Lin Xiao looked at Kagami Arata across the table, utterly distraught, lost in the pain and confusion of having his beliefs shattered.
Lin Xiao set down his teacup.
He did not launch into a long lecture about lofty principles. There were many things this passionate, straightforward, honest man had to learn by hitting a brick wall himself and finding the answers with his own hands.
Lin Xiao rose calmly, walked over to Kagami, and gently patted his shoulder twice.
"Hum..."
A barely perceptible, warm glow flashed and vanished.
Without a sound, Lin Xiao slowly channeled a strand of pure [Gaia's Earth Protection] through his palm into every part of Kagami's body.
This dense vitality, drawn from the planet's very essence, not only completely healed all the internal injuries and lingering damage the Worms had inflicted on Kagami in the blink of an eye, but also imperceptibly tempered his bones and genes, strengthening the very foundation of his physical potential.
That would spare him the constant brushes with death and near-fatal torment he had endured in the original storyline.
Feeling the strange warmth flowing from his shoulder, Kagami found that his exhausted, agonized body suddenly felt wonderfully light. He froze, then looked up in bewilderment. "Lin Xiao... what did you...?"
Lin Xiao merely smiled at him without explaining further.
Tendou Souji, standing at the kitchen doorway, had witnessed everything.
As he looked at Kagami's face, still covered in scrapes but now showing a little life again, a rare, almost imperceptible softness flickered in the eyes of the usually aloof, icy king of swagger.
Tendou turned away coldly, yet, in an exceedingly rare gesture, offered a few words in a low voice:
"Kagami."
"...Huh? What is it, Tendou?" Kagami answered instinctively.
"Come to my house for breakfast tomorrow morning."
With his back