[Third Person Pov]
Lois stood in front of her mirror for what had to be the tenth time in the last half hour, holding up one blouse after another against herself only to toss each one onto the growing pile on her bed. Dresses, skirts, blazers, even a pair of jeans she hadn't worn in months were scattered across the sheets. Her reflection stared back at her with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows.
"Why am I thinking so hard about this?" she muttered, tugging at the hem of a top before discarding it too. "It's just a birthday celebration… with the family and fiancée of the guy I was secretly kissing on rooftops."
The words hung in the air for a second before the weight of them truly sank in. Lois froze, then slowly dragged both hands down her face. "Oh my God."
She buried her face in her palms and let out a long, mortified groan that echoed around her room. "Why did I agree to this? What was I thinking?!" she cried out to no one in particular, her voice muffled against her hands. Attending a small family birthday party was harmless on paper. Attending the birthday party of the guy she had been sneaking around with—while his fiancée would also be present—was something else entirely. It wasn't just awkward. It was walking straight into enemy territory armed with nothing but a gift bag and questionable life choices.
The dramatic outburst didn't go unnoticed.
A second later, her bedroom door swung open without so much as a knock. Lucy Lane stood in the doorway, two years younger and infinitely more intrusive, dressed in loose shorts and a sleeveless string top, clearly comfortable in the sanctuary of her own home. Her eyes immediately took in the explosion of clothing on the bed.
"Huh? Are you going somewhere?" Lucy asked, stepping inside as if she owned the place.
"Mind your beeswax, shoo!" Lois snapped, waving her away without turning around. She grabbed another hanger, squinting at the fabric like it had personally offended her.
"Where's a loner like you going?" Lucy ignored her completely and strolled further into the room. "You don't even have any friends except for that Joichirou guy."
Lois's brow twitched dangerously. She turned slowly, fixing her younger sister with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "I'll have you know I am not a loner. I have friends apart from Joichirou. In fact, I was recently invited to a birthday celebration. I'm just deciding what to wear."
Lucy's lips curled into a slow, mischievous smirk. She crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Oh really? A birthday celebration. And judging by the fact that you're having a full-blown fashion crisis, I'm going to guess this party belongs to a guy."
Lois pressed her lips together. She didn't confirm it, but she didn't deny it either. There was no point pretending; Lucy could smell gossip from a mile away.
"Oho, so it is a guy," Lucy sing-songed. "Is he cute? I mean, I doubt it. Your standards aren't exactly elite. Your last boyfriend was… how do I put this nicely? Underwhelming."
Lois didn't dignify that with words. Instead, she calmly reached for her phone on the dresser, unlocked it, scrolled through her gallery, and thrust it into Lucy's hands.
Lucy glanced down casually—then her eyes widened.
"DAMN!" she shouted, her voice dropping an octave in pure shock. On the screen was a picture of Clark lying back on a rooftop, hands folded behind his head, eyes closed as if basking in the sun. The angle made his biceps look even more defined, the relaxed pose somehow making him appear effortlessly powerful. "Who in the David Hasselhoff is this gorgeous man?! And how the hell do you even know him?"
Lois sighed, snatching the phone back before Lucy could zoom in. "His name is Clark. He's a… friend." She hesitated slightly over the word. "I've been trying to recruit him into my club, but he's as stubborn as a mule."
"Friend?" Lucy echoed, one brow lifting at the barely-there pause. She caught that hesitation immediately, filing it away for future teasing. "That didn't sound very convincing."
"It's complicated," Lois muttered, looking back at her reflection.
That might have been the understatement of the year.
Lucy stepped closer, peering over Lois's shoulder at the mirror, then at the clothes on the bed. "Mind if I come with you to this celebration? I would absolutely love to meet this Clark." Her grin turned sly. "And let's be honest, he's clearly a westerner. That's basically a rare delicacy around here."
"You're unbelievable," Lois groaned.
Lucy clasped her hands together dramatically, widening her eyes in an exaggerated plea. "Please? I promise I won't embarrass you. Much."
"Absolutely not—" Lois started immediately.
But the protest died halfway through. She imagined walking into that house alone, facing Clark's family, his sister, and worst of all, his fiancée. The thought made her stomach twist. Having Lucy there would be like bringing backup. Annoying backup, yes—but still backup.
She let out a long, reluctant sigh. "Fine. Whatever."
Lucy blinked. "Seriously?" She looked genuinely surprised. "I was prepared to beg. Maybe even offer you one of my desserts for a week."
"Don't make me regret it," Lois muttered.
A grin split across Lucy's face. "Sweet! Let's go get ready." She spun toward the door, already energized by the drama she fully intended to witness firsthand.
As she rushed out, she called over her shoulder, "Oh, and wear something purple! It brings out the color in your eyes!"
The door slammed shut before Lois could retort.
Left alone again, Lois stared at herself in the mirror, then at the mountain of rejected outfits. She ruffled her own hair in frustration.
"Something purple, huh…" she murmured. After a moment, she straightened her shoulders and exhaled slowly. "Whatever. I need to stop overthinking this. It's just a birthday party."
Even if it felt like walking into a battlefield.
…
Komi stood just outside the grand Temple Gates, her figure small in comparison to their towering presence. The structure loomed over her, its aged wood and intricate carvings radiating a quiet dignity that made her feel even more out of place. Her hands tightened around the handles of the gift bag she carried, the paper crinkling loudly in the otherwise peaceful air. The sound seemed deafening to her, betraying the storm of nerves swirling inside her chest.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She stared at the gates. Beyond them waited people who were important to Clark. People who had known him longer than she had. People who were his family.
