“Into the Abyss”

Lily sat cross-legged on her futon, staring at the glossy cover in her lap like it held the meaning of life. The book—her first manga ever—gleamed under the soft glow of her bedside lamp, taunting her with its unreadable mystery.

Colossal Titans: Humanity's Last Stand.

The title alone screamed epicness. Koji had basically shoved it into her hands back at the manga store, eyes sparkling like a proud father introducing his child to their first bike. "You HAVE to read this," he had said, his voice dead serious. "It will change your life."

But now, as she sat there, staring at the pages in utter confusion, Lily had one thought.

"How the hell do you even READ this thing?"

The struggle was real.

First, she had tried left to right—her natural reading instinct—but it made absolutely zero sense. The dialogue was jumping around, people were answering questions before they were even asked, and suddenly a character was dead before she even realized they had been in danger.

"Wait—WHAT?!"

She flipped back a few pages, furrowing her brows. Maybe it was just this scene? Maybe she had skipped something important?

But no. No matter how many times she reread it, it still made no damn sense.

So, plan B: She flipped it upside down.

… No. That made it way worse.

Lily groaned, dramatically falling onto her futon. "I'm an idiot."

Had she somehow bought a defective copy? Was there a special setting she needed to activate? Like… Manga Mode?

Then, like a ghost from the past, Koji's voice echoed in her mind.

"Manga is read right to left, dumbass. Don't be a clueless gaijin about it."

Lily sat up in horror.

"OH MY GOD."

She had been reading it wrong the whole time.

She grabbed the book, holding it with both hands like a sacred artifact, and carefully opened it from the correct side.

Right to left.

… Oh.

OH.

Now everything made sense.

The flow of dialogue. The action sequences. The dramatic pauses.

Lily's heart raced as she flipped through the pages, this time actually understanding what was happening. The tension. The characters. The absurdly detailed fight scenes.

"THIS. IS. AWESOME."

She was hooked.

Her eyes darted across the panels, absorbing every single moment. The Colossal Titan appeared in all its horrifying, skinless glory, towering over the walls of the city. The hero's mother was eaten in the most traumatizing way possible. Blood. Screams. Anguish.

Lily slapped a hand over her mouth.

"OH. MY. GOD."

The main character—who was way too angry for a teenager, honestly—declared his unwavering vengeance against the Titans. His best friend stood beside him, a quiet genius with deadpan sarcasm. And then there was the girl—a total badass who could probably punch a Titan to death.

Lily was living.

She had never felt so emotionally invested in something so fast.

This was dangerous.

Minutes passed. No, hours. She barely noticed the time slipping away.

Page after page, chapter after chapter. She was obsessed.

Until—

She reached the last page.

She blinked.

Then flipped the page again.

And again.

And again.

Nothing.

"… No. No, no, no, NO."

Her soul left her body.

"YOU CAN'T LEAVE IT THERE!"

She frantically checked the back cover, hoping—praying—that there was some hidden bonus chapter she had missed.

Nothing.

Lily screamed into her pillow.

"THIS IS WORSE THAN DEATH."

She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling in complete and utter despair.

This wasn't just a book anymore.

This was her new reality.

And she had only just begun.

Lily was still processing everything she had just read. The sheer EMOTIONAL DAMAGE this book had caused her was… overwhelming. And she hadn't even reached the really bad parts yet—Koji had been all too happy to spoil her on that.

With a deep sigh, she pressed the open manga against her face, inhaling deeply.

The scent of freshly printed pages, slightly crisp and a little inky, filled her senses.

"Oh my god" she mumbled into the paper. "Why does this smell so good?"

Maybe she was losing her mind.

Maybe she had officially crossed the line into full otaku territory. Or maybe—just maybe—Claire had been right all along.

"Just give manga a chance, Lily! You'll see—it's addictive!"

Lily groaned, flipping onto her stomach and clutching the book to her chest. "Damn it, Claire… I should've listened to you sooner."

She turned her head, staring at the manga beside her, then hesitantly brought it closer, giving it another sniff.

Yep. Still smelled amazing.

This was it. There was no going back.

She had officially fallen into the manga abyss.

She reached for her phone.

Lily's fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she finally typed out a message.

Lily: Claire. I hate you. And I love you. But mostly I hate you. You were right. Manga is addicting.

She hesitated before adding another line.

Lily: And it smells really good?? Like why did no one tell me that?

The message bubble turned blue, and she tossed her phone onto the bed beside her with a sigh, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling.

