Jun wiped his hands on his apron, the familiar scent of his parents' restaurant filling the air. It was a calm afternoon at the small family-run eatery, and Jun found comfort in the routine. His parents, Yuri and Jonathan, were bustling about, managing the kitchen and greeting customers with their usual warmth. The restaurant had always been a refuge, a place where Jun could escape from the chaos outside.

"Jun, can you help me with the order?" Yuri called from behind the counter, her magenta hair glinting under the soft lights.

"Of course, Mom," Jun replied with a small smile, grabbing the receipt and heading toward the kitchen.

As he walked past the windows, he noticed a familiar figure standing at the door. Branes and Ravi, his classmates, were outside, chatting among themselves. Jun's stomach dropped. He didn't want to deal with them today, especially after everything that had happened with Blue Cop. But he couldn't ignore them either.

He took a deep breath and walked to the door, pushing it open. "Hey, guys," he said, trying to sound casual.

Branes flashed a grin, his chubby cheeks puffing out as he smiled. "Hey, Jun! Your place looks nice in here. Mom and Dad do a great job."

"Thanks," Jun mumbled, avoiding their eyes. He already knew what they wanted to talk about.

Ravi, his dark green hair barely visible beneath his mask, glanced at Jun with a suspicious look in his golden eyes. "We saw something strange earlier today. A big robot. We were just outside when we saw it—Blue Cop, right?"

Jun's heart skipped a beat. He had promised Blue Cop he wouldn't talk about him, wouldn't tell anyone anything about what was going on. And now, here they were, asking about the very thing he had sworn to keep secret.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about," Jun stammered, his voice coming out a little too shaky.

Branes raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Jun. We saw it with our own eyes. A transforming police car—was that really Blue Cop? The same one you mentioned a few days ago?"

Jun's mind raced. He needed to cover up somehow. "I didn't see anything," he said quickly, his eyes darting toward the kitchen. "Maybe it was just some sort of special effects, you know, like for a movie or something."

Ravi, his golden eyes narrowing, clearly wasn't buying it. "You sure? Because it didn't look like a movie to me. We saw it in person. The thing was huge, and it was definitely a robot. And you've been acting all weird lately. What's going on, Jun?"

"I'm just—" Jun faltered, unsure of how to keep the lie going. "I'm just tired. Maybe I'm seeing things. It's been a crazy few days."

Branes didn't look convinced, but Ravi seemed to back off, glancing around the restaurant. "Alright, whatever you say," Ravi muttered, his mask shifting under his jawline as he pushed it further down.

Jun let out a quiet sigh of relief, thankful for the distraction. "So, uh, what can I get you guys?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation away from Blue Cop and the strange happenings.

"We're just here to talk, not order food," Branes said with a shrug. "But if you don't want to talk about the robot, that's fine. Just... be careful, alright?"

Jun nodded, his throat tight. "I will. Thanks, guys."

They exchanged a few more words before Branes and Ravi finally left, the bell above the door ringing as they walked out. Jun's shoulders slumped, the weight of the secret pressing down on him.

"Everything okay?" Jonathan asked, stepping up to Jun's side, his warm brown eyes filled with concern.

Jun gave a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, just... the usual stuff."

Yuri glanced over from the counter, raising an eyebrow. "You sure, Jun? You've been quiet lately. You can talk to us if something's bothering you."

Jun hesitated, torn between telling them the truth and protecting them from the chaos he was caught in. "I'm fine, Mom. Really."

But deep down, he knew that nothing was fine. He had made a promise, and he wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it—especially with more people starting to notice.

As Jun returned to his work behind the counter, his mind still whirring with thoughts of the conversation he'd just had with Branes and Ravi, the muted TV in the corner of the restaurant suddenly caught his attention. The screen flickered to life, and a news segment began, drawing Jun's focus.

