Is That Really You?

The hum of the busy city was a dull roar in the background as Kana Kuroe went about her day, moving through the streets with her usual composure. The streets were filled with people, all with their own lives and thoughts—thoughts she could hear if she wasn't careful. For most people, the noise of the city was just that—noise. But for Kana, with her ability to read minds, it was a constant barrage of chatter. She had long since learned to tune it out, drowning it in the rhythms of her own thoughts, but some days, it slipped through the cracks.

"Need to pick up groceries…"

"I'm late for the meeting…"

"I wonder if he likes me…"

It all blended together, white noise at best. But then came a sound she hadn't heard in five years—Ting!—a mental ping, not unlike a gentle tap on a window. It wasn't loud or disruptive, but it was familiar. Too familiar.