It was the weekend.
A miracle in itself.
No classes.
No combat drills.
No student council bullshit.
No elite prodigies trying to "test" me like I'm a new game mode.
Just peace.
So naturally, I made the extremely dangerous decision to invite Jason and Elena to my house.
In hindsight?
I underestimated my mother.
The moment we stepped inside—
"Oh my GOD—!"
My mom practically teleported into the hallway.
She froze.
Stared.
Blink.
Then her eyes lit up like she just won the lottery.
"LANE?! YOU BROUGHT FRIENDS HOME?!"
Jason flinched. Elena nearly dropped her bag.
"Uh—hi, Mrs. White," Jason said politely, bowing a little out of reflex.
My mom grabbed his hands immediately.
"OH YOU'RE SO POLITE—ARE YOU HUNGRY? YOU MUST BE HUNGRY. YOU'RE ALWAYS HUNGRY AT THAT AGE."
She turned to Elena, eyes sparkling.
"AND YOU—YOU'RE ADORABLE—LOOK AT THOSE GLASSES—LANE WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU HAD FRIENDS LIKE THIS?!"
"Mom," I said, already dying inside, "this is Jason. This is Elena."
She gasped like I just revealed ancient secrets.
"THEY HAVE NAMES TOO?!"
"…Yes."
"And they're not from here?" she asked, suddenly even more excited.
"Yeah," I said. "Just like us."
That did it.
She clapped her hands.
"FATE! THIS IS FATE!"
"Mom," I groaned, "chill. They're not a golden ticket."
She ignored me completely.
"COME IN COME IN SHOES OFF SHOES OFF—LANE WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE HELP THEM—"
Jason mouthed Is she always like this?
I nodded solemnly.
You have no idea.
Five minutes later, they were seated at the table.
Ten minutes later, food appeared.
I don't know how.
It just did.
Home-cooked. Multiple dishes. Enough to feed a small army.
Jason stared at the table. "Mrs. White… this is too much."
"Nonsense!" my mom waved him off. "You boys—"
She paused.
"…and girls," she corrected quickly, smiling at me like she just remembered something important.
"You all need to eat properly."
Elena hesitated. "I—I don't want to trouble—"
"NO TROUBLE," my mom said firmly, placing a bowl in front of her. "Eat."
Elena blinked.
Then quietly obeyed.
Dad peeked in from the living room, holding a drink.
He froze.
"…Lane?"
"Yeah, Dad."
"…Are those… friends?"
I nodded.
He stared for a long second.
Then smiled.
A real smile.
"Well damn," he said. "Guess hell really did freeze over."
"HEY," I snapped.
He laughed and waved at Jason and Elena. "Welcome. Make yourselves at home."
Jason leaned over and whispered, "Your parents are… intense."
"You get used to it," I whispered back.
Elena smiled shyly. "They're… really warm."
I glanced at her.
Yeah. They were.
After food, we moved to my room.
Jason immediately locked onto my console like a heat-seeking missile.
"YOU HAVE THIS GAME?!"
"Don't touch my save file."
"Too late."
"JASON."
Elena sat on the bed, holding a pillow, watching us bicker with a small smile.
"You okay?" I asked her quietly.
She nodded. "Yeah. This is… nice."
I felt something warm in my chest.
We played games. Trash-talked. Laughed.
At some point, Jason paused mid-match.
"…You know," he said, "for someone called the Walking Calamity, your house is ridiculously normal."
"Don't jinx it."
Right on cue—
"LANE!" my mom yelled from downstairs. "DO YOU WANT DESSERT?!"
Jason snorted. "Too late."
Elena giggled.
And that sound?
That made it all worth it.
Later, when Jason and Elena were getting ready to leave, my mom pulled me aside.
Quietly.
Rare for her.
"…I'm glad," she said.
"About what?"
"That you're not alone anymore."
I looked away. "…Yeah."
She squeezed my shoulder. "Invite them again."
"…Okay."
As they stepped outside, Jason stretched. "Your mom is terrifying."
Elena nodded. "But… kind."
"Both true," I said.
They waved goodbye and headed down the street.
I stood there for a moment.
Watching.
Feeling something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Normal.
Somewhere far away, forces beyond the academy took note.
Not of my power.
Not of my slashes.
But of the fact that Lane White had friends.
And that?
That changed the equation more than any catastrophe ever could.