She sat cross-legged on the rooftop, the warm rays of the obscured sun barely warming the cold concrete beneath her, nebulous clouds moving like waves pulled by an ocean. Her head tilted back, and her eyes were closed as she listened to the Symphony of Pacifica.

She could hear the banter of shopkeepers and the joyful laughs of their regulars. The beating the pavement took as a brigade of joggers passed by, in the distance capes zipping through the air, sending loud sounds of air trailing across the skyscape. The farther she went out the less it became disjointed, humming instead, like a song of life.

[Superpower maxed out.]

[Super audition >LvL 5]

[Active range: 10 Miles]

[Permanent passives attained]

[Enhanced hearing, heightened

reflexes]

Her eyes blink open in surprise. Her brain struggles to comprehend the sudden change in her senses, a higher power becoming a permanent part of her.

The system screen hovered in front of her.

[Display stats]

[YN]

Why not.

[Juniper’s Stats] ]

[Power: 4 ]

[Endurance: 4 ]

[Dexterity: 8 ]

[Reflex: 12]

[Durability: 3 ]

[Energy: 4 ]

[Active skills]

[Mimicry]

[Observation]

[Passive Skills:]]

[Slow regeneration]

[Enhanced hearing]

[Power emulation Lvl 1]

[Heightened reflexes]

[Superpowers:]]

[Super Audition Lvl 5]

[Solar-powered Sentinel] Lvl3

“Power emulation, what is power emulation?” She asked herself without a description, it was way too vague. A screen popped up at will on her command.

Skill Name: Power Emulation [Lvl 1]

[Mimic the abilities of superhumans. Can only use as many powers, corresponding to the user's skill level. The potency of powers depends on the user's mastery over abilities. Over Usage risks feedback strain on the user.]

“Feedback strain?”

Sys-chan chimed in happily. [Remember when you got your ass beat by that vigilante? Yeah, we both were pretty tired after that. You have your limits. (˶◜ᵕ◝˶) ]

“Ah, but it was you who went to sleep first.” she rebutted.

[૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა I was simply saving energy! Anyway it seems, not all powers are equal, this is good though, you’ll start soaking up powers much more quickly”]

“uurrghh, I don’t want to hear too much stuff. I don’t want to be a big-eared bat girl” Remembering a time when upper-stairs neighbors wouldn’t stop bed-jumping in the middle of the night.

[Aww, but wouldn’t you make the cutest bat girl?] she teased.

“No, just stop it.”

[Very well! Very well! Your ‘passive’ powers should act in tandem with your intent, intentions are everything, try it out.]

She willed the hearing power off. Listening to her surroundings, nothing was different at first, it was perfectly normal. Then she isolated a sound, concentrating on it, it expanded vibrantly. She listens to a colony of ants moving material along the rooftops, their footsteps like marching soldiers. Dissociating from that, caused her hearing to return to the status quo.

“Ok that was cool I admit,” she said, partially excited. “So the objective is really to absorb as much as I can in as little time as possible?”

[Bingo! soak it all in, boss! You’re starting to get it. Those three-eyed freaks won’t stand a chance against you.]

She felt all her senses permanently enhanced, she could even hear the flutter of a pigeon or two, even the faint sound of their feathers, if she paid attention. Concentrating normally on the ground below her, her mind instinctively isolates two distinct sounds.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

There was skipping on the ground, rhythmic and light weighted, soft sneakers crossing the pavement, it felt like it was a child. The other was the roar of an engine, Something heavy was barreling in the same direction at inhuman speeds, Heavy tires turning sharply around a corner.

For some reason, she had a strange feeling of dread. The child was moving towards the road, the truck sped as it neared the intersection.

[Yikes! Canon event detected! Move your ass, you got like 15 seconds!]

Her body moved on her own. She sprinted off the building, taking a leap of faith. Heights no longer scared her. Summoning the powers of the sun she landed awkwardly on the ground, her legs itching with heat and burn. She ignored it running towards the child.

She saw him immediately, a little boy in a bright red shirt, skipping absentmindedly.

The truck was here.

Her fight-or-flight kicked in, pushing herself across the street. She lunged at the kid, whose eyes were wide, grasping him with open arms, just past the truck that blared its horn. Mid-air, Her leg clipped against the rear mirror of the truck, her trajectory put off course, as she tumbles on the ground. Hot asphalt burned her skin, her ribs, and her thigh as well. It all throbbed.

Despite The pain, she doesn't let go of the child, clinging with grace, imagining it was Effy she was holding. Her heart was beating way too loud for her ears. Pounding like an intruder.

The child was quiet, staring at her with confusion. Wide-eyed.

“It’s okay…it’s okay,” she whispered towards him.

The truck had come to a stop, and the truck driver, who was sweating balls, walked towards them slowly lowering his cap, a small crowd formed around her. Whispering some even slowly started clapping their hands, the crowd following by example. Muttering words like “A real hero”

A delayed cry erupts from the child, wailing snot and tears, flooding into her chest. “Oh my god, Cole!” A woman rushes from a few meters away, snatching the child from Juniper’s arms. Her face was stricken with guilt and fear. “Cole! I’m sorry, mommy’s sorry.”

Juniper got up struggling, as the mother took the child into her arms. My work here is done.

“Thank you, thank you, I only lost sight of him for a minute, I don't know what I would’ve done if–”

“It’s alright, “ she cut her off as politely as she could. “just keep him in sight.”

