Alex stood alone in the center of the school grounds.
The noisy crowd that had gathered earlier was slowly dispersing. Students who had come
to witness the so-called "confession" were now leaving in groups, whispering and laughing
among themselves.
The sky above Horizon Academy had already returned to its usual calm.
Far away in the distance, the flying vehicle carrying Iris and Sonic had disappeared into the
sky.
Alex didn't move.
He simply stood there.
For him, the moment had frozen.
The place where he stood felt like the last remaining fragment of something that had
quietly ended.
Memories.
Years of memories.
Inside the Flying Car
Inside the sleek silver vehicle, Iris sat quietly in the passenger seat.
The transparent rear glass allowed her to see the academy grounds shrinking behind them.
And in the middle of that shrinking view—
Alex was still standing there.
Sonic noticed her gaze lingering behind.
He smiled mischievously.
"What happened?"
He leaned slightly closer to her.
"Did my little monster… the girl who spent her entire childhood annoying only me…
suddenly fall in love with someone else?"
Iris frowned.
"If that's the case," Sonic continued dramatically, "my heart will break."
He sighed theatrically.
"Maybe I should stand where Alex was standing and wave goodbye while watching you two
walk away together."
Before he could finish—
THACK!
Iris smacked the back of his head.
"Who told you something like that?"
"We're just friends."
Sonic rubbed his head.
"Friends?"
"Then why the drama?"
Iris leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms.
"Do you remember what happened two years ago?"
"When you left to become a warrior?"
Sonic nodded.
"Of course."
"And do you remember what I told you before you left?"
"I said I wanted to become a warrior too."
Sonic sighed softly.
"Yes… and I told you not to."
"Because becoming a warrior can be dangerous."
He looked outside the window.
"I told you to build your reputation first."
"Become someone respected in the human world."
"Then I would allow you to take the SG-01 serum."
"The serum that allows someone to synchronize their genes and become a warrior."
Iris tilted her head.
"But until now you're only Rank Two."
Sonic chuckled.
"And you say that like it's a bad thing."
"Becoming Rank Two within a year is actually impressive."
"Not impressive enough," Iris replied quietly.
Sonic glanced at her.
"So what exactly do you want?"
Iris suddenly leaned forward and hugged him.
"For now… you don't need to worry about me becoming a warrior."
Sonic froze slightly before relaxing.
"Good."
"Stay like this for now."
"I'll keep climbing the ranks."
"And everything will work out."
Iris studied his face.
"You're different from normal people."
"You have talent."
"You have connections."
"You have a powerful background."
Sonic shrugged casually.
"At least I have a background."
"That's already more than most people."
"And honestly…"
He smiled.
"We could live comfortably even if neither of us becomes warriors."
Iris shook her head slowly.
"No."
"After everything you told me about warriors…"
"I think we both should become one."
"Being a warrior is powerful."
"And useful."
Sonic's expression became slightly serious.
"It's also dangerous."
"You haven't seen the real dangers yet."
"That's why it sounds exciting to you."
He leaned back.
"If the world ever becomes dangerous for you…"
"…then don't become a warrior."
"We'll just live a normal life."
Iris looked at him carefully.
"Why are you suddenly worrying about me?"
Sonic smirked.
"Because I can."
Back at the Academy
Meanwhile…
Alex still stood in the same spot.
To him, time had stopped.
That place had become a container of memories.
His mind drifted back.
Seventh grade.
The first time he met Iris.
A shy girl with curly hair who had accidentally spilled water on his notebook.
The awkward apology.
The laughter.
The beginning of a friendship.
Years of conversations.
School projects.
Walking home together.
Little moments that had quietly built something in his heart.
But now—
All of that felt like a story that had ended.
Before he could think further—
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
"Bro."
Alex blinked.
Darex stood beside him.
"What are you doing standing here like a statue?"
Alex sighed.
"Nothing."
Darex grinned.
"Good."
"Because I need your signature."
Alex frowned slightly.
"For what?"
Darex held out his phone.
"Just sign here."
Alex barely looked at the screen.
His mind was still somewhere else.
Without thinking—
He signed.
"Thanks!" Darex said happily.
