CHAPTER 22 – LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN

LYSANDER FARADEISS

In the past, I had kept my romantic life separate from my family. They had never met any of my female friends before, not in the previous timeline, and certainly not in this one either. But their openness and hospitality towards any female guest I brought were evident. Their curiosity often manifested in questions like, "When will you have a girlfriend?" asked twice a week. Due to my previous companionship with boys like Arthur and Johnny, suspicions even arose about my sexual orientation.

Amidst the warm atmosphere around our antique wooden table sat my eager mother, my welcoming father, and my sassy little sister. Unbeknownst to them, the future Daybreaker, the one destined to annihilate humanity in a decade, was also present. They indulged in eggnogs and cashew nuts, their laughter filling the living room. I, on the other hand, remained on the sofa, feigning interest in a replay of the Speedmage Tournament on a local sports channel.

"Hey, there are still eggnogs here, you can have seconds," my father offered, gesturing towards the festive drinks.

"I'm full," I replied, trying to avoid their persistent attempts to make me partake.

"How about cashew nuts? There's plenty left," my mother chimed in, extending the bowl towards me.

"I'll pass," I said, my refusal hanging in the air, filled with unspoken tension.

“Ahaha.” Hiraya's laughter sounded strained, a forced chuckle escaping her lips.

My mother leaned in, her face inches from Hiraya's as she spoke, "I'm sorry for my son. He's often distant and reserved, but he's a good boy."

With a fake laugh, Hiraya replied, "That's how he is in school."

Curiosity sparkled in my mother's eyes as she inquired, "So, how did you and Lysander meet?"

Hiraya pondered for a moment, her hand on her chin as she said, "Hmmm. I don't recall our exact first meeting, but we've been schoolmates for four years. We were never in the same class. Our first interaction was during a school field trip to the metropolis."

Excitement brimmed in my younger sister, Luna, who almost sent the table crashing in a fit of laughter as she exclaimed, "Oh, during the Dynamite Diarrhea event?"

"Yes, that's right!" Hiraya admitted, her cheeks flushing.

Laughter filled the room as my mother and sister erupted into hearty chuckles, sharing the moment with Hiraya.

Out of the blue, my father sprang from his seat, and then he dropped to his knees on the floor. "I'm sorry for my son's mess! Thank you for looking after him during that unpleasant incident!"

"Hey!" I protested loudly, taken aback by my family's melodramatic response to such a trivial matter.

Hiraya gestured with her hands, a hint of embarrassment in her laughter. "Please, Mister Faradeiss, there's no need to apologize. Lysander has already repaid the favor, so there's no need for such profuse apologies."

My sister Luna couldn't resist the chance to tease, a mischievous grin on her face. "Oh? And how did my useless big bro repay the favor?"

"W-Well," Hiraya stammered, "he visited me in the Student Council's archive room during lunch. When we were alone, he quietly approached me and offered me his hotdog, which I promptly devoured. I even tried sipping his milk, but my mouth was already full."

My mother and Luna both blushed at the implications of Hiraya's words, while my father's expression turned stone-cold. I, on the other hand, was left dumbfounded, my jaw hanging in disbelief.

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"Hiraya, please be more mindful of your choice of words!" I exclaimed, frustration evident in my voice.

"But that's exactly what happened, isn't it?" Hiraya replied with a mischievous grin, leaving me with the unsettling feeling that she was intentionally provoking me.

I clenched my fists tightly, my hands trembling, an urge to cast a fireball on both my little sister and that elf creeping over me. At that moment, I felt they could both go to hell.

However, a reassuring pat on my shoulder caught my attention. It was my father. His square-framed eyeglasses caught the light, momentarily blinding me with a sense of dread.

"Lysander, let's have a talk. I'll teach you how to properly treat a woman."

Confusion washed over me as I wondered what I had done to prompt such a conversation.

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As the night enveloped us, I found myself walking alongside Hiraya in the quiet darkness. The distant hum of a few passing cars echoed down the highway, and the pools of light cast by streetlamps illuminated our path.

