<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

There was no way their latest level came from Miko's recent event. Those things always came with, or immediately following, the completion notice. Surely that would have happened long before Miko left the room, or even... as soon as Yugi and Ai finished their session. Beyond that, the bar was still slowly but steadily rising. "Those things are directly connected when they happen. EXP is still going up, like ten points at a time... every couple of minutes, but not exact and consistent timing," Yugi explained while observing the meter. "Isn't there XP from sex too? Maybe someone is doing something," Ren suggested. "Well they'd have to be getting off every couple of..." Yugi paused mid-thought, stopping his own naysaying immediately. "Maybe? Both people have to get off for that, though. It's just a little unrealistic for so much consistency," he said. Yugi had begun pinching the bridge of his nose, knowing there had to be some factor missing. He'd soon be raising a second screen to call Shido Makima. If nothing else, she'd know if anyone on their list was up to something.

Miko also wondered about the level they received. However, it seemed she was content to address Igris's dessert and... the questionable way she named the strongest Shadow of the Players' army. Both Miko and Ai took up spoons to taste, and both enjoyed the product. Igris, however, looked confused ─ if a Shadow Soldier could manage such emotion. He nodded to the order of making 25 more, but he didn't move immediately. Instead, Igris took up one of the ladyfingers covered in berries and cream, offering it to Ai as if suggesting a different method of consumption ─ the only way he knew in life to enjoy it.

[Apollymi]

Yugi was made confused by the additional level. He and Ren were pontificating over the matter and Tae offered an explanation which was apparently rejected. "Well, with that kind of output it could be a person killing things. Some taking longer than others or something like that..." Tae offered. Ren's explanation also seemed plausible but not very likely. By the time he made the decision to call Makima she would be, sitting in Gojo's lap, legs wrapped around his waist, bouncing on a cock that he was moving on his own because she wasn't going to do it. That call came through and her brows furrowed, but Makima didn't exist in a state of shame, so she'd answer almost casually. "Oh? We got the notification you finished your domain. But I figured you'd be busy with house things for a while longer, why are you calling me?" Makima asserted still casually moving with her arms slung over Gojo's shoulders.

Meanwhile, Igris was soon holding out a ladyfinger with cream and berries on the end to Ai. Miko watched this and Ai accepted it with wide eyes. "Sou ka, there's a lot going on in there huh?" she said to Miko who only nodded. "Arigatou, Igris-dono~" she offered the Shadow as she took that lady finger for herself. "Heading off to start my room. If you're bored later or can't sleep... you'll know where to find me. Also call me when dinner is ready, Mi-tan~" Ai managed as she wandered off. "Hai hai♪~ Ja, Ai-sen♪~" Miko said. She banished her spoon but took the goblet from Igris on both her hands. "Before you get started on the desserts, will you put on a big pot of water for me? I'll be right back to cook noodles and put everything together♪~" Miko asserted. Where was she going with that goblet, to shove a bit of dessert in a couple of people's mouths and question that random level.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi got through to Makima rather quickly, and what he got from it was... the sight of the chairwoman bouncing in a very obvious way. Her movements weren't her own, though. No, her body moved up and down simply because Gojo was busy thrusting up from beneath her. Either way, she asked why he was calling... and Yugi continued as if nothing was amiss. "We're getting EXP, and I don't know what's doing it. I can't rationalize any Bondmate being out doing stuff right now, but you'd obviously have a better grasp on who's busy with what. Whatever it is, something's being done for small amounts of EXP every two minutes or so," he explained. "And no, we're not busy with shit anymore. We bought the biggest house we could afford. Took everything."

Igris passed along that ladyfinger, only to be complimented by Ai and... addressed with undue respect. He nodded in a gesture of reverence, keeping posture even as the blonde left the kitchen. With that, Igris was ready to start on those 25 desserts... but Miko had another objective for him first. She needed a big pot of water, boiling. Whether she intended it or not, 'big' for Igris was quite different from the norm. He took up a pot large enough for an adult human to bathe in. While it was being filled with water, Igris beckoned over one of the mages to use its Blaze Skill and quickly start the boiling process. The pot was ready by the time Miko took two steps out of the kitchen, leaving Igris to begin producing more ladyfingers.

