It felt like Nanashi had only left for a moment before he returned to the table.
Only Chito knew what had truly happened.
Time may have stood still outside, but not within the chat group. The thoughts and activities there never ceased, and Chito saw everything.
Kanae returned with Nanashi as well. When he departed earlier, she had quietly entered his spiritual space.
Now, she lay limply across the table—who knew how many times she had… experienced things while Nanashi was being attended by Ram and Rem?
"What's wrong?" Eriri asked, resuming the conversation from before Nanashi's brief absence.
The time freeze always made for an awkward transition, requiring a moment to adapt.
Nanashi shook his head. "Nothing. Eat up, my dear daughter."
"You're such an idiot!"
Flushed with embarrassment and irritation, Eriri activated her Hot Wheels mode.
Her twin ponytails whipped around like flails, lashing at Nanashi again and again as she flailed her head in mock anger.
Of course, it was just hair—no real damage.
Nanashi laughed and played along like a child.
"Waaah! I'm wounded!" he cried dramatically.
After their little skirmish, Eriri crossed her arms, puffed out her cheeks, and turned away with a huff. "Hmph! Let's see if you dare spout nonsense again."
Nanashi leaned close, grinning mischievously. "Heh… maybe I will, next time."
"Mmm!"
Eriri, well-read and familiar with innuendo, instantly turned bright red. Steam might as well have erupted from her head as she nodded unconsciously, overwhelmed.
"…"
Sayuri, watching quietly, didn't even need to hear what Nanashi whispered—she already knew.
And to think… all of this stemmed from a simple joke.
Now they were actually considering trying something new.
Sayuri's face flushed pink, her thoughts drifting in an unintended direction.
Meanwhile, Chito calmly ate, observing the table with amusement.
Each person had their own reaction.
Especially the mother-daughter duo, Eriri and Sayuri.
Maybe this… is what it means to be human?
"Staaare…"
Abe no Seimei slumped against Chito's shoulder like a ghost.
To Chito, it felt like someone was chanting in his ear.
"I wanna eat… I wanna eat… I wanna eat…"
Biting into her sandwich with exaggerated flair, she muttered, "Mmm. Delicious."
The aura of resentment radiating from the pendant on his shoulder intensified.
Chito took another bite.
Yep. Tastes even better now.
Sunday.
Nanashi made a point to visit Kie's house.
"Nanashi, don't you have work today?" Kie asked, finishing up the cleaning.
"Brother Nanashi!"
Nezuko was sprawled across the sofa, watching a magical girl anime—pure childlike innocence.
Nanashi pulled Kie over to the couch and grinned. "I'm free today. Thought I'd spend time with you. I'm not the type to get bored easily."
Suddenly, Nezuko shrank into her child form and curled up naturally in his arms.
A unique trait of hers—she could shrink at will, transforming from adorable girl to queen-like demon.
Kie looked on, a little uneasy.
If I were that small… maybe I could be that affectionate too.
Tamayo, watering flowers out on the balcony, chuckled and teased, "Kie's been talking about you every day lately."
Kie, caught off guard, turned bright red and snapped back, "Tamayo's no better—she even bought weird clothes on purpose!"
"Oh?" Nanashi turned to Tamayo, amused.
"They're not weird. Just… sexy," she replied, completely unashamed. "I figured you would like them."
"I do. But where'd you even learn that stuff?"
Nanashi was intrigued. He hadn't explored that genre much yet—but the curiosity was real.
Tamayo smirked. "You'll have to ask Kie's precious daughter."
"Nezuko?"
Still curled up in his arms, Nezuko went stiff.
Her face turned bright red, her ears burned, and she looked everywhere but at him—completely flustered.
"I…"
Seeing her struggle to explain, Kie stepped in.
"She was playing on the computer and accidentally clicked on a… strange webpage. That's how she saw it."
"Pop-up ads, huh…"
Nanashi chuckled awkwardly. So it all started with a random pop-up?
That gave him an idea.
He leaned in close to Kie's ear and whispered, "Do you know about the Three-Color Cup? I want one. Can you make it for me?"
"Three-Color Cup?" Kie blinked, confused.
Nanashi expected as much. He patiently explained, "It's basically three flavors of ice cream in one container. Think of it like… opening three portals of taste."
Specifically, he was describing the Kie Special Edition—a unique version that only Kie could make.
"Eating ice cream in the middle of winter… is that really okay?" Kie asked, her face suddenly flushed with a mature, delicate charm.
"Ice cream tastes best in winter. You'll see," Nanashi replied with a devilish smile.
Just imagining it was enough to make his heart race.
"…Alright. Okay."
Kie took a deep breath, her cheeks glowing as red as the sunset. Flustered, she lowered her head and stammered as she activated her Blood Demon Technique.
It didn't take long to prepare the tricolor cup—it was something she could make quickly.
"Okay," she said softly. "This is the tricolor cup Nanashi asked for."
Kie carefully took out the ice cream she had prepared and handed it to him.
A tricolor cup.
Three colors. Three flavors.
Each bite offered a unique experience, a medley of tastes that changed with every scoop.
No matter how many times you ate it, it never got boring.
Nanashi had eaten plenty of ice cream over the summer, but this was the first time he would taste one made by Kie herself.
He accepted the cup, which was placed inside a special container.
Cup ice cream typically came with a small wooden stick, perfect for simple scoops. But because Kie's tricolor cup was crafted differently, it required something more.
So Nanashi had specially prepared a larger wooden stick just for this occasion.
