Fractures in the Light

The campus pulsed with life—laughter, announcements echoing from speakers, and the distant buzz of drones monitoring the courtyard. Students bustled between buildings, some wearing hero academy jackets, others buried in textbooks, prepping for exams. It looked normal. Safe. Bright.

But Kai never liked crowds. He sat alone near the computing lab, coding in silence. The sun streamed through the window beside him, catching in his hair and lighting the sharp angles of his face, but he barely noticed.

He was reading a news article about Ohlane — “The Empath Hero” — helping children in a hospital. The picture was perfect. Too perfect. The timing, the smile, the symmetry of the photo. Staged. Like always.

A message lit up his phone.

Cyntia:

“Do I look professional enough to hand out vitamins?”

With it came a photo of her in her part-time uniform, oversized polo tucked into beige slacks, tongue sticking out between two fingers in a peace sign.

Kai shook his head, smirking.

Moments later, she crept up behind him and tapped his shoulder.

“You’re ignoring my stunning photo,” she said, mock-pouting.

“You think that’s stunning?”

Cyntia gasped. “Rude.”

“You asked.”

Still, he turned to her fully. “You look good. But you always do.”

She blinked, surprised for a moment. His compliments were rare. But real.

⸻

They moved to the university courtyard—beneath the tree they claimed as theirs. Cyntia spread their lunch on a blanket: instant noodles, a boiled egg, and two small banana cakes.

“You ever think of applying to the Hero Registry?” she asked between bites.

Kai paused. “No.”

“You could. You’re smart, quiet, calculated. Like one of those tech-based heroes who hacks enemy systems.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You think I want to wear tights and pretend to smile for cameras?”

Cyntia chuckled. “I think you’d hate it.”

“I would.”

There was a pause.

“I still think most heroes try their best,” she said softly. “They save lives.”

Kai didn’t argue. Not because he agreed—but because she believed it so purely, he didn’t want to dim it.

⸻

Footsteps approached them from behind.

“Kai! Still being dragged around by our golden girl?”

It was Katy and Sofia, both in nursing uniforms like Cyntia’s, their hair pinned back from earlier hospital rotations. Kai didn’t dislike them. They were bright, sharp, and didn’t fake their smiles.

“Sofia,” he nodded. “Katy. Still stalking us?”

“Obviously,” Katy smirked, flopping down beside Cyntia. “We have to make sure our girl isn’t secretly dating a villain.”

Sofia laughed. “Honestly, if she is, at least he’s cute.”

Kai rolled his eyes.

Cyntia ignored them. “We’re just roommates. Very platonic. And extremely well-fed, thanks to my cooking.”

Kai scoffed. “I cooked once and now you act like I’m the household wife.”

“Wife is accurate,” Sofia teased. “You do glare like one.”

⸻

As they settled into easy laughter, Katy suddenly said, “Hey, you both free this weekend?”

“Maybe,” Cyntia said. “Why?”

“There’s this new café near 6th Street,” Sofia chimed in. “Lanterns, riverside view, overpriced cake.”

“Hero-themed menu,” Katy added. “It’s a little cheesy, but it’s cute. You should come.”

Cyntia lit up. “That sounds fun!”

Kai frowned. “You sure it won’t break our bank?”

Cyntia nudged him. “I’ll pay.”

Kai raised an eyebrow.

“…Okay, you’ll pay half,” she amended.

Katy clapped her hands. “It’s settled then! Saturday evening. All four of us.”

Kai hesitated—but only for a breath. Cyntia’s excitement was hard to say no to.

“Fine,” he said. “Only if the cake’s not shaped like Krakatar’s face.”

They all laughed.

None of them knew that by Saturday, the world would look completely different.

⸻

Later that evening, Kai sat alone back at the apartment. The place felt colder without her. Cyntia had gone to her shift again—handing out health kits in the city. She didn’t complain, but he knew she was tired. She always pushed herself harder than she had to.

His screens flickered in the dark. News stories played on loop—heroes rescuing fire victims, Krakatar smiling beside government officials, Rukio standing atop a broken dam like a statue carved from victory.

Flawless. Worshipped. Untouchable.

Kai muted the screen and leaned back in his chair, eyes closed.

They looked perfect.

Acted perfect.

But something had always felt wrong.

Still… he never cared enough to dig.

As long as Cyntia was untouched, the rest of the world could rot.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***