Kaito glanced over his shoulder, hearing the telling sound of his husband getting huffy about something, though he had missed once. He blinked at him, glancing over at the guy next to him with a frown. Had something just happened? ...no, maybe he was reading too much into it. 

Shuichi grit his teeth. Did that guy just touch Kokichi’s shoulder? Ohhh….nnnnng...don’t get jealous, don’t get jealous, that’s not a good look, and it looked like Kokichi shook him off and took a step back, so...gah! Shuichi couldn't believe he was the jealous type! Gah!

The bishop to his right was looking at the board though, and she said to him, “You need to send the Queen to G3. This might be our chance.”

“Huh? Oh… Maki! G3!”

“Copy that!” Maki called out, running across the board top speed, like it mattered how quickly she got there.

All of a sudden, Kokichi found himself staring across at Maki. And, though they were on different sides...it was...kind of a relief. Ren was just getting a little too friendly, nothing big, but...he did feel better to have one of his friends close by and, you know, facing him. 

Maki’s position was pretty terrible, chess-wise, but contact chess? Kokichi could move to the side and...Maki would only need to either fight the H pawn or Ren before facing him. Or...he could wait and face her the next turn or…

...the game was pretty much over, huh. 

Acknowledging this, but still wanting one more chance, Kokichi gave the F and H pawns small smiles. If neither of them wanted to face Maki, then…

The F pawn, lovely lass, sighed and gave him a nod. 

“F pawn, take G3. Good luck!”

Ren let out a laugh and smacked Kokichi on the back, not unlike what Kaito had done to him the first day they’d known each other, but this time Kokichi didn’t have the benefit of a seat, and stumbled forward a few steps, sending the rook an annoyed look that didn’t land. “You and the other king have similar ideas, huh? Not willing to face off yourselves.”

...something about that sounded like more of an accusation than just the game. 

Maki was actually really enjoying herself. She liked competitive games like this, and was fired up, looking forward to winning the game on her teams behalf. She was really hoping they’d all be open to playing again, getting to play as a different piece. Maybe a pawn? That could be challenging! She liked stuff like this.

...and her giddy mood dampened when she saw the look of aggravation on her princes’ face.

Maki’s face hardened, looking over at the rook next to him, a heat starting to radiate off her, even as on her side of the board, black pieces started cheering her forward, recognizing they might be about to win, if she was half as good as she seemed to believe she was. On the white side, the pieces were cheering on the pawn trying to take her...and only out of respect did Maki look away from the rook to focus on the approaching pawn.

She had no desire to hurt this person, so when she went to push her, Maki grabbed both of her wrists and, in a surprisingly gentle, almost dance like motion, she spun her around until she was dizzy and then stepped her off the square platform. Then Maki bowed to her, before turning her heated gaze on Kokichi...and stepped forward one square. No further.

After a beat, the ref realized she really didn’t intend to go any further, and whistled.

Kokichi gave Maki a puzzled look. This was where...the rules of this kind of chess became fuzzy for him. Stepping into the H column would still put him in check and...that wasn’t...a valid move in regular chess. Literally his only move was to face Maki himself. Most of the faces around him were confused as well, some even having started to move off the board, figuring the game was done when Maki won the last battle. 

Tentatively, he stepped forward to take Maki’s piece. 

Maki looked down at Kokichi in open, honest surprise. “Kokichi...you don’t have to approach me, I think. Just run. You’re not my target. You don’t have to fight.”

Kaito watched this with open, excited interest. Grinning wide. His fists clenched as he thought to himself, ‘Yes!’

“Go for it, ‘Kichi!”

Kokichi’s confused expression only grew. “Maki-chan...I’m the king. Capturing me is kind of the point of the game. And I don’t think it’s a legal move to move into check? This game has weird rules…”

...maybe he was imagining it, but he could’ve sworn he heard someone mutter, “Just run, sure. No reason to fight yourself when there are plenty of others, right?”

Hardening his expression, Kokichi waited for Maki to come at him. He wasn’t strong, and he didn’t have much hope to beat a life-long trained fighter. But he just had to get her to ring out. If he could abuse her momentum correctly just once…

Maki scratched her neck a little...before smirking. Heat radiating off her again, hair rippling in its heat, as she said, “Alright then. Don’t hold back on me, Kokichi.”

Maki leapt. 