Most importantly… his grandmother.
Komi swallowed.
Her throat felt dry, and her heart pounded so loudly she was certain anyone nearby could hear it. She had spent an embarrassing amount of time choosing the gift, agonizing over whether it was appropriate, whether it was meaningful enough, whether it would be seen as strange. Every possible outcome, every possible misunderstanding, had already played out in her mind dozens of times.
But she was here now.
She took a slow, deep breath, steadying herself. The cool air filled her lungs, grounding her wandering thoughts. She tightened her grip on the gift bag, squared her shoulders, and began walking forward.
Each step felt heavy at first, but she forced herself onward.
As she passed through the Temple Gates, she suddenly felt it.
A faint, invisible wave washed over her body.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible, like stepping through a thin curtain of air that didn't belong. Her skin prickled slightly, and for a brief moment.
Then it was gone.
Komi paused mid-step.
Her brows knit together as she glanced around, unsure of what she had just felt. There was nothing unusual. No sound. No light. No sign that anything had happened at all.
"…?"
She tilted her head slightly, wondering if it had just been her imagination. Her nerves were already on edge; it wouldn't be surprising if her body was reacting strangely.
After a moment, she shook her head gently and continued forward.
She approached the door, hesitated for only a second, then quickly pressed the doorbell before she could lose her nerve.
The chime echoed inside.
Komi stood frozen in place, clutching the gift bag tightly against her body like a shield.
From inside, she heard Momo's voice shout, "Lala! I'm in the kitchen, can you get it?! A guest seems to have finally arrived!"
"I'm on it!" Lala's cheerful voice responded instantly.
Komi could hear the rapid patter of feet approaching, energetic and light, growing louder with each passing second.
The door swung open.
Lala stood there.
Her eyes widened for half a second before lighting up completely, her entire face breaking into pure, unfiltered joy.
"KOMI!" she exclaimed.
Before Komi could react, Lala launched herself forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her.
The sudden affection caught Komi off guard, her body stiffening for a moment before she slowly relaxed.
"H-Hello, Lala," Komi replied softly.
Her voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but there was something different about it now. It wasn't as fragile as before. After everything she had experienced and the extra step she had taken, after spending more time with Clark and the others, she had grown. Even if only a little, she had found the courage to express herself more openly.
Hidden beneath Lala's clothes, her tail was tightly wrapped around her waist, restrained only by necessity. If it had been free, it would have been wagging wildly with excitement.
"Wha—?! It's Komi?!" Momo's voice suddenly rang out.
Heavy footsteps thundered across the floor as she rushed over.
A moment later, Momo appeared behind Lala, her expression lighting up just as brightly.
"Komi!" she said warmly, immediately pulling her into a hug as well. "I'm glad you could make it!"
The embrace was firm and affectionate, filled with a kind of warmth that made Komi's chest tighten. There was something deeply comforting about it. It made her feel welcome.
"T-Thank you for having me," Komi said, bowing her head politely as she extended the gift bag forward with both hands. "I-It was short notice…"
Momo laughed sheepishly as she accepted it. "Haha, sorry about that. It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. Come inside, come inside. I was just in the kitchen preparing snacks."
Before Komi could protest, both Momo and Lala gently took her by the arms and guided her inside.
The interior was warm and lively. Decorations were partially set up, streamers draped along the walls, and the faint aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air. It felt alive, filled with anticipation.
"Sorry, Grandma isn't here at the moment," Momo explained as she placed Komi's gift on a nearby table. "She went out to pick up the cake. Don't mind the mess, we're still setting things up."
Komi nodded quietly.
Then, without hesitation, she set her bag down, rolled up her sleeves, and took a small but determined breath.
Her posture straightened.
Her eyes burned with resolve.
Though she didn't speak immediately, her expression said everything.
What can I do to help?
Momo noticed instantly and let out a small, amused laugh.
"Don't worry about it," she said gently. "You're a guest—"
Komi shook her head.
"I-I want to help," she said.
Her voice, though still soft, was clearer now. Stronger. More certain.
Momo and Lala blinked in surprise.
Komi clasped her hands together, her fingers fidgeting slightly as her face grew warm.
"Clark…" she hesitated, her heart racing. "Clark is someone special person to me."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Her eyes widened in horror the moment she realized what she had just said, because it sounded awfully close to a confession.
Her face flushed bright red.
"I-I mean—! I just— I want to help celebrate his important day," she hurriedly added, her voice trembling with embarrassment.
Momo and Lala remained completely still for a moment, processing what they had heard.
Then Momo clicked her tongue sharply and turned her head to the side, her expression twisting into mock irritation. She even mimed spitting to the side like a delinquent.
"That bastard," she grumbled. "He's the luckiest person in the world. No… the whole galaxy. To have a girl like you who wants to celebrate his birthday, Komi."
Her tone was gruff, but her eyes were warm.
Lala, meanwhile, said nothing.
She simply stared at Komi.
Her eyes sparkled.
They glittered with fascination, curiosity, and something else entirely.
An idea was forming.
A grand, wonderful, unstoppable idea.
One that would someday grow into the largest, happiest, and most extraordinary family the universe had ever seen.
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