We will find our return✧Genshin X MHA✧

chapter seventeen: The name makes the hero

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Chapter  seventeen

The sports festival had ended with a lively finish as afternoon started to roll around, the final standings for the festival had been decided, a reluctant winner Katsuki Bakugo in first, Shoto Todoroki in second, and Lumine who found herself sitting in what could only be called a comfortable third. The first thing Aether did when the two got home was take the chance to celebrate his sister's victory, much to her own disinterest, Lumine however still participated.

"This is actually some really good cake; where'd you get it?" Lumine asked, savoring another bite of the cake her brother had brought out with a glow in her eyes.

"It's a cake Paimon would always get me on our birthday, the cake is different every year and it always resembled the regions I had recently Traveled to. After every birthday I made sure to keep some of the leftover cake in my pocket dimension hoping to share some of it with you. When I found you again" Aether mused, as he poked his slice of cake with his fork. Lumine paused for a moment watching him carefully with consideration.

"This is the second time you've said that."

"Huh?"

"That name. Paimon. Who is that?" Lumine asked, setting her fork down against the plate, looking Aether directly in the eyes with a calculating expression.

"Paimon? She's my Traveling companion; I'd fished her out of the sea when we first met. Saved her from drowning so she'd offered to help me find you. She's been with me since the start of my journey since then. Never left my side, unless there was food" Aether chuckled to himself, as he continued to rant on, "I bet she misses me, the last time I disappeared like this was back in Sumeru, back then she was in a state of panic when I saw her again. She looked terrified." Aether drifted off, for once his gaze wasn't on Lumine, it was focused more on the sun that slowly set over the horizon, its light casting soft orange hues that filled the room, filling the silence between the two.

"I see..." Lumine responded, her voice barely above a whisper as she stood up from her chair, its legs scratching against the floor. Aether only noticed her absence when he heard a door groan shut, he turned and saw the unfinished cake sitting lonely in front of him. An almost cold and final reminder that he didn't know where they were going from here. Aether stood up from his chair and walked slowly towards the balcony, wanting only to feel the afternoon wind against his skin. Just as Aether had started to relax in the quiet, an energetic voice interrupted his silence.

"Yo! Aether! Good to see you this afternoon! Is your sister inside?" Keigo perched himself on the balconies railing looking over Aether shoulder trying to spot the other sibling, he looked more at home than Aether could ever feel.

"Lumine? She headed off to her room after having some celebratory cake. There's still some left if you want any" Aether responded, his voice tired as he flashed a light smile. Hawks stared for a second, not saying a thing, he knew what that look meant. He knew that tired expression when everything felt so heavy, but you knew you had to keep moving on, because if not you then who else. Keigo smiled tapping the boy on the shoulder as he hopped down from the railing.

"I remember you telling me that you used to wanderer around and see the world, trying to find your sister, that is before you guys came here. I would love to hear about what you've seen; I'm especially interested in those other lands you mentioned" Keigo laughed, his voice confident, as he ruffled Aether's hair with his hand. "Or maybe you can tell me how the sports festival went. I mean I did watch it, but I wouldn't mind hearing it from your perspective." Keigo added in an almost matter a fact way, that Aether couldn't help but laugh.