Chapter 2 - Chapter 1: Adjustment

The door clicked shut behind my mother, and the room went quiet again.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the wood like it had insulted me.

Then I exhaled through my nose and let my shoulders drop.

The truth was simple.

Yeah, waking up in a different body had been shocking.

But the shock was already fading.

Not because it wasn't insane—because it was insane.

It was fading because my brain had always been good at one thing:

Adapting.

Also… I wasn't the type to curl up and cry about "fate" like some tragic main character.

I looked down at my hands again.

Big hands. Strong hands.

And under my sleeve—

A universe-breaking green watch.

My lips curled into a grin.

Alright.

If life wants to throw me into a death game school with rich kids and liars, then fine.

But it also gave me the Omnitrix.

So who's really losing here?

I walked over to the mirror and stared at my reflection again.

Silver hair. Red eyes. Clean face. Athletic build.

I tilted my head slightly.

Then I smiled wider.

"…I'm disgustingly good-looking," I muttered.

I raised a hand and flicked my hair back like an idiot.

The reflection did it too.

I nodded, satisfied.

"Yeah. This face is illegal."

Then I leaned closer, eyes narrowing like I was judging myself.

"But don't get cocky."

I paused.

"…Actually, get cocky. Just don't get caught."

That felt more correct.

I turned away from the mirror, rolled up my sleeve, and looked at the Omnitrix.

It sat there like it owned my arm.

Like it had always been mine.

I tapped the top once with my finger.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let's do something productive before I start using aliens to ruin someone's day."

I pressed down.

The face lit up green, soft and clean.

The dial popped up.

I rotated it until the small silhouette appeared.

Gray Matter.

My grin returned instantly.

"Time to speedrun education."

I slammed the dial.

Green flash.

My world dropped.

Everything got bigger.

And my mind—

My mind opened up like someone had taken a cramped room and ripped the walls out.

I was Gray Matter again.

Tiny body. Big head.

And a brain that felt like it could chew through math like candy.

I hopped off the desk and scurried to the bookshelf, eyes scanning titles.

Kojiro had been raised like an "ideal heir," which meant the house had more books than a normal family had spoons.

Textbooks. Reference books. Test prep. Business books. Even some weird etiquette guide that looked like it hated fun.

I grabbed the first stack of school books I could reach and dragged them onto the floor.

To a human, this would've been heavy.

To me right now?

It was annoying, but not hard.

Then I remembered something.

Time limit.

I glanced at the Omnitrix symbol on my chest.

"Omnitrix," I said quietly. "If I learn something as Gray Matter… do I keep it when I turn back?"

The device responded instantly.

"Cognitive retention: enabled. Neural adaptation persists after transformation."

My eyes widened.

I let out a tiny, high-pitched laugh.

"Ohhhh… that's disgusting."

I scooted closer to the stack of books, rubbing my tiny hands together like a villain.

Then I opened the first book.

And the world changed again.

Reading as a human felt like walking.

Reading as Gray Matter felt like flying.

My eyes moved across the page, and the words didn't just "register." They locked in.

Not as fuzzy memories.

As clear, clean data.

Dates. Formulas. Rules.

It all stacked neatly in my head like shelves.

I flipped pages fast.

Then faster.

Then I wasn't flipping pages one by one anymore—I was burning through chapters like they were nothing.

Every now and then, my brain would do this weird little "click" where I didn't just memorize something…

I understood it so well it felt embarrassing that I hadn't before.

Oh. So that's what they mean by "gifted."

No. This is beyond gifted.

I paused and stared at the page like it had personally offended me.

This is… basic.

And I didn't mean that in a cool, humble way.

I meant it in the most insulting way possible.

The weird thing was, it wasn't even "me" talking.

It was the Galvan mindset leaking in.

I could feel the species-level arrogance in my bones.

Like my brain was going—

Humans struggle with this? Seriously?

Infant Galvans could do this.

I snorted.

"Yeah," I whispered. "Okay, okay. Big brain talk. Let's not bully humanity too hard."

I kept reading.

Hours didn't pass yet, but it felt like I was swallowing weeks of school in minutes.

Math?

Easy.

Grammar?

Easy.

Science?

Almost fun.

History?

A list of names and dates that just… snapped into place.

I didn't just memorize.

I built a map in my head.

I could see the structure.

Like the whole school curriculum was a puzzle, and someone handed me the completed picture.

The only issue was my tiny body.

Gray Matter was fast, but not built for comfort.

My back started to ache a little from crouching.

So I climbed onto the desk chair and sat like a king—tiny feet dangling.

Then I continued.

I opened Kojiro's laptop too.

The keyboard looked huge, but my fingers moved so fast it didn't matter.

Kojiro's browser history was clean. Too clean.

A "perfect student" kind of clean.

But his bookmarks included some study sites.

I clicked through them, eyes scanning.

Videos, documents, practice questions.

I devoured it all.

Then I paused and stared at the screen.

My brain felt… hot. Not tired. Just active. Alive.

Like it was finally being used properly.

I leaned back in the chair, smug as hell.

"…So school is cooked," I whispered.

I glanced down at my tiny hands.

"This is cheating."

Then I shrugged.

"Well. Life cheated first."

I kept going until—

A faint pulse flickered on the Omnitrix symbol.

A warning.

I blinked.

"Ah. Right."

I slammed the symbol.

Green flash.

And I was human again.

Bigger body.

Heavy again.

The room shrank back to normal size.

I flexed my hands, rolling my shoulders.

Then I walked straight to the desk without thinking, sat down, and grabbed a random notebook.

I wrote a complex formula from memory.

Clean.

I wrote three more.

Clean.

I flipped to another page and wrote a full list of historical dates and names.

Clean.

Then I stared at what I wrote.

My mouth slowly spread into a grin that bordered on rude.

"…I kept it," I whispered.

I leaned back in the chair and laughed under my breath.

Not a nervous laugh.

A satisfied one.

The kind of laugh a guy makes when he just found out he's playing life on easy mode.

I stared at the ceiling.

Okay.

So Grey Matter isn't just a transformation.

It's a weapon.

And I'm definitely going to abuse it.

I rolled my sleeve down again and rested my head against the chair.

My mind raced ahead to ANHS.

The tests.

The quizzes.

The midterms.

All those "high pressure" academic moments that made students sweat.

I could ace them all without trying.

I could make it look like I barely studied.

I could even fake being average if I wanted.

