Hokori did not lose his frustration outside the king’s home. Annoyance replaced it thirty minutes later. Brigade mages took him to the city’s largest prison; the captured undead army needed checking.

“Bentham Penitentiary” began when a lawyer went against the Original Guillotine. Cruelly, they now worked hand-in-hand. If inmates had no penalty, they remained in their glass cells. Eternity or not, they felt no difference. Archived news tapes were the prime entertainment. Yet, it was always limited. Snores echoed from several floors.

Magic never worked in every room up to two hundred stories. Escaping triggered paralyzing runes in the hallways. Sixty thousand volts met the first who tried removing their olive uniforms.

Hokori’s eyes remained stern, even as he saw an inmate unzipper his bottom pants. “Geez… This place pulls no punches.” It was the only way to relieve themselves on chrome toilets.

Curiously, their lunch was subpar. Lentils, coleslaw, and cold fries had come a long way from missing inmates. However, it dawned on him the real brutality.

The air conditioning bit his skin the more he stayed. For all his peak defined build—hula hoops from the stomach. Near the vampires’ cells, he went past a massive glass pane. It shone the opposite extreme, and inmates toiled arid plots 24/7. Blinding had no end.

Hokori arrived and cleared his throat. The army stopped hanging above the ceiling. “I’d call y’all rats with wings that time. But I ain’t kink shamin’.” He chuckled, hands within pockets.

An overwhelming number trembled but not of his presence. The vampire lieutenant performed dogeza. “Please release us. You have the power to do so. Have us as brethren like old times.”

He caressed his chin. “Hmmm… Dunno, fam. That was four years ago.” He shrugged with closed eyes. “Hate to say it, but you deserve this.”

“Please!” he banged on the glass wall. “I don’t seek death. None of us do! My nephew needs food.” The waterworks made his men cry the same. One had a grandmother. Two had fiancés.

He scratched his head and sighed. “Well, ya should’ve thought about workin’ in a blood bank, bruh. Instead of suckin’ up to your hateful ‘Sister.’” He pointed sharply with narrowed eyes. “If all y’all say ‘We’re all children of the Gods’ right now, imma reconsider.

He chuckled again and crossed his arms. “Cuz ya gotta be real with me, and make it quick. My own nephew’s enjoyin’ life as we speak. Who’s to say your afterlife’s different?”

The lieutenant gazed at his serene smile for a moment. Tears welling again, he fell to his knees like the rest. “No, Hokori. It’s more or less Heaven for us.” He stood tall and cut his palm. “From now on, humanity’s our debt. We shall save plenty.”

He smiled and moved his bleeding hand onto the glass hole. The sacred vow got officialized. With a finger snap, guards stormed the scene. He turned. “Tell your warden to be at the Fools’ Theater tomorrow. Our courts were never great.”

Surprisingly, they saluted instantly. “Yessir!” The undead inmates got moved to solitary rooms for the next five months. Community service every two days, and they would become employees of the Coelestian Sacred Heart.

Hokori stretched and yawned. “Aight. I’m outta this hellhole.” He walked past the massive glass pane once more. The fake sun made the twelfth inmate below pass out—the other half, away.

The City of Gods did not have a better glow outside if any. Luckily, arrays on every street quelled the monsoon.

Even as grey clouds and thunder loomed, Hokori’s home glowed instead. The Minagawa couple displayed it the most in the kitchen. They swore Hayato’s birthday would be remembered—forever till the end.

Kakunō handpicked the perfect music to ease their workload. Through his screen, the mellow single of Sara Bareilles’ “Love On the Rocks.” It echoed even to the third floor.

The bustling and sweat had no end. Anyone would have mistaken it as belonging to a five-star restaurant. They had the would-be Smorgasbord down to a science. In fact, it had surpassed such small descriptions.

Blue flames roared louder alongside the flambe technique. Funnily, Tokino had a blue apron for Haruto’s red. “He’s #1” and “She’s #1” in front, respectively—courtesy of their also wedded friends.

Tokino flipped eggs and pancakes of perfect circumference. Her foresight was the key to her husband’s mincing of leeks and onions. Cutting them like butter was an understatement.

Haruto lit up three ovens and wiped his forehead. “Gotta say. This song’s divisive when listened closer. Maybe we can—” His eyes widened as he turned.

Tokino’s daring move with closed eyes went longer than usual. She wrapped her arms around him, “Do we really have to?”, then held his hands. “Care not to care, honey. The timer’s set to thirty.”

