Update July 2020: fixed bad gramure

Everyday Life with Supernatural Girls

Chapter IV

||Gift||

There's a limit of amusement provided by creating snow angels, dashing through the snow without a one-horse open sleigh, throwing snow at snow, and making tiny snowmen and his friends in their backyard. That limit had been reached and refused to budge.

At first, she handled it just fine. When her show was running and Shirone was still awake, all was well. The problem began to take form when the show ended and transformed into a gossip show, and when Shirone was starting to be lulled by the cold.

Surfing from channels to channels, Kunou groaned as she found nothing worth her attention.

"Nekoneeee," she whined, rousing a drowsy Shirone.

Looking at the almost-adolescent Kitsune sprawled on the rug, she gathered all the vigor she had – which wasn't that much to start with. Keeping her eyes open drained most of her energy, and the cozy blanket cocooning her was no help.

"…Yes?"

"Kunou's booored."

Boredom. The enemy of every living being.

Even if she had little to no experience with holding an actual conversation with anyone other than her sister - and much less so with children - as a temporary freeloader, Shirone's determined to be as helpful as she can be.

The problem was, she only had one idea on how to deal with boredom. "…Try sleeping?"

"Whaaa? Kunou just woke up!" The girl protested, standing up with a bounce to show her undying liveliness. "She wants to do something fun. Sleeping isn't fun…"

"…It is to me." Shirone muttered under her breath as she rubbed her eyes. "Aren't you tired from running around?"

"No-pe~! Kunou's a healthy girl. Her mother said so."

"Healthy girls also sleep if they run that long."

"Kunou's a very healthy girl."

She didn't seem able to win against that, so she yielded. "Okay then... What do you usually do when you're bored, Kunou?"

"Hmmmn….." Hands on hips and head tilted slightly, Kunou adopted a new pose as she started her train of thought. "She…." Her ears straightened up as her eyes flashes. "Ah! She helps mom cook and clean, and then mom put her to sleep."

A rather morbid choice of phrase. That took her by surprise.

"Okay." Shirone sat up with much sluggishness. Then after she stretched her arms, groaning a groan that Issei would certainly hear as a moan, she took a deep breath. "Do you want to do that?"

The more she thought of it, the more she lost her enthusiasm, and the droopier her pointy set of ears became. "...Not really."

Shirone made a flat face. "…Thought so."

Kunou regained her energy quickly though. "Let's do something fun!" She mused, bouncing on the balls of her feet that made her luxurious hair bob.

"What is something 'fun'?"

"Something that's not cleaning, thank you very much."

The little girl knew little sarcasm. Shirone was impressed. "What do you have in mind?"

Kunou crossed her arms, leaning a bit to one side. "Hmm…. What does Nekonee do when she's bored?"

She might show a flat expression, but Shirone was happy with that nickname. For once, she's not the smallest (in a sense).

"I…" yet she trailed off. What exactly does she do when she's bored? Rather, had she ever felt bored? Fed up with life and riled with boredom are two different things. She supposed she was too busy being concerned searching for something– anything to keep her stomach filled for the next few days.

But she wouldn't have to worry about those things now. There's no more wondering if she would eat, or worrying if someone saw her, or fretting where to sleep without being seen.

Shirone came to realize how lucky she was to meet him and to be welcomed with such warmth by someone she barely knew.

"Nekonee?"

A smile crept onto her lips, and Shirone was lost for a couple more seconds. "Mmn…. Yes?"

"What are you thinking?" Kunou sat down, legs crossed as she looked at Shirone with a hopeful gleam. "What did Nekonee do? Why is Nekonee smiling? Did Nekonee remember something fun?"

"Not really…" Shirone muttered, much to Kunou's disappointment she bluntly expressed. "What about cards?" she suggested. It's been long, but she should still remember a trick or two. "Can you play cards?"

"Ohhh! Yes, yes!" One thing about Kitsunes Shirone couldn't understand was how they never tire from wagging their tail. "Mommy taught her how to play!"

