Tatsuki returned to the dining table—to everyone else, it had seemed like no more than a blink.
Only Chito knew what had truly happened.
Time had been frozen, but the consciousness of the group chat members wasn't affected. Chito was fully aware of everything that had transpired in the chat during that time.
Kanae had also returned alongside Tatsuki. She had automatically entered his mental space when he left, and now that they were back, she lay slumped over the table, completely drained.
After all… who could've guessed how many rounds she endured while Tatsuki was being served by Ram and Rem?
"What's wrong?" Eriri picked up from where she'd left off, still waiting for an answer.
That strange gap in continuity always took a moment to adjust to. Tatsuki shook his head, brushing it off. "It's fine now. Let's eat, my precious daughter."
"You idiot!"
Utterly flustered, Eriri launched into her signature whirlwind rage mode.
Her twin tails instantly transformed into flailing whip-like strands, lashing back and forth like furious snakes as she thrashed her head—all aimed at Tatsuki.
But hair was still just hair—completely harmless.
Tatsuki simply played along like a mischievous child.
"Ahh!" he cried out dramatically, pretending to be in terrible pain.
After a round of chaotic play, Eriri folded her arms, pouted, and raised her chin. "Hmph! Let's see if you dare say that again."
But Tatsuki leaned in close to her ear, grinning slyly, and whispered, "Heh… Who knows? Maybe I'll say worse next time."
"Ugh!"
Eriri, having read far too many novels for her own good, instantly understood the implication.
"Aaaahh!"
Steam practically shot out of her head, and yet her neck… nodded involuntarily.
"…"
Sayuri glanced sideways at the two of them. She didn't even need to hear what was said—she knew exactly what kind of whisper Tatsuki had delivered.
She had just made an offhand joke earlier, but now? It looked like they were really about to try something new.
…Which, in turn, made her own face start to flush red.
Chinu sat quietly, savoring her meal while observing the scene at the table.
Everyone had a different reaction.
Especially the mother-daughter pair of Eriri and Sayuri. So this was what it meant to be human?
"Staaare…"
Like a ghost, Abe no Seimei hovered behind Chinu, resting her chin on the girl's shoulder.
Chinu could hear the muttering in her ear.
"I wanna eat… I wanna eat… I wanna eat…"
She bit into her sandwich.
"Mmm. Delicious."
A bit overdramatic—but oddly effective.
The grudge energy radiating from the clingy ghost on her shoulder only intensified.
And that, ironically, made Chinu find the sandwich even more delicious.
…
Sunday.
Tatsuki made a special trip to Kie's house.
"Tatsuki, aren't you busy today?" Kie asked, having just finished cleaning.
"Tatsuki-nii!"
Nezuko was lying on the couch watching anime—a magical girl show, no less.
Still such a child at heart.
Tatsuki pulled Kie down to sit beside him. "I've got the day off. Thought I'd spend it with you two. I'm not the type to abandon old loves for new ones, you know?"
Nezuko suddenly shrank into her smaller form—the little Nezuko—and climbed naturally into his lap.
A trait only Nezuko had: she could shrink into a little loli or transform into a mature demoness at will.
Kie, watching this, couldn't help feeling a tiny pang of jealousy.
If only she were a bit smaller herself… maybe she could get away with doing something that bold too.
"Kie's been muttering your name every day, you know," Tamayo teased from the balcony while watering flowers.
Kie's ears turned bright red. In retaliation, she snapped back, "You're one to talk—didn't you go out and buy weird clothes?"
"Hmm?" Tatsuki raised an eyebrow at Tamayo.
"They're not weird clothes—they're lingerie," she replied shamelessly. "You'd like them, wouldn't you?"
"Well, I do… but where'd you even learn about that stuff?"
Tatsuki was a fan of different flavors—no lies there.
Tamayo, with a teasing smirk on her lovely face, tilted her head playfully. "Why don't you ask Kie's precious little daughter?"
"…Nezuko?"
The mini-Nezuko in his arms shrank even further, her face turning beet red. Her ears practically caught fire, and her eyes darted every which way, unable to face him.
"I…"
Seeing her struggling to explain, Kie stepped in to cover for her.
"She was browsing on the computer and accidentally clicked a pop-up ad… that's where she saw it."
"…A pop-up ad? Are you serious?"
Tatsuki couldn't help but laugh. All this—because of a random click?
But that gave him a bit of inspiration. He leaned close to Kie's ear and whispered, "You ever heard of a Neapolitan cup? I'm craving one. Think you could make me one?"
"Neapolitan… cup?" Kie had never heard of it.
Of course, Tatsuki knew she hadn't. He patiently began explaining the concept:
"Think of it like a multi-compartment container..."
Neapolitan cups—or three-color cups—were a classic type of ice cream. Three different flavors, three different colors, all packed neatly into the same container.
But what he was describing… was a special edition Neapolitan—one only Kie could make.
"…Eating ice cream in winter… Is that really okay?"
Her face lit up bright red. Whatever she thought she'd just heard, it was definitely not about dessert. A blush as vivid as a blooming rose spread across her cheeks.
"Ice cream tastes best in winter. Come on, just try it." Tatsuki grinned like the devil. This was going to be fun.
Just the thought of it already had him halfway to standing.
"O-okay…"
Kie took a deep breath, face blazing, and lowered her head as she quietly activated her Blood Demon Art.
Making a Neapolitan cup didn't take long.
Before long, it was done.
"Here. This is the three-flavor cup you wanted." She handed the freshly made ice cream to him.
The three-flavor cup.
Three colors, three flavors of ice cream—each bite offered a different taste, and switching between them meant never getting bored. Tatsuki had eaten plenty during summer, but this was the first time he'd tasted one made by Kie herself.
