⇲   𝐊𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐆𝐎𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘,
𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 〉 𝐉𝐀𝐏𝐀𝐍  !
XXXX. ✿ CIRCA JUNE 2012.
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠     𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
BJ LIPS.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Odette had never been a big fan of sushi. It wasn't that she hated it, but her taste buds just never vibed with it the way they did with heartier meals.

Watching everyone fight over it while she leisurely cracked open crab legs, dipping the tender meat into a creamy garlic butter sauce, and twirling her fork in a plate of chicken and shrimp alfredo? Now that was a dinner made in heaven.

The Ayase residence was in chaos, as usual. Seiko had kicked the Dover Demon for reasons unknown, Turbo Granny was repeatedly smacking Okarun upside the head for existing, and Aira and Momo were in a heated battle over the last piece of premium sushi on the plate.

"You're a guest!" Momo screeched, yanking at the plate. "You don't need that much food!"

"You're just mad I got to it first!" Aira shot back, snatching a piece of wasabi and flinging it in Momo's direction.

Okarun, sitting beside Odette, rubbed the growing lump on his head, shooting her a pleading look. "Dot, help me!"

Odette, mid-crack of a crab leg, arched a perfectly sculpted brow at Turbo Granny, who was about to strike again. With effortless speed, she snatched the old yokai up mid-air, holding her like a wriggling cat.

"Aht aht!" she scolded. "No violence when I'm eating, and especially not next to my food."

"Freakin' brat! Let me go!" Turbo Granny hissed, thrashing in her grip.

"Not until you chill out, Granny." Odette's tone was final, and Turbo Granny begrudgingly went limp.

"ENOUGH!" Seiko's voice boomed, her tone drenched in exasperation. She slammed her hands on the table, silencing everyone. "I am never serving you guys sushi again!"

Okarun slumped against the table with a dramatic sigh, turning his gaze to Odette, who was thoroughly unbothered by the commotion.

Sitting next to her, their shoulders brushing, he watched as she methodically cracked another crab leg, dipping the meat in butter before popping it into her mouth. She caught him staring and poked his cheek with an acrylic nail, her lips curling into a playful smirk.

"Eyes on your own plate, Kenny," she teased.

Turbo Granny, not one to be ignored for long, attempted to kick Okarun again, but Odette caught her once more, holding her like an unruly child.

"Hey! You weren't supposed to catch that!" Turbo Granny screeched.

"Granny, if you don't calm down, I'll send you to bed without dessert," Odette warned, her tone light but firm.

Seiko, watching the exchange, sighed deeply and leaned against the wall. "This household is a circus."

Later that evening, the Dover Demon, now bandaged and looking much less feral, sat before the group. His clawed hands trembled as he recounted his story.

"My son is ill. He'll die unless he's given new blood every day," he began, his voice thick with emotion. "My wife died from the same illness. For treatment, I need money."

The room fell silent, everyone listening intently.

"Because I'm weak," the alien continued, his eyes cast downward, "my wife had to die, I injured all of you, and my son is facing so much hardship. I'm so pathetic."

Odette leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. "Guess we've got no choice but to help the lil' shit," she said bluntly.

"Language, Dot!" Momo chided, though her tone lacked any real bite.

Seiko, standing by the doorway, wrinkled her nose. "Your blood stinks," she said plainly, making the alien flinch.

"Wait, what?! That's—" Okarun started, jumping to the Dover Demon's defense.

"Relax, four-eyes," Seiko interrupted, waving him off dismissively. "I'm not bullying him. It's just a fact."

Odette, watching the scene, tilted her head slightly as the pieces clicked into place. "Oh, so that's why he smelled like soiled or rotten milk," she mused. "I hate that smell."

Seiko grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge, slid it across the table to the alien, and motioned for him to drink. Hesitant at first, the Dover Demon eventually took a sip. His eyes widened in surprise.

"This is... the same," he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.

Seiko crossed her arms. "Milk is equivalent to blood for your kind, isn't it?"

The alien nodded slowly, realization dawning on him.

"Maybe a local farmer can lend us a cow? But who would willingly do that?" Odette suggested, throwing her hands up.

"Not a bad idea," Seiko said with a shrug. "I'll call a dairy farmer I know. He owes me a favor."