That last part made my eyes narrow.

Because if I walked into ANHS and started dropping perfect scores…

I'd stand out.

And standing out at that school wasn't always good.

But that didn't mean I would avoid such outcome.

Especially not when the whole point of Class D was that the school threw all the "problem children" into it like a joke.

Also…

Ayanokoji.

That guy didn't like attention.

He moved in shadows.

If I wanted to befriend him, I couldn't come in like some loud genius peacock.

I mean—okay, I could, because it would be funny.

But it would make him watch me.

And if Ayanokoji watched me…

He'd start asking questions.

And if he started asking questions…

I'd have to lie.

And I could lie—

But I didn't want to lie to him right away.

Not if my goal was to actually be his friend.

I sighed, scratching my cheek.

"Alright," I muttered. "So I'll play it smart."

Then I smirked.

"Smart-ish."

I stared at my wrist again.

The Omnitrix sat there like it was listening.

A thought popped into my head.

Ben used to smack the Omnitrix.

Twist it wrong.

Mess with it.

Accidentally unlock stuff.

Or at least mess up the timer.

I leaned in closer, eyes sharp.

"Could I hack you?" I whispered.

I didn't even know why I whispered. There was nobody here.

I just did it like it made it more serious.

I rolled up my sleeve and pressed down on the face.

The green dial came up.

I didn't transform.

I just stared at it.

Then I spoke quietly.

"Omnitrix. Interface permissions. Do I have admin access?"

"User access: standard. Administrative functions: restricted."

I clicked my tongue.

"Of course."

I tapped the dial lightly.

"Can I unlock master control through manual input?"

Ben already did something like this in the original show using Gray Matter.

"Unauthorized attempts may cause system instability."

I paused.

My grin shifted into something more amused.

"So you're saying there's a chance."

No response.

I laughed softly.

Then I leaned back.

I could try.

I had Gray Matter now.

If anyone could mess with alien tech without blowing themselves up, it would be Gray Matter.

But—

I looked down at the watch again, and my grin faded into a more thoughtful look.

I didn't want to break it.

Not now.

Not when I hadn't even stepped into ANHS yet.

Also, if the Omnitrix was doing something behind the scenes… I didn't want to trigger anything weird.

I exhaled.

"Nah," I muttered. "I'll only poke the bear if the bear pokes me first."

That felt fair.

I rolled my sleeve down again and stood.

My body felt full of energy.

Like I'd just drank a whole bottle of confidence.

I looked toward the window.

Outside was bright and calm.

A normal day.

A day before I stepped into a school where normal didn't exist.

I grabbed my phone, checked the time, then shoved it in my pocket.

"Okay," I said quietly. "I'm going out."

Because I wasn't going to sit in a mansion all day like some sheltered rich kid.

I had aliens.

I had powers.

And I had a full roster waiting for me like a buffet.

I wanted to feel them.

Not just test one and call it a day.

I wanted to understand what each one did to my body, my mind, my instincts.

I wanted to know what I could get away with.

And honestly?

I wanted to have fun.

I stepped out into the hallway like I owned the house. 

Which… I kind of did.

Or Kojiro did.

Same difference.

The house was quiet, but not dead. I had decided to skip supper, this was way too important to not do.

There were faint sounds.

Distant movement.

Soft footsteps from staff.

A door opening, then closing.

This wasn't a "tiny family home."

It was a rich family home.

It ran like a machine.

I walked downstairs and into the living area.

My mother was there, speaking to someone quietly—probably staff—while holding a cup of tea.

She looked up when she saw me.

"Kojiro," she said, smiling. "Feeling better?"

I smirked.

"I was never sick," I said. "I just woke up… late."

She gave me a look.

"That's not what you said earlier."

I shrugged, casual.

"I upgraded."

She blinked.

"…Upgraded?"

"Yeah," I said easily. "I'm the premium version now."

My mother stared at me for a second.

Then she sighed, but she was smiling again.

"You're in a strange mood today."

I lifted my hands.

"Tomorrow I become a dorm kid," I said. "Let me enjoy being annoying while I still can."

She laughed softly.

Then her expression softened.

"You're going out?" 

"Yeah," I said. "Need air. I'm gonna take a walk."

She hesitated.

"Alone?"

I gave her a look like that question offended me.

"Mom," I said. "I'm not made of glass."

She reached out and touched my cheek lightly.

A simple mother gesture.

"You're still my son," she said quietly. "Even if you act like you're invincible."

I grinned, bright and shameless.

"I am invincible."

She rolled her eyes.

"Kojiro."

I laughed and leaned in just slightly, lowering my voice like I was sharing a secret.

"I'll be fine," I said. "Promise."

She studied my face for a second longer, then nodded.

"Alright," she said. "But take your phone. And don't wander too far."

I tapped my pocket.

"Got it."

Then, like the universe wanted to keep me humble, my sister's voice snapped from behind me.

"Where are you going?"

I turned.

She was standing in the doorway to the dining area, arms crossed, hair tied up, eyes sharp.

She looked like a tiny guard dog.

I pointed at her.

"You," I said. "Why are you always standing like you're about to arrest me?"

She huffed.

"Because you always do something stupid."

My mother cleared her throat lightly.

"Language," she warned, mostly at my sister.

My sister corrected herself fast.

"Something dumb."

I laughed.

"Better."

I walked toward the front door, slipping on shoes.

"I'm going out," I said over my shoulder.

My sister narrowed her eyes.

"To do what?"

I paused with my hand on the door handle.

Then I looked back at her.

I gave her a slow smile.

"To commit crimes."

My sister's face went pale.

My mother's eyes widened.

Then I immediately raised my hands.

"Kidding," I said quickly. "Relax. I'm going to walk."

My sister glared harder.

"You're lying."

"Yeah," I said bluntly. "I am."

My mother sighed like she was tired.

But her eyes didn't look angry.

Just… worried.

I softened my voice just a little.

"Not about being safe," I said. "I'm not doing anything dangerous."

My sister stepped closer, suspicious.

"Then take me with you."

I blinked.

Then I laughed.

"No."

Her jaw dropped.

"Why not?!"

"Because you're loud," I said, dead serious. "You talk too much. You'll scare the birds."

"I do not talk too much!"

"You're talking too much right now," I said.

She puffed up like she was about to explode.

My mother stepped in, calm.

"Let him go," she said gently. "Kojiro wants to clear his head."

