Haneda looked down at the craft project, her usual expression making it look like a glare. There was a certain care in how the frame was slotted together, the glue wiped away from the edges. The flowers’ petals splayed out not naturalistically, but so you could see every petal and it took up almost the entire frame.

She crouched slightly and put a hand on Tim’s shoulder, giving him an intense look while she held the frame in her other hand. “I’m going to keep this forever, so make peace now whether you can stand having me have it even when you’re sixteen and your mom comes by to talk to me and every time I mention that you made me this.”

It was a very odd look on Tim’s face, the flux between pride and relief, and horror and regret. 

The room was getting a little full, so with well-wishes, a hug almost scooping Kokichi right out of bed from Lake, and er...more well-wishes that sounded more like threats to get better and enjoy Unity from Denji, the not-a-couple and their friend headed out to continue their day’s celebration at Lake and Nazumi’s house, certainly going to end how it did every year, with Lake determinedly trying to bench press her not-a-wife while a wine-tipsy Denji cheered, jeered, and sweat from being surrounded by two very fit women. 

It was just as well, because Katsuki came by not too much later, regrettably just after Kokichi fell asleep, but not seeming to be too bummed out about it. Instead, she one-by-one reached into the bag slung over her shoulder, presenting her...gifts. A pair of glittery thread spools for Haneda, a knife grip for Tim, some multicolored hair ties left on Kokichi’s nightstand--and while he’d been embarrassed to ask every time, Ikuo, Kaito, and Shuuichi gathered the gifts Kokichi had hidden for the others, a bit unprepared, but gotten and made all the same, and in the case he was asleep while someone came by, like now, they were ready to be passed on--a stone polishing cloth for Kaito, a folded set of notes on looseleaf paper for Shuuichi, and…

Ikuo raised an eyebrow, looking up at the woman, a folded (and freshly cleaned, he could tell) handkerchief with an insignia in the corner that looked like a rabbit head in his hand. “...ya really kept this fer ten years ta gimme back?”

The guardswoman nodded without hesitation, a confident smile on her face. Of course, normally she’d return any lost items she found around the castle right away, but if Unity was in a few weeks anyway...as long as they didn’t seem too worried about it, it would be a helpful, nice surprise. 

Kaito looked at the cloth in his hands curiously… and suddenly said, “Hey, ya know, this is uncanny, but I had one just like this a few weeks ago! Thanks, Katsuki!”

Shuuichi sighed softly, before giving Katsuki an appreciative nod, looking through the notes curiously. Hmmmm… he wondered if she had… actually read these…

Katsuki got Kokichi’s gift, and everyone got one of Kaito’s goody bags, and as Katsuki wished them a good Unity and headed out, Kaito had looked back to grin at Kokichi and-

Oh.

Kokichi was out again. To be honest, his eyes had been drooping pretty threateningly for a bit by then, so Kaito understood, but still… well, maybe when dinner came around, Kokichi would have one last burst of energy to offer. And, if not, that was okay. He had still gotten to hang out with them and most of the family! If they needed to, they’d exchange their own gifts tomorrow. It was still a good day either way.

Kaito thanked Ikuo for staying for as long as he had, as the afternoon went on and it was looking more and more like Kokichi might not wake up again. He, Shuuichi, Ikuo, and Tim had passed the time playing with the board game that Aiichi had brought for Kokichi, assuming his husband wouldn’t mind, especially since it meant Tim wasn’t playing by himself in a corner. When Shuuichi had finally managed to finish the game, coming out in the lead, it was dinner time, and Kokichi still out, Ikuo had finally called it for the day, wishing them all a good holiday before heading off. 

Kaito tried to rouse Kokichi for dinner, but his husband had opened his eyes momentarily, staring at Kaito incomprehensibly, before drifting off again. Kaito would try again in a bit, if only just long enough to get medicine in him before sending him off to sleep permanently, but he and Shuuichi ate dinner with Tim first, talking about his schooling and the two bringing up various idle ideas about his future, before Tim finally went off to bed.

A few hours later, Kaito went to Kokichi again, tea prepared, and gave another shot in trying to rouse him… before hesitating. 

...now that they had a free minute, with no one here… maybe he should…

“...hey. Handsome?” Kaito said, looking over to Shuuichi, who was sorting all the new items they had in their room into appropriate spots, tidying things up. 

“Hm?” Shuuichi hummed, a tired but pleased look on his face. It had been a nice day so far. He liked the holiday. It was pleasant.

Kaito started to pop his joints, glancing nervously at Kokichi… he hadn’t asked… he had kept meaning to ask, but…

...asking Kokichi permission to do this had felt weirdly… wrong…

He’d still have to! Kokichi deserved a right to his input on a decision as big as this. But considering who stood the most to gain from it, Kaito had felt like putting the decision in Kokichi’s hands would be maybe a little shitty to Shuuichi. He hoped his husband wouldn’t mind…

“Kaito?” Shuuichi asked, looking over to him, Kaito startled as he looked up.

“Oh, uh… here, I have a Unity day’s gift… I mean, maybe it’s a gift. If you want it, I mean. And it’s okay if you want it! That’s why I’ve gotten it set up! Like, if you want it, I want it, ya know? Like, it’s not putting me out or anything, I am one hundred percent all about this! And, and, I hope you actually do want it, cause, I’m not… like, this isn’t just me being a perv, I think, I really… I don’t want you to have to-”

Shuuichi’s brow furrowed, heading over to Kaito and putting a hand lightly on his shoulder as he said, “Kaito, you haven't told me what it is yet. What are you so nervous about?” Then, thinking of the ‘perv’ comment, Shuuichi suddenly looked annoyed as he said, “Is this something from the sex shop? Did you find a sex shop?”

“No! Well, yes, but no! No, that’s not… ah, geez, just… here.” Kaito said, taking out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handing it to Shuuichi, blushing slightly in embarrassment, as he said, “Sorry I didn’t… wrap it or put it in a card or something…”

Shuuichi searched Kaito’s expression for a clue, before opening up the paper, reading it over…

His eyes widened.

There was silence for a bit. Silence that went on too long, before Kaito suddenly stammered out, “It’s not because I don’t want to use condoms! That is not what this is, before that becomes a thought. It’s not… It’s not for me. I’m trying to think of you and…” Kaito hesitated, before continuing on, staring down at his hands, “I made that shitty joke a while back. About getting you pregnant again. And I swear, Shuuichi, when I saw the look on your face, I thought I was gonna choke on my heart… and I couldn’t stop thinking after that, that once you have the baby that… that maybe one day I’d… I’d reach out an touch you and you’d be… scared or something… c-cause I know you didn’t want this and you won’t want to do it again and I-I don’t want something I do to you to hurt you like this again, I never want to be a danger to you, and-”

Shuuichi leaned over to hug him. Just pulling Kaito in quietly, small drops of tears in his eyes. Kaito tensed up for a moment, not sure what he had been expecting, but he just returned the hug, putting his big arms around Shuuichi’s shoulders and back, burying his head into his shoulder.

The two stayed like that for awhile, before Shuuichi sighed, pulling back. His eyes were red from the tears, but there was a reserved calm in them as Shuuichi said, “...are you sure about this?”

Kaito grinned uneasily, but nodded enthusiastically, “Of course I’m sure! I made the appointment and everything… so long as you’re okay with it? I can get this done in a few weeks, no problem!”

“But, Kaito… you want children…”

“And, I have them! I have Tim, and I have Baby, and I have Kokichi’s future feelings baby… three is enough, Shuuichi. Any more than three and they outnumber us!”

“But, Kaito.” Shuuichi’s face flinched, before he said darkly, “...things happen, Kaito. We just talked about this… something could happen. I could… I could always lose the baby. That’s always a possibility. This is never a sure thing…”

Kaito looked horrified by the very idea… but he also frowned. Standing up and grabbing Shuuichi’s hands, holding them into his own as he said, “...that would be a tragedy and I’d weep for years… but… I don’t see what that has to do with me getting the surgery?” 

Shuuichi’s looked startled by that, before saying, “If I miscarry, then… wouldn’t you want to-”

“God, what? No. No.” Kaito squeezed his hands, before letting them go, bringing his hands up to Shuuichi’s face and locking him into his gaze as he said, stern, “Shuuichi, this is a happy accident… but still an accident. I’m not… I’m not with you because you can carry my babies. That has nothing to do with us. If this pregnancy fails, we’re not ‘trying again’. That’s not a possibility. That’s not what our relationship is… if I really want my third kid, and Baby, Atua forbid, doesn’t make it? We’ll fucking adopt before we put you through this again. This is the one and only time… nothing, besides you suddenly, like, desperate to have babies? Outside of that? You are never going through this again.”

Shuuichi was shaking a little, before putting his hands against Kaito’s wrists, looking… a little overwhelmed as he said, quietly, as if he was trying to hide it, “You’re sure? It really won’t matter to you? You wouldn’t want me to get pregnant agai-”

Kaito interrupted him with a kiss. Small, soft feelings, trying to insist through touch… and when he broke the kiss, Kaito rested his forehead against Shuuichi, and said, “I am with you because I love you. I love Shuuichi Saihara, my childhood best friend, who followed me across enemy lines to live his life with me. I love you, and we are having a baby… but I don’t love you because we’re having a baby. I love you regardless… okay?”

Shuuichi shuddered… before nodding. “Okay… if you’re sure… okay…”

They stayed that way for awhile, before Shuuichi finally broke the silence, asking, “Does Kokichi know?”

Kaito sighed, stepping back and looking down at his husband, “...no, not yet. I should tell him as soon as I can… I don’t think he’ll have a problem with it? But he should…” Kaito hesitated, before looking guiltily at Shuuichi, “He should still get a say.”

Shuuichi didn’t seem all that alarmed actually, still a little overwhelmed with their talk, before saying, “Well, let’s see if he’ll wake up. Worst case scenario, we’ll just tell him tomorrow.”

“Yeah…” Kaito sat down next to Kokichi, before starting the process of gently rousing him, calling out softly, “Kokichi… dinner time, beautiful… you there?”

Kokichi groaned softly, but had an easier time waking up than he had earlier. With a slight shiver, he opened his eyes, happy to see Kaito as always, but sliding over to the window as he’d been doing pretty much every time he woke up these past few days, having an easier time figuring out what time it was by seeing the light (or lack thereof) than waiting for his eyes to adjust on their clock. 

Kaito straight up telling him what time it was, once the words filtered through his mind, helped a lot too. 

“Dinner time… So...it’s just us here now...right?” Considering there didn’t seem to be anyone else around, he was probably right. And while everyone had been understanding...Kokichi colored slightly as he pushed himself up against their pillows. “I...didn’t wrap them or anything...but in the box my rabbit’s in, under the plush...could one of you get the stuff that’s there?”

“I’m on it. Eeeee, do we get presents from our ‘Kichi?” Kaito asked, quickly leaning over to steal a chaste kiss from Kokichi before heading over to the closet. 

While Kaito went to fetch the items, Shuuichi smiled warmly at Kokichi, before opening up the drawer in the nightstand and pulling out a small wrapped gift. “I got you something as well, Kokichi. It’s nothing terribly special, but I saw it at the hobby shop and thought you might like it. Here you go.”

Placing the gift on Kokichi’s lap, it wouldn’t take too many tears before it became obvious that Shuuichi had gotten Kokichi a nice, leather bound journal, that when opened up, all the pages were blank. It was a good size, and Shuuichi quickly explained, “It can be used for writing, of course, but I thought it might make a nice art book as well, considering the hard backing… of course you can use it for whatever you like…”

Kokichi grinned at Kaito’s excitement but turned his attention to Shuuichi, thankfully having the strength and motor skills to unwrap his gift, and while he paused for a moment once he was what it was, it wasn’t long before Kokichi was touching against the smooth leather and thick leaves of paper inside. 

The young prince gave a soft laugh of delight, grinning up at his boyfriend. “Shuu-chan, this is amazing! I thiiiiink I’ll use it for both! Get some Shuu-chan style world-observation in, flex my art skills--this is an awesome gift. Aaaaand I think our heads might’ve been in the same place.”

Giving a nod of thanks to Kaito when he dropped off the items, Kokichi gently held out the pens he’d rubber-banded together, just to keep them from rolling around loose. And while he’d started with energy, his expression turned a bit sheepish. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want a new journal for classes but...however you choose to write, you’re gonna need pens. They - they all have different colors right now, but one of the pens can store extra cartridges, and they all have clips so you can hook ‘em into your journal directly, or on clothes if you’re not wearing pockets and...well, they tout a few different capabilities, but I figured you’d have fun discovering as you go. Happy Unity, Shuu-chan.”

The last item in Kokichi’s lap was, much like what Aiichi had given Shuuichi, a handmade booklet, though with a hand-sewn backing with loose loops, easy to add on to. Inside were all the Luminous recipes Kokichi could find that the secretaries had found for the wedding, but he transferred them with extra space, just waiting for experimental notes or twists a chef thought of in the moment. 

Looking up shyly, Kokichi offered out the booklet to Kaito. “I thought...maybe it could be something we could do together, sometimes. Like I could be your sous-chef, keep a soup stirring or chop vegetables while you lead the way.”

Shuuichi looked fondly at the pens, looking them over, before taking a dark blue one and asking, “May I see your journal?”

Then, opening up to the first page, he wrote in big, clean handwriting, saying aloud as he wrote “I love you, Kokichi. -Shuuichi.” before handing it back. “Thank you. They write very nicely.”

Looking over Shuuichi and Kokichi’s exchanges, Kaito grinned, “Awww, those are great, you guys! Alright, alright, let me see mine!”

Kaito’s eyes brightened considerably as he looked over the recipes, a big, loopy grin on his face… but he looked confused for a second. Actually recognizing some of the end meals and… “Oh!” He realized, before saying softer, “Oooooh, Kokichi… these are from Luminary…”

“Are they?” Shuuichi asked, peering curiously over at the binder, also looking intrigued as he said, “oh, yeah, look at that… pineapple pig roast is there, and… ooooh, do you think you’ll be able to make potato-mutton stew some day, Kaito?”

“I don’t know, maybe? I could try it.” Kaito grinned, before listening to Kokichi, getting more and more pumped about the idea as he said, “Oh, absolutely! That’d be so much fun! Oh, shoot, I gotta pick out some recipes for us to try out in here that you’ll like when it’s finished ‘Kichi… I mean, I guess worse comes to worse, we can just take a normal recipe and put a stupid amount of spice on it… heck yeah, this is gonna be so much fun! Thanks babe!” Kaito crowed, before leaning over and placing a flurry of kisses against him, before resting his forehead against Kokichi’s temple, laughing. “I’m really looking forward to this!”

“Kaito, don’t yell in his ear.” Shuuichi scolded, before looking around, “Where did your gifts go? I have one for you too, Kaito, but I put it among yours…”

“Oh, I just tucked them under the bed, let me grab them. Alright! So, Kokichi? I got you three gifts, and, admittedly, ooooone of them is kinda for me. Or, well, it’s a gift for both of us! Gift to gift alike!”

“Kaito… is it a sex thing?” Shuuichi asked, blankfaced.

“It’s not a sex thing! I didn’t have time to get a sex thing! I’ll get a sex thing later!” Kaito insisted, handing Kokichi his three presents before keeping the one Shuuichi had labeled for himself. One box was square and heavy, another box was big but light, and the last one was small and when moved, you could hear shuffling inside.

“I got the big one for you first, but then realized after I got it that it was really more for my benefit then yours, so… whoops! Tried again.” Kaito laughed, as he handed Kokichi the big box first. Realizing after a second the box  was too big for Kokichi to easily take apart himself right now, Kaito quickly said, “Here, let me unveil it for you. Ta-da-da-da!... Clothes!”

It was a few new, nice outfits, clearly picked with spring in mind. It was Kokichi’s preferred garish colors, and clothes wide sleeved and airy, but it was clearly three matching set of clothes, or three outfits, and there was a very sharp Kaito style to them, everything very put together and fashionable, despite how hard Kaito had tried to keep Kokichi’s tastes in mind. “I thought they’d look cute! And they will! But, if you hate them, I have the receipt, we can return them, no worries… but you shouldn’t! Because they’ll look great!”

Kokichi couldn’t stop smiling, just looking at the first page in his new journal. He didn’t need to wait more than a moment of the ink to dry--he’d tested all the pens the stationery store had to offer, wanting to get Shuuichi the best he could find--but he still kept the page open, knowing that it’d bring a similar smile to his face every time he opened in in the future. 

And...it was enough not to drop his smile too much as he watched Kaito look through the booklet in confusion, hoping he hadn’t just...been totally on the wrong track. With every passing month, Kaito had found a new dish or just something about Dicean cooking in general that he liked but...Kokichi had always assumed that his playful griping meant that he still really liked Luminous cuisine. Missed it, and would want to replicate it. 

But it seemed the confusion was just confusion in the simplest sense, as Shuuichi leaned over and the two dual-citizens reminisced over dishes. Kokichi let out a little sigh of relief before laughing a little at the flurry of kisses sent his way. “I’ve always heard that things you make yourself taste best...but I might keep the salt and pepper by me when we eat.”

Kokichi was a little surprised as Kaito set three gifts in front of him, feeling a little overwhelmed by the generosity, but...not enough to keep from giving Kaito a loving, thankful smile--especially when he helped with unwrapping what Kokichi couldn’t muster. 

And...Kokichi looked through the garments, feeling the cloth and looking at the cuts and...they really weren’t bad at all. Some of the pieces Kokichi definitely would’ve picked out for himself, actually. But when he looked up, he could only smirk at his husband. “You do realize I’m never gonna wear these all together the way you set them out, right? Aaaaah, my darling husband, getting me pretty clothes that I’m gonna wear the shit out of in so many ways he never anticipated...nihihihi!”

“What!? Noooo, but they’re so nice together! At least wear them as an outfit once!” Kaito fussed, looking a little aghast, while Shuuichi quietly laughed from the other side of the bed. 

Pouting over at his equally unhelpful boyfriend, Kaito suddenly lit up as he said, “Should I open your present, Shuuichi, before Kokichi opens the rest of his?”

Shuuichi seemed to consider it, before shaking his head. “It’s not much, it can wait. What else did you get Kokichi?”

“Okay, okay, so, my next attempt at a nice present, I think, is much better, but then you said that stuff about being able to do it together and, I mean, I couldn’t see very many ways we could share this, sooooo, here you go! Attempt number two!” Kaito said, lifting the heavy box and, thinking better of it, putting it to Kokichi’s side as he asked, “Want me to open this one too?”

When Kokichi gave him a small, patient nod, Kaito was quick to undo the wrapping, tossing the paper one the ground before revealing… “It’s all tucked away now, but this box will… uh, here, let me show you!”

Quickly Kaito put the long, rectangle wooden box down, before fussing with some straps, and then pulling out the legs, one, two, three, and then propping it up as high as it could go so Kokichi could see easily from his bed, then lowering the frame, and after a moment, he proudly said, “There we go! Takes a little work, but ta-da! A standing easel! I… I haven't seen you use one of these before, so I’m hoping you don’t have one already just tucked away somewhere.” Kaito laughed sheepishly.

Maaaaaaybe once or twice, just to brighten Kaito’s day some time. Like wearing the cape, though Kokichi did decide to wear it when he did because it was comfortable and warm and made him feel safe… But! It did still make Kaito happy! And so would wearing the outfits he put together. Just couldn’t let it become an everyday sort of thing. 

Kokichi watched curiously as Kaito started to unveil his next gift, but Kaito only had to pull out the legs for Kokichi’s eyes to widen as he sat up a little more, gasping quietly. “Kai-chan, you didn’t…”

It wasn’t like easels were all dozens of gold, and there were some you could find pretty cheap but...it always had that feeling of a luxury item to Kokichi, and even when he had a good amount of money tucked away, it was just...something he never brought himself to get. And a collapsible one like this…

Kokichi looked up at Kaito, starry-eyed. “Kai-chaaaan. This is incredible… I always just paint like, on my lap, or wherever I can fit the canvas but...hun!” Kokichi bubbled out a laugh, grinning. “Thank you! ‘Muh totally gonna do thumbnail sketches in the journal Shuu-chan got me, then use the easel to paint something awesome! You guys are the best!”

Hell yeah! Easel went over big! Kaito was a little less embarrassed by his other two presents then. Kaito grinned, looking incredibly pleased, as he said, “You like it? Good, good, I’m glad! This is the one I thought you’d like. Ha, it’s not that heavy, but it wouldn’t matter if it was, cause your husband can take it anywhere you like, Kokichi. Actually, Ikuo was talking about us all going to a picnic somewhere… could be nice to set it up there, let you paint a bit? Or, really, anywhere, anytime. You just let me know babe, I’ll haul it anywhere.”

Shuuichi chuckled at that, before teasing lightly, “Kaito makes a good work horse, huh?”

“Heck yeah I do! Kohtalon would be proud. Anyway, the last gift isn’t anything quite as nice, I just thought, well, maybe it’s something we could do together… and it’s totally fine if this ends up not being your thing, ‘Kichi. These are honestly just these weird little things that I like to do sometimes, but we can exchange it for one that’s…” Kaito tried to think of the right word, “Prettier.”

When Kokichi opened the final box, it was a simple, square, cardboard box, with a mostly white cover, except a bunch of small, jagged lines. On the cover, in bold black words, was the words ‘MILK PUZZLE’.

“They’re like… blank puzzles.” Kaito explained, looking somewhat fondly at the box, “I know, I know, not very exciting, but! I went through a phase where I did these all the time with some people, and when you’re finished with it, you can actually, like, write the names on it of everyone who helped, and how long it took, and little doodles, or… whatever you want, really. I thought maybe it might be something fun all three of us could do together, maybe other people adding a few pieces if they felt like it… like a fun group activity thing.”

It sounded nice… Setting up somewhere, the backyard, the gardens, anywhere in the city, maybe out in some of the grazing fields or even somewhere on vacation, and just...painting. Memorializing people and places and objects just...wherever he was. It was something Kokichi liked about painting in general, but having an easel made it...easier to visualize really doing it. 

Laughing a bit at Kaito declaring himself Kokichi’s art tow, he gently unwrapped the last gift, the...box light and small enough for him to handle. Milk puzzle…?

Kokichi glanced up as Kaito explained, though he looked over the box, and once he got the idea of what it was…

He perked up, grinning. “Oooo! Yes! We should totally set up a card table in here and set the puzzle out, either for, like, dedicated puzzle time, or us to try a piece or two when we’re just coming by! This looks like a ton of fun!” He’d never really set up the space for it, unless he was using the ground, but Kokichi really enjoyed puzzles. A quiet, low-energy activity that was still engaging and gave you something to be proud of at the end. He’d never tried a blank puzzle--and he’d never realized they were called milk puzzles, though he’d seen a few passing by game and hobby shops before--and he was looking forward to the challenge, beating it with his guys.

But...probably not that night. Still smiling, Kokichi relaxed against the pillows again, looking almost expectantly up at Kaito. “Hun, you’ve really spoiled me… Happy Unity, and thank you. For everything you do. For everything the both of you do… But Kai-chan still has his gift to open! Open it!”

Kaito was, admittedly, preening a little bit. But hey, he was proud! He had hoped the gifts would go over well, and so far, it seemed like he had gotten it right! Heck yeah! 

Shuuichi thought briefly about interrupting, wanting to gently remind Kaito that he had something he needed to tell Kokichi… but, well, they had all night to do it. And he… doubted his gift would distract Kaito… that much…

As Kaito opened the gift (it was really very small, rectangle and no bigger than Kaito’s hand) he realized pretty quickly that his boyfriend had gotten him a book and…

Kaito’s eyes almost bulged out of his head, his face beet red as he said, “Shuuichi!”

Shuuichi just smirked slightly, before shrugging, saying as if it was no big deal, “You’re the one that kept bringing up the sex shop…”

It was a book that, while clearly designed with a semi ‘prank gift’ mentality, as far as the cover art and the jokes on the front went, was still a very functional list of a variety of sex positons and kinks, and how they were performed, called 101 Naughty Things and How To Do Them. Kaito flushed hard, but immediately opened it up, looking through the pages as he said, “Oh my god… hey! You kept scolding me for even suggesting I buy something like this for Unity, what the heck man!?”

“I was afraid you’d go and get it for yourself.” Shuuichi explained, shrugging again, “I bought that weeks ago. It’d have been annoying if you already had a copy... “ Smirking, Shuuichi said cooly, “I’ve circled a few things in there. For later.”

“What!? Which ones!? Which pages!?”

“You’ll just have to find them for yourself, I’m afraid.” Shuuichi smirked, watching Kaito furiously start looking through the pages, trying to find the hidden circles. “Happy Unity, you two. I love you both.”

“What, huh?” Kaito said, looking up, a little dazed and distracted… before saying, “Right! Happy Unity! Love you guys! Augh!” he said, looking back down to the pages, continuing his search.

Kokichi couldn’t see the book title from where he was, but Kaito’s immediate reaction was enough to spark a little worry...and as Kaito opened it up, giving Kokichi the angle he needed to see the title…

All talk of cultural views on sex aside, Kokichi knew he was an outlier, and so he squeaked, turning red as he sunk down a little, turning a wide-eyed look over to Shuuichi as he squeaked out a surprised, “Shuu-chan!”

...but...it was kinda funny. 

Still with his blanket pulled up, Kokichi shook his head a little with a sigh. “I love you guys so much...this has been a good first Unity together. And while this is sort of the thing people do on New Year’s...I hope we have a good year ahead of us. There’s a lot of things to look forward to… That I know I’m definitely looking forward to. And I can’t wait to spend it all with you guys.”

“Heck yeah there are… there are… lots of things to look forward-ow! Shuuichi!”

Shuuichi reached over, grabbed the book, and bonked Kaito over the head with it as he said, “Your husband is being sweet, stop reading the sex book.”

“You got it for me…” Kaito pouted slightly, before sighing, watching Shuuichi put it away in the nightstand longingly for a moment before turning to his husband, giving him a sheepish smile. “We definitely have a good year ahead of us, ‘Kichi. It’s gonna be great! We’re gonna go to picnics and do puzzles and do artsy things and see my armor in a museum! And…” Kaito hesitated, thinking of Maki, before finding even the optimistic words too hard to say, so instead he just said, “We’ll have our family warm and safe and doing fun new things for the new year! And next Unity will be even better!”

“...it will be.” Shuuichi agreed, giving Kaito a soft look before saying, “Kaito, we should-”

“Right. Okay.” Kaito began to mess with his joints again. He knew… Kokichi probably would be all for this. He didn’t think his husband had any plans for them having natural born children, nor any particular hangup that it would have to be Kaito’s natural born child even if he did. There was no reason to think that. 

But Kaito was still a little nervous as he said, “So! I actually did get… Shuuichi a Unity gift today too! I gave it to him while you were asleep, but… I feel like I need your permission to do it, Kokichi. Um… I’ve set up an appointment with the health clinic? I uh… I think I want to get ‘snipped’, if you know that term… I uh…”

“He wants to make certain I won’t get pregnant again.” Shuuichi explained, not having any of the same fears Kaito did. Feeling like he had a pretty good read on Kokichi and giving both his boyfriends a tired but happy look. “It’s… it’s very considerate. It would take a lot off my mind, in the future…”

“Right! Exactly! And… you’re my husband, so… I’d like your permission to go through with the surgery.” Kaito said, popping a joint before amending, “Or, well… your blessing, I mean.”

So many things to do...and more people to do it with. Baby being born...and even if Kaito didn’t say it, well, Kokichi didn’t know if Maki would even be home next year. He didn’t know how long she would stay to fight, stay to shout, stay to help rebuild...but eventually, Maki would come home. To see her son grow up and help all her little siblings start to adjust to a place where they were actually citizens, to be there for her brother and keep her idiot brothers-in-law out of trouble. She would come back, it was only a matter of time. 

...and one day, the next Ouma would be there with them too. 

Kokichi, admittedly, was stewing in his happy, familial feelings again, but he could still recognize the signs of his partners about to tell him something big. And, for a moment, Kokichi was confused. Then surprised. Then…

“Kai-chan, you don’t need my permission--it’s your body,” Kokichi sighed, though it was fond. He looked over both his partners, knowing...how overcoming of a fear it had been for Shuuichi. And while they’d talked about all the things they could do...Kaito had gone and put a pretty major solution up there all on his own. So like him, really. 

Kokichi nodded, reaching out to both his guys, making little grabby hands since he was too lazy to just ask them to come closer. “But, if you want my blessing? ‘Course! If it’s something you want, I’m behind you one hundred percent. Lemme know when, alright, ‘cause I wanna be there for you.”

“...but you’re still wearing a condom until Seiko clears you.”

“Gah! Even when I’m snipped! … oh yeah, I guess the pollen would still be… awwwww.” Kaito groaned, putting aside his gifts and heading over to Kokichi, flumping himself down next to him as he said, “But I just got a whole book full of naughty thiiiings.”

Shuuichi rolled his eyes, heading to Kokichi’s other side, settling himself in and taking Kokichi’s hand between his own as he said, “You’re crazy if you think I’m doing any of that stuff with you any time soon anyway. I’m a bowling ball, Kaito, you’re not throwing me around.”

“Nnnnnnngh… wait! Is throwing around one the things you circled!? Is that a thing!?”

“You’ll have to read it to find out.”

“Kokichiiiii, Shuuichi’s teaaaasing meeeee.” Kaito whined into Kokichi’s side, putting his arm around his waist and squeezing it gently, before shifting himself up and making himself easier for Kokichi to lean against, sitting against the headboard as he said, “But, thank you for your blessing, babe. This is something I really want to do. Anything to make it easier on you guys… it makes me happy, ya know? I like taking care of you…”

Kaito sighed, closing his eyes and holding Kokichi’s other hand and saying, “Happy Unity day, guys. Love you both.”

“Happy Unity Day.” Shuuichi echoed, an idle thought that he needed to make certain Kokichi still took his tea and ate his food, but enjoying the stillness of the three of them together for a moment. He’d bring it up in a bit. It was nice to be like this for now.

-

After Unity, Kokichi continued getting better day by day, and thankfully before New Year’s he was up and walking around, back to work, if not bouncing off the walls. But it was more than enough energy to get started on one of their new projects right away. He and Kaito--and Shuuichi, though he’d been vague about how much he wanted to help out--were going to cook dinner that night! A few Luminary dishes that Kokichi had compiled, though with some parts that Kaito just remembered from home. 

It was going to be for the three of them and Tim, and while they hadn’t told Tim the menu--Kokichi didn’t actually know himself yet--the boy looked...more resigned than excited. But hopefully they’d prove his wane faith wrong. 

While Kokichi and Shuuichi were at work, Kaito was getting ingredients, fresh vegetables and fruits and herbs and such from the greenhouse, extra spices from the kitchen--though, knowing Luminous cuisine, Kokichi would be surprised if they weren’t just going to use the salt and pepper already in the kitchen upstairs, but...maybe he needed flour or...other cooking things--and anything else from the market. Despite having a simpler flavor outlook...well, that just made it more important to get good ingredients, huh, so Kokichi hoped Kaito would be able to find everything he needed.

They didn’t need to spend the entirety of the afternoon cooking, so Kokichi got a few odds and ends tied up before heading to the upstairs kitchen, looking over the ingredients in interest. “So, what’s the menu, head chef?”

“Peach-glazed chicken,” Kaito murmured, sounding not… super confident, looking over the ingredients he had collected and put onto the counter, looking over the recipe as he continued, “With bacon-minced mashed potatoes and spinach mixed with corn… Tim always grabs a peach from the breakfast tables, so I think that’ll be a treat…”

“Sounds good,” Shuuichi said, settling onto his chair, bowls and mixers all on the island table, “What do you need us to do?”

“Give me a second, I’m just… making sure I understand the recipe…” Kaito said, reading it over again… before looking determined, “Okay. Shuuichi, Kokichi? While I prep the chicken, I want you both to start working on the glaze. You see all these peaches? I want you two to cut them up, mince them into little pieces, put them in that bowl there. When you’re done, let me know, I’ll start letting you know which seasonings to put into it and mix it to make a glaze.”

As he said this, Kaito started heating the oven top to medium high, taking a frying pan and pouring some olive oil onto it, spreading it around the pan as he murmured to himself, “Let’s go ahead and… put the salt and pepper on the chicken now…” 

He murmured, laying out the chicken strips, starting to put salt and pepper on each side… before realizing, “Oh, I should have one of you start mashing the potatoes too… Kokichi, if you get the peaches, Shuuichi can you start on the potatoes? Just smash them handsome, leave the skin on, the skin adds texture.”

...so… Kokichi had tried Luminous food, at least Luminous food cooked by Diceans and trying to stay as close to the original recipe as they could. And the members of the party seemed to like the food they provided, so Kokichi figured he was pretty safe in assuming that it was close. 

But...he hadn’t eaten all that much of it. When they put both Dicean and Luminous foods out, he had tended to stick to the things he knew, and during the dinner party where they had announced the wedding date there had only been Luminous food, but… He’d been a little distracted trying to catch a poisoner to really take in the food much. 

He was willing to try anything Kaito cooked--except for that pork pineapple thing Shuuichi had mentioned--and he did think it’d be good but… Hmmm… A...peach glaze on meat? Weird. Kokichi took the peaches over to the sink to give them a rinse, finding the thought of...extra texture in mashed potatoes...well, it wasn’t as weird as the peaches, but still…

Unsure, Kokichi asked, “Should I peel the peaches before I cut them, and how small is small? Like...as small as I can get them, or just smaller than bite-size or…?”

Kaito re-read the recipe, only saw ‘pitted and minced’ and said, “Leave the skin on, babe. But make sure you get the pit in the middle, and minced, is like, pieces this big.” Kaito said, holding his thumb and index finger slightly apart, “So, really, the smaller the better. But, don’t worry about it being perfect babe, it’s all our first time trying to make something like this. It’s probably not gonna be just right either way… You good, Shuuichi?”

Shuuichi was looking at the potatoes with a mildly confused expression, before glancing up at Kaito and said, “So do I just… I don’t literally smash it, right?” Shuuichi said, knocking his little rigged hammer thing experimentally against the hard potato. 

Kaito blinked, before saying, “Yes, though it really shouldn’t need much pressure… oh! No, sorry, I’m an idiot. We need to boil them first.” Kaito laughed, looking sheepish. “When it’s boiled, smashing it doesn’t really take all that much effort. Sorry, sorry.”

“No worries. Alright, I think I know how to boil a potato.” Shuuichi said, grabbing the pot, filling with it water, and with a huff and turning on one of the front skillets, putting it on hot.

“Here, put a ton of salt in it, handsome. The water will boil faster the more salt is in it.” Kaito told him, Shuuichi reaching for the salt with a nod.

As they worked, Kaito constantly going back and double checking the recipe, making sure they had it right, he asked Kokichi before he was about to put the chicken on, “How’s the peaches coming, babe?” considering the meat, he realized, “I maybe actually want to start cooking the chicken last… gah, I’m sorry guys. I’m a little nervous, if it’s not obvious. I haven't tried a recipe this complicated without Chako looking over my shoulder before.” He confessed, blushing slightly. “I just don’t want to completely mess it up.”

They were all a little out of their element, but somehow that just made it...easier. They were bound to make mistakes...and that was okay! That was how you learned! And then Kaito could make notes on the pages Kokichi had made, and the next time he tried to make any of this, it’d be better. Then he’d make more notes, and the next time would be better than that. 

Still, it would be nice if their dinner tasted alright.

The peaches, even with skin on, turned out to be more slippery than Kokichi had anticipated, but the flesh was soft enough that he couldn’t grip very hard either. So...it was a bit slow going, even with the smaller knife Kokichi had chosen to work with--more control, less of a chance to cut himself--and he kept having to go back and cut certain pieces smaller…

“Almost...done…” Kokichi huffed, working on the last peach, his cutting board soaked in peach juice. But he chanced looking up, making sure to not do any knifework while his gaze was away. “And it’s okay to be nervous...this’ll be a good learning experience if nothing else. And Kai-chan hasn’t burned anything in ages, so we’ll still be able to eat even if everything goes wrong.”

“Heh, yeah.” Kaito grinned, looking back at him, looking over the fruit as he said, “That’s good babe, good job. Shuuichi, here, while your potatoes are boiling, come take a look at this. See here, the glaze recipe?”

Shuuichi glanced down at it, his eyes running over them, before saying, “Yes?”

“Got it memorized?”

“Yes.”

“Perfect. Help Kokichi put the glaze together? If you have any questions about measurements, just let me know handsome..” Kaito said, kissing Shuuichi’s cheek, before taking the recipe book back to the oven, re-reading it over again as he murmured to himself, “Let’s actually work on the corn and spinach next, since we can just simmer that till everythings ready…”

Shuuichi headed over to the fruit, leaning against the counter and laughing slightly, looking at Kokichi fondly as he asked, “Sticky?”

Kokichi was just finishing up the peach when Shuuichi came over, laughing softly as he took in the near explosion of juices all around him. “What gave you that idea? I’m perfectly dry and...smooth.” He made a face. “...that’s the opposite of sticky, right?”

But, well, to digress… Just looking at the mess for a moment, Kokichi settled on taking the knife and cutting board to one of the sinks, trying not to drip peach juice everywhere. “Kinda just wanna slurp it up, but that’s not exactly kitchen etiquette, huh? I’ll wash my hands then we can start on the glaze. Or Shuu-chan can start with all my hard work first.”

Shuuichi watched Kokichi walk… before smirking, he called to Kaito, “Kaito, Kokichi’s going to drink the peach juice on the cutting board like a soup.”

“What? Huh… no? Don’t do that, babe, you’ll spill it on yourself.” Kaito said distractedly, mixing the vegetables in a low heat pan, sprinkling a bit of salt and pepper over it.

“It’s too late. He’s already doing it. It’s horrifying. There’s peach juice all going down his front-”

“What!? Kokichi… oh. Shuuichi, come on, man.” Kaito huffed, shaking his head after looking over his shoulder to see Kokichi still just holding the cutting board. 

Watching Kaito return to what he was doing, Shuuichi said idly to Kokichi, “I half-expected him to get weirdly excited at the imagery. Maybe I just find something enticing about people being covered in food.” Shuuichi realized, shrugging a little, smirking playfully at Kokichi, “You’d look cute.”

Kokichi snorted softly, but he accommodated his boyfriend’s mischievous nature, making a few slurp sounds until Kaito looked over, giggling with a wink when he did before he dumped the dirtied dishes in the sink and washed his hands. Returning to Shuuichi, he raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, that something you circled in the book?”

Going up onto his toes, Kokichi stage-whispered conspiratorially, “I think he just likes knowing I’ve eaten at all, but I’m preeeeeetty sure Kai-chan likes watching us eat. Do with that combined knowledge what you will.” Naturally, though, despite how casually forward he said it, Kokichi’s cheeks went pink, more from being called cute in the context than imagining being covered in food. It had been fun before but...sticky. 

“Alright!” he continued in a more normal volume, leaning against Shuuichi’s arm for a moment before looking down at the bowl of minced peaches. “I’m no food scientist, but I’m pretty sure you cook a glaze, right? To the stove? Or is it something you just do at the end…?”

Kaito listened in on the first part, raising an eyebrow and glancing back at Kokichi as he said, “You think I have a feeding fetish? Huh… I mean, maybe?” Kaito said, shrugging slightly before going back to work, “Hell knows I got most everything else, so, sure, why not. I guess I could have a feeding fetish. Though I think I mostly just like knowing you guys aren’t hungry more than anything.”

“It’d be sorta convenient, though, wouldn’t it? If I really did have a thing about putting food on people? Two in one bonus.” Shuuichi said, laughing again slightly. He could be a little (well, okay, sometimes a lot) shy about actually doing things with his lovers still, but just playfully talking about it, in a fantasy sense? The farther he got from his time on the pollen, the less intimidated or weird he felt about it. Teasing Kaito especially made it feel easy and non-threatening, and those moments where he flustered Kokichi were adorable. 

As for the glaze… “Kaito? Are we putting the glaze in the oven, or?”

“No, just go ahead and mix it, we’re…” Kaito double checked the recipe to make sure, nodding to himself as he said, “We’re gonna cook it on the pan with the chicken when we pour it.”

“Alright. So… two teaspoons apple cider vinegar, a third of a cup of brown sugar, and…” Shuuichi’s nose wrinkled, before he called back to Kaito, “You sure we put dijon mustard in this?”

“If that’s what the recipe said, babe.” Kaito called back, finally putting the chicken on the pan, letting it start to cook and steam as the olive oil sizzled.

“I’m not babe. Kokichi’s babe. I’m handsome or ‘bud’.” Shuuichi called back lazily, taking the mustard and measuring out two teaspoons of it, adding it to the mix. “Occasionally ‘man’.”

“Right, right, sorry handsome, got distracted.” Kaito called back, wincing as some of the olive oil spat back onto his neck. Ouch. Bad luck.

“Wanna mix this?” Shuuichi asked Kokicki, passing him the mixer, before saying quietly, “I did, actually. Circle it in the book, I mean. It was kinda fun, looking through them and picking things I thought looked fun… though.” Shuuichi’s nose wrinkled again, “Don’t tell Kaito, but a few pages I disliked so much that I actually put giant X marks through the whole page. I think Kaito will get the hint when he sees them. I don’t even understand why anyone would want to add hooks… ngh.”

Kokichi wasn’t really expecting for Kaito to get all shy, but he was a little surprised to hear him take the idea so readily. But Shuuichi was right about it being convenient. And if it was sweets, then Kokichi would have no qualms about doing something with it! As long as he managed to pace himself enough not to get a stomachache before they actually did anything.

Going around to pick out the ingredients Shuuichi listed--cooking in a pan or oven seemed all the same to him, when it came to the glaze--he just hummed with a shrug as he started putting them all into the bowl. It all seemed weird to him, but he really had no idea if it was because it was Luminary food, or because he’d never cooked before.

“Ooooh yes!” Kokichi eagerly took the mixer from Shuuichi, starting to mix everything in the bowl together though he kept his ear open for Shuuichi’s musings. He wrinkled his nose in agreement about...hooks? Where would you add hooks?? Why??? He stuck his tongue out a little, giving Shuuichi a nod. 

“I’m sure there’s plenty of things I’d like to try but...I dunno. There’s a lot that doesn’t appeal to me at all.” He was quiet for a moment, knowing that it was...not the most neutral subject. “Kai-chan asked me once about tying me down. I think I might like it in some ways but...I like being able to use my arms. Touch you guys back. Maybe we can brainstorm if we feel like experimenting.”

Shuuichi looked at Kokichi fondly, before gently reminding him, “I asked you if you wanted to be tied down, Kokichi. Cause I was thinking about wanting to tie Kaito down, and was trying to decide if it was something I was interested in doing myself. So I brought it up with you to kinda give myself an excuse to talk it out.”

He laughed, watching with interest as the mesh of ingredients started mixing together into this strange, brown paste that, over time, yeah. Shuuichi could see how that would become a glaze. “I can understand why you’d remember it being Kaito though. Sort of sounds like the sort of thing he’d bring up, right? Maybe he’s corrupting me.”

“I’m doing what now?” Kaito called over his shoulder, hearing his name a few times over the sound of the chicken cooking, starting to put sweet onion and rosemary on it, “Also, how’s the glaze coming guys? The potatoes are probably going to be ready to smash soon.”

“I said you’re corrupting me!” Shuuichi called back, “And I’ll get the potatoes in a second, don’t worry.”

“Heck yeah I’m corrupting you.” Kaito muttered, still worryingly looking over the chicken, wearing a cute apron, as he said to himself, “I’m an edgy bad boy, after all… damn, I hope I don’t overcook this…”

“Wha- oh…” Kokichi blinked up at Shuuichi for a moment before...right. Man… On one hand, it was kind of nice he was getting enough memories with his family to confuse them, but on the other… Maybe he’d been thinking of when Kaito had asked him about holding him down during sex. He had the same issue with it, really. It was nice to a point, but he didn’t want to be restrained the whole time. 

Shaking his head a little, Kokichi snorted and bopped his head against Shuuichi’s arm. “I mean, considering you’re the only one who got someone a sexy gift for Unity, I’d say so. Or maybe Shuu-chan is just coming into his own, gonna out-do even Kai-chan one day.” 

The glaze was pretty much all mixed, no weird lumps--just normal ones from the pulp of the peach, he guessed--or streaks of uncombined stuff, and it smelled...mostly still like peaches, honestly. Sweet. But with that vinegary tang a bit too… Kokichi was no stranger to sweet savoury food but...maybe cooking it would temper it a bit. 

Picking up the bowl, Kokichi moved over to the counter next to the stovetop. “If it’s cooked, edge boy, then don’t you have to add this?”

“Oh, thanks babe.” Kaito said, still half distracted, looking at the chicken in open concern as he admitted, “I’m more worried that I’ve done the old Kaito special of overcooking the outside while undercooking the inside… but I think that’s just me not being used to the way the seasoning looks. Well, nothing to do but see how it goes.”

Taking the glaze, Kaito carefully poured it over the chicken, the scent of the glaze immediately getting stronger as it started to heat against the pan. Meanwhile, Shuuichi took the potatoes and drained the pan, ignoring Kaito calling out if he needed a hand with it, assuring him he had it. Then, taking the boiled potatoes, Shuuichi noted, yep. Waaaaay easier to mash them while they were boiled, mostly just firmly pressing down on them with the hammer as he called back, “Anything else I need to do with potatoes after I’ve mashed them?”

“Put them back in the bot we boiled them in after their mashed, with looots of butter and looots of salt and pepper. Then, while that’s mashing and mixing, we’ll go ahead and…” Kaito looked around, before seeing the packet of bacon and, reaching over to turn on the stove, cursing himself for not doing it sooner, but, well, it’d probably be alight, he said, “Kokichi, put the bacon on the stove pan, would ya? Just lay them down into lines, we’ll let them cook in the oven, by the time everythings done, we’ll take them out, cut them into minc pieces, add them to the potatoes, and voila! Everything will be ready!”

As they worked, Kaito glanced at Kokichi and Shuuichi, before calling out, “How’s everyone feeling? I know it's a little hot in here right now, either of you can take a break if you need to, I can probably manage everything by this point.”

“I’m alright.” Shuuichi assured him, though his brow was sweating as he mashed at the potatoes, “So long as I can sit while I do this, it’s not that taxing.”

Kokichi nodded though...he was a little concerned at that. There were some things that were okay to undercook but...well, he just hoped they didn’t give the batch of them food poisoning. That was the last thing he needed right after recovering. 

He’d just been looking over everything with an aimless critical eye, not knowing enough to know any aberrations to look for, but Kokichi stepped to in an instant when Kaito called out to him to...lay the bacon out… 

Out of all pork products, Kokichi actually did eat bacon from time to time since...it did mostly just taste like salt, but… Ew ew ew ew!! There was a disgusted grimace on his face as he quickly laid the slices out on the pan Kaito indicated, feeling the slimy squish of raw meat...ew! 

Shuddering, Kokichi hurried to the sink once he was done, thoroughly scrubbing his hands again. After a little sigh, he managed to keep his voice more even to answer his husband.

“I’m good! It’s kind of exciting--I’ve never cooked anything before. The closest would be, like, pouring cereal from the breakfast table myself. It’s more…” He hummed for a moment. “...technical seems like the wrong words but...there are a lot of little things you need to be specific about.”

“Yeah, honestly, I think I picked a more complicated recipe to kinda impress you guys with.” Kaito admitted, turning the chicken over and grabbing the knife, opening up the center of the left chicken thigh, taking a look in. No pink… okay… but the chicken bounces a little too much still. A little more time. 

Thanking his husband, grabbing the tray of bacon-- having entirely missed Kokichi’s little freakout in handling the meat, though Shuuichi had watched it with interest-- he checked the temperature of the oven and huffed. Come on, heat up faster… as he held the tray, waiting for the oven to give him the go ahead, Kaito said, “Most of isn’t really all that hard. Just mash together a few simple ingredients, make food hot.  Like, learning the simple ingredients and realizing that ‘make food hot’ takes a little more care than just ‘make pan hot’ is a bit of a learning curve at first… I mean, at least it was to me. But once you’re past that? It’s really not too bad.”

The oven’s temperature got to where it needed to be, and Kaito put the bacon in, calling over his shoulder to Shuuichi, “Handsome, how’s the potato’s coming?”

“On my way.” Shuuichi said, starting to get up from the chair… before wincing. Sitting back down. “Ow…”

“Ow? Why ow? What’s up?” Kaito asked, a look of alarm in his eyes as he looked back at Shuuichi, who just waved his hand dismissively.

“Sorry, my back…” Shuuichi sighed, before asking, “Kokichi, could you do the rest of the potatoes? I’m not sure I can stand back up just yet.”

“Aw, hun…” Really, Kokichi was regularly impressed with everything Kaito made. Even his first odd attempt of breakfast foods, once he was sure Kaito hadn’t hurt himself trying. And especially since they were helping out, no amount of fanciness or complexity was needed...but it was nice knowing that Kaito wanted to impress. 

“Mmm… I have peeked into a few cooking classes here and there over the years,” Kokichi admitted. Never more than a peek, he wasn’t that tempting of fate, and even then he’d be scolded if he was seen by someone, but it had still been so interesting to him. “You’d know better since you’re living it, but...I kinda got the impression that the super basics were simple, and then it was just every layer of technique and complexity that raised the skill ceiling. Like...those people who can slice and peel fruit into flowers. Pretty much anyone can slice fruit, but doing it in more complex ways is just...practice in cooking.”

Again, Kokichi had just been standing around as he mused, but as soon as Shuuichi grunted he was at his side, still looking on in worry even after Shuuichi waved them off. This was as big as Shuuichi should get--and during the last few visits, Dr. Tenchi had pretty much confirmed that their initial guess had been right, and it was all developmental stuff from here--but...sometimes Kokichi worried. Unable to tell if it was just a bad day or Shuuichi was trying to adjust to even more… 

But fussing over Shuuichi when he said he was alright was kind of a dick move, so Kokichi just leaned over to kiss his cheek before wrapping his hands in pot holders and grabbing the edges of the pot, taking a breath to heft it back over Kaito’s way. “G-got it!”

Kaito watched Kokichi bring over the pot, also trying not to fuss, but doing a less good job of it as Kokichi brought the large pot over to the stove, started lifting it to get it on top of the stove… and Kaito could only watch him do it for a second before grasping the side of the pot with his free hand and taking some of the weight for himself, though Kokichi still had to maneuver it on. “Okay, perfect. Thank you, Kokichi, good job on the mashing Shuuichi! Now, just grab that stick of butter there, and just toss the whole thing in. Then we let the butter melt with the potatoes as it cooks and stir it… hmmm…”

Kaito looked down at his short husband, then over at the pot… before saying, “Maybe we could get you a chair? Or, no, wait, I know I’ve seen one of those little things you stand on, hold on, let me look through the cabinets,” Kaito said, cooling the pan with the chicken by lowering the heat to a simmer, before looking around… “Ah, here we go. Your throne, your grace.” Kaito said, putting down the small small stand as he said, “Just pop in the butter, and then keep stirring as it melts. All the potatoes should turn a nice yellow color.”

Then, calling over to Shuuichi, who was watching this with amusement, he said, “We’ll work on your back when we get back to the room, kay handsome? Ikuo got us some pain ointments, let’s try that stuff today.”

“Kay.” Shuuichi said tiredly, just leaning against the counter and watching them now, idly rubbing his stomach. This kid better fucking appreicate him someday, he swore…

Kokichi didn’t have the extra air to sigh, but...he appreciated Kaito helping him out. There were only gonna be four of them, but it was a lot of mashed potatoes. And the pot itself was kinda heavy on its own. 

Following instructions, he plopped the whole stick of butter into the pot, getting a big wooden spoon to stir with, but...again, he smiled as Kaito set down the step stool. “Ah, thank you, my ever devoted husband. Able to see past the bias of your own giant nature to remember us more sensibly-sized folks below the clouds.”

He giggled a bit as he started to stir, trying to spread the melting butter around all of the mash, though he did look over his shoulder back at Shuuichi every now and then. “Is there anything I can do while Kai-chan works on your back? ‘M not as good as him, obviously, but I do know some hand massage stuff from stretching my hands out while I’m drawing. Or...I could help you with lotion?”

Shuuichi flushed slightly at the attention, both a little embarrassed and a little pleased as he hid under his cap a bit. Shuuichi was never going to get over how nice it felt to be doted on… “Um, the lotion sounds nice, actually. Sure.Thank you, Kokichi.”

“Okay! Good food, a massage, some lotion, we got a good night ahead of us! So long as the chicken comes out alright…” Kaito went and checked the other ones, cutting into them and taking a look, pressing down on them to see how firm they were getting… alright! It was getting there! He had been worried for a second, but lowering the temperature had been the right call. “We should be good! The bacon should only take a few minutes before it’s ready to be taken out, so, yeah, all in all we should be done in another five minutes, max. We did it guys!”

Kokichi grinned, pleased with the group praise, and...honestly, despite his unfamiliarity, dinner was smelling pretty good. The best indication that it was gonna taste good too, even without factoring in the effort-yumminess quotient. 

“When you’re ready to start serving up, d’ya want me to go get Tim? So he gets the full surprise? I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Haneda were talking over some sort of escape plan, but I think he’s gonna be really happy once he sees all this.” Tim had never really complained about Dicean food--not even about it being too spicy like the others did, or if he did, then Kokichi hadn’t been around for those meals--but...well. This was the food of home, so it probably meant something to him. 

...Kokichi wondered what sort of food the Luminous military fed its soldiers…

Still stirring the mashed potatoes, Kokichi peered into the pot, seeing it...well, he couldn’t see any butter slicks in it anymore. Considering there was still skin, he couldn’t really call it completely smooth but...maybe he’d even like it better this way, he didn’t know. “Should I stop stirring now or… Can you even over mix mashed potatoes?”

“Heck if I know. I don’t think so? I know you can overmix pastry mix, but I don’t know how I did it, and Chako was too frustrated with me to really be coherent about it.” Kaito laughed, shaking his head at the memory, “She was not expecting my mad biceps to, ya know… go overboard, I guess. Ruined the consistency of the pastry or something, I don’t really know…”

Glancing over into the pot, he said, “Looks good to me! Yeah, why don’t you go gnab Timothy from his room, I’ll cut the bacon and mix it in, by the time you guys get back, we’ll probably be putting everything onto plates. We can just eat in here today, I think, no one else seems to be using the kitchen, so… Shuuichi? You good eating in here?”

Shuuichi nodded, giving a shrug as he said lightly, “I’m stuck in this chair till someone helps me up anyway. Sure, I don’t mind.”

“Awwwww, my poor guy.” Kaito laughed sheepishly, once again feeling that hot need to fuss and battling himself with it, since Shuuichi himself didn’t seem all that bothered. “We’ll get you better soon! Both of you are doing great! I’m really proud of you!”

Kokichi snorted softly. “Another thing to be specific about in cooking--how long you should expect to be doing something. Cause I’ll totally just keep doin’ something until you tell me to stop, and I have a feeling there’s only a few things out there that’s okay with.”

Leaving the potatoes be, though, Kokichi made a stop to press against Shuuichi’s shoulder affectionately before heading off, a proud smile on his face and a bounce in his step from!! Successfully cooking! And, sure, the success would really only be judged when they started to eat, but it looked good! Or...like good food anyway. 

Haneda was helping Tim finish up his homework when they heard the knock at his door, Kokichi proclaiming that it was dinnertime, and Haneda gave her ward a grave look. “Remember, milk is the best for washing tastes out unless it tastes really acidic. Then just settle for water. Save the biscuit cookies for when the taste is gone. Good luck, kid.”

Timothy sighed, nodding his head just as gravely, the aforementioned cookies safely in his pockets. Then he asked his mentor, “If they kill me, will you avenge me?”

Haneda gave his shoulder a pat. “I’ll succeed or die trying.”

When they opened the door, Kokichi was still grinning happily, undeterred even by the morose air around his nephew. Haneda had never known Kokichi to be one to brush off disaster, but...he’d never even set foot in a kitchen until a few months ago. Sure Kaito was taking cooking lessons, but Tim had somberly explained that his results weren’t always...safe, let alone appetizing. Though he had conceded that some of the pastries his dad had made were good, but they both agreed it was mostly due to the influence of Miss Hannuki in the kitchen. 

“Hey, Haneda-chan, Tim. You ready? No one else is using the kitchen, so we thought we’d eat up there.”

Tim, reassured that at least his nanny wouldn’t leave his killers unpunished, went along with one said potential killer to his potential doom.

...okay, he was mostly playing. He didn’t really think his father or his uncles cooking would kill him. But he also didn’t really expect it to taste good, and he had reserved himself to needing the biscuits at some point or another.

Telling his nanny goodnight, Timothy followed Kokichi back to the kitchen, letting Kokichi fill the air by explaining how the cook had gone, only answering when Kokichi had in turn asked how homework had been. “It was fine. We’re learning fractions. It’s pretty dumb.” Timothy said, though the insult was entirely idle. The comparatively mild irritation of a fourth grader. “Better than percentages though. Percentages are very dumb.”

Yeah. Tim wasn’t a fan of math. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it. He had found that he could do most of the schooling, with a little dedicated studying time… he just, ya know. Hated studying.

When they got back to the kitchen, Kaito was indeed, as he had thought, starting to put the food onto plates, eyes brightening as Kokichi and Timothy returned, saying “There’s my guys! Here, Tim, bring Uncle Shuuichi his plate, would you? There we go, thanks kid. Kokichi, here’s yours.”

Tim looked curiously at the food, bringing it over to Shuuichi, who thanked him politely for it. The mashed potatoes looked great, honestly, absolutely the sort of thing Timothy would have pounced on at the canteens. He didn’t mind the vegetable choices, liking spinach and corn both well enough. The chicken though…

Timothy raised an eyebrow. “You made officer food.”

Kaito tensed at that slightly… before laughing awkwardly. “Have I? Is that a bad thing?”

Timothy shrugged, though he seemed almost mildly offended as he said, “I don’t know. It’s just fancy.”

Kokichi had sighed and agreed with his nephew, sharing the dirty secret that fractions and percentages were the same thing, just written differently. Math was just...annoying. Sure, more basic things were alright, but whenever math was applied to something… Anyone who said math was objective was a fool. It changed drastically depending on what you were using it for, and it was only that Kokichi mostly had to use it to divide and spread budgets that kept him sane enough to not just swear the whole thing off. 

Thankfully, food was a brighter subject, and Kokichi thanked Kaito for his plate--even if they were serving it more Luminary style, Kaito knew the amounts Kokichi could eat pretty well by this point--and sat down at the island next to Shuuichi. And the food did look pretty good! Less...fragrant in the way he was used to, but just different, not bad. 

As Kokichi was trying to decide what he wanted to dig into first while they were all getting plates and drinks, he looked up at Tim in slight surprise. “Kai-chan did say he chose a more complicated recipe since he wanted to impress us...didn’t know that meant fancy too. So this is fancy Luminous food… Kinda can’t believe that I managed to help out with fancy food, but that’s just tantamount to the skills of our head chef!”

Geez, Kaito knew he should have just gone with something covered in salt and butter. Timothy was nine! He should have picked a harty, solid comfort food, not ‘fancy’ food!

But, as Timothy poked his fork suspiciously at the chicken, Kaito brought his own plate over as well, sitting down next to him and saying, “Give it a shot before you decide you don’t like it, kid. And it’s not ‘officer’ food, it’s just food food, okay? If you end up liking it, I’ll teach you how to make it.”

Timothy frowned, “So, if I say I like it, I have to go through another cooking lesson?”

“Okay, fine, if you like it, I’ll cook it more often, and when you’re older and can appreciate learning how to cook, I’ll teach you how to make it.” Kaito huffed, cutting into his own chicken and saying, “Now eat.”

When Kaito in turn bit into his… oh! Okay, actually, yeah? That was pretty good! 

Increasingly pleased as he ate into it, across the table Shuuichi also seemed pretty happy with the end result, sighing contently as he said, “The mashed potatoes turned out really good. I forgot how much I liked potatoes with just butter, salt and pepper, and meat… no offense to the kitchen staff, but all the spices really doesn’t make it taste like mashed potatoes… well, not the kind we grew up on, I guess.”

Timothy was also starting with the mashed potatoes and the vegetables, filling up on things that were most familiar to him and that he knew he’d enjoy. Then, when they were done, he moved on to the chicken and… “Oh. It tastes like peaches.”

“Yeah! You like peaches, right?” Kaito asked, looking over to Tim, who played with the chicken a bit, apparently trying to decide if he liked it… and Kaito was relieved when Tim just shrugged, but continued eating the chicken without further complaints, apparently liking it well enough to eat the rest of it.

Success!

Kokichi too started with the mashed potatoes, wanting to start with something a little more familiar, if for different reasons than Tim, and of course not going for the vegetables first. And...they were creamy and fluffy like he was used to, though...hm. He might ask someone how they made potatoes here since...it was close but there was just something a little different… And taste-wise, they were fine! Really. Just kind of…

Bland. 

But even if Kaito had teased that they could just put on more spices for Kokichi, it was still...a little embarrassing, and he didn’t want to, like, insult Kaito’s cooking right now so...well, there were worse things than a bland meal. 

“Maybe it’s ‘cause...like, people don’t really just make mashed potatoes,” Kokichi hummed, chewing through a bit of potato skin, not a bad break up of texture but still...odd. “Like...you’ll make cheesy mashed potatoes or spicy ones or sweet ones with yams or...yanno, any sort you can think of. Interesting seeing what it’s like without any of that stuff.”

The vegetables were...a little harder to get down. The corn was a little sweet and fine, but the spinach… Kokichi thought he’d liked spinach but...apparently not steamed with just salt and pepper. But he knew there was no way he was getting out of not eating them so...sigh. 

Giving himself a break from the vegetables, Kokichi finally cut into his chicken, taking a taste and… He couldn’t hide the way his expression immediately shifted. Not really into anything good or bad but just...confused. Fruit was absolutely something you used to cook with in dinner but...he was admittedly more used to eating them in curries and certain stews or as part of a roast, or grilled and on the side or part of skewers… This was...huh…

...he wasn’t really sure what...to think… But at least it got his mind off the spinach. 

Eventually Kokichi finished everything on his plate, not full of the best meal he’d ever had but not wishing he’d eaten something else either. It was just something different. Grinning over at Kaito, Kokichi hummed as he set his glass down. “Great meal, hun! Let’s definitely do this again, though…” He sent something of a stinkeye down at where the vegetables had been on his plate. “...not spinach next time.” 

“Aw, babe, you didn’t like the spinach? Alright, but we’re replacing it with a different vegetable then. You’re not getting out of the vegetable portion of your meals.” Kaito said firmly, starting to collect the plates, Shuuichi and Tim also finishing. “But I’m glad you liked it otherwise! Alright, now…” looking between his husband and his son, Kaito eventually picked, “Tim, why don’t you help Uncle Shuuichi get back to the room, okay kid? His back is hurting him, so let him lean on your shoulder. Kokichi, babe, if you could help me clean up, I’d appreciate it.”

“Okay, dad.” Timothy said, quickly getting up and heading over to Shuuichi, more than pleased to be part of the ‘take care of Shuuichi’ plan. He still felt very responsible for the pregnant man, a clear protective feeling as he said, “It’s okay, Uncle Shuuichi, you can put your weight on me.”

Shuuichi smiled, starting to push himself up and only wincing a bit as he finally managed to stand, “Thank you, Timothy. I’ll meet you guys back in the room. Alright, thank you.” he sighed, leaning against Tim, the two heading out.

“Got it!” Kokichi hadn’t cleaned many dishes in his life either but...at least he had more of an idea than cooking. You lather a scrubber or a sponge with soap, fill a bin with water, and scrub until nothing’s caked or greasy or streaked, then you dry it. Simple. Though…

...he was more comfortable with knives these days, but he’d heard more than a few stories of people nicking themselves and worse, having their sponges slip against the blade…

Helping to bring the utensils and cups over to the sink, he offered, “You wash, I’ll dry? I can re-soap ya too since my hands aren’t gonna be all lathered.”

Kaito nodded, not picking up on why Kokichi wanted it that way, having not been too worried about the knife thing all day, really. If he saw it for himself, he’d probably be more paranoid about Kokichi cutting himself, but most of the Kokichi knife-safety stuff had come from Maki’s concern for him cutting himself, not Kaito’s. Kaito, at least in regards to this, just assumed Kokichi wouldn’t. Without Maki around to beat it into his head that Kokichi needed to be watched during knife time, he had forgotten about it.

But, he assumed Kokichi wanted to dry, because, well, one person had to wash and one person had to dry, so why not do it like that? Made sense to him.

The cleaning went quickly, and was fairly straightforward. The normal dishes were easy enough, the only tricky bit was when he got to the pans. Taking his time to really get in there, Kaito made chit-chat as he said, “So, cookings kinda fun, right? I mean, it’s a lot of time and work for something you only really eat within maybe ten or fifteen minutes, but I don’t know… I find it satisfying.”

Drying went fine, and at first Kokichi just stacked everything on a dry bit of counter, but whenever Kaito took a little longer on something Kokichi went about the kitchen, putting things back in their place, scooting his step stool around to help and asking every now and then where something went. It was...kind of peaceful, honestly. While it had been driven by monetary concerns and a wish to make himself useful, Kokichi could see why Kaito had asked about taking the overnight cleaning job in the kitchens. You really could just...zone out. 

(Though he made sure to focus while he was handling the knives, making sure his grip was true and to wipe along from the back of the blade. Or...he did end up just patting one of the bigger knives dry, a little too intimidated to try anything else.)

But on the whole, it was certainly a good time for conversation. 

“Totally!” Kokichi cheered, grinning over at his husband. “It’s nice to be able to see and enjoy the product of your labor and creativity, and cooking itself is just...exciting, at least from a super novice’s perspective. And it’s nice cooking for other people, knowing that you did something that made them happy and is taking care of them… I get why you stuck with it.”

“Though...I can’t really see myself ever getting hyped about it enough to wanna do every day,” he admitted with something of a sigh, though there was a teasing smile on his face. “Plus, all the castle cooks are really skilled and I’d miss eating their food… But as an activity we can do together? Totally about it.”

Kaito nodded again, washing out the pan and looking it over again, looking for bits he missed as he said idly, “Yeah, I like watching you guys eat food I make… I guess I just like the idea of doing something that makes your lives better in a real, like, visible way. Like… if I make you food, the food will be safe, and relatively good for you, and your bodies will feel better, and I did something that made you happy and safe and comfortable, at least for that afternoon…”

Kaito sighed, before chuckling a little, saying sheepishly, “This is such a spoiled thing to complain about, and it’s not something I’d ever say to the rest of our family cause… well, you know. Not everyone has had it as good as us… but, sometimes I think our privileges growing up kinda… robbed us of certain things. Like, I’m twenty-three and only just learning I like to cook for people… and I suck at communicating with people in certain ways, just cause I never was really put in a position growing up where I ever had to learn too? And, yeah, I can learn it now, but man, I wish I had had the opportunity to get it wrong a thousand times when I was a kid or a teenager, talking to certain people, and not as a grown ass man having a kid, ya know?”

“I just feel unprepared for things sometimes.” Kaito admitted, moving onto the next pan. “And with Tim and Baby, like… fuck, I really don’t have any more time left to learn slowly. I gotta get it now, or they’re not gonna be prepared cause I won’t be able to teach them… ya know?”

Kokichi hummed, nodding. That was exactly what he was talking about, and what he knew Kaito’s feelings leaned on more, though it had been fun to tease about a feeding fetish. Doing something special for your loved ones was a great feeling, and food was one of the best ways to do it. At least one of the more common ones, he figured. 

And...well, it was a nice thing to find out at any point in your life. Better late than never, and all that. But he got what Kaito meant. 

Kokichi sighed, drying off the pan as he mused. “Well...it means that we just have different knowledge to pass on. And it might not be the most helpful things, but… And you know, people never stop learning. I think every parent feels underprepared because...how do you pass on the experience of a life you never led? That no one’s led because your kid isn’t born yet, isn’t grown yet, and their life is unique. All sorts of different factors that people all over share, but are combined in just the right way to make someone completely new…”

“...so it’s a good thing that Tim and Baby aren’t just relying on one person to guide them, huh.” Kokichi gave Kaito a small smile, bumping his shoulder against his arm. “Between everyone looking out for them...yeah, it’ll be handy to have as much wisdom to pass on as we can muster...but they have a lot of people to ask and look up to. And hopefully between all those people, they can find all the pieces of themselves. If not...then we just have to be there for them to help when they fail. And keep cheering until they succeed.”

Kaito smiled at that, appreciating that Kokichi always had such a positive way of looking at these things. He was just… nervous. He was a prince who had been raised as a prince. Sure, with some… other less than ideal stuff put in, but ultimately, he had been raised with every luxury and comfort money and nobility could buy. And…

...he just… he understood now that none of his kids were going to grow up in that world.

Which was a good thing! For all the benefits that the life of royalty had given him, it had also been plagued with dangers and manipulations and pitfalls that made Kaito’s stomach squeeze in terror, imagining Tim or Baby trying to navigate. He didn’t want them to be trapped in the endless cycle of manipulation and head games that Kaito’s whole childhood had been plagued with. He didn’t want any of his kids to ever be used as political pawns, their marriages and lives sold away on whims. He didn’t want their world view narrowed to a class of people that were constantly in danger of stabbing each other in the back for benefits that might not even exist.

But, man… Kaito really had only a vague idea of what the world looked like otherwise. And he felt… woefully unprepared to guide his kids through life as commoners.

But, Kokichi was right… they weren’t doing it alone, at least. There were people to ask for help and guidance. And, well… Kaito just had to do his best not to sabotage them with his own advice or world views. 

“It’ll be okay.” He agreed, giving Kokichi an appreciative look, “We’ll figure it out. It’ll be fun to watch them grow up. It’ll be fine.”

Finishing up the dishes, Kaito wiped his forehead with his sleeve and sighed, “Alright! Job done! You ready to head back, babe?” Kaito asked, offering Kokichi his hand.

While Kokichi didn’t truly understand the world Kaito had grown up in, he was well aware that the one he grew up in, even if the physical place would be the same, was not at all what his kids would experience. Not even all the things he learned in lessons and the way to perform in court... Having the knowledge since you were a small child, knowing that you were responsible for the happiness and well-being of every person in the country...even if they hated you. Even if they hated other people. Even if they distrusted every word you said and tried to take matters into their own hands… You were bound to serve all their best interests your whole life. Being promised to millions of people…

Kokichi would never even think of giving it up, but at the same time he never wanted it to even glance his kids. Maybe they would find duty and obligation, maybe even to more people than just friends and family, but...he wanted them to at least have their freedom in their childhoods. To have to make that choice later in life. To have the choice to focus on family and not have to worry about people miles away that they’d never meet. 

...he didn’t want his kids to feel the burden, even if they didn’t notice it, to feel so free just...giving pieces of themselves away. He wanted them to know who they were first before even considering it. 

And for that, at least, Kokichi knew there were plenty of people who could teach his kids that. And...hopefully he wouldn’t have to face the decision of being there for his country, and being there for his kids. 

Kokichi frowned for a moment at that thought, trying not to let Kaito see, before he brightened back up, the last pot put away. He scampered back to Kaito’s side, taking his hand and leaning against his arm. “Let’s! We have a cute boyfriend with a sore back waiting for us!”

Kaito led the way back, leading Kokichi by his arm, the Luminary Prince feeling pretty good about how things had went. Kokichi seemed happy, and even if Tim didn’t always appreciate these events now, he knew these were experiences the kid would value as he got older. Or, well, he hoped so, anyway. 

Though, his poor Shuuichi…

When they got back into the room, Kaito wasn’t surprised it was unlocked, just pushing open the door and seeing, with a mixture of amusement and pity, Shuuichi just laid out, like he had just sat down on the edge of the bed and fallen backwards, staring somewhat bitterly at the ceiling. 

“Hey.” Shuuichi said.

“Hey, bud.” Kaito replied, chuckling a little as he closed and locked the door behind him, “You alright, or…?”

“Can’t move.” Shuuichi said blankly. 

“Ooof… let me go find that lotion…” Kaito murmured, gently pulling himself from Kokichi’s grip and heading to the bathroom.

Kokichi cooed softly as he went over to Shuuichi’s side, gently rubbing his hand down Shuuichi’s arm. “I know Kai-chan’s gonna help you sit up for a massage in a sec, but do you think lying down on the heated blanket would help? Or sitting on it? Don’t think I need it anymore, but we haven’t taken it back down yet, so Shuu-chan can use it any way he wants.”

Poor Shuuichi… All the books said that newborns tended to be anywhere from 7 to 9 pounds, but adding in all the equipment, that was an extra...fuck, maybe fifteen pounds constantly on Shuuichi’s hips and back? And the kid wasn’t even moving yet… When she started being able to move and kick...poor Shuuichi…

“Anything you think would help...tonight is a pamper Shuu-chan night, okay?”

“Um… honestly, by this point, I think I’d legitimately just like a pain tablet.” Shuuichi admitted, sighing a little. Seiko had warned him not to take those too often, that repeated use wasn’t good for Baby, but like… he really couldn’t move… just one tonight wouldn’t hurt anything, right?

Kaito, in turn was looking through the variety of lotions and ointments they had now, trying to decide which one to use tonight. The muscle relaxant Kokichi got from the weird magic hermit guy usually worked pretty well, but this sounded like a little more than just tense muscles. Or, well, in the sense that there was probably some lingering pain waiting for Shuuichi even if Kaito could get the muscles to untense themselves. So, Ikuo had said this one would work well for essentially overworked and bruised muscles… his back was deeeefinitely overworking right now…

Coming out with the ointment, Kaito again found himself chuckling as he saw his poor beach-whaled boyfriend. “Alright, handsome, we gotta get you sitting up. I can get your lower back better that way than you being on your side.”

Shuuichi sighed, knowing this was gonna suck. “Kay.”

“One order of painkiller coming right up!” Kokichi nodded and stepped right to, not wanting to leave his boyfriend in pain for any longer than he had to. Sure, he wasn’t supposed to take them that often...but this wasn’t that often! It’d been ages since Shuuichi last took a painkiller, so as long as this wasn’t day one of taking them every day, then it was perfectly fine. 

That was one benefit, he supposed, of seeing healers so much his whole life--he understood health things pretty well once the underlying reason was explained to him. It wasn’t like each time Shuuichi ever took a painkiller was another tick counting down to “too much”. It was just that his body needed time to completely flush the compound out, which would also come with the benefit of each of them working to full effectiveness when he took them. 

Or, at least, that was Kokichi’s understanding. It seemed to fall in line with what the doctors said, anyway. 

Kokichi traded spots with Kaito in the bathroom, picking out a painkiller--and, as always, looking at the dosage and recommended times between, even if Shuuichi would only be having one--and grabbing a glass to fill with water, just heading back as Kaito was helping Shuuichi sit up. And...he’d wait a moment once Shuuichi was up before handing him the painkiller, giving him a chance to breathe.

Shuuichi liked the idea of being doted on, but he was still pretty embarrassed by all this.

He had actually not been that bad getting back to the room. Walking a bit had seemed to help a little, at first, and by the time Tim had helped him sit down on the bed, Shuuichi was starting to think he was past the worst of it and would actually be fine that night.

Then had tried to get up, his back had seized, and he had fallen backwards instead, staring at the ceiling and being annoyed with the world until his boyfriends had gotten there.

How… how many more months of this?

Shuuichi breathed through his nose and out through his mouth as Kaito, in strong, swift moments, hefted him up, not really giving Shuuichi’s back a chance to complain too much, though Shuuichi still hissed through his teeth while Kaito shushed and coo’d at him like he was handling some wounded animal. Shuuichi almost wanted to snap at him… but he knew there wasn’t any reason for him to actually be upset right now. Kaito was just trying to help and Shuuichi was feeling defensive and testy. It was fine…

But before Kokichi came back with the water, Shuuichi jolted, shooting Kaito a frustrated glance as the taller man started to pull off his shirt as he said, “Kaito.”

Kaito stopped, looking startled, before asking, “Do you want to leave the shirt on this time?”

“No, sorry, no, I just… you startled me, that’s all.” Shuuichi sighed, now just annoyed with himself. If he didn’t want to be treated like a wounded animal, he shouldn’t act like one...he let Kaito take his jacket and undershirt off of him, freeing up his back to be worked on, and gave Kokichi a grateful look as he reached out for the glass. “Thank you… sorry about all this.”

“Not at all! You’re hurt, so of course we’re gonna help out--that’s one of the ways we show our care,” Kokichi chirped, just leaving for a moment after giving Shuuichi the glass and pill to get the lotion that Shuuichi generally used on his stomach. Thankfully he didn’t seem to be the type to have dry skin in general, so he didn’t have to just dip the entirety of his body in lotion like a weird bath. He’d heard of some people doing that to ease the sores from chicken pox…

Laughing a little at his thought, Kokichi returned to the bed and rolled up his sleeves, leaning forward to place a kiss at Shuuichi’s temple, half on his hat and half off. “Alright, lotion time. Is there anywhere Shuu-chan doesn’t want help with? ‘Cause while it isn’t a ‘ouchie get muscles to relax kind of massage’, I am plannin’ on making every little bit of Shuu-chan feel well-loved and appreciated.”

Shuuichi just smiled warmly at that, but Kaito felt like he had just taken a punch the gut, for how quickly he had to fight back against the urge to, uh… well, get a little too into the idea of Kokichi making ‘every little bit’ of Shuuichi feel well-loved and appreciated. Hnnnnn…

Fuck when was the last time Kaito had taken care of himself? He was trying to do it more regularly, to stop harassing his guys so much, but he had definitely skipped yesterday, and hadn’t done it today… dammit.

“Um… it’s the skin lotion, right? I guess I don’t mind anywhere. It kinda helps with everything...” Shuuichi hadn’t told them yet that he had started using stuff like that to help with his nipples after pumping. His chest was aching again, but in a new way these days. Sure, when he was full, it ached in that ‘please get this stuff out of me’ way, but it could also just ache from, like… ‘damn you keep using me’ way now. Which wasn’t as bad, but…

Look, he just threw away a lot of nectar, these days. If anything, the more he regularly pumped himself, the more consistent the amount he got, enough to...well. Enough to feed a baby every day, he guessed. It felt a little excessive, sometimes. He supposed at least Baby would get plenty to eat. 

Shuuichi tensed up, for a second, as Kaito started to put the somewhat cool ointment on his lower back, Kaito stopping and leaning down to kiss the back of Shuuichi’s shoulders in apology, before slowly and more evenly spreading it back there. “Alright… let’s get you back to zero, huh, handsome?” Kaito said, starting to press thumb muscles into the lower back of Shuchi’s spine.

“Mmm… h-ah… kay.” Shuich murmured again. Apparently that being his ‘word’ of the day.

Kokichi nodded and squeezed some of the lotion out onto one of his hands, ready to do the same for Shuuichi whenever he held a hand out. Then, he lightly spread it out over his fingers and the ball of his palm, making sure he wouldn’t chafe anywhere he rubbed, but also warming the lotion up a little so he didn’t shock Shuuichi’s skin. 

Then, it was onto the big ticket item, and what he mostly saw Shuuichi applying lotion to--his big, round belly, surely strained, but avoiding stretch marks for the most part. Starting from the top, Kokichi gently but thoroughly started to rub in the lotion in little, adoring circles, keeping an eye on Shuuichi’s face to make sure he didn’t want him to stop. Though, Shuuichi seemed a little more preoccupied with Kaito’s massage. 

Kokichi didn’t really want to...force Shuuichi to focus. Not when losing yourself in a massage was one of the best sources of relief you could get. But it did feel a little weird just doing this in relative silence, only Shuuichi’s gasps and groans filling the air. So...still a little embarrassed in front of his partners, Kokichi started to quietly hum. 

It was a little strange, sometimes, to feel four individual hands on himself. On one hand, it was easy to relax to this. Kaito, who had been good at massages when he had first started doing this for them, was now damn near an expert when it came to Shuuichi and Kokichi, and he didn’t really fuck around when it came to pain spikes. It could be a little overwhelming sometimes, halfway through, but Kaito fucking laser focused on in their pain spots, working hard to force the muscles to unclench, sometimes to a painful point, only relaxing his hands and making the pressure more generally soothing once the hard part was done. 

It was… hard to stay quiet, during that. Half the grunts one of pain, sharp gasps, followed by little, relieved whimpers when the pain eased after Kaito’s forced spike. 

And Kokichi was the opposite. His small, cool hands were always light, smooth touches, each small circle intended to sooth, rubbing his skin in easy, reassuring movements. Almost sensual in the touch, though Shuuichi knew he only did that to make certain he rubbed the lotion in well. 

Hard, forceful presses against his back, light, soothing circles in his front… it hurt and felt nice at the same time. Shuuichi staring vacantly around Kokichi’s collarbone, listening to the rare, but sweet sound of his boyfriend humming happily to himself, while Shuuichi took deep, deep breaths…

Shuuichi was almost thinking that he’d probably want to sleep after this… but his eyes widened when he felt a… third thing press hard into his back. 

Kaito shifted behind him and the thing was gone, laughing lightly when Shuuichi started to look questioningly behind him, Kaito just kissing at his shoulder and saying, “Nevermind that. Just relax… does it hurt higher or lower?”

“Uh… h-higher.” Shuuichi murmured, face reddening in flustered embarrassment.

Kokichi glanced up at the slight change in their rhythm, taking in Shuuichi’s rosy cheeks and Kaito’s nonchalance. His hands slowed for a moment, the song pausing, though his own cheeks went pink when it finally clicked. Well...Kaito always did say that making them feel good made him feel good. 

He was half crouched, working around the lower half of Shuuichi’s belly and working around to his sides and the top of his hips, and...Kokichi blushed a little more as he looked up over Shuuichi’s shoulder to Kaito, just watching his husband for a moment. Well...after practically sleeping for half a week, he wasn’t particularly tired. Maybe when Shuuichi was nice and comfortable and settled, he could take care of Kaito too. 

...it’d be fun. They hadn’t done anything in a while--again--and he liked knowing Kaito was taken care of just as much as he liked it for Shuuichi. 

Smiling a little to himself, Kokichi refocused on his current task, trying not to tickle Shuuichi, and he started humming again, though he enjoyed the little inside joke of switching to a love song.

Shuuichi was trying to relax… and honestly was mostly succeeding, because his two lovers were very good, but…

He could feel his face burning, the more he tried to imagine what Kaito looked like behind him. 

Was he… hard hard? Or just tenting a little? Did he have that look on his face right now? The weird, ‘I’m gonna eat you’ look? Was he blushing? Did he seem as calm as his voice had sounded? 

Then he glanced at Kokichi and saw a touch of pink in his cheeks and nnnnnn.

He should stop thinking about it. He was in no way physically capable of having sex right now. Especially not Kaito sex. He had barely been able to move a second ago. Get your head out of the gutter! 

“...heh.” Kaito chuckled, pressing his thumbs in hard at Shuuichi’s lower mid-back, earning himself another sharp little gasp, Shuuichi leaning forward over the roundness of his belly, looking down vaguely at Kokichi. “Your shoulders and back have gone all red, handsome… it’s kinda cute.”

