◃◃ New Memory #19 ▹▹

Nakamoto Yuta

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A few minutes ago, Nakamoto excitedly summoned the twenty of us to the kitchen.

Though we were confused, we still followed him with anticipation. He then revealed that he invited us to join his "Takoyaki Party", in which we would all just relax and hang out while we ate Takoyaki that he made.

Upon hearing this, we all then decided to split up into a few groups.

-

Taeyong and Sicheng joined Nakamoto, to help him prepare the Takoyaki.

Taeil and Johnny brought out plates and utensils for everyone.

Doyoung and Ten got cups, and began retrieving everyone's selected drink choices.

Xiaojun, Hendery, and YangYang did nothing but goof around the kitchen while playing music.

Jaehyun and Kun happily brought out the napkins for everyone.

Jungwoo and Lucas stood around having a chat, while sipping on the drinks that Doyoung and Ten brought them.

Jeno sat silently and read a book, while Chenle changed into a cat and rested on his lap.

Mark and Donghyuck gazed out the window while they had a little chat.

Jisung and Jaemin were looking at the news on Jaemin's phone.

And I was sitting near Nakamoto, Taeyong, and Sicheng, experimenting with my powers a bit.

I read that Nephalems and demons can retract their horns and tails at will, and I finally figured out how to do it.

I focused my energy to my horns and tail, and used that energy to get a grip on them. I used that energy to successfully retract my horns into my head, and my tail into my lower back.

I took a quick look at myself with my phone, and I was happy to see that it worked. It makes me look like how I used to look just a few years ago~.

Though they've only been gone for only a few seconds, I used my energy to pull them back out. I really like my horns and tail now, so I'll only put them away on certain occasions.

I'm just glad that my little experiment was a success~.

"They're all done~! I'll bring them around, then everyone can pick their toppings~!"

Nakamoto happily announced.

Nakamoto filled a tray with the first set of balls, and Taeyong and Sicheng gathered up all of the toppings on their own trays.

After making sure they were ready, Taeyong and Sicheng followed behind Nakamoto and began serving us.

-

"These are really good Nakamoto~. You really mastered the art of Takoyaki~"

"Thank you hyung~. I've been studying different ways to make it in my free time~. And by the look of things, I guess it paid off~"

"It definitely has~. They're even better than the first time you made them~"

I complimented.

Everyone finished eating their Takoyaki already, and left to either take naps or lounge around elsewhere. Taeyong, however, waited until we all finished before he started eating.

At the moment, Nakamoto and I were washing dishes, while Taeyong sat near us eating his Takoyaki.

"I'm so glad that you guys enjoyed them~. But..."

"What's wrong???"

Taeyong questioned with concern.

I could already tell what Nakamoto was thinking.

"...I wish I could've gotten the chance to make some Takoyaki for my parents"

"You did get reborn here without warning while you were still in college... But I thought you would've already made them some since you loved making it?"

Taeyong looked confused.

"I did...once. But it was a disaster..."

"How come hyung?"

I asked.

"I made some for them once, when I was still in high school. My parents were out at the time, and since I had free time while I was home alone, I wanted to surprise them. I worked really hard on it, but even though they looked perfect, the taste itself was completely off. I wanted to dispose of the rest of the batch, but my parents came home before I could..."

He explained.

"I told them what happened, but even knowing that my creation was a failure, they still tried them. And to my surprise, they ate all of them. They saw what I meant about the taste, but they still congratulated me for my efforts"

"That doesn't sound too bad"

Taeyong was once again confused.

"It's not, but I still failed. That's why I pursued going to culinary school once I graduated. I loved cooking, and that day, I really had fun making Takoyaki. I studied and worked hard, so that one day, I could make them the best Takoyaki ever. But..., I was reborn here before I got the chance to complete my studies..."

"So that's why..."

Now that Taeyong understood, he grew sad from Nakamoto's story.

But, this won't be sad for long.

"But now you can hyung~"

"Huh...??"

Nakamoto looked confused.

"You can make Takoyaki for your parents now~. Even though you never got the chance to complete your studies, you still managed to remember that part of your past, and continued to study it. That's why they tasted so good when you made them that day. You made them so much in your past, that it was just second nature when you came here. And now, you've completely mastered the art of Takoyaki~. You can finally make them for your parents again~"

Taeyong's face lit up after he realized this too.

"Renjunie is right~! I'm sure they'll be happy to have your cooking again~!"

"Y-Yeah~. But..., I don't remember who they are anymore... I can't even remember what they look like..."

Nakamoto only seemed to get sadder.

I spoke up quickly before he started crying.

"T-That's not a problem hyung! Even if you don't remember, your twin knows them like the back of his hand~. You can reunite with them through him~!"

His saddened expression immediately turned blank upon hearing that.

"I can...see them again?"

"You can~. And now that the people of Earth know about our existence now, not only can you see them without going in hiding, they won't freak out when they see you either~. Your dream can come true now Nakamoto~"

Taeyong happily explained.

Though his expression remained blank, tears soon flowed from his eyes, soon accompanied by an overjoyed smiled.

"Yah! I'll go get tissues! Wait here!"

Taeyong panicked and immediately ran off.

Even though he was crying, that smile, along with the small laughs coming from him now, let me know just how he was feeling.

"You're not sad at all, are you hyung~?"

I smiled, drying my hands to comfort him.

He slowly shook his head and looked at me, his smile growing even more.

"I-I'm happy Renjunie, so very happy...~"

-

🐙

'...'

'......'

'.........'

'Renjunie...'

'You surprised me again today...'

'How do you keep doing this so easily...?'

'...'

'......'

'I...'

'...'

'I'm so happy that I'm going to see my parents again~!'

'You and Taeyong helped me realize that I could~'

'I wish I would've known this sooner though...'

'Even if I didn't have Takoyaki to give them...'

'Oh well...'

'But...'

'This is so sudden!'

'What will I say?!'

'What will they say about my powers?!'

'Heck!'

'What am I gonna wear?!?!'

'...'

'......'

'You know what...?'

'I'm ready'

'...'

'Yeah, I'm ready'

'I can't keep worrying about small things like this'

'I'll figure everything out when the time comes'

'As long as I get to see them again'

'As long as I get to hold them again'

'Then I'll be just fine'

'...'

'Renjunie'

'I should thank you'

'You made this all possible for me'

'If you hadn't pulled through and saved us that day'

'We would've lost everything'

'Without you, I would've lost my family'

'Both of them'

'I can't imagine what I would've done'

'Without you...'

'.........'

'So...'

'Thank you so much Renjunie~'