The next morning, Iris awoke to a new letter from her future self.

  “Jacob, he was always a happy, energetic child—the sole survivor of our class until that fateful event. I’m not too worried about his life, but be warned: the changes you make may have unforeseen consequences. He once confided a wish in me—a wish I now ask you to grant. Gather the class and watch a movie together. While Charles reluctantly joined group events, Jacob always dreamed of us bonding as a family. Please, fulfill his wish.

  —Your future self, Iris Blackwell”

  Iris exhaled deeply, setting the red book aside as her mind raced with questions. The weight of the message filled her with both dread and determination. An overwhelming urge to protect her classmates surged within her, along with a resolve to reshape their shared destiny—even if it meant rewriting their fates.

  Later, in class, an unusual calm had settled over the room. Mrs. Stone, accustomed to bracing for Charles’s disruptive antics, was surprised to see him quietly engaged—taking notes, contributing to discussions without a trace of his usual sarcasm. Although wary, she welcomed this positive change, hopeful that the day would pass without incident.

  At that moment, Iris understood that every small act of unity could be the spark that ignited a better future.

  As the day drew to a close and everyone began to pack up, Iris’s heart surged with a daring resolve. Without hesitation, she climbed onto her desk, adding a touch of dramatic flair that immediately captured the room’s attention.

  “Wait, wait—before everyone leaves, I have a request,” Iris called out, her voice clear and confident.

  Charles looked up, a mix of curiosity and concern in his eyes. “What is it? And be careful up there.”

  With determination, Iris declared, “I want to watch a movie with everyone tonight.”

  The room buzzed with a ripple of excitement. “Ooh, what kind of movie?” Jacob asked, his tone brightening.

  Alice pondered for a moment. “How about a fantasy?” she suggested softly, her eyes lighting up with imagination.

  Celia’s voice trembled slightly as she added, “Anything but horror is fine with me.”

  Theo smiled and nodded in agreement. “As long as my sister enjoys it, I’m happy with anything.”

  Jacob’s enthusiasm bubbled over. “Since we’re practically superheroes already, how about a hero movie?” he exclaimed, his words laced with contagious excitement.

  Even Charles, whose participation was rare, surprised everyone. “I’m fine with anything that has action,” he said steadily, a hint of unexpected cooperation in his voice.

  A series of astonished glances passed between the group, their smiles and nods signaling that, for once, even the usually aloof Charles was ready to embrace camaraderie.

  “I’m in, too,” Alice said warmly, her smile broadening. “I even read a couple of comic books when Wallace was giving me a check-up. I guess Markus occasionally leaves them lying around by accident.”

  “Can we get snacks first?” Xavier piped up, his eyes lighting up at the mere thought.

  “Of course,” Iris announced, clapping her hands excitedly. “Since everyone’s agreed, we’re watching a superhero movie tonight!” Her voice rang out, and she leapt onto her desk, her excitement practically electrifying the room.

  However, in her exuberance, Iris bounced a little too energetically. Her balance faltered, and she began to topple off the desk. A collective gasp filled the room, hearts pounding as everyone braced for the fall—until, in a split second, a gentle surge of telekinetic force intervened. Charles’s power materialized in a subtle, yet effective, lift that cradled Iris back into the air.

  Charles, his eyes sparkling with a rare hint of amusement, quipped, “Here I thought I was the dummy here.” His teasing tone diffused the tension, prompting a ripple of laughter among the group.

  Regaining her composure, Iris grinned. “Thanks, Charles! I guess I owe you one.”

  “No need,” he replied with a small, genuine smile replacing his usual scowl. “Just don’t make a habit of falling off desks.”

  With everyone on board, the mood in the room brightened noticeably. The prospect of a group movie night kindled a sense of camaraderie—a welcome escape from the constant pressures of their extraordinary lives. As they began debating movie choices and planning snacks, Iris felt a quiet surge of accomplishment. At that moment, she realized she had taken a step toward fulfilling her future self’s wishes, drawing her classmates closer together.

  Later, the seven friends entered the movie theater nestled within the Alpha Facility. Their eyes were immediately captured by a vibrant poster dominating the entrance wall—a dazzling display of superhero grandeur announcing the film they’d all eagerly chosen: Wonderman, The Man of Titanium.