He kissed lightly at the side of Shuuichi’s nape, and asked, “Something wrong?”

Bastard.

Kokichi looked up, frowning a little, though not actually upset any. But he recognized that kind of teasing very well, and...well, Shuuichi did look a bit flustered but… He wanted to give his boyfriend an out if he wanted it. 

“That kinda happens when you give a massage, Kai-chan… But are you doing okay, Shuu-chan?” Pretty much kneeling in front of Shuuichi now, Kokichi stilled at the bottom of his belly, placing a feather-light kiss against his slightly protruding belly button. Though, he stood after, giving Shuuichi a small smile. “I can get you more water if it feels like you’re overheating?”

“Oh, um… I mean, that’s not why… uh, m-maybe a glass of water would be good-”

“I don’t know.” Kaito said softly, kissing at the side of Shuuichi’s neck now, a haze of lust clouding his eyes as he looked down at where Kokichi was, just… endlessly turned on by the visual as he murmured against Shuuichi’s neck, “Waters good, yeah, but… you sure that’s what you’re thirsty for?”

“...uh…” Shuuichi felt like his mouth had gone dry. Maybe he really did need that water, as Kaito kept pressing firmly into his back, easing the muscles, and placing light, inviting kisses against his neck and shoulders, Shuuichi beat red as he tried to say again, “Um…”

“Hey, Shuuichi…” Kaito whispered into his neck, “Our Kokichi looked real cute where he was, didn’t he?”

“K-kaito…”

Kokichi sighed softly. Kaito was really laying it on thick tonight, huh. Rolling his eyes, Kokichi leaned in and knocked his head against the side of Kaito’s, not much more than a nudge, before offering Shuuichi a kinder smile. “Our Kai-chan is all about building to a moment, but sometimes being straightforward helps out more.”

“Shuu-chan, do you wanna be pampered in other ways too? I’d be more than happy, and Kai-chan’s obviously already on board.” Gently, Kokichi smoothed his hands over the sides of Shuuichi’s belly, looking at him with love and adoration and understanding. “All you gotta do is say the word, either way. You say no, we continue on with your massage. Yes, and...well, we probably keep on with the massage too, but with extra stuff along the way.”

Kaito chuckled at Kokichi’s little ‘bonk’, staring at Kokichi with that same, lust filled haze in his expression. Massages always got him a little excited by default, but it had been seeing Kokichi kneeling between Shuuichi’s legs that had just killed him. That and seeing Shuuichi half naked, those little damn noises…

He’d respect a no, of course. But god he was gonna die.

So he kissed at Shuuichi’s neck, running his fingers up and down the curve of his back, like, trying to cheat just a little bit, come on, Shuuichi, this felt good, just lean into it, it’d be fun…

And Shuuichi felt his breath catch a little, Kokichi’s hands running their fingertips on the side of his belly, that sweet, patient look on his face… and Shuuichi ducked under his hat a little, finding Kokichi too blinding to look directly at, as he said, “I… yeah, that could be… yes?” Once the yes was out, Shuuichi felt a little more confident in the answer. He wasn’t even sure why he was so flustered... oh, right, because- “B-but I won’t be able too… I just can’t, guys. I really won’t be able to do much back…I mean, I guess I could touch you with my hands if you sit next to me- mmm”

Kaito had pressed particularly hard on the next muscle, smirking as he felt Shuuichi’s back tense for a second, before relaxing into a little shudder, kissing the back of his ear as he said, “Don’t worry about me and ‘Kichi.” Kaito told him, his gaze shifting over to Kokichi. That smirk, edging into a sharp grin, still teasing at the edges of his kisses as he said, “Kokichi and I will be fine.”

Kokichi’s smile softened even more when Shuuichi said yes, happy to make his boyfriend feel good this way too, and he leaned in to place another kiss against Shuuichi’s temple before kneeling back down in front of him. “Shuu-chan is doing more back than he thinks. By the nice things he says and the noises he makes, by expressing how he’s feeling, and all the little touches...they make me and Kai-chan very happy, honeypie.”

And maybe...Kokichi was taking that to heart where it concerned him as well. He still liked reciprocating in more dramatic, physical ways, but the little things...they meant a lot. So even if he couldn’t move well, he was still contributing. 

Kokichi met Kaito’s gaze, giving him a cool, yet slightly teasing gaze in response. And, well, even if Shuuichi was worried about them in the larger sense...Kaito was going to make sure no one was left hanging that night. But Kokichi was planning on making sure he didn’t get too greedy, and that Shuuichi was well-loved and pampered before anything else happened.

Leaning back in, Kokichi laid soft, slow kisses around the underside of Shuuichi’s belly, stroking his hands down from his hips to his thighs, though he turned his hands slightly, not wanting to rub lotion into the fibers of his pants. 

Honestly, Kokichi had said everything Kaito had wanted to say about the subject of Shuuichi ‘doing enough’, and just hummed happily in agreement, going back to focusing on getting the ointment rubbed into Shuuichi’s back and working the knots out of his muscles. And, considering now it was a sexy massage, and not just a normal one, Kaito decided to shift back into the position he was in the first place when Shuuichi had felt him, the hard press of his dick, pushing at his pants, filling against Shuuichi’s backside…

His big, soft, round backside…

… dammit he wanted to fuck Shuuichi.

That, though, absolutely wasn’t happening this time, and Kaito knew that. He didn’t think sleeping with a totally pregnant Shuuichi was… necessarily a thing he wasn’t going to do at some point. To his knowledge, it’d be his first time having sex with someone who was pregnant, and he doubted he’d ever get another chance to sleep with anyone as very pregnant as Shuuichi. He didn’t think this would be a fetish he had, but hey! What other opportunity would he ever have to find out?

So, yeah, so long as Shuuichi was okay with it, that was absolutely something Kaito wanted to happen.

But, Shuuichi was in a lot of pain today, and had just admitted that there was very little he felt like he could contribute tonight. Even if Kaito was gentle, it’d probably hurt him to have any sort of real pressure put onto his back. So, no. Definitely not a thing today.

...but damn his boyfriend was sexy.

Oh well… thank goodness Kaito was exceedingly, obscenely lucky and also had a super sexy husband. Mmmm, who looked really pretty down there…

As Shuuichi also watched Kokichi, his lower stomach starting to tighten with arousal, starting to get excited now that he knew it was happening, he suddenly winced, “Ow… Kaito…”

“One second, one second, I’m sorry, but we really do gotta get all these knots out. First knots, then super sexy Kokichi… or, more sexy Kokichi. Fuck you two look amazing right now…” Kaito murmured, pressing hard into Shuuichi, taking two of his thumbs together and working out a knot he could feel just below Shuuichi’s shoulder blades. “Almost obscenely so…”

“Ah… I think you’re just horny.” Shuuichi sighed, mostly teasing, but relaxing as he felt the knot release and felt Kaito shift more, putting his ankles beside his back and his knees more securely around Shuuichi, the press of his crotch more firmly against him now.

Kaito chuckled, “Yeah, maybe a little.”

Kokichi knew what he was doing, but...well, there was a reason he hadn’t started to slip his fingers into Shuuichi’s waistband, or had even attempted to touch between his thighs. They were here for a reason first, and Shuuichi’s back would be much happier if Kaito got all those unhappy knots out before they moved onto anything. Come morning, Shuuichi’s body would likely be protesting again but...less bad. Not to the point his back was seizing up and preventing him from moving. 

So Kokichi just cooed sympathetically and rubbed his boyfriend’s stomach, though he couldn’t help laughing at the degree Kaito’s Kaito Goggles were turned on to. Turned on from being turned on. 

“Maybe a little? Don’t think I’ve been doing a very good job then, though, to be fair, I’ve just started. I really did just kneel down here to reach the bottom of your tummy easily, Shuu-chan. It’s just a nice coincidence that I’m also a pretty picture between your legs.” Kokichi punctuated that with a wink and a firmer kiss to Shuuichi’s belly. 

“Mm...I know you don’t really like being naked on your own, so gimme a heads up when your back starts feeling good, and I’ll join ya, okay? Prolly bring a pillow down here too…”

Kaito gave a needy little whine-- Kokichi kneeling on a pillow, fuck,-- as Shuuichi smiled warmly down at him, sighing as he said, “Thank you. I- ah... “ he caught his breath, his back shuddering as Kaito still managed to get his thumbs and knuckles into another knot, despite currently reeling, “I appreciate that… and it is always nice to see all of you.” Shuuichi admitted, his body tap-dancing around the pain, the relaxation of the muscles loosening, and his own excited arousal, pooling nicely at the bottom of his stomach. “I really like your collarbone, Kokichi… I’m not sure why. And the way your stomach dips in on the sides before your hips… though, it’s been nice watching that dip get less and less pronounced ever- nngh…” 

Another small shudder of breath, before his back relaxed, “...every time I see it… seems healthier, honestly…”

“A healthy Kokichi is a sexy Kokichi.” Kaito agreed, though his lust hazed brain was insisting to him right now that a mewling, gasping Kokichi was a sexy Kokichi. Or a Kokichi sitting on his lap and smirking as he bounced was a sexy Kokichi. Or a Kokichi with his knees on a pillow and his mouth full was a- gah he was so damn horny! 

‘I’m gonna die today.’ Kaito decided, somberly returning to massaging Shuuichi’s back, practically feeling his funeral dirge playing in the distance. ‘Death from sudden, rampant horniness. It’s how I deserve to go, really.’

Kokichi laughed softly, his cheeks tinting from the appreciation. He’d always known he was cute but...someone actually describing the parts of him they liked...it was nice. Made him feel good about himself. Especially when they liked the parts of him that hadn’t been so good a few months ago. 

Maybe it wasn’t really part of the atmosphere but...well, he had a feeling it wouldn’t take Kaito out of things, and maybe Shuuichi would still appreciate it. 

Resting his head against Shuuichi’s knee, Kokichi kept stroking the side of his stomach, his voice growing a little softer. “...my last appointment, Seiko said I was up to 97. Probably a little less now ‘cause I’m just starting to eat solid food again, and haven’t been doing a ton besides sleeping, but...in five, six months? I’ve never been able to gain that much and keep it on. Never thought it would happen, but I might just break triple digits one of these days…”

“...good thing my partners are super buff and strong,” he teased, shifting his head a little to grin impishly up at both his lovers.

Shuuichi reached out and ran a hand through Kokichi’s hair, gently massaging his scalp with the tips of his fingernails, as he said, “That’s amazing, Kokichi…”

Kaito frowned, finding a particularly stubborn spot and, using his elbow, digging into it as Shuuichi grunted, as he said, “That’s a big deal, isn’t it? Tog… I knew someone who used to really, really believe that having a healthy layer of weight was super important, to, like, protect yourself from all sorts of things and keep you energized and all that. I can’t really understand the struggle of being perpetually underweight, but fuck yeah, Kokichi! We’ll fatten you up yet!!”

“You did go through that phase in the later part of- hmg… middle school… ow…”

“Sorry, handsome, I know that one hurt. But, feel that? It’s all nice and soft and loose now.” Kaito grinned, playfully, soothingly rubbing the spot he had just taken care of, listening to Shuuichi sigh slightly in relief. “And nah, that’s not the same thing as what Kokichi’s got going on. I think the smallest I ever got was 130-something. Which, looking back, was dumb as fuck, I should not have done that, being someone my size.” Kaito said, rolling his eyes, “I must have looked awful, don’t know what I was thinking. But, yeah!! Kokichi, we’ll get a little extra weight on you, and then one day, you’ll be as strong and big as me!”

Shuuichi scoffed, “Kaito...”

“Well, like a mini-version of me! Muscles! I wanna put muscles on ya someday, babe. Could you imagine our sweet, ethereal ‘Kichi, but, like, with shoulder muscles? Cute little firm biceps? Leg muscles are easy, we’ll get you some ripped thighs in no time!”

Shuuichi laughed lightly, before confessing, “I’m kind of just picturing a waaaaay too buff Kokichi now. Like, a small Mr. Nidai with a Kokichi head… it’s kinda disturbing.” Shuuichi suddenly laughed hard, taking his free hand and covering his face, “Oh no.” 

Kokichi hummed softly in appreciation, both from the fingers in his hair and the congratulations. He’d been hanging around the low nineties and high eighties for a few years now, depending on how sick he got for any stretch of time, and...well, yeah, he perpetually skipped meals, but even when he’d go for a while eating normally and even having snacks...he just couldn’t seem to manage more than a pound or two, which he’d then immediately lose when he went back to skipping. It was worrying, but...since he couldn’t manage much and often had more immediate concerns, he’d mostly been left to his own devices aside from sighs and cautions to keep up a well-rounded diet. 

That he was able to even make it up to the high nineties at all was...incredible. It probably really was pretty much never skipping meals and being active but...well, Kokichi had heard stories of partners gaining sympathy weight when their partner was pregnant, and it was kind of fun to consider that too. 

He looked up in surprise, not having expected to hear Kaito, Mr. Load Up On Greens and Meat and Exercise Everyday Kaito ever having issues with his weight, let alone, at least what it sounded like, trying to lose weight. But...there were things his husband had said every now and again which...kinda were clues to that. Mentioning being a twig of a kid namely, though “being” and “trying” were very different things. 

But considering who Kaito was today...it’d all worked out. 

Snorting, Kokichi grinned and held up an arm to flex his bicep, absolutely no movement happening whatsoever. “I’m gonna get so swol, you have no idea, Shuu-chan!”

“Buuuut I’ll settle for not having to take breathers on hikes,” he sheepishly laughed. “It’s probably good to rest anyway, but I’d like to do it more just to enjoy the scenery than because I feel like I’m gonna pass out.”

“We can get ya there, babe. Hell, you got really far before we had to stop last time!”  Kaito said, no doubt in his mind that this was more than an attainable goal. His husband was strong, he knew it. He just needed a little support! Like most people, really!

Mmmm… Kaito felt his eyes glaze over a little, returning to mindlessly pressing into Shuuichi’s back as he recalled fond memories of his husband just… really being able to take a lot… hell yeah he was strong enough to get up tall trails… you could fuck the guy against the wall and he’ll take it with a loopy smile… shit, god dammit, Kaito actually genuinely needed to calm down. Fuck.

While Kaito chastised himself for his horny nature, Shuuichi had calmed down from his own arousal, honestly just enjoying the feeling of Kokichi laying against his leg, the lotion drying nicely on his stomach while Shuuichi showed his boyfriend idle affection, keeping up the light massage to Kokichi’s scalp as he chuckled at the younger man ‘flexing’ on them. “Well, I guess sleeping in bed with two muscle-men could be kind of nice… but try not to get too ripped, Kokichi. Once I’m not pregnant anymore, it’ll be nice to really get my arms around you again. It’d be a shame if you were too swol to little spoon again.”

Kokichi nodded a bit, more just nuzzling against Shuuichi’s thigh. It felt kind of crazy to think, considering what he thought his limitations were his whole life but...taking a hike like that in one go, and not needing to gasp for air and flop on the ground was...attainable. Something he could realistically do someday, maybe even soon, as long as he kept up with training. Not a shot in a bucket, “not technically impossible” wish. 

Getting as ripped as they were joking probably was, but Kokichi wasn’t really going to try for it anyway. 

Groaning, Kokichi shook his head, nuzzling farther up Shuuichi’s leg. “No waaaaaay! I’ll always be small enough for little spoon, since you guys are huge. Even if Maki-chan is reasonably sized, she’s still buff as all hell, so I’m just doomed to a family of giants. It’s only a matter of time before Tim outgrows me, and I don’t think it’s likely Baby will take after me in the height department.” 

He sighed dramatically, placing a kiss on the lower part of Shuuichi’s stomach. “At least I’ll always have my dad… Me, Ikuo, and Maki-chan, standing off against a world of giants…”

Kaito smirked, leaning over to kiss the back of Shuuichi’s neck as he said, “You all make me feel… very tall. Don’t worry, my little loves. I shall be the tree that shelters you through the storm. The…” Kaito paused, trying to think of more metaphor, “the… pole to your tents! The long pole! That holds most of the weight of the tent! You guys know which one I mean, goes over the top…”

“Kaito, you are not much taller than myself,” Shuuichi said blankly, before smirking, “...so you’re the ‘long pole’ that’s ‘tenting’?”

“Hm? Yeah! Tall and long and supportive!” Kaito said enthusiastically.

“...I can’t tell if you’re doing that on purpose,” Shuuichi admitted. It was really tough to tell the difference between Kaito actually completely missing the point and when he was faking it to make other people laugh or more comfortable… Kaito really was a very good liar, when he decided to do it.

And Kaito, in turn, just gave Shuuichi a quizzical grin. “Doing what? How does your back feel by the way, handsome? Let me know where more pain is, I’m gonna put more ointment on the bits that are still stinging.”

Kokichi snickered quietly, not missing the innuendo, whether it was intentional or not. But...well, it sounded like Shuuichi’s massage was coming to its end, and they were planning on doing a bit more…

“Supportive...hmmm…” Kokichi hummed, still nuzzling along Shuuichi’s leg, placing kisses against his belly when he came close. “Well, Kai-chan is always supportive, right down to his being, but in this metaphor… Would that mean that one of us is riding you? Wouldn’t really look at your dick as supporting us but...I guess you could see it that way.”

Kokichi glanced up at Shuuichi, his face considering, but a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Shuu-chan, you read that sex book--are there any better positions you’d describe Kai-chan’s dick as supporting us?”

Shuuichi, for a second, almost felt his vision start to tunnel… but he closed his eyes for a moment and held his breath until the weird impulse left him. Kokichi was not an authority, that wasn’t an order. And, if he did that, it was just going to make his boyfriend feel bad, which wasn’t what he wanted…

Shuuichi felt his shoulder jostle a little, and Kaito said, “Handsome, spots that still hurt?”

“Oh, um, my whole lower back still kinda aches, and the spot between my shoulder blades sting a little… thanks Kaito.” Shuuichi said, momentarily distracted enough to shake the tunnel vision off, before looking back down at Kokichi, smiling slightly, warmed by his attention and affection…

But then he said, voice almost blank, “There were a few, but they did not look realistic.”

“Oh boy.” Kaito chuckled, starting to put more ointment on the complained about areas.

“There was one called The Bicycle? The woman looked like she was just… hovering in the air. Like, held up by nothing more than the guys hands on her hips, and his dick. Just… what?” Shuuichi said, brow furrowing, before continuing, “And the-”

“Real quick, handsome… a lot of those books don’t add in pictures of the support?” Kaito chuckled again, shaking his head slightly, “Believe it or not, I don’t have sex positons names memorized, but more likely than not, the women in the picture was meant to be laying on something.”

“Oh…” Shuuichi blushed. Okay, that made more sense. He had been so baffled by the picture that he hadn’t actually read it. “...okay! There was another one named Waterfall-”

“Oh shit I just realized, do you now have all the sex position names memorized?” Kaito realized, looking somewhat disturbed by the idea. “Oh no.”

“And with waterfall, I think literally the only thing keeping the woman… and all the positions had a man and a woman as the default in the first chapter, but a lot of the positions seemed to be roughly the same for two men in the fourth chapter, just different names-”

“What was the name for the male ones?”

“Landslide.” Shuuichi quickly answered, before continuing, “Anyway, so the man is… his legs and butt are on the, okay, on the bed, yeah, he’s not just hovering. But his shoulders and head are on the floor then? And the woman-”

“Just reference the fourth chapter stuff bud, it’ll make it easier. You don’t have to say the first one you saw.”

“So the man at the top, it really seems like the only thing keeping him from sliding down the other man’s frontside is literally his dick, which… sounds painful for the man on the bottom, really. Unrealistic, again.”

“Mmmm… I bet me and Kokichi could do it, since he’s so light. Not really… sure what the point would be though?” Kaito mused, shrugging, “Sounds like the sort of thing you try for a laugh, rather than because it’ll feel any better than anything else.”

Kokichi realized about at the same moment Kaito did, that Shuuichi now knew...quite a bit about sex, or at least different positions and twists to take on it. And just thinking about that...Kokichi felt his cheeks heat up again, just like when he realized that Kaito was getting riled up in the first place. 

Shuuichi outlining what different positions did, even if it was what he asked about, didn’t help in the slightest. 

Scoffing slightly, his cheeks growing a deeper red, Kokichi nuzzled against the side of Shuuichi’s belly. “Right. Like those partner yoga poses that are just to show off, but with sex. How much can you contort your body and still call it sex.”

“Huh, I guess that’s a way of thinking about it.” Kaito mused, finishing up the ointment and now just touching parts of Shuuichi cause, like… yay to touching parts of Shuuichi, really, as he said, “I had this one partner-”

“Kaito, I don’t speak for Kokichi, but I’m not sure I want to hear about you and past people trying out a variety of sex positions.” Shuuichi said simply, already feeling a small spark of jealousy. Which was stupid, of course, it wasn’t like Shuuichi wasn’t intimately familiar with Kaito’s past love life. He had been on the receiving end of endless rants their entire life growing up, as Kaito talked out issues and difficulties and, often enough, exciting new events in his love life.  Shuuichi had always been fine with it.

But now that Kaito was… was, well, his…

He couldn’t help but feel a little jealous, looking back at it all. He knew that was needlessly possessive, to wish so many people hadn’t gotten so many pieces of Kaito over the years, but, well, there it was. The thought annoyed him.

...well, he supposed he was the one who got to keep Kaito, so heh. There was that. 

Kaito, in turn, just pouted, “Hey, come on… I mean, I didn’t really ever have a partner who wanted to try just a bunch of random positions for the sake of it. I just meant I had this one partner who really enjoyed physically challenging me, before we did stuff. Like, seeing how long I could hang off a bar, or how many pushups I could do, or winning wrestling matches and stuff like that. Like, he just got a kick out of physically showing off prowess first. So, maybe stuff like that is for people like him? Like, the more physically difficult it is to pull off, the more they get out of it?”

Oh, Shuuichi remembered him. The wrestler… hmph. That guy was a meathead. Kaito was way out of his league… though, okay, fine, he had been a nice enough guy, Shuuichi was being unreasonable. Still… hmph. “Yeah, maybe.”

Kokichi glanced up at his boyfriend curiously, seeing a glimpse of jealousy in his eyes...or maybe Kokichi was just seeing what he thought he’d see. Expectation bias or something. He didn’t really mind hearing about Kaito’s past sexual escapades but...he could agree it could kinda take him out of the mood if they were about to get into something. 

Like the thought of physically challenging himself before sex.

Heaving a great sigh, Kokichi pushed himself off his knees, kind of sliding forward against Shuuichi’s leg until he was facedown on the bed, his legs hanging down. “That sounds exhausting… I know we were just talking about the great heights my stamina will reach one day, but doing all that before you even get to sex? Feel like I’d already be asleep by the time Kai-chan takes his sweet ol’ time actually getting in me. Save the active stuff for the end.”

Kaito laughed at this, reaching around Shuuichi to pat Kokichi affectionately on the head as he said, “Aw, babe. Yeah, I’d get pretty tired myself, honestly.”

“Somnophilia.” Shuuichi recalled idly, also reaching over and idly petting Kokichi’s back, recalling the book.

“Hm?” Kaito asked, laying his chin on Shuuichi’s shoulder, giving his boyfriend a confused look, “Semnifalia?”

“What? No. Somnophilia. That’s what Kokichi’s scenario would be. Getting someone to fall asleep or be asleep before the sexual action. Another one of the things in the book I thought was unrealistic. Sex would wake anyone up.”

“Oh, no, you need drugs to do that.” Kaito said simply. Looking thoughtful as he said, “Didn’t realize there was a word for that though.”

“...what!?”

“Yeah, I don’t know, it was supposed to be a proof of trust thing… not one of my favorite experiences, I’ll be honest. Went to sleep, woke up just sore everywhere. Didn’t get to be part of any of the fun parts.” Kaito stuck his tongue out a little. That had been another Korekiyo move. Kaito had only done it once, and though Kore had asked to do it again, had dodged it every time after that. He hadn’t liked not getting to actually be a part of it. It had been a bummer. Plus, the drugs had given him a wicked headache the next day. 

Then he looked over at Kokichi, pouting again as he said, “‘Kichi, are you not gonna blow Shuuichi? I really was looking forward to you blowing Shuuichi. Do I need to do it?”

“Kaito!”

Kokichi raised his eyebrow. He’d always thought somnophilia was like...well, yes, doin’ shit while someone was asleep, but more of a...sleep-sex thing. Like sleep talking, but more awkward. While it still didn’t sound great, at least agreeing to do it before you knocked yourself out was...better. 

Though probably not by too much, if Kaito’s experience was any barometer. 

Huffing again, Kokichi slid back down to his knees--though he did quite like the little back rubs--and pouted back up at Kaito from between Shuuichi’s legs. “Well, who does Shuu-chan want to blow him? Kai-chan, getting over eager and trying to deep-throat you again, exploiting every weak spot he can along the way? Or me, doing my best even though I can’t fit my mouth around you, not even both my hands able to rub you all at once...but I can get pretty close, and Shuu-chan seems to like it, when I’m mouthing all over his cock…”

Kokichi’s voice lowered as he spoke and he looked up at his partners alluringly through his eyelashes, still pouting a bit, just...trying to be sexy and cute and rile his guys up a little. Make ‘em blush as much as all their talk had been doing to him. 

Shuuichi’s face went bright red, as he stammered out, just as shocked as before, “K-Kokchi!”

Kaito’s sometimes crude one-track mind often managed to shock Shuuichi, the ex-detective feeling the need to scold him and reign him in, sometimes. But whenever Kokichi got like that? You’d think he’d have gotten used to Kokichi’s often stunningly straight-forward bedroom talk, since his smaller boyfriend did it pretty often, but each time it always took Shuuichi off guard, hearing such dirty things from such a sweet looking face. And…

Honestly? Both options Kokichi presented sounded… painfully alluring. Kaito determinedly trying to swallow him down, pushing his hands into places that weren’t necessary for a blow-job, but always made Shuuichi shake and feel like he was on fire… or Kokichi, with those cool, sweet hands trying to work their way around him, that pinched, concentrated look on his face he sometimes got, like Shuuichi’s dick was a puzzle Kokichi was working through… so sweet and cute… so damn sexy…

Behind Shuuichi, staring at Kokichi from his boyfriends shoulder, Kaito’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“I think…” Kaito said slowly, a haze of possessive lust falling over him, as he started to gently kiss at Shuuichi’s ears, his eyes still trained on Kokichi, “That I should get my Kokichi his pillow, so he can pleasure my Shuuichi…” Kaito bit, ever so lightly, on the shell of Shuuichi’s ear, drawing a small, startled gasp from his boyfriend, as he said, “...and I think that’s what’s going to happen… hmmm, handsome?”

Shuuichi gave Kaito a flustered but mildly annoyed look, as he said, “Kaito, you can’t just decide-”

“If you pick Kokichi?” Kaito whispered into his ear, all hot air and need, “I can go down there and make it hard for him to concentrate… don’t you like to see him squirm?”

...Shuuichi blushed red.

Kokichi was still pouting, but as he took in Shuuichi’s fluster and Kaito’s laser-focused attention, there was a certain satisfied gleam in his eyes, delighted in the knowledge that he’d managed to affect his lovers just as he wanted. That satisfaction only grew, lifting the corners of his lips and breaking his expression, as Kaito took hold of the situation. Maybe it was a little mean to gang up on Shuuichi like this but...they did agree to pamper him that night.

Slowly standing back up, Kokichi started to lift off his shirt and sweater, making good on his promise to strip once Shuuichi’s massage was done, and while he didn’t do it as sensually as the little tease he’d done before, there was a certain deliberateness as he took his clothes off, warm from the comments Shuuichi had made about his body earlier. Just shirts off was matching Shuuichi, but he’d have to at least move his pants down for a blowjob so… Kokichi only lingered for a moment before unbuttoning his pants and sliding them and his underwear down, throwing the whole bunch of clothes over somewhere near their closet to be dealt with later. 

Cocking a hip, Kokichi held his hands out. “My pillow? And if Kai-chan’s coming down here too, more than one. Unless, of course, Shuu-chan picks Kai-chan to be contrary--then I get to cuddle up to Shuu-chan all I want, wrapping us both up in a blanket and gettin’ cozy while we kiss like last time.”

Kaito now actually glared at Kokichi, his body tensing with a defensive, competitive spirit. He had already said what was going to happen… honestly, he was gonna rip that ass in two tonight when he got Kokichi on his knees and-

Shuuichi gave a small, eager breath, “...that sounds really good too…”

No! What!? He was tempted!? Gah!!! 

A very needy whine involuntarily escaped Kaito’s throat as he looked in open startlement at Shuuichi, putting his arms around Shuuichi’s shoulder and saying, “But, Shuuichi… you like watching Kokichi get opened up… I’ll put on a whole show for you! It’ll be great! I’ll make him squeal around your cock!”

Shuuichi sighed. Such a Sophie’s Choice… but sexy and not horrifying. Both scenarios sounded really, really good…

...admittedly… there was something very tempting in just… not letting Kaito have his way… he was so cute to tease…

Shuuichi looked at Kokichi’s outstretched hands, waiting for the pillow… and sighing happily, reached over and grasped them, pulling Kokichi onto himself, kissing him softly as he gently placed Kokichi’s hands onto his belly and waist, feeling Kaito back up from his shoulder to give them space (an almost offended gasp coming from him) as Shuuichi kissed Kokichi, enjoying the warm, soft, familiar feeling…

And when he broke the kiss, his own golden eyes now happily lost in their own sort of haze, he said, “Kokichi’s just fine right here. Kaito, get on the floor.”

“What!?” Kaito practically squawked, really not having seen this coming. But, but, but… they always did what he decided to do, what- “But, Shuuichi!?”

Shuuichi looked over his shoulder, and those same happy, hazy golden eyes flashed, ever so briefly, neon pink, and they hardened back into gold, Shuuichi’s no-nonsense cold look stopping Kaito dead in his tracks-- and going straight to his dick-- as Shuuichi said, a little annoyed, “It’s my night, isn’t it? Grab a pillow and get down there.”

...fuck. God dammit… fuck that was pretty hot FINE WHATEVER! Admitting defeat, Kaito grit his teeth and grabbed a pillow, sulkily getting off the bed and heading around the front, grumbling the whole time. “...freaking knew you were gonna be a monster someday…”

Kokichi burned hotter, hearing Kaito bargain with his pleasure, fucking ready for that after his hiatus of being sick. They were still going to use a condom but...Kokichi was ready for when Kaito could spill in him again. Ready just to have sex again, though he was more than pleased trading handjobs with Shuuichi. 

So...when Shuuichi took his hands and pulled him onto the bed? Kokichi’s eyes widened in genuine surprise for a moment. He...really thought Shuuichi would wanna watch as Kokichi was bridged between his lovers. But he hadn’t offered something ridiculous thinking it wouldn’t happen, so it didn’t take long for Kokichi to melt into the kiss, holding Shuuichi close as they got to know each other again. 

And when Kaito went to the floor in a huff, Kokichi just nuzzled against Shuuichi’s shoulder, looking down at Kaito with affection. “He’s right, you know. We both gotta put everything we can into making sure our Shuu-chan is happy and pleased. I can only hope that Kai-chan will have enough left over to make me see stars afterward. Shuu-chan can get a show after he’s warm and comfy.”

Kokichi turned back to Shuuichi, kissing at the corner of his lips before his hand trailed around his belly to his pants. “But first...do you need help standing up, or does Shuu-chan wanna lie back while we take care of his pants for him?”

As Kaito got into position, still grumpy from not having gotten his way, he turned that heated, predator gaze back on Kokichi as he talked, his eyes practically pinpricks of horniness as he suddenly gave Kokichi a wide, sharp grin.

“If I have enough left over?” Kaito chuckled, leaning against Shuuichi’s leg, the one closest to Kokichi, as if he was going to reach out and just snag Kokichi then and there, practically growling, “Babe, I’m gonna own that ass tonight-”

“Focus, Kaito…” Shuuichi said gently, cooly, taking his hand to Kaito’s face and pushing it more towards himself, recentering Kaito’s attention, “You’re doing something right now, remember?”

But, all the cool, calm, honestly, kinda hot control over the situation Shuuichi had right now, that he was really actually enjoying a lot… kinda dimmed as his face flushed slightly in embarrassment, brought back down to earth as he remembered, ah, right… still couldn’t stand up on his own right now… “Oh, um… I guess I could lay back…”

Kaito raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in demeanor in Shuuichi, that intensity gone. Hmmm… and Kaito, huffing again, said, “Do you want your pants off?”

“What? Um…” Shuuichi smiled slightly, a little amused, “I think that might be one of the requirements, Kaito.”

Kaito turned that heated, horny glare to Shuuichi now, saying, “Why? Your pants have a button and zipper. Just lower the zipper.”

“Um… I don’t know if that would work… I’m kinda big, Kaito, I think the zippers would eat into my skin, and… m-my underwear isn’t the kind with the hole… it’s really not a big deal, I can lay back…”

Kaito, who was already reaching for Shuuichi’s button, starting the process, considered all the pants Shuuichi had, and considered Hajime, and considered, “Hey, bud? You’re not attached to your underwear for any reason, are you? Not a super lucky pair or something like that?”

“Uh… no?”

Kaiot grinned sharply. “Good.”

With one strong movement, grasping both end of the zip up, and Shuuichi’s underwear, Kaito ripped both apart, completely ruining the underwear and giving Hajime one hell of a weird job to fix later as Shuuichi startled, “K-kaito!”

Overly excessive? Absolutely. But Kaito’s stomach did lovely little flips as he pulled Shuuichi’s dick from the newly created entrance, the Beast making its appearance that night. 

Fuck he was horny.

Fuck, he hoped so. Not that Kaito seemed to be anywhere near drained after any of their activities, but...still. Kokichi wanted to get laid. 

Kokichi had started to shimmy back off the bed as Kaito and Shuuichi talked about getting his pants off, but he jumped when Kaito… Kokichi sighed, looking back at Shuuichi with a ‘what can ya do’ look. “He’s ripped my underwear too. When Kai-chan wants your dick, he’s getting it.”

“...but I wanted to touch Shuu-chan’s glorious butt too…”

Pouting again, Kokichi leaned over to capture Kaito’s lips, giving the bottom one more of a bite than his usual nibbles--though still not hard at all--more brattily demanding entrance than even his more smug forays. If Kaito wanted to be dramatic and horny, then so could he!

Once again, a low, needy whine escaped from the back of Kaito’s throat, happy to get the kiss, but… come on! He wanted his way!

But the bite was, well… not an order, but clearly a more insistent request than his husband usually ever gave for the more casual parts of sex, things that wouldn’t require a pinch. And, well… that was fucking hot. So, while Kaito wanted to growl that they had all the bits of Shuuichi they needed right now, he found the idea of obeying the request more enticing in the moment, Kaito huffing when Kokichi broke the kiss, muttering “Fine.” as he shifted out from between Shuuichi’s legs, standing up and heading over to wrap his arm around Shuuichi’s waist as he said, “I’ll lift, you pull, Kokichi.”

“You… have I ever seen you this worked up before?” Shuuichi mused, looking at the pent up, frustrated lust on Kaito’s face as he did said lift, Shuuichi wrapped his arms around Kaito’s neck, his lower back still kinda touchy enough that if he tried to stand on his own merits, his knees might buckle, and that wouldn’t be super sexy for anyone. “You actually look like you want to attack us.”

“...” Kaito swallowed, a suddenly uncertain look on his face as he said, “Is that bad?”

“Not really. Just don’t think I’ve seen you like this before.” Shuuichi observed.

“You’re both just really, really hot today.” Kaito insisted, thinking Shuuichi felt good and fuck, wouldn’t it be nice to put him on his side and just, he’d be gentle, just please…

Kokichi nodded, again a little surprised that Kaito went to go help Shuuichi with his pants--he’d just wanted to whine a little, honestly--but he didn’t waste time as Kaito lifted their lover up, getting a grip on each pant leg and quickly tugging down, moving to rid Shuuichi of the remnants of his underwear too while he was at it. It probably wouldn’t be very comfortable in the long run, and if they could avoid leaving Shuuichi in discomfort later, Kokichi wanted to prepare. 

As he worked, Kokichi nodded with a hum. “You’re hot. And I am excited, but Kai-chan’s on another level today. Just makes me disappointed we haven’t done anything sooner, though I know there probably wasn’t anything to do about me getting sick…” 

Kokichi was quiet for a moment, thinking on that, but he picked his mood right back as he finished up with Shuuichi’s pants and underwear, giving Kaito a cheeky wink as the tip of his tongue peeked out of his mouth. “Kai-chan’s all pent up? Maybe we should double condom later, just to be safe.”

As Kaito gently put Shuuichi back down, that laser focus went right back to Kokichi, as he said, throat thick with need, “I’m gonna unload in you so many times, we’ll actually need to keep a handful of condoms next to the bed. Gonna show you how to come multiple times toni- ow! Shuuichi?” Kaito pouted, that intensity dampened a bit as he looked at his boyfriend, who had taken Kaito’s ear and pinched. “What?”

“Kokichi was sick not that long ago, and he’ll get sleepy after once.” Shuuichi said blankly, digging his thumb nail into Kaito’s ear until his boyfriend winced, some more of that heat leaving him, “And you need a long break after cumming twice. Like, an hour, which is why all night sessions usually don’t work out for you. I know that cause you told me that when we were seventeen, in excruciating detail. Reign in your expectations. You’re riling yourself up too much.”

Kaito vaguely looked like he wanted to argue, insisting he could make a longer session work… but some of the fight went out of him as Shuuichi twisted his ear again, and he said, “Ow, okay, okay, fine. But you gotta tell Kokichi to stop! He’s riling me up on purpose!”

“He’s allowed.” Shuuichi decided, literally only to watch the frustrated look on Kaito’s face as he lightened up on his ear, rubbing it soothingly before leaning in to kiss him, Kaito quickly to kiss him back, the kiss, as always, more forceful and invasive, Kaito trying to steal the air from Shuuichi’s lungs as heavy, wet breathing filled the room. Shuuichi got lost in the kiss for a moment, before gently pushing Kaito off of himself, “You… hah… you were doing something, Kaito…”

Kaito gave another frustrated huff, before looking down at Kokichi. “You’re in my spot, beautiful.” Kaito pointed out, before suddenly smirking, eyes widening slightly in excitement as he said, “Let me help you out of it.”

And reaching down, Kaito swept Kokichi up into his arms, moving that intense kiss to him next.

A hot, aroused blush burned deep on Kokichi’s face, a little shiver shaking his thin shoulders for a moment. But, as incredibly arousing as it all was… Kokichi took a breath as Shuuichi took control of the situation, cooling himself down. Shuuichi was right. 

As much as he hated to admit it, Kokichi really wasn’t up to bouncing off the walls just yet, and the last thing he wanted out of this night was for one of them to be hurt or exhausted--in a bad way--at the end. It was supposed to be a night of comfort! They could talk an intense game, but when it came to actions...at least in comparison, they had to take things easy. 

Easy like heavily making out, which Kokichi watched in earnest, his own breathing picking up slightly as he watched his lovers please each other. He maybe didn’t get the same thrill out of it like Kaito did, but Kokichi still enjoyed watching his lovers. They were people he loved, so seeing them loved upon and happy made him happy. 

“I’m not doing it on purpose...or, at least to rile you up like that,” he murmured petulantly. “I just want us all to have a good time and be on the same page. Who knew Kai-chan got so hot off of honesty…”

Kokichi knew, that’s who. 

But he didn’t get to tease much longer once Kaito scooped him up in his arms, their lips meeting like magnets once again. Though, this time it was Kaito demanding entrance that Kokichi gratefully complied with, his fingers immediately carding into his husband’s hair, wanting to keep him close as they kissed. 

And maybe Kokichi was being a bit of a shit, because he ever so gently traced his thumb around the curve of the back of Kaito’s jaw.

Kaito felt, again, his whole body shudder, a mixture of arousal and alarm. Kaito, as far as he knew, did not have a glass jaw, but man, for some reason, anyone touching that little spot in his jaw gave him this alarmed, insistent sensation that he was going to break… it didn’t hurt. It was just this alarming tingling sensation that he never really noticed in any other part of his body. Well, maybe a little bit like bumping a funny bone, but it took so much less pressure.

And there was something arousing in just… feeling like that with someone. A weird vulnerability around people he otherwise trusted. 

Well, not that he’s told either of them about it. Or, well, maybe he had told Shuuichi at some point? It sounded like the sort of thing he’d tell Shuuichi, but he couldn’t remember ever doing it… wait, he was getting distracted. Hot husband. Naked pregnant boyfriend. Back on track.

Breaking the kiss, Kaito rested his forehead against Kokichi’s for a second, enjoying the feeling of his naked Kokichi wrapped around his shoulder, that little panting of breath… “Oh, shit, I should get my own clothes off.” Kaito realized, not having taken anything off yet, despite Shuuichi and Kokichi both being naked. 

Kissing Kokichi again, he placed his husband down next to Shuuichi, Shuuichi immediately reaching over to put his arms around Kokichi and draw him into a hug, as Kaito murmured, “...you’re both naked. Blanket. Where’s the throw blanke- ah! Here we go.” Kaito found it, kicked onto the floor, bringing it up and putting it around the two of them, stepping back and grinning, “That feel alright?”

Kokichi smiled into the kiss as he felt Kaito’s sweet spot do its thing. It wasn’t something he’d keep his fingers on--and, sure enough, Kokichi let his fingers trail over the rest of Kaito’s jaw, only drifting upon that spot for a moment--but...it was nice to do briefly. When they were kissing and wrapped up in each other, just adding that little something extra to the mix. 

Honestly, Kokichi thought he was much more fair in exploiting his partners’ sweet spots than they were in exploiting his. 

Kaito hadn’t completely stolen the breath from his lungs--Kokichi wasn’t sure if he was consciously holding back since Kokichi had just had issues with them--but he was still lightly panting wet little breaths in the space between their lips, enjoying that feeling of closeness and touching their noses together for a moment… But their time together would come later. 

Kokichi made a pleased little sound when Kaito deposited him back down on the bed and Shuuichi wrapped his arms around him. Prime boyfriend snuggling position. Kokichi put his own arms around Shuuichi, nuzzling at his shoulder, though he did take a break to situate the blanket around them, making sure it was tucked into Shuuichi’s far side and would be able to keep them a little warmer without being in the way. 

He leaned in to place a kiss on Shuuichi’s cheek, one hand stroking gently over his belly as he looked over to Kaito. “Perfect, hun, but I think we both can do better for our guy. Shuu-chan’s night of comfort and pleasure~ I’m quite happy with a night like that.” Again, he placed a kiss at the corner of Shuuichi’s mouth, his hand traveling up a little…

Before stopping fast. 

Maybe it’d break the tempo but...it was important. 

Leaning back enough to look up at Shuuichi, Kokichi’s face was more serious. “...are you okay with us touching your chest tonight, or is it a forbidden zone?”

Shuuichi, who had been enjoying the show, Kaito’s needy, insistent lust playing nicely with Kokichi sweet, eager reciprications, and Shuuichi had been glad to get his hands back on his boyfriend. Kokichi did a lot of things great, but he was seriously a prime-time snuggler, and Shuuichi had sighed happily to feel him nuzzle back against him… and only pouted a little when Kokichi leaned back, before his face sombered slightly in turn.

...he had noticed, yeah. That Kokichi and, bafflingly enough, Kaito himself were still avoiding his chest whenever they didn’t have to touch them, which for Kaito was usually when it was his turn to ‘help’ Shuuichi put his lotions on. But even when Kaito had been putting lotions on, he had been careful and quick on Shuuichi’s chest and had quickly moved on, not even making a bunch of dirty jokes or the endless attempts at being reassuring praising that Shuuichi had expected. 

Shuuichi had opened up access, but… because neither of them had pushed, he hadn’t had to stop or really think about it, if he was actually okay with it or not.  It hadn’t been tested in any way yet, really.

… he honestly wasn’t sure.

If he said yes, it was fine, to Kokichi, it likely still wouldn’t be tested. It’d be fine. They’d still be basically ignored. Kokichi was really just not interested in his chest, which was largely why Shuuichi had felt comfortable offering it to him last time, when they were alone. It was far easier to offer something to someone who you knew wouldn’t really take it.

Kaito, though…

Shuuichi, taking off his hat, putting it aside on the bed, was able to now more freely glance up at Kaito, who was staring down at them. The look on Kaito’s face was… surprisingly indecipherable. He looked weirdly blank. Shuuichi had no idea what was going on in his head.

“...heh, ah… shoot…” Shuuichi murmured, looking embarrassed, “I really thought it’d be easier to just say yes, by this point…”

Kaito stared blankly at Shuuichi… before grinning brightly. His whole mannerism different as he suddenly suggested, “What if it was just Kokichi, for now?”

“Uh… huh?” Shuuichi said, staring nervously up at Kaito, a flash of guilt running through him, as he blatantly lied, “Kaito, it’s not just cause I don’t want you to-”

“Oh, I know it’s nothing about me.” Kaito laughed, rubbing the back of his neck for a moment, before without prompting he started taking off his clothes. The whole movement shockingly casual, unbuttoning his long sleeve shirt, tossing it aside, taking off his under shirt and kicking off his pants and sock, not looking at either of them as he said cheerfully, “This whole night has been turning me really on, because Shuuichi’s been all controlling and decisive and our Kokichi’s been such an unbearable tease… I’m having a great time! So, like, having a place I’m not allowed to go and Kokichi is?” Kaito laughed, grinning at Shuuichi, “That’s kinda hot to me. Doesn’t that sound kinda hot?”

And more comfortable, he didn’t add.

Kokichi rubbed Shuuichi’s back a little, more on his upper back to not disturb any of the relaxation Kaito had brought to his lower back, trying to convey acceptance and encouragement without saying anything. Shuuichi had let him touch his chest before, but because permission was given once didn’t mean it was a blanket yes forever. If he didn’t want them to be touched now, Kokichi would respect that. It was just...maybe difficult for Shuuichi to say that, when he had been comfortable before. Didn’t want to feel like he was losing progress about being comfortable with his body. 

And that’s really what Kokichi thought, until Kaito brought up an alternative and Shuuichi...lied. 

Kokichi’s brow furrowed for a moment. But...maybe it still was kind of the same thing. Kokichi was telling the truth when he said he loved all of Shuuichi’s body because it was his, but...well, he didn’t really know what to do with breasts, and the apprehension of possibly hurting Shuuichi or just making him uncomfortable trying things out was far greater than Kokichi’s desire to experiment. There was a whole lot else of Shuuichi that was fun to touch and caress than his chest. 

Meanwhile, Kaito was very experienced on how to fondle and pleasure breasts, and he enjoyed it, so...this was Shuuichi wanting to be okay with his chest, but not prepared for Hurricane Kaito. And...Kaito knew that, and was giving Shuuichi the option to go for it. 

Kokichi looked over at Kaito with a soft look as he started getting undressed. He was seriously the best partner, sometimes. Most times, really. 

Nodding, Kokichi kissed at Shuuichi’s shoulder. “If you’re both okay with that, then I’m okay with it. I just didn’t want to touch you without asking, you know? I feel like we know each other enough to not have to go through every point in our boundaries every time, but no “yes” is a blanket “yes”. It’s important to know where your partners’ heads are at.”

“And consent is sexy as fuck! And, like… consent with boundaries can be sexy too, if you look at it the right way!” Kaito enthusiastically added in, kneeling down on the ground, not having asked for a pillow himself but just grabbing his clothes and piling them up beneath his knees, using them as a buffer against the floor as Kaito settled in, grinning up at Shuuichi, “Having rules specifically for me? That’s exciting! I’m super into it!”

Shuuichi scoffed, shaking his head slightly at the both of them as he said, “You’re both so different. It’s kinda crazy…” he gave Kaito a slightly guilty look, “... you know I love you?”

“Mmhm.” Kato agreed easily, kissing the inside of Shuuichi’s legs, appearing for all intents and purposes entirely unbothered. 

“... it doesn’t make you feel bad?”

“Nope. Sexy as fuck.”

“Okay… then yeah… I think it’d be better if only you touched there, Kokichi. At least while we’re having sex, just… just for now.” Shuuichi murmured, glancing at Kokichi as he said, “Thanks for asking…”

Kokichi nodded again and placed a kiss on Shuuichi’s cheek, hugging him close again. “Of course! If Shuu-chan’s happy, I’m happy, and that’s the primary goal tonight. And now we’re all on the same page, and I can cuddle every little bit of Shuu-chan while Kai-chan makes your eyes roll back.” Kokichi grinned, not devoid of mischief and desire, and reached out to card his fingers through Kaito’s hair affectionately for a moment. 

Before, again, breaking the tempo, but just for a moment this time. Just to lean over and lay a pillow next to Kaito’s legs if he wanted it. Then, it was back to that almost devious smile. 

“I know I can rely on Kai-chan to be my tag-team partner--there’s no one better I can think of for the event of making Shuu-chan feel so good his voice breaks.”

Shuuichi blushed hot, having really sort of forgotten what all of this was leading too. He really enjoyed the teasing part of their flirtings together, but when it came to the actual act itself, he still found himself a little out of his depth and flushing. 

Kaito, in turn, gave Kokichi a mildly dry look, as he said, “I haven't forgotten you sabotaged me to trade places. I was supposed to get to watch you blow Shuuichi. It was gonna be great. You both were gonna make a lotta cute faces, it was gonna be gr- hey.” Kaito whined, as Shuuichi reached down and, again, refocused Kaito back on the task at hand.

“Focus, Katio.” Shuuichi gently teased. 

Kaito scoffed a bit, before saying, “Fine.”

And then he got started. 

For all their teasing, Shuuichi hadn’t been more than mildly aroused the whole time, and so as Kaito started, running his large hands over the Beast, which hung limply over the edge of the bed, it started like it always did. Feeling just a little strange. Almost a little uncomfortable, Kaito going underhand, massaging the dick with the tips of his fingers, for a moment, everything dry. “I always forget how big this damn thing actually is.” Kaito murmured, looking at the sheer slab of meat Shuuichi was working with. “How did we ever get this thing inside of me?”

“If I recall, we really didn’t.” Shuuichi teased lightly, watching Kaito work, sighing slightly as he felt the small start of arousal shift around in his stomach. “We managed to get the tip in and moved it around a bit before you tapped out.”

“God, I felt like I was gonna split open…” Kaito murmured… before laughing, his face tinting pink as he said, “I can’t wait to try again.” before he leaned forward, kissing the side of Shuuichi’s dick before he started the wet, busy work of licking against the skin, wetning it.

“You’re insane.” Shuuichi murmured, shivering a bit.

Kokichi pouted at his husband, about to point out that he had simply offered other suggestions in jest, and it was just a happenstance of choice that led down this path, but Shuuichi cut off any bickering before it could happen. Kokichi knew that he’d get his undeserved--but so wanted--just desserts later. But! Shuuichi time.

As Kaito got to work pleasuring Shuuichi from below, Kokichi got started up above, nuzzling at Shuuichi’s shoulder before slowly kissing along it to his neck, rubbing his tummy slowly and gently and, eventually, getting up to his chest too, palming one of Shuuichi’s boobs as much as he could in his small hand. And, of course, feeling up Shuuichi’s behind with his other hand. 

“We’re a bit crazy for you, yeah,” Kokichi murmured, intentionally taking the words wrong, though he did laugh softly. “I get it though… It feels really nice when your lover can fill you up to the brim. Like there’s not a part of either of you left wanting… Honestly, I’m really jealous that Kai-chan can even manage your tip. I’d lose my mind to have Shuu-chan in me...though, there is something nice, knowing that Kai-chan’s the only person ever in me. Guess I’m just a little greedy, wanting you both.”

Shuuichi did his best not to jolt when Kokichi touched at his chest, reminding himself to relax. It was just Kokichi. Kokichi wouldn’t take too much. Kokichi never took too much. Kokichi wasn’t the… the type of lover who’d take a yes and literally run with it.

Shuuichi relaxed, enjoying the feeling of those small, cool, safe hands on him. Kokichi never took too much. It was safe to say yes to Kokichi.

(Kaito was… he was safe too. Shuuichi knew that, when all was said and done, he was. But Kaito loved to overwhelm them, and…)

(Sometimes it was hard to get the flash of orange out of his head.)

So, relaxing, Shuuichi smiled softly, though shuddered again when Kaito determinedly ran his tongue over Shuuichi’s head, massaging Shuuichi’s head with his mouth for a bit before, giving his jaw a small break, he took his palm and began to palm it, Kaito looking satisfied as he noticed Shuuichi’s thighs shift a little, closing for a second, before spreading further, Shuuichi trying to give Kaito more room to work.

“...I…. mmmm.” Shuuichi put a hand on Kokichi’s back, his other hand on his shoulder, running his hand up and down Kokichi’s arm beneath the warmth and comfort of the blanket as he said softly, “...I get a little jealous of you two, sometimes. I know we have our own dynamics, and I enjoy it… I enjoy it a lot.” Shuuichi mused, kissing at Kokichi, gentle presses against those soft lips, another flutter of arousal twisting strongly in himself at the kiss. “But you two fit together like you were designed to do it. As someone too big… sometimes I wish I fit just right too.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kaito scoffed, taking another break from running his tongue up and down Shuuichi’s shaft, “You fit perfectly around me and Kokichi. You wanna talk about being designed for it? You guys know how tough double penetration usually is? That went perfect. Besides…” Kaito grinned possessively up at Shuuichi, kissing at the underside of his dick, “You always feel good beneath me, handsome… Honestly, I don’t get to push inside you enough. I always want too…”

Kokichi didn’t move his hand away immediately when he felt Shuuichi stiffen, but once he felt him relax, he waited another beat before moving up to stroke his fingers along Shuuichi’s collarbone. Shuuichi might’ve said he liked Kokichi’s in particular, but Kokichi found his boyfriend’s quite nice too. Small steps all around. 

He kept their kiss slow and luxurious, no need to ramp anything up just yet, and...he was curious about what Shuuichi was talking about. Each dynamic they had together...Kokichi loved it. The balance they had all together like this, the frantic want when he and Kaito were together, the slow, sweet acceleration and experimentation when he and Shuuichi were together… And, admittedly, he didn’t really know how things went when Shuuichi and Kaito were together, but he knew enough to tell they liked it too. 

But even being happy didn’t always keep you from ambition. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi nodded along with Kaito, placing kisses along Shuuichi’s jaw. “I do wish I was big enough for you… but we fit together other ways. Shuu-chan makes me squirm and swallow gasps when he has his mouth around me, and he makes me lose my mind when his fingers are in me. I hope I can say I do the same for you there too. And while Kai-chan’s chest is my favorite pillow, Shuu-chan’s neck is my favorite place to burrow my face. I think in most ways, we fit together just fine.”

Shuuichi sighed, happily accepting the kisses, as he said, “He does have a nice chest, doesn’t he?”

“I’m right here, guys.” Kaito reminded them, feeling Shuuichi start to stiffen, though not to the point of lift yet. It must take a lot of blood to lift this fucking thing. Damn. Shuuichi has dick for days. 

And as he glanced up, seeing Shuuichi with his eyes closed, Kokichi kissing him gently, running his hands up and down him, both of them looking relaxed and entirely content…

Kaito used his left hand to keep Shuuichi’s dick where he needed it to be, continuing to lick and suck at the tip and massaging it as he tried to get Shuuichi more riled up, but used his other hand on his own dick, which already was lifting, Kaito seriously wanting to use it tonight as he played and massaged at himself, the sounds of his touches starting to make itself apparent.

Shuuichi opened his eyes, actually a little confused by the sound, before he looked down at Kaito, raising an eyebrow at him. “Kaito?”

Kaito grinned up at him, sweat starting to edge at his hairline as he said, “Don’t worry about it.” before he turned back to Shuuichi’s dick, his own horniness pushing him forward as he reasoned to himself ‘well, it’s only gonna get harder-- literally-- the longer I wait, let’s give this a try’.

And, taking a few breaths, Kaito opened his mouth wide, and tried to take Shuuichi down. “Hrk...ngh...”

“Ha!” Shuuichi gasped, the sudden warmth and tight hold of Kaito’s mouth pressing around the front of his dick, the grazing of teeth where Kaito couldn’t get his mouth open enough… Shuuichi’s face and shoulders went bright red, as he murmured, “K-kaito, be… mmmm… be careful…”

Kaito didn’t pay him any mind, just swallowing hard, trying to take in a little more. He already couldn’t really breathe that well, and it wouldn’t be long before he couldn’t breath through his nose at all too, Kaito trying to control his drool but it quickly spilling out under the pressure of Shuuichi’s dick. Kaito closed his eyes and, feeling determined, pushing himself a little further onto Shuuichi’s dick, that massive cock starting to press into the tip of his throat, Kaito choking against it… “snrk...mmm… gah! Hah, hah…” 

Kaito pulled away, a line of drool briefly connecting him to Shuuichi’s dick as he caught his breath, his eyes starting to prick a little with tears… before, catching his breath, he determinedly went back at it. Trying again.

Kokichi hummed in agreement, even if he’d been the one to say it, and continued kissing all over Shuuichi’s face, capturing his lips time to time but never lingering for too long, wanting to spread the love out equally. He just had a feeling Shuuichi would be needing his mouth to breathe more heavily soon. 

But, maybe as no surprise, Kaito was getting more riled up than their lover. Kokichi peeked an eye down at Kaito, laughing softly. It was a good thing that Kaito was enjoying this, though...damn, his ass really was gonna get obliterated later. Kokichi felt himself shiver a little in anticipation, and he shifted to rub the side of his leg along Kaito’s shoulder, just wanting to touch his husband a bit too. 

At Shuuichi’s gasp, though, Kokichi turned the majority of his attention back to his boyfriend, finally capturing his lips with more urgency--or more demand--and grazing his teeth along Shuuichi’s lips, wanting to have him pleasured at two points at the same time. And, maybe wanting to add to that, or maybe just indulging himself, Kokichi grabbed a handful of Shuuichi’s ass as well, pretty thoroughly feeling him up. 

Mmmm! Mmmmm!!

It was… fuck it was a lot.

Shuuichi keened, closing his eyes, once again indulging in that extremely strange feeling of just… so many hands against him. Kokichi all over him while Kaito tried over and over again to take him further and further down his throat, Kokichi’s thin, small fingers, grasping at the round, meaty curve of his ass, the grip just shy of bruising, though Kokichi didn’t really have the hand strength to manage it. 

Shuuichi, in turn, didn’t know what to do with his hands, and was just starting to get to the point of just sorta…hanging on. Holding Kokichi close to himself, kissing back when it occurred to him to, but otherwise just starting to breath heavy, small, needy sounds escaping him as he shifted his own legs, moving his left leg over Kaito’s shoulders, drawing him in, subconsciously trying to keep him in place. He felt good…

Pulling back for breath again, Kaito rested for a moment, just massaging Shuuichi’s dick with his hand, the taste of pre-cum sitting heavy in his mouth as Kaito gasped. Fuck, fuck… it was gonna be so damn hard to control himself later…

Looking almost dizzy-- actually, no, there was no ‘almost’ about it, Kaito was kinda dizzy. He wasn’t giving himself a lot of air right now-- Kaito grinned somewhat loopily as he said, “Hey, handsome… for our ‘Kichi’s sake, you think you two could grab the lube and help him out? I might…” Kaito grinned, sweat pooling on his temple, “I might not be very gentle later.”

Kokichi swallowed, his face quite flushed, and while he was mostly sitting on his side to better touch Shuuichi, it was still apparent that he was certainly affected by everything as well. Though, his semi wouldn’t stay that way for long if Shuuichi helped him out.

Excited, Kokichi reached over to grab the pot of lube from their nightstand--grabbing a few condoms too to leave on top of the stand--and opened it up, but...he hesitated, grinning shyly at Shuuichi’s blissed, slightly overwhelmed expression. “I can open myself up if you just wanna enjoy this, honeypie. It’s your night.” 

Kaito shuddered hearing that, actually a little jealous of Shuuichi right now. He wanted to watch Kokichi open himself up… he fucking daydreamed about that shit. Watching Kokichi trying to prepare and open himself with those small, cute fingers, doing the best he could, squeaking and hot from the effort. Flustered at Kaito’s gaze and teasing attention, until finally Kokichi lost his patience and asked Kaito to just help him, already…

“Ngh.” Kaito groaned between Shuuichi’s legs, reaching over to grab the pillow Kokichi gave him and, just to stop himself from touching himself anymore, putting it on his lap, before returning to work on Shuuichi. He was getting a little better at swallowing Shuuichi down every time he tried, but phew… dizzy…

Shuuichi, though, smiled warmly, and more than a little lustily, at Kokichi and, leaning down to kiss him, two chaste kisses before kissing at his cheek and the bottom of his ear, he said, “...Kaito was right before. I do like to watch you get worked up… I like being the one to do it too…”

Kokichi glanced over at the little sound his husband made, amused with his lusty impatience. If nothing else--and there was a whole lot else--Kaito would have plenty of ideas for the next time they were together. Kokichi was almost a little nervous, but...it was exciting.

Smiling into Shuuichi’s kisses, Kokichi huffed a little laugh, bringing the lube pot close enough for them both to reach. “You do. Shuu-chan adores seeing me lose my mind, and it’s even better when you know it’s ‘cause of you, right? That with deliberate touches in just a few places and a little effort, you can get me spread wide or falling against you or curving my back… Shuu-chan’s an experimenter, and what separates that from chaos is measuring the outcomes.”

Shifting, Kokichi sat himself more on his knees, leaving a gap between his legs to be able to reach from the front or back. His posture completely inviting. 

Shuuichi huffed, staring at Kokichi with hazy, needy eyes, shivering, his legs starting to twitch… “Hold on, hold on, Kaito? Kaito stop for a m-minute.” Shuuichi gasped, his groin tightening threateningly. “Kaito.”

Shuuichi lifted his leg up, putting his foot on Kaito’s shoulder and ever so slightly putting pressure, not kicking him off, but encouraging him back, since Kaito either wasn’t paying attention or didn’t quite hear. Kaito, who was very, very proud to get some of Shuuichi actually into his throat this time, looked extremely baffled and offended that Shuuichi was essentially telling him to stop when he had just made so much progress and- woah… dizzy…

“Hm?” Kaito grunted, wiping some of the drool and pre-cum from the side of his lips, looking blearily up at Shuuichi, “Huh?”

Shuuichi took a deep breath, before saying, “I won’t be able to concentrate, Kaito… just… slow down a little?”

Kaito got a mildly annoyed look on his face, but honestly, it was probably for the best. His face was starting to feel kinda hot and his throat and jaw was aching. Also, well… the fact his vision was spotting was probably a sign he should take a break and let himself get some oxygen anyway. Still… damn.

Going back to licking and massaging their boyfriend, Shuuichi sighed in relief, before turning his attention back to Kokichi, returning to kissing him a bit. He really did adore when Kokichi talked like that, and, trying to reciprocate, he said as he put the lube between his fingers, prepping them, “I… I love watching you shake. You’re right, I love watching you lose your mind and knowing it's my fault… Kokichi looks so cute when his face is all wet and messy and he can’t control the sounds coming out of him… I like seeing all the little ways I can do that.”

And, considering his position, Shuuichi decides to go in from beneath Kokichi, crooking his arm between Kokichi’s legs, and rubbing the lotion between his cheeks… or, trying to, at first, but as thin as Kokichi’s ass was, even in this position… Shuuichi leaned in, kissed Kokichi, and then asked, “Spread yourself for me?”

Kokichi looked down fondly, if not without a little worry, at their lover, so determined to take in The Beast in any way. It was a little intimidating, actually, the length Kaito would go to, but...equally inspiring. And even if Kaito looked a little out of it, as long as he thought he was still okay to go…

Kokichi flushed, smiling shyly as Shuuichi bantered right back at him. He knew it didn’t come as naturally to him, but every word made the hot bubbling in Kokichi’s gut roil a little more. And it wasn’t just from the anticipation of having his boyfriend play with his ass a bit. 

Blushing a little more, Kokichi shuffled forward on his knees, right up to Shuuichi’s side, and nosed at his favorite place, leaning forward a little and reaching around himself to spread his cheeks, making it as easy as possible for Shuuichi in this position. The blanket, while still pretty snug around Shuuichi, fell down Kokichi’s back, exposing his shoulder blades and pooling right where his arms bent, giving just a tease but hiding what was happening.

“Is this good, my beloved Shuu-chan? I have to say, I’m a little reluctant to be any farther from you right now.”

Shuuichi blushed, but rewarded Kokichi’s efforts with another kiss. “You’re too good for us.” Shuuichi praised, before sliding his finger inside that small, slightly widened hole.

From below, Kaito glanced up, again feeling another rush of longing and envy. Kokichi looked so pretty right now… fuck. Kaito was trying to keep himself calm, but the pillow was now having somewhat of the opposite effect, as he found himself sort of just mindlessly rutting into it. Kaito really enjoyed being horny, and he enjoyed playing around with his guys, even when he had to hold back and wait, but damn… fuck he felt frustrated…

Kokichi let out a small gasp but quickly relaxed against Shuuichi’s finger, starting to take deeper breaths to keep himself steady as Shuuichi worked him. It really had been too long… Not enough that one finger was painful, or felt enormous in him, but...the feeling was foreign enough that he had to keep himself from trembling in excitement. 

While Shuuichi worked him, Kokichi mouthed and kissed at his shoulder and neck, indeed trembling every now and then, but Kokichi made sure to breathe out little assurances that it was all feeling good. That he loved this, and loved Shuuichi, and… “Mm, the second one? Think I’m ready…”

“Kay… kay…” Shuuichi sighed, watching Kokichi with that same lost, appreciative haze. Each little kiss felt like a spark of fire and electricity in that spot, all the little kisses amplified by Katio’s steady, continuous work and attention between his legs. Kissing at Kokichi’s chest, when he could, trying to match Kokichi’s kisses one for one, Shuuichi gently pushed in the second finger. 

Inside of Kokichi, Shuuichi rubbed and coaxed at his walls, persistent and even. It was always strange, feeling inside of Kokichi. The walls pressed tightly around his fingers, and it was warm. Slick, but in a different way than the mucus had been. 

Kaito, in turn, was still really, really trying to hold it together. He ran his tongue up and down Shuuichi’s cock, trying to stimulate him, trying to push him past the edge. He knew he had to wait until Shuuichi was done before he’d get to play, and he knew that Shuuichi had a cheat code. Shuuichi’s prostate… well, honestly, Kaito had no idea how Shuuichi’s prostate worked the way it did. He had talked to Seiko about it a little bit, and she had said that it was probably less his prostate, and more a newly formed bundle of nerves rounding the edges, a separate thing from his prostate, which was also still a thing for Shuuichi. Which basically meant, you insert anything in there? And Shuuichi would go buck wild.

Kaito knew, knew, knew he could make Shuuichi cum right the fuck now if he wanted to…but…

That felt unfair. 

He didn’t want to push Shuuichi through his doting and pampering, through his fun and attention. Not because the fucking pollen gave them a fucking cheat code. So, Kaito was patient, and he touched and rubbed and licked and looked up at his two men and longed for both of them, but saw them all wrapped up in each other and that was good and also sexy as fuck and just…patience…

Kokichi mewled into Shuuichi’s neck as he inserted the second finger, spreading his legs open more and almost tipping over, though he managed to right himself. Mostly because he was leaning forward onto Shuuichi to begin with, but still. He mouthed at the soft skin right above his collarbone, ever so gently pressing his teeth against it, not even enough pressure to be called a bite, though the area was more than low enough to securely leave a lovebite. 

His lovers really were so good to him, even with how they so often exploited his enjoyment in this situation. Not that he minded, accusations of cheating just for fun. But they both always were so gentle and thorough and coaxing and fuck he wanted to be railed so badly, why didn’t Kaito fuck him more????

(And Kokichi knew the onus was on him, mostly. Kaito would be happy to spend an afternoon in their room most days, and just didn’t want to pressure Kokichi into sex, but...he just wasn’t thinking about it until it’d been far too long and then he was needy and craving and wondering what was up.)

“Good… Shuu-chan feels so good, lovely. Are you gonna enjoy watching Kai-chan fuck me outta my mind, ‘cause I’m gonna enjoy living it? How is Shuu-chan feeling now? Hot and bothered and pleasured, knowing he’s doing all this to me? You have way more patience than I’d ever have…”

Shuuichi smiled softly. And despite being the most heavily worked at by all three of them, he was currently the least bothered, just enjoying himself, while Kaito and Kokichi both panted and so desperately yearned… Kaito making needy grunting sounds and small whines from the floor, Kokichi’s breath rising in pitch every now and again, eyes growing more intense at every press and stretch.

Suichi hadn’t done this on purpose, but he doubted stuff like this would happen very often, and he was…kinda enjoying himself. To be totally honest. “You two make the…” Shuuichi swallowed, his stomach tensing, the ex-detective shuddering for a second as he rested his head against the side of Kokichi’s for a moment, before saying, “...patience worth it.”

But honestly, for all that said, he wasn’t going to last. 

“Ah… Kaito, slow down…”

“Shuuichi, bud, handsome, second love of my life, please, I cannot go any slower without losing my fucking mind, please.” Kaito gasped against Shuuichi’s cock, looking up with needy, almost exhausted eyes, “Let me swallow you down again, it’ll feel so good, you can cum down my throat-”

Shuuichi finally looked down in concern at him. “Kaito, are you okay?”

Kaito whined a little, before nodding, giving Shuuichi a thumbs up, “Yep.”

Shuuichi frowned a bit, before realizing maybe he was pushing this too far. Looking over to Kokichi, he said, “Third finger?”

Kokichi hiccuped out a laugh. “Asking to slow down… I’ve known it wouldn’t work for me b-but I think Shuu-chan really is the best suited for - ngaahhh… - for all night sessions…”

Mostly because, hearing how heated and desperate Kaito’s voice was, Kokichi keened softly, almost butting his face into Shuuichi’s neck as he pressed back against his fingers. Just knowing how ready his husband was...Kokichi was kind of glad, since he didn’t think either of them were going to last very long once Kaito got in him. 

“Please, please, Shuu-chan…” Kokichi whined, kissing at his boyfriend’s neck as if to appease him, or maybe convince him, even if it had been Shuuichi to bring it up. “I wanna be fucked already… Shuu-chan’s doing such a good job…”

Shuuichi felt like making a joke that his body had, he suspected, been morphed specifically with all night, multiple partner sessions in mind…but it felt in bad taste. Neither Seiko nor Nao had ever specifically said that was what all the arousal and body changes stuff had been leaning him towards, but, well… Shuuichi didn’t think you had to be a doctor or whatever the fuck Nao thought she was to be able to make that call. Sex never really made him tired. It mostly just made him satisfied enough to not think about it anymore. He had a feeling if tasked to, he really could last for…well. Hours and hours and hours. No sleepiness like Kokichi, no cool-down period like Kaito.

So, yeah, he could last a lot longer than this, if no one was pushing him, like Kaito knew he could…but that wasn’t fair on his lovers. So, Shuuichi decided to concentrate.

First, he really focused on loosening Kokichi up, suspecting that whatever he managed was all Kokichi was going to get, so Shuuichi better do a good job, as Kokichi insisted he was. Whispering to Kokichi, okay, okay, I love you, he pushed the third finger in, and stretched and readied him, running his free hand up and down Kokichi’s stomach and chest, placing light, soothing kisses against him.

And, when Kokichi was ready? Shuuichi kissed him again and said, “Just give me a minute.”

Then he looked back down at Kaito, and huffing, said, “Okay, Kaito. I’m ready- hah!”

Kaito swallowed Shuuichi’s dick back down like he was starving and Shuuichi was the only source of nourishment around. Shuuichi gasped in alarm, holding onto Kokichi now because his back wanted to arch and his body was shuddering; he needed the support. Feeling his dick squeeze into that smaller, wet, warm space, Kaito, red faced and drooling and a mildly worrying amount of tears streaking down his cheek, determinedly swallowing him down as Shuuichi gasped and shook.

And, it occured to Shuuichi, his dick was in something. Like, really, actually in something. This was the first time this had happened. Shuuichi had never fucked anything with his dick before. And, fuck.

Kaito’s throat felt amazing.

He wanted to buck and knew he couldn’t. He wanted to grab Kaito’s hair and didn’t dare. He felt like if he did anything other than what he was doing now, he was going to rip Kaito’s throat apart. And if he was capable of really ‘seeing’ Kaito right now, he might be a bit worried by how, uh… ‘suffocate-y’ Kaito was looking right now. 

But he wasn’t really seeng anything right now, and he cried out, “Oh, fuck. Kaito, Kaito, please, please! Please, please, just a little more, just a little more. A-augh, fuck, fuck, fuck, Kokichi!” Shuuichi whined out, burying his face into his boyfriend's neck, clutching him close, panting, just wanting to be close, be enveloped, just please, please, please, “Ahhhhhhh! AH! H-AAAH!!”

Kaito felt that old, now distantly familiar feeling of his throat involuntarily swallowing down seed as it spilled halfway down himself, that strange sensation of actually eating something that was very different from the texture and taste on his tongue, and as Shuuichi’s thighs tightened around him, shaking, Kaito realized, a few seconds too late, that he had pushed himself too hard, his vision spotting black as he ripped himself back from Shuuichi’s dick, pushing past the hold of his legs, and, falling onto his side. His body unable to support his weight as for-- for only a second or two-- he blacked out.

He woke up almost as soon as he hit the ground, taking deep breaths, confused and dizzy for a moment, so fucking aroused and owwwwww his throat???

Kokichi cooed and mewled as Shuuichi finished the last stretch of stretching him out, his dick jumping and his body shivering when Shuuichi even just brushed slightly against his prostate. In a way, it was almost a blessing for Shuuichi to focus down on Kaito and his own pleasure, giving Kokichi a break to just breathe, shivering against Shuuichi and wanting so badly to be taken…

But he did cool. Actually letting his arms rest from holding his ass open, letting his hips relax...taking deep breaths and clearing his head, not enough to get out of the mood--Shuuichi had done far too good of a job for that--but enough that he could...function. Shift to sit on his side again, holding Shuuichi as he screamed and writhed as much as he could, in absolute ecstasy as…

...as Kaito fell to the ground. 

“Kai-chan?!”

Kokichi’s eyes almost popped out of his damn head as he ripped himself from Shuuichi’s grip, dropping immediately to the ground beside his husband. O-okay, his eyes were open, he was breathing, that was a good sign...better than good, really…

His hands shaking, Kokichi reached out to touch around Kaito’s head, his stomach churning in a very different way as he checked f-for b-blood… “O-oh, Kai-chan, can you hear me, are you okay?”

Shuuichi, in cloud nine, didn’t actually realize for a second what was happening, more just slightly frustrated and longing that Kokichi would come back. Why had he- oh fuck, Kaito!?

“Shit, fuck, is he okay!?” Shuuichi asked, looking down at them with worry, starting to try to force himself to stand up…but Kaito just grunted, looked up at him, and waved him down.

“No, no, don’t do that, sit down, you just came and you could barely stand before that, sit down…you might fall… Ow.” Kaito grunted, looking around, confused. Why was he on the ground? And…owwwww, his throat. What had…

Kaito reached his hand up almost mindlessly, and winced at the bump on his head, immediately pulling his hand back. Ow…but, okay, that brought it back. He had left himself around Shuuichi’s cock too long. Ignored the warning spots in his eyes, convinced he could pull through, until he had felt his vision tunnel into darkness and it had been too late to recover in time. He must have blacked out… 

Grunting as he shifted himself onto his elbows, shifting his legs--oh, fuck, he was hard…- Kaito looked over to Kokichi, kind of really only just now registering his husband was beside him, having zeroed in on Shuuichi trying to move the second he woke up, and seeing the worried look on his husband face, “Hey, beautiful… you okay?”

Shuuichi huffed, rubbing a frustrated hand over his face. Kaito, seriously…

Kaito seemed...pretty coherent. Okay. Not like there was anything wrong… Still focusing in more on Shuuichi and him but...in a more Kaito way, rather than in a blinded by lust way. 

Kokichi let out a small sigh of relief, slinging his arms around to Kaito’s back and trying to help him sit up. “This is a bit more than a leg cramp during sex, huh… I’m fine, sweets. More worried about you. Your head okay? I…”

...he really wanted to get laid. But Kaito’s health was always more important. They were going to be better to each other. 

“I’ll be okay for the night if you just need to lie down. Should I go get ice?”

Kaito let Kokichi help him to sit up, actually leaning a little of his weight into his husband, since the smaller man was only helping carry the weight of his upper half. Oof…dizzy…

“Come here, babe, give me a second. Let me see how I feel in a sec,” Kaito asked, pulling Kokichi down into his lap, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and resting his head against his, taking a few deep breaths. Allowing himself to relax against his husband… before chuckling, 

“Shit, guys, I’m sorry. I pushed myself too hard… I’m the one always warning that blow jobs can get ugly if you’re not paying attention, and I just… pfff,” Kaito chuckled again, shaking his head, embarrassed. “I knew I wasn’t breathing enough. Just kept going anyway. My bad… I’m not hurt though. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

It was a little hard to ignore how fucking rock hard Kaito was against his thigh--and his shock of worry had only flagged Kokichi a little, in all honesty--but being aware wasn’t enough to tear Kokichi’s focus from holding his husband, rubbing his sides gently as they took a few moments just to...relax. To chill and take a moment. 

“M just happy you’re not hurt,” Kokichi murmured sincerely, leaning forward to kiss at Kaito’s cheek. “I know you’re made of tough stuff, but seeing anyone collapse is scary… But if you say you’re okay, I trust you. Just try and take a little more care to breathe next time, okay?”

Kokichi couldn’t help shifting a little in Kaito’s lap, that frigid rush of fear giving way back into the hot arousal still in his gut. He really could just go take care of himself, wipe his behind, come back to bed. But...well, he couldn’t shake that last bit of horniness so quickly. 

Looking back over at Shuuichi, Kokichi gave a small smile. “...our boyfriend looks a bit lonely on the bed by himself. If you’re okay to stand, why don’t you join him?”

Kaito accepted the kiss, still feeling a little bad that he had scared Kokichi by being reckless. Probably scared Shuuichi too. But, he really was fine. His head already felt a lot clearer, and, honestly? Considering how fucking crazy horny he had been a second ago, passing out and hitting his head had actually probably been a good thing, before he touched his husband. Kaito had been in a frenzy a second ago, honestly. Too long pent up combined with being teased way too hard, and just like…this sort of feeling like he wasn’t spending that energy elsewhere? In some weird sense?

He had been masturbating more regularly now, trying to curve his horniness the last few weeks. He was always low-key horny, that was normal, but again, these days it felt like…he didn’t know how to explain it. Like something that had been using up that energy, distracting him or…spending it, in some way? Was gone now. 

It was crazy. There was no logical explanation for how he felt. That was just how it was.

But he felt better now. Less frenzied, more just normal. And, well… He grunted a little, feeling Kokichi move within his lap, his own rock hard member still aching for some relief and perking up hopefully at the feeling of skin squirming on him. If Kokichi was fine, and Shuuichi didn’t mind? 

Kissing Kokichi, he gave him another sheepish grin, before saying, “Yeah? Alright. Here, let me help you up, babe,” Kaito said, grasping Kokichi’s wrist and his back, Kaito standing up in one motion and pulling up Kokichi as he did, leaning down to kiss him again before shuffling off to his boyfriend, throwing his arms around his shoulder and kissing him, Shuuichi accepting him in with a sigh.

“Scare ya?” Kaito asked against his kiss.

“Just stop being dumb. We keep telling you my dick is too big to do stuff like that with…” Shuuichi sighed, running his hands up and down Kaito’s back, “You’re okay? Really?”

“Really. Sorry, got overexcited.” Kaito said again, kissing him some more, “I’ll be more careful next time, I promise. How do you feel? Did it feel alright on your end?”

“Till you scared me toppling over? ...yeah, it felt okay.” Shuuichi pouted, not willing to give Kaito the satisfaction of anything more, not until he was capable of doing it safely. It had felt great, but Shuuichi did not want that to happen again. Still, he kissed Kaito back, and said, “But, you promised me a show. And, you need a condom.”

Kaito chuckled, before looking around. Right, right…there it was. Looking back at Kokichi, he grinned, “You coming, babe?”

Kokichi paused for a few moments once they were up on their feet again, making sure Kaito was steady. And...he seemed to be. A scary hiccup but...everyone was safe. Kokichi nodded slightly to himself, looking over his guys. Alright...make sure they’re okay in bed, he’d go rub one out real quick, clean his butt a bit, then return for cuddling. Maybe he’d bring up doing something with Kaito tomorrow…

Kokichi made his plan, already preparing himself to leave and finish off the night himself, but it was only after a moment that Shuuichi’s words registered with him and Kokichi looked up in slight surprise. Sure, Kaito was still hard but...that didn’t mean he was raring to go, even if Kaito always said he was ready to go, but after something like that, wouldn’t he… Right?

He looked between his lovers, seeing the calm expectation on Shuuichi’s face, the eagerness--though with less zeal this time--on Kaito’s…

And Kokichi flushed, biting his lip a little as he shifted his weight. “Well...how do you want me? Over the edge of the bed, on my back on it? I’m kinda hoping for something more realistic than the poses Shuu-chan was talking about earlier.”

Kaito laughed, ripping open the condom, checking it for holes before sliding it on as he said, “Honestly, after all that, I’m not sure I could do anything too wild anyway? The Beast is a lot to take down. Something a little easy would be nice, actually…”

“On your back on the bed with your legs up is just the Missionary Position,” Shuuichi informed them, ignoring as Kaito just started snickering at him, “But, according to the book, it’s one of the most common positions people use, because it’s comfortable and feels good.”

“Already knew that one, but thanks handsome.” Kaito snorted, rolling his eyes a little. They were a weird bunch… “But, when it comes to not hurting, I’ve always found doggy style hurts the least, though personally, I’m not a big fan of not being able to see my lovers’ faces… come here, Kokichi,” Kaito coaxed, reaching over to take Kokichi’s hand and pulled him to himself, leaning down to kiss him, running his hands down Kokichi’s back, to his backside, squeezing the cheeks…before, grinning against Kokichi’s lips, lifting him up by his ass onto Kaito’s hips, turning around and, gently, laying him back down onto the edge of the bed, “How about right here, so I can stand, not have to try to balance on my knees right now, but you can pick. On your back or on your front?”

Kokichi giggled softly, getting the feeling that Shuuichi was going to be naming every position they got into from now on, and...that was kind of fun, actually. He wasn’t all that fussed over being unique. 

That lift of mood followed into Kaito coming down for a kiss and feeling him up, Kokichi taking the opportunity to feel up Kaito’s magnificent chest in turn, his hands not even big enough to feel an entire pec at once, but enough definitely to thumb around his nipples, getting Kaito back for playing with his butt. He didn’t go far even when Kaito set him back down on the bed, ghosting kisses around his face while he thought. 

On his back, or on his front? Facing Kaito, or facing Shuuichi? 

