Universe of Science
After one month...
Everything had become normal.
Just like nothing had happened.
Students were studying.
Professors were busy as usual.
Everything had returned to its place.
In the Classroom
Luna sat near the window, staring at the sky.
Her memories kept returning.
The events of those days...
Professor Luca.
Professor Nova.
Meow.
The Three Star Keys.
Luna (thinking):
"I don't know what to do..."
She was lost deep in thought.
Beside her, her friends were chatting.
Lucas: "Zoey, your hair looks pretty. What did you do this time?"
Zoey: "Why do you want to know?"
Lucas: "Because I like it."
Zoey: "I'll punch you."
Lucas quickly covered his face.
Mili: "Lucas is always hitting on Zoey."
James: "Yep."
Lucas: "Oh, who said that? The guy who already proposed?"
James: "W-What did you say? I think you really need a beating."
Lucas: "What did I say wrong? You guys are going to date anyway."
Mili: "Lucas, shut up."
Zoey: "Mili, so what's your plan? Are you going to date James?"
Mili immediately became shy.
Mili: "Zoey! You too?"
Zoey and Lucas both started teasing Mili and James.
Kai: "Guys, guys, what's happening?"
Lucas: "We're confirming the future."
Kai: "What future?"
Zoey: "James and Mili."
Kai: "Ohhh yes! I want to know too. Luna, you want to know, right?"
Luna remained lost in thought.
Kai: "Luna? Luna? Are you listening?"
Mili: "Luna?"
Luna: "Oh! Yeah. Did you call me?"
James: "We called you many times."
Luna: "Sorry. I was just thinking."
Kai: "You look worried. What happened this time?"
Luna looked down.
Luna: "Everything is normal now, just like nothing happened. But Professor Luca saved us... and Professor Nova died saving us too."
A pin-drop silence filled the room.
Kai: "Luna, don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."
Luna: "I know, but... I wasn't able to do anything."
Mili: "What are you saying? You were part of the reason we survived."
Zoey: "Yeah. Without you, I don't think we would have figured everything out."
James: "I know we always get trapped, but we always escape together. We always do."
Lucas: "And you're the reason we get free desserts."
Kai: "Yeah... wait, desserts?"
Lucas: "Yes! Luna's dad never takes money from us. He gives us free desserts. Do you know how much I love that?"
Zoey: "Oh really? Then I want to eat there too."
Everyone looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Just then, the professor entered the classroom.
Everyone focused.
The professor began explaining the connection between stars and universes.
He spoke about a famous Star Theory.
Luna listened carefully.
Then suddenly—
Stars...
The symbol...
Her mind started racing.
"I've seen it somewhere..."
She focused harder.
Then suddenly—
Luna: "Yeah! I got it!"
The whole classroom turned toward her.
Luna immediately hid her face.
Professor: "Luna, is anything wrong?"
Luna: "N-No, sir."
After class—
Mili: "What happened?"
Luna: "Let's meet in Kai's secret room."
Kai: "Oh yeah. Okay."
Kai's Secret Room
Everyone gathered.
Zoey looked around excitedly.
Zoey: "Wow! This is your secret room? It's really nice. I'm so happy I met you guys. It feels like we're spies or something."
Lucas: "Yes, Agent Zoey."
Zoey ignored him.
Mili: "My brother still does these childish things."
Kai: "What did you say? Where's your boyfriend?"
James: "Guys, I'm right here."
Kai: "Oh yeah, he is."
Mili: "Kai, shut up."
At that moment, Luna entered.
Mili: "Luna! See? They're teasing me again."
Luna: "Who is teasing my best friend?"
Then she smiled.
Luna: "But Mili... when are you officially announcing it?"
Mili: "You too?!"
Everyone laughed except Mili and James, who both turned red.
Kai: "So Luna, tell us."
Luna: "Right. Guys, do you remember the Three Star Keys?"
Everyone: "Yes."
Luna: "I finally remembered where I've seen that symbol before."
Kai: "Yeah?"
Luna: "My mother's laboratory."
Kai: "Wait... YES!"
James: "The place we unlocked before?"
Mili accidentally clapped at the same time as James.
Both became awkward.
Kai: "Wait a minute. We still have access to the school laboratory, right?"
Mili: "Of course."
Luna: "Why? What's the problem?"
James: "Let's talk later. Let's go."
Lucas: "Finally! Someone said it."
Zoey immediately stood up.
Luna: "You're really excited."
Zoey: "Am I? Oops..."
School Laboratory
When they arrived, Kai and Mili's mother was working there.
Kai's Mother: "Oh, Luna! How are you?"
Luna: "I'm great, Auntie. Nice to meet you again."
Kai's Mother: "Good. Kai isn't causing trouble for you, right?"
Luna: "Oh no."
Kai: "Mom!"
Mili: "Did you forget me, Mom?"
Mother: "Never, my daughter."
She hugged Mili.
Zoey: "Hello, Auntie. It's my first time meeting you."
Mother: "Hello. I've heard about you. You're such an intelligent child."
Lucas: "She is."
Mother: "Oh, Lucas."
James: "Hello, Auntie."
