"Klaus! Klaus, you okay?"

Rose's concerned voice pulled Klaus back from his thoughts, causing him to turn his attention toward her.

"I'm fine," he reassured her.

"Bro, you really need to stop taking your sleep time for granted," Shade chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of playful admonishment.

Klaus let out a sigh, acknowledging Shade's words. "I guess," he conceded, allowing himself to recline on the rooftop they were lounging on. His gaze was fixed on the vast expanse of stars above, their twinkling lights creating a mesmerizing tapestry in the night sky.

Time had moved forward by approximately two weeks since the intense encounter with Wallpaper. Klaus's injuries had already fully healed, their remnants fading away like distant memories. The celestial heavens spread out above them, offering a breathtaking display of stars. Rose, Shade, and Klaus sat in comfortable silence on the roof of the Walker household, their eyes uplifted to the cosmic wonders above, each lost in their contemplations.

CONVERSATION

Shade: So... how long do you think it'll be before we're called back there?

Rose: You mean Higher World? I'm not sure, but I think it's close.

Shade: Yeah, I just hope it's not tomorrow because I really want the graduation ceremony to go well.

Rose: Yeah, I've been eagerly awaiting tomorrow so I don't have to worry too much about going to school anymore.

Shade: Says the girl who only shows up to school like three times a month.

Rose: *giggling* Well, that's more than enough of my presence, is it not?

Rose turned to Klaus.

Rose: How about you, Klaus? Are you excited for tomorrow?

Klaus & Shade: I guess.

Shade: *laughing* Yeah, I figured you'd say that.

Klaus: To be honest, a lot has happened that makes school mean so little to me.

Rose: Yeah, I guess you're right. But still... I think it's fun to still act like we're normal humans sometimes.

Klaus: *sighs* If you say so.

After a brief moment of silence, they moved on to a new topic.

Rose: Oh yeah. I heard about your arm from a reliable source. Are you okay?

Klaus: I'm fine. It was just a little scratch.

Rose: Not from what Sha... I mean... my source described.

Shade: Hey, I said not to rat me out.

Klaus: I mean, who else could've told her?

Shade: Damn, you're right.

Rose: So what exactly happened?

Klaus: Nothing. Just got unlucky and had to risk my arm.

Rose: Oh.

Shade: That, and he did it to save a girl.

Rose: Wait... a girl?

Klaus: I didn't say that.

Shade: Yeah. Some cute girl in his graffiti group.

Rose: Woah woah woah... there's a girl in the group?

Shade: Yup. *smiling* You seem a little uneasy about the topic, Rose.

Rose: *blushing* W-What? Me? No. I'm just surprised, is all. But why didn't you tell me?

Klaus: I don't really consider that as necessary information to pass on.

Rose: R-Right, haha. Anyways, how did you know about it, Shade?

Shade: The shadow I created for Klaus is also connected to his emotions, allowing it to mimic a genuine shadow. So, when he began to feel uneasy about something, the shadow alerted me. I used this connection to observe what was happening.

Rose: Wait, so you can recon with your shadows?

Shade: Yeah, kinda. With that, I was able to observe what occurred toward the end when he injured his arm.

Klaus: Isn't that basically just stalking?

Shade: In my defense, you don't have a natural shadow, so I had to create one for you to avoid any questions. Besides, I was concerned you might be in a dangerous situation, so I wanted to assess whether I should be worried.

Rose: Well, I think it's a good thing and Klaus is just being grumpy.

Shade turned to Rose before displaying a devious smile as an idea came to mind.

Shade: Oh, yeah. By the way, Klaus ended up kissing the girl he saved.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Rose's cheeks quickly turned red, her eyes widening in surprise.

Rose: W-W-What! Wait, why? I mean... you don't need to tell me that.

"He's kidding," Klaus said nonchalantly, not even bothering to turn his gaze toward Rose.

Rose responded hesitantly, "Oh, I knew that. It was obvious."

After a period of silence, Klaus broached a question that left both Rose and Shade feeling uneasy.

"Do you guys genuinely want to return there if we're called?"

Rose exchanged a glance with Shade, their expressions betraying uncertainty. Rose mustered a forced smile and replied, "I mean, yeah. After all, it's our duty, right?"

Klaus sat up and turned to her, looking directly at her face in silence.

"I guess," he said after a sigh, before getting up to head back into the house.

Shade and Rose sat in silence for a few moments before Shade turned to Rose, saying, "To be fair, he just asked what every demigod was thinking."

"Yeah," Rose replied as she stood up and headed home.

However, Shade remained deep in thought, contemplating whether Klaus had a point and if they should return to their so-called duties if they were unsure about them.

The next day marked the long-awaited graduation ceremony. It was a momentous occasion attended by numerous parents and relatives. Klaus, being a senior, was bidding farewell to the school. This also meant he would have more free time without the burden of school projects and assignments.

The event took place on a Saturday morning and lasted about three hours. Klaus wasn't particularly concerned about it, as he had no aspirations for awards or recognition. Being above average was satisfactory for him. He begrudgingly wore the graduation gown and cap, feeling like he had already done his part by donning them.

During the awards section, Shade couldn't help but tease Rose as she received an award for the best in Chemistry. "Someone that literally has less class time than the janitor," he whispered to Klaus as Rose went up to accept her award, eliciting a chuckle from Klaus.

Finally, after some time, the event came to a close.

Upon exiting the venue, Klaus and Shade made their way over to where their mother was patiently waiting.

