What happens in the Departed Realm, Stays in the Departed Realm

Between Comfort and Chaos

10:40 PM, Dome Standard Cycle — Sunglasses and Sins of the Past

Kai's eyes narrowed. "Wait... are those my sunglasses?!"

Everyone turned to Morro.

Morro blinked, then looked down at the dark-tinted shades hanging from his collar.

"Oh. Yeah. These." He tapped the frames casually. "I stole them off you when we were fighting on that mountain. Had them ever since."

Kai's mouth dropped open. "Seriously?!"

Cole reappeared behind Kai, eyebrows raised. "You kept Kai's sunglasses... for years... after dying? You didn't even decide to return them when you were brought back on the Day of The Departed?"

"They're good sunglasses," Morro said with absolute sincerity. "And I got abducted. They weren't even on me when I returned."

Kai marched closer. "Those weren't cheap! They were custom! Flame-etched, tinted glass, temperature-resistant—"

"And they survived death," Morro cut in. "So clearly a good investment."

Cole blinked. "You've seriously been wearing those this whole time?"

Morro nodded. "They're durable. Comfortable. Plus, they make me look cool."

Kai looked like he was trying very hard not to explode. "You've been parading around the afterlife in my limited-edition sunglasses like they're some kind of trophy?!"

"They're more like a keepsake," Morro said, deadpan.

James leaned back against the wall, grinning. "This just got better."

"They're scratched," Harumi noted from the corner, glancing at the lenses with a flicker of judgment.

"Battle damage," Morro replied casually. "Authentic now."

Kai looked like he was about to combust. "I paid for those!"

"With what, ninja salary?" Brad whispered to Gene.

"I worked overtime," Kai snapped, somehow hearing it anyway.

Morro shrugged. "If it makes you feel better, I treasure them. Symbol of my personal growth and how I used to be terrible."

Lloyd, who had just walked back into the room, tilted his head slightly. "Huh. I knew those looked slightly familiar."

Kai slowly turned toward him. "You too? You knew?!"

Lloyd shrugged with a faint smile. "I thought maybe Morro just had style."

"I do," Morro said without missing a beat.

Cole gave an exaggerated sigh. "Great. So we're just... stealing from each other now and calling it character development?"

James grinned. "Welcome to the Departed Realm."

Cole gave a low yawn mid-laugh, then blinked in surprise. "Huh. That... hit me fast."

Kai rubbed his neck, noticeably more sluggish. "You feel that too?"

James tilted his head. "You two look like you're crashing."

"We're alive," Kai muttered. "It's late. Our bodies still do... tired."

The realization passed quietly through the room. A strange shift of energy. Small but noticeable.

Lloyd's expression softened. "Right. You guys don't get the same pacing we do here."

Morro crossed his arms, sighing. "Guess we're calling last call."

Harumi raised a brow. "We let the living overstay."