MIKOTO POV

My name is Mikoto Meiling, a catkin.

I used to live with my family in the undercity of Victoria. Dad worked in a chemistry lab while Mom took care of me and my big sister at home. Necessities were a challenge, but Dad’s earnings and my sister’s part-time job kept us afloat.

I was lucky to attend public school. I studied hard, dreaming of a job in the upper city so we could enjoy nice food. Despite our modest means, my sister always ensured our bellies were full and we lacked nothing.

Once, she worked overtime to buy me crayons for art class. I studied even harder to make her happy. She’d do anything for me at the drop of a hat.

Whenever I got into mischief, she forgave me with just a pleading look. My sister spoils me rotten and I know I can always rely on her. I love her.

Although, there was something that I had always wanted, but could never tell her about: SpeedGear. It’s a footwear device that makes you run faster.

I’m already the fastest runner in my class. Nobody could ever catch me in a game of tag. The feeling of rushing winds buffeting my face as I ran past my would-be catchers was exhilarating.

If I were equipped with one of those shoes, I wonder how much faster I could run. Some of them even allow vertical maneuvering techniques. Are you telling me I can run and jump around buildings? I can become a superstar like those on TV!

Stars shone in my eyes as I could see myself flying around and doing graceful acrobatics in the sky. People will call me Mikoto the sky dancer! I will sing and dance in the sky, wowing people around. Maybe I will even appear on TV!

As I entered the SpeedGear shop that very same day, my dreams were dashed to oblivion.

So many zeroes.

I looked at the one with AB (Ankle Breaker) for vertical maneuvering. It had an extra zero on top of other zeroes. It was so cruel. I got my hopes up just to be denied by the one thing my family is always short of.

That day, I went back home straight to my bedroom and pulled a blanket over myself. Big Sister kept on asking me what was wrong, but I didn’t want to trouble her with this. She had already given me so much.

Days passed by.

Dreams of dancing in the sky were still fresh in my eyes. I couldn’t forget them. So, I ran. I ran through playgrounds, narrow alleys, and makeshift dwellings. I pushed my legs to go faster, to feel the higher rush I would have gotten had I equipped a SpeedGear.

If I can’t have it now, it doesn’t mean I won’t have it in the future. I will start taking up part-time jobs like my sister. I will save up money no matter how small, and then I will buy that SpeedGear.

I will dance among fairies and friends in the sky. And make a lot of money doing it too, hehe. Then I will buy lots of food and more SpeedGear for my family.

We will dance in the sky together!

---

“But this can’t go on!”

“What choice do we have…. they even pressured the upper echelons.”

That night, on my way to the toilet, I passed by the living room. Mom and Dad were arguing. This was the first time I heard my always-smiling dad sound so sad and defeated. I didn’t know what they were arguing about, but I decided to take a peek and listen in.

“Those nobilities. They care not for anything other than themselves.”

“I know, but Jack is working on it.”

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“And how long would that buy us? Annie called me this morning, and it was not good.”

“I know, dear, I know. But right now, waiting is the only thing we can-”

My father stopped talking and glanced to the side at something. Ack! It’s the SpeedGear poster I got from that shopkeeper’s handout. I forgot to put it in my bag!

“This is….”

“Sigh, Mikoto is at that age. Remember last time when we were having dinner, and she looked as if the world had just collapsed?”

“So, she wants to be a SpeedGear star?”

“Yes, I tried stopping Mio-chan, but she just ran off shouting “For my cute pumpkin!” That silly girl. I wonder where she gets it from.”

“Cough, cough, I have an idea. Do you know when the Nexus mobile city will arrive here?”

“Highwind? A couple more months, I think?”

“Start packing up.”

“You mean…”

“Yes, we are leaving, but we will do it quietly. Don’t tell the kids. God knows who might be listening.”

“They already have eyes on the kids?”

“Take no chances. Better safe than sorry.”

I didn’t know much about the details, but Mom and Dad seemed worried about his job. My dad seems to have a lot going on in his work, so we needed to move. I knew how serious it was even without knowing the whole story, so I kept it quiet from my friends about how I would soon be moving to Neo Nexus.

