Dandadanx10

I've Got This Funny Feeling

The aroma of Seiko's cooking filled the Ayase house as an unlikely group gathered around the dinner table. Momo sat between Ben and Okarun, occasionally stealing glances at their newest guest, Aira, who maintained perfect posture as she delicately picked at her food.

"This is delicious, Ayase-san," Aira complimented politely, though her eyes kept darting suspiciously between Momo and the others.

Momo set down her chopsticks with a sigh. "Look, about the basin incident... I went too far. I'm sorry."

Aira's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected apology, but Momo wasn't finished.

"However," she continued, her voice hardening, "you need to apologize to Okarun and Ben for making fun of them. That wasn't right either."

"Oh, that?" Aira waved her hand dismissively. "I don't hold any grudge about the basin. The truth is..." her eyes narrowed, "I know what you really are. You're a demon, and it's my duty to defeat you."

"Not this again," Momo groaned, while Max and Seiko exchanged knowing looks. "I'm not a demon!"

"Then how do you explain all this?" Aira gestured broadly around the table. "Okarun-kun transforms into some speed demon, Ben-kun turns into various alien creatures, and your grandmother doesn't look a day over thirty despite being old enough to have a teenage granddaughter! It's obvious you're all supernatural beings!"

"That's not-" Momo started, but Aira cut her off.

"Mark my words, Ayase Momo, I will confront you again. And next time, I'll be ready."

"Bring it on," Momo shot back. "I'll show you just how human I am by kicking your butt fair and square."

Aira turned to Ben, her expression softening. "Ben-kun, why did you save me? You're clearly under some kind of demonic influence, but you still helped me."

Ben rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's what heroes do. Doesn't matter if someone's human, alien, or whatever – if they need help, you help them."

A blush spread across Aira's cheeks. "So you do still have humanity in you! Don't worry, Ben-kun. I'll liberate you from Momo's evil influence soon enough."

As Aira hurried out of the house, Momo sat frozen, her chopsticks suspended halfway to her mouth as she processed what had just happened. Behind her, Turbo Granny's lucky cat form snickered.

"My, my, looks like you have some competition, Momo-chan!"

"Shut up!" Momo snapped, her face reddening.

Later, in the yard, a very different scene unfolded as Seiko pitched a golden sphere toward home plate, where Turbo Granny waited with a bat. Ben stood ready in the outfield, the Omnitrix gleaming on his wrist.

"Ready, Okarun?" Seiko called out.

Okarun nodded nervously, positioned appropriately to receive his returned body part. The pitch flew, Turbo Granny swung, and the golden ball soared through the air, its trajectory perfect for reuniting with its owner.

The next morning at school, Momo approached Okarun and Ben at their lockers. "Rooftop at lunch? We need to discuss finding your other ball."

"Actually," Ben said, not quite meeting her eyes, "I've got a report to finish. Maybe another time?"

"Oh... sure," Momo replied, trying to hide her disappointment. "No problem."

During lunch, Momo sat with Miko, Muko, and Okarun, but her mind kept wandering to Ben's strange behavior.

"He's definitely hiding something," Miko declared. "Probably has to do with a girl."

"What? No way," Momo protested, though her thoughts immediately flew to Aira's behavior the previous evening.