Chapter 18: School!

Up till this point, it never crossed Eryn's mind whether the little monstergirls had ever gone to school. Monstergirls and schooling just didn't mesh together in his mind. Well, it doesn't hurt to ask, right? He drew his attention to the monstergirl who seemed the most curious about it.

"Lofie." Eryn patted her hair between her ears. "Are you interested in going to school?"

"Huh?" Lofie snapped her eyes back to him. "No, I'm not." Her tail wagged around intensely in interest, betraying her own words.

"I see." He chuckled softly. Her tail is telling me otherwise…

"School…" Iris stared at the group of monstergirl children on the other side.

"It's where children learn new things and play with each other, right?" Melty said.

"That's… right?" Eryn raised a brow, not expecting Melty to answer. She knows what a school is. "Have you ever gone to school, Melty?"

"Nope!" she shook her head. "I only heard about it from my previous owners."

Previous owners… maybe this was one of their better owners. Did they plan to take the monstergirls to school?

"Is school a fun place?" Lofie asked, her attention focused on the children.

"Fun, huh…?" Eryn crossed his arms. What were my little child days like? His younger school days weren't the most memorable, he admitted.

"Eryn must have already gone to school, right?" Iris said with a smile.

"… Mhmm." He puffed his cheeks out, a frown adorning his face. "You're right. I graduated from… senior high school a while back."

"Senior… high… school?" Iris mouthed those three words, two words which she didn't understand when they preceded school. "Is that a different kind of school?"

"Yes, you could say that." He scratched the back of his head. "There are different levels of school. I'd say those monstergirl children are… in a nursery school." Though he wasn't completely sure. I'm not sure if monstergirl schools follow the same standards as regular schools. He didn't even know that monstergirl schools were a thing. If it weren't for Lofie, that knowledge would be lost to the abyss.

"Nursery school…" Lofie's ears twitched at those words. Words she found interesting.

"Oh, a message…" His phone vibrated in his pocket, prompting him to open it up and check it. Azusa… she's waiting at the registration center. He quickly slid his phone back into his pocket. Better get a move on.

"Come on, everyone." Eryn lifted Lofie, sitting her on his shoulders. He then took hold of Iris and Melty's hands, gently pulling them to his side. "Azusa's waiting for us."

"Okay!" Iris and Melty said in unison. It fell deaf on Lofie's ears because the school still had her attention.

"Eryn." Lofie grabbed a fistful of his raven hair with her little hands.

"What is it, Lofie?"

"… Nothing." Lofie rested her chin on his head, nuzzling into it. Her ears and tail draped down, deprived of any lively motion.

"… Okay?" Eryn raised a brow, confused. It sounded like she wanted to ask me something…?

"Will you tell us about your school days, Eryn?" Iris asked curiously.

"Yeah!" Melty agreed, grinning. "I want to hear about Eryn's life in school!"

"… It's not very fun to talk about." He let out a deep sigh as some memories, which he'd prefer to forget, flashed through his mind. "Sorry, maybe some other time."

"Oh… okay." Iris's ears curled down. She observed her owner's expression, noticing the darkness in his gaze as he looked down on the pavement, staring into nothingness. Just seeing this filled her heart with guilt. Did she ask something she shouldn't have? Did something bad happen to Eryn in his school days? She only wanted to know more about him.

"I'm sorry, Eryn." Iris bowed her head, her eyes facing the ground.

"Huh?" His eyes widened in surprise. "What are you sorry for, Iris?"

"I… wanted to know about Eryn's school life." She said softly. "Maybe Eryn didn't want to remember it."

That's… not so far-fetched, honestly. It puzzled him sometimes how Iris could read his thoughts. It's true I don't want to remember my school days, but it's not that bad. I just didn't have a fun childhood worth remembering.

"No need to apologize, Iris." Eryn squeezed her hand gently to reassure her. "I meant I didn't want to talk about it right now."

"Oh."

"But after we get back home," he stared at the bright sky, "I could show you my school pictures. I have a lot of them."

"Oh, oh!" Melty raised her free hand excitedly. "I want to see!"

"Me too." Lofie nuzzled her cheek into his hair.

"Eryn's school pictures…" Iris's eyes lit up at the idea. Would she be able to see a younger Eryn? "Yes, I want to see them!"

"Great." Eryn smiled in relief. A cute smile suits her face. Honestly, he was embarrassed about going back to the past and showing the monstergirls her pictures, but if it was to make them smile, especially Iris, then he couldn't care less.

Let's meet up with Azusa…

…

..

.

After they met up with Azusa, they got in her car and made their way back home.

"So, how was the registration process?" Azusa asked. "It must have been smooth sailing, wasn't it? Considering it was your sister who oversaw the process."

"Yeah, surprisingly," Eryn replied, folding his arms together. "It wasn't as complicated as I imagined it to be."

"That's great to hear." She smiled brightly. "Now you and the monstergirls are officially a family!"

"Yeah…" his lips curved into a soft smile. "We finally are."

With the monstergirl ID cards, he could now bring the monstergirls outside to many places. Although, I haven't thought that far. Eryn preferred staying at home. I don't think the monstergirls should adopt my lifestyle.

"Say, Eryn…" Azusa slowed the car down.

"Yeah?"

