Kaito grinned, hugely reassured when he saw how excited Kokichi was… and also, that dance was super cute and Kaito was already mentally saving that little image to adore over later. 

Thank goodness cameras were so limited in this world. Kokichi would never get a moment's peace.

“Um…” Kaito snorted, reaching over to take Kokichi’s hand as he said, “I’m not sure? … I wonder if they’ll have angel fish? Those fish with, like, really translucent, flowy fins? I painted a figurine of one once, I always thought they were pretty… oh! And maybe they’ll have some of those creepy real deep sea fish? You know what I’m talking about? Like, they generate their own light, and have massive teeth…” Kaito suddenly shuddered, laughing at himself as he said, “Actually, maybe hopefully they won’t have those. Those guys are cool, but they also sound like something straight out of a nightmare. I, uh, wouldn’t want you getting spooked, babe.”

Kokichi nodded, pretty sure there was a good chance they’d get to see angelfish there--he was pretty sure people had them as pets, so if they were easy enough to take care of that a regular person could have one, then it was pretty reasonable that the aquarium would have some. Deep sea fish, on the other hand…

Chuckling a little, Kokichi collided softly with Kaito’s side. “Me getting spooked, sure. Though I’m probably gonna be unnerved enough seeing the crustaceans…” He made a disgusted face and shuddered. “They’re like the bugs of the sea… No way anything needs that many legs.”

But they were going to be in tanks and behind glass, and they were nowhere near as smart as octopuses so there wasn’t a worry about escapees, so...he was going to be fine. 

Kokichi forgot where it was, but he’d read of a zoo exhibit where you could walk into a giant room full of butterflies and they’d land on you and...ugh. He could admit butterflies and moths at least had a beauty to them, but no way!! That was a room of death!

“I hope they still have the tide pool area,” he hummed, calming from his disgust. “You can reach in and touch tide pool creatures like sea cucumbers. It’s pretty surreal, though I imagine it wouldn’t be anything noteworthy for people who already live near tide pools.”

“Yessss… pet the fish.” Kaito chuckled, looking at the nice day around them, pleased that their date was going to happen in the sunshine, even if they’d spend most of it inside. “Man, I did not know how viable petting fish was as, like, a ‘thing’. I never petted my beta fish. Maybe I should have. He’d have gotten a kick out of it, apparently… or bitten my finger off.” Kaito laughed.

The aquarium wasn’t near the castle, but the two had been walking for awhile already and Kaito, forgetting that Kokichi had already visited this place a few times on his own, pointed out the building like his husband might not know, “Check it out, that dome, big building over there! That’s where they’re hoarding the fish! Fish hoarders… some fish get really big! I wonder if they’ll have any big fish?”

Kaito was admittedly getting a little excited, his enjoyment of fish only comparable to how few different kinds of fish he’d actually seen for himself in real life. Again, he had never considered fish a ‘hobby’ or anything, he just… liked the way thinking about them made him feel.

And he felt like there was some real, serious comparisons, between the bottom of the sea and the cosmos of space. Space was still waaaaaay fucking cooler, obviously, but a lot of the adventure and mystery Kaito appreciated about the cosmos was true for the ocean as well. Only the aliens that were no doubt hiding away in their homes through the skies were within petting distance, when it came to the ocean… so long as the fish were okay being pet.

“It’d be fun to pet an alien.” Kaito said out of nowhere, following his own train of thought and forgetting to prep Kokichi for it.

Kokichi giggled softly, fond of Kaito’s excitement and just...how happy his husband seemed to be whenever he got to pet Dr. Mariah’s koi. Even a few months in, Kaito’s passion for fish as pets and creatures would’ve been something Kokichi never could’ve guessed. People would always have something new to surprise you with, making the joy of discovery a never-ending one. 

“Maybe that’s something you can try with your new fish, when you get an aquarium at home,” Kokichi suggested. “See if they like pets or tricks or...really anything. Probably not walks though.”

Looking over where Kaito pointed--though he knew where the aquarium was in the first place--Kokichi hopped a few times in excitement. “Maybe! I know they don’t have any whales or big sharks, since the space is a little unsustainable, and for whales some of them are really social and smart so it’d be cruel to keep ‘em isolated or in a place too small, but some other kinds of fish can get really big! Oooh, I hope they have rays! I love their cute little faces.”

He’d also heard of some places where you could pet them too. Perhaps that was just the human experience, wanting to pet things.

As such, Kokichi only raised a slight, contemplative eyebrow at his husband’s non-sequtorial statement. “...maybe. If it wanted to be pet...and it wasn’t like...incorporeal to us, or corrosive or spiny or stuff like that. I think that kind of applies to everything, though, not just aliens.”

Kaito frowned at the idea of ghosty-aliens, an honest shiver running up his spine at the idea. Though, being incorporeal didn’t have to equal ghosts! ...he hoped Aliens wouldn’t be incorporeal. Another shudder ran through him.

Though… “Damn, could you imagine catching a whale? Forget sustainable, how would that even be possible? Those things are huge! How would you even transport it to land!?” Kaito asked, genuinely baffled by that idea… though, he frowned as he realized, “Oh, I guess if you found a baby whale… aw, but that would be shitty. You shouldn’t separate a baby whale from its parents. That would suck.”

“...” Kaito laughed, grinning cheekily at Kokichi, as he said, “Don’t let Shuichi know he came to mind when I was talking about ‘whales’. He’ll take it the wrong way. But he did come to mind when parent whales came to mind. Our big ol’ handsome Shuichi~”

As they got to the ticket booth, Kaito reached into his coin purse, saying, “I’m covering us this time babe.” Kaito peered up at the ticket prices… before saying with some amusement, “Wonder if we could convince them… ugh, no, actually, I was gonna say this as a joke, but I will be super uncomfortable if we can convince them you get a kid priced ticket. Ngh.”

Like Lake, Kaito these days had a real hard time seeing the childish quality in Kokichi’s appearance, and the occasional reminder sometimes unnerved him a little. Thinking of when he had first met Kokichi-- and his quiet whisper to Tengan, that small panicked feeling of, aren’t I marrying an adult??-- kept coming to his mind since he had told the story to Lake. It didn’t help that Kokichi’s personality was naturally adorable too. He really didn’t like the idea of people viewing his husband like he might be an actual child though.

Kokichi shook his head a little. “That’s why they don’t do it. At most, there are whale tours by the coast, and rehabilitation centers where they let people come by to learn about the creatures they’re taking care of. Nothing where we take the animals forever.”

You could probably make the same arguments for other creatures too, but...well, a lot of aquatic animals were either solitary or just...weren’t very intelligent. Still not a great reason, but at least they lived comfortable, enriching lives away from natural predators. And making people more aware of what lived out in the world, letting them make a personal connection, made more people who would want to keep the world full of those wonderful creatures. 

Rolling his eyes a little, Kokichi nudged Kaito’s side again. “That’s so bad I’m not even gonna keep it as blackmail, Kai-chan. I think Shuu-chan might cry or yell at you if he heard you call him that, though...yeah. He is.”

Though, Shuuichi was counting down the days until he was no longer the only person to carry their daughter. Still a parent, but one that could go take a nap somewhere else.

Sputtering a snort, Kokichi chuckled a bit. “I mean, it might be possible, but I’d feel bad pulling something like that just to save a few copper. Might get real awkward if anyone knew who I am. Buuuuut…”

Kokichi got on his toes and placed a kiss on Kaito’s shoulder. “Thanks for payin, hun.”

God, Kaito loved this man. Gah! 

While they waited in line, Kaito spent some time openly admiring his husband, just enjoying seeing him in the sun. His husband was filling out again, little by little, the further they got away from the latest heart attack, and his skin looked healthier as a result. It was even, ever so slightly, starting to freckle, and Kaito loved admiring those little spots on his husbands skin. Little stars, littering Kokichi’s galaxy…

Paying for the tickets, Kaito was mildly surprised at the darkness and chill of the inside of the building. He supposed they kept it dark and cool to better maintain the tanks or… something? Or maybe to not freak out the fish, who Kaito suspected would have a hard time seeing their audience from their brightly lit tanks. Who knew…

But he immediately gasped as they walked in, looking up at the massive tube that was in the main entrance hall, a colorful cacophony of fish, all swimming in herds, spinning up and down the massive glass tube, navigating the barnacles and coral reef that clung to the middle supporting beam. “Wow…”

Kaito was genuinely impressed already. He had never seen anything of this scale before. This already blew the university hallway tanks well out of the water.

Kokichi giggled in delight once they stepped into the aquarium proper, having remembered this part from his past visits and...well, it was kind of the architecture of the building. Kind of hard to take out. He came closer to the wall of the tube, watching a group of thin yellow fish swim by not more than a foot away from him. And even with the fish on their way, there were still rolling “hills” and crevices of rock and coral and vegetation, all enough on their own to capture attention. 

“It’s incredible, right?” Kokichi hummed, coming back to Kaito’s side, the two of them taking quite a leisurely walk through the long tube hallway. “It’s almost like being underwater, walking along the seafloor and just...not disturbing anything. This isn’t a natural habitat, of course, but...it’s as suited as people can recreate for the fish. And as close as we’ll be able to get to seeing all this like this.”

“...oooh, look at those blue ones!”

Kaito was perfectly content to literally just stand at this opening spot for some time, watching the fish rush by with honest interest. His eyes followed Kokichi’s, finding the blue ones, and he chuckled at the way they zipped around, their bodies like thin arrows, sprinting with incredible speed. He watched the wider, bigger ones move more slowly, something unhurried, almost lazy, in their small fishy movements.

It was literally the idle thought of ‘there’s probably more to see’ about ten minutes later that made Kaito laugh at himself, pulling himself away from the tube, walking just as slowly and unhurried as those wider fish. Keeping his hand in Kokichi’s, Kaito shoved his other hand in his jacket pocket, looking around as they dipped into a tunnel that was apparently entirely underwater, the fish not only all around them, but above them as well. 

Glancing down at Kokich, feeling the chill here, he asked, “You good, babe? Feelin’ cold?”

Kokichi’s eyes were wide, looking almost alien in his own right in the dim light as he peered around with rapt attention. If he could, he would spend all day looking at everything, and...well, they did have all day, technically, but Kokichi knew he wanted to treat Kaito to a nice meal when they were done at the aquarium. A nice way to wrap up their day out.

Following Kaito’s lead, Kokichi continued along the path, giggling softly at some fish by the bottom, rustling in sand. 

It was a beautiful day out. On the warmer side, as they marched ever closer to summer, and Kokichi was taking advantage of that, wearing a loose shirt with flowy sleeves that just covered the tops of his shoulders and wide-legged pants that cinched below his knees and had small cut-outs at the same area--everything garishly colored and printed, of course. As such, he wasn’t exactly dressing for the temperature of the aquarium, but…

Kokichi shrugged a little. “I’m comfortable enough. I’ll let you know if I get too chilly, though. Maybe should’ve brought a jacket…”

“Let me know.” Kaito insisted, ready to give Kokichi his own jacket if his husband was cold, but not wanting to overheat him if ‘Kichi felt fine. ‘Sides, he always looked cute in Kaito’s clothes. 

Kaito was surprised, though he shouldn’t have been, when he spotted some turtles, slowly swimming around the tunnels. He guessed there must be air at the top of the water for the turtles to surface too. They looked cool… they reminded him of Shuichi’s snake. 

“Think Maki and Shuichi are enjoying their quiet day to themselves?” Kaito smirked, “It’s stupid I miss them, right? We spend so much damn time together… but this is a date for me and you! Kokichi and Kaito date! It’s good to have, like… smaller dates, sometimes, I think. Little small bonding things, right? It doesn’t have to always be as a group… you think Shuichi misses us? You don’t suppose he was lying and feels like he’s missing out?”

Kokichi nodded but was soon distracted as the turtles swam by, prompting him to bounce a little on his feet in excitement. Turtles!! 

(Just faintly, taking a backseat to his current experience, but making it feel...fuller, perhaps, Kokichi remembered something. A beach filled with hatching baby sea turtles, careful children shading and guarding them as they made their way to the ocean. A sense of wonder and amazement deep in his chest.)

“It’s nice having time for us one-on-one. Not just you and me specifically, though I’m really about this right now,” he giggled, giving Kaito a courteous nod, “But any of us. I love hanging out as a group, but sometimes just hanging out one-on-one is nice too. Lets us express different kinds of things and have different kinds of fun, you know?”

Like settling down somewhere cozy and comfy with Shuuichi and being turbo nerds together, or going up really high with Maki and taking in nature. There was more to it than that, of course, but...they all had unique dynamics together. 

And Kokichi knew that the one between Shuuichi and Maki was incredibly strong. 

Pressing against Kaito’s side again, Kokichi snorted. “Shuu-chan’s fine. I’m sure he’s enjoying the quiet, but he’ll love hearing about our day later. We can exist together and apart...we just really like being together.”

Kaito nodded. So long as Shuichi wouldn’t feel neglected.

Though, knowing his boyfriend? He was probably loving chill-out time with Maki. Kaito knew he could sometimes be a little ‘much’ for Shuichi. His guy needed breaks. Kaito got that. If Kaito had a Kaito around? He’d need breaks too!

“... hey, babe?” Kaito grinned, looking down at his husband, “If you could hang out with a bunch of you’s for, like, a day, would you?”

Kokichi looked away from the aquarium wall in surprise, that question kind of out of nowhere. However, he gave it legitimate consideration for a bit. “For a day? I think so. It’d be a unique experience, and...I mean, I don’t think I’d be at myself’s throat or anything. And...depending on if they were slightly different mes? Like, through different ages, or if I had made different choices, I think it would be interesting to hear their perspectives on things. What the world looks like, different, but as close as understanding another person I could ever get.”

He turned back to the tank wall, smiling as a cloud of itty-bitty fish went by, their shape all together almost looking like a creature of its own. “...what about you? I don’t know why, but I get the feeling a bunch of Kai-chans together would get along.”

“Maybe a little too well,” Kokichi laughed, looking up to give Kaito a wink.

“That thought was what led me to asking, actually. I wonder if I’d get on my own nerves? I can be A Lot.” Kaito snickered, before flushing slightly at Kokichi’s implication, saying quietly, “Aw, geez, ‘Kichi, don’t put my head there if its not already. I gotta focus on some fish! And being present! And not…”

… Kaito considered the idea… nooo even he wasn’t that narcissistic and horny…

… though, on the other hand… like, how many Kaito’s…

Kaito groaned, his face beat red, putting his head in his free hand. “I’m too easy. Let’s talk about something else.”

Suddenly brightening up, Kaito looked down at Kokichi, “You used to bug people randomly with that whole ‘tour guide schtick’ for interesting stories, right? Any highlights from that? Anyone ever tell you anything really cool?”

“Pfffni-hee-hee-hee!” Kokichi could only cackle at his husband becoming more flustered as he thought about it. If there was a group of Kaitos, not even taking the masturbation or narcissistic stance, at least one of them would wonder about it. And that curiosity would end up spreading and...well, Kokichi knew his husband enough to know he’d consider it. 

Calming his laughs as Kaito changed the subject, Kokichi nodded and hummed before he got his breath back. “Honestly, most people just brushed me off. Most folks weren’t actually taking their first trip and just weren’t interested in being interrogated, but a few times…”

“There was this chick who was taking a vacation in Usott when I was, like sixteen? Or so? I didn’t get too much about the town she was from, but I think she really needed that vacation,” Kokichi chuckled, rolling his eyes. “She vented about her work to me for, like, 45 minutes. It was pretty impressive, especially since, when I asked why she didn’t quit, she insisted that she loved her job. I think she just liked to complain.”

Their next idle steps forward had them passing a closer outcropping of rock littered with anemone, little orange clownfish flitting back and forth from them. Kokichi grinned, peering a little closer. 

“There was this kinda uppity person once too, who was actually genuinely asking me for directions. They didn’t really appreciate my questions, but they lived in Pifet and were willing enough to hype it up a bit. It still has parks ‘n stuff, but it’s definitely more of an industrial city than Usott.”

“...there was someone who told me that up north moose take the main roads. I...am not super sure if I believe it.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow at that, “What, like… just in general, or that people use moose for carriages or…? Can you ride a moose?”

Kokichi blinked, looking up into surprised space for a moment. “...I always thought they just meant that, like, wild moose wandered around and used the roads, but… I mean...it makes sense that you’d be able to ride a moose. You can ride horses and donkeys, so why not moose?”

Kaito considered this… before saying entirely seriously, “I’m gonna ride a moose.”

He looked down at Kokichi, eyes dazzled with determined, new purpose, as he said, “Babe. We need to ride a moose. That needs to be, like… a goal!”

Kokichi snorted, pressing affectionately to Kaito’s side. God...he loved this man. “Another item for the bucket list, then. Maybe we’ll be able to find somewhere with tame moose up north.”

Kokichi looked up with a drier look. “Because you are not trying to ride a wild moose. It’ll try to kill you without hesitation. Wild moose are dangerous...like bears but people don’t take the warnings as seriously.”

“Pfffff, who do I look like, Maki? I’m not about to throw myself onto a wild anything and be like ‘yep, this is mine now’.” Kaito snorted, thinking of ‘Nobody’, the massive wild horse that Maki had apparently just plucked off the damn mountains. It’d been a time and a half, coordinating that things return. The stables had offered to tame it, and Maki has refused, saying something vaguely about forcing it to give her a favor, but it still being just a favor, and refusing to say anything more about it.

Kaito turned the corner with Kokichi, and his eyes widened as he spotted an interesting far wall, gently dragging Kokichi to it excitedly as he gaped at it in awe.

WOW… that was a CRAZY amount of jellyfish. “Babe, look at these guys!” Kaito insisted, as if Kokichi could possibly be missing them, looking at the little cloud like beings, a strange variety of colors, for all being mildly translucent, “Wow… okay, honestly? I feel like swimming among those things would feel amazing… without the stinging parts of them. I’m pretty sure someone told me jelly fish sting. But otherwise? Like jumping into jello!”

Kokichi still gave Kaito a wary look before sighing. Kaito wasn’t quite as reckless as Maki could be when it came to asserting dominance over nature, but...he could still be reckless. Kokichi could see a scene of Kaito seeing a grazing moose and convincing himself that it looked docile and harmless in the moment. 

But most of the time he did have more sense than that. 

Eventually they did make it out of the tank hallway, but there was only more wonder to see, even if they weren’t surrounded by aquatic life on all sides. Kokichi scampered after Kaito, his eyes sparkling with delight as they came across a whole wall of jellyfish, the creatures bobbing up and up and up seemingly to no end. 

“Wow-ow…” Kokichi breathed, noticing that there were multicolored lights near the bottom of the wall, making the jellyfish look like they were changing colors too. It really was all too tempting to imagine how it would feel to be surrounded by them, but…

Kokichi shook his head a little. “Depends on the jellyfish. And it’s really that they release a toxin from certain tentacles, and since it’s irritating to our skin, it feels like stinging. Some jellyfish have such a tiny toxicity to us that it wouldn’t really feel like anything, but others can kill within seconds of a tiny bit of contact. I wonder what kind these are…” He trailed off, looking around for an information card.

“Ummmm,” Kaito looked around, spotting a small metal plaque on the glass, “Crystal? It says crystal jellyfish…” 

Kaito just watched the jellyfish for a bit, finding that same soothing feeling here that he got watching the koi fish. Like… like maybe there wasn’t anything that urgent going on. Not anywhere. Like it was okay to just stop for a second and breathe…

“...maybe if we asked, they wouldn’t sting us.” Kaito murmured softly. “Think that’s possible? Get a bunch of jellyfish to like us so much, that they’re just… like, nope. Not these two humans. They get to swim and enjoy the water, we’re just gonna enjoy their company. No stinging needed.”

“...I’m sorry I used to give you so much shit over ‘being naive’.” Kaito said suddenly. “I didn’t know what the fuck I was talking about.”

“Crystal jellyfish…” Kokichi softly repeated, turning his gaze back on the creatures. They looked more like skirts to him, but...maybe beaded skirts. Jewels and crystals…

...it always made him happy to hear stuff like that. People discovering an animal and seeing just...beauty or happiness in them. Of course, there were things like bastard fish, but there was a silliness there too. There were a lot of incredible things in the world. 

Kokichi quirked a smile, deciding not to mention that jellyfish didn’t have brains, so they wouldn’t even be able to discern the sounds he and Kaito would make, let alone the meaning of words. It was more fun to live in a harmless thought experiment where you could ask a swarm of jellyfish not to sting, and they’d oblige, giving you a truly unique experience. 

...was that naivety?

Kokichi looked up in surprise before leaning against Kaito and rubbing his back, looking back at the jellies. “...thanks. I appreciate that apology. But you did have a point… I really needed to look more at the world as it was...and see more of it. My view was so small, and what I could see I warped beyond recognition. I really needed a reality check.”

“Maybe. But that was rarely what used to bother me so much about your worldview.” Kaito confessed, shrugging a little. “...I think I…”

Kaito hesitated, not really sure if he should go into this, or even if there anything to go into. He hadn’t really thought about this beforehand. It had literally just occurred to him now, thinking about the jellyfish. “... I think I was just really bothered at the idea that people would just… be nice to each other, for… nothing. Not even for love. You were just so certain people would and… and that bothered me. And then people did? And that bothered me more, cause, like… I know you guys have been doing this your whole lives. And, hell, I know I’ve got some… personal hangups. But…”

“...if it was just a matter of ‘doing it’, then… what was wrong with me? And the people in my life? I can’t even get people who love me to be like… ‘nice’ to me. And I wanted it. I wanted it so badly… peoples mercy and forgiveness and compassion… I was so mad at how easy it was here. To get those things, I mean. And I just… I got mad even when you were right about stuff. Because if it was possible, than… why hadn’t it happened like that for us?” 

Kaito caught his reflection slightly in the glass, and his shoulders slumped. “...what’s wrong with Luminary? Why are we like this?”

Kokichi looked back at his husband and...his shoulders slumped a bit. Hearing Kaito ask a...very difficult question. Expressing his pain and...something Kokichi had partially guessed, but now confirmed. 

Maki had said something similar once and...hell, Shuuichi had too. That sometimes it was really hard to look at certain things in Dicea, good things, because...it just begged the question of why hadn’t they had those things too. 

Kokichi leaned more into Kaito, holding him close as he closed his eyes for a moment. “...I don’t know. I don’t even know if having an answer would hurt more or not, because...if there was an answer, people in Luminary would’ve found it by now. And...despite my belief in what people can achieve...respect for life isn’t as ubiquitous in Dicea as I had thought. I think my belief is important, but...it was an important lesson for me to learn that it’s not reality.”

“...you deserve all of it,” Kokichi murmured, pressing his face against Kaito’s chest, his words just for them. “I know that doesn’t change what happens, but...there’s nothing wrong with you. You deserve kindness and mercy and...all of that.” 

Everyone did. 

Kokichi just...didn’t know why it didn’t happen in Luminary. 

Kaito wrapped his arms around Kokichi, just… enjoying the hug, he guessed. Enjoying holding him, and the comfort that brought. He reflected how hard it had been, to get moments like these back home. How Shuichi and Maki, constantly aware of their place in society, would only allow holds like this to happen in public for short periods of time, and only if there was some sense of privacy, how quickly they would start to nervously shift, feeling eyes on them. How his family had refused to do it even in private, except for Kaede, who’d laugh at Kaito’s attempts to hold her, like he was an amusing puppy begging for attention.

...he had felt like that. Like some dumb, desperate dog, begging for attention. 

And you had to beg. You couldn’t just… have it. You had to be sleeping with someone. Or ‘joking’, doing it to make someone laugh. You couldn’t just want to hold someone because you were lonely or tired or just wanted to be held.

Why was it so easy here?

Why had it been so hard at home?

Kaito tightened the squeeze, glanced at his reflection again… and just sighed. Before loosening the hold and grinning down at his husbands. “Sorry, babe. Kind of heavy talk for our trip to the fish zoo, huh? That’s my bad.”

Kokichi could--and would--listen to his friends talk about their lives in Luminary for years and years...but he would never really understand what it had been like. And, perhaps it was an intolerant side of him, but there nonetheless, didn’t really want to. Seeing his friends’ pain, the loneliness and stress and desperation of living in a place where...people weren’t considered people. And...it sounded like, at least, even if you were considered a person...the needs of being a person were only covertly met. And maybe that was a way to do it, but it wasn’t a way Kokichi recognized. 

The love of humanity and community...Kokichi admittedly hadn’t always been able to see it. But he had always been a part of it. In people saying hello in the streets and trying to feed him during festivals, in watching friends hold hands going down the road and couples pecking each others’ cheeks and parents scooping their kids up into hugs…

People didn’t have to like each other. But you had to respect life. There would be frequent, vicious fights, but no one would bat an eye--except for the gossips who ate it all up--until someone raised a fist. 

There were...so, so many safeholds put in place trying to prevent people from falling through the cracks… It was no person’s personal responsibility. It was community responsibility. 

Kokichi pressed tight against his husband when he felt Kaito’s hug tighten, and he looked up searchingly for a moment before offering a small smile. “It’s alright. I’m glad we can talk about heavy stuff, and if it’s on your mind I’m glad you brought it up. But...Kai-chan, you’ll always have my unconditional love and respect...okay? I’ll keep saying it, ‘cause I love to, but...I hope you remember it. I love you, always.”

Kaito grinned, stealing Kokichi’s hands from around his waist and interlocking their fingers, leaning down to give him a chaste kiss, not worried about scandalizing the hovering jellyfish over his husbands shoulders. “Yeah? You little softie… I love you too, ‘Kichi. For as long as you’ll have me.” 

Another small kiss… and a chuckle, “And we’re bonded, ya know? So, like… that could be a really long time. You’re gonna get so sick of me.”

Kokichi squeezed Kaito’s hands gently--just enough for sensation, since it was kind of awkward when they had their fingers intertwined--and leaned into the kisses, bouncing up on his toes to meet Kaito partway. “I’d like to see the world try. An eternity with you sounds just about right to me, if not a little short.”

Kaito flushed at that, a small, involuntary “Cute.” out of his mouth as he stared adoringly at Kokichi… before finally disconnecting one hand, rubbing the back of his neck as he chuckled in mild embarrassment, “I’m never prepared for anything you say, I swear. It’s ridiculous.. Come on you charmer, let’s keep going.”

With one final glance at the mess of jellyfish, Kaito lead the way further into the aquarium, once again surprised by how, just… dark it was in here. Like they were underground. Idly, he thought about things he and Kokichi could talk about, because as serene and nice as the atmosphere down here was… Kaito could already feel the build up of pressure in his chest in his desire to chat. He just liked talking, okay?! He was allowed.

He kinda wanted to ask Kokichi for more stories about himself, but wasn’t sure about what specifically he wanted to learn. Maybe he could offer a story about himself? What’s a story Kokichi’s not heard yet… noooo, no sexy stories, not right now… no. That’s sad. Even if it didn’t feel sad at the time, Kokichi’s gonna give him ‘that look’ and Kaito’s gonna feel bad for bumming his husband out with some new ‘oh no Kaito’ story about himself.

Not sexy, not sad…

Kaito grinned, looking down at his husband, “I ever tell you about our school’s ‘test of courage’ weekend?”

Snickering lightly, Kokichi easily moved away from the jellies with one last wondrous look, eager to see what the rest of the aquarium had to offer. Everything he said just...felt so right to say. Natural to the point of stating the obvious. And yet...the effect it always had on his partners was profound. 

Kaito had said before that people--at least the people he’d been with, and the couples he saw in public--just...didn’t do that, so maybe it really was something unique. 

As they continued in the aquarium, the grand walls of tanks gave way to smaller recesses, showing more specific kinds of fish, presumably isolated within their own groups. Maybe they’d find some betta fish here! Though maybe having a display with just one fish wasn’t something the aquarium would do…

Walking down the line of recesses, Kokichi looked up when Kaito spoke up, not having expected something like this. “Test of courage? I...I think you might’ve mentioned something off-hand about it, and Shuu-chan made some remark that blindly running through was a type of courage, he guessed, but...no. You guys never told me what it was all about. What is it?”

“Blindly running through!? Who blindly ran through! I was super courageous!” Kaito huffed, genuinely offended. Shuichi! How dare he! “He’s exaggerating. I strategically hurried... anyway.”

“The test of courage is… kind of like a freshman school tradition in Luminary?” Kaito mused, assuming Kokichi had never heard of the same in Dicea, if he was asking what it was. “So, the idea is that you have all these kids, just got through middle school, and now they’re officially heading into young adulthood, sooooo, to prove they belong among the other young adults? Test of courage!”

Looking at the fish idly, enjoying the little stripes on that big wide mothertrucker right there, damn, dudes got some stripes, “It’s not really a thing anymore, but... well, the point is if you don’t pass the test of courage at the end of freshman year? You aren’t allowed to move on to your sophomore year until you can. But no one’s really allowed to fail, they give you a thousand chances, ya know? The chances are the big punishment, honestly. Fail the first one? You just have to go to every test of courage event every weekend until you finally pass one, going with other people's classes and, if you run out of chances there, going with makeup groups on the weekends over the summer… basically? If you don’t want all your weekends ruined for, like, four months in a row? You better pass a test of courage. And everyone knows that if after four months you can’t pass one, they’ll basically just give it to you. No one doesn’t pass.”

“...that sounds worse than it is when I say that out loud.” Kaito realized, frowning, “It’s not a bad thing! Half the reason there’s so many chances to pass is so everyone gets a chance to play, even if something happens, like you get sick or something. And if you get a test you can’t handle? Boom, next weekends is gonna be a whole different type! Like, it’s really fair, ya know, no one’s just, like… not gonna be able to do it, ya know? And most people have a lot of fun with it! Um… am I defending this too hard?”

Kokichi...well, he wasn’t exactly enthused with Luminary’s test of courage. Withholding education or social status behind a task that, naturally, there would be someone who wouldn’t want to do, or wouldn’t be able was...concerning, to say the least. But if those things weren’t actually withheld anymore…

(...of course there would be other social stigma arising from how you passed, but trying to prevent children in school from doing that in any way was a thankless, impossible task.)

Kokichi grinned a little and shrugged before looking back at a flowy, brightly colored fish. “If it’s a social thing? And people haven’t been caused strife because of it? Then it sounds fine to me. Kinda fun, actually, depending on what the test actually was. It sounds to me that the changes the whole thing went through went a long way in ensuring that it was just some fun, social get-together for people, rather than another barrier to gate-keep at.”

“I’m glad you explained, ‘cause the...idea, I guess, of a ‘test of courage’ is something different in Dicea, but…” Kokichi shook his head a little. “I can get to that after. How did yours go?”

Oh, they did have tests of courage! Neat! 

Feeling a little better that he wasn’t getting the ‘oh Kaito’ look, he continued on more enthusiastically, “Okay, so, like I said, lots of different types! And I got…” a small twitch in Kaito’s grin, “...maybe a little unlucky with mine. But I wasn’t about to fail my test of courage, hell no! I’d have never heard the end of it.”

“So, they don’t tell us where we’re going when we do our test, and we’re all put in carriages with, like, the windows blocked and stuff. And we were driving all day, so by the time we made it to where we were going, it was dark out, for extra spookiness. So, one by one, they take us out of the carriage, with, like, thirty minute gaps between each person? To make certain we’d be alone when it was our turn? Maki went out first, though she was in another carriage, and eventually they took Shuichi, and it was just me left after awhile, them picking me last to head out. And when I head out…”

Kaito grinned and shuddered at the same time, “I recognized the place immediately, though I had never been there before. It was the mudland forest, otherwise known as Kellerton’s Graveyard. I… do not know how true the story is? But the forest used to be a town named Kellerton, but the town all got sick during the Scorch-lung Plague. The plague that led to my family taking over.” Kaito said offhandedly, like he expected Kokichi was already very familiar with that part of Luminary history, despite really knowing better by this point, “But the story is that the entire town all got the plague, so badly that the surrounding towns had to quarantine it. The town was dying, and the droughts had started, and no one was willing to bring water to them, so the town made a desperate pact with a demon to get water sent to them.” 

“But the deal went badly, and it started to rain, just over Kellerton, and nowhere else. It rained for six days straight, and no one was strong enough to escape the floods because they were already sick with scorch-lung…” Kaito frowned, embarrassed as he realized, “Sorry, this is a grim story and maybe not actually necessary to explain my test. Long story short? There’s a forest covered in really muddy, wet flooring that people have found, like, ruined houses and bodies in and stuff, and all that story is probably made up. There probably was a flood at some point, but it probably just moved a few houses from a town nearby and crashed it in the forest, which never managed to get rid of its water so the floors always muddy, and people say its crazy haunted, but, I mean, obviously it’s not actually… Shuichi explained it all to me afterwards. Like, the stories mostly fake, ya know?”

It was a little bizarre for a school to take its students out a ways on carriage rides for outings like this, but...well, pretty much any school thing that wasn’t just people being taught lessons would be weird to Kokichi. Every time Tim had come home with permission slips for field trips Kokichi had been endlessly intrigued, probably to his nephew’s bewildered annoyance. 

But to go out to...a mudland forest? For something extracurricular? Very strange. 

As was the local legend. 

Kokichi blinked in confusion, this being the first time he’d heard of a plague in Luminary and… Well, he knew the Momotas had started an uprising, taking out the former powerful families that had ruled Luminary at the time, and Kokichi knew that uprisings didn’t just come up out of nowhere but...hm. A mishandled plague might just be the thing to work people up. 

But his interest in history had never been enough to temper Kokichi’s empathy. Kokichi frowned, his gaze saddening as he listened to the tragic tale of a people isolated and on the brink of death either way. Why would a demon do something like that… Sure, they were never “good” in the stories he’d heard, but condemning a town to death when they were going to die anyway was just...cruel. Rather than mischievous or teaching someone a painful lesson or trying to sow chaos.

...but it was just a story. 

Kokichi sighed softly but managed a chuckle for Kaito. “A lot of local lore stories are, though that one’s a bit intense. But I see what you mean by getting unlucky with your test. My Kai-chan in a place that’s supposed to be haunted? Bad combination.”

“Buuut,” he smirked a little, “You made it through. Heroically?” 

“Hell yeah! I absolutely made it heroically! And, I’d argue that I would have made it just fine, even if Maki and Shuichi hadn’t waited for me!” Kaito huffed, his pride still a little hurt from that one. “I stepped out of the carriage, got told I needed to make it through the forest and find one of the ruined houses in the middle of the midlands with pig painted on the door, and to bring back my pin as proof I went in! So, the first challenge is the fact that you’re up to your calves in mud, like it’s really tough to move through it! But your husband is tall and strong and, okay, I didn’t look exactly like this as a freshman, but the mud was still no problem!”

“So, I’m getting through the forest, quickly, because that’s the smart thing to do, not because I was scared! And the second thing to do was you gotta figure out where the house is in the forest! ...that one was a little easier.” Kaito grinned sheepishly, “Cause you uh… well, Maki literally just lit a fire at the house, and by that point, everyone was just following their noses or the smoke over the trees, whichever one first… unless you were nowhere close to the house and didn’t know there was a fire, in whiiiiich caaaase… okay fine, Maki lit a fire to lead the class to the house and then when I was still nowhere near it after an hour, she came and found me. And Shuichi was just chilling at the house waiting for both of us so we could just head back together, having already found our individual hidden pins and helping our other classmates find theirs… but! On the way BACK! That was my time to shine!”

“See, on our way back, there was, I swear to Atua ‘Kichi, voices in the forest! Like, there were, I swear, maybe someone was messing with us, or… okay, it might have just been in my head, but there were voices and I thought they were real and I feel like that should count in my favor for what I did! So, I hear voices in the woods, we’re only halfway back, it’s dark and scary and we're tired and making our way through the mud still… so I, very heroically, snatch up both Shuichi, AND Maki, and I even snatched a third classmate on the way back, because I was booking it! On the way back! And I wasn’t gonna leave my friends behind to be eaten by the voices! So, I don’t care what Maki or Shuichi or the rest of the class says, I was very brave! If there really had been ghosts in that forest, I definitely saved my friends from them!”

Kaito was both half defensive, half genuinely proud (it had been SCARY and he was carrying three people THROUGH MUD dammit!)... and a little sheepish, laughing at himself as he gave Kokichi an amused look, saying, “And I passed my test of courage! First try!”

Kokichi chuckled softly as Kaito told his tale, able to imagine it quite well. Maki and Shuuichi taking a more pragmatic approach and helping people through, specifically looking out for Kaito since...well, that was what they did, and still do to this day. It’s what friends did. 

And while Kokichi didn’t think there was danger in the voices themselves...there still could’ve been dangerous things in the forest at night, and Kaito managing to scoop up three people and run through mud to ensure that they were alright?

Kokichi giggled and hugged Kaito’s arm. “Super heroic. If you’re out alone in a forest, it’s usually not a good idea to stick around for unusual noises, unless you’re specifically there for them. Making sure that you got people out safely was a brave and wonderful thing to do.”

“...especially because if there had been voices, then that would be a little more in line for what a test of courage means here,” Kokichi snorted. “They’re settings for ghost and horror stories.”

Kaito’s chest inflated a little, internally like, ‘Yes! Absolutely it was heroic! Kokichi knows what’s what!’... before looking curiously at his husband.

“What, just the settings?” Kaito asked curiously, raising an eyebrow, “Back at home, you can be asked to, like… go across a really high rope bridge, or ride a boat through some rapids. Ghost stuff was just one of dozens of scenarios, and honestly, the challenge was mostly about navigating a difficult to walk forest in the dark… what are tests of courage like here?”

He blinked, and then grinned, “Have you done one??”

Kokichi shook his head a bit. “I’m sure I’m wrong, but I never got the impression that tests of courage were things that people actually do, at least these days. They’re, like...spooky cautionary tales.”

“Usually the stories start out with, usually school-aged kids, deciding to take a test of courage. Checking out a haunted area, or stealing some weird item, or spending the night in school or...a lot of things. And the stories are different, but a lot of them end up with the kids terrorising innocent people, B&E’s at the lightest, and in some of the worst the kids end up murdering people...or one of the group turns on the others and murders them.”

Kokichi scratched his cheek a little. “Some of them can be pretty disturbing, if I’m honest… I think they started as a way to try and warn kids off of breaking into people’s homes and properties, or going off into the woods alone.”

Kaito’s brow shot up in shock, “Wait, what? You go sit in a spooky place and your friends just end up murdering each other? Why?? Are they possessed, or???”

Kokichi shot his husband a half amused look. “I don’t think any of these stories actually happened, Kai-chan. Though…”

He considered something for a moment. “...there had been some really horrible reports about hazing, back in the day. I could see some of those stories becoming warped into test of courage stories. Kinda undermines why it’s illegal, though…”

“Yeah, but! …” Kaito laughed, looking sheepish, “Okay, yeah, it’s a story, sorry. I got caught up. Just… friends murdering each other? Ugh, what a disturbing thought. That one got to me.”

Chuckling to himself, he frowned at the word ‘hazing’, “Ugh, yeah. Luminary has hazing laws too, though it’s really tough to enforce them. I never joined any of my schools fraternities because of that. I didn’t need the status boost or the connections, and the stories you hear about their ‘fraternity only’ parties sound like shit out of nightmares. Ever since the incident in high school, with Chad? I do not trust parties like that. If you’re doing a private house party, you better know the people in that house, and the vibes gotta be… not that shit, ya know?” Kaito frowned, rubbing his hand through his hair, before shrugging, “Maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about, but, like, there’s an atmosphere some parties have, that when you feel it? Get out, bad shits happening there. I’m still shocked I missed it at the brewery, that was definitely the same thing, knowing what I know now.”

Kokichi gave Kaito a softer look. “That’s kind of the point to them. They’re supposed to be scary and disturbing. Friends turning on each other, not because of something like possession--though we do have straight up ghost stories like that--but...because of internal motives? It’s terrifying.”

And served more to the point of driving the stories home as things you should Not Do. If selfish murderers were the type to dare each other to break into the old lady’s estate, then you wouldn’t do that kind of thing, would you?

Perhaps it was odd, but...Kokichi felt kind of happy that he and Kaito shared similar stances on hazing, even if it didn’t sound as ubiquitously banned in Luminary as it was in Dicea. But while Kokichi did get what Kaito meant about parties with a bad vibe…

He squinted his eyes a little in confusion. “...what’s a fraternity?”

Kaito physically felt himself deflate, before his mind madly ran through his explanation, looking for pitfalls…

“They’re like… school clubs? Social clubs. They…” Kaito sighed. Whatever. “They’re ways for people in certain social classes to organize and room together, and if you’re not already in that social class, it can be your big shot to make connections in that world. Like, for some top tier schools, fraternities pick their club members as people they suspect are going to be super influential in their fields, future leader sort of things? Other schools, the richest students in the school all join, and live in, like, mansion dorms they share together. And…”

“...so, the big issue is that sometimes you can get into a fraternity like that because someone in there likes you, or sees potential in you, right? And if you’re trying to make your way up in the world, living with and making friends with elite students is definitely a way to go. But… lots of people are allowed to ‘try’ for these fraternities, and the members of these clubs convince these poor kids that, like, if they let the club do whatever they want to them, they’ll be let in and get their social standing improved? But its a total lie. Fraternities already know who they’re going to let in before things start, they just use the trials as a way to entertain themselves fucking with hopefuls. Every time I was ever invited to a fraternity, they always tried to tempt me with stories of all the fucked up shit I’d get to do to people trying to get in, and… it’s bad. In theory, there’s fraternity’s and sorority’s that don’t do that shit, but I was never approached by them. Just a lot of creepy people doing creepy things.”

Looking back, this would probably be a moment of great hope for the two of them. Months ago, they never would’ve been able to have this sort of conversation, not without Kokichi’s face falling and Kaito trying to backpedal. Or, even further back, Kokichi questioning why such a club was allowed to exist in the first place, and Kaito blustering in embarrassment. 

Instead...they had grown up and to know each other enough to just be open. 

Kokichi nodded as he took in Kaito’s explanation, humming as it painted a clearer picture. “I see… As comforting as it is to have a...home base of sorts, I guess, and a place to make connections, you always have to worry about echo chambers… It’s really unfortunate that it turned out that way… If the offer to students of a different status was genuine, then it could really be an amazing way to socialize and get to know vastly different perspectives...which is kind of what college is all about.”

“...maybe that’s something that will change, going forward. You never really know what future generations will do.” Kokichi offered his husband a small, hopeful smile at the thought. 

Kaito felt himself relax, grinning uncertainly back at Kokichi, “Yeah, maybe… hell, looking back at it, maybe I should have just started my own damn fraternity. I could have just made my own rules, and I could have made a lot of really useful connections for my sidekicks! I just never really thought about stuff like that. I’m not really a…” Kaito shrugged, “Like, a real leader type. Or, in the sense of like… I don’t know how to make things. Or solve problems on my own. All I really know how to do is support others, which, hey! I’ve done a lot of good with, I think… but I’m just not the type to start clubs and organize them and stuff like that.”

“You, though” Kaito grinned, beaming down at his husband, “I bet you would have. If you had been in my place, I bet you would have made the best social club in the school, and obliterated the rest of them just as a consequence of that! Man… you would have done so many cool things, with my opportunities. It can be a lot of fun to think about, you in Luminary… I feel like you’d have just made things better, ya know? Just being there.”

Kaito looked in interest, as a large fish with bulbing eyes and a white, fat body lazily rolled by, before admitting, “I’m a little biased, obviously. But I still really believe that.”

Kokichi blushed a little and pressed to Kaito’s side, nuzzling his arm a bit in thanks for the compliment. “It makes me happy to the point of bashfulness, sometimes, how much you believe in me… But I think you’re a good leader too. Ideas are important, but...to get anything done, you need to rally people. Support them and show them why to care about what they’re doing. Maybe it would’ve been different if I’d grown up in Luminary but...I kinda get the sense no one would’ve listened to me.”

“You, though… You can gather people around you in a snap, sometimes without even trying.” Kokichi grinned and nuzzled Kaito’s arm a bit more. “If the two of us had worked together? Then I think we could’ve gotten anything done. Concept and practice, working together…”

Kokichi fell silent for a bit, just watching the different kinds of fish they passed, before he sighed. “I can only hope to live up to that expectation when I’m leader here...that I can make things better. I’m glad my father isn’t planning to retire any time soon, but...all the time I’m always learning things about being the leader that he’s never told me. I feel like I have so much more to go in just...being an apprentice.”

...Kaito frowned at that a little, giving his husband a mildly worried look…

“...he is teaching you stuff though, right? Or… Hideki is, at least? I mean… I don’t know. I don’t really know what it takes to be a king in Dicea, but Byakuya was always busy learning stuff for the job. Preparing to be king was his whole world… though, I mean.” Kaito stopped to think about it, “I guess the only real difference between the things I see you, or, saw you both do as heir apparents was that Byakuya was given teams to manage, and was sent overseas to argue a trade agreement in person once. And Head Secretary Tengan never stopped teaching him things… but beyond that? Lots of reading and answering letters in his office. So, maybe both of your trainings and job duties aren’t actually all that different… both of you specialize in a certain field, you research, him trades, you were both taught primarily by the kings right hand man rather then the king himself… wow, yeah. Maybe it really isn’t all that different.”

“...you’ll do a much better job though.” Kaito said, with full certainty, “You’re… just better than him. Byakuya was never going to be a good king… I think. He… wasn’t suited for it. But you are. Whether now or a few decades from now? You’ll be amazing. Dicea’s going to be so lucky to have you.”

“He is,” Kokichi nodded. For all that his father had been distant in other ways, they did talk nearly daily about the kingdom affairs, not only Aiichi, but everyone in administration teaching Kokichi about everything it took to keep the kingdom running. Because while he wouldn’t ever be doing every job, he needed to at least know why it was a position, and what went into it. What he could expect to get done and be overseen by the people in those positions, and what to check for if things went wrong. 

It was just...there were so many tiny, intricate details that Kokichi could likely spend his entire life trying to learn. ...details that his father had about a year to see in action while he was a teenager before having to learn everything on the fly, and from abroad for the start. So...maybe that was a sign Kokichi didn’t need to be an expert on every in and out of the kingdom, but...well, he wanted to do better than his father. In a lot of ways. 

...he’d do better than Byakuya?

Kokichi looked up to Kaito in complete surprise. Sure, the last thing he wanted was to fling his people into a civil war, or to start treating them as a commodity, but...that wasn’t the surprising part. 

Kokichi had only ever heard Kaito say that Byakuya was going to be a great king. That he had just inherited issues, that he never had a chance to really rule. He had never said, at least to Kokichi that...Byakuya wasn’t suited for it. Not even in uneasy implication, let alone straight out.

(He could kiss Saint Madison right now.)

(He would kiss Kaito later.)

Still staring at Kaito in astonishment, Kokichi’s face started to turn red before his eyes got wet and glimmery, and Kokichi chuckled sheepishly as his voice broke, pulling Kaito into a hug as he laughed. 

“...thanks, hun. That...that means the world to me…”

Kaito easily accepted the hug, smiling somewhat uneasily at Kokichi’s joy.

The words had… kind of been out of his mouth before he could really think about them.

...but it… made sense, didn’t it? (Did it??) Byakuya had… been impatient. And too… too proud. Overconfident. He had… he had… hurt their parents cause he had thought he was ready to be king, Tengan far away and apparently never returning, and… Kaede had managed to take the throne away from him in the first year.

That was… dumb. Byakuya had been dumb. He hadn’t even come close to being a good king. He had barely been a king at all.

… Kaito’s family was just… made of garbage.

And maybe Maki was right and Kaede would be better. Or maybe Kaede was garbage too. Kaito didn’t know. 

Heh… his son was Harukawa, his daughter Saihara, and their feelings baby someday would be an Ouma. 

It was probably a good thing, none of his kids would ever be Momotas’.

Kaito felt that heavy weight of just… disappointment, and decided to focus on how happy Kokichi was instead. He held his husband, running his hand through his-- tangle free, very nice smelling hair, hell yeah, babe had brushed his hair for the date!-- teary husbands locks and grinned, “Babe, everyone knows you’re going to be amazing. Everyone in the castle loves you, your people adore you, and the smartest guy I know thinks you're the smartest guy he knows. Which I think is a great sign! You’re gonna be incredible. Miyako’s gonna have so much to learn from you.”

After a moment, Kokichi wetly snorted, shaking his head a little against Kaito’s chest. “Okay, I - I know - that sounds kinda bad, doesn’t it? But I don’t mean it that way… It just...I know it means a lot when you say something like you have faith in me, and that Dicea’s gonna be in good hands… I know other people believe in me too, but...it’s still nice to hear it.”

...they’d broached the subject before, but Kokichi didn’t want to push it. Maybe he’d bring it up in therapy another time and Maki and Shuuichi could celebrate too...even if that also meant that Kaito had lost a pillar in his life. Even if it was rotten, it still wasn’t the easiest thing to go through. 

Popping up on his toes, Kokichi placed a kiss on Kaito’s cheek, still giggling a bit as he tried to stem the tears in his eyes. “So...thanks. And Miya’s gonna have a lot to learn from all of us. To the point I think she’s gonna be a little exasperated from having three incredible dads that want to share so much with her.”

“Yep. Three dads to learn from. Three dads to rebelliously ignore.” Kaito snorted, accommodatingly ducking his head a little to make Kokichi’s cheek kiss a little easier. He pulled his long sleeve shirt from under his jacket sleeve a bit, gently pressing the cotton against the corner of Kokichi’s eyes and-- even though a part of him knew Kokichi hated this-- keening out, “My weepy ‘Kichi…”

He glanced around with some small level of concern through, glancing around at the other patrons, wondering if anyone was staring at them. Kokichi seemed pretty obviously happy about something, but Kaito always got a little nervous when there was a possibility of his husband seeming… not entirely thrilled with his presence in public. Kaito personally had stopped hearing about the fears and accusations of abuse that some Diceans looked at him with, afraid he was taking advantage of the Dicean prince, but he knew… well, mostly from therapy, that Kokichi was still hearing about that stuff. And Kaito didn’t want to give any of those people any extra fuel to theorize over, if he could help it.

Still, no one seemed to be looking at them, so… he grinned back down at Kokichi. “Still feeling okay temperature wise? Cause you look a little red to me now, babe. You somehow managing to overheat here??” He grinned, more than a little pleased that his compliments had somehow managed to actually fluster Kokichi. Cute.

It was going to be interesting--exhilarating, wonderful, exasperating--seeing the type of person Miya turned out to be. Who she would take after most, either by example or rebellion. But she would have no lack of people to turn to for anything. 

Kokichi rolled his eyes a little as Kaito cooed at him--it wasn’t exactly making fun, Kokichi knew, but it was still a little ‘ugh’ inducing--and let his husband help dry his eyes, taking a breath to cool down a little more. At least emotionally. 

Bopping himself against Kaito’s side, Kokichi huffed a laugh. “I’m fine; actually, more than fine. I’m having a wonderful date with my wonderful husband who says sweet, heart-felt things that pierce my heart with smooches. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“...oooh! Kai-chan! These ones are angelfish!”

“Oh?” Kaito allowed himself to be lead to the glass that Kokichi had spotted the angelfish, searching the aquarium for what his husband had spotted-- “Oh! Yeah, look at that. H~eyyyy, look at you guys!” 

Kaito grinned, recognizing the distinctive little threads that their back fin made, though admittedly the ones in the figurine he had painted had apparently heavily exaggerated the effect. Still, they were lovely to look at, and were on the move, Kaito and Kokichi taking small, careful steps to follow them around the corner of the glass as they scooted off to  wherever it was they were going. 

Kaito glanced around the bottom of the aquarium, and a mean little idea of pretending to see a… what were they called? Croatian? Pretending to see an ‘Icky sea bug’ crossed his mind, but a quick memory of Kokichi almost having his heart explode in the middle of nowhere came to mind and-- yeah, nah. No pranks like that.

Hmmm… didn’t his husband like other types of pranks though? It had used to be one of his hobbies, if Kaito remembered right. He really should try to prank him with something someday. Preferably something that wouldn’t give him a heart attack. Hmmm…

Ah, speaking of.

“You had an appointment with Seiko, right?” Kaito asked, glancing down at his husband, “Anything new? Everything come up normal on the checkup?”

“They’re just like little triangles,” Kokichi cooed, admittedly a little more interested in the angelfish because of Kaito’s interest. But they still were beautiful fish, striped triangles that shimmered in the water and trailed their fins...cute. Animals that were just shapes were peak in Kokichi’s opinion. 

And while Kokichi himself wasn’t at his peak himself…

Kokichi sighed softly. “Yeah, I’m alright. She got the report from my last dentist’s appointment too, and I’m doing fine there as well...no cavities or plaque buildup or anything. I’m slowly getting some weight back, and the pace doesn’t seem concerning to her--which I’d hope,” Kokichi rolled his eyes, “Since it’s taking forever.”

“But...I’m steady. Blood pressure’s low, but normal for me, my blood tests have come back normal, I’ve been sleeping okay and my heartrate isn’t concerning…” Kokichi shrugged a bit, looking up at Kaito with a bit of a smile. “I’m back on an even keel, it looks like, and only getting better.”

Kaito brought Kokichi’s hand up to kiss gently at his knuckles and joints. The thin, chilly bones always inspiring Kaito to be a little more gentle when he handled them then any other part of Kokichi’s body. Such thin things…

“My strong husband.” Kaito praised, “I mean, you were always going to recover, because you’re badass like that. But its nice to hear that its coming along, ya know? Reassuring. Especially the weight. Gonna start giving me a workout soon when I carry you around?” Kaito teased, lowering their hands as they continued down the cool hallways, the water reflecting across their bodies in a lovely, eerie sort of way. “The heavier you get, the more muscle I build! If that’s any encouragement.” Kaito smirked. 

...and a stray thought made Kaito’s face turn red, looking around for a second, before leaning in close to Kokichi and genuinely asking, “So… did you have a thing for muscles before me? Or did you just get very lucky?” 

Kokichi smiled a little more softly as Kaito kissed his fingers and praised his recovery. He had always recovered, naturally, but… It had been disappointing. Before Cedar, Kokichi had been the healthiest--and heaviest--he’d ever been. Losing that was...tragic and discouraging, to say the least about how Kokichi felt about it. 

But if he’d gotten there once, he could do it again. He was eating well and exercising regularly and getting deep, restful sleep, and while his job was stressful, he made sure to make time for fun and relaxation, not to mention family time. Things were on a good track, and his doctor backed it. 

Snorting, Kokichi squeezed Kaito’s hands as they walked past more tanks, peering in to see the aquatic creatures within, Kokichi pausing to look at some starfish. “I’d imagine you’d wanna work out past what weight training with me would do. You can carry Shuu-chan too, after all. And even if she won’t be particularly heavy, carrying Miya will be endurance training.”

All conducive for Kaito’s own strength goals. Which Kokichi gleefully enjoyed. 

However…

Kokichi raised an eyebrow, looking up at Kaito with a bit of a smirk. “I mean, there were definitely some bigger guys that caught my eye, but...I never really thought about muscles as something being my type before you, no. Kai-chan’s just so dang cuddly I have no choice but to adore him.”

Kaito preened, having expecting that a little bit, but still very happy with it. It maybe wasn’t terribly impressive, to compete with the men that Kokichi idly ogled as essentially a teenager, but fuck it, he was competitive. He’d compete with vague ogle crushes! 

“Cuddly, huh? I’m pretty sure you, like, have trained that into me babe. You’ve been a little heat leach since day one.” Kaito snorted, “Sometimes I wonder what you would have done had I not been super down for doubling as a full body pillow for you. I feel like at some point you’d have just tackled me for it.”

Kaito’s eyes followed where people were walking most, and he heard laughter and talking in the distance, deciding idly to follow them. And there was a certain smell in the air… exposed water.

...ooooooh.

It was a strange little man made pond thing-- a tide pool, according to the sign at the wall-- not unlike where Dr. Mariah kept her Koi fish, though much more shallow. It was full of colorful plants and beautiful, smooth stones. There were seastars and hermit crabs, making their way slowly across the rocks, and among them, a much bigger type of crab, just relaxing and watching everything, ignoring the curious touches of reaching children, a king among its small kingdom.

Kaito moved to the other side of the pond thing, not wanting to crowd the small children that were bunched together and giggling over the pretty colors and the massive crab.  Looking in with interest as the colorful underwater garden.

“Probably,” Kokichi laughed. “With how much I move at night? I would’ve ended up forcing my way into your warm, delightful space no matter what boundaries we’d try to set. Especially during the winter? Game over for your personal space.”

Kokichi’s eyes lit up in interest when they came to the interactive tide pool area, but they soon froze in horror. Ugh… He couldn’t understand how the kids could put their hand in to touch the crabs… Those many, spindly little legs… Ugh. 

Thankfully, Kaito headed to the other side of the pool from where the kids and most crabs were, and Kokichi could just crouch beside him with a small sigh. No crabs were getting out, he could trust the exhibit for that…

Still a little farther back from the edge, Kokichi peered in a little, pointing down into the water. “Oh...look at those purple urchins. I’ve heard their spines will kind of close in towards you if you try to touch them.”

Kaito narrowed his eyes at the urchin, “Are those things alive? I mean… like, not plants? Should I touch it?”

“Touch it,” Kokichi egged on, making that clear before anything else. “Like, don’t jab it, cause they’re small and sharp, but...yeah, they’re creatures. Their body is under the spiny stuff--I think some of them are actually bright yellow?”

He furrowed his eyebrow, his mouth crooking a little to the left as he reached in, “... this thing isn’t gonna, like, poison me?” He asked suspiciously, though, he guessed they wouldn’t let them near little kids if it would. “I’m gonna be real annoyed if I get poisoned by a weird little urchin thing, ‘Kichi.”

Kaito reached in, carefully touch- ow!

Kaito immediately pulled his hand back, looking genuinely surprised, throwing his finger against his tongue. Kokichi had warned him they were sharp, but, Kaito hadn’t actually been expecting it to be sharp. “Owwww…”

He heard some giggles from the other side of the room, and with sudden exaggerated bluster, he whined, shaking his hand in the air, “Ow ow ow, Kokichi! That hurt!”

More giggles, one of the little kids shouting, “Urchin are sharp, mister!”

“Oh, now you tell me.” Kaito pouted, sighing with some exaggeration, “Where were you two minutes ago, kid?” Before putting his finger in his mouth again.

More little giggles, while their amused parents eventually started herding them along, the kids still laughing at the dumb adult who somehow didn’t know now to touch the urchins. Kaito dropping the act as soon as they were gone, looking back at the urchin as he said, “He really is a sharp little bastard.”

Well, technically, urchins did have a type of venom that came out of their spines, at least Kokichi thought he’d read that somewhere, but it was so weak in relation to humans that, honestly, the hard shell and spines were far more dangerous to handle. But that was all a technicality, so Kokichi just snorted and nudged Kaito’s arm a little, wanting to see him touch the little creature. 

And while Kokichi had warned him to be gentle…

Kokichi perked, immediately reaching out to Kaito’s hand--really, putting what was just in the tide pool in his mouth would probably be worse than anything the urchin did--but he paused when the kids across the way started giggling, Kaito immediately playing up his injury. Kokichi ended up just shaking his head with a sigh, though a smile still curled up at the corners of his mouth. 

...he couldn’t wait to see Kaito and Miya together…

Reaching out again once the kids left, Kokichi gave his husband a semi-concerned look. “I did tell you. Are you bleeding? You should wash your hand anyway, but we can ask one of the staff for a bandaid if you need one…”

“Aw, I’m alright. Nothing a good lick couldn’t fix… tasted kind of gross though.” Kaito admitted, scrunching up his nose a little. Though, he wasn’t worried about any side effects. He was pretty sure he was invincible, after all… and would be convinced of it right up until he was sick. 

He looked at his finger, seeing a little purple swell… “Eh, maybe we should find some disinfectant though.” He admitted. He glared at the urchin, “You think you won, little man? You just wait. I’ll… probably not try to touch you again! Cause ouch.”

Kokichi really did let out an exasperated sigh at that. Getting up, he gently tugged Kaito’s sleeve. “C’mon, let’s go to the hand sink and see if we can ask someone about disinfectant. And I’m gonna tell Shuu-chan and Maki-chan to keep an eye on you since you just put aquarium water in your mouth.”

Kaito rolled his eyes a little, though he followed where he was led. “I have a great immune system, babe. Like, it’s been a year, have you seen me get sick once? ...I mean, outside of horse related injuries? And knife related injuries? And alcohol? I just don’t get sick babe.”

Still, he washed his hands, and eventually found an employee who at least tried to hide some of their exasperation as they got him a alcohol doused wet-toilet to put over his finger, cleaning the ‘wound’, as much as the little prick could be called that.

“I still count all those,” Kokichi huffed. “If you’re hurt you’re hurt, and I’m not gonna like it. The only difference is the kinds of regrets we have, whether it’s just a bummer to be sick from something outside of your control, or because you drank water a bunch of creatures live in.”

Thanking the employee they found over and over, it wasn’t too long before they were back on their self-directed aquarium tour, and while Kaito was warned not to put his injured hand in the water, they did end up going back to the tide pool tank. They’d only been there for a moment, after all. 

Peering in, Kokichi looked around with a discerning eye before starting to reach in towards a bright orange starfish about the size of Kaito’s hand...but he hesitated. “...you don’t see any crabs nearby, do you?”

Kaito looked around… before looking around to see if there were any other guests. It was sparse, the aquarium itself not super busy… he kissed Kokichi’s temple and said, “Close your eyes for one minute babe.”

And then, humming to himself a little, using his good hand, he just started scooping up the crabs that had drifted to their side of the pond, and placing them gently back down on the other side. Before heading back, kissing Kokichi’s temple again, said, “No crabs,” and rushing off to wash his hands again.

Kokichi frowned slightly, but...he trusted Kaito not to be a total jerk and lift the crabs up onto him or something horrible like that. Even if they were awful little creatures, Kokichi wasn’t sure how he’d react and he’d feel horrible if he ended up hurting one… It wasn’t their fault, and it was their home. 

Deciding to just trust Kaito, Kokichi closed his eyes until Kaito spoke up again, noting fewer crabs even in the safe radius he’d judged before. Sending a smile after Kaito’s leaving form, Kokichi reached into the tide pool, his fingertips just barely grazing the starfish.

...slowly, a delighted grin spread across Kokichi’s face. 

“It’s bumpy...but also soft and squishy? It’s hard to explain…” he hummed, just stroking the creature for a little bit. Then, spotting a sea cucumber in the deeper water nearby, Kokichi gently reached in and stroked it too, the weird texture making him wrinkle his nose though the grin stayed. “Weeeeeird! It’s like stroking a super fluffy blanket but underwater...and not like the blanket’s waterlogged.”

Kaito came back with freshly clean hands, throwing his arms around Kokichi’s shoulders and putting his chin on his husbands head as he peered over him at what he was looking at. “...that thing doesn’t creep you out?” Kaito couldn’t help but ask, giving the cucumber an incredulous look, “It’s creepy looking.”

Kokichi shrugged a bit, still giving the sea cucumber pets. “I think it’s quite nice. It’s so soft and squishy...just minding its own business. They just hang out and eat what comes to the bottom of the water. They’re not the prettiest, but you don’t have to be pretty to be worthwhile.”

“I’ll whisper that to the crabs, next time I see them.” Kaito smirked, “Reassure them that you don’t actually hate their little crabby guts.” Before kissing the top of Kokichi’s head idly, perfectly content to just fuss over his husband while he enjoyed playing with the strange little garden sea things. 

Though, as he watched Kokichi touch and pet the little fuzzy non-waterlogged blankets, “...I’ve probably asked this before, which means the answer is probably no. But any reason the creepy-crawlies of the world really freak you out babe? Like, was there some sort of event or incident or something?”

Kokichi sighed dejectedly, finding a nearby urchin to, properly, gently pet, its spines indeed curling around his finger at the stimulation. “They’re important to the world, and I’d never even in fancy wish something like them all to be gone. But I just want them to not be by me.”

That was how he felt about most of the bugs and bug-like things in the world, honestly. 

“...there’s nothing that set it all off, as far as I can remember,” Kokichi shook his head. “I’ve just always gotten freaked out by insects and spiders… Denji-chan probably has a whole vault of embarrassing memories of coming into my room to kill bugs or take ‘em outside. It just…”

Kokichi retracted his hand from the tide pool tank, shuddering a little. “It feels like the end of the world when one’s near me. Considering how high it gets my heart rate up, and that I’m not exactly breathing well since I’m trying to close all my holes, Seiko said it’s probably not a good idea to try exposure therapy or anything like that. It’s just a bad phobia.”

“Mmmmm, noooo exposure therapy.” Kaito sighed contently, kissing the back of Kokichi’s head again, “No icky bugs in any holes either. Gross… it must suck to have a phobia like that. I seriously can’t even imagine. Poor Shuichi’s got his heights thing too. My poor guys…”

Even if he had been the one to bring it up, Kokichi still shuddered hard for a moment, scrunching his eyes closed and bringing up a hand to cover one of his ears while he pressed the other into his shoulder, keeping his hand that had been petting the tide pool creatures away from his face. 

An illogical response, but...well. Maybe that was something new to work on in therapy. 

Sighing, Kokichi forced himself to relax before getting up to wash his hands. “It is much harder to avoid insects and heights than it is ghosts...since, yanno, ghosts aren’t real. I think Kai-chan’s lucked out there.”

Kaito let Kokichi escape from him, watching his husband go off to the hand wash station as he crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the pond thing, “I wouldn’t call my thing with ghosts a… ‘phobia’. They’re meant to be spooky! That’s why people tell stories about them! I’m just reacting… normally! And I think I handled the haunted house just fine!”

To be entirely fair… Kokichi had never seen yet, Kaito kinda… well, the closest Kokichi had seen Kaito’s ‘not a phobia’ phobia seriously kick in was when Kaito had thrown the fire in the woods in panic at the ‘voices’ there. Feeling like he was alone, in the dark, in a strange place, with ‘beings’ all around him...

“...Yeah. The real spooky stuff isn’t something you really just ‘stumble’ upon.” Kaito confessed, shrugging, “So I did luck out between the three of us, when it comes to things that make us nervous.”

As he returned to Kaito, Kokichi offered his husband a smile and a hand, ready to see more of the aquarium. “Even if it’s not often, I’ll help you with the spooky stuff, if you’ll help me with bugs. We can both look out for each other, yanno? And Shuu-chan can look out for us probably with more foresight than either of us have,” he giggled.

“But I think the kids get a kick out of you playing things up in the haunted house,” Kokichi lightly teased, a glimmer in his eye. “So for that I think I’ll only give you a slight heads up.”

Kaito took the offered hand, rolling his eyes a little as they headed out into the next area, “Well, so long as my suffering is fun… then yeah, it’s cool.” Kaito grinned, giving Kokichi a small wink to show he meant it lightly. 

Thankfully, and tragically, Kokichi had told Cali that Kaito wasn’t doing early workout routines on top of his regular training with them. Kaito had been hopelessly embarrassed, but Cali had just laughed it off. Kaito adored working with those kids, if he was totally honest, even when they were being little brats and laughing at him, not with him, which, yep! Sometimes they were. 

But Kaito still found training the kids and spending time with Tim as, honestly, the most useful and productive he felt all day, kind of any day. Especially now that Kokichi was healthy(ier) and able to take care of himself, and Shuichi had seemed to have found his stride in this last month, still achy and tired, but figuring out his patterns and coping mechanisms and less bothered about it overall.

So… yeah. He knew by this point kids kinda thought it was funny when the big red-headed guy stumbled all over himself, and yeah, he played it up when it happened, because yeaaaaaah, he liked making the kids laugh.

The next area they walked into seemed to be going back to larger tanks, the entire wall made of glass as much larger fish swam around, Kokichi pleased to see that they did have some. 

And on the other side…

...ah. 

...octopi were...more weird looking in person than he’d thought. Kokichi kept a little close to Kaito, though...he couldn’t help the curious glances he kept giving the cephalopods. 

“...I know we say it, like, every day, but...I’m really excited to meet Miya,” Kokichi murmured, turning to watch the large fish on the other side for a bit. “You’re gonna be such an amazing dad to her...I can’t wait to see you two together. And then her herself… I keep thinking, even today, like...oh, I wonder if she’s gonna enjoy coming to the aquarium. What she’s gonna like or be curious about or want to avoid…”

Kaito peered at the octopus, digging the way it moved so easily around the ground…

(صغير ج …)

And Kaito found himself curious at how small it was. Which was strange, cause honestly he was equally surprised at how big it was. “You’re a funny little thing.” Kaito grinned, watching the tentacles legs twirl around a log and squeeze…

… a weird shudder went through him. He bet those arms were deceptively strong.

“She’s gonna be a cliff climbing, ghost hunting, entomologist.” Kaito smirked, “And just to annoy her aunt Maki, she’s going to be a staunch pacifist too.”

Kokichi momentarily raised an eyebrow at his husband, turning back to the octopus. He wouldn’t exactly describe it as ‘little’, though he knew there were some species of small octopus, not even counting things like cuttlefish. From bulbous head to the tip of a tentacle, Kokichi wagered the creature in the tank was...maybe four feet? Not giant, sure, but not a ‘little thing’.

But that was just some pedantry in the back of Kokichi’s head. 

He sighed with a chuckle, trying to imagine that version of their daughter. “She is gonna do all that, isn’t she. Do everything we won’t… I think no matter what we try to plan she’ll always surprise us, huh.” 

All the kids probably would.

“...Tim’s birthday is comin’ up, huh. What do you think we should do for it? I hope timing will work out that Cali and Kimiko won’t be out at camp during it, but...I mean, we could always do another party when they come back if that’s the case. We could have a family party on the day of, if that’s what happens, but...I dunno. He’s not usually thrilled to be the center of attention.”

“Hmmm… I maaaaay,” Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish, “I may kinda want to, at some point, just do a father-son thing with him for his birthday? I mean, we should definitely still do a small little party with the girls, and a nice family dinner with the family, but I think I really just wanna do something, like… nnnnng…”

Kaito looked increasingly embarrassed, “...honestly, I’m not sure. I just, it’s his first birthday with us, I’d really like to do something just… really fancy for him. I mean, he grew up in the military! He was lucky if the people around him remembered his birthday. And then a prince adopted him! That should be a perk of being adopted by a prince, really, really nice, fancy birthdays! Right?? I just… can’t think of…”

“I could rent out the theater for a private performance? But for who, his whole class? He doesn’t like half the people in his class. Also I don’t know if I can afford it. Maybe a roller rink? Thats more manageable, but is it fancy enough? No, no, what is this, amatuer hour? What if I took him… hunting? On horseback? That’s kinda fancy! And also really hard, it might just remind him of labor in the military, having to hunt…”

The way Kaito rambled to himself, it was very clear he wasn’t actually talking to Kokichi anymore. Kokichi just restarting a dialogue in Kaito’s head that, by that point had just been on hold.

Kokichi smiled slightly, all those things sounding along the lines of...yeah. A party with his friends, a dinner with his family, and something special between father and son. Hell, Kokichi wouldn’t be surprised if Maki was planning something for Tim too, though he had no idea what she would plan for a fun birthday thing. 

While he was sure the pressure felt more, well, pressing for Kaito, being Tim’s dad, Kokichi did want Tim’s first birthday with them to be special. There was no doubt he was part of the family, but this would be a special occasion to make a point of it. Of how much they cared for him, even if lavishing attention wasn’t exactly something the boy wanted. 

Hmm… Something special Kaito and Tim could bond over, though…

“...the timing’s not exactly the best, is it,” Kokichi hummed. “He seems open enough, and Tim’s not really the type, but I could see it being annoying having his birthday be so close to Miya’s in the future.”

...so something just for them…

“...maybe you guys could try and celebrate early? And go on a trip for just the two of you. A birthday celebration, but...also kind of like this, you know? You two going out and doing something fun before we’re all staying close to home while Miya’s all little.”

“What do you think?”

Timothy was turning ten after Miya was born, but… taking Tim out for a birthday outing before??

“That’s actually not a terrible idea.” He mused, scratching at his goatee a little, “I mean, thankfully Tim’s birthday is at the end of early summer, so at least their birthdays won’t be the same month, but… yeah, Miyako all fresh and screaming and needing a bunch of attention is a rough thing to contend with. You’re right, ‘Kichi, I should take him out before she gets here… but to do what. Me and Tim don’t have a lot in common, beyond me sloooowly getting him into painting figurines… not that I have to enjoy it myself to take him to do it, but I don’t really have a good read on all the things he likes to do either… mmm…”

Kaito was practically glaring at the octopus as he thought about it…

“...he found a shoe with a foot inside of it!” Kaito suddenly shouted in a ‘eureka’ moment! “Tim likes to fish! I’ll rent a boat and take him fishing!”

Kokichi smiled, glad he could help Kaito figure out what he wanted to set up for Tim’s birthday at least a little. Having some quality time together, specifically meant for him would...either be kind of boring, or really touching for Tim. But knowing that he was a priority to his parents...that would mean a lot. 

As for what they’d do… Kokichi jumped slightly as Kaito got his inspiration, and while that story had been kind of macabre, Kokichi giggled. He remembered Tim being kind of nonchalant when Shuuichi brought up future fishing trips, but...it was a positive casualness. When compared to Tim’s resignation about other things, it was practically him bouncing up and down. 

A fishing trip… That would be really nice.

“Maybe you could think about setting something up over on Lake Iossax? It’s...maybe two hours west by carriage, and it’s probably the closest, like, big lake. I’d imagine there are some specific fishing laws, but I’m pretty sure it’s allowed.”

“Lake Lossax… I’ll ask Maki if she’s got that in her ‘trip binder’ thing she made for us. She might actually have all the specs for that worked out, especially since it’s close by.” Kaito mused. If he could be confident in anything, it was that if Maki said she made a binder full of trips to be planned safely and thoroughly for everyone she cared about in mind, then she did it and it was done well. He might once have asked Shuichi to ask about local chatter there too, find out the vibe before Kaito-- Luminary enemy-- went, but… he didn’t want Shuichi worrying about that stuff, and would just try to keep his and Tim’s heads down. It’d hopefully be fine, and if not, they’d just leave. No more bar brawls.

“Yeah… a fishing trip. That’s so… father and son’y, even! That’s perfect. I have a little in savings that’s not going to anything specific, I can make it nice…” Kaito murmured to himself, trying to imagine a nice, father/son trip, where… okay, imagining Tim actually enjoying himself was a little tricky, but at the very least Tim not hating the experience! And he and Tim can talk about the future a bit, let the kid voice any concerns he had over the baby and his place in the family and what he could expect from now on… yeah! Dad stuff!

Kokichi chuckled softly. “If it hadn’t been winter, I could’ve expected Maki-chan to wonder why we hadn’t gone to the lake already. I’ve always heard that it’s a lovely place… A favorite of one of our past queens, Beloved Queen Oasis, to the point she made a home there and tended to commute to the castle when she needed to--s’why it’s named after her these days.”

Hopefully Tim would find his own enjoyment on the trip, whether from fishing or being out in nature or being fussed over from his dad. And Kokichi had heard there was some pretty good seafood places out there too, so maybe from good food too.

“Do you know what kind of cake is Tim’s favorite? He’d always seemed enthusiastic with any kind we’ve had at home… I wanna order a nice one for when we do our family party.” Probably not anything too overly decorative, but...something special and delicious. Maybe a chocolate cake… Kokichi thought he remembered a few more times of Tim trying to sneak more slices of chocolate cake than others…

“Umm… I’m not sure? He’s never really disliked anything we’ve tried to give him yet, and he does have a sweet tooth.” Kaito mused. Timothy wasn’t as fixated on sweets as Shuichi was, and didn’t show such obvious, full body joy at them, like Kokichi did, but Kaito still found himself having to keep an eye on Tim’s plates at meals, warning his kid off of trying to make literally half of his plate into desserts. “...he really likes ice cream. Do you remember all that ice cream we got you, after your surgery?”

Wandering through the bigger aquatic life, Kaito watched with mild alarm a small, but still far too large and intimidating, long-nosed sword-fish swim by, marveling at the sheer length of it as he said, “...maybe you don’t actually, you were really out of it… but we wouldn’t let him eat ice cream until you were ready, and one of the first things you said when you were half coherent was that Tim could have ice cream, if he wanted it. Pretty sure you earned some serious brownie points with him, that day…”

“...” Kaito girinned, leaning into Kokichi’s ear, “Kitty-cats say what again, ‘Kichi?”

“Ice cream!” 

The idea was so spot on Kokichi couldn’t help but raise a finger in the air, though his moment was transformed into awe as he watched the swordfish swim by, honestly a little shocked to see a fish that big in person, even if he conceptually knew that they existed. If fish could be as big as this, then...ho boy. He really couldn’t wait to see a whale one day.

Giving Kaito a dry look as he whispered in his ear, Kokichi sighed and shook his head. “I’m not gonna think about the implication of that at all, because I don’t want to remember any of the dumb stuff I did while I was still on anaesthetic. Those can just be memories you guys keep.”

“But, ice cream! Yeah, I remember him asking about it beforehand… Ooooh, I’ll totally get him an ice cream cake! We’d have to keep it in the castle freezer until we’re ready to cut it and all that, but...that’s perfect!” Kokichi cheered a little, already making plans in the back of his head for Tim’s special day--though, he wanted to get his nephew a nice gift too.

...maybe he should go shopping before Miya was born too, just to make sure it wouldn’t be an issue getting away for an afternoon. 

Was Kokichi starting to feel like he was going to have to have eyes on his daughter 24/7 once she was born? Yes. Was that significantly inaccurate? Probably not. He was going to be around as much as he could possibly be, and between everyone who was doing that, if someone suddenly needed to step away, they’d have plenty of people there and ready to take over baby-duty. 

More long-nosed fish swam by the side of the tank they were by, looking a little different from the swordfish but...well, if Kokichi hadn’t seen the first fish, he would’ve called these swordfish too. Maybe they were just a slightly different but related species…

“...I can barely believe these are the ‘small’ fish the aquarium are still okay with caring for…”

“Marine life grows bigger and bigger, the more space you give it. And the ocean is incomprehensibly large.” Kaito murmured… before brightening up, “Like space! Imagine how big some alien life could potentially be! Imagine space whales!”

Kokichi shook his head, but his laugh accompanying it was in complete awe. “Kai-chan, I can barely imagine real whales. I can’t even fathom how big space whales could be.”

“Though,” he hummed, resting his head against Kaito’s arm as they slowly walked parallel to the tank, “The idea of them swimming in a sea of stars… I know space isn’t actually like that, but it’s a nice image. Like...a whale breach just flinging stardust everywhere… It sounds amazing.”