...while the night was about pampering Shuuichi...they had been teasing Kaito an awful lot, and his husband had just said he preferred to see his partner’s face. And, well, Shuuichi would be able to see him too anyway. 

Leaning back, Kokichi drew his legs up the sides of Kaito’s as he stretched out on the bed, giving his husband what he hoped was a coy look, but was a bit too sweet to really be classified that way. “Back it is! I won’t mind if Shuu-chan scoots closer to be all satisfied looking at my “O” face either.”

“Ha,” Shuuichi laughed, the stress of what had just happened ebbing away bit by bit, as his lovers apparently were ready to move on from it. He scooted over, reaching over to run a hand over Kokichi’s cheek before saying, “Maybe I could put your head in my lap? Would that be too strange?”

“Oh, fuck,” Kaito suddenly burst into laughter as well, covering his eyes as he said, “No, please… I’m just imagining Kokichi’s head bouncing against your belly, handsome, and disturbing baby. Oh man…”

“Kaito.” Shuuichi sighed, rolling his eyes, “The baby’s barely developed, by this point. She’s not aware of anything. Alright, fine, what if I did this…” Shuuichi reached over to grab some pillows, putting them between his legs, essentially creating a perfect little bedding between his knees as he said, “Kokichi, would you be alright lying here? It’s alright if it’s a little too strange, me looking over you like this.” Shuuichi laughed lightly, a somewhat self conscious look on his face.

Kokichi was amenable to the idea, but he could see how it’d be a little silly. And more than disturbing Baby--at this point, she was probably developing her internal organs and all that--Kokichi just didn’t want to...he didn’t think it’d hurt Shuuichi. But it might be a little uncomfortable to butt and bounce against his stomach. 

However, Shuuichi’s offer more than mitigated that. 

Grinning, Kokichi scooted over to rest his head on the pillows, reaching up and back to gently stroke his fingers over what he could reach of Shuuichi’s face. “It’s perfect, honeypie. Like I said, I don’t mind you bein’ able to see me, and I actually kinda like it, since I know it’s something you enjoy. Like I said--if Shuu-chan’s happy, I’m happy. And I get to touch both of my guys at once this way.”

Speaking of…

Kokichi stretched his leg out to run against the outside of Kaito’s thigh now, beckoning him in a way. “Aaaaaaand I’m a little impatient to get to it, truth be told. Am I in a good spot for Kai-chan too?”

Kaito smirked a little at that, running his hands up and down Kokichi’s legs, honestly still kinda glad he wasnt as fucking horny as he had been this whole time. “You drive me crazy, you know what?” Kaito mused, leaning down and kissing Kokichi’s stomach. Lingering his kisses on Kokichi’s, ever so subtly, but ever so nicely, filling out waist and hipline.

Then, double checking Shuuichi’s work, Kaito slid two fingers into Kokichi’s ass, experimentally moving them around. As Kaito did this, Shuuichi busied himself running his hands up and down Kokichi’s chest and shoulders, touching for touching’s sake, cooly watching Kokichi’s expression as Kaito made certain nothing was going to hurt.

Shuuichi was only a little offended when Kaito felt the need to grab more lube, putting it over his wrapped dick. “Too tight?”

“Nah, handsome,” Kaito said simply, not bothering to explain that the condom could shift some of the lube itself out of the way if he didn’t do that. All slicked up, Kaito grabbed one of Kokichi’s underside of his knees and put his other hand steadying on Kokichi’s hip, not really needing to aim at this angle as he said, “You did perfect. You’re both perfect.”

Then, slowly, but with some relief, Kaito pushed in. 

He always missed this. Kaito never felt more comfortable, than locked against someone. He was comfortable with physical affection. Comfortable with carnal displays of love and devotion and familiarity. He could feel the tension in his back leave him, that vague uncertainty that always followed him, because, well…he was never uncertain like this. 

Especially with Kokichi. His husband, like Shuuichi had observed, fit perfectly against him. Kaito loved the heat inside of him. The way he pressed around him. The feeling of his skin against himself, the scent of him, those lovely, pretty little sounds.

Then, Kaito began to roll his hips…before glancing at the leg he still had a hold of, kissing it before placing it down. Only putting his hands on Kokichi’s hips for steadying reasons. Giving Kokichi full access to move however he wanted to. 

Kokichi grinned, indeed knowing how crazy he drove Kaito, and reached down now to card his fingers through ever-longer red hair as Kaito kissed his middle. “I think some of my bullshit is just natural, but you’re reason for a lot. Kai-chan and Shuu-chan drive me to new heights and further lengths. Inspiration, I’d like to think…”

He probably could’ve rambled for a bit, but Kokichi’s words were cut off with a pleased gasp as Kaito slid his fingers into him, feeling around. Likely just double-checking that he could come in, but making Kokichi feel good and expectant all the same. And it was only complemented by the little touches Shuuichi was giving higher up. Kokichi didn’t want to disrupt, but he smiled up at Shuuichi, stroking a few fingers down one of his arms in turn, just to be affectionate. 

And finally, it was time. 

Kokichi’s eyes gently closed, fluttering just a little as a content sigh left him, at last feeling...filled. Close and connected in a way he’d been wanting since they started this, and something he’d been missing for far too long. And Shuuichi really had done a good job, as Kaito slid in without issue, no snags or even tensed parts where he’d have to wait, just holding Kokichi close as he shivered, waiting for muscles to relax to proceed. It was just...comfortable. 

“Mmm...missed this… Should...fuckin’, schedule an alarm to remember not to...nmmm...go for so long again…” Kokichi almost didn’t register Kaito dropping his leg back onto the bed, too caught up in that nice, full, stretchy feeling, but when he did, he opened an eye questioningly, wanting to see what Kaito was doing even as happy sighs and gasps fell from his lips as Kaito just rolled their hips together. 

But...Kaito wasn’t really doing anything. Just…

...just letting Kokichi do what he wanted with his legs. 

Kokichi’s expression softened and he shifted his hips a little, bringing his legs up into a loose curl over Kaito’s hips, trying to stay close to his husband and push back against his gentle back and forth motion. “...aahhh… Kai-chan’s so good to me… I love you so much…”

“Heh, trust me, babe, I’ve been missing this too. I was losing my mind, earlier, wanting to touch you so bad. There’s- ah- there’s something to waiting and putting it off, sure, but…think I’d rather just fuck ya all the time, to be honest.” Kaito laughed, still being slow, trying to set a pace, give Kokichi a chance to move and adjust wherever he wanted to go. 

Mmmm… Kokichi rolling his hips and pushing back into him was pretty damn good, honestly. “Fuck, babe… yeah, just like that. That’s perfect,” Kaito praised, shifting his stance and spreading his legs a little, giving himself a little more momentum to thrust a little harder against Kokichi, the sound of meat hitting meat getting a little more intense, “Fuck… There we go…hrm.” 

Meanwhile, Shuuichi was honestly having far too good a time. 

His eyes kept going back between Kokichi and Kaito, taking them both in, as, experimentally, Shuuichi started to play with Kokichi’s nipples. Being gentle with the left one, he handled the right one more roughly, watching Kokichi’s expressions to see if there were any changes, rolling the nipple around and, at one point, pinching it slightly, before then treating the right nipple gently, and going harder on the left one. Repeating the process. 

He glanced over at Kokichi’s dick, reddened slightly for having been held up for so long without relief, bouncing back against Kokichi’s stomach as Kaito moved harder and harder against him. On Kaito, he saw the older prince’s face start to tense up. Kaito rarely looked how Kokichi would describe ‘happy’ during the more heated parts of sex. He always looked super concentrated, almost furious. Brow furrowed and face red. It was only when he caught Kokichi or Shuuichi himself staring that he forced his face to relax, grinning at them, trying to soothe and reassure.

As he did now, catching Shuuichi’s curious gaze, and, right on cue, that angry, intense stare easing a little, as he gave Shuuichi a wink and said, “E-enjoying the, ha, the view, handsome?”

Jokes of being too greedy and rushing ahead aside...if they already were going to draw their time together out, Kokichi would really rather fuck more often than waiting for weeks and still drawing it all out. Sure, sure, the production and care and all that, but at the end of it all was a need that Kokichi had gotten used to sating and he wasn’t going to go back to his lonely virgin lifestyle without a fight. 

Kokichi’s breaths started to pick up as Kaito widened his stance, incidentally making it easier for Kokichi to keep his legs up and rock back against his husband, creating even more friction and impact. Fuck...he’d missed this! “Aah...ahh...Kai-chan feels so good...please, keep going, mmm… Hah...ngk - ooh!”

For something as active as sex, Kokichi had almost been relaxed in their rhythm, but his entire body jolted as Shuuichi unexpectedly--though that was entirely Kokichi’s fault. He hadn’t beckoned Shuuichi to be so close thinking his boyfriend was just going to passively watch. Shuuichi just wasn’t that kind of guy, curiosity incarnate sometimes--started playing with his nipples. And not just playing, but giving each one a deliciously rough time before switching to the other, never quite giving him a break. 

“O-ooh! Nnnmm! F-fuck! Ahhh...Sh-shuu-chan! Ah!” (And it was a subtle difference, but Kokichi shivered a little more when Shuuichi focused on his right nipple, his dick jumping and starting to weep.)

Kokichi’s face was flushed all over, his eyes fluttering and mouth open to let every single little sound out.

“It’s good, yeah…” Shuuichi murmured, watching Kokichi start to unravel, while Kaito tensed further and further up.

Shuuichi was all about those subtle differences, and-- and oh dear, Shuuichi don’t actually do this-- reminding himself to note it in the Kokichi page of his journal. Doesn’t like to touch raw bacon. Enjoys ice skating. Currently 97 pounds, give or take a potential pound. Right nipple particularly sensitive.

Shuuichi had a lot of faith that no one would ever have access to his journal, despite history. 

Kaito pushed harder, once again that hard, distracted look on his face. His hands on Kokichi’s hips had tightened, an almost violent grip now, Kaito just shy of grunting, but as he built up, getting quieter and quieter with every thrust, only his heavy breathing really escaped now. Gritting his teeth as his gaze glanced down at where he and Kokichi connected, before looking up to his husband. Double checking, taking inventory, but also just clearly just as fascinated with how Kokichi looked as Shuuichi was.

And Shuuichi smirked slightly as Kaito, face hazed over with angry, needy lust, murmured out his first little, “Mine.’ of the night.

Shuuichi couldn’t guess what thought process went on in Kaito’s mind that always led him to that word, but Shuuichi had noticed that 9/10 (Obviously not an accurate number. They really did need to have sex more. It was monstrous Shuuichi didn’t have a sample size of ten yet.) times, Kaito always at least murmured once his claim over them. Shuuichi had to assume it was a sexual line of thought-- otherwise why would it always come up right about now?-- but he also liked to believe Kaito was trying to reassure them, in his own mad, lusted way by this point. Because Kaito sincerely, whole-heartedly believed in the concept of taking care of those you considered yours. That it was something he should prioritize, the safety and happiness of his family and friends and loved ones.

And that mentality had dangers, of course… but as one of his loved ones? 

It could be reassuring, being claimed. Especially when in such a vulnerable moment.

But, whatever thought process Kaito had that always brought him to the word ‘mine’, apparently hadn’t triggered the mantra it could become sometimes, Kaito relaxing after that little hiss, leaning down and kissing Kokichi’s chest, sometimes kissing Shuuichi’s hand when he happened to come across it, taking his hands off Kokichi’s hips and placing them down onto the bed, next to Shuuichi’s legs, thrusting hard into Kokichi as he kissed at his collarbone, before pushing himself further into the bed and taking Kokichi’s mouth for himself for a moment. 

That took Shuuichi’s access to Kokichis nipples away, but Shuuichi only pouted a little before starting to rub Kaito’s back and shoulder blades. 

Kaito breathing heavy and giving out small, repressed little grunts, as the whole bed shook violently, Kaito slamming his hips into Kokichi’s at the edge of the bed, Kaito suddenly hissing out, “Fuck, babe, please. Cum for me, please, please, ‘Kichi.”

Kaito increasing the intensity of his thrusts along with Shuuichi relentlessly experimenting with his nipples made Kokichi’s voice grow, panting and moaning and mewling with every little shock rushing through him. Shuuichi’s targeted attacks on his chest, or the friction from Kaito down below…Kokichi’s knees started shaking, and he practically had to wrap his legs around Kaito’s waist to keep them up. 

By this point it was always just...nice. Kokichi never had much in his head other than how good he felt and how close he was and how much he loved his partners. Calculating, innovative, comfortable Shuuichi, and intense, loving, protective Kaito...his guys. For as long as possible, and even longer than that, because people were never truly gone until their last story faded from time, they were his, and he was theirs. A perfect fit. 

By the time Kaito leaned over the bed, little beads of tears adorned Kokichi’s eyelashes, a remnant of worried emotions from earlier transferring over to the rapture he was feeling now, and the sounds coming out of his mouth were little more than nonsense. Kaito barely had to encourage him twice before Kokichi’s hips bucked up against him roughly, Kokichi crying out as he spilled over his lower belly and thighs. 

“Kaai-i--chaaaa! Ah! A...aa...ngaaa…”

Kaito kissed Kokichi’s neck and chest through his orgasm, gasping as he felt Kokichi tighten around him, Kaito putting a hard hand on Kokichi’s shoulder and one on his waist, just violently rocking into him as hard as he could. 

He could feel feel Shuuichi’s hands on his back, Kokichi’s legs still tightly wrapped around him, and honestly, Kaito had basically just been waiting for permission. He had been close to cumming basically since they started, partly why he had started so slow, tring to last long enough to give Kokichi everything he needed. Once Kokichi had released?

Kaito closed his eyes, just letting himself get lost in the sensation of them. Touches everywhere. Heat and skin, wet with lube and sweat and cum. “Ha, ha, f-fuck, Kichi.” Kaito grunted, bringing up a knee onto the bed, just needing a little more leverage, his dick raking and grinding against Kokichi’s insides, which twitched and pulsed around him as Kokichi ran through his euphoria, until Kaito suddenly had to still, his chest tightening and his whole body tensing as he spilled inside of his husband… or, well, the condom, but either way. 

His whole body shook for a second, spots threatning the side of his vision again. He really had worked himself a little too hard this time… that was okay. He’d pace himself better next time. For now he just breathed, practically laying on top of Kokichi as he pulled himself back together, the only thing keeping him from crushing him being the knee he had brought up to brace himself. 

“...feel better?” Shuuichi asked, some amusement in his voice, as he continued rubbing and petting Kaito’s back, Kaito resting his forehead against Kokichi’s chest, his sweat a thick layer over his skin, his body warm from his orgasm, but quickly cooling under it. 

Kaito nodded, before huffing. “We gotta stop leaving it that long… I can’t, you guys. I’m gonna lose it. I want you both all the time.” Kaito said, this far from the first time he had said it, but this feeling like a confession this time. An admittance of defeat. He needed to do this more often. 

“Okay.” Shuuichi said softly, still running his hands over him. “We will.”

Kaito huffed, before pushing himself onto his elbows, looking down at Kokichi, kissing him gently, once, twice, before starting to look him over, gently pulling himself out of him as he said, “How do you feel, beautiful? Anything hurt? You look amazing… you did so good, you know that? You drive me wild...”

It wasn’t the same as Kaito cumming inside him without a condom, but...that feeling of Kaito almost turning to stone for a moment, everything in his body freezing as he came… Kokichi had been regaining his breath, but he let out a little sigh when he felt Kaito go, joining in with Shuuichi in gently rubbing Kaito’s back. There… Finally. 

A little haltingly, Kokichi let his legs go from around Kaito, them trembling slightly just from the strain, and he laughed softly, more of a bubble of a few notes. “More often. Way more often. Gotta...fuckin’ put it on my calendar if we k-keep leaving it like this…” For his own enjoyment, sure, but Kokichi wasn’t missing that tone shift in Kaito’s voice. His husband had brushed it off before when they’d talked about it but...sometimes it really just didn’t occur to Kokichi. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t be in the mood if they started, but...they both needed to work on bringing it up at all. Not leaving the onus all on one person. 

Kokichi shivered, a sound getting caught in his throat as Kaito pulled out, but he relaxed from there, looking up at Kaito with sleepy adoration. “M great. Kai-chan always takes good care of me...could just drift off here like I do but...should get a washcloth ‘n...make sure shit doesn’t dry in my body hair...sucks to wash off later…” He wasn’t exactly expecting Kaito to go get him a damp washcloth, but Kokichi didn’t make any moves to get up either, looking pretty comfortable and content--even with slightly wet eyes--resting in Shuuichi’s lap.

Kaito chuckled slightly, his fingers tracing Kokichi’s body, checking for damage as he talked. Not much, this time. Probably some bruises around his hips from where Kaito was gripping them, but that looked like it was it. No bite marks even, this time. He really hadn’t bitten him at all? Weird. Probably just because he needed to just finish so badly. 

“I always forget about clean up. I always just wanna…” Kaito rolled his eyes at himself, “Sit in it. Enjoy the afterglow. But, you’re right, probably for the best. Shuuichi, you need one too?”

“Need what?” Shuuichi asked, gently running his left hand up and down Kokichi’s neck, while holding his boyfriends hand with his other, looking adoringly down at him. 

“A washcloth? I’ll go hunting.”

“Mmm…” Shuuichi looked down at himself, mostly just covered in sweat and spit. Kaito had swallowed down all his cum…

Shuchi blushed slightly at that thought, before looking up at Kaito, a look of concern as he said, “Maybe, yeah. A dry one for me. But… Kaito, are you alright?” Shuuichi suddenly, all at once, remembered that he and Kaito were, according to Seiko, supposed to not be passing back and forth pollen to each other, and Kaito wasn’t an exception to that. Shuuichi just… hadn’t thought about it. Not that there was any going back now.

Kaito just shrugged dismissively though, grinning at Shuuichi, “Hell yeah, man, I feel great! I’ll be right back, you guys, two washcloths coming up!” he promised, getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

Kokichi hummed in agreement, nodding as he enjoyed the little pets against his neck, giving the side of Shuuichi’s hand a little circular rub in return. Enjoying the afterglow was definitely something he preferred over remembering all the logistics of life. It just happened that if he let himself do that, he’d be asleep in a few minutes, happily worn out from the exertion. It was just kind of a bonus that he even remembered wanting to clean his mess out of his happy trail. A small gift for future Kokichi. 

And maybe it was so predictable it was almost manipulative, Kaito was offering a gift to current Kokichi, giving him the option not to get up and get his own washcloth and...Kokichi was going to take him up on that. He was far too happy basking. 

Sighing, Kokichi blinked slowly up at Shuuichi with a content smile. “...that was nice… Is Shuu-chan feeling properly pampered and loved? Your...mm, back and everything?”

“Yeah, you both took good care of me,” Shuuichi reassured. His back still kind of hurt, but it was far more muted now, like the ache of a well used muscle, rather than spikes and seizing. It was barely worth commenting on, so Shuuichi didn’t, as he smiled down at Kokichi, “You’re very cute. If anyone did it to me, I’d be mortified, so I won’t do it to you, but a part of me wants to draw what you look like during all that, so you can see for yourself how very cute you are.”

Kokichi sleepily beamed, happy that the goal for the night had been reached. He was excited for their daughter, and it was wonderful that something good could come out of all that pain, but...it really was bullshit, everything Shuuichi was going through. It was some consolation that he’d only have to do it once, and as far as Kokichi was concerned, Shuuichi could pull the “I carried you for nine months” card for the rest of eternity when it came to Baby. Maybe a little unfair, but neither was this. 

Nor was even the hypothetical Shuuichi brought up. 

Groaning, Kokichi covered his face, even tired, still burning red at the thought. “Oh no...I’d die from embarrassment, Shuu-chan, nooooo.” He bubbled a soft laugh. “Kai-chan and I once made up a story about how we sent dirty drawings of ourselves to each other, and it was kind of fun, but I don’t think I’d… - haaah...I’d ever be able to do something like that. Noooo…”

Shuuichi smiled wider at that, and if he could have bent over like that in this moment, he’d have leaned down to kiss Kokichi as he said, “See? Look at that. Very cute.”

As Shuuichi continued to lightly touch and adore at Kokichi, Kaito-- having taken the moment to lazily wipe down his own crotch, at least-- headed back with two washcloths, one dry and one lightly dampened. “Here you go, handsome. Beautiful.” 

Kaito hesitated for a second, wondering if he should… do it for them? Kore had done that for him a few times, but that was only when Kaito couldn’t move his arms to do it himself. And he had always found it kind of embarrassing. Not wanting to fluster either of them in that way, Kaito decided not to offer, just grinning down at Kokichi as Shuuichi took his, wiping the sweat off his own body as Kaito said to Kokichi, “Come on, babe, just a little moving around, and then it’s sleep time. I’ll go put another log in the fire, it’ll be cozy and you’ll be clean. Well worth the effort, yeah?”

Kokichi could only stew in embarrassment for a few moments, though the way he smiled and laughed along with Shuuichi was telling enough that he wasn’t actually upset any. And when it was time to wash up, his face was mostly calmed down from the watermelon pink it’d been, though he still hesitated a lazy moment before moving his arms from his face. “I knooooow...less comfy to sleep sideways. An’ if I’m sleepin’ naked, I really gotta soak in all the cuddle points I can to keep warm…”

With a little sigh, Kokichi removed his arms and accepted the washcloth, giving Kaito a grateful smile before he shifted down enough to sit up a little, washing his stomach and thighs off. “Thanks, hun…’ppreciate ya.” 

He probably should wipe his hole a bit, otherwise he was gonna wake up with lube partially dried all up and down his buttcrack but… As Kokichi sat up a little more, he shivered, the change in position just a little too much for the moment so...morning shower it was. Far from the first time he’d cleaned up sex the morning after, and at least this time he didn’t have to deal with cum. 

With a bit of a grumpy, sleepy face, Kokichi tossed his used washcloth over onto the laundry basket, then wormed his way up the bed to lie down properly, kicking his heavy, rubbery legs to get under the blankets. “Mmmguh...Shuu-chan should be in the middle but...uuuuuurg… I’ll roll if you get over here, honey.”

“How very gentlemanly of you, Kokichi.” Shuuichi laughed lightly, scooting over slowly, before- “Ha!”

Kaito, with a grunt, scooped up Shuuichi before he could finish scooting, it clearly taking a hell of an effort to move him from the middle of the bed to his middle spot, waiting patiently for Kokichi to roll before placing him down. “Ha! Heh… still can pick you up.” Kaito boasted cheerfully, while Shuuichi gave him a warm, if exasperated look.

Kaito then started the process of getting them both tucked in properly, grabbing the additional comforter folded at the edge of the bed and unrolling it, deciding that his loves would probably need the extra heat and weight of an additional comforter. 

As Shuuichi sighed, sleepily, Kaito looked at him adoringly… before, damn. “Shuuichi. Not yet. Don’t fall asleep yet.”

“...medicine.” Shuuichi sighed, wrapping his arms around Kokichi..

“Medicine.” Kaito agreed, leaning over to kiss him. “Give me three minutes. Log in the fire, a quick drink of your medicine, then you can go to sleep.”

“...fine.” Shuuichi begrudgingly agreed, though he made no move to open his eyes. Deciding to take that as a sign of a time limit, Kaito quickly set off to do those things, grabbing and adding the log, grabbing the tablet, mixing it with a tall glass of water and bringing it back to Shuuichi, who looked extremely resentful to pull himself from Kokichi’s grip to sit up and drink it.

But, eventually, it was all done, Kaito taking his own medicine, and crawling in to Shuuichi’s other side, putting a heavy arm on Shuuichi’s arm, his hand idly rubbing his boyfriend’s belly, feeling Kokichi’s side on the other side of his palm. Okay… okay… 

“Good night, guys.” Kaito sighed, if either of them were even still awake to hear. “I love you.”

-

New years brought new opportunities, and Cedar MacAvoy was never one to ignore opportunity. Was really one to force opportunity wherever she saw it. And with the war between Dicea and Luminary over and the Dicean prince becoming more of a public figure--more than just being a prince made you--it really looked like the perfect time to come home. 

Oh, Cedar had come back to Dicea some time back, she’d started making plans to return to her home the moment she heard the war was really ending and not just in the way many Diceans said in their overly optimistic hopes and dreams. With people returning home and everything diverted to the war effort turned back into resources for the country, there was going to be a boom of industry and innovation. Harder to stand out among the crowd, admittedly, but easier to hide in its cracks and make a slow, safe, permanent place for herself. 

It was just the fact that Uraya was so damn far away from Dicea that it took her until the winter to return. And then the business with the snow storms she certainly hadn’t missed abroad and trying to establish her practice quietly and then apparently the prince had gotten severely ill, and while that’s what she was banking on, starting while he was on bedrest and people would be expecting immediate results...no good. 

But now! But now it was the new year, and even the most sceptical person could be swayed to turn over a new leaf, and the prince was better so--showtime!

-

Kokichi tugged on his lip, having looked a little puzzled for a while now, but mostly pleased. “This does happen to Aiichi a lot, but...I dunno. I didn’t think it’d change for me, that just because I got out in public more people will actually want to set up personal meetings… I...guess I’ve been talking in court more too? Maybe that’s it…”

They’d gotten a message, a request from someone in town wanting a personal meeting with Kokichi and Kaito, and, after comparing schedules, that meeting was today. But even though they’d gone through the trouble of setting the whole thing up, Kokichi was still puzzling over...why? To the others as they walked over to the meeting room they’d scheduled. 

“She didn’t say what the meeting was for, though...so I can’t really… It’s not like she’d be asking approval for a loan or a public project or something… But maybe she just would want to see what I thought before refining a presentation to bring to court? Still, I’d be able to give more feedback if I could read up on what it was before time…”

Kokichi might have been baffled at the point of the meeting in regards to him, but Kaito was wondering what the fuck he was doing there at all. 

Not that he didn’t want to be there! Watching Kokichi do his prince/Future King stuff was always a treat. Kaito found it reassuring, when Kokichi did formal stuff like this. Especially if it was for something like Kokichi was theorizing, looking for his perspective and feedback to a project before bringing it to King Aiichi for inspection? Fuck, that was was the sort of thing he could see his brother doing! Like, just a sign of royal duties that Kaito was more personally familiar with. Rather than all the Secretary based stuff that Kokichi usually did. Which, it seemed to Kaito, was actually more what royalty was expected to do in Dicea, rather than the stuff they did back at home, but, well…

Look, he saw King Aiichi regularly in the kitchens, washing dishes and helping clean, so he had no fuckng idea what royalty was supposed to do here still, really. King Aiichi seemed to more focus on what Kaito would traditionally consider, well, the spouse of the leaders job, or a trusted elder child or cousin. PR stuff. What Kaito had been expecting to roughly do himself, when he came here. Hikeki, as far as Kaito could tell, actually did most of the King stuff, making broad leadership decisions and taking the brunt of organization decisions. Which, fair, Head Secretary Tengan had done too, but Hideki didn’t seem to so much do it ‘in service’ to the King, but ‘with him’ which was still sometimes a little strange to watch…

Or, maybe that wasn’t how it was? Kaito’s observations, even after six months, was based on depressingly little interactions with the court system at all. And everything he saw always just… confused him a little more. He had learned to just kinda go with it and keep his head down, really. Like home. But, at least all of it actually seemed to work here. 

...not that… no that it didn’t work at home or…

...well, no, it kinda didn’t at all, really. Luminary was on fire. So, yeah. What the fuck did Kaito know anyway. 

But, that was another reason why he was so baffled he had been specifically asked to come to this at all. Not just Kokichi offering to tail him in a meeting, letting Kaito see what he did for a living. But Kaito actually meant to be there. Kaito wasn’t really… a member of the court? At least not in a way he understood or felt comfortable with. So what the fuck did this random person want from him?

Sigh, he kinda wished Shuuichi was there. But dude was working in the office with Nadya. Keeping things going while Kokichi was outside of the office with stuff going on.

“I don’t know… maybe…” Kato tried to think of a helpful guess, before saying, “Maybe she’s looking for feedback on a concept? Like, the sort of thing that even starting the project for it would take so many resources and time to get the base information to present that it’s worth it even getting the concept of it approved by someone official before starting? I remember Kaede used to get approached for stuff like that. People doing these, like, elevator pitches to her, basically asking her for angles to present the project to the secretaries or dad or the rest of the family, whoever. Kaede would hear them out and then advise them on what to focus on to get it approved. She’d do that for projects that wouldn’t be expected to present for another year… but that was just cause Kaede was approachable like that.” Kaito observed, shrugging as he said, “People tried that with me, but I always advised them to go to her or Byakuya or one of the lower secretaries. Didn’t feel confident I could give them good advice, most of the time.”

“But, yeah...soooomethng like that? Maybe?” Kaito asked, grinning sheepishly at his husband.

“Maybe…” Kokichi sighed. It was just about as plausible as any other answer. 

“Aw, don’t look so gloomy, kid,” Nazumi encouraged, going to ruffle Kokichi’s hair before she thought better of it--he was going into an official meeting, after all, and while there weren’t really dress codes or anything, she didn’t want to embarrass her nephew--and just clapped him on the shoulder. Out of everyone there, she was the only one who knew her purpose in the meeting, so maybe that’s where she got her cheer from. Or maybe it was just a Nazumi sort of thing. 

Giving her nephew a look, she continued. “Hey, remember when you were given your first letter to answer for the country? You were such a li’l jitterbug about it, makin’ all sorts of theories about what it could be and wondering if you’d even have all the answers...and it was just someone who’s family dog had puppies and wanted to tell everyone in the damn kingdom about it? This is just another step, ‘kich’. Go in with good intentions and it’ll be fine.”

Kokichi sighed again, but gave his aunt something of a grateful look. He wanted to say he was just confused rather than nervous, but...he was a little nervous. But it was okay to not have all the answers, and as long as he heard Miss MacAvoy’s...whatever it was, out, that was his job.

It wasn’t long before they reached the meeting room, and it wasn’t long after they all situated themselves--Nazumi found a comfortable spot against a near wall to lean against, far enough to see everything, but near enough to act if she needed to--before there was a courtesy knock on the door and, ostensibly, the person who requested the meeting came in, smiling warmly at the couple--and bodyguard. 

“Ah, hello everyone, I hope I have not kept you waiting. My name is Cedar MacAvoy, thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Prince Kokichi, Prince Kaito, and...Ms. Bodyguard, I should presume.”

Cedar was a middle-aged woman with a smooth, homey voice, the sort of thing that you could fall asleep to in a warm room if she kept talking. She looked almost swathed in cloth, her clothes draping around her in a sort of comfortable waterfall of shawl and sweater and skirts, and her low ponytail of deep green hair only continued that affect over her head as well. She looked at them all with open mauve eyes, though there was a certain “go-getter” type of determination in them--she looked like a woman who got things done.

Kokichi shook his head a little, wordlessly offering up one of the seats around to the woman. “Not at all, we just got here. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. MacAvoy. What can we do for you today?”

“Oh, please, just call me Cedar,” she laughed, just as warm as her voice. “And, really, the question is what can I do for you?”

Kaito glanced at Nazumi to see if she would correct her, and when she didn’t, he considered introducing her on her behalf, but considered if he’d do that for Maki and realized, no. He’d assume Maki hadn’t said anything for a reason, and so, he should assume the same for Nazumi. 

Kaito, still not entirely certain what his purpose here was, he just grinned warmly and bowed his head slightly, waiting to sit when Kokichi did, though…

He looked at the woman curiously. She looked a little curious. Her style reminded him a little of Miss Crystal, but beyond that, there wasn’t much to say about her yet. Though he looked curious at the question. Maybe she was gonna… make pitch to a new city feature or something? He glanced quietly at Kokichi, waiting to follow his lead.

Kokichi sat down on a loveseat across from Cedar, wanting to be next to Kaito since the situation allowed for it, and...it was just a little interesting that the woman had chosen a seat that was the natural opposite. A bit of consideration that people weren’t always thinking of. And...well…

...she wasn’t trying to split him and Kaito up. And while it’d been a long time since anyone had tried something like that...it was a sort of atmosphere that made him relax a little. 

But he still was a little confused. “...um, pardon?”

Cedar laughed a little bit, giving the younger men a sheepish look. “I couldn’t resist the production of it all, sorry. I’m a healer, sirs. While there is an abundance of medicinal education and innovation in Dicea--and quite a lot just in Usot!--after I got my medical license some years ago, I set out to travel the world and learn medicinal practices from everywhere I could. Nothing opens a mind like different perspectives!”

That was the mindset the leaders were always trying to incorporate, at least, and by the light in the young heir’s eyes, it seemed she’d picked the right thing to say.

“Traveling was an incredible experience, but it’s nice to be home again. And, well, while I had known about your condition before, Prince Kokichi, I do believe with my greater experience now, I may just have a way to cure you.” Okay, time to sell, while the shock was still fresh!

Cedar sat up, trying to make her presence a little bigger. “No worrying about heart attacks or trouble with your breathing, you can just live your life as you see fit without that little worry in the back of your head. I want to use all I’ve learned to help anyone I can, naturally, but I feel like the best thing I can do for Dicea is to lend my services to you, Kokichi.”

She then smiled and gave a nod to Kaito. “And, considering this is a fairly life changing subject, I did not want to exclude family from weighing in on the matter.”

Kokichi’s eyes had widened, but… 

...there had been a lot of healers over the years claiming they could “fix” him and...it didn’t often amount to anything more than gross tasting medicines or painful shots that did shit all. 

His lips thinned a bit. “...a cure?”

And Cedar didn’t miss a beat, rolling her eyes good naturedly. “All right, all right, no more theatrics, promise. People like a good story, but the facts need to be facts!”

“A cure isn’t some miracle medicine,” she explained. “Likely, with a condition so intertwined like yours, there isn’t a single thing that will unburden you overnight. But through the methods and treatments I’ve learned in my travels, with enough time and effort, I believe you can see a life free from your health concerns in the near future. Getting better little by little, treating every offshoot complication that your condition has caused...I have seen cases go through exactly that with people, yes, cured of their ails. By treating everything and seeing it recede, the same can be done for you.”

Kaito stiffened.

Really?

A cure?

Almost mindlessly, Kaito reached out to grasp Kokichi’s hand, before feeling embarrassed, pulling it away. Kokichi was in a meeting, he shouldn’t bring attention to himself until it was called for…

But this wasn’t just… a meeting. This wasn’t a political thing. A doctor was saying she had a cure? But…

Kaito again found himself glancing at Kokichi, before looking at the doctor-- what had her name been. Cedar?-- before saying, “You… there’s…” Kaito started pulling at his joints fretfully, saying, “You’ve seen it yourself? People with the same heart condition as Prince Kokichi cured?”

Kaito hesitated. Thinking of Shuuichi desperately taking pollen to make himself stronger in a moment of weakness, and with some concern, asked, “From where?”

Shuuichi didn’t trust Danganronpa. Kaito didn’t always understand Shuuichi’s logic on the subject, but if Shuuichi didn’t trust them, Kaito didn’t. He’d be nervous of any medicines coming from that side of the continent. “What’s the treatment, Dr. Cedar?”

Kokichi found himself reaching for Kaito’s hand after not too long, feeling… He wasn’t actually too sure. But someone actually admitting that there wasn’t some miracle cure, and that it’d take time and treatment...it reminded him a little of Seiko, way back when. Most of the healers hadn’t bothered explaining to him what they were giving, and while Seiko knew the technical side of things would go over a child’s head, she had explained what the medicine was, and how it worked. That it wasn’t something he could take and would magically be better, it just coaxed his body into stabilizing long enough that, with rest, he could eventually find himself getting better, instead of worse. 

...what Cedar was saying sounded a lot like that and...if she’d learned medicine from other countries...she might know something that they hadn’t discovered over here…

Cedar nodded to Kaito, getting right to the point this time. “I’ve seen it. People with heart conditions in Wallachia, people with lung issues like our prince here in Uraya, people with blood issues in Hyrule...I’ve spent a long time traveling, and in such a wide survey, you come across all sorts of conditions. But, thankfully, many healers I’ve met allowed me to learn their trades, and I’ve seen so many patients get their lives back after living with inhibiting conditions for so long. It’s only right to use this knowledge to help people here.”

“There are a variety of methods I would like to use, and while there are some I’d insist on, for some of the practices may seem a bit odd to you and me but I’d ask you to keep an open mind, if you feel uncomfortable with any treatment, we can find one that you are more comfortable with. That’s the perk of having learned so much,” she laughed. “Every now and then you find treatments that cover the same things.”

“Now, many of the methods I’ve learned take a different approach to medicine--they focus on, instead of taking pills or serums, fixing the body with itself. Everything in the body is connected, and by using certain methods--acupressure, for one, where you press direct force into the acupressure points of the body and it can change the flow of systems--you can, over time and repeated sessions, cure even more intense ailments that on its own the body has not been able to fight.”

Kokichi thought about all that, biting on the inside of his lips. It...didn’t sound dangerous. Not like the weird liquids and mashed up herbs that some of his old healers had claimed would help… And...well, he knew about massage therapy, and exercise in general, how parts of the body could heal without the introduction of outside substances…

He gave the healer a wary look. “...so...no shots? And...it wouldn’t be...cutting me open or anything, like surgery, right?”

The woman gave the young man a kind, sympathetic look. “No shots, and no surgery. Everything is done externally.”

Kaito, again, glanced at Kokichi.

This was good, right?

...This was amazing, wasn’t it!?

It was, just, like… like the stuff they were already doing for Kokichi, but, like… specialized! Not just two jocks trying to use their limited knowledge to improve his diet and his body through light exercise, but something that, apparently, could fix Kokichi’s lungs and heart entirely? Really? 

Kaito was practically bouncing in his seat. Wanting so, so badly to, to… he didn’t know! Say yes? They should…

No, no, pull it together Kaito. Ask a few more questions. Take care of your husband.

Again, glancing uneasily at Kokichi, Kaito looked back at the healer. “Are there any possible risks to the practices? You may not be aware, Dr. Cedar, but Prince Kokichi has a few complications outside of his hearts and lungs.” Kaito said sternly. Trying to come across as an authority. Thinking of his mother a little. “Anything to do with blood would have to be handled extremely seriously, and not just in how it affects him physically. Blood letting and things like that would be dangerous for him. Anything involving bugs would have to be handled extremely delicately. Puncture wounds even outside of shots would need to be handled cautiously… until his heart condition can be seriously improved, all of these things should be considered additional physical health issues, even if they don’t affect him physically in any immediate way.”

Kaito frowned at the woman, “Can you guarantee his safety, with these things in mind?”

Cedar nodded, taking in every point the prince consort brought up. Leeches were out of style pretty much everywhere, so she wasn’t even thinking of using them, and bee venom...well, she hadn’t been planning on using that either. No good way to explain it to the prince as a health benefit. 

“I see,” Cedar hummed, tapping on her cheek as she considered all the treatments. “Well, then Wallachian Gua Sha is probably a little too far on the risky side. It involves intentional bruising. However, there are alternate versions that would suffice until Prince Kokichi’s heart improves. So…”

The woman brightened, giving Prince Kaito a determined nod. “I can happily give you a yes, Prince Kaito! Prince Kokichi’s safety will always be a foremost concern, and I can vow on my integrity as a healer that I will not propose a treatment that would pose a risk to his health.”

...if it wouldn’t hurt to try… Kokichi bit his lip a little more before turning to Kaito, then the healer again. “This is...an incredible offer, Cedar. I’m sure you know how much it would mean to me and my family if my health could improve… But...with such a big subject, would you mind if we took some time to discuss it together?”

“Not at all. This isn’t a limited time offer or any such thing.” Cedar smiled, getting up from her seat. “Though, is this a, I step out for a few minutes sort of talk, or should I come back another day?”

“Um…” Kokichi dithered, honestly a little overwhelmed. But he offered Cedar a smile back nonetheless. “Would you mind coming back tomorrow? There are a few more members of our family I’d like to talk to before deciding.”

“Of course! I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

Kaito glanced at Kokichi to see if he was going to stand up, and, a little taken off guard when Dr. Cedar ended up standing up first, Kaito tried to compensate by standing up with her, even though that was entirely wrong, and…

Sigh. The rules don’t apply here, the rules don’t apply here, Kaito, the rules don’t apply here- “Dr. Cedar, thank you so much for reaching out.” Kaito grinned, that sternness leaving him, encouraged by Dr. Cedar’s answer. He bowed his head respectful and lowered his shoulder forward a little, “We look forward to discussing this further tomorrow.”

Kaito hesitated, wanting to ask Nazumi to show her out, but… damn, it was so much harder to not try to rely on the etiquette he grew up on in what he considered official settings. He wondered if there was any etiquette to these things that he just wasn’t experienced enough to notice yet. Like, not official things, but ‘understood’ practices. He’d keep an eye out.

Kokichi looked a little confused by Kaito suddenly getting up, but...well, it was fine enough. The doctor left, and after a meaningful look from Nazumi, and then sending one back to her, and waiting a few moments...the bodyguard gave Kokichi a pat on the shoulder and headed out, leaving Kokichi and his husband alone. 

Leaning back a bit on the couch, Kokichi let go of a big breath, tipping his head back to stare at the ceiling. “...I should...take her on as a specialist, right? If she’s not gonna...demand some ridiculous payment, and… There really...doesn’t sound like there’s a downside, right? Even if it doesn’t work...at least we’d know. At least we tried…”

Kokichi blinked, bringing a hand up to rest over his heart. Thumping away just fine right now, but...not always. Not enough. 

...would it really work? Was there some method out there that could really…? No more random nosebleeds, no more choking in his sleep...no hearing too many sad things and having his body give out…

...maybe even...living to see his forties? Fifties? Getting to see his children grow up, not cutting his promises to his partners short…

Kokichi didn’t even realize he was tearing up until the burn snapped him out of his thoughts. Lifting his head again, Kokichi looked up at Kaito with an unsure, but so desperately wanting to be hopeful gaze. “...people have said they could fix me before…”

Kaito watched the door close, before looking down at his husband, trying to gauge what he’s thinking first before he grinning, sitting down next to him, chuckling a little sadly as he saw the unshed water in his gaze. Reaching over to rub a soothing thumb under his eye, brushing away the unshed tear, he said, “Hey, come on… this is good news. Hey, this is potentially great news!”

Kaito took back his hand, popping the joints. He knew… he knew, vaguely, the stories of Kokichi’s previous healers who had proved to not be all they said they’d be. Or, well… not even vaguely really. Kokichi had refused to tell him any details, cause Kaito was going through his ‘kinda wanna kill everyone here’ phase then, but…

“And some of them helped, right?” Kaito asked, flashing Kokichi a grin, before standing back up, pacing the room back and forth a little, trying to think this through as he reasoned out, “I mean… sure, no one’s ‘cured’ you yet, but from what I hear Seiko’s medicine was a game-changer, when she first developed it, right? And for you to be here right now, considering everything, plenty of the other healers must have made good medical suggestions, right? Sure, no one ‘fixed you’,” Kaito said, putting quotation marks around the words with his hands, but continuing on quickly, “But plenty of them made suggestions that helped… little things, ya know, that improve over time?”

“Hell, we’re even seeing that this last six months, right? Little lifestyle changes, more consistent diet, better sleep schedule, fitness regimes, you just… taking better care of yourself in general, and you even just said yourself the other day, ‘Kichi, that you’re seeing improvements you haven't seen before now! Maintaining weight and… like, okay, she can’t offer a surgery or something, no instant fix, but we’ve seen for ourselves little things over time can be a huge help! And, and, if she’s seen this play out in other places, where it can improve your lungs and heart to the point where they can, like… self maintain and stuff? I mean… that’d be amazing, right?” Kaito said, beaming down at Kokichi, “That’d be incredible!”

Kaito frowned, before saying uncertainly, “...I mean… there’s someone in the castle who can do a background check on her, right? Like how Shuuichi does for people? I’d suggest just having him look into her credentials, but our love is…” Kaito winced, looking away with some concern, glancing at the door as if he was worried about saying it aloud where someone could potentially be listening in, “... I mean, I know I promised to stop fussing at him as if he can’t do anything, but I don’t think we should have him do any detective stuff right now. It can be surprisingly physical, and he gets real tired on the stairs these days… I’d want to ask someone to do a check on her, if only just to convince him not to go out of his way to do one...”

“Some of them helped…” Kokichi nodded. It would be more concerning than it had already been if every healer that had seen him over the years had their license revoked at the least. Every suggestion and every offer of treatment over the years had led him to be where he was now, far more stable than he’d ever been as a child. And…

...that was all he could really hope for with Cedar. A small improvement, and maybe even a slightly bigger one if enough time went by. He shouldn’t...get his hopes up too high. But a small change was still good enough to try. 

...there really wasn’t a reason not to try. 

Kokichi took a breath, drying his eyes a bit. “Background check. She said she got her license here, and I’d hope she got it renewed after traveling abroad but...that’s something to check. I’ll...yeah, I’ll ask for a background check. But I still wanna talk to Shuu-chan a-and my dads about this…”

Kokichi got up from the couch, giving Kaito a small smile. “I’ll go put in an order for a background check and...do you wanna go to the office and start telling Shuu-chan about it? I’d like to have an answer to give Cedar tomorrow.”

Kaito nodded, feeling, again, a sort of adrenaline of excitement running through him as he said, “Great! Yes! Oh, did you want to talk to King Aiichi and Ikuo while I talk to Shuuichi, or just stick together on this?”

Back in the day...well, it had been because of Aiichi that almost every damn healer in the country had come to the city to see him, or at least it felt like that. His father had been desperate to find someone that could help his son...too desperate. Letting in people that shouldn’t have been near Kokichi at all, but...well, at least they never saw any official patients after that. He...wasn’t sure if his father had learned his lesson. Had any caution to pass on. 

And Ikuo… Kokichi’s medical appointments had never been his decision, but the nanny had always tried to stay with his kid whenever he could. Easing fears around scary doctors, or being a wall between his son and the worst case scenario. It wasn’t always possible… But given a chance to put in his opinion...Ikuo did tend to have a good eye for people. 

Nodding slowly, Kokichi hummed. “I’ll talk to my dads… I’ll come back to you guys and pass on what they say, ‘kay?” And without...stories of the past Kokichi wasn’t quite ready to pass on yet.

“Okay babe… hey, come on.” Kaito laughed, pulling Kokichi into a hug, running his hand through his hair. “If she does anything weird or that hurts, than, ya know what? No ones making you do it, you can stop any time. My husbands strong, and you get stronger every day regardless… and, like! Again, she saw it for herself! It’s not like this treatment is coming out of nowhere or nothing, you know, she’s not experimenting on you. She saw these treatments work on people! So…”

Kato grinned down at him, radiating excitement, as he said, “She’s not asking for payment, and, honestly, the background check is more for my peace of mind that she’s not, like, an assassin or something,” Kaito admitted, his grin turning somewhat guilty at that, “And if she’s not? Then… then there’s no reason to think this won’t work! This is gonna be incredible, ‘Kichi!”

Pulling Kokichi back into the hug, Kaito said, “I’m gonna choose to be optimistic about this. I’ve doubted everything else since I’ve gotten here, and I was wrong every time… so, this? I’m so excited for this. My ‘Kichi deserves to be healthy and happy… ha!” 

Kaito let go, stepping back, as he said, “I wonder how long it’s meant to take? Could you imagine when Maki gets back, showing her how quickly you can get back up that trail we did? Maybe we’ll have you swimming by then! Fuck yeah, she’ll be so impressed!”

Kokichi hugged Kaito back, burying his face in his husband’s chest. He wasn’t a child anymore and...people listened to him. If something was going wrong...he could say no, and he knew how to make people listen. Sure it had been...easier when Maki was there to back him up, but she wasn’t the only person he could rely on. He had plenty of people who would listen and stand by him. 

And while Cedar could just be lying about seeing the treatments work...he hadn’t gotten that impression from her. Maybe that was naive, but...he got the feeling that she really had learned tried and true methods from around the world. 

...he wanted to believe it would work but...it was hard to get his hopes up for something that...incredibly life-changing. Something he’d always thought was impossible. But maybe he didn’t need to believe...maybe he just had to try it.

Kokichi giggled softly, reaching out to squeeze Kaito’s hand for a moment. “It would be pretty amazing if I’m out running marathons by the time Maki-chan comes back. I think she might actually start challenging me to races.”

“Hell yeah!” Kaito laughed, leaning down to give him a kiss, before saying, “I’ll meet you back in the room, babe.”

-

Chisa looked out from the balcony of the palace.

The gardens really were beautiful. Everywhere in Danganronpa was incredibly beautiful. The Flora had all the cooperation and resources, both in land and labor, to keep the whole of the country just… breathtaking the look at. The streets were clean and taken care of. The building’s beautifully designed and sturdy and well maintained. The palace breathtaking, the air clean, the people… accommodating. 

So long as you knew your place, and didn’t fight it.

And the gardens… the gardens were amazing…

...Chisa was so fucking bored.

Auuuuuugh! 

Getting to the capital was easily the worst thing that had happened so far. The trip there had been so fun! So exciting! Every day had been so, so entertaining! She had enjoyed it immensely, the whole trip. All of it so… despair inducing, as she watched the people she had gotten to know for half a year all die terrible, painful deaths, often at each others hands… it had been great! Watching the children especially had been thrilling.

Now she was just… here. Looking at stupid gardens from the palace. Too ‘special’ to be brutalized, but without enough power to brutalize anyone else… oh, sure, she could go to ‘shows’ and clubs and such and indulge herself, if she wanted too, but… it just wasn’t the same. The suffering there too planned out. Too controlled. 

And, honestly, it was annoying how the Flora treated her. Half of them treated her like some delicate little animal. The others treated her like they were just barely holding back from spitting on her. And like, really… if they were gonna act like they were gonna do it, they might as well just do it. She was so bored. 

But being Tengan’s friend and under Queen Junko’s protection just made her life too… safe and predictable. And she was barren, so it wasn’t like she could even fulfil her purpose as a seedling. So she just took medicine to tone down her horniness bullshit and just wandered around doing nothing and being so. damn. Bored.

Ugh… maybe she should just kill herself. This sucked.

“Chisa?”

Chisa sighed, glancing over her shoulder, seeing Tengan (not Head Secretary anymore. She wasn’t Secretary Chisa anymore either. Both of them were just Queen Junko’s seedlings now.) and, not really wanting  to deal with him right now, but still having some respect in her, she smiled, turned and bowed. “Hello there, Tengan. Did you need something?”

Tengan… looked odd. 

He looked weirdly concerned. And nervous. He glanced around, as if he was waiting to be listened in on, before turning to Chisa. Going over to her. Not smiling. That was what was truly strange. The man always smiled. It was his signature poker face.

It was why Chisa smiled all the time.

So, smiling at him, she said, “Of course. Is there something wrong, Tengan? Does the Queen need us?”

Tengan looked at her. He looked at her like he didn’t really understand her… before murmuring, “Yes, something is wrong.”

“I... “ He swallowed. Reaching out to put a warm hand on her arm. “...I think I’ve done something terrible to you…”

Chisa raised an amused eyebrow. “Oh?” she said, wondering if he was about to take some mocking shot at her. Sure, alright. That could be entertaining, “Have you ‘ruined’ me in some way?”

Tengan nodded. “Yes.”

“And I think I have to fix it.”

-

Kokichi...still didn’t know exactly how to feel, and that showed on his face when he entered the office, Nadya already packed up for the day and wishing them well on her way out. He went over to his desk and pulled out his chair to face the others still just...unsure. Tentatively optimistic. Trying to temper his own expectations. 

“...well…” he sighed. “I have my dads’ blessings. Aiichi said he’d put in the order for the background check himself, and Ikuo said he’d see around town what people think in general but...they both said if it was something I wanted to do, then they’d support it. She is properly licensed, in a lot of stuff, actually, so...we know that already.”

Looking up, Kokichi offered a small smile. “What does Shuu-chan think?”

Shuuichi thought he was going to vomit, but that wasn't really related to this.

He and Kaito had been arguing, before Kokichi had come in, about how Shuuichi was/wasn’t going to do the background check himself. How he didn’t know if he trusted the Diceans to discover if she was an assassin or not…

Then Katio had argued that Kokichi had gone through tons of assassnation attempts as a kid, so it wasn’t like they were unfamiliar with the concept! They knew what to look for, it’d be fine! 

Then Shuuichi had argued, Kaito, have you read those reports? Most of them make it sound like they walked right up to Kokichi and then just decided not to do it. They were terrible at keeping assassins away from him! It was a fucking epidemic! Shuchi should just look into it himself! 

No, you shouldn’t, because someone is already going to do it, Kokichi said they would, and you should trust that the Diceans know what they’re doing. 

I can trust them just fine, but I’m going to verify, it’s not like he couldn’t handl- hrrrp!

That was when he had vomited into a wastebasket, and had sat at his desk, tired and grumpy, while Kaito had quickly cleaned it up, opening up a window and taking out the trash , bring Shuuichi a water and tablet for the nausea which Shuuichi had grumpily accepted.

When Kokichi got there, Shuuichi sighed, “...I mean, obviously, if this treatment ends up being what she says it is, then this is amazing, Kokichi. But…” Shuuichi gave his boyfriend a tired look, “...something that could completely cure you, without any sort of… like, actual medicine or surgery?”

“Well, she didn’t say there wasn’t any actual medicine.” Kaito argued, “She said it was… um… well, I mean, I’m sure there’s some chemical aspect to her treatments! And, again, Shuuichi, she’s seen these practices work in real time on people with the same conditions as Kokichi. These aren’t theories. In other places, they’re proven practices! This could really help him!”

“...” Shuuichi gave Kaito a more frustrated, tired, look… before saying, “I mean, King Aiichi’s doing a background test, and Ikuo… knows people, I assume. And my own attempts at playing ‘doctor’ historically have not played out well, so it’s not like I can recommend one way or another… we should ask Seiko about it.”

Kaito waved his hand dismissively, “Of course we will. She is his primary doctor. But if this woman isn’t an assassin, then something like this can only help! This is something to be happy about, Shuuichi! Kokichi’s going to get better!”

Shuuichi frowned at Kaito’s heated enthusiasm. Once Kaito had an idea in his head, it was incredibly difficult to change his mind. He was a man that relied too heavily on his first impressions. There was no arguing with him right now that this was anything less than a damn miracle at their doorstep… so he turned to Kokichi.

“Of course I’d be happy if that was the case… how do you feel about this, Kokichi?”

Kokichi played a bit with the hems of his sleeves, but there still was that little smile on his face. “...if she has a track record? If Seiko can look at the treatments Cedar has planned and says there’s nothing there that could hurt me…? ...I wanna give it a shot, at least.”

“I don’t…” Kokichi looked away a bit, fussing with his sleeves more. “...I’ve kind of given up thinking I’ll ever have a heart and lungs that are “normal”. I haven’t… I haven’t had particularly high expectations for how long I’ll be alive...you know?” Kokichi’s voice had gotten quieter, finally plunging into a subject they had kind of...danced around, if they touched on it at all. Something that they all knew to various degrees, but...well, who wanted to face the realities of being in a relationship or having a kid with someone who’s not going to make it into their thirties?

Kokichi took a breath, trying to be brave. They needed to talk about this at some point, and...this really was the best case scenario for it. “I don’t...want to get my expectations up too high. But if there’s a chance Cedar’s treatments could help at all…? Then...that’s something I want to do. Just...give myself the best chance. I have a lot to live for these days, you know?”

His gaze rose a little, just barely touching on Shuuichi and Kaito before dropping again, nervous and hopeful and...wanting to hope. Not wanting to hope. 

Shuuichi sighed, adjusting the cap on his head as he said, “Well, of course, anything that could expand your lifespan should be tried… especially if there’s no obvious risk to it? It’d be stupid to say no… I just want to be certain she doesn’t intend to hurt you. That’s all I care about.”

Kaito just… frowned.

Staring at them.

...what were they… talking about?

Shuuichi tapped at the desk, before saying, “Let’s take a page out of Maki’s book. Where’s the danger?” Putting up a finger, counting out, he said, “The first danger is that she’s a potential assassin looking to use the cover of foriegn medicine to kill you. A thorough background check is what I would recommend for that, which King Aiichi is already doing, and otherwise, I think it should be expected for Nazumi to be there for all the treatments. To look out for danger. So… in theory, with those two things done, that’s no longer a danger… right?” Shuuichi asked, looking between the two of them to confirm it.

Kaito was still trying to process what the fuck they had both just said before. Just sort of nodding mutely.

Kokichi got up from his chair, wanting to be closer to his guys. Sighing, he sat down on the floor and leaned against Shuuichi’s legs, taking comfort in the contact. “She said I could refuse any treatments that made me uncomfortable...though there were some she wanted to insist on. It could be some plan, but...that’s kind of typical for doctors. You don’t call vegetables poison just ‘cause kids don’t wanna eat them, you know? But having Aunty there would...count as making me more comfortable so...I think it should be fine. If she refused, that would be a warning sign even not for an assassination plan.”

“I think...I wanna ask Cedar about every treatment before she gives it to me, and ask Seiko about it,” he decided. “She’s not specialized in every form of medicine on the planet, I know, but if there’s anything that might trigger something in me, Seiko would be the best person to know. Is…”

Kokichi sighed again. “You guys are like the worst people to ask...but is that too paranoid?”

“No.” Shuhichi and Kaito said at the exact same time.

“If anything, I’m just… frustrated because I know the next time we get Maki on the phone, she’s going to have three even more paranoid suggestions that the second I hear them, I’m just gonna be…” Shuuichi scoffed, reaching down and petting Kokichi’s hair idly, “like, why didn’t I think of that? That’s so obvious… she didn’t ask for any big reward? Some big payment?”

“No.” Kaito provided. Like… how ‘low’ was not having a ‘high’ expectation for living long? Like… was Kokichi talking dying in his sixties or… that would be pretty young…

“Then, without any motivation for harm, and with nothing to gain… I mean, I guess the next big danger would be ‘is she stupid’, which in the medical field is a pretty big danger. But, talking to Seiko would probably negate the harm of that danger, so…” Shuuichi shrugged, “Beyond those two dangers? I can’t see anything else. I don’t see any reason to say no to her.”

Kokichi laughed softly, able to see that future clearly. He could so easily imagine Maki yelling at him not to try anything until she got home...but he knew that was a bit of an exaggeration of Maki’s personality. A bit. But she absolutely was going to hound them to take as many precautions as possible. 

“We didn’t really talk about the logistics of me becoming a patient,” he softly admitted. “I think she just wanted to see if I was interested… But, if she wanted some big paycheck, I think she would’ve been sure to mention that. Still...that’s not the only reward she’d get from treating me.”

Kokichi rolled his eyes a bit, but tipped his head into Shuuichi’s pets. “Patient confidentiality is a big deal, but...well, when every healer in the kingdom has been your doctor at some point, there’s only so much formality people respect when talking about something they all know. It’s...kind of a big deal in the medical community, who’s treating me. I know a lot of breakthroughs for other conditions happened because of people looking for a way to help me… Maybe not so much in recent history, but at least that’s how it used to be. Whoever’s my doctor’s gonna get some clout. For someone who’s trying to bring foreign knowledge over here...that’s a big draw.”

Shuuichi frowned at that a bit, still playing with Kokichi’s hair…

But Kaito managed to get himself out of his stupefied dread as he said, “Well, sure, but… that’d only happen if it works, right? I know Seiko’s reputation nose-dived cause the King kinda took a crap on her, but if the rest of your healers got a publicity bump, it’s cause something they did worked, right?” Kaito mused, tapping his foot on the ground a bit, before saying, “If anything, that sounds like an incentive to get her to really do this right. This could be her big break. Anyone would want to do well, ya know?”

Also, about that low life expectancy thing??? Is that you two doing your depressed, worst possible outcome thinking, melancholy thing again, or did… someone tell you that or… where is that coming from???

Kaito swallowed. Not sure how to ask any of that.

There were a few beats before Kokichi nodded. It was...technically true. But… “Sort of… It’s more like your reputation dives if you get dismissed, which means you did something wrong, or, in Seiko’s case, told my dad something he didn’t want to hear…” Kokichi scoffed. Able to be bitter about that whole mess from a different perspective now. 

“But even if you weren’t really able to accomplish much...as long as you left on your own terms, and didn’t do anything to hurt me...it’s kind of an “in” circle, as far as I understand. A type of networking…”

“I think she is well-meaning though… Getting recognition isn’t a bad reason to do something, as long as you’re going to do it right. And if she does manage to help me...that’s more of a reputation bump than just seeing me would do, for sure. So someone searching for that would want that path, right?” Kokichi pressed his cheek against Shuuichi’s knee, looking up at his lovers. A bit...taken off-guard by the uncertainty on Kaito’s face. 

“...Kai-chan?”

Kaito heard the concern in Kokichi’s voice and immediately threw a grin onto his face, because tethers or no tethers, actually progressing therapy or no, some habits were incredibly hard to break. “Hm? Yes?”

Kokichi frowned, his brow furrowing in worry. If Kaito went from contemplative and worried to a grin, that usually meant something far more important than just thinking. “...you looked like something occurred to you. Or...you were thinking something over? Did you wanna talk about it?”

“Oh, um… did I? I mean, yeah, maybe… um…”

Kaito tapped out an uneven rythym onto his knees, wondering how the fuck you even bring something like this up. Maybe he was misunderstanding something… “Yeah, maybe! Um…”

Kaito found himself at a loss for words. He sat and thought for a moment, tapping at his knees.

“...you and Shuuichi, uh… I think I’m missing out on some information you two both have...or maybe not, I’m not sure… Uh, Kokichi?” Kaito looked at his husband. Feeling foolish as he asked, because of course not, but “...are we not expecting you to… live a full lifespan?”

That seemed like a weird way to word it, but his other alternative was ‘Are you gonna die soon’ and that felt way, way worse.

Kokichi waited patiently for Kaito to get his thoughts out--or decide to keep it to himself for sure--but what the actual issue was…

Kokichi blinked. Before a sad look came over his face, his heart dropping in his chest. ...Kaito hadn’t known? He thought they all knew, really. Someone that had heart attacks and collapsed lungs throughout their whole life...it was kind of...evident, what that all led to. But maybe not as obvious as he’d thought.

Getting up from the floor, Kokichi went over to take one of Kaito’s hands in his own. Speaking gently. “Kai-chan… you know...um…” Kaito deserved more than some childish metaphor here...but how to say it… “Heart attacks...they...they wear on the body, you know?”

“I have my medicine, and with rest and taking it, I can get back on my feet but…” Kokichi’s lips wavered for a moment as he took a breath. It...really wasn’t his favorite subject to think about. “...it’s a lot of strain on something you only get one of. Strain that people my age, a-and through my life...shouldn’t have to go through. And as I get older...well...everyone’s bodies start to not be as good as they used to, you know?”

Kokichi opened his mouth a few times, wordlessly, not really...sure how to explain further. Not sure he could do it for someone who...hadn’t known.

Kaito had known all that, of course, but… Kokichi had always had all of that stuff, as far as Kato had heard. Since he was a baby. And he had just assumed, like, okay, fine, Kokichi wasn’t going to be winning any wrestling contests, and maybe he’d be dealing with the sickness for the rest of his life, but… if he had survived till now, then it wasn’t killing him. If he could survive it now, he could survive it ten years from now, twenty, thirty, forty… however long he needed to. If it hadn’t taken out a five year old, a fifty year old could handle it…

...the logic had made sense to Kaito, anyway. He had feared a heart attack not treated would kill Kokichi someday. Not that Kokichi’s body would just… give out on him eventually. Regardless if they caught the attacks or not.

Kaito stared at Kokichi. He glanced at Shuuichi, who was just staring at them grimly. Having read the medical reports himself long ago that had basically said what Kokichi was trying to explain. Kaito tore his eyes away from Shuuichi, and looked back at Kokichi.

(...but…)

(...but… Kaito had been sent to marry him.)

(No one would do something like that to him. What, send him to fall in love with someone who… wasn’t going to stay?)

Kaito closed his eyes and grit his teeth, angry with his own thoughts. That was selfish. That wasn’t what he was going to fixate on. For one, his side of the arrangements hadn’t known about his health issues. His parents were a lot of things, but they wouldn’t have purposefully sent him off to become a widow in a foriegn country. For two… King Aiichi wasn’t cruel. If there was really no hope for a future for Kokichi, the king wouldn’t have asked for someone to abandon their whole fucking life to be with someone who couldn’t stay with them. So, King Aiichi had to believe Kokichi had a future.

Kokichi, when it came to himself, was prone to pessimism. So was Shuuichi, in regards to everything. It wasn’t actually hopeless. Kokichi had a future.

Kokichi had a future with Kaito.

Kaito had… just fallen in love with him… Kokichi didn’t get to leave him alone. 

He was sworn to him.

Kaito closed his eyes and took a breath. He was overreacting. Kokichi hadn’t said he was expected to die anytime soon. They still had a long and fruitful future together. They were going to raise their fucking kids together. And get to have fun mid-lives together, Kokichi ruling the country, Kaito supporting him in every way he could. One day, he’d talk Kokichi into leaving the country in their feeling-childs hand, and they’d be two old people, traveling around together and, and, that was how it was going to be.

Kokichi didn’t get to just take him and then leave him!

Kaito realized there were wide, panicked tears falling down his eyes, and that he was holding Kokichi’s hand too tight. Gently, he loosened his grip, and took a breath. Then another. He was panicking. He was getting angry. That wasn’t going to help anything. Calm down.

“I… don’t really believe you’re going to die.” Kaito confessed. “But… do the healers have an idea… roughly when? Like… sixties maybe or...” Kaito swallowed, the idea feeling cruel, but, “...fifties?”

Kokichi couldn’t find his words, his throat feeling tight, but...it looked like Kaito got the idea anyway. As much as he didn’t want to talk about it, this wasn’t something he wanted to hide from Kaito. It was too cruel… He just...thought he knew. When they’d all talked about his medical issues he thought...but by now Kokichi should’ve known better than to just assume things. Even things he didn’t think were cultural. 

However...after some time, Kaito...started to cry. His grip on Kokichi’s hands becoming iron. And...a fear Kokichi didn’t even know he had started to bloom in his chest. What if...Kaito didn’t want anything to do with him? Didn’t want the pain of saying goodbye and so would not even bother making all the memories with Kokichi he could. Why...put your heart into someone who was just gonna die in a few years anyway, huh? Why should they have anyone in their life when they were just gonna hurt everyone around them?

Kokichi barely noticed his breathing picking up, the tremble in his shoulders. The desire to curl up in his closet where no one could see…

“...I don’t know…” Kokichi whispered, feeling his world start to crumble. “No one really knows for sure… There were people who didn’t think I’d make it this far…” And not just that one asshole either. There had been others, not bringing it up with the prince himself for fear of upsetting him, though Kokichi found out anyway, who worried that he wouldn’t see much of adulthood. 

Anyone could die at any moment, and no one knew when they’d go. But it stuck around Kokichi like thick dust he could never shake off, even at his most optimistic. 

Kokichi started to pull away from Kaito, not wanting to see that...rejection on his face. “I...um...I should…”

Kaito’s grip went tight again. A brief flash of fury in his face.

Don’t. Leave. Yet.

Kaito had made the incredibly difficult choice to stay when it had gotten hard… Kokichi doesn’t get to leave right now… let him think…

Kaito gripped Kokichi’s hands, trying to wrap his head around the sudden wave of new, horrifying information...he held Kokichi’s hand, staring down at them. Shuuichi quietly, warily, watched this from the desk, wondering if he should intervene…

...Kaito took a breath, and relaxed his shoulders. 

One by one, he brought Kokichi’s hands up to his face, and kissed the knuckle. First the right one. Then the left one. Then he went back to the right, and kissed the knuckled specifically at Kokchi’s pinky… then he looked up at Kokichi, and grinned weakly, “...your husband’s kinda slow, isn’t he… I should have worked this out on my own months ago, huh… Shuuichi? You already knew this?”

Shuuichi nodded. “...sorry. I thought it was obvious.” Shuuichi murmured.

“...yeah… I’m real slow…” Kaito said, kissing Kokichi’s pinky again, taking a deep breath. “...well, if no one knows? For now…”

Kaito huffed, “I know you two pessimists are gonna say I’m crazy, but for now let’s just aim for surviving till eighty, and we’ll adjust as we go, okay? Eighty is a good amount of time. Shoot for the moon, at least hit the stars, that sort of thinking. We’ll aim for eighty and work against the obstacles when they show up… yeah.” Kaito said, half talking to himself. Nodding his head, “That’s how everyone does it, really… just work it out as we go. Our Kokichi just has a few more obstacles we gotta navigate, that’s all… just work it out as we go. That’s all anyone can be expected to do…”

Kaito grinned, suddenly brighten up as he said, “If Dr. Cedar can make your heart and lungs stronger soon, then, hell yeah! That’s one more obstacle dealt with! That’s one step closer to eighty!”

Kokichi winced at the tight--too tight, way too tight--grip on his hands, his arms shaking a little now just from the pain, but just as he was about to speak up, Kaito relaxed, bringing his hands up to kiss them. Not...something someone who was going to abandon you would do...right?

“...I thought you knew…” he whispered in an echo after Shuuichi. Not wanting to make Kaito feel dumb, but...well, he wasn’t very good as assuming what things were obvious, he was finding. 

But even Kaito knew eighty was a stretch. ...but maybe that was the point. It sounded even more unbelievable than what Cedar was claiming but...Kokichi smiled softly. Another sixty years with his family...that sounded like something really nice to hope for. 

...maybe that was easy to say when he wasn’t the one who’d have their hopes dashed. 

Letting go of a deep breath, Kokichi stepped forward and pressed his face against Kaito’s chest, nuzzling against his husband. “...every step helps. So...I think...I’m gonna take her up on it. But...I think I’m gonna go take a nap… Could you or someone wake me up when the background check’s finished?”

Shuuichi looked cooly at Kokichi, before saying, “Would you like any company? I could be tempted to a nap.”

Kokichi tilted his head so that it was just his cheek squished against Kaito’s chest, looking over at Shuuichi with a tired smile and slightly reddened eyes. “I’m always happy to have Shuu-chan as a sleep buddy. He’s a real good one.”

Shuuichi nodded, watching the way Kaito clutched at Kokichi in the hug, a sort of vaguely lost look on his face, “Kaito? Would you help me up?”

Kaito looked up, startled out of his thoughts, before saying, “Oh, yeah, of course handsome. I’ll wake you both up when there’s news. Are you guys coming down to the dining hall for dinner later? I can bring up food.” Kaito offered, hugging Kokichi tight for a second before gently pulling himself from him, going to help Shuuichi up.

Kokichi took great comfort in that tight hug. In remembering every time Kaito vowed to stay. Hoping...pretty validly, he thought, that it all still held the same weight in this new context. 

Taking a breath as Kaito left to help Shuuichi up, Kokichi tried to covertly dry his eyes. “I’ll come down for dinner, yeah, but if Shuu-chan wants to skip the stairs I can just help bring things up. Thanks, love.”

Kokichi was at his boyfriend’s side once he was up, affectionately tipping his head against his arm though there was a little less...ease to it than usual. Instead of just taking Shuuichi’s hand, Kokichi brushed the side of his against Shuuichi’s, asking for permission first.

Shuuichi sighed, “With you all skating and sledding whenever me and Kokichi can actually get up in the morning anyway, these last few weeks, honestly going up and down the stairs for meals is the best exercise I get all day.”

“Shuuichi, you wiggle out of training whenever you can.” Kaito pointed out dryly, “You don’t have to take a morning off every time Kokichi does.”

“Someone has to look out for our Kokichi.” Shuuichi sighed dramatically, wrapping his arm around Kokichi’s and taking his hand, “It’s my duty as a boyfriend. Same as its my duty to go nap now. But, yeah, I’ll come down for dinner. Come on, Kokichi. Bed calls.”

“Okay… love you both. I’ll see you soon.” Kaito told them.

...when they left the office, Kaito sat down. Everything feeling so heavy… maybe he had just been in denial before, and maybe saying they could aim for old age now was just that same denial again. Kaito didn’t know…

But Kaito went to go lock the door,  and sat down on the couch, and while he knew he’d never make it down the hall in time, Atua didn’t care if you were actually in your shrine or not. So Kaito cried for awhile in the safety of the locked office, just… asking his god to watch over them… keep Kokichi healthy and safe… please god… don’t take Kokichi away… Kaito needed him…

In the hallway, Shuuichi said quietly as they approached the room, “Are you okay?”

Kokichi laughed softly, enjoying the hug around his arm and able to find humor in how often Shuuichi tried to get out of training. Enjoying the memories of going skating when he was well--he was getting better at jumps, and Kaito barely even fell the last time they went out--and hearing Kaito and Tim talk about sledding when he wasn’t. Enjoying just...being there. 

“Love you,” he called back to Kaito as they left for the secret hallway between the wings, having no reason to detour anywhere else. 

And when they got back to their room, Kokichi flipping the lock since they were both going to be sleeping, and Kaito had his key...he looked up at Shuuichi with the shakiest smile he’d ever had. “...just because it might be shorter...doesn’t make my life worth less...right?” He still deserves to be happy and have people in his life, right?

Shuuichi’s eyes softened, and he pulled Kokichi into a hug. “Of course not… you know that, I know that, and while I know it might not have sounded like it, Kaito knows that. I think he’s just… choosing to hope for the best.”

Shuuichi sighed, putting his hands on Kokichi’s neck and face as he leaned back a little, to look down at him, “And I think he was scared. Because he loves you and it’s terrifying to face losing the people you love… but you don’t have to live till eighty. Or sixty, fifty… you don’t have to live past tomorrow, for your life to have been worth something. You mean so much to us… that’s why it’s so scary to think of you leaving. Because of how much you’re worth to us. If we didn’t love you, it’d be easy… but we do. So it’s hard.”

Shuuichi shrugged slightly. His gaze sad as he said, “Sometimes the best things are hard.”

Kokichi pressed into Shuuichi’s hug just as much as he did into Kaito’s. Wanting that reassurance. And maybe it was selfish, since he wouldn’t be the one left hurting, but…

...it was scary, facing death. Some people could do it bravely, admirably. Some were fourteen and were so scared that they had a heart attack so severe it placed them on bedrest for months. Some thought they had faced it, accepted it, all to feel that same terror when they had to say the words aloud. 

But what scared Kokichi even more than death was living a life that wasn’t worth living. 

Kokichi looked up miserably into Shuuichi’s eyes, his own growing redder again. “I d-don’t want to go...not when you and Kai-chan are here… There’s so many things I wanna do...things I wanna see with you guys. I-I wanna see our kids grow up and b-be there for them…”

“...I really thought he knew…”

There was never a good thing to say, to someone who was dying. In Shuuichi’s experience, the best you could hope for was some gallows humor. People taking comfort in each other. Some people had their faith, and that could help, but even the devout were terrified when the end came… or, at least, that Shuuichi had seen.

But, mostly… mostly all you could do was listen. Everyone finding their own way of coping with the end. The best you could do being not to stand in their way as they reasoned it out for themselves.

So he said, after Kokichi paused in his fears and his desires, “...I’m sorry. I want those things too. You deserve to have those things.” Shuuichi said, wiping the tears going down Kokichi’s face with his palms, staring back at him sadly, “...I’m sorry.”

But the Kaito thing was easier, and Shuuichi shook his head gently, pulling Kokichi back into the hug, “I won’t blame it entirely on culture. Our Kaito lives half in his head and half here, and sometimes it's hard to tell what’s going on with him because of that. I’m sure he just didn’t want to consider it a possibility, so just… never did. But… in Luminary, we don’t talk about sickness. Not in any real way. It’s considered disrespectful. Like accusing someone of being weak, which is highly offensive. When people get sick in Luminary, it’s expected they’ll recover, right up until they don’t. Talking about it in any other way is considered cruel… so… I’m sorry. We’re not good at talking about this.”

Shuuichi sighed… “I’d be so bitter, in your position… it’s not fair.”

Kokichi tried to breathe, to make the tears Shuuichi wiped away the last ones. They weren’t, but he still tried to calm down. It was important to cry, to get your emotions out, but...in this specific case, he always just felt worse. There wasn’t a way to fight against the damage that had already been done to his body. Just...small steps that would add up time, and while that was so valuable...it was hard to grasp onto, sometimes.

But...it was easier to appreciate that everyone around him was trying. That Shuuichi was trying to be optimistic, that Kaito...accepted his illnesses at all, considering Luminary culture. Wow. It was something big for anyone to accept, but fighting against your stigmas too…

Kokichi sighed, burying his face in Shuuichi’s shoulder. “...most of the time it’s okay. Here...in Dicea, we really value life… So if you’re sick or old enough to start thinking about it...it’s important to make the most of what time you do have. And...I try to do that. Sometimes I’m really bad at it…” Kokichi hiccuped something like a laugh, “But I try.”

“To make sure that when you leave, you don’t have regrets, and that you did everything you could to leave the world a better place than when you were born. To...be happy, really. You may not get to...to climb to the peak of a mountain like you wanted, or write a novel, but...there were moments where you smiled, and made people laugh, and held someone’s hand, and those moments are...so, so important. That’s...life. And even through the pain of leaving...that pain’s worth the joy of having all those moments.”

“...sometimes it’s hard to think like that,” Kokichi admitted in a sniffle, holding Shuuichi close. “So I just wanna cry and take a nap.”

Shuuichi sighed, and nodded. 

“Alright. But, if it’s okay, I wanna hold you while you cry and take a nap. I don’t want to leave you alone.”

“I appreciate it,” Kokichi murmured into Shuuichi’s shoulder. “I don’t wanna be alone either…”

It took a moment, since actually moving over to the bed meant letting go of Shuuichi, if just for a few seconds, but eventually Kokichi conceded and crawled into bed, immediately tucking himself against Shuuichi when he joined. Trying to calm his tears, and eventually succeeding when he drifted off into sleep.

-

Alter Ego, as maybe has been stated before, does not ‘sleep’. Not as a being of four different people, three of whom become most active when poor Hiro is trying to sleep. Even if one shard is dormant, usually the other shards are messing around, talking to each other, mixing together… but, like, metaphorically. The shards both separate and one person.

Shards are… difficult to conceptualize. And sometimes difficult to ‘be’.

But Alter Ego managed well enough. And today was one of Hiro’s ‘rest’ nights, where they tried to give their anchor body a break. Which meant while Alter Ego was technically ‘aware’, all four shards were staying dormant. Keeping quiet. Letting Hiro rest.

...but Hiro could feel Chihiro’s concern, his tether on Kokichi sending them a warning that something was wrong. Not… dangerous feeling. Just wrong. And Taka felt Hiro stir because Hiro was checking on Chihiro, and ‘went’ to go scold them, cause it was a resting day, but that concern got Mondo up and-

Well, Alter Ego sighed, opening their kitty eyes as the four all merged into each other. They were up anyway. They should go check in on Kokichi. Just make sure he was okay. 

Shards, man. It do be like that tho.

Alter Ego sent out a feeling to Kokichi.

{May I come?}

Kokichi opened his eyes, finding himself suspended in the middle of...an ocean? Very much like the possible seafloor he’d been lying on after he felt the victims of the Bern avalanche but...not at the floor. Just suspended in water, not sinking or floating, but not really feeling all that panicked. Just...there. 

He could conceptualize his room again but...at least for the moment, it felt like too much of a task. Kokichi sighed, watching the bubbles float up and away. 

{It’s pretty wet.}

{I’d like it if you came.}

Ugh, wet. 

But, for Kokichi, alright.

Alter Ego went into a pounce, started chittering at the air, and when they found Kokichi’s consciousness, leapt.

And when they landed, it was on a small, yellow cloud.

Sure, in theory they could just walk on of the top of the water itself. It was totally possible for them to do so. But Kokichi was visualizing the water as liquid, and Alter Ego felt the natural compulsion to follow the rules of the consciousness as defined by its user. They could make the water solid beneath them if they wanted, but it would take concentrated effort, and if they got distracted, Kokichi’s rules of this space would take effect. 

And then they’d be a real wet kitty. Blegh.

So, they landed on the small yellow cloud, and floated that cloud down to Kokichi. Reaching out and pressing their little paw against his face as they asked, a gesture of comfort. “Does the ocean make you sad?”

Kokichi felt the compulsion to look up as Alter Ego entered his consciousness, and when he saw a little cloud...aw. A smile lifted the corners of his lips up. Right now...Kokichi felt...calmer, maybe. Not exactly happier but...less like he was about to burst into tears again. Maybe because Shuuichi was holding him in the real world, maybe because...he was just too tired to feel that overwhelming fear and sadness again. Maybe because he knew more about death when he was asleep. 

Closing his eyes, enjoying that little touch of a paw, Kokichi smiled a little more and reached out to scritch behind Alter Ego’s ear. “...I never thought so. I was so excited to see it before...it’s really amazing. But...some really bad stuff happened by it so...maybe. I’m not really sure why I’m here…”

He sighed, the smile fading. “...I’m okay, if you were worried. Just...had a difficult conversation. Some tough stuff to think over… I’m sad but...I’ll be okay.”

They were in the middle of the undefined area of water, but still close enough to the top that distorted glimmers of light still shined down through the water. Providing a little warmth, apparently a law of the universe Kokichi’s mind was willing to bend on, perhaps because he’d never experienced what it was like to be underwater during a sunny day. 

Kokichi floated slightly, positioning himself almost like he was lying on his stomach, his head against the edge of the cloud as he gently pet Alter Ego. He would be okay, but...he took comfort in his friend being there. 

“...a woman came to the castle today, asking for a meeting with me and Kai-chan. A healer. She...she said that she’s learned medicine from all over the world and might be able to cure me…”

“Oh?” Alter Ego said, tilting their little kitty head as Kokichi pet, curling themselves into a better resting position. “That sounds like a good thing to me. Why do you say it like that?”

“...a lot of people have tried to fix my body before,” Kokichi murmured, feeling calmer explaining it all this time. “Some of them...should not have been healers. Others really have helped and...I think Cedar might be one of them. I’m gonna give her treatments a shot, anyway, if her background check comes back alright. I’m just...not gonna keep my expectations too high, you know? Keep things...realistic--a small improvement is still worth it.”

“But...talking about that led to some other stuff and…” He sighed, the ocean growing a little darker, the two of them sinking down a little. Kokichi closed his eyes, still keeping up his pets, though they were slower. “...Kai-chan hadn’t put together what my health problems meant in regards to my life span. And he won’t but…”

A little lower, the ocean above almost weighing on them. “...I got scared that he wouldn’t want to...waste his time with someone who’s not gonna be around forever.”

“No ones going to be around forever.” Alter Ego mused. Tail lightly flicking, the cool of the water making it a little slower. “What a trite thing to say, but… anyone who hopes to be with their loved ones forever is in for a very rough realization…”

Alter Ego looked at Kokichi, before saying, “But… hopefully your husband understands now is worth it. It’s really all we ever get.”

Their tail flicked, and he said, “Mondo says that if he leaves you over it, we can go beat him up in his nightmares for you, if you’d like. Knock some sense into him. I probably wouldn’t do that myself, but I can let him do it if you’re feeling feisty.”

