West worked smoothly and faster than he used to. He wasn’t even trying to show off, he just... moved better. Grabbed cups without looking. Balanced trays with ridiculous ease. His reflexes made him feel like he had autopilot installed.
Jax noticed, of course.
He leaned in and whispered, "So you’re like... secretly a superhero now?"
West didn’t look up. "No."
Jax squinted. "You’re lying."
West smiled. "Yes."
Jax slapped the counter. "I KNEW IT!"
Mina’s voice echoed from the back: "JAX!"
"Sorry!"
Aria didn’t come in today. West tried not to think about it, but of course his brain, being the world’s number one enemy, kept replaying a certain midnight scenario like a cursed highlight reel.
He shook it off.
By closing time, he was only tired mentally not physically. The café cleaned up. Jax walked him out, still talking nonsense.
"Bro," Jax said, slinging an arm around West’s shoulder, "if you ever become a famous awakened, I want my title to be ’Best Friend Who Was There From Day One.’"
West deadpanned. "You weren’t there from day one. You transferred in year ten."
"That’s still day one spiritually."
West groaned. "Please leave my spirit out of your mouth."
Jax cackled and headed off.
West walked home, letting the night air cool his thoughts.
Aria: "Sorry couldn’t make it to the cafe today. My workload from spending two days at the ruins entrance kind of piled up. Thank goodness Ross isn’t coming home this night. I need the peace and quiet. Tired of him nagging me for not giving him any attention. Where was he when I was begging for attention? Tch. Anyways, text me, let’s set up a date to meet up. I can’t stop thinking about you..."
West noticed the text from Aria and smirked. He typed a few words, took a picture showing he was on his way home and sent it to her.
...
When he reached the new apartment building, his mood was calm... until he noticed something that instantly sent every survival instinct in his body screaming.
The door was slightly ajar.
West froze.
The hallway seemed suddenly too quiet.
He tightened his fingers into a fist as he wondered if someone broke in?
He didn’t even think. He slipped inside like a shadow, moving very silently.
The lights were off and from the kitchen area, he could hear faint sounds.
Metallic... A soft thud... Something shifting.
West’s muscles tightened.
He moved forward, silent as a predator.
As he stepped into the kitchen, he saw a silhouette with broad shoulders, hunched slightly with their hands near the counter.
West grabbed the figure from behind—
"WHO THE—!"
West twisted the arm and shoved the silhouette into the wall with speed that would have made his old self cry tears of confusion.
"Say your last prayer," West hissed.
"WEST! WEST! WEST!"
West’s brain short-circuited.
That voice...
"...Dad?"
The lights flickered on suddenly.
West released instantly like he’d just grabbed a hot stove.
Mark Einstein stood there wide-eyed with his hair messy and one hand holding a screwdriver while the other was still half-raised in defense.
"West?" his father said slowly, both confused and offended. "Why did you... ambush me like I’m a burglar?"
West stared at him in horror.
"I— I thought someone broke in!"
Mark gestured wildly at the ceiling. "THE LIGHT IS FAULTY! I was fixing it!"
West rubbed his face. "Oh my God."
Mark rubbed his shoulder. "You almost dislocated my arm."
West blurted, "I’m sorry!"
Mark squinted. "Since when are you this... strong?"
West froze and then he smiled innocently. "Push-ups."
Mark blinked. "Push-ups?"
West nodded like his life depended on it. "Aggressive push-ups."
Mark stared harder, but then sighed—too tired to interrogate right now. "Help me with the bulb."
So West helped. The two of them stood on chairs, fumbled with wires, argued about which switch was which, and at one point Mark said, "Hand me the... that... thing."
West handed him the screwdriver.
Mark stared. "That’s a spoon."
West stared back. "...I’m tired."
They finally got the light working, and both of them burst into awkward laughter like two men who weren’t used to being in the same room for this long.
A silent dinner followed with simple food. Then the atmosphere grew warmer as Mark asked about school and the café.
West answered all his questions.
Then Mark hesitated, cleared his throat, and asked about something else like he was stepping on a landmine.
"So... do you have a girlfriend?"
West stiffened.
Lena flashed across his mind. Caleb’s lap. That humiliating slap. The laughter. The betrayal.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Why?" West asked carefully.
Mark shrugged, trying to sound casual. "You’re eighteen now. It’s normal. If you have one, you can invite her over. I can... meet her. We can bond."
West snorted softly. "Dad, I’m not interested in having a girlfriend."
Mark blinked. "Not interested?"
West waved it off. "Too stressful."
Mark nodded slowly. "Okay... okay."
West stood up. "I’m going to my room."
Mark watched him go with a thoughtful glance.
The moment West closed his door, Mark’s face twisted into a worried expression.
He whispered to himself, "He doesn’t want a girlfriend..."
His brain, being a father-brain, immediately sprinted to conclusions like it had a jetpack.
"...Does he prefer boys?"
Mark swallowed.
"Is my son gay?"
Inside his room, West dropped onto his bed, completely unaware his father was having a silent crisis in the living room.
He exhaled and opened the system.
A blue panel lit up in front of him like a private universe.
> [SYSTEM STATUS PANEL]
Host: West Einstein
Age: 18
Tier: 1 (Summoner)
Awakening Status: 2 Branches
Affinity: 15%
Reputation: None
Available Menus:
SHOP
QUEST PANEL
INVENTORY
SKILLS
— (Adrenal Control - Lv.2)
— (Shadow Anchor - Lv.1)
— (Silver Tongue - Lv.1)
Cuck Points (CP): 342
[Sub Stats]
Strength: 34
Speed: 33
Agility: 22
Seduction: 22
Confidence: 24
Charm: 22
Aura: 21
Mental Resilience: 21
Stamina: 22
West stared at the numbers for a long moment, then let out a low whistle.
"Damn..."
He flexed his hand.
He’d just casually nearly murdered his father because his strength was climbing to unbelievable levels.
"I should try to be more careful..."