He smiled back and miraculously began the footwork before she did. Still, his wife’s moves stayed peerless. During the chorus, he spun her a few times. Suddenly, “H-Hey…!”

His mind whirled, eyes dazed. Tokino caught his fall and giggled. “The young and clever win the battlefield, honey. And so, my prize….” Both had eyes closed for another heart-throbbing move. In absolute timing, the chorus’ last verse played.

In the living room, Yukino’s pace raced faster. An equally reddened Calico shook in place and sweated bullets. Twelve now or eleven before, their souls remained the same.

The former slowly walked closer, hands tied in front. “Ummm… I-It’s been some time. Right, Calico?”

“U-Uh, yeah…!” he nodded quickly. “S-Say, wanna tap my forehead again?” He pointed with his right.

She nodded back and slowly moved her left. It took a few seconds for the courage to set it. Luckily, they smiled immediately, and laughter followed suit. Hayato observed both closely.

The fledgling lovebirds ran around to the second floor. Yukino slid down the stairs’ railing, but Calico used his innate ability. With a tap, she lost balance, yet her power canceled it. She landed safely and continued the tapping.

For minutes, there was no victor. They equaled dodging and swaying away from fingers. Once again, their magic had a stand-off. Then, an idea popped within Calico. His hands neared her vulnerable sides.

Yukino laughed like no tomorrow as he continued from behind. However, she lost her balance again. He gasped and caught her fall at the last second. Their eyes widened at each other; cheeks reddened instantly.

They backed away and bowed multiple times in unison. Apologies would have lasted a century—until Hayato stood between them. He laughed louder than they did and wiped an eye with a sigh. “That was funny, Sis. But cool, too!” He tiptoed to her ear. “You should…”

Yukino turned redder and shook her hands in front. “W-W-What!? I can’t do that. We’re too young. I-I mean, I’m too young!” She looked away in sweat and cupped her cheeks.

Hayato could hear the panting louder. He whispered next to the pirate child. “Go for it, dude. Once in a lifetime chance.” As expected, the latter shook his head fast. So, he gave him a few nudges time after time. It worked better than he thought.

Calico cleared his throat, which startled her to turn around. “Yukino… Mom told me any day’s good for a little challenge.” He kneeled. “It’d never hurt, right?”

She did not expect him to smile with sheer confidence. In fact, he looked ready. She stood and wiped her dress off dust. “Okay. But let’s take it slow.” She smiled back with a cocked head.

After his nod, they inched closer together. Hayato smirked from afar, ready to play Devil’s advocate. With a clasp of both hands, his magic activated.

Yukino and Calico felt their heads move on their own. It went lightning fast. Before they opened their eyes, the deed had finished. It was warm like no other, but their heads turned crimson. They covered their mouths and hid away in the living room.

Hayato rolled on the floor in tears. Opening again, he saw two people above. He stood and immediately hugged both. “I love you already, guys! Your son’s funny.”

William chuckled and patted his head. “That’s a good thing. He’s me in every way.” His pouting wife lightly kicked his ankle. “Okay, okay… half of me. Sorry.”

Grace sighed and looked down at Hayato, hands between knees. “Is the birthday boy ready? Your parents called minutes ago.”

His eyes widened alongside his smile. “Hm!” he nodded with raised fists on his sides.

In the dining room, Kakunō closed the backdoor. His hands calloused little by little. Sadly, a beast barged in chanting.

Hokori had brought a gift box the size of a motorcycle. He took a swig of gin and chuckled. “Damn… The girls sure had a revolution. I laid in bed as they took turns ‘til 5:00.”

His brother grunted. “Could you stop doing this?” he closed it again but louder. “You kept me all night for two days.”

He drank again and walked past him. “Dunno what you’re talkin’ ‘bout, fam. But right now, I’m in the mood for partyin’. Woooooooooh!” He threw the present alongside the others in the living room. Somehow, it never broke.

At the dinner table, all became mesmerized by the couple’s full-course artwork. It was like a mountain of every known earthly delicacy. With every onigiri and financier, they had butter chicken and Phat Si-Io.

Hokori biasedly began with his nation’s cuisine. The wagyu would have disappeared if Kakunō did not flash-step and taken it away. He proceeded with ramen and grabbed three clubs of jamón ibérico.

He complimented the perfect curing process the couple had done. However, Haruto heard nothing but gibberish and sighed. “Quit eating like that, Bro. You’re not L**fy.”

