Black Ash

Ash just woke up, made black cup of tea with one cube of sugar and a splash of milk. He lived in a green city called Zelena, notorious for being both boring and dark. Despite its gloom, it was known as a meeting spot for for great minds. 

As he sipped tea, Ash chatted with philosophers, mathematicians and businessmen through his communication chip.

"I'm drinking this tea, and I can't help but wonder why does it taste so happy?  That's not logical," Ash pondered aloud.

"Maybe you have stored some questionable data on your chips Ash".

The philosopher interjected " No no my friend. This was simple question solved 977 years ago. You're just happy deep inside, and your joy is trying to claw its way out through your tea!"

Ash chuckled, imagining his happiness as a tiny creature battling its way out of the cup.

Meanwhile, using his chip for long-range sight, he spoted birds just flying through the city's green shields.  

"How is it possible that we still can't fly without Car-fly. It's year 3002! I should be soaring like those birds!"

After reflecting on his own questionable life choices Ash decided it was time to act. He pulled up a holographic interface and tapped into the chip-call function, reaching out to Neon.

“Hi,” he started simply.

The line clicked off.

He stared at the blank interface, deadpan. Neon hated starting conversations with a plain “Hi.” He should’ve known better.

Trying again, he recalibrated. “Neon, I wanted to check when you’re free to meet...”

Another click. She’d hung up.

Ash groaned, tossing the interface onto his desk. Clearly, she thought he was wasting her time with something that could easily be scheduled using an app. She wasn’t wrong, but the realization didn’t make it any less annoying. Begrudgingly, he pulled up a planning app and started inputting the details himself.

Before he could finish, his levitating chair made a sudden, sharp tilt. The world spun as he toppled forward, landing in an awkward heap on the floor. Hot tea spilled across his chest, and he winced, feeling the liquid soak through no, not through, he realized. His clothes weren’t even real.

Looking down, Ash saw the glitchy remnants of his digital wardrobe flicker off, leaving him in nothing but a pair of holographic underwear. Worse, the underwear was adorned with a pattern of calculation symbols a playful joke he’d forgotten about during customization.

“Perfect,” he muttered, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

Before he could recover, a faint hum filled the room, signaling the arrival of Neon’s tube transport. She materialized near the window, brushing nonexistent dust off her sleeves. Her eyes scanned the scene, Ash sprawled on the floor, tea-stained, wearing nothing but digital math-themed boxers.

For a long moment, she said nothing. Then her lips quirked into a smile, her tone betraying amusement. “Well, this explains why you needed to meet in person.”

Ash scrambled upright, his cheeks burning as he fumbled to restore his digital outfit. “Couldn’t you knock or something?”

She shrugged, stepping closer. “Knocking’s overrated when you can make an entrance. Besides, this is way more entertaining.”

He glared at her but couldn’t hold back the faint chuckle rising in his throat. “Glad I could amuse you. Anyway, since you’re already here, I have something important to discuss. Let’s focus on that instead of my... wardrobe malfunction.”

She leaned against the desk, still smirking. “Fine. But you owe me an explanation about those boxers later.”

Ash paced the room, the glow from his holographic desk casting faint patterns on the walls. He ran a hand through his hair, the silence between him and Neon growing heavier. Finally, he spoke.

“I’ve been thinking about this idea something big. What if we could fly, like birds, but without relying on Fly-Cars? It’s more than just tech; it feels like it could change everything.”

Neon raised an eyebrow, her usual skepticism tempered by genuine curiosity. “That’s ambitious. What’s holding you back?”

He hesitated, his fingers tracing invisible patterns on the desk. “It’s not the tech. I can figure that out. It’s... the bigger picture. What’s the point of flying if there’s no one to share the sky with? Sometimes I wonder if it’s all just empty ambition.”

Her expression softened. “This isn’t just about flying, is it?”

Ash exhaled sharply, feeling exposed under her gaze. “Not really. There’s someone who makes me feel... different. Like I’m trying to take off, but I don’t know how to land. It’s confusing, and I’m not even sure if I should say anything.”

“Classic case of a crush.” Neon leaned back, crossing her arms. “You’ve got to go for it. Life’s too short for what-ifs.”

He let out a nervous laugh. “It’s not that simple. What if I screw things up? And no, before you say it, it’s not you.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “Phew. Not that I wouldn’t be flattered, but let’s not complicate things. We’re too good as partners in crime.”

“Exactly,” Ash said, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “But this person... they’re different. I just don’t know how to make that first move without tripping over my own feet.”

Neon tapped the desk, her tone light but encouraging. “Start small. Even the longest flights begin with a leap. You’ll figure it out you always do.”

Later, Neon returned home, her holographic interface springing to life as she activated a display of customizable digital tattoos. She swiped through the designs, pausing on a few intricate patterns before shaking her head with a smile.

“Commitment’s overrated,” she muttered to herself, choosing a temporary design and watching it shimmer into place on her skin.

Back in his apartment, Ash sat in the dim light of a holographic music clip playing in the corner. A remastered version of Layla filled the air, and he leaned back, lost in thought.

“Should I just ask her out tomorrow?” he murmured to himself. “But what if it ruins everything? I can’t lose that friendship.”

He frowned, the questions spiraling. “And then there’s Mark... if he’s into her, how would he take it? The last thing I need is awkwardness between us.”

Ash sighed, rubbing his temples as the music played on. No matter how advanced the tech around him, some calculations were impossible to solve.

“I can’t keep overthinking this,” he muttered to himself. “I just want to enjoy spending time with her, see where it goes naturally. If I force a confession, it won’t feel right... relationships should grow on their own, not be rushed with awkward words.”

He shifted, pulling a lightweight blanket over himself, the soft glow of city lights filtering through his window. “If love happens, it’ll happen. I’m not going to ruin everything by spilling my guts.”

Nodding firmly, Ash let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “One step at a time. Let things unfold as they’re meant to.”

Meanwhile, the city outside was alive with motion. Fly-Cars zipped through the streets, their glowing trails cutting through the digital rain that fell gently from the sky. Each drop refracted the vibrant lights of Roze, a city renowned for its pink shields and lush digital greenery.

In a nearby apartment, Layla stood by her window, the colorful cityscape reflected in her bright eyes. Her short pink hair framed her face, giving her an effortlessly playful air that matched her personality. The smart glass of the window shifted at her touch, presenting a menu of options she ignored for now, content just to watch the kaleidoscope of colors beyond.

Roze was famous for its digital cherry blossoms, creations of her close friend Mark. She smiled faintly, thinking of him. Their bond was easy, comfortable a friendship she deeply valued.

But lately, her thoughts had wandered to Ash. His playful humor, the way he could light up a moment with a well-timed comment. She wasn’t sure when it started, but something about him felt... different.

Her eyes traced the paths of the Fly-Cars as the city shields pulsed with soft, rhythmic light. “At this point, those shields are better at cleaning the air than I am at organizing my room,” she joked softly to herself. “Maybe I should hire them for my closet.”

The digital rain tapped gently against the glass, a soft lullaby of progress and motion. Layla felt a quiet readiness, not for answers or conclusions, but for the journey ahead. Whatever her feelings led to, she was willing to explore them without pressure, just the joy of discovery.

Back at Neon’s apartment, she was sprawled on her couch. She groaned dramatically, her voice cutting through the quiet.

“Digital rain? Seriously? You can’t just slap ‘digital’ in front of everything! What’s next, digital tacos? No thanks, I’ll stick to the analog kind.”

She smirked, tossing the holo screen aside, and turned her attention to the sound of rain outside. “At least it looks cool, though. I’ll give them that.”