Narrator Pov
After sitting in silence for a moment, Y/n decided to speak first. "Might as well introduce myself properly, even though we told Keiko our names." Suzaku giggled slightly, shaking her head. "You are right, I will let you go first this time." Y/n simply nodded, turning to face her. "Y/n L/n, pleasure to meet you." He finished with a slight bow, Suzaku doing the same. "Suzaku Himejima, nice to meet you as well." Y/n raised his brow slightly, wondering if she was related to his fellow third year Akeno. 'Maybe, I mean they do look quite similar.' As he brushed the thought aside, Suzaku spoke up with her first question.
"I hope you don't mind, but why did you come to this shrine?" She asked, Y/n looked toward the Sakura tree, memories of his sister flooding back. "My sister brought me here a lot, sometimes dragged me here. She really loved this place, the tree and shrine, we always felt at peace here." A sad smile formed on his face, which didn't escape Suzaku's notice. "Is she..." Before she could continue, Y/n shook his head, stating she was in a coma for the last two years. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring back painful memories." She apologized, though he waved her off. "It's ok, you didn't know."
Wanting to change the topic, Suzaku complimented him. "You handled yourself quite well against the spirit, though I could tell you aren't used to fighting." Y/n smiled slightly, rubbing the back of his head. "I just watched carefully, if I just rushed in, it could have been a lot worse." He paused for a moment, before asking his question. "Guess you came to this shrine to do whatever it was you did to that curse." Suzaku nodded, answering his question. "That was a purification ritual, to erase the curse itself, unfortunately I was the only priestess available, all the others were busy."
Y/n gave a slight nod, taking note of what she said. "And I guess Keiko wouldn't have been fine if that curse was still latched onto her." Suzaku winced slightly at his words, but nodded regardless. "If her soul was tainted by it, then yes. But she was fortunate that you saved her in time." A brief silence fell over the duo, not really knowing what to say. After a moment, Y/n asked his question. "So you're like an exorcist or something?" Suzaku gave a light giggle, before nodding. "Close, I'm actually a priestess." Y/n nodded in understanding as she continued.
"I won't say too much, but I am from a clan that is well known for purifying spirits. I was sent to this shrine as everyone else was occupied." Y/n nodded again as he bought two water bottles from the System shop, both appearing in his hand before offering one to Suzaku, who gladly accepted it. "Hope I didn't ruin your task then, I don't know if it's against your tradition to receive aid from an outsider, I know most clans can be strict with that." Suzaku smiled at his concern, telling him not to worry which was enough to ease them as he took a sip of the water.
"It wouldn't matter anyway, considering I am the head of the clan." His eyes widened, Gamers Mind kept him calm, but the sudden surprise was still enough for him to nearly spit out his water. "Sorry, just didn't expect you to be the leader of such a prominent clan. Though I'm surprised you're here." Suzaku sighed, saying she took this task for her own selfish reason. "A relative of mine lives in Kuoh, I was hoping to see her, but I wasn't so lucky." As she finished, Y/n patted her shoulder reassuringly, catching her off guard. "By any chance is her name Akeno Himejima?"
Suzaku was shocked at his words, nearly dropping her water. "H-how did you know that?" Y/n couldn't help but chuckle, his hand still on her shoulder. "She's a fellow student at Kuoh academy, I'm in her year. I'm not a friend of hers, but from what I can tell, she is doing well and seems happy." Suzaku seemed a bit relieved by this news, smiling brightly. "Thank you, it's nice to know she is alright." Y/n removed his hand from her shoulder, taking a sip of water as he stood up.
"Well, it was nice talking to you, but I gotta get going." He said, turning towards the torii gate. As he was about to start walking, Suzaku placed her hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "One more thing, do you know much about the supernatural?" Y/n simply shook his head, stating he knew next to nothing besides what cane from fantasy stories and that the spirit was his first encounter. Suzaku was a bit surprised at his words, but nodded nonetheless as she handed him a few paper talismans.
