Future atsuaku

5 : Surprises

**FutureAtsu's POV**

We walked through the city, sticking to the shadows as we searched for a place to eat. The streets were quiet, the rain having finally let up, but the damp chill lingered in the air.

After a bit of searching, we found a small, out-of-the-way diner that looked like it catered to night workers and those who didn't want to be found. Perfect for us.

Inside, the air was warm, filled with the scent of greasy food and cheap coffee. A few patrons sat hunched over their meals, not sparing us a glance as we entered. The waitress behind the counter barely looked up as we took a seat at a booth in the corner.

"Nothing fancy," FutureAku muttered, scanning the worn menu. "But it'll do."

I nodded in agreement, my stomach growling louder as I read the descriptions of the meals. We quickly placed our orders, going for the heartiest dishes they had.

As we waited for our food, the tension between us eased a bit. The familiar routine of sitting down to a meal, even in a strange world, gave us a momentary sense of normalcy. Despite our situation, it felt good to just sit and eat.

When the food finally arrived, we dug in without hesitation. The taste was nothing to write home about, but it was warm, filling, and exactly what we needed.

"You think the Rift Weaver's ever going to figure this out?" FutureAku asked between bites, his tone more contemplative than usual.

I shrugged, swallowing a mouthful of food. "He's our best shot. But until then, we need to stay sharp. Keep out of sight and out of trouble."

FutureAku snorted. "Trouble seems to have a way of finding us, doesn't it?"

"Maybe," I said, smirking slightly.

He didn't argue with that, and we continued eating in companionable silence. The food gave us back some of the energy we'd lost, and for a moment, it was almost like nothing had changed.

Almost.

But deep down, we both knew this was just a brief respite. The challenges we faced in this world were far from over, and we had no choice but to face them head-on.

"Just don't do anything reckless, alright?" FutureAku said, eyeing me as we finished our meal.

I grinned, unable to resist a playful jab. "No promises."

He rolled his eyes, but I could see the faintest hint of a smile. Despite everything, we were still us. And as long as we had that, I knew we'd make it through whatever came next.

For now, we just had to take things one step at a time.
As we left the diner, the night air was brisk, carrying the damp chill of the recent rain. The streets were quiet, the only sounds being the occasional drip from a rooftop and our footsteps echoing against the pavement. My mind was still on the conversation we had during dinner. There were too many unknowns in this world, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.

We walked in silence for a while, both lost in thought. That's when we saw a little kid walking in the street, maybe he was lost so I asked him : "Are you lost? Do you know where your parents are?"

He looked at me then said : "Yes thanks for asking".

He ran away. I thought he was just afraid until I felt something weird.

A strange sensation washed over me, like a heavy fog settling in my mind. My legs grew sluggish, and my eyelids felt like they had weights attached to them. I glanced at FutureAtsu, and he seemed to be experiencing the same thing.