An Unexpected Meeting

After walking for a while, we finally reached the cafeteria that caught my attention. It was a very nice place to look at, it had decorations that were pleasing to the eye, you could tell that the place was clearly designed to resemble that famous coffee chain, it was simple but relaxing which I liked exactly that kind of atmosphere. The prices were pretty good and the place was almost empty, which was lucky for us.

As soon as we walked in, Tama and I went to the counter to pick out some cupcakes to eat and maybe something to drink.

"Excuse me, but you are not allowed to lean on the counter like that," the attendant said to us.

As soon as she finished speaking, I immediately turned to see Tama doing exactly what the clerk told us not to do. I immediately grabbed her shoulders and gently pushed her back.

"We are very sorry"
"We didn't mean to cause any inconvenience"
"We were just looking for something better to eat"
"Do you have a recommendation?"

"In that case, I recommend this one"
"It's quite sweet, but if it is accompanied by a tea, it will be perfect."

"Alright"
"So we will order 2 of these"

"Thank you very much"

After that, Tama and I did not sit at one of the tables in the back of the store, trying to draw as little attention as possible.

"I'm surprised to see how calm she is despite how we look," I said to her as we sat down.

"I want to try the candy already!" She replied with a smile.

"Well, that's normal."
"We haven't eaten since this morning."

"But I would like to eat something more than this"

"..."
"I'm sorry, but there's not much we can do"
"We don't have much money right now."
"This should be enough for now"
"..."

I felt sorry for her, because of me she is now here in a completely strange place for her and I have to put her through this where I have nothing.

"Are you going to let your wife starve?"
"It shouldn't be like this!" She said to make me feel worse than I already did.

"And shouldn't we be together in good times and bad?"
"Right now we are in a difficult situation"
"But I trust we will make it through"
"You will see!!"
"Today we will sleep in a very comfortable place!" I said, trying to cheer myself up.

Right after that, the worker arrived with the two cupcakes and the two teas, she put everything on the table and made a gesture to indicate that we could start eating.

...

...

Isn't she thinking of leaving?

...

...

"Sorry, but is there anything I can help you with?" I decided to ask her directly to break the awkward silence.

"Sorry I got carried away"
"I was thinking about how real those ears look"
"And how your friend is even able to wag her tail."
"Do you go to costume events?"

I knew it!
They would always stand out!
I'll have to improvise again, think of something that sounds convincing.

"Yes, we do"
"We like to make costumes as realistic as possible"
"And well, we wanted to see if we could do it with things like this!"

"Seriously?"
"So you do it for fun"

"Quite so"

"Though I don't remember an event like this being held on these days."
"Are there any around here?"

Leave me alone. I just want to eat in peace!

"Well, actually, we were helping another friend make her own costume"
"But there was an emergency and she had to go"
"So we decided to wait here for her to come back"

"Seriously?"
"Wow, I guess that would be an inconvenience."
"Due to certain arrangements in the store, the owner has decided to close early today."
"Actually, she's already on her way."

Hell, I can't even enjoy a meal in peace?

"It's okay."
"We'll finish eating and leave right away"

"Sorry for the trouble"
"And thank you for your understanding," said the worker as she finally retreated to the counter at the front of the store.

"You are really good with people," the goddess said as she started to eat.

"Does it seem strange to you that I am able to talk to people?"
"It's nothing special."

"I didn't say it for that."
"But for being able to go on, despite what happens to you"
"In spite of what you are going through, you are still considerate of others in some way"

"It's no big deal"

"Yes, it is"
"Now that you have a girl's body, you were in a world unknown to you until this morning."
"You had no place to sleep, when we met we fought and you defeated me, then despite the suddenness of wanting to marry you, you left me".
"And the next day you are in a country far from your own, without money and having to take care of me."
"That even though I am a goddess, I don't know anything anymore"
"And yet you are able to be calm and kind"
"Even though you barely have money for this meal"
"You keep talking like it's no trouble."
"We don't even have a place to sleep tonight, and yet you say I'm leaving everything to you."
"That you will solve it
"That I just have to trust you"
"You are pretty strong"
"You're my savior and yet you manage to keep surprising me with something new"
"I just can't give you anything but my love and support"
"Because I have nothing else, and with you close, I will undoubtedly lack nothing"

"Thank you"
"I didn't think it was a big deal"
"But I guess I'm doing my best because you're here too"
"I guess I should thank you, too"
"For staying by my side despite how silly and strange my story is"
"Even though I proposed something as strange as coming into this world, follow me anyway."
"Because even though you know I have nothing, you still stand by my side without asking for anything."
"Thank you for supporting me, Tama"
...
"Very well, it would be better to start eating this cake and see how good it is!"

