Ending 1: Returning Home


"I'm going home."

"…I see," she said softly, nodding once. "If that's what you really want, then I'll take you back."

Jump's smile seemed to get sadder for a moment, before she shook her head.

"It was nice to watch you grow and fight. You really were quite good at snatching victory from the jaws of defeat."

I laughed. "Now if only I was good at winning without getting myself killed," I said with a shrug and a grin. "It was fun while it lasted, though. I got to help people and live a life completely different from the one I had before, but…"

"The differences just made you want your home back even more, huh?"

I nodded.

"Well, that's fine. I've had my fun, and it would be cruel to keep you from your loved ones any longer."

Jump smiled, stepping forward and grabbing my hands.

"Before you go, I want to remind you that all of your powers will not be perfect. You have Avalon, but it won't heal you from lethal wounds, and only makes you heal faster. You have Runecraft, and you'll be above human-level in every regard with Reinforcement, but bullets will still be a danger to you. Just because you're stronger than other humans, do not begin to think that you're invulnerable."

I laughed. "I guessed as much. Besides, I don't exactly have any plans to get into fight with guys with guns."

"I just watched you for the last ten years, boya," she remarked wryly. "If helping even one person puts you at odds with the military, you'll end up a wanted man without a single regret."

"…Well, I can't argue there. Anything else?"

"Yes. For one thing, your Traced objects won't be fought against by Gaia, so expect them to be more powerful. However, there's also very little mana in the air, so creating anything more powerful than an E-Rank Noble Phantasm will leave you exhausted, and if you pull another stunt like you killed Caster with, it will kill you."

"So… You're saying I shouldn't work myself to death?"

"That sounds about right. And one more thing."

"What's-"

My voice caught as she pulled me forward, hugging me tightly.

"I'm not some cold, unfeeling god who toys with people's lives," she said softly. "I am really, really glad that you're okay. I was worried about you when you kept nearly killing yourself."

"…So, what, am I your favorite character? Your husbando?" I asked, teasing her.

"More like an adorable stray puppy that keeps trying to lick the electrical socket."

"…Okay, that's a lot less flattering."

"Yes, but it's a lot more accurate."

She stepped back, flicking my nose once with a grin.

"Don't think you're the first Jumper, or that you'll be the last. There are, were, and will be more. In fact, you might just meet one someday, if your luck is really, really, really bad, and they somehow arrive on your world. I wouldn't bet on it though."

"Eh, I guessed as much. I mean, it is called the Grand Game. You don't just name something that if you only just made it up."

"Heh. Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyway, that's enough chit-chatting, I think."

Closing her eyes, Jump clasped her hands in front of her chest with a smile.

"Go in peace, and return to your home, and to your family."

With that, the gray world began to change form, and I blinked once as everything began to shimmer.

With that one blink, the entire world had already changed.

"Hey, man, you zoning out?"

I blinked, looking to the side.

I was back again.

The birds are singing, my classmates are laughing, and the flowers and leaves are being moved about by the wind.

As I looked over the guy next to me, memories began to surge into my mind, but they were just a side-effect of my new eyes.

I could read this guy like an open book, now; I disapprove of him, of course, given that he apparently is a chronic cheat who can't keep it in his pants, but still.

"Ah, sorry man." I scratched the back of my head. "I think there's something in my eye, actually."

"Bah, there's nothing there," the guy said with a scoff. "They're the same eyes, behind the same glasses. So quit making excuses, and just tell me if I'm boring you straight-up."

…Wait, was he telling me a story when I started the Game?

"…Eh. Sorry, man. Honestly, I didn't hear a thing you said; I was in a whole 'nother world."

The guy scowled, before shaking his head.

"Well, alright; at least you're honest. I'll start over. It all began last week, when this gal named Lizzy admitted to kissing Johnathan, but guess who he's dating? Linda!"

I silently ignored the urge to just stand up and run back home, but this was important.

I spent years getting to know these people, but now, it's been ten years since I've seen any of them.

But the key to remembering it all is obviously gossip, so…

Well, I'll just grit my teeth and bear it.

It can't be too bad, can it?


I hate gossip.

Also, I hate gossipy teenagers.

I know that, technically, I'm not actually an adult, and that I'm still a teen, but I've been a teenager for a total of 17 or so years now, and OH MY GOD THEY WON'T STOP TALKING.

School is finally out, but I forgot that listening to people only makes them want to talk more, which means that this Zachary guy has kept going on and on since the start.

I now know far more about Linda's sexual history than Johnathan, which is surprising because he's dating her, but also apparently has Elizabeth as a side-chick, but it also turns out that Lizzy is just using him to buy her stuff, and OH MY GOD.

I have a massive headache at this point. It was easier to understand the basis of a nine-point Runic-circle composing of 81 individual Runes!

Is this what it's like for an adult to listen to a teenager talk about their 'latest squeeze'? I didn't even know that that term was still in circulation! I thought it died alongside the mobsters!

…Well, okay.

I'll admit, it's not as bad as I'm making it out to be. It's not too different from Homurahara Academy, just American. So, y'know, everyone's more vulgar, and privacy and public reputations are very malleable things in comparison.

Still, at least it's blunt. I spent too many years dodging back-room rumors from girls who thought me and Issei would make a great pairing, so the up-front nature of this place is refreshing.

Still, I didn't need to know anything about what Tony found hidden in the shoe box under Adeline's bed.

There are some worldly secrets that weren't meant to be known.

Whatever the case, I finally managed to get Zachary off of my back, and started home.

...Y'know, I honestly can't remember their faces.

That's something that really should bother me right now, but it actually just makes me more excited.

My speed picked up a bit, then a bit more, until I was running at around where a normal person would cap-out in a dead sprint.

It's a bit conspicuous, but I don't care.

I'm going home.

It wasn't even a few minutes before I stopped, staring at the front door to my house.

Even after all of these years, my legs still knew the path I had to take.

Or maybe they don't, and I just remember how to find them some other way.

I don't know, and I honestly don't care.

I reached into my bag, drew out my key, and slowly unlocked it.

As the door opened, I was never happier to hear the squeak of the old hinge, desperately in need of oil.

Looking in, I braced myself as my lower body was tackled.

"You're home!"

I heard my mom laughing from the living room, a gentle sound that brought back memories that I'd thought I'd forgotten.

"Geez, he was only at school for a few hours. Give your brother a moment to put away his bags, alright?"

Looking down, I saw my sister.

For a short, short instant, though, I didn't see her.

I thought that red eyes were staring up at me, and snow-white hair was brushing against my jeans, and that pout…

The image faded quickly, and brown eyes greeted me instead, with raven-black hair a little longer than Ilya's.

The pout was the same though, even as she stepped backwards to let me pass.

"…Ah? Hey, why are you crying?" she asked, tilting her head. "I didn't run into you too hard, did I?"

I paused, raising my free hand to my eyes.

Sure enough, they came back wet.

I just smiled again, as wide as I could, and laughed.

"No, it's not your fault," I told her, shaking my head. "I'm just… Really, really glad to be home."

She looked confused for a moment, before nodding her head and smiling back.

She hugged me one more time.

"I don't know what you mean, but I'm glad you're home too. Oh!"

She stepped back again.

"I forgot to say!"

She paused, and cleared her throat, before beaming up at me.

"Welcome home!"

"…Thanks," I said softly. "It's good to be home."


A/N: This is the first of the three endings, where Jumper's journey ends where it began.

The next ending will come out in three days. In it, Jumper stays in the Nasuverse, and you see some snippets of several possible futures through the Kaleidoscope...

I'll see you guys then.