The first thing I notice after waking from my slumber is that my headache is gone. Which is good, cause it means I won’t have to deal with it all day long.

The second thing I notice is that the bed I’m lying in is not mine, or at least not my usual one. Which is bad, cause it means everything that happened before wasn’t a dream.

A groan leaves my lips as I open my eyes to complete darkness and the smell of freshly washed sheets. Then I start to push myself up using my elbows, and the darkness turns to pillow with a white covering over it. I try to avoid putting any pressure on my bad leg as I turn myself over onto my back. Then I sit up and get a good look at the room I’ll be staying in for the next two years.

I was on a king sized single bed surrounded by walls that were painted a blinding white like everything else in this place. The monotone color scheme was broken by the polished brown wood desk in the corner to the left of the door, and the black and gold trunk next to it on the floor. Guessing that’s chest the Archangel was talking about. Meaning most, if not all, the money to my name is currently sitting in my room and completely open to anyone taking it without my knowledge.

Joy. At least there was a lock on it, so it wouldn’t be that easy.

The rest of the room is relatively unremarkable. There’s another door to my left that I assume leads to a closet, what looks like an off-white laundry basket for my clothes, and a single fan hanging from the ceiling with light bulbs in it. I turned around and saw a single closed window, the orange light of the afternoon sun filtering through the golden curtains around it.

Hmph. Place is nicer than I thought. Good to know that Moldo and Ramiel didn’t completely drop the ball on this whole thing. But as good as this place looks, it could use a...personal touch. And no time like the present to...fuck where’d I put my cane?

My head swivels around the place until my eyes lock onto the sight of my walking stick laying on the bright, brown carpet. I must’ve let it drop my hand in my hurry to sleep off this headache. And, of course, it was just far enough away that I would have to either get up and try to walk on my bad leg, or lean over and try to not fall over onto the floor. Just my luck.

With an annoyed sigh I scoot myself to the edge of the bed. I move both of my legs over to let my feet touch the floor. I’ve still got my shoes on, but I at least made sure to keep them off the bed. I count backwards from five before slowly pushing myself to my feet. I start with my good leg, putting most of the pressure on it. It goes smoothly and I carefully shift to doing the same with my left and-

A sharp, needle like pain shooting up my thigh into my spine forces me back into sitting on the edge of the bed. I grit my teeth in frustration while I shake my head. Looks like we’re going with Plan B then. I start leaning down, reaching towards the idle cane with my right hand as I go. I get about halfway to it when the door suddenly bursts open. My head swivels to see the absolute impossibility, Mako, standing in the doorway. One of her hands is on the door while her...tail is wagging up a storm.

“Mr. Crowley! Dinner’s...,” her words die as she see the predicament I’m currently in. Her flat...ears flop to the side as she tilts her head in confusion, “What are you doing?”

“Doing some morning exercises, what does it look like?” I roll my eyes before turning my attention back to my cane. Just...a bit...farther and I-

By the time I notice I’ve gone too far, it’s too late. I feel my weight fall from the bed and my vision shifts as I start hurtling towards the floor. I do what I can to turn to my side right side so it takes the brunt of the fall. I brace myself for when the feeling of soft carpet mixed with the hard floor beneath it, but it never comes. Instead, I feel someone grab me by my shoulder and pull me to my feet.

My rescuer is revealed to be Mako. She somehow managing to close the distance from the door to my side, grab me by my shoulder, then lift a fully grown man up with one hand. Her eyes are filled with worry as she stares at me, moving to put herself underneath my arm to hold me up. She asks me, “Are you ok, Mr. Crowley?! Are you hurt? Should I go get Amilia?”

“No, I’m fine,” I point towards the black, silver headed cane on the floor, “Just crouch down a bit so I can get my cane.”

She follows my finger and then my instructions. I swipe my cane up, it’s familiar material rubbing against my palm filling me a sense of confidence as I use it to stand up. Mako sees my posture change and moves out from under my arm. I straighten my clothes before turning to look at Mako. Here I notice that she’s pretty tall. The top of her head reaches up to my neck. I ask her, “I’m guessing you used that speed you mentioned earlier?”

She nodded her head with a smile, “Yep! I saw you were falling, so I dashed right to your side and helped you up!”

“Hmm,” is my only reply, “And what’d you come to tell me?”

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“Hmm? Oh, right!” her eyes widen with realization, “Aria wanted me to come get you! She made dinner and doesn’t want you to miss out.”

That’s surprising. Day’s not even over yet and the kids are inviting me to their table. At least I can say they’ve got a good sense for hospitality. I tap my cane against the floor and nod, “Well, I’m not one to say no to free food. Tell Aria I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

“Yes, sir!” Mako does a clumsy salute then leans forward while tilting the top of her head towards me. My brow raises in confusion as I watch her do...whatever it is she’s doing. Eventually, she straightens herself and turns to leave. As she skips towards the door I take notice of how her tail has stopped wagging. Wonder what that could mean.

