The day was unseasonably warm for early fall, with the sun shining brightly through the canopy of trees that lined the sidewalk. Leaves, tinged with the first hints of orange and red, crunched underfoot as Rei walked beside Arlo, their footsteps in sync as they made their way to the park near Wellston Middle School. Rei had been mentoring Arlo for a while now, seeing potential in the younger student that reminded him of himself at that age. Arlo was serious, disciplined, and driven—traits Rei respected deeply.
"You're getting better at controlling your barrier," Rei remarked, glancing down at Arlo with a small, approving smile. "But remember, it's not just about strength. Precision matters just as much."
Arlo nodded, absorbing the advice with the same intensity he applied to everything. "I know," he replied, his voice calm and steady. "I've been working on that. It's easier when I'm not under pressure."
Rei chuckled, ruffling Arlo's blond hair in a way that was more affectionate than teasing. "Well, you're doing great. You'll be even better than me in no time."
Arlo looked up at him, eyes wide with a mix of pride and disbelief. Rei's praise meant a lot to him, even if he didn't always show it. "Thanks, Rei."
The older boy grinned, clapping Arlo on the back as they rounded a corner and entered the park. "No problem, little buddy. Speaking of which, there's someone I want you to meet."
Arlo raised an eyebrow but said nothing as they approached the park's playground. In the distance, a flash of pink caught his eye—bright and unmistakable against the greens and browns of the surroundings. As they drew closer, he realized it was a girl, around his age, with long, pink hair tied up with a bow in the back that bounced with every step she took.
"Remi!" Rei called out, waving as they neared the swings. The girl looked up, her face lighting up with a smile as she ran over to them.
"Rei!" she shouted back, her voice full of joy as she threw herself into her brother's arms. Rei caught her easily, spinning her around once before setting her down gently.
Arlo watched the interaction, feeling a little out of place but curious nonetheless. This must be Remi, Rei's little sister. He had heard Rei mention her a few times, but this was the first time he was meeting her in person.
"Remi, this is Arlo," Rei introduced, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "He's the guy I've been telling you about."
Remi turned her attention to Arlo, her bright green eyes sparkling with interest. "Oh! So you're Arlo!" she exclaimed, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Rei says you're super strong and smart!"
Arlo felt a slight flush of embarrassment at the praise but managed a polite nod. "I'm just trying to learn," he said modestly, unsure of how else to respond.
Remi grinned, her energy contagious. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Arlo! I'm Remi, but you probably already knew that."
"Yeah," Arlo replied, feeling a bit more at ease. There was something about her that made it hard to stay tense. She was like a burst of sunlight, warm and full of life.
Rei watched the two of them with a satisfied smile, pleased to see them getting along. "Remi's in seventh grade," he added, as if Arlo needed more context. "She's a bit of a handful, but I think you two will get along just fine."
"Rei!" Remi protested, lightly punching her brother's arm. "I'm not a handful!"
Arlo couldn't help but smile at their banter. It was clear how much they cared for each other, even if they liked to tease.
Rei chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. You're not a handful. You're just...extremely hyper."
Remi stuck out her tongue at him before turning back to Arlo. "So, Arlo, what's your ability? Rei won't tell me, no matter how much I ask."
Arlo blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the directness of the question. "Uh, it's a barrier," he answered, scratching the back of his head. "I can create a shield to block things."
Remi's eyes widened with genuine admiration. "That's so cool! I wish I had something like that. All I can do is make sparks." She demonstrated by holding out her hand, a small arc of electricity crackling between her fingers.
Arlo's eyebrows raised in surprise. "That's pretty impressive," he said, meaning it. "Electricity is powerful."
Remi blushed slightly at the compliment, a soft smile on her lips. "Thanks, Arlo." There was a brief pause before she suddenly perked up, an idea forming in her mind. "Hey, want to play a game? We can see if your barrier can block my sparks!"
Arlo hesitated, glancing at Rei for approval. The older boy simply smiled and nodded. "Go ahead, Arlo. It'll be good practice for both of you."
With Rei's encouragement, Arlo nodded and took a few steps back, readying his ability. "Alright, I'm ready."
Remi's grin widened, her excitement palpable. "Okay, here I come!" She raised her hand, a playful spark of electricity forming at her fingertips. Without hesitation, she sent a small bolt of lightning towards Arlo.
Arlo reacted quickly, summoning his barrier just in time to block the spark. It dissipated harmlessly against the shield, leaving Arlo unscathed.
"Wow!" Remi exclaimed, her eyes shining with awe. "That's amazing, Arlo! You blocked it so easily!"
Arlo allowed himself a small smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment at her reaction. "Thanks, Remi."
She bounded over to him, her energy uncontainable. "You're really strong! I bet you're gonna be the king of Wellston Highschool one day!"
Arlo was taken aback by her statement, unsure how to respond. The idea of becoming king had crossed his mind before, but hearing it said out loud by someone else made it feel more real. "Maybe," he said, his voice thoughtful.
Rei walked over, placing a hand on each of their shoulders once more. "Who knows what the future holds?" he said with a grin. "But I'm sure of one thing—whatever happens, you two are going to be great friends."
Remi beamed up at Arlo, her earlier excitement still shining brightly. "Yeah! I can already tell we're gonna have a lot of fun together."
Arlo met her gaze, and for the first time since they'd met, he felt a genuine connection. There was something about Remi's unbridled enthusiasm and warmth that made him feel like he could be himself around her, without the weight of expectations or the pressure to prove himself.
"Yeah," Arlo agreed, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I think so too."
