Relaxed

By the time they arrived at Chase's apartment, he was more tired from the back-and-forth than the shopping itself. Diana hadn't bought much—just a few essentials and the tech she'd been eyeing—but carrying the bags still felt like more effort than it should have. When the driver offered to help, Diana dismissed him with a single curt wave, leaving Chase to haul everything up to the apartment.

Once inside, he dropped the bags onto the counter with a soft thud, slipped off his sneakers, and neatly lined them up on the shoe rack. Without another word, he flopped onto the couch, limbs sprawled every which way.

"Finally back home," he murmured into the cushion, his voice muffled by the fabric.

The faint rustling of plastic and cardboard told him Diana was already unpacking, her focus likely on the shiny new tablet she'd picked out. Sure enough, when Chase cracked open one eye, he caught a glimpse of her carefully peeling back the packaging, her silver eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Now that I think about it," he said, voice heavy with exhaustion, "how are we gonna get all this stuff to your room?"

Diana froze mid-motion and turned to him, tilting her head slightly like a confused cat. "It can stay here," she said, as if the answer were the most obvious thing in the world.

Her words didn't fully register at first. Chase blinked, waiting for his tired brain to process them. Then, with a groan, he lifted his head off the couch. "Wait, what?"

"I said it can stay here," she repeated. "Why move it?"

It wasn't the words themselves that threw him—it was the casual, matter-of-fact way she said them, as if they were a perfectly logical conclusion. For a moment, Chase debated arguing but quickly realized he didn't even know where to start. He sat up, rubbing his face.

"This is my apartment," he said, dragging the words out slowly. "You can't just—"

"Why are you asking these questions?" Diana cut in, finally looking up from her tablet with a faintly annoyed expression. "Didn't I tell you earlier? You're mine now. That means everything you own is mine too."

Chase froze. His brain replayed her words, trying to make sense of them.

"You're… I'm… what?"he asked, his voice teetering between disbelief and sheer exhaustion.

"You're mine," she said again, as if repeating it would somehow make it less absurd. "I thought we already established this."

"We didn't establish anything!" Chase shot back, staring at her like she'd grown a second head. "I'm not—people don't just—" He gestured vaguely, the words refusing to come together. "You can't just decide I belong to you!"

"Why not?"

"Because that's not how people work!"

Diana didn't even flinch at his outburst. Instead, she turned her attention back to her tablet, her fingers gliding over the screen like this was just a normal conversation. "I don't see the problem," she said.

"Of course you don't," Chase muttered, dragging a hand down his face. "You're not the one being claimed like a stray dog."

Diana shot him a sidelong glance. "I wouldn't claim a dog," she said matter-of-factly.

"That's not the—" Chase cut himself off, realizing how pointless it was to argue. He let out a long, defeated sigh and slumped back onto the couch. "Unbelievable."

"You'll get used to it," Diana said, her tone so confident it sounded more like a promise than a suggestion.

Chase stared at her for a long moment before shaking his head. What have I gotten myself into?

Before Chase could think further, Diana handed him the tablet, already on the account creation screen. She didn't say a word, just stared at him expectantly.

He took the tablet reluctantly, letting out a quiet sigh as he got to work. First, he created an account ID for her that could be used across all her new devices. Then, he downloaded an anime streaming app and logged in with his own account. Once everything was ready, he handed the tablet back to her.

"So, are you going back to your dorm tonight, at least?" he asked, watching her skim through the apps on the screen.

"Why? Are you going?" she replied, not even looking up.

Chase sighed, earning himself a sharp glare from Diana. Still, he pressed on. "Your roommate is probably worried since you disappeared out of nowhere."

"She'll see me tomorrow," Diana said dismissively, her tone making it clear she considered the matter settled.

Realizing there was no point in arguing, Chase dropped the subject. He stood up and started gathering the rest of her new devices to set them up. Starting with the phone, he linked it to the tablet using the same account ID he had created. Next, he moved on to the laptop, syncing it as well. The process was quicker than he expected, but the whole ordeal had left him both hungry and exhausted.

Deciding he didn't have the energy to cook, Chase headed to the fridge and pulled out the salad he'd made the day before. He grabbed a plate and served himself a portion. Just as he was about to put the container back, he noticed Diana staring at his plate with an almost predatory intensity.

With a resigned sigh, he grabbed a fork, set it on his plate, and handed it to her without a word. Then, he made another plate for himself, shaking his head slightly as he returned to the couch.

Chase thought he had dealt with enough of Diana's antics for the day. Handing her the plate, he focused on eating his salad while launching a game on his phone to complete his daily challenges. Diana, meanwhile, watched her anime while eating.

Surprisingly, the salad turned out to be her favorite dish he'd made so far. She hadn't expected much from something as simple as a salad, but it tasted leagues better than anything she'd had before. Without realizing it, she finished her plate. Annoyed that it was gone, she glanced at Chase to ask for more, but her attention was quickly drawn to the screen of his phone.

The vibrant characters and their fluid movements captivated her. She couldn't believe mortals were capable of creating something so intricate and entertaining. Intrigued, she leaned in closer without realizing how close she had gotten.

