75. Until We Meet Again

The gate shimmered with radiant blue light as Alsie, Yumina, Touya, Lindsey, Su, and the King and Queen of Belfast stepped through. The cool evening breeze greeted them on the other side, carrying with it the faint scent of moss and damp earth. The ruins of the Old Royal Capital stretched before them — crumbled stone walls, broken archways, and patches of wild grass scattered across the ancient grounds.

But John was nowhere in sight.

"He's not here..." Alsie murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart sank further.

"He'll come," Yumina said with quiet determination, still looking for his figure.

"Yeah," Touya added firmly. "He said six days. And he'll keep his word."

Despite their reassurances, a heavy silence settled over the group like a cold blanket.

"Father," Yumina said, turning to her parents. "You should return to the palace. There's no need for you to wait here."

The King looked hesitant. "But..."

"It's alright," Yumina insisted, her voice firm. "If John shows up, I'll come back for you."

With a deep sigh, the King reluctantly nodded. "Very well... but if you need anything, don't hesitate to call us."

"We'll be fine," Yumina promised.

The Queen gave her daughter one last worried look before stepping through the gate with the King, leaving the rest behind.

---

Days passed.

The cold air seemed to grow heavier with each sunset. The group camped near the ruins, barely speaking as they waited.

"Maybe... maybe he changed his mind," Lindsey whispered one night, her voice full of doubt.

"He'll come," Alsie said firmly. Her gaze never left the broken stones in the distance.

Even Su, barely ten years old, refused to leave. She shivered against her blanket, but when Lindsey suggested they head home to warm up, Su shook her head stubbornly.

"John's our friend," she said softly. "I'm not leaving."

No one argued after that.

---

Finally, on the sixth day — just when hope was starting to slip away — John appeared.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed from behind a broken arch. Everyone turned in unison. There he was — standing quietly at the edge of the clearing, wearing his familiar dark cloak and carrying a small bag over his shoulder.

For a moment, no one spoke. It was that awkward silence — the kind that comes when people have so much to say they don't know where to start.

"Hey…" John began, his voice low.

But before he could say anything more, Alsie and Yumina dashed toward him like arrows released from a bow.

"John!"

They collided into him, wrapping their arms tightly around his waist. The force nearly knocked him off his feet.

"I'm sorry!" Alsie sobbed, burying her face against his chest. "I'm so sorry!"

"Me too!" Yumina cried. "I shouldn't have doubted you... I should've trusted you!"

John blinked, startled by their sudden outburst. He raised his arms awkwardly before finally hugging them back.

"Hey… hey, it's okay," he said gently. "It's okay now."

But the two girls didn't stop crying. Their sobs poured out like rain, raw and unrelenting.

"I'm sorry," Alsie repeated, her voice breaking. "I should've listened... I shouldn't have just walked away..."

"You're not the only one," John said softly. "I should've told you the truth sooner."

It took quite some time for their tears to finally subside. When they finally let go, John gave them a faint smile.

"I'm really glad you're here."

---

Later that evening, Touya took John aside. They stood near the edge of the ruins, where the wind whispered softly through the broken stones.

"You know…" Touya began, crossing his arms, "I know more about you than you think."

John frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm from Earth too," Touya revealed.

John paused, acting surprised. "Wait… really?"

"Yeah," Touya grinned. "I was born in Tokyo. What about you?"

"New York," John replied.

They talked for hours, reminiscing about familiar things — food, movies, and the streets they once knew. But as John spoke about Marvel Earth, Touya's expression shifted.

"Wait…" Touya blinked in confusion. "You mean… superheroes? Iron Man, Spider-Man... those are real on your Earth?"

"Yeah," John chuckled. "It's not like the comics, though. Things are... rougher."

Touya's face grew serious. "Then... you're from a different Earth altogether."

"Looks like it."

The weight of that truth settled between them — two men from different versions of the same world, brought together by fate.

---

While they were talking, Yumina had quietly returned to the palace to bring her parents back. When they arrived, the King and Queen were clearly surprised to see John.

"So… young man, you have been causing my daughter so much heartache," the King said with a stern expression.

"Yeah... that's me," John muttered awkwardly.

The King's gaze softened. "I hear you're leaving."

"...Yeah." John nodded his head slightly.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then, unexpectedly, the King extended his hand.

"Then I wish you safe travels," he said. "And if you ever return... you're welcome here."

John shook his hand, surprised.

"Thank you," John said quietly.

"And if you hurt my daughter again," the King added with a sharp smile, "I'll make you regret it."

John chuckled nervously. "Fair enough."

---

When it was finally time for John to leave, the air felt heavy.

"Promise me you'll come back," Alsie said, her eyes red.

"I will," John promised. "And if… if you two still feel the same way when I return…" He paused. "Then I'll take you both with me."

Yumina tried to smile, but tears welled in her eyes again.

"You better keep your word," she whispered.

"I will," John repeated.

The group stood quietly as John activated the coordinate rune. A bright white glow began to engulf him.

"Take care of yourselves," John said softly, his gaze lingering on Alsie and Yumina.

"You too," Alsie choked.

"Goodbye…" Yumina whispered.

With a final smile, John closed his eyes. The rune flared, and in a brilliant flash of light, he was gone.

The air fell still, the silence deafening.

Alsie wiped her tears with her sleeve. "He'll come back," she whispered, as if convincing herself.

"He will," Yumina agreed.

They stood there for a long time, watching the empty space where John had vanished — clinging to the hope that one day, he'd return.