Shirone let loose of her smile. Having someone energetic around sure was something else. "Okay, what game did your mother teach?"

"It's uh…. Burrakujakku!"

"Oh… Huh?"

Break

"We're home~!" Normally, he'd said that to himself when he lived in that apartment. Another reminder of how lonesome living by himself was, and how he had gotten used to that lonesomeness.

But as a Caretaker, what's normal was Kunou's rapid footsteps or a loud 'Welcome home!' when she's watching her show should be heard anytime by now. The lack of which, made him worry a little—

Floof!

But all of his worries were swatted away by Yasaka's tails as they popped out right into his face.

And chest.

And mind.

And memory.

'Oh, gods.' They were as soft as he expected and perhaps more if he could register the fluffiness, before she turned around and said something to him in panic. He didn't know what she said as his mind was lost in the fleeting fleeciness of her tails, but Issei supposed it was an apology.

"It's alright Yasaka-san. I don't mind." He said with so much impassiveness that would put an expert poker player to shame.

"I'm so sorry…" She muttered. The guilt in her face was so evident that it tugged his strings. Coupled with her drooping ears, Issei might have to get his heart checked if this kept happening. "Maybe it's better if I hide them here as well…."

Never mind the previous surprises, this one took the cake.

"Please don't." Issei immediately said, partly begging. "Please don't go out of your way just because of what happened. I really don't mind, Yasaka-san. They're very soft." Smelled like her too. But Issei excluded this part as he didn't want to come across as a creep.

All nine of her tails straightened up, just like Kunou's when she's surprised. And then they seemingly bounced, just like Kunou's when she's happy, except Yasaka wasn't as volatile.

"Y…R-really…? You think so, Ise-san?"

"Uh…" Seeing her fervent red blush, Issei had no other choice but to turn away before he broke down. "Y-yeah."

But then she hid her cheeks with her palms and turned away as well, barely managing to reply with a whispered; "Th-thank you… Ise-san."

"Y-yeah…" Issei had to sit down. Soon. As soon as possible. Else his knees would give way and his resigned expression would crumble.

Thankfully, Yasaka retreated to the kitchen while he tangled his winter outerwear, reasoning that she had to prepare for lunch. However, his rest was not to come at that moment. He still had to carry the groceries there – which he did after standing by the entrance for a while, overall happy to be alive.

There wasn't much of an exchange as he placed the groceries in the many cupboards while Yasaka arranged what would be needed to cook. But needless to say, the both of them were very conscious of one another's presence. Neither knew what to say, and Issei would rather avoid an awkward conversation.

But then help arrived. In the form of a petite young girl whose messy white hair and drowsy look indicated she was asleep until recently.

Another sight stored right into his memory. "Hello Shirone-chan." he said, trying his best not to stare at her many cowlicks for too long. Or the faint redness of her cheek from sleeping on her arm.

"Good morning Shirone-chan." Yasaka joined in as she diced the meat. "Is Kunou asleep?"

"She's… she's asleep." She muttered, seemingly not fully alive yet. "...I fell asleep too... I'm sorry…"

It's unfair how they could equip their already deadly guilt-ridden expressions with their kin's characteristics. Those 'sad' ears would be the end of him.

"It's okay dear. She must have worn you out. "Yasaka hummed, "It's winter too. Is it true that Nekomatas like to sleep more during winter time?"

"Not all of them... But most of them do."

"And I'm guessing you're among one of them?"

"Y-yes..." A light blush splayed on her face, nearly causing Issei to drop a can of sardines. "C-can I help?"

"Of course you can, dear."

"You can cook Shirone-chan?" Issei asked as he settled down the last of the groceries in the cupboard.

The very end of her slim white tail flicked once. "N-not really... B-but I want to learn...!"

First day of her home stay and she already offered to help. While some might say she did that to avoid feeling like a freeloader, Issei believed she's genuine. There's a spark of interest in her amber eyes - despite the lingering sleepiness, and that's a will to learn if he'd ever seen any.

"Okay. I'll do my best to teach you." Yasaka smiled as she prepared a saucepan for the stew. "Do you want to make the broth, Shirone-chan?"

