Team Rose gasped as the Academy screens flickered 📺.
Teachers stood from their seats.
Students covered their mouths.
Even the principal leaned forward, eyes unblinking.
The sun rose slowly over the village ruins 🌅.
And then—
The little girl began to twist.
Bones cracked with sickening sounds.
Her skin darkened.
Claws burst from her fingers like blades 🩸.
Her spine bent unnaturally.
Her eyes ignited with red hunger 🔥.
In seconds—
She became a towering monster.
Ben stepped forward instinctively.
"I'll handle—"
Aren's voice cut through the air like thunder ⚡
"DON'T HURT HER.
SHE IS A KID."
Dust fell from the trees.
Even the tiny blue horse froze 🐎.
The monster lunged.
The ground shattered where Aren had stood.
Team Father did not attack.
They moved.
Ben rolled aside, heavy but smooth.
King slipped beneath claws with perfect control ⚔️.
Aren blocked with a massive shield pulled from his cube 🛡️.
Not once did they strike.
Not once did they raise a weapon.
🌞 Day and 🌑 Night
Every day—
She was a child.
Aren cooked for her 🍲.
Ben let her braid his hair 😂.
King told stories beside the fire 🔥.
The blue horse carried her proudly 🐎✨.
She laughed.
She hugged them.
She slept beside them.
Every night—
She became a monster.
She roared.
She attacked.
She tried to destroy everything.
And every night—
They endured.
They blocked.
They dodged.
They protected.
But they never hurt her.
Not once.
📺 The Academy Watches
The Academy watched in disbelief.
"THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING BACK!?"
"They're protecting her!?"
"How long can this last!?"
"This is insane…!"
Team Rose stood in silence.
Even Rias and Lyris said nothing.
The Academy quieted.
✨ The Change
One morning—
The transformation came again.
But this time—
She didn't attack.
She giggled.
She ran in small circles.
She pulled Ben's hair and laughed 😂.
She sat on King's lap.
She reached for Aren's hand—
…and held it 🤍
Her monster form…
Behaved like a child.
Team Rose lowered their heads.
"This is real…"
"They didn't defeat her…"
"They saved her…"
Commentators broke.
"This has NEVER happened!"
"They bonded with the curse!"
"This is a first in Academy history!"
Team Father rested quietly.
That night—
Aren fed her one last meal 🍲.
She fell asleep in his lap.
And for the first time—
She didn't change.
💧 The Farewell
Morning came.
She was gone.
No monster.
No child.
Only a message carved into the dirt:
"I curse you…
When you stand against evil,
no mind control will bind you.
Thank you.
Love you all…
family."
Below it—
A single drop of water.
A tear 💧
Ben knelt, voice shaking.
King wiped his eyes.
Aren stood still.
Silent.
The tiny blue horse lowered its head 🐎
The Academy said nothing.
No cheers.
No noise.
No breath.
Then—
The screens erupted 💥
"THEY SAVED HER!?"
"THAT WAS A DEATH TRIAL!"
"THIS SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE!"
"HOW DID THEY DO THIS!?"
Team Rose did not speak.
Rias whispered softly:
"Aren… is terrifying."
A pause.
"…but also…"
Lyris clenched her fist.
"…kind."
The announcer's voice broke:
"TEAM FATHER COMPLETES THE HARDEST MORAL STAGE
WITHOUT KILLING THE TARGET!
FIRST TIME IN 700 YEARS!"
🌙 Fathers Between Battles
Team Father did not celebrate.
Aren turned.
"Let's go."
"Next stage."
Ben nodded.
King exhaled slowly.
The horse let out a quiet sound 🐎
They walked.
Later—
They sat together on the grass.
No one spoke.
The wind slowed.
Leaves stayed still.
Even the waterfall softened 🌊
Ben finally said—
"…We're really fathers now… huh?"
King nodded.
"Yes."
Aren looked ahead.
"…We are."
The horse lifted its head.
"Ho… ho."
Aren placed a hand on its mane.
Three warriors.
One small guide.
No battle.
No glory.
Just—
Family 🤍
And the Academy watched—
Silent with them.