EPISODE SEVEN
INTERRUPTED

Jenna finally reached the familiar, comforting sight of her home, a small solace amid the turmoil that had just unfolded. She heaved a long, weary sigh, her shoulders drooping slightly as she walked with her sister, Momoko, to the back of the house. Both of them were on edge after the unexpected attack, and they hadn’t had a chance to process the shock of it all yet.

As they reached the broken window, Jenna and Momoko stopped, looking at the disarray in the gym room inside. The once-ordered space was in complete shambles, equipment overturned, mirrors cracked, and debris scattered across the floor. The sight stirred a potent mix of emotions in Jenna—anger, sorrow, disbelief. For Momoko, though, fury came first.

"Why did they suddenly enter our house?" she burst out, her hands clenched. Jenemes were known for their colossal presence, terrorizing from afar, but these Jenemes had actually entered their home. It didn’t make sense. "They usually stay outside, wreaking havoc without invading homes… Why would they come in?" Momoko’s voice held a note of frustration and uncertainty as she tried to piece it together. Perhaps the creatures had initially entered as humans or smaller beings, only transforming inside the house. But even that didn't explain why their house was targeted.

Jenna pulled her jacket tightly around herself, her fingers gripping it protectively as her gaze drifted over to the bushes in the garden. She and Momoko had barely escaped through there, tumbling out and running like their lives depended on it. The memory of that frantic escape played out in her mind, and her fingers tightened around her jacket, her expression darkening.

Momoko placed a gentle hand on Jenna’s shoulder, her voice a mixture of encouragement and shared sorrow. "Let’s go in. We’ll fix this together," she said quietly. Jenna nodded, her resolve returning, and they walked inside.

This house meant everything to both of them. It held pieces of their past, memories they cherished, and losing it to the destruction left by the Jenemes was unthinkable. As they closed the door behind them, Jenna kicked off her shoes and trudged toward the living room, each step heavy with exhaustion. She sank onto the couch, letting herself collapse against the soft cushions.

The living room was modest, a small, cozy space with a few personal touches. Soft, earth-toned curtains framed the windows, letting in filtered light that warmed the room. A few framed photos sat on the mantle, memories frozen in time. The worn-out fabric of the couch and a coffee table littered with books and knickknacks gave it a lived-in feel—nothing extravagant, but comfortable and homely.

Meanwhile, Momoko headed down the narrow hallway to the kitchen at the back of the house. The kitchen was equally simple, with a small wooden table in the center, neatly arranged spice jars on the counter, and a window that looked out over the overgrown garden. She grabbed her waist apron from a coatrack near the door, tying it around her waist with a sense of purpose. "Jenna, I’ll make lunch," she called out, pulling cabbage and tomatoes from the fridge. She set about chopping them, the familiar rhythm of the knife against the cutting board bringing a semblance of normalcy.

Jenna, too tired to respond, lay sprawled on the couch. She leaned back, her head tilted over the edge of the cushion, her arms resting on her stomach, bare skin showing where her jacket had slipped to the side. Her eyes closed, welcoming the silence of the moment.

Without warning, Hibiki materialized beside her, floating in mid-air, his posture tall and hands clasped behind his back. His gaze softened as he looked down at Jenna, noting her worn expression. "Do you need help, Master?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with a hint of concern.

Jenna opened one eye, a faint smile crossing her lips as she took in the sight of him. "Haha, you came even though I didn’t call you," she murmured, her voice tinged with gratitude.

"I could feel your distress," he replied gently.

She nodded, slowly sitting up. "Hibiki-san," she said, a playful yet hopeful tone in her voice. "Help me patch up the gym room, will you?" She tilted her head with a smile.

Hibiki’s eyes twinkled with a soft spark as he shook his head in mild amusement. "As you wish, Master," he replied, nodding with a subtle, reassuring smile.

Jenna sprang to her feet, energy renewed, and dashed towards the gym room adjacent to the kitchen. Hibiki, her ever-loyal spirit companion, hovered behind her, gliding silently through the air. The sight that met her gaze in the gym room was a mess. The door was in pieces, shattered and scattered across the floor, and the equipment lay in disarray from the earlier Jeneme invasion.

"Alright," Jenna said, taking a deep breath and mentally mapping out their tasks. “First, let’s clean up the room and move the gym equipment out of the way. Then, we’ll fix the door, repair the windows, and finally, bring back the equipment that’s still working. Anything broken, we’ll replace.” She studied the room, hands on her hips, before raising her arms in a confident pose, flexing her biceps with an air of pride. "Let’s do this!" she cheered, pumping herself up.

Hibiki watched her, pleased to see her spirits lifted once again. He gave a small nod, acknowledging her determination, and with that, they set to work. They both donned full-body aprons and tied handkerchiefs around their heads to shield themselves from the dust that had settled on everything. Working together in a synchronized rhythm, they started picking up debris, sweeping the floor, and gathering any broken pieces of equipment to place them aside. Jenna scrubbed away stubborn marks and swept the floors, her mind focused and her energy unwavering.

Just then, a warm and inviting aroma drifted through the air. Momoko’s voice called from the kitchen, "Lunch is ready!"

Jenna lifted her head, sniffing the delicious smell. Her stomach rumbled in response, and she stood up, stretching her arms high above her head with a satisfied, “Mmm!”

“Let’s continue after eating,” she said with a contented sigh, setting down her cleaning cloth.

Hibiki nodded and, with a faint smile, dematerialized as quickly as he had appeared. Jenna made her way to the kitchen, her steps light and joyful as she anticipated the meal. Momoko had already set the table, filling it with an array of traditional Japanese dishes. Bowls of steaming miso soup, plates of pickled vegetables, delicate slices of tamagoyaki, and perfectly grilled fish lay arranged alongside bowls of fluffy rice. The comforting, familiar aromas of each dish filled the room, and Jenna felt her mouth water as she took her seat.

Sitting across from Momoko, they pressed their hands together in a short prayer gesture. “Itadakimasu!” they chimed together, appreciating the meal in front of them.

Jenna picked up her chopsticks, about to dive into the first bite, when a sudden ringing shattered the peaceful moment. Momoko glanced down, frowning as she pulled out her phone. It wasn’t just any phone—it was her JEO device, a compact, round gadget with a glowing button that doubled as a communicator. The caller ID hovered in a holographic display above the button.

"Why is this one ringing?" Momoko muttered, more to herself than to Jenna. She glanced at the name on the hologram and quickly pressed the button. The hologram expanded, projecting the figure of Shimin onto a green screen.

“Agent Momoko,” Shimin’s voice was clipped and formal, her expression as serious as ever. “Come to the JEO Eastern Headquarters along with Agent Jenna, right now.”

With that, the hologram flickered and disappeared, leaving the device in silence. Jenna sat there, her fist clenched on the table, holding her chopsticks tightly in one hand. She could feel her frustration bubbling over. "You’ve got to be kidding me," she muttered through gritted teeth, her eyebrows twitching in irritation. She had been looking forward to this meal, and they had called her in just as she was about to take her first bite.