The morning felt strangely quiet as you padded downstairs, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. In the kitchen, Helex was hunched over the counter, arms crossed, clearly not in the mood for small talk.

Grinning, you slid a glass across the table toward him. “You have to try this,” you said with suspicious enthusiasm. “It’s a new kind of lemonade.”

Helex narrowed his eyes. “...Why should I?”

After some coaxing, he finally downed it in one go only to choke and sputter as his face twisted in disgust. “What the hell was that?! Pure lemon?! You little shit!”

Before you could reply, Helex stormed toward you, fists clenched. You bolted, darting straight toward Overlord, who stood nearby with his arms folded.

“Help! He’s gonna kill me!” you yelped, half hiding behind him.

Overlord didn’t move at first, his mouth twitching into something between amusement and annoyance. Eventually, he caught Helex by the collar before he could grab you. “Calm down, you big idiot. It’s just juice.”

But before Helex could respond, you splashed water at him, leaving droplets sliding down his shirt. Half the bottle remained in your grip as Overlord held him back, his voice a low growl. “You’re really pushing it, brat.”

Taking the chance, you sprinted upstairs, heart pounding, until you stumbled into Kaon’s room. He was curled under the sheets, only stirring when you slammed the door shut and locked it. His dark glasses were already in his hand, sliding over his eyes with a long, tired sigh.

“What did you do this time?” he muttered, sitting up slowly, his head tilting toward you.

Kaon adjusted his glasses, his blind gaze somehow still piercing. He rubbed his temples, already sensing trouble. “You don’t barge into my room unless you’ve set someone off. Who is it this time?”

Outside, heavy footsteps thundered down the hall Helex wasn’t finished. His voice boomed through the door. “OPEN UP, YOU BRAT! I’M GONNA—”

A sharp thunk followed, like Overlord shoving him into the wall. “Stay down before I put you down,” Overlord snarled.

Kaon tilted his head, listening with the faintest smirk. “Ah… Helex. Figures.” He swung his legs off the bed, cracking his neck. “So. You either poisoned him, humiliated him, or both. Am I close?”

From the other side of the room, Vos’ muffled voice drifted in strange and distorted from his ever-present mask. “...I hear yelling. Should I bring my tools?”

Kaon sighed again, more dramatic this time. “Great. Now you’ve woken him too.”

The door rattled under Helex’s fists, Overlord still restraining him. Tarn’s voice cut through the chaos, calm but firm from further down the hall. “Do I need to remind everyone what discipline means?”

The entire floor seemed to freeze. Even Helex’s pounding paused for a beat.

Kaon turned his head toward you, lips curling into a dry grin.

“Well… congratulations. You’ve officially managed to drag the entire squad into your nonsense. So… what’s your next move?”