K, Lee, and Lee's girlfriend sat together in the academy's bustling cafeteria. The aroma of fresh food filled the air, and the sound of chatter and laughter echoed around them. K leaned back in his chair, lazily stirring his drink with a straw.
"Man, it feels good to sit down and just eat," Lee said, grinning as he stole a fry from his girlfriend's plate. She smacked his hand playfully but didn't stop him. "You need to learn some manners," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
K chuckled. "You're braver than me, Lee. I wouldn't dare steal from Lucy's plate."
Lee smirked. "That's why you'll never be the king of the jungle, K. You gotta take risks."
K raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And who's the king here? You?"
Lee was about to reply when his girlfriend cut in. "The king? Please, this guy can't even survive without me pulling him out of trouble every other day."
The table erupted in laughter, even Lee. "Alright, fair enough," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
As they continued eating, the conversation drifted from gossip about their classmates to their plans for the Galaxy Exam. But K remained unusually quiet, his thoughts wandering back to the mysterious woman he bumped into earlier.
Lee noticed and nudged him. "Hey, earth to K! You okay? You've been zoning out since we sat down."
K blinked and forced a smile. "Yeah, just… thinking about stuff."
Lee's girlfriend tilted her head. "Stuff? Or someone?" she teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
K waved it off. "Nothing like that, don't worry."
But deep inside, K couldn't shake off the feeling that something big was about to happen, and it would involve all of them in ways they couldn't yet imagine.
Lee leaned forward, noticing K's distraction. "Come on, spill it, man. You know we're not letting you off that easy," he said with a grin, nudging K's shoulder.
K hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "Alright, alright," he muttered, leaning closer. "This might sound crazy, but this morning… I ran into this girl who seemed to know everything about last night's meteor."
Lee's eyes widened. "The meteor? The one that shook the whole academy? That's what everyone's talking about today."
K nodded, lowering his voice. "She didn't just know about the meteor—she looked at me like she knew what happened when I got close to it." He glanced at his right hand, flexing it slightly as if recalling the strange sensation from the mechanical glove now fused with him.
Lee's girlfriend looked between the two of them. "Wait, are you saying she knew you were actually there last night?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice. "That's… kind of creepy."
Lee smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe she's just your biggest fan, K. Stalking you and all," he teased, though his tone was uneasy.
But K didn't laugh. "I don't think she was some random fan, Lee. The way she looked at me—there was something in her eyes. Like she knew a lot more than she was letting on."
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of their next class. Lee sighed, getting up reluctantly. "Well, whatever's going on, you better be careful, man. We don't need any extra drama before the Galaxy Exam."
K nodded, standing up as well, his gaze distant. As they all walked out of the cafeteria, his mind spun with questions about the girl, the meteor, and what it might all mean for him and his friends. The thought of what lay ahead both thrilled and terrified him.
As they walked down the crowded academy hall, K's thoughts were still fixed on the strange encounter. Who was that girl, and how could she possibly know what happened last night? He glanced at his right hand again, the faint ache reminding him of the glove that now seemed part of him.
Lee nudged him, breaking his train of thought. "Hey, K, you look like you're in another universe, man. We've got to focus if we're gonna make it through these last few months. Galaxy Exam's coming up."
K nodded, shaking off his unease. "Yeah, I know. Just… hard to focus on exams when all this is happening."
Lee's girlfriend chimed in, "You know, maybe it's not such a bad thing. Whatever you're mixed up in, maybe it'll help you in the Galaxy Exam somehow. You've been getting more… I don't know, intense lately, and not just about school."
K raised an eyebrow. "Intense? I haven't noticed."
"Oh, I think we all have," Lee said with a smirk. "Mysterious encounters, hidden powers… Sounds like you're becoming the academy's newest legend."
K rolled his eyes, but he couldn't ignore the odd feeling in his chest—the sense that something bigger was about to unfold. Just as they reached the entrance to their next class, he caught sight of the girl again, slipping quietly through the hallway.
Their eyes met, and for a split second, her gaze seemed to pierce right through him. She gave him a slight, almost knowing nod before vanishing around the corner.
K felt a chill but clenched his fists, determination rising within him. Whatever secrets this girl held, he was going to find out. And maybe, just maybe, it would unlock the answers he needed to face whatever challenges were headed his way in the Galaxy Exam and beyond.
As K sat down in his next class, he could still feel the weight of the girl's intense gaze lingering in his mind. The mystery gnawed at him, making it hard to focus on the lesson. Lee leaned over, whispering, "You okay, K? You're looking extra serious today."
K gave a distracted nod, glancing down at his hand. The strange glove felt warm, almost like it was alive. He could swear it was reacting to his thoughts. Just then, Lucy entered the classroom, giving K a small wave before taking her seat beside him. She noticed his troubled expression immediately.
"K, is something wrong?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
K hesitated, not sure how much he could tell her. He didn't want to worry her about the events from the night before. But as he looked into her eyes, he felt a rush of relief. Lucy was the one person he could always rely on, the one who would always stand by him. Maybe she could help him make sense of everything.
Before he could say anything, the teacher began the lesson, demanding the attention of the class. But as he took notes, K's mind kept drifting back to the events of last night, the girl's warning, and the strange connection he now felt with the glove.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. When classes finally ended, K, Lee, and Lucy made their way toward the academy gates. As they walked, Lee noticed K's distant expression again.
"Hey, you still with us, K?" Lee asked, trying to lighten the mood. "You've been somewhere else all day."
K took a deep breath. "Actually, yeah. There's something… strange going on. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like I'm in the middle of something bigger than any of us."
Lucy looked at him intently. "You know we're here for you, right? Whatever's going on, we'll face it together."
K nodded, a small smile breaking through his worry. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."
Just then, a faint buzzing sound came from his glove, startling him. Lucy and Lee both noticed, their eyes widening.
"K… what was that?" Lucy asked, her voice laced with curiosity and concern.
K held up his gloved hand, trying to act calm. "I… I don't know yet. But I think I'm about to find out."
As they all looked at the glove, a small holographic projection flickered to life, casting a soft blue light. It displayed a series of symbols K had never seen before, but somehow, he felt like he could understand them. The words floated before him, cryptic yet compelling.
The message read: "The path has been chosen. Destiny awaits. Prepare, Galaxy Keeper."
K's heart raced. Galaxy Keeper? He looked at his friends, who were staring at the hologram with a mix of awe and confusion. Whatever was happening, it was only just beginning, and he knew that he and his friends were about to be drawn into an adventure far greater than they had ever imagined.