Louis slowly opened his eyes, and what greeted him was the familiar wooden ceiling of Red Tide City.
"...I'm back."
As his consciousness gradually cleared, the tension that had pressed on his chest the entire journey finally began to dissipate slowly.
A soft sensation and gentle breathing sounded at his side.
On either side, Sif and Emily clung to him like two octopuses.
Silver and blue hair intertwined in the bedding, with faint blushes on their cheeks, warm breaths, and relaxed expressions, seemingly still immersed in the reverberating reunion of last night.
Absence truly makes the heart grow fonder.
Louis gave a light, bitter smile, his fingertips brushing through Emily's hair on her shoulder, then stroked the fine hair near Sif's earlobe.
But now was not the time to indulge in tender affections.
He moved his body with the slightest of motions, like a sneaky fugitive stealthily withdrawing his arms without waking them.
