Charles Patricius

[Apollymi]

"Hai, they call it that here... steamed pork buns~" there was something of a light shining in Kei's blue eyes. She really did appreciate food quite a bit. It seemed like keeping up conversation wouldn't be an issue either, as Kazuhiko was surprisingly easy to talk to and would come with topics of his own personal adventures to fill in what could have been uncomfortable silence. His words processed in her mind and she immediately looked surprised, "An ugly fish? Why would you eat an ugly fish? Also I am going to hard disagree, food shouldn't be ugly or gross. If you're eating it you should at least enjoy it!" she exclaimed seeming to find it odd as they made their way down the block towards a food stand which sold the steamed buns they were looking for. At the same time, Miko was wrapping up her conversation, according to Reiji he'd be in touch when her items came in, "Hai hai, I might be in touch before then~" she mused. His bright farewell caught the attention of many in the group. "Hai hai, no need for all the formalities... we'll see ya' around~" Kaguya said as she left. Once outside the group seemed to be dispersing with a couple of boxes housing all of those cases of cards to be opened within the possession of the group. At the same time, the blue haired girl Konomi was motioned to by Souma. She with her new bag and things wandered over to him and his van and her brows rose. "Did you have a busy afternoon too?" she asked of him. Meanwhile Miko was addressing the rest of the group defaulting just a bit, "Hai hai, we're heading back to Tenjou-kun's place and I guess, I'm ordering pizza for everyone after that movement. Just a bit more everyone!~" she said as she looked over the group and took a headcount minus the few individuals who were down. Surprisingly enough she'd not received a message back, but figured Hiruko was probably busy she wasn't the intrusive sort.

At the same time, in a different universe, the world was crumbling and a single life, though it should have burned a bit longer, definitely flickered out like a candle in the breeze. Mitsuki had said her goodbyes, she was beyond satisfied with the life she'd lived and now... it was over. Ah, but that wasn't entirely the case, though she wasn't fully conscious of it, some words were being shared between Ashborn and another which saw the man go from pure sadness after pulling away to maniacal laughter and simmering anger. And then a word was spoken it called to Mitsuki the deceased lass began to culminate in that shadow. Making her form something humanoid but steeped in darkness, with a pinkish quality to the outer edges and wisps of energy. What was more, where its eyes were, there were also pinkish flames. It would seem such a thing made her whole, and once she was she curtsied before Ashborn, waiting as she knew immediately that she was meant to bow before such an individual.

Meanwhile Hiruko was being given a trial by drowning. Though this was the bet he'd taken, Nuren assumed that he would either rise to the challenge or die trying. Such was the necessary energy that was needed to properly face a being of her caliber. Still, as Nuren moved in his lap, it seemed that Hiruko gained more focus, he hadn't been done speaking and now she was curious. What else did he have to say? Well, there would be an interruption as he pushed forward, taking her with him, she was pinned beneath him on that table as he pushed forward. He entered the hot, pressurized depths of her womb and her core shivered around him an orgasm right on the cusp of her being as he claimed he was an all or nothing sort of guy. "Fuck♥~" she swore as her climax was reached that that pressure collapsed in a moment of pressure and intensity that had her, wetting the area between her legs and spreading said fluids to his lap. Still even with this reversal of roles a thin line of magical energy blue in color materialized from her hands it'd wrap around his neck and allow her enough leverage to pull him close to her face a grin spreading across her face. "Don't start, something like this without actually finishing. I need a cork popped so we can properly celebrate!~" she mentioned as she leaned up to peck his lips again.

[Bloodedge]

"Huh. The more you know," Kazu said simply. The name they chose for pork buns in this area was funny to him, but that was neither here nor there. Kei thought it was worth delving into the story of that ugly fish, and that... had Kazu laughing properly. "Well I wasn't actually going to eat it... but there's always the 'what if this was it' thought, right? I was teaching Angie how to fish, and what she pulled up was this... big, hideous, muscular titan of a beast!" he said, exaggerating only slightly with his arms held up high, fingers wiggling and face twisting to sell the image. "It was fifteen stories tall and moved the earth with every flap of its gills I tell ya'!" he added before calming down. "... Alright, that whole last part was just a joke. Never got to tell a proper fisherman's lie though~" While that pair conversed and moved closer to their destination, Soma was awaiting the approach of Konomi. She didn't hesitate to ask about the eventfulness of his day, and he did have much to tell her... and something to ask. "I handled the problem earlier, met that killer girl and the governor, and secured our housing along with this van. Do you have a license?" he asked plainly. "Either way, everyone get in."

The end of Mitsuki was a thing of great sadness. Unlike the entity he spoke to though, Ashborn knew all ends should have beginnings. As such, Mitsuki rose again in a new form, as per the demand of his power. "You truly are THEM. You spit in the face of Finality!" the other said, seeming to actually possess an inkling of emotional range. "Bitch I'm HIM! I point and laugh at the idea of something ending!" Ashborn replied with snark. The shadowy form of Mitsuki rose, and immediately took a knee before him. Such was the way with the risen ones, but it seemed Ashborn's nature was returning to something more normal. Why? Well... "What? No head?" he said to the Shadow. "What is your purpose? Why do you reject Finality?" Shota's possessed body interrupted. To that, Ashborn finally had a greater point worth offering. "Keep talking and I'll bring Finality to Finality. You don't even know how many Paths I've consumed. And you know why I'll do that? Because you didn't even know Mitsuki's name. But I'll tell you her name. Her name..." He paused there, looking down at the Shadow and reaching out to tilt her chin. He'd be looking this one in those pink eyes with glowing orbs of his own. "... Your name is Mirrebantis. Finality has no place in the same room as you," he stated as if to suggest an even deeper meaning. In that moment, Shota's body began trembling.

