19 Chapter 19   

Aruno, still embracing his mother, couldn’t help but cast a puzzled gaze at the silhouette. 

“Mom, who’s that?”

His mother, breaking the hug, gestured towards the mysterious figure. 

“Aruno, how can you not recognize your own sister?”

Aruno froze, his eyes widening with disbelief and confusion. 

“Sister? But… she… she’s supposed to be…”

The figure stepped forward, revealing a face that Aruno hadn’t seen in years. It was his sister, the same sister he believed to be dead since childhood. The shock hit him like a tidal wave, emotions welling up from a place he thought had been buried.

“Serenia?” 

Aruno whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and joy.

Serenia, his supposedly deceased sister, nodded. 

“Hey, little brother. Long time no see.”

Aruno’s mind raced, memories flooding back—memories of a tragic incident that left scars on his heart. Yet, here she was, standing before him, alive and well. The reunion, once impossible in Aruno’s mind, unfolded in a surreal moment that transcended the boundaries of his understanding.

Tears welled up in Aruno’s eyes as he rushed forward, embracing his sister with a fervor that conveyed years of longing and grief. The room echoed with a mixture of laughter, tears, and the profound realization that the threads of destiny had woven an unexpected twist in the tale of Aruno’s life.

Aruno, still overwhelmed by emotions, couldn’t contain his disbelief as Ko, Yoru, and Rin entered the house, making themselves at home.

“How… how are you alive, Serenia? I saw… I thought…”

“I know, little brother. It’s a long story, but the important part is that we’re here now. We have a chance to be a family again.”

As Aruno grappled with the mix of emotions, Rin, Ko, and Yoru exchanged glances, sensing the depth of the situation. Aruno’s world had just been turned upside down, and they were witnessing a family reunion that defied the boundaries of what they knew.

Aruno, still recovering from the shock of seeing his supposedly deceased sister, turned to his friends with a mix of emotions.

“Guys, this is… this is my sister, Serenia. I thought she…”

Serenia, with a playful smile, interrupted.

“Thought I was dead? Well, I’m here, alive and kicking. You look like you’ve seen a ghost, little brother.”

Aruno, his emotions now a blend of confusion and joy, couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Yeah, you could say that. I thought you were gone, Serenia. What… what happened?”

Serenia, still smiling, glanced at their mother, Aya.

“Mom, do you mind if I spill the beans? It’s been ages since we’ve had a family chat.”

Aruno’s mother chuckled and nodded, giving Serenia the go-ahead.

“Well, little brother, turns out I wasn’t as unlucky as you thought. Remember that incident when we were kids? I got separated from the family, but I was found by someone. A kind woman named Hikari took me in and raised me as her own. She taught me a lot, and I’ve been living a different life. But I always kept an eye on you, you know.”

Aruno, processing this revelation, felt a mix of relief and amazement.

“So you’ve been out there, living a different life all this time?”

“Yep, that’s the gist of it. And thanks to Ryū’s little dimension hopping, here I am, in our old home.”

“You know Ryū?”

“Just a little bit, but that’s not important.”

Ko, who had been fidgeting with the TV remote, finally spoke up.

“Well, Miss Aruno, if you don’t mind, do you have any snacks? I’m getting bored here.”

Serenia laughed, finding Ko’s antics amusing.

“Snacks? I’m sure Mom can whip something up. And it’s not Miss Aruno, it’s Aya. Got it, prankster?”

Ko grinned.

“Got it, Miss Aruno… I mean, Aya. Let’s get this snack party started!”

As Ko and Serenia continued their playful banter, the house filled with laughter and the warmth of unexpected family ties. The group, now in Aruno’s supposed home, began to settle into a strangely familiar yet surreal atmosphere.

Rin, Yoru, and Aruno watched the lively interaction between Ko and Serenia, their banter providing a touch of normalcy in the midst of the extraordinary.

“This is quite the unexpected turn of events, Aruno. You’re sister being alive, and Ko being… Ko.”

Aruno, still processing the revelation, nodded with a mix of emotions.

“Yeah, I never imagined something like this. It’s surreal. But hey, family reunion and unexpected friends, right?”

Yoru, intrigued, looked around the house.

“This place seems pretty cozy. I mean, if we didn’t know better, we’d think we’re in Japan. But I still can’t wrap my head around all of this.”

