She had been cleared by the hospital to leave, it was time to go home if you could call it that. Despite the miraculous and unexplainable healing factor that took hold of her, her right leg still hadn’t healed. At least she managed to convince the doctor to let go of the cast, despite it all she still walked with a crutch. A nasty gash was visible on that right leg, it was a pity scars don’t heal properly.

Kanako had appeared early with her siblings in tow, she still hadn't shaken the feeling of it being an uncomfortable position. They were acquainted now but she was still a stranger. But Remy was eighteen, turning nineteen. That made him an adult even when she was around. Effy had immediately, upon basking in free space, resorted to doing cartwheels, and aerobatic spins within the hospital. Nearly rolling inside into a medical contraption. It took the two of them to stop her.

“She sure is full of energy, isn’t she.” Kanako teased.

“You…haven’t seen her at peak energy, you might not want to.” Juniper let out.

“Well, I think you could learn a thing or two from it, try to keep up on your toes.” she winked a smile. Juniper barely looked away, her cheeks tickling.

Ms. Kanako, sweet and composed as ever, had led her crippled butt outside. This vulnerability was humiliating. Juniper became antsy as they slowly left the long haunting hallways. Irritated with the crutch, not that she might need it soon. It made it frustrating to walk. Kanako gave her advice that she struggled to take to heart. “Baby steps, Ms. Juniper, don’t let the injury master you.”

She was unusually kind, hardly judgemental. A bit flirty too or was that her own mental gymnastics? But it made her all the more wary, most people she had encountered in this city were never kind for the sake of it. "No one does anything for free, what did she gain from this?”

Stepping outside was like waking up from a decade-long coma, too much exposure, too much strangeness. She moved like a snail, every time her crutch tapped on the ground, she was reminded thoroughly of her weakness.

[C'mon you should try and use that super hearing of yours, imagine the things you could tell everyone, they’ll think you psychic (¬‿¬)]

‘Right here, with everyone around me.' she questioned Ai's sudden suggestion.

[The sooner the better sis. Even if just briefly. Just pretend to think aloud]

[Activate Super audition lvl2]

[Y/N]

“No,” she said aloud. She wasn't eager to reexperience it, even if it was slightly better. It felt like the system was ‘pushing’ her to use her powers.

Kanako looked at her, but she pretended to talk to herself.

“Are you okay, Jun? Can I call you Jun.” Kanako asked her concerned. Snapping her out of her mental argument, she blushed a bit.

“Yes….I mean no, I mean yes.” she stuttered. Resuming her walk. Effy was holding her from the side of her ribs as if it would make her walk faster. Remy looked a bit off today, every time she looked at him he’d look away, something was bothering him. She’d have to ask later.

The ride back to the apartments was an awkward one. The silence did not last as Effy started asking every question under them, some too inappropriate for her age. Juniper had never owned or ridden a car, the embarrassment she felt when Effy asked when they were getting one was enormous.

Kanako seemed to find some amusement in that, through her eyes remained calmly on the road. That focus and clarity was something she envied.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

[Comparison is the thief of joy Jun, don’t hunt for envy..] sys-chan quipped to her. A pixelated pose of an old Greek stoic appeared in front of her eyes. She double-checked to make sure nobody saw it.

The statement held wisdom, but she was living in the moment. Something she could not escape.

Juniper noticed every time the system would interact with her, her brother would look at her wrongly. What was his problem today? Did he notice…

The apartment came into view, and Kanako parked near the opposite end of the street. The two siblings immediately took charge of bag carrying. Remy hastily because Effy’s head went straight into unpacking. So many bags, altogether. She received more stuff than she knew what to do with. Kanako stopped her with a light tap on her shoulder when the yin-and-yang duo disappeared.

‘Soft hands.’

‘

“So Juniper, I realize my actions may have overstepped some boundaries. Truth be told it was your brother that came to me for help, had known you were struggling so much, I’d offer you some assistance earlier. But you barely leave your apartment, I don’t know you that well .”

“I…don’t know where to start. Yes, it’s been a strange two days, though I am thankful, really. Ms. Kanako. I just…” Her throat was forming a knot, it was hard to speak with her alone.

“Kanako is fine, we are the same age after all.” her body posture shifted and Juniper tensed. Relatively the same age, but behind in life

Kanako noticed her lagging face and lowered her voice.

