Vol Final! Chapter 10: It’s Early, but Unfolding Accordingly (7)

Dropping off his parents at home, Akito ran through his room and packed whatever he felt was necessary for the trip.

His door creaked open, and his brother walked in. "Are you sure you can do this?" Satoshi asked his young brother as he crossed his arms.

"I have to!" Replied Akito as he kept stuffing things into his backpack.

"You know, you haven't used that bag since the first year of middle school." So recalled Satoshi as he leaned against the door frame.

"Hmm, I know." Said Akito with a soft smile.

"You're doing it wrong!" Screamed Satoshi at his younger brother, pushing him away from the bag, he took over. "Here, let me do this." Satoshi roared with anger.

"Okay!" Shouted Akito as he stood up.

"Go, say your goodbyes to your friends," Satoshi informed his brother as he flipped the bag upside down, emptying it of all the contents.

"I- Okay." Akito nodded his head.

He walked out of the room while texting on his mobile phone.

"Meet me by the park, next to my house." He read back to himself as he clicked the sent button.

***

Akito waited patiently by the path he used to jog every day and take to school at the park.

"Hey, Akito!" Screamed a high-pitched voice while waving towards him.

He waved back until he heard another voice of a guy. "Yo, Akito." Said Kazuto as he approached him from the back.

"Hey, how are you guys?" Akito said while Yui finally caught up.

"Good." The two replied. Kazuto remained expressionless, yet Yui brimmed with light.

"So, what's up?" Kazuto asked as he looked over to Akito.

"Hmm, not much, you know I just wanted to see you guys." He told the pair as he strolled past Yui.

"Sounds fishy," Kazuto remarked as he followed behind him.

"No really-" His sentence was cut off by Yui.

"What is it, Akito?" She asked him with her hands held tightly to her chest while following him.

"Don't worry. It's just that-" Akito said as he placed his hands on his head.

"Just what?" Kazuto asked him.

"I'm going away on an around the world trip with a mage from the past that promises me to restore my powers and memories." He shouted as he stopped walking. "Her name is Merlin, and I do trust her. It's just that the foe we're up against is my brother of the past, and he is godly powerful, as she stated." He said while quickly speaking. Then, throwing his hands down by his hips, he tilted his head down and continued. "Look, I wanted to tell you guys from the beginning, but I just didn't wanna involve in any of this anymore." He said as his eyes teared. "This around the world trip is meant to better me as a fighter and magic-user. She said that this trip will help me grow my mana and improve my stamina, so I truly need this." He said as a tear trickled down his face. "I need to go now, but please, forgive me!" He said as his shoulders shook. "I'm sorry for everything, up until now, but the further I am from you, the safer that you guys all are." He said as he felt a sudden touch on his back.

Yui reached her arm out and handed him her handkerchief. "Here, wipe your tears with this." She said.

"T-thank y-you, Yui." He reached out and grabbed it out of her hand.

Looking up, he found his friend, Yui, crying, and the other looking away with his head titled upwards.

"How long is it going to take?" Kazuto asked him while keeping his composure.

"I uhh-" He tried answering before Kazuto cut him off.

"No idea, huh?" He asked his friend while in the same position.

"No, not really." He informed them.

"When are you leaving?" Yui asked him while maintaining her hand on his back.

"In a couple of minutes." He answered her question as he felt another presence behind them.

"So, you're leaving?" Rias said as her eyes shimmered with tears.

"I'm sorry, I overhead your guy's conversation." She declared to the stunt Akito.

"You-" Kazuto turned to face her about the situation but was cut off by Akito.

"Kazuto, she already knows." He informed his friend while handing Yui back her handkerchief. "Thanks, Yui." He thanked her as he faced the two again.

"I'm sorry about the late announcement, but there is also another piece of information I need to share with you guys." He said to them as he puffed out his now-skinny chest.

"My father and mother are under a hypnotizing or should I call it Memory rewrite spell, so please don't interfere too much." He informed them with a severe expression.

"As for school, maintain your distance from the fake me." He told the three.

"The fake you?" They all reacted back to him.

"Yes, Merlin's subordinate will be handling that side so that we don't cause an uproar with the school officials or federal laws." He explained to them.

"When I'm back, I will tell you so." He said to them with a soft smile. "But for now, later, my precious friends," He said as he enchanted. "Gravity Magic, zero-gravity bubble." Levitating up in the air, he looked down to his friends which shouted words of encouragement with the girl's eyes swelling with tears.

"Be safe, and you better come back much stronger and smarter!" Shouted Kazuto, who finally looked up to his friend with specs of tears in his eyes.

"Kazuto-" He said with a soft expression.

"Be careful with who you trust, and be extra careful with your training, don't overwork yourself like always, Akito!" Screamed Yui with her tears.

"Rin-Kun, I know that we only met, but I have always had a keen eye on you. Please come back safely." Said the strong-willed Rias with a spec of tear.

"Of course!" he shouted as he faced away and flew towards the direction of his house.

***

It seemed as if he instantly reached his house. Looking down, he found Merlin waiting by the door with his brother. Descending slowly, the two took to his presence and watched as he landed by Merlin's side. Holding the bag with his muscular physique, Satoshi looked away. Taking it off his brother's hand, he placed it on and looked at his brother. "Well, I'm heading off, older brother." He sincerely said to his brother while looking at him. Then, while slowly facing his little brother with tears in his eye, Satoshi watched as the two levitated up in the air. "Get stronger, twig!" He screamed at his brother.

"You bet!" Replied Akito with an excited smile as he followed Merlin with incredible speed.