<Nocturnal Harmonia>

[Bloodedge]

There was no way their latest level came from Miko's recent event. Those things always came with, or immediately following, the completion notice. Surely that would have happened long before Miko left the room, or even... as soon as Yugi and Ai finished their session. Beyond that, the bar was still slowly but steadily rising. "Those things are directly connected when they happen. EXP is still going up, like ten points at a time... every couple of minutes, but not exact and consistent timing," Yugi explained while observing the meter. "Isn't there XP from sex too? Maybe someone is doing something," Ren suggested. "Well they'd have to be getting off every couple of..." Yugi paused mid-thought, stopping his own naysaying immediately. "Maybe? Both people have to get off for that, though. It's just a little unrealistic for so much consistency," he said. Yugi had begun pinching the bridge of his nose, knowing there had to be some factor missing. He'd soon be raising a second screen to call Shido Makima. If nothing else, she'd know if anyone on their list was up to something.

Miko also wondered about the level they received. However, it seemed she was content to address Igris's dessert and... the questionable way she named the strongest Shadow of the Players' army. Both Miko and Ai took up spoons to taste, and both enjoyed the product. Igris, however, looked confused ─ if a Shadow Soldier could manage such emotion. He nodded to the order of making 25 more, but he didn't move immediately. Instead, Igris took up one of the ladyfingers covered in berries and cream, offering it to Ai as if suggesting a different method of consumption ─ the only way he knew in life to enjoy it.

[Apollymi]

Yugi was made confused by the additional level. He and Ren were pontificating over the matter and Tae offered an explanation which was apparently rejected. "Well, with that kind of output it could be a person killing things. Some taking longer than others or something like that..." Tae offered. Ren's explanation also seemed plausible but not very likely. By the time he made the decision to call Makima she would be, sitting in Gojo's lap, legs wrapped around his waist, bouncing on a cock that he was moving on his own because she wasn't going to do it. That call came through and her brows furrowed, but Makima didn't exist in a state of shame, so she'd answer almost casually. "Oh? We got the notification you finished your domain. But I figured you'd be busy with house things for a while longer, why are you calling me?" Makima asserted still casually moving with her arms slung over Gojo's shoulders.

Meanwhile, Igris was soon holding out a ladyfinger with cream and berries on the end to Ai. Miko watched this and Ai accepted it with wide eyes. "Sou ka, there's a lot going on in there huh?" she said to Miko who only nodded. "Arigatou, Igris-dono~" she offered the Shadow as she took that lady finger for herself. "Heading off to start my room. If you're bored later or can't sleep... you'll know where to find me. Also call me when dinner is ready, Mi-tan~" Ai managed as she wandered off. "Hai hai♪~ Ja, Ai-sen♪~" Miko said. She banished her spoon but took the goblet from Igris on both her hands. "Before you get started on the desserts, will you put on a big pot of water for me? I'll be right back to cook noodles and put everything together♪~" Miko asserted. Where was she going with that goblet, to shove a bit of dessert in a couple of people's mouths and question that random level.

[Bloodedge]

Yugi got through to Makima rather quickly, and what he got from it was... the sight of the chairwoman bouncing in a very obvious way. Her movements weren't her own, though. No, her body moved up and down simply because Gojo was busy thrusting up from beneath her. Either way, she asked why he was calling... and Yugi continued as if nothing was amiss. "We're getting EXP, and I don't know what's doing it. I can't rationalize any Bondmate being out doing stuff right now, but you'd obviously have a better grasp on who's busy with what. Whatever it is, something's being done for small amounts of EXP every two minutes or so," he explained. "And no, we're not busy with shit anymore. We bought the biggest house we could afford. Took everything."

Igris passed along that ladyfinger, only to be complimented by Ai and... addressed with undue respect. He nodded in a gesture of reverence, keeping posture even as the blonde left the kitchen. With that, Igris was ready to start on those 25 desserts... but Miko had another objective for him first. She needed a big pot of water, boiling. Whether she intended it or not, 'big' for Igris was quite different from the norm. He took up a pot large enough for an adult human to bathe in. While it was being filled with water, Igris beckoned over one of the mages to use its Blaze Skill and quickly start the boiling process. The pot was ready by the time Miko took two steps out of the kitchen, leaving Igris to begin producing more ladyfingers.