And was surprised when there was no Kokichi by the time she got there. Putting her foot down, she caught herself, grabbing at the ground to stop her momentum, before looking to the other side of the square, where Kokichi was now. Kicking off from the opposite foot, she leapt for him again.

While some people might’ve found the bloodthirsty aura of Maki intimidating--if not an appropriate time for pants-wetting--Kokichi managed to give his friend a smile before it was time to move. And, even all bundled up in his fall clothes, Kokichi was still just fast enough to dodge. 

It was enough to establish a pattern for a little bit, and that was proof enough for anyone that Maki didn’t actually mean to harm him. She’d leap at him, Kokichi would run to the other side. Then, she started feinting, and he went right along with it, never letting himself be pushed by momentum and making sure that each step could be used for at least two directions. 

The battles so far had been pretty short, so to see two people facing off like this… Murmurs started to ripple through the pieces, people shuffling around for better views. 

And all the while Ren watched, expression placid and not betraying the bitter acid welling up within. Oh, so the sickly little prince could fight now? Then where was he, all these years? If he had this in him, then why weren’t he and that stupid king the first to volunteer to lay their lives on the line? 

Selfish, entitled...all capable fighters should’ve gone. And if they weren’t capable, then they shouldn’t be like this. 

As Kokichi rounded the back side of the square, Ren just barely had to reach out, grabbing the trailing edge of the prince’s jacket--who wears a jacket like this in fall, seriously?--and gave a hard YANK.

Kokichi only had eyes for Maki, needing all of his focus to avoid her grasp, so, unfortunately, it was a total surprise when he found himself falling backwards, too shocked to catch himself as he landed on his back, knocking all the breath from his chest with a “Hhhungh!”

Right outside the square. 

In this moment, Maki was learning for herself something Kaito had discovered the first day he ever knew Kokichi.

Holy shit, he was fast.

Every time she turned, she could get a grasp of where he was, but by the time she had decided to move, he was already jumping out of the way. Plus, he was still capable of thinking as moved, judging by how he kept reading her feints and was course correcting as he went. It was incredibly impressive and Maki grit her teeth as she put her all in to catching him now, speeding up, her competitive spirit ignited in the face of a genuine  challenge where she hadn’t been expecting it. 

Meanwhile, Kaito got visibly excited, jumping excitedly on his square and pumping his fists into the air as he shouted, “Go, go, Kokichi! Come on, you got this, fuck yeah babe! Go! Shuichi, are you seeing this!?”

“Careful, careful, don’t let her put you in too tightly into a corner, she’s bigger than you-” Shuichi mumbled, wanting to see Kokichi win too, despite the rabbit giving him an openly confused look for rooting for the other king. 

“Go! Go Kokichi! Wow! Look at that!” Hajime gasped, genuinely astounded. He had seen the guy climb the wall, sure, but he hadn’t thought he was capable of something like this! 

And as Kokichi’s friends got noticeably more and more excited for him, cheering him on, a few of the more impressionable people from both sides off the board joining them, for a second, it looked like Maki was starting to get less sure of her footing, her hands covered in dirt as she ripped up the ground beneath them fixing her momentum over and over, face going red as she leapt again…

And allowing herself to fall into the ground, when Kokichi was, once again, not where she expected him to be...but only because she had seen him suddenly jerk backwards.

...wait. What?

Maki tensed, realizing all at once that she had to move quickly. Quickly! Use what Lake taught you! Don’t let this escalate! Go! Get him! 

Scurrying back up, dirt all over her front, she leapt forward again, getting up, and managed to grab both of Kaito’s elbows as he ran forward to grab the guys collar, fury on his face, pulling both arms backward and using her weight to drop them backwards, taking him down with her as she pushed down on his arms, pulling them behind him and putting her legs around his waist as she said, “Kaito! Stop! Take a breath! And you!” She said, turning a furious look to the Rook. “Three steps back and put your hands on your hips! I am asking you to show visible indication that this will not escalate into a fight!”

It was, honestly, a ridiculous thing to say, and Maki had rolled her eyes as Lake had told her to recite it. But, according to the guard, putting a person in a position where they had to visually indicate whether they intended to be more aggressive was a good way of getting them to actually consider if they wanted to or not, and Lake insisted, most people when given a second to think about it, didn’t. Maki had no idea if it would work or not. She was just doing what Lake had taught her.

