[Third Person's PoV]
Clark pinched the bridge of his nose as he massaged it slowly, his voice thoughtful as he asked, "I'm curious then... about this Gid you're talking about. The one who supposedly conquered the entire universe. Was there any sort of relationship between Krypton and Deviluke?"
Sol responded after a bit, his tone composed. "Yes, there was. From what historical data indicates, a non-aggression pact was formed between the two civilizations. Krypton and Deviluke were never allies in the traditional sense, but they weren't enemies either. As far as records show, they maintained a cold, but respectful distance."
Clark raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So Krypton didn't involve itself with Deviluke's conquest of the universe?"
"Correct," Sol confirmed. "The Council of Elders on Krypton had little interest in matters of galactic domination. Their focus remained firmly on the progression, preservation, and evolution of the Kryptonian race. Political expansion or universal control simply didn't align with their ideals."
Clark crossed his arms as Sol continued, his voice steady and precise.
"They didn't offer Gid any aid during his conquests, but they didn't oppose him either. Essentially, they opted for strict neutrality. King Gid acknowledged and accepted this stance. From his perspective, it was wiser to maintain peace with Krypton than to add them to his ever-growing list of adversaries. He already had enough enemies spread across countless star systems. As a result, he largely left the Andromeda Galaxy alone—the very galaxy where Krypton was located."
Clark gave a small nod, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Makes sense… Thank you, Sol." He paused, digesting the weight of the information. "What were the terms of this non-aggression pact, exactly?"
"If I were to list everything, we'd be here for a very long time," Sol said dryly, a trace of humor in his tone.
"Fast-forward it," Clark ordered, closing his eyes and rested against the bed, mentally preparing himself. "I'll keep up."
"As you wish," Sol said with a polite dip in tone. "Pulling from the Kryptonian Archive: the Non-Aggression Treaty between Deviluke and Krypton, ratified in the Galactic Year..."
Sol's voice accelerated, rapidly spitting out words in a high-speed blur as though someone had hit the fast-forward button on a remote. The sound was a continuous stream of compressed data, but Clark followed effortlessly. His glasses displayed a translucent HUD interface in front of his eyes, pages of the treaty scrolling at lightning speed.
His eyes darted side to side, moving at super speed as he absorbed the details.
To summarize, the treaty was technically a declaration of neutrality, but it offered mutual benefits. Under its terms, King Gid was strictly forbidden from meddling in the affairs of the Andromeda Galaxy. Whatever happened there—scientific development, governance, enforcement—was none of his business. Krypton, in turn, agreed to remain uninvolved in the politics and wars of Deviluke's expanding empire.
However, there was one key concession that Gid had negotiated for: access to the Phantom Zone.
In exchange for this access, Gid agreed to protect the Andromeda Galaxy, though it would not fall under his rule. It was a rare arrangement—Andromeda became the only galaxy not absorbed into his empire, yet it still benefited from the military shield of Deviluke. For Gid, the trade-off was worthwhile. Ensuring the Phantom Zone remained secure—and thus keeping its dangerous occupants contained—was a price he was willing to pay.
Dozens of clauses and addendums followed, detailing various protocols and contingencies, filling pages upon pages of meticulous legal language. By the end, Clark saw King Gid's signature etched beside those of the Kryptonian Elders.
Clark finally pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Talk about overcomplicated…"
He sighed, shifting his glasses back on "I suppose it makes sense why so many suitors are after Lala then. Marry her, and you don't just get prestige—you get a throne. You'd practically become King of the Universe overnight."
"Why not marry her yourself, Master Kal-El?" Sol suggested, almost giddy. "You could become the King of the Universe... and Krypton could truly rise again."
Clark blinked, then laughed. "Sol, are you perhaps malfunctioning? What in Rao's name makes you think I'd want to be a king or emperor? That's the last thing I'd ever want."
He folding his arms behind his head nonchalantly "I don't mind protecting her. That's the responsibility I took on the moment I decided to be a hero. But marrying her? That's a whole different matter entirely."
He smirked faintly. "Besides… there are still benefits for me even if I don't marry her."
"Oh?" Sol asked, now genuinely curious. "How so?"
"I'm protecting the daughter of the King of the Universe," Clark said, clearly amused. "That means he owes me a favor. And let me tell you—when someone with that much power owes you something, you will cash in one day. That kind of favor is bound to come with some serious perks."
"I see… Good call, Kal-El," Sol said approvingly. "Truly wise, Young Master."
Clark smiled to himself, staring at the ceiling. Slowly, however, his smile faded. His thoughts drifted to the events of the day—the chaos, the people he encountered, and especially... that little girl.
He closed his eyes and exhaled quietly. A weight pressed on his chest.
With a soft sigh, he stood up. He couldn't sit still. His feet carried him to the window, where he looked out at the stars blanketing the night sky.
Then, without another word, Clark flew off toward the Fortress of Solitude.
