The next morning
The first ray of sunlight slowly slipped through the half-open curtains, painting the bedroom in warm shades of gold. The distant sound of birds blended with the soft hum of the city waking up.
Arthur opened his eyes slowly, still drowsy. For a moment, he remained lying there, simply listening to the silence around him—a peaceful, almost therapeutic silence. The kind of calm that only comes after hectic days.
He yawned lazily, stretching his arms until his shoulders gave a faint pop. Then he sat up, ran a hand through his messy hair, and let out a satisfied sigh.
Getting to his feet, he walked to the window and pulled the curtains fully open. A wave of golden light flooded the room, bathing his body in warmth. For a few seconds, he just stood there, feeling the gentle breeze brush against his face.
After washing up and changing clothes, Arthur stepped into the backyard, where the cool morning air greeted him. The ground still held traces of dawn's dew, and the sky was clear, painted in deep shades of blue. He picked up his bokken and began his morning exercises with precise, fluid movements.
Each strike sliced through the air with a crisp, rhythmic sound, revealing the strength and discipline behind every motion. With every turn, Arthur's body moved naturally, as though guided by instinct itself.
---
Meanwhile…
On the other side of the city, Gwen woke beneath the same sunlight streaming through her bedroom windows. But unlike Arthur's calm, she seemed restless.
She walked downstairs slowly, her eyes slightly heavy, her mind lost in thought.
In the living room, her father, George, was reading the morning paper while drinking coffee. When he noticed the expression on his daughter's face, he lowered the newspaper.
"What's wrong, Gwen?" he asked, frowning.
"It's nothing, Dad… I just didn't sleep very well," she replied with a small sigh.
George watched her for a few more seconds but decided not to push. Gwen looked too distracted to talk.
After a quick breakfast, she slung her backpack over her shoulders.
"Dad, Mom, I'm going to see Arthur," she announced, tying her hair into a ponytail. "I might come back after dinner, so don't wait for me to eat."
She had barely finished speaking when she was already opening the door, and her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen:
"Don't forget to use protection!"
Gwen tripped over her own feet, her face instantly turning red. Behind her, George choked on his coffee, coughing uncontrollably.
"Mom!" Gwen shouted, mortified, before rushing out the door. She could clearly hear Helen's laughter from inside the house.
---
Outside, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her still-racing heart. The sky was an incredibly vivid blue, and for a moment she simply watched the clouds drift by.
But soon her thoughts returned to the previous night. Gwen looked at her hands, remembering the strange sensation—the strength, the agility, her heightened senses.
That dream… was it real?
The images resurfaced in her mind: the nightmare where she turned into a giant spider, the screams, the sticky webbing, the suffocating feeling of losing control.
She shook her head, trying to dispel the memory. She hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address. During the ride, she remained silent, watching the streets pass by through the window.
Arthur was the only person she could trust with this. The only one who might understand what was happening to her.
When the taxi stopped in front of his gate, Gwen paid and stepped out. She stood there for a moment, staring at it.
If Arthur finds out… and thinks I'm going to turn into a monster, will he kick me out?
She loved him—truly and deeply. But the fear of rejection made her hesitate.
Gwen ran a frustrated hand through her hair.
"Argh! This is ridiculous! Why would I doubt him!?"
Then an idea popped into her mind—sudden and brilliant (at least in her opinion).
"I know! I'll say a friend of mine is having a problem… and see what Arthur says!"
She smiled proudly at herself.
"Yes! I'll do that!"
Unfortunately, what she didn't realize was that anyone with half a brain would immediately figure out that the "friend" was her.
Still, with a confident smile, Gwen opened the gate and stepped inside.
---
In the backyard, the rhythmic sound of strikes echoed through the air. Arthur, shirtless, was training with his bokken, his body glistening with sweat beneath the sun.
Gwen paused for a moment, watching him. The way he moved was mesmerizing—steady, graceful, and lethal all at once.
"Decided to come see your boyfriend?" Arthur teased, stopping mid-motion and glancing at her with a crooked smile.
"And what did you expect me to do? You never come to my house," Gwen replied with a laugh as she picked up a nearby towel.
She walked up to him and handed it over.
"I prefer not to get shot by your father. Besides, you know I was out of the country for a week," Arthur joked, wiping his face.
"Right, you told me your friend became a dad and wanted you to be the godfather," Gwen replied, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Yes. A very cute baby girl. He named her Hana—Hana Sakamoto," Arthur said.
---
Later…
"Ahh~ now that's much better…" Arthur said as he stepped out of the bathroom, still drying his hair.
As he walked into the living room, a delicious aroma drifted in from the kitchen.
"Did you decide to make breakfast today?" he asked, hugging Gwen from behind.
"Of course! I can't let you do everything all the time. Besides, I feel like I'll lose my position if you're always the one cooking," she replied with a smile.
---
After breakfast, the two settled onto the couch while watching some random series. Gwen seemed restless, biting her lower lip and fidgeting with her fingers.
Arthur, observing her from the corner of his eye, smiled faintly.
"You look like you want to ask me something… so why don't you just say it?"
Gwen hesitated for a second before answering.
"It's just that… I have a friend who's been going through some problems."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
Ah, of course… the classic 'friend' story. He recognized the trick instantly but decided to play along.
"I see… and what kind of problem is your friend facing?"
Satisfied, thinking he had believed her, Gwen relaxed slightly.
Haha, I was really clever this time, she thought to herself, unaware of the subtle, amused smile on Arthur's face.
"Well… this friend of mine recently gained something, and she's afraid it might cause her trouble. But she can't get rid of it. What do you think she should do?"
Arthur pretended to reflect, crossing his arms.
"Hmm… sounds complicated. But what exactly did she gain?"
Gwen blinked, unsure how to continue. She took a deep breath.
"It's just that… she gained a superpower."
---
(End of Chapter)