On the rooftop, where sleek, minimalist skyscrapers blended seamlessly with nature, Mirai and Takara sat on a bench that adjusted automatically for optimal comfort.
In the distance, a pagoda stood gracefully amidst lush greenery, its aged stone standing as a quiet contrast to the gleaming skyline.
“So,” Mirai began, tilting his head toward her, “still coming to the sun circles tomorrow evening?”
Takara smiled, a soft giggle escaping her lips. “Of course, it’s tradition. What kind of question is that?”
“Just making sure,” Mirai said, his tone casual but considerate. “If you feel pressured, you don’t have to. I know you’ve been handling more business stuff this year.”
She leaned back against the bench, her smile fading slightly as she gazed at the distant horizon. “I’d never miss it. It’s one of the few times where I don’t have to think about any of that.”
The Sun Circles were a cherished tradition in the Sun Nation, a time for friends and family to gather in open spaces, form a circle, and share their achievements, challenges, or whatever was on their minds. The evening always brought a mix of joy, reflection, and connection, made even more special by the setting sun casting warm hues over the nation’s cities.
Besides, ”Takara added with a knowing grin,“ it wouldn’t feel right if I wasn’t there to remind everyone why you always take the longest to share something.”
Mirai smirked, shaking his head. “Hey, what can I say, I’m just giving everyone the time to savor the build-up. Can’t rush greatness, right?”
Takara raised an eyebrow, her grin widened. “Please, the only thing you’re building is everyone’s patience. I should start charging you for the extra time.”
Mirai grinned. “Oh, so you’re admitting I’m worth it.”
“Annoying,” she laughed, shaking her head. After a moment, her tone shifted slightly. “So, did you catch the rumors earlier?”
Mirai paused, furrowing his brow as he tried to recall the morning buzz.
“Rumors?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Oh! About the next F-Series game being in development. Yeah, I opened the link you sent.”
Takara leaned in slightly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “-And?”
“I almost thought they’d never get around to it, to be honest. I mean—15 years ago we weren’t even, what, 4?” He shrugged casually, then broke into a grin. “But of course, I’m excited. We’ll crush it in that game too.”
Takara’s smile turned knowing, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Since I’m heir to my parents’ company, I get the insider scoop. That article I sent you? 100% real.”
“Wait, you’re serious?” He exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock. He looked at her for confirmation, and she gave a small, confident nod.
“100%,” she said, her grin widening as his excitement began to grow.
Mirai could barely contain his enthusiasm, his eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning. Takara giggled softly, watching him with amusement.
“Nice,” Mirai said, shaking his head with a grin. “The first F game dropped 30 years ago, but 15 years between games? Bit of a stretch, don’t you think? But hey, guess we were born lucky—two F games in our lifetime? Can’t complain about that.”
“Takara added onto his statement, her tone casual but tinged with curiosity. “They’ve done a great job keeping it under wraps. Upper management is just as passionate about the project as the developers. It’s all hands on deck at every level.
“Though…” She paused, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Some of the QA testers went missing last weekend. Guess they’re really getting immersed in their work.” Her light tone didn’t quite mask the oddity of her words, leaving a fleeting sense of unease hanging in the air.
“Are you sure you should be telling me all this?” Mirai asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking. “I mean, I’m not gonna have men in black knocking on my door tonight, right?”
Takara rolled her eyes, a playful look flashing across her face. “Don’t worry, all of this went public this morning. I’ve known about it for a little over two weeks now.”
“Well,” Mirai said, leaning back with a grin, “If I suddenly go off the grid, you know why. But seriously, why does it take 15 years to make? They must be creating god or something.”
“You’re impossible,” Takara replied, shaking her head but unable to suppress a chuckle. A small smile grew on her lips. “If anything, it excites me that our scene is thriving more than ever. I feel enthusiastic to help more people improve their skills.”
Mirai glanced at her, then toward the skyline, the city’s glow reflecting in his eyes. “Yeah,” he said with a softer tone. “You’re the type to inspire everyone. It’s just what you do.”
Takara leaned back, letting the soft hum of the rooftop garden’s wind turbines fill the silence.
