Time passed in a lazy haze.
Logan later received a call from the police station, informing him that the incident from that night was being treated as an ordinary traffic dispute.
This wasn't surprising. After all, Logan didn't deny trying to stop the bus, so the officers weren't about to dig deeper into the matter. Doing so would only invite ridicule from their superiors, not to mention confuse themselves even further.
Since there were no casualties, the local newspaper didn't bother dedicating even a small column to the event, likely thanks to some behind-the-scenes efforts from the bus company.
In the end, Logan received a verbal commendation from the staff who made the call, along with profuse thanks from the little boy's parents. And with that, the matter was closed.
It was a relief for Logan.
As final exams loomed closer, Logan went through the motions of school life. The television frequently broadcast warnings of cold fronts, and he began contemplating how he could come up with a reasonable excuse to take an extended leave and fly to Japan.
However, for an ordinary high school student, this proved to be more than just difficult, even nearly impossible. Between school obligations and the need to explain things to his family, he found himself utterly stuck.
This conundrum plagued Logan, leaving him often staring blankly out the window, watching the frosty December rain soak the city.
If anything meaningful had come from the bus incident, it was Olivia's newfound attention.
Having been so close to the scene, she must have noticed the unusual nature of the event. After all, most people couldn't even catch another person mid-collision without losing their footing, let alone stop a heavy bus.
Though the remaining kinetic energy Logan braced against wasn't massive, it was more than enough to knock over a hundred-pound object.
Her playful note at the end, calling him 'Superman', was proof that she'd noticed. Despite her cool demeanor, Olivia clearly harbored a sharp curiosity that now fixated on Logan.
…
"Sigh, Senior..."
One afternoon, Logan found himself standing in line at the city's immigration office. He glanced at the familiar figure next to him with empty eyes, and said in a weak tone, "Don't tell me… we're running into each other by coincidence again?"
"That's right."
Olivia wore tailored school pants paired with an oversized yellow down jacket, its puffiness contrasting sharply with her slim figure and long legs. The bright color added a touch of charm to her usual cold elegance.
"I came here after school for a Karate class and happened to see you."
She casually glanced at the LED screen on the wall, which displayed an automated explanation of the exit policies. Her nonchalant demeanor was almost convincing, if not for her repeated 'coincidental' encounters over the past few weeks.
"Karate class, huh…" Logan responded dryly, his face clearly broadcasting his skepticism, "So, uh… you're enrolled?"
Olivia walked a small circle around the lobby, noting the lack of anything particularly interesting. Since it wasn't a weekend, the hall was relatively empty, with only three service windows open.
"After some time in class, I've realized that Karate training isn't as effective as I'd hoped."
She stopped next to Logan, looking straight at him, "I didn't teach him any powerful tricks, such as kicking people away, or...holding down a moving car with both hands."
"You could probably learn the kicking part."
"But the coach said it takes at least a year of dedicated training to reach that level."
Hearing this, Logan was shocked, "You… actually asked?"
Olivia didn't reply, but the smug glint in her eyes said it all. Logan imagined her coach's bewildered face when confronted with such a question and felt a mix of amusement and defeat.
Since the money was available, but the school and family obligations remaining an obstacle, Logan, who had been thinking for many days to no avail, simply shelved his plans for Japan for the time being.
Instead, he decided to focus on completing his passport application. But of course, fate, or perhaps something else, led him to run into Olivia at the immigration office.
The bus incident had become a shared secret between the two. Logan wasn't sure why she had supported him during the police questioning, but he wasn't naive enough to believe it was purely out of selflessness. In his mind, saving her life had balanced the scales, yet reality didn't seem to agree.
This minor revelation of his abilities brought subtle changes to his daily life. At school, Olivia remained the untouchable, aloof senior. But when it came to Logan, she transformed into a persistently curious, borderline nosy presence.
Questions like, 'How did you stop that bus?' or 'Why did you save me?' and even 'Do you have superpowers, Logan?' shifted from being annoying to a routine Logan had begrudgingly accepted.