Hiruko managed to successfully bring himself back with that little maneuver. As a reward, he even got a lovely little outcry and an unquestionable climax from Nuren. "Whew! That was rough!" he said. That was a minor lie, as he would have more accurately said it was rough still. Everything about him felt like it was being crushed and washed away... but he'd push forward on a gamble. Ah, no ─ he wasn't really pushing forward. Apparently, Nuren was pulling him in instead, via some clearly magical rope. It seemed she needed a cork popped for a proper celebration. Well, that could only mean one thing. "Well I ca─" Nothing. Lips were brought together by Nuren's machinations, and with that, Hiruko was drowning again. His hips were moving, perhaps of their own accord, or perhaps due to some other unknown reason. "Hngh! What's the rush? I'm still collecting my payout!" he chattered even though there was very little resistance in his cock ─ which was one motion away from popping that cork without his consent.

[Apollymi]

Apparently, Kazuhiko was unfamiliar with the switch in dialect in this particular part of Japan. That was fine, Kei could easily fill in the blanks. Beyond that she found him to be interesting in a moment of simple acceptance. Beyond this point, he began to tell a tale. A literal fisherman's tale about a time in which he was teaching Angelica to fish and she had caught a larger than life hideous catch. "Hehehe!~" she giggled seeming to not want to erupt into a fit of giggles. "Only the last bit?! Was it actually, huge and muscular with legs though? That sounds like a fish gone wrong!" she said shivering at the thought. "Two please!" she asked at the stall, once they arrived. It would seem she was less likely to be upset and didn't intend to do anything but have a small bite to each before they reached their destination. At the same time, everyone was making their way outside. It would seem Souma wished to know if Konomi had a driver's license she simply shook her head. "No, I'm a student, I can't afford a car. Trains and buses are easier to manage... Wait you met the governor? That's crazy..." she said legitimately astounded. For a guy who was only born this morning he sure was busy. Still it would be interesting to find out all he'd actually done, and beyond that point he claimed everyone should get into the van. I would be walking up and offering herself for the sake of making sure everyone got where they needed to be. "I have a license and as I am still working, I can drive us back. Even though she'd survive it, Kaya-tan's safety is still my personal responsibility~" Ai mentioned. Meanwhile, the van was being opened up and Miko was back to giving directions. "You heard the man, into the back. Load up all the extras. Chika make sure you hang on to the baby!" Miko said not willing to care too much about transport given her own life up to this point.

Meanwhile, Ashborn was becoming more himself by the moment. He ranted, he raved... he was recognized... he raised the shadow of Mitsuki and asked about head. Somehow that shadowy face managed to gain an extreme reddened tint even from her current position curtsied before him. "Chotto...." she managed, still those showings of her personality prevalent in her soul. A power was proclaimed by Ashborn the ability to bring the end to the end... and that was a crazy sentence but somehow it seemed that it was absolutely true. Mitsuki even in her risen form seemed to know he was capable of anything including ending a life big enough to sit at the end of the universe. Ah, but that wasn't all, that form had brought back the voice and face of Kakihara Shota, which was grating to her nerves even in her current state. And what was more, he proved he still cared, as he claimed he was willing to show the end the end, simply because he'd not known Mitsuki's name. Still, in this moment, Ashborn gave her a new name, Mirrebantis. And what was she to do with her new name? Rid her space of... the Finality that had taken Kakihara Shota's form. "Really? Great! I really don't like that guy anyway!~" she claimed as she rose to do what she was told. And when she reached out she'd touch him, well it was more or less a slap, right across his face with a pulse of power behind it. That hit would paralyze his flesh and the magical toxicity of her person, would disintegrate flesh and could do so... down to a spiritual level when allowed to fester. The Finality wanted an end brought to Kakihara Shota, it would only be right if he sat through it.

Beyond that Nuren was busy taming or being tamed by Hiruko depending on the way one wanted to look at it. He gambled and he was winning and collecting on that win. As he did so, there was something that happened. That magical tie around his neck pulled him in, and Nuren had expressed that she didn't consider it done until she received, such was the nature of her kind of being. It seemed like he had some kind of argument to launch but instead of doing so... he kept pumping his hips after their lips met, and Nuren moved hers as well. She met his thrusts even while beneath him and wiggled her hips even when he separated their lips. "You are collecting your payout, but you said you were all in. The rates are higher for someone like me. So, be good and cum for me, Awanari♥~" she offered something of an explanation while waiting for that proverbial cork to pop fully and quell the geyser he'd plunged into. She wasn't trying to murder this man with her body, besides she still had a present for him.

[Bloodedge]

The fisherman's tale shared by Kazuhiko was only partially false, but perhaps the more disturbing bits were true as the sun was bright. "Yeah! It was the size of a donkey with legs almost as thick as my body!" he reiterated. "It was so wrong! It must have been the descendant of a Leviathan or something!" he added. Once they were at the stall, Kei ordered a simple two pork buns. Kazuhiko held up a hand with four fingers extended, silently correcting the number. All the while, Soma was awaiting Konomi's answer, only to scoff upon receiving it. She couldn't afford a car, so she didn't have a license? That didn't make sense to him. Oh well ─ the blonde called Ai had one that could be used... though she gave an amount of detail Soma considered beyond unnecessary in mentioning it. "I don't care what the reasons are. Here," he said, tossing her the keys and moving toward the back. "Why are those two moving separately?" he asked of anyone willing to answer the curiosity about Kazu and Kei.

