Chapter 21:
Resurrection
“I’M NOT GOING! You can’t make me!” Leon clung to one of the apartment pillars as Marie tried desperately to rip him off and drag him away.
“I told you, we don’t have time for this, you big idiot!” She had to get him back quickly, but he was throwing a tantrum.
“What business do you have calling me an idiot, loser?!”
“That’s it! Now you’ve done it!”
The two were already bickering. Angie, Livia, and Noelle watched on the sidelines, bewildered.
“What’s going on?” Angie demanded.
Livia shook her head. “I-I’m as lost as you are.”
“You two really are siblings, huh?” said Noelle.
There was no room for uncertainty about the pair’s connection, at least. It explained all the mysteries and doubts that had cropped up during their time together. The other girls were relieved to know Marie and Leon weren’t actually romantically involved. Still, the biggest issue was Leon’s stubborn refusal to come back with them after they’d gone to all this trouble to find him.
They couldn’t just stand idly by. They had to convince him.
“Leon,” Angie said gently. “We have to hurry, or you won’t be able to come back to life.”
“She’s absolutely right! Everyone’s so worried about you,” Livia added.
“Anyway, you shouldn’t whine about not wanting to go back when we’re right here,” Noelle scolded him lightly. “It hurts to hear that.”
“I’m not coming back,” he said stubbornly. “I suffered plenty already! I’m settling down here and enjoying some peace and quiet!”
Marie finally released her grip on him, planting her foot right on his rear end instead.
“Yowch!”
“I freakin’ told you, there isn’t much time! We’ve got to get a move on!” she snapped.
“Do you have any idea how much I’ve gone through? I’m tired of it all! At this point, I’ve worked enough for several lifetimes.” He obviously wouldn’t budge easily.
“Leon, do you really not want to come back with us?” Angie asked, devastated. “Do you not want to spend time with us?” Tears slid down her cheeks.
Leon pulled a face and looked away, unable to meet her gaze.
“The fighting is already over, Mr. Leon,” added Livia. “I can’t promise that you’ll never go through hardships again, but I’m sure the future can only get better.”
“Let’s go back together. I’d be lost without you, Leon,” added Noelle.
Leon choked out a laugh. “Marie spilled everything, didn’t she? So you must know I just saw you guys as video game characters. I only approached the three of you because you’re hot. I gave Marie a lot of crap for what she did, but I was no different. I caught your interest simply because I knew how to say and do the right things.”
Livia shook her head. She realized at once that he was only pretending to be a bad guy to shake them off. “You’re not that type of person. You always wanted to live a simple, peaceful life on your own. You didn’t help us for your own benefit. You only approached us because we were in trouble and needed you.”
Leon wouldn’t meet Livia’s eyes either. She’d seen right through him, but he wasn’t about to give up this charade. “That’s because you were vulnerable then. I knew you were more likely to accept me. And, see? I lucked out—three hot fiancées.”
Angie walked over and threw her arms around him. “Even if that was why you did it, I wouldn’t care! Please, come back with us. My life would lose all meaning without you in it. I don’t even want to live without you.”
His lips quivered as he struggled to figure out how to respond.
Marie and Leon’s parents peeked from the kitchen. They’d excused themselves to let everyone talk in private, but they couldn’t help eavesdropping. His mother was particularly disgusted with what she saw.
“I didn’t expect him to take so many brides,” she complained.
Leon’s father glowered at him too. “Man, am I jeal—er, I mean, what a rotten son we have. Unforgivable behavior.”
“You and I will have a talk later.”
“Huh?!”
Leon’s mother harrumphed and padded over to Angie and the other girls. “If you keep up this arguing, you’ll only waste more time. Why don’t you four take a little rest for a few minutes?”
Leon finally released his hold on the pillar, and the group settled around the kotatsu, along with the cat that had somehow followed them inside.