Tale of Discovery

"I'm back!" I happily state while embracing Ayumi.

She seems to be really happy about my return as she lets out an "Um!" while holding my tighter.

A few seconds later, someone else comes out of the apartment - Nao.

She seems like she wants to come over and welcome me back, but freezes in the spot when she sees the girls with me.

After a few moments, she recollects herself and walks toward me with a smile that seems a little forced before she says,

"Welcome back, Yu."

Hah~ I was expecting a lot of reactions, but that one definitely wasn't one of them. So much that I find it suspicious.

I let go of Ayumi and move on to giving her a hug. She doesn't say much and just returns my hug.

------

"So all these big sisters are going to be staying over?!" Ayumi gasps.

I had forgotten to consider what others would think of me letting four girls stay over at my apartment. Not that it matters now since I've already made my choice.

"Yes," I calmly reply.

My response makes Nao flinch a little as she looks at me and says,

"I think I need to get back to recording you. Perhaps I could make a good documentary of a beast in its natural habitat out of it."

Hey! Damn It. I can't say anything back to her. I am aware that I've wronged her and this is her way of getting back at me.

As I suspected, she seems to feel a little better once she notices that I'm feeling guilty and not planning to retort her.

"So," Krul says, "what are you planning to do from now on?"

They finally asked.

This matter has been on my mind for a while now. First of all, there is the calling that I need to deal with. Getting information on a Platform while outside of it.

After that, I need to settle myself up in the Rift.

The issue that lies in between is that I don't want to leave everyone here.

{That can be solved.}

Irene's voice seems like she's offering me salvation over my demise as she continues,

{Father may use the unsealed Destruction to obliterate the physical body of those that are willing to come over to the other side. It would be painless if that's what worries Father.}

No matter how painless, that still sounds like something mental to do. However, I don't have any other choice, do I?

{No. Also, Father shouldn't forget that only two more spots are available. Father will have to choose two out of the three humans: Ayumi Otosaka, Nao Tomori, and Shinoa Hiiragi.}

Wait, what about Krul and Yuno? I suspect that Juno is able to leave this Platform somehow the same way she joined it, but I'm not so sure about Yuno.

{There aren't any problems with the two of them leaving. They're both Anomalies, and both of them have their own Code.}

Isn't that great? No. There is still the issue of picking two out of the three others. I will just talk it out with them.

"I'm planning to leave this world."

My words cause Nao, Shinoa, and Krul to send a glare my way, while Yuno and Juno both seem to be indifferent.

As for Ayumi, she's the most confused right now. She asks in an anxious tone,

"What does Brother Yu mean by leaving?"

This is problematic. I can't tell her that I'm not her "actual brother" and that I come from another dimension. That would seem absurd to her and would probably affect her mentality negatively.

So, I decided to break it down to her in a way that would make it seem plausible and not something as absurd as a being jumping from one dimension to another as he wishes.

"Ayumi, you remember what I did in the hospital? The magic tricks and how I healed you?"

She nods her head slightly, continues to stare at me, anxiously waiting for my next words.

"One day, I suddenly found myself to have become stronger and have powerful abilities. Back then I didn't think of it much, but after a while, I found out that there is another world out there, beyond the stars."

She seems to be a little immersed in the story,

"I didn't know what to do until these big sisters appeared," I say as I motion to Juno and Yuno before continuing,

"They told me that on the other side, we can live better than we ever could in this world."

I am aware of how selfish what I'm doing right now is, but I'm not backing down, no matter what.

"I want to take you over to the other world with myself, where another one of your big sister's is at."

My words seem to make the girls apart from the Juno and Yuno to flinch a little, however, Ayumi reacts by jumping to her feet with stars shining in her eyes as she cheerfully exclaims,

"Is this really true?! Ayu wants to go with Brother Yu!"

As expected of my Ayumi.

Now, I have to consider whether I should take her to the observatory here or on the other side. There is also my promise of going camping with her.

I can't forget my promises. I've already had of empty promises and lies in my previous life.

If anything remotely similar to the past occurs, I am bringing chaos upon those that break the balance on my peaceful life.

I've had enough of it all. I am cherishing what I have and won't let tolerate anyone attempting to break me away from them.

"Brother Yu?" Ayumi's voice interrupts my thoughts as she calls out to me with her head slightly tilted to the right.

Coming back to my senses a little, I now face the rest as I say,

"I can take only one more person over other than Ayumi."

This statement came as a shock to them as the girls present begin to glance at each other while Juno looks at them with amusement apparent on her face. As for Yuno, she has a serious look of contemplation as she stares at nothing in particular.

This is it.

Nao or Shinoa.

I have to choose one of them.

Taking my feelings into consideration, it's almost obvious who I'm going to choose...

Those two aren't the only ones nervous at the moment, as Krul seems to want to say something herself.

I need to tell her that she's an exception.