in her heart, she still considered herself a visitor to this world.
Kara's attire was similar to Dani's: a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and simple jeans paired with sneakers. Her long blonde hair, tied back in a ponytail, reached past her waist after years of growth.
Jennifer, on the other hand, had dyed her hair blonde and styled it in voluminous waves. While she exuded glamour, Kara preferred her natural, understated look.
"You two need to take grooming more seriously," Jennifer teased.
Kara and Dani exchanged exasperated glances. After all, they were still students.
Dani noticed the college guide Kara was reading and leaned closer. "Planning to go to college, Kara?"
Jennifer's eyes lit up. "Where are you thinking of applying?"
Kara pointed to one of the options in the guide: Metropolis University.
"Because it's affordable?" Jennifer asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kara shook her head. "It's not just about the cost. I want to stay near home, and Metropolis University is close by."
Jennifer and Dani exchanged knowing smiles. They revealed their own application forms—they, too, were planning to attend Metropolis University.
For students in their state, applying for college required submitting forms, taking entrance exams, and sometimes even participating in interviews. It felt more like a job application process than anything else.
Now, standing on the brink of adulthood, Kara was starting to feel the weight of her choices.
Graduation was just the beginning.