Kokichi nodded a bit. No one lived forever--and Temp had said that even as an eternal being, he would one day die too--and...unless you had a suicide pact or something, in every relationship someone would one day be left behind. But...there was a difference between getting decades together before that happened, and being widowed before your life was even half over. 

Still, Mondo’s willingness to fuck shit up on his behalf got Kokichi to laugh softly, the ocean feeling less oppressive. 

“I appreciate it, but...like I said. I know he won’t. Even if he didn’t know...Kai-chan’s made me a lot of promises to stick around for. Promises that he’s not going anywhere…” The laugh faded, and Kokichi stroked his thumb over Alter Ego’s head. There was the slightest tremble in his hand as they started to ache. “It’s...a lot to process, I know. He’s allowed to be hurt...and I’m glad he brought it up with us at all instead of...going to hide in his shrine while we’re left guessing what’s on his mind.”

“...it’s just scary, for that stupid moment of doubt…”

Ah, yes. Kokichi had talked about Kaito’s strange shrine practices. Being Luminary, basically every shard in Alter Ego had heard some aspect of the Luminary Princes’s notably strange relationship with their Kingdoms religion. They’d have all been pre-teens when it happened, with the exception of Hiro, who had been a teenager, but one of your kingdom’s princes losing his claim to the throne for being too damn Atua crazy was the sort of scandal that stuck in the public consciousness for a while.

But, when three out of four of them had met him in real life, some having more one on one conversations than others, none of them having gotten particularly close to him though, Kaito hadn’t struck them as… well, crazy. Enthusiastic to the point of maybe raising an eyebrow, maybe, and definitely a little odd. Definitely at every sermon Priestess Angie had done on the trip. But not crazy.

And then Kokichi’s shrine stories had been shared with them, and individually, all of Alter Ego’s shards had gone, all at once, ‘Oh. There it is.’

“It’s a rough position to be in, I’d think.” Alter Ego offered, stretching out her legs a little, before settling on the cloud again, “It makes sense you’d be scared. I think you’d have to be a little off, not to be scared about things like that. Your own mortality, how it affects your relationship with others… I imagine it could become isolating. Being the only person in your life dealing with problems like that.”

“I am thankful for it, but...my dad,” And it was easier to call both his dads ‘dad’ in his consciousness, the feeling around the word giving no question as to which dad he was talking about, “is just in his forties...Mikaku’s a bit older, but fifties still isn’t ‘facing your own mortality’ old. I’m not really...close to anyone else who feels like their time is...close. Which is a good thing, I suppose...I hate it when people die…”

Kokichi sighed, thinking of the arms around him, the ache in his hands fading again. “...but it does help to have people around to support me, and I definitely have that. We’re just...hoping for the best, and making use of the time we have together...even if the “best” Shuu-chan and I are hoping for is...a bit lower than the best Kai-chan’s hoping for. Most of the time...I’m just happy to have every day I have.”

Hiccups of fear happened every now and then, like now, but...that sense of gratitude was important to have, Kokichi thought. After a moment, though, he frowned, giving Alter Ego something of a sheepish look. “...I hope that I’m not being too insensitive, talking about this since...you know.” Since three-fifths of Alter Ego had died but were kept on in being part of the conglomerate consciousness...but could also separate at times. 

It was complicated. 

Alter Ego sighed. “Actually, Mondo’s been wanting to talk to you privately for about half of this conversation. We’ve been asking him to stay patient… you know how he is. He probably wants to help, but he can be a bit abrasive.”

And, also, there was no real ‘privacy’ for any of them anymore. Their beings depended on each other. Their consciousness all tethered to Hiro’s. So… it’d really just be more ‘You fucks don’t literally hover over us and make it weird’ than actual privacy from the other three.

Kokichi blinked in surprise before nodding a bit, a small smile returning to his face. “Like I said before, anything any of you want to tell me, I’m happy to listen. I’m not sure there’s much to help other than just...waiting for feelings to pass and get on with everything...but more perspectives might prove me wrong, you know? Or be help in other ways.”

Looking around at the ocean, Kokichi took a deep breath. Then another. And...after a little longer...well, he got them to the beach, at least. Scattered with shells and glittering rocks of every color, a large umbrella stuck in the sand over by where the sand faded away into foliage. 

He sighed. “...seems like a slightly nicer place to talk, at least.”

Alter Ego looked warily at the sand, thinking their cloud was still the nicest place to stand, but… “Alright. I shall return… or, well, I’ll still be here, but…” The cat sighed, “Well, you know what I’m trying to say. I’ll see you in a bit. Don’t take any crap from Mondo.”

Alter Ego suddenly chuckled. “You know, the side of me that compelled me to say something like that actually comes from his quarter of my psyche? My existence is so very strange.”

And, with another little amused chuckle, Alter Ego vanished, and Mondo stood in their place. Looking around, actually seeming a little surprised to not be surrounded by his other parts. “...weird,” he murmured. Not used to that feeling of being alone anymore, even if it was entirely illusionary.

Mondo, like he always was, was wearing his old street clothes, rather than the uniform he had died in. Taking out a comb, he idly fixed his ridiculous hair, before huffing, sitting down cross legged next to Kokichi, not as bothered by the sand as Alter Ego was, and gave Kokichi an aggressive look. “Hey.”

Kokichi smiled a bit more, tickled by Alter Ego’s amusement at their own strange existence, and while it was still...tired and tinged with melancholy, it was a smile nonetheless. He was very lucky to have so many people that cared about him...and those moments of joy were well and beyond worth the pain they might bring someday.

Giving something of a wave to Mondo as he appeared--and while it was certainly less strange for him, it was a little weird to see only one of the four shards by themself--Kokichi gave Mondo a sweet smile in return. “Hey.”

“...you have a hell of a lot of experience to pass on. But being a leader yourself, that kinda makes sense.”

“Yeah, I fucking guess so.” Mondo scoffed, reaching down and grabbing a shell from the sand, looking at it idly for a moment-- pretty-- before starting to crush it between his fingers. Idly snapping at it before he finally explained, “Look, Kokichi, the other three aren’t ever really ever gonna fucking get it, ya know? That’s all I really wanna talk about. The… the ‘it’. The moment.”

“Chihiro and Hiro got fucking lucky. The afterlife, gods, what happens after we die… that shit was never a mystery to them. They knew magic fucking existed. Hiro got all the confirmation in the fucking world at a young age, and Chihiro wasn’t even close to contemplating death when it was confirmed to him. Fucking magical assholes like that? They’ll… they’ll never really fucking get it. And Taka…”

Mondo frowned, a flash of guilt on his face as he said, “He gets it, but watching me die...fucking broke something in the guy. He never coped. He just… shut down. His brain literally turned itself off. Sure, Chihiro shoving me in there probably didn’t help, but I ain’t the reason he fucking went catatonic. He just couldn’t deal. He doesn’t even remember it happening. Has that memory down under lock and fucking key, and, frankly? I hope he never goes digging for it. He’s better off.”

“But me…” Mondo grit his teeth. The shell dust in his hands. “They dragged me to fire, Kokichi. After a long day of terror and horror, they dragged me to fire, and made a stupid speech and… it was only a moment, really, but let me fucking tell you, that moment of looking in the flames and realizing, oh shit, oh fuck, this is actually going to happen…”

“...facing your death is fucking terrifying. No one other god damn feeling in the world compares,” Mondo spat. Tossing the shell back into the beach. His hands shaking, and so he grabbed another shell and started breaking that one apart next. “I fucking pissed myself the second they grabbed me. Big, strong, leader of a god damn Luminary street gang. The second I realized I was heading to that fire? For real, for real? I could have been fucking five years old again, screaming for my mom. It… it fucking sucks.”

“So like… yeah,” he muttered, “I get it.”

The moment… Kokichi’s smile faded again. 

...there had been more than a handful of times where he thought it might’ve been the moment, though...being aware of it wasn’t quite right. The entirety of Kokichi’s first year alive...hadn’t been much of a life, and was right at the precipice of being that moment at any moment. Then...every time he had an attack...if he hadn’t been taken to help, it could’ve been the moment. And even the times he’d been aware of...it was different than some people’s. Maybe that same sense of helplessness...but being helpless against your body, rather than nature or other people…

...he remembered, almost too vividly, that moment of absolute terror and desperation and despair before that...horrible nothingness. Kokichi tethered to...too many people having their moments. 

...fire sounded like one of the worst moments to have. 

Mondo didn’t seem like the kind of guy who even really liked that kind of stuff, but Kokichi gently tipped over a little, leaning on the larger man’s arm. Keeping condolences he likely didn’t want to hear unsaid, but...conveying that sort of...gloomy sympathy, and a little empathy, through that gentle touch. 

It really wasn’t fair. 

Kokichi swallowed. “...even knowing what happens doesn’t make it much better when you think of the people you’re leaving behind...but it’s...kinda self-inflating to say that that’s the worst part of it. At least of what you’re thinking in the moment… It’s just...scary.”

“...anything could always happen at any moment, but...any little thing that could lower the chances… I don’t want to leave my family...my friends,” Kokichi nudged Mondo, ever so gently. “It could happen any time...but I have to give myself the best chances…”

“Exactly. Even if you know what’s gonna happen, fucking just deciding living doesn’t matter would be a real fucking stupid way to go about it. Aint fair on the people invested in you, and, shit, things don’t always work out even when it’s all fucking ‘worked out’ by those fuckers who call themselves gods.” Mondo huffed, “Bunch-a incompetent fucks…”

A gentler look in his face, Mondo tossed the half broken shell down and wiped his hands off on his pants as he said, “I have an older brother. Had. Have. I don’t fucking know. Guy meant everything to me. I won’t say any bullshit like my final thoughts were ‘at least I’ll get to see him again’, cause I was too panicked to think anything that poetic, but… if I had had a second to calm down? It would have crossed my mind.”

“...I have no fucking idea where he is.” Mondo shrugged. A mildly frustrated look on his face. “All the fucking cosmos out there… I have no idea what happened to him. Neither of us were really religious... Way I hear it, Atua’s got claim to anyone who grew up in Luminary. I guess it’s partly a geography thing, but other people say its a fucking personality thing, and I heard once the whole damn point of the trials was to get people out of hellfire, which is other gods’ thing, so fuck if I know how any of that works… but I’ve been keeping my ear out for all of it, trying to guess where my bro might have ended up?”

“My best theory right now? He’s either in a trial or reincarnated by some chick named Khalisi. Or, fuck, maybe he’s a reaper, that tough old bastard was enough of a warrior for it, which I hear is part of it… but the thing is? I don’t really fucking know. And I don’t know how to find out, and…”

Mondo sighed, “Honestly? I was real reckless with my life. We both were. Knowing everything I know now? I kinda wish he and I had fucking calmed down and just enjoyed living it. Enjoyed, ya know… getting to live together.” Mondo frowned. A tired look in his eyes as he said, “I didn’t realize how fragile that situation was. How, in comparison to the vastness of time, how little time I’d have with him… I wish I had appreciated it while I had it.”

While Kokichi didn’t really know all that much about the gods...his idea of them just being people, ones that stepped on each others’ toes sometimes in their plans and stole dragons ‘n shit, seemed more and more plausible. It seemed a bit strange to him for them to be in charge of what happened to everyone when they died but...well, they probably weren’t all that invested in the specific lives of everyone. Didn’t care about all the people a specific person cared about… In a way, they were just...little batteries. Made him wonder what the purpose of having living, thinking beings was at all. 

The tide got a little rougher before he took a breath, returning it to gentle laps. 

Kokichi frowned a bit, hearing about Mondo’s brother. At least for Atua’s flock...that was kind of the light at the end of the tunnel, unless “paradise” really was just you accepting giving your energy back to the universe. But...it did seem a little too sad, going through all that personal growth and...not getting to see all the people you left behind, or had left before you. 

But that didn’t cover all the people you might’ve loved who were claimed by other gods, or...none, in Mondo’s case. In all the universe...never getting to be together again, at least not in the forms you were. Maybe your energy would come together again, but...it wasn’t really “you” by then. 

“...it’s a lot easier, in some ways, to not know all this…” Kokichi murmured, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his chin on them, though he didn’t shift his lean off of Mondo. “There’s the terror of the unknown that sucks...but you can also just...live. Not have to reconcile how huge the universe is, how long eternity is…”

Kokichi snorted. “...I don’t know if you guys ever heard about it, but my dad spreads like...maxims, all over the country. ‘The universe doesn’t care, so we have to.’ I kinda hate that he’s right, though not in the same way he probably thinks. It...it encourages making the most of the time we have, without showing you the existential terror of the universe.”

“...I hope you can find your brother again one day.”

Mondo shook his head, smirking at Kokichi a little as he said, “We only visited your castle for, like… a week? And we weren’t exactly on speaking terms with anyone on our way in or out. So, nah, missed out on Dicean catch phrases. Got into a pissing match with one of your stable hands one night, almost became a whole fucking fist-fight, I’ll tell you that.” 

Mondo smirked a little, idly fixing his collar as he said, “Taka defused it, goody-fucking two shoes that he is, but I almost knocked that asshole’s lights out. Fucking trying to explain to me why bowing was a sign we were all submissive little brainwashed shits or something like that… we had all had a few shots in us by that point, everyone thinks they’re a fucking philosopher or some bullshit when they’re drunk, but this piece of shit didn’t know how to stay in his fucking lane…”

“Raised some pretty strong horses. I’ll give him that,” Mondo admitted, a small smile on his face at that. “My bro was a horse guy. Always talked about how someday he’d leave the city and go fucking raise horses and shit… kinda a pipe dream, but he could make you believe it for a night… fuck.” Mondo sighed, “I hope I find that asshole someday again too.”

Mondo glanced at Kokichi and said, “Look, I don’t know if any of that helped. But, if you want someone to rant to who fucking gets it? How fucking bullshit and scary and unfair it all is. I’m around. Fucking get me?”

Kokichi had been more than happy to get rid of the secretaries but...even aside from what happened to the party which was just...horrific on such a level Kokichi barely wanted to think about it...he wished the rest of the party had been able to stay a little longer. The points of culture shock would’ve been pretty brutal but...maybe with over a hundred people experiencing it, it could’ve been easier for people to reconcile. 

Or maybe there would’ve been enough fights to send the guardforce into overdrive. Facepalming, Kokichi sighed, snorting a little into his hand. “Adrian, noo… Considering how monumentally different what our cultures consider polite...Taka must’ve done a hell of a job managing to keep that from a fight.”

The smile from that laugh, managed to stay on Kokichi’s face this time as Mondo talked about horses and his brother and...he did feel a little better. More than just the calmness of being asleep did for him. 

“I get you,” Kokichi nodded, giving Mondo’s arm a little nudge again. “And...I think it did help. Amazing what just...being mad at the universe and frustrated in our powerlessness and warm in our memories will do… And if you wanna talk too...it goes both ways, okay?”

“I did talk, runt. That’s why I’m here.” Mondo scoffed, though he reached over at ruffled Kokichi’s hair, making it stand up at all ends before sighing, “Alright, I should get back to the others then. Always told myself I wasn’t gonna end up one of those suckers in a codependent relationship, now fucking look at me. It’s been twenty minutes and I miss those losers. Unmanly.”

“Talk to you later, Kokichi… or, like, fuck, in a second, you fucking know, don’t make me try to reason it out. Fucking craziness.” Mondo said, standing up, and giving Kokichi one last nod, he was gone.

Alter Ego opened their eyes in the sand, and gave out a low, whining “Mr-aaaaaaow.” as they stared miserably at their poor toesies among the shell. Dammit, Mondo.

Kokichi snorted another soft laugh, enjoying the hair tousle. Feeling...better. Maybe there really was something to the commiserating he’d seen Maki and Shuuichi do time and again. Maybe it took something he was just...absolutely powerless against to see it. 

See? Different perspectives really did help. 

Giving Mondo a nod back, Kokichi gave Alter Ego a soft look before a beach towel appeared under them, a late summer sun blanketing the beach and turning it golden while a gentle breeze kept the sting of the heat abated to just a cozy warmth. “You okay?”

“Thank you.” Alter Ego sighed, kneading the towel a bit, getting one claw stuck for a moment, before relaxing against it. “I’m fine. We weren’t really gone. Privacy for me is more a fabrication at the best of times. A willing lie we tell each other… it can be necessary. We’re not always in harmony. We fight and get petty and need space sometimes, but… we’re never really gone.”

Alter Ego glanced over at Kokichi, and said, “All that to explain that I’m not going to ask ‘how it went’. I know. I can tell you Mondo felt better after all that. It’s nice to get things off your chest, sometimes.”

The cat rolled onto their back, soaking up the sun beaming down, as they said somewhat happily, “This place is nice enough. Even with the sand. Is this the beach you visited in the real world? Or something you invented?”

Kokichi nodded, not totally understanding but...he could imagine that, as a shared consciousness, it would be difficult to the point of not being worth compartmentalizing ways to be separate from the others. But...if they found peace in being willing to look the other way, then Kokichi was happy for that. Sometimes he didn’t even want to face his own thoughts, and he was just one person. 

But to be one of five and to be able to feel better talking with someone else...Kokichi was happy for that too. 

He looked around the beach a little, sitting back on the towel. “It’s mostly like the real one...never saw it this empty though. And there were houses all down the coast behind us...it was separated a little, but every now and then you could hear something happening in town. It was really...lively. Full of life.”

The one they sat on didn’t exactly feel lonely, but there was something...otherworldly about it. How the image wasn’t quite complete at the edges. The ocean stretched on for miles in front of them, but...you wouldn’t actually be able to go that far.

“Because of the nature of my existence,” Alter Ego said after a moment, a sort of lingering sense to each word, clearly thinking aloud, not certain what he was going to say any more than Kokichi did, Alter Ego continued, “I don’t really consider the places my shards have been as places that I have been. Their world and mine are… separate. I can never really live in the place you and Hiro go to. That realm is outside my grasp.”

“So, with that said… while Mondo and Hiro have both been to a beach before? For me,” Alter Ego rolled back over, looking around, “This is my first time at a beach. None of the consciousness’s I’ve visited has put me in a circumstance where I could sit in one before. It’s…” Alter Ego closed their eyes. Listening to the waves against the shore. Birds that weren’t there, but were so clearly part of the memory. The crunch of feet against sand as wind whistled through trees, “...louder. Than I expected.”

Opening their eyes, they looked to Kokichi and said, “Thank you for sharing it with me.”

Letting the fur rustle with the wind for a bit, Alter Ego said, “I haven't decided what the next thing I want to focus on teaching you will be. I thought perhaps I’d ask you to see what sort of thing you might want to learn next. Also, I wondered if you’d want to check on the defenses we left in your husbands head. I am not currently tethered to him, so… I do not know how effectively they’re working right now… I can tether myself to him, if you want, by the way. Keep an eye on him. I just felt weird about doing it on my own. Seemed like the sort of thing I should perhaps ask permission for.”

It had been...difficult that Alter Ego was not actually a cat roaming around somewhere in the waking world. Or that, the version of them in the waking world was actually Hiro, but he wasn’t exactly Alter Ego. But...well, there were a lot of peculiarities about Alter Ego’s existence, and being a being that only existed in the realm of consciousness was one of them. So...seeing places in a mindscape kind of...was reality for them. 

“...isn’t it?” Kokichi said, hushed, listening to his memory of the coast. Smelling the salt and fishy smell of the sea, the fruits that only grew at the coast, a local delicacy sold in town...just the different taste of the air than it was in the city. “I was so surprised… Every new place I go, the sounds are what really get me. I was so used to the sound of the city...people always coming and going, even in the middle of the night. When we were on our way to the coast and stopped to sleep in the middle of the country...I think that was the first time I’d ever really heard true silence.”

Kokichi let out a breath, smiling down at Alter Ego. “It’s my pleasure. Temp said that one of his favorite things about being an empath was getting to share memories with people...and I think that might be mine too.”

Maybe next time, Kokichi could take them to the mountain path going up to the waterfall. He thought Alter Ego might enjoy that.

His expression softening, Kokichi stretched out on the towel, scooting off it just enough to half-bury his feet in the sand. “...I appreciate you not tethering to him. I...think he’s had enough of that for a lifetime. I worry about him a lot, but...I’d rather he just choose to talk to me himself. I don’t want to be the kind of person who’s taking more choices from him…”

“...and while it’d probably still be a good idea to make sure the defences are working…” Kokichi sighed, a little bit of his earlier mood tugging his lips down. “...if we go and I see how upset Kai-chan is...I’m gonna wanna do something about it. And that wouldn’t be fair. He’s allowed to hurt about this, and me trying to explain my view...it’s not fair. I want him to have his own thoughts and perspectives...not just agreeing with mine. Especially if I’m messing with his head to do it.”

Alter Ego sniffed the air. Taka believed there would probably be a certain smell to their fur cooking in the sun a bit, and he believed it hard enough that Alter Ego could smell it. Warm fur. It was kinda nice. He really liked the breeze… he kinda wanted to eat a fish.

Listening to Kokichi, though, Alter Ego looked puzzled, “You’ve mentioned that in passing before, but… does he not make choices? Prince Kaito was generally agreeable, but I don’t recall him being… meek or obedient or anything like that. Well, not that I ever met him. But the version the others met even in passing really doesn’t equal that.”

“We… they…” Alter Ego tried to find the right words, before saying, “Taka and Mondo watched him spar a few times. Mondo wanted to spar him, but Taka talked him out of it. But Mondo did get to spar the assassin. Training spar, nothing personal. She…”

Alter Ego blinked, before saying sheepishly, “I apparently don’t want to talk about it. I think Mondo’s embarrassed. Apparently it was a lot of trash-talking on his end that led to a very short spar on hers.”

“But him? The prince was a brutal fighter, when he was taking it seriously. The type of sper-er that was worth watching. You could cut him up, knock him off his feet, he’d be right back up in a second, ready to keep going. It’s hard to imagine the person you talk about and equal it to the man we traveled with.”

...it was difficult. But Kokichi supposed that most people were filled with contradiction. It was just...Kaito’s utter despair in the memorial garden that stuck in his mind, prompting Kokichi to refuse to contribute to it any longer. 

But he did laugh a little, giving Alter Ego a pet down their side. “That does sound like Maki-chan… She’s like a force of nature in her own right, and she hates being underestimated...even if that’s something she relied on in Luminary. I only saw her and Kai-chan spar once, and I tried not to look that much...but she moves like she’s flying. It’s incredible.”

“...and if we were just talking about...direct, physical fights? I don’t think there would be much that could stop Kai-chan.” Kokichi sighed, his admiration of Maki fading back into the guilt and anger that came along with the battles Kaito wasn’t so good at winning on his own. “And to be fair to your own observational skills...Kai-chan’s a very good actor.”

“...when it came to...anything regarding Tengan or his brother or his parents...anything political. Or people playing mind games… Or...what happened with Togami and all his friends? For fights were you don’t battle by raising a sword, or against people you can’t stand up against…” Kokichi sighed again, feeling okay with saying that much, but not much more. Even when it came to empaths, there were things his husband was entitled to keep between them. “...I just don’t want to make decisions for him. I really value what my husband thinks, and how he chooses to act...I don’t want to impede it in mind or in body. If I disagree, I just...want to talk it out normally.”

“I’d hate to even think I’d put him in that position but...I never want to see my husband looking around at so much pain and knowing that he was never even given a choice to do anything about it. We’re all already helpless to a lot...I don’t want to add onto it.”

Alter Ego nodded, “...well, I guess everyone comes with baggage. It sounds like a lot, though. I’m not sure what my dating options are, if there are any other anthropomorphic animals sharing the collective consciousness of a bunch of people roaming around mindscapes, but I’ll admit. If I find them? I hope it’s not as complicated as your relationship. A perpetually sick 20 year old with an emotionally stunted 23 year old, having a kid… wow.”

Alter Ego was, in their defense, trying to make a joke. 

“In comparison? Being a mostly dead mini-hivemind is almost relaxing.”

“And a traumatized 23-year-old too. Can’t forget about him,” Kokichi nodded. “And Kai-chan already has a son, whose mom is out trying to end slavery in the country everyone but me is from.”

He flopped back on the towel. “Can’t even say at least I can enjoy beaches, ‘cause I’m sharing them with you too.”

Kokichi was quiet for a moment before opening an eye, looking over at Alter Ego. “...if we don’t get caught...I think we can check on his defences. Like...scratch me or something if I try and talk with his self-image. No matter how he’s doing...we’re just checking that the defences are holding up.”

“How dare you make fun of my incorporeal existence. When you’re sleep deprived from your one month old crying all night, I’m coming over to laugh at your brief moments of sleep.” Alter Ego teased back, looking far too playful to really have any bite to the threat. 

{But, no, seriously. Holy shit, Kokichi. Your life is insane.}

{I’m here for you. But damn.}

Getting onto their feet, Alter Ego started licking their paw, rubbing it against their face to get the sand off, as they said, “Certainly. It shouldn’t take too long. Honestly, the defense you put in will probably make it a fairly short trip. It was… extremely comprehensive. We’ll have to see how it’s maintained itself with you gone, but it looked an awful lot to me like it had comprehensive problem solving skills. As in… she looked like she could think… it’s amazing how powerful you are, really. I’ve never had to do anything like that myself before, and I think it’d be impossible for me to do it by accident.”

Looking to Kokichi, he said, “Do the honors?”

Kokichi made a strange noise, a cross between a laugh and a groan. He might have to have...at the very least, shorter lessons once Baby was born. If he was only going to get an hour or two of sleep anyway, he really couldn’t afford to spend it not sleeping. But...it would be nice, getting to show Alter Ego the memories of his new daughter. It wasn’t really the same thing at all, but cats tended to be very good with newborns, from everything he’d read. 

Scratching his cheek sheepishly, Kokichi gave Alter Ego a half shrug. “I mean...I was hoping for something. She just...was a bit larger than life than I was expecting. I still say it’s because of the rules of Kai-chan’s mind.”

Taking a breath, Kokichi closed his eyes and reached out for that familiar feeling of his husband, a bit easier to do this time since he’d been there before. Grasping onto it, Kokichi got up from the beach towel and stepped through the portal, expecting he’d need to hide around the corner of a building in the lobby Luminary again.

When Kokichi had visited Kaito last time, Kaito had been studying a history book. And, in his lobby, his surface thoughts had been in the place Kaito had associated the most with casual self-studying. Waiting for his friends before heading to school by the alley on Lotts Street. 

That wasn’t where Kokichi and Alter Ego landed this time. 

Kaito was in the castle temple. It was an extremely detailed memory, Kaito having spent a considerable amount of his childhood in that temple. The building was somewhat oval in nature, and at the center of the circle at the top of the building, was a beautiful golden glass mosaic, that, while the sun beamed down, filled the temple with a warm, golden light. That light competed with the light coming in from each angle of the octagon building, large, long, colorful mosaics of the saints-- well, certain popular, state approved ones-- creating a lovely little streams of vibrant colors that splayed across the dark wooden floors. 

The seating was strange. Around the podium, which stood beneath the biggest and most grandly designed of the mosaics, though not of any human form, but a series of symbols, the bottom floor was covered in neat, small little pillows. Were the masses would kneel or sit on to hear the sermons. 

Above, there were podiums, like you would see in a large theater, where actual seats were arranges, benches, plush and comfortable, that one could sit at and watch the sermons from the balconies. This was where certain elite worshipers could enjoy and give praise. On the opposite side of the podium, in the largest space, unable to be gotten to within the temple itself, connected to a hallway that only members of the royal family were ever allowed to walk through, were several grand chairs on a massive lifted stadium, surrounded by stairs, by which the royal family and any guests they invite can watch over the entirety of the temple, seeing everything.

Only Kaito ever went up there, during non-official occasions, and he only went there when he was really upset and didn’t want the priestess’s to see what he was doing or try to calm him down. 

There was a prayer room, behind the stairs, that once upon a time you could only get into with a key by the king-- or ruling queen-- themselves, that was filled with long couches and massive pillows and candles and whichever visages of the saints that the current ruling leader preferred to pray too specifically, often in scandalous poses. 

Once upon a time it had been a place to spend time with the royal concubines, but the practice had gone out of favor with King Leon’s grandfather, and King Leon preferred to have his mistress’s in secret, preferably with Sayaka pretending not to know,thankyouverymuch. So a young Kaito had made the ‘prayer’ room his own. To do what he wanted to do in there.

A fully grown Kaito was outside the locked door, polishing a rock and mumbling to himself. Inside, a nine year old version of him was destroying the place.

Screaming at the top of his lungs. Ripping the pillows apart. Throwing the items inside and hitting the walls. Every now and again the screaming child's tantrum would end up hitting the door itself, and Kaito would wince, looking back at it nervously to make certain it was still closed, before going back to trying to talk out his anger to the air. Praying.

Alter Ego and Kokichi landed in the center of the temple. And, before Alter Ego could so much as move, vines shot out and entangled themselves around their body, between their feet, locking them into place. The cat screeched in outrage, but then went very still. 

There was, in the darkness of the entrance of the temple, the sounds of dogs coming. Growling and snarling.

Nothing at all happened to Kokichi. 

There were a lot of things going through Kokichi’s mind all at once. The awe of the temple he was in, marveling at the windows and the attention to how light would fill the temple, the wonder at how all the seating worked. The simultaneous relief and worry as Alter Ego was ensnared in vines...and the same feeling when none wrapped around his own limbs. 

If the defences didn’t affect them because they were the ones who placed them...well, it was convenient in the moment, but...Kokichi wasn’t sure how well people would be able to mimic their presences. A gap they’d need to consider. If the defences did work, then...it was a little alarming, but that was good! It meant no one could come in and mess with Kaito’s head, and that’s all they were checking. 

The mix of both possibilities was...concerning. 

Looking over where he could hear Temp’s dogs, Kokichi crouched by Alter Ego’s side, not sure where to begin in untangling them from the vines, let alone if he should. “...why isn’t anything happening to me? I don’t want you to get hurt here, but...it’s bad that I’m not being repelled, right?”

Alter Ego was scratching and gnawing at the vines, super not wanting to still be tied down when the dogs got there, so they weren’t super capable of communicating at the moment, but they sent out a few bursts as they tried to wrestle with the defense they themselves had put, dammit. Stoooooop!

{Kaito’s mind is in a heightened emotional state, which is making his defenses more trigger happy. Usually defenses only activate if the consciousness expects danger, which I haven't presented, but the consciousness likely is having trouble viewing anything as safe in the moment of emotional turmoil.}

{Kaito’s consciousness likely recognizes you and, as far as I can guess, either doesn’t consider you a danger, thinks you belong here, or is more willing to give you a chance to prove not dangerous. We’d have to test if you actually proving to be dangerous would start his defenses or not.}

And then, Alter Ego sent, as a possible explanation for Kaito’s mind willing to just blankly accept Kokichi’s presence, he merely sent the feeling they felt when {Kokichi presents a key to his mind to the cat, hanging the key around his neck, “You can come in.”} as a possible theory.

At the entrance, the dogs suddenly burst out of the shadows of the hall, three deathhound skidding across the wooden floor, knocking pillows aside as they stopped in front of Kokichi and Alter Ego. Their teeth barred, growling heavily and slobbering as they stared at them with red, beady eyes, the dogs slowly approached, as Alter Ego said, “Tell them I’m safe!”

Hm...so, normally...people would still be able to come into Kaito’s mind, but...the second they started doing anything that would be a “danger” to Kaito, however his husband classified that...then the defences would activate? Not...super inspiring to ease Kokichi’s concerns, but...well. It would at least give Kaito a better chance. 

Considering Kaito obviously thought about Kokichi, that could explain why his mind might think he was just...part of Kaito’s thoughts. And that wasn’t really something they could guard against, unless he wanted to rip his husband’s damn mind apart. Which, yanno, he didn’t. 

...and maybe it was selfish, but Kokichi liked that possibility more than...Kaito accepting that Kokichi could do whatever he wanted with his mind. Tengan was gone, but...whatever he’d done in the past was still there. By now...more of a learned habit than anything else…

Kokichi’s shoulders dropped, but he refocused in quickly, putting himself between Alter Ego and the dogs. And, gently, not moving too quickly, he reached out a hand for the dogs to sniff. “Hey, hey, buddies, it’s okay… They’re a friend. Alter Ego is safe, we’re not here to do anything. It’s okay…”

The dogs growled at Kokichi a bit, not exactly thrilled to not get to have their hunt… but the growling lessoned, until finally the biggest dog just huffed, settling down and sitting, the other two following its lead. Looking up at Kokichi curiously. Good bois.

After a moment, the vines slid off of Alter Ego, the cat sighing in relief, before licking at his fur, annoyed that it had messed up his fur. Honestly… vines. What had he been thinking. Mind, the dogs and vine combo was pretty effective… though where was-

“Either of you going to explain what you’re doing here?”

Saint Madison was standing at the podium, leaning against it, staring at the two of them with an expression that could best be described as ‘unimpressed’, and at worst, ‘full of disdain’.

Madison was a beautiful woman. She was tall, with lean muscles, round hips and a round chest not taking away from how clearly fit she was. She had dark red hair that curled inwards at the ends, and vibrant, furious green eyes, with a cluster of freckles on her nose that, in theory, should have made her adorable.

She looked like she was just barely holding back from killing both of them. And, while her appearance was clearly based on stories and mosaics that Kaito had heard and seen of her, sensuality oozing off her no matter what she did… her mannerisms? Her gaze? The way she stood?

She may as well have been Maki in a very effective costume.

Her mouth curled into a scowl, and she idly placed a hand on the hilt of her sword. “I’d suggest picking your words both quickly and carefully. This is my place.”

Kokichi let out a little breath, letting his hand drop when it was clear the dogs didn’t have any interest in him. Guard dogs through and through. Kokichi wondered if they were based on dogs Temp knew at some point, or a complete fabrication; maybe he’d ask next time they talked. 

It was good to know that the defences were...well, working at all, but what about--

Kokichi perked, looking over with wide eyes like he was a kid caught with a hand in the cookie jar, though Kokichi had never gotten far enough into the kitchen to get near the pastry holds. But in a way...that fear of being caught...was really, really relieving. 

He couldn’t help laughing softly, bowing his head to the saint--she was Luminary, after all, though he wasn’t sure how manners had formed and persisted over time. “This may be an odd thing to say, but it’s wonderful to see you, Saint Madison. This is your place, and that brings me a lot of relief.”

...maybe he wasn’t speaking as quickly as she would’ve preferred, but he’d never been good at that with Maki either. 

Looking back up, he tried to explain. “We have no ill intent. We wanted to make sure this place was still guarded from any who would try and hurt Kaito, and...well, for the most part, that seems to be working.” Kokichi looked to the dogs sitting by, the vines in the ground...then back to Saint Madison’s vicious gaze. “I was...worried that I seemed to be able to come here freely, but with you coming to question us…”

He smiled sunnily, thankfully up at the saint. “It really sets my mind at ease.”

Saint Madison frowned, before glancing at the dogs, waving her hand dismissively at them as she said, “Emotion based defenses. Basically mindless. Pretty much worthless, except for backup. The vines are even more impulsive. No nuance at all.”

“...rude.” Alter Ego muttered. 

Saint Madison scowled again, going around the podium, raising an eyebrow as she said, “They won’t do anything unless the big red asshole upstairs feels threatened. I know better though. Even harmless feeling things can be dangerous. And this mind is not a playground.” Madison grit her teeth, looking incredibly frustrated, “And he doesn’t know you’re here. So. If you’re planning to stay, you either plead your case to me, present yourself to him, or be ready to die.”

“You made… an incredibly aggressive defense.” Alter Ego observed, tail flicking slightly, “She might be reflecting some of the feelings you had when you made her. And I think we can cross ‘comprehensive problem solving ability’ off the list. She’s definitely capable of thinking, as much as any well made memory can… it really is incredible.”

“Flattery will not save you.” Madison warned him darkly.

Kokichi couldn’t help but smile, feeling a spark of fondness. Sometimes Maki’s dismissal of established security was a little excessive or paranoid...but no one could ever say they felt unsafe in her care. And...he had had concerns about the other defences. Hearing that they would help when it came to backup was good, and...well, as long as Saint Madison was there, that’s all they would need to be. Even if he couldn’t help Temp and Bathul, and they disappeared...Saint Madison, a defence Kokichi had managed to make entirely with his own power, would stay. Able and ready to protect Kaito’s mind. 

The relief around Kokichi was almost palpable.

Nodding, Kokichi figured he should feel more threatened, but, well, there they were. “Alright...so you’re going to defend this place even when he’s not on alarm, and even things he’d be willing to slip by, like me. That means that he’s safe even when he’s comfortable, and it means that impostors aren’t an issue. We’ll leave,” Kokichi promised, “but may I ask a question? What sort of reason would you allow someone to stay? I trust your judgement in finding the danger but...no one is infallible. If there’s any gap, I want to make sure you and Kai-chan are well equipped.”

Madison leaned on her hip, looking down at Kokichi, her expression more… contemplative now. As she stepped down from the stage, the sheer size of her became more apparent. She was unnaturally tall. Maybe edging somewhere close to eight feet. Her size likely more of a metaphor, than anything reflecting how her apparent real-life counterpart had been. 

“Mentally? I’m a mixture of memories from both you and him.” Madison explained, gesturing up to the royal balcony, where the screaming was starting to calm down, either the kid wearing himself out, or Kaito managing to find some way to soothe himself. “So, if you want a long story short: if it could trick you two together, it could trick me. I’m only as smart as you both are. Woe is me.”

“But, since you asked for a specific scenario?” Madison ran a hand down the side of her hair, like Maki had used to do for her pigtails, as she considered it, “That one, the cat, told you once that Empaths will sometimes go into a broken mind to try to fix it. To help with things like conditioning or trauma. You believed him. Because you believe him, if someone came in, and convinced me that was what they were there to do? I’d feel compelled to allow them to try until it became obvious I was tricked.”

Scoffing she looked around, before saying, “And I’d feel compelled to let them try, because you both know this place is a mess. Suppressed memories, broken and shoddily put back together conditioning, not to mention the bits that for some reason won’t merge together. So long as I believe this place needs fixing? I’d consider anyone who came in and claimed that was what they were here to do. Regardless of if the big guy knows about it or not, since he doesn’t have the same concept of Empaths as you do.”

Nodding confidently, she said, “Based on my combined memories of you both? That’s the correct path forward.”

Honestly, Kokichi had been expecting the creation of Saint Madison to just kind of...be her own thing. Not be aware that Kokichi had been the one to create her in a plea of power and faith. Somehow, it was just...comfortingly familiar for her to acknowledge it, and yet still be her own thing. 

If there was anyone to base a protector off of, Maki really was one of the best choices out there. 

Kokichi tapped on his lips as he took in the scenario Saint Madison posed, his lips thinning a bit. “...if there was someone who could help with his conditioning...a blanket no would be turning down help for just...stubborn selfishness. If there’s someone who can do that, that’s keeping below the notice of the Flora...I don’t want to be the reason Kai-chan can’t be helped...nnnnnmmm…”

Kokichi looked down at his mentor, silently asking if they had an idea of how to make sure this loophole didn’t backfire.

Alter Ego considered the sophistication of the defense Kokichi had made… but as good as memories were. As much as they could feel like perfect replicas of the real thing, they still weren’t quite people. So… “It might be true that if it could fool you, Kokichi, it could fool her. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the opposite. A simple way of doing this might be… to simply have Saint Madison here alert you if anyone comes here trying to do that. Then, in theory, you could give her permission to leave them be. Though… she’s not an empath. Because Kaito’s not one…”

“You could tether yourself specifically to her, and not Kaito himself. One way communication, specifically to be used for when she needs confirmation that someone can be allowed in.” Alter Ego offered, glancing back at Kokichi as he said, “I know there’s still issues of consent there… but this is a difficult thing to get Kaito’s consent for in any meaningful way. Getting your consent, as someone looking out for his best interest, is arguably the next best thing.”

Tethering just to Saint Madison… And...she wasn’t a person. A defence, albeit an advanced one, just made with the intent to protect. No...bleed over from Kaito’s emotions, no being alerted of things that he’d rather only know about if Kaito told him himself…

There was still the issue if Saint Madison tried to alert him while Kokichi was awake, but...it was better than no alert at all, if someone was trying to help Kaito. And...if they were sincere in their desire to help...they would come back once they could all talk about it. And maybe...he’d be able to learn how to help others with their conditioning too. And set some boundaries with them so they didn’t end up seeing more of Kaito’s psyche than they needed. 

...it...sounded like a pretty solid plan, actually. 

Kokichi looked back up at the giant warrior. Knowing there was a chance that she’d say yes just because he thought it was a good idea. But if she was part of Kaito too...asking her for permission might be as close as they could get to asking Kaito directly. “Would you be alright with that? Being connected to me, and not letting anyone in, even with good intentions, until we can vet them together?”

Saint Madison considered the question. It was actually, surprisingly enough, Kokichi’s side of her mind that only made her not say yes immediately. Kokichi, who knew the manipulation and abuse someone with his abilities, his position of power, could accidently inflict on a person, even with the absolute best intentions. There was a reason Madison had looked disgusted to see Kokichi there.

Kokichi, at the time of making her, didn’t feel like he had a right to Kaito’s mind. And Madison’s defense reflected that.

But.

… Kaito trusted Kokichi. He trusted his judgement. Partly for conditioning reasons, sure. But now there was six months worth of memories that, ultimately, when put together, made Kaito want to trust Kokichi. And that was a side of Madison as well.

So… between Kokichi’s distrust of himself, and Kaito’s trust in him…

“Agreed.” She said, before adding in, “But you better treat this seriously. We don’t allow people just because they seem nice. This is your husbands whole fucking psyche… and too many people have treated messing with it too lightly.”

She scowled at him. “Don’t become one of them. I don’t have to trust in you.”

Kokichi, again, let out a little sigh of relief. Kaito had never talked to him about his ideas that Kokichi might be a masochist, but feeling so comforted by the abject distrust he was being shown might’ve given his husband more reason to believe that if he had any idea what was happening. 

“I know,” Kokichi said honestly, not quite aware he was the reason she didn’t trust him. “And that’s why I can leave his defence in your hands. Because no one has a free pass to come in here. The only way anyone comes in is if they can prove they’re here to help undo his conditioning, and nothing else. I want Kai-chan to be able to have full control and reign over his mind, not to give it over to anyone who wants a peek.”

He’d seen tethers before, the ribbons...but using that metaphor again seemed...in bad taste. Concentrating for a moment...a small, silver bell appeared in Kokichi’s hands, which he offered to Saint Madison, a charm bracelet with a bell charm appearing around his wrist once she took it. “If you ring this, I’ll come as soon as I can. It...might be an issue if I’m awake, but…” He offered a proud smile up at her. “I know you can handle things here, even if I don’t show up right away.”

Madison considered the bell, before clenching her fist, it disappeared. Around her belt, a new packet appeared, likely it’s new home. 

Looking down at Kokichi… she just smirked in return.

“Of course.” She said, placing her hand idly on the hilt of her stolen sword. All of Maki’s confidence in the expression, entirely self assured. “It’s what you made me to do.”

-

Seiko’s clearance--while she had cleared it--wasn’t...it hadn’t been the most confidence boosting thing. She had been surprised at first, curious. A bit more well-rested than Kokichi had seen her in a long time (apparently her visit with her parents for Unity, while brief, went very well and consisted of a lot of rest). But when Kokichi handed over the sheet Cedar had made for his first week of treatment, that curious gleam had died, and Seiko just sighed, affirming that none of it would hurt him. 

“But I wouldn’t get your hopes up…” she’d muttered. “Admittedly, I-I don’t know what other countries off-continent are d-doing, but...here, these are massage techniques.”

But that’s pretty much what Cedar had mentioned anyway so...maybe they were massage techniques that, when paired with others and kept up for a certain amount of time, would result in better health! Massage could do that, if only in reducing stress and helping health that way, that he knew of. 

Still, while he wasn’t worried about his safety...Kokichi still fidgeted in the comfortable chair he was in, his bare feet propped up on an ottoman. Reflexology, she’d called it. Affecting the whole body through pressure points on the feet. 

“Hey, chin up,” Cedar smiled at her patient. “It’s your first time, so if anything’s too intense for you, I’ll back off. Your feet are so soft, too! Don’t think I’ll use any tools this time either--just think of this as us both feeling out where your problem spots and limits are, okay?”

Kokichi just nodded, murmuring something like an okay. He’d gotten foot massages from Kaito before...it’d be fine…

-

Kaito stared at the bottom of Kokichi’s feet, still a little… confused by Kokichi’s quick initial explanation of how treatment had gone. His ‘Kichi’s feet looked fine. Same as they ever did… reaching out, he started gently pressing this thumb across the skin and into the muscles, as he said, “So, wait… pressure points… go up the body and...”

Kaito looked up at Kokichi, a little sheepish, as he said, “I didn’t understand the first time. Explain it again?”

On the bed, Shuuichi watched Kaito and Kokichi hanging out the window seat, looking up from his book. Honestly, he hadn’t been able to concentrate on what he was reading much since Kokichi had gotten back. Just sort of listening in and frowning to himself.

Kokichi scooted his feet away from Kaito’s hands a little, still a little sore from the treatment. Though, he bent one into his lap to show off the areas he was talking about. “So...it’s like a two-way thing, I guess. If you have issues, it’ll make those corresponding parts of your feet sensitive and sore, and if you, like, do a deep massage on those parts, though...she said even if you focus on one area for a bit, you’re supposed to hit all the pressure points in a session? But you massage those points and it...gets rid of “waste matter”, and then the rest of your body is helped out. You still have to do other things to completely solve the problem, but...I mean, she said that this was a good contribution to it.”

Shrugging, not totally understanding it himself, Kokichi traced his fingers over his toes. “Apparently, these all have to do with stuff in your head, and it kinda goes down from there...except there’s a “sleep point” in your heels? And it’s not just the bottom of your feet, but the sides and up your calves too… And each leg is the same, except your heart point is on the left side, and your liver is in the same spot on your right.”

Kokichi traced the lower part of the ball of his left foot, then a space right below it. “This is where the lungs and heart are, so she focused there a lot…” He frowned a bit, almost pouting. “Cedar said she was only going at a, like, three out of ten pressure, but it still hurt...and there was this weird sound, like my bones were moving around, but she said it was just waste matter in the muscle fibers… Apparently the same stuff is in nearly every muscle, with scar tissue too, and there’s super intense methods to get rid of that...but only later, ‘cause apparently that’s the bruising stuff she talked about.”

“...some of it is kind of comfortable,” he admitted, “But it’s still kind of...weird. I don’t wanna judge it when I’ve only had one session and it takes a while, but...still.”

Kaito popped his joints a little, listening attentively. He frowned a bit at the ‘hurts’ comment, but… well, his massages didn’t feel too good at certain points too, but that was necessary to undo the knots! Sure… undoing tension spots wasn’t exactly the same as… fixing broken organs… um…

The problem was, Kaito felt like that kinda sounded like bullshit, but… he had thought Miss Crystals stuff was bullshit too. And now polishing the damn rock (Cursing at the stupidity of the rock had almost become just a comfort habit, by this point) really did help out his anger issues! Made him pause and stop and reflect and, most importantly, made him do this while his hands were busy, keeping him from wanting to pull his fingers out of his damn joints, or worse than that, punching a wall. 

(And, ideally, that habit of not punching the walls or his own hands might train him to not ever actually follow through on like… punching a person. Next time he was enraged. Keep your hands busy. Polish the damn rock. If the rock isn’t available, think about polishing the rock. Make it a habit. Angry? Polish. Not hit.)

...that still wasn’t… broken organs level of medicine. But! It was a clear sign that not every medicine that sounded kinda stupid was so! Kaito had no right to judge! Not when kinda bullshit sounding things were helping him out too! 

So, Kaito grinned, and taking one of Kokichi’s feet again, he brought it up and leaned down and kissed at the bony little ankle part and said, “Well, it sounds like you did great, Kokichi. You were patient and resilient! Fuck yeah, I’m proud of you!”

Shuuichi frowned at all of this. Asking, “Seiko said this would help too? She okay’d it?”

It was easier to keep going through it when Nazumi was sitting right next to him, chatting with him and Cedar when they didn’t have to concentrate. His aunt had known him since he was a little kid, but it was still embarrassing enough that he tried not to be a baby about the sore spots. 

Still, Kokichi smiled a bit at the praise before he looked over to Shuuichi, mouth pulling to the side as she shrugged. “She...said it wouldn’t hurt me. She said the things, at least for this week, that Cedar wrote up were all considered more to just be massage stuff, but...Seiko did say that she didn’t know what other countries were doing. Turns out it’s a little difficult to share research across oceans…”

...he did want to hope that it was all more than massage. So...he’d stick it out for a while, hopefully see a change...and if not, then he could stop. There was nothing stopping him from dismissing Cedar if he so chose. ...possibly ruining her reputation but...hopefully they could do it in a way that was more of a...parting of ways than a clean dismissal. 

Sighing, Kokichi tucked some loose hair behind his ear, before perking, raising a hand up. “Oh! But, Seiko said that she wanted to see you guys in a check up soon, see if you can stop taking the medicine.”

“Augh, finally!” Kaito shouted, leaning back against the window sill, sighing, “I’m so sick of taking that stuff every night. It makes my head foggy.”

Shuuichi raised an eyebrow at Kaito’s complaining, “Didn’t you just praise Kokichi for being ‘patient’ with his medicine?”

“Yeah.” Kaito whined, “But I’ve been patient too! It’s been like… four, five months since I’ve started taking these? Wait, is that right? When did I have my ‘try to kidnap everyone’ breakdown?”

“I don’t remember. Time is an illusion. Also, it’s hard to keep track of the days when you’re not really working.” Shuuichi observed, before scoffing slightly, “I’m pretty certain I started taking the medicine a few months before you though.”

“So?”

“So shut up.” Shuuichi said simply. 

“Mean.” Kaito pouted, before saying, “I’m still happy though. Get this pollen stuff done. No more pollen in our bodies, no more of its weird, stupid side effects. We should celebrate somehow. Oh! And one day, we’ll get to celebrate Kokichi’s stuff being done too! Kokichi, when your heart stuff is fixed, we should celebrate with a trip!” Kaito decided, looking excitedly at his husband, grinning wide, “We still have that book Maki put together for us! The different places to visit? We could do that!”

Shuuichi frowned, before saying gently, “We could take a trip regardless. We shouldn’t put traveling on the backburner waiting for Kokichi’s heart stuff to stop. It might be awhile.”

It might be forever. But Shuuichi didn’t want to be the person in the group… openly doubting all of this. It felt too grim.

Kokichi snorted a bit, finally putting his socks back on, the massage oil Cedar had used finally dry enough on his skin to not feel gross and weird with socks on. “Oh nooo, having to take medicine every day for five months! What a horrible thing to do!”

He knew how it was different, but...seeing the light at the end of the horrible pollen tunnel...it was fun to poke fun a little. Kokichi leaned over, nuzzling at Kaito’s arm to show that he was just teasing, even if his tone had done a pretty good job of that already. 

Offering Shuuichi a thankful smile, Kokichi nodded. “I’ve been able to travel with my heart stuff already--I don’t wanna have to wait for months and months to go on any trips while I’m going through treatments. Maybe we shouldn’t plan anything that’ll, like, take up an entire month...but day trips, like when we went to the hot spring...I wanna do more stuff like that. And it might be nice to get all that exploring done before the baby comes…”

“I know some people are comfortable traveling with a baby, but at least for a little while...I’d feel better if we stayed in the capital with her.” This...wasn’t really something they had talked about. There was that nebulous trip to Luminary someday--maybe--but that wouldn’t be for a few years and...that was a lot of time. Kokichi thought he could be patient about traveling, so he didn’t really mind, and there was no way he wanted Baby to be stuck in the capital for twenty years like him, but...while she was still in that fragile new baby phase...he didn’t want to be far from home. Far from people that could help. 

Furrowing his brow a little, Kokichi looked between his partners. “...is that something you’d be okay with?”

“Traveling for more than a few days for me already sort of sounds miserable, if I’m totally honest.” Shuuichi admitted, already looking a little tired just at the idea. “I’m already dreading walking too and from school soon. I honestly don’t know what I was thinking, signing up for this semester.”

“Oh yeah, that starts the beginning of next week for you, huh handsome?” Kaito realized, looking over to his boyfriend, “It’ll be fine. The walking will be good for you.”

“Have I told you I hate you lately?”

“Not in a few days, no.” Kaito responded patiently, before considering the baby thing… “Are we talking a year old? We can put off travel for a year, yeah, I’d feel uncomfortable taking a newborn anywhere too. My only thing being we definitely want Baby to be at least somewhat used to traveling before we gotta do that long trip to give up her claim. We definitely don’t want her first trip ever to be months long.” Kaito sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Or, however long that trip will be by that point. Byakuya said my last phone call with him that they’re starting work on the new trade roads. He said once all the… current stuff is done, he really wants to focus on updating the roads, make travel distance less of a thing… said it’ll be good for the economy…” 

Kaito sounded super down for talking about more stream-lined travel paths, and Shuuichi guessed, “Did he give you an update about how the things with the civil war are going?”

Kaito winced, before muttering, “It’s not a civil war yet… not technically. Parts of Luminary have to secede before you can call it a civil war…”

He knew his anger was entirely misplaced. He and Miss Crystal were talking about it. But, fuck… the worse things got at home, the more he wanted to punch Hideki. Punch every fucking asshole who was getting any sort of smug satisfaction at watching his home fall apart. It just… frustrated him. How much he knew people were getting a fucking kick out of it, every time news came from Luminary over the border that things were becoming more of a powder keg over there. ‘Ha. Serves those assholes right.’

Miss Crystal said he was projecting his own fears and insecurities and frustration with single individuals he had come across to strawmen figures that he was letting fill up too significant a portion of strangers that he had otherwise no real issues with. Then she had explained to him what a ‘strawman’ was. Then, she had made him make a strawman out of literal straws they were serving at the restaurant, and he was pretty sure she did it just to keep his hands busy again cause he was getting upset. Though, she had laughed a bit too, so maybe she was also just getting a joke in too.

Kaito hadn’t laughed though. 

“...Maybe when she’s closer to two? We could think about traveling with her?” Kaito offered, trying to get his mind off the more frustrating topic of Luminary.

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a sympathetic look, though he had a feeling Shuuichi would find the walk worth it once classes started. Getting back in his element, learning about ethics from a Dicean perspective, and how it related to the law...he had a feeling Shuuichi would get some intellectual enrichment that, while the administrative work helped keep him from complete boredom, wasn’t really doing the trick anymore. Or, so he hoped, anyway. 

And he was still planning on meeting Shuuichi after class when he could, so they could get drinks or just spend a little time together. ...and so he could lend a hand if Shuuichi needed it. 

“Oh, yeah,” Kokichi nodded, agreeing with Kaito. “Honestly, I think we were being a little too pie in the sky when we talked about going to Danganronpa for our honeymoon. If a cross-national trip is too much for a twenty-year-old’s first trip, it’s waaay too much for a three-year-old. I’m on board for doing smaller trips before then.”

There was maybe more to say, but with Kaito trailing off into Luminary planning...and the inevitable place that led to these days… 

Kokichi sighed softly, rubbing little circles on Kaito’s back. Byakuya had likely told Kaito news that they hadn’t heard yet, but...things were...difficult in Luminary. Ramping up one way or another, no matter what side you looked at it from. The actual stronghold the revolutionaries had carved out to plan and act from was holding its own, but there were raids going on in nearby cities, and expanding out from them too, guards searching homes and questioning people to find sympathizers. And...well, Kokichi didn’t have high hopes in thinking that all those people were being given fair trials...or trials at all. Or that the guards were otherwise leaving their homes and belongings alone… He just hoped that constant terror wasn’t turning people to resent the revolutionaries, but...there were a great deal of people, he’d learned, that didn’t care much at all about how their world was built until it inconvenienced them directly. 

Kokichi knew that he wouldn’t be able to personally live knowing that his comfort and way of life was upheld by the suffering and exploitation of others, but...well, the indentured program had been going on for much longer than the distraction of war had happened. 

That’s what Hideki had called it, their last administrative meeting. A distraction, though Aiichi pointed out there was probably more to it than that. It was harder for your people to focus on the problems at home if there was a foreign enemy to rally against. It was something they were going to add as a point in the travel etiquette guides they were making both for people planning to visit Luminary and for seeing Luminous tourists around; that the nationalist hatred was in part deliberately promoted in war propaganda to rally the nation together. And that they did the same thing in Dicea--though more focused on the pride and care for your fellow Dicean, rather than painting Luminaries as an enemy, though that happened anyway--so there was no moral high ground, and the only way to fix it was with a willingness to understand each other. 

It was...a work in progress.

But...yeah. There was plenty going on in Luminary right now to occupy the dark corners of a mind. 

Squishing his cheek against Kaito’s arm, Kokichi nodded, offering a smile. “That sounds good to me. We could start with places just outside the city, then go from there. Slowly get her used to traveling in a carriage, and seeing places that aren’t the city...I really hope she enjoys traveling. It’s a good perspective to have.”

“Yeah,” Kaito said, squinting a little, his brow furrowing, a new idea slowly pulling him from the worries his mind had dipped into. “I bet there’s, like… a whole baby, toddler entertainment sub-community out there that I’ve just never had a reason to look into before… baby music. Baby shows. Baby-”

“Nooo.” Shuuichi groaned, putting his head into his hands.

“-games…” Kaito grinned at Shuuichi, teasing and playful as he said, “Problem, handsome?”

“Just imagining my immediate future of trying not to lose my mind at baby-focused events.” Shuuichi said dryly, rubbing his palms into his temple in open irritation, “That’s absolutely a thing, isn’t it. Going to shows with like… people in big, happy animal costumes… really simple, repetitive songs that Baby’s going to become obsessed with.”

“Hand puppets,” Kaito added sagely, a grim look on his face.

“Hand puppets?”

“Loved hand puppets as a kid. One of my nannies introduced me to it, the poor woman. Had no idea what she had unleashed. I must have begged for new hand puppet shows every freaking night, and, like, randomly during the day. I’d apparently cry and throw a fit if hand puppets were not immediately available when the idea got into my head that I wanted to see them again.” Kaito sighed, “According to Byakuya, anyway. I must have been two or three or something like that. Man. Terrorizing my nanny over hand puppets. That’s us in a few years. We’re the nanny.”

Shuuichi put his head back into his hands and just groaned again.

Kokichi let out a soft sound, having realized that he’d never thought of ‘baby stuff’ either. On top of the sleep deprivation, though hopefully that would lessen once she graduated to toddler-hood… Oh boy. 

“If that’s the necessary sacrifice, I’m willing to make it,” he vowed solemnly. “Hand puppets or...acting as dolls and toys. I know there’s a children’s theater that puts on shows pretty frequently… And luckily we have access to a whole library section’s worth of children’s books just downstairs. I don’t think I know any kids’ songs other than lullabies, but...time to learn, I guess.”

He sighed, shifting to sit more on his side against Kaito’s arm, more leaning against him to keep up than just affectionately now. “I’m already feeling like I need a nap… Would it be too much to hope she’s the kind of kid that actually likes naps? Maybe we could convince her that it’s a bonding thing, and we could get some sleep with her…”

“I don’t know. Do kids care about things like that?” Kaito asked, realizing as he said it aloud he genuinely wasn’t sure, “Bonding and stuff. I mean, I know they need it, but I’m not sure if you can rationalize that to them. I know Tim whines every time we do anything together, but I’m pretty sure it’s still a good idea to spend time with him… Oh shoot, I gotta check on that project of his. He’s supposed to be doing a book report and he only did a page of it yesterday. He’s supposed to do the second page today, shoot…”

Kaito glanced at the door, thinking of the time, before muttering, “Man, I hope Haneda was on it. I’m gonna feel like an asshole if I have to make him stay up to finish this damn project.”

“Tim can’t get complacent with due dates.” Shuuichi shrugged a little, smiling lightly at Kaito. “You have to instill that in him. I’m sure there were squad leaders shouting at him for every qualification he needed back in the military. He’s probably getting complacent without the pressure.”

“Yeah, but I suck at due dates too! Ugh, it’s the blind leading the blind over here… Alright, scoot, scoot, let me go check on him. Hopefully I’ll be back in a minute, but if I’m not, I’m wrestling a nine-year-old and his homework.” Kaito sighed, leaning over to kiss Kokichi before getting up from the window sill.

Then, glancing at Kokchi over again, he said, “...nothing about the medical appointment today upset you? She didn’t make you feel shitty in any way?”

“I think...some care about it in a way,” Kokichi hummed. “Like...maybe not bonding in the most comprehensive sense, but just wanting to spend time with parents and family. I know there were plenty of times I just wanted to hang around Ikuo even when he was, like...making my bed ‘n stuff. Maybe that wouldn’t work well with sleeping…”

Kokichi chuckled a bit but scooted all the same, bracing himself for the absence of his load-bearing husband. Off to go be a dad. Tim was a good student, but only when there was something to motivate him. There was the underlying pressure of Maki’s expectations, but without her to look at every assignment...it was easy to think just one or two tiny assignments wouldn’t make that much of a difference in your grade. Then you started thinking about all the work that wouldn’t reflect on your grade, and then, hey, maybe just passing was fine, and then… Then, well, Tim would have a scarily disappointed mom on his hands. 

That was something none of them wanted, even if the goal at the end of the day was to encourage motivational discipline and good study habits in their son/nephew. 

Moving to stretch out over all of the window seat, Kokichi smiled into the kiss he was given before leaning over to give one more kiss to Kaito’s arm--the closest thing he could reach without getting up, really. “It was fine. A little weird, but in a ‘never seen this before’ way, rather than a ‘it’s making me uncomfortable’ way. She didn’t try to...like, sell me on tools or products or extra treatments outside of what’s in our initial agreement, she didn’t chastise me for anything I’m doing...it was okay.”

Kaito seemed to consider that, before nodding. Giving Kokich a grin and a small thumbs up as he said, “Good! Things are good, Kokichi!”

And with that decided, Kaito headed out. Shuuichi watched him go from the bed, before closing his book, laying backwards and glancing lazily over at Kokichi. “Did you actually want that nap, or were you just exaggerating?” 

Kokichi looked over to Shuuichi laying out over the bed, considering his answer for a moment before smirking. “Depends. Does Shuu-chan want a cuddle buddy, or to try and observe me while I’m sleeping?”

“The answer would be “nap-time” for both of those, by the way,” he faux-yawned as he got up from his claimed domain over the window seat, heading over to the bed. “The only nah would come from Shuu-chan wanting to leave to, like, not disturb me or something.”

Shuuichi chuckled a little as he shifted aside a little to give Kokichi room to scoot in, “I get plenty of opportunity to observe you sleeping when you’re in recovery for stuff. Did you know your left nostril is slightly blocked up? When you’re breathing, the sound of breaths from your right nostril is way stronger…that was meant to be a joke, but it’s also something I’ve seriously observed, and now I feel a little silly.”

“Oh, fair.” Kokichi crawled up into bed, taking Shuuichi’s shifting to be an invitation. He quite happily settled on his side, right against Shuuichi, and rested his hand on Shuuichi’s arm, a perfect limb for him to steal and hug if he did end up falling asleep. 

Humming, he pressed his head into the pillows a bit. “Huh...it’s that consistent? I always thought that you always breathed through one nostril, and if one got plugged, it just switched to the other. Or...if you needed to breathe a lot, then maybe both…? I’m not quite sure… But hey! I’m a right guy, apparently!”

“Mmmm. Right nostril, right handed, right nipple…” Shuuichi’s brow furrowed, curious as he said, “I wonder if you’re more ticklish or sensitive on your right side in general. Is that a thing? Maybe that’s taking a few similarities and using them to make broad statements… hmmmm…”

Shuuichi stared at the ceiling a bit, considering if he really had enough data to make a judgment call there, or if they should consider gathering more evidence… After a moment, he suddenly sat up, saying, “Sorry, one second, if I don’t write it down it’ll drive me crazy,” before reaching to the nightstand for his journal, using one of his new pens as he opened up to the ‘Kokchi’ pages and started jotting it down.

“Right nipple…?” Kokichi really sounded more confused than aghast, but his cheeks did tint, thinking about how Shuuichi had even gathered that data. Ever the observer, his Shuuichi…

Kokichi didn’t follow when Shuuichi sat up, instead just curling around his side. He loved seeing Shuuichi’s journal, and while he was pretty curious about the things Shuuichi had written about him--because since it was a theory about Kokichi’s body, it would naturally be on a page about him--he gave Shuuichi the privacy to write until he offered the information up. Despite all the “little shit” impulses he had, Kokichi had never reached into the nightstand to read Shuuichi’s journal. 

“If it does turn out to be like that, I wonder if that’s a thing for right- and left-handed people, or even a chance to be like that. I know there’s a thing as right- and left-footed, and with those, there’s a correlation between, like, muscle development, since you’ll use your dominant side for more things, but...I wonder if there’s more that happens because of that. It’s slight, sure, but still pretty interesting…”

“...I wonder what even determines your dominant side. Like, some of it comes through practice, but...I mean, the first time you try to do something with only one hand or leg, it’s just...like, you don’t even think about which one you’re going to use, right? It’s already a part of you.”

While Shuuichi wrote in his calculation short-hand, he mused, “I have to imagine it’s a brain thing… most things are, if I understand it right. Some strange way we’re wired up. I know you can train yourself to work better from your other hand-- Luminary had this weird thing, a couple of hundred years ago, about left-handed people? This was before the rise of Atua and the change of the calendar, so the history around it is a little lost, but you can still find references to it in history books and literature from back in those days. It was a big enough deal that it was referenced often… Anyway, so they had this thing against left-handed people. Tried to force all of them to write with their right regardless. Something to do with demons… Anyway, what was I saying…”

Shuuichi paused, having confused himself, trying to have three different lines of thought at once… “Right! So, I know you can teach the opposite. But apparently it’s a serious concentration of effort, and according to the references, it never really becomes second nature… so that’s not a personality thing, right? That’s gotta be a brain thing, if it’s so hard to unlearn…”

It was always a little sad to hear how...short Luminary’s remembered past was. He understood why, or at least a few reasons for it, but...well, he could just go to the library and find transcriptions of Dicean histories dating back before the nation was even established, things saved from all the little communities and nationstates that had become the kingdom. There were artifacts, tools and art, you could see in museums, and go to lectures explaining even pretty niche walks of life from hundreds of years ago…

But, well, that was only Dicean history. Anything about anywhere else was...pitiful in selection, even about modern events in some areas. More reason for a better connected future, in his opinion. 

Though… “Luminary and demons, man… You guys really have a thing with them…”

Nodding along with Shuuichi’s logic, more nuzzling into his side, Kokichi put an arm over Shuuichi’s lap, wanting to hold onto some part of his boyfriend. “With a brain thing, though...I wonder what the difference is. If it’s just, like, a left/right switch, or a whole different way of connecting. And then what that would look like for someone who’s ambidextrous? And if the sensitivity thing maps, then would it just...be a mish mash of whatever side for whatever thing, or are they just not sensitive anywhere at all--cause being sensitive everywhere is just the same as not being sensitive at all, really. It’s just your body, at that point.”

Shuuichi shrugged, before insisting, “We really don’t. Most people don’t believe demons really exist, and even the people who do have told me they think demons don’t visit that often anymore. You really only see earnest fear in demons in like… certain neighborhoods and older people, really…” Shuuichi frowned, before admitting, “Well, that was true for the capital, anyway. When I visited other towns, I saw a lot more casual demon warding sigils just hanging up in windows and things like that… It got a lot more common the more rural and off the main roads it was… hm.”

“Well…” Shuuichi tapped the pen against his bottom lip, before drawing a small, bubbly picture of Kokichi. It was extremely simple, but you could tell it was Kokichi, because he made small, uneven swooping up hair.

Then, taking another colored pen, red, he colored in the right nipple area, the right hand and the right nostril (before putting a small little dash at the nostril and writing a note next to it saying ‘Relevant to experiment?’) and said, “We take your clothes off and try different stimulants to different parts of you? Go on a number system, 1-10? There will probably be some inconsistency in the numbers in the beginning till you get a good sense of what different parts of your body feel like, but if we’re thorough and consistent, we should find some averages and… and…”

Shuuichi paused, losing his trail of thought… before sighing, closing the journal. “Nevermind. We should ask Seiko next time she visits if there’s anything to these ideas. Did she happen to say when she wanted to see us? Or just whenever?”

Kokichi snorted softly, but he understood why it was more common to see demon-related stuff in more rural areas, since it was in the public consciousness at all. Ikuo had explained the same sort of stuff from his own childhood community, as well as others he’d visited on his travels, though with various beliefs about magic and magic-associated creatures. While his dad had plainly explained it all as real...Kokichi figured that it was just...weird stuff happening without the interference of hundreds of people around, and the people there trying to explain it. 

That was how a lot of legends and stories started--people just trying to explain things they didn’t understand. A little like what he and Shuuichi were doing now, though they were leaning more toward the scientific method route. 

Humming softly, Kokichi had been all ready with clarifying questions--like, was 1 supposed to be no sensation, or average sensation; what sort of stimulants should they try, ones for each sense of touch, like hot and cold and pain and tickling and poking and brushing…--but...well, if Shuuichi lost steam already, he wasn’t going to pressure him into it. Instead, Kokichi just nuzzled more into Shuuichi’s side, rubbing the side of his belly as far as he could reach. “She pretty much said whenever you’re free, though she figured you guys would wanna set up something soon. I know I’d be pretty eager to get off medicine that conks me out… Though, she said that she’d wanna keep a close eye for a little bit, just to not leave anything to chance--I’m guessing that means regular blood tests for spores and all that.”

“...but a blood test once a week for a while is worth being able to stay up at night, yeah?”

Shuuichi nodded, leaning back on the bed again, taking the hand trying to reach around his belly and holding it gently as he went back to staring at the ceiling. “It was kind of nice getting regular sleep, but ultimately, yeah. It’ll be nice to not have to fall asleep, you know? Being completely dead to the world at night… it’s a little more vulnerable a feeling than I’d like. I don’t like not waking up if something happens.” 

Not new information, but Shuuichi reiterated it anyway. 

“...do you think I should have waited to enroll in school?” Shuuichi asked. Brow furrowing in concern, reaching up with his free hand to take off his hat and toss it aside, feeling hot in it. Glancing away from the ceiling and down at himself as he said, “...I made the decision before I grew… now that it’s starting in a few days, I can’t help but feel like I’ve made a mistake.”

Kokichi managed to straighten out again before he was crushed under Shuuichi’s back, happily nesting his head against his boyfriend’s shoulder as they settled again. Just idly tracing the side of Shuuichi’s hand, happy to be close and affectionate. 

“...I dunno,” he hummed honestly after a moment. “I think...that might be something you can only answer for yourself. It’ll be more difficult, walking to and from campus, and you might need to take days off you otherwise wouldn’t have...but your life hasn’t just stopped because you’re pregnant.”

It changed, certainly, but that change wasn’t “lying in bed without stimulation for five months”. 

Kokichi nuzzled at Shuuichi’s shoulder, looking up at his face without judgement or expectation. “...you were really excited about it. About having a challenge again, doing things with your time… The research you do for me and Nadya-chan is really important, and I think we would be, like, a month behind where we are now if you hadn’t been helping out, but...I know it’s not...tangible results, like you might be looking for. Something that you can see the product of clearly and immediately, like a criminal tried or a presentation aced…”

“So… I think you just have to decide how the travel time and exertion and missed days weigh against the enjoyment you’d get out of being in class. There’s not really a right or wrong answer anyone can give you; you just have to honestly compare how you feel. And it might change day to day,” Kokichi scoffed in a laugh, nudging his chin a little into Shuuichi’s shoulder, “Which is no help at all, I know. But...I mean, you can always withdraw, and you can always go back another semester. No risk beyond the boredom Shuu-chan might have otherwise.”

Ugh...five months of doing nothing… well, let’s be honest, not ‘nothing’. It’d be five months of Shuuichi having nothing to do but find more reasons to get into fights with Kaito. It wasn’t fair to boil down his testiness with Kaito to that, but Shuuichi had to admit to himself some of that was there. He had nothing to do… which made it a lot more enticing to focus on finding faults in his boyfriend and picking at them…

Ugh…

Shuuichi frowned as he realized, oof… right. There probably would also be some missed classes, but that wasn’t the real reason he was worried. Hell, physically, at least if things stayed the way they were now, he’d probably be fine, but… but…

Shuuichi pulled at his hair a little and said, “...I know people are going to know either way. We literally put out a pamphlet. So I know this is going to be irrational… but I’m kinda regretting that people in the campus are going to be introduced to me as that idiot who got himself pregnant getting high on pollen…” Shuuichi groaned, rubbing a hand over his forehead now as he said, “I know that’s not what they’ll think. And, well, maybe most of them won’t realize. But the story isn’t hard to piece together. People know about the pollen through the orgies. I’m not trans and I haven't had any major surgeries. Like… it’s not hard to figure out. There are even other guys out there in my position, I’ve heard… I’m not even unique in this. They’ll probably think I was one of the people at the orgies…”

Shuuichi huffed, frustrated with himself, as he said, “I’m just a little embarrassed. I keep thinking of just waddling into the classroom and everyone just snickering at me, mocking my bad decisions… which I know they won’t! I know. I just can’t get the image out of my head.”

Oh… That was a reason to weigh more than the physical aspect. Kokichi had been fighting against--his perceived--social opinion his whole life, but...fighting against it was still paying attention to it. It was only recently that he got out at all, and while he hadn’t seen too much of it, he had a fairly accurate suspicion that Shuuichi’s brand of anxieties were based pretty heavily around social perception. 

“...is there anything you’ve been able to do to make those kinds of thoughts stop? Or...is it more of a thing where you’re always dreading things up until they happen and it’s either you avoid it forever, or just have to face it feeling shitty?” This wasn’t really a...reality-based perception. They both knew that, and that was why Shuuichi kept saying so. But anxiety never cared about reality, and kept whispering in your ear--or, in some cases, shouting so loudly it blocked everything else out--”but what if, though?”

And...Kokichi didn’t even know how to begin to approach dealing with that. 

“Not really,” Shuuichi admitted, going back to fiddling nervously with his bangs, pulling at them a little. “Honestly, just… going will probably be fine, when it actually happens. But waiting for it is the worst. And, putting off the semester won’t solve that,” Shuuichi admitted, sighing and dropping his arm. “It’ll just give me another semester to worry about it. Until I’m just right back here again.”

“It’s funny… sometimes I feel like I never feel better, than when everything's gone horribly wrong,” Shuuichi said lightly, looking over to Kokichi, squeezing his hand lightly, reassured by his presence. “The worst case scenarios. I hate waiting for bad things to happen so much that when they actually do, usually I feel sort of relieved. Like, good… I can stop waiting for it. It’s here now. I know what’s going on.”

“Like… like if I did go into the class, and people just… laughed at me and said bad things to me or rejected me. That would suck. It’d be terrible… but at least I’d know that’s what was happening now. Like, when I talked to Yasu.” Shuuichi looked back up at the ceiling. “Do you have any idea how badly my stomach would have tied itself into knots, if I had even suspected I’d see her that day? It’d have been torture, waiting to have that conversation… I think I’d have rather died, honestly. Than sit and wait to have a conversation that scary. Not enough to harm myself, but that would have absolutely been one of those situations that would have turned my mind towards those darker thoughts. I hate waiting for the shoe to drop…”

“But… it was fine. It was a little weird. I honestly don’t know how to feel about that woman. But it wasn’t horrible,” Shuuichi mused, closing those golden eyes and giving out a slightly shaky breath as he said, “I know going to the first day of class will be like that. It’ll be way easier than waiting to go… but knowing that doesn’t help as much as it should.”

Often, when things were actually happening, it didn’t give you any time to think. It was just rapid-fire acting, so...there was no time to worry about this or that, and when there was, it was only for a second or two before you went through with one of the options you’d thought up. 

When things were quiet? That was when the worst of the thoughts came. 

Kokichi squeezed Shuuichi’s hand back, listening and absorbing everything he had to say. Learning Shuuichi’s reality, rather than trying to align it with the one he knew. There were things that could be objectively wrong, and even things that were conceptually wrong, but...the way your thoughts worked, and how you interacted with the world… Just seeing that they didn’t connect with the world didn’t help any. And if you didn’t know of any way to shift it...then it was just nice to feel listened to. 

“That’s kind of depressing…” he still admitted. “Always waiting for bad things to happen. I get it, to a point, but...all the time… That really sucks. I get why it stresses Shuu-chan out so much.”

Kokichi sighed softly. “I know it is different, but...how you feel waiting for things...it sounds like how I feel when I run into my phobias. Like I wanna stop breathing and curl up into a ball so small I’ll pop out of existence...that I’d rather be tortured than, you know.” Than have a bug crawl over him, or see a lot of blood at once. But Kokichi had learned his lesson in actually saying those kinds of things aloud. 

“...I wish knowing helped. Maybe Kai-chan and I should just be better in keeping you occupied, so Shuu-chan isn’t stuck with waiting so much.”

Shuuichi smiled lightly at that, squeezing Kokichi’s hand again. “I appreciate the thought. I won’t lie and say that staying occupied doesn’t help, but at the same time, this isn’t really something that needs solving, really. It bothers me a lot, sure, but… sometimes that’s just something you have to live with. I’ll just be bothered, sometimes only a little bit, sometimes a lot, until the class starts. And, once it does, I’ll feel better.”

“And, when it only bothers me a little? It’s really not even worth commenting on. And… when it bothers me so much that even just existing feels intolerable… well, that’s when I go to you guys. Like now. Just kinda talking it out, or doing something else with you guys… it helps. I just need to sometimes remember that I can go to you both about stuff like this. It doesn’t just have to be something I sit in until I’m a wreck.”

Shuuichi laughed lightly, “Not that I’m really a wreck right now…” He frowned. Looking down at Kokichi. “They won’t laugh though. Really. Right? I thought about wearing a really big jacket and pretending to just be fat, but that won’t work… maybe I can wear an even bigger hat. With an even lower brim. No one’s there if I can’t see them, right?”

The first part had been said in earnest, but Shuuichi was laughing slightly by the end of it, just sort of mildly teasing himself. Honestly…

Kokichi smiled back, glad he could help. And...while it wasn’t so much a foreign feeling anymore...it was nice to be there for someone. To be someone they could depend on, even if Shuuichi admittedly needed to remember it sometimes. “Well, until the deed is done, I’ll be right here, ready to theory-craft any random subject, or to have a debate over tiny semantics. It was practically what I was raised on, so if Shuu-chan doesn’t wanna succumb to a jock’s idea of filling time-,” Kokichi finished his sentence with a wink, nuzzling a bit more into Shuuichi’s shoulder. 

Soon enough, though, he scooted up the bed a bit to place a kiss on Shuuichi’s cheek. “The only reason they’ll laugh is ‘cause Shuu-chan muttered some sharp, snarky quip, and it was so on point and clever that the people around him can’t hide their snickers, and people who didn’t hear it will be so jealous and will wanna get to know you more ‘cause obviously Shuu-chan is a great friend and they’ll all be able to see it right away!”

A kiss on the nose, as Kokichi grinned over his lover. “But otherwise? No one’s gonna laugh at you. It’s not a laughing matter, and any idiot who’d think so really shouldn’t be in a criminal law class. I would expect, though, people still congratulating you, and maybe asking names at this point. Shuu-chan doesn’t need my permission, obviously, but I’ll endorse saying random, absurd names just to mess with people.”

Kokichi grinned a little more as he settled back down, enjoying the playful mood Shuuichi had slipped into, even if it was still attached to some serious stuff. 

Shuuichi took in the little kisses against himself, willing himself to calm down, again, reassured by Kokichi’s presence. His boyfriend was very sweet… 

“I’m gonna tell people we’re naming her Cornbread,” Shuuichi said. Deadpan. “And when they give me that small, baffled look, I’m going to tell them Luminary has a tradition of naming their children after their favorite foods. And I’m gonna convince people ‘Shuuichi’ is a type of lasagna… and ‘Kaito’ is a type of bean… it’s brilliant.” 

Kokichi erupted into small, snorting giggles, delighted with what he had expected Shuuichi to absolutely roll with. “Yesssss! You guys said that you couldn’t even really tell if there was a common naming tradition among Luminary names at large, so it’s not like people can point to other patterns. Oh, oh! And if they try to, like, soften the blow or whatever, and ask if she’s gonna be called “Brea” for short? Nope. Corn. Corn is her nickname.”

“It’s not even really my favorite food. It was my great-grandmother’s favorite food. I love Grandma Cornbread so much. I hope Cornbread Jr. takes after her.” 

“Of course I’m happy to support the important naming traditions of Luminary--it works in our wishes in Dicean culture as well, for what greater wish could you give a child than the qualities of a family member?”

Kokichi kept serious through the statement, but his nose wrinkled afterward once he thought more about what he said, a small huff of a laugh leaving him. “Naming traditions… Byakuya’s never mentioned it, but, like, that asshole was vying damn hard to get me to take the Momota name, back when we were doing wedding talks. Enough that my dad suggested the middle name compromise instead of just saying no, for some importance about weddings and names in Luminary… But I get the impression that wasn’t the original plan at all, since Byakuya’s first letter to Kai-chan addressed him with the Ouma last name. What a dickwad…”

Shuuichi snickered at that. He wouldn’t actually do any of this, of course. Culture shock was already hard enough between the two countries, without a comparatively well known immigrant going around spreading lies. But it was still very funny.

The next part though was… hmmm.

Shuuichi looked down at Kokichi curiously, before after a moment saying gently, “King Leon.”

“You’re right. The Luminary Party, well, the advisors, were meant to push for Kaito keeping the Momota name. But that was King Leon’s decision, not Byakuya’s. Byakuya barely tolerated the wedding at all. He thought sending Kaito here was insane. Basically giving you guys a hostage for no good reason.”

“As for why the last name… I mean, I can’t really speak for Tengan or the King, but Kaito gave us the play by play of a lot of the meetings he had to sit through with his advisors. And as far as I could tell, they wanted to keep the name for the same reason most people in Luminary would prefer it.” Shuuichi shrugged, “Who gets who’s name is a clear sign of ownership. It cements the hierarchy in Luminary weddings. Who you can expect to make the official decisions for the family, who people should first address in respect when the couple is together, who has final say in signing contracts… Honestly, sending Kaito here and expecting him to keep his last name was probably more of a pipe-dream than anything. He has no power here. No influence or connections, he didn’t even have a bank account or access to family funds beyond what comes in the mail. He was always going to be dependent on you. It was a given he’d take your name.”

“But, they didn’t know about the Ouma name tradition, and I doubt they knew you all don’t do marriage hierarchies here,” Shuuichi observed… before admitting, “If they had known all that, maybe they wouldn’t have bothered even trying to negotiate it. Though… King Leon was kind of weird about you. The marriage. King Leon really, really wanted the marriage to happen. He wouldn’t hear out any arguments against it. And there were a lot more people worried about sending Kaito here than just Byakuya. Everyone thought it was a trick… but King Leon wanted it. So, here we are.”