Once she’s gone I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in. I have...so many questions about that girl. Least of which is how the heck does her power work? Maybe I can get the answers at the dinner table. The thought of food sends my stomach growling. Last time I ate was before I started packing for this little trip. That was this morning, and now it was between the afternoon and evening.

Before I head out though...

I turn to the corner I tossed my backpack into. It’s still there, water having dripped off it since I last had it. I walk over, open up the side pocket, pull out my, thankfully dry, filtered thermos, then head to the trunk. An iron key is sitting on top of it. I grab it, use it open the small lock on the front of the trunk, and push it open. Inside I find a white envelope that I’m guessing is filled with my “Solars”. I chuck my backpack in, making sure to hide the envelope beneath its bulk. Then I close and lock the trunk, while placing the key into an empty compartment on my cane. I’ll look into the envelope after I get something to eat, so my stomach isn’t bothering me while I count.

Cane in one hand, thermos in the other, I head out the door and down the stairs. As I hit the first floor the smell of cooked meat hit my nose. Raising an eyebrow I followed the smell towards where I guessed the kitchen would be. The sound of grease popping and meat sizzling in a pan hit my ears when I finally turned a corner into the archway that lead to the kitchen.

There I saw Aria, her ponytail gone and replaced with a hair net, apron hanging off her shoulder, as she stood in front of an oven with a spatula in one hand and pan in another. To her right was a plastic bowl filled...are those porkchops?

“Mr. Crowley, you’re here,” she says without looking at me, taking her hand on the pan and pointing towards the plastic bowl on the counter, “Would you mind taking that bowl and putting it on the table for everyone?”

My eyes go from the bowl further to the right where I saw a large, rectangular table where everyone else was already sitting down. All the kids had their eyes on me...at first. Then they shifted to the fried meat on the kitchen counter as I got closer to it. I raise an eyebrow while placing my thermos into the crook of my arm, grab the bowl, and head towards the table. Plates have already been set out for everyone, so I take a seat at one end of the table, which puts me in between Keiji and Kenji. Fitting I suppose.

I ignore the angry glare Keiji sends me and hold out the food for him to take. He scowls, before his hunger wins out and he takes two out of the bowl. One he places on his own plate, the other he hands off to his brother right across from him. The meek boy gently takes the porkchop out of his older brother’s hand, while I grab three out of the bowl for myself. Then I hand it to Keiji who proceeds to pass it to Amilia at his left.

Eventually, Aria joins us and we have a very quiet dinner. Which, in all honestly, I would’ve preferred. Quiet is better than all the brats yelling at each other and giving me another headache.

Unfortunately, Aria seemed keen on making sure I wasn’t that lucky.

“So, Mr. Crowley,” she begins after placing down her second porkchop.

I silently groan but reply, “Before you continue, let me be clear about something, you can all drop the ‘Mr. Crowley’ stuff. I’m not as old as I look...kind of.”

“How old are you anyway?” this came from Keiji who sent a suspicious frown my way.

“How old do you think I am?” I quickly realized I shouldn’t of said that when all the kids started to answer.

“About fifty,” Aria.

“Um...maybe fifty-three?” Amilia.

“Old as Lord Ramiel,” Keiji.

“Forty-five!” Mako, shouting this time.

I slowly turned to the only one who hadn’t answered, Kenji. He flinched away from my gaze, but I kept on him by asking, “Care to add your guess to this, kid?”

“Uh, ah, um, I...I don’t think it’s polite to guess...someone’s age,” the kid was so quiet I had to strain my ears to hear his whole answer. Then he put his head down to avoid everyone’s eyes being on him.

I just shook my head, questioning how someone so timid got to be a Chosen One. Then I turn back to the table with a shrug, “Well, sorry to disappoint but you’re all wrong. Though, you did get close Aria.”

“Really? Then how old are you?”

“Not telling.”

“But you we told you all our powers earlier!”

“Yeah, you did. Your point, boy?” I meet Keiji’s glare with one of my own. I was under no obligation to tell them anything I didn’t want to. This was a good chance to remind them of that.

“It’s ok, Keiji,” Aria’s gentle words made the young boy back down. Then she turned her attention to me, “Well then, Crowley, what will you tell us about yourself?”

“Don’t know. Why do I have to tell you anything?”

“Because it’s a good idea for the students to know who their new Caretaker is.”

.....What did she just say?

“I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?”

“You’re going to be our Caretaker. Didn’t Lord Ramiel tell you?” she tilts her head in genuine confusion at my confusion.

Meaning she is not joking.

....Motherfuckers.

“And, when you say Caretaker, you mean just someone who lives with you all in the same house, right?”

Her shaking her head kills my spirits even more, “Lord Ramiel said that, starting tomorrow, you would be in charge of the house and all of us. You’d watch the house while we’re at school, keep the fridge stocked, clean up the rooms, and we’d help you when we got home.”

“....So, let me get this straight. I’m supposed to be your surrogate parent?” I look around at the various faces at the table. All just as confused as me.

But not confused at the current circumstance.

But confused at the fact that I was confused.

Meaning everyone knew about this except for me.

My head hits the table, and plate in front of me, with a clank.