"Just in case you encounter any supernatural beings, I had them with me in case the curse wasn't alone. They are a variety of offensive and defensive talismans." She explained as Y/n inspected them before storing them away. "Thanks, I'll use them should the need arise. I have one request if it's not a bother." She gestured for him to continue, which he did as he wrote his number down. "In case there is another spirit that needs dealt with in Kuoh, can you contact me? I want to hone my skills and do some good while doing so." Suzaku gave him a small nod, accepting his request. "You have a good heart, Y/n. If a situation arises, I will let you know." She finished with a small bow, to which he returned. With their farewells said, the duo went their separate ways.
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Once he reached home, Y/n got to making Silva's favorite meal, the cookbook laid out as he got to cooking. 'Talk about an exciting day, here I was complaining about nothing to do. In the end I'm glad Keiko was saved, and the shrine wasn't destroyed, even got an ally in the end. Oh yeah, still have those rewards to look over.' With his thoughts, the System menu appeared, displayed what he was thinking about.
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[Sudden Quest: Exorcise the Spirit]
Rewards: 10 Stat Points, Knowledge Book, Friendly relation with Suzaku Himejima
[Hidden Quest: Child in Need]
Rewards: 20 Stat Points, 10,000 G, 15 Skill/Perk Points, New skill
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Looking through the rewards, Y/n couldn't help but smile, accepting the reward before closing the menu, promising to check the rest later. 'Should be ready to di-' His thoughts were cut off as he saw the pot on fire. 'Well shit.' With his mind clear thanks to his skill, Y/n turned the stove off before placing the lid on the pot, prepping the spare ingredients he had set aside. "Note to self: Don't use the System while cooking. At least the house wasn't burnt down."
Timeskip - Y/n Pov
While in the middle of dishing dinner out, the front door opened. "Y/n, I'm back!" The voice of Silva called out, her heels echoing in the living room. 'Well, looks like she is home, better get the food on the table.' Placing the last bowl of food down, Silva came into the dining room, removing her jacket as she did. "Something smells delicious, did you got to th-" She topped herself seeing the table, her eyes widened slightly. "I-is that...!?" I couldn't help but smile, setting her jacket aside. "Yeah, it's your favorite dish. I just wanted to repay you in some way."
Silva quickly wrapped her arms around me, a large smile on her face. "You didn't have to, but thank you." She whispered softly, to which I hugged her back, patting her head. "No problem, saves you having to make it." As she sat down, she took a small bite, her eyes brimming with tears. "It tastes just like how I made it." I smiled warmly, sitting across from her. "I made sure to follow the cookbook, didn't want to miss any steps. I did have a little accident, but the food is safe."
Silva raised her brow, staring at me that motherly concern she always had. "What happened?" She asked, I sighed before telling her the truth, that I got distracted and the pot caught on fire, but I handled it. She gave a light chuckle, patting my head. "That's just like you, good job though, I'm proud of you." We continued eating, making small talk every now and then. It wasn't long until the meal was finished, I quickly got to washing the plates, telling Silva to just relax for the night. "No ifs, ands or buts, mom." I said firmly, to which she giggled, kissing my cheek before going to her room.
As I cleaned the dishes, the System opened with my latest skill and item displayed.
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[New Skill acquired! Create/Escape ID]
Create/Escape ID - Max lvl
Allows the Player to create a temporary Instant Dungeon equal to or higher than their current level. Player can bring anything or anyone inside the Instant Dungeon. The Player can exit the Instant Dungeon at will. Special items can be used to create a Unique Dungeon.
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[Knowledge Book]
[Rank: E] [Item Type: Book]
Contains basic knowledge of mana and magic. Will grant the Player an affinity with an element of their choice once fully read.
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My eyes widened slightly looking over the info. 'The book is good on its own, but this skill sounds useful.' I thought while drying the dishes before placing them in the cupboard. Once I was done, I headed for my room, taking the book out for the first time, it was rather worn, the spine cracked slightly, showing how old it was. As I sat down on the bed, I noticed how thick the book was, sighing lightly. "This will take a while, but I know next to nothing about magic, so this is necessary."
With a deep breath, I opened the book, reading the first page. "Guess I'll be up for a while, not that I mind." I muttered, getting comfortable as I continued to read.
Timeskip
After a few hours, I closed the book, my head throbbing slightly. "My head hurts, guess Gamers Mind doesn't stop self-inflicted pain. At least it's over." Resting my head on the pillow, I took some time for everything I learnt to settle in. I couldn't help but chuckle as the System ringed softly, the message being played in my head.
