Boreas POV

After a while, we were pretty much discussing our lives over dinner. I sat there, quietly picking at my plate, half-listening to the conversations around me. It was strange being here, surrounded by people who knew me from a time that felt like another life. The food was good, better than what I usually managed to whip up, but I barely tasted it as my mind was elsewhere.

I couldn't help but feel relieved, though. These people, my old friends. they accepted me. After everything I'd been through, after all the time that had passed, they welcomed me back without hesitation. I didn't even have to explain myself, not really. Sure, I gave them the basics, but the whole "reincarnated guy who found his way back" story wasn't exactly something you just dropped at the dinner table. Yet, somehow, it didn't matter. They were just glad I was here.

I hadn't realized how much I'd missed this, missed them, until I was sitting here, listening to their laughter, their stories. It felt like slipping back into a familiar time that I thought I'd lost for good. But here I was, part of it again like I'd never left. And that…that was something I hadn't expected. As I ate, I felt a weight lifting off my shoulders. All the nerves, the anxiety that had been building up before the party...it was gone. It was a feeling I hadn't had in a long time, and I wasn't sure I'd ever feel it again. But I did. And for the first time in a while, I felt at peace.

"How long will you guys stay here?" Sister Francine asked

"I'd say 3 more days, I'm just going to meet Susan and that's about it, I can't stay here for too long, I'm very needed, unfortunately...at least, currently, my new job allows me to move around better."

"By being your girlfriend's bodyguard?"

"Yup."

"How many more girls do you plan on seducing?" Henry asked to which Sister Francine glared at him

"Amelia would be nice...kidding." I said to Isabella whose eyes were narrowed down on me after that statement, "Or a goddess whose powers I can abuse would be nice, unfortunately, the only goddess I know is the same one who killed me."

As the night wore on, the conversations started winding down. One by one, they began to say their goodbyes, each of them making me promise to keep in touch and to meet up again if I had the chance. It was a bit bittersweet, knowing this might be the last time for a while, but I didn't let that get me down. I promised them I'd be back when I could. I wasn't sure when that would be, but I meant it. For now, just Susan...I already texted her on where to meet as I just got her address a while ago, well, more like I had Henry and Sister Francine do it, telling her that a guest would be there to pick her up after work.                    

The next day, I flew to another state to a park near her home, I stood at the edge of the park, hands in my pockets, watching as the last remnants of daylight faded into dusk. The place was quiet, just the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze and the distant laughter of children playing. It felt like a good place to say goodbye, at least for now. Susan spotted me first. I could see the recognition in her eyes as she paused, and then broke into a run. It was almost like old times...her rushing toward me with that same mix of concern and relief she always had when I got myself into trouble as a kid.

"You're alive! You're alive...I thought...but I saw..." She couldn't really form a sentence as she hugged me tighter and tighter.

"Want to sit? I got a lot to say."

We walked together through the park, and I found myself falling into the same rhythm I had with the others, recounting the journey that led me back, sharing the highlights, and leaving out the darker bits. Susan listened, nodding along, she initially thought that I lived through the accident and lost my memory and found her now, but the reincarnation bit was so ridiculous that she had no choice to accept it. Her expression softened as I told her about the people I'd met, she was especially happy about Isabella. 

"Did you see your grave?" she asked

"I did."

"How did you feel?"

"Weird, but I mostly went there to see my parents."

"Hm...they'll be disappointed at your womanizing ways."

"They should."

"You ever plan on meeting Carol again?"

"Nah, she moved on and I moved on, there's no point, besides, I'm already busy investing in my current love life, and I have no thoughts about ever wanting to contact her again."

"I see, at least you moved on."

"I moved on a long time ago, you know that."

"I know, but I just worry that maybe there's a remnant of regret in there somewhere."

"I'm happy for you, Boreas, it's about time you found someone, found a place where you belong."

"I belonged here."

"...You know, Boreas, I'm glad you found your way back, but I need to say this. I don't mean this in a harsh way, but you were never happy here, at least not after meeting that uncle of yours, which doesn't justify the troubles you've caused and may have caused in your new world. You tolerated life as it was, but you never really lived it. You were just...surviving. You weren't truly happy, and that's why I'm so glad you've found a place now where you can be."

"Thank you, I'll try not to hurt too many people."

"Promise me you'll visit again. Don't let it be another ten years before I see you again."

"But the previous years were-"

"Impossible, I know, but...we are your family here too...we also wasted a lot of money on you, so you need to pay it back."

"I can give you a million right now if you want."

"I don't want money."

"You're a teacher now, of course, you do."

"...I'm not greedy...I'm not greedy."

"No need to repeat yourself, I left something with Sister Francine for you, you can pick it up at any time."

After giving a call to everyone and giving them my farewell again, we are now preparing to head back, we were allowed to keep our phones, which was great. Craven came to us and told us that we couldn't stay here long. Unlike me, Eve and Matt decided to just check up on their family from afar, but they were happy to see them again, regardless. And also unlike me, they are probably never going to come back here again unless needed.

Craven then opened the portal and we all walked through it to get back.

When I finally landed, it wasn't exactly graceful. With a loud crash, I found myself sprawled on a desk, splinters of wood flying everywhere as it shattered beneath me. I groaned, feeling the ache in my back from the impact, and blinked up at the familiar surroundings. I was in the headmaster's office. And from the expression on Laurel's face when she realized what I did...

"Sorry."

"When we go on a date, you're paying." she said

"Sure."

"Thanks, now out of my office."