NOVEL NEXT Chapter 312: She's back!!!
(Ryoto's pov)
I turned my head to see a pink, bubbly ball of energy run to me and hug me. It felt warm, and for a moment, it stunned me. My arms stayed in the air for a moment, but after a short hesitation, I returned her hug. I closed my arms slowly around her and tightened my hold on her, but not in any way that would hurt her.
As I embraced the girl in my arms, the only thing on my mind was, 'I'm home, Lala.' But then I used Haki to feel her emotions, and I was bombarded with happiness, cheerfulness, trust, excitement, delight, and, most importantly, love.
All these positive emotions in such a pure form slammed into me, and I felt like I could melt under her embrace.
Sensing my strange behavior, Lala freed her face from my chest and looked at mine, tilting her head cutely.
"Ryoto? There is something different about you..." She started thinking deeply about what was off about me. She looked cute as her brain worked hard to solve the mystery. I was about to tell her that I would explain to her what happened to me, but then she got an eureka moment. "I know! You are not sad anymore! Also, for some reason, your eyes are the same as Papa's."
I didn't expect that. I mean, +200 years allowed me to accept myself. I needed to do that if I wanted to get stronger—strong enough to protect my family. So yeah, I'm not feeling as depressed about my past as I was before. I also guess that her comment about my eyes was about how people's eyes change after seeing so much death. I may not have been at a long-lasting war as our dear Emperor, but we've both seen people die in an unnatural amount.
"I guess that I would need to explain some things." I sat down with Lala still clinging to me and looked at Rin. I wanted to share what happened to me with Lala, but I wouldn't share Rin's story if she didn't want to. She nodded her head, telling me that it wasn't a problem. She then took my hand into hers. It managed to calm me down a bit.
"I guess there isn't a way to say it gently, but I'll try anyway. Remember how we traveled where Koro-sensei, Kaede, and Rio were? It happened again, and this time it was with Rin and much longer than before..."
Lala followed my story with immense focus, hearing how serious I was, but her smile didn't falter as my hand worked hard and gave her All the headpats she deserved.
"How long was it?"
Now that is a 1 000 000¥ question, isn't it.
"It was about 270 years."
Hearing my answer, I could feel Lala tightening her grip on me, and her expression turned to one of determination.
"I'm not leaving Ryoto anymore! I'm happy that you feel better, but I wanted to be with Ryoto all this time." She then turned to Rin, then to me, then to Rin again, and finally back to me. "I'm happy that you weren't alone. Also, does it mean that Ryoto is old?"
"I'm not that old. There were a lot of older folk than me. Even Rin here is older than me." I joked a bit.
"I'm only 1 year older, Ryoto. Could you stop making the same joke every time our age comes up?"
"No~." Now, back to the topic. "Now calm down, Lala. It wasn't all bad. As you said, I wasn't alone. Rin was there, and I also met some other people and also... I may have had... 5 children with them."
I was waiting for some kind of reaction—surprise, annoyance, maybe anger, or a combination of these—but I didn't expect relief.
"Then it's all good. I'm still not leaving you alone. If you are going somewhere, I'm coming with you!"
I glanced at Rin because I didn't know how to react exactly. I really should have expected a reaction like this from Lala, but it still somehow surprised me.
"Aren't you angry that I basically created a family with 3 other women plus kind of another one and even had children with them?" I asked.
"No. It was a long time, and you probably felt alone." She then inhaled quickly in excitement. "Can I meet them? They must be nice since they are with you. Also, can I see your children? They must be so cute, and I know they'll get along with our child, too!" She was mostly excited about the news.
"Eh... We don't have any method at this time, but maybe we will in the future. Also, all of my children are adults at this point."
"...But were they cute?"
At her questions, I couldn't help but smile proudly.
"The cutest."
"...I'm still not letting go of you."
"And I wouldn't dream of stopping you."
---
DING DONG
We stayed a bit too long on the roof, and the break had already ended.
"I guess we should get going. Rin, do you remember where your class is?"
Rin shook her head.
