บท 9: Chapter 9
"We need to find Himiko a tutor," Faruzan stated firmly, glancing up from the report in her hands.
Wanderer raised an eyebrow, his tone flat. "And why exactly is that my problem?"
"Because you helped save her, remember?" Faruzan shot back, arms crossed. "You're not just going to leave her hanging now. Her well-being is your responsibility too."
He frowned, clearly annoyed. "...Fine, I'll look into it, but she's not being tutored here."
Faruzan narrowed her eyes, matching his glare. "And I'm not leaving her alone in my apartment with some random tutor."
The tension in the room thickened as they stared each other down, neither willing to back down. Minutes passed in a silent battle of wills.
Finally, Wanderer exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "Fine. She can be tutored in one of the spare rooms we've got."
Faruzan's lips curled into a victorious smirk. "Thank you." Her smugness grated on Wanderer.
===========================
Fuyumi Todoroki sat at her desk, sifting through emails on her laptop. It had been a long day of teaching lessons, but she felt a spark of excitement. She was hoping to land a full-time job at an elementary school soon.
Not yet, though. First, she needed more hands-on experience with individual students. That's why she had posted her services as a personal tutor online—a few one-on-one sessions would help her hone her skills.
A new notification popped up, and she smiled at the title: her first inquiry!
Opening the email, Fuyumi's eyes widened with each line she read. The chances of this happening felt one-in-a-million.
The request was from the number two hero himself. The student? A girl named Himiko. The same Himiko she had heard rumors about—an unusual case, to say the least.
She bit her lip, thinking it over. Accepting the job would give her valuable experience in teaching, even if Himiko was a bit older than the usual student. But the location—and the implications—could definitely raise some eyebrows.
Especially with her father. He wouldn't be happy about this. At all.
'Maybe it's best not to mention the details to him,' she thought.
After a brief pause, Fuyumi made her decision. With a deep breath, she typed out her response and hit send. She was going to tutor Himiko, and no one—not even her father—would stand in her way.
===========================
Fuyumi Todoroki stood in front of the imposing building that housed Wanderer's agency, her book bag slung over one shoulder, phone in hand. The weight of her decision pressed on her. She had told her father she was heading to her first tutoring session—thankfully, he hadn't asked for details. If he knew she was working for his rival and tutoring a girl once labeled a villain, he'd be livid.
Steady yourself, she thought, taking a deep breath. With renewed determination, she walked through the agency's doors.
The receptionist sat at a sleek desk, typing away on her computer. Fuyumi approached, her nerves bubbling up again, but she kept her voice steady. "Hello, I'm Fuyumi Todoroki. I'm the tutor Mr... Wanderer hired."
The receptionist glanced up and gave a polite nod. "Ah, yes. One moment." She pulled a badge from a drawer and handed it to Fuyumi. "Take the elevator to the 12th floor. Once there, go down the hall to the third door on your right."
"Thank you," Fuyumi said, accepting the badge and heading toward the elevator.
As she pressed the button for the 12th floor, her mind wandered to her family. Her father had been furious when Wanderer took the number two hero spot. Natsuo, on the other hand, had found the situation hilarious. Shoto hadn't said much, but she knew the increased training demanded by their father had unsettled him.
'He's still trying to mold Shoto into his idea of the perfect hero…' Fuyumi shook her head, pushing those thoughts aside. This wasn't the time.
The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside. Swiping the badge against the scanner, she pressed the button for the 12th floor and sighed, rubbing her temples as the elevator ascended.
When the doors opened, she stepped out into a quiet hallway, her footsteps echoing as she walked toward the third door on the right. Just as she reached for the handle, she heard voices from the other side.
"Are you sure the intel's reliable?" a male voice asked, clipped and serious.
"It's a rumor at best, but it's the only lead we have," a female voice responded.
Before Fuyumi could knock, the door opened. Standing before her was Wanderer himself—the number two hero of Japan. His sharp eyes landed on her immediately, suspicion flickering across his features.
"Who are you?" he asked, his tone direct.
Fuyumi blinked, her nerves spiking. "I-I'm the tutor! Fuyumi Todoroki."
He studied her for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Faruzan will brief you. I have somewhere to be."
Without another word, Wanderer brushed past her, his presence lingering even as he left.
Fuyumi stood frozen for a second, blinking rapidly before shaking her head and stepping into the room. Inside, she was greeted by Faruzan and a girl she instantly recognized—Himiko.
Fuyumi swallowed. The challenge ahead of her was clear.
She definitely had her work cut out for her.
===========================
Wanderer had been soaring through the sky for hours. Faruzan had mentioned rumors of strange happenings in the countryside, so he'd decided to investigate. He flew high above the earth, scanning the horizon as he neared the coordinates she'd given him.
