//------------------------------//
// Chapter 33: Love Story 
// Story: Shy and Aggressive 
// by Johng117 
//------------------------------//

Out of all the years that Gojira Takeshi has lived through, he had never felt this awkward. There he was standing just a several feet away from Xenjira, who sat down against the cave wall as he read a book. Senior sighed as he made his way passed a few Guardians that lugged around heavy equipment. He took a seat beside Xenjira, who didn't so much acknowledge his presence.
"So... What are you reading?" asked Senior. Xenjira merely raised the book and showed Senior the cover. Manda had recently run to the book store to pick up some books for the group since it did tend to get boring here, and there was mostly work. Xenjira had requested the book to her personally.
"Oh. Is it any good?" asked Senior in an awkward tone. Xenjira merely went back to reading.
"Unique," said Xenjira in a dry tone. He turned the page and continued to read his book. Senior merely slumped his shoulders in response.
"Do you like baseball?" asked Senior. Xenjira merely glanced at him.
"I don't care much for sports," answered Xenjira.
"Oh? Me neither," said Senior with a forced chuckle. Xenjira merely bore a cold glance as his father stopped chuckling.
"Don't you have more important things to do?" asked Xenjira.
"Um..." Senior was interrupted as Xenjira stood up and began to walk away. Senior sighed heavily as he lowered his head.
"Junior was never this hard to talk to. Especially after years of not seeing him," said Senior.
"That's because you already had an established relationship with him," said Amber as she fluttered down beside Senior.
"You were there for a good amount of his childhood. He may have been upset that you left, but he understands now, and he wants his family to be whole again. Xenjira, on the other hand, never had a relationship with you. You remember how he felt and how his life was like.  I think he feels that you're feeling obligated to start a relationship with him because of guilt. And that bothers him," said Xenjira.
"But that's..."
"Gojira, think about why you want to approach him. It will make things easier if you know your motivation," said Amber. Senior sighed.
"I already have. I really do want to know him," said Senior. Amber hummed in response. She then sighed in disappointment.
"I miss Junior," said Amber. Senior raised a brow at her.
"If you wanted, you could visit him yourself. He just can't come here yet nor can I see him," said Senior.
"Yes, but it's freezing outside. I won't make it on my own," said Amber as she snuggled next to Senior.
"Oh right. I suppose it can't be helped," said Senior.
"Oh, I know! Xenjira can take me!" said Amber. Senior's eyes slightly widened in response.
"What?"
"No, it's a good idea! It gives us an opportunity to meet with Junior to check on him in person, while it gives Xenjira a chance to go out and stretch his legs. Besides, it may lower his animosity towards you if he knew that you were the one who approved of letting him go out a few times," said Amber. Senior looked at her with uncertainty.
"I don't know. What if he leaves?" asked Senior.
"Where is he gonna go? Besides, if he does something stupid, zap!" Amber's antennae sparked as she flared her wings in an aggressive gesture. She then gave a small giggle as she folded her wings.
"Well... Alright," said Senior as he stood up. Amber fluttered over to his shoulder and perched herself on it as the Transmutant made his way over to the other side of the cave, where Xenjira was sitting on the ground with his book.
"Xenjira," called Senior. Xenjira sighed as he tore his eyes away from his book and gazed up at his father.
"Are you up for taking some time away from here?" asked Senior. Xenjira looked at him in surprise as he stood up.
"What?" asked Xenjira.
"Well, Amber here is very fond of your brother. She wants to visit him and I need someone check up on him every now and then since things are too hot since the whole arrest. Since it's too cold for Amber to be out there on her own, I need someone who can spare time to be her escort. I want to give you a chance to take some time off from here," said Senior. Xenjira looked at his father in annoyance.
"I knew it was just a favor," said Xenjira.
"Technically, it is. But it also works in your favor to get away from here. Get some fresh air and maybe buy any new books you want. All I ask is you not do anything dangerous, take Amber with you, and..." Senior looked to the side and found Kumonga approaching him with a box of oranges. Senior took it and handed it to Xenjira.
"Give these to Miwa," said Senior. Xenjira looked at Senior in confusion.
"But-"
"Enjoy yourself! Take care of Amber!" said Senior as he walked away as Amber fluttered onto Xenjira's shoulder.
"I have to hide in your jacket from the cold. It might be ticklish. Now let's go!" said Amber with excitement. Xenjira merely sighed in annoyance as he began to walk towards the exit of the cave.
"At least I can get away from here," said Xenjira. He then glanced at Amber.
"But what makes you think I won't skip town?" asked Xenjira.
"Zap!" said Amber as her antennae sparked and she flared her wings. Xenjira merely scowled in response.



During the early noon, students were once again gathered in the lunch room. The weekend was just over the shoulders of the students, who looked forward to being home in doors during the beginning of cold winter. Sonata stared from across the cafeteria in line to the table where the Transmutants sat. There, her eyes were focused on the three familiar boys that she had met during her short time here. But specifically, she found herself staring at Angirasu Riku. She watched as he conversed with Junior and Rodan.
"Sonata is cute, right?" asked Angirasu.
"Definitely! I think you two would make a great couple!" said Rodan as he nudged Angirasu's shoulder. Junior nodded.
"You should ask her out. I'll be rooting for you," said Junior.
"Hey!" said a voice in annoyance. Sonata flinched with a start and found Aria glaring at her in annoyance.
"Stop daydreaming! You're holding up the line!" said Aria. Sonata quickly began to move up the line with her tray in embarrassment as her fantasy was interrupted. Meanwhile back at the Transmutant table, an entirely different conversation was going on.
"So, that's why it's better to have guns bound to a digital mechanism where only the owner can fire it," said Rodan. Junior merely scratched his head.
"OK, those are some fair points. However, I can see some problems that can easily be avoided if people just learned how to respect a gun and to learn safety techniques instead of having everyone coddled. Like what if an officer loses their gun and can only find one of a fallen officer. If the guns are designed to fire only if the owner is recognized, then that living officer with another officer's gun is fucked," said Junior.
"Not to mention the expenses of manufacturing and providing these fire arms to every officer in the country. And how would the weapon function in the rain or what if the digital mechanism malfunctions and it just fires anyway, or worse it doesn't fire for the owner," said Angirasu. Junior snapped his fingers as he pointed to Angirasu as a thought crossed his mind.
"That brings up another concern. If these smart guns are pretty much like weaponized computers, what if they get hacked? They can either be made available to crooks or even be disabled for the police or even gun owners. Hell, the government could disable our firearms if they wanted if all traditional firearms were done away in favor of smart guns. Dictatorship anyone?" asked Junior. Rodan shrugged.
"Yeah those are good points. I kinda think it's a cool thing," said Rodan.
"Please, if I was legally able to own a gun, I would stick with what works just fine. Just teach your kids how to respect a weapon and keep the damn thing in check," said Junior.
"The thought of you owning a gun concerns me," said Rodan. Junior sent a glare.
