A faint smile crept onto Charles's face.
Seeing it, Ryuuto tilted his head. "What's so funny, Professor?"
Charles chuckled softly. "Because you've changed. You're calmer now… steadier. It proves I was right to let you lead the X-Men." His tone carried quiet pride. "A true leader doesn't need overwhelming power or wealth—just perspective. The last time the Defense Ministry came knocking, you refused to yield. This time, you played the board differently. You adapted. That's growth, Ryuuto. I'm proud of you."
Ryuuto gave a wry smile. "Guess I learned from the best."
"Actually," Charles said, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I've always known you're not a mutant."
Ryuuto froze, his smile fading.
That single line hit him like a dart.
He'd never told anyone about the Hokage System, so how the hell—
Charles's voice stayed calm. "Don't worry. I didn't read your mind. You were different from the beginning. I brought you here because you needed a home. Your parents were gone, and you said you had no one left in Japan. So I took you in. That's why I didn't stop you when you fought Pyro back then. I just wanted to see what you'd become. But, if you don't mind me asking… where does your ability really come from?"
Ryuuto looked down for a moment, strangely moved.
So the Professor knew all along.
And yet—he never exposed him, never pushed. He simply… cared.
Even without showing it, Charles had treated him like family. The quiet kind of love you only notice when you're looking back.
Ryuuto smiled faintly. "You probably want to know how I got my powers, right?"
"I'm not interested in the origin," Charles replied gently. "Only in how you use them. And lately? You've done well. A bit too violent at times, perhaps—but you're young. I'm entrusting the school and the X-Men to you now. Whatever decisions you make, you no longer need my permission."
Ryuuto bowed slightly. "Thank you for the trust, Professor."
"No," Charles said. "Thank you. Without you, the school would've been destroyed by the Defense Ministry."
"Don't worry. I won't let that happen."
Charles smiled, pressing two fingers to his temple. "Then let's make sure everyone gets out safely first."
As his telepathy rippled outward, Ryuuto headed to the main hall. Within minutes, everyone had gathered. After confirming no one was missing, he led them to the parked ship.
"Can you cloak it, Susan?" he asked.
She nodded faintly. "I can. Just… give me a moment."
"Good. We'll fly invisible."
When everyone boarded, Arlo took the pilot's seat and lifted the ship toward Sixton Town, a deserted settlement near the old Mutant School grounds.
Ryuuto calculated quickly — it'd take only a few minutes at full speed to return to campus when the time came.
The town, scarred by Magneto's last massacre, had long been abandoned. A good temporary base.
But no—he wasn't abandoning the school.
Not even close.
This was just a tactical retreat. Once they killed the Abomination and reclaimed the Tesseract and Loki's Scepter, they'd go home. Which meant the mission had to be pulled forward—tonight.
Arlo parked the ship behind a five-story villa on the edge of town. Charles confirmed via telepathy that no one was inside. Only then did Susan lower her invisibility barrier.
Her face was pale—too pale.
Ryuuto noticed immediately. Without a word, he guided her up the stairs to the villa's top floor and found a soft pink bedroom that had once belonged to a girl.
"Rest here," he said gently. "You've overused your powers."
Susan gave him a weak smile. "And you?"
"I'll plan tonight's op with Banner and Tony."
"...Stay with me. Just for a bit?"
Her voice was soft, almost trembling.
Ryuuto sighed—but smiled. He slipped beside her and pulled her close. "Fine. Just a bit."
As she leaned into him, he could feel how drained she was. Her skin was cold from exhaustion.
"Feeling that bad?" he murmured.
"Just... tired. My ability's overused," she whispered, nestling against his chest. "Actually, I wanted to ask something… but I wasn't sure if I should."
"You're my girlfriend, Susan. You can ask anything."
She hesitated. "Do you… love me?"
Ryuuto blinked, then laughed quietly. "Of course I do. What kind of question is that?"
"You're amazing, Ryuuto. Sometimes I'm scared I'll lose you."
He smirked. "You think I'll get stolen by someone else?"
"Natasha's more beautiful… Katie's younger…" she mumbled. "Sometimes I just feel I can't compare."
Ryuuto rolled his eyes. "Then maybe I should remind you who I chose."
And with that, he flipped her gently onto the bed, his grin sharpening into something playful—and real.