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WHOOSH.
The golden portal closed behind us like a heavy velvet curtain, leaving only the ghostly echo of celestial power dancing in the air. Damn, what a good feeling — being back in a dimension that wasn't imploding with every breath I took, y'know?
Step-step-step.
My footsteps echoed through the empty academy corridors, each sound ricocheting off the walls like ghostly whispers. My heart — yeah, even being the fucking Creator of the universe, it still worked like any regular human heart — was beating erratically with that parental anxiety every father carries in their chest after leaving their kids in a war zone.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
What if someone had gotten hurt? What if the Super Angels hadn't been enough? What if...
— Father! — Seraphiel's voice cut through my worries like a hot knife through butter.
Aaaah...
Relief hit me like a warm summer wave. There they were, all huddled together in the courtyard like an angelic battalion in very relaxed formation. Seraphiel at the front, followed by the other twelve I'd brought as backup. All in one piece, all breathing, all smiling when they spotted me coming.
One, two, three... thirteen. All present and without a single scratch on their faces.
— Report — I said, trying to sound all authoritative but unable to hide the relief that was leaking through my voice like melted sugar.
— No casualties, Father — Seraphiel responded, chest puffed with pride. — A few minor scratches here and there, but nothing our angelic regeneration couldn't handle.
Exhale...
I let out a breath I didn't even know I'd been holding since I left the collapsing dimension.
— And the others? Michael, Gabriel, the faction leaders?
— All safe — Auriel stepped forward, wings trembling slightly. — The evacuation portals worked like Swiss clockwork. Nobody got left behind, Father.
— Perfect — I murmured, allowing myself to relax for the first time since this whole mess started.
Gabriel appeared out of nowhere — typical her — materializing beside me with that maternal smile that melted any tension like ice in the sun.
— Worried about your children? — she asked with that tone she used when she knew exactly every thought passing through my head.
— Always — I admitted without beating around the bush. — It's part of being a dad, right?
Before I could protest, all thirteen angels approached like magnets, creating a circle of wings and golden light around me. It was like being at the center of a cosmic hug.
— Father — Seraphiel said, voice solemn as prayer — thank you for creating us. For giving us purpose. For loving us even when we're being pains in the ass.
I felt that tightness in my chest that comes when you realize that, even with all the cosmic power of the universe in your hands, some things never change. Family love was still the most precious thing that existed.
— Thank you for existing — I replied simply. — You make everything worthwhile.
FWOOOSH.
Everyone's wings opened simultaneously, creating a golden dome of light that enveloped us like a soft blanket. For a moment, we managed to forget about wars, terrorist attacks, political complications. It was just a family gathered together after a shitty day.
Ahem.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made us look up. Michael was standing at the courtyard entrance, trying not to smile at the family scene he'd caught in the act.
— Sorry to interrupt the family reunion — he said, but there was affection in his voice — but we have a meeting to conduct.
Reality came back like a bucket of ice water to the face.
— Can you guys stay around here? — I asked my angels. — Relax, explore the city, but don't wander too far. Never know when we'll need backup again.
— Yes, Father — they responded in chorus, like an angelic choir.
But before heading to Sirzechs' office, I had an important stop to make.
— Michael, give me five minutes — I said. — Need to check on something.
SNAP.
With a snap of my fingers, I teleported.
Pop.
I materialized in a pocket dimension I'd created as a cosmic bunker during the attack. Small, comfortable, and completely isolated from any external danger — like a protective cocoon.
And there they were. The group I'd separated to protect when things got ugly.
Lala was sitting on the floor, playing with some invention that would probably explode at any moment — business as usual. Asia was beside her, healing some minor scratches that some of the others had gotten during the evacuation. Haruna was leaning against the wall, clearly nervous but trying to maintain her composure. Mikan...
Mikan was in the corner, hugging her knees, that look she always had when she was worried about me. My little sister always knew when I was in bigger trouble than I could handle alone.
— Rito! — Lala jumped as soon as she saw me, throwing herself into my arms like a pink guided missile. — Are you okay? How was it out there? Did the angels behave themselves?
