A Pleasant Moment

Sou put his hand on his little sister's head and patted it like a doting brother. In return, Lia let out a cute chuckle and her face took the face of an innocent cutesy puppy.

(I wonder how they are doing...)

Sou pondered about his two sisters who he adored with all his might. They would probably be told that he has left the family searching for something stupid, just like the woman he labelled as his mother in his previous life said.

'Oh, don't worry dear. We told your sisters that you left the family, so don't worry about them. After all, you are useless and what benefit we will get by keeping you?'

The words played on a loop inside his head. His face drooped and gloom engulfed his expression. While in the middle of reminiscing, a little and soft hand touched his cheeks. Sou's eyes looked down and saw the little figure of Lia rubbing his cheeks gently as if to say "don't look so sad".

Sou reached out for her hand on his cheek and held firmly. Sensing the brotherly love, the little Lia dug her face into Sou body and chuckled in delight with such a cute sound that could make a hole in rock-hard hearts.

Without wasting a single breath, Sou embraced his sister in his warm arms tightly, making Lia let out a muffled scream.

"Mmmmph!!"

"Damn! How can my sister be this cute?!" Sou snuggled with his sister.

"..."

Hellen stood aghast at Sou's actions. The cold and indifferent Sou which was almost impossible to break down was now showing such vibrant emotions. During the 3 years Hellen spent with Sou, she was completely convinced that Sou has lost all emotions after the separation. Hence, her face of amazement and disbelief was fully justified.

"Umm... Sou..."

"Huh? Oh!" Sou hurriedly let go of his sister after noticing Hellen's blank eyes and wearing his cold face.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Aren't you a cold-hearted mani- Ouf!"

"Say that again." Sou was standing in front of Hellen with his fist buried inside her abdomen.

"Oi... I... am older than... you..." Hellen fainted.

"Aunty Hellen sick?" Lia pulled Sou's jacket and inquired with an adorable face.

(Why I am showing so much affection to someone who I have never met in my life? Must be because of this body's memories...)

"Oh, nothing Lia. She was just feeling tired so she fell asleep." Sou said patting her head.

Sou slowly laid Hellen's body on the ground and looked towards his mother. His was standing still. It seemed like she had no life and was just a mannequin. Her lifeless eyes were directed to the ground, with a tint of tear at the corner of both eyes. Sou slowly walked in her direction and her eyes followed Sou's shoes. Now her lifeless eyes were staring into Sou's eyes. Sou was maybe an inch shorter than her and because of that, he had to crane his head a little bit above. Her mouth trembled as she tried to get some words out of her mouth to justify herself.

(... but if this body wants me to do this, I will gladly repay the favour... From now on they are my family...)

"I..."

Hug...

"I am back, mom..."

Sou wrapped her mother's body and tried hard to warm up her soul. His voice, his warm embrace and his face- everything felt different. 

"A... ah... Uwaaahhh!"

Sou's mother let out all the tears in Sou's arms. They were the tears of sorrow, joy, embarrassment and guilt.

If this was Sou's previous world, then there would be an ominous headline in the weekly newspaper-

"A Mother Assaults Her Child Because She Could Not See Her Child Alive."

Though that would not be the case anymore.

Sou ran his hands through his mother's silky smooth hair and stroked it with extensively care. He brought his mouth closer to his mother's ear and whispered, "it's alright. Cry your heart out."

The cries of the woman continued while the crowd became considerate and left the mother and child to their own and woes of the mother slowly started to fade away.

***

Sou and the others were in a carriage, riding their way home. Lia sitting on her brother's lap, humming a cutesy song. What is not cute about this child? Anyways, Sou and his mother made small talk about Sou's journey after he fell off the cliff. And once again, Sou gave them a vague account and changed the topic.

"So... how is dad holding up?" A radiant smile of homecoming beamed from his face.

"He is... fine." His mother still hesitated and was fidgety when talking to Sou.

"... I see." Sou lowered his eyes noticing his mother's fidgety behaviour.

(She must be feeling the guilt from earlier...)

Sou stared into the distance outside the carriage.

The mood inside the carriage came to dead silence. Lia's humming also she fell asleep on her brother's lap.

Sou's eyes were wandering all over the carriage, looking for the best moment to break the silence. The same could be said about his mother. Though she avoided eye contact with Sou, she continuously glanced at him for the same reason as Sou.

If you are wondering about Hellen, she is sleeping peacefully... for the time being.

"A-" Both of them opened their mouths at the same time.

"Zzzz~Zzzz~" Hellen snored.

"..."

"..."

Both of them looked at the snoring Hellen and then stared at each other.

"Hahahaha!"

"What the hell was that?! Hahaha!"

The pair laughed wholeheartedly, trying to let go of their past awkwardness. Soon the laughing came to a stop and both of their faces became calm as the sea. A kind motherly love oozed out of Lily's smile, while Sou's eyes shone like a child waiting for a mother's embrace.

"Welcome back, son."

Lily took her son's toned body into her arms and returned Sou's previous hug with a warm embrace.

"I am back, mom."

Tring!

{You have repaid the favour of your current body}

At that moment, Sou's eyes glistened in admiration and amazement at the phenomenon he witnessed. Even in the world of Melim where magic exists, fundamental laws of the world are the same. But what Sou saw was beyond the reach of humans, beyond the fundamental laws of the universe.

A gentle light entered no one's vision but his. The light gently wrapped no one but him and slightly touched his forehead and a whisper was dropped down in the spiralling canals of Sou's ears.

The light got dimmer and dimmer and it started to ascend out of the carriage to the heavens, forming a magnificent sight to see.

Sou smiled kindly at the ascending light and tightened his embrace.

Lily and Sou stayed like that for a minute or so before they were startled by Lia's movement.

Sou let out a chuckle and looked at his mother kindly.

***

The carriage's wheels stopped in front of a manor and the group got out of the carriage. Lia stayed glued to Sou while Hellen stared at Lia like a hungry predator gazing at its prey. 

Lily giggled at the sight. Lia grabbed Sou's hand and led Sou towards the manor. Sou couldn't help admire his sister's cute acts and closed his eyes slowly. The light didn't say anything, but he heard it loud and clear.

'Thank you and please protect mom and dad. Goodbye.'

{Protect your family}

{Love your family}

{If you fail to do so, your soul will perish}

He opened his eyes slowly and there was a new flame burning in his eyes. 

(I will protect them.)

***