"Welcome back to my lair, little demon!" During their train ride home, the two had made tons of leisurely chit-chat which had thankfully done wonders to get Yoshiko back into high spirits; including but not limited to the part where Riko not-too-subtly scooted closer and let their hands brush against each other.

"Nice to see you acting more like yourself," Riko spoke with a delicate and beautiful cadence, her small yet genuine smile sending sparks through Yoshiko's demonic heart. She stepped in following an inviting gesture from Yoshiko and took off her shoes. "Is your mom okay with me spending the night?"

Yoshiko blew a dismissive raspberry and waved her hand flippantly. As if offended Riko would even ask. "Dearest Riri, I would hope you'd have faith enough in your dark mistress to not fret over such trifle matters. Of course while I am the most powerful entity which dwells here, so as to be courteous of housemates, I've sent an encrypted telepathic missive to the steward of this abode."

"I…so…that's a yes…?" Riko asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, she knows you're here. She isn't though, so it would hardly matter either way. She works at night and doesn't get back till morning. She must've left a bit after we did."

Riko hummed lightly. "I think maybe I knew that. So you don't have any adults around a lot of the time, huh? Is that how you turned out so…" She paused, seeming to have caught herself, "uh, quirky?"

Yoshiko scoffed, but the inconspicuous smirk she wore gave away her amusement. "Yes, I suppose extensive time alone might be one of the reasons I ended up, well, like this." She turned and began to walk towards the living room. "Enough of that though, it's movie time!"

Riko chuckled, and followed closely behind. "What're we watching?"

"Hmm… a horror movie?"

"Uh… No thanks."

Yoshiko's mouth curled into a mischievous, almost cat-like simper. "Whaaaat?" She asked, drawing out the word to really sell her disappointment. "My elite little demon can't handle a meager lil spooky movie?"

"It's not that I can't," Riko argued indignantly. "They're just… boring? Or something?" She wasn't even convincing herself, much less Yoshiko.

The gears were already turning in Yoshiko's head. They'd cuddle up on the couch and watch a scary movie, Riko would startle and cling to her like a scared little girl, and it'd be adorable. Besides, it'd been a while since she'd watched a good horror movie.

"Yeah? Well I promise not to pick a boring one. Leave it to fallen angel Yohane to pick the raddest horror movie you'll ever see."

Riko grimaced. "I… I…" Then she sighed. "Okay fine. But if I have nightmares tonight, I'm blaming you."

Yoshiko pumped her fist excitedly and scurried over to a box of DVDs. Riko got herself situated on the couch and watched tentatively as Yoshiko fished something out from the pile

"Behold!" She announced, and whipped around to present the masterpiece she'd retrieved.

She watched Riko squint at the questionable box art. The title read Jigoku and the box featured demons, torture, and nudity. "This looks…"

"Old?" Yoshiko finished for her. "It is. It's from 1960, but that doesn't make it any less spectacular!"

"I was gonna say inappropriate," Riko chuckled.

"Oh yeah, it's that too." Yoshiko smiled wide and bright, like a little kid given candy. She then popped the disk into the player. She grabbed the remote and hurried to join Riko on the sofa. "I don't wanna give anything away since we're about to watch it, but get ready for murder, sex, thievery, betrayal, dishonesty, suicide, and negligence all wrapped up in a beautifully aged package which turns to utter insanity in the second act."

"Sounds… lovely, Yocchan."

"Hell yeah it does."

The title screen appeared, and enthusiastically, she hit play.

---

A fair bit into the movie, Riko had, as expected, begun to cling unto Yoshiko for dear life.

"How did a movie from 1960 manage to make these scenes look so real and gross and terrifying!" Riko whined and nuzzled into Yoshiko's side like a frightened kitten.

"Not a fan of people being flayed, Riri?" Truth be told, this movie was most impressive in its practical effects and imagery. Especially for the time. None of the characters were of much note, but given how horrible almost all of them were as people, there was something morbidly cathartic about seeing literal hell serve them their just deserts.

"Uhhhhhggg I can't believe I let you talk me into thissss."

"Hey now, this is fairly tame compared to some of the slashers out nowadays." Yoshiko felt her face become warmer as Riko moved even closer to her, hiding her face in the nook of her neck to avoid looking at the screen. "H-hey, Riri?" Her eyes grew wider at the muffled noise of complaint which came from the redhead. "Uh… we don't have to finish if you don't want to. We can turn it off."

Riko sighed, and looked up to match Yoshiko's gaze. With a hesitant smile, she shook her head no. "Nah it's fine. I mean this movie is most certainly not my cup of tea but… this," she emphasized, motioning toward how close the two were to one another, "this is nice…"

Yoshiko chuckled awkwardly, her heart skipping a beat. "You uh… Y-you're allowed to cuddle me without having to be scarred for life, heh…" She rubbed the back of her neck. "You… sure didn't seem to mind cuddling at the concert…"

She felt lighter at noticing the way Riko returned her flustered blush.

"Yeah…" Riko paused, no longer paying mind to the graphic scenes playing out on screen but instead seeming lost in her thoughts. "Say… Yoccchan?"

"Hm?" Yoshiko answered with a gentle hum.

"What are we?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Y'know are we… like… a-a thing?" Riko questioned, clearly feeling embarrassed. Thank the heavens and fiery hell she'd said something though, the lingering uncertainty regarding their relationship had been drilling Yoshiko's skull since Riko had returned her kiss. "I'd… I'd like us to be a thing…" Riko added, quietly.

"I… If you're okay with me… Yes, I'd adore that." Yoshiko could no longer hear the blood curdling screams emanating from those on the TV, and it'd seem Riko had also drowned out the sounds of the movie.

"Of course I'd be okay with you." Riko answered with a crooked and embarrassed grin. "I've been crushing on you since we found Nocturne."

"Laelaps."

"Whatever."

"Really though?" Yoshiko wondered aloud. "Since that long ago… wow… I'm pretty dense, huh?"

"Oh Yocchan," giggled lightly, "you really really are."

The two fell into a comfortable quiet, wherein they simply looked at one another for at least a couple minutes. Despite the noise from the TV, the world may as well have been dead silent. Nothing mattered to Yoshiko but how pretty Riko continued to look.

The first to speak up was the datenshi herself, "So… we're girlfriends then? Officially?"

Riko's eyes practically lit up. "I'd like that, very much."

Red rushed to Yoshiko's cheeks, a light blush which perfectly communicated how thrilled and nervous she was to ask "so… that means… I can kiss you again… r-right?"

Riko nodded happily, "you don't even have to ask." And before Yoshiko knew it, their lips were touching once again. This time, there was no running away. She just allowed herself to sink into the feeling of Riko's body close to her own. She sighed, gleeful. Her heart raced excitedly within her chest. She felt warm, and happy, and most importantly, her usual bouts of insecurity which would have usually sprung forth to drag her down into a bitter pit of despair during moments such as these, was taking a backseat to how comfortable and happy Riko was making her feel.

Despite all the ups and downs the day had thrown her way, and no doubt, all the ups and downs which would continue to rain down on her as life continued to march on, she could think in confidence, in that moment, that it was yet another beautiful day...