The walk home was quiet, moonlight brushing across the pavement as Ariz approached the two-story house he'd lived in for the past two years. Filth and impurities from his Awakening clung to him like tar, the stench trailing behind him like a curse. He stopped at the gate, staring at the warm glow spilling from the living-room window.
For a moment, his chest tightened.
Two years ago, when Skyfall shattered the sky and monsters flooded the world, his parents vanished—no bodies, no messages, nothing. Gone. He had searched everywhere he could, but found nothing. His grandparents lived across the ocean, and with monsters dominating the seas, travel became impossible. He was alone, and the world never waited for the weak or grieving.
It was then that she found him.
Ayaka.
His mother's best friend.
A woman who barely had space in her own life, yet somehow carved out a place for him anyway. She already had two daughters, but neither questioned it for a moment—they welcomed him the day he arrived on their doorstep with nothing but a small bag and a broken sense of home.
He exhaled slowly and pushed the door open.
"I'm home—"
He didn't even finish before light footsteps thundered down the stairs.
"Ariz!"
Ayaka's second daughter, Vivi, came rushing toward him—her skirt swaying around the soft curve of her hips, her willow-slim waist above them, and the youthful, still-growing shape of her figure moving with lively energy. Her long, chestnut-brown hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, framing a porcelain face lit by bright grey-blue eyes. But the moment she reached the door—
She froze.
"…What the hell happened to you?!"
Her expression twisted into equal parts horror and disgust, nose scrunching as she waved a hand in front of her face.
"You smell like—like a dead rat. Oh my god, don't come closer!"
Ariz groaned. "Thanks."
Before he could explain, another voice called from the kitchen.
"What's going on, Vivi? Why are you yelling?"
A woman stepped into the hall, drying her hands on a towel, and her presence instantly shifted the room. Her long, glossy black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face so stunning it was impossible not to stare. Her pale, flawless skin contrasted with full red lips and striking crimson eyes that glowed with a natural allure. Delicate earrings swayed with her movement, and her mature hourglass figure, her curves that would drive every man insane, carried a hypnotic, unforgettable elegance.
Ayaka.
The moment she saw Ariz, her eyes widened.
"Oh dear… what happened to you?! Are you hurt?"
Two worried faces stared at him—one soft and mature, the other bratty and dramatic.
Ariz lifted his hands weakly.
"Guys, relax. I'm fine. Really."
"How can you say you're fine?!" Ayaka scolded, stepping closer before instantly regretting it because of the smell. "You look like you crawled out of a dump!"
Vivi snorted. "He did. He definitely did."
Ariz sighed.
"…I awakened."
The room fell silent.
Then—
"YOU WHAT?!"
Ayaka's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes widening with astonishment and then softening with joy. She stepped forward instinctively.
"Oh—oh wow, you awakened. I'm so happy for you, dear…"
Vivi practically bounced in place.
"You awakened?! No way! FINALLY! Oh my god—Ariz, this is HUGE!"
For a brief moment, even covered in grime, he felt… happy.
Araa~ what a lovely welcoming party, Ava purred in his mind, wicked and amused.
The mature beauty… mm, that warmth, that aura… she'd make a perfect addition to your future harem. And the younger one—so cute, so lively… give her a few years and she'll be a dangerous little heartbreaker.
Ariz flinched at her words, unable to stop his eyes from drifting over Ayaka and Vivi.
'…You're not completely wrong…'
Mm? Getting bold so fast? Not bad, Ava teased.
Ariz exhaled and forced himself to focus.
He cleared his throat. "Ahem—look, I'll explain everything after a shower. Trust me, you don't want details until I stop smelling like a corpse."
"YES," Vivi barked. "Shower. NOW. Run."
Ayaka nodded firmly. "Go freshen up, dear."
Ariz headed upstairs, a subtle confidence rising in his steps. He locked himself in the bathroom, peeled off his ruined clothes, and stepped under the warm spray. The water hit him like a blessing, washing away layers of grime and revealing a body that felt… different. Leaner. Tighter. Sharper.
As the filth dissolved down the drain, Ava hummed in his mind.
You're looking good, baby~ even from in here. That lower region… mm, I missed that from your past life.
"Ava!" Ariz choked. "C-Can you NOT comment on—on—"
On your big thing? she teased sweetly. Please, darling, I've seen everything already. Don't get shy.
Ariz covered his face.
"I always said I wanted a woman with me nonstop… but this is embarrassing as hell."
Don't be shy. We will always be together… hehe.
Her voice softened to a whisper.
And I want to see you grow stronger… in every way.
"…I'm ignoring you."
You're blushing.
"I AM NOT—"
Yes you are.
Ariz groaned and focused on rinsing himself off.
By the time he stepped out and toweled his hair dry, he glanced at the mirror—and froze.
He barely recognized the man staring back.
His once-messy hair now fell in sharp, natural strands over focused, intense eyes. Droplets rolled down a neck leading to a torso that wasn't bulky, but toned—lean muscle and faint abs where there were none before.
Yesterday he looked like a dork.
Now… he looked good.
Damn good.
Ariz kept staring at the mirror, fingertips brushing the sharper line of his jaw."…Ava," he murmured, "did I really change this much?"
[Yes. Your Awakening rebuilt your foundation. This is your true baseline now.]
He studied his reflection again, eyes narrowing. "Rebuilt… how exactly?"
[Your cells absorbed the RE you gained. It cleared impurities, strengthened your physique, and stabilized your internal pathways. Humans normally awaken imperfectly. You didn't.]
Ariz leaned closer to the mirror. "So this is what Awakening through you feels like?"
[That's just the start.]
There was a brief pause, softer than before.
[Ariz… I'm proud of you. You've been through hell these past two years. You didn't give up. You didn't crumble. You kept walking even when the world didn't care if you lived or died.]
He swallowed, his voice dropping."…Thanks."
[And…]Her voice dipped lower, velvety and mischievous.[…you've also got a gorgeous woman downstairs who's very worried about you. And a bratty one who might faint when she sees your new face. They might even throw themselves at you, baby~]
Ariz groaned. "Slow down… now I can't stop imagining things."
[Me? Never.]
"You're literally making commentary like—"
[I'm keeping you aware of your opportunities.]
"Opportunities for what?"
[Growth.]
"Ava."
[Emotional growth~]
He rubbed his forehead. "…This is going to be a long partnership."
[You love me already.]
"Do not jump to conclusions."
[You do.]
"Ava—"
[Fine, fine. I'll behave. For five minutes.]
He couldn't help but smile.