Chapter 73

Yuji told Layla his story, hiding the fact of his immunity and the battle against Alicia.

"I see, so you're really strong now!?" Layla asked.

"I won't expect too much if I were you,"

"Wow... I wonder how Erina will react to this,"

"Oh yeah, speaking of Erina, have any of you been in contact with her?"

"Mostly me, we usually talk and train with each other,"

"Train too? That's nice... How is she all in all?"

"She's... I don't know, she seems different from the bright and cheerful Erina I heard of from school,"

"Eh?"

"But she's still really nice! Although she's cold most of the time,"

"Erina... Cold? What happened to change her?" Yuji held his head, thinking.

"So she wasn't like that before, did she lose some family members too or something?"

"She only had her dad left, and her dad works here in City A,"

"Oh, then her mom..."

"Yeah, she passed long ago,"

"I see... What about you?"

"I... It's a long story… and it's almost late,"

Both of them glanced outside the window.

"Your right!"

"For now, I'll just say that I don't have any parents I need to worry about right now... What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, are your parents ok?"

"... It's a long story for me too, I'll just say that I don't care about them,"

"I... I see,"

"It's getting late, why don't we give each other our address? Maybe see each other again?"

"Sure," Yuji nodded, "ah! But first, can you keep everything we talked about from Erina?"

"Eh!? Why!?"

"Well... Remember that girl that saved me? She wanted to meet Erina and I promised that I'll introduce her... I don't want to bore Erina with a story she already heard,"

"I guess I understand... But I'm not keeping you being alive a secret! Knowing that... Just might fix her back!"

"Whatever you're trying, I hope it'll work,"

And so, they both said their farewell and left the cafe.

Earlier, from Erina's perspective.

City A, Central street six, in front of the condo Yukina and Yuji stayed, Erina stood outside.

"Here... Will he be here?" Erina thought, gathering the courage to go inside.

With a serious expression, she walked inside the building.

"Welcome," a receptionist said, greeting Erina as she got in.

Erina walked over to the receptionist, "I'm looking for Yukina Reiz's room,"

"Second floor, ma'am, just around the corner,"

"Thank you,"

Erina then walked up the stairs at the side of the building.

Reaching the second floor, Erina tilted her head to see a full view of the corridor, "there are only two doors here... Is her condo that big!?"

She moved forward, "the receptionist said the door by the corner, I guess it's that one in the end,"

Passing the first door on the second floor, she stopped and looked at the name displayed beside it.

Her eyes enlarged as she walked closer, "Yuji... Amanda!"

Erina knocked on the door, "hello!?" She shouted.

Erina then stayed silent, listening, "Not making any noise... Is no one inside?" Yukina looked around, "She said they lived next to each other, then that means..."

Erina ran towards the door by the end of the hall, "Yukina Reiz..." Erina tilted her head, "what's this? A note?"

Beside the door was a small note placed between the gaps of the door.

Erina took the piece of paper, "what's this," slowly unfolding it.

The note contained handwriting she was very familiar with, "Yukina, if you already arrived and I'm not here, it's because your little friend took me and didn't give me a chance to refuse, she said she wanted to go to the mall, so I'll be out for now," the note said.

"This handwriting... It's definitely him..."

Erina kneeled down on the ground, "what's this little friend? And she? What's his relationship with Yukina for him to leave a note?"

Erina shook her head, "I don't have to think about those for now... Right now, I'm just glad he's alive,"

Tears began to come out, as Erina covered her eyes.

Later, at the student's apartment building, Erina walked up the stairs to the 8th floor of the building, where her apartment is located.

"I wonder when I could see him," Erina thought, walking past the elevator.

Ding*

The elevator rang as someone walked outside

"Oh! Erina!" Layla shouted waving at Erina.

"Layla... Where are you from? You passed one floor above your apartment,"

Layla giggled, "well it's because I wanted to talk to you! Anyway, did you walk all the way up here?"

"Yeah, I've had a lot on my mind recently... I was just taking a breather, anyway I wanted to talk to you about something too,"

"You do?"

Erina nodded, "let's talk in my room,"

"Why don't we talk while eating dinner?" Layla raised her grocery bag, "I brought some take-out!" She smiled.

Later, sitting on the table in Erina's kitchen, both of them sat down as they began to eat their take-out food.

"So anyway..."

"So anyway..."

Erina paused, "oh, you first..."

"No, no, I think I should let you first on this one,"

"Is that so?"

Layla nodded with a smile.

"If so then..."

Erina told her what she had done and found out that day.

"Oh... So, you saw his handwriting and you were sure that was his?"

"Yes... I mean, there were too many clues to be a coincidence, right!?"

Layla smiled, "yup I believe you,"

"That's why, if Yuji made it then... Maybe your sister too,"

"I'm glad you remembered her, but unfortunately… we won't see her again,"

"Eh? How can you be so sure? Don't you want her to be alive?"

"Yes, I do... But Yuji told me himself," Layla smiled.

"I... I see," looking disappointed, she looked down.

With a sudden realization, she raised her head, "eh? Y… Yuji?"

Layla nodded, "yeah, we met earlier at the memorial place,"

"H... he was there!?"

Layla nodded, "hehe, I knew you'd be shocked.

"So..."

"He's alive Erina, I have no reason to lie to you,"

As Erina was about to burst into joy, she paused, thinking.

"Come on Erina! Let's celebrate Yuji's coming back alive, I'll celebrate with you!" Layla smiled.

"Are you sure?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Isn't there something we need to do first?"

"Eh?"

"You have her picture, right? Your sister's?"

"I... I do..." Layla puts out the picture of Elizabeth she got from the memorial, "let's celebrate with her," her smile suddenly shivered.

"Before you celebrate about something good that happened, we must always give thanks for it first,"

"Give... Thanks?"

Erina puts up Elizabeth's photo on the table, along with a frame and candle she got from her drawer.

"What's that?"

"I bought this before... with hopes that I wouldn't have to use it,"

Layla began to shiver.

"Aren't you happy to see Yuji alive?"

Erina walked behind Layla "I am... That's why I want to thank you and your sister for it,"

Erina wrapped her arms gently around Layla's neck and placed her other hand on top of Layla's head.

"Erina?" With a shaky voice, she glanced at her.

Erina began to gently brush Layla's hair, "It's ok... It won't do you good if you don't let it out,"

"Huh?" With a teary tone, Layla's voice cracked.

"I noticed you know? You were holding back all this time, under that fake smile you wanted to cry, didn't you?"

"As... Expected of Erina..." Layla began to cry.

"It's because I met someone before who acts as tough as you right now... And also, because... I experienced it myself,"

Layla stopped holding her tears and let it all out, "I... Wanted to see her again... But..."

Erina hugged her, pulling herself closer to Layla's head, "I'm thankful to you and your sister, thank you,"

With eyes bursting with tears, Layla looked at Elizabeth's picture on the table, "you hear that sis... You saved someone's life and they are thankful, you became someone you wanted to be... I'm…"

Layla cried out loud, "I'm proud of you!"