The forest was still smoldering.
Charred trees stood like broken skeletons, thin trails of smoke curling lazily into the night sky. The air smelled of scorched earth and something metallic — something that definitely didn't belong on Earth.
Soft footsteps broke the silence.
A teenage girl strolled through the damaged woods, hands tucked casually into her skirt pockets. A white blindfold covered her eyes, faint red symbols glowing along its edges. Her long hair swayed gently with every step.
"…Man," she sighed, clearly bored. "I seriously hate forest missions. Way too quiet. Way too boring."
She stopped.
Something glinted ahead.
A strange metallic capsule lay half-buried in a fresh crater. Trees around it had been snapped like toothpicks. A small fox was curiously scratching at the surface with its tiny claws.
"Hm?"
The girl tilted her head, blindfold shifting slightly.
The ground was scorched in a perfect circle. The air around the object still shimmered with residual heat.
"I see…" she muttered. "Something fell from the sky."
She crouched down gracefully.
The fox noticed her and bolted into the bushes.
The girl reached out and tapped the capsule lightly with her finger. A faint hiss escaped as a crack formed along its side.
The pod slowly split open.
Inside—
A baby slept peacefully, tiny chest rising and falling.
"…Eh?"
She froze.
"A baby? In a diaper?"
As if sensing her presence, the infant slowly opened his eyes.
Two glowing silver pupils stared back at her — calm, curious, and far too aware for something so small.
He didn't cry.
He just… looked at her.
The girl's entire body went still.
Then she completely melted.
"…Awww," she whispered, voice turning soft and warm. "You're way too cute for this world."
She lifted the edge of her blindfold just a little.
Golden light shimmered underneath for a single heartbeat before she let it fall back into place.
Gently, carefully, she reached in and lifted the baby into her arms.
"Well then," she smiled, eyes crinkling even behind the blindfold. "From now on, I'll take care of you. You can call me your big sister."
The baby's tiny fingers curled tightly into her clothes, gripping as if he never wanted to let go.
She laughed softly, the sound light and genuine.
"Hm… you need a name."
She thought for a moment, gently rocking him.
"…Astra."
The baby blinked once.
Then, in the tiniest, softest voice imaginable—
"…As…tra…"
Her eyes widened behind the blindfold.
"…You like it already?"
She laughed again, warmer this time, and adjusted him more comfortably in her arms.
"Alright then, Astra."
Still humming a quiet little tune — "Fu\~ fu\~ fu\~ ♪" — she turned and began walking out of the ruined forest, carrying the otherworldly child like he was the most precious thing in the universe.
---
A massive, bustling city stretched across the horizon.
Cars roared down wide streets. Trains rattled overhead on elevated tracks. Neon signs blinked and danced in every color. Life moved fast, loud, and alive.
The blindfolded girl walked calmly through the crowded sidewalks, Astra nestled safely in her arms. People passed by without a second glance — as if she and the baby were completely invisible.
She stopped in front of an old but well-kept traditional dojo.
A wooden sign swayed gently above the entrance:
**SAI MARTIAL ARTS DOJO**
Inside, the air was calm and still, carrying the faint scent of polished wood and incense.
She sat down gracefully on a woven mat and placed Astra beside her.
The baby immediately tried to copy her posture.
He failed adorably.
Rolled sideways.
She giggled, covering her mouth.
Then—
Footsteps approached from deeper inside the dojo.
A man appeared.
Red hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Sharp ocean-blue eyes that seemed to see through everything. A large red-and-white kimono draped loosely over his shoulders, and a massive katana rested calmly behind him.
His expression was unreadable.
"Yo, Sensei Sai!" the girl waved cheerfully. "Look who I found in the forest!"
Sai's gaze slowly settled on the silver-eyed baby.
"…An otherworldly creature," he said calmly, voice deep and steady.
Then his eyes shifted to her.
"Yuki," he continued. "You've brought someone extremely dangerous into my dojo."
Yuki straightened her back instantly, posture perfect.
"Yes, Sensei."
Sai crossed his arms.
"If you choose to keep him… then you are fully responsible for controlling him. No excuses. No second chances."
Yuki didn't hesitate for even a second.
"Understood."
Astra watched the exchange with wide silver eyes, blinking slowly between them.
Sai studied the baby for a long moment before speaking again.
"You know," he said, voice carrying quiet weight, "you passed my tests today."
Yuki responded instantly, tone serious and respectful.
"Yes, Sensei. I am not proud of you."
Sai paused.
A faint, almost invisible smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"…Then I am failing you in the exams."
Silence filled the dojo.
Astra, still sitting on the mat, tilted his tiny head and whispered in the softest voice possible—
"…This world… weird."
Yuki burst into quiet laughter.
Sai simply closed his eyes, the smallest hint of a tired smile appearing on his face.
For the first time in a long while, the old dojo didn't feel quite so empty.
A new chapter had begun.