Time Traveling Hero

"So, you must know by now why we're here?"

We were about halfway through our meal, only partaking in small talk before she brought up the main subject at hand. I sighed before nodding.

"Yeah, I do."

"Good, then that makes this a lot easier for both of us." More like easier for you. "So, tell me why now of all times to visit your mom."

I knew it was coming, and yet it didn't make it any easier to try to answer her question. Do I just tell her that I took a trial that repeatedly made me go through the days before her death, all so I could become a hero of an organization I'm only joining because of a girl named Anna that saved me from living my high school days in complete and utter monotony, who I met through a thing called a time loop that causes a bunch of crazy, most definitely fatal things that would kill a normal person, but not to worry, she can shoot lasers and oh, by the way, this person I mentioned, Anna, the one who can shoot lasers, is staying in our house because Luna decided it would be a great idea for her to stay here with us?

It was a nice recap, but a great way for me to get grounded for life. So, lying it is.

"It's been almost ten years since she died, and I hadn't seen her once, not once, in all of that time. Some things happened recently that made me remember just how important she was to me, and I felt I just had to visit her, to try to make up for all that lost time, and to move on as well." It wasn't a complete lie, but also wasn't entirely true either; AKA, the best type of lie.

"Is that so…" she murmured to herself, gently swirling her glass of wine in one hand while staring out into the beautiful city below. "Well, regardless of the fact that you're probably not telling me everything, it doesn't seem to be far from the actual truth."

I see, so she was willing to let it go for now. That was a weight off my shoulders.

"But you see, I can see it plain as day. Something happened to you, and you've changed because of it. I don't know what that could've been, but whether it was positive or negative experience, I'm glad you've changed because of it."

Huh? She suddenly had a wistful look on her face, sipping on her wine, gazing out into the open sky.

"Me and your father worry about you far more than we do about Luna, if you wish to know the truth. You've always been so kind, too kind I would say. When you decided that you would share Luna's burden by sacrificing your own life, we couldn't help but worry. Honestly, what sort of path were you going to go down? We didn't want to stop you, since that would hurt Luna, but at the same time we knew that was no way for anybody to live."

"Caelestis…"

"So, imagine my surprise when my husband calls me out of the blue, saying you wish to visit her grave of all things? I was coming back soon anyway, but I'm relieved. I'm relieved that you found some people important to you at school, important enough for you to stick around anyway. But I always feel conflicted."

I could only watch as she put her glass down and clench her hands together, her head facing down.

"I was happy that you decided not to throw your life away, but what about my own daughter? Would you forget about her happiness? Would you throw all that away, and selfishly, but rightfully so, focus on your own wellbeing? I feel so awful right now, thinking like this. But I can't help myself. I don't know what to do anymore, not by a longshot."

I clenched my hands together before shooting up from my chair. "I would never do that!"

"Eh?" Her face, nearly broken out into tears, gazed up at me from my sudden outburst.

"I would never abandon Luna's happiness for my own! Because to me, both of our happiness' our equal, so I could never outweigh one with another!" I gazed down at my stepmother, filled with determination as I made another proclamation.

"I swore that I'll help Luna overcome her condition that day, and that's a promise I fully intend to keep! So please, leave your daughter in my hands!"

I bowed down once before looking back up, her pink eyes glistening from light shining from the sky.

"You know, you make it sound like you're about marry Luna, you know that?"

"If it'll come to that, I'll do it."

She started to laugh. "Idiot stepson of mine, as if I would let her marry someone like you. Honestly, it looks like somethings about you haven't changed one bit."

I waited, my unblinking eyes staring her down.

"Thank you, but as much as you would like me to say, 'I'll leave it all to you', I couldn't possibly do that." This time is was my turn to be shocked, as she met my gaze with one of her own.

"So, instead of leaving her all to yourself, save some responsibility for the a.d.u.l.ts who take care of you, alright?"

I overcame my shock and grinned. "Alright, then let's do it!" We clasped hands together, and that thin barrier that she had kept up all these years had finally shown its first crack.

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"We're back my darling Luna!" Lesty rushed upstairs, probably to ambush Luna before she could hide. I took a breath of relief and made my way upstairs.

I grabbed my pajamas and u.n.d.e.r.w.e.a.r before heading into the bathroom to take a hot shower. I passed Luna's room on the way and heard screams coming from inside.

I'm glad she's enjoying herself now, I thought as I hopped into the bathroom, quickly getting undressed before taking a shower.

"Ah, this really feels nice," I said as I washed my hair, letting the hot water run over me. It felt like everything was ending up okay. So long as Luna dealt with Anna beforehand, we shouldn't have a problem.

I finished washing my hair and continued with the rest of my body. Besides, if she couldn't tell her today, I'll be going with her tomorrow to the TRTF's headquarters, so that should be an opportune time to tell her.

I finished showering and dried myself off before heading to the sink to brush my teeth. After, I got changed into my PJ's and went into my dark room illuminated by a single lamp.

"Whoa, it's already 12?" Damn, this day really has been long. I turned off my lamp and sunk into my bed, and then it finally hit me.

"I never realized how tired I was…" I muttered as my exhausted body, after all the stress it went through today, finally gave and passed out, with my consciousness fading away.

That night was one of a dreamless sleep, a lull before the roar.