Meanwhile, Shuichi immediately ran to Kokichi’s side, Hajime only beating him there due to his longer legs and closer distance. Hajime put himself in front of Kokichi, a somber look on his face, fears and instincts learned over the vacation causing him to take this more seriously then he might have in the past, as Shuichi put his hands on the side of Kokichi’s neck, squeezing gently and saying, “Kokichi, if that hurts, don’t move, okay. Are you okay?”

Team ‘Traumatized because they had seen Kokichi get stolen by death cult terrorists while just trying to visit a beach pop up carnival and aren’t over it, okay??’ had been activated. 

Startling, Ren’s ease dissipated and, seeing what was probably the Luminary Prince on the ground and the woman Prince Kokichi had been fighting with shouting at him, it didn’t take more than a second for him to put his arms on his hips, looking at the group incredulously. “Wha--the hell? He tripped, you don’t have to lose your damn mind over someone tripping!”

“Ren, what the actual fuck?!” The queen, the woman with the hollow mask stepped forward, gesturing in a way that made it clear what she thought of all that. “It’s a game! We don’t interfere with the battles-”

“And Kokichi’s on our side!!” 

The queen vaguely pointed to where the person who’d said that was. “And he’s on our side! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” 

As others started to chime in with their anger at the nonsensical cheating--and some general outrage, because, c’mon man, Prince Kokichi’s great, why you gotta do that to a guy--Kokichi was still laid out on the ground, trying to get his breath back. And...not entirely succeeding. 

He tried to nod to Shuuichi, but could only roll over to cough, his lungs freaking out juuuuust a little from running around and suddenly landing against a wall. Or the ground. Just a second, and he’d be okay.

Kaito was seeing red, and struggling in Maki’s grip a little...before giving a frustrated grunt and thinking to himself, ‘There is a rock in my pocket. It is small and round. It’s well polished. I picked it because it has Kokichi and Shuichi’s colors. It warms up in my hands. There is a rock in my pocket. It is small and round…’

Frustrated still, but doing his best to do the mental exercise, Kaito kpt describing the rock to himself until he was just distracted from his anger enough to let himself stop, taking a breath and saying to Maki, “I’m good, I’m good, you can let me go, I’m sorry…thanks Maki...”

Maki nodded, letting Kaito go and going over to check on Kokichi now, remembering what the healers had taught her and putting her hand on Kokichi’s chest. “Okay, uh...follow the pattern of the pressure on my hand. Shake your head if you don’t need a healer. If you don’t shake your head, I’m taking you to a healer, Kokichi.”

Kaito got up, running a hand through his hair, looking over at his husband gasping for breath, seeing him shake his head, Kaito sighed a little in relief...before turning on Ren. Fury on his face, though not necessarily violence.

“What is your problem!? Seriously, once, just once, can we take him out somewhere without someone like you fucking with him!?”

“Sure, because growing up in a castle being waited on hand and foot is soooo terrible.” Even as he said it, though, Ren could see nothing but angry and confused faces around him. He knew for a fact some of the people here had family members that hadn’t returned home with the rest of the veterans. It wasn’t their war! It was just some political bullshit that the Oumas dragged them into--if it really had been something worth fighting for, they would’ve joined. 

...but it looked like no one else here thought the same. 

Scoffing, Ren turned to stalk off, his shoulders high around his ears, feeling embarrassed to have judged the crowd so wrong. “Fuckin’ imperialists…”

“Oh, go fuck yourself, asshole,” the queen called after the rook, giving him the finger while several others gave the retreating man a stinkeye. 

After a good few moments, Kokichi was able to follow Maki’s hand, and while there were still whistles of wheezes in each breath, he was able to sit up and wipe his face, just...trying not to burst into tears or run away from the crowd who’d just...seen him on the ground trying to breathe from tripping. 

Kaito clenched his fists tight, scowling as he watched the man leave, growling, “If we were home…”

“Well, we’re not, Kaito.” Maki said, sounding tired. Kokichi seemed okay. Nothing but his pride hurt...so she leaned down and, tensely, demanded in his ear, “On your feet. Chin up. These people defended you and deserve your thanks. Don’t disappoint me.”

Then, getting up, Maki waited for Kokichi to stand up, offering him her hand.

Taking a few more breaths, Kokichi took Maki’s hand, needing it to an extent to steady himself, but before he could even say a word, the queen stepped forward, not coming into his bubble of protectors, but clearly addressing them. The annoyance on her face was apparent, though so was regret. 

