Kokona was urged by her mother inside and once the door closed behind her and Tino, her Kokona's mother's awkward expression completely disappeared from her face.

"Kokona~ Mommy has missed you so much~"

Kokona's mother hated calling her children by the titles they received from the Beastfolk. It was truly just because of the difference between the titles of her two daughters.

"Sister."

A graceful, small-bodies girl with white her sitting in a wheelchair moved closer to Kokona. The little, white wings growing on her back were same as her Mother's. It was clear at first sight that she took after her Mother while Kokona with her canine ears and tail took after her Father.

"Graceful Swan."

Graceful Swan, that's the title Kokona's little sister received from the Beastfolk. The reason she has a title without reaching the age of the Adult Ceremony, is precisely because of the wheelchair she's sitting in. The Beastfolk doctors, shamans, and witch doctors judged that Graceful Swan won't be able to recover and participate in her Adult Ceremony, that's why they chose the most suitable title for her. That's also precisely why Kokona's mother doesn't like calling her children by their titles. She knows like mothers should just how gentle and kind Kokona is.

"Sister, please don't call me like that when we are at home..."

The little girl sighed sadly.

It appears that her elder sister's attitude didn't change a bit while on the journey.

"Nemu."

Kokona corrected herself and called Graceful Swan by her name.

"How was it? Did you succeed!?"

Kokona's father, on the other hand, couldn't wait anymore for the good news.

"Yes, I have defeated an Infernal and successfully brought its core back."

"Gahaha! That's my little puppy!"

Kokona's Father leaped forward in happiness, planning to hug his daughter. However, Kokona stepped aside at the last moment and the big and someone else ended up in the big, burly man's embrace.

"... Who are you?"

"Tino."

Tino's muffled voice resounded from Kokona's Father's chest.

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"Tino who?"

"Tino is Tino."

Kokona's Father released Tino from his arms and scanned him from head to feet.

He couldn't find anything. Yes, he didn't see any ears, tail, wings, antlers, anything at all.

"There's nothing."

"Tino is not one of the Beastfolk."

Kokona said casually.

"Not one of the Beastfolk!? Kokona did you..."

"Yes, I brought him."

All three of Kokona's family members were alternating their gazes between Tino and Kokona.

"Kokona... you can't bring-"

"Yes, I can."

"Huh?"

"I can't let my mate stay outside, can I?"

"""......"""

"Hahh!? This pipsqueak? Your mate!? Don't joke with-"

As soon as Kokona's father raised his voice in disbelief towards Tino, the shadow cast on the wall behind Tino suddenly fluttered and manifested right in front of Kokona's father. However, as soon as it did, another shadow appeared behind Kokona's father. This shadow emerged from Graceful Swan's, Nemu's shadow. The two shadows stared at each other while the Beastfolk in the room froze in place with their mouths opened wide.

"Shade..."

Nemu muttered. She felt the excitement of her dark companion even before Kokona and Tino approached the house. She understood that something was going to happen, but she wasn't prepared for meeting another Shade.

Moreover, after staring for a while, Nemu's Shade lowered its head and coiled around Tino's Shade as if was a spoiled junior trying to win favor.

"I think it would be better for Kokona to explain properly..."

Kokona's mother tried to calm the things down.

"I would like an explanation too..."

Kokona said while staring at the second Shade.

In order to get a better grasp of the situation, they moved to the living room to talk.

"I didn't know Tino possessed a Shade..."

"Shade? You mean her?"

Tino asked Kokona who still couldn't believe what she saw while pointing at the Shade's face behind him.

"Her? You know its gender?"

"Don't know."

Tino said then pointed at Kokona's mother.

"Reminds me of you. So she's a she."

Kokona pointed at herself in confusion.

"Reminds you of me? How so?"

"She taught me what and how I can eat."

Tino said proudly. He was able to eat his favorite coconuts only because the Shade had told him about them.

"I see..."

"So? How did all of this end up with him becoming your mate?"

"Mate? What's that?"

Tino tilted his head at Kokona's father's question.

"......"

"He didn't even know how to speak a month ago."

Kokona answered her father's disbelief.

"What?"

"No parents, no family, no friends, nothing. He was just by himself when I found him.

Kokona then proceeded to tell everything since meeting Tino.

Then, she finally got to the point where she talked about Tino grabbing her tail.

"Well, he looks like a good child and he seems to like you, but... he's so young... and your suitors will make him have a difficult time... moreover, what about Elder and Chieftain?"

"Elder already knows. She didn't seem to disagree with my decision."

"What? She agreed?"

Kokona's father looked at Tino with confusion. It appears that he expected Elder to make a different decision.

"It's good that Elder agreed... but, Chieftain's son..."

Nemu said worriedly. She clearly knows how both Chieftain and his son feel about Kokona. One wants her to be the one to continue his lineage with his son, the second is head over heels in love with her and wants to make her his partner by any means necessary.

"Doesn't matter. If they don't like it, I will take Tino away. If they want to hurt him, I will be sure to hurt them thrice as much."

Kokona stated coldly.

Besides, now that she knows that there's a Shade behind Tino, the many of her worries lessened.