"So," Chiron said slowly, folding his hands on the desk, "do you girls understand why you are here?"
Hana and Luna sat across from him in his office, both properly dressed and suspiciously well-behaved. The contrast from earlier that morning was almost comical.
Hana leaned back in her chair like she owned it.
"We were sleeping next to our boyfriend," she said casually. "I don't see the problem."
Luna nodded in agreement.
"It's not like we did anything with him. We just slept next to him."
She emphasized the word him like she was correcting a misunderstanding that didn't exist.
Chiron exhaled slowly.
"True," he admitted. "But you are daughters of Aphrodite."
He tapped the desk lightly.
"You are sixteen. You are beautiful. And you share a cabin with dozens of girls who specialize in turning rumors into weapons."
His expression softened slightly.
"People will talk."
Hana shrugged.
"Let them."
"No," Luna added calmly. "We made a deal."
Chiron frowned.
"A deal?"
"To be with him," Hana said proudly. "The only man in our lives."
She crossed her arms.
"Think of it like a promise sworn on the River Styx."
Chiron nearly choked.
"You did what?"
Hana blinked.
"What? Too much?"
"You girls are…" Chiron pinched the bridge of his nose. "…something else."
He shook his head slowly.
"Swearing vows like that is dangerous. Aphrodite and her children are not known for… permanence."
"I don't care," Hana said simply.
"We won't regret it," Luna added. "Ever."
There was no hesitation in either voice.
Chiron stared at them for several long seconds.
"…Right," he muttered. "That is not what I called you here to discuss."
He straightened.
"You may continue staying with him."
Both girls perked up.
"But," Chiron added sharply, "you will go to his Shack before curfew."
He pointed a finger at them.
"You will sneak in. Quietly."
"I will tell the camp you require alternative sleeping arrangements for health reasons. There will be no drama. No rumors."
He paused.
"Am I understood?"
Hana grinned.
"We can live with that."
Luna nodded.
"No problem."
They stood and left the office together, already whispering excitedly.
They found Max at the archery range.
Or what was left of it.
Every target had been destroyed. Some cleanly pierced. Others shattered. One had been split so precisely it looked sculpted.
Max sat on a ledge nearby, Tauropolos resting across his knees.
Luna sat beside him.
"Hey. Isn't that Atalanta's bow?"
"Yeah," Max replied. "It's sealed, though. I'm limited."
He shrugged.
"Still slightly above demigod level."
Hana hopped up next to him.
"We have a request."
Max tensed slightly.
"…What kind of request?"
He glanced around. Public place. Campers nearby.
He braced himself.
"I was hoping you could make something to help with that stupid curse that makes monsters smell me," Hana said.
Max blinked.
"Oh. That's it?"
Hana frowned.
"What did you think I was going to ask?"
"Nothing," Max said quickly. "Absolutely nothing."
He cleared his throat.
"Yeah. I can try an anti-curse talisman. It should do the trick but only that as long as im limited."
"Good," Hana said.
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The girls exchanged a look.
"We have a plan," Luna said.
Max immediately regretted asking.
"You're going to be split between two worlds," Hana explained. "Percy Jackson stuff here. Occult Club stuff in Japan."
She pointed between them.
"So we split too."
Max's stomach dropped.
"I take the Percy side," Hana continued. "Using your talisman to bypass the rule of three."
Luna nodded.
"I take you to Japan. Transportation magic. Occult Club. Everyone wins."
Max stared at them.
"No," he said instantly.
Both girls blinked.
"I'm not splitting you two up," Max said. "You haven't been separated since you got your own bodies."
He shook his head.
"I'll drop one storyline if I have to."
He started to continue—
Luna grabbed his face.
Both hands.
Squish.
"No," she said firmly. "We are doing this plan whether you like it or not."
Her eyes softened.
"We talk in our heads. No matter the distance."
She smiled.
"I can teleport her to us anytime."
She kissed his cheek.
"Stop worrying."
Max deflated.
"…Fine," he muttered.
He rubbed his temples.
"Just give me a minute to figure out timing."
Hana snapped her fingers.
"I've got it."
"When we hit the Lotus Hotel."
Max looked up.
"That early?"
"It's the safest insertion point," Hana said. "No consequences. No timeline fractures."
Luna grinned.
"You can crash that fried chicken's wedding."
"And maybe win over Ravel early," Hana added.
Max froze.
"…Ravel?"
Both girls nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course Ravel," Luna said. "She's adorable."
"She might be small," Hana added, "but she's got a pair."
Luna wiggled her chest for emphasis.
Max stared at them.
"…Dear gods."
He dragged a hand down his face.
"You two have planned way more than I can handle."
Hana hugged his arm.
"That's why you love us."
Max sighed.
"…Yeah."
He looked at the ruined archery field.
Then at the two girls pressed against him like they belonged there.
Adventure. Chaos. Romance. World-ending stakes.
All at once.
He smiled faintly.
"Alright," he said. "Let's break the timeline responsibly."