A small cafe near the CapsuMon center.

  After spending a few hours clearing out the store of CapsuMon cards and getting dirty looks from all the kids and university students hanging around it, John decided to get a quick breakfast with Yudi.

  While the food was coming out, Aurora pyed with a stuffed CapsuMon plushy that Yudi bought for her.

  John wanted to call it Pikac- a certain electric mouse, but its name was something else here. If Meggie was around, he could ask his resident CapsuMon expert, but she wasn't.

  Whatever the CapsuMon's name, Aurora was gnawing at its ear with a smile, slobbering all over it.

  It was times when Aurora acted like that which made John reassured that his youngest daughter was just a very bright baby and not a reincarnator. Thankfully his life wasn't THAT crazy.

  After a few more moments, a young waitress came out and served their food.

  For John, it was the usual bck coffee with some donuts. Of course, since it was Japan the donuts weren't quite the same as the ones he was used to back in America, but it'd do.

  As for Yudi, the old man predictably ordered some green tea. However, he also unpredictably ordered a pile of sugary pastries.

  John blinked when it all came out. Of course, he had heard Yudi order it, so he wasn't surprised when it arrived. But seeing how his Father-in-w dug into the pile with clear joy and bliss... "So you're where Yue gets her sweet tooth?"

  Yudi chuckled as he bit into a cake pop. After finishing it up and sipping some green tea, he nodded and said, "I have always enjoyed the finer delicacies of the nd, Son-in-w. And the finest are undoubtedly sweets and pastries such as these. As for my dear daughter... Well, it was one of her few pleasures in life." He showed a faint pang of guilt and regret at that.

  "Ah." Sensing the awkward shift in tone, John cleared his throat and changed the subject. "So I'm guessing you've just been hanging around Earth then? Have you been back to the Three Realms at all, Father-in-w?"

  Yudi sipped on his tea and said, "I have been keeping an eye on the Three Realms, but you sorted it out nicely st time." He chuckled. "Although quite a few have attempted to cross over here as well, thinking that this nd is the 'realm beyond realms'..."

  John paused. "...Am I going to have to sort things out?" He'd rather not, considering things had just gotten peaceful again...

  Yudi waved his hand. "Worry not. My adoptive daughter's husband has created a sufficient system to block any unwanted and troublesome individuals."

  John nodded. "That sounds good- Wait, 'adoptive daughter'?"

  "Yes. Amadeus and the man who shares a simir soul to you." Yudi raised an eyebrow. "And when were you going to tell this one that his daughter had a pseudo-clone of herself?"

  "...It's complicated. If I had to create a map of all the retionships and how it all connected, it'd be more complex than even the obscure Myriad Transformations Divine Script."

  "Mm... if you say so." Yudi popped a scone in his mouth, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.

  John shook his head and took a bite from his pin gzed donut. Mm... it just wasn't as sweet as the ones he was used to. Maybe it was because Japan used a different sugar...

  "Baba!" Aurora looked at John and reached out her hand for the donut.

  John chuckled and said, "Only a taste, okay?" He grabbed a tiny crumb and pced it on Aurora's tongue.

  She gasped and let out a squeal of delight, happily smacking her lips and tongue as she enjoyed the little bit of sugar.

  John couldn't help but let out a warm smile at that. And in the corner of his eyes, he noticed Yudi smiling too, staring at Aurora with a warm gaze.

  The old man chuckled and said, "I have seen the miracle of life countless times in my existence... but it truly is something special to have family." He cleaned up his hands with a napkin and then gently patted Aurora's head.

  John watched as Aurora giggled and leaned into Yudi's hand. Then he nodded and said, "It really is." He paused and said, "...Though it's something that we can only really experience here."

  Yudi sighed. "Indeed. Weakness isn't tolerated kindly in the Three Realms. A tiny life such as this..." He let the words hang.

  John nodded. But then he said, "Enough about the past. Just what have you been up to, Father-in-w?"

  Yudi pulled his hand back from Aurora after she started to nod off again. "As I said before, I've been enjoying what this realm has to offer." He started eating his sweets again and said, "I make quite a decent amount from 'streaming' and acting as my usual haughty self." He chuckled. "The mortals in this realm are quite eccentric, but also quite lovable."

  John chuckled. "I'll give you that. People from here are weird, but they're the fun kind of weird."

  Yudi nodded. "They're also quite generous. To give so much for so little... it's quite an admirable quality." He looked at John and said, "To come from such a realm, I understand how you became who you are, Son-in-w."

  "Should I take that as a compliment?"

  Yudi chuckled. "Both a compliment and admonishment."

  John smiled.

  Yudi smiled and then looked at Aurora, now fast asleep. Then he looked at John and said, "I presume my daughter is busy at work as always then?"

  John held Aurora's hand, watching with a smile as she snuggled against it. After that, he nodded and said, "Yeah. Yue's having fun with her new job, so I'm watching Rory in the meantime." He let out a low chuckle. "Though apparently she's being exasperated with how some of the kids are acting. I kept telling her weird stuff would happen if she opened a school specifically aimed for gifted and talented..."

  Yudi nodded. "She has always had a habit of running before looking ahead."

  "Wouldn't have it any other way though." John smiled. "It's how we got together after all."

  "Indeed." Yudi sipped on his tea. Then he pulled out a phone to look at the time.

  Seeing that made John double take. Especially the ease with which Yudi did it.

  Yudi noticed and chuckled. "While this realm may believe their elders are illiterate, do not forget who I am, Son-in-w." He waved his phone and said, "Something like this is nowhere near as complex as comprehending the Heavenly Mandate."

  John nodded. "Right..."

  Appearances were definitely deceiving with him. And that must expin Yudi's appeal. A suave and tech literate old man had a certain charm to it.

  Mm. That reminded John that he still needed to work on getting Project Yuusha up and running...

  "In any case." Yudi paid for the bill by swiping his phone on the nearby pay terminal and said, "I will visit this weekend to deliver my oldest granddaughter's gifts. But for now, I must return home. Today is Viewer Divination day."

  John blinked and said, "Are... you seriously using the power of Heaven's Mandate to check the future and fortune of random people online?"

  Yudi flicked his sleeve. "They are my ardent followers, not 'random people,' Son-in-w. Besides, this is a much more productive use of it."

  "...I guess?"

  Yudi got up and then patted Aurora's head. "Until next time, Little One."

  Aurora shifted, mumbling with a smile.

  Yudi smiled back and then swept up his remaining pastries into a makeshift satchel with a few napkins. After that, he waved farewell and walked off.

  John watched Yudi leave. "I really should be used to these things by now, but-"

  "Used to what, Father?"

  John jumped out of his chair and looked towards the voice. When he saw the speaker, he let out a sigh. "The w of dramatic effect is still in py, huh? Hello to you too, Betty."

  Betty smiled. Tucking a strand of her crimson hair behind her ear, she looked at Aurora before saying, "Are you just out on a stroll with Baby Aurora? Or are you out scouting more vulnerable young women into your agency?"

  "Phrasing, Betty." John paused. "And if anything, it'd be vulnerable young men."

  "..."

  John felt his face heat up and he said, "You know what I mean!"

  Betty giggled. "Whatever you say, Father."

  John rolled his eyes and then finished his donut and coffee. After that, he got up and started strolling Aurora out of the cafe.

  Betty followed, holding a small bag of pastries and a white turtle mocha coffee.

  John shook his head and said, "Today really is catch up with the family day, isn't it?"