Tokyo was a jungle of neon lights, flashing signs, and a million people moving in sync like some grand, chaotic ballet. But for me? I was completely, unapologetically lost. And honestly, I was kinda proud of it.

  Hands on hips, I struck what I imagined was a heroic pose in the middle of the bustling street. Neon lights reflected off glass buildings, and swarms of people moved past me, their chaos just another layer of the scenery.

  After a long moment of surveying my “domain,” I took a deep breath and shouted into the night, “I’m lost! I AM DAMN LOST!” I threw my arms up in frustration, hoping the city’s brilliance might respond with an answer. But, of course, it didn’t.

  Slumping my shoulders, I sighed. “How did it even come to this?”

  Then the flashback hit me like a tidal wave.

  We were in the lab, celebrating our victory like maniacs, high-fiving and cheering. The air buzzed with excitement—until Miss Yuki appeared. She leaned casually against the doorway, her calm demeanor instantly silencing us.

  “You’ve done well,” she said, her tone steady, yet carrying the weight of authority. “But you’ve got a long way to go. Classes begin the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow’s your day off, so use it wisely. Go out as a group if you want. Because once classes start...” She paused, letting her words sink in. “For the next four years, you won’t be allowed to leave the academy.”

  The room fell into stunned silence. She turned and left as suddenly as she’d arrived, her words hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

  Krishika broke the silence, practically sprinting to the door. She spun to face us, fists clenched, her excitement radiating like a firework.

  “Hey, guys! Let’s go shopping tomorrow!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with energy.

  I didn’t even look up. “Shopping is boring,” I muttered, my tone as cold as the wall I was staring at. “It’s a hassle.”

  For a moment, I thought I’d gotten away with it. But when I glanced at her, Krishika’s dark glare sent a chill down my spine. She may have been shorter than me, but her presence was towering, and her eyes glowed faintly with a terrifying intensity.

  “You’re the one who needs to go shopping the most,” she growled, her voice dangerously calm. “What do you even own? A single red T-shirt, black trousers, and that hoodie—which, by the way, is mine!”

  I tugged at the hoodie instinctively. “It’s not—”

  “Oh! Vyom’s wearing women’s clothes!” Shura quipped, a sly grin spreading across his face.

  Before I could retort, Krishika turned her menacing glare to Shura. “Who are you calling a woman?” she growled.

  Shura visibly gulped, his usual bravado crumbling. “I-I was saying shopping is fun!” he stammered. “There’s this store named Wo-Men! They have... uh... nice clothes! Vyom, why don’t you come with us?”

  I nodded rapidly, too terrified to argue. “Yeah, sure. Great idea.”

  Suddenly, Bianca’s laughter broke the tension. She doubled over, tears streaming down her face, her normally timid demeanor replaced by unrestrained mirth. The absurdity of the moment hit us, and soon, we were all smiling.

  And just like that, the decision was made: we were going shopping.

  The next morning, we gathered at the academy gates, the sun already blazing down. Krishika was practically bouncing with excitement. “Let’s decide where to go first!” she announced.

  “You’re the one who suggested this,” I pointed out.

  She grinned mischievously. “First stop—a mall! And we’re hitting the women’s section!” Before anyone could protest, she dragged us into the city’s chaos.

  And the mall, was a battlefield.

  “Why are we shopping for you guys first?” Shura demanded, exasperated.

  “Ladies first,” Krishika shot back, her grin widening.

  “This is so unfair!” Shura crossed his arms. “I didn’t sign up for hours of this!”

  Krishika leaned in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You didn’t get a vote, did you?”

  Amused, I watched the spectacle unfold. Then I caught Bianca’s exhausted expression. “Want to grab a drink?” I asked.

  She nodded eagerly. “Yes. Please.”

  We escaped to a quieter corner of the mall, leaving the chaos behind. I bought two cold drinks, handing one to Bianca. She sipped it gratefully, a small smile on her lips.

  “You okay?” I asked gently.

  She nodded. “Just... not much of a shopper.”

