Caleb laughs during breakfast

Breakfast begins as it it does every morning.

Lupin, Van Helsing, Victoria, Nemo, and Dorian.

And me.

And Elliot.

These meals, with six human faces, and one Chimera face, have become familiar to me.

"Mmm! This salad is really good." Victoria says.

"I know, right? I made a new dressing to go with it. I was trembling with emotion when I first tasted it." Nemo says.

"I think I say this every time we eat. But I still can't believe someone as crude as you manages to create such delicate tastes." Van Helsing says.

"Why do you always have to attach an insult to a compliment?! Do you have some kind of mental disorder of something?!" Nemo asks.

"Ahah, Nemo, everyone speaking to you is just compelled to add just a soupçon of cynicism to their words." Doreen says.

"Ahh, I see, I see! So it's my fault people talk to me that way! That's what I thought!" Nemo says. "You too, Doreen-G? What's that supposed to mean?! Keep this up, and I'm not cooking anymore!"

"Hee hee." I say.

"Eh?" Lupin asks.

"Ha ha. You're all so funny." I say.

"Oh." Victoria says.

"What's the matter?" I ask.

"Did you see that?" Nemo asks.

"I most certainly did." Doreen says.

"He wasn't shy about it. How could I miss it?" Van Helsing asks.

"Um... What's going on?" I ask.

"Caleb, everyone, including myself, is surprised to see you laughing as if you're enjoying yourself." Victoria says.

"I was laughing?" I ask.

"Oh, yes, tittering like a schoolgirl. You have a very nice smile, you know." Lupin says.

"Niiiiiice! Your cuteness comes out even more when you smile! All hail the future Mr. Nemo!" Nemo says.

"Don't **** a marriage on him, dolt." Van Helsing says.

"It's been a while since I've really laughed." I say.

"It's the first time we've seen it." Lupin says.

"Yes. I was somewhat concerned that perhaps you were incapable of laughing at all." Van Helsing says.

"What? You're always acting like you don't care about him, but you were concerned about him after all." Victoria says.

"Quiet. I said 'somewhat'. We've been training for some time now. It's natural to form some attachment." Van Helsing says.

"Van Helsing, you're more complex than I thought. Maybe you're just pure, I guess." Nemo says.

"Shut your mouth, Nemo. The next time you insult me, you're done." Van Helsing says.

"Whatever! If you make fun of me again, you're not getting more food!" Nemo says.

"Oh, both of you. You can be as lively as you want, but don't spill the food." Doreen says.

"Those two are always fighting." Victoria says. Elliot jumps on the table and runs over to me. "Whoa! Elliot! Get off the table!"

"Perhaps she is excited as well to see him smile." Doreen says.

"Haha, this needs to become one sort of annual holiday!" Lupin says.

I think my smile made this meal more lively than usual. "You guys...! It's embarrassing if you all make a big fuss over it."

"You made them so happy, they couldn't help but cause an uproar. They were able to see someone they care about smile." Doreen says.

"Really?" I ask.

"Yes, of course. Please, continue to show us that smile of yours." Doreen says.

"I'm sure it'll happen again, when I'm having so much fun with all of you." I say.

At this, everyone else looks around and smiles, too. We talk for a while.

"By the way, Caleb. How is your training? Is it going well?" Lupin looks serious.

"Not as well as I'd like. The more I train, the more I see parts of me that need improvement." I say.

"That's good. It's proof you're growing." Victoria says.

"Yes. I am astonished by how quickly you pick things up, and your physical abilities. Having some confidence won't hurt you." Van Helsing says.

"Are you sure? That's good to hear." I say.

"Yeah, have more faith in yourself! I guarantee that you're doing just fine!" Nemo says.

Everyone's words make me genuinely happy, and I nod to everyone in return.

"So you're at the point where everyone acknowledges your skills. This might be a good time then." Lupin looks around and grins. "Ladies and gentleman. This lady thief, Arsene Lupin, has some amazing information to share with you. It's time for us to act."

We fall silent at Lupin's words, waiting to hear what she says next.

And she says something none of us could expect.