A gentle breeze flowed through the buildings, ruffling their hair. Mirai, however, remained still, his eyes fixed on the distant pagoda.
“Fifteen years for one game…” The thought weighed on him as he fidgeted with his watch, a habit he’d picked up whenever his thoughts wandered.
“Can I even do something like that someday? What if I get there and realize I’m not good enough? Is this… really what I want to do?”
The breeze carried a faint scent of blooming flowers, but Mirai barely noticed, his mind tangled in doubt.
Takara’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. “You’re awfully quiet for someone who just acted like a total know it all,” she teased, leaning forward slightly, her tone light but curious.
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Mirai blinked, startled out of his daze. “Oh, sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin. “Just… thinking about how wild it all is. If we’re lucky, this new game’s going to be our biggest shot yet.”
“It’s more than a shot,” Takara replied confidently, clenching her fist with determination. “We’re going to dominate.” Her voice carried a certainty that seemed to push away any loose thoughts.
Mirai smiled at her enthusiasm, but the lingering doubt gnawed at him, like a shadow he couldn’t shake.
Takara noticed the shift in his expression, her brows knitting slightly as if to silently ask what was wrong.
Before she could say anything, a loud ping echoed from Mirai’s watch. His eyes widened as he glanced at the screen, the headline glaring back at him:
Breaking: Official ‘FNL’ Reveal Trailer to Release 2170, October 11—Just 2 Days Away!
Takara leaned over, catching sight of the notification. A sly smile spread across her face. “Guess I wasn’t supposed to tell you about that part, huh?” she teased, her tone playful.
The soft murmurs grew louder, a ripple of energy spreading across the rooftop. Mirai looked around, catching glimpses of glowing watch screens and wide-eyed expressions.
The doubts lingering in his mind were drowned out by the rising tide of anticipation in the air.
The rooftop erupted into chaos. Some students broke into wild dances, spinning and jumping with reckless abandon. Others fell to their knees, overwhelmed by disbelief. A few even crawled dramatically across the ground, overcome by sheer emotion.
“This isn’t even the trailer, and I’m shaking, oh my god, bro!!” someone shouted, their voice cracking under the weight of excitement.
“Finally! Competition’s way too far ahead. FNL is my time!” another declared, punching the air with fiery determination.
“They did it… they finally did it…” a quieter voice murmured, as tears streamed down their face, unashamed and unrestrained.
Mirai stood frozen in the center of the storm, his expression unreadable as the chaos swirled around him. But deep inside, something shifted.
An intense, burning flame began to ignite—a surge of adrenaline and purpose, growing stronger with every passing second.
Takara watched him carefully, a knowing smile tugging at her lips as if she could see the gears turning in his mind. Subtly, she braced herself for what she knew was coming.
“LET’S GOO—!!!!” Mirai suddenly roared, his voice raw and guttural, a pure, unrestrained explosion of energy and hype.
The rooftop roared back, voices blending into a cacophony of cheers, shouts, and clapping. The collective excitement reached its peak, a crescendo of pure anticipation.
Takara burst into laughter, shaking her head at his infectious energy. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel her own excitement surge as Mirai’s enthusiasm spread like wildfire.
For a brief moment, the world felt like it had stopped, every student united in their shared anticipation of what was to come.
With the break ending soon, the rooftop began to settle, though the excited chatter persisted.
Mirai and Takara made their way back into the sleek building, stepping into a hallway seamlessly integrated with cutting-edge biotech.
The walls reflected soft, fluid patterns of light, scattering sunlight in mesmerizing shapes while optimizing the temperature.
Mirai’s watch buzzed with a steady stream of notifications, his lingering excitement pushing him to open the group chat Sephoric used daily for gaming updates and liFe banter.
His adrenaline still coursing, he glances at the messages hurriedly.
“xSaiya: I know u guys saw that news. I have a headache.”
Mirai chuckles, his fingers flying across the screen:
“Mirai-rai: Wow already? We haven’t even seen anything yet”
“xSaiya: I don’t need to know. I can already feel the chaos coming. Hope they nerf all the dumb phantom steppers into oblivion.”
