"Don't cross your legs!"

I quickly corrected my stance as Talia swung her wooden sword at me, narrowly missing my padded arm. I twisted in a panic, blocking it with a training machete.

"Good!" she said, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Your form is improving. Keep up the good work, and you'll be able to beat me to a pulp soon."

I smiled and nodded, taking a sip from my water bottle as I continued to practice the basics. Talia was an incredible teacher, always patient and encouraging, never criticizing or belittling me when I made mistakes. She had taught me so much in such a short amount of time.

Midori stood off on the side, sipping her tea as Talia pressed me.

"You're doing great, Ikki," Midori said, her voice brimming with encouragement. "Keep it up! Just imagine she's a zombie charging at you. A cute and talented zombie!"

I leaned back and took a deep breath, feeling my muscles tense as Talia swung at me once again. My eyes widened as I raised my guard, only just managing to shield myself from the blow.

I felt a fleeting sense of pride for a moment before I felt my left leg give way beneath me. I tumbled back, landing in a heap on the ground as Talia finished a leg-reap throw. I groaned as I dusted myself off, feeling embarrassed for falling for a move like that again.

"Oops, sorry about that," Talia said, offering me a hand. "You'll get the hang of it eventually. Just keep practicing!"

I grinned, taking her hand and pulling myself to my feet. "Thanks, Talia."

Midori came over to us, her tea still in hand. "How about we take a break and have some lunch? I'm starving."

Talia nodded in agreement, putting away her sword. "That sounds like a great idea. I'll whip something up in the kitchen. You guys can rest here for a bit, alright?"

As Talia disappeared into the house, Midori and I approached the patio, sitting at the small table.

"So, how did midterms go?" Midori asked, pouring herself another cup of tea.

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "They were a nightmare. I barely slept for the entire week."

Midori raised an eyebrow. "Really? I thought you were a straight-A student. You're also always scribbling or sketching away in your free time."

I shook my head. "It's a time management thing, really. Life has been crazy for the last couple of weeks, because of, you know. I've been struggling to keep up with everything. But I think I did alright in the end."

Midori nodded in understanding. "I'm sure you did great. You always manage to pull through in the end. But don't forget to take care of yourself too. You can't keep pushing yourself like this forever."

"I know," I said with a sigh. "The pressure's just been building up, you know? Between seeing so much chaos and destruction out of the blue, and then all this family history drama that's cropped up. It's just...it's overwhelming sometimes."

Midori reached over and patted my hand gently. "I know. But remember that we're here for you. Speaking of which. The labs came in. We're definitely first cousins."

I looked up at her in shock, the news hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Wait, what? Are you serious?"

Midori nodded with a slight smile on her face. "Yep. The results came back. We're definitely related."

I couldn't believe it. For so long, I had wondered about my family history. Now, finally, having an answer was both exhilarating and terrifying. I had so many questions, but at the same time, I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answers.

"Wow," I murmured, staring off into space. "I don't even know what to say. I mean, we were like 90% sure but this changes everything."

She playfully jabbed at my shoulder. "Come on, don't be so dramatic. It's not like we're suddenly strangers to each other. We're still family, and we always will be. This chances nothing between us."

I smiled at her, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Yeah, you're right. I'm just...processing it all."

Midori gave me a sympathetic smile. "I get it. But we'll figure it out together."

I smiled back at her. "Yeah, maybe. But for now, I'm just grateful to have you and Talia in my life. You guys have been such a huge support system for me it's unbelievable."

Midori took my hand in hers. "We always will be, Ikki. No matter what happens. We're family, and that means we stick together through thick and thin."

The smell of food wafted out from the kitchen, and Talia emerged with a tray of sandwiches and a kettle of hot tea.

"Food's ready," she announced, setting the tray on the table. "Dig in!"

The smell was enough to make my mouth water, and without hesitation, I grabbed a sandwich and took a bite. The delicious combination of flavors bursting in my mouth was enough to take me away from all my worries, if only just for that moment.

The sound of a very high-pitched, tiny yawn caught my attention as Dior shuffled out onto the patio, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She had Midori's cat Kuromaru strutting next to her, and she was wearing a yellow onesie with little bear ears on the hood.

"Hey, sleepyhead," Talia cooed, ruffling Dior's hair.

