“I’m so full.. it’s been so long since I felt this way,” Nine said, rubbing her stomach. She literally just ate double.. this guy– girl.

“Prune? Are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh yes.. I’m fine.. just.. can’t believe how we’re home. It’s been so long, everything seems normal. I find it hard to believe that we were gone for half a year.

“True.”
“Look on the bright side, now we can enjoy the comforts of technology.”
Prune’s expression turned sullen.

I recalled how she complained about there being no internet to browse the first few weeks of the isekai journey.

Nine twisted the key to unlock the door and pushed the door open.

It was dark, pitch black.

I took off my shoes and took my first step inside in a long while.

Unlike the apartment [Home Sweet Home] where the light would be on 24/7, it wasn’t the same for the real apartment. Nine flicked on the light switch.

Books on the table, Liliath’s tea collection on the DIY shelf, cooking utensils hanging in the kitchen.
I continued further– the soap in the bathroom, floor mats, toothpaste, toothbrush, towels..

I walked into my room.

Silently, I made my way over to the desk where I usually worked. The books I’ve read, homework left undone, old sketches displayed under the glass..

I gripped my hands into a fist, repressing this pressure inside my chest.

I’m back.

===

Liliath, Prune, Nine and I sat around the living room table. The books randomly shuffled into the books shelves, warm tea in front of each of us.

It was silent.

The mood was.. at it’s all time low.

“Hey..” Nine spoek up first.

“I.. don’t know what to say except that.. I’m sorry for dragging the two of you into this.” heavy words.

“Me too,” Liliath said, bowing.

“It’s not your fault. We got to experience some fairly amazing things thanks to you two..” Prune said with a bitter smile.

“Yeah.. first the princess, then all the rest. Never really got to explore most of the world didn’t we?” Nine said.

“At least we got to visit some.”
“True.”
“Also, I kind of miss those system functions, how many points do you have?”
I pulled up my system to check.

“2235 points, from when we last left off with.”
“That’s too bad..”
“Is there any way to bring back the system functions?” Prune asked.
“Maybe there is,” Liliath said, also browsing through the system functions, “We’ll have to ask Bleu.. if we ever get the chance to.”
“We can’t meet her anymore, can we?” Prune said, turning to Nine..

“That’s a little disappointing..” Nine gripped her fist into a ball.

“Yeah..”

“Maybe we can? Anything is possible,” Liliath said.

“If it’s within the realm of fantasy then yeah.”
“If they said that they can bring Rin over, then it should be possible to being you over to Bleu’s domain.”

“Let’s hope so,” Nine said.

“Yeah..”
“””...”””

Another silent break. A sentimental mood flooded over.

“Admit it if you feel sad.” Liliath said, and raised her hands.

“Me,” Prune was next.

“Same here,” said Nine fell backwards and sank into the couch with a salute.

“I..”

“Noel?”

Trembling, I wipe the tears from my eyes.

“No.. we’ve got to move on.”

Yes. We’ve got to move on. There are still things we need to do. I can’t be sentimental, there’s no point in feeling this. It’s just a waste of time..
Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine..

“Come here,” she stood up and pulled me into her embrace, “Noel, emotions exist for a reason, It’s alright to let loose once in a while.” 

She tightened her arms around me, I felt her warmth, as if afraid of letting me go.

“Noel, you were amazing, you were cool, you were brave. But it’s no excuse to deny yourself,” her voice quivered, “Don’t repeat the same mistakes I did.”

“You were the MVP in the end Noel. We got to return thanks to you,” Nine said.
“It’s alright Noel. Everyone here has cried,” Prune said.
“Yeah, what she said.”

Tears fell drip by drip. 

“It’s alright Noel.. just cry it out, it’s fine..” Liliath patted my back.

I closed my eyes.

No point looking back, no reason to dwell in the past.

Put away these painful feelings and ignore the present moment; what would life be?
These emotions..

These memories..

These experiences..

Would I have rather not experienced it all? 

“Thank you.. everyone.”

No.

Not a chance.

…

..

.

<THE END>

<NOT>

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