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Ethan sat at the edge of his bed, eyes staring blankly at the phone in his hand. The digital clock beside him blinked quietly—7:00 a.m. The room was dim, the blinds filtering in just enough morning light to cast soft shadows on the wooden floor. For a long moment, he simply sat there, silent.
This room… this apartment… it was his.
His world.
But somehow, it felt like a dream.
He looked around at the familiar walls, the framed photos on the shelves, the books gathering dust, and the neatly folded clothes he hadn't touched in what felt like months. But in this world, barely any time had passed. His journey to Orario, to the dungeon beneath the Tower of Babel, the blood-soaked battles and friendships in Danmachi, and the frozen bonds he'd shared with Anna and Elsa—all of it felt like both yesterday and a lifetime ago.
The silence was deafening. His thoughts echoed.
Lili, Hestia…
He remembered the way they fought, laughed, and stood by each other. The rush of exploring the dungeon. The bittersweet goodbyes.
And then—Arendelle.
Elsa's cold touch. Anna's warm embrace. Their kisses. The snowy nights, the laughter around the fireplace, the quiet talks under the northern lights.
But now he was back.
"Can't let myself get rusty," he muttered, standing up and slipping on his shoes.
He stepped onto the balcony, the city humming quietly below. With a long breath, Ethan began to stretch, shaking off the weight of nostalgia. He closed his eyes and started moving—push-ups, squats, sit-ups. His body moved with precision, conditioned by battles in other worlds, by training under gods and fighting monsters far beyond anything this world could imagine.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his breathing was calm. Focused.
By the time he was finished, the sun had risen fully, casting golden light over the buildings. He stepped back inside and stripped off his shirt, tossing it into the laundry basket.
A warm shower followed.
The steam filled the room, fogging the mirror as Ethan leaned forward, resting his hands on the sink.
"Back home… but not the same," he said to his reflection. "I've changed."
And it was true. The boy who had first entered the world of Danmachi was not the same man now standing here.
He dried himself, dressed in casual black jeans, a fitted gray shirt, and threw on his favorite leather jacket. Something simple, but it still made him look sharp. He glanced at the mirror one last time and smirked.
Then he picked up his phone.
8:30 a.m.
He tapped into his messages. The first name he searched for appeared almost instantly.
Alice.
Her last message had been from the night before:
"Good night. I hope you're resting well… I'll be at the café early tomorrow. Stop by if you want. 💗"
Ethan smiled.
With a quick flick of his thumbs, he replied:
"Good morning, Alice. I'm planning to visit you today at Alice Café. See you soon."
He grabbed his wallet and keys, then stepped out the door.
The city was alive now. The usual rhythm—cars honking, bikes weaving through narrow lanes, people heading to work with coffee in hand.
Ethan walked with purpose, the cool breeze brushing against his face as memories clung to the back of his mind.
He passed the park where he once used to read novels alone. Passed the bookstore that introduced him to the first volume of Danmachi. The same bookstore that led him to the adventures that changed his life.
And then… there it was.
Alice Café.
Tucked neatly between a blooming flower shop and a quiet bookstore, the café looked just as he remembered it. A small place with white-painted walls, ivy crawling around the windows, and the familiar red neon sign flickering softly: "Alice Café – Home-Brewed Happiness."
Ethan took a deep breath and opened the door.
The soft chime of the bell greeted him.
The smell of fresh pastries, cinnamon, and roasted coffee beans filled the air. Warm. Inviting.
"Welcome to—!"
Alice froze mid-sentence.
She was behind the counter, tying her apron, her red hair cascading freely over her shoulders. Her eyes widened when they met his, and her lips parted, speechless.
"E-Ethan… you came," she whispered.
"I told you I would," he said with a smile. "I missed your coffee… and you."
Her face flushed a soft pink. She looked down, fidgeting as she quickly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You… remembered where the café was?"
"I remember everything," he replied softly, walking closer.
Alice motioned to the side. "Your table's still there. I—I always save it. Just in case…"
He chuckled as he walked toward the familiar booth at the corner. The sunlight through the window made it glow, just like always. He slid in, sighing with a strange sense of peace.
Minutes later, Alice came to his table, holding a tray.
His usual order: cappuccino with cinnamon, and a chocolate croissant. Nothing had changed.
"You even remembered my order," he said.
She smiled, placing it carefully in front of him. "Some things are impossible to forget."
They sat in silence for a while, the ambient music blending with the low hum of conversation from other customers. For a while, Ethan just stared at the coffee, the steam rising from it.
Alice finally broke the silence.
"You seem… different."
Ethan looked up. "Yeah?"
"Not in a bad way," she added quickly. "Just… more confident. Stronger. Like you've been through something."
He took a slow sip from the cup and nodded.
"I have."
He didn't go into details—how could he? Who would believe him if he told her about dungeon diving, taming , or kissing a snow queen?
But she didn't press. Maybe she didn't need to.
Instead, she smiled softly and sat across from him.
"I was worried," she said quietly. "You disappeared for a while. No messages. No updates. I thought I'd lost you."
"I didn't mean to vanish," he replied. "There were things I had to do. And people I had to help."
"I understand," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "But I'm glad you're okay."
"I missed you," Ethan said, looking into her eyes. "More than I realized."
Alice looked away, flustered. "You're saying that now, but…"
"I mean it."
She bit her lip, clearly holding back emotions that had been building up for weeks. Then finally, she let out a shaky laugh.
"Then maybe… we can start again."
"Not start again," Ethan said, reaching out and gently taking her hand. "Just pick up where we left off."
Her fingers tightened around his, and the warmth in her eyes said everything words couldn't.
"I'd like that."
---
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