Ai: "Mommy?"

Ki: "…Aiko?"

Ai: "{yaaaawn} Is it time to go now?"

I couldn't believe it, Aiko was there standing in front of me alive and well after I thought she had disappeared forever. I was in such disbelief I couldn't help but reach out and cup her cheeks in my hand, they were soft and warm as they'd always been and her eyes were the same dull blue as Kyousuke's, my heart skipped a beat and I just lost it.

Ki: "AIKO!"

I quickly yanked her into a tight hug as I cried my heart out, my nose ran and I wailed loudly, Aiko just stood there confused and worried as she kept trying to ask me what was wrong.

"Kirino?!"

Just then my guardian angel ran out of the forest and turned to look at the current scene I was making.

"N-no way."

He was in just as much disbelief as I was, before he arrived I contemplated that maybe she was actually something I conjured but seeing his reaction confirmed that this was the real Aiko.

"I felt her disappear, she was gone from this existance and now she's back, this is truly…a miracle."

After a few minutes I finally calmed down and let Aiko go.

Ai: "Mommy are you okay, you cried a lot."

Ki: "Yeah I'm fine {sniff} adults just need to cry like that sometimes."

"Aiko, are you feeling okay?"

Ai: "Mhm, I feel great!"

"How did this happen? I was sure…"

Ki: "Kyousuke."

"Hm?"

Ki: "That idiot, I don't know how he did it but I felt him, he linked his mind to mine somehow and I was able to see everything, it all became clear."

"Let me see."

My angel touched my temples again for a few seconds then backed away.

"He did do it but where is he? This sort of thing can't be done over a distance, well relative to this space."

Ki: "Really? But I felt him like he was right here."

"This is…strange."

Kyousuke's POV

The moment after all of Kirino's and Aiko's memories ran through my mind Kirino had disappeared and I was back in the white void.

Ky: "Huh? …Kirino?!"

She wasn't anywhere to be seen but I had noticed that my body and lost memories were restored.

Ky: "What the heck just happened?"

He: "{Bong~} Beyond God and beyond life I reach out to my world and into her eyes I show the truth fully unfurled."

"Hi grandpa."

Ky: "Eh?"

I turned around to see Herald and a little girl in a red dress, she looked about ten years old, had long and wavy dark red hair, a different shade from her dress and had brown eyes.

Ky: "Herald? Who's she?"

"Who am I? Shouldn't me calling you grandpa be enough evidence?"

He: "We crossed paths and I helped guide her."

"Still wondering how the heck that happened."

I walked up to Herald and began to touch his face, shoulders and arm which he hardly had any reaction to, then I kneeled down and got up close to the girl's face causing her to reel back a bit, then I proceeded to feel her cheeks which seemed to tick her off.

Ky: "You…really are real."

"{Chop!} Don't just go touching me like that, stupid grandpa!"

Ky: "Agh! Ow! But wait wouldn't that mean she's from the future, how?"

He: "Well that's because you're currently drifting outside of time and space, the space beyond God's realm, outside of even the multiverse, making it accessible from all points in time simultaneously, don't know how in Heaven you got here."

Ky: "If that's true then how was the Devil here?"

"Oh yeah that, for that small amount of time you were within range but after Kami saved you, you wandered away and got lost so I had to go looking all over for you."

Ky: "Really? All this time?"

"It's only been a few minutes for me, though in this timeless oblivion in I can't imagine how long it's been for you."

Ky: "But then isn't this place dangerous for you two, there's no way out, believe me I've tried everything."

"Yeah but luckily for us I've got a little help."

Ky: "From who?"

"Kami."

Ky: "…Eh?"

"Well yeah, who do you think brought me here? Given my amazing talents and my strong familial connection to you, Kami thought it best to seek my assistance in looking for you here since he himself can't leave his domain. Though he was able to maintain a tether between me and him so I wouldn't get lost and once I found you I could use it to reel you back in."

Ky: "So I can go back home?"

He: "Yes, though once we cross the boundary you'll be returned to your respective time periods, so if there's anything you want to ask now's the time."

"BTW no spoilers."

Ky: "Well you being here in the first place is kind of a spoiler."

"Don't try to contradict me, stupid grandpa!"

Ky: "Well first of all, what are you doing in here Herald."

He: "Let us just say it was a gut feeling which proved to be right as I was able to help this terrified young lady find her way through here."

"I wasn't scared! …A lot."

Ky: "Hehehe…I really get to go back home? Is it still even the same anymore?"

He: "Like I said, time here doesn't exist, any time flow you experience here was all in your imagination which in this place you'll experience it as if it were real. Once you cross the boundary you'll be returned to the very moment you entered this place."

Ky: "Jeez when did this story get so convoluted?"

"I don't know, anyway just take my hand and I'll take you back."

Ky: "Okay, um…"

"Hm?"

Just as I reached my hand for hers I stopped.

Ky: "You think you could tell me your name?"

"Nope, that count's as a spoiler."

Ky: "I see."

I reached towards her again but went past her hand and instead patted her head.

"Eh?"

Ky: "You're really cute you know that? You remind me a lot of Kirino when she was young, I can't wait to meet you when you're born."

"{blush} W-whatever, let's just go already."

She smacked my hand from her head and quickly gripped it in hers.

"Okay, I got him, you can pull me back!"

Ky: "Wait, Herald! Why aren't you grabbing on?"

He: "Don't worry, I'm very…familiar with this place, I can find my own way out, now, go on and never let go of life."

At first nothing happened but then I noticed our surroundings begin to change, the white void and Herald with it slowly faded away and, in its place, faded in blue skies and white clouds and a progressively increasing wind started to blow.

"Grandpa?"

I looked to my granddaughter and saw that she too was fading away.

"…Thanks…for saving mom."

{Whoosh!)

With that she disappeared and the wind drastically picked up, it was then that I noticed that I wasn't standing on solid ground and I looked down to see that I was actually thousands of feet in the air.

Oh, I'm falling…huh.

After a trillion years trapped in an empty void living out thousands of imaginary lives I sort of forgot to be scared of this. Though honestly the feeling of the wind in my hair and an actual sun bathing me in its warm light was so good it was like I was feeling it for the very first time.

Ky: "Ha, haha, hahahahaha!"

Like a maniac I began to laugh at the wonderful feeling of finally being out of that horrible void after so long, of being like I was alive again. I laughed all the way down until I broke through the trees below.

{Crash!}

Ky: "Augh!"

{Crack!}

Ky: "Gah!"

{Crackle!}

Ky: "Shit!"

{Slam!}

Ky: "Oof!"

After finally impacting the ground I began to roll uncontrollably downhill until I fell off a short cliff into a shallow river.

{Splash!}

I felt no pain so I was able to pick myself up easily though I was still soaking wet.