My sister looked at my mother like she'd been betrayed.

Then she looked back at me.

"Fine," she snapped. "Go. But if you get kidnapped, don't come crying."

I grinned.

"If I get kidnapped," I said, "I'll kidnap them back."

My sister stared at me like I was insane.

Which was fair.

I opened the door and stepped outside.

The cold air hit my face.

And I loved it.

The estate grounds were wide.

Too wide.

The kind of wide where you could jog for twenty minutes and still be on "your property."

There were trimmed gardens, stone paths, tall trees, and fences that looked more like decoration than security.

But security was there.

I saw a guard near the side gate, standing straight, scanning.

He nodded politely when he saw me.

"Good morning, young master."

I nodded back like I was used to it.

"Morning."

And then I kept walking like I wasn't about to turn into aliens in the woods.

I followed a path that curved behind the main house and toward a more private area.

Kojiro's memories helped.

There was a small gym building on the property.

Not like a public gym.

A private one.

A training space with thick walls.

A place where noise wouldn't travel.

A place Kojiro used sometimes when he didn't want people watching him.

Perfect.

I walked with my hands in my pockets, calm and steady.

Inside, my mind was already bouncing like a kid who just got told they could eat candy for breakfast.

Okay. Gym building. Lock it. Curtains. Test roster.

I reached the building and opened the door with a code Kojiro's fingers remembered before my brain did.

Inside smelled like clean mats, metal, and faint sweat.

There were weights, machines, a punching bag, and mirrors along one wall.

And best of all?

No one was here.

I locked the door behind me.

Then I stood in the middle of the room and rolled my shoulders like I was warming up.

"Alright," I murmured. "Let's get acquainted."

I rolled up my sleeve.

The Omnitrix face sat there, quiet and waiting.

I pressed down.

Green glow.

The dial rose.

I rotated it.

Gray Matter.

I smirked.

"First," I said softly, "let's check for cameras."

Because yeah, I didn't fear consequences.

But I did fear inconvenience.

And having staff discover my alien hobby would be extremely inconvenient.

I slammed the dial.

Green flash.

Small again.

Gray Matter again.

The world expanded.

The gym looked enormous now.

I scurried along the walls, looking for anything obvious.

Cameras?

None in plain sight.

But that didn't mean there weren't hidden ones.

So I did what a Galvan did best.

I listened.

Not with my ears.

With my brain.

I focused on the tiny hums.

Electrical signals.

The faint buzz of devices.

Most of it was normal—lights, the keypad near the door.

But there was one faint, steady pulse near the corner of the ceiling.

I stared up.

"There you are," I whispered.

I climbed a shelf, then climbed again, using my tiny body like it was built for this.

I reached a small vent.

Behind it was a lens.

I stared at it.

"…Really?" I muttered. "In the gym?"

Then I sighed.

"Fine."

I looked down at my wrist.

Upgrade would be easier for this.

But I didn't want to risk someone seeing weird stuff on the camera feed.

So instead, I did it the Galvan way.

I popped the cover gently.

Then I pulled out the wires with surgical precision.

It took me maybe ten seconds.

I disconnected the camera cleanly, then placed everything back like it had never been touched.

"Easy," I whispered.

Then I hopped down and checked for more.

Two more.

Both got the same treatment.

When I was done, I stood in the middle of the gym again, hands on hips.

Gray Matter posture looked ridiculous.

But I felt like a genius king.

"Okay," I said quietly. "Now we play."

The warning pulse flickered again not long after.

I switched back to human.

Green flash.

Tall again.

I rolled my sleeve down, then looked around.

The gym was silent.

Private.

Mine.

I cracked my neck like I was about to fight God.

Then I rolled my sleeve up again.

I pressed the Omnitrix.

Dial up.

I turned it slowly, watching the silhouettes flicker.

My eyes landed on the largest shape.

Gax.

My smile turned sharp.

"…Oh, we're doing this."

I slammed.

Green light swallowed me.

This transformation felt different.

Not clean and quick like Gray Matter.

This one was heavy.

My muscles expanded.

My bones shifted.

My skin thickened.

It felt like my body was filling out, growing into something meant for war.

Then the light faded.

And I was standing there—

Huge.

Broad.

My arms were massive.

My hands weren't hands anymore.

They were thick, powerful, with a grip that felt like it could crush steel.

I looked down and saw tentacles hanging from my face like a crown of danger.

My breathing was deeper.

Louder.

The air felt thinner, like my lungs wanted more of it.

My heart thumped slow and strong, like a drum.

I raised my hands and flexed.

The motion alone made the air move differently around me.

I laughed.

It came out as a rough, deep sound.

"Ho—ly…"

My voice was monstrous.

Not mindless.

But powerful.

I walked toward the mirror without thinking.

The gym floor creaked slightly under my weight.

I stared at my reflection.

Gax was… terrifying.

The body looked like it was built to dominate.

The eyes were sharp.

The mouth full of teeth.

And the posture—

The posture was pure arrogance.

I stared at myself and felt something strange.

Not fear.

Not discomfort.

A rush.

An instinct.

Like my body wanted to fight something.

To prove itself.

To break something just because it could.

I grinned, showing teeth.

"Oh, you're evil," I muttered, my voice completely alien, it sounded too strange even for me who watched Ben 10.

Then I cracked my knuckles.

The sound was loud.

I walked over to the weight rack and grabbed a heavy barbell with one hand.

The kind that would make a normal human struggle.

I lifted it easily.

Then I lifted it higher.

Then I held it above my head like it was a toy.

I laughed again, louder.

"This is stupid," I said, voice thick. "This is so stupid."

I dropped the barbell carefully, even though I feel like I could've easily thrown it through a wall and torn that wall down.

Then I walked to the punching bag.

I stared at it for a moment.

Then I punched, I held back as much as I could with that punch.

The punching bag dented immediately and rapidly flew back like it had been hit by a speeding train.

The chain had broken off very violently.

The whole stand shook before it released a violent metalic sound.

I blinked.

Then I smiled.

"…Yeah," I said quietly. "Okay."

I took a few steps back, rolling my shoulders.

My tentacles shifted slightly with my movement.

I could feel them.

Like extra limbs that moved when I wanted.

Not clumsy.

Natural.

My body felt like a weapon.

And my mind…

My mind was still me.

But it was louder with confidence.

Not the fake kind.

The kind that comes when you know you can win.

I looked down at my hands again.