Mother: "James, you haven't visited our house in so long. Come sometime."
Kai: "He's busy, Mom."
James and Mili: "Kai!"
Mother: "What? Did something happen?"
Mili: "Nothing, Mom."
Then she quickly changed the subject.
Mili: "We just want to visit Professor Jasmine's lab."
Mother: "Luna, you can go there. You don't need permission."
Luna: "Thank you."
Professor Jasmine's Lab
Everyone spread out and started searching.
James and Lucas checked the equipment.
Mili and Zoey searched the lockers.
Luna quietly looked around.
She felt sad.
While everyone was searching the laboratory, Luna quietly looked around.
The room felt familiar.
At the same time, it made her sad.
Kai noticed and walked over to her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Kai broke the silence.
Kai: "Luna, where's Meow? I haven't seen him for days."
Luna: "Oh, Meow?"
Kai: "Yeah."
Luna: "These days he's helping my father at the dessert shop."
Kai: "Helping?"
Luna: "Yep. Apparently he loves cooking."
Kai: "A robot that loves cooking?"
Luna: "That's exactly what I said."
Kai laughed.
Kai: "That's weird."
Luna: "Very weird."
Kai: "How is he even helping?"
Luna: "He's actually pretty good at it."
Kai: "No way."
Luna: "He even learned how to decorate cakes."
Kai: "Okay, now that's terrifying."
Luna laughed for the first time that day.
Luna: "My father likes having him around."
Kai: "Meow is closer to your father than he is to us."
Luna: "Honestly? I think so."
Both laughed.
For a brief moment, Luna forgot about all the worries in her heart.
Then—
Lucas: "I GOT IT!"
Everyone rushed over.
Luna: "Where?"
Lucas: "Here!"
There was a strange box.
Luna carefully inserted all three Star Keys.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The room shook.
The box transformed.
A glowing universal door appeared.
Everyone stared in shock.
Luna slowly stepped inside.
Kai: "Luna! Are you okay?"
No response.
Kai: "Luna?!"
Still no response.
Kai: "I'm going in."
One by one, everyone followed.
Beyond the Door
The moment they entered—
Everyone froze.
Zoey: "That's why she didn't answer..."
Lucas: "This is amazing."
Mili: "It's like heaven."
James: "It's so relaxing."
Kai: "This is exactly what I wanted."
Luna: "Mom..."
Above them stretched an endless sky filled with stars.
Dream-like lights floated everywhere.
Hundreds of robots moved peacefully.
Advanced universe equipment filled the landscape.
It was beautiful.
Anyone who saw it would fall in love instantly.
Suddenly—
A voice echoed through the air.
Voice: "Welcome."
Luna froze.
Luna: "That voice..."
Tears appeared in her eyes.
Luna: "Mom."
A holographic recording appeared.
Professor Jasmine: "Hello, Luna. Are you the one here?"
"This is for you."
"My gift."
"It's beautiful, right?"
"You remember, don't you? The first time you came here, you loved this place."
"You told me you wanted stars."
"Look. Now there are stars everywhere."
"I hope you still love them."
"I love you, my daughter."
Luna couldn't stop her tears.
Luna: "Mom..."
The recording continued.
Professor Jasmine: "Luna, I need to tell you something."
"You are special."
"Or maybe I should say... this was my mistake."
"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner."
"This recording will only appear when the time is right."
"If you're seeing it now..."
"Then it means the time has come."
Everyone listened carefully.
Professor Jasmine: "Luna carries a fragment of the universe."
Everyone froze.
Professor Jasmine: "You are the child of two worlds."
"I came from another world."
"Your father came from another world."
"So you are unique."
"You have the ability to move between worlds."
"But there are people who want to use that power."
"They could destroy entire galaxies."
"So I sealed the fragment inside you."
"No one can use it."
"If I'm not there..."
"Tell your father."
The screen suddenly ended.
Luna: "What?!"
Luna: "Mom! Mom!"
But there was no answer.
Everyone quietly gathered around her.
Nobody knew what to say.
Then Luna noticed something written near the projector.
Project Details.
Team Members.
She read carefully.
Luna: "Five team members?"
Kai: "My mother said there were only four."
Mili: "What's the project name?"
Luna: "STRATHARE."
Zoey: "That's a great name."
Suddenly, Luna touched part of the projector.
Her memories exploded.
Professor Luca.
Professor Nova.
Headmaster Hendrix.
The laboratory.
The Chrono Core.
A hidden face.
A forgotten name.
Kai: "Luna? Luna?"
Luna: "I remember..."
Kai: "Take it slow."
Luna: "No... I can't..."
She grabbed her head.
Luna: "It hurts..."
James: "Luna!"
Luna: "The team members..."
Mili: "Who?"
Luna: "Professor Luca..."
"Professor Nova..."
"Headmaster Hendrix..."
James: "Headmaster?"
Kai: "Luna! Who's the last member?"
Luna's eyes widened.
She remembered.
She knew the name.
Luna: "The last member is Professor M—"
Everything went black.
Luna collapsed.
Kai: "LUNA!"
To Be Continued...