Ky: "Guess I am still in the Spirit World."

At the time I didn't think to link to anyone since I haven't done it since entering the void so I just exited the river. My surroundings consisted of a pine forest, I could see snow-capped mountains off in the distance and the calming sound of a river trickling put me at peace. Though while I knew I was still in the spirit world, this place felt different, it felt more real. The river was wide but shallow enough to walk through and in it I could see lots of good sized fish, on the side I was standing on was a beach of pebbles and beyond that was a massive field of scatter patches of wildflowers and berry bushes and just a hundred feet into the field I saw a large cozy looking cabin.

"Well hey there."

I turned to see an old man that looked to be in his sixties or seventies sitting on a stool at the edge of the river with fishing rod already cast.

"Looks like you could use a towel."

Before I could respond he reeled his line in and started walking to the cabin.

Ky: "Hey? Who are you?"

He didn't respond and continued into the cabin, leaving the door open for me to follow behind. As soon as I entered, he tossed me a towel and sat in a chair in front of a lit fire place.

"Okay I'll just skip the BS here and tell you, I am God."

Ky: "Well I assumed that given how cryptic you were being earlier and on TV you do usually present yourself as an elderly person to telegraph how wise you are."

"Hahaha guess you all have me figured out, anyway there's a reason I've brought you here."

Ky: "Okay."

"You are no longer compatible with your body."

Ky: "What do you mean?"

"The things you've seen, the things you've done since you got separated from your grandmother were never supposed to be experienced by a living soul as once you reenter your body that knowledge will cause your physical mind to break down completely, making you go mad."

Ky: "So…I can't go back home?"

"There is a way but it will require a great sacrifice."

Ky: "What?"

"All your memories of everything beyond the spirit world will be cut."

Ky: "Hm, that doesn't sound so bad but as always I'm sure it's worse than I think."

"Your instincts are on the mark, this isn't a cut and dry process, I'm essentially separating your soul into two independent entities, one that only remembers everything before you got lost and one that only remembers everything after including this current exchange."

Ky: "So technically, the current me is the one that can't go back and a copy will get to go back and live happy for the rest of his days."

"It won't just be a copy, it is a literal part of you, the you from before all this mess…from before all that suffering you went through, besides this won't be permanent."

Ky: "Huh?"

"I can't tell you when but eventually you will become whole again and you will see your family again but for right now, while you're still connected to the physical world, this is something you must do."

Ky: "…I see, even with your power nothing is ever easy, there's always a complication that has to get in the way."

"Unfortunately, inanimate matter and the simpler thinking lifeforms are one thing but the human soul isn't something I can play around with so freely, those limitations can be frustrating for me at times and so many of you doubt my very existence, making it even harder for me to do anything but don't worry, you won't be alone, not this time, I'll be here to help you the whole way through."

Ky: "Really?"

"You're one of my children after all and you aren't the only one I'm currently aiding, so long as you allow me, I'll take any chance I can to help."

Ky: "…Thanks but I'm still wondering, why help me? I laid with my own sister, heck I impregnated her, aren't I a sinner to you?"

"True sin lies within your intentions as well as your actions. Normally I would view your actions as an affront to my ideals, to lie with your blood sibling is an act of perversion that typically only spawns from a corrupted mind. I make these rules not to rule over you but to lead you to the path of true happiness, like any parent would want…but I'm not entirely unreasonable. You have shown to me that you are not a man of sin, you and your sister share a pure love, one more pure than any in recent memory in a world gradually pulling itself away from my grace. I've made exceptions before and in this case I think it only right to make another, the way I see it, your happiness truly lies with her as hers lies with you, you are, for lack of a better word…soulmates, as silly as that sounds."

Ky: "If that's the case, couldn't you have done something to make it so we weren't born siblings?"

"You children really overestimate my abilities, I can't see the future, only the most likely outcomes, I do my best to guide those who accept me into their hearts but what they choose to do in the end is outside of my control. Your most likely future before everything with your sister was to marry Manami Tamura and live a normal life, second was Ruri Goku, your current outcome was only the fifth most likely."

Ky: "So there's no such thing as fate and me ending up with Kirino was more or less a fluke?"

"If that wasn't the case then free will isn't exactly "free will" now is it? You chose this path out of the many you were blatantly offered before."

Ky: "Guess you have a point there."

"So know that I haven't forsaken you even if you had forsaken me once before."

Ky: "Yeah, I'm really sorry about that."

"So long as you know your mistake. For now at least and so long as you continue to follow the path of purity, you and Kirino have my blessing to continue as you are. Also about that man you killed, given his actions against you and many of my other children, I'm willing to sweep that under the rug."

Ky: "Uh, thanks."

After that Kami gave me some time to mentally prepare for the final act, fortunately like the void space, Kami's dimension sat outside of time so I could take as long as I needed. After a couple of days of contemplation and conversing with Kami (story for another time) I finally told him I was ready and we went on a several mile hike, like I haven't already done enough walking. The hike led to a stone cave near the top of a snowy peak where against the right wall sat large flat stone with a chess board on top.

Ky: "What's this? Your secret getaway?"

"Of sorts."

Ky: "Why here?"

"We need a place you won't recognize, also you might want to acquire a change of clothes."

Ky: "So the other me won't freak out when he sees another Kyousuke?"

"Exactly but know one thing, though you two will have different sets of memories certain ones will continue to exist subconsciously in both of you, like scars."

Ky: "Yeah, I figured."

So I did as he asked and after some contemplation I decided to go with Herald's costume, pretty hard to forget that.

"Now simply lie on the ground and I'll do the rest."

I did so and after placing his pointer fingers on my head I immediately blacked out.

Kyousuke's POV

After somehow falling asleep at that campfire I went through a mess of dreams full of shapes and images that were impossible to recognize, it felt like an eternity passed within that sleep before I woke up dazed and only half conscious in a cave.

Ky: "Where am I?"

"Two halves of the same whole, one to play the hero's role, the other to remain a broken soul, though I may lament my unfortunate fate, I accept the time that I must wait."

Still lying flat on the ground I looked to the right wall of the cave where a torch was lit to see a man sitting on a large rock. Though my vision was a little out of focus I could see he was dressed head to toe in a surreal, almost creepy looking ritual costume from an unknown culture and in his hands he carried a small drum which he pounded on periodically and in the eyes of his mask were tinted, round, glass goggles that made him look a little like a robot.

Ky: "Am…Am I in hell?"

"{bong~}…No."

Ky: "Oh thank god."

"You best not forget that."

Ky: "Than where am I? Who are you?"

"You may call me Herald, this is a trial, one set up by your own subconscious to test whether you are worthy of saving Kirino and Aiko."

Ky: "What do I have to do?"

The man then pointed deeper into the cave.

