"Miss Yukina!"
Even with this damn thing she's too loud! I fought the urge to rip the crystal out of my ear. Mina's voice was causing aches in my eardrums. Clearly, the feeling wasn't matched with the others, they were probably used to it by now..
"How old are you? You look older than me."
"I'm only fifteen." I replied. Why do I feel angry at that question? I glanced down for less than a second then looked back at Mina again.
"Huh? I thought you were twenty…"
"... How old are you?"
"Oh, I'm eighteen." Mina lifted a finger to her mouth and then towards the other two girls. "Rin is twenty-five and-"
"Mina!" One loud thunk later, Rin shut her mouth completely. "You need to stop revealing things!"
"Mm!"
Definitely Shen's students. With one more look away I felt my heart jump when I heard distant sounding footsteps. There was a heavy pair, three smaller pairs then a really light pair of shoes.
Shen's coming with dad… what about the others? One of them might be Valda, but the other two I have no idea.
It felt like forever, but they got closer and closer; my heart ran harder as time went on… And just as they were over the lip, I could see a familiar figure walking towards the center of the walkway.
Noa? I realized when I saw the glowing halo above her head. Why is she here?
"Not Lady Noa… why can't things go right…" Rin moaned as she covered her face. "Things never go right! First, Miss Yukina. Now, Lady Noa. "
"What are you talking about?"
"N-Nothing! I-Ignore what I said!"
Yet again and again I went back to ignoring these three. Slowly I let my anticipation rise.
Soon, I saw the first person to walk through the gate. It was a tall black haired wolfkin; she was taller than anyone, she stood over twoheads taller than everyone. Even from here I could tell… she was more dangerous than Lorraine and Stark. The air around her just felt, scary..
Blue tattoos lined her arms that were up to her knuckles; her demeanor screamed boredom.
Next… was someone I longed to see— my dad, looking much younger… but different. His hair was a mess in this world, he looked healthier. There were dark red lines going up his neck. The messiness of his hair added to how youthful he looked, he felt like he was enjoying life in this world.
He's… I want to talk to him- I want-
Just wait a while. Shen was now inside my head.
I want-
It felt like my brain seized when Shen walked forwards. I was- why am I away from my body?
I told you. You are far too dangerous to be around other reincarnators.
…
I could only watch— my brain wasn't moving and I was floating.
The crowd roared when two other men walked forward. Names were thrown around… including Shen's whose was the most popular.
"Seems like you still aren't popular, Fred." Shen stated. Her tone was something I never heard before; Low, hiding a laughter she raised her hand to her mouth. "Like old times, huh?"
My dad– he merely smiled as he leaned onto her head. "You know, you're only this popular due to your beauty, right?"
"D-Don't say that! And get your arm off my head!"
"I'm not wrong… Look at everyone, they always talk about your beauty; and the fact you're the last vampire… So naturally a rarity like you will be popular. They're treating you like an idol."
Suddenly I felt my soul charge into my body.
Yukina! Don't- don't listen to what he's saying…
Sh- Shen what the hell-
Mathew, just look away.
I jolted at his voice. Just how did he make a connection?! And why is he flirting with Shen of all-
Look away.
Frederic! I told you not to talk to Yukina- Mathew!
A sudden piercing headache ran through my skull when the connection was forcibly disconnected.
I felt my knees hit the roof and I held my head as my vision was blurred.
"U-Uzuki heal her!"
Seriously, what the hell is going on?
The aching in my head eased as I looked at them. My dad was waving towards everyone as Shen looked to be calm.
"Fred, honey, right in front of everyone?" Noa called out to him— What? "You know Shen is bad when you flirt with her in public."
A scene my mind couldn't comprehend unfolded in front of me.
Noa… Strolled towards him with her arms crossed. It was slow, but… her tail was wagging.
"Honey!" My dad met her in the middle and wrapped his arms around her. "How was your trip here."
"Mm… Disappointing but I saw Fei's daughter." She had him lower one of his arms and snuggled close to his chest… "I bet you're tired from running here."
My dad only chuckled, I felt his gaze lock onto me.
I'm unsure if Shen had told you, this is your mom.
"Honey, why are you looking at that kid over there?"
"Hm? You don't know either?" My dad remarked in an odd way, then he shook his head.
"I don't know what…?" Noa eyed him from what I could see.
"Well-"
"...Fred, we talked about this." Shen interrupted my dad in a low voice.
"We'll talk about it later… Okay, Fred?"
"Mhm… We should get into the banquet hall, huh? Lorraine and Stark, we'll meet you there!"
Thus… silence followed as the crowd watched them all go towards the center of the kingdom.
I stopped watching when Shen suddenly switched outfits. It felt like I was on air mentally, that was… something shocking.
Noa, Noa was my mom? Didn't Shen say she was a normal person?! Not a foxkin with some damn halo and black claw-like fingers?! Is this her idea of normal?!
Shen! Why do you have to lie all the time?! You said she was normal!
… I don't lie for no reason.
Still! How the hell did my mom become like that! Affection in public and dressed like that!
This world changes people… Even you, I can see change already.
… Why did my dad flirt with you.
I'd rather not talk about it! And that wasn't flirting! W-We were arguing! Yes! Arguing!
I rolled my eye and covered my face before looking at the ground. He was flirting with her, in front of my mom too… don't tell me you and him are a thing too. Be honest.
… We aren't, we haven't for a long t- We have never been a thing! Why are you still connected!
"I'm going to throw up…" I held the lump in my throat down. "This is way too-"
"Um, you should-"
"I wasn't being serious- This is all way too much already- I'm leaving-"