Next day, the Nohara house had settled into a strange new rhythm.
Sleep was optional. Noise was not.
It was six in the morning, and the sun had barely begun to creep over the rooftops when Akari's voice was already echoing through the house.
"Hiroshi—slow down! You're going to wake her again!"
"I am being slow!" Hiroshi protested, standing awkwardly near the bed with a bottle in his hand, shoulders stiff like he was defusing a bomb.
In Akari's arms, Hinata stirred, tiny fingers curling as she let out a soft, unhappy sound.
Shin froze.
Five-year-old Shin, still in pajamas, stood in the middle of the room like a soldier hearing an alarm.
"She's crying," he said sharply.
"I know," Akari replied, rocking Hinata gently. "She's just hungry."
Hiroshi stepped closer. "Let me—"
"No," Shin snapped instantly, stepping in front of him. "Last time you tried, she cried louder."
"That was ONE time!"
Hinata whimpered again.
Shin pointed at Hiroshi like a prosecutor.
"See? Enemy activity."
Akari bit back a laugh. "Shin, stop declaring war on your father."
Shin climbed onto the bed beside Akari, peering down at his sister with absolute seriousness. When Hinata finally settled, he relaxed slightly.
He nodded to himself.
"Anyone who makes Hinata cry is my enemy," he announced.
Then he turned slowly toward Hiroshi.
"So, Hiroshi Nohara," Shin said gravely, "I officially declare you my enemy."
Akari laughed openly this time.
Hiroshi stared at his son. "…I live in fear."
An hour later, the calm was gone.
"SHIN-CHAN!" Akari shouted from the hallway. "THE BUS IS HERE!"
"I'M COMING!" Shin yelled back from the bathroom.
"You said that five minutes ago!"
The shouting was loud enough to be heard outside.
At the front gate stood Mitsuki, Shin's homeroom teacher, waiting patiently with a clipboard. She smiled faintly—this wasn't her first time witnessing Nohara mornings.
Finally, the door burst open.
Shin came running out, uniform half-tucked, hair still damp.
"I'm ready!"
"You're late," Akari said sharply.
"I'm fashionably early for tomorrow," Shin replied.
Akari pinched the bridge of her nose. "Just go."
At the gate, Shin straightened immediately and bowed exaggeratedly.
"Ohayo! Mitsuki-sama!"
Mitsuki chuckled. "Ohayo, Shin-chan."
She glanced past him. "How's the baby?"
Akari stepped closer, smiling softly. "She's healthy. Loud. Just like her brother."
Mitsuki laughed lightly. "Sorry we couldn't visit at the hospital. Things were busy."
"I know why," Akari replied knowingly.
Shin muttered, "Lucky bastard."
Akari smacked the back of his head lightly. "Get in the Bus. Now."
The moment Shin sat down, the bus lost all peace.
"SERGEANT!" Shin shouted, leaning forward. "What's today's mission? Stop criminals? Save the world?"
Mitsuki sighed the instant he spoke.
Shin turned toward the driver. "Gang leader! Are we kidnapping these kids today?"
The driver glanced back. "Shin-chan, be quiet. I need to focus."
Shin nodded seriously. "Understood. Stealth mission."
The bus ride was filled with Shin's nonstop commentary—questions, jokes, dramatic theories—none of which anyone asked for. By the time they reached school, several students already looked exhausted.
Class began.
Shin slouched in his seat.
When asked a question, he answered confidently—and wrong.
"Two plus two?" Mitsuki asked.
"Twenty-two," Shin replied proudly.
"Wrong."
"Agree to disagree," Shin said.
During writing practice, he finished last. During reading, he read ahead on purpose. When scolded, he smiled. When told to sit straight, he leaned back further.
Recess finally arrived.
Students poured into the yard, laughing and shouting.
Shin wandered around aimlessly—until he noticed something near the fence.
A smaller kid stood alone.
Quiet. Thin. Always alone.
Three older students surrounded him.
They weren't punching him.
Just pushing. Blocking his path. Laughing too loudly.
Shin stopped walking.
He watched silently.
One of the bullies leaned in and said something cruel—something about the kid's family.
The boy flinched.
Shin's smile vanished.
He walked over slowly, hands in his pockets.
No shouting. No threats.
He stopped between them and spoke casually.
"Oi," he said. "You guys playing a game?"
One bully sneered. "Get lost."
Shin tilted his head as if thinking.
Then he pointed at one of them.
"You've got a stupid face."
The shove came immediately.
Shin stumbled backward with exaggerated flair, arms windmilling as if he'd been hit by a truck. He fell onto the ground hard enough to draw attention—and loud enough to echo across the yard.
