"Andrea…"

"Hm?"

​​

"Your snot is falling on my face."

"I don't care!"

"Ugh!"

Van's cheeks could only be crushed as Andrea's embrace seemed to grow even tighter. Even when he was fighting with the Enhancer-types during their battle with the City Guards, no one had placed this kind of pressure on him, not even once.

But now that Andrea was doing it, it was as if he was feeling everything. The warmth of her arms, the comfort of her skin, the hush of her voice… it was as if Van's body started to sting.

A surrender.

For the first time in his life, his body was in unconditional surrender. Once again, the curiosity for discovery, the hunger for truth, and the search for who he really was were pushed from the back of his mind as he felt Andrea's embrace…

...the embrace of family.

And soon, even Van himself surrendered as he placed his arms around Andrea. He wanted to say a lot of things, but in the end, nothing came out of his mouth. It was just silence. Everything he needed and wanted to say was in his embrace.

The two stayed like this for a while before the sound of a footstep whispered into their ears, "Hehe… the gang back together again."

It was Harvey, currently approaching them while rubbing his damped nose, sniffling as he nodded his head repeatedly.

"We shall now officially be called…

...the Aven--"

"Mr. Evans."

Before Harvey could finish his words, another one stepped forward and approached Van, it was Headmaster Hans. Or perhaps just Hans now that the Academy is no longer functional.

"...Headmaster."

"Please, just call me Hans."

"What do you want?"

Van's tone then suddenly turned cold as he let go of Andrea, looking straight at Hans' eyes. Although Van ultimately knew that it was of his own doing, he still held a slight disdain towards his former Headmaster.

While he was currently paralyzed by Sarah's grandfather and being thrown around in the air like some kind of pinata, he could hear everything that was happening. And he swore he could hear that Hans was in agreement with the Chairman.

"...Your mother is waiting for you," Hans completely ignored Van's cold tone as he slightly bowed his head towards him, "I shall apologize to you for ignoring your plights some other time, Mr. Evans. I have done some… unimaginable deeds that--"

"Can you do this later!?"

Before Hans could finish his words, Andrea suddenly raised her voice, "I am trying to talk with my brother!"

"But… you weren't even talk--"

"Why don't you give this moment to the young ones, Hans?"

Once again, Hans was interrupted as he felt a heavy thud on his shoulder.

"C… Charlotte," Hans turned his head, only to see Charlotte's hand on his shoulder. Hans could feel his heart drumming endlessly as this was the first time in their lives that Charlotte had ever touched him.

And it was not because he had hidden feelings for her, no. It was anxiety. Charlotte only makes physical contact with those who she thinks won't be crushed by her accidentally… or towards people she doesn't like.

Hans was a Unique-type that had the power to read and influence the minds of people-- Charlotte could definitely crush her. So… that could only mean one thing.

"But Ms. Evangeline wants to--"

"I've already finished reuniting with my family," Charlotte said as a small smile slowly crept on her face, "Why don't you talk to me instead?"

"Can't… can't you talk with Angela?"

"I already did, she's not telling me anything," Charlotte let out a small but deep sigh, "You know how she is."

"But--"

"Let's go," Charlotte then gently dragged Hans away before he could even say anything else, "Why don't we explore your father's home while you tell me everything you know?"

"W… wait!" Hans could only scream as Charlotte's hand won't even budge. Hans could read Charlotte's mind, and all her questions were something that Hans was not allowed to answer. But before they could make it far, Hans turned his attention towards Van, "After you're done with everything, your mother is waiting for you at the lake! She will explain everything to you!"

Were Hans fleeting words before she was completely dragged away by Charlotte, with Angela following them from behind.

"...What was that all about?" Van could not help but furrow his eyebrows from hearing Hans' pleas. It would seem that everyone wanted to tell him something, but at the same time, no one is telling him.

Just what exactly happened outside while Van was busy planning his escape and playing President?

"Evans, I think it is better for you not to meet your… mother."

As Van was lost in thought, Andrea's words whispered into his ears. "...I think so as well," Van breathed as he looked at Andrea, "...But I think I have to."

"If you're afraid, then we shall meet this mysterious mom of yours together!" Harvey suddenly inserted himself in the conversation.

"It's fine," Van could only let out a slight chuckle as he shook his head, "But how… were you guys able to go inside the Portal?" Van then asked as he scanned the people present.

Everyone he knew was here. Latanya was currently busy talking with the other Locals, explaining the situation that happened outside to those who were already inside when the huge boulder fell. And the others assisted her.

"Because of brother Edward," Harvey said as he raised his thumbs towards Edward, who was currently taking care of her mother who was still confused as to what was going on.

"...Edward?"

"Bro, Vicky's brother. You even greeted him earlier."

"Right," Van blinked a couple of times. He always remembered Victoria's brother as the hybrid monster, his name usually comes after.

"Anyway, he sensed something was happening in the skies and we just… kinda went along with it."

"I… see."

"Yeah, Edward doesn't know how to lie after all. Right, Bea!?" Harvey then let out a slight giggle as he suddenly called Beatrice, who was also trying to calm down those who had family outside alongside Victoria.

"Don't drag me in your conversation!"

"Pft," hearing Beatrice's agitated voice made Harvey giggle even further, "Last thing I saw before my brother threw me inside the Portal was something emerging from the skies," Harvey's tone then became serious.

"Gerald is…"

"Oh, he's alive somewhere with that Asian woman," Harvey breathed, "...But I take it there are more dead outside?"

"...Hundreds," Van said, "But hundreds alive as well."

Hearing Van's words, Harvey could not help but click his tongue, "If only… we had more time. Then maybe we could have save--"

"There's no point in thinking about that, Harvey," Van did not let Harvey finish his words, "It already happened."

"But still, you know," Harvey let out a wry chuckle, "I… am afraid to go outside and see them."

"..." Van could only slightly tilt his head down as he heard Harvey's words. Harvey knew that Van had to kill people in the Pit, but what would he say if he knew that he had already killed a hundred people as well?

And some were just doing their duty. He would find out soon, of course, as there were still people from the City Guards that were taken as prisoners inside here, in the Pit.

"A… anyway," Harvey then waved his hand, "I'll go and help Bea and the others. Are you sure you'll talk to your mother alone?"

"...Yes," Van paused for a second before nodding his head.

"Alright, but just call for us when you need backup, alright!?" Harvey said as ran towards Beatrice and the others.

With Van and Andrea now left alone beside the Portal, Van finally let out a long and deep sigh as he looked Andrea straight in the eyes, "You… were with Sarah all this time?"

"It's… a long story. You wouldn't believe it even if I tell you all about it," Andrea, as well, let out a long and deep sigh of relief. Although it wasn't how she envisioned it, she and Van were finally together again.

All it took was for her to be on a flying headquarters driven by Van's mother and for it to be obliterated and fall from the skies for them to meet. How she even survived that while the other normal humans didn't, was probably thanks to Van's mother as well.

"But wait," Andrea then placed her hand on Van's shoulder, "Sarah was telling me that you thought it was her that reported you, she's not!"

"...Hm," Van nodded, "Ms. Elton already told me."

"...Oh," Andrea could not help but be taken aback, "Then why--"

"Everything's happening so fast that I don't know what to do, Andrea," Van let out another sigh as he looked towards his friends that he just got reunited with, "Everyone… is here now."

"...Isn't that a good thing?"

"Of course… maybe."

"Evans?"

"I guess I just… want to go home, you know?" Van then looked Andrea straight in the eyes, "But I don't know where that is anymore."

"Here."

"Hm?"

"Your home is here, with us," Andrea gently touched Van's face, looking into his eyes with nothing but warmth, "Now go and talk some sense into your villain of a mother."

"Pft," Van could not help but release a small chuckle from Andrea's words.

"Are you sure you don't want anyone to come with you? I swear, my blood boils whenever I see that non-caring face of hers as if she knows everything. Are you sure? Why don't you let me come with you so I can slap her in the face once."

"Thank you," Van shook his head as he stepped away, "But I need to meet her alone, sis."

"Alright, just slap her for me, then," Andrea nodded as she watched Van walk away. But after a few seconds, her eyes widened, almost causing her eyes to pop out, "Wait, what did you just call me!?"

But alas, Van was already gone.

***

"..."

The flowing leaves and sunlight shower Van like rain as he slowly walked towards the lake, covered by the thick forest surrounding it. His heart was beating erratically, but at the same time, there was a certain calmness in it.

His eyes strayed across the lake, but it did not need to stray too far, as the person he was trying to find was right in front of him, standing on top of the lake with her toes.

Her silver hair flowed with the air as she slowly opened her eyes, looking straight towards Van's eyes.

"...Evangeline?" Van muttered. He furrowed his eyebrows as a certain memory resurfaced in his mind, he had already seen this scene once back when he was washing blood off of his face not long after he got into the Pit.

Does that mean… that Evangeline was watching him inside the Pit all along?

"...Evans," Evangeline then opened his mouth, her words held a certain calmness in it, soothing Van's trembling heart, "...my child."

"Mother…" Van let out a deep breath as he returned Evangeline's stare, "Mother…

...fucker!"