The Author's POV

"Ren, are you listening to me?"

As I absentmindedly lifted and lowered the spoon in my hand, I heard a familiar voice tickle my ears.

"Ren!"

The voice grew louder with every passing second, and before I knew it, it was right next to my ear, startling me out of my daze.

"Ren Dover!"

"Huaa!"

I screamed as my hand reached out for the corner of the desk to stop myself from falling.

Unfortunately, my efforts proved futile as I inevitably still fell to the ground.

Bang—!

"Ugh."

With my butt feeling the cold hard ground, I slowly raised my head to see my mother's face looking down at me. She had a rather worried look on her face.

"Are you okay Ren? Did something happen?"

"No."

Pressing my hand against the ground and picking up the chair, I sat back down. Then, picking up the spoon, I took a mouthful of cereal and ate it.

"Ren?"

"Mh, I'm just..mhm, I've got a lot to think about..mh."

"Don't speak while you're chewing."

With a small rag in hand, my mother sat down next to me.

Supporting her chin with both hands, she leaned her body a bit.

"Be honest with me. I can tell that something happened. You can tell your mother, I'm all ears."

Lowering the spoon in my hand, I turned to face my mother.

My brows soon furrowed and I sighed.

'Fuck it.'

"...I'm going to leave again."

Immediately following those words, I closed my eyes expecting my mother to go bonkers.

But...

"Hm?"

To my surprise, I did not hear my mother lose it even after half a minute had passed.

Upon opening my eyes, I was surprised to see my mother smiling at me. The sight caused my brows to jump up.

"Mom?"

"See, it wasn't so hard to tell me was it?"

"...What?"

Opening and closing my mouth, my head tilted.

I was legitimately very confused at the moment.

"...Are you not angry at me for leaving again?"

"Angry?"

Cocking her head a little, her neat blonde hair gently fell over her shoulder. Plucking her lips a little, she asked.

"Why should I be angry?"

"...Ehm."

Raising my hand to scratch the back of my head, I didn't know how to respond.

'What's going on?'

This wasn't the reaction that I had expected from her. Was there something wrong with my mother?

Was she sick?

Worry instantly flashed across my face.

"Don't look at me like that."

on her face, my mother slowly stood

toward the

neither one of us spoke as I waited for her to start speaking. In no

do you know why I was angry last

didn't

"Right."

of her body, I met my mother's eyes. They looked an

you do with your life is up to you. I can no longer control you like when you were a kid as your safety was my responsibility. It still is, but considering our circumstances,

her face as she leaned

I'm never going to stop you from doing whatever

for a moment, my mother let

trips. Just so that I don't have to

"...Okay."

at the bowl of cereal in front of me,

"I'll do that."

from the faucet in the kitchen, the sound of the water echoed throughout the room. While putting one of the

"When are you leaving?"

hand suddenly paused. Bitterly smiling, I

"Most likely today."

any further and therefore had to go

a matter of fact, I

that the trip was going to be successful. I had already contacted Smallsnake about the little stuff, and so that

problem was

'Jin.'

on full steam. But in order for that

"Haa..."

escaped from

going to be a busy

a new one, she placed the old

long are you going to

"I'm not too sure."

"I s—"

Clank—!

the kitchen door opened and a familiar figure appeared. While rubbing her eyes with her little

slowly walked toward the kitchen table, and helped herself up. It was

my seat

"Sleepy?"

"Mhhh."

my hand, I gently stroked Nola's head. In spite of this, she did not

'How cute.'

blink of an eye, a large teddy bear appeared in

"Hey, Nola."

"Mhh..."

"Look, look."

the bear touched

"Waah!"

let out a startled

as soon as I noticed her reaction as I

about it Nola? Do you

"Brother!"

Extending both hands, she jumped toward the bear and hugged

amusing aspect of the situation was that the bear was almost twice Nola's size,

"Mhh..mhhh..mhh..mhh.."

Nola hugged the bear tightly. The

"Nola?"

called out as

she stop

around the

"Hey, Nola."

became startled as I placed my hand on her

"Nola."

response. Panic started to set in from there as I shook her

"Hey Nola, Nola, Nol—"

"Booo!"

"Whoa!"

and almost tripped on the ground. Raising my head, I was met with the sight of Nola extending her tongue in my

"Hehehe."

realizing that I had been fooled, I glared

you can get away with what you've just

Mother! Haha, hehehe,

I ticked Nola's sides.

world, Nola was ticklish. In fact, she was especially ticklish. Just tickling her legs would send her crying

"Hahaha, brother! Stop!...hhahaha..."

of mercy, I stopped after ten seconds. I wasn't cruel enough

have learned your

I will...never do it

top of the bear on

she had learned her lesson as she was

I stared at Nola.

"Stinky brother."

second thought, let's go for another

"Kyaa! Noooo...ahahhahah!"