The morning started like any other in the Azura household.
The smell of toast wafted through the kitchen. Birds chirped outside the open window. The sun painted warm streaks across the hardwood floor. Lara sipped her coffee while skimming through the news on her phone, and Ethan flipped through TV channels absentmindedly.
Kai sat at the table in his usual hoodie, lazily munching on cereal and barely listening. Just another boring morning.
Then, the screen went black.
The TV crackled, then flashed bright gold. Every screen in the house—phones, tablets, even the microwave panel—synchronized into a single feed. An ethereal figure floated against a backdrop of swirling galaxies. His voice boomed across the globe.
"Attention, Inhabitants of Earth. You have been selected to participate in the Universal Tournament. This is not a request. Failure to comply will result in complete planetary erasure. Selection begins shortly. You may prepare however you like. It will not help."
Silence.
For a full five seconds, the Azuras just stared at the screen.
"…Wait, what?" Lara laughed nervously. "Is this a movie trailer?"
Ethan blinked. "That's gotta be a prank. Some viral marketing stunt. No way this is real."
Kai slurped the last of his cereal milk, leaned back in his chair, and muttered, "Nah. It's real."
Both parents turned to look at him.
"What do you mean it's real?" Ethan asked, laughing awkwardly.
Kai shrugged. "I mean exactly that. It's not a joke. Welcome to the universe."
The government feed took over next. A clearly rattled spokesperson appeared on screen.
"We confirm… the global appearance of unknown entities. All attempts at retaliation have failed. Humanity is now part of what is being called the Universal Tournament. Participation is mandatory. We… we don't yet understand the full consequences."
The camera shook slightly. A crash was heard offscreen. The feed cut out.
Lara's coffee cup slipped from her fingers and hit the table with a soft thud. "This… this can't be real."
Kai stood up, stretching. "Told you."
Ethan turned toward him, brows furrowed. "How are you so calm about this?"
"Because it doesn't change anything," Kai said, brushing crumbs off his shirt. "We were always doomed. This just gave it a name."
"That's not funny," Lara said, voice tight with fear. "We could die. You could die."
Kai gave her a sidelong glance. "Technically, anyone could die. I just prefer not to stress about things I can't control."
Ethan stood up, running a hand through his hair. "We have to figure out what to do. Maybe there's some way to opt out. Maybe if we stay off the grid—"
"There's no opting out," Kai interrupted. "They're not asking. They're doing. Earth's part of the show now."
Lara stared at him. "You're talking like this is normal."
Kai smirked slightly. "More normal than you think."
His parents exchanged a look. The panic was starting to take root now, blooming behind their eyes.
On the screen, officials returned. Emergency banners scrolled across the bottom: "Volunteers Being Accepted for Tournament Entry – Global Sign-up Now Open"
"Volunteers?" Lara whispered. "Who would… why would anyone volunteer for this?"
Kai glanced at the TV, then back at his parents. "People who think they have something to prove. Or nothing to lose."
"You're not thinking of—" Ethan started.
Kai raised a hand, stopping him. "Relax. I'm not signing up. Not interested in some cosmic game show. I've got better things to do."
"Like what?" Lara asked.
Kai looked around. "I don't know. Eat. Nap. Watch how badly this all goes. The usual."
"That's not funny," she snapped, but there was more fear in her voice than anger.
"I'm not joking," he said, his tone casual. "This has nothing to do with me."
Not yet, anyway.
He walked over to the sink, rinsed out his bowl, and dried his hands on a towel.
Behind him, Lara collapsed onto the couch, visibly shaken. Ethan stood frozen, arms crossed tightly over his chest as if trying to shield himself from something he couldn't see.
Kai turned to glance at them—his human parents. Just two fragile people trying to make sense of something far bigger than their world. For a moment, a flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.
"I'm gonna go for a walk," he said, grabbing his jacket. "Might be nice to see Earth before it becomes a crater."
"Kai—" Lara started, but he was already halfway out the door.
As it closed behind him, the muffled sound of another celestial broadcast echoed from the TV.
Inside, the Azuras sat in silence, the weight of the universe pressing down on their modest little home.