"Breaking news from the local news station," the anchor's voice came over the airwaves. "A strange sighting has been reported in the city. Authorities are looking into reports of a massive robotic vehicle spotted earlier this afternoon. Witnesses claim the vehicle resembled a large dumpster truck with strange markings. Local police have not confirmed the identity of the vehicle, but sources indicate it may be linked to the same mysterious sightings that have been circulating over the past few days."

Jun froze, the words sinking in. He hadn't expected this. The report continued, showing grainy footage of the truck in question—a massive orange, gray, and white vehicle that towered over everything in its path. The size alone made it stand out, but what caught Jun's attention most was the distinctive shape of the vehicle. It had the unmistakable outline of a transforming robot—just like Blue Cop.

"Reports suggest that the truck, which has been dubbed 'Mega Trucker' by some local onlookers, appeared to be searching for something, though its exact purpose remains unknown. Authorities are urging people to report any sightings immediately."

Jun's stomach tightened. Mega Trucker—he'd heard the name before, from Blue Cop. He'd been warned about other robots, but he hadn't realized how serious things were becoming. And now it was on TV. He couldn't hide from the truth any longer.

Before Jun could digest everything, the screen shifted again to an interview with the police chief. As the anchor asked about Mega Trucker's connection to the mysterious robot sightings, the chief looked uneasy. "We're currently in the process of investigating the situation. We've had several reports of large mechanical vehicles appearing in various parts of the city, and we're doing our best to keep the situation under control."

Jun swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment. He knew what this meant—the situation was escalating, and there was no going back.

As he turned to head toward the kitchen, the door to the restaurant opened with a soft jingle, and Blue Cop stepped in, his large frame filling the doorway. His usual calm demeanor was present, but there was a noticeable urgency to his movements.

"Jun," Blue Cop's voice was low, but firm, his glowing eyes scanning the restaurant. "We need to talk."

Jun nodded, heart racing. He quickly motioned toward the back, where they could talk without anyone overhearing. He had seen enough today to know the stakes were higher than he'd imagined.

Once they were in the back room, away from prying eyes, Jun wasted no time. "I saw Mega Trucker on TV. It looks just like you said."

Blue Cop sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Yes. Mega Trucker is a formidable opponent. He's taller than I am by three feet. He's built to crush anything in his way, and he's relentless. He's part of the group that's come after me—the group that will stop at nothing to prevent me from completing my mission."

"Why?" Jun asked, a part of him still trying to piece everything together. "Why are they after you? Why do they want to stop you?"

Blue Cop's eyes softened, though the underlying tension was clear. "Because they believe I betrayed them when I followed Deus Machina's orders. Mega Trucker, along with others like him, is out for revenge. They were all created to uphold the laws of Machina, and when I escaped, they saw it as a betrayal. Now, they want to finish what they started—take me down, and stop the Metal Breath from sealing them away."

Jun's mind raced. "So... what's the plan now? How do we stop Mega Trucker, and the others like him?"

Blue Cop placed a reassuring hand on Jun's shoulder. "For now, we need to focus on the bigger picture. Mega Trucker and others like him aren't the only threats. We need to gather the rest of the pieces to seal the Cardbots away. But, for that to happen, you and I must work together, Jun. And time is running out."

Jun looked at the watch on his wrist, the glow faintly pulsing. It felt heavy, like it was pulling him toward something he couldn't escape.

"I get it now," Jun said softly, more to himself than to Blue Cop. "This is bigger than all of us. You need my help to stop them, don't you?"

Blue Cop nodded, his mechanical voice taking on a serious tone. "I can't do it alone. And you're the key to stopping it. If we don't act soon, they'll destroy everything."

Jun's chest tightened, but a sense of determination flickered within him. He had no idea what he was getting himself into, but he knew one thing for sure—he wasn't going to stand by and let the world fall apart. Not without trying to help. Not with so much at stake.

"Alright, I'm in," Jun said, his voice steady. "Let's do this."