-69-

I open my eyes, my eyes staring up at a familiar ceiling I haven't seen in a long time.

I sit up and look around, my eyes scanning the entire room. This is my living room. Perhaps I should see if things are normal and didn't change. Perhaps I just passed out and nothing has happened here. Maybe I made up an entirely new life in my dreams to make my life infinitely more interesting than it is.

I turn and grab my phone, my eyes going to the date and going wide. It isn't the month it was when I left! Heck, it isn't even the same year! Was I really gone in another world or did I just blank out for a really long time? Is there a condition for that kind of thing? How does one live with blanking out all the time?

"I should call Jennie," I mutter out, going to my contacts list. I press on Jennie's ID and bring the phone up to my ear as it rings. 

Ring~ Ring~ Ring~

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I move my phone down and stare at it, my mouth going open. Jennie's number never did that before. How come it is doing it now? Is it because she's somewhere else? Is she really in the world of Ex-Aid?

I should try calling someone else right now. Perhaps my other friend, Walter, will answer the phone. He should be here still, right? Will his number be the same? There is only one way to find out if it is or isn't. 

I go back to my contact lists and slide my finger on the screen, scrolling down the pretty short list a bit more. I press his name and press the call button. I bring my phone back to my ear and close my eyes. Please work.

Ring~

"Hello?" Walter's voice asks. "Elkie, is that you?" 

I open my eyes and gasp. "Walter?"

"The one and only. When did you get back from your trip to Japan?" Walter asks me. Trip to Japan? Does he know something I don't know?

"You knew I was on a trip?"

"Yeah, you left a note and everything."

I didn't leave a note, but he thinks I did. Perhaps when I went to the other world, this world came up with a reason for me being gone. I shouldn't question it too much and just accept it. I have to go along with it or else he'll figure out the truth. I can't have that.

"Yeah, I came back from my trip. I needed it. Did...did Jennie change her number?" I need to figure out what is going on with her phone number right now. 

"Jennie didn't change her number. It seems like her phone number is just disconnected because she forgot to pay her bill again. She's always forgetting it due to enjoying Japan a little too much without using it. I haven't heard from her in forever. She did text me not too long ago." 

"Ah." That makes sense. "I haven't seen her in a bit, so I wanted to know. I tried calling her to check in on her." This world is making up reasons for us being absent. 

Jennie is still in the world of Ex-Aid because she wasn't required to leave. I had to go. I don't know why I had to go, but I am sure it has to do with my heart. I hope Kiriya and the others take good care of Jennie in my absence because I don't trust Taiga to do so. I also hope they finish off Kamen Rider Chronicle to prevent any more issues from arising there.

"You went on the trip to find yourself. Did you?" Walter asks me. "You told me in the note that you didn't know what to do with yourself. You should have an idea by now."

I swallow a bit. "Yeah, I figured out myself while I was gone. I know what I want to do with my life and that is to become a nurse." 

I wanted to do that beside Emu, but I can't now. The only thing I can do is do it here and try to do things that'll make him smile on the other side. I know he'll feel me. We're connected to each other by our hearts. Our love keeps us connected and I can tell that right now he's in pain, but he'll get over it eventually. We have to.

"A nurse? Aren't you not a fan of blood?"

"I will get over it." I've seen enough death to not fear blood as much as I did before. "Walter, I'm going to head to the same college as you and work my butt off to become a great nurse!" 

Emu is going to be so proud of me if he ever finds out about this. He's going to learn that I'm a great nurse once I am one. He's going to be so happy and so proud of me. I just know that he will. I love him and he loves me, which means we'll always be proud of each other when it comes to our accomplishments. 

"Why didn't Jennie come back with you?" Walter asks, changing the subject back to Jennie.

"She found love there. I had a brief romance there as well with one of the locals. It wasn't meant to be. Actually, two romances." With boys who are like brothers. "It was a great experience and I grew from it. I'm no longer going to hold back when it comes to achieving my dreams. Those two boys taught me that."

Parad is working hard to achieve his dreams of making Bugsters and humans live in peace together. There aren't many Bugsters out and about, but I hope they can live in peace at the side of humans. Emu is working hard on making sure everyone harmed by Kamen Rider Chronicle can come back. He wants peace and he wants everyone to smile. I want everyone to do the same. This world needs to find its happiness and I'm going to work hard to help others achieve their dreams. 

"You found love somewhere? Wow, that's a huge accomplishment! You're the type of person who is usually hiding from others. How come you decided to find love all of a sudden?"

"Because those two boys were so impressive. They're quite wonderful and if I ever cross paths with them again, I'll introduce you to them. They're quite close. Like brothers, Walter," I state, answering his question. "Hey, do you know if they have a fast track program at college? I know that some places do."

"Yeah, they opened a program recently to do so. They need nurses badly right now at this one hospital, so they partnered up with the college I am attending. How about you enroll as soon as possible and do that? You want to be a nurse don't you?" 

"Yeah, I do. Anyways, I'm going to go now. Walter, how about we meet up soon? I would like to get some coffee and tell you all about my time in Japan. I won't tell you every little detail, but I'll tell you some stuff." I won't tell him about that threesome. That's between me and my two best friends for life.

"I would love to join you for some coffee. How about tomorrow?" 

"Sounds good. I have nothing planned. Oh, bring some information about that program for me. You know where to get it don't you?"

"I do. See you soon." 

"Okay, see you soon. Bye." I remove my phone from my ear and end the call, sighing a bit.

It seems like everything here is different yet the same. I wonder how I'm going to get back into things after living such an exciting life in the other world. There are no Kamen Riders here in the real world. They're fictional here and I hate that so much. I wish I could have joined in the fighting before leaving, but it just isn't my thing. Jennie is probably enjoying it though. She's a handful.

I put my phone down and look over at the clock on the wall. I think I should go shopping because my fridge is probably empty. What am I supposed to do? I don't need to make ramen for a ton of boys now. Ramen was the best part of being with Emu. We were too lazy to cook most of the time, but now I don't have to be lazy. I have to fill my time up.

I close my eyes and sigh heavily. "I am going to figure this out. One day," I mutter out.

And I have plenty of time to do so. 

A/n: And here is an update for you all. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I am already missing Elkie being with her friends and loved ones </3 We'll see how things turn out soon.

Thank you for waiting for this update and see you again soon! 

PS: Sorry if I don't reply to your comments. Been busy so I sometimes do not have time to answer them all. I feel bad when I don't. Just know I read them and I'm so thankful for the support.