Time flew by pretty fast, and before Max realized it, it was already afternoon.

The bell rang, ending today’s worth of learning, and sighs of relief were heard all across the board the moment the teacher left the classroom. Understandably, some didn't like the first day of school. Holiday was much more exciting, and the wondrous magic of summer still itched their longing for it.

Meanwhile, Max was unhurried as he packed his bag. He preferred to wait until things got a little calmer, unlike the majority of the class population who were busy trying to flood the doorway.

The boy would then take long strides and he headed straight to the bus station.

As he arrived at the station, Max could see the last public bus, packed to the brim, leaving the station. It was quite the contrast when he shifted his eyes towards the now almost empty waiting station―save for one.

He gave out a sigh of relief. It was great for him. Getting jam-packed with others was not an experience he looked forward to, and with this, he could rest easy.

Approaching from behind, Max took out his earbuds and phone. All in all, listening to intense orchestral pieces while staring at the clouds had never felt so epic.

Yet he would be struck by a pause as a familiar figure entered his periphery.

“So you go by bus?” Max said as he dropped one earbud, twirling it in his hand.

“Well, I can’t drive yet, dad’s at work, and I don't have a boyfriend, so that’s obvious, duh,” Alyss quipped, smiling.

Max chortled.

“Which line are you waiting for?”

“Number 31.”

Max tapped his thigh. That’s his ride for home too.

“But wasn’t the one that just left number 31?” he asked quizzically.

Alyss combed her hair with her fingers, folding them behind her ears.

“...It’s a bit too crowded for my liking.”

“...Then I guess we’re on the same page.”

Silence ensued.

Max inwardly shook his head. He wasn’t too sure on how to handle this situation. It had been too long since they’ve been together alone like this.

4 years. That’s enough time frame for even the closest of friends to grow apart from each other. That applied especially towards teenagers. It’s a period where constant change happened. That was the norm. It’s a time in life where you make new friends, perhaps even outgrowing the old, and explore new stuff. Seldom was the case where those bonds you made when you were little to last as long.

Looking back at their interactions at school just hours back, Max picked up the changes in Alyss. Changes that, be it big or small, could either make or break their way of communicating with each other moving forward. And it’s not just her, even Max realized that he too experienced change.

Hence the hesitation. Hence the fear.

And yet... It’s not like the world was coming to an end was it?

Realizing this, Max decided that it was time to break this serenity.

“Hey Alyss.”

“...Yeah?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Thanks,” Max said, causing Alyss to give out a side glance. “For breaking the ice with Ben. Much appreciated.”

She raised an eyebrow. “And where’s my thanks for diffusing the situation with Mr. Sparrow?”

“Spavor,” Max smirked.” And yes, that too.”

“Your welcome,” Alyss pursed her lips.

They both gave out a light laugh. Heartily.

“So, how’s Uncle Adam?”

“Never been better,” Max dropped his other earbud that hung on his ear and he ended up folding the cord neatly before tucking them in inside his pocket. “Fun fact, I think Pops might even get himself a date.”

“He what? No way,” the girl grinned.

“Well who knows, nothing’s confirmed yet, but at this rate, anything can happen,” Max sighed, burying his hands deep into his pockets.

Alyss nodded, and casted her eyes down. "And how do you feel about all this?”

“I―I think that it’s about time,” Max closed his eyes, and surfacing from the darkness behind those eyelids was the face of a man who cared for him deeply. “I was surprised that it took him this long.”

“I see,” Alyss murmured.

“Speaking of dads, how about Uncle Sam? Is he well?” Max asked in turn.

“Alive and kicking,” Alyss comfortably smiled. “Though no dates yet as far as I can see.”

Max shook his head. Amused.

“Thinking of him reminded me of the time when we tried to surprise him on his birthday, you know, the one where we tried to bake our own birthday cake for him.”

“Oh that was fun,”Alyss suddenly giggled.

“Honestly, things would’ve been so sweet if not for the fact that we flopped the cake so hard, and also, for making the kitchen a mess too.”

“You’re telling me!” Max blinked in embarrassment.

”Eating the cake with the messy kitchen in the background was the most awkward thing, still, props up to him for smiling throughout the ordeal.”

A burst of laughter sounded out. But suddenly, it all died down.

They were the same, him and Alyss. They haven't had the complete family experience like other unfortunate kids. Both of them had lost their mothers in accidents of separate accounts just shortly after they were born.

In Max’s case, even though he was reincarnated, that didn’t necessarily mean that he was able to wield complete awareness at the time he was born. Far from it, since he was more like every other child out there, after coming out of their mother’s womb: Crying day and night when not asleep.

It wasn't until he was nearly five years of age that he was able to gain back his adult mentality. But by then, it was already too late.

And perhaps, because of this shared background that they had, they were able to become the best of friends.

Max remembered how they would do all kinds of stuff during their younger years.

The little tomboy was a lot of fun to hang out with.

They ate ice cream together, watched anime shows together, played ball, and sometimes, they would just laugh together at even the most insignificant of things.

When he first came around, Max initially thought that living in a perpetual, conscious state as a child would put a huge burden onto his mental capacity. He made assumptions that he would always be frustrated due to the fact that people would somehow become suspicious of him, because he acted in a certain way that was not childlike.

Yet he was gravely wrong in his assumptions.

Alyss made him realize something, a certain innocent giddiness.

She allowed him to be pulled and immerse himself into the world known as childhood. To fear nothing other than what was presented in front of them. Think not of tomorrow, of the arduous labor in adult life, of the cumbersome social cues one must pay attention to. No, children don’t think of such things. And for that, Max was graced to live that period in his life simple and unrestrained.

It was an experience that he lacked, foreign even to the ears. Such things were not present even in his past life. So at that moment of time, Max ultimately decided to let go, and fully embraced child life not for the pure necessity of survival, but because he wished for it instead.

It was a decision he would never come to regret.

And yet―

Max pondered for a while, before carefully formulating his words. After mustering up courage, he decided to ask ‘that’ question once again.

“So, back then, why did you leave?”

The wind fluttered with prolonged silence in prevalence. Alyss gazed the horizon.

Her pupils became blurry, yet somehow firm. Her voice though, had a flash of shakiness as she opened her lips.

“...I said what I said. Dad’s done with work in Kenington, so we moved back. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“...”