  “Same here,” I admitted with a chuckle. “But with this group, there’s no avoiding it.”

  As we leaned against the wall, watching the others still at war, Bianca glanced at me. “Is Krishika always like that?”

  “Oh, you have no idea,” I said, grinning. “She’s a storm wrapped in sparkles. One wrong move, and you’re caught in the eye of the hurricane.”

  Bianca laughed softly, shaking her head. “Sounds intense.”

  "You’re telling me." I leaned in a little closer, as if about to reveal a deep, hidden truth. "She never even wash her dishes saying 'my hands are too soft' she just know to order me around"I said pouting.

  Bianca’s eyes widened in surprise, but she bit her lip, holding back another laugh.

  I was already on a roll. "And don't even get me started on how she ‘suggested’ the shopping trip. It was less of a suggestion, more like a military command. You think I’m kidding? The way she led us here? That’s how she works."

  Bianca’s eyes flicked over my shoulder for the briefest second, her smile faltering. But I didn’t notice.

  "And it’s not just that," I continued, my voice rising slightly. "The way she—"

  "Um," Bianca said, her tone awkward, "maybe—"

  I waved her off, grinning. "No, no, I’ve got this. Listen—"

  "Maybe you should—" Bianca started, but her voice was quieter this time.

  I frowned. "What?"

  "Nothing," she said quickly, her voice a little too high-pitched to sound convincing.

  I should’ve stopped there. I should’ve asked what was up. But I didn’t.

  "And it’s not just that," I continued, my voice rising slightly, leaning in closer. "The way she—"

  I glanced over Bianca, who now wasn’t even pretending to look at me anymore. Her focus was somewhere behind me.

  I hesitated, feeling the weight of someone’s gaze pressing on my back. Slowly, I turned.

  Then I saw it. Or rather, her.

  Krishika.

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

  She was standing a few steps away, half-shadowed by a display of mannequins. Her arms were crossed, her face unreadable. My stomach twisted into a knot.

  "Uh..." I cleared my throat. "Krishika, hey, I didn’t—"

  Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. For a moment, she just stared at me, as if trying to piece together what she’d just heard.

  It wasn’t anger that darkened her eyes, though. Not the fiery rage I’d seen when she was truly mad. No, this was something different.

  This was hurt.

  The realization hit me in waves.

  I’d thought I was being funny, lighthearted, maybe even charming. But now, looking at her, I could see how my words had landed.

  "I—uh," I tried again, but my voice sounded small, pathetic.

  Krishika’s jaw tightened, and she blinked quickly, as if trying to compose herself. The weight of her disappointment was palpable, heavy in the space between us.

  "Krishika," I started, stepping forward, but she held up a hand.

  "No," she said, her voice sharp but quiet, cutting through the noise of the mall. "It’s fine."

  She turned on her heel, walking away without another word.

  For a second, I thought about going after her, but my legs wouldn’t move. I just stood there, frozen, watching her leave.

  Beside me, Bianca shifted awkwardly. "I... didn’t know she was right there," she whispered.

  "Yeah," I said hoarsely, my throat dry. "Neither did I."

  Shura’s voice cut through the tense silence, his usual joking tone sounding out of place. "Oh, man, you really messed up this time."

  Bianca’s face crumpled with regret. "I—I’m so sorry. It’s my fault. I laughed. I shouldn’t have—"

  I shook my head, managing a soft, bitter smile. "No, Bianca. It’s not your fault. I’m the idiot here—the guy who jokes about everything, no matter the time or place." My voice tightened as I stared at the ground, the weight of my own words sinking in.

  My fists clenched at my sides as frustration bubbled up inside me. The air around us felt heavy, and for once, Shura and Bianca had no witty comeback. Their silence mirrored my own unease.

  I exhaled shakily and broke the quiet. "You asked about Krishika earlier, didn’t you?" I glanced at them, my voice soft but steady. "Let me give you a real answer this time."

  I hesitated, searching for the right words. "She looks tough on the outside, sure. But underneath it all, she has a good heart. The reason I recommended her as our leader wasn’t because she demanded it—it’s because of her calm and composed nature when it matters most. She can hold it together when the rest of us are falling apart. That’s rare."

