I come to my senses. This place is crowded, and everyone is trying to find the best spot on the Sunset Promenade.
Someone steps on my foot. As I try to step to the side, I lose my balance and stumble into an unexpected embrace.

"Sorry for the wait."

A hand grabs my wrist. I look up and see Caleb's slightly amused expression.

"Caleb..."

"In Skyhaven, you can catch a glimpse of cosmic wonders every now and then.Though, this is the first time I get to see a supernova..What? Why are you looking at me like that? Why is he acting like nothing happened? Why is it always so difficult to understand what he's thinking?"

Caleb grins and leans in. "Slilver Where'd you go today?"

"l just walked around."

"This place is packed. Hold on tight. Don't get lost, pip-squeak."

"I'm not a little girl-Caleb, slow down...!"

He grabs my hand and walks quickly. Yet his grip is firm.It reminds me of when we were in school. He always held my hand like this back then.For a moment, I'm stunned. I start to question if the voice I heard this afternoon is really his.How could Caleb change? No, he hasn't changed at all. If anything's different, it should not be him.As I watch him walk, a bizarre idea pops into my head for no reason.Is there something inside Caleb that's controlling him? Is it changing him?

"Over here."

On the edge of the viewing platform, Caleb discreetly moves to stand behind me. He acts like a shield from the bustling crowd

Below the glass floor, clouds ripple like waves while a hologram appears to start the countdown.

"We can see Skyhaven University's clock tower from here.And look at all those fighter jets over there. Is that the aerodrome for Aerospace Academy?"

"Yup.With exams on the horizon, I bet a bunch of my juniors are preparing themselves for some serious cramming."

"The last time I visited Skyhaven University was for your graduation. Time flies."

"It sure does."

"Do you regret it?"

Caleb leans on the railing, turns to me and smiles. "Regret what?"

"Being admitted into Aerospace Academy and becoming those one-in-ten-thousand Deepspace fighter pilots."I hesitate, unable to find the right words.
"You're on an entirely different path now. It wasn't one you chose in the beginning."

"Stuff changes all the time. It's fine. What about you? When you were a kid, you nagged me about using my Evol to hold you up high. You even insisted I launch you into spaceDo you still dream about exploring the universe?"

"That's just nonsense kids say."

Caleb raises his head. There's a fleeting sadness on his face. I almost wonder if I had imagined it.

"Back at the shelter, I remember you said your home was beyond the stars.But we couldn't even get past the walls and barbed wire.

"Yeah. The teachers always said the outside world is dangerous. We were too little to go out."Though, when you're cooped up in one place for so long, the outside world can be more appealing than ever. "Yet all we could do was hang out on the rooftop and count the fighter jets flying past us.I once asked you about why they would crash and if the old railroad by the shelter led to the sea."

"The fighter jets crash because they got attacked by Wanderers. As for that railroad? At the end of it is a patch of weeds.We'll figure out everything about this world. One step at a time."

"Really..? I'm starting to think some people's hearts are more mysterious than the world itself.Like you for example. You're a walking vault of secrets right now."

I can't tell if my thoughts are written all over my face to the point where he can see everything.I look into his eyes and hope to receive an acceptable response.

"Well, pip-squeak, since you're interested in secrets... There is one thing."

"Which is?"

The noisy crowd suddenly falls silent, and dazzling lights fade into the night.The holograms' light continues to glow like water. Only the countdown remains.He grins at me, his voice as serene as a passing flock of birds. "It's starting."

The people around us look toward the sky, but his gaze remains fixed on me. I almost lose myself in his eyes.
After a moment, I find my voice and flash him a smile.

"Oh, right. Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you."

I pull out the necklace from my pocket and put it around his neck.

"Who gives the same gift twice?"

"Okay, but who lost a precious gift from others?If it disappears again, there won't be a next time."

"All right. I promise I won't lose it again."

The electromagnetic radiation from the supernova will persist for some time.To protect Skyhaven, a floating city powered by energy, aerial shields have been activated above us.After we witnessed this brief brilliance, night descends onto the cityscape once more.Tonight, Caleb will go out again.According to him, Skyhaven's lockdown will be over soon along with the clean-up.I say good night to him in advance. Then I enter my bedroom, draw the curtains, and force myself to close my eyes as I rest on the bed.In these dark hours of the night, I eventually hear the door being pushed open. The faint sound of footsteps draws closer.

Realizing it's Caleb, I keep my breathing steady.
As I pretend to be asleep, a gentle touch lands on my forehead.He's gone. Why did Caleb...My mind is in turmoil. I press my hand against my chest, trying to stop my heart from pounding too quickly, and slowly get up. I look out the window and see the night scenery.Then, taking a deep breath, I activate the tracking feature on my Hunter's Watch. "Target is being tracked."It seems Caleb hasn't discovered the tracker embedded in the necklace.With all these complex leads, only Caleb can unravel these mysteries as he's burdened with countless secrets.When I try to leave, I notice the door doesn't budge.
Did... Caleb intentionally lock me in the house?
I raise my gun and aim at the lock. Without a second thought, I pull the trigger.