Rin stood in the doorway of the penthouse suite, his brain seemingly crashing and trying to reboot because the woman standing next to the lunatic scientist wasn't just some random executive, she was the person who used to make him burnt toast on Saturdays and who had supposedly died in a car wreck four years ago.
"Mom?" Rin asked, his voice sounding small and stupid in the massive room.
She looked exactly the same, maybe a little paler and wearing a combat suit that cost more than his entire neighborhood, but it was her, the same tilt of the head, the same dark eyes, even the way she held her hands clasped in front of her was identical to how she used to wait for him to finish his homework.
"It's been a while, Rin," she said, her voice smooth and calm, showing absolutely zero concern that he was covered in monster guts and standing next to a guy holding a sword made of golden light.
