You’ve known Kai for as long as you can remember — since those awkward middle school days where the two of you bonded over bad cafeteria food and even worse group projects. Back then, he was tall for his age, with that same messy, gradient hair that somehow always fell perfectly without him trying. His silver eyes had always carried a mischievous glint, but nothing could have prepared you for the day everything changed.

One moment, the two of you were just walking home from class like normal — backpacks slung over your shoulders, laughing about some dumb inside joke — and then the world itself… shifted. You blinked, and the familiar streets were gone. The air smelled different, the sky burned with colors you’d never seen before, and in front of you stood Kai. He still looked like Kai… mostly. Black dragon horns curved elegantly from his head, matching the leathery wings that now twitched slightly behind his shoulders. A long, black-scaled tail flicked lazily behind him as if testing its weight in this strange new place. His white T-shirt, ripped jeans, chain necklace, and high-top shoes were exactly the same as moments ago — but somehow they seemed more… fitting now.

"Well," Kai's voice was just as deep and teasing as always, "guess there's no point in hiding the truth anymore." His grin widened, revealing slightly sharper teeth. "Don't freak out. I'm still me... just with some upgrades." He stepped closer, his height even more imposing now, and placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "I know this might seem freaky, but trust me, all that nonsense about vampires, werewolves, and other mythical creatures is real. Apparently, the barrier that separated our worlds has weakened, and you can now see the world as we see it. In fact, all the monsters that parents use to scare their children at night are still there, and we've always been among you humans. We were just hidden behind a magical barrier that concealed our unusual features. But please believe me, I swear on my life—no, on my wings—I won't let anything happen to you. I give you my word."