The night sky stretched endlessly above them—thousands of stars glimmering across the deep indigo dome.

  Kaizo, Yumi, and Infinity lay on the roof of the treehouse, hands behind their heads, a soft breeze passing through the leaves.

  For the first time in what felt like forever, the world was quiet.

  Yumi (exhaling softly): “I still can’t believe this is real… Three months out there, and somehow, it’s been almost three years here.”

  Kaizo (smirking): “Yeah. We basically skipped a whole college degree worth of training.”

  Infinity (tiny, yawning): “And I still didn’t get paid.”

  Kaizo (confused): “What would you get paid for?”

  Yumi laughs quietly, eyes tracing the constellations overhead.

  Yumi (smiling): “…It’s funny. My life changed almost instantly because of one nice guy.”

  Kaizo (turning his head toward her): “Well, I wouldn’t have helped if you didn’t ask so… You technically changed your own life.”

  Yumi (curious): “You’ve mentioned your grandpa’s name before—the Sosei Legion, right? What’s the story there?”

  Kaizo (stretching): “It’s a long one but the short version? He was a war hero during the past Catalyst conflicts and he revolutionized Zenshin for everyone. My family kinda became a big deal because of that. My dad was pretty famous at one time, my uncles and aunts—they were all either geniuses or prodigies. I got the mix of both… plus some questionable genetics.”

  Yumi (grinning): “That explains a lot.”

  Kaizo (chuckling): “Yeah. When my dad and sister died, Mom wanted a clean break, so we moved around. I went through med school and passed pretty early, but I was too young to be an actual doctor. However, my uncle managed to call in a favor for something like some sort of temporary PhD. So technically… I’m a doctor.”

  Yumi: “Doctor Kaizo, huh? Should I start calling you that?”

  Kaizo (deadpan): “Please don’t.”

  Infinity: “I feel like you shouldn't be a doctor.”

  Kaizo: “You're not the only one.”

  Kaizo (looking over): “What about you, Grace? You never talk much about Shinkami. What’s it like here?”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Yumi (quiet):“…There’s not much to talk about. My aunt was… quite distant with me. I wasn’t treated the same as her kids. I wanted to fit in, but I was just the girl from the countryside and I didn’t understand city life. I don’t have the freedom of other people and I couldn’t make any friends. Just… empty days.”

  Kaizo (softly): “Guess I’ll have to fix that.”

  Yumi (smiling faintly): “How are you gonna do that?”

  Kaizo (grinning): “You’ll see.”

  Infinity (mocking): “I'm scared.”

  Yumi (side-eyeing him): “Speaking of you being a doctor… wanna explain why you act like such a perv sometimes?”

  Kaizo (sighing dramatically): “Would you believe me if I said it’s a family thing? It’s hereditary, I swear.”

  Yumi (squinting): “You’re serious?”

  Kaizo (nodding): “Some of my relatives are way worse. I’m actually pretty restrained compared to some others.”

  Infinity: “That’s horrifying.”

  Kaizo: “And for the record, my dad told me, quote, ‘Don’t die before losing your virginity.’ So yeah, that’s been haunting me ever since.”

  Yumi (groaning): “That’s… the stupidest motivation I’ve ever heard.”

  Kaizo (shrugs): “Hey, can’t let him down. Man’s legacy depends on it.”

  Infinity: “Your legacy was doomed from the start.”

  Yumi (curious again): “Hey… can I ask something serious?”

  Kaizo (sincere): “Yeah.”

  Yumi: “What exactly is Infinity?”

  Kaizo pauses, glancing toward the small creature perched beside them.

  Kaizo: “He’s… not what most people think. Originally a Bio-Sphere—lab creation, stuffed with the DNA of every animal. He woke up alone in a shut-down facility, and spent years waiting to die before I found him.”

  Infinity (quietly): “The feeling of knowing you're gonna die is terrifying. He didn’t just find me—he saved me.”

  Yumi (softly): “…You must’ve been lonely.”

  Infinity: “Yeah, but it's all in the past now. Now I have a crazy owner..”

  Kaizo (grinning): “And you love it.”

  Infinity: “I tolerate it.”

  Silence drapes over the trio again. The jungle hums faintly in the distance.

  Yumi (smiling softly): “…Thanks, Kaizo. For everything. You’ve been a really good friend.”

  Kaizo (blinking, surprised): “…Seriously?”

  Yumi (laughing): “Don’t sound so shocked! What’d you think I saw you as?”

  Kaizo (grinning): “An annoying genius with perfect hair.”

  Yumi (teasing): “Half right.”

  Infinity (snickering): “Don’t worry, he annoys himself, too.”

  They all laugh quietly. The air cools, the stars gleam brighter and the bonds between the three are now solidified.

  And so, the summer at the Jungle of Time came to a close.

  They entered as individuals, but left as something stronger—partners, buddies, friends.

  However, neither realized the moment they stepped back into their world… everything would change.