“The mysteries keep piling up. First, Ash brings us to a different dimension, and now Ryū accidentally brings us to Aruno’s original world. I wonder if there’s any significance to it.”

Aruno, contemplating the situation, glanced at Serenia and his mother, Aya.

“I’m not sure why this is happening, but it feels like the threads of destiny are weaving something intricate. Maybe we’re meant to uncover more about ourselves and each other.”

As the group settled into the house, Aya approached Aruno.

“It’s a lot to take in, Aruno. Serenia being alive, and these unexpected guests. But I’m glad to see you surrounded by friends, even if they’re from… other places.”

Aruno smiled, appreciating his mother’s understanding.

“Thanks, Mom. I never thought I’d see the day when Serenia and I would be together again.”

“Life is full of surprises. Make the most of this time with your sister and friends. Now, let me whip up some snacks for everyone.”

As Aya headed to the kitchen, the group settled in, their unexpected journey unfolding in ways none of them could have anticipated.

In the midst of the cozy atmosphere, Yoru found herself increasingly uneasy as Aruno reunited with his sister. Seeing Serenia and Aruno share emotional moments triggered a sense of longing within Yoru. In an attempt to mask her feelings, she decided to employ a different tactic.

Yoru, playfully but possessively, draped herself over Ko’s shoulder, a mischievous grin on her face.

“Hey, Ko, mind if I borrow you for a bit? I feel like some company.”

Ko, being his usual laid-back self, chuckled and patted Yoru’s hand.

“Sure thing, Yoru. What’s on your mind?”

Yoru, glancing in Serenia’s direction, smirked.

“Just thought we could have a little chat. You know, since everyone’s so caught up in family matters.”

Ko, catching onto Yoru’s playful jealousy, grinned.

“Alright, chat it is. What’s bothering you, Yoru?”

Yoru, feigning nonchalance, twirled a strand of her hair.

“Oh, nothing much. Just wondering how much attention you’re willing to spare for someone who’s not family.”

Ko, still clueless about the depth of Yoru’s feelings, chuckled.

“Yoru, you’re a riot. We’re all friends here. No need to get possessive.”

Yoru, inwardly frustrated but maintaining her playful facade, nudged Ko with her elbow.

“Who said anything about being possessive? I just thought we could enjoy each other’s company, you know?”

As Yoru and Ko bantered back and forth, their playful dynamic took a turn into more intimate territory. Yoru, realizing that subtlety might not be enough, decided to lay her feelings bare.

Yoru, looking directly into Ko’s eyes, softened her playful demeanor.

“Ko, there’s something I want you to know.”

Ko, picking up on the shift in Yoru’s tone, became more attentive.

“What’s on your mind, Yoru?”

Yoru, taking a deep breath, confessed with a genuine sincerity.

“We may have started as friends, but somewhere along the way, you became so much more to me. I care about you a lot, Ko.”

Ko, processing Yoru’s words, felt a warmth spreading within him. He placed a gentle hand on Yoru’s cheek.

“Yoru, you’re not just a friend to me either. I care about you too, maybe more than I realized.”

Their tender moment was interrupted by a teasing comment from Aruno’s mom.

“Well, isn’t this a delightful revelation! Young love blossoming amidst family reunions.”

Yoru, blushing, laughed nervously, while Ko grinned, taking the teasing in stride.

“Uh, yeah, something like that. Anyway, let’s not make this a big deal, okay?”

“Agreed. Just a couple of friends enjoying each other’s company.”

The sudden shift in Yoru’s demeanor caught everyone off guard. Without warning, she decisively grabbed Ko’s head, pulling him into a passionate kiss. The room fell into a stunned silence as the others, including Aruno, Serenia, and Rin, looked on in surprise.

“Well, it seems like our little family reunion just got a bit more… eventful.”

Yoru and Ko, momentarily lost in the heat of the moment, eventually realized they had become the center of attention. They broke the kiss, both slightly flustered but wearing sheepish smiles.

“Uh, sorry about that. Got carried away.”

Ko, grinning, took it in stride.

“No apologies needed. Sometimes you just have to go for it.”

The others, although initially surprised, burst into laughter, easing the tension. Serenia, with a playful smirk, teased them.

“Well, I guess our family gatherings are never dull. Welcome to the chaos, Yoru and Ko.”

As the laughter filled the room, the group continued to share moments of joy and camaraderie, blissfully unaware of the adventures that awaited them beyond the walls of Aruno’s home.