[Apollymi]

Makima was in the middle of a just for fun activity. She was on vacation and all. Still, she found it in her best interest to answer the phone call of one of her newest pets. And much to her own satisfaction when said call as answered he didn't even flinch moving straight into the potential problems of his call, without bringing attention to her bouncing body and obvious activity. As such Makima listened to his issue and gave it a bit of thought, "I'm not generally stalking all of you all the time. I can say anyone in this country that you're attached to right just now, likely isn't in a Dungeon. Since most of them have been involved in the mess of the last couple of days. And I give off days after successful raids and completions," Makima noted. "So, I suppose there are two questions, is there anyone in either of your current rosters that I am not currently keep track of? And is there a way for you to check without having to call everyone in the list... I can double check everyone I know, but it will take a few minutes to run the checks," Makima mentioned, she'd also have to get her phone which she wasn't truly prepared to do right at the moment.

At the same time, Miko was emerging from the kitchen with the rest of that dessert in hand needing someone else to have a taste. Yes, she realized that water she'd asked for was already being heated, but she figured she could take a moment or two to check on things. "Oi, open your mouths and eat this... it's fucking awesome♪!~" Miko said before pausing. She looked at Makima on the screen, blinked thrice and then went back to holding out a lady finger for Ren and Yugi to try. Beyond that point... she had something to say, "Don't forget to tell her we're dumb... she probably has cool access♪!~" Miko mentioned as well. At the same time, Tae was looking at the screen with curiosity. "Yo! I wanna try, I'll be right down!~" she claimed hanging up from her end to scramble downstairs having just returned from her office.

[Bloodedge]

Makima may not have been stalking everyone constantly, but she had the access and the records. None of the Bondmates she knew of were officially in a Dungeon at present. She asked only if thee was someone unaccounted for, and if there was a way to check without calling everyone individually. Yugi sighed. "Maybe a couple, and... yeah, that was another thing I meant to mention. It's possible for you guys to access a version of the System interface as well. Your title is special, so you've probably got different access too. Try menu, or status or... stuff like that," he mentioned, looking at a screen of his own to view the list of Bondmates from his own side.

Meanwhile, Ren was ogling the System screen, watching Makima bounce in an unknown lap and mentally inserting himself into the scene. He didn't speak up about anything until Miko reentered, demanding that he and Yugi open their mouths. Ren's mouth was agape before he even realize what would be done with it. Ah, she was passing along a confection of some sort. "Oh. Arigatou," he said, taking it for a tentative bite. At the same time, Yugi was grumbling. "Just covered that part. You bringing dessert out before dinner? Is this a normal thing for you?" Yugi questioned in a surprisingly non-aggressive way for him. Yugi took the ladyfinger he was offered, but he didn't bite it yet. No, he was holding it just outside of his mouth when he saw ellipses in the corner of each Bondmate's image. "... I feel it coming. And before anybody says anything, this is why video games have tutorial stages and a thousand fucking popups in the first few hours!"

[Apollymi]

Makima for her continued bouncing was being given more information. The words of Yugi came with the knowledge that Makima would have a special version of System Access which may make his question a bit easier to answer. "Oh, well let's see then... Menu~" Makima barely held her current level of composure, but she refused to misbehave in front of new pets or their pets. Upon speaking the world Menu though, Makima was given a screen to look at it included the ability to see her own profile. Her coinage which was equivalent to that of all the other household members put together and a tab which when clicked just gave her an entire tiered list of household members and their locations. She'd be quietly reading through that whle bouncing.

