Chapter Twenty-Two: American Glam:

“So what’s the plan?” Anna asked at the table.

“Hm?” Tsuzuki asked.

“How long will we be here?” she asked. “Where are we staying? What do we plan to do here? What are we doing?” Tsuzuki smiled.

“Already got it,” he said. The shinigami pulled out his phone. His wife raised her eyebrow. He waited as the other line rang.

“Hello?” a man’s voice asked.

“Shouto!” Tsuzuki said. There was a pause.

“Asato? Is that you?” the man asked. “How have you been?”

“Good,” the shinigami said. “And you?”

“Same as ever. Does Seiichiro still have a stick up his ass?” Shouto asked. Tsuzuki laughed.

“Pretty much,” he said. “Hey, listen, my family and I are on a little vacation here in New York. Can we stay with you for a few days?” Anna had a strange look on her face.

“What?” she asked.

“Say no more!” Shouto said. “You can stay at my place!”

“Thanks!” Tsuzuki said. “Where are you now?”

“I’m at work,” his friend said. “You can go over to my apartment whenever you’re ready. The key is under the frog statue.”

“Okay,” the shinigami said. “What’s your address?”

“I’ll text it to you,” Shouto said. “Hey, let’s go out for dinner this evening. Steak’s on me!” Tsuzuki’s eyes lit up.

“Great!” Tsuzuki said. “We’ll be there soon! Thank you so much. Goodbye!” He hung up, grinning.

“What was all of that about?” Anna asked. Her husband grinned.

“I got us a place to stay for a while,” he said.

“Where?” she asked. He took hold of her hand.

“An old friend of mine,” the shinigami said.

“Anna Tsuzuki!” the barista called.

“That’s us,” Anna said. She got up to get their coffees. Meanwhile, Tsuzuki’s phone buzzed. He tapped the screen. A little smile lit up on his face.

“Here you are,” Anna said when she returned. She handed him his hot chocolate. The shinigami looked up.

“Hm?” he asked.

“What’s on your phone?” his wife asked. Tsuzuki grinned.

“The address to my friend’s place,” he said. Anna read the text as she took sip. Tsuzuki looked so proud.

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By noon, the family made it to the Upper East Side. Tsuzuki looked at his phone.

“How much longer?” Anna asked.

“I’ve got a faster way to get there,” he said. He took hold of his wife and daughter. They disappeared into thin air. The family reappeared in front of apartment #828.

“Is this it?” Anna asked. Her husband looked at his phone. He looked at the door. Anna followed him inside. Her jaw dropped.

“What… is that?” she asked. Tsuzuki whistled. The light from the windows showed off the white and gold of the living room. Anna took off her boots and wandered inside. Tsuzuki bounced Kirika-chan at his side as he watched his wife.

“Wow!” was all Anna could say.