----
Training went well.
That was how Asuka chose to phrase it.
Kayden would have phrased it differently.
Something like, She broke the punching bag twice, nearly tore the chain out of the beam once, and kept smiling politely every time I told her she was doing something wrong.
But still.
It went well.
By the time they finally ended, the basement smelled faintly of scorched fabric, old mats, and warm metal. The patched punching bag hung unevenly from its chain, looking deeply traumatized by its own existence.
Asuka stood in front of it, breathing lightly.
Not heavily.
Not truly tired.
But more tired than she had been that morning.
That was good.
Her muscles remembered the change. Drive instead of glide. Commit instead of wait. Let the impact speak. Let the flame look alive. Let the mask breathe.
Kayden sat on the bench with his tail curled tightly around his paws so the tabby could not launch another attack.
His expression was severe.
His eyes were bright.
"Again tomorrow," he said.
Asuka bowed her head slightly.
"Yes, Mr. Kayden."
"And next time, don't break the bag."
"I will try."
"That means you might."
"Yes."
"Asuka."
"I will try harder."
"That does not reassure me."
"It is honest."
Kayden stared at her.
Then clicked his tongue.
"Go clean up before your brother comes back. You smell like burnt cloth."
Asuka lifted one sleeve and sniffed.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Kayden's ears twitched.
"You weren't supposed to check."
"I wanted to confirm."
"You're weird."
"I learned from my environment."
Kayden narrowed his eyes.
"That sounds like an insult."
"It can be praise."
"It is never praise when you say it like that."
Asuka smiled softly and went upstairs.
The cats followed halfway, then got distracted by the basement door, the torn bits of thread near the mat, and Kayden's tail.
Kayden turned slowly.
"No."
The tabby crouched.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
"I said no."
The tabby pounced anyway.
Kayden's furious meow followed Asuka up the stairs.
She laughed quietly to herself.
The shower helped.
Warm water rinsed away the sweat, the faint smoke smell, and the lingering hum of force control moving under her skin. Asuka stood beneath the spray for a while, eyes closed, letting herself feel the ordinary weight of water instead of technique.
No Infinity.
Not fully.
Just enough.
A controlled filter.
Harmless things passed.
Water.
Steam.
Warmth.
Her own breath.
By the time she stepped out, her body felt calmer.
Still alert.
Always alert.
But calmer.
She dried her hair, changed into shorts and a loose hoodie, and wrapped fresh bandages over her eyes. The hoodie sleeves fell slightly over her hands.
Comfortable.
Soft.
Ordinary.
A harmless blindfolded girl.
A little sleepy.
A little quiet.
No one needed to know she had spent the afternoon learning how to make fire look less perfect so awakened enemies would misunderstand the shape of her danger.
She tied the bandages neatly. Then paused. Downstairs, the cats started meowing. Several at once. Then Jiwoo's voice came through the front door, bright and warm. "I'm home!"
Asuka's mouth softened.
She went downstairs. By the time she reached the living room, Jiwoo had already been ambushed.
The cats had surrounded him at the entrance like he had returned from war rather than school. The tabby stood on its hind legs against his shin. The black cat wove between his ankles. The black-and-white cat sat slightly apart, watching him with queenly restraint, though her tail flicked with obvious satisfaction.
Jiwoo crouched carefully, mindful of his ribs, and held both hands out.
"How are you?!"
The cats meowed.
Jiwoo's face brightened as if they had answered in full sentences.
"Really? You were good?"
More meows.
"I missed you too!"
Asuka paused on the stairs.
Her brother looked better.
Still healing.
Still fragile in ways he did not like admitting.
But brighter.
School had not hurt him today.
That was enough.
Then Jisuk entered behind him.
And lightly kicked the back of Jiwoo's butt.
Not hard.
Not enough to actually hurt.
Just enough to make Jiwoo jolt and glance back.
"You're in the way," Jisuk said. "Move."
Jiwoo blinked.
Then laughed.
"Sorry."
Asuka's head turned slightly.
"Jisuk."
Jisuk looked up.
The bandages hid her eyes, but somehow the warning reached him anyway.
