Shin remained still in his spot, unable to say anymore words as he ducked his head down. He did not dare look anyone in the eyes.

The next thing Shin knew, he was scooped up into the air and he found himself in a warm embrace.

"Shin! You are back! You are safe!" Kiyae exclaimed, wearing a bright smile as she tightened her arms around Shin. "It has been three years!"

"..."

"When you disappeared, do you know how much we panicked?! We could not find you anywhere!"

"..."

Kiyae felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to look.

"Oi, Kiyae. He is going to suffocate to death at this rate, because of your boobs." Haru nudged at the motionless Shin, rescuing him from imminent death.

Cecil nodded along Haru's words, after all, she experienced what it was like being hugged by Kiyae.

It was like squeezing the life out of you.

"Ah, my boobs," Kiyae continued grinning, releasing Shin and placing him down on the ground. "Welcome back, Shin!"

Shin greedily gulped in the air, finally showing some reaction.

"Awwww, you still look as cute! Come here!" Kiyae squealed, wanting to hug Shin again.

Shin panicked, immediately running towards Cecil and hiding behind her.

Cecil was confused.

Xue made a face, somewhat unhappy at Shin instantly choosing Cecil as his shelter.

"No, no more hugs," Shin glowered. "Your boobs are scary. My ribs hurt."

Hana burst into a hearty laughter.

K'xug snorted, not expecting a soul fragment of Xue to say those words.

"Oh, booooo. Just one more hug, Shin! It's been three years since we last saw you!"

Kiyae took a step forward, making Shin recoil back in horror, hiding behind Cecil.

Cecil was still confused, blinking rapidly.

Xue noticed how bewildered Cecil was by the situation, and he couldn't help but bite on his lower lip.

She's so cute.

The soul fragments were all agreeing with Xue for once, nodding solemnly.

"Oi, Shin. Come here."

Haru beckoned Shin to come closer to him, and Shin approached Haru, throwing a cautious glance to Kiyae.

Just as he expected, Kiyae wanted to lunge for him once again.

"Ryo, grab onto her," Yun commanded. "Like your life depends on it."

"Don't wanna--"

"A week's worth of your favourite sake."

Ryo hastily complied, jumping onto Kiyae. "Yes, captain! I'll grab onto Kiyae with my life!"

Shin took the opportunity to bolt towards Haru.

Haru shot his head up, pointing to himself. "I...did not say anything?"

"Ah, Ryo! Let me go! I can buy you a month's worth instead!"

Ryo brightened up, almost releasing Kiyae.

"Where are you going to get that money from?" Yun adjusted his glasses, glancing at Kiyae struggling.

"The money? Obviously, from you! You are in-charge of our money!"

Yun raised his eyebrows.

Cecil laughed softly.

Hana tilted her head. "Ehhh? Will Yun allow Kiyae to get that money?"

"No," Xue shook his head. "She bit herself on her tail."

K'xug nodded in agreement.

Kiyae took a moment to understand her situation, before she accepted her defeat. She pursed her lips, looking at Ryo.

He was on the verge of falling asleep, yawning noisily.

"If you are gonna sleep, at least let me go," Kiyae clicked her tongue, smacking Ryo. "Tch."

"Don't wanna..."

Haru crouched down in front of Shin, and Shin blinked curiously before he felt a sharp pain on his forehead.

Shin cried out pain, and he glared at Haru, clutching his forehead.

"Little kid, you really made us worried, disappearing like that without saying anything," Haru glared back at Shin. "Be glad I am only flicking your forehead."

"..."

Shin glanced down.

"Sorry."

Haru stood up and grinned, ruffling Shin's hair. Shin made a face, smacking Haru's hand away but that did not bother Haru.

"This calls for a celebration!" Haru announced, stretching his arms and neck. "I'll be telling the owner to prepare a large feast, and they might need extra hands. Anyone up for helping?"

Kiyae took a step forward.

"Not you, Kiyae, you'll burn down the whole kitchen."

