Chapter 2 - Just another noisy afternoon

speech:"like this"

though:'like this'

telepathy:-like this-

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////////MC POV///////

After that day we returned a few more times to the park and came to know that besides the Onoderas and the Oosukis, everyone else was going away, they had business in town and on a nostalgic trip, took their children to the park where they used to hang out.

It was a little tearful on the kid's side and I was made to hold some kind of locket with a promise of meeting when we all get older. As I ain't no dumb protagonist I just exchanged information with the parents and agree to keep in touch from time to time.

Raku had an end-of-the-world face when he had to leave with his parent leaving me talking with Kosaki, even more, after she gave me the locket which doesn't even have anything that important aside from emotional value, a picture of all of us, and a handful of notes that the girls wrote, it is more like a time capsule.

I also took Masato, Kosaki, and Haru to the orphanage they made many friends and now regularly go there to play, either with their mothers or with me. I still think it's weird that they trust in me, a five-year-old, so much. Because even though this world seems more happy-go-lucky than my Earth there's still a dark side to it, murder and other horrible things do happen.

But overall it happens way less than in my original world, some crimes, like child predators and people trafficking, are at an all-time low, it still crops up from time to time but it seems this society has way less tolerance for it.

Anyway, a few days passed since separating from most of the gang, we met other kids in the same park, funny enough the same thing as the first time we went there repeated, well almost the same this time a lot of kids already knew each other with only a few stragglers.

So I again rounded up the kids making it a big group, now I'm like the boss of the park...I feel like the Godfather…..Not a bad feeling if I do say so myself. At the start, I just did it for Rito and Mikan, I remember how they were in the series, Mikan with too many responsibilities, and Rito, well, he didn't have the best interpersonal skills.

One of the rules me and the girls set, before starting on this trip was:

1 - They are living being not characters.

2 - Don't use the timeline in the published stories as a safeguard.

3 - Always have contingency plans.

4 - Safety will always come first.

5 - Do not rely on knowledge from the stories and take it all as if it was the first time, except when family or someone belonging to our group is involved or when the OG is too fucked up.

One through four are quite obvious but considering that the group will get bigger one way or another we decided on these starting rules to not confuse too much the ones that will be getting on this multiverse train later on.

The last rule though, that is something more special, we already know that when we interact with these worlds, even if we enter the same timeline as written not everything will be exactly the same.

So this rule was made so we don't trap ourselves when using said knowledge and it be wrong and more important of all it was made to reinforce rule number one. After all, we start planning for those things based on how these people acted in the story we run into the risk of treating them as characters without realizing it.

So at most, we will use it just as a guideline without over-relying too much on it, so mostly we will act in the moment as we would be experiencing them, obviously, there will be some exceptions to this rule. Hang on Saki-chan we are coming.

Saibai:"Uahhhh I'm going to be late."

Cad:"Your breakfast is on the kitchen table."

Saibai:"Uoh thanks son, I'll take it upstairs because I need to…"

Cad:" I've already sent the manuscript and I've put out the order for the new materials at your favorite store, you just need to pass by there on the way to your office."

Saibai:"Damn it, there goes my respect as a dad."

Cad:"You've never had it."

Saibai:"Ack"

Ringo:"Oh shoot, where is that folder?"

Cad:"On the kitchen counter."

Ringo:"Oh thanks sweety, now I just have to…"

Cad:"Mom I already packed your traveling bag, your bento is next to your purse, the plane ticket is already in it and there's a copy of your schedule on the door of the fridge."

Ringo:"Ugh, why are you so good at this stuff, I was the one that was supposed to be the responsible one here."

Cad:"Don't answer your Father like that young lady."

Ringo, Saibai:"BUT WE ARE THE PARENTS"

Cad:"Stop shouting at the breakfast table, quit being such a drama queen you two, you are too old for that, what kind of example do you want to give to Rito and Mikan and finish your breakfast before you get too late."

Ringo, Saibai:"...yes."

They reply depressively while little tear streams run down their cheeks. Really sometimes it's hard to believe that this is real life and not some bad fanfic written by some loser…Uh? Do a hear a wall cracking? WTF??

Anyway, this is one of the times they are going to work and not get back for a while, normally they would send Rito and Mikan to the orphanage/daycare but after those trips to the park, now we will spend most of the week with either Mamako or helping out in Nanako's confectionary.

