So I get up in the morning, as I'm too excited to do anything else.

Dad is coming!

I actually show impressive self-control, because I don't create any kind of observation system that will track his flight in real time.

As I don't have any idea about the exact location and don't know what exactly I would cause with an act of such magnitude in our world, I naturally refrain from doing so.

Keeping track of the airport will have to suffice.

I mean, flying is perfectly safe, right?

More people get killed in traffic accidents than on flights every year.

Oh my god, I'm getting substitute flight panic!

But if I interfere with the space around the plane I might make things worse.

Goddamnit!

"Iori, I somehow got weird dreams about burning planes while a cloud that looks like you watches them. Also the shadows in our home seem to dance and shadow planes crash to the ground only to dissolve again in a repeat cycle. So I'm asking you, is something the matter?" (S)

Uh...

"It might be that my bad premonition went through with me. You know, flying fright?" (I)

"Well, at this rate the plane you mean might go down for real. So why don't we do something else. We can eat and play a boardgame afterward. One that has nothing to do with planes would be best." (S)

Should it concern me that Mum has to put in an effort because of the danger my unsettled mind poses?

Well, at least it works.

Once Kuri joins in we make it past midday.

Which is when Dad's plane lands.

At this point, my curiosity sparks too high, and I really need to see him.

To my surprise, I notice I can't.

Well, I could make it happen, but it isn't nearly as instinctual as when I use my eyes on my surroundings.

Or in school, or inside my dream for that matter.

Even this "could make it happen" is more than abstract and I struggle to really overstep this clear border my mind put here.

If anything tells me, someone who has no real limits, that there are boundaries then I shouldn't casually ignore them.

However, at this point, it isn't merely the fact that I want to see Dad, but also the curiosity regarding what it is that prevents my senses from spreading further.

This is when I suddenly get a realization, which may or may not have sparked from my eldritch mind.

I have no presence so far away.

The next airport, where Dad will land, is quite a distance away from the city.

The thing is, everywhere I go, I apparently release a certain kind of miasma.

Basically, I already knew that.

I even still wear Doreo's talisman which makes me not stand out too much.

What I wasn't so aware of is that this miasma plays a vital role in how I manifest my powers.

While my body itself can act to grow and summon the greatest horrors imaginable, it's this bit of miasma, or in the case of my home and school the bit of stain in the walls, that allows me to create all the small things.

Like for example, my eyes.

As of now, my miasma radius covers the city proper and maybe the direct outskirts.

A realization that was totally rational and not the slightest bit disturbing on an existential level.

It's now that I realize what this boundary was that I encountered just before.

The thing is, I require the miasma fog to gain awareness and information on my target, so to speak.

Where there is none, I don't have any.

While I can teleport to places where I have no awareness, this is basically a form of dimensional traveling.

Another rather overwhelming piece of insight.

In practice, this means that while I can plop up at any place in the universe, the necessary fine-tuning is just impossible.

I basically require some kind of portal which, while easy to produce, is no small matter, and have to flood the whole area with miasma before I can see anything.

Especially, the portal is something that people would definitely notice, because, as I just said, I can't control how and where it exactly appears.

So it's better that I stopped myself before I let it come so far.

What I can do is spread my already existing miasma cloud in the direction I want.

Without something like a conductor, there's a limit to the size, but if focused I should reach the airport, where I can see Dad when he arrives.

However, he'll still need to drive some hours, so it will take some hours until he makes it here.

"Iori, your eyes are glazing over. Are you spying on your dad?" (S)

This notion promptly throws me back out of my daze.

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"Uh, would it be very bad if I did?" (I)

"You see, I think we should hold back as much as possible to not throw him off." (S)

"You don't want to come clear to him?" (I)

"Well, of course, maybe. But at least it might be better if we wait for the right moment and explain things to him very considerate and carefully." (S)

She might be right that unleashing tentacle hell might go too far.

Also, she's just as nervous about this as I am.

This means I should, at least for now, hide any conspicuous things.

The infestation in the walls might not be too visible, but there are all the small effects it causes.

At least, I should avoid summoning too many eyes around him.

At some point, my miasma cloud reaches the airport.

If I'm right, his plane should arrive any moment.

Some strategically placed eyes allow for full surveillance and my enhanced processing ability allows me to scan everything at once.

After some time, I only need to check the coming airplanes, which is fairly easy, as one leaves after the other.

Which is when I spot a blonde man in his thirties with blue eyes.

My heart actually stops beating, which isn't threatening in any way.

