Hours in, Kenkō tended to Haruto at the clinic section. She injected his second morphine. He wanted to hear none of the facts that his legs regained sensation.

Tokino held his hand again. If anything, she had to and believed a warm move would ease the suffering.

“Thank you… but,” Haruto grunted, “Pain. It’s all I feel right now.” Not even healing runes could do much. At the least, his columns got corrected. Hokori stepped in with an idea, but he turned it down with a wave.

“I’m sorry, Bro,” he said faintly. “I don’t trust you today. Wait ‘til tomorrow.”

Unfortunately, Hokori would not even walk the other way. “Trust, boy?” He crossed his arms and tsked. “You don’t get to talk ‘bout that if ya think I don’t care. And I despise morality tests.”

He shook his head. “N-No. I don’t mean it that way. I just—”

He sighed and cast blood runes on his right. “I told you, boy. I care. If ya wanna end your agony, trust me on this first.”

Haruto’s eyes lit up upon seeing the black book he had summoned. Even Tokino shook to her core just by its title. On the other hand, Kenkō raised an eyebrow. She only ever knew the Pretty Cure series when it came to Japan.

Hokori licked his fingertips and opened the notebook. “This is Dominus’ last legacy. Human garbage, but I figured it’ll be perfect for my case.” He pulled out a pen.

Tokino wasted no time intercepting. Sweating bullets, she flash-stepped before him. Alas, his hands blurred around high, low, and side-to-side. Anyone else would have thought he never moved.

Kakunō accompanied Yukino to the commotion. He had a clue what Hokori held but failed to see. “Isn’t that…” he squinted.

Tokino panted and sweated more, continuing to snatch the book. Surprisingly, rage did not fill her soul. Instead, it was a heart-rending panic. “Please, brother. Don’t do this! I can’t allow it!” Tears welled up.

She had now found an opening above. Her heart raced in victory, lest her husband would meet his demise. However, as her hand neared, Hokori closed the book. The resulting shockwave made her fall backward. Everyone else shielded their eyes as it had reverberated.

Hokori sighed again and turned to Haruto, who almost fell off his bed. “Listen up, y’all! Time for our first family talk.” As they gathered around in confusion, he pointed at him. “Hear closely, boy. It’ll be a long one. If I told ya that my healing can revive the dead, would you believe it?”

Haruto uttered a sound but got shushed. Hokori cleared his throat. “Of course, you won’t. Brotherhood isn’t about expecting the other to follow blindly. Believe me when I say Lil Bro, back on Earth, was all kinds of stupid.

“So, I propose a change for all of us. If blood is thicker than water, then trust is stronger than fire. We get hurt 24/7, but who’s to say we’d never be there for each other?

“If I got tired of the word ‘fam,’ I would’ve sent you and your own packing when I curb-stomped your ass. But you gained three more. Can ya believe that?

“Think, boy. Would I really say somethin’ crazy if I can’t prove it?” He presented the book with his left. “I’m human, not a salesman. Bros disagreeing is fine, but never excuse conflict.

He moved his hand for a fist bump. “We’re the ultimate fam—cuz fire becomes a whiny bitch when our trust grows. So, trust me now. I always did for all y’all from day one.”

Yukino held back tears as her siblings felt warmth in their hearts. Haruto gazed upon his brother’s smile for a moment. It had been the second time he recalled his late one, but he could never help it. Sadly, he ate his words for seconds—until he felt warm support from his hand.

Tokino held tighter and smiled as well. “Do it. If our eldest brother fails, I’ll have to break my promise to Yukino. But I won’t regret it.”

“It’s okay, Mama,” she stepped in. “I’ll cry a lot if Uncle’s gone. But I know he’d deserve it.” She returned to her siblings and hugged them tightly with closed eyes. “I refuse to see it, though….” As she sniffled, they moved her away from the clinic.

With all that, Haruto cleared his reminiscing and nodded at his brother. His eyes showed nothing but sheer confidence.

Hokori chuckled and opened the book. He went for the last page that did not have his name written. “No worries, boy. It’s painless.” The pen pressed on the paper.

Tokino foresaw her husband’s fate but stopped herself for better judgment. Still, she sweated bullets until the last character got stroked. Before Haruto knew it, his pulse ended. He gasped for air but to no avail. However, it felt like he needed sleep in the end. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

Hokori cracked his knuckles. “Aight, time for a miracle.” He flash-stepped near him and dug his fingers deep into his chest. Numerous blood vessels covered Haruto in seconds.

Beforehand, he felt like swimming in an endless void. Then, from behind, he heard a sound. “Go back… They need you….” It was all too familiar to him. He reached out his arms in the abyss—only to see the light.

Five seconds later, Haruto let out a loud gasp. His wife smiled with endless waterworks. As he felt no more pain in his lower half, he got up and smiled back. “Tokino… I’m—” His lips could not prepare. Ending his red cheeks, he turned to Hokori. “I don’t know what to say at all, Bro. It’s too insane. But how?”

He smiled again and held his shoulder. “I got questions, too, boy. I mean, you tellin’ me Rubio never revived ya? It ain’t like I’d do it out of the blue.” He went for a door hatch. “Let’s talk more outside. The horizon’s neat.”

