Feeling the crystal in your pocket was a reminder of a certain little spirit.

Which brought you to your first order of business you decided to tackle today: The captured ghost girl.

While you let Yumi out in the past, these times were few and far in between, and with the crystal close at hand. Not to mention there was usually someone close by with enough Holy Magic to send her to the next life, like Gerty or Herta. Over the course of yesterday night you decided that Yumi could be trusted enough to be given a longer leash.

"Hey, Yumi." You took out the crystal she slept in.

"Yes?" She opened her eyes and flinched as a ray of sunlight passed over her.

"I'm gonna let you out more often." You decided to be straightforward with the news.

"Huh?" Yumi blinked a few times, disbelief plain on her face. "From the crystal?" That disbelief began to morph to a hope, but her expression eventually settled into hesitation.

"Yeah. Anything wrong with that?" You were starting to get a little concerned. This was even more uncharacteristic of her than usual.

"What's the catch?" She finally said.

"No catch." You frowned. "You're being let out on good behavior."

"Hmm." Yumi closed her eyes. "As long as I can return to the crystal sanctuary at my discerning, I shall accept this fateful proposal."

"Deal." You had no real issue with that.

"Morning, Master." A newly awoken Herta said after a yawn, entering the room. She'd heard the tail-end of your conversation. "Wait a second... Yumi, isn't that crystal literally your prison?"

"I find solace in that shimmering sanctuary." Yumi replied with some flair.

"But doesn't Master juggle it around and spin it like a top?" Your goddess pressed on.

"Why wouldn't he?" Yumi almost scoffed.

"To be fair, this is pretty different from your usual talk of bringing ruin and curses." You said to the ghost with a smile.

"Maste- I mean, John Doe," Yumi collects herself. "Simply put? You're strong. So strong, that it would not shatter my reality if you were impossible to defeat. And since you are powerful enough to capture a cursed spirit like me, it would be foolish to fight against you even if the enemy appeared to have the upper hand."

You didn't realize you Stockholm-syndromed her that badly.

Still Yumi seemed to appreciate your action. Now out of her prison, she levitated here and there.

Chuuni speeches held a much more optimistic (and calmer) tone than usual, only occasionally devolving into shouting and pouting. And yet, despite how much you bullied and teased her, you could tell that your relationship with Yumi was growing stronger.

She definitely was starting to behave better, too, as genuine smiles came to her face more easily. At the very least she was annoying everyone much less than before.

Anyway, you found that it was still early in the morning. And while Herta got up to make everyone some breakfast, you found yourself talking more with the ghost girl about a number of things.