Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream

Chapter 185: Welcome back

Ethan had become so deeply involved in her life recently that his absence among the visitors caught even Layena off guard.

He hadn’t shown up at all since this morning, even though he surely knew she was being discharged today.

However, Layena was actually relieved.

Ethan had been paying a little too much attention to her when he should have been focusing on his own growth and social life, instead of neglecting others, especially Clara, for her sake.

So, while it was surprising that he hadn’t come, it was a welcome surprise.

"Though what could have happened?" Hannah muttered as the five of them waited in the lobby.

The reason they were still here was because a bit of paperwork remained, and it would take a few more minutes to finish.

"About Ethan, right? I wonder if he’s badly injured." Clara added. He had texted her this morning, apologizing for not answering her calls yesterday.

He had been... unnaturally polite and sweet this morning.

"Injured? Was he assigned to a mission?" Layena asked, her brows rising.

She had been hospitalized so often these days that she felt she was losing touch with both the Aether World and the PSC.

"I’m not sure, but it seems Ethan actually encountered a ghoul yesterday while he was sent to investigate a strange occurrence," Hannah answered, and that revelation caught both Clara and Layena off guard.

Why? Well, Ethan was only a second-grade warrior, yet he had survived a battle against a ghoul.

Clara felt both impressed and happy for him. Maybe this would become his stepping stone to rise through the ranks... and improve his standing within his family.

’Truly... he is our captain.’

The thought brought a smile to her lips.

Layena, however, didn’t dwell on the matter for long and instead turned her attention to the two people sitting across from them.

Amanda had her head resting on Kyle’s shoulder, and from the looks of it, she had dozed off.

When she looked at him, their eyes met, and Layena’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Thank you for coming today," she said with a nod.

Kyle returned the smile. "I had to come. My superior made it mandatory for me to follow her around."

Hannah snickered. "Don’t trust his words, Layena. He was going to come anyway."

"I know," Layena replied. "Though I do wonder how your internship is going. From what I’ve seen... you’re the strongest in our squad. Doesn’t that bother you, Kyle? Having to obey someone weaker than you?"

The question caught him off guard.

Clara seemed equally puzzled by Layena’s claim. After all, Ethan had recently defeated a ghoul as well.

Hannah, on the other hand, remained silent, her head slightly lowered. She quietly agreed with that assessment.

Kyle shrugged.

"I feel that in this field, experience is just as important as strength when it comes to surviving. Over the past two days, first with the Commander and then today with Hannah, I’ve realized just how much I still have to learn."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"So no, I don’t feel anything about being mentored by all of you other than gratitude."

Hannah lowered her head even further, a faint warmth creeping into her cheeks.

Layena’s smile lingered, while Clara remained as impassive as ever.

Just then, Amanda’s voice cut into the conversation.

"It’s so unfair... Kyle, you haven’t even been with the best mentor you could get."

Kyle let out a chuckle. "Of course. I know that experience would be one of a kind."

Amanda’s grin widened. "You bet."

Hannah scoffed. "He could mean literally anything, Amanda."

Amanda immediately shot her a look. "He means sweet things. Get your head out of the gutter."

Hannah merely shrugged. "Tell me that when you stop shamelessly crushing his arm between your bazookas."

Amanda’s eyes narrowed.

"Jealous? Why don’t you find yourself a boyfriend... and a surgeon? Then you might have something to show off too."

Kyle nearly froze.

Only now did he become painfully aware of how tightly Amanda was wrapped around his arm. The soft pressure against it suddenly felt impossible to ignore.

And... was it normal for girls to talk to each other like this?

Hannah clicked her tongue.

Just then, the nurse returned and approached them.

"Miss Layena, may I get your signature here?"

Layena nodded and accepted the terminal. Her eyes briefly scanned the consent form displayed on the screen.

Without much hesitation, she signed at the bottom and handed it back.

The nurse checked it before asking, "Would you like me to call a taxi for you?"

