The rest of the day comes to an end, and night approaches.

  As I promised something in this regard, I head over to Aureas during nighttime and have a video game session with him.

  Lacking a second console, I thought I could guide him through the games I already played, but as it turns out, I was a bit naive in this regard, as I've severely underestimated someone who spent decades with just this one console and its games.

  Eventually, I called it a night and left him, promising myself I would get a new one, so co-op play would be possible in the future.

  Yet maybe there's a way to make my big gaming console work here.

  If his gaming experience doesn't carry over to those, I might actually have a chance.

  Yet now that I'm done, this leaves me with the rest of the night.

  I think I should get started with meditation.

  Like actual practicing.

  I don't always want to drift into eternal sleep, but knowingly achieving a state of perceived ease, from where I can find something close to rest and peace, that sounds aspirational.

  I start by doing some internet research.

  It's putting me off a bit that a lot of them actually promise to increase personal awareness, which is basically the opposite of what I want.

  I want to be distracted and be able to just pass my time in that state.

  Preferably, without once again starting time dilation in my realm space.

  Yet there are some promising ones.

  I try out the poses and do the stuff the instructions say.

  Honestly, I'm not feeling all that much.

  But maybe a tiny bit?

  However, that could be just my hopeful imagination.

  Yet I don't see a reason not to cling to this perceived success.

  But at some point, a professional instructor would be helpful.

  Would it be okay to just ask some yogi or monk?

  But that's a question for another night, as despite my questionable success, I at least managed to pass enough time for another night this way.

  So it's time for my morning routine.

  But as of today, the adjusted version.

  Now that my tears are back to normal, my morning program can become a tidbit more enjoyable.

  Finally, I can wash up and don't have to body morph to take care of my hygiene and body fluids.

  This is actually kinda nice.

  Thinking about it, this should even allow me to get rid of the shampoo bottle of doom.

  I didn't use it in quite some time, as I already mentioned, instead I shift my body.

  However, now I may think about a final resting place to dump this thing.

  I'm pretty sure something was up with this thing, the way it never seemed to get full.

  So, without further ado...

  I can't find it.

  "Muuum?!" (I)

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Instead of just answering, Mum comes running?

  "Yes, Iori? Is our world going to end?" (S)

  "I hope not, but actually..." (I)

  "Iori, I hope you're aware that I'm pretty serious about this." (S)

  "Well, I don't think it's that bad. But, you know my shampoo bottle, right?" (I)

  "You mean the one you usually fill with all your unholy spunk? I try not to think so much about it." (S)

  Did she have to word it this way?

  "You know, it's gone." (I)

  "Pffwhah! What?! What do you mean by this?" (S)

  "I mean, it's not where I left it, and I can't find it. It's just gone." (I)

  "Oh, shi-shadows. You mean the world could actually end? Do we need to pack somehow?" (S)

  "I doubt it a bit. At least, I hope it won't have any severe consequences. In the worst case, I should be able to stop whatever may happen." (I)

  Also, and take this as you may, my contract-induced 'you-are-about-to-invade-a-world' alarm isn't blaring off.

  I don't completely know how it works in detail, but I suppose I would tell myself if a part of mine were about to conquer protected worlds.

  Might at least be a slight advantage.

  "Is something wrong, you two? I heard some shouting." (Chr)

  Oh, Dad. Well, maybe he knows more.

  "Ehm, nothing special. Only, did you see my... shampoo bottle? I had it right there." (I)

  "A shampoo bottle? Sorry, no. Maybe it was thrown away?" (Chr)

  I sure hope not, or there's a risk it's going to eat the whole dumpster and next the whole city.

  For now, I'll have to hope that my sense isn't sending me false signals.

  I guess I'll have to make sure I keep an eye on developments.

  If a massive wave of black goo threatens to swallow the city, I'll have to act.

  I'd like to take care of this right now, instead of letting it smolder in the background, but unfortunately, the kind of surveillance I'd require to find my stuff would require a degree of widespread influence that would break a certain contract.

  So much for no apparent downsides.

  Honestly, if I don't have to see another water angel for the next thousand years, this is still going to be far too early.

  So, as I cannot do a thing, I have no choice but to take this loss of mine in stride.

  After this, it's breakfast time.

  I got some stuff from my world to fill our depleting reserves.

  I need to say, Mum got quite great at preparing them.

  Though, I'm asking myself if Dad actually can perceive those dishes as they are or if his reality bubble adjusts his meals as well.

  He doesn't complain, so I guess all is well.

  Therefore, I get through with it and am off to school.

  The bus is crowded as usual, but I made a lot of progress regarding not staring into other people's souls.

  Now that I've got a better understanding of how my body works, I can kinda switch it off.

  It's like I can control the spectrum of light I'm capable of seeing.

  It feels just right to do so.

  Not only because always seeing those glowing clouds can be pretty distracting, but mostly because it's just rude, in my opinion.

  I noticed how often I was judging people after looking at it.

  This sounds pretty biased towards me and is therefore not something I'd like to keep doing.

  Although I already did this to pretty much everyone in my environment.

  However, once I arrive, I'd like to turn right back on my heels.

  There's Chiaki, already waiting for me at the entrance.

  "Heeeellooo!!! Iiiioooooooriiiiiii!!!" (C)

  Sure, great. Yesterday wasn't already bad enough, regarding public attention, so Chiaki just had to draw every last gaze upon us.

  This is gonna be another tough day.