The Grayson household is quiet when I arrive at eight o'clock. Debbie answers the door with a warm smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes – the residual worry of a mother whose son was in danger earlier that day.
"Megumi, come in. Mark's upstairs. He said you two have a project to work on?"
I nod, accepting the convenient excuse Mark must have provided. "Biology assignment. Thanks for having me over, Mrs. Grayson."
"You're always welcome here," she says, ushering me inside. "Especially after what happened today. Mark told us you helped keep everyone safe."
I shift uncomfortably under her grateful gaze. "I just reacted. Anyone would have done the same."
"Not everyone would have thought to trigger the sprinklers," she counters. "You have good instincts, Megumi."
If only she knew what kind of instincts had actually surfaced in that moment.
"Is Mr. Grayson home?" I ask, glancing around the living room.
"No, he's in Malaysia again. Some kind of follow-up to that incident last week." Her expression clouds briefly. "He should be back tomorrow."
I nod, relieved. Facing Mark's questions will be challenging enough without Omni-Man's perceptive gaze to contend with as well.
"Mark's in his room," Debbie continues. "I've made some snacks if you boys get hungry. Just help yourselves."
I thank her and head upstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.
I've spent the afternoon rehearsing explanations, crafting a narrative that will satisfy Mark's curiosity without revealing too much of the truth.
I knock on Mark's door, hearing a muffled "Come in" from the other side.
Mark is sitting at his desk, a textbook open in front of him though I doubt he's been reading it.
He looks up as I enter, his expression a mixture of concern, curiosity, and something else – a wariness that wasn't there before.
"Hey," I say, closing the door behind me.
"Hey." He gestures to the chair by his bed. "So..."
I sit down, maintaining a casual posture despite the tension in the room. "So."
"You want to tell me what happened at the museum?" He keeps his voice low, mindful of his mother downstairs. "Because I know what I saw, Megumi, and it wasn't normal."
I take a deep breath. This is it – the moment of truth, or at least, a carefully curated version of it.
"I have... abilities," I begin, watching his reaction carefully. "I've haven't had them for a while."
"Like superpowers?" He leans forward, his eyes widening.
"Not exactly like the heroes on TV," I say, choosing my words carefully. "It's more like... energy manipulation. I can focus my energy to affect things around me."
"Like cutting a gun in half?" His tone is incredulous but not disbelieving.
I nod. "That was... an extreme case. I don't usually have that kind of precision."
"And what was that thing you said? Dismantle?"
I tense slightly. He'd heard that. "It's just a word I use to focus. Like a mental trigger."
"Where did these powers come from? How long have you had them?"
This is where I need to be careful. "I discovered them very recently," I say, deciding on honesty rather than a fabricated timeline.
"It happened suddenly, almost like they were waiting to emerge."
"How recently are we talking?"
"Just a few weeks ago," I admit. "I was alone in my room when it first happened. I got frustrated with a homework problem and... the textbook just split in two. Clean cut, like it had been sliced with a razor."
This much aligns with what he knows about me – the occasional flashes of temper, the intensity I sometimes display. It's a plausible origin story while staying close to the truth.
"Is that why you've been acting different lately? More... I don't know, controlled?"
I nod, surprised by his perceptiveness. "I've been trying to understand what's happening to me. Trying to keep it contained."
"And you never told anyone? Not even me?"
There's hurt in his voice, and I feel a genuine pang of regret. In the short time I've known him – truly known him, not just through Megumi's memories – I've come to value Mark's friendship.
"I couldn't risk it, Mark. My probation, my uncle's situation... if anyone found out I was different, who knows what would happen? I'd probably end up in some government lab."
He winces, and I wonder if he's thinking about his own secret – the heritage he shares with his father, the powers that haven't yet manifested.
"I get keeping secrets," he says finally. "But what you did today... you saved William. You could have been shot."
"I reacted on instinct," I say, which is at least partially true. "When I saw him grab William, something just... clicked."
"And that voice?" Mark presses. "The way you spoke to them? That wasn't you, Megumi. It was like... someone else was talking."
I tense. This is dangerous territory. "What do you mean?"
"You said something about them 'standing before a king' and 'failing to kneel.' It was... intense."
