Fortunately, Adrian had come prepared.
He’d anticipated that his family would question his sudden wealth, so he’d spent much of the drive to Oakridge putting together a convincing explanation. He couldn’t exactly tell them the truth, after all.
"I won the lottery a few months ago," he explained confidently. "I invested the money in some stocks, and they’ve been doing pretty well lately."
His delivery was so natural that even a lie detector might have struggled to catch him.
Mrs. Vale studied her son, a trace of disbelief in her eyes.
"You’ve been sitting on all that money this whole time?"
"It only became worth this much recently," Adrian explained.
She looked at him with suspicious eyes for another moment before letting out a small sigh.
"Well... as long as you’re not involved in anything that will land you on the evening news." She wiped her hands on her apron. "Your father and I have spent enough time worrying about you in that concrete jungle. I don’t need any more gray hairs."
With that, she seemed satisfied and returned to the kitchen, where dinner was already bubbling away on the stove.
Kobe, however, wasn’t nearly as willing to let the matter go.
"Yo, hold on!" He leaned forward and grabbed Adrian by the arm. "You’ve got to introduce me to whoever sold you that ticket, bro! Winning the lottery twice in one lifetime? Is that even possible?"
"Kobe, let your cousin breathe!" Mrs. Vale called from the kitchen over the sizzling pans. "He’s barely gotten home. You can interrogate him after he’s had a proper meal."
Kobe slumped against the sofa cushions with an exaggerated sigh.
"Fine, Auntie."
...
Half an hour later, the family gathered around the dinner table.
Lily brought out bowls of tuna rice, placing one in front of each person. The round table had barely changed since Adrian’s last visit. He sat beside Kobe, just as he used to whenever his cousin came over for dinner, while Lily sat next to their mother. Mrs. Vale took the seat beside the head of the table, where Old Vale sat as usual.
Once everyone had settled down, Lily raised her spoon.
"Today’s dinner is dedicated to the Avatar for finally returning to the world of the living!"
"Lily!" Mrs. Vale scolded, though a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Even Kobe struggled to hold back a laugh.
Adrian simply nodded, accepting the joke with a grin.
"Thank you, everyone. It’s good to be back."
The meal continued in a relaxed atmosphere, filled with casual conversation and the occasional teasing remark. They talked about all sorts of things, from old family memories to the amusing incidents that had taken place during Adrian’s childhood.
At one point, Mrs. Vale brought up Kobe’s performance in the basketball tournament earlier that day, praising him for carrying his team through the match.
Kobe tried to act modest, but Adrian could tell he was pleased with the recognition.
For all the excitement and indulgence that came with life in the city, this was something Adrian had genuinely missed. There was no pressure to win, no need to watch his back, and no temptation to chase the next big thrill. Just familiar faces, home-cooked food, and people who knew him long before money had entered the picture.
He still enjoyed the fast-paced life he’d built for himself, but sometimes, a person needed a break from all of it.
And after four years away, Adrian was long overdue for one.
...
By the time dinner ended, the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon.
Lily had gone upstairs to finish her nightly routine, while Mr. and Mrs. Vale had retired to their room. Adrian remained downstairs, lounging on the sofa and watching Adult Swim on television.
He was halfway through an episode when he heard the stairs creak behind him.
Turning around, he spotted Kobe coming downstairs in a tracksuit, carrying a bag over one shoulder. He looked as though he was preparing to head out.
"Where are you going?" Adrian asked.
Kobe paused and glanced at him.
Something about his expression seemed different. The usual playfulness was missing, replaced by a heaviness Adrian hadn’t noticed earlier.
"Adrian, do you mind coming with me?"
Adrian studied him briefly before reaching for the remote.
"Sure."
He switched off the television and got up, following Kobe outside.
...
The night air was cool as the two cousins walked along the quiet streets of Oakridge.
"I’ve got to admit, Adrian. I never expected you to come back a millionaire after moving to Halcyon City."
Kobe broke the silence with a faint smile.
"Hehe... Sometimes things just happen."
Adrian stretched his arms behind his neck, keeping his explanation deliberately vague.
Kobe gave him a sideways glance.
"But seriously, did you actually win the lottery? You already won one back in Oakridge High, and now you’ve won another? Bro, you must be the lottery king!"
’I won something, alright.’
Adrian couldn’t help grinning at the thought.
"What can I say? Some people never get that lucky. I managed it twice."
"Bro, you’re just like King from One-Punch Man!"
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Kobe stopped walking for a moment and stared at him in disbelief.
"Bro, don’t tell me you’ve been so busy that you haven’t watched One-Punch Man!"
Adrian chuckled at his cousin’s disappointment.
Their conversation drifted into other topics as they continued down the road. For a while, it felt like old times, with Kobe throwing out random jokes and Adrian responding whenever he felt like it.
However, Adrian soon noticed something peculiar.
Every few minutes, Kobe checked his watch.
At first, he ignored it. But after the third or fourth time, his curiosity finally got the better of him.
"Bro, are we heading somewhere in particular? You’ve been checking your watch every few minutes."
Kobe kept his eyes on the road. He walked in silence for a while before letting out a sigh and nudging a small stone with his foot.
"While you were gone, my mom hasn’t been doing too well."
Adrian’s expression grew serious.
"She’s in the hospital right now. She needs an expensive operation."
Kobe paused, seemingly trying to find the right words.
"I joined that basketball tournament because of the prize money, more than the scout, honestly. I wanted to help pay for her surgery. But even if our team wins, I’m not sure my share will be enough."
He glanced at his watch again.
"That’s why I keep checking the time. It’s almost nine."
Adrian understood what he meant.
Oakridge General Hospital’s regular visiting hours usually ended at nine in the evening. Anyone arriving after that generally had to enter through the emergency department and obtain permission from security or the nurse in charge.
Fortunately, Kobe had already made arrangements with the hospital’s security staff to visit his mother a little later than usual.
Adrian walked beside him without saying anything.
Lily had already told him about Aunt Julie’s condition, but he’d deliberately held back from bringing it up. He’d been away for years, and he didn’t want to act as though he had the right to interfere in matters he’d barely been present for.
Of course, he could easily offer to pay for the surgery now. The money wasn’t a problem anymore.
But he knew that giving Kobe the money wouldn’t make up for all the time he’d missed. He’d missed birthdays, family gatherings, and countless ordinary moments that he could never get back.
Still, he could at least be there now.
...
When they finally reached the hospital, Kobe led Adrian toward the emergency department.
The building was quieter than it would have been during the day, though nurses and medical staff still moved through the corridors, attending to patients and responding to calls.
After checking their details, a nurse escorted them to Aunt Julie’s room. Since it was already late, she reminded them that they had about fifteen minutes for the visit.
Kobe nodded in understanding before opening the door.
Adrian followed him inside.
The first thing he noticed was the elderly woman lying on the hospital bed, an IV line connected to her arm. She looked noticeably weaker than he remembered, her face thinner and her movements limited. Yet when she saw the two young men enter, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Her eyes settled on Adrian.
For a moment, she seemed unable to believe what she was seeing.
"Adrian? Is that really you?"