Chapter 18: A New Family

Caught off guard by Elysia's sudden embrace, Kai found himself looking down at the small figure clinging to him. Her blonde hair, soft and light, brushed against his chin. The warmth radiating from her was a stark contrast to the cold, hard surface of his wheelchair. He reached out, his hand hovering for a moment before he gently patted her head. He slowly brought out his notebook, and started writing, "Nice to meet you, Elysia," showing it to her.

Elysia looked up at him, her hazel eyes wide and innocent. "Why is brother writing? Doesn't brother want to talk with me?" she asked, small tears forming in her eyes. Sakura stepped forward, her voice gentle as she explained, "Your brother can't talk, Eli. That's why he uses his notebook to communicate with us."

Elysia's expression shifted from confusion to understanding, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "I don't care if brother can't talk or not! I've always wanted a big brother," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. Kai felt a tug at his heartstrings, offering her a small, comforting smile in return.

Hiro cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Alright, let's get you settled in, Kai," he said, his tone light but his eyes serious. Sakura nodded in agreement, her hand reaching out to gently disentangle Elysia from Kai.

As Sakura led Elysia out of the room, Hiro turned to Kai. "I know this is a lot to take in," he began, his voice low. "But remember, you're not alone in this. We're here for you, every step of the way." Kai couldn't help but smile at Hiro's words.

After the event, they spent the rest of the day helping Kai adjust to his new surroundings, showing him around the mansion and introducing him to the workers in it.

As night fell, Kai found himself alone in his room, the soft glow of the moonlight streaming in through the window. He lay on the bed, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and questions. The silence of the night seemed to amplify his doubts, making them echo loudly in his mind. His mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of his past, searching for answers that seemed just out of reach.

He turned his gaze from the window to the ceiling, the shadows dancing across it as the moon moved across the sky. He felt a strange sense of disconnect, "Why do I feel, as if I am somehow connected to all this? Not in this life, but my previous life as well." He sighed, his breath stirring the still air, "The same name, the same face. It can't just be a coincidence." His brow furrowed in thought, "But something doesn't add up… It's as if a piece of the puzzle is missing." He was here, in this grand mansion, surrounded by people who claimed to be his family, yet he couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outsider.

As he lay there, lost in his thoughts, he couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. He longed for answers, for clarity, for a sense of belonging. But most of all, he longed for the truth - the truth about his past, his identity, and his purpose.

With a sigh, he closed his eyes, the questions still swirling in his mind. But amidst the chaos of his thoughts, one thing was clear to him, "There are many missing pieces in this puzzle." And with that thought, he drifted off to sleep, the moonlight casting a soft glow on his determined face.