Hayato failed to hold his excitement in the living room. The first present was from William and Grace. It was heavier than he thought. Still, he giggled.

His mother gasped upon seeing the sleek black metal. She regretted turning off her foresight. However, her son had no such thoughts.

He pulled before anyone could intervene—and nothing. They heard thunder from the barrel like the real deal. Yet, only smoke came out. William revealed it was nontoxic.

“You can change the sound, dear.” Grace guided him to a button below the trigger. The pistol had now mimicked a suppressed fire. “If I were you, I wouldn’t play with that outside.”

Hayato understood quicker than she realized. He preferred playing with his magic. “But thanks so much, Godmom!” He hugged both instead.

Next was Calico’s gift. It was the most lavish of all. So much so that Hokori sat in shock. “Damn… That’s some saucy drip right there.”

The recipient’s joy tripled. He wasted no time wearing the loose purple shirt. Its black lightning lines ran diagonally to the right. Between every bolt had continuous words. “Laughter is unbidden.” colorfully emboldened in English, Japanese, Korean, and French.

What Hayato loved the most was the pearly white cartoon smile in front. They all saw six separate letters from top to bottom. He was indeed a “fun lad,” his mind agreed. In fact, he could not see Calico nearing his side.

The sleeve reverted instantly like it never received a cut. “Ain’t it cool, Hayato?” He stored his butterfly knife. “Dad stole that from a passing cargo!”

His eyes widened briefly before recalling their illegal skyfaring lifestyle. Somehow, criminals giving him a Charles Frederick warmed his heart. Now, he could use his saved 700K Geld for other things.

Tokino cleared her throat to end his hugging. She presented the smallest box they had for him. “Your Dad and I built this overnight. Your Big Bro helped, too.”

It just got better and better for the birthday boy. His smile and eyes widened as he unwrapped a snow globe. It showed every adventure they had a year ago in vivid 3D. In sheer timing, his favorite moment played.

He winded a key at the copper bottom. Betty Noyes’ “Baby Mine” played like a music box—his favorite lullaby. Tearing up, he could not help but embrace again.

Haruto patted his head. “It’s not over yet, Hayato. Your other Sis has hers to share.”

Yukino ran and giggled toward him. She gently handed him a slightly bigger box. Unwrapping again, he gasped. Weeks ago, a toy commercial enthralled him. He immediately turned on the limited edition Automodachi.

Unlike its silver cousins, its white Palladium build glistened. It had more than just better AI that could swat flies 100%. Jetpacks sprouted from its back. Hayato had endless laughter as the mini robot flew around the house.

The Automodachi landed on his palm and turned into a hexagonal prism. “It’s voice-commanded, Lil Bro,” explained his sister. “Though, it’s still in the works.” She smiled, hands tied behind. Sadly, it did not take long for her glow to fade.

Three presents remained. Hokori got off his favorite couch after feeding Bleeker in the wall tank. He chuckled. “You gon’ love this, kiddo. I don’t believe in saving the best for last.”

Yukino sweated bullets and hyperventilated as he walked closer to Hayato’s enormous gift. Her mother held her shoulder in worry. “It’s not that, Mama,” she replied. “I’m scared… of the next one.”

She flash-stepped before her uncle with arms raised in a T. Her breathing worsened by the second. She shook her head faster as he reached anyway. Pushing him with all her might was the only option.

Everyone stood and saw Hokori getting pushed despite his towering body. Frankly, he would never want to fight his niece. She continued until the floorboards cracked beneath both feet. Eventually, she threw a jab to the stomach.

Her innate ability made him feel every sting despite the zero damage. He grunted and got his head off the fireplace. Once again, not a scratch had laid, and only ash. He cracked his neck and sighed. “C’mon, now, kiddo. Don’t make me choose my favorite one. We gotta—”

“I don’t care!” Her eyes closed. “S-Screw all of you!” She shouted louder.

They expressed nothing but sheer bafflement. Even Calico never dreamt of saying such things to his parents. Tokino covered her mouth. “Honey, what’s gotten into you…!?”

Haruto stepped in and sighed. “I was afraid of this phase. Jealousy unleashed her ‘young lady’ streak.” He walked only for Hokori to raise an arm before him.

He shook his head and tsked. “Nah, boy. You’re way off. In fact, you’re on Pluto.” He kneeled and turned around. Then, they all felt shame. Nestled in his arms was a broken bird. Its sorrows would not stop on his chest. Its parents did not arrive when it needed them most. Hearts aching, sorrows flowed out of them as well.

He rubbed Yukino’s back. It took three minutes until the house calmed. He gently put her down. “Shhh… Tell me anythin’, kiddo. What’s wrong?”

She stopped rubbing her eyes and muttered for him to come closer. His right ear had not missed any detail. Everyone else stood from behind. In particular, Hayato quietly shed the most. She was an idol.

Hokori tucked her blanket on a couch. After feeding the fireplace, he sighed and turned. “She hated how our ‘hearts’ felt. We smiled and laughed. It was too much for her—knowing another party right now.”

Hayato cocked his head over his last words. Everyone got told to sit down. So, he sat beside his sleeping sister. He felt the need to give every bit of warmth.

His uncle tented his fingers below, legs spread. A silent minute later, his head moved up. “Listen up, kiddo. Before a super-depressive story, I got questions.” He straightened his back and pointed. “Ever watched Hollywood dramas? Past sadness, overcomin’ the odds, and whatnot?”

