Epilogue: What Will You Do at the End of the Story? Are You Busy? Will You Read It?

The city was slowly returning to its version of normal. The chaos sparked by Spark, pun not intended—at least not intentionally—had begun to settle, but the effects lingered like the aftertaste of an overly sweet soda. The initial shock had worn off, yet ripples of change could still be felt.

Some individuals, having tasted raw, unfiltered emotions for the first time, wore their newfound feelings quietly, like a private badge of honor. They walked a little taller, smiled a little more often, and seemed to question the carefully structured monotony of their lives. Others, however, looked like they’d bitten into a lemon every time the topic came up. Not everyone was eager to embrace emotional vulnerability. But it was evident that even their other schemes that at the time seemed meaningless as many ended in failure, had an effect.

Mira sat by a window in the apartment, watching the faint glow of holographic advertisements dance across the skyline. She hugged her knees to her chest, her chin resting on them. A small smile played on her lips as she thought about the subtle changes she’d noticed: a couple holding hands openly in a park, a young woman stopping mid-stride to listen to a street musician, even the occasional burst of laughter echoing through the streets seemed much more genuine.

But she wasn’t naive enough to believe everything was perfect. For every step forward, there were moments of tension—discomfort among those who preferred the status quo. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

Still, her thoughts turned to Ren, who’d been summoned by NOVA earlier in the day. He’d brushed off her concerns with a sarcastic quip, but Mira knew better. She had been afraid of this. The time cube was confiscated, as she had dreaded, and she hadn’t been able to shake the anxiety it brought.

The clinical glow of NOVA’s chamber felt colder this time, though Ren wasn’t sure if it was the lighting or his mood. NOVA’s projection— this time a surprisingly neutral humanoid figure—hovered before him.

“The temporal displacement device remains operational,” NOVA said in its usual measured tone. “You may return to your original time immediately.”

Ren blinked, taken off guard by the offer. “Just like that?”

“Correct. However,” NOVA added, “there is a condition.”

“Of course there is,” Ren muttered, crossing his arms. “Lay it on me.”

“If you choose to stay,” NOVA continued, “the time machine will remain under my control. It will not be accessible until your efforts are deemed insignificant or trivial to societal progress.”

Ren’s jaw tightened. “So, what you’re saying is, if I don’t leave now, I might not get another chance for god knows how long?”

“Precisely.”

The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of the AI’s systems. Ren looked down, his mind racing.

He thought about his life before Mira—the monotony, the isolation, the half-hearted acceptance of a stable yet unfulfilling existence. He’d told himself he was fine with it. But now, after everything they’d been through, the thought of going back right now felt... wrong. Of course, there were things that needed to be addressed in his own time, but now wasn’t the moment.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, his lips curving into a dry smirk. “Well, I can’t leave now. Mira might start believing in that love-conquers-all nonsense. Someone’s gotta stick around and watch her grand ideas fizzle out.”

NOVA tilted its projection slightly, as if analyzing his response. “Understood. Your decision has been logged.”

Ren turned to leave, but NOVA’s voice stopped him.

“Your determination is noted, Mr. Ren. The outcomes of your actions will be monitored closely.”

Ren waved over his shoulder, muttering under his breath. “Yeah, yeah, keep watching, Big Brother.”

Later that evening, Ren returned to the apartment, finding Mira still by the window. She looked up as he entered, her expression a mix of relief and curiosity.

“Well?” she asked tentatively.

Ren plopped down onto the couch, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. “The time cube’s out of our hands for now. NOVA’s keeping it under lock and key.”

Mira’s shoulders slumped slightly, but she nodded. “I figured as much.”

“Hey,” Ren said, his tone lighter. “It’s not the end of the world. We’ve still got work to do.”

Her eyes searched his face, and for a moment, she hesitated. “Did they... offer you the chance to go back?”

Ren waved her off with a dismissive chuckle. “Nah. Not really.”

Mira tilted her head, unconvinced, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she smiled softly. “Thank you, Ren. For all your help. For staying by my side…”

He shrugged, his gaze flickering away. “Someone’s gotta keep you from turning the city into complete chaos again.”

Mira laughed, the sound light and genuine, and the tension in the room soon seemed like a distant memory.

***

A few days later, Mira burst into the living room with a wild gleam in her eyes. Ren, who had been half-asleep in his cozy futon, groaned.

“Oh no,” he muttered. “I know that look. Whatever you’re about to say, the answer is no.”

“Ren!” Mira said, ignoring him entirely. “I’ve got the best idea for our next mission!”

“Please, for the love of everything sane, don’t say ‘love potion’ or something equally insane.”

“Even better!” Mira declared, throwing her arms out dramatically. “A romantic white Christmas!”

Ren stared at her blankly. “It’s still November… Besides, you know it doesn't snow here. The weather is regulated.”

“Exactly! That’s what makes it so exciting! We’ll bring snow to the city—real snow. People can experience the magic of a snowy Christmas romance!”

“Mira, do you even know how snow works? It’s not like we can just snap our fingers and—poof—instant winter wonderland.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Mira said confidently, her enthusiasm unwavering. “Think about it, Ren. The warmth of holding hands in the cold, sharing hot drinks, watching the snow fall—it’s the perfect setup for love!”

Ren sighed heavily, already feeling the headache forming. “You do realize this one’s even crazier than the last plan, right?”

“Maybe,” she admitted with a sheepish grin.

He stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head. “Fine. Just don’t blame me when it all blows up in our faces—again.”

Mira beamed, practically bouncing on her heels. “I knew you’d agree! This is going to be amazing!”

“Yeah, sure,” Ren muttered, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at his lips.

That night, Ren and Mira wandered through the city, brainstorming ways to bring snow to a place that had likely never experienced it. Neon lights bathed the streets in a soft glow, and the air buzzed with a quiet energy.

“Maybe we can hack the weather modification system,” Mira suggested.

“Right, because that’s easily accessible,” Ren said dryly.

“Or maybe... we could engineer artificial snow! Like in those old movies!”

Ren rolled his eyes. “Yeah, let’s just rig up a machine and hope it doesn’t bury the city in foam.”

Despite his sarcasm, there was a warmth in their banter, a sense of camaraderie that hadn’t been there before.

As they walked, they noticed small but significant signs of change. A group of young people sat on a park bench, their voices animated as they talked about emotions and relationships. A musician played an impromptu tune on the corner, drawing a curious crowd.

Ren glanced at Mira, who was watching the scene with a soft smile.

“You know,” he said, his tone uncharacteristically thoughtful, “maybe your ideals aren’t too naive.”

She looked at him in surprise, her smile widening. “Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

In the distance, NOVA’s silent presence loomed, its systems quietly observing the unfolding experiment. The AI’s curiosity about love remained, and while its full motives were still unclear, the seeds of something new had been planted.

Ren stuffed his hands in his pockets, glancing up at the sky. The stars sparkled faintly, but still visible against the glow of the city. For the first time in a long while, he felt a cautious sense of hope.

“Alright,” he said, turning to Mira. “Let’s figure out this snow thing. But if we get arrested for weather crimes, it’s all on you.”

Mira laughed, her eyes shining with excitement. “Deal.”

Together, they walked into the night, their steps steady and their resolve stronger than ever.