Chapter 26 (edited)

After Bruce Wayne's interview concluded, it was finally Dani and Jennifer's turn.

Kara paid little attention to Bruce since she had already concluded that, whether or not he became Batman in the future, he certainly wasn't the current one.

As a result, she quickly lost interest.

However, it was Bruce who seemed to take a special interest in Kara as he passed by, glancing her way before leaving.

This made Jennifer particularly uneasy, and she was about to accuse Kara of stealing her spotlight.

Kara could only remind her that it would be her turn soon and that if she didn't focus, it might leave a bad impression on the interviewer and affect her scores.

Jennifer begrudgingly let it go.

As Bruce's figure disappeared down the hallway, Dani shrugged and commented, "That slightly gloomy, brooding vibe... no wonder Jennifer's swooning."

Kara glanced sideways at Dani but said nothing. Instead, she turned her attention back to the booklet she held—a detailed guide to Metropolis University. Unlike the typical university brochures, this one included comprehensive details about course offerings and the various clubs on campus.

Kara's focus was on the section about clubs. There were research-oriented clubs, sports clubs, and hobbyist groups like photography and journalism. Others were more niche, such as the tea ceremony club, chess club, and billiards club.

What caught Kara's attention, however, were the martial arts clubs. Taekwondo, karate, judo—even a Chinese Kung Fu club were listed. But Kara couldn't help but be skeptical; the head of the Kung Fu club was a white man. Did he really know Kung Fu?

"Are you planning to join one of these?" Dani peeked over her shoulder, curious about Kara's interest in martial arts.

"Just want to stay active," Kara replied casually with a smile.

"Stay active?" Dani raised an eyebrow, thinking that helping out on the family farm was more than enough exercise.

While Kara browsed the guide, Jennifer eventually finished her interview and joined them.

"Where's Bruce?" Jennifer asked almost immediately.

Dani rolled her eyes, exasperated at Jennifer's one-track mind. Kara shook her head, signaling that Bruce had already left.

Jennifer pouted in disappointment. "He had this... indescribable aura, you know? Like sadness and mystery all wrapped in one. That kind of guy is irresistible to girls!"

Kara sighed. "Miss Romantic, maybe focus on passing the exam first? If you're lucky, you might run into him on campus someday."

Jennifer's face lit up. "You're right! He was here for the interview too. We could totally end up as classmates!"

Kara inwardly rolled her eyes. Metropolis University was enormous—what were the odds of running into him again?

"By the way, Kara, what major did you apply for?" Jennifer asked, changing the subject.

"Psychology," Kara answered without hesitation.

"Psychology? Are you planning to be a counselor?" Jennifer inquired, surprised.

Kara smiled but didn't elaborate. In truth, she intended to study criminal psychology. It would be a valuable tool if she ever faced villains like the Joker in the future. Even if she couldn't outsmart him completely, she wanted to at least hold her own and not be manipulated.

After Dani finished her interview, the trio returned home, awaiting the results, which would arrive via mail in a week. Unsurprisingly, all three passed.

The families celebrated the good news together at Kara's farm with a barbecue. Jennifer's father, a small-town businessman, brought over supplies, while Dani's dentist parents joined the festivities. Despite their differences, the families had grown close thanks to their children's friendship.

During the party, Jennifer and Dani couldn't resist teasing Clark, asking if he would miss Kara when she left for university. Kara laughed it off, reminding them that she'd promised to visit regularly.

As the end of August approached, it was time for Kara to begin her college journey. She, Dani, and Jennifer arrived on campus a day early, collected their dorm keys, and settled into their shared room.

On their first official day, Jennifer kept scanning the crowd, clearly searching for someone.

"Still looking for Bruce?" Kara teased.

Jennifer shrugged with a sheepish grin.

"You might bump into him in your first class tomorrow," Kara joked.

Ironically, Kara's words turned out to be true—though not for Jennifer.

In her psychology lecture the next morning, Kara was stunned to see Bruce seated nearby. He greeted her with a friendly smile.

Why was he here? Then it hit her—Batman was renowned as the world's greatest detective and a master tactician. Psychology would undoubtedly be a key part of his training.

Kara returned his smile with a polite nod, but as the day unfolded, things took an unexpected turn.

Whenever Kara went to sign up for a martial arts club, Bruce was there too—whether it was taekwondo, judo, or even the suspicious Kung Fu club. By the third encounter, Kara couldn't help but think, This is way too much of a coincidence.