“Ah, Rory!” Yukari looked pleased to see me. “I am glad you’re still here!” He said.

  “Sadly. I wish this would wrap up as soon as it can.” I said impatience in my voice.

  Right behind Shin entered the room. His nose looked bruised with darker circles under his eyes. He had changed his clothes from what he had before. His nose was not bleeding anymore. Shin stood two steps behind Yukari. Looking rather nervous. Eying me and his brother.

  “Brother…Rory.” Shin said, acknowledging us.

  “What is your business here?” Reigen asked Yukari.

  He did not look to be bothered about Shin being here but could sense something he disliked about Yukari. Maybe it was just Reigen's face. Either way his eyes were off me now.

  “I know how we can happily sort this situation out.” Yukari Winters advised Reigen politely.

  “How?” Reigen asked.

  Yukari did not explain in words, instead turned to me.

  “Rory.” Yukari looked into my eyes. His blue eyes had an expression I haven’t seen on his face ever. “Here!” He extended his palm towards me holding something.

  “I am aware that this won’t do much but Rory…” His whole demeanor was not the same. The challenging eyes are not there. Replaced with kind and polite expressions. As if Yuji had never existed. The same face but different feelings.

  I wasn’t sure entirely how I felt about this. It was so odd and different.

  He even went as far to bow to me in apology.

  “I am deeply sorry for the deception. I had no rights to do this to you. I am sorry for my shameful ways towards you and promise not to bother you this way again Rory!” Yukari expressed regret for his actions. No! This wasn't a regret. It was what the situation called him to do. Now that their shameless plot was exposed.

  Is this their next approach?

  “I am sorry!” He said again and bowed one more time. Then stood again to face me.

  His eyes told me to believe his words. Convincing me this apology was genuine.

  “I know this may be superficial but I will grant you this account with a very generous compensation.” When Yukari finished saying this he stepped forward to hand me a white card.

  I looked up at him.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  “An invitation!” Reigen answered my question. The tone of his voice was rather surprised and alarmed.

  “It’s up to you to take it or not.” Yukari said. “This card gives you money and invites you to one of our research labs with a position made just for you. Your own lab. Your own choice of project. Fully funded. As well as manpower. Choose whoever you want to work with.” Yukari explained to me.

  “This gesture is very generous. I would even say this was too much. Just a plain student getting something like this? Isn’t this type of thing one gets when proven themselves to be worthy?” I couldn’t help but question this. Even if this is like a prize for apology. The length of it felt very extreme.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “True. Taking this card doesn’t mean you should do this now but instead whenever you're ready. This card can act like a key for your future in Akasia…” Yukari explained it to me. Urging to take the card.

  "Isn't that a little bit too much for an apology?” Reigen couldn’t help himself but intercept.

  Reigen did not seem to like the last words spoken from Yukari. Implying that I was going to stay after graduating…

  Not even I knew what I will be doing once I graduate.

  I shook my head. Eyes never left Yukari and his extended hand.

  “I don’t think I can accept anything from you. Especially something like this.” I said.

  “I am truly sorry...this is the least I can compensate for.” Yukari said.

  Shin quietly stood there waiting. He wasn’t sure where to look. Shin’s eyes were jumping between Yuji, me and Reigen, the wall, window, his shoes and hands.

  “That’s a generous apology.” I couldn’t help but say eying the card reluctantly. I am surprised by this generosity but also it made me curious. “Did you choose to give me this specifically by the things you got to know about me?” I asked him knowingly.

  He knows how much I value working and learning. He watched me every day in classes. I never made an effort to hide this. My natural curiosity. It was one of the things I did love to do and he read me correctly but it’s funny. If the person they watch herself doesn't actually know what she wants. The me they have been watching so far is only a fraction.

  I have not been myself since the day I moved here. Not honest with who I was and wanted to be. On standstill between the past, change of circumstances and acceptance of the future.

  The truth of me. Separated. Like a page was torn out of me. Trying to rewrite and rewire but not able to find an anchor.

  This pointed out something about the human effect that no matter the data we collect in the end it can be wrong.

  And the data they collected about me is partly incorrect. I never once had shown who I really was. Not even me knew who I was.

  That’s where in my life path I was right now. I did not know what I was supposed to do. The lost direction since Sano left. The need to be the person that he believed me to be. I wasn’t her. I wasn’t Rory Aisaka. A curse and a gift in this situation.

  I have to let go of her.

  The version of me lingering over something that’s not here. Rory Aisaka needs to wake up. For real this time.

  “I think this is a fair offer for your demonstrated skill. You are an inventor. I see that from our shared development classes.” Yukari said. He smiled at me generously. Still holding the card. Trying to prove that I deserve this.

  I took a step forward but did not extend my hand to take this. We looked at each other.

  Reigen was looking at me.

  Shin looked at his shoes.

  “Take it!’ Yukari urged me to take his offer.

  “How do I know this isn’t another elaborate plan against me?” I asked with sharp eyes watching.

  “I can’t promise that of course. You will need to find out that yourself.” Yukari said honestly.

  So this apology is both real and something that they needed after they were exposed. It's the next step in their plan.

  Shin looked up at Yukari alarmed that he was this honest.

  Reigen watched our interaction with disapproval clear on his face.

  “I guess…I will accept this apology.” I finally reached out to take the card from Yukari.

  He smiled at me brightly.

  “I know you understand that this is a great deal. Family number three…” He pointed at Shin and Reigen. “And family number two.” He pointed at himself. “Both are watching you.” Yukari said to me as if he was warning me of something. He did not elaborate further. Instead he clapped his palms together and looked at Reigen.

  “Don’t torture the girl too much. We have no grounds to take her for something like this.” Yukari said to Reigen. Seeming the sentence had some undertone.

  Reigen seemed to hold his posture. Be calm but his eyes were raging. He was angered by what Yukari said.

  Yukari did not seem to be bothered about it. Instead he turned towards Shin and put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. They locked eyes but said nothing.

  “I am going now.” Yukari waved his hand. Happy accomplished what he wanted. Nothing else concerned him. Yukari opened Reigen’s study doors.

  “Right…” He clicked his fingers as if remembered something. “To keep my promise I have dropped out of the University. I won’t be bothering you Rory!” He said to me happily. He fully now opened the doors and before closing it said. “See you!”

  His footsteps slowly echoed halfway disappearing in the distance.

  Yukari left.

  Me, Shin and Reigen watched as he disappeared from our sight.