He: "Go there, continue on until you reach the very end and the go beyond."

Ky: "I see…"

I was too out of sorts to think of linking with anyone to leave or just waking up but I still felt like it wouldn't work anyhow. As I got to my feet Herald then grabbed the torch off the wall and handed it to me.

He: "Go now, prove yourself worthy."

Ky: "R…right."

So I began to sleepily stumble deeper into the cave, after a couple of hours of zoning in and out I reached the back.

Ky: "Dead end, didn't see any other paths on my way."

At that moment something in my mind told me to…dig? So I shoved my hand into the earthen wall in front of me and it gave way easily, so I began my work, I don't know how much time passed or how far I had dug, possibly days, possibly miles. The only thing that kept pushing me forward was the desire to see Kirino again and save Aiko, so I kept moving though as I did the dirt began to increase in dampness, eventually it got so wet that I was just swimming through mud and I couldn't breathe anymore, I forgot that I didn't need to breath so panicked and frantically moved forward until I finally broke out into open water.

Ky: "Glargh!"

I looked up to see dim sunlight breaching down from the surface about fifty feet up. On the verge of "drowning" I swam for my life but before I could reach the surface my lungs gave way, I inhaled a ton of water and I blacked out.

…

{Pr-r-r-riiisssssssssssh! Pr-r-r-riiisssssssssh!}

"Kyou-sukeeee! Kyou-sukeeee!"

Ky: "Hm?"

I woke up to the sound of crashing waves and someone calling my name, it sounded like grandma, well the younger version.

Yor: "Ah, there you are!"

Ky: "Agh, What the hell just happened? I feel like I was on acid."

Yor: "You took acid before?"

Ky: "Not going to talk about that."

Yor: "Well you just wandered off and I've been looking for you for the past five minutes, what the hell?"

Ky: "Five minutes? You sure it wasn't…longer?"

Yor: "Pretty sure."

Ky: "Weird."

Yor: "So, you ready to get back on the road?"

Ky: "Yeah just give me a minute to get my head together."

I got up and wandered over to sit up against some tall reeds.

Yoriko's POV

While Kyousuke walked over to sit down, I looked out over to the ocean.

Yor: "…So how long was it."

"Approximately one trillion years."

Yor: "I see, so he had to…"

"Yes, he'll watch over the other one until they can become one again while I continue my duties with this one, I just wish I could've done something useful before I lost him. But like this he'll be able to continue his life as well as continue sustaining Aiko's and thanks to his efforts all wrongs have been righted and God granted his blessing to their union though I just wish the cost of such a feat wasn't so…tragic."

Yor: "Hah, thank you, all of you, for doing what you could."

"Your welcome, may God bless your continued fortune."

Yor: "Hey Kyousuke let's go! Time's a wasting!"

Ky: "Yeah, yeah I'm getting up."

Kyousuke's POV (Alternate)

After the other guy left into the cave I removed my mask.

Ky: "So this is my life now is it?"

"It won't be so bad, you'll be able to see all events in your life in real time whenever you wish and there are others here you can talk to."

Ky: "That's good news, at least I won't be left out of the loop."

"And in the mean time, how about a game of chess "Herald"?"

Kami sat on the other side of the stone from me that the board was sitting on and began to set up the pieces.

Ky: "I have no idea how to play but I guess I can learn, got all of eternity after all."

"Don't worry, so long as you keep your faith in me, you'll be together again in no time."

Ky: "Yeah, it'd also be good to work on my poetry."

"Hm, didn't take you for a poet."

Ky: "Me neither, maybe it's a secret passion I don't remember."

"Well anyhow let's start the first lesson."

Well, Kirino, Aiko, I'll see you again someday, until then I'll be watching over you from Heaven, I love you both, goodbye.

Kyousuke's POV

Yor: "So you feel like you can keep going?"

Ky: "…I don't know, we've already been at this for a year."

Grandma came up to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

Yor: "Come on dear, just a little more, I know you can do this."

Ky: "…Okay."

So I closed eyes and concentrated on creating Kirino's path but then-

Ki: "Kyousuke?"

Kirino's POV

"So, the spell over you has been broken has it?"

Ki: "Yeah but not only that, I know of all of Ayase's wrongdoings, whatever Kyousuke did it gave me access his memories of Ayase as well as information I've received while I was unconscious."

"Unconscious?"

Ki: "You didn't know? Even when asleep or otherwise unconscious all your senses continue to function and receive information which are stored as low priority memories."

"I, uh, honestly didn't know that."

Li: "Aren't you supposed to be the divine one here?"

"We'll I'm not all-knowing!"

Ki: "Anyway, I remember everything Ayase said to me while she had me…ahem, under her control…I even remember when she told me to get rid of my baby."

"Yes, I overheard that, I'm glad your will was strong enough to at least resist her in that instance."

Li: "Hm, well that's at least one less unfortunate child to left at my doorstep."

Ki: "So as soon as I wake up, I'm going to make sure she's gets what she deserves, after seeing what I've seen and knowing what she's done, all the feelings I've had for her are now replaced with hatred."

Li: "And I assume heartbreak as well."

Ki: "…"

"Understandable but remember not to let hate rule your heart, give her, her due punishment and leave it at that."

Ki: "Yeah, now as for Kyousuke."

"Yes I'm curious of what's transpired for him to be able to bind his heart to yours like that from who knows where, I've recently come into contact with his guardian angel and it seems information based on that is currently classified."

Ki: "Really? Why's that?"

"I'm not allowed to say but know Kyousuke is fine now though it would be best to not mention your experience with him earlier as he won't have any memory of it."

Ki: "He won't? What the heck happened with him?"

"Like I said, I'm not allowed to say."

Ki: "Jeez, whatever that idiot got himself into must've been intense."

"Well now that this has all been resolved I should take my leave."

Ki: "I see, so this'll be the last time I see you?"

"No, when your time comes I will be there to greet you but this will be goodbye for now though it's not like I'll be going anywhere, I'll still be there watching over you and Aiko."

With that my guardian angel disappeared.

Ki: "Haah, jeez I barely knew the guy but I kind of already miss him."

Li: "He is your guardian angel, so I take it you'll be taking your leave as well?"

Ki: "Yeah, I need to talk to Kyousuke as soon as possible about what we're going to do next, I may have my will back but Ayase is still a threat given what she knows."

Li: "Hmph, if it's not one thing it's something else, I wish you luck in concluding your ordeal."

Ki: "Thanks, now then I'll just wake up and go to hi-…Kyousuke?"

The moment I stood up there he was.

Ky: "…"

Li: "…"

Ki: "…"

Yor: "…Holy shit."

Ai: "Daddy!"

Just then Aiko ran up and gripped Kyousuke's leg in a tight hug.