The Dover Demon's large eyes brimmed with tears. "Thank you... I'll never forget this kindness."

The group stepped outside as the Dover Demon prepared to board his ship, a cow floating alongside him in a beam of light. Okarun's eyes sparkled with childlike wonder, his excitement palpable.

"This is amazing!" he whispered, watching the spacecraft intently.

Odette couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, a warm feeling blooming in her chest. She nudged his arm gently. "You're such a nerd," she teased, though her tone was fond.

The Dover Demon turned to the group one last time, bowing deeply. "I will forever remember this generosity."

As the ship ascended, Odette cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "GOOD LUCK! I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL FOR YOUR SON!"

With a final hum of its engines, the spaceship disappeared into the night sky.

Momo turned to her grandmother with an expectant look. "Grandma, you have to believe in aliens now, right?"

Seiko snorted. "Huh? That was just a kappa."

Momo's face twisted in frustration. "WHAT?! Okarun, Odette, say something!"

Odette, completely unbothered, stretched her arms over her head. "As long as I can make more Alfredo in her kitchen, I'm good,"

Seiko smirked. "Sure, you learned from the best."

"What?! That's unfair!" Momo wailed. "You won't even let me touch a kitchen knife!"

"She can cook, Momo. You can't," Seiko said without missing a beat.

Aira burst into laughter, and Odette snorted, savoring the look of betrayal on Momo's face.

"Also Kenny already said Kappa and Aliens are essentially the same as research shows, so..."

"See! You have to believe me, Grandma!"

"Nope, definitely a kappa."

———

The air in the Ayase household buzzed with energy, the usual blend of chaos, food, and frustration hanging thick in the atmosphere. Momo, Okarun, and Aira knelt dramatically on the floor in front of Seiko, their hands clasped in exaggerated desperation.

The three of them looked like peasants pleading with a cruel ruler, and if Odette weren't so preoccupied with her pasta, she might've laughed at the sheer theatrics of it all.

"Please! Buy us some school uniforms with Ms. Dodoria's appearance fees!" Momo begged, voice nearly cracking with effort.

Odette idly twirled her fork in her pasta, the rich Alfredo sauce clinging to the noodles as she listened with one ear. Her phone was pressed between her cheek and shoulder as she tried to juggle eating and responding to her grandmother's lecture.

"How many times do I have to buy your uniforms, you dumbasses?" Seiko's voice rang out, unimpressed.

"Next time, we will wear them very carefully!" Momo promised, nodding furiously.

Odette sighed as she listened to Grandma Mo's familiar voice berating her over the phone. "I know Grandma... I promise I'm not trying to ruin my uniform on purpose..."

'You're burning through uniforms like it's a damn fashion show,' her grandmother scolded lightly. 'Seiko already bought this one, but don't think this is gonna keep happening.'

"But Momo & Ken got their clothes torn too!"

Grandma Mo's voice was sharp but tinged with exasperated fondness. 'I don't care what anyone else's children are doing, I care about my granddaughter. And I know Seiko already covered for you last time, but this is becoming a bit of a nasty habit.'

Odette sighed, stabbing at her pasta lazily. "It's not like I want my uniform to get torn up, but it's not my fault Yokai and aliens keep wanting to start shit."

Grandma Mo scoffed. 'It doesn't matter whose fault it is. You better find a way to make that uniform last, 'cause I'm not buying another one anytime soon.'

Simultaneously, back at the dinner table, Aira nudged Momo with a conspiratorial whisper. "Is it okay for us too?" she asked, her tone hopeful.

"We don't have money. In times like this, it's best to exploit the financial power of adults," Momo whispered back, flashing a mischievous grin.

Okarun gave her a look of disapproval. "By the way, this is the third time," he pointed out.

Seiko rolled her eyes, arms crossed. "Aira and four-eyes, I'll buy uniforms for you two."

Momo shot up, offended. "Hold on! Why am I not included?!"

"I don't like your eyes. Those eyes that want to exploit the financial power of adults," Seiko deadpanned.

Momo gasped, hand flying to her chest. "That's discrimination!" she accused.

"It's common sense," Seiko corrected. "I'll only buy yours if you do an impression of Hiroshi Abe."

