“We’ve been to your hometown, now it’s time for my hometown!”

That’s right! We’re going back to where it all began, the beautiful, nature-filled (and frankly, cramped) little village in the Northwestern side of Secundis, Whitehood! I understand that we should probably hurry it up with getting the herb to Arthur as quickly as possible, but since Sol made our search a lot easier and faster, we thought it’d be nice to fulfill my original goal of visiting my parents while we have the time. Then again, we’ll be passing through Whitehood while going to Springwood anyways, so it’d be a damned shame if I just gave them the cold shoulder.

Anna was still a bit shy about what happened the other night, but that’s to be expected. Honestly, even I can’t bring myself to look her in the eyes right now. This reserved, almost embarrassed side of her is cute as well, but that’s not the issue. What we did that night… was it really okay? I mean, we were both drunk off our asses, and from what I remember we just sort of went with the flow of things. Are we just supposed to pretend that didn’t happen and move on? Or should I take responsibility for my actions? Personally, I’d much rather the latter of these two options, but then that begs the question of if Anna’s okay with it…

“Gahh!!”

“W-What’s wrong, Ed?!” Anna was visibly startled from my sudden outburst.

Now that we’ve d-done it, I’m really getting overly conscious of her. Just being in the same room as her is enough to make my heart skip a beat, but then when we talk it’s like we both tense up and can’t think of anything to say. What if we never regain the ability to engage in natural conversations like we did before?! What if… she hates me for doing what I did?!

“Ed, if you’re feeling unwell, just say so. Neither of us are good with vehicles, so there’s no reason to keep it to yourself.”

What is she thinking? This transport wagon is the least of my concerns! Does she not realize just how much I’m suffering over these thoughts? Ugh, and to make matters worse, I made a point to not read her mind, cause turns out the moment she looks at me, all she ever thinks about is that night! (the issue isn’t that I get to relive that moment, but rather the fact that I relive it from her perspective… eugh)

“N-No, I’m just kinda nervous… about going back home, y’know?!” I tried to make up an excuse, “L-Like, a lot of things probably changed since Grim and I left, right? Also, how will my parents react after I suddenly just come back?”

“Your parents? Right, you never talked about them, but what are they like?”

Oh, I REALLY don’t wanna talk about them. She’ll learn all she wants about them when we come over, so what’s even the point of asking me? Well, I say that, but she’s giving me an expectant stare, suggesting she really wants to know how I view them (cute). Eh, we finally managed to get a conversation going, so I guess I’ll budge.

“They’re… really kind. And sweet too. They really care about their family.”

“Oh? That’s nice!”

“Yeah, but there’s just one issue with that. They’re an extreme case of workaholics. They were never home back then, working around the clock just to provide us with a nice cushy lifestyle.”

“Ah…” Anna moped for a bit after realizing my situation, but immediately switched gears after a moment, “Wait, us?”

“Yeah, me and my little sister.”

“YOU HAVE A SISTER?!?”

This was certainly interesting. I mean, I never bothered to mention it, since it was never relevant to the things we talked about, but I never would’ve expected her to be this surprised and intrigued at that fact.

“She’s a real sweetheart, I’m sure you two will get along. But more importantly, our parents are the really serious type, so I didn’t really grow all too attached to them at all. That’s why leaving was barely an issue for me.”

I say that, but now that I remember, aren’t I talking about Grim here? I mean, I was practically bawling my eyes out and postponing our departure for a few months before he finally snapped and decided to persuade me into leaving. Right, no matter how much my parents would choose work over me, even then I knew that they did it for my good. They’re not bad parents at all, but I just wish they’d spent more time with me back then is all.

“Well, I hope I get on their good side, then!”

“Don’t worry about that. In any case, why would you be so worried about appealing to them?”

Anna got quiet again and simply zoned off for a moment, before blushing uncontrollably and hitting me on the shoulder.

“N-No reason, dummy!”

Geez, even without reading your mind I could tell exactly what you were thinking about… Perv.

***

“I’M HOOOOME!” I slammed the front door open in excitement.

The nostalgic hallway in which I grew up in was presented in front of my very eyes. The carpet on which I’d always fall asleep after playing, the cabinet in which I had accidentally gotten stuck in after playing hide and seek with Grim, the busty woman standing frozen in front of me with her mouth agape… Wait, what was that last part?

“I-INTRUDER!!!”

“H-Hold on! Those are my words! Who the hell are you!?”

Did I get the wrong house?! No way! This is 100% my house! But then, who is this woman?!

“Wait a second, that voice…! ED?!?!”

“…” I froze in shock after figuring it out as well, “E-ELEANOR?!?”

Yep, as it turns out, that ‘busty woman’ I mentioned just seconds earlier was in fact my little sister. Hey, lower your pitchforks! I didn’t know it was her! But all jokes aside, she really did grow into a splendid young lady, but she’s only a year younger than me, so that’d make her… fifteen to sixteen? Hold on, even Anna isn’t that big, this has to be some sort of mistake…

“Ed, what the hell is going on? Where have you been? Mom and dad were worried sick!”