“Sorry about that; I’m glad you’re alright. Ren’s always been a little out there, but...well, I sure as hell didn’t see anything like this coming.” Huffing off to the side, almost making like she’d spit on the man’s name, the woman crossed her arms over her chest. “Never letting him join anything from the shop ever again--really, who does that?”

Another person came forward, a bit shier in their approach. “But, thanks for joining our game--all of you. It was fun. Really wish we could’ve seen a proper end to your battle,” they nodded to Maki and Kokichi. “That was really something.”

Comforted by the greater opinions of his people…

There were always going to be people like Ren. Like the Brockmans. Like Itch and Tom, even. But...they were always a minority. Sometimes a vocal one, sometimes a dangerous one...but the majority of people thought differently. People just wanting to live their lives and explore their passions. 

The sweet smile Kokichi gave the other players was in no way a mask to cover his hurt pride. “Thank you… It was fun to join, I’ve never - hh - played a game like this before. Wish we could’ve ended it properly but...if you’re all trying to set another one up sometime, I’d love to join again. For the most part...you’re all very - kh - kind to accept beginners like us in.”

“And, what d-do you think, Maki-chan?” He gave his bodyguard a teasing, friendly look. “Up for a round two sometime? Think I might have to start training too now that you know my tricks.”

...things would be okay. 

“Well, we play every third friday afternoon, so you all are welcome to play.” Rabbit said, a little surprised all that had happened as, uh, ‘loudly’ as it had, but ah well. “Just don’t be late. We start at four in the afternoon, on the dot.”

“This was a weird game, but it was a lot of fun! Though.” the second pawn that had been taken out laughed, shaking his head, hanging out with the pawn he had taken out. “You guys seriously need to actually learn how to play chess. I’m talking to the dudes on my side. Mindless aggression only works till we know who the strong players are. We won’t get as lucky next time.”

Maki looked around, smiling a hair...this was, essentially, a sport. A bunch of people were inviting her, and all of her friends, to come play a sport with them once a month...something she could get excited about? And use her skills for, at least in a way. With people who...didn’t seem afraid of her, even when she blasted murderous intent. 

...she laughed. Small and bell like. What a strange day it had been. 

Looking down at Kokichi, she smirked, furrowing her brow. “I’ll be training too. Don’t think you’ll get the best of me next time. Glass cannons only have to slip up once, ya know.”

Shuichi sighed, lowering his cap a little as he said, “Well, if I’m honest, guys? That was a lot of excitement for me. Can we go rest for a bit?”

“Sure. It’s a park, let’s go sit in the grass at the bottom of the hill, take a breather.” Kaito decided, looking over to Hajime as he shouted, “Good game, dude! We’re having dinner in the dining hall tonight, if you want to meet us there? Eat with us?”

“Sure! Chiaki?” Hajime asked his girlfriend, who nodded, still messing with her puzzle book.

“.....Certainly. It’ll be fun to get to know your friends.” She said, not so much as glancing up.

“We’ll be there!”

Kaito sighed, going over to Kokichi, leaning down to kiss his cheek, before bowing to the group. “Thank you for having us!”

Kokichi snorted quietly, though he couldn’t keep up laughing for long. Calling him a glass cannon was too generous, honestly. He didn’t have the “cannon” part at all--he was just fast enough to either lose his assailant or to let them tire themselves out. 

...hm. So...without re-specing himself...having better stamina would serve him pretty well in that strategy. 

It was likely more than enough excitement for Shuuichi, but Kokichi was still thankful for him suggesting they take a breather. He...wasn’t sure if he’d be able to go into another adventure right away. Not with his chest still burning a bit. 

Giving a wave to the players, Kokichi found Kaito’s hand as they walked down the hill. “...I’m really proud of you… I can’t imagine it felt okay to yell and not beat the shit out of that guy, but...thank you for not doing that. Being able to see for myself that he was the only person with a bad attitude...it’s something that...it’s nice to see. Thank you for doing that for me…”

Kaito squeezed Kokichi’s hand, staring at the ground as they walked down the hill, Shuichi and Maki and Nadya all a bit ahead of them, listening to Maki excitedly talk about the game, trying to strategize and go over how they could have done the game, with the benefit of hindsight…

And Kaito stopped, about halfway down the hill. Stopped and watched them keep walking for a moment, before leaning over and hugging Kokichi tightly. Holding him tight. Eyes a little red.

