Chapter 345: New Home

Leo stared at Kai. "A house?"

"A house."

"Like... an actual house?"

"Yes."

"With a yard?"

"Probably."

"A garage?"

"Most likely."

"A second floor?"

"You’re getting ahead of yourself," Kai smiled.

Leo immediately stood up. "Let’s go."

Mina laughed. "Right now?"

"Yes."

Kai checked the time. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Because we’re buying a house."

"We’re looking at houses."

"Same thing."

"It’s definitely not the same thing."

Leo grabbed his jacket. "I’m ready."

Mina shook her head. "You’re excited."

"Of course I’m excited." He looked at Kai. "How much can we spend?"

Kai paused. "Enough."

Leo’s eyes widened. "That’s a dangerous answer."

Kai laughed. "Come on."

...

The first house was in one of Mythal’s quieter neighborhoods, a large two-story home with a wide front yard, a modern kitchen, four bedrooms, and a spacious living room. Leo walked inside, and his eyes immediately lit up. "Whoa."

"This is nice," Mina smiled.

Leo ran toward the stairs. "There’s an upstairs!"

"Don’t run."

He stopped halfway up. "I’m not running."

"You were absolutely running."

"I was walking quickly."

Kai shook his head, and Mina laughed.

The upstairs had several bedrooms. Leo looked into one, then another, then another, and finally pointed toward the largest. "This one."

Mina raised an eyebrow. "You don’t even know if Kai wants that one for you."

Leo looked at Kai, who shrugged. "Why not?"

"Mine," Leo grinned.

Mina sighed. "We’re not buying this one yet."

His smile disappeared. "What?"

"We’re looking at the others."

"Why?"

"Because we should actually compare them."

Leo looked at Kai. "She’s ruining everything."

Kai nodded seriously. "She does that."

Mina stared at both of them. "Excuse me?"

Kai smiled. "I’m joking."

...

The second house was completely different, smaller but much closer to the center of Mythal. The neighborhood was lively, restaurants nearby, a shopping district only a few minutes away, a Hunter training facility within walking distance.

Leo looked outside. "There are so many stores."

"This one is convenient," Mina smiled.

Kai looked at her. "You like it?"

"I do."

Leo immediately shook his head. "It’s too close to everything."

"Isn’t that a good thing?"

"I want a garden."

"You rejected a house because there are too many stores?" Kai laughed.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I want space."

Mina crossed her arms. "You were just excited about the shopping district."

"I changed my mind."

Kai shook his head. "Next."

...

The third house was near a lake, large windows, a wide backyard, a wooden deck overlooking the water. Leo walked onto the deck and stared. "...Okay."

"This is beautiful," Mina said, stepping beside him.

"It is," Kai agreed, looking at the lake.

Leo looked at him. "This one is good."

"Really?"

"Yeah." He pointed toward the water. "I can fish."

"Do you know how to fish?"

"No."

"Good start," Kai nodded.

Leo frowned. "Why do you always do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make everything sound harder."

Mina laughed. Leo kept staring at the lake. "I like this one."

"So do I," Mina nodded.

Kai smiled. "Let’s remember it."

...

The fourth house was the largest one, a massive living room, several bedrooms, a large kitchen, a private gym, an indoor pool, and an enormous backyard. Leo walked through the entrance, then stopped. "How much?"

"You don’t need to worry about that," Kai smiled.

"This place is huge."

Mina looked around. "It’s almost too big."

Leo turned toward her. "Too big?"

"We don’t need all this."

Leo looked at Kai. "She’s crazy."

Mina gave him a look. "You wanted a house."

"I want this house."

"You haven’t even seen the rest."

"I’ve seen enough."

"Let’s keep looking," Kai laughed, and Leo sighed dramatically.

...

The fifth house was much more modern, floor-to-ceiling windows, smart-home systems, automated security, a large rooftop terrace, and a beautiful view of Mythal. Lily would probably have loved the security system. Leo, however, wasn’t impressed.

"It’s too fancy."

"Too fancy?" Kai looked at him.

"Yeah."

"What does that even mean?" Mina smiled.

"I don’t know."

"Then how do you know?"

He thought about it. "It just feels like nobody lives here."

Kai looked around. He understood what Leo meant. The house was beautiful, perfect almost, but it didn’t feel warm. "Fair."

They left.

...

The sixth house was farther from the center of the city. It wasn’t the biggest. It wasn’t the newest. It didn’t have the most impressive technology. But the moment they stepped inside, Mina slowed down.

The living room was spacious without feeling empty. The kitchen opened into the dining area, large windows letting sunlight into the room. Four bedrooms upstairs, including a guest room. A small library beside the staircase. A garden behind the house, and beyond it a private training yard, and beneath the house a reinforced underground shelter connected to the home’s security system.

