Chapter 52: 52: The not so invisible girl
Toru's green eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly slipped the Refractive Harmoniser onto her wrist. Aiden leaned closer, adjusting the device with the ease of someone who had built it from scratch.
The crystal embedded in the centre began to glow softly, emitting a faint hum. Everyone in the room—her parents, the butler, and even Aiden—held their breath in anticipation.
"Okay, Toru," Aiden said with a grin, stepping back slightly. "Let's see the magic happen. Ready?"
Toru nodded, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "Ready."
Aiden tapped a small button on the side of the device. The hum grew louder for a brief second, and then, as though a veil had been lifted, Toru's form materialised before them.
For the first time in years, her true appearance was visible.
Toru stood there, glowing with a natural, radiant beauty. Her short, wavy green hair framed her face perfectly, her wide, expressive eyes sparkling with joy. Her cheeks were slightly flushed with emotion, and her dress looked so much more vibrant against her now-visible form.
There was something effortlessly graceful about her, yet her cheerful personality still shone through.
Her parents froze, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of their daughter. Hiro's lips parted as though to say something, but no words came.
Emiko covered her mouth with trembling hands, tears spilling down her cheeks as her emotions overwhelmed her. Even the butler, ever composed and professional, blinked rapidly, his stoic mask cracking.
"Toru," Emiko whispered, stepping closer, her voice choked. "Oh, my beautiful girl… it's been so long…"
Hiro placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, his own eyes glistening. "You… you're breathtaking, Toru. Absolutely stunning. Just as we always imagined."
Toru's eyes filled with tears as she realised the impact her appearance was having on her family. "Mum… Dad…" Her voice wavered, and for a moment, she was too overcome with emotion to say more.
The butler took a deliberate step forward, bowing his head deeply. "Miss Toru," he said, his voice tinged with warmth, "it is truly an honour to see you as you are. You are every bit as radiant as I knew you would be."
Toru looked around the room, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and emotion. "This… this is me?" she asked softly, turning to Aiden with wide, teary eyes. "This is really what I look like?"
Aiden gave her a big grin, his blue and gold eyes twinkling. "I told you, didn't I? You're absolutely beautiful, Toru. And now, everyone else can see what I've known all along."
Toru let out a laugh, half-sob, and launched herself at Aiden. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, her weight nearly sending him stumbling back. "Thank you, Aiden! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
Aiden chuckled, patting her back as he steadied himself. "Easy there, Toru. You're gonna make me blush."
She pulled back slightly, still clinging to him, her face glowing with happiness. "You don't get it! I've never seen myself like this. I've always wondered… and now… now I can finally know. It's all thanks to you."
Before Aiden could respond, the door creaked open, and one of the house helpers peeked in, curious about the commotion. The woman's eyes went wide when she saw Toru, her mouth forming a perfect "O."
"Miss Toru?" she gasped, her voice trembling. "Is that… is that you?"
At the sound of the helper's voice, more staff began to gather, whispering amongst themselves in awe. One by one, they entered the room, their faces lighting up as they beheld their young mistress.
The manor seemed to buzz with life as the news spread like wildfire.
"She's beautiful," one of the maids murmured, her voice filled with wonder.
"Just like Lady Emiko when she was younger," another added.
Toru blushed deeply, overwhelmed by the sudden attention but also thrilled by the outpouring of admiration. "Oh, wow, this is a lot of people," she said, laughing nervously. "Hi, everyone!"
The room erupted in applause and cheers, the staff clearly as moved as her parents were. The atmosphere was electric, filled with warmth and joy as everyone celebrated the long-awaited moment.
Hiro raised his hands, calling for quiet. When the chatter died down, he spoke, his voice steady but emotional. "Today is a special day for our family. For years, Toru has been invisible to the world, but now we can finally see her in all her beauty. And we owe this moment to Aiden."
Everyone turned to Aiden, who suddenly found himself at the centre of attention. He raised his hands defensively, grinning sheepishly. "Hey, no big deal. I just wanted to help out my friend."
Emiko stepped forward, taking Aiden's hands in hers. "It's more than that, Aiden. You've given us a gift we can never repay. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts."
Aiden's grin softened into a warm smile. "You don't need to repay me. Seeing how happy Toru is—that's enough for me."
Toru beamed, her hands still clutching Aiden's arm. "You're the best, Aiden. Seriously. I don't know how I'll ever top this."
"You don't have to," Aiden replied, ruffling her hair playfully. "Just promise me you'll always remember how amazing you are, okay?"
Toru nodded, her eyes shining. "I promise."
The rest of the day was a blur of celebration. The staff prepared an impromptu feast, and the manor was filled with laughter and joy. Toru's parents couldn't stop doting on her, marvelling at her every feature. Even the butler, usually reserved, joined in the festivities, his pride for the family evident in his every gesture.
The feast began in the late afternoon, spilling over into the golden hues of the evening. The dining hall, grand and opulent with its crystal chandelier and long polished table, was now filled with laughter, clinking dishes, and the scent of delicious food.
Platters of roasted meats, delicate pastries, vibrant salads, and sparkling drinks were laid out for everyone to enjoy. Aiden sat near the head of the table, flanked by Toru and her parents, his usual confidence replaced with a laid-back, warm smile.