"I agree!" she replied with her usual smile.

As we both started to eat, the doorbell rang, someone has just entered, although I want to turn around just to make sure it is not someone armed, just because of my habit as a soldier, but surely it is just a customer And worst case scenario, I still have a gun anyway. There is no way anything bad is going to happen now, so I should just enjoy these few quiet minutes.

The girl who was with us went to greet whoever had just entered and began to speak.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Adelis!"
"I hope you had a good day at the office today."
"Come on in!"
"I'm just about to close up shop."
"We just need to wait for the two girls at this table to finish eating and we will have everything ready for you to close the store and fix the kitchen stove".

Wait a second, that name is not Japanese and it is quite similar to...

"Excellent"
"Although I thought it might be better to change it to something more modern."
"You better call and tell them not to come to fix it, we will buy the other one"
"Well, if they fix it, it might get damaged again in a few days."
"And I don't want to waste my time with that."

[Choking sounds]

What the hell?
This is a voice I know.
Is it possible?
There is no other if she also has the same name.

I turned my head to see if it was really her, and as soon as I saw her, I even felt as if everything around me was suddenly a lie. I could not believe what I had just seen with my eyes that I was about to cry, and it seemed that Tamamo had noticed how I felt, because as soon as she saw me, she knew that something had happened and asked.

"Are you okay?"
"You look even paler than you already are"
"And that's rare enough coming from you."

"Hahaha"
"I can't believe it"
"Those damn angels already knew this would happen."
"That's why they left us close by"

"Who is she?"
"Did you know her?"

"I know her a lot"
"And you better treat her well."
"That person is Adelis over there"
"She's my mother."

She was a lady that looked like in her late thirties, perhaps, for in reality she was well-preserved despite her real age, she had straight black hair and was dressed in a very formal dress, no doubt a businesswoman of those who run others, she was talking to the clerk and seemed not to have noticed us.

"She's your mother!" Tama said happily.
"So what are you waiting for to invite her here!"
"Excuse me" Tamamo stood up and started to speak loudly
"Madam, don't you want to join us?"
"We have several things to discuss with you!"
"Over here!"

"Excuse me, is there anything I can help you with?" She turned to us, stopped for a second when she saw us, and continued talking.
"I don't think we've met."

"Please have a seat over here," Tamamo insisted.

"Alright"
"You have my attention"
"What do you need?" she walked over to where we were.

"Are you really Adelis?"
"Are you Cesar's mother?"

My mother stopped for a moment when she heard her and had a surprised face similar to mine.

"Have you met him?"
"Have you ever been with him?" she asked quickly.

"That's right!"
"He helped me a lot."
"I think if it weren't for him, I wouldn't know what could have happened to me in my future."

My mother seemed to be on the verge of crying as Tama talked to her. I did not know what to do, whether to speak or better hide under the table, I was completely paralyzed.

"Seriously?"
"I'm glad to hear that"
"Did you really see it?"
"How long ago was that?"
"What did my son do for you?"
"Could you tell me?"
"Do you know what happened to him?"
...
"Sorry"
"I keep asking questions"
"It's just been a long time since I knew anything about him."
"And when the news came that he..."
...
"I just want to know what he was able to do"
"To see that he was able to save someone is enough for me.
"Can you tell me how he helped you?"

"I have something better!"
"What if he tells you himself!" Tamamo points at me as soon as she stops talking.

"Hi, how are you?" I answer as shyly and calmly as possible due to my embarrassment.

My mother's eyes widen when she sees me, and her face changes from melancholy to anger in a matter of seconds. And how can I blame her, even I feel bad about this whole ridiculous situation.

