Tuesday was up, Hiroshi and Julia were going out into the city for business, as Nata and Olivia had been grounded due to yesterday's trouble making, left at home to clean up the house.
Walking down the calm streets in the city, giving both some time to take fresh breath, and talk.
"I hope you have been enjoying the time at my place." Hiroshi noted, to which Julia calmly commented, "Yeah."
Hiroshi could note she wasn't exactly the most cheerful making the comment, and knowing he had to try to be more forward.
"If anything troubles you, I don't mind helping. I know our introduction wasn't... exactly the best, so I am hoping we can get on a respectable standing."
Julia calmly looked at Hiroshi, to see if he was being serious, yet only saw him being usual calm himself.
Contemplating on his comment, she decided to speak up.
"It's not that it's bad, but it is hard to just get used to this life after what I have seen and done. I may be old hag in age, but it still has a way to just stick on you."
There was moment of silence, both contemplating on her words, before she quickly realized what she fully said.
"I mean, I don't exactly regret it. Just..." she tried to find the words, but he could presume what she was meaning, "It's not the lifestyle you are used to?"
To his luck, his word seemed to had landed right, as she gave a light grin, before focusing on the trip.
"You know, you should try working out."
Hiroshi nearly stumbled upon hearing her offhanded comment, "Where did that come from?"
"From the fact how you try to care for those two, yet I bet you cannot carry them if trouble comes."
Hiroshi tried to make a comeback at her words, but only coming short and having to admit defeat. "I mean, true."
"And it's clear the entire household of yours needs more activity. Olivia for confidence, Nata for self-control and the man of the household to have the strength to keep the fort." she said in mocking tone.
Hiroshi wasn't sure what to say. He knew it was true, yet also insulted at the same time.
With a sigh, he muttered, "Fine. I get the message."
Julia just calmly smiled, looking at his annoyed face, clearly enjoying the display.
"HEY! IF IT AIN'T HIROSHI!" came out a shout, and to their surprise, a van went by, and they could see Azhar and Ingolf in the car with the were-dog having shouted out at him.
Hiroshi was just able to give a wave before they were out of sight or ear, and leaving the two of them in slightly awkward spot.
"Co-workers?" Julia asked, to which Hiroshi answered, "yeah... speaking of, if they are headed to the station, could have a talk with Azhar in hopes to get help in picking up some stuff."
"Picking up what?"
"Couple new beds, and could have all three of you alongside in shopping to decorate your room. Thankfully I got my paycheck, so there is plenty to burn, especially to get something for all of you, if you will be staying for long time."
"That's nice." Julia noted, as their way slowly lead to the station.
Upon arrival, greeting the front-desk, they made their towards Edith's office, but got stopped as Kat noticed them.
"So, up and walking it seems." She commented checking on him, before turning her attention to Julia. "We have some talking to do."
Julia only nodded to the prospect, but Hiroshi was taken slightly aback, "Wait, what for?"
Kat gave a tired look at him, clearly not wanting to deal with him now, "Business not related to you." before taking Julia and heading off without him.
"...well isn't that nice." Hiroshi muttered under his breath, having been left alone for now, as he went off and with knock on the door, entered Edith's office.
"Oh, it's nice to see you are ok." Edith happily spoke up, as she was processing stuff on the computer at her desk.
"It's was a lot of trouble, but yeah. In a one piece." Hiroshi commented, as he calmly walked and sat down by front of the desk.
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"Nata and Olivia couldn't come, yesterday they caused little bit of trouble, so having them to do some chores todays." He informed, to which Edith didn't seem to mind.
"No, it's actually perfect you came alone... well, presumably with Julia but seems Katariina already got her wings on her." to which Hiroshi nodded in affirmation.
"So, got any information from the museum? We did our part of investigation, but i'd like to hear what you gathered." Edith happily said, as she tapped away at her keyboard and mouse.
"Nothing much, really. The crystals of course would seem something the Chuvaki would want their hands on, especially if the members like Vaska are strong magic users. Julia said that she hasn't seen or heard of them before, so it most likely isn't critical if their attention wasn't on it. But my theory is on that they most likely didn't know about it. If it turns out they did know about it, either they have huge reserves of it, or keeping it top secret operation."
Edith gave a wide smile, as she typed his thoughts into a document, before focusing back on him.
"Excellent, that is what most of us were coming to by ourselves as well. However, anything from Nata?"
As she asked the question, Hiroshi froze for couple seconds, before realizing that he missed a good point to check, as he put his hands onto his face.
"I absolutely forgot. I left them to explore the museum when I and Julia talked with Kris. And my focus was gone after their trouble making." He muttered, disappointed in himself.