Upon landing, he began his search. He questioned locals, combed through the area, and scoured every possible lead. But nothing turned up. It was as if the rumors were nothing more than whispers on the wind.
After what felt like an endless chase, Wanderer sighed, the weight of exhaustion settling in as he made his way through a dense forest. He couldn't blame Faruzan—she was doing her best—but the search had proven fruitless.
He paused mid-step, a sudden wave of fatigue washing over him. It was odd—he didn't require sleep. His body wasn't designed to tire like this.
"Strange..." he muttered, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I shouldn't feel this way."
Without realizing it, he found himself leaning against a tree, his legs giving out beneath him. Pulling his hat down over his eyes, he sighed.
Maybe just a brief rest...
Before he knew it, Wanderer drifted off, only to find himself standing in a familiar yet unsettling black void.
"Why am I dreaming?" he asked himself, the emptiness stretching endlessly around him. He began walking, each step echoing in the silence, but the strangeness of it all gnawed at him. He shouldn't be here, not in a dream.
And then, it struck him: the fatigue, the forest, this dream—something was drawing him into this.
"So, you've finally found me, Buer?" Wanderer's voice cut through the silence as he turned, his eyes narrowing.
Standing before him was the Dendro Archon herself.
"It's been a while," Nahida, the tiny Archon, greeted him with a soft smile. "It took me some time, but I've managed to reach you."
Wanderer crossed his arms, a rare flicker of relief crossing his features. "I suppose being out of our dimension didn't make it easy for you, Nahida."
Nahida placed her hands on her hips, a playful pout on her lips. "I told you to call me Nahida, remember?"
"Right, sorry," Wanderer sighed, his posture relaxing a bit.
Nahida blinked, surprised by the calmness in his tone and the ease with which he carried himself. "You've changed," she observed softly. Then, as if remembering her purpose, she continued. "It wasn't easy, reaching you. I had to focus on the leyline near the area where you disappeared. It took a long time, but I was able to open a small breach, just enough for some of my power to slip through."
"Good thing I stumbled on that disturbance then," Wanderer muttered. "Have you found a way back to Teyvat?"
Nahida's expression turned thoughtful. "Not yet... but I need to ask you for something. May I see your memories?"
Wanderer frowned, his suspicion clear. "Why?"
"I want to understand this world you've found yourself in," Nahida explained, her smile kind. "It may help with my research and... help me find a way to bring you back."
Wanderer hesitated, then slowly nodded. "If it helps, fine." He closed his eyes, allowing her to peer into his mind.
Nahida raised her hand, and images flooded her mind—Wanderer's arrival in this new world, his actions, the connections he had made. She saw his deeds as a hero, his relationships with those around him, and most of all, his bond with Faruzan and the troubled girl, Himiko.
When she finally lowered her hand, a soft smile played on her lips.
"Well?" Wanderer asked, his voice breaking her out of her thoughts. "Find anything useful?"
Nahida tilted her head thoughtfully. "Besides discovering that you're not the only one from Teyvat here, nothing directly useful just yet. But... I have a more important question for you."
Wanderer raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Her expression turned serious. "Do you truly wish to leave?"
Wanderer's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Do you wish to leave this life you've created here? The new beginning you've been given?" Nahida's voice was gentle, but the weight of her question hung heavy in the air.
Wanderer crossed his arms and turned slightly, gazing into the void. "I still have my sins to atone for," he said quietly. "The wrongs I've committed can't be undone with a snap of the fingers. I learned that when I erased myself from Irminsul."
"But you've done so much good here," Nahida countered, her voice full of warmth. "You're a hero in this world. You've saved lives, brought hope to people. You even saved a little girl from her own suffering and cleared her name."
"That's what heroes do," Wanderer scoffed, a trace of bitterness in his voice.
"Yes, but you did it," Nahida insisted. "Are you really ready to leave all that behind? The connections you've made, the people you've touched? The connection that Faruzan made with Himiko?"
Wanderer paused, her words striking deeper than he expected. If he left this world, if he and Faruzan found a way back to Teyvat... could they really abandon Himiko? Could they take her with them?
Nahida stepped forward, her expression softening. "I can reach you through dreams now that we're connected. Please, think about what I've said. You were given this new life for a reason, and I believe those who sent you here have already forgiven you."
Wanderer remained silent, her words swirling in his mind as the dream slowly began to fade.
When he awoke, the stars above glimmered against the dark sky. Nahida's question echoed in his thoughts.
Does he want to return to Teyvat? Could he leave everything he had built in this world behind?
