My Fizzy Drink Scheme is Chaotic, as I Expected?

It was the night before the big soda plan was set to unfold. Ren laid cocooned in the warm embrace of his futon, the apartment as silent as a nursery. But his peace shattered with a faint hum and the glow of an unnatural, pulsing blue light above him.

Ren's eyes snapped open, his pulse spiking. He stifled a scream. “What the hell? Nexi!?”

The AI's voice, calm and measured, broke the silence. “I apologize for disturbing your slumber, Mr. Ren.”  

Ren rubbed his eyes, sitting up. “So, this is it. I always knew the AI revolution would come for us in the dead of night.”

Both were cognizant to not disturb others as the two conversed.

“Not quite,” Nexi replied. “I merely came to inform you that the temporal displacement device is now operational.”

Ren blinked. It took a moment for the meaning to sink in. The time machine was ready. The time machine that could finally take him home. For countless weeks, Mira's unrelenting schemes had monopolized his focus, and somehow, the possibility of returning had drifted to the back of his mind. Now, it was staring him in the face.

“We may return you to your time whenever you’re ready. Shall I wake Mira to inform her?” Nexi asked.

Ren hesitated. The answer should have been simple. Yet, his thoughts churned. He wanted to go back—didn’t he? That had been his singular goal. And yet, over time, something, or someone, made staying just a bit longer seem... bearable.

“Is something the matter, Mr. Ren?”

“Uh, no... Thanks for letting me know. I’ll tell you when I’m ready.”

“Understood,” Nexi replied. “However, do not delay excessively. The longer we wait, the greater the chance of unforeseen complications.” Nexi hovered toward the hall, but Ren stopped it.

“One more thing. Don’t tell Mira. Not yet.”

Nexi paused briefly, then hovered a nod. “Understood.”

When Nexi departed, Ren was left in the heavy silence of the living room, his thoughts loud and restless. Even tucked back in his comfy futon, sleep remained elusive.

***

The next morning, Mira hummed cheerfully as she arranged their sampling table, her enthusiasm radiating in the crisp morning air. Around them, the calm chatter of students filled the campus, a stark contrast to Ren, who trudged along, visibly weighed down by exhaustion and lingering doubts. 

Securing permission to hand out drink samples had been unexpectedly easy—though that was largely thanks to Mira’s persistence. She had practically cornered the university dean and insisted they try a sip. One taste was all it took; after that, everything fell smoothly into place.

Amidst the peacefully lively scene, Ren let out a quiet yawn.

He worked alongside Mira, arranging cups and bottles, but his gaze was distant, and his usual sarcasm had gone quiet. Only fragments of the previous night’s events replayed in his mind, pulling his focus inward.

Mira glanced at him. “Didn’t get much sleep?”

It took Ren a moment to register her words. “Oh… yeah. Just couldn’t settle last night for some reason.”

She opened her mouth as if to press him further, but a curious student approached the table, cutting her off. Mira immediately brightened, turning her attention to the newcomer.

“Would you like a sample of our new drink?” she asked, handing the student a small paper cup with her trademark enthusiasm.

The student hesitated, eyeing the drink with suspicion before glancing at the sign on the table: ‘Spark.’

The liquid in the cup fizzed and bubbled, its unusual texture catching the student off guard. “It’s… uh, bubbling?”

Mira nodded eagerly. “That’s the best part! Right, Ren?” She turned toward him, hoping for support, even just his usual deadpan sarcastic remark would've probably worked.

All she got was the thousand-yard stare. “Huh?” Ren blinked, barely catching her words. “Oh… yeah. Totally.”

The student glanced between the two of them before mustering the courage to take a sip. His expression shifted instantly—his eyes widened, and a strange mix of awe, surprise, and joy flashed across his face. “Whoa… that’s incredible!”

Before long, the buzz around Spark began to spread. Students flocked to the table, eager to try the mysterious drink that seemed to transform their mood in just one sip.

The line stretched longer as the day went on, and the air around the table became filled with laughter and chatter. Students lingered even after getting their samples, forming spontaneous conversations, their walls of pretense seemingly dissolving.

Mira thrived in the lively atmosphere, her energy shining as she joined in their excitement. Ren, however, worked with quiet diligence, his unease evident in the way he avoided eye contact and seemed half-present.

