The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 109.5 - Date?

After a night of uncovered secrets and unsettling dreams, Shadow Moon awoke to a new day, the tension from the previous night still hanging in the air.

The group gathered around the breakfast table. Plates clinked, but the energy felt off, everyone exchanging awkward glances between bites, other than Atomu, Hiro, and Leo, who were enjoying their breakfast without a worry! 

Echo looked around the room, confused about why there was such high tension. 

"So... how did everyone sleep?" she broke the silence, trying to sound upbeat but sensing the unease around the room. Her voice was light, but her eyes scanned their faces for answers.

Aki, barely touching his food, leaned back in his chair.

"Did anyone actually get any sleep?" he quipped, his tone dry as he ran a hand through his messy hair.

"I slept like a dead baby!" Galaxy chirped, flashing a wide grin. She threw her arms behind her head, clearly unfazed by the mood in the room.

"Ughh! Galaxy!" everyone groaned as a wave of disgust hit the group like a ripple. 

"For god sake, Galaxy!" Echo grimaced, turning her head away as if the words physically pained her.

"Why would you say that?" Luna asked in absolute disgust for her words and their casualty. 

"What's wrong with you?!"Aki yelled, visibly cringing in his seat, his voice sharp with disgust.

"What?! It's an expression!" Galaxy argued, sitting upright and waving her hand, seeming angered by their repulse as if it was completely unjustified. 

"That's not the expression, you psycho!" Aki shot back. 

"Well, no one asked your opinion, mutt," Galaxy spat, folding her arms defiantly. Her eyes flashed with irritation as she glared at him.

Echo groaned, rolling her eyes as she pushed her half-eaten breakfast away.

"What's with you two? You both wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?" Her voice was sarcastic but tired, like she had heard this kind of squabbling too many times before.

Galaxy's expression darkened as she glared at Echo.

"Oh, sorry, we're not completely happy-go-lucky while someone's apparently out to kill us, Echo," she shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Ugh. Great. Now, I'm being the realist. Perfect," she quickly added, dropping her spoon in her bowl with a clatter. She promptly shoved it aside and left the room, spilling a splash of milk on the table from the impact of her shove. 

"Geez, guess someone's not going to the fair today!" Atomu called as if trying to persuade a child to behave better.

"She can still come to the fair," Echo sighed.

"What?!" Atomu protested, shooting his head back at Echo in shock.

"Come on! We really need some discipline around here!" he throw his arms up before crossing them as if trying to be a good parent. 

"Maybe we shouldn't go at all..." Yurio added without looking up from his plate. He rolled around his food with his fork, seemingly with no intention of eating it. 

"WHAT?!!!" Echo's head snapped up.

"THIS WAS YOUR IDEA!!! I thought you said we needed a distraction from how helpless we are right now?!" Her voice rose in frustration, the words spilling out.

"I didn't say that exactly," Yurio took offence.

"Still, don't act like the responsible one when you fought so hard not to be yesterday! Seriously, what's gotten into you?" Echo growled, her patience wearing thin, getting fed up with the dramatic mood swing from yesterday.