The alley fell silent once more.
But something had changed.
Not outside—
inside them.
Arga held his lunch box.
Inside—
three glowing grains.
Pulsing.
Steady.
Alive.
Sinta exhaled slowly.
"'The first generation has awakened…'"
Her voice was quiet.
"…what does that even mean?"
Bimo stretched his legs, trying to shake off the tension.
"If it means I don't have to run like that again, I'm fine with it."
No one laughed.
Arga closed the box.
"…they weren't after the food."
Sinta turned toward him.
"…they were after us."
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Bimo blinked.
"…I really don't like that."
By the time they returned to school, night had fully settled.
Lights flickered across the yard.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Bu Rini approached them immediately.
"Where have you been?"
Her tone wasn't angry.
But it wasn't calm either.
Arga lifted the box slightly.
"We found this again."
She froze.
"You chased them?"
Sinta nodded, just a little.
"…a little."
Bu Rini closed her eyes briefly.
"You must never do that again."
Her words were firm.
But beneath them—
there was fear.
Pak Damar stepped forward and opened the box.
His expression changed instantly.
"This… isn't MBG."
Bu Rini moved closer.
Then she saw it.
The black card.
JUNK DOMINION
Her hand tightened.
"…so they've started moving again."
Sinta frowned.
"Who?"
This time—
Bu Rini didn't avoid the answer.
"…an organization that rejects balance."
Silence followed.
"They believe power should be forced," she continued.
"Not nurtured."
Bimo muttered under his breath,
"…that explains the smell."
Bu Rini turned to Arga.
"…your box."
He handed it over.
She opened it—
and froze.
Three grains.
Glowing.
Stable.
Her breathing slowed.
"…three already."
Arga stepped closer.
"You know what this is."
Bu Rini nodded.
"…yes."
She closed the box carefully.
Then looked at all three of them.
This time—
no hesitation.
"Listen carefully."
"The MBG program…"
"…is a selection system."
The words hung in the air.
"It identifies children whose bodies can absorb energy properly."
"It awakens that energy."
"And more importantly…"
"…it stabilizes it."
Sinta's voice dropped.
"…so we're not accidents."
"No."
Bu Rini shook her head.
"You're results."
Bimo swallowed.
"…that sounds worse."
Bu Rini stepped closer.
Her expression sharpened.
"From now on, you follow three rules."
No one moved.
No one spoke.
"First—"
"Never release power without intention."
"Second—"
"Control comes before strength."
"Third—"
Her gaze hardened.
"…never fight alone."
Silence answered her.
Arga nodded slowly.
"…we almost lost today."
"I know," she said.
"That's why you train."
They moved to the back field.
Empty.
Dark.
Quiet.
"Show me," Bu Rini said.
Arga stepped forward.
The energy rose within him—
but didn't burst.
It stayed.
Controlled.
He moved.
Fast—
but precise.
Then stopped.
Exactly where he intended.
Bu Rini gave a small nod.
"Good."
"Sinta."
She bent slightly—
focused—
then jumped.
High—
but this time she adjusted mid-air.
She landed smoothly.
Balanced.
"…better."
"Bimo."
He groaned quietly.
"…do I really have to run again?"
"Run."
He sighed—
then moved.
Fast—
but this time controlled.
Step by step—
he slowed.
Until—
he stopped.
Clean.
Perfect.
"…okay," he exhaled.
"…I like this version more."
Bu Rini crossed her arms.
"You see it now?"
Arga nodded.
"Our power responds."
Sinta added,
"…when we guide it."
Bimo gave a small grin.
"…and when we don't panic."
For the first time—
Bu Rini allowed a faint smile.
"Exactly."
But it didn't last.
Her expression shifted again.
Serious.
"But they…"
Her gaze moved to the black card.
"…don't follow those rules."
Silence returned.
"They force power."
"They break balance."
"And people…"
A pause.
"…don't always survive it."
The weight of that settled immediately.
Bimo looked down.
"…so that kid…"
Bu Rini didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Arga stepped forward.
"…then we stop them."
Sinta nodded.
"…together."
Bimo exhaled slowly.
"…yeah."
"…no running alone this time."
Bu Rini watched them carefully.
As if measuring something deeper.
Then she said quietly—
"…this is only the beginning."
Arga opened his lunch box again.
Three grains.
Pulsing.
Stronger now.
More stable.
Alive.
Bu Rini looked at it.
"…when it grows…"
"…so will you."
Arga closed it slowly.
His gaze steady.
No confusion.
No hesitation.
No fear.
"…then we'll be ready."
And for the first time—
they weren't just chosen.
They were preparing.