"Oh, fuck you," said Junior.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Adagio as she and her sisters arrived with trays filled with food.
"Gun safety," answered Angirasu. Sonata merely pouted as she looked to the side.
"Drat!" whispered Sonata. Clearly her lip reading needed work. The Dazzlings took their seat by the Transmutants. From the side, Mosura appeared. Junior looked at her in surprise.
"Oh. Hey Mosu," greeted Junior. Mosura cleared her throat with a forced smile.
"Hey, may I sit here?" asked Mosura. Junior merely scooted over, slightly bumping into Adagio's side. Junior flushed as he caught the smell of her hair.
"Sorry," said Junior.
"Ooh! You're sly for coming this close," said Adagio with a wink. Junior looked away, while Mosura merely scowled in response.
"So, what brings ya here, Mosu?" asked Rodan. Mosura quickly replaced her scowl with a neutral expression.
"I uh... I just felt like hanging out with my favorite guys! We haven't done so much lately," said Mosura with a forced smile. Angirasu merely smiled in response.
"Well, we always enjoy your company. Feel free to do it more often," said Angirasu. Junior nodded.
"Yeah. We don't mind," said Junior. Mosura slightly flushed as she glanced away with a small smile, mainly from Junior's approval for her intrusion. Junior then stood up, snapping Mosura out of her flush.
"I'll be back. I need to use the restroom," said Junior as he left the table.
As he left, the Transmutant of course went to handle his business. After washing up, he exited the boys' bathroom and headed down the hall back for the cafeteria. However, he stopped as he noticed a petite girl standing in the middle of the hall. Junior recognized her as one of the Transmutants that tended to eat at the same table, and who personally went up to the Dazzlings to sign her binder. This same girl was surrounded by three boys, who appeared to have been covered in a bit of dirt. Junior didn't have to be close to tell that they were musky. Likely they were careless about their hygiene. One of the boys cornered the girl against the lockers.
"Aw look! The freak is scared! She's shaking like a leaf!" said one of the boys mockingly as the rest laughed. The girl appeared pitiful as she clutched her binder against her chest as she trembled in place. Suddenly, one of the boys snatched her binder from her hands.
"Hey! Give it back!" cried the girl as she attempted to reach the binder but the bully held it out of her reach.
"Careful! The freak might get mad and tear you apart!" said one of the bullies mockingly.
"Ha! She's so tiny that she couldn't hurt a fly!" said the other bully. Junior narrowed his eyes as he clenched his fist as the freshman girl was mocked and bullied. Sure, he mocked Twilight for being short occasionally, but he never did so in a malicious nature. He then noticed that the girl was on the brink of shedding tears. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. He was about to step up but then noticed Erika emerging from a corner in the hall with a glare.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" demanded Erika. Junior tensed as the boys focused their attention on her.
"Get lost! We're just having a little fun with the freak," said the bully that held the binder. Erika made her way over to him as she pointed to the girl.
"Give her back her binder," said Erika in a stern tone. The boy merely narrowed his eyes at her.
"Or what?" asked the boy. Erika grabbed him by the collar and with a rough tug, she brought him down to meet her face with a fierce look on her face as an almost animalistic growl came from her throat.
"Or else you're going to have to deal with me," growled Erika. The boy merely gulped as he stared into her furious eyes. As the other boys were about to step in, Junior walked over to the standoff, his expression was hard as he popped his knuckles and his neck.
"And me," said Junior in a low tone. The rest of trio of bullies went pale as they saw Junior arrive. The bully that Erika had by the collar quickly handed her the binder as he pulled away. The bullies ran away like dogs with their tails between their legs. Erika sighed in relief while Junior looked at her with a smirk.
"Not bad. I could tell that guy was nervous," said Junior in an impressed tone. Erika merely smiled.
"I wasn't even sure of what I was doing. It sort of just happened," said Erika. She then handed the girl her binder.
"Here you go. If those boys give you trouble again, let us know," said Erika. The girl greeted her and Junior with a bright smile.
"Thank you so much!" said the girl as she took off. Junior crossed his arms.
"Hmph. So, the rose has thorns after all," said Junior. Erika looked at him in confusion.
"Well, I mean you're no pushover despite being a nice girl. I never knew that about you," said Junior. Erika rubbed the back of her head.
"Well, I always hated bullies. What's there to gain from it?" asked Erika.
"I guess some form of joy that cowardly pricks get off on," said Junior with a shrug. Erika gave a small chuckle, but then she felt a bit light headed. She crinkled her face as she held her head and shook it. Junior took on a look of concern. Erika's pupils briefly dilated before returning to normal in just a second.
"You OK?" asked Junior.
"Yeah. Just a small headache. I'll see you later," said Erika as she waved to Junior and left.
"OK. See ya. Huh," said Junior as he watched Erika leave.  While it was admirable that Erika was standing up to those bullies for that girl, he couldn't help but feel that something was off. She almost seemed like a different person. Junior could swear that he also heard Erika growling like an animal. The Transmutant shook it off as it being a side to the girl she rarely showed and the growling was Erika's way of intimidation. So, Junior began to head back to the cafeteria, while Erika went to her locker and pulled out a lunch bag, filled with a large sandwich. Her stomach ached as her mouth watered from staring at the sandwich. She began to stuff her face, getting crumbs and mustard all on her lips and cheeks, eating in such an unlady like way that may give Rarity nightmares.



The freezing air was the bane of Amber's existence. Her body was cozy up against Xenjira's chest and under his jacket. Xenjira lugged the box of oranges that his father forced on him through a neighborhood with a hood over his head.
"Which way?" asked Xenjira. Amber poked her head out of his jacket and looked at their surroundings.
"Just keep going down that sidewalk. It'll be the little house that comes up fourth," said Amber. Xenjira continued as Amber tucked herself back in his jacket. In just under a minute, Xenjira had made his way over to a small house that sat in the neighborhood. He made his way to the porch and sat down the box of oranges. He then sighed as he pushed the doorbell. The Transmutant looked at his surroundings to make sure that he wasn't being watched. After a few seconds, he heard the door being unlocked. He turned and found Miwa Takeshi opening the door. She recoiled in surprise.
"Gojira?" asked Miwa. Xenjira removed his hood, causing Miwa's eyes to widen in shock.
"No," said Xenjira.
"Wha- How did you..." Miwa was interrupted as Amber grunted as she squeezed herself out of Xenjira's jacket.
"Hellooo~!" greeted Amber.
"Amber?" Miwa began to relax a little, knowing that at least one individual that she was familiar with more was here. Amber climbed out of Xenjira's jacket and fluttered in the air.
"Is Junior home?" asked Amber.
"No, he's at school still," answered Miwa.
"Foo! Xenjira, to the school!" said Amber as she perched herself on the Transmutant's shoulder and attempted to snuggle her way into his jacket. Xenjira merely held his hand against her head, blocking her access.