She nodded, and then said, "I don't know how…"

"It's alright, I'm sure you can do it. Can you put the bones in the oven please?"

There's no better and kinder teacher than Yasaka, and as they began to dance in the cozy white kitchen, Issei decided it was best to leave them. He wanted to watch. Oh he really did. It had reached the point where he felt as if he's going to miss a spectacular scenery.

But that'd make him feel conscious of not doing anything, and the kitchen was not big enough for the three of them to move around.

Excusing himself, he went to the living room. Scattered on the rug were jumbled playing cards, evidence of Shirone's method to keep Kunou entertained. A wise choice. He couldn't imagine her having to carry Kunou and make laps around the living room.

…

Now that he thought of that, he wanted to see it at least once as unlikely as it was.

Meanwhile, splayed on the sofa was the young Kitsune herself, all curled up and softly breathing. Her favorite small blanket hugging her snugly, and Issei smiled. Kunou never used her blanket as a blanket. She had always uses it as a bolster.

"She's a nice girl." Issei thought aloud, as he then picked up and tidied the playing cards. Then as he glanced outside the windowpane, he was frozen by the sight of a platoon of snowmen strewn along the backyards, with tiny pebbles as their eyes, along with their disfigured compatriots that looked as if they were brushed by something that was as lush as Kunou's tail.

But those were the lucky few. As Issei glanced further, he could see their mangled version, most likely the result of Kunou pretending she's Godzilla again.

Break

Days came easy and the moments passed slow. For every time either of the girls talked to Shirone, Issei's brain seemingly automatically recorded all of it. Kunou's excitement was honest and Yasaka's pleasantness was sincere. They didn't 'try' to make Shirone feel welcome; they didn't have to. She's comfortable being around either of them, and Issei's thankful for that.

Now the only question he had in mind was, if she's comfortable being around him. He didn't have Yasaka's balmy motherly warmth or Kunou's amiable eagerness. He also didn't have fluffy tails or ears, and he's a boy.

But, there was no use getting worried about all of these things. The more he worried the more he tended to mess it up – as such was learned during his early middle school days.

Sometimes, it's best to let it flow.

He was nodding sagaciously without knowing, until his workmate disturbed his pondering. And also, and most importantly, his break time.

"Say again?" Issei said, almost flatly. "I didn't catch it."

"Your friends are here, Issei-san." A uniformed Kiba repeated, hanging by the cheap door.

"Just call me Issei goddamnit…"

"R-Right…" Kiba gawkily said, "They're uh… They're Motohama-san and Matsuda-san. They said they wanted to see you."

Issei sighed. Of course. Of course it's the once and most probably still notorious M&M. Who else would dare pester him in his sacred work area. At least he had someone else to blame if his manager chewed him off.

"Alright." With much reluctance, Issei left his metallic chair. That was cheap. "Thanks for tellin'."

And so, Issei glanced down at the clock on the wall and made a mental note to return five minutes before his break was over. Putting on his winter jacket over his uniform and taking off the flashy red cap, Issei strolled out to the eating area.

Business was slow today. It was snowing after all. The looming Christmas was also a likely reason why the girls stopped visiting. There were more empty seats than seated, and spotting Matsuda's clean shaven head was as easy as finding his clean shaven head in a crowded place as long as the crowd isn't Buddhist monks.

A sense of danger shadowed over him as Issei took the brunt of their dirty look.

"What's up?"

Motohama huffed. "Heh. 'What's up'….?" He shoved his cellphone right up at Issei's face. "THIS. This is 'what's up', Ise."

"I get that you're jealous of my perfect eyesight, but I can't read this close either, Motohama."

"Shut it smartass… Siddown!" Matsuda said loudly, almost shouting.

And Issei did. Just because he didn't like standing. He'd feel like he's a waiter taking their order – and he's at a fast food restaurant. The customers serve themselves.

Continuing to eat his french fries, Matsuda shot a side-glance at the blonde employee. "By the way, I didn't knew you're working with that damn Bishie."