He immediately lifted both hands.
"It was light. I barely touched him."
Wooin entered after him, quiet as usual.
"He did kick him."
Jisuk turned.
"Don't say it like that."
"You did."
"It wasn't a real kick!"
Jiwoo smiled nervously.
"I'm okay."
"That is not the point, Oppa," Asuka said.
Jisuk sweat-dropped.
"It was friendly."
Asuka descended the last step.
"Try using words next time."
Jisuk clicked his tongue.
"You people are so sensitive."
Despite saying that, he walked more carefully around Jiwoo after that.
Asuka noticed.
So did Kayden.
From his position near the couch, Kayden narrowed his eyes.
That brat was loud.
Rude.
Annoying.
But not entirely hopeless.
Unfortunately.
Jisuk threw himself onto the couch with arrogant familiarity, as if he had not spent one night there and immediately declared the entire place uncomfortable.
"Tch. This couch is still bad."
Jiwoo smiled as he rose slowly.
"You can sit somewhere else."
"No. I already sat here."
"That's… okay?"
Jisuk leaned back and stretched one arm across the backrest.
The grey scarred cat sat on the other side of the couch, half-curled near the cushion seam, watching him with sleepy disinterest.
Jisuk noticed.
His expression shifted.
Not soft.
Definitely not soft.
But curious.
He reached out one hand.
The grey cat stared.
Jisuk's fingers hovered over its head.
"Hey. You're the one that keeps acting all gloomy, right?"
The grey cat's eyes narrowed.
Asuka stopped walking.
Kayden's ears lifted.
Wooin turned his head.
Jiwoo froze.
Jisuk, unaware of the danger, moved his hand closer.
The grey cat bit him.
Not viciously.
Not deeply.
A clean, sharp warning on the finger.
Jisuk yelped.
"Argh! You bastard!"
The grey cat released him immediately and looked away, bored.
Jisuk clutched his finger.
"You bit me!"
The grey cat scratched behind its ear with one hind leg.
Jisuk's face reddened.
"Hey! Don't ignore me after biting me!"
Jiwoo hurried toward the cabinet.
"I'll get the first aid kit!"
"It's not that serious!"
"You're bleeding!"
"It's a tiny mark!"
Jiwoo looked genuinely distressed.
Jisuk hesitated.
Then looked away with a huff.
"Fine. Whatever. Do what you want."
Asuka walked over and crouched near the grey cat, resting one hand lightly on its back. The cat relaxed immediately under her touch.
Jisuk stared.
"What? Why does it like you?"
Asuka tilted her head.
"I did not call him gloomy."
Jisuk opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then muttered, "That's not the point."
Wooin sat quietly on the floor near the low table.
The black cat approached him at once and curled near his knee like this was now established routine.
Wooin looked down at it.
Then, with careful fingers, petted its head.
Jisuk noticed.
"Tch. Even you?"
Wooin did not look up.
"I did not insult it first."
Jisuk scowled.
Jiwoo returned with the first aid kit and knelt in front of Jisuk.
"Give me your hand."
Jisuk's face twisted.
"I can do it myself."
Jiwoo smiled.
"I know. But let me."
That was unfair.
Deeply unfair.
Jisuk stared at him.
Then shoved his hand forward with a huff.
"Do whatever."
Jiwoo cleaned the tiny bite with a focus usually reserved for emergency surgery.
Jisuk watched him.
Then looked away, ears faintly red.
"It's just a scratch."
"It's still important to clean it."
"You're weird."
"I get that a lot."
"You shouldn't sound happy about it."
Jiwoo smiled.
Asuka sat on the arm of the opposite couch, bandaged face turned toward them. She could feel Kayden watching from the floor.
Feel the cats shifting.
Feel Wooin's quiet presence.
Feel Jisuk pretending not to be pleased by the attention.
Jiwoo wrapped a small bandage around Jisuk's finger.
"There."
Jisuk lifted his hand and stared at it.
The bandage was neat.
Maybe too neat for such a tiny injury.
He huffed.
"Overdoing it."
Jiwoo smiled.
"Maybe."
Then Jisuk's expression shifted.
