Episode One

Breakfast with your brother~

A sizzling pan with the savory aroma of bacon fills the room. Xander wafts the scent up to his nose, exhaling quietly. He then swiftly turns to face the hallway behind him.

“Hey, Juuzou! Food’s almost done.”

Juuzou peers around the corner of the narrow apartment hallway, gazing at the light smoke emitting from the iron skillet. She sniffs, her eyes gleaming at something entirely new. Cautious, Juuzou approaches Xander. 

“What’s.. that you got there?” She asks curiously. 

“It’s called ‘bacon’— you.. didn’t have bacon on Uroth?” Xander says with a puzzled look, reaching for the half-empty salt shaker. 

“Well—” Juuzou pauses. Seemingly embarrassed, her eyes wander. 

She thinks for a moment. Xander waits patiently for her response as he flips the bacon a few more times. 

“Father didn’t really allow me to have such things..” 

Juuzou fidgets with a strand of hair, still not making eye contact. She looks around the room, analyzing the decorations Xander has put around his neatly cleaned flat; standing out is a small light colored vase with a grayish lotus flower arrangement on the dining table.

“Oh—! my bad...” Xander hesitates, putting back the salt shaker. “Well, bacon is made from pork. I guess it would make sense that pigs can’t live on Uroth, because of the hot environment.” 

Juuzou springs up excitedly. “Oh! I read about pigs! They look so cute and cuddly..” 

Xander winces, sucking air through his teeth. “Maybe.. We’ll just eat eggs for today.” He turns the stove knob until it’s switched to ‘OFF’, making his way to the fridge.

Confused, Juuzou stands aback, looking down at the steaming pan as it cools. “What—? What about the bacon??” 

Opening the fridge, Xander calls out “It’s.. okay! We’ll save it for later— yeah.” He reaches for the container of eggs with only a few left. “Do you like eggs?” Xander pauses, placing eggs on the counter beside him. “You.. Do you know what eggs are?” 

Intrigued, Juuzou retorts. “Like Acideye chicken eggs?” She tilts her head, crossing her arms as she makes her way to the dining table across the kitchen.

Xander closes the fridge, preparing a different skillet. “Well, yes, but these eggs aren’t spicy as all volcanic hell.” He rips open a drawer, taking out a spatula and twirling it in his hands to seem cool. 

Sunlight suddenly peeks through the large windows, and a silence falls upon Juuzou as she stares at the warm light. Xander looks back to her, concerned for a second. He then returns to the empty skillet, letting Juuzou bask in the silence while he cracks some eggs. After a bit, he turns again.

“Juuzou..?” Xander calls out as quiet as a loudmouth can. 

“Huh? Oh— sorry..” She flinches as she turns, startled by the sight of Xander staring her down, but then relaxes as she notices his worried face. “Yeah- I like eggs.. sorry..” Juuzou’s gaze darts back to the sun, avoiding Xander’s eyes. 

He finishes up with the eggs, preparing both their breakfast plates. “Okay..” Xander replies.

“The sunlight is so nice..” Juuzou says quietly aloud, without realization. She sits at the dining chairs incorrectly, still facing the sun. 

While Juuzou leans on the back of her chair, Xander comes up to her cautiously; tapping her shoulder apprehensively like someone approaching a startled fawn ready to run. 

Xander speaks softly. “Here’s your food..” He places her plate with utensils on the table in front of where Juuzou is sitting, taking a step back afterwards. 

“O-Oh.. thank you!” Juuzou bows her head down slightly, turning to sit right in the chair. She stares down at the food, nicely plated with small fruits, the eggs, and toast all in their respective place. Juuzou thinks to herself. It looks like it could be a painting.. 

Making his way to the opposite end of the dining table, Xander takes a seat; setting his own plate down. He picks up a fork and begins to scarf down his food. “Sho..” He says with his mouth full.

There’s a small pause between the two as they stare at each other. Juuzou darts her eyes again awkwardly. The room seems utterly still, sunlight outlining her silhouette entirely. Xander gulps down his food, thinking for a second. 

“Are you going to enroll? …To the school, I mean.” Xander asks, pausing to devour more breakfast. He clears his plate, glancing at the wall clock.

“Oh.. well, I dunno..” Juuzou pokes the scrambled eggs with her fork. “There's just so many people.. It’s..” She hesitates. 

Xander finishes her sentence. “It’s scary, I know.” He places his elbow on the table, resting his hand on his cheek. “But you gotta get out some more! Maybe start small.” Xander wipes his mouth with a napkin in his free hand. 

“Small? What.. do you mean..?” Juuzou sticks her fork in a piece of egg, surprised by its softness. 

“Y’know, you could…. Go for a walk!” Xander replies, a little more comfortable to me louder. He places his napkin down on top of his plate. 

Juuzou places her fork down, resting it on the edge of her plate. She sits back in the chair, crossing her arms again. Juuzou has a thought. Hah.. as if that’s less intimidating.. She pauses. “I guess.. I could try.” She then says out loud.

“Zou..” Xander’s gaze softens. “I know you don’t want to talk about dad… and what happened on Uroth.” 

Juuzou’s eyes widen, uncrossing her arms and looking down. The sunlight behind her, now fading away.

“You.. don’t have to talk about it now! But..” He stalls. “I want to let you know, I’m here for you.” Xander reaches his hand out to Juuzou, letting it rest palm faced-down on the table. “You can stay in my apartment for as long as you need.”

Juuzou avoids Xander’s intense, but concerned stare once again, quietly replying. “Thank you..” 

“Besides— I could use the extra company.” Xander winks, standing up with his plate in hand. “I gotta run though, I’m supposed to meet up with Vonni in 5 minutes or so..”

“Okay...” She says, drawing it out. Juuzou then looks up. 

Silence falls between then again as Xander rinses his plate. The room darkens while the sun makes its way up. Magi  gem lights brighten the room in reaction, giving Xander’s apartment a pleasant yellow hued glow. 

“Well.. I guess I’ll be off..” Xander calls out without looking back, speed walking to the door as he glances at the clock once more. 

Juuzou replies with a small wave. “Be safe..” 

“Yeah— You too, sis.” Xander takes one last look at Juuzou before finally closing his front door.

Juuzou sits in the now calmly quiet apartment, everything still and steady. She stands, leaving her plate behind on the dining table. What a quaint little place.. She thinks; slowly setting herself into Xander’s comfy couch while staring out the window again, noticing three people in the streets below.