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1 Week Later

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Renjun and his team took all of their recruited members back to their worlds, starting in descending order from The Boyz all the way back to Stray Kids.

They all bid their goodbyes until the next time they would get to hang out or work together again.

After making sure that they were all back home safely, they spent some time helping Tristin fix the rest of the things he had destroyed and stayed with him as he apologized to everyone he had affected.

After they were done, however, Tristin thought that he would have to prepare to return to his old home with Tayden, but instead, Renjun insisted that he join them to hang out.

Even though he didn't know what to expect, he still complied and went with them.

-

Redwood City

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"This city.... It's really big.."

Tristin was in awe by how busy and huge the city was, but he also felt intimidated by it.

"It gets better once you get used to it hyung. Don't worry about the size too much"

Yuta reassured him with a smile.

"Hyung is right. It's actually pretty small once you get used to it. Our school, Redwood Academy, isn't too far from here actually"

"And the Redwood Police Department where Xansho, Seiki, and Vexxen work at is just ten minutes from here too on the outskirts of the city"

Nitro and Renjun added.

"Aren't those the three that have been after you all from your childhood?"

"That's right~. But they couldn't really be held accountable for their actions since they were just three brothers being controlled by my uncle. So we gave all of them a job where they could work together~"

"Jeez.. You all have really been through a lot.. And I only added to it.."

"There's nothing to worry about hyung. A lot of what happened may have been your doing, but you've atoned for everything over the course of the past week. We make it our mission to ensure that everyone gets to live a happy life, if there's a way that we can save them and help them achieve that. There may be times where we can't save everyone, but we were able to save you"

"...I really appreciate everything you all have done for me, Tayden, Doni-hyung. Thank you so much Renjun"

"Don't mention it hyung~"

Patting the older on the back, Renjun noticed how a few of the others had split off in directions for different stores, including Xinrei.

"Hey hyung, why don't you accompany Xinrei? I'm sure you'll find him at that glasses shop down there~"

"O-Ok"

-

Redwood Eyewear

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Tristin quietly walked into the local glasses shop, kindly greeting the workers after they welcomed him.

He found Xinrei by one of the mirrors, trying on a new pair of glasses that he had just picked out.

However, he stopped not too far from the boy, wondering if he really should approach him.

He noticed how upset Xinrei seemed to look upset while he was trying on the glasses and inspecting how they looked on him compared to the last ones. He wondered if he looked so mad because of what he had done to make him and his family suffer.

Feeling guilty, he turned to leave the store with his head hanging low. But he was stopped when someone suddenly rested their hand on his shoulder, which happened to be Xinrei.

"What's wrong hyung?"

The boy asked, his expression completely changed to a friendly and concerned one.

"It's nothing.."

"You just walked in here and then tried to leave after seeing me. That can't just be for nothing, right?"

"..I just...thought you were mad at me, for everything I've done..."

"..."

Xinrei suddenly walked off to pay for the glasses, and then walked out of the store with the older while holding his hand.

"That's irrelevant. There's no point in me or anyone else being upset about what you and Li-hyung did now. All of that is in the past"

"..."

"...There was a time when I was upset with dad because of how busy he is as our world's number one hero. I used to think he didn't want to spend time with us, and would put work before us. But on the day you and the Gang Stars attacked, I realized that he was only doing his job to protect us and our home. I know now that he really did want to be with us more, but had to do what he could to protect everyone. Back then, I only added to his stress.."

Tristin remained silent while Xinrei continued to speak.

"...It's the same thing with you. I was really angry with you because of all of the people you hurt, including the Gang Stars. But once we met Tayden and Doni-hyung, everything changed for how I saw you. I used to see you as my worst enemy that threatened life as I knew it. But then, I started seeing you as a misguided hero that needed to be saved from themself. What happened before is in the past now. What happens now and onward is what matters. I really look forward to working with all of you in our future hyung"

Xinrei brightly smiled at the older, bringing him some instant relief.

"But...if that's the case, why did you look so angry in the shop?"

"Oh! That's just how I look when I'm concentrating sometimes. I'm sorry if that portrayed the wrong message"

"I see. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding~"

The two continued to talk with each other, until Tristin suddenly stopped.

Xinrei was about to ask what was wrong, but he realized he didn't need to. He was looking at two different sets of leather gloves through one of the shop's windows, and one of his eyes split to Li's.

"You're both having trouble choosing which pair you like the most"

Tristin immediately nodded.

"I really like the hearts because we're a god of love"

"And I like the claws because we're a god of destruction"

They both explained.

"Hmm... Here's an idea. I'll buy both for you. That way, you'll get one of each part of the pair to wear, and Tayden can get the remaining two since he's a demigod of healing and destruction. I'm sure he and his Li would love them too"

"Y-You would really buy them for us..?"

"Won't it cost a bit much..?"

"It's no problem at all. My dad is the number one hero, so as one of his children, we get some pretty neat discounts all over the world~. In some places, things are completely free for us, but I'll always leave a tip if that's the case. I'll be right back"

Xinrei scurried into the store and picked out the exact pairs they wanted, easily paying for them without question before returning to the older.

"Here you go~"

Xinrei unpacked both and helped Tristin put each glove on.

He wore the heart glove on his left hand, and the clawed glove on his right hand.

"They look really good hyung, and they really suit you both~. Now let's head to the Redwood Ice Cream Shop. We're all going to meet up there and then make a few more stops before we head back. Oh! What are both of your favorite flavors?"

"..I like Butterscotch"

"..Ube"

A blush grew on Tristin's face, both he and Li being flattered that the boy continuously acknowledged them both.

"Wow really?? Barely anyone orders those two. It's nice to finally meet someone who likes them. We can easily get you a scoop of both with whatever topping you want if you choose to get one~"

Xinrei smiled as they both flew up to the shop.

"Hey.. Xinrei..?"

"What's up hyung?"

The boy asked, seeing that Li had returned control over to Tristin.

"...Thank you, for everything"