"It's fine."
Aiden smiled gently, his calm presence putting everyone at ease.
"Aiden looks so much more handsome than the childish boys in our class," Gwen thought, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Compared to the boys her age—who still found amusement in teasing girls—Aiden's maturity and steadiness felt completely different.
Just then, Grandpa Max walked over carrying a tray of food, his expression oddly mysterious.
"You've been running around all day. You must be starving," he said warmly. "Eat something to restore your energy! This is good stuff."
Aiden and the cousins turned their attention to the tray.
Immediately, both Ben and Gwen's faces turned pale green.
On the plate wriggled a pile of long, thin "protein."
Even Aiden, who was usually composed, felt a chill crawl down his spine. "Uh… Grandpa, are we really eating this tonight?"
"This is a very nutritious delicacy," Grandpa Max said with a fatherly smile. "You kids are at the perfect age to build muscle—protein is essential!"
However, to Aiden, that "benevolent" smile looked more like a devil's grin.
"Grandpa, don't we have any sandwiches or burgers instead?" he asked nervously.
"Don't be silly," Grandpa Max chuckled. "Nothing beats this for nutrition. Oh! There's still some beef tongue in the fridge. I'll go grab it for you."
As soon as he left, Ben leaned in and whispered, "So, uh… what snacks did you guys bring? I've got some leftover potato chips."
"I have half a bag of chocolate hazelnuts," Gwen said gloomily, then looked at Aiden with hopeful eyes.
Aiden took a deep breath, staring at the plate of bugs. "Here's my suggestion—beef tongue will taste way better than these bugs. You guys eat that. I'll… handle this."
"Seriously?" Ben shuddered, staring at the plate like it might come alive.
Moments later, Grandpa Max returned with a plate of cooked, seasoned beef tongue that actually smelled delicious.
The next moment, everyone's gaze turned to Aiden.
Taking a deep breath, he reached out, grabbed a handful of the "protein," and—with eyes shut—popped it into his mouth.
Crunch.
To everyone's surprise, it was crispy. And somehow… not bad.
Even more surprising, Aiden felt a rush of warmth spread through his body, like he'd just gained a boost of energy.
He opened his eyes in shock and looked at Grandpa Max.
"Haha! Told you!" Grandpa Max laughed proudly. "This stuff is great for you."
Ben and Gwen were both dumbfounded—especially Ben, who looked at Aiden with newfound respect.
Aiden was like a real-life Bear Grylls!
"You guys should eat too," Aiden said calmly. Having conquered his fear, he continued eating as if it were nothing. Gwen and Ben, seeing this, picked up their forks and tried the beef tongue—and found it surprisingly good.
As they ate, the conversation shifted to the Omnitrix.
"This watch used to be green… why is it red now?" Gwen asked curiously, noticing the change.
Aiden examined it and replied, "Looks like when it's red, it's recharging. It can only transform when the light turns green again."
Just as he said that, the Omnitrix emitted its signature chime, and the dial began glowing green.
"Oh, it's back online!" Aiden said, eyes lighting up as he rotated the dial, scrolling through the alien silhouettes on the screen.
"Why not try a different alien?" Ben asked eagerly.
"Let's not," Aiden said firmly. "These forms are for fighting monsters, not for playing around."
Grandpa Max watched him quietly, nodding in approval.
This kid… he's the perfect candidate for the Omnitrix.
"Aiden's right," Gwen said, smiling softly. "You're really responsible for your age."
Before anyone could respond, the radio in the Rustbucket suddenly crackled to life with a panicked voice.
"Help! Somebody help us! We're at the campsite in the northwest forest—huge robots are attacking!"
A loud explosion followed through the static.
"They're back!" Grandpa Max said immediately, eyes narrowing.
Aiden's expression turned serious. "Those robots must be after me. Grandpa, please—take us there. I'll stop them myself."
"Understood," Grandpa Max said without hesitation. He jumped into the Rustbucket, started the engine, and buckled his seatbelt.
Aiden, Ben, and Gwen climbed in behind him. Aiden shut the door and looked out the window, his gaze firm and determined.
"Hang on, kids," Grandpa Max warned. "We're going full throttle!"
With a roar, the Rustbucket sped through the forest, racing toward the source of the distress call.