It's been half a year since I last laid eyes on my academy. I was away, visiting a relative in the UK. Time really flew by, and now I'm finally heading back to where I belong – Isokaze. I haven't seen Mayu during this whole time, and I'm curious about how my friends have been managing without me. We've all moved up to our third year, except for Mayu. But then again, she's a second-year student after all.

These thoughts kept replaying in my mind till....

Driver: Sir, we have arrived at the destination.   

Yuki: oh! (I felt somewhat drowsy, reminiscing about those thoughts) . Okay! Here is the cash.

I handed him 200 yen as the fare and stepped out of the cab. Nikki greeted me with a hug – I guess she missed me.

Nikki: Hey, big bro! I really missed you a lot. How have you been all this time?

Yuki: You've grown quite a bit, Nikki. And as for your question, I've been doing great. I just really missed this place a lot.

Out of nowhere, Uncle Kaito appeared and hugged both of us. I could sense his relief that I had returned home safely.

Kaito: How's my niece doing? (he asked, his smile wide and warm. It was clear he was genuinely happy to see me.)

Yuki: I'm doing perfectly fine, Uncle. But this time, you didn't pull that peculiar joke of yours.

Kaito: I knew already you would have figured it out since last time.

We chatted for a while as we watched the sun begin to set.

Kaito: Let's continue our chat at home. It's time for us to head back now.

We both nodded in agreement. Uncle had recently purchased a new car, which I presumed to be a Century model. It's known for its luxury and prestige all across Japan. This was my first experience riding in such a car. We all settled comfortably inside, and Nikki enthusiastically recounted all the events that had unfolded during my absence.

After a journey of around 30 minutes, we arrived at our home.

Yuki: It feels great being back.

We stepped out of the car, but a part of my thoughts still lingered. I couldn't help but keep wondering about Mayu. Was she doing alright? In our last conversation, she had mentioned having a fever. However, all of that tension faded away when...

Mayu: Welcome back!!!

Once again, I was welcomed with a warm hug. However, this time, my heart skipped a beat as I locked eyes with a girl with vibrant violet hair, embracing me. The sight of Mayu brought an overwhelming sense of relief. In her presence, my heart settled, and my mind found tranquility. Amidst the whirlwind of emotions, my thoughts faded, leaving just one astounding realization – she was here again. It was so powerful that tears welled up in my eyes.

Yuki: It's incredible to have you back, Mayu. Just seeing you here brings such a sense of relief. I'm truly glad to know that you're doing well.

Mayu held onto me tightly, and it seemed like she must have missed me a lot during my absence. Tears welled up in her eyes as well. As she gazed at me, her eyes sparkled like precious gemstones, illuminated by emotion.

Nikki: Okay you guys it's been 5 minutes since you both are like this. Can you do this after we are all settled?

Mayu: Yeah! (She said while feeling embarrassed)

Her reddened face suggested that she might have been feeling a bit embarrassed. We walked into the house together. The rooms seemed mostly unchanged from what I could recall, though there were some subtle alterations – like a picture of my parents hanging on the wall. I suspected Uncle Kaito must have put it up. Moreover, Uncle's laptop was open, displaying the same message I had seen that day. It was clear that Nikki had finally got to know about her parents.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Yuki: Nikki.

Nikki: Yeah?

Yuki: You probably know now don't you?

Nikki: ( With a deep breath) Yeah. Uncle Kaito had talked to me a couple of days back about his investigation into our parents' story – how everything unfolded and the reasons behind it all.

Yuki: Nikki I am sorry.

Nikki: Don't worry, I know you weren't the reason for it. Besides, let's switch the topic and talk about something else.

Yuki: yeah, that will be for the best.

Mayu seemed a bit more at ease, her face showing a mix of both sadness and relief. It seemed that my choice of conversation topic had evoked these feelings. Looking back, it might have been better to discuss this with Nikki alone.

We all took our places in the living room. I was pleasantly surprised to see a brand-new, larger sofa. It was not only bigger but also more comfortable than before. Kaito and Nikki headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Yuki: I am gonna head upstairs and unpack my stuff.

Mayu: Ok.

The scent coming from my room was truly delightful. Wait, was my room always this pleasant? I flicked on the lights and noticed a wrapped gift on the table. I started unpacking my belongings.