[Learning the Basics of Magic has increased Intelligence and Wisdom by 2]
Every being in the supernatural world and those that study magic possess what is called mana circuits, essentially a nervous system for mana which allows them to manipulate and focus it to a specific point, either to enhance their own body or an item they held to a minor degree. Both Mana Infusion and Mana Edge fell under this, even though the former was closer to magic.
Magic was more complex in a sense as there were various types, ranging from offense, defense, healing and more. Each requiring both a formula and affinity for said magic. The formula was simply the mental image of a phenomena one wished to create, e.g. fire or ice. By further building on the basic image of the magic formula, one can add conditions such as shape, range, and velocity. The amount of mana required would always differ, but with time and experience it can be refined and improved. The affinity aspect was more up to luck, as one could lack the talent in using certain magic, and simultaneously can excel at another magic.
"I'll decide my affinity later. Still need to get the squat reps done, don't wanna end up in that Penalty Zone." I muttered, quickly finishing said reps before heading for a shower, taking a quick one before drying myself off, changing into a pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt, not really caring about the cold. 'Can sort my stats out tomorrow, better sleep.' I thought, laying down in bed, pulling the covers over me before closing my eyes, drifting off.
Timeskip - Narrator Pov
A week had passed since the event at the shrine, during this time Y/n had chosen his affinity, with some consideration, he chose lightning magic, deciding its speed and power would be useful in a battle. The book also contained a formula to fit any magic type, meaning no matter what option he picked, the mana cost would have been the same and he would still be a beginner with it. He took time to practice with Mana Infusion, testing if he could focus on a specific trait, like his speed to enhance, and while it could, the effect was small when compared to his Sprint skill, but its versatility proved its worth.
During this time, the young man had also taken the time to practice with his current abilities, not wanting to run into a fight half-assed. After all, the supernatural world could be quite dangerous, so a good amount of practice was necessary. Y/n had also taken the time to sort his stats out, and even bought a two perks from the shop, each costing 20 points.
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Y/n L/n
Level - 19
Hp - 3850 ---> 4850
Mp - 2550 ---> 3850
Str - 52 ---> 60
End - 45 ---> 55
Agi - 33 ---> 38
Int - 35 ---> 45
Wis - 37 ---> 50
Lck - 36 ---> 40
Sen - 36 ---> 40
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[Available points]
Stat points - 0
Skill Points - 63
Perk Points - 23
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[Skills]
Lightning Magic - Lvl 1
Allows the user to generate and manipulate lightning and electricity at will.
50 Dmg + Int
Mana Cost: 250
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[Perks]
Greatsword Novice - Increases damage, handling and accuracy of greatswords by 10%
Lesser Resistance - Increases tolerance and resistance towards status effects, e.g. Poison, Rot, Etc.
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Y/n was in the middle of doing the push-ups and sit-ups for the Daily Quest, the other two requirements already finished, Silva watched from the kitchen, sipping her tea as she did. She couldn't help but smile, pleased he was taking care of himself lately. She was also pleased of the time they spent together over the last few days, even if it was only for a short time. "Hey mom, what would you like for lunch?" Y/n asked, stretching his arms after finishing his morning workout.
"Why not just let me make lunch this time, Y/n? You've cooked for the last few days after all." She replied, earning a chuckle from him. "You do too much already, I still want to pay you back." Silva simply smiled, shaking her head. "I'm not taking no for an answer. I'll make lunch, no ifs, ands or buts, my dear son." With her motherly tone, Y/n couldn't help but give in, sighing lightly. "Ok, ok, just this once, if I catch you slacking, then I'm taking over."
Silva couldn't help but giggle at his words, stating he wouldn't get a chance as she got to work, making some onigiri for them both. Y/n playfully kept a close eye, ready to pounce if he needed to. "If you keep watching like a hawk, it will take longer." Silva called out, her tone clearly a playful one. Y/n rolled his eyes before sitting on the couch with a smile, turning the TV on as he waited.
Once Silva was finished, she dished out the onigiri and headed to the living room, joining Y/n. They ate in silence, simply enjoying each other's company as they watched whatever was playing on the TV, talking about random things when they could. Y/n was about to suggest they watch a film later in the day, given it was her day off, but her phone buzzing caught their attention.
