The Long Talk

The air was crisp that night, not biting cold, but just sharp enough to make each breath feel alive.

Behind them, Neo-Luminara's Sector 3 buzzed with life: muted chatter floated through the air, electric buses zipped past like shooting stars, and holographic ads flickered with synthetic joy.

Yet out here, beyond the crowded main lanes, the world felt softer and more intimate.

Billy and Kaia strolled side by side under the warm glow of faulty streetlamps.

Their shift at YoruMart had wrapped up less than an hour ago. Kaia had insisted on walking instead of hopping on the skytram, a choice Billy hadn't questioned.

Neither of them was in a rush to return to their cramped rented rooms; there was something about walking that made conversation flow more freely, like the rhythm of their footsteps released their thoughts into the night.

Kaia tightened her jacket around her waist and asked, "You still haven't eaten, have you?"