“...I’m sorry. I’m sorry I almost lost it. I just...I just want bad things to stop happening to you...I hate that I can’t give you just one incident free day out…” Kaito said. Grasping him tightly. Frustrated and helpless and so fucking heartbroken over it, as he said, “I just want to protect you and there’s nothing I can do…”

Kokichi hugged Kaito back, but after listening for a moment he held Kaito tighter, cupping the back of his head. “...you didn’t lose it, so there’s no need to apologize. You never need to apologize for actions you didn’t take. I’m so proud of you, Kai-chan.”

“...and you do protect me.” He pulled back, trying to catch Kaito’s gaze, wanting his husband to see how genuine he was. “You don’t let me hide away, you make me excited to do things and meet people… I can leave feeling safe, because I know you’ll be there for me. That guy? That was barely anything, and I hope he does get some help, but...we’ve had such a cool, unbelievable day, and it’s still going. I just hope that it’ll still be a good birthday for you.”

Kaito chuckled, sighing as he put his hand over Kokichi’s, squeezing it gently as his husband reassured him. “...it’s a great birthday, ‘Kichi. Any day I get to spend the day with you is a great day. I love you…”

Kaito sighed again, nodding along with Kokichi’s words, trying to embrace them, even if he still didn’t really feel like he was doing enough...but if Kokichi felt that way…

“I’m really proud of you too, by the way. You handled yourself so well. You kept your calm, and you addressed everyone as soon as you got your breath back...you were acting like such a leader.” Kaito grinned softly...before his eyes lit up with excitement as he gushed, “And you almost beat Maki! Do you realize that!? She was losing her footing on those later turns! I think you were going to out last her! It was incredible! Everyone saw, Kokichi!”

“I love you too,” Kokichi hummed, looking up at Kaito adoringly as he pressed against him. Maybe just like how Kaito wanted to give Kokichi a nice day out, Kokichi wanted to give the same to Kaito, give him a day to have fun and feel good and not...feel alienated or…

(...like a monster…)

To give Kaito a day where he was happy to be in Dicea. 

Chuckling bashfully, Kokichi looked over at the group ahead of them, still a little weird to see Maki with his shade and bright yellow peeking out of Shuuichi’s hat. “...I wanted to cry. I felt so embarrassed, having to have so many people run to me, and not being able to just...get up immediately. But...when Maki-chan gives you an order, you have to have a damn good reason not to listen.”

She wasn’t superhuman...but damn was Maki capable. He had been right to give her the head of security job, even if she was the only member of his security at the moment. 

Kokichi rolled his eyes as Kaito fan-boyed over him, but his cheeks went tellingly rosy. “Only because she was taking it easy on me at the beginning. I’m not gonna get that grace period next time. But...it was really fun. I’d never be able to match her in a real spar, but for a heavily regulated game like that...who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky.”

Kaito chuckled again, standing up and taking Kokichi’s hand again, walking with him down the hill where their friends were now chilling out, sitting at the base of the hill and watching the park. “Ya know, spars can be pretty regulated too. Me and Maki go a little wild with them, but they can actually be really safe if you ever wanted to try one…”

“Though, I’m a little cooled on sparring myself, honestly. Maki’s pretty bummed at me, actually, cause I didn’t exactly put my heart into the last two spars…” Kaito shrugged, “I just don’t feel that great about fighting these days. I don’t know...but games like that? Those are fun. I’d actually really love to come back and play with those guys again.”

“...not to jinx us. God knows this has bit us in the butt before, but...maybe we made some friends today?” Kaito said, glancing over his shoulder up the hill. “You know...like, I’m not getting super ‘secret death cultists’ vibes from them.”

Sparring, in theory, was absolutely something Kokichi was interested in. The same sort of idea he’d had in his head all those months back when Kaito said he could teach him how to use a sword. But what he’d seen of sparring in reality…

...there was no way he’d be able to compete. What, someone being okay with just...calling him tagging them a hit? There were just too many stipulations he’d need that you may as well just call it a game or a puzzle rather than a fight.

Hearing that Kaito wasn’t as for them, though… Kokichi looked up in surprise. Wondering when he’d missed that change. Sometimes even big ones were hard to notice. 

Kokichi followed Kaito’s gaze back the way they came, thinking of all the people on that board, and he smiled. Just a little, and filled with a tentative sort of hope, but there. “...I hope so. They seem like a fun group. And if Hajime-chan and Chiaki-chan are friends with them, then that’s a sort of endorsement I trust.”