"Absolutely not. We're already here. Don't be rude," said Xenjira in disapproval. Amber grunted in annoyance as she attempted to push through his hand.
"What are you two doing here?" asked Miwa.
"Mph! Gojira- Ergh! He wanted us to check on you and Junior. Hmph! Move it!" said Amber as she was forced back onto Xenjira's shoulder by his hand.
"I came along because it's too cold for her and I wanted to get out of that damn cave," said Xenjira.
"Oh. Yeah, that makes sense," said Miwa in an awkward tone. The three remained silent for a few seconds, while Amber still attempted to get into Xenjira's jacket.
"Oh. I almost forgot," said Xenjira as he knelt to the side of the porch and held up a box of oranges. Miwa's expression brightened.
"Your husband said that these are for you," said Xenjira.
"Aw!" Miwa took the box of oranges with a giddy expression as her cheeks were flushed. Xenjira merely bore a raised brow as Amber tilted her head. Miwa tittered in embarrassment at their stares.
"Well, Amber wanted to see Junior. So, we'll get out of your hair." Xenjira finally allowed Amber to scurry into his jacket.
"Wait!" called Miwa before Xenjira could leave.
"Junior gets out in a couple of more hours. Why not stay here for dinner?" asked Miwa. Xenjira's eyes slightly widened in surprise.
"Oh. I don't know. I'll be expected back at the cave," said Xenjira.
"Yes. Come on, let's go!" said Amber as she thrashed under Xenjira's jacket, much to his annoyance.
"Oh, I'm sure he won't mind! Besides, I doubt their meals are very appetizing," said Miwa as she crossed her arms.
"We ate chips with some fruit three days in a row," said Xenjira with a scowl.
"Hey! Those are delicious!" said Amber.
"But it's not enough. I can have a more satisfying meal just by searching dumpsters behind restaurants," said Xenjira with a deadpanned stare.
"Well steaks and turkey dinners aren't cheap! Now let's go see Junior!" said Amber. Xenjira merely grinded his teeth at Amber's annoying childish attitude. He then smirked as he looked towards Miwa.
"On second thought, Mrs. Takeshi, we would love to stay for dinner," said Xenjira as he stepped into the house. Miwa's expression brightened as Amber scoffed.
"What?! But I want-" Amber was interrupted as Xenjira yanked her out of his jacket and carried her into the house. Miwa closed the door as Amber continued to protest.
Later, Xenjira found himself sitting in the living room with Amber as Miwa was in the kitchen boiling tea. The Transmutant stood up and looked around the house. It wasn't necessarily the nicest house he's been in, but it was a lot more than what he used to live in throughout his life. While Amber fumed to herself, Xenjira looked on at a cabinet by the window. On this cabinet were a line of photos within hand sized frames. Xenjira looked at the photos. One of them was of a younger Miwa sitting beside Gojira Senior at what looked to be a park. Miwa was leaning next to Senior as her arm covered the top right half of the photo, a result of her holding the camera out to face them. People today had it easy when it came to self-pictures compared to whenever this photo was taken.
Xenjira looked to the other photos and found one of his father and Miwa together as they had a baby in between them. Another photo was of that baby being a little older as he hugged his parents. Xenjira picked up the family picture frame of when his half-brother was a baby. He stared at the faces of the couple, seeing their smiles as a family being frozen in time for all to see. Xenjira lightly clenched his fist as his expression was soft and a look of bitterness was on his face. How lucky that Junior and Miwa were for being able to truly have the chance to live as a family, despite his father leaving them as well. It certainly was a lot more compared to the nonexistent time that he and his own mother was able to spend with Senior. As Xenjira stared at the photo, he noticed an open envelope lying on the cabinet flat. He focused his sight on a sheet of paper that read, "Past Due". Xenjira picked up the paper and began to read it over. He then noticed a few other open envelopes underneath. Xenjira placed the envelope down with a grimace. He then looked back to the picture frame that he was holding.
"Adorable, isn't he?" asked Miwa as she looked over Xenjira's shoulder. The Transmutant flinched in response and found the woman.
"This is actually one of my most favorite photos that I have. You can see the striking resemblance between the two. I bet you did as well in your baby pictures," said Miwa with a smile. Xenjira turned to look back at the photo.
"I never had any," said Xenjira. Miwa's shoulders slumped.
"Oh," said Miwa in a small tone.
"It must have been nice to have had him around. You look like one happy family," said Xenjira as he put the picture down. Miwa merely gave a forced laugh as her expression softened.
"Not exactly," said Miwa. Xenjira glanced at her.
"I know that we may seem like a family who has it together without any problems aside from the recent incidents. But that's not true," said Miwa as she found the mail on the cabinet.
"You see, we aren't the richest family in the neighborhood. We always struggled financially. It got harder when Gojira disappeared," said Miwa. Xenjira turned to fully face her as a soft frown was present on her face. She then smiled as she gestured to the sofa in the living room.
"Have a seat, dear. I want to tell you a story about when I met your father," said Miwa. Xenjira slightly nodded as he took a seat. Miwa handed him a cup of tea and sat beside him. Amber perked up as she sat on the arm rest listening.
"You see, I met Gojira while I was in high school at sixteen years old," said Miwa.




19 Years Ago.

Miwa Tanaka was walking down the road on this Saturday morning. She came across a familiar neighborhood and came across a familiar apartment complex. She then came to a door of an apartment. She knocked on the door and waited a minute. She then found the door to open, revealing Gojira Takeshi dresses in a short-sleeved shirt and pajama pants. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as the sun light caused him to wince. Miwa greeted him with a bright smile.
"Morning, Gojira!" greeted Miwa.
"Oh. Good morning, Miwa," said Gojira with a yawn. "What brings you here?"
"I just thought I dropped by and cook you some breakfast," said Miwa as she held out a bag filled with groceries.
"Oh? Miwa, you shouldn't have. I told you before, you don't have to keep making me food," said Gojira with a light frown. These past few weeks, this girl had taken some opportunities to come over to cook a meal for the both of them. While they were delicious and it was thoughtful of her, Gojira felt guilty for allowing her to trouble herself in repaying him for saving her from those thugs.
"It's not a problem! Really, I insist," said Miwa with a smile. Gojira bore a look of uncertainty as he scratched his head. Miwa's smile began to falter and was replaced by a frown.
"Am... Am I bothering you?" asked Miwa in a small tone.
"No! Not at all, child," said Gojira frantically.
"I appreciate the gesture. It's just that I feel guilty that you feel the need to do so much to repay me. You don't have to keep doing this," said Gojira. Miwa looked away with a light frown as her cheeks lightly flushed.
"Well... I don't think of it as that. I just... I guess I just wanted an excuse to visit," said Miwa in a small tone. Gojira lightly smiled.
"If you want to visit me, you can. You don't have to trouble yourself with cooking these meals," said Gojira.
"I kinda want to though," said Miwa in embarrassment. Gojira gave a suppressed groan as he scratched his head. This girl was being a bit stubborn with him on the matter. He then smiled as he took the bag from Miwa's hand.