Mitsuki, despite being presumably a normal human before, made quite the strong Shadow. She was more than sufficient to have the ability to speak, and furthermore retain her personality ─ seemingly in full effect. "What? Shadow head is fine. Don't knock it 'til you try it!" he responded. With that little test out of the way, he went on to name Mitsuki's Shadow and deliver the first order. The one in charge of Finality could not be killed in this universe, not now. It could, however, have its expectations shattered and its vessel destroyed. Mirrebantis, or more accurately Evernight, apparently had a strong enough distaste for Shota to be excited by the idea of ending him... or perhaps it was the entity within? Well, it didn't matter. A strong slap to the face would surely resonate with some Shota in a different reality, and the rejection between Evernight and Finality's 'representative' would surely result in a long bout of burning. All the while, Ashborn would be focusing his own power on collecting this universe's remnants over time. Well... he also had a glance at Evernight's backside when she moved forward to slap Shota's husk. "Huh. Did you get Shadow Army ass buffs?" he muttered in a manner most casual, even over the gurgled screams of Shota's body due to the entity's searing pain within.

As for Hiruko and his dealings with Nuren, it surely wouldn't take much for his entire existence to fade away. Even so, the blonde male remained resolute in the face of destruction. Nuren still demanded his ejaculation. Ah, but that wasn't really necessary. His hips hadn't stopped moving, and neither had hers. He really was already a single motion away from the end of the line. Little did he realize, it wouldn't even be the movement that did him in... but instead the demand of Nuren. By her order, Hiruko's next thrust didn't even reach completion. Any response he thought would be given was replaced with... "Hu-guah!" and an extended series of further incoherencies as spastic hips trembled between her legs, his essence flooding her womb like it had only a singular purpose. In that moment, his eyes contained only whites. Was Hiruko still alive? It did seem like he was, at least by the moans and groans that kept passing his lips. . .

[Apollymi]

Kazuhiko and Kei were having a nice kind of conversation one which involved a bit of exaggeration but still managed to be pretty light as a topic. As for his fisherman's tale, Kei fell rather easily for the bait of it. And kept laughing because of it, "Hehehe!~ I've seen some pretty crazy stuff, but that sounds terrible!~" she mentioned. Soon enough the meat buns were being pulled out and a corrected number was present, in two little baskets for their consumption. Kei found herself looking at Kazuhiko as if confused... In the meantime, everyone was being loaded into a van. Angelica slipped into the back and took boxes and bags and offered a hand up to everyone coming in. While Ai, dealt with a type of nostalgia she'd not imagined while being handed the keys. "Hai hai, I forgot how much she was tough work while she was young..." she said while heading over to the driver seat and adjusting, it, the seatbelt and checking the mirrors. "Oya? I wasn't that cut and dry about it. And I was traumatized..." Kaguya said in defense of herself. While Miko made sure everyone else made their way into the back of the van, she'd answer the question presented. "They're going out on a date to get to know each other properly. Not everyone shines in group settings and bonding sometimes needs a few less variables," Miko uttered, knowing that the calculating and ambitious sort that he'd presented himself to be, might not get the potential positives of making an effort like that... even if that wasn't Kazuhiko's reason for doing so.

The personality of the shadow, which used to be Mitsuki was still the one that belonged to Mitsuki. Light, airy and somehow innocent. The more direct form of Ashborn was greeted with a cute reaction and that ever blushing face which seemed to apply even when she was a creature of darkness. "Eto..." she muttered still feeling a bit out of sorts. Well, her life had recently ended, it was fine if she took a bit to catch the rest of the way up. And while Ashborn collected the universe around them, Evernight was making sure that Finality's representative, met a painful end, which was admittedly taking quite a while. A secondary stinging slap was delivered to the alternate side of that one's face, if only to help quiet him. At the same time, the flirty nature of Ashborn was still present, obviously looking at the shadow forms rear, she easily bent over and struck a pose, "Cute girls get fluff bonuses♥~" she added in the same manner that she'd been speaking about herself since the very beginning. So happy, so bubbly, so very innocent, it was something that Kakihara Shota truly didn't get.

At the same time, Nuren was busy even beneath Hiruko making him spill his essence deep into her core. She watched as his eyes rolled back and he experienced an orgasm of a different variety. Such was always the case, when the younger versiosn of these people encountered them. In a moment of satisfaction watching him groan with no color in his eyes, Nuren became sure of a certain fact. Her actions in this moment, were likely quite the contributing factor to the first time she remembered having contact with the man called Hiruko. "Ara? That's such a good reaction. I always enjoy that little foam at the top of a bottle of champagne~" she mentioned while her core pulsed with a gentle orgasm and she rolled them over keeping that magical leash attached. Well, if she was the cause for her own reckoning she might as well make it good, "Sȳz Biarves♥~" she uttered while pecking his lips. Well, there was a certain amount of aftercare and afterglow certain people required. At the very least, his present was something which could be given without thinking too much about whether or not it'd be too much for him. After a little while she'd extricate herself from his lap with sheer amusement on her face and a little hint of red. "Oya, so potent so early~" she claimed with amusement.

