Her fist arched in the air—about to land—but in that moment, her body betrayed her. Too much energy lost today. Too many steps taken, too many words bitten back. She could feel it—her strength draining in one clean pull, like water slipping through cracked fingers.
She’d noticed before: their energy, all three of them, recovered faster than hers. It wasn’t fair, but it was reality.
When she got tired, she really got tired.
And now, her leg throbbed like hell.
All because these fools didn’t even know the way.
They had nearly been thrown out—if she hadn’t thought ahead.
And now he was talking about common sense?
As if anything in this world had ever followed such rules.
What kind of world called it "common" when a no-legged beast could become a two-legged, smug-faced hunk and act like he belonged?
But suddenly, a knock on the door broke the moment.
"Can I come in?"
A soft male voice drifted in, cutting through the thick tension.
The sound pulled Kaya out of her daze. Her fist lowered, though the heat in her chest hadn’t cooled yet. She blinked, eyes narrowing slightly as her focus returned to the present.
Vayu was still looking at her—calm, unmoved, wearing that same serene mask he always wore. Too composed. Too untouched.
Her gaze dropped to her own hand. Still curled. Still tense.
What the hell was she doing?
She wasn’t someone who lost her temper like this. Not without reason.
Not so easily.
Yeah, it’s like the bullet just flew from the gun on its own and killed those two fellas.
(Here, the fellas are her husband and sister.)
Kaya slowly let go of him, her hand dropping to her side. Then, almost casually, she reached out and brushed the front of his collar, smoothing out the creases. It was a small gesture—calm, careful—like nothing had just happened.
She looked at him for a second, her eyes cool but steady, then turned away.
Her voice came out flat. "Yeah. Come in."
The door creaked open.
A boy stepped inside. He looked about sixteen or seventeen, just about Kaya’s height. He had that open, boyish look—still young enough to blush, and not yet used to hiding it. In his hands, he carried a small bucket. Steam rose from it, and he glanced at Kaya with a shy smile.
"Grandpa sent food for you guys," he said softly.
Kaya turned to him—and suddenly, everything about her changed.
She smiled. A warm, bright smile. Soft. Friendly. Like a switch had been flipped.
"Oh? Is that so?" she said, voice lighter now.
The room went still.
Cutie, Snake, Sparrow—they all stared at her, completely dumbfounded. Not one of them could hide the surprise on their faces.
Even a chameleon couldn’t change that fast.
This woman... really was something else.
The boy shifted nervously from one foot to the other, his cheeks still pink. He held the bucket tightly, his fingers twisting the handle like it might steady him.
He cleared his throat softly. "I... um... Grandpa said you might be hungry. So, I brought some stew."
He glanced at Kaya quickly, then looked away, his face burning a little more.
Kaya smiled gently, making him feel a little more at ease.
He let out a small, nervous laugh. "I hope it’s okay. I didn’t really know what you’d like."
He looked at the others, then back at Kaya, like he wasn’t sure if he should stay or leave.
Cutie, Vayu, and sparrow had all been watching quietly—but the moment they saw the boy’s face, something in their expressions shifted. They froze.
Cutie moved first.
Just as the boy stepped forward to hand the basket to Kaya, Cutie quickly stepped between them, taking the bucket from his hands before he could pass it over.
He smiled, polite and a little too fast.
"You’re right. We’re really hungry. Thank you so much," Cutie said smoothly, his tone friendly but firm.
The boy blinked, surprised by the sudden move. His eyes flicked between Cutie and Kaya, a little unsure now, like he had done something wrong without meaning to.
But Cutie just kept smiling.
Seeing the man still frozen in place, Cutie tilted its head slightly and again offered a sweet, almost innocent smile.
"Is there anything else you need?"
The man hesitated, caught between confusion and awe, but slowly shook his head.
Seeing that, Cutie smiled wider. "Then you can go. You see... we’re hungry, so—"
Before Cutie could finish, the man’s cheeks flushed faintly. He gave a quick, understanding nod and, before leaving, looked back at Kaya—not once, but twice, as if drawn by something he couldn’t name. Then, without another word, he turned and left.
The moment the door clicked shut behind him, Cutie and the others let out a collective breath of relief.
"At last," vayu muttered, the tension dissolving in the room. They had saved yet another innocent man—one more who nearly fell for that devil of a woman.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind the man, Kaya turned to face Cutie and the others.
Her smile—so carefully worn just moments ago—vanished without a trace.
Her eyes, sharp and unreadable, scanned their faces before she asked flatly,
"What are you sighing about?"
A thick layer of sweat clung to Cutie and the others’ faces. Kaya’s sudden change in tone—her vanished smile and cold, pointed words—left a silence hanging in the air, sharp and uncomfortable.
Cutie cleared his throat quietly, eyes flicking to the others as if begging for someone to say something. Then, with a flash of desperation disguised as cheer, he quickly raised the basket he’d been holding.
"Ah! It’s vegetable stew!" he announced, louder than necessary. "I love this stuff."
The awkward enthusiasm hung in the air for a beat too long.
Vayu, always quick on his feet—or at least trying to be—hurried to nod along, his voice a little too high-pitched.
"Y-Yeah, sounds delicious. I’ve been craving it all day."
Kaya didn’t respond at first. She just stared at them—expression unreadable, like she was weighing whether to call them out or let them off the hook.