She felt full. Not from food, but from emotions. Too many of them, all swirling in her chest in a way that made her feel heavy and restless at the same time.

Before she could stop herself, her fingers moved automatically, swiping over to Instagram.

She knew she shouldn't.

She knew exactly what she was about to do to herself.

And yet…

The familiar feed loaded, bright and blindingly Western compared to her current life.

The first post was from Mia.

A picture of a Starbucks cup, perfectly aesthetic, sitting on their usual table back in Seattle.

Her stomach twisted.

The next post? Joshua and Mike at the field, messing around with a football like nothing had changed.

Then Claire, posing in front of a mirror with the caption: "Missing my bestie 🩷 But also thriving ✨"

Lily swallowed, her throat tightening.

It was so easy to imagine herself there. She should be there. She should be rolling her eyes at Mia for posting yet another Starbucks photo. She should be laughing at Joshua and Mike, teasing them for being so American with their football obsession. She should be in that mirror selfie with Claire, arms wrapped around her, grinning like an idiot.

Instead, she was in Seon.

Seon.

A place that, for the past six months, had felt like a dream she still hadn't fully woken up from.

It wasn't bad. Really, it wasn't.

The city was beautiful in a way that made her stomach flutter when she walked through it at night, the streets glowing under soft, golden lights. There were convenience stores everywhere, something that had charmed her immediately.

The food was amazing, even the simplest things like onigiri from the kombini.

And, despite everything, she had Koji.

But…

Seattle was home.

The elite private school she had attended all her life, the one where everyone was someone. Rich kids, business heirs, future politicians—it was intense, rigorous, and full of unspoken rules.

But it was familiar.

There were no uniforms, just a strict expectation of elegance and composure. Frappuccinos in the morning were a ritual.

No one bothered her. No bullies. No ridiculous nicknames like Piggy Porky or Princess.

For the first time in months, she felt out of place in her own skin.

A tear slipped down her cheek, silent and unbidden. She swiped it away quickly. God, she hated crying.

She wasn't even sure if it was actual sadness or just overstimulation. Maybe she was tired. Maybe it was the weight of everything crashing down on her at once.

Maybe it was the fact that Seon still wasn't home.

Not really. Not yet.

She took a deep breath, pressing the phone against her chest and closing her eyes.

It would get better.

It had to.

The distant sound of the front door creaking open made Lily jolt slightly, her body still curled up on the bed. The soft thud of shoes being lazily kicked off, the muffled rustling of a coat being discarded—she didn't even have to check the time to know it was late.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her phone as she listened.

And then, the telltale clink of keys being dropped onto the entryway table—too loudly, a clear sign that Kenjiro hadn't exactly come home in the most… pristine state.

Lily exhaled, rolling onto her stomach, burying her face into the pillow.

Great.

She should've expected it. It wasn't always like this, but… it happened. Her father, despite all his larger-than-life personality, his worldwide recognition, and his stupidly talented eye for photography, was still just a man. A man who had lost the love of his life. A man who worked himself into exhaustion.

And a man who, when overwhelmed, often sought solace in one too many drinks.

You could've just gone straight to bed, Dad.

She groaned into the pillow as she heard him shuffle through the hallway, clearly trying and failing to be quiet.

"Tsk. That kid. She better not still be awake," Kenjiro muttered to himself, his voice slightly slurred but still full of that signature gruffness he always carried.

Lily rolled her eyes, pressing her face deeper into the pillow.

You're the one making all the noise, old man.

There was a pause.

Then the unmistakable sound of a body heavily slumping against the wall.

Her head snapped up instantly.

Was he okay?

Lily sat up quickly, swinging her legs over the bed, her earlier melancholy momentarily forgotten.

A sigh. A long, exhausted sigh. Then a soft chuckle.

"Ahhh… I worked so damn hard today. I'm a genius. No, really. A living legend."

Lily exhaled through her nose, shaking her head.

Here we go.

Drunk Kenjiro was a peculiar version of Kenjiro. Loud, philosophical, sometimes a little too honest, and—above all—dramatic.

But he was never mean. Never aggressive, never reckless to the point where she feared him. No, he was just… Kenjiro. A little ridiculous, a little annoying, and far too self-congratulatory for his own good.

Lily got up, silently opening the bedroom door, peeking out into the dim hallway.

And there he was.

Slumped against the wall near the living room entrance, still in his stupidly fashionable yet slightly disheveled blazer, a cigarette tucked behind his ear, and an expression of absolute exhaustion on his face. His fingers ran through his graying black hair, and despite the fact that he looked like a mess, Lily felt a small pang of affection tug at her chest.