[Bloodedge]

"It was terrible! I'd say you have to see it to believe it, but I also don't recommend anybody look that thing in the face... like ever. It's one of those things that's only hilarious in hindsight," Kazu explained. Once they had a pair of baskets with their order of choice, Kazu handled the payment and took both baskets in hand. He held one out to Kei and realized she was looking at him strangely. "What?" he asked, confused. Speaking of confusion, Soma was lost for direction on why those two wandered off by themselves. It was nothing concerning to him, but it was foreign. According to Miko, they were just on a date to become properly acquainted. While he could understand the purpose, he also considered it a waste of time. "People in this group have been openly screwing each other all day. Separation is pointless," he said while taking a seat.

Evernight was already shaping up to be one of the more interesting Shadows in Ashborn's hidden army. She definitely counted among those he'd openly fool around with, and quite high on that list to boot. She was so... herself. The fact that she bent over to pose after hearing his question meant there were no errors in conversion... and the fact that she slapped Shota's face again to silence Finality's representative proved it further. Regardless, Ashborn found himself stepping forward to slap the Shadow's rear. He'd then be grinding against her as the universe continued its collapse into that small marble in his hand. "I'll fluff you. You know I wasn't done with your living form. We've got a long trip through the Realm of Eternal Slumber to get back. Remember that first anniversary when we finally stopped drinking? How about we pick up there?" Ashborn asked during the final moments of collapse. Only a few seconds later, there was nothing around them but darkness. Kakihara Shota's body faded to nothingness as the last vestiges of a stolen universe, leaving only Ashborn and Evernight to do as they pleased during the return trip.

Hiruko couldn't even see the world around him as his spunk drained seemingly without end into Nuren's womb. The rest of his body didn't even have feeling. Well, maybe it did and that draining sensation was simply that overpowering? He couldn't tell. The next moment he was able to perceive was... quite different. Hiruko had been placed on his back at some point, a leash still around his neck and a domineering feminine figure atop him. What a familiar sight. "... Heh. Sure you're not the Ghost of Christmas Past? This is like my first birthday party all over again," he joked, even though the light of his eyes still flickered in and out.

[Apollymi]

Some things were only funny in hindsight? Kei could see that... though she'd never admit it, she always saw her tantrums and crybaby outbursts like that, when they weren't super cringe worthy. "I think I'll pass~" she claimed about seeing the weird fish. She really couldn't imagine, she'd definitely be talking to Angelica about this at some point in the future. Besides that... there was the odd look she'd given him when he'd ordered extras. "Why did you get more?" she asked as if genuinely confused by the gesture. Kei wasn't the type to ask for too much. She understood the necessity of being responsible in certain ways and how restraint was often times for the best.. and it wasn't like they weren't going to eat more later. At the same time, as everyone was packed away into the van, it'd be started up and Ai would begin a smooth drive towards Yuuya's abode without much hassle. "It only seems that way if you're aiming solely for efficiency. Life isn't all sex, progress, and goals... we're not too far displaced from some of the worst things to ever happen to us, decompression is good too," Miko mentioned. "Pressure makes diamonds, but it also crushes eggs... some people need individual tempering~" Kaguya mentioned to her son. The fact that everyone had been engaging in open coitus for the duration of his life, didn't mean everyone would always do so...

Meanwhile, that little piece of universe was collapsing but out of it would come, Ashborn and a Shadow known as Evernight. The death of Finality's representative left her feeling light and ready for fun. Ah, and it seemed Ashborn was up for quite a bit of fun himself, speaking of fluffing her and bringing up their long journey ahead."Ehehe..." nervous little chuckle escaped her. "Of all the things to remember, you choose the more embarrassing ones..." she said that deep pink flush on a shadow form's face was almost comical. Still, she was herself for the most part and even knowing that she couldn't help herself. "I still couldn't say no to you~" she said with a certain amount of surety. Even as the darkness was all that remained around them, she once again bent over at the waist, she spread her cheeks to show off a bit while reaching behind her... "You have to put it in and hold me up, so I can ride it in reverse~" she mentioned content to carry on the way they had for no apparent reasn.

At the same time, Hiruko seemed to be catching his breath a bit. Now on his back the domineering blue haired young woman atop him seemed quite pleased. Moreover his words were at least making sense as he pondered over the relative memory of his first birthday. "Oh? Not really associated with Christmas, maybe Boxing Day?~" she allowed herself a bit of light sarcasm. Maybe she'd attended a birthday part or 1500 of his by now. Maybe he gained access to some memories by kissing her... or maybe he was just joking it didn't really matter at this point. "Am I letting you up now, Amawari Or are you still feeling reckless? Afterglow has a time limit before it becomes dangerous~" she spoke wiht a combination of teasing and sheer curiosity. Well, Nuren was always feeling reckless but for her purposes this one had already proven he was just enough keep himself right on the line of survival. Whatever the case, she was planning to move herself back into the seated position while he remained on the table, if he wished.

[Bloodedge]

Apparently, the reason for Kei's weird stare was the fact that he'd ordered a second set of pork buns. Kazu didn't think much of it. Her stomach was the one growling before, and his own adventurous history always led to a contingency or two cropping up. "Because you're hungry, right? I know it might seem a little stupid since we're on a food tour, but... you never know. Besides, it's an old habit. Get a little extra while you can, and maybe you need it later. Random hunger on a long trip, new friends appearing along the way in need of help... or maybe you like something so much after trying it, you can't resist wanting another, but you've already moved from the place you got it. There are just too many reasons it could be worth the purchase," he explained while they were en route to the bus stop. Meanwhile, Soma was at the receiving end of an explanation ─ one that he also saw as pointlessness in the end. If they were so into the idea of decompressing, there were other ways to go about it. That card shop had been cleared of everyone but its owner and the group; they could have started an entire orgy before leaving. Oh well; it was just another stupid human thing he'd exploit when necessary. "Hmph. Broken eggs are just food for the rest of us. If someone's going to be an egg, let them be crushed. Only a diamond will make it anywhere in the end," he asserted. "I've decided. Either you're all geniuses, or you're all idiots. Half of you might only be useful for one thing."

