Senzo was restlessly pacing back and forth in front of the hospital room's door, unsure what his next move should be.
Should I tell them everything... Will they even believe me? And then there's the problem of Momiji and Sophie not being included...
His mind was doing all kinds of calculations trying to find a solution that could satisfy him and that he thought would also be good for the others.
But it was never that easy. "Fuck!" he exclaimed, but even after the Taiji energy had calmed him down, he kept pacing around like a maniac.
It's best to just come clean and hope that I'll be able to bring Sophie and Momiji over soon...
Even though he knew that was the best option he could currently come up with, it still stung. "Well, there is another option, and that's just staying here until maybe the rewards change, but... I don't think he would appreciate that."
Senzo glared at the ceiling, imagining "Him" being there smirking at his suffering. "Bastard!"
"Well, here goes nothing, I guess..."
Just like that he had made up his mind and quickly entered the room once more, closing the door behind him to make sure no one could hear what he was about to say.
With a single snap of his finger, he froze all the vectors around the room, making sure not a single sound could leak out.
"Excuse me, I have something very important to say."
Magi and Yo both raised an eyebrow upon hearing what Senzo had just said.
While Momiji carefully inspected him. why did you do that? Is it that important that no one else can hear it?
Momiji was a little skeptical, but they had just been through a rather dire situation, so it did make sense for Senzo to be this careful.
Sophie, on the other hand, just stared at him with a fierce gaze, patiently waiting for what he was about to say.
Feeling all their eyes locked on him, Senzo couldn't help but clear his throat, "Ahem."
"Please let me finish speaking first. I know what I will be telling you all will sound like nonsense, but I promise it is nothing but the truth."
After he made that disclaimer, he took a seat and finally started his long overdue explanation.
"I am not from this world."
"!?!?"
All four of their eyes shot wide open as they all stared at Senzo.
"I know, but please let me finish first. I am a world traveler, and my time in this world has come to an end, so I will need to return to my home planet soon... But because I get rewards every time I return from another world, some of you can come with me while others... cannot."
Toward the end of his sentence, Senzo started whispering so softly that Sophie and the others could hardly catch what he had said, but one thing was clear: Senzo was not happy with the results.
"I'm sorry..."
When he said those two words, his eyes stayed locked on Momiji and Sophie, and both of them felt a sense of dread settle in their hearts.
"You don't mean—" But Sophie couldn't even finish her sentence before tears started streaming down her face.
"..."
Silence; Senzo had no words to comfort her because he himself was just as distraught.
Momiji, on the other hand, seemed to take the news much better because she just stood there with a blank stare, staring straight at Senzo.
"Erm, this might be a bad time, but what the hell do you mean you're not from this world? Did you not have a perfect background, and you're even an esper?"
Yo couldn't understand anything that was currently going on; Senzo wasn't from this world, so how did he have such a perfect background?
It didn't make any sense.
"I know how you feel, Yo, but that's basically a perk? Like whenever I enter a new world, I gain a perfect background and abilities. After all, on my home planet there is no such thing as espers or any special abilities for that matter." Senzo explained, still trying to compose himself.
And even though the Taiji energy calmed him down significantly, the tears just kept on flowing, like a waterfall.
"..."
Magi was lost for words; all the info Senzo had just dropped on him was too insane for words.
He's not from here? But why did he help us so much then? Out of his own volition or because of something else?
His mind was an absolute mess currently, and he could hardly make any sense of the situation.
"Excuse me, Senzo, but if you leave, what happens to the Major then?"
"..."
When the others heard Magi's question, they all turned their attention to Senzo; he had promised to try and heal him.
Did this mean he would be going back on his promise?
"No, well, it's complicated. One of the rewards is Hyoubu being reverted to his child self and coming with me to Earth."
"What!? Are you serious?" Magi asked, bewildered.
Senzo just nodded his head. "The same goes for Yugiri; she's also a reward. Even though I'm a little disgusted by giving living people as a reward, I'll take anything I can get at the moment."
"And us? What happens to us if you and those two just straight up leave like that?" Magi demanded.
"Well... You and Yo are also included... The only ones who aren't included are Momiji and Sophie..."
"!?!?"
Magi was planning to continue on and ask as many questions as he could, but that last sentence he had uttered made him shut his mouth.
Yo was the same; he couldn't believe it. Those two are the only ones excluded?
The rowdy hospital room was now so silent you could hear Sophie almost hyperventilate at the thought of being left behind here.
"Why!?" she screeched, as tears kept streaming down her face.
"I don't know... I don't decide the rewards..."
Momiji, on the other hand, had kept it together pretty well, but even she was rather shaken after that shocking revelation.
"What do you plan on doing?" she asked, bracing herself for the inevitable answer.
"I'm not sure yet. While I do want to go back and see my family once more. I also don't want to leave you two behind..."
"Really?" Momiji barely managed to say.
"Yes, but I don't know how possible that is because while I am a world traveler, it's not because of my own powers that I came here. And the person who sent me here is a bastard... I bet he's loving this..."
"Just return to your world, Senzo," Sophie said suddenly.
"Wha!?"
But before Senzo could retort, Sophie cut him off.
"We'll be fine; I know you must miss your family dearly. I can't bear to be the person that stands in your way. Please just promise me you won't forget me and will visit whenever you are able to..."
"..."
Senzo couldn't believe what he was hearing; he could clearly see Sophie shaking and tears streaming down her face, but still she said something so incredibly brave and painful at a moment like this.