"This isn't exactly how I imagined today would go," Aiden admitted, slicing into a perfectly cooked piece of steak. "But I'm not complaining. This food? Top-notch."
"You'll have to thank our chef later," Hiro said with a chuckle, raising his glass. "Though I imagine he'll be more interested in thanking you for what you've done for Toru."
Toru, seated beside Aiden and now dressed in a beautiful blue dress that matched her radiant green hair and eyes, blushed at the praise. "Dad, stop. Aiden's already been thanked a hundred times today."
"And it's still not enough," Emiko added, her tone teasing. "Aiden, you've not just helped our daughter; you've helped us. You've brought her back to us in a way we never thought possible."
Aiden waved off the praise with a grin, though his faintly glowing eyes softened at the sentiment. "I just did what any good friend would do. Besides," he added, glancing at Toru, "seeing her smile like this is worth more than any thanks."
Toru's blush deepened, and she poked at her plate to hide her smile. "You're such a cheeseball," she muttered, though the gratitude in her voice was unmistakable.
As the meal stretched on, conversations shifted from heartfelt to playful.
"So, Aiden," Hiro said, leaning back in his chair. "You're quite the inventor. What else have you been working on?"
"Mostly stuff for fun," Aiden replied. "A few gadgets to help with school, a couple of prototypes for hero support gear. Oh, and a little robotic assistant I've been tinkering with—Nimbus gets jealous when I give it too much attention, though."(Hint hint (* ̄3 ̄)╭ who do you think it is?)
"Nimbus?" Emiko asked, curious.
"My chinchilla," Aiden said with a laugh. "He's my partner in crime when I'm working on stuff. Well, him and Toru sometimes."
Their banter had everyone at the table laughing, the warmth of the moment filling the room. As the evening progressed, the family proposed a game to cap off the feast.
The group gathered in the cosy living room, where a coffee table was cleared to make way for a large board game. It was a family favourite—a mix of trivia, charades, and strategy that guaranteed laughs. Toru's parents teamed up, leaving Aiden to partner with Toru.
"You're going down," Toru whispered playfully as the game began.
"Bring it," Aiden shot back, his competitive side coming alive.
The game quickly became chaotic in the best way. Aiden fumbled his way through a charade of "flying squirrel," prompting Toru to laugh so hard she nearly fell off the couch. Emiko surprised everyone with her encyclopaedic knowledge of obscure trivia, and Hiro got so into the acting portions that even the stoic butler, standing off to the side, had to stifle a chuckle.
"How are your parents this good at everything?" Aiden groaned as Toru answered yet another trivia question correctly.
"Years of practice," Toru replied smugly. "You're stuck with me, so you'd better step up."
By the end of the game, Toru and Aiden managed to eke out a narrow victory, much to Hiro's dramatic despair.
"I demand a rematch," he declared, though his grin gave away his good humour.
"Anytime, Mr. Hagakure," Aiden said, standing and stretching. "But for now, I think we've earned a break."
As the night deepened, the family decided to take photos to commemorate the day. Toru, still glowing from the joy of the day, was a natural in front of the camera. Her blue dress flowed elegantly as she posed with her parents, her radiant smile lighting up each shot.
"Let's take one together!" she exclaimed, dragging Aiden into the frame.
"Alright, alright," Aiden said, laughing as Toru positioned him beside her.
Click after click, the camera captured their joy. In some shots, Toru grinned wide, throwing up peace signs. In others, she leaned against Aiden, her happiness shining through. Aiden, for his part, matched her energy, his carefree personality evident in every smile and goofy pose.
Eventually, the entire household joined in. The butlers, maids, cleaners, gardeners, guards—all the residents of the manor gathered in the spacious courtyard for a grand group photo. Aiden found himself squished between Toru and a cheerful maid who insisted on holding up bunny ears behind his head.
"Alright, everyone, smile!" Hiro called, setting the camera's timer and rushing to join the group.
As the flash went off, the courtyard filled with cheers and laughter.
Later, when the festivities had quieted, Toru and Aiden found themselves alone in the garden. The stars twinkled above, their light casting a soft glow over the lush greenery. Toru, still wearing her blue dress, twirled in place, her newfound visibility still feeling like a dream.
"I still can't believe this is real," she said softly, looking down at her hands. "I can see myself, Aiden. Really see myself."
Aiden leaned against a tree, his expression warm. "Told you it'd be worth it."
Toru turned to him, her green eyes shining. "It's more than worth it. It's… everything. And it's all because of you."
She stepped closer, her cheeks flushed as she fidgeted slightly. "You've always believed in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. I don't know how to thank you for that."
Aiden smiled, pushing off the tree and taking a step closer to her. "You don't have to thank me. Just… keep being you, Toru. That's all I could ever want."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the night wrapping around them like a blanket. Then, with a gentle smile, Aiden leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Toru's lips.
Toru froze, her eyes wide with surprise. But as the initial shock faded, she closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were blushing, though Aiden's confident grin quickly returned.
"Guess I couldn't wait for you to figure it out," he teased lightly.
Toru laughed, her voice soft and full of happiness. "You're such a cheeseball," she said again, though this time there was no hiding the affection in her tone.
They stayed in the garden a while longer, talking and laughing under the stars, their bond stronger than ever.
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