“Stars might not actually work like that, but visually, there’s a lot of space debris that functions how you might imagine it.” Kaito said, squeezing Kokichi’s hand lightly as they walked, just happy and calm and comfortable, “Space dust, rocks, even gems, if you can believe it. Ice too, so much ice… I mean, I’m sure you know this, but shooting stars are just space debris, burning up and breaking apart in our atmosphere, which, sure, is a little unromantic, but… visually? They’re still really, really beautiful and rare when you see them.” 

‘So, even knowing our massive, imaginary space whale is only moving behind dust and rocks and ice in its tail, like... “ Kaito was lost in his imagination now, able to see it all really clearly. A massive, near translucent creature, the size and shape of a whale, but with the complexion of a jellyfish, shifting aside the sparkling ‘stardust’ of rocks, ice, and gems… swimming through the distant stars, “...god, it’d still be beautiful, wouldn’t it? It’d be amazing…”

Kaito said this with both awe and a sort of… soft sadness. A longing for something that he both would never have, and even moreso, knew he never would have. That as much as he liked to say otherwise, some things really were truly impossible. An entirely whimsical daydream...

… maybe someday, someone would actually get to go. He bet it’d be incredible.

While they moved totally different--fish spines went side to side while whale spines went up and down--Kokichi watched the fish in the tank and...imagined. Giant creatures, larger than he could even think to comprehend, swimming through sparking space debris as they made long trips across the universe. Creatures he’d never understand, but…

...they lived in this universe together all the same. And when it came down to it, that counted for a lot. 

...if such things were real, which Kokichi really doubted, but they were an amazing thought experiment. 

Kokichi smiled softly, gently squeezing Kaito’s hand. It looked like he just got a new painting idea. It was a ways away from Kaito’s next birthday or any other gift-giving holiday, but...it was nice to sometimes just give gifts to people. Space was a world they could only see from the ground, but...Kokichi could give Kaito a piece of it, even if it was just imagined.

(Somewhere deep in Kokichi’s mind, up in a place called space, an enormous, beautiful creature breached through stardust in the distance as it swam.)

(（’-’)... )

(✮ ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ✮)

-

The two of them, pretty predictably, actually, spent hours in the aquarium, taking their time in each room and enjoying themselves looking at amazing and cute and sometimes baffling creatures. And sometimes there were creatures so cute that Kokichi started crying and they had to take a moment for him to calm down, sometimes that just happens, alright?

But after another long stop in the gift shop--Kokichi bought two stuffed penguins, one that was promptly going in the nursery, meadow theme be damned, and one that absolutely was going to go to bed with him that night--the two headed out and...honestly the timing was pretty fortunate. 

Kokichi hadn’t made a hard reservation, but he had asked if there would be tables open for walk-ins across the evening, and there were going to be some after six and...well! Guess when they left the aquarium!

Usott Grill was a place Kokichi had heard of before, but even when he started checking out restaurants, it wasn’t really a place he’d immediately thought of. But...it certainly was special enough to feel fancy getting a meal--it wasn’t too often the castle had straight up steak as a main dish. Kokichi was thankful Kaito found things to like about Dicean cuisine, and this probably wouldn’t be the same, but...a place that touted having the main ingredients speak for themselves? It sounded very in-line with how his friends had complained about Dicean food before, in comparison to Luminary cuisine. 

And when they went in and Kokichi asked for a table for two...the host had given them a wink and...Kokichi couldn’t have really asked for a better date-like setting, at least from the books he’d read. A candle on the table, soft music flowing from elsewhere in the restaurant, the whole thing smelling divine…

Kokichi looked up, giving Kaito a soft, hopeful smile. “...I know you agreed, but...this place is okay?”

Kaito was looking around like they had stepped into another world… or, rather, like he had just stepped back into an old, familiar one. 

This sentence was going to sound ludicrous, and it kinda was, but…

...the castle wasn’t exactly… ‘fancy’. 

It was still a castle! A castle at the top of a hill, looking over its city, and was certainly beautiful, in its own way… but most of that beauty was in its surrounding gardens. A lot of time and effort put into the maintaining of the flora around the castle, while the castle itself was very… functional.

That word was said absolutely in his mothers voice, and said with the sort of tone and sneer someone might reserve for a dirtier word. 

But Kaito had sort of gotten it into his head that the ‘upscale’ architecture and decor he associated with the word ‘fancy’ didn’t really exist in Dicea. And, in a way, he was right, because the type of decor Kaito was used to in wealthy establishments, though it lasted forever, visually wasn’t in keeping with Dicean’s sense of beauty and fashion, and also was just fucking heavy. Luminaries, traditionally, made everything heavy and solid, dark, wooden furniture with every piece thicker than Kaito’s biceps, stones cut and shaped straight from the mountainsides and the desert canyons, metal. Iron and gold and steel, bolted into the walls, often just as decorative in their size and girth as they were practical. 

You could beat a man to death with the weight and size of a ‘nice’ portrait frame in Luminary, and Luminaries liked it like that, and would pay top dollar for it… so when Kaito saw King Aiichi’s portrait bordered by a thin, beautiful, nicely carved fine wooden borders, he could recognize it was ‘pretty’, but… still couldn’t help his equally gut-punch reaction of ‘cheap’.

He doubted this restaurant was actually any more expensive than any other nice restaurant in Usott, but every nerve in his god damn body was screaming wealth.

All the furniture here was made of thick, heavy dark materials, oak wood and steel, large stones bordering a massive, well lit fireplace in the distance. The table was thick, and Kaito couldn’t stop putting his hand around it in mild astonishment. These tables looked like they had been cut from some massive trees…

The furniture and architecture design cut was still distinctly Dicean, which was the only thing that kept Kaito from feeling like he had just stepped into a room back at hom-- back at the old castle. 

“... this place is really nice, ‘Kichi.” Kaito grinned, excitedly tapping his hands against the edge of the table (thick! So thick!) as he kept looking around, still just openly admiring the place as he sniffed, ‘...shit that smells amazing…”

Kokichi’s smile relaxed, relieved that he’d, as far as he could tell, made a good call. Usott Grill was...well, unique. Not something Kokichi had ever really seen anywhere else in the city, even among the other unique aesthetics he’d witnessed. And while that could definitely be a good thing, since he knew everything in Dicea was kind of foreign to Kaito...he just didn’t want to lead his husband to a place that felt weird or oppressive. 

Though, he had a feeling the food could make up for whatever styling the restaurant had. 

“It really does… I’m kind of happy smelling garlic in any kitchen, but...I dunno. Here it’s like...I could take a bite of something and that alone could fill me,” Kokichi giggled a bit, eyes flicking around the restaurant. “Oh, and… I’m covering tonight, so...just get whatever you want, alright? This is our special date night.”

And what was kind of special for the steakhouse…

Kokichi looked up and gave his husband a sheepish look. “...they usually recommend wines to have along with dinner, and...while I don’t think I’d drink more than a glass-” The sting of hangovers was still too present in his mind. “-I’m not… I’ve never really looked into red wines… What do you think you’d want, if you wanted some?”

Kaito flushed, a wide, thrilled grin on his face. Again, it was silly, he knew it was, but… “Aww, treating me, huh babe? You might regret that: you might only need a bite, but I’m starving…” Kaito peeked underneath the table, and said with some amusement to the two penguins chilling in a bag at Kokichi’s feet, “What do you two think? Hungry? Hungry for some red meats?”

As for the wine… “Well, anything from Wonderland is usually some top shelf stuff, though Danganronpa’s stuff is always really good… a little sweet though, that’s somewhat of a turnoff for me, but you might really dig it. Um… ugh, don’t get anything from Hanatia, I don’t care how expensive it is, it’s going to taste like salt. Novis wine is really, really good, but also really potent, and honestly, just because of how rare it is, is maybe a little overpriced for its quality? Like its really good, but maybe not 800 golds worth… trust me.” Kaito grinned, looking a little sheepish, “I confirmed it myself.”

Kokichi grinned at the touched look on Kaito’s face and held himself a little higher. Sure, the steakhouse was a little more on the upscale side, at least in terms of prices, but it was nothing that would break the bank for Kokichi--or even put a strain on his monthly budget. He wasn’t about to go around throwing money everywhere, but Kokichi almost found a certain pride when he found he needed to write up a monthly budget for himself. Gone were the days of going months and months without spending anything; it turned out that Kokichi rather liked buying things for people when he let himself get close enough to them to buy things for them. 

“I trust you enough to not make me regret it, though I’ll admit there’s quite a bit of tolerance before you’d get close to hitting that point,” Kokichi giggled, before listening with attention to Kaito describing...well, apparently the wines of the world.

It sounded like if they had a Wonderland red that was the way to go, but hearing about the others was enlightening. Kokichi leaned back a little, kind of stunned by...almost anything being 800 gold, let alone a bottle of wine, before he sent Kaito a fond look. “That’s pretty incredible still, having something that rare… I think a lot of people would find that it tastes better because of the price tag, but to a point, a taste is a taste. I, uh… I know what I said, but 800 gold is a little out of my price range for tonight, hun.” Kokichi laughed softly, giving a clear indication that he was making a joke.

“Oh, yeah no, trust me, 800 gold for a bottle of wine is ridiculous, and I got, uh… well, not in ‘trouble’ for it, obviously, but Byakuya had some words for me when he heard about it.” Kaito shrugged, before smirking, “I did have a lot of fun that night though. Spent a stupid amount of money, sure, but I was hanging out with some people that night who were loving the experience. Like you said, some things are nice for the novelty of it, if you can manage it.”

Kaito paused as a waiter came up, greeting them warmly and asking how things were, before leading them menus to pour over, along with a separate wine menu, full of words that meant nothing on their own, but Kaito recognized well enough as he looked over it… “Oh, this one. See this one? The Jabberwocky? That’s a really nice bottle of red from Wonderland. Though, the JujuBird is also pretty good, and not as expensive… are you sure it’s okay to drink, ‘Kichi? We don’t have too, we can just eat.” Kaito offered uncertainly, knowing he had way overdone it last time.

Kokichi grinned, again just...thrilled. This was maybe Kaito could’ve talked about before but, talking about a time Byakuya had been less than pleased with him and just...shrugging and brushing it off? Kokichi had given Kaito many kisses over the day, but he still wanted to kiss him silly. 

“I could only imagine… I suppose it would be a bit different in Luminary since you worship a different god, but since all Novis’ wines have to be blessed to be considered wine...I mean, I’ve always heard the marketing as people calling it heavenly or a drink of ambrosia. If people leaned into that, and it really is that strong, I can imagine it’d be a sort of...once in a lifetime blast.” Except for the Novans themselves, he supposed, considering the drinking of wine could be a form of worship to their god.

Kokichi poured over the menu--as rich as the food smelled, he was rather hungry himself--but averted his attention when Kaito pointed out good wines on the list, nodding a bit. And...he smiled softly at his husband. “If you want some, we should get some. I’ve always heard that red meat and wine go hand in hand… Like I said, I’m not gonna have much, but...today’s a treat for us. I want it to be special, and if this makes it a little more special, then I wanna go for it.”

“...though I am kinda hoping you’ll keep your wits about you for later,” Kokichi murmured as quietly as he could while still talking to his husband, his cheeks tinting red even through the impish, flirty look he gave Kaito.

… uh huh. Sure.

Kaito wasn’t falling for it this time, universe… not that his husband ever teased him or anything! No, Kokichi, and Shuichi neither, to an extent, ever hinted anything was going to happen when it wasn’t. Even when Shuichi did tease, he usually made it pretty obvious that it wasn’t going to actually happen, just that he was, well… riling Kaito up. Cause Kaito liked to be riled up. (...usually.)

But! If the last...two months? Had taught him anything, it was patience...and to not think about it. Or at least not think about it like it was actually going to happen. Which was fine! He was fine. Never felt better, honestly! So damn… awake! All the time.

Which was great! Ha ha ha ha ha-- oh wait, he was laughing aloud, stop it, don’t act crazy.

Clearing his throat, Kaito coughed, embarrassed at his laughing fit, his face beat red. “Uhhhhh, ha ha, yeah.” He grinned, rubbing the back of his neck, though… as much as he was NOT GETTING HIS HOPES UP, UNIVERSE, still… “I know I’ve said this already today but… you look amazing, you know that? You’re beautiful every day, but… maybe it’s just the combination of your… very loud color prints today in your clothes, but I can really see the color of your eyes today. They’re practically glowing here. Little amethyst jewels in the dark…”

Kaito chuckled, a little embarrassed at himself. He felt corny, and probably was being corny, but he really was just trying to tell Kokichi how beautiful Kaito thought he was. Trying to reel it back from his looks a little, Kaito continued on, “And! And… I think it’s really sweet, how emotional you got at seeing some of the animals today… honestly, Kokichi, as much fun as I had at the aquarium, my favorite part of it was just seeing your reactions to it. You feel things so… openly. And vibrantly...I’m lucky to get to enjoy things with you. You make everything incredible…”

...honestly, Kokichi felt awful about the last few months, and even more that he was speaking in terms of months. Sure, he had his own needs, and taking some time in the bathroom by himself was nowhere near spending some quality intimate time with Kaito and Shuuichi, but...he knew Kaito felt all that stuff so much more. And while sex should never be a make or break of a relationship, and Kaito had made his own stance on that crystal clear with the mishap at the strip club, Kokichi still just...felt like he wasn’t being a good enough husband. 

Sure, it had...kinda gotten away from them the last few times, but...Kokichi would keep trying! And one of these days they’d finally get to indulge in each other again. 

And...maybe his attempt today was working. 

Kokichi smiled as Kaito praised his looks, but the prose about just what Kaito liked about him in general made Kokichi’s cheeks flush and prompted him to duck his head a little with a pleased little look. “Hun…”

Reaching across the table, Kokichi held his hand out towards Kaito, resting the back of his hand on the table. “You’re making me blush… I had so much fun today, and...like, sure, I really like the aquarium, but it was incredible getting to go with you. You call me open, but...when you see something amazing, it’s like the entire world is focused right on that thing, and you always have insightful or just...I don’t know how to describe it, but...you say stuff that makes things more. The image of a space whale isn’t one that’s gonna leave me for a while.”

“...I really love you, Kai-chan,” Kokichi said softly, his ever-emotional eyes saying every word with him. “Getting to spend my life with you, and experience the world with you is like...being colorblind, then getting to spend the rest of my life with someone who lets me see color.”

Kaito beamed at him, though he couldn’t help but laugh a little at himself as he did, just, waaaaay too giddy as he took Kokichi’s hand, and with his free one, covering his eyes a little, like he was trying to hide himself a bit as he grinned. “You sap, stop that. This was my turn to be sweet and romantic, stoooooop. Colorblind… for fucks sake, ‘Kichi, you do this to me on purpose.”

Gah, why did he have to be so easy, he felt like he was gonna turn to damn mush. Gah!

The waiter came back, and realizing he had barely looked at the real menu, Kaito insisted Kokichi order first-- pleading with his eyes for his husband to go slow-- as he quickly looked through the menu, and when the waiter finally got to him, answering, “Expresso rubbed mignon please, medium rare, sweet potato fries with a, uh, crispy artichoke and…” Kaito hesitated, this was getting pricey… but he was really hungry… “...buffalo shrimp skewers?” He said, half asking Kokichi if that was alright, half giving his order.

“Of course I do,” Kokichi shamelessly grinned, rubbing the side of Kaito’s hand with his thumb. “I want to tell you every day how much you mean to me, and I’m naturally going to express that in different ways. That it makes you so happy is just a bonus for me.” And he actually thought that was a pretty good metaphor. You could go through life normally with colorblindness, but being able to see color was just...living life with extra. Making things a little more than they were. He and Kaito were individual people living their own lives, but Kokichi was far happier with his life and who he was when he was with Kaito.

Kokichi caught Kaito’s look as the waiter came back, and even on top of his order--a small portion of marinated flank steak with chickpea and eggplant croquettes and fondant potatoes, along with the Wonderland wine Kaito had pointed out (and a glass of water with lemon wedges)--made small talk with them, explaining with a bashful smile that tonight was date night, oh, yeah, Shuuichi was enjoying a relaxing night at home, though they’d absolutely bring back dessert for him, the baby’s doing well, they’re all so excited for her birth; it’s coming up really soon! And when Kaito looked up from the menu and made his order, Kokichi just grinned at him with a subtle nod.

“Ooh, all that sounds wonderful too. I hope you won’t be too put out if I ask to steal a fry, hun.”

“‘Course babe, heck knows I’ve finished plenty of your food.” Kaito grinned, handing his menu to the waiter, who headed out. Sure, that was usually because Kokichi was full and got real guilty if he had to throw away food, but, like… Kaito was never displeased to have more food. He was a dude that needed to eat a lot! Fill ‘em up!

Kaito glanced around the restaurant-- still idly putting his hands around the edge of the table, mostly now because he liked the way the gloss on the wood felt, and looking at everyone else on their dates… probably? This seemed very much like a date place. The candles were a really nice touch, and he loved the music. 

Hmmm… it was actually kinda a shame they hadn’t had chances to do stuff like this more often. Kaito liked days like these, where it was quiet and soft… it was only his darn imagination that wanted anything more intense, and, welllllll-

Kaito leaned into the table, saying spiratorially to Kokichi, “Did I ever tell you about the time I went on a date with a mystery phantom thief?”

It was all settled then, and Kokichi was able to...er, more or less do the mental math ahead of time to estimate their bill, though he did want to think about dessert later, if just to bring something nice back for Shuuichi. They were getting a full meal, but it still wouldn’t be painful on his purse. Responsible indulgence!

...it was really nice, getting to treat Kaito to dinner. That was the purpose of the day but...it really felt like a proper date. The kind of thing two people really comfortable with each other after a long time of knowing each other romantically could do, even if the rings on their fingers had been there for just as long. Things would be different once Miya was born, but...Kokichi hoped they could find ways to have more dates together in the future. 

Just kind of basking in the atmosphere for a moment, Kokichi looked over at his husband in slight surprise before smirking and leaning forward towards him. “Oh? This is a new story to me. Seems kind of star-crossed, a prince going out with a notorious, mysterious, handsome phantom thief.”

“He was dashing, but I was meeting him with ulterior motives, and he was not happy to see me.” Kaito confessed, smirking a little as he leaned his head against his knuckles, “You see, Shuichi had actually received a letter in the night, the phantom thief sending him a riddle about a time and place to meet him. See, the two had this sort of rivalry, sort of… flirtation thing? Going on for a long time now, Shuichi trying to catch the phantom thief on behalf of the royal guards, and the phantom thief considered Shuichi his one true rival. So, Shuichi knew that when he figured out the riddle leading to a nice restaurant at a certain time of night, that the guy was setting him up for some weird date encounter.”

“Now…” Kaito sighed, running his hand through his hair giving himself a chance to think, “He was gonna go, but when Maki heard about it? She said no way. Shuichi’s not a bad fighter by any means, but he’s our most reluctant one, and Maki didn’t want him putting himself in danger like that. But Shuichi thought this was going to be the perfect opportunity to catch him, and he just couldn’t let the idea go to waste. So, finally, I said, Shuichi! Let me wear your jacket and your hat, the restaurant has low lights, I’ll slouch, and by the time the phantom thief knows its me, we’ll have the restaurant surrounded anyway!”

Kokichi laughed softly, not much more sound than air leaving his mouth though his shoulders bounced a little. He really loved these little stories. Listening to Kaito’s off-the-wall ideas…

Though he loved chiming in, too.

“You know, I’ve had a weird date encounter too that that reminds me of,” Kokichi smirked. “A friend of mine said that they knew this guy, brilliant, competitive, eyes that could make you swoon in a glance, and, obviously, that sounds like my type. My friend said he’d set us up on a blind date...though, I was nervous about just showing up and being me, yanno? I didn’t want to intimidate some guy I hadn’t ever met by showing up as the reclusive prince.”

Kokichi rolled his eyes with a laugh. “I had this super silly eye mask, all made with lace filigree. It was for a purpose, but I figured starting things off with a laugh would be a nice ice-breaker.”

Kaito’s eyes widened in mock astonishment, as he said, “What a coincidence, that’s exactly what the phantom thief that day was wearing too! And, honestly? Even knowing he was a notorious criminal, I thought it was pretty fetching.” Kaito grinned, and even as he said it, imagining Kokichi in a getup like that… a flush ran across his face, adding that imaginary outfit to the rotation. 

Kokichi, in Kaito’s head, went through... A lot of costume changes. A lot, a lot.

“Well, when my phantom thief showed up, he was… very confused. I mean, I pretty obviously wasn’t Shuichi, the second he sat down at the table and could see my face clueing him in, but surprisingly? He didn’t seem to know who I was at all! I mean, I had thought I had made a pretty decent reputation as Shuichi’s protector, all of HIS enemies were MY enemies, sort of thing. You’d have thought the phantom thief would have recognized me immediately, for how long they had been fighting.”

“But! My pride was only hurt a little! And it was really a bought of good fortune for me, because the guy seemed so confused that he didn’t immediately try to run, like we thought he would. Instead, he stuck around, asking me questions, trying to work out who I was, which meant the guards outside had more and more time to get into position!... the, uh… the only problem was?” 

Kaito laughed, rubbing the back of his neck, “By the time our dinner came out? I was… a little smitten…”

Kokichi laughed, taking a sip of the water that the waiter had given the table. “I know what you mean…”

“The guy that showed up was...different from what I had known,” Kokichi started, leaving an incriminatingly long pause before he continued, “From what my friend told me, I mean. They didn’t describe him as being quite so tall...or ripped. And the guy at the restaurant...while his eyes were quite pretty, I’d describe him as having more of an eye-catching smile...the kind of grin that lit up a room like the sun, if I’m honest.”

“But, yanno, the guy obviously expected to be there so...can’t always trust a guy’s descriptions, can you? I was having a good time anyway, so I decided to stick around, see how things went.” Kokichi grinned, resting on one of his hands, his eyes glittering with enjoyment. “I was trying to get to know him, average date stuff...made it a little harder since I couldn’t straight out say who I was but...it was kinda fun, you know? Neither of us were really giving out straight answers. It was like a game…”

At that, Kokichi giggled and feigned a blushing expression. “Having fun with me is one of my major weaknesses, Kai-chan’ll know. I was really enjoying that date.”

“Your guy sounds incredibly charming, and it's entirely understandable that you wanted to jump his bones after the first date.” Kaito said, like it was a matter of fact, nodding sagely. “Though, really, Kokichi, here I am trying to tell you about my incredibly cool adventure spy thing, and you just can’t stop interjecting with your smutty personal history stories. It’s very unclassy. I don’t always want to hear about the incredibly hot guys you hooked up with, you know?”

“Yes you do,” Kokichi retorted, feeling almost uncharacteristically confident in saying that. If Kaito had been telling a real story? Kokichi would’ve never interjected in the first place, intrigued in hearing more of Kaito’s past. But this was their kind of story, so he was free to be silly and open with it. 

“Besides,” he sighed, “I didn’t end up hooking up with the guy, even with how hot and sweet he was. I doubt I could even accurately describe what happens next so...I mean. I was just trying to relate. But there’s no way what happened with your phantom thief was anything close to what happened on my date.”

“Ugh, yes I do.” Kaito whined, sighing in genuine disappointment. The only down side to Kaito being Kokichi’s first… everything, was that Kaito knew all of Kokichi’s sexy stories. He was there for all of them! Shuichi’s too, actually.

(... that wasn’t true.)

(But when Shuichi was finally ready to tell Kaito those stories, they were very much not going to be stories to get them riled up. Kaito was going to be someone Shuichi felt safe and comfortable talking to about it, he was determined. He wouldn’t get mad, or vengeful, and he sure as fuck wasn’t going to treat it as somethng to be horny about. He just… wanted to be someone Shuichi knew would listen.)

(...maybe someday he’d get back to that level of trust, for the guy.)

“Well, here I was on this dinner date with the guy, who’s just, been, like… weirdly nice the whole time! For being a nefarious phantom thief up to no good! And I knew that if he tried to leave, the guards were going to take him outside, and hell, by that point, Maki herself might move in to just grab himself herself! And, now, I’m no traitor, but… I don’t knoooow, he was so preeeeetttyyyy and he was really niiiiice to me.” Kaito groaned, putting his head in his hands, “...I caved. I didn’t want him to get caught. I’m weak, okay! So~”

Kaito leaned against the table, lowering his voice, as he said, “I couldn’t just tell him what was up in the middle of the restaurant, so after we ordered dessert, I asked him… if he’d meet me in the restroom, before dessert showed up.” Kaito smirked, raising an eyebrow… before snickering, “I was just trying to give us a cover if anyone was watching, I mean… you know my reputation back in Luminary. I could pull a move like that without anyone thinking I had changed sides. And, honestly? I… still have no idea to this day if the dude had any idea what I was implying. But I knew there was a window in the bathroom that we could sneak him out of there, so I really insisted that we needed to go! Especially before Maki got word of what I was doing and came in to just punch me in the face for being reckless on a mission in the first place.”

Honestly, Kokichi really wished he had some stories to share with Kaito, but...well, that was this whole thing wasn’t it? Kokichi didn’t have any real stories, so...they just made their own. Concocting narratives full of intrigue and mistaken identity that were kinder than the actual, real one Kokichi and Kaito shared. And...Kokichi had a feeling he enjoyed these a lot more than any true story he could’ve shared with Kaito. 

“Kai-chan, always a sucker for a pretty face,” Kokichi sing-songed. “Though...if the thief wasn’t even trying to get information about Shuu-chan out of you? Maybe it was for the best…”

As Kaito explained his grand plan to save the phantom thief, Kokichi’s eyes widened in surprise before he groaned softly, dropping his face into his hands. “...I can’t believe it. I actually can relate to that. My blind date suggested the same thing and…” 

Kokichi sighed, giving his husband a self-deprecating look. “Look, you know I’m not exactly known for hook-ups. That was the last thing on my mind when he invited me to talk in the bathroom… I thought he’d figured out who I was and was being nice, wanting to let me know without announcing it to the whole restaurant. Still...I felt like my heart was sinking as we walked over to the bathroom…”

“Ha! Awwww… yeah, my guy seemed really confused and unenthused too. I’ll be honest, I felt a little creepy when I was walking with him to the bathroom. He didn’t seem like he really wanted to go, and if I had actually been trying to start some sexy times in the bathroom, it would have felt real weird to keep trying.” Kaito mused, a mild disquieted look at that, before grinning, “Thankfully! Not what I was actually doing! Shame though… damn he was sexy. Small too, I could just imagine-- oh! Thank you so much!”

Kaito laughed a tad too loudly as a server came up with their food, interrupting the story as they put down the food. Kaito and Kokichi took a second to get started on their meals, Kaito’s face lighting up at the taste of the steak. Nice… “This is amazing, babe, thank you so much again.” Kaito said, in between bites of his food, before saying, “Oh! Right, the story. So.”

“I got into the bathroom, wth the phantom thief, and quickly locked the door. Again! Still pretty in character for me, so though I knew Maki was probably already preparing to cut the crud out of me for pulling a move like this, we still had time before anyone panicked and stormed the place. Then, I tried to explain to the phantom thief that… I didn’t appreciate him messing with Shuichi, first of all! But, like, it’s not like the thief had ever actually hurt anyone, and I didn’t want him to go to the dungeons, and… looking back at it? I’m not sure how clear I was being.” Kaito confessed, shrugging as he ate a fry, “I was trying to talk really fast and I was starting to get nervous about what I was going to do, and it didn’t help that he just refused to acknowledge anything that was going on. So, I just tried to tell him that I thought he was pretty, didn’t want him fucking with Shuichi anymore, asked him to hit me up sometime, warned him Maki might kill him if he wasn’t careful, annnnnd-” Kaito grinned and shrugged, “Then I threw him out the window.”

Kokichi was amused through Kaito taking back the reins of the story, but he perked up when their food came. Everything smelled amazing up close, everything seeming like it was right off the grill--or whatever cooking apparatus was used for a particular item--and Kokichi could barely focus on the story as he swayed from side to side in delight, cracking into one of his croquettes. 

But they’d started a story, and damn would they finish it. 

Staring at Kaito in astonishment, Kokichi just shook his head after a moment. “I can’t believe it… That’s way too close to what happened to me! I couldn’t really get a clear idea of what the guy was saying, but...I think he was trying to tell me off for cheating with one of his friends? I think I might’ve stumbled into someone else’s date by accident, honestly. But…”

Kokichi laughed, giving Kaito a confused grin. “I think he liked me enough anyway? Asked for another date before throwing me through a window. I got really nervous, ‘cause I had wanted to pay for the meal out of goodwill… But it looked like there was a big party coming into the restaurant and I didn’t want to make a scene so I just went home. It was nice, but that’s the last time I took up my friend’s offers to set me up on a date.”

Kaito snorted at that, raising his wine glass and saying, “Cheers to that,” before taking a sip… before grinning, “Damn, that’s good though.”

He would only have one glass himself too. Better to pace himself with Kokichi, honestly. It was still a nice wine though. 

Though, as he ate, he glanced around the restaurant… before smirking behind his wine glass.

“Just so we’re both on the same page, there’s no way I can talk you into the bathroom. RIght?”

Kokichi met his husband’s cheers, still not totally settled with the Luminary tradition, but catching on more and more. And...while the wine was bitter and deep, he found it did indeed pair pretty well with his steak. Looked like there really was something to that pairing. 

Though not all pairings were universally appropriate for a fancy restaurant. 

Kokichi’s cheeks lit up as he sent Kaito a half-hearted glare. “There’s no. Way. Not until we get home, at least.”

“...there...er…” ...he kind of had just decided that, hadn’t he. Even if it was just him taking a shot to try and finally make something happen. “Was there anything you wanted to do at home once we get back?”

Kaito chuckled, entirely amused at Kokichi’s fluster as he said, “Okay, okay, okay, I was kidding, kidding… unless--no, that was a joke too, stop giving me the stink-eye babe, I’m just teasing.” Kaito laughed, giving an exaggerated wince at the look that came his way. 

Though, he raised an eyebrow at Kokichi’s question, swishing the wine in his glass around a little before smirking at him. “‘Kichi, you have no idea the sorts of things I want to do to you… or, sorry,” Kaito winked, “With you.”

Kaito was happy to flirt, but HA HA HA IF NOTHING HAPPENS HE’D BE TOTALLY FINE! … the sexy mystery novels he got Shuichi were fun… less sexy than you’d expect though, really. Very funny though! Heh heh heh, nnnnn…

Though, as he took out a piece of his artichoke-- “Babe, take one of these, dip it in that warm butter? And then scrape the skin off, it’s really good”-- he actually tried to seriously think about it, “...um… I mean, I’m okay with just… staying indoors  and chilling out in our room, babe? It’s been a lot of walking around for us, it’ll be okay if you’ll be, like… tired? I know you’re being really sweet and stuff right now, and that it being a ‘date’ comes with certain expectations, but, uh…” Kaito shrugged, eating another piece of his artichoke, “Those expectations aren’t real, okay? We can go home, relax, and I’d still call it a damn nice date. Okay?”

Kokichi rolled his eyes again but snorted, his cheeks coloring more when Kaito flirted back and...well, he’d be lying if he said it didn’t spark any desire in him. He wanted things done to him, damnit! And he wanted Kaito to be the one to do those things!

Following Kaito’s instructions on the artichoke--”Oh, that is really good… Here, try it with some of the sauce on my potato, I think it’ll be good too!”--Kokichi sighed slightly as, joking aside, they calmed things back down. Which was good for where they were, and Kokichi appreciated it, but…

Kokichi gave his husband a slightly strained look and stretched out to gently touch his foot against Kaito’s leg. “It’ll be a nice date no matter what the rest of our evening looks like. Today was amazing… But even if there was no expectation…” He huffed, his eyes lidding a little bit in frustration.

“I want to. It feels like we haven’t been able to find time at all and…” Kokichi glanced around the restaurant nervously for a moment as his cheeks colored more. “...taking an extra long shower is fine by my standards. But...you know as well as anyone I’m greedy and impatient. I wanna spend time with you… It’s driving me nuts.”

Kaito jumped slightly-- the penguins were moving!-- before he realized that was Kokichi touching him and… ahhhhhhhh, he was too easy, his face was already on fucking fiiiire stoooooop.

Kaito snickered, hiding behind his glass of wine as he sipped at it with a sense of urgency. Nnnnn… okay, this did sound like Kokichi actually wanted to do it, rather than just indulging Kaito’s whining-- no, no, not whining! He hadn’t whined! He had been really good about it!-- and… ah shit that meant he actually had to think about what they were going to do then! Or, no, was that him overthinking this? Probably. Don’t overthink this. Don’t be weird either! Are we being weird? How long have we been sipping on this sip, staring at nothing??

Probably… too long, if that was a question, right? Very carefully, Kaito put the glass down, before biting into another piece of his steak… it was really good…

“...our window and window seat’s always looked really sturdy to me.” Kaito mused, before grinning at Kokichi with a few too many teeth, canines glinting sharply, “I don’t know. What do you think? The latch on that window any good?”

Kokichi’s blush continued to heat up as he turned his gaze down to his dinner, eating in quick, small nibbles. Sexual needs and desires weren't anything shameful, and definitely not something Kokichi felt like he couldn’t talk to Kaito about, but...he still felt just...so uncomfortable talking about it all in public. It was (probably) unfounded nerves resulting from trauma, and he didn’t need to become a total pervert to combat it, but...he needed to get over himself at least a little. Enough that he didn’t feel the need to hide if Kaito made a flirty comment in public. 

...god, the food was so good. He knew fondant potatoes were kind of a fancy thing and that was the only reason he’d ordered it, but damn. Well worth its reputation. 

Kokichi glanced up when Kaito finally spoke back up, and for all his talk, Kokichi’s face just burned brighter. “...the latch is good, but I’d wanna draw the curtains… Do you think Shuu-chan would wanna watch?”

Kaito snorted, unfortunately at the same moment he was eating. Thankfully, he was just eating a fry, and after a moment of coughing the soft food went down, Kaito reaching for his water with the little lemon this time, sipping it urgently.

It maybe said something, that Kaito was more flustered at the idea of their mutual boyfriend getting to sit in for a show, rather than worrying about anyone looking up at their window. Thumping on his chest, Kaito laughed, before saying very quietly, covering his face partly with his hand to dissuade any nosy eavesdroppers from trying to read his lips, “...man, the guy will put me to work if he does. I haven't tried to give him a bj in ages… he makes me work so hard…”

The words were slightly whiny, but Kaito’s face was bright red as he said them, clearly lost in either some memory or daydream. Shuichi and Kaito’s sexual relationship ever so slightly different than his and Kokichi’s, or Shuichi and Kokichi’s.

Kaito bit his lip, before chuckling while drinking more water. “If he and Maki are done hanging out, he might want to. No harm in offering…” Kaito frowned a bit, thinking of Maki. He… really wished she was going out there, meeting people too. Maki wasn’t not a sexual creature, she very much was. Kaito could vouch for that personally. And now that she didn’t have the big ‘Mission’ to focus on, Kaito was starting to worry Maki was falling into the same trap he was in, only without even boyfriends and husbands to distract and fill the hours with.

...he was just… worried she might get lonely soon. Lake was friendly, but Kaito knew Maki and her weren’t exactly ‘hanging out’ friendly yet, and Kaito didn’t know if Maki had anyone outside of the family to really spend time with. She might not show the same signs of depression that Kaito got without anyone to spend time with, but Kaito knew damn well Maki needed people in her life, and...ngh. He was just worried about her. Shuichi had people he could spend time with, when he wanted too, but Maki just… didn’t…

Kaito bit his lip some more, before shrugging, “If Shuichi wants to spend time with Maki instead though, totally understandable.”

Kokichi snorted slightly at Kaito’s fluster, taking the time to steal the fry he said he would. Mmm...sweet potato fries. 

Sometimes Kokichi would almost call Shuuichi bossy, when he and Kaito were sexually focused on each other. It was incredibly arousing, though Kokichi did sometimes worry if Shuuichi was harping too much on their partner. A certain memory of one of the last times Kaito did give Shuuichi a blowjob came to mind. But even if Shuuichi wasn’t particularly in the mood to be touched himself, Kokichi had noticed he did derive pleasure from watching his boyfriends...just as Kokichi figured all of them did, watching the other two. Pretty handy when you were in a three-person relationship. 

...and not a four-person one, no matter how dear Maki was to them. While Kokichi even found something interesting and thrilling in Shuuichi watching Kaito fuck him into a wall, Kokichi felt a knotted squirm of discomfort imagining Maki watching as well. It just...wasn’t the same at all, and...no. 

His blush cooling and expression softening, Kokichi nodded. “Of course… I just wasn’t sure if they’d be hanging out in our room or something… I’m not about to make plans for people who aren’t here, yanno?”

…

Kokichi paused, this not really...sexy talk, but it wasn’t like he was trying to start anything right now either. “...how have things been between you and Maki-chan? I feel like it’s been better since our session with Dr. Mariah, but...I mean, you guys would be the best people to ask to know for sure.”

Kaito looked briefly surprised, wondering if his comment on Maki had sounded more loaded than it was… or at least more than he had meant too. “She’s on my mind too,” he confessed, shrugging uncomfortably, sipping at his water before sighing, “It feels… both fine and not? Sometimes it feels like there’s this big… fight that we’re still just waiting to have. Like it’s just on pause… sometimes I wish it’d just happen already. That me and her could get it over with, move past it, but… she’s not ready yet, I think.”

Pushing his steak around in its juices, he said, “She hasn’t even seen the kids yet. I know she wants too, she always talks like she… is kicking herself or not seeing them yet. But I think she’s afraid to be around them. She’s… prideful. Like our Shuichi. My two sidekicks have so much pride…” Kaito smiled fondly at that, before saying, his forehead pinching, “...that took so much work. Fostering those feelings. When I first met Maki…”

Kaito glanced at the fireplace in the distance, collecting his thoughts, before chuckling lightly, “We were just kids, and… she didn’t get ‘better’ all at once. It took… it took a lot of the same conversations, over and over again, over years. She’d be fine, and then something would happen, and… she’d just suddenly hate herself again. Maki spent so long hating herself… she’d blame herself for everything that… my family and the royal guards would order her to do. Convince herself that… she was unloveable. That she didn’t even deserve kindness, or love, or respect. She’d be so cruel to herself… and this? Right now? It’s that, but… worse. Because I’ve just never seen her like this before. I have no idea what to expect. Sometimes she seems fine, and then she’ll get this blank look on her face and turn to me and just wait for me to do something or decide something and… it’s like… it’s like she wants to live in that headspace she gets in, when she’s acting under conditioning orders? But…”

Kaito frowned at that, “...but despite everything? No matter what I tell her to do, or what voice I use, I’ve yet to see her mentally fall into that space, you know? Where she can’t actually say no? Her gaze gets really focused and still and intense, when she’s in that mode, and I haven't seen it once, since she got back… that’s really strange, honestly.”

Kokichi nodded slightly, his pace of eating slowed as his eyes grew more worried. Or...that wasn’t quite an apt description. There was a part of him that was perpetually worried about Maki these days. It wasn’t like a dark, overwhelming cloud over a city--he could have fun with Maki, could laugh and joke with her, could have nice, peaceful moments together, but...it was like that worry was always lurking somewhere nearby but out of sight until nothing else was going on. 

Shuuichi and Maki had so much pride...and Kokichi would never know exactly how difficult the road to that point was. Even if that pride could get his friends into sticky situations, make things harder than they needed to be...Kokichi at least knew the existence of that path, and Kaito talking about the starting point just solidified Kokichi’s stance that there were far worse flaws to have than being too prideful. Especially if that was what held his friends’ heads high in other circumstances. 

Plus...Kokichi knew it wasn’t just Maki’s own pride sticking to her feet right now. It was often something difficult to see, but Maki had rarely refused to take real looks at herself. It was so much more complex than that…

And while there were some things she faced head-on, Kokichi did--quite personally--understand the temptation to just...escape. And Maki trying to take agency away from herself just to run away…

(Well, it wasn’t healthy in the first place, but…)

...But it wasn’t working this time.

Kokichi looked up in surprise, something ringing to alert in his head. He hadn’t noticed Maki being tripped up by her conditioning since she’d been home either but...well, he tried not to ever trigger it. Not that he believed Kaito to take advantage of it, but if he noticed things that even by accident she normally would’ve…

(He needed to tell Temp and Alter Ego. It was not their work, but worth celebrating all the same.)

Hesitating for a moment, Kokichi ultimately spoke up. “...it might not be what she’s trying to do, but...that’s a good thing, isn’t it? That conditioning isn’t affecting her? Shuu-chan’s mentioned too that he hasn’t gone into tunnel vision in ages… Maybe there really is a way for people to break their conditioning...though if Shuu-chan and Maki-chan don’t know what’s happened, I don’t know anyone could really pin down a reason why…”

...Kokichi wasn’t sure himself, but...there was something in him that wasn’t concerned with finding the reason why. Where he normally would be brainstorming any possible reason why his friends were breaking something that was said to be unbreakable, he was just...content to observe the outcome. For some reason or another...all his family were getting their minds to themselves again. 

“It’s…” Kaito frowned, eating another leaf of his artichoke, “It’s of course a good thing. It’s just weird. I mean… Shuichi too, now, actually that you’ve mentioned it… it’s weird how he’s not done a data-dump in ages. Especially with how physically stressed out he’s been? The more tired and in pain he’d get, I was expecting it to get worse. Being physically exhausted has always really affected it…”

Kaito ate a fry… “...maybe it’s just… getting away from Luminary? Maybe that’s all it takes? Getting out of the country? Could be like a… reinforcement thing?” Kaito tapped at the table uncertainly, before saying, “...maybe I should tell Kaede?”

...well, Kokichi wasn’t going to say it, but…

He shrugged a little. “Maybe… Two isn’t exactly a sample size, but it might be good to bring up as a theory. Though...I’m not sure what she’d do with that information. It’s not like it’s very feasible to...set everyone who’d been subjected to the program up with a vacation plan for a few months. And I’m not sure how helpful it would be to just notify the public that it could be a way to lessen or even break the effects of conditioning.”

Somehow, he didn’t think people who were exploited into slavery had the funds to come to a different country for a while themselves. 

A slightly uncomfortable look came over Kokichi’s face. “It might be different if they never got their second rounds but...it might be worth asking everyone who volunteered for the exchange if they noticed a difference, once they come back. It at least might help us pinpoint what exactly is helping. That seems like a pretty invasive question, though…”

Kaito shrugged, “Maybe invasive for us, but… I mean.” Kaito deflated a little, catching himself thinking ‘If I was in charge’, which always depressed and embarrassed him, as he said without much enthusiasm, “I gotta imagine Kaede’s set up a team to try to work it out, and would maybe want the outsider perspective. Than… they could ask. You can’t just shut down the program but leave thousands of people with an ‘obedience setting’ in their head… especially if it’s not true that it doesn’t just ‘shut itself off’ after their time in the program is done. Which it never has. That’s just the… sort of bs we’d tell people to make it all seem more fair.”

“They’re going to be too easy to exploit if Kaede just leaves them alone… she’s gotta help them, you know? You can’t just shut the program down and be like, ‘yep, that’s done’... I have no idea what’s she’s going to do about everyone who actually runs the program.” Kaito confessed, brow furrowing as he said, “The people who know how to condition? There’s a ton of laws in place that’s meant to keep them from teaching their trades to anyone outside the program, but now that it’s done, controlling them is going to be trickier when they’re all spread out and moving into other fields… a bunch of people who know how to just… mentally change people? Just out in the wild?” 

Kaito felt a flash of Tengan… not ‘saw’ or ‘heard’ or ‘remembered’, but felt him… like he was on his skin… and grumbled as he shuddered in repulsion, “Kaede’s gotta do something about that. She’s gotta keep an eye on them.”

“That’s true…” Kokichi hummed, again feeling that kind of horrified but extremely proud feeling of Kaito plainly talking about the failures of Luminary. It was a weird feeling, but...they weren’t exactly in a normal position, were they. For now, Kokichi could take the joy where he found it, in Kaito breaking from his own conditioning. “It’d be better just to give her the ideas we have without having to figure out the implementation first. More data spread around can only help people.”

And even if the people who had been in the program couldn’t do much with that information? It still would benefit them to know. Maybe it would help them figure out another way to break conditioning, or even just keep that option on the horizon when they did get a chance. 

...but they needed to have chances.

Kokichi sighed, bringing up a hand to rub his temple a bit. “God, yeah…” There was a...another sense that he didn’t have to be as concerned, that the situation that allowed the runners of the program to change people wouldn’t be feasible in open-doored life, but… “...there’s probably going to have to be a lot of reforms dealing with the manipulation and coercion of others… That’s...that’s going to be a ton of work. Figuring out how to define things, where to draw lines, how to enforce it or hold people accountable… All those things have been decades of reforms in Dicea, and that’s without factoring in things like conditioning…”

Hopefully the new leadership would be up to the task.

“...yeah. And…” Kaito grinned, slightly uncertain, but not insincere, as he said, “And maybe Kaede really will make it a priority? I mean, she literally announced the Indentured Programs destruction at her coronation ceremony… that has to mean it's important to her. Maybe this will be her big ‘legacy’ project… if it is, she’ll do everything in her power to do it right. So… at least it's being taken seriously.”

Kaito still felt… gross. He scratched his arm, like that would help, before grinning with less sincerity as he said, “Give me five minutes, babe, I need to go use the restroom. And, no, that’s not me trying to coerce you in there to throw you out a window. Don’t follow me hoping for window throwing, okay?” Kaito grinned, giving him a wink, before getting up.

After getting some quick directions, he headed to the bathroom, and it turned out to be a single anyway, no windows to speak of. Shame. Kaito didn’t really have to go, he just wanted to splash some water on his face… he felt sweaty. Or, sticky… something like that. 

...he didn’t think it was too crazy to take off his shirt real quick and wipe down his arms and chest with a paper towel. He felt weird, okay? It only took a second anyway, he was quick about it. And he felt better when he was done. 

Putting his shirt and jacket back on, he took a fresh paper towel and washed his face real quick, double checking his goatee…

...it occurred to him he really hated Tengan.

The gross feeling came back, and Kaito grit his teeth, clenching his fist as he felt a rush of anger run through him… and it disappeared when he caught his eyes in his reflection. They looked hard. Tired lines at the corners that he had never noticed before. Imprinted there from glaring too much, too much time shouting in rage. Eyebrows that seemed naturally aggressive…

He looked familiar. 

He washed his face, took a breath, rubbed at the damn stone for all of twenty seconds, and when he was finished, the feelings went away. He didn’t feel sticky, and his reflection looked more normal. Okay… good! 

Time to… never think about what any of that meant! It would surely never happen again, if Kaito ignored it! 

All of this took maybe a little over six minutes, and Kaito headed back out, sitting down as he looked at their plates. “...wanna do dessert?” He asked with a grin.

Kokichi nodded and waved Kaito off to the bathroom with a smile, but…

...there were a lot of things Kaede and the other leaders needed to make a priority, as counterintuitive that was to the word. He knew she wouldn’t brush the end of the program and reparations for the people abused by it to the side, in part because people in the program had been a big part of Kaede’s fighting force and it would be suicide to brush them off now, but also because of Maki’s threat. Someone that would come to hold her accountable that wouldn’t care about any other collateral. 

But along with everything that went into repairing the harm the program had done, they had to prepare for the famine, try to heal Luminary’s economy at least a little more, and...do things with all the other social reforms Kokichi had heard vague mention of, but didn’t know the actual platform Kaede and that Naegi guy--who Kokichi learned to be Makoto Naegi--had promised to the people who took up arms for that promise. 

There was so much to do for Luminary… And things like that took time. Time that people wouldn’t be as kind to wait for, Kokichi knew, but...it wasn’t like Byakuya, who would be blamed for the civil war just because of timing, but yet couldn’t be completely absolved because of what he had planned to do if he’d gotten his promised time. Luminary wasn’t his problem, but...Kokichi still cared about people. So in any capacity he could, he would be supporting Kaede and Makoto’s efforts, and hoping people would be patient.

Kokichi zoned out as his logistics brain whirred, and by the time Kaito returned he had to blink himself out of it, smiling up at his husband. “You bet. Think we should get a whole one just for Shuu-chan?”

“I think if we do not, I am not going to get to blow him.” Kaito mused, looking around for a server as he said, “Give me one sec, babe, I’ll go grab us dessert menus.”

-

“They were so little, Shuu-chan!!!”

Kokichi fully intended on continuing his and Kaito’s fun night when they got home, but after spending the day out, there were some pleasantries to be had. Kokichi popped in to see each of his dads, saying hi, Kaito went to check on Tim, and Kokichi chattered away, regaling Shuuichi on everything they saw at the aquarium after presenting Shuuichi his slice of rhubarb and strawberry custard cake. 

And...that’s when things fell apart a little. 

Currently, Kokichi was sobbing into Shuuichi’s side, trying to explain about the baby penguins they saw. Their grey, fluffy little bodies and the cute way the penguins hopped and how it still looked like graceful flying when they were swimming, and, and!!

Shuichi was patting Kokichi’s back lightly with some amusement, matching Maki’s raised eyebrow with a small, barely there shrug. “There there… I’m sure they were very graceful swimmers… they sound like they were very accomplished little baby penguins…”

Maki was looking at the penguin doll that Kokichi wasn't currently gripping in a stranglehold, along with his boyfriend. “It does sound pretty cute.” Maki agreed, having told Kokichi she’d bring it to the nursery for him on her way back to her room, whenever she was off to skedaddle. “Not sure it’s… sobbing cute…”

“Maki,” Shuichi said, his tone a warning, before he went back to focusing on holding his hysterical boyfriend, rubbing his back and side soothingly as he said, “I imagine their little wobbles were very cute...like a toddler learning to walk.”

“More like you, now.” Maki teased. Ignoring Shuichi’s dry glare.

Kokichi nodded, sniffling as he cried, “Exactly!! They were just such! Little guys! And, an’, the parents, o-or older adult penguins, at least, would sometimes shuffle some of ‘em off to the side, like trying to keep their kids in line, an’ there was a real little one that was still keeping warm between its parent’s legs like when they’re roosting eggs - and!!”

Sniffling hard, Kokichi nuzzled into Shuuichi’s shoulder. “Miya’s gonna be so little too! She’s gonna be all little and learning to do things and we’ll shuffle her away from some stuff, keeping her safe, but she’s gonna explore ‘cause that’s what toddlers an’ little kids do and I can’t wait to be a daaaaaaad!!”

Kokichi choked off a sob there, squeezing the penguin tight to his chest. Four weeks… In four weeks he was going to be the dad carefully holding his daughter, keeping her warm and comfortable and safe and fretting over every second of her learning how to be a person and how to be herself. His little girl was almost here…

Shuichi laughed lightly, placing a light kiss against Kokichi’s head, as he said, “She’s gonna be a little thing, yes… her daddy’s gonna need her to look out for her. Thankfully, he’s excited to do so…”

As Shuichi whispered soothing, sweet, reassurances of praise to Kokichi, Kaito opened the door, gave a mildly surprised look at the openly sobbing Kokichi-- 

“Penguins.” Shuichi explained.

Kaito nodded. “Ah, right. Carry on. Maki? Can I talk to you out in the hallway?”

“Someone’s in trouble.” Shuichi teased.

Maki raised an eyebrow, “Am I in trouble?”

“What? No? Shut up, you two, I just wanted to talk to you about something.” Kaito insisted, Maki shrugging as she headed out, Shuichi going back to cuddling the weepy dad to be.

Out in the hallway…

“Hey, I was talking to Timothy… Kokichi had a good idea today of maybe the two of us doing something with him before Miyako was born? Partly for his birthday, but, at least for me, because a new baby’s gonna take so much attention…”

Maki raised an eyebrow. “Timothy’s an ex-soldier. He doesn’t need a bunch of attention.”

Kaito twitched at that, before saying, “He might not need it--” which he thought was debatable, “--but it still seemed like a smart idea to me. I was talking to him about maybe going on a fishing trip this weekend? Like, the whole weekend? Like, Lake Lossax?”

Maki nodded, “That’s a nice area. Crime rates low, for the amount of tourism it gets. The guardforce doesn’t take bribes though, so I wouldn’t recommend committing a crime there yourself.”

Kaito opened his mouth, closed it… “I’ll read the section in the binder. I’m asking if it’s okay with you if I take him on a trip, short notice like this?” 

“Why would I be worried about it?”

“You are… his mother. And I thought you’d want to know.” Kaito said stiffly.

Maki smiled at that, “I know. I just meant why would I worry about you taking him somewhere. You don’t have to give me that look, I wouldn’t be okay with Tim just disappearing for days with anyone else.”

“Right… thanks… and, while I have you, if you had any ideas of what you wanted to do with him? I know he’d love to do something with you…”

“I don’t know. I’ll think of something.”

“...”

“What?”

“...I just… he told me about your trip to the old lookout tower…”

“He did exceptionally well. I was very proud of him.”

“Maki, please, that’s-”

“What? I wanted to show him he could handle himself without me, and he did very well, what’s the problem?”

“He thought you asked him to kill someone, what do you mean what’s the prob-” Kaito bit his hand, walking away from her for a second, collecting himself. “...I’m not going to yell out in the hallway. Can we go to your room?”

“So you can yell at me there?” Maki asked blankly.

“No. I just… dammit… god… I don’t know how to have this conversation with you…”

“...you’re the one who gave him to me. What, now I’m not fit to be a mentor or a mother?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m not even implying that, why would you say that? But we can’t… he’s not indentured, Maki, we can’t treat him like he’s gonna grow up fighting or his life-”

“I want to go to bed.” Maki said blankly. “May I?”

“...Maki, please, don’t shut down on me…” Kaito begged, running a hand through his hair, his chest starting to pound with adrenaline, half from anger, half from fear as he said, “I’m not trying to accuse you of anything, okay? I’m trying to work with you, I just…”

“So I can’t?”

Kaito could have strangled her, in this moment… but maybe this was Maki asking for a break, not trying to shut him down entirely. She was being a bitch in how she was asking, but.. Dr. Mariah was always saying to respect requests for breaks…

“Sure, Maki. But… later, can we please talk about this?” Kaito asked, feeling exhausted already. “It’s important to me.”

Maki gave the smallest, most curt of nods, before heading to the nursery, disappearing inside of it to put the penguin away, before heading to her own room.

Kaito ran his hands over his face, groaned… before slightly slapped at his cheeks. Okay, Momota, get it together. Don’t bring it back into the room with you. He and Maki were dealing with their own thing, it wasn’t his lovers problems… breathe in, breathe out… okay. He headed back inside.

By the time Kaito came back into their room, Kokichi had calmed down, his cheeks still a little ruddy from crying, but his expression was serene as he kissed at Shuuichi’s cheeks, exchanging their positions a little as now Kokichi was rubbing Shuuichi’s back. He wasn’t, like, blazing down a path to set the mood, but he had talked to Shuuichi about what he and Kaito discussed at the restaurant. 

And maybe it just said something about Kokichi’s emotions, but having been sobbing about cute penguins and becoming a father hadn’t taken him away from that desire at all. 

With one last soft kiss against Shuuichi’s face, Kokichi turned to look at Kaito’s re-emergence into their room, noting the tenseness in his shoulders and Maki’s absence. “...everything okay, hun? Maki-chan decide she’s tucking in for the night?”

“Yeah, she was feeling tired.” Kaito grinned, “I just wanted to get her permission to take Timothy on a trip. Would you guys mind if I disappeared for the weekend? Either this upcoming one or the next, I just don’t want to put it off too long in case anything happens to stop us from going, but I’ve told him I want to take him on a fishing trip for his birthday.”

Shuichi looked surprised, resting his head against Kokichi’s now that kisses were not coming in plentifully, “It’s a bit early for his birthday, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, but Kokichi brought up the fact that Tim’s birthday is going to happen when Miya’s only, like, a month and a few days old… it might be tough to make him feel special when a baby keeps taking us away. Just don’t want him to feel like it didn’t matter, ya know? He’s turning ten! Double digits! Thats big in any kids life! Gotta celebrate those milestones!” Kaito grinned, before leaning over to them, taking a kiss from both of them as he said, “You both look cute… hey, this is gonna sound backwards, but you all mind if I take a quick shower first? Lots of strange animals and walking around today.”

Kokichi nodded his assent, more prepared to be asked since, well, he and Kaito had already talked about it. Since it was already Sunday, it gave Kaito at the least all of the weekdays of this next week to plan and prepare--though, he probably needed to ask Tim too, if he hadn’t already. Kokichi hadn’t heard anything about any storms coming up soon, so whichever weekend they chose, it was sure to be a nice trip. 

Little by little, they were figuring out their family. 

Smirking a little, Kokichi nuzzled Shuuichi as he gave Kaito a wink. “Doesn’t bother me to have more time to love on our Shuu-chan. Though...would you be bothered if I don’t? I think I’d wanna take a shower after and it feels weird doing it twice so close together…”

Kaito mostly wanted a second to relax and get his head straight, so he smirked and said, giving Kokichi another small kiss, “Not at all. I think it's kinda sexy, getting clean to let you make me filthy again… though I should also brush my teeth, and maybe you should real quick too, cause I was, like, gargling aquarium water for a second there.”

“What?” Shuichi blanched.

Kokichi wrinkled his nose and nodded, untangling himself from Shuuichi to go brush his teeth. “Kai-chan pet an urchin too hard and immediately put his finger in his mouth. It was pretty gross… Luckily, one of the employees knew there was disinfectant in the hand sink in the area so we could make sure Kai-chan wasn’t gonna get an infection at least from his finger… It’s still up in the air if he doomed himself with his mouth.”

“I’m not gonna get sick. Shuichi, tell him! I never get sick!”

“This is how we lose Kaito.” Shuichi murmured, sighing as he leaned back on the bed, rubbing his belly a little as he said, “Urchin poisoning… so preventable…”

“Eh, I’ll be fine. Still worth a teeth washing though.” Kaito laughed, letting Kokichi go ahead of him, though as his husband brushed, he started running the water of his shower, letting it warm up as he started to kick his own clothes off.

“Say that again when you’re shivering and sniffling in bed,” Kokichi groused, though he gave Kaito an affectionate nudge as they went into the bathroom together. It probably was unlikely that Kaito would suffer any adverse effects from his reflex, but...still. It was a bad idea to put unfiltered water in your mouth. That was where all those tide pool critters pooped and shed. 

Mouth clean, Kokichi went back into the room and snuggled right back up against Shuuichi, joining in on rubbing his belly. “...how are you doing? I know I kinda made all this a whirlwind, but if you’re not up to anything Kai-chan and I can go somewhere else… Or not fuss over you as much. I want Shuu-chan comfy and happy too.”

“Mmmmm…” Shuichi smiled at the fussing, shifting slightly to make his shoulder and arm a more comfortably pillow for Kokichi as he said, “It wasn’t really where my head was at, today, but… I mean,” Shuichi huffed a little, “I can’t… participate. That much. But… watching you and Kaito does sound kind of fun… do you think it would be weird to eat my dessert and watch at the same time? Well, maybe no more weird than eating it off of Kaito…”

...Shuichi’s face flushed at that, the memory suddenly front of his mind as he said, “...it’s so strange how appealing that idea is to me again. I really thought my desire to do that was partly from still being on the pollen back then? Apparently not. I find something very alluring about eating food off of Kaito. That’s so weird, where does that even come from?” 

Kokichi giggled softly, definitely not at his boyfriend’s expense, and kissed at his cheek again. “I don’t think there’s always a way to trace back a kink. Sometimes they just...are. And I don’t think you eating your cake while watching or you eating sweets off Kai-chan is weird. It’s just what Shuu-chan finds hot, and I think it’s hot watching you enjoy it.”

Another few kisses to Shuuichi’s cheeks before Kokichi looked up at him with love and sincerity. “When you feel like you wanna participate more? I think it’s definitely something we can do again. It was a lot of fun, honestly…”

Shuichi laughed, trading kisses in turn, before sighing happily, looking back at that memory as he said, “I think Kaito was laughing at us for a little bit of that. I wonder if that was a first for him? It’s kind of nice to think we managed to be his first something… I’ll ask him when he comes out.” he said, hearing Kaito still in the shower.

“... did you ever peek through that book I got Kaito? The sex one?” Shuichi asked, an amused look on his face as he said, “There is some weird stuff in there. There was one page, about hook suspension? I found a red marker and wrote over the whole page, Never on your LIFE.” Shuichi laughed, shaking his head, “And another page, about wrapping someone up entirely? Like, just completely covering them up in some sort of binding material, like a blanket or latex? I put a big question mark on that one and a NO there too, and I think Kaito was actually disappointed I shot that one down, when he asked me about it later. It looked dangerous to me, like someone could suffocate on accident. I hope you don’t mind, but I said no to that for all of us. I don’t care if he wants to try it himself, I don’t want him getting hurt.”

Kokichi glowed at the returned kisses, enjoying this softer affection with Shuuichi. “I don’t actually mind that… I don’t mind looking a little silly to you guys, in usual life or in the bedroom. Kinda makes things fun, and I know you guys will take me seriously where it counts.”

And...it was wonderful to feel that way about people. To not feel like he had something to prove, or that no matter what he did he’d be written off. Kokichi could let himself be silly and vulnerable and know that that wasn’t the only impression his lovers would have of him. It was...incredible.

His cheeks coloring, Kokichi shook his head. “I’ve kinda half-expected Kai-chan to bring it up himself one of these days, but I haven’t looked through it myself. I feel like I’d just get too embarrassed… People like what they like, but it’s too much for me to just...read a bunch in a list.”

“...and I think I’m okay with you shooting that down,” Kokichi softly, sheepishly chuckled. “I feel like I have a pretty defined line between being exciting and risky, and putting one of us in danger. I’m not against experimenting with...I don’t even know an example, but more intense stuff, but...I just want us to be safe, you know?”

“Mmmmhm,” Shuichi agreed lazily, closing his eyes, enjoying holding Kokichi while he had him, “I agree… I may be a bit more squeamish than you though, honestly. I tried to let Kaito choke me, the way he does you sometimes? Hated it, took me right out of the moment. I only tried it at all cause I saw how much you enjoyed it, when he did it to you…”

Shuichi opened his eyes, frowning as he gave Kokichi a suddenly concerned look, “...you do enjoy it, right? This isn’t one of those things you and Kaito just hadn’t talked about yet?”

Kokichi looked up at Shuuichi in surprise before his cheeks reddened more, a sheepish smile wobbling across his face. “Well, speaking of things you didn’t expect to like… I enjoy it. Quite a bit...um. It’s...thrilling, you know?”

He laughed awkwardly, a little embarrassed to talk about it, though his blush deepened more from thinking about his enjoyment. “Kai-chan did kinda push it to the extreme when we first got together, but...we’ve set boundaries, and he hasn’t pushed them. It’s just… I like getting a little breathless… Makes things...exciting and...more intense...you know?”

“Yeah… you two do seem to lean towards that, when we’re all together.” Shuichi mused, thinking of the way Kaito’s voice got deeper, more forceful and growly, when he was focusing more on Kokichi, than he ever did with Shuichi, the way some of things he said sounded almost a little alarming… until Shuichi said something, and broke whatever spell Kaito was trying to cast. “...I don’t know if I like the excitement, myself.” Shuichi confessed.

He thought of when he was happiest, when he was with them, and said after a moment, “I like when Kaito… and you, though you’re always like this-” he smiled, giving Kokichi another sweet kiss, “-but when you’re… slow. And easy to predict. Or, at least, are listening… I like when Kaito seems to wait on my cue on everything. It just feels… comfortable. Safe. I don’t like to be overwhelmed.”

“I like that too…” Kokichi contently hummed, cuddling more against Shuuichi. He really did like the thrill of being overwhelmed and riding the wave, but there was a peace and intimacy in going slow and confirming everything every step of the way too. Perhaps that was why he was happy with both paces his lovers set. 

“I love when Shuu-chan seems happy and comfy and loved… There’s a warmth around you that makes me wanna get close and never leave.” Kokichi grinned and returned Shuuichi’s kiss, giving one more for good measure. “I like seein’ you get crafty too. All confident and curious...even if it ends up throwing me for a turn. I guess I just like all sides of Shuu-chan.”

Shuichi felt his stomach warm, a small flush settling over his pale skin at the compliments. “Thank you, Kokichi…” he said softly, genuinely. His partners never held back from making him feel loved, but… it was still a precious thing to him… 

...he clutched Kokichi tighter, as he heard the shower turn off, and joked, “I’ve changed my mind. Kaito’s going to have to fight me for you. We’re napping buddies today. Kaito can have his sexy times some other day.”

“Always my pleasure,” Kokichi softly murmured back, leaning up to place a softer kiss on Shuuichi’s forehead. It had been a long, long road for them all. But with his feelings clear, Kokichi would always opt to let them ring from his heart. He loved Shuuichi, every part, and, like he’d told Kaito earlier, it was Kokichi’s greatest joy to spend his life with the man he was cuddled around. Someone who made him, and his life, just more. 

Kokichi giggled a bit as Shuuichi tightened his hold, but it trailed off into a groan. “As much as I’d want to take you up on that any other day, Shuu-chaaaaaan. It’s been months. I’m gonna go nuts if we don’t actually make something happen tonight. I want Kai-chan to bend me over and make me moan while you watch.”

“Nope. I’ve already decided. You can just rub one out later.” Shuichi decided, entirely unsympathetic, settling in for his cuddling, though his brows pinched together as the bathroom door opened up, letting out the steam collecting in there, as he said loudly, “No, Kaito.”

Kaito blinked in confusion, rubbing the towel through his hair, the rest of his body air dying a bit as he had rubbed himself over in the bathroom, ‘No what? What’d I miss?”

Kokichi let out a loud sigh, pouting from within Shuuichi’s arms. “Shuu-chan’s decided he wants to cuddle me and you’ve gotta fight if we wanna be intimate tonight. Like...I get it, I’m great to cuddle with, but…”

Maybe laying it on a little thick, Kokichi pouted even more up at Kaito. “I want you between my legs! I miss having Kai-chan in me! I don’t wanna go another seven months minimum without having you make me see stars.”

Kaito, who had been amused this whole speech, suddenly looked genuinely alarmed, “Seven months!? Who said anything about seven months!?”

“Tragic.” Shuichi drawled lazily, tightening his hold on Kokichi, “Two star-crossed lovers, cock-blocked forever by me and the baby. They’ll write ballads about this.”

“Seven months minimum?” Kaito whined, and this time it was a whine, dammit! He was officially whining! “There’s three of us! We know how to do quickies! We can hide in the closet, so long as one of us is with Miya! Why are we waiting seven months after this!?”

Kokichi, if it were possible, just pouted even more as he slouched in Shuuichi’s arms. “We’re not doing anything in here while we’re having Miya crib in here too, and if the past few months have shown anything, it’s that we’re terrible at actually planning out times to be together. If anything, seven months is low-balling it--that’s just how long it might take for Miya to be able to roll over on her own, but I’d still feel more comfortable having her nearby until she can firmly sleep without accidentally putting herself in danger.”

Kaito put his palms in his eyes and grooooaned, turning around and just letting himself fall against the bed. 

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, giving Kaito an amused look. “...you alright there, Kaito?”

“...fine…” Kaito groaned, still digging his palms into his eyes, “...fiiiiiiine… ‘m fiiiiiiiiine.”

Shuichi snorted, nuzzling Kokichi and kissing at his cheek as he said, “You broke Kaito.”

“Noooo heeeee diiiiidn’t… ‘m fiiiiiiiiiiiiine.” 

Kaito just... Needed a minute. To grieve his blue balls.

Pausing only to kiss Shuuichi’s cheek back, Kokichi squirmed in his boyfriend’s arms, nudging his foot against Kaito’s side. “Kai-chaaaaaaan, fuck meeeeeeeee!”

“Need a minute, babe, one sec…” Kaito groaned, still grappling with his immediate future. Okay… so, seven months… and that was lowballing it. It’s been two months since the last time they did anything together. Okay…

Cheer up! That… wasn’t even a year! When all was said and done! Kaito could… have sex only once! For a year! Less than a year! Less than a year. You are… Kaito Ouma Momota! You are not an animal! You can handle it… without whining! 

...nnnnnngh.

You still have your right hand! Your right hand is reliable. And you’ll get more sexy books! With actual sex in them! Kaito would ask first, next time, if the sexy books had actual sex scenes in them! There’d be quiet moments to read! And showers! Showers.

“I’m leaving you both for shower-chan.” Kaito grumbled. “Shower-chan’s my new boyfriend-slash-husband.”

“Nnnnnnngmmmm.”

Kokichi lowly whined, getting a little teary again. He’d spent twenty years without sex, but...damnit he wanted his husband to bang him! Sure, the baby was gonna put a wrench in everything, and Kokichi just pointed out that they were kind of terrible at making things work when it didn’t align perfectly, but...they could find time!! Somewhere!!

“Dooooon’t leave meeeeee,” Kokichi whined, thrashing his legs a little on the bed but careful not to jostle Shuuichi too much. “I wanna have seeeex with yoooooou!”

“Shower-chan has always been nice to me.” Kaito grumbled, “And I always smell nice afterwards too. Bonus’s.”

Shuichi was just outright snickering now. This was not the show he had been promised, but as Kokichi thrashed and whined in his arms, Kaito having a mini-breakdown on the other side of the bed, he couldn’t help but laugh, rubbing his belly as he said, “Miya, I’m so sorry, we are so not ready to be adults.”

Kaito groaned, ignoring Kokichi’s thrashing and begging, putting his arms over his head and just sulking to himself.

“...hey, Kaito?” Shuichi asked, looking amused with him, “Were we the first people to ever use you as a table?”

“...what, like, actually having me lay down and putting a whole damn… freaking sugary buffet on me?” Kaito grumbled under his arms… before chuckling a little, “...yeah. I mean, in the sense that you guys definitely were the first ones to make a whole thing of it. I didn’t wanna say it at the time, I think, cause I didn’t wanna embarrass ya, but… yeah.”

Kaito chuckled at the memory a little… and that little bit of brevity was enough to get him out of his head a little, as he sat up, glaring dryly at Shuichi, “Give me my husband.”

Shuichi smirked. “No.”

...they were all so young. But sometimes life just didn’t wait for you to grow up before happening. They were soon going to be parents, one of them a parent of two, and Kokichi was a key person involved in keeping the kingdom running. But...standing to meet the expectations thrust upon them didn’t mean they couldn’t have fun and act their ages sometimes too.

Kokichi huffed wetly before sitting himself up more from where he’d slouched down in Shuuichi’s arms. Then, ever so gently, like Shuuichi was made of delicate spun sugar, Kokichi started kissing up one of his arms, paying reverence to each of his fingers and every little joint going up. “Shuu-chan… Shuu-chan please… I love you…”

Shuichi laughed lightly, a small blush on his face, as Kokichi effectively negotiated his release. “...ooooh, fine.” Shuichi laughed, loosening his grip as Kokichi kissed up his arm, “You’re lucky Kokichi’s such a good diplomat, Kaito. I was going to make you fight me for him.”

“Uh huh.” Kaito said dryly, putting his arms around Kokichi’s waist and pulling him away from his fawning over Shuichi, stealing his own kiss from Shuichi, before saying to him, “Thank you sooo much for sparing me, Lord Saihara.”

Shuichi gave Kaito an unamused look at that, “You know that annoys me.”

“And you know that I think it's sexy.” Kaito grinned, stealing another kiss, before successfully stealing Kokichi completely, pulling him from the bed, before changing his mind and dropping him back down onto it. 

Looking down at Kokichi, a viscous glint in his eye, Kaito said, “If this is my last chance for almost a year… you’re overdressed, ‘Kichi.” he told him. Staring down at him expectantly.  

Kokichi grinned as he was released, giving Shuuichi a wink and blowing him a kiss, even if he’d just been giving Shuuichi more substantial kisses. “It’s all in a day’s work. We all know, however, that I’m gonna go right back to fawning over Shuu-chan when we’re ready for bed, and that’s gonna be a much harder trial to pull me away from.” Even if he really would need a shower before bed, most likely. 

As Kaito dropped him back down on their bed, Kokichi let himself flop, looking up at his husband with an expectant, dreamy look in his eyes. Finally… Though, he wasn’t going to let that stop him from being difficult. 

Tilting his head to the side coyly, Kokichi gave a grand, full-body stretch, sliding his shirt up over his stomach and chest while he worked on toing his socks off. “Oh? I would’ve thought after so long you’d want to do it yourself. Kai-chan does seem to enjoy unwrapping me like a novelty candy.”

Kaito was tempted… especially seeing that splash of skin as Kokichi pulled his shirt up, cause, yeah, Kaito did enjoy unwrapping Kokichi…

But he liked being obeyed more, and after so long--with, just, soooo much longer to go-- he was going to indulge a little as he placed his fingertips against Kokichi’s stomach, giving him a featherlight touch down that thin curve as he said, “I didn’t get to see the last ‘show’, you put on, ‘Kichi…” Kaito grinned, all teeth, taking his hand back and crossing his arms over his chest, as he said, “And I want to see you put in a little work.”

Shuichi looked back and forth between Kokichi and Kaito… before rolling his eyes a little to himself, scooting up to go grab his dessert from the night stand, planning to just prop the pillows up against the headboard and watch his two lovers play their weird little games.

Giggling a little, Kokichi sat himself up with something of a shrug. “Even if I want it just as much as you… I suppose I can agree to that. I do wanna give Kai-chan a treat, since I’ve left ya hanging a few times too many.”

With that, Kokichi gave another large stretch, running his hands softly down the opposite arm before trailing the fabric of his shirt all the way down to the hem. And...in that moment he felt...a little too aware. A little too awkward. But...even if he did it weirdly, it would still be something they could all laugh about. No matter what...they’d be able to have fun and enjoy themselves. 

Lifting the shirt over his head from the hem, Kokichi swayed his body side to side slightly as he dropped onto his feet, standing tall as his arms lifted his shirt into the air.

Kaito grinned, some of that viscous edge falling away from him immediately as he stepped back to give Kokichi space, entirely because of… The Cute.

Which was maaaaaybe not the effect Kaito was going for, but he couldn’t help it! Kokichi looked cute! That little wiggle was cute! Kokichi wiggled a lot, and it was adorable. 

Though… Kaito took his time looking over Kokichi’s chest and stomach as he lifted his arms in the ta-da! Kaito saw Kokichi naked all the time, and, okay, ogled him all the time too, so that wasn’t anything new either. But there was something to Kokichi just… showing himself off. Kaito briefly wetting his lips as he watched him, before stepping forward, grabbing Kokichi’s hips with his hands and pulling him into himself, kissing him deeply in a moment of need…

...he opened one eye and peeked over Kokchi’s head, onto the bed, “...Shuichi, could you, like… turn that penguin around, or put it in a drawer, or something?”

“The penguins not actually watching you, Kaito.” Shuichi said dryly, through bites of cake.

“It’s little black eyes are staring.”

Kokichi paused his show, feeling happy and emboldened by Kaito’s stare, and wrapped his arms around his husband’s shoulders, kissing back deeply as he drank in not only Kaito’s heat, but his desire as well. Though...this really was looking like it was gonna be one of their sweeter, sillier times.

Kokichi snorted and started placing kisses down the line of Kaito’s jaw, gently moving Kaito’s hands to slide his pants and underwear down. “The penguin’s staying. It’s gonna be a cuddle buddy tonight. But...if it really is bothering you...we can just put it face down until bedtime.”

A slightly sucking kiss against the back of Kaito’s jaw right as Kokichi coaxed his husband’s thumbs under his waistbands, gently moving everything down. In some ways, Kaito’s competition with his stuffed animals was endearing, but...they weren’t much more than glorified pillows. Just softer and in fun shapes. Not, you know, the actual person they had invited to watch.

Kaito shivered as the small teasing of the back of his jaw, that shakey, vulnerable feeling shuddering through his body at the spot. He always felt so easy to break, right there…

“...Shuichi, buddy, please?” Kaito begged, as he opened his eyes and saw Shuichi, entirely amused, had set up the penguin next to him, making it look like the thing was watching with him, “It really freaks me out.”

Kaito had no idea why there was a part of his brain entirely convinced, despite all rational argument to the contrary, that stuffed animals were actually watching and listening. He knew it was irrational… but he felt immediately better as Shuichi rolled his eyes, turning the penguin around. 

Okay… good.

Kaito pushed Kokichi’s pants and underwear down to his knees, and then swept him up into his arms, lacing him up and own with with kisses as he carried him to the window seat, Shuichi raising an eyebrow at the choice. “You guys are going to do this at the window? Am I just one part of a whole ‘voyeur’ thing today?”

“Nah… ‘Kichi says we gotta keep the curtain closed.” Kaito lamented somewhat, not arguing it, but for that matter as he placed Kokichi down on the window seat, adjusting the curtains to fully close them. “Though, if we turned off our lights, no one would be able to see in…” Kaito tried, grinning down at Kokichi… before saying, “Oh, lube.” Trotting back to the night stand.

“I don’t get much of a show if you turn off the lights,” Shuichi pointed out, taking another cheerful bite from his cake.

Kaito grabbed the lube, before thinking fast, “Moonlight would come in! You’d get to see plenty! It’s a near full moon tonight!”

“So there would be enough light to see you guys?” Shuichi pointed out.

“Why do you have to hurt me like this?”

“Just keeping you honest, Kaito.”

Kokichi hummed happily as Kaito took him up into his arms, letting his pants and underwear drop to the ground beside the bed. Had it really been two months…? God, they needed to do this more often. He wasn’t fifteen, but damnit he was still a young adult and he wanted to have sex with his husband more than one every few months!

Blushing a little as Shuuichi questioned if they were taking the voyeur thing another step, Kokichi shook his head and helped close the curtains, making extra sure to cross them and bunch the extra fabric right at the bottom of the window to make sure there would be no chance of them falling open. 

“No way… I’m okay with Shuu-chan watching and doing stuff at the window, but I think I’d start crying again if the curtains were open,” Kokichi huffed, getting himself comfortable on the window seat, settling on his knees since he figured he’d be moving around a bit. “Right now is just for you guys, no one else.”

Shuichi loved them, but… “Then why are you doing it at the window? At all?”

“Because we haven't done it there yet, Shuichi, keep up!” Kaito insisted, taking the lube back to the window seat and putting it down next to it, grinning down at Kokichi, before looking over his shoulder, “Look at how pretty he is! All sitting with his legs tucked under him, looking all… expectant and sexy… big, beautiful eyes…”

Shuichi watched as Kaito made himself flustered, noticing with amusement as Kaito’s little mister started nodding a little as he talked. Really didn’t take much, did it… Shuichi wondered how often Kaito just literally walked around with a semi, if all it took was just deciding Kokichi looked nice to get him riled up.

