My head pounded in agony as the screeching alarm jolted me awake once more. Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of my dingy apartment, slicing the room into strips of light and shadow. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes, groaning as I rolled over to hit the snooze button.

Everything from last night felt like a fever dream, a whirlwind of events that seemed too surreal to be true. But the dull ache in my ribs from the repeated punishment reminded me that it was all too real. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The room was small, with peeling wallpaper and a single window that looked out over the drab, gray buildings of Greenhaven.

I glanced at my phone on the bedside table, noting the blinking notification light. With a sigh, I swiped it open, revealing an email from St. Antonia's Academy. It was… short and straight to the point.

"In light of events that have transpired throughout the city, all further events are postponed for orientation week," the email finished.

I exhaled, a bit relieved but also a bit bummed. I was looking forward to touring more of St. Antonia's, but I guess it couldn't be helped.

I set the phone back on the nightstand, my mind wandering to the events of last night. The memories flooded back - Hana's intense probing gaze, the colorful streaks of Magical Girls soaring through the night sky, and the taste of the spicy cuisine that Hana had introduced me to. It had been a day full of action, new connections, and revelations. A little too much for me, really. I genuinely preferred things to stay quiet and uneventful.

With a deep breath, I picked up my phone again, tapping on the Terra Nova Bank app. My account balance displayed a whopping 371,839 credits. Hana had bought my chaos cores at spot market price, a generous act that I still couldn't fully wrap my head around.

I rubbed my eyes to wake myself up and pushed myself out of bed. The apartment seemed smaller in the bright daylight, and the walls felt like they were closing in on me. I walked over to the window and looked out at the city skyline. It was a dreary day, making the buildings' colors stand out more. Feeling dissatisfied, I turned to look back at my refrigerator. The only food I had was the bare essentials that I had bought with the money given to me by the Doc.

I stood there for a minute, meandering about what I should do, before I remembered a very important but fleeting thought that'd crossed my mind last night. Rai-chan had been quiet since my encounter with the Magical Girls - probably to let me unwind, but I still wanted to check in with her. I closed my eyes, focusing inward, "Rai-chan, are you there?"

"Yes, Ikki," her voice echoed through my head.

"When we were at the Marketplace, you helped me navigate to the Mana Exchange by displaying a route on my HUD. But before that, you were adamant about me going through the strange fog to get there. It's been on my mind since then, so I just… have to know," I asked.

I was afraid to hear the answer but knew I needed to ask: "Was... was it a coincidence that I bumped into Talia and Midori or did you plan it somehow?"

There was a slight pause before Rai-chan responded. "Ikki, while I provide guidance based on optimal routes and safety, I cannot predict or control the actions of others. . In order to plan a collision with you in the manner she did, it would have required them to have been in the exact location, time, and circumstance in which you found them — over an hour from our departure. Even the most potent divination magic known could not assure the accuracy of such a prediction. I apologize if my advice has made you feel that I am controlling your life somehow. While my purpose has been to guide you to avert a highly probable disaster in the future, you must remember that my function is not to dictate your choices, but rather to aid you in navigating the world around you. Your decisions, ultimately, are yours to make, and the outcomes and probability matrices, while influenced by my guidance, are not predetermined."I frowned and couldn't help but feel a bit deflated. It would be simple and even comforting on some level if Rai-chan turned out to be some mastermind with sight of the future who could control the events around me and railroad me into a kidnapping and bank robbery.

I still haven't ruled it out totally, but... for now, I decided to take Rai-chan at her word. Life was strange and hard enough without adding another layer of intrigue. Plus, she needed me for whatever disaster I was supposed to avert, right?

"Alright, Rai-chan. I… I'll trust you," I said, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling. A part of me still wondered about the 'coincidences' Hana mentioned, but dwelling on them wouldn't change anything.

I stood up and stretched, feeling the soreness in my muscles. Last night had taken more out of me than I realized.

"On the flip side, Ikki, our link has once again improved. Your Synchronization Level is now 4, and your pool has increased to a relative value of 112," Rai-chan's voice resonated with a hint of pride.

A small HUD box flashed before my eyes, confirming the update.

