40 Chapter 31.5 - Concert (2/2)

A/N:

Edit: I'll probably rewrite this once I have the time. There were some things I forgot to write.

Here's part two. This one is quite short since it's the second part and I wanted to save the better ideas for later where I can use them in a better way.

I'll upload the next main chapter tomorrow. I just need to polish it up a bit and do some editing.

As always, thanks for reading, and enjoy the chapter!

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"You were great, Mama! I couldn't stop cheering the entire time!" Ruby said elatedly as she hugged Ai.

Inside Ai's condo, they all gathered around the table, filled with delicious food and two bottles of alcohol for the adults. Ai's concert had ended and after the after-concert events, they all went home to celebrate.

Ai giggled and returned Ruby's hug. "Mama appreciates your support, Ruby! What about you, Aqua? Did you like my performance?" She looked beside her.

Aqua nodded with bright eyes while chewing his food and drank a cup of water before answering. "The performance was amazing!"

"I still can't believe an idol group from our company got to perform at a stadium!" Ichigo shouted with a shot glass in hand. His face flushed red and his speech slurred slightly. The man had consumed half a dozen shots of the strong alcohol they brought the moment he got his chance. "Our dream's finally come true, Miyako! Hell yeah!"

Beside him, Miyako also had a flushed face. In her hand was a shot of alcohol that she downed in one go.

"Woo!" she cheered and raised her empty shot glass.

Chuckling, Jason drank his eighth shot and refilled their glasses. The alcohol had a 35% alcohol percentage, but he didn't feel a thing. Not even a buzz.

'This really takes the fun out of drinking alcohol,' he thought with only a small amount of disappointment. He was never really much of a drinker, anyway.

He noticed Ai yawning and turned to her. "You should go sleep if you're tired. Don't worry about the dishes and these two." He gestured towards Ichigo and Miyako with his head. "I'll take care of them."

Ai shook her head and gave him a bright smile. "I'm okay! Just a bit tired, that's all."

Jason slightly frowned in worry. He could tell she was lying, but it wasn't as if he could force her to rest. "Alright, if you say so."

"Mama, give me pats!" said Ruby.

"Okay. Yosh, yosh." Ai pat her head gently and Ruby snuggled closer.

"This is awesome! I can't wait for the next—oof!" Ichigo fell onto the floor, face flat, and struggled to stand properly.

Miyako giggled. "You're so clumsy. Here, I'll help—oof!"

Their rather pathetic states made Jason sigh and put down his drink.

"Come on, you two. You've drunk enough for today." Jason easily picked them up as if they were sacks of potatoes and walked towards the door. "You two can sleep on my couch or bed. I don't mind."

"Jason-san to the rescue!" Ichigo cheered and pretended as if he was a superhero flying in the air.

"Wee!" Giggling, Miyako joined in.

"I'll be back, guys. Don't wait for me and continue eating," said Jason.

Ai and her kids nodded in a daze.

"…Jay-san's really strong, isn't he? He picked them up like they weighed nothing," said Aqua.

Ruby scratched her cheek. "Well, he works out a lot, right? Hey, why don't we work out in the future as well?"

Ai imagined such a scenario and the image of extremely buff versions of Ruby and Aqua popped up in her mind. Horrified, she shook her head and lightly chopped their heads.

"Nope. I forbid you two from looking like mounds of muscle. Now, come on, let's continue eating. We'll go watch a movie after this."

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Jason rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed as entered Ai's condo. It took a long while to settle Ichigo and Miyako down, but he eventually got annoyed and just knocked them out with a light tap on the back of their necks.

"Welcome back, Jason." Ai greeted him with a tired smile. "Wanna come join us?"

Jason looked up at the TV while mentally noting her fatigue.

"You're watching a movie, huh? I'll join you guys after I finish washing the dishes."

"""Okay."""

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The faucet turned off with a squeak, and Jason dried his hands off using a towel.

Walking towards Ai and the kids, he wasn't surprised to find them sleeping while leaning on each other. It was a few hours past midnight and the entire night had been a tiring affair.

'They look adorable,' he noted with a slight smile before shaking his head and gently picking them up one by one.

He slowly laid them down on their bed. Ai was in the center with Ruby and Aqua sandwiching her.

'They are definitely adorable.'

Jason exhaled through his nose in amusement.

'Jin,' he mentally summoned, and Jin emerged from his shadow in his bird form. Jin was quickly becoming accustomed to their nightly routine.

'You ready for another night of patrolling?' Jason asked as Jin silently flapped his wings and landed on his shoulder.

Jin lightly pecked his cheek before nodding, and Jason grinned. Jin had an arsenal of useful abilities, and this one was one of his favorites.

'You know what to do.'

The shadows below him turned pitch black, and they sunk into it, leaving no trace of their presence.

Among the sea of stars in the night sky, a lone star shined brighter than any other. Suddenly, the star dimmed and two smaller stars occupied the space beside it.

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Ai, Ruby, and Aqua all slept soundly that night while Tokyo's resident vigilante continued hunting monsters hiding in human skin, further fanning the flames of the city's new urban legend.

The Vengeful Ghost. A spirit that takes those who have done severe atrocities to the underworld.

One by one, people who have committed severe crimes--known or unknown to the larger world--disappeared from society left and right. Those who were aware already aware of this unknown phenomenon had hidden themselves in the light, afraid of what was lurking in the shadows.

Unfortunately for them, their efforts were in vain. They weren't dealing with a simple vigilante.

They were facing the Red Hood.