Azura, Easton
The moon hung high over the quiet streets of Azura's suburban neighborhood. Trees swayed gently, and flowers filled the night air with their scent.
On one quiet street, a pale yellow house stood alone, porch creaking in the breeze. Inside, a boy lay unconscious on the couch, a bruise darkening his forehead. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.
"Ugh..." Code groaned, sitting up. His fingers pressed against his temple as he scanned the room, dazed.
Where... am I?
The living room was unfamiliar—plain cream walls, a big window flooding the space with moonlight. Just as he tried to stand, someone burst into the room.
"AHHH!" the red-haired boy shouted, jumping back and crashing to the floor.
Code raised his hands, alarmed. "S-Sorry! I don't even know where I am..."
The boy stammered, eyes wide. "Uh...uh..."
Another voice echoed from down the hall. "Good griefs, Nara, why are you shouting?" A taller man walked in, yawning.
Nara pointed a trembling finger at the couch.
Van's eyes followed—and froze.
"What!!" Van yelled, stumbling back like he'd seen a ghost.
Code blinked. "Uh...hahaha, I have no idea what's going on."
Van's shock turned into disbelief. "I thought you were dead!"
Code's brow furrowed. "Eh?"
Van put a hand over his chest, steadying his breath. "Ahem. I-I knew you were alive..." he added, trying to save face.
Code looked around. "So... where am I?"
"Azura," Van said flatly.
Code's face dropped. "Azura!?"
He looked like he'd been hit in the gut. "But that's... impossible..."
Van raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
Code forced a laugh. "Nothing. Hahaha... nothing."
Three days... that's how long it takes to get here from Wistal. But I was just—
His thoughts spun.
Nara, finally composed, walked up with a grin. "Woah, hahaha. Sorry for freaking out. I'm Nara. Uchiage Nara."
Code managed a smile, shaking his hand. "Code Weber."
"Relax, no need to be formal!" Nara laughed, patting him on the back.
Just then, a girl burst into the room. Athletic build, wavy brown hair, light blue eyes brimming with energy.
"Ah! He's alive!" she beamed.
Nara turned to her. "Van said he was dead!"
She glanced at Van. "You did?"
Van raised both hands. "Did I?"
"Uhn?" She raised an eyebrow.
Van laughed nervously. "Maybe I forgot to check if he was breathing..."
She rolled her eyes. "Arrrgh. Sorry about him. He's crazy."
Code chuckled. "Yeah, haha."
She grinned. "We're celebrating this!"
Van opened his mouth. "Do we really ne—"
One glare from her, and he shut up.
"Alright, alright..." Van muttered, backing off.
The girl turned to Code, beaming. "I'm Hinata Hoshino. Call me Hina!"
"Nice to meet you," Code said with a warm smile.
"Alright, let's party!" Hina whooped, racing out of the room.
"YES!" Nara shouted, chasing after her.
Van sighed, trailing behind. "Arrrgh... good griefs."
The dimly lit room quickly burst to life as Van, Nara, and Hina transformed the space into a lively party zone. Streamers and balloons in bright colors flew up, music pulsed from Nara's makeshift DJ setup, and laughter filled the air.
"Come on, Code! Time to party!" Hina called out, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Code, still a little shaken from earlier, watched with a soft smile as his new friends worked their magic. For a moment, the weight pressing on him felt lighter.
Van, masked as always, lingered in the shadows, watching the chaos with that familiar quiet amusement that made him so hard to read.
The music swelled, lights flashed, and Code felt a flicker of gratitude. Who would've thought a party could be just what he needed?
But beneath the celebration, an unspoken tension hung in the air—this was more than just a simple welcome.
After the ruckus died down, they gathered around the table in the cozy parlour. Lanterns glowed warmly, and the aroma of rich, spicy food filled the room.
Nara, sitting next to Code, grinned widely. "I'm digging in!" he said, digging in eagerly.
Code glanced across at Van, whose masked face caught the soft light. He wondered, as always, what secrets lay behind that mask.
Hina, opposite him, smirked. "Don't waste your time trying to catch Van without his mask. You won't."
Code chuckled, shaking his head, then turned his attention to the steaming noodles before him. The first bite hit his tongue like a burst of fire and salt—complex, fierce, and unforgettable.
"Wow," Code breathed, eyes wide. "This is incredible."
Hina beamed. "Told you! It's called Dragon's Breath—our town's specialty."
Code looked up, a tear slipping down his cheek, moved by the simple warmth of the moment. "It's... incredible," he whispered.
Laughter bubbled around the table, even Van's mask seemed to gleam with quiet amusement. For a brief moment, the world outside melted away.
Stories flowed—Nara's culinary adventures, light teasing, and shared smiles. The meal was a balm, a fleeting peace.
But then, silence settled like a weight, broken by Van's voice.
"Code, welcome to the group."
Code's smile faltered. "Thanks."
Nara clapped him on the back, eyes bright with curiosity. "So, Van... what's the real reason we're here?"
Van's expression darkened, as he dropped the bombshell.
"Code is a Zero."
***
TBC