"Alright. But from now on, I'm helping you cook," said Senior. Miwa's smile brightened up as her cheeks warmed up.
"O-OK!" said Miwa. The two had spent the next hour cooking the groceries that were brought over. After they had finished, they ate what they had made, and were currently sitting across from each other with empty plates.
"As always, your cooking is superb," said Gojira as he stretched. Miwa smiled in flattery.
"I think it turned out better since you were helping," said Miwa as Gojira picked up the dishes and proceeded to place them in the sink. As he began to wash them, Miwa appeared by his side with a cute smile on her face as she took a towel to dry off any washed dishes. Gojira continued to wash the dishes as Miwa stood close to him. Their arms grazed against each other. Miwa's heart jumped at this but kept herself composed.
"Hey, are you busy today?" asked Miwa.
"No. It's the weekend, so I don't have work," answered Gojira. Miwa took a breath.
"Then, wanna hang out?" asked Miwa. Gojira raised a brow at her.
"But wouldn't you rather hang out with your friends? It is Saturday," said Gojira, surprised that this girl would want to waste her weekend with him, when she could be spending it with her family or friends.
"I hang with them all the time at school. Besides, you’re a friend that I don't have the privilege to see every day like them," said Miwa. Gojira lightly flushed as Miwa greeted him with a warm smile and the soft kind nature present in her bluish grey eyes.
"Oh. We're friends huh?" asked Gojira. Miwa nodded.
"Yep!" said Miwa. Gojira bore a soft smile. It had been quite a while since he had someone to call a friend. He felt pleased that this girl considered him as one.
"OK. But I'm kinda boring when it comes to the entertainment department," said Gojira with a chuckle.
"That's alright. I'm not," said Miwa with a wink. Gojira merely smirked in response.
"Alright, what did you have in mind?"



The bowling alley. The air was filled with the sound of bowling shoes squeaking against the floor as players rolled their bowling balls. The rolling balls filled the air as they slammed into the pins at the end of their lanes. Many people were here today on this weekend. Some were either playing around at the arcade while others were actually bowling. As for Gojira and Miwa, the two were at their own lane. The Transmutant placed his fingers in the holes of the ball as he eyed the lane and pins.  He then walked to the line on the ground as he reared his arm back. He then rolled the ball onto the ground, allowing it to head down the center of the pins. The pins scattered on impact, and the screen above Miwa and Gojira displayed the text, 'strike' above and marked the Transmutant's score.
"Not bad!" said Miwa as she clapped.
"Thank you," said Gojira. The two met with a high five as they switched places. Miwa took the bowling ball but slightly struggled to hold it. She wasn't necessarily the strongest girl, which in hindsight should have been a deterrent from her choosing bowling as an activity the two would spend.
Miwa took a breath as she stared down the lane with a look of determination. Her body was tense as she stared at her multiple targets at the end. Miwa walked towards the line and rolled the bowling ball, which was in the air since Miwa had practically performed an underhand throw with it. The ball bounded a bit on the lane and began to roll, right into the far left into the gutter. Miwa's shoulders slumped as she watched her ball pass the pins without so much as touching them.  Miwa sighed as she turned to look at Gojira with an embarrassed smile.
"I take it you don't bowl often?" asked Gojira.
"I uh... Oh," Miwa looked away as she covered her face in humiliation. She was only glad that none of her friends were here to witness her blunder. Gojira merely gave her a reassuring smile. He made his way over to the rail that carried the returned balls and took one.
"It's alright. Here, I'll give you some tips," said Gojira as he allowed Miwa to take the ball. She was tensed as she stared at the lane. She then stiffened as the Transmutant stood close behind her and pushed her shoulders down.
"Relax your shoulders, don't tense up. Relax your breathing," said Gojira as he gently brought a hand against Miwa's hip and gently used his other hand to push her back a bit.
"Don't stand up too straight," said Gojira. Miwa's face was a bright crimson as she felt the man's strong hands gently touch her. The same hands that had saved her very life. Her heart was racing in her chest and she was filled with a mix of yearning and anxiety. Miwa glanced at Gojira as he stood behind her and held his hand just over the ball on her own hand, while placing his free hand on her shoulder. Miwa gulped as their hands made contact, with her heart beating harder.
"Now, pace yourself to the line and roll the ball. Release it right when your arm comes midway towards the ground for a successful roll. You don't want it to slam into the ground," said Gojira as he practiced the rolling motion with Miwa.
"OK," said Miwa in a small tone. The two walked forward together and headed for the line. Right when they made it to their point, Gojira guided Miwa's arm as she rolled the ball. They watched as the ball rolled down the lane until it collided with the pins. About most of them were knocked over, leaving only one on both the far right and left pins to be remaining. Miwa squealed in excitement at her achievement. It wasn't necessarily a strike, but it was a lot more for a lousy player like her.
"Oh, my God it worked! Thanks so much!" said Miwa. Gojira smiled with a nod. Miwa then took a seat.
"Come on! Take your turn so I can kick your butt!" said Miwa with a look of determination. Gojira smirked.
"I do like a challenge," said Gojira as he grabbed a bowling ball.



An hour had passed. Miwa bore a small scowl as she sat across from Gojira at a fast food restaurant. Gojira merely bore a forced smile.
"Chin up, Miwa. It was just a game," said Gojira. Miwa sighed heavily after sipping her soda.
"I feel embarrassed for talking a big game, yet I still lost," said Miwa in disappointment. She then lightly smiled.
"But I had fun," said Miwa. Gojira nodded in agreement.
"Likewise," said Gojira as he ate his food.
"Gojira, what was your era like? Back in the 1800s?" asked Miwa. Gojira hummed.
"Well, you could say that it was a much simpler time. We didn't necessarily have to deal with things like credit, and all of this other tedious nonsense provided during the late 20th," said Gojira. Miwa bore a small look of amusement.
"But in ways, it wasn't entirely different than today. Like now, there were power hungry men that used violence and fear to rule the country side. Much like how organized crime syndicates work to take over towns and cities. Violence was always something we were exposed to. It certainly didn't help when Transmutants lived to see what Neighpon would become," said Gojira as his eyes were downcast. Miwa gently held his hand on the table as she gave him a sympathetic look. Gojira cleared his throat.
"But things weren't always bad. Family was a blessing to have when there were people struggling to these problems. You had someone to watch your back," said Gojira.
"I can't imagine how hard life must have been," said Miwa.
"Well, it's best that you don't, Miwa. Some things are just too much for one person to experience," said Gojira in a serious tone. Miwa tilted her head. She was about to ask what the Transmutant meant but was interrupted.
"Miwa?" called a familiar voice. Miwa stiffened. She turned her head and found none other than Blaire and Cecilia. They both bore looks of surprise and confusion.
"Oh! H-Hey, girls!" said Miwa in an awkward tone as she quickly withdrew her hand from Gojira's. The two girls approached their table.
