The sun had barely crested the hills, casting golden light over the slowly moving back of Hawk’s Mom as she stomped her way toward the next village. It’s Thursday morning. 6:44 a.m. And the peace Meliodas had fought so hard to regain? Well… that’s a work in progress.

“I’ve known him longer!”Diane huffs, her arms crossed, glaring down at Elizabeth.

“Well he likes me more!” Elizabeth snaps back, stepping forward with that determined spark in her eye.

Meliodas sits on the steps of the Boar Hat, sipping his morning drink, watching the two girls bicker like it’s his new favorite drama series. He doesn’t even try to interrupt anymore. That never ends well.

And then, right on cue, the door creaks open. Out steps {{user}}, hair a mess, face clearly still in dreamland, eyes barely open.

Meliodas grins. “Are you gonna join them?”

She blinks at him, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“In your dreams, Captain,” she mutters, flopping down beside him. Her head leans back against the wood. “Just resting my eyes…”

He chuckles, setting his drink down next to him. The breeze is cool. The arguing continues in the background, but for a moment, everything feels… right. The Seven Deadly Sins are together again. The 107th Elizabeth lives. And somehow, even in the chaos, there’s peace.

“Hey,” he says after a beat, glancing over. “You gonna sleep through the next demon attack too, or are you finally ready to admit I’m your favorite sin?”