Afterwards, Kara made up her mind that if she had the chance, she would definitely go to college.
Her adoptive parents at home were entirely supportive and had already prepared the tuition fees. Kara didn't need to work to earn money.
However, Kara said that working could also help her develop independence, so they decided not to discourage her from focusing on both work and studying.
Then Kara noticed that after hearing the news about her plans for college, Clark seemed more withdrawn.
Kara found this amusing and came to Clark's room after dinner that evening.
The little guy was sitting on his bed with his head lowered, lost in thought.
"What's wrong, Clark?" Kara asked as she walked over, sitting down beside him. She put her arm around his shoulders and teased, "Feeling lonely because your sister is leaving home?"
Knowing the answer but asking anyway—truly the hallmark of a mischievous older sister.
This is typical behavior for older siblings. Even with a ten-year age gap between them, Kara couldn't resist teasing Clark. He was so cute now, and she figured she wouldn't be able to get away with teasing him like this when he was older.
Clark nodded honestly.
He didn't have many friends at school, and his sister was the only one he could truly confide in.
It wasn't that there was a rift between him and his adoptive parents. In fact, Clark still didn't know that Jonathan and Martha Kent were his adoptive parents; he believed they were his biological parents.
But his parents were just ordinary people, and the superhuman abilities he possessed could only be discussed with Kara.
The thought of Kara leaving home to study and live in another city was something Clark found difficult to accept.
Kara smiled and patted his shoulder. "Come on, let's head to the secret base."
The "secret base" was a small uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean, discovered by the siblings a few years ago. The island wasn't too big or too small but provided the perfect space for their adventures and explorations.
On the island, they could freely use their powers without fear of discovery.
And they often dove into the ocean to gather seafood, which they cooked and ate on the island.
That evening, Kara left the house with Clark, and they quickly flew towards the Pacific Ocean. On the way, they passed over Metropolis.
Kara pointed toward the city and explained, "This is where I'll be staying. It's actually pretty close, so I can visit home every week—at least once a month."
"Can't you come home every night?" Clark asked hopefully.
Kara couldn't help but chuckle. It wasn't just inconvenient—she also thought a little distance would be good for them. After all, they had spent years living together, and a small break wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
It was clear Clark was very attached to her.
The siblings soared through the skies, flying faster than sound and reaching heights above the clouds. At their speed, current technology wouldn't be able to detect them.
They soon arrived at a small tropical island.
Kara picked two coconuts from a nearby tree. Holding one in her left hand, she made a chopping motion with her right.
Swish!
A blur of motion passed through the air, but the coconut didn't budge.
Kara flipped her right hand slightly, revealing that she had peeled the coconut shell so swiftly and cleanly that it remained perfectly intact.
This level of precision would be impossible even with the sharpest blade.
Handing one coconut to Clark, she took a sip from her own. "So sweet."
Kara's eyes sparkled with a smile. This island was the perfect hideaway, with its abundance of tropical fruits and refreshing coconut water.
Clark took a sip and then turned to look at Kara. He knew she must have brought him here for a reason.
Kara looked back at him with a gentle smile and said, "Clark, I'm leaving because I hope it will help you grow and become stronger.
As much as I'd like to stay by your side forever, it's just not possible or realistic."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "You're going to grow into a reliable, independent man. I have no doubt about that."
After all, he was destined to become Superman. If anyone could handle responsibility, it was Clark.
She thought briefly about other heroes—Batman, for instance. While Batman was certainly dependable, there were some enemies, like Steppenwolf, that even he couldn't face alone.
Then there was Wonder Woman, whose strength was legendary. But against foes like Doomsday, even she couldn't prevail alone.
Kara's mind lingered on the threats they might face in the future, including General Zod and others trapped in the Phantom Zone. If Zod ever escaped, Clark would undoubtedly be his first target—and Kara, his second.
This was because Jor-El, Kara's uncle and Clark's biological father, had taken Krypton's life code. That code was Zod's only hope of reviving the Kryptonian race.
If Zod were to succeed in building Kryptonian birthing chambers on Earth and activating the life code, the entire Kryptonian race could be reborn—but at the cost of humanity's existence.
Earth was for Earthlings, not Kryptonians. Kara was determined not to let Zod destroy their home planet.
Looking Clark in the eye, Kara said seriously, "Clark, we have great power, which means we will one day face great responsibility.
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility."
"So grow up quickly, Clark."
She paused, then added, "And I also want to go out into the world, see more, and learn more. There's so much I need to experience."
In truth, Kara had been secretly training herself for years. The earlier demonstration with the coconut was just one example of her precision and skill.
But her training had been largely self-taught, based on what she'd seen in movies or on TV. She knew it was time to learn systematically.
She hoped her time at university would provide opportunities to study martial arts or join a combat training club.
Kara wasn't just preparing for college—she was planning for the future.