  I paused, letting the weight of that truth settle over us. "I haven’t known her for long—just ten days, really—but she reminds me of someone I once knew. Someone who also had that kind of strength. Someone I respected more than I can put into words."

  I looked up, meeting their eyes, my voice quieter now. "And because of that... I can say without a doubt, Krishika is one of the best people I’ve met."

  The words hung in the air, heavier than I intended, but I didn’t regret them.

  "Well, why don’t you buy her something to make up for your mistake, Vyom?" Shura chimed in, arms crossed, the mischievous glint in his eyes betraying his oh-so-helpful suggestion.

  I groaned, already bracing for the punchline. "A gift? Sure. Great idea. Only problem is, I have no sense of style. And I don’t even know this place."

  Shura’s grin widened like he’d been waiting for this. "Lucky for you, I do. Just turn right, walk straight, and then take a left. There’s a jewelry shop next to a ramen place. Perfect setup—you buy her a gift and bring us ramen. Two birds, one stone!" He gave a dramatic thumbs-up like he’d just cracked the Da Vinci Code.

  I squinted at him. "Wait. You’re saying I have to go alone?"

  "YES!" Shura yelled, clearly enjoying himself.

  I closed my eyes and sighed long enough to drain my soul. "Ahhh, what a pain. But… I do need to apologize properly. Fine. I’ll go."

  Reluctantly, I left the mall, Shura’s laughter echoing behind me. As I crossed the street, my thoughts drifted to what I should buy. A necklace? Too personal. A bracelet? Maybe. Earrings? Did she even wear earrings?

  Lost in thought, I made the rookie mistake of stepping onto the road without checking the signal.

  The blaring honk of a car snapped me back to reality. My heart jumped to my throat as headlights came speeding toward me like twin meteors. My legs locked up—classic deer-in-headlights.

  Then, out of nowhere, someone shoved me hard, sending me sprawling onto the sidewalk just as the car roared past.

  I hit the ground, gasping for air, my pulse hammering in my ears.

  "Thank you," I wheezed, turning toward my savior.

  A middle-aged man in a suit stood there, yelling something in rapid Japanese, his face a cocktail of concern and fury. I didn’t understand a word, but his tone made it clear I was not winning any sympathy points.

  I held up my hands in surrender, bowing slightly. "Thank you! And… sorry!" I said, hoping the sentiment translated.

  The man huffed, shook his head, and muttered something under his breath before stalking off.

  I sat there for a moment longer, letting the adrenaline fade. "Great," I muttered, brushing off my clothes. "Almost got myself killed before even apologizing. Perfect start to the day."

  With my heart still racing, I set off again, trying to focus on finding the shop. But my terrible sense of direction—and a mind still reeling from my near-death experience—had other plans.

  To make things worse, I reached for my phone only to realize it was gone. Probably stolen. Without it, I couldn’t call Shura, check maps, or even pretend I had a plan.

  Now, with the sun setting and every corner looking the same, I was utterly, hopelessly lost.

  "JUST GREATTTTT!" I yelled into the bustling night, drawing a few concerned stares from strangers.

  No phone. No sense of direction. No progress. Could this day be any worse?

  But then, as the absurdity of it all sank in, I grinned. "You know what? I’m fine with it," I muttered to myself, half-defeated, half-triumphant. "Who needs maps or directions when you can create your own adventure? People follow paths, but me? I make them. I’m like the Columbus of Tokyo streets!"

  Never mind that I was probably two blocks from where I started. I nodded to myself, my logic impeccable, as if getting hopelessly lost was all part of some grand, master plan.

  It was already night, and I was still standing there, feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me. The hum of the city surrounded me, but it felt distant, muffled, like I was trapped in my own little world of frustration and exhaustion. My stomach churned, the knot of guilt only tightening as I thought about everything I’d messed up.

  Then, faintly at first, I heard it—a voice cutting through the chaos of the night.

