Chapter 18
Mini Daily life of Monster Girls: The Saeko Experience

It was the morning of my fifth day staying here, Rea and I had just woke up and freshened ourselves before our noses picked up the scent of food being cooked. Heading towards the kitchen for breakfast, we spotted my brother giving the kitchen the ol' Chef Boyardee treatment with Jhastlyn floating around him.

As I walked up to him, I saw an empty ice cream carton on the counter, and if memory served, I could recall that there was at least a third of the carton left last night.

"Ice cream so early in the morning? Did you and Shuko have an argument and you're just filling the void?"

I asked with a light laugh, seeing as Gin wasn't one to eat away at a problem. He would worry, yes, but gorge himself, not lightly.

"Yeah, she teased him a bit too much and this is the end result, quite funny really. Anyways morning Rea, Saeko."

Jhastlyn spoke, her mood was rather floaty… no pun intended.

"Morning you two, and no it's nothing like that, I finished some morning exercising with Cthylla and I decided to treat myself is all."

"But doesn't that defeat the purpose of exercising?"

"Let's just say the morning regiment was stimulating."

Gin spoke, slightly exasperated, before pouring the contents of a bowl he had near him, into the skillet on the stove.

"You seem to be spending quite a bit of time with Miss Cthylla, even exercising with her early in the morning, I'm surprised Shuko isn't telling you off."

I spoke, joking at the situation.

"Shuko's the one who volunteered me to help Cthylla in the first place."

Gin spoke, trying to defend himself. It wasn't like I was accusing him of anything.

"What's for breakfast?"

Rea asked as she closed her eyes, taking in the scent of cooking food.

"Pancakes with the fixings, eggs, and sausage."

Gin spoke, as he flipped the pancakes in the skillet.

"Can we help any?"

I asked, seeing as my brother didn't need to do all this by himself when we could help him, somehow, I mean I'm nowhere near Bro's level, but I could make a mean fried egg.

"Hmm, if you don't mind, could you set the table for me, and after that tell Shuko and Cthylla to come and eat."

Gin requested, and Rea and I accepted. I grabbed the plates from the cabinet, while Rea grabbed the silverware, even Jhastlyn helped, carrying the juice, glasses, paper towels, syrup and whatever else. Convenient ghost is convenient.

While we were setting the table, Jhastlyn decided to start some small talk.

"So what do you two have planned for today?"

Jhastlyn asked, it was a good question seeing as yesterday Miss Cthylla and Jhastlyn tagged along with Rea and me to the park where we played with some of the neighborhood kids, but as for today, I had no idea what. Maybe just make it a lazy day and do nothing, unless Rea has something planned.

Looking at my young partner in crime, I could tell that just like myself, she hadn't thought of anything to do as well, but then again what would you expect from an eight-year-old. It's times like these when a big sister shines and speaking of big sisters, it was time to go get Shuko, Miss Cthylla and Ylla, of course.

"No idea yet, but maybe breakfast will give me an idea."

I spoke, before departing the dressed table, my little partner in tow. As the two of us entered the living room, we saw my brother's widow of a wife and his bodyguard, along with Ylla.

Shuko was wearing a black and red keyhole dress with a web-like pattern, while Miss Cthylla was wearing her usual business attire consisting of black pants, white button-up shirt, and black blazer.

Walking closer to the three, I could hear Shuko and Miss Cthylla talking about bras and a trail run, unfortunately, I got there at the end of the conversation.

"Morning Shuko, Miss Cthylla, and to you too Ylla."

I spoke, causing Ylla to run towards me, like the puppy dog(?) it is.

"Morning/ good morning."

Shuko and Miss Cthylla spoke as they watched Rea and me began to pet Ylla.

"Gin said to get ready for breakfast, it'll be done in a few."

I spoke relaying the message, luckily the three of them were all together in the living room, I wouldn't know how to approach Miss Cthylla if I had to go to her room. That is to say, how does one approach a liminal bodyguard, what if I interrupt her doing something and she puts me in a sleeper hold and next thing I know it's the next day? And she's extremely fit, compared to her appearance from when we met in the park, so I wouldn't put it past her to knock me out rather easily.

"Is that so, then we best get ready to eat. We'll continue this talk afterward, I doubt Hon would want to hear about bras first thing in the morning."

