If Ryan had heard what Mei said, he'd probably cough up blood three times and demand to know which eye she used to see this so-called "good relationship."
In the end, Mobius didn't come. Ryan didn't have the time or patience to argue. As for Elysia, she was completely unreliable—she'd claimed she'd take charge, only to dump all the troublesome logistics onto him.
So, Ryan introduced Himiko to the group, called Ato to confirm her arrival time, and finally led everyone to the villa.
The glass doors were shut, the curtains drawn—a façade of mystery.
"Ryan, looks like Elysia's got a surprise for you," Mei said with a knowing smirk, nudging him forward.
"Come on, she just wants a birthday party and decided to slap my name on it," Ryan muttered, walking up to the door. In a real battle, he'd scout with electromagnetic pulses, but this wasn't combat.
"Wait—Miss Elysia's birthday is the same as yours?" Himiko asked, eyebrows raised. "The two most powerful people sharing a birthday? That's one hell of a coincidence."
"Nope. Mine's on the tenth, hers is the eleventh. But hey—it's already 7 PM on the nineteenth, so I guess it transitions smoothly."
Ryan found it oddly convenient. He opened the door, and—Bang! Bang!—ribbons exploded in the air, fluttering down onto his head.
For a brief second, the sudden gunshot-like sound made Ryan's body instinctively tense, muscles ready for combat, before he remembered he wasn't on a battlefield.
"Happy Birthday, Ryan!"
Elysia bounced up and handed him a gift. Then came the wave of enthusiastic applause.
"Happy Birthday, Ryan!"
Voices rang out, loud and off-sync, full of energy and sincerity. Ryan stood there for a moment, a little stunned.
Had it really been twenty years in this world?
Flashes of memory passed before his eyes like a slide show—the overwhelming joy of waking up in this body, the bone-deep terror upon realizing he was in the Previous Era, and the spark of hope he'd felt when he awakened the Path.
He had killed people, hunted beasts, fought Herrschers, drowned in the sea of knowledge, and bathed in blood on the battlefield. His so-called "final plan" had changed countless times.
All he'd wanted at the beginning was a cryo-sleep pod. A way to live out the next 50,000 years peacefully.
And yet—he wasn't sure what twist of fate brought him here. All he knew was that he was back in the present, surrounded by familiar faces.
Whatever. At least it's been a hell of a ride.
Unknowingly, Ryan had fully integrated into this world. Despite all his efforts to minimize the butterfly effect, he'd gathered a group of people around him.
Among them, the Ato family, holding a little girl—three or four years old—with short blue hair and a round, cherubic face.
Griseo?
In the past, he would've been shocked. Now, with more than half of the future Flame-Chasers already around him—none of them having undergone Fusion surgery—he simply took a closer look, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
So many of them, their fates already altered by me. It's... surreal.
"Ryan, what are you spacing out for?" Kevin came over with his usual sunny grin, clapping him on the shoulder with a warm hand.
"Yeah, Senior Brother, let's go," Hua added softly—rare curiosity flickering across her usually stoic face.
Just then, the sound of rolling wheels echoed behind him. He turned and saw Sakura smiling gently as she pushed out a cake. Mobius gave a cold huff in the background.
So much had changed.
A genuine smile spread across Ryan's face. He straightened up and walked over to the cake, where the crowd was already gathering, full of laughter and joy.
"Ely, you came too? Even though your birthday's just a few hours off."
"Hehe, I was waiting for you to say that ♪" Elysia beamed. She leaned in and poked him in the chest. "And you! Why are you still in your everyday clothes? Everyone else dressed up!"
Only then did Ryan notice—everyone had changed into casual party outfits. Some of the girls even had light makeup on. Even Mobius had changed into a low-cut V-neck dress.
"What are you staring at? Mei made me change," Mobius grumbled defensively, hearing the others chuckle around her. She bit her lip, sulking in silence.
This time, Ryan didn't tease her. He glanced at Kevin, who was in a pristine white suit, practically radiating charm.
"No wonder something felt off. This guy looks like a damn golden retriever."
"Hey! What did I ever do to you?!"
Ryan shrugged, glancing down at his simple shirt and jacket. "Then my first wish is this: for today to be as ordinary as my clothes."
He knew how to speak when it mattered. In a world increasingly ravaged by Honkai, even the smallest wishes carried weight.
"Ryan, if you say your wish out loud, it won't come true! You still have two chances left!" Elysia panicked, nearly covering his mouth. "Sakura, turn off the lights! Light the candles!"
Click.
The lights went out. Only two tiny flames flickered on the cake, casting a soft glow over the smiling faces around him.
"Ely, let's make our wishes together."
"Okay!"
Everyone fell silent. Ryan and Elysia closed their eyes, murmuring silently. No one else heard what he wished for.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and met Elysia's strange, amused expression.
"Ryan, what did you wish for?"
"You said wishes won't come true if you say them aloud. But I did hear yours, loud and clear—something about eating all the delicious food and never gaining weight…"
"Shut it!"
A chunk of cake was shoved into his mouth. Sweetness exploded on his tongue. Around him, laughter erupted.
"Hahaha! Elysia, I knew you'd get fat one day!"
