Tech Hero in Another World
Chapter 30: [29] See you later, Strom

Chapter 30: [29] See you later, Strom

After both adult tigers had shrunk and all their supplies were loaded into the car, Eleanor gazed at her tiger cubs with eyes full of longing. She couldn’t hide the heaviness in her heart, even though she knew this was the best decision.

"I’m going to miss you so much..." she whispered, gently stroking the heads of Bella and Alfred, who were now no bigger than ordinary house cats. "I want you to stay by my side, but that would only complicate things... and that would just be my own selfishness."

She took a deep breath, then pulled Bella and Alfred into a tight embrace against her chest. Meanwhile, the smaller tiger cubs nuzzled against her legs, pressing their heads against her body as if they understood their master’s feelings.

Ren, who had been silently watching the emotional scene, finally let out a sigh and glanced around.

"Yeah... but where the hell is Wendy?" he muttered, realizing the girl still hadn’t shown up.

On the other side of town, Wendy was rushing through the streets, a basket of food clutched tightly in her hands. Her breathing was slightly ragged, but her eyes burned with determination.

(Why did I have to be late on such an important day!?) she thought in frustration, trying to pick up her pace.

She should have arrived a while ago, but an issue with her mother had held her up longer than expected. Of course, her mother had scolded her for not coming home last night without saying a word.

However, after explaining the situation—adding just a little embellishment to keep her mother from worrying too much—the problem was finally settled.

Now, she just had to make it to Eleanor’s mansion before Ren left.

"Wait for me, Strom!" she cried out in her heart, pushing herself to move faster through the now-bustling city streets.

###

Ren gazed at the sky, which was growing darker, thick clouds slowly rolling over the city. He let out a long sigh, staring at the empty road ahead with a hint of boredom. Waiting around for too long wasn’t his thing, and the longer he stayed here, the more unease crept into him.

Beside him, Eleanor stood with her usual grace, but the look in her eyes showed that she understood exactly what was on his mind. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her expression as calm as ever. "If you keep waiting, you might get caught in the rain on the way." She spoke gently, a warning without pressure.

Ren turned to her, giving a small nod. "Yeah, I get it... Besides, the sky’s already getting dark." His tone was relaxed, but there was something thoughtful in his eyes. After a brief pause, he looked at Eleanor more seriously. "If Wendy shows up later, pass along a message for me."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued by his request. "What message?" she asked, resting a hand on her hip, a small smile playing on her lips as if expecting something interesting.

Ren took a deep breath, his eyes gazing into the distance before he finally spoke. "Tell her... I’ll miss her." His words were light, but the sincerity behind them was undeniable. "And I promise I’ll come back here someday."

For a moment, Eleanor simply stood there, letting his words hang in the air. But then, a gentle smile formed on her face, full of understanding. "I see. I’ll make sure she hears it." She answered warmly.

Ren nodded, satisfied that at least someone would deliver his message. With a casual step, he turned and walked toward his car, still parked in the mansion’s courtyard. "Alright, I’m heading out then." he said before opening the driver’s side door.

Before getting in, he glanced at Alfred, the male tiger who had shrunk thanks to Eleanor’s magic item. "You’re riding shotgun, Alfred." he said, patting the seat beside him as if signaling his new companion.

Alfred let out a soft purr before leaping gracefully onto the passenger seat. With his now smaller body, he looked like an oversized house cat sitting there. Bella and her cubs, already settled in the back, merely glanced his way before returning to their spots.

Eleanor remained standing at the mansion’s entrance, watching them with a faint smile. Taking one last deep breath, Ren started the engine, the quiet hum of his electric vehicle filling the air. Slowly, he pulled out of the courtyard, officially beginning his long journey.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Wendy was sprinting as fast as she could, her breathing ragged with urgency. Her long hair was a mess from the wind, but she didn’t care. In her hands, she clutched a small basket, which shook slightly from her frantic movements.

(Don’t leave yet... Wait for me, Strom!) she thought, her heart pounding with anxiety.

She ran with all her might, her breath growing heavier, but she refused to slow down. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted it—a large, metallic vehicle passing by in the distance. And behind the glass window, she saw a familiar figure sitting in the driver’s seat.

(There he is! Strom!) Her eyes widened in hope.

Without a second thought, she spun around and began chasing after the car, her feet pounding against the cobblestone streets as she desperately tried to close the distance.

Inside the vehicle, Ren hummed lightly, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel. His thoughts lingered on Wendy for a moment, but he tried not to dwell on it too much.

(We already said our goodbyes this morning... So why should I wait for her?) he told himself, trying to brush off his unease.

But before he could get lost in his own thoughts, Bella, who was seated in the back, suddenly reacted.

The tigress walked up to the window and started scratching at the glass with her small claws. As she did, she let out a sound—a distinct feline noise, almost as if she was trying to tell him something.

Ren frowned slightly, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "Hey, Bella... What’s up?" he asked, confused by her behavior.

Then, he shifted his gaze to the mirror, checking what had caught her attention. The moment his eyes landed on the left side mirror, his breath hitched.

In the distance, Wendy was running at full speed, her face filled with determination as she chased after his car.

Wendy didn’t stop, even as her breathing grew unsteady. Her hands lifted slightly, as if trying to call out to him, but the words were caught in her throat.

(Strom... Look at me!)

Every step felt heavier, but she refused to give up. The distance was closing—but at the same time, it was getting harder to keep up.

