"It's just..." Bronya was at a loss for words and didn't know how to explain it. In the end, she simply took out a handkerchief and vigorously wiped Ishiu's head.
She didn't want Ishiu to carry the scent of another woman. If Seele discovered it after they got back, how heartbroken would she be?
"Mei, why is your face so red?" Aboard the Hyperion, Kiana looked suspiciously at Raiden Mei, whose pretty face was flushed red and whose snow-white neck was tinged with a hint of spring.
"Ah... I was afraid you'd all be waiting too long, so I ran a little fast." Raiden Mei turned her face away awkwardly. She rarely lied, especially to her friends, and it gave her an uneasy sense of guilt.
Yet that feeling somehow made her strangely happy. Whenever she looked at Kiana, she couldn't help thinking,
Kiana, you haven't kissed Ishiu yet, have you? You haven't, right? Ishiu's first kiss wasn't with you—it was with me, Raiden Mei!
Ahem... But kissing your little brother on the forehead doesn't seem like a big deal, does it? That should be perfectly normal, right?
Raiden Mei consoled herself like that.
She didn't know what had come over her then. She had only wanted to give him a farewell hug, but when she looked at Ishiu's somewhat youthful yet handsome face, an inexplicable impulse rose within her, and she kissed him.
But one thing was certain: she didn't regret it in the slightest. Instead, she was a little happy. Especially whenever she recalled Ishiu's stunned expression at the time, she couldn't help wanting to laugh.
Ahhh! This kid is just too adorable! I want to hug him some more!
Oh right, he had said that he owed her three requests. Should she...
For the moment, let's leave Kiana and Mei aside, who had gone with Theresa to St. Freya Academy. Ishiu and Bronya had already flown back to Siberia from a neighboring city.
After spending some more time traveling, they finally returned to the familiar Orphanage. By then, it was already six in the evening, and the sky had begun to darken.
Standing at the Orphanage gates, Ishiu looked wistfully at the place he had left four months ago. It was still exactly as he remembered, unchanged.
"Let's go in. Everyone misses you very much." Bronya stood beside him, her voice softening somewhat.
"Yeah." Ishiu nodded, took a deep breath, and pushed open the Orphanage gates.
It was mealtime for the children of the Orphanage. Everyone was gathered in the first-floor living room, and Ishiu's sudden entrance immediately drew every eye in the room.
When the children saw that it was Ishiu, they all froze.
"Hey! Everyone, I'm back!" Ishiu set down his backpack, flashed a smile, and waved at the children.
"Ishiu-gege!"
"Ishiu-gege is back!"
The moment he spoke, it was like tossing a stone into still water, instantly stirring up waves.
The next second, all the children ran toward him, with Rosaliya leading the charge.
The pink-haired little girl didn't slow down at all and crashed headfirst into Ishiu's arms. Fortunately, Ishiu's physical strength was now far beyond what it used to be. Otherwise, that headbutt alone might have made him cough up pounds of blood.
"You bastard, Ishiu! Where the heck have you been all this time?!" Rosaliya tightly wrapped her arms around Ishiu's neck. As if venting all her feelings, she kept rubbing her little head against his chest, her voice choked with tears.
"Ishiu, long time no see. Welcome home." Liliya was much calmer, but she also hugged one of Ishiu's arms, warmth filling her eyes.
"Ishiu-gege!"
Then a whole group of little kids rushed over, piling onto him like a stack of gourds and surrounding Ishiu completely. Within seconds, several little girls were hanging off him, with Rosaliya taking up the most space.
"Alright, stop crying. Didn't I come back?" Ishiu was both touched and helpless. The little kids surrounding him filled his ears with chirps and sobs of all kinds, making his head feel twice as big.
With no other choice, he cast a pleading look toward Bronya.
This time, Bronya didn't leave him hanging. She clapped her hands, her voice cool. "Alright, quiet down. And Liliya, be careful. Ishiu's arm is still injured."
Bronya's prestige in the Orphanage was no less than Cocolia's. The moment she spoke, all the children immediately fell quiet.
"Ishiu is hurt?" Rosaliya lifted her head and looked worriedly at Ishiu's arm, which was wrapped in thick bandages.
"It's fine, just a minor injury. Nothing serious." Ishiu smiled. His physical constitution had already surpassed the limits of humanity, not only in strength but also in recovery.
Besides, he had cultivated Mana for several hours on the flight back, which had accelerated his recovery even further. If he removed the bandages, they would see that the wound underneath had already begun to scab over.
"Ishiu, where exactly have you been all this time? We were all worried about you." Liliya asked softly.
Naturally, Cocolia couldn't tell them the truth about Ishiu's disappearance. She had only said that Ishiu had gone on a mission and would need a long time before returning.
So although everyone was worried, they hadn't been too anxious. But now that Ishiu had finally returned, they couldn't wait to hear about what he had experienced.
As for that, Ishiu had already prepared his story with Bronya on the way here. He casually made up a few tales and managed to fool the little kids.