Neo Nexus. The city of dreams, where buildings are as high as a mountain. I heard there’s even a giant flying peanut floating around with pretty lights. I wanted to visit it once, but to think I will be living there soon.

Parting with my friends makes me feel sad, but Mom and Dad wanted to keep it a secret, so I will keep it.

Mom, Dad, don’t worry. I’m very good at keeping secrets. I will give it to my grave. Nobody will know. Leave it to Mikoto Meiling, the fastest and sneakiest catkin in the universe nyaa!

---

“So, Mom and Dad want us to move to Neo Nexus?”

“Um…. It’s supposed to be a secret…..”

Under my sister’s gaze, I couldn’t lie. I know it’s a secret, but my big sister is so good at reading my mind that I couldn’t help it. It’s not my fault! Come to think of it. Sharing secrets among family is fine, right? So, the secret is still safe, right?

“It has gotten that bad huh…..” Big sis muttered softly. I almost couldn’t catch it.

Under my inquisitive stare, my sister perked up and ruffled my hair. “Don’t worry, leave everything to big sis. There’s pudding in the fridge, it’s your favorite.”

I rushed out of the room and beelined to the fridge.

Yep, Big Sis is the best.

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From a distance, Neo Nexus looked like a giant pizza. The city resembled a spiky pie, with tall buildings jutting out like toppings. In the center stood a towering structure, dominating the skyline. The city was ablaze with lights and colors, giving it a vibrant and lively appearance.

Oh! There’s the flying peanut I was thinking about. It lazily circled the outer ring, some adorned with bright neon colors and peculiar signboards. Big sis covered my eyes when one passed by. I wonder why?

But most importantly, the air felt fresher than in the undercity. Though there were still pockets of fog and smog in the outer rings, overall, it was a beautiful city, and I could sense our family’s life changing for the better.

I hoped to find work and save up for SpeedGear, but my family’s well-being came first. After all, one can’t fight on an empty stomach.

Months flew by in the blink of an eye. We were busy unpacking and settling into our new home. Our neighbors were a friendly bunch, surprising us with welcoming gifts and sharing tips about the local area, including cheap and good places to eat.

When I asked them about SpeedGear, they laughed warmly and kindly. They playfully warned others about an aspiring star in the neighborhood.

That’s right! Mikoto Meiling would be a star! Ehehe, Mikoto Meiling, the district superstar has a nice ring to it.

Part-time jobs were surprisingly abundant if you knew where to look. Big Sis gave me tons of pointers and taught me everything I needed to know.

So, days went by, and we were becoming more and more comfortable in our new life. Money was no longer much of an issue, with my father’s new job at a nice super high Corpo building. He claimed luck played a role, but his smug smile while striking a pose told us otherwise. I loved my goofy dad.

Mom remained the same, gossiping with wives around the neighborhood. So, most of the time, it was just me and my new schoolmates playing and running around the district.

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one aspiring to be a SpeedGear star. I even made a rival during our PE class, but he still wasn’t as fast as me, heh. Maybe I’d let him on my team if he begged for it. And every day, he’d have to bring me puddings to appease me, the captain of Lightning Catz, otherwise I’d demote him to become my deck scrubber.

Then came my birthday.

I knew my parents were preparing a cake back home for my birthday. So, my sister took me to a SpeedGear shop. She said with our combined savings, we’d finally be able to purchase a single set of SpeedGear specialized for vertical maneuvering. She registered a credit account under her name since I still wasn’t allowed to purchase one myself. I was ecstatic.

I may have hugged her a bit too tightly that time. She had a nosebleed, but she assured me it was fine.

On the way home, I kept talking about my plans and how I was going to be the future top superstar. I had a big smile on my face the whole time, and I couldn’t wait to brag about it to that stupid boy. Hehe, I could already imagine his face when he realized I got a jump start on him.

Back then, we were so happily caught up in our world, that we didn’t realize how silent the street was.

Until it was too late.

A jet-black car stopped right in front of us. The door opened, and I felt a hand with cloth grab onto my face. My vision went dark before I even had a chance to know what was going on.

I was kidnapped, along with my sister.