Even Mitsuki's Shadow made no effort to say no. As such, she'd be lifted against his fore, facing away with him for the apparent ride she desired. Their trip would continue from one universe to the next, across time and space toward Ashborn's eventual destination. In the meantime, Hiruko was just barely returning to his senses. He couldn't determine left from right, fact from fiction, memory from observation. Nuren said something about Boxing Day as opposed to Christmas, and he saw no difference. What of her question though? Was he to be freed, or was he a glutton for more punishment? Hiruko was always a man of strategy. He couldn't scheme his way through this, but tactical retreat was always a strategy of its own. Alas, he'd only just opened his mouth before that strange ginger appeared next to 'Sakura' to make another comment. "I wondered when you'd show up. Are you done playing with your food?" he asked of the blue-haired woman, his mood seeming just slightly sour.

[Apollymi]

As Kei and Kazuhiko began spending time together, she questioned one of his actions. The explanation to follow was detailed, clear and covered several bases. He'd done so for many reasons, each of them more than good and several of them hinting towards a desire to simply make sure that the situation was a good one. She processed his words and her face flushed, her eyes widened and then... "Hmphf! Right, I guess you get credit for thinking ahead," she managed. How could she express how oddly thoughtful that was, how many times had he gone through something like that. It was all pretty unfathomable, and because it was beyond her own ability to fully comprehend how could she fully respond? She had no choice but to fall back on old habits. Regardless, she could easily have one of these buns happily. As for the now moving vehicle full of teens and young adults, apparently Souma still didn't get it. The ideas were too human for him to grasp their purpose. And though it would have been easy to start an orgy, too many people involved were related to the main people who would have started such a thing. "This is so Machiavellian... but I get it, even if I am not the kind to actively progress in such a way," Miko was willing to let it go. She actually was quite found of those types. Given his personality she had a couple of guesses about what he thought most were good for, that was also fine. Kaguya for her part in this could only smile, a lot of people were only good for one thing. That wasn't necessarily a bad way of thinking though a lot could go into widening his world view. He was only a day old and some things had to be lived.

While the ride across spacetime, involved a bit of cute nastiness from Mitsuki's shadow... a different kind of situation was still taking place on that boat. Nuren, was keen to continue tormenting poor Hiruko. Now that she was at it, she might as well see what else he had to offer. It wouldn't be the first time she took a few too many liberties. Of course, she was the type of domineering that became more savage overtime. Ah, but before she could even get through the idea of dangling pleasure in exchange for more access the voice that answered her, was not Hiruko's but one she was more familiar with. "Oya, who spit in your corn flakes? We both know after all while the whole point of the meal is play....You're back a bit sooner than I expected," she said looking from her current perch to take in the orange haired man and his sour mood. She knew that sort of face, she wore it herself from time to time. "Sou ka... you stayed to the end again didn't you?" she asked while shaking her head. Well, if she left him the way he was, it was likely Hiruko would corrode. "I thought it'd be best if I reinforced him early... considering it's Seed Day and they won't calm down for quite a while..." she said making a logical excuse for herself, which didn't involve admitting to the fact that she'd just gotten a bit caught up with the ability to potentially break-in one of the young ones again. At the same time, Kama was reaching up to pat Ajax on the back, she wasn't entirely sure what happened but she could feel his annoyance and discomfort and wanted to ease it, just a bit. "There there..." she murmured. "Okaerinasai." she managed.

[Bloodedge]

And so came the return of the tsundere in glorious fashion. No matter what others thought of that behavioral pattern, Kazuhiko adored it. His first wife was such a person, after all. So then, what would he do with the experience of one who knew that deflection after a blushing face? There were always two solid methods of responding, but Kei had an extra layer to her demeanor. She was the sort who could also burst into tears in the most confusing way... and he had nowhere to run if that happened now. "Arigatou! I'll take the points where I can get them!" he said in the end. Without further hesitation, Kazu reached into his own basket to pick up a bun. It seemed safe and cool enough to eat... but that was always the trap with those darned things. "One for the road?" he asked before chomping down for that first bite... and learning how bad the decision was by the heat rushing into his mouth. Or did he? "Haa-tatata... eh?" What happened? Kazu was sure that bun's filling scorched his tongue on contact. As soon as he felt it, however, the sensation was gone. How strange. Equally strange was the things Soma heard as the group's return trip began. Miko called his outlook Machiavellian, and claimed to understand despite disagreeing. Soma stared at the brunette with a mix of confusion and judgment, a long silence preceding his eventual decision about her. "Egg," was all he said, his arms and legs crossing and his eyes closing in mild annoyance.

Who spit in Ajax's cornflakes? That was such a loaded question, he couldn't give an outright answer without causing a space-time calamity in the middle of modern Osaka. "I'm back sooner than I expected too. The difference between a locomotive and a bullet train is how quickly you reach the end... and what kind of fuel is burned to get you there," he said cryptically. "The bright side and the dark side are the same. If you run into a stray moon, it's probably closer than you think... but smaller than it looks," he added. Moving on to Nuren's playtime, she claimed a reinforcement effort for Hiruko's sake. True enough, the gambler's partner rotation was quickly becoming more powerful by the moment. Either he was broken in now, or he'd be at risk later. There was always a bit of faith, though. "Oh come off it. You and I both know how that'll end for this one anyway. Do what you want, but are you really trying to get the real reason past me?" While Ajax spoke, Sakura's hand was reaching for his back in a gesture of comfort. She was always such an alien girl, far before becoming an actual alien herself. Still, he took the kind gesture and the welcome... in such a way as to reveal his maintained mental stability. "No head? Every time lately, it's never head!" he complained half-jokingly. "See what I have to put up with? And I even remembered to come back with the gifts this time!"

