[ discontinued ] 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒𝐓 ; satoru gojo

21. returning home

when waving okkotsu off, mayumi had immediately thought about what she said. not only was she returning home, but the three other members as well.

what she thought about the most was how everybody was doing, how satoru was doing. they haven't talked in so long, losing contact over the years.

so did he really talk about her as much as okkotsu said? megumi too, was he really speaking highly of her? and what of tsumiki?

the thought of it warmed her heart. even if they haven't talked for years, mayumi of course never lost the love she felt for them all. romantic or platonic, it only grew with their absences.

"are you ready to return, mayumi-san?" yamagata questioned, seeing how the woman was just staring out of the airplane window.

she sat closest to yamagata, who decided to sit in his own section of three seats. mayumi let her two children take the spot near the window so they could look as the airplane took off.

"i'm just unsure about what to expect upon our return. i'm excited to see satoru again, but also nervous. i wonder how much has changed," mayumi thought about the male who wore glasses everywhere he went.

"wrong," the brunette pointed accusingly, "you're scared of facing him after leaving."

"someone's perceptive," mayumi quickly commented, "and i am, yes. i stole four years of his time with nao and tomio and i feel terrible about it."

"he wouldn't blame you if he loves you. that's what you taught me. and even if he does get mad at you, i'll be sure to slap the sense and reasoning into him."

yamagata held his hand up, swearing that he would. mayumi found the teenager cute at how protective he was.

"i'm afraid that you can't even touch him."

yamagata remembered back to a time where mayumi had explained the limitless technique, "i'll find a way."

that was the last but of conversation they had together for a couple of hours, mayumi deciding to rest on the flight. she didn't get too much sleep because of having to pack her children's belongings, not knowing it would take more time than expected.

for most of the flight, she had to spend time quieting down the excited naomi. she was always curious about her father, intently listening to the stories mayumi told her and tomio.

he was the hero she wanted to meet.

tomio had also felt the same, wanting to meet satoru. he just happened to be keeping it contained for now, but mayumi knew he would burst upon actually meeting.

landing, getting off of the plane, claiming their luggage. it had the children bored and yawning. what woke them up was when they left, going outside to the busy area.

mayumi inhaled, the cool air different that what she became used to in africa. she was now home.

the key in her hand surprisingly wasn't lost over the years. it was the key to the house she and the other three stood in front of, the house mayumi previously lived in with the fushiguro siblings.