Dior looked up at us with big, curious eyes. "Dior smelled Talia's cooking and woke up. Could Dior have a sandwich?"

Talia chuckled. "Of course. Help yourself! I assumed it'd wake you up."

Dior nodded enthusiastically, taking a small bite from Talia's sandwich, followed by a gargantuan chomp. The sight of her enjoying the food was enough to make all of us smile. Dior and Morada had returned with me after we'd hung out with Natasha last night, and Dior had wound up sleeping in a guest room here.

"Say, Dior, you're here a lot," I commented. "What's up with that?"

She shrugged, taking another chunk out of her sandwich. "Public housing gets lonely. So, Dior stays here with Midori, Talia and Kuro often."

"Well," Midori said finally, gently squeezing Dior's shoulder. "You're always welcome here, okay? We'll make sure you never feel alone. We have plenty of room here."

My heart warmed at Midori's words. She had been so kind and generous to us all, even when she had no obligation to be. Her hospitality was something I would never forget, and neither would Dior.

And that made me wonder how they met in the first place. Sure, Midori seemed like a genuinely kind person, but what were the circumstances that brought them together? I was starting to feel like a conspiracy theorist, but the puzzle of how everyone seemed connected was seriously nagging at me.

"Hey, Midori..." I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "What happened at Jo Loon City? How did you and Dior meet?"

Midori's eyes widened in surprise. Then, her gaze shifted downcast, and her eyes glowed with sadness. The mood tangibly shifted from cheerful to solemn in an instant. Kuromaru hopped onto Dior's lap and snuggled her, sensing the change in atmosphere as Midori muttered a response.

"I lost friends. I lost my brother. Most of all, I lost my future during the incident."

Midori's voice wavered slightly. "Dior lost most of her family in the conflict. We were all caught up in it...it was chaos."

Her voice wavered briefly. "I... I wanted to help Dior, and protect her from the insanity that was going on around us. I had no family left after my brother died and my father went missing, but I knew I had to try and save someone."

Midori sighed heavily, her eyes filled with pain, sorrow, and anger.

"The whole thing... it's...a long story," Midori said finally, her voice choked with emotion. "I'll tell you. Just...not right now, okay?"

I nodded, understanding that it was a difficult topic for her to talk about. "Of course. Whenever you're ready."

Truth be told, I was frustrated by the lack of answers, but I knew that Midori had been through a lot, and it wasn't my place to push her into talking about it.

Talia stroked Midori's back soothingly, silently offering her support. It was clear that the incident had profoundly impacted Midori, and I couldn't imagine the pain she had gone through.

Dior, sensing the heavy atmosphere, spoke up in a small voice. "Dior wants to know more about the good times. The times before the bad stuff happened."

Midori looked at Dior, a small smile on her lips. "Of course. There were good times too. Before everything happened, we used to hang out a lot at the arcade down the street from our apartment."

Dior's eyes lit up with excitement. "Arcade? What's that?"

Midori chuckled. "It's a place with a bunch of games and machines you can play. Like video games or table tennis."

Dior's eyes widened in wonder. "Wow, that sounds like so much fun!"

"It was," Midori said wistfully. "We used to spend hours there, playing all kinds of games and challenging each other. And then we'd go get some ice cream afterwards. Those were simpler times."

"It's hard to believe now, but Midori and I would fight like cats and dogs back then," Talia chimed in, a small smile on her face. "We were always competing with each other, but we were still really close between the insults and trash talk."

Midori laughed. "Yeah, we were quite the spectacle for our classmates. But despite all the teasing and bickering, we knew we had each other's backs no matter what."

I smiled at the thought of them as kids, running around and causing chaos together. It was hard to imagine them in any other way than how mature and responsible they were now as high school seniors.

"Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun," I said, taking a sip of my tea.

"We did," Midori replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "And we still do. It's just...different now."

As Midori spoke, I couldn't help but notice the way her eyes lingered on Talia. There was something in how they looked at each other, a certain tenderness and fondness that couldn't be mistaken for anything else. It was almost like a silent conversation between them that only they could understand.

"So, are you all ready to cross the portal next week?" Dior asked.

"I can't wait," Midori said, her eyes bright with excitement. "It's going to be amazing."

"As long as I don't have to eat spam again," Talia remarked, making a face.

Midori giggled. "Don't worry, Talia. We'll make sure to bring plenty of food for the trip."

