Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream

Chapter 264: Paying back

Carrying Adam back to his apartment turned out to be far more exhausting than Kyle had expected, especially since the man refused to stop talking for even a second.

"Dude, we agreed to grab a few drinks after you got here, but you’re already completely wasted," Kyle complained as the three stood inside the elevator.

Thankfully, ever since Amanda had shown up, Adam had become at least a little more manageable.

Adam cleared his throat dramatically.

"Ahem. I knew you’d call it a night after just one beer, so I decided to quench my parched throat before coming here."

Kyle stared at him in disbelief.

That had to be one of the most ridiculous excuses he had ever heard.

"You shouldn’t drink that much, no matter the reason," Amanda said gently.

Adam sniffled.

"But it’s a breakup, Amanda."

He turned toward Kyle before continuing,

"Even this dude spent so many nights drunk after..."

"Okay, we’re here. Let’s go."

Kyle cut him off without giving him the chance to finish, dragging the drunken man out of the elevator.

Amanda naturally understood what Adam had been about to say.

The smile on her face slowly faded as she fell silent.

Kyle unlocked the door and helped Adam into the living room before dropping the drunken man onto the couch.

"Get me some beer and snacks, please," Adam mumbled, raising both hands and repeatedly grabbing at the air like a child asking to be picked up.

Kyle let out a weary sigh.

"Drink some water first."

He picked up a bottle and tossed it over.

Adam simply hugged it to his chest and closed his eyes as though that alone would quench his thirst.

Shaking his head, Kyle walked farther into the house and found Amanda in the kitchen, restocking the refrigerator.

He stopped beside the dining table before quietly saying,

"Amy... don’t mind what he said, okay?"

Amanda didn’t answer immediately.

She carefully placed the carton of eggs into the refrigerator before straightening up.

Only then did she turn to face him.

"I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel, Kyle." Her voice was soft. "Knowing I wasn’t the only one who was devastated makes me feel... relieved. But at the same time, it makes me incredibly sad."

Kyle gently shook his head.

"You don’t have to feel that way. We both know it wasn’t your fault. You only did what you believed you had to do."

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"And it’s not like I spent every night drunk after we separated."

"I know..." Amanda lowered her gaze. "But unlike me, who was buried in work and constantly surrounded by people, you were all alone."

Her voice trembled with guilt.

"You had to carry everything by yourself."

Even though they had reconciled nearly a month ago, that painful Chapter of their lives still lingered between them.

Neither of them had truly left it behind.

Kyle slowly walked over to her and gently cupped her cheek.

Leaning closer, he rested his forehead against hers, their noses brushing lightly.

Closing his eyes, he whispered,

"Our time apart brought us so much pain... but it also taught us something we’ll never forget."

Amanda wrapped her hand around his and softly finished his sentence.

"That we’re meant to stay together. Without you, Kyle... I can’t even imagine my life."

"Neither can I, Amanda."

His thumb slowly traced her cheek as he gazed into her eyes.

"You complete me. And I’m never letting anything take away what’s mine."

The tension that had weighed on Amanda’s shoulders finally melted away.

A gentle smile bloomed across her face before she leaned in and kissed him.

Kyle kissed her back, savoring the faint sweetness of her lipstick and the warmth she poured into that single moment.

CLANG!

The sharp sound of something shattering echoed from the living room.

They quickly broke apart.

"I’ll go check on him," Kyle said with a helpless smile.

Amanda nodded.

"I’ll make something to eat. We’re having a proper meal today."

Kyle had officially become a part of the academy.

That alone was reason enough to celebrate.

Still smiling to himself, Kyle walked into the living room.

Adam was kneeling on the floor in front of a shattered vase, both hands clutching his head in utter horror as he stared at the mess he had created.

"Dude... you can’t be that drunk," Kyle said as he walked over.

"No!" Adam protested, sounding genuinely wronged. "I was just admiring the color. I swear I hadn’t even touched it yet..."

The guilt on his face made it obvious he felt terrible about breaking something that looked expensive.

Kyle simply shook his head, helped Adam back onto his feet, and guided him to the couch once again.

After making sure he was seated, Kyle crouched down and began gathering the shattered pieces of the vase.

"Have you gone home today?" he asked.

"Nah..." Adam hugged his knees to his chest and lowered his head. "I don’t want to show my pathetic face to my dad. He’s already disappointed enough in me."

Kyle paused, looking at him in surprise.

"But why?"

Adam remained silent for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

"I’m wasting my life doing nothing."

His grip around his knees tightened.

"I refused to join the PSC, saying I wanted more time to train. But look at me now."

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"I’m nothing more than a bum living off my parents."

Kyle looked at him with mild surprise.

"But aren’t you considered a prodigy? Blake mentioned that before."

Adam gave a hollow laugh.

"Yeah, sure. I was one of the top students back at the academy."

His eyes trembled as he looked at Kyle.

"But not everyone is built to fight those horrors."

He lowered his gaze.

"I’m good at duels... but fighting rift monsters..."

His voice trailed off.

"That’s just not who I am."

Kyle quietly nodded.

He understood.

Not everyone who could wield a sword wanted to stand against the horrors lurking inside the rifts.

That was simply who Adam was, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Still, with Nightwalkers being so scarce, it was no surprise that everyone expected him to work for the government.

"What are you actually interested in?" Kyle asked as he sat down beside his cousin.

"Forget it, man." Adam forced a weak smile. "I don’t want to dump my pathetic life story on you."

"No, I insist."

Kyle’s voice was calm but firm.

"When I was at my lowest, I never hesitated to complain to you. Don’t start acting formal with me now."

Adam fell silent.

The genuine concern in Kyle’s words slowly chipped away at the walls around his heart.

Keeping his head lowered, he finally admitted,

"I... like baking."

Kyle wasn’t surprised in the slightest. Adam has always been quite interested in baking. Whenever he came over, he would have his own create cake or a new kind of bread.

His cook book was filled with his own recipes but Adam never took it seriously knowing what future awaited him.

But now,

"Then that’s exactly what you should do." A smile appeared on his face. "You’re good at it. I’d even suggest opening a bakery."

Adam let out a bitter groan.

"It isn’t that simple, Kyle. If I even brought that up to my father, he’d probably disown me."

He laughed at himself before adding,

"And on my own... I’m nothing."

Kyle rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Then what am I here for?"

Adam looked up.

Meeting his brother’s eyes, Kyle smiled.

"I’ll be receiving ten thousand Lumir tomorrow as payment for my internship. I’ll give it to you as the initial investment."

Before Adam could even respond, Amanda spoke as she approached them.

"I’ve got a few thousand saved too, and I don’t really need it right now. I can lend it to you as well."

Adam’s eyes darted between the two of them before he frantically shook his head.

"I... I can’t accept that. It’s your hard-earned money."

His gaze settled on Kyle.

"Especially yours. You went through so much because of your financial situation."

"But not anymore," Kyle replied with quiet confidence.

"The path I’ve chosen won’t leave me starving."

He gave Adam’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"So stop worrying and take it, alright?"

A playful smile crossed his face.

"Think of it as repayment."

"For all those late-night calls... and for all those matches you forced me to play just to keep my mind off everything."

Adam’s vision blurred.

His eyes quickly filled with tears.

When someone felt trapped with no way forward, even the smallest act of kindness could become a lifeline.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, he threw his arms around Kyle.

"Thanks, man..."

His voice broke.

"Thank you..."

Kyle smiled and returned the embrace.

"Everything’s going to be alright, mate."