Just Another Day

"What if I have?"

Zazm's words hung in the air like a crack in reality itself.

Silence followed.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

The warmth in the dome dimmed as if the atmosphere itself recoiled.

Ai's eyes narrowed. She stared at Zazm, trying to read something—anything—behind that blank expression, those heavy silver eyes that refused to blink.

"You've really seen the future…?"

Zazm didn't look away.

Didn't even flinch.

He stared right into her eyes and repeated, tone flat, voice cold:

"What if I have?"

That response sent a chill through Ai's spine—not because of what it meant, but because of how casually he said it.

Like he was stating the weather.

Jahanox stood up abruptly, the legs of his crystal bench scraping the ground with a screech.

"What is all this supposed to mean?"

"What does 'what if I have' even mean?"

He stepped forward.

Zazm took a step toward him too, hands still in his coat pockets, hair falling over his face like static.

"You asked me if I've seen the future or not."

His voice was low.

Not defensive. Not threatening.

Just hollow.

Jahanox blinked, then clicked his tongue in frustration and backed off, slumping back onto the bench.

Minos scratched his head, clearly irritated now. He looked at Jahanox, then at Zazm.

"Okay, what was that all about?"

"Do you actually know the future or not?"

Zazm didn't respond.

Didn't look at him.

Didn't even move.

Miwa, Kiyomasa, and Jennie quickly followed, their voices overlapping, each trying to reach through the strange distance forming between them and the boy who once laughed with them.

"Come on, just say something. You can't drop that and then ghost us!"

"Zazm… please. If there's something we need to know…"

"W-we're all worried. Just talk to us…"

Still nothing.

He stood perfectly still, facing the crystalline wall of the dome like he didn't hear them.

Or maybe like he did.

And chose not to answer.

Ai clenched her fists. Her jaw tightened. She was seconds away from pressing again—

but then she stopped.

Maybe it wasn't worth it.

Or maybe… she already knew the answer.

Then Zazm moved.

Slowly.

He took one step forward, then another, his footsteps sounding too loud in the quiet.

And then he finally spoke.

"We're leaving this universe."

Everyone turned toward him.

"We're going to the universe where all the distortion began."

The words hit like a lightning bolt.

Jahanox's expression shifted. Miwa froze. Kiyomasa blinked in confusion.

Even Minos straightened up.

But it was Ai who spoke.

"How'd you find that universe so accurately?"

Zazm turned to face her.

He stared directly into her eyes, calm and expressionless.

And then, voice barely a whisper—cold and final—he replied:

"You already know."

No one heard it but Ai.

Because deep down…

She did.

And maybe that terrified her more than his answer.

Zazm didn't wait for questions.

Didn't explain.

Didn't look back.

He simply opened the portal with a swipe of his hand — the air ripping open like silk under pressure — and walked into the swirling void.

"I'm going ahead."

And then he was gone.

No hesitation.

No final glance.

Only silence left behind.

The portal flickered for a moment before stabilizing, humming quietly like it was waiting for them. Everyone else remained frozen, still reeling from the coldness that lingered in the space he'd just left behind.

---

Ai was the first to exhale.

She let out a small dry chuckle and lowered herself next to Jahanox, her arms hugging her knees.

"He used to be the one who showed up late just to say we should've gone ahead first…"

"Now he leaves before anyone even speaks."

Her voice wasn't mocking.

It was sad.

Jahanox didn't move.

His eyes stayed fixed on the chaotic sky above — the clouds swirling like a storm with mood swings, flickering between color palettes that made no cosmic sense.

The weird air current rustled through his hair, but his face was still.

Expressionless.

The usual smile gone.

Finally, he let out a deep sigh and spoke — not to anyone in particular, but loud enough for all of them to hear.

"What does everyone think?"

His words drifted across the dome, reaching each of them.

Jennie stepped forward first. Quietly. Softly.

She lowered herself to the ground beside him, her expression gentle — the kind that always carried warmth even in broken places.

"I don't think any of you know this," she began.

"But the way I met Zazm was… strange. Strangely beautiful."

Everyone turned to listen.

Even Miwa stopped fidgeting with her sleeve.

"I was just another girl," Jennie said. "Alone. I had a job I hated, a life that didn't mean anything. Parents gone. Future blurry."

"And one night, I saw him."

She smiled softly, eyes trailing toward the dome ceiling as if trying to recreate the memory.

"He was standing under a streetlamp. Quiet. Still. Dressed in black and asking the weirdest puzzle I'd ever heard."

"And he kept showing up. Every day. One riddle at a time."