  At the center of the poster stood Wonderman, unmistakably portrayed by Markus. He was depicted in a striking red jumpsuit that gleamed brilliantly under the spotlight, his flowing blue cape billowing heroically behind him. The suit’s sleek, metallic finish and bold, silver “W”—a perfect fusion of classic heroism and futuristic design—accentuated his muscular physique. Markus’s determined expression and piercing gaze captured the essence of a true hero, poised to overcome any challenge. Behind him, the background exploded in a dynamic swirl of colors, punctuated by flashes of explosions and futuristic cityscapes, setting the stage for an action-packed adventure.

  “Yeah, A.E.G.I.S. owns practically every piece of superhero media,” Markus explained with a wry, resigned tone. “Both M.C. and Darvel are under their thumb—the comics and movies bring in a fortune. I lost a bet with the boss, so now I'm stuck playing ‘Wonderman.’ He’s a hero from the planet Argon,” he added sarcastically.

  “Why does A.E.G.I.S. control both major movie franchises?” Charles asked, genuine curiosity breaking through his usual cynicism.

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  Markus shrugged. “Originally, the boss wanted propaganda—to show the Awakened who were separate from A.E.G.I.S., that using your powers as a ‘superhero’ would ultimately harm your loved ones. But the genre exploded in popularity, so A.E.G.I.S. dove in. Now they have an entire branch dedicated to creating these comics and movies. You’d be surprised how many Awakened joined just to work on the special effects.”

  Jacob’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “So, wait—does that mean you got to do all your own stunts?”

  Markus smirked. “Of course. No CGI needed when you’ve got the real deal.”

  Jacob’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Can you join us for the movie?”

  Markus offered a half-hearted nod. “Sure—let me just grab Wallace and Jonathan.” He turned and returned moments later with Wallace and Jonathan in tow, leading the group to a row of seats without waiting for further input.

  “Hey, wait—I still have a ton of work,” Jonathan grumbled as Markus tugged him by the collar.

  “Same here,” Wallace complained. “I just got new staff and need to train them properly.”

  Markus rolled his eyes. “You two can spare two hours to watch a movie. It’s just for fun,” he declared, as he dragged them into the theater, the promise of a brief escape from the relentless grind lighting up the room.

  Markus waved a hand lazily. “Let me just grab snacks first. Much like you students, I get them for free.”

  Jonathan shot him a glare. “And I don’t? I practically run this place.”

  Markus grinned. “Sure, but I’m the movie star.”

  Once everyone was comfortably settled with popcorn and drinks, the theater lights dimmed, and the screen flickered to life.

  The opening scene of Wonderman, The Man of Titanium burst onto the screen in a dazzling explosion of color and sound. The film’s retro aesthetic paid homage to the 1970s sci-fi era, complete with exaggerated special effects that proudly showcased the talents of A.E.G.I.S’s Awakened.

  A rich, charismatic narrator introduced Wonderman—a hero from the chaotic planet Argon. The visuals depicted a world in turmoil, where planets and asteroids moved in dramatic slow-motion collisions, and vivid cosmic storms raged across alien skies. Despite its deliberately campy feel, every frame was a testament to the high-level expertise behind the production.

  Markus, in his role as Wonderman, dominated the screen. Clad in a striking red jumpsuit and a flowing blue cape, he struck dramatic poses that made the silver “W” emblazoned on his chest gleam like a beacon. His performance was larger than life: he demonstrated super strength, unleashed devastating ice beams from his eyes, and engaged in wild, over-the-top battles with equally flamboyant villains—some portrayed by A.E.G.I.S agents themselves.

  The plot was straightforward yet entertaining: Wonderman set out to thwart the diabolical plans of Commander Jod, an antagonist determined to reshape Earth into a replica of his home planet, Argon. In a climactic showdown, Wonderman used his might to imprison Commander Jod in the “Spectral Area”—a realm of eternal confinement that promised poetic justice for his villainy.

  As the credits rolled and the theater lights gradually brightened, the group erupted into laughter and cheerful chatter. The movie, with all its campy humor and spectacular visual flair, had provided a welcome escape—a rare moment of camaraderie and shared joy among friends, a brief respite from the heavy burdens of their extraordinary lives.