Just the same, Miko showed up in time to share dessert. Ren said thanks but she could see the amount of distracted he was in his body and in his face. Yugi, took his but didn't immediately eat it, instead choosing to clarify that he'd explained their stupidity to Makima and to question Miko's bringing of the dessert. "Usually I make it first so whoever is in the kitchen with me gets a taste. I didn't make this one, but I figured I should share because it's awesome♪!~" Miko chirped happily. Ah but there was another point of anger soon coming from Yugi. His words before he ate implied an annoyance which would likely lead to another explosion of gamer rage. "We haven't gotten an actual tutorial in a while... we got taught to survive and given individual goals but not anything like that since we got back..." Miko said thinking about it... but she still hadn't quite caught up to what was important. Instead it'd be Makima speaking as Tae slipped into the room and would receive the last lady finger in the bowl which Miko sent back to Inventory afterwards. "Sou ka, I can see everyone you two are connected to, and their current tiers, their Intimacy and Experience bars," Makima said with a smirk coming to her face. "I can even see their current location," Makima stated honestly. "The one gaining you experience currently, has a location unknown but the name, Irkalla,"

[Bloodedge]

Makima went right into her System menu after being informed of the ability. The end result was... exactly what Yugi had been expecting for a few moments, and exactly what he confirmed by clicking that button over Makima's own image in his display. Before that was to be addressed, however, Yugi took a bite of that ladyfinger. He and Ren paused at the same time, both reacting positively in different ways. "Good shit," Yugi said. "Umai!" Ren shouted from a couple of meters away. With that, Yugi was on to viewing System details he thought they should have been informed about. Eventually, he'd have to take a much deeper dive since Brainface wasn't giving them any decent handouts.

Whatever the case, Irkalla was the person gaining all that experience. How interesting. A connection to her was part of the reason they settled in this very forest. "Death goddess. Figures. Not many ways to tell what a god is up to," Yugi scoffed. He figured it would soon be time to call Irkalla for information, and perhaps another shot at raising her Intimacy. Ah, but that wouldn't be too necessary... because Yugi found himself looking at a screen connected to their established base. In it, there was an invite function that could be used by Bondmates of a certain caliber when their connected Player was present. "Huh. We have a summon button here. It's even friendlier than that shit we were given during the job-change quest. From a Level 1 base, we can send summon invitations to any Bondmate over 25%. Kinda weird, since they have to reach 50 to get a room... but pretty useful nonetheless. We up for a housewarming?"

[Apollymi]

Both Yugi and Ren had a taste of those ladyfingers and both had positive responses. Miko beamed, "Hai hai♪~ I'll pass that along, we're having full dessert-sized servings after dinner. It's probably for the best. I was going to make shortcakes but I have a terrible time choosing which kind I want so I would have made like 30 different kinds♪!~" Miko asserted. Tae for her part in this beamed silently, for a second. "I wouldn't turn down testing for desserts or anything else you want to experiment with... and I am gonna get so fat~" Tae mused as she walked off dessert in hand. Well, she did have other things to do. After Makima mentioned who was responsible for their increase in levels, she looked at Miko almost expectantly. "I'm making sure everyone gets fed today, even if they aren't here♪!~" Miko asserted with a casual salute.

Beyond that point, it was apparently the goddess of death who was responsible for that random level they received. "I wonder if that thing about death gods always being workaholics is true. She might not get to vacation very often," Miko mentioned seeming to think about it a little bit and wanting to give her a bit of time to have fun too. Though she'd claimed to not be very young at all, people could still be young at heart and deserved to have some fun. Miko's own Bondmate screens were soon up... and they were, interestingly detailed. Yugi was looking at something specific and while he did that she peeked over and thought about it. "I was planning to make more than enough food to feed a small army anyway, we could just invite most of them here and save ourselves a great deal of trouble. Also it makes sense from a dating sim perspective... like you'd invite an early girlfriend or boyfriend over for dinner or a party, but not everyone can store stuff at your place, and moving in is a big step♪!~" Miko pointed out with relative ease. "Also of this list that can be invited, I have to leave two off, one because he's a liability and the other because I don't know where he stands and I don't want that kind of complication today. Kinda sad though, I could use something like this to spawn one last event maybe but the ones most likely to give that I can't invite because they're too low Intimacy," Miko gave her last opinion before beginning to step off. "I gotta put this food together and have it cooking in a few... but if you need anything else, you can join me in the kitchen♪~ Oh, and maybe check on the tables and such, we're actually going to need places for everyone to sit if we're having them all over♪~" and with that Miko was off. There was now a party to be had and it needed food at the very least. "Oh? If there's going to be a housewarming, should we bring gifts?" Makima wondered not even questioning if she was being invited.