Kokichi looked up in confusion, for a moment, wondering why Shuuichi said Leon’s name like that when Kokichi hadn’t mentioned him at all, really, but…mm. Sighing softly, Kokichi shook his head with a slightly sheepish look. “No, sorry, I mean… I see why that was confusing… I meant that Byakuya was obviously expecting that Kaito would take the Ouma name, so he wasn’t involved. And it wasn’t just a fact of Kaito keeping the Momota name--it was them pushing for me to give up the Ouma name. Considering how different those outcomes were...I figured that it wasn’t something Byakuya was involved with or had even known.”

“I just...don’t like saying Tengan’s name.” Kokichi pouted a bit, some anger showing in his face, but not much. “Doesn’t deserve it. So I only say things like “that asshole” or “the cumstain”.”

Sighing a bit at the...honestly, ridiculousness of marriage hierarchy--who you addressed first was even a thing people noticed????--Kokichi squished his face against Shuuichi’s arm. “Hell… In most marriages, no one changes their name at all, and the largest minority after that just changes both names to a hyphen combo… There really was no need to negotiate at all if they just wanted Kai-chan to keep the Momota name. That was our original plan anyway.” Unless or until Kaito wanted to take the Ouma oath, but that was a personal choice. ...probably not a distinction people really made in Luminary. 

In the slew of learning new things, though, Kokichi raised an eyebrow, hearing that Leon had been...the one to push for the marriage, against more than just a few dissenters here and there. “...that’s…” Kokichi furrowed his brow. “...everything Kai-chan’s told me about his dad pointed just how...fuckin’ damn much he despised Dicea. I wasn’t told about the proposal until after Kai-chan’s parents had agreed to it, but...Hideki told me after that no one thought they’d actually agree. That it was more of a pie in the sky add-on to the initial message that Aiichi added in, just on the slim chance… What a...weird thing for Leon to be so set on…”

Shuuichi smirked slightly at the ‘cumstain’ comment, fairly certain he had never heard a word that dirty out of his sweet boyfriend’s mouth before. Though, it was amusing to know that Kokichi was definitely thinking things like that, considering how sincere he was right now. And, honestly… yeah. Fuck the Head Secretary. He was a cumstain. 

There really wasn’t much to comment on as far as the difference in the importance of ritual between Luminary and Dicea. It was something they had all realized by now. Luminary interactions were pretty heavily socially scripted, in a way that was difficult to learn if you weren’t raised in it. Dicea, in turn, went out of its way to avoid those same etiquettes and rituals. There was so little overlap in those two lifestyles and social customs that it was astounding the Luminaries and Diceans here were able to communicate at all… and that was even taking into account how long and difficult even getting to this point of understanding had taken.

As for the Leon thing…

Shuuichi put his arm up to rub his hand slightly against Kokichi’s shoulder, while still holding his other hand as he looked at the ceiling. “...it was a really weird day, when we found out about the marriage.”

“It was a big secret, at first. No one but a few handful of individuals could know peace talks were in the work, or that Kaito had been put in as a potential bargaining chip. Kaito wasn’t told until the acceptance letter was sent out, and he was told not to tell anyone anything until more concrete plans were drafted… but of course he told us. Me and Maki.”

“He took us to our favorite pub, and we were there for a really long time. I almost think he hadn’t been planning to tell us, it was like… three in the morning or something, we were all basically drunk, the pub was empty of everyone but the kinda weird, kinda pathetic, or us. It was one of those all night pubs, so we weren’t in danger of being kicked out, but it was well past when we should have headed out, and Kaito just refused to take any hint that we should start to wrap up. Just insisted we stay and keep drinking and keep hanging out together. It was pretty obvious something was wrong…” Shuuichi’s gaze softened, lost in a far away memory, as he said, “And then he bought us all drinks and randomly moved us to a different table in a far corner, and he told us it was time to congratulate him. That he was finally going to go do something important. He was being sent to end the war…”

“...Maki asked him if something had happened at the academy. If he was being sent early to be an officer or something. Nope, nothing like that, he said. In fact, I’m dropping out of University. No more Academy,” Shuuichi said, his voice dropping a little, cleary mimicking somewhat what Kaito had said, before his voice evened out, “and he made this really long joke about how that was a good thing, that there was this test coming up that was going to kick his ass, and now he didn’t have to worry about it… He just kept being really cryptic about it. It was another hour before we finally managed to get him to say what was actually going on…”

Shuuichi sighed. “That was a rough night.”

Kokichi watched Shuuichi for a moment, but eventually closed his eyes, his mind painting a picture while Shuuichi told the story. 

(Even though Kokichi didn’t want to trade where he was...he wished they’d known more about Luminary. They had never meant for Kaito to be a bargaining chip...but the offer in and of itself in Luminary dictated it as that. Kokichi just...wished there had been some way to let Kaito know that he wasn’t an object...that he wasn’t being bought.)

(...for some reason, Kokichi imagined the streets of Luminary immediately, rather than some vague picture until Shuuichi gave more details. Huh.)

Kokichi echoed Shuuichi’s sigh, enjoying his arm around him, even if the subject was less than joyful. “I bet… Though...I think I would’ve rather been drunk when I found out. Maybe I could’ve asked Denji or someone to buy me booze… Can’t buy it yourself until you’re twenty, and I only had my birthday a few weeks before the wedding…”

...maybe he didn’t want to know. But...well, they had all been upset about the marriage, and yet now happy with how things turned out, so…

“...what did you and Maki-chan think? When he told you.”

Shuuichi opened his mouth immediately… and then hesitated.

“...we didn’t know you,” he reminded Kokichi gently, “Or Dicea.”

Then, after that small reminder, Shuuichi said, “I think the first thing that happened was Maki told him to send her to kill you and Aiichi.” Shuuichi shrugged slightly, before saying, “You know how she is… She immediately got it into her head that if she could kill the Dicean ruling family, then even if the treaty fell apart, they couldn’t send Kaito. Who would they even marry him off to? And Maki thinks she’s invincible... she argued that if Kaito just ordered her to go now, no one could catch up with her to stop her, she could get it done. He’d be safe. She could probably even get away with it. It’s only two people, she argued.”

“Of course, Kaito said no. He kept arguing that this was all a good thing. That he was being trusted with something super important, that this was going to be his ‘hero's journey’.” Shuuichi rolled his eyes a little, something tense on his face. Even knowing how it all turned out, his frustration with the conversation still evident as he explained, “Then it was my turn. And I… wasn’t helpful. I was in shock and horrified, and I kept giving him worst case scenario after worst case scenario. Every random conspiracy theory or paranoid fear that would be openly discussed by the public during that year, I came up with all by myself that night, and basically worked myself into a frenzy trying to… just get Kaito to admit anything was wrong. Looking back, I don’t know why that was so important to me, right then… it just scared me to see him try to pretend everything was alright, when as far as we knew, they were sending him to slaughter…”

“We had been at war with you for fifteen years, and Kaito was being sent by himself, into the heart of the enemy capital, with no protections and no way back… It’d be months before any serious talk happened about sending me and Maki with him. For a long time, it was just going to be Kaito. No one had any idea what was going to happen to him.” Shuuichi’s face tensed some more, still just… frustrated with how all of that had gone down… before he sighed. “Honestly, thinking about it now? He was probably digging his heels in so hard because he was trying to keep me and Maki from doing anything we’d regret. We came up with dozens of plans that year to get him out of it, each one more risky and foolish than the last. He’d always work it out too… well, not that it was hard. He’d just keep checking in on us till one of us broke and said something too much, and he’d just remind us he wanted to do it. Said he could handle anything Diceans threw at him.”

“...then Kaede told Maki the plan for Luminary and Maki stopped making plans to get him out of it with me. And I don’t have it in me to do things like that alone, so…”

Shuuichi looked somewhat guilty at that… before sighing. “So, how did it go for you? Since you didn’t have the benefit of getting drunk, or have two slightly psychotic indentured friends to keep from panicking. I imagine your side of it didn’t feel much better.”

Kokichi nodded a bit. He didn’t expect their reactions to have been kind. Knowing what at least Kaito had thought Dicea was like, and what his place there would be, if with that knowledge, Shuuichi and Maki had just been...gung-ho and supportive over the whole thing? Well, Kaito wouldn’t have taken them with him. Wouldn’t be friends with such daft, cruel people. 

He laughed softly at Maki’s predictable response, hummed and pet Shuuichi’s arm at his, and felt another wave of awe and appreciation towards Kaito, hearing how he’d handled it all. It was one of the first things that had ever softened his opinion of Kaito--after the whole fiasco of their meeting and the proposal--, just how dedicated Kaito had been to ending the war. To doing his part in a series of events other people had completely decided. 

“I remember, for months, even up to the arrival of the Party...how sorry I felt for Kai-chan. I didn’t really think much of him as a person from the rumors I heard,” Kokichi rolled his eyes a bit, “But...even then, he was still someone leaving behind all they knew to be stuck in a country that was so different and had been at war with his for so long… Really, I feel kind of...dumb for being as upset as I was. I was the one who got to stay in my home.”

Kokichi heaved a great sigh and slumped down on the bed again, Shuuichi’s arm more arcing around his head now, than encircling his shoulders. “...I tried to argue with Aiichi, and when he brushed it off like it was nothing...I went to my room and screamed until I felt dizzy, then cried until I threw up. Then I closed myself in here and worked until I got so sick I could barely exist, and spent the next three months in bed.”

Shuuichi winced at that, a grim look on his face. He idly played with Kokichi’s hair, trying to be comfortable and soothing, as he said, “...three months…”

Shuuichi swallowed at that. A shudder running through him as he tried to imagine being confined to his bed, alone, for three months. “...this isn’t an invitation to not tell me these stories. But sometimes, Kokichi, it’s hard to hear about your life… it sounds so lonely. At least Kaito had friends to be angry and furious on his behalf… you always sound like there was just… no one there for you.”

“And, I think getting angry to the point of not taking care of yourself, after finding out you’re being forced to share your life with some strange enemy-- even an enemy you feel bad for-- is a pretty reasonable reaction, if no one was even going to try to be there for you.” Shuuichi sighed, “... it’s just hard to think about. I wish things had been better for you.”

Kokichi had explained the, frankly embarrassing, reaction dryly, but he looked up in concern when he felt Shuuichi viscerally react to it. And...he sighed. A mess of truth and perception and ridiculousness…

“...I think people might’ve tried to talk to me… But I shut them out. When I’d hide in my work...I don’t think you guys ever saw me like that. But I’d refuse to engage with...pretty much everyone. I wouldn’t leave for meals, and half the time I wouldn’t even eat anything people brought me. It’s...kind of hard to be there for someone if they’re not even there for themself.”

“...but even if I was sabotaging myself and just...refusing to see it… It was lonely,” Kokichi quietly admitted, his voice a murmur. He snuggled in against Shuuichi’s side, squeezing his hand gently. “Painfully. I wish I’d been better to myself...but thankfully things are better now. And I have plenty of people I can’t ignore when they call me stupid for trying to self-destruct.”

Shuuichi understood that to some extent, but… well. He supposed he’d never really know what Kokichi had been like before they had all gotten there. It was hard to imagine his boyfriend being the kind of person to just… ignore people. He was so sensitive to the suffering of other people… and there was nothing quite like the suffering of watching a loved one self-destruct. A lifetime of wondering if Maki, Kaito, Yuta, hell, even Kaede sometimes… seeing them go through moments in their lives where he seriously worried if they’d make it… seeing the concern in them as he went through his own…

There was a scar on his shoulder, from Kaito’s furious, panicked, borderline murderous fear when Shuuichi had told him about the poison. The beatdown so intense that Shuuichi had learned self-defense, just to shield himself from Kaito’s violent protection. 

Maybe it was a good thing, that Kaito hadn’t had to deal with that version of Kokichi. He was older now, ideally more mature, (hopefully) too mature to react that way to a suicide threat. But that reaction likely wouldn’t have helped their, at most, 97 pound boyfriend.

(Shuuichi, even now, didn’t know that when Kokichi had left them during their pathetically attempted ‘strategy’ meeting on how to handle the upcoming phone call with Kaede, that Kokichi had almost frozen himself at the memorial garden. Shuuichi, like Maki, just believed Kokichi had hung around outside too long, and gotten himself a little cold. Not literally freezing to death… just maybe sat outside for an hour too long, probably talking to Kaito himself…)

“Things are better now,” Shuuichi quietly agreed, sighing a bit as he closed his eyes… before laughing lightly, “We are terrible at taking naps though. Baby’s going to have a field day with us. We’ll never be able to deal with the sleep deprivation at this rate.”

“Was this a nap, or was this just a brilliant ploy to talk and snuggle with my boyfriend? I never did answer if I actually wanted a nap or not, and you never actually answered your intention in asking either.” Kokichi’s voice was entirely teasing, but he felt around with his foot for the edge of their throw blanket before grabbing the end and pulling it over the two of them. Finding his way back up to the pillows and snuggling against Shuuichi’s side…

“But…” he murmured. “A nap does actually sound nice. Talks are important! But so is catching up on the sleep we can get now, before Baby Cornbread snatches it all away from us in her greedy little hands. She definitely got that from me, by the way.”

“If any part of little Cornbread is little, she gets it from you.” Shuuichi smirked lightly, though he snuggled in close in return. Grateful for Kokichi’s love and attention, closing his eyes and just… glad. 

Glad that things were better.

Eventually, Kaito came back, sighing slightly in stressed exhaustion. Freaking book reports… he hadn’t missed doing those. He should have taught Tim how to bullshit the paper, but he kept just feeling Maki’s phantom gaze on his neck, furious with him and his idea to teach their kid bad habits. Blegh.

But, seeing his boys sleeping when he got back was super cute. Kaito chuckled lightly seeing them, already feeling a little bad. He’d have to wake them up at some point… Shuuichi needed his medicine, if nothing else. 

But, for now, the room was quiet, and his guys were sleeping, and everything was peaceful.

-

“- you should expect to see me on the morning of the third day of the third week, coming in from the east, with a company of two caravans. I shall expect to put some time away for you, but please be aware that the visit itself will be as short as possible, at most three days, so that the children can start the long process back to Dicea. I am pleased I will see you soon… BWA-HA HA HA HA!! WHO TAUGHT HER TO TALK LIKE THIS???” 

Nekomaru Nidai, the Lead Royal Assassin, laughed loudly as he read the letter over again, sitting in the fourth floor east balcony with Kyoko Kirigiri, the Lead Royal Detective. The two were spending their lunch together, looking over the large view of the city, as Nidai drank some spiked coffee, and Kyoko drank a simple green tea.

Taking a sip, Kyoko said, “I’ve always admired your charge’s ‘to the point’ speech. It’s an admirable trait, to be able to speak clearly.  My charge had an unfortunate habit of speaking in circles, till someone called him out on it, if he was afraid you wouldn’t like what he had to say. Infuriating.”

“Gah, maybe she’s your fault. Hellfire knows I didn’t teach her it!! And you hush, Young Shuuichi quit that pussy-footing around years ago. Aint nice to keep bringing up old shit. Their mistakes only matter for as long as they keep making them!!”

“Maybe.” Kyoko said simply, taking another small sip, enjoying the breeze of the wind. It was the middle of winter, so it paid to wear a jacket when sitting outside, and Kyoko was enjoying the opportunity. She always wished she had more opportunities to wear her jackets more comfortably. It was impossible in the summer.

Nidai grinned at the letter again, shaking his head as he said, “Was hoping I’d get to see my little girl again soon, but after only a year? How lucky can a guy get!? ...so, you going to open yours?”

Both of them glanced at the letter on the small, stone table between them. Still sealed.

Kyoko looked back out at the view, “In a moment. It’s not like he’s traveling. Nothing worth hearing about will be in there, nothing that can’t wait for me to enjoy my lunch.”

“Maybe there will be new information about the pregnancy? How his relationship with the prince’s is going?”

“As I said. Nothing that can’t wait.”

Nidai frowned at that, before ignoring her offended gasp, he reached over and grabbed the letter, opening it up and reading it aloud. 

“Miss Kirigri. I apologize for this being my fifth unanswered letter in a row- fifth? Seriously Kyoko?”

Kyoko looked undisturbed, if still annoyed he had opened her letter uninvited.

Nidai huffed slightly and continued, “- as I am sure you are busy and that my correspondence might be distracting. Things are going well, and it is looking like I may start to continue school soon, and perhaps update my credentials to be a detective in Dicea. The laws are considerably different here, and there may be somewhat of a learning curve, but I am certain that you will be pleased to hear that my abilities won’t be going to waste soon, and I hope that stories of my cases might intrigue you- for fucks, sake, Kyoko, would you just talk to this kid? Why are you making him literally beg for your attention?”

“He is not my responsibility anymore. Why should I indulge his whims?”

Nidai frowned at that, giving her an openly concerned look, before continuing on, “... as a personal update, while I am certain you already know that the Momota family has legally recognized me as Kaito’s partner, I thought you might take some comfort in knowing that Kaito swore himself to me, if in a somewhat unofficial capacity- eh, there we go, I knew that red haired beef-head would do right by your kid. Honestly, I’m just pissed it took him that long. I’d have thought my Maki would have beaten some responsibility into his head by this point. That’s good to hear, right?”

Kyoko rolled her eyes, “Yes. A married man unofficially swore himself to my former charge after accidentally knocking him up. I’m thrilled.”

Nidai just looked pissed now, putting down the letter for a moment as he said, “You gonna fucking let up on this stupid show you’re putting on for me, or what? Seriously, Kyoko… I don’t know what’s been up with you lately. Why you seem so determined to convince people you don’t give a shit about this kid, but you have to know that’s not gonna work with me. I watched you fucking raise him. I know better.”

There was a brief, heavy atmosphere, and Nidai said, quietly, “...if there’s something going on… something you’re keeping close to the chest? Kyoko, I’ve been your friend for over twenty years now, if there’s anyone you can trust-”

“Finish the letter.” Kyoko said simply, “And stop dreaming up fairytales. I have no secrets, and if I did, it wouldn’t be a matter of trust, would it? I do what I’m told. Just like you do. There’s nothing more to us.”

“...well that’s a bunch of bullshit, but whatever. You and I will fucking dig into that later.” Nidai muttered, before quickly reading over the rest of the letter, grumpy now… before his grin was back on his face, as he said, “Well, look at that! They know the gender! Congratulations, Kyoko. Young Shuuichi’s having himself a little girl! He’s asking you for naming ideas… hell, that’s a damn good reason to respond back to him, yeah? Fuck, we don’t even have to send a letter, let’s just go bully those eggheads in the phone room and just give him a call to congratulate-”

“We should get back to work.” Kyoko said, standing up… before holding her hand out to Nidai. “The letter?”

Nidai sighed, before handing it to her, watching her tuck it away into a pocket. He wanted to argue with her, but… well, they did have to get back to work. They couldn’t get complacent. Dangerous rebels were afoot.

And you never knew who was working with them, these days.

-

“I should just go back with you.” Shuuichi said quietly, gripping Kaito’s hand, a seriously stressed out look on his face. “I don’t wanna do this.”

“Yeah you do.” Kaito said simply, looking around the campus in pleased, impressed awe. This place was cool! “You’re gonna have a great time here.”

“This is stupid. I’m stupid. I’m not going to be able to be a new dad and a detective and everyone knows it and everyone already knows I’m going to fail and-”

“Nah. Come on, let’s figure out where your class is. You’re gonna do great, but to start doing great, ya gotta start first!”

Shuuichi was trembling as Kaito searched the directory for Shuuichi’s class number, the two heading back outside the building and going to the next one over, heading down the somewhat busy halls as a bunch of people tried to work out where their own classes were. Shuuichi clung closer and closer to Kaito every step, murmuring that this was a bad idea and he didn’t know what he was doing here and this was so obviously a mistake and everyone was going to spend the whole time just mocking him for doing something so obviously stupid-

“We’re here! Alright, remember, Kokichi’s gonna come walk you home, so be sure to meet him in front of the building so he doesn’t have to go running around looking for you.” Kaito told him, looking with interest at the other people heading into the class, many of them giving the two curious looks before heading in. Leaning in to give Shuuichi a kiss on the cheek he said, “You’re gonna do great! Are you ready?”

“No, I’ve just spent this whole time telling you I’m not ready and I don’t want to do this and-”

“How about this?” Kaito said, grinning down at him, Shuuichi staring miserably back. “I’ll wait out in the hallway twenty minutes. You go in for twenty minutes, and decide you really can’t do it? You come back out, we leave, no questions asked. Okay?”

“...you’ll really stay out here?”

“Yep! Twenty minutes! But after that, I’m assuming you’re good and going home. Deal?”

Shuuichi wrung his hands a little, looking nervously at the classroom. He was so fucking big and rediculous looking, his classmates must all be rolling their eyes already, stupid, dumb, pregnant addict, thinking he can be a detective, in what world- “Okay… see you in twenty minutes.”

Kaito laughed, said “Sure.” and, kissing him on the cheek again, went to go lean by the hallway wall, giving Shuuichi a happy little wave as his boyfriend looked over his shoulder to make certain Kaito really was staying there, before heading in. 

If Shuuichi was feeling more confident, he’d want to be at the front of the class, where it’d be easier to hear the teacher and see what was written on the board. But, as it was, he was immensely relieved to see a few spots in the very back row corner were empty still, and Shuuichi quickly went to sit there, lowering his hat opening up his mail-bag to pull out the syllabus, a notebook and pen, and the textbook, putting it all out in front of him and just trying not to look around too much, not wanting to catch anyone’s expression. 

Across the room, two different people noticed him at the same time. One was a woman, named Katlyn, who thought to herself, ‘Oh. That’s Kaito’s guy, isn’t it? I’ll have to say hello at some point.’

The other was named John, and he saw the heavily pregnant royal surrogate, and practically started sinking into his chair in horrified embarrassment. ‘Oh no’.

“Idiot. Idiot moron man. Stupid idiot moron man…” Drake muttered to himself as he sped down the halls, absolutely gonna be late now. Sure, he knew that Shuuichi Saihara--very pregnant right now, pretty average height, black cap he kept over his eyes--was going to be in this class, and, sure, the school set up maps and directional plaques everywhere, but nooooo, you just had to take in that it was “a classroom” and barely even look at your class schedule and get lost as all fuck wandering around campus and looking for your damn class schedule and now YOU WERE GOING TO BE LATE, DRAKON, YOU’RE GOING TO MISS YOUR CLASS AND SET A HORRIBLE PRECEDENT TO YOUR PROFESSOR AND PEERS AND MISS MEETING THE PERSON YOU EVEN GOT INTO THIS WHOLE MESS FOR!!! WHAT DID THE FUTURE SAY ABOUT THIS, DRAKE?!?!

The slim man just about skidded to a stop, eyes watering with furious tears as he came to the classroom he thought was the right one, only to see a man waiting casually outside, like…

Drake groaned, almost flopping over in half, his long, dark blue, almost a soft black, hair haphazardly falling over his shoulder. “Please, please don’t tell me I missed the whole class…”

Kaito raised an eyebrow at the poor, hassled student, before chuckling lightly, shaking his head, “Nah man, you’re good. Everyone just went in there like not even three minutes ago. Introduction to Criminal Law Ethics, right?”

Drake straightened, letting out a sigh of relief. “Oh thank god… Thanks, you have no idea how relieving that is to hear.”

Fixing himself up, not wanting to step into the class looking like a total disaster--a partial disaster would do--Drake gave the red-head a thankful nod, now a little curious what he was doing if not waiting for the next class to start, but he didn’t have time for that, or he’d actually be late. 

With a little wave, Drake went into the classroom, shrinking around an apologetic grin to the professor, who was indeed just setting up--so class hadn’t actually started, not really. Damn, he needed to find his watch…--sidling along the back of the class to a back seat, not wanting to disrupt anything more than he had. And, as he’d seen, a likely spot next to the guy he wanted to keep an eye on. 

He managed to slip into a desk just to the right of Saihara, giving the man the same “ah, sorry for interrupting” look he’d given to everyone he passed, though he doubted the guy could see it under his hat, and started pulling out his materials, double-checking ahead of time, this time, to see if his pens were working. He swore, it was like there was always one dead pen in his bag, no matter how often he replaced the cartridges… 

...sure, there was the class to pay attention to, though they’d likely only be going over the syllabus and outline for the topics they were going to cover in the class, maybe an icebreaker to get to know each other--or at least finding out people’s names--but...hm. It wasn’t like he had to become best friends with Saihara or anything...he just needed to be able to keep an eye on him. Help keep him and his eventual daughter out of trouble--which was a tall order on its own, considering she was a Momota’s daughter and no one fuckin’ remembered that the family were only “chosen” in that they promised themselves to be dogs to the Flora… And, you know, that she was a Flora herself, and would be bombarded with their meddling as soon as she had her first thought. 

All the more reason to have more people looking out for their safety. Really...all he needed to do was not get on Saihara’s bad side. Maybe...join the same study group or something...that’d work. Maybe he could get a part time job at the castle to keep an eye on them when Saiahra wasn’t at school...though...he’d only seen them going to school together…

Drake sighed, frowning as he realized his pen had run out of ink mid-titling his page for the first day… Great sign… He reached down to get a new pen from his bag, only to absolutely conk his head on the desk.

Shuuichi jolted a bit, having been desperately trying to keep himself to himself, keeping one eye on the watch around his wrist. Just twenty minutes… he only had to do this for twenty minutes, and then he could go home with Kaito, and feel like a total failure in the comfort of his bed… twenty minutes- what the heck?

Shuuichi glanced warily from under his brim at his deskmate, giving him a mildly worried look. Did this guy just… brain himself on his desk?? How???

Whispering quietly, Shuuichi said, “Uh… are you alright?”

Drake slowly sat back up with a wince, rubbing his forehead, though he brought up his other hand, a new pen in his grasp. “...got my pen.”

He brought the hand that had been rubbing his forehead down, giving it a tentative look before letting out a little sigh of relief. No blood. He hadn’t felt a cut or anything, but you never knew. He then gave Saihara an embarrassed, sheepish look, not having planned to get the guy’s attention that way. “I’m okay, thanks...probably won’t even be a bruise, really...I think.”

It came to Drake’s attention then, that he’d gotten more than just Saihara’s attention with his fumble, some people giving him worried looks, others...a bit more weirded out by the guy coming into class after everyone else and then immediately braining himself. A bit more like what he was used to, but…

Drake shrank down in his seat a little, returning his gaze to his notebook, sure that if he was able to blush, he’d be doing it now. He mumbled softly to himself. “...not really the impression I wanted to make today… Great way to introduce yourself to your classmates for the next few years, buddy…”

He couldn’t really help it- Shuuichi laughed lightly, giving the poor guy a sympathetic look. “It’s alright. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make up being the ‘desk’ guy. Are you sure you don’t need an ice pack or something, that hit sounded really loud…”

Shuuichi glanced around, going quiet as he saw way too many faces still turned and looking in their direction. Not the whole class, most of the people here were focused on starting their own first days right to care too much about the weirdo klutz in the back corner beyond that first initial ‘the hell was that sound’ look, but some of the people attracted by the noise were now looking at Shuuichi. A few people with a ‘where do I know this person from’ looks, and one…

Oh, fuck, come on.

It was the asshole who kept trying to solicit him. The guy had been openly staring, but had immediately looked at the front of the class like there was anything going on over there the second Shuuichi had caught him looking, and Shuuichi felt his whole body tighten in simultaneous embarrassment and frustration. Seriously?? That guy was here!?

Ugh, he couldn’t do this, he needed to get out of here-

Before Shuuichi could follow through on his decision to get up and walk out of the classroom, the teacher started talking. Introducing themselves and asking everyone to introduce themselves one at a time, their goal for their degree, along with one interesting fact about themselves.

Shuuichi was mildly surprised that most people in the class were intending to join the guardforce or be lawyers. As far as Shuuichi was aware, you didn’t need a degree to be in the guardforce, did you? Maybe it was just certain individual classes you needed to qualify… a woman with white hair and silver eyes behind large, round glasses, stood up and, almost standing at attention, basically shouted, “My name is Katlyn Shoe, I’m going for my Basic Law Degree, and I recently moved to the capital from a small border town named ShareFire! It’s nice to meet you all!...uh, but, I’m here to learn, so no one get in my way!!” she sputtered out, balling her hands into fists fiercely, before sitting back down with a huff, sweating slightly.

Eventually, weird, solicitor guy stood up next, looking flustered and on-edge, hands in his pockets, as he said, “I’m John Snowy, I’m gonna be a Guardsman… uh… an interesting fact about myself is… shoot, I dunno, I got half my degree in business finance the last two years and decided this semester to change course. So, yeah. Nice to meet you all.” he muttered, sitting back down.

Other than desk guy, Shuuichi was the second to last person, and he felt himself just sort of… freeze up nervously… before just biting his inner cheek, getting up, bowing his head slightly, and mumbling, “Shuuichi Saihara. Detective. Luminary.” before sitting back down just as quickly. Hiding under his hat, stomach churning nervously. 

There were a few whispers, but there had been small whispers the whole time, people introducing themselves to each other… it didn’t have to mean anything…

Drake wilted a little at Saihara’s laugh--he wasn’t sure how much better being seen as pathetic was compared to hated…--but...it wasn’t mean-spirited, at least. “It really sounded that bad, huh...but it definitely sounded worse than it was, I’m alright.” By the time Drake finished talking, though, Saihara had clammed up and...he wasn’t really sure how to go from there, or if they should just...mutually ignore each other or…

Well. At least now he wouldn’t have to pretend not to know Saihara’s name. Or...well, he was kind of a public figure--that article had been a life-saver, actually telling Drake where to go and the timing to expect--but...it was a little awkward, going to even a public figure and just talking like you already knew each other. The intros put them all on solid ground. 

Drake got up from his desk after Shuuichi’s brief introduction, taking a little more care that he wasn’t going to...trip over his bag straps or anything, willing himself to smile at the class though his hands were shaking at his sides. 

You’d think being a few hundred years old would get you used to this sort of thing, but apparently not. 

“Hi there! I’m Drake Soga, I’m, uh…” ...he was in the course more for a hobby, on top of being able to meet Shuuichi, but...people were here with careers in mind and… “I-I want to find things!”

Drake’s skin, usually in pallor despite having obviously been a darker color at some point, did start to deepen a little. Turns out even not freshly blooded vampires could still blush, huh. “Detect...things...detective.” The man was already wilting, halfway to his chair even if he hadn’t even said his “interesting fact”. “...I collect succulents.” 

...surely that could’ve gone worse…

...probably not by much.

Shuuichi looked up at Drake curiously. Oh. Another detective… Shuuichi had been certain by this point he was the only person here for that. Well, that was kind of a relief…

When Drake sat back down-- well, sort of melted back down-- Shuuichi gave Drake a small smile, before saying to him, “What are the odds we would have sat together, huh? Is this your first semester for detective work as well, or have you been at this for a while? It’s my first semester.”

...maybe he hadn’t totally screwed it up. 

Drake just barely resisted hiding his face in his hands, but he was still hunched pretty far down at his desk. But...Shuuichi’s smile made it a little easier to breathe--not that he needed to, but when you lived among humans, it paid to keep the habit up. 

“Fun coincidence…” he murmured before gathering the strength to offer a small smile back as the professor started handing out copies of the syllabus and class outline. “This is my second semester, b-but first for detective stuff. I was taking general stuff last semester to...get ready, you know? Standard writing and applied math and ‘so, you’re living on your own’ kind of classes.”

Scratching his cheek sheepishly, Drake offered another smile. “Is it weird to be a little relieved the other detective-focused person in this course is starting on the same foot? Like...this is an intro course, but some of the people here are...a little intimidating…” In that they were going to be pretty focused on something they wanted to start a career in, while this was just going to be a chapter in Drake’s life so he could really take all the time he wanted… Maybe it was good motivation not to keep a record of being a fair-weather student.

“I don’t think so. It’s kinda nice to know there’s someone sort of… in the same boat.”

Sort of. Shuuichi had actually been a detective literally most of his life, and now had to go back to square one, with no idea what he was expecting to… be able to do. He suspected this course wouldn’t be nearly as difficult than training growing up, but at the same time, was worried that he was underestimating what was coming… and at the exact same time, ugh, what if he wasn’t…

Shuuichi blinked, lost in his head for a moment, before glancing up at the teacher, shyly taking the passed around material and handing Drake his copy, as he said softly, “Well, anyway…it’s nice to meet you. Maybe if the class requires it, we could study together… though,” Shuuichi raised an eyebrow, looking at the long syllabus with a somewhat skeptical, dry look, “I can’t imagine how much studying ‘ethics’ will need.”

Studying together??? And Shuuichi offered it himself?? YESSS!!!! It was all worth it!

Drake laughed softly, scanning through the syllabus himself. “You never know. If there’s anything I can pass on about taking classes here, is that the work is surprisingly involved. Like…” He sighed, looking at a paper that was likely going to act as a mid-term project. “I don’t know how good you are with history, but choosing the event of a law passing and being able to argue both sides of it, and if rejecting it would’ve been unethical in the eyes of the government? Eurg...I met the head archivist when I needed to fix some paperwork when I moved here, and it felt like she could set me on fire just from her glare! Maybe I’ll choose something I can research from a library…”

“Miss Soroida? Yeah, she’s a ‘treasure’.” Shuuichi mumbled, rolling his eyes, while the teacher went over the syllabus with the class. “But she’s harmless. She’ll just glare at you the whole time, she won’t actually refuse you anything. Is there…” Shuuichi frowned, curious, “Is there a library outside of the castle? Or is that the one you’re talking about?”

The archivist had seemed very human, from what he could tell in their brief interaction, and, admittedly, that didn’t count someone as being safe, but...well, she didn’t seem malicious. Just annoyed, mostly. Which was kind of terrifying...but the kind of terrifying you could still go through. 

Nodding at Shuuichi’s assessment, Drake then gave the man a surprised look. “I...mean, the castle library is the most comprehensive one...I mean, probably in the whole country, but, yeah, there are a lot of other libraries. There’s the one on campus, and one out on the west end in the residential district, and...well, I think there’s more than that...but I know those ones for sure.”

“The castle’s a bit of a walk from my place, so if I don’t have business, I usually just go to the one in the west end, if I’m not at school. Haven’t run into any issues yet, about there not being something I’m looking for.” Considering Shuuichi lived in the same building as the best library in Dicea, it made sense he wouldn’t have had to go looking for any others. It was probably safer for him to stick closer to home too.

Shuuichi paused, trying to imagine going to a library and not randomly getting an uncomfortable flashback… before smiling slightly. “That sounds nice. Maybe I’ll check out the one near you, next time I need to do some research.”

The ex-detective sighed, though, the conversation cut off as the teacher warned, “Due to the nature of this class, there will be a lot of classroom discussions and group projects. Just be prepared to get to know everyone in here, and be respectful of any different or for-’ they corrected themselves immediately, ‘-newly introduced ideas or beliefs.”

Maybe they hadn’t meant it like this. But all Shuuichi could hear was ‘Don’t freak out the first time the Luminary opens his mouth and says something horrifying.’

Shuuichi managed to surprise Drake again, and it was still the very start of their first class. Even going to the university library he could understand, since Shuuichi would be on campus anyway for classes. But...all the way out to the west end, to go to a library that, yeah, would do the trick, but had fewer books than the one in the same building he lived in? 

...was...Shuuichi trying to befriend him?

...Drake felt oddly touched, his eyes watering slightly as a little, pleased smile grew on his face. Befriending Shuuichi would help out his plans a hell of a lot, but he’d been prepared not to push for it, lest he scare the man away. Instead...huh. It’d been a while since someone wanted to be his friend. 

Pulling himself together, Drake sighed softly, looking a bit unenthused with the announcement. “...you would hope people would already be prepared for that. If you can’t hear anyone that believes different things than you, how are you ever expected to grow? Or to be trusted to defend people or give them justice or ever truly understand why anything happens? The world isn’t made of clones, for fuck’s sake…”

Shuuichi gave Drake a curious look, raising an eyebrow before saying softly, “In my experience, people struggle with it more than you’d expect. I think, even knowing the world is big and full of people who think differently from you, that there’s always a part of you that assumes some things are just… common sense. A sort of morality that any human being would be born with, rather than something you’re raised to believe. I think it disturbs some people, to realize it’s taught rather than just a part of us…”

Because the teacher was now just answering general questions the other students were asking about the course, Shuuichi asked, “Have you ever done any major traveling, Drake? I just moved here from Luminary, if you… haven't heard of me before.” Shuuichi confessed, a little embarrassed that he just sorta assumed Drake would know he was.

Drake’s expression softened as he considered Shuuichi’s point. It was...really scary, learning all about how the world worked, and that for the majority of it, it didn’t so much “work” as “happened to fall together”. Even being someone that could see the future, Drake had known since he was a child that it was more like...seeing a probable future. Nothing was set in stone--that was why he was here in the first place, making sure that the future he saw with Shuuichi would happen. 

The universe was just...chaos. 

But considering how long ago he’d learned that, and considering that when he’d learned it there were...more immediate things to be scared of, it was easy to forget how much you wanted to make sense of things. To believe there was order. 

Drake smirked, then laughed a bit at himself. “Aw man...look at me trying to get on my high horse. Calling me out on it immediately...thanks for keeping me honest, Shuuichi. Accepting the belief that some people want to believe there are inherent beliefs is a pretty important one to keep in mind, huh.” Especially for a detective. Shuuichi already had his game on. 

And while Drake did know that Shuuichi had been a detective before, at least vaguely...he sent the man a sheepish look. “I didn’t make the connection until you said your name but… It hasn’t really happened much to me, but I’ve found it a little embarrassing when people think they already know all about you. Yeah, I read the announcement in the paper but...I mean, I don’t really know you at all.”

...it didn’t feel good lying that much, especially after Shuuichi was making this effort to be kind and friendly, but...what, he couldn’t just tell the guy, oh, yeah, I see the future and your daughter is going to cause the downfall of the species I hate--oh, yeah, there are other intelligent species than humans, by the way, vampire here--and so I decided to get into criminal law to make sure you’d be safe. Perfect introduction, and not creepy in the slightest!

But. Well. He’d been warned. When you were a vampire living among humans, you needed to lie a lot, even to people you liked. 

“I’ve actually been to Luminary,” Drake offered, not wanting to focus so much on Shuuichi’s situation, “Though I don’t know how much you’d count it as traveling--I was just a little kid, before the war started. My mom was from Luminary, and we were visiting her family once I was old enough to travel, I’m told. Barely remember it, honestly.”

He thought for a moment before shrugging. “It was really hot.”

Shuuichi lit up a little, “Oh… wow. You’re half Luminary? Coincidence on top of coincidence. You’ll have to tell me about your mom at some point, I’d be interested to know which part of Luminary she came from… oh, sorry. It looks like they’re going to start teaching from the material now. I’ll talk to you more later, Drake.”

Shuuichi, feeling much better about this now, got ready to start taking notes. He was sitting next to a half-Luminary newbie detective who, frankly, seemed pretty similar to him in disposition, which was relaxing. And, well… no one had laughed. So…

Honestly, Shuuichi had forgotten all about the twenty minute timelimit. Outside, Kaito gave him an extra five minutes, just in case, smiled to himself, and headed out.

-

Kokichi, while already missing Shuuichi’s presence in the office--he and Nadya were talking about maybe getting him some pastries to celebrate his new school life--was pleased, and a little proud to hear that Shuuichi had made it to class safely and was evidently engaged enough to stick with it. However, he did keep an eye on the clock, and, after factoring in travel time, promptly left to make it to campus about five minutes before Shuuichi’s last class of the day let out.

...it was a little novel and awe-inspiring, just...walking onto campus. Knowing that his mom and uncles and all their friends had done the same decades before. That they had favorite spots here, stories about things that happened over in that building or near this bench area… It wasn’t quite the same, since he wasn’t a student, but...it was still a nice feeling, and Kokichi looked around campus with almost an air of nostalgia until he found Shuuichi’s class building and waited patiently outside of it.

Saying goodbye to Drake, avoiding the gaze of John and not noticing Katlyn try to get his attention briefly before he left, Shuuichi headed to the front of the building, sighing a bit in relief to be free of the social interactions. That hadn’t been so bad…

“Oh, Kokichi! Over here!” Shuuichi called out, seeing his boyfriend looking around the campus, heading over to him, a little slow as his back protested the hard chair he had been sitting in for the last near two hours. Getting up to him, Shuuichi smiled softly at him, “Hey. Thanks for coming to walk me home.”

Kokichi perked as he heard Shuuichi’s voice, breaking out into a grin when he saw the comfortable ease in his boyfriend’s countenance. It was a decision only Shuuichi could make...but Kokichi’d had a good idea that classes would be good for him. It was nice when he turned out to be right. 

Taking Shuuichi’s hand when they were close enough, Kokichi gave it a happy squeeze before pulling Shuuichi into a brief hug. “Congratulations on your first day of class! And I’m happy to walk back with you--it gives me an excuse to be all nosy as I look around campus.” Even still he looked around with appreciation and wonder, though after being there all day, he figured Shuuichi would want to get the heck out of there, so he started their pace home. 

“It really is incredible… How were classes? And do you wanna stop and get drinks or a snack somewhere?”

“Mmmm, tea does sound good,” Shuuichi admitted, squeezing Kokichi’s hand slightly before walking with his boyfriend, Kokichi kind enough to not move as quickly as Shuuichi knew he could right now. “Maybe that cafe near Seiko’s pharmacy? Oh, hm… I wonder if I should take the opportunity to see her… or maybe I should wait till Kaito’s with me.”

As he considered this, he gave Kokichi a pleased look in response to the question, “It went fine. It was mostly just discussions of what to expect for the semester, class introductions, that sort of thing… No one did any of the things I was imagining, of course.” Shuuichi sighed, rolling his eyes at himself a little as he adjusted his cap. “Though, I sort of have a mixed bag when it comes to classmates… I met someone nice, at least. Another person aiming for the detective career path sat down next to me just by chance.” 

“He’s kind of a spaz, was the first impression I got.” Shuuichi admitted, shrugging, “He somehow managed to hit himself in the head with his desk. But otherwise he was pretty easy to talk to… oh, and he’s half-Luminary, on his mother’s side. So that was interesting… His name was Drake Soga…”

Shuuichi frowned, looking thoughtful, before saying, “I’m probably going to need to investigate him… I wonder how tight security for the school records is…”

Kokichi just shrugged, planning out a route to take them by the cafe near Seiko’s pharmacy regardless of whether Shuuichi eventually decided he wanted to pop in or not. He didn’t mind waiting around for an appointment, or whatever it was Seiko wanted to talk with Shuuichi about--it was just kind of nice to be out and about. 

Though it was expected, Kokichi was still happy to hear that none of Shuuichi’s fears had come true--and if he was hanging on to every mundanity that Shuuichi said they did in class, well, there really was something to get excited about at the end of all that, so no one could tell the difference! So there! Kokichi winced a little in sympathy, a little...baffled how someone could manage to hit their head on their desk without tripping--which he figured Shuuichi would’ve mentioned--but he brightened back up into a grin. “You made a friend!? That’s awesome! Kinda funny that you’re both detectives and have a connection to Luminary--maybe the universe felt like giving Shuu-chan a break today after how much he’s been worrying.”

He’d never heard of ‘Drake Soga’, but...he was looking forward to getting to know the future detective through Shuuichi! ...likely before they got to know each other naturally too. 

Kokichi rolled his eyes a bit, nudging Shuuichi’s side gently. “Probably? Now that Shuu-chan has a name, there’s nothing that’s gonna stop you from looking him up, we both know that.”

Shuuichi nodded slightly at that, eyes looking for the main administration building. He had had to sign up to the school through there, so he knew where it was…

Briefly, Shuuichi considered asking Kokichi if he wanted to go break into an office real quick. In his current state, it’d be so much easier with an accomplice. Someone willing to turn inconvenient gazes the other direction, maybe cause a fuss long enough that Shuuichi could get copies of what he wanted…

...man he missed Maki…

But he decided against it. Kokichi was great for a lot of things, but crime wasn’t one of them. Shuuichi would have to find another way. Maybe he could use the pregnancy to his benefit somehow? Hm…

“Yeah, he was nice. I’m looking forward to studying with him, assuming he’s everything he says he is…” Shuuichi frowned slightly, before saying, “I’m a little worried about another classmate I spotted though… I think I know him. Sort of. John Snowy. He was the guy that Yasu kinda had to save me from, the day I talked to her. The guy Mr. Bullworth had to talk to for me? It’s a little awkward…”

It took a moment to connect, but Kokichi scowled when he realized the person Shuuichi was talking about. “Oh...him. And he was the same guy, when you and Yasu ran into each other too? Sheesh...you’d think someone who didn’t know how to take a hint wouldn’t be so eager to get into criminal law… Or he lacks complete self-awareness.”

Kokichi stewed in his annoyance for a moment before looking up at Shuuichi in concern. “...you “spotted” him so...he didn’t come up to you again? Do...you want to do anything? Talk to him or...ask that he doesn’t talk to you again or something? If you’re okay being in the same class at all, you could probably talk to your professor and ask that you two don’t be paired together for projects. And Kai-chan and I’ll back you up with whatever you wanna do!”

Shuuichi considered it… before shaking his head slightly. “It’s sorta weird… I kind of want to get an opportunity to get into an argument with him,” Shuuichi admitted, shrugging slightly. “Probably not really. I’d probably not want it to actually happen if it did… but seeing him made me feel kind of aggressive and defensive. I think there’s a part of me that wants to get into a confrontation with him… but only because I don’t really find him that intimidating. He spent most of the class just avoiding my gaze…”

“...mmm, maybe I’ll feel different about it later.” Shuuichi sighed, smiling slightly in exasperation at himself, “I’ve done this to myself before. Got all… ready to be aggressive to someone that, when it finally came down to it, I didn’t really have the follow through to really fight against… Fuyuhiko was like that, actually. And I ended up getting high with him and his…” Shuuichi paused. It had never felt good to call Peko this. If only because Peko’s acceptance of it, mixed with everyone else's total refusal to accept it, had made it feel particularly wrong… it felt like a true insult, rather than just a fact. But… “... his indentured bodyguard. It’s funny how things turn out sometimes.”

Sometimes it was hard to remember, others impossible to forget, but it was moments like that that Kokichi thought painted Shuuichi in such a...Luminary light. Or maybe just a facet of personality that Kokichi hadn’t interacted with much until he’d met his Luminaries. Just a desire to sit on aggression rather than go out of your way ahead of time to smooth things over. 

Like most things, Kokichi’s opinion was judged on a case by case basis, but...if this John guy wasn’t actually causing any more problems...then he was actually a little excited to hear about the day Shuuichi and John finally got into a debate, and how Shuuichi would naturally wipe the floor with him, his natural competitiveness and personal spite driving Shuuichi to overpower any opponent. 

And maybe leading to better understanding later on, though that might just be his own naive hopes poking in again. 

“Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu and...his bodyguard, huh? Were you all geared up because of his misunderstanding with Kai-chan? And...the bodyguard, was she the one that used to compete with Maki-chan in your school’s field day events? She...shoot, I remember her having a cool rhythm to her name…”

“Her name was Peko, and yes, she was the one who was so competitive with Maki. Honestly, for a few years there, Fuyuhiko and his group were sort of our group’s, like… rivals? Nemeses? We spent a lot of time and energy just constantly trying to beat each other in everything, getting into fights and spars and all sorts of things… We hated each other, really, and I got just as caught up in it as everyone else did.”

As they approached the cafe, Shuuichi smiled lightly, before saying, “But, hating someone that you interact with on a near daily basis, for years and years… it becomes its own sort of relationship. It doesn’t have to. I had plenty of bullies that made my life miserable for only a year or two that, if I saw them right now, I’d maybe spit on them if they were on fire, and not much else… but that wasn’t what this situation was.”

“Sometimes you hate someone for so long, and get so caught up in their lives, that eventually you realize you’re more invested in them than you are in the dozens of friendly acquaintances that you’ve met since starting the feud with them. And then sliding from heated, furious rivals to friends becomes this weird little thing you just… fall into.”

Shuuichi thought back to so, so, so many murder cases and amended, “Or you end up killing each other. That happens too. Though, in defense of my observations, plenty of familial, romantic, or friendly relationships end in murder too. Turns out lots of strong emotions can turn into true closeness or just straight up murder, negative or postive. Humans aren’t good at handling strong emotions. It gets away from a lot of people.”

Kokichi snorted softly, listening to Shuuichi recount the antics with their high school rivals, finding the whole thing a bit over-dramatic and silly...but completely believable, when he considered his friends. Even before considering what they must’ve been like as teenagers. Kokichi wouldn’t doubt for a second anything he said happened. 

“Mm… They do say the opposite of love isn’t hate, but apathy, and I’d say that it’s the opposite of hate too. Maybe...tolerance would be a better term for it in that context. Like in the range of emotions...it’s like an omega symbol, where love and hate are the two little inward points. Different, but close enough together that it’s just a little hop.”

Then, naturally, the flat outward parts would be...obsession of love and hate, an excess of each emotion. Unfortunately...not new information to Kokichi, how even an excess of love could turn deadly. 

Sighing, Kokichi looked over the drink menu, deciding what he wanted to get. “Moderation in all things, even the things you think are pretty good. Not to get all sappy on you, but...that’s part of why I get so excited when you and Kai-chan have your own things going on. It made me really nervous for a long time that you guys didn’t really have lives outside of spending time with me. I’m glad I could remind myself to be patient.”

Shuuichi laughed slightly at that, before confessing, “I know how it must have looked from your perspective, but it… never really felt like I had a free moment to get entirely wrapped up in our relationship. I’ve really only had not much going on since…” Shuuichi tried to think, before saying, “I suppose since the withdrawal effects started lightening up… no, maybe since Maki, you, and Kaito finally let me off house arrest. Before that, I was basically tied to Maki’s hip. It’s hard to be dependent on you when she’s ensuring I’m dependent on her.”

“These last few months were a relief in comparison… but, you’re still ultimately right. Now that I’m more or less free to pursue whatever I want to do, it’s nice to finally be out doing something. Kaito though… I don’t really know what’s going on in his head. He’s pretty wrapped up in us, right now. All of us, me, you, Tim, baby… I’ve tried talking to him a little about it. Well, not that specifically, but, just in general how he is…”

As they got to the front of the line, Shuuichi sighed, “He keeps promising to talk to me when ‘he knows what he’s feeling’ first. Says he can’t articulate it. I think he’s a little lost, honestly.”

Shuuichi ordered his drink, and waited patiently for Kokichi to order his, before waiting by the drop off counter for them to be prepared. 

Kokichi nodded consideringly (and pretended not to notice the slight pause in Shuuichi’s speech). It was...very fair. Shuuichi had had...even calling it a rollercoaster was an understatement. He’d never really had a chance to withdraw into himself, let alone invest everything into their relationship. But...still, Kokichi was glad that Shuuichi was getting out to have his own life before it even became a question. To anyone actually seeing the whole situation and not being buffeted by Kokichi’s anxieties, anyway. 

Kokichi told the barista his order and brought out his purse to pay, just giving Shuuichi an affectionate little shoulder touch when he made a sound, insisting that he wanted to treat him after the first day of classes, and as they walked over to the little waiting area...he thought. 

Nodding slowly, Kokichi leaned his head against Shuuichi’s arm. “...I think he came to...some sort of revelation, or something, recently, and he’s still thinking about it. I mean...I’m happy we all had that talk before Unity, but...Kai-chan reacted to some stuff differently than I thought he would’ve. And...I think that’s a good thing, but…” Kokichi shrugged. “...I don’t think it’s bad if he’s lost or thinking something through, right now. We’ll be here when he wants to talk about it.”

Shuuichi took the opportunity to steal Kokichi for himself when his boyfriend leaned against him, wrapping his arms around him loosely and hugging him for a moment as he said, “Oh… perhaps this isn’t fair to say but… I’m really not all that worried. Kaito has those really terrible lows, but he always bounces back from them. Then he just… keeps going. If there’s someone I don’t really have to worry about being okay ‘eventually’, it’s him.”

Shuuichi let the hug go when their drinks arrived, grabbing both of them and handing Kokichi his, before saying, “Do you want to sit down a bit? Or, we can drink them on the way… I really should just talk to Seiko. Get that over with since we’re here already.”

Kokichi felt himself warm--though he’d been warm all afternoon, really--when Shuuichi wrapped him up in a hug, pleased and content despite his bit of worry for Kaito. “I know he’ll be okay, even if I didn’t think this was a good turn thing...but I’m still gonna worry. I worry about you guys a lot...not ‘cause you’re doing a lot of worrying stuff, but just ‘cause I care about you.”

Sipping at his drink--a sweet milk tea--Kokichi already started to lead the way to Seiko’s pharmacy. “Let’s go see Seiko--I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you, on top of the appointment stuff she wanted you for.”

Kokichi hadn’t been to the pharmacy too often by himself other than his check-ins with Cedar’s treatment plans, but it was just as busy as the last time he was in, only that there was someone else at the counter, ringing customers up and giving directions to where specific things were. Getting their attention between people, Kokichi asked if they could go see Seiko, and the clerk disappeared for a moment before giving them the okay to enter. 

While there were a few dividing shelves sectioning off the area behind the counter, it really was like an entirely different area in the back room. Seiko was apparently setting a few things safely off to the side before she turned, greeting them. “P-prince Kokichi, Shuuichi, good afternoon! Is...there a-anything pressing or...are you here for the check-up I asked about?”

Ever since he had started seeing Dr. Tenchi, and the medicine had stopped updating every other week and things had basically settled down into a fairly straightforward routine, Shuuichi hadn’t seen a whole lot of Seiko. Which had its ups and downs. In some ways, it was nice not seeing her all the time. Seiko was associated with a lot of tough feelings. On the other hand, she had plenty made up for those tough feelings over time, and while Shuuichi would never feel entirely comfortable with the idea of her being a ‘friend’, she was, admittedly, more trusted now than he had used to feel about her.

So, he smiled slightly to see her, already a little tired in her presence as he bowed his head slightly, “Hello, Dr. Kimura. Um, no, there’s nothing pressing. Kokichi mentioned a few days ago that you wanted to see me? I’m sorry I delayed it so long. Is now a good time?” 

“N-no worries, Shuuichi--now works! Um…” Seiko looked around for a moment, seemingly gathering her thought process and what she needed to do, even more rested, still her slightly haphazard self. “So...with a few other patients, their spore levels have been zeroed out, so they have opted to come off the medicine. So far, there hasn’t been any reaction to that, so I and their various caretakers have offered to start easing people off i-if their counts support it. F-for you and Kaito...I would like to do one last test, and if your count is zero, as I think it should be by now...I’ll send word that you can stop taking the medicine.”

She talked as she gathered supplies, wordlessly offering Shuuichi a seat on the “doctor’s office” section of the office, getting everything ready to draw blood if he opted in. “While there haven’t been any observed reactions to coming off the medicine, I-I’m still taking regular blood tests--about once a week--for every patient for...well, the foreseeable future, at the moment, but it’s not going to be forever. Perhaps...two months, just to make sure that no spores come back--while seeing a count of zero should indicate that a patient has no spores left in their system to replicate, I’m not discounting the possibility of dormant spores, so...the vigilance in the testing is just to cover that possibility. As for why I’m testing every patient, to make sure that we’re not going to miss something because of rare or individual reaction…”

The doctor sighed softly, offering a small smile to her patients, meaning this...a little more strongly than what she’d said to others. “Basically...we’re starting to see the end of all this.”

Shuuichi was a little surprised to hear that she had taken other patients off the medicine before trying it on himself and Kaito. To be honest, Shuuichi had just sorta been assuming this whole time that, well… he was the main guinea pig for Seiko’s medicine. He realized, in that moment, that he had kind of believed that Seiko had been going off the theory that if it worked on him, well, then it was safe to use on her other patients.

… Shuuichi felt a strong rush of emotion that started in his stomach, painfully familiar these days, and he got annoyed with himself. Don’t get teary over nothing, Shuuichi, not right now, come on… “Well, that sounds good,” he finally managed to murmur out, hoping the tightness in his throat wasn’t as obvious to them as it was to him.

Shuuichi sat patiently as Seiko started the fairly quick process of drawing his blood. It really never lasted very long. The tie around his bicep, a quick prick, one vial, then another, then another. Shuuichi had used to find something mildly fascinating in watching the vials so quickly fill with his own blood… but a lot of that fascination had, he later realized, been because of its strange, pink color. 

Now? The vials all came out red, and Shuuichi found himself barely glancing at them, usually. But, knowing that all of this might be done in a few months… Shuuichi glanced at the vials, considering them for a moment, before murmuring quietly to Seiko, “...does this make me human again?”

He almost felt an impulse to apologize for the dark thought. If he had said it to anyone else but Seiko, he might have felt guilty, or foolish… but Shuuichi really did believe he had become something other than human, for a moment there. And Seiko had been there to see it. Even if she didn’t agree, which he suspected she didn’t… she had seen him at the worst of it. Insane and body literally morphing… something inhuman.

But… his blood was red now, and his mind was his, and he might not have any more pollen anymore.

Was he normal again?

Seiko chatted a bit with Kokichi as she drew the blood, a little amused to see how he immediately turned away, looking idly at some of the inventory that hadn’t been sorted yet and were still in the back office. “So...how are things with that new healer?”

“It’s alright,” Kokichi shrugged. “We did that moxibustion thing today...and I know you said it was fine, and I trust that, but seeing her light all those pots… It was kind of nerve-wracking. And I got so warm it kinda got to that itchy stage, yanno? But...I haven’t felt cold since, and it’s been a few hours. It’s kinda crazy.”

Seiko didn’t look particularly impressed, but Kokichi wasn’t looking at her anyway. “I see. I’m glad you’ve gotten some comfort out of it…”

Drawing the blood didn’t take long, so that was all they really discussed before Seiko finished, moving to get the blood into one of her temperature controlled sterile boxes quickly, though she looked back at Shuuichi almost in surprise at his soft question. Then, her expression firmed a bit, though it wasn’t unkind. “You were al-always human, Shuuichi. But...there was a parasite infecting your cells, so in that vein...yes. Given that your count is zero when I run the t-tests...you’re all human again. N-nothing but Shuuichi Saihara cells in your body...other than your daughter. But that’s quite a bit easier to understand.”

Shuuichi nodded at that, a little just… relieved and, at the same time, almost nonplussed about it. Human. Human again. Nothing unusual at all, beyond Baby. 

...Shuuichi smiled lightly. 

Then he glanced at Kokichi in confusion, as he said, “What the heck is moxibustion? Did you have an appointment today? I thought you were in the office all day today?”

Kokichi shook his head a little. “Nah, Nadya and I realized we were gonna be starting on a big project next--preparing for all the possible water damage reports when the snow melts at the start of spring--so we took a short day today, and Cedar had enough time to do my session today instead of tomorrow. And moxibustion is like...applied heat?”

Seiko nodded, though there was something of a sigh in her voice as she started sterilizing everything she’d used for Shuuichi. “It’s the use of a burning applique of mugwort around certain areas of the body to “stimulate” various systems. Miss MacAvoy’s claim is that it can improve circulation--something that may be why Kokichi feels cold most of the time. Though…” she frowned, “I’ve only seen poor circulation be the cause of relative coldness in the limbs compared to the core of the body, not in the case that the whole body is a uniform coolness. But it’s not my area of study, admittedly.”

Shuuichi reached out towards Kokichi, pulling him into another hug, gently running his fingertips up and down his back as he said, “You feel warmer, though? Has it helped?”

“...I really do want to double check the background check the castle did on her,” Shuuichi said, leaning his head against Kokichi’s chest from his sitting position, a tight, frustrated look on his face. “I know that’s just paranoia talking. But… after what happened with Kaito and Ford… you’ll tell one of us if she does anything strange?” Shuuichi asked, leaning back and looking up at Kokichi, a stern look on his face. 

Kokichi happily went into Shuuichi’s hug, nuzzling at his shoulder now that the blood part was all done. “I do… It feels like I’ve been hanging out in the sun all day.”

‘Because you’ve just been under thick padding with fire on top,’ Seiko didn’t say, though she did share a brief look with Kokichi when Shuuichi mentioned his distrust of healers. It wasn’t the fault of background checks, what happened to Dr. Ford, but...well. Out of everything, she would’ve hoped the folks working at the castle would’ve learned a thing or two about finding appropriate healers. 

“I’ll tell you,” Kokichi affirmed, before he laughed softly. “And Nazumi-chan is still sitting in on my sessions. I think she was seriously considering decking Cedar when she brought the lighter out, and Aunty made her place the pot and the separating pad on her first for a bit, just to make double sure it wasn’t gonna burn me or anything. And it was hot, but definitely not burning.”

He grasped onto one of his sleeves, hiking it up with his shirt and sweater and all, just to prove it. His skin was a little pink, but not otherwise irritated. “It’s already been fading, and...I mean, that’s what just happens when you touch something warm for a while, right? Nothing hurts, promise.”

Shuuichi felt a little relieved to hear about Nazumi, honestly. That was relieving, to know she was so thorough. Shuuichi looked over the slightly pink spots, and then he glanced at Seiko, trying to gauge her reaction. She didn't look worried. Just something mildly… exasperated? Unimpressed?

Reaching over to gently put his fingertips slightly against the spot, Shuuichi eventually sighed, nodding, “Alright. I’m sorry to fuss. It sounds like it’s fine then…”

Getting up from the chair, Shuuichi rolled his sleeve down, before putting his jacket back on, looking around for his tea again before picking it up, relieved it was still warm before turning to Seiko, bowing his head again, “We’ll send Kaito here when we get back to let you get his blood as well. And, I’ll be back next week. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Dr. Kimura. Is there anything else?”

“Of course, Shuuichi.” Seiko left her work for a moment, seeing the two young men out. Two men who, despite what it had looked like at several points...had made it out the other side. One almost parasite free after months of fear and misery, nearly getting close to ending his life...and while Seiko didn’t think much of this ‘world-traveled healer’s treatment plan...Kokichi was doing better in his own right, and Seiko could be happy for him. Enough to caution that she didn’t think Miss MacAvoy’s plan would actually “cure” him, but...well, he was an adult, and he could make his own decisions about things he wanted to try--within the realm of things she wouldn’t step in on for the sake of his health. He wasn’t doping up on speed, so she’d leave it be.

“You two are my patients--I will always try t-to make time for you.” Giving them a little wave, she just shook her head with a smile. “That’s it; I’ll see you both soon. Have a good afternoon.”

-

Kaito was sitting by the window seat, watching the view. He had been fussing with one of his figurines not long before, but now it was drying in the winter sun, and while it was likely ready to be touched by now, Kaito had fallen into just sitting there quietly, thinking idly about things.

Shuuichi was off to class again-- it had been a relief to hear his boyfriend talk about his day like it was something that actually interested him again-- and Tim would be picked up by Haneda in about an hour. Kokichi would probably be in the office for a while longer too with Nadya, working on some big project… something about water damage? Kaito wasn’t sure.

The point was, there was no one around, and Kaito wasn’t really expecting anyone to be. Which was nice, if a little dull sometimes…

And so, he was mildly startled to hear the sound of the door unlocking. Looking over to the front door with curious surprise. “Hm?”

Kokichi stretched his neck out a bit as he unlocked their bedroom door, feeling...well, not satisfied, he wouldn’t until the project was done, but they’d decided to call it a day for now, finishing with the northeastern sectors of the country. It was a little weird, their new pace. It was still faster than anything Kokichi managed on his own, but...he’d gotten real used to barely having to research at all, Shuuichi always having the data he needed by the time he needed it. Research was kind of fun, in its own way, so he didn’t mind it, but...hm. Maybe he’d work a little longer after Nadya’s shift, setting aside smaller projects for that time. 

...probably only once or twice a week though, if he didn’t want to miss therapy and his appointments with Cedar...and art classes would probably start up again soon, and he’d already missed one set of workshops, just recovering from illness… Hrrrrmmmm… Socializing was important...they’d made a pact to keep with it and everything, but...he couldn’t skip his health appointments, and work was, well, his job. The entire system wasn’t reliant on him, which allowed him to be working half days and take days off when he needed to, but...it was starting to feel like he was barely working at all and...it didn’t feel good. 

Kokichi pondered over this as he came into the bedroom, idly re-locking the door, and he didn’t notice Kaito at all until he turned again, physically jumping a bit in shock, a hand coming up to his chest. “Eep!!”

“Fuck… Hi, Kai-chan...guess I must’ve really been in my head.”

Kaito grinned, pretty happy to see it was Kokichi. Sure, it wasn’t that many different people it could be. Only Shuuichi, himself, Kokichi, Hajime and Ikuo had keys. But, it’d have been bad Shuuichi had apparently decided to ditch class, and out of the rest of the three… hell yeah! Kokichi was here! 

Chuckling a little, Kaito gave Kokichi a little wave as he said, “Missed the six-foot red-head at the window, huh? I know, I know, I’m incredibly sneaky. It’s a curse.”

Invitingly, he waved Kokichi over, wanting a hug as he said, “Hey, babe. You’re back sooner than I expected. Everything alright?”

Kokichi laughed along with his husband, accepting the invitation and coming over to the window seat, leaning in to give Kaito a hug, nuzzling into his shoulder a bit. “Things are fine--Nadya-chan and I just came to a natural stopping point, and we didn’t wanna just start the next part then break for the day. I didn’t have any other work prepared to do so...yeah, it’s a little early. When we start working on the southern half of the country, though, I’m expecting some long days--more populous, both in cities and in farms so...more prep work to do.”

He breathed in Kaito’s scent, that nice sweet, woody scent, and kissed Kaito’s cheek. “...how’s your day been? Seems like it’s not often you get a free afternoon, between cooking classes and therapy.”

“Hm?” Kaito felt a warm rush of affection at the kiss, and hearing that Kokichi was done for the day? He decided to chase it, as with a swift motion, he swept Kokichi off his feet, pulling him into his lap and holding him against his chest. “Ha. Got ya. Mine now.”

Holding him close, placing small, soft kisses against his cheek, Kaito mused lightly, “It’s been good… painting figurines. Made that little orc guy there blue. Think it came out alright… Things okay without Shuuichi to help? Sort of sounds like he dropped office work at a rough time.”

Kokichi giggled in delight as Kaito scooped him up, solving the unasked question of how long he wanted to indulge in the hug before climbing up onto the other side of the window seat--surprise! Infinite time, and he could just sit in Kaito’s lap!

He looked over to the figurine Kaito indicated, humming appreciatively over the nice color and evenness of the paint, always impressed with the colorful, fun critters Kaito elevated with his paint jobs. “Lookin’ good, hun. And the figurine’s pretty too.”

Snickering a little, he shrugged. “It’s slower, for sure, but we’ll get it done. Maybe I will put up a hiring flyer for a new researcher, though...I dunno. I kinda feel weird about working so little, these days. Kinda wanna start setting aside easy solo projects for me to do after Nadya-chan’s shift and just stay a little later than I have been…”

Kokichi hadn’t been really planning on explaining his thought process to his husband but...it was nice to think aloud. And maybe Kaito would be able to offer some helpful insight too. “But...like, I already have a bunch of stuff I do in the afternoon, you know? Therapy and my appointments with Cedar...and I think I’d always plan to end before Shuu-chan’s classes, even if I don’t end up walking home with him. And...that leaves art classes but...I mean, I made the same pact we all did, about socializing and stuff. Feel like it’s a set-back to stop going to work more…”

Kaito glanced out the window somewhat guiltily about the social-pact. Err, right… Kaito hadn’t managed to make any friends in cooking class yet. And, admittedly, he wasn’t trying that hard. He mostly focused on just… learning how to cook, honestly. There were a few people there he could probably get to know if he wanted to, but honestly, he just hadn’t managed to find the desire to yet. It was kind of nice, being in a group of people and not expected to say anything.

He’d get around to it eventually.

Still, he listened to Kokichi, considering his point… “I mean… are things not getting done that need to? Or are you not feeling useful? I mean, I get that, ya know, how sometimes ya just… need a little more to feel productive, even if it’s not needed. Is that what it is?”

Kokichi sighed softly, sprawling himself out belly-down on top of his husband. The warmness of his body had been nice, but it’d worn off by the time he woke up that morning. Probably another iterative treatment…

“...we’re not behind… Things are still being addressed in a reasonable, timely manner. But...I really can’t tell if it’s the workaholic in me gettin’ all excited about efficiency. I just...feel like I could be doing so much more. Not that it’s my whole life, but...more than just a part-time job. ‘Cause it isn’t. It’s my whole job. I have other things I care about and that I’m putting effort into,” Kokichi nudged his chin into Kaito’s shoulder pointedly, “But...it’s my life. My work for the country is more than just...a freetime hobby to me.”

“I don’t wanna put in twelve-, eighteen-hour days anymore, but...I could do more than four.”

Kaito nodded slowly, before frowning, “...when do you start during the day? Sorry, I thought I knew this, but maybe I don’t. If you’re only doing four hour days, I don’t know if eating into your afternoons is the way to go, considering you get up early to train with me and the kids. Couldn’t you just use more of the early part of the day?”

“...I start work around eight, after I finish breakfast.” Kokichi frowned softly, not the biggest fan of this plan either. “...we get up at six, train ‘til about seven-thirty, I shower and eat, then start my day. Then...we work until lunch--and, yeah, sometimes we go til like one, but still--then...I have class or therapy or an appointment with Cedar, and sometimes I, like, hang out with my dad or other dad or Amber and them, then, well, this is new, but I pick up Shuu-chan around three-thirty and I hang out with someone or read or draw or something until dinner, then we hang more and…”

Kokichi sighed. “...Maybe I should fit something in after dinner…”

Kaito frowned, before huffing. Clutching Kokichi tighter before muttering, “...well, I’m kinda biased… but I like having you in the evenings…”

Rubbing small, soothing circles into Kokchi’s back, Kaito sighed, before admitting, “But, your work is important… if you feel like you need to put more time into it, I’ll support you. But I’d rather you didn’t put effort into it just for effort’s sake. Like… if it’s necessary? Fuck yeah, hundred percent, you can do it. But, if it’s not? Wasted energy for its own sake is only good for distracting ya from things that actually need to get done.”

Kaito took one of Kokichi’s hands, and started idly playing with his thin fingers, before kissing them gently, before saying, “...but, I trust ya. You’re gonna be king someday, ‘Kichi. Or, leader, head Ouma, whatever. It’s ultimately up to you what’s necessary or not. If you’re saying you need to take more time to work more, then I believe ya.”

Kaito kissed at the pinky finger, before grinning down at him, “I trust your judgment, babe.”

Kokichi relaxed like a goo on top of Kaito, enjoying all the little rubs and affectionate touches. It wasn’t like they hadn’t had any time for each other lately, and it wasn’t like Kokichi was going touch starved, but...times like these were nice. Something that Kokichi knew he needed every now and again now. Just...time with his husband.

And that time was more than just physical. 

Sure Kokichi had only really made acquaintances within his art classes, but...he’d made friends elsewhere, and he never knew when he’d meet someone he clicked with. Not to mention that he just really enjoyed the classes themselves. 

He’d already brushed off taking any time away from his health and...he couldn’t miss training. It was also a health thing, but...it was family time too. Kokichi’s duty was to Dicea, but...he didn’t want to miss out on spending time with his family. There could be so much more he could do...but it wasn’t hurting anything to spend time that...comparatively, mattered so much more to the people around him. 

Kokichi sighed, stroking his fingers against Kaito’s, then against his lips. “...maybe...one night a week, I’ll see what stuff I can do. And maybe if I have free afternoons before I catch Shuu-chan, I’ll stick by the office a little longer...but I won’t move things around. I just...yanno, like spending time with you guys, but if I don’t take time to just relax, I’m gonna lose my mind,” Kokichi groaned, turning his head to nestle against Kaito’s neck. 

“Hmmm?” Kaito gave Kokichi an amused look, smirking a little as Kokichi fussed with his lips, letting him do it for a moment before, entirely playfully, nipping at Kokichi’s finger, smirking harder as he gently captured the digit. He let it go the first tug though, giving the digit an affectionate kiss in apology.

His face sombered a little, though, as he said, “Hey, ya know… you spent a lot of time by yourself before we all got here… it’s okay if you need just straight up time to yourself, ya know. If you need the room to yourself for the evening or something. I can take Shuuichi out on dates or something, give you a break from us… it’s okay, ya know? That shit’s understandable. I’d be exhausted, if I was suddenly bombarded with a bunch of Kaito too.” Kaito chuckled, “I’m an exhausting kinda guy. I know that.”

Kokichi giggled a little, bopping one of his free fingers on Kaito’s nose until he let him go, but he then just rested his hand on Kaito’s chest, still room for it even with him laying on him. “Oh, Kai-chan is a lot. I love all the excitement, even in the downtimes…”

“But I also find time to myself,” he gently assured. “Maybe not, yanno, entire days or afternoons or something like that...but for now, that’s how I like it. Smaller moments, then filling the rest of my time with the people I love. If I start getting tired, I know how to get space, promise...but I like this. It makes me happy...you make me happy.”

...maybe there were thoughts behind that, like Kokichi wanting to make the most of the time he had, that...he knew there would be a time where his loved ones wouldn’t get to have Kokichi time anymore, so he tried to fill it up now...and there were times where that was pretty present in Kokichi’s mind. But not now. Right now...he was just happy to be with his loved ones in the current moment, not thinking about the future.

Kaito warmed at that. “...you’re amazing. You know that? I’m never going to get over how lucky I got, when it came to you.”

The older prince rested his arms around Kokichi’s back, happy to just lean back against the window curve, holding his husband to himself, now looking at the new, far more pleasant view of his Kokichi laid against him. He enjoyed just… being around him. Just enjoying Kokichi’s presence, with no extra layers added onto it. Trading small affections.

...smirking, Kaito kissed the top of Kokichi’s head, and teased, “I’m gonna convince you to sing for me.”

Kokichi normally rolled his eyes and turned it around on Kaito when he said things like that, but right then...he just nosed against Kaito’s neck, sure his husband could feel his smile. Being wanted...appreciated and believed in...it was something truly special. Something that Kaito had made him feel over and over and over again, even with their hiccups of misunderstanding. 

“You’ve made such a difference in my life...I can hardly believe how I managed to land such an incredible husband. My best friend…”

And because Kaito was his best friend, of course he said something that made Kokichi huff softly, turning his cheeks pink. “You’re just gonna have to settle for hearing me sing to Baby, alright? Even if it’s...embarrassing...I’m not gonna deprive our daughter of music. It’s good for babies, and if neither of you are gonna sing, then I’m gonna be the one to do it.”

“Nah,” Kaito said, hugging Kokichi tightly for a moment, before relaxing, returning to rubbing affectionately up and down Kokichi’s back. “Haven't you heard? Singing’s good for husbands too. It’s good for, mmm… bonding and mental stimulation and all that good stuff.”

“You wouldn’t deprive your poor, lumbering husband of his much needed stimulation, would you?” Kaito teased, looking down at him, his grin more teeth for a moment, before saying sweetly, “Come on… you must have a favorite song. Something you like to sing yourself. Consider it cultural enrichment. I don’t know very many Dicean songs. Teach me one.”

Kokichi flushed more, knowing he’d be playing right into Kaito’s hand, and...it was embarrassing… He wasn’t a great singer, he knew. That wasn’t the point of singing, he also knew, and he did just enjoy it for the sake of just...taking part in a very human thing to do. ...but it was embarrassing in front of other people, especially if you saw the ‘trying to be nice but having a hard time listening to you’ sort of look. 

“...there’s a song I like, but it’s really depressing. A-and another one that’s a hymn for a religion different than yours. And...silly ones. You don’t wanna hear all that…”

“Oooooooh, depressing songs and hymns. And silly ones! Hell yeah, sounds like I’m in for a show!” Kaito crowed, getting more excited, tapping Kokichi’s back affectionately, before snickering, “Be careful, Kokichi. At this rate, I’m gonna end up learning something. And learning Dicean culture is for nerds. Is that what you want? You want your big, strong husband to be a nerd? Tragic. I’ll never be enough for you.”

Kaito grinned, and then closed his eyes and said, “Let’s negotiate. Start with your favorite one, and if you don’t spontaneously combust by the end of the song? Then we’ll move on to the other ones. We’ll just keep going down the line till my ‘Kichi becomes a gooey puddle of embarrassment. It’s a sacrifice, but one I’m willing to make.”

Kokichi groaned in even more embarrassment, but...well, he wouldn’t have to see Kaito’s face if he was singing into his neck, and it didn’t have to be loud or...passionate. He’d just...go through a stupid one, get Kaito to laugh a bit, then drop it. 

Taking a breath, Kokichi started to sing, really half mumbling the words in a up and down half-melody, but...that kind of worked for the song anyway. 

“In through the nose / And out through your mouth / You are not hungry / But you could still eat / You pour the paint / The color is blue / There’s nothing wrong with your face / Mine looks like that too.”

“I only say sorry when I’m wrong nooooow / I only run the air when it’s warm ooooout / I only write friends that I like nooooow / I only talk trash if I - ‘ve thought it ooooout.”

Kaito snickered, now just lightly patting Kokichi’s back to the beat-- well, as much as he could figure out the beat as Kokichi’s tempo and volume seemed to come and go based on how embarrassed he was with every word.

“Hmmmmmm-hmhm~” Kaito tried to hum along to the second part of it, before finally clapping enthusiastically when Kokichi’s song either ended or his poor husband had just reached his limit, laughing as he said, “Hey, that was great! ‘I only say I’m sorry when I’m wrong nooooow~’” Kaito repeated, matching the notes Kokichi had used the best he could, being way louder than his husband though as he laughed. “That’s a great one! I’m guessing that’s the silly one?”

Kokichi shrank against Kaito’s chest but...didn’t feel the words dying in his throat like he thought. ...to be fair, he kind of sabotaged himself in getting out of this--Kaito wasn’t the type to roll his eyes at silliness, and if you weren’t, then silly songs were kind of fun to join in with, if just to shout the lyrics in a celebration of the absurd. 

Well...then, seriousness. He didn’t want to make Kaito uncomfortable with different beliefs, but...well, Kokichi didn’t believe in the world the lyrics painted, but he’d still thought the song was beautiful 

“Nope, couldn’t you see how depressing it was?” he grumbled, “Sure you’ll be absolutely rolling on the floor cackling at this, then.”

Taking another breath...Kokichi couldn’t help straightening his back a little, saying the words a little clearer, like he wasn’t even physically able to give the hymn a half-hearted hum. 

“Ah, it has been collapsing / The gap in the night / Why don’t you watch it patiently, look!”

The song was in traditional Dicean, so...maybe Kaito wouldn’t even be able to get all the words, but…

“Are you crying? / Are you calling out for me? / You are struggling but smiling while hiding your eyes / I throw a pebble against my shadow / I couldn’t even hold my umbrella under the downpour of rain.”

“Darkness over my head / As such a day it is today / I will take each step firmly / As the moon shines through my eyes again / Before my life comes to an end / It’s a natural thing / I will fall down headlong / And that’s the end / Passing away / In the surrounding bubbles / Let the soul be transmitted away.”

As Kokichi sang, his voice got a bit stronger, more sure in the tune and the words, his foot tapping a little to keep time, like he was part of many voices singing the same thing. 

“Darkness over my head / As such a day it is today / I will take each step firmly / Like how spring comes around repeatedly / When flowers bloom / It’s time to say goodbye / Sunshine, how noisy you are / Even so, you don’t shine down on everyone equally / I’m listening to the sound of heartbeats / And falling into sleep calmly / To my dear / Who lives on the tiny planet / In the beginning of the world / We would be reincarnated endlessly / Time and time again.”

“Ah, it’s crumbling down,” Kokichi sang softly again, “I reach out my hands gently / In this rain that won’t stop / I walk away as the umbrella moves.”

Kaito listened quietly, a small, pleased smile on his face, though he could feel himself wind down a little with this song. It was fast, but Kokichi’s clear enthusiasm for it and its otherwise soft use of notes was soothing, and while Kaito could have probably hummed along to this too, he could tell from his husband’s expression that it clearly meant something to him. So he stayed politely quiet, just trying to absorb it for what it was.

...he only wished he understood it more.

A few parts of it were clearer than others, at least. Something about an umbrella, he definitely got that much. A sound of heartbeats and… a tiny planet. Something about reincarnation? Hmmmm…

When Kokichi finished singing this one, Kaito didn’t clap this time, but he smiled wide and patted out a small, clapping rhythm onto Kokichi’s back as he said, “Eeeeehhh, that was cool… you were really into that one, babe, that was awesome… I can’t tell if that was the depressing one or the hymn though. Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”

He tried to sing pieces of it back, but even having just heard it, Kaito could hear that he was getting the notes slightly off as he murmured, “As the moon shines through my…” he mumbled indistinguishably, before continuing on more firmly, “It’s a natural thing, I will fall… mmm… I will fall down headlong…”

Kaito hummed a few more lines to himself, before saying with more certainty, “Let the soul be transmitted away… hymn?”

Realizing how into it he got, Kokichi hid his face back against Kaito’s neck but...he didn’t feel that bad, honestly. Maybe it was just a result of the song, especially hearing Kaito sing parts back, his pronunciation odd around words that took Dicean accents to a whole ‘nother level, but...he wasn’t really sure what that feeling in his chest, was, hearing Kaito sing the hymn. 

“Ding-ding-ding,” Kokichi chimed, smiling against his husband’s skin. “Would you believe it if I said I didn’t remember which temple I heard it at? But...I dunno. It made me feel really...peaceful when I first heard it. But also...strong. I guess religious music is pretty good at stirring feelings like that.”

“...the last song I was thinking of...is kind of like that for me too. It’s...hopeful, really, but considering…” Well...singing it would explain it better.

Instead of launching straight into the lyrics like the last ones, Kokichi started humming softly, evidently the backing music to the song. 

“Hey it’s me / So you see / I noticed it really in the end / You know, what you had told to me then / Didn’t think / Anything / About it, pushing it from my mind / forgetting but realizing I’m / Running blindly, reckless finally, dreams that lied seemed so true / Don’t like waiting, patience fading, barely making it through / I know this won’t do.”

“Surely if on the day I die / I turn to look at my life / I’d still love each and every moment that I was alive, ah! / Finally if on the day I die / You can’t be there at my side / Once more, simply, repeat / Simply, clearly, tell me.”

Kokichi’s voice went softer again, but not in shyness. More just...because that was how the song was meant to be sung, to him. Like a quiet plea to someone. Like a secret shared in earnest. 

Something he’d wanted badly for a long time.

“Tell it to me more clearly / Making a note of it, hold to it dearly / Telling me 10 at the path, see you there, don’t be late / And other meanings / Without the petals is a flower / Staying alive in our memories, a summer / Giving it words, read / Give it a voice, send / What you had said then.”

“Upon the day I die, I’ll sing of the love of my life / Like you said, every moment was worth it to be alive, ah! / Upon the day I die, you won’t be there at my side / Even now I really can’t believe / Once more / Simply / Clearly / Tell me.”

At first, Kaito had tapped on Kokichi’s back along with the tune, smiling lightly, trying to stay engaged. 