“Look if you need to talk, even let something out, I have nice tea we can drink it over...I wouldn’t mind a new friend.” her voice was soothing, it made her feel all warm and fuzzy.

“Friend?”

Where do you even go from here Juno? Hey Miss Kanako, that might not suffice. I've been obsessively eyeing you like a stalker. Do you wanna skip dating and go straight to smooching? By the way, I’m jobless and socially challenged.

[Ahh someone is a softy]

“Tea sounds nice…maybe tomorrow or the day after.” her fingers became jittery, uncomfortably shifting her crutch. “I’ll keep it in mind.

Kanako gave her a warm smile, helping towards the apartment.

“I’m two doors away, anytime you want. Though maybe not past 9, I’m not a night owl.” she jested’

Juniper squeezed a small laugh out.

Were they polar opposites then? She liked staying up. Could they meet in the middle, and attract, like two electrons in tandem?

[Opposites attract? More like mismatched socks to be worn.]

She nervously changed the subject. “Um about the rent and stuff…”

“Forget about it, just try and do better next month”, she laughed it off, like it was no big deal. “Besides, everyone needs help sometimes. Now c'mon enough, let’s get you inside.”

Kanako took the reins, guiding her up the stairs. A crippled waltz, but she found it sweet. Intrusive thoughts started bothering her, answered by a little spirit whispering in the warbling wind.

Was she rich, did she come from a rich family? Could she bear to step into her life?

[She’s probably well off, but remember money can’t buy class. Something you need to invest in quickly. Pump and dumb those stats. ] sys-chan teased.

She had to restrain herself from saying something aloud, or else she directed irritation at Kanako, the system didn’t know when to shut up sometimes.

****

Juniper sat in front of her console, she hoped to drown out her thoughts by dissociating. A sequel to a popular Visual novel game came out yesterday, an eroge, she was tempted to play and struck with an urge to relieve herself of her stress. However she knew she couldn’t touch it because her siblings would catch her, another potential crime the social worker would be eager to dance about. She sighed.

The sound of bags being torn open in the other rooms, and Remy arguing with the little gremlin were two things she didn’t need right now.

She limped to the door, shut it tight, and collapsed on her bed, diving head-first into a pillow. It feels so much better sleeping on your face. She squeezed one between her legs, and two in her arms, like squeezing an imaginary person. All she wanted was a little comfort, and maybe someone to share it with. Kanako’s v-shaped cute face came to mind, she needed to repay her, give her something in return, something special.

What did she like?

Tired but not sleepy. She put on a local news streaming channel a clickbait video blaring alarming updates regarding Helio-girl’s pursuit yesterday, Reporting several deaths and injuries. She happened to be one of the injured. Rumors of a civil case being opened against Helio-girl, made her stiffen. Could that be why she was visiting her, accessing a legal threat or was it genuine guilt? No, she doesn’t deserve it. She probably tried her best. Shit happens.

What was strange was that no form of law enforcement came to her about the situation. No police, no cape agency, she didn’t even have the energy to inquire anything to the doctor, just glad she escaped, and that her medical bills were at least Covered by a sunlit girl. But knowing the politics of the city, well let's say they'll come snooping soon. She hoped the helio-girl survived the onslaught, of being a public enemy.

She felt hammered by the situation, she should have said something better, should've comforted her. She remembered the card she gave her. Initially, she felt like a child, ‘Omg, a superhero came to speak to me’, but now…

[Hey you ripped off some of the girl's powers, I’d say you owe her more than a call.]

“Aarrgghh.” she groaned. Shifting her body to better accommodate her leg. “Do you ever sleep, sys-chan?”

[Not for you my Juni-puni, I’m always here to cheer you on.]

“You speak too much, but… thank you.”

She clutched her fragile heart, guilt, panic, fear, gratitude, affection, lust. So much weight she picked up in two days. Right now she needed sleep, tonight she wanted to try something fun. With or without the crutch. Rest and recuperation, R&R, she needed large quantities of it, and not with dying people in the room next to her. And yet, there was an undeniable pull of gravity tugging her towards her ‘gamey’ powers.

Something was driving her to the cape world, and not necessarily Sys-chan. Perhaps sleeping it away will help. Or maybe It wouldn’t. Either way, she wanted to try something fun tonight.