Chapter 341 Uncomfortable Silence

Suzuka swallowed her last bite, taking a moment to process her father’s words. For a few seconds, she was quiet, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of her cup. Then, with her usual playfulness, she waved her hand dismissively, though there was a glint of something more serious behind her eyes.

“Come on, Dad. You worry too much.” She leaned back in her chair, her tone light but steady.

“I’m careful with all that. Not many people know about me. I’ve been keeping a low profile. And, just so you know, I go by a different name. Also, all my closest friends can handle themselves just fine. There is nothing to worry about. But all said, I think you are right.”

“A different name?”

“Yeah,” Suzuka said with a cheeky grin.

“To most people, I’m Helen. An adventurer.”

Olivia chuckled beside her, leaning forward with a wink.

“Helen, the brave and bold. It's quite fitting for someone like her, don’t you think?”

Steven exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

“Well, that’s good to hear,” he said, nodding in relief.

“Keeping a low profile is smart. ‘Helen,’ huh? It has a nice ring to it. But just… just be careful. You know how ruthless people can be.”

Megan, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, placed her hand over Steven’s, her eyes filled with the same concern.

"Your father's right, Suzu. This world... it’s not kind to people. There’s always someone out there looking to take advantage, to bring people down. We just want you to be safe."

Suzuka gave them both a warm, reassuring smile.

“I get it, I do. But you guys don’t need to worry so much. I’ve got this under control. Plus, I’ve got Olivia here. She’s got my back.”

“No one’s getting past me. You can count on that.”

“Alright. If you say you’ve got it handled, then I trust you. But remember, if things ever get too tough, you can always come back home.”

“I know, Dad. And I’ll keep that in mind. But for now, I’ve got a lot of work to do. A whole town to build, remember?”

With the heavier matters seemingly settled, the mood began to lift again. Megan reached across the table to squeeze Suzuka’s hand.

“We just want you to be safe, sweetheart. That’s all. But enough about that serious stuff. How about you tell us a little bit more about what you were doing all this time? Maybe you found a boy you like? Did you fall in love? Oh! Maybe you even made a baby?”

Suzuka smiled at her mother’s eager questions. She leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms as if considering how much to reveal.

“Oh, Mom, you’ve got no idea what I’ve been through. Finding love in all that mess? I barely had time to find a moment of peace, let alone a boy,” she teased.

“But I’ll tell you all about it.”

She launched into a lively retelling of her journey. She spoke of the perilous forest she had wandered through after her escape from the MIS goons, exaggerating the dangers with a playful flair - describing monstrous beasts, impossible terrain, and how she narrowly avoided death. Then came the stories of her time in town, the bustling life of adventurers, and the colorful characters she met at the guild - warriors, mages, and misfits, each with a unique story.

“And the missions! Oh, you wouldn’t believe some of the jobs they had me doing. I’ve fought off bandits, rescued kidnapped villagers, explored dungeons, and yes,” she paused dramatically, “I saved goblins from the breeding farms. The real nightmare was seeing how those poor creatures were treated. I mean, ufff! It was disgusting.”

Steven’s brow furrowed again at the mention of goblins, but Suzuka quickly waved it off, not wanting to reopen that conversation just yet.

“But anyway, it’s been quite the adventure. Lots of crazy people, even crazier missions. And through all of it…” she trailed off with a smirk, glancing sideways at Olivia, who had been quietly sipping her coffee through the storytelling.

“Well, I did find someone I care about,” Suzuka said, her voice dropping slightly, playful but with a warmth that hadn’t been there before. She leaned closer to her parents, lowering her voice like she was about to share a secret.

Megan’s eyes widened in anticipation.

“Oh? Do tell! Who is this lucky person? You can’t leave us hanging!”

Suzuka grinned, drawing out the moment for just a bit longer. Then, with a dramatic flourish of her hand, she turned toward Olivia.

“Meet Olivia,” she said, her voice full of teasing pride.

“Not just my battle partner, but my love interest.”

Olivia, always quick on the uptake, gave a playful, mock bow.

“That’s right, I’ve stolen her heart,” she said with a wink, her tone full of humor but her gaze soft as she glanced at Suzuka.

For a moment, the room was filled with stunned silence. Steven and Megan exchanged glances, processing this sudden revelation. Then, Megan broke the silence with a soft laugh.