Seeing it was a call, Silva answered with a slightly brighter smile, though Y/n knew her enough to see the doubt she tried to hide. With his current Sense stat, he was able to hear who was on the other end, and he groaned slightly upon recognizing the voice, Silva confirming his suspicion. "Hello Ryuya, is something wrong?" She said, worry evident in her voice, the person on the other line spoke up, a familiar male voice. "I'm sorry, but could you do my workload, the manager gave me a lot of work to do remotely, but I already had plans for today."
Silva was about to speak up, but her boyfriend cut her off. "Please, dear. You're the only one who I trust to get the job done." Y/n's expression changed slightly, his face contorted in anger, his fists clenched tightly. 'Bastard, I knew you would try something.' He thought, not noticing his eyes glow a light blue for a second. The male continued his attempt, unaware of Y/n's anger. "You're the best worker I know, it would take no time for you. After this, I promise to any work I'm given."
'Oh, like you haven't broken that promise before.' Y/n thought, his anger growing more and more, but was kept in check by Gamers Mind. Silva gave in, saying she would be there soon, the man thanked her before hanging up. She summed it up for Y/n while grabbing her jacket, Y/n calmly saying what was on his mind. "Please mom, it's obvious he is lying to you." Silva shook her head, firmly telling him to not bring up this topic again, but Y/n kept pushing.
"Stop trying to deny it, you've dated him for three years now, and not once has he treated you right. I mean when was the last time he took you out for a date? He always gives some bullshit excuse." Silva was about to leave, but was stopped as Y/n grabbed her hand softly. "Y/n, stop." She said, not looking at him but he continued, not giving up. "What are you so afraid of? It's obvious he doesn't love you, for all you know he could cheating. Just listen to me and-" He stopped himself when she turned to him, tears in her eyes, a clear look of hurt on her face.
"Just shut up Y/n... please drop this." She muttered, not having the energy to shout. Y/n stared at her, his face softened as he realized what he had done. "Mom, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Her hand trembled slightly, holding his firmly, her lip quivered. "I don't want to talk about this, not anymore." She turned away from him, walking to the door, stopping briefly before walking to Y/n, embracing him tightly. "I love you, son." She whispered before letting go, leaving the house in silence.
Y/n could only stare at the door, both anger and guilt rising in him, but was kept at bay by his skill. After a few moments, he sat down on the couch, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Why is she so damn stubborn..." Without waiting a moment longer, Y/n left the house, heading for the abandoned industrial area to cool his head and give think of how he can get through to Silva.
After a quick run, Y/n reached his destination and got to work, taking out his frustration on anything in the warehouse. While swinging his greatsword, his mind wandered, trying to figure out a way to get through to her, for her to stop ignoring the truth, but couldn't come up with anything, part of him was desperate to open her eyes, but another was worried about pushing her too much. "What the hell am I supposed to do!?" After several hours, he sat on some rubble to collect his himself, only to be snapped out of his thoughts as he heard a commotion nearby, also sensing a malicious aura.
Y/n jumped to the top of the warehouse, kneeling down to remain unseen as he pinpointed the source, which didn't take long. What he saw were several people wearing black kimonos fighting against a strange creature, it had six limbs with a large, flame-patterned face, though it was more like a mask, and a flock of tentacles on his back. He didn't jump in yet, instead focusing on what the people were saying, particularly the man who seemed to be in charge as they fired off orbs of crimson red energy.
"Remember to keep your distance, this Hollow could try and take you over at any time!" His words made Y/n raise his brow, curious to how this battle would go. The Hollow just laughed while evading them, lashing out with his tentacles to try and kill his foes before finally speaking, its voice deep and gravelly. "No surprise you remember my little trick. How I took over your dear comrade before slaying the rest with their own hands. I still regret not killing your dear wife, she looked delicious."
This statement made the man's face darken, his anger clear as he drew his sword. "Shut your mouth, you bastard!" He shouted, charging the Hollow without a second thought, a few joining him while the rest continued to attack from range. The Hollow avoided most of their attacks, a few tentacles being and a limb being slashed off. It seemed like they would win, but the tide turned in an instant as his tentacles shot out, stabbing the people closest to it, except the leader. A moment later, their swords shattered suddenly, while the rest were shocked, the one in charge seemed confused. "I thought it could only work on one person?!"