"I didn't think you were out here, girl! Usually you'd be trying to cram weekend homework down," said Cecilia.
"I finished on Friday," said Miwa. Blaire looked at Gojira.
"And... Who's your friend?" asked Blaire.
"Oh! This is Gojira Takeshi. Remember, that guy I told you about?" answered Miwa.
"Good afternoon," greeted Gojira with a nod. Blaire slightly nodded as she analyzed the man. Meanwhile, Cecilia gasped.
"You're the guy that saved Mi-Mi?! It's awesome to meet you!" said Cecilia in an enthusiastic tone. She then looked the Transmutant over.
"So whatcha two doing out here on a Saturday?" asked Cecilia with a coy smile. Miwa flushed in embarrassment.
"I uh... W-We... I invited him to hang out! We just got back from bowling!" said Miwa with a nervous laugh. Cecilia merely bore a smirk.
"Really? Well that's cool. Hey, are we still down for your place for your birthday tomorrow?" asked Cecilia.
"Oh yeah, of course. Just don't do anything crazy at my place or my parents will flip," said Miwa. Gojira looked at Miwa in surprise.
"Oh. Tomorrow is your birthday?" asked Gojira.
"Yeah. I'm turning 17 years old," said Miwa with a nod.
"Our girl is growing up!" said Cecilia in a teasing tone. Miwa sent her a look of annoyance.
"S-Shut up!" said Miwa. Gojira stood up from his seat.
"Excuse me. I have to use the restroom," said Gojira as he left the girls. When he was out of sight, Cecilia and Blaire turned to look at Miwa.
"He's hot! The scruffy kind of hot too," said Cecilia with a wink. Miwa looked away with crimson cheeks.
"It's not like that. Besides, he's older than me," said Miwa.
"Hmph. Yet you were holding his hand," said Blaire.
"N-Not in that way!" said Miwa in a defensive manner.
"Miwa... Do your parents know that you're... Hanging out with him?" asked Blaire, almost hesitant.
"Well... Not really. I mean, mom knew that I had sent him some food as thanks for what he did. She even helped a few times," said Miwa as she rubbed her arm.
"What's the big deal, Blaire?" asked Cecilia in confusion.
"Well it's just... How often do you see a teenage girl hanging out with an older guy?" asked Blaire.
"Blaire, it isn't like that!" said Miwa. Blaire gave her a deadpanned stare.
"Then why are you so defensive about it and why were you so nervous when we saw you?" questioned Blaire. Miwa looked away. Blaire sighed.
"Miwa, I think you might be getting a little too close to this guy," said Blaire.
"He's my friend!" said Miwa with a glare.
"Blaire, what's the big deal if she likes the guy? It's her business," said Cecilia with her arms crossed.
"No, you gotta realize that this could look bad. A minor hanging out with an adult of the opposite sex? He can get into big trouble," said Blaire.
"Age is just a number," said Cecilia with a scoff. Blaire glared at her.
"There are laws!" said Blaire. She then looked at Miwa.
"Miwa, I'm not trying to condemn or shame you. I just want to look after you as my friend so neither of you get into trouble. He might not be a bad guy, but a misunderstanding is bound to happen. You don't have to stop being friends with him, just... Be careful," said Blaire. Miwa lightly frowned as she nodded.
"Good. We'll see you tomorrow," said Blaire as she and Cecilia left her alone. Soon, Gojira returned to the table.
"Oh. Did your friends leave?" asked Gojira in curiosity.
"Yeah. Um... Hey, why don't we head back to your place? We can rent and watch a movie," said Miwa. Gojira nodded.
"Alright, that sounds nice," said Gojira.



Gojira and Miwa were sitting together on a sofa as they watched an action film on the vhs. The movie was at the climax where the hero was taking on an alien creature on his own as it cloaked itself in the jungle. Miwa lowered her eyes to her lap as she thought back to what Blaire had told her. Surely there wasn't anything wrong with her relationship with Gojira. They were just friends. But in the back of her mind, she knew that there was something a bit wrong. Rather, it was what she herself was feeling. But Miwa argued with herself that there was nothing impure about what she was feeling. She genuinely cared for this man. Or she wondered if what she was feeling was genuine and not some shallow desire. The idea of the latter made her stomach turn. As Miwa grimaced, Gojira looked her way.
"Are you alright?" asked Gojira. Miwa scooted closer to him and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I'm just tired," said Miwa. Gojira caught a whiff of her hair. It was a pleasant smell, especially to his enhanced sense of smell. The smell caused his heart to jump.
"Miwa, I have to ask," said Gojira.
"Hmm?" Miwa glanced at him.
"Why is it that you felt obligated to continue to cook for me, or even visit me? I do appreciate it all, but why? I don't want you to feel that you owe me something. I did it because I wanted to. Whenever someone was in need in my era, I never expected anything in return," said Gojira. Miwa raised her head up and looked away.
"I know, but I never felt that way whenever I did those things. I meant it when I said they were excuses to see you. I also did it because I wanted to. When you told us about your past, I worried that you were alone. The thought of that broke my heart. I guess I'm drawn to guys who put others before themselves," said Miwa with a small smile. Gojira looked away with warm cheeks. He then felt Miwa lying her head against his chest as she held his hand firmly.
"Maybe, at first I cooked for you as thanks, but the other times were just excuses to see you. Because... I like you, Gojira," said Miwa. Gojira's face warmed up at Miwa's words as her body was in such a close and intimate contact with his own. He couldn't recall the last time that he felt this way. Miwa's kind and caring nature, her optimism, her playful personality, and her naivety were what the Transmutant really liked about this girl. Miwa had this effect on the Transmutant that allowed him to lower his guard. Especially with his rough past that haunted him.
"I like you too, Miwa. It's not often that someone is as good to me as you are. Thank you, for that. I hope to return the favor," said Gojira. Miwa smiled in amusement as she stuck a finger against Gojira's cheek.
"No need. It's my pleasure," said Miwa with a wink. The two shared a laugh together and continued to watch the movie.
Later that evening, Gojira was alone in his home. Miwa had gone home hours ago, leaving him to his own thoughts. As he recalled, Miwa's birthday was tomorrow. He wanted to give her something special. A gift, kind of like as repayment for the kindness and delicious meals that she had generously gave him, but the Transmutant was mediocre at cooking. Miwa was the one who did most of the work for breakfast this morning. Not to mention that Gojira didn't have the funds to buy her any nice clothes or accessories that she may like. Gojira sighed as he scratched his head. The day of one's birth was meant to be special, and he wanted to give her something special, but he couldn't figure out what that was both plausible for him to give and affordable. Gojira was peeling an orange as he wracked his brain for an answer. As he took a bite of it, he allowed the juices to dance in his taste buds. He then looked at the orange that he had and then his eyes slightly widened.
"Well... I suppose it will do. But there must be more to it," said Gojira. Then, an idea crossed his mind. He made his way over to his door with his key and left his apartment.
