Chapter 362: Yuko's Embrace, a Witch's Tears
In the end, Ichihara Yuko still couldn't fathom why such a question had been posed to her of all people. She was, by all accounts, a "pure maiden" who had never even experienced the stirrings of a first love. Was it truly necessary to torment her so?
Night gradually descended, painting the sky in shades of indigo and violet. Yuko let out a soft sigh; it was time for her to depart. Jinx had to leave as well. And though she knew she would be back, a deep reluctance had taken root in her heart.
This was especially true for Yuko. She had left for seven days during the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, but that felt entirely different. That had been like a family trip; even though she missed the shop, her family was right there beside her. This time, she would begin her journey alone, leaving her home and her family behind for a world that was at once familiar and strangely alien—a world that had once rejected her.
For the first time in a long while, Ichihara Yuko felt an emotion she could only name as fear. She was terrified that all of this—the warmth, the laughter, the belonging—was nothing more than an ephemeral illusion, a soap bubble shimmering beautifully just before it popped. She now understood the weight of an old saying with piercing clarity: I could have endured the darkness, if I had not seen the sun.
That was her now. A sun had risen in her life, a brilliant star she could never have kindled on her own. She had become greedy, hoarding its warmth like a priceless treasure. The thought of leaving that light, of stepping back into the shadows, sent a cold knot of panic tightening in her stomach. She had to admit, for one fleeting, desperate moment, she considered ignoring her duties in her own world and simply staying right here.
Courage had yet to return. Jinx stood before the familiar shop door, a strange weight settling in her boots. Ren had already returned all her weapons, but Fishbones and Pow-Pow had never felt so heavy in her grasp.
With a deep breath, Jinx yanked the door open. The familiar, warm light spilled out, and she let out a quiet sigh of relief. She turned back to Kasugano Sora and Cerberus, flashing her signature, manic grin. "Sora! Kero-chan! I'll be back for you after I pull off a real big one! Everyone, get ready for Jinx's triumphant return!"
With that, she spun on her heel and swaggered through the portal, her voice echoing back, "Chef! No fun surprises this time! Wait for me to get back, and I'll give you a double dose next time! And you, Cops! Your number one source of chaos is back in town!"
She put on a good show, but Jinx knew better than anyone how much she was leaving behind. Here, it had only been seven days, but in that short time, she had made friends and experienced a life a world away from the toxic gray haze of Zaun. A part of her was loath to leave, but her pride, her stubborn need to always be the tough one, would never let that show. And so, she left as she had arrived—as Jinx.
Kasugano Sora and Cerberus, however, wore their reluctance openly. Jinx had become a good friend to them both. As Ichihara Yuko walked to the door next, their sadness deepened. She sighed, a wry smile on her face. "Honestly... that girl Jinx has more nerve than I do."
The moment Yuko prepared to leave, Sora and Cerberus immediately crowded around her, their small forms pressing against her. Yuko hugged them both, her smile gentle. "If you two keep this up, the resolve I worked so hard to build is going to crumble."
Cerberus, in a rare display of melancholy, spoke with a hint of a whine in his voice. "Yuko... when are you coming back?"
"I don't know... But... just like Ren said, I get homesick very easily. And you, Sora," she said, gently stroking the girl's hair. "I thought you were the mature one. Why the long face?"
"I'm not..." Sora's voice was a muffled whisper against Yuko's side. "Yuko-nee... just... come back soon."
"Mm..."
Lucifer sighed from behind the counter. "The shop rotation is going to feel awfully empty with one less person. Yuko, don't go slacking off or getting into trouble. Get back here, you hear me?"
"I know, I know," Yuko teased. "My, my. I never knew you could be such a nag, Lucifer."
"I... Hmph. Fine. Since you're leaving today, I won't argue with you," Lucifer grumbled, turning away. "Just you wait. We'll settle this when you get back!"
