(Well, here we are again. We ended up staying at the first house a little longer than expected. We were all tired from our latest adventure. It's fine with me honestly. I like being in this house. It's nostalgic, familiar. It holds good memories for me, and I'm sure it does for you too.)

It had been well over a year since he had been inside that house. Osamu had made sure to leave some of the furniture there rather than taking everything to Hokkaido, just in case he or the girls ever wanted to come back. That night, he lied on the couch, staring up at the ceiling as the light from the television flashed on him. He snickered to himself, thinking how silly he had been to dread returning to the house.

He sat up and looked around at the living room and the kitchen behind him. Just the sight of it all took him back in time to the memories of Aika, Isabella, Izanami, and Yoko all seated around the island as the aroma of boiling soup or grilling hamburgers filled the house. So much had happened in just a few short years.

Some of his adventures didn't have happy endings. Aika got her life back, but at the cost of her memories of him and the girls. Isabella fought hard against her illness, but in the end, she passed away peacefully.

(I was wrong to think coming back here would be a painful experience. I can't deny it does bring back some of the sadness, but...I mostly feel...at peace with it all. )

Feeling a little hungry, Osamu stood up and shuffled his way into the kitchen. He opened the fridge quietly, careful not to wake the girls, who were fast asleep upstairs. He grabbed a cup of strawberry yogurt and returned to the living room, plopping himself down upon the couch.

(If I think back to Satori and that mansion, I get a little depressed. Satori...wasn't actually a bad person. I can't imagine the agony he went through, knowing how short on time he was. Part of me wishes we could've met earlier, under different circumstances. If he was capable of loving Kagutsuchi to the degree that he did, I'm sure he would've been a fierce friend.)

Osamu's cell phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

(Who could it be at this hour?)

"Hello?" Osamu answered.

"Oi, Osamu! How's it hanging?" Shinju asked.

"Shinju? Is that you?"

Shinju chuckled, "Who else could it be? A different member of your harem?"

"Don't even go there, Shinju." Osamu groaned. "I'm sorry, are you calling about the ritual?"

"Oh, that? Nah. I'm still getting everything ready for that. I do intent to talk to you about it, but this is just a social call! I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing. Lucrezia and I put you through quite the ordeal."

"Yeah..." Osamu sighed. "Yoko's still a little upset that you guys used us. We all really thought we were in danger."

"I mean, you were in danger. Satori was technically on her side, but he would've done anything to pressure you into finding out how to fix Kagutsuchi. You even went down to the Underworld. You nearly died down there. Lucrezia isn't afraid of taking a risk like that, as long as it's a calculated risk."

"That's...honestly terrifying."

"Have you two talked since you got home?"

"Lucrezia and I? No. It's kind of hard to, you know? I don't know if I'll be mad at her or what."

"I understand. If my opinion matters at all, I'd say...don't blame her. Lucrezia has a lot on her shoulders. You should talk to her soon, okay? If we're all going to be working together on this, it's best we can all get along."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll talk to her tomorrow."

"In the meantime, why don't we cheer you up? I am wearing some sexy purple lingerie and lace panties. They even had some fishnet stockings and a cute, pink choker."

"You're way too blunt with your perverted jokes. That reminds me, what's a justice-loving girl like you doing making these kinds of jokes? You're ruining your character dynamics!"

"Hmm? Who said it was a joke? Though, these panties are a little tight around my butt, Osamu. Want me to take them off and send you some POV pics? Or perhaps some videos?"

Shinju laughed again, even louder than last time. "I'm sorry, Osa. I'm just trying to cheer you up. I figured a harem hero like you would love to hear all about my lingerie."

(Again with the subtle-not-subtle harem jabs...)

"You're at your old house, right?"

Osamu stood up and sat at the granite kitchen island, the moonlight shining through the window and onto the table. "Yeah, that one. It's kind of nice being back here."

"Mmm, I bet. Say, Osamu..."

"What?"

"When are you and the girls finally going to have babies?"

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Babies?" Osamu recoiled.

"Yeah, you know, those things that do nothing but cry and piss themselves and destroy everything you love, but you still love them."

Osamu sighed. "Gee, I don't know. I mean, I definitely want to, but right now? I don't think I'm ready. I've got to be sure I don't end up in any more supernatural predicaments before I become a father."

"Eh? You're actually responsible like that? That's amazing, Osa!" Shinju sang.

"Hey, since when are you allowed to call me Osa? I don't remember us being that close."

"It's true we only recently met, but come on! We went through quite a lot together, you and I. Kindness is a virtue."

"Yeah, you looked like you breezed through it easily. Your sense of justice allows you to discard any kind of emotional detachment to the situation."

"Osa, you're gonna make me cry. When you just rip through one of my primary character traits like that, it makes me feel like you're ripping my clothes off and breathing on my neck!"

"You've got one playful mouth!"

"Come over and let me show you how playful it really is." Shinju teased. "I know that I'm an exorcist and all of that jazz, but I'm still a semi-normal girl, too. We're not all uptight, you know. Even Lucrezia has a playful side to her beneath all of the cunning."

(Yep...One glance at her phone will immediately tell you that much.)

"You've actually got a point there. I should be more considerate. I'm sorry, Shinju."

"It's all good!"

"So, I have to ask this out of curiosity." Osamu began. "How did you become an exorcist?"

Shinju snickered. "That's kind of a long story."

"Do you have to, like, apply or something? I mean, how does this work?"

