I woke up to the smell of miso soup and rain on concrete.
Mochi was already awake, sitting on my chest, staring at me with those classic Shiba "you're late for breakfast" eyes.
The tail was still curled around us like a fluffy seatbelt, but it had loosened a little during the night.
Still zero wags. Still on vacation.
I sat up slowly.
The fake Tokyo was still here.
The fake sun was rising over fake skyscrapers.
A fake salaryman walked past with a real yawn.
Everything felt… stable.
For the first time since reincarnation, the System didn't scream at me the top of its lungs the second I opened my eyes.
Just a small, calm blue box floating in the corner of my vision:
[Good morning, Karna.
Coffee is ready on the table.
Take your time.]
There was an actual cup of convenience-store coffee on the park bench beside me.
Still hot.
Still perfect.
I picked it up with shaking hands.
Mochi hopped down and trotted toward a small street-side takoyaki stand that definitely hadn't been there yesterday.
The old man behind the counter waved.
"Oi, Hiroshi-kun! Your usual?"
I froze.
He knew my old name.
I walked over like I was in a dream.
The old man slid a paper boat of six takoyaki across the counter without asking for money.
"On the house. You look like you needed a normal morning."
I stared at the food.
My throat closed.
I managed a croaky "Arigato gozaimasu."
Mochi stole one takoyaki and ran.
I didn't even chase him.
I just stood there crying into cheap street food while a fake city pretended I was still human.
That's when the tail finally moved.
Not a wag.
Just a single, slow curl around my ankle.
Like it was saying:
"I'm still here.
But I'll wait until you're ready."
I wiped my face with my sleeve.
"Okay," I whispered to it.
"Five more minutes of being nobody.
Then we'll figure out what comes next."
The tail squeezed once.
Gentle.
The System box updated, softer than I'd ever seen it:
[Five minutes granted.
Reality and Vritra are currently paused outside of time.
They will not interrupt.
Enjoy your breakfast.]
I sat on the curb with Mochi, sharing takoyaki under a fake sunrise.
No thrones.
No worshippers.
No cosmic wives trying to out-yandere each other.
Just a guy, his dog, and six balls of fried dough.
I think I understand now.
The tail didn't go on strike to punish me.
It went on strike to give me the one thing I actually asked for all those weeks ago:
A quiet morning where I could just pet a dog and not end the world doing it.
I finished the last takoyaki.
Mochi licked sauce off my fingers.
I looked at the tail.
"Ready when you are, bhai."
It uncurled from my ankle, stretched like a cat waking up, and gave one single, deliberate wag.
Not chaotic.
Not apocalyptic.
Just a wag.
[Tail Wag Count: 426]
[Mass Suggestion Injected (whisper mode): "Let him keep this morning forever if he wants it."]
The fake Tokyo shimmered, but didn't vanish.
Somewhere outside of time, I heard Vritra's voice, small and careful:
"Whenever you're ready, my lord.
We'll be here."
I stood up.
Mochi jumped into my arms.
The tail settled across my shoulders like a scarf.
I took one last look at the quiet city, then turned toward the light where the rest of existence was patiently waiting.
"Alright," I said.
"Let's go home.
But we're bringing the takoyaki stand with us."
The tail wagged once more.
Soft.
Happy.
And for the morning followed us, gently, like a promise instead of a cage.
To be continued…
(when we feel like it)
### End of Chapter Stats
Tail wags this chapter: 2 (both optional)
Breakfasts eaten: 1 perfect one
Apocalypses postponed: indefinitely
Karna's smile count: 1 (real)