Then I whispered, with full sincerity—

"I'm going to be a problem."

A warning pulse flickered on the symbol.

I sighed dramatically.

"Ugh. Fine."

I slapped the Omnitrix.

Green light.

Human again.

I shook out my hands, still smiling.

Gax was insane.

I wanted to use him again already.

But I wasn't going to blow my timer on one form.

I had a buffet.

I turned the dial again.

Blitzwolfer.

My smile turned playful.

"Oh," I whispered. "You're next."

I slammed.

Green flash.

My body shifted again, but this one felt different.

My spine bent slightly.

My legs changed shape.

My arms thickened, muscles tightening in a different way—more spring, less raw mass.

Hair spread across my body.

My face elongated.

My mouth widened.

And then—

My senses hit.

It was like the world went from normal volume to maximum.

I froze, because suddenly I could hear everything.

Not just inside the gym.

Outside too.

Birds in the trees.

A distant car.

The soft movement of leaves.

I could even hear… my own heartbeat, clearer than ever.

And smell—

The gym smelled like metal and rubber and sweat and cleaning product.

But beneath that—

I smelled the wood of the building.

The faint scent of the garden outside.

Even the trace smell of someone who'd been here earlier.

Staff. Cleaning.

My mouth opened slightly, and my tongue felt different.

My breath came out warmer.

I looked at my hands.

Claws.

I flexed them.

They scraped lightly against the floor when I lowered them.

I lifted my head slowly.

My ears were large.

And they caught everything.

I laughed, but it came out rougher, more animal.

"Ohhh," I said, voice growling. "This is sick."

I had a very rough, beast-like voice that seemed eager to roar and howl.

I moved.

Not walked—moved.

Blitzwolfer's body wanted to prowl.

I circled the gym like a predator, sniffing the air like I was hunting something.

It wasn't even a choice.

The instincts were there.

I could fight them.

But why would I?

This was the point.

To understand.

I stopped in front of the punching bag again.

Then I stepped back.

I inhaled.

And I felt it.

Something building in my chest.

Like pressure.

Like sound itself was gathering inside me.

I grinned, wide.

"Okay," I muttered. "Let's see."

I opened my mouth, careful of how much force to exert. I just needed enough to test it, so use as least force as I could possibly manage.

And I howled.

It wasn't a normal howl.

It was a sonic blast.

A shockwave of sound hit the bag, hit the wall behind it, hit the air like a hammer, the wall almost fell apart then and there.

The punching bag dented itself on the wall from the sonic voice.

Dust trembled from the ceiling.

I felt the sound in my bones.

And it felt—

Amazing.

I laughed, loud and wild.

"That's so unfair!"

I did it again, but shorter.

The air shook.

The mirror rattled lightly.

I stopped and blinked.

Then I tilted my head.

My ears twitched.

I could hear… the faintest echo.

And then, suddenly—

I flinched.

Because I realized something.

This hearing wasn't just better.

It was sensitive.

If something loud happened suddenly, it would hurt.

I rubbed the side of my head.

"Okay," I muttered. "So maybe don't stand next to fireworks."

The warning pulse flickered.

[Author Note:Little did MC know that these warning pulses were activation and use signals of the Omnitrix announcement to the creator that it had synced with a wielder, Azmuth had programmed in order to detect the Omnitrix once it activates, these sent signals to space, However... Azmuth wasn't the only person who could detect them.]

I rolled my shoulders, still grinning.

"Yeah, yeah."

I slapped the Omnitrix.

Back to human.

I breathed out.

My heart was still beating fast from the thrill.

I leaned against the wall for a second, smiling to myself.

My confidence wasn't "fake bravado."

It was real.

Because I wasn't powerless anymore, far from it in fact.

Not in a school full of games and manipulation.

I had options.

And the thought made me feel almost… greedy.

I stood up straight again.

Dial up.

I spun it.

Swampfire.

My grin softened into something curious.

"Alright," I murmured. "Let's see what it feels like to be a walking greenhouse."

I slammed.

Green flash.

Heat spread through my body, but not like a fever.

Like warmth under skin.

Like the sun soaked into me.

My arms thickened, but not with pure muscle.

With something fibrous.

Plant-like.

My skin turned textured, like bark and leaf mixed together.

A smell hit my nose instantly.

Earthy.

Like soil after rain.

I blinked and looked down at my hands.

They were bigger.

Green and black.

And I could feel… something inside me.

Not thoughts.

Not voices.

More like… life.

Like my body was alive in a deeper way.

I moved my fingers and felt vines inside my arms shift like muscles.

I inhaled.

The air felt rich.

I could almost taste the moisture in it.

I lifted my palm and thought about fire.

Just… thought about it, it was instinctive in a way that words could not describe.

And a small flame sparked to life in my hand.

I stared at it.

It danced on my palm like it belonged there.

I laughed softly.

"Oh," I said, voice deeper, calm yet almost raspy, not because of how I was feeling but because of what I was. "That's cool." 

I closed my hand and the flame died.

Then I walked toward a small plant in a pot near the mirror.

Kojiro probably kept it here because it looked "mature."

I crouched and put my fingers near the soil.

And I felt it.

The plant's roots.

The water inside.

The tiny pull toward light.

I didn't become one with it or anything dramatic.

But I understood it.

Like I could talk to plants, not with words, but with control.

I pulled my hand back and stood.

Then I extended my arm.

A vine shot out from my wrist like a whip.

It cracked the air.

I blinked.

Then I grinned.

"That's nasty." 

I swung again, faster.

The vine snapped across the floor.

I could control its length and thickness just by wanting it.

Then I thought about regeneration.

I scraped my arm lightly against a rough metalic sharp object, leaving a minor wound in the plant-like skin.

The cut sealed itself almost instantly.

I stared at it.

"…Okay, so you're hard to kill too."

My voice came out pleased, like I was reviewing a product.

Swampfire's instincts were interesting.

Not aggressive like Gax.

Not predatory like Blitzwolfer.

More… steady.

Grounded.

Like I could stand in the middle of chaos and just keep going.

I liked that.

Then, because I was me, I raised my hand again and let a flame appear.

I shaped it like a small ball, then tossed it lightly upward and caught it again.

"Yeah," I muttered. "ANHS is not ready."

Warning pulse.

I sighed.

"Alright."

Human again.

I rolled my shoulders and wiped my forehead, even though I wasn't sweating much.

My body felt different after each form.