"Well, that's a silver lining at least," I thought, examining the HUD box. It showed my Synchronization Level and MP clearly, along with my vitals:

 

Synchronization Level: 4

Vitals: 100%

Stamina: 81%

MP: 112

 

I took a deep breath, glad to see the improvements in our psychic link. As much as the day had been exhausting and revelatory, I was glad for the newfound connection with Hana and the chance for a fresh start. The Shoreline Security Forces had questioned me when Hana went to turn in the recovered Chaos Cores, and apart from giving them the name of the leader who'd kidnapped me, they quickly figured out that I didn't know anything either. Hana had done the bulk of the work and immediately took command, so they were more interested in questioning her. I was glad to be out of that situation and free to go my way after a free medical checkup and a brief testimony.

Rolling out my shoulders, I walked over to my fridge and opened it, surveying its rather sparse contents. There wasn't much - just some bread, eggs, and a few slices of ham left. I knew it was time for a more thorough grocery trip. I closed the fridge and made a mental checklist of what I needed to buy. It came down to the basics - milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and cost-effective staples and seasoning.

I hastily grabbed a couple of eggs and a slice of bread, knowing I could make a simple scrambled egg sandwich for breakfast. I cracked the eggs into a pan, adding a small dab of butter to the pan before hastily scrambling them with some salt.

The butter crackled in the pan as I cracked the eggs into it, and the aroma of cooking food quickly filled my cramped apartment. As I cracked the eggs into the pan, I couldn't help but think about my conversation with Rai-chan. It was a strange feeling, having this weird artificial intelligence in my head, guiding me and analyzing my every move. I knew I had to trust her, or at least try to, but I kept feeling like there was more to the story.

I sat down at the table to eat my breakfast, feeling a bit lost as I pondered over my week ahead. The St. Antonia's Academy orientation was canceled, but I had no idea what to do with my time now. Rai-chan had mentioned I was crucial to avert some kind of projected nightmare scenario, but I had no idea what that entailed or how to even prepare for it.

I chewed on my sandwich, glancing around my small apartment. The weak sunlight filtered through the window, casting a dull glow on my humble meal. My room was still dark, with the sun struggling to break through the thick clouds looming over Greenhaven this morning. While the fog from last night had cleared, there was still a lingering heaviness in the air.

Taking a satisfying bite, I relished the taste and felt a sense of normalcy return. Life would be different now, and I knew I would have to adapt. With a sigh, I finished my meal and cleaned up the small mess I made. I decided to head out, ready to stock up on some more groceries and get an even better feel for the neighborhood.

I grabbed my jacket, stepped out of my apartment, and carefully walked down the rickety old stairs to the street below. The air outside was cool and damp, a welcome change from the stuffy confines of my apartment. The streets were narrow, and the buildings loomed over me, casting long shadows in the early morning.

As I walked, my nostrils were overcome with a mix of scents - freshly made food from the bagel stand nearby, the faint odor of trash, and a metallic tang that I couldn't quite place. The streets were an amalgamation of old and new; some sections had been renovated while others remained dilapidated, a painful reminder of this community's challenges.

Ignoring the signs of urban decay and poverty around me was impossible.

The shops were tiny and overflowing, their wares spilling partially onto the sidewalks. Though I didn't see any homeless people, there was a palpable sense of struggle in how people moved and spoke. Their clothes were worn, and their expressions held a certain sense of resilience - the kind that develops when life keeps punching you in the face over and over. I slowly approached the neighborhood supermarket, shivering as an autumn breeze whispered through the narrow streets. It was a humble Earthling-owned store called "Greene's Groceries." The faded sign above the entrance creaked in the wind, barely clinging to its old wooden frame. I stepped underneath it, and the automatic sliding doors of the supermarket welcomed me into a world of fluorescent lights and neatly organized shelves. The contrast between the chaotic outside world and the orderly interior struck me as I grabbed a shopping cart.

The aisles were narrow, and the shelves were overflowing with products. The harsh fluorescent lights flickered above, casting an eerie glow on the well-worn linoleum floor. The familiar smells of stale produce and strong cleaning chemicals hung heavy in the air, filling my nostrils.

As I maneuvered my shopping cart through the bustling aisles, I tried to stay focused on my mental list. But it was difficult to ignore the sights and sounds around me. I yawned, sweeping my eyes over the store as I walked through the aisles. It was still fairly early in the morning, so there weren't a ton of people here yet. Families stood together, calculating their purchases carefully. Elderly couples pushed through the maze of shelves with determination. And young children gazed wide-eyed at all the offerings, hunger flashing through their eyes as they tugged on their parents' sleeves.

I reached to inspect a suspicious-looking apple, and my gaze landed on a young girl standing nearby. The golden Catholic cross on a chain around her neck caught my eye and I couldn't help but be drawn to her. She looked lost, standing there all alone in the busy supermarket. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of sadness and curiosity, as if she were searching for something or someone.

