The office was quiet again.
Sunlight no longer felt warm inside Vice President Fella's room. It merely illuminated stacks of unfinished work.
She paused mid-writing.
On the top of the file was a familiar name.
Leo.
Her fingers hovered over the paper as memories resurfaced.
"Someone like Luka Muka Man… to become that strong after a rebirth…" she murmured softly. "It should have been impossible."
Her eyes narrowed.
"When he became Leo, he nearly defeated Argon. If Argon hadn't activated that explosive skill…"
She stopped.
Leo didn't lose.
He chose to end it.
She closed the file slowly.
"We need to prepare for future threats," she whispered to herself. "Research Leo's atomic power. Understand it. Recreate it if possible."
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
"But Blu still hasn't returned…"
The air shifted.
A ripple.
A distortion.
Before she could react, space itself folded inward.
A figure appeared in the middle of the office, cape fluttering gently as if wind followed him from another world.
Arms folded.
Eyes closed.
Blu.
Fella's chair nearly fell backward.
"President Blu?!"
He opened one eye slightly.
"Shh. Don't shout. Or the entire building will rush in here."
She quickly covered her mouth, then stood up.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"You're back…"
A relieved smile formed on her face.
"I was really worried. Why did it take you six years? You said three."
Blu walked calmly toward the sofa and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. He picked up the AC remote and adjusted the temperature like nothing extraordinary had happened.
"To repair the planets and the moon," he said casually, "it took me two years."
Fella blinked.
"Two?"
She stepped closer.
"Then why didn't you return four years ago? You know how much has changed here."
Blu was quiet for a moment.
"Yes. I know."
Her expression became serious.
"Tell me the real reason."
Blu didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he asked softly, "How is Paras City? And the jungle?"
Fella exhaled slowly.
"The reconstruction is going well. New buildings, amusement parks, pollution-free factories, greenhouses… The jungle is recovering too. Wano is maintaining balance."
Blu nodded.
"Good."
She folded her arms.
"Now answer me."
He leaned back slightly.
"Honestly… I was on Neptune."
The files slipped from her hands and scattered across the floor.
"Neptune?" she whispered.
"Our home planet?"
Her voice trembled.
"Why?"
Blu's gaze softened.
"I wanted to see our people again. Stay for a while. Make sure everything was stable."
He paused.
"And I saw your daughter, Mino."
Fella froze.
Her pupils shrank.
She rushed forward and grabbed Blu's hand tightly.
"Mino?"
Her voice cracked.
"My daughter…"
Her eyes filled instantly.
"Is she okay? Is she alive? Does she still go to school? Tell me!"
Blu looked at her silently.
"Answer me," she pleaded. "Not as your Vice President. As a mother."
Blu finally spoke.
"She is well."
Fella closed her eyes and inhaled sharply.
"She goes to school regularly. Your husband takes care of her. And… she no longer suffers from cancer."
The tears that formed now were different.
Relief.
"Thank you…" she whispered. "Ever since I left Neptune to come to Earth, I've worried every single day."
Blu stood up slowly.
"I should meet the others. Discuss development plans."
He walked toward the exit.
But as he stepped into the hallway, his expression changed.
Inside his mind—
I'm sorry.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Your daughter died fighting cancer.
That's why I stayed four extra years.
I tried everything.
My magic didn't work.
His cape fluttered again as he walked down the corridor, face unreadable.
---
Back inside the office, Fella slowly gathered the fallen papers.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"I can feel it…" she whispered.
She placed a hand over her chest.
"He lied."
Her voice was soft. Broken.
"I hope… she's really okay."
But somewhere deep inside, a mother's instinct screamed.
---
Meanwhile, at Yuki's house—
The atmosphere was far lighter.
Yuki stepped out wearing a simple flowing frock, her ponytail swaying gently. The cloth still covered her right eye. Her golden left eye glowed softly under sunlight.
Astra stood beside her in his red hoodie, hands in his pockets.
"Is the zoo safe?" he asked suspiciously.
"Of course it's safe," Yuki replied calmly. "As long as you don't jump on animals."
