Venzel sat on the bed, the mysterious box resting on his lap like a treasure chest from another world.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself, and slowly lifted the lid.
Pffshhhh!
A strange, glistening liquid shot out like a snake springing from a can and latched straight onto his hand.
"Wha—?!"
His eyes widened in terror. He bolted upright, nearly launching the box across the room.
The bed let out a loud, exhausted creeeaaak under the sudden movement.
Kana jolted awake, her eyes wide and hair messy from sleep. "Wha—what? Huh? Earthquake?!"
She blinked rapidly in the dark, only to see Venzel hopping on one foot like a man being electrocuted, his other hand smacking his palm frantically.
"Shhh! Kana don't wake up! Go back to sleep!" Venzel whispered, his face scrunched in panic as he tried to shake off the shimmering goo.
It wasn't coming off.
The liquid began to crawl on its own, slithering down his arm with a mind of its own.
Venzel stiffened, mouth trembling as he tried, and contain his creams.
The bed creaked again as he jerked around.
"What is that thing?!" Kana sat up fully now, looking horrified but not entirely awake.
Venzel didn't answer. He was too busy dancing in place like a possessed farmer, trying to throw off the alien slime.
The goo slid neatly down to his palm and suddenly compressed, folding inward with a gleam of light.
A strange thrum vibrated through his skin, and a glowing grain symbol etched itself into his palm, turning golden like a seal.
He froze.
Kana stared.
"…Venzel…?"
He held up his hand.
"…I think I've been marked," he muttered in disbelief.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the next room…
Aoki sat with a pair of reading glasses perched on his nose, halfway through a farming magazine.
Tsuki lay beside him on the bed, casually chatting away on the phone with her sister.
Suddenly, the sound of loud creaking wood, and what sounded like thudding, echoed from the room next door.
Creaaaaak! Thud. Thud. Creak.
Both Aoki and Tsuki paused.
Aoki slowly lowered his magazine. Tsuki stopped mid-sentence.
Their heads turned at the same time.
Their eyes met.
No words were needed.
Aoki raised a single brow. Tsuki smirked slightly, trying to hold back a chuckle.
"Oh… to be young," Aoki muttered, closing his book with a soft sigh. He leaned over and threw an arm around Tsuki, pulling her in.
She let out a soft laugh, setting her phone down on the nightstand. "You weren't this energetic at their age."
Aoki leaned closer with a smug smile. "Hey, I'm a slow starter."
Tsuki rolled her eyes but cuddled up next to him. "Just don't break the bed, old man."
"No promises."
And as Venzel stood in the next room with a glowing palm and a very confused girlfriend beside him, his parents giggled softly, wrapped in each other's arms… entirely misreading the chaos next door.
* * *
Back in the dimly lit room…
Kana sat cross-legged on the bed beside Venzel, gently examining his arm with a focused expression.
The strange golden grain mark glowed faintly under her fingertips.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her brows creased with concern.
Venzel nodded, still a little shaken. "Yeah… I think so."
Kana leaned in, squinting at the symbol. Her professional instincts kicked in, after all, she was a city doctor. "We should visit my clinic tomorrow. I want to make sure you will be fine."
"Alright," he said, voice calm but unsure.
Her hands lingered on his arm a moment longer, her grip warm and comforting. "Tell me if it hurts, okay?"
Without a word, Venzel leaned in and kissed her cheek. It was brief and gentle, but enough to turn her ears bright red.
They both settled under the covers.
"Alright, mommy," Venzel teased with a sly grin.
Kana gasped, blushed furiously, and immediately turned away from him, burying her red face into the pillow. "Don't call me that…!"
Venzel chuckled, watching her flustered shoulders rise and fall.
Moments later, as she drifted off, he lay back and stared at the ceiling, his mind whirling.
What in the cosmos have I gotten myself into…?
And then—ding!
A glowing screen materialized right in front of his face, hovering mid-air.
"Huh?!" he yelped, shooting up in bed like a startled goat.
The sudden movement jolted Kana awake. She turned over fast, alarmed. "Are you okay?! Babe?!"
Venzel blinked at the screen, then at her. "Spider. It was a spider."
Wait... she can't see it?
But Kana's eyes went wide. "Spider?!"
She leapt off the bed like a launched pillow. "Quick! Quick! Um—um—make it quick!!"
She was hopping from foot to foot, her voice climbing toward shrieking opera as she pointed frantically at the shadows.
Venzel sighed, scratching his head. "Alright, alright, I'll look…"
He got up and started patting pillows and peeking under the bed half-heartedly, trying to save face.
* * *
Next room, same house…
Aoki was under the cover of the blanket.
Tsuki was resting on top of his shoulder, tired after their nightly activity.
Then they heard Kana screamed,
"Quick! Quick! Um—um—make it quick!!"
They both froze.
Aoki turned slowly, staring blankly at the wall that separated the rooms.
"…Do these kids not realize their elders are sleeping right next door?"
Tsuki stifled a laugh behind her hand.
Aoki groaned, rubbing his face. "They're going too strong…"
Tsuki chuckled and reached out to caress his cheek, her voice teasing, "Hah, don't compare us to them. We're already aged."
She leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. A soft, warm kiss, full of years of love and comfort.
Aoki raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Aged, huh? Speak for yourself. I still have energy left."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "You'll need it if the noise gets any worse."
As the two snuggled under the blankets again, Venzel continued his ridiculous pretend-spider-hunt next door, dodging glowing notifications only he could see…
while Kana stood on the bed like a terrified general screaming orders.
Peaceful farm life, indeed.