"I wonder how Dad and Izumi are doing right now," I mused, thinking of my family back home across the portal. "I hope they're okay."

"They'll be fine," Talia reassured me. "You'll be back before you know it."

The rest of our lunch passed in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the occasional clink of dishes and utensils. As we finished, Dior collected the plates and brought them to the sink, her small frame barely reaching the countertop.

"Thank you for the food," she said, flashing a smile.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," Talia said, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Dior scampered off to the living room to play with Kuromaru. I watched her go with a slight pang of sadness. It was clear that Dior had been through a lot. She was a few months older than my sister Izumi, but despite how much she ate she was still catching up in height. It was easy to see that she still had much growing up to do, both physically and emotionally.

"I hope she's doing okay," I said quietly, my eyes following Dior as she played with Kuromaru. "I don't know precisely what Dior's story is, but I can tell she didn't have an easy time.

"She's strong," Midori replied, her voice filled with conviction. "Dior's been through a lot, but she still manages to find joy in the little things. And that's something to admire if you ask me."

Talia approached Midori from behind and wrapped her arms around her waist, resting her chin on Midori's shoulder. "You're right. And she's lucky to have you looking out for her."

Midori leaned back into Talia's embrace, smiling softly.

"We're lucky to have each other," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the way they looked at each other. It was obvious that they were in love, making me wonder if I would ever find someone like that.

As if sensing my thoughts, Midori turned to me and gave me a knowing smile and a wink.

But then again, I had other things to worry about. Like the mission that we were about to embark on. A mission to cross back to Earth and help secure the reconstruction of New York City.

"I'll go down to the hideout and get some gear ready with Spencer," I said, standing up from the table. "We have a lot of work to do before next week."

Midori and Talia nodded in agreement. "We'll see you later, then," Midori said, giving me a small wave as I walked out the door.

It was a short, tranquil walk down to the hideout, but my mind was buzzing with thoughts of all the insanity I'd been through recently.

I had come over here to Terra from Earth on a scholarship. The first few weeks had been relatively quiet, only for me to put Carrie on blast in front of our grade for bullying Natasha. Carrie had made my life a living hell, threatening to bring social consequences on anyone who so much as dared to help or talk to me. Not only that, her brother Willis had beaten the snot out of me, only for Midori to intervene and rescue me. Now, she was suddenly remorseful and wanted to extend an olive branch.

Midori, who would then feed me at a fancy, upscale hotel restaurant. A hotel was promptly destroyed by a sudden attack by extradimensional monsters that zombified everyone nearby. Midori, who would turn out to be a retired magical girl.

Midori, who would turn out to be my long-lost cousin.

And how did Natasha play into all of this? She was clearly a part of the magical world, but I didn't think she was a magical girl. Nat seemed far too meek and shy for that kind of thing. But then again, I had learned to never underestimate people. Who was she, exactly? Was she someone like Carrie? A mage from an old family?

I shook my head and groaned in exasperation. The last couple of weeks were a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and I had a strong gut feeling that things would only get crazier from here.

I took out my key, entering through the front door of the subtly reinforced suburban house that served as our base of operations. I was greeted by the sight of Morada sitting in a frilly, impractical violet dress and painting a beautiful landscape. She was so focused, so peaceful as she worked on her canvas. Her brushstrokes were precise and careful, creating a mesmerizing scene that seemed to come alive as she painted.

It was impossible not to be taken in by the beauty of it all. The sun setting over the ocean, the birds soaring through the skies, and the fish leaping from beneath its waters. The colors blended together like a dream, and I couldn't help but feel an immense sense of peace washing over me as I watched her work her magic.

I watched Morada for a few moments before walking up to her. "That's beautiful," I said softly.

Morada glanced up at me, beaming with a lovely smile, her yellow eyes sparkling with joy. "Thanks, Ikki. I've been working on this piece for a while. It's nice to take my mind off of things and just focus on the beauty of the world."

"I don't know how you do it," I said, shuffling my feet nervously. "How do you manage to stay so calm and peaceful all the time?"

Morada chuckled, setting her brush down to face me. "It's not always easy. But painting helps me find my center, you know? It's like...meditation, in a way. It helps me focus on the present moment."

I straightened up, glancing around the hideout. "Anyway, where's Spencer?"

