"Incredible!" Ren Senjyu's exclamation burst forth the moment he crossed the threshold, his senses overwhelmed by the symphony of aromas filling Jun's home.
"Perfect timing, you two," Gustave called out, emerging from the kitchen still wearing his flour-dusted apron, the final dish balanced expertly in his hands. "I literally just plated the last course."
Tu Shanyan practically vibrated with anticipation, her fox ears twitching as she catalogued each fragrant offering spread across the dining table. Meanwhile, Daigo and Camearra moved with practiced efficiency, arranging chopsticks and serving spoons with the coordination of a well-rehearsed team.
"Sorry we're late," Jun apologized with a sheepish grin. "The amusement park hit its evening rush—seemed like half of Tokyo decided they needed cotton candy and roller coasters simultaneously."
"No matter—let me introduce everyone properly," Jun continued, gesturing toward their assembled group. "Ren, you've met Daigo and Gustave already. This elegant lady is Camearra, Daigo's girlfriend, and our fox-eared friend here is Tu Shanyan."
"Hello, Sister Camearra! Hello, Sister Tu Shanyan!" Ren's bow was deep and formal, his politeness carrying the weight of genuine respect rather than mere social obligation.
"Such lovely manners," Camearra observed approvingly, her ancient eyes recognizing the rare quality of authentic courtesy. "And 'Ren' is such a beautiful name."
"Ren? Sounds rather feminine to me..." Tu Shanyan muttered under her breath, though the general din of conversation and dish-arranging masked her commentary from most ears.
"Enough standing around admiring my handiwork," Gustave declared with mock severity. "Food waits for no one—not even polite young men and curious fox spirits."
As they settled around the laden table, Ren's eyes widened at the spectacular spread. "Mister Gustave, did you really prepare all of this yourself?"
"Well, I had some assistance," Gustave replied with theatrical magnanimity. "Daigo contributed the smashed cucumber—though I did supervise to ensure it met proper standards."
Laughter rippled around the table, the sound warm and welcoming.
The tofu pudding sparked immediate interest, its silky texture catching the light like pearls in moonlight. Gustave had prepared three distinct dipping sauces—sweet, savory, and spicy—each designed to complement the pure bean flavor in different ways.
"Here, Ren," Gustave indicated the small bowls of condiments. "Try whichever combination appeals to you. Culinary freedom is the highest virtue."
"Thank you, Mr Gustave, but I prefer it pure," Ren replied with a gentle smile. "Sometimes the simplest flavors are the most beautiful."
Tu Shanyan, meanwhile, had wasted no time launching her assault on the Kung Pao Chicken, snatching a perfectly sauced morsel with predatory precision. "Gustave may be a lying schemer with questionable morals, but his cooking could make angels weep with joy!"
"Such gratitude," Gustave shot back without missing a beat. "Here I am, feeding a freeloader who then insults her benefactor. Only you could master such shameless audacity."
Tu Shanyan's response was an imperious sniff as she loaded her bowl with additional treasures, channeling all her indignation into renewed appetite.
"This smashed cucumber is extraordinary," Jun observed, savoring the dish's perfect balance of crunch and flavor. "The marination time was exactly right."
"The Mapo Tofu brings back memories," Daigo added between appreciative bites. "Better than any restaurant version I've tried—tastes just like what I had during my travels in Sichuan Province."
The dinner progressed with the comfortable rhythm of new friendships taking root. Stories flowed alongside the various courses—Jun sharing photography adventures, Tu Shanyan regaling them with tales of fox clan politics, Camearra offering glimpses of ancient civilizations that had risen and fallen during her impossibly long existence.
Ren listened with the quiet intensity of someone who absorbed every detail, occasionally asking thoughtful questions that revealed both intelligence and genuine curiosity. His natural warmth drew the others in, creating the kind of instant connection that transcended mere politeness.
As the last dish was cleared and tea was served, Ren began gathering himself to leave. "Thank you all so much for this incredible evening. I should head home—"
"Actually, Ren," Jun interrupted gently, "there's something I'd like to show you. Would you mind coming with me for a little while?"
