029 ※ The Kids Who Are Apparently in Charge: A Lesson in Leadership, Tantrums, and How to Act Like You’re 5

"By the gods," Kai starts, his laugh echoing loudly, the sound filling the air like a force of nature, carrying with it an undeniable smugness. The way his voice rings out only serves to make my blood boil even more, especially with that infuriating, self-satisfied amusement that always seems to spill from him in waves. It's the kind of voice that grates on every nerve in my body, and in that moment, it only intensifies my irritation. "Are you really afraid of heights?"

I narrow my eyes at him, feeling the frustration well up inside me like a storm on the verge of breaking. "Stop being such a child, Golden boy," I snap back, my words sharp and pointed. My arms instinctively cross over my chest in a defensive gesture, and I turn away from him, the action making me feel like I've just taken back a small piece of control. In that moment, I'm glad I chose to shut myself off from the source of all the aggravation.

Kai doesn't even miss a beat. His eyes flicker over to Samantha, and in that split second, I see his mind working. Without any hesitation, he shoots her an exaggerated, almost comically dramatic pout, trying far too hard to make himself seem wounded. If anything, it only makes him look even more childish than he already does. "Oh, come on, she laughed at me because I don't like that horrible beast she calls Bakaashi," he protests, his tone whiny in a way that grates on my nerves and manages to dig under my skin even more. "Now it's my turn to laugh at her."

Samantha, ever the picture of calm composure, simply rolls her eyes at him. She's clearly unfazed by his antics, as if they're nothing more than a nuisance she's learned to ignore over time. "Oh, please," she says with a sigh, her voice dripping with a mixture of mild exasperation and amusement. "She has the power to make you look like a fucking child, just like everyone else." Ryusei, who had been standing in the background, mutters something under his breath. I can tell he's holding back his laughter with difficulty. His voice is light, filled with the kind of amusement that only makes my irritation grow, and if I could, I'd probably add him to my list of people I want to punch at this moment.

"Shut your mouth, wolf boy," Kai retorts, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Ryusei, the tension rising with each passing second.

The mockery in Kai's voice only seems to fuel Ryusei's amusement even more. He grins, widening his smile as he watches Kai bristle. The expression on Ryusei's face is like a wolf circling its prey, only to taunt it mercilessly. "Look at him, on the defensive," Ryusei teases, his voice filled with playful mockery, the kind of tone that has the power to annoy just about anyone. "Such a cute little child."

I roll my eyes, the frustration building up even more, my patience running dangerously thin. "How can you be such an annoying puppy?" I snap, the words leaving my mouth before I can stop them. At this point, I don't care how petty or childish I sound. The incessant bickering is starting to wear me down, and I'm just about ready to throw in the towel. I can't even tell if I'm speaking to Kai or Ryusei anymore; they've both become the same source of irritation in my mind.

Kai, as expected, never backs down from a fight. He chuckles darkly, clearly finding far too much enjoyment in this petty back-and-forth. "It's better than being such a baby boy, right?" he retorts, his voice full of smug satisfaction, as if he's somehow won some grand victory in this ridiculous exchange.

I groan in frustration, throwing my hands up in the air in a dramatic gesture that mirrors the overwhelming feelings of exasperation swirling inside me. "Both of you look like children!" I shout, my patience finally breaking. "What the hell is wrong with you? What are you, like five years old mentally?" I shake my head in disbelief, the absurdity of it all becoming almost too much to bear. "Are you really telling me that you two are a King and a Captain of an army?" The words leave my mouth in an almost disbelieving rush, as I try to come to terms with the fact that these two are supposed to be leaders. It's hard to wrap my mind around.

Samantha, ever the calm and collected voice of reason, sighs deeply. She shakes her head, clearly unimpressed by the display, but I notice the corners of her lips twitching, as though she's trying to suppress a smile. "When you see them in action, you'll understand how they behave when they're actually facing a threat," she says, her tone soothing and reassuring. She's the kind of person who can calm even the most chaotic of situations with her quiet, steady demeanor. "But when they're here, with us and with the people in Mondstadt, they act like two kids." She gestures towards Kai and Ryusei with an exasperated wave. "I think all the boys here are like that, honestly. And Naomi too."

Everyone's attention shifts to Naomi, the one person who hasn't really been involved in the back-and-forth so far. She blinks in confusion, clearly not understanding why she's being included in the conversation. "Why me?" she asks, her brow furrowing slightly, genuinely perplexed by Samantha's statement.

Without missing a beat, Samantha shoots back with her usual sarcastic flair. "Because you act just like them most of the time," she says, her voice laced with playful mockery, as she points an accusing finger at Naomi. But the tone is light-hearted, and it's clear there's no malice behind it. It's all in good fun, even if Naomi doesn't see it that way just yet.

Naomi, never one to be outdone, shrugs nonchalantly, her relaxed demeanor as casual as ever. "But you act just like me, so what does that make you?" she retorts dryly, her voice full of amusement as she turns the tables on Samantha with a quick-witted comeback.

Samantha snorts, shaking her head in that resigned but affectionate way she always does. "Oh, shut up, you both," she mutters, though there's an undeniable fondness in her voice. "All of you are like a bunch of kids. Seriously." She pauses, letting out a dramatic sigh, but it's clear she's used to this dynamic. The way she speaks, the little hints of affection beneath her frustration, shows that this is nothing new. "So, Ava, in the end, I'm the responsible one here," she adds, her voice now taking on a more serious tone, though there's still a touch of warmth in it. "And I think that's not going to change with you around because, apparently, you act like a quarrelsome child towards Kai and like a normal idiot kid towards the other five."

Her words hit home, but instead of getting defensive, I can't help but smile a little at the truth in them. It's a reluctant acknowledgment, but it's honest. "You're kinda right," I admit, the corners of my lips lifting despite myself. "I guess I've got a lot to learn about acting like a grown-up around you guys." The admission feels strangely relieving, as if I've taken a small step toward accepting the reality of the situation. For the first time, I don't feel the pressure to pretend to be something I'm not.

The group falls into a brief, comfortable silence. The tension from earlier dissipates, but I can feel the weight of all the recent revelations pressing down on me. There's the soulbond, the truth about my parents, this strange new world I've been thrust into. It's a lot to process, and I can feel the mental exhaustion starting to settle in. The pressure is suffocating, threatening to overwhelm me if I let it. But instead of succumbing to it, I try to shift the focus, desperately searching for something more immediate, something I can wrap my head around.

"So, which wraths do you guys have?" I ask, my voice betraying the nervousness I'm trying to hide behind a forced smile. The question feels like a lifeline, a simple way to redirect my thoughts away from everything else that's been weighing on my mind. It's something more manageable, something I can control, and that's exactly what I need right now.

The question hangs in the air, and a brief silence follows as everyone considers how much they want to share. I can feel the tension building again, but this time it's different. It's not as overwhelming. It's more about the unknown, about the quiet shift in the room as everyone waits for someone to speak first. I realize I'm not the only one with something heavy on my mind.