“Is that the only criteria?” Shuichi asked, thoroughly enjoying derailing things as he looked around the bedroom, “Have you done it in all the other parts of the room?”

“I mean… what, like every corner?” Kaito asked, taking Kokichi’s face in his hands and leaning down to kiss him again, small, sweet kisses against his lips, before lingering for one, lightly nibbling on Kokichi’s lower lip.

“Like… the bookcase? Or… the desk?” Shuichi asked lazily.

At this, Kaito paused briefly in his kiss… why hadn’t they done it on the desk yet…

Oh! Right! Kaito was worried about freaking Kokichi out with the mirror. He was… pretty sure Kokichi wasn’t ready to stare at himself while doing the O’face… as fucking hot as Kaito found that idea… mmmmm…

Kokichi laughed softly as Kaito fawned over him, meeting him halfway to kiss and running a hand through his hair. Kokichi wasn’t quite physically showing his interest as much as Kaito was, in pure body responses, but in actions he was more than enthusiastic.

And, honestly, once they started getting into it, Kokichi didn’t think it would be long before he was there too.

Rubbing his cheek against Kaito’s as he paused in the kiss, Kokichi laughed a little more, sending an amused look to Shuuichi. “It’s more of a question of ‘why not’ than ‘why’. Kai-chan brought up the window seat earlier, and with the curtains closed, I don’t have an objection.”

“I’d have more for the bookcase,” he snorted, gently running a hand down Kaito’s chest. “I really like my books, you know. Don’ wanna soil ‘em. And I’m not as big a fan of the mirror on our desk. There are plenty of other ways to have fun...like right here.”

Tipping his head slightly, Kokichi kissed at the back of Kaito’s jaw again, barely letting his teeth graze before starting to move down Kaito’s neck.

Nnnnnn, cheat. 

Kaito felt that shudder run through him again-- did Kokichi have any idea what that spot did to him? Fuck, he wanted to melt… wanted to curl up and just let things happen to him…-- but thankfully the pressure eased up as Kokichi kept moving downwards, Kaito able to get his wits back. 

Kaito didn’t want to stop Kokichi’s journey, wherever he was going, but he did want to reciprocate, as he ran his hands up and down Kokichi’s back, letting his fingers try to tangle into Kokichi’s hair for a moment as he said, “Dammit… it’s been too long. Fuck, how does it not get you guys like this?” Kaito genuinely asked, his skin feeling like it was far too sensitive, each of Kokichi’s little kisses against his neck like a warm sunburst against him, “I’m going to have to be so careful… I feel too full…”

“From eating?” Shuichi asked, enjoying his cake. It was really good. Kokichi had picked well.

“No, like… I don’t know, energy?” Kaito tried, though that word didn’t quite fit right. “Ngh, nevermind… god you're so sexy…”

Kaito wanted to take charge and push Kokichi off him a little to kinda just… do whatever random impulse he had. But he knew he was feeling this too strongly and he could end up doing something that would be Too Much. Better to hold back a little and let Kokichi drive for a bit, set the pace.

Kokichi smiled as he felt that tell-tale shudder, enjoying taking advantage of Kaito’s weak spot if just for a moment. While he wasn’t usually one to press into his lovers’ vulnerabilities, Kokichi did like to ghost over them, give his lovers that almost overwhelming pleasure just for a moment they could take before moving on. Using it as just another way to ramp things up and set the mood. 

Trailing down his neck, Kokichi made it to the juncture of Kaito neck and shoulder, then trailed down a little more. He knew Kaito didn’t have an issue with it, and Kokichi wasn’t planning on leaving any major marks, but...it was some consideration. Enjoying Kaito’s fingers in his hair, Kokichi bit down on Kaito’s skin, sucking gently before laving his tongue, knowing he didn’t even bite down hard, but soothing all the same. 

“I think I’d call it...sexual charge. Or passion. Our Kai-chan’s always so passionate…” Kokichi cooed, finally taking his mouth away. “...I’ll admit I don’t have much of a plan, other than getting you deep in my ass later. Is there anything in particular you wanna do other than that?”

Kaito grinned at the little bite, not really enough to hurt or anything, but Kaito excited by the gesture, pleased that Kokichi would know to enjoy him like that. As much as Kaito wanted to take control, he loved it when Kokichi felt okay doing things, taking initiative. Wanted to encourage it and not steal away his husbands chances too, when he could help it.

But… looking at the shape of the window seat, its moderate height, essentially a comfortable sideless rectangle covered in a plush cushion…

Kaito stole Kokichi’s chin, bringing him back up now that he was done with his journey, and kissing him deeply, demanding access as he tasted Kokichi’s tongue, breathing him in for a moment, just enjoying the sense of his… he broke the kiss and whispered breathily into Kokichi’s ear, “I think I’m probably just gonna put you on your elbows and knees and ram you until your strength gives out, beautiful.” Kissing as his ear, he whispered, “And I hope you don’t mind if I go at it a few times… I want to be spent when we’re done.”

Kaito pulled back, grinned cheerfully, as he said, “But, first~ relax and spread your legs a little.”

Kaito kissed from Kokichi’s ears, down his neck, his chest, his stomach, before getting onto his knees in front of the window seat, kissing at Kokichi’s stomach a bit more-- no biting there, biting stomachs’ hurt-- before kissing down his happy trail…

Hey buuuuuddy, Kaito thought playfully, taking Kokichi’s smaller dick and lifting it up a little, running his tongue along its underside. Miss me?

Pressing against Kaito as he whispered in his ear, Kokichi couldn’t help giggling softly. “I’d like nothing more… Keeping it simple and wonderful, hun.” He did like when Kaito tried out new things and tried to make their time together a whole event, but...especially with them not doing it so often, Kokichi enjoyed the simplicity of things a little more. Just getting railed into the window seat sounded heavenly, and everything Kokichi wanted out of the night. 

And...well, they’d see. Hopefully Kokichi would be able to withstand a few rounds. 

Shivering in excitement, Kokichi did just as Kaito said, actually untucking his legs once he realized what Kaito was doing since having his legs fall asleep wouldn’t be very helpful for bein’ pounded from behind. He settled back a little, smiling as Kaito zeroed in on his crotch with a purpose, leading the way down with kisses, and let out a happy sigh when he felt the warmth of Kaito’s tongue touch him. He closed his eyes for a moment before looking over at Shuuichi, giving their boyfriend a grin. “You can see alright from over there?”

Shuichi’s mouth was full of cake, but he swallowed it down after giving Kokichi a thumbs up, “Mmhm! We both have a great view!”

Kaito growled into Kokichi’s balls, which might have been a strange sensation, as he said, “Shuichi, handsome, if I look back there and the damn toy is watching--”

“No, no, no, I’d never.” Shuichi promised, moving the penguin back to the other side of the bed, something about Kaito’s warning sounding maybe a little too sincere to play with just now.

Kaito continued to grumble into Kokichi’s ballsack, before returning to what he was doing, which was namely swallowing Kokichi’s ballsack. Placing the little round orbs into his mouth, Kaito ran his tongue over them, softly swallowing at one, before releasing it, returning to Kokichi’s cock, licking it up and down before, taking a breath, he started to swallow the whole thing down. Enjoying the feeling of it starting to swell against his tongue.

After awhile, Kaito finally pulled back, taking a breath and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, looking up at Kokichi with a grin that was all canines as he said, “Alright… heh… feeling warmed up?”

Kokichi, valiantly, didn’t make any sort of indication that he saw the penguin propped back up, or that Shuuichi moved it away again, other than the corner of his mouth ticking up for a moment. And that could easily be explained away as him being a little ticklish from Kaito growling and grumbling around his balls, which while not exactly ticklish, was certainly a strange sensation. 

Less so was what Kaito did next. 

Tipping his head back a little, Kokichi liberally let out happy sighs, shifting slightly as Kaito paid him attention, and his body paid attention back. It really had been too long… While Kaito only seemed to build energy, Kokichi at this moment was a little worried he’d blow his load too soon, but...they’d come to that when they came to it. 

By the time Kaito pulled back, Kokichi’s dick was certainly perking to attention and, quite physically, Kokichi was feeling warmed. Loose and loved and ready to touch and be touched. 

Grinning back at Kaito, Kokichi let his gaze drift over his husband’s body. “Kai-chan knows exactly what to do to light my fire… You wanna trade spots, or bend me over already?”

Kaito chuckled, rubbing his forehead against Kokichi’s knee before peeking up through his fringe at him, “...babe, I am already stupid hard right now. Blow jobs are a lot of fun and I’m fully into it whenever my ‘Kichi wants to indulge me, but woooooow would it be unnecessary by this point. Fuck.”

Kaito groaned again, rubbing his face over Kokichi’s leg, before thumping his forehead against his knee, so conflicted… he was already so hard, fuck, it was like he was hefting an awkwardly shaped stone between his thights, but Kokichi’s sucking dick faaaaaace…

“...no, it’s not gonna wait.” Kaito groaned, “Unless you’re suddenly really cool with me cumming down your throat-- no, no, let’s discuss that before we start next time, not in the middle, damn...alright.” Kaito decided, standing up, leaning down to help steer Kokichi into what Kaito was ultimately aiming for, “Let’s get you opened up.”

Kaito usually didn’t need much coaxing to get in the mood, but YES! Nice! Alright! Chuckling, Kokichi stood up a little as well, letting Kaito nudge and tell him where to be. “Tempting, I know. I love hearing all the little non-sounds Kai-chan makes when he’s trying not to go wild when I’m around him… We’ll just keep it in mind to look forward to it, okay? To not wait months and months ‘til we’re both goin’ nuts. Kai-chan gettin’ a coupon for a bj, on me.”

And, hey, maybe it’d turn into more than that too. Kokichi wouldn’t say no. 

Turned around, Kokichi found himself back up on the window seat, his shoulders stacked over his elbows and his hips in the air, legs parted to make things easier for Kaito. Because they’d need all the help they could get to remain patient through this part. 

Kokichi sighed, dropping his head a little though he was strung tight with excitement for what was to come. “M prolly all closed up tight… Please be gentle, Kai-chan.”

“Awwwww,” Shuichi said from the bed, “Be gentle with our Kokichi, ‘Kai-chan’!”

“Shuichi, why are you so determined to ruin any mood build-up we make?” Kaito asked semi-seriously, grabbing the lube and, first, taking a few moments to kiss up and down Kokichi’s back, rubbing his ass and lingering at his neck a moment, just placing warm gentle kisses there, “...god, you’re so beautiful… and perfect. I love you so much… I love you, babe.” Kaito promised, kissing at Kokichi’s spine, promising again, “You can trust in me… I’d never hurt you…”

Shuichi suspected it was a gut instinct in him to keep things ‘comfortable’ between all of them, taking some of the bite and focus out of Kaito’s intense interest in Kokichi, when he got like this. Shuichi honestly couldn’t imagine what their sessions alone actually looked like, without someone to derail the tension. Kaito looked like he wanted to eat Kokichi, sometimes, with how intense the desire came off of him when he was too focused.

But his answer was, “Because I think you’re really cute when you’re annoyed.”

“Uh huh.” Kaito said, rolling his eyes a little, before giving Kokcihi a few more reassuring kisses, before lathering up his fingers in lube. “You know the deal, ‘Kichi. If it hurts, tell me, I can always put less pressure on it, and it’s never meant to hurt. The worst it should ever feel like is a tight stretch, nothing tearing. Be vocal, use your outdoor voice, I won’t know if you don’t tell me. Never want to hurt you.”

Kaito did take a moment to admire Kokichi, and the way his back waterfall down from his cute, flat ass to his head, Kokichi’s eyes peeking up at him from over his shoulder, looking calm and content. Good… Kaito placed a kiss against one of Kokichi’s cheeks, before slipping his finger in. 

Shuichi, admittedly, watched this part with interest. There was a predictable ritual, to this part of their sex life, but sometimes Shuichi thought it might be his favorite part to observe in them. Kaito’s face always became a little strangely serious, his eyes jumping from Kokichi’s face, back to his ass, than to his face again. Looking for warning signs of Kokichi holding back, either in complaints or pleasure. He watched the way Kaito shifted his knees beneath Kokichi’s thighs, giving his husband a place to rest on without holding the stress position, constantly making little adjustments for comfort… a sharp contrast to when Kaito was actually in and ‘losing it’, where Kaito sometimes looked like he was determined to break Kokichi in half, comfort be damned.

And Kokichi looked…

Kokichi giggled, looking over to grin at Shuuichi. “He is, isn’t he? Kai-chan is always cute, but a pouty Kai-chan when you break the tension really is adorable.”

As much as Kokichi genuinely did like getting lost in Kaito’s intensity...it was nice, sometimes, for Shuuichi to step in. Like their first few times together, both him and Shuuichi looking out for each other and making sure their needs or worries were addressed. It was safe, and sweet, but Kokichi trusted Kaito to be those things too even when it was just the two of them. 

Giving a nod at the usual run down of Kaito just beginning to open him up, Kokichi took a deep breath and relaxed himself, settling his legs comfortably and keeping his face visible. Both because it usually was an indication of something going wrong, or at least too quickly, before he could find his voice, but also...Kokichi knew how much Kaito, and Shuuichi for that matter, liked watching him. And while Kokichi wasn’t willing to watch himself, he was more than happy to openly express his pleasure to his partners. 

As Kaito started, Kokichi just sighed a bit, getting used to the feeling of the lube spread around his hole, Kaito making sure there was enough in the area before even trying to push in. And when he did…

Kokichi grinned, looking more than a little pleased as he let his body adjust, his cheeks growing rosy in arousal. “Mmm….yeah. Kai-chan always treats me right.”

“I try to.” Kaito said softly, rubbing Kokichi’s back as he took his time with him. 

“You’re both very sweet.” Shuichi smirked, adjusting onto his side and watching Kokichi relax into the touch, his eyes admittedly taking in some of the… nicer parts of the view he had. Kaito’s larger, firmer body, lined with the curve of muscles that shifted and flexed idly with his movements, leaning over and steadying Kokichi’s thinner, more delicate frame, that thin body easily stretching into position. His dick pointing towards his own stomach, while Kaito’s kept grazing the back of Kokichi’s thigh, just from the angle of Kaito’s hold on him. 

...Shuichi, quietly, looked around to see if it was anywhere nearby, and finally checked the drawer, to see if one of Kokichi’s drawing pads was nearby. And just as quietly, he pulled out his pencil and, with the uncreative attention to detail he had perfected in his sketches, started to just put down what he was seeing in the page. Doing this without announcing himself, hoping he wouldn’t be noticed. Kaito would get distracted, and Kokichi… well, Kokchi might ask him not to draw them, which was fine, but Shuichi was kinda hoping to at least let Kaito get a peek before letting his boyfriend rip the picture apart. It sounded like fun.

Though, Shuichi only got halfway through his lineart, when Kaito, carefully inserting his third finger in, quietly asking Kokichi how he was doing, if it felt like too much… glanced up at Shuichi, “Shuichi!”

Shuichi looked up, like a deer in headlights. “Hm?”

That was true too, at least if Kokichi accepted what his partners said about his own sweetness. But Kaito’s he could attest to without hesitation. Even in the throes of intensity, Kaito never rushed this part, always taking the due time to make sure Kokichi was warm and ready and stretched enough to take him comfortably--even when Kokichi tried to rush him. 

While he still tried to keep his face uncovered, Kokichi rested his head on his arms, smiling through the soft moans that were starting to build in his throat as Kaito made enough room to move a bit, enough to crook his fingers and spread, though he wasn’t teasing at his sweet spot yet. Kokichi had no doubt that was to come eventually, but hopefully with them both ready and eager it wouldn’t take--

Kokichi perked up, looking over in slight alarm at the affronted tone in Kaito’s voice, and…

…

“Hhhhhhhhheehg-”

Kokichi’s face was tomato red in a matter of seconds, a strained sound of absolute mortification whistling out from his throat. “Shuu-chan!”

Shuich felt a little bad.

...a little.

He only felt worse when there was a tick of a smile on his face, a small laugh that was both nervous and amused as he said, “Don’t mind me, I’m just watching.”

“Absolutely not.” Kaito said, his voice strangely strict, as Shuichi sighed, “Have you met us? With our luck!? We’re not keeping pictures like that in here, destroy that page and the page behind it.” For fucks sake, Kaito could see a future where they forgot that picture was there for months and it somehow ended up in the god damned newspaper. Kokichi would actually die, he was not testing it.

“I was always going to destroy it.” Shuichi pouted a little, “You both just look nice. I thought Kaito would want to see.”

“... okay, well, yeah, but also no… okay let me see what you did for now but you’re not finishing it and we’re destroying it. Come on, man, you know better than this, you know drawings like that come back to bite you in the ass. We’re not playing with it.”

Honestly, Shuichi was surprised at Kaito’s reaction, less so of Kokichi’s… oh, right. The Hifumi thing. Right… Shuichi had been out of town for that whole incident, so it slipped his mind a lot… right. “Sorry. I was just teasing.” Shuichi sighed, “...it did come out looking sorta nice. Do you guys want to see it before I destroy it?”

Kokichi buried his steaming face in his hands, groaning softly as he stewed in embarrassment. He had no issue with his partners seeing him sexually--it was kind of preferable when they were having sex--and even daydreaming was endearing. And...honestly, Kokichi would be alright with Shuuichi and Kaito looking over the drawing. 

...but if something like that existed at all, there was a chance, even if it was teeny-tiny, that someone else might see and…

Kokichi would not be able to handle that.

It soothed his heart a little to hear that Shuuichi hadn’t planned to keep it around, though… 

Sighing, Kokichi kept his head hidden behind his arms and kind of did a weird motion resembling a shrug. “You guys can look if you want… I’m good.”

Shuichi, again, felt a little bad… but he still shuffled himself off the bed, to show Kaito what he had managed to get down.

Kaito’s eyes widened at the picture… before a wobbly grin spread across his face, his chest and face burning bright red as he put his free palm over his eye, laughing weakly, “Geeeez, Shuichi… fuck. But you have to destroy it. And the one under it. I don’t want anyone doing that stupid shading trick… hold on, let me see it one more time.” Kaito insisted, as Shuichi ripped the two pages out of the book, Kaito taking a longer look now, before grinning wide, “Awwww… ‘Kichi looks happy. Why do I look so annoyed?”

“You’re not, it’s your ‘serious’ face.” Shuichi shrugged, before starting to rip the pages up, heading to the bin as he made thorough work of it. 

Kaito frowned at that, before returning to place soothing kisses on Kokichi’s back and shoulders, before saying, ‘You looked very beautiful… my ‘Kichi always looks amazing. You alright?” he asked, literally able to feel the heat radiating off of Kokichi, which was pretty unusual for his perpetually chilly husband. “We’re not gonna keep pictures like that around, alright? Promise. Even your horny husband knows better.”

Despite himself, Kokichi smiled a little into his arms, hearing Kaito’s reaction. Of course it was a good drawing--Shuuichi had a deft hand when it came to scenes from life. And considering the subject matter, Kokichi doubted there would be many depictions that wouldn’t provoke such a reaction from his husband.

But he still couldn’t bring himself to look. 

Hearing the sound of ripping paper and feeling kisses across his back, Kokichi let out a sigh and peeked his face out beyond his arms, offering Kaito a small smile. “I’m okay… And I trust you guys to be smart about this kind of thing. It’s just…” He groaned, hiding his face for another moment. “Embarrassing.”

Perhaps this wasn’t really the time for this kind of conversation, but the words were out of Kokichi’s mouth before he could think twice. “...does it bother you guys, how shy I am about sex stuff?”

Kaito, in turn, buried his face in Kokichi’s back and laughed, because of course this was what was going to happen. 

As Kaito lamented to himself that damn they were so bad at keeping to sex, it always became some sort of conversation, Shuichi, in turn, finished throwing the pages away before heading back to the bed, shrugging as he said easily, “It’d be kind of hypocritical for me to say it does. I’m honestly just as shy about it as you are. I just… well, a lot of things I was shy about sort of got beaten apart by a sledgehammer at the beginning of this year.” Shuichi said dryly, settling back down, “Sort of forced me to become way more… ‘comfortable’, far more quickly, than I would have liked. But I still wouldn’t want to express that outside of the three of us.”

And, technically, Maki, who Shuichi had no problem telling about some of his sexual hangups too. She saw him cry and cum on her new bedroom floor cause he was scared of fucking a horse. That was about as open as you could get, he imagined, with a non-sexual partner. He had no real secrets from her.

“So, I guess it quickly becomes… Kaito? Do you have a problem with how shy we are about sex?” Shuichi asked. “Does it bother you?”

Kaito finished laughing into Kokichi’s back, sighed, kissed him again, before he pulled out his fingers, just to grab some more lube and re-lather up, three fingers having felt too tight. Go back to two for a little bit, stretch out that hole a bit, keeping Kokichi warm by using your clean hand to rub him down, keep the heat spreading… “I mean… no? I feel like if I wanted you to be any other way, you wouldn’t be… you guys. Would it be fun if you guys were the types to want to, I don’t know… go to strip clubs or do one night stands together? Sure, I mean, I don’t think it’s shocking to hear me say I’d enjoy that.”

“But, at the same time, I can’t imagine either of you doing anything like that, without… fundamentally changing some core aspect about you guys. Like it’d be me essentially wanting to date ‘someone else’, to want to change that part of you guys. And I fell in love with you. You know? If that makes any sense… besides.” Kaito grinned, turning his palm upwards and, pointedly, firmly running his fingers up and down a familiar spot, if only for a moment, “I like when you get all flustered and squeaky. It’s very endearing.”

Kokichi glanced over his shoulder, a little unsure if he should be concerned by Kaito’s laugh, or if it was the most natural thing in the world and he should be assuaged by just that. But Shuuichi had a damn good point. It wouldn’t be too off to call the two of them reserved when it came to their sex lives. And even talking about raunchy things, they both had similar proportions of either running with it or getting overly flustered. 

He supposed he wasn’t quite asking about shyness...but he got an answer anyway.

There were some things Kokichi knew that he probably should work on, when it came to his discomfort about certain sexual things. But...he didn’t need to push so hard against it, like he did in trying to have a healthier mindset when it came to his own doubts and self-image and communication. Sure, some of his hesitance came from a place of trauma, but...he didn’t need to push himself to be completely open about it. It was okay to be reserved, and he wasn’t hurting anyone, not his partners nor himself, with it.

Looking over his shoulder, Kokichi smiled softly at Kaito, his heart warming from his husband’s sentiment. People changed, and you should always be willing to grow. But not everything needed to do a whole--

“SkEEP!”

Kokichi jolted, a squeak escaping his throat at the unexpected--though he had predicted that this would happen eventually--press of his sweet spot, his hips bearing down towards Kaito’s fingers and one of his legs twitching as the sudden rush of pleasure swept through him. 

...yeah, they were alright. 

Kaito grinned at the sound, murmuring, “There’s my ‘Kichi… alright, let’s do a little more…”

After a bit, Kaito watched Kokchi’s back, which had been curling slightly, jolting every now and again when Kaito pushed a little too hard, suddenly relax in one breath, the little sounds Kokichi gave him easing out into pleased hums, his shoulders relaxing. All usually good sign that the stretching feeling had eased into something easier and more pleasant. 

Kaito pulled his fingers out, spreading out Kokichi’s cheeks, before snickering, “Shuichi, wanna come see?”

Shuichi rolled his eyes from the bed, “You want me to come over and admire Kokchi’s gap?”

“I did a good job! I’m allowed to want to show off! It’s pulsing.” Kaito snickered.

“You’re a weirdo.” Shuichi said dismissively, settling further into his pillows as he said, “And no. I don’t want to come see. DIdn’t you say you were going to ram him until you couldn’t anymore, or something like that? You’re sure taking your time.”

Kaito frowned at that, kissing Kokichi’s tailbone as he said, “That’s why I’m taking my time. I don’t want this to hurt, and…” he might have a harder time noticing if he was hurting Kokichi in the middle of it, than right now, “... it pays to take your time with prep. Though, Kokichi, don’t let me keep going if it becomes too much, okay? I’m planning to seriously keep going, unless someone stops me, okay? If you find yourself getting exhausted, and I’m not slowing down? You gotta tell me, babe, okay?”

Again, Kokichi turned red, shooting Kaito a flustered look. “Don’t describe my asshole like that! Or at least do it while you’re already fucking me so I won’t have to think about it.”

And while it was important that Kokichi was loose and comfortable and appropriately prepped...it was taking a while, and knowing what was to come made Kokichi a little impatient through the anal massage that he normally would adore on its own. 

Sighing, knowing that Kaito was coming from a wonderful place, Kokichi swayed his hips a little and nodded back at his husband. “I’ll tell you. And I’ll stop you if it comes to the point I really can’t take any more. But…”

With a groan, Kokichi balanced on one leg and hooked his other around Kaito’s thigh. “Just get in me already! At this rate it’s gonna be morning already by the time we’re warmed up.”

“Tsk. No one appreciates a craftsman.” Kaito sighed, rolling his eyes a little. Though, he did grab the leg that was hooked around himself, and used it to lead Kokichi more securely onto the seat, while Kaito himself got onto one knee for a moment, one foot planted on the ground, testing his balance.

That would work well. For later, when he was starting to get tired. For now. 

Putting Kokichi’s knees together, encouraging his husband to lower his shoulder a little, Kaito stood up, each leg on either side of the window seat, having pulled it a little bit from the wall to give himself the room. Hook his fingers around Kokichi’s bony waist, Kaito felt himself relax as he pushed himself inside of him. His body relieved to finally be getting something it wanted so fucking badly.

And knowing that he wasn’t going to pace himself? That he was just going to keep going until his body screamed that it needed to stop? Kaito knew this was already going to take too much time, and keeping a firm grip on Kokichi’s hips, he just let loose. 

Shuichi’s eyes widened slightly, at Kaito’s heavy start, the loud SLAPS and THUMPS of Kaito’s hips colliding with Kokichi’s filling the room, Kaito’s breaths, small and slightly grunting, trying to keep himself quiet as he breathed through the activity, upticking as he kept going. Shuichi might not like getting overwhelmed himself, but there definitely was… something, to watching Kokichi’s body move and ripple and bounce against Kaito’s cock, Kokichi not being pushing off the chair itself through a mixture of Kokichi holding onto the chain and Kaito keeping a death grip on his hips.

Every now and again, Kokichi’s body would move slightly forward, and Kaito would stop moving, pulling Kokichi back flushed against his hips, before starting again. Not leaving any space between them as Kaito used all the movement of his hips that standing allowed, sweat starting to pour down his body.

Shuichi, who had been mostly just amused by this point, did find himself curling up a little, unbuttoning his pants and pulling his cock out, lazily touching himself as he watched.

There was a sudden shudder from Kaito, his body going still, as he leaned his body forward, partly resting on Kokichi’s back, and as his body shuddered into Kokichi’s, he suddenly bit down onto the nape of Kokichi’s neck, holding the bite for a moment as he released inside of him… before letting out a heavy breath, kissing and licking the spot soothingly, resting for just a moment…

And he straightened up, putting his knee down on the bench to steady himself a bit, before murmuring, “Good start.” as he started again.

Despite the bratty impatience, Kokichi easily let himself be moved around as Kaito wanted with a gleam in his eye, seeing euphoria just on the horizon. Really… How did they let it go on for two months?

Trusting Kaito to keep a good grip on him, Kokichi tried to brace with his shoulders and not his neck, barely taking an anticipatory breath before- “Hhh - Oh!”

There was no ramp up, and immediately Kokichi was left breathless, his own strength nowhere near enough to brace against Kaito so he was just left bouncing between the cushion of the window seat and his husband’s grip. And it was incredible. His face rosy and tilted up, Kokichi’s gaze soon became unfocused, his every breath heavy like Kaito was physically pushing it out of him, and soon they became littered with moans, the constant friction and pressure in his behind the spotlight of the cacophony that was the whole experience. 

He wanted Kaito to take what he needed. Kokichi wanted to last. But as Kaito bit down on his neck, Kokichi let out a loud moan as his whole body shuddered and...it was too little too late to try and hold back. 

And yet, Kokichi didn’t let himself relax even when he could get a hold over his fluttering eyes, just wanting to hold on for Kaito. One down...he’d see how many to go.

Kaito knew Kokichi had cum, and… honestly, if he was doing it like this? Then he was on a time limit. Kaito wasn’t even sure if Kokichi’s body could cum twice in a row, or three times, without the use of drugs, and this wasn’t the way to find out. He wanted to find out, someday, definitely, but… that would need to be a much softer and more patient session, someday. Entirely about Kokichi’s needs.

...this wasn’t that.

Kaito just needed to get what he could before Kokichi couldn’t give anymore.

Keeping himself steady on his knee, he leaned down and hooked his arm around Kokichi’s waist, wrapping his other arm around Kokichi’s chest and up around his shoulder, pulling Kokichi up a bit, taking some of the pressure off of Kokichi’s elbows as Kaito took the weight off them. He did this knowing Kokichi might be getting tired, and also, because it was easier to keep from pushing his husbands body away from him like this. 

He kissed at the side of Kokichi’s neck, pressing his back into Kaito’s chest, rocking his hips upwards to not let that ass escape him in the new position as he huffed into Kokichi’s ear, “F-fuck… you’re doing, huh, hah, you’re doing great, beautiful. You’re so good. You’re so-- fuck.” 

Kaito wasn’t quite cumming again, but his cock, which had softened somewhat inside of Kokichi, was quickly back into shape at his insistent attention. Kaito’s dick was going to fuckng hate him for this later, but ‘seven months’ echoed in his skull like a warning bell, and Kaito found himself wanting to go all out, like he was a kid in high school again. Fuck the consequences, fuck that achy, painful feeling of going too long. Kaito wanted to fuck.

Kokichi’s ass was like a slip-n-slide, at first, and Kaito had no problems for awhile there. But as time passed, Kaito close to bursting again, he could feel the lube starting to thin and pool up in the wrong spots. Grunting in frustration, Kaito gently put Kokichi back down onto his knees, leaning down to grab the lube again, and slowing down a bit, pulling himself out as he murmured, “One minute, one minute,” as he spread more lube around his cock.

Adjusting Kokichi’s legs to spread a little more, Kaito was rested and able to stand up again, moving forward and dipping Kokichi’s back down as he put pressure on his hips, standing more on top of Kokichi rather than behind him now, thrusting downwards as he pulled Kokich’s hips up. 

The position looked less than comfy to Shuichi, who called out, “Kokichi?” The question open, but mostly just asking if he was okay, while Kaito grunted on top of their smallest lover.

Kokichi smiled faintly as Kaito picked him up, knowing that it was for the best. His elbows were starting to ache, and as it was they were reddened from sliding on the cushion fabric. Hopefully not an actual rug burn, but that sensation wasn’t exactly at the forefront of his mind. 

Weakly reaching back as Kaito snapped his hips into him, Kokichi nuzzled his head back. “Uun...ah… L-love you… Hope I...nn. Can...ah…” Kokichi’s words trailed off, but the sentiment was there. They had a plan and Kokichi wanted to commit to it, give his husband everything he had. 

But as time went on, Kokichi only became more boneless, his rear starting to feel like it was chafing a little, even as Kaito applied more lube, and the new position Kaito put him in…

Kokichi grunted, hearing Shuuichi’s question. “...nng...not like this… Can’t go for too much longer either…”

“Kaito-”

“No, no, I heard him, I heard him, I’m okay…” Kaito grunted, slowing down, watching beads of sweat falling from his own body onto Kokichi’s back. He still had his wits about him enough to hear, not just Kokichi’s words, but the sheer strain in them. He needed to let up on him, okay, okay… breathe…

Adjusting Kokichi so that he was more laying comfortably on his knees and arms again, Kaito kissed at his shoulders again for a moment, gentle, small apologies in them as he said, “Last one, last one, I promise, then we’ll stop… you’ve been so good to me. My ‘Kichi does so much for me…”

Only cumming twice wasn’t what Kaito had been hoping for, admittedly, but, well… it was honestly up to him, how many times he came, he didn’t have to take that out on his husbands body. And he had known Kokichi wasn’t ready to really try something like this anyway. Imagining going three to four times had been a very horny Kaito’s delusions, but a Kaito half done knew better. Kokichi wasn’t ready for something like this… it was okay. Kaito was fine with twice.

Still, all that said, he did not hold back for that last part. 

He pushed hard and quickly, and to speed it along did all the little mental tricks that aroused him the most. He stared at Kokichi’s face, watching the red in his skin, the way those big, expressive eyes changed. He listened to the small sounds Kokichi and his body made, the ones that pushed Kaito to go harder and faster, wanting to pull more out of him.

He indulged in the thought of Mine, and the sheer sense of wonder that thought always brought him. It was incredibly arousing, knowing Kokich was his, his husband, his lover, the father of his daughter, his. 

...and his Kokichi needed him to finish this up and then take care of him. And Kaito chased that thought as he felt his balls tighten, and once again, immediately went still, just pressing into Kokichi’s backside as hard as he could. Keeping his hips still against him as he let that electric sensation run dangerously through his body, Kaito’s whole body freezing in alarm as he spilled inside of him.

...God, Kaito could go again. He knew he could go again. Kokichi was so god damned sexy, and Kaito had waited so fucking long…

...but that wasn’t fair to his husband. Okay. Okay… Kato carefully pulled himself out, and even though his legs were shaking a little, he said, “I’m gonna take you to the bed, ‘Kichi. Okay?”

As soon as Kaito let up the pressure Kokichi started moving himself, trying to sort of crawl forward on his jelly arms to ease the weird, uncomfortable strain on his back, and soon enough Kaito was helping him straighten out too. However...this was just the same position they had ultimately started in, when Kokichi still had reserves. This time, while it might look like Kokichi was on his arms and knees, Kaito was almost entirely holding him up by his hips, and Kokichi was sinking into his shoulders, just...unable to keep himself up. 

While it felt like they had gone for hours on their wedding night, just edging into round three was pricking tears at the corners of Kokichi’s eyes, his breath starting to labor a bit as Kaito kept going, almost even stronger than the breakneck pace he’d started out. Kokichi liked intensity, they had meant for this to be fast and furious, but…

...he really wasn’t cut out for this.

Little squeaks of exhaustion left him as Kaito pounded him from behind, but it was just a little more… Last round and then he could rest…

And though he grimaced as Kaito’s grip tightened on him once again, it was followed by a breath of relief as he felt another hot load in his ass. 

While Kokichi usually shuddered when Kaito pulled out, he full on collapsed as Kaito pulled away this time, a breathless, “M’okay…” leaving teary, exhausted eyes as he tried to catch his breath. All done…

Kaito felt his shoulders sink a little at the little ‘m’okay’ Kokichi put out. The fact that he felt the need to say that immediately… probably meant he was covering for the fact that he wasn’t. Kaito had pushed too hard… damn. 

Okay. Aftercare time.

Kaito swept Kokichi up into his arms, placing little kisses against his face as he let Kokichi lean into his chest entirely, cradling him as he said softly, “You did so well, Kokichi… we’re gonna rest in the bed for a little bit, and then we’re gonna take a bath, okay? Warm water on your hips, epson salt to ease the aches, it’ll be full of bubbles and you’ll smell really good… you don’t even have to stay awake, okay? I’ve got you, you’re going to wake up all clean and feeling good, I promise… your brute of a husband was too hard on you, huh…”

Shuichi had been thinking about asking Kaito for a blow job when they were done, but honestly wasn’t crazy worked up or anything, and was more concerned about Kokichi being looked over as Kaito laid Kokichi down on the bed, Shuich immediately running his fingers through his hair and kissing at his forehead, before giving Kaito a dry look, “Feel better?”

Kaito grinned sheepishly. He felt very awake, and as much as he could definitely keep going, he was admittedly feeling loads better regardless, a lot of the stress and buildup he had been feeling lately easing out of him. He wasn’t pleased he had pushed Kokichi too hard, but… yeah, he felt better.

Shuichi decided not to pursue the non-answer, returning to kissing Kokichi and soothingly running his hands through his hair as he said, “You guys went hard there…”

Kokichi sighed, curling against Kaito’s warmth. Even just having been doing quite a lot of physicality, he already felt far too cold. A bath sounded like far too much work, but if he didn’t have to stay awake for it… “...nmm… Thanks, Kai-chan…”

...though, the bed did feel wonderfully soft and comforting… His body ached everywhere, elbows and hips and knees… He could be happy curling up under a blanket right then and there, even if he knew he’d be much happier in the morning if he was washed up. ...should wash the window seat too.

Feeling fingers through his hair, Kokichi blinked open his eyes just a little to look up at Shuuichi, reaching up with a shaking arm to just...touch. Be close. “Kinda meant too…” he softly grinned. “Wasn’t quite prepared for it, though…”

“Mmmmm,” Shuichi mildly agreed, taking Kokichi’s hand easily, resting the sweat covered limb against Shuichi’s face as he kissed a little at his wrist, before just letting it rest there, “Tell me about it. I don’t think I could go at that pace. That looked hard.”

Kaito glanced at Shuichi’s nether regions, which his boyfriend had at some point tucked himself back away in, and asked, “Did you want me to--”

Shuichi waved his hand dismissively, and Kaito was simultaneously relieved and disappointed. Relieved because, good, he could focus on Kokichi. Disappointed because fuck he could keep going. Sure, Shuichi might not let him in, but Kaito could keep himself excited and going while giving someone else a blow job. 

“Yeah, honestly, we should have done something different. I know we agreed to do it that way, but if I hadn’t been thinking with my dick… well, we just tried to bite off more than we could chew.” Kaito laughed a little, giving Kokichi a sympathetic look, before saying, “Okay, babe, before you drift off, cause I can see you wanting to drift off… do your hips hurt? More than an ache, I mean, anything sharp? Any sharp feelings anywhere? Your wrists, your knees, your back…”

As he asked this, Kaito started to kiss at different parts of Kokichi’s body, and for the first time, found one of the things his lips were always looking for when he did that after sex: tears on the surface of Kokichi’s skin, parts of Kokichi’s reddened skin that were slightly too rough. Essentially, rug burns. Okay… after the bath, Kaito would put balm and bandages on those. Let them rest overnight with the balm, it should heal just fine by the morning. Aches and burns Kaito could handle overnight. It was anything sharp that meant more long term damage had been done, Kokichi having pulled a muscle or twisted something slightly out of place. That would take more care.

Kokichi smiled a little more at the kiss, his head already starting to drift into a dreamy place. He had such good partners… He loved them both a lot. Kaito’s, at times, all over the place intensity, and Shuuichi’s pinpoint softness…

“We can figure out something better next time we wanna go all out… Honestly I thought I’d be better for this but...guess jus’ know now.” Kokichi sighed softly, the sound in the back of his throat, very nearly a yawn. But there still were things he had to do before going to sleep, even if that list was pretty short. 

Any sharp feelings…

“...nm. My elbows and knees are...kinda...sting-y? But it’s not sharp. And it’s just aches everywhere else… Think I had the right idea bracing my neck early on, but my shoulders are gonna be angry tomorrow,” Kokichi huffed in a light laugh. There would probably be a few parts of him unhappy tomorrow, but...that was alright. 

“...did you have fun, Kai-chan?”

Kaito grinned, stealing a few chaste kisses from his husband, the inventory taken-- a few burns, bruises that were probably going to make Kaito squirm uncomfortably whenever he saw them for the next week, nothing pulled or injured-- and Kaito already going over his mental to-do list for the rest of the night. “You were amazing, babe. I had so much fun. I’m sorry I hurt you though… we’ll be way more careful next time. And we won’t try to push you past your limit like that again. Small nudges past the finish line from now on, no Kaito going ‘buck wild’ until ‘Kichi’s exhausted, okay?”

Kokichi closed his eyes, gently, lazily kissing Kaito back. “I think that’s for the best… I think it was fun to try out once, though. Kai-chan can really go.”

“...bath time?”

“Mmhm.” Kaito eagerly agreed, giving Shuichi a small kiss, before scooping Kokichi up again, “Bath time. You don’t have to stay awake, Kokichi. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know you won’t,” Kokichi hummed, voice already growing soft with sleep. “I love you, Kai-chan.”

“Love you too, Kokichi.” Kaito said softly.

-

Kokichi had basically fallen asleep before he even got into the water, though his eyes briefly opened when Kaito first got themselves into the water, blinking in confusion before drifting off again.

Bathing with a sleeping Kokichi against him, Kaito gently washing him down, was a strange sensation, but one Kaito found he liked. It was peaceful, and Kaito found himself proud that Kokichi trusted him enough to rest in a situation like this, even if maybe he couldn’t quite physically help himself. Kaito had a strict ‘No Sleeping In the Bath’ policy for his family, but… him being physically in it to ensure they’d be safe was an exception.

Once Kokichi was clean, Kaito just resting in the bath with him for a moment, he took him out, and again, Kokichi’s eyes briefly opened as Kaito dried him down on the bed, before grabbing the balm and bandages and, carefully, treating the skin the burns. Basically both elbows and knees needed a wrap, but Kaito felt confident it wouldn’t hurt by the next day, since he was taking care of it now.

At some point during the bath, Shuichi had gotten changed into pajamas, and as Kaito tucked him in, he had thought Shuichi was asleep…

...Shuchi opened a golden eye. “Kokichi good?”

Kaito jolted a little, genuinely shocked, before grinning, saying in a whisper, “I think so, yeah. Thanks for keeping an eye on us earlier, handsome. I don’t think I would have noticed anything was wrong if Kokichi hadn’t spoken, answering your question. Good looking out.”

Shuichi looked a little proud at this, looking Kokichi over as Kaito tucked him in… and there was something briefly shy on his face, as he asked, genuinely uncertain, “You’re probably tired now too, right…?”

Shuichi’s face relaxed as Kaito gave him a surprised look, before putting his face in his hand, laughing into them. “...your timing…”

“You don’t have to…”

But Kaito didn’t mind, and a half hour later, Kaito was brushing his teeth for a third time that night while Shuichi, relaxed now, scooted in and cuddled with Kokichi. Quickly falling asleep himself.

When Kaito spat out the toothpaste, he looked up at the mirror… and gave himself a sheepish grin. Feeling better, Kaito? 

...he had looked so annoyed, in that picture.

Did he always look like that?

Kaito stared at himself in the mirror, and tried to relax his face. Lifting up his eyebrows to make them seem less stern, widening his eyes a little, trying to take the edge out of the corners. Kaito had always thought his expression was pretty… confident. And approachable. But he looked so damn aggravated in the mirror… when the hell had he developed a resting bitch face?

He put his fingers on his face and tried pulling the skin back… did that help? Nope. Just kinda weird looking. What about forward? Allll the way forward… pfff, okay, now he was just making funny faces at himself in the mirror.

He laughed at himself a little, and brightened up. There! That was what he usually looked like! There… ah, shoot. It was gone.

...maybe he was just getting older.

Whatever. It was time to go to bed. He was finally feeling good, feeling loose. He wanted to bask in the afterglow with his lovers.

-

...he had fallen asleep, but a few hours later.

‘What if someone’s in Tim’s room?’ Kaito thought, the second he opened his eyes.

Ugh… this again? He had really hoped this was going to stop when Maki got back. No one was in Timothy’s room. He didn’t need to go check. Go back to sleep.

…

…

But what if there is? You should go check.

No. There’s no one there. Leave it alone.

… wouldn’t it be fucking tragic, if you had the thought that you should check on Tim, and you didn’t, and you found out later you should have? 

… he didn’t need to check, there was no one-- 

What are you going to say to Tim, fourteen years from now, when he tells you someone was coming into his room at night, and he’s demanding to know why you didn’t do anything about it, you’re his father--

Kaito sighed, getting up. 

Quietly, he went to go get the key that Shuichi didn’t know Kaito knew about. The one that opened all the doors. Taking the key, Kaito threw on some pajama pants, before heading out, to the opposite end of the diving hallway, standing outside of Tim’s door, putting his ear next to it.

...there. No noise. No one is in there. He’s sleeping. Go back to bed.

Check.

Kaito grit his teeth, unlocked the door, opened it up to listen better… no noise. No little sounds of distress, or alarming rustling sounds. Just his son sleeping. 

Check.

No. It would scare the shit out of Tim if he walked into his room at night. There’s no sounds. He’s fine. 

Closing the door, Kaito locked it up again, tiredly heading back to his room, walking past Maki’s room-

What if Maki’s being attacked?

Stoooooop… he’d have heard something by now. Maki would be making a racket if someone was fighting her in her room. He didn’t have to-

It’s not a fight. They caught her unaware. They came in through the window. She’s suffocating with a rope around her neck-

Kaito went to press his ear against Maki’s door. No sound… she’d freak out if she heard her door unlocking. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. She’s fine-- the assassins strangling her, and Maki would call for help if she could, but she can’t, and you can’t hear her, same way you couldn’t hear Shuichi when Nao--

Kaito started to unlock the door… before sighing. Saying softly before he turned the handle, “Maki?”

There was silence… before Maki said from the other side, “Kaito? For fucks sake… I was going to stab you. What are you doing opening my door?” She asked, opening it up on her end, knife in hand, hair disheveled, wearing one of his nice shirts. Guess he wasn’t getting that one back…

“I got nervous. Wanted to check on you.” Kaito said softly, “Sorry… and, I know I kinda… sprung that out on you out of nowhere earlier. In the hallway… can we talk tomorrow? I’ll take you out to lunch?”

“...sure.” Maki sighed, before saying sternly, “Don’t open my door without announcing yourself, Kaito. I don’t want to hurt you by accident.”

“Okay… night Maki.”

Kaito closed the door, headed back to their room, past the nursery-- fire. 

Why the fuck would there be a fire in the nursery!?

Fire. His brain insisted.

An annoyed huff, opening the door-- there! No fire! Leave him the fuck alone!-- and Kaito finally managed to get back to bed, putting the key back.

...check the closet, someone could be-

Kaito sighed, checked the closet and bathroom again, and then went to bed.

-

Predictably, Kokichi’s body was not very happy about the night before, but for someone who sometimes had his body screaming at him, the discontented grumbles were something he could more than handle. And, getting back in the swing of routine, Kokichi got up for training, assuring his partners he was fine to do it all the while. 

Though, even just starting up with stretches down in the yard… Kokichi winced a bit as he reached forward to stretch his leg, his hips protesting with a whine. He’d already changed out the light bandages Kaito had put on his knees and elbows earlier but...he might change them out after training too, just in case… The balm helped a lot, but there was still that slightly scratchy uncomfortable feeling when he moved his joints. 

Kaito was focusing on Cali and Tim, both of them tending to need a little more stretching than Kimiko, and even more than that, both of them often trying to skip out on the stretches, neither of them entirely convinced they were necessary-- as they were children, they had never experienced a pulled muscle before, and of course, were invincible in every other respect-- so Kaito exaggeratedly went through the motions with them, “Annnnd now reach towards the sky, really as hard as you can! Stretch out that spine… Cali, come on, I know you can reach farther than that! Try to grab the sun! Yeah, there you go!”

Maki, in turn, was running laps already, trying to get her warm up, while Kimiko, idly, not just reached for the sky, but on a random impulse, bent her spine backwards, catching herself in the grass as she looked, in her upside-down arch, at Kokichi, staring at his knees as she walked on her hands and feet backwards a little, “...Mister Kokichi? Did you hurt yourself?”

Kokichi looked up, smiling at Kimiko’s effortless bridge walking. She really did have it in her for some truly spectacular gymnastics. Though, he had a feeling those skills would be more used for mischief than for athletic achievement. 

Atta girl.

Laughing sheepishly, Kokichi nodded, gesturing to his bandages as he continued his stretches. “Yeah, I took a bad spill yesterday. Ended up sliding on some carpet when I tried to catch myself.” Something every kid could relate to, in his own opinion. “I’m alright, but it still smarts a little. Kai-chan helped patch me up, though, so I should feel back to 100% as the day goes on.”

Kimiko nodded at that, and with a little “Hupp!” she bounced off the grass, managing to land on her knees as she flipped herself back right-side up, before shouting, “Mister Kaito!”

“Yeah, Kimiko?!” Kaito called over.

“Thank you for patching Mister Kokichi up from his fall!”

Kaito’s face turned bright red, giving them both a thumbs up as he said, “Yep! Yep! That’s what I did! You’re… very welcome?”

“Yay!” Kimiko cheered, because she was generally happy kid who enjoyed cheering, before shouting, “Can we learn how to jump on someone’s shoulders and choke them with our knees!?”

“...what!?”

“I told them mom can do that.” Tim said dryly, trying to reach down to touch his toes, “They wanna learn.”

“Uhhhhh, I don’t think that’s what we’ll learn today--”

“Knife throwing! Knife throwing! Is it finally time for knife throwing!?” Cali asked, looking unreasonably certain it was finally time for knife throwing.

“Noooo, I told you, Cali, not until you’re older, and… don’t say it that loud--”

“Can we start sparring? I’m pretty sure I can beat Cali in a spar.” Tim said, also looking unreasonably certain, as he said, “But she keeps saying I can’t so now I need to prove it.”

“I’m gonna kick your butt, Tim!”

“Alright, everyone without bandages on! Laps! Now, move it, on the double!” Kaito insisted, sending the kids off.

Kokichi just laughed to himself as Kaito sent the kids off, getting up to see Kaito before he joined in on the laps too, as a person without bandages. “We’re not gonna be able to delay all those things forever. But I’m sure there’s more than a few things you can think to teach ‘em in the meanwhile.”

Feeling a little coy, Kokichi gave his husband a wink. “Maybe not lying about injuries. I think I’m a little better suited for that lesson.”

“You sure you’re feeling alright, babe?” Kaito asked quietly, leaning down to give Kokichi a quick kiss, running his thumb over his cheek as he looked him up and down, “And if Tim ever dates an idiot like me who causes him to show up in bandages like this, I am kicking that guys ass, I don’t care how hypocritical it is of me… you alright?”

Kokichi’s smile softened. It wasn’t exactly a good thing to lie about injuries...but when it came to things in your personal life? It was only lying if the person asking was entitled to the truth. And telling his nephew and the kids he helped mentor that his husband fucked him so hard into the window seat that he got rug burns was not a truth they ever needed to know. 

“I’m okay,” Kokichi nodded. “Just a little sore, but I was expecting this. And you did a top-notch job in making sure I’m not as sore as I would be otherwise.” With another nod, Kokichi popped up on his toes to place a kiss on Kaito’s cheek. “So thanks for patching me up from my fall, Kai-chan~”

Kaito smiled softly at him… before sighing. “Alright. Laps. See you after work, Kokichi. Love you.”

-

Kaito had taken her to a diner, because of course he did.

But, they weren’t eating inside, and their bill was already paid, just… just in case. In case they needed to get up and walk. Take their potential argument away from everyone else.

He wished he could have taken her to a pub, but… he didn’t always trust himself around alcohol, these days. He hadn’t had a healthy relationship with the stuff since he got to Dicea. He didn’t know if it was actually a problem or not, but…

Anyway. He just didn’t want to end up wasted in the middle of the day, scaring the shit out of his poor husband and disappointing his boyfriend.

Kaito was eating a burger, and Maki was carefully de-skinning a plate of ribs that were far too covered in sauce. Kaito had once thought it was silly, to ever not use your hands for what he considered hand foods, like ribs, a little hoity-toity to to de-skin, but he realized getting to Dicea that Luminary had its own hoity-toity practice of cleaning the skin at either end of the ribs, using the bones as hand-holds, that Dicea didn’t commonly practice. It was a small thing, to realize Luminary tried to be a little cleaner in managing some of its food than Dicea did some of theirs…

...but Kaito was willing to clutch onto anything that made him feel slightly good about his country, and he laughed as he watched Maki struggle to de-skin her ribs without covering her hands in sauce, and mostly failing. “Weird, how they do that, huh?”

“A little.” Maki said dismissively, digging the bones out with a fork, before saying, “So Timothy told you about the lookout tower.”

Kaito felt his shoulders fall a little, taking a sip off his water, “...yep. A while ago.”

“While I was gone?”

“Yeah.”

“Why bring it up now?” Maki asked, cleaning off her hands with a napkin, before grabbing a fry and dipping it into the sauce, “I’ve been back for three weeks. You’ve had the opportunity.”

“My concern hasn’t timed out, Maki.” Kaito said through gritted teeth, before taking a breath, running his thumb and index finger over his eyes, “... I was worried that for his birthday, you might want to-”

“Task him to kill someone?”

“No… but would I exactly be ‘off-base’ to be worried about that?!” Kaito whispered, glaring at her, “Cause that’s exactly what you did before you left, as a ‘goodbye’ thing!”

“It was just a dummy. Literally clothes and straw.”

“He didn’t know that when he stabbed it, Maki, I don’t understand what part of this is… fuck…” Kaito paused, giving himself a minute. “...I don’t understand why you don’t understand why I’m upset. I feel like I’m going crazy. Why does everyone treat me like I’m being irrational when I get upset over things like ‘murder’ and ‘conspiracies’ and--”

“Oh, boo-hoo.” Maki scowled. “It’s your own fault no one takes you seriously. You literally go out of your way to not be taken seriously. Sorry it doesn’t always work out for you, your big ‘get out of leading free’ card.”

There was a heavy silence on the table after that.

The silence lasted awhile, Kaito picking at his burger, Maki glaring at her fries and ribs, untouched.

“...I didn’t mean it quite like that-”

“Yeah you did.” Kaito muttered, pouring an unreasonable amount of ketchup into his to-go box, “It’s not like you to backtrack, Maki.”

“You asked me to be his mentor.” Maki said, “You basically forced him on me. You told me to make him an assassin.”

“And then the plan changed.” Kaito said softly, sighing, re-focusing on Tim. “Maki, if this is all some elaborate way of you saying you don’t want this responsibility, well… fuck, fine, I can do this on my own-”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Tim’s my kid. I’ve claimed him.”

“Then why do you keep bringing this up-”

“Because if I don’t know what I’m doing, that's partly on you.” Maki seethed, glaring at him, “And if raising him how I was raised is the wrong way to do it, guess what? That’s also partly on you. Your family made me like this. I don’t know any other way to be.”

“...yeah, maybe… or, no, yeah, I…” Kaito floundered, knowing that Maki wasn’t… wrong, but at the same time, knowing he couldn’t leave it like that, because Tim needed better…

There was another pause. Silent eating…

“... The assassin stuff has never been the best part of you.” Kaito said, finally, “You’ve never considered all the assassin stuff the most important part of you… at least, not in a positive way. Why are you insisting on passing on some of those lessons to Tim? When he’s not even going to be an assassin?”

“He was afraid. Because I was leaving him behind and he didn’t know if I was coming back.” Maki said stiffly, “I wanted to make him feel strong. I wanted him to know he was capable of protecting himself.”

“... he doesn’t need to be strong by knowing he can kill other people, Maki. And… he thought that was what he was doing, when you brought him up that tower. He thought you had left him alone to kill someone by himself. That’s terrifying-”

“They weren’t fake when I did it.” Maki said quietly.

“...I know, Maki.” Kaito said quietly in turn. “I know they weren’t.”

More silence. More eating.

“...of course it was scary. Of course it… didn’t feel good.” Maki murmured, “But at least, afterwards, I knew I could. There’s strength in that. Power. Not everyone could. My siblings… one of them couldn’t, and he died for it. He was never going to survive, and he found out the first test. He was helpless, but I wasn’t. I could do it… when the time came, I could do it… there was power, in knowing…”

Kaito didn’t say anything. It wasn’t the first time he had heard about the three kids Maki had, briefly, trained alongside. None of the others had been around anymore, when he had met Maki.

“... and he didn’t actually have to kill anyone, to know. It wasn’t like that first time, in a group, and it wasn’t like the hole, where he didn’t know if anyone was going to be at the end of the spear. He was by himself, on his own, with no protection… and he did it. And now  he knows he can do it, without actually having to…” Maki scowled, “It’s a gentle way to be given that sort of knowledge.”

“He didn’t need to know, Maki.” Kaito said, “He’s not going to live a life like you did… god, Maki, and that’s a good thing, isn’t it? It wasn’t good, what happened to you. Isn’t that why you took my family off the throne in the first place? Because that shit was fucked?”

Maki’s eyes flickered to the left, a brief look of uncertainty.

More silence…

“...Maki, I need to… I need to know that you understand what I’m saying.” Kaito said, gripping his drink tightly, “And I… I’m going to say something shitty, and I know its shitty, and you’re gonna know its shitty, but… but fuck, you’re still thinking like an assassin, apparently, despite everything, so fuck it, I’m going to talk like a prince.”

Maki raised an eyebrow at that, unimpressed… before Kaito said, “He’s a higher class, than you.”

Silence. Maki surprised and… yeah. A little offended. Giving Kaito a ‘what the fuck’ look as he just glared back at her, searching for his next words.

“...he’s not being raised an indentured. Or an assassin. He is the son of a Momota, and if there was any fucking mercy in the world, I could actually claim him and give him his fucking title. He is not someone to be… b-beaten or cut or, or, put in life or death situations, he’s royalty, even if the world will never recognize it. He needs to be treated that way. That’s a fucking privelage that being adopted by me earns him.”

“You can’t give him any of that.” Maki scowled, “You couldn’t even keep it for yourself.”

“Finish your fucking food, we’re going for a walk.”

Briefly, Kaito wondered-- honestly, a bitter part of him hoped-- if that would trigger Maki’s conditioning… but her vision remained clear, if still hotly angry, the two finishing their food in furious silence.

Kaito had wanted to leave to be more openly angry with her, but… honestly, by the time they had finished eating, and then started walking…

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, “Maki, why are you trying to hurt me so badly? What did I do? You’re never… this has been cruel.”

“You just told me I can’t raise Timothy the way I know how to because he’s a higher class than me.” Maki said shortly, “I’m being cruel?”

“I’m trying to get through to you. You were raised… harshly.”

“So were you. Your grace.”

“...yeah… being a prince didn’t… spare me much.” Kaito muttered, before hardening his face as he said, “But it was supposed to, and, between how we were both actually raised, and the… nice, supportive version I was supposed to get… can’t we at least try to base Tim’s care on that imaginary version? Everything I do with Tim, I just keep thinking… what do I wish someone had done with me? And… I don’t know. I wish people had been… more involved with me. Had looked out for me… asked me questions and taken an interest and… protected me. And… and that means I can’t just turn a blind eye when you… when you hurt him.”

“I’m trying to make him stronger.”

“He’s literally one of the strongest kids I’ve ever met.” Kaito said softly, “And I knew you when you were ten. And he still qualifies. He doesn’t need to be stronger. He needs to be taken care of.” 

Maki gripped her hands into fists… but she didn’t say anything, the two continuing to walk into the woods. Or, one of the gardens, more likely, considering there was a path. Some naturey place, Kaito guessed.

“Fuck, Maki… I wanna coddle him a little. Make him softer.” Kaito confessed, shrugging, “I wanna spoil him a little. He doesn’t need to be super strong or self reliant or totally able to kill a guy if he needs to. I want him to be… a little selfish, and to maybe want to come to us when he’s scared, and to be able to… fucking cry at the sight of baby penguins!”

Maki raised an eyebrow at him, “You want him to be more like Kokichi?”

“Maybe!? Why not! We’re terrible, if we’re going to steer him to being more like anyone...”

“You hate the way Kokichi was raised.”

“I have no idea how Kokichi was raised.” Kaito muttered, “Honestly, by this point? I may never get a clear idea. Every time he talks about his past, I get a new bit of info I could have never guessed at… I have no idea what Kokichi’s life was like. But I know I like the person he turned into. I think Kokichi’s softer parts are some of the best parts of him. And I just… Tim’s still young. We can let him have some softer parts… we don’t need to parent all of his ‘weakness’ out of him. Hell, if we let him be soft and spoiled and weak from now on, by the time he’s an adult? Maybe he’ll be reasonably normal, between his soldier upbringing and us treating him like our little prince… we’ll never be able to take away the first ten years of his life, but we can make the next ten… kinder.”

“...I’m not trying to hurt him.” Maki said. “I’m sorry that I… I just keep getting frustrated cause I’m waiting for you to tell me I shouldn’t be raising him.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’d never fucking say that, Maki.” Kaito insisted, the two getting further into the woods, “I watched you put everything into helping raise your siblings growing up. I know you’re reliable with children, that any kid in your care is lucky to get someone as devoted as you… but you, and your siblings, were all growing up in a very different situation from Tim. He doesn’t have to be as strong as you all were, anymore. I don’t want him to be, either.”

“...what if I can’t work out any other way to be with him?” Maki asked quietly. 

“One? If you actually decide to do it, then you can, because Maki-roll can do fucking anything she decides to do. The universe bends for the Last Dragon of Luminary.” Kaito grinned, while Maki scoffed at that. “Two… that’s why I’m doing this with you, right? We’re in this together… I just need you to listen, and trust me, when I say that you went too far on something. I’m not trying to tell you that you shouldn’t be Tim’s mother. I’m just… also trying to be his father.”

“Hmmm,” Maki hummed… “You ever get the feeling we could have had this whole conversation in, like, one fifteen minute spar?”

“Ugh, I know… I mean, beating it into your head that you shouldn’t cut or traumatize our child would be a rough fight, but man, it would have been quicker.”

“How would you have done it?”

“I don’t know… maybe crush your neck beneath my boot until you conceded it’s a shitty way to raise him?”

“Pfff, you think you could actually catch me badly enough to pin me by the neck by foot?”

“I’d have been very motivated. I love Tim a lot.” Kaito grinned… before laughing to himself, looking tired and amused as he said, “We’re so damaged.”

“...I’m sorry I mocked the fact that you didn’t get any of your privileges of your title.”

“I mean… I got some of them! The guards always turned a blind eye to my shit!”

“That’s nobility privilege. You were the second Momota son… you should have been intolerably spoiled. I should have hated you, for how spoiled you were.” Maki huffed, shaking her head, “Thankfully for our relationship, your childhood was just tragic enough to make you tolerable to be around.”

“I feel like I should be offended…” Kaito grinned warily, the two walking in silence for awhile, “... you really do understand? What I’m trying to say? It’s important to me, Maki…”

“Treat Tim like a prince,” Maki said simply, “Not an indentured assassin.”

“I mean… yeah, I guess that is what I said. But, you know I just mean-”

“Be gentler with him.” Maki sighed, “Be more tolerant of his weaknesses. Be kinder. Hold back. Is that correct?”

“And just… at least hear me out, in the future, when I’m worried about something with him. We’re in this together, I don’t want raising him to be this… explosive, between us.”

“...yes.” Maki sighed, “Alright… I’ll do better.”

“Thanks, Maki-Roll.”

-

Miss Crystal had been experimenting with other methods of keeping Kaito calm during therapy, and in her experiments, had discovered keeping Kaito’s hands busy was the equivalent of putting a damn lock and key on the guy. Physically, he was not good at multi-tasking, and having him perform a simple task tended to keep him from doing things like trying to twist his knuckles out of place or, worse, punching walls. 

So, after they had eaten, halfway through their session, which was when Kaito usually started getting antsy, Miss Crystal brought out a bunch of pearls, crystals and stones, all with little holes in them, and the two were putting little necklaces and bracelets together at the corner diner table as they talked.

This was all to help him, but Kaito had his suspicions, as he asked, finishing his latest bracelet, “Do you sell these?”

“For an extremely reasonable and competitive rate, yes!”

“So… you’re just using me for free labor?”

“Technically, it’s not free, since you pay me to make you do it.” Miss Crystal smiled, laughing loudly at Kaito’s dry look, “Oh-ho-ho-hooo~! Don’t look at me like that! You can stop whenever you feel like it, dearie, darling boy~”

Kaito winced at the pet names, looking around uncomfortably as he started working on the next necklace, putting some stones together in a reasonably appealing pattern, “I wish you wouldn’t do that… people are going to think we’re dating. I don’t want people to think I’m cheating...”

“I’m twice your age and called you ‘dearie’,” Miss Crystal mused, not working on a necklace or bracelet herself, just putting the stones and crystal and gems into interesting, circular shapes. “If people were going to guess at our relationship, doesn’t it seem more likely they’d think I was your mother, or your aunt?”

“...” Kaito shrugged. “My aunt doesn’t say things like that. She calls me K-boy.”

“Sounds friendly. Do you like her?” Miss Crystal asked easily, making no assumptions. Discussing Kaito’s family was usually a dumpster fire, but Kaito had a tendency to retreat if he noticed that she was going to point that out to him. She had learned it was better to stay neutral, and let Kaito fill the air himself, about the hangups with his family.

Kaito shrugged again, focusing on the necklace, “She’s alright, yeah. She’s like me, no claim to the throne. The way people tell it though, she volunteered for it. No desire to rule.”

“So you both have that in common?”

“...yep.” Kaito said, carefully threading the line into another stone, “No desire to rule. Same as me.’

“Must have given you a lot to relate to, with her?” Miss Crystal tried again, “Did you talk much?”

“No, not really… she was nice when we did talk. I hope she’s doing well. She probably is. I imagine she’s doing amazing right now.” Kaito blinked, before glancing at Miss Crystal, “...I talked to Maki about Tim.”

Miss Crystal sighed. “Good. I’ve been hoping you would soon. How did it go?”

“Told her Tim wasn’t gutter trash like she is and she should show him some respect.” Kaito said blankly, before glancing at Miss Crystals surprised face. “...not really. But it kinda felt like that’s what I said, for a second… it went well, otherwise. She said she’d try harder and not… do that stuff.”

“You’ll keep an eye on it?”

“Yeah…” 

There was something unspoken, between the two. Miss Crystal didn’t want to threaten Kaito to report Maki’s treatment of Timothy, because that would shatter Kaito’s trust in her, his ability to confide in her… but Kaito knew that if he didn’t do something, Miss Crystal was going to, after he had told her his concerns. The cutting thing had already made her tense, when he told her, but the tower had… been a long conversation.

Kaito probably shouldn’t have told her anything. He had been scared, for a moment there. Their family was already so damn fragile…

“Why the fear that people will think you’re cheating on Kokichi?” She asked, “And Shuichi?”

Kaito glanced around the diner again, “It feels like a reasonable fear.”

“Your reputation, as you call it, hasn’t followed you to Dicea. No one here cares what you did back in Luminary.”

“Uh huh…”

“You know I’m not here to judge you, Kaito. Are you projecting some of those feelings? Fears about cheating?”

“... nah.” Kaito said, reasonably certain of this, “I know how it sounds, but no. I just know I seem the type.”

“Do you? To who?”

“Anyone who knows literally anything about me.” Kaito mumbled.

“I feel like there’s signs of projection here again. Has anyone told you that you’re the type to cheat? That you’re going to run off on your partners any second? Has anyone expressed that concern to you?”

“...not… to me, no…”

“I think you might have a more negative view of yourself than the people around you do.”

“I know me better than the people around me do.” Kaito frowned, finishing the necklace, before moving onto a bracelet, “Now. Anyway.”

“Do you think you’re going to cheat then?”

“No.”

“But you think other people should assume you would?”

“Yeah.”

“Because you know yourself better than them, and it seems like a reasonable concern to you.”

“Yeah.”

“But you don’t think you’re a risk to cheat?”

“No.” Kaito paused, “Or, yeah… whichever answer means I don’t cheat. That one.”

“It’s astonishing how you can say entirely self-contradicting things so reliably with a straight face.”

“It makes sense in my head.”

“I know it does, darling-dear…” Miss Crystal paused, thinking, “...are you ashamed of your personal history?”

“Of course.” Kaito said, without batting an eye.

“You are? But you speak of it fondly.”

“Yeah, cause I’m a shitty person. Who likes shitty things.” Kaito rolled his eyes, before saying, “Momota.”

Miss Crystal’s mouth lined at this a bit. He had been doing that more and more lately. Whenever he wanted to explain something about himself, just saying the word ‘Luminary’ or ‘Momota’, like that was the whole of the explanation anyone needed. It was a habit she was going to need to start breaking him out of, before it became a real problem.

And while Miss Crystal paused, thinking how to approach it, Kaito continued in lieu of nothing, almost as if he could sense her displeasure with his answer and wanted to clarify, “Momota’s worship a whore god and have kept harems and personal sex rooms our whole lineage. Literally my favorite spot to hide as a kid was in a harem prayer room in our castle temple that my great-great grandfather had built. I’m a… really pure byproduct of the Momota legacy, even if we had been trying to distance ourselves from it since my grandfather. My cousin was a… active pedophile, our age of consent lowered and raised every other leader based on personal taste, and my father regularly cheated on our mother and was considered pretty reasonable, as far as my families history of that goes. An obsession with sex is just another… shitty Momota quality. I’m just fucking lucky it skipped Byakuya and tripled up on me. At least Byakuya didn’t want to rape people…and Kaede seems okay with it too. Lucky twice, I guess.”

“...why are you lucky it skipped Byakuya?” Miss Crystal asked.

Kaito’s eyes narrowed at that. Finishing up another bracelet. 

-

Maybe it was just how much they’d been talking about it lately. The breakthroughs Kokichi had noticed, and the ones the others had noticed about each other. Really...that should just be enough, but Kokichi felt the impetus to take it a little further. 

...he...wasn’t exactly sure why. It...almost felt kind of like he was doing science labs again, though the implication of that was baffling at best and incredibly uncomfortable at worst. 

But asking at all? If Shuuichi was uncomfortable, or had nothing to say, Kokichi wouldn’t push it. 

And that’s what he bargained with himself as he stopped in front of Shuuichi’s study door, giving a soft knock. “It’s me. Are you busy?”

“Is Kaito with you?” Shuich asked from the other side of the door.

Kokichi raised an eyebrow before he smirked a little. No need to worry about his partners having a fight--he had a pretty good guess why Shuuichi was asking. “No, it’s just me.”

“Doors open, come in.” Shuichi called.

Shuichi currently, was sitting by his open window, on something that technically qualified as a ‘window seat’ but was more a lounging couch placed by the window, a book forgotten on the ground next to him, while Nini curled around his stomach and was resting his head on Shuichi’s neck while the detective idly pet down the scales. 

“Hey, Kokichi.” Shuichi smiled. “Come to visit?”

Kokichi grinned at the scene he saw in the study, about what he expected. Closing the door gently behind him, he came closer, placing a brief kiss on Shuuichi’s hat and a gentle pet down Nini’s side. “Hello, Nini~ Hi, Shuu-chan...yeah, I…”

Straightening, Kokichi sent his boyfriend a tentatively sheepish look. “...I wanted to talk. And ask about some stuff? But if you don’t wanna talk about it, I’m not gonna press, okay? I…”

...talking around it made the suspense worse. “...would it be alright if I asked you about your conditioning? Like...how things are going now, not how it happened to you.”

Shuichi gave Kokichi a mildly surprised look, still petting down Nini’s sides, as the massive snake butted its nose insistently at the bottom of his chin when he slowed down a little, most certainly not done with Pets. “...um… yes? I don’t see why not. In what sense, Kokichi?”

As he asked this, he scooted over slightly, giving Kokichi room to sit on the side of the lounging couch if he wanted too.

Kokichi knew Shuuichi was usually fairly open--with trusted people--about his conditioning, but...it was just such a personal inquiry. Kokichi could see ways it affected his friends’ lives, but...he’d never really understand it. It didn’t...it didn’t feel like he had much of a right to pry beyond what his loved ones freely offered. 

(That wasn’t true at all...but it sort of was. Kokichi just didn’t let that discomfort stop him.)

Giving Shuuichi a smile as he took the offered space on the lounge--he wasn’t sending him away, so that was good--Kokichi took a small breath, trying to collect his thoughts. “...Kai-chan said that he hasn’t seen Maki-chan go into her…” Already Kokichi didn’t know what to call it, so he shrugged a little, gesturing vaguely. “...how she gets when she’d get orders? Even when he thinks the situation might’ve triggered it before...or even when she’s really trying to get into that headspace. Of course, that’s external stuff, so I’m gonna ask her about it some time too, but…”

Kokichi trailed off before sharing a small smile with Shuuichi. “...and we’ve all seen how much Kai-chan’s changed. Shuu-chan...when we were on our date? He said that Byakuya hadn’t been cut out to be king. I’ve never heard him say anything close to that, even in implication before.”

“...and you’ve said before how you haven’t gone into an info hole in a while, so… I guess I’m really asking if...you’ve noticed your conditioning...er, flaring up at all lately.”

Shuichi blinked at Kokichi…

...before setting up, Nini begrudgingly bending with the movement, sliding down onto his lap, as Shuichi dug into his inner jacket pocket, finally pulling out his journal. Opening it up to the latest Kaito page and writing in it quickly, adding into the endless formula of words that made up his writing style for his journal…

-cond. + (bya + incompt.) = ??? devotion training eased?? [additional= dev. train confirmed? Confirmation bias?] + Maki cond. = supporting ev.?

… + (-) personal memory cond.? = ???

Shuichi frowned, looking at the equation, hoping that putting it down on paper would make it any clearer than it already was… hm.

Flipping to his own personal latest page, he noted, “I’ve been having issues remembering things, lately. Not… to the point where I don’t. I mean in the sense that it takes me longer to remember things than I have before. I thought it might be a side effect of the pregnancy, or maybe recovering from the pollen, but you’re right, I also haven't had…” Shuichi looked back through his note, “A data dump episode in… some months now. Which isn’t necessarily unusual, if no ones trying to set it off on purpose…”

Shuichi looked up to Kokichi, “Try to set it off.”

It didn’t exactly help Kokichi’s nerves about, well, touching a nerve, but he watched in fondness as Shuuichi no doubt scribbled down everything he’d just relayed. Shuuichi probably had his own theories about everything and...that was kind of why Kokichi had gone to him first. He didn’t even really know why he wanted to double-check with all his friends in the first place, but...if he was trying to find some sort of answer, then Shuuichi was one of the best people to go to. 

Nodding slowly, Kokichi thought back to the last few months, finding that he’d noticed that too. Shuuichi did usually end up having the answer to whatever obscure knowledge he or Kaito were trying to remember, but...it wasn’t within a few moments, Shuuichi tensing and mumbling until he got it. It just...was more like Shuuichi had a very good memory, but naturally. 

...maybe it was.

And while it was far more helpful to actually test that, Kokichi still grimaced a bit as Shuuichi asked him to purposefully try and set off his conditioning. ...lists of things Shuuichi would know…

“...tell me the names of the five most populous cities in Luminary.”

Shuichi’s face tensed a little…

...hm.

He tapped his pen against his journal, and said, “Try saying it more… authoritatively? Like if I don’t answer something bad will happen.”  

Kokichi gave his boyfriend a strained look but took a breath. Okay...say it...command it like...you’ve had a shitty day, and you just want to go to bed, but you need to get this done but Shuuichi’s being obtuse and patronizing and…

Brow furrowing, Kokichi’s mouth fell into an impatient, annoyed frown, his voice sharp as he asked, “Shuu-chan, tell me the five most populous cities in Luminary, now.”

… Shuichi laughed lightly, and immediately looked guilty. “Sorry.”

Kokichi’s expressive eyes and baby-face did him no favors. Especially now that Shuichi knew him better, long gone were the days his boyfriend could frighten him by being annoyed. Especially knowing Kokichi was faking it? It was very cute.

‘Shuu-chan’ didn’t help.

“Um…” Shuichi paused, trying to think about it… it was always so strange now. Like looking through a long, dark hallway, for information that used to be right at his fingertips, whenever he wanted it, “...New Grand Panjandrum, otherwise known as NGP, Annson, Chonis,Thaskis annnd… Kritin.”

And, as soon as he was finished saying so, he added a note to his journal, frowning as he said, “That took… two minutes in total, from the first time you asked the question. Maybe even a little more. If it had taken me that long to answer a question like that back at home, my mentor would either punish me for being ‘difficult’ or take me to a healer to see if I was sick. It still could be the pregnancy…” 

At Shuuichi’s laugh, Kokichi immediately broke character and gave his boyfriend an apologetic look. He really thought he’d sold that one, but...well, he was glad it felt so wrong to get snippy and authoritative with Shuuichi. 

It didn’t exactly help them test his conditioning, however. 

Nodding at Shuuichi’s analysis--Kokichi could barely remember Shuuichi hesitating more than a second or two the last time he knew Shuuichi’s conditioning had gone off--Kokichi leaned in to place an apologetic kiss against his cheek. “There are a lot of factors… And it could be what you and Kai-chan have too, that you’ve worked hard not to see him as authority so...it just doesn’t work. I wouldn’t say this is anywhere near definitive, but…”

“...it is nice, at least from my perspective, that even trying to, I can’t set your conditioning off,” Kokichi admitted with a shy smile. “If things really are like they seem and your and the other’s conditioning are just...easing? I know I won’t understand it. But...to me, that’s really amazing.”

“That is nice…” Shuichi agreed, giving Kokichi a fond look… before sighing, “Darn, but now I’d really like to know. Conditioning isn’t meant to ease… or, well…” Shuichi frowned, tapping at his journal, “...is it? I mean, the official word is that conditioning stops when your contact is up. That’s part of it. But it's so rare to meet someone done with their contract who’s willing to admit they were indentured in the first place, or talk about their conditioning at all. It’s generally known that outside of your potential employers? You don’t tell anyone you were indentured. You move to somewhere no one knew you, or everyone ends up treating you the same as when you were indentured. It makes it hard to keep track of that stuff, when no one will talk about it…”

“And Kaito said that Byakuya and Tengan… told him that it doesn’t work like that at all. That it’s not even supposed to. Which was… difficult to hear. But Maki and I were both still getting triggered after the treaty was signed, which was the end of our contracts, so I don’t think it was actually all that surprising when we heard that, just more… disheartening.” Shuichi mumbled, half to himself, theorizing, idly petting Nini, “And Kaito was never under contract, so who knows what’s going on with his or what his was ever meant to do. He wasn’t even allowed to acknowledge his to anyone… but anyway, the point is that maybe conditioning does ease after contracts? But it just took a year? Hmmm…”

Shuichi frowned at his journal… “Let’s go find Maki.” he said, looking at Kokichi, a determined light in his eyes, intrigued.

That was a big part of institutional abuse, not talking about what was going on. It was such a small scale, as compared to the program, but Kokichi remembered learning about the ‘soft guidelines’ in workplaces. People ‘encouraged’ not to talk about their wages or time off or accommodations, or even things about themselves as a person. It made discrimination difficult to catch, made people feel alone and like they just weren’t cutting it for what was a standard. 

It was the whole reason why the laws around employee contracts were so strict. Unless something was in the contract, or in a new addendum that was presented and signed by the employee, it couldn’t be a rule or a way the business did business. And everything that was in the contract had to be upheld. 