At first, Logan tried to deflect them halfheartedly, but over time, he grew skilled at dodging them convincingly.
But this wasn't a good sign.
"Aren't you bored?" Logan asked as he stepped forward in the line, now one person shorter, "Even the police confirmed the bus had just finished braking. It was pure coincidence, nothing special. At most, I just absorbed a bit of force."
'A bit of force?' Olivia's mind flashed back to that night: the blinding headlights spreading across the long street, the weight of the moment.
'That was far from 'a bit'.' Her cheeks reddened slightly as she tucked her long hair over her shoulder, her gaze lingering on Logan's shoulder for a fleeting moment.
"Not bored. I think it's fascinating."
Logan suddenly put on an extremely sincere expression and said, "Senior, I'm really not Superman."
Olivia was stunned for a moment, then said steadily, "I know."
"So…"
"So, how did you stop the bus?"
"... I don't have superpowers either."
"Then how did you stop the bus?"
Seeing no way to communicate effectively, Logan decided to ignore her altogether and shut his mouth gloomily.
His silence did have an effect, as the air grew quiet for a while. Olivia, with arms crossed, studied him for a moment before breaking the silence, "What are you doing here to get a passport?"
Logan didn't reply. The line moved forward, and it was his turn.
Not getting an answer didn't bother Olivia. She simply watched as Logan went through the various steps of the process, her gaze only breaking when he entered the room for his photo.
Since it wasn't a busy day, the process was efficient but still tedious. After finishing his photo session and opening the door, Logan noticed that Olivia was gone.
He paused, then shrugged, assuming the girl had grown impatient with waiting and left.
Feeling relieved, Logan stepped out of the immigration office, but his mood quickly darkened.
Across the street, with cars flowing back and forth, Olivia stood in the cold wind, gazing at the bustling cityscape. A familiar black sedan, the same one Logan had seen at the police station, idled next to her. Hearing his footsteps, she turned to him.
It should have been a picturesque moment, with her standing there against the city lights. But Logan glanced briefly at the sedan's driver, who returned his gaze. Deciding to ignore them both, Logan kept walking, pretending not to notice.
"From what I saw, it wasn't a passport for a special administrative region. Are you planning a trip abroad? Visiting relatives?"
Logan initially wanted to keep walking, but seeing how far the nearest bus stop was, he resigned himself to calling for a taxi on his phone.
It seemed like Olivia was about to leave, as the sedan waited nearby. But instead of getting in, she leisurely moved to stand beside him as though waiting for a ride too, "You're in such a hurry to get this done. Are you leaving soon?"
Logan turned his head away.
Olivia tilted her chin slightly, her tone slow and deliberate, "Passport require a household registration booklet. You don't have your parents with you, and there aren't any long breaks left this semester. Have you already cleared this with both your school and your family? It doesn't seem likely with school, and as for your family… it doesn't seem that way either."
It was the first time Logan had heard her speak so much at once in a chatty manner. He couldn't take it anymore, "Ugh… what do you want from me?"
Olivia turned fully toward him, her face lighting up with a lively expression rarely seen at school, "Logan, how about we try a different approach? Mutual help, fair exchange."
Logan eyed her suspiciously.
"Did you forget who I am?" Olivia said, "I'm the president of the Travel Club. Helping you is easy."
"Easy..." The corner of Logan's mouth twitched. He understood her implication now. She had clearly seen through his real intentions behind getting a passport.
'But since the secret was out, there was no point in putting on a front. Besides, who pays that much attention to details anyway?'
Olivia waited patiently. Logan wasn't sure if it was because he couldn't think of a better plan after all these days or because her earlier picturesque moment had left an impression. Either way, he found himself nodding almost instinctively.
"Fine." Logan said tiredly, "I'm going to Japan. Can you handle that?"
Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Right away!"
"No problem." Olivia agreed readily without even a second of hesitation.