Ren’s gaze remained fixed on the mirror, his body momentarily frozen. He hadn’t expected Wendy to go this far just to catch up to him.

He blinked, then let out a long sigh. "Haaah... This girl..." he muttered, turning the steering wheel slightly as he prepared to stop.

Slowly, he eased onto the brakes, bringing the car to a halt by the dusty roadside. The quiet hum of the engine faded, replaced only by the sound of Wendy’s hurried footsteps approaching.

Wendy nearly tripped as she finally reached the car, gasping for breath. Her cheeks were flushed, whether from exhaustion or the emotions churning inside her. Her teary eyes locked onto Ren’s, as if making sure he was really there.

"Haa... haah... You seriously left without waiting for me...?" Her voice trembled between uneven breaths.

Ren rested one hand on the wheel, looking at her with a blank expression. "Didn’t we already say goodbye this morning?" he replied, trying to sound casual, though he knew this situation was anything but normal. However, seeing Wendy’s face—clearly holding back emotions—he realized that wasn’t the answer she wanted.

Wendy clenched her fists, her lips quivering slightly. "I... I just wanted to say goodbye properly!" she said, her voice rising slightly. She lowered her head for a moment, trying to sort through her overwhelming feelings.

Ren let out a sigh before opening the car door and stepping out. As he stood in front of Wendy, he realized just how close they were. She was a little shorter than him, but right now, the distance between them felt even smaller.

"Alright... I’m listening." he said quietly, giving her the chance to speak her mind.

Wendy lifted her face, her eyes still glistening with unspoken emotions. "Don’t get hurt... Don’t do anything reckless... And..." She bit her lip, hesitating. "Don’t forget about me."

Ren blinked, slightly caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Wendy to be so direct. All this time, he had thought of their meeting as a coincidence, but now... maybe it was something more.

Scratching the back of his head, he searched for the right words. "Of course I won’t forget. You’re pretty loud, after all."

Wendy’s eyebrow twitched as she shot him an annoyed look. "Hey! I’m being serious here!" she huffed, though a small smile crept onto her lips.

Ren chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright... I’m serious too." He then looked at her more intently. "I’ll come back. I promise."

For a moment, silence filled the space between them. Wendy bit her lip again, looking hesitant—like she had something else she wanted to say.

But before Ren could ask, Wendy suddenly stepped forward—closing the last bit of distance between them.

And then, in one swift motion, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his cheek.

Ren froze.

The world seemed to stop. His eyes widened slightly, his body stiffening, while the warmth of Wendy’s touch lingered on his skin.

Wendy quickly pulled away, her face turning bright red—almost as red as a ripe tomato. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides, and she avoided Ren’s gaze like her life depended on it.

"T-Thank you for saving me back in the dungeon... That... was a farewell gift!" she stammered, her voice unsteady, before abruptly stepping back in a flustered panic.

Ren just stood there, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. His fingers instinctively touched his cheek, as if trying to confirm whether that brief, warm sensation had been real or not.

From inside the car, Bella let out a low, smug purr, her small feline form looking far too pleased with the situation. Alfred, on the other hand, simply stared at Ren with a lazy, unimpressed gaze—as if saying, "I saw this coming."

Ren closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. He wasn’t sure whether he should feel awkward, confused, or... something else entirely. But one thing was certain—this was something he wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

When he opened his eyes again, Wendy was standing a few steps away, her head still bowed slightly, her hands gripping the hem of her shirt.

For a split second, he considered saying something—maybe a joke to lighten the mood, maybe something reassuring. But before he could decide, Wendy suddenly took a deep breath and hurriedly held out the small basket she had been carrying all this time.

"W-Wait! This is for you!" she blurted out, stretching her arms toward him with urgency.

Ren blinked, still slightly thrown off by everything that had just happened. His gaze flickered to the basket, then back to Wendy, who was still avoiding eye contact.

"What’s this?" he asked, his voice more neutral than he intended.

Wendy puffed out her cheeks slightly, her embarrassment quickly shifting into mild frustration. "Lunch! I made it this morning... before I was late!" she said in a rush. "You’re going on a long journey, right? So you need to eat something!"

Ren sighed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. After everything that had just happened, this situation was getting weirder by the second.

But seeing the determination in Wendy’s expression—despite her obvious nervousness—he eventually reached out and took the basket with one hand.

"Alright, alright... I’ll take it." he said in a quieter tone. "But you really didn’t have to go through all this trouble—"

"No excuses!" Wendy cut him off, putting her hands on her hips. "I worked hard on this, so you better eat it all!"

Ren let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Hah... Fine, fine. I get it."

He placed the basket on the passenger seat, right next to Alfred, who sniffed it curiously.

Before Wendy could say anything else, Ren swiftly stepped back into the driver’s seat, closing the door behind him. But just before starting the engine, he glanced at her one last time.

Unlike before, his gaze was softer—more thoughtful.

"Thanks, Wendy... for everything."

Wendy went quiet for a moment, as if surprised by his words. Then, slowly, she smiled—a small but genuine smile. Her cheeks were still tinged pink, but this time, it wasn’t from embarrassment. It was from happiness.

"Take care on the road, Strom." she said softly.

With a quiet hum, the car’s engine came to life. The wheels rolled forward, and the vehicle gradually moved down the road, away from the city that had been his home for so long.

Wendy remained where she was, watching as the car grew smaller in the distance. Her fingers curled slightly, her lips parting as if to say something... but in the end, she only whispered under her breath.

"See you later, Strom..."

And with that, the wind carried her words away.

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