  As the group began to leave the theater, Wallace’s mood shifted from amusement to disbelief. “I have to say, that was a great movie. When’s the next one, Markus?” he asked, a teasing grin playing on his face.

  Markus chuckled. “They’re rebooting the franchise, so you’ll have to wait for the rest of the heroes to get their movies. I heard you’re going to play the ‘Neon Lamp.’”

  Wallace’s expression went blank. “Wait a minute—what do you mean I’m stuck playing that? The boss can’t be serious, right?”

  Jonathan, who had been quietly observing from the back, stepped in. “Since you’re technically under my jurisdiction, I already signed off on it.”

  Wallace’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh, come on. Why did I get the ‘Neon Lamp’? The last one bombed! And if I become a movie star, won’t that make missions even more difficult? No way—they can’t really do this to me.”

  Markus smirked. “They used makeup to slightly alter my face and gave me a fake name. But hey, ‘Valentine’ as a last name already sounds like a stage name.”

  Wallace slumped into his seat, defeat etched across his face as the rest of the class gathered their things, chuckling and chatting while exiting the theater. A post-credit scene played on the screen—a mysterious pod, eerily reminiscent of Wonderman’s arrival vessel—hinting at future adventures.

  Later that night, in the quiet solitude of her room, Iris settled at her desk and pulled out her blue diary. With careful, deliberate strokes, she chronicled the day’s events—capturing the unexpected camaraderie, the teasing, and even Wallace’s misfortune. Once her daily log was complete, she set the diary aside and waited for the familiar chill of anticipation to return as the red book prepared to deliver its nightly message.

  When she finally opened the red book, a weight seemed to settle over her heart. The message from her future self appeared in flowing, crimson script:

  “The Wonderman movie—an excellent choice. My first date with Maxwell was to see ‘Virtue Alliance 3,’ a crossover event featuring Wonderman and all the other heroes. Markus’s acting was never exceptional after his debut movie, which isn’t surprising given what happened. I hope you can alter Wallace’s death as well, but that task is for another day.”

  Iris’s pulse quickened as she absorbed the words. Who was Maxwell? And why did her future self reveal so much about past romances? Yet, the more pressing mystery was Wallace’s death, based on what she said, it’s going to happen soon. She pushed those thoughts aside for the moment and continued reading, determined to decipher every clue in the letter—even as a heavy sense of responsibility and possibility settled over her.

  “The lonely winter child, Xavier. His parents, devoted A.E.G.I.S. scientists, left him to wander an empty home, his birthday forever forgotten. In his dreams, though, he found fleeting solace—visions of the parents he never truly had. One year, we decided to make up for lost time by celebrating each other’s birthdays. Charles even joined in, though Xavier’s special day remained hidden, lost to a lifetime of neglect. He had long given up on ever celebrating, until we discovered the truth—only to be called away on a mission where we encountered the world’s strongest monster, the Boogeyman. Xavier perished in my arms, sacrificing everything to protect me. We may seek justice for his future self someday, but for now, please give him the birthday celebration he was denied. I owe him that much. His birthday is tomorrow. Good luck, and cherish these fleeting yet precious moments.

  —Your future self, Iris Blackwell”

  Iris gently closed the red book, feeling the crushing weight of its revelations settle on her shoulders. Xavier’s tragic fate and the poignant plea for a belated birthday celebration stirred within her a profound mix of sorrow and resolve. Her future self’s words were not merely a call to action—they were a heart-wrenching reminder of how fragile their lives were and of the deep bonds they shared.

  “Why didn’t she give me more time to prepare?” Iris murmured, her voice tinged with anguish.

  She drew in a deep, steadying breath, letting the quiet of her room envelope her. The night itself seemed to hold its breath—the only sounds were the soft rustling of the book’s pages and her own steady heartbeat. The burden of responsibility settled over her like a heavy cloak, yet she resolved to bear it. The haunting vision of her friends’ futures, marred by loss and tragedy, ignited a fierce determination in her to rewrite their destinies.

  Tomorrow, she vowed, she would throw Xavier the birthday party he never had—a celebration filled with laughter, warmth, and the joy they all so desperately needed. It might be a small victory, but it could tip the scales in their favor. With a resolute heart, Iris promised herself that she would honor the memory of her future fallen friend and strengthen the bonds among her classmates, cherishing every fleeting, precious moment.