Chapter 21: It's Official!


"So, what do you think, Aiden? I have a feeling we're on the same page here."

"I believe it's safe to say we can leave the monstergirls in Eryn's care."

"Of course!"

Aiden and Amber had a little private chat, discussing the future of the three monstergirls. The moment Eryn adopted them, the siblings already knew he would take care of them well. They were pleased to find out that the monstergirls felt the same way. They felt safe with Eryn. He was their home.

They wouldn't change it for the world.

Aiden took a file out of his bag and set it on the carpet. It was the final and official adoption papers that would serve as proof that Eryn adopted the monstergirls, that the monstergirls belonged to him. Eryn had a copy of it when he adopted them, but this was the real deal now.

"Eryn, this will have better use in your hands."

"Oh, thank you."

Eryn humbly accepted the three adoption papers, each one representing each monstergirl. With this and the ID cards, I think I can finally call myself the owner, huh?

"Aiden, what will you do after this?" Eryn asked as he set the papers down. "If I recall, they were the last monstergirls of the shelter."

"That's right." Aiden nodded and folded his arms. "We don't have any monstergirls up for adoption now. Our shelter's basically empty."

"Oh, I see…" Eryn hummed. "Will you… close down the shelter?"

"That will most likely be our decision, but we're still not sure." Aiden sighed. "We're still doing our part to find and rescue other abandoned monstergirls, wherever they may be."

"Back when we first started years ago, there were tons of monstergirl children that needed help." Amber continued. "It's not as bad as it was before, which I suppose is a great change."

"Your sister might have told you she was part of the Monstergirl Containment Unit."

"Ah, the MCU…" Eryn nodded in understanding. "I've heard of it." Not from my sister, though. From a certain butler at a certain café.

"Ever since that organization was founded, we were able to provide homes and shelters for monstergirls at a much faster rate." Aiden explained. "She's been a really terrific help to us."

So, the MCU also provides assistance to monstergirls. Eryn scratched the side of his neck. He wouldn't have guessed that from the name. Guess my assumptions were wrong. Why didn't Riana tell me any of this? She seems to be doing good work.

"Without Riana, we might have closed down the shelter a long time ago…" Amber said.

"But I think we might have to finally close it down for good." Aiden continued.

"Maybe you've already considered this," Eryn drew a finger to his chin, "but why don't you work with Riana? It seems her line of work is quite relevant to yours."

"Huh." The siblings stared at each other in deep silence, as if Eryn had said something so profound and impactful.

"… Not a good idea?" Eryn asked.

"No, no, when you put it that way…" Aiden tipped his glasses. "I've actually… never thought of that, to be honest."

"Working together with Riana…" Amber drew her chin up. "Why didn't we ever think of that?"

"Well, color me surprised." Eryn raised a brow. "I thought you two would have had something going on."

"Nope." Aiden shook his head. "But I think that's something we can consider. We might talk to Riana about it."

"I'm sure my sister would love to have you two." Eryn smiled. We are childhood friends, after all…

"We'll think about it."

After some more conversation between the three, Aiden stood up. "Well, Eryn. Thank you so much for letting us come by and see the monstergirls one last time."

"Hey, this won't be the last time!" Amber fumed, standing up, her deep attachment to the monstergirls obvious.

"Will we see each other again?" Iris asked.

"Of course, Iris!" Amber patted her head. "We'll come by again!"

"Thank you, Aiden, Amber." Eryn bowed his head.

"No, no." Aiden gave a gentle smile. "Thank you for giving Iris, Lofie, and Melty a place they can call home."

"Take care of them for us, will you?" Amber winked.

"You can count on me."

Eryn and the monstergirls accompanied the siblings to the doorway to say goodbye. The monstergirls waved at them as they left the residence.

"Take care, Eryn!" Aiden waved from afar.

"Mhmm." Eryn waved back with a smile until they disappeared out of view.

I guess this makes the adoption official. Eryn leaned on the doorway. My life has changed quite a lot since I adopted the monstergirls. It felt like yesterday he met with the three monstergirls, but a week had already passed. He didn't know why he adopted them, but it was a decision he didn't regret one bit.

So much has happened in a week. Three new members of the family. He met with other monstergirls. Got in touch with his best friend and sister. Even lost his couch, to top it all off (that was the highlight of his week, above everything else.)