“...do you think Tim and the girls would enjoy doing a sumo exercise like that? It could be a build up to spars, or even just for its own sake. I think it’s fun, at least, so they might enjoy it, and I think it’d be better with people their own size.”

“Yeah, I think they could be into something like that. I think it could be fun to bolster their competitive spirit a little.” Kaito mused, lifting up Kokchi’s hand and kissing the back of his palm idly, glove and all. “Plus, Cali’s been begging to learn some fighting stuff, and I’m not sure if that’s a good idea yet. So, that could be a way to kind of put that off for a bit.”

“Took you two long enough.” Maki said, laying on the grass, Shuichi sitting next to her, Nadya next to him. “Sit down, get some rest, we’re probably not going to sit here much longer. It’s too cold.” Maki said, pouting a little.

“‘Kichi, if you’re tired, I can carry you on my back? That way we can start walking right away if you guys are feeling chilly?” Kaito said, doing his best to try to think of all of them.

Kokichi pouted a bit, wanting to argue that he was fine...but he wasn’t. So even as he sat down, he gave a shallow sigh. “Just...gimme a sec. I’ll let you know if it’s not enough.”

Nadya gave Kokichi a sympathetic look, having been talking about the game with Maki and Shuuichi. As a professional athlete, seeing someone bring personal feelings into a game was just...disrespectful and shameful. And as Kokichi’s friend, she was baffled and kind of pissed. Kokichi was one of the sweetest people she’d ever met--she couldn’t think of any reason why someone would be so petty as to trip him up. 

But at the end of the day, she hadn’t been the only person to think that way--there had been more than enough startled gasps around her when Kokichi fell to know that--and Kokichi was alright, if a little winded and shaken. Having gotten to play the game in the first place marked it as a good event. 

Kokichi crossed one hand over the other and pressed them over his chest, closing his eyes as he went through a breathing exercise, trying to sort himself back out before the chill got to his friends and they had to move on.

-

Kokichi had tried to walk on his own for awhile, once they had all decided to go, and Maki and Shuichi were fine with letting him try...but Kaito could only watch Kokichi wince so many times before finally just wordlessly squatting down in front of his husband, insisting he climb on his back. 

Kokichi’s chest resting on his back, his arms around Kaito’s neck as Kaito held him up by locking his arms behind his back, letting Kokichi sit on them, the group was walking through the city, chatting idly with each other as they headed home for the day.

They had been talking about a few places they had seen but passed by on the way home, including some of the museums that Kokichi had been talking about, discussing the idea that they’d use their weekends more specifically in the future to explore the city some more and visit those places, when somehow that conversation had lead to space and Kaito insisting, “No, no, I think we could go out into space someday.”

“Kaito, you can’t…’firework’ your way up to space. You would explode or burn up, trying to ride a rocket into space.” Maki insisted, “And then what would you do once you got up there? Someone told me you can’t breath up there, I’m certain.” 

It was...annoying, but at least he’d made it down the hill. He got to save face in front of his people (and maybe new friends?) and...it wasn’t worth putting himself at risk and ruining Kaito’s birthday (or just worrying his husband and family in general) by trying to keep at it when he could tell he was hitting a wall. His chest ached, and while he could breathe regularly, it didn’t really feel like he could take deep breaths without his ribs panging so...

He’d take a warm bath later, take it easy. He’d be alright.

“The difference in pressure is something you’d need to account for too,” Kokichi chimed in, though the way he said it compared to Maki made it seem like he was simply making a plan rather than declaring an impossibility. “But for breathing...I’m sure there’s some way to like...have a more science-y version of having a little compartment for a plant that provides enough oxygen while you give it carbon dioxide. That’s how it works here, though the planet had a much longer head start on producing oxygen.”

Resting against Kaito’s back, Kokichi nuzzled the side of his head a bit. “And even if you got up there, there’s the whole matter of coming back. All that gravity exponentially suckin’ ya back down sounds like a headache even for people a billion times smarter than me… But one day, I think we’ll all figure it out. It’s definitely possible.”

Kaito nodded along with Kokichi, even if he wasn’t sure exactly how to even imagine any of that would work...and frowned a little. 