Ky: "Aiko, uh, Kirino I…"

Before he could think of what to say next I walked up to him and gave him a hug as well with a few tears dripping down.

Ky: "K-Kirino?"

Ki: "Thank you my darling."

Ky: "Eh? What do you mean? W-What's going on?"

Ki: "Shut up, idiot."

After a few seconds he hugged me back, at first it was light and timid then it grew tighter and more desperate, I could feel his body start to shake, heard him begin to sniffle and he began a saddening mixture of light crying and laughing.

Ky: "Hahaha {sniff} before I came here you genuinely wanted me to drop dead, now after a year of looking for you-"

Ki: "W-Wait, you've been here for a whole year?!"

Ky: "Heh yeah and as soon as I find you, you're hugging me and calling me darling again? Heheh what the hell is the matter with you? Did the plot convenience finally kick in or something?"

Ki: "I don't really know what happened, for a moment I was able to see everything in your head, see all the pain you were going through then everything was clear again."

Ky: "{sniff} Guess we can just chalk it up to this world's weird mechanics…I love you Kirino."

Ki: "I love you too Kyousuke."

Ai: "And I love my mommy and daddy!"

Ky: "Heh come here {hug} it's so good to see my little girl again."

Ai: "Haha."

Yor: "So Kirino? Looks like you finally got your head back."

Ki: "Uh, who are you?"

Yor: "I'm your grandma you dufus, I just decided to alter my appearance a little since we're in this place."

Ki: "Sure, "a little", but yeah, looking back on everything, it feels like my thoughts were definitely mine but I still feel like I was just listening to someone else."

Yor: "Well that's how advanced hypnosis works."

Ki: "Oh god I don't want to think about that, seriously a hypnosis plot point? That's so stupid."

Yor: "That's just what they want you to think, just like with the Men in Black and secret moon bases, they used popular media to trivialize the whole subject so any mention of it seems ridiculous when it's actually a very serious matter but anyway now that you're back to normal, what comes next?"

Ki: "Well I still have to figure out a plan to take care of Ayase and given everything Kyousuke's gone through-"

Yor: "You don't even know the half of it."

Ki: "I think it's best to give him a few minutes."

Yor: "Agreed."

…

Ky: "Haah I feel like the weight of the entire universe is off my back."

Ai: "Daddy you can lift the whole universe?!"

Ky: "Yes but I could only do it once so I can't show you."

Ai: "Aw~"

Ki: "So Mr. Onustus, once I wake up Aiko will be fine now right?"

Li: "Absolutely, as if she was never sick in the first place."

Ki: "Okay, good, so Kyousuke you ready?"

Ky: "To what?"

Ki: "To leave you dummy."

Ky: "Oh yeah, the real world, been here so long I almost forgot I was even asleep."

Ki: "Yeah but now it's time to go home."

Ky: "Home? Like home, home? That house we stayed in when I came back to Chiba?"

Ki: "Yeah, where Tomoko and Rascal are still waiting and where we'll raise our new baby."

Ky: "Oh yeah, you're pregnant, heheh, can't believe I forgot about that, going back to reality is going to be a bit of an adjustment after all this."

Ki: "Well you have me to help you out."

Ai: "I can help too daddy!"

Yor: "Don't worry once you get back to your body all your most recent memories of the living world will be given priority."

I grabbed Kyousuke's hand with both of mine and looked him in the eye with the most genuine expression of love.

Ki: "So let's go back home."

Ky: "…Yeah."

So with that he disappeared, signaling his waking.

Yor: "Guess I'll go too, see you back home Kirino."

Ki: "Right."

Ki: "Thank you Mr. Onustus for watching out for Aiko."

Li: "No need, this is my livelihood and if you want, maybe one of these days you can come back and help out some of these children."

Ki: "I will, so goodbye for now."

Ai: "Goodbye Mr. Onustus."

Li: "Hm, goodbye."

At that everything faded to black.

5/9/25

I opened my eyes to see I was once again or still am in the hospital waiting room.

Did all of that really happen?

"Oh you're awake."

I looked to my right to see a nurse sitting a few seats away.

Ki: "Is everything okay? Is my daughter…"

"That's what I've been waiting here for, your daughter is going to be okay."

Ki: "Really?"

"Yes, all the doctors are pretty baffled, ten minutes ago at about 8:22 am she just woke up perfectly healthy as if nothing happened. She's being examined right now but all in all but after initial inspection, the doctors saw nothing wrong, if you want you can go see her right now before they send her through the scanner."

Ki: "Okay thank you."

I got up from my seat and quickly headed over to Aiko's room and opened the door to see Aiko sitting on the bed with the plastic tent opened up and surrounded by a few doctors.

Ki: "It actually worked."

Ai: "Hi mommy!"

"Hello there Ms. Kousaka, sorry we didn't wake you earlier."

Ki: "Aiko…how are feeling?"

Ai: "I'm hungry, can we get pancakes?"

Ki: "Hmhm as soon as the doctors are finished I'll make you as many as you want {hug} oh, I'm so happy you're okay!"

"Excuse me Ms. Kousaka but may I have a word with you out in the hall?"

Ki: "Uh sure, be back in a bit sweety {kiss}."

Ai: "Okay."

So I followed the doctor back out the door.

Ki: "Is something wrong? Did something else turn up?!"

"No, exact opposite in fact, we don't know what the heck happened. We backtracked her diagnostics, for most of the night there wasn't any change from her previous state but then at around 6 am her health drastically improved out of nowhere and continued until she stabilized and woke up."

Ki: "Really?"

"We…have no explanation for any of this, she becomes terminally ill for no scientifically discernable reason then as if by some miracle she fully recovers with no external aids aside from some antibiotics and life support."

Ki: "I see."

"I hope you can forgive us for our lack of expertise but we've never encountered something like this, we'll have to report this to higher authorities but don't worry we'll make sure it won't have any significant effect on your lives."

Ki: "Good, wouldn't want a lawsuit on our hands."

"Dually noted, haah, anyway we'll send her through the scanner and run a few tests, if we don't find anything she can be discharged and you can go on home though I ask that you bring her back for regular check-ups in case more clues of her condition turn up."

Ki: "Yeah I will."

After doing their examinations the doctors gave us the all clear and I updated everyone on Aiko's fortunate turn and mom decided to make a video call while we were down at the reception area.

Yo: |Oh my goodness! This is so good to hear!|

Ki: "Okay mom there's no need to scream."

Ai: "Hi grandma!"

Yo: |Hi there sweety! Are you feeling all better?~|

Ai: "Yup."

Yo: |I'm so happy to hear that, oh, hurry up and come over Kirino I need to see my granddaughter in person.|

Ki: "Yeah I'm coming right over, um, hey have you heard anything from Kyousuke?"

