A Brand New Day

Eve walked through the school gates, her expression calm and unbothered, the reason being Rika was on break of one day out of school for a family business. on the first day of new year.

As she walked through the halls, Eve noticed the usual first day chaos.
She heard shouting.

A group of students had gathered around a smaller, anxious looking girl. A pair of bullies stood in the center, jeering at her, mocking her with every word. 

Eve's gaze flicked to them, but she didn’t rush into action. She was the kind of person who didn’t react immediately to unnecessary things, but there was something about this that didn’t sit right with her.

With a deep breath, Eve walked toward them.
The group didn’t notice her at first, too wrapped up in their own drama.

When she reached the center of the crowd, Eve spoke up, her voice steady, clear, and without a trace of hesitation. "On the first day of school? Really?"

The bullies turned toward her, sizing her up. One of them scoffed, not intimidated in the least.
"Got problem? Harmonia..." He mocked with a smirk.

Eve took another step forward, her posture straight, her gaze unwavering. "The problem is when I'm telling your mother about this, Ray." She tug a smirk.

He started to get embarrassed as his other members exchanged glances, some of them hold their laugh and chuckle.

"Whatever," He turned to walk off with red faces. 

The girl looked up, eyes wide, relief flooding her face. Eve wasn’t the type to make a big show of helping someone. But she could see the girl’s shoulders relax, the weight of the situation lifting off her.

"You alright?" Eve asked, the goggles on her neck move slightly, her voice cool but soft, as she watched the girl slowly straighten up.

The girl nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Th-thank you…"
The girl seems to not be familiar with the school being a new student.

Eve gave her a small nod. "Later," Then she turned to walk away, but before she got far, the girl asked her to wait.
She paused. 
"I still don't know your name, I'm Aura." She bravely introduce herself.
Eve turned back and let a faint smile. "Eve Harmonia."

The girl's eyes brighten.

Without waiting for a response, Eve walked off, her mind already elsewhere. She wasn’t trying to be a hero, she didn’t need praise or gratitude. It was just one of those moments that, for some reason, felt worth her time.

Her first day went like usual. She do have many friends and people around her now.

At home, Eve stood in the kitchen, a spatula in one hand and a pan sizzling on the stove. The smell of garlic and herbs filled the cozy space as she expertly flipped the contents of the pan. She hummed softly, a tune she barely remembered from a TV show she watched back then.

Piz, who got an upgrade by Leia now a full-grown robotic dog, sat beside her.

"Smells good, doesn't it, Piz?" Eve said, tossing a pinch of salt into the pan.  

Piz let out a low, approving mechanical rumble, his new voice deeper and more resonant than when he was a pup.  

"Zero, did I add too much salt?" Eve called out, glancing toward the wall where Zero’s holographic screen was displayed.

Zero appeared, on the screen at the kitchen. "Finally, one of the correct use of AI like me." His eyes scanned over the pan and scanned a weird looking image within the pan. "I don't know, what you're cooking."

The three of them had grown into an odd but harmonious routine.
But there was still an emptiness, a weight in the air. Eve glanced at the empty chair at the dining table. She shook her head, refocusing on the food.  

"Dinner’s almost ready, guys," She said, even though she knew, she might be the only one eating.

Zero’s screen flickered as he glanced at the chair too. "You’re really starting to sound like her, you know."
Eve froze for a moment, she smiled faintly but didn’t reply.
"She must be in peace now..."
"Yeah... I started to miss her again."

Just then, the front door slammed open.  

"I’m home!"
Standing in the doorway was Leia, her coat half off and her hair disheveled, looking more alive than ever.  

"You’re back."

Piz barked excitedly, his tail wagging so hard it knocked over a chair. Zero groaned dramatically. "And just when I thought we were getting some peace and quiet." 

Leia blinked at them, confused. “What’s with the looks? Did you think I was dead or something?”  

"Well…" Eve hesitated, then burst out laughing. 
"Let just say, we were practicing." Zero replied.

Leia narrowed her eyes playfully. "Unbelievable. I leave you guys alone for one day, and this is what I come back to?"

Zero glare away before looking back at her. "Hey, human lifespan is not long. Unless you want to transfer your brain into AI or robots then we'll talking."

Eve grinned, Leia just in time before for Eve to prepare the table with two plate. "Hope you’re hungry. Dinner’s almost ready."
Leia smiled, finally shrugging off her coat. "I’m starving."

As the four of them settled into their chaotic dynamic, the house felt truly complete again.
Both Eve and Leia has learn how to cook for the past years with the help of Maria, Eve the only one that can catch the taste of the tasty foods although she's need to improved on it appeal. While Leia is the opposite. They still learning after all. (It's been 8 years, they are not built for these)

After dinner, Leia leaned against the doorway of the living room, arms crossed with a curious look on her face. Eve was busy drying her hands after washing the dishes.

"Eve," Leia called, "Come here for a second.”  
Eve glanced over. "What is it?"
"Just come here," Leia insisted, a mischievous glint in her eyes.  

Curious, Eve walked over, stopping a step away. Leia gestured for her to come closer.  

Leia stared at her for a moment before breaking into a small smile.  

"You’re taller than me now," Leia said, almost like she couldn’t believe it herself.  
Eve blinked, "Really?"

Leia chuckled. "Look." She stood up straight, trying to match her full height. Even with her best effort, Eve’s forehead was just slightly above hers.  

Eve stepped back, looking down at Leia with a smile. "I never notice this before."
Leia laughed, playfully poking Eve’s arm. "You didn’t notice until now?" She shrugged, amused. "Guess you’ve been growing while I wasn’t paying attention.'

The grown child tilt her head with a slight gentle smile.
Eve laughed, the sound full of joy. Then, with a sudden burst of affection, she wrapped her arms around Leia, hugging her tightly.  