…
The Next day…
Clark and Momo stood side by side at their lockers, quietly putting away their books and preparing for the day ahead. The hallway was filled with the usual hum of early morning chatter and the clatter of locker doors—until Clark noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere.
He sensed someone standing unusually close to him.
Turning slightly, he caught sight of Komi. She stood stiffly just a few feet away, her wide eyes locked onto him. Her body trembled faintly, the subtle shivers barely noticeable unless one was paying close attention.
Clark raised an eyebrow.
Momo noticed the tension and looked up from her locker. Her brows furrowed at the sight of Komi's panicked expression. "Clark… What did you do to her?" she asked, arms crossing suspiciously. "She looks like she wants to murder you."
Komi's mouth opened, and she began to stammer out a string of panicked, breathy G's, unable to form coherent words.
Momo stepped forward abruptly and gave a deep, dramatic bow. "I sincerely apologize for whatever my brother did! He's a clueless idiot with zero understanding of social norms or boundaries. Whatever offense he's committed, please know he means well—sometimes."
Clark blinked at her. "Momo… what makes you automatically assume I did something wrong?"
She gestured to Komi with a flourish. "I mean… look at her! Clearly something happened."
Komi's eyes widened even further, and she started trembling more intensely.
Clark let out a sigh of exasperation and ran a hand through his hair. "No, you moron. She's just socially anxious and trying to say good morning. Right, Komi?"
Komi quickly nodded, her movements rapid and emphatic.
Clark chuckled and gave her a small wave. "Good morning to you too, Komi."
Momo's mouth dropped open as she stared between them. "Wait… are you serious right now?" she asked incredulously.
Komi's face lit up at Clark's greeting, her previously panicked expression replaced by a shy, glowing smile.
"Yeah," Clark said with a shrug. "Let me introduce you two. Momo, this is Komi, a friend I made recently. Komi, this is Momo, my little sister."
Momo let out an earsplitting, "WHAT?!" so loud it echoed through the hallway. Several students stopped what they were doing to look over, startled. Even Komi flinched in surprise.
Momo turned to Clark, her jaw practically unhinged. "You—! You have a friend?!" She grabbed her phone and sprinted away in a dramatic panic. "I need to call Grandma! RIGHT NOW."
Clark groaned and watched her go as her voice echoed down the hallway. "Grandma! You won't believe this! I was with Clark and he introduced me to this girl as his friend!"
From the phone, Seiko's voice blared, "WHAT?!"
Clark facepalmed. "Sorry about her… she's a nuisance"
Komi giggled softly, raising her hands in a gentle wave. Her smile was small and bashful, but sincere.
Clark finished closing his locker with a sigh. "Anyway… shall we head to class together?"
Komi's eyes sparkled at the suggestion. She'd never walked to class with a friend before—it was a brand new experience, and one she didn't want to miss. She nodded enthusiastically.
The two walked side by side through the halls, their matching heights and attractive features drawing glances from almost everyone they passed. It was a rare and striking sight—Komi, elegant and graceful; Clark, composed and confident. They looked like characters out of a manga panel.
Once they reached the classroom, they took their seats. Komi quickly opened her notebook and scribbled something on a page, then angled it toward Clark.
'Thank you.'
Clark smiled and replied softly, "No worries."
Haruna, sitting nearby, caught the exchange. Her eyes widened as she watched Clark smile. Her heart gave a little jump. 'That's weird…' she thought, staring down at her desk. 'He's never smiled like that before. Not to me, at least…'
As more students filtered in and took their seats, the teacher walked up to the front of the classroom and tapped the board for attention. "Alright, everyone, settle down. I have an announcement to make."
A chorus of whispers and murmurs filled the room.
"A new transfer student will be joining us today," the teacher said. "Come on in and introduce yourself."
More whispers erupted.
"A transfer student?"
"Isn't it too early in the year?"
"The semester just started…"
Clark blinked in disbelief, narrowing his eyes. 'Wait… no way. What the hell is she doing here?'
The door slid open, and a girl with bubblegum-pink hair and sparkling eyes stepped into the classroom. She wore the school uniform neatly, her bag slung casually over one shoulder.
Lala Satalin Deviluke had arrived.
Her beauty was breathtaking and otherworldly. The class fell dead silent. The boys stared in awe, some even forgetting how to breathe. Even the girls found themselves captivated.
"Hello everyone!" Lala said cheerfully, waving. "My name is Lala Satalin Deviluke!"
Her eyes scanned the room, searching for a familiar face but was having trouble finding it.
Clark sighed and adjusted his glasses upward slightly. Lala's eyes locked onto him immediately. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"And I'm Clark's fiancée!" she announced proudly.
"…"
The class fell into stunned silence again. Slowly, almost like a horror movie, every head in the room turned to look directly at Clark, their jaws dropping in unison.
Clark slouched in his seat, hand dragging down his face. His eyes were wide as he mouthed silently to himself:
"What the actual f—"
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