Chapter 156: Reunion and Encounter Once More

A momentary silence stretched across the receiver—brief enough that measuring it in seconds felt far too long, yet to the man bearing the title of the Red King, it felt infinitely more lingering and agonizing than any other moment, causing his heart to constrict violently of its own accord.

“……”

The man unconsciously tightened his grip on the terminal by a fraction, and then, as if suddenly jolting back to reality, carefully and gingerly controlled his strength to ease it once more—

If he were to crush the terminal, then no matter whether that familiar call from the other end of the line had been real or a dream, he would… never be able to hear it a second time, would he?

Mikoto’s lips curved downward ever so slightly.

He remained silent.

It wasn't because he was afraid of shattering some illusory mirage, but rather out of the fear that even the tiniest sound of his own breathing might drown out the sound of the other person’s breath, which could travel across the line at any second…

A low, soft chuckle suddenly came from the other side of the receiver.

“Mmm, it’s me.”

The young man who had been declared dead just a short while ago replied in that gentle tone Mikoto knew better than anyone, his laughter entirely devoid of any trace of gloom:

“I’m right here, King.”

――The moment those words fell, Izumo and the rest of the HOMRA members standing not far from Mikoto looked as though they had seen a ghost, witnessing a once-in-a-century, unimaginably tender smile faintly touch their King’s face…

“Honestly… what on earth are you up to, you guy.”

Though the words were a complaint, the tone was brimming with a heart-numbing sense of reassurance and indulgence. The red-haired man lowered his gaze slightly, and for a fleeting second, a soft and joyous smile flashed rapidly and faintly across his sharp, handsome features—

What is this.

Turns out…

You are still here.

***

Some matters could not be thoroughly explained over the phone. As previously agreed with Kurama, Tatara had given Mikoto and Izumo the name of the hotel where they were staying.

Taking advantage of the gap while the HOMRA members hurried over, the flaxen-haired youth picked up his cup of black tea, which had now grown lukewarm, and took a satisfying sip. The smile on his face was relaxed and pleasant:

“We’ll be imposing on you and Kurama from now on!”

He said with a beaming smile.

“Although, to avoid attracting the attention of Scepter 4, not too many people are coming~ But King plus Izumo-san plus Anna plus Yata… well, it looks like at least four people will be showing up.”

Extending four slender, delicate fingers and gently shaking them, Tatara looked helplessly resigned. “Even though I told them that just King and Izumo-san would be enough, Anna is King’s little shadow—wherever King goes, she always insists on following. And Yata…”

Thinking of what Izumo had said during their previous phone call—that the person who rushed to the roof of the bar with him on the night his “incident” occurred was none other than Yata…

Tatara’s gaze dimmed momentarily for a fraction of a second.

“That must have left him with some pretty terrible memories, hasn’t it?” He gave a wry smile. “Come to think of it, he’s also a child who isn’t very easy to comfort…”

After saying that, he sat quietly in place, lost in thought for a brief moment, before suddenly snapping out of it. He turned his head and offered Kurama an apologetic smile:

“Ah, I’m sorry! I suddenly started rambling on by myself…”

“It’s nothing.” The Youko shook his head, indicating he didn't mind at all. “From Tatara, one can really feel that HOMRA is a very warm place.”

Even though the King of the Clan was the Red King, whose power was the easiest to lose control of and run amok among the seven Kings, the members’ surprisingly harmonious layout—whether it should be called coincidence or the whim of fate—prevented the Red Clan from ever becoming a ticking time bomb capable of harming others and themselves at any moment. Instead, they continued to develop, enduring stably and enduringly in their own unique clan style. If not for that death of Totsuka Tatara in the original timeline that had triggered all the strife…

Kurama blinked, thinking of the lively and heartwarming scenes of the HOMRA group in Tatara’s memories from the anime, and a sudden smile bloomed on his face—

It was truly difficult not to be fond of that kind of atmosphere, wasn't it?

Tatara perceived the appreciation and sincerity in his smile.

“Thank you.”

Being able to have his clan recognized by others was naturally a matter of pride and joy for him.

The youth curved his eyes, his smile growing even more brilliant.

“Although King isn't very good at managing things, and I’m just coasting along with an officer’s title myself! Fortunately, Izumo-san has always been with us. Especially when HOMRA was first established…”

――Having unconsciously opened the floodgates of conversation, Tatara, who had already hit it off remarkably well with Kurama, continued chatting happily and obliviously about various amusing anecdotes surrounding the HOMRA members until Mikoto led Izumo, Anna, and Yata to knock on the hotel room door…

“Tatara!”

“Totsuka-san!”

Upon opening the door, the neglected arrivals were greeted by the sight of the youth they had worried about the entire journey chatting happily and cheerfully with a strange red-haired boy—and they were thoroughly, beyond measure, enraged!

Izumo and Yata each took a quick step forward, flanking Tatara on either side. As Tatara turned his head at the sound, a look of instant relief and joy blooming on his face, they tacitly pinned him down by his shoulders from both left and right…

“What the hell, you still have this much energy?”

Izumo said, reaching out over Tatara’s shirt to gently touch the two well-bandaged bullet wounds on his body.

The youth, feeling a bit tickled, squirmed and struggled slightly, careful not to pull on his injuries.

“Of course! I’m a man who is going to follow King to the ends of the earth!”

He lifted his chin with an intoxicated expression.

Beside him, Yata averted his eyes, unable to bear the sight.

“You’re hurt this badly, Totsuka-san, why won't you just behave!”