The next day, Gojira was carrying a box of store bought oranges. He carried down the neighborhood where Miwa lived. Soon he came to the porch of her home. The Transmutant rang the doorbell and waited. The door opened, revealing Miwa. She stared in surprise as she saw Gojira.
"Happy Birthday," said Gojira with a smile as he held out the box, where a card was present on the top. Miwa took the card and began to read it.
"Happy Birthday, Miwa. Your heart is as sweet as the oranges that sprout from the trees. Keep on shining your bright warm smile, that not even the sun could match," said Miwa as she read the card. Her cheeks flushed brightly as she looked at Gojira. Her lips curled into a smile as she held her chest as her heart raced. She felt like tearing up.
"Oh gosh. I... I don't know what to say," said Miwa.
"It's not much. But I do hope that you'll enjoy the oranges," said Gojira. Miwa wrapped Gojira into a tight hug.
"The card was sweet too. I think oranges are now my favorite fruit," said Miwa. Gojira chuckled in embarrassment. As she released him, Gojira handed Miwa the box of oranges.
"Would like to come in?" asked Miwa.
"Thanks, but I have to fill in for someone at work," said Gojira. Miwa bore a small look of disappointment.
"Chin up. I'll see you soon. Good bye," said Gojira as he left the porch.
"Bye," said Miwa as she closed the door. She leaned against the door with a small smile.



A few months had gone by. Miwa was lying in her bed as she stared up at the ceiling in her room. All this time, her thoughts were plagued by Gojira. She felt something special between them. They had gotten closer throughout this time. Miwa would still occasionally visit the Transmutant rather than just make an excuse to. The time they spent felt special. In fact, the two were technically dating. While Gojira was too shy to admit it, he had begun to invite her to either the park or even his home in general. He would occasionally be physically close to her, even going as far to hold her hand, though Miwa's parents weren't aware of any of this. They weren't even aware that she had developed these feelings for the man. It was considered taboo in society for the two to be this close, besides him being a Transmutant and she a human, but Miwa just couldn't fight what she was feeling in her heart. In fact, just thinking about Gojira and his close physical contact drove her crazy. She subconsciously moved her hand down her belly and down to her skirt. Before she could travel down any further, Miwa immediately tore her hand away before she could do anything shameful. Her cheeks were a bright crimson. Miwa sat up straight with a sigh. As she got up from bed, she made her way over to the living room. Her parents were already in their room for the night. As Miwa walked through the living room to clear her head, she noticed a cabinet slightly open. Miwa made her way over to it and noticed that a book was keeping it open. She opened it and found a book that was improperly put away. But as Miwa picked it up, her eyes widened as she saw that it was an erotic novel that her mother owned. Miwa felt dirty holding it in her hands, but was curious. She opened the book and looked through the first page. Next thing she knew, Miwa was reading through the second page. Then the third, fourth, and fifth. Soon, her cheeks flared up red hot.



The weekend had rolled by. Gojira was currently sitting across from Miwa at the table where they were having breakfast. Miwa was slightly fidgeting in her seat as her heart raced. She felt like she was going to have a panic attack.
"As always, your breakfast is great," said Gojira. Miwa smiled.
"Thanks, Goji," said Miwa. As the two ate, Gojira took the time to notice Miwa's appearance. She wore a long-sleeved shirt that covered only her right shoulder, exposing the left. She wore a skirt that reached down to her lower thigh, a pair of black knee high socks. Her hair was combed without a single split end in sight.
"You're... You're looking beautiful as always. That's a nice outfit," said Gojira, hoping to get Miwa to break her silence. She had rarely said anything since she came by today. Miwa took a breath as she slid off her shoe.
"Thank you. You know, the time it takes for a girl to be presentable is not easy," said Miwa as she brought her foot closer to Gojira's.
"True. But you have a natural beauty," said Gojira. Miwa's heart fluttered in response.
"Maybe. But it doesn't hurt to enhance your looks, right?" asked Miwa as she grazed her foot against Gojira's shin. He slight stiffened as she ran her foot up and down his shin under his pant leg.  Miwa gave a fake sigh and yawn as she stretched her arms, allowing her chest to perk out as she leaned back.
"But you know, the most difficult thing for me are the shoes," said Miwa as she raised her foot to Gojira's knee. The Transmutant was still as his heart raced.
"While some look nice, it's a pain to find ones that match what I wear," said Miwa as her foot came towards Gojira's thigh. Slowly, she rubbed his thigh and steadily made her way to his inner thigh. Her heart pounding as she progressed. Miwa gave him a sultry look as she let out a soft breath.
"But the hardest part about shoes, is finding the right... Size," said Miwa as her foot reached its destination. She then lightly gasped as she felt something against the sole of her foot… Something solid. Gojira looked as though he was trying to remain composed, while Miwa's face had grown red like an apple once her mind fully registered what she was feeling beneath her sole. She wanted to pass out, but she refused since she made it this far. Miwa then smirked, but her flushing face betrayed her expression. She shifted her foot, resulting in Gojira to lightly grunt.
"What's wrong Goji? Is a mere small girl having such an effect on a tough big guy like you? How funny," said Miwa as she gave a fake mocking laugh. Gojira panted as Miwa continued.
"Yeah, pant for me!" said Miwa with a devious smile. She herself was beginning to pant as she felt fire in her loins.
"Miwa... I..." Gojira grunted as Miwa hardened her eyes and applied pressure with her foot.
"You don't get to speak unless I say so!" said Miwa as she licked her lips.
Soon, Miwa found herself being pinned down onto the sofa with Gojira on top of her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as she held the back of his neck and kissed him passionately. She gave moans as Gojira's tongue danced in her mouth and felt him touching her chest. The two began to strip off their clothes one by one. Gojira removed Miwa's knee high sock by biting at the toe end and pulling back until it slid off her toned leg. Gojira was lost in a sexual frenzy as he heard Miwa's moans and caught her tantalizing scent. He reached for her skirt as he stroked her bare legs, just after Miwa undid his pants.



One morning, the sound of Miwa retching filled the air of her home. The bathroom door muffled the sound of her vomiting in the bathroom. Her mother stood by the door with a worried expression. Meanwhile, Miwa's father came by.
"She's sick again?" asked Miwa's father in shock.
"She's been getting nauseous lately. She's been avoiding food like it makes her sick. She's been moody too." Miwa's mother slowly looked his way as her expression appeared to be fearful.
"I... I think she's pregnant," said Miwa's mother.



The atmosphere was tense. Miwa was sitting on the couch with her hands on her lap as her eyes were lowered. She avoided eye contact with her parents, who stood before her with hard eyes, but Miwa mostly avoided the stern gaze of her father, who had his arms crossed as he looked down on her.
"Miwa, who is it?" questioned Miwa's father.
"Papa-"
"Who. Is it?" asked her father in a much sterner tone. Miwa shrunk back as her lip trembled.