"I'd like to hang out with you whenever you're free." She whispered, resting her hand on his. "Y'know, just like old times."

"Azusa…"

"I missed you a lot." She squeezed his hand gently. "I was wondering where you've been these past few years… and now you're right here."

"… Sorry." Eryn took hold of her hand. "I must have worried you a lot, huh?"

"You did." She sighed. "You better make it up to me for all the pain you've caused me."

"Heh." He playfully punched her shoulder. "I'll try to keep in touch."

A chilly sensation crawled up his spine. He felt like holes were being drilled into his skull from behind. Subtly, he looked at the corner of his eye and noticed the monstergirls staring at him. They, especially Lofie, certainly didn't appreciate the closeness he had with Azusa. She emitted a terrifying aura.

"Eryn, Eryn." Lofie pouted. "I want to hold your hand, too."

Oh, dear. Eryn let out a faint sigh. "Azusa, do you mind?"

"Not at all." Azusa pressed a few buttons, and his seat turned around to face the monstergirls. "I suppose it'll take some time for little Lofie to warm up to me."

Yeah, I wonder how long that will be. Eryn stretched his hand out and let Lofie grab it with her little hands. She gave a few tight squeezes, pressing her tiny thumbs into his skin.

Feels like a massage. Eryn thought. Is she imitating what Azusa did to my hand?

"So, your sister told me you guys had lunch together?" Azusa said. "How was it? Did you two catch up with each other?"

"We talked a bit," Eryn replied. "But… she had an urgent matter to attend to, so we couldn't have leisure time together."

"Ah, a busy woman, she is." Azusa nodded in understanding, keeping her eyes on the road. "Having to oversee registration for dozens of monstergirls daily, as well as being a prime member of the MCU."

"… Yeah." Eryn drew his head back. "She's got a lot on her plate…" Wait. It took him a while to fully register what she had just said. Something… really stood out.

"But she's amazing," Azusa said, her voice full of respect. "No one does it quite like–"

"Azusa, could you repeat your last statement?"

"Hmmm…?" Azusa tilted her head to the left. "She's amazing?"

"No, before that." He waved his hand.

"She's a prime member of the MCU?"

"The MCU?" Eryn raised his brows at such a foreign word. "What is that?"

"Oh, I thought she would have told you that." Azusa stared off into the distance. She didn't tell him, huh? "She's a member of the Monstergirl Containment Unit."

"The… Monstergirl Containment Unit?"

"Yep." She nodded. "You've never heard of it?" I guess he wouldn't.

"No, this is my first time." He rubbed his neck. Just judging from the name, it didn't sound like anything pleasant. Containment…? Containing monstergirls? What kind of organization is Riana part of? What do they do?

"I see." Azusa bowed her head, pondering her mind. "I'm sure she'll tell you about it someday."

"Huh…" He gazed at her expression out of the corner of his eye. He noticed she seemed hesitant to talk about this. Maybe I should ask Riana later…? He made a mental note of the MCU, the Monstergirl Containment Unit.

"We're finally home." Azusa stopped just in front of his house and unlocked all the car doors with an audible click.

"Thanks, Azusa." Eryn helped detach the seat belts off the monstergirls and lifted them outside the car one by one. "I really owe you one."

"You can take me on a date later." She winked.

"Haha, don't expect too much of me." Eryn got out of the car and closed the door. He walked to the other side of the car with the monstergirls.

"Thank you, Azusa!" Melty and Iris waved their hands as an expression of gratitude.

"… Hmph." Lofie crossed her arms and turned her head to the side. Clenching her skirt, she reluctantly looked at Azusa, mumbling faintly. "Thank you… Azusa."

Oh, wow. Eryn blinked twice in surprise. Lofie actually thanked her! He thought he had to jump in and encourage her… but I think she'll learn just fine.

"You're very welcome, my dear monstergirls!" Azusa grinned brightly at them. "I'll catch ya later, Eryn."

"See you." And thank you, again.

With their parting words said, Azusa drove off, disappearing in the distance as Eryn waved at her. They returned home afterward. He helped the monstergirls to take off their clothes and put comfortable clothes on them.

What an eventful day… Eryn plopped down on the carpet and stretched his arms outwards. I got to meet up with my sister, register the monstergirls, and met with Akiko again. He took his phone and sent thank-you messages to Riana and Azusa. Couldn't have done it without them.

He tossed his phone aside and let out a deep breath. I still need to buy a new couch… the living room felt empty without it.

"Eryn, Eryn." Lofie crawled to him and softly head-butted his stomach.

"Mhmm…?"

"Can I see Eryn's school pictures?" She asked, her tail wagging around.

"Oh, sure." He got up to his feet. "Wait here. Let me go take it."

Eryn went to his room and checked his drawers. Where did I put it…? It's around here somewhere. A good deal of dust had accumulated over the years. Wow, it's been a while. He sorted through his books. Ah, I think this is it! He pulled a few books out, some dust blowing here and there. Ugh, I need to dust these off. He lazily rearranged some books back in and closed the drawer.

Holding it in his hand, his thumbs rubbed against the hardcover. This feels… nostalgic. He didn't find any of his yearbooks, but what he found was a photo collection dating many years back. I think the monstergirls will enjoy this.

Time to take a trip down memory lane.