The girl couldn't have been more than eight or nine years old, and her dirty blonde hair was tied in a messy, greasy ponytail. She was wearing a thin coat that was clearly too big for her, and her worn-out sneakers had seen better days.

Her faded clothes hung loosely on her small frame, and her eyes darted around nervously as the cross swung from her neck. In her hands, she clutched a worn-out teddy bear, its fur matted and missing in patches. A sense of vulnerability, hunger, and sadness radiated from her, tugging at my heart. Her sneakers were scuffed and mismatched, and her jeans were ripped at several points. Despite her appearance, there was a resilience in her eyes that caught my attention.

I shook my head and refocused on the task at hand. I didn't know this girl, and while her presence pulled at my empathy, my own situation was far from stable. I continued down the aisle, carefully selecting the items on my list and placing them in my cart. I couldn't help but marvel over how cultivars available on Terra were different from Earth, with exotic fruits and vegetables that I had never seen before.

While Earth had advanced companies shaping its agricultural landscape for decades, Terra was only now catching up. The fruits and vegetables here had a rustic, almost primitive feel compared to the perfectly shaped, almost artificial-looking produce I was used to back on Earth. I picked up a fruit that looked like a cross between an apple and a pear, its skin mottled with green and red patches. I turned it over in my hand, fascinated by its texture and weight. It was heavier than it looked, and when I gently pressed my thumb against its flesh, it gave way with a slight springiness.

Lost in my thoughts about the produce, I was suddenly pulled back to reality by the sound of a news report on the plasma TV at the front of the supermarket. It showed footage from last night's attacks - a dozen coordinated raids on banks and magitech research companies. A woman with blue and purple hair spoke in a formal, almost rehearsed tone, her face serious as she delivered the news.

"No group has yet claimed responsibility for the onslaught of attacks that ravaged the city last night," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Authorities are still investigating the motive behind these heinous acts and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately."

The footage showed images of shattered windows, smoke billowing from buildings, and disoriented people wandering the streets. I felt a knot form in my stomach as I watched the news unfold. It was difficult to believe that something so destructive and dangerous had happened right in the heart of one of Terra's wealthiest and safest cities.

An old man stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the screen. His skin was dark and weathered, and his hands were rough with age. He shook his head slowly, his eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and resignation.

"Es una locura, no? Crazy times we live in, kid," he muttered, shaking his head. "I left Earth behind to escape this kind of mess, but it seems to follow us wherever we go."

He sighed, turning to face me. "I've been around long enough to see how these things go. The world's changing again, kid. You better be ready for it."

I flashed him a smile as he yawned and went away, and pushed my cart down the aisle. I tried to focus on my shopping list, but my mind kept wandering back to the news report. The thought of getting pulled into an armored truck by those masked men made my stomach churn.

My mind was still racing from the broadcast, but I tried to focus on the task at hand. I picked up some budget-friendly staples - rice, beans, pasta, and a few cans of vegetables. I also grabbed some frozen chicken and a few spices while I was at it.

Soon, I found myself at the checkout line, my cart half-full with essentials. The news continued to drone as I waited in line, the sharp beep of items being scanned and the rustling of grocery bags filling the air. But my mind was still consumed by the events of last night. I glanced around, observing the faces of my fellow shoppers.

Some wore expressions of concern, while others seemed unfazed, their eyes glazed over as they mechanically went about their business.

Finally, it was my turn at the register. The cashier greeted me with a tired smile, her blue eyes reflecting a weariness that mirrored my own. As she scanned my items, her hand paused over my bag of apples.

"These are on sale today," she said, her voice soft and kind. "We've got a bit of an overflow up front, even. How about I get you a few more in this bag?"

I smiled gratefully at the cashier, appreciative of her small act of kindness. "That would be great, thank you," I replied, my voice filled with genuine gratitude. As she added more apples to my bag, I couldn't help but notice the weariness etched into her features. Her eyes held a hint of sadness as if she had experienced more than her fair share of struggles.

"Times are tough, huh?" I ventured, breaking the silence that hung between us.

The cashier nodded, her smile fading slightly. "Yeah, they usually are, kid. But what can you do? But what can you do?" she sighed, her voice heavy with resignation. "We just have to keep going, don't we? Take it one day at a time."

I nodded in agreement, understanding all too well the truth in her words.