With a final sigh, he lifted himself into the air, hovering for a moment as he glanced back at the forest. Then, with a burst of speed, he shot back toward the city, Nahida's question still heavy on his mind.
===========================
Wanderer had been flying for exactly three hours and nineteen minutes. The cold night air whipped past him as he soared over the bustling city, his sharp eyes scanning the streets below. Japan's nightlife was alive, glowing with neon signs and bustling crowds. But his mind was elsewhere, weighed down by thoughts he couldn't shake.
Spotting a quiet rooftop, he descended, landing softly as he surveyed the area. The city was peaceful, for now.
It had been three days since his encounter with Nahida. Her words still echoed in his mind, questions he wasn't ready to face. He'd told Faruzan the investigation had been a dead end. She didn't seem too disappointed, likely preoccupied with Himiko at the time.
The soft scrape of boots on concrete caught his attention. Wanderer turned, his eyes narrowing as a man in a black jumpsuit with a white scarf approached.
"What's the number two hero doing out here at this hour?" the man asked.
Wanderer recognized him immediately. "Eraserhead. Not exactly a name that inspires confidence, is it?" he muttered, rolling his eyes.
Eraserhead's expression didn't change. "I'm not in this for the spotlight. I leave that to heroes like you."
Wanderer smirked faintly. "Good. The job is what matters, not the circus that comes with it." He crossed his arms, turning back toward the city below.
Eraserhead stood beside him, silent for a moment before speaking again. "You didn't answer my question."
"I patrol across Japan. I don't need to sleep," Wanderer replied nonchalantly, adjusting his hat. In truth, though, he knew he should sleep—if only to check if Nahida had more to say.
"Everyone needs sleep," Eraserhead countered with a scoff.
Wanderer shrugged. "I suppose. Has there been any activity in this district?"
"Nothing major. A few small-time drug deals, some wannabe thieves trying to make trouble." Eraserhead knelt by the edge of the rooftop, watching the streets below with a practiced eye. "Quiet tonight."
Wanderer was silent for a moment, his thoughts drifting. Then, without turning, he asked, "What's the story on the Naruhata lockdown?"
Eraserhead looked over at him, sensing the weight behind the question. "The villains were taken down. The case is closed. No need to reopen it."
Wanderer nodded slowly. 'Of all days for it to happen, it had to be when I was gone.' His thoughts lingered on the incident, a small pang of guilt gnawing at him. But then, without warning, he shifted to another question.
"…What do you think would happen if I disappeared? Completely?"
Eraserhead turned, his gaze narrowing. "Why are you asking that?"
Wanderer's voice grew sharper. "Just answer the question."
Eraserhead sighed, leaning back slightly. "If you vanished without a trace, people would panic. They'd wonder where you went, why you left. You've made an impact."
"They still have All Might. And Endeavor," Wanderer scoffed. "I'm just one more hero."
Eraserhead shook his head. "You're not just 'one more hero.' You're the number two. You've made your mark, whether you like it or not. People see you as the next All Might."
Wanderer's scowl deepened, his irritation flaring. "I am nothing like that loud, muscle-bound fool."
Eraserhead let out a rare chuckle. "You're right. You take this job seriously. You don't hog the spotlight or pose for cameras longer than necessary."
Wanderer sighed, his mind briefly drifting to Faruzan. "That's because I have an assistant who won't stop pushing me to be some kind of symbol for these people."
"Well, it's working," Eraserhead replied, his voice low but genuine. "You're reliable. A lot of people look up to you, more than you realize."
Wanderer was quiet for a moment, letting the words sink in. Surprisingly, it was easy to talk to Eraserhead. The man didn't waste time with pretense or theatrics. He was straightforward, and Wanderer appreciated that.
After a long silence, Wanderer placed his hat back on and gazed out over the cityscape. "Thanks. Your opinion… helped more than I expected." Without waiting for a reply, he hovered into the air, then shot off into the night sky, disappearing into the darkness.
As he flew, he wonder of Nahida's question returned, heavier than ever.
Could I really leave? Leave this world, this life I've built? He had become a hero here, a protector of people who knew nothing of his past sins. His crimes in Teyvat were erased from history, but they still lived within him. And yet… he had formed connections here. Faruzan, Himiko, the people of this world.
Could he abandon them? The idea of returning to Teyvat, of walking away from the life he had carved out here, seemed more complicated. He had come to this world expecting to find a way back home, but now…
His fist clenched, frustration building inside him. Whoever sent him here knew that he would become a hero to find a way back home, but ended up forming attachments here…
With a burst of speed, Wanderer rocketed back toward his agency, the city lights blurring beneath him.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง