The city never looked the same twice.

Nyvera had learned that after spending years slipping through generations that did not belong to her. Some worlds glowed beneath floating lanterns that drifted endlessly through the sky like wandering stars.

Some carried the scent of rain and burning metal. Others were quiet enough that she could hear the sound of history breathing beneath her feet.

Every timeline had its own heartbeat.

And at that moment she hated this one already.

A cold breeze brushed against her face as she stood beneath towering buildings of glass and steel. Lights reflected from every direction, dancing across windows high above her. Strange screens moved on walls and buildings, displaying colors and words she had yet to understand.

People walked past her without a second glance.

Fast.

Busy.

Uninterested. The city felt alive. Too alive. Nyvera narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Her expression twisted with irritation.

"Seriously...?"

Her shoulders dropped dramatically.

"Again?"

She let out a frustrated groan before kicking a tiny pebble across the pavement.

"Ughhh..."

she muttered inside her head, dragging her feet as she walked forward.

"I hate the last generation. Geez, they wouldn't even let me finish my work!"

The memory alone annoyed her.

Everything had been going according to plan. Well- Almost according to plan.

Until people started chasing her. And then there was yelling. More yelling.

Then fire.

Then running.

Then somehow-

An exploding cart.

She still wasn't sure whose fault that part was.

"...Probably theirs,"

she whispered to herself.

A few pedestrians glanced at her before quickly continuing on their way.

Nyvera looked away awkwardly.

"...What are they staring at?"

She adjusted the sleeves of her oversized coat and continued walking.

Though she looked around eighteen years old, appearances had always been a dangerous thing when it came to Nyvera. Time had a strange relationship with her.

Very strange. Because while others grew older- Nyvera simply... continued.

Generation after generation. Year after year. She remained the same. As if time itself had forgotten her name. And honestly? She found it unfair.

Very unfair. A long sigh escaped her lips.

"Haaa..."

she breathed.

Her shoulders slumped.

"I'm so-so-so bored."

She stretched both arms above her head dramatically while looking at the night sky. The stars here looked different too. Smaller. Farther away. Or maybe she was just imagining things. Nyvera spun around slowly while observing the city around her.

Bright lights. Crowded streets. Tiny cafés. Shops lined across sidewalks.

Music playing somewhere in the distance. People are laughing. Talking.

Living. But somehow- None of it felt interesting.

"I don't see anything that can make my boredom disappear..."

She puffed out her cheeks and lightly pressed both palms against her face.

Squish.

Squish.

Squish.

Her expression flattened. Still bored.

She kept walking. One step. Two steps. Three- Bump. Nyvera blinked.

"...Huh?"

She looked up. Someone had walked directly into her. Or- No. She had walked into someone. The person standing in front of her was taller than her by quite a bit. A few books had slipped from his hands and scattered across the ground.

Silence. Nyvera stared. The stranger stared back. For some reason- Everything suddenly felt quieter. The sounds around them seemed distant. The passing cars. The conversations.

The city lights. Even the wind. She wasn't sure why.

But for one strange second- Her chest tightened. Not painfully.

Just...

Strangely.

As if somewhere deep inside her mind, something old had suddenly awakened. Something forgotten. Something impossible.

The boy frowned slightly.

"...You're staring."

Nyvera blinked.

"...You're talking."

The boy raised an eyebrow.

"...I would hope so."

"...Right."

"..."

"..."

"...You were the one walking without looking."

"...Excuse me?!"

Nyvera immediately pointed at herself.

"Me?!"

The boy folded his arms.

"You walked into me."

"I absolutely did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I was observing my surroundings."

"You walked into a human being."

"Details."

For a moment– He simply stared at her. Then suddenly— He laughed. Just once. Small. Quiet.

But enough for Nyvera's eyes to widen.

Because she wasn't looking at him anymore. She was staring at the strange feeling inside her chest. And for the first time since arriving in this generation— Nyvera wasn't bored anymore. Not even a little.

Nyvera wasn't bored anymore. Not even a little. Actually- She was confused. Very confused. Because for some ridiculous reason, her chest still felt strange.

Not painful.

Not scary.

Just...

Weird.

Suspiciously weird.

Nyvera narrowed her eyes at the boy standing in front of her as if she had suddenly discovered some ancient mystery hidden beneath his skin.

The boy stared back.

"...Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

Nyvera blinked.

"Hm?"

"You look like you're trying to solve a crime."

"I'm observing."

"...Observing what exactly?"

Nyvera stared harder.

"...I haven't figured it out yet."

"...That's concerning."

Silence.

"..."

"..."

"...You're still doing it."

"Oh."

Nyvera immediately looked away.

Right.

Normal people probably didn't stare at strangers like they were ancient artifacts. She cleared her throat awkwardly. Very awkwardly.

Then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right - the books!"

