Nagisa had learned something important over the past few years.
Having siblings meant never having peace.
Ever.
“Give it back!”
Sato ran across the courtyard with one of Nagisa’s books held above his head.
Nagisa chased after him.
“That’s mine!”
“You weren’t reading it!”
“I was!”
“You were staring at the pictures!”
“They were diagrams, Idiot!”
Sato laughed.
Nagisa sped up.
“Come back here!”
Before she could catch him, Hirata appeared from the side and grabbed Sato.
“Got you.”
Sato froze.
“Hey!”
Nagisa quickly snatched her book back.
“Thank you.”
Hirata grinned.
“You’re welcome.”
Sato crossed his arms.
“You betrayed me.”
Hirata shrugged.
“You deserved it.”
Ren sat nearby watching them.
“You guys are noisy.”
Airi was sitting beside him, quietly watching everything unfold.
Nagisa looked at her.
“You’re not going to help?”
Airi shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s funny.”
Nagisa stared at her.
“You’ve become too much like Mother.”
Airi smiled.
The peaceful moment lasted approximately five seconds.
Then they heard footsteps approaching from outside.
Celeste appeared in the courtyard.
“Children.”
All five turned toward her.
“Yes, Mother?”
“Your aunt is coming today.”
Nagisa’s ears immediately perked up.
“Aunt?”
Celeste nodded.
“Your father’s sister.”
Sato’s eyes widened.
“Does she have children?”
“Yes.”
Nagisa immediately became interested.
“Cousins?”
“Several.”
The five siblings exchanged looks.
Hirata smiled.
“Are they our age?”
“Some of them.”
Sato immediately ran toward the gate.
“I’m going to meet them!”
Celeste grabbed him by the back of his clothes.
“You’re going to wait.”
Sato’s legs continued moving despite being suspended.
“But—”
“No.”
He stopped struggling.
“Okay.”
Nagisa laughed.
Not long afterward, several figures arrived at the estate.
The first was a woman with long dark-blue hair and bright violet eyes. This story is hosted at g.com.
She smiled as soon as she saw Celeste.
“Celeste!”
The two sisters embraced.
“It’s been too long.”
“I know.”
Behind her were several children.
Nagisa counted them.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Five cousins.
They were around the same age as Nagisa and her siblings.
The first boy stepped forward confidently.
“I’m Kaito.”
He pointed at himself proudly.
“I’m the strongest.”
Nagisa raised an eyebrow.
“You haven’t even awakened yet.”
Kaito froze.
“That’s true.”
His sister immediately laughed.
“Then you aren’t the strongest.”
Kaito turned around.
“Yuna!”
Yuna smiled innocently.
“What?”
Another boy introduced himself next.
“I’m Daichi.”
He was quieter than Kaito and seemed much more observant.
A girl standing beside him gave Nagisa a small wave.
“I’m Mei.”
The last child hid partially behind her mother.
Nagisa crouched down slightly.
“And you?”
The little girl looked at her.
“Rina.”
Nagisa smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Rina slowly smiled back.
Within minutes, the courtyard became chaotic.
Sato and Kaito were already arguing about who could run faster.
Hirata challenged Daichi to a race.
Ren and Mei were discussing food.
Airi had somehow ended up sitting beside Rina beneath a tree.
Nagisa watched all of them.
She couldn’t help smiling.
This was completely different from her life on Earth.
Back then, she had barely had anyone.
Now she had parents.
Siblings.
Relatives.
And children around her age who might eventually become lifelong friends.
She didn’t realize how much that meant to her until she saw everyone together.
Later that evening, the adults gathered around a large table.
Nagisa and the other children were nearby, eating and talking.
Her grandparents had arrived as well.
Her grandmother was a gentle-looking woman with silver hair and soft green eyes.
Her grandfather was much larger, with broad shoulders and a serious expression that became surprisingly gentle whenever he looked at his grandchildren.
He studied Nagisa for several seconds.
“So this is my oldest granddaughter.”
Nagisa looked up.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
His expression softened.
“You’ve grown.”
Nagisa smiled.
“You haven’t seen me in a while.”
“True.”
He reached down and gently patted her head.
Nagisa’s ears flattened.
She didn’t mind.
Her grandmother sat beside Celeste.
“Look at all of them.”
She smiled as the children talked.
“They’ll be starting their cultivation soon.”
Celeste nodded.
“Their Awakening Ceremony is approaching.”
The adults exchanged knowing looks.
Nagisa noticed.
She immediately became curious.
“Grandmother?”
Her grandmother looked at her.
“Yes?”
“How strong were Mother and Father when they awakened?”
Celeste laughed.
“You’re asking dangerous questions.”
“Why?”
Her grandfather smiled.
“Because your mother still likes to brag about hers.”
Celeste glared at him.
“I do not.”
“You told me about it yesterday.”
“That was different.”
Nagisa giggled.
Her father joined the conversation.
“Your mother had an excellent spiritual root.”
Celeste smiled proudly.
Nagisa’s eyes widened.
“What about you?”
Her father paused.
“I was fortunate as well.”
“That’s not an answer.”
The adults laughed.
Nagisa folded her arms.
“I want to know.”
Her grandfather shook his head.
“You’ll understand soon enough.”
Nagisa wasn’t satisfied.
But she knew better than to keep pushing.
The children continued eating.
Kaito suddenly stood.
“When we awaken, I’m going to become the strongest!”
Sato immediately challenged him.
“No, I am!”
Hirata jumped in.
“Neither of you.”
Ren laughed.
“You guys are already fighting before you’ve even awakened.”
Airi calmly continued eating.
Nagisa looked around the table.
Her family was loud.
Chaotic.
Sometimes annoying.
But warm.
She smiled.
For someone who had once lived alone, this felt almost unreal.
She glanced toward her parents.
Then her grandparents.
Then her siblings and cousins.
She realized something.
She wasn’t simply waiting for the Awakening Ceremony anymore.
She was looking forward to experiencing it with all of them.
Whatever happened that day, they would experience it together.
And Nagisa had a feeling that the day would be anything but ordinary.
Family gathering, though I haven’t included their uncle, and if you read so far you’ll notice you have hardly seen their father.