Unexpected Visit

-----Yui's POV

It was quite a surprise considering we weren't too far from the front door. But what was more surprising was the two people walking through.

Alice: "Ellen!"

Yui: "Alice?"

Iris: "Ellen!"

Yui: "Mom?"

My mother pushed passed Alice as she immediately wrapped me in her arms. I can feel just how worried she is just from her trembling arms around me.

Yui: "What are you-"

Iris: "Why did you run off all the way out here!"

Cutting me off like that, I can already tell that she's quite mad as her hug around me begins to tighten.

Iris: "You didn't think to come by and tell me? You think you can just cast us to the side like that?!"

Yui: "Mom-"

Iris: "You know how worried I was? I cancelled everything to find you."

Her voice was now calming down, but in turn, I could feel her tears begin to drip into my shoulder. I think this is the first time I've ever seen mom cry, and it's because of me... She's right, I should've went and told her my plans. Coming out here out of the blue was quite a stupid thing to do, but I never meant to cast her to the side like she said.

Iris: "I know you like to go off and do your own thing. You've always been like that. The moment you started school, you were over at your friends place more than your own. I was fine with that... But running off like this, somewhere far away. I can't take that."

I finally find the courage to gently wrap my arms around mom. I really screwed up big time. Even though she is my second mother, she still treats me as her first daughter. I recall the moments when I was fighting in the stadium. Mom getting all excited from watching me fight, and congratulating me after getting third place. And now, that same mom, is now crying in my arms, something that I never wanted to happen.

Yui: "I'm sorry."

Iris: "..."

She couldn't say any more words as we continued to embrace each other tighter than before.

Alice: "She's right, Ellen. I don't agree to you running all the way out here like this without telling any of us. Iris missed out on quite an important meeting just to come here."

Yui: "I'm sorry."

It's all I can say right now, and I genuinely mean that. I already felt guilty about being out here without telling anyone in the first place.

Iris: "As long as you don't do something reckless like this again."

Yui: "I promise."

Iris: "Mmm. I'm glad."

I could tell that she has a slight grin on her face without even seeing her. I also begin to smile, closing my eyes as I bask in her warm embrace. I was going to tell them about our potential plan to go to Yarene, but I think now's not the time to bring this up. I'll wait till we're back home. "Home..." This might be the first time that I considered that mansion of ours, home. I always thought that my "home" was the one back in my old world, back with my first parents. But now this is the first time that it's changed. Of course I still see our old world as home, but now I have another place to call home.

Yui: "Thanks mom."

Iris: "Eh?"

Yui: "You just made me realize something. I know it's silly to say, but I realize where my home is."

Iris: "Pfft!"

I could hear her chuckle behind my ear as we remain in our embrace, only for Iris to slowly bring herself away, brining her face in front of mine.

Iris: "And where would that be?"

I don't say anything and instead bring myself into her, embracing her once more. My home is right here, in her arms.

Iris: "I see, hehe."

I promise to not be stupid and treat the family I have here in this world as my actual family. There's no point dwelling on my past forever, I have to accept that this is my life now. I shouldn't just throw it away. Slowly, we break away from the hug as I once again look into her eyes.

Iris: "So!~ Care to explain why is it that you're out here?"

Yui: "It was helping out with the monster attacks."

Alice: "I knew it..."

Yui: "You knew?"

Alice: "That's why we came here first. I know you, and I had a feeling you'd do something stupid like this."

Hearing Alice, my tutor calling me stupid is quite disheartening. But she's right, I was being stupid.

Kaede: "It's my fault."

Iris: "Hmm?"

I completely forgot where we are. With Kaede now entering the conversation, I'm reminded of everyone else in the guild. The place is filled with adventurers, but all of them are dead silent, watching us. Makes sense considering the person who just entered.

Kaede: "See, Yui- I mean Ellen wanted to help me. I have family here, so she wanted to help in order to protect them."

Iris: "That so?"

Kaede: "Yes! She wasn't being stupid. She was fighting for what she wants to protect."