"Thanks for noticing, Mom," Eve whispered, her voice soft and warm.  
Leia’s expression softened as she hugged Eve back, her heart swelling. "You’re welcome, my not-so-little kid."

"But you didn't notice that I cut my bangs myself." Eve said that innocently.
"You what?" Leia shocked but before further explanation, Zero chimed in from
"Wow, Eve’s taller than Leia? Guess someone needs heels.”  

Leia groaned while Eve burst out laughing.

The morning light streamed through the windows, Piz lounged lazily by her feet, his now larger, more majestic frame taking up most of the floor. 

"Eve!" Leia called, her voice carrying through the house. "Rika's here, hurry up or you’re going to be late!"

"I can’t find my goggles!" Eve’s voice came from her room, frantic and slightly muffled.  

Leia rolled her eyes, chuckling softly to herself. She stood and wandered to the side table near the front door, where the goggles sat in plain sight. Picking them up, she called again, "Found them!"

Eve looking a bit frazzled but still effortlessly cool in her school uniform. Leia smirked, then tossed the goggles up toward her.  

"Catch!"

Eve jumped a step down and caught them with one hand, grinning triumphantly. "Thanks, Mom!"

Leia smiled, watching as Eve adjusted the goggles onto her head. She grabbed her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and waved enthusiastically as she headed for the door.  

"Bye, Mom! Bye, Piz! Bye, Zero!"

Piz barked once, wagging his metallic tail. Zero’s voice replied with mock sternness, "Don’t get into trouble, young lady."

"I won’t!" Eve called back, opening the door.
"Let's go!" Rika said with a bright smile.

The sunlight framed her as she stepped out, pausing to look back one more time, her grin as bright as the day itself. "Love you!"
"Love you too," Leia said softly, watching as Eve disappeared down the path.  

The house fell quiet for a moment before Leia sighed deeply, sinking back into her chair. "I feel so old now," She muttered.

Zero didn’t miss a beat. "You are old, statistically speaking."

Leia groaned. "I didn’t ask for commentary."

Piz barked in agreement with Zero, his tail thumping against the floor. Leia glared at the both of them, though a small smile tugged at her lips.  

Eve. Her little experiment, her little girl, had grown into someone extraordinary. And that was more than enough. 

"Hey, Leo! Not gonna had breakfast with us?" One of the classmate in college call out to Leo to seemingly in hurry in this peaceful morning.
"I pass, I promised my girlfriend to meet up this morning!" He said as he turned back then rush to meet Dalia.
His classmate sigh but smile at Leo's loyalty.
It's been 4 years since Leo himself confess to Dalia despite Dalia being the one that fell for him first.

As he's running, he passed a small girl running the opposite way of him. Leo turned to look at the girl and amazingly, she already far away. She run fast... This left Leo amazed but worry what could be the reason for that girl to be running away like that.

Meanwhile, Eden who on her way to a visit with graveside flowers on her hands for visit to her grandpa.
The runaway girl passed her also, to Eden, it suddenly feels like a peaceful wind within her as some of the flower petals flew away.

Leia sat at the kitchen counter, sipping her second cup of coffee as Piz lounged nearby being lazy but calm more than he did when he was a puppy. The peaceful moment was interrupted by the sharp ring of her phone. Frowning, she picked it up and saw Dr. Wallace’s name flashing on the screen.  

"Hello?" Leia answered, her tone neutral but laced with mild curiosity.  

"Leia!" Wallace’s voice was tense and frantic. "We’ve got a situation! One of the lab-born kids from the new project has escaped!"
Leia froze for a moment, her mind racing, but she quickly composed herself. "What? That’s terrible!" She said, adding just the right amount of shock to her voice.  

"It’s a disaster!" Wallace continued, clearly panicking. "The subject was showing promise, but something must have triggered this reaction. Security can’t find them anywhere, and we’re running out of leads. You were one of the lead developers on the original project. You must have some insight-"

Leia cut him off, her voice cold and distant now. "Wallace, I told you before, I’m not involved in that project anymore. It’s your responsibility, not mine."

"Leia, come on! You can’t just-"
"Listen," Leia said firmly, leaning back in her chair. "I left that kind of work behind for a reason, I learn from mistake. I don’t care what’s happening with your experiment. I’ve got my own life to deal with."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, as if Wallace couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "But-"

"Good luck, Wallace," Leia said sharply, cutting the call before he could argue further.  

She placed the phone down with a sigh, her heart pounding slightly despite her calm exterior. Piz tilted his head, sensing her tension, and Zero chimed in dryly, "That was quite the performance. I forgot you was quite a liar,"

Leia smirked faintly, standing up and brushing off her nerves. "It’s his mess, not mine." She stand up, fixing her posture. "Let's find that kid."

Eve and Rika walked side by side, Rika adjusted her glasses, her bag slung casually over one shoulder, while Eve fiddled with her goggles, still adjusting them after catching them so perfectly earlier.

"You’re going to break those if you keep pulling at them," Rika teased, her voice carrying the dry humor she’d perfected over the years.
"I won’t," Eve replied with a grin, letting the goggles rest around her neck. "They’re sturdy. You said so yourself."

As they rounded a quiet corner near the park, their conversation was interrupted by a sudden thud. Both of them turned to see a girl, no older than ten, sprawled on the ground, her breathing ragged and her clothes disheveled. She looked up at them, her wide eyes filled with fear and exhaustion.

Eve instinctively approached, her movements slow and careful. “Hey,” she said softly, kneeling down. "Are you okay?"

The girl flinched at first but seemed to relax slightly at Eve’s gentle tone. She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
And as Eve reached out to the girl, she knew that this moment, just like every one before it, was the start of something new.

[THE END]