Senku woke first, and making Revival Fluid was no longer a challenge.
The first person he revived was Kohaku.
The stone shell flaked away, and Kohaku slowly opened her eyes. Bright daylight flooded her vision, leaving her gaze full of confusion.
"Kohaku..."
A soft, hoarse voice sounded quietly in front of her.
Kohaku followed the voice and looked at the child before her.
The small, sweet child had grown taller. His familiar baby face remained, but there was a new resilience in his features.
Watermelon's eyes were red, his nose flushed, and his voice choked beyond recognition. "Kohaku, you're finally awake..."
He took a small half step back, his little hands nervously clutching his clothes. "I've grown up... I can't hug you like I used to anymore."
Seeing how painfully considerate the child had become, Kohaku felt an ache in her heart, and her eyes reddened.
She strode forward, opened her arms, and pulled the taller Watermelon firmly into her embrace.
That familiar warmth enveloped him, melting away all those long years of loneliness in a single hug.
"Silly boy." Kohaku's voice caught as she gently patted his back. "No matter how big you get, you'll always be my Little Watermelon."
The two held each other tight.
Ukyo, Tsukasa, Hyoga, Ryusui, Chrome, Taiju, Francois, Luna, Chelsea... One familiar figure after another woke.
The last person revived was Li Xiang.
As the stone shell covering her body fell away, Li Xiang slowly opened her eyes. The long darkness receded, and daylight spilled into her clear gaze.
Having only just awakened, she was still a little weak, her hair falling loose over her shoulders.
Kohaku stepped forward and handed her a clean, neatly arranged set of clothes.
Li Xiang took the clothes and dressed, then looked up at the smiling faces gathered