A few light chuckles came from behind — Miwa grinned, Ai blinked in surprise.

"At first I thought he was just some mysterious idiot," Jennie said, letting out a light laugh.

"But I started looking forward to it. And eventually… we talked. Became friends. He introduced me to all of you."

She turned to face them.

Her voice lowered, but her words were strong.

"Zazm made life feel like a mystery worth solving."

"And even now… even like this… I think he's still the same. He just doesn't know how to show it anymore."

"That's what I believe."

The silence that followed wasn't heavy this time. It was thoughtful.

Jennie looked down, hands folded on her lap, the warmth of that distant streetlamp still flickering inside her chest.

A sudden burst of laughter broke the stillness.

Everyone turned — startled.

Minos sat on the edge of a crystal slab, one leg hanging off lazily, his grin wide and sharp like always.

"Hah… you guys are making it sound like a funeral."

His laughter trailed off, softer now. Not mocking — more like tired amusement.

"That's just like him. Disappearing with zero context, leaving us to stew in the drama."

"I don't think we need to worry. He's still Zazm. Whether he smiles or not."

His words broke the tension like glass hitting the floor. The mood shifted — not cheerful, but lighter. Grounded.

Ai tilted her head with a faint smirk and let out a small breath.

"Yeah…"

"That's what I believe too."

Kiyomasa, who had been quiet, stepped forward, his usual soft smile returning as he looked toward the portal.

"I… I don't say much, but…"

"I'm really thankful to Zazm."

Everyone looked at him.

"I had no one. Nothing."

"And then he gave me a place in his home… and in this group."

His hands tightened slightly at his sides.

"I'll never forget that. Ever."

Jahanox finally stood up, brushing invisible dust from his sleeves. He smiled — not the loud, dramatic grin he usually wore, but a quiet one.

"Guess I was worrying for nothing…"

He stretched a bit, his voice returning to its usual relaxed rhythm.

"Man. He's probably already rolling his eyes, waiting for us."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Then, without another word, they moved.

One by one, side by side, they stepped toward the portal — no longer weighed down by the silence Zazm left behind, but held together by something stronger.

The weird skies above them shifted colors again — pink to teal to orange. A carrot-wielding broccoli tumbled in the wind and hit the dome wall with a soft thud.

Miwa scoffed.

"Even the vegetables are confused here."

Minos nudged her shoulder. "Shut up and walk."

Jennie chuckled softly. Kiyomasa's smile widened. Ai rolled her eyes.

And just like that—

They all stepped into the light.

Following their leader.

Wherever the distortion began.

---

The air shifted.

One by one, they dropped into the new universe.

Not with a bang. Not with a scream. Just silence and gravity.

Ai's eyes fluttered open to the soft sound of water lapping against stone. She blinked, the sky overhead a rich, serene blue. Clouds passed slowly, lazily, like they had nowhere to be. The sky looked... normal.

Too normal.

She sat up quickly, confused.

All around her, the others were sprawled out, unconscious or slowly stirring awake. Jennie's hair was splayed across the ground like a halo. Kiyomasa mumbled something in his sleep. Minos was on his side, drooling. Miwa, somehow, had one leg thrown over Ai's ankle.

But in front of her, perched on a lone jagged rock like he'd been waiting there for hours, was Zazm.

He sat perfectly still, one leg folded over the other, elbows resting on his knees. His face was calm, his gaze focused somewhere beyond the horizon, like the very sky held secrets only he could read.

Ai stood and stretched, rubbing her arms.

"This place is weird. Why'd we show up in the middle of some water-locked rock?" she asked, eyeing the tiny stretch of jagged land under her feet. It was barely big enough for the eight of them. More like a chunk of land broken off from somewhere else, floating in the ocean.

Zazm didn't move his eyes.

He raised one hand and pointed toward the distance.

Ai followed his gesture, squinting. Two suns glowed in the sky—one larger and golden, the other smaller and paler, like a younger sibling orbiting its elder.

Her eyes widened.

"…Two suns. Okay, yeah, that's a little crazy. This universe is distorted."

"That's not it," Zazm said flatly, still not looking at her.

Ai blinked. "What do you mean?"

"It's just a binary star system. Those exist."

She turned to him, confused. "…Then why did you point it out like it was some dramatic reveal?"

Zazm didn't turn.

"I wanted the reaction."

Ai froze.

Her jaw dropped slightly. "…You—"

She sputtered. "You made me look like an idiot on purpose?!"

Zazm remained still.

Ai stared at him, stunned. And then she started smacking the side of her arm and muttering under her breath, half-yapping, half-breathless.