[Apollymi]

Makima was in the middle of a just for fun activity. She was on vacation and all. Still, she found it in her best interest to answer the phone call of one of her newest pets. And much to her own satisfaction when said call as answered he didn't even flinch moving straight into the potential problems of his call, without bringing attention to her bouncing body and obvious activity. As such Makima listened to his issue and gave it a bit of thought, "I'm not generally stalking all of you all the time. I can say anyone in this country that you're attached to right just now, likely isn't in a Dungeon. Since most of them have been involved in the mess of the last couple of days. And I give off days after successful raids and completions," Makima noted. "So, I suppose there are two questions, is there anyone in either of your current rosters that I am not currently keep track of? And is there a way for you to check without having to call everyone in the list... I can double check everyone I know, but it will take a few minutes to run the checks," Makima mentioned, she'd also have to get her phone which she wasn't truly prepared to do right at the moment.

At the same time, Miko was emerging from the kitchen with the rest of that dessert in hand needing someone else to have a taste. Yes, she realized that water she'd asked for was already being heated, but she figured she could take a moment or two to check on things. "Oi, open your mouths and eat this... it's fucking awesome♪!~" Miko said before pausing. She looked at Makima on the screen, blinked thrice and then went back to holding out a lady finger for Ren and Yugi to try. Beyond that point... she had something to say, "Don't forget to tell her we're dumb... she probably has cool access♪!~" Miko mentioned as well. At the same time, Tae was looking at the screen with curiosity. "Yo! I wanna try, I'll be right down!~" she claimed hanging up from her end to scramble downstairs having just returned from her office.

[Bloodedge]

Makima may not have been stalking everyone constantly, but she had the access and the records. None of the Bondmates she knew of were officially in a Dungeon at present. She asked only if thee was someone unaccounted for, and if there was a way to check without calling everyone individually. Yugi sighed. "Maybe a couple, and... yeah, that was another thing I meant to mention. It's possible for you guys to access a version of the System interface as well. Your title is special, so you've probably got different access too. Try menu, or status or... stuff like that," he mentioned, looking at a screen of his own to view the list of Bondmates from his own side.

Meanwhile, Ren was ogling the System screen, watching Makima bounce in an unknown lap and mentally inserting himself into the scene. He didn't speak up about anything until Miko reentered, demanding that he and Yugi open their mouths. Ren's mouth was agape before he even realize what would be done with it. Ah, she was passing along a confection of some sort. "Oh. Arigatou," he said, taking it for a tentative bite. At the same time, Yugi was grumbling. "Just covered that part. You bringing dessert out before dinner? Is this a normal thing for you?" Yugi questioned in a surprisingly non-aggressive way for him. Yugi took the ladyfinger he was offered, but he didn't bite it yet. No, he was holding it just outside of his mouth when he saw ellipses in the corner of each Bondmate's image. "... I feel it coming. And before anybody says anything, this is why video games have tutorial stages and a thousand fucking popups in the first few hours!"

[Apollymi]

Makima for her continued bouncing was being given more information. The words of Yugi came with the knowledge that Makima would have a special version of System Access which may make his question a bit easier to answer. "Oh, well let's see then... Menu~" Makima barely held her current level of composure, but she refused to misbehave in front of new pets or their pets. Upon speaking the world Menu though, Makima was given a screen to look at it included the ability to see her own profile. Her coinage which was equivalent to that of all the other household members put together and a tab which when clicked just gave her an entire tiered list of household members and their locations. She'd be quietly reading through that whle bouncing.

Just the same, Miko showed up in time to share dessert. Ren said thanks but she could see the amount of distracted he was in his body and in his face. Yugi, took his but didn't immediately eat it, instead choosing to clarify that he'd explained their stupidity to Makima and to question Miko's bringing of the dessert. "Usually I make it first so whoever is in the kitchen with me gets a taste. I didn't make this one, but I figured I should share because it's awesome♪!~" Miko chirped happily. Ah but there was another point of anger soon coming from Yugi. His words before he ate implied an annoyance which would likely lead to another explosion of gamer rage. "We haven't gotten an actual tutorial in a while... we got taught to survive and given individual goals but not anything like that since we got back..." Miko said thinking about it... but she still hadn't quite caught up to what was important. Instead it'd be Makima speaking as Tae slipped into the room and would receive the last lady finger in the bowl which Miko sent back to Inventory afterwards. "Sou ka, I can see everyone you two are connected to, and their current tiers, their Intimacy and Experience bars," Makima said with a smirk coming to her face. "I can even see their current location," Makima stated honestly. "The one gaining you experience currently, has a location unknown but the name, Irkalla,"

