February 5, 2025

The sun had barely risen over Papa's mansion when the usual morning commotion kicked off. The kitchen was buzzing—some of it due to breakfast preparations and some of it due to Yuna and Luna already arguing over who was better at predicting the markets.

Zai Papa, standing at the stove flipping pancakes, watched the scene unfold with a knowing smile. Shin was half-asleep but sipping coffee, Hina was setting the table, and Rubi was sketching something mysterious on her tablet.

"Alright, before we tear each other apart over who's smarter," Zai Papa said, setting down a fresh plate of pancakes, "let's get into the markets. Everyone should ask for at least one sibling's opinion before making a decision today. I want to see if you all really listen to each other."

"Great idea, Papa!" Rubi cheered, twirling her stylus. "Let's see who can predict the market best today!"

Yuna scrolled through her tablet. "Bitcoin is still holding strong despite all this market fear. Institutions are accumulating, and the supply shock is getting real. I'm thinking of adding to my position."

Luna, sipping her tea, rolled her eyes. "Crypto isn't the safe haven you think it is. The forex market is showing signs that the US dollar could get stronger if China keeps manipulating the yuan. That would put pressure on Bitcoin, don't you think?"

Yuna smirked. "Sounds like you're scared my digital gold is about to flip your fiat markets upside down."

Luna shot back with a smirk of her own. "Sounds like someone wants validation for their bad investments."

"Okay, okay," Hina interrupted before their bickering escalated. "Yuna, why don't you ask Shin for his opinion? He's always talking to startups that deal with blockchain."

Shin rubbed his temples, still trying to wake up. "Mmm… I think Luna has a point about the short-term forex trends, but Yuna is looking at the long-term Bitcoin supply crunch. It really depends—are you looking at short-term trades or long-term growth?"

Yuna grinned. "Long-term, obviously."

Luna crossed her arms. "Short-term, obviously."

Sierra, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke. "If you two are so confident in your positions, why don't you hedge against each other?"

Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Hedge? You mean… like options?"

Sierra nodded. "Exactly. If you think Bitcoin will rise long-term but are worried about short-term fluctuations, you could buy a put option for protection. Luna, you could do the same for forex if you're worried the dollar might weaken in the long run."

Luna narrowed her eyes. "Wait… so you're saying we should actually listen to each other?"

Sierra smirked. "That's what Papa asked us to do."

Zai Papa chuckled. "Sierra wins this round. Next discussion."

Hina turned to Qin, who was casually drinking his coffee. "Alright, Qin, stocks have been all over the place lately. Tech companies like Google are taking hits after their earnings, but Palantir is skyrocketing. What's your take?"

Qin shrugged. "Depends. If tech stocks stay volatile, some investors might rotate into real estate. I've been seeing higher demand for commercial properties in tech hubs."

Hina nodded. "Makes sense. But don't you think interest rates will affect that?"

Qin smirked. "You sound like Davey. Why don't you ask him?"

Hina sighed and turned to Davey, who was already calculating something on his laptop. "Fine. Davey, what's your tax take on real estate vs. stocks right now?"

Davey, the Tax & Accounting Genius, Weighs In

Davey didn't even look up. "Capital gains tax on stocks is still lower than property taxes in most places, but that could change. If you want tax benefits, real estate investment trusts (REITs) might be a solid middle ground."

Qin leaned back. "See? Tax efficiency. My kind of investment."

Hina took a bite of her pancake. "I'll think about it. Maybe I'll allocate some of my portfolio into REITs this month."

Zai Papa smiled. "Now that's what I like to hear—actual discussions instead of just arguing."

Rubi's NFT Mystery

Rubi, who had been mysteriously sketching all morning, finally held up her tablet. "Okay, so I've been working on a new NFT concept based on today's markets. What do you guys think?"

Everyone leaned in. On her screen was a colorful, exaggerated cartoon of the US dollar fighting Bitcoin in a boxing ring, with gold sitting in the audience eating popcorn.

Shin burst out laughing. "That's… actually genius."

Yuna grinned. "I love how Bitcoin looks like it's about to deliver a knockout punch."

Luna smirked. "I love how gold is just watching everything unfold, safe and sound."

Rubi beamed. "So… should I mint it?"