"Tch," Kiyae made a face, crossing her arms. "It's not like you are a good cook yourself."

"I don't burn down the kitchen, like you." Haru grinned proudly.

"Why you--"

Ryo grabbed onto Kiyae, restricting her movements again.

"Ugh, just let me go already!"

"Not until Yun tells me to!"

Kiyae glared at Yun.

Yun simply looked away, adjusting his glasses.

Hana perked up hearing the words "feast" and "extra hands", and she peeked her head out with a gasp.

"Helping them as in cooking?"

Haru nodded.

"I'll help!" Hana beamed, before muttering to herself as she giggled. "I can tell them to teach me how to make the food at the same time."

"The owner would definitely appreciate just one more helping hand..." Haru muttered, looking at everyone else.

Cecil had a flashback to the time when Hana went to the kitchen alone in the restaurant, and the next moment, the chefs surrounded her and fussed over her. She felt a drop of sweat rolling down her face, and she tapped K'xug on the shoulder.

K'xug looked away from Hana, who was beaming excitedly. He raised his eyebrows at Cecil, and Cecil beckoned him to come closer.

"K'xug, go with Hana," Cecil lowered her voice. "You never know what might happen if we leave Hana alone."

Xue nodded his head in agreement. "It's like waiting for a trap to set off."

K'xug patted Cecil on the shoulder, as if consoling her for all the troubles Hana had caused until now. He stepped in beside Hana, offering to be the next helping hand.

"So the two of you?" Haru grinned, rolling up his sleeves and throwing his arms around them. "Great, really great! Let's go!"

Haru dragged them away, hollering for the owner, their steps loud against the wooden flooring.

Yun approached Shin, crouching down.

"Shin, your reason for disappearing..." Yun asked, his expression composed. "Is it to do with your parents?"

Shin hesitated, before he nodded in agreement.

"We promised to find them and bring them back for years, and it's only now we are able to take the second step," Yun sighed. "It is as expected that many of you are feeling impatient."

Shin remained quiet, and he eventually shook his head at Yun.

"Not your fault."

"This time, we'll find them," Yun looked Shin in the eye, still as composed but he was sincere. "We'll bring an end to this tragedy for all of you. We apologise for not finding you earlier, you must have suffered."

Shin felt his heart tremble.

It was these same people that made him able to feel what it was like to have a family again. However, in that moment of vulnerability, he made the wrong decision to leave them.

"Big brother...Yun."

Yun cracked a rare smile, ruffling Shin's hair.

"What's this? Yun is smiling?" Kiyae popped in, finally freed from Ryo after whacking him constantly with her nunchucks. "And Shin is calling Yun a big brother again? What about me? You never called me that in years!"

Yun chuckled, shaking his head at Kiyae.

"Big sister...Kiyae."

Kiyae scooped Shin into her arms again as she squealed.

Shin showed Yun a pained expression, and Yun only shrugged with a smile.

"Kiyae, you are going to kill him again," Ryo joined in the conversation, rubbing at his sleepy eyes. "He is still injured."

"Aren't you going back to sleep? Shoo!"

Ryo looked at Shin, showing a slight pout. "Did you forget about me?"

Shin recalled the times Ryo had allowed him to taste his favourite alcoholic drink, and shared with him some of his own fighting moves that could be utilised at any moment.

"Big brother...Ryo."

The sleepy look in Ryo's silver eyes dispersed, and he joined in the hug.

"Today, I'll definitely share with you my drinks again!" Ryo exclaimed, ruffling Shin's hair. "Welcome back, you cute brat!"

Shin looked at Yun again, as if pleading for help.

Kiyae gestured for Yun to join in, smiling. "Come on, Yun! Join in the hug!"

Yun rolled his eyes, reluctantly joining in the hugging session.

Cecil had her eyes fixated on them the entire time, especially Shin. She chuckled at the adorable scene of them hugging Shin, and Shin looked as if he wanted to cry without tears at that moment.

At least they weren't hugging him as tightly as Kiyae did before.

