Greatest of All TimeSeason 2 – Chapter 15: The Arrival of the Time God
Five days.
Five long days had passed since Arashio's battle with the Dragon King.
The Tiger Village had slowly returned to normal, but nobody had forgotten what happened.
Every morning, students gathered outside the medical room.
Every evening, Siya sat beside Arashio's bed.
She refused to leave.
Inside the quiet room, Arashio remained unconscious.
His breathing was steady.
His wounds were almost completely healed.
But his eyes remained closed.
Siya rested her head against the side of his bed.
"Come on, Arashio..."
Her voice was quiet.
"You've already survived the Dragon King."
She smiled weakly.
"Don't lose to sleep."
Silence.
Then—
Tap.
Arashio's finger moved.
Siya's eyes widened.
"...Arashio?"
His finger moved again.
His breathing suddenly became stronger.
Then—
WHOOSH!
A small burst of blue energy escaped his body.
Siya jumped back.
"What?!"
Arashio slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry.
The ceiling slowly came into focus.
"...Where am I?"
Siya stared at him.
For one second, she couldn't move.
Then—
"ARASHIO!"
She rushed forward and hugged him.
Arashio froze.
"Siya?!"
She held him tightly.
"You idiot!"
"You scared me!"
Arashio winced.
"Ow..."
Siya immediately released him.
"Sorry!"
She wiped her eyes.
Arashio looked at her carefully.
"Were you crying?"
"No."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You definitely were."
Siya looked away.
"...Maybe a little."
Arashio smiled.
"I'm back."
Siya looked at him.
"Yeah."
She smiled.
"You're back."
Suddenly—
The door exploded open.
"HE'S AWAKE!"
A student shouted from the hallway.
Within seconds, the entire room became crowded.
Alya rushed inside.
"Arashio!"
The Tiger Army appeared behind her.
Students started cheering.
"THE GOAT IS BACK!"
"HE SURVIVED!"
"ARASHIO!"
Arashio stared at everyone.
"...Why is everyone yelling?"
Inside his consciousness—
James was laughing.
James: "Because you're famous now."
Saku crossed his arms.
Saku: "Very famous."
Arashio mentally sighed.
Arashio: "I was unconscious for five days and somehow became famous?"
James grinned.
James: "That's what happens when you get thrown across half the world by the Dragon King."
Saku laughed.
Saku: "You should be proud."
Arashio shook his head.
Arashio: "You two are impossible."
James smiled.
James: "Welcome back."
The Next Day
The Tiger Master finally allowed Arashio to leave the medical room.
The moment Arashio stepped into the courtyard—
WHAM!
A ball flew directly toward his face.
Arashio caught it without even looking.
Everyone froze.
Alya blinked.
"Okay..."
"That was impressive."
Arashio looked at the ball.
"...Who threw this?"
Alya slowly raised her hand.
"Maybe me?"
Arashio smiled.
"You were aiming at me?"
"No."
She pointed at Saku.
"Actually, I was aiming at him."
Arashio blinked.
"...You can't even see Saku."
Alya laughed.
"Exactly."
Inside his consciousness, Saku stared at James.
Saku: "I like her."
James nodded.
James: "She's funny."
Arashio sighed.
Arashio: "Please don't encourage her."
The students laughed.
Today wasn't about training.
It wasn't about fighting.
It wasn't about the Dragon King.
Today...
They were celebrating Arashio's recovery.
Food covered the tables.
Students played games.
The Tiger Army even joined.
And eventually—
Someone brought out the bottle.
Arashio immediately recognized it.
"...No."
Siya smiled.
"Yes."
"Truth or dare?"
Arashio sighed.
"Why does this keep happening?"
James shouted inside his consciousness.
James: "Because it's fun!"
Saku raised his imaginary hand.
Saku: "I vote dare."
Arashio mentally glared at them.
Arashio: "Nobody asked you."
Truth or Dare
Everyone sat in a circle.
The bottle spun.
Spin...
Spin...
Spin...
It stopped.
Arashio.
Alya smiled.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
Alya thought for a moment.
"Who is the person you trust the most?"
Arashio became quiet.
He looked around.
The Tiger Master.
The students.
Alya.
Then...
His eyes stopped on Siya.
"I trust everyone who stayed beside me."
Siya's cheeks became slightly red.
Inside his consciousness—
James immediately screamed.
James: "THAT WAS BASICALLY A CONFESSION!"
Arashio mentally shouted,
Arashio: "IT WASN'T!"
Saku laughed.
Saku: "James, you're making him nervous."
Siya smiled.
"That's a good answer."
Arashio looked away.
"...Thanks."
The bottle spun again.
This time—
Siya.
Alya smiled mischievously.
"Truth or dare?"
"Dare."
Alya pointed toward Arashio.
"I dare you to make Arashio smile."
Siya looked confused.
"That's easy."
She walked toward him.
Arashio became nervous.
"What are you doing?"
Siya stared at his face.