...if people in Luminary tried to hide that they had been in the program...who knew how many people might’ve gone around feeling like they were broken for not having their conditioning wearing off…

And that could still be what happened, but...for how much of a cruel, conniving bastard that old man was, Kokichi couldn’t see why he would tell Byakuya, at the least, that the program wasn’t designed to wear off, if it really did. He could see it just being a horror factor for Kaito, but...Byakuya didn’t care. So why…

(...it might stress you out but...at least right now, the how or why don’t matter. As long as we can do our work, it’ll work out in the end.)

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a nod, getting up from the lounge and offering his arm to Shuuichi if he wanted it. “I wanted to ask her about her experience too...but, also, she’s just been talking with other people who had been in the program. She might have a lot of insight to share on this…”

“Exactly. Plus, she knows how to get an ‘injury report’ out of me.” Shuichi explained, picking up Nini and bringing him over to his terrarium, saying matter-of-factly, “Alright, Nini, back to your room. Come on now, don’t be stubborn…” Shuichi sighed, Nini’s tail stubbornly wrapping around his chest, not done with PETS! “Kokichi? Can you help unravel me?”

Kokichi giggled softly, endeared by the snake’s cuddliness. Giving the snake a few gentle strokes, Kokichi started coaxing Nini’s tail off of Shuuichi. “C’mon, Nini… I know, Shuu-chan is the best to cuddle, but we’re gonna be moving around. You’ll be more comfortable in here...there ya go, good boy.”

Somehow, Kokichi got the impression that the snake was pouting.

“Silly snake.” Shuichi said with great fondness, Nini always a soothing presence to be around… but now was not the time to be soothed! Now was the time for-! ...owwwwww, his damn knees. “Maki better not be downstairs, that’s all I’m saying.” Shuichi muttered, placing a hand on his hip as he tried to stretch out his back, “Alright, let’s go.”

Slowly making their way around the third floor, Shuichi knocked on Maki’s door loudly, “Maki! Maki! Maki-Maki-Maki-”

“Oh my god, what!?” Maki shouted, opening the door, looking hassled, “I was on the toilet, could it not wait five minutes?”

Shuichi smiled, “I need you to do an injury report on me.”

Maki’s eyes narrowed, looking him up and down and glancing at Kokichi before saying, “Why? Are you injured? Do you need me to grab a healer?”

“No, just testing a hypothesis. May we come in?”

“Oh, sure, now you’re polite.. Come in, but watch your feet, I’m doing a weapon inventory.”

Inside, Maki had spread her large variety of weapons all over the floor, knives and daggers of all sorts in one corner, longer blades in another, a crossbow with its various bolts beside it, and two particularly nasty looking hook-like weapons. Carefully stepping around them, Shuichi asked, “Preparing for something?”

“Just doing a cleaning. Don’t want them to rust from disuse.” Maki explained, sitting next to one of her longer blades and, using a silk cloth and with a specific type of balm, carefully rubbing up and down the blade, “So what are you two doing, exactly?”

It was kind of amazing, seeing just...how peaceful Shuuichi was around Nini. It was like there could be any number of things going on in the world, but when Shuuichi was holding Nini it was just a man and his snake, nothing more nothing less. 

But they had science to do and a discussion to have. So, going back to the west wing, Kokichi kept his hand on Shuuichi’s back, trying to help his sore, achy boyfriend maneuver. 

Maybe it was some of that sore achiness that prompted Shuuichi’s barrage on Maki’s door, but, as Kokichi snorted, it could be some good old fashioned sibling tomfoolery.

Kokichi’s eyes widened a little at the array of weapons laid out in Maki’s room, but he simply took care in stepping around them, settling next to Shuuichi on Maki’s bed. “We’re...talking about how conditioning wears off, I guess. Or...seeing if that’s what’s happening at all, or if it’s something else entirely.”

Giving Maki a softer look, he explained, “Kai-chan and I talked about how...it just doesn’t seem like you guys have gotten triggered in a long time. And as time goes on, Kai-chan says stuff that he never even would’ve tried to acknowledge in a roundabout way months ago. We were wondering if...it really is that it’s wearing off, or that being in a different culture has changed anything.”

“Shuu-chan and I tried to test if I could set his conditioning off, but...nothing,” Kokichi said, shrugging with a little bit of a grin as he looked over at Shuuichi. “There are a lot of other factors, though, so we were wondering if you could try, since you guys have a tried and true method.” 

Maki frowned, focusing on the same part that had sparked Shuichi’s interest, as she said, “...what did he say?”

Shuichi smiled, sitting down on her bed as he said, “Something about Byakuya being a big loser?”

Maki narrowed her eyes, “No he didn’t…” she looked at Kokichi, “Did he?”

Kokichi snorted and gave Shuuichi an amused look before looking back at Maki, more earnest in his expression. “Not in those words. He…”

Kokichi flushed lightly. “He said that Dicea was lucky to have me, that I was going to do a great job and...that I was better than Byakuya. That he wasn’t going to be a good king and that he wasn’t suited for it…”

Taking a breath, Kokichi shook his head a little. “...I couldn’t believe it when he said it… Even when Kai-chan acknowledged things weren’t going well in Luminary, he’d always say things like Byakuya just hadn’t had a chance yet… Always affirming that Byakuya was gonna be a great king. To hear him straight out say that he wasn’t was...kinda shocking, honestly.”

Maki frowned at that, sliding the cloth up and down her blade, before with a flick of her wrist, sending it flying to the target board on the opposite wall, where several other newly cleaned knives were already chilling out. “He said all that? That’s… if anyone other than you had told me that, Kokichi, I might say you were exaggerating. The most you can get Kaito to say about Byakuya is that’s he’s ‘Reac-”

“-tive.’” Shuichi said at the same time, sighing, “Like trying to execute people is a temperamental ‘quirk’ and not a serious issue. I haven't heard him say anything quite like that myself, but… he has been more open about Luminaries issues lately too, and we always thought that directly had something to do with the Byakuya stuff. And Kokichi’s right, I haven't had an accidental triggering of my information conditioning in months, which by itself isn’t saying much…”

Maki nodded, before stepping up, heading over to the bed and crossing her arms, her expression going cold and stern. Shuichi eyeing her warily as she approached.

“Shuichi.” Maki barked, her tone cold, with no room for argument, entirely expectant to be obeyed, “Status report.”

Shuichi looked undisturbed for a moment.

...then he frowned. His expression more troubled… before he closed his eyes and put his hands over his face, a shudder running through him. “Nnnn…”

“Shuichi?” Maki asked, her expression dropping, mildly alarmed as she put her hand on his shoulder.

“...um…” Shuichi peeked through his hands, looking… confused. “Um...I… w-what was the…”

Maki’s eyes narrowed… before putting her hand in front of Kokichi, “Don’t say anything. Give him a minute. Let’s see what happens.”

Kokichi nodded, the two of him outlining the point perfectly. Before, at the very worst, Kaito would just kind of shrug around Byakuya and Luminary’s flaws. And now...he was acknowledging them straight out. Like not only was a mental block gone, but Kaito himself was willing to look.

(...though… Kokichi was worried about his reaction to what he saw. The truth could severely hurt sometimes, and the truth Kaito was finally looking at wasn’t pretty. Kaito had already admitted to suicidal tendencies, even if they weren’t spurring him on to the act. Kokichi would need to keep an eye on him…)

Whatever the cause, or however it was manifesting, the one thing they all did know was that something had changed. For better or for worse. ...even if Kokichi thought it was mostly for better.

Kokichi was half unsurprised as Shuuichi didn’t immediately start the status report, but...this type of distress wasn’t…

He’d started to reach out before Maki intervened and he gave her a worried look before retracting his hand. Shuuichi being confused and a little stressed wasn’t dangerous and...this was what they were looking for. What was left after the conditioning. As long as it didn’t get dangerous, they could wait and see.

Shuichi rubbed at his temples… before rubbing at his neck. Starting to breathe heavier, a small whine of fear in his throat…

“Come on, Shuichi…” Maki said, bunching her hands into fists, “Breathe through it…”

“What was the… what was the…” Shuichi took a few deep, difficult breaths… before the last breath came easier. A small sigh, as he closed his eyes… before grumbling, “That sucked.”

“That was amazing.” Maki said simply, reaching forward and taking Shuichi’s head into her hands, turning his face left, right, her fingers at the pulse of his temple and counting the beats, looking at the coloring of his eyes, his skin, the lines, his focus… “And also looked like it sucked. What did you do?”

“I don’t know… I felt a panic attack coming and it just… stopped on its own.” Shuichi sighed, letting Maki do her ritual for a moment before waving her off himself with an annoyed, “I’m fine, I’m fine, stop that.”

...Kokichi’s gaze zeroed in on Shuuichi grasping at his throat. 

(They’re strong and quick and dedicated. No matter what the conditioning tries, Griffin can fight it. Shuuichi isn’t going to be in danger anymore.)

As Shuuichi found his breath, though, so did Kokichi, and he gently reached over to rub Shuuichi’s back while Maki checked him over. But...if the panic attack was triggered by trying to trigger his conditioning…

“...that makes no sense…” Kokichi mumbled, before sighing and at least explaining his thought process to the others. “...there are still too many variables...you could’ve just gotten the start of a panic attack randomly. But...if some of your panic attacks were purposefully triggered by your conditioning as, like...a physical response to keep you answering...and you can fight it off by the same thing that’s stopping the triggers? But there’s too much there that just doesn’t make sense…”

“I know I haven't done anything different. There’s not some mental workaround I’ve figured out or anything.” Shuichi sighed, rubbing his temple, “Ugh… I’ve woken up Miyako. Can we get something warm to drink? That usually calms her down.”

“Sure… where’s your husband? In his shrine, or your room? We should ask him to go on a snack run, and also ask him to try to trigger my conditioning.” Maki said, running a hand idly against Shuichi’s shoulders, “I want to see how far down this goes.”

“Have you had any triggerings since you’ve been back?” Shuchi asked her.

“No… and honestly, there’s been moments it should have. But it just…” Maki frowned, “...felt small.”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, “That’s a way to describe it…”

Maki sighed, shaking her head. “When Kaito does his ‘King Leon’ voice, it’s usually impossibly large in my head. Like it fills my whole mind… and he’s not tried the King Leon voice since I’ve been back, but he’s come close. And so far, Kaito always seems so… small. When he tries it.” Maki explained, frowning, “Like… pathetically fragile. if I breathe wrong, I could hurt him… so why listen?”

“Aww… Sorry, Miya,” Kokichi softly cooed, rubbing Shuuichi’s belly a little before he nodded, carefully getting up to start running dad duties. “You guys can chill here if you want--you said your knees were hurting, Shuu-chan. I’ll go get drinks. And...I think Kai-chan’s in his shrine. He said he was gonna go pray before I left to find you.”

Kokichi started making his way past the floor of weapons again, though he gave Maki a curious look as she explained her own experience. 

(Trying to out-shout a dragon will never work.)

Smiling slightly, Kokichi gave Maki a warm look once he made it back to the door. “I know this is a relatively recent thing, but...that really sounds so much like you. Maki-chan’s whole...presence, I guess, sometimes feels like you could swallow the world… I don’t think that really means anything...but I guess we’ll see.”

With a nod, Kokichi set out for Kaito’s shrine, hoping he’d catch his husband.

“Thanks, Kokichi.” Shuichi called to Kokchi’s retreating form, while Maki finished looking him over, returning to cleaning her weapons.

In his shrine, Kaito hissed through his teeth a little, warily letting the small drops of blood fall into the bowl. The offering didn’t need to be much, but Kaito let his arm linger for a moment, before sighing, taking his waiting bandage and starting to clean his arm up, wrapping up the cut, before shifting into a full bow in front of the shrine.

“Atua, who loves me...I offer tribute in gratitude for my family, and their continued good health, and…” he sighed, “I ask for the safe trials of… my parents, and my friends, and the missing Luminary party, and Togami and… am I missing anyone… maybe peek in on my old mentor? And Koh! Tell Koh I said hi… um… damn, I feel like I’m forgetting someone… my parents, my exes, including Togami, um, the very likely dead Luminary party… Atua, who am I forgetting? Am I forgetting someone? There have been a lot of dead people lately… I guess also that psycho family from the beach, I guess…”

Kaito sighed, running a hand through his hair, before saying, “Sorry, sorry, I know I sound grouchy, I’m not trying to be a brat during prayer. Um… I give an offering in gratitude for the… continued peace of Dicea and Luminary… and my brothers families safety in Novoselic… and my husbands sweet ass…” Kaito laughed, smirking at the shrine, “Oh! Atua, you are not going to believe this, guess who’se going celibate for the next seven months. Okay, so, here’s the situatio-”

Kaito jumped at a knock at the door, quickly bringing down his long sleeve shirt and putting the black napkin over the blood bowl, “Yes?!”

“Hey, hun!” Kokichi called through the door, his voice gentle. “I’m just about to go and get us some warm drinks, but Shuu-chan, Maki-chan, and I have been talking about what we were kinda discussing before, about conditioning maybe wearing off. We’re hangin’ out in Maki-chan’s room if you wanna join when you’re done up here.”

“...sorry for interrupting.”

Kaito hesitated, looking at the shrine… “No, you’re not interrupting! I’m wrapping up now, I’ll meet you back in… where? Maki’s room? I’ll meet you there-- unless you want help with the drinks?” Kaito called, quickly wiping down the blade and putting it under the shrine, looking down at himself to make certain he had dripped anything on himself, and looking clean, heading to the door, opening it up and grinning down at Kokichi, “Need help?”

Kokichi smiled as Kaito opened the door, happy to see him. Just for affection, Kokichi gently touched at Kaito’s elbow--a bad spot for cutting, so not a place Kokichi would accidentally aggravate--before stepping back. “I won’t say no to extra hands. And I can catch you up to what we’ve done.”

...Kokichi cringed a little at that. “...it might’ve been a little riskier than we thought at first.”

“What was?” Kaito asked, closing the door behind him and taking Kokichi’s hand, “What have you guys been doing?”

“Weeeeell…” Kokichi started. 

“So after I kinda explained what we talked about at the aquarium and at dinner, Shuu-chan said that, yeah, his hadn’t been triggered for a good while, but that’s not too unusual if no one’s trying to do it on purpose? So he asked me to set it off.” Kokichi snorted there and rolled his eyes a little. “Did not work at all...and him trying to answer what I asked on his own terms took two minutes, which, before, would’ve been a really concerningly long time.”

“So, we thought, there are still a lot of variables there, and it could just be that Shuu-chan doesn’t ever see me as authority, like you. So we went to Maki-chan and explained things, and she tried to get Shuu-chan to give a status report and…” There, Kokichi’s expression grew a little worried, a little shamed. “...he said it was like the start of a panic attack, but then it just went away on its own. And...he didn’t start giving his status at all.”

“So...Maki-chan wants to ask you to try and trigger her conditioning. She said that...that before, orders felt really big, and inescapable in her head. But that lately, when you two have been arguing and you get close to the ordering voice, it feels...small and insignificant, so nothing happens. So she wants to see if that’s still true if you’re both doing it on purpose.”

“...small and insignificant, huh?” Kaito asked dryly, “Yeah, that sounds like a Maki thing to say… but she couldn’t trigger Shuichi’s conditioning? And she was actually trying? That’s… huh.”

“Sure, I can try to trigger Maki’s conditioning… it’s not great to hear Shuichi almost had a panic attack today, but I guess if it calmed down on its own… awww, warm drinks. Did Miya start thrashing around then?” Kaito grinned, eyes lighting up, “Stethoscope baby talk time too?”

Kokichi nodded, confirming...just about everything Kaito said. Sighing, he admitted, “Just...nothing happened when I tried to trigger it. If I had known that it’d stress Shuu-chan out like that, I would’ve advised that we not try to test his as much...even if it was his idea. But...yeah. Luckily it sorted itself out.”

“And you can get stethoscope baby time if you can convince Shuu-chan,” Kokichi giggled. “Maybe if you give him his drink. Warmth and dad-cooing to lull Miya back to sleep…”

He smiled a little wistfully. “Won’t be too long before we’re doing that with her in our arms.”

Kaito grinned, fully intending to to grab the stethoscope on the way back up. Miyako baby time! His little girl was awake and kicking and it was time for Dad to chat! 

And it was also apparently time for dad to yell at Maki, which, okay. No worries!

As they got the drinks, heading up, Kaito did indeed run to their room real quick, before heading into Maki’s room with his half of the drinks, saying, “Baby time!”

Shuichi sighed from where he was lounging on the bed, already sipping at the drink Kokichi had brought him, Maki looking up from weapons cleaning as Kaito brought her hers. “At least wait until I’ve finished drinking.”

“Thank you,” Maki said, accepting the drink, “Kokichi said he got you caught up?”

“My Shuichi feels one hundred percent comfy and comfortable with my Kokichi, even when Kokichi’s being all growly… yes, I heard.” Kaito grinned, deciding to steal a few kisses from Shuichi, who bore this valiantly, wanting to get back to his drink. “And Maki-roll almost gave him a panic attack.”

“Almost is the key word.” Maki insisted, taking her throwing dagger and hurling it into the target practice, “It took him a moment, but he breathed through it. And he said he didn’t do anything different than he normally does. It’s just… stopped effecting him.”

“Ooooor, maybe our Maki-roll isn’t as scary and big as she thinks she is.”Kaito coo’ed, Shuichi rolling his eyes as Kaito got onto his knees, ignoring his earlier request, and started speaking sweetly into Shuichi’s stomach, “What do you think, Miya? Is Aunt Maki not as big and scary and overwhelming as she thinks she is? Miiiiya? Miya, it’s almost stethoscope time...wanna hear all the little baby sounds, Miyaaaaa.”

Both Maki and Shuichi looked annoyed at that.

Kokichi settled himself next to Shuuichi again, sipping at his chai. He knew his boyfriend missed the drink--too much caffeine for late-stage pregnancy, much to Shuuichi’s dismay--so...he was hoping the smell and vicarious sipping would make it up to him a little for the almost-panic attack. 

“...I kinda doubt that’s it,” Kokichi said quietly, knowing that Kaito was in baby mode so it wasn’t like he was trying to make the most scientific guesses. Or...that he was trying to be kind to Maki with them either. “I can see why Shuu-chan wouldn’t see me that way, but...you guys have known each other for over a decade. If, a few months ago, Maki-chan could get a status update no problem, I don’t think these past few months would be the final straw to...so drastically shift your view of her.”

Kokichi tilted his head at Shuuichi. “Would it?”

Shuichi shrugged, “Maki’s hard to say no to, when she demands an answer. It’s always felt like there was no other option, when she did it. Like it was a given that I was going to answer her as clearly and fully as possible.”

“Which has always been helpful, for injuries.” Maki sighed, “It’s a shame we lost that trick. Shuichi doesn’t always communicate what’s physically wrong with him that well. There’s a lot of ‘umm, maybe’s’ in our future now.”

“Ummmm, maaaaaaybe Dada’s got swollen ankles, and Dad’s gotta give him some massages, cause our Miyako’s soooo mean to her dada’s hormones, she is, why are you so mean to dada, Miyako? He does so much for you… I’m gonna put the stethoscope on.”

“Weren’t you going to try to trigger my conditioning?” Maki asked.

“...” Kaito hesitated. “Uh, I mean… yeah. Sure, I can do that… maybe not where the baby can hear…”

“I seriously doubt she can hear that well anything out here.” Maki said dryly, standing up and stretching, “Let’s just test this and say for certain one way or another if its still working. Kaito’s always been able to do it when he wants too. I can’t imagine anything’s changed.”

Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yeah, alright… Shuichi, could you cover your stomach with a blanket?”

Shuichi smirked… before his eyes widened, “You’re serious?”

“Please? I don’t want her to hear Dad sounding mad and mean.”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow at him… before sighing. Bundling up Maki’s blanket and putting it over his stomach. “Better?”

Kaito grinned sheepishly, “Thanks handsome. Alright, Maki. Any requests?”

“Nothing embarrassing.” Maki shrugged, finishing her stretch.

Kaito nodded, looking around… before furrowing his brow, and tightening his throat, squaring his shoulders as he glared down at her.

“Maki! Disassemble the crossbow! That’s an ORDER!”

...Maki tsked. Putting her hand on her hip, unimpressed, “Try again.”

“MAKI! DISASSEMBLE THE CROSSBOW!” Kaito snarled, in his fathers voice. “IMMEDIATELY!” 

… and his face relaxed, looking surprised, “Still nothing?”

“Are you really doing it as well as you can? You sound whiny.” Maki sighed, “Pathetic.”

Kaito pouted.

That was true even for someone who didn’t have conditioning. Maki was just...overwhelming. People answered her because she demanded answers with her whole being, and she didn’t have the time or patience for snark or beating around the bush. 

The difference was that people still uselessly did that when they had the choice to. But...well, most people got around having to explain their own symptoms, as confused or delayed as they might give them. Shuuichi would figure it out too. 

Kokichi smiled a bit as Kaito requested that Miyako be buffered--it was some truly good intentions, never wanting your kid to hear you yell--but as Kaito tried to set off Maki’s conditioning…

...the tone was there. Definitely. The memories were a little distant now, but Kokichi could remember his plain shock as Kaito snapped at Maki before, and how her body immediately would respond. But…

Kokichi’s eyebrows pulled in as he frowned in concern. “...I think he’s doing it right, but… I really do think it’s you, Maki-chan. That it’s just not a trigger anymore… So...without that trigger, someone--or, anyone--grouching at you to do things is just gonna sound...ridiculous.”

(She wasn’t going to be caged again.)

“But what’s different?” Kaito asked her, “Is it… the war or… my family line not being the heirs anymore?”

Maki shrugged, sitting back down, picking up her weapons and getting back to work. “If it was just me? I’d say yes. But it’s you and Shuichi too. That’s not a coincidence.”

Kaito frowned… “I mean… I don’t know if I qualify…”

Shuichi and Maki glanced at each other, before Maki said, “Do you have any opinions on the Byaku-”

“Hold on, hold on,” Shuichi sighed, interrupting Maki, “We’ve been talking about that stuff in group therapy… us doing the ‘talking around him’ thing isn’t… good. We shouldn’t… be trying to make him say it, or trick him or something. We should just say it and let him decide if he agrees or not.”

Maki frowned at that… “Byakuya’s a piece of shit who made your life miserable and was going to use his privileges as king to make Luminary worse.”

Kaito drew his shoulders up a little, twisting the stethoscope in his hands uncomfortably, “...I mean...I wasn’t miserable…” he muttered defensibly.

...that was a possibility. What made Kokichi so skeptical about the contract solution was that the human psyche was so much more complicated than what a piece of paper said. But the line of succession in Luminary shifting to a cousin was just drastic enough that it might be the key to a lot of people being able to disregard the ‘who’ of who they were supposed to obey. 

...but there was still so much room for error...and it didn’t make sense for Shuuichi at all, who hadn’t been tripped up by a certain person in the first place.

Not to mention that Kokichi really doubted that the bastard included the idea that Byakuya had to be an heir or king for Kaito to be susceptible to all the shit they did. 

Sighing, Kokichi leaned toward Kaito and rubbed the back of his hand gently. “...it doesn’t have to be misery. But he did hurt you.”

“...mm.” Kaito mumbled indistinguishably, feeling too many eyes on himself and feeling a little too boxed in by the room, “Um… anyway. So… well, I mean at the very least with you guys, that’s still a really remarkable difference. Kokichi and I were talking about it earlier, what would you guys think about me sending word to Kaede about your progress?”

Shuichi’s brow furrowed, and Kaito continued quickly, “We don’t have to… I get that you wouldn’t want any eyes on you. But we were thinking it might help people back in Luminary to at least test the idea of using travel as a way to fix conditioning… since at the moment that’s kinda the only conclusion you can draw, I think?”

Kokichi sighed softly, but gave Kaito a small, encouraging smile as he rubbed his hand. Small steps. And being able to admit his brother’s failings at all was a huge step. Doing while being pressured and expected while talking about something you were uncomfortable with was just...a little too much right now. 

But asking all these questions was, ultimately, for a purpose. 

“I think there are still too many factors to say for sure,” Kokichi sighed. “But...if there’s any information we can give Luminary, then...they can figure out how to use it, or if it’s worth using, to best help all the people who were in the program. Kai-chan and I were talking about it before but...it’s not just about arranging how jobs work, and finding work for the people who were in the program, and who ran the program. It’s finding ways to make sure the people who ran the program won’t be manipulating people for their own whims, and making sure that people with conditioning won’t be put in harm’s way if it gets triggered.”

Again, Kokichi’s gaze unfocused a little, feeling the enormity of a project like that. “...it’s so much work to figure out… And if there’s any way to help people if a part of it really does end up being, hey, take a vacation for a few months? Or even if it’s more complicated than that… It’s not any of our duties to help, but I’d like to if there’s something I can do.”

“Kaede will figure it out,” Maki said, with all the assurance of someone who had already decided she was going to kill the queen if she messed it up, and was pretty sure that method would work twice. Because Maki was a lot of things, but someone with a diverse range of ideas wasn’t one of them. Attacking the monarch had already improved things once. Give her a couple of decades, she’d decide if it was worth doing again.

Shuichi, in turn, shrugged, a true sense of apathy coming over him as he said, “You can tell Kaede about us easing off of conditioning, but if she asks anything more of us, I’m telling you now that the answer is no. I don’t want to be a part of any studies, I don’t want anyone from Luminary coming to ask me questions, I’m not going back for any reason beyond getting Miyako out of the line of the throne, which, by the way? Now that she’s not second in line? We’re not going as soon as she can talk. I’d never go back to that place if I could help it…”

Technically, Miyako was still second in line, but Kaito understood what Shuichi was saying. If Kaede was smart, she’d spend the next few years creating a few of her own heirs, pushing Byakuya’s child further down the inheritance list, and Miyako going down further in turn, cementing her family’s hold on the line of succession. Kaito knew she was already thinking about ways to do it, and it was only a matter of time. Miyako being fourth or fifth in line for the throne was less urgent, then second. It was Byakuya’s future son that was most in danger now, when it came to conspiracies and attempts at influence, and that was only if someone managed to kill or get disgraced all of Kaede’s future heirs.

And, once Kaede’s heirs grew up, and all started having heirs of their own? The Leon line of inheritance will be pushed out of the running entirely, entirely irrelevant to the process, barring some sort of massacre. In forty years, Kaito and Byakuya’s families won’t matter at all.

It made sense now, to not go as soon as possible…

Kaito buried his disappointment down and said, “Yeah, like we said, we’re not asking you guys to get involved in anything. Just permission to pass the information along. So, that is okay?”

Both Maki and Shuichi nodded.

“Of course,” Kokichi agreed softly, giving Shuuichi a gentle look. “We’re not asking for you guys to...really do anything, and anything I’d ask in the future wouldn’t be anything more than maybe a phone call, but...as cruel as it feels, this isn’t our problem. I’m not gonna...start up any trials or an investigation or anything. I just don’t want to sit on information that might help.”

Kokichi didn’t even let himself acknowledge--aloud, at least--that...in a way, some of it was his problem. Because there were Dicean citizens that had been conditioned, so that fell under his responsibility. But he knew what acknowledging that meant for the slippery slope of his responsibility, and outside of his family, he hadn’t talked to any other Dicean citizens who had conditioning about what life was like where it concerned conditioning, or what they might want or need from an institutional level. If he was going to take on any sort of responsibility for helping people break or ease their conditioning, he needed to start there first. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi gave his friends a small smile. “Thank you. I promise I’ll make sure to not involve you more than saying that there is evidence of conditioning easing up.”

Shuichi nodded again, sighing…

“...you guys wanna play a board game, since apparently none of us are doing anything anyway?” Kaito grinned, looking around.

Maki looked incredulous, gesturing to the entire floor of weaponry at her feet, “How do I not look busy!?”

“You can do that in-between turns.”

Kokichi snorted. “I’d be down to play a board game. Maybe not the haunted mansion one, though--it took, like, two hours the last time we played.” Not that it seemed any of them had time sensitive plans today, but he wanted a little more freedom to not commit so hard to a game. 

“Any preferences? I can go get something from our room, or the game room.”

“Clue?” Shuichi offered.

“Man, why? I don’t get Clue. It’s so hard to win.” Kaito pouted.

“Is there a game that you think is… easy to win, Kaito?” Shuichi asked, genuinely curious.

“Ummmm…” Trying to think of any game he had ever actually consistently won… or occasionally won… “Twister?”

“That is not a board game.” Maki pointed out dryly.

“But it is a game.” Kaito grinned.

“...we’re playing with Maki and Kokichi. What makes you think you’ll win a game of Twister?” Shuichi balked.

“I’d win in spirit.” Kaito said sagely.

Kokichi perked a little, very interested in possibly playing a game of Clue. He hadn’t gotten how you played the game at all as a kid, and ended up spending all his turns asking about the same character since he felt bad accusing anyone else, but as he got older and actually paid attention to the rules? It was a blast. 

And playing Clue against an actual detective would be fascinating. 

Laughing a bit, Kokichi shrugged. “I mean, if you count the mat as a board, I think you could qualify Twister as a board game. And don’t be so quick to say my name like that, Shuu-chan,” Kokichi snorted. “I’m flexible, but reaching all the way across the mat can be a pain for me.”

Waving a little, he announced, “I’ll be back in a sec, gonna get Clue.”

-

Mondo was taking care of his horse. 

His name was Spitfire, and Mondo was lucky to have him, and he knew it. He had raised Spitfire from a foal, and the massive amber stallion was a city horse, through and through, able to turn through tight alley’s, unafraid of packed crowds, with a strong kick and a solid jump to get through barricades and fend off attackers from behind.

Mondo’s gang was known for their horses, because of his older brother and the stable they had managed to muster together in the middle of the capital city, and it wasn’t a clean life, or a good life, but it gave them an advantage when being chased by the city guards, and gave them the high ground in brawls with other gangs.

And Mondo loved his damn horse, even if none of those were a factor anymore. And he whispered soothing words to the stallion as he brushed the knots and leaves and dirt out of its hair, in the safety of the city stable, and for a moment, Mondo pretended like any of it still mattered.

Sometimes it was nice, to hide away in a simple memory.

But there was a sound… a familiar presence, reaching out…

Mondo sighed, patting the horse fondly on the side of its head, “...See you later, pal.”

And Alter Ego opened their eyes.

Kokichi had done some work. 

Chibi Kaito was not in charge of the door anymore, and Kokichi made it very clear that if someone was being disruptive at his door, he should take Chibi Kokichi and protect him out in space--which was now populated by the occasional, distant space whale, to Kokichi’s absolute delight. 

And instead of void surrounding his door…

“Thank you for coming to Prince Kokichi Momota Ouma’s mind!!” a chipper, disembodied voice gushed, the sound not seeming to have a source among the circus performers and vendors--they were all drawing models, after all, so they didn’t have mouths. They were flying through the air or gesturing to towering clouds of cotton candy, but they were all...blank. Not actual creatures. Something to entertain, but no real substance. “Step right up to our visitor’s sheet, and we’ll call you up as soon as possible! Thank you for your patience, and enjoy the circus!”

Alter Ego blinked again, before looking around in mild astonishment. Faceless, drawn characters walking around them in all shapes and sizes, wearing colorful costumes, walking on massive stilts or wheeling around on one-wheeled bicycles. It was a loud cacophony of both color and noise…

“Well, I see he’s decided to get creative with it.” Temp noted, stepping out of his own shadow, in his traditional templar robes, looking around, “I suppose the old woman got to him, as far as presentation goes.”

“I still have a key, but… well, let’s see this through.” Alter Ego suggested, stepping forward and inexplicably appearing on Temp’s shoulder, as the man headed to the visitor sheet, which was being watched over by a faceless woman in a colorful, ballerina like dress, as she gestured to it, handing him a pen. “I wonder why the circus theme? Does Kokichi have a thing for the circus?”

The templar shrugged, writing his name and then Alter Ego’s in the book, “Maybe he just wanted something busy. It’s very well done.” He mused, setting the pen back down.

Since Kokichi was already, er, asleep-awake and had called his friends, the reaction was immediate. Another brightly dressed drawing model came forward with a flourish, holding open a partition in the circus tent that had been solid fabric a moment ago, the door behind it open, though its contents were indecipherable until someone stepped through the threshold. “Welcome to the main event! Please go on through!”

And inside, Kokichi was lounging on a plush, comfortable chair...inexplicably in the middle of the tube hallway from the aquarium, colorful fish swimming around just as he’d seen a few days ago. 

Was this all much fancier than what he usually projected for his friends? Yes. But the circus was now here to stay--until it ran into an issue, at least--and he wanted a nice setting to talk in. 

Turning, Kokichi gave his friends a wave. “Good evening!”

The Templar looked around in appreciation, as Alter Ego hopped down and trotted over to Kokichi, jumping into his lap as he greeted, “Good evening. Someone’s been busy.”

Temp watched the beautiful, colorful fish swim above and around the tube, and mused, “A circus ground and an aquarium hall. I can’t say I’m not impressed.” he said, walking up to the glass and putting his hand against it-- it was chilly, and he left behind a handprint which lasted just a moment, before fading a away-- as little fish pooled around the hand for a moment, looking curiously at him, before ultimately swimming away. “Very different from your bedroom.”

Kokichi laughed softly and beamed at the praise as he watched a school of fish swim by before giving Alter Ego some ‘hello’ pets. “Thanks! It’s taken some work, but I think it’ll work out alright.”

“And I’m not shelving my room forever,” he shrugged. “It’s still the place I’m most comfortable, so I always wake up there if I’m not dreaming. But I thought it’d be nice to talk somewhere else, like when I set up the tea party in the garden. Really, I just added the chairs…”

Blushing lightly, Kokichi gave his friends a bright grin. “Kai-chan and I had a date here not too long ago, so it was pretty easy to pull the memory up. It felt like the kind of place I could sit and watch forever so...here we are.”

Temp took one of the offered seats, flouring his cloak behind it and settling in, crossing his leg over his knee as he lounged with a small smirk, “A date, hm? Trying to make use of the last of your free time?”

Alter Ego leaned into Kokichi’s pets, purring slightly, before settling into Kokichi’s lap, ignoring their own offered chair. Though, they looked around, eyes narrowing suspiciously… oh, yep. There they were. “Your chibis are riding that shark. Did you know?”

Chibi Kaito was valiantly holding a leather rope that was caught in the sharks teeth, riding its head, while Chibi Kokichi was getting whipped around, riding its back fin. Both seemed entirely pleased with themselves, and undaunted by the water.

“Something like that,” Kokichi grinned. “Our therapist actually recommended it; that each of us either get away or spend time doing our preferred method of relaxation before the baby comes. As she put it, we’ll be on house arrest so...kinda getting out while we can now, so it’ll be easier to not feel like we’re going crazy when we’re all stuck together all the time.”

And while taking an afternoon and evening out was a little less than what Dr. Mariah originally suggested, the purpose was the same, and Kokichi just felt...energized from it. Ready for the next challenging few months. And years. And rest of his life, sorta. 

Looking a little surprised, Kokichi looked over to where Alter Ego was looking, finding himself...kind of impressed and a little envious of the fun the chibis seemed to be having. “Huh… I guess my associations were close enough for Chibi Kai-chan to set that up. There aren’t actually any sharks in the aquarium...at least, none like that.”

Though, Kokichi shook his head a little, refocusing. “Oh, but, I did wanna talk more than just catching up. I ended up talking with my family about their conditioning.”

Temp watched the small creatures with some amusement for a moment, before refocusing his dark eyes onto Kokichi, raising a thin, delicate eyebrow, “Oh? Are they finally noticing the... I presume changes?”

“Or is it an issue of side effects?” Alter Ego asked, their ears going back a little, “Do you have more info on potential drawbacks?”

Kokichi nodded, but paused at Alter Ego’s question, thinking it over. “...I think they would still qualify as side effects, but...it’s more of a side effect of not having conditioning, rather than of the defences. Like we talked about before, Shuu-chan’s taking longer to remember things. He still has all the information but it’s not instant, and he’s not put in a panic to remember anymore. Both Maki-chan and I tried on purpose to trigger it, and it didn’t work at all when I tried--and, just recalling the information naturally, it took Shuu-chan two minutes, which...honestly I’d still call pretty damn fast for obscure knowledge, but it’s absurdly long for him.”

“And when Maki-chan tried…” Kokichi smiled slightly. “...actually, this was new. It didn’t work, but...it looked like Shuu-chan was starting to freak out, like the shadow was getting to him, and to us and him, it was like he was at the beginning of a panic attack. But...it just went away. So...I think it’d be a fair guess that Griffin can help fend off even the strongest triggers right now, and effectively to the point Shuu-chan doesn’t get hurt.”

“As for Maki-chan, even Kai-chan trying to sound like his dad does nothing. She said…” Kokichi grinned more, his shoulders bouncing in slight amusement. “She said that it sounded small. Pathetic and weak. Maki-chan has other stuff on her plate, but...I don’t think she’ll ever have to worry about conditioning directly again.”

“And Kai-chan…”

Kokichi trailed off there, his mirth calming into both a proud fondness, and a gentle sympathy. “...he talked about how his brother wasn’t cut out to be king, but...when we tried to talk about that later as a group, he shut it down. Still...that’s huge for him. It’s safe to say Saint Madison’s made a huge difference, but… Well, the defences are always just gonna be half the battle. I’m keeping an eye on my husband for the half he has to fight himself.”

“Ah, right… Kaito’s conditioning is about his brother.” Temp recalled, resting his head on the edge of his knuckle, a small, curious frown on his beautiful face, as jellyfish floated up in the background-- Chibi Kokich and Chibi Kaito jumping from the shark and bouncing on the heads of the jelly fish in their journey--, “...this is maybe not actually my business. But, I feel compelled to ask… why?”

Alter Ego’s ears twitched, licking at their paw, “Why is his conditioning about his brother?”

“Yes. I won’t pretend to be an expert on Luminary royalty, but is that a common practice? It wasn’t when I lived there, but then, the Luminary I lived in is barely the same place now, culturally.” Temp shrugged, “And I didn’t live there long, even when I did. It’s a different type of heat, from the one I grew up in. Too much rock, not enough sand, it chokes the air and burns the skin from reflection.”

Kokichi sighed, his gaze lowering, though he did snort a little at Temp’s apparent distaste for the Luminary climate. “Is it? If the book I found in the archive has any truth to it, then I was imagining too much. It said Maki-chan destroyed the mountains into sand, but I guess more rock than pure sand, then.”

Shaking his head, Kokichi debated on what to say, if he should at all. “...it isn’t a common practice. No one had any expectation that Kai-chan would be...deferrant to Byakuya any more than what would be normally expected for someone right above in line for the throne.”

...was it right to air his husband’s abuse? But...Temp and Alter Ego already knew about Tengan, what he’d done to Kaito. And, well, it wasn’t like Alter Ego and Kaito would ever meet in the physical world, and Kokichi trusted Temp to have more tact than to mention it. 

Sighing, Kokichi rubbed the back of Alter Ego’s ears for comfort. “...I guess I don’t really have a clear answer--it didn’t seem important to ever ask that asshole,” Kokichi scowled. “But as far as I can tell, and from Kai-chan’s talked about it as...a whole, kinda, it was just...for shits and giggles. Fucking over both Kai-chan and Byakuya at once, though Byakuya by and far got the better side of it.”

Temp’s nose wrinkled up a little, “Tengan does seem the type to harm without a reason.” Or, did, seem the type. “He took the concept of hedonism to its darkest conclusions, and used his ability to empathise as a weapon. Both literally and metaphorically… I suppose I shouldn’t have expected the prince’s manipulations to be for any greater purpose than that.”

Alter Ego frowned, “Do we know that Byakuya has no conditioning?”

...huh. 

Kokichi’s brow furrowed. “...not for sure. But no one’s ever mentioned anything that would point to it as a possibility. To be fair, Maki-chan hates his guts and Kai-chan wouldn’t exactly be a reliable source on that, even if he would be the best person to know, but… Even if he doesn’t think he’s a great person, Shuu-chan does have some respect for him, and he never mentioned anything that might seem like Byakuya had conditioning. Just...that he was kind of a nightmare as a kid and early teen, then when Buttface stopped holding abuse sessions with him and Kai-chan, he chilled out as he got older.”

“And...honestly the ‘nightmare’ stuff that my friends have mentioned don’t seem like...things a person would be compelled to do, and kind of falls in line with how Byakuya is as an adult.” Kokichi sighed, rolling his eyes a little. “Someone who believes they are the only competent person in the world, and that they’re entitled to do everything they want because of that. Shuu-chan said he used to...like, be as cruel to people as a sport, almost, but that stopped as he got older. And even Kai-chan’s said he doesn’t have any friends and has always treated his lovers like shit.”

On a roll, now, of getting out his distaste for Byakuya, Kokichi scoffed, looking at his friends with a sort of, ‘can you believe this?’ look. “The day of our wedding? Kai-chan said the advisors wanted him to all but physically abuse me into submission, and Kai-chan said that he tried to think of what Byakuya would do as an example. For Kai-chan of all people to say that is pretty horrific. I’m just thankful that Marigold is almost uncomfortably crafty in her own right to stand up to him.”

Alter Ego and Temp looked at Kokichi in open surprise… before Temp smirked. “Tell us how you really feel, Kokichi.”

Alter Ego did a small, breathy little laugh at that too, their tail curling around their body as they tucked their paws into their chest, “I suppose I can sympathise. You have a lot of reasons to resent him. He’s not exactly been a passive force in your family’s life. And I may be wrong, but based on what you’ve said, one of the few conversations you’ve had with him not about policy exchange was him basically saying you needed to make sure your baby wasn’t going to be an issue as soon as possible. Even outside of his royal tyrant aspects, he sounds like a piece of work.”

“Still… we know that Kaito has a significant amount of conditioning to work through, based on the exact same sessions his brother was going to. And… while I know we’re not actively looking anymore for more volunteers, we are still trying to limit our tests on people we know, right?” Temp pointed out, tapping his cheek, “If Byakuya does have conditioning, he’d make an excellent candidate for our next experiment.”

Kokichi let out a little huff, but he couldn’t bring himself to even feel sheepish about the tirade. He didn’t blame Byakuya for what Tengan did to Kaito, and to Byakuya himself, whatever extent that was. Even if Tengan was using Byakuya as a tool...it was disingenuous to hold firm on the stance that Byakuya could’ve objected and refused to be a part of it. He could’ve still, but...he had also been a child, being told to do things in a place that valued hierarchy above most other things by an adult with some of the most power in the country. Third most, if you went by what the titles meant and...probably most if you actually looked at what was happening. 

No, Kokichi just blamed Byakuya for everything else he did to Kaito of his own will. For experiencing cruelty and deciding to go full speed down that path instead of fighting against it. For constantly deriding and shaming and, yes, abusing Kaito throughout their lives. 

That was more than enough to be angry about, in Kokichi’s book, and it was just the cherry on top that Byakuya was just an asshole in personality too.

Sighing more deeply, Kokichi rubbed his forehead a bit. “...I guess… He and Marigold should be safe and settled in Novoselic by now, and even with their kid on the way...I mean, Kai-chan and Shuu-chan are doing just that.”

Kokichi crossed his arms, obviously not very happy with this. “...I do know some other people with conditioning, but...I guess eventually we’d need to figure out if he even has conditioning anyway. Do you guys feel ready to do that tonight?”

“Mmmmm I suppose I could.” Temp sighed, brushing his bangs out of his eyes, “It might be a useful experience for us, honestly. So far, all the conditions we’ve found we knew about beforehand, before even visiting the person. It can’t hurt to try to work out how to find conditioning if there’s any uncertainty about it… maybe?”

Alter Ego stretched out, digging their nails in Kokichi’s leg just briefly, before hopping off of him, “It could be fun. I enjoy visiting new minds, and Byakuya sounds like a class-A asshole, which considering I’m not going to negotiate any information out of him? Could be fun to just laugh at.”

Temp rolled his eyes slightly, “We’re not going on a joy-ride, we’re just going to peek through his head a bit and see if we can’t find signs of conditioning… again. A learning experience, if nothing else. Since none of us have visited him before, shall I open the way?”

It would be helpful. Surely there was a list out there of everyone who had gone through the Indentured Program in Luminary, but...there wasn’t a very good way to find out about it. The Empath community at large might have some way of telling, since at least Dicean Empaths had been trying to ease conditioning for ages, but it at least wasn’t prolific knowledge. If they could nail down a sign to look out for too? That would help Empaths find and help people even quicker. 

Standing after Alter Ego hopped off of him, Kokichi stretched his shoulders a little before giving Temp a nod. “If you don’t mind. I’m not gonna poke around too much, but...even if I won’t be able to tell him, I think I’d like to know how Byakuya and Marigold are getting on in Novoselic for Kai-chan. Byakuya hasn’t been responding to his letters or phone calls.”

Honestly...Kokichi was almost opposed to learning more deeply how Byakuya’s mind worked. But he wasn’t determined to help people get rid of their conditioning because he liked everyone who’d been through the program. His determination came from the fact that they were people who had been abused and violated, and he couldn’t stand for that. There would doubtlessly be people he disliked who he’d help so...this was potentially practice for that too.

Temp took a breath, closing his eyes… and he put both hands out in front of himself, a dark glow forming around himself, his clothes blowing and rustling around an energy leaving his form… and stepping out of that glow around him, a dog with a long, thin snout, and viscous teeth, made of shadow, snarled… sniffed the air… before running forward at breakneck speed.

The dog seemed to collide with the air, shattering into particles, and from those particles a portal opened, entirely black. Temp had found the path forward.

When they stepped through, there was a heat at their feet, which were immediately wet with some sort of… sludge like substance. A dark, molten sludge, lines with fine lines of red hot heat, the taste of charcoal and ash lingering heavy in the air. The portal closing behind them, Temp looked as Alter Ego hopped onto his shoulder, taking in the landscape and frowning. “... I believe this… was a lobby. Once.”

Thunder ripped through the near black sky, dark clouds storming through the sky, though there was no feeling of rain. Around them were massive tangles of vines, sharp and fat… but in the parts not burnt black or entirely submerged in the molten lava they were wadding through, the vines had turned brown, their rare leaves frail and thin. A dead forest made of vines, half submerged by the molten flood.

“Kaito had a lobby too, when we first visited him, remember?” Alter Ego said, their fur standing on end at the molten sludge. Why was water, or liquid, or messy stuff so common in peoples minds? “But it was pretty rotted out, by the time we visited him again. Do you think that’s a sign of conditioning?”

“Mmmm… Maki and Shuichi both didn’t have lobbies. It might be unrelated.” Temp pointed out, looking around the dark, stormy landscape, “Still, we shouldn’t discount it. Thankfully it’s not a closed loop… Kokichi, you did not wish to explore, correct? Perhaps myself and Alter Ego can both pick a direction and go see what we can find, while you wait here?”

…

Kokichi frowned. 

It felt miserable in here. But maybe that was just the heat. 

While there was some awe in seeing a volcano, Kokichi couldn’t actually see the volcano, just left with the gritty, stifling air and the river of lava while plants were dying all around them. Maybe it was just because this lobby was...decayed, he supposed, but…

“...if that asshole was doing shit to them, even if it wasn’t conditioning in Byakuya’s case, I could see him peeking in all the time. Or even maybe creating tethers, like he did for Kai-chan. That...might be why this was a lobby…”

Kokichi sighed, managing to give himself a mask to try and filter out some of the ash in the air. “If I was just gonna stand here I don’t know why I’d come at all. I think I’ll peek into his surface thoughts. See if I can see any ribbons…”

Temp nodded, while Alter Ego cautioned, “Don’t forget, he’s likely sleeping right now. His surface thoughts might be dreams, which can be a little tricky to navigate sometimes. If anything happens, don’t hesitate to call either of us.”

“Same for yourself, abomination.” Temp mused, “I know you hop through minds frequently, but a certain amount of care should always be taken. Even normal people can surprise you… and if Byakuya’s mind has adapted enough to empath intrusion to try to make defenses? Show caution.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Alter Ego peered down at the magma, before sighing, “Ally-oop!” 

The cat jumped from the templars shoulders, diving into the magma, submerging themselves into it. “So extra.” Temp sniffed, taking his cloak and, with a flourish, wrapping it around himself, disappearing into the movement. 

For now? It was just Kokichi alone, standing in the burning ruins.

Kokichi nodded, taking the warning to heart. Ideally, he could watch invisibly, but working within the rules of someone else’s head didn’t always let you do what you wanted. So...he was just going to try and be as incognito as he could, see if there were any signs of Empath meddling, then go.

...though, for a moment, he just stood in the desolate landscape by himself. 

“...I don’t like you,” he muttered softly. “...but despite everything, Kai-chan still loves you. For his sake...I hope you’re okay. And answer his damn letters, you dickhead.”

Closing his eyes, Kokichi let himself drift in Byakuya’s consciousness, letting himself float to the top of the most surface-level thoughts. What was deeper in Byakuya’s mind and memories was none of his business.

Kokichi hovered in the void for a moment, the ash and charcoal coating his skin, the heat ever present…

And then it cooled. The scent went away.

A small hand pushed its way into Kokichi’s hand, and there was a giggle. “Got-ya!’

Regardless of what he did next, when Kokichi saw the boy, there was brief… fuzziness. Not in his vision, but in the boy. For a second, the boy had red hair, and wide, mischievous purple eyes, his whole body radiating excitement as he grinned up at the man.

But the fuzziness would have eased in a moment, and a small boy with blond hair and brown eyes, a small flush of freckles across his nose, grinned up at him. “Don’t worry,” he said, keeping his voice hushed in the large, stone and mahogany halls, “I’m not it!”

...so much for keeping hidden. 

Kokichi...wasn’t sure what this dream was. But dreams really weren’t his forte at all. 

For a moment, the boy before him looked...well, Kokichi’s best guess was what Kaito had looked like as a child, but when the image--figment?--solidified, Kokichi...had no idea. A boy, so not Kaede or Sonia, and Kokichi hadn’t heard about any other cousins (unless this was Haiji? But Kokichi would’ve been frankly shocked if Byakuya was dreaming about his late cousin in such an...innocent way.), and Kokichi couldn’t think of any time Kaito might’ve mentioned his brother having freckles, not to mention the boy’s eyes were brown, not blue, so not Byakuya himself. 

But...well, maybe it didn’t matter who this boy was. 

Kokichi smiled kindly, giving the boy a cheeky look of gratitude. “Ah, what a relief. If you tagged me, I would’ve been ‘it’ for ages. You did find my hiding place, though,” Kokichi remarked, looking quite impressed. “If we were playing Hide-and-Seek, I think you’d win the whole thing.”

The boy-- roughly somewhere either just before or just after six years of age-- grinned wider at that, excitement practically radiating off of his body as he said proudly, “I would! I don’t hide very well, but I can run faster than anyone! Do you wanna see! I bet I could run to the end of the hallway and back before you even-”

The boys body jerked, as a door opened in the distance, like a shock had run through him, but his pleased, happy look didn’t fade for an instance as he giggled, putting his finger in front of his mouth. “Shhhh.” The boy grinned, before pulling Kokichi’s hand, leading them down the hallway.

Around the corner, where the door had opened, Byakuya stepped out, his forehead sweating, looking out of breath. A fury in his eyes as he looked around. “...Theor! Enough of this! It’s time to come out now.”

Another jolt went through the boys body, and the two moved faster, but Theor grinned up at Kokichi, whispering, “Don’t worry, he’s not mad! It’s part of the game! Come on, hurry!”

...okay, maybe it was just his ‘dad-to-be’ heart acting up again, but Kokichi felt a warm fondness at the little boy’s pride. He could remember so many times when he’d had similar conversations in his own childhood, though Kokichi had been very good at hiding. 

But as a door around the corner opened, two things clicked in Kokichi’s head. 

Now...Kokichi had never actually seen Byakuya before. The closest he’d seen of any of the Momota family before he met Kaito were the propaganda caricatures of Leon. But...tall, blond, blue eyes with glasses, and considering whose mind he was in… That was Byakuya. 

And the boy was his unborn son, a figment of Byakuya’s mind’s guess at what the boy might look and act like. ...maybe. 

...because a child flinching at their parent coming near wasn’t a good sign. But this wasn’t actually Theor. So...why would Byakuya think that his son would…

Kokichi looked at Theor with simple, mild surprise. “Are we really playing tag? Usually when someone says something like that, they’re tired of the game.”

Another small giggle as they turned the corner, though there was something guilty in this one, as Byakuya called out, “Theor!”, another jolt running through the boy.

“Tags more fun.” Theor pouted for a moment, pulling at Kokichi’s arm insistently. “And dad doesn’t always know when we’re playing, but we are.”

And there was again, a brief… fuzziness to the boy. And in that fuzziness, another sharp splash of red and purple, as he said, “It’s more fun than lessons. I don’t want to do lessons.”

The fuzziness faded, and Theor grinned, “Don’t worry, he’s not mad. He’s having fun, really!”

“THEOR!” Byakuya shouted with more frustration, his eyes slightly too wide, a weird, almost monstrous lumbering in his footsteps, like he was getting bigger but moving slower, “ENOUGH! COME HERE!”

...oh. 

A young boy that looked up to Byakuya, who tried to look positively on things… Give you three guesses who Byakuya was basing this figment of his son on. 

Kokichi couldn’t help the almost pitying, sympathetic look that came over his face. Kaito wasn’t the only Momota afraid they weren’t going to be a good enough father. 

...Byakuya was scared he was going to be a monster to his son. 

Kokichi had meant to just be a passive observer, but...he had never had the heart for it. Though he only barely remembered, there were countless examples of him helping people with the mundane stresses of their lives, and...even after the disaster of trying to help Itch and Tom? Kokichi wasn’t the kind of person to just stand by, even for people he disliked. 

Even for people he hated. 

...his own presence in the dream would just be confusing. And Kokichi really didn’t need Byakuya being suspicious of him. Being Tengan was just cruel, and would probably add to the nightmare--not to mention that even considering taking on that visage made Kokichi want to gag. Byakuya had killed his parents, so there was no chance of any respect there. And...unfortunately, the same issue of respect extended to Kaito too. 

...but there was one person Kokichi knew Byakuya respected above all others. 

Whispering to Theor, Kokichi gave the boy a wink. “You run ahead, alright? I’ll slow him down. Win the game for the both of us--I believe in you!”

And when he turned towards the monster, Kokichi was taller. Blonder. Wearing a stern, almost exasperatedly disgusted expression that was sharper than anything Kokichi would ever be able to pull off himself. 

“Really?” he said in a lower voice just dripping with disdain. “You know you’re better than whatever this mockery is.”

Theor looked slightly surprised at the request, for a moment… before lighting up, bouncing excitedly at his back heels as he said, “Okay! I can do it! You can too! The impossibles possible!” Theor assured Kokichi, before laughing, running ahead and ducking around another corner, giggling in the distance.

Byakuya had been chasing Theor for what felt like hours. The boy couldn’t seem to get it into his head that this wasn’t a game. It was time for lessons. It was time for hard lessons. 

Byakuya wasn’t sure why he was certain of that. He just knew, in the logic of the dream, that it was time. That Theor needed to go to the parlor, that Byakuya was… angry with him. But, not for any reason he could remember… he just knew the lessons had to happen, and that there was no getting out of it. Not for either of them. That was simply what was going to happen. 

He even knew which lesson he was going to give. He was going to teach his son trust. The candles were already ready, Byakuya knew. Theor was going to learn.

But the boy, giggling and laughing like he had no idea what was coming, kept escaping him. Never permanently, Byakuya kept catching glimpses of him-- sometimes with blond hair, sometimes with red-- at the end of hallways, giggling and encouraging his father to chase him. Like he had no idea what was in store… no idea what Byakuya was capable of…

Every step got more haggard. The hallway was becoming too small, as Byakuya was growing bigger, his son becoming smaller, more fragile. Byakuya didn’t know when he’d catch him, but knew, knew deep in his soul, that when he did, the boy would break immediately… no more laughing. Not once Byakuya-- 

The monster, huffing, sweating profusely, arms and legs grotesquely long and needing to keep his head permanently bent to fit beneath the ceiling, stopped, glaring in shock at the perfectly poised and put together man blocking his progress forward.

The monster flinched at the accusation, looking down at its clammy, grotesque body. Almost immediately, he felt himself start to shrink. Not into anything resembling a normal human, nothing like the poised figure in front of him. Just a small version of the long armed abomination that Byakuya had been morphing into throughout the dream.

Huffing, trying to catch his breath… the monster tried to sneer back at Byakuya, “Get out of the way… it’s time. This is inevitable. You know that… THEOR!” The monster tried to call down the hall, furious, “Come BACK HERE!”

...no ribbons. 

Kokichi hadn’t always been able to see them, either the conditioning or Tengan’s tether, but...so far, no ribbons. Just...the kind of influence a normal abuser would leave. Or, at least, a very effective one, and that was no doubt aided by the fact that he could just pop into Byakuya’s mind whenever he wanted to push all the right buttons.

...god, what a waste of a human.

This was...difficult. Likely veering into the sort of thing that Kokichi couldn’t fix with some inspiring words, leaving a person with a more positive outlook when they woke up. This was Byakuya suffering with the consequences of consistent childhood abuse. 

...but this wasn’t actually just going to be Byakuya’s problem, even if he never actually accepted Marigold as his partner in life. He was going to have a son soon. A person to directly care for. Who was going to learn from him. And maybe the monster Byakuya was turning into was the kind of fear that would naturally turn him away from perpetuating the cycle. 

...but Byakuya wasn’t historically prone to taking that path.

“Oh, I’m sorry, my king,” Kokichi sneered. “I forgot, we are all helpless to fate, history always repeats.”

“Ah, but we aren’t king anymore, are we? Replaced with a figurehead of a cousin with less personality than a shiny piece of glass. She was right about everything, wasn’t she.”

Another flinch, the monster drawing his overly long arms back to himself as he glared at Byakuya, snarling… “Don’t… be ridiculous.” Byakuya muttered, steadying himself on the floor, crouching, his legs still monstrously long, his eyes too big, his teeth too sharp, but his arms back in more regular shape, his overall size lessoning again. He looked past Byakuya, looking for Theor again…

...but he couldn’t let that stand. “Her winning the war didn’t mean she was right. She was just appealing.” He snarled to Byakuya, “The familiar always is… we could have changed! Become better than we ever were! Risen above the limits of the damn systems already put in place! Damn divine law, damn fate, we were on the cusp of something truly awe-inspiring!”

“But she spun pretty lies and half-baked reassurances… turned everyone against me… I should have executed Harukawa when I had the chance… I was too soft.” 

Byakuya snarled, and for a moment, he grew again. Looking twice as monstrous again, as he shouted, “THEOR! THERE’S NO ESCAPING ME, BOY!”... before shrinking again, back to what he had been a moment before, huffing, eyes wide and red and strained, trying to catch his breath, “Too soft… we’re going to learn...”

Something “awe-inspiring” built on the deaths and torture and abuse of millions. Sure. 

...this was the issue. Kokichi wasn’t trying to change who Byakuya was. Because, honestly, if Kokichi had been the type to mold people as he saw fit, there wouldn’t be much of Byakuya left. He couldn’t try to sway Byakuya at his core, even if who he was was an asshole...and even a monster. 

But he had to remember. Kokichi...in a way, wasn’t really arguing with Byakuya, how he would raise his son. Kokichi...was arguing with Tengan, how he raised Byakuya. 

“Tender-hearted, you might say,” Kokichi scoffed, looking a bit bored. “People never really got the right idea--far too many paths into our heart. Too many strings people could pluck, leaving us helpless. Because that’s what we always are, helpless.”

“Helpless to make anyone see our vision, helpless to change anything even when only idiots were in our way...helpless to spare the person we were told was completely at our mercy…” Kokichi gave the monster a grim, taunting sneer, looking right into its eyes. “Though, it’s obvious how much that was a lie.”

“Wasn’t that the most important lesson we learned? Keep telling someone they have power, give them false little dilemmas to solve, and they’ll never question what you’re actually doing.”

“So soft...so cowardly. But cowards live another day, and that’s what counts, even if they never do anything with that life.”

… uncertainty flickered across the monsters face.

“...” Byakuya pushed up his glasses, shifting unsteadily on his more normal legs. His skin still clammy, and he was extremely disheveled, his teeth still sharp, a look of borderline panic on his face as he glanced around nervously, “...that… that’s true…”

Half of Kaito’s ‘tasks’ during lessons were just to give him a false sense of agency. Most of the time, the games were rigged so that Kaito could only lose… but his punishments felt more ‘fair’ because he had ‘lost’. It wasn’t Byakuya’s fault that Kaito was beaten, because if Kaito had wanted to not be hurt badly enough, he’d have just remembered which words went to which picture, or followed the correct order of movements, or just listened to Byakuya when he was guiding him to the right answer… but the point of the lesson for Byakuya was that it didn’t matter if he obviously cheated, or led him to the wrong answer on purpose, or any number of things. Kaito would accept it so long as there was an illusion of fairness, and more importantly, an illusion of failure. 

If Kaito thought he had earned it? He’d more willingly let things happen to him.

And so would Luminary.

… but. But… it’s not like Byakuya could have led him to the right answers either. There were no right answers. Just the illusion of them… an illusion of agency. And Byakuya had felt powerful, during those lessons, because… it wasn’t him on the floor. It wasn’t Byakuya who was helpless to what was going to happen, no matter what he did. He was in control… so long as he listened to exactly what Tengan said.

“...” Byakuya frowned, suddenly frustrated with himself, as he looked down at his clammy hands. Offended as he muttered, “I’ve already learned this lesson.”

Wiping the sweat off his suit, Byakuya adjusted his glasses, just… so damn annoyed with himself. “What am I doing… I already know this. I don’t need some lesser copy of myself to parrot realizations I already had at fifteen.” Byakuya sniffed, running his fingers through his hair, trying to smooth them down. “Those lessons were a perverted sport by a man with too much power and time on his hands. Utterly worthless in every other respect. I’ve already disregarded them as an option… I’m not a coward.” 

Byakuya glared at the mirror-version of himself, turning his nose up at him as he said, “I fought and conquered my monster already. Obviously I’m not going to bother recreating it for my own child. I’m not Tengan.”

It didn’t show on the projection’s face, but Kokichi indulged in a small, tired smile. Just residual stress, then. Not something he actually needed to meddle in, but...well, maybe Kokichi really was selfish and invasive, but he felt a lot better knowing that Byakuya had already resolved this with himself. It still didn’t guarantee that he was going to treat Theor well, considering that Byakuya thought he was treating Kaito with kindness and that was a giant mess, but...he wasn’t going to be the worst monster he could be. 

And that was all Kokichi felt even slightly justified meddling with. 

Oh, he did think about pressing on. Calling Byakuya a coward in other ways. Making a direct demand that he stop running from Kaito and answer his damn letters. But that was going too far, and maybe those lines didn’t mean anything to other Empaths, but Kokichi was making his own convictions and standing behind them. 

“Evidently,” Kokichi sighed, giving off an air that he thought everything that just happened was an annoying waste of time. “Why you even bother making me come out here to rehash a pointless conversation…”

“Well?” Kokichi said sharply, nodding ever so slightly down the hall behind him. “It’s one thing to let a child win a game of tag, but another to be so slow you lose him completely. He’s waiting for you.”

Byakuya raised an eyebrow at that, glancing down the hallway-- little brown eyes (purple eyes) peeking from around the hallway before disappearing in a fit of giggles-- with a small frown.

… this was the part he was a little less certain about. What do you even do with children…

Byakuya sighed, heading down the hallway. As he went to turn the corner, there was a spatter of giggling, and Theor ran forward, throwing his small arms around Byakuya’s legs, rubbing his face into the leg before grinning up at him, “You caught me!”

“...that’s not how you play.” Byakuya gently chastised. “I’m not meant to catch you.”

“I was tired of being by myself!” Kaito whined, pulling at his brothers hand, “You never really try! Come on! Let’s try a different game!”

Byakuya rolled his eyes, but allowed himself to indulge him. Following Kaito down the hall, the two fading out of the dream and walking into an old memory, disappearing into it.

That was enough for surface thoughts. 

Kokichi let himself drift back to the lobby, letting out an enormous sigh. He wanted to just lie down on the ground, but thanks, Byakuya, it was far too hot to even conceptually do. He just squatted instead, covering his face with his hands.

Oh fuck that was stressful. 

But no ribbons. And if Byakuya was having stress dreams about being a father, and not, like, where he’d get his next meal or having a roof over his head or being ridiculed by everyone in Novoselic...then he was probably alright. 

He never wanted to do that again. 

...but even if it was just an image based on Byakuya’s memory of Kaito...Kokichi hoped he could peacefully meet his nephew one day. 

Alter Ego stepped onto Kokichi’s shoulder, and sighed. “I can confirm it: this guys a real piece of work. But, if there’s any conditioning here? I didn’t see any sign of it. Templar?” Alter Ego, calling out, looking around, “Are you still looking?”

There was a moment… before Templar rose from the magma, shaking the sludge off his face as he said, “Found his old plans for how to expand the indentured program, which was both incredibly informative and very depressing. I don’t know if we ourselves will ever use the information, but at least I know some key figures who were part of the program now. Can pass that information along to other empaths, get better access to lists of indentureds… but no. No conditioning that I recognized. Just a very troubled mind. Kokichi?”

A piece of work was a description, alright. Kokichi nodded tiredly to his friends’ reports, grimacing a little at Byakuya’s plan, but...yeah, that would help with their ultimate goal. If nothing else, they did get something useful out of this. 

“Nothing I could recognize either,” Kokichi shook his head. “Just stress and signs of non-mind fuck-y abuse.”

Giving a slightly guilty look to his friends, he slowly admitted, “I...may have done my dream hopping thing. And intervened in a stress dream about Byakuya being worried about transferring how that dickhead treated him and Kai-chan onto his son.”

“Oh…” Alter Ego looked around, “...well, did you do anything other than talk to him?”

Kokichi shook his head with a stern vehemence. “No. I just...made myself look like him and snarked at the big, sweaty monster he’d become about stuff he already knew until he was like, ‘oh fuck you pleb, I already know this’ and then he went to go play with his kid who was also a memory of Kai-chan as a kid.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right for this guy.” Temp sighed, crossing his arms, “He has a lot of hangups about your husband…”

“Right! I literally tried to avoid references to Kaito, and kept stumbling over him everywhere. In places he has no business being in!” Alter Ego shuddered, his fur coming on end, “He’s kind of obsessed? It’s a little weird. I think moving to Dicea might have been a really good choice for your husband, Kokichi. These two really needed to be, just… physically separated.”

“Mmm… still, sounds like no signs of conditioning at any of the layers of his mind. I think we can establish that, at the most,” Temp gestured to the massive vines, “I think he may have had quite a few tethers for quite a long time, but they’re gone now. He’s alone in his mind, as far as I can tell.”

...that was news. Kokichi looked at his friends in surprise but...there was a reason he hadn’t gone digging in Byakuya’s mind. If he had wanted to quickly find a damn good way to see if Byakuya was conditioned? Then Kokichi would’ve immediately sifted through the memories of the ‘lessons’.

But those memories weren’t his to see. It was incredibly invasive not just to Byakuya, but to Kaito, who had just begun to start to come to terms what those ‘lessons’ were to himself. Even if Kokichi didn’t remember in the physical world...he would one day. And for him to know some of the darkest and most intimate parts of his husband’s life when Kaito could barely grip at them himself?

Kokichi couldn’t even consider being that disrespectful and...honestly, cruel to his husband. 

...so if Byakuya had a weird obsession with Kaito? Well, it was news, but it wasn’t Kokichi’s business to dig any further into it. It was something Byakuya would have to come forth with himself and...even in the very, veeeeeeery, very slim possibility that that would ever happen, it wouldn’t be to Kokichi. It would be to Kaito, and that was it. 

For a lot of reasons, Kokichi affirmed to himself as he ran a hand through his hair, he was glad Kaito came to Dicea. 

Giving a nod to Temp, Kokichi chewed on his lip. “...it had to have been that fucker. Do...you think it’s possible that being ripped from Kai-chan’s mind loosened his concentration enough to lose the tethers on Byakuya too?”

“...” Temp blinked down at Kokichi, his face carefully blank, “... maybe he stopped maintaining them? Has other things to do?”

Alter Ego gave the templar a dry look. 

…

Kokichi, for a moment, just blinked up at Temp. 

…

Then, slowly, his eyes widened with a slow, dawning horror. Turning down to look at his hands, even if it wasn’t something he’d done with them. Temp was lying, but…

...was that even possible? But...everyone thought what he’d done with Saint Madison was impossible too. Alter Ego was consistently astounded by the things Kokichi did unconsciously. 

“...we should get out of Byakuya’s mind and let him sleep,” Kokichi said too evenly.

There was a pregnant pause… before the templar opened up a portal for them. Leading back into Kokichi’s mind.

The three of them stepped through, stepping back into the aquarium. Chibi Kaito was currently watching Chibi Kokichi play chess with an octopus, but looked up at their return, standing up and with an excited cry, running to Kokichi’s leg, hugging around it! Welcome back!! Smaller Kokichi’s tied 1-1! Kaito was certain Kokichi was going to win this round though!!

Temp, briefly, considered excusing himself… before sighed. Sitting down at one of the chairs.

Kokichi took a deep breath, the cool, clear air of the aquarium a relief after the stifling volcano...especially with his chest tightening in fear. He gave Chibi Kaito a shaky smile as he came up to him, and picked up the small creature, giving him a hug before letting him go again to cheer his small counterpart on. Chess with an octopus...the chibis always got into the coolest stuff…

Sitting down at one of the chairs, Kokichi sank into it for a moment. Quiet. His hands squeezing each other in his lap. 

“...I made a wish for Kai-chan’s mind to never be tampered with. That...by its definition at the time...meant I wanted Tengan to go away. Permanently.”

Kokichi’s pupils were little pinpricks of fear. “...could I have changed someone without even being in their mind?”

Alter Ego looked to Temp, who’s brow furrowed, but didn’t speak up immediately… and scoffed at him. Coward. 

Leaping onto Kokichi’s lap, Alter Ego gave Kokichi a sympathetic, patient look. “You’re too good for your own health. No, Kokichi. Trust in me. If you had done something to that magnitude, unconsciously? I would have told you. I will never keep a secret like that from you. I have told you this before, and it is still true now: You have never harmed anyone.”

Chibi Kaito watched Big Kokichi warily, heading back to the chess board. He looked at Chibi Kokichi, who was often a little signal to how Big Kokichi was doing, and seeing the way the other chibi was shaking, rushed over to draw him into a hug. It’s okay, it’s okay…

...Temp frowned. “You didn’t do anything to Tengan. You pushed him out of Kaito’s mind. You’ve not seen him since then.”

“...that man is a plague everywhere he went.” Temp said, “He brought horror and mutilation to everything he touched. There was… so little in him that wasn’t true sadism.”

Kokichi gazed soulfully at Alter Ego, so desperately wanting to believe those words. Kokichi was an Empath that believed in trying to help others, who believed the act of being in another person’s mind was sometimes a necessary responsibility. Sometimes he saw things he shouldn’t have. Sometimes he couldn’t make things better, and his presence and meddling was for nothing. 

...but he hadn’t hurt anyone. And Alter Ego was telling the truth about that.

Kokichi was quiet as Temp didn’t quite say what happened. Honestly...a little hurt. 

He let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing though they remained drooped as he gently started petting down Alter Ego’s breath. “...have you made a deal or something that means you can’t just say it?”

Kokichi looked away for a moment, and...it was either a testament that he wasn’t quite as good as he thought, or just how terrible Tengan was that the hurt in his eyes was from Temp’s reticence rather than his actions. “...you know I don’t believe in doing that stuff. But you also know that I’m friends with people who truly believe that sometimes death is an answer. You have so much more perspective into what people are like…”

Kokichi suddenly huffed out a sharp, humorless laugh. “What, were you worried about getting a frown from someone a tiny, insignificant fraction of your age?”

“I was worried about losing a friend.” The Templar said softly, “Whose opinion I value.”

At that, Kokichi’s expression softened. ...that was a fear he really did understand. “...I’m not gonna...turn my back on you for something you thought was right. We all know how much of a true monster he is...or was. While I don’t believe that means he should die? I think...the vast majority of people who’ve ever been hurt by him would say that he should. And I don’t think a person’s life should be lost on a simple majority either, but...sometimes I’m really, really wrong.”

“I believe people can change. If you give them the resources and support to, people can change and grow. But…” Kokichi sighed, not exactly...thrilled to find a limit of his beliefs. “...that bastard was old as dirt. And found joy in hurting people in increasingly absurd and horrific ways. And wouldn’t change, because he had not a single reason to, not internally or externally, and he was okay with that.”

“You made a call, Temp. We might disagree...but I’m not going to push you away because of it.” Again, though, Kokichi’s amethyst eyes sparkled with hurt. “...but even if it was only for a minute or two? You prioritized a fear of what I might think over letting me believe that I could kill people in my sleep. And you only said something because Alter Ego did first. That...really sucks.”

“...I did.” Temp agreed, running his fingers over his temple a moment, closing his eyes, “...a life without age and death has muddied the concept of ‘consequence’ to me. Age has made me cowardly… I’m sorry I allowed that weakness in me to hurt you. It is weakness. I will be better.”

Alter Ego twitched their tail, before deciding to give Kokichi space for this, leapt down and over to their own chair, “I need to apologize as well, Kokichi. I knew the templar did this not long after he did it, and made the choice to never bring it up. I knew you were against the practice, and, being against it myself, I felt like a hypocrite… but that man was a nightmare who killed two parts of me.” Alter Ego said darkly, tail twitching more erratically, “And lead to the death of a third. I… didn’t regret Temps actions. And I didn’t want to explain myself. I’m sorry that I was unwilling to talk to you about it.”

“I came to Dicea to stop doing things like that.” Temp admitted, an exhausted look in his eyes, “It’s a slippery mindset. It can be too easy to just… want to solve all of your problems like that. Dicea’s culture makes it a little easier to turn away from it. But… there are exceptions to every idea, and I really believe Tengan was the exception. And the man I left behind deserves his chance to exist far more than the bastard he replaced.”

Kokichi sighed, that hurt...still there, and probably would be for a while, but easing in the moment. What an eventful night, for what he’d thought was just going to be catching his friends up on what he and his family had discovered. 

“Thank you… You’re my friend, Temp. Even for you, there are still chances to grow…” Kokichi smiled a little at the millennia-old man. “I look forward to being with you for a part of that journey.”

“And...I’m actually okay with you guys not wanting to tell me, at least initially. After we pushed him out of Kai-chan’s mind, it’s not really any of my business what happened to the coot. I just...wish you told me when he got relevant again.” But Temp apologized and Kokichi accepted that. 

Nodding slightly at Temp’s explanation, Kokichi really did understand some of the exhaustion in Temp’s eyes, even if Kokichi had only known it in theory, while Temp had lived it. Changing the essence of a person...it was the same practice as execution, or in revoking any sort of right. As soon as you defined one kind of person for it, then...that line could be pushed back and back until it was everyone. 

But even these days execution wasn’t outlawed in Dicea. Because they knew that there were exceptions to every rule, and sometimes...people would spurn every possible chance you gave them. And you had to look at a situation where other people would be hurt by allowing that person to be. 

The difference with changing a person’s soul was that...Temp had just created a new person to have a chance at life for a while. 

“...I get really nervous about blanket statements,” Kokichi said after a moment, smiling thinly at his friends. “But in the case of Tengan...I trust your judgement, Temp. I hope the person you left makes something of their new life.”

“Last time I checked on him, he was helping sneak humans out of Danganronpa.” Temp said, maybe trying to justify his actions a little too forcefully, but… he really had been worried, before this moment, that Kokichi might find it too difficult to befriend the immortal being, with some of his uglier parts on display for the first time. “It’s very much… not Tengan. But the man in his body seems determined to try to make up for some of his predecessor's actions. I told him he’s not responsible for that mans actions, but...” Temp shrugged, still a look of exhaustion, “It’s one of the reasons I know better than to use this method to solve problems, during the years I can force myself to remember that. The people I leave behind? It’s a burden, to wake up in the middle of someone else’s life, bearing their sins. It’s… not a clean and pure solution to any problem. You aren’t wrong to be wary of it.”

Chibi Kokichi was feeling better, but struggling to catch up with the game from where the octopus had kept moving pieces while the smaller Kokichi was struggling to cope with Big Kokichi’s feelings. Chibi Kaito decided the solution was to start stealing some of the octopuses pieces, throwing them across the room. The octopus seemed annoyed, but weirdly okay with continuing the game this way.

Kokichi smiled a little more at that. That...really was a good thing to make of a life, helping people out of a country where they were barely even considered citizens. An impossibly heavy burden, maybe...but it was one this new person chose, even if they felt obligated. And it really was a true choice--if the original Tengan had chosen to hide out in Danganronpa, then it meant he wasn’t heading there for death. Choosing to do nothing wasn’t detrimental so...it was a real choice to use the privileges he had to help others. 

Honestly...admirable. 

Kokichi would never forgive that bastard for what he had done in his life. 

But even if leaving them to a life of burden and hardship didn’t feel great...Kokichi could acknowledge respect for this new person. 

...man that was complicated. 

Lifting a knee, Kokichi rested his head on it, his expression contemplative and at ease. “...it’s not really any sort of...justice, or retribution, is it. The person who did wrongs is just...dead. And now there’s a new person who hasn’t done anything wrong that has to live with their body’s burdens.” ...in some ways, that was even worse than killing someone. 

He sighed softly. “...I’ll still respect your decision, but...fuck.”

“As I said… it was my weakness.” Temp closed his eyes, sighing, “I’m sorry.”

Alter Ego twitched their tail… “You still have nothing to apologize for, from my end of it. Tengan was… a true enemy of mine. It might not feel like justice, but neither did him living his life in Danganronpa.” Alter Ego sighed, “So… I know I haven't said it yet. But, thank you, Temp. It does mean something to me, that he’s gone for good.”

Temp nodded slightly. Acknowledging Alter Ego’s gratitude, even if he still thought of it as a moment of weakness. 

The octopus was so busy trying to protect its king piece from Chibi Kaito’s grabby hands, that it failed to notice Chibi Kokichi moving his piece into place… 

CHECKMATE!

Kokichi looked over and smiled softly at his mentor. It might not be a definition of ‘justice’ but...the world was better off without the person Tengan had been. And for someone who had felt the brunt of that cruelty several times over, Alter Ego’s gratitude meant a lot. 

...many things were changing in the world. In some ways, it felt smaller than ever. But even when people made mistakes, and those mistakes ended up hurting people...you could always try to do better next time. And the bonds between people with that willingness was more precious than anything. 

