Chapter 46

"Welcome home, Rika," Yuto said as he opened the door to her apartment for her.

"Welcome home!" Hinata nearly lunged at her for a hug, teary eyed.

"Oh, Hinata!" Rika hugged her, squishing Duke between them as Souta kept his hand on her back, making sure she was steady.

"Welcome home, honey," her parents said, standing under a banner saying 'Welcome Home'.

It's been so long I can tell they have more grey hair...

"Oh, who's this?" her father asked, looking at Souta.

"Souta Kairo, Rika's boyfriend." Souta held his hand out to him.

"Is that so?"

"Apparently," Yuto muttered as he passed by with her gifts that were brought while she was in the hospital, other than Duke.

"B-boyfriend?" Hinata's jaw hung open. "When? How? Wait, why didn't you tell me?"

"It's complicated," Rika said. How do you tell them you met him in another world, while he was in someone else's body?

"Wait, Kairo? Is that the same...?" Hinata whispered.

"That would be the same one."

"But didn't they screw us over? Why would you date someone—"

"It wasn't him. It was his brother, whom he's promised to deal with soon. Oh, right about the launch—"

"No, you don't." Yuto pushed a donut into her mouth. "Now isn't the time for work talk. Keep that for later, when you've recovered and are headed back."

"Mmm..." Oh, this is good. I love these sour-cream crullers.

Hinata hooked onto her arm, and they headed over to the table of sweets.

"Somehow, it looks like your boyfriend is wooing our parents," Yuto muttered as he picked up a maple donut.

Souta and her parents laughed, and her father even patted him on the back.

Wonder what they're talking about.

"Rika," Hinata whispered to her. "When did it start? It doesn't add up to me."

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Rika set Duke down on the table, facing a plate of her favourite crullers.

"There haven't been any clear answers about her relationship so far, but she isn't denying that he's her boyfriend," Yuto said, munching on another donut. "Why'd you say you were single at first?"

Rika froze. How do I explain this? "Um... complicated relationship, and we never talked about it."

"Oh, so he chose to move forward to being official, and you went along with it?"

"Basically..." That's one way to put it. Rika watched him smiling and gushing about her to her parents. "He's actually getting along with them..." Possibly better than I do.

"Now I'm too curious." Hinata rushed over to join in their conversation.

Rika took a deep breath and ate another donut.

"They probably want to talk to you, too, you know?" Yuto mumbled, his mouth half-full.

"We talked a bit when they visited the hospital."

"Doesn't mean they don't want to talk to you more."

"I suppose... but I just feel like relaxing."

"I'm certain they don't want to push you for more communication, but after what happened to you, I'm going to. Well, you're stuck with me as your recovery continues."

"Even if Souta is here all the time?" Knowing him, he'll stick to me like glue now that we're out of the hospital.

"He's not staying with you here, is he?"

"Not last I knew."

"Don't let him steamroll you, Rika. Set a firm line."

Easier said than done; he seems to love crossing the line. Rika thought back to Kael sneaking into her room multiple times in Thornburg. Even the time he caught her in just a towel. The times he pulled her close. Stole a kiss. Called her little bunny.

...

And yet he took a poisoned arrow for her. Gave her his magic—through a kiss. Saved her in the carriage. Took care of her at the hospital.

Rika touched the mark on her neck as her face burned.

"What in the world are you thinking about to make you blush like that?" Yuto poked her forehead.

"Souta—"

"Enough said." He held up a hand and sighed.

"Say what you will about him, but he's definitely devoted..."

Souta glanced at her, smiled, and gave her a wink before continuing his conversation.

"I can't argue there," Yuto sighed.

Rika took a deep breath. "I need some air." She picked up Duke.

"Wait, do you need help? The elevator doesn't go to the roof, does it? I don't want you falling on the stairs or something." Yuto grabbed her arm.

"I'll be fine."

"Phone on you?"

"Yes."

"Fine, I'll let you be. Yell or call if you need me. Maybe I should get you one of those panic button things," he mumbled to himself as she walked away.