As she continued scanning my items, I found my gaze lingering on her. There was something familiar about her, something that tugged at the edge of my memory.

She was a tall, muscular Caucasian woman in her late thirties or early forties with short dark hair tied in a ponytail like a lunch lady and striking blue eyes. Her expression was weary, and her movements seemed automatic, devoid of the energy I would have expected from someone of her stature. I squinted, trying to place where I'd seen her before. Her name tag read 'Morgan,' and I couldn't help but feel like I'd seen her somewhere before.

 

Then, it hit me.

 

She was almost unrecognizable, with her hair tied in a ponytail, slouching over the counter in a cashier's uniform. But it was her.

She was the same woman who had terrified the crap me after my chess game with Bishop – the one they called Doberman. But now, standing here in the fluorescent light of the supermarket, scanning groceries with a tired smile, she seemed like a completely different person.

 

"Doberman?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

 

Her eyes flickered to mine, a brief hint of confusion crossing her face before it settled back into a weary smile. "I'm sorry?" she asked, her tone polite but distant.

I shook my head quickly, realizing my mistake. "No, sorry, I thought you were someone else for a moment," I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up with embarrassment.

She chuckled softly, the sound somehow comforting. "Happens all the time sweetheart. I guess I just have one of those faces," she said, shrugging slightly as she handed me my bag of groceries. "Then again, everything's a blur for me these days."

I nodded, not quite believing the coincidence. As I paid for my groceries, I couldn't help but steal a couple of glances at her. The woman at the cafe had exuded an air of danger and intensity, but Morgan, the cashier, seemed so normal and... tired. The more I looked at her, the more I was certain they were the same person. It was hard to reconcile the two images in my mind.

"Hey, are you okay?" Morgan asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You look a bit out of it."

I forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just had a long day yesterday, you know?"

I glanced back up at the television displaying the news report, using it as an excuse to look away. The report had shifted to a panel of pundits and experts discussing the impact of the attacks on the city's economy and the growing concerns among the populace. It was a distraction, but I welcomed it. Anything to avoid the awkwardness of the moment.

The panel was a mix of Terrans, each with their own perspectives. A woman with striking dark green hair spoke first, her tone laced with suspicion.

Her voice reverberated with unyielding determination as she slammed her fist on the table. "No more appeasement, no more empty promises," she declared, her eyes blazing with intensity. "We demand action, not just hollow words on a screen, Adrian. The travel regulations between Terra and Earth are dangerously lenient as is, and we need to tighten them right now. We can't just have masked men swaggering in and out, wreaking havoc on Downtown at a whim."

A distinguished middle-aged man, his hair a shining icy blue, cleared his throat and began speaking in a smooth, authoritative voice. "I understand the concerns, but we cannot let fear control our decisions. Yes, there was a security breach, but we must remember that most portal users are law-abiding individuals. Additionally, the amount of paperwork required for traders to cross over is already extensive. And let's not forget, Gertrude, there is no evidence whatsoever linking the people of Earth to this attack."

Gertrude let out a disbelieving scoff as her eyebrows furrowed in frustration. "Are you kidding me? Can't you see the evidence right in front of you?" She leaned forward, emphasizing her point. "We have hundreds of witnesses!" she exclaimed, leaning forward in her seat. "The attackers had distinct hair and eye patterns, exclusive to people from Earth. And don't even get me started on all the surveillance footage coming out — they were using NATO formations and tactics. It's crystal clear who these attackers were."

Adrian raised a hand, imploring for calm. "Yes, there are witnesses, but eyewitness accounts can be unreliable, as you well know. And lest we forget, not a single one of the culprits were apprehended yesterday," he said calmly. "Let's also remember that we Terrans adopted some of their doctrines after fighting on the Earth front during the war. We need concrete evidence before making hasty decisions that could have far-reaching consequences. Jumping to conclusions based on appearances and similarities is a dangerous path to go down if history has shown us anything."

Gertrude sighed, sitting back in her seat. "Adrian, I understand, but we can't just sit back and do nothing while our city is under threat. Tensions have to flaring up, and we need to increase security checks, implement stricter identity verification processes. Maybe even consider blocking off the portals temporarily. We can't risk another attack like this."

"Ssi-bal…" an old woman groaned at the checkout next to me before turning to a man behind the counter. "Sir, can you please change the channel? They're scaring the children."

The cashier, caught off guard by the request, hesitated momentarily before reaching for the remote. I momentarily watched the old lady, feeling a sense of solidarity. The debates on TV seemed so distant from our realities - debates over policy and security, while people like us just tried to get by day-to-day.

