Neo-Yokohama, Year 2104

  Morning reached the apartment slowly. Not with sunlight, but with a pale silver glow that slipped through the blinds in narrow stripes. Dust floated zily through the light. Outside, the megacity roared awake. Sky-trains thundered across elevated rails. Delivery drones buzzed between towers like mechanical insects. Somewhere nearby, a holographic billboard flickered to life.

  "Begin your legend today in Avarice Online."

  Inside the apartment, the smell of coffee hung warm in the air, mixed with toasted sugar drifting up from the bakery downstairs, and faintly, machine oil. Kainen sat on the couch with the quiet stillness of someone who had been awake for hours. A holographic interface floated above the coffee table, lines of dungeon reports and market values scrolling slowly. His eyes moved across the information with careful focus.

  Three successful dungeon runs. Good drops. Better coin. Enough to cover rent. He took a sip of coffee, his mind wandering back to the past. Sixteen years ago, he had run through the rain with nothing but a backpack and a newborn. Now, they had this apartment. It wasn't much, but it was theirs.

  Down the hallway, an arm chirped, followed by a groan of suffering from Rori. Kainen didn't look up. Three seconds passed, then a muffled thump, then silence. Rori savored her small victory: five more stolen minutes before responsibility called. She finally sat up straight, pink hair in a chaotic mess. The wall calendar glowed softly, today's date blinking at her. Rori’s attention snapped into focus as she realized the time: she’d overslept again.

  She unched out of bed with a quickness, her eyes fixed on the clock. "Oh no," she excimed as she realized she had overslept. The hallway thundered with approaching footsteps. Kainen sighed, right on schedule. The living room door burst open, and Rori stormed across the room.

  "KAINEN, WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the apartment. Kainen took a slow sip of coffee, his expression calm.

  "Morning," he said, his voice low and smooth. Rori smmed both hands onto the table, her halter top slipping down over one shoulder as she did so. Kainen raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking to her exposed skin.

  "You didn't even put on pants," he said, his voice teasing. Rori looked down, realizing her state of undress, and her face turned red.

  "Oh, shut up," she said, her voice defensive. She pulled her top back up, trying to cover herself, but not before Lira walked into the room, a small smile pying on her lips.

  "Morning," Lira said, her voice dry. "I see you're having a typical morning." Rori gred at her, still trying to compose herself.

  "You have no idea," Rori said, her voice still defensive. Kainen chuckled, his expression calm.

  "You set your own arm," he reminded her, his tone mild. Rori's face turned red with anger, and she dropped dramatically into the chair across from him.

  "You are the worst," she decred, her voice dripping with drama. Lira walked over to the table, a small bck case in her hand.

  "I have some good news," Lira said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Rori leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the case.

  "What is it?" she asked, her voice eager. Lira smiled, her tail flicking behind her with mischievousness.

  "I think you'll like it," she said, her voice teasing. And with that, she opened the case, revealing a small, sleek device that made Rori's eyes widen in shock.

  "KAINEN, YOU ARE THE GREATEST HUMAN IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY," she excimed, her voice muffled against his chest as she tackled him in a hug. Kainen's coffee nearly spilled, and he set it down, his expression calm.

  "That's a bold cim," he said, his voice dry. "Happy Birthday, Rori..." his face softened, knowing he had accomplished his goal of making today special. Lira ughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

  "You're welcome, you know, it's not like I shlept all the way downtown for anything to pick it up in the pouring rain or anything," she said, her voice sweet. That was just the way things were. Kainen worked hard to ensure they were taken care of; Lira would cook and clean, and Rori... well, she is, as always, Rori.

  Rori gnced over to Lira, her eyes still shining with excitement.

  "Oh, right," she said, her voice breathless. "Thanks, Lira." Lira smiled back, satisfied, feeling her tail flicking behind her.

  "You're unbelievable," she said, her voice dry. Rori always had a one-track mind, and it showed, but her heart was always in the right pce, so Lira paid it no mind beyond a tease and an occasional prod, but what do you expect from sisters? Not by blood, of course, but growing up together, they might as well have been if not for Lira being born a Dragonborn.

  Rori groaned with excitement, her patience waning with each second. "Can we py!" She asked excitedly. Kainen replied dryly, "First, you have to get the chip installed. I know a pce, but I am not going anywhere without a morning coffee, nor you without pants."

  Rori's face turned red, stuck somewhere between Contempt and embarrassment, as she grumbled to herself, "As if I would leave dressed like this." Then, just as quickly, her mood changed.

  Despite her earlier protest, she begrudgingly agreed and started off toward her bedroom to start her day, but paused before getting past the kitchen counter. "Oh Kainen! Can you make coffee while I go get dressed?!?" Rori proceeded to tilt her head, giving Kainen her most sincere attempt at puppy dog eyes.

  "I don't know, can I?" He responded by moving the kitchen. Rori's only reply was a disheveled humph, followed by "..pleeeeeeease."

  After a chuckle, Kainen replied, "Go...it will be ready by the time you return...and this time remember to wear pants..." He mused.

  Rori just stuck out her tongue as she began heading back down the hallway, still brimming with excitement and mild contempt.