Kokichi glanced over at the movement at the corner of his eye, laughing a bit at the cheering chibis, celebrating Chibi Kokichi’s victory over the octopus. Turning to smile at them all, he asked, “I know it’s getting kind of late, but...anyone want some cake?”

Temp allowed his shoulder to relax slightly, a grateful smile. “Yes… that sounds nice.”

-

Temp was lounging at a bench, taking a breath of the slightly chilly air. Some sort of cold front for the next few days, though it was supposed to steadily get warmer after that. 

He was part of the board that was meant to maintain the memorial garden, acting on behalf of the funeral home that he had ‘inherited’ that always had a member of its leading staff on the volunteer board to, well… volunteer. Which, yeah, usually just meant Temp himself was representing on the board. 

And most of that volunteering was meant to be money and organization and stuff like that, but every now and again, Temp put himself on the rotation for cleaning too, as a form of worship. 

Today was a ‘prayer’ day, so Temp had just finished up cleaning up the litter at the memorial park, brushing the walkway and washing them down, wiping down the memorial wall itself. And he was resting now, looking over his hard work… and he opened his eyes slightly wider, surprised, as he saw a familiar figure walking down the staircase into the garden, “...Kokichi?” He called out.

Kokichi looked up, half surprised to see Temp as well, though he knew that Temp was one of the board members that took care of the garden. But it was a little different to see them at the garden, than it would be to, say, see Kokichi or his father at the castle. 

Smiling, Kokichi quickened his pace as he waved to Temp, keeping a hand on the small bag at his side to keep it from flopping around. “Temp, hey! At work today?”

...it was weird. Kokichi still got all those nice, warm, friendly feelings about Temp, along with their gleeful solidarity at being in the Dad Club, but there was something...hm. The kind of feeling, almost, like they had had an argument, and had made up, but there was still a slight sting of it. 

But Kokichi and Temp hadn’t had anything close to a falling out, and not even a heated discussion since Temp had asked him and Kaito to dinner to talk about adopting Addason. 

...probably just a weird, random feeling. Kokichi got those, time to time, and considering why he was headed to the Memorial Garden, it made sense he’d be feeling a little weird.

Temp could admit, it was a little… strange, to see Kokichi brightly beaming at him, excited to see him, after how tense their last encounter was. Personally, he considered it easier to consider Waking Kokichi and Sleeping Kokichi as fundamentally two different people, because… in a way, they were. Or, more specifically, Waking Kokichi was a different person from Sleeping Kokichi, who was both of them, and Waking Kokichi’s inevitable future… but you couldn’t consider Waking Kokichi’s actions a true reflection of, well… 

The real Kokichi. The one who remembered both sides of his life.

The one who Temp, ever so briefly, was content to let panic at his own possible abilities, Temp taking the extra few moments of that panic to delay what he had envisioned as a friendship ending argument…

Ugh. While it was far from his worst moment, it was still one of his poorer ones in recent memories. A flash of guilt ran through the older man, as he gestured around to the results of his prayers, “Volunteered to do clean-up duty for the day. Never takes terribly long, we don’t exactly let it build up, but…” Temp shrugged, “Least it’s done now. Just taking a break now before I head back home. What are you doing here, Kokichi? Everything alright?”

Kokichi nodded, looking around the newly cleaned garden, though he often saw what Temp meant--littering wasn’t a big problem, at least in Usott, but detritus did accumulate, and yet Kokichi couldn’t remember ever seeing the Memorial Garden as anything but respectfully tidy. 

Though, with some things that weren’t plants, and he wasn’t talking about the occasional statues. 

“Lucky that we happened to cross paths, then,” Kokichi lightly laughed. “I’ve been meaning to reach out, actually--my therapist recommended to us that we get out and do fun adult stuff before the baby comes and, I mean, we’ll still see each other, especially for playdates, but I was wondering if you’d wanna get lunch or dinner or coffee or something sometime?”

A bit rambly, but...that just happened sometimes. 

Smiling a little more sheepishly, Kokichi shook his head. “Yeah, things are okay. I’m just kinda taking that advice for a personal thing too.”

Reaching into his bag, Kokichi pulled out a few of what almost looked like star-shaped tea bags. “Usually around my birthday I’d sneak out and come visit the garden and...I dunno, I feel like saying I’m paying respects is right even if it’s not a religious thing?” Kokichi shrugged, his smile calming into something a little more sentimental. “I come visit mom, and I got these fertilizer packs that look like stars… Dad always said she got a kick out of this kind of stuff.”

“I don’t wanna have to bank on being able to slip out when we have a month and a half old baby, so...I’m doing my visit now.”

“That’s very fair.” Temp chuckled slightly, taking a look at the teabags, saying, “Paying respect to the dead is hardly a religious thing. Regardless of what lays for us beyond… the dead are still very real, and the loss of them still deserves acknowledgment. So… I think it’s cool, that you’ve found some way to do that. Star-shaped tea seems a good way to do it to me.”

Pushing his bangs out of his face, he asked, “Would you like some company? Though, I can leave as well, if this is a private sort of thing. Like I said, I’ve already finished cleaning for the day.”

Kokichi smiled, feeling a sort of...pride. Just because you ran funeral grounds didn’t make you an authority on death, but...it felt nice, having Temp approve of the way Kokichi tried to honor his mother’s memory. 

“I’d actually really like that… And I think my mom would’ve too.” Kokichi hummed slightly as he led the way to the palmate maple tree. “I love hearing stories about her, of course, but...it’s never been something I could contribute to. I guess it still counts, since passing on stories is kind of the point, but…” He shrugged again. 

“...but she was really close with her friends, so...I like to think she would’ve been really excited to meet mine.”

Getting to the tree, its leaves a deep wine red in the bright day--even if the sun wasn’t out--Kokichi started to half bury the fertilizer packs under the cascade, smiling with slight melancholy, or...perhaps a longing for something he’d never know. 

“...my father gave Shuu-chan a booklet about the university for Unity, did you know? I assume he asked Hideki for a lot of input but...he used a lot of my mom’s notes and just...stuff he remembered her saying. The impression I get is that she really adored her time there…”

“Oh? Forgive me, I don’t know my history as well as I should… was she a teacher at the university, or just a student?” Temp asked, settling in beside Kokichi, “It sounds like either way, it was a big part of her life.”

Kokichi gave Temp a smile before looking back at the tree. Like her portrait in the observatory, Kokichi had always found himself talking to them as sort of...representations of Miyako. Not something he’d actually done in a long time, but a habit built nonetheless. 

“Kind of both, though most of her time there was as a student. Got her doctorate in astronomy and kept working at the university for more studies, but she did lectures for undergrads.” ...she had been on her way to a lecture when the riot broke out. Kokichi’s expression dimmed slightly but...it was better to focus on a person’s life than their death. “She was a really brilliant astronomer. Mapped out more of the visible galaxy than had even been done before, and her theoretical work on what was beyond that is still being used in research today.”

Kokichi suddenly laughed. “It’s a little funny. Apparently she was a math whiz, and I can’t stand math.”

Temp laughed lightly in turn, resting his head back on the tree, letting the chill settle on him comfortably. “I think, in my experience, the idea of ‘inheriting’ parents skills is largely… over-rated. If she had been involved in your life more, maybe you’d be much better at math, and people would say you ‘got it’ from her, and they’d be… sort of right? But not because you were born that way. Just… being around someone whose extremely good at something all the time, makes it easier to learn it yourself. Genetic? Maybe at best you can pass on being good at certain sports… and even then? Iffy.”

Looking at the sky, Temp asked, “Did you take up any of her interest in the sky? Any passions for the celestials?”

“That seems true,” Kokichi huffed lightly. Aiichi taught him the values of Dicea and how to be a leader to people, Ikuo taught him how to clamber and pick locks and use every physical advantage he had. Nao had taught him how to dig into books and...more unfortunate looking back, how to dig into people. Lake and Denji had taught him the love and comradery of siblings. And Hideki had taught him all of his hard skills, and while the man was no slouch at math, it certainly wasn’t his forte. 

With no math whiz around, it made sense that Kokichi never picked up any affinity for it. 

But for the stars…

Kokichi followed his friend’s gaze up before smiling softly and gently cradling one of the tree’s delicate leaves. “Not to the extent she loved it. Kai-chan, actually, knows a hell of a lot more about space than I do. But I’ve always loved looking up at the sky, trying to find the constellations I know, maybe some planets… It makes me feel close to her, but...there’s such a sense of majesty and wonder about it, you know? Trying to take in even a tiny part of the universe, and trying to wrap your head around how enormous it actually is...it makes me feel really small. Like I’m a tiny fleck in space and time, just like everyone else.”

“Small is a relative idea, I think…” Temp glancing into the bark of the wood, by his head, knowing without a doubt that if he pulled back some of that bark, little wiggling forms of life would be hiding just beneath, on their paths to and from home, living their small lives, “I think all forms of life have a tendency to… undervalue their own existence. Comparing themselves to something bigger. Greater. Longer lasting, or creating a greater impact… but what I think skews that perspective is the inescapable hold of ego. Maybe we don’t hold the vastness of all existence within ourselves, the cosmos shifting in their pulls of orbits… perhaps we are not vast and everlasting.”

“But the planets do not have the minds to value their existence. Their impact on the worlds they literally hold within themselves. They float through the stars, and have no way to appreciate the beauty of their vast, endless journey… seems like us small things, riding along top of them, even briefly hanging onto their journey…”

Temp frowned, before laughing lightly. “Sorry, I’m waxing poetic. All I’m really trying to convey is that, as silly and self-centered as it sounds, to people like us? All small, riding on the backs of giants? Maybe the only reason those distant celestial bodies matter to us as all is because they mattered to people like your mother. That to us, they hold no real significance beyond what we ourselves have given them, with our small, skewed egos. Miyako Ouma gave worth to the celestial body. Her love for them is the reason why any of it mattered… at least to us. That makes her… really important. To the universe. To human-kind, that might make her love for the universe even more important than the universe itself.”

Temp paused, before shrugging, “Maybe.”

Maybe that was just a constant conundrum of the human condition, though. It felt really good to be a part of something bigger than yourself, to see yourself contribute to a greater impact. And sometimes, those things really did matter, like being a part of a community. It was the whole reason why Dicea was founded--the independent states and communities were alright on their own, but...combining their forces together? They were so much more than the sum of their parts. 

Maybe that was just Kokichi’s national pride speaking, though. 

But on the other hand...people didn’t need to be vast and everlasting to be important. To matter. And that was the feeling Kokichi got from looking at space. Everything in existence was so much more than what he could experience right in front of him. He was a small speck of dirt, and one day he’d be nothing at all. Just like everyone else. 

But that in no way meant that their time in life was meaningless. 

Kokichi looked over at Temp with a soft expression, taking in the poetic words his friend was saying, and...by the end? Saying that...meaning was the meaning you made? Kokichi was tearing up a little, feeling the meaning of that single moment right there. 

Sniffling as he laughed a little, Kokichi wiped his eyes. “Maybe,” he chuckled. “...that was really beautiful, Temp...thanks.”

Temp looked mildly surprised, before smiling softly, a small, embarrassed flush, “I was worried I wasn’t making any sort of sense. I’ve always like that idea, personally. That it matters what we give meaning too. If not to us, then… well, to who?”

“I don’t know if we’ve talked about this much, but I’m actually fairly religious myself. But my relationship with religion is… I worship a god of death, but things would still die if I didn’t. If no one did. My god isn’t going on strike if we don’t pray, or if we forget his name forever. Bathul is worthy of worship, because his worshippers have decided he is. That makes his followers just as important to his religion as he is, and arguably, more. Not all Bathul followers agree with me, but… that’s just how I see it. He is worthy of worship because we have deemed it so.”

“It makes sense to me. I’ve always hated the idea that…” Kokichi trailed off for a moment, trying to find his words. “That there’s some grand, pure truth order of things out there. That there’s a single truth to what is Good and Important and Worthy and all that… But if there’s no single truth out there then...what matters is what we believe, right? The meaning we make of it…”

Nodding along with the religious meaning Temp took out of there, Kokichi remembered the few times Temp had talked about Bathul and his family’s religion, the conversation about stuffed animals patterned with bones making him smile. 

“I don’t think I’m a very good person to talk about what matters in religion, but my friend Waku’s been kind of on a religious discovery this past year,” Kokichi hummed. “She’s told me about some stuff that sounds along the lines of what you believe. Stuff about how the gods are concerned with stuff we don’t have a concept of, and what happens around us is largely up to us.”

Kokichi smiled a little more, still finding this a little charming, though he knew Waku was completely serious when she said it. “She said she started praying to cheer on the gods, because it’s always nice to know that someone’s in your corner, and she wants to do that for them.”

Temp smirked at that, “I’m sure they appreciate it. I gotta imagine they appreciate someone just tuning in. It’s gotta be lonely, in their situation.”

Waku should be careful. That sort of pure, unselfish worship… she was begging for a god to take an interest, looking for a templar. The Templar hadn’t been the most devout worshipper when he was approached. He had just been someone the god thought he could trust, based on who he was as a person. Reliable personalities were better for most divine tasks over ‘piety’.

“Do you know if your mother had a form of worship? Did she have any beliefs about the afterlife?” Temp asked, looking at the memorial wall. Curious where she had ended up.

If Waku ended up being right about it all? It did sound lonely. Sure, across all beliefs there were a lot of gods, but...nowhere near the amount of people and creatures living on earth at any given moment. And with that cast never changing...Kokichi could see it being a big deal for someone to reach out to them. 

Kokichi looked back at the tree, gently touching the leaves again. “If she did, no one’s ever mentioned it. I know one of her friends worshiped Runia, as a sort of patron of the arts, but I don’t think my mom shared that belief.” 

Again, his gaze went a little sad, but also more at peace. “...it’s kinda why her ashes were right here, actually. I don’t know if she believed in any afterlife for the soul, but...apparently she thought it was beautiful for people to become part of nature after they died. My dad chose this tree, since the leaves look like stars and he thought she’d like to be part of the stars one last time…”

Temp looked up at the leaves. They swayed beautifully, in that slightly chilly air. 

“Seems like a good choice.” He agreed softly, “...do you think you’ll do the same? When the time comes?”

Kokichi was quiet for a moment before he nodded. “I want my body to go back to nature when I’m gone. I get why some people would want to preserve it, but...it’s never felt right to me. I’d like the garden, but...if there’s someplace I really love, I’d be okay with my family scattering my ashes there too.”

There was another moment of silence before Kokichi spoke up, his voice soft. Temp was a friend, a person who cared about him too, but...maybe as someone who worshiped the god of death, he’d understand a little more. “...Kai-chan and I made a promise. We’re shooting for eighty.”

Temp sighed. “... a challenging goal. But a worthy one. Any particular reason eighty? Or…” Temp glanced over at Kokichi, making a judgement call of who had picked the timeline, and said, “...did he just want to keep his expectations realistic?”

Kokichi gave his friend a slightly sad smile. “We’re trying to be optimistic. It’s...how I’ve approached things for a while, but...I mean, no one really knows when they’re gonna go. I think I’d be much happier with my life, if I spent it appreciating every day I do have, instead of...making plans and dreading the end.”

“Wise. It can be tough to actually live like that, day to day, but again… a worthy goal. I’ve seen people lose their minds, dreading their deaths…” Temp frowned, an old memory he hadn’t thought of for a long time… a very long time. “...my father was like that. He was also a worshipper of Bathul, but his interpretations of our faith were… very different from mine. He feared death to the point of obsession. To the point of chasing it. I think a part of him just resented the anticipation and fear of waiting for it, and every year he grew older, he seemed to resent being alive a little more, because that was another year he would have to spend fearing his death. It was a… maddening way to live a life. I spent my childhood watching him torture himself, and us, endlessly chasing a nightmare he feared to no end… it forced me to try a different way. To pursue a different outlook on life and its ending. I just knew that I couldn’t end up like him. There had to be another way…”

“...and the way I had found was acceptance. True acceptance. Not just of death, but of the fear that surrounds it. The fear of the unknown, and loss, and change… you have to accept that it will sometimes run through you, and when it does, you have to let it run its course. Running from that fear, fighting it viciously… your actions in pursuit of ‘defeating’ fear will always embarrass and shame you in hindsight. You have to find peace, with being afraid, without letting it control your life…”

And his acceptance, his peace, with death, was ultimately what had caused Bathul to approach him… because if Temp could find his peace with the fear of a never ending void, perhaps he could find peace with the fear of a never ending everything.

And to his credit, Temp had lasted a long, long time now… he hadn’t given in yet…

...and then remembering he was meant to be twenty-something, he added in, “Maybe that’s why I feel okay to be inheriting all of this graveyard stuff. Just, like, you know… instead of never letting it bother me, I’m just okay with the fact that sometimes it’ll bother me. Ya know? It’s just how it happens.”

Kokichi gave Temp a sympathetic look as he spoke of his father, and while Temp had talked about his family generally before, he didn’t really talk about his parents much. Having a parent so consumed by fear...kinda made it make sense that that relationship would be complicated. 

...in the back of his mind, Kokichi thought about his own childhood. Aiichi’s descriptions of how terrified he had been that Kokichi would die at any moment, and all the healers Aiichi had taken in, good to the point of being a near miracle worker and horrifically bad, in the hopes of giving Kokichi a better chance at and with life. Actions from fear and love that had made Kokichi miserable.

Complicated. 

“I think that’s a really mature way to think about it,” Kokichi smiled, gently nudging Temp’s arm. “I think by its nature it’s really hard to just...be okay with being afraid. I think I’ve come to decent terms with my life but...sometimes it’s so terrifying I don’t know what to do. Eventually I know that answer is just to live while I can, but...in the moment it’s like I can’t think at all.”

“I’m assuming it feels somewhat like...the roots of your hair are on fire? And there’s a tingling, static noise in your head that somehow manages to get loud?” Temp asked, giving Kokichi a curious look, “Does that sound about right?”

Kokichi gave that curious look right back before really trying to think about how it felt when he got overwhelmed by his mortality. “...not...really. It’s like...I’m drowning. And I’m really close to the surface, but it’s not enough to break through it and breathe again. And like...there’s a pressure all around my head and...it’s warm, but not hot.”

“Just…” Kokichi trailed off, his voice feather soft and his gaze far away. “...such a deep, desperate sense of...I’m not ready yet. I have so much I have left to do. Not yet…”

“Ah,” Temp nodded at that. Panic was such a fickle sensation… “...I wonder when someone like you would feel ready. You're a man with a lot to offer to the world. Would even eighty be enough?”

Kokichi was not just the prince of Dicea, but could potentially be one of the most powerful empaths Temp had ever seen, and was already using those gifts to enact extremely positive change. The effect Kokichi’s efforts over the last year, and the future, could have on thousands of people… if he only ever did a third of what he was capable of, Kokichi was going to do monumental things. Temp somehow doubted anything would ever be ‘enough’.

“It’s okay to not feel like you’re ready. To be scared. Even my philosophy of acceptance still leaves me feeling scared. It’s a natural way to feel about it. There’s certainly no shame in it.”

Kokichi snorted at that. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better about it, but I’m a notorious workaholic… Something I think I did inherit through example from my father. I don’t really feel like I’ll ever be done with my work...and when it comes to family, you don’t just...stop being someone people love at any point, through time alone.”

“...but I want to be there as my daughter grows up,” Kokichi softly said, speaking that wish aloud. “I want to be able to pass down all I can to whoever ends up being my heir. I want to be able to spend years with my family. And…”

He blushed a little, giving Temp a sheepish look. “...it might be thinking too highly of myself. But...I do want to have made a difference, and see that come to fruition. Not every Ouma has drastically changed the course of Dicea, but...I want to do something. And be able to see it. I might not ever get to...but I can still wish it.”

Again, Kokichi paused, but there was clearly more hesitance in this moment than he’d displayed before. But...after that moment, he nodded slowly. “...our old librarian said that she used to believe that fear was one of the most human things a person could experience. She’d since modified that belief, but...it’s still just...such a thing of life. You can do good or bad things with it, but...I don’t think there’s ever truly been someone who’s never experienced fear.”

“If there is, I wouldn’t want to meet that person. I can’t even imagine the kind of person that would turn out… I have met people who have stopped themselves from feeling fear later in life, and I would argue that you should steer clear of those people as well. Time erodes things you once knew to be true. And the things you have to do to yourself to stop feeling fear? They tend to be hard things, that you pass around to the people around you, and then find yourself annoyed that the pain actually managed to hurt them.” Temp shook his head, “I agree with your librarian, to an extent. I think fear is natural, and something we need. Keeps us… people.”

“...in doses.” Temp added in, with a shrug, “But that’s true of literally anything.”

Kokichi gave Temp a moderately alarmed look. Sure, there was something noble in wanting to conquer your fears, and stopping fear from ruling your life, but...to never feel it? Nao had also explained that fear was a natural response to try and keep you safe. Just...as time went on and societies were built and fell, that psychology got infinitely more complex. 

Someone without fear...who purposefully dismissed it from themselves…

...a person who was annoyed with others for being hurt. 

Kokichi shook his head with a sigh. “I agree. I don’t think...people can really...be, I guess, if they lose a part of themselves. They’re still a person, but...there’s just something wrong. Even for things like fear and anger and envy… Even more than that, feeling all those things helps us relate to others. And not being able to form connections…”

He smirked grimly. “...honestly, I find that far scarier than death.”

Temp nodded, “Mmmm…” 

The two sat in silence for a moment. Letting the breeze ruffle through their hair and clothes.

“...Tell me something more about your mother.” Temp asked, watching the clouds drift lazily through the sky, “Something small.”

...that did get kind of heavy, huh. But most of Kokichi’s conversations in the Memorial Garden tended to go that way. 

Following Temp’s gaze to the sky, Kokichi smiled softly. “...she loved to sing. Anything, but she favored more upbeat songs. My dad said sometimes he’d wake up in the middle of the night to her singing to me, while she was pregnant.”

“...I like to think that’s something I got from her. No one else is really into singing that much, even if my dad did sing me lullabies and kids’ songs. But...I even kinda like it in the same way she did.” Kokichi smiled more, the act crinkling his eyes. “She was shy in general, but super shy about singing in front of people. But...she loved it so much the songs came out anyway, sometimes.”

Temp nodded, at that. Before fishing into his pocket, and taking out a small, brown bag, no bigger than his thumb. Opening it up, he pulled out a small pinch of the contents inside-- a small, fine black sand-- and taking the pinch, he said, “With this, I offer trade: Bathul, honor the soul of Miyako Ouma, whose accomplishments were multitude: she offered music to the world, gave birth to Kokichi Ouma, and gave meaning to the universe.”

And with that prayer, and offer, made, he sprinkled some of the sand against the bark of the tree, before quietly putting away his bag. Giving Kokichi a small wink as he said, “My own way to respect the dead. Thank you for letting me join you in this.”

Kokichi gave the bag Temp pulled out a curious look, but his friend’s intent was clear after just a moment of speaking. And, again, Kokichi felt his heart warm. 

Kokichi wasn’t religious in his own right, but he knew what it meant for people who did believe to offer prayer. And for Temp to honor his mother like this… Kokichi’s smile was wide and touched. “Thank you for joining. That means a lot to me, Temp… I feel like it’d mean a lot to my mom too.”

Taking another breath, tasting the scent of soil and plant matter in the air, Kokichi made a move to get up. “...you said you were heading home, but...do you wanna grab a drink or something on the way? I’ll be honest,” he chuckled, “I saw these mini cakes at the cafe on Birch the other day and they’ve been on my mind.”

Temp chuckled at that, running a hand through his hair. “Yes,” he laughed, “That sounds nice.”

-

Dr. Marah sighed, sipping at her tea as she watched them all settle in, “My receptionist wasn’t there again, then?”

“There is literally no part of me that believes you have a receptionist.” Shuichi said dryly, sweating from the effort of getting to the roof as he shifted into his little hanging nest egg chair thing. “I do believe you have a very weird sense of humor, though.”

“Aw, Dr. Mariah wouldn’t lie about something like that.” Kaito grinned… before twitching slightly, looking suddenly uncertain, “Would you?? It’d be… such a weird thing to lie about.”

“I’m not, I do have a receptionist, and in different circumstances, I’d have fired him by now.” Dr. Mariah sighed, smoothing out her dress a bit. “Unfortunately, my filing system would be in ruins without his expertise. Specialists tend to be insufferable, when it comes to anything other than their actual expert skillset.”

“That’s true.” Maki huffed, bringing her legs into the chair, crossing them over and taking a breath, “There’s nothing more dangerous than an underling being aware that they are near irreplaceable. Gives them leverage over you.”

Dr. Mariah smirked slightly at that, “An… interesting way to word that idea, but not necessarily incorrect. There are pros and cons to people knowing their worth. The pros, I’ve found, tend to win out… from a ‘greater good’ perspective.”

Starting off on a less stressful, well, start, Kokichi happily snuggled back into his nest chair, tucking his legs in and enjoying the slight swaying motion. These really were cool chairs… He hadn’t stayed by for long, but on one of his trips out into town the past week, Kokichi had stopped by the furniture store Dr. Mariah had said she’d gotten the chairs from and hooooo boy did they have some nifty stuff. It was a long time coming, but when Miya got to the age she wanted to decorate and fill her room more, Kokichi was absolutely going to take her there. 

Already, though, it looked like they were getting into a philosophical discussion. 

Kokichi tilted his head to the side, thinking a bit about both sides Maki and Dr. Mariah were standing on. “I feel like it can be really case by case… In general, I think it’s wonderful for people to have pride in their work, and...generally, that leads to better work being done, as well as a healthier workplace overall. However, you do have to watch out for the types who use their specialties as, like...a hostage for doing whatever they like. Though, in that case, if they start harassing or causing issues for others in the workplace, or start withholding their work for additional, undiscussed compensation…”

Kokichi sighed, looking entirely unenthused. “...then that sort of attitude makes them really replaceable. At that point, someone with less expertise will still contribute more to the whole work effort than a highly skilled asshole.”

“A very fair assessment. One perhaps I’ll remind my receptionist of when I see him.” Dr. Mariah said, sipping at her tea, knowing it’d be kind of a moot point. She couldn’t not have the guy work… it was too cruel.

How else was the man going to pay of his debt to her? Soul contracts… they were such a mixed bag. No one ever thought about the fact that the demon was also bound by contract. Your indentured servant was a shitty worker? Well, shit, too bad, you’re still stuck with the idiot. Thankfully the fae only had a year left in his contract, and Dr. Mariah could find a new soul to fuel her magic with. And she’d write up a different contract for that, just literally hire a receptionist next time and have the new person, like… occasionally come by to clean her house or something. Something manageable and less important. No more magical soul-bound fairy receptionists.

Even if they were very pretty.

“Alright... I believe…” Dr. Mariah felt the journal in her pocket warm, “My homework assignment last time was to take some time apart. At least, for Kaito and Kokichi. Maki, I believe I asked you to--”

“I looked at some of the credentials of individual therapists, and… considered seeing one of them.” Maki said stiffly, “Someday.”

Dr. Mariah gave Maki a carefully neutral look, before nodding. “I appreciate your consideration. We’ll discuss it more. Kaito, Kokichi? Shuichi? Did you three take some time for yourselves?”

Getting to the point where your attitude neutralized your work skill took...quite a lot. And while it was a little concerning that Dr. Mariah’s therapist never seemed to be around when they came for their appointments, if he really was a filing whiz and did manage to keep the appointments scheduled well? Maybe that was worth taking off randomly. 

Kokichi turned and smiled a bit at Maki, knowing that even considering going to a personal therapist, and looking into some really did mean a lot, even if Maki didn’t end up scheduling any appointments for a long, long time. If she was willing to want to sort her thoughts out, and willing to work for it...well, she’d already agreed to come to this group appointment again. They could figure it out. 

Giving Dr. Mariah a little nod, Kokichi glanced over to grin at Kaito. “Yeah! Last Sunday Kai-chan and I went to the aquarium, then got dinner after. And I’ve been going out on other days by myself just…” Kokichi let out a small, sheepish laugh, “To kinda be out?”

“I did make my usual trip to the Memorial Garden a little earlier,” he continued, not thinking it was particularly worthy of note, “And I ended up running into my friend Temp there, and we got drinks together before I walked him home, since he was just getting off work when we saw each other.”

“Good, good. A little time to yourself, a little privacy. Spending time together, sharing moments and responsibilities, that’s a healthy relationship. Doing nothing else is codependency, and will eventually become too emotionally taxing on one of them.” Dr. Mariah warned, before adding, “And likely all of you, at different stages, will need that distance… Shuichi? Kaito? Did you manage to find any peace in the distance?”

Shuichi shrugged, looking unbothered, “Yes, but that’s not exactly a difficult lesson for me to learn. I’ve always valued my alone time… well, now it’s alone time with me and Nini.”

“Nini?”

“My pet snake!” Shuichi said, visually lighting up, looking more excited than Dr. Mariah had ever seen him before, “He’s this beautiful Ball Python, this amazing dark golden color, and--”

“It’s too long. Too big. I regret every choice I ever made.” Kaito mumbled.

“--Kaito got him for me for my birthday.” Shuichi finished with a smirk, “It’s been a nice way to destress in my study.”

“Sounds like a good way to spend some time with yourself.” Dr. Mariah said encouragingly, raising an eyebrow at Kaito. “You seem less than fond of your gift, Kaito?”

“Oh, no, no… I kid.” Kaito grinned tightly, “I’m glad Shuichi’s enjoying it!”

“And how has more private time been to you, Kaito?”

“The date was really nice! The aquarium was very cool, we saw a lot of really neat fish, and afterward Kokichi took me to this really nice steakhouse… it was a lot of fun.” Kaito grinned, and while he still regretted how hard he went, unable to help thinking about the… good amount of exercise he got that night too.

“What about time to yourself? Were you able to relax?”

“Ummmm… yes.” Kaito decided to say. “Absolutely! It was exactly what we all needed!”

Dr. Mariah looked at him curiously for a second, before letting that go, as she said, “I know it’s going to be difficult to find time for things like that in the future, but it’s important that you try. Your children will need a great amount of your attention, but your attention will be the wrong sort if your stressed and angry and resentful when they have it. Balance is key in all relationships, including parental relationships.”

Kokichi nodded seriously, though he was still in light spirits. He didn’t think he really felt...stifled spending so much time with his family, but there was no reason to push it until he started feeling that way. Taking time for himself, or going out with friends was just as important as family time when it came to his own enrichment and sanity. 

Smiling adoringly as Shuuichi described his time with Nini, Kokichi thought about chiming in about Kaito’s fear of snakes but...they could get to that another time without derailing everything. It probably still warranted discussion, but it wasn’t an issue between them. Kaito didn’t like snakes, but he knew how happy they made Shuuichi, so he laid down some hard rules and boundaries and laid the groundwork for Shuuichi’s happiness. 

It was a pretty successful story of their relationship, in Kokichi’s eyes. 

...a different kind of success than what happened the night of their date, but… Kokichi looked to the side with a small, embarrassed smile as his cheeks tinted as Kaito talked about his positivity about the week. 

Nodding at Dr. Mariah again, Kokichi hummed softly. “...relationships are like a garden--they take work to maintain. And sometimes that work isn’t exactly a joy… But if it all starts feeling like toil, then that’s a sign to take a step back and do something else.”

“Exactly.” Dr. Marah said, taking another sip of her tea, letting the slight chill of the day make the heat of her drink even more soothing, “And as I’ve told you all before, I’d encourage all of your to independently continue doing the ‘homework’ on your own time, if you find it helps. In the future, when it becomes harder to keep track? It might help to let me know examples of your attempts to find space and time from each other, so that you can be more aware of how much time is passing without breaks.”

“That discussed… how has everyone been feeling since the last session?” Dr. Mariah asked, looking at all four of them, though her eyes lingered briefly on Kaito and Maki as she said, “The last session was very tense at several times, and while it ended on a positive note…”

Kaito and Maki both glanced at each other, before Maki looked away first, Kaito glancing down at his feet, something tense there. 

Dr. Mariah nodded, “We’ll come back to that. Shuichi, Kokichi? How have you both been? Anything either of you wish to discuss?”

Finding balance in his life… Just like managing the country, Kokichi felt like it’d be a lifelong endeavor, but also just like his job, it was something Kokichi found he was delighted to take on. Maybe that was part of the issue in leaning too much into one section but...well, he was young. He’d figure it out. 

Kokichi watched the momentary tension between Kaito and Maki and...while he knew it wasn’t totally solved, it was still much...more breathable than it had been before the last session. And hopefully talking it through more and more would help it along. 

“I’ve been good,” Kokichi said softly, peace in the statement. “I think I’m at the point where I’m just...impatient to meet Miya, so everything kinda feels like a rubber band pulled tight until that moment but…” 

He shrugged with a soft laugh. “I’m gonna have the rest of my life with her, so I know I should take these last few weeks to enjoy the last of not being a dad, since I’m not going back to that state.”

“We, uh…” Kokichi glanced to his friends briefly, not sure how much they all wanted to get into this. “...we...discussed some other stuff too. About conditioning and how it’s affecting folks these days...or...the lack thereof.”

Dr. Mariah raised her eyebrow again, glancing around the group, “Really? I’m not an expert on conditioning by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve heard that it’s an incredibly difficult process to undo. Are you…”

Her voice trailed off for a moment, glancing at Kokichi, making a few connections in her mind mid-sentence, “...working with someone to unravel the process?”

Shuichi shook his head, while Kaito just shrugged. “No,” Shuichi said, “We experimented with it pretty thoroughly the other day, and while there’s still a few hiccups with most of us, it’s… really like it’s just fading away on its own.”

“You’re certain your experiments were reliable?”

“We’re very familiar with triggering our own conditioning.” Maki said simply, tucking some of her hair behind her ear, “It’s something we’ve freely done with each other our whole lives. We know how to elicit certain responses out of each other, and we know what it looks like when it happens. Our attempts to do it didn’t do anything this time.”

Dr. Mariah tapped at her teacup slightly, “...When you say ‘we’, I’m assuming you mean yourself, Shuichi, and Kaito. That’s an interesting statement to me. You all aren’t shy about exploiting each others brainwashing?”

The three Luminaries all, in their own way, showed small signs of defensiveness. Shuichi lowered the brim of his hat, Maki narrowed her eyes, and Kaito’s eyes fell to the floor, rubbing the back of his neck as he said, “Ah, well… see…”

Dr. Marah peered at them from over the top of her cup, taking another sip, “...Let’s talk about that.”

Well, Kokichi was kind of hoping that therapy would help at least some part of his friends’ conditioning, but that wasn’t the main reason they were going, or even a concentrated focus. Of course he wanted it to stop directly affecting his friends! At least as much as that was possible with it having been done to them in the first place. But he wasn’t going to ask them to become…

(...Kokichi’s thoughts trailed off there, and a slightly concerned expression crossed his face, coinciding with his friends’ uncomfortable looks about their mutual exploitation. He had been about to think that he didn’t want to ask his friends to become science experiments, but…)

(...that’s exactly what he had done, at least to Kaito and Shuuichi, and he hadn’t even asked Kaito.)

(...he still felt like it was different. He wasn’t up on some high moral hill about poking around in his family’s minds, but...it was something he was willing to ask. And Shuuichi and Maki had agreed to their respective deals. Kaito…)

(...Kokichi hoped against hope Kaito would understand. That he would see the situation Kokichi had been in and not...hate him for what he had done. Even if Kokichi could see him being uncomfortable with it all.)

(Kaito had said he wouldn’t hate him for his powers. But would he lose some of that trust they’d fought so hard to forge because of what he had done with them?)

Kokichi curled a little into himself as he looked tentatively at his friends. “...I mean… You guys said you’re pretty alright with the...like, status update stuff.”

Maki sighed, a look of irritation running over her face as she said, “Why did I come back to this…?”

Kaito grinned uneasily, “Because I’m yours and you earned me?”

“Ah. Right.” Maki sighed again, her hair untucking itself, Denji having given her a haircut recently to get it back to the shape it had been in before she left. She appreciated the way it looked, its professional, serious edges, but she was so used to fussing with her hair that she fruitlessly tried to tuck it behind her ear again as she said, “What is there to say about it? We’re all close, and we grew up with it. Why pretend it wasn’t a factor?”

“I’m not making any particular argument for or against your actions, if that was the concern coming from you all?” Dr. Mariah said, reminding herself to have Maki make more reasons to stay for Shuichi and Kokichi later as well, since she might need reminding why she was here more often than the others, “But there is a certain level of intimacy to that sort of… relationship that I would be remiss to ignore, as it has to have a ripple effect in other aspects of your relationship.”

“Does it have too?” Kaito asked, already sounding tired, “Their… uh…” he paused, looking uncomfortable, before saying quieter, “...um, our… yeah, the conditioning stuff doesn’t… define anyone. It’s just a thing that exists, ya know?”

“I’m certain, back in Luminary, with all sorts of biases around the practice and the people that practice was used on, that was the kinder belief to have, Kaito.” Dr. Mariah said, somewhat sympathetically as she said, “If people were going to treat people you cared about unkindly for their differences, the impulse to insist those differences don’t actually make them different would be strong, to protect them from those biases… but not taking it as a purely negative connotation? Conditioning, and all of your relationship to that conditioning, does affect both your views of yourselves and each other. It has an impact. Pretending it doesn’t will not do any of you any favors.”

“If we’re not being affected by conditioning, doesn’t this all come too little too late?” Maki asked, while Shuichi remained quiet, a contemplative look on his face, “What does it matter now? It’s not a factor anymore.”

“Considering it sounds like it’s only become ‘not a factor’ this last week, it might be a little early to say it’s ‘all in the past’,” Dr. Mariah responded dryly, “And, it all ties into another important factor in all of your relationships that you all seemed to be determined to pretend didn’t affect things, that being your respective roles in society… every time we touch upon it, it’s always been from incidents you all seem to want to dismiss as isolated occurrences. Kaito choosing to stay with Kokichi during their wedding night, versus pursuing Maki and Shuichi, being an example.”

Kaito winced at that, not looking forward to any of this. This definitely seemed like a ‘everything Kaito does wrong’ conversation laying in wait…

“That wasn’t what our relationship with each other was like.” Maki argued, looking frustrated, “Those were isolated occurrences. We all worked hard to not let that affect our relationship. To not let it affect our views of oursel--”

“I thought of Nao as a new master.” Shuichi muttered, a silence hanging over the group at that, “...I took a lot of comfort in the thought…”

“...” Kaito groaned, putting the palm of his hands in his eyes for a moment, before saying, “Yeah, alright, we should talk about it.”

Even if the actual ‘obey’ parts of conditioning were leaving...it still had an enormous impact on his friends’ lives. On their relationship with him, and how they treated each other. Hell, it was a huge part of Kokichi’s major fears about his relationship with Kaito, and a contributor to their fight in the memorial garden. 

Having been conditioned didn’t make them ‘lesser’. But it did make them different. 

Kokichi closed his eyes, wincing at Shuuichi’s quiet admission. Remembering his and Maki’s fears that Kokichi was just a new Byakuya to Kaito. And Kokichi knew that he wasn’t, but...there had been a huge power dynamic in their relationship that he hadn’t been prepared for at all. 

(He was trying to involve himself more, but it still felt wrong to...insert himself so much into this. He would never understand what it was like to be conditioned, and he would never understand what it was like for Maki and Shuuichi to literally be considered as a different form of person. Kokichi still couldn’t bring himself to bring it up, but his heart still sank every time one of them said “Indentured” as a separate classification.)

(Perhaps that hit him harder than most, since Kokichi didn’t grow up thinking of people as ‘Nobles’ or ‘Royals’ or ‘The Rich’ or ‘Peasants’ or ‘Common Folk’ either.)

Just as quietly as Shuuichi had spoken, Kokichi hesitantly chimed in, “...you had to work hard to not let it affect you. Your efforts meant and mean a lot...but it also means that that wasn’t the default for other people in your lives. And...even marching to your own beat, you can still hear the music around you.”

“Yeah… ugh…” Kaito ran a hand over his face… before groaning more, “Urrrgh.”

“This is not a reassuring start, Kaito.” Dr. Mariah pointed out.

“Just ignore me,” Kaito groaned, “I don’t have anything to say. Pretend I’m not here.”

“No.” Dr. Mariah said, sounding almost amused, before amending, “But I won’t poke at you, if it helps. Let’s go back to conditioning.”

There was a brief silence, Kaito watching the koi fish, Maki looking unimpressed and bored, Shuichi looking increasingly tired. Dr. Mariah was just giving herself a moment, trying to think of the best way to approach this… “...What are some examples of you all triggering each others conditioning? Let’s say, back in Luminary, what would that have looked like?”

“Getting quick access to information you need,” Maki said immediately.

“Pranks. Jokes.” Shuichi shrugged slightly.

“Um, both of those, but…” Kaito rubbed the back of his neck again, still looking uncomfortable, glancing at Maki uncertainly, “...sometimes… I mean, we tend to roughhouse a little… hard… sometimes I just needed Maki to calm down a little--”

“Shame you don’t have that, anymore.” Maki said idly.

Kaito’s brow pinched together, but it was Shuichi who said, “I thought you two were trying not to do that anymore. Dicea rules, sort of thing.”

“I technically wasn’t allowed to attack him in Luminary either.” Maki pointed out. “Didn’t stop me then either.”

Dr. Mariah looked curiously at Maki, “...are you bragging?”

Maki squared her shoulders defensively, “No, I’m just stating facts.”

“It sounds like you’re bragging.”

“I’m not.” 

“... growing up a slave--”

“Indentured,” all three of them corrected at once.

“-- must have been extremely taxing, as far as self esteem goes.” Dr. Mariah continued on, undeterred, “Maki, I won’t argue that it isn’t understandable that you gained some sense of self-worth, being able to get away with something that I imagine could have gotten others executed on the spot. And I imagine, Kaito… that…”

Dr. Mariah paused, before sighing, “Mind reading. Kaito? It sounds based on your descriptions that you used conditioning as a way to ensure your safety when Maki grew too violent with you. Can you explain that more?”

Kaito started popping his joints, looking uncertainly between the slightly fuming Maki and Dr. Mariah’s expectant gaze, before saying slowly, “It wasn’t really… you’re making it sound weird.”

“I’ve said very little about it.” 

“Yeah, but… I can tell when someone’s trying to say we’re doing something shitty without actually saying we’re doing something shitty.” Kaito said warily, “I’m kinda an expert of that workaround, by this point.”

“Would it help if I said I thought it sounded shitty?” Dr. Mariah asked.

“...” Kaito glanced at Maki again, before saying, “It wasn’t one-sided, okay? Our relationship is a two way street. We’re very physical people, and we grew up practicing our fighting styles on each other--”

“But one of you was being raised an assassin and the other was a prince raised on silks,” Dr. Mariah pointed out, “One of you, as far as fighting techniques goes, is far more dangerous than the other. And you’ve already said that you liberally used Maki’s conditioning to keep yourself safe from her.”

“I didn’t say ‘liberally’.” Kaito grumbled, “Maki would never hurt me. She’d just… she gets overzealous sometimes. And… fuck it, yeah! She got to do something other people couldn’t, and I liked that she could. I liked that I could--”

“Maki uses you as a punching bag, Kaito.” Shuichi said dryly, “Which was fine when you could stop her with conditioning, but these days, you get nervous and twitchy at the idea of fighting back cause you don’t want Dicea to send you away, and now you can’t verbally stop her either. The dynamics changed. You guys can’t keep going the way you’ve been doing it. Someone’s going to get seriously hurt.”

“I wouldn’t hurt Kaito!” Maki snarled, looking genuinely offended, “I’m not insane!” 

“No, but you have habits and muscle memories that don’t work anymore!” Shuichi shouted back, his calm, cool facade suddenly breaking, his glare at her cold as ice as she gave him an equally heated look back, saying, “Kaito can’t just stop you when you become overwhelming, and I don’t want you to stab him by accident cause a part of you thinks he can! He needs to help me raise our kid, Maki!”

“And also you love me?” Kaito added hopefully.

“Yes! Obviously! Shut up, Kaito, I’m arguing with Maki!”

…

Kokichi sighed softly. Maybe it was a conversation he needed to have with Maki later, but...it wasn’t one he felt like he was equipped to have right now. Like most people, she was complex but...she wasn’t as utilitarian as she demanded her presence be, and that just...wasn’t how most other people lived at all, despite her expectations. It could be...frustrating, sometimes, but he knew that was something she needed to face in herself, and...if he was going to bring it up, he wanted to know more firmly what exactly he meant to say. The last thing he wanted was to blow up at Maki--or any of his family, for that matter. 

Though that intention didn’t always come to fruition. 

...he despised how his mind, after hearing Kaito say that Maki ‘gets overzealous sometimes’, immediately followed up with, ‘yeah, and Byakuya’s reactionary’. Maki and Byakuya weren’t the same at all, but…

Kokichi rubbed his face, feeling...grimy and like he was walking in on people having a hushed, private argument, even if this very much did concern him too. “...you wouldn’t hurt Kai-chan...except you have. Still...what you’ve done in the past, even as a pattern, doesn’t dictate what you’ll do in the future. If you don’t want to hurt Kai-chan, then I know Maki-chan will put in the work to not hurt him, because you don’t do anything by half-measures.”

“...but even putting in that work and making the future a ‘never’ situation…” Kokichi looked over guiltily at his husband before letting his gaze fall to his lap, his stomach bubbling in discomfort. “...if you still have the reflex of thinking, ‘she’s not going to...but if she does, I can do nothing…’ That’s still a barrier between you. Intangible predictions still affect things, almost as much as actual, real actions.”

Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t… want his friends to have to hold back for him. He was strong, he could handle it… and it had been hugely helpful to get them to trust him, back when they were all young and Kaito had been…

Kaito glanced uncomfortably at Maki again, who was glaring at the ground.

“...I’ve always had all the power in our relationship.” Kaito finally tried to explain, looking between Kokichi and Dr. Mariah, “I could have destroyed them by accident, casually… Luminary is violent, and it only becomes more deadly the lower in the classes you are. If I showed public displeasure to them, people would have made Maki and Shuichi’s lives miserable just on the off-chance it’d get my favor. I had… so much power… and sure, maybe we’ve developed some bad habits as a group because of it, but…”

Kaito lowered his shoulders, looking disheartened, as he glanced at his friends, “... I just wanted them to feel powerful too, sometimes. I never wanted them to be scared of me… Shuichi could say whatever he wanted, whenever, it was never going to go any further than us, I was never going to use anything he said against him. And Maki...if anyone ever saw? Us, uh… ‘arguing’. Outside of a spar? I’d just deny it ever happened. Maki’s allowed…”

“Stop.” Maki sighed, crossing her arms. “...just stop. Ugh… I hear it now. You sound… pathetic, Kaito.”

“Oh, well, great.” Kaito grumbled, glaring at her, “Was trying to defend our relationship, but suuuuuure, I’m pathe--”

“And I sound pathetic too, when you explain it like that.” Maki huffed, fruitlessly trying to tuck her hair again, “I don’t need you to bite your tongue and just let me attack you to ‘make me feel better’. That’s pathetic. For both of us. You shouldn’t let people hit you because you think they’ll like you less if you don’t, and I don’t need to beat anyone to prove my value. I’ve already earned my self-esteem… I don’t need you to ‘give’ me one.”

“...” Kaito sighed, looking at the ground, “This is so hard.”

The thing was...Kaito was right. They had developed some concerning habits from it, but...in Luminary? That was the only way to build a deep relationship of trust, period. When one of them was pretty much in the highest social standing he could be, and the other two were in the lowest. To form any sort of genuine bond that didn’t have a million caveats to it...Kaito did what he needed to do. To the detriment of his own well-being. 

(But that’s never been much of a factor for Kaito, something in the back of Kokichi’s mind lamented.)

Now, however, without all the other factors that forced those decisions...acting like they had was just going to hurt them. Maybe literally physically, in the case of Maki not stopping herself in time, when she never had to even consider that before, or...by one of them getting arrested. Because as much as Kokichi wanted to respect the kind of physicality Kaito and Maki wanted from each other...if it was like their spar when the Party was still there, it was straight-up assault, and the fact that they both agreed to it would only protect so much. 

Kokichi gave his husband a slightly worried, but mostly sympathetic look. “...you had a reason to establish those kinds of...reverse-boundaries? I guess, before. But...those reasons aren’t applicable anymore. No one’s gonna come after Maki-chan or Shuu-chan for disagreeing with you...or for disagreeing with anyone else. That kind of power dynamic just...isn’t here.”

“...changing the whole way and dynamic of your relationship with someone is...insanely hard,” he sighed. “But the circumstances have already changed. So we adapt.”

“Kokichi is correct.” Dr. Mariah nodded, a small ‘clink’ as she placed her teacup back on its little plate, “Adapting to new social dynamics with old relationships is incredibly difficult, and stating that social, financial, or any number of circumstances doesn’t have an effect on those relationships is an unhelpful platitude. The value of a relationship doesn’t have to change, but suggesting how it functions never will… it’s just unrealistic.”

“...okay, I’m a little lost.” Kaito sighed, looking to Shuichi for a translation, Maki glancing over to him as well. “What?”

“They’re saying you can still be close friends, but you have to acknowledge that the way you’re friends has changed now that you two have.” Shuichi explained, “It’s… the same with all of us, I suppose. You know, Kaito, when we first started dating… I actually really resented the new ways you treated me.”

“Ha,” Maki smirked, glancing at Kaito, who gave her a withering look back as she said quietly, “Your turn.”

“I’m not ‘beating up’ on you guys.” Shuichi rolled his eyes at them both, adjusting his hat as he said, “I’m sure both of you have similar issues with me and you just haven't voiced them yet. But what I’m saying is… I became your boyfriend, and suddenly, I just... Wasn’t your best friend anymore-”

“That’s not true!” Kaito tried to interrupt, though Shuichi shook his head, shushing him with a lift of his hand.

“Hear me out. Our dynamic changed. Suddenly you were treating me entirely different. I know a lot of it was drug recovery stuff, and then pregnancy stuff, but… a lot of it wasn’t. Instead of ‘bud’ or ‘man’, I was ‘handsome’ or ‘sexy’, and… while I like that now, it was so jarring, when that first started. Instead of someone you went to for help, suddenly I seemed to just become fragile in your eyes, someone to take care of. And yes, that’s a relationship thing for you… I know Kokichi isn’t a good example of it either, but you fuss over both of us like that. Like some precious things you have to take care of…”

“That’s.. Your pregnant and he gets sick a lot. And I love you both! I should want to take care of you, and I do!” Kaito argued. “Want to, I mean… why is that a bad thing?”

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. After I got used to it, I actually think its… relaxing. Nice.” Shuichi smiled slightly… before sighing, “But it was still strange and jarring. It was a lot to get used to. That’s… really all I mean to say about it.”

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a soft look as he said his piece. Some of it were truly things Shuuichi had struggled with and took issue with--Kokichi could still remember the shame he felt during their conversation in the medical wing, seeing how stifling and devastating the restrictions they put around Shuuichi were. Putting too much consideration into the fact that he was pregnant, rather than seeing him as Shuuichi, who was pregnant. 

In a way, all of their relationship with Shuuichi had changed most of all. 

A lot had changed. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi nodded gently. “...it’s different. I never knew you guys in Luminary, so...I don’t have that background to change from. But...we have the evolution of getting to know each other in the first place to adapt with. Figuring out what my relationship means and looks like with each of you is...hard. And it’s only gonna keep changing when we add ‘parent’ to that context too.”

“...and I’m still figuring out the change in my relationship with the rest of my family and other friends too,” Kokichi softly acknowledged. “It doesn’t always take something as drastic as moving to a new country to make a big change to a dynamic… Pulling my head out of my ass is… I have to figure out a new everything, almost.”

Kokichi paused, scratching his cheek a little, unsure if this was even a helpful path. “...this...might be something you have to think about for a while. But...it’s like what Shuu-chan did, confronting us about how we were treating him, and laying out...just...what he wanted from us. Kai-chan, Maki-chan...maybe it’d help figure out a new dynamic if you think about what you want from each other. How you want to be treated, and the kind of things you’d want to go to the other person about.”

Glancing a little sheepishly to Dr. Mariah, Kokichi shrugged a little. “...do you think something like that would be helpful?”

“Yes… but considering who the two struggling participants are?” Dr. Mariah said, looking between Kaito and Maki, “I’d like to go back to an earlier exercise and try it again. I want you both to-”

“Letters?” Kaito interrupted dryly.

“...darn.” Dr. Mariah sighed, “I’m becoming predictable. Tragic. But yes. Letters. For different reasons this time though. Before, I wanted to have you try letters to give you both time and space to think about what you wanted to communicate before you did so. Maki and Kaito can also use that, but… you both have loud, vibrant, and… explosive personalities-” Dr. Mariah paused, giving Kaito and Maki both a chance to get it out of their systems as they both insisted ‘Hey! I’ve been working on it!’ and ‘I’m not explosive, I just follow through when I know what I want’, before continuing on, “-that adding a little distance to the conversation might make it easier to manage. As I heard it, the last time I assigned this homework, it basically became you two writing to each other anyway. Correct?”

Still looking sheepish, Kokichi nodded. “...to be fair, Kai-chan and I weren’t sure what we should talk about, and Kai-chan and Maki-chan have...a lot of pressing things to talk about. Or...they did when we did that.”

While he did think it was kind of silly when he and Kaito did it, Kokichi sent a wary look between Kaito and Maki. “...I don’t mind volunteering to run the letters back and forth, if you guys wanna do it in your rooms or something. I’d just rather not have to run up and down the entire castle…”

“It’d be excellent exercise.”/”I dunno, might be a good workout babe…”

Maki and Kaito glanced at each other… Maki sighed. “Fine. It’s not like it could hurt. At the very least it’ll be a good excuse to have Kokichi run around. He’s been lacking in laps lately.”

“Hey now! ...he’s just out of practice!” Kaito insisted, “And also Shuichi’s a terrible influence, he’s always drawing Kokichi to sit at that tree with him.”

“I’m pregnant.” Shuichi reminded them dryly, “And I want the company.”

Kokichi pouted at his friends, his expression not quite sure if he wanted to be offended or defensive. “I’d never be so heartless as to leave Shuu-chan without company when he wants it. And I do a perfectly reasonable number of laps at a reasonable pace for someone who had to get back into exercising from basically zero. I kicked ass in physical therapy.”

“Hell yeah you did! Kokich’s batman, Maki.” Kaito informed her, looking unreasonably smug about it, “So he can totally run up and down all those stairs if he needed to. He could do it all damn day, if he wanted to! Right, babe!?”

Kaito grinned at Kokichi, one hundred percent confident and painfully sincere, as Maki gave Kokichi a small smirk. 

Not even in the realm of being caught off guard, Kokichi just groaned and leaned back into the cushions in the nest, holding his arms up in an ‘X’. “Absolutely not. There’s a lot I’d do for you guys, but if you make me do that, I’m stealing the letters and lying down on the third floor.”

“I’d join you. We could take a nap together.” Shuichi said, already looking tired and pleased at the idea, rubbing the bottom of his eyes, “Maki and Kaito can just go be weird and angry together on different floors, and we could be all nice and toasty and sleepy… why am I still coming here? I’m so pregnant and it’s such a long walk…”

“Becauuuuuse you like the safety and reliability of the relationship?” Kaito recalled.

“Preeeegnaaaaaaant.” Shuichi grumbled, “Different rules.”

Dr. Mariah let them continue like that for a moment. It was important to allow tangents and rest and small idleness. It kept the stress levels low. Especially for a group this size, that was important.

But, refocusing, she turned her gaze on Kokichi, thinking of something he had said earlier, “Kokichi, you’ve been working hard lately, on understanding your relationships around you. Can I ask, considering this is something your family is all struggling with together, how the process on your side of it has been going? What techniques have you been using for the process?”

“He’s been… playing board games with his dad, lately.” Kaito answered automatically, before flushing at Dr. Mariah’s annoyed look, “Right, sorry, no answering for him, sorry. Just talking aloud.”

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a fond, moony look. Curling up together and taking a nap sounded like a nice time, and there was a growing part of Kokichi these days that wanted to get extra cuddling time in, since once the heat of summer started to hit it’d be miserable to. Though...he did have to contend that even if they did have a better tolerance for the heat, his lovers still might try to use him as a cooling pack at night. 

That was something to figure out as it happened. 

Getting back on track, Kokichi gave Dr. Mariah a nod--he didn’t mind talking about it--before giving Kaito a soft grin. “The board games are...kind of just an excuse for my father and I to get together on a semi-regular basis and talk. It’s something we both enjoy, and it fills the space when neither of us know what to say.”

“...a lot of it is that, for a lot of people,” he softly admitted, expression tinting with some of his guilt. “Just...being together and talking. Since I spent so long pushing everyone away… We talk about the past, things we wish we’d done differently, laughing over fond memories we both share...but a lot about the future.”

Kokichi smirked a little, both guilty and shameless in the look. “My father and I can’t help talking about work even when we’re trying to have more personal conversations, but...we share the sorts of things we hope for Dicea. My dad… I don’t think it should be, but even though we’re figuring out what our relationship is as two adults, rather than an adult and a child, it’s been...easier. He still likes to fuss at me a bit, but...he respects that I can make my own decisions. And he respects my space if I tell him he’s being a little much.”

“My sister and my sibling… Most of it is in finding that time together. Getting to know each other as people a little more and paying attention to each other. Not being afraid to reach out, even if it feels like digging in.”

Kokichi paused there, not really sure any of that was applicable, or even a technique. Tugging gently on a piece of his hair, he looked to the side. “I guess… I’ve just tried to be more upfront with what I want from our relationship. I don’t...want it to just be tentatively friendly. People just there when they get the invitation. I want them to be family, to know them as people, with all the messiness and fights and stepping on toes and gossip that comes with. So...we’re trying to get to that point.”

Kaito snorted, “Messy is the right word. Maki and Shuichi are probably the two best, most stable relationships in my life, and damn have we had some trials. Way before Dicea… people are hard.” Kaito sighed. A genuinely exhausted look in his face. “They’re real easy in some ways, but man, in other ways, people are hard.”

“Do you find people easy, Kaito?” Dr. Mariah asked, noticing Kaito seemed to suddenly flinch, all the certainty immediately draining out of him. “You don’t have to look so worried. It’s not a loaded question.”

“Uh huh…” Kaito said, clearly not believing it. “...am I wrong if I say yes?”

“I’m just curious about your thought process.” Dr. Mariah said gently, “That’s all. You sounded very confident, for a moment there.”

“I’m a confident sounding guy!”

“You really aren’t.” Dr. Mariah said dryly.

“Well, you’ve never seen me in my element.” Kaito grumbled, fussing with the joints in his hands as he thought about what to say, “People… aren’t that complicated, for most things. They want to be treated nicely. They want to be in on the joke. They more often than not want that second thing more than the first one, and if you find one that doesn’t, you have to be incredibly gentle with them. Most people boil down to jokes or compliments, when it comes to winning their favor… some people want to be around someone who's strong and confident, and others want someone they can protect or laugh at or feel superior around… and that all usually boils back down to some form of compliment, or some sort of joke.”

“Mmm.” Dr. Mariah said non-committedly. Still sipping her tea, “Which one did you use for Maki, Kokichi, and Shuichi?”

Kaito frowned, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, “I mean… breaking it down like that is a little tough…”

“You sounded very confident a moment ago.”

“...they’re all compliment people.” Kaito grinned, giving his family a small shrug, “Shuichi likes to be in on the joke a bit, but you all really appreciate compliments… which is fine! Like, again, most people are jokes or compliments! Compliment folks tend to be way nicer. Joke people tend to be mean.”

Kokichi sat back a little, taking in Kaito’s...well, theory of social interactions, he supposed. And while he had a feeling that Kaito’s claim that more people wanted to be in on the joke might be more from the kind of people he would’ve been basing the majority of this theory on--ie. Luminaries--but…

“...that’s an interesting way of thinking about it,” Kokichi hummed, still mulling it over in his head a bit. “No matter what, it kinda gives you a starting place to talk. I know, when I met Am-chan, I really didn’t know where to start… I asked her how her drink at the bar was, sayin’ that I had thought about getting it--I...suppose that would be a compliment? It’s...kind of giving weight to her opinion right out of the gate. Making someone feel important specifically to you...huh.”

Kokichi raised his eyebrow a little at Kaito, his smile playful and light, not wanting to make Kaito feel like he was putting pressure on him. “Is that why you compliment us all the time?”

Kaito grinned, “I compliment you guys all the time because you deserve compliments… but also, yeah, because you like it. If you were joke guys, the way I’d express affection to you all would be different… I mean…” Kaito tried to think of a good example… “Like, if I was trying to get along with King Aiichi? Like, not taking into account his title? He’s a ‘in on the joke’ guy. He doesn’t want compliments, they’d go right through him. He wants to feel involved, like he has an effect on your actions and the things that you say. They want to treat others a little roughly, or be treated a little roughly, because it makes them feel more in control of the flow of the conversation and stuff.”

“And you’re saying I’m a ‘compliment’ person?” Maki asked, looking incredulous, “Based on your examples, I’d argue the opposite.”

“I don’t think there’s anything I could do to make you feel not a part of the conversation, Maki.” Kaito smiled a little, shrugging, “I don’t need to supply you something you already have. You… needed compliments. Not always directly, but you always needed your actions validated a little. Don’t look at me like that… I don’t mean it in a bad way. You didn’t need to feel powerful in a conversation, you just needed to be… reassured that you were worthy of them. Compliments help with that.”

“Shuichi, in turn, usually rejects the joke.” Kaito mused, looking to his boyfriend, who didn’t seem alarmed or inclined to argue any of this, likely wondering why they were talking about this in the first place. Kaito didn’t know, to be fair, but Dr. Mariah wasn’t stopping him as he continued, “At least for the most part. He really does like being a part of the joke, when it’s his joke. Otherwise? He needs validation, not control… unless he’s very, very comfy.” Kaito grinned, “Then he gets delightfully mean.”

Shuichi suddenly looked alarmed, “Kaito! ...Don’t say that around our therapist.”

That was...kind of right, in Kokichi’s experience, though in fairness he was still learning who his father was. Kaito was spot on about the compliments--Aiichi wouldn’t turn up his nose, but the conversation would be exactly the same with or without them. Honestly...Kokichi got the impression that his father just wanted action. Though, that meant something a little different from some people’s interpretations. 

Conversations about how someone’s family was doing or what work the other day was like were important to Aiichi. The leader had to be concerned with the broad strokes, had to act accordingly when things went wrong, could spring to attention when emergencies happened. But that wasn’t all the job was. Their duty was to their people, and for most people...the big things were outliers. Normal life was, well, normal because it was what happened most of the time. To really understand what life in Dicea was like, they had to understand that normalcy. 

Aiichi didn’t want niceties and formality. He wanted intimacy. A little ironically, the thing that Kokichi and his father struggled with when it came to the bond between the two of them. 

If being a ‘joke’ person was getting your hands into stuff...well, being the leader of Dicea was the most busybody job there was. 

Maki… Kokichi grinned a bit. Even if she was blindsided by information presented in a conversation, she never lost control of it. Some of the information she sometimes wanted was intimate, but Maki was never asking. She was demanding, and therapy had really shown that Maki would rarely just give over her own information. 

She didn’t believe in questioning her actions...but Maki did question her own atonement. And that reassurance was something Kaito never ran out of for her. 

Shuuichi demanded information too, but he didn’t stand firm against playing games for it. And that was only when he had a focus. In everyday, idle conversations, Shuuichi just wanted comfort, nothing so unfamiliar it didn’t have an explanation. Unless it was presented by him. 

Coloring red, Kokichi gave a bit of an embarrassed snort. “...I do think that’s a different conversation entirely, hun. And one we give ourselves a...sort of content warning for.”

“I have no idea what you guys are talking about, I clearly mean how competitive he gets at board games.” Kaito huffed, shaking his head at them, “Perverts.”

Giving Dr. Mariah an apologetic shrug-- he didn’t know how to reel these horndogs in, honestly, it was a constant trial-- Kaito looked back at Kokichi, “...I really thought you were an ‘in on the joke’ guy when I first met you. But… I was really wrong about that. To the point where it almost destroyed our relationship. And that’s not a bad thing, Kokichi, I just… look back and wish I had made a better judgment call, there. Your self esteem was in shreds, and no amount of control in the world was gonna give it back to you… I wish I had seen that earlier.”

Dr. Mariah had been waiting for a comment like that, having been hoping this roundabout way of letting Kaito talk openly about how he saw his family would lead him to expressing his observations of them more openly than he was usually prone too. ‘Kaito goggles’ without the ‘Kaito filter’. She didn’t interject though, glancing at Kokichi to see what he’d make of that.

Rolling his eyes a little, Kokichi took a breath to calm himself down, but...that was about when it was his turn to be psychoanalyzed. And...he didn’t completely deflate, but there was something...regretful in Kokichi’s eyes. A kind of extremely soft gentleness you’d show to someone very hurt. 

Because...he had been. 

“...I’d say something like I don’t know how I got so bad, but...I really do,” Kokichi sighed. “We weren’t on the same wave-length at all. And...even after we’d patched things up more, I’d still say we’re working on finding the right frequencies. But back then…”

He shook his head a little. “It wasn’t a joke I knew how to recognize, and even if I did, I really wasn’t in a place to laugh along. Even now I can see myself getting more frustrated than letting it break the tension.”

Kaito nodded, “Yeah… control doesn’t make you feel any better. Or…” Kaito frowned, suddenly looking uncomfortable as he said, “...well, that’s not entirely right… you like everything to be exactly as you expected it, without it looking like it needed to be controlled. Which, I mean… is kinda understandable! You’re the future leader of a country that already works the way you want it too… keeping things normal? Keeping everyone on course? That’s literally the way you’ve been raised to think, ya know? Everyone doing what they’re expected to do, preferably on their own.”

“But you’re like Maki. That’s kinda already expected from you… no one needs to convince you or let you feel that way, it would take more effort to convince you it doesn’t. It’d be offering you something you don’t need.” Kaito scratched his goatee, and sighed a little, “Like Maki, you needed validation more than anything… the world was going to act the way you expected it too, but you needed to be convinced you were allowed to enjoy it. That you were worthy of all the same stuff you accept as a given for everyone else. Kindness, respect, self-agency… and also to be taken care of in a way that doesn’t make you feel shitty. Honestly, that last one felt really important for a while there… you really didn’t want to accept help from anyone…”

“You sound confident, Kaito.” Dr. Mariah noted, “About your assessment of them.”

Kaito frowned, “...should I not be? Also, what does this have to do with our changing relationship stuff…”

“You’re currently admitting that there are things you think your partners need from you, that none of them have explicitly asked you for.” Dr. Mariah explained, watching Kaito immediately look defensive at that, “You have certain expectations of yourself in these relationships that your partners are apparently unaware of. And we’ve discussed that being open about how you view your roles with each other is important. I wasn’t certain we were going to get there through this, but you have a tendency to backtrack when asked to show what you perceive as weaknesses in the people you admire or love.”

“Oh, wait, okay, weakness is… a heavy word.” Kaito sputtered, “That is not what I was saying.”

Kokichi smiled and laughed softly, amused with the incredible truth of that. As someone tasked with pushing their vision on what the ideal society given the circumstances of the real world? Of course he wanted things to go according to that vision. There were inevitabilities of people breaking laws and such--there wouldn’t need to be laws if no one broke them--but...by and large, Kokichi expected that normalcy that his father was invested in. When things didn’t go according to that plan, then...his actions were to get things back there. 

...and all the expectations that went along with that vision...Kokichi had denied himself. Too depressed and isolated and caught up in a delusion that he made himself an exception to his lovingly crafted plan that he expected everyone else to be a part of. Letting him have more control over that plan wouldn’t change his perception that he was outside it. Not allowed in. 

...he had needed to be invited and cherished and respected and...allowed to have control over himself. Not other things. 

The look Kokichi gave Kaito was understanding, agreeing with his husband’s assessment, and oh-so tender. Kaito had given him those things, and even in all the ways their relationship would grow and change, Kokichi would always be grateful for that. 

Sighing softly, still giving Kaito that adoring look, Kokichi shook his head slightly. “You weren’t pointing out our weaknesses. Though they certainly can hurt someone, I don’t think social needs are weaknesses--they just...are. But...you were pointing out those needs as you see them, and retroactively saying that you’ve been filling them. Which, for the record, I do find admirable,” Kokichi winked. 

“But that’s the sort of thing you haven’t really brought up when we’ve tried to talk about how we see each other or our expectations in the past. You just kinda…” Kokichi shrugged, twirling a piece of hair. “Say that we’re amazing and that you’re okay going with how things are. Like you don’t have any issues...or you don’t have goals, I guess would fit better. With all that? I like knowing that Kai-chan sees how isolated I can make myself, and that he wants to reach out gently and lovingly to help me back.”

Kaito had grinned brightly at the wink, hugely reassured by it… but his pleased, happy look flickered slightly at the talk of goals. He… had no good answer for that, and didn’t really want to think about that too hard. Not everyone needed goals… being there to ensure his loved ones met their goals was its own kinda goal! Definitely! 

Sure it left him a little adrift, sometimes, when no one needed anything from him… but he had hobbies! And the shrine! And it was nice to just sit on the garden benches and zone out until his family got off work/out of school. 

“Yeah… yeah! That’s… I want to be there for you guys. When you need some help, you know? All of you! And… I don’t always do that as well as I’m hoping, but…” Kaito looked between all of them, and said gently, “You guys are my whole world. I just… it’s not weakness, but I want to lift you up when there’s tougher hills to climb… I never don’t feel that way.”

Dr. Mariah tapped at the edge of her now dreadfully empty teacup. “...Well, we might as well invite everyone else to share.”

“Share what?” Shuichi asked, after there was a notable pause. Dr. Mariah clearly leaving an opening to be asked, which if she had seen someone else do that, would have tsked and called them overly dramatic for bothering.

“Kaito has confessed that he’s taken on a certain amount of emotional labor on all of your behalfs.” Dr. Mariah started to explain, “And since your group tends to be entirely unselfaware and not see each others communication flaws in yourselves, I’m just going to assume that none of you will volunteer your own relationship expectations without me directly asking.”

“So, Shuichi, Maki, Kokichi?” Dr. Mariah asked, “What jobs in this relationship have you taken upon yourselves, that your family might be entirely unaware of?”

There was a pause… Shuichi frowned, “I really don’t know what you’re expecting from me. Every responsibility I had in this relationship disappeared overnight for me. I don’t have any responsibilities.”

“...we’ll come back to that.” Dr. Mariah decided, that being plenty to unpack by itself, “Maki?”

“I’m responsible for everyone’s safety.” Maki shrugged, “But that’s hardly a secret. And it’s hardly a burden.”

“You’ve been in a different place, emotionally, since returning from the war… is that still true even now? That everyone's safety is your responsibility?”

Maki frowned at that… before crossing her arms, looking away with some obvious frustration as she said, “The castle doesn’t require much security from me…”

“...it doesn’t?” Shuichi asked, looking genuinely surprised at that.

Maki looked at him… before looking away. Notably more uncomfortable. Unwilling to admit that she just… hadn’t had the headspace for protecting everyone, since she got back… it felt like a failing, on her part. But it was so hard to start her practices again…

Maki going silent, Dr. Mariah felt her notebook burn a little, before deciding to move on from that for a moment, another one to come back to. “Kokichi?”

Lifting up others… Kokichi really loved that about his husband. He wished he’d been a little more aware of this, sure, but...it wasn’t something he wanted to ask Kaito to alter or put fewer of his efforts into. He just hoped that now being more aware of it, they could work together, rather than Kaito working silently. 

But even if Kaito was the surprise first speaker, this...was a conversation overdue. What did they each want to contribute to their relationship together?

...and immediately Kokichi felt himself start to worry. But no good came from being silent and his wishes were just as valid as anyone’s.

Especially since… Kokichi frowned slightly, not...feeling like that was quite...right, what Shuuichi said, and Maki’s inner turmoil was palpable, and Kokichi could feel Dr. Mariah putting pins in both of those. So...his own might not be that shocking. 

Holding his hands in his lap, Kokichi’s lips thinned as he chewed on the inside of one. “...I wanna be able to solve problems. No matter what’s going on, if it’s something more physical in the world, or needing a listening ear...I wanna able to help. I…”

Kokichi sent a look to his family. “...I want you guys to trust me. And…” he glanced up to Maki, something regretful in his gaze. “...I know I have a while to go to earn that trust. That I’ve broken yours before… But that’s what I want. So I’m going to keep working to be a more trusted person.”

“...and I guess this is part of that, but I want to be engaged. That...you all know that there’s gonna be someone in your corner and interested in what you’re doing. That when we’re all having dinner together I can ask a more specific question than how your day was, because I’ve been paying attention to what you’ve been doing.”

Kokichi took a small breath, feeling a bit...more emotional saying that than he’d thought. “...I think that’s the best way I can quantify what I want to offer…”

“Aw, babe…” Kaito grinned, swinging on his chair a little, kicking his leg against the rooftop cement, “You do do all that. Like… mission success! You’re super engaged. I’ve definitely never felt like you weren’t paying attention.”

Shuichi gave Kaito a curious look, before saying, “I remember once, you and Kokichi were in the middle of this really emotional conversation when I was just walking into the room… you were really excited about Kokichi just swearing to make us a priority.”

“I… well, yeah, but…”

“You were ecstatic. I really didn’t understand why it was apparently such a big revelation to you. It seemed really obvious to me that Kokichi was always going to do that. But you looked like you could barely believe it.”

“Was I still around for this?” Maki asked, looking confused, not remembering anything about this.

Shuichi paused, “... I’m not sure? I wanna say yes, but again, it was such a strange conversation between the two of them… I doubt I ever even brought it up to you, Maki.”

Dr. Marah kept silent, watching the disconnect between the two sides of this. Kaito apparently aware of a side of Kokichi that the other two didn’t know. Or at least didn’t recognize. She’d give them a chance to work it out themselves.

Kokichi smiled slightly, but…

Shuuichi pointed it out immediately.

Sighing, Kokichi shook his head a little. “You weren’t, Maki-chan. It was...right at the beginning of late winter, I want to say… Shuu-chan was taking a nap in front of the fire when I swore to Kai-chan, and we were bein’ a little too loud so it woke him up and…” Kokichi snorted, giving Shuuichi a fond look. “You said something like, ‘well, yeah?’ Just completely nonplussed as you told us to shut up so you could go back to sleep…”

Another sigh. Kokichi looked up at Dr. Mariah with something a little tired and a little ashamed in his eyes. “...I would hope my actions up to that point would spark that sort of reaction from Shuu-chan, but my family wasn’t always a priority for me.”

Kokichi paused there, unsure where to even start. He looked up at the sky, eyes following a small flock of birds traveling across the city. “...my father is the definition of a workaholic. My uncle finds personal time, but he’s extremely work focused when he’s at work. When you take the Ouma oath, it’s a promise to devote your whole being to the Dicean people… It’s a promise of sacrifice.”

“...I grew up believing that to be a leader worthy of my people, my work would always, always, by a long-shot, have to come first. It was a focus of my self-destructive tendencies, even; I’d go without sleep or food just to keep working. To hide from my own thoughts and feelings, and to chase the feelings of inadequacy I had over being worthy of the Ouma name.”

...he used to really envy birds. Kokichi was turned away slightly, still watching the flock. He wondered how many of them were family. 

“There was a part of me that really wanted a family, but...I didn’t want to get married. I went through with it out of duty, and I was really relieved when I started to discover the kind of person Kai-chan was.” Kokichi looked back down for a moment, giving Kaito a smile before he found the birds again. “I felt at ease, thinking that he was the kind of person I could be comfortable around for the rest of my life. But...I still wasn’t ready for a relationship. Even when I knew I had feelings for him...I wasn’t ready for the kind of commitment that being in a relationship takes. I wasn’t ready to give so much of myself to another person… I didn’t even know how.”

He sighed. “...I made it clear to the start that while I valued him, that I valued Shuu-chan and Maki-chan through our friendships and, later, my romantic feelings for Shuu-chan...my work would always come first. My duty was...my purpose. I would try to do my best for them, but...I believed that if it came to directly weighing them against each other, I had to do my duty.”

Finally, Kokichi refocused on the group. “...it’s flattering that you’d always believe it, Shuu-chan. But it took me a long time to figure out that the way my father leads isn’t the only way to be a good leader, and...even if it meant I would be the best leader ever...that isn’t worth it to me treating you guys like...incidences. Only important to me when it’s convenient.” Kokichi’s brows furrowed, that intensity of conviction that he had when he made that vow in the first place returning in this moment. “You guys mean the world to me… And there probably will be times where I’m torn between my duty to my people, and my duty to my family. But I’m going to do whatever it takes to make them both happen. I’m not going to compromise you guys...that’s what I decided. And...it took me a while to get there.”

Maki and Shuichi had both, in a way, already known all of this. Just not as clearly spelt out like this. 

Maki found herself nodding along, unsurprised that Kokichi took his duty as a leader so seriously. They had bonded over it, sacrifice for a purpose, and Maki had suspected that back then, it had been Kokichi’s devotion to Dicea that had caused him to reject helping her over anything else. Getting involved in her revolution would have put his country, which had just gotten out of a fifteen year war, in danger of going back into it in less than a year… it had been too much to ask of him. That, along with what it had meant for him and Kaito? Too much. He had shattered under the pressure, but Maki still knew she had been delusional to expect otherwise. 

It had just been… too much.

And Shuichi… supposed he had known this, to an extent. The mere fact that Kaito had clutched onto that swear had clued Shuichi into that Kokichi hadn’t prioritized them, at one point… but he found even being told more point black, a part of him still really didn’t believe it. He believed Kokichi believed it. But he just couldn’t see a world where Kokichi would abandon them for work. Not if they really needed him. It was just entirely against the person Shuichi knew Kokichi to be. Unlikely to the point of not worth worrying about.

...Kaito knew Kokichi could have.

He loved his husband. He did. But he could see the parts of Kokichi’s personality, his beliefs, that not only could have neglected him and the rest of the family, but could have literally left them to ruin, if he had thought it was necessary. He wouldn’t have liked it. But he would have thought it was right, and he would have made the hard decision, whatever that decision would have been…

Kaito understood, how little he actually valued at. As an individual. His worth was entirely dependent on how much other people loved him. He had nothing else to offer. And if love wasn’t enough? People would so casually destroy you… just giving you a somewhat sad, pitying look as your whole world was stripped from you. Shame, shame, how that happened, but these things did happen, and, well, what was there to do… he’d pick himself back up… they’d all pick themselves back up. 

And if they didn’t?

Kaito could hear his mother soothingly reassure him, “You don’t have to worry about people like that, my handsome child. They do it to themselves.”