He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket.
Asuka tilted her head.
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Jisuk pulled out a small packet of cat treats.
Silence.
Jiwoo blinked.
"You brought treats?"
Jisuk immediately looked away.
"I didn't bring them for you."
Jiwoo's smile grew.
"I didn't say you did."
"Don't smile like that."
Asuka's mouth curved.
The cats noticed the packet instantly.
The tabby appeared first, tail high.
Then the black cat, though it hesitated near Wooin as if weighing loyalty against snacks.
The black-and-white cat stood from her perch with dignified slowness.
They began circling Jisuk.
Meowing.
Bright-eyed.
Utterly shameless.
Jisuk's mood transformed.
He waved the packet above them.
"Better suck up to me, or I won't give you any snacks."
The tabby meowed.
The black cat sat.
The black-and-white cat stared at him like she was considering whether the treat was worth lowering herself.
Jisuk grinned.
"That's right. You understand."
Asuka watched him.
Then thought, with perfect calm—
He is like Inhyuk.
A pause.
No.
Worse.
Inhyuk would have given the cats treats simply for existing. He would not require admiration, obedience, or public acknowledgment of his greatness.
Jisuk, apparently, wanted a tribute ceremony.
Jisuk laughed proudly as the cats gathered around him.
"See? They know who has the snacks."
Jiwoo looked delighted.
"You're popular."
Jisuk pointed at him.
"Don't say it like that."
Wooin looked at the packet.
"You bought those yourself?"
Jisuk froze.
A beat too long.
Then he scoffed.
"I just happened to have them."
Asuka's head tilted.
"In your inside pocket."
"Yes."
"After visiting a house with cats."
"Coincidence."
"Of course."
"You're using that tone again."
"I am not."
"You are."
The tabby pawed at his knee.
Jisuk immediately looked down.
"Impatient, huh?"
He opened the packet and gave the tabby a treat.
Then the black cat.
Then another.
The cats ate happily.
Jisuk looked increasingly pleased with himself.
Then he noticed the grey scarred cat watching him from beside Asuka.
Its expression was unreadable.
Jisuk lifted the packet slightly.
"There's no point in looking at me like that."
The grey cat blinked.
Jisuk pointed toward his bandaged finger.
"You rudely attacked me and still yearn for snacks?"
The grey cat stared at him.
Then lifted its back leg and scratched behind its ear.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
As if Jisuk's entire existence had become background noise.
Jisuk's eye twitched.
"This bastard's ignoring me."
The grey cat yawned.
Jisuk leaned forward.
"Stop pretending you don't want the snacks."
The grey cat settled against Asuka's side and closed its eyes.
Jisuk looked offended.
Deeply.
Personally.
Spiritually.
Kayden, seated near the low table, watched the entire exchange with a deadpan expression. He had not moved toward the treats.
Obviously.
He was not like the others. He was Kayden Break. He did not beg. He did not circle. He did not act cute for snacks. He did not—
Jisuk noticed him.
His face brightened in the worst possible way.
"Right!"
Kayden's body went still.
Jisuk pointed.
"There's the fat one too!"
The temperature dropped.
Jiwoo froze.
Wooin froze.
Asuka froze.
Even the grey cat opened one eye.
Kayden stared.
Jisuk, tragically unaware that he had stepped directly onto a battlefield covered in explosives, waved the treat packet.
"Act cute if you want some snacks."
Kayden shivered.
Not in fear.
In rage.
A slow, deep tremor of pure offended violence ran from his ears to the tip of his tail.
Jiwoo's face went pale.
"J-Jisuk…"
Jisuk ignored him.
He pulled one treat from the packet and waved it in front of Kayden's face.
"Come on. Do something cute."
Kayden's eyes darkened.
The air around him seemed to sharpen.
To everyone else, he was a round orange cat sitting very still.
To Asuka and Jiwoo, he was a natural disaster deciding whether property damage was worth it.
Wooin stared silently.
Then very slowly shifted his body a little farther from Jisuk.
Asuka noticed.
A wise decision.
The grey cat also stared.
Deadpan.
