David: Max...? Is that you..?
All four of the remaining Paradox Troupe members turned to their companion. Max just stood there, completely astounded by the fact that he had found one of his own.
Sachika stood in the corner of the room, her arms crossed, smiling. The red haired Melissa and the newly burnt Lin also looked at Max with a blank expression, not knowing the appropriate response. Chuck and Albert smiled, happy for him. But to Max, this was everything.
Tears welled up in Max's brand new blue eyes. As he started tearing up, he slowly felt weak in the knees. His footing was bad and he was brought to his knees. He tried wiping off those tears, with his gloved hand, but they just couldn't stop coming. Max was indeed overwhelmed. He started crying...and soon, started wailing on top of his voice. He slowly gave into his emotions and began sobbing entirely.
Melissa gave a kind smile, looking at him being a little baby. Slowly, David started moving towards the kneeling Max. He went beside him and kneeled. He lifted both his arms and touched Max's shoulder. Max stopped crying and looked up at his brother.
David: It really is you huh??!!! Max....!
David immediately hugged his little brother and Max continued crying hugging his brother back. He had lost hope thinking they were all gone, but he was here. Even if it wasn't his entire family, someone was here!
David: Now, now! It's okay...I'm here now....my god you are such a crybaby!
Sachika: Take a look in the mirror...hubby...!
Sachika plainly told her husband as David was crying himself. He also was happy that his brother was here. Finally he had his family back. They both then parted from their hug. Max wiped out the remaining tears from his face and then smiled at his brother, who did the same. They both then laughed together.
Max: Umm...so...what about.. the others...?
David: I'm sorry...if you are asking about ma pa and the rest of our siblings...I don't know anything about what happened to them, or where they are..
Max nodded, but knowing that he found his brother here, it was simple enough to think he would find the rest nearby.
Max: But yeah...I'm still so happy to see you alive...
Max grinned. David stood up on his feet and stretched his palm to him, giving him a hand to get up.
David: Likewise..
Sachika and the rest were smiling, including Higurashi.
Chuck: Man...you and your brother don't look alike at all...we wouldn't have recognized him without the name anyway..
Max nodded and turned to his Troupe.
Max: Well...we aren't related to each other anyway..
Everyone: WHAT..??!??!
Even Albert was shocked and Lin looked pissed, like he always was.
Albert: But you said, that they were your family..?
Sachika came to their rescue with the explanation.
Sachika: Well...they were all orphans that grew up in an orphanage together...so they are technically siblings..
Max nodded in response.
Max: Well...our parents, the ones who raised us, were the in charge of an orphanage. We six kids were never adopted and due to various reasons they had to shut down the orphanage.
David: And they were kind enough to adopt us and we six became their foster children. That's why we are siblings now..
Max and David started laughing together hysterically watching the others' priceless expression. Sachika soon joined in with them.
Max immediately stopped and looked at Sachika, raising his eyebrow.
Max: So....this is the woman you married, David..?
Sachika: You bet he did!! He has great tastes!
David: Umm yeah....to be honest, this is awkward though...she was my girlfriend back then, before all this...
Max: WHHHAAAAATTTT??
David and the rest were shocked, as Higurashi slowly exited the room.
David: Woah woah...what's up with you..?
Max: You had a girlfriend back then, and you DIDN'T TELL ME??!?!? Even though you knew about me and Vaishaali???!?!
David had his arms in the air trying to calm his brother down.
David: I mean...we weren't dating before you went into a coma. It was AFTER IT, I swear!
Max wanted to punch him, but a word made him stop.
Max: Coma..?
David slowly lowered his hands and nodded. Sachika also lowered her head, as a much serious topic was being talked about.
David: You were in a coma for four long years. That was when this happened..
Max slowly sat back into the sofa behind him, after he learned why there were four missing years worth of memories in his head.
Max: I see....so that's what happened...I'm sorry I don't remember many details on why I was shot...
David slowly took a seat next to him. Higurashi returned with a tray full of coffee cups for everyone. Sachika gestured everyone to take a seat, which 5hey did. Lin was still in pain, mostly due to the cuts, but partly because he was covered in salt water, thanks to two morons.
David: Do you remember Vaishaali...? Oh yeah...wait..you did mention her now..
Max nodded, urging him to continue.
David: Well...she invited you out on a date again...as usual. The last I saw you moving was on that day. You happily danced in the room, and I had to lend you my clothes since you wanted something fancy. Turns out she was taking you to a rich people's restaurant.
Everyone else were taking sips on their cups, and Chuck was the onky one who didn't like coffee. He turned to Sachika who was beside him and asked a question.
Chuck: What's a rich people's restaurant?
Sachika: What..? You are a new worlder that doesn't even know restaurants..? Well...it was a fancy place to eat, where only rich men could afford.
This somewhat cleared Chuck's doubt and he checked Max's unchanged expression.
David: She wanted to take you somewhere expensive, because you, despite being poor always took her out on dates.
Max: You don't really have to remind me that..
David: Well...I thought you would have forgotten...anyway...she took you there..and a bunch of men with guns, decided to hold the rich hostage in there..
Chuck: Guns..?
Sachika: You know what...? I'll explain you later...
David: And so....the rich were arrogant. Didn't exactly give in. So since they wanted to show they mean business, they wanted to shoot someone to show as an example...
Max: Me..
David nodded.
David: Out of everyone in the room, they decided to shoot you. But thankfully...you tried dodging it in the last second, but still you weren't fast enough. The bullet grazed the side of your head and you lost a lot of blood.
Max touched the side of his temple and the wound was non existent. Granted it had been four years since then, and he had super healing factor currently.
David continued with the story.
David: By the time we got the news, the terrorists had gotten what they wanted, and they left. The police couldn't do their job and they escaped. They never were caught. And by the time we took you to an hospital...you were already in a coma.
Sachika butted in on the conversation.
Sachika: And then for the next four years...it was just David and his family that kept looking after you in the hospital and your house. And that's also when I helped out with him, since I started dating him. And that's how I knew you Max...
Max smiled at her.
Max: I still don't accept you though. I don't wanna accept you as my sister-in-law!
Sachika: I read comics and build mechs.
Max: Welcome to the family sis.
Sachika immediately started laughing.
Sachika: Man..you both might not be related biologically, but you both really are brothers! Hahaha
Max smiled at her.
Max: Thanks for taking care of me during those years..
Sachika: Don't sweat about it, bro...
David still looked very angry, and Max was concerned. David's eyes were red with anger, and his hands clenched each other.
Max: What happened, bro..?
David: If I had ever found those rotten terrorists...I would've burned them alive!.. They would've known my WRATH!!