As the silver light of the moon intertwined with the soft blue glow of the Materialistic Sun, it cast a magical luster over the world. The streets shimmered as neon signs and boards glowed brighter than ever, while the lights of vehicles zipped along the invisible highway, a kaleidoscope of reds, greens, and blues.
In one of Hemsworth's familiar alleys, within a modest home, a celebration was underway.
The aroma of delectable food enveloped the room, the sizzling sounds of dishes filling the air. A table adorned with salty tuna, fresh from the ocean, and vibrant green salads stood ready to nourish the guests, complemented by a hot pot of succulent meat oozing with flavor.
Seated around the table, elegantly draped with a pink tablecloth patterned in white bubbles, were Ren and his family.
His mother signaled with her emerald eyes, and both his older brother and father nodded in unison, rising from their seats to shout together, "Congratulations on your acceptance to National University!"
"You really don't have to do that," Ren grumbled, his gaze fixed solely on the enticing food before him. "If someone does this, you must say thank you," his mother reminded him, her voice firm yet gentle.
"Emerald, perhaps you could ease up on him just for today," his father suggested, a hint of sympathy in his eyes for Ren.
"Anyway, your mother mentioned that you're going to participate in an internship program," his father quickly shifted the conversation. Ren nodded, his cheeks puffed out with the food he'd just devoured.
"I'm so proud that both my sons are geniuses," his father declared, a proud smile lighting up his face. Ren and Ryu both felt their cheeks warm, sharing a smile with their mother at the compliment.
The celebration continued for quite some time, but as night deepened, the festivities began to wind down.
Ren, his belly full and stretched, could barely move. Just as he was about to open the door, a hand emerged from the shadows behind him, tapping gently on his shoulder.
Startled, Ren jumped and turned to see a boy slightly taller than him, with dyed blonde hair tousled above his forehead.
"Did I surprise you?" Ryu scoffed, locking eyes with Ren.
"Of course! You just appeared out of nowhere without a sound," Ren snapped back.
"Well, my room is right across from yours," Ryu sighed.
"Do you want to say something?" Ren challenged, meeting his gaze.
"Not really," Ryu replied with a smile, blinking as if he were holding back words, before moving towards his room.
Ren tilted his head, thinking, "He clearly wants to say something." He turned back and headed to his own room.
Just as he was about to step inside, Ryu's voice floated back to him, not a shout but more like a whisper. "Don't do anything reckless."
Ren spun around, but Ryu had already closed his door. He stood there for a moment, pondering why Ryu had said that.
Entering his room, Ren leapt onto his bed, feeling the room's temperature adjust to create a comfortable cocoon for sleep.
Staring at the ceiling, he reflected on the day's events: "Abandoned library, Victor and Miss Rose, WR-1, Code Black, the party, university." As he recalled each instance, sleep began to pull him under.
Meanwhile, in the room across the hall, Ryu sat in his chair, clutching a photograph of Ren in the abandoned town.
***
In the capital city of Feril, a vibrant tapestry of colorful lights sparkled, weaving an abstract atmosphere that enveloped the night.
Nestled within the sprawling metropolis stood a housing apartment, a solitary needle amidst a haystack of towering infrastructures.
Inside this apartment, countless floors ascended, and on one of those many levels, behind the door marked 310, a girl lay sprawled among electric wires and iron bolts.
Her black hair was tangled in the coils, her bright face smudged with patches of dust, fingers slender and hardened from wrenching bolts, dressed in clothes that reeked of oil.
With a hand raised into the air, she grasped a shoe. "Let's see, I need to connect it here," she murmured.
The shoe had been crudely sliced at the sole, revealing an electric circuit attached to a spring coil she had purchased from the shop.
"It's almost ready now," she said, a radiant smile lighting her face. Her gaze drifted to the calendar hanging on the wall behind her.
A date was circled in bold: March 21st.
"The internship date is just next week; I can hardly wait to see the university," she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with excitement.
Lost in her thoughts, a ringtone echoed, the delicate chime of a kitten bell. Elara opened her phone, a small, translucent piece of glass.
"A message from Mom," she read aloud, chuckling softly. "'All the best on your internship, don't forget to wear that dress I gave you. Good night, love you—Mom.'" Her eyes flicked to the clock: 1:47.
"Oh my," she chimed, dashing toward the bathroom for a quick shower, fingers flying over the screen as she replied.
"Goodnight, Mom. Don't stay up too late." On the other end, her mother read the message, sighing, "Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"
After a warm bath and drying her hair, Elara stood before the chaos she had created.
"It's already well past midnight. I'll clean it tomorrow," she assured herself, then leaped onto her bed at the far end of the small living room.
Staring at the ceiling, contemplating her next creation, she drifted into a deep slumber.
***
A week had slipped by almost unnoticed, and the date of March 20th now loomed on the horizon.
The once-abandoned library had transformed into a refuge for Ren, who found himself drawn there daily after school, eager to immerse himself in a new book that captivated his imagination.
"Ren, isn't tomorrow the start of your internship month for the university?" Victor inquired, munching on rice crackers prepared by the elderly maiden, Rose.
"Yes," Ren replied, helping Victor finish the remaining crackers.
"Tell me, aren't you excited?" Victor asked, his curiosity piqued. "Why?" Ren tilted his head, perplexed.
"Your college life is about to begin! You'll encounter a myriad of new experiences, fascinating machines, fresh faces, and perhaps even a girlfriend!" Victor added, his tone light and teasing.
Ren nearly choked on his cracker, "A girlfriend?" he exclaimed, a flush creeping across his cheeks.
"Isn't that normal?" Victor countered, noting Ren's sudden shyness, which left him momentarily speechless.
"Also," Victor continued, "you might discover something truly special there."
Ren quickly regained his composure, his gaze fixed on the empty plate before him. "Yes," he murmured.
***
Back in her apartment, the chaotic tangle of wires and bolts had grown larger, so extensive that it took Elara over five minutes to navigate from her bathroom to her bedroom.
"I must clean this tomorrow," she mused aloud. "Wait, tomorrow is the start date for the internship!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in realization.
"Well, it's not that bad," she reassured herself, just as her phone rang—her mother's name flashing on the screen.
"Mom, yes—yes, I will wear the dress. Hm-hmm. Yes, I won't forget to apply a nice scent. Hm-hmm. Yes, I'll brush my teeth—Mom, I'm not a child anymore! Hm-hmm. Yes, I will get a boyfr—Wait, what do you mean 'boyfriend'? Mom!"
On the other end, her mother chuckled, "You can't present yourself the way you do now, or no boy will take a second glance at my girl."
"MOM!" Elara puffed up her cheeks like a pufferfish, ready to unleash a torrent of complaints.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," her mother replied. "But please, try to enjoy yourself."
Elara leaned back, her tone softening. "Alright, I will try. Goodnight, Mom," she said.
"Goodnight, my little princess," her mother replied before hanging up.
Her mother gazed fondly at a portrait of their little family resting on the drawer, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "She's just like you, darling. I hope she finds someone with whom she can truly express herself."