[Bloodedge]

Dinner and dessert would surely both be enough for a small army, so long as Miko had a say in the matter. It would be no issue of supplies if they invited both of their groups. At least now, they could get to the meal quickly instead of waiting for... apparently the production of 30 different shortcakes. "I wouldn't have even waited around for all of that. Definitely would've just skipped dessert," Yugi claimed. Regardless, his thoughts were shifting toward the matter of Irkalla. What could she have been doing to gain so little experience, yet gain it so regularly? Surely sorting through the dead didn't count as defeating enemies... right? Well, there was only one way to find out.

Of course, it would be no simple matter of calling the death goddess. The Players had every reason to bring forth their entire harems, or at least whichever members could be summoned. 25% was a fair enough requirement that would leave only a few behind, bar two other exceptions Miko had. "Wouldn't have invited them anyway. Especially him," he said to single-out Miyuki. Miko would be returning to the kitchen, but he had one thing to say before she left. "Go ahead and get your invites ready. I'm sending out all of mine," he said. With that, Yugi finally rose from the bed and got his breeches in order. The Shadow Soldiers outside had to be done with those tables and such by now. While he moved, Makima posed an interesting question ─ one that came with an interesting assumption. "You know what? Yeah. Since we're broke, I'll take whatever gifts there are. Hopefully tables don't have to be on the list. Anyway... you should be seeing a ping in just a sec," he warned. From Yugi's list, there wouldn't be a single person excluded from the invitation. He touched the display while walking, dragging numerous images toward the registered base point on a map, and then... a single button press would finish the job.

[Apollymi]

Miko was finding out about the impatience of a Yugi. He wouldn't have been willing to wait around for her to make that large variety of desserts if she'd chosen the shortcake route. "I mean I get it, but it wouldn't have taken that long," Miko muttered looking a bit shy. Oh well, she'd still end up making all the shortcake at some point in time, but she'd likely do it on a day with some free time applied to it.

Beyond that point and before they could properly question Irkalla they had to gather the harems for a welcome party. It seemed there was one member of Miko's current harem that Yugi definitely wouldn't invite anywhere and she knew exactly who it was by how he said it. 'Hai hai, I know... he's a bit too concerned with how things look to enjoy them properly," Miko said in agreement. She thought such a thing was also bad for her best friend, but that one claimed she was happy so she'd be leaving herself out of it, for the most part. She'd do what she could from the angle she had, until it either imploded or someone broke and conformed but Miko didn't expect the later. "I'll prep the list and finish getting the food ready!~" Miko chirped. She looked at her own screen and saw the list of people she could invite and only a few names were blacked out. One of them, was so close it seemed almost rude not to try and get him over the line. So before anything else a text message would be sent to one, Hayakawa Aki. Aki-nii!! ₍₍⚞(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⚟⁾⁾ I know we agreed to go out to dinner, but... could I interest you in a homecooked meal tonight? ( •̯́ ^ •̯̀)♡ We're having people over it's just for others in our group, nothing too crazy~ And I'm already cooking a whole bunch (ㅅ •᷄ ₃•᷅ ) While she waited on a reply she'd be compiling the rest of her list. At the same time, Makima was hearing that he'd accept a gift from her. "Oh? No arguments either. Good boy~ I'll wrap this up and prepare gifts~" Makima said, hanging up with the lad as well while looking at Gojo with a grin. "Come on now, make it a good one, we're swinging by the Association before heading over. I know something I can give them~" Makima offered with a cheeky smirk.