"Make sure she watches cartoons and doesn't touch anything strange," Mina whispered to Pipi as she put on her sneakers.
Pipi gave a little salute with her paw.
"I'll be back before dinner!" she said as she ran out the door, her backpack swinging behind her.
Downstairs, Aria sat on the couch next to Mr. Takane, holding a warm cup of tea. Her eyes were on the TV, but her mind was somewhere else.
"That talking tomato better not be real," she whispered as Mr. Takane changed the channel to wrestling.
Mina waved before closing the door.
Her shoes hit the road as she walked fast. She moved her lips quietly, saying math formulas for the big state test. Her heart was beating fast—not because she was scared, but because she was excited. After all the crazy things from last night—magic, secrets, and everything—she felt different. She wasn't the same girl from a few days ago.
Then—
Whoosh!
The same city bus passed her quickly. It was yellow and gray, blowing smoke in her face.
"No!" she groaned, bending over and holding her knees.
DING!
A red screen appeared in front of her face.
New Task:
Catch up to the Bus!
Rewards:
+10 Popularity Points
+5 Confidence
Unlock: *********
Time Limit: 60 seconds.
Mina's mouth dropped open. "You're joking, right?"
Lume appeared beside her in the air, holding a huge whistle covered in sparkles. He smiled like a cartoon coach.
"Your time starts… now!" he shouted and blew the whistle loudly.
TWEEEEET!
"Wait! Wait!" Mina yelled, but the red countdown had already started:
60… 59… 58…
"How can I catch a moving bus in sixty seconds?!" she cried.
Lume floated away slowly, tapping his pretend watch. "You better run! Time is ticking, little star!"
"Ugh, fine!" she said, fixing her backpack and starting to run.
Her sneakers hit the pavement hard as she ran, her hair flying behind her like a ribbon in the wind. Her lungs were burning. The bus was getting farther away.
40 seconds left.
She bit her lip. "Think, Mina. Be smart."
She saw small paths between buildings. A shortcut, maybe.
"Let's go!" she said and turned into a narrow alley.
It was tight and full of trash bins and boxes. She hit a clothesline by mistake. Someone shouted, "Hey, watch it!" as she bumped into a man carrying noodles.
"Sorry!" she yelled and kept going.
25 seconds.
She came out on the next street. The bus was still ahead, stopped at a red light.
"There!" she shouted and ran faster.
She took another alley, jumping over a sleeping cat and dodging a dripping pipe. Her breathing was fast and loud. Sweat ran down her face.
10 seconds.
The bus started to move again. Mina ran out of the alley and saw it turning onto Yorunaka Street.
"No! I can't lose now!" she shouted and ran with everything she had.
3… 2… 1…
Mina jumped in front of the bus—arms out, hair wild, eyes wide.
The bus stopped suddenly. The tires screamed on the road. The driver pulled the wheel hard, his mouth open in shock.
Mina stood still, breathing hard, her legs shaking. No one moved for a moment.
Then she smiled a little and waved.
The driver leaned out. "Girl, are you okay?! I almost hit you!"
"Sorry," she said, tired, tapping her card and walking onto the bus.
She passed the other riders who looked at her like she was in an action movie.
At the back, a boy with pink hair looked up. "Whoa. That was… so cool."
Mina gave a weak smile and sat down. Her head leaned on the window. Her chest moved up and down like waves.
DING!
A screen showed up again in front of her.
Quest Complete!
Rewards:
+10 Popularity Points
+5 Confidence
Points Earned: 45/100
Unlock Special Abilities at 100 Points.
Unlock: Loading.....
Lume popped up beside her, now wearing a silly party hat and playing a tiny trumpet.
TOOT-TOOT-TOOOOT!
Colorful paper fell from the air. Lume did a funny dance.
Mina glared at him. "You are the worst."
But as she saw her face in the window, smiling with confetti on her head, she laughed a little.
"Heh… that was actually kind of fun."
People on the bus kept staring as she laughed, still out of breath in her seat.
For a moment, she forgot how tired and sweaty she was. She felt something warm inside—a feeling like she was strong.
Not because she got points… but because, for once, she didn't give up.
She looked out the window and touched the ring on her finger. "One step closer. Soon, Semi Nishino will be mine."
—
At the same time, at Yorunaka High School…
The school yard was quiet. Only a few students were around, most of them studying for the big test.
Ren walked back and forth at the school gate, fixing his shirt. His sharp eyes watched everyone who passed.
"I'm sure she took the ring," he said to himself. "She was the last person I saw before it went missing."
John stood next to him, tall and serious, wearing dark glasses. His arms were crossed.
"You better be right this time," John said. "G-boy won't give you another chance." Sweat rolled down Ren's face.
Just then, the school bus stopped at the gate.
Mina got off.
Her hair was a little messy, her cheeks red, and her schoolbag hung off one shoulder.
Ren's eyes grew wide.
"That's her…"
He was about to point her out to John—
Then he saw it. The ring. It was glowing on her finger.
Ren froze. "What… the ring… it picked her?"
His mouth opened in shock.
John raised an eyebrow. "What did you say?"
Ren looked at John, then quickly looked back at Mina. She was walking to the building and didn't see them.
Ren cleared his throat.
"Nothing. I… I don't know that girl. Maybe she doesn't come to school on Saturdays."
John looked at him. "You know what this means. Your time is almost up."
Ren looked away.
But in his mind, he kept hearing one thing:
The ring chose her. But why?