(Since Tsukiakari left, things have definitely calmed down quite a bit. Not just in my life, but around town too. Well, I suppose that's because the neighborhood is empty now. I was able to take a few months to rest from the insane adventure I had with Tsukiakari, Tsukuyomi, and the Shoku twins.

(Things almost felt...too calm. Maybe I'm just used to running into some sort of dilemma or a supernatural snafu of sorts. But despite my anxiety, the times were peaceful, and before we knew it, summer returned. And god damn, was it hot as hell.)

The sun was high in the cloudless sky, beaming down its scorching rays of heat upon the concrete and asphalt of the streets like fire to a pan. Sunshine bounced off of the road, windows, and reflected the color of the occasional green, pink, and red buildings onto the people walking buy. Osamu was just returning from the grocery store on a trip to buy milk.

A slight breeze rustled through his white, long sleeve shirt and unbuttoned, leather vest. A silver peace sign necklace dangled down to his chest and gleamed in the sunlight. He kept his hair in the wavy lion's mane that he had when he came back after his death, instead of growing it back out to its usual, long length.

To him, it was still crazy to think that he actually died last year, or that he raided Heaven alongside a team of supernatural beings. It was the story of his lifetime, which made it that much more jarring for him as his days following the battle returned to complete and utter normalcy.

Though, if he had to choose between being dead and buying some milk on a boring, summer day, he'd definitely choose the milk.

Osamu took out his phone and called Yoko as he walked back to the house. She answered after two rings.

"Yes, sweetie? I told you I'd be out exercising. Do you miss me that badly to call me like this?"

"No no, I'm just calling to tell you I've got the milk." Osamu said.

"The milk? Oh yes, of course. For our Milk-play session tonight." Yoko tittered.

(Milk play?!)

"It's impossible to talk to you on the phone sometimes, you know that?" Osamu chuckled. "Well, I'll be home soon. Call me when you're done."

"Of course. Kisses."

(After going on those crazy adventures, after actually dying and being resurrected by the god of the moon, going back to a calm life is leaving me with a bit of an identity crisis. Like, I used to be some great hero, but now I'm just an ordinary guy again. I suppose I should be thankful though.)

Nearing the house, Osamu spotted two very familiar little girls. The Shoku Twins were standing right in front of the house, ringing the doorbell without realizing that no one was home. Just as they were about to leave, the girls spotted Osamu walking up them, his heart filled with joy at the mere sight of the Shoku Twins.

"Omagatoki!" Osamu shouted excitedly.

Osamu dropped the grocery bag on the ground and picked up Omagatoki, hoisting her up into the warm, summer air. Omagatoki laughed so hard she was practically screaming for joy.

"You cutie pie! Where have you been? Why haven't you come to visit these past few months! Didn't you miss me?" Osamu asked in rapid-fire succession.

"Let me down, Big Brother!" Omagatoki giggled.

The stone faced Akatsuki didn't show it, but she was jealous. Her blushed cheeks and slightly pursed lips were the undeniable evidence of her jealous, pouty side.

Osamu set Omagatoki down and pinched both of their cheeks with his thumbs and index fingers. "Come on, don't wait out here in the hot sun. Come inside and have some peach juice."

"That would be lovely." Akatsuki said.

The three rushed inside the house, their minds enraptured with thoughts of fresh, cold peach juice. Osamu ran the air conditioning on full blast as the twins got comfortable on the couch. The house definitely felt like an oasis in the desert that was the outdoors. Osamu sauntered into the kitchen, fixing a glass for the twins first.

"You guys will share a glass, right?" Osamu asked, beads of sweat on his forehead.

“Yes, please! With a double sided straw!" Omagatoki sang.

"Coming right up!"

Osamu joined them on the couch, setting their glass down on one coaster and his on another. "Omagatoki, Akatsuki. I suppose I should just come out and say it."

"Say what?" Omagatoki asked.

"I want to adopt you and tickle you until I die of old age!" Osamu declared.

"I guess I wouldn't mind..." Akatsuki admitted.

Omagatoki was amused with her sister's honesty. "Sis!"

(Hmm?)

"Hey, guys. Why do you two even hold hands if you can talk independently with your own personalities?" Osamu questioned.

"Three reasons." Akatsuki began. "First, it is necessary that we hold hands frequently, otherwise time and space itself will fall out of balance and the world will be destroyed. Though it's okay to let go for a little while, prolonged periods without contact with each other will put humanity in grave danger."