Shuko spoke as she put away a small notepad that was obscured from my view, though I did get a light chuckle, remembering when Mom and I made Gin our pack mule for the day and the first place we stopped out was the lingerie store. Needless to say, he was rather fidgety, especially when Mom asked him were certain bras cute.

Having accomplished our mission, Rea and I headed to the dining room along with Ylla, while Shuko and Miss Cthylla headed to the bathroom before reconvening at the dining room table.

As we took our seats, Gin carried the final plate of pancakes to the table as we were able to see the combined spread. The pancakes carried a scent of cinnamon, while others had bits of pecans in them or blueberries, and next to them was a bowl of strawberries, maple syrup, and butter. The sausages consisted of patties and links, as well as sliced fried sausage, and the eggs were scrambled with cheese as their scent merged with the rest of the breakfast making my stomach silently let me know what to grab first with its subtle growls.

Sitting at the table, we relished in the breakfast as we filled our plates, giving praise as we took our bites, even Ylla complimented on the food, I think, I mean she was cooing happily.

"Quite delicious."

Cthylla spoke, voicing herself and I assume Ylla.

"Hon always aim to please."

Shuko spoke, as she took another proper bite out of her pancakes, a test of her upbringing.

"It's quite good isn't is Rea?"

I asked as the young spiderling gave a smile, her mouth full of either pancake and strawberries or sausage.

I'm not sure how but even Jhastlyn was enjoying the food, though I don't remember her grabbing anything when we sat down, before I could think about it much, the doorbell rang.

"Wonder who that could be?"

Gin asked as he was about to get up, only to be stopped by Shuko.

"I've got the door, I invited a special guest."

Shuko spoke, getting up from the table, leaving us somewhat bewildered.

From the sound of the voices, I could hear two females aside from Shuko, one sounded mature while the other a child. Once the sound of the door closed, I could hear Shuko speak.

"You're just in time for breakfast, go on and wash up, we have a full table, so hurry before it's all gone."

Shuko spoke, following the sound of running water in the bathroom, before she and the guest walked into the dining room, revealing the guest to be a kid.

"Hey, Suri!"

Jhastlyn spoke as she floated towards the young girl, who shockingly enough to me didn't seem the least bit phased at the ghost coming at her.

"Suri?"

I spoke, puzzled by the young guest, maybe she was just one of the neighborhood kids that Jhastlyn and Shuko were close with.

"That's right, you two have never met. Saeko and Rea, this is Mitsuru, she's the daughter of one of my former neighbors, and I guess she came over to play?"

Gin spoke, it seemed even he didn't know why Mitsuru was here or at least this early in the morning.

"I invited her over for the weekend Hon."

Shuko responded, guiding Mitsuru to the chair next to Rea.

"Seemed kind of lonely that Rea didn't have someone around her age to play with before she has to go back home. So I thought why not have the two meet."

Shuko spoke with a tone that came off as more sarcastic than sympathetic, though I had to agree with her line of thinking. With Gin, Shuko and Miss Cthylla being adults, Jhastlyn being ghost and myself being in high school, there isn't anyone to connect with Rea at her level.

"Well, that's very thoughtful."

Gin spoke like he was trying to find some motive behind her actions but didn't want to say what he really thought.

"Papa, you have more people staying with you?"

Mitsuru spoke, hold on a sec, Papa?! I thought she was a neighbor's kid!

"Ummm?-"

I began to speak, only to get cut off before continuing.

"It's a nickname, she'll grow out of it eventually, don't think too hard on it."

Jhastlyn spoke like it were a matter of course.

"Oh, I see."

I really didn't, but Shuko didn't seem bothered by it and I really don't think my brother would have a kid her age, though if she were around four or five, I would be skeptical.

"Well Mitsuru, I'm Saeko, Gin, er, Papa's sister. This is Rea, Shuko's sister and these two are Miss Cthylla and Ylla, Bro's… assistants."

I'm not wrong, Gin told me they were here to assist him, though why he'd need a bodyguard still eludes me.

With a little small talk between chewing, we neared the end of breakfast, when Shuko rose from the table.

"Hon, I'm going to need you to clean the house up like it's never been cleaned before. I have a special guest coming tomorrow and this place needs to be spotless!"