It was so easy, to leave people to ruin, if you didn’t love them…

And Kokichi had loved Dicea more.

Kaito had been terrified… so fucking scared, waiting for the day he wasn’t going to match up to Kokichi’s first love…

But Kokichi had promised. Kokichi had sworn. It… it hadn’t even taken another memorial garden incident to do it either! Kokichi had just decided to do it on his own! Which had been so… relieving…

“I swore before that I’d try to never let that be an impossible choice for you, ‘Kichi, and I swear it again.” Kaito murmured, giving Kokichi a shaky smile, “I mean… like, missing a few special events because something important is happening isn’t a big deal, ya know? That just happens, a regular job can have you miss a milestone or a holiday and stuff. We’re not gonna hold that against you--”

“If you miss Miyako’s birth, I’m hiring Maki to kill you.” Shuichi interrupted immediately. 

“It’s a buyers market, my rates are very reasonable right now.” Maki nodded.

“--... joking aside. Like, I know that sometimes works going to keep you busy, and that’s… okay.” Kaito grinned, “We’ll be fine. I just…”

Kaito didn’t even want to say aloud, his worst case scenarios for Kokichi picking Dicea over them. Like if he said them aloud, it was inviting them into his life. Or at least into his nightmares. So he just finished lamely, “If we’re talking expectations? It’s not like I want a chokehold on your life, Kokichi. That’s all…”

Kokichi, despite knowing just how much this meant to Kaito, and how incredibly pressing his fears were, scoffed at Shuuichi’s threat. “There is no way I’m missing our daughter’s birth. I’m making Aiichi miss it before I miss it, for work-related stuff, and even if I ended up getting sick or something, even if I couldn’t hold her--which would destroy me--I’d still show up to the hospital and just quarantine myself as best I could while still being there. I’m going to be there.”

Calming from that, he gave Kaito a softer look. “I know that missing something like a holiday might happen. I really don’t want it to, and I’m going to do what I can to be there for everything, but...gods laugh at the best laid plans of mice and men. I just…”

Kokichi’s face scrunched a little. “...I never want to blink and suddenly wonder how Miya got so much older. I don’t want to go a day realizing I haven’t talked to you guys, and not because you’re out of town and aren’t by a phone… I don’t want to listen to you talking in depth about a hobby and realize I don’t know when you got into it. I want to be here. I want to know you guys, and be there for all of our journeys. I never want us to become strangers living in the same place.”

“You wouldn’t.” Shuichi said, again, just… entirely confident. To the point where he couldn’t fathom any counter argument, as he gave Kokichi a soft look, “Thank you for choosing not to… but you wouldn’t have. Our Kokichi isn’t cruel. You are definitely not your father.”

Kaito smiled slightly, at Shuichi’s unburdened belief. Kokichi had always been exceptionally kind to Shuichi, especially once they had gotten into a relationship. It made him happy, to know how fully Shuichi trusted Kokichi. Like his belief wasn’t even trust… but just a fact of the world. 

Maki, ever more cynical, said, “We’ll keep you honest, either way. It’s not entirely up to you, anymore. You may have noticed, Kokichi, but your Luminaries are… somewhat busybodies, when it comes to this stuff. And we are not shy about calling each other out…” Maki paused, “Well, Kaito might be a little shy when it comes to you, but don’t worry, you both will get past that someday. Give it a decade, he’ll call you an asshole to your face.”

“Maki!” Kaito gasped. Scandalized.

Kokichi knew ever so well how steep the pitfalls could be, but...he still gave a small sigh of relief. He and Aiichi were trying to make things better, but Kokichi never wanted to be like him. 

Still…

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a soft smile. “...I can be cruel, sometimes, but...thank you for believing in me. It’s something I’m going to do my best to live up to.”

Grinning a little brighter at Maki, Kokichi snickered, giving Kaito an amused look. “And thank you for keeping me off my bullshit. I know I really need it sometimes. And...I dunno. I think I’ll be amazed when he stops looking like he’s gonna pick a fight when someone calls me a little shit.” 

Kokichi sat back a little, nodding sagely. “It’s a title I’ve more than earned, and people have the right to say it.”

“You are not a little shit.” Kaito frowned, looking vaguely like he was going to pick a fight with someone, but conflicted because the current culprit was the ‘not little shit’ in question. “I don’t care how many stories I hear, you’ve never done anything to anyone and no one's about to convince me otherwise. I bet all of your pranks were delightful and made everyone's day.”

“You remember that day you were convinced that blue paint would look the exact same as a puddle of water and you went outside the castle entrance hall to pour paint puddles among the water puddles and for some stupid reason people actually didn’t notice despite it being an entirely different color than the water?” Shuichi asked, sounding incredibly judgemental about the idiots who apparently never glanced down walking into the castle, “And at first you were really proud and happy and then you started to panic and cry because you didn’t think about the fact that everyone was going to track paint into the castle and people were getting pissed and you didn’t want to get into trouble?”

“Hey, woah, I… I didn’t cry!”

“You came to us certain you were either going to get executed or yelled at.” Maki recalled, smirking slightly at Kaito’s increasing fluster, “I remember you seemed weirdly more concerned about being yelled at. I don’t recall, did they ever figure out it was you?”

Kaito laughed nervously, “Officially? No. It was decided it was some sort of maintenance accident, and since maintenance was the ones cleaning it up anyway, repairs and compensation for peoples clothes were taken out of the royal funds. But, unofficially? Oooooh yeah. They just didn’t wanna publicly out me, but yeah… shouldn’t have done that. Never tried a prank that big again after that… it did work though! You thought it was stupid, Shuichi!”

“It was stupid.”

“Stupid and effective!”

Dr. Mariah coughed. “As fun as reminiscing over old times can be, we do have a time limit…”

Kokichi shook his head with a sigh. And that was why he’d be amazed if Kaito could let stuff like that go. It wasn’t really an issue, and Kokichi thought it was kind of cute how Kaito wanted to defend his reputation, but Kokichi had been a menace as a child, and… Well, as the future leader of a nation, there were going to be people out there with strong opinions about him. Some of them would be negative. And they could have those opinions, so...Kokichi just didn’t want Kaito to get himself caught up in an argument that didn’t matter that much. 

Laughing a bit at the prank Kaito managed to pull off in his youth, Kokichi brightened, finding a similar connection to the story of how he’d regularly find out which rooms were booked for meetings and would put grease on the doorknobs to give people a bit of a shock when they tried to open the doors. Though, he didn’t regret that prank at all, even if he ended up having to help clean everything up. 

...but they did have a focus in therapy. 

Clearing his throat with a sheepish grin to their therapist, Kokichi nodded. “...yeah, so… I wanna be engaged, accessible, and trusted to help solve any issues. And I’m glad that I’ll be kept honest. That’s the position I want in our relationship.”

“A reasonable goal,” Dr. Mariah nodded, before glancing between Maki and Shuichi… which would be easier… “Shuichi?”

Shuichi sighed. 

“You say you don’t feel like you have any responsibilities in this relationship. That feels like a very large statement. Could you clarify what you meant?”

“There’s not much to say.” Shuichi said, idly rubbing his stomach as he leaned against the side of his chair-nest. “Maki keeps us safe, physically, Kokichi keeps us safe from Dicea and always works to keep our spirits up, Kaito tries to keep us safe from our own brains. And also takes care of the kids. And takes care of any of us when we’re sick. And has been cleaning the bathroom a lot lately? We have staff for that, Kaito.”

Kaito shrugged.

“And Kokichi works, which… kinda keeps us housed? Sort of. And Maki listens to us when we’re scared and tries to make us feel strong. And I just… soak all that up like a sponge. I don’t really do anything. I haven't really done anything in a year. I’ve done things for myself, but… there’s nothing I can offer to anyone else now. I’m…” Shuichi shrugged, “Just a passenger along for the ride, while everyone else makes all the decisions.”

A heavy silence came from that. Maki frowning and giving Shuichi a critical stare, clearly picking her next words carefully, while Kaito looked stunned that Shuichi thought like that. Just too surprised to say anything yet.

Kokichi frowned slightly, his eyes holding a worried tint to them as he looked at Shuuichi. Things had been...calling it rough wouldn’t even begin to suffice what the last year had been like for Shuuichi. But...Kokichi didn’t feel like Shuuichi didn’t offer anything to the group. Even when his decisions had been mostly dictated by other people, Shuuichi was still...not just a dependant. 

...what should he say, though? No, I don’t think you’re just along for the ride? That was still Shuuichi’s perception. 

Kokichi’s gaze lowered to his lap as his lips thinned, and he sighed quietly. “...for the record...I find a lot of comfort in you, Shuu-chan. And not just ‘cause we convince each other to sleep in more. And when I’m having trouble thinking things through, you’re the first person I think to go to. I know that my own experience doesn’t necessarily translate to how you see things, but...that’s how I feel.”

Shuichi nodded, “I know… and I’m glad I can be a source of comfo--”

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT!?”

Dr. Mariah’s eyes widened slightly in surprise as Kaito was up, an intense look on his face, his teeth clenched into tightly into each other and his fists clenched even tighter. “Kaito. Take a walk. Around the rooftop.” Dr. Mariah instructed him, not at all disturbed as the Luminary Prince turned that heated gaze on her instead, “Immediately. That sort of reaction is not helpful.”

“Are you kidding!? You want to just let him say he’s fucking worthless or some shit-- AUGH!” 

Kaito jumped back just in time as the dagger flew across the rooftop, lodging itself into the rooftop edge. “Maki! We Just talked about this!”

Maki shrugged, “We haven't done the letter thing yet. And I didn’t even touch you. You need to calm down. Take that walk.”

“You cut a hole in my pants… dammit.” Kaito cursed, walking off, grumbling to himself.

“...that is stupid though.” Maki said, looking over to Shuichi, “Why do you feel like that?”

“Cause it’s true?” Shuichi answered dryly.

“Dumb.”

Dr. Mariah sighed, “Maki, please join Kaito in his walk. Calling people unintelligent for saying how they’re feeling is also not helpful.”

Maki tensed… before getting up, giving a tense, “Fine… Kaito wait up!”

Kokichi jumped slightly, not startled by Kaito’s reaction--it was very in-character for his husband, and especially towards Shuuichi--but just because of the sheer sudden volume. And with Maki intervening in her own very in-character way… Kokichi sighed slightly as the two more hot-headed members of their group got up to cool off. 

...but that still left them with something that…

Sighing, Kokichi shifted so he was sitting sideways in his chair, facing Shuuichi more as one leg dangled out of the nest, not quite tall enough to touch the rooftop. “...even if someone doesn’t have anything to contribute, I don’t believe they’re worthless. Everyone has worth, simply from being alive, and...I think it’s untrue to say that they’re not contributing. By living their life, they’re cultivating a unique perspective that no one else can ever offer…”

“...But I still don’t think that’s your case, Shuu-chan,” Kokichi murmured, his brow slightly furrowed. “It doesn’t feel...right, to me. So…”

“...can you explain to me why you feel like you don’t do anything when it comes to us as a group?”

Shuichi thought about dodging the question, already feeling like he had given away too much…

...oh, what did it matter.

“Sometimes I feel like if you could get a cat pregnant with a human baby, then bam! You’ve effectively, entirely replaced me.” Shuichi said, his gaze cool and distant. Apparently entirely unaffected by his own words, cruel as they were, “Like I’m less of a person in this relationship, and more just… a pet. I feel so disconnected from everything… everyone keeps doing things around me, and there’s nothing I can do but watch the results unfold… the last time I was independent? The… the only time in my whole life I was ever independent, my whole world fell apart. I got addicted to a strange, unknown drug, lost my virginity to someone who crippled and handcuffed me, fell in love with her, ran into the arms of my kidnappers, accidentally got myself knocked up… and everything started improving after that. Because I stopped making decisions, after that. I just let you three take care of me, and everything is so remarkably better, that it feels actively self-destructive to want anything else by this point.”

“I’m so… remarkably unfit to be a person.” Shuichi said, a terribly resigned look on his face as he said that, “I don’t even think I want to be, anymore.”

Dr. Mariah analyzed Shuichi as he spoke, tasting his feelings in the air, “...Shuichi? Do you miss being an indentured servant?”

Shuichi shrugged.

Kokichi looked markedly more affronted at that comment. One, because it was so fucking far from his own perception, but also...Shuuichi really thought like that? He felt like a pet?? Kokichi could feel a heat rising in his throat, all the outrage towards people who treated people like that, but...someone, someone he loved, feeling like that without people actively trying to put him in that position…

And as Shuuichi claimed that he didn’t think he wanted to be a person, that his feelings towards his life as a slave were so...ambivalent… Kokichi looked down, just...not knowing at all what to say to that. How to even proceed in talking about it, or...what the goal should be. Because his instinct was to give Shuuichi more agency, but...if he felt resigned into not taking those opportunities…

“...what about going back to school? Getting licensed to be a detective again?” Kokichi muttered, his voice soft coming out of his choked throat. “What about your friendships with Drake and Nadya? What about all the places you’ve said you wanna go explore and check out?”

Shuichi felt bad at the clear despair coming off of his boyfriend. But his guilt didn’t effect him, the way it did Kaito, and after a moment he said, “...I’m sure you guys won’t let me lose any of that. I’m in good hands…”

The truth was, Shuichi was doing better these days. These feelings, which had plagued him constantly around six months ago, had been easing as the stress of everything that had happened before grew more distant, as he started to act more, going to school, hanging out with his friends…

...but the pregnancy had taken those things away, the last month or so, and the depression was starting to come back in waves as Shuichi spent most of his time hiding in bed or his study with nothing but his memories of his lowest points constantly taking potshots at his self esteem. The depression had creeped back, little by little, the less he had to do, and while it still wasn’t as bad as it had been at his lowest point, talking about it aloud now, confessing it to his family, made its weight on him heavy like a blanket. Like speaking it aloud had made it real in a way that he had been trying to ignore before this point. 

He just felt… so worthless and ugly, sometimes. Dirty. Unclean. Pathetic, as Maki liked to say. How had he… let all of that stuff happen to himself. How had he been so helpless… so stupid. He was so stupid…

Maki and Kaito were arguing about something, on the other side of the rooftop.

Or, if not arguing, having a heated exchange. Taking fiercely to each other, Maki crossing her arms over her chest, Kaito wildly moving his arms, trying to communicate through body language as much as words. Discussing something…

And they seemed to come to some sort of consensus, Maki looked annoyed but resigned, Kaito looking determined, as they headed back. Kaito practically stomping every step. 

Neither of them went back to their seats. They both stood roughly on Kaito’s side of the koi pond, and, again, Maki looked really annoyed, while Kaito just looked furiously set on something… before taking a breath and getting down onto his knees. Not into a bow, but just tucking his legs under himself, a very formal position… before looking up, “Maki!”

“Fine.” Maki grumbled, getting down on her knees as well, while Shuichi just mildly raised an eyebrow at his two jocks.

“...yeah, so.” Kaito frowned from the ground, “We need to talk about the restrictions.”

Kokichi’s shoulders dropped. Those were things that were...uniquely Shuuichi. Not things he contributed to the group, but things that were just...him living the parts of his life that the rest of them weren’t a big part of. They were just...cheerleaders, or avid listeners. Going to school and forging his friendships had been things Shuuichi had done himself, and...did he really think of them as things the rest of them would regulate?

...how…

(The people who had given up were those that needed help the most. But Kokichi...didn’t know what to do…)

Watching with some despair even as Kaito and Maki returned, Kokichi sucked in a small breath at the subject Kaito put forward. ...yeah, that would be a place to start.

Giving Dr. Mariah a considering nod, Kokichi tried to sum up the general gist of it before they went more in-depth. “...after we found out that Shuu-chan had spores, he kinda...came into our custody--people overseeing his rehab, you know? For a while, it was kinda…” Kokichi grimaced, hating looking back and seeing what they had thought was necessary at the time. “...intense. Stuff like Shuu-chan never being able to be alone, and us overseeing his meds. But...as the medicine started to work, we pulled them back. And…”

Kokichi thought for a moment, his gaze unfocusing. “...in mid-fall? I think? Was when we pulled them all back. And…” Kokichi gave Shuuichi a slightly concerned look, now feeling like he’d been too intrusive, but still feeling like it was pretty reasonable. “...I mean, I thought the stuff we agreed to was pretty normal stuff… Try to let people know if you’re going out, be back before real late unless you’ve told someone. I...always thought that was just...considerate stuff, for if you’re in a relationship and living with people…”

Dr. Mariah… sighed. 

“Oh dear… every time I think you four are out of absurdly tragic stories to tell me…” She looked down at Kaito and Maki, who seemed to be staring intently at Shuichi, apparently the two able to communicate to each other what they want to say, but struggling to say it to Shuichi, who just stared back at them idly. Looking the least invested in this conversation out of all of them.

As for Kokichi’s explanation. “...I know for a fact,” Dr. Mariah smiled, the look almost strange on her face, “That you all have heard the term ‘learned helplessness’ before.”

“Yes! That! That! That’s what… fuck!” Kaito shouted, punching the floor, “Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about, Maki!”

Maki rolled her eyes, “It was necessary. We couldn’t have done it any better.”

...Kokichi did deflate there. 

For so long while they were trying to help Shuuichi, Kokichi kept comparing Shuuichi’s situation to his own. And he did know they were different, but…

Keeping someone monitored and restricted so they wouldn’t die. Everyone believing they’d make the wrong choices. Just...that feeling of horrible helplessness, and why were you even there at all…

Kokichi knew how awful everything had affected Shuuichi. He just...really thought things were starting to get better. 

“...maybe other people could’ve,” he murmured softly to Maki’s assertion, eyes downcast and everything about Kokichi’s presence spelling out his regret. “And even if something like that actually was necessary...it doesn’t absolve us of having to make things right after that situation’s changed.”

“Yes! Aftercare!”

Shuichi twitched, “Kaito, there are… so many other words you could have used.”

“It is the ACCURATE ONE!” Kaito shouted, before wincing, “Sorry, done yelling! Done! But, that’s… yeah! We did the thing, and, and then we were just like ‘oh, you’re your own person now, good luck!’ and that’s not how shit like that works! You can’t be shitty to someone for ages and ages and ages and then just be like ‘sike didn’t mean any of it, you’re fine, right?’. Even if they agree to it, or it's for good reasons! People internalize that shit!”

“What were we supposed to do? We saw how people ‘helped’ Kokichi here, and our other option was sending him away! And Shuichi would have snuck himself more doses if he could have! We had to keep him safe!”

“We still need to apologize!”

“I don’t regret my actions!”

“God, Maki, you don’t have to regret your actions to regret how it affected someone! Why don’t you get that?”

Shuichi almost looked amused, watching Maki and Kaito argue back and forth in front of him, both of them on their knees. There was a small, almost smirk on his face, not necessarily smug, but clearly just laughing at his friends a little. “...you two are really ridiculous sometimes.” Shuichi laughed lightly, looking genuinely fond, “Also, Dr. Mariah is absolutely judging you right now.”

“I don’t judge… but I will step in at this point to say this is an unhelpful way to structure a conversation,” she said, before finally asking, “Why are you both on your knees?”

“Kaito wants us to bow an apology.”

“Not a submission bow!”

“He thinks it’s our fault Shuichi feels like this.”

“It is! It’s literally the same shit that happened to Kokichi! Or, that he thought happened to him… something! One of those! It’s the same thing! We beat Shuichi down and we didn’t build him back up again!”

“Kaito, Shuichi feels like this because he lost his career, which was the main source of his pride, and had a really shitty year. It makes sense that he feels like this. It’s not our fault, this was probably inevitable. And we can’t just apologize and he’ll feel magically better.” Maki rolled her eyes again, huffing, “Just… let him feel his feelings for awhile! We don’t have to fix it. He’ll feel better the more time goes by.”

Kokichi sighed as Kaito and Maki argued, this just being a branch of one of the many arguments they had and would probably continue needing to have. And while he was glad Shuuichi got some amusement out of it...Kokichi didn’t quite think either of them were quite right. 

You did have to just let people feel their feelings, make their own choices about what they wanted--that last bit was exactly what they wanted from Shuuichi, but that he’d just given up on. But sometimes it was too big for a person to deal with on their own. Kokichi was a horribly fitting definition of that. 

But also...it wasn’t about the apology. And they had apologized to Shuuichi for how they handled his rehab. It was about listening to what the person wanted...and helping them achieve that without doing everything for them. 

Another sigh as Kokichi put his chin in a hand. “...maybe one of the issues is that we’re talking like we know exactly why he feels like this without asking him what he’s feeling and what he wants to do about it.”

With that, four sets of eyes trained on Shuichi. 

“...” Shuichi broke the gaze first, a little overwhelmed at all the eyes on him, lowering the brim of his hat to shield himself a little as he swung slightly in his chair, idly pushing against the roof, “... my mentors sent me two letters, since the war ended. I haven't opened either of them.”

Maki frowned, “She’s trying to let you kno-”

“I don’t care. I don’t want to hear it.” Shuichi interrupted, still just idly kicking, “I just know that once I open those letters, it’s not going to matter that she abandoned and ignored me during one of the hardest years of my life. She’ll tell me why she did it and re-start the relationship and I’ll be helpless to do anything but be along for the ride. The only power in our relationship I have is just… refusing to hear her in the first place. Refusing to give her the chance to persuade me. Cause she will… I miss her all the time.”

“And… sometimes I want to talk to Nao. But I feel like I’d crumble, if I did. She’d say something… terrible. And I’d just fall apart. I don’t even think she’d do it on purpose. She was so casually cruel… I can’t even imagine her successfully being kind to anyone, let alone me. It’s entirely up to her, how that interaction would go. I can daydream all I want about all the things I’d say, and I know it’d fall apart the second I saw her. I… hate her. But she’s not an enemy I can beat. All I can do is hide from her.”

Both Maki and Kaito tensed at that, both wanting to remind him that he didn’t have to hide from her… they could both make her pay for what she did…

...but they weren’t really allowed to say things like that anymore. Especially not around Diceans. They both held their tongues.

“And… I don’t know. It’s so hard, to not feel helpless, sometimes… I didn’t save myself. I didn’t even come close to saving myself. You guys saved me… I feel sometimes like my happiness depends on you three. Like if you three abandoned me, it’d all immediately go back to the way it was. Or even worse, because Maki’s right, now I don’t have a career. I’m trying to rebuild, but… everything I earned for myself became nothing the second I got to Dicea. And, yeah, we were expecting that when we got here, but… the reality of it is still hard. Luminary was terrible and I hated it, but I was… a force of nature there. Accomplished and respected for those accomplishments, and… that didn’t follow me, like it did Maki, when we left. I got to Dicea and I was suddenly dumb and helpless and so easy to take advantage of… I’m just the surrogate, here…”

Shuichi frowned, “...And, I don’t know what I want to do about that. I know I can’t just… stop. As tempting as it is. Stop and just let everyone else keep controlling my life. Not forever. But, right now, there’s not a lot I can do, so I’m just sort of… sad. And I’m sorry… I don’t really know how to make that better.”

Kokichi’s gaze saddened. Miss Kirigiri had been more than just a sore spot for Shuuichi the last...many months, actually. Talking through how abandoned he felt, hearing his resolve to move on without her in his life, despite how hard and painful that was… And then to hear that she’d reached out? Having probably a good reason to have ignored all of Shuuichi’s letters but...that didn’t change how much pain she’d put him through. And knowing how much he wanted to forgive her, and knowing he would, but...not being ready for that…

And Nao… Kokichi curled into himself a bit when Shuuichi talked about how he couldn’t imagine her being kind. He could feel the rage from Maki and Kaito, and he was still furious with her, but...he once couldn’t have believed her being so cruel. Kokichi...he knew he could move on. But he didn’t think he’d be able to bring himself to forgive her. He wasn’t sure how Shuuichi would fare on that front either. 

Kokichi remembered people telling him to chin up, that his friends’ struggles living in Dicea wasn’t a failing on the nation’s--and, thus, his--part. That overall, things were better. 

But he still felt a hot wash of shame run over him. Feeling like Dicea had taken Shuuichi’s life, which he found comfort and security and pleasure through familiarity in, away from him. That...essentially, he’d ruined Shuuichi’s life. 

And Kokichi knew those weren’t productive, or even accurately reflecting feelings, but...they were still there. 

He nodded sadly with Shuuichi’s conclusion, almost...incredibly familiar with that vast, dark sea of sadness. 

...and while he still felt it, time to time, Kokichi had gotten out of it. 

Lifting his head, Kokichi gave his boyfriend a gentle smile. “...thanks for telling us. There were parts I could guess, sure, but...I didn’t know that’s how you felt.”

...he wanted to suggest something like Shuuichi taking a trip for himself. Maybe posing that he talk to Seiko about anti-depressants. That maybe he send a letter to Miss Kirigiri without reading the ones she sent to him, just to get out his feelings about what she’d done to him first, without feeling the obligation to let it pass. And maybe that last one they still could do but…

...Miyako was going to be born in three weeks. Even after Shuuichi recovered from the surgery...they were still going to have an infant to take care of. There wasn’t...room for big changes or trips out to find yourself right now. And...that lack of personal control was just adding to the issue. 

“...I don’t know what to do either,” Kokichi softly admitted, his smile fading a bit. “...I wanna suggest that you look into anti-depressants, or reaching out one-way to people to get your feelings and message across without being influenced by theirs, and I really wanna offer that Shuu-chan plan a trip or something to do something that he really wants, but...I don’t know how much, if at all, any of that would help. And...we’re all kind of beholden to Miya right now...and for a long time coming.”

“...saying that, it just...feels like we’d have to take things day by day, but...is that really it?”

“I know I’m a bit biased towards my recommendation… but this is why I strongly recommended Shuichi start going to weekly therapy. Not bi-weekly or monthly.” Dr. Mariah reminded them, her tone surprisingly gentle as she said, “Shuichi, your family are a group of trauma-magnets, and they all have important things to work through… but nothing like you. And sometimes I think, for having the most things to work through, you’re the one receiving the least amount of help, regardless of how coddled and taken care of you feel. You only feel coddled in comparison to how the rest of your life went… your life wasn’t normal. Or healthy. A child shouldn’t be struggling to succeed in any career, let alone one that put him in constant, mortal danger.”

“Maki-”

“Went through the same thing, yes. But… as remiss as I am to say this… I believe Kaito has a point, in regards to her sense of self-agency.” Dr. Mariah smiled slightly at Maki, “It’d be harder to take away her sense of self, than it would be to give it to her. You went through similar things, but you reacted to those traumas differently, and that’s okay. Trauma isn’t a competition, and neither is how we handle it. It’s a unique experience, every time… and your introduction to your new life did you no favors. A lot of things went wrong for you during your first year of freedom. Your reaction to these things is normal… it’d be shocking if it didn’t affect you in some way, and it’s entirely understandable that it’s a sense of helplessness that ended up being the end result. You need care… personalized care. And a lot of it. Maybe for a long time… when was your last meeting with Miss Crystal?”

“... I mean, I’ve just… going to meetings has been hard lately and…”

“If Miss Crystal isn’t working for you, you know it’s okay to try other therapists? I know she’s trying her best, but some therapists, even ones who are nice and trying their best, don’t click with their patients the way the patient needs. Do you think you’d be comfortable trying new ones? Finding someone you don’t want to avoid?”

Shuichi frowned… it sounded exhausting, trying to find a new therapist. He barely wanted to do anything, sometimes, and finding a new person to try and tell all these… difficult personal things too…

...but as hard as Miss Crystal was trying, Shuichi knew there was a part of him that just… didn’t respect her. Her chipper, affectionate attitude. He had a hard time looking into that happy face and thinking ‘this is someone I can tell about the night at the archive too’. “...maybe…”

“I won’t make it homework.” Dr. Mariah said gently, “This doesn’t need to be a time limit thing, you already have a lot on your plate right now. But someday, and someday soon, I want you to start seriously interviewing new therapists. And then committing to seeing them regularly. You need this, Shuichi. This is too hard to do on your own, and your family can only help you so much with it. Your life… Your problems deserve a specialist. A trauma specialist. Nothing less.”

Shuichi nodded.

“... can we get off our knees now, Kaito?” Maki grumbled.

Kaito looked sadly at Shuichi, “...I wish I could fix this. I wish you could see you the way I see you. I depend on you so much… I just… it’s so hard to not see you as bigger than life…”

Shuichi smiled slightly, “I speak and all the knowledge in the world falls out.”

“Yeah.” Kaito said softly. “A waterfall of words.”

“I know, Kaito.” Shuichi said, “I’m sorry. It’s just how I feel. I wish I could let you fix me.”

Everyone’s trauma and their reaction to it was different. As many parallels as Kokichi could make to some parts of what had happened to Shuuichi, it was just some parts. Kokichi knew there was so much of what happened between Shuuichi and Nao that Shuuichi had never spoken of. He knew that there were parts of his childhood that Kokichi wouldn’t be able to fathom. Even if Kokichi had seen what happened to Shuuichi while he was on spores, he wouldn’t really understand it, what it had been like to live like that, and he certainly wouldn’t understand what it was like to get pregnant from it. 

There wouldn’t be another person out there who’d really understand it. But Shuuichi really needed someone who understood trauma, and would be able to give Shuuichi the tools to confront and cope with what had happened. Someone he could tell all the things that he couldn’t tell the rest of them. 

Kokichi sighed, feeling that longing to have the perfect, magical answer too, but…

(No way. It’s more harm than good. You just have to support him, like he does for you.)

Feeling resolved but a little overwhelmed too, Kokichi gave a general nod to the group as he got out of his chair. “...I’m going to take a quick walk.”

Kaito wanted to offer to go with him, but… he sighed, heading to sit by the koi pond before Dr. Mariah even had chance to say, “Let’s take ten minutes then. Use the bathroom, drink some tea, take a breath, everyone. Breaks help.”

Shuichi sighed, leaning back into his chair and idly staring at the sky, while Maki stood up and stretched, heading downstairs to take the offered bathroom break. Kaito pet the koi fish, feeling the smooth side of their scales, the way their skin slightly bent around their pudge sides.

...Kaito sometimes worried they weren’t ready to be parents.

He wouldn’t say it. He couldn’t. There was no going back, and of his three lovers, Kaito was the only one to already be a parent, and… fuck was it hard. So much harder than he had expected it to be, when he had first taken it on. And… god they were not in good places in their lives, not really…

But… well, saying it aloud wouldn't change anything. And Kaito didn’t want to scare Kokichi or Shuichi. He had to… well, he just had to keep on. They’d figure it out as they went, and sure, it might not be… ideal. But that was just the reality of the situation. They couldn’t change it. 

In a way, it was a comforting thought that people thought their lives were beyond insane. Because if this was the amount of strife people usually had to cope with in life...Kokichi wouldn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what to do anyway. 

Part of it was just...living. Trying to be better than the person you were yesterday, but not being discouraged if you tripped. They would get the help they needed and take things step by step. 

...but there was so much that made him feel like they needed to rush. They were having their daughter in three weeks, and they were going to be the people she would rely on for the rest of her life. For solid needs, and for examples to learn how to be a person. Not to mention they already had Tim, and were mentor figures in Cali and Kimiko’s lives. And not to mention that Kokichi was partially responsible for an entire nation’s worth of people…

It didn’t feel like he was letting his people down anymore, but...he couldn’t afford to not be his best for them. Kokichi was going to be the leader...he needed to be able to take care of them. 

...it was all so much…

After his lap around the roof, Kokichi came to Kaito’s side, not reaching out to pet the fish as well, but just pressing himself to his husband, needing to draw on someone else’s strength for a little bit.

Kaito hadn’t actually seen Kokchi coming, but after jolting a little as his thin body suddenly burrowed into him, Kaito grinned, “Eyyyyy… there’s my ‘Kichi… Dr. Mariah said we had ten minutes. Feel any better after your walk?”

“I dunno…” Kokichi sighed, finding calmness anyway watching the fish swim around the pond. “I think I’m overthinking things… It’s getting to me a bit. But…” He tilted his head to rest against Kaito’s arm. “...we just have to keep taking each step forward, you know. I’ll be alright, I can remember that, but...it’s getting to me right now.”

“Yeah… that’s okay though. We’ve been talking about some heavy stuff, ya know? And, like… this is where we are super allowed to let stuff get to us.” Kaito grinned, leaning forward to press a kiss against Kokichi’s forehead. “But we so have this. Kokichi, I don’t know how to tell you this without kind of shitting all over everyone else in the world, but we are awesome at therapy. We might be the best! At the very least top five. Three. Second place, at worst.”

And then, slightly more seriously, he said, into Kokichi’s hair, “And you’re doing amazing. You’ve been patient and strong and considerate… I’m so proud of you, babe. I know it’s been… really challenging.”

Kokichi closed his eyes and smiled at the kiss, Kaito doing pretty much exactly what he needed. Just...being himself. Being his bright star Kaito...even among his own worries and insecurities, finding the time to lift other people up. Always paying attention to know what people needed. 

They had a lot of issues...but it was easier to reconcile facing them with Kaito by his side. With Shuuichi and Maki. 

“...I love you so much…” Kokichi whispered back, turning his head a little to kiss Kaito’s arm. “You’re so...wonderful and amazing… I’m so lucky to share my life with you, and Miya’s gonna be so blessed to have you as a dad… Seeing you be brave through all of this makes it easier for me to pick up my own bravery...thank you.”

Kaito’s grin softened fondly, as he laughed lightly, “Aw, you charmer. Careful there, Kokichi, keep flattering me like this and I’m gonna think you have a crush on me or something.”

“Mm, gonna have to work harder if it’s in question.” Kokichi giggled softly and placed another kiss to Kaito’s arm. 

The walk hadn’t helped much, but, like always, Kaito worked wonders. Kokichi took a breath, finding air coming easier. They could do this. 

Looking over at Shuuichi, Kokichi called out, “Shuu-chan, do you wanna stop and get pastries on our way home? I don’t mind pickin’ ‘em up if you just wanna bee-line back, and then have ‘em still.”

Shuichi, who despite everything had actually already been half drifting off, murmured sleepily, “Mmmm… pastries sound good. We should absolutely get pastries…” Shuichi blinked sleepily, before saying, “Or, well, yeah, maybe you should get pastries… is it almost time to move Miya out?”

“Another couple of weeks, handsome.” Kaito said, with a somewhat apologetic smile.

Shuichi sighed.

Kokichi smiled at the sleepy tone in Shuuichi’s voice. He needed specialized help, but Shuuichi would be okay too. They’d all figure it out together. 

“Gotcha. I’ll pick out the best ones for Shuu-chan, and I’ll make sure to be quick so he doesn’t have to put off a nap to eat them.” 

Smiling a little more, Kokichi pressed his head against Kaito’s arm more. “...just a few weeks. ...I bet she’ll have your smile, since she’ll see it so much.”

There was a small, almost gasp from Kaito at that… before he admitted, “I haven't thought about what she might look like in months… wow, we’re going to know what she looks like in a few weeks… I always kind of just imagine her looking like a little you, but with Shuichi’s coloring, maybe… but who knows what she’ll look like…”

Kaito ran a hand through his hair, and maybe it was literally the act of feeling it that made him say it, but he murmured, “Here’s hoping she’s not a red head…”

“How is everyone feeling? Are we ready to start again?” Dr. Mariah asked, watching Maki coming back to the group, before looking at Shuichi, “...Shuichi? Did you drink your tea?”

Shuichi sighed, straightened up, and reached for his cup. “On it…”

It wasn’t much more than just an idle, fun game, since there really wasn’t any way to tell until she was born, but there was something fun in imagining what Miya might look like. ...Kaito hadn’t really...hoped against stuff before, though… Kokichi gave Kaito just the tiniest worried look before humming. “I dunno, fiery red hair with Shuu-chan’s texture? She’d be the envy of everyone.”

Taking a breath as Dr. Mariah re-focused everyone, Kokichi nodded and headed back to his seat after placing a kiss on Kaito’s cheek, settling back into the cushions. “I think I’m ready to keep talking, yeah. This…”

...just a moment of hesitation, before Kokichi looked over to Maki. “That would leave going more in-depth into what you want to offer in our relationship? About looking after all our physical safety, though...things are pretty calm at home right now.”

“...mmm.” Maki said non-committedly. 

“Sure…” Kaito sighed as he went to wash his hands, calling over his shoulder, “But Maki never really thinks anywhere is actually safe.”

“Danger is everywhere.” Shuichi quoted, sipping at his tea.

Maki just huffed at that, an exhausted look in her eyes. Kaito chuckled a little, going back to sit down as he said, “Aw, come on, Maki-roll… you expect us to believe you just stopped believing that? You basically drilled that into our heads our whole lives.”

“Dicea is proving to be the exception to many rules…” Maki was going to keep talking, but the look on Shuichi’s face stopped her. “...Well, maybe not…”

“Explain it to us. Walk us through the process, Maki.” Dr. Mariah offered, leaning back a little.

“What’s there to explain?” Maki said, before immediately following that up with, “You have to establish potential allies among potential enemies, and then among those potential allies establish who is actually more dangerous as an ally then as a bystander and account on their interference, you need to learn the local security force and their routes and their biases, which, wow, has that been an experience here, you have to learn the local poisons and have cures ready with every meal, and you have to keep an eye on local rumors and gossip because no one can keep a secret and you’re much more likely to hear about someone attempting to poison someone long before they actually try it, and--”

Dr. Mariah put a hand up, “Um, please… I think that’s enough. And, since you’ve been back, how much have you been working on?”

“...” Maki shrugged slightly, “I’ve… done most of that stuff before I left. The rest is mostly just maintaining that it’s all up to date and I’ve…” Maki looked away, “...been busy…”

There was a part of Kokichi, The Prince, that would--and had--have spoken up before. Acknowledging that there was danger in Dicea, as there was danger anywhere, but they really did do their bests to keep crime down. That the type of danger in Dicea was different from the type in Luminary. 

But the part of Kokichi that knew his friend knew that it wasn’t the danger that was the issue. Just...how to phrase it…

“...does it bother you that you’ve been too busy to maintain that level of vigilance up to your best standards?” Kokichi asked. Trying to keep his tone purely questioning, but...he knew it was a little leading, even if he genuinely wanted to know her answer to that question. Because...it would mean a lot of things. If she had just gotten to the point where she didn’t care about possible danger enough to be comfortable not doing all that, or...if she just couldn’t bring herself to do it, too tired from her time in the war. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. 

“No… it should be fine… now.” Maki said.

… there was a long silence, like Maki wasn’t going to say anything else.

...she continued not saying anything.

“Makiiiii.” Kaito groaned, “Just tell us what’s bothering you.”

“Why should anything be bothering me?”

“Because it obviously is! You’re not subtle!”

“It’s…” Maki grit her teeth… something on the tip of her tongue. “...it…”

Maki scoffed, giving up. “It doesn’t matter.”

Dr. Marah’s eyes widened slightly. That had tasted… interesting…

“... May I ask you, Maki, to try an experiment with me?” Dr. Mariah asked.

Maki looked over at the small doctor, before sighing. “Sure.”

“Okay… this is going to feel silly. But sometimes, that’s the point. Lean into it.” Dr. Mariah smiled slightly, before saying, “Everyone but Maki? Please close your eyes.”

“Now…” Dr. Mariah closed her eyes, tasting the air, “... Maki? Please tell us some lies about yourself. Keep going until you’re tired.”

...that...didn’t seem like Maki at all. Someone whose paranoia seemed endless. Was her fatigue really to the point she just...didn’t care any more? ...honestly that sounded pretty freeing to Kokichi but...he was worried about Maki. And he wasn’t going to let something go without making sure it wasn’t actually a deeper issue just because it sounded alright to his own ideals. 

And saying it didn’t matter, whatever was on her mind? Kokichi’s brow furrowed, about to insist that it did matter, since anything on Maki’s mind mattered to them, because they were friends, but…

Kokichi sighed, closing his eyes. He didn’t think Dr. Mariah would try anything weird--she hadn’t proven to be that kind of person--and Maki would be able to protect herself from anything unexpected. He knew as well as anything that the things you chose to lie about yourself could be as telling as the truth, but...he wasn’t sure what Dr. Mariah was trying to see.

Maybe Shuuichi would end up getting a nap in anyway.

Maki, frankly, was unimpressed by this as everyone closed their eyes, wondering what Dr. Mariah was possibly hoping to get from this. What, did she think Maki was shy? 

“Whatever…” Maki thought she had only thought, not realizing she had said it out loud. She frowned at that. Silly…

“I was born incredibly wealthy,” Maki lied, “My parents were good citizens who loved me endlessly and put everything into my upbringing. I’m a pacifist. I would never harm anyone for anything. I believe in the best in…” Maki frowned, feeling uncomfortable, “...I love puppets, I think they’re charming. I…”

She frowned. This was harder than she thought. “I...am a virgin. I’ve never been in lov…” she frowned, “I… love the color orange. I… believe in Atua. I trust in the Momota family. I don’t...care about my siblings. I had fun in the war…”

She flinched at that, tried to hurry on, “I don’t trust my family. I don’t love my son. I think Lake is a well adjusted adult. I think Aiichi is competent in an emergency. I think Seiko is a terrible doctor, but an excellent adult. I…”

Maki was running out of obvious lies, and didn’t like some of the things some of the lies were revealing about herself. She was getting frustrated. Everyone was still waiting for her to stop. Rapid fire, she just started to push more out, “I prefer men to women. I wish I was blond. I think comic books are stupid. I enjoy painting my fingernails. I can…”

...Maki realized the second it almost slipped out of her mouth, what Dr. Mariah was hoping for.

Maki could just not do it… but now that she had noticed it…

She sighed. Might as well just own up to it. It was stupid.

“...I can protect everyone.” She sighed, sounding frustrated with herself, “I’ve never failed to do so. For me, it’s just a matter of deciding I will. Everyone is safe in my care… there.” She grumbled, “Are you happy with yourself?”

“It can help thinking about the things that aren’t true about yourself, to realize what is.” Dr. Mariah said, opening her eyes, “Thank you for playing along, Maki.”

...Kokichi smiled slightly. He knew that Maki had been trained to see danger everywhere, to be danger everywhere...but she had a heart that the program had never been able to take away. And while he didn’t think that Maki saw the same sort of potential in everyone, it was nice to hear that she wasn’t actually always thinking the worst of people. 

There were difficult things. There were funny things, that did have the capability of not being so funny, but Kokichi’s lips did quirk up in amusement as Maki took a dig at his sister. There were more mundane things, and the fact that Maki was running down a list of sorts was telling in itself. 

...and then there was a big thing. 

Opening his eyes, Kokichi gave Maki a soft look, though he could practically predict the way she’d turn away from it. “...that’s not...something that doesn’t matter. If it’s on your mind, then we’ll listen.”

“...you’re frustrated with not being able to protect everyone?”

“...Ugh.” Maki grumbled, “Pathetic.”

“Obviously I could… if I really wanted too. Or, no…” Maki rubbed at her temple, “No, that’s not right. I wanted to, I did, I just… I wasn’t careful enough. Everything that happened… it was all on my watch. Shuichi was kidnapped, Kokichi was kidnapped, Kaito was kidnapped… literally everyone but Tim by this point has been kidnapped on my watch. And Tim stabbed Kaito on my watch. And you’ve all been drugged, and beaten, and assaulted… all on my watch.”

Maki’s face went subdued, something incredibly wary in her as she said, “And I was trying… I was really trying. I did things my way. I used every trick in the book, desperately trying to keep you all safe… nothing worked. My work was pointless. I failed at every available opportunity to protect all of you… I couldn’t understand it…”

“...and then I went to war. I went from protection to destruction, and suddenly everything was clicking again… my techniques were working. My goals were being accomplished. I was suddenly competent again, my actions mattered… and the difference was that instead of trying to protect my loved ones, I was trying to brutalize a nation into surrender. And it turns out I’m good at that. Not protecting people… I was never a protector. I was useless trying to be… all I managed to do was scare and traumatize you all at different points with my paranoia and defenses. Nothing helped. I can’t help.”

Kokichi’s expression softened in sympathy, and while there were so many differences, there was one thing Kokichi could empathize with too. It was...so, so hard to protect people. The work of protection was constant, while...someone trying to harm only had to succeed once. You would think that a record of a million would crush a record of one, but...that’s not how that game was played. There was no end of the day, pack it up for tomorrow for the work of protection. 

...Lake had told him, an odd, somber strain in her face, that that was one of the first things they told you when you started up in the guardforce. You can’t save everyone. You will fail. People would be hurt in a way that in another universe, you might’ve prevented. But you still had to try, because that was the job.

Maki, who could bend the universe to her whim, couldn’t save everyone, because...some impossibilities were still impossible. And that made it hurt even more when you could make other impossibilities possible. 

“...you have helped,” Kokichi softly said, a sad sympathy in his eyes but a determined, stubborn tensing in his mouth. “Every time people would get too handsy with me, you helped. And I felt safe at Harvest, and going out dancing with Kai-chan, because I knew you were looking out for us. Bad things happened...but your efforts weren’t pointless. You can protect people. It’s just...something that’s never been a 100% win rate. For anyone.”

“I appreciate that,” Maki said, waiving her hand slightly, “But you’re biased because you like me, Kokichi. In the future, if your bodyguard lets every member of your family get kidnapped in a year? Fire them. They’re incompetent. Having someone let you feel safe when you are safe is just having a bodyguard as window dressing. My success rate was unacceptable.”

Kaito was frowning, trying to think, “...you’re being unfairly harsh on yourself, Maki-roll.”

“I’m really not.” Maki said dryly.

“No, you are… you had an army beneath you during the war. And other people helping lead. A bunch of people working the same goals… you were entirely by yourself, with us. Byakuya has a whole team of people protecting him, and that’s just his personal security detail, not even taking into account the castle guards, the rest of the family’s personal security guards, and the city guards… you really just had Katsuki, for most of those, and even not really her. Katsuki prefers to work alone and never kept you in the loop on anything, you were hardly part of a team with her. And no one in the guardforce even tried to explain how things worked here to us when we first got here, you were entirely on your own there too.”

“When you arrested--” Shuichi thought about it, before amending, “Apprehended those idiots at the brewery, I remember how pissed you were that you still didn’t know who you could even send them too, or where they would end up once you gave up custody of them.”

“I could have asked someone.” Maki muttered.

“You did, eventually. You asked Lake to take you on as a shadow, when you realized how out of your depth you were here.” Shuichi reminded her gently, “And there’s reasons you didn’t reach out to anyone sooner. You had no idea who to trust here, and no one made that any easier on you. You were entirely on your own when it came to personal security for four people.”

“Four at risk people. No one can fucking deny that.” Kaito huffed, running his hands through his hair and massaging the back of his neck, “Your paranoia wasn’t crazy. All three of us were kidnapped. At three different times! I was stabbed! And drugged! Shuichi had an assassin hanging out outside his window, and had someone keep him trapped in his room! Fuck, Maki, we had people literally from a death cult gunning for all of us, and you were the only personal security detail any of us had! That’s not incompetence on your part! That’s fucking… a god damn impossible way to do your job! It was insane to put all of that on your shoulders! No one can do that shit alone!”

“...I was supposed to be able to--”

“Maki-roll,” Kaito insisted, looking genuinely sad as he said, “No one could have.”

Kokichi first focused on Maki’s successes because...well, that’s how he tried to approach things like this, but...fuck. Fuck. 

...they had been so alone at the beginning. Kokichi had so consistently driven people away that none of them were in the habit, and then all the misgivings about Luminaries… Only a handful of people had even offered help, and the help they gave just...wasn’t enough. There was something to be said about people speaking up when they needed a hand, but...looking at those in the cracks was something, socially, Diceans talked about a lot. And yet...no one had reached out. 

Maki had been working with an impossibility. Kokichi and the other Diceans had been too convinced that things were safe even when it was clear all around that it really wasn’t, and Maki had no help or resources…

Kokichi sighed deeply, feeling...incredibly ashamed. “It’s not failure if there’s no way to succeed,” he murmured. “The number of things that needed to change to give us a chance is...too many to have expected a chance at the time.”

Maki gripped her fists… her body shaking slightly. 

“...I’m Maki Harukawa. The prodigal assassin. The Reaper. And, sure, The Last Dragon of Luminary, and the universe bends… I’m supposed to be able to-”

“Wow…” Kaito said, eyes suddenly widening, “... Shuichi was right… I was caught up in it too…”

Shuichi sighed, his shoulders relaxing… finally…

Kaito worried his joints a little, looking genuinely stunned… before sighing. Standing up and walking over to Maki, who glared heatedly at him. Still, as angry and tense as she was, she didn’t pull away when Kaito reached out and grabbed her hand, and just as he always valued action and physical affection over everything, brought it up to kiss gently at her fingers. Maki glaring almost warily at him as he did so, it an old, familiar gesture between them, from a long time ago.

“I… put so much pressure on you… to be perfect.” Kaito murmured, rubbing his thumb over the curve of her wrist, “So much pressure… god, I can’t even imagine what it’s like, someone looking at you like you can actually do anything… god, the pressure… it wasn’t fair. We asked too much of you, Maki. Way too much. We put so much on your shoulders, just… thinking somehow like fucking magic you’d be able to… never sleep. And have your eyes everywhere. And be able to sense danger and read peoples minds and always know what to do and never be too slow or too weak or too tired… fuck, what a nightmare…”

Maki was still shaking slightly, struggling to look at Kaito’s face, who looked at her with such softness. Such new understanding. “...if there was any mercy in the world, Tim would have his title, and you would have yours.” Kaito whispered to her, “And I’d dress you in silks and give you every comfort in the world and coddle you until years had gone by and I could finally soften some of those hard diamond edges… it was so unfair, what I did to you… I’m so sorry.”

Maki felt her eyes wetten and, embarrassed, now she pulled her hand away, quickly wiping the offending tear away and hardening herself, scoffing. “Stop talking about silly daydreams, Kaito, it’s pathetic.”

“Okay.” Kaito said, louder, no longer just to her as he sighed, “But Maki, you can do anything you put your mind too… within reason. Within literal, human limits. And you shouldn’t ever even be expected to reach those limits. No one should ever need everything from you. And I’m sorry I asked for it. I put you in an impossible situation with an impossible mindset. Like Kokichi said… It’s not failure if there was no way to succeed.”

“You don’t have to protect all of us from everything. You can’t, and none of us are asking you too. I know my Maki will still look out for us when she can… and that’s enough. Okay?” Kaito grinned at her, though Maki was glaring at the floor now, “You don’t have to do everything. Any small thing you can offer is enough.”

At first, that sympathy in Kokichi’s eyes only deepened before Kaito got up. And while he couldn’t quite hear everything Kaito was saying...damn, he knew. Kokichi had fought it so hard when they all first arrived. Then...he accepted it as an in-joke. Laughing along as coincidences aligned with Maki’s demands of the universe. 

Maki was competent. Hyper-competent with a no-nonsense attitude. He’d hired her for her protection services. And for all the awful things that happened, when she was actually on the job, for the times they had officially agreed on? Maki had done her job wonderfully, keeping him safe. He believed in her. 

But as much as Kokichi appreciated all the good things belief could do, knew how badly people needed at least some of it...too much belief was a double-edged sword. 

It wasn’t a joke. And it wasn’t just a perfectionist nature. It was impossible expectations that created that nature and need to never not be that. 

“...just being you is enough,” Kokichi offered into the mix. “And if you want to do things to protect us, then we’re definitely going to feel safer for it. But just being you is enough… If you’re tired, or just don’t want to. It wasn’t just you not being there to watch our backs that made it feel like something important was missing while you were gone.”

Maki just quietly nodded, withdrawing, but likely due to exhaustion, rather than resentment. It wasn’t a good feeling, to suddenly be told you couldn’t do everything by the people who always believed that she could…

But it wasn’t a bad feeling either. Just a sort of exhausted… resignation to it. Both disappointment and a sort of… uncomfy release. Relief with a touch of sting to it.

Dr. Mariah took pity on the silence, and said, “One aspect of recognizing our expectations for ourselves in relationships is the realization that sometimes we can’t meet those expectations, and everyone needing to be conscious of that. Aspirations to be each others everythings are admirable qualities, but there’s a reason even ‘healthy’ codependent relationships are frowned upon. Codependence is discouraged because, when pressured or tested against true trials? Codependent relationships are impossible to sustain. Emergencies happen. Human beings are social animals. We need to rely on the group… not the person. No one can be someone’s everything, and especially not three other peoples everything.”

“I wasn’t…” Maki closed her mouth… before letting out a breath, “...okay.”

Dr. Mariah considered Maki, “...I know it’s not been much time, but let’s have another small break. That felt like a tough one to get through. Let’s give everyone five minutes. Shuichi? More tea?”

“No, I’m still sipping on mine, thank you.”

“...I’ll have some.” Maki muttered.

Kokichi nodded quietly. He didn’t think he got to the point of putting those expectations on Kaito--though he certainly had sabotaged his husband in other ways--but there was a time where he thought of Kaito as a savior. And, hungry for a connection, Kokichi knew he’d clung to Kaito tightly in those early days. But while he was still grateful to his husband for all that he’d done…

He kept thinking it. They were their own people. And people needed a lot of other people to fulfil every need they had. Kokichi really loved Kaito and Shuuichi, he loved Maki, but...there were things when he hung out with Amber and Stacy and Temp and Alter…

Kokichi blinked. 

...his friends, that...he just couldn’t get from his family. And that was more than okay. Just like Kaito got things from Waku that he couldn’t get elsewhere, and Shuuichi got things from Nadya and Drake, and Maki…

...Maki was...friendly enough with Lake. Had been going to the dojo with Hina, but...she hadn’t been back since she returned to Dicea, and Hina and the others weren’t back yet…

Kokichi looked over, seeing the exhaustion draped over Maki. One thing at a time. But...he might start nudging soon. 

Raising his hand a little, Kokichi offered Dr. Mariah a small smile. “I’ll take some too, if that’s alright.”

Ten minutes went by uneventfully, and when everyone went back to their chairs…

“We’ve talked through some very tough subjects today. You all should be incredibly proud of yourselves. I know these therapy sessions can be very demanding, and sometimes even overwhelming.” Dr. Mariah said gently, “They’re worth doing, I truly believe that with all my being. But that does not make them any less demanding. And it’s no failing to acknowledge that difficulty. It’s never a failing to acknowledge that something is difficult to do.”

She paused there, and at the very least Kaito quietly nodded back.

“But, let’s circle back to something that was mentioned at the beginning of this session. Kokichi?” She said, turning her blood-red eyes onto the Dicean Prince, “You said you visited the Memorial Garden? If I recall right, you worded it as a sort of expected tradition, on your part. Would you feel comfortable talking more about that?”

It was very difficult. There had been more than a few books Kokichi had read over the years that said that the most difficult enemy you could face in your life was yourself, and while Kokichi didn’t want to face himself as an enemy, or someone to be ashamed of--he had enough of that for a lifetime--it still was incredibly hard. But...it was something worth doing, and hopefully from their struggles they’d be able to make better decisions in the future, treat each other better, and be able to pass those lessons on less painfully to others. 

Kokichi had nodded along with Dr. Mariah’s announcement, of sorts, but he looked up with slight surprise at where she decided to steer the conversation next. He hadn’t really thought it was worth digging into, but...well, it wasn’t like he minded… “Oh, sure…”

“Well…” he said softly, figuring out where to start. “My mom died in mid-summer. There’s usually a few things that happens--my father spending time in the observatory, usually a bigger trip to the Memorial Garden--but I try to make my own, personal trip to it. I usually leave something by the tree she was scattered under-” 

Kokichi grinned, giving a bit of an aside. “I found fertilizer packets in the shape of stars this year. I hope the tree enjoys that. But I just...yanno, honor the dead. I think of the stories that people’ve told me about her and just...spend some time reflecting.” His expression softened, growing touched. “...Temp offered his own respect to her, while we were hanging out. It was really nice of him…”

“Temp’s the pretty, broody air-headed one, right?” Maki confirmed, Shuichi and Kaito nodding. “Adopting the baby?”

“He also inherited one of the local funeral homes.” Shuichi explained, “He’s pretty heavily involved in all that sort of thing around here.”

“... why did you do it so early this year, Kokichi?” Kaito asked, giving his husband a concerned look, “You know we can make time for you to do the things you need to do once Miya’s here. And, you know… your mom would probably feel honored to…” Kaito hesitated, disturbed by the idea of ‘spirits’ lingering around, but, well… maybe Atua would pass along the message to her trials, “... meet her namesake. It’s not something you won’t get to do mid-summer.”

Kokichi nodded. “He’s on the board that takes care of the Memorial Garden too. He was just done with cleaning duty when we ran into each other.” He...thought about mentioning that Temp worshipped Bathul, but...Kokichi was positive that Bathul’s role in the Atuan pantheon wasn’t quite as...positive. He didn’t really want to get into a religious debate when he didn’t know enough about any of the points himself. 

As it was, Kokichi just shrugged a little at Kaito’s concerned look. “I usually do it early to some extent--things get busy at home around Zenith. And...I know I could probably get out for an hour or two but…” He shrugged again. “...I just wanted to make sure, you know? We’ve been doing a lot this past week of going out to do things we’d have a harder time finding the time once Miya’s born, so...I figured why not? May as well go visit now.”

“Though…” Kokichi smiled softly. “...It would mean a lot to me to do a sort of...introduction of sorts. But it doesn’t have to be at the garden--I can pass on the stories about her grandma to Miya any time, and the observatory’s a little easier to get to if I feel like having more of a connection.”

“Aw, yeah… got that big ol’ portrait of grandma hanging around in there… very unnerving when you’re trying to sleep with her very upset son.” Kaito frowned, shivering at the memory, “That woman can very effectively glare for being mostly neutral artwork on the wall.”

“...I can’t tell if that was a… sleeping with... what?” Maki asked, raising an eyebrow. “...why was Kokichi upset?”

Kaito blinked, entirely uncomprehending for a second… “Oh! No, no, no, not like that! Actual sleeping! Getting Z’s! Nap time!! But like at night when we should be sleeping, so nap time extended!”

“Why were you asleep in the observatory?” Dr. Mariah asked.

“Uh, I mean… we had just had one of the Big Fights and I had this idea in my head that… it’d be a bad idea to bring it into the bedroom.” Kaito shrugged, “Like it’d fucking taint the air in there or something. Stupid, especially considering how cold it was, but neither of us were entirely in a stable mindset that night.”

“She’s not even looking up in the portrait,” Kokichi huffed, half amused. It had been an awful experience, but...it was a little ironic, maybe. They’d gone from where Kokichi went to honor his mom to her favorite place in the castle. Sighing, he shook his head. “We definitely shouldn’t have gone to sleep up there, especially with how sick I got from being an idiot and sitting in the cold for hours. If we ever go to spend time up there during late-fall or winter, we need to bring extra blankets.”

Looking over, Kokichi gave Dr. Mariah a half-smile. “Usually the observatory is really nice, but since it’s in its own little area at the top of the castle, the heating isn’t great.”

“Yeah… you gotta give us this. Everytime we have a big fight? We pick to do it in some interesting settings.” Kaito grinned, thinking of the greenhouse and… he vaguely recalled an extremely hushed conversation in the corner of the kitchen. Had that been an argument? Not to mention at the park… could he count Kokichi’s freakout in the closet as an argument? He didn’t really think of it as one, but then, all he remembered about it was this horrified certainty that Kokichi was just going to fucking work himself up into his heart failing again. Suicide through sheer willpower.

Heh heh heh… only his husband could pull that off… heh…

Kaito’s left eye twitched slightly and he rubbed at it with the back of his palm, trying to soothe it still as he said, “It’ll be nice telling Miyako about her name-sake. Queen Ouma was incredibly accomplished and well loved. I bet Miya will be proud, when she’s old enough to understand it.”

If that was some kind of accomplishment...yeah. At least at this rate, they wouldn’t have to worry about fighting so repeatedly in one place that the vibes could never be restored. 

Sighing, Kokichi smiled softly, a sort of tender hope in his eyes. “I hope so. It’s important to me, to keep people’s memories alive, and while Miya will of course be her own person...I hope that she can be proud of the legacy she’ll carry. If only in that I really admire my mom, and I want to pass that love onto Miya too.”

“Mmmmm… I wonder if Miya’s gonna inherit the adorable shorty genes.” Kaito grinned, giving Kokichi a pointed look, “Like grandmother, like father, like daughter?”

“There’s a lot of really effective fighting techniques that work better the smaller you are.” Maki mused, “I could make a Kokichi sized Miya pretty formidable, in her own right.” 

“No. Taser weapons all the way. They’re the most effective thing, especially in an environment like this.” Shuichi said, a touch smug about it, “Your methods are worthless to her if she can’t actually use them.”

“Ngh,” Kaito shuddered, scratching his neck, “Yeah… I guess…”

Dr. Maria looked at her watch. Hmmmm… “I’m curious,” she said, turning to Shuichi and Maki, “Kaito’s the only one among you with a full set of parents in his childhood. Shuichi, Maki, you were both orphaned fairly young… do you find yourselves needing to honor your parents memories, in any way? It’s okay if the answer is no, there’s no judgement.”

Maki and Shuichi quietly glanced at each other… and Shuichi adjusted his hat slightly as Maki said, “No. For me, they were never really factors in my life, not in any way that mattered. And Shuichi’s…”

“They don’t deserve my respect.” Shuichi said simply, still holding onto the brim of his hat, “And they don’t have it.”

Kaito’s shoulders fell slightly, but he grinned, “Yeah. Fuck those guys.” ...even if it was probably more his families fault than theirs that his friends parents weren’t in their lives. They all knew that, but… his friends had coped with their lack of parents growing up by rejecting their need for them. And Kaito was used to supporting anything that made them feel more secure in themselves.

“It would be nice if our daughter didn’t outgrow me in her teens…” Kokichi lightly laughed. He did have a feeling, however, that that wouldn’t be the case. Between Kaito, Shuuichi, and Aiichi’s side of Kokichi, their daughter had a pretty significant chance of turning out to be fairly tall. But the idea of a petite girl...he would be thankful for Maki teaching her self-defence. They were all on board for it, but Kokichi would demand teaching her how to self-advocate even more if she ended up being as small as him. 

...it was going to be nice, even if he had a feeling she might find it stifling at times. Kokichi had grown up with inconsistent adults in his life, and Kaito had grown up with one that was too invested in the worst way and two that didn’t care much about him at all. Shuuichi and Maki both had steady parents, but...they were people that had to be more focused on forming them to their careers, than bringing up a child. 

Miya? Was going to have three doting dads, a dedicated aunt (and another doting aunt), an older brother, a zizi, and two grandfathers, though one would probably be a bit more involved. She was going to have a family that would make sure she was safe and flourishing and loved, above all else.

Kokichi nodded understandingly to Maki and Shuuichi’s opinions of their birth parents, and…

...well, Shuuichi had already expressed his conflict with the woman who had actually raised him. And Kokichi was...a little afraid to ask what had happened with Maki’s mentor. But for their birth parents...he understood their disregard. 

Dr. Mariah nodded, taking some notes. A lot of parental baggage for the soon to be new parents. She was sure it’d come up more and more as they raised Miya, their hangups there, but Dr. Mariah felt confident they’d be able to navigate it. She hoped they wouldn’t neglect therapy once the infant was born. They really couldn’t afford too.

...and also the universe might end apparently, for whatever reason, if these four didn’t emotionally pull through their issues, so…

But, well, that was a different conversation.

… they really should talk about Kaito’s parents, at some point. Not the way she had done it, that had been insane and she still wasn’t sure what she had been thinking, beyond just following a random, destructive impulse. But… even as they talked about neglectful family and missing parents, Kaito still didn’t seem to think he had anything to actually add to the conversation about his own insane family situation. Dr. Mariah was remiss to assume there was just nothing to say, and again… how you were raised yourself, for better or for worse, affected your own ideas of what being a parent was. Of what being a co-parent was. 

Again… discussions that would likely come up on their own. Dr. Mariah wouldn’t push it.

“Alright… I did give everyone a homework assignment, didn’t I? Or, wait… Maki and Kaito letters, Shuichi looking into new therapists… I’ve missed Kokichi, haven't I?” Dr. Mariah asked, looking to Kokichi for confirmation.

Kokichi looked over and gave their therapist a nod, though he didn’t speak, trying to take the time to think over if there was anything he wanted to set for himself as homework. Maybe...well. Continuing to reach out and spend time with his family was important. And maybe he could talk to them about their perspectives on everything that happened, or even how they felt when he started really pushing them away. It would probably let them get out some catharsis, as well as...just giving Kokichi a bigger perspective on everything. 

You could say you should look out for the people who need help but aren’t asking for it, but...he needed to know how to actually do that in practice. 

And he was always wanting to help out Shuuichi these days, so that wasn’t really something he needed to be held accountable for…

“Um…” Kokichi supplied. “I could ask Dr. Egami for recommendations on other trauma specialists? And I could just ask him if he’s thinking of taking any more patients if you want to meet him, Shuu-chan.”

Dr. Mariah glanced meaningfully at Shuichi, who sighed… and nodded his head. “That sounds like a good use of your time. Consider it homework. We’ll talk about how it all went the next time I see you all… which,” Dr. Mariah thought about it, “Could very potentially be after Miyako is born, correct? Or do we have another session before that. I’m afraid my sense of dates is terrible when I’m not looking at a calender.”

“No, it’s really at the end of three weeks. We’ll have at least one before then.” Shuichi explained, “Though, after that…”

“We’ll play it by ear.” Dr. Mariah promised. “Alright, you four, that’s our time today. Let me go ahead and walk you out…”

-

It started out innocently enough.

“Want to vent it, today?” Cali had said to Timothy with a grin.

If that was all he had heard? Kaito might have just left it alone. Kids say weird things. Slang and whatnot. Maybe ‘venting’ it meant, like, talk about stuff? That’s cute. ‘Vent’ it. Kaito loved it.

But then Timothy shushed her when he saw Kaito was in hearing distance and Cali said, “Oh, sorry!” and Tim shushed her harder and Kaito thought, ‘okay… what the fuck does vent it mean!?’

That had been at training that morning. Kaito had been on the hunt that day.

First, while the kids were at school, he asked around if anyone had heard of some slang about ‘vents’. Anyone? Anything? What!? Just because I’ve literally never said anything to you before this very moment and you haven't let go of the whole ‘tried to kidnap Kokichi and choked him out thing’ that one time means you gotta be standoffish and weird when I’m asking you about VENTING? TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT VENTING!?

With less shouting, in reality, and more Kaito nervously playing with his joints and getting sheepish and withdrawing when he saw how uncomfortable some of the staff was to be directly approached by him. Ha ha, yeah, venting, who knows…

OKAY! He’d just find out what the kids were doing when they ‘vent’! How bad could it be?? They were nine year olds! Nine year olds didn’t get into drugs and shit like that! Or sex! They’re nine! Nine year olds don’t get into shit like that! 

...but the adults in their lives did. And they wouldn’t know better...

Kaito just… wanted to make certain whatever it was wasn’t dangerous! 

So, when the kids came back to the castle after school, Kaito was just… following them a little. Just to confirm they were just playing a game called ‘vent’ or something.

...And then at a certain point, he turned a corner, and they were just gone. 

He looked around, where the fuck…?? Did they…??

And then he looked at the closed grate in the side of the building…

...no.

No way… no way! That was so dangerous!! What were they thinking! How did that even support three children's weight!? Shit shit shit he had to go get them fuck no one could know they’ve been doing this people were going to find out Kaito was a failure of a father and mentor and who the fuck knows what these kids had been getting up into in there and they needed to come out right now and--

So anyway, he went into the vents and it was twenty minutes later and he wasn’t entirely sure where he was but he was very stuck.

Kokichi tried not to fidget too much with the cording in his hands because the last three times Denji had barked at him to stop ruining the fabric and he was pretty sure they’d start whapping his hands if he kept it up. He’d offered to help his big sib out, so it wasn’t like he was trying to ruin their project anyway--he just…

“It was like watching someone walk through a thorn bush,” Denji quietly grumbled, finally breaking the silence after Kokichi asked the question that had been making him fret and squirm. “You can see that it’s a horrible decision, but you wouldn’t listen, and after a while I wasn’t willing to dive in myself after you.”

...that was a little harsh, but Kokichi could hear how the metaphor wasn’t really working. 

Nodding slightly, he let out more cording as Denji started to sew up the next section. “I needed someone to, but...that’s not something I could ask you, even if I had been in the mindset to. Not after what I put everyone through.”

Denji furrowed their brow and reached over to flick Kokichi’s nose, the needle safely tucked in the cording for the short moment. “You stupid little clown. That was the exact problem! We tried over and over to reach out to you--even a week before you apologized, if you had asked for help, I would’ve gone after you immediately. I just…”

“Ugh!” The stylist let out a frustrated huff, tugging violently on the thread. “You kept throwing yourself into misery. How was anyone supposed to catch up?”

Kaito blinked, as he realized he could… hear people. The first voice was distant, and Kato was struggling to place where it was from as it echoed and bounced through the vents…

And then the second voice spoke and Kaito’s brain immediately told him, ‘’Kichi.’

It was like trying to move like a worm through dirt, but Kaito sorta...wiggled his way closer to the voices, and while he couldn’t see them, Kokichi and… Denji? Started coming in clearer and…

Kaito gripped his hands into fists. 

Don’t yell at his husband, stylist.

...man, thank god he wasn’t claustrophobic. This sucked. Still, Kaito was curious what this was about. Were Kokichi and Denji having an argument? Kaito laid his ear on the metal vent and, entirely unashamed of himself, listened.

Kokichi winced a little at the chastising, but...he’d asked for it. Literally. And while they had been distant for a while, he could still recognize the hurt in Denji’s eyes. The kind of pain when someone you love is in pain, and you can’t do anything to stop it. 

“I’m sorry… And I know, I didn’t ask you just so I could apologize, I-”

Denji rolled their eyes, cutting their brother off. “Yes, yes, I know. You don’t have to backtrack on everything--you made yourself clear before. And I know you feel awful about it--as you should--and I’ve already forgiven you because I have terrible judgement and for some reason can’t think of just leaving my precious little brother out to dry.” They looked up at Kokichi for a moment with a small, amused grin which he shyly returned. 

“...and I suppose the real answer you’re looking for is to throw trust out the window and hope to earn forgiveness later, if you’re that worried about someone.” Kokichi made a face that Denji just dryly stared at for a moment. “None of us could keep up with you, and we were scared of pushing you further. The prevailing wisdom was to just keep going with our own lives and hope you’d reach out one of these days--which you did, but not when you were having trouble. If things kept on the way they were, it would’ve just driven you further into despair, yes?”

Kokichi sighed, tipping his head back on the chair he was curled up in. “...probably, yeah. There’s always the chance I’d just snap out of it as I got older, but...age doesn’t always carry wisdom.”

“Exactly,” Denji nodded. 

“...it felt like it was getting worse every year.”

Denji sighed. “...it was harder to tell from the outside. Some days if you asked, I’d say watching them soak the halls trying to get you to the medical wing in time was the worst of it. Perhaps it was just the most outwardly dramatic. You being colder than ice to people trying to strike up conversation, or yelling at people for no reason, or getting ‘sick’ right after having arguments were horrible as well, but...mm. Probably worse signs, but less loud.”

DAMN IT ‘KICHI DEFEND YOURSELF!!

Okay, sure… having arguments with someone who got sick afterwards was… hard. Kaito would admit it. But that WASN’T HIS HUSBANDS FAULT, DAMMIT! And you don’t stop having arguments, you just…

Kaito pressed his thumb into the side of his fingers and sort of grumbled to himself in his mind, idly watching what he was pretty sure was a moth fly around the vent. Okay, so, he hadn’t really found a decent way to have an actual… argument with Kokichi yet. But he didn’t need too! Not being able to argue with someone didn’t mean you just gave up talking to them! 

Kokichi just… hadn’t been that hard to break through too! It had just required patience! And a willingness to butt in! And… okay, well, Kaito kinda hoped Kokichi hadn’t literally just opened up to him because he liked to be fucked, Kaito was sorta hoping there was more to it than that, but FUCK IF KOKICH JUST NEEDED TO GET LAID YA SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM OUT PLACES!!

… Kaito sighed quietly to himself. Maybe he was being too hard on the hairstylist. Kaito had also had, like… literally nothing else to do but focus on Kokichi. That had, admittedly, probably given him an advantage over the rest of the family… ngh… STILL. Kaito pouted in the dark and kept listening.

Kokichi closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead a little before giving his big sibling a tired smile. “...it’s been months since I’ve felt suicidal… Therapy and my meds have really been doin’ me favors.”

Denji paused for a moment before letting out a sigh, putting their project down for a moment to reach out towards Kokichi and pull him in for a moment, pressing their heads together briefly. “...good. I’d kick your ass if you died, especially from a dumb way like that.”

“...you’ve changed a lot, little brother,” they sighed, going back to sewing. “You don’t run away from people anymore. You might gather that it’s much easier to reach out to people if they stay visible.”

Seeing the wince on Kokichi’s face, Denji shook their head. “Don’t apologize. You’re making it up now, but if you’re asking me about what I saw, then don’t shy away from the shitty stuff you did. Yes, you regularly tried to hurt yourself after getting upset with people, jabbed into their insecurities on purpose to drive them away, made yourself impossible to be around if you were upset, and that was horrible to be around! That was your point. So if you’re that worried about someone going through what you did, then you have to not care about what people are telling you and try to get close anyway.”

“Then…” they huffed, “You’ll either reach out and pull someone out from the depths, or have them file a restraining order against you. Or make them lash out even more than you did and just hope they don’t end up killing you.”

Kokichi, though shamefaced, just raised an eyebrow. “...that sounds like terrible advice.”

Denji shrugged. “It worked for you, didn’t it? You barely spent an hour away from your husband for months, and you two ended up having your lives threatened multiple times. If you didn’t end up accepting him after all that, I think you would’ve been truly lost.”

Kokichi thought about a world where he’d tried to keep his distance from Kaito after the greenhouse. Where they hadn’t had Timothy’s assassination attempts to bring them together. He hadn’t wanted to engage with his future-husband at all…

“...maybe.” Kokichi frowned, feeling troubled by that thought experiment. “It’s hard to drive Kai-chan away once he has his mind set on something… Considering how awful I’ve still been to him at times...I don’t know if there was anything I could’ve done to actually push him away.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow. What were they talking about? Was Kokichi asking what he should do if he met someone difficult to talk to? Why? 

Who was he expecting to have difficulty reaching out to?

What do you think moth? Is ‘Kichi worried about one of his friends? Or… oooooh. Kaito nodded at the moth silently. You’re right, moth buddy. Probably Shuichi or Maki. They’re both going through some stuff. Awww, his sweet husband, always thinking of others… he should have just asked Kaito! Kaito was pretty good at talking to Maki and Shuichi! Pretty good success rate there! No, Moth-bud, trust me. I am great at talking to my sidekicks. I got both of them to date me. One of them is even having my baby! And still likes me anyway! 

Kaito listened to the moth for a moment before nodding silently, resting his chin on his hands in the vent. True, true… Maki dumped him and Shuichi had been super drugged up when that relationship started… hmmm… Kaito still wanted to count them success stories though…

Kaito frowned at Denji describing how Kokichi had been before-- come on, it couldn’t have been that bad-- and then frowned even harder at Kokichi talking about Kaito. ‘Awful’ was a strong word… and if Kokichi had been awful sometimes, maybe, a little, well, Kaito had been twice as miserable to be around right back. Growing pains! 

Sure, their growing pains in their relationship had been a little tougher than most every other relationship Kaito had ever had, but like… also more committed and important. Anyone hoping for two enemy princes to get along flawlessly in a marriage neither of them had wanted…

...Kaito’s shoulders couldn’t really fall any further than they currently were, being pretty boxed in by the vent walls, but they still sagged what they could. Yeah… he hadn’t really… wanted to go… he had taken so much comfort in the idea that the treaty had needed it to happen and, ha, turns out…

Kaito closed his eyes. It didn’t really matter anymore, one way or another, what he had wanted. Or why it had happened. It didn’t matter what he knew about his father now… he was well past the point of no return. 

And he wouldn’t give Kokichi up for anything. Cause his husband was wonderful.

So… yeah… not really worth thinking about how they had gotten here. Not worth the pointless resentment…

Right? Moth buddy?

...moth buddy? Where’d you go?

Denji’s voice was even, though there was a glimmer in their red eyes that suggested they would otherwise be snickering. “Your husband really is one of a kind. Hunk with a heart of gold...the ones over here too often lack the spice of yours, though. Or the willingness to be bull-headed enough to save someone from themselves.”

Kokichi smiled to himself. Despite the, frankly, wildly unfair bullshit they went through and were still sorting out, Kaito was one of Kokichi’s most precious people. Kokichi would go through the rest of his life always thankful that Kaito was in his life. “Got really lucky, huh? Ending up with the best guy out there, only challenged by the other guy I’m dating.”

“Bluu-ck!” Denji mimed gagging before smirking at their brother. “God you are smitten. I mean, good thing since you’re all having a kid together--which is ridiculous, what are you, twelve yourself?--but tone it back a little, Gomez. Have some sympathy for the single folk.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you hadn’t turned that guy down so hard everyone’s afraid to ask you out,” Kokichi snapped back, getting back in the comfortable routine with Denji. “We’ve both sent people away in tears, but at least I’m nice to people afterward. Show a little vulnerability--that does numbers.”

Denji deadpanned. “I’d rather drop a silk skein in a pool of piranhas.” 

...KOKICHI’S REJECTED PEOPLE AND SENT THEM AWAY IN TEARS!?

Oh, yeah, and all that stuff they said about him was really really sweet. Kaito was pleased his husband liked him enough to not even trash talk him in private, but THIS GOSSIP WAS MORE IMPORTANT! 

Kaito practically begged Kokichi for stories about himself!! Why hadn’t he heard any of these!??

...damn how was he going to get out of this vent?

-

If Kaito could go backwards, he would have. So, forwards was the only way. 

He wiggled and shuffled his way through, all the while wondering how on earth Tim and the girls managed to navigate these. Was Kaito really that much bigger than them? Was there multiple ways out? He hoped there was another way out, because he had no idea how he was getting back to where he had come in… and also if there was no other way out then he had effectively trapped the kids too.

...ugh. This was going to be humiliating, wasn’t it.

But, to his surprise, as he kept pushing through, he founds breaks in where the vents went. Suddenly, paths! Choices! Decisions to be made! 

...ha. Decisions. That’s fun.

Seeing his multitude of choices laid out in front of him, Kaito decided to go left, and found himself on an incline. Was he… going upstairs? Well at least it wasn’t just a dead end with the vent heading straight up. Still, weird design.

...were the vents designed to be traveled through??

Weird, Dicea. Weird.