Momo recoiled as if she'd been slapped. "What?!" Her expression was pure horror.

Odette, still half-listening to her own conversation, shook her head in amusement. She could practically feel Momo's soul leave her body at the demand.

"Come on, say it. Who are you speaking to?" Seiko pressed. "Say it! It won't take any skin off my nose. With no deal for your uniform, I don't care either way because I don't have to go to school."

Meanwhile, Odette finally wrapped up her conversation with her grandmother, using her best innocent voice.

"My problem is you. Buying uniforms constantly is a waste, and I won't keep doing it just 'cause Yokai and aliens wanna throw hands...and don't curse while I'm talking to you...I'll let you slide this time."

Odette sighed, knowing she wouldn't win this argument. "Okay, okay... love you, bye-bye," she said quickly before hanging up.

Turning her attention back to the scene in front of her, she walked toward the table, hands resting on her hips. "What did I miss?"

Momo looked like she was in the middle of having a breakdown. "While you were having a conversation with your grandma, mine wants me to make a stupid and embarrassing impression!"

"If she wants that uniform, she has to suck it up and do it," Aira chimed in unhelpfully.

Odette shrugged. "She's got a point."

Momo shot her a betrayed look.

Taking a deep breath, Momo steeled herself, her entire body tense with humiliation. With a deep, suffering sigh, she morphed her face and changed her posture.

Odette tilted her head as she watched the performance unfold. She wasn't sure if she should laugh or close her eyes out of secondhand embarrassment.

'Poor Momo, I'd hate to be her right now.'

Aira, on the other hand, was thriving on Momo's misery. She erupted into laughter the moment she saw the expression on Momo's face. "What's with the face? That's so out there."

Okarun chuckled behind his hand. "That looks so uncomfortable."

Aira smirked. "Let me take a pic."

"Absolutely not!" Momo snapped, smacking Aira's phone away.

"Gotta stay in character Momo! That's nothing like him!" Seiko scoffed with a teasing tone.

Before Momo could launch into another argument, the doorbell rang.

"Hey, Momo. You answer that," Seiko said casually. Then, with a wicked smirk, she added, "Keep doing your impression, though."

Momo's face paled. "WHAT?!"

Seiko's smirk widened. "You heard me."

Grumbling under her breath, Momo dragged herself to the door, still pulling the ridiculous face Seiko had demanded.

The rest of the group leaned forward, peeking toward the entrance as the door swung open.

And then—

"Jiji?!" Momo exclaimed.

The entire room stilled.

Odette's eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the newcomer. He was tall, definitely taller than anyone else in the room. His posture was relaxed, his demeanor easygoing, and his face... well, she couldn't deny he was attractive. He had a smooth charm about him, an effortless confidence that could make someone drop their guard.

But as soon as their eyes met for a split second, Odette's stomach twisted with unease.

Something felt off.

Her gut reaction wasn't admiration or curiosity. It was dread.

There was something—something too sharp, too knowing, too off.

A single word echoed in her mind.

Evil Eye.

Okarun felt the way Odette stiffened beside him, the way her hand, usually so warm in his own, went slightly clammy. It was subtle, but he noticed. He always noticed.

Brushing some of her thick curls behind her ear, he leaned in slightly, voice soft yet laced with concern. "Dot, are you okay?"

Her eyes remained locked on Jiji, lips parting as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. The energy around her had shifted completely, the easygoing, confident girl suddenly looking... uneasy.

"Yeah..." she finally murmured.

Okarun didn't buy it for a second.

Aira, who had been busy watching Momo's embarrassing ordeal just moments ago, turned toward Seiko with an arched brow. "Who the hell is that?"

Seiko exhaled in amusement, her lips curving into a smirk as she leaned back. "That?" She tilted her head toward Jiji, watching the scene unfold with an almost predatory interest. "That's Momo's childhood friend... and her first crush."

Okarun felt something sharp lodge itself in his chest. His fingers twitched where they were still laced with Odette's, his grip tightening instinctively.

First crush?

He glanced at Odette, his stomach twisting at the way she still hadn't moved, hadn't spoken. It wasn't like her to freeze up like this, to be so visibly unsettled.

It made something ugly burn in his gut.