There was always someone watching.
And sometimes—
That someone laughed.
From beyond all layers of existence, The One Above All observed the life of Alexander Ashborn Odinson.
He watched the sparring.
The growth.
The bonds.
And yes—
The pranks.
Thor slipping.
Loki laughing too hard.
Alexander walking away far too innocently.
TOAA chuckled.
"Heh… entertaining."
But eventually, observation was no longer enough.
"…I suppose," TOAA said softly,
"it's time we meet."
A Presence That Doesn't Hide
Alexander felt it instantly.
Not pressure.
Not hostility.
Just… someone arrived.
He paused mid-step in Asgard, Ciel materializing beside him.
"Master," she said calmly, "an unknown presence has manifested. No threat detected."
Alexander nodded.
"I know."
He followed the feeling—not through space, but through recognition.
And arrived somewhere quiet.
A simple place.
A bench.
A sky without stars.
A man standing casually, hands in his pockets, smiling warmly.
Alexander stopped.
"…Hello."
The man turned.
"Hello, Alexander."
Alexander studied him for a moment.
Then asked honestly,
"Who are you?"
The man laughed lightly.
"I have many names," he said.
"But many call me TOAA."
Alexander stiffened.
Then relaxed.
"…The One Above All."
TOAA nodded.
"So," TOAA asked casually,
"how does it feel—being reborn into this world?"
Alexander didn't answer right away.
He thought.
Then smiled.
"It's the best time I've ever had," he said.
"Especially compared to my past life."
TOAA listened.
Alexander reached into a spatial pocket and pulled out a bottle.
Dark glass.
Carefully sealed.
"I brewed this myself," Alexander said.
"Care for a drink?"
TOAA raised a brow.
Then smiled wider.
"I'd like that."
Two Beings, One Conversation
They sat.
No thrones.
No judgment.
No cosmic weight.
Just two people sharing a drink.
TOAA took a sip.
"…Good," he admitted.
Alexander relaxed.
TOAA glanced at him.
"Tell me," TOAA said, "why do you truly wish to live lazily with your loved ones?"
Alexander stared into his cup.
Then spoke.
"In my past life," he said quietly,
"I worked every day. Day and night."
No drama.
Just truth.
"I chased success. Power. Fame. Political influence."
He smiled bitterly.
"And I got them."
TOAA listened silently.
"But I never stopped," Alexander continued.
"No breaks. No rest. No life."
He looked up.
"At the end… I realized I never enjoyed living."
Silence followed.
Then TOAA nodded.
"…I understand."
He looked at Alexander with something close to respect.
"The future," TOAA said,
"has changed because of you."
Alexander blinked.
"…Is that good or bad?"
TOAA smiled.
"In a good way."
He stood.
"I'm looking forward to seeing it."
Then TOAA reached out and handed Alexander something.
A mobile phone.
Alexander stared.
"…A phone?"
"You can contact me with it," TOAA said casually.
"Whenever you want."
Alexander stood quickly and bowed slightly.
"…Thank you."
TOAA waved it off.
"Come meet me again sometime."
Alexander nodded.
"I will."
TOAA turned—
And vanished.
After
Alexander looked at the phone.
Then laughed softly.
"…My life keeps getting stranger."
Ciel appeared beside him.
"Master," she said calmly,
"you appear pleased."
Alexander smiled.
"Yeah," he said.
"I am."
And somewhere beyond everything—
TOAA watched.
And smiled back.