Reborn as an Extra Chapter 697: The Emotional Reunion. (Liam X Ellie).

Liam's eyelids fluttered open and he sat up, a moment of bewilderment passing as he regarded his hands.

Several long seconds elapsed before the reality truly dawned upon Liam: he was, once again, alive.

"Haha... this feels like a dream come true... haha..."

He promptly pinched his cheek, the sting confirming it wasn't an illusion.

Warm morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his handsome features and drawing tears of joy to his eyes.

Before Liam could search for a mirror, his gaze fell upon a familiar figure, a girl sleeping soundly on the adjacent bed.

"E-Ellie..."

A smile bloomed on Liam's lips, tears welling anew as a torrent of unspeakable emotions surged within his throat.

The clone body, now Liam's vessel, had endured prolonged cryogenic stasis, making movement slow and arduous. Yet, Liam paid it no mind.

Summoning all his strength, he pushed himself off the bed, relying on the nearby table for support as he stood, feeling as though he might collapse at any moment.

"Ellie... hic... haha... y-you're here too... sob... hic... You're safe... haha... I'm so relieved..."

Despite the difficulty in speaking, the blurriness of his vision from tears, and the overwhelming flood of emotions,

Liam pressed on!

Step by painstaking step, he advanced, defying the instability of his new form, the gnawing weakness, and the primal fear of falling, to move ever closer.

With unyielding grit and sheer determination, Liam reached Ellie's bedside and settled beside her.

An expression of pure bliss washed over Liam's face, tears continuing their unrestrained descent.

His hand, trembling slightly, gently traced Ellie's cheek.

"Haha... you look just as you always have... haha... You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen..."

"I'm sorry... sorry for making you worry... I'm a terrible person... the worst, for causing you such prolonged distress..."

"Please forgive me, Ellie... open your eyes and let me beg for your pardon... I'm so sorry, Ellie..."

Although Liam attempted to stem his tears with his shirt sleeve, they continued to fall, splashing onto Ellie's hand. A slight frown creased her sleeping brow.

As if in response to Liam's earnest entreaties, Ellie's eyes slowly opened, her vision momentarily clouded as if still lost in a dream.

It took several seconds before Ellie fully recognized her surroundings, her gaze landing on Liam's tear-streaked face.

With a flicker of confusion, she raised a hand, gently touching Liam's cheek and dabbing away his tears.

"Liam?... Why... are you crying?... Did something happen?..."

"Wait... wasn't I in the spirit realm... I was... guarding your soul... then... something happened... I can't quite recall but..."

Ellie struggled to recall events with perfect clarity, her soul having been fractured into numerous pieces upon her death, necessitating Rio's intervention to mend it.

Despite Rio's utmost efforts to preserve her memories during this process, Ellie inevitably lost a significant portion of them.

Fortunately, Ellie's profound love for Liam remained potent, ensuring her memories of him were largely intact even after her soul's fragmentation.

Rio himself marveled at this phenomenon back then, realizing that mastery over soul manipulation and brainwashing techniques didn't grant absolute control.

While erasing memories might be achievable, the deep-seated love and care for one's cherished ones could not be expunged.

The 'Law' of 'Love, Care, and Protection' holds its title as one of the most formidable 'laws' in this 'world' for a profound reason; the 'world' itself bears witness to its enduring power.

"You're making me want to cry too, with that sad look on your face..."

"Silly Liam, you certainly know how to tug at my fragile heart... sigh..."

Ellie offered a soft smile, leaning back against the wall and drawing Liam's head into her arms.

"Look at you, weeping like a child despite being a boy... I thought you were hailed as the strongest summoner among the younger generation of all humankind..."

"This is entirely unlike you... a happy smile suits you far better, you know..."

Though Ellie gently patted Liam's head and stroked his dark, purplish hair, he held her tightly, as if fearing she might vanish if he released his grip.

"I'm sorry, Ellie... I'm the worst..."

Witnessing this uncharacteristic vulnerability in Liam, Ellie felt a mixture of amusement and gentle concern.

She cupped his face with her hands, compelling him to meet her gaze directly.

"You're not the worst person I know... actually, you're the best person I've ever met..."

"Even though you made me wait, and even though you made me sad before... I've already forgiven you for everything..."

"You never needed to ask for my forgiveness... because I love you, Liam Aldif!"

Liam's tears flowed even more profusely upon hearing Ellie's declaration. He nodded, his voice filled with desperation as he responded,

"I love you too, Ellie... I love you..."

Ellie's smile widened at his words. She then grasped Liam's collar and declared,

"That's right, you belong to me from this moment on!"

With that, Ellie planted a kiss directly on Liam's lips, sealing his mouth with her own!