Yuki woke up at exactly 8:00 AM.
Not because she was rested—because she wasn't—but because her body refused to sleep any longer. The bunker ceiling loomed above her, cracked concrete and rusted pipes humming softly with distant traffic. For a moment, she just stared, listening to the base breathe.
Then she sighed and rolled off the couch.
Nyra was still asleep on a chair nearby, arms crossed, fluffy blonde hair spilling over her face. Yuki nudged her with her foot.
"Up."
Nyra groaned. "If this is about training, I swear I'll—"
"Reina. Akari. Veyron."
Nyra opened one eye. "…Ugh."
They moved into the kitchen, voices low. Nyra leaned against the counter, arms folded tight.
"I don't know how I feel about this," Nyra said. "Three normal people. One kid with butterflies. We barely survived as it is."
Yuki poured water into a kettle. "They're not weak."
"I didn't say weak," Nyra snapped. Then, quieter, "I said vulnerable."
She paused.
"…Though," Nyra added, glancing away, "if I had to trust one of them the most—it's Veyron."
Yuki looked at her.
"He's powerless," Nyra continued. "And yet he stood back up every time. That's… rare."
Yuki smiled faintly. "I think all three of them are strong-minded."
She hesitated. "But I don't know if anyone besides Akari will ever get powers."
Nyra exhaled slowly. Then, almost reflexively, she asked,
"Why do people get powers in the first place? Why us? Why not everyone?"
Yuki groaned. "Nyra. We've had this conversation at least seven times."
"And every time I hope you suddenly know the answer."
"I don't."
The kettle clicked off.
————————————————————
By 9:00 AM, the base was awake.
Breakfast was simple but warm. Everyone gathered in the dining room near the medical area, plates balanced on knees, chairs scraped together. Despite everything, it felt… almost normal.
And like always, the conversation returned to the same question.
"How do people get powers?" Yuki asked aloud.
She rested her chin in her hand. "I think it's strong emotions. A breaking point."
Shin, half-slouched on the couch, shook his head. "Trauma. Something new. Something that changes you permanently."
Axel, leaning back with his chair tilted, grinned. "Nah. Pure randomness. Like throwing dice. Bam. Fate says you glow now."
Nyra shrugged. "No idea."
Reina looked uncomfortable. "I don't know either."
Akari swung her legs under the table. "Me neither."
Veyron finally spoke. "I don't know too."
Everyone looked at him.
"But," he added, "I think we can learn."
Silence.
Then he told them.
About what he said to Goro the night before. About breaking control. About overthrowing the government.
Reina stiffened. "Veyron," she said carefully, "do you hear yourself? You're talking about going directly against the military. That's not rebellion—that's death."
Yuki burst out laughing.
Shin followed, shaking his head.
Nyra didn't laugh. She looked at Veyron with worry written all over her face.
Axel stayed quiet.
The room shifted.
Then—
————————————————————
1:20 AM. Last night.
Akari stirred as someone shook her gently.
"Akari," Veyron whispered. "Hey. I need you to do something."
She blinked sleepily. "Wha…?"
"Your butterflies," he said softly. "Just… trust me."
————————————————————
Cut back to the present.
Butterflies exploded into the room.
Pink light flooded the air as hundreds of glowing wings fluttered upward. Akari stood from her chair and wrapped her arms around Veyron's waist.
"At least listen to him," she said.
Veyron swallowed.
"Before we do anything," he said, "we all need powers. Me. My mom. Everyone."
Reina's breath caught.
"And after that," Veyron continued, "we get my dad back. From the old city. And we give him powers too."
Everyone stared.
"…How?" Nyra asked.
Veyron didn't hesitate.
"I don't know."
The hope in the room cracked.
"But," he said, forcing the words forward, "I've been reading. Forums. Theories. There's speculation that power research is hidden somewhere in Neoterra—inside the Mayor's house. Low-quality images. Nothing confirmed."
Axel snorted.
"So your plan is 'maybe,' 'probably,' and 'I read it online.'"
Yuki stood up. "Veyron, that's enough—"
"He's right."
Everyone froze.
Goro stood in the doorway.
"I'm with him," he said calmly.
Axel grabbed Yuki's hand before she could slam the table. "You gotta admit," he said, grinning sideways, "the kid's got guts. He survived a powered army soldier last night."
He leaned in.
"Without powers."
The room settled.
Goro sat down.
Everyone did.
And finally—
Veyron began to explain the plan.