Not just physically.

Mentally.

Each one left a little residue.

Not enough to change who I was.

But enough to remind me—

These weren't costumes.

These were real lives, real biology, real instincts.

And I was borrowing them.

I stared at the Omnitrix again.

"Man," I whispered. "Ben really lived like this."

And right after that thought—

My mind flicked to another one.

Does Ben exist here?

Max?

Vilgax?

I didn't know.

And I wasn't going to get answers by standing in a gym.

But I could prepare.

I turned the dial again.

Upgrade.

I smiled like I was about to do something stupid.

"Oh, we're definitely doing something illegal now."

I slammed.

Green flash.

My body turned into liquid tech.

It felt… weirdly smooth.

Like I didn't have bones.

Like I could stretch and reshape without pain.

I looked down and saw black and green patterns moving across me like living circuits.

My vision changed too.

Everything looked sharper in a different way.

Not like Gray Matter.

More like I could see the structure of machines.

Like technology had an outline to it that normal eyes didn't notice.

I walked toward the door keypad.

Then I hesitated.

Should I?

Then I laughed.

Of course I should.

I placed my hand against the keypad.

And I flowed.

My body poured over the device like water.

And suddenly—

I was inside it.

Not "inside" in a magical way.

Inside like my body became part of it.

I felt the code.

The stored input.

The power source.

The lock mechanism.

And controlling it didn't feel like hacking.

It felt like moving my own fingers.

I could rewrite it.

Upgrade it.

Make it stronger.

Or… make it silly.

I paused, grin widening.

Then I whispered, "Bad idea."

And did it anyway.

I made a small change.

Just one.

Now, the keypad would still work normally…

But if someone entered the wrong code three times—

It would play a loud, obnoxious sound.

A ridiculous, cartoonish "wah-wah" failure noise.

I pulled back, reforming into full Upgrade shape.

I stared at the keypad and laughed.

"That's so childish," I muttered.

Then I shrugged.

"And I'm proud."

That was a prank that didn't expose aliens.

Just made someone's day slightly worse.

Perfect.

I looked around the gym.

There was a treadmill with a digital screen.

A speaker system.

A smart TV.

Upgrade wanted to touch all of it.

Not like lust—

Like instinct.

A Galvanic Mechamorph didn't just use tech.

It ate tech.

Merged with it.

Controlled it.

I walked up to the TV and placed my hand on the screen.

My body crawled over it.

And suddenly I was inside a whole system again.

Menus.

Settings.

Passwords.

Wi-Fi.

I could see everything like it was laid out in front of me.

I could increase the volume limit.

I could change the display.

I could lock it.

I could do a hundred petty things.

I paused again.

I could also dig deeper.

I could look into the house network.

The family security.

The files.

The information a conglomerate heir would have access to.

My grin sharpened.

The temptation was real.

Not because I needed it—

But because it was there.

And I liked having things.

I liked knowing things.

It made me feel in control.

Then another thought cut in.

Don't.

Not because I was scared.

Because it would be messy.

It would leave traces.

And I didn't need messy right now.

So I pulled away and reformed fully again.

"Later," I muttered. "If things get spicy."

Warning pulse.

I slapped the Omnitrix.

Human again.

I stared at my wrist.

So far—

Gax was raw power.

Blitzwolfer was supreme senses, primal instincts and sonic violence.

Swampfire was a combination of both control and endurance.

Gray Matter was pure unadulterated brain power.

Upgrade was tech domination in the most simplistic terms.

That was already insane.

And I still had Ghostfreak, Big Chill, Water Hazard, AmpFibian, NRG.

I looked at the clock.

Still plenty of time.

I cracked my neck.

"Alright," I murmured. "Let's go down the list."

I used the gym's private shower quickly—not because I needed it, but because it helped reset my head.

Then I left the gym building and headed deeper into the estate grounds.

There was a pool area.

Private.

High walls.

No random staff walking in.

Kojiro had used it before.

I could use it now.

And water aliens needed water.

When I got there, I checked the area.

Empty.

Good.

I rolled up my sleeve and activated the Omnitrix again.

I turned the dial.

Water Hazard.

I slammed.

Green light.

My body shifted into something armored.

My skin became a tough exoskeleton, heavy but not stiff.

My hands looked like they had built-in cannons.

I breathed in—

And the air felt different.

Moisture stood out.

Like I could feel the water in the air.

I stepped closer to the pool and stared at the surface.

Water Hazard's instincts were calm.

Not sleepy.

Just… steady.

Like the ocean.

I crouched and dipped my hand into the water.

The moment my fingers touched it, I felt it like an extension of myself.

Not "control" like a god—

More like… familiarity.

I stood and aimed my arm at the far wall.

Then I fired.

A strong blast of water shot out like a pressurized cannon.

It hit the wall and splashed hard.

I blinked.

Then I laughed.

"That's clean." I paused for a bit, noting how my voice sounded, almost mechanical.

I then fired again, adjusting slightly.

The stream was strong, focused.

I could see how this could knock someone over easily.

I stopped and looked at my hands.

Then I tested something else.

I inhaled and held my breath.

Then I stepped into the pool.

My body sank under the water.

And I realized—

I didn't need to hold my breath.

I could breathe.

Underwater.

It felt natural.

Like my lungs didn't care.

I opened my eyes underwater.

The world looked calm.

Muted.

I pushed off the floor of the pool and swam.

Fast.

Really fast.

My armored body cut through water smoothly.

When I reached the other end, I surfaced, shaking water off.

"Okay," I muttered. "So if the school ever tries to drown me, I'm chilling."

The warning pulse flickered.

I slapped the Omnitrix and turned back human.

Water dripped off me.

I shook my hair, then laughed.

"I'm gonna ruin physics."

I stepped out of the pool and grabbed a towel from the nearby rack.

As I dried off, I stared at my wrist again.

Next—

AmpFibian.

I smiled.

This one was weird because AmpFibian had a little extra to it.

Electricity.

And… other stuff.

I rotated the dial.

AmpFibian.

I slammed.

Green flash.

My body turned boneless.

At least, it felt that way.

I became something like a living jellyfish mixed with a person.

My arms were long and flexible.

My skin felt slick.

My head had those fin-like shapes.

And my senses changed immediately.

I could feel electricity.

Not "see" it.

Feel it.

The lights overhead hummed, and I could tell exactly how much power they were pulling like it was a taste.

My skin tingled with energy.