A presence appeared beside her.
Honokage.
No horns. No monstrous aura.
Just a clean, simple outfit and relaxed posture.
"Yo," he greeted lazily.
Yuki smirked. "You're coming too?"
"Why not?"
Astra leaned closer and examined him carefully.
"Who is this bad boy uncle?"
Yuki immediately pressed Astra's head down lightly.
"He's just my friend."
"Friend… or something else?"
Honokage raised one eyebrow.
Yuki's face warmed slightly.
"Don't talk like an adult, kiddo. Just friend."
Astra crossed his arms.
"At least buy me ice cream so I don't expose anything."
Yuki rolled her eyes.
"Deal."
They bumped fists.
Honokage smirked.
"Siblings making shady contracts already?"
---
The zoo was lively.
Children ran everywhere.
Astra walked along the path, observing gorillas and chimpanzees carefully.
A small monkey inside a cage grinned at him.
Astra tried to copy the grin.
Failed.
"Bro," Astra said seriously, "your teeth are whiter than mine. What toothpaste are you using?"
The monkey grinned even wider.
Yuki burst into laughter.
"He thinks monkeys use toothbrushes!"
Honokage crossed his arms.
"Some of them do."
Yuki stopped laughing.
"What?"
He pointed.
In another enclosure, a monkey rubbed its teeth with a tree branch, dipping it into algae-covered water before brushing again.
Its teeth shone surprisingly clean.
Yuki's jaw dropped.
"What is that?!"
Astra pointed proudly.
"See? I told you!"
Honokage rubbed his forehead.
"This is cursed life, not wildlife."
---
Later, at the zoo canteen—
Astra sat at the far corner bench, munching on chicken lollipops happily.
Yuki and Honokage sat together eating noodles.
Yuki glanced at him repeatedly.
Honokage narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you staring?"
"Nothing," she said casually. "You look cute while eating."
He smirked confidently.
"I know."
At the far bench, Astra finished eating and stood up.
"I'll wash my hands."
As he walked away—
A scream tore through the air.
"HELP! MY BABY!"
Astra scratched his head.
"Huh?"
He looked back.
Yuki and Honokage were still mid-conversation.
The scream came again.
He followed the crowd.
Near the crocodile enclosure—
A small child had fallen inside.
Several massive crocodiles slowly surrounded the crying child.
Security guards panicked, unable to act fast enough.
The mother screamed hysterically.
Astra blinked.
"Why are they shouting so much?"
He stared at the crocodiles.
"They feel like me."
Before anyone could react—
He jumped over the barrier.
"WAIT!" someone shouted. "Don't go!"
He landed calmly between the child and the crocodiles.
The reptiles froze.
Astra's silver eyes changed subtly.
His presence shifted.
He pointed at them and released a low growl.
But it wasn't human language.
It was ancient.
Draconic.
"OI," he roared softly. "You resemble me. But I am superior. Return to your water and dream of meat."
The crocodiles trembled.
Sweat formed on their rough scales.
They stepped back.
Then bowed.
And retreated into the lake.
The entire zoo went silent.
Astra lifted the child gently and handed her to her mother.
She collapsed to her knees, crying.
"Thank you, little hero…"
Astra scratched his cheek shyly.
"It was nothing."
Security guards stared in disbelief.
"What kind of child is that?"
Suddenly—
Yuki appeared behind him and grabbed his collar.
"I told you not to wander off!"
Astra looked at her with sleepy eyes.
"I was just playing."
A random witness stepped forward.
"Ma'am, he saved that child."
Yuki blinked.
"Saved?"
The mother nodded repeatedly.
"He scared the crocodiles away."
Yuki stared at Astra.
"You can't even kill a mosquito properly. How did you save someone?"
Astra giggled.
But as Yuki looked at the crocodiles…
She noticed something strange.
They weren't acting normal.
They were trembling.
Still.
As if something far older than them had just spoken.
Far above the sky—
Far beyond Earth—
A Dragon's Breath.
"To be continued... "