Yuko's gaze then settled on the man who had been watching silently from the side—the man who had become her master, the head of her newfound family, the anchor of her home.
She smiled, a playful light dancing in her eyes. "Ren. Aren't you going to say anything?"
Ren considered her for a moment before a soft smile touched his lips. "Most of what needs to be said has already been said. Have you packed everything?"
"That world isn't like this one. Since you wouldn't let Lucifer and the others go with you, try not to stir up trouble out of curiosity. If anything happens, you come straight back, understand?"
"Mm..."
Then, without another word, Ichihara Yuko simply opened her arms, a silent, hopeful invitation. Ren's eyes widened for a fraction of a second. A fond, knowing smile graced his features as he shook his head. He closed the distance between them and gently drew the Dimension Witch into an embrace.
It was the first time a man had ever held her. A faint tremor ran through her, her frame stiffening in his arms out of pure unfamiliarity. But then, his warmth seeped in, melting the tension away. Her own arms slowly, hesitantly, wrapped around his back. She closed her eyes, a deep sense of peace washing over her, as comforting and safe as sinking into her own bed after a long journey.
Ren leaned in, his voice a soft whisper against her ear. "Yuko... Be careful. Come home soon."
Yuko's hands tightened their grip on the back of his shirt for a moment before slowly relaxing. She whispered back, "You're still so sly... always knowing just what to say to leave a girl defenseless... You really are a scoundrel, you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Yuko chuckled, a soft, breathy sound. She gently pushed herself away, leaving the circle of his warmth. A sudden, hollowing ache bloomed in her chest. She pulled the door open, staring into the brilliant white light of the portal, took a deep breath, and said, "Ren. Wait for me to come back."
"Have a safe journey."
"Mm..." Yuko murmured, hoisting a small, wrapped package onto her shoulder as she stepped through.
The moment the dimensional door sealed shut, an unseen tremor passed through the shop, a ripple felt only by those with a connection to its magic. Both Yuko, on the other side, and Lucifer felt it in their very cores. Cerberus's ears drooped, his form slumping with the finality of their friends' departure.
Kasugano Sora sighed. "Ren-nii, I'm going upstairs to play games."
With that, she hugged her rabbit plushie tighter and scurried up the stairs, choosing to lose herself in a digital world. Even though Ren had explained that the flow of time was different between their worlds and Yuko might be back in just a few days, the sadness was still sharp.
Ren said nothing. He simply returned to his seat and continued to study the notes left behind by Clow Reed. For a long moment, the large shop felt vast and desolate, the only sound the occasional, lonely chime of the wind bells, a faint proof that time had not stopped entirely.
On the other side, Ichihara Yuko stumbled back into her own familiar shop. The world tilted, and without an ounce of her usual grace, she crumpled to the floor. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she whispered fiercely to herself.
"What is this... this wretched feeling...? Come on, Yuko... It's not like you can never go back. You're not... you're not actually going to cry, are you? Get a grip!"
"Duolu! Duolu!"
"It's Yuko! Yuko, you're finally back!"
"Finally?" she asked, her voice thick. "How long was I gone?"
"Many months! Mokona was taken by Clow, so you were gone for a very long time on this trip, Yuko! Eh?! Duolu! Yuko is alive!"
"She's alive! She's alive!"
Yuko's breath hitched. "So long... If it's been months here... then I'll have to stay here for a year while only a dozen days pass over there... What a long, long wait..."
She pushed herself up, a fragile mask of composure settling on her features. "But this time, it wasn't just a trip. I found my family... and my home. Is there anything to eat?"
"Yes! And rice wine!"
"Mm. Bring me all the wine."
"Eh?! Yuko is so strange! Duolu! Yuko is crying!"
"She's really crying! There are tears!"
"Nonsense!" Yuko snapped, turning her head away. "I am not crying!"
Her sharp denial was immediately betrayed by the glistening tracks carving silent paths down her cheeks.
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