Meanwhile, Xue had been looking at Cecil the whole time, alas, she had never once looked at his way. One could even say Cecil had never once looked his way for the past few hours, and that made him sullen.

He scowled at the group hugging happily, particularly at his young soul fragment.

Cecil could sense the gloomy aura that Xue was emanating and she flinched, looking at him with wide eyes.

"Xu-Xue? What's wrong?"

"You must really...like...Shin a lot." Xue struggled those words out.

Cecil blinked in confusion. "What makes you say that?"

"This entire time, you have been looking at him," Xue grumbled out, his voice going lower and lower. "You never once looked at my way for the past few hours."

"Is that...so?" Cecil was still confused.

Thus, Xue decided to drag his other soul fragments into the conversation.

"Even the others have noticed it, and they are talking about it."

Cecil bit on her lower lip.

This just sounds like...he is jealous of himself.

They are all jealous of themselves.

Cecil was amused, looking at Xue who was still sullen.

"What did they say?"

"Kai says your gaze towards Shin is so gentle."

"Mhmm."

Her lips started to twitch in mirth.

"Zasiok says you have never looked this gently at any of us."

"Mhmm."

"Leonaut is--"

Cecil burst into a hearty laughter.

The soul fragments who were pitching in were astounded at Cecil's laughter, including Xue himself. None of them expected Cecil to laugh this freely after all.

"Yo-you are laughing?" Xue questioned, bewildered.

"Sorry, sorry!" Cecil tried to control her laughter. "It's just...all of you..."

If it was in the past, Cecil would find the jealousy of all the soul fragments, including Xue, to be baffling and uncomfortable.

However now, she found it...adorable.

"All of you are actually jealous of yourselves, aren't you?" Cecil tried to stop herself from laughing again.

Xue opened his mouth to refute, until he realised he couldn't.

"I mean, in the end, all of you are one person," Cecil added on, still smiling. "No matter which of you I am looking at, I am always looking at all of you."

With those words, Xue found himself speechless and his heart started to palpitate.

Meanwhile, the soul fragments inside were in a similar state like Xue, feeling as if they were on cloud nine.

At that moment, Cecil registered what she had stated.

It was a very bold statement.

Cecil gasped, covering her mouth as she felt her face heating up.

"No, I mean--I just--" she stuttered out, biting on her lower lip. "I didn't mean it that way--"

"In what way?"

"Not in the way you are thinking!"

"What way am I thinking?"

"I--I...the way you are thinking is--" Cecil took a step back as Xue took a step forward. "Is that...th-the way--"

"You are looking at all of me?"

"Yes--I mean, no--I mean--ugh!"

Cecil crouched down on the ground, burying her face in her hands.

Xue smiled, crouching down along with Cecil.

She peeked at Xue, her face beet red and she huffed. "You clearly know what I mean, don't you?"

"I wonder."

Cecil felt peeved.

Again, this guy is teasing me again!

"You are teasing me again."

Xue showed Cecil a cheeky smirk.

Cecil huffed once more, shoving Xue on the shoulder lightly.

Xue raised his eyebrows at Cecil, as if not believing that Cecil shoved him.

"You always tease me," Cecil muttered in irritation, burying her face back into her knees. "Not fair."

"Are you going to continue hiding your face like that?"

"Yes."

This time, it was Xue's turn to laugh heartily at the adorable Cecil.

Whereas, the hugging session Shin was suffocating from took a turn for the worst, when Haru came bursting out from the kitchen.

"Hey guys, guys! You have to try this dish Hana made, let me tell you--" Haru halted abruptly when he saw the scene of his comrades hugging Shin, immediately placing the dish on the table. "What's this? You guys are killing Shin with hugs and not inviting me?"

Haru rushed in, embracing the group with a tight squeeze.

Yun and Shin groaned audibly.

Kiyae laughed.

Ryo only yawned, ruffling Shin's hair again.

"You are popular like always, Shin."

Shin glowered.

I should not have called them big brother and big sister again.

