Outside in the hallway, the noise level swelled as students flooded toward the exit. Passing by, the air carried a bouquet of natural scents accumulated throughout the day. Among the five students, Kalla walked beside Derro, matching strides.

"Yo Kalla!" Jai's voice rose above the murmurs of conversations. The sound halted the two students mid-stride, their bodies turning with contrasting reactions. Kalla's face shifted to confusion while Derro's features kept themselves in a mask of neutrality, his eyes calculating beneath hooded lids. "What time do you want to meet up for tonight?"

The question triggered a visible cascade of emotions across Kalla's face, confusion turning into realization before panic. Her posture recalibrated as she mentally reorganized her plans.

"Oh shit, I forgot about that," she said, turning to Derro with apologetic eyes, her shoulders rising in a barely defensive posture. "I'm so sorry, I just remembered, I gotta escort Jai around the city tonight."

Derro replied calmly, his lips forming a smile that never reached his eyes, retaining their calculating chill. "Don't sweat it. I'm just glad I wasn't the one chosen to babysit."

Laughing at his own joke, Kalla responded by punching his arm with a dull thud. Wiping his imaginary tear for exaggerated effect, Derro began walking away.

"We'll go out tomorrow night, okay?" he called back, raising his right hand as a goodbye.

Over his left shoulder, he darted a glance at Jai—brief but concentrated with such intensity that it created an almost physical discomfort, like a cold finger tracing Jai's spine.

Yeesh, that was a bit much. Derro seems to be a bit possessive. I hope to works out between them, but still.

Kalla broke the tension, "Meet me at my dorm room in 15 minutes. Don't be late." Her instructions clear and non-negotiable.

"You got it!" Jai responded enthusiastically, setting aside the unease from Derro's hostile gaze.

This is it! Kaiden City, here I come!

Dorms are customizable, with sterile walls and standard-issue furniture creating a blank canvas meant for personal expression. But with nothing to return to, Jai used his fifteen minutes to grab a snack. The space echoed with the absence of students; once again, only Nera was there to eat. Her presence was a repeated pattern, adhering to her routine of post-class meals.

Jai selected a ripe apple from a pyramid of stacked fruit, its skin a perfect red. Taking a big bite, a satisfying crunch released a burst of sweet juice with each deliberate chew. To kill time, he paused at Nera's table to chat. Her plate was full with pancakes stacked in a golden-brown tower, dripping with syrup that pooled at the edges. An omelet oozing rich yellow cheese, perfect hashbrowns, sausages, toast, and a large glass of milk. She inhaled her breakfast, stuffing her mouth with as much food as possible.

"What's up Nera? Quite the impressive plate you got there," Jai commented, sliding into the seat opposite her.

She paused only during her brief response, her jaw still working continuously. "I've got an appetite, so what? You got a problem with that?"

"Not at all. I like a girl who can be themselves."

Her chewing slowed, a flush spreading across her cheeks as she absently twirled a strand of hair around her pointer finger.

With her attention fully captured, Jai continued, "So... you got any plans for tonight?"

"Plans? Uh, just the gym. There's one in the Sigma Sector that I prefer over our own," she responded, her typical speech pattern full of unusual hesitation.

Pull yourself together Nera! You've never had these problems before, so why now?

"Really?! You've gotta let me tag along sometime."

Nera took a deep breath, forcing her features back into their fox-like composure. "I don't see why not."

"Awesome! Sounds like a plan," Jai said, excited for the future. His eyes flickered to the clock mounted on the wall, its second hand sweeping to his 10-minute mark. "Looks like I'm out of time. I gotta meet up with Kalla for tonight, so ill catch you later, Nera. Enjoy the meal."

Jai tossed the apple core in a perfect arc into the trash can before bolting from the cafeteria. In his wake, Nera's facade crumbled, her controlled demeanor dissolving into a fluster.

