Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Reunion.

Soma moved his foot, passing the barrier that separated the outside world from the Academy, he seems at a loss. For him, this sight is strange yet familiar because of his experience in his previous world. The bustling sight of excitement mixed with anticipation for the new environment they will attend, or the returnee after enjoying their holiday, somehow filled his heart with void.

The surrounding passage was brimming with students and parents who accompanied their children, witnessing the precious sight where their children grow and also sentiment about the passage of time.

A hustling voice of excitement and the sight of a parent and children smiling happily while chatting with each other, celebrating their children's success, feels surreal for him.

The sight of a vibrant world filled with warmth and laughter suddenly lost its light, for his sight turned bleak as his mind began to wander toward the dark. However, he shook the negative thought that almost occupied him, then raised his face high while exhaling everything that disturbed his mind.

"... Let's go to the? Where is it again?".

"Soma!".

A crisp and clear familiar voice echoed behind him made Soma stop in his tracks. His body turned rigid because he felt a trace of longing and uncertain from this voice. Slowly, he turned his body around and found Hina, along with her parents, behind with dumbfounded expressions on their faces, gazing at him as if they saw a ghost.

Hina felt a rush of overflowing emotion that had bottled up ever since she heard that Soma was missing. Time seems to momentarily turn still as her cold frozen heart, by his absence, thawed, and the amber of life in her heart starts to light up.

She locked eyes with Soma, who somehow had a guilty expression on his face and spread his lips before speaking.

"... Um, I am back".

Her body seems to be pulled by an unknown force, as she dashes forward and dives into his chest. The tears glans that should have been empty after the night She lost him started accumulating in the corner of her eyes before they stream down her cheeks.

"Uuu, Soma. you are alive. I am glad. I am truly glad, uwaaa".

With the stifles sob that echoed in the opened space crowded with people. It attracted many gazes from every side that made Soma's face stiffen in shame.

[Extra Skill Puppeteer activated]

However, with the current situation, he couldn't do anything because he is also at fault for disappearing without notice. Feeling the warmth and tight embrace on his chest, he shrugged his shoulder while exhaling a sigh. He then responded back by wrapping his hands around her back squeezing it gently to make sure that she could feel that Soma was in front of her.

Hisako and Hiroshi slowly approached their side while sighing to see Soma's condition, which seemed fine in their eyes. Especially Hiroshi, whose face was darkened, approached Soma's side with heavy heart.

Soma noticed they approach raise his face and opened his eyes in shock because he felt that Hiroshi appearance aged ten years older. Both of them keep their mouths shut, letting Hina vent her bottled-up feelings.

Half a minute passes. Hina, who regain her calmed, unwillingly separated herself from Soma. Then, slowly, she raised her face, which was in a mess from the tears and mucus.

"Soma?".

"...Pfth, you are a mess".

"Hina, here".

Hisako stepped forward while taking a blue handkerchief from her pocket, presented it to Hina. Hina received the handkerchief and then wiped the tears that wet her face.

"Thanks, Mom".

"Here, let me do it".

As usual, these two mother and daughter from the Akabane family seemed to have a special bond. Their bond is inseparable, like a pair of sisters helping each other without minding about the difference in value, which made Soma chuckle seeing this familiar and wholesome sight.

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Hiroshi with a heavy expression on his face standing in front of him before he bent his body ninety degrees.

"Soma, I am sorry about what happened that day".

"It's okay, Mr Hiroshi. I didn't mind it. Instead, I am glad you and Mr Malik managed to escape the battlefield".

The words that came from Soma's words took shape into a sharp blade that shredded Hiroshi's heart. His guilt for not protecting himself and the console from the person he should protect himself made his heart crushed by numerous boulders that pressed it.

Soma, who realizes what the things inside Hiroshi's mind are, approaches him and then grabs Hiroshi's shoulders tightly, making Hiroshi's body twitch. Soma slowly raised Hiroshi's bent torso and met his darkened expression.

"... Remember what I said that time. I had a plan for the worst situation. The worst situation happened, and I managed to escape safely and reunite with you guys. That is what's important, right? So, there is no need to blame yourself for what has already happened in the past.

Besides, I am afraid the time is also not permitting us to stay in this place any longer".

The Akabane family raised their eyebrows simultaneously about what Soma had mentioned.

{Attention all new students, the ceremony will be held in five minutes inside the stadium. I repeat…}

"Look".

"Ouch, Mom!".

The clear and loud announcement that reverberated in the atmosphere made Hisako, who was still keeping her calm, turn stiff. She unconsciously put strength on her palm while help8ng her daughter wiping Hina face accidently pinches Hina's nose.

"This is bad, Hina, Hiroshi, let's go to the stadium".

"..But, I…".

"Dear, let's apologize later. You too, Soma. Hurry, we don't have much time".

"Uuh, my nose".

"Okay".

Watching the family banter that seemed to become their routine in the Akabane households brought warmth that filled his heart. His bleak eyes change into brilliant shades of color. Soma's face loosened his muscles as he let out a slight chuckle at the family that gave him this warm fuzzy feeling.

"Soma?".

"Hehe, It's nothing. Let's go, Hina".

"Um".

***

Inside a dim, flickering light of the family room. In one of the corners where white paint that was plastered on the wall was painted with red. There is also a pool that gathered around the brown floor along a piece of the separated body of an adult woman who lost her lower half sprawled on the floor.

Within the secluded room where the only light that came was from the filtered moon from the window, bathed the figure of a woman with a hunched back, busied herself with moving her bloated cheeks that smeared with blood.

The sound of torn flesh and crunched bones echoed in the dim room when the woman with her torn mouth and protruded teeth took a bite toward a piece of limbs once called a calf, tearing its flesh using her teeth. A tangy smell of iron enhanced the taste further as her eyes were filled with delight, driven by her primal instinct.

"Hm?".

A sudden ring from her phone halted her action. Then, with an annoyed sigh, she took the phone from her pocket before looking toward the caller. She swiped the display, and then a voice she didn't want to hear entered his ear.

{Gura, where are you?}

"I am hungry and just getting some snacks, it is also to recover my strength".

{Do you found some test subjects}

"Yeah, I already gave them to your subordinate".

{Good, after finishing with your meal, come to the place. I already send you the address}

"How about my request?".

{I already dispatch every spy I spread in Human society and in searching for the Relics you failed to obtain} S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Well, that was not my fault. It was yours for giving us little money to use".

{...Come to the place. I already send you the address}

"Tch, he hung up".

Gura, with her new form, threw the phone in her hands to the floor before she continued her meal that was interrupted. At the same time, she was chewing the tangy flesh that smeared her mouth. Her thoughts start to recall the battle with Soma, making her elated eyes turned eerie in madness.

"...Soon. I will have my revenge".