“Sure I can!” he smiled with a full mouth. After a long swallow, he raised a finger. “Watch this, boy!”

His and William’s family sat in shock. Not only did he eat every fat and lean, but the calcium and marrow got thoroughly devoured. He finished each within five seconds and leaned on his chair, hands behind his head.

Despite such horror, Hayato clapped his hands full of laughter. “Lemme do it, too!” Unfortunately, his mother intervened. Surprisingly, he understood the medical implications.

Tonkatsu became his favorite. Yukino scarfed most of the financiers, but he thought otherwise. She hugged him either way in respect. “And I’ll do it again anytime, Lil Bro.”

After giggling from her head pat, he cocked his head. “Where’s Big Sis, Mama?” He looked up.

Tokino set aside her borscht and held his shoulder. “Don’t worry, honey. She’s doing some errands. We can open your presents now if you want.”

His head cocked further. “But I’m not worried.”

Kakunō put down his latte. “Nothin’ important, Bro. She’s always like that.” He got up and bowed. “Please excuse me. I have things to do, too.” He organized a syringe box in the kitchen.

As the main door closed, Hayato’s curiosity worsened. He wanted to speak so badly, but nothing came out. Sweat all over, his mother squinted in concern. “It’s okay, honey,” she said faintly. “I’ll tell you something later tonight. It’s only natural—”

Everyone’s eyes and ears turned to Hokori, who banged the table with his bottle. He sighed and shook his head. “How ‘bout right now, kiddo? Wanna—”

“No!!!”

To think that Tokino did not cause the second interruption when they turned again. Yukino stood and panted. “Don’t you dare, Uncle. I won’t allow it!” Her parents rubbed her back to calm the sorrow.

He sighed again with droopy eyes. “‘Kiddos’ sure are a handful.” He gestured a hand in front. “How about this? When Hayato opens the last box, we gather in the living room. That cool?”

She paused for a minute. With a nod from her father, she reluctantly did the same. From afar, Kakunō held his right upper arm tightly. She figured the scars had something to do with all this.

Suddenly, Hayato changed the air and demanded they eat to their heart’s content. No one argued. Hokori grabbed four more clubs of savory delight.

In the parking lot of the Imhotep Inn, a red car landed. Nurses escorted the raincoated owner inside. The hospital was busier than ever as Icarus Folly victims had doubled in the last months.

Dr. Gregory chatted with the defector siblings. After his applause, they bowed and went. The Head of the Department turned to his most trusted colleague. “Early as ever. Aren’t you, Kenkō? I don’t have time for the bad news. But lucky for you, I got none.”

She took off her coat and stored it via runes. “Thank you so much, sir. And I never say that lightly.”

He nodded and walked past her—only to turn quickly. “Oh, yeah, um… happy birthday. You got your stuff ready?”

She returned the gesture and walked into the hallway with her longtime friends. The three showed nothing but sheer worry. It did not help that the air remained grim.

One corrected her glasses. “Do you need ‘country boy’ to be here? He probably won’t forgive you this time.”

“Don’t say that, Dorethea!” Another put her hands on her hips. “He keeps our Kenkō’s health in check. And I don’t want Florence to weep again.” She looked at her trembling friend, who hunched. Even a hug did not help.

Five minutes later, they arrived at the beast’s den. There lay a silver safe hatch the size of a mansion. Kenkō cast runic arrays on her right.

Numerous ball bearings rolled away from between the gear teeth. In return, all across the seam clanged back. The massive latches opened one by one from above. She took some breaths and turned. “Sorry, girls. I’ll be alone for now.” The sixteen-ton doors moved apart with one hand. “Don’t call Kakunō here. I only wish him peace of mind.”

After the thunderous closing, one corrected her glass again. “Was it something you said, Lillian?” The only response she got was a nose flick.

Inside the clean white “den,” the air moved colder. Kenkō stood before ten chrome pods that resembled coffins. Each floated just enough not to touch the floor.

She peered through the windows atop the pods. Below were holographic interfaces with 3D models of the people inside. “Gel viscosity, 100%…” she muttered. “Oxygen levels, stable. Blood pressure, 80-90.”

After checking for minutes, tears welled up with a smile. “It’s great to see you again, guys,” she hugged the pod in the center. She walked back and summoned a table. With everything set, she pulled out a basket from home.

At her chair, she breathed deeply again and stared blankly at the ceiling. Her head lowered after an hour.

“Alright… time to party….”