As Nick's eyes flutter open, he finds himself in an unfamiliar place, his surroundings a mix of confusion and astonishment.
"Ah, what is this place?" he wonders aloud, his gaze taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. His eyes shift downward, and he's met with a revelation that leaves him breathless. "Right, my leg... it's there. I got my leg back. How is this possible? Last thing I remember, it was gone, and now it's back. And it's that woman."
The realization washes over him as he processes the implications of his newfound recovery. His thoughts race, and a question escapes his lips, "Is this a hospital?" His gaze lands on the red-haired woman sleeping nearby, her presence a comforting yet puzzling presence.
Suddenly, a voice cuts through the air, a whisper from a distance. "Hey, Nick, look at me," Koshiro's voice urges softly. Startled, Nick's attention shifts to the source of the sound. "Koshiro!" he exclaims, his voice filled with both surprise and relief.
Koshiro's response is cautious but urgent, "Shh, keep it down. Don't wake her. Okay, slowly come here." With Koshiro's guidance, Nick gets up from the bed and follows him to a corner of the room, away from the red-haired woman's slumber.
His emotions brimming, Nick's voice trembles with anger and frustration, "I don't know why you guys insist on saving me. Every time I'm supposed to die, you guys just come up and tell me it's none of your goddamn business, and that woman too, so—"
Before he can finish his sentence, Koshiro's hand connects with a sharp slap across his face, the force of it silencing his words and sending a shockwave through him. The room falls into a heavy silence, interrupted only by Koshiro's determined voice.
"I know you have many questions, but let me say something. Hear me out," Koshiro's voice is measured, filled with a mixture of understanding and intensity. "First of all, I'd like to thank you for saving my wife."
Nick listens carefully as Koshiro begins to reveal the pieces of the puzzle. The story unfolds, a narrative of loss, grief, and an unexpected awakening. "To answer your question, it was a long time ago. Remember when I told you when my son died, since then my wife was in a state of shock," Koshiro's voice trembles, emotion brimming at the surface.
His voice heavy with gratitude and sorrow, Koshiro continues, "But when she saw you, she... she finally awoke." Tears begin to well in his eyes as he expresses his thanks. He places his hands on Nick's shoulders, a gesture of profound appreciation. "Thank you a lot. And as for why I saved you, like I said, you look just like him."
"Kaiho," Nick murmurs, piecing together the connection that has been hinted at since their first meeting.
Koshiro's voice gains a sense of urgency, "I know that reason alone doesn't satisfy you, and I don't know why I got here, but there is something connecting us," Koshiro's voice resonated with a mixture of conviction and uncertainty, his gaze fixed on Nick. "You coming here and Mikoto waking up... it's destiny, Nick. Destiny brought you here if you're still alive there Is still something left for you to do when the time comes you'll know
"I saved her?" Nick's voice holds a mixture of astonishment and realization. After a moment of reflection, Koshiro and Nick return to the room
"Hummm, Kaiho, Kaiho, where are you? Oh, there you are!" Mikoto's voice fills the room, a mixture of exasperation and fondness evident in her tone as she addresses Nick by the name that seems to have a significant connection to their past.
"Oh, Mikoto, you're awake," Nick responds, his surprise evident as he acknowledges her presence.
Mikoto doesn't miss a beat, running towards Nick and playfully hitting him on the head. "How dare you call your mother by her name?" she scolds him, her words a mix of teasing and familiarity.
"Wait, what? You're not my mother," Nick protests, taken aback by her words. However, his protest is met with a swift and unexpected response as Mikoto tightens her grip around his neck. "Oh, I am not? A nice beating should jog your memory," she retorts, her actions a stark reminder of her strength.
"Ah, okay, okay, I am sorry," Nick manages to sputter out, his voice tinged with both surprise and amusement. Mikoto eventually loosens her grip and wraps her arms around Nick in a heartfelt hug. Her words carry a mixture of sternness and concern, "Don't even do that again. Don't recklessly risk your life. I'll always be there to protect you, Kaiho... Kaiho?"