Normally one wouldn't rely on 5 and 4 years old to help out at a store but I'm me, so nobody is too worried about that, and Rito and Mikan are being properly trained, and cookies may or may not be involved.

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A few months later

At the Onodera's family confectionary sat a little Raku and his mother's lap he was fidgeting while stealing glances at Kosaki who was taking an order to a table, in general most people ask for a few things so we let the kids help, which they do with a happy smile because of the praising and pampering from the customers.

Anything too big either me, Nanako, or the waitress delivers. What I can't understand is how Raku, who still is a five-year-old is already in the crush phase but I guess it is just my bias because it is always the girls that are the ones in love from the start in these cases. Ugh there I go again treating this like it is a story.

Cad:"What are doing here old man?"

Issei:"What? Is my family not welcome in here?"

Cad:"The beautiful lady with her child will always be well accepted here, you on the other hand, we don't need a grumpy old man close to his expiration date in here to spook our customers."

Issei:"If they can bare your poisonous tongue and crappy attitude they will have no problem with me."

Cad:"At least they don't have the disgust of being faced with your balding visage."

Issei:"BRAT, I AM NOT GOING BALD?? THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME."

This is basically my interactions with Issei Ichijou, I keep contact with all the kids and their parents since that day and overall I have a great relationship with all of them, the problem with Issei is that.

He is a severe Oya-baka.

And since he noticed that Raku is interested in Kosaki, even if I keep repeating to myself that they are only five and that makes no sense, seriously why. He took the pains of his son as his own, since Kosaki gives a great deal of attention to me, and enters in quarrels with me quite often.

Even though we are in Nanako's store, she is by the counter with her signature amused smile holding her face with one hand supported by the counter.

Hina:"Aren't you going to stop them?"

Nanako:"They are just two dudes messing around."

Hina:"Cadmus-kun is five years old."

Nanako:"They are just unwinding a little, it is nothing much."

Hina:"And what about your customers?"

Nanako:"This is the main attraction of this store, people come from many places just to do something to get scolded or get into arguments with him."

She says while pointing to the other patrons that are sitting at their tables looking very interested.

Hina:"You are really enjoying this aren't you?"

Nanako:"Hell yeah."

After the third round of insults which there were no clear winners, we stopped, the customers were satisfied and returned to their food, some of them even commenting impressed that Issei managed to hold his own.

Issei:"Damn brat, we are here waiting for a friend of mine, he is coming with his granddaughters so we thought to come here so Raku could also meet his friends."

Cad:"Wow, you actually had an good idea who would have thought"

Issei:"Curse you brat, when don't I have goo-"

Nanako:"Bet it was your wife's idea."

Issei:"*cough* Onodera-san, what do you think of me?"

He coughs in embarrassment and tries to put on an honest face.

Hina:"It was."

Issei looks at his wife with a betrayed face.

That banter continues and to be truthful, I'm also here waiting for the arrival of this friend of his, and I'm quite eager to be honest, because….

Scatach:-Ugh, I hate you so much, Lisa.-

Lisa:-Hey I'm in the same situation as you.-

Scatach:-Your case doesn't count, you spend more than half of your life with him, it didn't pass that much time since you had died to when he did, and you spent most of the time after, watching him while playing games.-

Scatach:-I'm newly wed, this is my first real relationship after I spent an eternity alone and I've only spent a few years with him.-

Lisa:-...You do have a point, but take this time to prepare, you will be able to do so many things when you get together with him, do some porn research.-

Scatach:-....I will be right back.-

Ivy:-Fufufufufu I'm finally going to meet darling.-

Cad:-I also look forward to reuniting with you Ivy.-

That's right, one of the granddaughters coming is my Ivy the other is her twin sister. Ivy is really happy with her current family, they love her immensely alongside her sister and even though it is a politically strong family they have no intention of using her as a chess piece like in her former one.

From what she said her grandfather is quite a dotting one and her sister is quite dependent on her since she is the older sister, her mother is excentric and travels around a lot be she always makes time for them.

Her father is a very stoic man to everyone but when in private is quite devoted and a worrywart for his wife and his daughters, she says it is quite amusing to see such an abrupt change in attitude.