Yo: |No, did something happen with you two again?|

Ki: "No just…nevermind, bye mom."

Ai: "Bye grandma!"

Yo: |Bye my little Aiko~ I'll see you when you get here~|

I hung up and typed in Kyousuke's number from memory since I deleted him from my contacts and momentarily hung my thumb over the call button before finally pressing it.

Ki: "Aiko stay here and look at this magazine, I'll be over here."

Ai: "Okay."

As the dial tone sounded I walked over to the window facing the parking lot.

Ky: |Hello?|

Ki: "H-Hey."

Ky: |…|

Ki: "…"

Ky: |…Heh so did all of that really happen?|

Ki: "Well Aiko is sitting here with me perfectly healthy after being on the brink of death if that's any proof of what happened."

Ky: |Really? Wow.|

Ki: "There's also the fact that I'm talking to you right now without cursing your name or telling you to drop dead."

Ky: |Haha you have a point there, before I woke up I thought it would be hard to get back into reality but now, that whole trip just feels like a distant memory.|

Ki: "Same here, it almost feels like it was all…just a dream."

Yor: |Well technically it was.|

Ki: "Grandma?"

Ky: |Yeah, forgot to tell you grandma came over right after we woke up.|

Yor: |Yes it all does seem unreal now, that's simply how it works when you come back from the Spirit World and I'm sure Aiko remembers it the same way. Your physical mind isn't fully capable of comprehending most memories of that place so categorizes them as metaphysical memories like with dreams and imagination rather than as real world memories and by consequence doesn't give them as much priority.|

Ky: |Whoa.|

Ki: "Haah this reality is a bit too much sometimes."

Yor: |It's best not to dwell on it, you two have lives to live in this world, don't waste it questioning the paranormal, the time for that will come later.|

Ki: "Yeah, you're right, so Kyousuke, I'm heading over to mom and dad's house, think you can meet me there?"

Ky: |I don't know, if I do you won't just say you changed your mind and chase me off again will you?|

Ki: "Oh shut up idiot."

Ky: |Hahaha, alright, I'll see you there…I love you.|

Ki: "I love you too idiot."

Kyousuke's POV

With that I hung up.

Ky: "…It actually worked."

Yor: "Yeah, I was actually having doubts myself but we pulled it off."

Ky: "…Grandma, are you sure we were only in there for a year?"

Yor: "Yeah, why?"

Ky: "It feels like I was in there for so much longer, even after being back here, it feels like I was whole worlds away from everything, that I was lost for a really long time."

Yor: "That's just how any person would feel like in your situation, your partner pushes you away and keeps your child from you, you feel like everyone is turning away from you and like you've lost everything and can't help but feel unconscious to the world around you. Now that you're moving on from this ordeal you gain a better perspective of it and it feels like you've come back home from a long and painful journey especially given what we just went through to fix all this."

Ky: "Yeah…well we better get going."

Yor: "Right behind you."

Ky: "You know it's still kind of jarring seeing you this old again after spending a year looking at your younger form."

Yor: "Hahaha, shut the hell up before I smack your face purple."

Ky: "Sorry."

We hopped into my car and headed over to my parent's house where Kirino's car was already parked.

Yor: "So you ready?"

Ky: "Is there really any point in asking that question when you know the answer's almost always going to be "no"?"

Yor: "Just trying to be supportive."

Ky: "Haah…okay let's go."

So grandma and I got out of the car and walked up to the door.

{Ding! Dong!}

Ky: "…"

Yor: "…"

After a minute we heard footsteps coming and the door clicked open revealing Kirino.

Ky: "…U-Uh…"

Instead of speaking she wrapped her arms around me in a loving hug and after a moment of hesitation I returned it in kind.

Ki: "I'm sorry…for being stupid."

Ky: "It's okay, I act stupid all the time, so we'll call it even."

Ki: "Thanks, haah, feels good to be close like this again."

Ky: "Yeah, can't tell you how much I missed this."

Ki: "Hmmm…well best not keep everyone waiting, let's go."

With her holding my hand Kirino led me and grandma to the living room where mom was cooking breakfast and dad and Aiko were talking about something.

Yo: "K-Kyousuke?"

Dai: "Hm? What's going on?"

Ai: "Daddy!"

Aiko quickly got up and ran to Kyousuke, grasping his leg in a tight hug.

Ai: "I missed you daddy."

Ky: "I missed you too sweetheart {hug} I missed you so much."

I faced my parents with a serious look and they took attention.

Ki: "Haah, after giving it a lot of thought and giving a secondary review of the evidence presented to me, I've decided to take Kyousuke's side on this whole thing."

Yo: "You do? But-"

Ki: "I know this seems a bit abrupt but let's just say I went through a sort of "spiritual" journey and had an epiphany. I've come to realize that maybe I did let my emotions get the best of me the past several weeks, I wasn't able to see clearly and I made Kyousuke and Aiko suffer a lot because of it."

Yo: "…I see, then."

Dai: "I hope that you do your best to make amends for how you acted."

Ki: "I fully intend to."

Dai: "Good then."

Yor: "Haah, that went well, Yoshino dear are you almost done with breakfast."

Yo: "Oh just about, everyone take your seats, Kyousuke there's an extra seat in the hallway closet, can you go get it?"

Ky: "Sure."

Ai: "Daddy, can I sit on your lap?"

Ky: "Of course honey."

So I grabbed the chair and we all sat down for a family breakfast.

Ky: "Man I almost forgot how hungry I was, this looks delicious mom."

Yo: "Thank you."

Ki: "Oh since the whole family is here I think now is best to make this announcement."

Yo: "Hm?"

Dai: "Hm?"

Ky&Yor: "Oh no."

Ai: "Nom~"

Ki: "I'm pregnant~"

After giving them a few moments to process the information Kirino explained everything to them confirming that it was indeed my child and even having to remind mom about how babies were made while I held Aiko's ears.

Yo: "I swear it's like you two are trying to kill us with all this stress you're putting us through."

Dai: "You crazy kids are going to get yourselves in serious trouble one of these days."

Yor: "Have to agree with Daisuke here but I still can't help but find it beautiful in a strange sort of way."

Ky: "Well nothing we can do about it now, might as well look forward to your next grandchild."

Ai: "I can't wait to meet my baby brother."

Yo: "Hopefully this one doesn't have the same paranormal affliction Aiko has, I'd rather not have its first sentence being a prediction of my death."

Ki: "Oh mom don't be silly."

After we finished with breakfast Kirino decided to head out but without Aiko.

Yo: "But Aiko just got out of the hospital."

Ki: "I'm just going to check on Tomoko and Rascal, fortunately Jiro and Ichiro have been watching them but he told me something has been going on with Tomo so I'm going to over to see, if nothing's wrong I'll be right back, Kyousuke come on."

Ky: "Me? Why do I have to come?"

Ki: "Cause I don't feel like driving, now come."

Ky: "Alright, alright."

Ki: "Behave while I'm gone, okay?"

Ai: "Okay mommy."

So Kirino and I headed out to my car.

Ki: "Sure is getting warm out."

Ky: "Yeah Summer is just around the corner."

Ki: "Hopefully it won't be too hot for our wedding."

At hearing that I immediately stopped in my tracks and looked at her as she continued to my car.

Ky: "…Wedding?"

Ki: "Well yeah, now that my head's finally clear it makes sense to get it back on track and if we do things right we may even be able to schedule it sometime before the Summer festival, though if we do that rather than wait for later I'm going to need get a special dress for my stomach."

Without acknowledging me she got into the car while continuing her train of thought, I quickly got myself together and rush over to the driver's seat. As I drove Kirino was talking to the other girls on her phone and I could hear they were planning a small party for Aiko for her "miraculous" recovery.

Ki: "Haah it's good to be back home."

Ky: "Yeah feels like it's been forever."

Kirino trotted inside and the moment she opened the door Tomoko was already jumping out from the other side jumping up at her and licking her hands.

Ky: "So much for feeling ill, she looks more energetic than the last time I saw her."

Ki: "Haha alight, down girl."

Tomoko quickly calmed down and we walked inside where I could see Rascal reclined on the couch with a bag of grapes.

How'd he open the fridge?

Even if it's only been about six weeks, being home again was…an intense feeling.

Ky: "…"

Ki: "Kyousuke? You okay?"

Ky: "I'm fine…just wondering if I'm still dreaming."

Ki: "Pff, that sure is a corny line but I get it, I really put you through a lot didn't I?"

Ky: "And then some, it just feels weird being back here after thinking I'd never see this place again."

Ki: "Well I'll just need to make up for that won't I?"

Kirino walked up to me and grabbed my hand before she began to forcefully drag me upstairs and into her room.

Ky: "Uh, Kirino?"

After we entered she pulled me on top of her as she gently fell onto the bed backward, luckily I was smart enough to catch myself before I headbutted her.

Ky: "K-Kirino?"

Ki: "{blush} Hmhm, well? Aren't you going to start.''

Instead of accepting her invitation I just rolled over onto the other side of he bed and Kirino looked at me worriedly.

Ki: "Is something wrong?"

Ky: "Sorry, just not really not in the mood right now."

Ki: "I see…then can you at least hold me?"

Ky: "Hm? Uh, sure."

I scooted back over to her and began to spoon her, she then grabbed my hand and placed it onto her stomach which surprised me a little.

Ki: "You feel that?"

Ky: "…"

Ki: "You've been through a lot, way more than anyone should go through and regrettably I was forced to be the one to put you through it, I'm sorry."

Ky: "It's okay."

She began to rub my hand against her stomach.

Ki: "After all the pain you experienced, I'm sure things feel a bit surreal now, like this is all just a dream, so {rub} let this be your anchor to this reality, to let you know that everything is okay now."

I laid there as I quietly shed a few tears at her words, I continued to hold her as I quickly fell asleep.

…

"Papa?"

I woke up facing a cloudy autumn sky.

Ky: "Huh?"

I then noticed that I was sitting I a wooden boat floating on an alpine lake, the water was completely still aside from some calm ripples from the boat and it reflected the sky and pine trees like a mirror.

"Papa?"

I looked to the other end of the boat so see a little boy about Aiko's age wearing a thick jacket and holding a fishing pole with the line already cast.

Ky: "…"

He looked just like that portrait that Aiko drew, fashionably messy, pitch black hair and vibrant blue eyes that looked just like Kirino's. As I sat there staring at him he began to smile at me and I could see that he was missing a tooth.

"Everything…is okay now papa."

…

Ky: "Huh?"

I woke up back in Kirino's bed, I looked to see her asleep next to me though she woke up seconds after I did and with a smile she embraced me.

Ki: "You know, I lied about Tomoko being sick."

Ky: "Eh?"

Ki: "Well how else was I going to get you here alone?"

She then proceeded to straddle me before removing her top, revealing her enlarged breasts and slightly distended belly.

Ki: "So you ready now?"

I never really had a fetish for pregnant women but I have to admit, I've never seen Kirino look so…sexy and for any straight man reading this, there's no other experience in the universe like making love to your pregnant soul mate.

10 Minutes later

Ki: "Haah, holy crap that was amazing!~ Haah, after a six week dry spell, haah, that felt like Heaven~"

Ky: "Must you ruin the atmosphere with such vulgar speech? But yeah that was pretty awesome, even if it was rather brief."

Ki: "Haaaah, now time to face reality again."

Ky: "Hm?"

Ki: "Let's talk about what we're going to do about Ayase."

Ky: "Yeah, she still knows about us and isn't afraid to report us to the authorities and send us both to prison."

Ki: "Out of the frying pan and into the fire as they say."

Ky: "Well it's a good thing I already have a plan for that."

Ki: "You do?"

Ky: "Yeah."

So I told Kirino about my plan and after another nice quickie we headed back to our parent's house. Later that day we threw the party for Aiko with everyone in attendance so we had hide the fact of our reconciliation and Yukio especially seemed happy that she was okay.

Kirino' POV 5/10/25

Ky: "So you ready?"

Ki: "Yeah."

After completing the first part of his plan Kyousuke and I proceeded the next one, talk with Ayase.

{Knock, knock}

Ayase silently opened the door and grimaced at seeing Kyousuke but opened the door wider to let us in, we entered and sat on her couch while she sat in her recliner.

Ay: "So Kirino what did you want to talk about that involves…him?"

Ki: "Ayase…I want you to leave."

Ay: "…What?"

Ki: "I know what you did to me and what you tried to make me do."

Ay: "But how?"

Ki: "That doesn't matter, what matters now is that I know and I never want to see you again."

Ay: "…Are you serious?"

Ki: "More than serious, especially after what I found out recently."

Ay: "What?"

Ki: "Those drugs you gave me weren't normal, the sale of them is highly illegal in every country, in fact the very existence of them is completely unknown outside the government and certain black markets. The main reason behind it's suppression being its ability to make anyone who takes it extremely…suggestible beyond their control especially when combined special imagery and…it can also cause harm to unborn children."

Ay: "…"

Ki: "You made me emotionally abuse Kyousuke and Aiko and hurt my child then tried to make me kill it, that is beyond unforgivable, so I want you to leave Chiba and stay away from me and my family for the rest of your days."

Ay: "How…how CAN YOU SAY THAT?! I did what I did in order to save you, the relationship you had with them was entirely toxic, if you continue down this path your life would definitely be ruined and that abomination-"

{SLAP!}

Ki: "YOU SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH YOU PSYCH-O-PATH-IC BITCH!"

Ay: "…"

Ky: "Whoa."

At hearing that I couldn't help but snap and it felt good as I stood there out of breath and my hand stinging while everyone sat in shocked silence.

Ki: "Think what you want but this is what I choose to do with my life and if in the end it turns out to be wrong then so be it, this is where I found my happiness and this child you call an abomination is a result of that happiness."

Ay: "I see, if that's the case then I'll just-"

Ky: "Before you finish that sentence, I think it's about time I chime in."

Ay: "What are you talking about?"

Ky: "You may think you have leverage against us but we have something even worse against you."

Kyousuke then pulled out a ziplock bag from his pocket and inside was an orange medicine bottle with a couple of powder pills inside.

Ay: "H-How did you get that?!"

Ky: "Broke into your house yesterday during the party, even if you did press charges against me for breaking and entering if I turned these in I'd just get a slap on the wrist while your punishment would be much, much bigger. Given how much the government is trying to keep these hidden from the public they might make some fudged charges to put you on death row just to keep your mouth shut."

Ay: "…"

Ky: "By the way, I also took the time to grab the paternity test info you took from us and disposed of them and in this prefecture DNA tests on children can't legally be done without consent from a parent or legal guardian unless either one is unavailable. So even if you did try to make that accusation there's no way to actually prove it without Kirino's cooperation so right now I'm risking practically nothing while your life is literally one the line."

Ayase gave Kyousuke a completely defeated look, she lost her leverage, she had no power but in that moment I saw her reach for something in her pocket, fortunately Kyousuke was prepared.

{Click}

With a serious look on his face Kyousuke pulled out his gun and aimed.

Ky: "I'm well within my rights to shoot you the moment you pull out that knife."

Ay: "…I can't believe this."

Ki: "Just can't help but make it worse, can you? I loved you Ayase, you were the best friend I ever had, you were practically a sister to me, I always dreamed we'd be able to stay that way until we were on our death beds. But after all this, just looking at you makes me…furious…I'll give you a month, if you haven't left by then, we go to the police."

Ayase looked at me pleadingly, I didn't budge.

Ay: "You can't be serious…Kirino?"

Ki: "You made your choice, goodbye."

With that I walked out with Kyousuke close behind only holstering his gun after the door was shut.

Ky: "Kirino? You okay?"

Ki: "I'm fine, I thought I'd be sadder about this but it feels more like a big relief, makes me wonder if I was really friends with her or if I was just clinging to her for nostalgia's sake."

Ky: "Hmm, I don't know about any of that, I don't even know if you did the right thing given the risks we're taking just to be together, all I know is what matters most is that you have peace."

Ki: "…Sometimes I wonder if you just pretend to be stupid."

Ky: "Eh?"

Ki: "But you're right, with that drama over, I feel at peace, like I'm taking my first breath of fresh air after a long time, I feel like I can move forward now."

Ky: "…How much do you think the baby got hurt?"

Ki: "I don't know, I plan on going to the hospital in a bit to check it out, grandma said it could end up being small but it'll definitely be significant."

Ky: "Well I guess all we can do is hope."

Ki: "Hmhm yeah."

Ky: "Now how's about we go get Aiko and we do some grocery shopping together, mom and dad want to have dinner tonight."

Ki: "Well it's a day later than usual but I think it sounds good."

I grabbed Kyousuke's hand not caring who saw. I never saw Ayase again and after visiting the hospital it was discovered that the baby did receive some minor brain damage fortunately the doctors said that it was small enough that the baby would still be able to live a mostly normal life especially if I took the proper supplements and stayed as relaxed as possible for the rest of the pregnancy. Shortly after that I announced our wedding being back on which we did manage to schedule just before the Summer festival and I resent invites to everyone much to their joy though I did have to answer some questions on what happened between us, leaving out a few details. Around the start of July Kanako announced her own "baking bun" and we all decided to have a shared baby shower for me and her and after a bit of coercion we managed to talk her into having an unofficial ceremony for her and Jiro for next Spring.

7/11/25 Wedding Day

Ki: "So how do I look?"

Yo: "Beautiful!"

Yor: "Gorgeous!"

Ai: "Super-duper pretty!"

Da: "Ahem, yes {sniff} you look…wonderful."

It's the day of the wedding at Saori's mountain cottage (mansion), it looked like a fancy medieval castle with a huge backyard where we set up the altar that had an amazing view of the mountain range. Currently I'm doing a final fitting of the dress over my six month developed stomach just before the procession, fortunately the fit was perfect, the dress itself was a basic modern design just like the one I wore for Kyousuke all those years ago, with my hair tied up in a messy bun beneath my veil and some sexy lingerie underneath that nobody else knows about.

Ki: "Come on dad, I told you, you don't have to be here if you're uncomfortable, I'm fine with it."

Dai: "I'm okay, it's just despite the circumstances…seeing you like this is a little overwhelming."

Ki: "Oh dad, haah, if it means anything I really am sorry about…being this way."

Dai: "No, while my feelings haven't changed, I've already made peace with this outcome and like I said before, your happiness is what matters most."

Ki: "Thanks dad."

Just then Sena came in.

Se: "Hey Kirino~ You ready? Oh you look beautiful!"

Ki: "Thanks."

Yo: "Alright mom, let's go take our seats."

Yor: "Okay, Aiko? You remember what to do right?"

Ai: "Yeah!"

Of course Aiko was the flower girl and I thought it appropriate to dress her in that red dress from when she first appeared though I thought it looked a little bigger compared to then. I also tied a red ribbon around her waist that had some fake roses attached to it and put a red rose crown atop her head.

Ki: "Hmhm you're going to look so pretty out there."

Ai: "Thanks mommy."

Ki: "So dad? You ready?"

Dai: "…Hm."

Aiko grabbed the basket of petals, I flipped my veil over and we all headed out to the back, the back door was just as grandiose as the rest of the mansion so it had an added effect to our entrance as everyone looked back to see us coming out. The music started, I hooked my arm with dad's, Monty and Ichiro were over to the sides recording video and Aiko started walking ahead of us, tossing around flower petals as we moved down the aisle. Rather than a Shinto style wedding we went for the generic western Christian style without the religious symbols and instead of a priest we had Miura, who was also an officiant (non-religious alternative to wedding priest) oddly enough, stand in to witness our union.

Dai: "Are you sure it was a good idea to have that man act as the witness?"

Ki: "Uh, he sort of begged us to let him, said it was his dream to bear witness to a union between siblings as an officiant."

Dai: "You have some strange friends."

Ki: "Tell me about it."