Yuki: Now it looks like my own. :)

Letting out a tired sigh, I reached for the table and started unwrapping the gift. To my amazement, I discovered my favorite manga collection inside – "Monogatari Series." I couldn't believe my eyes – it contained all the volumes I had been wanting, from 1 to 27!

Yuki: I wonder who gave me this.

I hurried downstairs to find dinner being served. I nearly bumped into Nikki in my haste.

Nikki: Hey why are u running like a maniac?

Yuki: Sorry I was kinda too excited.

Nikki: Fine! Fine! Anyway did you see that gift on the table?

Yuki: Was it you who gave me?

Nikki: Nope. Didn't you read the note?

Yuki: Which one?

Nikki: The one below the box.

Yuki: Oh shoot My bad...So Who actually was it?

Nikki: You already know what to do, so go ahead and thank her, you goof.

Yuki: Mayu?

Nikki: who else?

Yuki: Ok I am gonna thank her now.

Nikki: Just go now already. I am gonna change.

I headed downstairs and thanked Mayu with a big smile.

Yuki: I really appreciate the gift Mayu. You are the best. :)

Mayu: (while blushing) It's not that big of a deal. I knew how much you liked that series, so I saved up some money to get it. But honestly, Uncle Kaito and Nikki did most of the work. They helped out a lot. So, when you're thanking me, make sure to thank them too.

I was absolutely over the moon with happiness. I never even dreamed of receiving a gift like this from them. I had been saving up quite a bit of money, but every time I tried, it was always out of stock. I expressed my gratitude to them later when we were all sitting down for dinner.

Kaito: So tell me about your experiences there. Did you make any new friends?

Yuki: Yeah, these past six months were a blast. I did all sorts of stuff like sleepovers and gaming with my new friends – three guys and two girls. We had a blast hitting up the pool, going to an amusement park, and exploring cool places together. When it was time to say goodbye, they handed me a photo of us hanging out in our usual spot. That picture brings back a flood of memories every time I look at it. I'll be honest, I got a bit teary-eyed when we had to part ways. Oh, and there's this thing that happened – a girl named Yurika confessed her feelings to me during the fireworks festival. I turned her down gently, telling her I had someone to go back to. She was upset and cried the whole next day. After things settled down, we got back to normal. We stay connected through Line, even if we don't chat as much as we used to. But every time we catch up, it's like those good old days come alive again.

Nikki: That's a whole lot of things happening.

Mayu: So, you do miss them now.

Yuki: They were great friends, just like the ones I made here – Shou, Kaori, Yunna, Valerie, and my adorable girlfriend, you. I miss them a lot, just like I miss all of you. I can't really compare them; they're all equally special to me, just like you all are here.

A silence enveloped us. I found myself a bit caught up in everything I had just shared. I'm not sure why I ended up blurting out things I probably shouldn't have.

After a while, the atmosphere shifted. Everyone seemed to be experiencing a mix of happiness and sadness, but the tension from earlier had eased up a bit. We exchanged our goodnights and retreated to our respective rooms.

Yuki: Okay Mayu, I am gonna see you tomorrow then.

Mayu: Wait let me join you.

Yuki: I apologize, but I need some time to think and sort things out. Plus, it might be more convenient for you to sleep in the same room as Nikki.

Mayu: Is it because of her? Yurika?

Yuki: No, absolutely not, Mayu. I never had any romantic feelings for her. I always saw her as a friend. You're the only one who holds a special place in my heart..

Mayu: Okay! Be ready for tomorrow because it's our first day at Ace Academy as third-year students.

Yuki: Isn't i the one who is in 3rd year? ( i chuckled )

Mayu: Of course. I am a 2nd year.>_<

Yuki: Okay Mayu, See you tomorrow then.

Before I was about to head to bed, I felt a gentle peck on my cheek. Mayu had already gone to Nikki's room. Her face seemed a bit flushed. I entered my room and lay down on my bed. I wasn't very sleepy, so I spent some time scrolling through social media until I started feeling tired. A little while later, I drifted off to sleep...

                                                                      To Be Continued...

Novel- Ace Academy 2 ( Mayu's Route)

Genre- Action, Romance, Comedy, Mecha, Love Polygon (Maybe), Heartfelt and super power ( I guess? )