Oh! Openings! Kaito could see light! Excitedly wiggling forward, he frowned as he got closer… damn. The grate was significantly smaller than the vent itself. Kaito was never going to fit…

Curious where he even was, Kaito peeked through the grate. Vaguely hoping it wasn’t going to be a bathroom. He was into a lot of stuff, but, uhhhhhh, nah. No thanks on bathroom peeking…

“... You’ve got to stop this,” a very tired voice sighed, a head of blue coming just into view of the vent grate, talking to a brunette holding their head on a medical bed. 

“It’s usually fine…” the brunette laughed, though their voice was hushed and strained. “Really, how many times have you seen me in here?”

“Three,” Nell grumbled, handing off the cup she’d been holding, watching Malcolm knock it back with no hesitation. “Which is too many times to come into work drunk, which everyone knows has been way more than three times, and you’ve only come in when your perpetual hangover catches up to you.”

“Oh dear…” a more timid voice chimed in, its owner unseeable from the vent. 

“Oh dear’ is an understatement. Malcolm, you’re going to drink yourself to an early grave if you keep this up.”

The librarian sighed, rubbing one of his temples. “Yeah...yeah, I know. I’ve already had this talk, doc--can we save it for when I’m not head-under in a stampede?”

“If you’re not going right back to the bottle,” Nell griped. “You’ve managed not to hurt anyone, but your liver is on death row. It’s been months, Malcolm. Get used to being full-time, or I’m going to recommend you to another rehab program.”

“N-nell… Addiction is more than just ‘trying hard’ or making a decision. I-I’m sure-”

Nell and Malcolm both sighed, though the librarian looked up a little, smiling softly at the unknown third person in the room. “Thanks, doc, but...Dr. P’s right. I’m...I’m working on it…”

… Kaito narrowed his eyes.

...Shoot he should probably know who that is. Damn. Malcolm, Macolm… it was on the tip of his brain… gah he was so bad at getting to know the staff here! 

Nell he recognized, of course, lovely doctor who Kokichi had told Kaito hadn’t actively tried to ruin his life, so that was all good in Kaito’s books. And the third voice… he was certain he had… never…

Kaito frowned. Listening harder.

… it was so distinctive. And fake sounding. Not in the sense that she was putting ‘on’ a voice, just in the sense that it was so unlike anyone else's that it rang immediately as ‘false’ to Kaito? Soft and sweet and high pitched. Which staff member was this??

...Also, ooof, Malcolm. That’s rough buddy. Kaito felt a little bad to have overheard the poor guy going through something as rough as being told they might send him to rehab-- THE LIBRARIAN! That’s who Malcolm was! Yeah! Kaito fucking GOT IT! 

...well, at least his work wasn’t dangerous to do drunk. Kaito could only imagine the books getting sorted was pretty hit or miss though.

Even though the third persons voice nagged at him, Kaito decided the respectful thing to do would not be to listen in any more on Malcolm medical talk. So, with dignity and respect on his mind, Kaito wiggled his butt and pushed his toes and kept on. Like a graceful worm in the dirt.

Though, as Kaito kept going he absolutely had no hangups about peeking in the next vent grate too.

There was no one there for a moment, and Kaito pouted. Bummer… just some, like...statue room? Huh. The castle had a statue room. That was fun. Kaito would have to get Kokichi to show him the--

The door opened, and when it closed…

“...I’m, too sexy for my duster, too sexy for my duster… ooooOOOOoooo!” 

Kaito watched, absolutely gobsmacked, as Hajime with a feather duster danced and shook his booty through the room, entirely confident he was alone as he dusted the statues, before putting the handle of the dustrboom to his mouth, “I’M A MOOOODELLL, ya know what that means!? I do my little thing on the CATWALK! On the CATWALK! Mmmm, mmm mhm mm~” 

Kaito just watched this for awhile, till Hajime was done dusting, it literally never once occurring to him to call to Hajime for help, so stunned by this impromptu performance… and when Hajime left…

Kaito LAUGHED into his hands, snickering hysterically before moving on, worming his way forward.

Not a bad singing voice, really. 

The next time Kaito would hear voices he wouldn’t quite be at a grate. And it wasn’t so much hearing voices, as it was hearing breathing. Very...quick breathing, like someone--or a few someones--were trying to catch their breath. 

“A-ah… That was…”

A huff of amused air. “We should get back to the office. Break’s almost over.”

“Right! Right! Lots...hoo, lots to finish up today. I… Do you want to…”

“I’m free after work, yeah.”

“Amazing!”

If the voices didn’t tip Kaito off, then that word said in the particular way that person always said it should’ve, but the real confirmation would’ve been a sliver of visibility when he finally got to a vent. Takashi was quickly running his flesh hand through his hair, trying to get it back in some sort of order, while his tie and shirt were untucked. Meanwhile, Ryouhei looked relatively normal in his usual oversized sweater, but he was lethargically tying his long hair back as well, cheeks pink and expression, though sleepy, undeniably pleased and amused. 

“I think we’re just about out of drinks--I’ll stop by the dining hall and hopefully that’ll be enough of a distraction for Tomomi,” Takashi chuckled, quite a bit more red than Ryouhei.

Kaito didn’t really have any thoughts at first. Mostly just processing what he was seeing.

And then his first thought was ‘Damn Takashi, how the hell did you dig yourself out of that hole you dug!? Nice!’

...And then Kaito’s face burnt bright red and, after getting an eyeful he closed his eyes, burying his face into his arms and carefully controlling his breathing, absolutely not wanting them to know he was there and not wanting to… witness anything they were keeping private. Anymore more. Y-you uh… didn’t voyeur on someone without consent! Th-that was important, Kore used to say--

(Who the fuck cares what that pervert used to say, he fucking shared you.) 

Kaito winced, but ignored that rush of thought. Kore used to say that watching someone without consent was not much better than assault. The only difference being the lack of physical pain, but definitely no lack of emotional pain. Carefully, Kaito bunched up his shoulders and tried to cover his ears a little as Takashi and Ryouhei spoke softly to each other, the intimacy of after intimacy…

He let out a relieved breath when they apparently left the room. Started to shuffle…

...oh nooooo not nooooow….

Kaito glared into the metal flooring as he felt his waist uncomfortably tighten. Stop it! He had been good! He had stopped looking and tried not to listen and barely heard anything that had happened! He was NOT getting aroused at the sight of two other men clearly just having… uh… oh nooooo…

Kaito rubbed his face into the vent flooring, ignoring the dust no doubt now caking his face. Think unsexy thoughts. Unsexy thoughts…

...Ryouhei had looked so confidant, and Takashi all… red and spent and pleased…

Kaito smacked his forehead against the metal. Stop stop stop! Uuuuuugh he did not want to keep wiggling through this vent with a god damned boner. Especially not a weird voyeur staff-peeping pervert boner! His partners would be pissed if they knew! Augh!

Kaito took a couple of deep, useless calming breaths, and then still red-faced and pissed at himself, kept moving forward.

...the grates edges against his front didn’t feel terrible NO. Leave your boner alone! What if the KIDS ARE STILL IN THE VENTS!?

That cooled Kaito down a bit, and he took some easier breaths, no longer trying to work out how one might masturbate with your arms kinda locked in front of you in a vent. That’s be mortifying for the kids to even suspect happen, let alone see. Nope. Nooooo.

… damn Kaito hoped they never saw stuff like that in the vents. Maybe they wouldn’t recognize what they were seeing? Oof he was gonna have to have The Talk with Tim at some point. That would be future Kaito’s problem.

Kaito kept wiggling and…

Kaito peeked through the next grate… damn, just an empty room. Like, a literal empty room. Sigh… maybe he was just a vent person now. Just him, living it up with the moths. And the spiders. Kaito should probably never tell Kokichi how many spiders were in the vents. Kokichi would never sleep again. 

Kaito Ouma Momota… King of the Vent Spiders! Ambassador of the Moth Friends! They’d write songs about him… worse ways to go, he guessed… he wondered how far his beard would grow out…

Waku was walking through the halls, a cleaned bucket and mop in hand, ready to be returned to one of the supply closets, when she suddenly stopped. Looked around. Peered around the hall, down adjacent halls, peeked into a few rooms…

One of the rooms, a workshop that was being cleared out for a yoga class later that week, Waku stopped in. Then looked up. 

“...Kaito?”

“...please Waku,” said the voice in the vent, “Refer to me by my given title: King of the Vent People.”

“I really doubt anyone else messing in the vents would call you that. Also...why are you in the vents? You could get seriously hurt if they collapse with you in them.” Shaking her head, Waku sighed and came closer, trying to think of just where in the castle’s ventilation system Kaito was. “...tap at which way you’re facing. If we’re lucky, you’re not too far from a main grate.”

“So disrespectful. You have to be nice to kings, ya know.” Kaito grumbled, though he tapped obediently. “Well? Did I luck out?”

“That’s wildly incorrect. Kings have to be nice to their people.”

Waku looked along the wall before smiling. “I think so. Go forward, and the next time you can, go up. I’m going to have to take the stairs, but I’ll meet you as soon as I can, and I’ll lead you to the grate.”

“What’s the fun of being king if you have to be nice to people??” Kaito asked, though, with a sigh, he said, “Head up, got it. Easier said than done, you should know. It’s a hell of a slope upwards annnnnnnnd she’s gone… alright…”

Kaito wiggled and wormed forward, and eventually he did get higher, sweating despite the cold air of the vents as the castle started to try to ventilate the heat of late spring. Kaito got to the point where the flooring started to even out, and he called out uncertainly, it darker here, “Waku?”

There was silence for a few moments before her voice returned. “I’m here! Okay… You should be going forward for...three yards, maybe? Then turn right, then left, then you should be at the grate. I’ll walk with you.” Even if her voice would be muffled by the wall. 

“...also, it’s not fun to be king. I think it’s one of the least fun jobs out there, if the boss and Kokichi are any indication. When it comes to work, they’re some of the most stressed out people I’ve ever heard.”

“Well, maybe that’s because they’re not mean enough to people.” Kaito argued playfully, huffing as he shuffled forward, following Waku’s instructions, though… “I gotta warn you. I’m not exactly moving like a cheetah in here. Give me a second, is what I’m saying.” 

“Got it. Just be careful--I won’t walk you down to medical, but lemme look you over when you get out, alright? I’m surprised you even fit in the vents.”

Waku laughed brightly, nowhere near as versed on Dicean history as Kokichi, but there were some stories almost everyone knew. “I’m sure there were some leaders that wished that worked. False Queen Corrinne lasted two months, they say, before people were fed up with her bullshit and drove her out of the castle. Didn’t have a leader for ages after that since people were so suspicious of folks who actually seemed like they wanted the power.”

“Oof… bet Corrinne had some fun nights though. Wonder what she ended up doing after that? What do you do once you’re not King or Queen? The mind boggles… maybe she opened up a cafe? That seems like a good second choice.” Kaito mused, before suddenly pausing, “ACHOO! ACHOO! ...ngh. Dusty. No one tell Kirumi. How long did you guys go without a leader? Sounds wild.”

Waku shrugged a bit. The story was prolific, but not to the details. And it always seemed that Corrinne was disliked enough that no one really bothered to see what she got up to once she was driven out of the city. 

“Lucky day,” Waku automatically said, acknowledging Kaito’s sneezes, before she sighed. “...geez, Kokichi would be better to ask that. I think it was around nine months or something? Not incredibly long, but long enough that people would get weird feelings about it. I think, historically, people have always gotten nervous when leadership is passed on through force rather than through inheritance. No one wants to end up with two bad leaders back to back.”

“Force?” Kaito asked, amused, “I have… literally no idea what that means, from a Dicean perspective. No offense, Waku, but I feel like you guys would call really aggressive pamphlet spreading a forceful takeover…”

Kaito paused in his trek through the vents, huffing… before chuckling, “Nah, I don’t even know why I said that. You all fought off a forceful takeover for fifteen years and succeeded. Dicea’s so weird… you guys are weird. You know that? Don’t worry, I come from the incredibly stable and normal Luminary, so I have the authority to make that call.”

“I don’t,” Waku said bluntly. “Other than the things you’ve told me, Dicea’s all I’ve known, and part of that time was with something that’s not representative at all. We could be a complete anomaly and I’d have no idea. Though considering you just said Luminary isn’t normal, I don’t know what metric that’s by at all.”

“Propaganda can be pretty dangerous, but ousting a bad leader has usually looked like an angry mob coming to the castle and either sieging it, or literally, physically throwing the leader out. A few times it’s come down to votes, though, then it’s up to the replaced leader to leave with dignity, or cause a mob to form.” Waku shrugged a little. “Sure doesn’t stop people from being hurt, but they make it a big deal in school that you shouldn’t let people hurt or mistreat you. Especially at an institutional level.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Kaito huffed, needing to rest again. Just for a second. He was getting tired… that second trek upwards had taken a lot out of him, “It worked out alright for me. People like you a lot better if you take a few things on the chin, I’ve found...”

“...kidding.” Kaito grinned into the darkness, “And damn Waku. From mobs, to peace, to mobs again… maybe Diceans are pent up and just act out every couple of decades. Everyone needs to go spend time at those strip club places, relax a little. Mob takedowns sound like so much work.”

“... what do you think you’d do as Queen, Waku? Any big policy changes? Huge endeavors or causes you’d rally for? Let’s say in the hypothetical whatever you chose would absolutely work. What would you do, my Queen?” 

“People who want to hurt others, or don’t want their actions scrutinized like it when people take things on the chin. So you are technically correct,” Waku hummed, not buying that ‘kidding’ for a second. Kaito lied like that a lot, just little observational things, which was why he was pretty fascinating to talk to. Though it could be a little sad sometimes. 

“Standing up to people with power is always a lot of work. I can only say what I’ve seen in my own lifetime, but people seem pretty relaxed to me. They trust the societal framework enough to not sweat the finer things--a lot of people are more concerned, day to day, with things like what they’re going to cook for dinner, or nice surprises for loved ones, or working on some project for school. Considering history, though, you may be right.”

“Oh, and thanks for the coupon again.”

She did grow up around people focused on a ‘greater purpose’ after all. 

Snorting, Waku gave the wall an amused look. “I think I’d hate being a queen. Kokichi once tried to explain to me local taxation cycles and I couldn’t understand a single thing. I’d be a horrible leader.”

But playing with a hypothetical… “Mm… Maybe I’d invest more into specialized education tracks. There’s already a ton, but I hated going to school with another fifteen kids in a class. I guess you would need more people learning to be teachers at that point, though.”

“Ey, again, the hypothetical is that it works. Great! More teachers, smaller class sizes. Your reign was incredibly fruitful, Queen Waku. They will tell your story through--” Kaito took a second, coughing… ngh. Dusty. “They will tell your story through the ages!”

Kaito wondered what Waku imagined Luminary was like, with some amusement. Maybe the strange foriegn war-mongers didn’t have school projects to work on… and certainly such a corrupt people couldn’t spend time fussing over surprises for loved ones. Ha! If he told her they didn’t worry about what they made for dinner, she might actually believe him, based on Luminary lack of love for spices. He could totally see Diceans thinking ‘Well, if you’re not adding spices then are you really thinking about dinner?’

Waku glanced at the wall, hearing a sort of...macabre humor from her friend. Something common from him, but not necessarily very good. Hearing him start to make the turn, she followed suit, keeping right along with him. 

“What was school like for you, Kaito?” she asked. “The actual academics here were fine, I guess, but I was bullied a lot. From the stories you’ve told, I’ve always imagined you being pretty popular--is that right?”

“The most popular! People loved me!” Kaito bragged in the darkness of the vent, blinking rapidly as one of the beads of sweat fell into his eye, wiping it off with the edge of his shoulder, “Like, not to front on you, Waku, but I got through that school! Everyone wanted a piece of this!”

“... I mean, I had a few kids too that got their kicks out of seeing what they could get away with for the second Momota son. But I don’t think anyone really gets through school entirely unscathed by teasing. Kids are fucking mean…” Kaito pushed forward, entirely having lost track of where he was by this point in the journey, just trusting Waku’s voice to lead the way, “But who cares about those guys. They probably didn’t grow up to be as fucking cool as you and me…”

And some of the ‘pieces’ people had taken out of him had admittedly been a little too much. Kaito had not been very choosy, in high school. It had opened him up for a lot of awkward and weird shit… but…!

“Ya know, I bet me and you would have gotten along amazingly in high school. You might have been bullied here, and honestly, those fuckers were probably just jealous of your fucking amazing hair, but the coolest people I knew in school were folks like you. Sidekick material! People who were amazing and just needed… a fucking chance. A little extra help or attention, and BAM! They could show off how fucking incredible they were! You would have absolutely fallen under that criteria, there’s not a damn doubt in my mind…”

“...bet the kids that bullied you grew up to be fucking losers.” Kaito grumbled, annoyed at the mental image of Waku getting picked on. Small, cute, pink girl, fucking tragic backstory, who the fuck had thought teasing her was a good idea…

Kaito kind of wanted to ask what specialized track Waku had been in for school, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be a happy answer, like she had been really good at math or something. So instead he said what he really meant by wanting to ask that, “What’d you want to be when you grew up back then, Waku? What was baby-Waku’s big dream… I’m beetttiiiinng… you wanted to be a incredibly famous stage singer, singing for thousands of screaming fans.” Kaito teased, grinning wide in the dark. “Tell me if I’m close.”

The cadence was similar to some of Kaito’s enthusiastic lies, but Waku fully believed him about this. It was likely here and there the people Kaito actually grew close to, but she could believe he was on amicable terms with most people, and the ones he wasn’t he disregarded. It sounded like a fond, exciting time, if maybe too much at some points. 

“Ah,” Waku hummed knowingly. “Like Shuuichi and Maki, though you knew them before high school. They obviously have a special place, but you knew other people like that too? That must’ve been dazzling, to be surrounded by people that looked like stars.”

And a Kaito with more confidence than he had now would’ve reveled in it, she bet. Doing whatever he could to skyrocket those people into their rightful places. Kaito was as nuanced as anyone, but some of his views on people were delightfully black and white. 

And while Waku had no love for the jerks that bullied her in school… She shrugged a bit. “Chances are the people who made fun of me are living normal lives. Most people do. They’re not in my life anymore, though, so I don’t really care.”

She laughed a bit at Kaito’s guess about her aspirations, crouching down to loosen the wide wall grate and allow Kaito to crawl out once he got to the hole. “I can’t carry a tune at all. And I’m not saying that to bashfully lie like Kokichi does. No…”

Waku grinned as she saw the red of Kaito’s hair starting to appear. “I wanted to be a cryptographer.”

Kaito let out a relieved breath as he finally got to fresh air, his body stiff and bones popping as he wiggled and shuffled his way out of the vent, focusing on that for a moment, until finally he rolled onto his back, spreading every limb entirely wde, gasping at the ceiling…

“Phew… that sucked…” Kaito murmured, taking a breath… before saying, “A code maker?”

Waku stepped back, giving Kaito some space to rest, though she gave him a small round of applause for making it out of the vents. Incredibly dangerous, but it was a good stress test. Apparently they could stand up to a fully grown six-foot man!

Crouching to fan him a bit and look him over for injuries, Waku nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to make cyphers and cryptograms and crack other codes… I still do some of it as a hobby, but it’s not something that’s really in demand. I enjoy cleaning, so being a housekeeper is a good way to still feel productive about things, and I feel safe still living in the castle. I’d say I still got a good hand, even if it’s not my dream job.”

Kaito chuckled as he felt the small waves of air, giving Waku an amused, fond look. “Waku the Codebreaker… I could see it. You got a head for stuff like that, and I don’t know exactly how it would help, but the heart stuff thing would probably be an asset… shame. I bet you could have run circles around Luminary’s codes. Shoulda kept the war going a few more years to give ya the chance to try.”

“Still… safe is good too.” Kaito conceded, even if a part of him would always be a little sad at all the lost potential of his friends just… going out and seeing things. “...I thought I’d want to be an adventurer when I was a kid. The specifics changed a thousand times, like, maybe I’d be an ambassador to dangerous, forieng lands, or lead a troop of knights on a quest, or maybe just go rogue and just travel the world on my own, seeing what was out there!”

“But I got older and things got increasingly complicated… I mean, you know.” Kaito shrugged on the floor, perfectly content to stay there for a moment, sprawled out, “I don’t really remember… when I gave up on the idea. It wasn’t when Byakuya asked me to pick the military career, I had already decided I wasn’t going to do it by then… it was such a big idea in my life for so long and then all of the sudden…”

Kaito frowned, and now that he was thinking about it, “...oh shit. I do know when I realized I was never going to do it. Like, I can actually remember the moment. Isn’t that fucking weird, how you just gotta think about it for a second… Togami had left me and… we were going to go out and travel the world together, ya know? Go on the run together, just… be our own people, see the world, go on adventures. And then, like, a month after he left me, I had this idea that like… fine. I’ll just go myself! I didn’t need him, I can run away and see the world by myself! I was a hero! The impossible was possible! I didn’t need to wait on anyone!”

“...I didn’t even leave my room that night. I just spent all night pacing and packing and telling myself I was going to do it, that I could do it on my own, I didn’t need to stay... and eventually I just went to sleep with my bags all packed and the next day I went to school and when I came back to my room just unpacked all my bags. Realized right then and there I was never actually gonna do it… I guess I was just too scared to go alone.”

“Funny, what you learn about yourself.” Kaito murmured. “...oh. Thanks for getting me out of the vent, Waku. I was super stuck.”

Waku smiled a bit as Kaito rolled the title around on his tongue, but… She would’ve found delight in trying to crack Luminary’s codes--any puzzle had at least some fun in it. But...there was a big difference in decoding war messages to creating an entire conlang to keep a diary secret. Maybe the purpose of it would’ve made up the difference, but Waku was much happier with peace. 

Though she considered Kaito’s childhood dream in turn. “An adventurer… I could see it. Without inhibitions, I could see you as quite the globe-trotter.” Though, if he had it as an official job, Kaito might have a few inhibitions anyway. Probably not to the extent he had them in Dicea, though.

Waku smiled sadly as Kaito told the story of how he gave up that dream, the lingering heartbreak and indignant confidence, but, ultimately...loneliness and fear. She nodded and patted his shoulder gently. “I’ve heard that the world is more exciting with someone to share it with. I think Kokichi’s said that exactly, actually.”

Grinning, she offered her friend a hand up. “No problem. Why did you go in the vent in the first place, though? Have you already run out of places to explore?”

“... DAMMIT THE KIDS!”

Kaito shot up, scrambling up as he said, “I totally forgot why I went in there in the first place! You have to help me find Tim and the girls! Can you do your heart voodoo thing with them??”

Waku’s eyebrows zoomed up just as Kaito did, and she gave the vent a skeptical look. “...I can try. I usually just hear people if they’re nearby, or being really loud in their hearts. If your kids are up to something, I might be able to catch excitement, but it might not be enough.”

“Where’s the last place you saw them?”

“Ah, geez, I mean… technically outside? I know they went into the vents though!” Kaito looked down at his dust covered clothes and idly brushed a spider off his arm, “Probably. I didn’t actually… see them doing it or anything… Haneda! I bet Haneda knows where they would be in there! That woman is used to finding Tim when he’s hiding!”

Kaito took a step forward like he was going to stomp off to Haneda… “I have no idea where Haneda might be right now.” Kaito realized, “Maybe Tim’s room? Wait, she also does housekeeping stuff sometimes, right? Any ideas, Waku?”

...well, they were either in the vents or not, and if nothing else, the kids would come out for dinner. And probably scamper off again. Waku only ever saw Tim in the dining hall when he was with one of his parents, and if he and his friends were hanging out, Waku only ever really caught glimpses of them. 

“Wouldn’t that be kind of weird if she’s in Tim’s room when he’s not there?” Waku asked, before thinking for a moment and shrugging. “Usually she’s on linen repair if she’s on the schedule. Technically we can be anywhere, but after towels kept going missing, people started staying in one of the back rooms in the laundry room. We can check there first.”

“Well, yeah, it’d be a little weird if she was in his room.” Kaito admitted, shrugging. It was just usually where he could find them… whatever! It was just an idea! Gah! 

“Okay! Let’s check the laundry room then!” Kaito paused, “...where’s the laundry room?”

“I’ll lead the way,” Waku laughed, starting to head downstairs. 

-

The laundry room was out of the way on the first floor, kind of a reflected counterpart of the kitchens on the other side of the castle. Waku waved to a few people gathering clothes and linens, and a few doing rounds of washing, but she headed on through the main laundry room to a backroom, illuminated just by a lamp and incredibly quiet.

But, sure enough, Haneda was there, fixing a frayed edge of a blanket and wearing a thick pair of earmuffs, entirely in the zone. Walking just barely into her vision, Waku waited patiently for Haneda to stop with a beleaguered sigh and take the earmuffs off, giving Waku, then Kaito, an annoyed look. “...you need me to watch the kids?”

“Ummmm,” Kaito laughed sheepishly, “More like I need you to… find them? I am… fairly certain they’re in the vents. Turns out, the vents can carry a lot of weight! A lot of weight. Guys, I think the vents might be low key castle secret passages, but, like, really inefficient and kinda shitty.”

Haneda glowered at Kaito before groaning, getting up from her seat and putting her work away. “For fuck’s… The vents. Of course. Can’t fucking...ugh.”

“Actually, not that you mention it,” Waku frowned, following Haneda’s grumbling lead to sign herself out and set off on finding the kids. “I’m not really sure how you managed to get around in them, Kaito. Only the main vent shafts are bigger than, I don’t know, maybe a softball, and even those are supposed to have a bunch of filters in them. If your kids have been taking out the filters, that’s a big problem for everyone…”

“Tim better not be. He usually has a better head than that,” Haneda grumbled. “C’mon, we’re heading to the compost alley first.”

“...compost alley?” Kaito asked.

-

“Oh! The dumpsters!” Kaito laughed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, “Of course! And… aha! Look at that shit!” 

Kaito pointed upwards, where a grate was imbedded into the wall, one of the large openings, “I bet you could open that up if you stood on the dumpster tops…” Kaito’s eyes traveled downwards, and noticed some eerily familiar looking stick figures, carved into and then slashed across at on the walls near the flooring, “...aw man, is that dopey looking one supposed to be me?? Geez Tim… maybe we can move the dumpsters in front of this part of the wall to cover it…” 

Haneda sighed and jumped up on one of the dumpsters, grabbing around the side of the grate, and sure enough, it had been loosened. Haneda was able to lift the grate up a few good feet--more than enough room for a few nine-year-olds with no fear and regular physical training to climb up into. 

“Tsk,” Haneda scoffed. If they really had been removing the air filters, then there was no telling where in the castle they were, but...it was worth a shot. Taking a breath, Haneda lowered her mask and let loose an ear-piercing whistle into the vent, something that she had taught Tim to do to call Chase if she got really far away. 

Yes, this would probably be audible from a few different places in the castle, but Haneda wasn’t particularly worried about startling people.

At first, there was nothing…

...and then, around the corner at the far end of the vent, familiar looking green eyes and pink hair peeked out, before making a small ‘eep!’ and moving back behind cover when she caught Haneda’s gaze.

“...it’s okay.” Cali whispered to her friends, “I don’t think she saw me.”

Haneda growled, replacing her mask as she glared down the vent. “Cali. You guys know you’re not supposed to be in there. Tim, your dad’s here with me--we need to have a talk.”

“Mister Kaito’s here too??” Kimiko gasped, eyes widening.

“No way, she’s bluffing, she didn’t see me I swear!” Cali whispered furiously, “She doesn’t know we’re here!”

“Uh huh.” Tim said dryly, “Cause pink hair in a metal vent is so camouflaged… ugh. Come on.”

The girls tried to argue he should stay and wait it out, but Tim just rolled his eyes and, on his hands and knees, headed out the vent, the girls begrudgingly following behind. After that it was a quick jump out of the vent, the three kids brushing themselves off, looking non-worse for wear, unlike…

Timothy blinked at his father, “... why are you covered in dirt?”

“LISTEN HERE, YOUNG MAN!” Kaito raised a finger, dropped it, rapidly scratched his fingers through his hair for a moment, before bringing his finger back up, “That was hugely irresponsible! What if something had happened in there and no one knew where you were and you couldn’t get out!? Those vents aren’t designed for people, maybe, I am no longer entirely certain about that, but they PROBABLY WEREN’T! You three could have gotten yourselves seriously hurt and it would have been INCREDIBLY difficult to help you!”

Haneda shook her head at Kaito a little before sighing, her gaze vicious, but for those that knew her, would be able to spot the disappointment in it. “People are leaving their windows open more, but the vents are how people in the castle breathe. Especially for people with allergies, without the filters they can get really sick. And if you can move around the vents, leaving the grates open means pests can get in too--bugs and little creatures, who will poop and make nests in there, making people sick, and if they end up biting someone, they could pass on rabies.”

Haneda crossed her arms, passing that disappointed gaze over the kids. “That was really irresponsible of you.”

“...people are breathing through these things?” Tim asked, looking back at the vents with a somewhat incredulous look. “But they were all blocked up when I found them. They had a bunch of really shitty paper walls in them.”

“If they were blocked off, why did you open them up!? What were you even doing in there!?” Kaito demanded.

“Mom said to keep my eyes on you and try not to get caught.” Tim said, blank face… carefully so. Knowing damn well this wasn’t going to work out for him. “As part of my training. I’ve just been following orders.”

“What!? When!? Damn it, I’ve talked about this with her…” Kaito grumbled, “We’re not supposed to be doing training like this anymore. Was this before she left?”

“... maybe a little before, yeah.” Tim said, starting to nervously dig his heels into the dirt, “...the first week we were here?”

“YOU’VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE VENTS FOR A YEAR!?”

It had been possible that something else had messed with the filters, but Tim confirmed it right there. And...this would explain all the times she lost track of him while he’d been running away from her still. 

Haneda let out a sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Those paper walls were the filters. It keeps out bugs and dirt and pollen, and ideally crafty nine-year-olds from getting into the castle. ...no wonder we’ve been having more bug problems… Fuckin’ exterminators didn’t bother checkin’ the damn vents…”

Haneda gave the kids a tired look. “...you opened up all the main grates?”

“Those things?” Tim asked, pointing to the grate they just came from. When he got the nod he said, “Oh yeah, definitely.”

“Those paper walls? Where are they now?” Kaito demanded.

Tim wordlessly pointed at the dumpster.

“Uuuugh… ya know what! This is gonna be a learning opportunity.” Kaito growled, “We’re gonna talk to the maintenance staff, and we’re gonna find out how to fix this, and guess what! Guess what we’re doing with this weekend!”

“...fishing?”

“Nope! That’s next weekend! Ya know why that’s next weekend? Cause this weekend, we’re fixing a bunch of vents my kid broke!”

“Uuuuuuh, I thiiiink my parents want me to… do dishes or something this weekend.” Cali grinned.

“Nope! Wrong again! I’m talking to your parents too! You’re staying the weekend, and you’re all becoming vent workers!”

“Booo!”

“I don’t mind.” Kimiko giggled, swaying on her back and forth toes, “I like the vents.”

“And no more spying on me! Especially in my bedroom!! And… we need to have a talk about anything you might have seen!”

“See what? You guys just nap and read all the time.”

“Oh thank fuck.” Kaito grumbled, running his hand over his face. Uuuuuuugh.

“What a fuckin’ invasion of privacy… I know you guys have talked about that in school,” Haneda frowned at the kids. Luckily they were kids and were smart enough not to go off spreading around what they found while doing something they knew they weren’t supposed to do, so no one would--probably--try to sue them, but still… Even if they didn’t end up seeing anything risque, there were probably still a lot of private moments that people hadn’t wanted to be more public than they were aware. 

Shaking her head, Haneda gave Kaito a nod. “You should probably talk to maintenance sooner rather than later. Even if the filters have been out for months now, we should put them in as soon as possible. I’m going to let people know that we know what’s causing the bug problem.” 

With that she headed off, and Waku took a look between her retreating back, Kaito, and the kids before she grinned at her friend, not having it in her to scold some kids. “I’ll help Haneda out! See you later!”

Kaito gave Haneda and Waku wary looks, before turning his heated gaze back at the kids. “Guess who’s going to be hearing about privacy stuff for WAY LONGER THAN I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?”

The kids, collectively, groaned.

-

“Yeah, so, apparently we’re going to need to clean out the vents before we can put the new filters in, and because it’s been a year, we basically have to clean out all of them, so… it’s literally going to be a full weekend project.” Kaito grumbled into his pillow, in nothing but his boxers, as Shuichi chuckled to himself as he read from his book.

“So are you gonna have an argument with Maki over it?” Shuichi asked. “She’s the one that gave the order.”

“A year ago. And we all knew he was doing it back then. Kid was just using that as an excuse to justify something he knew was wrong.” Kaito still grumbled into the pillow, “Kids lucky I didn’t lose my mind on him. Could you imagine if he had seen something!? With us? What am I supposed to tell him, we were wrestling??”

“He didn’t see anything in a year?”

“Well, luckily for us, we don’t have sex very often.” Kaito said miserably, “So, ya know… we had that in our favor.”

Kokichi, very unfortunately, had put two and two together when Kaito told the story of how the kids had been crawling through the vents last year and had taken out all the filters. Meaning that anything could get in. And while nothing had happened, the idea that he’d been spending time for a year where bugs could just crawl in at any time--or kids could--sent Kokichi to immediately put on one of his masks and to dive beneath the covers. 

By now his shaking had subsided, but Kokichi still refused to come out from under the blankets, tucking himself fully to Kaito’s side. If he was touching Kaito, then he wasn’t touching anything else there. 

Kokichi groaned softly and squeezed his arms around Kaito. “...in fairness, we usually do stuff at night. I’d hope he’d be sleeping and not sneaking.”

“That’s a good point. If he was spying, it was probably during the day, when he wasn’t in bed.” Shuichi mused, as Kaito gave Kokichi a small pat on the back, “Kokichi, I’m not sure how comfortable sleeping beneath the covers all night is going to be.” His boyfriend pointed out. “And Kaito, how are you not suffocating right now?”

“Let the pillow gods take me. I have to fix a bunch of vents this weekend cause my kids a little sneaky asshole.”

“I’m going to absolutely overheat and it’s going to be miserable, but I can’t come out or I’ll never stop thinking.” Kokichi couldn’t even finish off and say that he’d be thinking about bugs crawling all over him. He’d calmed down moderately, but he was all too aware that he could easily send himself back into a tizzy. 

No filters for a year…

“I’m amazed no one reported seeing squirrels run around… Hopefully you’ll just have to clear out dust,” Kokichi sighed, really not wanting to think about anything else Kaito and the kids would have to clean out. Everything that people had been breathing in FOR A YEAR.

Kokichi shuddered and pressed himself against Kaito more.

Kaito again patted Kokichi’s back… before sighing, shifting over, “Would you feel better if I blocked off the vent and opened up a window?”

...they did have a screen in their window. Wouldn’t do much for the pollen and dust in the air, but…

No bugs. 

Groaning softly, Kokichi nodded his head.

Kaito grunted in turn, sighed… “Alright. Go tuck in with Shuichi, I got this babe.”

There was a solid three minutes of just staring blearily at the vent on their ceiling, small as it was, tucked away in the corner… to be fair, from that angle, Tim probably had never seen all that much to begin with. Kaito knew damn well how little visually the small grates gave. Still, how…

Kaito got one of his undershirts, and as Shuichi watched, gauged the size of the vent with his eyes, before cutting the thin white shirt into a rectangle. Then, he went and got the glue he used to fix his figurines whenever a piece fell off, and making sure the glue got around every corner, he dragged the window seat over and stood on it, and thankfully his tall ass self could reach easy enough with the help of the chair, as he covered up the vent, sealing the edges. 

Hopping down, he headed back to the window, before opening it up, a chill entering the room immediately. It was a warm night, but there was a direct breeze, and Kaito enjoyed it for a moment as he looked out the window. Full moon. “I’m gonna leave the curtain open.” He decided, “Unless someone’s scaling the walls, we’re honestly too high up for anyone on the garden paths below to see into the room. And the view looks nice tonight.”

“Whatever you say,” Shuichi shrugged, still reading, as Kato collapsed back into the bed with a thud.

Nodding against the sheets, Kokichi rolled over to press to Shuuichi’s side, staying there and not daring to peek his eyes out from the covers until he heard the window open up. And with the moon softly lighting up the room...it looked calm. Peaceful. The kind of place Kokichi could feel safe in…

Sighing, Kokichi leaned against the pillows and, after a moment, tentatively took his mask off, tossing it over Shuuichi’s head onto the nightstand. He looked over at Kaito and reached out to rub his shoulder. “Thanks, hun. I feel a lot better.”

“...I wonder if Tim got the idea from when he went down the compost tube from the greenhouse,” Kokichi mused aloud. “I know people talked to him about how dangerous that was, but I don’t think danger is really a determining factor for him…”

“Back then, he probably thought the wicked Diceans were trying to scare him out of using great assassin paths.” Kaito sighed, moving his hair back and up, the gel out and now his hair annoyingly in his face. “Ah well...they’re nine, ya know? We all did stupid shit at nine.”

“Not me. I was a saint.” Shuichi mused.

“You made friends with the second Momota son at ten.”

“Oh, yeah, my mentor did not like that. She was pissed.” Shuichi admitted, nodding, “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Nine year olds, man… running around chasing danger.” Kaito grumbled, before sighing, getting under the covers, “Ah well… at least there’s only three of them… these kids are going to make me an old man, I swear…”

-

It was late in the night, and Kaito opened his eyes.

You need to check on Tim.

Kaito sighed… should he try to turn over and force himself to go back to sleep? Tim was fine, he knew Tim was fine…

Check the vent.

… what? Like, for Tim? Or for spiders or-- 

Both.

Kaito rolled his eyes at himself. The covering was there for a reason-- the glues worn off its half hanging off there are spiders climbing in and Kokichi’s going to have a heart attack-- but he guessed he might as well check it.

Pulling himself away from Kokichi, who murmured nonsense in unconscious outrage at his heater leaving him before turning around and going to the next best source, latching onto Shuichi. Kaito went to go look up at the vent.

Yep. Still fine.

Kaito waited patiently, knowing better than to try to go back to bed. Just give it a seco-- 

Check the window. Someone scaled the wall.

Uh huh. Sure.

Kaito headed to the window. Looking around, pulling back the curtains.Yep. All good-- 

Closet, bathroom, under the bed.

Why??

Someone could have crawled in through the window and put the screen back and now they’re hiding

Yeah yeah yeah.

Checking under the bed and the closet and the bathroom and he threw some pants on headed out into the hallway. Check the nursery, yeah yeah yeah… Kaito went into the nursery. Taking a quick look around. Yep. Still a nursery. No fires, no assassins hiding, Tom and Itch nowhere in sight. 

Kaito sighed, leaning against the crib, looking down into it. “Dad’s going just a little crazy, Miya.” He said to the empty crib, warily running a hand through his hair, “But, like… only a little. It’s totally under control. Helpful even! Probably, right? Dad’s gonna check on you just… so much… whether he needs to or not.” Kaito groaned, running a hand over his face. “...alright.”

He sighed, heading to the door and opening it up, “Let’s go check on-- AH!”

Kaito leapt backwards, stunned at the bashful dark eyes peering at him from the dark hallways. “Tryone! What the… holy crap you almost gave me a heart attack…”

“Sorry.” The young boy said, looking a little like he was trying to squirm entirely in place, fiddling with his fingers, “I saw you walk in here and just figured I’d wait…”

“Geeze, no, okay… I’m good… what are you doing here kid!?”

“Y-you, uh… you said we could come whenever we needed you…”

“Oh… oh! Oh shit, okay, yeah.” Kaito knelt down, looking at the clearly incredibly nervous eight year old, “What’s going on? Something happened?”

“Um… I’m not supposed to tell you…” Tyrone bit his lip, before saying quickly, “A lot of the kids are getting together to run away and go be rogue freedom fighters in the woods together but I don’t think they know how to live in the woods and they’re gonna die!”

“...oh.” Kaito said, “Okay.”

By now, Kokichi was...er, partially aware of Kaito getting up to check on everything at night. It was something that he really hoped Kaito was talking about with Miss Crystal, but...otherwise, he didn’t know what to do. When someone recognized obsessive compulsive tendencies in themself, talking to a specialist was usually the next step. And...as long as Kaito wasn’t depriving himself of sleep, it was probably alright. 

...still, that night, Kokichi blinked himself awake, staring tiredly at the blank space in their bed. Not...really warm anymore. 

Kaito had been up for a while. 

(...a different kind of worry than normal…)

Kokichi didn’t really want to just leave Shuuichi if something was wrong, but...if it was just Kaito taking a little longer, he didn’t want to wake Shuuichi up only to come back just a moment later. If something was up, he’d wake Shuuichi up. 

Nodding to himself, Kokichi got out of bed and after confirming that Kaito wasn’t just in the bathroom, he peeked out of their room, whispering out, “Kai-chan?”

Kaito was still whispering with Tyrone, before they both glanced at Kokichi. Kato ran his fingers over his eyes for a moment, before standing up, “Okay… it’s gonna be fine. Let me just... “ Kaito glanced at Maki’s room, and said, “Check on something, and then we’re both gonna head out, you’re gonna show me the path they took, and then you’re going home. Okay?”

Tyrone glanced at the door Kaito looked at, “...is she there?”

Kaito felt his stomach twist lightly, and instead of answering, said, “Go tell Prince Kokichi what you told me, I’ll be out in a second, I promise.”

Tyrone, briefly, looked angry… before sighing. Going over to the prince and bowing, “Good evening, Prince Kokichi.”

Kaito headed to Maki’s room and knocked. 

“...I heard Tryone’s voice.” Maki said softly from the other side of the door.

Kaito grinned warily, resting his forehead against the wood, “Sorry, Maki-roll… time’s up. I don’t wanna pressure you, I know you’re not ready, but… it’s gonna be real tough trying to explain to them later why you didn’t come when they needed you. It’s not about us anymore…”

“...” Maki sighed, opening the door, “Tell me what’s happening.

Tyrone started worrying his joints some more, bowing again nervously to Kokichi, as he said, “So, uh, Jaime and Glen and some of the others have been getting kinda antsy and mad cause things are kinda weird here and for some reason no one will, uh,” Tyrone glanced down the hall, “Well, they’re hiding big sis, and by ‘they’ I guess they mean you, and, uh, I-I’m really hoping you’re not actually keeping big sis prisoner because I’m gonna feel real bad telling you this if they’re right, but I really don’t think my siblings know how to start a secret society of freedom fighters in the woods and I think they’re just gonna piss off our foster parents and starve out there and maybe fall out of trees s-so…”

...oh boy. 

Still tired--though growing rapidly more alert--Kokichi settled down to sit in front of Tyrone, hoping to make the boy feel a little more comfortable if Kokichi put himself in a more disadvantageous position to grab or stop him. Listening to Tyrone’s explanation…

Kokichi sighed softly, but he gave the boy a soft smile. “You’re very brave for coming to tell us--you care a lot about your siblings, don’t you. They’re lucky to have a brother like you.”

“...no, we’re not keeping Maki-chan prisoner. I’m sorry things are so weird and different here, but for Maki-chan…” Kokichi glanced down the hall. “...I’ve been hoping she can tell you why she hasn’t come to visit yet herself. Your big sister is the only person who can make her do things, though.”

...after a moment, Kokichi gave Tyrone another smile. “I’m glad you came to tell us, but… You know, there’s an old story about Dicea that’s one of my favorites. It’s about a group of kids who hid out in the Sorl Woods like your siblings. A few things happened, but there was someone from the town Usott was back then who earned the kids’ trust. He never made them leave the woods, but...he became someone trustworthy. So...they decided to accept his help and live somewhere with food they didn’t have to hunt themselves, and a roof they didn’t have to make.”

“I know things are really scary here, but...hopefully Kai-chan can earn their trust. And things won’t have to be as hard.”

Tyrone nodded quietly. He wasn’t, usually, all that withdawne a kid. He hung out with Jaime, and usually if he seemed tamed and reasonable, it was really only because people were comparing him to his friend…

But he was scared and nervous and was vaguely worried his actions were about to get his friends put into some sort of dungeon somewhere, and so he just nodded quietly at Kokichi’s story. Though he murmured, “I don’t know if they should stay in the woods… none of us have ever camped anywhere before…” Tyrone didn’t consider traveling with the caravan the same thing, “When I asked Jaime how he was going to make fire he said he’d just find some… where do you find fir-?”

“Tyrone,” Maki barked, finally leaving the room, dressed and looking put together, “It’s time to go.”

Tyrone, for a second, practically twisted his fingers, eyes widening as he looked at Maki… before his bottom lip quivered and his watery and the kid suddenly bolted from Kokichi’s side, throwing himself into Maki’s side. “W-where have you been!? E-everyone’s waiting for you!”

There was a brief, agonizing moment where Maki’s face just… broke. Eyes too wide and all the hurt of the last few months worn openly in its ugly, shattered glory, as she put her hand around his back and another hand in through his densely thick, curly hair, holding him close… but the look only lasted a second before Maki closed her eyes, her expression hardening and neutralizing, before she gently peeled the kid off of herself, “Now’s not the time. Those little idiots get themselves more and more lost in the damn woods every second. It’s time to go, Tyrone. You need to show me where you last saw them. Now.”

“Head to the stables, let me throw on some shoes and a shirt, I’ll run down and meet you there by the time you’ve gotten some horses. Don’t steal them, sign them out, trust me, we are super out of chances when it comes to that!” Kaito told her, heading back to the room and, squeezing Kokichi’s shoulder for a second, running past him to dig some clothes of the closet.

It was important to not just rip the kids out of the woods, but despite the gentle way he talked, Kokichi had no intention of just leaving the kids to their own devices in the woods. Larger predators didn’t come towards the edge of the woods that was closer to the fields and the city, but there were still plenty of dangerous creatures like coyotes that weren’t so spooked from seeing people. And while the big creatures didn’t tend to come closer...who knew if a bear would come to the edge of its territory, smelling something unfamiliar. 

The kids were not staying in the woods. 

...but Kokichi didn’t think they’d need much convincing. 

He watched as Tyrone bolted towards Maki, and he saw the pain and vulnerability and love in her eyes, and...if Maki was there, the kids weren’t going to just run farther in. She could get them out. And while Kokichi didn’t think his own presence would counter that...these kids didn’t trust him. 

But there was other work he could do. 

Standing up, Kokichi gave Maki a serious look. “You guys go right away, and I’ll get started talking to their parents. We can group everyone up so no one ends up wandering in the woods alone and no one starts panicking.”

It might look to the kids that he was just getting them in trouble, but...well, sometimes kids got in trouble. Kokichi wasn’t going to brush off them putting themselves in danger because ‘kids will be kids’. Kokichi knew he’d lose his mind if Miya ended up going missing in the middle of the night, and a call from someone saying they knew where she was and help was already on the way would be a lifesaver.

...but he could give them a headstart. He needed to wake Shuuichi up anyway. Turning, Kokichi went back into their room, passing Kaito on his way out and gently shaking Shuuichi’s shoulder. 

“Shuu-chan… Shuu-chan. Maki-chan’s siblings ran into the forest and they’re going to get them back. I need to call their parents.”

Shuichi blinked open his eyes sleepily, gave Kokichi a mildly confused look as he processed what he said… before sighing, “Finally started acting out, huh? Told Maki she was waiting too long. Was a matter of time before they did something to get her attention.”

Kokichi just sighed at Shuuichi’s complete lack of surprise. Hopefully the kids’ parents had picked up on that energy too. Honestly...he wouldn’t be surprised if some of them were already out looking, but hopefully someone from the family would be home to answer the door. 

Or phone. It was mostly just businesses that had phones installed, but a few of the families lived where they ran a business, and hopefully for the families that were farther out from the city center, like the Kiginkos and the Kiyoshis, it would be a faster way to notify them. 

Going to put on shoes and proper pants, Kokichi sighed again. “You can chill here, if you want, but I’m going to be calling as many parents as I can, then...rounding up the others and meeting up by the entrance to the woods, I guess, to hopefully meet the kids once Maki-chan and Kai-chan find them. Hopefully they can convince them to come back by the time I notify all the parents…”

Shuichi yawned, clearly debating himself… “Even I could possibly catch up with them, which I can’t, somehow I doubt they need the help of a detective to find a bunch of loud, messy children traveling together by the edge of the woods. And all I’d do is slow you down…” Shuichi gave Kokichi a thoughtful look before saying, “You should wake up Tim and Chase. Tim can do footwork messages for you, and Chase appealed to a lot of those kids. Could use her to calm down any kids who are particularly heartbroken to be missing out on wood-time adventures.”

Shuichi smiled, looking entirely comfortable as he said, “It’s going to be fine, you know? Maki got those kids out of a war. She’s not going to lose any of them to a night hike in the woods.”

Kokichi paused and gave Shuuichi a thankful smile. “Good idea. I’m gonna catch Maki-chan and Kai-chan so Chase can come with them.” But before he did that, he sighed and gave Shuuichi a nod. “I know… They’re gonna be okay.”

Quickly, Kokichi ran to the stairwell and leaned over the side, hissing out, “Hold on! You should take Chase with you!”

Kaito skidded to a stop on the stairs, hesitated, before running back up, “Yeah, alright. First time I’ve put a dog on a horse but I’m sure Chase will get a kick out of it.”

Kaito knocked urgently at Tim’s door, waiting a moment before the kid opened it up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his palm, “...eh?”

“Your siblings are on the run, we wanna borrow Chase to… sniff them out, I guess?” Kaito said, giving Kokich a bewildered look.

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense.” Tim muttered, before looking over his shoulder, “Chase. Here girl.”

As the bulky ass dog playfully galloped to Tim’s side, Tim pat her on the top of her head, saying, “Dad’s gonna go chase some runaways, Chase… heh.” Tim laughed tiredly, “I’m funny. Are they running away into the woods? Or down the road?”

“Uuuuuuh, woods?”

“Mmmm… amateurs,” Tim muttered. He and Cali had taken the road when they ran away, because it was quicker to get farther, and, like… who wanted to live in the woods? Lame.

At Kaito’s look, Kokichi shrugged a little. “She’d help, and the kids seemed to like her. Might make this easier.”

And while he did agree with Shuuichi that Tim would be able to help with the back side of this...Kokichi felt bad, seeing how sleepy he was. Letting Kaito step away if he felt like he and Maki needed to get on with things, Kokichi gave his nephew a small smile. “While your dad and mom are finding your siblings, I’m tracking down their parents. I’ll be downstairs for a while, but Shuu-chan’s gonna still be in our room, and you know where Haneda-chan is if you need anything, right?”

Tim nodded sleepily, watching his dad and Chase head downstairs, “Mm-hm...she sleeps in the second floor south wing…” 

Tim blinked sleepily at Kokichi. Too polite to straight up ask if he could go to bed yet, but swaying slightly on his feet…

...yeah, he’d let Tim sleep. It had already been a busy day for him, and the upcoming weekend would be nuts. 

“Right,” Kokichi softly confirmed, gently smoothing some hair back out of Tim’s face. “Sleep well, Tim. I’ll see you tomorrow.” And seeing him off to sleep, Kokichi ran downstairs, heading to the phone room. They did have records of all the families that adopted the kids, and he should be able to find the phone numbers, if any, from that information too...addresses as well. 

-

“Why are you bringing the dog?” Maki asked dryly, holding the leash of a second horse she had signed out, passing it on to Kaito, who grinned sheepishly up at her. 

“‘Kichi’s idea. I didn’t ask why. Maybe sniff them out?” Kaito asked.

Tyrone, who was sitting in front of Maki, her keeping him on the horse, looked entranced as Kaito lifted Chase up and put her over the front of the horse, before hopping on himself, the dog just cheerfully panting as she was laid out like a sake in front of him. “The dogs riding the horse?”

“Uuuuuuh, yes!” Kaito said, a tad uncertainly, doing his best to secure her, “Yes? Yes!”

“...cool.” Tyrone murmured. 

“Let’s go!” Maki said, “Hy’a!”

-

“...yes, I understand, I--” Kokichi sighed, empathizing with the worried parent on the other end of the line, but he-

“I know it’s dangerous!!” he snapped. “I know it seems insane to send only two people after them, but you know better than I do that they think Diceans are still the enemy, and if we make a mob going into the forest, they’re never going to feel safe at home! So please cooperate! We’re meeting everyone by the entrance to the Sorl Woods as soon as possible!”

…

Kokichi sighed, a little relieved. “Yeah...yeah, that would help. Thank you. I’m sending everyone there. If the kids aren’t back by the time we’re all grouped up, then we can go in. ...yes. Thank you. We’ll find them.”

...three more numbers to go. Thankfully some of the families were willing to stop by others on the way so...if none of the others volunteered, he’d only need to make two in-person stops. It wouldn’t be long…

-

“...th’nk we’re lost.” Hannah mumbled, holding the hands of Gabel and Mitchy, who both clung to her as the group of children made their way through the woods.

“We’re not lost.” Glen snapped, carrying on his back his baby brother, Card, who gurgled slightly as Jane made little coo’ing noises at him. “It hasn’t even been an hour, no one is allowed to complain about anything yet.”

“You know why we’re not lost?” Piper huffed, carrying a backpack of supplies, most of which were for the baby, “Because we don’t know where we’re going.”

“We’re going to the woods!” Heidi said enthusiastically, looking excited.

“We’re already at the woods.” Whimpered Javier, who was holding Piper’s hand, “Aren’t we?”

“We are! Mission accomplished! Now what, oh fearless leader?” Piper snarked, unphased by Glen’s heated glare.

“Now… now…” Glen looked around uncertainly at the woods. “Now we… make tree houses! And… we’ll rob people who come by the road for supplies!”

“W’AAAAAAAAH!” Javier wailed.

“What!? What!?” Glen demanded, looking to Abel for support, who just shrugged as Glen demanded, “What did I say!?”

“THE DICEANS ARE GONNA KILL USSSS!” Javier wailed, sobbing into Piper’s side.

“Great, are you happy now? You want us to become roadside bandits!? What, do we look like a bunch of assassin candidates to you!?” Piper demanded. “Or soldiers like Tim!? All of us only know the basics! They’ll destroy us!”

“We’re more than capable! We’re strong and cunning and ruthless! Just like Maki!”

“We couldn’t even get into pre-designated careers, Glen! We can’t be big sis! And I don’t know how to build a tree house!”

“Maybe you can’t!” Glen hisses, starting to breathe heavily, his cheeks palng and his vision tunneling, the panic starting to come in… breathe… breathe… “B-but I can! W-we’re gonna get strong! And form a rebellion! A-and-” Glen sucked in another haggard breath, do not pass out, “-a-and take down the monarchy!”

“Why?”

“Formation!”

All of the kids, some better than others, bunched up and went into defensive stances, the smaller kids moving behind the bigger kids, who glared into the darkness of the woods… someone was coming…

Jaime spotted her first. “Maki!”

“Hold your positon, Jaime! I mean it, I’ll thrash you!” Glen snapped, Jaime wincing and holding still, though he was clearly jumping on his heels in excitement as Maki and Kaito both walked up, their horses tied to trees further back.

“Why? Glen, look! It’s big sis!” Jaime insisted.

“Oh, sure.” Glen hissed, “That would be convenient, wouldn’t it? He’s obviously got control of her…”

“...who? Prince Kaito?” Piper asked, sounding a little incredulous. 

“He’s married to the Diceans, he’s obedient to them! And Maki’s conditioning must be making her act like this, out here and hunting us.”

“...actually, wouldn’t that be really bad?” Heidi whispered, pressing in closer to Hannah, “We can’t fight Maki… she’ll kill us…”

Maki narrowed her eyes at that, before idly placing her hands in front of her waist on top of each other, raising an eyebrow at them. “...I’m not being controlled by Kaito. And yes. I would kill you if I was.”

“Okay, well, no, cause that would be suggesting I’d order her to kill you guys, which I never would and-- ow! Maki!”

Maki tucked away the knife she had cut Kaito’s arm open with, Kaito wincing away from her and covering the arm, clear, obvious blood dripping from it, “We have talked about this!!”

“I’m not being controlled by Kaito.” Maki sighed, as she looked back to the children, “I can prove it again, if it helps?”

“No!...” Kaito sighed, “Man, are you carrying any bandages on you? You know Kokichi’s gonna freak out, right? Dammit Maki…”

Maki mutely handed Kaito some bandages, and Glen stepped forward nervously, still looking heated, but mostly at Maki now. 

“Well… if you’re not being controlled, then… where have you been!? Where have you… we heard you came back a month ago! And no one will let us see you! They had to be keeping you prisoner, they had to be-”

“I asked you a question earlier, Glen.” Maki said softly. “Why destroy the monarchy?”

“Because… because they’re holding us prisoner! We’re prisoners of war, and… and they kept you locked in a room and-!”

“That’s not the monarchs fault.” Maki said, “That’s mine. Why else?”

“Why else?” Glen wanted to demand why Maki hadn’t seen them, but… he was starting to get a little overwhelmed by the question, “Why else… because! Because! They’re… weird! And their food is weird! And they’re our enemies, and-”

Maki sighed. Stepping forward, “Not good enough… not even close.”

Glen stepped backward as almost everyone else in his group stepped forward, the kids wanting to be closer to her, some of them clearly just shy of running for her. The only maternal figure any of them had ever had in their lives, and she was right there…

But for Glen’s sake, they held back, as Maki went over to him. Glen grit his teeth and ignored the sudden rush of emotion through him, as Maki put her hands on his face… tilted it this way and that… ignored the way his eyes reddened…

Maki sighed and pulled him against her. Running her hand through his hair as she said, “If you want to fight a monarchy, you need something incredible to drive you. Something that matters to you more than anything. Otherwise it takes too much of you. It exhausts and destroys you. You need something monumental to hold onto…”

Maki sighed again, and pulled away from Glen, pushing his head up to look at her, as she said softly, “I had you. And now you’re safe… I could never find the strength to do that again, without you. And I didn’t do all of that so that you could throw yourselves into another war. It’s not what I want from you. I won’t stand for it… I’m sorry to tell you this, but you all don’t get to run into the woods and become bandits and fight stupid wars for no reason. I won’t allow it. I love you all too much.”

“...” She narrowed her eyes, her voice suddenly hard, “I won’t allow it. Understand?”

Glen sighed… “I don’t really understand.” he murmured. “Everything just keeps happening. Why is all of this happening?”

“I’ll explain everything. I’m sorry I’ve been hiding. Big Sis can be… weak sometimes too. I wasn’t ready to see you all… but that doesn’t matter now.” She looked to her siblings, “I’m sorry. I’m here.”

… they were only children. And Glen only a tired, overwhelmed child among them.

When he clutched onto her, so did they all.

-

...Kokichi was nervous. But, though being among the shortest of the group, he stood tall with his head held high and eyes sharp as he led the group of parents towards the main opening of the Sorl Woods. The parents were all antsy in their own ways, some just barely holding back from barging into the woods themselves to find their kids, some quietly fretting to themselves, some bedecked in armor, should they really need to traverse the woods and fight off startled creatures, and others carrying first aid kits, blankets, and thermoses of comforting drinks and small snacks. 

Kokichi had promised that he wouldn’t keep the parents back once they were all together, and...that was now. He cast a nervous look into the treeline, hoping that he’d see Kaito and Maki emerging out of it, hoping that he wouldn’t lead a well-meaning mob of worried parents into the woods…

It was quiet for a bit…

And then a loud bark, filled with soft giggles. 

Mitchy and Gabel burst out of the tree line, the two four year olds giggling and chasing after Chase, though they startled too a stop when they saw the mob of decked out parents, both of them clutching onto Chase and staring nervously at the parents, not spotting their own… though Mitchy called back, “Glen! Big Sis! The… the people are here!”

“Oh no…” Glen murmured.

“Are you unhappy with them?” Maki asked him quietly, as she and Kaito led the group back to the meeting point. 

“...no, I just…” Glen sighed, adjusting the baby carrier on his back. “...they’re not bad, they’re just… I mean, whatever nefarious scheme the monarchy had cooked up, they clearly didn’t know anything about it, and I just… didn’t want to get them involved in the war. And now they’re gonna be mad.”

“They might be. You did steal all of their children.”

“...we’re not theirs.” Glen muttered.

Maki put her hand on his shoulder, “I’m biased. It’s hard, trying to be a parent to a child you didn’t raise. If they’re unfit to be parents, you and I will talk about it and we’ll solve the problem. But if they’re ‘not bad’? … try to give them a chance. It’s hard. They’re trying their best.”

Glen sighed. The rest of the group coming out of the woods.

Kaito, inconspicuously, not wearing a shirt, with a clean bandage on his arm, and a sheepish, nervous grin on his face. Dooooon’t worry… tooootallly normal to have a strange man walk out of the woods with your missing children, missing clothes. Pleeeeaaaase no weird questions, it’s all normal. “Hey ‘Kichi!” Kaito greeted.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Kokichi’s eyes darted around the kids--and Kaito’s bandage--trying to see if they were alright, but before he could get a word out, Ms. Shion came out from the crowd, letting out a huge sigh of relief. 

“Geez, Jaime! There are more subtle ways of asking if we can go on a camping trip!” 

More towards the back, Mr. Shion, holding Tyrone’s hand--the boy had been insistent on coming along, once Maki and Kaito had dropped him off at home--peered towards the others, and like that the parents started breaking form. Not descending on the kids like a wave, but beckoning them, coming a little forward, but spread out, offering concern and light chastising--which would probably be more serious talks later--and asking after hunger or thirst or fatigue. 

Kokichi sighed, coming forward to his husband. “Kai-chan…”

Kaito looked around. Maki was taking Glen, Piper and Card to the Kiginko family, talking to them while the father and the two grandmothers sighed and talked gently to the three children, Glen looked tired and Piper pleased. It seemed to be true for all of the kids. The two four years olds both getting scooped up by some parents as they tried to show off the dog to them, Javier bursting into tears the second his massive father raised a finger to him to scold him, the man looking a little lost at what to do about it and patting his head nervously, Hannah being scolded by the Kiyoshi as she ate some snacks and drank some water, seeing good natured by the whole thing.

Kaito grinned, drawing his husband into a hug, “Heeeey, look at that! We did it, ‘Kichi!”

Kokichi let out another sigh of relief as he hugged Kaito back, nuzzling him softly. “Looks like everyone’s okay… Shuu-chan’s going to have a massive, smug ‘I told you so’ tomorrow.”

Pulling back slightly, Kokichi touched around the edges of Kaito’s bandage, looking up at Kaito with some concern. “...I know you’re okay-okay, but...what happened? If you got caught on a thorny bush or something we should get this disinfected…”

Kaito seriously considered lying… before sighing, “You’re right, I am okay, but the kids were accusing me of using my conditioning to sic Maki on them because I’m your husband and do what you say or whatever and like we could have made literally any argument, Maki… but she thought a quick way to prove she’s not under a conditioning effect would be to, ya know, do something I obviously didn’t want her to do to prove it.”

“Annnnnd she’s ruined another one of my shiiiiirts, ‘Kiiiiiiichi.” Kaito whined, leaning down to rest his head on his husbands shoulder, “Make her stooooop, I swear! I’m running out of clothing!”

Kokichi echoed his husband’s sigh. It was a very Maki argument. 

Reaching around to pat Kaito’s back, Kokichi hummed consolingly. “I believe it would be fair to propose that she compensate you--she has to buy you some shirts, and not just the cheapest she can find. Something you’d actually like as a shirt. She ruined them, so she’s the one who has to make it up to you. That’s the very basics of social responsibility.”

Speaking of Maki though, Kokichi turned his head a bit to look for Maki, smiling as she saw some of the kids introducing her to their parents, all of them seeming pretty considerate of the situation, and Kokichi was pretty sure he heard Ms. Shion call her, ‘the famous big sis’. 

Holding Kaito a little closer, Kokichi hummed. “I think we might be out here a little longer. I can’t imagine her siblings are particularly eager to be away from Maki-chan right now, even with the call of sleep.”

“That’s alright,” Kaito grinned, straightening up and playing with Kokichi’s hair a little as he held him, “We can rest later. And I was thinking I’d set up something at, like, one of the parks soon. Maybe a little barbecue, some sports… ya know. Just let the kids play and maybe…” His grin weakened, looking at Maki, “letting Maki spend time with them in a way that’s… not full of drama and scary speeches about war and… just all the stuff I know she’s been trying to avoid with them…”

“She really wasn’t ready for this.” Kaito murmured, running his fingers through Kokichi’s hair, “I saw her nearly break down easily three times tonight. She doesn’t want them to see her break… she’s got a lot of problems, but our Maki loved these fuckings kids, man…”

Kokichi nodded, pressing against Kaito but looking over his shoulder at Maki and the kids. “That would be nice… Just...letting them be kids and letting Maki-chan be a big sister.” Everything she did was for them. And knowing how much of a horrible toll the war took on Maki, even with her enormous love...seeing the people she did it for was...too much. Too much still. He had a feeling seeing them able to live free and, hopefully, one day, happily, would give her more catharsis but…

...seeing the people she bet everything for try to throw away the life they’d gotten was…

Kokichi snorted softly, pressing a kiss to Kaito’s neck. “You’re gonna be a really busy bee the next few weeks, huh. Vent duty, a fishing trip, organizing a field day… Kai-chan’s like a superhero.”

Kaito grinned tiredly, “Yeah? How about… captain dad-guy or… sir needs a nap…”

Kaito looked around, before saying, “Wanna go sit by a tree and pretend we’re still doing leadership stuff while everyone chats?”

“Sir Needs-a-Nap does have a good ring to it…” Kokichi giggled softly before following Kaito’s gaze around to the others. Man, it was late… 

Trailing his hand down Kaito’s arm, Kokichi nodded as he took his hand. “Let’s do it. We can keep each other awake so they don’t make fun of us.”

-

Kokichi had been right, it had been a late night after that. 

It was entirely because the kids were reluctant to leave Maki now that they had her. They swarmed and hoarded around her, asking her questions, some easy: “Can we keep the dog?” “No.”, “Are you staying in Dicea?” “Yes.”

Some hard. Some very hard. “Why didn’t you want to see us?” “How long have you been back for?” “We heard you killed King Byakuya.” “No she didn’t, she just starved a bunch of people.” “Did she? Did you?” “Is so-and-so okay?” “Did you see our siblings while you were home?” “Is everyone alright?”

“What’s going to happen to us now?”

“Are we going back now that the war is over?”

“Why did you bring us here?”

A lot of hard questions, and Maki grew more and more exhausted as she tried to answer them. Kaito noticed her answers started to get more vague as they went, and he suspected it wasn’t for a lack of her having an answer. But more just… her becoming reluctant to say anything. Withdrawing and breaking down under the pressure.

Thankfully, the parents started herding the kids away, and once Kaito and Kokichi got involved, insisting it was time for bed and there’d be more chances to talk to Maki later. The night did eventually end, and they returned the horses, heading to bed.

It was basically morning by the time they all slept. The day was a wash, for the most part.

-

Later, it occurred to Kaito…

Thalia.

It occurred to him as he heard Kokichi and Shuichi quietly discussing Shuichi’s options for getting a new therapist. Kokichi was trying his best, but Shuichi seemed entirely uninterested in talking about it in depth, and eventually just sort of quietly shut it down, changing the subject. Looking tired and despondent from thinking about it.

...there had to be techniques and stuff for people who had gone through what Shuichi had gone through. There had to be. Danganronpa was filled with people who had gone through that trauma of the pollen, they weren’t just… ignoring them? Right?

Kaito thought about all the help Indentureds were going to need in Luminary and his stomach twisted slightly. No guarantees, really… but still. If anyone would know, it was Thalia.

So he went hunting for her.

Maybe by coincidence, Thalia and Kaito ended up at the same cafe, the warmer weather counteracted just a bit by the clouds dotting the sky, though it didn’t look like rain was on the horizon. Thalia was sipping thoughtfully at her--overly sweetened--coffee, again trying to ride the line between how much she could afford to tell Kaito. 

“...I think I might have an answer for you, but it’s not exactly from home.” Thalia sighed, giving Kaito a tired look. “I told you before that Queen Enoshima doesn’t consider anyone who can’t trace their direct lineage back thousands of years to really be citizens, right? So people who were forced on poppies aren’t really taken care of in the emotional or mental areas… And the people who do get help are people who took them willingly and had the medicine that doesn’t make you completely lose it, so that’s not really the situation your guy is in.”

Thalia paused again, tapping the side of her cup before she sighed. “...you’re not gonna like this.”

Kaito nodded, sipping at his dark roast coffee, enjoying the heat and the small buzz of adrenaline easing through him. Right… that all made sense. It made sense for the same reason there wasn’t help for Indentureds yet. The average person didn’t really see them as needing help. Either because they didn’t deserve it or because there was nothing to recover from.

He sighed a little when she mentioned the version that didn’t make you ‘lose it’. He didn’t think about it… too much, because it was the sort of thing that could drive you mad, but he had been thinking about his childhood from the context of the new information in his life. He was… guessing he got some version of the pollen that Thalia’s father had. Something that didn’t make you into the pain-loving, death-chasing lunatic that Shuichi had been for a minute there. Something that didn’t end with a womb or a poor fucking monster cock that no one would ever actually want to be touched by. His poor, handsome guy…

He was too embarrassed to ask Thalia why he was not, in fact, all womby and carrying around an unruly third arm, but he was making some guesses. He hadn’t… hit puberty, when the tutoring sessions had ended for him. Kaito no longer eating and drinking things delivered by hand to him from Tengan. Because, looking back at it, that had to be the reason Kaito was always allowed to eat and drink during those. Byakuya hadn’t been allowed to take those things from Kaito, and he remembered as a kid thinking maybe it was some sort of… reward for being good? Back when he had really wanted to believe that Tengan was as interested in his development as his brother’s. That the sessions had something to offer to both of them, and Kaito just… couldn’t see it yet.

Ha! He guessed, in a really fucked up way, he had been right! Tengan had been really interested in his development! 

Ha ha ha ha- Kaito grinned absentmindedly and said, “Try me. I know I have a whole ‘anger’ reputation, but I take way more things in stride than anyone gives me credit for. How can I help my guy?”

Thalia gave Kaito a wary look, but she wanted to help. She didn’t feel responsible for the crimes and just shitty stuff her country and brethren committed, but Kaito was a kind person, and the Ouma family made this country something beautiful. If Thalia could manage to help them in some way, she would. 

“There’s someone in town that’s been helping out people who got caught up in those poppy orgies last year. A therapist. He...knows a bit more than the average person what was going on there so,” Thalia shrugged a bit. “I don’t know the details because of confidentiality, apparently, but people have seemed more at peace with things after talking with him.”

“Dr. Ford. Office on the north side.”

Kaito hated himself for the brief little squeeze of fear that ran through him.

He took a breath and let it go. He had… already come to terms with all of that. Hell, he had reached out to Dr. Ford trying to get him as a therapist again, and it had been Ford who had said no. Kaito knew the person who had… fucked around with him wasn’t Dr. Ford. Just another imposter. Like Togami. Someone really, really good at wearing other people’s faces… It hadn’t been Ford’s fault. Kaito had literally only ever met him once.

And then the poor bastard had gotten locked up in his house for the crime of Kaito going to him for help.

Kaito still felt stupid and small and embarrassed when he thought about those therapy sessions. He had so desperately wanted to do well and not fuck it up and not be sent away…

...but that hadn’t been Ford’s fault. Kaito grinned and hoped it didn’t look as uneasy as it felt as he said, “Oh! Dr. Ford’s practicing again! That’s great to hear! Oh… ha, I can see why you thought... “ Kaito suddenly looked at her curiously, “I guess you heard about what happened between us through the grapevine?” Or he might have missed it if the Ford stuff had been in the newspaper. He had, to be fair, probably been locked up in the med room still when the world was talking about all of that, detoxing.

Thalia half shrugged, though she did grimace, looking a little uncomfortable. “My mom ended up being the person who found him in his basement. During your kidnapping thing. I wanted to check up on him, once everything was said and done, and we’ve kept in touch.”

He’d wanted answers. Valigon had heard everything--apparently her mom and that crazy siren had been arguing about the queen for who knew how long, and while Thalia’s mother had erased the prince and his friend’s memory, she had let Valigon slip through the cracks, probably thinking he hadn’t heard from the basement. But he had. And Thalia was left to desperately salvage the aftermath, trying to keep another angry hoard of Flora from coming after the therapist again. 

But...from that, Valigon had gained a perspective that not a ton of people in Dicea had, and with his expertise, he had started to help out the people that that stupid cult left in the lurch. And Dicea needed someone that could help them. 

Shuuichi could be another one. 

“It might be too personal, but...he’s the answer I have,” Thalia sighed. 

Kaito’s eyes widened a little, surprised they had that sort of connection. His knowledge of what had happened the day of his ‘kidnapping’ was… vague, to say the least. And his family's explanation of events hadn’t cleared much of anything up. The last thing Kaito remembered was Togami knocking him out at the brewery, and then he had woken up in the med room where he had been kept for a long time after that. And how his family described it…

They had met some people on the road who knew where Togami was, for some reason. They had taken Maki and Kokichi to Ford’s house, and then Togami had just… agreed to come back with them. And gone to Dicea’s holding cells. And was sent back to Luminary. And then was just… executed.

… Togami had essentially just taken a long, winding road to suicide, for no reason anyone had ever been able to explain to Kaito. Kaito wished things made more sense, but… well, a lot of things in Kaito’s life didn’t make any sense, and when he found the answers, they usually made him feel worse for how… little. And petty. It had all been. So far, two of the biggest challenges in Kaito’s life had both been about the adult men in his life deciding to just casually use Kaito to fulfill some sort of sexual fantasy, and hell, if he dug into it, maybe that’s all Togami was going to end up being too.

Kaito’s stomach twisted uncomfortably at that idea. He kinda hoped it had been about more than that, whatever Togami was doing. Had been trying to do. Kaito guessed he’d never know.

“It’s a good answer,” Kaito grinned, “Honestly, better than I was hoping! I should have known someone was working on pollen based therapy by now, considering the brewery parties, but Ford… h-he was really reassuring, the one time I met him! Approachable but professional… I bet Shuichi could open up to someone like that! A-and considering,” Kaito coughed, shaking his head, “Sorry, something in my throat,” he lied, clearing it again, forcing the tension out of his throat, “And considering he’s got a sort of… personal connection to Ronpan’s pollen bullshit! That’s a fantastic recommendation, Thalia!”

Kaito paused, sipped his coffee… and then said more seriously, “Has everything been normal, since I last talked to you? No… feelings like you’re being watched, or people you don’t know trying to contact you? Anything like that?”

...sure. It was difficult to have a professional relationship with someone you had such history with, but...well, it would ultimately be Shuuichi and Valigon’s decision. Each of them deciding for themselves if they could handle talking about difficult things with each other. Kaito’s own comfort wouldn’t be as much of a factor--unless he decided he couldn’t take it to the point he never told Shuuichi about this--but it was something he’d have to come to terms with separately. 

Thalia nodded slightly, taking another drink from her coffee. “Like I said, he’s probably the best lead on someone that could actually help out Shuuichi. Not many people to my knowledge would be interested or invested in helping people out from that bullshit.”

And there were a great deal more people who were invested in preventing that kind of help. But so far…

Thalia blinked in slight surprise before she smiled faintly, feeling...touched that Kaito was asking after her safety. “So far, nothing that I’ve noticed. Which could really mean that there’s nothing,” she shrugged, “It’s dangerous to talk about this stuff, but...I’ve taken precautions. Again, don’t go spreading all this around, but...if kept on the downlow? We should be alright.”

Looking a bit more unsure, though, she continued. “...what Dr. Ford’s doing is...not exactly secretive, but no one but him and his patients can confirm what it is they’re discussing. I can just make the guess from the histories of him and a chunk of the new patients he’s gotten. And...if people haven’t been coming after the people who went to those parties by now, I think they’re safe.”

Kaito frowned at that idea. “I mean… Shuichi’s situation isn’t exactly a ‘secret’. If Danganronpa was targeting people affected in Dicea, then there’s no hiding him… and it’s been almost nine months. Plus, Seiko, uh, Dr. Kimura, she hasn’t had an attack on her office since the first few incidents months ago. Maybe… either Danganronpa’s distracted from what’s going on in Dicea, or something or someone has been specifically protecting the people involved… I guess it’s just guessing by this point.”

Kaito fussed with his mug nervously, before saying, “I didn’t bring you up, or mention how I knew the information at all… but I haven't kept it to myself. That’s why, if you feel like there’s anything different, don’t brush it off, it might not be paranoia. There’s no reason to really trace the info back to you, but I don’t want you to be caught blindsided if I haven't thought of a connection. If you feel like you’re being watched? My boyfriend’s a trained detective and my best friend is an assassin, and both of them are trained to be able to spot evidence of surveillance. Talk to us, we can confirm if it’s just in your head or not. Don’t feel like you have to take care of it yourself.”

“And, again, there’s no reason it should come back to you, but be just as wary of anyone from Novoselic as you would be Danganronpa. I sent that information to Princess Sonia of Novoselic, my cousin. She’s good at secrets and collecting information, but I don’t really know what she’ll do with it, and I don’t want her risking putting you in danger by farming you for more info, if somehow she figures out you’re my source. I just…”

Kaito frowned. “What Danganronpa’s doing is dangerous. Luminary’s too unstable to be worth confiding in right now, and Dicea… honestly, I’m just not going to tell the king, ‘cause I don’t know what he’d do with the information or how Dicea would react, and my family’s sanity and safety matters more to me than trying to keep the world in the loop about Danganronpa. But… if they don’t already know? Which they might, they might all already know all about this and I’m just repeating info Sonia already knows all about, but if they don’t? At least one of the world leaders should know… that was my thought process… I’m sorry if… that broke your trust in any way…”

That was the confusing thing, wasn’t it. Thalia knew why Danganronpa hadn’t just invaded Dicea en masse, or even tried to infiltrate it more than their ambassador--which would be in the country regardless of anything--and a few Flora living here and there, usually on their own terms and not on business for the queen. ...or, she knew the basics of it, anyway. Her mother had explained that there was a powerful, ancient magic that was embedded into the very land of Dicea, somehow tied directly into the concept of the kingdom. Magic folk physically could not stay in large numbers, and until a generation or two ago, that included all magic folk that weren’t humans who had magic properties. It was the type of magic only a god could pull off, or a dragon could enforce, but there were no dragons left, and Izais wasn’t aware of any gods living on this continent. 

So that was why Danganronpa wasn’t invading, or coming after people in droves. But why they weren’t trying to send in smaller teams, or messing around more with the changing tides of other nations, Thalia didn’t know. 

