F#cking Professor Rengoku - AU Rengoku x Reader +18 (COMPLETED)

Chapter 70

(y/n)'s POV:

My breath caught in my throat as I spotted two familiar figures entering. Genya and Sanemi, my brothers. But what caught my eyes next made my heart stop completely.

Standing between them, completely alive and well, was Noriko. "That can't... it can't be..."

My hands trembled slightly against Kyojuro's suit jacket as I stared, barely able to process what I was seeing.

Genya noticed me first, a wide smile spreading across his face as he waved. But my gaze was locked onto Noriko, who met my eyes and smiled softly. "Noriko..."

Noriko looked just as she did before her supposed death. Vibrant, alive, her dark hair flowing over her shoulders. Behind her, Sanemi looked away, avoiding my gaze, knowing what seeing Noriko alive again would mean to me.

But... How? This can't be... She died... Or?...

My face contorted with a mix of joy, disbelief, and lingering grief. I pressed a hand to my mouth, overwhelmed with emotion. Noriko took a few steps forward, clearly nervous about how I would react. "Hi..." she whispered, wearing a smile I thought I would never see again.

My legs felt like jelly as I tried to stand, my arms outstretched instinctively. Tears streamed down my face as I rushed towards Noriko, throwing my arms around her neck in a tight hug. "Noriko! Oh my god, Noriko!"

I clung desperately to Noriko, my tears flowing freely as I whispered her name repeatedly, hardly believing this miraculous reunion. The scent of Noriko's perfume brought back a flood of cherished memories, confirming that this was truly my beloved friend, not a dream or hallucination.

I finally loosened my grip slightly, pulling back to gaze at her face with tear-filled eyes, drinking in every detail I had feared I'd forgotten.

Noriko, too, had tears streaming down her cheeks as she offered a shaky smile, her hands clasped tightly on my shoulders.

"How... how are you alive? I... thought you were..." My voice cracked with emotion as I struggled to form the words. "I thought you were gone..." My hands moved to gently cup her face, wiping away tears with trembling thumbs. "Where have you been all this time?"

"Well... Your brother..." she stopped speaking, making me glance at Sanemi.

His eyes remained fixed on the ground, his jaw clenched, as he probably felt my questioning gaze shift towards him. He knew I would look to him for answers, knowing that he was the only one who could explain Noriko's impossible resurrection.

What is it that you didn't tell me again?

My brows furrowed as I glanced back and forth between Noriko and Sanemi, a familiar pang of resentment stirring in my chest.

This wasn't the first time Sanemi had concealed the truth, I realized bitterly. Memories of past secrets flooded my mind... secrets that had wounded me, him, the both of us and our relationship deeply.

My heart pounded as the thought crossed my mind.

What else has he been hiding? What other truths have been kept from me?

I forced a smile for my friend's sake but felt a growing tension in my jaw, the old pain of betrayal resurfacing. "Sanemi?" I slowly walked past Noriko and stepped in front of my brother.

Fortunately enough everyone present here knows about the existence of demons, so we didn't have to explain ourselves...

I waited for his response, my voice dropping lower and more serious. "Sanemi?" I called again, watching his shoulders stiffen.