"No need. We can manage," Amanda replied unexpectedly.

The nurse nodded politely and excused herself.

Layena raised a brow.

"You’re dropping me off? That’s surprising."

Amanda scoffed. "I just happened to come here in a bigger car."

Kyle could only offer a helpless smile at his dishonest lover. The woman had taken the initiative to come here when she heard Layena was getting discharged today, yet here she was acting as though it were nothing more than a matter of convenience.

Soon, they all got to their feet and headed toward the elevator.

As they walked, Hannah turned to Kyle.

"I’ll be heading to the base first to submit the report. When you get the time, just fill in the missing details."

Kyle nodded. "Okay. Umm, just to be sure, I need to include every single detail, right?"

Hannah gave a small nod.

"They’ve probably already reviewed everything we saw through the camera footage, but some things still need to be recorded from the perspective of someone who was actually there. So yes, just be honest with them."

Kyle nodded again.

He had never written an official report before, but with Veronica’s help, he figured he would somehow manage.

Before long, Clara and Hannah split off, each heading in their own direction.

Clara would most probably visit the base too where Ethan must be getting treated.

"Where are you staying, anyway?" Amanda asked as she helped Layena into the car.

Kyle slipped into the driver’s seat while the two women settled in the back. Amanda deliberately took the seat beside Layena to help her if needed.

Layena let out a quiet sigh.

"The Commander rented a small apartment near the base for me. I’ll send you the location, Kyle."

Kyle nodded and pulled out his phone.

Only to freeze.

Amanda was staring at him through narrowed eyes.

The look was unmistakable.

’You have some answers to give.’

Kyle coughed into his fist and immediately redirected his attention to the navigation map.

For now, pretending to be busy seemed like the safest option.

Soon, the car began to move, heading toward Layena’s new home.

Layena glanced at Kyle through the rearview mirror.

"Have you started preparing for the academy?"

Kyle nodded.

"Amanda helped me buy protective gear yesterday, and the other things, like uniforms and such, will be handled soon."

He would only be staying there for three months, so he didn’t think there was much reason to overpack.

Amanda leaned back in her seat and added, "I can help you pick out a few formal outfits you might need. There are also a lot of small things people forget, like pillows, a travel bag, socks, and all sorts of other essentials."

Layena couldn’t help but mutter, "You sound like his guardian."

Amanda responded with a sheepish smile.

"Well..."

Kyle let out a chuckle.

"I’m just a little clueless when it comes to these things. So yeah, I need her to take care of them for me."

Amanda’s smile deepened at the casual admission.

To her, it wasn’t an inconvenience in the slightest. If anything, she enjoyed being the one he relied on for things he couldn’t handle himself.

Layena watched the exchange for a moment before shaking her head with amusement.

The two of them really did act like an old married couple at times.

But then, Layena let out a quiet sigh.

The two of them got along so naturally.

Meanwhile, she hadn’t even been able to bring herself to call him last night despite spending far too long debating whether she should.

But now...

She had decided to make a few changes.

She would be proactive too.

Like Amanda.

...

It took them roughly half an hour to reach their destination.

The apartment complex was modest, consisting of four residential buildings clustered together.

After parking the car, Amanda helped Layena out, and the three of them headed toward the elevator.

Her apartment was located on the fourth floor.

Ding

The elevator doors slid open.

The apartment Layena would be staying in was directly across from the elevator, making it impossible to miss.

Yet none of them took a step forward.

They had all frozen in place.

The entrance had been completely decorated.

Colorful streamers hung from the walls. Balloons were tied along the door, and several small decorations had been carefully arranged around the doorway.

Most eye-catching of all was the enormous banner stretched across the entrance.

’WELCOME BACK’

The words stood proudly above the door.

For several seconds, silence lingered in the hallway as the three of them stared at the unexpected sight.

And then, the door slowly opened and revealed the person who prepared all this.

Standing there with a smile on his face, Ethan said, "Welcome back."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far, please leave a review or comment. Trust me, it helps.