Becoming The Strongest Using My Would-You-Rather System!

Both his parents and Owen’s parents stood there, waiting for them.

For a brief moment, neither Theo nor Owen moved.

Then Owen stepped forward first, raising a hand casually.

’’Hey,’’ he said. ’’Missed me?’’

His mother didn’t even hesitate.

She walked straight up to him and smacked him on the shoulder.

’’Three days,’’ she said sharply. ’’You didn’t call for three days.’’

’’I was busy,’’ Owen shot back immediately. ’’Training, remember?’’

’’Training doesn’t stop you from picking up a phone,’’ his father added, his tone firm.

Owen clicked his tongue.

’’Yeah, yeah... but I’m here now, aren’t I?’’

Despite his words, a large smile had grown on his face.

Theo watched the exchange for a second before stepping forward himself.

His mother reached him first.

Without saying anything, she pulled him into a tight embrace.

’’You look healthy,’’ she murmured softly.

Theo smiled, nodding once.

’’Been working really hard on that.’’

After a few seconds, she stepped back, her hands still resting on his shoulders as she looked him over.

His father approached next.

Even he couldn’t help but pull Theo into a hug.

As he took a step back, the pride beaming on his face became visible.

’’Has everything been going alright?’’ he asked.

’’Of course,’’ Theo nodded.

His father let go of his shoulders and ran his hand through Theo’s hair.

’’That’s what I expected,’’ he said quietly. ’’You always took good care of yourself.’’

Silence fell for a moment.

Silence lingered for a moment before Owen’s mother clapped her hands lightly.

’’Alright, enough standing around,’’ she said. ’’Let’s go home. I made food.’’

Owen’s eyes lit up instantly.

’’Finally.’’

Theo let out a faint chuckle as the group turned and started walking together.

The atmosphere had become light and familiar.

Yet, somehow, that bad feeling in his stomach had only grown.

The walk back didn’t take long.

The conversation stayed light, mostly carried by Owen and his parents, while Theo listened quietly.

Every now and then, his mother would glance at him, as if making sure he was really there.

The moment they stepped inside the house, the warm smell of food wrapped around them.

Owen let out a satisfied breath.

’’Yeah... that’s what I missed,’’ he muttered, already heading toward the table.

Theo followed behind, placing his bag near the entrance before taking a seat.

Within minutes, the table filled up.

Plates were set down one after another, and soon all six of them were eating together.

For a while, the conversation remained light.

Owen got scolded again for not calling.

Theo’s mother asked a few more questions about the university.

His father listened more than he spoke, occasionally nodding.

It felt... normal.

Theo found himself relaxing slightly, even if that faint unease never fully disappeared.

Eventually, the plates were empty.

One by one, their parents stood up, each moving to clean up.

Owen stretched his arms as he stood up.

’’I’m going for a walk,’’ he said casually.

Theo glanced at him, then stood up as well.

’’I’ll come with you.’’

Their parents smiled at them, nodding once as they told them to go.

The moment they stepped outside, Owen let out a deep breath.

’’Almost feels suffocating now,’’ he said, turning to Theo.

’’Guess we really got used to the training schedule and continuously risking our lives.’’

Theo nodded slightly, feeling the exact same way.

As the two of them continued to walk, Owen pulled out his phone.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then Owen let out a small hum.

’’There it is,’’ he said, holding his phone up slightly.

Theo glanced at him.

’’What?’’

’’The bracket,’’ Owen replied. ’’For tomorrow.’’

Theo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’’They’re already out?’’

Owen nodded enthusiastically.

’’Yeah. They released it while we were eating.’’

He scrolled for a moment before stopping.

’’Alright... your opening match is at 2 PM,’’ he said. ’’After that, it’s the free rounds.’’

Theo tilted his head slightly.

’’Free rounds?’’

’’Yeah,’’ Owen said. ’’You fight ten matches, and those with the most wins go through.’’

He scrolled down again.

’’Day after is top 64 all the way to top 8,’’ he continued. ’’Final day is top 4 and the finals.’’

Letting out a quiet breath, Theo nodded.

’’Makes sense.’’

Silence fell between them for a moment.

Owen continued scrolling down.

Theo, on the other hand, was deep in thought.

’It’s a standard format,’ he thought. ’Nothing to worry about there.’

’That leaves just one thing... dealing with David.’

Just then, Owen raised his phone again.

’’Look here,’’ he said, pointing at the screen. ’’They released the participants already!’’

Theo snapped out of his thoughts.

’’Anything crazy there?’’

Owen shook his head, though a large smirk grew on his face.

’’Nothing,’’ he started, smiling slyly. ’’Outside of two people, that is.’’

Turning to him, Theo raised an eyebrow.

’’Two?’’

Owen nodded, his smirk almost unable to grow any larger.

’’Yeah, the two known S-rank awakenings this year from our city.’’

Theo glanced at him for a moment.

’Did that news completely fly over my head?’

’’Who?’’ he asked.

Owen chuckled.

’’One of them you know very well,’’ he said. ’’Your girlfriend.’’

Theo’s expression soured.

He elbowed Owen once in his side.

’’And the other?’’ he asked.

Owen winced slightly, but still glanced back at his phone.

’’Some girl from downtown,’’ he said. ’’Apparently has a really rare S-rank advanced element.’’

He paused for a second before looking up.

’’The summoning element.’’

Theo’s steps slowed slightly.

For a brief moment, his hand moved towards his chest.

’Summoning...’

He let out a quiet breath.

’’That’s cool,’’ he muttered. ’’First time we’ll see one of those.’’

Owen let out a soft hum.

’’Yeah. It’ll definitely be something interesting.’’

They continued walking for a while longer, slowly leaving the main streets behind.

Eventually, they reached the edge of a small forest.

Owen pushed through the branches without hesitation.

Theo followed right behind him.

As they stepped through a final set of trees, Owen let out a low whistle.

’’Look at that,’’ he said. ’’Our old training ground is such a mess.’’

Theo’s gaze swept across the area.

The broken branches, collapsed trees, and even the cracks in the ground.

They were all remnants from when he awakened his second affinity.

He stepped forward, smiling.

’’Feels nostalgic,’’ he said.

Owen nodded, leaning against a tree.

’’Yup,’’ he said. ’’Good thing we can always come back here.’’

Theo didn’t respond.

For a second, the faint noises from the city entered his ears.

’It’s that same feeling again,’ he thought, rubbing his chest. ’Didn’t I feel this inside that dungeon too?’

Many thoughts ran through his mind.

Yet, he pushed them all away in an instant.

’The national guard is still here,’ he thought. ’There’s no way something would happen now.’

He closed his eyes and exhaled softly.

A small smile appeared on his face again almost immediately.

’’Let’s head back,’’ he said.

Owen pushed himself off the tree without question.

’’Yeah,’’ he replied. ’’We’ve got a lot to do now.’’

Without another word, the two of them left the clearing behind.