"OW—!" he yelled, clutching his side. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"
Heads turned.
Teachers looked up.
The three bullies froze.
For half a second, panic flickered across their faces.
That was all Shin needed.
He sprang up.
The movement was sharp—nothing like the clumsy fall before it. He drove his knee straight into the nearest bully's stomach. The boy folded instantly, air rushing out of him in a painful wheeze as he dropped to his knees.
Before the second could react, Shin ducked under a wild swing and slammed his forehead forward.
Crack.
The headbutt wasn't flashy—but it was clean.
The second bully staggered back, clutching his nose, eyes watering.
The third didn't even try to fight.
He turned and ran.
"HEY—!" Shin shouted after him. "AT LEAST SAY SORRY!"
Footsteps thundered across the yard.
"SHINOSUKE NOHARA!"
Teachers rushed in, voices sharp with alarm.
By the time they reached the scene, Shin was already sitting back on the ground, holding his head with both hands.
"Oww…" he groaned weakly. "My head… I think I saw my ancestors…"
The two injured bullies lay nearby—one coughing, one holding his face. The smaller kid stood frozen, eyes wide, clearly unsure what to do.
Mitsuki arrived last, scanning the scene once before her gaze locked onto Shin.
"…What happened?" she asked slowly.
Shin looked up at her with watery eyes.
"They pushed me," he said quietly. "I just wanted them to stop."
Mitsuki pinched the bridge of her nose.
The teachers separated everyone, checked injuries, and escorted the bullies away. The smaller kid was guided to the side, still shaken.
Shin was taken to the office.
He walked in whistling.
The principal of Toyo Kindergarten, also the Driver, Sāto Yuya, sat behind his desk with his arms folded, already tired.
He sighed the moment Shin entered.
"Now what did you do, Shin-chan?"
Shin placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"Gang leader," he said solemnly, "I have done nothing wrong. Those kids were bullying someone, so I helped him. That's all."
Yuya stared at him for a long moment.
"…You didn't help," he said. "You escalated."
Shin tilted his head. "But it worked."
Yuya sighed deeply.
"It's useless to argue with you," he muttered. "Go back to class."
Shin grinned. "Yes, sir!"
As Shin left, Yuya turned to the three boys, his earlier weariness gone.
Yuya's expression hardened.
"You think this is funny?" he asked quietly.
The boys shrank back.
"You cornered a younger student," Yuya continued, voice level but heavy. "You mocked him. You pushed him. And you did it knowing there were fewer teachers watching."
One of them tried to open his mouth.
Yuya raised a hand.
"Don't."
He stood up slowly.
"This isn't a warning you can laugh about later. This goes on record. One more incident—one more report of bullying—and you will be expelled. No appeals."
The color drained from their faces.
"I don't care who your parents are," Yuya added. "I don't care how influential they think they are. If you make another student feel unsafe in this school, I will personally make sure you never set foot here again."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," they muttered.
Yuya picked up the phone on his desk.
"Good," he said coldly. "Because I'll be calling your parents today. And if I hear even a rumor after this—"
He paused.
"—you won't get a second chance."
The boys nodded frantically.
"Get out," Yuya said.
They left without looking back.
Yuya exhaled slowly, rubbing his forehead.
"…Kids like that never learn until it hurts," he muttered.
Yuya leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples, then reached for his phone.
The call connected almost instantly.
"It's been a long time," Yuya said lightly. "Night Howl. Heard you've had a baby girl. Congratulations."
There was a pause.
Then a flat voice answered, "What is it?"
Yuya chuckled. "Can't we talk for a bit?"
Another pause.
"Just say what happened."
Yuya sighed. "Alright, alright. So—your brat beat the hell out of some kids today."
Silence.
"…Did he killed anyone?" the voice asked.
Yuya blinked. "No."
Another pause.
"…Then you don't need to call me."
The call ended.
Yuya stared at the screen.
"…Figures," he muttered.
That evening.
The school bus screeched to a stop outside the Nohara house just as the sun dipped low, painting the street in tired orange light.
The door hissed open.
Shin bolted out like he'd been fired from a cannon.
"I'M HOOOOME—!"
The front door slammed open moments later. Shoes flew off. His bag landed somewhere that was definitely not where bags were supposed to go. Within minutes, he had washed his hands—badly—splashed water on his face—aggressively—and sprinted straight into the living room.
Hinata lay on a soft mat, babbling quietly, her tiny hands waving at absolutely nothing.
Shin dropped to the floor instantly.
"HINA!" he declared, crawling over. "Big Brother has returned from battle!"