"You emotionless drama-setter—"

Behind her, someone groaned.

Jennie sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. "What's going on? Why is Ai shouting already…?"

Ai turned and pointed at Zazm furiously. "This guy made me think the suns were a sign of multiversal decay when they're just… normal astronomy stuff!"

Miwa laughed first, rolling over. "You fell for the oldest trick in the book. The dramatic silence one."

Minos snorted as he sat up. "Welcome to team baited."

Jennie giggled softly, a hand over her mouth. Even Kiyomasa cracked a smile.

Jahanox stood last, stretching his arms above his head before shaking his hair out like a cat.

"Man… anyone else think it's weird we passed out after teleporting?"

Zazm turned to him.

"Open the Shadow Dimension."

Everyone froze.

Even Jahanox blinked. "...That's sudden."

Zazm stood from his rock. The air around him shimmered faintly, like it was rejecting his presence.

"I'll explain everything once we're inside."

Jahanox scratched the back of his neck. "I mean, I can open it… but here? In this universe?"

Ai crossed her arms. "Why not?"

Jahanox glanced at her. "Because in our universe, the Shadow Dimension is directly tied to space-time. Here, it's not. I'll have to connect it manually. Through my own shadow."

Miwa tilted her head. "So… that's bad?"

"Sort of," Jahanox said. "If I do that, I can't hold it for long. A few days at best."

Ai raised a brow. "Zazm, can't you just rewire the dimension and sync it into this universe's fabric like last time?"

Zazm shook his head. "The space here isn't structured like our own. It folds inward, not outward. If Jahanox forces an anchor point, he won't keep it stable for more than two days."

Jahanox let out a laugh, lifting his hands. "Wow, thanks for the confidence, boss."

Zazm didn't reply to that.

He just looked at him and repeated, "Open it."

Jahanox sighed.

"Alright, alright. Let's go build a base in the dimension before everything around here starts exploding."

He crouched down, placing a hand on the surface of the island. His own shadow curled around his arm like liquid, reaching out with fingers of smoke.

The shadow widened, pulsing outward like a slow ripple, until a swirling black void opened at their feet.

The moment they entered the throne room of the Shadow Realm, the familiar darkness wrapped around them like a cloak. The obsidian floor shimmered faintly underfoot, shadows dancing quietly along the walls. Each throne stood where they left it, untouched by time.

It only took seconds for everyone to relax.

"Finally," Minos muttered, cracking his neck as he took his seat. "Someplace that doesn't look like a fever dream."

Jahanox walked in with a lazy grin. "Back to the old haunted mansion. Love the decor."

Jennie smiled softly and sat down. "It feels strange, but... safe."

Everyone turned. Zazm stood in the center, back straight, hands in pockets. His face unreadable.

"This isn't a break. It's a briefing. Sit."

They did.

Zazm looked at them, then began. "This place… isn't one universe. It's ten. Maybe twelve. Merged."

The room went silent.

"Merged?" Ai repeated.

"Crashed together," Zazm clarified. "Because of distortion."

Miwa frowned. "So it's stitched together? Like a patchwork?"

Zazm nodded once. "But it's stable. For now."

That pulled everyone back.

"Stable?" Kiyomasa asked.

Zazm continued, tone cold and calm. "Because the universes aren't fighting. They're holding each other up."

Ai leaned forward. "So it won't collapse slowly..."

"No," Zazm said. "When it breaks, it'll be instant."

Jennie brought her hands to her chest. "Then how do we know when it's about to happen?"

Zazm glanced at Jahanox. "We don't."

Jahanox stepped forward, hands out, voice more relaxed but clear. "What he means is… this universe looks calm on the outside. But it's loaded. Think of it like glass under pressure. All it takes is one crack. One disturbance. And it shatters."

Minos sat back, processing. "So we're sitting on a bomb."

"Exactly," Jahanox said.

Zazm added, "And our presence doesn't help."

Ai nodded slowly. "So what's the plan?"

"For now we go out and look around this universe that's all." Zazm said as he got up from his seat.

Zazm took a step toward the exit, his coat swaying slightly behind him, hands still buried in his pockets.

"You all rest. We leave tomorrow to explore this universe."

His voice was as flat as ever, and it lingered for a second in the throne room's air before he turned away.

Ai leaned back on her throne and raised her voice casually, "At least do something about that hair. You look like you've been dragged through three timelines."

Zazm didn't reply. He just kept walking.

Jennie stood up, adjusting her sleeves nervously. "I-I can give it a cut if you'd like… I've done it before. Not professionally, but I have some experience."

