Chương 4: 30 Minutes to the Show

08: 12 a. m. We walked out the front door, backpacks on our shoulders, like we were going for a casual stroll. We walked three blocks, entered the empty park, where the trees swayed like silent witnesses. Hana put an earbud in my ear. — Want to press the button or should I? I took the phone. — Together. We both placed our fingers on the button. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. — Three… two… one… The explosion was beautiful.

More beautiful than any fireworks. An orange fireball that swallowed the entire house in seconds, as if hell had opened its mouth to devour my past. The shockwave knocked down trees 200 meters away, and I felt the ground tremble like my laughter. Hana screamed with joy, jumping into my arms. — That was beautiful, Satori-kun! But that was just the appetizer! She kissed me, tongue of strawberry and blood, sweeter than any revenge. — Monday we have class. We'll be on time.

And no one will ever suspect the two perfect students who miraculously survived the "accident." We walked away, hand in hand, laughing until our stomachs hurt. Because there was no more lonely Satori. There was the Smile Duo. And the next show would be at school. With a full audience.