(...Kaito had squished Kokichi inside a metal box. Then later everyone was crying and he fell through the earth that became a sky…)

Before immediately dismissing that one as another stress hallucination. There had been a lot of those this time. Almost all of the memories Kaito had of the ritual day so far he had to dismiss as just imaginings from his own freaked out brain lately. He was constantly worried about Kokichi and Shuichi and Maki, so he kept seeing bad things happening to them. It made sense, even if it sucked. The stuff that felt like it might actually be messages from Atua? Were all so unbearably vague or difficult to define that Kaito couldn’t glean what the point of any of it was.

He was still trying his best though. When he got home, he’d write down that one too, just to at least keep it all organized for his own sake.

So far, though, he was pretty disappointed with how little the ritual had offered this year.

“Why would we go up into space though?” Shuichi asked, confused as he said, “I mean...what would be the point? It sounds like a lot of effort.”

“Resources and space from other planets?” Maki countered.

“Space, maybe, but based on everything we were taught in school, resources are non-existent on other planets. They’re barren.”

Maki frowned, confused again, “Well, how do we know that? Are astrologists looking or-”

“Pssst, hey! Hey!”

An incredibly tall, board thin, lanky woman with jet black, thin eyes and loose, long jet black hair, who had been standing in a bright pink full body trenchcoat and a fancy, white fedora hat with the brim kept low just ahead of them on the sidewalk, looked over at the approaching group and stepped out in front of them. Maki’s eyes immediately narrowed, moving quickly to stand in front of the group, glaring at the woman, as the woman smiled wide, a manic look in her eyes, as she said, shoulders hunched forward, “You look like a group savvy with the ways of the world! Eager to find eternal peace and spiritual enlightenment! A taste for the flashy!” She said, looking at all of their hair and Kaito’s ridiculous coat.

“Can I interest you all in some-” she opened up her trench coat, and inside were lines and lines of small, intricate, beautifully colored rocks, the inside of the trench coat cloth a colorful array of flowers as backdrop, “-Meditation Stones!?”

“...Miss Crystal?” Kaito asked, literally the exact same second as Maki huffed, recognizing her in the trenchcoat and hat.

Phaux Crystal blinked at the voice, looked at the tall green haired man...and went “EEP! KAITO!?”

Wasn’t it enough to fulfill the joy of exploration? To see new things and learn more about their universe. There wasn’t anything they needed from space, though Kokichi had read about people finding metals in meteorites (and had read the counter-arguments that some of those metals, at least, were from a result of where the meteorite had landed, and that the metal was from earth and people were just mistaken) but...just being able to see incredible things… That seemed like more than enough reason to try. 

However, Kokichi’s attention was shoved over from their space discussion at the person whispering at them. A...street merchant? An odd selling technique to be sure, but...oh. Those were a lot of beautiful stones… Some of them even reminded Kokichi of ones they’d found on the beach--that almost impossibly light green one just like a little nub of sea glass, the sandy colored one that was glittering even lined in the person’s coat--which was very cool as it was--oh, and that…

Crystal?

Kokichi blinked in surprise before peering over Kaito’s shoulder, trying to look at him, though it was kind of hard in their positions. “...a friend of yours?”

“Uh...um…” Kaito said, glancing up at Kokichi, “...yes?”

“Oh, ho ho ho, that’s so sweet! I like to consider us friends, Kaito! The kind of friendship the state pays me and forces you to have, sure~!” Miss Crystal laughed, letting her trenchcoat swish close for a second as she put a hand on her hip and her other hand over her mouth, another series of “Oh-hohohoho!” out of her mouth, before saying, “And that’s a complicated friendship, sure, but a friendship non-the-less! Miss Harukawa! Maki! I didn’t recognize you! I should have, though. No one else ever looks that casually like they want to murder everyone around them! How have you been, give me a hug!”

“If you touch me, I will cut you.”

“We will work on that! I’ll get you on my couch someday, Miss Harukawa!” Crystal said cheerfully, giving the woman a wink before walking past her, spreading her arms wide for Kaito who, looking around sheepishly, let her draw him into a hug...which also, in a roundabout sort of way, led her to hugging Kokichi, patting him companionably on the back before stepping backwards and looking to Nadya and Shuichi as well as she said, “I’m Phaux Crystal! I’m a therapist, with one of my many, many, many specialties being Anger Management Therapy! It’s lovely to meet you all! Especially you, Prince Kokichi! Hmmm...are either of you Shuichi Saihara?” she asked, looking between Shuichi and Nadya.