The air in the room felt heavy after Megan’s hesitant laugh, a tension so thick it seemed to settle over everyone like a blanket. Suzuka noticed her mother’s strained smile, her fingers nervously twisting her napkin into tight knots. Steven sat rigid, his usual confident posture now awkward and unsure. He didn’t meet Suzuka’s eyes, instead staring hard at the half-empty plate in front of him as though the scrambled eggs might provide an answer.

“Are you serious, Suzu?” Megan’s voice broke through the silence, edged with disbelief. Her eyes darted from Suzuka to Olivia, her expression a whirlwind of confusion.

“You’re not… joking, are you? I mean… you both are girls. But, Suzu, when you were little, you wouldn’t stop talking about Antonio. Remember? You were practically obsessed with him! You used to chase him all over the place, and… I thought you liked boys! Not… you know…”

Megan’s voice trailed off awkwardly, her cheeks flushed as she fumbled for words. Her fingers tugged at the napkin again, as if trying to physically unravel the situation. Her eyes reflected a mixture of shock and nostalgia like she was struggling to reconcile the Suzuka from her memories with the woman sitting in front of her now.

Steven cleared his throat, his discomfort even more visible. His brow was furrowed in a way that made him look more frustrated than he probably felt, and he kept his gaze firmly fixed on the table. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, as if speaking any louder would make the whole situation harder to handle.

“Yeah,” he muttered, still avoiding Suzuka’s eyes, “It’s… surprising, Suzu. You always seemed… interested in boys, especially Antonio. You’d talk about him nonstop, how you’d follow him around, and all that. We just… we thought that’s where your heart was. This… well, this is unexpected, you know? It’s not exactly what we had in mind.”

Megan laughed again, but this time it was a high, nervous sound, like someone trying to fill an uncomfortable silence without really knowing how. Her hands, which had been fiddling with the napkin, were now clasped together, her knuckles white from the tight grip. She was clearly trying to mask her confusion, but it came through in every shaky word.

“Right,” she said, nodding, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“I mean… of course, as long as you’re happy, sweetheart, that’s all that matters. It’s just… well, it’s not what we expected at all.” 

“You and Olivia, huh? I just… never thought…”

The silence that followed felt crushing, as if the weight of her parents’ unspoken thoughts hung in the air between them. Olivia, sensing the awkward tension but maintaining her usual calm, squeezed Suzuka’s hand under the table.

Suzuka chuckled, her usual easy-going demeanor shining brightly. She had anticipated some confusion, but the level of discomfort radiating from her parents was a surprise. With a dry, sarcastic smile, she cut through the tension that hung in the air.

“Well, yeah, things change, Mom. I’m not that kid running after Antonio anymore. He had his shot but never took it. I was there for him for years, chasing after him like a puppy, and he didn’t even see me as a close friend.”

She rolled her eyes dramatically, the playful glint in her gaze returning.

“But hey, don’t get me wrong here. I’m not just into boys or girls. I’m a very greedy person - I want it all!”

She leaned in slightly, her voice taking on a teasing tone as she continued.

“And besides, I don’t care or judge who loves whom. Will you judge elves making out with dwarves? Or maybe demon folks with humans? What I’m trying to say is that it’s nobody else’s business who loves who. I bet some people would even love a monster! I mean, how else do you think second and third generations of minotaurs are born? Hmm?”

Her parents exchanged puzzled glances, but Suzuka pressed on, her confidence radiating through the playful banter.

“The point is, it’s none of anyone’s business what one loves but their own. I couldn’t care less if someone fell in love with a broomstick and married it! If it makes them happy, I’m all for it.”

With a broad grin, she looked from her mom to her dad.

“So yeah, just to make it clear, I like boys and girls. And I don't care about their race, I like what I like! And no, I’m not going to fit into some box for anyone. Life’s too short for that nonsense!”

She glanced at Olivia, whose playful smirk mirrored her own.

“So yeah, I like girls too. Well, specifically, this girl,” she added, nodding toward Olivia.

Megan and Steven exchanged another glance, clearly struggling to adjust to the reality sitting in front of them. Steven finally let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in his chair as if he had been holding his breath for the entire conversation.

“I guess… we just need a little time to process this, Suzu,” Steven said, his voice more steady now, though still unsure. 

“It’s just a lot, you know? But, well, you’ve always had your own way of doing things.”

He managed a small, reluctant smile, glancing at Olivia.

“Just… take care of her, alright?”