(That's too scary!)

Akatsuki held up two fingers. "Second, Omagatoki is a hopeless scaredy cat without being near someone she feels safe around."

"Sis, don't be so rude!"

Akatsuki's straight face only made her actions that much more amusing to watch. "I'm sorry."

Akatsuki rubbed her cheeks with Omagatoki's and hugged her. "Apology Hug~"

(So cute!)

"That settles it! I don't care what Yoko, Isabella, Izanami, or any of our readers say! I'm adopting you and making you my personal tickle slaves!" Osamu said, wiggling his fingers around.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Big Brother Osamu, aren't you interrupting me? I haven't stated the final reason." Akatsuki reprimanded.

"O-oh...sorry about that. Please continue." Osamu said, lamenting his rudeness.

"The third reason is that we form a centralized and efficient personality when our minds our linked. We are smartest, most objective, and most aware of our circumstances when we're linked that way." Akatsuki explained.

Osamu cradled his chin between his thumb and index finger, nodding his head. "Ah, I see. So what you're saying is...you want to be tickled too!"

Osamu tickled Akatsuki, but she did not laugh at all. A little girl...didn't laugh from being tickled.

"Oh my, how embarrassing." Akatsuki said in her dry, unimpressed tone and straight face. "An older man on top of a younger girl with his fingers running all through her body. I feel so violated. Please, call for help and throw this mad man in jail."

"Let's get one thing straight around here, I am not a criminal. I abide by prefectural ordinances like any other good, upstanding citizen." Osamu declared.

"What's a prefectural ordinance?" Omagatoki asked.

"That's how The Man keeps us down, man." Osamu replied.

(Maybe wearing this peace sign is going to my head.)

Omagatoki tilted her head like a confused dog. "The Man?"

Osamu shook his head. "Forget it. Anyways, why did you guys come here? Were you looking for someone or are you just visiting?"

Akatsuki pulled out a letter and handed it to Osamu. There was no name, address, or intended recipient listed. "That was given to us for you."

"Hmm? Who gave it to you? And who would hand someone a letter with virtually no information on it?" Osamu questioned.

Osamu opened up the letter only to find the word 'Rei' written on it. The problem was that "Rei" was written in kanji multiple times, multiple different ways. The only instructions on the letter was another word. 'Choose.'

"What the hell is this?" Osamu said.

"It seems to be 'Rei' written in a multitude of different ways." Akatsuki observed, very subtly insinuating Osamu didn't figure that out yet.

"Yeah, but why? Who gave this to you? You sure it's for me?"

"Yeah, it was some girl with black hair and bangs. I think she said her name was Rei." Omagatoki recalled.

(Black hair...bangs...Oh crap.)

Osamu remembered he met someone named Rei in high school. Though only he knew the details, the Shoku Twins could tell that having that girl around wasn't good news. Unfortunately for Osamu, the doorbell went off again, and he was forced to answer it.

As he looked through the peephole, He saw a girl with soft, glowing skin and long, straight, black hair with bangs that almost covered her wrists. Her eyes were hazel colored and adorned with dark circles around then. She wore flowers around her head, a black long sleeve shirt, and black jeans. Her nails were also painted black, like the dark depths of a dead galaxy. The girl was playing a game on a handheld console as she waited for the door to be answered.

"Damn it! Why does this always happen to me!" Osamu whisper-shouted.

"Who is it?" Omagatoki asked.

"Just give me a minute, guys. Go upstairs and let me handle this." Osamu ordered.

The twins ascended up the stairs as Osamu opened the door, stepped outside, and closed it. Even as he stood before her, the girl did not stop playing her game, nor did she acknowledge Osamu's presence in any way.

(At least say something when I answer the door...)

"Oi, Rei."

"Wait." she responded

Rei finished her game and made sure to save it before showing Osamu her score. Her voice was calm and sweet, but her personality would prove to be as sharp as a knife.

"I finished the last level! To think the heroine would kill her crush like that, though. Gaming is the only break I get from touring these days."

(What was she playing? Domestic Violence Simulator?)

"Anyway, did you figure out my message? I figured you of all people would understand it." Rei said.

"Yeah. You're very particular with your riddles and quizzes, aren't you?" Osamu groaned. "With you, the true test doesn't come with what's written on the paper. Rather, it comes with what is missing from the paper. You included every way of writing the word 'Rei' in kanji, except for its writing as 'Zero', which you use for your name. You announced you were coming without actually saying anything. Bravo."

