Fun Family Dinner

[ — Status screen —

> Cursed toybox is merging curse item 'Charm Earrings' with toy 'Apex Earring'…

> Cursed toybox is animating the toy 'Apex Earring' as a toy summons…]

While the cursed toybox did its thing and Dame Wasp was busy updating her software, Ace washed up and changed into something comfortable before heading downstairs for dinner. With everything that transpired today, dinner was the last thing on Ace's mind, but he did not want to test his mother's patience anymore.

"Ace, help your mother set the table," Ace's dad ordered, seeing him arrive.

"Sure," Ace began to set the table while his father seated himself comfortably.

"Al, the juicer is acting up. You have to take it to the service center before its warranty expires," Ace's mother informed his father while setting the chili pot and cornbread loaf at the center of the table.

"Mary, can it wait till the weekend? Its service center is all way on the other side of the city," Alwin Lander proposed.

"No, the warranty ends in three days," Mary Lander lamented, expressing concern while serving three chili bowls.

"How about I do it?" Ace suddenly offered, reaching for a slice of cornbread.

Alwin and Mary simultaneously gazed at their son in astonishment, hearing him offer to help.

"Okay, son. But you can't Uber. You have to take the city bus," Alwin intently instructed his son and then grinned to his wife, "Honey, problem solved. The boy will take the juicer to the service center."

"No, wait, who said anything about going to the service center? I was only offering to repair the juicer," Ace interjected, clarifying himself.

"Oh, you were kidding. Al, he was kidding. Is this some kind of prank? It's not funny, Ace," Mary brushed off her son's offer to repair the juicer.

"No, I am serious. I can fix the juicer," Ace asserted. But he was not surprised by his parents' reaction.

"No, you are not going anywhere near the juicer." Mary sternly warned her son and continued, "It is a $600 cold press juicer and the most thoughtful New Year gift your father's greedy company has ever given. It makes the best homemade orange juice I have ever had."

"Mary, let the boy give it a try. It's the first time he has shown interest in anything other than video games, cartoons, or his model toys," Alwin expressed, feeling pleased that his son was finally showing interest in something he could make a living off.

"Al, the juicer has the latest microchip in it. What does he know about them? Please, just take it to the service center," Mary did not want to part with her favorite juicer so soon.

"Tell you what, Mary, if Ace wrecks your juicer, he will buy you a new one—no, a better one," Alwin declared, disregarding his wife's threatening stare.

"But I don't have that kind of money," Ace said after swallowing the cornbread he was chewing in his mouth.

"Then get a part-time job," Alwin suggested.

"You didn't let me get a part-time job, saying I have to focus on my studies," Ace reminded his father.

"What I meant to say was if you improve your grades, you can get a part-time job. Besides, why are you worried? Didn't you say you can fix the juicer?" Alwin retorted, slurping his chili from the bowl, then asked Mary for seconds.

"Then what do I get if I fix the juicer?" Ace inquired, believing he should be rewarded for a job well done if he were to be punished for failing.

"You get to be a good son," Alwin answered shamelessly, reaching for another slice of cornbread.

"Mom, was I adopted," Ace asked, feeling wronged hearing Alwin's cold answer.

"No, honey. But the hospital you were born in was mentioned in the news in light of a baby-switching scandal. But that was long after you were born. I am sure you have nothing to worry about," Mary reassured her son.

"..." Ace was without words.

"I am kidding," Mary said as she signaled Ace if he needed seconds after seeing his bowl was empty.

"You guys will be sorry that you ever doubted my capabilities," Ace declared, rising from his seat. Then, soaking his bowl in the sink, he picked up the juicer from the countertop and carried it upstairs to his room.

"Sign~, I have to buy a new juicer," Mary sighed, suddenly losing her appetite.

"Mary, have faith in our son," Alwin urged. He later added, "But if I were you, I would find one within our budget. You know he isn't skilled or social enough to be a part-timer."

"Al, are we bad parents for having low expectations of our kids."

"No, Mary, we are not. It helps us love our socially awkward kids."

…

"Rose, I need your help with this," Ace requested, placing the juicer on his study table.

"Yes, master. What do you need me to do?" Dame Wasp asked, looking at the juicer that Ace brought with him.

"See what's wrong with it and fix it. I can trust you with this, right?" Since Dame Wasp could repair her cybernetic parts and make drones, Ace felt she would have no problem fixing the juicer.

"Leave it to me, Master. The technology used in this juicer is too primitive to pose any challenge to me," Dame Wasp assured. Then she confidently offered her expertise, "If you want, I can try enhancing its performance."

"Go nuts, but keep it user-friendly and safe. My mom's the one who will be using it," Ace did not care what Dame Wasp did with the juicer as long she got it working again, and he saw his parents shocked faces in the morning.

"Got it, master."

"Do you need tools?"

"No, my cybernetic body has the tools I need."

"Okay, then," Ace planned to see Dame Wasp work her magic before studying the curse arts, but his status screen popped up, informing him that the cursed toybox had animated apex earring,

[ — Status Screen —

> Cursed Toybox has animated the toy 'Apex Earring.'

> Toy summon 'Apex Earring' added to toy space.

> Toy space: (2/2)

> Toymancer can now summon Apex Earring. ]