The Hollow laughed in response, throwing them away with a flick of his tentacles. "Did you think I wouldn't grow stronger over these years? Of course I did you fool, and my abilities have grown with me. Now I can feast on anyone of you!" He shouted, charging his prey who had no weapons to defend themselves. As his tentacles came down, ready to skewer the people, a barrier blocked them, the Hollow crashing against it. "W-who did that?!" He growled before a lightning spear struck him, shocking him long enough for Y/n to land between them, pushing the Hollow back with a strong kick before using Observe to see what he was facing.
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[Metastacia]
Rank: C+
Race: Hollow
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"Sorry if I'm interrupting, but looked like you needed some help." He said while glaring at Metastacia, Monolith in hand and a few talismans in the other. Metastacia growled, staring at the boy as he sensed the power coming from him. "Foolish to intervene boy, maybe I should take you over and kill those closest to you before eating you from the inside out." His words earned a cold glare from Y/n, lightning crackled along Monolith's edge as he swung it, an arc of lightning flying out. He dodged in time, but Y/n appeared above him, throwing down a talisman as he struck him with the greatsword.
Y/n jumped back before the talisman exploded, the flames burning Metastacia as lightning struck him repeatedly. "Damn brat!" He shouted, firing his tentacles towards him, but they were struck down by several lightning spears. Y/n's eyes glowed a light blue, an aura surrounding him before he rushed in. His practice had paid off, and Metastacia found himself struggling to keep up, unable to counterattack. Yet as he was busy with Y/n, one of his tentacles got behind him, going for his back.
"Behind you!" The man shouted, firing off a blast of energy to buy some time. Y/n reacted quickly, his blade glowing with mana as he slashed behind him, cutting the tentacle off before putting some distance, landing next to the man, glancing at him for a moment to thank him. "Thanks, I didn't see that." The man nodded, sword in hand before calmly saying he would take over, but Y/n stopped him, his eyes narrowed. "I don't mean to be rude, but I can tell your sword is special. Whatever this thing did to your comrades, he could do to yours." The man sighed, saying it was a risk he was willing to take, but Y/n shook his head.
"It would be reckless. So to make sure you don't die, I will aid you." He said, casting lightning at the Hollow to keep it at bay, the man sighed again, muttering under his breath about how stubborn he was, but a part of him was grateful he was here. "Fine, my name is Kaien Shiba, what's yours?" Y/n told him his name, bowing his head in respect before the duo charged, both of them covering the other when it was needed, Metastacia unable to fight back as it was bombarded by lightning, sword slashes and the odd talisman.
Looking for a way out, Metastacia saw Kaien's men watching in awe, and quickly formed a plan. Before they could land another attack, his tentacles shot toward Kaien's comrades, knowing what was about to happen, Kaien threw himself in the way, Metastacia cackled in response. "I knew you would sacrifice yourself, Soul Reaper!" The tentacles had landed, blood splattering out, though it wasn't Kaien's. Instead, it was Y/n's, his shoulder pierced as he stood in front of Kaien. The Hollowed laughed all the same, ready to take him over.
[NOTICE! Metastacia is attempting Spirit Body Fusion!]
[Gamers Body unable to resist Spirit Body Fusion!]
[Player's Soul is unable to withstand Spirit Body Fusion!]
Y/n felt a pain in he couldn't describe, the Hollow forcibly entering his soul, slowly taking over as it burrowed deep. "N-no, I'm not g-gonna lose t-to y-you." He stuttered, his vision blurred as his soul weakened, Kaien tried to cut the tentacles, but they withstood it. Seeing his death close at hand, Y/n mind drifted to Silva, a bittersweet smile on his face as he remembered the good times they shared. 'Mom, I'm sorry for everything, I wish I could see you one last time...'
The Hollow laughed in his head, gloating about how easy it was as his vision went dark...
Time seemed to freeze for all as a dark aura burst out of the young man, Metastacia and the soul reapers froze in fear, though the former had all the more reason to be scared. Within the soul of Y/n, Metastacia watched as a second one emerged, covering the boy's soul in a cloak of darkness before taking form, a humanoid shape of pure darkness. It opened its glowing, purple eyes, disgust evident in them as it stared down the Hollow, who trembled at the sight.