“A-Ah, I can explain everything.” I said as I pointed to Anna, who was visibly excited. “But first…”

“E-Ed! That’s your little sister!? She’s so cute!”

“Eh?” Eleanor tried dodging Anna’s hug attack, but to no avail, “Hey, g-get off of me!”

“Now now, ehe~! Pet pet, ahaa, pat pat, hihiii…”

“Mrmmmm…! ED! WHO THE HELL IS THIS GIRL!?”

“Right, this is Anna. She’ll be staying with us for a bit while we wind down a bit. We’ve been out traveling for quite a while.”

“Hold it right there. Who said anything about you staying here?”

“Huh?”

“You haven’t been here for what, 5 years? And then you suddenly kick open the front door and demand you and your girlfriend stay a couple nights here like it’s nothing?”

“E-Erm, w-we’re not…” Anna tried to say something, but hesitated before ultimately not saying anything, “N-Never mind.”

What’s this? So does that mean we’re a couple? I mean, we never openly and clearly stated it, but now that I think about it, isn’t what we did something only couples would do? But then there’s the thing with Sol and Mariabelle…

Wait… This was all Mariabelle’s doing from the start! She’s the one who gave Anna the alcohol, and she also put the idea of doing it casually into her head. Goddamn that maid, making a fool of me even from afar…

“Right… haaa,” Eleanor sighed, “I missed you, Ed. Mom and dad are working right now, so I’ll prepare some tea for us while we wait for them to come back.”

“Ugh, still working I see… Isn’t it about time they retire?”

“Can’t help it. Unlike you, they actually have a family to provide for and a stable job to uphold. They’ve settled down and decided to devote their all into providing for their kids, so they don’t have the luxury of ‘Going where the wind takes them’ and living off scraps like you did.”

Is this girl getting cocky with me? Hey now, I’m the older one here!

“What the hell are you talking about?!” I said as I tossed my money pouch onto the table, “I’m living the high life over here! I traveled the world, got rich from my connections, have a job working at Anna’s family’s restaurant, AND I get to spend every day with her!”

Both girls wore flushed faces as I said that. Looks like I got a bit overexcited there and said something awkward. Well, at least I got my point across.

“I-Is that so?” Eleanor paused, “Then that’s fine. I-It’s just… wow, I didn’t expect you to be doing so well after just leaving on your own.”

“Well, it wasn’t on his own.” Anna added, “Lune was there with him, too.”

“Ah, right. That guy was always with you, putting all sorts of ideas in your head.” Eleanor sighed, “Honestly, a small part of me thought you two got hitched, and that’s why you left home.”

…

“What nonsense are you spouting?! That’s obviously not the fucking case here?? Grim’s my bestest bud, and you dare soil our friendship with your vile ideas?!”

“Eeh? To think you’d get so flustered over my little jab, was I perhaps spot on?”

I swear to every God that exists out there, so help me if I don’t punch the crap out of my little girl right this instant-!

“Ahahahaha!” Anna’s laughter suddenly stopped our heated argument.

“The hell are you laughing at, woman?”

“Oi, don’t talk to Anna that way, brat!”

“Ahaha, oh, don’t worry about me. It’s just… I’m an only child, so seeing you two being so lively is really a pleasant sight to see. You two must really care for each other if you’re able to so freely talk to one another even after spending years apart.”

“…”

“…”

The Goddess Anna strikes once again! This time managing to somehow diffuse the situation in just a couple of words! That’s our Anna for you! Way to go! I could give you a kiss as thanks! Err, well, we’ll hold off on that for now…

“Hey, Ed?”

“Yes, Eleanor?”

“Just marry that girl already! I’ll never forgive you if she doesn’t become my sister-in-law!”

“MU-?! E-ELEANOR!”

“EH?! S-SISTER?!”

This little twerp…! Well, looks like she’s fully accepted Anna, in her own way at least. That’ll make clearing the animosity from my parents a little easier, as well. Oh, speaking of, isn’t it about time they come home from work right around now?

“We’re home!” The doors open (a lot calmer than they did when I came bursting through), “Eleanor, what on earth happened to the doorway? It’s all dented, like someone kicked it-”

“Hi.”

At the sight of me, Anna and Eleanor all sitting together around the living room table, dad immediately collapsed, and mom was left utterly confused whilst tending to her knocked out husband.

“I-Is everything alright, Mother?!” Anna got up to check on them.

I thought it was prime time to use Analyze now, so I quickly glanced at my mom with a mischievous grin. Her head was empty, no thoughts at all. Only one word floated around in that endless void, and that word belonged to Anna. In other words, hearing Anna call her ‘Mother’ made her brain blow a fuse. She quickly collapsed from the shock as well.

“EH?! M-MOTHER?!”