"That's fine. No need to beat yourself over it. When you get home, just ask her and if her words co-operate with our theory, just send a message with just number 1 to confirm it." Edith said, hoping to comfort his troubles, which to her luck did.
Hiroshi relaxed on the seat, taking a moment of a breather, before returning to business.
"Olivia is starting to get pretty good at reading, and wings seems to be healthy enough to be trained to be functional."
"I heard, Sophia will assist on giving her a routine workout tomorrow evening, and coming friday, you should bring her into the station, and we will have one of our lecturers to do a standardized test on her reading capabilities." Edith advised, as she returned to work on the computer.
"Good to hear." Hiroshi noted, before thinking up something. "Also, not sure if this is good time... but want to reschedule the... date, you know?" Hiroshi spoke up, clearly awkward on the delivery, as it felt like spelling misfortune again after failing two times on it already.
Edith was left to think for a while, clearly unsure how to take it.
She of course wanted to go for a while now, but it seems luck tries to keep them apart, but knowing it was the third time trying, she might as well try it last time.
"Sure, saturday then." She said, not confident on it either, but both knew it was neither of theirs fault.
"Just... promise to me that you will stay save, ok?" Edith asked, to which Hiroshi was afraid to answer knowing he couldn't assure it, however, "I will try."
"Alright, report your findings." Kat commanded sternly, as Julia calmly sat on the chair, having gotten her hand onto a cigar after so long of not having any.
"Whatever you thought, he isn't a pervert at least." Julia commented, before taking a deep inhale of the cigar, taking in the nicotine like it was her lifeline.
"That presumption I was lowering on, but I want to know everything else. I want to make sure he ain't a failure of an foster." Kat noted, slamming her wings on the desk, as she made sure the door was shut and no one else heard their talk outside.
"Look here sister, he is as a coward confronting them. I have seen my set of abusers in my lifetime, and I can reassure you, there is more likelihood for Nata to molest him than him decking them." Julia continued, blowing out smoke in relieve, "So pay me up, as that's all."
Kat slowly grinded her teeth, before admitting to it with a huff. "This is ridiculous." she muttered, as she dug an wallet out of her pocket, and after some searching, took out and handed Julia a hundred euro bill. "But I know he is hiding something. He seems to be holding back on many things, afraid of something or someone. He is hiding something and I know it."
"I can assure you on that, then. He has even been able to make friends with a death angel." Julia added, as she came to an end with the cigar, before snuffing it out on her palm and leaving the waste on the table. "No one could do that by chance."
"That just complicates things. He said he didn't do much in his teens, yet somehow he had been in spirit world before, and now very much in knowledge with an death angel..." Kat looked like she was about to rip her hair out, before taking moment of a breather.
"Cool it. He is just a single man. There are better things to worry about." Julia said with clear teasing, as Kat slowly calmed down.
"Right you are. Anyways, continue your guard duties as usual and make sure the fosters are kept save." Kat spoke up, before cleaning up, and letting Julia leave.
Hiroshi took deep sigh finishing up with Edith, taking steps towards the parking area.
"Why does it have to feel so awkward" he muttered to himself, still kicking himself on the mistakes and awkwardness he had, before finally arriving to see familiar van, with two men stocking up.
"How are you guys hanging?" Hiroshi called out, taking their attention. Azhar gave a light smile with a wave while Ingolf couldn't help hiding his excitement on seeing him.
"Amazing as usual. How is our local celebrity doing?" Ingolf said in teasing, as Hiroshi approached them.
"Thankfully recovered to good state. I came to ask if I could get some help."
As Hiroshi mentioned help, it took both of them by curiosity, "And what that may be?" Azhar decided to ask.
"Furniture stuff again tomorrow. Still have plenty of time to save up before i can afford a car myself, so I am willing to pay you, if you need." Hiroshi noted, to which they didn't seem to mind.
"Hey, if I get to taste more of your cooking, I am not complaining." Ingolf noted with a smug smile.
"No need to pay. More than happy to help a friend." Azhar happily commented, but as he thought for a moment, he came up with an idea. "Of course, if you don't mind, I could use someone to sit for our fosters on friday. Nothing serious, just three or four hours."
Hiroshi contemplated for a moment if to agree, considering the events already planned, but considering they were just fosters, it wouldn't be too bad even with his current problems, "Sure, why not."
Azhar and Hiroshi shook hands on the deal, "Thanks man. That means a lot." he happily exclaimed.
With their talk over, and them being still on their shifts, departure was quick as Hiroshi made sure to mark them down on his calendar on the phone to let himself know just in case.
Returning to the lobby of the station, gathering back up with Julia who just had peeled off the dead skin off the burn, making the mark unnoticeable by now.
Making sure they had their business finished, they started to make their way back home.