The man behind the counter fumbled with the remote for a second before Morgan reached over and gently took it out of his hand. Morgan's eyes met mine briefly, and there was a flicker of understanding between us. She quickly switched to a channel broadcasting a nature documentary, filling the supermarket with the soothing sounds of ocean waves and chirping birds. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate as customers turned their attention to the serene images on the screen or looked away.

Morgan leaned against the counter as I gathered my bags, her weariness more apparent than ever. "It feels like the world has gone mad, doesn't it?" She sighed, her voice heavy with resignation.

I nodded, sharing her sentiment. "It's overwhelming. I got caught up in that mess yesterday, you know? I'm glad I made it out alive..." I paused, my voice trailing as I realized I was probably saying too much. Morgan looked at me intently, her eyes searching for something in my words.

"You were there? At the attack?" she asked.

I nodded, suddenly feeling a lump forming in my throat. "Yeah, I was just passing through Downtown when everything erupted. It was complete chaos...I still can't believe what I... saw."

Morgan's weary smile faded as she listened to me, her expression turning somber. She seemed to be lost in thought as if grappling with something internally. Finally, she spoke again, her voice rippling with nostalgia and vulnerability.

"I'm glad you're alright, kid," Morgan said, her voice softer now.

"No one should have to go through something like that." She paused, and her gaze trailed off to the eside. "I've seen too much of it myself."

Morgan's words struck a chord with me. I could see in her eyes that she meant it, that she knew what it was like to witness chaos and destruction. It made me wonder about her, about the life she must have led before ending up as a cashier in this neighborhood supermarket.

I nodded, unsure what to say, before suddenly blurting something out. "Yeah… hey, you wouldn't happen to have a sister or anything, would you?"

She blinked in surprise, eyes widening for a moment before she shook her head.

"No, no sister," she answered, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, nothing. I just, uh, thought you looked familiar the whole time. Really," I replied. It felt awkward to bring up Doberman again, especially when Morgan seemed so different from her.

She tilted her head, looking at me in confusion, but there was no sign of recognition in them. Morgan definitely acted like she was meeting me for the first time.

"I've been working here for years, so maybe you've seen me around the neighborhood? I don't know..."

Her response seemed genuine, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to her.

The moment passed, and Morgan returned to furrow her brow at her screen as if nothing had happened. But I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. Then, she turned around a monitor with a QR code and my bill attached, looking at me with a friendly smile.

Shaking off the peculiar sensation, I mustered a smile and scanned my phone to pay for my groceries. "Well, it must've been a case of mistaken identity then," I said, attempting to steady my voice. "Sorry for the confusion."

Morgan shrugged, her features softening with understanding. "No worries. It happens." She handed me my receipt and watched as I gathered my bags. "Take care out there, okay kid?" she added, concern etching lines onto her forehead.

"Thanks…" I replied, hoisting the bags onto my shoulder. As I left the store, I couldn't help but glance back at Morgan. She was still watching me, her expression unreadable. It was a brief moment, but it felt like she was trying to tell me something without actually saying it.

Stepping out into the cool air of Greenhaven, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the weird feeling that had settled over me since my encounter with Morgan. I had a lot on my mind, from the recent events to Rai-chan's take on what happened yesterday. Everything seemed so complex and intertwined in ways I couldn't fully comprehend.

Lost in thought, I almost didn't notice the small figure darting out of the store in front of me. She yelped as I braked hard in front of her before apologizing and rushing ahead.

It was the young girl from the supermarket, the one with the worn-out teddy bear. She looked panicked, glancing back over her shoulder as if she was being followed. The girl squealed as she tripped over her shoelaces, catching herself and breaking her fall on a sign. My heart skipped a beat as I saw two granola bars fall from her coat pocket. Instinctively, I quickened my pace, a sense of protectiveness rising within me.

"Hey, are you okay?" I called out gently to her bending over at a safe distance, trying to sound friendly and not scare her.

She stopped, her eyes wide with fear. She looked at me for a moment, then shook her head as she looked away with tears in her eyes. She looked like she was about to bolt away, her small figure tense and ready to run.

But then, she hesitated, her grip tightening on the teddy bear. My eyes briefly landed on her cross for a moment before returning to her teary eyes.

I took a step closer, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. "It's alright," I reassured her, my voice soft and soothing. "I won't hurt you. What's your name? Are you okay?"

"No... no, I'm not okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I... I n-need help."