[Bloodedge]

Makima went right into her System menu after being informed of the ability. The end result was... exactly what Yugi had been expecting for a few moments, and exactly what he confirmed by clicking that button over Makima's own image in his display. Before that was to be addressed, however, Yugi took a bite of that ladyfinger. He and Ren paused at the same time, both reacting positively in different ways. "Good shit," Yugi said. "Umai!" Ren shouted from a couple of meters away. With that, Yugi was on to viewing System details he thought they should have been informed about. Eventually, he'd have to take a much deeper dive since Brainface wasn't giving them any decent handouts.

Whatever the case, Irkalla was the person gaining all that experience. How interesting. A connection to her was part of the reason they settled in this very forest. "Death goddess. Figures. Not many ways to tell what a god is up to," Yugi scoffed. He figured it would soon be time to call Irkalla for information, and perhaps another shot at raising her Intimacy. Ah, but that wouldn't be too necessary... because Yugi found himself looking at a screen connected to their established base. In it, there was an invite function that could be used by Bondmates of a certain caliber when their connected Player was present. "Huh. We have a summon button here. It's even friendlier than that shit we were given during the job-change quest. From a Level 1 base, we can send summon invitations to any Bondmate over 25%. Kinda weird, since they have to reach 50 to get a room... but pretty useful nonetheless. We up for a housewarming?"

[Apollymi]

Both Yugi and Ren had a taste of those ladyfingers and both had positive responses. Miko beamed, "Hai hai♪~ I'll pass that along, we're having full dessert-sized servings after dinner. It's probably for the best. I was going to make shortcakes but I have a terrible time choosing which kind I want so I would have made like 30 different kinds♪!~" Miko asserted. Tae for her part in this beamed silently, for a second. "I wouldn't turn down testing for desserts or anything else you want to experiment with... and I am gonna get so fat~" Tae mused as she walked off dessert in hand. Well, she did have other things to do. After Makima mentioned who was responsible for their increase in levels, she looked at Miko almost expectantly. "I'm making sure everyone gets fed today, even if they aren't here♪!~" Miko asserted with a casual salute.

Beyond that point, it was apparently the goddess of death who was responsible for that random level they received. "I wonder if that thing about death gods always being workaholics is true. She might not get to vacation very often," Miko mentioned seeming to think about it a little bit and wanting to give her a bit of time to have fun too. Though she'd claimed to not be very young at all, people could still be young at heart and deserved to have some fun. Miko's own Bondmate screens were soon up... and they were, interestingly detailed. Yugi was looking at something specific and while he did that she peeked over and thought about it. "I was planning to make more than enough food to feed a small army anyway, we could just invite most of them here and save ourselves a great deal of trouble. Also it makes sense from a dating sim perspective... like you'd invite an early girlfriend or boyfriend over for dinner or a party, but not everyone can store stuff at your place, and moving in is a big step♪!~" Miko pointed out with relative ease. "Also of this list that can be invited, I have to leave two off, one because he's a liability and the other because I don't know where he stands and I don't want that kind of complication today. Kinda sad though, I could use something like this to spawn one last event maybe but the ones most likely to give that I can't invite because they're too low Intimacy," Miko gave her last opinion before beginning to step off. "I gotta put this food together and have it cooking in a few... but if you need anything else, you can join me in the kitchen♪~ Oh, and maybe check on the tables and such, we're actually going to need places for everyone to sit if we're having them all over♪~" and with that Miko was off. There was now a party to be had and it needed food at the very least. "Oh? If there's going to be a housewarming, should we bring gifts?" Makima wondered not even questioning if she was being invited.

[Bloodedge]

Dinner and dessert would surely both be enough for a small army, so long as Miko had a say in the matter. It would be no issue of supplies if they invited both of their groups. At least now, they could get to the meal quickly instead of waiting for... apparently the production of 30 different shortcakes. "I wouldn't have even waited around for all of that. Definitely would've just skipped dessert," Yugi claimed. Regardless, his thoughts were shifting toward the matter of Irkalla. What could she have been doing to gain so little experience, yet gain it so regularly? Surely sorting through the dead didn't count as defeating enemies... right? Well, there was only one way to find out.