Amidst the lighthearted yet intense exchange, Koshiro's voice cuts through the air, adding a touch of levity to the situation. "Hey, Mikoto, I guess you knocked him out because of your chokehold," he observes, his tone playful.
As the scene unfolds, Nick's consciousness begins to fade as he's overwhelmed by the events and emotions of the moment. His thoughts and senses blur, but amidst the haze, one final call reaches him.
"Kaiho, wake up." The words reverberate in his mind, a reminder of the tangled threads of connection that bind him to Mikoto, Koshiro, and the mysterious past that now demands his attention and understanding.
The morning sun streamed through the windows of the room, gently rousing Nick from his thoughts. As his eyes fluttered open, he was greeted by a new day and the familiar surroundings of the temple. The events of the previous day played in his mind like a vivid dream, the echoes of destiny and connection still resonating within him.
"Kaiho, wake up. It's breakfast time," Nick said aloud, his voice a mixture of determination and uncertainty. His own words seemed to serve as a reminder of the dual identity he held – Nick and Kaiho, two sides of the same person, caught in the currents of fate.
However, his introspective moment was interrupted by a self-deprecating thought, "What the hell am I thinking, getting comfy with those two?" The realization struck him that his attachment to Mikoto and Koshiro, however genuine, also came with its own set of challenges and complexities.
As if in response to his inner turmoil, another unexpected development shattered the tranquility of the morning. "Boom, the door exploded," a voice exclaimed, and Nick's heart raced as tension filled the air. "Another enemy attack," he thought, the events of the past seeming to repeat themselves in a relentless cycle.
An authoritative voice cut through the chaos, revealing an unexpected figure. "You're a thousand years early to start disobeying me. Now get down here," the voice commanded, its tone brimming with power and authority.
Nick's confusion deepened as he tried to comprehend the situation unfolding before him. "What the hell? How is she that strong?" Mikoto's voice reflected her astonishment, her grip on Nick's collar pulling him towards the table.
"Koshiro, help me," Mikoto's plea rang out, a desperate call for assistance in the face of the unknown threat.
Koshiro's response was a mixture of regret and resignation, his signal indicating that there was little he could do. "Sorry, Nick, there's nothing I can do. Just eat up," he said, his words laced with a sense of acceptance that they were, in that moment, at the mercy of forces beyond their control.
As Mikoto's grip on Nick's collar loosened, he quickly reassured her, "Ok, ok, sorry. I won't do that again." The tension seemed to dissipate, replaced by a more lighthearted atmosphere.
Mikoto's expression softened as she patted his shoulder gently, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Kaiho, eat plenty," she encouraged, the maternal concern evident in her words.
With her encouragement, they both dug into their meal, savoring the flavors and the simple joy of shared company. "Hmmm, it's so good," Nick remarked, his pace of eating increasing as he relished the food before him.
Mikoto's response came with a playful twist, "After all, I am your mother." Her words were met with a chuckle from Nick, who was clearly enjoying the banter.
"It's been better than Koshiro's cooking," Nick quipped, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Mikoto couldn't resist the opportunity to join in the teasing, "I bet."
Laughter filled the room as Mikoto and Nick shared a moment of camaraderie, their bond deepening through shared experiences and a sense of understanding that transcended words.
After a while, their laughter subsided, and a more contented silence settled over them. Nick leaned back, a satisfied grin on his face, as he patted his stomach. "Man, I am stuffed. If I eat any more, I am gonna explode."
Mikoto nodded in agreement, a playful smile on her lips. "Yeah, I know the feeling." Her gaze shifted to Nick, her expression softening. "You know, despite everything, it's nice to have moments like these."
Nick's features mirrored her sentiment as he looked at her, his gaze holding a mixture of appreciation and warmth. "Yeah, it really is. It's moments like these that make all the craziness worth it."
In the midst of their laughter and shared meal, a sense of camaraderie and acceptance blossomed. Despite the mysteries and dangers that surrounded them, they found solace in each other's company, a reminder that even in the face of destiny's uncertain path, there were still moments of connection and joy to be cherished.