Hayato nodded even as he sat confused. “I cried at The Lion King. Is that ‘drama’?”

Hokori smiled faintly. “Nail on the head, kiddo. Except it ain’t like that for your Big Sis. In her case, sadness follows no matter what. Even with us, it won’t change. Just like her looks.”

He listened closely to the story for hours alongside William’s family. As for his own, Haruto had to escort Tokino upstairs. Ten minutes in, the waterworks had already begun.

In the Imhotep Inn, a boy with skates landed outside. As the sliding door opened, he stored his footwear. Every doctor and nurse failed to reach his ears. “She’s fine, sir. We’ll handle it this time.”, “She told us not to let you in at any cost. Please, listen!”

Not even the Head of the Department could end his stride. He almost fell from his cane only to regain balance. He took a deep breath. “Kakunō!!” Surprisingly, it worked. “Don’t turn us from not helping you. We’ll move ahead.”

He did not bother to look at him and only nodded. Down the hallway, the air grew colder. Another obstacle stood before him. In fact, it was three. He wasted no time giving them sweet dreams via runes. Then, he cast more onto the massive safe hatch.

Inside, he merely sat against a wall. He chose not to disturb the ongoing party. “Too bright…” he looked up at the bulbs in the white room. Next, he looked at the chrome pods from afar.

In front of Kakunō was the ‘party’ he spoke off. It was little more than a chair and table. The ‘lucky’ recipient downed her fourth vodka. “Wanna know something, Dad?” slurred Kenkō, eyes drooping. “My brother, the blood god, said someone might date me; stunted, ginger, little ol’ me.

She poured another. “Then my other brother, country boy, said they’d get the death penalty. But come on. Even shorties can dream!” Her laugh echoed around the room. The pods before her remained floating yet unmoving.

The conversation devolved into ramblings about apples and oranges—and even economic inflation. Kakunō turned away. He could not bear to imagine fake voices himself.

Kenkō decided to drink from the bottle until empty. After three hours of talking, she raised a toast. “I don’t mean anything by it, guys. My heart won’t change as I turn ninety. Right, coz?” Suddenly, her smile faded. “Coz?”

Kakunō opened his eyes again. His heart raced upon hearing the sharp, ringing tune. However, his sister’s pace was a thousand steps ahead.

She quickly ran and panted. Below, the vitals crushed all her hopes. “0 BPM….” She pressed every button on the touchscreen. By design, the pods would not open. Now, she had regret atop fear.

She pressed randomly faster. Her beads of panic grew twice their size. “No… No, no, no! I can fix it. I can fix it!” She punched down and tangled the wires within. “Wait for me, coz. Wait for me!” Her calloused hands had burned and bled once more.

Moments later, an army of staff flooded the room. Dr. Gregory led them all. “She’s doing it again!” his colleague pointed. “Don’t worry, sir. We got this!” He, alongside others, brought out a human harness.

Kenkō tore apart the Palladium casing like the world’s weakest fabric. Before she knew it, her magic had disappeared. She could not even pull the wires. Nurses pinned her down with all their might. The harness had sewed tighter. Still, her struggles were relentless. “No!!” She resorted to scratching. “I can fix it. Please! Please, please, please! I can—”

After they donned her muzzle, the blindfold was next. The screams echoed to their peak. It remained ear-piercing somehow. Above all, her physiology was divisive as ever. No magic or not, she hurled a colleague two meters onto his back.

Gregory could not hope to land a shot on her forearm. He needed something of equal value. “Kakunō!” his head turned. “Hold her again. We can’t deal with this!” He got thrown a short distance, but he carried on.

The archmage sighed and stood. “I don’t know, man. Y’all said, ‘you got this.’ It serves you right for your guinea pig to fight back.”

“Now’s not the time, dipshit!” he turned again. “That was ages ago. Kenkō’s no more of a sister than the others here!”

His words made his eyes light up beyond belief. He panted loudly. “No more than a what?” Fists clenched, he flash-stepped toward the pitiful victim. His right hand had placed firmly on her chest.

She felt a familiar hold and instinctively clawed at it to no end. Red dripped on her arms as she continued harder and faster. The screams echoed further, drooling from her muzzle. Three minutes later, the potassium cyanide had set it.

Her skin now matched the floor beneath. Before lights out, she quietly shed some more. “It hurts, Lil Bro… so much. It hurts both ways.”

Gregory stretched his back and applauded with his cane held. “Mission accomplished, soldier. Here’s hoping for next year.” His colleagues sighed in relief and went outside. They had so much to tell back home.

Kakunō’s healing skills were never enough. After wiping his upper arm, he carried his long-gone sister. “She won’t stay this way, man. You of all asswipes should know.” He turned to the doctor with eyes glared. “Never speak of our bonds again.”

The Head of the Department sighed and was the last to exit. He had so much to report to his team. Out of twenty, nine remained.

At the highest story, the air was just right. Kenkō laid soundly in bed, and her skin returned to color every five minutes. She slowly opened her eyes and saw her brother. Behind him were her remaining friends.

They shed no tears and beamed with confidence. It was time for another therapy. Lillian told her to multiply numbers by two, and Dorethea moved her fingers back and forth. Lastly, Florence cupped her hand as Kakunō massaged her shoulders.

“Kaori’s dead,” he said softly. “We couldn’t do anything. Cry tomorrow.” He repeated the words over and over. Every time he did, she would gasp loudly and hyperventilate. Tears slowly ran down.