Ivy:-Oh there you are darling, you look so cute as a five-year-old.-

Being broken from my toughs by Ivy's commentary, I look at the store's entrance to see a stern old man with a scar on his right eye, accompanying him were two silver-haired girls at my age, one is looking around curiously and the other was looking at me with shining, heart shaped eyes.

Mikan:"Welcome to Onodera Japanese Sweet Confections, can I guide you to a table."

???:"Hoh, do you work here little one."

Mikan:"Hai I like to help Nanako-obaasan in the store."

???:"Indeed this is a charming store, I'm here looking for my friend."

Mikan:"Oh you are here to meet Ichijou-ossan?"

???:"Indeed, can you take me to his table young lady?"

Mikan:"Hai, please follow me."

Mikan who was close to the door greeting the customers came to the table we prepared next to the counter for the Ichijos and their guests. There is a little place for Mikan to sit close to the door so she can greet customers, they fall in love with the little girl's cuteness right at the entrance and since they are in a good mood they spend more.

Issei:"Senzaemon you old fox you are still alive."

Senzaemon:"It is still too early for me to go, not before I see my cute granddaughter achieve greatness with their abilities."

Issei:" You're still too serious old man, but I guess that is the quirk of every Nakiri, well, almost everyone."

Senzaeomen:"Let's not talk about him to not spoil the mood, at least he is on the line, for now."

Issei:"I'm with you on that, are these your granddaughters?"

Senzaemon:"Ou, the pride of me, Sōe and Leonora, girls, this is my friend Ichijou Issei and his wife Ichijou Hina."

Hina:"It is a pleasure meeting such cute little girls like you two, this little one is my son Raku, and this is his friend Yuuki Cadmus."

Alice:"Nice to meet you obaa-san, ojii-san I'm Nakiri Alice and this is my big sister Nakiri Ivilyn."

I was about to proceed with introductions for Nanako, her daughters, my brother, and my sister when a noticed a mischievous glint in Ivy's eyed. I have a bad feeling about this, the rings communication system functions similarly to a radio's channel frequency, you just have to preset the channels.

And the girls have a private one, I can enter if I wanted to as the "admin" but I let them have their privacy, in a healthy relationship having a me time is equally important to the moments we do things together.

But right now I'm 100% certain that Lisa said something to Ivy. She walked to me and holds my hand, looks at her grandfather, and says.

Ivy:"I'm going to marry him, grandfather."

Everyone:"........"

Alice:"WAIT WHAT but, but one-san, what about me, are you going to leave me?"

Ivy:"Don't worry Alice, you can marry him too."

Alice:"WHAT!?"

Issei:"hehehe You are done now hateful brat."

Senzaemon:" BRAT WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BEAUTIFUL GRANDDAUGHTER."

Nanako:"Damn, I don't have popcorn."

Hina:"...For once I agree with you."

Kosaki:"OKAAA-SAAAANN, do something."

Haru:"Uaaa, fighto one-san."

Mikan:"What? Will Oni-chan leave us?"

Rito:"Hey Raku, do you know what marry means?"

Raku:"I don't know, some kind of special friend?"

What the hell Ivy, really, don't smile at me like that, you still gonna get punished, and don't make an "I'm looking forward to it" face. Damn it what's with these kids, one time the girls are in a happy innocent mindset like any other of their age and another they all know exactly what marriage is, talk about selective precocity.

Cad:-Lisa my dear, I hope you prepare yourself for when we meet.-

Lisa:-Oh come on, I said that to help now we don't have to worry about other guys trying to get close to her.-

Cad:-She would never let that happen and you know it.-

Lisa:-Oh well, at least she got it on camera.-

I look to the side only to see Ivy recording everything with a cell phone,

Scatach:-Can't wait till I can see the recording.-

Cad:-Do I have to punish all of you?-

Lisa, Scatach, Ivy:-It will be our pleasure.-

Cad:".....*inhale**SIGH*"

Senzaemon:"DON'T SIGH AT ME YOU EVIL SPAWN, TELL ME WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY PRECIOUS GRANDDAUGHTER OR FACE THE WRATH OF THE NAKIRI FAMILY."

Issei:"Oh I will help too."

Hina:"You will do no such thing."

Issei:"...yes dear,"

Nanako:"whiped~~."

Kosaki:"Okaa-san, do something you can't let that happen."

Well, looks like this will be another noisy afternoon.

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