"Ah, ho... sweet ho."
A young boy muttered softly, taking a deep breath with his eyes closed. He stood in front of a familiar house under the night sky. Any neighbor who might have seen him would probably think he was suspicious. He looked different—not in appearance, but in presence. There was sothing about him now, sothing subtle but undeniable, that made people do a double take when passing by.
"This fresh air... ah, damn it—whose cat pissed around here?!" he cursed under his breath, his face contorting in disgust. "Having a heightened sense of sll seriously sucks sotis..."
Before he could properly bask in nostalgia, his loud grumble triggered the porch light to flick on. The door creaked open—and there she was. The person he'd longed to see the most. His voice dropped to a whisper, thick with emotion.
"...Mom, I'm ho."
"Kou-chan? Is that really you?"
"Yeah, Mom. It's —your one and only handso so—"
"Where have you been, you ungrateful brat?!"
Just when he opened his arms, expecting a tearful reunion and a warm hug, she bypassed them and instead grabbed his waist and slamd him to the ground like a professional wrestler.
Of course. She was once known as the Iron Gorilla of Tokyo—a retired underground fighter with a fearso reputation. Her strength hadn't faded one bit. It didn't hurt him—not with his absurdly overpowered body—but he certainly wasn't going to let her know that.
"Ow! What kind of mom suplexes her long-lost son?!"
"What kind of son disappears for a year without a single ssage?! You should've just stayed gone if that's how it is!"
Yep. That was exactly how he rembered her. Tough love, bark louder than bite. She'd scold him fiercely today, then act like nothing happened tomorrow while making his favorite miso soup. He sat cross-legged on the dirt floor, smiling through every insult. He noticed the faint lines of exhaustion on her face, signs of the sleepless nights spent worrying—but said nothing. This was the least he could do after putting her through that hell.
"What's with all the yelling in the middle of the night, dear? Huh? Is that you, Kousuke?"
"Hi, Dad."
"Say sothing to him already! Look at that silly smile while I'm giving him an earful!"
"Can it wait till morning? I've got an early eting—important stuff at work."
"A eting? That's more important than your long-lost son?! Maybe a eting with my fist will help your mory!"
"H-Hey, hold on! Violence isn't always the answe—"
"Shut up and take it like a man!"
WHACK!
...
Later, as the dust settled, his dad crouched beside him, rubbing his head and chuckling softly.
"I won't ask where you've been. I figured you'd be okay... but your mother hasn't slept properly since the day you disappeared. She waited every night, hoping you'd co back."
"...I know. From tonight on, I'll be a proper son again."
"Glad to hear it. Welco ho, son."
His mother walked inside without another word, her fury spent. His father gave him one last pat on the back and followed. Kousuke stood in silence, staring down the hallway. Even without saying much, he could tell his father had been just as worried. In the past, he might've missed the subtle emotions—but the new him, the one tempered by battle and loss, could hear the muffled sobs behind the bathroom door.
He said nothing. Just walked upstairs.
"...It's like nothing changed. Like I was never gone."
He smiled faintly, looking around his room—exactly as he'd left it. Dusty computer, ssy shelves, unwashed laundry in the corner. It was a sight for sore eyes.
Collapsing onto his bed, he exhaled deeply. For the first ti in what felt like forever, the weight he carried—of war, of death, of power—began to lift. Sleep ca quickly, and soon he was snoring like a log.
Outside, a figure peeked through the slightly ajar door. His mother sighed, then gently shut it and walked away with a soft smile.
"He really did co back... I think I can finally sleep tonight."
The next day...
"You're really Kousuke? Sothing about you seems different, though."
"I could say the sa about you."
Issei squinted, studying the friend who had vanished without a trace a year ago, now standing casually before him. They were supposed to et at the train station before heading to Kuoh Academy together—but Kousuke never showed. Issei had waited until he was late for his first day of high school.
He eventually made new friends with shared interests, but the absence of Kousuke left a hollow space. He had searched tirelessly—even with the help of a senior who had special connections—but no leads ever surfaced. It was as if Kousuke had been erased from Earth. His last known location was just a few blocks from the station.
For a while, Issei feared the worst—maybe soone from the 'other side' had taken him. But now, just as mysteriously as he had vanished, Kousuke reappeared.
"I told you—I found myself a girlfriend while you were gone!"
"Yeah, yeah. I know how much you love your 2D waifus. Who is it now? Miku?"
"That's not it! I ant in real life this ti!"
Kousuke smirked, watching his friend grow flustered. But behind the smile, sothing cold glinted in his eyes. Sothing sharp—unseen by Issei.
He sniffed the air subtly. A scent—faint, but familiar—tickled his senses. Inhuman. He frowned. That couldn't be. He had made sure—absolutely sure—that none of those monsters followed him ho. If Issei slled like that... it had to be sothing—or soone—on Earth.
"Are you listening? I'm telling the truth! Wait—how about this: I'll introduce them to you! You'll believe once you et them!"
Kousuke's eyes narrowed slightly. If what Issei said was true... then he needed to et this "girlfriend." Whatever had changed his friend—it wasn't natural.
And if she was anything like the monsters he had fought before...
Then he would do what had to be done.
Even if it ant killing her.
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