"No, but I remember the general direction. I should still recognize some people, and the class should be labelled so I'll manage. I worked with you as my superior, and our Squad didn't go up in flames. This will be much easier."
She smirked at the end, and I couldn't even rebuke her since I was pretty lazy with my paperwork. But who can blame me? These papers never end. They just keep coming and coming! I had better things to do.
"Haha," A dry laugh escaped my mouth. "Very funny, Rin. Unfortunately for you, I have zero remorse and will do it again. I am 85% sure Yama-jii created all this paperwork just to torture us. It may be an old man's hobby for all I know."
Now, with these words, we stood up, and Lala clung to me like a koala. It looks like she really meant what she said and didn't plan on letting me go.
We went downstairs, and while Lala and I had our class on the 2nd floor, Rin's was on the 1st
If I remember right, this will be our 'first' class today since before, it was only an assembly—a very long assembly for some already forgotten reason.
I entered the classroom, and we were barely on time, so we didn't have time to talk with anyone just yet. I sat on my seat—or at least I thought it was my seat since it was the last of the two free ones. No one said anything, so I think I was safe.
Next, an old teacher entered with funny glasses with a swirling pattern. The first thing he mentioned was choosing the student committee member for this class.
There was only one candidate, and that was Yui Kotegawa herself—or, as I like to call her, the Shameless Girl. She always calls everyone and everything shameless, so I think it's funny to call her Shameless Girl.
She was, of course, chosen because she was the only candidate. Democracy is a lie. She seemed satisfied with this, though. I was happy that she was pleased, but then she turned to me.
"My first decision as a student committee member is to decrease the shamelessness of the most shameless student of all. Ryoto Yuuki!"
Oh, that's me. Did I ever do anything to earn her animosity? I don't recall anything too serious. I was just messing around and... ooooh. I think I get it.
"I, Ryoto Yuuki, respect your commitment to the task. As such, I'll reward you with a deal. I'll minimize the exposure of my bare chest, and for today, you'll drop this topic."
"Nooooo!"
I ignored the scream in the background. I knew it was made in a joking manner, although I could also feel that it was slightly genuine, and I extended my hand.
Yui was faster than ever and grabbed my hand to shake it.
"Deal!"
Poor Yui. She doesn't understand that she is a sucker, but today, I didn't have the energy to mess with her, so I allowed her to feel victorious. Besides, if she ever discovered that I have a tattoo now, she would lose it. Completely lose it, I mean.
---
The class went on as usual, but I wasn't paying attention. My whole focus was on Lala, and I was entirely focused on her emotions. It was just so novel to feel all the positiveness for once. It's not like Rin, Yoruichi, or Isame didn't have this warm feeling to them, but Lala is something else. It's like comparing my fire with Yama-jii's fire.
The class finally ended, and the time seemed to fly by. After all, it's true that time seems to pass faster when you are having a good time.
I didn't stay to talk with anyone again and escaped the classroom before anyone noticed. Years of practice won't be defeated by normal high schoolers unless they are protagonists in Shounen manga, and while Rito may classify, he doesn't have the ability to do so.
My next stop was the infirmary, and unsurprisingly, Rin was approaching us. I didn't ask her to do it, but she knew that it would be appreciated if she came.
I came in without knocking—again, a bad habit—and approached the alien doctor and the school nurse on the side.
"Long time no see Mikado-sensei. How are you today?"
The aforementioned nurse raised her eyebrow in confusion, but it wasn't at Lala's imitation of a koala.
"We saw each other two days ago during Lala's..." She looked at Rin, and I realized that she was trying to hide her pregnancy as she began talking before she noticed Rin.
"She knows."
Ryouko nodded, but still curious, she didn't ask about it and continued talking as she crossed her legs as if she was showing them off, but I remember her telling me that it was just more comfortable for her.
"I see. Never mind, then. How can I help you?"
Before I could answer, everyone in the room turned their heads at the sudden noise of a trail falling to the floor. There, we could see a shaking Oshizu in a dogeza position with her head being pressed into the floor
"P-p-p-p-please d-d-don't t-t-t-take my s-soul."
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END
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