Oh god. Kaede is talking so casual with mom. She's speaking to her like she would my old mom back in our old world.

Alice: "If you were here though, then I don't think Ellen would need to come all the way out here."

That's right. I forgot that Kaede had already met Alice during that dragon fight. In fact that was when I first heard of Kaede's name in this world.

Kaede: "Yes. But Ellen wanted to come regardless."

Wait, didn't I tell Alice about Kaede being from another world the same as me? Considering where we are, I don't think this is the right place to continue this conversation.

Yui: "Yes! But- could we move somewhere else? Somewhere more private?"

Iris: "Hmm?"

It was then that my mom took notice of all the adventurers in the guild. At that moment, all the adventures dropped to their knees, bowing towards my mom.

Iris: "Yes. Let's talk somewhere else."

Kaede: "How about our room upstairs?"

Yui: "Mm!"

Iris: "Lead the way then~"

At mom's words, everyone began to move out of the way, clearing a path for us as we begin to walk upstairs. I take a moment to look back, poking my head downstairs.

Yui: "Sorry for the inconvenience!"

We soon arrive inside. Olivia, Sicily and Lillian remained downstairs, leaving just Kaede and I in the room with my mom and Alice. Mell wanted to come so badly, but Lillian held her back. Closing the door behind us, I take a deep breath in preparation for what's to come. I already told Alice, but how will mom react?

Mom sat down on the edge of the bed, with Alice taking her side. I take a moment before sitting next to mom as well, as Kaede sat down on one of the chairs.

Iris: "So~ You looked like you wanted to talk about something?"

Yui: "Yes."

I steady myself, taking deep, calm breathes before looking towards my mother.

Yui: "Mom."

Iris: "Yes?"

Yui: "Would you believe me if I came from another world?"

Iris: "Huh?"

She looked bewildered at my words, as if she was struggling to know if she heard me correctly.

Yui: "I know you gave birth to me, I'm not denying that. And I'm happy that I was. But I retain memories of a past life. A past life from another world."

Iris: "W-what do you-"

Kaede: "She's right."

This now feels like some sort of intervention. Everyone here knows about this except for arguably the most important person in the room.

Iris: "What do you mean, a past life?"

Yui: "It's exactly as it sounds-"

I take another deep breath before continuing.

Yui: "Before I was born, I lived a life in another world. Kaede, the person with us right now, she was there with me. We were very close to one another. But at some point, I was murdered. I don't remember much as everything went dark, I couldn't feel the pain of being stabbed no more. But then I found myself waking up in your arms."

I hold onto mom's hand for comfort as I could feel her eyes begin to water once more.

Yui: "I asked myself for years, why could I remember these memories? It only gave me sadness from then on, as I remember my time with my- old parents, my friends... My lover."

Iris: "So you're saying you- you already had parents? But I was the one who-"

Yui: "Yes. I had parents. I had a wonderful mom who made sure I never went hungry. A brazen father who would never fail to scold me if I did poorly in school."

Just remembering them is bringing tears to my eyes as I could also see mom beginning to tear up more and more.

Yui: "It took me a long time to get over them... And to be honest, I still haven't. I still consider them my family... But that doesn't mean I don't consider you family as well!"

I raise my voice in an attempt to fight back against the tears.

Yui: "You might be completely different than my old parents, but that doesn't take away the fact that I see you as much of a mother as my past mother!"

I wrap my arms back around mom, wiping my tears on her fancy dress. The tears thankfully stopped, but my heart is pumping non-stop as I wait for a response.

Moments pass as I thought the response would be words, but instead was a very gentle embrace. Her hands around me weren't shaky like before, but calm and soft.

Iris: "It's okay."

Yui: "..."

Iris: "You were holding onto that for so long. Must've been tough, right? You're very strong Ellen. A day never goes by where I'm not proud of you."

Her words were far too sweet for me to handle right now as I feel the tears coming back. I bury my face in her chest to hide the tears as I feel her hand moving up to gently pat my head. I can't believe I said it...