As if even, he had recognized that Jisuk Yoo had finally surpassed ordinary stupidity and entered a higher realm.
Jisuk waved the treat again.
"You want it, right?"
Kayden's whiskers twitched.
Jisuk smirked.
"Then act cute."
Silence.
The tabby stopped chewing.
The black cat stopped licking its paw.
The black-and-white queen's ears tilted back.
Jiwoo held both hands up helplessly.
"Jisuk, maybe you shouldn't—"
Kayden moved.
Not with awakened speed.
Not with power.
Not with anything that could reveal him.
Just cat speed.
Fast enough.
One paw flashed out.
The treat vanished from Jisuk's fingers.
A second paw smacked the back of Jisuk's hand with perfect precision.
Not hard enough to injure.
Hard enough to sting.
Jisuk jolted.
"Ow!"
Kayden landed back where he had been sitting and chewed the stolen treat with cold, majestic fury.
Jisuk stared.
"What the hell?"
Kayden swallowed.
Then stared back.
His expression said, I accepted tribute. Do not mistake this for obedience.
Asuka turned her face away.
Jiwoo looked like he was about to die from holding in laughter.
Wooin adjusted his glasses, but his mouth twitched.
The grey cat slowly lowered its head onto Asuka's lap.
Done.
Completely done.
Jisuk pointed at Kayden.
"That cat hit me!"
Jiwoo coughed.
"I think he just wanted the snack."
"He attacked me!"
Asuka said calmly, "You told him to act cute."
"That wasn't cute!"
"It was to him."
Kayden's eyes narrowed at her.
Asuka smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
Jisuk clutched his hand.
"What kind of cat steals snacks and hits people?"
Wooin looked at Kayden.
Then said quietly, "That one."
Jisuk snapped his gaze toward him.
"You're getting bold."
Wooin petted the black cat.
"I answered the question."
Jisuk groaned.
"This house is insane."
Jiwoo finally failed.
A small laugh escaped him.
Then another.
He clutched his ribs immediately, but this time it did not hurt as much. Asuka's healing from earlier had helped, and his body was recovering better now.
Still, Asuka turned toward him.
"Oppa."
"I'm okay," Jiwoo said quickly. "I'm laughing gently."
Kayden scoffed, as if saying You look ridiculous.
Jiwoo smiled.
Jisuk stared at his bandaged finger.
Then at his smacked hand.
Then at Kayden.
The orange cat stared back, utterly unimpressed.
Jisuk's pride rose.
He pulled out another treat.
Jiwoo's eyes widened.
"Jisuk—"
"No. I'm not losing to a cat."
Asuka blinked.
Kayden's expression turned dangerous.
Wooin stopped petting the black cat.
The tabby slowly backed away.
Jisuk held the treat higher this time.
"You want another one? Then you have to earn it."
Kayden stared.
Jisuk smirked.
"Come on. Sit."
Silence.
Jiwoo whispered, horrified, "He is already sitting."
Jisuk paused.
Looked.
Kayden was, in fact, sitting.
Jisuk's mouth opened.
Closed.
Then he recovered badly.
"Then… paw."
Asuka closed her eyes behind the bandages.
A mistake.
A terrible mistake.
Kayden's fur rose slightly.
Jisuk leaned forward with the treat.
"Give me your paw."
Kayden did not move.
Jisuk waved the treat.
"Paw."
Kayden's eyes promised murder.
Jiwoo slowly reached toward Jisuk's sleeve.
"Maybe we should stop—"
Kayden lifted one paw.
Everyone froze.
Jisuk's eyes widened in triumph.
"Oh?"
Kayden placed his paw into Jisuk's hand.
For one glorious second, Jisuk looked victorious.
Then Kayden's claws extended.
Just enough.
Jisuk's face changed.
"Ah."
Kayden's paw pressed down.
Not deeply.
Not dangerously.
But with absolute threat.
Jisuk's smile stiffened.
"…Good cat?"
Kayden's eyes narrowed.
Jisuk gently placed the treat in front of him.
"Here."
Kayden released him.
Took the treat.
Chewed.
Slowly.