  "VYOOOMMMM! VYOOOMMM!"

  I froze, every muscle tensing. That voice. It had to be.

  "SHURAAAAAA!" I yelled, almost too loudly, my heart lifting with a rush of hope.

  It wasn’t long before they emerged from the shadows, like a small but determined rescue squad. Shura, Bianca, and Krishika. They were running toward me, and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of relief—though I wasn’t sure if it was from seeing them or just from the fact that they had come at all.

  Shura waved an arm in the air, a grin splitting his face. "Told you we’d find him!"

  Bianca, looking a little breathless, managed a half-smile as she jogged up beside him. "I—I'm so glad you're okay," she panted. "We were worried when we couldn't find you."

  I wanted to say something, but then my eyes met Krishika’s, and my heart dropped again. She had stopped a few steps behind the others, her arms crossed, her face unreadable in the dim light. She wasn’t scowling exactly, but the distance between us felt like a thousand miles.

  I swallowed hard and took a step toward her. "I… I’m really sorry, Krishika. I messed up. I wanted to make things right, but instead, I just made it worse. I—I didn’t mean to say all that stuff earlier. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

  For a moment, she didn’t say anything. Her eyes stayed locked on mine, and I braced myself for a scolding. But instead, she let out a small, tired sigh.

  "You're an idiot," she said flatly, though her voice lacked the usual sharpness. "And you made me shop for you, too."

  I blinked, confused. "You… what?"

  She held up a small bag, and I could barely make out the shape of something inside.

  I was stunned. She actually bought me something? After everything?

  Without thinking, I blurted out, "You did shopping for me… even after what I said?"

  Shura leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "She overheard when you praised her," he said with a mischievous grin. "She was pretty happy about it."

  I shot him a look but couldn’t help the small, embarrassed smile tugging at my lips. I ignored his teasing and turned back to Krishika, still trying to wrap my head around what had just happened.

  "Yeah, well, I'm lucky," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I’m lucky you didn’t just leave me out here to stew in my mess."

  Krishika just rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything else.

  Bianca stepped forward, smiling more freely now. "I’m glad you’re okay. I was honestly a little scared," she admitted, glancing over at Shura with a sheepish grin.

  Shura put a hand on her shoulder and leaned in, as if they were sharing a private moment. "I told her it would be fine," he said, but his voice dropped just enough to sound teasing. "I’m not that worried."

  Bianca gave him a playful shove, making him stumble a little. "Oh really?" she teased, but her smile softened as she looked back at me. "I’m just glad you didn’t, you know, get yourself hurt."

  I gave a small nod, feeling a warmth settle in my chest, how long it has been without this warmth I wonder, still I hadn’t expected them to be so… concerned.

  "Alright," Shura said, straightening up and taking a deep breath. "Enough of the mushy stuff. Let’s get out of here." He started walking, leading the way, but then turned around with a smirk. "I mean, someone still owes me ramen, right?"

  I gave a weak laugh, relieved by the normalcy of his words. "Yeah, yeah, I remember," I said, finally feeling the tension start to lift.

  Krishika, still quiet, gave a small nod and followed along, and Bianca fell into step beside me.

  As we walked through the quiet streets, the weight of the day seemed to lighten with each step. The night felt less heavy, and I began to feel like maybe, just maybe, things could be okay again.

  As krishika walked in front of me I couldn't help but noticed , her hairs , something was different about them ,"Hey! have you died your hairs ... blue" I asked catching upto her

  "Yeah! " she replied softly nodded with hands touching her hairs above the ears ,"Just the end part of my hairs from middle tho, I wanted to give it dual shade, I wanted to live upto my name I guess.." she chuckled

  "Aahh! They are going well with your blue frock today tho" I said with both of my hands joint at the back of my head , head resting on them , my body lying pretty diagonally.

  She laughed softly , "Thanks" she replied and then we arrived the ramen shop , we had ramen , I brought a ear ring from the Jwellery shop next to that ramen shop , tho did not give it yet , we headed towards our dorm.

  This was a quite exhausted day, yet I had fun.