THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MILD VIOLENCE AND DESCRIPTION THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SOME READERS.
Damon woke up to Hazel's tiny hands covering his eyes. He chuckled, his voice low from sleep. "Who has hands this small?" He questioned as he gently lifted her off and set her down on the chair.
Then he smelled something. Cooking. Not just food, home. It smelt warm and familiar. He followed it to the kitchen and froze.
Nyra stood beside Richard, his father, both of them wearing aprons. She was asking a hundred questions at once, while Richard laughed through all of them. It almost looked… normal. Like she'd been his daughter for years.
"What's this?" she asked, holding up a bottle.
"Soy sauce," Richard said. "A little is enough to add flavour."
"How much is a little?"
"Well, about—wait, no, that's too much—"
It was already too late.
Nyra poured half the bottle in, and Richard laughed so hard he had to hold the counter. "Looks like we're making the salty version of breakfast."
Damon leaned against the doorframe, watching them with a faint smile. It felt strange seeing Nyra this at ease, seeing his father laugh like that again.
"Good morning," Damon said.
Both turned.
"Morning!" Nyra said brightly, her face speckled with something green.
His father grinned. "You've got good timing. Your sister's learning how to poison me."
Nyra puffed her cheeks. "I just wanted to help."
"Yeah," Damon said, smirking. "This smells… helpful."
She frowned and reached for water but instead grabbed a Sprite bottle that had fallen earlier. The moment she opened it—pssshhhhh—it exploded all over her face. Damon burst out laughing.
"I just wanted water," she muttered.
"Water's right there." He pointed to the sink.
Nyra crossed her arms, pretending to pout, but her eyes were smiling.
Richard shook his head. "I like her. You two argue like real siblings."
"Like?" Damon said. "We are."
Richard nodded, his tone softening. "Then it's good to finally have the family full again."
Nyra beamed, then started talking about her night. "I slept very well. Earth's night just feels… odd but good I guess."
Richard chuckled. "Never heard that one before."
She looked around. "I understand why Natsuki didn't believe Damon before. This place, it's simple, but… it has something."
"Chaos," Damon said. "I think you mean chaos."
"No," Nyra said, smiling faintly. "I cant place it. But its very different to other planets I've been to."
Richard glanced between them. "You've really been to other planets?"
"Yes," she said casually. "Many. And Earth's the only one I've seen which hasn't solved cancer, others don't even have it. Have you tried using fullerenes?"
Richard blinked, caught off guard.
Before he could speak, Damon sighed. "Please, don't start biology talk before breakfast."
Hazel stretched from the table, yawning, her squeal so high-pitched it made Daichi bark. Then Daichi licked her entire body.
Hazel flailed her wings. "Get this mutt off me!"
Richard laughed. "You won't need school anymore, kid. Might as well get used to early mornings."
"Yeah," Damon muttered, "and lectures at breakfast."
Nyra giggled.
When they finally sat to eat, Damon had to admit that it tasted good. The salt wasn't as bad as he feared. Perhaps his dad balanced it out. He looked at the two of them laughing at the table. It was quiet. Safe.
Something he hadn't felt in a long time.
After they ate, Damon stood and stretched. "Nyra, finish quick. You have to change before we leave."
"For what?"
"The game."
She blinked. "The Earthly ball game?"
"Yes. Basketball."
Richard wiped his hands. "She can wear one of your mom's old outfits if you want. I… never threw them out."
Damon froze for a second. "You didn't?"
His dad shook his head. "I Couldn't. I tried but..."
He looked at Damon with quiet guilt.
Damon smiled faintly. "It's okay, Dad. You don't need to explain."
Nyra looked between them, sensing the weight in Damon's tone. "I'd love to wear her old clothes, if it fits" she said softly.
Damon nodded. "Alright. Then we're set."
He took Daichi for a bath, came back, and together they left for the gym.
The court was alive. Students, parents, banners. Southmere High's name echoed across the bleachers. Damon could already spot her—Natsuki—on the court, practicing her shots.
Her uniform was white with blue streaks along the sides, simple but sharp. Every time the ball left her hand, it sank perfectly through the hoop. Until Nyra called out: "Natsuki!"
She turned and smiled though she missed. Damon waved at her and she waved back smiling.
The game began soon after. The opposing team walked in wearing red and black. Their captain—Rika Sanezaki.
"Look at you," Rika said, smirking. "The greedy one who became captain."
Natsuki's eyes narrowed. "Rika Sanezaki, the ultimate thief."
"I'm only a thief when I'm stealing your ball," Rika said, grinning.
Natsuki leaned in. "Then I'll be greedy, with every score."
They shook hands, hard enough that you could probably hear it if you were standing on the court. On the seats, Damon sighed and facepalmed.
Hazel peeked out from his pocket. "Why?"