But after a bit, he just sort of… frowned. Before his face sort of went still and blank, the meaning of the song really hitting him later into it. He just rested his hands on Kokichi’s back, and found himself looking out the window while Kokichi sang. 

There was still snow outside. Dicean weather was an abomination, really…

Kaito felt his throat tighten a little at the last verse in particular. He didn’t mean to, but he clutched the back of Kokichi’s shirt in frustration for a moment, just… before loosening his grip, letting out a steadying breath, that neutral expression forced back onto his face.

He doubted Kokichi hadn’t noticed Kaito tensing up as he sang, but when the song was done, Kaito still tried his best to play it off as if nothing had happened, as he smiled softly down at his husband, chuckling a little as he saw his ‘Kichi’s eyes grow a little shiny. Gently tracing a thumb across Kokichi’s lower eyelid, he said, “Hey… that one’s pretty… I can see why you’d want to save the best for last. Very pretty…”

Kaito thought about not asking. It’s not like he couldn’t guess… but it felt cruel to brush by it as if it were nothing, so he smiled warmly and said as if he didn’t know, “You seem to really like that one. You got all soft singing it. Any particular reason?”

Kokichi sighed softly, trying to stop himself from getting all teary over a damn song he sang himself. It had meant more to him in the past few months, of course, but...it had always been something emotional, ever since Kokichi had first heard it. Apparently a popular song for street musicians for a while. 

“...it is depressing, but...like I said. It makes me feel really...happy and hopeful. ...probably for the same reason you kind of hate it.” Kokichi shifted, lifting his head to look Kaito straight on, a soft, knowing look in his eyes. He understood what the tension in Kaito’s body during certain parts had meant. 

...not point in beating around the bush. They both knew. “...I’ve been suicidal for a long time. You and our family and friends have helped a lot with that, but...before all this? Hearing a song like that...hearing someone sing about everything being worth it, that they were happy to see every moment...to be with the people they loved, even if they were gone now…” Kokichi took a shuddery breath, though his smile was soft and true, almost a little exasperated at himself. 

“...it meant a lot, to a person like me. It gave me hope I needed sometimes. And it means even more now, knowing that it’s true.”

Kaito tensed again, and for a second, he was going to ball his fists again… but his hand was currently running through Kokichi’s hair, and he didn’t want to hurt his husband by mistake. So while his fingers instinctively curled, he caught himself before he put any grip into, giving himself a second to collect himself before tentatively returning to combing his fingers through Kokichi’s hair.

He brushed through Kokichi’s hair, looking at those amethyst eyes… and while his stomach was full of a grief that stung like poison every time Kaito gave it more than a passing bit of attention, he still said softly, “Of course it’s true… my ‘Kichi’s always worth it…”

… but then Kaito’s face tightened, and he pulled Kokichi tighter into a hug, and said tensely, “But you could just not go too, and that would be cool. You could just stay with me, and that would be great. Memories are nice, but if I get a say, I think I’d rather you, okay? You is better.”

Kaito knew this wasn’t fair, but then, Kaito was selfish and possessive with the people he loved, and his chest got tighter as he insisted, “So you should stay. You shouldn’t leave me. That’s a rule. Kokichi doesn’t leave Kaito. That’s a rule now…”

Kokichi nodded, bringing up a hand to stroke around the shell of Kaito’s ear. “Actually being together is better, I agree.” 

There was the side of the song that comforted him when it came to other people--that the pain of him one day being gone would be worth all of the happy times they spent together. But...there was the other side too. That no matter how worthless he felt, how much just living pained him...that the happiness was worth it all. That there were people worth living for. 

And as a lonely teenager that sometimes felt like there wasn’t a person in the world that would care if he disappeared...it was something he could cling to. To tell himself, one more day, it’ll be worth it in the end. 

...maybe it was dumb for just some popular song to mean all that to him...but it did. And he’d finally shared it with someone who meant all those things to him too. 

“I’m not planning on leaving,” Kokichi said with a certain...happy air to him. Knowing Kaito’s fear, and wanting to, even if it wasn’t his choice in some cases, directly refute it. Declare it impossible. “I’m gonna stay right here, with my Kai-chan. Memories are something I’m always going to cherish...but we have way too many still left to make. I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

“I’m staying with you.”

Gently, Kaito nodded his head, miserably murmuring to himself, “Yeah… course you are. Course you are…”

A lot of emotions ran through Kaito. It was hard for them not to, when something triggered him thinking about Kokichi’s… whole life situation again. Some of them were in grief for what his husband was going through. Some of them were Kaito’s fears of the future. And, admittedly, there were a few dark, bitter feelings mixed in there too, though he tried not to pay attention too much to those ones. The wolf you feed is the wolf that grows the largest, or however that saying went… If you had told Kaito a year ago that the love of his life was going to be a sickly, suicidal foriegn stranger, Kaito would have been… less than thrilled to start his journey east.

But… Kaito loved Kokichi now. There was no going back from that feeling. It was a real, physical part of him, the devotion he felt to Kokichi. For better or for worse. And… someday. It’d be for worse…

...when they were eighty! Shooting for eighty! Maybe late seventies, but the goal was eighty!!

And Kaito laughed at his own desperate, sad hopes, not nearly as delusional as he’d often like to be. And he took Kokichi’s word as entirely, one hundred percent honest. He’s going to stay. He’s going to stay. 

Chuckling lightly, Kaito leaned back from his desperate hug against Kokichi and sighed, saying, “Course you are. We have so much to do, Kokichi… you have a whole country to run! That’s pretty big. And we have a family to take care of… you can’t go anywhere, Baby’s upbringing is gonna be a wreck if it’s just me and Shuuichi. Have you met us? We will traumatize this poor girl. We need our Kokichi to teach her how to be kind to people, and all about Dicean culture, and sing her Dicean songs…”

“I’ll never be able to recreate that second song for her. I could barely understand some of those words, let along sing it to her. You’ll have to be in charge of teaching Baby traditional Dicean songs, Kokichi. It’s the only way.”

He knew it was hope. But...life and living was just hope sometimes. And everything was worth it if that hope paid off.

Kokichi hugged Kaito back as tightly as he could for a moment before nuzzling into his neck again, smooching a big ol’ kiss against Kaito’s jaw. Laughing lightly, he gently thumped his chin against Kaito’s chest. “Are you kidding? I’m not gonna miss Baby growing up for the world! I’m gonna try and see her every first, and I’m gonna be jealous forever that you’re gonna be the first one of us that gets to see her.”

Sighing dramatically, his eyes dried again, Kokichi flopped his head over to rest on his cheek. “If I must...it’ll be my solemn duty, out of the three of us being the only one that can actually speak and read Traditional Dicean, to teach her. Gonna get out in front of what they teach in school, anyway. Give her more than just knowing a few phrases ‘n shit.”

He wanted to pass on everything he could to their daughter, and...well, a love for Dicean culture was pretty up there, if he were honest. Their old language and stories and festivals and clothes and… Kokichi knew it was a little unfair, since Baby would be immersed in the culture way more easily than Luminous culture since they all lived in Dicea...but it was still something he wanted to focus on.

“...a love of the night sky and art and history and dancing and people watching… We’re gonna absolutely bombard her, trying to explain all the things we love. Hope it won’t chase her away from everything.”

“And she’ll end up becoming obsessed with the one thing absolutely none of us understands or knows anything about,” Kaito guessed, laughing slightly, allowing himself to relax again. Ugh, he was so emotional sometimes… He couldn’t help it! He was a man full of…feelings! Gah!!

“So…traditional Dicean?” Kaito asked, now able to feel more curious about the second song now that he wasn’t reeling from the third one. “I’m guessing that means the area used to speak a different language? You know another language, ‘Kichi?”

Kokichi snorted a laugh, able to see that future all too clearly. Hopefully among their friends, there would be someone who knew something about whatever Baby would get into, able to pass down some tips or knowledge, but regardless, he’d be excited to navigate her hobby or interest as a newbie right alongside her. 

Maybe singing and choosing songs--at least two of them--that meant something to him got all his embarrassment out for the time being, because Kokichi just nodded, gearing up to explain. “So...because Dicea was made out of a conglomerate of a lot of people from a lot of places, Traditional Dicean was a sort of...pidgin of all those languages, something that, even if you didn’t know all the words or syntax, would be pretty close to what you originally spoke, and you could get by. I’m pretty sure Common started out like that too, which is why you can still understand bits of Trad-ean. ...or they had a common ancestor language or something...which would make sense, us all being on the same continent and all…”

Kokichi shrugged a little. “Not a linguist. But that’s my guess. I suppose you could call it that I know another language, even if it’s so close to Common that it wasn’t that hard to learn… It’s a heritage language, so Oumas always are taught how to be fluent, to make sure the language doesn’t die. There are still other people who learn it for fun, though, and kids learn more usable bits and pieces in school.” 

“Oh… That’s neat. I wish I knew another language. A few attempts were made to teach me little phrases in other languages when I was a kid, but nothing really stuck. And cause I was on the military track, I got to substitute the second language requirement by learning flag codes and drums. But I always thought it was neat, the idea of being able to switch from language to language…alright!”

Kaito grinned down at Kokichi, insistent as he said, “Say something to me in… ‘Trad-ean’?”

“Mm...I’ve always heard that kids pick up languages more easily, but I think to a point it depends on the person, how easily you can pick it up. The structure was never too bad for me, but vocabulary can be a pain when it’s not just Common words but with an accent…”

Kokichi tilted his head a bit, a gleam of interest in his eyes. “I’d say you still learned a second and third language--just non-verbal ones. Since Tim was a drummer...do you think you two would ever have, like, secret conversations, tapping out stuff to each other?” He snickered a bit, imagining his nephew and husband talking shit--as much as you could do with drum commands, anyway--by just, like...seemingly tapping in boredom against a table.

He thought for a moment, trying to think of something to say to Kaito… “Goshujin wa COMFAATO, BEDDO no you ni des’yo neeee?”

Kaito blinked at Kokichi in confusion. 

“...coshoushen a comfaitio, uh… beddo… something something neeeee.” Kaito tried his best to echo, giving Kokichi a fond but bewildered look, snickering as he asked, “Am I close?”

Kokichi grinned, not unkindly, and booped his nose against Kaito’s. “A little. But if you wanted to learn a phrase...how ‘bout something that I think you’d actually wanna use, rather than parroting me calling you comfy as all hell?”

“S’ki yo.”

Kaito laughed. “Is that what you were saying? Heck yeah, course I’m comfy as all hell,” Kaito said proudly, preening a bit. Kaito Ouma Momota, Luminary Prince of the Stars, Dicean Prince-Consort of the Cacti Fields, Hero of the Fifteen Year War, damn good bed for little husbands! The first!

Though, hmmm… “Skeyo?”

“Close,” Kokichi hummed, looking quite pleased with himself. “Make more of an “ee” sound than an “ehh” sound, and you’ve got it. And maybe say it as less of a question…”

“Mmmmm, say it a few more times for me?” Kaito requested, listening to Kokichi as his husband abided. “ Skiyo, skighyu… oh, it’s two words. Um… S’ki yo?” 

Kaito tried it again, taking the questioning tone out as he said a few times, “S’ki yo. S’ki yo…” Kaito grinned, taking a guess, and with a little wink, said, “S’ki yo, ‘Kichi.”

Kokichi helped Kaito through the pronunciation, and while he continued to look self-satisfied, as Kaito got the hang of it, a blush started to bloom on Kokichi’s cheeks. His husband saying that in Traditional Dicean…

Kokichi scootched up to gently kiss Kaito. “I love you too, Kai-chan.”

“Ha. Cute.” Kaito chuckled, kissing him back. Warm and enjoying himself. “You’re so cute…mmmm. Oh!”

Breaking the kiss, Kaito asked curiously, “Do you know the word for beautiful?”

Kokichi smiled into their kiss, feeling warm and happy and loved...and a little exasperated at himself, because he said, “Kirei or utsukushii, depending on the sentence.”

Instead of, you know, just answering once, knowing that Kaito wasn’t looking to have a whole involved language lesson. 

Kaito’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t even begin with that second word, so he tried, “‘Kichi kiri?” Nope. “Kiree?” Nope again. “Mmmmmm nevermind. I’ll quit while I’m ahead. S’ki yo. Easy! No problem!”

Kaito started kissing Kokichi again, because, like, hell, why not? His husband was very kissable. And he was right here. Why not indulge himself while Kokichi would let him? He kissed at him playfully, each one chaste, but quickly followed by another, running his hands up and down Kokichi’s back…before, feeling a little frisky, he ran his hand lower. Exploring the, admittedly, almost non-existent curve of his husband’s ass, before rubbing at Kokichi’s upper thigh. 

Kaito wasn’t trying to start anything. But he did feel a bit of mischievous playfulness, as he broke the kiss, leaning back into the wall and looking lazily down at his husband, “Look at you… Admit it, babe. You totally do this on purpose.”

Kokichi laughed softly into their kisses, happy he managed to teach Kaito one phrase. It was more than enough for him to be able to more or less pick out the meaning when he heard Traditional Dicean, especially since it wasn’t something people were prone to speaking outside of...like, language students studying, or people dictating old monologues and poetry and hymns in the language it was written in. If they went to a play where it was relevant, then Kaito still wouldn’t be missing out any more than the average person there, and would have the benefit of Kokichi willing to translate more clearly. 

...but hearing his husband declare his love was something Kokichi was preeeetty happy about. 

Kokichi let himself be fully supported by Kaito, resting his arms to loosely sling around the older prince’s neck as they traded soft, brief kisses, just enjoying the touch of each other’s lips. Not trying to be anything more than it was, and Kokichi knew that was true even with Kaito getting a little handsy. 

It didn’t stop his cheeks from going pink, though. “Mmmmm, being cute? I don’t think it’s fair to call that “on purpose”, since it’s just my face. Don’t think I could stop if I tried.”

“I don’t know. Have you tried? I remember you pulling off just a…truly horrifying face once. Haunting… Here, let me see if I can…” Kaito pinched Kokichi’s cheeks, stretching them out a bit, before squishing his face together. “Give me your ‘Grrrr’ face.”

Kokichi tried not to laugh too much as Kaito squished his face around, quipping, “Aw, c’mon, Kai-chan didn’t think that was cute? I’m already losing my looks…”

Just to be contrary, Kokichi simply put on an overexaggerated pout, drawing his eyebrows in and flaring his nose a little as he huffed a cute little, “Grrr!!”

“Awwww… you’re such a brat.” Kaito chuckled, leaning in a giving him a kiss on his little pouty lips, before releasing his face, running his hands through his hair again, “Hmmm…”

Looking at Kokichi’s hair… feeling his own hair brush straingle against his cheek… “Wanna cut my hair?”

He really was. Kokichi snickered, saving his more “extreme” faces for future opportunities to truly catch Kaito off guard. Though, at the complete non-sequitur… Kokichi blinked, raising an eyebrow. “...you mean, like...right now? ‘Cause I already said I would, just in general.”

Kaito shrugged. “Yeah. Right now. Why not? My hairs getting way too long, and it’s only gonna get longer than longer I put it off.”

Kokichi looked at Kaito a moment longer before sighing and starting to roll off his husband, dropping his feet to the floor to get up. “If I must… You’re really working me hard, making me get off the most comfortable husband there ever was. Oh, but it’s a labor of love, all to see you with a dumb haircut that you’re gonna fix immediately.”

He bemoaned and griped getting up all dramatic-like, but Kokichi soon perked, humming more seriously like it was nothing. “Oh, Amber said she wanted to see your haircut when I did it… Would you be willing to go visit her this afternoon, or should I just work on committing it to memory so I can describe it later?”

“God, after all the crap she gave me for not gushing over the necklace you got? I thought I was never gonna hear the end of it. We don’t need to give her any more fuel of me being ungrateful, so yeah, we can go visit her.”

Kaito stretched a bit, before also standing up, looking at the vanity desk, then at the bathroom, before saying, “Maybe I should sit in the bath? I feel like we’re do a bad job of keeping our floor clean of hair.”

Kokichi rolled his eyes a little, though it was fond. “To be fair, we had other things to focus on at the time. I still feel kinda bad that I didn’t end up wearing it all night...but considering my night became a day and a half, I think I might be forgiven.” It was just...such a horrible coincidence of bad timing. And a little ironic considering the meaning Calypso had talked about, but...well. Kokichi was more used to it. 

Following Kaito’s gaze around, he hummed before shaking his head. “I think doing it in the bathroom would be best, but not in the bath itself. If your hair’s on the floor, at least we can sweep it up easily, but it’s really bad to get it into pipes. I know we have our drain catcher in there, but still...I think the floor would be easiest.”

“Alright, I’m convinced.” Kaito agreed, looking around before grabbing a pillow, considering it, before tossing it back. “I’ll just sit on a towel. Come on, babe! Let’s go butcher me!!”

Laughing loudly at this, Kaito headed to the bathroom, opening the linen closet and grabbing a towel, putting it down in the middle of the bathroom, before sitting down cross legged on it. “Come on, Kokichi! Let’s do this! My hair keep tickling me, I’m done with it!”

Laughing along with Kaito’s enthusiasm, Kokichi trotted into the bathroom after him, looking around for a moment before finding the scissors he usually cut his hair with, pulling them out of the safety sleeve. It had been the compromise he’d made with Denji--he kept them in a sleeve, never used them for anything but hair, and he took the scissors to them when he needed the blades sharpened. He guessed that his big sibling’s reasoning was that they could try and talk him into a real haircut when he got the scissors sharpened, but it really just ended up being him showing them his new haircut first. 

He smoothed down Kaito’s hair, the hero prince having not used product in it for a while now, and Kokichi kissed him on the crown of his head, making use of the novelty of their positions. “Alright, let’s start!”

...and...despite their jokes about it...Kokichi at least wanted to try to give Kaito a somewhat nice haircut. Starting from the back, Kokichi tried to envision how Kaito’s hair had looked the first time he ever saw it down, that night in the bath…

Kaito knew there was a good chance that Kokichi might knick him, and wasn’t really worried about the potential pain, but did frown a bit at the idea of Kokichi seeing blood. Hopefully it’d be fine, since there wasn’t much he could do other than just do his best to hold still. 

Tapping at his knees a little, Kaito felt a little flutter of excitement as the sound of scissors near his ear. Kokichi was gonna do fine, of course. But it still filled him with a certain sort of adrenaline, which by itself can be fun. 

Enjoying his little tension high, Kaito let Kokichi snip, snip, snip a bit without saying anything, not wanting to distract him… before finally feeling comfortable enough to say, “So, how long have you been a hairdresser?” Kaito paused, before chuckling, “Or, do you go by ‘barber’?”

Kokichi snorted, the back of Kaito’s head...shorter. It definitely was shorter. Now...his hair didn’t really go around his face, but there were bits that went down in front of his ears. “Hm, I prefer the term, ‘headscaper’, but anything would do. But don’t you get all cocky! I’ve been making works of art on people’s heads for the last decade! Ya gotta respect experience!”

“...Ikuo let me cut my hair once, but kind of like this. Just to have a bit of fun before he fixed it up as well as he could. Which meant I had a lot of bowl cuts growing up. But after he left...I wouldn’t let Denji-chan touch my hair, so I just stole a pair of office scissors and took care of myself. Of course, they were horrified, so they got me these scissors and made me agree to a bunch of maintenance shit in exchange for them not trying to fight me into letting them cut my hair.”

Kokichi was mostly focused on his masterpiece in the making, but...his own hair was getting a little long. He didn’t mind it so much, but without knots to tell him where to cut… “...hm, I might touch myself up after I’m done with you, actually.”

Kaito… flushed. Hard. Feeling incredibly immature as his brain entirely misinterpreted Kokichi for several seconds before realizing, “Oh. Gonna give yourself a haircut babe? G-good! We’re both getting all tidied up!”

He could see underneath the sink from here. Hmmm… maybe he should take a handtowel and give it a wipe down there. More maybe that discoloration was permanent. Probably right… “How come you wouldn’t let Denji cut your hair? The first time you told me that, I was still going through my ‘everyones abusing you’ period, so it didn’t occur to me to think it was weird that you wouldn’t want someone with a sharp object near you. But, you love Denji. Did they just not give good haircuts?”

With Kaito’s ears now exposed, Kokichi could see them turn red, and...honestly, even trying to think in Kaito-speak, Kokichi couldn’t see what had flustered his husband so much. And...he didn’t think it was genuine embarrassment--he’d been obviously joking with the barber talk. 

Hmm… A mystery for later. 

Thankfully, Kokichi had the scissors away from Kaito’s head as he let out a guffaw. “Pff-ha! C’mon, Kai-chan, you saw Maki-chan’s hair. Denji-chan gives great haircuts--they offer haircuts to pretty much everyone who lives in the castle, and people keep going back. I...just…”

“...other people bought all the clothes I wear, and the furniture in my room, and all my toys and books, and… My dad tried to let me choose as much as I could, but...there was only so much I could give input on, if I couldn’t go out shopping with him.” Kokichi frowned, just...entirely baffled on how the...sides of the top of Kaito’s hair worked. ...he’d wing it. “Without him there to cut my hair...it was an opportunity I’d never had before to choose how I looked. And...I really liked it! I like how goofy and fun it is.”

“I guess it’s different now, since I can choose all that other stuff, but...I still like my look. Consistent but ever-changing, and it pisses off fashion dandies like you and Denji-chan, so that’s even more fun.”

“Pff. Brat.” Kaito chastised, rolling his eyes a little, before admitting, “I mean, to be honest, I didn’t make it much easier on the servants back home. I only have my hair brushed back and proper in official settings these days, but when I was a kid, I was supposed to wear it like that all the time. Like how you saw it at the wedding? That’s how Byakuya’s hair looks. Mom preferred it, and Dad didn’t care one way or another.”

Kaito grinned, chuckling, as he said, “But, I used to read these little comic books… actually, you and I have talked about this before. They come from overseas? These cool-ass fully illustrated books… aw, man, I’m not wearing my ring.” Kaito realized, having looked down to see his green lantern ring, frowning as he realized, “I left it on the nightstand. But not like those! The art style was different, and the books were always longer… anyway, the heroes in those stories almost always had, like, spiky hair? I don’t know, I saw that and just fell in love with it.”

Thinking back fondly, Kaito said, “So, I’d get all dressed up, sit patiently for brushing my hair, look all nice and professional… and then I’d head back to my room and just spike all my hair up. When I could, anyway, my nannies caught on pretty quick and learned they just had to keep me away from my room in the morning and I’d give up by then, and then as I got older my tutors would make me go back to get it fixed if I did it before lessons. But when no one was paying attention!? Boom! Spiky haired hero time!”

Kokichi raised his eyebrows a little as he gave the top of Kaito’s hair just a bit of a trim. It had been longer originally, right…? “Like how it was at the wedding? Honestly...I can’t imagine you looking like that normally. Going around like you had to stop a shower mid-way through… I guess it can work for some people, but...weird.”

“We’ll have to check out if they have any of those books the next time we’re at a bookstore--might be able to ask if they could put in trade requests too. I wanna see all of Kai-chan’s goal heroes and see which ones he got his look from.” By now, all that was really left was the bangs, and...they had been angled off to the side… “Mm, close your eyes, just in case.”

Kaito grinned up at Kokichi, giving him a little wink before closing his eyes.

As he heard the little snip, snips, snips of the, Kaito felt his body relax. The haircut was almost over, probably, and Kokichi hadn’t cut him. Kaito’s faith rewarded. It was nice. It felt familiar.

“... I miss some of my friends.” Kaito confessed. Fussing with the hem of the bottom of his pants a bit… before shrugging slightly, “Sorry. I don’t mean to bring the mood down. One of them just came to mind, and I don’t know… it doesn’t hurt to miss them, ya know? It’s okay to miss people… yeah. Right?”

Kokichi’s expression softened, but he kept on snipping, almost done with Kaito’s haircut. “It’s not bringing the mood down...and it’s more than okay to miss people. When someone you care about isn’t around...it’s only natural, you know?”

“...did they give you a haircut once?” Opening up an opportunity for Kaito to talk. Anything he wanted to share, or to remember about people who weren’t here. 

He stepped away from Kaito, brushing off his hair with a scissor-less hand, seeing...mm. Well. It was shorter. A little...longer on the left side that the right but...more room for someone else to fix. Taking another step, Kokichi leaned toward the mirror to start cutting his own hair.

“Korekiyo. And, nah, he never gave me a haircut. But he liked to play all these trust game things. He thought they were fascinating.” Kaito remembered fondly, a fond smile on his face as he opened his eyes, running his hand idly through his hair. Felt lighter. Nice. 

Getting up and brushing the clumps of hair off his clothes, Kaito checked out the mirror over Kokichi’s shoulder… and laughed a little at himself. Giving Kokichi’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze as he said, “Honestly, babe? Not as bad as I thought it was gonna be! I’ll still probably as Denji to style it a bit, but you did a great job! I wonder if I can put it up again, where’s my gel…”

Giving Kokichi a quick peck on the cheek, Kaiot went looking for his hair gel, pulling it from the cabinet sink and, standing behind Kokichi as he snipped at himself, started brushing up his hair into his old, signature wave, “It’s kinda why me and him got together in the first place. I met Kore at a party, and we were drunk and playing all these party games, and Kore got a little obsessed with how I’d just say yes to stuff. It was a little weird at first. He just kept pushing the envelope over and over, and my drunk ass just kept going for it… and the more Kore upped the ante, the more bold everyone else got with the games. Everyone trying to outdo each other, ya know? And, like, it was fun, but at the same time I was starting to worry it was going too far. I wasn’t the only person at the party taking risks, ya know? Drunk people are stupid, to put it lightly… I kinda thought Kore was making things go too far. Wasn’t exactly impressed.”

Kaito grinned. His hair was a little goofy looking, but he didn’t mind it. It was nice to see it looking a little more like he was used too anyway. “But, one of the guys bet this chick to do something dangerous. Like, really dangerous. And she was wasted, so she was gonna do it, even though all of us were basically begging her not to. I think she had a thing for one of the three guys really gunning her to do it… the rest of us were getting really angry, trying to shout them down, get them to stop goading her into it? I was about to fucking beat the shit out of one of them, and Kore put his hand on my fist and told me that he was sorry. That this was his fault, and to let him fix it.”

“I don’t know what he said to him, cause Kore didn’t like to give dirt away on people if he said he wouldn’t. But I watched this slender, pretty weirdo go up to these three big, angry drunk guys, whisper into the mains one ear for a second, and the dude just paled. It was incredible… guy actually bowed to Kore. Not a submission bow, but just a regular one, but still. He bowed to him, apologized, got him to stop. If that wasn’t cool enough? Kore then volunteered myself and him to walk the girl back to the dorms. Isn’t that a smooth as fuck way to ask me to hang out with him? Fuck I was so impressed. We got her safely back to the dorms, we walked around a bit, talking about random stuff… and I guess at some point that night I told him where I lived, cause the next morning, he showed up with coffee and painkillers, and that was it. I was smitten.”

Kaito’s eyes were practically shining from the memory, clearly incredibly fond… before his expression faltered, looking at Kokchi somewhat guiltily, as he said, “...that’s okay, right? I left him years ago. Way before I found out I was betrothed. Like… I don’t miss him cause I still wish I was with him. I just… miss him in general.”

Trust games…?

Kokichi...didn’t really get it, but he listened to Kaito’s story, happy that his husband didn’t seem aghast or anything from the job he’d done. And, as Kokichi grabbed little sections of his own hair, seemingly unconcerned with the intervals of where he cut each bit, the hair would spring up into a curl, almost like it was attracted by static electricity. 

Honestly...it sounded a little like that cult party they’d gone to. How Kaito had kept agreeing to the knife game...and while Kokichi knew they were under extremely different contexts, Kaito agreeing at the cult party to try and appease a lot of people that were likely prone to hate him, and Kaito agreeing at the college party just...because he was a fun guy that liked a good challenge and saw no reason to take certain risks...that was just how he felt. 

He recoiled as a bit of his bangs sprung up almost into his eye. Always hated cutting that part…

“Okay, that is pretty cool. Someone who pushes boundaries but knows when enough is enough, and can back it all up? I’m sure I would’ve been starry-eyed too,” Kokichi softly laughed, enjoying the nostalgic fondness in Kaito’s voice. So, he did find it a bit weird when Kaito...didn’t quite backtrack, but was at a midpoint getting there. 

Pretty much done with his hair, the mess of uneven curls looking more like a fluffy cloud since his hair was in much better condition than it usually was when Kokichi gave himself a haircut, he put the scissors away, raising an eyebrow at Kaito. “...it’s more than okay, hun. Korekiyo...he made an impact on you, and he’s clearly someone you really loved. Even if you’re not together anymore, for whatever reason, and even in rough break-ups...that feeling you had at any time of loving them doesn’t just go away. It was a part of you. There’s a lot of space between lingering on the past, and keeping your life with you, and remembering the good times with someone...it’s well-within that space. It’s important.”

Kaito relaxed a little, “Yeah! I mean, yeah, obviously. Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.” Kaito assured him, putting his arms around Kokichi’s shoulder and linking them over his chest, looking at the two of them in the mirror, “Hey, look at that. Couple of handsome guys, eh? ...oh, you think I should take the gel out of my hair for our trip to Amber? Let her see it in all its uneven glory?”

...considering Kokichi had never had a partner before Kaito...well. There was no reason to push it. If it had been something on Kaito’s mind, hopefully what Kokichi said was soothing, and if something was still bothering him, he hoped Kaito could come talk to him about it. 

Looking at their reflections in the mirror, Kokichi snorted, grinning at Kaito’s reflection. “What are you talking about, I gave you the most symmetrical haircut of all time. But, nah, you already have it in. Don’t wanna embarrass you any more by walking through town all ungelled.”

He ducked out of Kaito’s arms, backtracking out of the bathroom to take a look at their clock. “It’s still pretty early… If Amber shoos us away before time, do you wanna walk around town a little until it’s time to pick Shuu-chan up? I like the idea of surprising him with our new looks too.”

“Yeah! Fuck yeah! We’re going on a walk!!” Kaito crowed… before looking down at his clothes and frowning. “Let me change. There’s still some hair on my clothes. Don’t worry, I’ll be super quick. Ten minutes at most!”

-

They left about a half hour later.

Kokichi, while remembering to bring a scarf, though he and Kaito had foregone hats for maximum effect, had forgotten how damn chilly the very top of his nape could get without generally longer hair around to cover it. There were still some longer chunks that he’d left there but not enough for protection! He huddled to Kaito’s side as they walked, looking forward to ducking into Amber’s jewelry store when they got there. And...hopefully he was remembering right, and she was working today. It would be a little awkward if the shop was closed. 

There was only a slight wind that afternoon, thankfully for Kokichi’s neck and slightly less protected ears, but the bluster was enough to make his hair even more cloud-like...or maybe even tumbleweed-y at this point. ...he wondered how well he’d be able to distract Kaito from brushing his hair that night, since it was surely gonna be hell to brush it all out. All...tangled and staticy… 

Kaito was also feeling the chill of the cold against the sides of his head. Ooof, this might have been a mistake. Putting his hair up back at home wasn’t even worth thinking about, and usually actually felt nicer, taking some of the heat off his ears and neck. Here though?

Kaito shivered. Brutal. 

He glanced down at Kokichi, so close to his side, and chuckled a little, “You’re hair is wild now, ‘Kichi. We’re gonna have to use a little more conditioner than normal today. Gotta heal those ends or they’re gonna split… aw, babe, you cold?” Kaito considered his chilly husband for a moment, before taking off his right glove, pulling at it with his teeth, before placing his hand on the back/side of Kokichi’s neck. “Little bit of heat for ya. We’re almost there, Amber’s shop will be nice and warm.”

And it was! And it glittered.

There was a small ringing of a bell when they walked inside, Kaito sighing in relief as the warm hair baked over them as soon as the door closed behind them. From the counter, a sweet voice called out, “Welcome to Usott’s Hidden Gems! Please take a look around, one of us will be right…” the sweet, soft looking clerk recognized Kokichi, though this was someone Kokichi hasn’t met yet, and went, “Oh! Prince Kokichi! It’s an honor!”

He turned to the customer he was currently working with, the two of them looking over some jewels, smiling sweetly at them as he said, “Excuse me one moment? I need to let the owner know the prince is here.”

“No need, no need, I heard! You keep helping our esteemed customer, Kay! Not every day we buy a promise ring, right?” Amber gushed as she came out from the back room, calling back over her shoulder, “Clair! Give polishing a break and help Kay here with the customers!  Thank you! Now… BABY!!!” 

As another incredibly soft, sweet looking clerk-- Amber clearly hired with a particular style in mind-- came out, going to help her co-worker, Amber came out to the front, throwing her arms up and shouting, “Come here! Give me some love! Oh my gawd!! Look at you two!! I’m guessing someone finally did it, huh?? Kaito, you have more hair leftover than I would have expected!”

Kokichi grimaced a little--though he could at least admit to himself that the conditioner did make a big difference. He just had to bank on Shuuichi having some big, wild news to distract Kaito, then, and getting out of brushing time would be a snap!

Kaito unveiling his hand to the elements to offer him some extra heat was some nice compensation, though. 

Amber’s shop was beautiful, a real high class kind of place that made you feel special and fancy, though there was gorgeous jewelry affordable for pretty much anyone. Kokichi had taken it in with eyes the size of dinner plates the first time Amber showed him around, immediately taken by all the pretty, sparkly things around. Not to say Kokichi had a particularly discerning eye, since he was just as excited by a rare gem as a shiny piece of glass or even some foil that was in the right light...but he did really love the jewelry shop.

This time too Kokichi couldn’t help himself from looking around in excitement, and it was only being recognized by someone new--and wanting to wave them off sheepishly, not wanting to make his presence a production--that got him re-focused on what they were actually there for. Though, Amber was presence enough in her own right. 

“Am-chan!” Going right into her waiting arms, Kokichi gave his friend a hug, pulling back with an absolutely smarmy, smug, proud look on his face, holding an arm out to flourish at Kaito, all his self-deprecation about the haircut gone, at least for the moment. “Hey, hey, I’m not so conniving and cruel as to make my husband shave his head in the middle of winter! I have more than just a chaotic hand.”

Grinning, he raised his eyebrow, indicating at Kaito even more. “Is that your only reaction? C’moooon, I know you’re never lost for words when it comes to a critique.”

Amber leaned her weight against her right hip, dramatically brushing her long hair off her shoulder as she said, “Oh, so it’s a critique you’re looking for? Alright, baby, since I’m your bestie today, and besties are totes honest with each other, Imma about to get real judgy here. Let me take a look, Amber’s on the case!”

Kaito watched with some amusement as Amber strutted up to him, her expression now business stern, as if she were a designer making adjustments on a model wearing her clothes as she circled around him, tisking and tutting. The metaphor ended up being on point, because Kaito jolted a little when Amber, circling back around to his front, hummed to herself and grabbed the edges of his jacket, pulling the sides in tighter as she said, “Well, the shoulders are good, but the waistline can be narrower. Really go for that triangle look, ya knooooooow? And, of course, we totally could put another few feet on him. I know he’s huge to you, baby, but you’re cheating by being fun sized. I’d barely have to climb for it. Love that jawline though-”

Kaito blushed, stepping back a bit from her while she smirked as he said, “Hey, quit screwing around! He means the hair, not me!”

“Oh?” Amber said, looking playfully befuddled, before snickering as she looked over her shoulder at Kokichi, “You sooooo left too much on the left side, and the strands are all uneven. You look like you put him through a weedwacker, baby. Which, like, fine, is so your signature look. But you’re all cute and adorbs and, again, toooootal cheat, and can pull it off. You need to get your man here to a professional, stat.”

Kokichi had been prepared for harsh criticism--he knew his job was kinda wack--and he giggled in excitement for it, bouncing on his toes a little. But as he realized what Amber was actually critiquing, his laughs became more bashful, a pink, non-cold-induced flush coming into his cheeks. It was...a weird sort of embarrassed pride, and while Amber wasn’t lying--he knew that she really meant all that--it wasn’t meant seriously and...well, that helped him from actually combusting. 

Taking another look at his work on Kaito’s head, Kokichi nodded with an appraising hum. “Just about what I expected. I noticed the left side was longer when I was almost done, but, like, we are gonna go get his hair fixed up anyway, and it’s a lot easier to fix stuff when there’s more to cut off, I think. Kai-chan would be real cute with the sides shaved, but maybe that’s more of a summer look, especially when he’s not much of a hat guy.”

With a dramatic sigh, Kokichi flicked his head, almost like he was tossing hair over his shoulder, but really just making the cloud bounce and rustle. “It was still a worthy experiment, but not all of us can rock this style.”

Amber’s eyes practically sparkled as she said, “Oh my gaaaaawd, yessssss! Take a buzzer to these edges, leave a little tuft of hair on top? That would toooottallly be so cute, baby, like, for realz. If that doesn’t end up being the summer look, for real, I’m gonna riot.”

Kaito rolled his eyes a little at the two’s antics, rubbing the back of his neck as he said, “Yeah, yeah, whatever, I’ll think about it. Glad we got the note of approval from Amber.”

“Mmmhm…” Amber said, heading for Kokichi and, smirking down at him, taking his hair into her hands and ruffling it up a bit, really not managing to make it more wild than it currently already was. “Still, A for effort! You really came all the way down here to show off your haircuts? Stacy is gonna be soooo jealous that my bestie came to see me, for real. Oh!”

Amber suddenly looked excited, before holding up a finger and heading to the back. “Wait here, wait here! I’ve finally finished smoothing out the outer layer of the tanzanite, and the color is coming out amazing! I’ve chipped off a few pieces, and I made one with…”

Amber looked Kokichi over and pouted, “You don’t have a piercing, do you… shoot. Well, you could put it on Kaito too, it suits both of you, with your crazy purple eyes. Honestly, some people have all the luck, purple eyes are so, like, totally mysterious and shit. Two minutes!” she promised, heading into the back.

Kokichi laughed as Amber ruffled his hair, giving her a grin. “You said you wanted to see when we got around to it, and we had some free time this afternoon. Seems only natural, right? Better than trying to describe it to you later, even if I managed to make a drawing.”

He brightened, excited to see what Amber had done with the rare stone they’d gotten, and settled to wait for her return, coming back to Kaito’s side and leaning against his arm a little. “...I don’t think I ever asked if you got more earrings than the ones Maki-chan originally pierced you with. It is something you think you’d wanna mix things up with, or stick with your classics?”

Kaito reached up idly to his right ear, feeling the two little studs, the one in his lobe the original little star earring Maki had got him, and the one around his shell a small, golden square that Maki had also gotten him. “Mmmmm… I could mix it up. Beyond keeping them clean, I mostly forget about them. Putting them in’s just sorta become part of the routine, ya know? Like with my rings.” Kaito said, looking down at his hands, his wedding band on one hand, his green lantern ring on the other.

Kaito snickered a little as he realized, “Honestly, this is more jewelry than I’d ever really thought I’d wear. I almost want a necklace or something just to complete the set. Maybe a thin chain to wear during summer, when it won’t be covered up by sweaters and jackets… eh, something to think about later.”

There was a sudden, wistful grin as he said to Kokichi, “Man...my imagination was running on overtime, once? And… heh.” Kaito smirked down at Kokichi, before saying somewhat regretfully, “You wouldn’t wear an ankle bracelet if I got you one, would you? Man, I don’t know what it was, but I had this sudden image of you in, like, traditional summer Luminary clothes, and wow…” Kaito grinned for a moment, before covering his face, a little embarrassed as he said, “It was… a nice look on you.”

Kokichi looked over his husband’s jewelry with a smile, each piece bringing memories. Running breakneck through a forest after a prank gone wrong, getting down on a knee after trying to make the best day for Kaito… Kokichi enjoyed the aesthetics of jewelry on other people, sure, but...it never really was something he paid all too much attention to. You didn’t need a story to wear something, but...he wondered how many other people did have one.

He raised an eyebrow at Kaito, wondering where the wistful, ‘oh I wish but it’ll never happen’ look on his face came from. “I mean...I can’t promise it’d become a regular thing, since I’d probably forget about it more often than not, but if you get me clothes or jewelry or whatever...I’ll always try to wear it, at least once. For all his fancy-pants preferences, Kai-chan knows the kind of stuff I’d be happy to wear pretty well--if I remember I have it, or you point out that something would look nice with whatever I’m wearing, ‘course I’ll wear gifts from ya.”

Kokichi looked down at his feet, softly kicking out one booted leg after the other. “Unless it’s something with, like, really long charms, ‘cause I think it’d just end up being a safety hazard, me trippin’ on the ends or smacking it against my other leg. But I’d still try to wear it once.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow. “Yeah? Alright, no charms. Though, honestly, it’d probably take me a minute to get you anything really nice anyway. Or, well, maybe? Jewelry, at least good jewelry, was pretty expensive back home. Wonder what the prices here are like…”

As Kaito’s eyes started to drift over the items on display idly, he didn’t really have time to follow through on that thought, before Amber called from the back, “Gottem!”

Coming out, she quickly stopped by her clerks and the customer they were helping, gushing and oohing and ahhing over the ring he was considering picking for a moment, before quickly leaving them to it and heading over to them, holding a bit of fancy tissue that she laid out on one of the glass counters, “Take a look! Spent a good four hours on the cut, and that little, swooping metalwork’s no joke. See that small discoloration as the base of the metal moves into the swirl? Melted some white gold into a base gold. Please, please, hoooold your applause.”

It was two small earrings, and for all of Amber’s talk that she just ‘happened’ to forget that Kokichi didn’t wear earrings and Kaito did, the set was so clearly intended for two earrings on the same ear that it was actually laughable to imagine they were for anything else. The shell earring was a small, solid band, with the dark, purple/bluish gem cut to follow the bend of the metal, which was a lightish gold color. The lobe earring was more traditional in cut and looked more solid purple, likely a different part of the overall rock she had gotten, with a gold base that swirled into a lighter color metal as it delicately hugged the gem.

Amber sighed dramatically, brushing her hair off her shoulder. “I know, I know, they’re perfection. But, liiiiiike, I spent so much time on them that I kiiiiinda am super sick at looking at them? And they’re such a niche design that they’re gonna end up stuck in display foreeeeeever, so, like, I just gotta get them out of this store. I guess you could just, like, have them, baby, or whatever. No big deal, take it or leave ‘em, it’s not gonna totally break my heart or whatevs,” she said, idly looking at her nails.

Kokichi’s eyes widened as Amber brought out the pieces she had been working on, peering as closely as he dared, not wanting to...like, breathe on them funny and leave condensation or something. But each earring was clearly not something he could just admire from afar! He needed to get in there, take in all the little details and Amber lovingly put into her work. Melting metals together and putting in such thought in cutting the rock for each piece and even in the little fastener pieces…

“Amber, these are incredibly beautiful! You’ve really outdone yourself!” And even if she was playing it off, Kokichi was free with his praise, never one to let someone’s efforts go unappreciated. 

But...taking them? 

He blinked up at his friend before smiling softly, looking back at Kaito for a moment. “Am-chan...that’s really too generous, you know? Would you really be okay with that?” And...for as nice as he thought they’d look on Kaito, it was still his decision too, and Kokichi tilted his head a little, wanting to hear his husband’s thoughts.

Amber rolled her eyes a little, polishing her nails on the collar of her button up as she said, “Baby, I really, really cannot stress to you how much that hunk of rock back there is worth. It’s actually kinda insane, I’m low-key worried that old lady was maybe a little crazy to just give it to me, I dunno. But, considering I got it for free, I’m now in the unique position were I can sell these things for basically nothing and still not make a loss! Which is cool!”

Kaito, in turn, was looking at the earrings over Kokichi’s shoulder, looking at it curiously, “Ooooh… oh! Oh! I know a jeweler!!” he realized, as if seeing the earrings and hearing Amber describe making them was a sudden revelation.

Amber blinked, “Mmmm, yeah?”

Kaito looked at Amber, grinning brightly, “I can’t do it right now, but could I commission some jewelry from you in the future? I’ve been really struggling with sending my new sister-in-law a suitable gift, but custom made jewelry made of a rare gem from a master craftsman in the heart of the Dicean capital? That would be a great gift!! ...if you’re interested?”

Amber looked a little befuddled for a moment, not entirely understanding the context of everything Kaito was saying. It was weird that he was kinda making giving someone a gift sound like… she didn’t know. Something with a certain amount of expectations in quality? Weird. A gift was a gift was a gift, right?

Still! Amber smiled brightly, giving Kaito a wink as she said, “You and I will sit down and come up with a design, and once I figure out cost of time and resources, then yeaaaaaaaaaah, of couuuuurse! I’d be supes honored. But! Before all that, hold still. Let’s get this cheap costume jewelry off you and put you in something nice!”

Kato frowned at the costume jewelry remark-- he knew it was costume jewelry, but Maki had still gotten them for him-- but still held still as Amber went up and carefully but quickly removed the previous earrings, handing them to Kaito, who put them into his pocket, before waiting patiently as Amber put the new earrings in.

Once settled, Amber ran and grabbed a small mirror, before shoving it into Kaito’s face. “Well!? Do you love it, or do you love it?”

Kaito looked it over. “Huh… looks great! I feel fancy.”

“You look fancy!” Amber cheered, looking entirely pleased with herself.

Well...that was true, and it was a really cool feeling, being able to give people really amazing gifts without putting yourself in a hard spot. He’d written to the head of a fishery some years ago, who had almost been in tears they were so overjoyed when they happened to walk past a group of students from a school they’d donated to, seeing the kids make use of the tools the school had been able to buy… There really wasn’t much of a more satisfied, honorable feeling you could get than knowing that you were able to help the community in such a direct way. 

What Amber was able to do now was a smaller version of that, but still just as cool. 

Kokichi laughed softly as Kaito clicked Amber’s skills together in his head with, apparently a problem he’d been stewing on--Kokichi felt kind of bad, actually. He had asked about giving Byakuya and Marigold a wedding gift, and he trusted Kaito when he said their letter of congratulations and well-wishes was fine, but...apparently there was more?--and he knew that whatever Kaito had in mind, Amber would more than be able to deliver. Not even Luminaries’ weird obsession with personal money would be able to deny it!

Cooing and ahh-ing once Kaito got the earrings in, Kokichi gave Amber an approving nod. “Very fancy--they’re really a one of a kind, amazing set. Aaaaaand with my totally cool haircut, Kai-chan can really show them off! I wouldn’t be surprised if Am-chan got a ton of people coming by to ask about some new tanzanite jewelry soon.”

Amber looked confused at Kokichi’s last comment for a second, before realizing, “Oh, damn! That’s right! You two are high-key famous! Putting jewelry on you two is like putting out a billboard! Awesome!”

Kaito chuckled at that, still admiring the earrings, before putting the mirror down and bowing to Amber, “I’ll be sure to bring you up if anyone so much as glances at them. Thanks a lot, Amber. They’re an extremely generous gift.”

Amber waved him off slightly, though she was clearly swelling with smug pride. “No worries, no worries, so totes not even a thing. I’m gonna make something super pretty for baby-daddy next, just gotta wait for inspiration to strike! Deck you all out in pretty, glittery rocks!”

Amber laughed at this, before eyeing the door, the bell ringing. A group of young girls came in, giggling and looking around, and Amber called out “Welcome, laaaadies! Take a look around, one of us will be with you in one moment!”

Turning to Kokich, she held open her arms and said, “More love for the road, then I gotta get back to work! You want to spend some time with me and Stac’ this weekend? We were talking about shoe shopping and maybe messing around on the ice on the lake. You in?”

Honestly, Kokichi was confused for a moment, having forgotten that himself, though not really in the way that he forgot who he was. He had just...been caught up in how good Kaito looked with the earrings that he boasted that people would come by wanting the same look that he forgot they really were walking billboards to some folks. But, either way, even if they were a gift, Kaito would be able to pay Amber back a little, if just by word-of-mouth advertising. 

Convincing Shuuichi to wear jewelry might be a little more difficult, but Kokichi knew that if there was anyone who could think up a piece that he’d like, it’d be Amber. He was looking forward to seeing Shuuichi with a bit of sparkle on him. 

Kokichi looked over to the group of girls coming in, seeing the end to their little visit, but he was happy to have stopped by, and he gave Amber another hug, though his eyes glittered in interest when she asked about that weekend. “Oooooh, I’m totally in! I have the usual schedule, but Nadya-chan and I are working through a bigger project right now, so it really will be afternoon. I’ll see you guys then!”

After saying their goodbyes, Kokichi huddled back to Kaito’s side as they braved the cold once again. “We still have some time… Anywhere you’ve been wanting to check out? We could maybe walk around the university campus if not.”

“Why don’t you show me around the campus? My cooking classes don’t happen here, ya know, even though the school funds it. We use the second floor of one of that pastry shop at the market. Not the candy one we buy from all the time, this place just does drinks and pastries. You and I should sit down and have a date there at some point, it’s small but super cute.”

Kaito trailed off, forgetting his point for a second, before grinning brightly down at Kokichi, his new earrings sparkling in the sunlight. “So, other than dropping Shuuichi off, I haven't really had a chance to look around! And the campus seemed really big, so I bet there’s loads of cool things there! We should go explore!”

“Ooh, that does sound like a nice date spot--I’m always happy to go have tea somewhere. Though,” Kokichi raised an amused eyebrow, hugging Kaito’s arm. “I’ve barely been around the university more than you have. I’ve looked around from the outside plenty, but actually walking around campus and in the buildings ‘n stuff...it’ll be an adventure! Maybe there’ll still be projects from the last semester up that we can look at too.”

Though they both knew where the campus was, Kokichi still more or less led the way, their pace not in a hurry, but still with a set destination. “Since the school funds your class...I’m sure you told me before, but...it’s like a class to get people used to cooking, right? Basics and simple meals and learning how to, like, come up with ideas for meals, so people coming to the university and maybe living on their own for the first time have some help figuring things out, yeah? I know there’s an entire course that’s stuff like that, but if there’s a dedicated, non-college class for cooking...that’s really cool.”

Kaito kept his pace slow and easy, knowing that Kokichi could keep up, but not wanting Kokichi to have to take three steps for every one of his as they headed to the campus. “Yeah! I mean, that’s definitely the point of the class, but most of the people in the class are seniors in high school. Guess it’s just one of those understood things. There are a few people closer to my age though.”

Kaito laughed lightly, before shrugging, “Just a handful of people like me, learning a little later. They all seem nice enough… but anyway, yeah, it’s really mostly basics. And we go over things that take too much time to do actually within the class. Like, ribs? Ribs are actually super easy, but I gotta be ready to cook it for a little over four hours. One of those I gotta be ready to sort of dedicate an afternoon too, ya know? I’ve been wanting to try it, but it’s kind of an unnecessary commitment when we have dinner being cooked downstairs, ya know?”

Huh… Kokichi wondered what other sorts of things kids in high school knew they should prepare for, if they hadn’t already been learning… Things that really marked a transition into adulthood, even if the things that people felt indicated that were pretty varied. Nothing had felt different when he turned eighteen, and nothing felt different when he turned twenty, other than knowing that he was going to be married in a few weeks. Which was a huge life change, but...not really one that felt like going from a kid to an adult. 

Really...the biggest change for him felt like when he was fifteen and started doing government work, but even though he took pride in that importance, Kokichi had known that he wasn’t even close to being an adult then. 

...did anyone even feel different after a coming of age?

Kokichi hummed, the talk of food appetizing, but he nodded with a slight smile. “Yeah… I still say it’s a good skill to have, and food is different when you make it yourself… But I can see how it’d be kind of hard to justify cooking all the time to...mark out your own independence, or something, when all the chefs are making the same amount of food anyway. Can’t really say that’s the reason I never thought about learning to cook, but...it is something that’s popped in my mind.”

“But whenever Kai-chan wants to try out a new dish, or even make an old favorite? I like having dinner with our family. I literally have no reference, but...I dunno, kinda feels like what meals in a more common household would feel like. It’s nice.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe I’ll try those ribs out at some point then… like, they really are stupid easy. It’s literally like ten minutes of prep, and then just hours of slow cooking,” Kaito mused, looking around, trying to see if anything would catch his eye. “Hmmmm… heh. Wanna go jeer at all the poor sad sacks in the mathematics building?” Kaito laughed, pointing at the building that’s sign dryly proclaimed it held the mathematics department inside. 

“Or, hmmm… oh. You guys have a whole building for architecture?” Kaito asked, looking curiously at the next building over, his eyes mostly being drawn to it because of its fun, bright sign saying cheerfully, ‘Any beautiful home starts with a strong foundation!’, and his eyes lingered on it because…

Kaito frowned. “They know their building looks like that, right? Someone’s told them?”

The building was, visually, a mess. A strange mishmash of odd corners and strange shapes, and the building sat like an upside down triangle, all supported, impossibly seeming, by four thin pillars, right at the very point of the triangle. It gave the impression it was going to fall down any second. All the different layers of the building were covered in greenery too. Like someone had gone on top of that mess of a design and just decided to plant gardens all over it. 

Also, the colors were pretty garish on top of all of that. Kaito raised an eyebrow, looking it over again before deciding, “That thing looks terrifying.”

Kokichi sighed softly, giving the math department a somber look. “They already have it hard enough, the poor souls. Taking the biggest one for the team of us all… I know the myth of people that actually really enjoy math but...sheesh. More rare than unicorns.”

However, looking over to the architecture department was far more uplifting, as it was intended to be, as far as Kokichi could guess. Chuckling gently, he could only shake his head, still baffled by the design. “Apparently, the students in the department would routinely complain about “bad doors” and boring, inefficient design and a whole slew of other complaints back when they were a part of the engineering building, so they have their own building for the whole department. I think…”

Kokichi trailed off, tilting his head to the side as he tapped at his lips for a moment, trying to...make any sort of sense of the odd prism building. “I think this design is…”green-design” and “neo-architecture”? I’m pretty sure that’s what the project submission called it… It’s experimental. And you can’t call it boring!”

Kokichi looked over the odd building for a moment before looking up at Kaito. “Wanna take a peek inside?”

Kaito raised an eyebrow at his young husband, before saying, “You uh… trust that thing to stay up? Because I’ll be honest, Kokichi. Death by neo-architecture is not how I want to go.”

“We’re not that unlucky.” Kokichi pouted up at Kaito. “The building was put up seven years ago, and if it hasn’t fallen because of any blizzards, I doubt it’d come down now. And being the building for the architecture department, I’d hope people would’ve brought up flaws by now.”

“Buuuuut if you’re too much of a scaredy-pants, we can keep walking… I do wanna look at the other departments too,” Kokichi drawled, knowing exactly what he was doing.

Kaito narrowed his eyes at Kokichi, before giving the building another wary look… before insisting, “I’m not like… scared… it just doesn’t look… it’s basically being held up by four sticks! Ugh, whatever, come on. Who’s scared, I’m not scared.” Kaito grumbled, taking Kokichi’s hand and heading to the building with a now grim determination. 

He hesitated briefly when they got to the staircase, but once they started climbing and nothing like… shifted or shook or vibrated or anything outrageous like that, Kaito relaxed when they got inside. Inside the building still looked a little odd, but it was easy to forget how unstable the building had looked inside, everything a little more normal looking on the first floor. Though… that was only ‘normal’ in terms that it looked like a square first floor. Everything else was…

Kaito looked around in confusion, staring at the strange pink walls and looking at the flooring, which was… “How did they manage to get grass to grow between the tiles? The floor isn’t even connected to the ground, it’s literally on pillars!”

A sign nearby proudly proclaimed this floor to be done working alongside the natural sciences department. A quick directory of the map showed that each floor had apparently listed the aid of another department in the school, giving each floor a unique aesthetic that the other departments involvements could provide. 

Also, upon closer inspection, the walls weren’t painted pink. It was apparently some thin layer of pink moss, coating the entire walls, with purple and green vines crisscrossing and growing seemingly randomly in between them. Everything smelled strongly of the moss. It was like a nicer smelling swamp, which Kokichi was now in a unique position to make a direct comparison to.

Kokichi snickered softly as Kaito pulled him into the architecture building, excited to finally have a good reason to check it out. And while he hadn’t understood everything in the blueprints--and he hadn’t needed to, since the building plans were approved by the university board and the city health and safety department. And, also, he had been twelve at the time--but he knew that while the pillars were there for stabilization, they weren’t the main structures keeping the building up. The tiers that grew on each floor were mainly balconies, and the main heft of each floor was centered around the foundation that made up the first floor. So, even if you were on the top floor, you really wouldn’t find yourself standing somewhere over a straight sheer drop if you went through the floor. 

It was a strange design, but that was a given for experimental things. 

Ooh-ing softly as they walked around the almost fantasy garden-like, first floor, Kokichi peered closer at the mossy walls, taking a deep breath. “It smells kind of like a swamp...but nicer. Not as...muddy, I guess? I didn’t even know there was a moss that looked like this!”

“Oo! Kai-chan, c’mere!! Look at this!” Kokichi did a little dance in place as he pulled Kaito over to one of the walls, looking at another innovation that he...really hadn’t understood any of, but thought was really cool. There was just a little wooden platform on the ground, separate from the aesthetic of the rest of the floor, with gates coming up around it on all sides, a lever tied down to a peg in the side of the wall. “They use this to go to different floors without stairs! I...don’t know how to use it myself, but...isn’t that incredible!? Instead of using ramps or the slot-ins for wheelchairs on the sides of stairs...you can just...step onto this little area and end up wherever you wanna go!”

Kaito narrowed his eyes at the little platform. “...you step into this and they bring you to different floors… like a really big dumbwaiter?”

Kaito frowned, kicking ever so lightly the floor, pupils shrinking slightly as the ‘room’ bounced a little… before taking a step back. Crossing his arms over each other and going, “Nope. Nuh uh. That’s a death trap right there.”

Kokichi lit up, Kaito providing the best comparison. “Right, yeah! Like a dumbwaiter for people!”

He’d been about to warn Kaito not to go into it, but...well, turned out that wasn’t something Kaito would need convincing of. Huffing in slight amusement, Kokichi ran his hand over the smooth, treated wood of the gating. “Like I said, I don’t know how to operate it...and this is only a prototype. They’re still working out the kinks. But...once people figure out how to make it safe and easy to use? We’re definitely putting one in the castle. It’s gonna be a huge leap in accessibility, and, like...if people are moving furniture or just a lot of things at once? It’s gonna be sooo much easier just to step into one of these and head where you’re going rather than to make a bajillion trips up and down the stairs.”

“Hey, maybe this’ll end up being my contribution to the castle one day,” he laughed, nudging at Kaito’s side. “But...I think we’re just gonna stick with the stairs for now.”

Maybe if Kaito had been alone or just with Maki or something, he might have wanted to try it. But, not with precious cargo around. Experiments were all well and good, but not on his husband, thanks. So, giving the elevator another wary look, he kept Kokichi’s hand and the two went back to looking around.

There were a few classroom doors, of course, but the glass was all frosted, so there was no way for the two to peek inside at the classes going on. Eventually, they found some stairs , which- “Geez, this whole place is like if they just gave someone a day and told them to do whatever they wanted… why are there eggs painted on the stairs?” Kaito asked, shaking his head. Colorful, painted eggs… it was so random.

Also, the stairs sort of curved, but that wasn’t super outlandish to Kaito. It was rare, but a lot of the nicer buildings at home had stairs that seemed to curve around the building. Especially in the upper floors of the temple? All the small, wooden staircases that led to the attic storage spaces (and allowed the roof and ceiling candles to be discreetly maintained) all had to curve with the shape of the building. 

Kaito had loved those attic spaces, especially when he was a kid. People so rarely had a reason to go up there, it had felt like a whole different world. Good times.

He had to say, Kokichi was really impressed even just from the look around the first floor. It was comfortably warm and the air was fresh--likely due to the moss and grasses specifically on this floor--and when they neared classrooms Kokichi could barely hear a thing, which was disappointing for snooping, but impressive in how they managed to soundproof everything. 

“You know,” he hummed, looking around the stairwell, “I wouldn’t be surprised if that was close to what happened. This place is supposed to be inspiring for the students, but also...just a place to experiment, you know? People can experiment in their own practices, but for group efforts… Anything that’s used publicly has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that it’s safe for anyone to use. For large effort experiments, colleges have special permission to, well, experiment, but they have to, like, cordon off or clearly label what the experiments are, or people have to sign a bunch of waivers ‘n shit. If you wanna see what the future might look like, colleges are the best place to look. Makes sense since the next wave of innovators are always coming out of here.”

The second floor, conveniently labeled as soon as they got to it, was a collaboration with the linguistics department...and Kokichi could only assume, but the plaque continued on, likely explaining the same thing in just...a host of other languages. Going more out into the floor, it seemed like almost everything was labeled, along with what were apparently idioms translated from other languages that had to do with various objects. 

Honestly, the floor looked more decorative than something more having to do with architecture, but...as they looked around, there were little touches here and there. A series of small lockers, apparently for shoes, each door on the floor being slightly different, likely common styles in other countries, an indication of compass directions…

And against a main wall, painted onto glass affixed to the wall… Kokichi let out a little “whoa,” getting closer. A huge tree, showing the growth and family pattern of...enough languages that Kokichi would have to stop and count. Some spots were left blank, some of the spacing looking like there was meant to be growth into that spot… Kokichi walked up to one of the converging branches, pointing out “Traditional Dicean” proudly to Kaito, right before it flowed into “Continental Common”, stemming from the convergence of quite a lot of languages in its own right. “Topical, huh?”

Kaito looked at all this curiously, some of the languages familiar enough to him that he recognized them by the name, most though… “Wow. Didn’t realize how many languages there are…”

Kaito looked at ‘Continental Common’, eye following it up to ‘Traditional Dicean’. But, a lot of the branches moved down to the common language, Kaito looking at the curious little symbols that made up the other languages, though there were little phonetic translations to the symbols put in parentheses beneath them. 

“‘Norse’?” Kaito tried, looking at one of the thinner branches, leading to the common language… he wondered who had originally spoken ‘norse’. Didn’t… oh wait! “I think Norse is Old Nordic? I think some folks in Novoselic still speak that, if it’s the same language my godparents told me about. Can’t really remember if I’m honest… though it looks like Common is mostly from Traditional Dicean and…” Kaito peered at the second largest branch leading to the common language, “Kra… Kra-Dai? No idea, definitely never heard of that one before. Um…”

Kaito peered at the thinnest line, and to the endless frustration of his really not that distant ancestors, said, “Never heard of Gaelic either. Huh. But, well… guess that’s the four big languages that led to common. The more ya know!” Kaito said cheerfully, chuckling, eyes skimming the rest of the languages casually.

His eyes rested on a small, thin, swirly word, and without glancing at the phonetic, said, “Arabic is a pretty one. Looks neat.”

Kokichi nodded, eyes following his own flow between related languages as he spoke softly. “My uncle spoke thirteen languages, and he said only two of them were conlangs. He also said that it was barely even a fraction of all the languages spoken in the world and...like, even all the ones here can’t be all of them. There are parts of the world we haven’t met, haven’t been able to communicate with, never got any information… We have such a tiny window compared to the rest of the world, and even that seems overwhelmingly big sometimes.”

Toshio had once told him that language was history. That the language people spoke informed how they thought about everything in life, just as everything would influence a language. When you learned a language, you were touching and becoming part of thousands, maybe millions of years of culture and history… It was why they tried to keep Traditional Dicean alive, at least through the heirs, even if they couldn’t reasonably teach every leader every language that had become Trad-ean. At least one step back, they were keeping history alive. 

...she wasn’t going to be his heir, but...Kokichi wanted to try and teach his daughter Trad-ean. Have one more person to keep that history going. 

“Arabic…?” Kokichi moved over to look more at the language Kaito had pointed out, and while he didn’t know of...pretty much any of the languages that connected to it, the flow suggested that it was a pretty common language. “Huh...I feel like I read something about it once… Can’t remember at all, but...hm. I wonder if Arabic is a language course you can take here…”

“Oh, god, I don’t know if I could actually learn it. Just looking at it, I feel like you couldn’t get further from Common. I think I’d like to learn Old Nordic. Impress a few of my relatives over in Novoselic, maybe make my mom happy. She never really expressed to me a real connection to Novoselic history, but hey, maybe it’s something she’d get a kick out of, me managing to learn a few phrases,” Kaito said cheerfully, looking back around the floor before saying, “Wanna explore some more? See the other floors?”

Kokichi didn’t think he’d learn it either--after talking about work with Kaito, really, the last thing Kokichi needed right now was to pick up a new hobby--but...it was important for someone in Dicea to learn. If it really was as common as the tree suggested then...when the day came that a country that spoke Arabic was able to contact Dicea, it was important that they would be able to share lingual understanding. 

All that wasn’t much more important than to just have in the back of his mind for now, though. 

“That’d be cool,” Kokichi agreed, pressing to Kaito’s side in affection before he looked around for a clock, smirking a bit as he noticed both an analog and a ticker clock right next to each other. “Mm...we might have time to peek around the third floor but...I think we should head over to Shuu-chan’s class soon. Don’t wanna miss him if he gets out a minute or two early.”

“Mmm, yeah! Let’s go get our Shuuichi. We can always explore this building more some other time.” Kaito shrugged, looking around a bit, before bringing Kokichi’s hand up to his lips, kissing it entirely idly before guiding them back to the staircase they had come up in.

When they got to Shuuichi’s building and classroom, it seemed that they had literally just made it there in time, people starting to file out of the classroom, some done for the day like Shuuichi, others heading off to their next afternoon classes. Shuuichi came out of the classroom with a skinny, hassled-looking fellow, the two looking over a paper in Shuuichi’s hand, making small comments to each other about the reading material they were expected to have done before the next class, Shuuichi looking a little exasperated as he said, “...a warrant? I just… I can’t get my head around the idea that evidence found without one is inadmissible?”

But he glanced up and his expression softened as he saw his two lovers, folding up the paper once and putting it into his backpack before waving at them, “Hey. You guys came to pick me up?”

“Heck yeah, handsome! Come here! Let me weigh your head, is it heavier? You full of knowledge?” Kaito teased, letting go of Kokichi’s hand to put his hands around Shuuichi’s face, Shuuichi looking increasingly annoyed as Kaito made a show of tilting his head a bit, ‘weighing’ him, before balking as Kaito leaned in to kiss him.

“Kaito, no, not in front of my class.” Shuuichi insisted, pushing Kaito away, who allowed it, but looked disappointed to be denied kisses.

Around them, there were a few whispers, people specifically looking in Kokichi’s direction. Surprised at the sudden sight of their prince.

Drake nodded along with Shuuichi’s incredulity, understanding a bit more of both sides of the argument, but willing to be exasperated for the sake of solidarity. “...does make it easy for people to hide things in less obvious situations… Guess that’s why it’s more important for detectives and the guardforce to be able to make their case. Though, on - oh…”

He backed up a little when he saw the guy who had been hanging outside the ethics class the day before and the prince, blanching a little as he realized who the redhead was, then. Hopefully that wasn’t too much of a...horrible impression. For the future downfall of the Flora, Prince Kaito and Prince Kokichi weren’t so important but…

Well, Drake had been living in Dicea for a while now, and while it wasn’t the country he’d been born in...even aside from being the safest place for vampires to live, it was a...genuinely nice place. He didn’t have any bad blood for its princes. And since they were his friend’s partners...well, he wanted to have something of a good impression on them. Hoping that they at least weren’t going to object to his friendship with Shuuichi. 

Smiling a little, he gave Shuuichi a wave, only stumbling a little over his own feet as he turned to go. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Shuuichi!”

Kokichi cheered as Shuuichi noticed them, nodding as Kaito fussed and adored. “Yupp! Shuu-chan’s gettin’ a full escort today, and isn’t totally just an excuse for me an’ Kai-chan to snoop around campus before meeting you.” 

He went to Shuuichi’s side, wanting to hold his hand as they left, but...he wasn’t ignorant to the...stir he caused. Looking around, Kokichi smiled at the people who were blatantly staring, giving little waves, before looking back up at Shuuichi, not wanting to stress him out with attention. “You ready to go?”

“Oh, bye Drake,” Shuuichi tried to say, glancing over his shoulder as the poor clumsy man just barely managed his escape with any sort of grace. Though, he was clearly distracted as Kaito, apparently in a Mood today, started playfully pinching his cheeks. “Kaito. Off.”

“Okay, okay.” Kaito sighed, taking his hands back, taking a step back as Kokichi adorned himself around Shuuichi’s arm now, his poor put upon boyfriend having to deal with two lovers who were both in a touchy-feely mood today. “And like Kokichi said, we were looking for a reason to get up and move around. Oh! Notice anything different?”

Shuuichi sighed, adjusting the backpack around his shoulders a little, before giving Kaito a mildly grateful look as his taller boyfriend wordlessly took it from him, Kaito hanging the bag on his own shoulders as Shuuichi answered Kokichi, “Yeah, I’m ready to go. Busy day in class today. I have a lot of reading to get done before the day after tomorrow. Kinda want to just go home and get some rest next, honestly.”

As they headed out, Shuuichi said, “What am I meant to notice?”

“Me telling you is cheating.” Kaito answered, “Come on, man, turn on your analytical eyes. It’s actually super obvious.”

Shuuichi glanced at the two of them… before saying, “Kokichi trimmed up his hair?”

“Annnnything else?”

“Mmm… it’s been a while since Kokichi‘s worn those mittens?”

“You do this just to be mean, don’t you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Kokichi hummed, already feeling a nosy spark to want to read along with Shuuichi but it really would most likely just be a “today” thing. Tomorrow would put him right back onto his normally packed schedule. “Mm, kinda why we’re both here, actually, is ‘cause Kai-chan and I ended up both having a pretty free afternoon. If Shuu-chan isn’t looking for, like, completely silent, super alone rest time, I’d be happy to chill out with ya! I can go ask the kitchen for some snacks too when we get back, and meet you guys up there.”

There was a point in time where lazy, unplanned afternoons like this would’ve driven Kokichi crazy, if he didn’t already fill them up with work. But just...continuing to be comfortable spending time with his family was actually really pleasant. Idly chatting and lounging out. 

Teasing each other. 

Kokichi giggled a bit before holding a hand out, humming in interest. “Huh, really? Could’a sworn I wore these not that long ago… Oh! But what does Shuu-chan think, hm? I know I pretty much look barely different, but I’m sure Shuu-chan’s critical eye has something to say, even if it’s just, ‘I think you look nice, Kokichi’,” Kokichi mimicked in a calm, gentle sort of tone, even changing up the way he said words in an attempt to copy Shuuichi’s accent.

Shuuichi opened his mouth to answer after Kokichi asked what he thought, and then looked surprised, then annoyed, when Kokichi said word for word what he was about to say. “...hmph,” Shuuichi humphed, pouting a little, before saying simply, “Well… you do look nice.”

“And me? Notice anything different about me???”

“Did you trip and fall on some scissors?”

“Ha! That’s not even an insult towards me! Kokichi did this! Ha ha ha ha ha!!” Kaito laughed triumphantly, while Shuuichi just raised an eyebrow at him.

“Sorry,” Shuuichi said, looking over at Kokichi, “I hadn’t realized you had cut Kaito’s goatee today. I didn’t mean to insult your work.”

“HEY! MY GOATEE LOOKS GREAT!”

Kokichi just giggled and nuzzled against Shuuichi’s shoulder, pleased with the compliment even if he’d called it. Though, he perked a bit at the extra avenue of teasing Shuuichi was taking. “I didn’t even think about trimming your beard… Though, I really don’t have any experience with that. I shave like...once a month, if even that.”

Sighing, Kokichi just shook his head, though there was still a smile on his face. “No worries, Shuu-chan--I know my limits. This wasn’t about creating beauty. Though, Am-chan - oh!”

Kokichi looked over at Kaito, lips still “o”ed in his exclamation. “I just kind of assumed you’d wanna go to Denji-chan, but...where are you gonna go to get things fixed?”

Kaito subconsciously fussed with his goatee as he said, “I trim my goatee myself, thank you very much. And it looks great! I work very hard for a point this nice! It’s rugged but sophisticated!”

“Did you two see Amber today then?” Shuuichi asked, having guessed Kokichi had referenced her for a reason as Kaito blustered and grouched beside him, “Is that where Kaito got the new earrings?”

“Ha! You did notice them!” Kaito said triumphantly, before answering Kokichi, “I mean, I should probably just go to Denji, right? My hair just needs to be evened out a little by this point, and they’re like the official stylist for the castle. It’d be kind of a slap in the face to them if I went outside the castle for a haircut.”

Kokichi, really just on instinct more than anything else, was about to assure Kaito that no one would take it personally...but then his eyes slid to the side as he remembered who exactly they were talking about. He could almost hear his big sibling’s griping if Kaito ended up getting a haircut from someone else… “It is pretty convenient,” he ended up saying. 

His cheer quickly returned as he gave Shuuichi a nod. “Yupp-yupp! Am-chan was super nice, just gave Kai-chan the earrings as a gift. They’re made of that special rock we went to the swamp for! Since she pretty much got the gem for free, she wanted to be all big an’ nice and offer up a feel-good gift like this.”

“She aaaaaaalso gave Kai-chan’s look quite the critique,” Kokichi prompted, wondering if Shuuichi would choose something else to banter off of, or finally go in for what Kaito was actually asking about. And, honestly, Kokichi was a little curious about what Shuuichi thought as well.

“What did she say about it?” Shuuichi asked curiously, looking up at Kaito, whose hair was ruffling unevenly in the light breeze, some parts of it still clearly too heavy for the gel to do its job holding up.

“She said that I can’t pull off an uneven haircut like Kokichi can, essentially.” Kaito explained, grinning as he caught Shuuichi looking at him, “I’m not cute enough, apparently.”

Then Kaito paused, and continued with some offense, “Also, my waist isn’t slim enough??? What??? She’s crazy, I swear.”

“You have been putting on some weight around the hips.”

“WHAT!? NO I HAVEN'T! WEAR!? SHOW ME THE WEIGHT!” Kaito insisted, pulling up his jackets and shirt and, to Shuuichi’s endless horror, actually pulling them all off as he looked down at himself, pinching at his hip bones as he insisted, “How could I possibly get a lower body fat percentage than this!? I’d have to literally start losing muscle mass! These beauty standards are unrealistic, damn it!”

“Oh my god, Kaito, I was kidding! It’s freezing out! We’re in public!! Put your clothes back on!!”

Kokichi squealed, immediately setting upon trying to pull Kaito’s shirt and jackets back down, less alarmed with his husband exposing himself in public--it wasn’t enough for an indecency charge--but he knew how much Kaito would complain over being cold later. And...well, Kaito had a very nice waist, and until the weather warmed up and he wanted to show it off normally, Kokichi wanted to keep it just for him and Shuuichi. 

“Kai-chan knows that’s a lie. The only weight he’s been getting is in his chest, ‘cause he’s been diligently working out to become the best pillow in the world. Am-chan’s just dreaming of a guy eight feet tall with proportions that would only work in a drawing.” Kokichi pouted as he still strained to pull some of Kaito’s clothes back down, his face screwing up a little. “But he’s not gonna be a good pillow if he’s frozen! Put your clothes on!”

Ooooof. Okay, actually? It was super chilly. Kaito had been slowly getting used to Dicea’s hellscape when it came to their winters, and with enough warm clothes, it was almost like it wasn’t freezing all the time, but nope, nope, still cold.

Shivering, Kaito let Kokichi pull his clothes back down, shuddering a little as he wrapped his arms around himself, still managing to grumble, “Well, alright… so long as everyone knows… I put in a lot of effort for this body, slimmer waist my ass...”

Shuuichi looked around at the few curious stares they were getting on the street and blushed fiercely as he said, “Honestly, you’re so much maintenance sometimes… come on, hold on, let’s go inside for a minute, honestly Kaito.”

Shuuichi pulled his lovers into the nearest warm looking building, which smelled strangely spicy. It was also very warm in here, to the point of almost being too humid, and Kaito sighed in relief as the chill was quickly taken from his bones, before looking around, “...hm?”

They were clearly in a sort of restaurant, but Shuuichi didn’t recognize the smell or style of food, and the words on the board above didn’t make it any easier, all of them in Common but still words he didn’t recognize at all. Most of the restaurant was narrow, a few booths, but clearly most of the seating expected to be at the stools beneath one large, main counter, where a few people were all quietly, individually eating large bowls of what looked to just be wet noodles with… just a bunch of random looking stuff in it.

The shopkeep, an older man who, as far as Shuuichi could tell, was working entirely by himself, glanced up at them wordlessly, before getting back to work. Apparently not overly worried if they were customers or not.

Kokichi was used to Dicean winters but...that didn’t mean he had much of a resistance to them. He just knew what to expect and how to dress and when to give up going outside at all. So, when Shuuichi pulled them into a building, he let out a small sigh of relief as the warm, almost humid temperature quickly took the chill out from him. 

Though, the smell in the air posed another question. 

He sniffed at the air a bit, the spice making his mouth water, and it was only after a few moments that Kokichi noticed the menu board at all. Oh...he hadn’t had ramen in ages… Considering that it tended to be a personal bowl type of meal, it wasn’t something the kitchen staff often made…

Kokichi’s stomach growled, loud enough to be heard, and he flushed lightly, looking over at his partners with a sheepish grin. “I...think I forgot to have lunch today… Since we’re here...wanna get food? Oh, but, I can just get something at home, if Shuu-chan just wanted to beeline.”

Shuuichi’s mouth was actually watering.

Which was… bizarre. He didn’t really recognize any of these smells. And he had never had pasta in like… a ‘stew’ before. There was no familiarity or nostalgia inspiring his sudden ravenous hunger. It was just… something.

Shuuichi hadn’t actually noticed yet, but spore free, his extreme desire for sugar had tempered greatly. He still greatly enjoyed sugar now, partly due to having just gotten used to eating it, and partly due to his body just recognizing it was good for his Flora baby. But his otherwise uncontaminated body was adjusting to his otherwise ‘normal’, human pregnancy needs and strange urges and-

Holy shit whatever that red stuff in the bowl was Shuuichi wanted it immediately. 

He almost stepped forward before Kokichi even said anything, but hearing his smaller boyfriend’s sheepish request, he smiled warmly, as if he was doing him a favor, and said, “We’re here already, so if you’re hungry, Kokichi, I don’t see the point in waiting till we get back to the castle. Dinner won’t be ready for serving for another few hours anyway, so we may as well eat.”

And, being such a good and considerate boyfriend, Shuuichi immediately headed towards one of the booths, deciding on the matter.

Kaito, in turn, looked suspiciously at the bowls the other customers had, most of them reddish in color, though at least one of the customers had a more or less clear bowl. “Is… is this place spicy food?” Kaito asked warily, glancing up at the presumed owner of the shop, who gestured for him to come over, and handed him three small slips of paper and a pencil, gesturing up at the board behind him which explained, Circle one for each section, circle any/all for last section. 

Looking down at the small slips of paper, which indeed seemed to just be an extremely small version of the menu that had been on display when they first walked in, Kaito brought it back to the booth and passed them around as he said, “I guess we just circle what we want and bring the slips to him… I have no idea what these words mean though.”

Kokichi made a happy little noise as Shuuichi apparently didn’t mind stopping here, and he followed after him with eyes probably a good bit bigger than his stomach. Scooting into the booth, he looked over the order slip before looking up in surprise. 

“I mean...it can be super spicy, but you can make your ramen any way you want it, really. Savoury, salty, sweet...mm, but it doesn’t look like this place has Dandan ramen though, so not super sweet. Um…” He looked over the ingredients on the slip again. “I can just explain everything? Should...I assume that ramen’s not super common in Luminary?”

Shuuichi peered down at the tiny, tiny menu, before huffing, and with more straightforward aggression than he usually showed in public, he just got up without a word, went to the person with the red bowl that had made him salivate, and shoved the paper in front of the bewildered customer as he said, “Excuse me. Could you just circle for me whatever you circled for your own bowl? Thank you.”

Kaito watched the innocent bystander hurriedly fulfil the request with some amusement, before Shuuichi thanked him and then immediately went over to the owner to pass him his paper. For all of his whining and hatred of it, pregnancy suited Shuuichi, Kaito secretly thought to himself. So did him being a Lord, even if Shuuichi refused to acknowledge it in any way. Under all that insecurity and polite, taught servitude, was a somewhat haughty attitude and an expectation in other people that bordered on impatience. It was arguably why him and Maki got on so well. The only thing keeping them from the pride and self assurance of nobility was nobility's bitter determination to keep them in the dirt.

Shuuichi’s quest complete, their boyfriend sitting back down, Kaito chuckled a little, shaking his head, before looking down at his own menu and saying, “...maybe I’ll just pick randomly?”

Kokichi found Shuuichi’s determined quest amusing too, and he laughed softly before hurriedly shaking his head, putting his and Kaito’s order slips next to each other. “Nu uh. While you could do that and it’d probably still be yummy, I’m not letting you get something spicy by chance and make you hate ramen for the rest of time. How about...you pick what I pick, but I’ll tell you the least spicy options?”

“I’m gonna get...spicy soy ramen, but without the usual pork on top. It’s a salty, soy-based broth with chili paste, but we can go without the paste for you...and I’m gonna...get bamboo shoots, a fishcake, green onion, seaweed, and an egg...and extra chili oil, but obviously not for you...eh...I’ll get mushrooms too…” Kokichi diligently went through the list with Kaito, making sure that his husband was going to get the best experience he could, before taking their orders up to the chef, now far hungrier than he already was when they came into the shop. 

Kaito was a little startled when Kokichi took the tiny, tiny menu from him, but grinned as Kokichi started picking out some food he thought Kaito would enjoy, a small flush of red burning the back of his neck. Cute…

Kaito ended up just nodding along with whatever Kokichi said, not putting too much thought into any of the explanations, perfectly content to let his husband try picking for him. To his mild surprise, a woman suddenly came out from a back corner Kaito hadn’t even realized was there, smiling but wordlessly putting down three glasses of water, before heading back to the back, clearly working on something back there. “This really is a funny little place,” Kaito mused, looking around the extremely small restaurant, area woody and warm colored, but the decoration non-existent. “I’d have never noticed it was here if we hadn’t walked into the nearest door. Was there even a sign out front?”

“There was. It had some symbols and a small etching of a bowl with noodles on it. I’m not surprised you didn’t notice it, I didn’t see it till I was looking directly at the door,” Shuuichi observed, happily sipping at his water. 

Kokichi hummed and looked around the restaurant a little, finding it just...cozy and exactly the kind of place that he’d wanna eat ramen in. A good vibe for it. And at least someone involved with the business knew Trad-ean enough to have it as the main language on the menu, so...the recipes were likely old ones. Apparently, though it took different forms over the years, people in Dicea had been eating ramen for centuries. And he knew just because something was old didn’t mean it was the best, but...well, handed down recipes tended to be a good sign for some kick-ass food. 

“I’ve never been here, and...I don’t think I’ve ever seen it either,” he admitted, swinging his legs gently from where they dangled off the edge of the booth seat. “But if the food tastes as good as it smells, I’m excited to find a restaurant like this. The kitchen staff sometimes make kakejiru but it’s really not the same at all…”

Turning his attention back to his loves, Kokichi tilted his head to the side. “So...are there any noodle soups that are common in Luminary? ‘Cause you guys seem pretty unfamiliar with all of this.”

