The smell of miso soup and grilled fish usually drifts through the air, gently rousing Kitsune from sleep. Today, as her eyelids fluttered open, everything should've felt just like any other morning—simple, familiar, and comforting.
But something was off.
Before she even had time to process what was happening, Kitsune was already at the stove, flipping tamagoyaki with practiced ease. Her hands moved automatically, yet her mind screamed that something wasn't right.
And then she saw it.
There, in the kitchen mirror, her reflection froze her in place.
The first thing that caught her eye was her hair. It wasn't the wild, battle-scarred orange mane she'd sported in the Isekai world—it was now soft, black, and perfectly styled. As she took in the rest of her appearance, her heart pounded. She looked younger, less hardened. The fierce golden eyes of her past had been replaced by deep brown ones.
"Wait… What the hell?" she whispered, her grip on the frying pan tightening as memories of endless battles, the chaotic takoyaki shop, and shadowy figures flooded her mind. And then, her stomach dropped.
"Yuki!" she gasped, throwing aside her breakfast.
Abandoning the kitchen, she raced through the house, every room searched frantically. Yuki had to be here—she was right by her side. But the house was empty. No sign of her.
Panic hammered at her ears. This wasn't how things were supposed to be.
Then she heard it—a sound from upstairs. Her heart nearly stopped.
It was a moan. Not just any moan, but that unmistakably over-the-top, degenerate anime moan that sent a chill down her spine.
Gripping the stair railing, Kitsune muttered, "…No. Freakin' way." In that instant, her existential dread was pushed aside by one overriding urge: to give Taiyo a piece of her mind.
With the swagger only a gyaru sister could muster, she stormed up the stairs—the clack of her platform shoes echoing like the approach of a final boss. The moans grew louder. Her patience was wearing thin.
Without hesitation, she yanked open the door. "TAIYO, TURN THAT DOWN, YOU PERV!" she shouted.
What greeted her was pure, embarrassing gold. Taiyo sat cross-legged at a low table, looking as if he'd just been dragged out of a nightmare. His oversized anime hoodie, a red tomato face, and a TV blasting something so inappropriately lewd that she almost covered her eyes—he was frantically searching for the remote, tossing cushions and manga aside in sheer desperation.
Kitsune crossed her arms, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Taiyo, you didn't think to put on headphones?" she deadpanned.
Taiyo's eyes went wide like a deer caught in 4K. "K-Kitsune! I—It's not what it looks like! I swear!" he stuttered.
She arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really? 'Cause it sure looks like you're having a 'nice, educational' morning with your favorite show."
Flustered, Taiyo tried to explain, "I-I was just— it was already on when I woke up!"
Kitsune rolled her eyes and, flipping her freshly painted nails, replied, "Yeah, sure, bro. I totally believe you."
Then, something shifted. She really looked at him—the panic, the fumbling words, the sheer desperation. It was all too real.
"Wait…" she murmured under her breath. "Taiyo... Is it really you?"
For the first time, the teasing faded. Memories of her wild Isekai days collided with this all-too-real morning. Taiyo wasn't just some random prince she'd fought beside in another world; he was her real, blood-related, anime-obsessed little brother—right here, in front of her.
Her chest tightened, and after a long moment, her smirk returned. "Well," she purred teasingly, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always been a degenerate otaku, huh?"
Taiyo looked utterly defeated. "Kitsune, please, just turn it off! I don't know where the remote is!"
Kitsune hummed with amusement, her finger hovering over the power button. Then, with a wicked grin, she leaned in and whispered, "You're lucky I'm your sister, Taiyo. Anyone else would've posted this online in a heartbeat."
Just as she pressed the button—
BLACK SCREEN.
Bold, over-the-top text flashed across the TV:
"Caught in 4K. TO BE CONTINUED."
Taiyo sat frozen, his jaw slack, while Kitsune burst into uncontrollable laughter. "Oh my god—bro! Caught. In. 4K. Rest in peace," she teased as she strutted out, her victorious energy filling the house.
But as Kitsune headed back to the kitchen, her laughter faded. Staring into the mirror again, her brown eyes reflected questions: Where were they? What happened to the Isekai world? And most importantly—where was Yuki?
Clutching the railing as she descended the stairs, Kitsune's mind raced. Something wasn't adding up. And she was determined to find out what.
Conclusion: The Mystery Deepens
Kitsune's return to her original world is jarring and unsettling. Why is she back? Why is Taiyo here too? And where on earth is Yuki? One thing's for sure—this normal morning has turned into a tangled web of confusion, nostalgia, and unresolved mysteries.
This isn't the end—it's just the beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED…