"Mama~ Papa~ Playing with Rio!"

A little girl with plum hair jumped happily, turning her cute little head as her petite body squirmed. Her left hand was holding a guy's right hand, while her right hand was holding a girl's left hand.

Passersby marveled at the sight of what appeared to be a young couple with an already five-year-old daughter. Unwilling to accept them as a genuine family, they assumed they were simply playing house.

But Shido and Rinne paid no heed to the inquisitive glances around them. They had more pressing matters to focus on.

"Rio wants to fly~"

Shido and Rinne both beamed at their daughter before hoisting her into the air simultaneously. It had been a year since they had enjoyed a moment like this, and they intended to treasure it.

The more Shido gazed at his daughter's joyful expression, the more he felt a profound sense of guilt. Marina's words from earlier echoed in his mind. Indeed, he hadn't spent enough quality time with Rinne or Rio since the events of a year ago.

They couldn't reveal their true selves to him due to his memory loss, but these two remarkable women, along with Marina, had steadfastly supported him from the shadows.

"No matter what it takes, I'll ensure they're happy!"

From the depths of his heart, Shido swore to make moments like this a more frequent occurrence in the future.

Noticing her husband's preoccupation, Rinne momentarily froze, then nodded in understanding. She picked up Rio and placed her on Shido's back.

"Yay, piggyback, Papa!"

Rio radiated innocence.

"Oh, right!"

Shido stammered, snapping out of his reverie. How could he become distracted when he was with his family? Everything else should be set aside for the time being.

... Doll shop ...

"Rio, are there any dolls you'd like?" Shido asked, taking Rio's tiny hand.

"I want dolls that look like Mama and Papa!" Rio declared with joy.

"Do you love your mom and dad that much?" An employee inquired, crouching down to Rio's level.

"Yes, I love them the most in the whole world!" Rio replied with a nod.

"Dear customers, would you like to participate in our special event today?" A salesperson approached the trio and announced, "You can create your own dolls. If they turn out well, you can take them home. Would you like to take a look inside?"

"Let's go in, Shido," Rinne suggested. "Rio wants to make two dolls by herself."

"Absolutely!"

Shido took Rinne's hand and entered the store.

As soon as they stepped inside, Rio began crafting her dolls, with two staff members offering guidance. Shido and Rinne stood behind her, watching their daughter with loving eyes.

"Let's make one for Rio too," Rinne whispered in Shido's ear, her warm breath brushing against his sensitive skin, causing him to blush slightly.

"Sure, since we're here," Shido agreed in a hushed tone. They wanted to surprise their daughter.

...

"Mama, Papa, Rio is finished."

Rio proudly displayed two dolls with a wide grin.

"Even with the help of our new friends, Rio made them herself," she announced.

In her left hand, she held a soft doll with short pink hair, big pink eyes, and two little arms. In her right hand, she clutched a fluffy doll with short blue hair, large brown eyes, and two sturdy arms. Both dolls lacked legs, replaced by a large opening that allowed hands to enter their bodies. They bore a striking resemblance to Yoshinon.

Shido and Rinne discreetly concealed their own creations behind their backs and approached the dolls, examining them with interest. Despite a few minor imperfections, they were exceptionally well-crafted.

"Well done, Rio," Shido gently patted her head and smiled.

"Rio, you did a wonderful job," Rinne praised her daughter.

"What a lovely family," other customers in the store whispered, casting envious glances toward the trio. "A handsome husband, a beautiful wife, and their charming daughter."

Rinne and Shido exchanged glances, their cheeks turning crimson. Then, Shido bashfully turned his head away.

"Hmm, Mom and Dad made something without telling Rio."

Rio pouted like a little dolphin.

"It's a surprise for you," Shido nudged Rinne and, with a nod, they both shifted their bodies to reveal the dolls. "Ta-da!"

Rio's eyes widened as she beheld a doll that resembled her and a larger one with long black hair.

"That's Rio!" she exclaimed, pointing at the first doll. "And Marina!"

"Bingo! Our Rio is so clever!" Shido and Rinne clapped in unison.

"But wait, there's more." Shido grinned and presented two additional dolls. One had long white hair, while the other had long blonde hair.

"Maria-san and Mayuri-san!" Rio identified them instantly. She was delighted to see her entire family represented in the doll family. However, she soon realized that someone was missing.

"Wait, there should be one more... Ya!"

Before she could point it out, a light-indigo-haired doll "jumped" onto her face.

"Little Rio is so adorable!" Shido imitated the voice of the famous idol and playfully pressed the doll against Rio's cheeks.

"Papa, you silly!" Rio giggled, covering her cheeks.

In the end, their dolls were all rated as "high-quality," allowing them to take them home for free.

... Kanda shrine ...

"This place seems familiar..."

Shido, Rinne, and Rio stood before an altar. They reverently deposited a coin into the offering box, rang the bell, bowed, and clapped their hands twice—a traditional gesture of reverence for the deity.

The shrine remained serene, with only the distant chirping of cicadas breaking the silence amid the surrounding trees.

After paying their respects, Shido gazed at the shrine's steps, watching his daughter hop up them. He recalled his visit here with Yoshino several weeks ago when they had discovered the Tree of Life and gained newfound powers. It was also when they had reunited with Rio after what felt like an eternity.

"Rio was overjoyed to see Papa back then," Rio turned and said, eager to share her story. She had wanted to reveal everything at the time, but Shido's memory loss had prevented her from doing so. Now, finally, they could talk about it with a smile.

Shido led Rinne and Rio to a granite bench at the highest point of the shrine. They weren't tired from the climb, but it was a fitting place to sit and chat.

"Rinne..." Shido began after hearing her account, a mix of emotions and thoughts swirling within him. He admired her for her dedication and the sacrifices she made to protect him and everyone else. However, he was also upset that she had tried to shoulder all the burdens. Although Marina shared the load, Rinne bore the most.

"Yes?" Rinne looked up at Shido.

"Rely on me sometimes too," Shido murmured.

Suddenly, he enveloped Rinne in a tight embrace, surprising her with the speed of his actions. She yelped but offered no resistance, burying her head in his shoulder, her body trembling slightly as she returned his embrace.

Rio was startled by her parents' unexpected actions, but before she could react, two sets of hands pulled her in, enveloping her in their collective hug.

At that moment, Shido realized why Rinne was the ideal wife for him. They both enjoyed cooking, doing chores, and shopping for groceries. Moreover, they both cared deeply for their loved ones and were willing to make sacrifices for them. It was indeed a dangerous trait, but their chemistry was undeniable.

...

After a while, Rio nestled her head in Shido's lap and drifted off to sleep.

Shido and Rinne gazed at their daughter's peacefully sleeping face, both sporting broad smiles but careful not to wake her.

"After today, we'll have to get busy again," Rinne said, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "Especially you..."

"I'm sorry," Shido scratched his cheek sheepishly, averting his gaze.

"Sorry doesn't quite cover it, does it?" Rinne remarked. She then playfully placed a finger on her pink lips and grinned mischievously. "Let me leave you a little memento."

With that, she lightly parted Shido's shirt and gently bit his right shoulder.

"!"

At that moment, the entire world seemed to come to a halt for Shido Itsuka. Rinne laid her head on his shoulder, kissing his bare skin with delicate and affectionate pecks.

'Smooch, smooch.'

Her kisses were soft and moist, brimming with a passion that could melt dairy products. She kissed his shoulder with the ardor of someone deeply in love, her gestures oblivious to her surroundings. Her lips, soft as strawberry pudding, caressed his skin lightly before softly latching on and suckling his flesh with determination.

"Rinne…"

The sensation of her kiss, coupled with the warmth in his heart, nearly made Shido swoon. Unconsciously, he tightened his embrace around Rinne, although it was a challenge to do so with Rio sleeping on his lap.

"Ah... that kiss..."

Rinne rested her head on his shoulder, continuing her tender ministrations. Her tongue delicately traced his skin, sending ticklish sensations through him. Her sudden intimacy was tantalizing, stirring his desire to reciprocate and engage in more intimate moments with her.

The two remained locked in this passionate embrace for what felt like an eternity.

"Alright..."

Rinne finally lifted her head, leaving a silver crystal-like connection between her lips and Shido's shoulder. At the tip of the string, a faint mark remained, a result of her playful bite and fervent kisses.

It wasn't just any mark left by lipstick; it was something more enduring – the Symbol of Love.

"This is..."

Shido stared at the mark on his shoulder, scratching his cheek shyly.

"Hehe, I've planted a strawberry on you, Shido," Rinne playfully pointed at the red mark. There was no pain, just an overwhelming sense of happiness that made him ignore any minor discomfort.

"Ah..."

Shido blushed, unable to tear his gaze away from the mark left by the love of his life.

"By the way, I can't save you if Miku sees it."

Rinne's playful reminder jolted him back to reality.

Of course, he could conceal it with his shirt, but he knew Miku well enough to predict that she'd likely barge into the shower room in the buff.

Wait a minute...

"Actually, Miku will probably leave her mark on you," Shido teased, affecting a mock-angry tone.

"EEK!?" Rinne stared at him dumbfounded, seemingly never having considered that possibility.

"But don't worry..."

Her adorable expression made him want to tease her more. He gripped her shoulders and stared at her intently, a resolute gleam in his eyes.

"—Because I'll mark you first before she has the chance to!"

Shido was no longer the meek and timid guy he used to be. When Rinne playfully teased him like this, he felt the need to strike back.

"Eh, Shido?" She looked at him with a puzzled expression, allowing him to guide her, as if she were a docile childhood friend being led by her lover. Only when he pulled open her shirt did she realize her situation.

"Wait a second..."

"No way! Brace yourself!"

From beneath her messy clothes emerged a glimmer of snow-white skin, as delicate as jade, revealing her breathtaking beauty. Shido lowered his head and gently bit her soft shoulder.

"Ah... Shido..."

She softly moaned, calling out his name, not resisting, but trembling slightly as she enjoyed his affectionate gestures.

And so, amidst this alluring atmosphere, he teased her shoulder with kisses, seeking to express his emotions just as she had.

She smells so good...

Shido thought as he licked her collarbone, which seemed delicate but warm to his tongue. He applied very little force in his teeth as he bit her shoulder, since he did not want to make her feel pain. He wanted to engulf her in his mouth, but was afraid of tainting her with his breath. Such were the complicated emotions he felt for the occasion.

When he finally released her, he felt a sense of triumph upon seeing the red mark, his symbol of love, on her fair skin.

But he couldn't bask in his victorious achievement for long.

"Look, look, it's the sunset!"

A child's voice made both of them startled.

Glancing down at their laps, they saw that their daughter had woken up, her drowsy eyes focused on the distance. Fortunately, she hadn't seen what her parents had been doing earlier.

Swiftly regaining their composure, Shido and Rinne helped their daughter sit up and look in the direction she was pointing.

A smooth blend of red and yellow painted the horizon as the sun dipped below the horizon, creating a serene spectacle.

...Supermarket...

"Shall we conclude our family date with this?" Shido chuckled.

After some quality family time, Shido, Rinne, and Rio entered a familiar location – a supermarket. As the culinary experts of their household, they sought to purchase groceries for their evening meal.

"It's definitely our style," Shido admitted with a wry smile.

Upon entering the store, a staff member presented them with a large teddy bear.

"You're the 10,000th family to visit since our store opened, and we have this giant teddy bear for you. Please accept it."

"Wow, this teddy bear is so cute! Mama, Papa, can we take it home?" Rio pleaded with her parents.

Shido and Rinne exchanged glances, and Rinne nodded.

"Alright, let's take it home."

They accepted the teddy bear and continued their stroll through the aisles, selecting meat and vegetables for a well-balanced meal. They felt fortunate to have received such a delightful gift, as it brought immense joy to Rio.

During their shopping, they encountered numerous sample stands offering free tastings of snacks. The staff members were captivated by Rio's cuteness and generously offered her chocolates and cookies, filling her cheeks with delicious treats. The childish Spirit had no objections and welcomed the indulgence, and her endearing smile only encouraged them to offer more. Eventually, Shido and Rinne had to intervene to prevent her from eating too much.

After purchasing the groceries needed, they walked home with all the harvested goods in their arms.

"Are you happy today, Rio?"

"Yes!"

Rio answered to her mother.

They enjoyed their family time together, even though it was only for a few hours. Nobody interrupted them, and they were satisfied with just that.

"I really wish we would continue family days like this some other time."

Rinne smiled.

"Don't worry, I will find Ren and make everything right. Then, I will make the elites of Ratatoskr pay for what they have done! Next, we will all go back to our real home. And finally, we will have a spectacular wedding together!"

Shido declared with determination, his voice firm.

"That's my Shido."

Rinne nodded approvingly. After confirming the right direction, she felt a sense of pride for her man. She clapped her fluffy cheeks, pumping her fists as if getting ready for something.

"With you by my side, I have the courage to face my actions as well."

Shido wondered what she meant by those words, but before he could ask, the trio were already in a hidden alley.

After making sure no one was around, Shido wasted no time activating Michael and sending themselves home.

In a flash of a second, they were back to their living room.

"We are home…"

Shido called out, but his voice ceased when he was shocked by—

—Eleven pairs of eyes turning in his direction!

…

A/N:

How are you doing, everyone? It's been two months since my last update! I'm so sorry for the lack of writing, since many things were freaking me out. Hopefully things will get better from now on.

Happy Halloween~