The simple words shook the woman. The truck driver was too scared to say anything, his mouth looked like it wanted to yap but nothing came out. The woman retrieved something from her purse, Juniper shook her head and jogged off. Paining ribs and all. A notification caught her eye.

[+1 energy for exceeding your athletic limits]

[+1 durability for taking extreme pain.]

[It seems my little Juniper has become a hero, just short of eating a pavement faceplant (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)]

She smiled genuinely for once.

Retreating from the crowd, her adrenaline faded away, her bruised ribs making her work for every breath, she did her best to escape the scene, moving through a nearby alleyway, avoiding any lingering eyes. Luckily no one was smart enough to record it. She hoped people would forget about it and move on.

She was feeling deprived of energy, energy drinks were the only answer she headed into depotmart, which happened to be on the street where she was run over with, hopefully, no, raging villains this time.

Energy. She needed lots of energy. The fatigue of exercising all morning gnawed at her, and her throbbing injuries weren’t helping. The answer was simple: caffeine. Hopefully, nothing bad will occur.

***

Entering the store with haste, she headed straight to a 6 pack of energy drinks, rushing to make her way out. Movements were swift and deliberate, her body was screaming for it. The sooner she got out of here the better it would be.

At the counter, she spots the same girl who worked here the previous week. Except her hair was all blonde now, into twin little pigtails, and her strange eye color was black instead of the green she had before. Eye contacts. Either way, it was odd for her.

“Hi, that’s… a lot of energy drinks.” the cashier said, her voice partly a tease.

Juniper blushed, mumbling. “Uh yeah, I’ve been jogging.. feeling pretty tired.”

“All at once?”

“P-pretty much," she stammered. Refusing to meet her eyes.

‘There was an awkward pause as the girl scanned the stuff, typing out her change.

“I don’t mean to pry…but wasn’t it you who got run over last week,” she asked her head tilting.

Juniper nodded, staring at the ground like it was a shameful thing.

“Are you doing okay at all?”

Was that sincere concern

She struggled to answer, fumbling. “Y-yeah, taking it one day at a time, you know still breathing and all that. ”

“Can I ask you something personal?” Her voice is a bit tense, but still as smooth.

“Sure,” she replied cautiously.

“Are you busy tomorrow?”

“Not really but uh, anything could happen.”

“Here’s, my number, I’d..like to speak to you about something.”

About what, what did she want from her?

“This may come off as weird but I’ve taken an interest in you, maybe we can hang out.” she blurted out. Leaving Juniper in a rut. “The name is Anne Marie or Anne for short.”

“Juniper,” she said immediately. “My name…”

“Beautiful name,” Annemarie said with a smile. “it’s great to put a name to a face.”

“Um, I don’t know what to say, maybe.”

[uh oh, look who’s cheating!]

It’s not like she and Kanako were in a relationship and Annemarie seemed kind of nice.

Anne giggled softly like soft fluid, hiking. “Say, it’s good to make new friends at least right?”

“Yeah…”

“Hey! Can you fucking lesbians hurry it up, I got a place to be.”An old man shouted from behind her, his face contorting in annoyance.

Her stomach twisted, she’d never been called that outright. It’s not she didn’t find men attractive either.

Anne brushed it off causally. “Ignore him” she motioned to the written number “Give me a call at least, even if it’s a no, please? ”

Juniper took her drinks and left. Nodding to the girl as she left, conflicted not knowing what to make of it. No one has ever approached so bluntly. Perhaps Annemarie was lonely, still so much extroverted energy it was killing her. She’d sleep on it.

A familiar scene greeted her outside. The street edge in her mind, She did her best to mimic her movements from the day from that day. Looking up at the sky where she saw Helio-girl crash into a building.

She ran out into the empty street, the end of the road blocked, a sign stating under reconstruction, She ran along the road, replaying the explosion and screams in her mind. Recollections of explosions, the screaming of people, the rush into the manhole. She stopped at a certain spot on her feet, refusing to move. She was hit hear, it played like a broken record.

A worker approaches, snapping her back to reality, “Hey, missy, we’re working over here, and you’re blocking the way.”

She didn't respond, simply turning away, and running back the way she came here. She cracked an energy drink open, throat parched like a desert.

Effy would be home, maybe she could cook or bake something nice for once. Like a cake, try out something new, act more motherly.

Climbing on top of another rooftop, sitting on the edge, sipping on the energy. She stares at the chaotic city, giant neon billboards playing the most out-of-touch corporate ads miles away. The city kept on humming.

Her thoughts spiraled away.

Her ribs aching, her mind filled with doubts, was she deluding herself? Where was all of this leading to? Staring at the ground below. There was always that curiosity, she carried a burden with her.

She stood up slowly, looking directly down.

What if I just jumped for the heck of it?

[snapsnap! You wouldn’t die anyway, don’t start with this bullshit again! Think of everyone around you. Euphemia, Remy, Kanako, that girl that just showed interest in you. Don’t even think about it, Junie…]

“I don’t know why I was chosen by the system.” her voice thick, frustrated. “I’ve been a failure of a daughter, a sister, and a woman, all my life.”

Syschan lowered her frantic energy. [Hey!Hey! You’re doing awesome Junny, just take it one day at a time. Baby steps. It’ll all work out.” ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧]

She let the words sink.

“Baby steps huh.” she wondered.

“Sys-chan?”

[Yes?]

“Thanks for being Stuck in my head.”

[Your welcome.]