The zoo slowly returned to normal after the chaos.
Whispers followed Astra wherever he walked.
Some called him brave.
Some called him strange.
Some simply stared.
Yuki released his collar and let him stand on his own.
She crossed her arms, pretending to look unimpressed.
"Well… you did a good job today," she said casually. "I can't complain."
Astra blinked.
Was that… praise?
Before he could process it—
Honokage folded his arms and smirked. "The angry girl finally got humbled."
Yuki's eye twitched.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing," Honokage replied instantly.
He leaned down toward Astra, whispering.
"Your sister talks too much. Can't you control her?"
Astra leaned closer as well.
"She's uncontrollable. One brain cell. Talks like a donkey."
Honokage nodded seriously. "I lived inside her for years. I confirm this."
Both of them burst into quiet laughter.
Unfortunately…
They forgot one thing.
Yuki's hearing had sharpened over the past six years.
Suddenly—
She grabbed both of their collars from behind.
Her smile was bright.
Too bright.
Veins subtly pulsed on her forehead.
"What are you two whispering about… my dear Honey Hono-kun and little brother Astra?"
Both of them slowly turned their heads.
Their faces drained of color.
Sweat rolled down simultaneously.
Then—
BOOM.
A clean punch to Honokage.
SMACK.
A sharp slap to Astra.
The public froze.
Even the monkeys inside their cage hid behind trees.
Silence followed.
A few minutes later—
Yuki walked peacefully while eating ice cream.
"I told you sweetly not to talk about a lady like that."
Behind her—
Honokage's face was swollen on one side.
Astra's hair stood crooked from impact.
Honokage side-eyed Astra. "She taught us… very sweetly."
Astra nodded solemnly. "Better than expected."
They held hands dramatically.
"Let's go look at monkeys," Honokage muttered.
"Maybe they'll cheer us up."
They stood in front of the enclosure again.
The monkeys stared at their bruised faces.
Then—
They started mimicking them.
Holding cheeks.
Pretending to cry.
Laughing uncontrollably.
Astra's eyes filled with exaggerated tears.
"Even the monkeys mock us…"
Honokage looked at the sky.
"What a cruel world."
From afar, Yuki laughed so hard she had to wipe her own tears.
---
Evening arrived.
The sky turned orange as they exited the zoo.
Yuki walked ahead, smiling softly.
"Today was fun."
Behind her, Astra and Honokage dragged their feet.
"What's wrong with you two?" she asked.
Astra muttered, "You're a bad sistaaa…"
Honokage added quietly, "You're a terrible lover. I hate you from now."
Yuki stopped mid-step.
"EH?! Those were just jokes!"
No response.
They continued walking like abandoned souls.
Yuki sighed deeply.
"Fine. Let's go to a café."
Instant transformation.
Their spirits revived.
---
At the café—
Astra held a glass of cold coffee with sparkling eyes.
"This feels amazing."
Honokage leaned back with a satisfied grin.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Peaceful.
But peace never lasts long in their world.
---
Later that night—
At Sai's dojo.
Sai lay on the sofa with his legs crossed, eating tacos while flipping channels.
"Still heavenly," he murmured between bites.
Aoi entered with a tray of bubble tea.
"You want tea?"
Sai grabbed two without thinking. "Thanks."
Aoi froze.
"One is mine."
Sai blinked. "Oh. Just grab a cold drink then. I really like bubble tea."
The room grew quiet.
Aoi's tail stopped moving.
Her shadow covered her eyes.
"So… you don't care that I like it too."
The tray trembled.
Her eyes became glossy.
The tray slipped and fell.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Sai immediately stood up.
He placed everything aside and gently held her hand, guiding her to sit.
He pulled her into a warm hug.
"I care," he said softly. "I gave you a room here, didn't I? I want you safe. I think about you more than you realize."
She sniffed against his chest.
"You really do?"
He patted her head gently.
"Yes."
She hugged him tighter.
"Then… I love you."
The dojo door slid open.
"Oh senseiii~ Being romantic, huh?"
Sai and Aoi jumped apart instantly, both blushing.
Yuki stood there casually.
Aoi glared. "Why are you here this late?!"
Sai scratched his head awkwardly. "Good question."
Yuki stepped aside.
Behind her—
Astra peeked in nervously.
Yuki's voice turned serious.
"Sensei. It's time."
Sai raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"For his training."
Astra stiffened.
"Why so early?"
"Because you need it."
He slowly turned toward Honokage.
"You'll save me… right?"
Honokage folded his arms.
"Unfortunately… no."
Astra's soul left his body.
Sai suddenly stood up, cracking his knuckles with an excited grin.
"Finally. I get to train the next generation."
Aoi whispered sadly, "What about our romantic time?"
Sai waved dismissively. "Let the main character grow first!"
Astra shouted from the floor, "Who decided I'm the main character?!"
Yuki crossed her arms.
"I have a concert tomorrow. I won't be around for supervision. So start now."
Sai blinked. "Concert?"
Yuki smirked proudly. "Idol Yuki. Singing is my income now."
Sai looked impressed.
"Didn't know that."
She shrugged. "Life moves on."
Then she pointed at Astra.
"Make him stronger."
Her tone softened slightly.
"Because the world is changing."
That subtle shift didn't go unnoticed.
Sai's playful expression faded.
He looked at Astra differently now.
"Alright," Sai said calmly. "Training starts now."
---
Outside the dojo.
The night wind felt colder.
Astra stood in the courtyard.
Nervous.
Sai stepped in front of him.
"No magic. No dragon language. No shortcuts."
Astra swallowed.
"Then what?"
Sai tapped his chest.
"Discipline."
He threw a wooden sword at Astra.
Astra barely caught it.
"Show me your stance."
Astra tried.
It was sloppy.
Sai disappeared—
And reappeared behind him.
Tap.
A light strike to the back.
Astra fell forward instantly.
"Too slow."
He stood again.
Again.
And again.
Every time he fell.
Every time he stood.
Hours passed.
Sweat covered his small frame.
His arms trembled.
His legs shook.
"I can't…" he whispered.
Sai stepped closer.
"You commanded crocodiles today."
"That was instinct…"
"Good. Now learn control."
Astra clenched the wooden sword tighter.
For the first time—
He didn't feel like a child.
He felt pressure.
Real pressure.
He charged again.
This time—
Sai didn't strike immediately.
He observed.
The stance was still rough.
But there was determination.
Good.
Very good.
---
Far away.
In the jungle.
Wano walked among lions and tigers, guiding them peacefully.
Then—
The sky cracked briefly.
A small meteor shot downward and struck the forest floor.
The ground shook.
Animals scattered.
Wano immediately shifted into her human form and rushed toward the impact site.
Smoke rose.
The meteor cracked open.
Inside—
A small chamber.
From it emerged—
A pink slime.
It bounced slightly.
"I am Uraka. Species: Slime. Gender: Female."
Wano blinked.
"You… speak?"
"Yes."
"Which world is this?"
"Earth."
Uraka paused.
"…Then I am far from Ajuba."
"Ajuba?" Wano asked carefully.
Uraka's tone shifted.
"I was exiled."
Wano's eyes sharpened.
"Why?"
The slime trembled slightly.
"I will tell later."
-To Be Continued-