"Ladies!" she was on her feet in less than a second.
"These kind of jokes are not made to someone who has lost her son"
"You should never play with people's hearts!"
"And please take off those ears, they look ridiculous"
"We're closing already!"
"Please leave as soon as possible!"

"But ma'am"
"You must know that your son is alive!"
"Is here!"
"You must believe us!" Tama tried to keep her with us.

I had to do something, I couldn't leave things as they were. I finally met my mother after the news of my death reached her. How devastating that could be for a person, especially for her, who had already lost the person she loved as well. I wanted to keep my promise to reunite with my family, hell that's why I'm here now, despite all the nonsense that happened to me. I want to talk to her, I want to tell her that I am here, alive, and that she should stop crying for me. But how can I do tha?, how can I tell her hello am I Cesar? I don't think she believes me, it's stupid. I have to do something stronger, something that only our family would know, something that without a doubt she would know that I really am.

"That's enough!" My mother screamed.

"In..." I tried to raise my voice to speak.
"...."
"At Maria's party there were some very good breads.
"They were so rich that I remember they even asked for them so much that they ran out right away.
"We thought they were made by cooks for the party."
"But it turned out that you made them."
"We were so surprised that Maria dropped the plate with the dough and was completely covered in it."
"She even looked like a ghost."
"And when we took her to her cabin in the woods, Uncle Jose got so scared that she ended up breaking a glass door in the castle trying to escape."
"There was so much damage that an ambulance ended up arriving."
"And when the paramedics asked what had happened, they could not stop laughing."
"Even Maria came to believe that there really were ghosts, even though it was her fault."

"How do you know this story?"
"Who told you?"
"Was it him?"
"Was it Cesar?"
"Answer me!"

"No"
"I was there when it all happened"

"

"What do you mean?"

All right, here I go.

"I'm Cesar."
"The same one who was there that day."
"Your son."

"Is that true?"She looked me in the eyes with a serious face.

"I know it's VERY hard to believe"
"But it's true"
"I swear it"
"I am Cesar."

She looked me up and down. I have no idea what she is thinking, but I know that when she makes that face, she is planning something.

"What color was the house before we painted it for the third time?" she asked quickly with the same serious face.

"Orange with white trim, which still makes me wonder why you changed it to red later," I answered without hesitation.

"What was the weapon in the case that almost ended Rafael's career?"

"It was an old cordless phone, although the victim eventually drowned, it was certainly quite strange what happened, I don't blame him for almost losing the case several times."

"And your father's temporary permission?"

"It was never temporary. You made sure he got a permanent place."

My mother's face changed again. She was crying now, a lot. She slowly approached me and hugged me.

"What the hell is this?
"Is it some kind of strange dream?
"Shouldn't you be dead?"
"I'll take care of your funeral myself!"
"That was almost a year ago!"
"What the hell happened to you?"
"How did you end up like this?"
"Cesar"
"You have a lot to explain!"

"Yes, I know"
"I'll tell you everything!"
"Thank you for believing me"
"Mom," I told her while hugging her too, I think she could barely hear me because I think I was crying too, I know.

"And who is she?"
"You said Cesar saved you."
"Is that true?" she asked Tama.

"It's true!"
"But the best thing is to talk while we eat!"
"Everything is better with the family."

"I already called them about the stove," the employee appeared and spoke.
"They told me that they will come tomorrow to install it."
"But it will probably take all day."
"What should we do?"

"Tell them it's okay, no problem."
"We don't have tomorrow."
"And please close the shop now, I don't want anyone to interrupt me, I'm in the middle of something very important."
" Oh and Saeko, please bring some of those leftover cakes, today is a very special day"
"Go ahead and try it, anyone who wants!"
"I want to know what you think!"

"Seriously!"
"Thanks a lot!" Tama immediately appreciated the food that she brought to her.

And so my mother, Tama, and I talked about everything that had happened to us so far. About why I had been in the war against the Empire, about the Angels, about the Codex, about Tamamo, I think I hadn't kept a single secret from her, I didn't want to have any more, I didn't want to bear the burden of having to hide something from her again. It certainly took us a long time to bring her up to speed on everything. And even though it was late, we only had time to talk about our side of the story. I also wanted to ask her what she was doing all this time because the fact that she was in Japan was no coincidence, she must have been here with something in mind, but that will come later.