Shuko spoke much to Gin's confusion. Does this couple ever communicate or is Shuko just forgetful and spontaneous?

"And who's the guest?"

"You'll know tomorrow, for today all you need to know is if the house isn't spotless before I get back, we're going to need marriage counseling."

"Counseling?"

"And I know two very capable doctors."

Shuko spoke, cracking her knuckle, before leaving, if Gin didn't look so jaded, I'd be pretty sure Shuko was abusing him.

With breakfast done and Shuko gone to work, we decided to help Gin so he wouldn't have to clean the house all by himself. Miss Cthylla and Ylla volunteered to clean the downstairs bathroom and walkway. Gin was going the clean all upstairs with Jhastlyn and the three of us were going to clean the kitchen, dining room and living room.

Though Gin stayed and helped clean the kitchen, he departed upstairs shortly after finishing, leaving the three of us with the dining room and living room, my guess, he didn't want guest to do any real work.

Whilst we straightened up the living room, I decided to start up some small talk.

"So, breakfast was quite good wouldn't you say?"

"Yup!"

Both Mitsuru and Rea spoke as Mitsuru wiped the table and Rea stacked the magazines and movies.

"Papa always cooks good food!"

Mitsuru spoke, though it's weird she keeps referring to brother by that, I'll ask her about it later.

"Koko food taste better!"

Rea interjected.

"Na-un!"

"Uh-hun!"

And they're off, I thought to myself as Rea and Mitsuru continued comparing Gin and Shuko like they were comparing collectibles. Just watching the two made me feel ten years younger as I continued cleaning the room whilst the two kept at it.

"Papa's better!"

"No Koko's better times infinity!"

"Papa's better times infinity plus one!"

"Koko's better times infinity plus infinity!"

…

…

…

This continued for some time, until they reached what would be the apex for their knowledge, something-something infinity times infinity for an infinite amount of etc etc.

After a short amount of time passed since there apex, the contest reached its stalemate as they stared at each other with like they were trying to see who'd make the first move.

"How is everyone doing?"

Gin asked as he walked in, rather he came to check on us or he heard the chatting, either way, he broke the stare off as the two walked up to him.

"Papa, tell Rea that you're better than Shuko!"

Wow, that's a hefty demand for one's husband don't you think?

"No, he's not, Shuko is way better than him!"

And you're being judged by a pre-adolescent spider girl, feels bad man.

Gin after hearing the two and their eager 'awaiting an answer' expression, simply chuckled, knowing the implications of whatever answer he chose would lead to some consequences in the near future.

"I'm clearly the best!"

Jhastlyn spoke, appearing out from around Gin, floating in some type of gravure model pose.

…

"That's true."

The two agreed as Gin gave a look of relief.

"How is Jhastlyn better the both Shuko and I?"

Gin asked, causing Jhastlyn to drop her pose.

"Simple."

Jhastlyn spoke, before snapping her fingers causing the two to float in the air, maybe a foot of the air, this caused Gin to give her a stern look that roared "PUT THEM DOWN!"

"Hey, it's alright, they're at a safe distance."

Jhastlyn explained, though who regulated the safe distance for floating is my question, though that didn't change Gin's expression, so I decided to step in.

"Come on Bro, it's alright, she did this the night you guys worked late, it's completely safe."

As safe as floating can get for non-flying beings, but who needs all the details.

"So you girls have done this before huh? And by the looks of it, so has Suri."

Gin spoke, and at this moment, he forced Jhastlyn and myself to listen to a lecture about how it's irresponsible and unsafe to float, he even considered me to be included in the 'children that could be hurt' group, like I'm in elementary school or something. If it weren't for Jhastlyn promising extra sure to be careful and the three of us 'children' to not overdo it, we'd probably still be getting reprimanded.

Time went on as we continued to clean up, while floating at that, it's quite the experience.

With that Golden week was nearing its end, and we'll have to go back to school, but until then I'm going to have as much fun as I can with my brother and the liminals he calls family.

Small word from the author

I will be going back and editing earlier chapters once this chapter has been posted. So to prevent having to reread any of the chapters that have heavy edits, I'll post at the bottom of the newer chapter a summary of the edits. The summary of the edits will be up until the next chapter release.