"What is this?" Diana asked, her silver eyes fixed on the phone. Her voice startled Chase, especially when he realized their faces were almost touching.

Jumping slightly, he scolded her, "Stop sneaking up on me!"

"I didn't sneak," she replied, her tone casual. "I just moved closer. You were so focused on this that you didn't notice me."

Chase sighed, exasperated but too tired to argue. "It's a video game," he explained. "Another form of entertainment, like anime, but more interactive."

Diana's eyes lit up. "I want it. Can you put it on this?" she asked, pointing at her tablet.

Chase hesitated. He debated whether it was a good idea. Ultimately, he decided it might humble her a bit when she inevitably lost repeatedly. After finishing his quest, he took her tablet and downloaded the game for her.

Diana stared at the screen, watching the progress bar creep forward as the game downloaded. It was a rather large mobile game, so it was taking longer than she anticipated. With a huff of impatience, she shifted her attention back to her plate, suddenly remembering her original reason for looking at Chase.

"Can I have some more?" she asked, holding up her empty plate.

Chase sighed but didn't protest. He took her plate and stood up, heading back to the fridge to serve her another helping. He didn't really mind, but at this rate, he thought, she'd eat him out of house and home.

As he made her plate, his thoughts wandered. Diana wasn't entirely bad to have around. Sure, she was frustrating, and her confidence often bordered on arrogance, but she had a way of making life... interesting. Her childlike curiosity and blunt remarks kept things from feeling dull. He chuckled quietly at the thought, earning him a strange look from Diana, who had turned to glance his way.

"What are you laughing at?" she asked, her silver eyes narrowing slightly.

"Nothing," Chase said, waving her off. She gave him a skeptical look but didn't press further, her focus quickly returning to the tablet as the game's startup sound rang out, signaling it was ready.

He returned to the couch and handed her the freshly filled plate. "If you're really going to be staying here," he began, "you'll need a key. But also, you're going to have to help me cook. You eat a lot, so it's only fair. I'll even let you pick what we make sometimes."

Diana glanced at him briefly but said nothing, too engrossed in the game to give a proper response. Chase shook his head slightly and added, "You don't have to worry about cleaning, though. I'll take care of that."

He thought to himself, Honestly, I doubt she'd do a better job than me anyway. It's safer if I just handle it.

Diana gave a small nod, her attention still glued to the screen as she explored the game. Chase couldn't help but smirk at her focus. It was like watching a kid with a new toy—both amusing and oddly endearing.

Chase glanced at the time and sighed. Dinner would need to happen soon, but after the day he'd had, he wasn't eager to spend hours in the kitchen. He pulled out his phone and opened a grocery delivery app, his mind already gravitating toward comfort food.

Burgers and fries sound good, he thought, scrolling through the options. He added ground beef to the cart, followed by burger buns, slices of cheddar cheese, lettuce, onions, and bacon. He made sure to include a bag of russet potatoes for the fries, pausing briefly to picture the sizzling, golden result.

Once he'd locked down the dinner essentials, Chase let himself indulge a little, browsing for snacks. Might as well stock up while I'm at it, he reasoned, adding a variety of chips, a pack of hard cookies, and a couple of bottles of soda. He rounded it all out with a 24-pack of water bottles, his practical side making a rare appearance.

With a satisfied sigh, he hit the order button, watching as the confirmation page popped up. At least groceries are sorted, he thought, tossing his phone onto the couch beside him. Feeling the weight of the day settle into his shoulders, he turned on the TV and navigated to the anime he'd been following.

The vivid colors and familiar opening theme filled the screen as the episode started. Chase leaned back, already absorbed in the unfolding story. It didn't take long for Diana to notice.

"What are you watching?" she asked, glancing up from her tablet. Her eyes narrowed as she caught a snippet of dialogue. "Wait, that's not English. Why are you watching it in Japanese?"

Chase smirked, her confusion drawing a low chuckle from him. "That's a little hard to explain," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "But trust me—it's just better this way."

Diana furrowed her brows, clearly unconvinced. "But you don't even speak Japanese. How can it be better if you don't understand the language?"

Chase gave a knowing smile. "You read the subtitles. The words at the bottom of the screen."

Diana blinked at him, her expression a mixture of disbelief and skepticism. "So, you're telling me you watch the show and read the words at the same time? What if there's a fight scene? Wouldn't you miss something important?"

Her genuine curiosity made Chase laugh, the sound warm and unguarded. "It's a skill," he said, his tone teasing but fond. "You get used to it after a while. And once you do, you realize how much better it is—the voice acting, the emotion, the way it matches the animation. It's worth the effort."

Diana huffed, still unsure if she believed him. Her gaze flicked back to the screen, where a particularly stunning fight sequence unfolded. The animation was fluid and dynamic, the characters moving with an intensity that left her momentarily speechless.

"Well," she said with a huff, crossing her arms but not looking away, "this anime does look good."

Chase grinned at her reaction, clearly amused.

Diana didn't say anything else, her attention now fully on the screen. Chase chuckled softly, letting her settle into the world of anime at her own pace.