Both of them looked down. The books still lay scattered on the ground. The boy immediately crouched down and grabbed one.

Then another.

Then another.

She paused.

Slowly looked at the cover.

"Introduction to Human Psychology."

Her eyebrow lifted.

Human?

Psychology?

She looked at him.

Then at the book.

Then back at him.

"...You're studying humans?"

The boy stared at her.

"...I am human."

"...Oh."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...That came out wrong."

"Very wrong."

The boy quickly shoved the books back into his arms.

"Hehe."

"Hehe isn't an apology."

She grinned innocently.

The boy sighed.

Then

Unexpectedly

He smiled.

Not fully.

Just a tiny smile.

Nyvera froze.

Again.

There was that strange feeling.

Thump.

She frowned at herself.

Stop doing that.

The boy adjusted the books in his hands.

"I'm Califfer, by the way."

Nyvera blinked.

Califfer.

For some reason, the name felt soft.

Like hearing music through a closed window.

She stared for a few seconds.

"...Nyvera."

He nodded.

"Nice to meet you."

"...Mhm."

"...That's it?"

"Hm?"

"Usually people say 'nice to meet you too.'"

Nyvera looked horrified.

"...WAIT THERE ARE RULES?!"

Califfer looked confused.

"What?"

"There are greeting rules?!"

"No—"

"How many?!"

"Nyvera—"

"I DIDN'T STUDY FOR THIS."

Califfer stared.

Then laughed.

Actually laughed this time.

Nyvera looked offended.

"Why are you making noises?!"

"I'm laughing!"

"At me?!"

"Maybe a little."

Nyvera dramatically placed a hand over her chest.

"I have been betrayed."

"You met me three minutes ago."

"Exactly."

...----------------...

About twenty minutes later… Nyvera discovered something. Califfer was easy to talk to. Very easy. Which was strange. Most people she'd met throughout different generations were difficult.

Some were suspicious.

Some were loud.

Some tried chasing her with sticks.

Long story. A very long story.

But Califfer simply walked beside her naturally, like they had known each other longer than a few minutes.

"So..."

Califfer glanced at her.

"You said you've never been in this city before?"

Nyvera immediately nodded.

"Mhm."

"Where are you from?"

Nyvera almost answered honestly.

"Several timelines away."

“…”

No.

Bad idea.

Very bad idea.

"My home is..."

she looked around desperately.

"...far."

Califfer blinked.

"Far?"

"Very far."

"How far?"

Nyvera stared into space.

"...Extremely far."

"...That explains absolutely nothing."

"Good."

"..."

"..."

"...You're weird."

Nyvera gasped dramatically.

"Excuse me?!"

"I just met you and somehow you already act like a lost cat."

"A LOST CAT?!"

"Yes."

"I refuse this accusation."

Califfer grinned.

"You've been following me since we started walking."

"..."

"..."

"...That's unrelated."

...----------------...

Over the next hour— Califfer showed her around the city. Nyvera saw cafés filled with warm lights.

Small stores.

Street performers.

Groups of students laughing loudly. There were glowing signs hanging above buildings. Music played from distant shops. The city felt different at night.

Softer.

Warmer.

Alive.

At one point, they passed a food stand. Nyvera suddenly stopped walking. Califfer took three more steps before realizing she wasn't beside him anymore.

"...Nyvera?"

No answer.

"...Nyvera?"

He turned around.

Nyvera was staring at skewered street food with the intensity of someone witnessing magic.

"...Nyvera."

"..."

"...Nyvera."

"..."

"...NYVERA."

She pointed dramatically.

"What is THAT?”

Califfer stared.

"...Fish balls."

Nyvera slowly looked at him.

"...Fish."

"Yes."

"...Balls."

"Yes."

"...Fish balls."

"Yes."

"..."

"..."

"...Humans are terrifying."

"What?!"

Five minutes later—

Nyvera was eating five sticks.

"THIS IS AMAZING."

Califfer stared.

"...You literally called it terrifying."

She pointed at him with a fish ball stick.

"I judged too quickly."

...----------------...

Hours passed without Nyvera realizing it. For someone who usually wandered timelines alone - Time moved strangely tonight.

Too fast.

Before she noticed - The sky had darkened completely. The streets became quieter.

Califfer looked at the sky.

"...It's getting late."

Nyvera blinked.

“Late?, Already?”

"Hm?"

Califfer adjusted his bag.

"I should go."

"Oh."

Something about that tiny word felt strange leaving her mouth.

Califfer smiled lightly.

"It was nice meeting you today."

Nyvera stared.

"...You're leaving?"

"...I mean..."

He laughed awkwardly.

"I do have things to do."

"Oh."

Silence.

"..."

"..."

"...Okay then."

Califfer looked at her.

"Are you okay getting back?"

"...Probably."

"Probably?"

"...I said probably with confidence."