By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, their samples had run dry—much to the disappointment of the remaining students. If they’d had more, the lines probably would’ve continued well into the night. Mira reassured everyone that Spark was now available citywide, and many left, beaming, to hunt for it in stores.

“That turned out so much better than I expected!” Mira said, practically bouncing on her heels as they walked home together. She glanced over at Ren, who was trudging along beside her, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his gaze unfocused.

“...” Even as they passed vending machines, which were unusually busy with people grabbing cans of Spark, he offered not a single quip.

She stopped abruptly, her cheerful mood faltering. “Ren.”

He walked a few more steps before realizing she wasn’t beside him. Turning back, he blinked at her in confusion.

“Why… have you been so distant today?” she asked, her voice quieter than usual.

“It’s… just been a long day, is all,” Ren said, his tone dismissive. “Not all of us are endless bundles of energy like you.”

She didn’t seem convinced. “Even before—since Kaleb—you’ve been acting weird. But now, it’s worse.”

“Oh, that? No…” Ren sighed. “That was just me being dumb.”

Mira’s frown deepened, but was softer now, more concerned. “We’ve come pretty far together. You can talk to me, you know.”

He hesitated, his hands fidgeting in his pockets. “I guess… I’ve just been thinking about what comes next.”

Mira stiffened at his words. Her expression turned sullen. “I know you want to go back,” she said softly. “I haven’t forgotten my promise. The moment the time cube is fixed, I’ll send you back.”

“That’s not what I—”

But before he could finish, Mira walked past him.

“I got carried away.” Her voice trembled slightly. “Sorry for pushing so much of my dream onto you.”

Ren reached out, his hand hovering in the air, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop her.

When he made it back to the apartment, it was dark and silent. Mira’s bedroom door was closed, and after a moment of hesitation, Ren decided not to knock.

***

The next few days, things between Ren and Mira seemed to return to normal—on the surface, at least. But the lingering tension was impossible to ignore.

“Did you two get into an argument or something?” Rei asked. 

She lounged in the living room, or Ren's room, he would insist, whenever the futon was still out.

“Of course not!” Mira said with a nervous chuckle.

Ren kept silent, feigning a bored yawn as he avoided eye contact.

Rei sighed. “Whatever you say.”

“We’re heading out,” Mira said quickly, tugging Ren toward the door.

“Oh, by the way,” Rei called out. “I don’t know what kind of scheme you two pulled off, but people around here have been acting weird.”

Mira glanced excitedly at Ren before dragging him outside. The sense of normalcy between the two was a slight reprieve, even though Ren knew it was still somewhat superficial.

He called over his shoulder, his hand raised in a half-hearted wave that almost looked like a plea for help. “See ya…”

Rei smirked, waving back. “See ya, heartbreaker.”

The city was alive with energy as Ren and Mira wandered through the streets. Spark had taken the city by storm—almost everyone was drinking it. Conversations were livelier, laughter echoed through plazas, and an air of excitement seemed to hang over everything. Ren and Mira even witnessed a few love confessions, much to their embarrassment.

But it wasn’t all laughter. By the weekend, cracks began to show.

“There has been a noticeable increase in public disturbances,” Nexi reported.

Ren and Mira saw it firsthand during another trip out. Heated arguments erupted in the middle of busy streets. People sobbed uncontrollably in public, their emotions spilling out in ways that felt alien in the normally more reserved city. AI bots zipped through the chaos, mediating disputes and quelling physical altercations.

“Unfortunately,” Nexi continued, “it appears Spark has brought about unintended side effects.”

Ren watched a pair of strangers shouting at each other over a minor inconvenience. “I guess people weren’t ready…”

Mira, standing beside him, looked devastated. “Did I just make things worse?”

Ren shook his head. “No. We’ve seen it work for some people—it’s not all bad. They probably just… need some time to adjust.”

“While people are reconnecting with their more extreme emotions, both positive and negative, this level of chaos cannot be sustained,” Nexi warned. “If this continues, NOVA will no doubt intervene.”

And by nightfall, they did. Drones and AI bots flooded the city, restoring order with clinical efficiency. Spark wasn’t outright banned, but a public warning was issued about its “unregulated effects,” advising caution. Merchants quietly stopped stocking it, and the city’s fascination with Spark faded almost overnight.

Mira sat quietly in the apartment that night, her usual spark gone. Ren opened his mouth to say something but hesitated. For once, he couldn’t think of a single sarcastic remark to fill the void.