Natalie sported a wide grin, complimenting their appearance in the graduation gowns.

As she took in their dapper attire, Natalie requested them to stand together for some photos. She fished out a camera from her bag and snapped numerous shots, capturing the moment. Klaus eventually signaled that they had enough pictures.

Just as Natalie was about to stow the camera, her gaze landed on Rose passing by. An idea struck her, and she decided to invite Rose to join them for a few snapshots.

"Hey Rose, would you mind posing for a few photos with the boys?"

Rose halted mid-stride, her heart racing as she glanced between Natalie and Klaus. In school, she and Klaus had agreed not to talk to reduce attention, and she had been content with that arrangement, knowing they could hang out later. Natalie's unexpected callout threatened to disrupt their dynamic and expose their connection to everyone passing by.

With all eyes on her, Rose debated whether to maintain her school persona and brush off Natalie's request or to be true to herself. Uncertain of her course of action, she looked to Klaus for guidance.

"Yeah, come on, Rose. It's fine," Klaus piped up, surprising everyone around them with his casual response.

Rose was taken aback by his openness, realizing that he was willing to talk to her in school. Grateful and encouraged, she chose to embrace the opportunity and be her genuine self.

"Sure thing, Natalie," Rose replied with a smile.

Approaching Klaus and Shade, she greeted Shade with a wave and a friendly "Hey." Then, turning to Klaus, she mirrored his wave and heard him say, "What's up."

The unexpected warmth in his response sent a surge of happiness through her, and the shock from bystanders was palpable. They posed for a few photos, and Klaus, once again, had to remind his mother to tone down the excessive picture-taking.

With the group photos completed, Natalie decided to give the trio some space and instructed them to meet up at the car. She intended to let them enjoy time with their friends without her presence.

As she walked away, Rose seized the moment. Since their connection was no longer a secret, she mustered the courage to make a request.

"Hey Klaus, do you mind taking a photo with just me?" she inquired, extracting her phone from her gown pocket.

All eyes naturally turned to Klaus, drawn by the unfolding scene.

Klaus let out a sigh, momentarily closing his eyes. When he opened them and met Rose's gaze, he gave in.

"I guess."

As they snapped a few shots together, a girl dashed out of a nearby room and made a beeline for Klaus, eagerly requesting her turn.

"Um, hey, Klaus. Could I get a photo with you too?"

Another girl emerged from the same direction, protesting, "Hey, I was going to ask first!"

Shade couldn't help but burst into laughter, approaching Klaus with amusement dancing in his eyes.

"You're quite the celebrity, aren't you?"

Blushing, the first girl whispered to Shade, "Shade, please, you're embarrassing me."

Shade's laughter only intensified, but Klaus realized there was no escape. He resigned himself to taking the pictures.

Word spread, and gradually more students approached, hoping to capture a snapshot with Klaus. They had been apprehensive about asking initially, assuming Klaus wouldn't be open to the idea.

Within an hour, Klaus and Shade posed for photos with nearly all their classmates. Each time another person requested a group picture, Shade chuckled knowingly. He understood Klaus couldn't say no.

After the flurry of photos, they reunited with Rose and her mother, who also expressed a desire to capture a memory with Klaus. She hugged him affectionately and took several selfies.

Following that, Shade approached Rose with a proposition. He suggested they meet later that day to discuss their thoughts on Higher World.

With the day's festivities concluded, they bid farewell to their high school years.

As the evening sun began to set, Rose arrived at Klaus' home, finding him sitting on the porch. They engaged in a heartfelt conversation, the warmth of their words carried by the gentle breeze. Soon after, Shade joined them outside.

After some casual discussions, Shade decided to address the pressing question that had been looming in the back of everyone's minds.

"So, are you guys leaning towards going back to Higher World, or are you thinking of pursuing college instead?" he inquired, his eyes moving between them.

A heavy silence followed, the weight of their choices palpable. A few months ago, their aspirations for further education had been disrupted by the unexpected call to Higher World. Although the Gods had left the decision to them, the responsibility they held was not one to be taken lightly.

Shade finally spoke up, his voice contemplative yet resolute.

"I've been thinking about it, and I believe I'll choose to return to Higher World. It's true that we didn't ask for this, but we have a unique purpose that only we can fulfill. It might not be a choice we made, but it's a responsibility we have to accept."

Rose nodded, her agreement evident in her expression.

"I feel the same way. It might seem a bit selfish to pick anything else when we have this gift and the opportunity to make a difference."

Their eyes then turned to Klaus, who seemed unswayed by their convictions.

"We weren't given a choice, and I can't ignore that fact. While I understand our irreplaceable roles, I also believe there are other demigods and Gods who can protect the world without my direct involvement. Given the circumstances, I don't think I'll return if I have the option."

His words left Rose and Shade momentarily speechless. It was clear that Klaus held firm to his stance and trying to convince him otherwise would be futile.

However, Klaus wasn't finished. He continued, sharing a change in perspective that had come to him after interactions with their schoolmates.

"At first, I had these thoughts. But as I reflected and saw how much we matter to others, it felt odd to imagine living a normal life while knowing I could have made a greater choice. Yes, we were handed this power without asking, and it's an unfair situation. Yet, I see it as an opportunity to protect those I care about, even if our relationships aren't perfect."

Rose's gaze shifted between Shade and Klaus, seeking confirmation from Klaus's statement.

"So... you're saying you'll also choose to return to Higher World?" she asked, her tone seeking validation.

Klaus sighed, a mixture of resignation and determination in his voice.

"Yeah."