Leo walked toward the backyard and opened the door, then stopped. The garden stretched out behind the house, a small tree standing near the center, enough space for a table, enough space for children, enough space to sit outside at night.

He looked back. "Mina."

She walked over. "What?"

"I like this one."

"Me too," she smiled.

Kai looked between them. "You both agree?"

"Yeah," Leo nodded.

Mina looked around the house again. "It’s comfortable." She glanced toward the garden. "It feels like somewhere we could actually live."

"Then this is the one," Kai smiled.

"Really?" Leo asked.

"Really."

He immediately pointed toward the upstairs. "Then I call the room on the left."

Mina laughed. "You didn’t even see it."

"I know."

"Some things never change," Kai shook his head.

...

A little later, they stood outside with the real estate agent. She looked toward Kai. "Would you like to complete the purchase today?"

"Yes."

She handed him the final documents, and he reviewed them briefly before signing, then transferred the payment. She checked the confirmation, her eyes widening slightly. "Payment received." She smiled. "Congratulations. The property is officially yours."

Leo’s face lit up. "Ours?"

"Ours," Kai nodded.

Leo looked at Mina. "We have a house."

"Yes," she smiled.

He looked back at the house and grinned. "I want to see my room again."

Kai grabbed his shoulder. "Later."

"What?"

"We’re eating."

Leo’s excitement disappeared. "Oh."

Mina laughed. "Come on."

...

The restaurant was busy. They sat together at a table near the window, and Leo had barely sat down before he started talking. "The garden is huge."

"It is," Mina nodded.

"And there’s a training yard."

"Yes," Kai said, taking a drink.

"And the library."

"Yes."

"And the shelter."

"Yes."

Leo leaned forward. "And the upstairs hallway is really big."

"You’ve mentioned that three times."

"Because it’s really big."

Mina laughed. He continued. "And my room has the best window."

"You decided that in five seconds."

"I looked carefully."

"You didn’t."

"I did."

Kai smiled. Leo picked up his food. "I think we should put a couch in the living room."

"We already have one."

"A bigger one."

"Maybe," Mina nodded.

"And a television."

"Obviously."

"And maybe a table outside."

"That’s a good idea."

Leo looked at Kai. "And..." He paused. "Can we get a dog?"

Kai nearly choked on his drink.

"Absolutely not," Mina laughed.

"Why?"

"Because you’re not taking care of it."

"I will."

"You said that about your last plant."

Leo looked offended. "The plant died because it was weak."

Kai laughed. Mina covered her face. "You forgot to water it."

"It should have survived."

Kai smiled as he watched them, Leo continuing to talk about the house, where he wanted to put his desk, where they should put the dining table, what they should plant in the garden, which room should be the guest room. Mina occasionally added something. Kai listened. He didn’t say much. He didn’t need to.

He was happy. For the first time in a long while, they weren’t talking about disasters, or monsters, or Hunters, or ancient civilizations. They were talking about furniture. A garden. A dog they probably wouldn’t get. A house. Something normal. Something theirs.

After they finished eating, Leo leaned back in his chair. "I’m full."

"You certainly ate enough," Mina smiled.

"I had to."

"Why?"

"Because I need energy."

"For what?"

"Moving."

"We already moved," Kai laughed.

Leo shook his head. "No." He stood up. "We haven’t properly moved in yet."

...

By the time they returned to the house, the sun had begun to set. Leo stepped out of the car and looked at the house, then at Kai. "Can we go inside?"

"Of course," Kai smiled.

Leo ran toward the front door. "Wait!" Mina laughed. "Leo!"

He stopped. "What?"

"Slow down."

"Okay." He immediately started walking faster.

Kai shook his head, and they reached the front door. Leo opened it, then froze.

The house was no longer empty. Furniture had already been delivered, boxes placed in the rooms, the living room furnished, the kitchen stocked, the bedrooms fitted with beds, the curtains installed, the garden already cleaned.

Leo’s mouth fell open. "What..." He turned toward Kai. "When did this happen?"

"I made a few arrangements," Kai smiled.

"You did this?"

"Of course."

Leo didn’t wait for another answer. He rushed upstairs. "Kai!" His voice echoed through the house. "THIS ROOM IS PERFECT!"

Mina laughed. Kai stood in the doorway, watching him disappear down the hallway. Then Mina looked at him. "You really did all of this?"

"Yeah."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Kai looked toward the stairs, Leo’s footsteps thundering overhead. "You’re welcome."

For a moment, they simply listened. Leo’s voice echoed from upstairs again. "KAI!"

"What?"

"THERE’S A BALCONY!"

Kai smiled. Mina laughed.

And for the first time since the disasters, their family had a new home.