"Oh right." Motohama added, "How unlucky of you huh?"

Issei sniggered. "Nah, he's not that bad." His friends' eyes went wide in disbelief. "I mean it, alright. He's pretty chill."

"That's his Bishie power Ise." Motohama said all-knowingly.

"He's corrupting your mind."

"Ah, cut it out. I just don't like his face, not him as a person."

The duo looked at each other, and then at Issei, before they shrugged in unison. "Well, whatever you say man."

"Anyway, we're not here to talk about the Bishie. We're here for this." Again, his glassed friend pointed at his cellphone on the table. "Read that. Do you see anything wrong with that?"

Issei read the text. It was a text he had sent a few days ago, on the same day where they met at the supermarket. "Nope. Can't say I do."

"Are you blind?"

"Am I wearing glasses?"

Motohama scowled. Matsuda couldn't contain his amusement and snickered.

"Okay. Real talk." The former jock said, "See, Issei? A hot, hot, hot, lady is living next to your place. And you didn't tell us until that day. That's what's wrong."

"Uh huh." Issei replied dryly. "And you two have a girlfriend?"

They looked equally flabbergasted. Matsuda even gasped like the time he was accused for peeping for the nineteenth time and more.

"This and that are two separate things, Issei." Motohama explained, "If you have a priceless painting, do you not look at another painting?"

Issei thought for a while. "Last time I checked, people aren't paintings."

"…He has a point."

"Hey, whose side are you on again?" Motohama grumped, sending an unthreatening glare the two had grown accustomed to. "Argh—that's not the point here. Point is, you didn't tell us."

"Damn right." Matsuda got back on track. "Do you see the problem now?"

"Nope."

The M&M dueted a groan.

"Come onnnn mannn." Pled the baldy. "We're just jelly you get to live next to a hot neighbor. Meanwhile, the guy I live next to doesn't even watch the J-League."

"And the guy next to me keeps shouting at men kicking balls around."

"It's called football alright?! It's not just a game, it's an art." So stated Matsuda. "Like those games we used to play. Some people just don't understand it."

The trio nodded in silent agreement.

"What were we talking about again? Oh right… hot lady…" Matsuda muttered as he shifted a bit. There's only so much comfort a metal chair could offer. "So as I was saying, we want to know what's going on between you and Yasaka-san."

Wait a minute…. "Hold on, you didn't say anything about that."

"Well now we do." Motohama countered. "Come on Ise. Don't give us the 'I'm just her neighbor' bullcrap. 'Just neighbor' doesn't help other neighbor with shopping."

"They might if the neighbor is Yasaka-san though."

"Shut up Matsuda! You're killing my argument here!"

Issei didn't know what to say. He didn't have anything nice to say, rather. So he stayed quiet and listened. For the time being.

"Just get straight to the point!" Matsuda bemoaned, "What's going on between the two of you huh? Huh?"

"You know," Issei began, "I think, after all the shit we've been through, that is just our luck finally getting turned upside."

Matsuda exchanged a glance with Motohama.

"Just luck huh…? Well… I can't argue with that."

Issei grinned. He'd rather avoid any talks regarding Yasaka when she couldn't walk around freely just yet.

"Right? I mean, you two got a girlfriend. Somehow." Both M&M sent a crude glare. "And they're Katase and Murayama of all the people. I guess it's sort of like karma but nicer? I dunno."

"You know, that doesn't sound that far off." Matsuda said, rubbing a palm across his barely existent hair. "Maybe we are climbing up."

"Not just a 'maybe', we are." Issei cemented. "So, I'd say we all better make sure we don't do stupid shit so we don't slip and fall."

Those words were struck like a drop of water to a still surface of a lake.

It was quite a rare spectacle, to see three young men's conversation that began as a mild roasting and then a talk regarding a certain 'hot neighbor', ended up into a deep session of reminiscing their past actions and its consequences and integrating what they learned into their future actions.

"Should I get Ise back here, Chief?" asked one of the waitresses, presently waiting by the cashier and eavesdropping on the Trio with – practically every other employee. Including the cooks.