The humanoid turned its attention to Y/n, and without a word, restored his soul, the Hollow's influence purged. Y/n's vision returned, but he didn't move, the dark aura coming off him weighed heavy, like a mountain was sitting on him. Yet he didn't feel fear, and instead felt like it was protecting him, an instinct told him not to resist. The Hollow could only watch as the humanoid turned to him, Y/n watched as it spoke while flicking its finger. "Begone."
In an instant, the tentacles still connected to Y/n were erased, Metastacia couldn't roar in response as he was destroyed. As quick as it appeared, the dark aura vanished, freeing Y/n from the weight on him. He gasped, falling to his knees as his body relaxed, feeling as if he had run a marathon. Kaien quickly knelt next to him, hand resting on his shoulder. "Are you alright?!" He asked, a hint of worry in his tone, though it was hidden, Y/n simply nodded.
"Just need a minute." He replied, breathing heavily, the group watched him closely, unsure what had happened or why they were so scared, but knew the Hollow had been destroyed, and that was enough for them. Kaien left Y/n alone for a moment, telling his men to return and that he would follow soon. Following their orders, the group left, leaving the two alone.
Kaien offered a hand, Y/n taking it gratefully as Kaien helped him to his feet, though he stumbled slightly. "I want to thank you for helping us. We would have lost many good men if not for you." Y/n smiled, saying it was nothing before thanking him for the save earlier. Kaien simply nodded before turning, telling him to take care before leaving. Once the man was gone, Y/n let out a sigh, the System rung in his head, a new message popping up.
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[Spirit Body Fusion was halted by the intervention of !@#$%^&]
[!@#$%^& has restored the Player's Soul!]
[You have Leveled up!]
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Seeing the message, Y/n was curious over the name the System used, guessing it was the humanoid he saw before. His attention was drawn elsewhere as his phone buzzed, seeing a message from Silva. Hesitantly, he opened it, prepared for the worse given the argument they had.
Silva Pov
"Excellent work as always, Silva. You never disappoint." My boss praised, I just nodded in response, my thoughts elsewhere. I left his office and went to my desk, sighing heavily as I grabbed my belongings. Since I finished Ryuya's work already, I was allowed to go home early. I checked the time on my phone, frowning lightly at the fact it was almost five. My son's words still rang in my head, and while I tried to push them aside, part of me believed them. 'Maybe he was right... Who else would understand humans better than me...' I thought, shaking my head with a heavy sigh.
As much as it pained me to admit it, he was right. Ever since I started dating Ryuya, it felt like something was off, the way he treated me, how he was always distant. I always brushed it off, convincing myself this was how a human relationship worked, that it was always normal. But compared to how Y/n was toward me, how he treated me over the years. Compared to that, Y/n gave me more love and affection in a single week than Ryuya ever did in the last year.
I couldn't help but sigh, a smile tugging on my lips, thinking back to the past few days. 'I'm a horrible mother... I should consider myself lucky to have such a caring son.' I thought, laughing to myself, knowing Y/n was more worried about me than himself. After getting in my car, I took my phone out, Y/n's contact present on the screen. I wanted to call him, but I hesitated, not knowing if he would pick up or not. Playing safe, I sent him a message instead.
"Sorry about earlier, Y/n, I shouldn't have acted like that. When I get home, I would like to talk with you about Ryuya, if that's okay. I'll understand if you're not ready, so don't worry. I love you." As I hit send, I set my phone aside, sighing heavily, hoping he would reply, or at the very least read it. Before I could start the car, my phone buzzed, almost instantly checking the notification, seeing it was from Y/n.
"Hey mom, I do want to say sorry about before. If you want to talk about him when you get back, I'll be waiting. Love you too." As I read the message, a smile broke across my face, tears welling up in my eyes as I was reminded just how much of a kind son I have. Taking a few minutes to compose myself, I finally started the car and began my drive home.
Y/n Pov
After replying to her message, I couldn't help but smile, though part of me was still nervous. Pushing that aside, I began my run home, trying not to think too much about it. 'Need to get home first, she must still think I'm home.' Activating my Sprint skill, and using the rooftops, I was able to cover a lot of distance. I few times I saw her car driving down the street, but I was faster, so in the end I got home first, coming in through the back just to avoid her seeing me by mistake.
