Not everyone learns the same lesson.
That became clear the moment the city stopped leaning toward me—and something else began leaning against it.
We'd been walking for nearly an hour after the drone incident. The streets felt balanced now, like a table with all four legs finally touching the ground. People moved with a new, subtle confidence. Small interventions happened naturally, without eyes searching for approval.
The copy effect had stabilized.
Which meant the outliers were starting to stand out.
Arjun felt it first."You feel that?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," I said.
The girl slowed beside me."It's not resistance."
"No," Aaryan replied from behind us."It's rejection."
✦
We turned into a district where the lights were harsher—white instead of warm. The buildings were newer, sharper, less forgiving in their geometry. Surveillance cameras were obvious here, not hidden. Signs warned of rules rather than inviting cooperation.
Order imposed, not grown.
The air felt… brittle.
