Episode 13: Reunion
As the sun began to set, Hayato and Josuke stood before a high-class traditional restaurant with an old-fashioned appearance. The stately building, nestled between the surrounding office buildings, exuded a tranquility, isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city.
“Is this the place?”
“Yeah.”
Josuke nodded in response to Hayato’s question. He checked his smartphone screen, comparing the address with the building. There was no mistake; this was it.
“It’s the place designated by that Tetsumura fellow—I mean, Garret.”
While adjusting the cuffs of the suit he was accustomed to wearing, he gazed at the building before him. He had been summoned by Garret, also known as Tetsumura Gou, and this traditional restaurant had been designated as their meeting place for a reunion.
According to what Josuke had told him, this restaurant was apparently a highly confidential place, frequented by politicians and famous celebrities. It was said that conversations held here rarely leaked to the outside.
After Hayato spoke, the two of them passed through the gate together. There, a small Japanese garden spread out before them. They proceeded along a cobblestone path that wound between stone lanterns and a dry landscape garden.
“Amazing.”
Hayato looked around. Bathed in the twilight, the shadows of the trees stretched long, creating a fantastical atmosphere.
“So, places like this exist in Tokyo, huh? This is my first time at such a high-class restaurant.”
Josuke smiled at his honest reaction.
“As I explained earlier, it’s also used as a place for secret talks by business leaders and politicians. Naturally, the prices are commensurate.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
Hayato nodded, impressed. He felt anew that there were still many places in the world he was born and raised in that he didn’t know.
As they reached the entrance, an elegant middle-aged woman was waiting, bowing deeply. Her demeanor exuded the beauty of etiquette passed down through generations.
“Welcome, we are honored by your visit today. The party who arrived earlier is waiting for you this way.”
The woman, who seemed to be the proprietress, greeted the two of them in an elegant kimono. Her conduct reminded Hayato of the head chambermaid who had worked in the castle in the other world. Back then, he had been shown such respect whenever he was invited to the Imperial Palace.
“This way, please.”
Following the proprietress’s guidance, the two removed their shoes and stepped up onto the raised wooden floor. They walked down a polished corridor. The sound of a shishi-odoshi bamboo fountain reached Hayato’s ears. It echoed rhythmically, as if marking the passage of time. The sound of their footsteps on the tatami mats also echoed softly.
As guided, the two headed towards a private room at the back. When the proprietress announced at the shoji screen door, “Your guests have arrived,” a man’s voice replied from inside, “Please, come in.”
The shoji screen slid open, and as the two stepped into the room, they found Seika, Riri, and a young man with reddish hair—Garret, also known as Tetsumura Gou—seated and waiting.
“You made it, Hayato-dono!”
The moment Tsuyoshi saw Hayato’s face, he stood up and spread his arms wide. His voice boomed throughout the room, and his gaze was filled with pure joy.
“We finally meet! Man, how I’ve longed for this moment!”
His voice trembled slightly with excitement.
“Yeah, it’s been a while.”
Hayato replied with a smile as well. The joy of reuniting with companions he had fought alongside in the other world spread through his chest.
“I’m happy to see you too, Garret. Your name here was Tsuyoshi, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right. Call me by that name here.”
Tsuyoshi nodded.
“For now, sit down. Let’s have a drink together!”
His face, smiling to reveal white teeth, still held a trace of the Dwarven blacksmith from the other world. But now, he also looked like a young businessman stylishly dressed in a suit. The look suited him well.
“We can talk freely here. I’ve told the proprietress it’s a banquet for important close companions.”
Hayato sat down, facing Tsuyoshi. On the table, appetizers were already beautifully arranged.
Josuke, on the other hand, was thoroughly checking every corner of the room before sitting down. As if searching for something unseen, he carefully inspected the walls, ceiling, and even under the floor.
“Just a precaution.”
Josuke replied quietly. He was checking if anything suspicious had been planted.
Given his profession in his previous life, such actions were a matter of course for him. The basic vigilance required when holding secret talks in clandestine meeting places. And his companions, not particularly surprised by his behavior, accepted it as natural.
“It’s alright.”
Seika smiled.
“I checked before I came too. It’s clean.”
Josuke nodded in satisfaction and finally sat down. The tension seemed to leave his shoulders, and he too began to show a relaxed expression.
“Well then, I’ll have a drink too.”
“Beer first?”
“Drink whatever you like.”
Tsuyoshi laughed heartily. Hayato felt a sense of nostalgia at his laughter. He hadn’t changed.
“Order anything you want. It’s all on me today.”
“Perhaps I’ll have a sweet liquor.”
Seika smiled elegantly. Her fingertip pointed to the plum wine section on the menu.
Only Riri looked a little dissatisfied, puffing out her cheeks. Her girlish gesture softened the atmosphere in the room.
“Lucky you, everyone. I can’t drink because I’m underage.”
“Yeah, absolutely not.”
Hayato said with a serious face. Following him, Seika also spoke up.
“Not even a little sip to try. We have to obey the law, you know.”
Their words were imbued with adult responsibility. Understanding this, Riri puffed her cheeks out even more.
“Aww. To think there’d be such a downside to becoming younger again.”
Everyone laughed at her slightly theatrical lament, and the atmosphere became pleasant. It was a nostalgic atmosphere that Hayato remembered well. Tsuyoshi laughed particularly loudly, his hearty laughter echoing throughout the room.