[Apollymi]

Tsundere activity was indeed something that Kazuhiko enjoyed, he had to given what Angelica was like, Kei realized this. But even so she wasn't sure what he'd say. What if she cried? Would he run off again? She really was trying to keep her emotions in check but it was quite difficult to do in such a new kind of situation. What he would say would surprisingly go along with her misplaced emotions, she was shocked for a moment before she feigned a cough and raised her arm gently as if adjusting her attire in some way if only to soothe herself a bit. "Um-hm!" she responded after recovering form the shock of him going along with her nonsense. "It's good that you understand the situation. Keep being dedicated!" she said in a way that sounded demeaning but was definitely more of a compliment than anything else she'd managed so far. By her own logic she was doing well, and now they could split a pair of those buns for the road. "Hai, just don't go. diving straight in. You'll..." she paused. As a consummate foodie, she knew she wouldn't just be biting into the bun. No, she'd make a small tear in her own and let a bit more of the steam escape. She'd also blow into it. While she was doing this, Kazuhiko took his first bite and had about the reaction she'd expected. "Burn your tongue. Hehehe~ You really are just all in, aren't you..." Once this was done though... Kei took her first bite, a much more tempered one. And when she did, flavors of soft dumpling, shredded pork, ginger, garlic and onions danced across her tongue in perfect harmony. Her eyes widened and sparkled and the closed as she savored it. She was so pleased, a happy little moan escaped her. "The flavors are so well-balanced. And all the ingredients are fresh, the pastry is so perfect! I love street food~" she sang the praises of the pork bun in absolution. At the same time, someone else was not singing praises. Soma was obviously past his tolerance for downtime and nonsense, for someone just born his ambition was far greater than anything else. A confused and judgemental stare went Miko's way but his choice of word, combined with his attitude didn't hit her ears with any real negativity. No, in light of his confusion and his choice in term she had but one thing that slipped from between her lips, "Sounds like you're hungry to me♪~" she chirped innocently but there was something in those words which had her eyes shifting through various colors as her selves all seemed to agree to offer themselves for devouring if necessary. 'Oya? When did Mi-chan start flirting with words?' Kaguya wondered, perhaps they needed to have a more serious conversation later.

At the same time, Nuren as she was being called, was now confronted with Ajax who in the midst of her playing with her food, showed up with gripes. By the way she processed his words, his most recent outing had him burning up a different kind of fuel than normal and thus ended with his early return. "Sou ka," Nuren mentioned, but it would be Kama who was most intrigued by those words. "Hm, that sounds like something I heard the day I helped Kazzun reform himself... " Kama said coming to a few conclusions about these people's ability to travel around. As for the rest of his rather cryptic statement she came to understand exactly who he was talking about and what kind of difference was being made. "Oh? That one then... interesting. I might go peeking later~" she claimed without any extra context. Still, she was called out on her nonsense, and had to just hold her hands up in mock surrender. They did both know how such things ended, but... "Oh, you know what it's like to meet the young ones. I had to scratch the itch. He said the thing..." she mentioned casually. "I could just plant the seed and avoid interfering too much. It is Seed Day after all... and I've been handing them out like hotcakes anyway~" Nuren mentioned in passing. Whatever the case, comfort from Kama did not in fact come with head. And the playful gripes of Ajax returned. "Yeah, I know what you mean... I think this is early enough that they aren't quite that free yet. Or you haven't expressed your innate desire for it all over the place," she said almost joking. "Kudos though for remembering the gifts, I remembered mine too... we're on a roll today!~" she claimed. Just the same Kama found herself looking curiously. The term 'head' wasn't in her vocabulary yet. "I have two questions."

[Bloodedge]

It wasn't too difficult dealing with tsundere types; Kazuhiko understood that quite well in recent times. Kei brought a new kind of challenge, but frankly... he thought that was part of the excitement and appeal she carried. The bravado of it all was familiar though. Her instruction to keep being dedicated had him resisting the urge to chuckle. "Hai hai. I'll keep aiming for that high rating!" he announced. With that, Kazu was taking his first bite and just missing Kei's warning. While she laughed at his burning, he became confused. That should have been far worse than it was, yet it quickly became nothing. "That's... weird. I thought I set my mouth on fire, but it's fine," he mused. Kazuhiko went straight for another bite while Kei enjoyed her first ─ more so than he'd enjoyed any food before. 'Foodie' may have been a little light; he'd call her a connoisseur of some weird variety. He almost commented, but... he couldn't. Actually, all he managed to do was stare at the girl for far longer than he should have. All the while, Soma had a singular eye opening to glare in Miko's direction. Was that some sort of flirt? How interesting. Whether it seemed sensible or not, Soma had even more reason to believe she fell under the 'egg' category after that. "Exactly as I thought. Cracked and waiting to be scrambled," he commented. "Looking to explore public indecency again? Be my guest," he challenged thereafter.