"By the way, I brought presents for everyone this time. Do you want them?" After finishing his story, Ishiu smoothly changed the subject and pulled out a large number of gifts from his backpack. He had bought them in the Far East specifically to placate these little kids.
"Yes! Ishiu-gege is the best!" At the sight of the gifts, the little kids happily kissed Ishiu all over the face, covering him in saliva.
Though it was sticky, Ishiu was delighted. This feeling of coming home was truly wonderful.
"Come on, everyone gets one. Don't fight over them. If anyone fights, she won't get one."
Once all the gifts had been handed out, Ishiu sent the little ones away. After all, there was still the most important person he needed to see.
Ishiu followed Bronya all the way to his room. When he opened the door, the furnishings inside were exactly as he remembered them.
"Is Seele... here?" Ishiu looked at the empty room and asked hesitantly.
"Yeah." Bronya nodded, her expression somewhat downcast. "Every time Seele becomes quantumized, she comes to your room. If she comes back, she'll definitely be here."
"...I understand." Ishiu pressed his lips together and said to Bronya, "Then I'll wait for her here. Go take care of your own things. Don't worry about me."
"Alright. If you need anything, come find me in my room." Bronya knew Ishiu needed rest right now, so she didn't linger and turned to leave.
Ishiu: "..."
Maybe it was just his imagination, but why did it feel like Bronya was hinting at something?
I suspect you're driving, but I have no proof.jpg.
Shaking his head and throwing those messy thoughts aside, Ishiu lay on the bed. Looking at the familiar ceiling and feeling the soft blanket, he suddenly felt as if he had returned to four months ago.
"Seele..." Ishiu murmured. A wave of exhaustion washed over him. He closed his eyes and gradually drifted into sleep.
Ishiu didn't know how long he had slept, but when he woke up, he felt as though there was someone in his arms. Warm breaths brushed against his chest, making it itch slightly, and the familiar fragrance entering his nose told him who it was without even needing to look.
"See... le?"
Ishiu lowered his head. By the faint silver light coming through the window, he saw that familiar figure lying on his chest, eyes closed as if she had already fallen asleep.
Looking at the girl he hadn't seen for four months, Ishiu noticed that she seemed to have grown a little, though she had also become thinner. Her fair, jade-like skin appeared even more radiant beneath the moonlight, as if draped in a thin veil.
Ishiu couldn't help reaching out and gently touching the girl's cheek.
Seele's face was as soft and smooth as ever. Its incredible tenderness made him feel as though he were pinching a piece of fresh, silky tofu.
"Seele... long time no see." Ishiu wrapped an arm around Seele's back and pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair as he deeply breathed in her delicate fragrance.
Perhaps his movements had been a little too loud. Seele's eyelashes trembled slightly, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
"Ishiu... gege?"
"Yeah, I'm here." Ishiu spoke softly.
"Ishiu-gege... Is it really you? Seele isn't dreaming, right?" Seele raised her little face and blinked. Somewhat dazed, she extended a small hand and gently placed it on Ishiu's face, as if confirming whether the person before her was real or an illusion.
"Of course not. I'm back, Seele." Ishiu rubbed against Seele's little hand and smiled at her.
Seele stared blankly at him for over ten seconds. Her expression changed rapidly—joy, excitement, and finally, her eyes reddened as a mist quickly gathered in her azure pupils.
"Ishiu-gege! Sob... That's wonderful! You, you... I finally get to see you again!!!"
Seele suddenly burst into tears. Large teardrops rolled down her cheeks and all fell onto Ishiu's clothes.
She tightly hugged Ishiu's shoulders and pressed her tiny body into his arms, as though doing so would keep him from ever running away again.
She cried hard, so very hard. Her childish sobs echoed through the entire room, and even the bright moon outside seemed moved, hiding most of its face behind the clouds.
When Seele hadn't been able to find Ishiu in the Sea of Quantum, she had fallen into despair. She thought she would never see again the brother who had treated her like his own little sister.
After becoming quantumized, the world had become incredibly blurry in her eyes. Heaven and earth contained only her alone. She didn't know where she should go, so every time, she came to Ishiu's room and lay on that bed, as if doing so would allow her to meet Ishiu again in her dreams.
But now, the dream had ended, and she saw Ishiu in reality. The emotions she had accumulated over four months erupted all at once. Seele cried until she could barely breathe, yet she couldn't bear to separate from Ishiu even a little.
Ishiu said nothing. He simply patted her back gently while tenderly stroking her head, offering silent comfort.
Once Seele had vented enough and her sobs gradually quieted, Ishiu finally smiled and teased, "Seele, you're really a girl who looks beautiful fresh out of the water. Look, you've soaked my clothes through."
"Ishiu-gege... I'm sorry, I was too excited..." Seele's face immediately flushed red. Her already rosy face from crying became even redder.
Looking at the front of Ishiu's shirt, which was soaked over a large area by her tears, she said shyly, "Ishiu-gege, take off your shirt."
