After Tomorrow, It Will No Longer Be a Problem

Chapter 45: After Tomorrow, No Longer a Problem

Evil Clark?

David's expression twisted with curiosity—he'd never heard that one before.

Clark really ought to be here to hear this, to feel what it was like to be treated like a criminal.

"The legends your tribe passed down have nothing to do with me."

Done giving Kara a chance to pester him, David's body flickered, vanishing at near-sonic speed, leaving a few leaves swirling in his wake before they drifted slowly to the ground.

"I don't have your ability to turn into a wolf."

Catching a withered yellow leaf as it fell before her eyes, Kara stared in the direction David had gone, hope flickering in her gaze, her face a tangle of emotions.

That kind, serene old woman from the nursing home had foreseen her future before she died.

Don't get close to David and his brother, or your fate will fall into misfortune.

If misfortune was her destiny, she wouldn't run from it—she'd already steeled herself, as long as it helped Nama defeat Sergei.

David now understood why that transfer student had been both warm and wary around him.

Under that burning gaze, like chasing a faith, Kara had made him deeply uncomfortable.

Gaining a new ability in the forest and testing it had eaten up a lot of time.

By the time he looked up, it was nearly afternoon.

David returned home.

"David, you're back?"

The oppressive atmosphere that had hung over the house was gone.

Clark couldn't hide a hint of smugness in his smile.

"Just now, Rickman sent someone to cancel the contract.

Not just us—the contracts for the other farms too."

He'd never realized helping people could feel this good. Most importantly, he'd outdone his brother, solving this neatly and quickly.

This time, his brother should realize that problems didn't always have to be solved with brute force and cruelty.

"Son, we don't have to move."

Jonathan and Martha nodded with smiles. "The farm and the house are back in our family."

Clark had just recounted his whole process to their parents.

He said he'd been too anxious to wait for his brother, so he'd rushed ahead to Chloe's house, then hidden his identity to force Rickman—who'd used his ability to cheat his way into the farm—to revoke the contract.

Jonathan and Martha retold the story, and David learned the details.

Though they were a bit worried about their son using his powers, the thought that the meteor might have created plenty of Metahumans eased their minds somewhat.

"You must be hungry. I'll make lunch right now—should be ready before you have to head to school."

With the problem solved and the weight lifted, Martha remembered her two sons hadn't eaten yet and bustled cheerfully into the kitchen.

"Without your sharp and quick analysis, Clark couldn't have resolved this so fast. Good job, son."

Jonathan patted his younger son's shoulder warmly, then followed his wife into the kitchen to help, as if they'd never argued.

The clouds had cleared, and the house was back to its usual ease and warmth.

David knew his father was just trying to spare his feelings, hoping he wouldn't feel frustrated or down that Clark had solved it with his superhuman abilities while he'd been left behind.

"David, why aren't you especially happy?"

Standing beside his brother, Clark crossed his arms, puzzled.

"Is it because I beat you to solving this?"

Was David really that competitive?

"What's there to be happy about?"

David pulled his gaze from his parents and frowned at him.

"Don't you think Mom and Dad are too kind?

The house and farm were ours to begin with."

After something like this, they were satisfied just getting back what was taken. He'd seen their kindness before, but sometimes it made him think—being nice really did make you an easy target.

"I feel like Mom and Dad aren't that happy either."

Clark pulled David aside and lowered his voice.

He'd overheard his parents quietly discussing whether to report Rickman, to make sure he couldn't use his ability to harm others or steal what people treasured again.

But if someone found out Rickman's secret, and then someone reported him right after, wouldn't that make Rickman suspect the Blue-clad man was Clark?

Jonathan and Martha hesitated, keeping that worry to themselves.

"Several farm owners could file a joint report."

David said, watching his parents make lunch in the kitchen.

"Wouldn't that make us too obvious a target?"

Several farmers, puzzled by why they'd suddenly sold their farms and houses, suspected Rickman had used some kind of drug or potion to get them to sign the contracts. Reporting it to the police for investigation was perfectly reasonable.

"It's a way."

Clark's eyes lit up as he nodded.

"Knowing my parents, if this isn't resolved, they'll keep it bottled up and it'll become a knot in their hearts."

He looked at David, who'd just offered the suggestion, a bit puzzled.

David was being so gentle about solving this—totally unlike him.

Was his example as a role model really that strong this time?

Or had he always misunderstood David, and the only reason David had acted that way before was because they'd exposed their abilities and identities?

"As long as I keep my identity hidden from now on, David won't have to beat anyone into a vegetative state again, right?"

Thinking this, Clark couldn't help but feel pleased.

He didn't know that while David had proposed the idea, he didn't actually think it would work.

"A baseless report with no evidence—the police might not take it seriously."

And someone like Rickman, a billionaire with wide connections and considerable influence, wouldn't be easy to bring down.

"Add in his ability, and it's almost certain to fail."

David shook his head inwardly.

He'd brought it up just to keep his parents from worrying about this until tomorrow.

As for after tomorrow... this wouldn't be a problem anymore.

"Clark, David, time to eat."

Lunch was ready quickly. Martha gently called to her two sons. "Hurry up and eat so you can get to school."

David smiled and sat down at the table with Clark. After a couple of bites, he looked up and complimented his mother's apple pie—it tasted even better.

Watching her two sons wolf down their food, Jonathan gently held his wife in his arms in the kitchen. The afternoon sunlight fell on them, warm and soothing.

Tending the farm could sometimes be tiring. Maybe it was like that saying—you only truly cherish something after you lose it.

They hadn't rested at all this noon, but a faint sense of peace and happiness settled over them.

"As long as our family can stay like this forever, that's the greatest happiness."

Mother Martha sighed.

"Probably not easy," Jonathan said with a shake of his head and a smile. "Your two beloved sons will go to college sooner or later, get married, and start families."

"I wonder what kind of wives Clark and David will find?" Thinking about it, Mother Martha couldn't help but daydream.

"Cough, cough..."

Both with hearing far sharper than normal, David and Clark exchanged a glance, choked a little awkwardly.

"Slow down, you two. Look at you."

Hurrying over, Mother Martha poured them each a glass of water, scolding with concern. The warmth of the moment filled the whole house.