The words of Ajax were understood as intended by Nuren. Ah, but Kama picked up on something of her own. She'd heard something similar before ─ something that probably wasn't to be shared now. "Keep it in your head. Trust me," he urged. As for Nuren's urge to scratch the itch they both knew about, he could understand. "I know. I did the same thing with this one... technically twice. She was just sitting there looking all breedable; I couldn't resist," he commiserated, as if the current existence of Kama needed any explaining at all. Nuren went on to comment on the seeds she'd been handing out. He knew of what happened earlier this day, in this reality, but that sounded like something more. "What? You slipped in another? I'll ask later," Ajax mused prior to lamenting the lack of 'head' he was suffering of late. Expressing his desire may have been necessary, but... there was also the question of why. "Ugh, I hate having to make it known! I mean, who's gonna say no to free head? It should be... I show up, free head. At this rate I'll go back to you-know-who. She's all about it after the first time." Moving on from that, Kama finally spoke. She had not one question, but two. Such things were dangerous from her in the earlier years sometimes, but danger didn't matter too much. "There are either two answers or a thousand. What are the questions?"

[Apollymi]

Kazuhiko was aiming for a high ranking, and poor Kei didn't know whether she would survive his efforts. Whether she wound up in tears or yelling about something was pretty much a coin toss at this point. She'd only nod her head at his notion and hope he wasn't as earnest about such a thing as he seemed. Beyond that Kazuhiko apparently thought he'd burned his tongue but turned out to not have done that thing. Odd, she was sure that was hot enough to burn. "I could have used something like that when I was younger... Is that a special skill?" she wondered honestly. It wouldn't have been the weirdest thing she'd heard of, still she had her own food to enjoy. And thus she did... that first bite was beyond happy and she expressed every sentiment. Her eyes were still sparkling. She took a second bite and chimed, "Ooowh!~ It doesn't get any worse either♥~" she chimed. Perhaps foodie was an understatement, but the truth of a food tour being the best possible date for her was beyond factual. Speaking of factual things... Iino Miko was still navigating her new found and apparently voracious sexuality. It encompassed quite a lit including offhanded flirting when the right statements hit her ears the right way. So, when one eye opened and glared back at her she felt it deep in her soul like an echo. "Hm, I didn't expect that to work. But I feel like I've done a lot of public indecency today... Ugh... I don't remember enough," Miko uttered while she rubbed her own temples as if she could urge her thoughts to reorder themselves. "I don't own restraint, but I also don't do this kind of mixed company. Adding that to your... list, not a box," Miko mentioned still rubbing her temples. She'd definitely forgotten something. But not the feelings of it, she knew she'd have sex in front of multiple people but not literal children.

Meanwhile the words of Kama were heard and she was told to keep them in her head. "Sou..." she murmured. Why should she keep it in her head? She had to assume some sort of complication arising from the idea that this man moved across reality multiple times. She'd sit that aside for now, perhaps it was a question better suited for later. Whatever the case, Nuren and Ajax were conversing about their respective itches. "Yeah, I figured as much when I saw her. We really do certain things to ourselves..." she uttered. As for the seed slipping a gentle upturn of Nuren's lips happened, "I may have wandered off the beaten path... though I'll tell you, if you even remember to ask~" she commented. The pair of them often times meant to discuss a great number of things but in the moment such things were lost. Ah but what of the mysterious one he spoke of and free head, "Yeah, but you'd definitely have to go back or pick a different one... this one is off-limits," Nuren mused. As for the actual seeding she supposed it was time to do that, so she leaned back over Hiruko and smiled. She could definitely drop him a seed for the later times and it would reinforce him a bit. That would be enough to keep him from being swallowed up by the aforementioned problem children. She leaned over him and pressed her lips to his while she allowed Ajax to answer Kama's questions. "What happened with my son? He just kind of disappeared... also, what is head? I don't have enough context to work through that one on my own. Colloquialisms in this time are a bit annoying," she expressed her genuine curiousity while Nuren struggled to stifle a giggle.

[Bloodedge]

Kazuhiko had a list of special skills, but even he couldn't count a strong tolerance of uncooled food among them. Though he would have liked to give Kei some form of answer, he was confused by the whole ordeal. "Honestly? I've got no idea. It's been a crazy week, and I can't even think of where to start looking for a cause. Probably magic stuff though," was the only explanation he could give. From there, Kazu continued staring and Kei continued eating. It was the strangest form of marvel to behold, he thought. This girl enjoyed food the way he enjoyed card games or new adventures. Beyond that, there were some deviant thoughts worth shelving about the look on her face when she enjoyed consumption... but Kazu's commentary would be about something else. "Glad you've got a second one then?" he wondered.

Miko's stint of public indecency was known to Soma twice over. He'd heard and seen her in the alleyway, and he'd even seen her from outside the shop when she entered the back room with its owner. Her memory struggles were no issue of his, but her hesitation to act was another point of discontent. She claimed she didn't own restraint, but also claimed the current form of 'mixed company' was not something she did... which was a form of restraint. She'd add what he said to a list? How laughable. "Oh? What's the matter? Didn't you learn how to be out of sight in the alley earlier? Spare me your moral code. You're full of restraint until it's not something you waste unnecessary time questioning in your own head," he argued.