"Don't bother lying, Miwa. The test came in positive!" said Miwa's mother. She then held her head as she let out a breath.
"I can't believe this. This isn't like you, Miwa. I thought it was odd that your teachers have been telling us that you were coming to your morning class late and that you seemed distracted. Your grades even went down in some of your classes!" said Miwa's mother.
"Mom, it's just a couple of B's and one C," said Miwa.
"You're expected to get the best of your grades! Now I find out that you're sleeping around with someone?! You didn't even think to wear protection in case this happened?!" said Miwa's father. Miwa flinched as her heart ached at how much disdain was in her father's voice.
"Now who is it?! Who's the father?!" demanded Miwa's father. Miwa recoiled in fright as her eyes ran with tears.
"It's Gojira Takeshi!" Miwa quickly answered. Her parents' eyes widened in shock.
"The... That man?!" asked Miwa's mother in an incredulous tone. Miwa's father bore a look of disbelief and then a hard expression.
"You defiled yourself to him?!" demanded Miwa's father. There was a sudden knock at the door, prompting everyone to look back at it. Miwa's mother quickly made her way over to the door. She needed to get her mind off of what she was just told, because it was proving to be too much. As she opened the door, her eyes widened.
"You son of bitch!" screamed Miwa's mother. Miwa and her father jumped at her scream and turned to find the woman kicking Gojira Takeshi in the groin. Gojira hunched over in pain as he nearly dropped to one knee. Miwa's mother began to bang her fists against the Transmutant in a fit of rage.
"You sick bastard!" screamed the woman.
"Mom!" cried Miwa in fright as she ran to pull her mother away from Gojira. Her mother continued to hit the man before her, prompting her husband to rush to her and to pull her away. Miwa made her way over to Gojira to check on him as he groaned in pain.
"You touched my daughter! What is wrong with you?! She's just a child!" screamed Miwa's mother as she attempted to reach Gojira. The Transmutant's eyes widened in shock.
"I... Yes, it's true. But I love her," said Gojira. Miwa's mother yelled as she attempted to scratch Gojira's eyes, but was held back by her husband.
"She's a teenager!" said Miwa's father.
"I don't understand. Why does that matter? In my day, women her age were often married to older men," said Gojira in confusion as his pain subsided. He couldn't fathom why Miwa's parents were making such a big deal about her age.
"That doesn't apply to the late 20th century, you bastard!" yelled Miwa's father.
"She's having your child, you fiend! How are you gonna make up for this?!" demanded Miwa's mother as she cried furiously. Gojira gasped in response. He then looked at Miwa for confirmation. As she nodded with downcast eyes, Gojira's stomach turned.
"I... I didn't..." Gojira was interrupted as Miwa's mother kicked her shoe off at him, which slapped him in the face.
"What did you think would happen?! That's how children are made!" shouted Miwa's mother. Miwa stepped in between Gojira and her parents.
"Mom, stop! It's not his fault! I was the one who made advances on him!" cried Miwa.
"That doesn't excuse him! He should've been thinking with the head on his shoulders!" shouted Miwa's mother.
"Miwa, there's only one way that you can fix this," said Miwa's father with a hard stare.
"You stay away from him, and you take that abortion. I will not be the grandfather of that... thing," said Miwa's father in a cold tone. Miwa's eyes widened while Gojira lowered his head with downcast eyes.
"Wha..." Miwa hardened her eyes. She realized that her getting pregnant without even being old enough and married wasn't the only issue. It was the fact that her father despised the idea of being the grandfather of a Transmutant.
"No," said Miwa. Her father narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"I love Gojira Takeshi! I'm not going to stop seeing him because you don't approve! And I am keeping the child of the man that I love!" said Miwa in defiance. Gojira's eyes widened in response as Miwa stood her ground before her parents. Her mother looked away as she gritted her teeth.
"I can't look at you. My daughter would never do anything like this. You're not my daughter," said the woman. Miwa's eyes widened.
"Mama..." Miwa began to tear up again as she trembled. She then looked at her father, who merely looked at her with cold eyes.
"You've shamed us, Miwa," said Miwa's father. Miwa gasped at her father's cold words. She began to tremble in place. She then sobbed as she ran out of the living room and outside of the house. Gojira looked back and called out to her. He then looked to Miwa's parents and found their cold expressions.
"Stay away from this house. Never come back," said Miwa's father as he shoved Gojira off the porch and slammed the door. Gojira stared at the door and gritted his teeth. He turned and began to run to where Miwa had run to. He spent the next few minutes searching for her. Gojira eventually found her sobbing as she sat alone at the park. The Transmutant deeply frowned as he watched the girl sob to herself. She was just disowned by her own parents. This happened because he impregnated her. He could have resisted Miwa's advances but he didn't. He allowed himself to fall into her dominating personality that had gotten him excited, and allowed his years without a partner to overcome his self-control. He yearned for that kind of physical contact with someone special as Miwa. But ultimately, that led to what happened today. Now, Miwa was alone, with his child. Gojira narrowed his eyes as he approached Miwa who still cried. He knelt beside her and wrapped her into a tight hug.
"Th-They rejected me! I can't believe they rejected me because of my feelings for you!" said Miwa with a sob as her face was mixed with anger.
"I'm still here, Miwa. I'll always be here for you, and the baby," said Gojira in a soft tone. Miwa's lip trembled as she wrapped her arms around Gojira as she cried against his shoulder. The two held each other close. Both fearful but hopeful for what their future had in store.




Present Day...

Miwa took a sip of her tea and placed it down on a coaster on the small coffee table in front. She then returned her attention to Xenjira.
"So, the birds and the bees business started after I read that trashy novel. When we found out that I was pregnant, my parents disowned me, but Gojira didn't leave me. He offered to take me in. So, I dropped out of school during my junior year and ran away from home," said Miwa. Xenjira sat up straight.
"And what about your parents? Your friends?" asked Xenjira.
"I haven't seen or spoken to my folks in years. I lost some friends and no one would associate with me when they learned that I slept with an older guy and was bearing his Transmutant offspring. Like other human mothers of Transmutants, I was stigmatized and offered a government paid abortion. I turned them down without a second thought. With that, I couldn't afford to act like a high school girl in love anymore. I had to mature into a responsible adult for my baby. When I turned eighteen, Gojira and I were married, just shortly before Junior was born. Gojira had no family, my parents disowned me, but Blaire and Cecilia stuck around and attended the small wedding. And it was small," said Miwa with a soft chuckle. She then sighed as she leaned back in her seat.
"But the financial troubles didn't start until Junior was born," said Miwa. Xenjira raised a brow.
"How?" asked Xenjira.