I lifted my hand and thought about a spark.

Electricity danced across my fingers.

I laughed softly.

"Oh," I said, voice sounding smoother, almost echoing. "This is fun."

I stepped closer to the pool again and dipped my hand in.

The electricity didn't hurt me.

It felt natural.

Like water and electricity were friends in this body.

I pushed more power out, making the water around my fingers glow faintly with little flickers.

Then I stopped quickly.

Because I wasn't trying to cook the pool.

I pulled my hand out and shook it.

AmpFibian's mind felt… strange.

Not as sharp as Gray Matter, but not dumb.

It was like being tuned into a different channel.

Like my brain could listen to signals.

I stared at the wall.

I could feel the tiny electric pulses in my phone through my pocket.

I could feel the security keypad in the distance.

And—

For a split second—

I felt something else.

Faint.

Like a pulse.

Like… living brains nearby.

Not close enough to hear thoughts.

Not clear enough.

Just… awareness.

I paused, and my smile faded into something more cautious.

Okay.

So AmpFibian can probably do things I shouldn't mess with yet.

I didn't want to even start down that path.

This was supposed to be fun.

Not creepy.

So I focused on the simple stuff.

I lifted my hand again and fired a thin electric blast at the far wall.

It crackled and popped.

I grinned.

"That's clean too."

Warning pulse.

I switched back to human again.

I leaned on the pool railing and exhaled, smiling.

My wrist felt warm under the sleeve.

Like the Omnitrix was alive.

And I guess it was.

I dried my hair again, then looked up at the sky.

Still early afternoon.

I still had time.

But there were two forms I wanted to test somewhere else.

Because the pool area wasn't good for—

Ghostfreak.

And Big Chill.

Those were "weird vibes" aliens.

And I wanted space for that.

So I headed back toward the gym building, then past it, deeper into the quiet part of the estate.

There was a small storage shed area near the trees.

Old equipment.

Unused.

Empty.

Kojiro had wandered there once as a kid and got yelled at for getting dust on his clothes.

Perfect.

I approached it calmly, hands in pockets.

The air under the trees was cooler.

Shadows moved gently.

The place felt private.

No staff.

No family.

Just me.

I stepped into the shed and closed the door behind me.

Dust floated in the air.

The place smelled like wood and old metal.

I rolled up my sleeve.

"Alright," I murmured. "Let's get spooky."

I activated the Omnitrix.

Turned the dial.

Ghostfreak. Well... This is a Alien that alot of people fear.

I stared at the silhouette for a second.

Then I smiled like I was about to do something dumb.

"Okay," I whispered. "Try not to make me regret this."

I slammed.

Green light.

Cold rushed through me.

Not Big Chill cold.

A different cold.

A dead cold.

My body became lighter.

Like my weight was optional.

My skin turned pale, with dark lines running across it.

My hands became clawed.

My vision shifted.

The world looked… sharper in shadows.

And then—

I felt it.

A presence.

Not someone else in the room.

Not a voice.

Just a… feeling.

Like wearing a coat that was slightly too tight.

Like something in my skin wanted to move.

I inhaled.

The air felt thin.

My chest didn't need oxygen the same way.

I lifted my hand.

It looked like a claw.

I flexed it.

Then I glanced toward the small mirror hanging crooked on the wall.

Ghostfreak stared back at me with that eerie, hollow look.

And I grinned.

"Yep," I muttered. "I'm terrifying."

My voice sounded… off.

Like it echoed slightly.

Like it came from somewhere deeper.

It was very spooky.

I stepped forward.

Then I thought about going intangible.

And my body obeyed.

It wasn't automatic.

It took focus.

Like blinking on purpose.

But once I did—

My hand went through a wooden shelf like it wasn't there.

I stared at it.

Then I laughed.

"Oh my god." The words felt very weird considering my ominous spooky voice, but I rolled with it.

I walked toward the wall.

Focused.

And stepped through it.

The sensation was bizarre.

Like cold water sliding across my entire body.

Like my atoms loosened.

Then I was outside the shed again, standing in the shade of the trees.

I looked back at the shed and grinned.

"Okay," I whispered. "That's broken."

Then I felt it again.

That tightness.

That presence in my skin.

A faint itch, like something wanted to stretch.

I frowned slightly.

Nope.

We're not doing that.

I didn't know enough about Ghostfreak to play around too long.

I remembered the show.

I remembered that Ghostfreak was… special.

Not in a good way.

So I kept it short.

I turned intangible again and went back into the shed, just to confirm I could control it.

Then I turned visible again.

Then I slapped the Omnitrix.

Human again.

I exhaled and rubbed my arm like I could wipe off the creepy feeling.

"Okay," I muttered. "Ghostfreak is fun, but he's also… suspicious." 

I stared at the Omnitrix for a second.

Then I smiled.

"Which makes him even more fun."

I rolled up my sleeve again.

Big Chill.

This one I was genuinely excited for.

Because Big Chill wasn't just scary.

Big Chill was stylish.

I turned the dial.

Big Chill.

I slammed.

Green flash.

And suddenly—

Cold.

Real cold.

Like stepping into a freezer.

My body became lighter.

My arms turned into wings.

My skin became sleek and dark.

My breath came out as mist.

And my mind—

My mind got… quiet.

Not dumb.

Not sleepy.

Just calm.

Like emotions were turned down a bit.

I lifted my hands and watched frost spread faintly across my fingers.

I inhaled.

The air felt sharp.

Then I flapped my wings once.

And I lifted off the ground.

Not high.

Just enough to float.

I blinked slowly.

Then I laughed softly, voice lower, calmer.

"…Flying is stupid."

I drifted forward like a ghost.

Then I focused on intangibility.

Big Chill's version felt smoother than Ghostfreak's.

Less "dead cold water" and more like slipping into mist.

My body phased.

I floated through a tree trunk.

And as I passed through it—

Frost spread across the bark.

I exited the other side and looked back.

The tree had frozen into solid ice where I moved through it.

My eyes widened.

"Oh," I whispered. "That's cold."

Literally.

I turned to the ground, lowered myself, and hovered above the grass.

Then I inhaled deeply.

And I breathed out.

A beam of cold wind blasted forward, freezing the grass.

Frost spread like a sheet.

I stopped and stared.

My breath… could easily freeze a person solid if I wanted.

That was insane.

And the scariest part?

It didn't feel hard.

It felt natural.