Hinata stared at him.
Then smiled.
Shin froze.
"…She smiled at me," he whispered, awed. "Did you see that? She definitely smiled at me."
He gently wiggled his fingers in front of her. Hinata grabbed one with surprising strength & speed.
"Ow—!" Shin yelped, then immediately softened. "Strong grip… dangerous potential…"
He lay down beside her, letting her grab his hair now, fully resigned to his fate.
That was when—
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
Akari looked up from the kitchen. "I'll get it."
She opened the door to find a girl standing there, hands clasped politely in front of her.
Dark green hair tied neatly back. Calm eyes. A composed posture that didn't belong to a twelve-year-old.
Akari smiled. "Nanao. Took you long enough."
Nanao bowed slightly. "Sorry, Aunty. I was busy."
Before Akari could respond—
"NANAO NEE-SAN!!!"
A blur launched itself across the hallway.
Shin wrapped his arms around her waist with full force.
Nanao barely staggered.
"…Hello, Shin-Chan," she said calmly, patting his head. "You're energetic as always."
"I grew stronger," Shin said proudly, still clinging. "Emotionally and physically."
"I can see that," Nanao replied.
Akari laughed softly. "Come in. You must be tired."
Nanao stepped inside, slipping off her shoes neatly. Shin followed her like a shadow, narrating everything she hadn't asked about.
"So first," he said seriously, walking beside her, "I saved a kid today. Like, actually saved. Three villains. All bigger than me. Very dangerous."
He counted on his fingers. "One cried. One ran. One learned a life lesson."
Nanao hummed. "I see."
"And then," Shin continued without pause, "sensei blamed me for it. Which is unfair. But I accepted it with dignity."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Also lunch was terrible. They gave us carrots. I traded mine for bread. Good deal."
They reached the living room.
"Oh—and Mitsuki-sensei is scary when she's quiet," Shin added thoughtfully. "But when she smiles, it's worse. Also math is useless. Teachers are NPCs. And Hiroshi is definitely plotting something."
Nanao glanced down at him, lips twitching slightly.
"…You didn't miss anything, did you?"
Shin nodded firmly. "Nope. That's the full report."
Akari gently took Nanao by the arm. "Come. You should see Hinata."
They went into the living room.
Nanao leaned down, eyes softening when she saw the baby. "She's small…"
Shin puffed his chest. "That's my sister. Off-limits."
Nanao smiled faintly. "Of course."
Shin turned toward the couch.
Hiroshi sat there with a cup of tea, legs crossed, pretending to read the newspaper.
"Hey," Shin said. "Old man. Are you planning to drink tea the whole day?"
Hiroshi smiled not with warmth. But with pissed off smile. "Mr. Shinosuke. I want to talk to you about something."
Shin immediately raised both hands. "If this is about today, listen—it was those brats. I helped a kid. I was basically a hero."
Hiroshi sipped his tea. "We'll talk later."
"…Suspicious," Shin muttered.
Night settled in quietly.
Dinner was simple. Everyone sat together—Akari, Hiroshi, Shin, Nanao. Hinata slept nearby, wrapped warmly.
Halfway through the meal, Hiroshi turned on the TV.
The screen flickered.
"—Breaking News. Multiple organizations confirmed annihilated. The Kanehara Clan, Ji Clan, and the sixth strongest clan—Shadow Garden were wiped out overnight. Early reports suggest involvement of an unidentified organization. Obsidia—"
Click.
The screen went black.
Akari had turned off the TV.
The room fell quiet.
Shin blinked. "Okāsan? What happened? Why'd you turn it off?"
Akari didn't look at him. "You shouldn't hear things like that."
Hiroshi didn't argue.
Nanao lowered her gaze slightly.
Dinner continued, quieter than before.
Later, Shin insisted on watching TV.
Akari hesitated—then sighed. "Fine. But nothing scary."
Shin dropped straight onto the floor the moment the TV was turned on, dragging a blanket over himself like it was battle armor. Nanao sat nearby, legs folded neatly to one side, watching him with quiet amusement.
Hinata slept peacefully in her cradle.
Near Shin's feet, Shiro—Hiroshi's old dog and the undisputed guardian of the house—curled into a lazy ball, tail twitching every now and then as if he was half-awake, half-dreaming.
The screen flashed with familiar colors.
An Anime played loudly, energy blasts shaking the speakers, dramatic music filling the room.
Shin shot to his feet in an instant.
"KAAAMEHAAAMEHAAA—!!"
His voice echoed through the house.
