The sun shone brightly over a quiet neighborhood in Japan, casting long, golden beams across the bustling streets. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted from a nearby bakery, blending with the crisp morning air. Haruka, Shinichi, Tsubasa, and Kijino were scattered about town, tending to their daily routines, blissfully unaware that their day was about to take an unexpected turn.

Meanwhile, Don Momotaro, or rather Taro, stood on a customer's doorstep, locked in a heated debate over a package of cheese. His posture was rigid, arms crossed, his expression unwavering.

"I'm telling you, sir, the cheese is in perfect condition," Taro insisted.

The customer, an elderly man with deep wrinkles and a shrewd glint in his eye, held the package at arm's length, his scowl deepening. "Perfect condition? Then what's this? Look at the angle of the label—it's slightly off! I demand compensation!"

Taro raised an eyebrow. "You expect coupons because of a misaligned label?"

"It's a matter of principle!" the old man huffed. "I run a respectable household! I refuse to tolerate this level of negligence!"

"The product itself is not damaged, therefore, there is nothing to accommodate for." Taro retorted.

"I expect my cheese to be in perfect condition when I bathe in it!" Shouted the old man.

"Bathe in it?" Taro questioned.

"I like taking cheese baths." The old man admitted with a giggle.

Across town, in a dimly lit, nearly deserted library, a young teen sat hunched over a comic book, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the pages. His fingers tightened around the edges, frustration growing in his chest.

"Why can't real life be like this?" he muttered. The more he read, the more it gnawed at him. The action, the adventure, the heroes standing against all odds—it was everything he longed for. But in the real world? Nothing. Just boredom and mediocrity.

His frustration boiled over. His pulse quickened. A strange, tingling sensation crawled up his spine. His skin pulsed with an unnatural glow, his body trembling with newfound energy. Then, a wicked grin spread across his face.

"WORMHOLE!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the empty halls.

In a flash, his form twisted. His body elongated, features morphing into something inhuman. He had transformed into a Hitotsuki—an abomination fueled by his obsession. With a manic laugh, he lifted his arms and fired glowing portals in every direction. Bookshelves warped and twisted, tables disappeared into swirling voids, and chairs were sucked into endless loops of space.

Civilians screamed and scattered as he burst out of the library, unleashing his chaotic power onto the streets. Anoni—mindless foot soldiers with blank, metallic masks—emerged from the shadows, their presence amplifying the chaos. The city block was descending into madness.

Just as the old man was launching into another dramatic complaint about the cheese, "Donburako!" Taro's Donblaster buzzed to life. He barely had time to process the alert before the familiar sensation of being pulled through space overtook him.

Within moments, he reappeared, fully transformed into Don Momotaro, standing in the midst of the destruction. His red and gold armor gleamed under the sun as he took in the sight of civilians fleeing in terror.

The other Donbrothers materialized alongside him, each one looking equally inconvenienced.

"This better be worth interrupting my day for," Kiji Brother grumbled, rolling his shoulders.

"Hey! Check it out! He looks just like a character from my favorite cartoon!" the Hitotsuki suddenly exclaimed, pointing eagerly at Inu Brother.

Inu Brother's already diminutive form seemed to stiffen with frustration. "If I could change my suit design, I wouldn't look like this!" he snapped before charging forward with reckless abandon.

The other Donbrothers followed suit, engaging the Anoni in combat.

Oni Sister grinned as she cracked her knuckles. "Alright, let's get this over with. I had a manga chapter to work on."

An Anoni lunged at her, swinging a Ano Hammer. She ducked, flipping backward before slamming her Full Konbou into the creature's gut. With a spin, she sent another Anoni flying into a lamppost.

"You know, for mindless minions, you guys sure take your time attacking!" she taunted, dodging another swing.

Saru Brother stroked his chin in thought as an Anoni charged him. "Hmm… the way you move lacks refinement. Sloppy stance, no real technique. How disappointing."

The Anoni growled and swung its hammer. Shinichi simply sidestepped and countered with a powerful palm strike to the chest, sending the creature skidding across the pavement.

"See? No discipline. Fighting should be an art." He adjusted his stance before casually flipping another Anoni over his shoulder. "In bravado's grip, Foolish words, but fists are soft— Brave heart, weak the hand." Saru Brother spouted another haiku.

Kiji Brother yelped as an Anoni swung at him. "H-Hey! That was too close!" He flailed backward, barely dodging. "I was having a perfectly fine day with Miho-chan before this!"

Whipping out his Donblaster, he shot at the Anoni, managing to knock some back. "And another thing! Why do I always get the worst fights? This isn't fair!"

A group of Anoni surrounded him. Kijino groaned. "Oh, come on!"

Inu Brother was already mid-air, delivering a spinning kick to an Anoni's face. "Cartoon character? You've gotta be kidding me."

Another Anoni came from behind, but Inu Brother twisted, barely dodging. "Honestly, I'd rather be anywhere else right now." He slammed his fist into the Anoni's mask, knocking it to the ground.

He turned back to the Hitotsuki, who was still going on about his love for cartoons. "Do you ever stop talking?"

"You people don't get it!" the Hitotsuki ranted. "Cartoons are amazing! They tell stories better than real life ever could! The action, the heart, the characters—it's pure magic!" He dodged a slash from Don Momotaro, still raving.

Don Momotaro sidestepped with a smirk. "Aren't you a little too old to be watching cartoons?"

The Hitotsuki's eye twitched. His grin twisted into a sneer. "That's what they all say! No one understands how great they are!"

With a furious swipe, he summoned a massive, glowing vortex and hurled it directly at Don Momotaro.

Taro barely had time to react. The swirling void expanded rapidly, engulfing him before he could leap away. His teammates could only watch as their leader was swallowed whole.

"Wait—Taro?!" Oni Sister shouted.

"That's… not good," Saru Brother muttered.

"Where did he go?!" Kiji Brother yelled in panic.

The Hitotsuki only laughed. "Guess we'll find out next episode!"

And just like that, Don Momotaro was gone.

To be continued…