He muttered helplessly, and with a coordinated heave alongside Izumo, shoved Tatara back into the soft sofa cushions where he had been sitting earlier.

The youth smiled helplessly at him.

“I’m not as fragile as you think, Yata.”

“Still… I’m sorry for making you worry. I’m alright now.”

Saying this in a soft tone, he reached out and ruffled Yata’s hair amidst the latter’s reluctant glare. Tatara then shifted his gaze in a timely manner, meeting the gaze of the Red King, who had been standing silently by the door all along, watching his interaction with Izumo and Yata without approaching, and similarly… without making a sound:

“King.”

――In an instant, their gazes locked.

Deep within those familiar amber eyes, at a certain moment, Tatara seemed to catch sight of a cluster of blazing red flames.

It twisted and dissipated within Mikoto’s eyes, only to stubbornly regenerate the next moment, bit by bit, stubbornly and willfully expanding and emphasizing its own existence.

It caused those pale, calm, and lazy eyes—which usually hid their true depths—to instantly overflow with a dazzling, scorching blaze, making it impossible for anyone to look away even for a single second…

――Carrying such an intense, heart-stopping, searing temperature…

Tatara suddenly found it somewhat difficult to breathe.

Even though a habitual, gentle smile still lingered on his face, just as it had countless times before when he and his King parted ways and reunited—just like his situation with Izumo and Yata.

Yet, how could Tatara fail to notice the sudden, defenseless disorder of his own heartbeat the moment he met those amber eyes, which seemed to hold raging flames burning in their depths…

The man who had stood silently leaning against the wall ever since entering the room abruptly moved his feet at that moment.

Slowly, step by step, he drew closer to Tatara. His handsome face, usually devoid of much expression, appeared preternaturally calm at this moment, making it even more impossible to discern the true, surging emotions boiling beneath his surface…

“……King.”

The corners of Tatara’s mouth stiffened by a fraction.

Silently swallowing a lump in his throat, he nervously called out to the other man once again.

――What should he do!

This version of King was simply too imposing and oppressive! He had no idea what the other man intended to do as he released such an aura and slowly walked closer… or rather, “closed in” on him…

Biting the bullet, Tatara lifted his head and smiled as normally as possible at the red-haired man standing right before him:

“Sorry for being careless. If I hadn't run into Kurama and the others, I might not have made it back this time…”

――Before his voice could even fade, the temperature in the room seemed to drop by several dozen percentage points in an instant, suddenly turning freezing cold.

“……＝口＝！”

――Tatara realized the truth in an instant.

The youth’s original intention was, of course, good. He wanted to express his guilt for causing his comrades such worry and distress, while also taking the opportunity to introduce Kurama and the others, officially making introductions and opening up a topic of conversation to lay the groundwork for their upcoming cooperative plan.

Little did he expect that, in his flustered state, his phrasing was profoundly problematic. A phrase like “might not have made it back” completely touched upon someone’s absolute taboo…

The Red King looked down at him in silence, towering from above.

“…………” Tatara felt practically like crying without tears for a split second!

“What I meant was… look, actually it wasn't even that serious of an injury, it’s really no big deal, aren't I sitting right here safe and sound…”

He tried desperately to make amends, but the more he spoke, the darker the expression on the opposite man’s face became. By the time Tatara trailed off awkwardly, the Red King’s complexion was so dark it was practically dripping ink…

“As for whether you are ‘safe and sound’ right here, I believe… we will have plenty of time later to discuss this ‘at length’.”

Speaking in a quiet tone so calm it chilled one to the bone, the Red King turned his head, his expression easing slightly as he looked at the red-haired fox who had been sitting quietly to the side all along:

“We meet again.”

Hearing this, Kurama smiled and nodded:

“Indeed, what a coincidence.”

“This guy has caused you trouble.”

“No, Tatara is an excellent conversationalist; spending time with him has been a most pleasant experience.”

“…Is that so.”

“Yes.”

“…………” Expressionless.

“…………” Smiling, smiling.

“……==” Spectators.

…Save me! What on earth are these two playing at?! Is it really okay for a conversation with completely different styles to proceed so plausibly like this? Readers are going to complain that it takes them out of the story!

Izumo closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight.

“Mikoto…”

His tone was feeble.

“You know this young man?”

“…Mn. Not really.” / “We merely crossed paths by chance.”

――Answering him were the lazy, composed gaze from his King—indistinguishable from usual—as he turned his head, alongside a face… sporting a lovely smile whose brilliance utterly obliterated any existence he had ever known…

“…………”

Izumo silently turned his head away, momentarily finding himself gripped by a splitting headache.

Author's notes: So sleepy… Yesterday I went out to shovel snow for the better part of the day, probably caught a bit of a chill so my head is spinning a bit. My efficiency crawling out of bed in the middle of the night to write was low, and I ended up writing all the way until now, QAQ.

So, taking Totsuka’s near-death, ups-and-down experience as a catalyst, the feelings and interaction mode between the two have undergone a massive (?) change! It feels more reasonable and logical to handle it this way, finding true emotion through life-and-death situations and all that…

Starting next chapter, I plan to deal with the Colorless King, and hopefully let the Room Chief (Munakata) make an appearance smoothly. Even though I’m not writing a Dual Kings pairing, my love for the Room Chief remains unchanged! [Serious face]

Finished the update, rolling away to make up for lost sleep. I’m too tired, will reply to comments later today. Goodnight, dears =3=