"Ooh, what's this? Your home has a signboard?"

Yato was teaching Hiyori to truly appreciate her neighbourhood. He found everything fascinating, from flower-boxes to lampposts to the rows of tightly packed houses that made up their kingdom.

As they'd walked through an alley, he'd even become besotted with a stray cat, cooing at it until it'd emerged from its trashcan to wind around his ankles. He'd scooped it up immediately and tucked it into his ratty scarf, a decision that had left him with three long scratches on the neck.

Bishamon had no patience for this sort of thing. After a few attempts to get him to walk faster, she'd largely left them behind to come at their own pace. The two older women were probably inside by now, trusting Hiyori and Yukine to know their way home.

Frankly, Hiyori was glad for the arrangement, and she knew Yukine was too. Though he wasn't usually the type to loaf around, Yato's energy was too infectious to resist.

Right now, the black-haired boy in question was squinting up at the signboard that hung above Daikoku's pub, rocking on his heels contemplatively.

"The Snuggly Duckling?" He read. "Do you have ducklings? I love ducklings! One time, Father brought duck eggs home, and I stole one so I could keep it safe until it hatched!"

Yukine snickered. "Aw man, you're going to be so disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Yato huffed, flicking his hair out of his eyes. "This place is magnificent! I bet this building cost you all the money you got from that crown-"

Hiyori clapped a hand over his mouth, alarmed. "Shh!"

The boy blinked, taken aback. The brunette looked around for anyone in their vicinity who could've heard, but luckily for them it was the middle of the evening in the sleepiest part of Takamagahara.

She threw him a dirty look, withdrawing her hand. "Don't be so loud , Yato. And don't mention our loot to anyone, you understand?"

"Sorry, I…"

"It's okay, but be careful." The girl combed through her mussed fringe, looking away. "I already told you, we aren't… lawful people. If you let the wrong thing slip, if word gets to the horsemen… we could be arrested, put in the stocks, executed."

He looked stricken, his blue eyes wide and horrified. "Sorry! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-!"

"Tch, cut it out, Hiyori. You're killing the mood." Yukine interjected, hands in his pockets as he plodded onto the creaky wooden front step of Daikoku's pub. He threw a sympathetic look at the taller boy. "Chill. Hiyori has a stick up her butt, don't take her too seriously."

Hiyori gasped. "Yukine!"

"What? It's true. You whine about everything these days. You know how annoying it is to sneak around you for a mission?" He rolled his eyes, pushing the door open. "Anyway, Yato, welcome to the Snuggly Duckling. You're going to hate it here."

Yato glanced between Yukine and Hiyori, as if deciding whether to involve himself in the tension between the two. Finally, he edged towards the brunette.

"Let's go see the ducklings?" He offered, a sheepish look on his face. Hiyori sighed, shaking her head resignedly, but her lips curled up into a smile anyway.

She was pretty sure he knew he wasn't going to find any ducklings inside Daikoku's old pub, but even so, she didn't know how much of a culture shock it was going to be. Despite its prison-like qualities, Yato had essentially grown up in a dream, a pristine isolated tower with everything he ever needed within.

Hiyori and her family lived in a place so removed from any idea of a dream that it was ridiculous. There was a good reason why Yukine wanted to leave so badly.

She skipped up onto the squat porch, following him inside, preparing to bump into him as he froze in horror. She was ready for it, expecting it even.

What she wasn't expecting was to hear a delighted squeal.

"Oh my god, is this a tavern?!"

Hiyori and Yukine stared blankly at the black-haired boy as he stumbled past the few patrons at the tables, speeding single-mindedly towards the bar where Daikoku was cleaning a filthy glass.

Yato slammed the bar with one hand, getting everyone's attention. His eyes were frenzied with excitement.

"One, please!" He cried at the well-built bartender, who gave him a startled look.

"Who…?" Daikoku's eyes flicked up to see the two red-faced companions in his wake. "Oh. You're the Yato kid. You're expected to pay too, you know."

"No problem!" The youth dug into his pocket, coming up with a single brass coin. "I'm not allowed to tell you where this came from!" He announced over his shoulder, winking at Hiyori.

Daikoku took the coin, inspecting it for a moment before placing it politely back in his hand. "You'll need plenty more than that."

"More? Huh." Yato screwed up his nose, thinking. "Hmm. How about a deal? You look like you might want to look a few years younger-"

"Okay, that's it. No alcohol for you." Yukine caught him by the back of his shirt, dragging him to the back of the bar.

"What? But why? I've always wanted to order beer in a tavern!" He whined, struggling. "It's what they do in stories!"

"If this is what you're like sober, I do not want to deal with you drunk." The kid shoved him into the mouldy cramped stairs that led up to the pub's second-floor living space. "Climb."

"Aw, come on!" Yato whirled around to appeal to Hiyori. "It's my first time in a city!"

The brunette put her hands on her hips. "Yukine's absolutely right. No alcohol for you, ever."

"That's not fair!" The black-haired boy pouted, climbing up the stairs in a huff. "I'll earn that money fair and square, you'll see, and I will get that beer. You can't stop me!"

"Not from Daikoku-san, you won't." Yukine muttered under his breath. Hiyori chuckled, before remembering she was supposed to be angry with him.

And yet…

"Whoa, I can't believe how many people fit into this tiny house! That's so awesome!"

...it was so easy to be distracted from thoughts like that right now.

She sighed, reaching out to ruffle the kid's abundant blond hair.

"Come on, let's make sure he doesn't burn down anything that belongs to Bishamon-san or Daikoku-san."