Series: People Turned into Stars

Overnight, two-thirds of the world's population vanished into thin air, leaving only 3 billion out of 8 billion people. Ninety percent of the disappeared individuals were adults. Meanwhile, transparent star-shaped objects started appearing all over the globe in various sizes, emitting mesmerizing lights and shadows. They scattered across cities, villages, schools, parks, and everywhere else, some towering over buildings while others nestled in street corners. Later, people referred to the vanished individuals as "People Turned into Stars."

However, these stars had a significant impact on people's lives. Most individuals experienced symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and hallucinations when near the stars, with symptoms worsening the closer and larger the stars were. Even more perilous, being too close could lead to individuals vanishing into thin air, a phenomenon termed "Absorption."

Yet, there was a group of people unaffected by Absorption, experiencing no symptoms when near the stars. They were mostly children, averaging around 15 years old. These children could touch and even move the stars. To ensure society's smooth operation, children aged 12 to 15 took on the responsibility of transporting these "Star Pickers." They became known as the "Star Pickers."