I force a self-deprecating smile. "Did I? It's kind of a blur. Sometimes when I use a lot of energy at once, it affects my mind. Makes me say weird things."
Mark studies me for a long moment, and I can see him weighing my explanation against what he witnessed.
"So these powers," he says finally. "What exactly can you do?"
This is safer ground. I can give him a simplified version of my abilities without revealing their true nature.
"I can manipulate energy – focus it into different forms. What you saw today was the most precise I've ever managed. Usually it's just... pushing things, breaking things."
"Like telekinesis?"
"Not exactly. It's more direct. I have to be close to what I'm affecting. And it takes concentration."
"Can you show me?"
I hesitate. "It's not a party trick, Mark."
"I know that," he says quickly. "But I want to understand. You trusted me enough to tell me this much."
After a moment's consideration, I nod. "Alright. But something small."
I look around his room, spotting a pencil on his desk. I extend my hand toward it, channeling a minimal amount of cursed energy – just enough to be visible as a faint shimmer around my fingers.
"Dismantle," I whisper, focusing on precision.
The pencil splits cleanly in half, both pieces rolling slightly on the desktop.
Mark's eyes widen. "Holy shit."
"Like I said, small scale."
"That's... that's incredible, Megumi." He picks up the pencil halves, examining the perfectly smooth cut. "And no one else knows about this?"
"No one," I confirm. "And it needs to stay that way."
"Of course," he agrees quickly. "I wouldn't tell anyone."
I believe him. Whatever else has changed in this world, Mark Grayson's loyalty to his friends seems constant.
"So what now?" he asks. "Are you going to use these powers to help people? Like, become a superhero or something?"
I shake my head firmly. "Absolutely not. The last thing I need is attention. I'm on probation, remember?
My goal is to keep my head down, finish school, and figure out what these abilities mean for my future."
"But you could do so much good–"
"Mark," I cut him off gently. "I'm not like the Guardians of the Globe. I don't have their super strength or invulnerability. If I get shot, I die. What happened today was a fluke – I acted without thinking."
All true. I don't have their strength and invulnerability - I have potential for greater. I did act without truly thinking it all through - currently if I do get shot in the right spot, I'd die.
He looks disappointed but nods in understanding. "I guess that makes sense. It's just... not many people get the chance to make a difference like that."
The irony of Mark Grayson – future Invincible – saying this to me isn't lost on me.
"Maybe someday," I concede. "But right now, I need to focus on staying out of trouble. Ms. Chen would have a field day if she knew I was involved in anything unusual."
"Yeah, I get it." He sighs, then gives me a small smile. "Thanks for trusting me with this."
"You're my friend," I say simply. "And you saw what happened. I owed you an explanation."
We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of shared secrets creating a new layer to our friendship.
"So," Mark says finally, "you want to actually work on that biology assignment? We might as well make use of the excuse."
I smile, relieved at the change of subject. "Sure."
As we spread our textbooks across his bed and begin discussing cell structures, I can't help but reflect on what just transpired.
I've given Mark a heavily edited version of the truth – enough to satisfy his curiosity without revealing the full extent of my situation.
He doesn't know about Sukuna's memories, or my knowledge of his father's true nature, or the coming catastrophe that will reshape both our lives.
But he knows I have powers, and he's accepted that reality with remarkable ease.
Perhaps it's because, deep down, he's always suspected he might be different too. I know he hopes for it.
The son of Omni-Man, carrying Viltrumite DNA that will soon manifest in ways that will change him forever.
For now, though, we're just two teenagers doing homework on a Friday night, pretending that the strangest thing in our lives is high school biology.
And for a few hours at least, I can almost believe it.
The weekend passes quietly. Saturday is once again consumed by the community cleanup, where I work alongside Amber and other volunteers, all while fielding concerned questions about the museum incident.
Sunday brings a quiet day at home with Uncle Kenji, who's unusually attentive following the scare at the museum.
By Monday morning, I've almost convinced myself that things might return to normal – at least, as normal as they can be given my circumstances.
That illusion shatters the moment I step into the school hallway and spot Eve waiting by my locker.
She straightens when she sees me, her expression unreadable. "We need to talk."
"About?" I keep my tone casual as I open my locker.
"Not here." She glances around at the crowded hallway. "Lunch period. Meet me behind the gym."
