Tokino told Grace about her past for an hour outside the bar. During the last seconds, her tears welled up. She sobbed on her chest, saying, “I’m a killer.” over and over.

Grace rubbed her back. “No, no, dear. You’re not one in the slightest. None of that was your fault. Your upbringing may have shaped you into what you are now. But you’re more than that. I know so….”

She let go and dried her eyes. “Thanks… But I don’t want you to think that way. I don’t deny the atrocities—because I enjoyed them. Even now, I enjoy killing those who make my blood boil.” She sighed. “Grace… I think I changed my mind. Maybe it’s best if we’re not—”

She held her shoulder. “No, dear, I don’t wanna hear any of that. I don’t forgive your crimes. I’m viewing you as someone close to me. I lost count on the mages I’ve killed. So, why shouldn’t we be friends? You’re no monster, Tokino. You were always a sweet little girl. Now, you’re a strong woman with a great life….”

At that moment, Tokino felt her words sounded eerily familiar to the closest person in her life. Her heart melted upon seeing Grace’s serene smile. She could hear her mother’s lullaby (Betty Noye’s Baby Mine) internally.

Tokino smiled back with tears and hugged her. “You won’t change your mind, right?” she let go.

“Of course not, dear,” she shook her head. “You’re precious to me, too.”

She smiled again and held her shoulders. “Oh, Gra—” She interrupted herself.

Both heard thunderous noise from afar on the road. It was a flying taxi full of women and a few androgynous men. Eminem’s “Shake That” played louder when its door opened. A familiar face came out. “Aight, bae… Are ya up for a power switch later on?” He grinned.

They gasped in unison. “Really!?”

“Nah,” he shook his head, “I’m just fuckin’ with y’all. Imma be dom ‘til I croak.” He chuckled.

“Oh, come on,” most said. “You never let us….”

“Well, I ain’t lettin’ you now.” He turned to the cab driver. “Take ‘em home. Tell the CEO I want their wages raised.”

“Sir, I don’t think you’ll win against people like him in court.” He looked at him.

He chuckled again. “True. But I can win against him on some good ‘ol fistfight. The fans are gonna love it up there.”

The cab driver tipped his hat and flew to the sky. Hokori waved at his partners.

He walked toward the bar and saw the two outside. “Y’know, if your fans took a look at this, it’ll fuel their doujin fantasies.” He looked at Tokino.

She let go of Grace’s shoulders. “Fans? What fans?” she raised an eyebrow.

He smirked. “You’d be surprised seeing Pantaiyanilam’s internet right now, kid. Don’t get me started with the ones involving you and your boyfriend.” He saw her face blush and eyes narrow. “It ain’t what you think. I don’t jack off to incest even if we don’t have blood ties.”

Tokino shook her head to let go of her unclean thoughts. Grace held her shoulder again from behind. “Let’s go inside.”

“Y-Yeah… Of course….” she nodded.

Inside the bar, Yukino and Calico still tapped each other’s foreheads. They chased one another around the place. She also found out about his innate ability. It was the damning coincidence of the century.

Clover Pesticide allowed Calico to give others misfortune. Because of this, their powers canceled each other out. For the first time, Yukino did not worry about the side effects of her power.

Just as they neared their “battle’s” climax, the savage commoner barged in. “Hey, y’all!” he waved at Sakusei and his comrades. “Check it out. I got a souvenir back scratcher from the colosseum!” It was a carved femur.

They shouted in awe over his brutality and clapped their hands. “Fantastico, signore!” Rosado exclaimed.

“Holy shit, man! Hey, you wanna go on a mission again? This one I got is really spicy.” Bernard grinned.

Hokori turned to him. “Sure. How’s tomorrow sound?”

Seeing him present, Haruto believed this was the perfect time for the kids to go to the fair. “Do you agree, Tokino? I’d like to talk with William more. I trust him.”

She sweated a bit. “I’m not sure, honey. I still don’t trust that man as you do.”

They argued for a few minutes until Grace stepped in. She encouraged her to go through with his idea—and wanted to know Hokori more through her son’s eyes. With that, Tokino reluctantly agreed.

Outside the bar, she hugged her daughter. “Don’t lose sight of your uncle, do you understand? But don’t let him influence you, either.”

Yukino nodded at her—and followed Hokori and Calico from behind. They took a flying taxi.

“Come back soon, honey!” Tokino waved.

Haruto moved in beside her. “I trust my brother no matter what. You know this already.”

She sighed and smiled at him. “Yeah… Maybe I can, too.” She looked away. “I hope….”

At the fair, Yukino and Calico rode the flying roller coaster. The latter had a weak stomach—despite living in the open wind for years. Next, they went to the space opera simulation. He thought he could show off his driving skills to her. However, she was nothing short of impeccable due to her luck-based power.

Even still, the enemy was relentless. The boy who Yukino defeated before brought his thirty friends. His intent for revenge was now clear. They discriminately shot lasers at her ship, and they ignored Calico. “That’s not fair!” his eyes narrowed. “Pick someone your own size!”

He exuded his field of magic. It gave the enemy players sudden misfortune. Twenty-eight of the boy’s friends lost the game.

Yukino and Calico decided to fight separately. The latter insisted on taking on the boy. The result was a total curb stomp to the opposition.

The space opera simulation ended and showed the leaderboard screen. “Look, look! You’re number one.” Yukino pointed.