”Issan_Eternal: Are you saying you’re not ready for this, Saiya?”
“xSaiya: I’m saying I don’t want to deal with u losing ur mind over it.”
Takara peeked over his shoulder, her curiosity piqued. “Let me guess—Saiya’s already complaining?”
“Yep,” Mirai replies, laughing softly as he types another message.
“Mirai-rai: Guess we’ll just carry you through this one too huh?”
“xSaiya: Honestly can we kick Mirai? What is he even here for?”
Mirai chuckles, shaking his head.
“Mirai-rai: I mean, hey, if you kicked me who would’ve landed that parry over the weekend”
“xSaiya: Play me in a money match.”
“Mirai-rai: Nope, lol”
“xSaiya: Die. Coward. Whatever. Anyway—“
“Issan_Eternal: If you’re out, Saiya, that means I get top billing. Suffice to say I can work with that.”
“xSaiya: I will personally log out of life before I let that happen”
Mirai grinned, savoring the familiar banter. The group chat continued to buzz, its playful energy filling the hallway as Takara’s laughter joined in, light and infectious.
Beyond their circle, the rest of the world felt distant—a blur of soft light patterns and faint murmurs that faded into the background.
The sleek, sunlit hallways stretched ahead as the both strolled at an easy pace. The biotech walls, attuned to the shifting sunlight, cast soft, flowing ripples across the floor, adding to the serene atmosphere.
“So,” Takara began, adjusting the strap of her bag with a small smirk, “you think Saiya’s actually going to let you live down that parry message?”
Mirai smirked, his stride unbothered. “Nope. She’ll probably challenge me again tonight.”
Takara chuckled, nudging him lightly. “She’s lucky you don’t take her bait. I’d probably lose my mind if I had to deal with her comebacks all the time.”
“Eh, you’d get the hang of it,” Mirai replied with a shrug. “It’s all about timing—and not taking her too seriously.”
Takara smiled, her tone softening slightly. “Still, you’ve helped me get better at it. I don’t feel as awkward trying to keep up with her anymore.”
Mirai chuckled. “It’s just how we do things. She’s like the sister I never had.” His tone softened, a flicker of warmth threading through his words. “You already know she’s a big softy underneath all that attitude.”
“That’s unbelievably true,” Takara said with a laugh, shaking her head. “I still find it hard to wrap my head around. She wears all black like she’s in a rock band and has an ice-cold glare that could freeze lava.”
Mirai grinned. “She probably thinks it makes her look more intimidating. Gotta keep up that ‘fearless leader’ image.”
“But we both know,” Takara added, smiling knowingly, “Saiya would drop everything in a second to help someone she cares about.”
“Exactly,” Mirai said, nodding. “She’d never admit it, though.”
Their laughter mingled as they walked, the echoes of other conversations fading into the background.
For a moment, the weight of Mirai’s earlier doubts seemed lighter, the companionship of his friend steadying him.
He checked his watch once more, scrolling for any updates regarding the earlier announcement.
His eyes narrowed as he stumbled across a strange, minimalist site with cryptic messages sprawled across the screen:
A new dawn rises.
The boundaries of reality are blurred.
Step forward. Awaken. Become eternal.
As he stared at the unsettling phrases, the air around him seemed to grow heavier. His breath hitched as a low, disembodied voice echoed softly, its tone haunting and foreboding:
“The threads of destiny weave tight,
A cycle reborn, day turns to night.
In time, fate shall parallel thee,
Forgive me… chaos births eternity.”
Mirai froze, his heart racing. “That voice again…” he thought, his brows knitting together as a chill ran down his spine. “I heard it this morning. What the hell is going on?”
“Mirai?” Takara’s voice broke his spiraling thoughts, pulling him back to the present. He turned to face her, his confusion evident.
“Uh, did you hear that?” he asked, his voice edged with unease.
“Hear what?” Takara tilted her head, her expression puzzled. “It’s silent. Did something happen?”
Mirai hesitated, glancing back at his watch. The cryptic site was gone, replaced with a generic error message: Page Not Found.