Ryozo wandered into the Library to be met with the smell of infinite herbs. They had transformed the so-called library into a kitchen upon their arrival since no where else seemed particularly suitable. It helped that there was a closet in the room and another in the hallway nearby, so that they had a lot of storage space.

Yae was already cooking something. It certainly smelled good to the folklorist, although it seemed quite different than anything else she had made…

When he rounded the corner, he was met with an interesting sight; Yae was laying down next to their daughter, who was tossing various spices into a mixing pot.

"Good morning Daddy!" Mikoto yelled enthusiastically.

"Hello, Mikoto. What are you going?"

"I'm making an original recipe!" Mikoto grinned. "Don't worry – It's loosely based off of one of Mommy's favorite meals, so it's not like I'm throwing random stuff in here."

Ryozo let out a small laugh. "That's definitely a comfort to hear," he admitted. He then turned to his wife. "Are you alright, Yae?"

"I'm…tired." Yae shifted her head towards Ryozo. "I couldn't sleep last night…"

"Was it a nightmare? Did you dream about that woman who called to you?"

"No…well, maybe…I don't think it was the same woman, anyway. I swear I knew her…she looked a lot like…me…"

Ryozo furrowed his brow. "Hmm. Let me know if you have any more trouble, okay?"

Yae nodded weakly. "I'll be okay soon. I just need to relax."

Mikoto began pounding the spices into a mixture. It certainly does smell wonderful, Ryozo thought to himself. I wonder what this "favorite meal" of Yae's is.

"Katsu passed by while I was picking some of this stuff," Mikoto said. "He told me that Mitsuko might come over next time!" She stood up and wandered over to the closet/pantry. "I'm glad she is – I got the feeling that this place scared her. I guess Katsu and Yoshiko told her how great it really is!"

Yae smiled. "Katsu certainly enjoyed himself, I noticed. I was terrified the first time I saw him sitting on that beam!"

Ryozo chuckled. "He's just being a boy, Yae. Don't worry too much about it."

"Hah! When I was a child, the only boys I knew were so…calm…"

Her voice trailed off as her family turned to stare at her. She shook her head slightly, and then looked to her daughter. "What…I'm sorry, what was I saying?"

Mikoto looked at her father, unsure of how to handle the situation.

"Ah…you were talking about some boys you knew when you were little…" Mikoto's looked at the floor, suddenly uncomfortable.

Yae let out a deep breath. "I…Ryozo, that woman…was she from my past?"

Ryozo hesitated for a few seconds, and then gave his response. "I don't know what to think…this place may be somehow affecting your memory…defeating your amnesia…"

Yae looked at the ground. Her face slowly lit up in a smile. "I've waited so long to remember!" she exclaimed. "I…I've longed for this! I hope…I hope you're right."

Mikoto broke out in a grin. "That's wonderful, Mommy! At least, I think I know what you're saying…"

Ryozo smiled wanly, trying to reflect his family's enthusiasm.

But…what if it's better not to remember?

Research continued as normal. Ryozo had stumbled upon several scrolls referring to a "Calamity", although he had yet to find another scroll that mentioned the Blinding Ritual. The Calamity reminded him very strongly of the Repentance from Yae's Village – Hell opened, Malice flooded, and everybody died. Several of the texts mentioned that the Malice drove those who survived to insanity.

Mikoto had been bouncing around the house all day in her usual gleeful manner. Ryozo noticed that she seemed to hang around the door at the top of the stairs quite often. Yae had mentioned something to him about getting that door open…but there were more pressing things. He'd open it when he got around to it.

Yae spent most of that day relaxing in the Cherry Atrium. At one point she had wandered to the backyard and gone over to the small shrine in the forest beyond. She found it to be a quaint little place, but something about it gave her a slight unease. She felt a strong presence coming from the cabinet, although she wasn't quite sure what it was.

She didn't like it. It felt so…

…hopeless.

Mikoto was once again having trouble convincing herself to fall asleep. Every time she came close to unconsciousness, her mind would poo up with something about her other's past. What had she been before she met Daddy, anyway?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knocking noise from the small door that led to the stairway. She narrowed her eyes and stared. That door…it was where the Not Real had appeared!

She slowly stood up, her curiosity drastically defeating her fear. She approached the door and opened it…

A man stood on the other side. He reached out an absurdly long arm to her, reaching for her.

"Are you my daughter?" he asked her.

"…No…" she answered.

His arm lowered and he looked to the ground sadly. "Do you know where she is?" he pleaded with her.

"…I'm sorry. My parents and I…we just moved here a while ago…I…were you in my room a few nights ago?"

He looked back to her. "I don't remember. Time has gotten so foggy…"

They looked at each other for several seconds…and then he disappeared.

When Mikoto Munakata woke up the next morning, she pushed the man from her mind. The only thing that was important now was Mommy's memory!

So…that's Chapter 4. I hope you enjoyed it! I don't know when I'll update again, but I'll try top make it soon.

Valete!