This was her dad. A pain in the ass, sure. But still her dad.

"You're home late."

Kenjiro's head snapped up, blinking blearily at her. Then, as if nothing had happened, he flashed her his signature smirk.

"Oh? My little Lilian is still awake? Tsk, tsk. Don't you have school tomorrow? You're gonna get wrinkles if you don't sleep early, you know." Lily folded her arms, raising an unimpressed brow. "It's Saturday, dumbass."

Kenjiro gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest as if she had mortally wounded him. "Hah?! You're calling your own father a dumbass? What kind of rebellious phase is this?!"

Lily rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips.

"You're drunk."

Kenjiro scoffed, pushing himself up off the wall. "Absolutely not. I'm completely fine. A master of balance, coordination, and raw talent."

And then—he stumbled.

Lily sighed. "Yeah. Sure. Totally fine."

Kenjiro waved a hand dismissively. "Don't question your father's abilities, Lily! I could still beat you in a race, a fight, and a photography contest all at once."

She raised a brow. "You think you could win a fight against me?" Kenjiro grinned, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Kid, I raised you. If you win, that means I win too." Lily stared. Then let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "That doesn't even make sense."

Kenjiro placed a hand on her head, ruffling her hair affectionately before sighing dramatically again, flopping onto the couch. "Ahhh, my genius is wasted in this household. Wasted, I tell you."

Lily plopped down on the armrest beside him, studying his face for a moment.

He looked exhausted.

Not just physically, but… in a way that settled deep.

Her eyes flickered to the cigarette tucked behind his ear. Kenjiro rarely smoked. Not around her, at least. But the fact that it was there at all meant his stress levels were higher than usual.

She hesitated before speaking. "So… work stuff?"

Kenjiro exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temples. "Yeah. Lost an assistant. Need to replace them. Whole thing's a mess."

Lily perked up slightly. "I can do it!"

Kenjiro's eyes snapped open immediately. "Absolutely not."

Lily pouted. "Why not? I'm smart, I'm organized, and I know how to hold a camera—"

"Because," Kenjiro interrupted, "I need someone available in the mornings. You have school. End of story."

Lily huffed, crossing her arms. "So unfair."

Kenjiro reached over, poking her cheek. "That's life, baby girl." Kenjiro stretched out on the couch, rubbing a hand over his face before letting out a long exhale. "Anyway, no need for you to worry your pretty little head about it, kid. I found an assistant."

Lily blinked. "…Wait, really?"

Kenjiro smirked, tilting his head toward her. "Yeah. Some kid from the bar tonight. Seemed capable enough, didn't talk much, but that's honestly a bonus."

Lily narrowed her eyes. "…You hired someone at a bar?"

Kenjiro grinned, throwing an arm over the back of the couch. "Hey, don't judge my methods. I have an eye for talent, okay? And besides, you're one to talk—didn't you say you made a new friend by defending some kid from bullies?"

Lily huffed, crossing her arms. "That's different."

Kenjiro snickered, patting her head. "Same energy, though."

She rolled her eyes but didn't move away from his touch. "So… you're really okay now?" Kenjiro tilted his head, studying her for a moment before his expression softened. "Yeah, kid. I'm okay."

Lily held his gaze for a second longer before nodding, scooting a little closer, letting her head rest lightly against his shoulder. Kenjiro chuckled, wrapping an arm around her in a lazy hug. "What's this? My teenage daughter voluntarily giving me affection? Is this a sign of the apocalypse?"

Lily let out a small, breathy laugh. "Shut up."

Kenjiro grinned. "Love you, kid."

Lily smiled softly, closing her eyes for a second. "Love you too, Dad."

And for a moment, it was just them.

No stress. No school drama. No confusing messages from unknown numbers.

Just the warmth of home.

Her Dad yawned, stretching his arms before patting her head lightly. "Alright, go to bed. You look dead inside."

Lily gave him a deadpan look. "I wonder where I got that from."

Kenjiro barked out a laugh. "Tch, cheeky little brat."

But his voice was fond.

And as Lily finally got up, making her way toward the stairs, she couldn't help but glance back at him.

Her dad.

Her dumb, ridiculous, genius dad.

She knew she'd have to keep an eye on him.

But for now, she let it go.

Because even if things weren't perfect, even if they were both still adjusting, at the very least…

They still had each other.