Arriving at Kalla's door with seconds to spare, Jai sat and leaned against the cool wall, feeling the subtle vibrations as Kalla moved about her dorm. Inside, her room was a textile explosion of garments, draped across every available surface as she assessed each outfit.

"Wait a minute, can we wear different clothes when we go out?" Jai asked, his voice slightly muffled by the door.

"Of course, I wouldn't be caught dead going out in these uniforms."

"Ha! You said it! These clothes are waaaay too tight and just not my style." Jai said, standing back up off the wall.

"Oh, that's right! You don't have any clothes yet." The door swung inward, revealing Kalla. "Looks like we're going clothes shopping then."

Dressed in a green dress that clung to her form and was complemented by heels that made her taller than Jai. Her gold earrings caught the corridor lighting in flashes. Her makeup was more heavily applied, each element enhancing her aesthetic.

"Alright, let's go."

She walked past Jai, leaving a trail of floral perfume that marked her path. Momentarily speechless, Jai finally followed as they headed the up to the Transport room.

"Aren't you supposed to say something like, I dunno, 'How do I look?', or something like that?" Jai asked, feeling something was missing.

Kalla halted, turning her head to face Jai. "I know I look good, and that's all that matters. You, on the other hand, need a serious wardrobe change."

Jai gulped, mentally agreeing completely. "Well then, let's get a move on, shall we?"

The transport room shook from identical shuttles, each shaped like a trapezoidal prism awaiting deployment. Glass doors and windows revealed a minimalist interior, designed for functionality rather than comfort. The automated vehicles stood ready for students to provide coordinates of their choosing. Kalla and Jai approached one, motion sensors triggering the doors to slide apart before sealing them tightly inside.

"Since you're new, let's start with Quadrant 1. So which sector do you want to visit?" Kalla asked, her fingers hovering over the input panel.

"You seem to be the expert here. Which one would be best for clothes shopping?"

"Well, if I had to choose... it would definitely be the Pi Sector in Quadrant 3, but I suppose the Epsilon Sector will work."

"Perfect, it's decided. Let's go there."

Kalla's fingers danced across the screen, typing in coordinates. The shuttle responded immediately, systems engaging with a barely noticable vibration as they detached from the docking bay. They ascended slowly out of the school, with the D.O.M.E.'s architecture being revealed as they gained altitude. Jai pressed his face against the window, fogging it with his exhaled breath.

"Genius! Look at how large our school is!" Jai, barely containing his excitement, looked to Kalla who was sitting patiently. "How does it work?"

"Good question. There are things called Omni Propulsors placed on the bottom of the shuttle. They repel anything and everything, making levitation possible. That's when the jets come in for steering. These vehicles are called Omni Propulsor Pods, or OPPs for short. Right now we're in the shuttle model, but there are tons of other types out there."

"Amazing! I hope I get to see more!"

The OPP maintained a precise hover above Quadrant 1, beginning its descent into a Border Alley. Designated boundary zones between sectors, Border Alleys are usually vacant and perfect for landing. The trip took around ten minutes, and now the shuttle was landing, stabilizing as it touched down.

Jai steps out, taking it all in. Kaiden City, I have arrived!

"The City of Change", its name a reflection of its dramatic cultural and environmental differences throughout its sectors. Consisting of four quadrants, each subdivided into six sectors, labeled with letters of the Greek alphabet. Each zone maintained distinct cultural identities, architectural principles, and social structures, creating a mixing pot of life.

Kaiden City Map -

Jai's feet dug into the powdery soil, a sign of an absence of plant life. Kalla stepped out behind him as the shuttle doors sealed themselves and ascended back into the swarm of cars. With each step towards the Epsilon Sector, clouds of dirt displaced around their feet. Patches of struggling grass punctuated the ground, reaching toward unreliable sources of light. Finally, they reached an alley into the Epsilon Sector.

