Between Us

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.

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.

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."