Pillows flew like missiles across the lounge.
Sion dove behind the couch for cover, her laughter rising in manic crescendos. Jin ducked a flying book, retaliating by lobbing one of the golden candelabras that had adorned the shelf moments ago.
"Are you trying to kill me?!" Sion shrieked between gasps, her auburn hair now a wild mess.
"I'm just improving your reflexes!" Jin shouted back, grabbing a porcelain figurine of a moon goddess and chucking it over the sofa.
It shattered spectacularly against the far wall.
Naoko watched them with the deadpan expression of someone observing two wild foxes destroy her garden. Calmly, she lifted her teacup and took another sip, her silver eyes never blinking.
Shizana sat beside her, tail wrapped around her legs, gaze placid and blue. "They have too much energy tonight."
Naoko answered flatly. "They didn't finish their dinner. Again."
Just as Sion leapt onto the armrest of the couch holding a cushion like a shield, the door at the end of the corridor creaked open.
Rena , dressed in a soft, luxurious crimson nightgown with lace tracing its edges, descended the staircase. Her fiery red hair spilled over her shoulders, and her golden eyes blinked in sleep-soaked confusion. She yawned softly, clutching her robe, then froze mid-step at the chaotic sight before her.
The once-pristine obsidian lounge looked like a battlefield.
"Wha… what's going on?!" she exclaimed, voice sharp with disbelief.
Jin was barefoot, shirt half-untucked, grinning like a devil. Sion's skirt had risen slightly from all the running and diving, and her bra strap had slipped off one shoulder. Books were scattered, ornaments broken, and the elegant wooden table in the center had been split clean in two.
Rena marched toward Naoko, dodging a flying spoon along the way. She stood beside her mother-in-law, aghast.
"Lady Naoko, what is happening?! Why are they fighting?!"
Naoko didn't even glance at her. She placed her cup down gently and answered in her signature deadpan tone, voice smooth and cold:
"They're not fighting. They're playing. As usual. And leaving destruction in their wake."
A vase exploded behind them.
Shizana nodded beside her, her tone gentle as always. "They've done worse, honestly. At least they haven't set anything on fire this time."
Rena looked between them, still stunned. "Worse? What do you mean worse? How—what do you mean 'they'?"
Naoko's response was nonchalant, almost lazy. "There used to be three of them. My second assistant."
Rena blinked. "…Oh. I see." She wisely chose not to ask further.
And then — whump!
A pillow smacked Rina right in the face, causing her to stumble back in shock. Her golden eyes widened.
"Hey!" she yelled.
"Sorry!" Sion called, not sounding sorry at all. She was already in the middle of another sprint across the room. "Collateral damage!"
Suddenly, Sion paused, kicked off one of her high heels, and — with alarming speed — threw it at Jin. The black stiletto heel spun through the air like a weapon.
Jin caught it in midair, laughing. "Nice throw. But not good enough—!"
He hurled it back.
Sion ducked dramatically. The shoe sailed past her and smashed through the window, sending a spray of glass glimmering like stars across the dark floor.
There was a pause.
Even Rena gasped.
Sion stood up slowly, one eyebrow twitching. "You broke the window."
"You started it," Jin replied with a smirk, lifting the other heel still on the floor.
"No—don't you dare—" she began.
He dared.
With a perfect arc, the second shoe soared like a cursed boomerang… and slammed straight into the chandelier above.
The chandelier creaked, groaned… then shattered from the ceiling, crystals and gold pieces tumbling in a magnificent, glittering storm onto the black marble floor.
The room fell quiet.
For a moment, only the soft tinkling of broken glass echoed across the now-ruined lounge.
Rena was frozen, eyes wide in complete disbelief. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. She looked from the shattered chandelier to the broken table… to the cracked wall… to the puddle of tea soaking the carpet…
And finally, to the two adult idiots in front of her — now breathless, bruised, and completely unrepentant.
Jin dusted his shoulder. "That was a tactical miscalculation."
Sion leaned over, hands on her knees, panting. "That was awesome."
Naoko took another sip of her tea and finally spoke again.
"As long as he isn't injured," she said, "I don't particularly care."
Shizana, with her ever-so-polite tone, added, "It's quite the performance tonight. Very… expressive."
Rena turned to Naoko slowly, her voice strangled. "Lady Naoko… don't you think you should stop them?"
Naoko didn't look up. "Why? They've already broken everything worth breaking."
Then, after a pause, she added, "And Jin would only pout if I interrupted."
Just then, Jin flopped back onto the couch beside her, grinning ear to ear. "Mother, we need a new chandelier."
"I liked the old one," Naoko replied with a blank tone.
Sion joined him seconds later, tossing herself dramatically onto the other side. "Best workout ever. Also, Rina, you look adorable in that nightgown. Totally out of place in this warzone, but very cute."
Rena opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. "…You two are insane."
"You'll get used to it," Jin said with a wink. "Probably."
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Heat: So what do you think? Do you want to play with sion and Jin?
💭Question of the day: Do you think Sion is better or second 🤔🤔🤔