Like a king accepting the surrender of an enemy nation.
The room was silent.
Then Wooin said, very softly, "You lost."
Jisuk's head snapped toward him.
"I did not!"
Wooin looked at the treat packet.
"He got the snack."
Jisuk flushed.
"That was my plan!"
Asuka hummed.
"It looked like surrender."
"It was not surrender!"
Kayden finished chewing.
Then looked at Jisuk.
Jisuk flinched.
Just slightly.
Asuka noticed.
So did Kayden.
Kayden's mouth curved faintly.
Dangerous satisfaction.
Jisuk looked away.
"Tch. Whatever. I was being generous."
Jiwoo smiled warmly.
"You're good with cats, Jisuk."
Jisuk froze.
Then slowly turned.
"Do not say that."
"But you brought treats."
"I said it was coincidence."
"And you let Casein Nitrate have one."
"He stole it."
"And then you gave him another."
"I was avoiding bloodshed."
Asuka nodded.
"A reasonable survival instinct."
Jisuk pointed at her.
"You're making fun of me."
"Yes."
"At least deny it!"
"No."
Wooin's mouth twitched again.
Jisuk caught it.
"And you stop smiling!"
Wooin looked away.
"I was not."
"You were!"
"I was almost smiling."
"That's worse!"
Jiwoo laughed again, quieter this time.
The cats, having decided the crisis had passed, resumed crowding Jisuk for treats.
Jisuk huffed and began distributing them with great ceremony.
"Fine. One each. Don't get greedy."
The tabby meowed.
"You already got one."
It meowed again.
Jisuk stared.
Then gave it another.
Asuka watched.
Worse than Inhyuk.
Definitely worse.
At least Inhyuk admitted he was helpless.
Jisuk still thought he was in control.
The black-and-white cat approached last, sitting neatly in front of him.
Jisuk looked at her.
She looked at him.
The silence between them was tense.
Finally, Jisuk held out one treat.
"Here."
The black-and-white cat sniffed.
Then took it delicately.
Jisuk's expression shifted.
"Oh."
Jiwoo smiled.
"She accepted it."
Jisuk looked weirdly pleased.
"She has good taste."
Kayden stared at him.
Asuka tilted her head.
"Because she accepted your treat?"
"Obviously."
The black-and-white cat finished eating, then turned and walked away without another glance.
Jisuk's face fell.
"Hey."
Asuka said, "You were dismissed."
Jisuk groaned.
"Why are all your cats like this?"
Jiwoo smiled brightly.
"They have distinct personalities."
"They have attitudes."
"That too."
Kayden sat near the low table, watching Jisuk with narrowed eyes.
Jisuk avoided looking at him directly.
Progress.
Asuka stood from the couch arm and moved toward the kitchen.
"Tea?"
Jiwoo perked up.
"Yes, please."
Wooin nodded slightly.
"If it is not trouble."
"It is not."
Jisuk leaned back.
"Got anything cold?"
Asuka paused.
Then turned her bandaged face toward him.
"You were bitten, smacked, threatened, and politically defeated by cats within ten minutes of arriving."
Jisuk stared.
Asuka continued, "You may drink tea."
Jiwoo covered his mouth.
Wooin looked down.
Kayden's shoulders shook once.
Jisuk's face went red.
"I was not politically defeated!"
Kayden gave a low, satisfied meow.
Jisuk pointed at him.
"Don't you start!"
Kayden closed his eyes.
Clearly above this.
The treat crumbs near his paw said otherwise.
Asuka entered the kitchen smiling.
Behind her, Jiwoo sat among the cats, Jisuk argued with an orange cat who could not publicly talk back, and Wooin quietly stroked the black cat beside him with hands that no longer looked quite so uncertain.
The house was loud again.
Messy again.
Warm again.
Asuka filled the kettle.
Her body still hummed faintly from training.
Drive.
Impact.
Fire.
Mask.
The awakened world was waiting outside.
But inside, for this moment, the greatest danger was Jisuk Yoo waving cat snacks in front of Kayden Break.
Asuka's smile widened.
In some ways, that was still very dangerous.
Especially for Jisuk.
----