The bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. K tried to slip out quietly, hoping to make a quick escape home. But before he could get far, he heard a familiar voice call out, "Where are you sneaking off to, my dear troublemaker?"
K froze, internally panicking. How did she notice so fast? he thought, clearing his throat. "Lucy, my love… could you, um, let me off just this once?"
Lucy crossed her arms and turned away, her voice cold yet playful. "If you don't attend your detention, I won't speak to you for an entire w-e-e-k."
K felt a surge of panic and blurted, "That's even worse!" He sighed, defeated.
Meanwhile, Lee, who'd been watching the exchange with amusement, called out with a laugh, "What happened to the tough guy who's not afraid of his girlfriend? See, I don't report every little thing I do to mine."
But Lee's laughter died the moment a dark aura seemed to emerge from his girlfriend, who was now glaring at him. She reached over and twisted his ear, her voice sweet yet menacing. "Oh? So you're sneaking around without telling me, hmm?"
Lee's face paled, and he mumbled an apology, looking utterly defeated. The entire class fell silent, no one daring to intervene in the domestic drama.
Lucy turned back to K, her serious gaze locking onto him. "I'm still waiting for an answer, darling."
K swallowed, feeling the pressure. "Alright, alright! I'll go to detention!" he finally agreed, resigning himself to his fate.
K and Lee were the best of friends, bonded not just by their shared antics but also by a common trait,they both had a healthy fear of their girlfriends. Despite their usual bravado, when it came to Lucy and Lee's girlfriend, their courage always seemed to vanish. It was a secret understanding between them, a kind of unspoken alliance of survival in the face of their girlfriends' strict rules and expectations.
K walked into detention and, as usual, found Professor Nikki seated at the front, already engrossed in her notes. The classroom was nearly empty, except for one other student—a girl with striking blue hair and delicate wings. She was Yun, a member of the Nago species from the distant dragon planet Jeko12. The Nago were a rare sight, known for their solitude and reserved nature. People often labeled them as aloof, even a bit rough around the edges. At 166 cm, Yun stood just a bit shorter than K, her gaze distant and calm.
K, not one to let the silence linger, broke the ice. "Yun, what brings you here today?"
Yun glanced over, her voice tinged with the usual bluntness. "You act like you don't know. Got into a fight with that ice-cold student," she replied, rolling her eyes.
K chuckled, amused. "And you call me reckless, showing up late every day," Yun teased, though a faint smile played on her lips.
"Hey, not my fault," K grinned. "Daw ate my alarm clock this morning!" He gestured to the little robotic dragon hovering nearby, who blinked in confusion, clearly innocent of any wrongdoing.
Yun couldn't help but laugh, and soon, both of them were chatting away, filling the quiet room with a warmth and ease that only close friends could share. K, Lucy, and Yun had grown up together, their bond built over years of shared laughter and memories.
Professor Nikki looked over at them with a playful glint in her eye. "Well, well, K. Seems you've got yourself a little 'scandal' going on here," she teased, her tone light.
K raised an eyebrow, feigning exasperation. "Professor, aren't you worried your words could lead to some major misunderstandings?"
Professor Nikki shrugged with a smile. "Oh, come on. It's just the three of us here," she replied, nodding toward Yun. "Look at your friend beside you."
K glanced at Yun and saw her cheeks flush a deep shade of red. He nudged her gently. "Yun, the professor's just teasing us," he said, trying to ease her embarrassment.
Yun took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "Yes, I know, you idiot." She glared at him, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're as dense as ever, like every other typical main character, unable to read the room."
K blinked, momentarily clueless, before letting out a sheepish laugh. "Alright, alright, message received!" he said, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin.
After two hours, Professor Nikki stretched and glanced at the clock. "Alright, kids, time to go home," she announced. "But don't forget—I expect a thousand-word apology essay on my desk by tomorrow." With that, she hurried out of the classroom, likely rushing to catch the grocery sale at the mall.
Yun stood up, gathering her things. "K, I'm heading home. My dad just called," she said, giving him a small wave.
K nodded. "Alright, take care, Yun. I'll head out soon too."
He stayed behind a bit longer, finishing up his essay. Once he was satisfied, he packed up and looked at Daw. "Alright, Daw, let's go home. We've got that assignment done." Daw beeped in response, hovering alongside him as they made their way out of the academy.
As K stepped out of the academy, he was greeted by a breathtaking sight—the sky was painted in shades of deep orange and purple, with the warm glow of the setting sun casting a gentle light over the city. Just then, a streak of light flashed across the horizon, followed by another, and another.
K nudged Daw, pointing up. "Look at that, Daw! A meteor shower."
Daw's eyes widened, his small metallic wings fluttering with excitement as he watched the stars streak across the sky. Together, they stood there in awe, captivated by the beauty of the evening, their troubles momentarily forgotten in the glow of the falling stars.
K remembered the news report he'd seen on TV just before leaving the house the reporter had spoken excitedly about a rare event, the Hale-Bopp , which was passing close enough this time to be seen with the naked eye.
"Hale-Bopp," K murmured as he gazed up at the sky. Watching the meteor shower streak through the twilight felt like witnessing a once-in a lifetime miracle. It was as if the universe was sending him a sign, a spark of hope and encouragement.
He glanced at Daw, who was still captivated by the brilliant lights above. "Maybe it's a sign, Daw," K said with quiet meaning, feeling a renewed sense of determination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Just as K turned to head home, a small fragment of the meteor suddenly broke off, hurtling through the sky at incredible speed. It blazed brightly, leaving a streak of light as it descended, its path veering closer and closer to the ground.
K froze, his eyes widening as he watched the fragment approach, wondering if it would fall nearby. The air around him seemed to hum with an electric energy, filling him with both excitement and a strange sense of foreboding.
Without a second thought, K and Daw dashed toward the spot where the meteor fragment was hurtling down. The thrill of curiosity and adventure overtook them as they raced through the darkening streets, guided by the blazing trail of light in the sky.
"Come on, Daw! We've got to see this up close!" K called, his heart pounding with excitement. The little robotic dragon zoomed alongside him, equally eager to witness the meteor's landing. As they neared the spot, the air grew warmer, and the faint glow of the meteor illuminated the ground ahead, casting strange shadows and filling K with a sense of awe.
The meteor crashed into the forest near the academy with an explosive impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground. Trees shuddered, leaves scattered into the air, and a pulse of energy radiated outward, stirring the entire area.
K and Daw felt the powerful vibration beneath their feet, almost knocking them off balance. Despite the intensity of the impact, an overwhelming curiosity urged them forward, drawing them closer to the mysterious crater.
"Unbelievable," K whispered, eyes wide as he tried to peer through the dense trees toward the smoke rising in the distance. Daw hovered beside him, a mix of caution and excitement in his small, mechanical eyes.
With their hearts racing, they pressed on, driven by the need to uncover whatever secrets lay hidden within the depths of the forest.
As they arrived at the crash site, K and Daw froze in astonishment. Amid the smoldering crater, where they had expected to find a burning rock or fragments of space debris, lay something entirely unexpected. A single, metallic gauntlet for the right hand gleamed under the fading light, alongside a peculiar wristwatch that seemed to hum with energy.
K took a step closer, his eyes wide with wonder. "Is… is that all that fell from the sky?" he murmured, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Daw hovered beside him, equally stunned, his small sensors scanning the strange items. The gauntlet looked advanced, far beyond anything K had seen, and the watch radiated a faint glow, as though it held some hidden power.
K reached out hesitantly, his fingers tingling with anticipation. "What do you think, Daw? Should we… take them?"
To be continue..