Just then, Shin found his gaze straying towards Cecil who was still crouched down on the ground and Xue smiling at her.

Somehow, he expected Cecil to be looking at him and he found himself disappointed when she wasn't.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Hana was preparing the food when she had the biggest urge to play a trick on K'xug.

"K'xug!"

K'xug turned to look at Hana, when he felt something moist touching his nose. His view was suddenly filled with white, and he blinked in confusion.

Hana giggled.

"Your nose is white now! So cute!"

K'xug narrowed his eyes at Hana, grabbing the batch of cream that Hana made, smudging it on her cheek.

Hana gasped with a smile.

"Listen you two lovebirds," the chef in the kitchen barked. "You may be guests here, but don't waste the owner's resources on food!"

Hana spit out her tongue, guilty as she apologised to the chef.

Lovebirds?

K'xug widened his eyes, glancing down at Hana.

The two of us?

Hana looked back at K'xug, wiping the cream from his nose with her thumb and putting it inside her mouth.

K'xug felt his breathing slowing.

"Hmm?" Hana tilted her head at K'xug. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

He slowly shook his head in response.

"Ah, do you want to try some cream too?" Hana scooped up a small portion with her fingers, shoving them towards K'xug. "Here! Try it! It's super fluffy!"

K'xug felt his heart skipping a beat and he cleared his throat, pushing Hana's hand away.

***

After a few hours, the dishes were finally cooked and garnished perfectly. They were laid out on the long table and the group stood around the table.

"Well, this somehow became a banquet," Haru shrugged, grabbing his drink and lifting it up into the air as he grinned. "So, this banquet is to celebrate Shin returning back to us! A toast to you, Shin!"

Kiyae, Ryo and Yun lifted their drinks in the air at the same time, bumping their drinks together.

It was only then they noticed that Cecil and the others were standing there with bewildered stares.

Kiyae looked at them, chuckling. "What are you doing there just staring? Come on, join in!"

The four of them lifted their drinks awkwardly, bumping their drinks softly.

Ryo clicked his tongue in disapproval, wagging his fingers at them.

"That's not the way to toast to people! Do it with more energy!" Ryo then looked at K'xug, brightening up. "Ah, just like how you fought me and beat me up so hard that time! With that energy!"

Ryo threw his arm over K'xug, bumping cups with him.

K'xug blinked rapidly, bumping his cup back with Ryo.

"Right, just like that!" Ryo nodded vigorously, his silver eyes gleaming as he looked at Cecil, Xue and Hana. "Come on, follow him!"

"Only when it comes to drinking and fighting, Ryo is active." Haru laughed, raising his cup once more. "Another toast to Shin!"

Meanwhile, Shin was the only one sitting down at the table, sipping quietly at his juice. Though, one could see the tip of his ears growing red.

This time, everyone participated in the toast, bumping their cups together with a smile. Even Xue and K'xug showed a faint smile, after all, it was hard not to smile in such a joyous atmosphere.

However, just as everyone withdrew their hands, Xue widened his eyes and grabbed onto someone's arm.

"Sharp as ever, Xue."

Xue narrowed his eyes, turning to look at the person that spoke to him.

"What the hell are you doing here, Veau?"

The cobalt-blue haired man smiled lazily, gesturing towards the drink in his hands.

"Toasting."

"Why?"

Veau looked towards Shin. "For a reunion."

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

She is always...

Looking at...all of me.

Just me.

To think such simple words can make me feel so happy.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

Why now?

Why am I starting to waver now?

This isn't the right time.

Not when I am still under Veau's curse.

Not when Hana's memories and powers are still sealed.

Not when...I haven't told Xue everything.

I cannot waver now.

《 stop 》

***

Author's Note: Veau, the weird and annoying guy you can't help but (maybe) want in your parties. He's too charming.

...well, maybe not for Xue. Because the man did stab Xue in the back after all, hahaha...

Who knows? This may be the first step in mending their friendship, or...maybe not 🤷‍♀️.