Like blowing air.

I shook my head slowly, amused.

"ANHS is definitely not ready."

Warning pulse.

I sighed.

Then I slapped the Omnitrix.

Human again.

Warmth returned.

My emotions returned to full volume.

I rubbed my arms like I was shaking off the cold.

Then I laughed.

A real laugh.

Because even after testing all that…

I still had more.

NRG.

And honestly?

NRG was the one I was most cautious about.

Not because I was scared of getting hurt.

Because I didn't want to accidentally poison my own city like a dumbass.

Being fearless didn't mean being careless.

So I stared at the dial.

NRG's silhouette was bulky.

Heavy.

I could almost feel the heat just looking at it.

I hesitated.

Then I smiled.

"Not today," I murmured. "I want to enjoy dinner."

I rolled my sleeve down and started walking back toward the house.

As I walked, my mind kept replaying the sensations.

The weight of Gax.

The sharp hearing of Blitzwolfer.

The calm cold of Big Chill.

The eerie itch of Ghostfreak.

The insane mental space of Gray Matter.

Each one was different.

Not just a new body.

A new mindset.

And the fact that I could move between them—

That was power.

Real power.

I didn't feel fragile.

I didn't feel scared.

I felt… entertained.

Like life had just handed me a backstage pass to the craziest show ever.

And the day after tomorrow, I was walking into ANHS.

A place where everyone thought the biggest weapons were money, charisma, and brains.

I smirked.

They don't know I can turn into a damn alien.

Let's see them scheme against that.

Unknowingly hours had passed during my venture outside, and... it was already almost midnight.

When I got back inside, my sister was waiting in the living room like she'd been sent by the government.

She spotted me immediately.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Where were you?"

I didn't even pause.

"Out."

She pointed at me.

"Doing what?"

I smiled sweetly.

"Crimes."

Her face tightened.

"I knew it."

My mother walked in from the kitchen and sighed.

"Kojiro," she warned.

I held up my hands.

"Okay, okay," I said. "I was working out."

My sister stared at me harder.

"You don't smell like the gym."

I blinked.

Then I laughed.

"What do you mean I don't smell like the gym? Are you sniffing me?"

She instantly went red.

"I'm not sniffing you!"

"You are," I said. "You're literally sniffing the air like a dog."

"I'm not!"

I leaned closer, dead serious.

"You're a dog."

She sputtered like she was about to explode.

My mother pinched the bridge of her nose.

"You two," she muttered.

I laughed and walked past them, heading toward the kitchen.

I was hungry again.

Using aliens worked up an appetite.

Also, I was living in luxury.

I intended to enjoy it.

In the kitchen, staff had prepared snacks.

My mother followed me in, watching me closely.

"You were gone for a while," she said gently. "Are you sure you're alright?"

I grabbed a small plate and took something sweet, biting into it.

"Yeah," I said with my mouth half full. "I'm great."

She gave me a look.

"Kojiro. Please don't talk with your mouth full."

I swallowed.

Then I smiled.

"Sorry," I said, voice softer. "I'm really fine. I just needed to burn energy."

She studied me for a moment.

Then she sighed.

"You're acting more… confident," she said carefully. "Almost like you've made up your mind about something."

I blinked.

Then I grinned.

"Oh," I said. "I have."

My mother waited.

I leaned forward slightly, like I was sharing something important.

"I'm going to enjoy ANHS," I said. "I'm not going to be some stiff heir who acts perfect every second."

My mother's expression softened.

"That's good," she said quietly. "But don't cause trouble."

I smirked.

"Depends on what you call trouble."

She lightly tapped my forehead with her finger.

"Kojiro."

I laughed again, but I nodded.

"Okay," I said. "I won't be stupid."

That was true.

I wouldn't be stupid.

I'd be clever.

There was a difference.

Later, my father called me into his office.

Kojiro's father had one of those offices that felt like it was designed to make people nervous.

Dark wood.

Clean desk.

No clutter.

A view of the estate from the window.

Everything neat and cold.

My father sat behind the desk, calm as ever.

He motioned for me to sit.

I sat down.

He stared at me for a moment, eyes steady.

Then he spoke.

"Very soon you will have your first day," he said. "You understand the expectations."

I nodded, relaxed.

"Yeah."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"You don't seem anxious."

I leaned back in the chair.

"I don't see the point," I said.

That earned a small pause.

My father's expression didn't change much, but I could feel his attention increase.

"Explain," he said.

I smiled slightly.

"Either I succeed," I said, "or I don't. Worrying doesn't help either outcome."

My father studied me.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

"That's a practical way to think," he said.

I shrugged.

"I'm practical."

He held my gaze.

Then he reached into a drawer and pulled something out.

A card.

He placed it on the desk and slid it toward me.

I looked down.

It was sleek.

Expensive.

My father's voice stayed calm.

"This will cover your needs," he said. "Use it responsibly."

I picked it up and turned it between my fingers.

Then I smirked.

"Define responsibly," I said.

My father's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Kojiro."

I laughed, holding up a hand.

"Kidding," I said. "Mostly."

My father leaned back slightly.

"ANHS has its own system," he said. "It's not like a normal school."

I kept my expression neutral.

Kojiro's father would know more than he was saying.

Connections like this always did.

But he wasn't going to explain everything.

Not his style.

He continued.

"You'll be given freedom there," he said. "More than you've had here."

I nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

"And with freedom comes risk," he said. "Not everyone there will be your friend."

I smiled.

"I'm not there to collect friends like trading cards," I said.

My father watched me.

Then he spoke again, voice quieter.

"Still," he said. "Do not underestimate people."

I shrugged.

"I won't."

That was true.

Not because I feared them.

But because underestimating people was boring.

It made things too easy.

My father's eyes stayed on me.

Then, after a moment, he nodded once.

"Good," he said.

He stood up, walked around the desk, and placed a hand on my shoulder.

The gesture was brief.

Awkward, in a way.

Like a man who didn't do this often.

"You're an heir," he said. "But you're also my son. Don't forget that."

I looked up at him.

Kojiro's memories stirred.

The pressure.

The expectation.

The cold pride.

I nodded slowly.

"I won't," I said.

My father's hand squeezed my shoulder once, then he stepped back.

"Go," he said. "Spend the rest of your days preparing."

I stood up.

At the door, I glanced back.

My father was already sitting again, back to his tablet.

Business mode.

But I could still feel the weight of what he said.

