The next morning, K woke to the soft hum of Daw hovering by his bedside, his digital display blinking faintly.
"K, it's morning," Daw said, his voice calm yet insistent. "You have school today."
K groaned and sat up, rubbing his temples. The events of the previous night came flooding back—the crash site, the gauntlet, Lucy's frantic calls. And that strange flicker from the watch… Was it just his imagination? He glanced at his wrist. The gauntlet seemed dormant now, its intricate design blending seamlessly with his skin.
"Daw," K murmured, still groggy, "that thing last night… when the watch flickered. Was it doing something?"
Daw beeped thoughtfully, his sensors scanning the gauntlet. "Energy levels spiked briefly, but it appears stable now. However, its systems are far from ordinary. I advise caution."
K sighed and got out of bed. He grabbed his uniform and started getting ready for school. Today, he decided, he'd try to act normal even if he didn't feel it.
The walk to Cahaya Academy felt different. The usual bustle of students and the sound of laughter seemed muted in K's mind, replaced by a gnawing unease. As he approached the gates, he spotted Lucy waiting by the entrance, her arms crossed and her face a mix of worry and relief.
"K!" she called, jogging over to him. "You didn't reply to my messages again this morning. What's going on?"
K winced, realizing he had forgotten to check his phone again. "Sorry, Lucy," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I've just been… distracted."
Lucy frowned, studying him closely. "You're not yourself, K. You look tired, and there's something you're not telling me." Her voice softened. "I just want to help."
K hesitated, the words catching in his throat. He wanted to tell her everything, but something held him back. The gauntlet, Daw, the crash—it all felt too big, too dangerous to share.Before he could respond, a familiar voice interrupted. "K! My man!"
It was Lee, striding up with his usual grin, his bag slung over one shoulder. "Don't forget, you're treating me today. I'm thinking something fancy maybe steak?"
K groaned. "Lee, you just want free food."
Lee smirked. "You owe me. Besides, you've been acting all weird lately. Consider this my 'friendship tax.'"
Lucy raised an eyebrow. "What's he talking about?"
"Nothing!" K said quickly, shooting Lee a look. "Just a dumb bet."
Lucy didn't look convinced, but before she could press further, the school bell rang.
"Saved by the bell," Lee said, chuckling. "Let's go, or Lucy will drag us in by the ears."
Classes passed in a blur for K. His mind kept drifting back to the gauntlet and the strange feeling that something—or someone—was watching him. Even Daw, hidden discreetly in his bag, seemed unusually quiet.
At lunch, K, Lucy, and Lee gathered at their usual spot under the big oak tree in the courtyard. While Lee rambled on about some new game he'd been playing, K noticed Lucy glancing at him, her concern still evident.
"K," she said suddenly, cutting Lee off mid-sentence. "We need to talk. Alone."
Lee raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll give you two lovebirds some space." He grabbed his tray and walked off, muttering about third-wheeling.
Lucy turned to K, her eyes serious. "Something's wrong, and I know you're hiding it from me. Whatever it is, you don't have to deal with it alone."
K sighed, his resolve weakening. "Lucy, it's not that simple…"
Before he could finish, a shadow fell over them. K looked up to see a tall figure standing nearby. It was a man in a dark trench coat, his face partially obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. He held a device that seemed to hum faintly with energy.
"K," the man said, his voice deep and measured. "You have something that doesn't belong to you."
K's heart raced. How did this man know? Was he after the gauntlet?
Lucy stood, stepping protectively in front of K. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The man ignored her, his gaze fixed on K. "The artifact. Hand it over."
K clenched his fists, his mind racing. The gauntlet tingled against his skin as if reacting to the man's presence.
"I don't know what you're talking about," K said, trying to sound calm.
The man tilted his head, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Don't play dumb, kid. You don't know what you've stumbled onto. Give it to me now, and I might let you walk away."
Lucy glanced back at K, her eyes wide with confusion. "K, what is he talking about?"
K didn't answer. He could feel the tension in the air, like the moment before a storm. Daw beeped urgently from his bag.
"K, this man's device is emitting high-energy waves. He's not here to talk."
The man took a step closer, reaching into his coat. "Last chance."
K's instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her away. "Run!" he shouted.The man raised his device, a beam of blue energy shooting out and narrowly missing them as they darted through the courtyard. Students scattered, yelling in confusion as chaos erupted around them.
"K, what's going on?!" Lucy shouted as they ran.
"I'll explain later!" K called back, his heart pounding. He could feel the gauntlet heating up, its energy surging through him. It wasn't just a piece of metal—it was alive, and it was ready to fight.