Alex suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Wait."
"What did I just sign?"
Darex grinned.
"Oh nothing."
"Just withdrawing money from your bank account."
Alex's eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
"Why would you need my signature for that?!"
"You already have my password!"
Darex waved his hand casually.
"Relax."
"We're going to party tonight."
"Party?"
"Yeah."
"To celebrate your breakup."
Alex stared at him in disbelief.
"You're making fun of me."
Darex shrugged.
"Why would I?"
"I've had so many breakups that I'm used to it."
"Used to it?"
"Yeah."
"Twelve breakups in twelve years."
Alex slowly removed his shoe.
"You idiot…"
"You've been cursing me this entire time!"
Darex jumped back.
"Hey! I wasn't cursing you!"
Alex threw his shoe at him.
"You kept saying every girl I date will leave me!"
Darex grabbed his backpack and ran.
"No! That's not what I meant!"
"I meant if one girl leaves, a hundred will come!"
"So now you're saying all hundred will leave too?!"
"NO!"
"Maybe one or two will stay!"
"You're hopeless!"
The two began chasing each other across the sidewalk like children.
Students nearby stared at them in confusion.
Eventually Darex suddenly stopped running.
Alex couldn't stop in time.
BAM!
They collided.
Both of them fell.
Darex landed on the ground.
Alex landed directly on top of him.
Darex's face turned red.
"Dude!"
"Get off me!"
"What if girls see this?"
"They'll think I'm gay!"
Alex quickly stood up.
"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!"
Darex dusted himself off.
"Anyway."
"Let's not fight."
"Tonight we celebrate."
"What are you planning now?" Alex asked suspiciously.
"I'm going to buy party supplies."
"You take my bag and go home."
"Why me?"
"Just do it."
Darex threw his bag toward Alex.
"I'll come to your house later."
Alex sighed and picked up the bag.
"Fine."
A New Dream
As Alex walked down the road…
His eyes drifted toward the skyline.
The massive three-hundred-floor tower stood above the city like a monument.
Once upon a time—
That building had been his dream.
He wanted to live there with his family.
But now—
He felt nothing.
That dream had vanished.
Now he had only one goal.
Become a warrior.
Not to impress anyone.
Not to win someone's love.
But to gain power.
To climb the hierarchy.
To reach a level where he would never need to bow before anyone again.
Alex smiled faintly.
"If I keep having friends like Darex…"
"…girls will just come and go."
He kept walking.
Lost in thought.
The Accident
He didn't notice the road ahead.
Or the flying vehicle moving along the highway.
Inside the vehicle, a girl suddenly noticed him.
"Why is that guy walking onto the road?"
She slammed the brakes.
The vehicle screeched through the air.
Alex suddenly heard the sound.
His eyes widened.
Too late.
His mind flashed through memories.
His parents.
His sister.
Darex.
"If Darex hadn't gone to buy party supplies…"
"…we would still be walking together."
Alex closed his eyes.
This is it.
The flying car swerved violently.
It missed Alex—
But slammed into the divider.
BOOOOOOM!
The vehicle exploded.
Alex slowly opened his eyes.
For a moment he couldn't understand what had happened.
He touched his body.
"I'm… alive?"
His heart pounded violently.
"If I survived…"
"…my legs and arms should be broken."
But they weren't.
He looked at the burning wreckage.
A terrible thought struck him.
"Did someone die because of me?"
He remembered the law.
If someone dies accidentally because of you…
Five years in prison.
"I'm eighteen…"
"That means I'll be twenty-three when I get out…"
His breathing became heavy.
"But maybe…"
"Maybe the person survived."
"If the car is damaged, my parents can pay for it."
"And when I become a warrior…"
"I'll repay everything."
Slowly—
He walked toward the wreckage.
Smoke covered the shattered vehicle.
Alex wiped the glass.
Inside—
A girl sat in the driver's seat.
Not moving.
Alex's heart stopped.
"Did I… kill an angel?"
Suddenly—
The car door opened automatically.
A mechanical voice echoed inside the vehicle.
"Emergency system activated."
"Life signal detected."
"Medical protocol initiating."
Alex froze.
And at that moment—
His fate began to change.