Zazm paused.

He didn't turn completely—just slightly, his head tilting as his hair shifted across his shoulders. Still silent.

Jahanox clapped his hands loudly, standing with a grin. "Yes! Let's go. Turn our void hobo back into a functioning human."

Miwa spun around in her throne. "I'm in. Let's help Jennie clean him up. Maybe then he'll stop looking like a cursed legend."

Zazm slowly turned around to face them.

His expression didn't change, his eyes still distant and unreadable.

But he didn't object.

That alone was enough.

Jennie smiled gently, a little blush rising to her cheeks. "I'll go get the stuff… just sit somewhere, okay?"

Zazm walked toward an empty bench near the edge of the throne room. He sat down quietly, saying nothing. His gaze remained on the wall ahead, but he didn't move when Miwa and Jennie approached.

Ai leaned toward Jahanox, whispering with a faint smirk, "Miracle. He listened."

Jahanox folded his arms and watched with an amused look. "Let's hope they don't cut out the last piece of humanity he has left."

No one said it, but the sight of Zazm letting anyone that close again—letting anyone touch his hair, his space—meant something.

Even if he didn't.

---

Zazm sat quietly on the edge of the bed, head slightly tilted forward as Jennie trimmed the last strands of his hair.

Her hands were gentle, precise—silent for the most part, except the quiet snip of scissors. Miwa sat nearby cross-legged, tossing the cut hair into a floating shadow bin Jahanox had summoned just to keep the place clean.

"There…" Jennie said softly. "Done."

Zazm stood and ran a hand through his hair once, feeling its weight now evenly distributed. The messy chaos was gone—what remained was short enough to stay sharp, but long enough to fall just over his eyes. Neat. Controlled. Like a soldier's cut with just a hint of rebellion.

He left without a word.

In the silence of his own room, Zazm peeled off the worn, half-tattered clothes he had worn since returning from the void. The jacket was shredded at the cuffs. The shirt had holes near the sides. The pants had barely survived. All of it landed on the floor in a dull thud.

The water from the bathroom steamed faintly against the cool air of the Shadow Realm. He stepped in, washed everything off—the memories, the blood, the cold—and came out again, a trail of steam lingering behind him.

He wore his black pants and he walked to the mirror.

A plain black T-shirt lay folded neatly on the bed, along with a dark-grey jacket.

He didn't put them on yet. Instead, he stood shirtless in front of the mirror, running a hand through his freshly cut hair. His reflection stared back at him—blank, quiet, and unfamiliar.

His hair now rested just past his ears, some of it falling near his eyes. A clean, sharp style. Something between control and carelessness.

Still, his face didn't smile. His eyes didn't blink. They just… looked.

Behind him, Zephyra lay stretched on her back on the bed, arms resting behind her head. Her bored expression matched the slow flicker of the ceiling lantern.

"You've been standing there staring at yourself for three full minutes," she muttered, voice flat, eyes on the ceiling. "Why are you looking in the mirror like that?"

Zazm didn't answer immediately. His gaze lingered on the mirror another second before he slowly turned toward her.

She tilted her head lazily and looked at him from where she lay.

He stepped toward the bed, reaching for the black shirt resting near her arm.

Zephyra, without moving much, snatched it up before he could reach it. Her lips curled into a small, mocking smirk, eyebrows slightly raised.

"Answer me first," she said, her voice now playful, tone teasing—still casual, but there was warmth behind it. A contrast to her usual detached air.

Zazm exhaled. His voice low and expression unchanged.

"…I thought I forgot how my face looked."

Zephyra blinked.

Then burst out laughing. She sat up, letting the shirt fall near her as she tried to catch her breath. Her laughter echoed off the cold walls.

"That's… so dumb," she said between laughs. "You? Of all people? Mister always-planning-everything forgot what he looked like? You serious?"

Zazm walked over without a word and snatched the shirt from near her.

He didn't react to her laughter. Didn't respond. Just pulled the shirt over his head with smooth, practiced motion and reached for his jacket.

Zephyra smiled lightly, her laughter fading into a sigh as she watched him.

She leaned back again, arms behind her head.

"Still weird," she said. "But not as weird-looking anymore."

Zazm adjusted his collar, zipped the jacket halfway, and turned away.

"Rest," he said, already walking toward the door.

"Bossy," Zephyra muttered under her breath with a faint smirk, eyes now half-lidded as she closed them.

The door clicked shut behind him.

And the room fell quiet again.

Zazm stepped into the chamber silently.

His footsteps echoed across the polished obsidian floor of the Shadow Realm's central hall, drawing the attention of every Catalyst present.