"That isn't confidence."

Nyvera crossed her arms.

"I'll survive."

Califfer smiled.

"See you around, Nyvera."

Then he waved.

And walked away.

Nyvera stood there.

Watching him disappear little by little through the crowd.

Then.

She narrowed her eyes.

"..."

"...Nope."

Five seconds later.

She was secretly following him.

"...This isn't weird."

Very weird.

"...I'm just observing."

Still weird.

"...Professional observation."

...----------------...

After several minutes— Nyvera followed Califfer into another part of the city. The buildings became smaller.

Older.

The bright lights disappeared. Then she saw him enter a small restaurant.

Nyvera peeked through the window.

"Huh?"

Califfer had put on an apron.

"...A part-time job?"

She blinked.

For hours— She watched from outside. And immediately discovered something.

Califfer was ridiculously busy.

"Table seven!"

"Coming!"

"Califfer! Drinks!"

"Coming!"

"Califfer!"

"Coming!"

"Califfer!"

"...I only have two hands!"

Nyvera snorted.

But slowly— Her smile faded. Because she noticed something. People blamed him for things he didn't do. A worker dropped plates. Someone blamed Califfer. A customer complained impatiently.

His manager sighed loudly.

"Be faster."

"Sorry."

Someone bumped into him.

"Watch where you're going."

"Sorry."

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Nyvera frowned.

“Why was he apologizing so much?”

Her fingers tightened slightly. She wanted to go inside. Wanted to yell.

Wanted to say—

"HE DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING!"

But— She couldn't.

Time travelers weren't supposed to interfere.

That was rule one.

Changing someone's life too early could damage timelines. So she stayed where she was.

Watching.

Hours later— Califfer finally left work.

He looked tired.

Really tired.

But he still smiled at people who walked by.

"...Dummy,"

Nyvera muttered.

She followed again.

This time quieter.

Eventually he reached a small house. The lights inside were still on. Califfer entered. Nyvera climbed onto a nearby wall.

Yes. A wall.

Because she had absolutely no shame. She peeked through a window. Inside— His parents were talking. Or more accurately— Complaining.

"You're late."

"Sorry."

"Did you get paid?"

"Mhm."

"And your grades?"

"I'm trying."

Nyvera frowned.

Their voices weren't kind. Not warm. Not like family.

Califfer simply lowered his head quietly.

"...Sorry."

Again.

Sorry.

Always sorry.

Nyvera looked down.

Her expression slowly changed.

Because suddenly— She remembered the last generation. The person she failed. The person she couldn't save. The reason she jumped timelines again.

Maybe...

Maybe this was why she came here. Maybe time wasn't random. Maybe there was a reason. Her eyes slowly lifted toward the house. Toward the boy who smiled even when he looked exhausted. Toward the boy who apologized too much. Toward the boy who laughed at her fish ball panic.

Nyvera stared quietly.

Then smiled.

A very suspicious smile. The kind of smile that usually led to trouble.

"Oh..."

She jumped down from the wall.

"...I choose you."

Silence.

Then— Nyvera pointed dramatically toward the sky.

"Califfer shall be my redemption!"

A cat nearby hissed at her.

She looked offended.

"...No one asked you."

Califfer had a problem. A very serious problem. Actually–

No.

Correction.

Califfer had a Nyvera problem. Because somehow, somehow… Nyvera had started appearing everywhere. And he meant everywhere.

Monday morning.

Califfer walked quietly through the streets while carrying his bag and reading through notes.

Normal.

Peaceful.

Quiet.

Then–

"GOOD MORNING, CALIFFERRRR!"

Califfer nearly dropped his soul.

He jumped. Actually jumped.

His notes flew out of his hands.

"AHH—!"

Nyvera suddenly appeared beside him, grinning like she had committed a crime.

Califfer slowly looked at her.

"Where did you come from?"

Nyvera blinked innocently.

"The sky."

"The sky?."

"Mhm."

He looked upward.

Then looked back at her.

"...There are buildings."

"Mhm."

"..."

"...You're lying."

Nyvera dramatically gasped.

"I would never."

"Yesterday you told me fish could fly."

"They might."

"They cannot."

"We don't know their dreams."

Califfer sighed.

Too tired.

Far too tired.

Over the past few days, Nyvera somehow became part of his daily life. No one knew how. Not even Califfer.

One day she'd appear beside him at lunch. Another day she'd somehow be waiting outside his job.

Another day— She had somehow been sitting outside his house eating bread. He still hadn't figured out how.

And honestly?

He was beginning to fear asking questions. Because Nyvera never gave normal answers.

Never. Today was different though.

Because today—

Califfer froze.

"...Wait."

Nyvera smiled.

"Hm?"

"...Why are you wearing our school uniform?"

Silence.

Nyvera smiled wider.

"...Surprise?"

Califfer stared.

No expression.