“That’s why I said that. Dicea’s made it very public that poppies are more than just a poison, and that that cult was drugging people. With no attacks other than that doctor before things got super public? I think it’s unlikely there’s going to be anyone from Danganronpa coming to shut things up. They’d have to silence the whole nation, and that,” Thalia rolled her eyes, “is completely unfeasible.”

...going after an individual Flora and keeping her from telling people about their species, though…

Thalia sighed. 

Novoselic… She didn’t know how open the magic community was there. With the number of elementals, she wouldn’t be wholly surprised if the royal family knew about magic, but… If their international handlings over the past few hundred years were anything to go by, Novoselic wouldn’t bother going on some moral crusade to free people from Queen Enoshima’s rule so...it was probably safe for Kaito to give the princess a heads up. 

...she’d keep an eye out, though. 

Thalia shook her head. “I get it, and I did say that if you had to tell anyone, just don’t link it to me. You did that, so...we’re good. And thanks for the heads up… I’ll let you know if anything weird starts happening.”

Speaking of weird… Thalia tapped the side of her cup. “...your daughter’s gonna be born any day now, isn’t she?”

“God, yeah. Any fucking day is right. Just a little over two weeks.” Kaito grinned, lighting up a little. “Fuck it’s actually happening! Miya’s on her way! I keep wondering if she’s gonna inherit the multi-hair thing you have… gah, I’m so excited!”

His grin quickly became more sheepish, as he said, “If there’s anything I should know yet about her that you haven't thought to tell me, pollen-baby wise, now’s a great time. I keep re-reading all the damn baby books and I feel like I’ve got every random fucking fact about babies memorized by now, but... I don’t know. I still don’t feel prepared. Maybe new parents never do.”

Thalia smiled a bit at Kaito’s clear enthusiasm, but she mirrored his sheepish look as she reached into an interior pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small slip of paper. “After you asked me last time, I wrote to my mom about it. She kind of always expected to have kids like that, but she did remember things that Dad used to be more surprised about.”

Looking at the list, Thalia read them off. “Uh...sugar actually helps our body process nutrients, so it’s pretty common for people like us to casually drink sugar water. But...I think it’s straight up glucose that we need, so eating more fruit than usual might do the trick. And I don’t think it actually does anything, health-wise, but apparently my brothers and I kept trying to sit in the sun when we learned how to crawl, so be up on sunscreen and maybe just put her in a sunny spot to begin with if she keeps trying to escape.”

Parents weren’t usually prone to putting their children in fire, so that warning Thalia could leave off…

“And if we make it to actually being babies? We’re set. Apparently my mom found it very amusing how delicate my dad used to treat us, so I think we’re significantly hardier than people born the usual way.” Thalia gave Kaito an amused look. “I’m not saying bowl your kid, but you probably don’t have to worry about any little thing hurting her.”

Kaito’s eyes were hungry as he looked at the back of the paper Thalia was reading from, nodding his head vigorously at every small piece of information… before his eyes widened. “Oh! Okay… sorry, that explains some weird things I’ve drunk before. And that explains Shuichi’s cravings somewhat… dude’s been on a huge sugar kick, but his sudden thirst for vinegar-based stuff too is pretty normal, according to the pregnancy books… Just normal, horrifying cravings…”

Kaito suddenly laughed, rolling his eyes. “Sugar water ‘improves your mood’. That's the bullshit line I was given. I don’t even like sugar that much… Geez, I’m about to be surrounded on all sides by little sugar gremlins. Guess I better up my fruit game…”

The prince grinned harder, imagining his daughter napping in sunny spots. “A desire for sunlight, huh? That’s cute… maybe pollen-babies are just generally colder? Kokichi’s like that, but his is poor circulation. He and Miyako can bond by seeking warmth together… Sugar water, sunlight… heh. My kid sounds like a plant.” Kaito laughed.

Thalia shrugged a bit. “Again, simple sugars are probably better overall than complex sugars--even using that we could never convince our parents to double up on dessert. From what I’ve noticed for myself? I just start feeling a little run down and sick if I haven’t had anything with sugar for a while. Considering it’s in fruit and bread and literally anything you add honey or molasses or straight up sugar to,” she rolled her eyes with a shrug, “not a huge issue.”

...after that, though, Thalia started to sweat. Just a little bit. It was a good thing she left off the fire thing. 

She shrugged, smirking a little. “I think I’ll take real plants over a kid. I deal with fertilizer, but you couldn’t pay me to change a diaper.”

Kaito laughed, before huffing, “Fair. Kids are a lot. You won’t fucking believe what my 9-year-old did…”

-

Hajime was running around, cleaning as he went, a broom in his hand and a duster hanging from his belt and both well used today because, holy shit, turns out cleaning out vents that had been unfiltered for a year quickly became an ‘everyone’ problem.

On the maintenance crews insistence, the castle’s doors had been closed to the public. Theoretically. The truth was the doors were wide open, including every door in the castle, including the windows. The cleaning crew, along with everyone else in the castle, were all wearing dust masks at least part of the time, in the more congested areas, but the ‘essential workers’ that were staying in the castle for the cleaning had spent all day covering furniture in the vent areas that were being cleaned at that time with sheets and plastics and cleaning up as rapidly as they could, everyone collectively hoping this would only take the two days allotted and the castle could return to business as normal at the start of the week.

The kids had been, under the supervision of the housekeepers, part of the ‘covering everything in sheets’ teams, and were now, again, with supervision, cleaning and sweeping hallways and general rooms as the vents pumped out the things it had been collecting in the area. Once the vents were cleared, then the filters would be installed, but for now, using a mixture of air blowers and long, chimney sweep cleaner, it was primarily the maintenance crew, Kirumi, and Kaito who were actually doing the physical labor of clearing the vents themselves.

There was a lot of mixed feelings about the whole situation, from the population of the castle. On one hand? Kids will be kids. Shits happens. On the other hand, this felt very much like a Luminary started problem, and there was some grumbling from that, from those who’d grumble about the Luminaries in general anyway. Kirumi, in turn, was furious with herself for having missed this this whole time and was furiously working harder than anyone else, trying to fix ‘her’ mistake, which had made Kaito feel a little bad, even if she had maybe done something horrible to him in his childhood that he had pretty thoroughly repressed by that point.

There were also people who appreciated that the ones who had caused the problem seemed to be so involved in fixing it, just generally viewing it as the decent thing to do and glad that the Lumnaries didn’t need to be strong-armed into being decent, at least. And there were a few people who… maybe appreciated Kaito’s assistant, in particular… a little too much…

Hajme sighed as he came across some of the housekeepers, leaning against the second floor stairs safety rails, just openly staring. “Hey. Hey! There’s a lot to do, you guys, why are you all just standing around?”

“Break.” One of them said, their eyes not moving from the scene at all.

“What, now?? There’s dirt everywhere, and it’s not even close to your usual break times!”

“Breaks are important.” Said one of the other housekeepers insisted, also not looking away from the scene below. “Especially when you’re working with face covers. Don’t want to over-exert.”

“Well, sure, but…” Hajime glanced down the stairs, before groaning, “Oh come on…”

Kaito, covered in dirt and sweat, having apparently decided to ditch his shirt at some point, was holding up the air blower into the vent, the wind blowing back into his hair as he stared, concentrating on his work… before putting it down, grabbing the sweeper stick and starting to brush out the dirt and dust that had blown backwards into catching distance… muscles flexing with every movement...

One of the housekeepers sighed, “That’s right… work it…”

“Back to work you weirdos!” Hajime yelped! “Now!”

Kokichi had been on sheet duty, and he really wanted to help more, but… 

Well, the issue of dust was a big one. Even with a dust mask, he was starting to feel a little stifled, and while no one had just up and carried him out of the castle yet, he had been getting worried looks and people checking on him frequently to really make sure that he didn’t need to step out for a bit.

And the other issue was...the other stuff that was with the dust in the vents. And that was nearly enough to make Kokichi cave and wait outside while everyone was working their butts off trying to clean up and get the vents ready for filters. 

But not actually enough. 

Kokichi’s solution was to wear goggles and a long hat he could tuck into his shirt, which had its sleeves tucked into gloves, and his pants were tucked into his shoes. It was uncomfortably warm, but...it was the solution that let Kokichi keep helping out. Even if right now, he was just spotting the step-ladder Kaito was on. 

...he really had no idea how Kaito managed to feel comfortable with his shirt off, but Kokichi wasn’t even able to really watch. He kept his eyes narrowed and focused on the ladder, trying not to catch sight of anything else. 

Hearing Kaito turn off the blower for the time being, Kokichi called up, “You doin’ alright?”

Kaito sighed, wiping some of the sweat from his forehead as he finished catching the rest of the dirt, letting it fall onto the floor in front of him, before stepping down from the ladder, “Yeah, but damn, I need a breath. Wanna sit outside for a second? I just need a little fresh air, then we can go back to it.”

Oh absolutely

Stepping back only when he saw that Kaito was completely down from the ladder, Kokichi started to shake his head vigorously before he felt the back of his hat tug. “Yes! I feel like I’m making a pool in my clothes in here.”

Determined to not look at the floor as they headed out, Kokichi coughed softly, looking forward to that fresh air. “Wanna see if Shuu-chan’s right where we left him? I wonder how many books he’s gotten through so far.”

“By this point? Wouldn’t be surprised if he wants me to make another run for more.” Kaito grinned, the two of them heading out the front doors and taking a left to the western gardens. “Still might be a good idea to get a hotel room tonight… our rooms should be good, but the dust in the air’s not fun. I’ve got Tim heading to Kimiko’s tonight cause I was worried about Chase, but I don’t think it’s good for us either, even if we leave the windows open… though I still think the snake would have been fine.”

He said this with a grumble as, finding Shuichi exactly where they had left him, lounging in a lawn chair in the closed off garden, looking thoroughly relaxed as he read through his latest book in the sun, wearing a black shirt and some dark shorts and…

Kaito shuddered at the massive ball python just… chilling out. On top of Shuichi. He was never going to get used to just seeing that on his very pregnant boyfriend. He knew this was what Shuichi was doing when he was spending time in his study, but ugh. 

As they got onto grass, Kokichi did a few hops and swishes, trying to get as much dust and dirt (and nothing else at all) off of him as possible before he started taking off his gloves and mask and hat, taking a deeeeeep breath of fresh air, starting to feel a little better already. Enough to give Kaito a look and a giggle. “There aren’t any air filters in Nini’s tank, so whatever we’d breathe in, he’d breathe in. I think he’d be alright overnight, but not while there’s a bunch of dust in the air everywhere.”

Bouncing up to Shuuichi, Kokichi gave Nini a few gentle, hello pets as he cooed, “You’re much happier out here, aren’t you? Right under that warm sun…”

“It doin’ the same for you, Shuu-chan?” Kokichi greeted.

Kaito twitched at the coo’ing and pets, but knowing that was a lost battle, just huffed and took off his dust mask, laying out on the grass and just relaxing a moment… man. Even as fit as he was, he forgot how hard it was to do manual labor all day. It was more a mental discipline than a physical one. A lesson in endurance… phew. He hadn’t done anything like this since the priestess’s sent him to get his iron block himself out of the mines. 

...Kaito blinked at the sky…

… Luminary did have a lot of mines, huh… they exported a lot of metals, he knew, but beyond urban development spikes in other kingdoms, there wasn’t that much of a demand for a lot of iron and steel…

… steel… this was months ago, but hadn’t he… made some joke about some fantasy project needing a lot of steel… what had needed a lot of steel?

As Kaito followed the random thought process, idly trying to remember what the fuck he had thought would need, just, an unreasonable amount of steel, Shuichi smiled at Kokichi. “It’s treating me better than it looks like the vents are treating you guys. Kaito, what’s happened to your shirt?”

“It was hot.” Kaito pouted.

“Uh huh… Kokichi, you sure I can’t tempt you to just laze about with me all day? You look miserable.” Shuichi laughed lightly, though there was something genuinely sympathetic in it as he looked at Kokichi’s getup. “The vents aren’t really your responsibility, you know. And we both have really good excuses to get out of vent duty, regardless.”

Kokichi sighed as he sat down next to Shuuichi’s chair, enjoying filling his lungs with clean, unobstructed air. Getting a room for the night didn’t seem like the worst idea… “I wanna help out where I can. Even if it’s just keeping up with ladder safety for Kai-chan right now. But...I might come join you. My chest isn’t the happiest, even wearing a dust mask.”

“...and it is hot,” Kokichi agreed, giving Kaito a nod while he grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling it out and in to try and get some airflow to his body. Suddenly, though, he grimaced, leaning his head on the side of Shuuichi’s chair. “Ugh… I really hope Miya gets both of your heat resistance. Like, I’m just dressed too warmly right now, but it won’t matter what I’m wearing in the middle of summer… Gotta figure out the best way to fan a baby…”

“I think she’ll like the heat,” Kaito mused… before frowning…

… maybe he should tell them.

He just didn’t know how much to tell them. What was safe to reveal and what would lead to way too many questions. Kokichi could not know about Danganronpa, it’d terrify him and Kaito was genuinely worried his husband would feel like it was his responsibility to do something about it. Which if Luminary was any indication, would lead to not a lot actually getting done, but a lot of sleepless nights and maybe a suicidal meltdown.

Kaito didn’t care if it was wrong to keep something that huge a secret from his husband. His husband kept trying to carry the evils of the world on his shoulders and Kaito wasn’t about to watch him do it again. No.

...besides, he really didn’t need Maki hearing about it and maybe getting it into her head, like, ‘whelp, how hard could taking down one more slavery program be?? Just pop off and get it done in a few months, no big deal…’

He didn’t think she actually would, but also, he hadn’t thought she’d do a lot of things. So better safe than sorry there.

But that was Danganronpa stuff, and Kaito felt no guilt keeping that under his belt… he did, however, feel guilty that he knew things about their daughter that his partners didn’t yet… that was more personal. As far as Kaito was concerned? That mattered more.

Kaito dug his fingers into the dirt a little… “...actually, so, I talked to Thalia yesterday…”

“...okay, so.” Kaito said, sitting up and looking over at Kokichi and Shuichi, “I was thinking about what Dr. Mariah said, right? That Shuichi needed trauma therapy?”

Shuichi sighed, already looking exhausted, “Yeah?”

“Well, I figured… with the pollen stuff, everything you went through with that… you’re not alone in that. It came from Danganronpa, you’re not the only person who’s ever been changed by it. So, I thought I’d ask Thalia, since she’s from Danganronpa, if she knew any techniques or people who might have more experience with pollen stuff? And, she came back to me with a buttload of information! Like, this isn’t unheard of in Danganronpa, and she was able to give me a bunch of advise about the baby--”

Shuichi frowned at that, brows furrowing, but didn’t interrupt as Kaito continued.

“-- and she also had a great recommendation for a therapist! There’s someone who's been specializing in pollen trauma the last year, helping the folks who were affected by the brewery party, and… I already have a really good opinion of him as far as first impressions go! Basically! Um… ha! You’ll never guess!”

...Kokichi looked at his husband curiously. He got the impression that Kaito was...conflicted. And...guilty. But...also resolute, in some ways…

...but that was almost scarily mind-read-y so Kokichi just took a breath and waited for Kaito to talk. 

It was true that there were a fair number of people who, while they didn’t quite go through the same things Shuuichi did, had similar experiences. Kokichi hadn’t kept up with it second to second, but he heard the rehab program had been going really well, and everyone who had been admitted to it was off the medicine now, having their spore counts negated. 

But that was only the physical consequence, and not even all of them, considering the people who had gotten pregnant, and that a few people had had enough spores for the other changes to their bodies too. 

Kokichi figured that there would be people looking into giving the victims of the cult activities more specialized treatment, so...that was really good to hear that there was someone qualified for it!

(...but also… Stuff like this happened in Danganronpa? Enough that a normal person like Thalia would know about it?)

(...well, of course she would. That’s...really lucky that she’s already reaching out to Kaito. Hopefully that will make things easier later.)

While Kokichi felt...a little confused, he was mostly unbothered by it all. But Kaito’s own slightly panicked discomfort… Kokichi narrowed his eyes, frowning gently. 

“...Dr. Ford?”

Kaito laughed a tad too loudly, and said, “Hey! Look at that! You guessed first try! You’re real sexy when you’re clever, you know that babe? Yeah, he--”

“What’s wrong with the baby?” Shuichi asked, sitting up, his expression growing more sour and uncomfortable, “What did she tell you?”

Kaito looked briefly confused, “...No, no, nothing’s wrong with the baby, Shuich--”

“Then why did she have advice? What did she need to tell you!?”

“Nothing! Or, no, not nothing, but nothing bad, just differen--”

“What’s different about my baby!?”

Kaito’s face suddenly turned serious, and he said, “Shuichi, breathe… I promise I will tell you everything she said about Miyako, none of it is bad, just breathe… I refuse to start until your breathing evens out, I’m serious…”

(Shit.)

(I wish I could just tell them already…)

Looking worried, Kokichi got on his knees to be closer to Shuuichi’s eye level, not quite touching him, but leaving a hand nearby when Shuuichi was ready to initiate touch himself. 

Nini, apparently, had no such qualms, and shifted slightly, curling around Shuuichi’s belly almost protectively, if Kokichi would guess anything. 

“Shuu-chan, Dr. Tenchi’s been giving you check-ups for months, and every week lately. Everything about Miya is healthy and normal for a baby. You know she’s told us when anything’s been unique. Miya’s different, in that she grew before she developed, so we do know there were differences, but...she’s just a normal baby. Differences that don’t really mean that much. She’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”

...Kokichi gave Kaito a glance, searching in his eyes if that was right.

Kaito nodded enthusiastically at Kokichi’s glance-- absolutely, there was nothing wrong-- but didn’t say anything else, knowing too many voices could send Shuichi right off into that panic attack that was building up in his face. Shuichi took a few shallow breaths, listening to Kokichi, absorbing what he was saying…

A shudder ran through their partner, and when he blinked there was a few overwhelmed tears in his eyes, but his breathing came back under control, “...okay…” he rasped, wiping his cheeks off with the back of his palm for a moment, before mindlessly starting to pet Nini, “Okay… s-so… what did she say then?”

Kaito searched Shuichi’s face for signs that he was actually calming down… and when he saw that he was, he dropped his serious expression and grinned, “Well, you guys are automatically getting another member of the ‘pro-sugar’ team! Don’t think this means I’m backing off at all though. Apparently, kids born under the influence of pollen either need a lot of fruits or sugar water, because the sugar helps break down some nutrients they need. Thalia said if Miyako seems sorta run-down or tired, a bit of simple sugars would help! And before anyone asks, no, cakes are not simple sugars. Got it?”

“O-okay… so some… simple diet needs… i-it explains why my chest tastes the way it does, I guess…” Shuichi murmured, “What else?”

“Pollen kids apparently also seem to have a habit of wanting to spend a lot of time in the sun! So, sunscreen and maybe putting her crib under the window, if it turns out she’s that way too? Thalia didn’t know why they were attracted to sunlight, but my guess is it's like Kokichi: they just run cold. Kokichi and Miyako will be little heat-seeking leeches together.”

Shuichi laughed at that, “That’s pretty cute…”

“And, she really kept stressing that pollen babies are born healthy as fuck. Like, I guess outside of the dietary stuff? She swears up and down pollen baby’s are more durable than the average kid. I think we might end up getting a buff baby, you guys!”

Shuichi looked thoughtful at that, “I mean… the whole reason I took pollen in the first place is because I noticed it improved my healing and muscle density…”

“Buff baby!” Kaito cheered.

Sugars, sunlight, strong and durable…

(Nothing we weren’t expecting, really.)

Kokichi laughed softly, relaxing a bit against Shuuichi’s side, just giving his arm the lightest of touches. “I think it’d be nice to have another person in the sugar, wanting-to-be-warm club, and I think it’s even nicer that she’ll be so far from joining me in the ‘blown over by a stiff wind’ club that she’ll be a buff baby.”

He snorted. “Now I’m even more excited for when she and Addason will be developed enough to try out the baby obstacle course Temp got. They’re gonna blow all the other babies out of the park.”

“Oh man, yeah! Miyako and Addason are about to blow the other kids out of the water, athletics wise. I’m gonna be real used to training kids by the time those two get to training age, we’re gonna give them some physical skills!” Kaito chuckled… before saying, “And we gotta keep them out of the vents. We’re not having another weekend like this.”

Shuichi laughed again, looking more notably relaxed. “Yeah… that all sounds good. Okay, if that’s all it is? That’s… you’re right, that’s not a lot to worry about…”

Kaito scooted closed on the grass, sitting next to where Kokichi was kneeling, gently taking one of Shuichi’s arms and giving small kisses at his wrist and up and down his lower arm, “We’re gonna have a beautiful, healthy, wonderful daughter… she’s gonna take our breaths away… there’s nothing to be scared of, Shuichi. She’s going to be amazing.”

(Everything for Miyako.)

Kaito grinned, not entirely aware of the thought, but… fully in agreement with it.

Shuichi sighed, still petting the snake with his other hand, who flicked its tongue at Kaito-- shudder-- as Shuichi said, “Okay… so… sorry, you were saying about Ford?”

“He’s a poppy trauma specialist!” Kaito said brightly, “Isn’t that incredible! According to Thalia, he’s been researching poppy based trauma ever since learning more about it during his time being kept by that death cultists… I really think you’d like him, Shuichi! He was so well put together and professional that… one time I met him!”

Shuichi frowned, “...Kaito, are you sure that’s a good idea? Didn’t he refuse to treat you after that?”

Kaito shrugged, “I mean… yeah. But you’re not me, so…”

Ford… He’d been a victim of that whole situation too. It was easy, in Kokichi’s opinion, to see why he’d go seeking more knowledge about why that happened, and then, seeing the other people dealing with issues caused by the cult, sticking to his therapist soul and wanting to help them out. 

...and it wasn’t him reaching out. It was Thalia. 

(If she thinks he can help with them, Kokichi would trust her.)

“...it might still be too personal,” Kokichi murmured. “But...I don’t think there would be harm in reaching out. Asking to have a preliminary meeting. If he says no, then we’re right back where we are now.”

Kaito imagined going to a preliminary meeting… Dr. Ford having to look at the person responsible for him being essentially held prisoner, Kaito having to look at a face that had so thoroughly embarrassed him…

“You and Kokichi should maybe do that together. I don’t think it’d be super helpful for me to go.” Kaito admitted, resting his dirt covered face against Shuichi’s arm, “But I do think you should try it, handsome. You know, the whole reason I picked him the first time around? Was because he seemed to have a real patience and understanding about Luminary, and the struggles of merging cultures, and… he was really confident and understanding and professional. He was a good therapist, I think. I just never got to see him actually, ya know… therapize, or whatever. But I got a really good feeling from him, the only time I talked to him.”

Shuichi knew Kaito’s ‘gut instincts’ about people were wrong as often as they were right… but Kaito did usually have some way of telling almost immediately that someone had either a true talent or a real skill towards something. Shuichi had no fucking idea how Kaito did it, but he was vitually never wrong when it came to sniffing out genius in something. Good sense and personality? 50/50, and Kaito had a hard time seeing past his first instinct. Genius in their field? It’s like he could spot them in a crowd and just hone in on them. He always found his ‘sidekicks’, whether they wanted to be found or not. It was an uncanny ability of his that Shuichi had long learned to just accept as a given for the guy.

If Kaito’s instinct was that Ford was a good therapist, and even after everything still felt that way? He probably was…

Shuichi sighed. “I’ll meet him… eventually… when there’s time-”

“Great! Kokichi will set it up!” Kaito said brightly, grinning a 100-watt beam at his husband, “Won’t ya, ‘Kichi?”

Kokichi leaned against Kaito, giving his husband a softer look. Both for Ford and for Kaito… It wasn’t like they were particularly close, but it had been...too personal. Too private. It was probably better for the both of them to just put that chapter behind them. 

Maybe something would come up in Shuuichi’s sessions, if he ended up going with Ford. Maybe Ford and Kaito would eventually get to the point where they would want to reconcile a little bit of their shared horrific experience. But maybe not. Ford would probably keep a rather professional relationship with Shuuichi so...maybe it just wouldn’t be in the cards. Maybe the happiest ending for each of them would be to become strangers. 

So Kokichi could be the more involved partner. 

“I will, definitely,” Kokichi nodded. “I’ll send a message to his office, seeing if he’s taking new patients, and from there we can find a time that would be good for both of you to meet up. At the very least, you can see if we need to look for other therapists before you’re gonna be in recovery.”

Shuichi, briefly, looked like he was going to protest, having been sort of hoping to put it off… indefinitely. But he looked between the two of them and sighed. “Sure. Thank you, Kokichi.”

“And I’ll let Miss Crystal know she’s fiiirrreeed~”

“Do not say it like that, Kaito.”

“Relax, she’s good natured about stuff like that, she’ll understand.” Kaito sighed, rubbing his face against Shuichi’s arm some more… before sighing, “Alright, I should get back to it. I really will be okay if you want to hang out with Shuichi, babe. The air inside is brutal right now.”

Kokichi nodded, looking at Shuuichi softly, though there was a firm insistence in his eyes. There was a possibility Shuuichi wouldn’t have a proper appointment for a while. Kokichi was mildly surprised Shuuichi was still willing to be cajoled into coming to their group appointments, and right after Miya’s birth he was going to be on mild bed rest. And even if that would be a big contributor to the current struggles Shuuichi was going through...well, maybe Ford would be willing to come to the castle to see him. But it just wasn’t physically feasible for Shuuichi to plan to skip out into town on a weekly basis right now. 

But he really did need a professional to talk to. And the longer he put it off, that was just additional time he’d be left with the unresolved pain of what he’d been through, and the overthinking thoughts without a proper outlet. So even if the timing was bad, Kokichi wanted to get the ball rolling. Any momentum would still be progress. 

Sighing, Kokichi looked over at the castle, thinking about the clouds of dust in the air and how he could barely stand to look around and the uncomfortable layers of clothes that he was just barely cooling down from…

Kokichi plopped his head down against Shuuichi’s side. “...I think I’ll stay out here. Once I’m feeling more rested, I’ll go see about getting us a room somewhere in town tonight, okay?”

“Hell yeah.” Kaito grinned, leaning down to give Kokichi a quick chaste kiss… before rubbing his cheek against Kokichi’s, spreading and smearing some of the dust on his husband. “Get us somewhere nice! With a tub! Pleeeease, I am so dirty, ‘Kichi, I need somewhere to wash, don’t let them stick me in a tiny tub I gotta curl up and cry in.”

“Just take a shower.” Shuichi rolled his eyes.

“I am dreaming of baths.” Kaito whispered, kissing Kokichi again, before popping up, “Alright! Get some rest, breathe some air, don’t let the snake eat you! Love you guys, wish me luck!”

“Pfffffffffffffffffffft, Kaiiii-chan!” Kokichi sputtered through getting dust rubbed all over him though there was a laugh in his voice, giving Kaito one last kiss before he headed off back to work. Despite being pretty gross, there was just something...endearingly domestic about it all. This was probably as close as they’d get to home renovations that they’d have to stay somewhere else for. 

Rolling his eyes a bit, Kokichi gave Kaito a wave as he left before leaning in towards Shuuichi. “I’m gonna prioritize getting somewhere ground-level for you. I think we’ll take what we can get for showers--I knew I’d get spoiled from my bath one day.”

Shuichi smiled, “It’s Kaito that sounds spoiled… and yes. Spoil me instead. I will never discourage Shuichi spoiling.”

Shuichi pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and said, “Come here. Kaito’s messed up your face.” 

-

Kokichi ended up finding a room not too far from the castle in a cozy little inn, actually a place that played hard to tourists coming to Usott. Instead of being expansive and modern like a lot of hotels in the city--considering the size of the city and the number of tourists and people on business the capitol pulled in--the Chestnut Steed boasted a pretty traditional aesthetic, though with modern conveniences. 

“So, they do have rooms with beds, rather than pallets, so I got us one of those,” Kokichi explained as they walked down the fine wood hall, his feet padding in the slippers the inn had provided for guests when they first walked in. “But all the doors are sliding, instead of swinging… I kinda wish we’d come here in winter--they provide the rooms with heated blanket tables!”

Coming to their room--the door indeed sliding, and decorated with fabric over wood that was embroidered with a series of almost emblematic flowers--Kokichi unlocked it and stepped in, scuttling a bit gleefully across the novelty floors, the traditional mat making his footsteps even more tapping.

“...pellets?” Kaito whispered to Shuichi.

“Pallets.” Shuichi corrected, “Like really low bedding or rolled up bedding.”

“Oh…” Kaito’s brow furrowed, “Why?”

“Shush. Just be glad you get to use your little space slippers for once.” Shuichi scolded, Kaito looking notably pleased as he looked down at his soot covered self. Both of the Luminaries were looking around notably… confused. Neither of them having seen anything like this before. 

Kaito slid the door open and closed, before glancing at the far left wall… “Oh my god, Tim was right, there are paper walls in Dicea.” Kaito realized, eyes widening in astonished horror. “He knew.”

Kokichi followed Kaito’s gaze over to the bathroom door, and though his eyes widened in excitement seeing a proper paper door, he snorted at Kaito’s horror, first setting his overnight bag by one of the beds--unfortunately hotels weren’t really equipped to have beds that comfortably held three people--before going over to the door, opening it up. “Wow...haven’t really seen one of these in use… But I wouldn’t try using this kind of paper as an air filter,” he giggled.

“This is a type of wall style that they used back in the old days, though usually farther south than this,” Kokichi explained, looking with interest at the woodwork. “It’s relatively private, but allows light through, so you didn’t need to light lanterns through a whole house, and it’s light enough to encourage airflow and help with humidity. I’ve really only seen one of these in a museum, though…”

Kokichi turned to his partners with a smirking look, though it was clear how excited he was to see a place that embraced the old traditional styles like this. “Not very good for keeping the cold out when you’re buried in snow, even though it’s only used for interior walls. That’s what the heated tables are for, I guess, to keep a single room warm, but I think I prefer wood walls these days.”

“...ya know? It’s neat! It’s so pretty.” Kaito decided, looking around, putting his hands on his hips, “...I cannot touch anything. I should take a shower immediately.”

“No, I think you should definitely roll around the floor a bit, maybe throw yourself into the bed for the night.” Shuichi laughed lightly, as Kaito put down the the bag he was carrying for them. 

“Don’t tempt me. I’m so tired. Is it too late to disown Timothy? That kid put me through so much work today.” Kaito sighed, running his hand through his hair… or trying to, anyway, frowning as his finger caught in the tangles of his hair, “Ew. My hairs literally cacked together.”

Kokichi chuckled a little bit before he sighed, looking weary. “I stopped halfway through the day and I’m exhausted. Luckily it seems like we will be able to finish up tomorrow--at the very least, if we can get the filters in around the more common areas, we can finish up while having the castle open again.”

Stretching, Kokichi groaned a bit. “Go bathe. I’ll be in after you--I tried to wash up a bit but I still feel grimy. I do not want to think about what the next few loads of laundry for people are gonna look like.” Kokichi stuck his tongue out. “It’s like our clothes have become dusters.”

“Yeah… anybody wanna hug before I go? Kisses? No? Heartless.”

“Uh huh.” Shuichi rolled his eyes, pushing Kaito towards the bathroom, “Please go get clean. I know I’ve been lying down all day, but I’m tired, and I wanna get to bed.”

“Okay, okay…” Kaito glanced at the bed, frowning… hmmm… two beds… Shuichi would probably want his bed to himself. He’d probably end up in the bed with Kokichi. Still he’d ask them what they wanted when he was done.

Kaito headed to the shower, “... guys! The water’s falling from the ceiling!”

“Doesn’t the water usually fall in showers, Kaito?” Shuichi called, laying down in the strange bed and sighing. 

“Not like that! It’s like rain!”

“Use soap!”

“Of course I’ll use soap!”

“No kisses,” Kokichi pouted heartlessly at his husband. “Not when you’re a serial dust-spreader.”

Kokichi walked over to join Shuuichi on the bed he claimed--at least for while he was waiting for the shower. Considering the size of the beds, while clearly big enough for two people each, probably wouldn’t be as comfortable with both Shuuichi and Kaito in one, Kokichi figured he’d have the tough decision of which of his partners to sleep with, but for hanging out? Everything was free game. Including the cool, slightly reclined chairs in the corner around a small table, but Kokichi wanted to be closer to Shuuichi. 

He snickered with excited delight at hearing there was cool stuff about the shower as well before looking down at Shuuichi comfortably reclined. “This isn’t too far of a walk, is it? I tried to find a place relatively close by…”

“Honestly? Everywhere is too far. But that’s alright. I suffer gladly, to not sleep in the dust… I hope Maki will be okay. She said she was going to be fine, but…” Shuichi sighed, shrugging, “I bet you anything she’s going to sleep outside somewhere. She’s a weirdo like that.”

Kokichi gave his very pregnant boyfriend a sympathetic look. Only three weeks now, but it was a three weeks that Shuuichi was already wanting to be over. Kokichi wondered how much of a shock it would be to suddenly not have the weight of an entire baby constantly weighing on his hips and back… Soon. 

Laughing, Kokichi reached out to mess with the ends of Shuuichi’s hair. “After spending the worst of winter in the mountains, I can imagine that Maki-chan’s gonna make the most of clear, warm weather whenever she can. A bit of a bummer how many clouds there were out today, though,” he shrugged. “Would be a nice night for stargazing, if she’s gonna spend the night outdoors.”

Not that he’d known Maki to particularly value the stars over anything else about nature. Honestly she seemed to prefer more earthly beauties. 

“...I wonder if she’ll suggest taking Tim out camping somewhere this summer,” he hummed, leaning back on his elbows. “Or if they’ll both feel better being closer by for Miya’s super baby months.”

“I don’t know… Maki a few months ago would be losing her mind, right now.” Shuichi mused, looking amused as Kokichi played with his hair, “Double checking all of our baby proofing, making us do… cpr exercises and catching baby trainings and all sorts of baby bootcamp stuff… I kept waiting for it. But I think she’s just…”

Shuichi sighed. Running a hand over his stomach lightly, “I mean, you saw her before she left. The difference sometimes feels small, because its so nice to have her back, but… she’s really so hard to predict right now. She’s so subdued…”

“She basically cut my arm off the other day!” Kaito shouted from the bathroom.

“Can you hear us??”

“The wall is literally paper!”

Kokichi nodded, a small, tired smile on his face. They had all done various preparation for Miya. They had basically set up the nursery to be baby-proofed from the start, and as time got closer, they’d started setting up things in their room as well, padding hard corners and putting little bits of things in drawers or higher up where Miya wouldn’t be able to get to for a long time. Kokichi had even spaced out their storage boxes so Miya wouldn’t be able to climb under their bed. 

Between books and seminars...Kokichi felt like he was as ready as he could be. 

And...normally? That wouldn’t be enough for Maki. But these weren’t normal times. 

Huffing, Kokichi raised an eyebrow at the bathroom door. “You said it wasn’t that bad!!”

“But...yeah,” he nodded to Shuuichi. “...she’s so...tired and burnt out. And since she gets annoyed that she’s not doing things because she’s tired and burnt out, it’s hard for her to get rest from that and…” Kokichi sighed. “I’m hoping that the serenity of just...not being in a super high-stress environment will help her recuperate a bit.”

“I-It wasn’t babe!! Just exaggerating!”

Shuichi frowned, before murmuring, “You don’t have to look, Kokichi, but I might make him show me the cut on his arm when he gets out. I know he knows how to take care of wounds, but he was working with a lot of dirt today, and if it gets infected, somehow I think we’d be the last two to hear about it.”

“And, yeah… rest will probably help. Whether she wants it or not…” Shuichi closed his eyes, as if taking that as some sort of cue… before he turned those golden eyes on Kokichi, “... I noticed everyone left you alone today. Based on everything I know about you? Today must have been a unique experience.”

He had been teasing a little, but with Kaito’s response, Kokichi nodded silently to Shuuichi, his mouth falling into a worried frown. It was probably fine. Kaito was probably doubling down on a double-back, thinking that he didn’t want to freak Kokichi out. Which was sweet, but...Shuuichi was right. While Kaito might ask the healers for some help, he likely would try and do everything without cluing him or Shuuichi in, not wanting to cause them stress. 

While he could take care of it on his own...Kokichi wanted to know if Kaito was hurt or injured, and without getting graphic, he wanted to know the totality of it. 

A little sobered by those thoughts, Kokichi blinked as Shuuichi changed the subject, though he soon gave his boyfriend a confused look. “I’m...not really sure what you mean? People were talking to me all day, at least until I stayed to hang out with you.”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, “... I read your medical jacket, Kokichi. I know there’s a lot of things you exaggerated or made up in your mind, about before we got here, but I read the medical notes of the things you were encouraged not to do. No holding sharp objects, no stressful environments… I can’t imagine manual labor made the list of ‘things Kokichi could do’. Especially manual labor that messes with your lungs and could trigger your phobias? There was a lot of trust, to let you be involved in this.”

...well, he wasn’t totally confused by what Shuuichi meant, but...he’d wanted a little more clarification. 

Sighing, Kokichi looked to the side, twirling a bit of his hair and tugging on the strand he made. “I mean...I wouldn’t really call laying sheets over things and holding ladders particularly strenuous. But…”

Kokichi smiled, something...small and a little nervous, but appreciative. “...I feel like I would’ve been more forcefully shooed out of the castle if this was going on a year ago. People were constantly coming up to me today and asking if I was alright, and if I wanted to sit this out, but...no one kept insisting over and over until I gave in, or things escalated. Or went to go get other people to insist too.”

“...it was really nice,” he whispered, expression growing more vulnerable. “I know they were asking because they were worried, but...it really...felt like people were respecting my decision to help out. That my precautions were enough.”

“Exactly. It’s a good sign.” Shuichi sighed, looking pretty content with all of this. “You want the love of people, and you have that… but trust is worth more. I think… well, maybe. But even outside of leadership stuff, just as a person? It’s a good sign if people trust you to know your own limits. I’m glad you have that in people.”

Kokichi nodded, his smile growing a bit as his chest warmed, completely unrelated to any distressing reason that may have been caused by the mass amounts of dust and detritus in the air around him that day. 

As a leader? Trust was absolutely more important than love, though Kokichi thought that they could play off one another quite well. People could adore him, but if they didn’t listen to him? Then he was more of a mascot than a leader. If no one took his lead...then there was no point to him being leader. 

And as a person… Kokichi had agonized for so long over how people treated him, even if some of it was imagined. But being treated patronizingly and like he was just something to take care of, rather than a person with his own agency...it was horrible. He had wanted to be able to make bad decisions without a constant overhead--how else would he learn? Without ever being able to make a choice, could he have ever really made a good decision?

Now...yes, Kokichi was vulnerable. He had concerns about things that other people might go into without thinking of at all. But he was allowed to think of ways he could still do the same things, and pass judgement on whether they’d work or be enough, or if he should just pass up on something entirely. There were some things Kokichi just wouldn’t be able to do, but...the amount of those things was much smaller than both he and others gave him credit for. 

“I’m glad too,” Kokichi murmured, leaning over to place a soft kiss on Shuuichi’s forehead, nudging his hat up with his nose, but making sure it was still secure when he leaned back up. “As gross as it was...today was a good day.”

“Hmmm…”

The sound of water ended, and Shuichi called out, “Put a towel on!”

“What!? Why!?”

“We’re not having sex tonight! Don’t try to tempt us!”

“Awwwww, are you tempted!? Was I sexy today!?”

Shuichi gave Kaito a dry look, who peeked out of the bathroom, steam entering the room a little, wiggling his eyebrows as he grinned at his partners. “Eyyyyyyy?”

“You have a towel on in there?”

Kaito pouted, closing the door for a second, before coming out, a towel around his waist, “There? Better?”

“Yes. Now come out here and let Kokichi bathe, I want to look at your arm.”

“Awwww, why, I’m fine…” Kaito insisted, idly scratching on his newly put on bandage.

“Come over here, Kaito.”

Kokichi didn’t think he’d have much of a problem feeling comfortable having sex at a hotel--as long as they kept things clean--but...he was tiiiiired. And despite the ability to get revved up at almost any moment, Kokichi knew Kaito was too. Doing work up on a ladder all day just conceptually made Kokichi want to lie down and never move his arms or shoulders again. 

...maybe Kaito would like a shoulder rub before they went to sleep…

Rolling his eyes, Kokichi hopped off the bed and headed to the bathroom, stopping to give Kaito’s newly clean arm a smooch. “I’ll take my time, so you guys take yours too. Proper injury care!”

...after a moment, there was a small, excited sound from the bathroom as Kokichi saw that the water indeed did fall from the ceiling like rain.

Kaito watched Kokichi head to the bathroom with fond, mildly lecherous eyes… but sighed as he went to go sit in the bed with Shuichi, “I’m really fine…”

“Mmhm.” Shuichi said, sounding unconvinced as he started to unwrap the bandage, “No harm in a second set of eyes checking…” Shuichi sighed, “Damn it Maki…”

“She just needed it to bleed a lot.” Kaito grinned, as Shuichi looked over the stitches, “I got it patched up that same night.”

“Did you tell Kokichi you were going to medical? What, did you wait for him to go to sleep?”

“... maybe. I, uh… I didn’t go to medical. I swung by my shrine.”

“You did these yourself?”

“I don’t want anyone getting weird with Maki. I didn’t need them asking me what had happened.”

“Yeah… Kaito, if we can’t talk to other people about this stuff, we have to be more strict between us. I don’t know if I seemed ‘playful’ at therapy, but--”

Kaito snorted, “You mean when you lost it at her?”

“Yes. But I was serious. You and Maki are both… weird. Now. I can’t predict what either of you are going to do literally at all these days. You’ve gotten really skittish, and Maki’s unstable and without direction to focus her energy and--”

“Shuichi, hey. Please, look at me, relax… okay, look, I know… I know I lost a lot of points with you, since we’ve gotten here. I’ve noticed, okay? You… ha. Look, we both have some trust issues with each other lately, and we should, ya know, we should just acknowledge its a thing and--”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you--”

“No, I mean, it’s fine that you don’t, I fucked up a lot this year, and I get it, I’m not… but I’m not like… all I’m saying is that I’m not gonna just let Maki hurt me, or do something drastic, okay? Just cause I’m trying to be less violent doesn’t actually mean I’m unable to protect myself… okay, the sarcastic look is not appreciated.”

“We have to insist, Kaito. If we can’t tell other people, and you can’t fight her, we have to insist she stop.”

“I will, okay? But please don’t bring it up yourself. I’ll talk to her, I promise… can I put the bandage back on?”

Shuichi sighed, “Yeah… they’re really good stitches.”

“Thanks!”

-

Kokichi wasn’t...really sure it did anything. But when he ‘woke up’ in his room, he started stretching, taking a survey of his mind like Alter Ego had taught him when he was in recovery. Thalia told Kaito about other babies who had been born from a parent who had been infected with spores...Flora. While that would be a huge help in being able to raise Miya well before Kokichi got his memories while he was awake, and would make telling Kaito the truth once he had them…

...Kokichi had no idea how much Thalia had actually told him. And, well...he had been planning on asking her to help Miya seclude herself from the hivemind anyway, and maybe being able to give her a heads up that Miya was probably going to be an empath--even if her powers weren’t very strong--would give Thalia extra time to consider what that would mean for teaching her. 

The evening had been really nice. Kokichi had heard Shuuichi and Kaito arguing about...the trust and treatment of each other within their group, but...he trusted Kaito to bring it up with Maki. And if his stitches were up to Shuuichi’s approval...well, he supposed it was alright that Kaito wouldn’t go see a healer. Even if he still wished his husband would. 

But his family was Luminary. And Kokichi didn’t want to insist they do things the Dicean way. 

...sigh. 

Running a hand over his face, Kokichi prepared himself for searching out Thalia’s mind.

Chibi Kaito lifted the sleeve on his shirt, showing Chibi Kokichi his drawn on stitches, who tutted at them, before wiping them off. Then, taking the sharpie, Chibi Kokichi drew on much more convincing stitches, Chibi Kaito giving an excited, approving little bell sound at the exquisite artistry, before asking Chibi Kokichi if he could make stitches across his face too, like some sort of badass pirate captain…

Chibi Kokichi suddenly paused, looking up at the bed frame in concern.

♪♫ He's gonna go into a mind by himself.♭

Chibi Kaito looked startled at that. 

♩♭♫ Big 'Kichi? Are you sure?♮♭

♬Can't you feel it?♩♪

♩ Kaito doesn't mind read, so neither do I... alright, hold on.♫♪

Scurrying out, climbing the bedding....

°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Chibi Kaito popped up, making insistent greeting sounds as he scurried over to Big Kokichi, hugging at his knees. Giving Kokichi a beaming grin, he rested his head on his large husbands knee, wordlessly asking through his body language what Kokichi was up to!

Kokichi looked down, smiling softly at Chibi Kaito as he carefully crouched, hugging Chibi Kaito back with a soft hand on the small creature’s back. “Hey… I’m happy to see you too. I’m sorry, I can’t hang out tonight, though.”

Tilting his head, Kokichi started to explain. He was...a little more in tune with the Chibis, these days. They could still operate and do things he didn’t expect, but...well, they were made from him, at least partially in Chibi Kaito’s case. And right now...they were reflecting his own nerves about doing this. 

“I’m gonna go visit Thalia tonight. She told the big version of you some Flora stuff about Miya, and while I’m pretty thankful for that...I don’t know how much she told him. We need to have a conversation like this at some point anyway…”

...Kokichi chewed his lip. “...I’ve gotten a lot better at Empath stuff. I should be able to go visit someone on my own.”

“...even if she is a Flora, and has blocked herself off from the hivemind…” Kokichi...didn’t know what that entailed. Would that mean that he’d be able to contact her at all? If she had defences, he didn’t want to just barge in…

Chibi Kaito nodded along with Kokichi’s explanation… before gave him a ‘one moment’ motion.

Then, he started patting at his pockets, sticking out his tongue a little as he looked inside his jacket, in his pants pockets… before he finally stuck his hand into the covered ends of the slippers Big Kaito was wearing today, pulling out a long, large white lily flower, handing it Kokichi.

Upon touching it, he’d suddenly have a memory of Temp trying-- and failing-- to talk to Thalia himself. Chibi Kaito snickering at the memory a little, before jumping into the memory and giving the clearly embarrassed Temp a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. Poor guy… could really use a second chance there… be nice if someone sexy and generous and adorable helped him out…

Kokichi smiled, accepting the flower though he wasn’t surprised when it turned out to be a memory too. And...ooph, that had been awkward. 

...Temp had wanted to talk to Thalia too about helping out Addason. And...it couldn’t hurt to be cautious, trying to reach out to a type of mind he had no experience with.

Giving Chibi Kaito a smile, Kokichi patted him on his large head. “I’ll see if Temp is free tonight. He might have a better idea of how to contact Thalia too.”

Closing his eyes, Kokichi reached out to the now familiar feeling of Temp’s mind, sending the intent of a mild adventure and a request to come along.

A brief pause… 

Temp was preluded with a feeling of {Yes.}, but after a moment there was a sign in to Kokichi’s guest list, Temp waiting patiently at the circus. After he was allowed in, he felt the world shift, opening his eyes in the space Kokichi brought him-- “AH!”

★o(･д´･+)９”!!!

“Why would you punch me in the shin?? You’re not even a defense anymore!”

༼ ᕤ◕◡◕ ༽ᕤ

Kokichi raised an eyebrow at his tiny husband. “You’re the one who suggested I ask Temp to come… You just like punching things, don’t you? Where did you get that from?”

Sighing, Kokichi gave Temp an apologetic grin. “Hey, sorry about him. I’m glad you came over, though.”

“I’m gonna try to pay Thalia a visit tonight--thought we might as well both ask her about teaching our kids how to protect themselves at the same time. And…” Kokichi rubbed the back of his neck. “...apparently during some of her and Kai-chan’s talks, she’s given him advice about having a Flora kid. But...I have no idea how much she told him, and if it was everything, I doubt Kai-chan’s gonna pass that information along himself. So...I wanna ask about that too. You still game?”

“I am,” Temp nodded, trying to very subtly kick Kaito off of his leg, the Chibi having apparently decided that latching on was going to be the next ‘attack’, before reaching down, peeling Chibi Kaito off of himself, and ignoring his outraged cry, tossing him onto the bed as he said, “Though, that’s interesting… is the presence of magic and other species the sort of secret Kaito is capable of keeping? He, uh… never strikes me as the reserved type.” He noted, glancing over at Chibi Kaito, who was now enthusiastically jumping on the bed, while Chibi Kokichi peeked up from under the bed, curious at the mixture of angry and fun sounds.

“But, yes… my attempt to connect to her in the waking world went… poorly.” Partly due to Kaito’s interference, Temp didn’t say, but very much believed, “So connecting to her in this plane might be the next best thing. And we really could use the direct help of a Flora. I’m up to going, but...”

Temp hesitated, “...perhaps it might be wise for me to go first. Thalia, by her species, is connected to a hive mind. She may have blocks up, her relationship with the dutchess, a near brazen traitor to the Danganronpa crown, certainly suggests she does… but we don’t actually know it. And if she’s still connected to the hivemind, most other Flora will know we are in her mind the second she does.”

“If either of us are to be exposed entering a Flora’s mind, I’m the better option. I have better defenses and, even with Addason to think about, easier travel and hiding options. Me and my son can disappear in an emergency. Your family absolutely cannot. I should take the first risk and confirm she actually does have defenses up.”

“Kai-chan can keep a secret,” Kokichi nodded, absolutely sure of it. “And if he thought a secret like that would put me or Shuu-chan in danger? Or,” Kokichi continued, looking a little exasperated, “If he thought it’d stress us out? He’d keep that shit locked up tight. I think the existence of another sentient species like the Flora, even without fully getting into their politics, qualifies as that kind of secret.”

...he really did think Thalia blocked herself--and Kokichi needed to risk something regardless, if she did tell Kaito about that stuff--but...for safety’s sake? 

Kokichi sighed and nodded. “Okay. Just...let me know when or if I can come.”

Temp nodded, before sighing, putting his hands together in a small display of worship, a dark energy forming around him, the shadows of his ritual clothes swirling and thickening like an ever growing fog in the night…

And rushed out of him a death hound, snarling and howling, going full bolt forward…

Temp frowned, as the dog trails to a stop. Looking around, confused… sniffing the air.

The Templar closed his eyes and focused harder, the dog making a small whine, as it started to pace around, sniffing at the floor. Meanwhile, the two chibis, Kokichi having joined his husband, bounced against the bed, trying to distract the dog by calling out bel sounds to it, hoping to goad the puppy towards them, get it within riding distance…

The dog sniffed the air again, it’s tail giving a few annoyed, lackluster waves… before he suddenly growled.

“Found you.” Temp whispered, as the dog leapt--

-

It was dark. Almost like Kokichi’s void, but somehow...stickier. The kind of darkness that didn’t just exist around you, signalling a sort of emptiness in the surroundings, but...that the darkness was everywhere, covering everything, seeping into everything and claiming it as its own. 

...and at the same time? There was the impression of plants. Of vines. Of being in an area covered in vines that you had to shoulder and squeeze through to make even an inch of progress, but in an endless arena...was that progress at all?

...not a Flora. Not...an incomprehensible being either. 

Large, yellow, cat-like eyes opened in the darkness, almost blinding compared to the utter blackness around them. They narrowed in suspicion. In curiosity. But nothing spoke into the darkness, no signals went out. They were just waiting. Listening.

It was difficult to move in a place like this. There simply was no space. The darkness was a physical ooz, and while the eyes in the dark seemed to move effortlessly through the thick waste of the black sludge, Temp could feel it press on every part of him, pinning his body to himself and needing to stop his impression of breathing as he felt like he would actually snort some of the black into his nose if he tried.

… {An image of Temp, trying to reach out to Thalia in the real world and embarrassing himself.}

{An offering of, from Empath to Flora, a chance at connection in this space, as the physical world had bore no fruit.}

As he sent out these intents, though, he also… spread. Tentatively reaching out through the darkness, trying to touch his aura against the boundaries of this space. Feeling out for the vines that pushed and pulled their way through the sludge, trying to see if anyone could see them. See him. Was anyone listening?

...hm. Genuine. New context. ...non-threatening. 

...no point in pruning her. 

Though…

The eyes narrowed and an odd hissing growl filled the air, rippling through the inky sludge of darkness as the vines tightened, squeezing around the being trying to spread through them. 

The queen was ruthless and thought nothing of them. Would snuff them out like bugs, despite feeling like that about humans and saying that Flora were endlessly better than them. 

Mother taught them to be thorough. Strong. Everything they needed to be to be themselves, and not anyone else. Thalia would not let anything take her over.

Temp took a sharp intake of breath, feeling his body squeeze--

{Addason.}

{Danger.}

{Caution.}

Temp felt his temple start to throb, his link to her mind under an incredible amount of stress. If she pushed him any harder, he was going to end up thrown back into his own mind. 

{Listening??}

...Addason was son. Baby. Affection. Protection…

...the vines eased. The vague impression of something...familiar but not came closer. There were ears...a flick of a forked tail...a smell of something floral and earthy…

{Alone.}

The first piece of intent sent back. 

{Not listening.}

Temp sighed. It wasn’t impossible, to lie to someone your mind was connected too, but it was damn hard, and he didn’t get the impression she was lying. Plus, the mere fact that this was her lobby, or… something. It was clearly a barrier of some sort.

{Kokichi.}

{Miyako.}

{Help?}

{Speak?}

The cat eyes narrowed in a soft confusion. Of course she planned to help. And at this point...she felt she could allow Temp into a space where they could talk more freely. 

But…

...speak to Kokichi?

It was still dark. But the place Temp soon found himself in was more like being in a room with the lights off rather than the oppressive, full darkness of before. It was difficult to make out the details of anything, but...it seemed to be a sitting room, a chair, if Temp chose to sit, he’d find to be luxuriously comfortable. 

The same features as before were shrouded farther in the shadows of the room, the eyes reflective, but less illuminating than before. “How about that, huh? An Empath… Think you’d be a little better about asking me to coffee.”

An amused flick of a tail. “...what do you mean, speak to Kokichi? You made it sound like...do it now. With you, while we’re talking here.”

Temp huffed, looking a little embarrassed as he straighted out his robes, looking up at… ‘Thalia’? Well, yes. Hm. Interesting. You never knew how people saw themselves in their minds, but it wasn’t usually… as extreme as this. 

“I haven't had a need to reach out specifically to anyone in quite some time. Not to be unhumble, but when you look like me, people usually approach you on their own… ahem.” Temp gave another little embarrassed huff, before before raising his hand, his darkness swirling before, a second later, the shadow of a dog whipped through the darkness, opening up a portal as it created a link to Kokichi.

{Safe.} Temp sent to Kokichi, looking at the outline of the cat monstrosity, {...ish.}

Thalia stiffened, at first panicked to see someone able to send a message from her own space, but...well, that was the power of an Empath. It was something completely separate from anything Floral and wouldn’t get mixed up in it. Still...someone inviting someone she hadn’t inspected herself into her mind--even if they wouldn’t be able to access any other parts from this area (or so Thalia believed)--felt...wrong. Gross and invasive. 

...But she had deemed Temp safe, and he was inviting Kokichi, who was Kaito’s husband, and...was also going to be a father of a new Flora. 

...she didn’t like it, but Thalia didn’t try to close up Temp’s portal. Though she did huff at the message he sent. “Rude. You should see my brothers--they look like bug-inspired ancient knight wannabes.”

Kokichi stepped through the portal cautiously, blinking rapidly to adjust his eyes to the darkness, but when he saw Thalia--or who he guessed to be her, since he could easily tell where Temp was, and it was her mind, and Temp’s hesitation told enough--he let out a small gasp of delight. “Thalia! You’re a cat?”

…

A small, amused laugh. “Something like that. Hello, Kokichi.”

Why are abominations always cat-like? Temp knew he was biased, as a dog person, but seriously. Weirdos always leaned towards cat imagery. Not stable, well put together individuals like himself, The Templar of Death and Trade.

“We’re sorry to barge in on you unexpectedly. I was concerned that if I simply asked if you had barriers up from the hivemind, that you’d lie to tempt me in and expose me to the rest of the hivemind.” Temp explained, flourishing his robes a bit as he sat down on the offered chair, so dark that he almost looked like he was hovering in the shadows. “As you can expect, considering the company I keep, I thought an overabundance of caution was worth a rude entrance.”

The cat-plant tilted its head, coming closer and perching up on a plush loveseat now that it seemed her guests weren’t going to startle from her appearance. Taking the cue, Kokichi sat down in a chair too. 

...it was odd. The bit of decor and impression of the room was very nice, but...it wasn’t like anything he had ever seen. 

“I didn’t take it as rude,” Thalia said. “Though if you did, then maybe you’d see my response as rude too. Considering your caution, then you know…” The cat’s eyes flicked to Kokichi. “...what’s at stake. For either of us. Maybe it’s hostile, but that’s the price of safety.”

Kokichi smiled softly, still a little awed by Thalia’s peculiar appearance. “I know what Flora are, Thalia. At least…”

...he didn’t want to just tell everyone that he couldn’t remember things. But Thalia would be putting a lot at stake for helping them. And Kokichi didn’t want to betray that trust if something happened while he wasn’t...aware. 

He sighed. “...it’s confusing, but I only know about this kind of stuff in here. In the mindscape.”

The cat hummed, a few vines from her settling. “So I was right to be more cautious around Kaito, then.”

Temp had thought it was rude, but having the right idea and protecting yourself sometimes required rudeness. It was a survival skill, like most ‘negative’ traits were. Worth doing. Worth knowing how to do. Still usually worth a quick apology for afterwards though.

Temp glanced at Kokichi, before adding in, almost as if it were an afterthought, though it was very much another caution, “Kokichi’s waking self is, essentially, partly asleep, as far as his consciousness goes. He’s struggling to remember everything his consciousness knows, but over time he’s been improving. Still, while he’s in this vulnerable state, a mutual friend of ours looks after him while he’s ‘awake’. Kokichi is not unprotected, while awake, and he will remember everything someday.”

The Templar’s explanation both led to his next point, but was also a caution to the demonic cat figure in front of them: Do not assume Kokichi is helpless when awake. He has protectors watching him. Don’t be tempted to take advantage.

“My point being,” Temp continued on, “That we are looking for more help. Both because Kokichi may not remember things in time, but also because…”

And at this, Temp softened. Looking a little sheepish and less stiff and rigidly polite as he said gently, “Well, you already know Kokichi’s daughter is a Flora. It’s why you gave Kaito information, I presume? I’m also adopting a Flora child. We’re looking for some expertise on how to protect them from the hive.”

The cat, oddly, rolled her eyes. Geez, what a tight wad… She was glad Kaito reached out more than this guy. 

If Thalia had intentions of messing with humans...well, for one, she wouldn’t have been able to move to Dicea in the first place. And why would she place her physical form in a place surrounded by humans if she meant them harm? 

And for another point, Thalia couldn’t do anything anyway! The only reason she had any control now was because they were in her mind. Out in the physical world? Well, she could do the same kind of harm any human could, but Kokichi wouldn’t have to know about any of this stuff to protect himself from that. 

What a jackass…

...that was also going to have a Flora kid. Thalia recalled all those feelings Temp had offered about his son…

She sighed. “Okay… Okay. I’ve already given Kaito all the parenting tips I could find without actually talking about this stuff,” Thalia nodded to Kokichi, inadvertently answering one of his bigger questions. “And...I’d already decided to help Miyako protect herself but...I guess it’s better if I’m actually getting permission from one of her parents…”

Thalia’s ears flicked down, conveying a sort of sheepish expression. 

Kokichi’s face twisted a little, thinking about someone messing in his daughter’s mind without his knowledge, but...well, that’s what Thalia wanted to prevent. And...now he had the knowledge. ...and now he’d probably supervise. 

“Thank you…” he softly said. “Other Flora have already hurt my family so much… I just want to give my daughter peace.”

Thalia nodded, her ears lowering. “Of course. And even if you’re not important enough to be pinged all the time, if you’re connected to the hive? There is no peace. That bitch is just...always there…” 

She huffed, giving Temp a nod. “And I’ll help your son too, if that wasn’t clear. Though...things might be difficult to start out.”

With a sigh, Thalia continued. “For the most part, Queen Enoshima doesn’t give a shit if a Flora here and there blocks themself off. But...if she gets the impression that...that a Flora is doing something that spreads to others? Then she gets real involved. It’s a different case when it’s parent and child, but if she thinks that I’m going around teaching Flora en masse how to block themselves…”

Thalia shuddered, her being expanding, almost like a cat puffing up its fur. “That wouldn’t be pretty.”

Temp frowned, “That’s actually leads to a question I have… Addason and Miyako are still unborn, but they’re nearly entirely developed. Do you have any idea if the hive can feel them now? If Junko Enoshima is unaware of the two new Flora existing at all, could we hide them entirely from her? I’ve heard rumors that, rarely, people your species refer to as ‘Seedlings’ occasionally give birth to humans instead of Flora… perhaps we could trick her into assuming Addason and Miyako are such cases?”

The cat eyes blinked slowly. 

“...that...maybe?” Her voice was unsure. “Or…” 

She sighed, before giving Kokichi a nod. “I told your husband that I wrote to my mom, asking about if there was anything particular about ‘people like us’...meaning, as I told him, people born from people on poppies. But I did ask her about purely Flora things too.”

“As it is, Flora babies, and I think human babies too? Don’t really...have the capability for conscious thought until they’re around five months old, and even then it’s just barely. That’s when the hive can start to feel a new Flora. Until then, infants fall under the radar completely.” Thalia looked contemplative. “I think if you’re really strong in the hive, you can feel, like, physical needs, but that’s just fringe-case speculation. Generally physical stuff stays with the individual.”

Of course, as a person got older, the line between something being purely physical, and your conscious recognition and experience of it became blurred, so Flora could feel each others’ pain and thrill and all that stuff, but...for a baby? Who didn’t recognize their own needs? It was separated. 

“And,” Thalia smirked, the edges of her leaves curling, “I can’t say personally, since I’ve blocked myself from the hive pretty thoroughly, but apparently all those Seedlings that got that new medicine? The hive can’t feel them at all anymore. So unless someone like that ambassador knows about it, the hive won’t even know when your kids will be born, let alone what they are when they are.”

“That...won’t really work for Miyako,” Kokichi pointed out with a grimace. “Even if I could remember to want to keep it hush-hush...people know who we are, so her birth announcement is going to be kind of pointed, and even if that didn’t reach any connected Flora, Ambassador Shirogane’s daughter is best friends with Kai-chan’s son. There’s no way she wouldn’t know when Miya’s born.”

...though...he wasn’t sure if Tsumugi knew that Shuuichi had been a seedling, but...it was probably better to err on the side of caution there.

“Ah, right… I had forgotten Seedlings were connected to the hivemind. One way connection… it’s really not all that shocking, how that relationship between seedlings and flora became so… exploitative. Empaths struggle historically with that power imbalance as well. It’s easy to become too invasive when the people you’re looking into aren’t even aware you’re there, let alone are incapable of hiding what you see.” Temp sighed, leaning against his extremely nice chair, “It’s a shame Empaths and Flora didn’t develop better relationships with each other. We very likely could have helped keep each other honest… we are extremely similar in some respects, as a species. Perhaps the disconnect is simply how rare it is for an empath to develop among the Flora...”

“...sorry, I’m pondering aloud.” Temp sighed, waving his hand dismissively, “So we have a five month window after the birth of Miyako and Addason before, essentially, the hive mind can confirm that they’re Flora. Before a real connection is made. Honestly? Better than what I was hoping. But I’m guessing the unfortunate side of this is that using your techniques is something our children need to be able to learn how to do, not something we can just… blanket their minds with, essentially? So we can’t teach them to block themselves before they literally can start thinking for themselves…”

“...the medicine developed to cure the seedlings of Spores? Ngh… I wonder…” Temp bit his pinky a little, a terrible idea coming to him, “...I wonder if we could… find a Flora who’d be… willing to test what that medicine would do to them? If it broke the seedlings connection to the hive mind, perhaps it would have an effect on a Flora’s connection?”

Kokichi looked over at Temp with a wary look, cautioning, “Temp…”

But Thalia puffed again, letting out a low growl. “Not happening, and I’ll do everything I can to call Child Protection on you if you even think about trying to use your son as a test subject. I don’t know what that doctor managed to do, but I will not let your pressure your kid into a potentially deadly situation.”

Temp looked… genuinely offended. “No, not my kid. Or, frankly, any of the Flora children. That’d be insanity… but I am saying we have a five month window to experiment. And while it’d be very challenging, there is one rogue Flora within Dicea that, if not potentially willing to do it himself, might be willing to at least ‘find us’ a subject to test on.”

“When I… spoke to Tengan. There was a Flora that he was openly suspicious of, whose thought patterns are apparently chaotic enough that even being a member of the hive mind, no one seems to know what he’s thinking? And based on his actions, I think he might, in fact, be doing that on purpose, because his actions strike me as very… ‘death and trady’. I think there’s a flora who might be a worshipper of Bathul, going around under the pseudonym ‘The Bear’. He could potentially give us a test subject.”

Thalia continued to look threateningly at Temp for another moment before, slowly, deeming his intent truthful. Temp would not harm Addason or Miyako, or any other child. 

Though he still was a creep. 

Kokichi, on the other hand, who had been just mildly concerned, had his own shackles raised as he practically cringed at the name Temp gave. “Monokuma? The guy who were Tom and Itch’s supplier of the spores. And who kidnapped my boyfriend…”

Crossing his arms, it was more than clear without even feeling his vibes how uncomfortable Kokichi was. “...Seiko said the medicine was basically...anti-fungal. That it just rid the spores from a person’s body. Is that even how Flora…”

He sighed and shook his head. “Whatever. We didn’t come here for hu...people experimentation.”

...getting rid of the poppy spores… Flora were fungus. Take that away and there was nothing left…

Thalia sighed and gave Kokichi a nod, feeling significantly more wary of Temp than she felt initially. “Right. Before all that, Temp was right--I can’t come in and blanket your kids before they start being conscious and teach them how to protect themselves in the meanwhile…”

The cat-plant tilted her head, something mildly amused in her eyes. “...but you two being weirdo mind-freaks could. If you can manage to block any outgoing connection from your kids, that would give them a safe area to practice making their own blocks without having to worry about anything slipping and the queen catching on. It’s not like she can feel what non-Flora Empaths are doing normally.”

Temp frowned… “I’ve never tried to block something like hive connection before. Even just getting through your barrier, I can tell it would take an enormous amount of power to pull off successfully, I’ve literally only managed to do anything in your mind with your permission… but… we’d have five months to practice doing it, and if any empaths had the raw power to do so…”

Temp looked to Kokichi, raising an eyebrow, “Between the two of us, and perhaps with Alter Ego’s assistance? We might be able to manage it. But I think it’d be something we had to seriously practice at, if we want to be certain it’ll work. The hivemind connection is no joke.”

Kokichi’s lips thinned and that familiar worried crease appeared between his eyebrows. He hadn’t had to contend with Thalia’s lobby, but if Temp--one of the most powerful Empaths Kokichi and Alter Ego knew (probably all of each other being the others)--said that just seeing it he could tell that it would be a monumental task…

...it was his daughter. The Flora had hurt his family so much… He wouldn’t allow it to continue. 

For Miya, he would succeed. 

Kokichi gave Temp a solemn nod. “We’ll figure something out. For our kids’ security…” He managed a small smile. “They do say Dad-strength is something incredible, right?”

Thalia sighed, the matter, apparently, decided. “If you’re lucky, your kids are gonna have a weak connection. It wouldn’t mean that all this is unnecessary, but it’s usually a little easier to get away with shit if the queen has to actually focus to feel you.”

It also meant that you were more susceptible to having your consciousness repressed and taken over by someone else, but...well, she didn’t want to scare them. If they succeeded, it’d never have to be something they had to worry about.

Temp sighed, “We certainly don’t make it easy on ourselves, do we… we should discuss how we’ll divy up the work later, Kokichi, after we bring in Alter Ego into this. We still can’t afford you to be incapacitated overdoing it, not right now. It’s unfair to put your family through that, not worth the risk. But we’ll figure it out…”

Temp stood up, and to his credit, he did look a little sheepish, as he said, “I apologize, by the way. I’ve put my foot in my mouth twice now with you, Thalia. It’s occurred to me since I said it that suggesting we experiment on Flora, even adult ones, was… maybe a bit extreme. I have no desire to harm your people. I’m perhaps just a little overeager to find a solution. Even with our new five month extension, my child is due in a month. And, once he’s discovered, I’m aware how much harder he’ll be to protect after that… it made me callous. I apologize.” 

Thalia sighed, looking mildly annoyed, but...not as if Temp had made an enemy of himself to her. Just...well, the same sort of reason Thalia enjoyed spending more of her time around plants than people, even if…

“You’re wild, dude. But…” She shook her head, looking at both Temp and Kokichi. “You both know how severely some Flora and the hivemind can hurt people. You’re not a monster for wanting to protect your kids.”

She narrowed her eyes at Temp. “But don’t let that wish turn you into one.”

With a blink, that warning faded into general calmness. “I’ll help Addason and Miyako as much as I can. Like I said, I’ve already decided to.” 

Kokichi, taking Temp’s cue, got up as well, though he paused as Thalia followed, giving them both a slow look. “...even if I left some things out when I told Kaito, and we can talk safely like this...this is dangerous for me. I’ve asked him, if he decides to use the information I’ve given him in any way, not to link it back to me.”

“...which I guess he kinda did anyway, even if the dangerous part of it he left out, and you found out in a roundabout way…” She sighed. “And since I’ll be helping your kids, that’s more people let in too. But where you can avoid it...don’t link any of this shit back to me.”

She crossed her arms, claws glinting slightly in the darkness. “...I’m not that strong. Most of my strength comes in being unnoticed--there are plenty of people in the world I just...can’t defend myself against if they come after me. If you want my help, don’t endanger me.”

“You have our word.” Temp said, feeling confident he spoke for both of them on the subject, “We’d also prefer to stay under Flora radar for as long as reasonably possible. The less people who know about all of this, the more secure we all are. The only other person in the world who will know we ever visited you will be our confidant, Alter Ego. There should be no reason for anyone else to ever know.”

Kokichi’s eyes softened as he nodded along with Temp, though he also went over to the cat-plant-woman and put a hand on her arm, her strong, plant-like body warm to the touch. “We won’t betray this generosity and trust you’ve placed in us, I promise. For the sake of my daughter, I will ensure your safety as much as I can. And Alter Ego…” 

He smiled as he clarified. “...I trust them with my life. And I trust them to ensure your safety too. We’ll only tell them because we’ll need their help in protecting Miya and Addason. So...they’ll be invested too.”

...in all honesty...one day, Kaito and Shuuichi might put the pieces together. But since Thalia had already spoken to Kaito...she might be aware of that too. 

“...thank you so much, Thalia. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, please reach out.” A little bit of humor entered his eyes. “Physically, probably.”

Thalia smirked. Kaito and Kokichi were really a pair, huh. “Can’t do it otherwise. If you two come to visit again, we’re absolutely going through the hoopla of my defences, but just chill and I’ll let you in. Now get the hell out of here and let me sleep.”

Temp opened the portal again, and before he stepped through, said to Thalia, “I’d still like to take you for that coffee at some point. My treat.”

“You say that to all the monstrosities.” There was a playful flick of a tail before Kokichi stepped through the portal as well. 

What could Temp say? He wouldn’t call himself a ‘monster-fucker’ or anything like that, but, well… thousands of years old? Try anything once.

Besides. He owed her a drink. It was the least he could do.

Chibi Kaito had just finished painting Kokichi with what may have been an entirely earnest attempt to put makeup on, but looked a great deal like clown makeup, puzzling over where he had gone wrong with his canvass when Big Kokichi and The Templar stepped into the room. (*＾▽＾)／(●ʘ╻ʘ●)

Kokichi took a breath as they arrived back in his room, his eyes taking a moment to adjust back to the light. Though, seeing what they’d come back to…

“Snnnrk!”

Kokichi snorted hard before dissolving into delighted giggles, picking Chibi Kokichi up and spinning joyfully as he looked at the makeup Chibi Kaito had managed. “Aw!! You look amazing! Wonderful job, I love it!”

ヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ

(¯―¯٥)

Chibi Kaito looked thrilled with the compliment. Chibi Kokichi? Uhhhhhh less enthused. The things he did for his husband…

Temp sighed, running a hand through his hair as he collected himself. “Well, that… went fairly well, I’d say. Wasn’t expecting her consciousness to be some sort of cat demon, but it’s not the first time I’ve been in a humanoid mind that saw themselves as some sort of animal or creature. Believe it enough, and the consciousness will reshape itself around that belief… I did find the extra set of hands extremely unsettling.”

“But! Her help will be invaluable. And we have so much more time than I thought we did. Five more months before the hive can tap into the kids? That’s a miracle, honestly. I thought we had weeks.”

Calming down, Kokichi gently set Chibi Kokichi back down next to Chibi Kaito before sitting on his bed, taking a breath to just...absorb everything that conversation had been. 

“I thought her form was cute,” Kokichi hummed, always a sucker for anything even slightly feline. “And...I don’t know. I’m not exactly an expert on Flora, but...she felt really normal. I’m not really sure how literal that form is.” Though, in fairness, Temp had seen a great deal many more minds than him, so maybe he didn’t have room to talk at all. 

“Five months…” Kokichi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “...yeah. For all of the baby books we’ve read, none of them really answer when a baby can start having thoughts… I...I was kind of worried that we’d just...kind of have to constantly fend off hivemind intrusions for a while. But...five months to build a blockade…”

Kokichi closed his eyes for a moment before looking up at Temp. “Do you think you’ll be free tomorrow? I...think I should try and get some sleep soon, since we’re trying to finish up the vents tomorrow, but after that… I want to start planning with Alter Ego as soon as we can.”

“As I said before: Flora really are just like anyone else. If you can get them alone. It’s really only the hivemind stuff that makes things difficult for them.”

“Oh,” Temp laughed lightly, relaxing out of his ‘Templar’ persona, now that he wasn’t feeling the pressure of performing for Thalia, “I heard about that. The castle was closed down because of… well, I don’t know how true it is. But the rumor is that Kaito’s son… somehow broke all the ventilation in the castle? How does a kid even manage to do that by himself? Little forces of nature… but yeah. We should rest for the night, and I can be available tomorrow, if you won’t be too tired.”

Thalia was her own person. And...in a way, Kokichi felt bad for her. She seemed like just...a decent person who wanted to live a normal life, and now she was wrapped up in so much… But he deeply appreciated her help. 

Letting out a groan and a chuckle, Kokichi rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’d be proud of such a spectacular prank if it hadn’t gone on for a year and was so dangerous… Apparently he and his friends have been using the vents as a secret hideout, and Tim thought the air filters were just weird, shitty blockades… It’s so gross, Temp.”

Sighing, Kokichi gave his friend a smile and a nod. “Yeah...see you tomorrow. Have a good night.”

-

“Okay! Your mission today, should you choose to accept--!”

“We can choose NOT to accept!?” Cali shouted, looking flabbergasted.

“--You chose to accept when you broke all the vents! Anyway!” Kaito sighed, handing the three kids stacks of filter squares, “Your mission is to run these around the castle to the maintenance folks, and when you run out, run back here to the shop to get a new stack to keep supplying them with. Also, to help out the staff with anything else they ask for… except?”

“If they want any of us to go somewhere alone with them.” Kimiko sang-songed.

“Or ask us to change clothes outside of new masks.” Tim sighed.

“Or ask us to go into the vents!” Cali shouted.

“That’s right! Good job! Anyone asks for anything weird you’re not sure about, you come back and talk to me, or Maki…” Kaito frowned, before adding, “Or Kokichi. Or Shuichi. You kids know Miss Waku? Her too. Miss Lake… Mr. Ikou…”

Tim sighed again, “Dad. You don’t have to list the name of every adult we know. We already know them.”

“Miss Haneda! … yeah, alright. Be respectful, be helpful, be safe! Got it! Meet me in the dining hall at noon for lunch no matter what, or I’m coming looking for you guys! Don’t shirk work!”

“Kaaaay!” 

“And stay together!” Kaito shouted at them as the kids ran off with their filters, Kaito sighing, before grabbing his own stack from the pile and heading off to the filter he was in charge of. Damn… he hoped he remembered how to do this. The maintenance crew had showed him but… hmm…

-

They’d cleaned out and up from the majority of the detritus that had accumulated in the vents the day before, sweeping up dust and getting out bugs and animal poop--they’d needed to be careful there, sending out long lights into the vents to make sure the animal that’d left those wasn’t still in the vents, and, thankfully, whatever it was had left for a new home in the better weather--and anything else. But there was only so much people could do in a day. 

Like the kids--and Kokichi tried not to be put out thinking about how his duties had pretty much been what the kids were doing--Kokichi was distributing filters to the various teams of the maintenance crew and the volunteers who’d learned how to install them. Three layers at every point--a tougher, wire-enforced mesh to keep out animals; a more standard filter to keep out bugs and dirt; and a fine filter to catch smaller particles of dust and pollen. Everything to ensure that the residents of the castle were safe and healthy and had clean air to breathe. 

Handing off the filters wasn’t a big deal at all. 

Until...he ran across a team dealing with a section that wasn’t so clear yet. 

Kokichi had barely seen those awful, spindly legs and thick hairy body before everyone but the person coaxing the large spider into a container to be let outside jumped at the dull thump and rushed over to the prince, out cold.

-

The unlucky person who had to tell Kaito that Kokichi was in the medbay was glad they had been warned how he might react beforehand, because they had found themselves alarmed, stuttering through some of the information, when Kaito turned to look at them like he was halfway considering going on a rampage… until his face relaxed into a sort of alarmed worry when they quickly explained exactly WHAT had happened.

Oh! A spider… okay. Not a heart attack? You’re sure!? Not poisoning!? Was there anyone else there!? Did they do it on purpose, don’t cover for them, there’s still a chance to apprehend them if… no? You’re sure? Not an assassination attempt?? Just an accident… you’re sure?

Again, the staff member had been warned, and was honestly surprised Kaito went through the whole list of questions they had been warned he’d probably ask in less than a minute, usually only letting the staff member half finish their explanation before moving onto the next question… and then it was a bit of a whiplash when he grinned uneasily, clasped them on the shoulder, and said, “Thanks for telling me.” before running off.

That guy was… not entirely stable. They appreciated the thanks? Weird.

Kaito hurried to the medward, took a breath outside the door, reminded himself ‘Don’t get in the way, let them help him,’ and walked in. “Hello?”