Chapter 59. Going Home
Before dawn the next morning, Elysia had already packed up and left.
When he woke up, Xander saw Elysia's farewell message on his phone.
"Partings are often tinged with sadness.
Let's freeze our memories on the wonderful last night.
I'm looking forward to the next time we meet~"
The playful tone brought a smile to Xander's lips.
He quickly typed a reply.
"Mm, I'm looking forward to the day you come."
Last night, when everything ended, under the rain of fireworks, he extended an invitation.
Elysia smiled and agreed, but she would need to settle everything on her side before she could come to his side.
Beep—beep.
Just after Xander finished getting dressed, he received Elysia's reply.
"Heh-heh, I'll finish up as soon as I can.
Oh, right, Xander, I also left you a surprise.
Remember to sign for it properly~"
"A surprise?
Where is it?"
"Secret~"
After a few casual jokes, Xander stretched lazily and stepped out of the room.
Time to pack up and head home.
"Ah, it's Xander.
Morning~"
He opened the door and happened to run into Kiana, who had clearly just woken up as well.
Yawning, she scratched her messy white hair and stood in the corridor in disheveled clothes, looking groggy and unwashed.
"Mm.
Morning."
Smiling, he greeted her and was about to head downstairs, but Kiana perked up a little and suddenly called out to stop him.
"By the way, Xander, why didn't you come set off fireworks yesterday?"
"Fireworks?"
"Yeah.
Elysia said she'd prepared lots of fireworks for us and told us to have fun.
Everyone went over yesterday; how come we didn't see you or Elysia?"
At that, Kiana muttered in a daze, "Come to think of it, Elysia was really strange—she insisted we only start lighting the fireworks at the moment of sunset..."
Xander couldn't make out what she said after that, but the realization that suddenly dawned on him left him stunned.
Elysia, was all of this within your calculations?!
But he had to admit, when the fireworks blossomed and lit up Elysia's faintly flushed cheeks, it was truly heart-stirring.
The beauty of that moment had already been etched into his heart, likely never to be forgotten.
After breakfast and packing up, when they left the beach and locked the gate, a touch of reluctance welled up in their hearts.
"It went by so fast," Kiana said with a sigh, looking at the iron gate that once again hid the beach from view.
"Maybe it's because we were all so happy together."
Standing beside Kiana, Raiden Mei offered gentle comfort.
"Alright.
It's not like we won't have chances to come again."
Patting Seele's little head, Xander walked ahead.
"Let's go.
Time to go home."
Though he said it breezily, everyone had forgotten one thing.
Xander seems to get airsick.
...
"Urgh..."
After getting off the plane, Xander felt the world spin and go dim, his stomach surging like a stormy sea.
He wanted to throw up but couldn't, and could only retch in misery.
"Brother, are you okay?!"
Supporting her brother anxiously, Seele was so worried she was almost in tears, her heart full of guilt.
How could she have forgotten that her brother gets airsick?
It wasn't just Seele; Bronya's heart also ached at the sight of Xander in this state, and his pallor made her worry that something serious might happen.
"I—I'm fine...
Just help me back to rest for a bit..."
They hurriedly hailed a taxi, and Seele and Bronya helped Xander into it together.
"Is he alright?
Do you need us to come along?"
Raiden Mei and the other two gathered in concern, frowning as they looked at Xander already lying back in the seat.
"It's fine.
Seele and Bronya are enough.
You all should head home first."
After responding gently to everyone, Seele carefully held her brother, letting him lean against her.
"If anything happens, call us right away.
Let him get back and rest quickly."
"Mm."
Bronya waved to them, and the driver, having gotten the signal, started the car at once.
Watching the taxi merge into traffic and disappear, Sirin sighed softly.
"I hope he's okay."
Perhaps because it wasn't his first time, this time it only took until the afternoon for Xander to slowly regain consciousness.
"Water..."
His parched throat produced a hoarse sound.
Soon he felt the rim of a glass pressed to his lips, and he opened his mouth to take small sips.
Only after finishing the entire glass did he stop and let out a breath.
He opened his eyes and met Bronya's slightly worried gaze.
"How do you feel?" she set down the cup and asked with concern.
"Much better.
Sorry to trouble you and Seele."
The surging in his stomach had subsided, though his head still felt a bit woozy, but nothing serious—nothing that hindered him.
The familiar surroundings told him he was back in his bedroom at home.
"I didn't do much.
Want another glass of water?"
Pouring another cup of warm water, Bronya looked at him as she asked.
"Not for now.
Let me catch my breath first."
Click.
The sound of the door opening drew their attention.
Seele walked in carrying a bowl of porridge and whispered, "Bronya, you should eat something first..."
As soon as she set the tray on the table, Seele's eyes met Xander's, who was lying on the bed and smiling at her.
"Brother, you're awake!"
The faint unease on her face quickly turned into joy.
Seele hurried to the bedside, almost throwing herself onto him, but hastily stopped and edged close with care.
"Brother, is your body okay?"
"It's just motion sickness.
You and Bronya are worrying a bit too much."
He spoke helplessly, propped himself up against the headboard, and opened his arms to Seele.
"That's because you don't know how scary you looked right after getting off the plane."
Watching Seele happily lean in to be hugged, Bronya suppressed the faint envy in her heart, crossing her arms and speaking with a hint of displeasure.
"That was a miscalculation.
I was too happy these past few days and forgot that I get airsick."
The thought gave Xander a headache.
He'd better etch it into his memory next time.
"It's all Seele's fault.
If she had remembered, Brother wouldn't have felt so bad."
"What are you saying?
Even I forgot.
Isn't it perfectly normal that Seele didn't remember?"
Patting the shoulder of the Seele in his arms, Xander suddenly heard the buzzing of his phone.
"A new message?"
He had just turned his head when Bronya handed him his phone.
"Thanks."
He thanked her casually and lit up the screen.
Seele's little head leaned over in curiosity, openly peeking.
Xander didn't mind, rubbed her little head, and opened the notifications.
Pop-ups included messages from Kiana, Raiden Mei, and Sirin, all asking about his condition in the group chat.
After reporting his safety in the group, he noticed a new update on the Schicksal blog.
"The blogger you follow, Miss Pink Elf♪, has posted a new update~"
"Elysia?"
He tapped it curiously, and the details of the post appeared.
"I had a very, very, very happy vacation.
Love you~"
There was also a photo attached beneath it: two blurred figures leaning against each other, sitting on the reef, while gorgeous fireworks blossomed across the boundless night sky.
With Miss Pink Elf's first update in half a month, the comments instantly exploded.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Paid member can read 150+ chapters ahead of webnovel
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts