Chapter 106

Damian sets foot in the Desmond estate for the first time since the school year started. Jeeves remarks to fellow servant Mary Jane that the household staff seem unusually tense. Seeking homework help, Damian knocks at Demetrius's door, but his older brother refuses without so much as opening it, redirecting him to the family's tutor. Deflated, Damian heads outside to romp with Max, his dog, who bowls him straight into the pond.

Mary Jane scolds the soaked boy, then drops the real news: Donovan has chosen to come home, and for the first time in ages the whole family will eat together. Damian spirals into panic at the prospect, though Jeeves reminds him it is just a meal. That evening every Desmond gathers at the table, Melinda and Damian visibly on edge while Donovan and Demetrius betray nothing. Melinda's attempt at small talk about Donovan's work earns a flat reply, and the meal proceeds in near silence, silverware providing the only sound. Donovan's wandering gaze and narrowed eyes unsettle his wife, his younger son, and even the serving staff. Damian works up the nerve to speak, but his father glances at him only briefly before eating again.

Demetrius finishes, is excused, and departs with a word of thanks. Melinda leaves next with her plate barely touched. Donovan, done last, smiles and calls the evening most worthwhile, then advises Damian to chew properly rather than rush before exiting with his bodyguards. The startled boy takes the advice to heart, chewing so diligently that Jeeves reacts. Asked afterward what "worthwhile" meant, Jeeves guesses that Donovan enjoyed dining with his family, and Damian bashfully admits he felt the same. Down the corridor, however, Donovan's expression darkens.

Damian returns to his family's estate for the first time since enrolling at Eden. Donovan makes a rare appearance at home, producing the first scene where all four Desmonds interact. The dinner exposes the family's estrangement: Demetrius stays detached, Melinda cannot meet her husband's eyes, and Damian's attempts at connection go mostly unanswered.

Donovan's parting comment about chewing food is the only direct fatherly guidance he gives Damian, and the chapter ends on his troubled expression as he walks away. Mary Jane and Max both debut on the page.

The chapter spans 23 pages in Volume 15's Term Break Arc and released on October 14, 2024, with Jeeves and Damian as cover characters. Max's coat appears darker brown here than the tan and brown coloring used for him in the official colored manga and the anime.

A quiz answer in Chapter 96 described Max knocking Damian into a pond, and that exact scenario replays in this chapter.