I didn't feel fragile about it.

I didn't feel crushed.

If anything—

It made me grin.

Because I liked pressure.

Pressure made things interesting.

And soon? I will go to ANHS.

That day was bound to be very interesting.

That evening, dinner was loud.

Mostly because my sister refused to let me breathe in peace.

"So what class do you think you'll be in?" she asked, poking at her food.

I took a bite calmly.

"I don't know," I said.

She leaned forward, eyes bright.

"I hope you're a top scorer," she said. "Then you'll be super cool."

I swallowed and smirked.

"I'm already super cool."

My mother sighed.

My sister rolled her eyes.

"I mean the school will think you're cool," she corrected.

I tilted my head.

"So I'm cool either way."

She narrowed her eyes.

"You're unbearable."

I smiled sweetly.

"Thank you."

My father spoke without looking up much.

"Classes are assigned based on evaluation," he said. "Not just academics."

So my dad knew... No surprise there.

My sister frowned.

"That's weird," she muttered.

My mother nodded slightly.

"It's a special school," she said.

I kept my face calm, but inside I was amused.

Yeah. Special.

Special like a shark tank is "special."

My sister looked at me again.

"Don't embarrass us," she said suddenly.

I blinked.

Then I grinned.

"Aw," I said. "You care."

Her face went red again.

"I don't care! I just don't want people thinking my brother is stupid!"

I leaned back in my chair.

"Too late," I said. "They already think that."

My sister slammed her chopsticks down.

"KOJIRO!"

My mother cleared her throat sharply.

"Enough," she said, but her voice was still gentle.

My sister puffed, then muttered under her breath.

"You're going to get punched."

I laughed.

"By who?" I said. "Some rich kid with weak arms?"

My sister pointed at me like she was making a serious threat.

"I hope someone punches you," she said.

I smiled.

"That's love."

She made a disgusted noise.

My father finally looked up properly.

His eyes moved between us.

Then he sighed.

"You two…" he said, tone tired. "Try to miss each other when you're apart."

My sister looked away instantly.

My mother smiled.

And I chuckled softly.

"Fine," I said, leaning forward toward my sister. "I'll miss you."

She glared.

"No you won't."

I smirked.

"I will," I said. "Because who else will I annoy?"

She stared at me for a second.

Then her expression softened just a little.

Just barely.

"…Idiot," she muttered.

I smiled.

"That's my girl." I said mockingly.

She threw a napkin at me.

I caught it easily.

Aura farm.

Later that hour, I returned to my room.

I laid the uniform out on the bed carefully.

Shirt.

Blazer.

Pants.

Tie.

All clean and sharp.

I stared at it for a while.

The day after tomorrow, I'd wear this.

The day after tomorrow, I'd walk into ANHS.

The day after tommorow, I'd meet Ayanokoji for real.

Horikita.

Kushida.

Everyone.

The cast.

And I'd have to play it right.

Not because I was scared.

Because I wanted the game to be fun.

If I bulldozed everything with aliens, it would get boring.

Also, it would make me famous.

And fame was annoying.

I sat down at the desk and stared at my wrist.

Then I spoke softly.

"Omnitrix," I said. "Do you have a function to hide yourself?"

"Cloaking function: unavailable. Concealment: user-dependent."

I clicked my tongue.

"So sleeves it is."

No problem.

I wore long sleeves anyway.

I leaned back in the chair again.

Then I got a very, very bad idea.

A grin slowly spread across my face.

Because the user of the Omnitrix wasn't just a fighter.

He could also be a menace.

And I was definitely a menace.

I stood up quietly and walked to the door.

I opened it just a crack and peeked outside.

The hallway was dim.

Quiet.

Most people were winding down.

Perfect.

I slipped out silently and walked toward my sister's room.

Kojiro's memories guided me.

Her door was closed.

I stood there for a moment, smiling like a criminal.

Then I whispered, "Alright."

I rolled up my sleeve.

Omnitrix up.

Gray Matter.

I slammed.

Green flash.

Tiny again.

The world got bigger.

And sneaking became easy.

I slipped under the gap of her door like it was nothing.

Inside, her room was neat in a "trying to be mature" way.

But she still had stuffed animals.

Cute ones.

A small fox plush.

A rabbit plush.

Some cat plush.

I stared at them.

Then I rubbed my tiny hands together.

Okay.

We're going to do something harmless.

But emotionally devastating.

I climbed onto her desk chair, then onto the desk.

I grabbed a pen and a sticky note.

My tiny hands moved fast.

Gray Matter brain wrote quickly, cleanly.

I wrote:

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

Then I wrote a second note:

SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN.

Then I wrote a third one and fourth one, just because I was evil:

THE FOX IS WATCHING. 

THE RABBIT HAS SPOKEN.

I hopped down and approached her stuffed animals.

I arranged them.

Carefully.

Like they were in a meeting.

I put the fox plush in the center, facing her bed.

Then I placed the notes around them like a ritual.

I stepped back and admired my work.

It was stupid.

It was childish.

It was perfect.

Then I heard movement.

A door opening down the hall.

My ears—tiny but sharp—picked it up instantly.

Time to vanish.

I slammed the Omnitrix.

Human again.

Wait—no, that was too risky.

If I turned human in her room, I'd be trapped.

So instead—

I hit the symbol and timed out back into human after leaving.

I scurried to her door, slipped out under the gap again, and hurried back down the hall.

I didn't even get caught.

Not a single footstep behind me.

I slipped into my room and closed the door softly.

Then I switched back to human.

Green flash.

I leaned against my door, holding back laughter.

My chest shook.

My eyes watered.

I covered my mouth with my hand like an idiot.

"This is so dumb," I whispered.

And then I laughed anyway.

A quiet, helpless laugh.

Because I was going to miss being able to do things like that.

ANHS would be harder.

More eyes.

More risk.

But also…

More targets.

I sat down on the bed, wiping my face.

Then I looked at the uniform again.

Tomorrow.

I exhaled slowly.

Not nervous.

Not scared.

Just… ready.

I laid back on the bed, hands behind my head.

My wrist felt warm under my sleeve.

The Omnitrix was there.

Quiet.

Waiting.

And I smiled into the darkness, prepared for what's coming.

"Alright," I whispered. "Let's go meet the main cast."

I closed my eyes.

And this time, when sleep came—

It didn't feel like escape.

It felt like the calm before I walked into the most entertaining mess of my life.