5 Years

Nine boys lay sprawled across the garden, their eyes lazily tracing the shapes of clouds drifting across the sky. The warm sun bathed them in its golden light, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees overhead. It was a peaceful moment, one that Alex had grown accustomed to over the past five years.

"It's been five years," Alex thought, his mind wandering as he reflected on the events of his early childhood.

The first year had been uneventful—mostly a cycle of sleeping, eating, and sleeping again. But as the Nonuplets grew, so did their abilities. Alex remembered the day, just after their first birthday, when all nine of them had started walking simultaneously. The look of shock on his parents' faces had been priceless. They had never expected their nine sons to reach such milestones in perfect unison.

Another year passed without much fanfare. By then, Alex had begun speaking simple words like "mama" and "baba," careful not to reveal anything unusual about himself or his siblings. He didn't want to alarm his parents or draw unwanted attention.

By the third year, Alex started to notice the effects of his multi-core persona. Each of his bodies had developed its own distinct personality, yet he remained deeply connected to all of them. It was as if he were the conductor of an orchestra, harmonizing the unique traits of each body into a cohesive whole. Over time, managing his multiple bodies became second nature, and he no longer struggled with the mental strain.

The fourth year brought another milestone: daycare. Alex, determined to blend in, began acting like a regular child in front of others. He played, laughed, and interacted with the other kids, all while keeping his extraordinary abilities hidden.

Now, in the present, Alex lay in the garden, his thoughts drifting to the future. "Next year, we'll be joining elementary school," he mused absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the sky.

Just then, a group of children came running toward them—five boys and two girls, all familiar faces from daycare. They had become friends over the past year, often playing together during breaks.

"What are you doing here?" one of the boys asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"Nothing, just lazing around," Alex replied sleepily, his tone relaxed.

"Come play with us!" another boy urged, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Alex glanced at his other bodies, all of whom were already sitting up, ready to join in. "Let's go," he said, signaling to them.

With that, the Nonuplets sprang to their feet and followed their friends to the playground. The garden, once quiet and serene, was soon filled with the sounds of laughter and playful shouts as the children began their games.