Of course, it would be no simple matter of calling the death goddess. The Players had every reason to bring forth their entire harems, or at least whichever members could be summoned. 25% was a fair enough requirement that would leave only a few behind, bar two other exceptions Miko had. "Wouldn't have invited them anyway. Especially him," he said to single-out Miyuki. Miko would be returning to the kitchen, but he had one thing to say before she left. "Go ahead and get your invites ready. I'm sending out all of mine," he said. With that, Yugi finally rose from the bed and got his breeches in order. The Shadow Soldiers outside had to be done with those tables and such by now. While he moved, Makima posed an interesting question ─ one that came with an interesting assumption. "You know what? Yeah. Since we're broke, I'll take whatever gifts there are. Hopefully tables don't have to be on the list. Anyway... you should be seeing a ping in just a sec," he warned. From Yugi's list, there wouldn't be a single person excluded from the invitation. He touched the display while walking, dragging numerous images toward the registered base point on a map, and then... a single button press would finish the job.

[Apollymi]

Miko was finding out about the impatience of a Yugi. He wouldn't have been willing to wait around for her to make that large variety of desserts if she'd chosen the shortcake route. "I mean I get it, but it wouldn't have taken that long," Miko muttered looking a bit shy. Oh well, she'd still end up making all the shortcake at some point in time, but she'd likely do it on a day with some free time applied to it.

Beyond that point and before they could properly question Irkalla they had to gather the harems for a welcome party. It seemed there was one member of Miko's current harem that Yugi definitely wouldn't invite anywhere and she knew exactly who it was by how he said it. 'Hai hai, I know... he's a bit too concerned with how things look to enjoy them properly," Miko said in agreement. She thought such a thing was also bad for her best friend, but that one claimed she was happy so she'd be leaving herself out of it, for the most part. She'd do what she could from the angle she had, until it either imploded or someone broke and conformed but Miko didn't expect the later. "I'll prep the list and finish getting the food ready!~" Miko chirped. She looked at her own screen and saw the list of people she could invite and only a few names were blacked out. One of them, was so close it seemed almost rude not to try and get him over the line. So before anything else a text message would be sent to one, Hayakawa Aki. Aki-nii!! ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾ I know we agreed to go out to dinner, but... could I interest you in a homecooked meal tonight? ( •̯́ ^ •̯̀)♡ We're having people over it's just for others in our group, nothing too crazy~ And I'm already cooking a whole bunch (ㅅ •᷄ ₃•᷅ ) While she waited on a reply she'd be compiling the rest of her list. At the same time, Makima was hearing that he'd accept a gift from her. "Oh? No arguments either. Good boy~ I'll wrap this up and prepare gifts~" Makima said, hanging up with the lad as well while looking at Gojo with a grin. "Come on now, make it a good one, we're swinging by the Association before heading over. I know something I can give them~" Makima offered with a cheeky smirk.

[Bloodedge]

"It wouldn't have taken that long," Yugi repeated in a mocking tone as he and Miko separated. While she went to the kitchen, he moved toward the courtyard. There, he saw a number of tables in various shapes and sizes. One of them in particular... was quite annoying to look at. Some additional trees had been cut vertically into planks, those being used to form a table suited for that oversized throne at the castle's fore. Yugi stopped and stared at the table that could have easily been the starting framework for a modest house with a few adjustments, then looked at the Shadow Infantrymen who were expecting praise for their works. "I said big. Big... like for a big group at a big dinner. I didn't mean big as in somebody's gonna have to fee-fi-fo-fum their way over to it for morning coffee!" Yugi's chastising of the lower-grade soldiers left them looking a bit like kicked puppies, but he only sighed while looking back up at the table. "Take it down, turn it into the framework for a greenhouse or something. The rest of you, put these normal tables on the ants and send them inside," he ordered.

At the same time, Gojo was receiving Makima's instruction to wrap things up. They had to return to the Hunters Association, but... he already had them moving without bothering to change their activity. "What'cha got?" he wondered, thrusts happening between their bodies without the use of a single muscle ─ simply Gojo's power. Elsewhere in Tokyo, the recently reemployed Aki was reading a text with as many freaky emojis as sentences. "The fuck?" he grumbled through a dangling cigarette. He and Miko did have an agreement to meet for dinner somewhere, but here she was, offering something she'd cooked. That was disturbingly wholesome from some slutty False Ranker he'd met in a Dungeon Break and banged in the back of an airborne car with some other veritable stranger. On the other hand... it was interesting. How interesting? Well... You cook? he sent back. Of course, that wouldn't be the only notification Miko received in the moment...