— Lala — I laughed, catching her before she fell. — Breathe, princess. I'm fine, everything's resolved.
— Rito-san — Asia approached, her eyes shining with tears of relief. — We were so worried... we felt it when the dimension shook.
— Sorry about that — I murmured, feeling guilty for causing all this anxiety. — You shouldn't have to worry about these things.
Small footsteps approached. Mikan was walking toward me, still with that worried expression that broke my heart like glass.
— Oni-chan — she said quietly — it was really dangerous this time, wasn't it?
There was no point lying to her. Mikan always knew when I tried to sugarcoat things.
— A little — I admitted. — But you know I don't get hurt easily, right?
— Because of... you know... — she made a vague gesture with her hands — your Creator powers?
— Exactly — I confirmed, relieved not to have to dance around the subject.
She hugged me, tight as if she was afraid I might evaporate.
— Just... just don't make me worry like that again, okay? — she murmured against my chest. — Even though you're God, you're still my oni-chan, and I worry.
That broke my heart into millions of little pieces. Here I was, technically the most powerful being in creation, and I could still make my little sister cry with worry.
— I promise to try — I said, kissing the top of her head. — But sometimes these things happen at work.
— Rito-kun — Haruna approached timidly, and there was something different in her manner — you... you're not exactly human, are you?
Record scratch.
The other three froze. Lala stopped playing with her invention. Asia stopped healing. Mikan stepped back a bit to look me in the eyes.
— Why do you ask? — I tried to buy time, but I already knew I'd been caught.
— The strange things that happen around you — she explained, voice tremulous but determined. — The way you always seem to know what to do in impossible situations. And today... today I felt something different. Like the very air changed when you arrived. Like... like reality bent a little.
I looked at the other three. Lala had that mischievous little smile that indicated she was enjoying the situation. Asia looked worried, but not surprised. Mikan just nodded, encouraging.
— No — I said finally. — I'm not exactly human.
The silence that followed was thick as molasses.
— But — I continued quickly — that doesn't change anything between us. You're still my family. You're still the most important people to me in the entire universe.
— The entire universe, literally — Lala commented, laughing softly.
— Literally — I confirmed.
Haruna stood still for a moment, processing. Then, to my complete surprise, she smiled.
— That... that actually explains a lot — she said. — I always knew you were special. I just didn't know how much.
And then, as if they'd planned it, all of them hugged me at the same time. Lala, Asia, Haruna, Mikan — creating a human nest of affection and acceptance.
— It doesn't matter what you are — Mikan murmured. — You're still my oni-chan.
— And my fiancé! — Lala added cheerfully. — The most powerful fiancé in the universe!
— And our friend — Asia completed with that sweet smile. — God or not.
— And... — Haruna hesitated — and someone very important to me too. Regardless of how many universes you've created.
For a moment, the weight of being the Creator of everything disappeared like smoke. I wasn't the Presence, I wasn't Yahweh reincarnated, I wasn't the supreme being of the cosmos.
I was just Rito. Big brother. Fiancé. Friend.
Buzz-buzz.
My phone vibrated like an irritated bee. Message from Michael:
"Rito, the meeting's about to start. Where the hell are you?"
— I have to go — I said reluctantly. — More diplomacy to sort out.
— Will there be more danger? — Mikan asked, worried.
— No — I assured her. — Just very boring conversations about peace treaties and celestial bureaucracy.
— Boring — Lala commented, making an exaggerated pout.
— Exactly — I laughed. — But necessary.
SWIRL.
I opened a portal back to Kuou, the air hissing like a pressure cooker.
— Stay here until I get back, okay? — I said. — And Lala, no inventing things that might explode while I'm gone.
— Awww, but explosions are more fun — she protested, making puppy dog eyes.
With one last wave, I stepped through the portal.
SNAP.
Time to save the world. Again.
But at least now I knew I had a family waiting for me at home — a family that accepted me, Creator and all.
Best motivation ever.