"Those two have old history," Damon said. "She and Rika, the other captain, we all went to primary school together."
"What happened?" Nyra asked.
"Rika hated Natsuki's so called innocence," Damon said quietly. "And tried to break it by bullying."
The whistle blew. The ball went up but Rika jumped higher.
Game on.
She weaved past two defenders, fast, smooth, taunting every move. Natsuki cut her off, but Rika curved her wrist, spun the ball through Natsuki's legs and dunked.
The crowd roared.
Natsuki didn't react. She just stared. But when Rika leaned close and whispered, "Heard your little boyfriend's mom died," Damon saw Natsuki's hand tighten.
Still, she said nothing. She just guarded harder.
For the next few minutes, it was brutal. Rika's team dominated. Natsuki's shots were off. Her coach called a time out with his frustration sharp.
Nyra, not understanding rules, stood on her seat and shouted, her voice carrying like a chime through the noise.
"Hey! Natsuki! Damon said you were the best! What are you doing out there?! You look like a branch flowing where the wind blows!"
The whole court turned to look. Damon pinched his forehead. "Nyra…" The crowd murmured.
She didn't stop.
"Who are you playing for, Natsuki?! If you lose, you lose for yourself! But you dare not lose! That's what we're taught where I'm from!" Daichi barked in agreement.
Then the crowd cheered.
Natsuki blinked and smiled, faintly.
"Thanks, Nyra," she muttered. "But this time, I'm not playing for anyone. Not even Damon. Just me."
The next whistle blew. And it began.
Natsuki took the ball and the court became hers.
Her feet moved like lightning. Her dribbles were sharp, low, untouchable. And they became sharper with her step.
She spun past one, passed between two others, caught the return like she was part of the rhythm itself.
Every bounce echoed like thunder. The crowd was quiet in amusement. Even Damon couldn't help but smile proudly.
Rika moved to block her, sliding back, ready.
Natsuki stopped inches away and began bouncing the ball with one hand. "You know why you'll lose today?" she said. "Because you play because you want to beat me. I don't play to win against you—"
She bounced the ball behind her back, then between her legs, it flew diagonally through the air. Rika's eyes followed it. Wrong move.
The ball arced upward and was caught by Natsuki's teammate, then thrown high.
Natsuki dashed forward, leapt, both hands gripping the ball mid-air, "—I play to surpass myself!"
Dunk.
The sound hit the court like a heartbeat.
35–20. Southmere is catching up.
The gym went silent... Then erupted. Renji, Vanessa, Haruto were all on their feet as they cheered. Even Damon stood, eyes wide.
Daichi barked once, proud. Nyra clapped her hands.
The game rolled on. Fast and fierce. Rika's skill was undeniable, but her anger ruined her focus. Natsuki's team adapted whilst moved like water.
When it ended with a score of 57-42. Southmere High had won.
Natsuki fell to her knees, laughing, panting. Her teammates celebrating around her, with her.
Rika stayed down, head low.
After a while, Natsuki noticed Rika's palpable disappointment in herself walked over.
"Looks like I'm better," she said softly. "But only because you've been training for revenge."
Rika looked up, eyes trembling.
"I'm done with that," Natsuki said, holding out her hand. "Let's be done too."
Rika stared at it for a long while, her pride began its process of cracking slowly. She lifted her hand to take Natsuki's. Then—
CRASH.
The wall behind them split open.
A demon.
Huge, twisted, its eyes bright with hunger. Its limbs bent in ways no bone should. Its breath sounded like thunder strikes in reverse.
Rika froze as the demon jumped in behind her as she turned her head slowly. The thing raised its arm ready to strike her.
Natsuki didn't think. She shoved Rika aside just as Damon sprinted in.
He caught Natsuki mid-fall blocking the demons arm from hitting her, tumbling back and landing hard but safe.
The gym erupted in panic. Renji grabbed Haruto and Vanessa's hand while the woman shouted for Natsuki. Nyra grabbed a child by the arm, then another, shouting, "This way!" Her voice shook. Daichi barked, dragging a crying baby by its sleeve, trying to pull it away from a fallen toy.
In Nyra's mind "I have to help Damon, but I can't use Eterna here. Shit!"
"Where's my baby?!" someone screamed.
Hazel appeared, her small body glowing faintly, whispering fast while contacting someone.
The demon roared. Damon turned toward it, fists clenched, no weapon, no light, just his will. He stepped between it and the crowd as it ran towards the seats.
Natsuki weakly reached out. "Damon—"
He didn't look back. "Run away!"
And as the beast lunged forward and Damon braced himself, the atmosphere filled with trembling.
Hazel looked at a device in her palm desperately, showing a blueish screen video of the Queen, and repeated, "Your Majesty! Please we need your permission to use eterna!"
The Queen's voice echoed cold
"No."
And in that instant, the world seemed to hold its breath.