"He's in the workshop already! Checking our supplies and equipment with Ranjika," Morada replied, gesturing towards the hallway that led to the workshop.

The hideout was dark and quiet as I entered, the only sounds coming from the hum of machinery in the deep recesses of the base. Spencer was waiting for me, typing away on a computer as I approached. Ranjika was also present, her eyes fixed on a large map of New York City spread out on a table in front of her.

"Yo, what's up?" Spencer greeted me; his easygoing nature put me at ease.

"Not much, just thinking about everything that's happened recently," I replied, scanning the array of weapons and gear laid out on the table.

Spencer nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, it's been a crazy ride, huh?

"Greetings, Ikki," Ranjika said as she flashed me a smirk. "I trust you're ready for our mission?"

"As ready as I can be," I replied, grabbing a sleek black pistol from the table and examining it. "What's our plan?"

Ranjika traced a path with her finger on the map. "We'll be entering Manhattan from the Financial District, near Battery Park at the southern portal terminal. The Northern Coalition has set up a Base of Operations for volunteers to help set up checkpoints in the campaign to reclaim Brooklyn. Support operatives like you and Spencer will assist with reconnaissance using drones to uncover Chaos Beast nests. You'll also be responsible for gathering and relaying intel so we can plan our next moves."

Spencer leaned against the table, his arms crossed over his chest. "The Chaos Beasts have been spreading rapidly in Brooklyn, so the goal is to push them back and secure the area before they can cause any more damage. We'll have to be careful, though. The island is infested with all kinds of Aberrations, and we don't know what else they might be capable of."

I stretched, yawning as I approached the inert Project Raiju data core that sat plugged in on a workbench. The AI system had mysteriously shut down when we'd returned from our last visit to Earth, and we had spent the past week trying to revive it. It was a crucial part of our mission, and we needed it operational if we were to succeed.

I examined the data core, checked the connections, and ran diagnostics with Spencer. "Any progress on getting Raiju back online?"

Spencer shook his head. "Not yet. We've tried everything we can, but it's like the system is locked down. Every time we try to access it, we get hit with some kind of weird encryption."

I frowned, feeling a sense of unease wash over me. "That's not good. Raiju is so damned useful that I'd feel a lot more secure if we had it with us."

Ranjika stroked her chin before approaching the data core. "This device... this system. It is magitech, correct? The model is from Balor Research Institute, combined with Spencer's theoretical golem proposal?"

Spencer nodded. "Yeah, we wanted to create something that could provide us with real-time intel and support during missions. Raiju was designed to use advanced AI algorithms and sensors to analyze the environment and provide us with valuable information. The golem ritual was designed to allow it to conduct magical operations, rituals, and algorithms, and abstract task management."

Ranjika scrutinized the system, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "I see. It uses a combination of arcane and technological components. Perhaps I could try using my knowledge of magic to access it?"

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? It could be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing."

Ranjika merely smiled, her lips twisting into a smirk. "I assure you, Spencer, I know what I'm doing. I've been trained in the magical arts for a very long time."

With that, Ranjika closed her eyes and began to chant in a language I couldn't understand, her hands gliding over the surface of the data core. Suddenly, the device hummed to life, the lights flickering to life as the screens came to life. Then, it faded, buzzing with faint energy.

Spencer's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Holy shit, Ranjika, you did it! How did you manage to hack the system like that?"

Ranjika smirked, her eyes still closed in concentration. "Magic, my dear Spencer. It's a powerful tool when used correctly."

Spencer frowned as he typed away at the laptop. "Hm, interesting. It looks like our access is still restricted to certain areas of the system, but this is still a major breakthrough. We might be able to salvage something from it."

Ranjika was still a colossal mystery to me. Out of the entire group, I interacted with her the least. She was always so enigmatic and unpredictable, and it was hard to tell her true intentions. Her magical abilities were impressive, but there was an air of mystery about her that made me uneasy.

When she'd transformed into a magical girl to rescue me, she had demonstrated a ludicrous amount of skill and versatility, and it was clear she was someone not to be trifled with.

I blinked, only to realize Ranjika was staring at me, tapping her chin thoughtfully with a smile. "What's on your mind, Ikki?"

I hesitated for a moment before speaking, my voice hesitant. "I don't know, Ranjika. You're just...different from the rest of us. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about you that makes me uneasy."

