"Grandma, I'm home."
Announcing our arrival, Ilyas invited me inside. Hearing no reply, Ilyas curiously opened Grandma Zaza's room, taking a quick glance inside before turning to me.
"I think she went out. I'll make some tea, you can sit down first."
'That means there's only the two of us here.'
I awkwardly settled down at the kitchen table as Ilyas served me a cup of tea. On the corner of my eye, I noticed a few yellow papers in the trash can. When I passed by Ilyas' slightly opened room before, I could see things related to shamanism – yin and yang tablet, incense, and talisman papers – scattered across his room.
That made me wonder.
'Is he pursuing the arts of shamanism?'
Perhaps Ilyas decided to follow his grandmother's footsteps to study his family's tradition more intensively after he graduated. The thought of our main protagonist holding paper dolls like wuxia characters in movies seemed cool, and thinking that it might actually happen made me grin like a fool.
Who knows, maybe after Ilyas mastered all knowledge related to shamanism, he would be as great or even better than Grandma Zaza. That was a possibility considering he's the main character of this world.
"How was today's raid?"
Ilyas' clear voice awakened me from my fantasy. Taking one the teacups from his hand, I answered, "We did one S-Rank gate and one rupture, this is the third time this year, which was unusual."
Ilyas looked down in guilt, "Sorry, I couldn't guide you guys because of my exam."
While I understood the importance of guides in strike teams, a guide also had their own personal life, especially one who's still a student like Ilyas, so there's nothing for him to feel guilty for.
I smiled, patting his head, "Once you graduate you will be guiding us all day, so this is the perfect time to enjoy your last days in university."
Sipping his tea, Ilyas mumbled, "I wonder what you looked like as a college student." Curiosity filled his eyes as he looked at me, "Did you wear a suit too back then? When did you start wearing a suit?"
I chuckled at his question. I guess my image was that formal in his eyes.
"Of course not, I wore whatever I wanted back then, I just started wearing suit after I awakened as an esper."
"Why?"
"Just because." I smiled as I touched the teacup in my hand.
Choosing to become a combat esper and wearing a suit was a tribute to the original Ethan.
In the comic, Ethan was portrayed wearing a suit, and out of guilt for possessing his body, I took that characteristic so I didn't stray too far from the original story's Ethan. Part of it was also out of my fear of causing too much butterfly effect to the plot.
But that's something I couldn't tell Ilyas, so I kept my mouth shut.
Ilyas grabbed my hand, with the most resolute tone in his voice, he said, "No matter what happens, I'll never make you sad, I promise."
'I wonder where he gets that courage from.'
Ilyas was always able to guess what emotion I was feeling, giving me comfort I never knew I needed.
The comic emphasized his naivety and innocence as a weakness but never described his empathy and gentle nature as his strength. You didn't have to be an S-Rank esper to be called strong, being able to fear the unknown and then overcame it with courage was also strength too.
I admired those who stood on their own two feet in the face of hardship and Ilyas was one of them.
'I really am weak against him.'
We took our time to silently enjoy the tea, though it's a tasteless tea with no fragrant at all, the moment we spent together felt more than enough to make it sweet.
.
.
"For Ilyas and his long-awaited graduation!"
"Cheers!"
I chugged down a glass of beer in one go, enjoying the mood.
With Ilyas' graduation paper – still freshly stamped – now in his hand, we held a celebration with all Team Zero members in a barbecue restaurant.
The sound of meat sizzling from all corners of the restaurant was music to our ears. We ordered piles of meat and indulged ourselves in alcohol.
"Kuhh! Beer and meat are a match made in heaven! I just can't get over the taste!"
Xain slammed the glass on the table, wiping his mouth as his face started to flush. Matching his energy, I followed up.
"Let's get wasted tonight! Here! Drink more!"
"Ohh! You definitely know my taste Ethan! Bring it up!"
Alcohol already invaded my brain, and all I thought about was how to make the party more festive, so I hyped up Xain and poured him more drinks.
Cedric gave us a side-eye as he spoke to Ilyas.
"Those two are acting like kids again."
"Haha, they are always like that."
Hearing their talk, I squinted my eyes and gave Cedric a judging look.
"If you haven't felt how life-saving alcohol is, you don't get to judge us Cedric. When life goes downhill, alcohol is your best friend. Just like people said, when life gives you lemon you make cocktails out from it."
"It's lemonade not cocktails- Haah... Are you drunk? You are speaking like an addict."
I smirked smugly as Cedric rubbed his head in frustration.
"You know I'm a heavy drinker, I'm just speaking nonsense to annoy you."
"You little-"
He glared at me with a death stare, which made the three of us laugh. Cedric sighed in helplessness, but soon a small smile also formed on his face.
Teasing him had become one of our daily conversations. Every time we dine out – which happened often – there would always be one opening like this that I could use to tease him. And I, being the shameless man that I was, enjoyed it very much.
"Anyway, our star needs to drink too. Would you like a second glass Ilyas?"
"I'm good, I'll enjoy the meat instead."
I nodded and put one of the cooked meats on his plate instead.
"Eat well, drink well, rest well. You deserved it."
Ilyas nodded, a smile formed on his face, "Thank you."
"Once again, for Ilyas' and his graduation! Cheers!"