With the monstergirls following behind, Eryn walked back to the living room and plopped down on the floor. His gaze drifted to the monstergirls. This will be my new life now. He never thought life would take such a strange turn. But seeing the smiles and joy of the monstergirls, his new family…

It was pure bliss.

"Eryn, can I take strawberry milk from the fridge?" Iris asked, tugging the sleeve of his shirt.

"Oh, sure." He smiled. "Go ahead."

"Okay!" Iris turned around and moved to the fridge.

"Me too, me too!" Melty raised her hands, following Iris.

"Eryn, Eryn." Lofie softly headbutted his arm.

"What is it, Lofie?"

"I… want to ask you something."

"Oh, sure." Eryn nodded. "What is it?"

"School." Lofie bobbed her head, her ears following it. "About school."

"Oh, school?" Eryn tilted his head at a curious angle. I see, she must be curious after seeing the school of monstergirl children.

"Yes." She bobbed her head once more. "What was school like for Eryn?"

"Mhmm…" He folded his arms in deep thought. What was school like for me? He's had varying experiences from nursery school all the way to senior high. Let's go with nursery and my earlier grades.

"I don't remember too much of it, but on my very first day of school, I cried a lot." He said, memories of that day flashing through his mind. "Just like you've seen in the photo."

"But Eryn became brave, right?"

"I did get used to it." He chuckled. "It took me a few days to… really adjust to school life."

"Did Eryn enjoy school life?"

"I would say I did." My nursery school days, that is. "I think one of the most fun parts of it is getting to meet other people my age. I didn't make any friends, though… I was quite a shy kid."

"Eryn was a shy kid?" Lofie asked, curiosity in her voice. Looking at him now, he didn't strike her as someone that looked or could be shy.

"I was." He drew his head down. "I don't remember this, but apparently, I would always hold my sister's hand and hide behind her."

"Oh." Imagining that, Lofie found that rather cute.

"Are you perhaps… interested in school, Lofie?" Eryn asked. I think Lofie wanted to ask me about it before…

"Uhm…" Lofie's eyes slowly drifted to the side, though her tail wagged around intensely, betraying her calm act.

"You are, aren't you?" He grinned and ruffled her hair.

"A previous owner." She huddled closer to his hand. "She wanted to take me to school."

"Oh, really?" Eryn raised a brow. That's very surprising to hear.

"But it never happened." Lofie bowed her head.

"Huh, do you know why she couldn't?"

"I don't know." She shook her head. "I don't remember."

I wonder what this owner was like. Eryn thought. And Lofie was probably much younger…

"Would you like to go to school, Lofie?"

"Uhm…" Her eyes sparkled at the idea of attending school. Her tail slapped the floor repeatedly, unable to contain her excitement.

Wow, I think that's an obvious yes! Eryn cracked a smile, trying to hold back his laugh. It was an adorable sight, seeing the little Anubis express such excitement. I would expect this kind of reaction from Melty…

"What are you two talking about?" Melty leapt onto Eryn's back and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sounds like fun!"

"Easy there, Melty!" He patted her arms which packed a lot of grip strength. And there she is! She does not judge the power she holds in her little hands!

"Melty, don't jump on Eryn like that!" Iris grabbed Melty by the back of her shirt and yanked her off Eryn.

"I… want to go to school." Lofie whispered which Eryn could barely pick up on. "I want to know what school is like."

"You want to go to school, Lofie?" Melty grabbed her shoulders, her eyes gazing into hers. "That sounds fun!"

"Why do you want to go to school, Lofie?" Iris asked, curious.

"My previous owner told me a lot of nice things about it." Lofie answered. "I've always wondered what it would feel like to go to school."

Eryn paid attention to the way Lofie was speaking to her sisters. She's speaking fondly of her previous owner. He couldn't deny his curiosity of her owner, or even the other monstergirls' owners. But this owner must have taken care of Lofie… and they may have planned to take her to school.

And maybe I should start considering taking them to school. Eryn couldn't imagine himself teaching the monstergirls all by himself. I don't think I make a good teacher. Providing them a safe home wasn't enough. He felt he'd be robbing them of so many life experiences at their young ages if he couldn't give them an environment to learn and grow.

"Lofie, why don't we check out that school sometime soon?"