Ranjika laughed, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Is that so? Well, I suppose it's only natural to feel that way. I've always been something of an enigma, even to myself."

Spencer looked up from his computer, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean by that?"

Ranjika shrugged, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "Let's just say that I have a complicated past."

Spencer and I exchanged glances, both of us intrigued by this cryptic statement. Ranjika had always been guarded about her past, and we had learned not to push her.

"Well, we all have our secrets," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Ranjika smiled, but there was a sadness behind it that tugged at my heart. "Indeed we do, Ikki. But let us focus on the task at hand. Preparation. Logistics win wars, as they say."

Spencer nodded in agreement. "Right. We need to make sure we have everything we need for the mission. Weapons, gear, supplies, backup plans. Ideally, Raiju too."

Ranjika opened her eyes and turned to face us. "Agreed. Let us make sure we are fully prepared before we set out. We'll have to make do without Raiju if we must, however."

With that, we set to work, gathering our gear and supplies for the mission. Time passed quickly as we went over every detail of the plan, ensuring we were ready for whatever lay ahead. Sadly, we still couldn't figure out what was wrong with Raiju, even with Ranjika's help. Spencer had regained access to surface-level operations and functions again, but the advanced AI that made it so valuable was nowhere to be found.

The afternoon passed, and we wrapped up our preparations just as the sun set. We all settled in at Midori's home for dinner for the first time since I'd joined the crew.

The atmosphere was relaxed and jovial as we chatted and enjoyed our meal. Talia had outdone herself, and the food was delicious. We forgot about the danger and the reclamation missions for a moment and just enjoyed each other's company.

We knew the dangers that awaited us, but we also knew that we had to do whatever it took to protect the innocent people of Earth. A better future for my little sister was at stake, and I was willing to risk my life to ensure that future was secure.

The meal itself was a mix of Terran cuisines, with spices and flavors that were new to me. Talia's eggplant lamb casserole stood out, and the aroma tantalized my taste buds. I scooped a generous helping onto my plate and took a bite. The explosion of flavors in my mouth was incredible, and I couldn't help but let out a sigh of contentment as I balanced my palate with rice pilaf.

"This is amazing," I said, my mouth still full of food.

Talia beamed with pride. "Thank you, Ikki. I'm glad you like it."

Midori smiled at us from across the table. "I'm so glad we can all sit down together like this. It feels like we're a family."

Spencer nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I never thought I'd find a group of people I could trust like this, to be frank."

Ranjika was silent, but she smiled softly, lost in her thoughts. I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking about.

We cleaned up the dishes and put them away as we finished our meal. Midori brewed some chamomile tea, and we sipped it in comfortable silence.

Finally, Morada broke the silence. "So, are we all set for the mission tomorrow, fellas?"

Spencer nodded. "Yeah, I think we're as prepared as we can be. We've got our gear and supplies, backup plans, and contingency measures."

Dior added, "And we have each other. That's the most important thing."

Midori smiled. "We'll do whatever it takes to make sure we succeed, won't we?"

We all nodded in agreement.

Ranjika spoke up for the first time since dinner. "I just want to say that I'm proud of all of you. We may have different backgrounds and motives, but we're all working towards the same goal: a better future for humanity. I am honored to fight with you all."

Her words were sincere, and we all felt the weight of her sincerity. Even though we were all from different walks of life, we were united in our cause.

Midori raised her cup of tea. "To us, then," she said with a smile.

We all lifted our cups and clinked them together in a silent toast before drinking.

As we settled in for the night, I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. We were going up against an unknown enemy with high stakes for the people of New York City. But I was also filled with a sense of determination. We had come too far to turn back now.

I went to my room and sat on the edge of my bed, lost in my thoughts. As I looked out the window, I saw a shooting star streak across the sky, and I opened the window, breathing in the night air. The night sky was clear, and the stars shone brightly overhead. A cool breeze blew through the air, and I stared at the star soaring across the sky.

I couldn't help but close my eyes and make a wish.

I wished for the safety of my father and sister, for the success of our missions on Earth, and for the strength and courage to face whatever lay ahead.

I wished for Natasha's safety and happiness, and the chance to see her with a smile again.

I looked up at the stars once more, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.

Next week, we would face the unknown.

But tonight, at least, I had peace.