After all, ice cream was meant to be enjoyed with big, hearty mouthfuls—the kind that brought a refreshing burst of flavor with each bite.
He picked up the stick and dug in with enthusiasm.
Kie's culinary skills had come a long way. He was genuinely looking forward to tasting her version of the tricolor cup.
The first bite, by rule, had to go all the way to the bottom. That was where the best part always waited.
He scooped deep and took a bite.
The flavor of peach hit his tongue—warm, smooth, and gentle.
The texture was soft, made from ingredients that melted easily. If left untouched, it would gradually turn into a pool of sweetness.
Nanashi happened to love this type of ice cream—the kind that slowly melted. It felt more "alive" than those stubborn ones like hard serve, which wouldn't melt even under fire.
Of course, that meant it had to be eaten quickly.
His first scoop was already beginning to melt into a creamy soup.
He chuckled and used the large stick to dig out the second flavor.
This next portion occupied a much smaller area in the container.
He was extra careful, not wanting to disturb the neatly separated layers.
Still, there was no question—the second bite also had to be taken from deep within.
Eating ice cream this way was like savoring pork elbow by starting with the skin or enjoying watermelon from the core—it was all about honoring the soul of the dish.
After some delicate maneuvering, he finally scooped the second bite.
The flavor was apple—crisp, tender, and with an unexpectedly dense texture that delighted his palate.
He pulled out the stick and dug once more, this time for the final layer.
He ate it with great anticipation.
The third flavor was floral, infused with the scent of countless red and violet blossoms—a fragrant finish that lingered on the tongue.
Kie's tricolor cup was worlds apart from the usual trio of milk, strawberry, and chocolate.
"Kie!" Nanashi's eyes sparkled as he praised her. "Your cooking is amazing. This is the most refreshing and delicious tricolor cup I've ever had!"
Kie giggled softly, covering her mouth. "… as long as you like it, that's enough for me."
She shifted a little awkwardly, then remembered something and added, "But Nanashi, eating ice cream on its own isn't good for your stomach. I'll pour you a cup of tea to warm it up."
She stood and walked over in small steps to prepare the tea.
When she returned, she bent down and gently placed the cup in front of him.
Nanashi patted her back lightly, concern in his voice. "Be careful with the tea. You don't want to spill it. Look, your clothes are all wet."
Kie smiled sweetly, touched by his concern. "I'm just clumsy. Thank you for worrying about me, Ming. I'll go change later. But first… let me blow the tea for you."
"Haah—"
The Kie family had their own way of tea blowing—quick, sharp breaths to chase the heat away. It was part of their unique tea ceremony.
…
"Ah!"
"What's wrong?" Nanashi turned to Nezuko, worried.
She shrank back, pointing nervously at the TV. "Brother Nanashi… why are there such scary monsters in magical girl shows?"
On the screen, a magical girl had just been knocked away by a terrifying creature. Nezuko trembled, visibly frightened.
"Magical girls fight monsters," Nanashi explained gently. "And the monsters always lose in the end."
It was the first time he realized just how timid Nezuko could be.
He reached out, covering her eyes with his hand and speaking softly. "Don't be scared. The monsters on TV aren't real."
"…Thank you, Brother Nanashi. With you here… I won't be afraid."
Though she said she wasn't afraid, her body trembled slightly. She was still scared.
Nanashi sighed inwardly. Courage wasn't something that came instantly—it had to be nurtured over time.
And for now, all he could do was stay by her side.
A strong wind swept across the balcony.
Tamayo's expression shifted as she was nearly knocked off her feet. She quickly grabbed the railing to steady herself.
"Careful, Tamayo," Nanashi said with concern. "The balcony's windy. Make sure you stand firm."
Turning back, her eyes glistened with a mix of helplessness and gentle warmth. "The wind is a bit strong today. I'll be careful."
Meanwhile, the three-color cup of ice cream continued to offer its delightful surprise. With each bite, the flavors shifted, creating a new taste experience every time. It teased the taste buds, making it impossible to stop.
Moreover, the texture changed gradually—from the top to the bottom of the cup, from shallow to deep. The melting point and water content varied layer by layer.
This was a sensation he had never experienced before.
A warm and peaceful scene unfolded in Kie's home.
Nanashi sat, fully immersed in savoring the tricolor cup, his attention solely on the flavor of each bite.
Kie, Tamayo, and Nezuko were quietly going about their own tasks.
Kie helped cool his tea, Nezuko was focused on the television, and Tamayo resumed watering the flowers.
It felt cozy and harmonious—like a true family. A sense of home.
However, it was clear that Kie and the others weren't entirely used to modern life just yet.
If not careful, one could easily spill tea while pouring it.
A timid girl could be terrified by the monstrous villains in a magical girl anime.
And someone with a frail body might nearly be blown off a balcony by the wind.
Nanashi sighed helplessly. All he could do was care for them as best as he could.
Even he had to admit—he was so used to ordinary tricolor cups that at first, he couldn't fully appreciate Kie's new creation.
But once he got used to it, the initial intensity mellowed into something deeply enjoyable.
He didn't want to rush. This was something to be savored slowly.
A little distracted, he scooped another bite while opening the chat group on his phone.
Chat groups always seemed to catch his attention.
And today, a new member had just joined.
Everyone in the group was already buzzing with excitement.
Scrolling up through the message history, he saw:
[Ding! Mikasa has joined the Doomsday Chat Group!]
[Ding! White-haired Ball Paramecium K423 has joined the Doomsday Chat Group!]
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