The chain of Ishida's bicycle hummed steadily as it sped down the road, the cool breeze brushing past their faces. Kazuki sat on the back, gripping the seat tightly, his enthusiasm bubbling over as he continued recounting the bizarre event.
"Tell me more about it," Ishida said, his voice calm but curious.
Kazuki leaned forward slightly, his excitement evident. "When I was on the roof adjusting my TV signal, I saw this light from above—a glowing object falling from the sky, right into the forest! It was massive and made this deafening noise. I freaked out and ran inside, but when I asked my family, they were just... normal. Like nothing had happened. They said they didn't hear a thing." He paused for effect before dramatically adding, "That's why I know—you're something different, Ishida."
Ishida raised an eyebrow but kept his focus on the road. "And you didn't think to call anyone else?"
Kazuki ignored the question, shifting gears into his usual antics. "Maybe it's aliens! Maybe they're attacking, and we're the chosen ones to save the world!" He suddenly stood up slightly, throwing his arms into the air. "Ishida, let's do this! We'll protect humanity!"
"Shut up!" Ishida snapped, swerving slightly to maintain balance.
But Kazuki, undeterred, grinned. "Hey, by the way, I heard you're a genius at school. Will you tutor me after we save the world?"
Ishida clenched his teeth. "Kazuki, I swear, if you don't shut up—"
"Relax, man! We've got a UFO to find. No time for anger!"
Despite himself, Ishida smirked at Kazuki's relentless energy. The banter continued, filled with Kazuki's over-the-top theories and Ishida's increasingly sarcastic retorts, until they finally reached Kazuki's house.
Into the Forest
Without stopping, Ishida accelerated the bike straight into the forest. The trees were sparse at first, making the ride manageable, but soon the uneven terrain made progress difficult. Suddenly, the bike jolted violently, throwing both riders off balance.
Kazuki hit the ground with a thud, clutching his ankle. "Ahh... it hurts! I think I'm dying, Ishida!"
"You're fine," Ishida replied flatly, picking himself up and dusting off his clothes.
"My foot is injured! How am I supposed to save the world now?" Kazuki whined, still lying dramatically on the ground.
"By shutting up and walking," Ishida said, grabbing Kazuki's arm and pulling him upright.
With Kazuki leaning on him for support, they trudged deeper into the forest. Kazuki's constant chatter made the journey feel longer than it was.
"Do you think aliens have cool tech? Like teleportation or flying cars?"
"Probably."
"Do you think they'll give me one if I ask nicely?"
"Doubt it."
"You're so pessimistic, Ishida. That's why you need me—to bring the optimism!"
"Or I could just leave you here," Ishida muttered.
Kazuki gasped dramatically. "You'd never survive without me!"
After what felt like an eternity, Ishida stopped abruptly. "Look," he said, pointing ahead.
In the distance stood a massive structure, partially hidden by the remaining trees. It shimmered faintly, its surface sleek but damaged, as if it had crash-landed.
Kazuki's jaw dropped. "What's this?"
"I think it's a UFO," Ishida replied.
"Like the ones in movies?" Kazuki asked, his voice a mix of awe and fear.
"Yeah, you could say that," Ishida said, starting to move forward cautiously.
The UFO
The closer they got, the more massive the UFO appeared. It had a metallic surface, adorned with faint glowing lines and intricate designs. Ishida spotted what looked like a door and climbed onto the wreckage, Kazuki scrambling to follow.
"I think that's the entrance," Ishida whispered, gripping a handle and pulling with all his strength.
"It's stuck," Kazuki observed unhelpfully.
"Thanks for the insight," Ishida said through gritted teeth, still struggling to open the door.
Meanwhile, Kazuki wandered off a little, his fingers brushing against random panels on the UFO. Suddenly, something shifted. A loud creak echoed through the forest as a large section of the UFO's exterior fell away, revealing a gaping hole.
"Hey, Ishida! Look at this!" Kazuki called out.
Ishida climbed down to inspect the opening, his curiosity piqued. "Good job. For once."
They peered inside, their steps cautious as they entered. The air felt strangely still, the faint hum of the ship's damaged systems adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Elsewhere
Far away, in a brightly lit classroom, a girl with white hair and striking blue eyes stared out the window. She absentmindedly twirled her pen, her thoughts far from the lecture.
Her classmates scribbled notes diligently, and the teacher's voice droned on, but her mind was elsewhere—.
"Why didn't he come today?" she murmured, her gaze lost in the clouds.