We reached he altar after which Aiko went to stand with my bridesmaids and I gave one last thankful look to dad before he went to sit with mom and grandma, I walked up to stand next to Kyousuke who was handsomely dressed in a white suit also similar to the one he wore for our fake wedding though I noticed he was a bit of a jittering mess.

Ki: "Come on Kyousuke calm down."

Ky: "I can't help it, I'm suddenly coming down with stage fright."

Ki: "If you don't calm down you won't get to see what's under my dress~"

Ky: "{freeze} I'm cool as ice."

Mi: "Alright let's do this~ Welcome family, friends and loved ones. We are gathered today to celebrate the union of Kyousuke and Kirino Kousaka…"

One long winded speech later

Mi: "Marriage is not easy, but from what I've seen in the two of you, I know your relationship will be an example to follow. You show care and compassion, you trust one another and most importantly, you are each other's best friend. Now please join hands and face each other."

We did so, my heart was beating a mile a minute as my entire face flushed red and I could see Kyousuke was suffering the same as I was as I felt his heartbeat through his hands and I could also see Miura begin to cry tears of joy.

Mi: "Present he rings."

Yukio, of course being he ring bearer, walked up with my ring and Kyousuke put it on me as Miura continued to speak.

Mi: "Kyousuke, do you take Kirino to be your wife? To have and to hold, {sniff} through sickness and in health {sniff} united for the rest of eternity?"

Ky: "I-I do."

I then turned to Sena, being my Maid of Honor, and she handed me Kyousuke's ring, I proceeded to put his on as Miura continued.

Mi: "And Kirino {sniff} do you take Kyousuke to be your husband? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, united for the rest of eternity?"

Ki: "I do."

Mi: "Then I pronounce you man and wife, {sniffffff} yo-you may kiss the bride aaaahahahahaaaa!"

Kyousuke flipped my veil back and he leaned in to give me a loving kiss then and with that we were "officially" husband and wife. I looked on as everyone applauded us and I couldn't help but remember the fake wedding Kyousuke and I had when we were young, seeing empty pews and thinking I'd never be that happy again. But here I am, the happiest day of my life, here with Kyousuke and Aiko and everyone else I care about. After that we walked back down the aisle as everyone tossed rice at us and we headed to take pictures with the family as the others went on to the reception.

Ki: "Alright Monty, let's be quick about this, I'm starving."

Mo: "Hey the perfect picture takes time, now Kyousuke put your hand on Kirino's stomach."

After pictures were done we joined everyone else, ate food, had our first dance and the father daughter dance though we kept it short so I wouldn't tire myself out. We then did the bouquet toss which Miura tackled down at the last second like an American football player though we decided to forgo the garter throw so as to avoid making our family uncomfortable. After taking more photos and cutting the cake the party continued as normal while Kyousuke and I sat in some chairs together off near the edge of the yard, looking out over the beautiful mountains.

Ky: "Damn, this is some good cake."

Ki: "I know, right?"

Ky: "…We actually did it, didn't we?"

Ki: "Yeah."

Ky: "So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how happy are you right now?"

Ki: "Hmmm, 2…"

Ky: "…"

Ki: "Hundred."

Ky: "Come on, not 2 thousand?~"

Ki: "Hmhm idiot~"

As we sat there Aiko came over after dancing with dad and sat on Kyousuke's lap.

Ky: "You tired sweetheart?"

Ai: "Yeah."

Ki: "Hm?...Hey, the baby's kicking."

Ai: "I wanna feel!"

Aiko quickly leaned over and pressed her cheek against my belly and the little thing moved around.

Ki: "Hm~ Oh, I almost forgot, when I went to the hospital the other month for that…examination, the doctors also told me the baby's gender."

Ky: "Oh?"

Ki: "I wanted to wait until the wedding before I told you. This little one…is going to be a boy."

Ky: "Really? So Aiko's prediction was correct after all."

Ki: "Seems so."

Ky: "Heh, we're one crazy family aren't we?"

Ki: "Yep."

The party continued until later in the afternoon when Kyousuke and I decided to make our grand exit and headed home to, uh, consummate our wedding.

9/7/25 (Three days after Kirino's Birthday)

Ki: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Just a little more Ms. Kousaka, keep pushing."

Ky: "AAAHAHAH YOU'RE CRUSHING MY HAHAHAND!"

Ki: "AAAAAAH! SON OF BIIIIIITCH!"

{POP!}{Slap!}

"WHAAA!"

Ki: "Haaah."

"Congratulations, it's a boy!"

"Does the uncle want to cut the cord?~"

Ky: "Good thing only my left hand is broken."

Kyousuke grabbed the scissors and snipped the umbilical cord and the doctors handed me my wailing baby boy as I tiredly opened my hospital robe to expose my breast and the baby quickly latched on and began nursing.

Ky: "Feeling okay?"

I responded rather dryly with an exhausted look on my face.

Ki: "I am never doing that again."

Ky: "Eh?"

Ki: "That was the worst pain I ever went through, seriously, first chance I get, I'm getting my tubes tied."

Ky: "Understandable."

Ki: "I honestly don't get why any women would want to do this more than once."

"So Ms. Kousaka? Have you already decided on a name."

I adjusted my hold on the baby and took a good look at him, he looked basically like any other newborn with black hair and as I looked at him he opened his eyes for a second and they were the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen.

Ki: "Yeah, Naota."

Ky: "Really? Naota? Somehow I get the feeling that's a reference to something, that isn't the name of one of your game protagonists, is it?"

Ki: "N-No."

Ky: "Well despite that, I still think it's a good name, heh, happy birthday Naota Kousaka."

After giving us time to bond the doctors took Naota to give him his first bath and record his biometrics and set him in the nursery where everyone went to look at him while I took the time to sleep. After Naota was deemed healthy we were discharged though I still felt like I was hit by a truck, everyone came to my house the welcome the newborn while I sat on the couch to relax with Kyousuke sitting next to me.

Ky: "So, now that, that's done you think it'll be smooth sailing from here on?"

Ki: "No, there's always the chance of trouble being around the corner especially for us and we have yet to see the effects of what Ayase did to Naota but given what we've been through I doubt there's anything we can't handle."

Ky: "So our happy ending is still quite a ways off."

Ki: "Yeah but for now let's pretend like we've reached it, I love you Kyousuke."

Ky: "I love you too."

As everyone fawned over Naota who was asleep in Dad's arms, I gripped onto Kyousuke's hand and leaned on his shoulder, looking forward to what he future had in store for us.

{Ppppppppppt!}

Dai: "Um…"

Ai: "Eww!"

Ko: "Was that the baby?!"

Yor: "Ooh time for Naota's first diaper change~"

Ky: "Uh, I'll take care of that."

AN: This can be interpreted as the final chapter but a Future/Final chapter will be coming next.