Akari shouted something from the kitchen. Hiroshi groaned in the distance. Shiro lifted his head, judged Shin silently, then went back to sleep.
Shin flopped back down, laughing like it was the best moment of his life. A few episodes later, he suddenly pointed at the screen, eyes shining.
"Hello, monkeys."
Nanao blinked. "…Did you just quote the villain?"
"He's cool," Shin replied seriously.
At some point, without realizing it, Shin leaned back until his head rested against Nanao's knee. She glanced down at him once—then said nothing, adjusting her posture slightly so he wouldn't slip.
The room grew quieter as the night deepened.
Hinata slept.
Shiro breathed evenly.
The TV hummed on.
For a few hours, the world felt simple again.
The next morning, Shin was dragged out of the house.
Literally.
Akari had one hand locked around his wrist, Nanao walking calmly at her side as if this was perfectly normal behavior. Shin resisted for exactly three seconds—until Akari leaned down and spoke something magical.
"I'll buy you Mangas, Action figures. And Chokochips."
Shin straightened instantly.
His posture became perfect. His expression became sincere.
"…I have always been an obedient son," he declared.
When the three stepped outside, a familiar car was parked near the gate. Mitsuki leaned against it, sunglasses on, smartphone in hand, already tired and the day had barely started.
Nanao smiled and waved. "Good morning, Mom."
Mitsuki lifted her glasses slightly. "Morning. Dear." she added, then looked at Shin.
After the greetings.
They got into the car.
Shin sat in the back, humming, already planning how to maximize his loot.
The mall hit them like a wall of sound.
Voices overlapped. Music blasted. Screens flashed. People moved in chaotic streams, bags swinging, carts rattling.
Shin realized it the moment Akari dragged him through the entrance.
"…This place is loud," he muttered.
Too loud.
His eyes sparkled as he looked around.
"So many people," he whispered reverently.
"So many wallets."
He clasped his hands. "What a dangerous place."
Akari tightened her grip without looking at him. "Don't even think about it."
They started with groceries.
That was their first mistake.
Shin climbed into the cart the moment Akari turned her back, sitting proudly like a king on his throne. Every time her attention drifted, an item mysteriously appeared inside.
"Okāsan!" Shin shouted. "Look! Chokochips—family pack!"
"We already have snacks," Akari said.
Shin immediately grabbed another. "But this one is limited edition!"
"Put it back."
"It has a sticker."
"SHIN-CHAN."
The item vanished from his hands at record speed.
Nanao watched from the side, arms folded, smiling faintly. "He will never change."
Mitsuki took a long sip of coffee. "For sure."
After groceries came clothes.
Akari and Mitsuki disappeared into the women's section like hunters entering tall grass, leaving Shin alone with Nanao.
Shin stared at a rack of plain shirts, unimpressed.
"…Why do side characters dress like NPCs?" he muttered. "No wonder the author never focuses on them."
Nanao pretended not to hear that.
An hour later—an eternity in Shin's mind—they finally moved on.
The anime merchandise store was massive.
Lights gleamed off shelves packed with figures, posters, weapons, masks, and collectibles. Shin stepped inside and froze.
"…This," he whispered, "is sacred ground."
He wandered the aisles in silence for once, overwhelmed. His eyes jumped from figures to swords to masks—until they landed on something dark.
A pitch-black katana hung on display.
Shin reached for it carefully, lifting it with both hands. He gave it a few experimental swings, nodding seriously.
"This," he said, "is my BANKAI."
Mitsuki covered her face.
Then Shin saw the mask.
Half-face. White base. Red claw-like slashes streaked across it like wounds. One eye hole glowed yellow under the lights. Jagged fangs lined the lower edge. The surface looked cracked—broken on purpose.
Shin picked it up.
And put it on.
The world went quiet.
He raised the katana.
"GETSUGA—TENSHOU!"
Every head in the store turned.
Security stiffened. Customers backed away.
Mitsuki whispered through clenched teeth, "…I am dying of embarrassment."
Akari stepped in and calmly removed the mask. "Inside voice."
Shin nodded solemnly. "GETSUGA… whisper."
They checked out with stacks of manga, figures, keychains, stickers Shin would forget in two days—and one mystery box he insisted was "calling to him."
The total flashed on the screen.
20,650 Bitcoin.
Akari paid 413 U.C. without blinking.
Shin bowed deeply. "Okāsan… when I rule the world, I will protect you."
"Carry the bags," Akari replied.
"…Yes! MY LIEGE!"
They left the mall with arms full, Shin walking between them, humming happily—mask tucked under his arm, loot secured, completely unaware that this loud, ridiculous peace wouldn't last forever.