"Brother, you're awake."
As Ryuya came downstairs, Yukino, dressed in her school uniform, saw him.
Her eyes lit up as she looked at the man. Even though it had only been a day, to Yukino it felt like several years had passed… truly, 'one day apart feels like three seasons'.
"Yuki-chan, look at this."
Placing the two Tailmon following at his feet into Yukino's arms, Ryuya added, "Here, the cat I promised you."
"For me? A cat?"
Staring dumbfounded at the two incredibly cute Tailmon, Yukino was instantly captivated by the little ones' high attractiveness.
"Yeah, didn't I say I'd get you one before? But I never had the chance. Zen-chan, To-chan, say hello."
"Meow, hello, Yuki-nee-san~" x2
As the light, clear voices came from the mouths of the black and white Tailmon, everyone in the room was startled.
"These little ones... are they youkai?"
Not sensing any youki from the black and white Tailmon, Souji's first thought was of cat demons that could talk.
Ryuya shook his head and explained, "They're not youkai. They're Digimon."
"Digimon?"
Kaguya has zero resistance to the cute-looking Tailmon, as she also quite liked small animals.
"Papa, Papa, what are Digimon?"
Already, as per routine, sticking close to Ryuya's left and right sides, Altrouge and Arcueid, these two daughters who had just recently come to the real world from the Eternal Night Empire, were full of curiosity about everything related to Ryuya. The two Princesses of Brunestud looked at the Tailmon and voiced their curious questions.
After briefly explaining Tailmon's species and the meaning of Digimon to the girls, Ryuya took them to a famous Japanese restaurant nearby.
Kaguya, Yukinoshita Sisters, Souji, Altrouge and Arcueid, and Hayasaka, who always followed Kaguya and had been freed from her tragic past, a table of eight, plus the two Tailmon.
Because the Tailmon looked like cats, Ryuya had reserved a private room.
"By the way, Onii-chan, have you seen the recent news?"
At the table, eating sushi from her bowl, Yukino, whose appearance and figure were becoming increasingly mature, clearly radiating her unique charm under Ryuya's 'nurturing', took out her phone and showed Ryuya. She was referring to the frequent incidents happening in the city lately.
Things like the aquarium explosion, minor earthquakes in the park, the sudden blackout at the opera house causing temporary blindness for the entire audience, etc., all rather nonsensical events.
"Speaking of which, wasn't there a flying swan some time ago? I looked at the videos and pictures circulating online, and they didn't seem like they were edited."
Cutting the salmon, preparing the sauce, and then obediently placing it on Ryuya's plate… no one would have imagined that the young lady of the Shinomiya Conglomerate, Shinomiya Kaguya, would perform such a feminine, and moreover, servile gesture.
Completely different from the overbearing CEO she displayed at the company, Kaguya had specifically investigated those incidents… it seemed there were some supernatural forces involved, unlike false rumors.
"So that's how it is... Shinsengumi also has information regarding this aspect."
Shooting a brief glance at Kaguya's action of serving Ryuya, Souji didn't speak much, only knowing action.
Also preparing sashimi for Ryuya, her exquisite cheeks suddenly flushed red, as if remembering those times she became 'sushi' in front of Ryuya.
"Recent news... I haven't paid much attention."
Not yet fully recovered from the Date A Live World, thinking about Mio and the others crying their eyes out when they parted from him, as time passed, Ryuya could increasingly feel the responsibility and burden on his shoulders.
Feeling somewhat heavy-hearted, he suddenly felt a sweet, cloying fragrance fill his embrace.
"Snuggling with Papa~"
The one wearing a pure white dress, with golden hair and red eyes, the stunning princess was none other than the younger twin, Arcueid.
As the daughter of Ryuya and Crimson Moon, possessing absolute talent, although she usually appeared haughty and coldly elegant in front of outsiders and even Crimson Moon herself, she was forever the child who never grew up when by Ryuya's side.
Obediently snuggling against Ryuya, the girl's crystal-clear skin seemed to ripple, gradually spreading all over her body.
Nestled in Ryuya's arms, Arcueid felt as if she were floating… that resonance of bloodlines made her dizzy.
"Arcueid is cheating! Altrouge wants too!"
The black-haired girl's body leaned over, her also crimson eyes sparkling.
Her cheeks tinged with a slight blush, feeding a piece of fruit to Ryuya's mouth, Arcueid's sister, the other elder twin, Altrouge Brunestud, was feeling jealous and sour.
Ryuya very indulgently opened his mouth, chewing the fruit Altrouge offered.
"Hmm..."
Seeing Ryuya's happy expression, Arcueid let out a displeased, mocking sound, "Nee-san is too cunning! Papa is so mature, so great, how could he possibly need you to feed him?"
"Oh? Of course Papa is mature and great, so it's perfectly normal that he doesn't need me to feed him, right?" Catching Arcueid's attack and deftly responding to her younger sister, Altrouge continued, "However, this action of mine is love, it's my full affection for Papa. Can you understand it put that way, Arcueid?"
"Not listening, not listening."
"Foolish little sister, you still have much to learn."
As the cheerful voices of the Brunestud Sisters rang out, the night's activities had only just begun.
Late at night, after returning home from the Japanese restaurant and coaxing Arcueid and Altrouge to sleep, Ryuya began investigating real-world information.
Using Shinsengumi's resources through Souji, Clue, the Clock Tower's representative from Kaguya's infinite loop, and intel from Gojo's side, he roughly sorted out the recent paranormal incidents in the real world.
Aside from incidents caused by rogue mages and cursed objects, most of the events pointed towards another type of existence that Ryuya was familiar with, yet not entirely familiar with.
Its name was...
[Breaking News, Breaking News! Famous author Takatsuki Sen announces the official completion of her masterpiece, 'The Black Goat's Egg'! The pre-sale release event date has been set. Please get ready, dear readers, to welcome Takatsuki Sen-sama's new work!]