"Your family is quite a funny bunch," Hiraya teased, her tone light. "They knew I was joking the whole time, but they still went along with it."

"Yeah," I sighed, scratching my head. "They just wanted to poke fun at me. I suppose you guys share the same hobby."

Hiraya's expression softened with a touch of remorse. "I'm sorry then. I'll try to minimize teasing you from now on." Her elven ears drooped, adding to her sincerity.

I waved off her apology with a smile. "Nah, it's fine. I'm used to people talking behind my back just for fun. It's not that serious, and they're still my beloved family. Besides, you're my friend too." I smiled back, masking my true feelings. Referring to Hiraya as just a 'friend' felt like I needed to wash my mouth out with soap, but for now, I had to play that part.

Hiraya quickened her pace, glancing at my face with concern. "Hey, about the future. Is your family..."

She abruptly halted her words, catching herself before uttering something potentially hurtful. I simply shook my head, not wanting to delve into that painful subject.

"I see," Hiraya said, her expression clouding with worry. Then, she clenched her fist and pumped it with determination. "Well, let's save them in this timeline, then!"

"You're remarkably optimistic," I muttered, amazed by her unwavering resolve.

"You mentioned engineering an alternate timeline, didn't you? We saved the school from the terrorist! We can save your family tomorrow! And then the world the next day!" Hiraya's smile was infectious, radiant as an angel's.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Despite knowing that Hiraya might become a future adversary, being with her, having conversations like this, put me at ease. It made it hard to even contemplate another assassination attempt. Sure, she could be annoying at times, but her genuine care for me was undeniable. With her, there was never a dull moment.

"But first..." Hiraya pulled out her phone and swiped for a moment before pouting, feigning anger. "Why haven't you accepted my follower request on social media?"

I put on a deliberately oblivious smile. "Oh, did you send a request?"

"I did... Three weeks ago," Hiraya groaned, her frustration evident. She then pleaded with me, her eyes wide. "Accept my follower request, pleeeeaaase~"

"Is it that big of a deal?" I sighed, pretending reluctance. I grabbed my phone, opened the social media app, and pressed the 'Accept' button on her profile. "There. Happy now, you moody elf?"

"Hehe~" Hiraya chuckled, clearly pleased with her victory.

We eventually reached the parking lot, a few blocks away from my house. There, I spotted a big motorcycle bike, a vehicle typically associated with old redneck punks. I was surprised to see Hiraya on it, especially considering she was wearing a silky summer dress. I noticed she had biker shorts on as well, cleverly chosen for practicality beneath her attire.

"I-It's yours?" I asked.

"Yep yep~"

"Wow, that thing is a beast!" I exclaimed in excitement but then adopted a frowning expression. "Why didn't you park closer, anyway? We could have ridden that thing to the café earlier."

Hiraya chuckled, her laughter tinkling like bells. "Ahaha, next time, Lysander, next time. I just prefer taking long walks with you. But next time, I'll let you ride me."

"Ride on that bike, you mean," I corrected her with a smirk. "Stop joking around, you horny elf."

Hiraya quietly chuckled again and then donned her helmet. She started the engine and revved it. "Thank you for a good time, Lysander! See you at school!"

"Yeah," I waved my hand. "Take care and drive safely."

Hiraya's big bike roared to life in the peaceful night. I maintained a smile on my face as I watched the elf on her motorcycle vanish into the distance on the long highway, her taillights resembling distant stars.

The truth hit me hard: I couldn't deny it anymore. I found genuine enjoyment in Hiraya's company. She had been my crush back in the previous timeline, during my high school years, and that old spark had been reignited into a blazing fire. Perhaps, I thought, I was falling in love all over again.

As I wrestled with my newfound emotions, my phone suddenly vibrated, jolting me back to reality. I glanced at the screen and saw a notification:

New Follower Request: Johnny Wolvesbane.

His profile picture displayed a pale face with long red hair tied in a ponytail, and piercing brown eyes stared back at me. The gruesome memory of his death at the hands of the Daybreaker in the previous timeline echoed inside my brain, sending a shiver down my spine.