"Even though I can't help but feel confused about where I came from, this is undoubtedly my home."
Hearing David's words, Clark fell silent for a moment. His tone was more serious than ever, as if speaking to himself as much as to David. "I'm sure of it, David. You, Father, and Mother are my family."
"That will never change."
After nearly losing some things he had taken for granted, Clark suddenly realized he should cherish and protect them with all his might, like family affection, like family...
"Thank you for today, little brother."
"Don't expect a few nice words to stop me from telling Mother what you've been doing with this thing all day."
Clark, who was usually a bit introverted, expressed his feelings so directly that David was momentarily unaccustomed to it, his eyes looking into the distance.
"This astronomical telescope was built to help humanity observe the sublime and vast cosmic stars, not for people to spy on their crushes for material to dream about."
"David, I absolutely didn't have that intention."
Clark tried to explain in a panic; he didn't have that intention.
"I know, I know."
But David, flustered by his words, didn't give him a chance, leaving behind a perfunctory remark before turning to leave.
[Clark's urgency +7, embarrassment +4...]
Today was different from the past. Many things had happened, and the Kent couple and Clark had experienced intense emotional ups and downs. David thus gained a lot of emotional points, and his integration progressed further.
[Template integration 81% → 83%]
The further the template progressed, the harder it was to increase the integration, and at the same time, one point of integration could bring stronger power than before.
...
Morning breeze blew through Smallville High.
Pairs of sneakers walked briskly, girls whispered, occasionally letting out shy laughter, and boys held their heads high, boasting to their friends.
Unlike the usual campus life, the students' faces were filled with excitement and anticipation.
Tonight was the Spring Fling.
"You didn't take the school bus with David again today, Clark."
Pete asked Clark what was going on.
"There were some things. I saved someone, and he gave me a gift, but I couldn't accept it," Clark explained. "I went back this morning to return that gift."
This morning, without any complaints, he obediently followed his father's instructions to go to the Lex Estate, exchanged a few polite words with Lex Luthor, and returned the pickup truck.
"What gift?"
Pete was about to ask, his interest piqued.
"That necklace is very important to me."
A faint voice drifted over. Lana, not far away, looked sad and upset.
Beside her, Whitney, his nose bandaged with a band-aid, his forehead swollen, kept comforting his girlfriend, explaining.
"What happened to Whitney's face?"
Pete asked, confused.
"Maybe he got drunk and fell?" Clark explained awkwardly, glancing at David, who looked indifferent.
"That necklace was carved from a meteorite that my parents left behind when they died in a meteor shower when I was little. My aunt kept it for me to remember my parents, but you lost it."
"At the bar... someone was drunk and deliberately looking for trouble. We got into a fight with them, and after the fight, we realized the necklace was gone. Lana, I promise I'll find it for you."
Clark's super hearing allowed him to overhear their conversation, and he frowned at Whitney's lie to Lana.
Hearing the origin of Lana's necklace, he hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, looked at David, his eyes pleading, and opened his mouth to say something.
"You're truly kind, Clark."
David, with a hint of helplessness, guessed what he was about to say and turned to leave.
Although his super hearing, as a Thanos physique, was far inferior to that of a Kryptonian, this distance was not a problem for him.
Needless to say, even though Clark was reluctant to give up the opportunity to speak freely with his dream girl, he still decided to return the necklace to Lana. Even if returning the necklace would immediately mend the rift between Lana and Whitney, helping Whitney and thus losing his own chance, he would still do it.
"Excessively kind. As expected of the future Superman."
In this regard, David could only comment.
...
Before the dance that evening.
Clark had been pestering David, wanting to get the necklace.
David gave a perfunctory reply.
Why return the Kryptonite he had obtained?
Besides, Clark kept asking, and emotional points kept pouring in.
They arrived at the dance.
Chloe, not having been asked by a dance partner, had to team up with Pete to avoid embarrassment.
As for David and Clark, neither of them cared about such things.
Melodious music filled the air, and the bright dance floor was in the center.
Couples of young men and women in formal attire, their eyes meeting, their faces beaming with smiles, danced slowly like birds.
Beside the long dining table.
David casually picked up a pastry and tasted it.
"Look there, your dream girl is being held by another man and dancing."
He pointed with his fork at the most eye-catching couple in the center and chuckled at Clark, who was continuously pleading beside him.
"Even so, you still want to return the necklace?"
Clark gazed at the center of the dance floor, his heart feeling sour as if he had eaten a lemon.
Despite being a little upset, Lana, unaware of the situation, was comforted by Whitney's lie, which completely absolved her of responsibility. She didn't refuse Whitney's invitation to the dance on the spur of the moment.
Under the envious gazes of everyone, the two looked deeply into each other's eyes and danced slowly, becoming the most dazzling couple in the center of the dance floor.
The person she liked attended the dance in her finest attire, but not for him.
He was just an invisible person standing at the edge of the dance, unremarkable.
"That necklace belonged to Lana in the first place, David."
Clark's voice held an unconcealable disappointment, but he still said it.
David was a little impressed with Clark and didn't want to add insult to injury for the pitiful Clark at the moment.
"Alright, I'll give it to you tomorrow."
"Besides, it's good you don't have a chance; Lana isn't suitable for you."
Clark's face lit up with joy. Upon hearing this, he was about to ask why.
Suddenly, the fire alarm above the school auditorium was triggered, and the water in the pipes poured down like a torrential rain.
"Ah!"
"Where is this water coming from?"
"The fire alarm has been triggered, where is the fire?!"
Screams filled the air as everyone in the auditorium was caught off guard and turned into drenched chickens. Their exquisite makeup was washed away, their styled hair collapsed, and everyone was in a state of disarray and panic.
The pastry in his hand was drenched. David glanced at his wet clothes, his expression turning unpleasant.
"Was it an accident?"
Clark's gaze quickly swept around, but he couldn't see any fire, not even smoke.
"Is the fire alarm broken?"
Or was it triggered by the main control outside?
Bang!
At that moment, the auditorium doors were suddenly kicked open.
Clear footsteps echoed.
Screech!
"God said that everyone is born with original sin."
As the entire hall fell silent and all eyes turned towards them, a slender figure wearing a hood walked in. He raised his head, revealing a cold face, and dazzling currents, like silver snakes, surged from his hand, filling the air with a burnt smell.
"Although my target this time is not all of you, however..."
Under the terrified and confused gazes of the crowd, he paused. Then, with a hand capable of melting steel, he forcefully pressed it onto the damp ground.
"I don't mind helping you cleanse your sins in advance!"
Apologies for the slightly late update, as I added more content and made up for the half-chapter owed from yesterday.
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