-72-

"Wow, that all happened since I went back to my world?" 

A lot has gone on here since I've been gone. From a crazy lady trying to revive her father to Kiriya walking around alive like many others. Things have simply been so crazy here. And, that's not all, I'm not the only person who has had a life changing event happen.

"Jennie really convinced Taiga to let her become his assistant at his hospital," Poppy tells me, nodding her head. "Emu wasn't lying about anything. All those things did happen. Oh, didn't they get married recently? Nico wasn't happy about that."

"Where is Nico again?" I ask.

"Away. She left to do some educational activities," Emu says, smiling a little. "I kind of miss having her around. She brought some life into Taiga's little gang. I guess Jennie does that as well. She was the one who told Taiga to marry her or else."

"That sounds like the Jennie I know." 

"She's right there, dad," Hiiro's voice says and I look over, staring at him and his father as they enter the CR. "She's been down here catching up with Emu. They're still dating if you're wondering about that."

His father turns to him, staring at him with a smile on his face. "I am glad to hear that they're back together officially. I don't know how it is possible, but it is great to see her back here." 

Mr. Kagami turns back to me and he approaches me, holding out something to me.

"What is this?"

"I need you to fill these out because I want you to work here. I will have it approved immediately after you do. Your degree is valid here. I don't know how that works, but it is...well, a miracle. Congratulations, Elkie," he says, his smile growing wider.

I look down at his hands and take the papers from it, holding onto them gently. "Thank you, sir." I don't know what else to say to him right now, so I'm just going to say absolutely nothing.

"She's going to be working here real soon?" Emu asks.

Mr. Kagami nods his head. "Yes, she'll be joining as soon as that is all filled out. We have to have information on her and do the usual background check. I'm sure she'll magically be in the system already and have a completely valid citizenship somehow."

This is all thanks to the magic of this universe and my own universe. Whatever is out there watching over me, I'm thankful for it. I'm not sure if the Tree caused it or what, but it is whatever. I am just glad to be back home where I belong.

"Hey, I hear some people celebrating that Elkie's back. Did you forget about me?" 

I turn my head a bit, my eyes landing on Parad as he leans back against the wall. "Hey, no one has forgotten about you. You're the person who terrorized us for the longest time before all of this."

"I didn't mean to be that rude to you all. I just wanted to be friends with Emu and have a chance with you. By the way, that chance is all gone, right?" Parad grins, looking like a total goofball. 

I laugh. "Yeah, that is done with. And Parad, I don't have your gaming console anymore. I gave it to some girl. I just want you to know that I did that."

"I have a new one anyways."

"Are you two forgetting about everyone else here?" Poppy asks. "I swear, you two can just hang out and forget about everyone about you. Seriously, such friendship is annoying at times! I am also her friend, but I don't get that kind of treatment." She's so frowning right now.

I laugh again and look over at her. "Sorry, but I want to catch up with him as well. I'm sure he has been a pain."

"He's constantly bored," Emu tells me.

"Hey, I'm not constantly bored!" Parad shouts. "How about you two get home and catch up there? I'll be there after midnight, maybe."

Emu chuckles. "As much as I would love that, I think you two need to hang out alone for a bit. How about you two catch up? I know you two are best friends and I think it'll be best for you two to have some time together to speak about how things are going. Everyone, let's leave them be."

I guess I'm getting some alone time with the Bugster.

~.~

"Everyone is getting brought back at a steady pace, I guess," I say, shaking my head. "It is sad that they had to die from that cursed game you started with Kuroto."

"Yeah, I feel bad about it." Parad's eyes look away from mine and he swallows a little. "How could I do that to so many people? When I think of it now, I think that it was because of my inability to be a good Bugster. I didn't want to understand humans because they didn't think highly of me and my people. Also, we wanted to conquer you all."

"Look how that went for you." I look ahead, my eyes leaving him. "Parad, I think you're fine as you are now. You're completely someone new."

"Yeah, I guess that is true."

I nod. "Yeah, it is."

"Hiiro is helping them out."

"Really?" I look back at him as we come to a stop, stopping in front of a park. "And his late girlfriend?"

"Hiiro isn't focused on bringing his late girlfriend back right away. He said that she would want others to be back first and then she can come back after. He wants to reunite those missing their own loved ones first before his. He doesn't want to be selfish." 

"Saki has a family doesn't she?" He should bring her back for that.

"She's not at the bottom. Kuroto is at the bottom," Parad states. "Saki isn't at the top though. Hiiro doesn't want to let his bias influence who is revived first. He's thinking of the families before himself."

"He's so selfless." He should be a bit more selfish going forward. "He deserves happiness like the rest of us. Well, minus Kuroto." He deserves a slap or a knee cap to the balls. 

"I am not sure if I could do what he is doing right now."

"He's thinking of the needs of the many, not his own." I am not sure if I could do it either, but I can understand why he's doing what he is doing. "He's being the medical professional he is today in that. Besides, I doubt we can bring back everyone at once. It takes time."

"Yeah, I think that is also why he's doing things a certain way. He doesn't want those families to wait for a really long time. Saki's father is willing to wait as long as he knows Saki will come back. The team for this project isn't huge. You know, because of the top secret nature of it."

"Yeah..." I get that.

The wind blows and he looks off to the side, his eyes going to the park. 

"How about we play together here sometime? I am sure you are not in the mood to play right now." 

"I am not in the mood to play because I just arrived," I state. "It isn't because of anything you've done. It is kind of like traveling." Magic is just tiring to go through it seems. I don't know how it works, but it seems to work that way.

Parad nods his head and his eyes go to me as a smile grows on his face. "Hey, do you think we can do it together again? You know, for fun?"

"I don't think so, bud," I respond, being quick. "Emu won't want that ever again. He doesn't like sharing and I doubt he's going to want to now that he has me in his arms again. He's not going to be like how he was before with that."

Emu is going to be willing to let anyone come between me and him again. Magic isn't going to stop him either. He wants to be with me and is grateful that I'm back where I belong. I will always belong in his arms and I was stupid for not seeing that before. All I wanted to do before was get laid by a fictional hot Bugster, who is now very, very real. 

His lips turn downwards, turning into a cute pout. "But don't you want me?"

"I love you, but as a friend." He's heading right back to the friendzone now.

"Oof. No need to be so harsh." 

"Sorry."

He moves forward towards me and puts his arms around me, embracing me in a tight embrace. "Elkie, I'm so happy to see you again! I can't wait to work with you in the CR and get to know everything about you all over again! We're going to have a ton of fun when you're not busy being a super Nurse."

I laugh a little and nod my head, lifting my arms up and returning his embrace. "Yeah, that is what it is going to be like. We're going to spend a lot of time together and we're definitely going to game together once I'm off work. Of course, if I'm not tired." There is no way I'm going to play games when I'm sleepy as heck. That time is for having a late night treat before going to bed officially.

He pulls back a bit, chuckling. "Right."

"How about we go and play just a little before heading back?" 

His eyes sparkle. "Race ya to the swings," he says, releasing me from his tight embrace.

"Yeah, bring it on." 

A/n: Sorry for the late posting of this chapter! I've been busy with work and a few other things last week (one of them was a dentist appointment, which went quite well). Anyways, thank you for waiting for this chapter and see you next time! 

Thanks for all the support! <3