He took the special container Kie had prepared for the treat. Normally, ice cream cups came with a small wooden stick for scooping. But because Kie's custom cup was built differently, it required a larger, stronger scoop.
Naturally, Tatsuki had prepared an oversized wooden stick for just such an occasion.
Ice cream was best enjoyed by digging deep and taking huge bites—that rich, icy freshness hitting all the right spots. With anticipation gleaming in his eyes, Tatsuki raised his scoop and plunged it deep.
Kie's culinary skills had grown significantly. He couldn't wait to see how this tasted.
The first scoop had to go all the way to the bottom—the most delicious part was always buried deep. He shoveled it up and took a bite.
The flavor? White peach—smooth, creamy, melting on the tongue with a silky texture. It was made from ingredients that melted easily. Just letting it sit was enough for it to begin turning into liquid.
Tatsuki preferred this kind of melt-in-your-mouth ice cream. Way better than those brick-solid pops that wouldn't melt even on fire. This, by contrast, dissolved fast.
In fact, that very first scoop had already mostly melted—practically soup by the time he tasted it. Chuckling, Tatsuki went in for scoop number two.
This second flavor was packed into a much smaller section of the cup, so he had to dig carefully, making sure he didn't spill into other flavors.
But no matter what, the first bite still had to go deep—like biting into the rind of a roast pork knuckle or scooping the sweetest center of a watermelon. No deep scoop, no soul.
Finally, with painstaking effort, he tasted the second flavor—little apple. Crisp, refreshing, and tightly textured.
Without hesitation, he moved on to the third section. This time, he dug in with force, eyes gleaming with excitement. The third flavor was "blossom"—a delicate floral blend, fragrant with hints of countless petals.
Kie's three-flavor cup wasn't the standard milk-strawberry-chocolate mix. No, this was something entirely her own.
"Kie! Your cooking is amazing! This is the most refreshing and delicious three-flavor cup I've ever had!" Tatsuki's eyes sparkled as he praised her sincerely.
Kie laughed softly, covering her mouth in a gentle, shy gesture. "As long as you like it, Tatsuki."
Wriggling a bit, she suddenly said, "Tatsuki, eating too much ice cream isn't good for your stomach. I'll pour you some tea to warm it up."
She rose gracefully, walking in small, timid steps toward the kitchen.
When she returned, she bent over to place the tea in front of him. Tatsuki gave her a light smack on the plump curve of her rear, speaking gently, "Careful when you pour. Look, your clothes are all wet now."
Kie smiled warmly under his care. "I'm so clumsy. Thank you for looking out for me, Tatsuki. I'll change later… For now, let me help cool your tea."
"Haah..."
Kie's signature tea-blowing technique—short, soft huffs of breath—was her own unique tea ceremony.
…
"Yah!" came a sudden cry.
"What's wrong?" Tatsuki turned toward Nezuko, concerned.
She curled up and pointed at the TV. "Tatsuki-nii, why are the monsters in this magical girl show so scary?"
On screen, the magical girl had just been flung away by a monstrous, terrifying creature. It had clearly startled Nezuko—her body trembled as she hugged herself tightly.
"Magical girls fight monsters. Don't worry, the monster will be defeated soon," Tatsuki explained.
It was the first time he'd realized how timid and delicate Nezuko actually was.
He gently covered her eyes with his hand and spoke in a low, soothing voice, "Don't be scared. The monsters on TV aren't real."
"Mmm… Thanks, Tatsuki-nii. With you here… I'm not afraid."
She said she wasn't afraid, but her trembling body betrayed her. Clearly, she was still terrified.
Tatsuki sighed inwardly. Bravery couldn't be forced—it had to be nurtured. And he had no perfect solution for that.
…
A strong gust blew in through the balcony.
Tamayo's expression shifted instantly—she nearly lost her balance and had to grab the railing to steady herself.
"Careful, Tamayo. The wind's strong. Don't lean out too far," Tatsuki warned.
Turning back, her moist eyes were filled with helpless warmth. "Yeah… it really is windy today. I'll be careful."
This three-flavor cup—each bite was a different sensation. Switching flavors stimulated the palate in all kinds of new ways. It was addictive.
From top to bottom, each layer had a different level of melt, different water content—something new with every dig. This was his first time experiencing such a treat.
In Kie's home, a warm and domestic scene unfolded.
Tatsuki savored his three-flavor cup with full focus, lost in the pleasure of taste. Meanwhile, Kie, Tamayo, and Nezuko were each absorbed in their own little worlds. Kie helped cool his tea. Nezuko was glued to the TV. Tamayo resumed watering her flowers.
It was like a real family. Warm. Natural. A sense of home.
And yet… the three of them still hadn't quite adjusted to modern life.
Kie was clumsy—spilling tea on her clothes while pouring.
Nezuko was timid—getting scared by monsters in a children's anime.
Tamayo was fragile—nearly blown over by a gust of wind.
Tatsuki could only sigh softly. All he could do was take care of them the best he could.
Even he had struggled at first to get used to Kie's version of the three-flavor cup. So different from what he was used to. But now? He wouldn't dream of wasting it. This treat had to be enjoyed slowly. Thoroughly.
While he continued digging in and relishing the flavors, he opened the chat group on his phone.
The Apocalypse chat group always had something new. And sure enough—two new names had just been added.
Everyone was chatting up a storm.
Tatsuki scrolled up to check what he missed.
[Ding! Mikasa has joined the Apocalypse Chat Group!]
[Ding! White-Haired Dumpling Slipper Amoeba K423 has joined the Apocalypse Chat Group!]
...
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