Arca Resident District: Kairos's Home
I took the bus home. It took over an hour.
By the time I stepped off, the sky was already dark. Streetlights cast long shadows as I walked up the driveway of a modest two-story house.
I opened the wooden door and called out, "I'm home."
The living room lights were on.
Three women sat on the couch.
A young girl with platinum-blonde hair lounged across the armrest, wearing a jean jacket over a white top and a black skirt. She looked relaxed—too relaxed—swinging one leg lazily.
In the middle sat a slightly older woman with darker hair, dressed in a black top and beige skirt, eyes glued to her phone.
Beside her was an older woman with the same pale hair as the youngest. She wore a red nightgown beneath a white robe and was quietly knitting, needles clicking in a steady rhythm.
The older woman looked up and stood.
"So?" she asked gently. "How did your awakening go today?"
"How do you think it went, Mother?" the middle one replied without looking up.
"Coming back this late? I bet he awakened some trash-tier ability."
"Eliza," the youngest said quickly, glancing at me, "you can't say that. What if Kairos actually awakened something powerful?"
Eliza scoffed, finally looking up and crossing her arms.
"Him? Please. This guy only knows how to be a simp. You think he suddenly got a god-tier ability?"
I sat down across from them.
"That's enough," the older woman said firmly.
"He's your brother. Why are you trying so hard to tear him down?"
I poured myself a glass of water, letting them argue as if I weren't there.
"I don't have a brother that embarrassing," Eliza muttered, clearly annoyed.
"Kairos, whether you believe me or not, I've got bad news for you."
She grinned cruelly.
"That 'pure and innocent' Asa you've been chasing for years? She just latched onto a rich guy. She's about to dump you."
I leaned back, calm—laughing internally.
"Oh?" I said casually. "You sound well-informed. I believe you."
Then I added, "But you didn't hear. I dumped her first."
Eliza froze.
"…You dumped her?" She stared at me. "There's no way I buy that. Do you, Aimee?"
Aimee clenched her fists, her expression suddenly serious.
"Kairos… you're not taking the breakup so badly that you're hallucinating, are you?"
"What?!" I stared at them.
"Do you really think I'm that hopeless?"
Aimee and Eliza answered at the same time.
"Aren't you?"
"…Damn," I muttered to myself.
Was the old me really that pathetic?
"Enough," the older woman said again.
"Kairos, honestly, I don't care what tier you awakened."
She paused, then said calmly, "I've already thought it through. Aimee can bond with you."
"Mom?!" Eliza snapped. "What are you talking about?! How can Aimee bond with him? That's messed up!"
The woman smiled serenely.
"What's the problem? First of all, Kairos isn't related to us by blood."
Right.
Carolina took me in when I was six. I'm basically a foster child.
Aimee's cheeks turned pink. She smiled shyly.
"I… I don't really mind. As long as it's Kairos, I'm okay with it."
Eliza exploded.
"Aimee! Do you have no shame?!"
"Eliza, that's enough," Carolina said sharply.
"If Aimee can't fuse with Kairos, then it falls to you."
Eliza clenched her fists, furious.
"…Are you serious?!"
Aimee gasped, covering her mouth.
"What?!"
Eliza's anger drained into pure embarrassment.
"Mom—do you even know what a bond means?! That would mean I'd have to… m-marry him!"
"I object!" Aimee shouted.
"Objection denied," Carolina replied flatly.
"It's settled."
"I—" Aimee started—
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
A moment later, knocking followed.
"Aimee!" a man shouted from outside.
"Aimee, are you home? It's me—your classmate, Justin!"
Carolina glanced toward the door.
"Aimee, your classmate is here."
"I heard him," Aimee said irritably.
"He really can't take a hint, can he? He's like a fly that won't go away."
She stood and walked toward the door.
"Who is this Justin?" Carolina asked.
"Another simp," Eliza replied instantly, pointing at me.
"Just like him."
"Hey," I said, annoyed, "why are you pointing at me when you say that?"
"Hmph. I'm just warning you," Eliza said smugly.
"Simps never get a good ending."
"…You're impossible," I muttered.
Aimee stepped outside, closing the door behind her.
Outside.
"Aimee! I finally get to see you after the awakening!"
"Seriously?" she snapped.
"Did my telling you to avoid me not register? I didn't want to see you."
"Huh?" Justin blinked. "Why would you avoid me?"
"Since you asked," Aimee said sharply, "I don't want to bond with you."
"W-Why not?"
"I already have someone else in mind."
Justin stiffened.
"Who? Who could be more suitable than me?"
He smirked.
"You're an S-tier War Maiden. I'm an S-tier Core Pilot. Aside from the SSS-tier pilot at the top academy, who's more compatible with you than me?"
"It's none of your concern who I bond with," Aimee said coldly.
"Even if you're S-tier, I'd never choose you."
Justin's expression darkened.
"You don't get to choose," he said sharply.
"You're S-tier. Only S-tier or higher pilots are qualified."
Aimee clenched her fists.
"That's how we contribute to the Imperium's war against the Chthari and Kaiju," Justin continued.
"If you don't agree, I'll report this to the governor and have him force you to bond with me."
Aimee stared at him, furious.
"You'd pressure me using the governor?"
"It's not pressure," Justin said, smiling.
"It's a necessity."
I stepped forward.
"By that logic," I said calmly, "wouldn't an SSS-tier Core Pilot be even more qualified than you?"