Rika paced herself, gripping the railing and hugging Duke tightly as she climbed the stairs up to the roof.

The place it really began. She sat on the bench in front of the vegetable garden and gazed up at the dark sky with stars lighting it up, Duke sitting beside her. A cold breeze blew by, and she shuddered.

"Duke, you're not doing your job."

Rika's shoulders jumped as Souta picked Duke up and sat down beside her, his arm slung around her shoulder as he pressed up against her.

"He should've been keeping you warm, but I'm a better radiator." He set Duke down in her lap. "So, what are you doing up here on your lonesome? The party down there is for you."

"Thinking, reminiscing." She looked up and saw a shooting star.

"Missing them?"

Rika nodded.

"But while you're busy missing them, you're missing your family and friends downstairs... well, friend."

Had to rub it in, didn't he?

"Do you want to go back?" Souta asked and leaned his head on her shoulder, his fluffy hair tickling her cheek.

"I don't know. I... feel like I got rushed out of there."

"Might be my fault, since I said yes when it asked if I wanted to leave right away. I didn't know it would activate for you, too."

Rika froze. He chose to leave? Wait, but it's not his fault.

"Are you mad at me?" he pouted, cuddling up to her.

"I blame the system. But I at least wish I could talk to them."

"That'd probably make things harder."

"But then I'd know they're okay."

"Looks like I'll have to distract you, so you're too busy with me to think about them." He kissed her cheek.

"Oh! W-what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to seduce you." He trailed kisses down her cheek to the mark on her neck.

Rika bit her lip, her toes curling. "My family is downstairs!"

"So? They're not right here." He lightly touched her jaw to turn her towards him and stared into her eyes. "That means it's okay, right?" He ran his thumb across her bottom lip.

"It's..." she trailed off, stunned. Her heart raced, and she found herself unable to turn away.

Taking her lack of words as consent, Souta gave her a tender, sweet kiss on the lips.

"Mmm..." She closed her eyes and leaned into him.

After a moment, he pulled away slightly and smiled. "Finally, a proper kiss." He bumped his forehead against hers, rubbing the tips of their noses. "A first of many, I hope."

Rika couldn't help but bite her lip as she fought off a smile. She turned away. "So it seems," she mumbled. "Oh, look, a shooting star... wait, a whole bunch? A meteor shower?"

Souta frowned. "Does your bear normally have a glow like that?"

Rika turned him around and saw a rose symbol in the middle of his bow, glowing.

Bzz, bzz. Her phone vibrated.

"Maybe they're wondering where I went." Rika pulled out her phone, and her eyes widened. "Rose Court? It's on the phone now?" The game popped up on her screen. "But I thought this was gone." Even the icon had disappeared from her gaming system.

"No, you don't." Souta snagged the phone from her and put distance between them.

"Hey, what are you doing?" She chased after him as best as she could, her hand reaching out.

Not wanting to chance her falling, he stopped, and she ran straight into him. He held the phone out of her reach and wrapped an arm around her waist. "I can't let you touch that game again. What if it transports you back?"

"What if it's just a communication device now?"

"And if it isn't? What will you do if you're summoned away again, leaving your limp body in my hands until I follow you?"

"Wait, what?"

"You think I'd let you go back alone, where you're surrounded by men who want you? You're finally mine; I don't want to compete with the boytoy and the others again. Besides, you just got out of the hospital; do you want to put them through that again?"

Rika lowered her hand, thinking about everyone downstairs. He's right.

"If we ever touch this game again, and that is a big if, then we'll do it together. I was there once; I'm sure they'll take me again. Okay?"

Rika nodded.

"Promise me that if we try to use this game again, even if only for communication, you won't do it without me there."

"Fine. I promise."

Souta slipped her phone into his pocket.

"Hey! Why are you taking it?"

"Because I want to see if I can copy it onto my phone or something later, just in case. Now." He picked her up in a bear hug and spun around as she laughed. "How about we go back to your family?"

"Okay." Rika nodded and glanced up at the sky once more. Maybe we'll meet again in the future.

THE END