"No." Said the middle-aged manager with a solemn expression, gently shaking his head. "They're maturing."

Break

On that snowy day, they came to the fast food restaurant as boys. They left as men.

Issei had a lot to think during his walk back home. At first, he wondered if he wasn't a pervert, he might have more friends, but would they be the same like Motohama and Matsuda? Probably not. He'd probably be best friends with someone else. Hell, maybe even Kiba.

Then he wondered if he would have gotten a girlfriend. A real girlfriend. He wondered what his high school life would have been like. If so, he'd certainly wouldn't be beaten by the Kendo girls, or be chased by the girls of the Track team. Or be a live target practice of the girls in the Archery club.

But then, that'd mean he wouldn't ever feel what it's like running away from danger with two of his best friends running beside him, laughing and screaming at the same time. He'd probably wouldn't ever watch an adult video together and feel miserable together right after and lamenting their fate for not having a girlfriend.

His boots stopped crunching the snow as he stopped by an alley. The same alley where he first met Shirone. Same snowing evening. And then he thought, he probably wouldn't meet her either. Or Yasaka, or Kunou, or Azazel. Even if he did, it'd be under a different story.

Subconsciously tightening his grip of the plastic sheet containing the glorious double cheese burgers, Issei realized he might not have the greatest of life, but he didn't really mind.

He still had his share of fun and joy. His life was still nonetheless enjoyable.

"Hm?" He thought he heard something. Similar to a rustle of a sheet of plastic, and that couldn't be his as it came from that dark alley.

This was not something he liked; hearing things. Why? Because hearing something that isn't there is creepy for him. And concerning. He better get home fast if he's hallucinating things.

But there it was again. That same rustling sound.

"Damn it… what the hell is wrong with this alley…" As he walked closer, clutching the plastic bag tight, a mouse emerged from the darkness, before stopping as it saw him jumpstarting to a brisk walk back home.

He appreciated many things in his life, but that? That was not one of them.

The snowfalls had been softened by the time he arrived at the porch. Still cold, though.

Tapping his shoes and rattling the snow off to make sure he made as little dirt and puddle of water as possible, Issei then opened the front door, exclaiming "I'm home!" as he settled his boots among few other boots.

"Welcome home, Ise."

Expecting a warm reply was no longer a hopeful wish and simply normality. While that's exactly what he received, where it came from was not what he expected.

No. It's not Azazel. Azazel's voice was deep. This one was lighter, and older, and much less intonated, but not the least familiar to his ears.

"….Wait…" He then rechecked and noticed the increased number of shoes in the entryway. Those were two pairs too many. Neither of those were Azazel's, as he wore dress shoes.

He paused.

"Ise? We're in the living room!"

That voice confirmed his suspicion.

His parents.

They're here.

To be continued...

I think you can guess who's making an appearance next. No, I'm not talking about Issei's parents since they showed up now.

As I mentioned in the previous chapter, I hope you didn't mind the change of POV in some parts. I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or if it's a good thing. I just know that it's my thing so that's what I'll keep on doing.

My friend told me this fic got recommended at a site he's using. I never thought it would get recommended anywhere else, but it did, and I hope it'll stay as recommended. You might not think much, but it's a pleasant surprise of an achievement for me. A huge thank you to you guys on that site, and a hello as well! So if those guys are reading this; hello!

Maybe a goodbye would be more proper. Well, hello and I hope to see you all again- not just them, but to all of you readers of course.

Have a good day!

Unrelated to the story,

I saw the latest trailer for DxD Hero. I have to say, the Yasaka that popped there really, really, shattered the image of this story's Yasaka. Or more correctly, my ideal image of her. Because here, she's motherly. She's shy and simply enuf, a maiden.

In the trailer, she seemed more… uh… sensual. The mature kind of sensual and not Kuroka's kind of sensual. All I can say is that I'm lucky this story is set in an AU. It gives me more freedom in sculpting the characters' personalities instead of having to follow the canon.