"Dr. Mobius, is it really necessary to be so gleeful about it?"
"Heh, well, Mei's put on some weight too lately. She says Fire Moth's food is just too good."
"Kevin, want to go for a walk?" Su asked, clearly trying to help.
"Su, should we rescue Kevin? I think he's waving the white flag."
"Don't mind them," Ryan said, chewing. "We didn't hear anything."
...
The lively chatter swelled around him. Ryan slowly closed his eyes—not because of the sweetness lingering in his mouth, but because of the warmth blooming quietly in his chest. His lips curved upward almost involuntarily.
"Ryan, I've never seen you smile like that," Elysia said as she turned back to him. She was used to his usual expressions—a polite smile, the occasional cold smirk, and now and then, a touch of gentleness.
"This is just me getting into the mood," Ryan replied, eyes still half-lidded. "It's called a knowing smile. Don't overthink it. I just thought the jokes were funny."
"What jokes?"
"The ones about your weight. Every decimal counts, right?"
"Hmph! If you keep talking like that, I'll get angry. I've learned a lot from Mei lately. Want me to demonstrate?"
Ryan froze, lowering his head without hesitation. "I was wrong."
"Too late ♪" Elysia grinned and popped a bite of cake into her mouth, her face lighting up in bliss. "But since the cake is good, I'll forgive you just this once ♪"
Everyone took a slice, but no one threw it at each other. Except for Griseo, they'd all witnessed the world's darker corners. They knew how, in chaotic places, even a sliver of food could mean survival.
Ryan didn't act like a leader. After cutting the cake, he didn't make a speech. Instead, he simply led the group outside and lit the braziers.
Maybe because of the lingering Honkai energy, even Hawaii felt a little chilly tonight. As colorful lights lit up the villa, trays of food were brought out and set over the open flames. Ryan manned one of the grills himself, watching his friends gather into small groups, laughing and chatting.
"Hua, go keep Captain Himiko company. There's wine in the cellar—make sure she enjoys herself. Sakura, you don't need to help here. Go join Kevin and the others for some card games. There's a console in the living room too, if you'd rather play."
He waved off his two assistants. Hua nodded immediately—she'd already sensed something off about Himiko. Her laughter had been just a little too loud, a little too forced. Sakura, however, hesitated.
"I don't know how to play cards. Or games."
"Then learn."
"Is it really worth learning that kind of thing?"
Ryan paused from brushing oil on the lamb leg, his voice softening. "Living better is always worth it. It's just as important as fighting."
Sakura blinked. She turned to look at the vibrant courtyard, then slowly stood.
"Then… I'll go?"
"Yeah. Go on."
Ryan returned to the grill. With Su around, he wasn't worried about Sakura feeling out of place. He turned the lamb, adding another layer of oil, then dusted on salt and chili powder. The lamb was turning a rich golden brown; the bacon beside it had started curling and crisping at the edges.
He glanced around the courtyard. His gaze landed near the pool.
Mobius was talking with Blanca and her family, holding Griseo rather awkwardly while trying to correct her grammar. The girl giggled freely, completely ignoring the scientist's stern tone.
"Mobius!"
The Doctor froze mid-sentence. She looked up and saw Ryan waving at her. She hesitated.
"Go on, Doctor. He's calling you," Blanca said kindly, taking Griseo into her arms. "Griseo, come back to Mommy."
"Hmph. He made me mad earlier. What, now he thinks a little wave will fix things? As if." Mobius crossed her arms and looked away, her aloofness making Blanca smile even more.
"It's normal for couples to bicker sometimes. Just give him a little leeway. Right, Ato?"
"Yeah, sure. Though I do wonder… why is it always us men who have to apologize—ow!" Ato yelped as a stiletto heel pressed down lightly on his foot. His wife smiled sweetly at him.
"Right, right. Blanca's always right."
Hmph. This idiot's lowering the IQ of my assistants. If I'd known earlier, I would've cut off this relationship. But… Griseo's so adorable, I'll let it go.
"Ahem. Fine," Mobius muttered, flipping her hair with exaggerated grace. "I'll let him off the hook this once." She took a few steps toward the grill, then suddenly stopped. "And for the record—I'm not in a relationship with him. Got it?!"
"So Dr. Mobius is a Tsundere, huh?"
"She always talks like that. She's all bark."
"Please, I could tell something was up ever since Shanghai. And Hua too—something's definitely going on. How does that guy manage it?"
"Ato, you sound jealous," Blanca said with a smile that was far too sweet.
"Jealous? Me? Never! I'm condemning his shameless harem behavior!"
Their teasing banter trailed behind her, and Mobius quickened her pace until their voices faded out.
She approached the brazier and found Ryan fully focused on the lamb leg, carefully adjusting the heat and brushing the glaze. There was a serious look on his face—intense, precise.
It reminded Mobius of herself back in the lab.
That same intensity. That same focus.
But there was something else here too… something warmer. She glanced around at the others, watching them laugh and relax under the string lights.
Her gaze drifted back to Ryan.
Ato's words echoed in her mind.
You damn womanizer… flirting with everyone.
A faint, conflicted scowl crept onto her face.