Days passed in a blur as I adjusted to my new life with Sora and Xavier. I had gone from losing everything to slowly being pulled into the warmth of their presence. It wasn't the same as having my mother back, but it was something. It was a lifeline in a world that had seemed to darken after the explosion.
Sora had proven to be a lot more than just the serious and stoic Chief of Elites. When he wasn't under the watchful eyes of the world, he was much more laid-back and... well, human. He liked cracking jokes, often catching me off guard with his dry humor or his easy laughter. Xavier would roll his eyes at his dad's antics but always with a smile.
But Xavier, oh Xavier, he was something else entirely. His energy was contagious. He was always on the go, bouncing around, cracking jokes, and trying to drag me into whatever wild thought he was having. His enthusiasm was something I wasn't used to after everything that had happened, and it took me a little while to get used to his constant curiosity.
"You have to tell me more about your family!" Xavier exclaimed one day, his eyes bright with excitement. "I mean, your dad is literally No.1 Rank Hero! That's like... insane!" He was practically bouncing in his seat as he bombarded me with questions. "What was it like growing up with him? What did you guys do? Did you ever get to see him in action?"
I froze, the words stuck in my throat. I had never really thought about my life with my father—before everything fell apart, before I lost my mother. It was hard to look back at that time without feeling the ache in my chest. But Xavier wasn't giving up. His energy was infectious, and I could see he wasn't asking just to satisfy his curiosity; there was a genuine interest there, a desire to know the real me.
"It was... different," I began slowly, my voice a little shaky at first. "He was always busy, but when he was home, he was the best. He'd take us out for ice cream, or we'd have these little family nights with games and movies." I smiled at the memory, though it felt bittersweet now. "He was never really around much, but when he was, he made it count."
Xavier leaned forward, hanging onto every word like I was telling him the most exciting story in the world. His eyes were wide, like he couldn't believe it. "That sounds so cool! My dad's always so serious. I mean, he's gotta be, right? He's Chief of Elites and all that... but it's fun to hear that your dad actually made time for you."
I laughed softly, a real smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, he did. It wasn't always easy, but he tried his best."
Xavier grinned widely, then suddenly turned a little more serious. "What about your mom? I bet she was super cool too. What was she like?" He was practically leaning over the table now, clearly invested in hearing more.
The question caught me off guard. My heart clenched, and I found it harder to speak. My mom... the one I had lost. I could feel the tightness in my chest again, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and pushed through.
"She... she was amazing. The kindest person you'd ever meet. She never had time for herself, always putting others first. Even when she wasn't feeling well, she still took care of me, Heesung... all of us." I paused, looking down at my hands. "She was the one who really kept our family together."
Xavier, sensing the change in my tone, leaned back and gave me some space. He wasn't pushing anymore, but I could see the understanding in his eyes. "Sounds like she was the glue that held everything together. I'm sorry for what happened, Akari. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you."
I nodded, feeling a small weight lift from my shoulders just by saying her name out loud again. Talking about her, even in this small way, felt like a step toward healing.
---
Later that evening, after dinner, we all settled into the living room. The TV was on, but none of us were paying attention. Instead, Xavier and I were sharing stories about our days—mostly about school and the strange mix of powers and personalities we encountered at our new school.
"You should've seen this guy in class today," Xavier laughed, leaning back into the couch. "He tried to use his power to turn invisible, but instead, he just got really, really small. It was like trying to find a bug in the grass."
I couldn't help but laugh, though I found myself distracted. Xavier's laughter was loud and carefree, but there was still something in his eyes that spoke of more than just fun and games. I knew he was still trying to understand me, to help me, but I couldn't quite bring myself to tell him everything yet.
"You ever wish things were different?" I asked quietly, looking at him. "Like, before all this... everything changed?"
Xavier looked at me, his eyes softening. "Yeah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But we don't get to choose the life we're given. All we can do is make the best of it. And, you know... try to have some fun along the way." He smiled, but there was still something unreadable about his expression.
I gave a small smile, but it didn't quite reach my eyes. "I guess."