While exchanging such conversation, they called a server and placed their drink orders. Beer, sake, plum wine, and juice were brought to them. The glasses of cold drinks sparkled beautifully under the lights.
“Let’s make a toast.”
Hayato raised his glass. In the light illuminating the table, his face was enveloped in a warm expression.
“To everyone’s reunion.”
At Hayato’s words, his companions all raised their glasses in unison.
“””Cheers!”””
Five glasses clinked lightly in the air. The clear sound seemed to bless this special moment.
A course meal had also been prepared, and they enjoyed the taste of the food while conversing. A variety of delicate dishes made with seasonal ingredients. The dishes, progressing through grilled items, simmered dishes, sashimi, and fried foods, all showcased the skill of a first-class chef.
Hayato recalled the meager meals and dried meat on battlefields in the other world, and he was deeply moved anew by the contrast with the gourmet food before him. Although he sometimes felt nostalgic for the meals around a campfire between battles, he savored the happiness of being able to spend this time together now.
After a while, when the drinks had flowed freely, Hayato put down his glass and his expression turned serious. His eyes held a deep emotion, as if reminiscing about their journey so far.
“Once again, I’m truly happy that all of us companions were able to reunite.”
He said in a quiet voice.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Hayato spoke words of gratitude as he looked around at his companions’ faces. A faint glint of tears welled in his eyes. That was how happy he was to be gathered with his companions.
Seika was the first to reply. She straightened her posture, momentarily displaying the solemn demeanor of an Elven priestess from the other world. Her appearance, even in her modern, sophisticated attire, still carried a hint of her former divinity.
“It is we who wish to say thank you.”
Her voice was calm.
“Lord Hayato, you saved the world, and we cannot thank you enough.”
Next, Josuke spoke, choosing his words with the calmness befitting his former role as an informant. His sharp eyes momentarily held a soft light.
“Thank you, Hayato-dono.”
He said with a sincere expression.
“You did well to fulfill the hopes we entrusted to you. I’m truly grateful.”
Riri, though slightly embarrassed, looked directly at Hayato. Her pure gaze held both the pride of her former self as an Oracle of the Goddess and the straightforwardness of a modern girl.
“Thank you very much.”
Tears glistened in her eyes.
“I’ll say it as many times as it takes. I could only watch over your efforts. Even when you were alone, Lord Hayato, you didn’t give up and defeated the Demon King. For this, no amount of thanks will ever be enough.”
Finally, Tsuyoshi put down his glass and concluded in a powerful voice. He lightly tapped the table, and the impact made the sake tremble slightly.
“The world over there… it must be at peace now.”
His gaze was filled with conviction. He gripped his glass with a large hand and continued proudly.
“That happened because of your presence, Hayato-dono. Again, thank you. For saving our world.”
Hayato looked down, a little embarrassed. He believed he had merely fulfilled his duty as the Hero. And he was content with that. He genuinely felt it was a good thing that he had been able to defeat the Demon King. There were no regrets in that regard.
But there was something that bothered him. Deep in his heart, there was a sentiment he had never been able to put into words.
“But, everyone,” Hayato began to speak quietly. “Was it really okay for you to follow me?”
“What do you mean by that?” Tsuyoshi furrowed his brow.
“I went to another world, and through the battles with the Demon King’s army… you all lost your lives.”
The deaths of his companions. Remembering that, Hayato’s voice trembled slightly. The memory of that blood-soaked battlefield was still deeply etched in his heart.
“After that, I was happy to know you were all watching over me. But then, you ended up coming with me when I returned to this world. Do you… have any regrets about that?”
Silence filled the room. However, it didn’t last long.
“Regrets? We have none,” Josuke replied quietly. A strong light dwelled in his eyes.
“In the first place, we had already died in that other world. Our lives were over,” Seika continued, as if explaining.
“As souls, after witnessing the final battle, we were originally fated to disappear, you know.”
“But then, by following Hayato-dono, we were reborn in this world and miraculously revived,” Josuke added. Joy at being given a new life was visible on his expression. And Tsuyoshi also nodded firmly.
“To be able to express our gratitude directly like this is truly fortunate.”
Riri placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. Her movements were filled with strong emotion.
“We absolutely didn’t want to leave the Honored Hero, who contributed so much to the world, all alone. That’s why this was inevitable.”
Seika smiled gently. “This very moment is happiness. There’s no lie in this feeling.”
Finally, Tsuyoshi declared forcefully. “Because by being reborn, we’ve become even stronger. We want to live an amusing and fun life in this world.” He clenched his fist. “Besides, we owe Hayato-dono a debt of gratitude. This time, it’s our turn to repay it.”
Hearing his companions’ words, Hayato decided to accept their feelings honestly. There was no need to shoulder it all himself. They had told him they were here of their own free will.
“Everyone… thank you.” Hayato showed his companions a heartfelt smile.
In that case, he would enjoy life to the fullest with them. In his heart, Hayato solidified his resolve for the life he would walk with his companions from now on.
While enjoying food and drinks, they lively talked about their lives and jobs in the modern world, and reminisced about their time in the other world. Sometimes laughing heartily, sometimes with tears welling in their eyes.
Outside the window, the Tokyo nightscape shone quietly. It was a completely different sight from the other world, but his companions here were unchanged.
The companions he had lost in the other world had gathered again like this in the modern era. It could only be called a miracle.
Hayato raised his glass and said quietly, “Everyone, I’m counting on you all from now on.”
The four smiling faces responded to his words.