Confusion flickered across the young man's features, but his trust in Jun—inexplicable yet absolute—overrode any concerns. "Of course, Mr. Jun."
"Gustave, Daigo—I'll need your assistance," Jun added, his tone carrying weight that hadn't been present during dinner.
"Without question," both men replied simultaneously.
"Sister Camearra," Tu Shanyan whispered conspiratorially, "shouldn't we tag along? I'm absolutely dying to know what Jun wants to show him!"
"Certainly," Camearra agreed with an enigmatic smile. "Though we'll observe from the shadows—for everyone's protection."
Tu Shanyan interpreted this as shared curiosity rather than tactical positioning, but Camearra's meaning was more complex. With Gustave and Daigo providing visible support and herself offering concealed backup, they'd cover all contingencies.
The drive into the mountains proceeded in contemplative silence, headlights carving a tunnel through the darkness as they wound deeper into wilderness. Ren sat quietly in the back seat, trusting completely despite having no idea what awaited him.
After parking on a lonely mountain road, they hiked for over an hour through dense forest, following game trails and Jun's unerring instincts toward their destination. Finally, they reached a natural clearing where moonlight filtered through the canopy, creating a cathedral of silver and shadow.
"Ren, you must be wondering why I brought you to such an isolated place," Jun said, his voice carrying new gravity.
Ren simply nodded, his eyes reflecting starlight and infinite patience.
"Gustave, if you would secure the perimeter?"
"Bien sûr." Gustave raised his right hand, electrical current dancing between his fingers in blue-white spirals. "One electromagnetic shield, coming up."
Ren's eyes widened as raw power manifested around them—an invisible dome of protection expanding to encompass several kilometers. The casual display of supernatural ability shifted everything, making him acutely aware that his new friends operated on levels far beyond ordinary human experience.
"Ren," Jun said softly, withdrawing a device that seemed to pulse with its own inner light, "this is what I wanted to show you."
The Evoltruster's crystalline surface caught moonbeams and transformed them into something almost alive, its core beating with the rhythm of a great heart.
"Touch it," Jun encouraged. "Feel what it has to show you."
Though his rational mind screamed warnings, Ren's deeper instincts recognized something profound in the device. His fingertips made contact—
Reality dissolved.
He stood in a forest at twilight, but not the same forest. Ancient stones rose before him in patterns that spoke of civilizations lost to time, their surfaces carved with symbols that bypassed conscious understanding and spoke directly to his soul.
Something within the ruins called to him with a voice beyond sound. Following that inexorable summons, he entered the weathered structure, discovering torch-lit passages lined with murals depicting titans battling monsters while tiny humans offered worship below.
At the heart of the complex, patterns matching the device's design began to glow with silver radiance. Through that light, he witnessed a giant of impossible beauty and power—silver skin reflecting starlight, eyes holding the wisdom of ages, stance embodying hope itself.
The vision shifted, showing him Jun's transformation, the process of human becoming Ultra, ordinary man accepting cosmic responsibility—
Ren gasped, stumbling backward as consciousness returned to find himself half-kneeling on forest earth, chest heaving with the aftermath of revelation.
"Did you see?" Jun asked gently, extending a hand to help him stand.
"The ruins... the light... what was that place?"
"A nexus where ancient light has waited through millennia," Jun explained, his voice carrying the weight of cosmic truth. "Since you could perceive it, you've been chosen by that same light."
"Chosen?" The word felt too large for human understanding.
Jun pressed the Evoltruster into Ren's trembling hands. "Try, Ren. Trust what you've seen."
The device felt warm, alive, expectant. Ren closed his eyes, remembering the vision of transformation, the moment when human limitation dissolved into something infinitely greater—
His hand found the activation mechanism. Light exploded around them, silver radiance that turned night into day, and when it faded, the towering figure of Ultraman Nexus stood where a seventeen-year-old boy had been moments before.