He scratched the back of his head. “Oh, that’s nothing. I’ve driven ships ever since I was eight—” She hugged him unexpectedly. His cheeks reddened. “Too close! Too close!”

Three schoolgirls observed the two from afar. “By the Gods, isn’t that their daughter?” one said. They became excited and giddy, seeing her relationship with Calico. One quickly took notes for their new work online.

However, suddenly, a disgusted Hokori stood tall behind them. “Fuck off, bitches. Or the cops will be trailin’ your asses.” The schoolgirls felt his slight pressure over them. Nevertheless, it was terrifying. They bowed their heads in apology and ran for it.

Hokori sighed with his eyes closed and followed Yukino. She effortlessly won a prize for Calico in a hoop game. Everywhere she went, she never lost once. They sat on a bench after their fun. He yawned, and his eyes lowered. She noticed him having baggy lids. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

He stretched. “No, I’m not. I didn’t have a good night’s rest when mages fought against my fellow crewmates. Do you mind?” He rested on Yukino’s shoulder. In response, she patted his head.

Unexpectedly, her older siblings greeted her in front. Hokori took notice. “Oh shit, fam! Take this kid back to his parents, won’t ya? Don’t wanna deal with creeps here no more.”

Kakunō nodded at his request and carefully carried Calico on his shoulders.

“Wait!” Yukino stopped him from jumping away. “I want to do this at least once.” She stood on her tiptoes and made a bold move on Calico’s cheek.

A blushing Kenkō from afar gasped and covered her mouth. “Yukichi… How daring….”

Hokori chuckled. “Smooth moves, kiddo….”

With all that, Kakunō flash-stepped into the distance.

Hokori turned to Kenkō. “So… why’re ya guys really here?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I got some good news, especially for Yukichi. They expect the boy you saved to regain consciousness by a week now.”

Yukino’s eyes widened. “Lil Bro’s waking up?”

“Of course he is… We’ve got the best hospital there is in the country.” She said her goodbyes with a hug; the Imhotep Inn needed her back.

Yukino waved at her big sister, who also flash-stepped into the distance. She went back to the fair and noticed Hokori looking at a peculiar establishment. He caressed his chin with a finger and thumb. “What’s wrong, Uncle?” she asked.

His eyes squinted. “Hmmm… You know what, kiddo? All the prizes you won here had me wonderin’. I might go to Hell for dis—but I need it more than you think.” He pointed from afar. “Let’s go right there. Don’t worry. I got a lot of connections.”

She squinted her eyes as well. “‘Royal Flush Mania’… What is that place, Uncle?” she looked up at him.

Onboard public transport, the Minagawa couple reminisced about their experiences with the other couple. “Oh! That reminds me.” Tokino pulled up The Every Hub and called Kakunō if her daughter was now home.

“She sure is, ma’am,” he replied. “Yuki had nothing but great things to say about Calico. She asked if you’re confident about all this.”

Tokino smiled and held her chest. “Of course, I am. No doubt in my mind she’s found the one for her.”

He chuckled. “I guess indeed… By the way, do you wanna know what she’s doing now?”

“Sure. Is my daughter playing Harvest Moon with her sister again?”

“Nope. She’s playing with her uncle.” Kakunō gave her vague details about the game they played. He mentioned how much money she won throughout. Then, it became clear. He told her of cards and betting against people. “She’s amazing, amirite? Yuki now has enough money to buy ten mansions and eighty Lamborghinis!”

At that moment, Tokino sweated bullets. Her imagination ran wild over what he told her. She ended the call and hyperventilated loudly. The public sat in confusion.

“What’s wrong?” Haruto turned to her.

She quickly grabbed his clothing. “See!? I told you! I had good reasons not to like him, and this is why!” She explained what was going on. His eyes widened beyond belief.

They got off the airship and sprinted to the exclusive station that let them teleport to their estate. They accomplished this in under thirteen seconds.

Back home, they banged the door hard enough to tear off its hinges, ready to shout at Hokori inside. However, a misunderstanding thrust upon them.

Yukino played with her uncle via The Every Hub in the living room. Royal Flush Mania was an online multiplayer family game developed by a Novus-based company: Alessandro Inc. They also expanded upon live tournaments within their official establishments. Its in-game currency was not allowed for real-world transactions.

The couple witnessed their daughter having the time of her life. “Mama! Papa! Do you wanna play, too?” she asked.

They happily agreed and played for an hour.

It was now evening. Kakunō called everyone for dinner.

Hokori stretched. “I hope you guys had a lot of fun. I promised my fam to play four rounds online before karaoke night. Take care.” He went to his bedroom upstairs.

A smiling Tokino sighed and turned to Yukino. “Well, what can I say, honey? I’m at a loss for words. I can’t believe I’m saying this—but you have a great uncle. I see that now. Maybe next month, I’ll finally accept him….”

She giggled and hugged her. “I’m so happy to hear that, Mama.” She turned to Haruto. “What about you, Papa? Do you accept him?”

He chuckled and patted her head. “Of course. He’s an ass 100%, but we’re brothers forever till the end….”

Eventually, they gave each other a group hug. Tokino now had zero doubt that their family ties would ever strain.

Yukino’s memory suddenly jogged. “Ooh, ooh! There’s something I wanted to show you two!” She got off the couch and cast runes on the coffee table.

Her parents’ eyes squinted, curious about what was coming out of the runic circle. Due to her back obscuring their vision, all they could see was a big mound.

Yukino moved out of the way. “Look how much I won!” she presented with a smile.