Moving on From Previous Burden

Once again, Shinjou served his time inside the Murushima Island due to the recent crime that proved successful as the Garuden Mask fell down on his boss's hand. A boss who always put on a dumbfounded look whenever he recalled back, especially his mind, couldn't even capture the specific appearance or even a glimpse of his face.

Nonetheless, Shinjou could still obtain a sense of happiness within his cell when he centered his sharp sight onto the prison cell wall in the front and stretched out a flexing leg on his sitting position. The prison cell wall brightly presented a bluish-holographic screen about a video call from his wife and his daughter, Sayato and Karin.

Moreover, Sayato and Karin occupied the comfy sofa for their comfy seats as the video call presumed within their clean-white frame tab. A tab smoothly hovered on top of the table inside their apartment room.

The girls expressed a joyful and yearning smile towards Shinjou who let out a sheepish giggle. The Inmates gleefully shook his head after directly witnessing the yearnful expression of both of them.

"Morning, Sayato, Karin, how are you right now?" Shinjou asked happily.

Sayato nodded, "I'm fine as always, Shinjou and how about you? Are you fine with the second time serving your imprisonment?"

"I'm still quite worried, to be honest." Sayato admitted with a regretful tone, "Since it's my fault too for allowing you to go to prison again."

Karin glared an irritated furrow and out loudly groaned towards her mother who colored her entire face with despair. Hence, The Girl jabbed her elbow to The Housewife's arm that made her grunt.

As Sayato glanced at her daughter's annoyed expression being exposed, she slowly chuckled in a gleeful demeanor and closed her eyes. The Housewife reformed a cheery look onto Shinjou's screen, washing away all the sour regrets temporarily.

"Mama come on don't mention that again." Karin scolded, "You're already safe from that stupid heart attack and please let's just enjoy our time with Papa."

Shinjou chuckled, "Karin is right. You don't have to be concerned about me because I'm…just fine right now."

The Inmate extended his arms alongside a widened-welcoming smirk projected through Sayato's screen. The Housewife could only blurt out ashamed giggling as she pinned her eyes to Shinjou's smirk.

Sayato let out a sigh of relief and sheepishly shook her head, succumbing to the yearning thought of seeing her husband well being. Even though Shinjou was now trapped in the prison cell, his smile lured The Housewife into declaring a chuckle.

Hence, Karin pinned a gladful sight towards her mother who was finally sealing the regrets in the depth of her mind. It also allowed The Girl to gaze at Shinjou accompanied with a cheerful grin.

"By the way, Karin, how's school?" Shinjou asked.

"School is fine as always, even though….some of my friends knew my father was a criminal." Karin replied with a slightly-sorrowful tone before she lightened up a jaunty furrow, "Luckily, most of them still become friends with me."

Shinjou giggled, "That's great."

"Speaking about the school, Papa." Karin announced, "I heard Mama wanted to apply for a job in my school as a teacher there. I was really happy to hear that."

"But….there is some problem which is…she didn't get accepted" Karin added with an unnerving tone. "One of the reasons….I couldn't really tell it to you."

Frightened frowns glossed over Shinjou's entire face and slowly switched his attention onto Sayato. The Inmate began to shakingly bite his lips as he continued to watch his lovely wife, levered down a crestfallen face.

"Sayato, I'm…sorry for ruining your entire reputation." Shinjou apologized with a despairful tone.

However, Sayato brought a shameful giggle to Shinjou who made him paint his face in a befuddled demeanor. The Inmate froze on the spot especially when he watched his lovely wife form a reluctant grin.

The Housewife cheerfully tilted her head and released an extended, encouraging smile onto her husband who was consumed by despairful thoughts. The Inmate brooded his stare towards the prison-cell floor, but he began to get up his head as the chuckling sound drummed within his ear.

"It's okay Shinjou, there is always a chance to get it." Sayato pursued with a mild-convincing tone, "Just like you did for finding the cure of my heart disease. You did a lot's attempts such as visiting a doctor nearby to the hospital which was enough for our financial situation until a crime boss you used to work with. Which was very lucky that he had the cure."

Sayato chuckled, "Unfortunately, it's not as easy as you think because you must do many complicated tasks and finally you do it. That's why Shinjou, I most likely will have the same thing as you."

"Finding the right and suitable things, right" Shinjou guessed with a diverting smirk.

Sayato happily nodded, "Certainly. I know I must find a job…."

Then, Sayato darted a proudful sight at her daughter and joyfully rubbed her head. Disgruntled looks spread widely through Karin's face the more she felt the rubbing on the head, convincing her to let out an annoyed groan.

"For you, Karin." Sayato admitted with a gleeful tone, "I needed to obtain at least enough money to pay your school and food too. I know you're going to accompany only in..a long time."

Karin grunted, "Okay, okay, Mama and please stop self-pitying yourself especially about this. Come on, I already reminded you many times of the heart disease even though it's more like the men from Papa's boss, but still though."

