Chapter 32 — A Large Family

(A/N: I didn't show it well before but Mia has a personality similar to Kitagawa Marin from Sono bisque doll wa koi wo suru)

"Hello... Leo..."

Mia stood in front of them.

She looked the same as the last time they had both seen her.

As if time had not passed for her.

Beauty and youth overflowed from her virtual figure, her bright green eyes revealed both her happiness and nervousness.

"I... sorry... sorry for leaving you behind..."

The pitiful look and her faint, remorseful voice made Leo's heart clench.

'Don't apologize to me...' he wanted to say but no words came out from his lips, as if someone had taken all the oxygen from his lungs preventing him from uttering anything at all.

There were so many things he wanted to say to her, completely forgetting that she was merely a projection, but he could only make his lips quiver in a daze.

There was no other person Leo felt as sorry for as he did for her.

At that time, he was such a fool, too young and inexperienced.

He always thought he was doing everything right but he was nothing more than a boy who left things half-finished.

He didn't even dare to make excuses out of the chains holding him back.

He had a perfect girl by his side who loved him and willing to give her all for him but he just let her go.

It was an accident and there was nothing he could do at that moment, but he couldn't help blaming himself for her awful death.

And the guilt and regret only got worse as time went on.

No matter how badly he tried to move on with his life, he couldn't stop thinking about the days when he was happy just listening the silly stories of the girl he loved.

She made him immensely happy.

He knew it and that's why he felt like the most useless man in the world.

She left without hearing the words she wanted so dearly and he couldn't forgive himself for that until now.

There are things that must be said with words no matter how obvious or unnecessary they may seem....

But he didn't understand it at that time.

He always, foolishly, assumed that she knew he loved her, that she understood that everything he did was for her and their future together.

He could never tell her.

Why?

Why didn't I tell her I loved her?

Why was I such a fool?

These were questions that tortured him for a long time.

Unconsciously, seeing her in front of him, the first thing he wanted to do was to confess and tell her "I love you", without considering that it was only a video.

"I—"

"Leo!"

However, before he could complete the sentence, he had been trying so hard to utter out of his daze, he heard Shizuka's loud shout.

Turning his gaze, he could see her shake her head, indicating to him to stop what he was planning to do and just listen.

Nanahoshi had also been surprised by Mia's sudden appearance here, but unlike him, she was able to accept it quickly since according to the story Ereshkigal told, it made sense for Mia to be her protective companion.

She also understood why Leo was so shocked.

They were both connected in some way after all and she could feel his anxiety, and even though she didn't know what he wanted to say, it was better to stop him as it was better for him to hear everything Mia had to say.

Mia had been silent for a few seconds, head slightly lowered but then continued.

"I... I died on that beach, didn't I?"

"My body was like super horrible, right?"

"Like an uncensored gore scene..."

Slowly she was talking like Leo remembered, just saying whatever popped into her head.

Then she raised her head and somehow looked him straight in the eyes.

"You too."

"If you're watching this it means you died too."

Mia looked as if she had just thought of that without considering it before shooting the video, as was to be expected of her.

Somehow Leo began to lose his stiffness and managed to calm his racing heart.

"You must have started a family, didn't you!!?"

"You are really super handsome after all..."

"And you have an amazing cock too..."

Leo started smiling wryly listening to the silly murmurs he missed so much.

"And you sure cheated!"

"Even though you didn't want to form a harem, I know!"

"You were bound to form a harem after all, I told you so didn't I!?"

Mia seemed proud to imagine him cheating, chin slightly raised and hands on hips.

"Pfff!"

Nanahoshi, on the side, tried to contain her laugh at this moment of reunion between two tragic lovers, but it was very difficult for her to listen to such nonsense.

And Leo, on the other side, just shook his head helplessly and full of memories from the past.

Mia had not changed at all.

She was the same cheerful, outgoing girl who had been by his side since those years at the orphanage.

"I... I'd be happy if you were able to start a family..."

"Sorry for breaking our promise."

"I couldn't stay by your side... but my feelings... won't change even in this new life."

Mia had dropped her cheerful tone and spoke decisively and firmly, though Nanahoshi and Leo could see that she also uttered those words rather sadly.

Leo felt guilty again.

He knew there was nothing wrong with falling in love again, much less should he feel guilty after embracing all those women.

It was too late for that now, but....

Why did he feel he had betrayed Mia now?

Was it unfair for him alone to fulfill his dream?

Even though he never stopped thinking about her, why did he feel like more of a scumbag than ever before?

While Leo was still lost in his thoughts of self-blame, Mia had closed her eyes and taken a big breath, clearly realizing that she might cry at any moment if she kept up at that pace.

"I love you, Leo"

Mia smiled radiantly with a hint of confidence and shyness.

"I want to start a family with you, no... let me join your family."

Leo felt those words were like daggers stabbing through his very core. There was no way he could bear to see Mia make such a request when it was he who wished to have her back by his side and right everything he had done wrong in the past.

His expression became serious and began to ponder on a way to find her as soon as possible.

However, he couldn't stay like that for long when Mia continued speaking.

"You'll probably come looking for me after watching this video hehe..."

"But don't worry about me now!"

"Apparently, I'll go to a random world~ but, isn't it great!?"

"I'll get to meet various anime characters!!"

"Aah~ I'd like to meet Nezuko-chan~, Filo-chan is cute too~"

"Ah!"

Mia seemed to remember something very important and looked towards Leo with eyes burning in spirit and resolution.

Leo was getting the same feeling as when he was 16 and wanted to smile at the nonsense she kept saying, but seeing Mia's serious look, he quickly calmed down, put on his most serious expression according to the situation and prepared himself to listen to the possible last words of the video and their last seconds together.

"You have to come and get me with a harem full of pretty girls, get it!?"

"..." Leo.

"I won't be able to change from the world I'm going to but you will!"

"Even this super hot and busty goddess here should be an easy one, I want her!"

"And..."

"Then..."

Leo blinked a few times unsure on what to say.

He was ready to hear Mia's farewell and last words only to end up listening a list of all the girls he was supposed to get.

Mia spoke with the same enthusiasm she used to have on Earth that he just stood admiring her a bit stunned.

"You'll have a new mother too, won't you!?"

"Don't hold back! Incest is wincest!"

Her smile at this moment was that of a confident person who had said something that could not be refuted.

"Ahhh~ no way~"

Mia suddenly showed a pitiful face.

"Leo... I ran out of time"

The hologram began to flicker. Her voice sounded faint and somewhat guilty, clearly she had gotten a bit carried away.

"Well... have fun okay?"

The last thing Nanahoshi and Leo saw was an apologetic smile from Mia before the hologram flickered off.

The room fell silent.

Nanahoshi didn't know what to say for a moment and before she could speak to break the silence she heard Leo's loud laugh.

"Ahahahahaha!"

Leo brought a hand to his face and started laughing like he had never laughed before, from the bottom of his heart.

"Hahahahaha..."

Nanahoshi was quite surprised but also smiled and said nothing.

To other people Mia might be a rather peculiar person, difficult to deal with maybe, outgoing, carefree and clumsy, but to him?

Mia was perfect.

Her cheerful and messy personality had filled his dull life with color. Without her, he probably would have only read books all his life, locked in a library.

As he laughed without holding back, he felt his body begin to itch with excitement, affecting even his Soul Avatar.

Removing his hand from his face, he smiled brightly for Nanahoshi and left his Knowledge Sea.

—

—

—

Leo opened his eyes and looked at his older sister still breathing heavily in his arms. He got her warmth and hugged her tighter, pulling her closer to him and thought, "Fine, I'll give you a large family"