"You have something on your cheek."
Arashio immediately touched it.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She laughed.
"I tricked you!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Arashio stared at her.
Then...
He smiled.
Siya pointed.
"There!"
"What?"
"I made you smile."
Arashio laughed.
"That was cheating."
"Still counts."
Inside his consciousness—
James was celebrating.
James: "SHE DID IT!"
Saku laughed.
Saku: "Finally!"
Arashio mentally covered his face.
Arashio: "Can you two please stop?"
A Peaceful Evening
The celebration continued until sunset.
The students played games.
Alya challenged Arashio to an arm-wrestling match.
She lost.
Then she demanded a rematch.
She lost again.
Then she blamed the table.
"The table is helping you!"
Arashio laughed.
"Sure."
Siya watched them from nearby.
She smiled.
For the first time since the Dragon King's attack...
Everyone felt normal.
No fear.
No war.
No destruction.
Just laughter.
Eventually the sun disappeared behind the mountains.
The village became quiet.
The moon rose.
Arashio walked through the village with Siya.
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Then Siya said,
"Arashio."
"Yeah?"
"You really scared me."
"I know."
"When you were unconscious..."
She looked down.
"I kept thinking you wouldn't wake up."
Arashio became quiet.
Then he smiled.
"But I did."
Siya looked at him.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why did you come back?"
Arashio looked toward the moon.
"Because..."
He paused.
"There are still people I want to protect."
Siya smiled.
"You're always thinking about everyone else."
Arashio looked at her.
"And you?"
She blinked.
"What about me?"
"Why did you stay beside me for five days?"
Siya froze.
Her cheeks slowly turned red.
"I..."
She looked away.
"Because you're important to me."
Arashio's eyes widened.
His face became red.
Inside his consciousness—
James and Saku stared at each other.
Neither spoke.
James finally whispered,
"...Don't ruin this."
Saku nodded.
"For once..."
"Let's be quiet."
Arashio smiled.
"Thank you."
Siya smiled.
"You're welcome."
They continued walking under the moonlight.
For a few minutes...
Everything was peaceful.
Later That Night
Arashio returned to his room.
He lay on his bed.
His body was finally beginning to feel normal.
He closed his eyes.
Inside his consciousness...
James was floating upside down.
Saku was sitting on a rock.
James: "I'm bored."
Saku: "Go bother Arashio."
Arashio: "I can hear you."
James froze.
"...Right."
Saku laughed.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Arashio's eyes snapped open.
The entire room shook.
James immediately stood.
James: "Did you feel that?"
Saku's expression became serious.
Saku: "Yeah."
Arashio rushed toward the window.
The village was silent.
But above the school...
Something had appeared.
A massive blue aura slowly spread across the night sky.
The clouds twisted around it.
The wind stopped.
A strange pressure filled the entire mountain.
Arashio's eyes widened.
"...What is that?"
Inside his consciousness, James became completely serious.
James: "I don't know."
Saku looked toward the blue light.
Saku: "But whatever it is..."
"...It's ridiculously powerful."
A figure slowly descended from the sky.
He landed on the school rooftop.
THUD.
Golden hair.
Calm expression.
A mysterious aura.
He stood completely still.
Then—
GLOW.
One eye opened.
A brilliant blue light illuminated the darkness.
The moonlight reflected against his face.
Suddenly—
Everything stopped.
A falling leaf froze in midair.
A bird stopped moving.
The wind became completely silent.
Even the clouds stopped drifting.
Time itself had been frozen.
Arashio stared from the window.
Inside his consciousness—
James clenched his fists.
James: "...No way."
Saku slowly stood.
Saku: "That's..."
Arashio whispered,
"...Bibek."
The Time God.
After being absent for so long...
He had finally returned.
Bibek slowly raised his head.
His glowing blue eye looked directly toward Arashio's room.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"The future has brought us together."
Arashio felt an enormous pressure building around him.
His blue and crimson energy flickered for a moment.
James looked at Saku.
James: "Don't joke around."
Saku nodded.
Saku: "I'm not."
Bibek lifted one hand.
The entire night sky distorted.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A giant blue temporal aura exploded above the school.
The students woke up screaming.
The Tiger Army rushed outside.
Siya opened her window.
"Arashio!"
Arashio stood frozen.
Bibek looked toward the village.
"I have searched through countless moments..."
"Past..."
"Present..."
"Future..."
His glowing blue eye became brighter.
"And finally..."
"I found the one who shouldn't exist."
Arashio's heart pounded.
"Who..."
"...are you?"
Bibek smiled.
"You already know."
The blue aura exploded again.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The entire night sky turned blue.
Arashio clenched his fists.
Inside his consciousness...
James and Saku prepared themselves.
For the first time since the Dragon King...
They weren't smiling.
Because the person standing above their school...
Wasn't a warrior.
Wasn't a king.
Wasn't a monster.
He was something far more dangerous.
The God of Time.
And he had come...
for Arashio.
TO BE CONTINUED...