"Ah, thanks! I was hoping you'd understand."

"Rei, why are you here?"

Rei met her tired, baggy eyes with Osamu's. "To request something of you."

"Request? What's your request?"

(I wish I had just slammed the door and never asked that question)

"You're the only one that can fulfill this for me, Osa. Please take my virginity."

A long quietude settled between them as they stared each other down.

"Well, it was great seeing you, Rei. Take care, get home safely."

Rei blocked the door with her foot and prevented Osamu from leaving. "Please take my virginity."

"You don't have to say it twice! Go find someone else to do it! Why does it have to be me?!" Osamu protested.

"Listen you little shit, I came to town to get my revenge! You owe me this, as the man I hate most!" Rei fired back.

"Hate? I've never done anything to you!"

"Yes you have..." Rei said.

(I really can't remember anything I've done to this girl. What on earth could she possibly hate me for?)

"Look, even if I did do something to make you hate me, you shouldn't let someone you supposedly despise take something as precious as your virginity." Osamu scolded. "Give your body to someone you love and who loves you back. Don't just toss it around to anybody. It's something you can't get back once it's taken."

"Isn't it okay if it's Hate Sex?" Rei asked. "It should be fine. Besides, as I said, the point of this is revenge anyway."

"How could you say something so stupid?" Osamu questioned.

Rei suddenly pushed Osamu onto the floor and closed the door behind her.

(Holy crap, she's strong!)

Rei clamped on Osamu's throat with her foot and pulled out a little voodoo doll of Osamu, as well as a needle. "Don't move. I will be able to avoid any vital organs, but you will still feel immense pain if you try to resist."

"Come on! We all know those dolls don't actually work." Osamu mocked.

Rei stabbed the needle through the side of the doll, and Osamu in turn began to bleed from his side, as if something had actually stabbed him. With Rei's foot on his throat, he was unable to scream as his blood formed a small puddle on the ground. Rei removed the sock on her other foot and dipped it in Osamu's blood. She then rubbed that foot on Osamu's face and smeared the blood on his cheek.

(That...no way! That doll actually works?!)

"You really don't remember? I suppose I can't blame you. Actually, it's my fault that you can't recall. I framed my previous statement incorrectly. I'm not getting revenge on you, but on someone else. That girl. The blonde. You fell in love with her, and I watched from the sidelines. This is more to get back at her than you, Osamu.

"Is that why you're doing this?!" Osamu questioned, wincing in pain.

Rei stuck the doll in her pants to free her hands so she could take off her shirt. The answer behind Rei's strength was written all over her body. Her muscles and abs were toned well. She clearly exercised on a regular basis. When it came to her bust, she was actually very small. Not flat by any means, but just adorably petite. Osamu wondered how on earth she had so a strong, fit body.

"So, Osamu, will you take my virginity or shall I stab the doll again?" Rei asked.

"Well then, I'd rather get stabbed."

"Just kidding! You don't actually have a choice."

Rei laid on top of Osamu and kissed him, biting his lip as hard as she could as she pulled away.

(This is so painful!)

"Excuse me." Akatsuki interrupted, her hand joined with Omagatoki's.

"You were not invited—"

"inside the house. I'm afraid we must—"

"ask you to leave."

Rei, with Osamu's blood dripping from her lips, gave her attention to the Shoku twins. "Or what?"

"Otherwise, we will have to—"

“—force you to leave."

Omagatoki raised two fingers and pointed them at Rei.

"Be gone." Omagatoki hissed, readying a spell to make her vanish.

Rei threw the doll at Omagatoki's hand just as she was about to teleport her out of the house. In that instant, when the doll obstructed the line of sight between Omagatoki's hand and Rei herself, the spell rebounded and affected the closest, living thing it could find—Omagatoki herself. Omagatoki alone was sucked away, separated from her sister. The doll fell to the floor, and Akatsuki, for once, showed true worry and fear in her face.

"Sis?" Akatsuki muttered, her eyes scanning all around the house.

(It was in that moment that I remembered something. Whenever Akatsuki and Omagatoki were teleporting us somewhere, they had to be linked to do it. Their powers were greatly restricted when they were separated. Not to mention the point that Akatsuki made earlier. If those two were separated for long periods of time, the fabric of time and space would begin to unravel.)