Coming out the other end, the culture shock was immediate and overwhelming. A technological utopia stuffed into an avenue dedicated to innovation. Colossal holograms projected advertisements on the ledges of skyscrapers. OPPs are navigating through the piercing scrapers, high above the pedestrian level, like a blanket. Each structure incorporating materials and designs that only the top engineers would dare to create. Robotic vendors sat outside buildings, chanting sales pitches on all new inventions. Their voices all competing for attention in the crowded marketplace.

"Genius!" Jai exclaimed, bursting forth to engage with the robots. Poking at their surfaces, his inadvertent contact with a sensor triggered an alarm, making Kalla pull him back into the anonymity of the crowd. Despite their Savior Student status, protocol dictated maintaining low visibility in the city. They resumed their goal of locating an appropriate clothing outlet.

Only one establishment offered clothing merchandise—the Super Store. Navigating through the moving crowd, Kalla and Jai squeezed inside. Pop music established the atmosphere at a low volume. The customer count was small, a nice change of pace from the chaos outside. Scanning through the merchandise displays, Kalla noted a man whose attire indicated significant wealth. The store's use of space was maximized with efficient rack arrangements. Leaving self-checkout registers along the right wall, while surveillance ran 24/7 at each corner.

Kalla grabbed a shirt, analyzing the material between her fingertips. "Not a bad spot from the feel of it. You should be able to find a decent pair of clothes here."

They separated to explore the sections since their clothing preferences were vastly different. Jai gravitated toward functional comfort, while Kalla selected items based on presentation. After thirty minutes of independent shopping, they regrouped to compare their findings. Jai's picks consisted of sweatpants, shirts, and sneakers, while Kalla had assembled an array of dresses and expensive accessories.

At checkout, they scanned each item, with the total reaching a substantial sum of 1,999,999.99 credits.

Jai stared at the figure in disbelief. "2 million credits!? That's all my money for the month! What the hell? Do you even have that much?"

"Nope... but he does." She whispered, nodding to the previously observed man.

Kalla's voice carried mischief, "You think I go out like this for just myself? Check this out."

She changed the way she presented herself, adjusting her hair and undoing the top button of her dress to reveal her cleavage. Her entire demeanor shifted to project deliberate sensuality—a predator ready to catch its prey.

"Oh no! It overdid it again. I don't think I can pay for all these clothes." Kalla projected her voice to reach her target. "Guess I'll have to put some back..."

The man directed his attention to Kalla, visually analyzing her before approaching after a brief risk-reward calculation. "Not to worry little lady, a beaut like you shouldn't have to pay a dime. I'll cover the payment, sound good?"

"That sounds fantastic, mister! Thank you so much! You're a lifesaver!"

Kalla initiated physical contact to seal the deal, pressing her boobs against his chest with a big hug. His face flushed bright red, keeping him from thinking rationally. After maintaining contact for the perfect duration, Kalla disengaged as the man paid for their items.

"Easy as pie," Kalla whispered as they grabbed their things.

The man proceeded toward the exit, with Kalla and Jai following behind at a distance.

"How did you know he had money?" Jai inquired.

"Look at his outfit, he's definitely from the Alpha Sector. They're known to almost always be wealthy."

"Even so, it feels wrong. Is there no other way to pay him back?"

"Quit being a people pleaser Jai, we just got all this for free. This was a huge success!"

Just as the man exited the store, a thief snatched his items, "Shit! You damn Beta Bandit! Get the hell back here!"

Jai's gaze met Kalla's with renewed purpose. "Looks like we can pay him back. Let's go, Kalla!"

In pursuit of the perpetrator, Jai ran off while Kalla hesitated momentarily from her onflicting priorities. Acknowledging her responsibility for Jai's safety, she gave in, handing their items to the man. She hastly instructed him to await their return at the nearby Circuit Center. With reluctance transforming into determination, she followed Jai into the crowd.

The thief attempted to use the crowd as camouflage, but Jai kept his sights on him with unwavering focus.

As a student...No! As a Savior in training, I will not allow this guy to get away!