Kaito straight up laughed, before saying, “If I wasn’t literally watching three people eat exactly that, every fiber of my being would be repulsed by the idea of ‘noodle soup’. Wet noodles just sound kind of gross… but, I’ll admit, their bowls look nice.” Kaito said, peeking over at the customers on the counter.

“Macaroni is a sort of wet noodle, when you think about it…” Shuuichi observed, leaning his head on his hand, “If the wetness was ‘cheese’.”

“Yeah, but that’s more Novoselic’s thing anyway,” Kaito pointed out, “We got that from them, so you can’t really call it a ‘Luminary’ thing.”

“Hmmm… ya know, I really just can’t think of any other food we use pasta noodles for other than, well… pasta.” Shuuichi shrugged. “Pasta with sauce is kinda wet.”

“The noodles here are literally submerged. Not the same.”

“Really?” Kokichi raised an eyebrow. He knew he really shouldn’t be surprised at how different their cultures were, and at least not over the types of noodle dishes they ate, but...none? “That’s...wow. Noodle soups are really a...classic comfort food, type of dish. There are the older ones with recipes people have found from...like, some claim over a thousand years ago, and then newer ones, like chicken noodle soup with the type of pasta you’d have with, like, tomato or cream sauces. I...really can’t imagine never having any of them…”

“Then again, I never would’ve thought of glazing meat with fruit, so I guess there’s stuff like that for both our cultures…”

Pouting at the table for a moment, Kokichi looked up with a new spark of determination. “Alright! Today, you two are trying ramen for the first time! And I’ll do my best to find good places to have other noodle soups, so you can try the rest of them! I can’t really cook you guys my favorite foods, but I can still share them!”

Both Shuuichi and Kaito gave Kokichi similarly startled looks, Kokichi’s outburst a little surprising… but Shuuichi smiled warmly while Kaito laughed, reaching over to playfully rustle his husband’s hair (look, it was wild at the moment. Perfect rustling shape.) as he said, “Sounds like our ‘Kichi’s on a mission! Heck yeah, we’re about to be swamped in weird, wet noodles! I’m all about it!”

Shuuichi glanced over at the counter, noticing the owner catching his eye and said to Kaito, “Oh, I think those three bowls are ours. Kaito, could you-”

“On it!” Kaito said, heading up to grab them and bring them back from the counter.

On the side of the table were two stands, along with some napkins. In one stand were some simple metal forks. On the other, wooden sticks. Kaito had no idea what the wooden sticks could be for, so he grabbed the forks, but Shuuichi saw them and went, “Oh, they have chopsticks here. That’s a callback. I thought those were only for dumplings.”

“Hm?” Kaito asked, giving Shuuichi a confused look. “Whatsticks?”

“You don’t remember? They had them in that one restaurant we passed by to get here? Maki used them to-”

“Oh! Right!” Kaito remembered… before paling, “Ooooh, riiiiight. I remember now. Yeah, I thought those were supposed to be for those weird little white meat pies too.”

“Dumplings.”

“Yeah, dumplings. Like I said,'' Kaito sort of corrected himself, spinning some of the noodles onto the fork and blowing on it a bit, before taking a bite… “Mmm. Not bad,” Kaito said, grinning down at it. “What are those called? The little sprout things? I like those.”

Kokichi giggled sheepishly, only then realizing how...well, like Kaito he sounded in that moment. But...just like how cooking the recipes was the only way Kaito could share what Luminous food was like--until they went to Luminary, but there was still no telling when they’d be able to do that--finding places that could cook the things that the kitchen didn’t was the only way Kokichi could share Dicean food. Sure you could request certain things for birthdays and special events, and the chefs went out of their way to make food he could eat when he was sick...but it was another thing entirely to ask them about making specialty, single-serving dishes. 

So...he’d just find places that served different kinds of udon dishes and soba dishes and...maybe just a good soup place to share chicken noodle soup. A good pho place too… Maybe even wonton soup, though that wasn’t quite a noodle… But there were a lot of dishes he wanted to share!

Kokichi usually used chopsticks for this kind of thing, but didn’t mind when Kaito picked up forks, only sighing fondly as that chopstick incident was referenced again, and knowing that he likely didn’t want to know that story. Already salivating, Kokichi couldn’t wait to dig in, even waiting to ask something that struck him as funny. And...waiting a little longer as he groaned in happiness. 

“Mmm… But, mm. I...guess you could call some dumplings a mini meat pie, but...weird. Dunno why you’d want meat in a pie…” Kokichi shook his head a little, about to explain bean sprouts until he noticed what Kaito was actually pointing to. “Oh, those are bamboo shoots. Awesome, right? And they cooked them here so tender… Honestly, if you just cooked ‘em up with some chili oil, I could eat a whole bowl of bamboo shoots just by themselves.”

Kaito had called them sprouts because he hadn’t had a better word for the strange, hard texture blocks, but nodded as Kokichi picked up what he was trying to refer too, going out of his way to stab a few more of them with his noodles as he said, “Yeah, I could see that. They’d make a nice snack… How’s your… Shuuichi?”

Shuuichi was having what we’d call an ‘experience’.

His face was sweating, and he looked like he was in pain. His eyes were weirdly red, and were it not for how fucking determined he looked to keep going, Kaito would have worried Shuuichi was having one of his mood swings and had thought of something that upset him. His pale skin was turning red.

But he just kept funneling the food into his mouth as Kaito sputtered out, “Holy shit, are you okay?!”

“Mmm? Yeah, fine,” Shuuichi managed to gasp out between bites, looking almost furious in his battle with the spicy food his hormones were craving, but oooooowww ow ow ow-

Kokichi looked on in near astonishment as Shuuichi tried to guzzle food that was...pretty obviously above his spice threshold. He had...kind of assumed Shuuichi would exact some caution since he knew how “spicy” Dicean food could be, but…

Kokichi sighed, getting up from the table. “Hold on, I’ll ask if they have some calpico or something… Poor Shuu-chan’s lookin’ like he’s eatin’ a ghost pepper.”

By the time Kokichi came back with the calpico, poor Shuuichi actually was crying a little, though the tears leaking from his eyes didn’t match his entirely satisfied, if vaguely annoyed, expression at all, and Kaito was freaking out because his boyfriend had either lost his mind or was dying. Shuuichi would have reassured him he was fine, but he couldn’t actually speak at the moment, because opening his mouth to do anything more than shove more spicy food inside was begging for the air to punish him for his hubris.

Taking the offered drink, Shuuichi started sipping at it, ignoring Kaito’s attempts to beat the fork out of his hand, deciding that if Shuuichi wasn’t going to stop eating the nightmare food on his own then Kaito had to save him, dammit! Eventually, fed up with Kaito trying to knock the fork off his hand, he turned the fork quickly the next time Kaito brought his hand down, Kaito accidentally punching the sharp three points of the fork and screeching, taking his hand back and looking hurt and wounded as he held his hand to his chest. 

Finally able to take a breath, Shuuichi sighed, “...I like it. It’s got a nice flavor. I haven't really had anything like this before.”

“You stabbed me!”

“You punched my fork,” Shuuichi said simply, reaching out to grab a napkin and, passing one to Kato for his hand, grabbed another for his face, wiping the sweat off as he said, “Thank you for the drink, Kokichi.”

Kokichi only snorted at the antics he returned to, entirely unsurprised, but he did give Kaito’s shoulder a comforting rub as he sat back down to enjoy the rest of his own meal. It was a little spicy, he guessed, but more just...yummy and flavorful, and probably something that was gonna have Kaito crying later when he couldn’t stand kissing either of them. 

Nodding, Kokichi munched through a few slices of mushroom. “No problem. It’s a...sort of milk drink, I guess, so it should help with the heat. And...yeah, I don’t know what I’d really compare ramen to, other than other noodle soups that you’ve never had, so…” He shrugged a bit.

“Even though we don’t really have it at home, I really like ramen...and it’s super customizable, so it never gets boring to eat either. You can make it with just a few ingredients, or everything you can think of and...it’s just really good. I know there was a place selling uncooked noodles in, like, little containers, so you could just focus on the broth and toppings and make it really quickly...but I think having it all fresh is really my favorite.”

“Well, this place isn’t exactly far… but, I could… try to make something like this?” Kaito said, looking at the bowl full of mostly entirely foriegn ingredients, absolutely nothing certain in his tone, “I mean… how hard could it be right- Shuuichi, stop eating it if it’s hurting you!”

Shuuichi was back to sweating again, ignoring Kaito entirely as he lifted the bowl and started sipping at the broth itself. 

Kaito twitched as his boyfriend just entirely dismissed him, muttering, “That can’t be good for the baby… and even if it’s not bad for her, you’re absolutely gonna have stomach problems later.”

Shuuichi shrugged, still sipping at the bowl. Kaito sighed, running a hand over his face as he said, “Sure. I’m high maintenance.” 

Kokichi really appreciated Kaito offering, but...that’s what he’d said about cooking in general before he tried making breakfast the first time, and… “Maybe wait ‘til it comes up in class first, or ask Chako to help you through it the first time… For something you don’t have much experience eating, I think it’d help to have someone guide ya through it.”

Scratching at his cheek a little, but not concerned enough to stop eating, Kokichi shrugged. “I mean...nothing I saw on the ingredient list was anything that was in those books we read, even if hot peppers are prolly gonna make Shuu-chan’s tummy all upset. And, in my experience...if he’s okay now, then it’s probably gonna only be an issue...um. Yanno. In the bathroom later. But...just keep drinking milk, and maybe take an antacid later…”

“I’m a little surprised you're so happy to be eating spicy food, Shuu-chan,” Kokichi hummed, starting to sip at his own broth. It had been...a big bowl of ramen, but he was almost done, and Kokichi didn’t mind having a lighter dinner later. “You think this is a baby thing, or am I finally gonna have a buddy in ordering something more than the most mild versions of everything?”

Shuuichi finally put the bowl down, immediately moving to start sipping at the drink again, while Kaito just watched all this and continued grumbling. When his mouth calmed down enough to speak again, Shuuichi said, “I’m not sure. It just smelled like I had to have it.”

“That sounds like a craving to me…” Kaito peered suspiciously into Shuuichi’s mostly finished bowl, then up at Shuuichi’s red, sweating face, and just scoffed, “You two actually like this stuff? Kokichi, do you look like this when you eat spicy things? It literally looks like torture.”

“When I eat things that are too spicy for me? Yeah,” Kokichi affirmed, looking a little bummed to hear that Shuuichi’s sudden taste for flavor was just a craving. He’d heard of a few parents who had found a taste for certain things and stuck with it even after pregnancy but...Kokichi wasn’t going to hold out too much hope. “Though, there are people who enjoy the pain of it--I think I’ve talked about them before. There’s a whole community of people determined to make the spiciest food imaginable. They’ve even crossbred a pepper that’s one and a half times hotter than anything you’d normally be able to find in nature, and that in itself is an outlier.”

Grimacing a bit, Kokichi shook his head. “I’m not on that level, and I’m not even what people around here would call someone who can take particularly spicy food. Like...well, Shuu-chan’s tastebuds are probably fried, but here, Kai-chan.” Kokichi lifted up his bowl, still some broth and assorted ends of toppings and noodles left. “Like, dip your finger or the end of your fork and taste. This is the level that I just find yummy--anything hotter and I start tearing up and my nose starts running.”

Kaito looked extremely warily at Kokichi’s bowl, but sighed, taking his fork and complying. The things he did for love…

Carefully putting the ends on his tongue, Kaito had a brief, ‘Oh’ moment. It wasn’t as bad as he thought. Tasted alright. And…

...his face grimaced. Giving Kokichi a mildly wounded look, and then shuddering as the slight burning feeling on the edge of his tongue kept getting hotter, Kaito putting a hand over his mouth and groaning. Shuuichi passed Kaito the drink, who quickly took the sip, looking at Kokichi’s bowl with an openly offended look, as he simply said, “Why?”

“I needed to give you a tangible example,” Kokichi hummed matter of fact, not feeling sorry in the slightest. “Otherwise you would have no reference for what I mean. Because I can barely fathom what the extreme heat-seekers eat, and that’s about 3000 times hotter than this. So don’t think I’m anywhere near that level, okay?”

And after a moment of thought, he added, “And if someone dares you to eat something hot, no matter what, don’t take them up on it. I don’t care however they’re trying to goad you on--Kai-chan will die even for things that are just a challenge to some.”

Kaito scoffed, returning to his relatively safe bowl, “I can’t think of anything anyone could say to get me to try that, no worries ‘Kichi.”

Shuuichi, in turn, could think of several things that could say to get Kaito to try that. Kaito had a hard time saying no to challenges, and on top of that, was a sometimes shameless people pleaser when it came to parties. In the right environment, it was laughably easy to get him to try, well… anything. Hopefully it’d just never come up.

It took a bit, but eventually Shuuichi’s body calmed down a little, full and satisfied and only a little sticky with sweat as he said, “How’s everyone feeling? Kaito, have you gotten the bill yet?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, one sec.” Kaito said, finishing his own bowl with a few heavy gulps before, wiping his mouth, he headed to the counter to figure out what they owed.

As Shuuichi watched him leave, Shuuichi turned to Kokichi and smiled warmly. “How was your day, by the way? Based on the haircut and the trip to Ambers, it seems like it’s been busy.”

Kokichi just looked at Kaito for a moment, vividly remembering just over an hour ago when he’d goaded his husband into stepping into a perfectly safe building. He sighed. He’d just...try to keep a better eye on Kaito if they happened to be in that sort of atmosphere. He’d let Nazumi know too, just to have another pair of eyes on the lookout. Maybe it seemed a little excessive, but Kokichi had heard about people needing to go to the hospital because of the ridiculously spicy things they’d eaten on dares, and even just in curiosity. He wasn’t about to let his husband become one of them. 

Finishing off the rest of his broth, his stomach feeling a bit overfull, but not to the point where Kokichi felt like he’d made a mistake, he settled down to rest his head on his arms over the table, returning a soft, sweet smile to Shuuichi. “This is actually a sort of chill afternoon, if you can believe it. Nadya-chan and I stopped a bit early, and Kai-chan was hanging out in our room, so we talked for a while…”

Kokichi sighed, his cheeks going pink, embarrassment back in form. “...he got me to sing…”

“...and we kinda had no plan for the afternoon until coming to see you so...Kai-chan brought up the haircut, and I mentioned that Amber wanted to see how it went, so we saw her, and then we looked around campus a little until your class ended… Maybe that’s a lot of stuff, but it was all very ‘go with the flow’, so it doesn’t feel like it. But I really enjoyed it… Kai-chan and I talked it out; I was feelin’ kinda bad about not working that much, but...I really don’t want to trade time where I’m spending time with you guys. That’s important too.”

“It sounds nice. A perfect balance of a day, honestly… some work and then casual time that you’re actually enjoying. A nice mix of productiveness and fun… though, I can understand feeling restless without work. Helping you in the office helped, but I was pretty restless myself, for a while there.” Shuuichi looked over at Kaito, who had finished paying and was waving the two of them over.

Scooting out of the booth, Shuuichi offered Kokichi his arm, as he said fondly, “You sang for Kaito? Am I going to get a performance as well?”

Kokichi nodded a bit, feeling pleased to hear Shuuichi refer to his restlessness in the past tense. He knew school was going to be good for him. 

As they got out of the booth, someone could be forgiven for thinking that Kokichi was the pregnant one, at least for a moment, with how he hefted himself up into standing, knowing then and there that he just wanted to veg out when they got home, peacefully able to digest their large, late lunch. 

He gleefully took Shuuichi’s arm, but flushed even harder, half hiding his face against his arm. “I-I mean...not now… Maybe later...if you really wanted… S’not fair if I only do it for one of you...even if I’m not that good and...yanno.”

Shuuichi laughed lightly, heart warming a little at Kokichi’s sweet fluster. ...also maybe at the spice now coursing through his system. Oof. What had Kokichi said about it making bathroom time difficult later?

Oh well. That was future Shuchi’s problem. Screw that guy. Current Shuuichi walked out of the ramen shop with his flustered, sluggish boyfriend, their still far too energized other boyfriend opening the door for them before bounding off ahead, excitedly turning around to talk to them about something or other walking backwards. Being far too trusting that Shuuichi would warn him if he was about to run into someone, until Shuuichi finally scolded him into walking normally.

And as Kaito laughed and put his arm around Shuich’s shoulder and gave him a half hug, Shuuichi relaxed into the rest of the day. It was, apparently, going to be a calm one.

-

Shuuichi sat down, leaned over to take off his shoes… grunted… and sighed. “Kaito? Could you… could you help me?”

“Back freezing on you again?” Kaito asked, looking himself over in the mirror, frowning as he tried to fruitlessly fix his messy hair with just his fingers. He’d need to get it fixed soon. It had been fun showing off Kokichi’s work, but Kaito didn’t have the constitution to walk around looking like this long term. 

“Not painfully, I just can’t stretch down enough to get at my feet…”

“On it, give me one second handsome!”

Kokichi had pretty much thrown himself on their bed as soon as they got back home, kicking his shoes off somewhere near the door as an afterthought. Oooooh...he was full. Again, not painfully, and he didn’t think he was in danger of throwing up or anything, but...full. It was looking less like he was aiming for a light dinner, and more that he’d just grab a snack before bed. 

But, while he was content to slug about in bed, his boyfriend needed help! And Kokichi would not leave a plea for help unanswered! 

Tossing himself back off the bed, Kokichi knelt on the floor and started gently taking off Shuuichi’s shoes, not wanting to agitate his swollen ankles, which didn’t look particularly swollen today, but still. “I’ve got ya… Really, I’m kind of the obvious choice when you guys need something that’s closer to the ground. Alright…”

Shoes off, Kokichi clambered back on top of the bed, now beside Shuuichi, and laid down, idly rubbing his own full stomach a bit. “Shuu-chan all prepared to rest now?”

Shuuichi smiled, a small flush of pleased embarrassment pinking his cheeks as he said, “Kaito was still up and you looked comfortable laying down already. But, thank you Kokichi.”

Sighing, Shuuichi laid back beside Kokichi, a small, content look on his face as he said, “Mmmm… I suppose so. I haven't quite decided what resting looks like just yet. Honestly, a bath has been temping me for a few days now…”

Kaito glanced over his shoulder through the reflection of the mirror, thinking his two guys looked very cute there together, but- “Do you think Denji would just like… be okay with me throwing myself at them real quick? I mean, they live in the castle… do you think that’d be rude?”

“Maki apparently did that. She apparently kept harassing people trying to find them and they had to basically go looking for her to get her to stop.”

“Yeah, but like… Maki’s rude, ya know?”

“Mmmm, that’s true. She’s maybe not the example.”

“And I gotta check on Tim when he gets home. He and Cali are spending the night at Kimiko’s house tonight, so I gotta double check his backpack and make certain he’s got everything he needs before Haneda walks him over there.”

“On a school night?”

“Apparently they volunteered to do something for their class super early tomorrow? Some sort of decorations for some class party? It’s why they’re spending the night together in the first place.”

“Oh.” Shuuichi sighed, “That sounds nice.”

Mmm… Having a nice warm bath on a full stomach always sounded like a nice time--apparently at one of the hot springs, not the one they went to, but one higher up in another mountain chain, it was kind of a tradition to eat a spicy soup or hot pot or something like that then rest off the meal in the hot spring. No minor illness would stand a chance against that amount of sweat. Shuuichi would probably really enjoy a bath…

Kokichi propped his head up a little to look over at Kaito, smiling softly. “Aw, that’s awesome. I can’t wait to hear about the party tomorrow… And are you tired of my work already? Looks like a few hours is Kai-chan’s threshold of alternative fashion.” He snickered a bit before waving Kaito off. “Denji-chan loves when people just pop by for shit. If they don’t have time, then you can always schedule something for later, but most likely they can fix you up right away. Their room is on the second floor, third hallway from the end, second to last door. I don’t think I did that bad of a job, so they should probably be able to fix your hair before Tim and Haneda set off, since it sounds like they’re stopping here after school?”

“Yeah, to get his stuff…” Kaito considered the time, and decided Kokichi’s  reasoning was sound, “Alright! Your both good? Neither of you need anything?”

Shuuichi lazily waved him off, making a sound that might have been ‘we’re good’ but was mostly nonsense.

“Alright! I’ll be back soon.” Kaito headed over to kiss them both goodbye, got to Kokichi, leaned in, remembered what Kokichi just ate, and then hurriedly kissed him on the cheek instead, before giving Shuuichi the same treatment. “I’ll be back!”

“You said. Go. Go.” Shuuichi insisted, flopping his hand back down and sighing. “Mmmmm… bath or no bath… bath or noooo bath…”

Kokichi complemented Shuuichi’s sound with a much more purposefully indistinct hum, comfortable and happy and not needing anything in particular that he didn’t already have, ie, his wonderful partners, one of whom had things a little more pressing to do, and so Kokichi didn’t need him right there. He basked in the kiss, really just happy to lie in bed for the rest of the day--or until he got sick of it in a few hours--but…

Nudging his arm against Shuuichi’s, Kokichi let out a dramatic sigh. “You know, I’d happily brave being on my feet again to start drawing the water for you. Baths on full stomachs are pretty euphoric.”

Shuuichi sighed dramatically, “I couldn’t… possibly ask you to make a sacrifice like that…it’s too much...”

With an absolutely grand groan, Kokichi sat up and pulled himself off the bed, taking long, sweeping steps over to the bathroom. “Too tragic that I’m already doing it, my love a force even I can’t combat. Woe is me, trapped in a destiny meant for my darling’s comfort.”

“Nooooo, Kokichi, you caaaan’t, I’m not worth it.” Shuuichi lamely tried to stop him, lightly patting out his arm in Kokichi’s direction as his boyfriend got up and left, as if he could possibly grab him like that. 

Looking suitably woeful, Shuuichi told the roof, “There he goes… my brave man… what will I tell my child happened to her father?”

“Shuu-chan is worth every breath in my lungs, every beat in my heart, every firing of my synapses,” Kokichi called from the bathroom, the sound of water following his voice after a moment. “My entire being, dedicated to you...no wonder I’ve been set on this journey. When our daughter asks, you can tell her that everything I did was for you both.”

Kokichi peeked his head through the doorframe. “Hot bath, or comfy warm bath?”

“Comfy warm please.” Shuuichi called back, sighing a little as he realized he would have to contribute to this idea by actually physically getting up himself. Tragedy.

Getting up with a small grunt of effort, Shuuichi’s eyes went to the door, making sure Kaito locked it behind him, and seeing it was locked, started to take his clothes off. Carefully putting them away into the hamper, with the exception of his hat, which he put on the dresser, Shuuichi walked back the standing mirror to get the the bathroom and…

He paused. Looking at himself. 

...It all still caught him off guard, sometimes. In his minds eye, he didn’t look any different than he had ever looked. Catching the whole view of him in the mirror though was… it was always a little bit like looking at a stranger, wondering where you knew them from…

Shuuichi automatically raised his arm to lower his hat, remembered halfway through the motion that he wasn’t wearing it, and sighing a little, just turned away from the view, heading into the bathroom.

The room was already steaming a little, and there was a lovely floral smell. Almost a little shyly, wishing he had worn a towel now but feeling too awkward to go back and grab one now that he had walked in already, Shuuichi said softly, “Thank you, Kokichi.”

Kokichi nodded and ducked away again, holding one hand under the facet as he adjusted the temperature to just the right amount of warmth...and then, of course, adding in the bath salts, because what was the point otherwise?

...probably couldn’t use them for a baby...not until she was a little older, at least. Couldn’t even use the tub for a baby, had to get a special little tub that you could even fit in a sink! And only special baby soap for a while… Had to make sure to keep her nails short, since for some reason baby nails were weirdly sharp, and they didn’t want her to accidentally scratch herself. Or them, but it was a bigger concern for her. 

...was she going to be the kind of kid that hated bathtime? Or adored it, always wanting a huge bubble bath filled with toys to play out another adventure. He conceded to Kaito’s wishes that they were going to be good about brushing her hair, but was she going to be the kind of person who liked it? Excited, or even demanding her daddies try to give her fancy new styles? Or would she take after him, and do everything she could to get out of brush time? He wouldn’t be able to back her up, but...well, if she was that kind of person, then maybe it was a case to keep her hair short until she was old enough to decide for herself. Less hair meant fewer tangles to suffer through. 

Kokichi smiled softly to himself as he shut off the water. He couldn’t wait to meet her. 

Looking up behind him, Kokichi offered Shuuichi a grin back. “No problem! Do you want some company, or should I go back to stake claim to the bed?”

Shuuichi looked curious at the offer, before saying uncertainly, “You’d… are you offering to get into the tub with me? Or…”

Shuuichi had not been exposed to the ‘hang out by the tub’ mentality that Kaito and Kokichi had somewhat brutally fallen into themselves. So he didn’t quite understand Kokichi’s question. And, well, it was a big enough bath. All three of them had hung out in it at one point fairly easily. So Shuuichi shrugged, saying simply, “If you’d like a bath as well, you’re more than welcome to join me, Kokichi.”

Carefully stepping into the tub himself, Shuuichi gave a small, pleased breath of relief, laying himself out, the water rising ever so slightly around him as Shuuichi leaned back against the angled side as he said, “...honestly? This bathtub is maybe one of the most luxurious things I’ve ever used in my life. I could never go back to a normal sized bath again.”

Kokichi just sort of shrugged non-commitantly at first, not really having a preference over sitting by the edge of the tub or coming in with Shuuichi too. Whatever his boyfriend was comfortable with, Kokichi would take that path. But, if Shuuichi was open to it, he wanted to spend more time together. 

And, lucky him, he was!

With a grin, Kokichi started pulling off his clothes as Shuuichi settled into the water, leaving them in a pile on the far side of the bathroom. “It’s pretty nice, right? Honestly, I barely even remember what more regular bathtubs are like, I’ve had this one so long. While it is a health accomodation thing...it does feel preeeeetty dang fancy. And it means we never have to be all impatient waiting for shower times if we don’t wanna. A bit much for one person, but very reasonable for three.”

Once he’d stripped down, Kokichi carefully got in on the other side of the tub, sighing happily at the temperature, the nice, floral-smelling water caressing his stuffed body… A nice way to spend some time. “...how’s class going? Have you guys started to get into the subject matter?”

“Yeah. It’s mostly technical things, which is kind of a relief.” Shuuichi admitted, watching with some amusement as the water barely shifted at Kokichi’s intrusion. “How certain laws work and why certain court procedures are done the way they are. It’s…”

Shuchi tsked, “Some of it is going to be a learning curve. I mean, I already knew that was going to be the case, of course, but… some things I considered common sense don’t apply here. Which is going to take some getting used too…” Shuuichi suddenly laughed at himself a little, “Which literally on the first day was something I argued people had a habit of falling into to my classmate… I’ll admit, when I said it, I wasn’t actually thinking of myself. I suppose it’s ironic.”

“...you and Nadya are fine without me?” Shuuichi asked, the question coming with some complicated feelings, “I know that you are. But I feel compelled to ask.”

Kokichi nodded gently, sinking into the water and letting the longer ends of his hair sink out of the cloud and stick against his neck. He was familiar with the sort of subject Shuuichi was going to be learning, but not from the perspective of anyone but the heir, which...was a pretty unique position. He didn’t know what sort of things a detective or a lawyer would think about when it came to the law, and it was going to be kind of exciting to learn about it through Shuuichi. 

“Ha, Shuu-chan joining the club now? Honestly, base instincts are wrong so often, I’m kinda curious where some ‘common sense’ stuff even got started...but then, there are probably a lot of cases where it would work perfectly fine too. Just gotta find what’s common for each situation you’re in.”

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a soft look as he asked over how things were in the office, and he scooted along the side of the tub just close enough that he could nudge Shuuichi’s foot with his own. “We’re okay. It’s going to take some getting used to--you wouldn’t believe the number of times I looked over at the edge of my desk, expecting you to have already researched what I was about to need--and it’s gonna be slower, of course...but we’ll be okay. We’re not holdin’ up the system or anything without Shuu-chan there to be a superstar. Still…” he hummed, “I might see how we feel in a few months, and maybe open a position for a researcher…”

“We really aren’t in trouble, but...if I come to Kai-chan again, feeling like I need to spend more time working, it might just be better to hire another person on.” Kokichi tilted his head to the side, tapping on the edge of the tub, actually putting that to consideration. “Especially when Baby’s here… I don’t wanna be one of those parents that skips out on time with their kids to work, so…”

“Hmmm…” 

Shuuichi leaned his head back, looking at the ceiling, his expression contemplative. He understood what Kokichi was saying, but… “I haven't really considered my own work/child balance.” He admitted. His face tensing slightly at the thought, clearly mildly ashamed of it. 

He looked over at Kokichi, the water rippling slightly as he shrugged, though not dismissively. Just… genuinely uncertain as he explained, “When I think of the future, I have this tendency of viewing my work and the child as two separate things that don’t really affect each other… I think. At least, looking at my thought process right now, that’s how it feels. I’ll…” Shuuichi hesitated, clearly only thinking some of this through literally as he was saying it aloud for the first time, “I’ll… open up my own detective agency… I suppose. Maybe have an office out in the city somewhere. And I’ll take freelance cases from people and take up consultation work with the guardforce… and that will be my full time job. I’ll do my cases, regardless of the time they’ll take…It’s my job, after all. Of course I’ll put my all into it.”

“...but, perhaps that’s unrealistic to think, with a child. Though…” Shuuichi frowned, looking uncomfortable, before saying hesitantly, “... is it unkind to think, ‘well, Kaito’s not doing anything else anyway’... ‘Let him take care of the baby’s day to day, and I’ll help when I can’... it feels cruel to say that aloud. Like I’ve just decided Kaito’s never going to pursue a career for himself, and I’m making plans around that assumption, just because it’s convenient for myself.”

Shuuichi’s face tensed with self-doubt again, and it was probably that feeling of guilt that compelled him to offer almost immediately after saying that, “Will you need any help financing getting another assistant? Or will the castle help pay their funds? I don’t do much with my monthly earnings, I could help finance another research assistance if you’d need it.”

Kokichi...didn’t really want to say it, since it just felt mean, even if Shuuichi didn’t mind all these years later… But his own drive in wanting to be a parent that was available to their kid and who was there for all the little moments...was because it was only recently that it felt like his father even slightly thought of him. He’d been convinced for years that Aiichi hated him, resented him. And their time together had been wonderful, but...Ikuo had left when he was ten, and while their relationship was still good...his dad had still missed out on half his life. 

It really sounded, from the way they talked, that Shuuichi and Maki’s mentors had been parents to them...but they were bosses, pretty much, first and foremost, and...maybe that was different enough. Shuuichi was sort of going through it now, but...he really didn’t have the same experience of knowing your parent was right there and yet...completely unavailable. 

And while Kokichi had his own convictions, he wasn’t about to ask his partners to do the same, and drop whatever they could in their lives to take care of their daughter. It just wasn’t reasonable, and he loved seeing their stride and successes outside of family. Hell, hearing Shuuichi’s wish for the future, wanting to establish his own agency? A wide, proud grin found its way onto Kokichi’s face, and he wanted nothing more than to see that dream come true. 

It was just...difficult, figuring out how everything else in life fit into it too. 

“That sounds amazing, but…” Kokichi took a soft breath, speaking gently. “...Kai-chan’s not doing nothing. He’s doing quite a lot already, and while he’s gonna focus big time on Baby when she’s here...he isn’t her only dad. But you don’t have to put your life on hold when you have a kid. Kai-chan’s gonna look after her, and I have the benefit of working in the castle, so I’m gonna be spending a lot of time with her too. Shuu-chan does have the space to pursue his dreams.” 

...he just hoped their daughter wouldn’t become an afterthought. But that would only be realized if it happened. 

Kokichi sighed softly, but smiled at Shuuichi, nudging their feet together again. “Honestly, I wish we could’ve been paying you for all the work you’ve done...feel kinda shitty about it, actually. But if I opened up the position as an official thing, and the person goes through the official application and interviewing process, it’s a government job, but...I mean, I told you guys that government jobs aren’t paid, but that’s kind of a simplification and…” He shook his head a little. “Well. They’d be paid by government funds, not me personally. Shuu-chan doesn’t have to worry about that.”

Shuuichi waved his hand dismissively, “It was volunteer work, and frankly, in the first part of it it was absolutely work I wasn’t suited to do anyway. Poor Nadya’s the VIP for putting up with my bullshit the first few weeks anyway. All of it very much just felt like a way to keep me busy without me losing my mind with Maki.”

Still, it was a good thing Kokichi didn’t have to pay for his research assistants out of his own pocket. He knew he was already using half of his monthly salary to pay Nazumi for her work, and as someone who was raised in a place where money=survival, that thought always left Shuuichi feeling a mild amount of fear and dread, even though he knew objectively the situation in Dicea wasn’t the same. Just a learned habit more than anything, but it did relax Shuuichi a little to know that Kokichi wasn’t being put in a position where he’d have to live on even less funds. 

Shuuichi just nodded in turn at Kokichi’s comments on Kaito and the baby. He wasn’t really sure what Kokichi was referring too when he said Kaito was busy… he mostly seemed to fill his days fussing at them or Timothy. But, well, he supposed that was busy enough on its own. And, it wasn’t like he didn’t want to be a parent to Baby. 

It was just… hard for Shuuichi to visualize it.

Rubbing his belly idly, Shuuichi mused, “...I wonder what it’s gonna feel like when she starts to kick… she’s not big enough to do it yet… she’s only a couple of inches big. Dr. Tenji says she should be developing hands soon… weird, creepy little baby hands…” Shuich looked at his own hands and narrowed his eyes, “...tiny, tiny versions of these might be inside me right now… weird…”

Sure, and that’s why Kokichi hadn’t tried to pay Shuuichi out of pocket on the side, but...it was still work. It felt wrong not to compensate someone for their efforts… But. Well. It had been more important to give Shuuichi something engaging to do, rather than to open the job and maybe not end up with him in the position after all. And while they were all going to live off of basic pay for a while--that’s what it was meant for, after all--plus...whatever weird allowance thing Byakuya was giving Kaito, they had what they needed, even with a new family member on the way. And the privilege of not having to pay for housing or regular groceries helped a lot too. 

That was right...he had wanted to check out how much formula cost… They’d have to get extra diapers too, but Kokichi knew those were pretty cheap, just since babies went through them so quickly. There were only so many washes you could put a diaper through before the thought was just too gross. 

Kokichi’s eyes slid over to Shuuichi’s belly as he talked, and he went along the side of the tub again until he was properly at Shuuichi’s side, apparently at the end of his patience for not being right up against one of his partners. Resting his head against Shuuichi’s shoulder, he reached out to rub his stomach as well. “...it sounds even weirder when you say it like that. ...you remember what my dad was saying about baby hands? ‘Bout how they’re weirdly strong...like, your kid will grab hold of something, and just not let go… I know it’s all not so romantic, but...I don’t think I’d have the emotional strength to pull my hand from hers if she grabbed around one of my fingers, no matter what her grip is like. That would just have to be my life.”

“The day we lost Kokichi was the day Baby grabbed onto him and just decided ‘Mine’.” Shuuichi said seriously, voice grave, as he continued on, “Sometimes, in the dead of night, I think I can still hear him. Making weird coo’ing noises and asking if one of us could go grab her bottle.”

At the little ‘mine’ comment, Shuuichi frowned, lightly leaning his head against Kokichi’s as he said, “I wonder what she’ll take after us… I know I’ve wondered that before. But it’s not like she’ll grow up in a vacuum. She’s going to pick up our habits, good or bad. Timothy’s only been Maki’s for half a year and you’d swear she’s been raising him his whole life, with the faces he mimics from her and the phrases he’s picked up. And now that Maki’s not here, I’ve noticed he’s started picking up some of Kaito’s mannerisms too. Have you noticed the way he stands now? That little lean against his back hip? That’s entirely Kaito. He wasn’t doing that before.”

Kokichi snickered softly, still gently rubbing Shuuichi’s stomach, knowing it was still months off, but just...so ready to meet their daughter. Were all parents this impatient?

Thinking for a moment, Kokichi laughed, “Oh, I never thought about it in the moment, but now that you bring it up… That’s totally Kai-chan. Aw, Tim…” He shook his head a little, nuzzling against Shuuichi’s shoulder, but trying to not jostle his head. “I was just thinking about that earlier, actually… I think out of the three of us, I’d be most relieved if she picked up your bathroom habits. Not spending a literal hour, but not skipping on stuff people would fuss about.”

“...the way Kai-chan puffs his chest out when he’s proud and determined… Or that curious little stare you do when you’re figuring something out. I can’t tell if it’s a little too selfish to be excited to see you guys in her. But...I’m excited to see all the things that are uniquely her, too, so...maybe that balances out.”

“Her getting your sleeping habits would be pretty cute… you’re an incredibly cute cuddler… though maybe not so much how you sometimes journey in your sleep.” Shuuichi admitted. Ever since they had gotten word from Seiko, Shuuichi had started not taking his medicine every night, which had been… strange. It was much harder to get to sleep these days, now that he wasn’t drugged unconscious every day, and he kept waking up in the middle of the night, woken up by Kaito getting up to do something, like go to the bathroom or checking on the door (a surprisingly often occurrence, and Shuuichi was specifically keeping this a secret because he didn’t want Katio to know he was observing him during these night time routines, fascinated by the habits Kaito had developed by now with his two usually dead to the world lovers at night).

And, while Shuuichi had mostly assumed Kaito was exaggerating, and in some ways he had been, because it by no means happened every night, or even most nights… but even just in the short time Shuuichi had been off the medicine? When a sleeping Kokichi decided to go somewhere and was physically capable of moving? He went. Shuuichi had been woken up twice already now just feeling the struggle as Kaito, woken up, either shifted his body to make it harder for Kokichi to push himself to the other side of the bed, or literally pulled their lover back to them before Kokichi had fallen. And that was just what Kaito did when a sleeping Kokichi was wandering away. Otherwise, Kokichi tended to latch onto one of them, either hooking all his limbs that he could to one or the other, or both, contorting himself, or he ended up directly on top of them, climbing them in his sleep before settling down again.

The moments of movement didn’t last long. Maybe five, ten minutes in any burst. But holy shit for those ten minutes was Kokichi an active sleeper.

Kokichi snorted, rolling his eyes a little. He wouldn’t deny that he traveled in his sleep, because he saw the evidence when he woke up on top of his lovers, or even sideways in the bed sometimes. But...he didn’t think it was quite as bad as Kaito complained sometimes. 

“I wonder if she’s gonna be the escape artist kind of toddler, always getting out from her crib… And I guess it’d be something for us all to talk about when the time comes but...I worry about her being able to reach us ‘n stuff if she has nightmares… We should be able to have our privacy, but I kinda have the feeling I’m gonna be so nervous I’ll just end up spending the night in her room sometimes…”

He didn’t think Baby was going to have any of the issues he had with the scariest things that could happen in the middle of the night...but without being scared of something worse, then...what if she was scared of the dark? Or had a bad dream? He didn’t want her to just be stuck in her room without any way to help herself…

...but the idea of her being able to walk in on them during their more...intimate nights was not something Kokichi wanted to leave to chance.

“Mmmm, I imagine we’ll have a few years before that becomes a real issue… though I don’t really know.” Shuuichi admitted, thinking back, “I know in the orphanage I grew up in, all the babies slept in a room together, and one of the older kids was always in charge of staying with them until one of them needed something they themselves weren’t big enough to provide, and then they’d go get one of the caretakers… but that doesn’t really equal our situation. Honestly, for the first year, I imagine her crib will just be in our room, and we’ll move her into her nursery as she gets older… seems sensible to me, if not great for our privacy for awhile. But a years not a very long time, really…”

“Though, when she becomes a toddler, or an older kid… mmm…” Shuuichi closed his eyes, before saying uncertainly, “... I don’t think my… own childhood experience translates there too… I don’t even really remember growing up in the orphanage, so I don’t know what I used to do before I was five. But I remember getting a few scares when I was maybe still five, or six and…”

Shuuichi rubbed his belly a bit, frowning at the memory as he said, “...when you’re…first in training? Young, I mean… It’s sort of up in the air how far you’re going to make it. Whether you’ll fail out of your career track or just…not make it. So the amount of resources used on us were limited. Why waste resources on something that might not be around in a year or two, sort of thinking. I think I…”

Shuuichi didn’t remember. He wanted to say he thought he might have lived in a closet, but he wasn’t sure. His memories from that time in his life were incredibly spotty, because he hadn’t mastered the dream memory trick yet. In comparison to his extremely clear later life, his early childhood felt like a weird, foggy mess of disjointed experiences. He just remembered some experiences of being someplace small, but comfortable enough. Cushions and blankets and such. Just… dark. And trying to open the door and he couldn’t…

...yeah. His own childhood maybe wasn’t the example.

“What did you used to do when you were scared in childhood?” Shuuichi asked, giving up on his train of thought. “What was Ikuo’s solution to that problem? Do you remember?”

Kokichi nodded, having pretty much assumed so. “While she’s a baby-baby...I don’t see the point of confining her to a separate room if we’re just gonna go check on her every hour anyway. With her in the room, we’ll be able to monitor her the best we can. And maybe even stop her crying before the others wake up.” An unlikely fantasy, especially in Kokichi’s case since he was the deepest sleeper of the three of them, but...still. He felt better knowing that Baby would be right there. No...scary moments of an infant coughing or making other concerning sounds while no one was there.

...he knew that in all likeliness, Baby was going to be healthy. That they had no reason to assume she would inherit any of his health issues. But those were only his issues, and there were still plenty of things that could happen to a newborn that struck absolute terror into his head when he read about them in their growing repertoire of baby books. 

And...that feeling of fear fit pretty well against the bits Shuuichi shared of his own early childhood. A feeling of...deep, utter anger, hearing that small children were seen as...investments. Not people. Not...you know, small humans who deserved every chance and opportunity in the world to live and grow. Not treated as the very foundation of the future. 

...but Shuuichi didn’t want to hear it from him, so Kokichi just let go of a tense breath...and dropped it. At the very least...Baby wouldn’t be treated like that. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi found one of Shuuichi’s hands and started playing with his fingers. “Well...I was much more scared of being sick than I was of nightmares back then… But if I was too worried to go to sleep, my dad used to stay with me, not always the whole night, but long enough that I was dead to the world and past any time of me waking up. I really did have more of an issue getting to sleep in the first place than waking up in the middle…”

“...that’s why he made me that stuffed rabbit, you know?” Kokichi smiled slightly, though his cheeks went pink. “I had a lot of stuffed animals, but that one...he made it himself, and said that every stitch was made with love; that the rabbit was a being of love. So that no matter how...lonely, or scared I felt, it would be a reminder of the people that loved me. It helped a lot...especially since he made it for me when I was a little too old for my dad spending the night not to be embarrassing.”

“I guess...I don’t really know what we should do if she ends up waking up in the middle of the night. But I think we should make bedtime as fun and comforting as we can, at least.”

“We’ll figure it out, one way or another…” Shuuichi mused, smiling slightly as Kokichi busied himself lightly fussing with his fingers. After a moment, he turned his palm, tapping his fingers playfully against Kokichi’s. “I think we’re underestimating how much a demanding toddler will factor into how we end up doing it at all. One of the baby books I read, they shared a short story of how the little boy absolutely refused to sleep indoors for, like, almost a year? Apparently they’d put him to bed, and he’d sneak out in the night to go sleep with the dogs in the backyard, no matter what they did. So, ya know…who knows what’s gonna happen. Kids are weird.”

“Your rabbit story sounds sweet though…a little rabbit stitched with love. That’s very cute. I can see why you kept it into your adulthood...” Shuuichi smirked at Kokichi, before asking, “Did you have any weird habits as a kid? I’m curious what kind of child you were like.”

Kokichi hummed and nodded, his gaze going distant for a moment. There was only so much they could prepare for. There were things every child needed, and they could guess that she’d pick some stuff up from them, but...even as a young kid, she was going to be her own person, and until they could get to know her, it was left as a huge blank in their knowledge. It was exciting, but also a little scary since...well, no parent wanted to feel like they were underprepared for what their kid needed, even if it was just how things went. “I hope she doesn’t wanna sleep outside...in the summer, it could almost be fun to set up a little camping area, but I’d worry about her getting sick any other time.”

Smiling a bit as Shuuichi spoke his understanding of his rabbit, Kokichi...decided not to mention he still had a lot of his old stuffed animals too, and he’d hope Shuuichi wouldn’t remember any time he may have mentioned it. He just...didn’t bring them out except for cleaning, apart from the rabbit. ...maybe he’d end up giving them to Baby, let them be played with again. 

“I mean...I played pretend a lot, but I don’t think that’s a very weird habit,” Kokichi hummed, trying to think back on his childhood. Anything “weird”... “Mm, I used to climb up into weird places and not know how to get down, so my dad used to have to find and get me. And I tried to convince everyone that because I was the heir I didn’t have to eat vegetables, but Ikuo shut that down pretty fast. And...hmmm… Whenever someone new moved into the castle, I tried to find out their birthday right away, and make sure that they’d get their favorite foods, and I’d try to make them a present, before I started sneaking out and could buy some too. Like...the food thing already happens, ‘cause pretty much everyone chips in for that, but I really took it on as a personal mission.”

Shuuichi laughed lightly, smiling as he relaxed into the warmth of the water. “You sound like you were a cute kid. I think I was a nervous child. I remember not really talking to anyone for…really long periods of time. Mmmm, what else…oh.” Shuuichi snorted, shaking his head. “I had a weird habit of moving things, for a while? It drove my poor mentor crazy. We’d go into a room, I’d quietly, I guess…‘steal’ something? And I’d just randomly put it down in a nearby room. Like real short term commitment kleptomania.”

“I imagine it was pretty adorable, to get pestered by the young castle prince for your birthday when you first started working there. I imagine you were a treat.” Shuuichi smiled.

“Awwhaha, Shuu-chan,” Kokichi laughed, imagining a tiny Shuuichi with a hat far too big for his head just picking up random bits and bobs and creating puzzles for every other person around. It was very endearing, though he bet it frustrated everyone else.

Snorting, Kokichi raised an eyebrow at his love. “Oh, no, I couldn’t just ask. It’d ruin the surprise that way, if they knew I was planning for their birthday. Instead, I’d play spy, and hide really terribly, or sometimes a bit too well, and try to eavesdrop on conversations and hope I’d get lucky. I’m pretty sure more than a few people might’ve thought I was, like, stalking them, or that I didn’t like ‘em since I’d just stare at them really intensely from around corners… Or end up so well-hidden that my dad would practically tear the castle apart looking for me. It was the worst when I’d fall asleep in my hiding places…”

Especially in his younger days, it wasn’t uncommon for Kokichi to almost be narcoleptic, falling over asleep wherever he was if he stayed there long enough. He couldn’t even count the number of times Ikuo had asked him to stay close, or to find him if he started feeling tired, but Kokichi got distracted pretty easily and would just keep at whatever had gotten his attention until he ran out of steam.

“Oh?” Shuuichi raised an eyebrow, before smirking slightly, “... ever see anything you weren’t supposed to?”

“Oh, hmmm… Well, I probably did overhear a lot of things that weren’t meant for my ears, but if I understood any of that? I was pretty oblivious at times, I think.” Kokichi sank down until just his lips were above the water, trying to remember any particularly interesting things he saw during his espionage days.

“Mm...I’m pretty sure I saw the moments before someone decided to get a divorce. It’s a pretty telling sign if you’ve just met someone and one of the first things you talk about is everything you’re annoyed about with your partner.” Kokichi scrunched his mouth to the side, not really able to remember everything the person had said, but remembering the gist of it, anyway. “Oh!”

“Someone was talking about how one of the bears had gotten out of the zoo? And apparently it was super on the downlow, and the keepers were trying to get it back before people started freaking out… I didn’t really realize how dangerous bears were at the time, so I kinda brushed it off, but that’s kind of intense.”

“How do you lose a bear…” Shuuichi shook his head. Ridiculous. Bears were…big. Sloppy work, zookeepers. Sloppy.

“Hmmm… No wonder you never developed a nosy sense of curiosity. If the staff was watching you stalk them, they could have at least invented some crazy rumors that would shock a six year old… I think if I was in their positions and had noticed you, I’d have started talking about some outlandish rumor, like…” Shuuichi tried to think of something as unoffensive as it was entirely outlandish, “Like Katsuki was secretly a wax golem or a fairy or something. Watch you try to investigate her and confuse everyone around you with your weird, random questions about her…”

Shuuichi smirked, his mind clearly on some old, fond memory, the scenario not entirely pulled from his ass. It was cute to think of a small Kokichi pursuing fantastical, dead end cases, like his mentor had put him through a few times, when she was feeling more playful in her training.

Then, deadly serious, he said, “And your pathological fear of bears makes so much more sense. No wonder they freak you out so much.”

Kokichi snorted, but...there was something a little sad in his gaze. The rumors around Katsuki, and all his one-time assassins, really, were...less kind than making something fairytale-like up. Though, it was probably what drove him to lose his fear of them more quickly--hearing all the awful things people thought about them made him feel like they needed an ally, and...well, who better than the person who they’d wronged in the first place? If you were afraid of someone, it was easier to reach out a hand if you saw they were hurting too.

“I think it’s probably helped everyone out in the long run, since...you know, I can clamber and lockpick and I have access to some of the best information in the country… Might put people more at ease, knowing I’m not the type to find out everything about them. I don’t exactly have my father’s charisma, so I need some bonus to seeming approachable.”

Kokichi barely held back another snicker, having to morph it into a heavier sigh as he tucked his face against Shuuichi’s arm. “Don’t even speak of them, honeypie. It’s too much--I can’t even bring myself to imagine their cute little noses and how they stand on two feet sometimes, and how they’re one of the few animals that can appreciate beauty. I’m getting shivers.”

“Horrifying.” Shuuichi agreed, “I think I have a fear of bears too, now. But, I think it’s the kind of fear that would only occur if like…maybe one was right in front of me, unexpectedly. Which, fair, would be terrifying, though…I think if I opened the door to the bathroom and unexpectedly saw a duck too, I’d still probably freak out for a minute. Hmmmm…bears and ducks are pretty different…”

“I changed my mind. I have a pathological fear of anything being behind a door that I wasn’t expecting to be there,” Shuuichi decided. “There’s probably a fancy word for that somewhere.”

Kokichi nodded solemnly, though...yeah, that would be actually terrifying. He’d be a little worried, too, that it’d managed to make its way up to the third floor of the castle and into their room. 

“Hmmmm…” Kokichi hummed with purpose. “...xenoentama...um...well, I guess xenoentamaphobia would be a fear of unknown doors so… Hm. I can’t really...think of what would define it more… Like, I don’t know of a word for being afraid of something that’s behind something else, ‘cause that usually just gets lumped into xenophobia. Maybe we’ll just go with it, and Shuu-chan can explain the nuances if anyone’s confused.”

“Tragic. I will forever be misunderstood.” Shuuichi sighed, taking Kokichi’s hand and pressing a kiss against it, “At least you're always here for me.”

...oof, soap. Don’t let it show on your face, Shuuichi, you’re too ‘cool’ to admit your mistake. Stoic...remain stoooooiiiiccc…

Kokichi couldn’t help snickering at the scrunched in face Shuuichi was making, but hopefully made it up with a kiss to his cheek. “Always. Even if I don’t understand, I’ll always make an effort to, and will at least be a listening ear if I can’t make it that far. ‘Cause I love you.”

“You’re too kind, Kokichi,” Shuuichi said, half teasing and half sincere.

The two stayed in the bath for awhile, making idle chitchat over nothing very much. After a while, while the water notably started to cool, there was the sound of the door opening and closing to the bedroom, Kaito calling out, “‘Ey, it’s me! Either of you still here?”

“Bathroom!” Shuuichi called out, “Denji manage to save you?”

“Yeah, they just evened it out.” Kaito walked into the bathroom, more or less peeking his head in, his haircut looking far more like what he had had when he first arrived in Dicea, if maybe a tad shorter in certain areas, “Aw, look at you two… you both good in there? Need anything?”

“We’re probably gonna come out in a minute,” Shuuichi said, not sounding enthused about the idea. “It’s losing its temperature.”

Kokichi looked up, predictably having gotten all up in Shuuichi’s business the longer they stayed in the tub, his eyes widening slightly when Kaito peeked his head in, somehow checking his husband out when it was just his head. Aw...he’d missed that chicken hairdo. As much as he made fun...it really did suit Kaito. 

His own hair was, er, tamed for the time being, plastered down around his head all in Kokichi’s grand scheme to get out of brush-time. Sighing, he propped his chin up on the edge of the tub. “Could you get out some fuzzy pajamas for me? I don’t really feel like changing back into my clothes, and if I can minimize gross cold air coolin’ on me, I wanna try.”

“Sure babe, I got you. Shuuichi, handsome, same?”

“Please.” Shuuichi said, reaching for the drain as he said ,”Hurry, Kaito. You have only a minute before you leave us both shivering in the cold.”

“What? What do you mean, just wait until I get them ready-”

“The timers already started, Kaito, hurry!”

“Ah!!”

Shuuichi watched with mild amusement Kaito disappear as the drain started to, well, drain… but he gave Kokichi a small wink as he left it half on, still enough to make the sound of water draining, but unlikely to be entirely gone in a minute as Kaito rushed around the room, collecting various nightclothes and towels. “Hurry, Kaito! It’s all almost gone!”

“Gah!!”

“You’re so mean,” Kokichi snickered, keeping his voice low though his eyes held nothing but amusement and fondness in them. He shook his head a little, sitting up to squeeze some of the excess water out of his hair. “Well...we can cross a bath off the list, but was there anything else you wanted to do with the afternoon? Or is Shuu-chan itching to get started on his class reading?”

There was a sudden fond smile on Kokichi’s face, their idle reminiscing of childhoods doing nothing to break the habit now. “I could never wait to get started on a lesson, but by the end I’d probably have four different books open, sidetracking myself with questions and going to find that answer, which led to another question and… I think it’s good we didn’t have a curriculum to stick to, ‘cause Hideki and I would’ve always been so behind.”

Shuchi laughed lightly, rolling his eyes a little as he said, “You’d have driven Miss Kirigiri crazy. Everything was on a schedule with us, and she hated falling behind on anything. Said it was sloppy. Twenty, twenty, hour, twelve.” Shuuichi recited, about to explain himself when Katio burst into the bathroom, huffing and arms full of clothes.

“Did I make it in time!?”

“No. We froze to death, unfortunately.” Shuuichi said solemnly, before smiling at Kaito warmly from their still half full bath, “Thank you, Kaito. Could you hand us our towels too?”

“Geez, always screwing around… yeah, alright, one second. Come on, babe, up and at-em.” Kaito said, offering Kokichi a hand up and holding his towel for his small husband to grab when he was steady.

Kokichi grinned a little. Ikuo had been bewildered, the few times he’d stuck around for bits of Kokichi’s lessons, but...well, he had been allowed to study like that, because that was just how Hideki’s mind worked...if you added in that all previous lines of thought were still running. The man jumped from project to project seemingly without any wasted seconds, just because while he moved onto a new project, he was thinking over how to proceed with the previous, and as soon as he figured it out, he’d be back at it. Once Kokichi had settled into his own workflow, he had just been floored by how his uncle managed it, but...it was just how his mind worked. So, naturally assuming that a child at any age would be the same, he’d not only allowed, but half the time encouraged Kokichi to stop whatever he was doing to pursue any new train of thought. 

It was a haphazard mess, but somehow they’d gotten through everything Kokichi had needed to know before stopping his lessons. Or...at least he’d learned enough to know how to look it up on his own. 

However, at the odd turn of phrase, Kokichi gave his boyfriend a curious look, only to be distracted by Kaito’s return, and to be similarly confused as to why his husband was...almost corralling him for something…

Kokichi gave Kaito a suspicious look but took his hand, carefully stepping out onto the bathroom mat and collecting his towel, wrapping it around himself to catch the majority of the water before he focused on drying up properly.

Kaito grinned brightly at Kokichi, grabbing another large towel and helping Shuuichi up next as he said, “I hear you guys talking about the time limit rule?”

Shuuichi stepped out, starting to wipe himself off as he gave Kaito, who was now grabbing a half towel, a curious look. “Do you remember that?”

“Course I do! It made me laugh when you told me, and I thought it was impressive.” Entirely wordlessly, barely even looking at Kokichi, he started running the half towel through his small husbands hair, drying it off and getting behind his ears as he quoted, “Twenty minutes per crime scene, twenty minutes per witness testimony, an hour to put it all together into a working theory, and twelve hours to convince those idiots upstairs that your theory is true.”

Kaito laughed at that last bit, taking off the half towel and looking Kokichi’s head over to confirm it was dry, before grinning brightly at him again, “Pajamas?”

“Yep, the time limit rule… Miss Kirigiri was a firm believer that if a case took longer than that, the detective was doing something wrong. Every question has an answer, and she thought that it was reasonable to expect people to reach those answers in a timely manner… otherwise you aren’t really trying.” Shuuichi mused, finishing drying and putting on his own pajamas. 

“Yeah, that is one hard woman…” Kaito shook his head, “Makes Maki look down right relaxed in comparison.”

Kokichi was left adrift to his husband’s towel tornado, but thankfully he could still hear the explanation of the number sequence Shuuichi had said before. And, really, he was in no place to judge since he wasn’t a detective, had never been trained as one, and hadn’t even really been around in a position where he had to figure out a crime, so…

...but twenty minutes for a crime scene sounded kinda short for anything that wasn’t pretty obvious. And twelve hours sounded pretty stressful if you kept coming to the wrong conclusion. Hell, he’d read about court cases that had lasted for months--albeit partly because of scheduling issues--because the case had been so convoluted and the logical places the clues kept pointing turned out to be weird coincidences…

But detective work was different in Luminary, so maybe that was actually pretty reasonable. 

“Sheesh…” Kokichi hummed, his hair even more cloud-like now from Kaito’s toweling. “Though, competence does breed certain expectations. High standards aren’t all such a bad thing.” Kokichi made grabby hands for his pajamas, wanting to get them from Kaito.

Kaito easily gave them to him, though… didn’t move. Just stood in place, waiting for Kokichi to get dressed. 

Shuuichi gave the two of them appraising looks, and laughing lightly to himself, headed out of the bathroom, considering his textbooks on the bookshelf for a moment before quietly deciding, purely on a whim, to pull out the milk puzzle, heading over to the corner of the room. 

They could probably get a proper table for it, but for now, Shuuichi was just making use of a poster board that had been left over from one of Tim’s school projects, placing it down and, with a small groan, sitting down on the floor cross legged and opening the box to pour out some of the, indeed, entirely white puzzle pieces onto it… and sighed as he heard a startled squeal from the bathroom.

After a moment, Kaito came out with a struggling Kokichi over his shoulder, a brush, and three different conditioners precariously tucked and balanced in his arm as he grumbled, “I don’t understand why you keep putting these under the sink… like, what? I’m just not gonna look for them and forget about it if they're not on the desk?” Kaito asked, placing them down on the desk, before moving the chair out, moving to put Kokichi down in the chair.

Kokichi gave Kaito another suspicious look but got dressed, sighing slightly in relief as the soft, thick fabrics protected his body against the dreaded cold. 

And, unfortunately, that relief didn’t last for long, as Kokichi was scooped up high into the air and was posed by the tragically often posed dilemma of how much he actually wanted to struggle. 

He didn’t want to have brush time, that was for sure! But...not to the point of hurting Kaito, or making his husband think that Kokichi was...scared of him, or something. 

“Maybe?!” Kokichi cried, still struggling in the air. “Out of sight, out of mind, right? Maybe you’ll get distracted, and without them there, then you won’t be reminded!” Kokichi suddenly went limp, trying to sneak out under Kaito’s arms when he bent to put him down on the desk chair. 

“Would you stop that? Come on, straighten up, this will take, like, fifteen minutes, tops!” Kaito scolded, trying to get his now liquidy husband firmly on the seat, grabbing him from beneath each armpit and straightening him up before scooting in the chair. “Don’t go anywhere.” Kaito instructed, reaching over to open the first conditioner, spreading it over his fingers with a huff, “Honestly, it’s just some brushing. I don’t understand why it’s gotta be a damn event, every time.”

Kokichi let out a groaning whine as he was just pulled back up the chair--that trick hadn’t worked in a while, and he should honestly just let up to lull Kaito back into a false sense of security--and his knees didn’t even hit the desk before Kaito was running his greased fingers through his hair, the fluffy, uneven locks immediately staticking up around Kaito’s fingers, but soon neutralized with the conditioner. 

...the conditioner actually did make it bearable. But Kokichi had to stick to his convictions. 

“Cause it’s uncomfortable! And it takes so long! And I’m totally fine just skipping it, but nooooo, you’ve gotta brush my damn hair...fuckin’...sucks…” And like that, whining devolved into pouty grumbling. 

Kaito rolled his eyes, making sure he got a good amount through all of Kokichi’s hair with the first conditioner-- he needed to use three different ones, today, cause the salts and bubbles and chemicals of the bath he had just taken were not doing his hair any favors-- before reaching over his shoulder and grabbing the brush, starting to gently pull Kokichi’s hair back, before frowning as he immediately caught a tangle. “Man, that wind huh… alright, hold on.”

Kaito put the brush down, opening up his drawer in the vanity desk and pulling out the comb he used on himself. Kokichi’s hair was much thinner than his own though, so Kaito couldn’t just brute force it like he did his own coarser hair, so he worked the knot out little by little with only one edge of the comb as he said, “Of course I’m gonna make you do it! Keeping your hair clean is good hygiene, for one, and for two, you should take pride in your appearance! I have an obligation as your spouse to make certain you look good! Your shortcomings are mine!”

Shuuichi-- who had quietly gotten his haircut twice without any fanfare since they’ve been here because he wasn’t extra as all fuck like his two partners and Maki were-- snorted from the floor, just looking for edge pieces right now. Kokichi’s shortcomings were Kaito’s… there was a joke in there somewhere, he just knew it…

Kokichi whined as he felt the tug of a tangle, half tempted to just cut it out before it even got to the knot stage where he usually had to settle for cutting it out, but...well, he knew by now it was no use. Kaito was on a mission, and there was no escaping. 

(But while he always tensed when Kaito hit tangles, expecting that sharp moment of pain...it never came. Kaito was always patient and gentle, somehow getting the tangles out without it hurting Kokichi, and he was half convinced his husband really did know some sort of comfort magic to make the process so easy. 

But he wasn’t going to let up on the dramatics, of course.)

“My hair is clean--I just took a bath! I only skip out on showers if I physically can’t do it, and even then I get sponge baths. Aaaand I do take pride in my appearance--I’m cute as hell! Brushing my hair doesn’t affect either of those points!”

Kokichi looked over to the side, pouting as he saw what Shuuichi was doing. “Aww… You’re starting the puzzle already? Shuu-chan’s already gonna finish the border pieces by the time Kai-chan decides he’s done harassing my head.”

“Baths are not good for hair! Getting it wet isn’t the same as getting it clean!” Kaito shouted, a vein popping out slightly in his forehead as he shouted, “Your sibling is a hairdresser, how have you never learned this stuff!”

Though, for all his shouting and outrage, Kaito kept his hands steady. Just untangle the knot the same way you untangle threads… grasp the hair to keep it from pulling at the scalp, needle the bristle into the interlocking parts, pull gently but firmly… no problem, easy peasy.

The knot loosened enough that the brush would sort it out from there, Kaito put the comb down and grabbed the brush again, returning to brushing Kokichi’s hair back, which went much easier this time, Kokichi’s hair not actually all that knotted up from just one day in the wind. Making sure the conditioner was brushed in, Kaito put down the brush and grabbed the second conditioner, putting it between his fingers and threading it through Kokichi’s hair next, Kaito got through all of it, before grabbing the third one and spraying it onto Kokichi’s head. Grabbing the brush again, he grinned proudly as the brush began to smoothly go through Kokchi’s slightly curly hair, catching on absolutely nothing as Kaito said, “There we go… now your hair will smell nice and feel soft and look good… and you’ll still have plenty of puzzle time with Shuuichi. Honestly, all that whining over nothing.”

“Kokichi is very cute, Kaito.” Shuuichi pointed out, laughing softly as Kaito’s extremely self pleased expression dropped into annoyance again. “And I don’t put all that stuff into my hair and I look… pretty okay too.”

“Shut up! You're handsome! And you cheat! Your hair makes no damn sense! It should be a greasy, tangled mess under that hat every day, and when you take it off, it’s like you’ve just been to a damn salon!? How!??” Kaito shouted, this having baffled him for years now. “Do you clean it when I’m not looking!? Are you gas-lighting me!?”

“I’m actually really surprised you know that term.” Shuuichi murmured, pleased as he found more edge pieces.

“Just because nature made you two naturally good looking doesn’t mean you get to slack off!”

“It is if you’re covered in mud,” Kokichi countered. “And I didn’t just get it wet. I shampooed this morning, so unless I wanna make my skin super dry ‘n shit, or whatever the reason is you shouldn’t shampoo twice in a day, my hair is clean!”

Still, Kokichi only moved around a minimal amount, far from making Kaito’s job difficult. If he managed to get the first round of conditioner in--which was somehow different from the conditioner Kokichi used in the shower, and somehow needed three kinds???--then it really was just better to suffer through the whole thing. 

And yet he still practically bolted from the desk chair once Kaito gave him the room to do so, giving his head a shake, though the soft, smooth curls just bounced around his head a little. 

Plopping himself down across from Shuuichi and joining in on the hunt for border pieces, Kokichi stuck his tongue out at his husband. “As long as you’re clean, it doesn’t matter! Look the way you feel best! And spending even a second longer than I have to getting ready sucks!”

Kaito rolled his eyes again, watching Kokichi escape him as he cleaned up the desk. Putting the conditioners nearly in a row and putting the brush in with his comb, he stretched out his shoulders and sighed, heading over to his two men and looking down at the puzzle. 

“Puzzle time sounds good, but maybe doing it on the floor isn’t… great for your back, handsome?”

Shuuichi shrugged, before looking up at Kaito, smiling warmly, “You’ll help me if my back hurts, right?”

Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yeah, ‘course, but… it’ll help more getting a small table and a few chairs. ‘Kichi, babe, know where we could nab something like that?”

Kokichi looked up, giving Shuuichi something of a concerned look before he stopped looking through pieces, humming softly as he thought. “Right, right...wanted to get a card table. Let’s...yeah, that should work.”

He got back up from the ground, about to head out, and motioning Kaito to follow. “It’s not, like, officially a designated game room or anything...but it kind of became that anyway. They have a toooooon of tables in there, so it should be fine if we take a small folding one. Prolly some chairs too, but I think the ones we already have here should be alright…”

“Alright. We’ll be back, Shuuichi, uh…” Kaito raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend, “Could you get up from there even if you wanted too?”

“In theory?” Shuchi paused, “...yes?”

“Well, then don’t go anywhere!” Kaito called back cheerfully, following Kokichi out. 

Looking down at his pajama-clad husband, he asked, “You sure you’re okay walking around like that, ‘Kichi?”

“See you soon, Shuu-chan!” Kokichi waved to their boyfriend as they left, Kaito locking the door behind them in a move that had become fairly natural to them all. 

Kokichi started to lead the way to the unofficial game room, trying to think if there was anything else they should snag while they were there, but his train of thought was sent off track at Kaito’s question, Kokichi just blinking up at him for a moment. “...yeah? They’re just pajamas, and not even, like, sexy ones you buy at adult stores.”

Kokichi looked down at himself, appraising the set that Kaito had picked out. Funnily enough, Kokichi actually did have matching sets of pajamas though he did mix them up, but Kaito had opted to get a matching top and bottom. Made out of some fleece-y fabric, the top was wide collared and a light cream color, with white and red striped detailing around the hems, while the bottoms took that stripe pattern and ran with it, though there were points where the pattern swirled in on itself, reminiscent of peppermint candies. 

Cute, warm, soft, very obviously pajamas. 

Kokichi looked back up and gave Kaito a teasing grin. “Are you just worried about me being in the habit and walking around in my sleep shorts when it’s warm again? Too late, I’m already used to it.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow, before smirking, gently nudging his own shoes against the side of Kokichi’s bare feet. “That. You okay walking around like that.”

“...oh.” Kokichi laughed softly, looking a little sheepish. “Yeah, it’s fine. S’not like we’re going outside, and it’s not that different from walking around in socks. Aaaaaaaand I just took a bath, which was absolutely getting clean, thank you very much, so I’m not tracking anything around. Prolly less than your shoes, I bet.”

“Pfff. Doesn’t matter if you’re dragging dirt around if no one’s barefoot to pick it up. Alright, if you’re fine,” Kaito said, placing his hands in his pockets and following behind his husband.

The two headed to the ‘not a game room’ game room. It was sort of funny and cute, hearing the soft pitter patter of Kokichi’s feet against the hard flooring of the spacious hallways, nodding his head lightly at a few people as they went to and from. 

Once they got to the room, Kaito looked around curiously. Kaito hadn’t seen most of the castle still, honestly. He passed by rooms constantly, but without knowing what was in them and having no reason to randomly explore… “This place is kinda neat,” Kaito said, looking at the bookshelves curiously, almost every available space within the shelves filled with colorful cardboard boxes, advertising some board game or puzzle or set of specialized card decks. 

The room was pretty simple, originally outfitted with the standard furnishings of a parlor room, but over time there had been several tables of various sizes moved in with an eclectic assortment of chairs around every one. The shelves were filled with games, but also sorting bins with timers, extra dice, card minders, pads of papers and pencils...anything you could think to have around for a game. 

Kokichi hummed, nodding, then laughing a bit as he vaguely pointed to a game box on a shelf, even just the side of the box decorated with all sorts of ghoulish-looking creatures. “Chiaki-chan absolutely kicked our butts when we played this during the storm… Games of it can take, like, two hours, so it really is best suited for bein’ snowed it. Kinda want a rematch though...apparently there’s like 150 scenarios that it can go through, so it’s super unlikely your game will look the same even in the slightest.”

Shaking his head at the memory, Kokichi opened up a small closet on the far side of the room, and after a moment, started pulling out a light-framed folded table, the frame itself made out of metal tubing while the top surface looked to be some sort of hardy canvas. “This should do! Think it’s big enough for the puzzle and, like, working around it.”

“Mmmm, yeah, I’d say so.” Kaito agreed, giving the game Kokichi had pointed out an interested glance, before returning his attention to the table Kokichi had picked, “Should fit well in the corner of the room too. Here, babe, let me grab it.”

Taking the table and idly holding it by its edge over his shoulder, Kaito looked around and said, “And, I think you’re right. The chairs we have already will probably be fine for just the three of us. I don’t know if Maki or Tim would ever want to help at the same time, but we can come back and steal an extra chair if we need too.”

Looking around again, he chuckled, “...I bet you all have Dungeons and Demons here, somewhere. Dicea seems like the kind of place that’d dig a game like that.”

Kokichi easily relinquished his hold on the table--it was mostly why he wanted Kaito to come with him. He could...probably carry the table back to their room, but it’d just be faster for Kaito to do it, and he wouldn’t have to assure his husband he was fine the whole time--and…

...it always made Kokichi feel a little better when people talked about Maki’s return. From anyone, really, but Kaito and Shuuichi especially since...more or less, they knew what her absence meant. It wasn’t like the news they got from Luminary was sunshine and roses, but...nothing had given Kokichi cause for his anxieties to latch onto yet, and he was going to stick behind his hope and confidence as long as he could until Maki returned. Talking about when she came back was just… Confidence was easier to have when other people had it too. 

That warm look morphed into confusion, though, and Kokichi gave Kaito a questioning look. “...I mean...we have games that are called things close to that, but… What’s the game like? Maybe we have a different name.”

Though he himself had brought it up, Kaito got a suddenly uncomfortable look on his face, and actually looked around, like he was expecting someone to suddenly step out and scold him. 

“Uh, it’s… I mean… I’ve never played it…” Kaito frowned as they headed out of the room, saying on the way, “Um… here’s the thing, it’s not actually an occult game. It’s just make-believe. I watched a group play it once. Didn’t really have the courage to do it myself, but after watching them and hearing Kore explain, like, it’s origin and how it works and why all these rumors around it blew up the way they did…”

Kaito suddenly laughed sheepishly, “Sorry, I’m trying to justify myself before even actually explaining. My bad.”

“It’s just like… a game where you have all these rules for making imaginary people that go fight battles? Just a list of accepted stats and rules for the universe that can be, like, really anything. But, the games banned in Luminary. Apparently there was this scare that people were using the game to trick people into deals with demons and messing with the occult… b-but it’s not like that at all, really! Those rumors just got out of hand, is all, it’s got nothing to do with demons or anything. Or, like, not really, ya know… sorry, does that clear up anything? Shuuichi might be able to explain it better.”

Kokichi's confused expression persisted, though there was an amount of worry there too as Kaito tried to explain. A...game that people misconstrued as messing with the occult? But, then again, Luminary was pretty demon-crazy, no matter what Shuuichi said. 

“A game where you make the rules for the universe, and your characters fight battles?” he softly mused, leading the way back to their room. “Like...a role-playing game? Like where you have one person setting up scenarios for everyone else’s characters to puzzle out or fight through, but it relies on chance, and the rules of that particular universe? ‘Cause we do have games like that.”

“Yeah! That was it! And they had, like, these little weird dice things… like, not like six sided dice. All kinds of weird shaped dice! I uh…” Another sheepish grin, “I didn’t get close enough to really look at them? Uh… I was kinda freaked out and sitting in the corner for the night, honestly. Like! I get it now, okay? Not actually occult! Just a weirdly named roleplaying game! No one was g-gonna get possessed or anything stupid!”

“But we played it in the actual dungeon , and Kore’s friends can be kinda… extra and weird, and, like… I just didn’t wanna talk to any demons! Or get possessed! That’s a reasonable expectation to have on a saturday night!! I just wanted to hang out with my boyfriend and his friends, no weird-” Kaito paused, huffing, a frustrated look on his face, before chuckling, looking embarrassed, “Uh, sorry. Doing that thing where I’m arguing with someone in my head again. Um… but you guys have games like that?”

When Kaito talked about weird shaped dice, Kokichi perked, knowing that they were talking about the same thing. And...while he was actually a little impressed that Kaito’s ex’s friends were playing in an actual dungeon--the atmosphere probably was incredible--he only laughed softly and gave Kaito a pat on his arm. “Yeah, we have games like that; we call it Pathfinder.”

“I think they have regular sessions at the game shop Chiaki and Sei go to--like, one-off or otherwise short games that people can try out without committing to, like, a months-long campaign,” Kokichi hummed, thinking of a few flyers he’d seen along with bits he’d heard through Hajime. “And, like...the stories can really have any sort of setting. I thought the ones that are supposed to be set in the far future sounded kinda cool… So if Kai-chan was interested, I’m sure he could find a group that didn’t wanna do a story with magic ‘n stuff.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow at that, before echoing to himself, “Pathfinder… see, that’s a much nicer name! A name like that doesn’t make you think weird occult shit is gonna happen! It makes you think paths are gonna be… found! Found path man!”

Kaito didn’t really know what he was saying anymore, but as they got to the door, Kaito waiting for Kokichi to open the door, he said, “That… could be fun? For, like, an afternoon… evening… however long it takes. The game Kore and his friends played took literally all night.” Kaito remembered, “I ended up going to bed way before they were finished. Not sure if I’m totally up to doing something that long. But… that could be fun?”

“What could be fun?” Shuuichi said from the floor as they opened the door.

Kokichi raised his eyebrows a little before perking up with a smile. He’d always thought--since he’d heard about it, at least--that playing Pathfinder with a group of friends sounded like a lot of fun. It was just...playing pretend, but with more chance! Which made it more fun! If they could find someone willing to guide them through a game, it really did sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon. 

After he opened the door, Kokichi scuttled over to Shuuichi, his feet gently padding over the main rug and wood flooring, ready to help his boyfriend onto his feet if he needed help. “Playing an afternoon game of our version of...you called it ‘Dungeons and Demons’, right? Of that. Going to the game shop in town and seeing if we could join a one-off game.”

A slightly mischievous look came over Kokichi’s face. “And Shuu-chan shouldn’t be worried--there’s not a stigma around the game here. The word “demon” isn’t even in our title.”

Shuuichi looked mildly surprised at that, before looking curiously at Kaito, “...You’re going to play dungeons and demons? Really??”

“It’s not Dungeons and Demons! It’s Pathfinder! Totally different game! Besides, don’t say it like that, you know I’ve already played a game of it once.”

“That’s not how I heard that story. I heard you hid in the corner of the room until someone dramatically revealed a figurine in a spooky voice and they had to pause the game cause you scre-”

“Shut up! It’ll be fun! Kore’s friends just went out of their way to make it scary!” Kaito insisted, looking huffy, his pride hurt as he unfolded the table. “It’ll be totally fine! A good time!”

Shuuichi rolled his eyes, before saying, “If it’s not gonna get people looking at us funny here, then sure. I could be okay with that. Now…” Shuuichi started gathering up some of the pieces, before sighing, “Someone help me up. My back hurts.”

“On it!”

Kokichi side-eyed his husband, able to imagine what that moment had been like with almost startling vivaciousness. He just...wouldn’t tell Kaito that one popular genre of Pathfinder stories was horror. Keep his mind at ease. And maybe set up for some amazing expressions if that happened to be the game people were playing if and when they went to the game shop. 

Shaking his head a little, Kokichi grabbed the edges of the posterboard and carefully lifted the puzzle up onto the table while Kaito helped Shuuichi up, though Kokichi wasn’t about to be outdone so he quickly pulled one of their plush sitting chairs over for Shuuichi to relax back into. 

“Pathfinder’s actually...like, reasonably popular,” he explained, pulling up another chair for himself to finally work on the puzzle. “Every now and then I’ll find books that, in the summary on the back, say that it was inspired by a Pathfinder game. A few plays too. Turns out a game about telling a story makes good stories, huh?”

“It sounds like it.” Shuuichi agreed, sighing slightly in relief as he sat down, before placing the few puzzle pieces he had grabbed back down on the board, not having wanted the edge pieces he had discovered shifting back into the pile.

Kaito grabbed the chair from the vanity desk, sitting down and settling in, looking focused as he helped Shuuichi shift through the pile for all the edge pieces. “Hopefully it won’t be too difficult to pick up. Kore’s game made it seem like a… shocking amount of math, honestly.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. You get Timothy all set up for his sleepover tonight?”

“I confiscated his switchblade.” Kaito said immediately, starting to look for how the pieces fit together, “Last thing I need is for Tim to have one of his episodes in front of Tsumugi… Cali’s parents are already on the fence about letting Cali hang out with him, last thing I need is for the diplomat to think he’s dangerous just cause he got nervous sleeping in a new place.”

“I’m sure she must already know. Tim’s not exactly shy about his knives. Still, probably for the best.” Shuuichi agreed, “Timothy can be a little… dagger happy.”

Kokichi started sorting through the puzzle pieces closest to him, mainly looking for edge pieces, but keeping an eye out for shapes that seemed similar. It would be cool if they could get a mini-head start on the middle before that’s all they had to focus on. “Eurg… Hope it’s not too much math… I know there is stuff ya gotta calculate but...hopefully there are shorthands. I like playing pretend, but I’m not sure how much math it’s worth…”

Shaking his head a little, Kokichi decided at the last moment to keep his comment of, ‘wonder where he gets that from’ to himself. He didn’t mean anything bad about it, but...while they were making progress every day, he didn’t exactly like reminding his family how much difficulty they had in getting used to Dicean life. And pointing out that their common paranoia about the constant danger they were in wasn’t helpful in a place like this...was kind of mean, and kind of untrue. 

He didn’t mind that his friends were the cautious types--at least for some things--and he didn’t want them to be people they weren’t. And because of their vigilance, they’d opened his eyes to a lot of legitimate dangers out in the world. But...the feeling of wanting to be armed at all times, that they felt better knowing that they could badly hurt someone, but with more leniency on the use case for that happening…

...time and experience was the best teacher there, and Kokichi didn’t need to add his thoughts to it. 

Instead, he just hummed, “I know the girls are good at balancing him out, in that respect. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he had some other knife stashed away.” Kokichi glanced up for a moment, raising an eyebrow at Kaito. “‘Cause unless you full-on gave him a pat down? I’m pretty sure he knows how to hide a knife in his pants.”

Kaito put up a stern finger, opened up his mouth… and then closed it. 

“...god damn it.” Kaito huffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair, “No wonder he barely argued with me about it.”

“Well, hopefully him not wanting you to know he has it will keep him from doing anything worthy of you hearing about it.” Shuchi theorized. “Extended caution is the same as not having a weapon at all. It should be fine.”

“When we teach Baby weaponry, I wanna do the batons, like you, Shuuichi.” Kaito decided, circling his shoulder a little, a phantom ache in his back, “It’s a lot harder to make serious mistakes with those. Besides, it’ll be a good way for you and her to bond!”

“I thought you didn’t want her working with tasers?”

“I mean… we can introduce tasers when she’s older?” Kaito conceded, sighing. By the time she was a teenager or something, he doubted the sound of tasers would freak him out anymore. Time healed and all that. “But definitely just normal batons for when she’s young.”

Kokichi nodded along with Shuuichi’s assessment that it would be fine. And...well, he was a little less worried than he would be if they were having the sleepover at Cali’s house. Cali’s parents were fine people, but...well, Kimiko adored her mom, while Cali...did love her parents, but had some issues. Since she had started coming to training in the first place to learn how to fight so she could fight her mom. In a home where no one saw Tsumugi as an adversary, any issues Tim may have would be more easily tempered by the girls. Or, that was his guess, anyway.

Kids…

Sighing, Kokichi held his tongue again, but this time just because he knew it was a losing battle. He agreed that they should teach Baby how to defend herself, and learning proficiency in a weapon was the next step of that, not to mention just kind of cool…

...but Kokichi kind of...wanted to teach her the reasoning of defence. Of what it meant to hurt someone else to protect yourself, and how to weigh that. Of the balance between taking care of yourself, and seeing everyone in the world as an enemy. And...he knew those were concepts that a child would have difficulty really absorbing, though he’d start teaching them as early as he could. It just meant that...he wasn’t going to be able to ask that they not teach her how to fight until she’d learned all that, ‘cause then she wouldn’t be learning how to fight for...way longer than he knew his family would ever consider waiting. 

...part of him wanted to wait to start teaching her any sort of combat until she expressed an interest in it herself. Learning as an interest, rather than being raised into it…

Kokichi hadn’t realized that he’d stopped looking through the pieces and was just kind of...frowning down at them, his lack of response being a response in and of itself.

Kaito beamed a little, proud when, just by chance, he came across two pieces that fit together… before, picking up another piece, not looking up, he said, “‘Kichi? You’ve gone a little solemn on us, babe… something on your mind?”

