Sunday mornings at the Yuuki household had evolved. They were no longer just lazy days off; they were the engine room of an empire.
The living room was buzzing with activity. It wasn't the usual chaos of explosions or accidental falls, but a productive, well-oiled machine centered around the low table where Yuuki Rito, famous in the world as the breakout mangaka Hoshino Ryūto, sat with a stack of freshly printed books.
"It's here." Rito breathed, picking up the top volume.
The cover was glossy and vibrant, featuring a spiky-haired Saiyan screaming in rage.
Dragon Ball Z, Volume 1.
"It looks amazing, Rito-kun!" Haruna beamed from her spot on the sofa. She was holding a red pen, diligently proofreading the manuscript for the next chapter. Her glasses slid down her nose slightly. "The printing quality is perfect. And the shading on Vegeta looks really intense."
"It's going to be huge," Rito agreed, a shy but proud smile spreading across his face. "The Dragon Ball anime adaptation just started airing, and now the Z manga is launching... it feels unreal."
"Thanks to Mikan." Rito added, smiling at his sister.
Mikan was sitting next to him, her laptop open. She was typing furiously, managing his schedule with the terrifying efficiency of a seasoned editor.
"You have a deadline on Tuesday, a meeting with the anime producer on Thursday, and Run-san needs you to approve the promotional art for the opening theme." Mikan listed without looking up. "Also, your royalty check cleared. We can afford the good beef tonight."
"Yay! Good beef!" Lala cheered. She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by a mountain of fan letters. Next to her hummed a strange, pink machine with multiple mechanical arms. "And look! My Auto-Sort-kun is working perfectly! It's organizing all the fan mail by 'Love Confession', 'Fan Art', and 'Weird Stuff'!"
"Most of it is weird stuff," Run's voice chimed in from the tablet propped up on the table. She was in a dressing room somewhere, getting her hair done for a show. "But the buzz is real, Rito-kun! Everyone in the industry is talking about Dragon Ball Z. They say it's going to change shonen manga forever!"
Rito rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. Even with his meta knowledge, seeing the physical proof of his success, and seeing the people he loved working so hard to support him, was overwhelming.
"I couldn't do it without you guys." Rito said honestly.
"We know." Sachie grinned from under the table.
Rito jumped. "Sachie-chan?! Mami-chan?!"
The two elementary schoolers crawled out from under the kotatsu table where they had been napping. Sachie looked sleepy but smug. Mami was holding onto Rito's ankle.
"We're the Moral Support Team." Sachie declared, resting her chin on Rito's knee. "Drawing is hard work. You need relaxation."
"I was massaging your calf." Mami added quietly, her face pink. "It was tense."
Rito sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. This was his life now. A chaotic, crowded, noisy life filled with deadlines, aliens, and girls who had claimed pieces of his soul.
And he wouldn't trade it for anything.
Ding-Dong.
The doorbell rang. It wasn't the rapid-fire pressing of a delivery guy or the hesitant ring of a neighbour. It was a single, solid, authoritative chime.
The room went quiet.
"I'll get it." Mikan said, standing up.
She walked to the entryway.
Rito heard the door open, a deep voice speak, and Mikan's polite but guarded response.
"Rito," Mikan called out from the hall. "It's for you. And Lala-san."
Rito stood up, a strange feeling settling in his gut. He walked to the hallway, Lala bouncing along behind him.
Standing in the genkan, looking unusually serious in his full armour, was Zastin.
"Rito-dono, Lala-sama." Zastin bowed deeply. "Forgive the intrusion on a Sunday. But we need to talk."
…
The atmosphere in the living room shifted instantly. The manuscripts were moved aside. The fan mail was pushed into a corner.
Rito sat at the head of the table. Mikan sat on his right, pouring tea with practiced ease. Lala sat on his left, looking curious but sensing the mood. The other girls, Haruna, Sachie, Mami, sat quietly in the background, watching.
Zastin took a sip of the tea. "Excellent as always, Mikan-dono."
"Thank you." Mikan said coolly. "So? What's this about? Did my brother accidentally declare war on another planet again?"
"Not exactly." Zastin said, setting the cup down. He looked at Rito. "It is about the lack of war."
Rito blinked. "Lack of war?"
"Rito-dono," Zastin began, his voice grave. "You are engaged to the First Princess of Deviluke. You have publicly declared a relationship with a Memorzean Royal Idol. You have gathered a harem of Earthlings. By all accounts... you should be drowning in challengers."
Rito frowned. He had thought about this. In his "Dream Memories", he was constantly attacked by suitors. But in this timeline, aside from the initial skirmishes with Lala's guards, Zastin, Ren and the paparazzi coming after them, it had been suspiciously quiet.
"I thought it was because they gave up." Rito said.
"Some indeed give up," Zastin acknowledged. "But it was more of a political situation. You created a deadlock."
He used a finger to draw a circle on the table.
"Deviluke is the strongest military power in the galaxy. Memorze is the strongest cultural and economic power. By claiming both Lala-sama and Run-dono... you quite frankly… terrified everyone. To attack you was to declare war on two superpowers simultaneously. Most suitors, even the brave ones, weren't stupid enough to risk annihilation."
Lala beamed. "See? The Harem Plan works! It's super safe!"
"It was safe." Zastin corrected her. He leaned forward, his expression darkening. "But fear fades, Lala-sama. Whereas greed does not, it always remains."
"What do you mean?" Rito asked.
"Initially, the suitors were intimidated," Zastin explained. "But much time has passed. They see you living peacefully on Earth. They see you happy. And the fear is being replaced by envy. The prize, becoming the King of Deviluke which will also make them the Ruler of the Galaxy or even just becoming the King of Memorze, is simply too great to ignore."
Zastin looked Rito in the eye.
"The hope is rekindling among the galaxy's warriors. They believe that if they strike now, before your power is fully consolidated, they might have a chance. The political deadlock is breaking, and the Freelancers are being mobilized."
"Freelancers?" Haruna whispered from the sofa.
"Contractual assassins," Zastin clarified grimly. "Mercenaries. People who don't care about politics or treaties. They only care about the reputation and money they'll get for taking down the 'Harem King'."
The room went dead silent.
Rito looked at his hands. He looked at Mikan, whose face had gone pale. He looked at Lala, who had stopped smiling.
He knew this was coming. His "Future Knowledge" had warned him about these, mainly Yami. He knew that she was also among the first wave.
Rito took a deep breath. He didn't panic, nor did he tremble.
"Alright." Rito said.
Zastin blinked. "Alright?"
"I expected this." Rito lied smoothly. "I knew this peace wouldn't last forever. If they want to come... let them come."
He looked at his family, Mikan, Lala, Haruna, Sachie, Mami, and Run who was not present there.
"I'm not the same guy I was when you first crashed in my tub, Zastin." Rito said, his voice steady. "I've been training. I've been preparing. I'll protect them."
Zastin stared at him for a long moment. Then, a small, respectful smile touched the swordsman's lips.
"You never seize to awe me, Rito-dono," Zastin said, standing up. "I will station my men around the perimeter, but I must warn you about one thing. The first one... she is already here."
"She?" Lala asked.
"A legendary assassin." Zastin said, putting on his helmet. "They call her Golden Darkness."
*****
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