Everyone is Guilty

"Though I'm still confused about where I came from, this place is undoubtedly my home."

Hearing David's words, Clark fell silent for a moment, then spoke with unprecedented seriousness, as if addressing both him and himself. "I'm very sure of this, David. You, Dad, and Mom are my family."

"That will never change."

After nearly losing things he'd once taken for granted today, Clark suddenly realized he should do everything to cherish and protect them—things like family bonds, like family...

"Thanks for today, little brother."

"Don't think a few nice words will stop me from telling Mom what you've been doing with that thing all day."

Clark, usually a bit introverted, had spoken so bluntly about his feelings that David felt a little awkward, looking off into the distance.

"That astronomical telescope was built to help humanity observe the vast, noble universe and stars."

"Not for you to secretly spy on your crush so you can have material for your daydreams."

"David, I absolutely don't have that kind of thought."

Clark scrambled to explain, insisting he didn't.

"I know, I know."

But David, who'd thrown him into a panic with just one sentence, didn't give him a chance. He left a clearly dismissive reply and turned away.

From Clark: Urgency +7, Embarrassment +4...

Today was different from usual—many things had happened in a row. The Kent couple and Clark had been through intense emotional swings, so David had harvested quite a few emotion points, pushing his integration a bit further.

Template Integration: 81% → 83%

The further along the template went, the harder integration became, and each percentage point brought more power than the one before.

Morning breeze swept through Smallville High School.

Pairs of sneakers moved briskly back and forth. Girls whispered, occasionally letting out shy giggles, while boys lifted their chins and bragged to their friends.

Unlike the usual school day, the students' faces were brimming with excitement and anticipation.

Tonight was the Spring Dance.

"You didn't take the school bus with David again today, Clark."

Pete asked Clark what was going on.

"There was something. I saved someone, and he gave me a gift, but I couldn't accept it." Clark explained. "This morning, I went to return that gift."

This morning, without a single complaint, he'd obediently followed his father's instructions to go to Lex Mansion, exchange a few polite words with Lex Luthor, and return the pickup truck.

"What gift?"

Pete was about to press for details.

"That necklace is very important to me."

A faint voice drifted over. Nearby, Lana's face was sad and pained.

Beside her, Whitney had a band-aid over his bruised nose and a swollen forehead. He kept trying to soothe his girlfriend, explaining as he went.

"What happened to Whitney's face?"

Pete wondered.

"Maybe he got drunk and fell?" Clark glanced at David, who looked unimpressed, and explained awkwardly.

"That necklace was carved from a meteorite left behind when my parents died in the Meteor Shower when I was little. My aunt left it to me so I could remember them, and you lost it."

"At the bar... some drunk guy picked a fight. We got into a brawl, and after it was over, the necklace was gone.

Lana, I swear I'll find it."

Clark's superhuman hearing caught their conversation. He frowned at Whitney lying to Lana.

Hearing the origin of Lana's necklace, he hesitated, then gritted his teeth and looked at David, his eyes pleading as he opened his mouth to speak.

"You're really something, Clark. So kind."

David said with a hint of resignation, already guessing what he wanted to say, and turned to leave.

Though the Thanos Physique's super hearing was far inferior to a Kryptonian's, this distance was no problem for him.

No need to guess—Clark, despite hating to lose the chance to casually talk to his dream girl, had still decided to return the necklace to Lana.

Even if giving it back would immediately mend the rift between Lana and Whitney, helping Whitney out, and costing Clark his opportunity.

"Too kind for your own good. No wonder you're the future Superman."

That was all David could say in response.

Before the dance that evening.

Clark kept pestering David, trying to get the necklace back.

David brushed it off.

Why would he hand back a Kryptonite he'd already gotten his hands on?

Besides, Clark kept pleading, and every time he did, more emotional points rolled in.

At the dance.

Without a partner, Chloe had no choice but to pair up with Pete to avoid the awkwardness.

As for David and Clark, neither of them cared about any of that.

In the center of the dance floor, under soft, melodious music and bright lights.

Couples in formalwear locked eyes, smiles blooming on their faces as they swayed gently like birds.

By the long buffet table.

David casually picked up a pastry to nibble on.

"Look at that—your dream girl's getting her waist held by another guy while they dance."

He tapped his fork toward the most eye-catching couple in the middle, smirking lightly at Clark, who kept sending requests beside him.

"Even now, you still want to give the necklace back?"

Clark stared at the dance floor, his heart sour as if he'd bitten into a lemon.

Even though he was a little angry, Lana, unaware of the truth and soothed by Whitney's lies that cleared his own name, hadn't turned down Whitney's invitation to the dance at the last minute.

Under the envious gazes of the crowd, the two gazed deeply into each other's eyes, dancing slowly—the most dazzling pair on the floor.

The person he liked was dressed up for the dance, but not for him.

He just stood at the edge of the dance floor, an invisible nobody.

"That necklace belongs to Lana, David."

Clark's voice couldn't hide his disappointment, but he still said it.

David was a bit fed up with Clark, but he didn't want to rub salt in the poor guy's wounds either.

"Fine, I'll give it to you tomorrow."

"Anyway, you've got no shot—Lana's not right for you."

Clark's face lit up, but at those words, he was about to ask why he'd say that.

Suddenly, the fire alarm above the school auditorium ceiling went off, and water from the pipes poured down like a torrential rain.

"Ah!"

"Where's this water coming from?"

"The fire alarm's triggered—where's the fire?!"

Screams erupted as everyone in the hall was caught off guard, drenched into drowned rats. Elaborate makeup ran, hair stiffened with wax collapsed—everyone was a mess, panicked and flustered.

The pastry in his hand was soaked through. David glanced at his wet clothes, his expression souring.

"An accident?"

Clark's eyes swept the area quickly, but he didn't see any fire—not even smoke.

"Did the fire alarm break?"

Or was the main control outside triggered?

Bam!

Just then, the auditorium doors were kicked open.

Clear footsteps echoed.

Crackle!

"God said every person is born with original sin."

As the whole hall fell silent, all eyes turning his way, a thin figure in a hood walked in. He lifted his head, revealing a cold face, and in his hand, dazzling electricity coiled like a silver serpent, a burnt smell wafting through the air.

"Though my target this time isn't all of you... still—"

In the crowd's terrified, bewildered stares, he paused, then slammed his hand—charged with enough current to melt steel—down onto the wet floor.

"I don't mind helping you wash away your sins ahead of time!"

Sorry for the late update—I added a bit more to make up for the half chapter I owed from yesterday.