Feeling a bit of exhaustion from the fight earlier and now the run, I took the other reward from the Daily Quests, which I could accept at any time, so saving them was easy. 'Accept Status Recovery.' I thought, the fatigue in my body vanished, and the missing health was restored as well. Resting on the couch, it didn't take long before I heard the door open, hearing Silva enter. She walked in silently, setting her jacket aside before joining me, sitting across from me.
I was about to speak, wanting to give a proper apology to her instead of through a text, but was beaten to the punch. "I'm sorry for being so stubborn earlier. You were just looking out for me, and I didn't listen. Even then, I should have known you would always be looking out for me." Her tone was gentle and kind, but a hint of sadness was hidden, her eyes cast downward, her lip quivered lightly.
I didn't need to see more to know she was struggling to not break down. "You don't need to apologize, I was out of line earlier, and pushed it even after you told me not too. Know where my stubbornness comes from, mom." I joked, earning a light laugh from her, a smile breaking across her face. She remained silent for a time, gripping her hands tightly together, her eyes still cast downwards before looking up to meet mine.
"I... I know that Ryuya isn't the best person for me... at all really... but I want to make something clear to you. He is the first man I am technically in a relationship, so I have nothing to compare him to." I kept quiet and listened intently, not fazed by her confession as she already told me, especially considering how she was honest about my father being a one-night stand. "But after some thought, I compared my time with you and him. You've done more to make me happy in the last few days, than he has in the last year." She smiled, tears welling up in her eyes. "And... I would hate myself if I just threw all the love you gave me away... for a man who doesn't care and takes advantage of my kindness."
Silva could barely keep her composure, fully breaking down once I moved next to her, wrapping my arms around her. I whispered soothing words in her ears, rubbing her back, her tears fell against my shirt, her sobs loud, her body shook as she let everything out, the hurt and pain she kept inside. I stayed there and held her close, her hand holding mine tightly. After several minutes, she calmed down, still hugging me tightly as she spoke once more. "I know you will hate this... but I-"
I cut her off, not letting her finish. "You want to give him a second chance. You really are too kind mom... and yeah, I do hate it, but I can't exactly stop you. All I ask is set some damn boundaries with that S.O.B." I muttered the last part, Silva giggled, agreeing with me. We separated and just sat in silence, not needing to speak as we knew the other was there for them. She eventually leaned against me, sighing happily as I wrapped an arm around her, a smile on both our faces.
"Thanks, Y/n... for everything..." She whispered, kissing my cheek. We stayed like that for a few minutes, sitting in silence while enjoying the company of the other. She suggested we watch a film for the night, and I agreed, picking out a relaxing film to watch after turning the lights off. She leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder as we focused on the film. After finishing another one, Silva had rested her head on my lap, her eyes closed as she fell asleep. Not wanting to ruin it, I slid a pillow under her head, gently stroking her hair as I closed my own eyes.
'Even if I'm not exhausted, I'm basically trapped here now.' Before I fell asleep, I glanced down at her, a smile breaking across my face. 'At least, it's a pleasant way to be stuck.' I thought, softly hold her hand as I drifted asleep.
Narrator Pov
With Y/n now asleep, he wouldn't have felt the small cracks form on his soul, cracks forming under his eye, slowly growing. With the TV being the only source of light, it revealed a shadowy hand coming from the darkness behind them, softly resting on the boy's head. A moment later, a purple glow seeped from the cracks, slowly healing them, repairing his soul. Staring at him from the darkness was a pair of eyes, their purple glow being the only indication that the figure was there.
The figure watched the boy silently, not moving an inch as it continued to heal the cracks. 'Your soul could not bear the strain, and now the power that has built up over your life is trying to force its way out.' Deciding on the best way to ensure Y/m would not be harmed again, the figure began to strengthen his soul slightly, making the power to slowly leak out, allowing his body the time to adjust to it. A faint blue aura covered Y/n's body for a moment, the System menu opening up quietly, being visible to the figure.
[Player's Soul has been strengthened, allowing for better growth!]
It didn't show any signs of acknowledgment, its attention solely on the boy. Once the job was done, the hand gently caressed his head before fading away, leaving the two to sleep peacefully.