Before I can respond, she walks away, leaving me with a knot of apprehension in my stomach. Eve noticed something at the museum – something she's had the weekend to think about.
The morning classes drag by, each minute bringing me closer to a confrontation I'm not sure how to handle.
Mark catches my eye during history, raising an eyebrow in silent question. I give him a subtle nod, indicating everything's fine.
When the lunch bell finally rings, I make my way to the designated meeting spot, finding Eve already waiting, arms crossed.
"Thanks for coming," she says as I approach.
"You didn't give me much choice," I reply. "What's this about?"
She studies me for a moment, her analytical gaze uncomfortably perceptive. "What happened at the museum. What you did."
I maintain a neutral expression. "I threw a fire extinguisher at the sprinklers. Created a distraction."
"No," she says firmly. "What you really did. I saw you, Megumi. That gun didn't just fall apart – you did something to it."
I consider my options. Denial seems pointless; Eve is too observant, too intelligent to be easily fooled. But I can't reveal everything either.
"You're right," I admit finally. "I did something. But I'm not sure you'd believe me if I told you what."
"Try me." Her posture relaxes slightly, encouraged by my honesty. "I've seen some pretty unbelievable things."
Have you? I wonder. You are already Atom Eve in this timeline - I looked that up, but you didn't react as I expected. What is there different about you compared to the original?
"I have certain... abilities," I say, echoing the explanation I gave Mark. "Energy manipulation. I can focus it to affect objects around me."
"Like cutting a gun in half with invisible energy?"
I nod. "Among other things."
"How long have you had these abilities?"
"Very recently," I say, maintaining consistency with what I told Mark. "It's all still new to me."
Eve uncrosses her arms, her expression softening slightly. "And what you did at the museum – that was control?"
I hesitate. "Not entirely. It was more instinct than precision. I saw William in danger and just... reacted."
"That's not what I meant," she says, her voice dropping lower. "I heard what you said to them. About being a king. About them kneeling."
I tense. "I don't remember saying that."
"You did. And it wasn't just what you said – it was how you said it. Like you were someone else entirely."
Damn it. Why did they both notice that? Do they have that good of a hearing?
"Sometimes when I use a lot of energy at once, it affects my mind," I repeat the explanation I gave Mark. "Makes me say things I don't remember later."
She doesn't look convinced. "That's convenient."
"It's the truth," I insist, then soften my tone. "Look, Eve, I don't fully understand these powers myself. All I know is that I used them to help our friends, and I'd prefer to keep them secret."
"Why tell me, then? Why not just deny everything?"
"Because you're too smart for that," I say honestly. "And because I respect you enough not to lie to your face."
This seems to resonate with her. After a moment, she nods. "Fair enough. Does anyone else know?"
"Mark. That's it."
"And you want to keep it that way?"
"I have to. I'm on probation, Eve. If word gets out that I'm... different, who knows what happens next?
Best case scenario, I'm back in juvie for violating some obscure term of my release. Worst case, I disappear into some government facility."
She winces slightly at this. Exactly what I want. This could be an opportunity - I know Eve has had her own fair share of problems after revealing her powers to her friends.
Becoming close allies with her as well as Mark will be very useful in the future.
Besides that, I have already taken precautions for such a situation - it is why I am so calm despite everything.
I am not a fool, I already made contingencies incase a situation arises where I am forced to use my abilities, and they become public.
"I understand discretion," she says finally. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you."
She studies me for another moment. "You know, there are others like you. People with abilities who use them to help others."
"I'm not looking to be a superhero, Eve," I say firmly. "I just want to graduate high school without any more complications."
A small smile touches her lips. "Sometimes complications find us whether we want them or not."
Don't I know it, I think grimly.
"If you ever need to talk about these... abilities," she continues, "or if you ever find yourself in over your head, let me know. I might be able to help."
The offer is intriguing. Is this Eve reaching out as a fellow powered individual? Or simply as a concerned classmate?
"I appreciate that," I say carefully. "Same goes for you. If you ever need help with anything... unusual."
Something flickers in her eyes – recognition, perhaps, or confirmation of a suspicion. But she simply nods.
"We should get to the cafeteria before lunch ends," she says, glancing at her watch. "People will wonder where we are."
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!
Do tell me how you found it.
So yeah, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)