A Life Once More-Chapter 45: Back Home

At some point, I fell asleep and woke up on the couch. Grabbing my phone, I looked at the time, and I was already screwed. It was 10 a.m., which meant I was already late for both classes. Since I was already going to be late, I decided to just scroll and relax.

Mom sent a message early in the morning saying they'd be back around 1.

"YAWNNNN~" I decided to just go back to sleep.

.

.

.

A gentle shake was the first thing I could feel, like soft ripples against the heavy fog that blanketed my mind. My limbs felt sluggish, weighed down by sleep, and my eyelids stuck stubbornly together as I tried to force them open. The couch beneath me was warm from where I had been lying, the fabric slightly scratchy against my skin.

"Big Brother!" Euphi's voice rang out, bright and impatient, slicing through the haze.

"Hmm? Hey, Euphi!" I mumbled, my voice rough and low. Without thinking, I reached out and yanked her into a bear hug, trapping her against me. Her small frame squirmed in my arms, her hair brushing my cheek with the faint scent of strawberries.

"H-HEY! LET ME GO, IDIOT BROTHER! MOMMMM!" she squealed, her fists thumping lightly against my chest in protest.

"No. It's your fault for waking me up! Now suffer!" I grinned, my arms tightening just enough to make her wriggle harder.

"N-No! HAHAHAHA~ HAHA~" she shrieked, laughter bubbling out uncontrollably, echoing through the living room like a bright melody. Her kicks were frantic but harmless, her body twisting and turning with wild, helpless giggles.

After a few minutes of messing around, I finally let her go. She stared at me with a cute pout, stomping her foot and everything. Her sky-blue eyes looked at me with clear anger. Well, if you could even call it anger.

Looking at her, I rested my head on my palms with a lazy smile, the faint warmth of leftover sleep still clinging to my skin. Euphi stood there, hands curled into fists at her sides, her eyes gleaming with playful anger.

"What?" I asked, my voice light and teasing.

"I'm telling Big Sis that you bullied me!" she declared, puffing out her cheeks like an angry little chipmunk.

"W-Wait! Maybe we can talk about this?!" I said quickly, straightening up as panic prickled under my skin.

"Hmph! BlehhhhH!" she stuck her tongue out, letting out an exaggerated raspberry before taking off. The soft slap of her bare feet against the floor echoed as she sprinted away, giving me no room to negotiate.

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'I wonder if Kate could even bully me?'

Thinking about it made me laugh. With how we flirted and played around, I was sure her idea of "punishment" would just be pulling me into a suffocating hug, which isn't much of a punishment at all. Actually, if those two teamed up...

'Ezryn, note to self: never let Euphi and Kate team up on me!'

[No, I fully support it!] Ezryn's voice rang out smugly in my mind, brimming with betrayal and mischief.

'N-No, don't betray me!'

[I'll think about it!]

I shook my head and got up off the couch. Mom was already inside, putting the bags all over the floor.

My lips twitched seeing her so fed up with it.

"Everything alright?"

"NO! It was such a pain going through customs! I had to throw my shirt I got!"

"Can't you just buy it again? It's not like money is a problem," I said, stuffing my hands into my pockets.

"But it's not the same!" she snapped, her cheeks puffing slightly, like a kid denied a toy. The air between us was charged for a heartbeat, tight with lingering annoyance.

Shrugging, I picked up the bags and moved them out of the way. Glancing back over at Mom, I saw her warm gaze. I felt a bit awkward, but I also welcomed it.

All in all, I'm glad that she doesn't seem to be as upset or defeated as she was when she called. She looked relieved and free of worry.

"That's my Eiz~"

"Ughh, don't say it like that, Mom." I felt a bit embarrassed, but needless to say, I had a smile.

"Hey Mom, if I wanted to move out, how would you feel?"

She froze. Her red eyes staring into my soul.

"I see. Is it because of what we talked about?" Cain and Euphi re-entered the room, so she carefully chose her words.

I shook my head and reassured her.

"I just want to grow and learn more about the world. With my new perspective."

"Tch, new isn't an apt term!"

"Well," pausing, I looked at Euphi and Cain who were confused, "I think it's just something I need to do."

Mom stared at me, clearly in thought.

She couldn't hold that long though, as a deep sigh echoed throughout the room.

"Fine, but I want every possible detail. I want your location at all times, I want to know when you go out, I want to know who with, I want everything!"

"Haha~, sure." I didn't mind her request. Whatever I can do to make up for making her stress.

"What are you two talking about?" Cain asked very slowly. He looked like he didn't know if he was allowed to ask such a question.

"I'm moving." I ripped the bandaid off, as they say.

Cain nodded. He took the information way better than our sister. She...

"NO! You aren't allowed to go!" She ran up to me, hugging me, her head not even past my waist.

Rubbing her head, "you can come visit me anytime! It's not like I'm leaving forever."

"But who's going to play with me?!"

"Bhahaha~ we have the weekends! Trust me, it won't be that much different."

"Meanie!" She hugged me tighter while Cain just looked reflective. I swear he wasn't acting like his age, thus the only way to make him open up was to be forceful!

I reached a bit further, grabbed his hand, and pulled him into our sibling hug!

"H-Hey, let me go!"

"Nope!"

"Hehe~ You're stuck!"

"You three, I swear." Mom just watched us with the biggest smile I've ever seen from her.

I was feeling super happy that this wasn't made into some drama. I really loved my new life.

[Thank the record.]

Ezryn felt the urge to intervene, pride really evident in his voice.

'I thank the record for giving me this and you.'

[D-Disgusting.]

'Bro, don't make it weird...'

[That cheesy line bastard! I should smack you!]

'Good luck with that.'

Even if he denied it, Ezryn's voice revealed his true feelings.