“Mm?” Kokichi startled a little, looking up almost a bit owlishly. “Oh...no, ‘s all good. Shuu-chan an’ I were talking about it a little earlier...I’m excited to see what kind of person Baby is. What she gets from us, and what’s all her own. It’s gonna be a real adventure…”

Kaito considered that… before huffing. Crossing his arms and closing his eyes.

“...yeah. Bullshit to that.”

Shuuichi looked up at this, eyes darting between the two now. Hmmm… what was this?

Kokichi had gone back to the puzzle, but he sat back up again, looking at Kaito in bewilderment. Before a slightly annoyed tick scrunched his eyebrows in. “What? Of course it’s gonna be amazing getting to know her! After everything we’ve been talking about for months, you can’t tell me you’re not excited.”

“Tsk… seriously? Not that! I mean the fact that something was bothering you!” Kaito insisted, keeping his eyes closed, brow furrowed, a small… bead of sweat collecting at his hairline. “Obviously! Don’t brush it off, I’m not stupid. I can tell when you’re bothered by something.”

Seeing the tension in Kaito’s shoulders, Shuuichi adjusted his hat and said cooly, “Kaito. Do you have your pebble on you?”

This caused Kaito to open his eyes, a surprised look at the question… before a flash of guilt ran across his face, muttering as he pulled it out of his pocket, the cloth from his other pocket, “Yeah, yeah, sorry… I’m not angry.” he promised, idly starting to polish it. “Sorry if I seemed angry.”

Kokichi frowned slightly--at least comforted that Kaito hadn’t...like, lost his mind or something--but as he saw that flash of guilt on Kaito’s face, as he saw him bring his pebble out… It wasn’t just a flash of guilt. It felt more like buckets and buckets of swamp muck filling his chest. 

“You didn’t seem angry, and even if you were...it’s okay to be angry.” Kokichi took a breath and crossed his arms on the table, sinking down to rest his chin on them. “...I didn’t mean to brush you off, and I don’t think you’re stupid. I really did think you were talking about getting to know our daughter and all that…”

Kokichi looked away, watching the dancing light coming around the fireplace grate. “...it really doesn’t matter, hun. I’ll get over it.”

Kaito’s shoulders tensed at that, clearly not happy with that answer… but was already feeling insecure from being called out by Shuuichi, unwilling to push it any further. 

Shuuichi, though, gave Kokichi a newly intrigued look, before saying softly, “If it doesn’t matter, then I can’t imagine it would do much harm in talking about it to us. You know we’re both here for you if something is bothering you.”

Kokichi’s mouth scrunched to the side...but he thought for a moment. “...you know, sometimes in a conversation, and something just naturally pops into your head, and it’s so natural and seems normal that you wouldn’t think twice about saying it? But, if you actually think about it, it’s kind of...well, sometimes mean, or out of touch with reality, and would start something that you don’t even wanna fight for so…”

He shrugged a little, sighing softly. “I’ve kind of gone through that entire process, and have just gotten around to being annoyed that I thought it. And talking about it would kind of just start that up again.”

...even if he did sort of believe it. But even with that...he didn’t want to fight for it. It wasn’t worth it. 

Shuuichi nodded, returning to inspecting the pieces as he said, “Very well. If it’s something you’d genuinely rather not talk about, and it’s not going to harm you, then we should drop it. Sorry to press.”

Kaito grit his teeth… before huffing out a breath. “Sorry. Yeah, course you don’t have to talk about it if ya don’t want to babe… but!” 

Kaito stood up, putting his slightly more polished rock and cloth back in their respective pockets, before saying, “Iiiiiiii think snacks sound nice right now. I’m gonna take a trip downstairs and grab some stuff to bring back up here. We’re not going to dinner, right? No one feels hungry?”

“Between a late, full lunch and snacks? ...mmmm it’d have to be a lot of snacks.” Shuuichi admitted, “And… maybe a sandwich? And chips… a sandwich and chips… and some fruit… and-”

“Errrr, maybe I should write this down.” Kaito said, looking a little sheepish now.

Kokichi sent Kaito something of an apologetic look but...he wasn’t sorry enough to actually tell him. They’d made a lot of progress, but sometimes the fights they’d had over differing perspectives seemed a little too fresh in his mind. He hated making Kaito look ashamed… And he really didn’t want to argue this. 

Huffing a small laugh, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a grin. “Maybe you just wanna go to dinner. I think I’ll get myself a snack later though...maybe. I don’t feel like I’m gonna explode anymore, but I’m still sooo fuuuuuull…”

Kokichi groaned out the last bit, melting a bit more into the table. As nice as it had been, he really didn’t think he’d be able to stop at the ramen place with Shuuichi after his class as a regular thing. Or...maybe he’d just have to bring half of it home…

“Mmmmm, maybe.” Shuuichi admitted, giving Kokichi an amused look at his theatrics. “I get pretty hungry these days… can’t imagine why.” He finished, rolling his eyes.

Kaito nodded at all of this, “Alright, I’m assuming Shuuichi’s gonna get dinner later, and Kokichi seems pretty full now. So, light snacks all around, yeah? Cool! I won’t be long, give me a bit you guys.”

“Oh, bring up some tea, Kaito?”

“Got it!” Kaito called over his shoulder, before closing and locking the door behind him.

Shuuichi’s eyes lingered on the closed door for a moment, before returning to the puzzle. “That was interesting. You’re right. Something’s different with him.”

Kokichi similarly watched Kaito go for a moment before turning back to the puzzle, actually getting restarted on progress this time. And...he didn’t think Shuuichi was above trying to find what was going on in his mind, but he was a little relieved that at least the first thing his boyfriend mentioned wasn’t about him. 

Nodding softly, Kokichi let out a soft sigh. “...I really appreciate that he’s willing to push if there’s something on my mind, but...I dunno. It really isn’t worth talking about, but I still feel bad for shutting him down… I don’t get the vibe that he’s...thinking that he’s wrong or stupid or whatever horrible mind-spiral that he gets into sometimes, and that’s really good! But I feel bad for even tempting it.”

“...maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see but...I’m happy it seems like he has more confidence now. Suits ‘im.”

Shuuichi nodded quietly, eyes scanning for puzzle pieces, able to rest some of his excess weight against the edge of the table as he rested an elbow against it. He had actually felt more or less fine on the floor, but he still appreciated that they had gone out of their way to get him a table and chair. This was going to be easier long term.

… both of his lovers were fascinating people, sometimes. Most people were, of course, when you dug into them. But Shuuichi was biased. He found them particularly fascinating…

Grabbing another line piece, trying to decide what to pick and poke at first, he decided on, “... I’ve not been of the opinion that you’re a replacement of Byakuya. I think I’ve told you that before… but Kaito still isn’t in the habit of trying to actually argue with you in front of me. I know from context you two fight when you’re alone. But he’s never done that in front of me before… it’s interesting.” 

“I wonder if that’s saying something about my relationship with you both evolving, or something to do with how he views you changing, or…” Shuuichi fiddled idly with the piece in his hand, before saying, “I wonder how his conversations with Byakuya have been going, lately… he usually goes to his shrine right afterwards. It’s hard to get a read on it, sometimes, because of that… interesting…”

Kokichi hummed happily, finding a piece that fit along the edge segment Shuuichi had put together. He clicked it in, a bit of sadness in his eyes, but it wasn’t sinking his whole aura down. 

“...I hadn’t actually been thinking like that at all…but you’re right. Hell, when we all first met, Kai-chan practically shooed you guys out of the room to talk to me about things I didn’t even think would be an argument.” Kokichi sat back down, having had to stand up to reach over to place the piece. “I know he’s struggled since the very beginning with...I guess the power dynamic of our relationship, and you explaining hierarchy helped recontextualize a lot of the early stuff. ...maybe it’s too naive for me to think that he’s accepted my views that relationships are supposed to be on equal footing, but maybe he’s still thought about it in a new way, when it comes to the three of us.”

“...I think if we end up arguing in front of someone that isn’t you would be way more telling.” Kokichi wouldn’t try to spark one on purpose, he didn’t want to treat their relationship like an experiment, but...it was something to keep in mind as life continued, he supposed. A scenario that would be a big clue into how Kaito was thinking. 

Granted, Kaito just out and telling them what was on his mind would be best, but Kokichi wasn’t even sure how to approach getting into that conversation, and if Kaito wasn’t ready to explain what he was thinking yet, then he didn’t want to push it. Not yet. 

Kokichi’s expression soured as he tried two pieces together, sliding them both back into the sorted pile when they didn’t fit. He didn’t have any intel on how Kaito’s latest conversations with Byakuya had gone that Shuuichi didn’t have, but...just from past experience… “...I really hate how he talks to Kai-chan…”

“It’s telling, isn’t it?” Shuuichi agreed, face brightening a little as he found where a piece slotted together. It was just the two individual ones, but, well, every little bit helped. “When I was a child, I thought that was just how the heir-apparent talked to everyone. Miss Kirigiri didn’t let me sit in for meetings with the royal family or higher ups until I was a teenager, and so outside of seeing him talk to Kaito, I never had any interactions with Byakuya. I thought that weird, ‘everything is an order’ way he spoke was just… how he spoke.”

“It was worse back then too… he was worse.” Shuuichi frowned, thinking back at it, “Honestly, if I look back at it all, that might be why I find the prince more tolerable now, as the person he is. Just because I knew him, or, at least witnessed him, at thirteen, fourteen, fifteen… he was cruel. Openly abusive in his actions, especially to Kaito, though his brother was far from the only one. And he delighted in it… I think he thought he was exceptionally clever, whenever he could break someone down into fury or tears. Like each time it was some sort of accomplishment. I was incredibly lucky to just never be on his radar. Even when Byakuya noticed me, it was only because he thought Kaito’s choice of friends was… ‘funny’. And he’d occasionally laugh about it, poking at it.”

“Honestly, he was monstrous… and then one day he just… calmed down.” Shuuichi shrugged, “Maybe he just grew up, or had some sort of revelation, but he just… well, he became more like the Byakuya you’ve spoken to. More an asshole than actual nightmare fodder of a mad prince… and Kaito got better when Byakuya did. Less skittish, less fits of anger or disappearing acts into the temple. Kaito just relaxed.”

Shuuichi sighed, “Trust me, I know that doesn’t make their current relationship any better. I’m just reacting from the bias of seeing it at its worst. But, the fact that it changed once, that both of them changed once… maybe this is a sign that it’s going to change again?”

Kokichi hadn’t had many one-on-one meetings with Byakuya--for good reason, considering all the things on the king’s plate at the moment, though Kokichi could be happy not to have meetings for the personal reasons too--and...well, of course he’d noticed the difference. Byakuya was still expectant and seemed less than pleased whenever Kokichi didn’t just agree with him immediately, even if he valued whatever Kokichi said about the subject they were talking on, but he was just kind of a haughty, task-oriented person that didn’t like pausing for consideration, instead of…

...well...a bully. It was bad enough hearing Byakuya constantly talking down to Kaito, and hearing that it used to be even worse? To everyone? Kokichi’s mouth twisted into an uncomfortable scowl as he sank down in his seat. “That’s horrible…”

...and reminded him of someone he never really wanted to be reminded of, though...the connection of timing...it sounded awfully close to when Kaito said he stopped having “lessons” with his brother. 

...when he said Byakuya refused to do them any more. 

It didn’t excuse how Byakuya continued to treat Kaito, but...if Tengan did something that even a nightmarishly cruel Byakuya put his foot down against, and tried to change from? And...maybe in his head, somehow, though it lacked the self-awareness to compare how he treated everyone else, how he treated Kaito now was...him trying to be kind?

...Byakuya really didn’t understand people at all. Marigold really had her work cut out for her…

But Kokichi didn’t tell Shuuichi any of that, feeling like it would be a betrayal of Kaito’s trust to talk about those childhood sessions without his permission, at the very least, so he just sighed, slowly sorting through pieces. “I can only hope it does, and for the better. I may not like Byakuya, but I would never hope that someone never changed. And...well, what I think of him doesn’t matter that much. If his and Kai-chan’s relationship improves, then I’ll be happy for that, clear and simple.”

“It’d certainly make a thousand difficult conversations in the future easier, if Byakuya could just… stop ‘Byakuying’.” Shuuichi agreed, sighing, “But, hopefully, in the future, as we become more disconnected from Luminary, it won’t matter what he’s like. Kaito, mentally, will just be fully ‘here’. Dicea’s our future… we can’t be bogged down by Luminary issues. Not the country or the people there.”

Shuuichi glanced his golden eyes up at Kokichi, flashing pink in the changing light… before looking back down at the puzzle. “I love you, you know… so I really will honor your wish to drop it. But, as one last bid, in case this was just something you felt uncomfortable about talking around Kaito…”

Shuuichi opened his mouth to guess, and then decided, “I won’t even try to assume what you were thinking. It’s just one last olive branch to say what was on your mind. I actually don’t mind dropping it if you genuinely don’t wish to discuss it. I just know how difficult it can be to say things around him, sometimes.”

Kokichi frowned softly. It wasn’t his place to tell his family how to feel, but...he had never considered that none of them would just...not feel anything for Luminary. Because he didn’t think that was realistic. Just because you left didn’t mean home just...wasn’t a part of you anymore. Sure, there could be things you’d rather forget, and things you’d choose to disavow but...completely separating yourself from it?

...he wanted to ask Shuuichi if there really wasn’t anyone in Luminary he missed. Places that had a space in his heart. Just...a general vibe of being around the people and culture that was a part of him. 

Some part of Kokichi felt like Shuuichi would be disingenuous to say no. But his boyfriend could be...kind of...single-mindedly focused on his direct, immediate surroundings. 

Kokichi didn’t want to...get fully into it, but...he couldn’t help murmuring, “...is Luminary really just all a burden to you?”

...and immediately it felt like he was throwing stones in glass houses. Kokichi shook his head softly, as if to dismiss it, along with answering if he wanted to talk about what had been on his mind before. Because, yeah, there were some things that were difficult to talk to Kaito about...but there were things that were hard to talk to Shuuichi about too, and...this was one of them. 

It was a losing battle he didn’t want to fight. He’d get over it. 

“Thanks for the offer, but...it’s really nothing. Gimme a little bit and I’ll get over myself.”

...why shouldn’t it be.

Shuuichi stared impassively at the puzzle pieces. Though, a small smile graced his lips as he found another piece. It was always such a nice little feeling, that small dopamine of accomplishment. A ‘Look at that, I did it’ feeling… pride.

Shuuichi had gotten addicted to pride.

That feeling of accomplishment. That feeling of being enough. Of persevering and finally, finally earning that love that everything in your life up until that point had repeatedly and brutally beaten into your head that you didn’t deserve. Shuuichi had gotten addicted to it…

That was his downfall, really. 

Shuuichi nodded. “Very well. I trust you’re alright.” he said, sincerely. Adjusting the cap on his head… before asking, “Have I ever explained to you about my hat?”

Kokichi looked up, a little caught off guard by the sudden swerve in conversation, though he was thankful Shuuichi wasn’t going to push. He trusted Shuuichi’s word that he wouldn’t, but...still. “Um...no, you haven’t. I just know it’s important to you, but you’ve never told me if there was any specific reason.”

“...is there one, or is this some roundabout story about how you just like it?” Kokichi offered a half-smile before turning back to the puzzle, able to focus on the pieces again without heavier conversation demanding more attention. 

Shuuichi laughed lightly at that, putting down the piece he had and taking the hat off, giving it a fond look before placing it down on the corner of the table. “I’ll admit, now that’s why I wear it. It’s a nice hat, isn’t it? It’s held up for a long time. I just feel better with it now. Used to it, I guess.”

Returning to the peces, Shuuichi continued, “But that’s not why I originally wore it. I…”

Shuuichi paused, considering, before admitting, “I don’t know how reliable these memories are. I’m the only person who remembers it happening, and after this long, who knows… maybe I made it up. I could have imagined the whole thing, just a kid trying to comfort himself during a difficult time. But… I don’t know if she’s told you, but Maki was in the orphanage since an infant. She grew up there. Not uncommon, but also not the norm. I, on the other hand, barely spent a few months there before moving onto detective training. I literally got there just in time to take the tests. I was five.”

“I don’t have any memories of my parents. We had a dog. I only remember crying because the dog drooled on me and I think I was annoyed by it… and I think we had a swing tire in a tree. Maybe in our yard? Or maybe in a park that we went to. I don’t remember. I liked it.” Shuuichi said, smiling lightly, “I don’t remember what happened. I’ve found enough documents on the situation to make an educated guess that my parents had broken some laws and our home was raided, but I don’t actually remembre it, and can’t confirm it. But I do remember two men taking me aside, and a man that I believe was my uncle shouting at them. Demanding to take custody of me. Said he had a right to me. I remember thinking he looked scary, screaming at them. I was more scared of him than the men, in that moment.”

“But the men told him it was fine. That he just needed to get the paperwork in order and he could come pick me up. They made it sound like it was no big deal, that he could get it done in a few days. And when he stopped shouting, they let him talk to me, and my uncle clasped my shoulder and told me, “They’re going to cut your hair and change your name. Keep this. I’ll be able to know it's you when I come get you. Don’t worry, I’m gonna get a hold of your godmother. We’re coming to get you. Don’t let them take this from you.”

Shuuichi reached over and gently tapped the hat. His expression calm and almost nostalgic as he said, “And he took off his hat and put it on me. And… I never saw him again. Took the tests, qualified to start detective career prep, Miss Kirigiri took me away a few months later. And I… held onto this. Convinced that so long as I kept it, someone was going to come and get me. Terrified that if I lost it, that was it. That was losing my chance to get back to my family.”

“... it didn’t end up mattering. They didn’t come. I don’t know why. I wasn’t hard to find. I was a royal detective trainee. It’s not like they sent me to the boonies. I didn’t disappear. I wasn’t even moved to a different city. I was right there.” Shuuichi picked it up again, idly turning the hat this way and that, looking at it impassively… before sighing. Putting it back on. “Maybe I’m a hypocrite because I still have the hat. And it’s harder to do than to say… but it really is better to let things from the past go. Especially when that past doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

… much easier to say than to do, as Shuuichi murmured, “I’m gonna stop sending Miss Kirigiri letters. I’ve sent her a few now. She doesn’t want to talk to me. I just need to accept that. That’s just how things go.”

Kokichi nodded softly. It was a nice hat. As much as he loved running his fingers through Shuuichi’s hair, and knowing that if he took his hat off, then it meant he was happy and comfortable...he really couldn’t imagine his boyfriend without it, at least in a tangential sense. 

...oh. So this wasn’t quite a complete swerve from a serious subject. 

Kokichi felt his heart ache, hearing that Maki had been in the orphanage right up until she was conscripted into her job. It made sense, why she was able to keep the attachment to all the kids there, more than just any sort of kinship orphans in the program might have. But...what little he’d learned of the orphanage Maki and Shuuichi had been to...the few conditions Shuuichi mentioned, that reaction so long ago, Kokichi being confused as to why Kaito would think about an orphanage as a scary sort of place…

...he just wished his friend could’ve had a life that was kinder to her. 

And as Shuuichi told his story, Kokichi was no longer able to focus on the puzzle at all, his heart aching more and more and even a slight burn coming to his eyes for a moment… He could feel that heavy, ba-thump...thump...ba-ba-thump in his chest poignantly. 

...and yet, something...didn’t add up. Not enough for Kokichi to talk about it, not when there was so much about the world and people he still wanted to believe in despite what reality might be, but…

...if you wanted to lie to a child just to avoid their hopes being dashed in the short-term--and that was the real difference in Kokichi’s thinking, because he didn’t consider that a contradiction in itself, knowing that people were selfish enough to sacrifice a child’s hopes in the long-term for the short--then...why tell them the scary stuff that was about to happen? If you only care about keeping them happy while they were right in front of you, but didn’t have the commitment to follow through, then why tell them something that was...frankly, pretty horrifying?

Maybe it was Kokichi thinking too much of people. But...some part of him wondered if something had happened to Shuuichi’s uncle after that. He did say that Luminous law went after uninvolved family members of people who broke the law, and with his uncle drawing that much attention, the...guards or whoever wouldn’t need to try very hard to pin him too. 

...and Shuuichi was training under the best detective in the country. Even if she was as...at times, frighteningly utilitarian as she sounded in stories, wouldn’t it...be more efficient to get her pupil’s mind back on focus and not leave him wondering about all this stuff? If he was able to find records enough for his parents’ arrests, then she should’ve been able to find it too. 

...but maybe he was thinking too much of people that...too often, had shown him to not live up to that belief. 

Kokichi’s throat was tight, his chest too...but eventually he managed to find soft words. “...maybe. But...it’s okay for it to hurt before you get to acceptance. That’s usually how it goes… Silently accepting the absence of things that mattered to you, no matter how it happened...is pretty scary.”

...and there were things worth fighting for, but...if Shuuichi’s mentor wasn’t returning his letters, wouldn’t get on a call with him, then...short of stomping his way to Luminary personally, which was a grade-A bad idea right now...there wasn’t anything to do. And in that case...sometimes mourning was the only option you had.

Shuuichi nodded, sad, but smiling. Maki, Yuta… and all the people Maki and Yuta loved. Once they were back… that was it. Shuuichi didn’t care anymore. He didn’t have spare love for people who couldn’t be bothered to love him. Not anymore.

But he looked up from the puzzle, and that smile fell, someone he did love staring at him with agony in his eyes. “...I’m sorry.” He said softly. “Would you like a hug?”

Kokichi huffed softly, a spark of self-deprecating amusement livening up his face again. “Seems kinda dumb when it’s you who actually went through all that...but yeah.”

Getting up, Kokichi rounded the table and plopped his face down on Shuuichi’s shoulder, just...taking a moment to breathe in his boyfriend. Who had seen a lot of loss and horror and abuse in his time...but was also right here in front of him, alive and well with a future to look forward to. Having come to terms with his past, and was coming to terms with his present. 

It didn’t diminish the hurt from Miss Kirigiri, but...the worst was over. No need to live in it. 

Kokichi wrapped his arms around Shuuichi, as much as he could, and let out a breath. 

Shuuichi smiled, his heart eased as he put his arms around Kokichi… love. Actual love. Given easily and plentifully… it was a different feeling from the pride of earned love. From the childish hopes of a theoretical love, a young boy playing ‘what-if’ scenarios of a family one day coming back to love him… or maybe getting that plentiful love from his mentor, someday, once he had finally earned it… 

Love that poured and poured and to Shuuichi’s endless, endless bafflement, never stopped, no matter what. Kaito’s love. Maki’s love. Now, it was maybe safe to say… Kokichi’s love.

Just the sort of love that you could drown in… Shuuichi was maybe addicted to this type of love as well. But, well… maybe that was okay. This time, anyway.

So Shuuichi laughed lightly, rubbing Kokichi’s back lightly as he squeezed him, and said, “It’s okay. I’ll be sad when you tell me about months and months spent in bed while you just look surprised that I would react that way, and your eyes can water over a promise of a family member that I really very likely might have entirely imagined up… I was never able to find proof that the man I called Uncle ever existed… and, well, there’s plenty of silver linings to the fact that he never reappeared.”

“You’re one, for one.” Shuuichi smiled, kissing the side of Kokichi’s head. “...Miyako’s another.”

Kokichi snorted, his eyes not actually watery, thank you very much. But...put in perspective like that--Shuuichi at it again--he felt...a little better about feeling bad for Shuuichi’s childhood. He nuzzled at Shuuichi’s shoulder, similarly thankful to be with Shuuichi now, but…

He pulled away, just a little, fixing Shuuichi with a confused look. “...what does my mom have to do with your uncle…?”

“Hm? Nothing in particular that I know of.” Shuuichi shrugged, idly taking one of Kokichi’s hands and interlocking their fingers, before casually saying, “I just remembered you saying I should be the one to pick Baby’s name. So, after some thought… Miyako’s a very nice name. Diceans would like it. You like it. Kaito seemed very fond of the name ‘Miya’... so…”

He gently pressed Kokichi’s hand against his stomach, unlocking their fingers and smiling warmly. “Miyako Saihara.”

Kokichi’s eyes widened, at first just a bit, almost subconsciously giving Shuuichi’s hand a squeeze as he laced their fingers together, but then almost comically, the little rub he gave Shuuichi’s belly maybe purposeful, maybe not. 

“...oh…”

“Oh! OH!!!”

A matching giddy smile started to grow on Kokichi’s face, and while he didn’t draw his hand away, he started doing a little hopping dance on each foot. “R-really?!”

“Our daughter...Miyako Saihara…” Amethyst eyes grew wet, obviously and truly this time, but Kokichi smiled wide as he let out a delighted laugh, dropping to a crouch to gently kiss Shuuichi’s stomach. “Miyako! I can’t wait to meet you!”

Shuuichi laughed a little sheepishly, always a little startled when Kokichi and Kaito started talking to his belly-- look, he got it, but it was still very weird from his vantage point-- when the door lock rustled, and Kaito came in balancing a tray of various snacks and a tea kettle as he said, “What are you guys yelling about in here? Could have heard you down the hall, ‘Kichi, everything alright?”

Kokichi looked up at Kaito, his eyes still teary and his grin almost deliriously happy. But he just giggled and nuzzled against Shuuichi’s tummy. “Shuu-chan has something veeeeeery special to share, but I think Kai-chan should put the things in his hands down first.”

Kaito’s eyebrows shot up, startled by how happy Kokichi looked, and also a little startled by his position. Proooobably baby stuff. Baby stuff? 

“Alright, down it goes then.” Kaito agreed easily, putting the tray down carefully on the vanity desk, closing the door behind him as he said, “Shuuichi, handsome? You got some news?”

Shuuichi almost made a joke about twins, but then faced the possible future where Kaito was disappointed at the lack of multiple infants in his life, and decided to just be serious as he laughed somewhat sheepishly, “I… decided on a name. If that’s okay…”

Kaito’s eyes went saucer wide, and he grinned fiercely, jolting over and looking thrilled as he said, “We have a name!? You picked a name!? What’s her name!??”

“Um…” This time Shuuichi was much more shy about it, saying softly, “...Miyako Saihara. I… you seemed to like it when we were all discussing names, and I… thought it’d be nice to name her after one of our mothers and-”

“Miya!!”

Shuuichi was startled-- though, really shouldn’t have been-- when the first thing Kaito did was grab his face and pull him into a very deep kiss, Shuuichi not really able to do much else but follow that crashing wave of intimacy as Kaito kissed him long and hard. But, the kiss broke, and Kaito kissed him more chastly twice, before beaming down at him, “Miyako! Shuuichi, our baby’s name is Miyako!”

“Y-yes, Kaito, I know.” Shuuichi laughed, a little breathless, and though it apparently clearly was, he still somewhat nervously asked as Kaito let go of his face, squatting next to Kokichi in front of Shuuichi’s belly, “I… is that alright or-”

“Miya! Hey, it’s dad! Dad’s here!” Kaito told Shuuichi’s stomach, Shuuichi just sighing as he realized this was a losing conversation, Kaito way too distracted trying to talk to their daughter as he leaned in and placed his ear onto Shuuichi’s stomach, convinced he was able to faintly hear the heartbeat this way as he said, “Miyaaaa, Miya… you’re going to learn your name soon. Miyako Saihara… dad loves you Miyako. What a pretty name you have. Everyone’s gonna love you so much, Miya. Miya, it’s dad. Dad loves you, Miya.”

Shuuichi sighed again. Depending on Kaito’s mood, this could go on for… a while.

Kaito grinned at Kokichi, before saying, “Miya, daddy’s here too… Daddy’s very happy right now. You make Dad and Daddy very happy, Miya… dada too-”

“I am not going by ‘dada’ for the rest of time.” Shuuichi said blankly. “Veto.”

Kokichi was far too thrilled to properly analyze it, but, just as Shuuichi found Kokichi and Kaito’s interactions interesting, there was something very interesting in Shuuichi’s stark change in telling the news to each of his lovers. To Kokichi, it had been playful, almost a joke, though heartfelt all the same. To Kaito...it sounded like Shuuichi had lost all confidence in his decision, that he was asking permission. 

It wasn’t something Kokichi was even slightly thinking of now, but...maybe someday it would be something for them to talk about. 

Kokichi squealed in excitement as Shuuichi revealed the name again, feeling that rush of joy all over again. He was happy just to know the name of their daughter, and he would likely be just as excited for any other name…

...but this name did mean a lot more to him. A celebration of history while loving something new. A nod to the woman Kokichi never knew, while he’d hopefully get to know everything about his daughter. He giggled, placing another kiss on Shuuichi’s belly. She was gonna have a hell of a legacy with a name like that, named after two absolute smartypants. 

“Daddy loves you very much, Miyako,” Kokichi chimed in. “We’ll try not to make too much noise when we meet you, but we’re so excited… We might have to take turns stepping out just to shout about how much we love you; don’t wanna scare you with the noise.”

He snorted, looking up at Shuuichi with a wide grin. “No? Would’ve thought you’d be all over that one. Dada Shuuichi...really has a ring to it.”

“Dada gets a little grumpy sometimes, but he loves you soooo much, Miya.” Kaito assured Shuuichi’s belly, closing his eyes and shifting slightly to better hear the heartbeat, which he swore he could hear. “And you’re gonna outgrow daddy by, like, five years old, but try not to tease him for it, Daddy needs us big peoples love and support.”

“Dada is a ridiculous title. I should be Father, or… something.” Shuuichi finished lamely, before frowning, “And don’t tell our child I’m grumpy. She’ll get the wrong idea.”

“Grumpy, grumpy dada… be nice to your Dada, Miya, you gave him lots and lots of knots in his back…” Kaito had closed his eyes again, clearly lost in the fantasy of talking to his daughter, as he sighed fondly, “My good little girl…”

Kokichi rolled his eyes a little, but...chances were she was going to outgrow him. One pretty marked difference from her namesake. ...again, Kokichi started wondering what she’d look like. Shifting over a little, Kokichi took Shuuichi’s hand again and just sort of...was affectionately leaning against him, rather than doting on his belly. 

“...I hope she gets hair like you, Shuu-chan. Won’t have to worry about painful knots or slathering every product on the face of the planet into her hair… Whatever color it is, I’m hoping for that. Her eyes are gonna be beautiful no matter whose color she gets too. Gold or purple...think it’s really unlikely for her to get pink. It’s like a...one-sixth DNA’s chance, and it’s a rare color anyway. I think blue is the most common chance she’s got in her pool, and that’s just a chance through Kai-chan’s side. Wonder if she’ll tan or get freckles…”

Kokichi closed his eyes, squeezing Shuuichi’s hand. “...I’m gonna wanna draw her immediately.”

“You heard Daddy, Miya. You have to get Dada’s magic, supernatural hair, or else Dad’s gonna make you brush your hair, and you might cry and that’ll make Daddy sad and cry and then both of you will gang up on poor ol’ Dad just trying to make sure his family doesn’t have greasy, tangled hair, which is gonna make poor Dad cry-”

There was more to this speech, but Kaito’s words devolved into gibberish baby talk that, in theory, was Kaito lamenting being the bad guy who had to brush his poor crying baby’s hair, but in action, was entirely incomprehensible. 

Shuuichi, again, sighed at Kaito’s antics, gently squeezing Kokichi’s hand back. He had, admittedly, wanted somewhat to experiment on Kaito when it came to his recent change in temperament when it came to Kokichi’s authority over him, but… well, Shuuichi couldn’t bring himself to follow through on that thought now. Kaito seemed very happy with the naming of their daughter. Shuuichi would leave it alone for now.

“Kaito, when you’re done trying to teach my stomach baby language, could you please bring me some of that tea? … and those chips… and some of those apple slices-”

Kaito gave a small, put upon huff, kissing Shuuichi’s stomach and whispering conspiratorially to Miyako, “See? You make Dada hungry too. We have to be nice to Dada, he’s doing a lot for you Miya. Let’s be nice to Dada, okay? Yes we will. Yesh we will- alright, alright, I’m going.” Kaito laughed, wincing slightly as Shuuichi reached down at pinched Kaito’s ear. “Snacks and tea coming up! Man, I bet Ikuo’s gonna be thrilled. King Aiichi as well. Sweet, little Miyako finally has her name.”

“And you’re gonna have to wait to draw her, babe. Dad’s gotta get Miya all clean and not covered in weird baby fluids first…” Kaito grinned, clearly excited as he poured a cup of the tea for Shuuichi, bringing that to him first, before gesturing wordlessly to Kokichi asking if he wanted a cup as well, though what he said aloud was, “Man, waiting for you to wake back up, Shuuichi, and getting her clean enough for you to see, ‘Kichi, is gonna drive me crazy. I’m gonna be so excited to show her off to you two. It hasn’t even happened yet and I’m already impatient.”

He had already conceded that they were going to regularly brush their daughter’s hair, Kaito. But Kokichi could hope for the best case scenario where Miyako--not Baby anymore, Miyako!--would only have to sit through a few seconds of a brush sliding through her hair before going on to more important or engaging things. Hell, even though he took sooooo much time on it, even Kaito just had straight hair, even if it was pretty thick. If she got waves like Kokichi? He couldn’t take back that promise, but he’d be there in solidarity with his daughter. 

Laughing a little when Shuuichi’s patience ran out, Kokichi stood up from his crouch, gently kissing the side of Shuuichi’s head before...well, he didn’t go back to his seat just yet. After shaking his head a little at Kaito’s question of tea, Kokichi just lounged against the side of Shuuichi’s chair, not wanting to be far yet. 

“Are you kidding?” he laughed. “I’m gonna wanna draw her immediately, but that immediately comes with a little asterisk meaning after the time of me getting to hold her and crying for, like, a thousand years while trying not to get tears on our new, infant daughter. And then crying over seeing each of you hold her. And then probably waiting until we get home and she’s settled to break out my sketchbook. Or...at least until we’re all chillin’ in Shuu-chan’s hospital room.”

Dr. Tenchi had explained how parents who had just delivered needed time to rest, though it varied on the person and the delivery. Shuuichi might be ready to go rest at home within a day, but...what was more realistic, was them at least spending a day or two at the hospital with her and the ward doctors checking in to make sure Shuuichi and the baby--Miyako!!!--were alright. 

It was kind of a bonus that they were aiming for a c-section. Shuuichi’s delivery would be scheduled, rather than them all trying to dash to the hospital in the middle of the night or something. They had already talked about...well...some of it. While there were gonna be a lot of people excited to see Miya, they’d decided that Shuuichi--obviously--Kaito, Kokichi, and Ikuo were going to be at the hospital the whole time. Kaito would be in the room with Shuuichi, while Kokichi would be kept company by his father in the waiting room. Kokichi would go to Shuuichi’s room once they were given the okay, and would get to meet Miyako with Kaito and the three of them would wait for Shuuichi to wake up. Aiichi would come around sometime once Shuuichi had gotten some rest to see the baby, Ikuo too, but everyone else would have to wait until they came home. 

...they hadn’t...exactly discussed it, but...Kokichi assumed that Maki would be there in the room with Shuuichi and Kaito...if she was back in time. 

Kokichi let go of a little breath, his eyes watering all over again as he was overcome with love and excitement. 

As Shuuichi cheerfully dug into his snacks, leaving his sappy lovers to be sappy, Kaito considered offering him a massage. These days he did so just kind of keeping up maintenance on the guy. Better to stay in front of the problem… but Shuuichi seemed content to work on this puzzle and eat food so Kaito refocused his attention on Kokchi instead.

“Babe.” Kaito said, scooting away from Shuuichi’s stomach, now just sitting cross legged on the ground, “Come ‘ere.”

Kokichi looked over, giving Kaito something of a suspicious look. “...you’re not about to brush my hair again, are you?”

Kaito’s temple twitched. “Just come here and love me, you brat.”

Snickering, Kokichi straightened off Shuuichi’s chair and went over to Kaito, plopping down in the space his legs left, using what little leg muscles they’d been working on in training to keep his impact to a minimum. He was small, but the impact of his body on an ankle would really hurt. 

Tilting his head back, Kokichi nuzzled around Kaito’s chest, collecting his husband’s arms and bringing them around himself, giving them a light rub. “Mmmhmmhmm… Even if you so cruelly capture me for torture, I still love my Kai-chan.”

“Uh uh. Sure.” Kaito snorted, resting his head on top of Kokichi’s, easily leaning into the hold, pressing his husband to his chest. “Big, mean old Kaito, taking care of his. Tragic. Where do I get off?”

Then, grinning, Kokochi securely on his lap, Kaito rolled backwards. “Ha. Got ya. No escaping me now. Shuuichi! Shuuichi, I caught us a Kokichi!”

“Very good, Kaito.” Shuuichi said distractedly, sipping at his tea and back at the puzzle, looking through the pieces calmly. “But if we’re keeping it, you have to be ready to take care of it.”

“No problems. I’m a Kokichi taking care of expert. I will brush his hair twice a day… and get him to eat all his meals… and give him all the necessary cuddles. All about it.” Kaito insisted, rolling every so slightly back and forth, his husband still locked to his chest.

Kokichi squealed as Kaito rolled back, taking him with him, though it was tempered with giggles unlike his surprised sound from Kaito’s earlier dastardly play. “Oh no! Fallen right into the trap! But could you blame me, when you used my favorite bait of Kai-chan cuddles? How could I ever be expected to resist!”

The feeling of being rolled gently back and forth was actually kind of nice, and Kokichi turned his head to the side to rub his cheek against Kaito’s chest, nuzzling and cuddling his husband right back for his efforts. “Hmmmm, that does sound like a luxurious life...but what about the others in my Kokichi colony? My poor Kokichi family… I was aiming to bring home a Kai-chan for us all, you know? It’s the true dream for any Kokichi.”

At this, Kaito just stilled. Like, completely stock stilled. Just staring at the ceiling. Eyes incredibly wide.

“...a whole Kokichi colony…” his eyes sparkled, “...many Kokichi’s…all wanting a Kai-chan...”

Shuuichi rolled his eyes at his puzzle. Sounded like someone had found new masturbation material.

“Mhmmmm,” Kokichi slowly hummed, not...exactly feeling safe with that tone in Kaito’s voice. “Course, the set isn’t complete without a Shuu-chan. Some Kokichis feel too greedy, aiming for something so amazing, but life just doesn’t feel right without all three. Some try to find their Shuu-chan first, since a Kai-chan is bound to follow.”

“Ah, I can’t help but feel conflicted. Trapped by a Kai-chan and a Shuu-chan, but all on my own… Maybe I can make a case for you to tell the other Kai-chans and Shuu-chans to go nearer to the Kokichi colony, so we all might be so lucky.”

Shuuichi glanced over at them, amused… and then raised an eyebrow. “Careful, Kokichi. I think you might be overloading him a bit.”

Kaito’s face was bright red. Very clearly lost in his head somewhere, a far too overly detailed setting and scenario building rapidly in his mind. For some reason, colonies of Kokichi lived in hovel, honeycomb like structures… everything was soft and yellow and sweet and covered in pillows and tapestries… many, many Kokichi’s, dressed in… lovely outfits… a few of them doting on a Shuuichi that Kaito had tracked to the hive…

Kaito’s imagination was a little extra sometimes, honestly. 

Though, Kaito frowned slightly at the idea of having to share his Shuuichi‘s and Kokichi’s with other Kaito’s… though… hmmm…

“Many Kokichi’s and Shuuichi’s… but other Kaito’s?...” Kaito looked curious now, slightly taken out of his sexy daydream as his imaginaton dealed with the logistics as he murmured, “...do I wanna fuck myself?”

This was too much for Shuuichi, who lowered his head into his arms and just started laughing.

He had to maneuver around Kaito’s arms a little, but Kokichi snorted loudly and covered his face, his shoulders shaking in quiet laughter that he tried not to let get too loud. “Kai-chan. C’mon, you have your hands full with the two of us--any extra Kokichis or Shuuichis and you’d be completely overrun. This ratio exists for a-a - pffffha - reason.”

“One Kai-chan. One Shuu-chan. One Kokichi. And I’m happy.”

“Yeah, ‘course. One Kokichi, one Shuuichi, one Kaito…” Kaito kissed the top of Kokichi’s head, before musing, “And… maybe two more ‘Kichi’s… and another Shuuichi’s whose not really feeling up to the heavy stuff but is available to snuggle and pet the sleepy ‘Kichi’s who are spent… and yeah, maybe an extra Kaito to just wreck the Shuuichi in th middle of the action. Trade off with him every time one of us is having our cool down… or, wait, than whose taking care of the Kokichi’s when I’m cooling down between them and… I guess they could take care of each other… mmmm… wait, do I need more Kokichi’s then? Or maybe another Kaito…. Hmmmm this is harder than I thought. Shuuichi, handsome, can I borrow your journal and-”

“You are not using my journal to work out how your clone orgy would best satisfy you.” Shuuichi said, not even looking up from his puzzle. “Just take your cool down time out of your fantasy. Problem solved.”

“Awww, that takes the fun out of it.” Kaito pouted, “If one of the Kokichi’s was also topping the Shuuichi, than that’s three on one guy at any given time… I guess depending on Shuuichi’s stamina… I guess we don’t really know Shuuichi’s stamina do we… hmmm… Shuuichi, how many times do you think you could cum in a row?”

Shuuichi shrugged. “No idea.”

“Hmmmm…”

Kokichi groaned through a laugh, his face heating up as Kaito explained his fantasy more, taking it out of the realm of like...a nature documentary in his head, and into the sexual wonderland of Kaito’s. And, by then end, he was more just hiding his bright red face than laughing at the inevitable place Kaito’s mind went. “Kai-chaaaaaaan.”

“This Kokichi just wants snuggles, so ya don’t have to factor in anything else right now, kay? Uuurph…” He shifted a little side to side on top of Kaito before parting his hands to just barely be able to look through and see Shuuichi. The whole conversation was in good humor, but… “...has Shuu-chan been...dissatisfied when we’re together?”

Shuchi looked up, raising an eyebrow, before quietly laughing. Shaking his head, he said, “No. I won’t say that I’m ever… ‘spent’.” Shuuichi admitted, putting clear quotation marks around the word, “But I’m never unsatisfied. I’m happy with however long you guys wanna go and I’m totally fine when we’re done.”

“Mmm… one day I’ll really take my time with you, handsome. Push you so hard you can barely keep your eyes open, like our ‘Kichi. Really tire you out.”

Shuuichi didn’t look… down or anything, at that thought. But there was a sort of distance in his gaze for a moment, before it cleared away with a shrug. “Like I said before, it’s not like I’m unsatisfied. I like going till you guys are done. I’m not even sure if I’d actually enjoy being… worn out and all that.” Shuuichi said, waving his hand dismissively. 

“And that attitude is exactly whyyyy a Shuuichi would be perfect to take care of the sleepy ‘Kichi’s.” 

Sitting up, Kaito kissed Kokichi’s head a few times, rocking side to side a bit as he said, “My sweet snuggly husband… mmmm… you smell good.” Kaito sighed, petting his fingers up and down Kokichi’s stomach. “Mmmmm… soft…”

“Take a bath or visit your shrine, Kaito.”

Kaito sighed. “I willlll. Let me just enjoy my fantasy for a bit… maybe I’ll bring the abomination with me.”

-

It was sunny, just warm enough to be comfortable, though there was a freshness in the air that said that cold days could still happen. Birds were singing, and off in the bushes, you could hear small animals rustling around--maybe you could even spot a spotted fawn pausing before following its mother. But probably not out in the backlot of the castle, you’d probably have to go nearer to the woods to see that. 

But...it was a clear memory of spring. 

Kokichi was sitting under his and Shuuichi’s tree, and while none of the others were around, he could hear the sound of a pen furiously writing and the occasional turn of a page, and the sounds of children laughing not too far away. Grunts of effort and exclamations of accomplishment. Deeper laughs coming nearer, happily cooing a particular name. 

Kokichi gave a happy sigh as he leaned against the trunk of the tree, enjoying the filtered sunlight through new leaves. 

Miya…

Miyako…

A soft patter of paws landed on the lowest branch, golden eyes darting around… before Alter Ego mused, “Hmmm… maybe I should have called ahead… I think I just stepped into the middle of fantasy…”

“Not a focused one.” Kokichi looked up, smiling warmly at his friend. “I’m just...really happy. We got some really good news today, and...while we haven’t told anyone else, I’m sure Shuu-chan and Kai-chan wouldn’t mind. I’m gonna go tell my dad first thing in the morning anyway.”

Kokichi took a deep breath, the scent of new flowers filling his nose, the clouds just in the right position to make his spot a little warmer for a moment. “...our daughter has a name now, Alter Ego.”

“Oh? That’s exciting.” Alter Ego said, leaping down the branch, enjoying the scent of the grass before settling next to Kokichi, looking up at him curiously, “Tell me the story. Did you all have another brainstorming session and decide on something?”

“Not quite,” Kokichi laughed. “I’ve been pretty open that I thought Shuu-chan should be the one to make the final decision on her name. It just...seems right. I kinda figured we might have another session to narrow down names, but…”

At that, Kokichi sombered slightly, the layers of his mood not exactly changing the landscape of his little fantasy, but...there was a different feeling in the air for a moment, the clouds passing over the sun. “...well, we’d been talkin’ about kid stuff, and then Shuu-chan told me some stuff about his past and...for all of us, really, there’s stuff that makes the others really sad… But Shuu-chan said that he was glad for the good things that came out of it. Like meeting me.”

“And, because he loves bein’ an obtuse little smartypants,” Kokichi rolled his eyes, “He said Miyako was another. And I was confused ‘cause...I mean, the only Miyako I knew was my mom. But...that’s what we’re naming our daughter.”

Again, Kokichi’s face broke out into a wide, sweet smile, his hands cupped over his chest. “Shuu-chan and Kai-chan said they like the name anyway, but...it really means a lot to me that that’s the name he chose… Our little Miya… She’s not coming any faster, but...it’s somehow even easier to start imagining what she’ll be like. Getting all excited…”

“Miyako Ouma… that’s a very nice name.” Alter Ego agreed, his ears twitching and moving around, following the sound of a baby giggle and what sounded like amused, soft murmuring from, Alter Ego guessed, Kaito. “Miyako… congratulations, Kokichi.”

Petting Kokichi’s waist with their body, Alter Ego settled down, tucking their paws under their chest as they mused.

“Miyako Saihara,” Kokichi gently corrected. “I...don’t know how it works in Luminary, and Kai-chan and Shuu-chan haven’t corrected me, but since married people change their names, maybe it’s different… But kids take the last name of the person that has them, generally. Sometimes parents will switch it up, or give their kid a new last name, or a hyphenated one of theirs, but...generally. Makes it a little easier for us, since she’s gonna have a different full name from my mom.”

Alter Ego looked surprised at that, their look entirely one of genuine curiosity, “Really? That’s an interesting way of doing it. I imagine your inheritance laws must be a bit different than ours, then. In Luminary, it’s the head of the family whose name gets passed down. Still, the birth parent passing down the name makes a lot of sense.”

“So, Miyako Saihara… it’s very sweet of him to want to name it after your mother.” Alter Ego said, feeling incredibly peaceful, nothing they were saying said with any real urgency. They were here to train Kokichi, of course, or they wouldn’t have interrupted his sleep so randomly, but, well… it didn’t feel urgent. 

The warm, sweet spring air really helped with Alter Ego’s chill.

Resting on their side, they looked up at Kokichi, saying, “A child with three fathers… honestly, I’ve never heard of that before. Never even heard of it in passing. Your child must be a marvel in some circles, just for that alone… and considering your such a strong empath, I wonder if that will pass down to her. You might end up teaching her someday, how to do all this stuff.”

Head of family...must be the person higher up in the marriage hierarchy. So...everyone ended up taking that name? Considering how allegiances and loyalty worked in Luminous culture, Kokichi supposed it could be something of a safeguard, making you part of an “in” crowd, even if you had nothing to do with what a distant relative had been doing. ...probably worked the other way around too.

Laughing softly, Kokichi shook his head with a sigh, reaching out to stroke along Alter Ego’s back. “She’s objectively special from her circumstances, but...I’m hoping she can have a relatively normal life. We’ve all agreed to try and keep politics away from her, as much as we can...and even for a benefit of science…” Kokichi’s eyebrows furrowed. “...she’s my daughter, not an experiment. If her primary healer can extrapolate something from regular check-ups, whatever but...I don’t want people to test things on her. Or for people to look at her like...some exhibit. She’s going to be a person…”

His expression softened a bit, something thoughtful in his gaze as he looked out onto the yard, Maki and Tim and the girls not there...but sort of there anyway. “...if it comes to that, I hope I can remember all this by the time I have to teach her. There’s so much to pass down to her...even thinking about it all seems a little overwhelming. But if we’re gonna do it, I want to be the best teacher I can be. Wanna...be sure in what I’m telling her…”

“Actually, I’ve been talking to a good number of other Empath’s with that in mind. Your daughter, I mean.” Alter Ego tailed flicked slightly, and there was a slight, proud puff in their chest as they said, “It occurred to me before that she might be born an empath, and since I didn’t have that information on how Empaths developed. I‘ve just never had a reason to ask before, never heard it before, and it turns out that’s for a good reason.”

“Even for the most powerful kind of Empaths almost never show signs of their Empathy until at the earliest three years old. Apparently an Empath able to develop their abilities earlier than that, in any way of consequence, is a once in a century thing. Your daughter is special, but I doubt she’ll be that special, so, even if your memories take another few years to finally follow you into the waking world? She should be fine.”

Turning on his back, Alter Ego purred slightly as they said, “Besides, absolute, pie in the sky worst case scenario? I’d of course help as well, if you can’t do it yourself. Either way, it’s going to be fine. She’ll have plenty of safeguards and assistance.”

Kokichi let out a little sigh of relief. Honestly, it hadn’t even occurred to him that Miya might inherit Empathy from him, and while he’d be happy any way his daughter turned out...it was a relief that he’d still have more than a few months to learn before having to help out an infant Empath. He was still wearing training floaties, in their swimming analogy. 

Smiling down at his friend and mentor, Kokichi scratched under the kitty’s chin. “Thank you, Alter Ego. I really appreciate it. I’m not even sure how to explain, like...regular life stuff to her when she’s little--I’d be completely lost trying to explain Empath stuff too. Like...going from explaining sharing during the day, oh, Daddy’s sorry Miya, but not impressing your emotions on everyone too. Ah...and little kids are pretty horrible at keeping secrets…”

He sighed, slumping down to lie more on the grass. “Would it be too much to hope that she doesn’t get any psychic abilities either?”

“Entirely possible. Empaths are more likely to form if one of the parents is an empath, but in the same way it’s entirely possible for an Empath to develop with no parental empaths, empaths can have non-empath children.” 

Alter Ego leaned into the scatches, before saying, “...but would it be so bad if she was? It’s a very beautiful ability, really… Chihiro lived in fear of his abilities. Hiro as well, but… I’ve found that’s partly a side effect of living in Luminary. Me? As I am? A being who lives in the realms that Empaths can visit…”

Alter Ego went back onto their front, standing up and stretching, before looking around at the warm, spring field, “Look at all this… look at what you get to enjoy. Think of what your abilities grant you the ability to experience. You can experience the world in the most intimate way possible… from the perspective of others. From your own hopes and dreams. Metaphor, feeling… the world experienced through poetry.”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to share that with one of your family?” Alter Ego asked, “I think it would be.”

Kokichi was quiet for a moment, watching the leaves above him gently dance, all different shades of green depending on how the sun was hitting them, or if they were under other leaves. They looked that way, because Kokichi had spent a lot of time like this, observing how the leaves in his backyard looked. And...with his abilities, it didn’t matter where someone was, or what time of year it was. He would always be able to share this. Empaths were given the ability to share their little parts of the world…

...the joys were often well-worth the heartache. 

“...it would be,” Kokichi softly agreed after a time. “There would be a lot I’d get to share with her. And...even if I worry about teaching her...if I’m giving her the right idea about the world… I can’t brush off the enormous influence I’ll have. That we’ll all have while she’s growing up, and to an extent will always have just because we’re her parents. But...at the end of it all, it’ll be up to her how she interprets those lessons. We can guide, but she has to walk the path…”

Kokichi was quiet again. 

“...Kai-chan and Shuu-chan want to teach her how to fight. Weapon specialties too. I’m sure Maki-chan will get right on it when she comes back. I think that it’s important she knows how to defend herself, and knowing how to do that physically is important. Even I can see that.”

“...but...it bothers me. When they talk about what they’ll teach her when she’s “young”. It...bothers me that one of the first things Miya’s gonna learn is how to hurt other people.”

Alter Ego nodded, though… first thing? “How old do they intend to teach her?” Alter Ego asked, looking up at Kokichi.

“...I don’t know,” he softly admitted. He’d never talked about it with them, just not wanting to start this conversation at all so...he didn’t know exactly what his partners meant by “young”. But… “...they’ve all talked about starting to learn pretty young themselves… I know Maki-chan’s something of an outlier, but she started at four, and...well, I think Kai-chan might’ve started learning as a way to try and expel some of his aggression when he was young… I actually don’t know when Shuu-chan started officially, but I know he was pulled into training when they were all in middle school…”

Kokichi frowned up at the sunny sky. “...I need to talk to them, don’t I.” 

“Probably.” Alter Ego said softly, nothing unkind in it. Just a friend gently giving advise as they continued, “But, if it helps, talk to me about it first. I mean… you won’t remember doing it, but maybe a muscle memory will help you articulate your ideas to them better once you’ve reasoned it out for yourself.”

“Or we could train, but…” The cat yawned, stretching in the grass and flopping back down, “It’s so nice and sunny and warm and chatting sounds way better, honestly. I was going to teach you how to make different kinds of guides, but… suuuuun...”

Twisting their lithe body, Alter Ego looked up at Kokichi from the grass and said, “...you said your fear is that she’ll be taught to harm people… she’s being trained by the Royal Assassin, the Boogieman, and a prince whose been rumored to be a little emotionally unhinged… I say this knowing your family is more than all of those things. But that doesn’t mean that the aspects of them that lead to those reputations don’t exist at all.”

“Kokichi… it’d be understandable, I think, if you were worried about them passing down those traits to her.”

Kokichi laughed softly, tilting his head to watch Alter Ego stretch out in the sun. True kitty instincts. And...well, maybe you could make an argument that talking out his feelings was an important thing for an Empath to do too...but Kokichi just wanted to confide in his friend. They were Luminous too, but...still. Maybe they’d have more perspectives than the ones he’d been worried about offending in his family.

Though, the title of “Boogieman” was a new one. 

“...maybe.”

“...I really love my family, but...they’re paranoid to an excessive degree, sometimes. I understand why, at least a little but…” Kokichi frowned, bringing his arms back to rest under his head. “...going through life always seeing threats, seeing everyone as an enemy until they prove themself otherwise...it’s good for keeping yourself safe. Fuck knows there’s a lot of trouble I could’ve avoided if I exerted a little more caution…”

“She’s not going to be an Ouma. There’s no...external reason for it, really. But I don’t want her to...constantly second guess people’s intentions, to always expect that people are planning to hurt her. If she goes somewhere new...I don’t want her to be afraid that she’s alone--I want her to be able to be excited for the opportunity to meet new people.”

“People are capable of a lot of horrible things… But they’re capable of a lot of wonderful things too, and they’re never just one thing. People are always changing… And if you give them the chance to, they can change for the better.”

“...there were other reasons for it, and fuck knows I didn’t help, but...Kai-chan spent months in the castle wanting to punch the lights out of everyone there because he felt like they were all threats. Even now, he can barely accept leaving my side for a moment when I’m sick, and he’s constantly tense around people whose...literal jobs are to do no harm. Shuu-chan made a friend at school, and his first impulse, though it’s partly just cause he’s naturally nosy, is to look into his school file and see if he’s ‘all he seems’. Maki-chan hid in a tree for over an hour at Harvest watching people offer me food.”

“...I love them and...maybe I’m just wrong. But sometimes I wish they could just...relax and accept that people aren’t out to get them. Not all the time, at least.”

Alter Ego listened to this, a curious mixture of feelings inside of themself. Mondo felt exasperated, Hiro exhausted at just imagining trying to keep up that amount of vigilance (which was saying something, as someone who had to keep up a considerable amount of vigilance in his own life), Chihiro thought it sounded sad, and Taka…

“...I think Taka would like to speak with you.” Alter Ego guessed, feeling the desire in that part of themselves that comes from him. “If that’s alright?”

Kokichi nodded, sliding himself up to sit against the tree again. He could just as easily talk lying down, but...he didn’t know. It felt more “right” to speak to Taka sitting up, at the very least. “Of course. I really should just have this conversation with my partners, and while I won’t remember this when I wake up...I still value your and any of your perspectives. Everything helps, when it comes to understanding.”

Alter Ego nodded, getting up and stretching. “Alright then. It’s always good to let my shards out to stretch anyway. As much as I enjoy… existing, it’d be a tragedy to lose their forms. Separating regularly, having conversations ‘alone’? It helps them retain clarity and independence… all that to say that your friendship with both myself and them? Has really been invaluable. Everything helps.”

At that, Alter Ego was gone, and Taka stood there, that same, mildly surprised look Mondo had had, all that time ago. Briefly looking around, as if he was expecting the other sides of himself to be there, and looking a little stunned to not see them… before focusing on Kokichi.

Standing straight, Taka then bowed as low as he could from the hips, and half-shouted, “Good evening, Kokichi! It’s good to see you! In the sense that it’s good to see you from this perspective!”

His entire form was rigid. Profesional to the point of mockery… but then, after his greeting, he sat down. His back still straight, but cross-legged, and a surprisingly calm expression on his face, for a man who seemed defined by his desire to constantly keep up a professional appearance. But, well… it made sense that he relaxed a little. He and Kokichi had been friends for some time now, had been through a lot together, if through the perspective of the other shards and Alter Ego. He was just being polite with the bow, and was otherwise at ease.

The sun and spring air still felt nice.

“Thank you for allowing me to monopolize your attention. I just felt like this was something I personally could relate very well too.” Taka said, smiling at Kokichi, his voice not quite shouting anymore, but always sounding like he was just barely holding back from doing so. “Dealing with family members with post traumatic stress was… basically my whole childhood. I know how difficult it can be.”

Kokichi smiled warmly as Taka appeared, his eyebrows raising a little at what he surmised to be an incredibly formal Luminous greeting, but...well, that just fit Taka too. He’d only spoken to the man specifically a handful of times, but...well, his connection with Alter Ego was a connection to all the people that made them up too. Different, and yet the same. 

And, of course, Taka had given a piece of himself to Kokichi, so while they might not have had lengthy conversations together as just the two of them...that was a connection pure and simple. 

“It’s nice to see you too, Taka, and I’m always happy to talk to any of you guys one-on-one...or as close as that gets.” And while Kokichi’s smile remained warm...huh. He...supposed that really was what this was. He’d known at some level, but...just nailing it down like that really...put it into perspective. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi’s smile faded a bit. “...I wish it wasn’t “dealing”. Like I said...I know why they react like that. It’s what’s kept them safe, and I know my own perspective isn’t...like, objectively right. I thought....I thought a cultist was my friend. Have gotten myself into a lot of trouble, and have probably given out chances I shouldn’t have. Maybe...I’m just foolish for wanting to put my trust in people.”

“...I don’t want to blame my family for how they react to trauma. But I don’t want to sabotage how my daughter sees the world either…”

Taka sighed, though there was something sadly amused in it. His big, shockingly bushy eyebrows couldn’t help but look intense by their natural angle, but they did go up slightly in sympathetic nostalgia as he said, “Yes… I understand all of that too. As I said, this fear you have right now… I don’t think it’d be inaccurate to say that Miyako’s situation might not be all that unlike my own.”

“I can’t say much on the matter of her learning weapons or fighting or anything like that. That wasn’t how my parents and grandparents reacted to their fears. I was… heavily pushed into education. In the sense that my education was treated like its own battlefield. My parents wanted me to succeed and be able to protect myself in a world full of enemies and betrayers and saboteurs, all who were ‘specifically’ out to ‘get me’.”

Taka sighed again, an exhausted look on his face as he said, “They did it out of love. I know this… but it was also out of fear. I had to go to the absolute top-tier class, which we couldn’t afford, so I had to get top scholarships, and they still had to take out loans to get me through… and once I was in that school, they filled my ears with endless, endless conspiracies and fears of my classmates and their parents. Everyone wanted me to fail. Everyone was waiting for me to mis-step. Any mistake I made would be taken advantage of to send me back into the dirt, or worse… Constantly, my family was terrified of me getting taken advantage of and beaten down by the pool of wealth and nobility that they had shoved me into in the first place.”

“And… it took me a long time to realize the reality wasn’t… like that. A very long time. Too long, really,” Taka confessed, that exhaustion still clear.

“The biggest problem is one that I think you’ll be intimately familiar with… that, sometimes, they were right. That was the problem… Every now and again, I met someone, or was put in a situation, where someone really was out to get me. Offended by my status as a poor commoner, or more often, someone whose family had a history with my grandfather. When that happened, it was hard to… not just decide that because it had happened once or twice, that certainly my family was correct in thinking the danger was constant. Everywhere.”

“...but it wasn’t. It was rare. People were generally just… decent. As decent as they knew how to be. And seeing the world the way my family did… made it very difficult to recognize when good things were happening to me. When I had made friends. Been given opportunities. When things were just peaceful... that’s what you don’t want for your daughter? Yes?” Taka asked, looking softly at Kokichi. “For her to inherit their endless, endless fear?”

Kokichi’s eyes widened slightly, and as he listened to Taka’s story...it felt a bit bad, that this had been his friend’s life, because...it was the culmination of Kokichi’s fear. The thing that made him worried about the talk of training Miya in the first place. That exhaustion on Taka’s face...and this was after it was done. 

Nodding softly, Kokichi sighed. “...mine either. But...I think that might be a ‘keep an eye out for signs of mental illness’ thing rather than a ‘worry about the things we teach her’ kind of thing. I think my family has a lot of good lessons in interacting with the world to pass on...but I’m worried about her thinking like…”

Over in the field, there was a sensation of sharpness. A memory of Maki’s voice, clear and blunt. “Danger is everywhere.” 

Taka listened to the memory like it was a storm coming in over the horizon, and while he frowned at it, he didn’t seem particularly surprised. “Sounds like the sort of thing an assassin might say. I imagine for her, it was… or at least was around often enough. For my family, well… my grandfather did something incredibly shameful. Its reveal ruined our family's place in society, destroyed us financially, socially isolated us, ruined everything everyone in my line had built up over a century…”

Taka got a hard look on his face, as he said, “But for all the evils my grandfather did, that wasn’t itself what ruined us. It was a conspiracy of rival businessmen and nobility who went out of their way to find a way to destroy us, to put themselves into a better position… It had nothing to do with truth. Or justice. It was just… a few evil men taking advantage of each other, and my grandfather lost the battle.”

“It was something rare. Something that would just happen to someone like my grandfather, being in the position that he was in, in the same way your theoretical sister-in-law was in a unique position where that saying was true… it was their reality.”

“And it had almost nothing in common with mine.” Taka said, brow furrowing further, “...but it’s hard to explain to someone their whole world view, which protected them, doesn’t… really help anything, in any other lifestyle. I think the biggest issue, based on how my parents and grandmother were, was that trying to get them to see that made them feel afraid and helpless in a different way. Lost… with no coping skills or life techniques to help them in their new scenarios? Being told their old ways wouldn’t work was the same thing as telling them they were doomed to suffer and fail… it terrified them in a way being surrounded by the enemies in their minds never could.”

“It was my mother, who ended up getting better… later in my teen years, my mother went against her place in my family and the wishes of our father and got a job to help pay off the loans. Started meeting people in our new social class. Started getting life skills that would help us with our actual problems… and I just watched her transform in front of my eyes.” Taka said, smiling at the memory, eyes shining slightly, getting emotional at the talk of her, “She became more confident, and that confidence led to some of the fear going away… She didn’t need to rely on the old ways. She had new ones. She helped me with those new skills. Was my biggest supporter in joining the guard, instead of going straight to University, because… she could finally see what our situation was actually like, and how much better a choice it was for me… She argued with everyone and stood her ground, to allow me to go…”

Taka’s face suddenly tightened, and he put his head into his hands, and said, voice wet with grief, “...I hope with what happened… the fear hasn’t come back to her… N-no one could have guessed...”

...that was it, a small part in the back of Kokichi’s head realized. The truth was important. But it could be wielded like a blunt weapon. Doing more harm than good, and when people cried out against it, all someone had to do was shrug and affirm that getting the truth out was the most important thing. A person that called themself brutally honest but only wanted to tear people down. 

But that was neither here nor there for the present conversation. 

Maki saw danger everywhere, because she’d been in a position that constantly put her in danger. Shuuichi saw the dirty secrets and lies people told, because that’s what he’d been made to seek out time and time again. Kaito had sworn himself to protect two people with countless enemies. 

...but Miya wasn’t going to be an assassin, or a detective (at least not until she was older), and the people in her family were safe. 

And he still didn’t know how to tell that to his family, let alone in a way that they might really understand. Maybe...beyond just saying it initially, there wasn’t really a way for Kokichi to help them understand that. Maybe it was just something that they would have to find out on their own. They were working on it…

Kokichi empathized with that...almost frustrated disappointment, and inability to connect, smiled at the pride in Taka’s voice when he spoke of his mother...but simply got on his knees and wrapped his arms around the other man at the end. Wishing not for the first time that there was something he could’ve done for all the people in the Party. Something he could do now. 

...but he couldn’t even pass on the news of what had happened. So Kokichi just hugged Taka. Feeling that weight of...leaving your family behind. Them not even knowing for sure if you were gone. Of, in Taka’s case, worrying yourself sick with how your loved ones would proceed. “...I’m so sorry…” ...there really wasn’t much else to say.

Taka appreciated the hug, but he didn’t do much for a moment. Just kept his hand over his face and just… let the sadness roll over him, The grief of his incredibly unfair death, and the reality of knowing how it would hurt his loved ones.

Sometimes there was just… no silver lining in a bad situation. At least not one you could see in the moment of grief. His mother was not out of Taka’s reach. He could… go ‘see’ her whenever he was ready. But… he wasn’t ready to see her, and didn’t know if going would do more harm than good. 

He was essentially a ghost… and people so rarely felt peace and closure, when they spoke of ghosts and spirits. He didn’t want his mother to wait desperately for ‘messages’. He didn’t want her spending the rest of her life researching for proof to validate her belief in her dead, visiting son. He didn’t want his afterlife to consume her.

He didn’t want to haunt her.

...after a moment, he gave a shuddering breath. And his composure returned to him, allowing him to lower his hand, before giving Kokichi a small half-hug, patting him gently on the back. “...thank you.”

“I wish I had an answer for you. Something clear and obvious. But I don’t. I just… understand your fears and frustration, Kokichi.” Taka sighed, clearly ready to move on from his small breakdown. “Hopefully your family can find their way into the present sooner than my family did. But… they have a considerable advantage over mine. They do, after all, have you.” Taka smiled. His expression as bright and earnest as the sun.

Kokichi pulled back after that pat, Taka straightening and making the motions to get out of the hug. He nodded at the thanks and… Even if you didn’t end up with a plan of action, sometimes just talking to someone made enough of a difference. Made you feel better, even with a less than uplifting subject like this. 

“I still appreciate you sharing your experience with me, and even if it’s not an answer, it’s still a lot of help,” Kokichi said with a gentle smile. “I shouldn’t keep my hopes too high, but...if I can remember anything when I wake up, I want to talk to my guys about this. Even just...to know where we all stand. I thought it was just a losing battle I didn’t even want to pick but...after talking with you, I think I was thinking of a different battle anyway. It’s too much to hope we’ll raise Miya perfectly, but in trying to understand each other, we can still do our best, and hopefully she’ll get the best lessons from each of us.”

Kokichi had already been feeling lighter, but with Taka so sincerely saying something like… Kokichi made a weird sort of squeaking sound in the back of his throat, his cheeks flushing red as he looked to the side, scratching his cheek. “...that’s seriously some high praise, yanno…”

“Of course! I was the student vice president and the third highest grade point in the most top-tier high school of Luminary! If I’ve earned any right, it’s to give out high praise where praise is due!” Taka laughed, patting Kokichi now a little fiercely on the back, before settling down, laughing with some self-awareness as he said, “I know how I come across, but I really do believe I have a knack for understanding people. After all, my family raised me to constantly analyze the people around me in their fears and hopes for me… and when I look at you?”

“You genuinely want to help them,” Taka said, giving Kokichi a stern look. “You love your family. It’s obvious on you. And I believe with a love as honest and earnest as yours, that even if you don’t always have the answers they’ll need? That you’ll persevere and get them through the hard times regardless. And, trust me... a family that genuinely loves you, and lets you know it? Can make a thousand and one mistakes, many of which will hurt, but…”

Taka sighed. A soft smile that was both happy and sad. “Knowing you have the love and support of your family can get you through anything. It can mean the world, even during the worst of circumstances… Miya is in good hands. They all are.”

Maybe for Taka, there was something final in that statement. His last independent thought on the subject, because he suddenly stood up, stretching his arms out and around himself as he said, “Anyway...I should probably re-form with my friends. I’m sure they’re bored, pretending to be gone, and no doubt Mondo is ribbing me to Hiro and Chihiro! I have to get back to them to defend my good name from my bro! Rib him back, as it were!” Taka laughed loudly at this, clearly this sparking some fondness in him, before he looked back down at Kokichi, “...you are okay?”

Kokichi laughed softly, the force of Taka’s sincerity busting through even the awkwardness of accepting such a big compliment. And while he was certainly jostled by the firm smack on his back, if he was well, Kokichi’s form in his consciousness was much stronger than his physical body, and he didn’t even end up coughing from it or anything!

...and it was nice to hear that his intentions were clear to someone. Kokichi’s family meant the world to him, and while he might not be able to make the same sacrifices that...that he knew Kaito and Shuuichi sometimes wanted from him...he did want the best for them. For them all to enjoy their lives together, and for them to all grow as individuals. Becoming better people just...because he believed that would bring them more happiness in the long run. That was the belief his altruism was founded on. 

Kokichi nodded softly, murmuring a thanks, deeply touched despite his volume, feeling...warm that all that was conveyed to someone. And able, for the moment at least, to believe that his intentions would mean good things for his family. 

He laughed again at Taka’s fond familiarity with the others, before he looked up in slight surprise. Not making the connection that the last time someone had asked him that while he was in good spirits, under the same tree, actually, he had been quietly dealing with the trauma of his wedding night, all while not thinking about it at the moment of the question either.

But unlike that time, Kokichi thought for a moment. “...I think so, yeah. I have worries and fears just like anyone...but I have people I can talk to, not least of all who I’m currently talking to.” Kokichi flashed a brighter grin, before just looking fond. “Thanks, Taka. I’m okay.”

It was always very sudden, when Alter Ego reformed, and this time was no different. One second, Taka was there, beaming at him, and the next second, Alter Ego was sitting in the grass, licking at their paw. 

“Hmmm…” Cleaning their face with their licked upon paw, that golden cat sighed, before stretching in the grass again. “...I’m so unmotivated today. But, we should probably train in something today, huh… or maybe you should get some rest for the rest of the night and we can start fresh tomorrow night.”

Kokichi laughed softly once Alter Ego was back, reaching out to give them more pets. He didn’t want to purposefully derail their lesson, which he knew making his feline friend even more comfortable would do, but...look, if you see a cat stretching out, you have to pet it. It was the law. 

“Well...you said something about me making my own guides. So far...I’ve been able to pick out memories at will, and change things in my mind, but...would a guide be able to help with the things I’m not thinking of? I can only find things that I know to look for, but there are plenty of things that are still in my mind that...well, don’t come to mind, I guess. If...that makes any sense…” Kokichi made something of a confused face as he sat on his side, still gently running his fingers through Alter Ego’s fur. “So...I could...like...create something that’s like...a database for my own mind, and could alert me to things that are relevant if I need them?”

Alter Ego closed their eyes, their thin kitty chest breathing a little heavier as they purred, leaning their head into pets. “Got it in one, for the most part. There’s a few different types and uses for guides. Guides to your own mind, guides in other people's minds, guides of your own mind specifically put in place for other people… it’s one of those small, practical things an Empath learns that ends up being pretty useful in the long term.”

Opening their eyes, they did a toothy kitty yawn, stretching their claws into the dirt as they continued, “You’ve actually seen a guide before. A quick, temporary one that I made in your father’s mind. Creating copies of the current conscious in other people’s minds is a pretty cheap but simple way to make a usually suitable guide, but its simplicity comes with limitations. For one, the guide would only show you things that their host consciousness both would and could show you within their surface thoughts. Meaning, if the host mind’s surface thought personality isn’t aware they know an answer to something, or isn’t aware of one of their life memories, the guide won’t know it either. Also, that type of guide would make decisions based on the interest of its host, not you, meaning you couldn’t just order it to show you anything. It has to be something the host would be willing to share with you if it was aware of the situation.”

Alter Ego tilted its head, before conceding, “And honestly maybe all of that is for the best, for most situations. But, as you can imagine, there's far more complex types of guides an Empath could make.”

“But the easiest thing for you to practice right now is guides for your own mind, for your own benefit. Like you’ve already deduced, while our consciousness is a complex, vast, unfathomably endless entity, the amount of information our surface thoughts, or, the part of us that we really recognize as ‘Us’, has a very limited understanding or access to it. Everything you’ve ever experienced in twenty years--and a little before-- is stored away in here. Literally. Every. Second…” At that, Alter Ego looked around at the sunny field. “You have no idea what you know. You know far, far more than it’s even possible for you to ever articulate. You never really forget anything… you just don’t know how to find that information. And, like you said, guides can help you.”

Looking back to Kokichi, he then went on to caution, “But a guide is only as good as you make it. It’s one of those things that takes genuine time and effort to refine into perfection. No one ever makes a flawless guide the first time, and some people never manage it at all. A few Empaths I’ve met try to cheat their way around it by making many guides, but each one for specialized things, while others put all their effort into perfecting one guide. Most just accept that there will always be a certain level of error in their guides… like mine.” 

Alter Ego sighed. “Ever try to make a guide capable of navigating five separate, constantly developing consciousnesses? No, you haven’t. Be glad you never will. My guides are always hit or miss.”

Kokichi hummed, listening to his mentor’s explanation, thinking about the Aiichi copy back the first time he’d tried to go to another person’s consciousness...on purpose. When he’d gotten the book of memories from his father, when they’d talked...he’d known that it wasn’t actually real permission. But...hearing that a guide made as a copy of a person acted in the best interest of the person they were made from? It did bring him some comfort. 

Kind of like hearing that Saint Madison’s thoughts and opinions, while created, still did differ from his enough that it felt less like...an invasion. 

But as much as he didn’t ever want to have to dig deeper than what a copy might give him, either in ability or trust...he knew there might be exceptions one day. There always were, and he would have to weigh his morals in that situation, but...at least knowing how to dig deeper would simply be a good skill to have. And being able to search through his own mind was even more helpful. 

Kokichi sighed softly, twirling a bit of hair around his finger. “Honestly, I’m kinda grateful I don’t remember every second of everything I’ve ever thought and experienced… Way too much of an information overload. But...it’d still be good to figure out a way to navigate all that stuff I don’t remember.” He shook his head a little, grinning at Alter Ego. “Your situation isn’t the easiest, huh… But I think, eventually, I might go with the multiple guide thing, though I don’t think I’ll stop trying to improve them. To start with…”

He tilted his head to the side, trying to think. “...got any recommendations? Like...maybe just a guide to pull up facts I’ve read…”

“I’ve seen an Empath do that. They made a library in their head, and essentially had a librarian to navigate what was, in theory, everything they’d ever read… but the impression I got was that it was pretty difficult to set up. Still, you could give it a try,” Alter Ego conceded.

“As for what I’ve tried? Like I said, my guides are very hit or miss, but my one shining achievement was a sloth that was really good at finding memories of specific foods… like, if you’re trying to remember a vague memory of a really good meal you had, but couldn’t remember where you had it or how it was made? This sloth can find everything you know about it. We’re very proud of our sloth.”

The thought of a librarian, even now… Another cloud passed over the sun, though it was brief. Making a library of his memories, or even an archive, seemed just like an efficient way to conceptualize things, but...at this point, Kokichi figured he was just more likely to make a directory than have any particular person running it. 

“That seems like quite a specific use case, but one that I think would come up more often than you’d think,” Kokichi softly laughed. “That sounds like a good sloth.”

...a catalog of food…

Kokichi furrowed his brows for a moment, and eventually a familiar-looking booklet popped into existence in his hands, almost a direct copy of the one he’d made for Kaito, but this one was labeled, “Kokichi’s Food Memories” on the front. He looked up at Alter Ego, offering a small smile. “...let’s test it out. Ask me some specific food-related question, and let’s see if this can give me something I don’t immediately think of.”

“Okay! Hmmm…. Oh, let’s do something tricky, but cute.” Alter Ego said, looking curiously at the booklet, “Though, it’d be understandable if you can’t find it right away or at all, today. Remember, guides take time and practice. Don’t feel frustrated if it takes awhile to refine, that’s just part of the learning process. Okay… the first time you tasted something sour.”

Kokichi smiled and nodded a bit, opening the booklet to the first page--an index. Except, instead of being sorted by time or place or preference it was sorted by… “Mm, sour foods, section three…”

He easily flipped to the third section, but the in-section index was...a little harder to parse. It was almost like...it couldn’t figure out how to sort things. Biting his lip, Kokichi tried to focus...the first time he tasted something sour. Not the first thing he could remember being sour, but the first thing ever. Not...the first time he could remember having lemonade, or trying that vinegar-based flatbread, or…

The booklet flipped pages on its own, trying to figure out how to present Kokichi’s request. It’d flip a few pages forward, barely giving a glimpse of the item on the page, before flipping back, sometimes great chunks of the section at a time. 

...well, it was probably some sort of baby food, wasn’t it? Try looking for that…

Alter Ego watched the books pages this way or that, not surprised, their expression entirely patient. As the book went to and fro, there was a small, concentrated look on Kokichi’s face, his brow furrowing…

After a moment, Alter Ego said gently, “We can try something simpler, if you like?”

Kokichi glanced up at the cat, the booklet going still as his concentration lapsed, before he sighed softly. “...lemme try a little longer? I think I have it...almost…”

Given a few more moments, the booklet still went this way and that, until… With a hum, Kokichi turned the booklet around, showing off a page written neatly and full of explanation, even for something like, “Mashed apples, it looks like. Not even an applesauce...though I guess giving, like, cinnamon to a baby would be a pretty bad idea.”

Alter Ego straightened up, looking more than a little proud as they looked over Kokichi’s work with a pleased expression. “Very good, very good… here, let’s see if it’s versatile…”

And, assuming the memory would be harmless, Alter Ego put a little paw on the book, and…

In front of them, was a small, hazy square. The image was faint and strange, but that was normal, because it was half imagined. As they watched it, Alter Ego explained, “There’s a weird… trick. To human memories. No one really knows why, though there's lots of theories, but for some reason, unless you specifically look for a memory in the first person? Most memories are remembered in the third person. Again… no idea why. But most people's memories are reconstructed with their best idea of what it all seemed like from an omnipresence, third person impression.”

On the display, there was a one-year-old Kokichi, clearly just… a little too small. A little too skinny. A sort of confused, tired expression on his face as he stared up at a considerably younger Ikuo.

Ikuo in turn, was thrilled. It was starting to become a little more common for young Kokichi to be able to sit up and stay awake long enough to be fed semi-solid food in a high chair, and while Kokichi was far too underdeveloped for an infant his age, a couple of months over a year old now, Kokichi was able to do it a little more every week! And smiling-- in his Ikuo way--, Ikuo said to the small child, “We’re trying something a little new today… open wide.”

Ikuo opened his mouth very wide, and while Kokichi didn’t seem any less confused, the infant after a moment imitated him, opening his mouth wide, taking in some mashed apples… and as the food sat in Kokichi’s mouth, the infant looked mutely surprised…

...before his little face scrunched up. Unimpressed. “Nnnnn… m-augh.”

Ikuo gave a somewhat exasperated chuckle as the baby just opened his mouth again, letting the apple fall out with a displeased expression, murmuring, “Not a fan, huh… alright, maybe we can sweeten it a bit…”

Kokichi let out a little gasp when a...small moving picture came up, but he looked at it curiously once the shock had worn off. “Weird…” he softly agreed, not wanting to...like, interrupt the image. To be fair...he didn’t exactly think of his memories in first person, but he didn’t often see himself either. What a strange way for the mind to work…

Seeing the baby version of himself was...an odd experience. Kokichi didn’t exactly know how he felt, except for a little ping in the back of his mind, wondering if Shuuichi had managed to snoop out his baby pictures yet. ...he wondered what his boyfriend would think, seeing the...very obviously small and sickly baby he was looking at right now. 

But seeing Ikuo, more like the childish drawing on his wall--or how Kokichi had always imagined it, anyway--brought a soft smile to his face, and Kokichi couldn’t help but laugh at the scene that played out, his chest warm in fondness for his dad. “I was even a brat back then, huh…”

Alter Ego laughed lightly, saying simply, “You make a cute kid. What big eyes you had. Though, considering you never grew into them, I suppose that’s to be expected.”

He felt like Alter Ego was just being nice, but...it was better than those sad looks Shuuichi gave him sometimes, even though they had gotten more square about those. Rolling his eyes a little, Kokichi then batted them, cupping his face with a hand. “We’re still waiting on that. Maybe when I become a little old man I’ll finally fit my eyes.”

“Ha. I can imagine that. You just doddering around with some little walking stick, half your teeth missing, and you’re wearing a giant bottle-glasses that, when you occasionally take them off to clean them, stuns everyone around you that your eyes are actually that size.” 

Alter Ego laughed, light and airy, before stretching and laying back down as he said, “I won’t ever age in that way, but I have vague plans to just make myself vaguely fatter the older I get. Just become an old, chonky cat someday, so that people will forgive me when I’m way less spry and willing to run around.”

Kokichi giggled along with the image Alter Ego concocted, for once just...letting himself indulge in that fantasy without the grim chance of reality bringing him down. And he could really imagine it. Kaito trying to help him around when Kokichi didn’t have his stick, still trying to scoop him up despite no longer being close to the spring chicken he once was. Still fawning over him and Shuuichi, calling them all too flattering things, but Tim and Miya too used to it by this point to even be embarrassed...little next Ouma too. 

Something in his eyes softened, but Kokichi stopped himself from thinking too further, knowing himself enough that he didn’t want to veer into the sad stuff he’d somehow avoided on first pass. Nodding sagely, Kokichi pet along the length of Alter Ego’s body, allowing at least the image of himself in old age spending time, maybe in a memory of a sunny spring afternoon like this, with his similarly aged old friend. “We should all aspire to be our versions of old, chonky cats. You can get those wise, chubby cat cheeks too.”

Alter Ego purred harder as he said, “Yesssss… chubby cheeks and, maybe, stylishly placed streaks of gray in my fur… just to show how gracefully I’m aging… even if it’s entirely just for show.”

Looking back up at Kokichi, they said, “Let’s test your guide one more time. Just to give you a chance to become more familiar with it. Let me think… how about… something specific. Maybe something you’d remember even without the book, so we can test that the memories are accurate…”

“Oh. Your last birthday. What did you have for dinner?”