The small car stopped in front of Grandpa's Noodles.
Vash looked through the window.
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
The faded red sign was still hanging above the entrance.
The old refrigerator was still making its strange humming sound.
The six wooden tables were still there.
Everything looked familiar.
But something felt different.
Vash slowly stepped out of the car with Rohan's help.
His legs were still weak.
The short distance from the car to the restaurant already made his breathing heavier.
Rohan held his arm.
"Easy."
"I'm fine."
"You almost fell."
"I was testing you."
"Sure."
Vash smiled.
Then he looked at the restaurant again.
His grandfather stood at the entrance.
His grandmother was beside him.
Both were smiling.
"Welcome home," Grandpa said.
Vash nodded.
"Yeah."
He took another step inside.
The smell of noodles and fried chicken immediately reached him.
It was the smell he remembered.
The smell of childhood.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
Then Vash noticed something.
There was no house behind the restaurant.
He looked around.
"Grandpa?"
"Hmm?"
"Where's our house?"
His grandfather became quiet.
Vash looked at his grandmother.
She avoided his eyes.
"What happened to the house?"
Grandpa forced a smile.
"We sold it."
Vash froze.
"What?"
"Years ago."
"Because of me?"
Neither of them answered.
That was enough.
Vash's chest tightened.
He looked toward the back of the restaurant.
There was a tiny room behind the kitchen.
His grandfather opened the door.
Inside were two small beds, an old cupboard, a fan, and several boxes.
"This is where you live?"
Grandpa smiled.
"It's comfortable."
Vash stared at him.
"You've been living here for two years?"
"Where else would we go?"
Vash lowered his head.
His eyes became wet.
"You sold the house..."
Grandma immediately placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't think about that."
"But—"
"We still have the restaurant."
Grandpa smiled.
"And now we have you."
Vash couldn't answer.
For two years, he had been lying in a hospital bed.
He had never known what his grandparents had sacrificed.
They had lost their home.
They had sold almost everything.
And they had spent countless nights beside him.
He clenched his fists.
I can't give those two years back.
But perhaps he could make the years ahead different.
---
News of Vash's return spread quickly.
By evening, several neighbors had already come to visit.
"Look how tall you've become!"
"You finally woke up!"
"How are you feeling?"
"Can you walk?"
Vash answered as patiently as he could.
"I'm getting better."
Some brought fruit.
Others brought small gifts.
One elderly neighbor even brought a packet of sweets.
"Your grandparents never gave up on you."
Vash smiled.
"I know."
The restaurant became unusually crowded.
People talked about the accident.
Some remembered the day it happened.
Others talked about how long Vash had been unconscious.
Vash listened quietly.
It was strange hearing people talk about his life as if he had missed it.
Then a familiar voice came from the entrance.
"Well."
Everyone turned.
A woman stood there.
She owned the restaurant across the street.
She had always competed with Vash's grandparents.
Her restaurant was larger.
Her sign was newer.
And she never missed an opportunity to remind them of it.
She looked at Vash.
"So the sleeping prince finally woke up."
The room became quiet.
Vash's grandmother's expression hardened.
The woman smiled.
"I only came to see how he was doing."
Vash looked at her.
She glanced around the restaurant.
"Still the same little place, I see."
Grandpa said nothing.
She continued.
"After everything you spent on his treatment, I suppose there wasn't much money left."
Vash's eyes moved toward his grandfather.
He saw the old man's hands tighten.
The woman smiled again.
"At least you still have a roof."
Vash looked toward the tiny room behind the kitchen.
Something inside him changed.
Before, he might have ignored the words.
But now he understood exactly what she meant.
She wasn't asking about his health.
She was mocking his grandparents.
Vash took a slow breath.
The transparent screen appeared.
[Emotional response detected.]
Vash blinked.
[Heart rate increased.]
[Observation skill activated.]
The system displayed a small analysis.
Subject's statements contain hostile intent.
Vash almost laughed.
Even the system knows she's annoying.
The woman looked at him.
"What?"
Vash shook his head.
"Nothing."
She frowned.
"You seem quieter than before."
Vash smiled slightly.
"I've been asleep for two years."
A few neighbors laughed.
The woman didn't.
She turned away.
"Take care of yourself."
Then she left.
Rohan leaned toward Vash.
"That was your first fight after waking up."
Vash smiled.
"I didn't even say anything."
"Exactly."
---
That night, the restaurant finally became quiet.
Vash sat outside with his grandfather.
The street lights illuminated the empty road.
"Grandpa?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you angry with me?"
His grandfather looked surprised.
"Why would I be?"
"Because you lost everything because of me."
Grandpa remained silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Vash."
"Yes?"
"You didn't choose that accident."
Vash looked down.
"But you suffered because of it."
"We suffered because we love you."
Vash looked at him.
His grandfather placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't spend your life feeling guilty for being alive."
Those words stayed with Vash.
He looked at the restaurant.
His grandparents.
His home.
His new life.
Then the system appeared.
[Emotional Stability: Improving.]
Vash smiled.
"System."
[Yes.]
"I want to become stronger."
A short pause.
[Objective acknowledged.]
Vash looked at his weak legs.
Strength: 6/10
Agility: 5/10
Endurance: 4/10
He knew he had a long way to go.
But for the first time, the distance didn't frighten him.
He had already lost two years.
He wasn't going to waste another day.
[Recovery Objective: Active.]
Vash smiled.
"Tomorrow, we start again."
From inside the restaurant, his grandmother called.
"Vash! Dinner!"
He laughed.
"Coming!"
And for the first time in two years, Vash went home.