Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds, Book 2

[227] A World Like This, I Don't Want to Stay Here

Chapter 227: A World Like This, I Don't Want to Stay Here

—

Ai Hoshino stirred slowly, her mind drifting up from the depths of unconsciousness, drawn by the muted sound of celebration outside. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing along the walls as she blinked away the haze. Her body felt heavy as the lingering effects of sleep still clinged to her limbs.

Where...? The question formed sluggishly in her mind, but before she could fully grasp it, her eyes fell on a figure seated in the corner of the room. He was still, head bowed, his hand methodically wiping a sword, the soft scrape of metal against cloth the only sound in the room besides her breathing.

Her heart skipped a beat.

The sight of him, his golden hair falling forward to obscure his face, sent a pang of worry through her chest. It was Aqua—her son. There was something off about him, something that made her uneasy. From the sounds outside... it seemed that people were celebrating. That meant they had achieved victory. Aqua came in the end and turned the tables.

So if they had indeed won, why did he look like that?

Is he sad because Ranefer and the others died? The thought flickered through her mind, and she pushed herself up on trembling arms. The movement caught his attention, and Aqua's head snapped up, breaking free from whatever trance had held him. He shoved the sword aside, rushing to her side in an instant.

"Mom," he breathed, his voice low, as if afraid to disturb the silence that had settled over the room.

Ai smiled at him, a soft, reassuring smile that she hoped would ease the tension in his posture. "Hey," she said, her voice gentle, "I'm okay, Aqua. You don't need to look so worried."

He didn't respond immediately, his eyes searching her face for any signs of pain or discomfort. When he found none, he finally let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. But the shadows in his eyes didn't fade, and Ai's heart twisted at the sight.

"How long...?" she asked, her voice still soft.

"Two weeks," Aqua replied, his tone clipped, as if he didn't want to linger on the subject. "The whole world's been celebrating, but there's still a lot to rebuild."

"I see," Ai murmured, her smile gentle, even as her mind raced. Two weeks...? "And what's this world's Hero doing in here, when everyone else is celebrating?"

Aqua's eyes met hers briefly, but he quickly looked away, his gaze drifting to the window. Ai scowled immediately. What? The silence that followed was thick, filled with unspoken words. Ai wanted to press him, to ask him what was wrong, but she knew better. Whatever was bothering him, he wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

He always was a stubborn one, she thought with a touch of fondness, though the worry gnawed at her. Instead of pushing, she forced herself to keep smiling, to keep her tone light.

"You know what?" she said, changing the tone in a playful note. "Why don't you bring me to the window? I want to see what's going on outside."

Aqua hesitated, but when he looked back at her, the corners of his lips twitched ever so slightly in a semblance of a smile. Without a word, he slipped an arm under her knees and lifted her effortlessly, cradling her against his chest like a princess.

Ai giggled, the sound was like music in the quiet room. "Oh, someone's having fun with me sick here," she teased, trying to coax a real smile from him.

"Nonsense," Aqua replied, though there was a hint of warmth in his voice now. "You shouldn't use that character again. You were out for weeks."