Pathways Divide

May 23rd, 2031 - 8:55 AM

Noho and Sayuri stepped off the train and into the bustling station, Noho carrying her small backpack while Sayuri rolled her suitcase behind her.

"Do you need help finding directions to a hotel or something?" Noho asked.

"No, it's okay! I've already booked one, but thank you so much for offering! I can tell your mother raised you to be a kind person."

Noho smiled warmly. "Yeah, she did. But anyways, it was nice meeting you. Have a great day and stay safe."

"You too!" Sayuri replied, smiling as Noho ran off.

The two went in opposite directions, heading to their respective destinations, unaware they would soon cross paths again when the time was right.

Noho sprinted up the steps of the metro station, her mind focused on the time. There are about twenty minutes until school starts, but I should hurry so I can get there early, she thought. As she reached the top of the stairs, she was greeted by a surprising sight. Standing at the top of the subway station was Noho's best friend, Ezra. He wore a sharp black tuxedo with a matching tie.

"Wow, Noho, you look amazing! I love the tie," he said.

"E-Ezra?" Noho stammered, still in shock. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd already be at school."

"Well," Ezra said with a grin, "since it's graduation day, I thought I'd wait for you at the train station so we could walk to school together. We won't get to see each other as much after today."

Noho smiled, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "That's really sweet of you. But hey, we'll definitely see each other this summer! I even made a whole list of things we can do together!"

Ezra's grin widened. "You made a list? I'd love to hear it." As they walked through the lively streets of New York, Noho eagerly shared her plans for the summer.

"So, we could go to Central Park, the aquarium, Times Square, or maybe even a Broadway show to kick off the first week of summer!"

Ezra chuckled. "Those sound like great ideas."

As they continued strolling along, they passed a row of buildings, one of which caught their attention: a casino called The Gilded Ace.

"And of course," Noho said with a mischievous smile, "we have to go gambling*!"

"Gambling?" Ezra raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I'm not surprised you'd suggest that, but aren't we too young? Even with the lowered gambling age, is it really a good idea to risk our money like that?"

"Nah, it'll be fine," Noho said confidently. "We can start small with the slot machines, then move on to betting and card games. And don't worry—I know tons of tricks to cheat at gambling. I always win."

*Due to a tragic global economic downturn in mid-2026, which hit the U.S. hardest, state governments were forced to lower the gambling age from 18 to 13 to boost revenue. This change benefited states like New York and Nevada, notorious for their high gambling rates.

"Well, if you insist," Ezra said with a shrug. "But where are we going to get the money? We're not old enough to work yet.

"I could ask my mom," Noho said thoughtfully, "but I'd feel kinda bad. Honestly, when they lowered the gambling age, they should've lowered the working age too."

"They don't need humans to work anymore," Ezra replied. "They just want us to gamble more to make money for them. Artificial Intelligence has replaced most jobs anyway."

"Well, yeah," Noho said, "but that doesn't mean people should stop working altogether. People should still pursue their dreams instead of sitting around while AI takes over."

Ezra gave her a sideways glance. "But think about it—you want to become a writer, right? AI can generate a 300-page book in ten minutes. It takes the average person six months to write a book that long. Doesn't that discourage you?"

"Whoa, 300 pages in ten minutes? That is crazy," Noho admitted. "But I think most people would still prefer a book written by an actual human, not one entirely generated by AI."

"True," Ezra said. "But even so, if people can just hop on their computer and create their dream story instantly, why wait for authors to publish books?"

Noho paused for a moment, considering this. "Well, I guess I'll just have to write a story so unique that AI won't be able to replicate it—not in a million years."

Ezra smiled, his faith in her unwavering. "That's the spirit! You're smart, Noho. I know you can come up with amazing ideas. I believe in you."

As they approached the school, Ezra walked ahead and held the door open for her.

"After you," he said with a playful grin.

Noho stepped through the doors and into the crowded lobby, where her classmates were gathered in groups, chatting and laughing.

Well, she thought, I guess it's finally time.