Life didn't get easier, even in another world

One of the people Kairen was especially worried about the whole time he was away from his home was his little nephew, Arian. He'd lost his parents at such a young age and Kairen was the only one he had, yet, Kairen also was gone before he could even buy a house or prepare a proper living environment for the kid.

'How is that kid doing now', was the thing he considered a lot. Not only Kairen, but also Kain who was with him in The Void. However, no matter how much they worried, there was nothing they could do nor any way to hear any news regarding the kid. Thus, Kairen wanted to learn about the kid as soon as he returned to his world.

Fortunately, it wasn't hard to get news about that kid. He'd tossed the question to his brother after Aaron had calmed down, and he received a pretty much satisfying answer.

"I adopted him.", was the answer he received from Aaron. It was a very satisfying outcome, one that he'd wished to happen. On top of being happy and relieved, Kairen was grateful to his brother who'd been taking care of a child that neither was his own nor had any blood ties with him. Kairen didn't know how he could repay Aaron, but he promised himself not to forget his kindness until he found a way to pay him back.

After his request to rest first and then talk about the rest of the details was accepted by the commander, Kairen accompanied his brother home as he was once again homeless and penniless. To his surprise, the place they arrived at was a very familiar house.

"You still live here?"

They were standing in front of the same house that Kairen had rented from his teacher, Captain Neal. He stayed at this place because he didn't have enough money to buy or rent any place.

"I had no reason to move out."

Aaron took out his keys to open the door.

"Wait wait wait! We are going to enter like that?"

Aaron tilted his head.

"The kid! Won't he be too shocked? Shouldn't you first talk to him a little bit?"

"He's a smart kid. He'll understand."

"He's still a kid-"

"Shut up and go inside!"

Without allowing Kairen to oppose his words, Aaron pushed him with a palm and threw him inside the house.

Kairen, who was pushed inside the house, stumbled a little bit before grabbing the wall and finally stopping.

Clang

A sound came from up ahead. He raised his head to see four people sitting around the kitchen table, busy eating their dinner. All four of them were frozen stiff staring at the door and at him. Among them there were three women and one child, they were his teacher, Captain Neal, and the captain's mother who was also Kairen's landlord. Claire, who had stuck herself to Kairen's brother and seemingly hadn't let go of him yet, and finally his nephew.

"Uh..."

Ariyan was the one who had dropped his fork.

'He has... Grown up...'

The boy in front of him was still a child, but he wasn't as little as he remembered to be. His height was taller than before. His face has changed from an adorable baby to a pretty little boy. His foundations were the same yet different, his eyes were not as round as they used to be. His baby fat was gone but his cheeks still looked filled and soft. Ariyan had visibly grown up a lot and he was apparently healthy.

"Ah..."

Kairen hesitantly took a step forward. The little boy was staring at him with his mouth half-open.

"My goodness!"

"What's going on?"

Old woman Neal gasped while her daughter shot up to her feet, ready and on guard, but she paused as soon as her eyes met the second man who entered through the door.

That man, who had a gloomy and dark expression most of the time, was now smiling slightly. His face seemed like how he always was but the way his eyes watched the new guest was like the gaze of a gardener looking at its most precious flower, more beautiful than any, placed in a fragile vase, in need of his care and affection.

Both women and even the young girl noticed the kind of gaze that was directed at the other young man, who looked exactly like Aaron's deceased brother, the brother in which he never accepted his death.

"...Uncle."

Ariyan muttered and jumped down from the chair.

"I... I knew something would happen."

Without waiting for Kairen to do anything, the little boy rushed toward his uncle as he raised his hands. Kairen crouched down as the kid ran towards him.

"Uncle is-" Ariyan raised his hands up. "A fool!"

And punched Kairen on both shoulders.

"Ouch!"

"Uncle is soooooo silly!"

"Hey, Ariyan!"

Kairen grabbed the kid's hands and stopped Ariyan from punching him again.

"That's so mean! Why would you beat me?"

"Uncle is really stupid!"

"Hey!"

The kid's curses or small punches didn't hurt Kairen, but he was left dumbfounded at the fierce reaction. This was different from the way Aaron reacted but also similar.

'Wait, did he take after Aaron? Ariyan took after him in being fierce? He might also end up with anger issues if he does!'

Kairen let out a sigh and released the kid's tiny hands.

"You are right. I'm so silly. I'm sorry, Ariyan."

"Uh?"

Moving forward, Kairen pulled the kid into his embrace. He missed this little thing so much that he wouldn't mind even if Ariyan kept cursing him.

"Are you mad at me? Uncle is so sorry..."

He buried his head in the kid's curly and soft hair as he mumbled. Today, he had asked for forgiveness more than he'd ever said the word 'sorry' in his whole life.

"..."

Ariyan wiggled in his arms a little bit before hugging Kairen back. No one said anything for a long while. It was as if the house and its people were all frozen but with a warm atmosphere around them.

. . . . . .

Apparently, while he was gone, Aaron kept working at SMF. No one talked a lot about how he carried out his missions though. Kairen found it strange that they avoided the topic but didn't insist on finding out the truth.

The house was empty when Kairen moved here. He didn't have enough money to buy proper furniture and the only room that was fully decorated was Ariyan's. However now, the place looked like a real house. There was everything that one might need in life and even more. He was told that Aaron bought them with the money he earned by working for SMF.

The only place that hasn't changed at all was Kairen's room. It was neat and clean, but it remained the exact same way that it was before Kairen 'died'. Nothing was taken nor was anything added. Aaron had kept it that way, saying that if they changed the room or gave it to someone else, his brother would be mad once he returns.

'Hmmm~ It's nice~'

Kairen plopped down on his bed with a delighted heart. It was as soft as he remembered it to be. After rolling once, he turned to Aaron who was leaning on the door.

"It's perfect. I missed the bed so much. Thanks for keeping it."

"Hmm."

Aaron nodded his head. Kairen smiled at him and pulled up his blanket, ready to sleep.

"...."

"...."

Kairen peeked at his brother who was still standing by the door.

"Um... Aren't you gonna sleep?"

"..."

There were no answers. He had been like that ever since they met. He talked little and didn't answer his questions most of the time.

"...Are you alright?"

"Yea."

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

"...."

Without giving an answer, Aaron stepped inside the room and strolled over to the bed. He sat in a chair nearby and folded his arms, staring right at Kairen.

"..."

"..."

Kairen was starting to feel scared. There was silence between them until finally, Aaron mumbled something in a low voice.

"What if when I wake up you are gone again?"

"...What?"

Kairen sat up straight.

"Why would I? Do you think I might run away? I might be stupid but not THAT stupid!"

"...."

Aaron was avoiding Kairen's eyes. His hazel pupils, which were darker than Kairen's, were sued to the floor.

"It's... still hard to believe."

It was hard to believe that his brother was back. Kairen understood what Aaron wanted to say.

"So you're gonna watch me till morning to make sure I don't disappear?"

"..."

"I won't go anywhere, and this is real, you can be sure of this."

Aaron stole a glance at him before looking at the floor again.

"Sigh."

'What should I do with him...'

Kairen had no idea how he was supposed to help his brother. It was at that moment that he was reminded of something. It was a distant memory, of more than ten years ago. It happened when he was a child, something that his brother had told him.

Pat Pat

Kairen moved to the edge of the bed and patted the empty space beside him.

"If you're scared, you can sleep beside me."

Kairen would do that when he was a child. They were no longer children but they were still brothers.

"Here!"

"...."

Aaron's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't respond. Kairen turned around and lay down.

"I'mma sleep. Do whatever you want."