Chapter 68- Resolute

The first thing Haru saw upon parting his leads was a pair of crimson eyes staring down at him worriedly.

It took his time but his senses returned to him as he finally spoke in a slightly groggy tone, "Mom?"

"Yes, it's me, baby. How are you now?" Hearing her voice, and assessing the surroundings Haru realized his current situation.

For some reason, his mother was in Korea and is currently in Sung's residence where Haru fell asleep out of nowhere. Finding the situation odd, he straightened his back and sat up.

"Easy there...you seemed really tired previously," Jin-Woo warned as he stood at the threshold of his room with his left shoulder resting against the door frame and a cup being held in his hand.

He has changed his clothes which means Haru has slept for quite some time. It was then that he suddenly remembered something and asked right away, "What about Jinah? Is she alright?"

Yumiko(Haru's mom) raised her brows witnessing her son so anxious about the said girl. She didn't understand what he said but that name was familiar.

Kyung-Hye chuckled at that before responding in assurance, "She's fine and still sleeping. It has been only two hours since you all returned after all."

Haru nodded at that, slightly surprised that he slept just for less than two hours yet his meeting with the Goddess went on so long. Well, the time difference between Goddess Sanctuary and Earth has always been messed up.

Haru took a long sigh before he rested his back on the couch and turned his head toward his mother, "When did you arrive?"

"Just now. Anyway, how are you Haru? Are you injured anywhere or feeling uncomfortable?"

Haru shook his head in denial with a smile adorning his lips. He allowed her to hold his hand in assurance before Haru turned to look at Jin-Woo.

Now that he noticed, the man of the house wasn't present at the moment for some reason.

"We would be going back-" Just as he was about to take his leave, the lady of the house interrupted.

"Nu-uh. You both have to stay for dinner." Saying such the woman walked toward the kitchen, leaving no room for discussion whatsoever.

Haru sighed at that before he saw his Sunbae approaching, "You don't want to miss out on her kimchi stew. She cooks really well."

Left alone, Yumiko once again asked, this time in a quieter tone even though apart from Haru, no one would understand her.

"Hey, Haru...is your girlfriend as pretty as her mother?"

Haru chuckled hearing her concern which came out in such an adorable manner before he responded in a warm tone, "Yeah...she is the prettiest."

To Haru, Jinah stood unrivaled in allure and beauty, and he expressed this sentiment without reservation. However, he wasn't prepared for the following question which arrived with a pout from the lady.

"Even prettier than me?"

Haru responded with a shake of his head, eliciting a radiant smile from Yumiko. However, her joy was short-lived, as her son's subsequent words dampened her spirits.

"I can't answer that. Now let's go and join them~"

****

The dinner went...oddly fine unlike what Haru anticipated. Yumiko's English was fluent and Jin-Woo's mother also understood the language pretty well. She was slow to respond and took her time but the conversation went fine between the two women.

At some time, Sung Il-Hwan also returned with a shopping bag in his hand. He also joined the table and the conversation. The dinner went harmoniously to the point that even after dinner, the elder ones were chatting.

Haru excused himself before he sneaked his way toward Jinah's room to check on her.

Standing at the threshold, Haru couldn't help but sigh in relief.

Despite Jin-Woo's assurance that Jinah was fine, Haru was feeling uneasy until now. However, once his gaze landed on the relaxed face of his lover, Haru's shoulders slumped and his hastened heartbeats decelerated.

Sometimes it even surprised Haru how his thought process and composure could be influenced by this single person. Until she is safe, Haru can go against the world with his hands tucked in his pockets...yet...if something like what happened some hours ago occurs again...

"Haru."

"Yup." Haru turned to face Jin-Woo who was looking at him in surprise and mildly concerned.

"Jinah is fine now and she always will be."

His voice carried a clear note of resolve, leaving no space for uncertainties. His eyes conveyed a deeper message than his spoken words. Jin-Woo has made the mistake of taking his family's safety for granted once, but there will be no next time.

However, Haru had different plans, "How about we let them protect themselves Sunbae?"

Jin-Woo frowned at that before asking, "What do you mean?"

Haru motioned for his senior to join him on the terrace, and the latter complied, his thoughts still consumed by Haru's recent words.

The crisp autumn breeze swept past them as they stood near the rooftop's edge, enveloped in a brief, contemplative silence.

"Sunbae...I know you might not like it but after experiencing this for the first time, I have decided that I would help Jinah awaken her own skills."

Jin-Woo's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Haru's astonishing claim. While he was familiar with phenomena like double awakenings or late awakenings, the concept of a "forced awakening" was entirely foreign to him. He had neither witnessed nor heard of it before.

"Leave that 'how' part to me, Sunbae. I just want to know your opinion on this."

Jin-Woo noted that Haru was asking for his opinion not permission which confirmed how Haru was now fixated on his decision. In all honesty, if Jinah could acquire a defensive skill that ensured her safety until assistance arrived, it seemed a worthwhile endeavor.

However, "Is it safe, Haru? I mean you know what adverse effect mana inflicts on non-awakened, right? If you are concerned about her safety then there are alternatives but..."

"I know Sunbae and trust me I myself wouldn't leave Jinah unguarded ever. However, the future always remains uncertain. Those whom we are trusting may turn their back on us or try to harm the people we care for."

Jin-Woo had no counter to that argument. Regardless of their current strength, the unpredictable future held forces that could always imperil their loved ones.

"*Sigh*...okay go ahead, but you need to take Jinah's consent as well. " Haru promptly nodded with a small smile lifting the edges of his lips.

Jin-Woo assumed that the conversation was over so he was about to invite him back to the house. But Haru had another important matter to discuss.

"Sunbae...we have to prepare...." The tone Haru used to voice his words made Jin-Woo slightly uneasy before he asked, "Prepare for what?"

Haru's brows scrunched before he answered in a serious tone,

"For a war."

****

A/N:- I will spend some time for Slice of Life chapters before the action scene.