Absolutely none.

"...No."

"...No?"

"...No."

Nyvera dramatically pointed at herself.

"I transferred!"

"...YOU WHAT?!"

Several students turned around.

Califfer immediately covered his face.

"...Why are you yelling?!"

"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"

Nyvera proudly crossed her arms.

"I felt like learning."

"...You."

"...Learning."

"Mhm."

"...I don't believe you."

Nyvera looked offended.

"That hurts."

"It wasn't meant to."

Apparently, Somehow— Nyvera had actually transferred. Califfer had spent the entire walk staring at her suspiciously. Which only made Nyvera grin more. Walking through the gates, students surrounded the courtyard.

Groups talked. Some laughed. Some rushed toward classrooms. Others sat under trees.

Then—

"HEY CALIFFER!"

Califfer froze slightly.

A tall boy with messy brown hair waved dramatically while running toward them. Beside him was a girl carrying books.

"You're actually early for once!" he laughed.

Califfer sighed.

"...Morning, Riven."

Riven grinned.

Then looked toward Nyvera.

"...OHHHHHHHHHH."

Califfer blinked.

"...Why are you making that face?"

Riven pointed dramatically.

"WHO."

"...Who?"

"The girl beside you!"

Nyvera smiled brightly.

"I'm Nyvera."

Riven stared. Then looked at Califfer. Then Nyvera. Then Califfer again. Then suddenly grabbed Califfer's shoulders.

"YOU ADDED A FRIEND?! AND DIDN'T TELL US!!"

"...Get off me."

A girl beside them sighed.

"Ignore him."

She adjusted her glasses and smiled at Nyvera.

"I'm Elira."

Nyvera waved happily.

"Hello!"

Riven wiped fake tears.

"Our Califfer is growing up..."

"...Riven."

"He talks to people now..."

"...Riven."

"He even has a girl—"

Califfer kicked him.

"OW—"

“What was that for?”

witch califfer just simply said

“it was for you to shut up”

Class began.

Unfortunately for Califfer— Nyvera sat beside him. Unfortunately for the teacher— Nyvera had questions. Far too many questions.

"...Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Why are numbers like that?"

The teacher blinked.

"...Excuse me?"

"Like who decided that two is two?"

Silence.

The teacher stared.

Califfer slowly lowered his head onto his desk whispering her name.

"Nyvera..."

just for Nyvera to ignore his response and furthermore raise her hand again.

"And who invented homework?"

Riven whispered:

"Califfer..."

"Your friend is scary."

"I KNOW."

Lunch arrived. Califfer sat quietly while eating. Across from him— Nyvera stared. Very intensely.

"...Why are you staring?"

"...You chew slowly."

"...What?"

"You chew slowly."

"...How do you even notice these things?"

Nyvera grinned.

"Observation."

Elira laughed. Riven looked between them suspiciously. Then— Three students walked over. Their smiles weren't friendly. One stepped forward.

"Califfer."

The air shifted. Califfer's expression immediately changed. Slightly smaller. Quieter. Nyvera noticed. Of course she noticed.

The boy smirked.

"Doing homework for people again?"

"...No."

"Really?"

Another laughed.

"Didn't think someone like you had friends."

Califfer lowered his eyes.

"..."

Nyvera stared.

Then stared harder.

Then looked at Elira.

"...Question."

Elira blinked.

"Hm?"

"...Am I allowed to throw hands?"

"WHAT?!"

"No!"

Riven almost choked. Nyvera stood up anyway. The boys blinked. One laughed.

"And who are y—"

"Excuse me."

Nyvera smiled.

Dangerously.

"I've been sitting here peacefully eating lunch."

Smile.

"And now three background characters suddenly appeared."

Smile.

"...Very rude."

"...Background characters?"

"You heard me."

Riven slowly covered his mouth.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

One boy frowned.

"What did you say?"

Nyvera tilted her head.

"Do you need subtitles?"

Elira looked away. Her shoulders were shaking. Riven was dying silently. Califfer stared. Completely frozen.

Nyvera crossed her arms.

"If your hobby is bothering people, maybe find a new one."

One boy scoffed.

"Tch."

Eventually they walked away.

Muttering angrily.

Silence.

Then— Riven exploded.

"BACKGROUND CHARACTERS?!"

Elira burst out laughing. Califfer blinked.

Then looked at Nyvera.

"...You didn't have to do that."

Nyvera looked confused.

"...Why not?"

"...Because..."

He paused.

Because honestly— No one had done that before. No one had stood in front of him. No one had looked angry for him.

Nyvera smiled softly.

Then immediately ruined the moment.

"Anyway—"

She leaned forward.

"Let's discuss something important."

Califfer blinked.

"...What."

Nyvera narrowed her eyes.

"...Why do you chew slowly?"

"...NYVERA."

Riven fell off his chair laughing.