The Earth After Rebirth

"Ma—Sir Kiro, your father is asking for you at Philip's unit. He said, and I quote, bring your guts."

He was about to turn and leave when he remembered something, "Oh by the way Sir, congratulations on being an adult. Happy Birthday."

"Thanks!" Kiro grinned.

He knew what was coming, he ran to the kitchen first before heading out, Yuri and LJ were there chopping things up.

"Good morning lovely ladies." He greeted, they greeted back. Wishing him a happy birthday.

He quickly had eggs and sausages. It was the fastest he'd ever eaten. He knew drinking on an empty stomach would be his own undoing.

He ran to Philip's unit. The land was pure white, it clearly snowed during the night.

The sky was clear though, it was sunny but it gave them as much warmth as a winter sun was allowed to give.

He got there and they were seated on the couches, there was so much alcohol on the table that he doubted there was even a table there to begin with. They had the TV on.

[Singer Jaen is in trouble with...]

"Yo, happy birthday Ki!" Hiro saw him first, the talking drowned the TV completely.

He hadn't even sat down when Philip threw him the same beer. "It's the 13th." He said simply.

"Very reliable." Kiro commented with a slight chuckle.

He downed the beer in one go, it was bitter but it was a nice kind of bitter. They thought that would make him stagger or anything, but he stood there sober as when he first walked in.

"Are you sure it's your first time?" Sekani. enquired.

"Haha its actually a funny story..." He took a seat.

Sekani raised an eyebrow, his face told him, he'd be in trouble if he did.

Since he'd drank drugged alcohol before, his immune system made him sturdier. Not that he couldn't get drunk, but it'd take more than this.

He decided to just tell them about Isaac, about everything that went down in the academy. About how he almost got expelled because of it.

Hiro occasionally chimed in too, if he forgot a single detail. They were telling them this story that seemed to be straight out of a film, the story sounded more funny than serious with alcohol in their system.

"So we got fired because of you?" Sekani couldn't contain his laughter. "While this would've been disastrous, I'm proud you boys stood up for yourselves."

"That's my little bro." Philip was even prouder.

They sat there for most of the morning, drinking and chatting about what it meant to be an adult.

Then there was a knock on the door. Wilfred entered with Isla and...

'Her dad?' Kiro was getting a bit drunk but the sight sobered him up. Hiro gave him a cheeky smile.

"Sorry for the late introductions. As I understand it you moved here a couple of days ago? I'm Jesús Silva, I live across from your estate. This is my daughter Isla Silva." He entered, offering his hand to Sekani.

"Of course I've met Isla, lovely girl. I'm Sekani Waynworth, pleasure to meet you, Silva." Sekani accepted his hand.

"Haha, I can see where your son gets his height from."

"He took it and some."

Jesús made it a point to shake Philip's hand too. "Also yours?"

Philip was about to answer with a resounding no, and his life story about how he ended up being picked up by a nice family.

"Yes." Sekani interjected.

Philip could use a father figure and Sekani didn't mind being one for him, as long as he didn't stray from the right path, he was more than willing.

Jesús was wearing very casual clothes. Kiro had seen him once but he could tell he didn't wear those very often, he even looked out of place wearing them.

"Of course I've met Kiro and you Hiro." He took out a bottle of gin, "here's something for the birthday boy."

He still didn't shake his hand though. He took a seat across from Sekani and they talked like old friends, they instantly clicked. It was mostly business, but also just family.

Isla seemingly didn't like drinking, so she didn't. She just sat between Kiro and Hiro. Annoying them about dungeon runs with her guild.

"Don't play games too much and forget to live." Philip commented.

"If we stopped playing games, wouldn't you be out of business?" Kiro attempted to shut him up.

"Haha, I guess that's true. But there's also this saying, don't sh*t where you eat. We can't very well get high on our own product?" He said sagely.

Kiro laughed at this, it was indeed spot on. He nodded in agreement.

"I didn't know you had an older brother?" Isla whispered.

Kiro thought for a moment. "I do." He smiled looking at Philip. Who was just a carefree idiot, which is probably why his father took a liking to him.

"Your son is something else, have you seen the business he created, capitalising from the recently popular game?"

"His brain works surprisingly well when money is concerned." Sekani laughed.

Another knock disturbed them and Wilfred brought in Saanvi, Nikolai and Felix.

"Everyone's coming here but nobody is bringing a gift, what kind of rich people party is this?" He enquired.

"Our gifts were left with your mum at the main house, don't take us for fools." It was Felix who answered while he poured himself some whiskey and downed it in one go.

They started playing all sorts of drinking games. Since Isla was the only one who didn't drink, she was in charge of making sure the rules were followed. She also took a lot of pictures of them doing stupid things.

Of course these games were played by the kids. The dads were in a heated conversation. Jesús was intrigued by the company they just started. If he was shameless he'd attempt to worm his way in, but he knew better.

Isla was in love with Kiro anyway. While he had a say, there was nothing he could do to stop her, there was really nothing he could say against Kiro as the kid he'd proven himself.

It was just natural law to not like the kid who wants to take your daughter away.