[BOND ROUTE MILESTONE REACHED]

Bond Route: Hayakawa Aki

Intimacy has reached 25%.

Route Activated: Fox & Blade

Current Progress: 31%

Reward Unlocked:
- Active Skill: Silent Strike
Miko can activate Silent Strike to completely mask the sound of her next attack (15 second cooldown). The silenced attack gains greatly increased critical hit chance and piercing power.
- Passive: Fox's Insight
When undetected or attacking from stealth, Miko gains increased critical hit chance and better ability to read enemy weak points.

[Apollymi]

Miko held up her hands in surrender. She knew what she'd planned to do, but explaining everything would have taken far too long. As such they were both able to separate and being their proper push towards dinner. Yugi complained about the nature of that giant table but having sent his invite he'd be receiving a few text messages. One from Senjumaru Shutara had her paused in a private waiting area in an airport in Italy a few hours after leaving the pair to their trip on yet another layover. Yo! What happens if I push this button? I'm on a layover and my next flight isn't due for a couple of hours. She texted quickly finding the screen she could see rather odd but figuring it was connected directly to thag 'game' like System Miko and Yugi had explained. Maki for her part in this looked at the readout and got a nerdy bit of excitement. You can summon me somewhere? That's crazy! What's it do if I press it? Maki had legitimate questions. Some however were a bit different. The pop up game to Kaguya and she slid out of bed and began writing a note to Miyuki. Making sure she picked up a room key and her 'proper' phone in case of a call. She'd be letting him think she went on a walk with Miko or something of the sort so he wouldn't worry if he woke without her being there. But she also figured it was very likely he wouldn't. She'd be cliking her acceptance after stepping out of the room and walking into a secluded corner. Meanwhile, a different kind of bravery existed at a fairly well known bar. Enju, as she was known by most was drinking whiskey straight in a little tumbler when that message first appeared. She sipped looked at it for a few extra seconds but there was only one way to know what things would happen. She pushed it and she'd be disappearing.

Meanwhile, Miko returned to the kitchen sent a text and soon found a giant pot of boiling water and several shadows hard at work. "Alright I need seven of the deep pans like this lined up. I'm going to be cooking noodles and layering, you guys move in a straight line to keep everything going!" she mentioned as she washed her hands. At that point, seven infantry shadows with the dish she described were lined up near the boiling pot. She dumped several boxes of lasagna noodles into the boiling water along with salt and got a pair of tongs preparing to get them out as soon as they reached the proper amount of al dente. Just the same... a text soon came back along with a notification from the System. She listened to that while looking at the text. 'Sugei, that really worked I guess that confirms that he wasn't as into it, because he met me in full slut mode. But I'm a girl with many facets!' Miko thought pleased as she reached into her pot and began lining up noodles in rows in the pans before reply, and making sure the rotation went along. I love food, so I do a decent bit of cooking for friends and family <(˘ ˘ ˘)> we're having salads, garlic bread and lasagna, with a special ladyfinger dessert ٩>ᴗ<)و I'll send you an invite to the housewarming, you can accept if you want (,,>﹏<,,) And with that and his Intimacy high enough, Miko would be sending her list, which was every man she currently knew, except, Miyuki, Rikuya and Kaito.

Meanwhile, Makima and Gojo were on the move... already. They were going by the Hunter's Association if only so Makima could pick up a few things and then get ready for a proper bit of moving. "Well, I was thinking that the little one would be happy to get a few extra Essence Stones for her weapon, and that he might enjoy some raw materials for crafting and the like. A bottle of wine and maybe I'll swing by Kaiba Corp and see what I can do about borrowing a wyvern corpse for a bit, I'd be able to return it after all~" Makima offered with a wicked grin. But it was never so simple with Makima either. She could easily use those two to leverage one of the bigger magical production companies in the world and keep them in line, which was... at least in part reason enough to make a few moves.