Ajax and Nuren did have a habit of doing some... technically unnecessary things. Their pasts were these people's futures. In those pasts, they had the most interesting times... and in their presents, they delivered similar experiences to the others. Such a cycle they produced. "We do. But... they do it to us too. Where does it all start?" he asked rhetorically, simply referencing a question asked oh so long ago for them. He'd keep an eye on Nuren as she delivered the aforementioned 'seed' to Hiruko via mouth transfer, even while continuing to complain about the current situation. There was one person he could visit to get what he wanted... but indeed, the current incarnation wouldn't do. "Yeah, it sucks. I could have stopped by another variant on the way back, but I couldn't put myself in the mood for it then," he said. While such a casual discussion went on, Hiruko's body was trembling as if by a low-tier seizure. Consciousness that found him again was gone just as quickly, responsive though he remained in a physical sense. He'd be fine eventually, but that spasming had to calm down over time. Meanwhile, Ajax remembered that one of Kama's questions was something he knew to expect before. "Oh right. He'll be fine; he should be floating around this reality somewhere. He was born in the space between this reality and its neighbors. He should be drawn to the ones that are connected to him. Until then, he'll just... fly around, like a kite," he explained. As for her second question, Ajax held up a single finger, though he'd count multiple things. "Head. Fellatio. Blowjob. Sucking dick. Servicing. The list is as endless as the number of colors on the known spectrum; you'll have to make assumptions based on context sometimes. Take that as a lesson for human conversation. Usually, it's more about feeling than what's actually being said," he answered despite knowing that would likely become an interesting conundrum in her future. Actually... he was betting on it doing so; it would be fun. "Anyway. The point is, nobody turns down free head. I could go so far as to say I'd take it as a customary greeting forever. Hint hint~"

[Apollymi]

As they conversed it was mentioned by Kazuhiko that he had no idea where his heat resistance came from, though he whittled it down to magic. "Sou, that makes sense I guess, a lot of stuff has been stacking lately," Kei agreed. It wasn't just his magical life that had gone out of control, her own had changed a lot more in recent times than she would have known how to deal with. What she did know how to deal with however was this perfect little meat bun which she was enjoying to its maximum, but what was Kazuhiko saying while watching her eat and hearing her reactions. Was she glad there was a second one? Yes, it was incredibly thoughtful and she was definitely looking forward to eating that one too. But... those words weren't ones that would come out easily. No, something about them would be lost in translation, "I can say that this is a favorable turn of events and good forward thinking on your part," she claimed hiding her appreciation behind the false bravado she was busy building up. As such she'd continued eating while waiting on that bus to show up.

Meanwhile, the two times Soma knew of her public indecency didn't even cover her day. While she didn't remember, she'd definitely been part of an orgy, multiple times over, and paraded naked in public. But public and people were to be considered differently, while she didn't care what her own friends saw of her, she wouldn't be putting any kids or Yuuya and Konomi into an awkward situation. She noted the lad's crankiness and wondered if he really was in need of something. Well, when she was annoying to Yugi, he'd claimed she should make with the head, perhaps she'd do that at her earliest convenience. In enacting this plan she began to scroll her phone, moving ahead of the conversation to take care of an order of food for the household. Upon observations and knowledge of individuals, she'd ordered several varieties of pizza in large enough numbers to feed the small army and paid for it. Though the app giving Yuuya's address as the delivery point. She didn't need to spare him her morality it wasn't morality that was determining her actions, Several moments of silence followed that argument but by the time she was done on her phone, they'd made their way back into the neighborhood. "Pizza will be here in 45 minutes..." she said aloud. "Hai hai. We're here~" Kaguya said having thought the girl going quiet was a potential doom thing, and knowing the card shop was in walking distance of Yuuya's place meant that the couple of minutes worth of conversation in the van had basically been stalling. At the same time Ai parked and turned off the engine tossing the keys back to Soma. Though Miko did note that she'd seen no replies from Hiruko either. "I meant restraint isn't innate in me... not that I couldn't do my own planning and management. I didn't learn anything like that in that alley, I was being impulsive and it happened to work out. I'm only applying my morality to myself and that offer was earnest, even if I didn't expect it to work. Though if you're looking for an egg to scramble, I got time and I'll take responsibility since you're annoyed a bit~" Miko offered as Angelica opened up the back doors and started helping people out of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, Ajax and Nuren were busy conversing about travels and mishaps. Both fully acknowledged that they were setting themselves up, and both seemed fine with the outcomes, "That's always the question, it's almost impossible to tell at this point..." she commiserated. Still that wouldn't stop her from giving work to those who gave her work the cycle was endless and it would remain so. Even so soon after she was slipping her tongue into Hiruko's mouth passing another something as big as a piece of candy and as smooth as a drink of water, mostly to help the man, but also as an excuse to double back a bit later as he was one of the rare sort. "I know what you mean, I also put off an extra trip because I was feeling particularly unhappy... I stopped and did something else instead~" she said after pulling away from Hiruko's mouth. As for Kama she'd be receiving an answer, her son was draw to those he was connected to, and would be fine. fluttered off like a kite... "Hm, I like that... I didn't get a chance to name him and he seemed upset with me," she mentioned as she thought it over. But if he was upset, as long as he would be fine, there was every opportunity to work it out. Moving on from that the term 'head' was apparently about the act of oral sex. "Sou ka, I guess... I can see how it got there. I still don't know if I like it, but I'll add those to the list..." she explained easily enough. "As a greeting ritual? What you said implies you have that with someone else... I'd be more likely to use it to say thank you..." she offered her own counter, knowing the better of making agreements she didn't want to be locked into "Arigatou gouzaimasu. Onii-chan♥~" she offered with ehr mouth opening in the moment. "Well, if you're about to take some head, I might as well go back to my ride and make sure the seed properly settles," Nuren mused as if something so miniscule was reason enough for her continued deviance. If she was going to rewrite her first interaction with Hiruko she might as well make it properly extreme by breaking him in properly.