It's him!

Dad!!!

Okay, okay.

I need to calm down.

I can already feel how my excitement starts to shake the world around me.

Or the airport.

And I really don't need a quake to hit the airport.

"You're still spying, right?" (S)

"Uh, yes. But I'm really careful. Oh, now he’s pulling his phone out!" (I)

"Beep, beep, beep"

Mum looks for a moment at her phone and seems to directly be able to make the connection.

"Ahem! Hello? Oh my, Christian, you just landed?" (S)

Due to this reason, she's struggling a bit to fake her surprise.

"He wants to talk to you." (S)

Me?

Oh my god, I didn't talk in so long to him.

International calls are expensive after all.

"D-dad?" (I)

I can't help a little black tear to stream down my face.

Just don't let it escape anywhere.

"Hello, my little dreamer. How are you?" (Christian)

This might be the wrong moment to tell him everything, right?

"Uh, rather good, I'd say. Recently, quite a lot happened at once, but I think I got now a bit of a handle on it, so it's mostly a very exciting time." (I)

"That's great to hear. The most important thing is that you're healthy. As long as you're alright there's no problem you can't master. Your mother even told me that you want to partake for real in sports day?" (Chr)

"Well, yes. But don't expect too much." (I)

"No biggy. It's already awesome that you think you're able to. I'm really excited to see you and your mother again. There's nothing that could make me miss that!" (Chr)

"Thank you, Dad." (I)

"You know you don't have to be so stiff with me. Would you give me your mother?" (Chr)

"Of course. Right away." (I)

I hand Mum the phone and they continue talking.

Mostly technicalities it seems.

Not like I'd eavesdrop.

"Oh, okay. So you're getting a taxi and will drive straight here. Can't wait to see you again. Bye!" (S)

Okay, that was it.

He's coming!

"Alright. I should prepare dinner for when he arrives. Just good that we have restocked. Oh, and Iori?" (S)

"Yes?" (I)

"I don't want to dim this moment. I know what it meant for you. But would you be so good and take care of this aggressive-looking puddle of darkness that spreads on the floor?" (S)

Oh shit!

After I’ve taken care of any supernatural power in the vicinity that might've complicated things, I'm left with the last.

"Kuri, would you be so kind as to hide somewhere when Dad arrives? I don't want to throw everything at once at him. So just give me some time to figure out how to tell him that my demon daughter is living with us." (I)

"Sure, Mum. I won't be seen!" (K)

With this, she literally vanishes into thin air.

Guess she'd still be somewhere around if I'd call her.

Then the moment is finally there.

A taxi stops in front of the house and Dad steps out.

Naturally, I didn't stalk him.

I only know because I have full surveillance over the whole block.

That I concentrated a little bit on that sense should be totally within the limits.

I can't hold myself back and run down the stairs towards him.

"Dad!" (I)

Maybe it's a bit too much and in addition quite cliche, but I don't care when I jump into his arms.

"Uff! Iori!? Oh my, how you've grown!" (Chr)

He was truly quite some time away since his last visit.

But of course, I don't blame him for this.

He's always working hard for Mum and me, so it's mostly unfair for him that he can't come together with us more often.

"Huh, I remember this building being quite a bit brighter." (Chr)

Well, that might be my fault, with all the miasma I infused into the building's very bones.

I decide to first let Dad come in and settle down a bit before I'm going to assault him with all the stuff that happened.

I'm not stalling!

Not a bit!

When we go up, Mum waits already in front of the door.

"Hello, darling." (Chr)

"Hi, honey." (S)

Mum is still a bit conscious of the situation, but I can still tell from their looks that both are happy to see each other again.

We all go inside and understandably, Dad crashes down on the couch.

I mean, he just had like a sixteen-hour flight, so it's just to be expected that he's tired.

In this condition, I probably shouldn't bother him with my tiny issues.

That would be mean.

...

I'm totally stalling here, right?

Well, but for now, Mum started talking to him.

Actually, I was never good at chiming into others' talks.

That always feels so rude.

Like barging uninvited into a party.

So I think I'll retreat for now.

This way, I can make some notes to figure out how best to talk to Dad about my problems.

Okay, I'll just go into my room and once I come back, I'll tell him.

"I would highly advise against doing what you're about to do." (Iori?)

Why am I looking at myself sitting on the ground in my room?

"Hey, nice to be here with you. You have no idea how much of a hassle it was to get here. But that's beside the point. Rather, we should discuss our next steps." (I?)

...

Huh?!