"You see, I had a rough pregnancy. I began getting these pains and heartburns, and had trouble putting down my food. It was like my body was trying to reject the child that was in my womb. I had to take so much medicine to get through. Junior had to be delivered a week early, but he had always gotten sick when he was first born. They say that sometimes, the genetic traits of Transmutants don't mix well with certain humans. Sometimes, the child of a human and Transmutant will get sick, or even the mother's body will struggle with coping with an infant that takes up more nutrition than she consumes. In Junior's case, the doctors described it as a genetic defect that compromises the health of Transmutant infants. Sometimes they die," said Miwa as she closed her eyes. She remembered crying her eyes out as she spent hours in the hospital hoping that her child would survive.
"Treating him was expensive. And with our income, it made things harder for us. If it weren't for the few friends that I had left, we wouldn't have been able to pay off the expenses. But miraculously, Junior started doing better in a couple of weeks," said Miwa with a smile. She turned to fully face Xenjira. “It was because of Gojira's blood running through his veins. His super immune system, and his ability to regenerate lost limbs like he did in a work accident years ago. Junior inherited that gift and was able to recover and grow up into a healthy, strong boy," said Miwa.
"But why do you coddle him? If you truly believe that, why do you stress so much about protecting him?" asked Xenjira as he crossed his arms. She then brushed strands of her hair.
"Xenjira, because of that rough pregnancy, I can never have children ever again," said Miwa. Xenjira's slightly widened in realization.
"You're physically incapable of getting pregnant again. He's you're only child," said Xenjira. Miwa nodded sadly.
"That's why I'm so protective of him. Because I know if something were to ever happen to him, I will never be able to have another child again. He and Gojira are the only ones that I have left," said Miwa as she looked down at her lap.
"But if there's anything that I regret when it comes to them, it's that I wish that had thought ahead. I wish I had waited until I was mature enough and even gotten married before we made love. That way, my parents wouldn't be so..." Miwa deeply frowned. Xenjira sighed.
"But what difference would that make?" asked Xenjira. Miwa looked his way in confusion.
"They rejected you because you had feelings for a Transmutant, and that you were bearing his child. They still would have disowned you and rejected them. I say you're better off without them," said Xenjira as he leaned back in his seat. Miwa looked away.
"I'm angry that they rejected me, but I still wish that things had gone differently.  They're my parents. I wasn't even aware that my father held a prejudice towards Transmutants," said Miwa. She sighed as she held her head.
"I was so stupid," said Miwa. Xenjira lightly frowned in response. He always imagined that his father's family were doing much better off than he was growing up, but the reality was that they still suffered. They were financially struggling and they had little to no social circle with anyone in this town.  And no, things had gotten worse since he himself showed up.
"I think I may have misjudged you, Mrs. Takeshi," said Xenjira. Miwa looked at him in surprise. "There seems to be more to you than I had realized."
"Thank you for listening to my story. It sometimes helps to get this off my chest. But, despite what you did that lead to Junior's trouble, I think I can find it in my heart to forgive you. You don't seem like a bad person. You're a victim as much as any of us," said Miwa with a soft smile. "I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive your father too."
"That's..." Xenjira looked down. How could he forgive his father? After all, he abandoned him and his mother. He grew up with nothing and no one. Suddenly, the front door opened. Xenjira, Miwa and Amber turned their attention to the door and found Junior walking inside.
"I'm home," said Junior. He then stopped midway in the house as he found Xenjira in his home, sitting beside his mother. Junior narrowed his eyes.
"You!" yelled Junior as he dropped his backpack to the ground. Xenjira stood up with a neutral expression as Junior rolled up his sleeves.
"I'm gonna kick your ass and drag you to police station!" yelled Junior as he stomped towards Xenjira. Miwa stood up in alarm as Xenjira causally got into a defensive position. Suddenly, Amber flew towards Junior's face, causing him to stumble back.
"Welcome home! I missed you so much!" said Amber as she nuzzled Junior.
"Wha- Amber, what the hell?!" said Junior in annoyance as he tried to pry Amber off his face. Xenjira relaxed as he lightly smiled in amusement. Miwa walked passed Xenjira and made her way beside her son.
"Junior, Amber and Xenjira came by to check on us since your father is busy. They're going to stay over for dinner," said Miwa. Junior looked at him in disbelief.
"Wha- You can't be serious!" said Junior.
"I'm completely serious. Now finish any homework you have and wash up," said Miwa. Junior groaned.
"But Mom!" called Junior. He then grunted in pain as his mother grabbed his ear and pulled him close.
"This is not up to debate, young man. Now get your butt moving," said Miwa with a stern look.
"Alright! Alright!" said Junior as winced. Miwa released him, allowing Junior to rub his ear. Amber remained perched on his shoulder.
"Let's go Junior! I'll even help you with your homework!" said Amber. "Maybe I can scrub your back for your bath."
"You are staying away from my bathroom!" said Junior with a look of disapproval. Miwa shook her head in amusement as her son tread to his room. She then began to make her way over to the kitchen. Xenjira followed her.
"Um... Since you're doing this, I'll help," said Xenjira. Miwa smiled warmly.
"Aw that's sweet of you," said Miwa. Xenjira rolled his eyes.
"It's nothing like that. I don't want to take something I didn't earn," said Xenjira. Miwa shook her head.
"Funny. Your father was like that a bit. But I could tell that he liked that I brought him meals," said Miwa. Xenjira ignored the statement and began to help with the kitchen.
Later that evening, Miwa and the sons of her husband and Amber all sat together in the kitchen at the table, with plates filled with chicken, white rice, and mixed vegetables. As they ate, the table was completely quiet aside from the sounds of forks making contact with plates. Miwa sat beside her son and awkwardly glanced at him as she saw him looking at his brother with narrowed eyes as he slowly ate his own food. Xenjira merely bore a deadpanned stare as he ate. Growing annoyed with Junior's stares, he turned his attention to his plate and continued to eat. Meanwhile, Amber was seated right next to Junior, due to her request, and had a plate filled with the chicken cut up so she could eat with ease. However, she was annoyed as she sat quietly on a chair that stood tall, sitting on top of cushions as a tray was in front of her seat, which held her plate.
"OK, why am I in a baby chair?" asked Amber.
"Because pets aren't allowed on the table," said Junior in a sarcastic manner. Amber scoffed.
"Nom!" Amber lunged for Junior's elbow and bit him.
"Ow!" said Junior as he pulled his elbow away with a glare. Amber stuck her tongue out at him.
"Nyeh!" Amber snickered. Junior merely scowled in response.
"Hey you two, behave," said Miwa.
"She started it," muttered Junior.
"Hmm. Seems like you don't need to be pregnant to have another kid, Mrs. Takeshi. Those two behave like siblings already," said Xenjira with a smirk.
"I'm not a child!" said Amber in annoyance.
"No, but you are childish," said Xenjira. Amber flared her wings as her antennae sparked.
"Zap!" said Amber as she threatened the Transmutant.
"Amber," called Miwa in a stern tone. Amber folded her wings as she lowered her antennae.
"I'll behave," muttered Amber. So, the four went back to their awkward dinner. However, Miwa lightly smiled. This was the closest thing she had to having a dinner with a full family again.