She stepped closer.

The chaos of the day still echoed in Harry's mind as he stepped out of the college gates. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows on the pavement. But Harry didn't notice. His thoughts were stuck on one thing the police.

They had arrived suddenly at college storming through the main gate like they were hunting someone. Wade Industrial Yard – Block 9. That name was repeated several times as officers moved room to room, asking questions, scanning faces. It was too close. Too close to the truth.

Harry shoved his hands deep into his hoodie pockets, his brow furrowed. Were they looking for me? he thought. He hadn't left behind any clear evidence. But HumanOx Corporation surely had eyes. And after what happened in the yard... it wouldn't take long.

"Harry! Hey, Harry Watson!"

A voice broke his chain of thought. He turned slightly, recognizing the familiar tone. It was her Anna.

She jogged up beside him, out of breath but smiling. "You walk fast. Wait up!"

Harry gave a half-glance, uninterested. "What do you want?"

"I just... I mean, I was heading home too. And I thought maybe we could talk?" she said,

Harry didn't slow down. "Not interested."

She laughed softly, trying to keep the mood light. "Well, that's okay. I'll just walk with you anyway. You know... I'm new here. I barely know anyone. This city is kinda intense, honestly."

He stayed quiet, staring at the pavement.

"I moved here last week. Got a flat nearby. Same street, actually, as yours. Saw you walking there a few times," she continued, smiling at the coincidence. "Small world, right?"

Harry's eyes twitched. Same street? Was she telling the truth? Or just trying to get closer?

She kept chatting, unaware of his cold silence. "Back in my old town, life was simple. No giant corporations, no secret tournaments, no police swarming colleges..."

That caught Harry's attention slightly, but he didn't respond. He just kept walking.

Then it happened.

From the other side of the road, a motorbike came screeching out of a narrow alley wild, fast, uncontrolled. The rider had lost control. It was spinning directly toward Anna, who had her head turned, still talking about her old town.

Harry's eyes widened. There was no time to shout.

Instinct kicked in.

Without thinking, Harry leapt between Anna and the bike, positioning himself like a shield.

The collision was brutal.

The front of the bike slammed into Harry's chest with full force but the impossible happened. Harry didn't even budge. It was like the bike had hit a steel wall. The rider was flung off, the vehicle crumpled and then skidded sideways, crashing into a parked car with a loud, metallic screech.

A second of silence hung in the air.

Anna screamed, turning just in time to see the explosion of sparks and twisted metal. She looked around wildly. "OH MY GOD! That bike...!" she ran toward the crash.

But Harry... was already walking away.

He hadn't even fallen. His clothes weren't torn. There wasn't a scratch on him. Only his fists were clenched, and his breathing was heavier than usual.

"HEY!" Anna shouted at the biker, who lay groaning beside the car. "What's wrong with you? Are you drunk?! You almost killed someone!"

She was furious, her voice loud and cutting.

Harry didn't even look back.

She turned in confusion, watching him stroll ahead like nothing had happened. He didn't check on her. He didn't speak. Just kept walking.

"Wait! Harry!" she ran after him, catching up quickly. "Are you... okay?"

"This place is like that," he said in a low voice. "You have to be careful."

Anna blinked. "That's... that's all you're going to say? You could've died!"

Harry shrugged. "Didn't."

She didn't know how to respond to that. There was something strange about him something beyond the cold attitude. That bike should've sent him flying. Anyone else would be in the hospital right now.

But Harry walked like it was just another Tuesday.

They walked together in silence for a few minutes more. Then, her apartment building came into view.

"Well... this is me," she said awkwardly. "Um... thanks. I guess."

Harry didn't reply.

Anna stared at him for a moment, then turned to head toward her building.

Halfway up the steps, she looked back but Harry was already gone.

Harry's own apartment wasn't far. He walked slowly, still playing the whole scene over in his mind. Not the crash but Anna. The timing of her appearance. Her living nearby. Her endless questions. Coincidence? Maybe. But nothing in his life lately had been accidental.

He reached the gate, keyed in the code, and stepped inside.

The apartment was warm, lights on. His mom was sitting on the sofa, a soft blanket wrapped around her legs, watching a cooking show.

"Hey sweetheart," she said, smiling. "How was college?"

"Fine," Harry replied, heading to his room without another word.

Once the door closed, he exhaled deeply and slumped onto the bed.

His eyes stared at the ceiling. Everything was changing so fast. His strength his reflexes whatever had happened to him, it was evolving. The system, VisionOS, hadn't shown up again since the hospital. But he could feel it growing. Quietly. Inside him.

The image of the twisted bike, the crushed front wheel, the shocked rider it replayed in his mind. And yet, he had walked away like stone.

What even am I now?

That night, Harry didn't sleep much.

The next few days passed like slow-burning fire. College life resumed its rhythm, but something had shifted in Harry's world though he wouldn't admit it, not even to himself.