Haruto leaned on a railing and looked at a flock of Y-crested grebes migrating. Hokori sat on it instead.

The latter sighed with closed eyes. “So, that’s why you’re so reckless, huh? That your healing’s more than just restoring limbs? Is your ‘Zeus Core’ the culprit?”

He looked up as well and chuckled. “That’s right. Unlike others, it remains even as I turn into quantum dust.” He looked at his raised arm. “Not even atomizers can break my strongest defense. Yet, it’s all a sick joke.”

Haruto raised an eyebrow. “Why so? Didn’t you just bring me from the dead? Rubio hated himself a lot, so he never showed his ‘miracles.’”

Hokori shook his head and tsked again. “If it do be like that, boy… we’d have a big fam every karaoke night.” He got off sitting and leaned on his back. He paused for a long minute, which had itched his brother’s curiosity.

He looked up once more and noticed murder condors preying on grebes. “Leuchten’s ship sailed for good. I tried overnight, and all I got were crusty eyes ‘til morning. I rolled on the floor for ‘nother reason.

“I may age now… but I feel like I’ve lived a million years. Every time I kick the bucket….”

Haruto’s heart raced a little, and he felt a burden long forgotten. Unexpectedly, he smiled faintly. “Don’t be like that, Bro. I lost many, too. But for now, I don’t want the air to suffocate me. It’s not healthy.”

Even more unexpectedly, he let out a hearty laugh. “Catchin’ on, are we, boy?” He stretched and yawned. “You’re right, tho. Let’s play some Pokémon.” The hatch closed behind him. Haruto followed suit with a smile.

Afternoon shone around the airship. Inside, Haruto had caught on more than his brother anticipated. The latter could do nothing against his Dynamaxed Dragonite after Ninjask used Baton Pass; he sweated more as Extreme Speed got spammed.

“Woooooooooooh!” He raised his arms high and lent a fist bump. “Good game, Bro. How’d I do?”

Hokori complied and grinned. “More than Feuer, that’s for sure. Pretty boy kept using Fire types. Hot, but he still ain’t my type.”

They shared laughs for minutes—until Yukino hugged her father tightly. Tears had no end, even when he returned from the afterlife not long ago.

Haruto rubbed her back. “It’s okay. Fear’s not a bad thing.”

She dried her eyes and sniffled. “It’s not that, Papa. I knew you’d come back.” She pointed at her mother from afar, who looked at The Every Hub with her siblings. “Our family’s grown, Papa!” she smiled wide. “Lil Bro is coming home!”

Speechless, he walked back and leaned on the battle board from behind. Too many thoughts had fired within. “A son… I now have a son….”

Hokori caressed his chin as skepticism grew. Luckily, Kenkō stepped in. “Wasn’t he gon’ wake up after three days?” he raised a brow.

Unlike him, she did not doubt the matter and demanded the three go to the library. They agreed instantly and saw Tokino in tears, but not of sorrow. She sat panting as Kenkō rubbed her back.

Fortunately, she had nothing but smiles upon seeing her husband. “Come on, honey.” She showed him her holographic screen. “Name our little boy. I have one in mind already.” Her excitement peaked.

Haruto looked at the Imhotep Inn’s register site. The hospital offered a premature release as soon as they arrived home. He stood for forty-five seconds—endless options internally. Then, it clicked.

“Alright, I got it!” He moved his finger. “It’ll be—”

Everyone else stood in utter shock before he could react. Hokori had typed on the screen within a millisecond. All hope was lost when he tapped “Enter.”

Tokino gasped with her mouth covered alongside her daughter. Kakunō’s jaw dropped, and veins popped within Kenkō. “Seriously!!” She grabbed his unbuttoned shirt. “Up yours, man. Up yours.” She showed the affiliated gesture.

“Why?” he shrugged. “What’s wrong with it, dude? I named him after my favorite JoJo side character.”

More veins popped as she grunted. “You two-timing asshole! Was your pep talk all an excuse for your shitty—” Suddenly, Haruto held her shoulder from behind.

He scratched the back of his head. He laughed softly as his closed eyes beamed with embarrassment. “I-It’s okay, Sis. I acutally picked the name Hayato in my mind.” He even went on to say Hokori got the kanji correct.

Eyes wide, Kenkō had never become so dumbfounded in her life. She slowly turned to the screen, seeing “源川 早人” emboldened in white text.

Hours later, Haruto suggested an actual non-tear jerker for him and his wife to read. After reading Ernest Cline’s “Ready Player One,” Tokino giggled at a coincidence. She never disclosed it, but he found out quickly.

“Oh, come on…” he gently stroked her crown as she lay close. “I am me and me alone. I’m not a walking pop culture reference.”

She giggled. “Well, that’s another coincidence.” She neared his ear. “I would’ve named our little boy….”

Haruto’s cheeks reddened the minute she had said it. She got off in response and giggled again. “Y-You don’t mean that, do you?” he sweated.

She smiled with droopy eyes and leaned forward, hands tied behind. “Who knows… After all, you’re my K*r*to every day.”

As he turned redder, she went for the move. She patted herself internally—all according to plan.