Chapter Twenty-Eight: High Life:

The next day felt calmer. Shouto already went to work for the day. Annabelle also had work too.

“I’m leaving now,” she said. “Make yourself at home.”

“Okay…” Anna said.

“Love you, bye-bye!” the other woman said. She blew a kiss and walked out the door. Tsuzuki and Anna sat on the couch. The couple turned to each other.

“Shall we get going?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Tsuzuki said. They got up with Kirika-chan and walked out the door.

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The family went to an art museum.

“You sure you know where we’re going?” Tsuzuki asked.

“Uh-huh,” Anna said. “I’ve got the directions right here.” She pulled out her phone. Tsuzuki watched as she pulled up her app.

“Here,” Anna said. She plugged in “art museums” around the city. A long list popped up.

“Pick one,” Anna said. Tsuzuki scrolled through the list of museums.

“This one,” he said. Anna took a look for herself.

“The Museum of Modern Art,” she said. “You sure?”

“I guess,” he said. “Not your thing?”

“Not really,” she said. “But I’m willing to try it.” Tsuzuki turned to Kirika-chan.

“What do you think? Should we do it? Should we? Should we?” he asked. The baby looked a little lost.

“Come on,” Anna said to her husband. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tsuzuki said. He followed her through the busy streets with baby in tow.

The morning out was nice. The museum wasn’t too memorable. Ann wasn’t impressed.

“Not your thing, huh?” Tsuzuki asked.

“Uh-uh,” Anna said.

“Want to go now?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Alright,” the shinigami said.  “I’ll make it up to you with lunch.”

“Oh?” Anna asked. He smiled and took her hand.

“I have just the place,” he said. He led her out of the museum.

They wound up in Chinatown. Tsuzuki smiled to himself.

“Heh, hasn’t changed at all, has it?” he asked to himself. Anna gave him a curious look.

“When were you here?” she asked.

“The 80’s, maybe,” Tsuzuki said. “It was a long time ago.” He took her by the hand and led her down the street. After a noodle and dumping lunch, the family headed back to Shouto’s apartment.

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“I’m home,” Shouto said. Everyone was in the living room, waiting. Shouto grinned.

“Perfect, you’re all here,” he said. Tsuzuki held up his phone.

“What is this about?” he asked. “Why do we have to dress up tonight?”

“We’re going out tonight,” Shouto said. He put his hands up in the air.

“We’re going to the hottest club in New York!” he shouted. Tsuzuki and Anna looked confused.

“The club?” Anna asked. “We don’t party.”

“Come on!” Shouto said. “Live a little! This is one-dollar beer night. I don’t want to keep you locked up in the apartment.”

“But we have a baby,” Tsuzuki said.

“Don’t worry,” the host said. “I already called you a baby-sitter.” Tsuzuki and Anna looked at each other for a moment.

“What?!” they asked.

“See? All taken care of!” Shouto said. “Let’s get going!” He wasn’t going take no for an answer. What else could they do? Shouto clapped his hands together.

“Right! Let’s go!” he shouted. He turned and headed out the door.

“Yay!” Annabelle shouted. She jumped off the couch and followed behind. Tsuzuki and Anna looked at each other, confused. What could they say? They took their sweet time leaving.

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The pounding music made the bright emerald green walls vibrate around them. Glamorous sweaty twenty-somethings danced under flashing lights. The DJ was lost in his own music. Annabelle and Shouto looked right at home. Anna turned to Tsuzuki.

“Why are we here?” she mouthed. The shinigami shrugged and shook his head. Anna had an odd look as she turned to the dancing crowd. Annabelle was already dancing herself. Shouto couldn’t have looked happier as he assumed his position as king of the club. This wasn’t going to be a long night, wasn’t it?