The moment their eyes landed on him, the room froze for a beat.

His appearance was completely different now. Clean, sharp black shirt tucked beneath a grey-black jacket, fitted dark pants, and most notably—his hair. No longer the wild, matted mess from the void. Now it was trimmed down into a neat, rugged cut that fell just short of his eyes and rested against the top of his neck. It gave him a more human appearance—but his expression was still the same: unreadable, cold, eyes devoid of warmth.

Miwa blinked.

"Yo… wait—" she sat up straighter, mouth half open. "Who the hell are you and what did you do to Zazm?"

Zazm didn't react. His hands were in his pockets, his posture calm, distant.

Minos let out a whistle, leaning back on his throne. "Alright, now you look like a model who's got dumped or something."

Jennie nodded at his look, "I didn't expect I would be able to do such a good job."

She looked at his hair once more admiring his looks and her own skills. Miwa looked at Jennie and gave a thumbs up.

"Jennie you've outdone yourself. Hey Zazm, atleast say thanks to her." she poked the words like an annoying sibling teaching about life.

Jennie chuckled softly at Miwa, "It's fine, Miwa."

Zazm didn't reply. He just walked past them and leaned silently against the wall, his eyes focused nowhere in particular.

Kiyomasa grinned and gave a little clap. "You look super cool, Zazm! Jennie did a great job!"

Jahanox, sprawled lazily across his throne, raised an eyebrow and tilted his head as he stared.

"Well, well, well," he muttered, a half-smirk curling up his lip. "You still look dead inside, but at least now you're dead inside with a decent haircut."

Ai folded her arms and narrowed her eyes slightly, surveying him top to bottom with that same sharp intuition of hers.

"Took you long enough," she muttered giving a small thumbs up. "You look less like the apocalypse now. Good."

Zazm's gaze swept across the group once—no change in his face, no acknowledgment.

"Are you done?" he asked flatly.

Miwa threw up her hands. "We're trying to appreciate you for once! Don't make it weird."

Minos butted in, "Are you getting embarrassed from all the praises? Now don't tell me you're still a softy." his tone sarcastic and clearly meant to annoy him.

Zazm didn't even bothered to look at him let alone answer him.

Minos clicked his tongue accepting his defeat.

Kiyomasa got up from his seat and walked closer to Zazm, "Would it be fine if I asked you something?"

Zazm turned his neck towards him, "What is it?"

Kiyomasa was about to speak but then suddenly stopped, "Nevermind, let's save it for sometime else."

Zazm's eyes scanned him for a while before he shifted his gaze, "Whatever you think."

Kiyomasa stretched his arms with a loud yawn, rubbing one eye as he stood from his seat.

"I'm gonna sleep now… I feel like my brain's melting," he mumbled in his usual soft, honest tone, giving everyone a tired smile before shuffling off toward his room.

One by one, the others began leaving too—Miwa throwing a small wave and a "Don't die before morning," before vanishing into her corridor. Jennie offered a quiet goodnight to Zazm, but he didn't respond, just kept staring ahead. Minos tossed a casual salute. Jahanox was the second-last, lazily walking backward out of the room, calling, "Don't brood too hard, Zazzy."

Then it was only Ai left.

She slowly shut her book, placed it down beside the shadow throne, and adjusted her glasses. Her footsteps echoed gently as she walked up to Zazm, who remained still against the wall.

"You're not going to sleep?" she asked, voice calm but firm.

Zazm's eyes didn't shift. He only shook his head slightly, his gaze locked forward.

"Don't need it."

Ai stood there for a few seconds longer, just watching him. Her sharp eyes softened a little, but she said nothing more. She nodded once, turned around, and left the room in silence.

Zazm waited until the last trace of footsteps disappeared.

Then, alone, he walked toward the spiral staircase that led to the roof of the Shadow Realm's throne tower. His steps were steady, measured, almost soundless against the black stone.

He reached the top.

The rooftop was wide and empty, save for the cold winds and the flat uppermost edge of the structure. He stepped onto the raised wall, looking out.

The sky here was pitch black, like ink—no moon, no clouds. Just an endless stretch of dark, broken only by a scattering of unfamiliar stars, glowing faintly in a way that felt too far, too wrong.

Zazm lay down along the wall, hands behind his head, one leg over the other.

He closed his eyes.

For the first time in days, there was silence.

No voices.

No portals.

No questions.

Only stillness.

And even if his face showed nothing, there was a quiet exhale from his lips as the cold air passed by.

Peace—even if it wouldn't last long.

__________________________