Sierra tapped her chin. "If you time the minting right, you could drop it when Bitcoin makes its next big move. That way, it gains hype at the perfect moment."

Shin grinned. "Now that's strategic thinking. Maybe you should invest in startups, Sierra."

Sierra rolled her eyes. "One headache is enough. You can keep your startups."

Zai Papa stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright, that's a wrap on this morning's financial debate. What did we learn?"

Luna: "That Yuna still can't admit when she's wrong."

Yuna: "That Luna is too scared to invest in the future."

Sierra: "That hedging strategies can help manage our different views."

Hina: "That tech stocks are risky, but there are ways to balance them."

Qin: "That real estate is still a strong contender for long-term investment."

Davey: "That taxes will always be annoying."

Shin: "That Rubi's NFT is the real winner today."

Rubi: [Proudly] "And that finance can be fun if you make it into art!"

Zai Papa smiled. "Perfect answers. Now, eat your breakfast before it gets cold."

The family laughed and dug in, the discussion leaving them all with new insights, ideas, and maybe a little more respect for each other's expertise.

As breakfast wound down, Sierra casually glanced at Shin, who was still lazily poking at his pancakes. Normally, he was the first one up, already throwing out wild startup ideas while making a protein shake. Today, he had barely managed to drink his coffee.

Sierra narrowed her eyes. "Hey, Shin… why were you the last one to wake up today?"

That got everyone's attention. The room fell silent as all heads turned toward him. Even Rubi paused her NFT sketch, intrigued.

Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, what gives? You're usually the first one awake, preaching about productivity."

Luna sipped her tea. "If even Mr. 'Optimize Your Morning for Peak Efficiency' is late, it must be serious."

Shin froze mid-bite, his expression guilty. "Uh… Well…"

Hina crossed her arms. "Did you have an important late-night VC meeting? Maybe a last-minute pitch from a startup?"

Davey adjusted his glasses. "Or were you analyzing global market trends until sunrise?"

Shin hesitated. He could feel the weight of everyone's expectations. The entire family was staring at him, waiting for an answer that matched his usual serious, go-getter nature.

Finally, with a deep sigh, he muttered:

"…I was up all night watching a sad anime."

Silence.

Then—

Yuna nearly choked on her orange juice.

Luna blinked. "You what?"

Sierra tilted her head. "Come again?"

Qin smirked. "So, all that tension you had scrolling on your phone… wasn't about markets?"

Shin groaned, running a hand through his hair. "It was 'Your Lie in April,' okay?! I knew it was sad, but I didn't expect it to hit THAT hard!"

Rubi gasped. "Wait—you watched it all in one night?! Shin! That's emotional damage!"

Shin looked genuinely wounded. "I couldn't stop! The piano, the violin, the tragic love story—I was in too deep! I regret nothing… but also everything."

Zai Papa chuckled. "Ah, the classic 'just one more episode' trap."

Hina shook her head, sighing. "And here I thought you stayed up to strategize a new venture."

Davey smirked. "Guess even the great Shin has weaknesses."

Luna, amused, leaned on the table. "So, what's today's market lesson from this experience?"

Shin sighed dramatically. "That emotional investing is dangerous. If you get too attached, you lose all sense of rationality."

Sierra smirked. "Like how you got emotionally wrecked and lost all rationality over an anime?"

Shin pointed at her. "Exactly. And that's why I'm not touching the market today. My decision-making skills are compromised."

Yuna patted his back. "Take your time, buddy. It's okay. You'll heal… eventually."

Rubi giggled. "Do you need a playlist of sad anime openings to let it all out?"

Shin groaned. "No. I need sleep. And emotional recovery."

Qin leaned back, grinning. "So... 'Your Lie in April,' huh? Maybe I'll watch it tonight."

Shin sat up, alarmed. "No, don't do it! You're not ready!" "It's not just any anime… It was the anime. The kind where the protagonist loses everything. I swear, I feel like I've lost my will to take on the world today..."

The family burst into laughter, enjoying the rare moment of Shin completely out of his element.

As the morning wrapped up, the financial discussions faded into casual conversation and teasing, with Shin taking the most hits. But despite everything, it was another warm, chaotic, and unforgettable start to their day.