Modless

Yuki hadn’t seen Maya since that day at school, but her presence lingered in his mind like a shadow he couldn’t escape. How had she attended Genesis College without being enrolled? The question gnawed at him, but without answers, he buried it beneath the weight of his new life. Shinichi, Raina, and Tadashi had become his companions, easing some of his isolation, though he wasn’t sure if Shinichi could truly be called a friend.

Jun’s absence, however, was a different wound entirely. Each unanswered message and empty visit to the park deepened Yuki’s worry. The swings sat still, the benches unoccupied. Every morning, Yuki found himself scanning the horizon, hoping to catch Jun leaning casually against a swing or lost in thought. But the playground stayed empty, leaving Yuki with an unease he couldn’t shake.

“Hey, Yuki!” Raina’s voice snapped him back to the present. She grinned as she walked up beside him in the hallway, her tone teasing. “We’re having a rooftop party tonight at my place. Practically everyone’s going. You should come.”

He hesitated, but before he could come up with an excuse, Raina gave him a knowing look. “Uh-uh. No backing out. Trust me, you’ll have fun.”

Shinichi and Tadashi joined them, both chiming in their agreement. “She’s right,” Tadashi said. “You’ve gotta meet people outside of class, man.”

Under their combined insistence, Yuki relented. “Alright, I’ll go,” he said, a small, reluctant smile creeping onto his face.

The rooftop of Raina’s penthouse was dazzling. Perched high above the glowing skyline of Neo-Tokyo, it offered a breathtaking view of the city. Neon lights flickered across the chrome buildings, holographic ads floated in the air, and drones zipped between skyscrapers like mechanical fireflies.

Raina’s rooftop was just as vibrant. Soft, color-shifting LED lights lined the perimeter, and bots zipped between the partygoers, offering trays of glowing drinks and delicately crafted appetizers. The hum of music filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and conversation.

For the first time since arriving at Genesis, Yuki felt like he belonged. His classmates greeted him warmly, smiling and waving as he made his way through the crowd. The evening buzzed with laughter and lighthearted chatter, and Yuki found himself relaxing.

Tadashi nudged him at one point, gesturing toward Shinichi, who was making a fool of himself with ridiculous dance moves. Raina rolled her eyes, smirking as she watched. For a while, Yuki forgot about the weight of his worries. He was just a student, laughing with his friends and soaking in the joy of the moment.

As the night wore on, the atmosphere shifted. Someone dared Tadashi to show off his mods, and with a cocky grin, he complied. Sparks of electricity danced between his fingers, the flickering light casting eerie shadows across his face. The crowd cheered, and he waved the arcs away with a dramatic flourish.

Raina smirked and followed up with a display of acrobatics, twisting and flipping through the air with a grace that was nothing short of superhuman.

One by one, the others began showing off their abilities—their enhancements, the traits that set them apart.

Then it was Yuki’s turn.

The air grew still as the crowd turned to him, their expectant stares heavy on his shoulders. A nervous laugh escaped him as he raised his hands defensively. “I don’t know if mine are all that impressive…”

Raina tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Invisible mods, huh? Or maybe hyper-intelligence?”

A few students murmured in agreement, nodding.

But then Raina leaned closer, her voice laced with playful skepticism. “Though… I’ve seen your classwork. Not exactly genius-level, is it?”

Her words were meant as a joke, but they hit a nerve. The laughter around him faltered, replaced by a hum of quiet curiosity.

“Maybe enhanced reflexes?” someone suggested.

“Or intuition?”

Yuki tried to force a smile, nodding as though he agreed, hoping the focus would shift away from him. But their eyes stayed fixed, their judgment palpable.

“Do you even have any mods?”

The question hung in the air, sharp and cold.

The laughter died completely, replaced by murmurs of confusion and suspicion. Yuki’s chest tightened, his pulse pounding in his ears. He felt their stares boring into him, each one a silent demand for an answer he couldn’t give.

His throat felt dry as he stumbled over his words. “I… I…”

Before he could finish, he turned and pushed his way through the crowd, ignoring the confused looks and hushed whispers that followed him.

The metallic stairwell was cold and uninviting, its walls narrowing as Yuki hurried down. He fumbled to summon his vehicle, his hands trembling as he tapped at his wristband.

When the car arrived, he climbed in, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The city blurred past in streaks of neon and chrome, but Yuki couldn’t focus. His mind was a storm of fear and shame.

He told the vehicle to stop at the edge of the park and stumbled out, his legs shaky as he made his way down the familiar path. The cold air bit into his skin, grounding him slightly as he hurried forward, his thoughts spinning.

Then he saw him—a figure leaning against the swing set.

“Jun!” Yuki’s voice cracked as he called out.

Jun turned, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he took in Yuki’s disheveled appearance. “Yuki? What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Yuki stopped a few feet away, his breaths coming fast and shallow. “I… I…” The words refused to form, the weight of everything crashing down on him.

Jun stepped closer, his hand resting gently on Yuki’s shoulder. “Hey, slow down. Breathe. What happened?”

But Yuki couldn’t calm himself. His chest felt tight, each breath harder to draw. “Jun, I—” His voice broke, and he clutched his chest, trying to steady his erratic heartbeat.

Jun’s grip on his shoulder tightened slightly, his voice calm and steady. “Yuki, look at me. Whatever it is, you can tell me. I’m here.”

Yuki’s gaze met Jun’s, his vision blurred by tears he refused to let fall.

“I don’t…” His voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t have any powers. My mods… they’re not working. I’m powerless.”

The admission hung in the air between them, raw and painful, and Yuki’s shoulders slumped under the weight of it.