"It depends. In my case, it's a hereditary position. My family descends from Mizuhame, which makes us relatives of Izanami, which makes up pretty special to the exorcist headmasters. I was groomed to be an exorcist since the day I was born."

"That's so weird to think you're related to Izanami. I never would've guessed. I think I've heard your name come up a few times before, but she never really told us about you."

"Well, until recently, we hadn't spoken in a while. She was busy living with you guys and I was busy with my exorcist work. This whole Satori business allowed us to reconnect, though! You'll be seeing more of me from now on. Ah, I just winked but I realized you can't see it."

"Bravo." Osamu tittered.

"Most other folks are scouted by the headmasters or recommended by squad leaders like Lucrezia. It's not like you can just submit your application online and get accepted, you know?"

"Interesting. Is Lucrezia related to a goddess as well?"

"...You'll have to ask her yourself."

"Huh? Come on, why won't you tell me?"

"It's a sin to tell lies."

(...What does that mean?)

"Seriously, being related to Mizuhame, Kagutsuchi, and Izanami...that also means Izanagi is my ancestor as well, huh?" Shinju said, changing the subject. "Wow, I really wish we had a family tree or something."

"I get what you mean. My last name isn't Ashikaga for nothing. Same with Yoko."

"Ah, so are you actually related to the Ashikaga clan from the shogunate? That's amazing! I assume Yoko took your name when you guys got married. What's her last name?"

"Akiyama."

A faint gasp escaped Shinju's lips. Osamu could barely hear it, but he was certain the name drew a reaction from Shinju.

"Ah, I think they were swordsmen during the time the Ashikaga pretty much ruled Japan. How fitting for her." Shinju said.

"Shinju, you're pretty good with your history. I didn't expect you to know such a trivial fact."

"Well of course I know the history. Personally, I've always been more invested in ancient history. A bit of colonial as well."

"Man, I could've used you during my high school days."

"Aww, Osamu, I would've loved to be your practice girl!"

"You know that's not what I meant!" Osamu recoiled

"Did you have shitty grades in history or something? No wonder you're with your ex-girlfriends. You literally didn't learn from the past! Poor thing!"

"Only when it came to ancient history did my grade in that class suffer. I just can't keep all the details straight in my head. We did, uhh...the Assyrian empire, I think?"

"One of my favorites!" Shinju cheered. "I hear the Assyrians were absolutely brutal. They loved making examples of their enemies to discourage them from ever daring to rise against them, kinda like what Vlad the Impaler did."

"Heads on pikes?"

"Heads on pikes." Shinju repeated. "Well, I'm pretty sure Vlad stuck whole corpses on pikes. Ah, honestly, he did all sorts of crazy stuff. Hard to believe there was ever an era in human history where such barbarism was actually in vogue."

"You really know your stuff, Shinju. Give me an in-depth lesson sometime."

"Of course. I can be the naughty teacher, and you can be the underage schoolboy I fool around with because my husband doesn't love me anymore!"

"No. Not even you would role-play in a situation so unethical."

Shinju gasped. "You're right. My my, you can see right through me. "

"I guess I can call you Mrs. Cellophane, huh?"

"'Cause you can look right through me!" Shinju sang.

Osamu joined in, singing the lyrics with her. "Walk right by me! And never know I'm there!"

The two laughed, surprised the other knew the song. Osamu hadn't even realized it, but all of his thinking and worrying about the events of the past week had melted away. Shinju's company proved to be a joyful distraction after all. Osamu wiped the tears left in his eyes from his fit of laughter, freed from the weight of his own thoughts.

"Well, I wouldn't want you to sleep in too late. I'll let you go." Shinju said.

"Oh, hey, Shinju."

"Yep?"

"Just...thanks for calling me. This was a really refreshing conversation."

"Of course. Any time for you, Osa. Hey, why don't we go on a date tomorrow while you're still in Kyoto?"

"Eh? Seriously? You've got some guts asking a married man out on a date."

"It'll be fine! Besides you owe me for saving you, and for this late-night phone call. We can talk about the ritual, too!"

Osamu smiled, his Male symbol necklace gleaming in the moonlight. "All right, all right. I hear you loud and clear. Tomorrow. How about noon? I'll tell you where we can meetup. But you gotta come over after!"

"All right, boss!" Shinju saluted. "Well, Osa, I hope your head is cleared a little bit. Get some rest, and let's have some fun tomorrow."

"You got it. Good night, Shinju."

"Good night, Osamu. Kisses."

Osamu blushed as she hung up, taken a bit off guard by her last word. He got up off the couch and turned off the TV, yawning and stretching out his arms as he moved. He looked at the clock on the oven and decided to pack it in. It was already one in the morning.

"Man, it is late. I should head to bed."

Osamu walked upstairs and tiptoed his way towards Yoko's bedroom, where the girls slept.

(You know, there's something magical about nights like these.)

Osamu quietly opened the door and saw all of the girls, with the addition of Kagutsuchi, all sleeping on the giant bed together in harmony.

(No matter what seems to happen, and how many tragedies befall us, having friends and wives like these make it all worth it. I wouldn't miss it for the world.)

Osamu received a text on his phone. It was a picture sent from Shinju. She was wearing a poncho with the image of a model's bikini body on it. She struck a pose and held up a peace sign with her right hand. Along with the picture was a text: 'Goodnight'! Osamu snickered to himself and replied back, saying goodnight to her.

(Now, if you'll excuse me, I've had a long and difficult week. I think I'm gonna hit the hay now. Catch you later.)