The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Nova High.
Kai sat alone on a bench near the training field, quietly eating his lunch.
For once… no one was bothering him.
Peace, he thought.
"Mind if I sit?"
Kai looked up.
Zara stood in front of him.
The Queen of Nova High.
Kai blinked.
"Uh… sure."
Zara sat down beside him like it was normal.
Students nearby froze.
"Is that… Zara?"
"Why is she sitting with him again?"
Kai sighed.
"There goes my peace."
Zara ignored the whispers.
She looked straight ahead.
"You fought back today."
Kai paused.
"Not really. Just basic movement."
"That wasn't basic," she said calmly.
Kai smiled slightly.
"You're overthinking again."
There was a short silence.
Then Zara spoke again.
"You're strange."
Kai laughed softly.
"I get that a lot."
Zara turned to him.
"But you're not a bad person."
Kai looked at her, surprised.
"That's random."
Zara shrugged.
"I've seen many people in this school. Most of them only care about power."
She looked down for a moment.
"But you… don't."
Kai leaned back slightly.
"Maybe I just don't like showing off."
Zara stared at him.
Then, for the first time—
She smiled a little.
"You're different."
Kai smiled back.
"Is that a good thing?"
Zara stood up.
"Yes."
She turned to leave, then stopped.
"Kai."
He looked up.
"We're friends now."
Kai blinked.
"Just like that?"
Zara nodded.
"Just like that."
She walked away calmly.
Students around them were shocked.
"The Queen… made a friend?"
"With him?!"
Kai leaned back on the bench and sighed.
"Well… this is new."
But for the first time since coming to Nova High…
Kai wasn't completely alone.