"Alright." Ishiu patted Seele's back, signaling for her to get off him first. Then he sat up from the bed and swiftly took off his T-shirt, revealing the well-defined contours of muscle beneath.
Seele covered her eyes, but she couldn't resist peeking at Ishiu's body through the gaps between her fingers. She was instantly so embarrassed that even the tips of her ears turned red.
Even after Ishiu changed into fresh clothes, she still didn't dare open her eyes. What if her heart beat too fast and she fainted?
That would be far too embarrassing.
"Seele, I'm done." Seeing that she was still squeezing her eyes shut, Ishiu couldn't help laughing. Even after several months apart, Seele was still so adorable.
"Ishiu-gege..." Seele opened her eyes and looked at Ishiu standing before her with a smile. For a moment, she was lost in thought.
She opened her mouth. Over the past few months, she had thought of countless things she wanted to say to Ishiu, but now that they had truly met, it felt as though something was lodged in her throat, leaving her unable to say anything.
In the end, she only lowered her head and said in a tiny voice, "I'm sorry... Ishiu-gege."
"Hm? Why are you apologizing?"
"Because if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have fallen into the Sea of Quantum..." Seele bit her lip, her face filled with deep guilt.
She had always dwelled on it. If she hadn't been so timid back then, if she hadn't needed Ishiu to protect her at every turn, would they have ended up with a different outcome?
"So that's what you were thinking about." Ishiu shrugged and said casually, "I thought you were going to say something serious. Didn't I tell you already? A big brother protecting his little sister is only natural. If something had happened to you right in front of me, then I'd be the one regretting it enough to smash my head into a wall."
"But..."
"No buts. Here, open your mouth and have some candy." Ishiu didn't want to hear Seele blame herself anymore, so he simply pulled a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into Seele's mouth.
"Mmm... Ishiu-gege, honestly, you're always like this..." Seele held the sweet lollipop in her mouth. Though she complained, a smile appeared on her face.
"Oh right, let me tell you something interesting. Do you know what happened after I entered the Sea of Quantum?" Ishiu smoothly shifted the topic.
"What happened?" As expected, Seele's attention was successfully diverted. She looked at Ishiu curiously.
"Hehe, come on. Let's go somewhere else to talk." Ishiu glanced outside. The scenery tonight was lovely, with both moon and stars. It was perfect weather for flirting with girls—cough... perfect weather for bonding with his little sister.
Ishiu extended his hand toward Seele. Her face reddened slightly as she obediently placed her hand in his. Then she felt a powerful pull, and before her eyes could adjust, Ishiu had swept her up in a princess carry.
"Ah? I-Ishiu-gege... W-what are you doing?" Seele had never expected Ishiu to suddenly pull something like this. Her sensitive body was caught off guard, and she immediately let out an embarrassing moan.
"I'm taking you somewhere nice." Ishiu smiled. Ignoring Seele's hesitant protests, he carried her straight out through the window.
However, neither of them knew that Bronya was standing quietly outside Ishiu's room. She had listened from beginning to end. Only after they left did she press her lips tightly together, a complicated expression appearing on her face—one she herself hadn't even noticed.
"Seele... you have to be happy..."
With several leaps, Ishiu carried Seele onto the Orphanage rooftop.
"Ishiu-gege, why did we come here?" Seele asked in confusion.
"Didn't you once say you wanted to see the stars? There aren't many clouds tonight, so it's the perfect time for stargazing." Ishiu grinned, set Seele down, and the two sat together at the edge of the rooftop.
"Ishiu-gege, what was that interesting thing you were talking about?" Seele leaned against Ishiu's shoulder and wrapped around his arm like a lover, her azure eyes unblinkingly fixed on his profile.
Some said that only after losing something did one learn to cherish it. Seele hadn't understood that before, but now she did. So she didn't want to leave Ishiu's side for even a moment.
"Hmm... It starts with the World Bubble I entered in the Sea of Quantum. Oh, right, a World Bubble is a Parallel World. In that world, I..."
Ishiu told Seele about his experiences in the Sea of Quantum. But unlike when he had explained it to Cocolia, this time he focused on the amusing parts—like being rejected by Bronya right from the start, then becoming the useless young master in one of those underdog stories. Seele found it both novel and funny.
However, when Ishiu spoke about the interesting things that happened between him, Kiana, and Mei after he returned to the real world, the smile on her face gradually became somewhat forced.
"Ishiu-gege... You seem to have a very good relationship with that Kiana and Mei..." Seele said quietly.
"Yeah, we're very close. They're both wonderful people. I'm sure that if you met them, you'd become good friends too." Ishiu said cheerfully.
"...Ishiu-gege is really sly..." Seele lowered her head and muttered softly.
"How am I sly?" Though Seele spoke quietly, Ishiu's ears were no decoration. He heard every word clearly and couldn't help laughing. "Seele, listen to yourself. I'm as honest as they come, so how am I sly?"
Before you continue