"Without Papa's hard effort on capturing the weird assignment, we might…never see you again, Mama," Karin spoke with a bitter tone.

Karin sheepishly giggled, "It's…quite true, Karin."

Although the relieving conversation between Karin and his lovely wife presumed, Shinjou happily opened a smirk when capturing every word or sentence that they said. The Inmate gazed down on one of his hands and he tightly clenched it, embracing the deep feeling about his perception towards the power he lost.

"At first, it may sound like a bad idea to get rid of my Oni enhanced power." Shinjou confessed within his mind, "However, it's not the case anymore. I've now realized…having this small family is….bringing more happiness than becoming a cage fighter or a damn…criminal."

"I never thought it would happen in my life," Shinjou added with a murmuring voice. "Furthermore, I think my decision on erasing that Oni-enhanced also….bitter relief too."

Thus, Shinjou embraced the cheerful and happy thought towards the video call with his lovely family by willingly releasing a widened smile. Losing the Oni power he had didn't trigger his bothersome or regret as the thought of having a family was much more important than continuing the tough life as the mighty fighter, Thunder Fang.

A secret identity Shinjou could now bury in peace with this right momentum. Although he remained in prison for quite a long time, The Inmate would still keep his joyfulness seeing both Karin and Sayato, safely kept hidden within his mind.

Tabata, with an unsatisfied look, decided to take a seat on the wooden table in the opened diner room of his house. The Officer swiftly took a sip of the black coffee inside the warming white cup.

He glared an uncertain look at his forehand that was painted by the black-ink Kanji, freeing despairful eyes. The more time his memory echoed the name Kazuto, the hotter he boiled up an inflating wince as he placed down the hot coffee.

"Shit, what kind of trick did you use, Kazuto?" Tabata complained, "You just brainwash your loyal friend or servant as if he never remembered your existence."

"Every information, data, and anything involving you remained nothing." Tabata added, boiling up the frustration within, "I bet you already killed somebody that is investigating you. What a secretive bastard you are, Kazuto"

Tabata groaned, "Damn it, I must be better than this, and I know this thought of continuing this investigation really, really consumed me."

Afterward, Tabata leaned his burden back onto the half-rough surface of his wooden chair and pondered on the wall interior above. The Officer slowly clenched a tightened grip due to the irritation of facing this uncertain crime case invading his mind.

"Hey old man, it's better to keep away the thoughts of solving Kazuto for now." A scolding voice of a female around Tabata's ear was captured by his sharp hearing.

The Officer retrieved back the pondering stare and steered his attention on the right side, convincing him to widen a surprised look. He witnessed his wife Minako who wore a pink tank-top and long blue-jean pants, enter the scene alongside the tiring face and sweats showered her forehead.

Even though she darted at her husband in a scolding demeanor, Minako constantly gasped a hefty breath. She quickly approached Tabata who just kept drowning through despair as she revealed a pitying look.

"I'm aware of the pain and frustration for not solving this crime, but there are still other important things to do." Minako insisted, "Especially that you're now also becoming a Superhero."

"Another important thing that is more effective for the future." Minako added, "Rather than stuck on solving the convoluted crime scene

Tabata chuckled, "What did you try to say, Minako?"

Minako sighed, "Simple answer old man, create a robot for your Onmyouji power especially when you go solo."

A confused look raised up through Tabata's face as he staggered and nervously swallowed his saliva. Minako swiftly let out an opened offering hand in front of Tabata's eyes before she tilted her head accompanied by a convincing grin.

"So Tabata, let's help finish the robot project that Satoru and I have been making for you." Minako pursued.

Tabata sheepishly giggled, "No wonder….I'm not regretting marrying and have a great son with you."

At first, Minakou loudly declared an annoyed groan to the room, especially after she took a glance at Tabata's alluring smile. An alluring smile that only heated up the annoyance within her head.

Hence, Minako rolled her eyes and Tabata joyfully declared a satisfied giggle before she retrieved back the offering hand. The Officer firmly stood up as he was being cautiously watched by his scolding wife who recently let out a drumming, hefty gasping.

"I bet the work is very, very, tiring, am I correct Minako?" Tabata guessed with a cheering tone.

"Yeah no shit, old man." Minako replied frustratingly, "I and Sado had been forging your robot project for almost four hours. I know you still have a patrol at Culture Day, but right now the shift is already done."

"Soooo….why don't you just help me rather than sitting and wondering about the case you cannot even solve," Minako added.

Tabata briskly chuckled and nodded, "Hey, okay, okay, I'll help right now."

"Anyway, thank you very much for creating that robot or even having that idea," Tabata exclaimed with his head bowed shortly.

"Yeah, you're welcome, but let's just go to the forging room." Minako firmly insisted, "Sado really needs our help right now."

Therefore, Tabata opened his smile and sharply watched Minako turn around and begin to walk away. The Officer smoothly followed his wife as he was ready to bring help on finishing the upcoming assist robot for presuming the Superhero life especially when he went solo.

…

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