Chase glanced over at Diana, noting that she had barely finished the tutorial of the game. Her tablet now rested on her lap as her attention was entirely absorbed by the anime playing on the TV. He couldn't help but shake his head slightly, amused.

Her attention span is terrible, he thought. You'd expect a godly being to be able to focus on multiple things at once. The thought lingered, but then he reconsidered. Although… she's experiencing life as a human right now. 

The corners of his mouth twitched upward in a small, knowing smile. It was oddly endearing, watching someone as formidable as her struggle with such mundane things. For all her divine origins, Diana was beginning to feel more and more like a regular person—a frustrating, curious, and occasionally entertaining person.

Chase turned his focus to the episode, ensuring he wouldn't miss anything important. When it finally ended, he grabbed the remote and switched to another anime.

"What are you doing?" Diana asked, her silver eyes narrowing.

"That was the end," Chase replied casually, not looking away from the screen.

"Oh! So you're going to the second season now?" she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

Chase chuckled softly. "No, that was it."

Her excitement vanished, replaced by confusion and growing frustration. "What do you mean, that was it? How can something so exciting just… end like that?" she exclaimed, her hands clenched into fists.

"It's not completely over," Chase said, trying to keep his tone calm. "There's more coming, but I have to wait until next week for the next episode."

Her expression shifted to outright disbelief. "You have to wait for the next episode? Why would someone make you wait? That's ridiculous! Who's responsible for this? I want the next episode now!" she demanded, her tone edging on imperious.

Chase couldn't help but laugh a little, though he quickly raised a hand to placate her. "A lot of anime comes out weekly. The studio needs time to animate each episode. But hey, if you're really that interested, you could start the show from the beginning. It'll take you a while to catch up."

Diana frowned but seemed to consider the idea. "How long would it take to catch up?"

Chase hesitated, but then his grin widened. "Well… there's also a way to find out what happens next, but you don't need to worry about that yet."

She raised an eyebrow, suspicious but still intrigued. "How many seasons are there so far?"

"For this type of anime, you go by arcs or just the total number of episodes," he explained.

Diana tilted her head. "Arcs? Just tell me how many episodes there are in total."

Chase bit back a smirk, deciding to drop the bombshell as nonchalantly as possible. "A little over a thousand."

Her jaw dropped. "A thousand?" she repeated in a near-whisper, her voice cracking slightly. "That's… that's like… fifty seasons!" She stared at him in utter shock, her mind clearly struggling to process the information.

Chase burst out laughing at her reaction, his shoulders shaking as he leaned back on the couch. "At least your math is solid," he said, still grinning.

Diana's eyes darted back and forth as if trying to make sense of it all. "A thousand episodes," she muttered again, her tone a mix of awe and despair. "Mortals really have the patience to sit through all that?"

"Some of us do," Chase said with a wink, clearly enjoying her astonishment.

Diana picked up her tablet again, her enthusiasm for watching anime apparently gone. Instead, she reopened the game she'd been playing earlier, her silver eyes focused on the screen with quiet determination.

Chase watched her for a moment, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Between the two, he figured she'd catch up to him in the anime faster than she'd ever progress in the game. Even if she figured out how to pay-to-win, all she'd get were in-game credits. The luck in that game was notoriously awful, and she'd quickly learn the hard way that those credits were better saved for revives rather than wasted on impulsive pulls.

Not to mention, she'd still have to grind for materials to upgrade her characters—and that was before even considering the steep learning curve to get good enough to handle the PvP mode.

I could tell her all of this now, Chase thought, leaning back against the couch. But honestly? She needs the character development. Besides…

Chase glanced at Diana from the corner of his eye, noting the concentrated but slightly clueless expression on her face as she navigated the game's menus. A small, mischievous grin tugged at his lips. I kind of want to see her frustrated face when she realizes how much work it'll take to catch up.

Shaking his head, he turned back to his phone and loaded up the game again to finish his daily routine. In the process, he managed to join a new alliance—a surprising turn since he hadn't expected to find one so soon. Once he wrapped up his tasks, he queued for a quick PvP match, already anticipating the fast pace.

Between rounds, he noticed Diana struggling to pick a starting character. He leaned over briefly to help her. "Go with them" he suggested, chuckling to himself. He didn't bother explaining that two-stars were practically obsolete. For a beginner like Diana, the difference wouldn't matter though.

By the time his match ended, the notification for his grocery delivery popped up. He got up to retrieve the bags, setting them on the counter before turning to Diana. "What time do you want dinner?" he asked, leaning casually against the kitchen island.

She paused, tilting her head in thought. "Soon," she said finally, her curiosity evident as she added, "but what are you making?"

"Something simple," he replied with a shrug. Without missing a beat, he tossed her a small bag of chips from one of the grocery bags.

Diana caught the bag with surprising ease, examining it briefly before opening it. She seemed to recognize it and began munching on the chips without hesitation. Chase watched her for a moment, mildly impressed by how quickly she'd adapted to snacks. At least this was one thing he wouldn't have to explain.

Satisfied with her answer, he decided to relax for a bit before starting dinner. He sank back onto the couch and closed his eyes, letting out a small sigh. Just a short nap, he told himself, already feeling the day's events catching up to him.