Anna was like a stubborn breeze that refused to go away, soft yet persistent. No matter how many times Harry kept his replies short or tried walking faster in the hallways, Anna would catch up with a smile, carrying her usual energy. She talked about classes, teachers, her favorite songs, silly dreams, even her breakfast sometimes. And though Harry never invited her presence, he never truly pushed her away either.

They became an odd pair him, always quiet and aloof, with stormy eyes and a guarded heart; her, bright and curious, always talking, always laughing. Students noticed, but unlike before, no one dared whisper or mock Harry anymore. He was untouchable now. After all, he was the guy from the tournament. The one who never lost. The one who walked like no one could stop him.

After college, Anna and Harry often walked together. Their flats happened to be in the same direction, and despite Harry's attempts to avoid extra conversation, Anna made those walks less lonely. She filled the silences, even if Harry answered only with nods or the occasional grunt. And somewhere, in that growing repetition, something fragile began to form between them.

It was Friday when Anna turned to him just outside the college gate, her eyes sparkling with a kind of mischievous hope.

"Hey," she said, nudging his arm gently, "What are you doing this weekend?"

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Nothing special."

"Perfect!" she grinned. "I'm throwing a small weekend party at my flat. You should come."

He stiffened. "Not interested. I've got work. Stuff to finish."

"Oh come on," she whined, "You're always working. Always brooding. Don't you ever stop to breathe? I'm not inviting the whole college or anything it's just… you."

Harry looked away. "I don't like being around people."

Anna's voice softened. "I know. But you're not people to me… you're Harry. And I'm not people to you. I'm just… me. Anna."

There was a silence between them. Her words hung in the air.

"I'll wait for you anyway," she added, walking ahead toward her building. "Come if you feel like it."

Harry didn't reply. He simply walked on, but her words had already started echoing inside his head, louder than he wanted.

The next evening, Harry stood outside her door, hesitating.

He wasn't sure why he'd come. Maybe it was the way she smiled. Maybe it was the way she looked at him like he wasn't broken. Maybe he just didn't want to be alone for one night.

He wore jeans and a dark hoodie simple, unassuming. He looked down at his shoes before ringing the bell. The door opened.

Anna stood there in a loose satin dress, barefoot, hair tied up casually. Her eyes widened in surprise and then immediately brightened. "Harry… You came."

Harry offered a small nod. "Just for a while."

She stepped aside and gestured him in. "Welcome to my humble palace."

Her flat was everything Harry wasn't expecting stylish, well-furnished, modern, with soft lighting and warm tones. A huge window overlooked the city lights. A few candles flickered near the coffee table. Jazz music played softly in the background.

"You can sit anywhere," she said, closing the door behind him. "Make yourself comfortable. Drink?"

"I don't..."

"Relax. Just juice," she smiled, already pouring two glasses.

They sat on the couch. The air was calm. Harry glanced around.

"You live here alone?" he asked.

Anna handed him his drink. "Yeah. My parents live in London. Always working. Always busy. Sometimes I forget their voices. I've been living like this for two years now."

There was a pause. Then she smiled sadly, "Your turn."

"What?"

"Tell me something real, Harry Watson."

He looked down at his drink. "People want things from me. That's it. No one really… cares. I fight because that's all I can do. And when I win, they cheer. But when I lose… they'll vanish. So I stopped trying to be close to anyone."

Anna watched him closely. "I'm not cheering for your victories. I just… like your silence. Even that is more honest than most people's words."

The air thickened with a strange intimacy.

Sensing the heavy mood, Anna suddenly jumped up. "Okay, this is too gloomy for a party of two."

She grabbed a remote and turned up the music something lively, something rhythmic. She started swaying to the beat, moving her arms, her hips, letting go of all tension.

"Dance with me!" she called out.

Harry gave her a blank look. "No."

"Oh, come on. One dance. No one's watching."

"I don't dance."

Anna pouted, then laughed. "Okay, then I'll dance enough for both of us."

She twirled and moved around him, playfully teasing. Harry watched, a rare flicker of amusement crossing his face. She was… something else.

Then, with a wicked grin, she grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the couch.

"Anna..."

"No arguments!"

And just like that, Harry was standing in her living room, swaying awkwardly while she danced in circles around him. He laughed genuinely, helplessly for the first time in weeks.

The music slowed down. Her hand rested on his shoulder. His hand was still in hers.

They stood there, close too close.

Anna looked up at him. "See? You can smile."

Harry looked away. "Don't get used to it."

She stepped closer. "What if I want to?"

Their breaths mixed. Harry's heart thudded. And then, without warning, Anna leaned in and kissed him.

It was soft. Warm. And for a second, Harry let himself feel it the connection, the comfort, the chaos.

But then something snapped.

He pulled away, eyes wide, as if waking from a dream. Without a word, he stepped back, grabbed his hoodie from the couch, and left.

Anna stood frozen in her living room, confused and hurt.

Harry didn't turn back once.

To Be Continued…