[Bloodedge]

While he was busy chewing out Shadow Soldiers for performing in very strange ways, Yugi received two notifications. The first, interestingly enough, came from Shutara. She'd still not departed, but she had a couple of hours. Before he even gave her a response, he checked the message from Maki. Both of them wanted to know what would happen if they accepted the invitation, so he sent the same message to each of them. It read: If you accept, it'll either teleport you or rip open a gate. We're just calling everyone over for lasagna and shit in our new castle. When that was sent, Yugi began making his way back into the castle. Some were already appearing inside. A certain Akiyama Anan had taken the very first opportunity to be released from that cell under the Hunters Association, and was already wandering around the first floor. Luckily for the timid Hayashi Yuto, he'd accepted the invitation a bit later, and was standing around the entrance hall ─ far from Anan's current location.

Aki had all but decided to accept the invitation, but he was presently occupied with a text exchange. He wanted to get it over with and get that imaginary computer screen out of his line of sight, but getting details was important. He read that last message before deciding it was a worthwhile trip, pressing the accept button, and stepping out into the room next to Yuto. All the while, Gojo was finally lifting Makima from his lap to let leak the conclusion of their session. It seemed they'd be making another stop before their visit, but he was never picky about time anyway. "A wyvern corpse? If you're going to do that, you might as well call America and get them to send big boy over. Too much for a housewarming?~" he joked.

[Apollymi]

Miko continued her cooking process. Eventually getting lasagnas layered and ready to go for the the cooking process. She'd gotten the sauce mixed up, layered in the eggplant into quite a few, and even gotten the cheeses out and on top. The production line of shadows made cooking for large groups rather easy. Once the last of the cheese was settled she looked to igris and asked a question, "How were you cooking all of this Iggy? I need these all heated, until all the cheese is melted and their warm all the way through, but I assume you haven't been using the oven," Miko murmured. Kaguya appeared still dressed in fabulous onsen attire. She popped into the ktichen to see Shadows holding pans of food and Miko still dressed as a 'spicy' maid. "Do I even want to know how something like this happens?~ Looking good, Mi-chan~" Kaguya mused. Beyond that, Yugi's text was received by both individuals who had it. Maki was alone in her own bedroom so... what was a dinner at a new castle with the Players in their open relationship and maybe a few other guests? OMW That would be all Maki's text said after confirmation. A second later and Shutara was reading that one. Will it put me back though? I'm in Italy right now and I don't want to cause an international incident~ Shutara's text shot back, if only because she wouldn't want to miss out on some food or a party and she was bored anyway.

Soon enough Enju was standing in the middle of an entry way with a couple of people she didn't know. One of them seemed rather timid and she immediately wondered if that small girl was some sort of bully, and the other, looked like he 'worked'. She continued drinking that whiskey. "Just for clarification, we're actually in a different place right?" she took that as her opener for either Aki or Yuto. Meanwhile, Makima was finally being lifted off the lap of Gojo, if only because there was stuff to be done. There was quite a bit of him oozing out of her, but such was a rather normal thing, she'd deal with it a bit after making it back to the shower in her office. "Yes, a wyvern corpse. I'd rather consolidate as much power at home as possible before reaching out. Besides, if we can get the technology outliers in line properly, by might or seduction, I'd consider it covering all bases." Makima said with her lips gently upturned. There was something quite amusing about that. Makima would restore her onsen attire so that she'd make her way back into her office looking halfway decent.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi meandered around ants that were carrying tables on their backs, flanked by Infantry. While he did, yet another set of messages came. Maki merely agreed and sent notice of her approach, but Shutara had more questions. As she was in Italy now, she didn't want to create any issues. It was an easy problem to address. I've got a button for that. Just don't be out in the open, was his response before he entered the building.

At the same time, Igris was being questioned about his cooking method. Miko needed heat for her assembled dishes, but she didn't know how he'd been getting by. One long, armored arm lifted at the elbow as Igris pointed nonchalantly at the nearby mages. Just then, Kaguya sauntered into the kitchen. Ever the honorable knight, Igris bowed to the black-haired girl and offered her one of the remaining ladyfingers from that sample bowl. Out in the entrance hall, Bondmates were appearing and meeting each other. Enju was the first to speak to another Bondmate. Between Yuto and Aki, it was the man who could acknowledge her as something close to kindred who responded. "With how all this shit works, I'm not even gonna wonder about how drunk you might be. Yeah. We're at the freaks' house," Aki said as he lit a fresh cigarette. Yugi was drawing closer and closer during that brief exchange, already prepared to add a comment of his own. "You're still in Japan, at least. We're in Aokigahara Forest," he said for everyone's general understanding. Just then, Yuto became visibly uncomfortable. "We're in where?! With, like... the ghosts and the...?"