Shuichi quietly raised a hand. She pulled him into a hug, “Congratulations! Pregnancy is an exciting time!” Breaking the hug, she opened up her trench coat again, showing him the rocks inside as she said,  “Can I offer you a meditation crystal to handle the stress? Normally they’re a hundred copper a pop, but for friends of Kaito? Twenty bucks, any in the stock!”

Kaito had found a new therapist? ...that might’ve explained his success with containing his anger earlier, then. It could’ve been a Kaito specialty, but if Miss Crystal had given him some tools to help…

Kokichi smiled, finding himself amused with the woman’s eccentricities. “It’s lovely to meet you too!” He’d wanted to say something like he apologized for not introducing himself sooner, but...if Kaito hadn’t told him he was going to therapy again...maybe that had been on purpose. He’d ask Kaito about it later, but he didn’t want to put him on the spot. So...instead he just said, “Thank you for caring for my husband!”

...and hopefully not charging him for a “meditation stone” in the name of his care. Even if it was much simpler than drugging him and impersonating his therapist, Kokichi had had enough of people manipulating and extorting Kaito. 

Looking moderately curious, Nadya asked Kaito’s therapist, “I assume they are focusing objects, correct?” ...it was rare, and she didn’t sense any charms on the stones when Miss Crystal had shown them off, but...a mage enchanting stones for protection was one of the oldest practices of magic she knew. It would warrant such a price too.

“They’re ancient, powerful proven methods of focus and meditation, but the magic only works if you put a little of yourself into them every day!” Miss Crystal explained, giving Nadya a small smile and a little wink, before going over to Shuichi again, taking out one of the stones at random and then, pulling out of her pocket, a small cloth with a little twist jar of ointment, shoving the stone in his hand before dipping the cloth into the ointment and handing that to him as well as she said, “For twenty minutes in the morning, and twenty minutes at night, every day, you must polish the meditation stone, and tell it as you polish whatever comes to mind! Put yourself into the stone, to feed it’s magic! Try it, do it now!”

“U-uh, okay...a-am I doing right right?” Shuichi asked, looking befuddled as he continued rubbing the ointment on the bumpy stone, Miss Crystal watching him intensely as behind her, Kaito put his face in his hand, holding Kokichi with one arm now, groaning in embarrassment as she exclaimed, “There you go, you got it! Only you need to either whisper aloud or think really, really hard at the stone! You’re not whispering, so are you thinking?”

“Y-yes?”

“Good! Think at it for another nineteen minutes! Think, think, think, you can do it!”

As the therapist cheered on the sudden, impromptu meditation she had just thrown Shuichi into, Maki sighed and, feeling the need to justify herself, she went over to Kokichi and Kaito and whispered up to Kokichi, “...she has no history of extortion, she has an extremely good success rate for her load of cases, and…” Maki sighed, “She was one of the few people who was willing to take Kaito’s case on after what happened with Dr. Ford, while also being willing to follow my visit requests. She really was one of the best options we had available. After everything that happened, I’m not being flippant with Kaito’s safety. We have a whole system right now. I’ll tell you more about it later, okay?”

Kaito laughed sheepishly as Maki talked to Kokichi over his head, saying, sounding embarrassed, “She says ‘a whole system’, we just, ya know...she comes to the castle instead of me going to an office and we’re doing our sessions out in the courtyard field where people can see us...Maki insisted and, I mean...ya know, with Dr. Ford…”

Seeing what she was doing...it was a good...man, he didn’t even want to call it a trick. A weird sort of displaced placebo, then. But it was a good tactic, and, well...good notebooks could cost about the same. Miss Crystal was so enthusiastic too--he could really see her encouraging good habits in her clients. 

It was a relief to hear that she wasn’t an extortionist, though. 

His expression softening a bit, Kokichi rubbed a bit at Kaito’s shoulder and gave Maki a nod. “Okay. I do wanna talk more to you guys later, but...if you’re feeling good about it, then I’m happy. She seems fun.”

...no one had seen what happened with Dr. Ford coming. It was being too generous with his abilities to imply that Kokichi could’ve noticed it, but...he still felt like he could’ve noticed that something was off. But he hadn’t, nothing he couldn’t explain in a different way, and not they had to live with that. And if Miss Crystal was willing to see Kaito, to have their sessions at the castle in public...then he was thankful, and he’d do whatever he could to support Kaito. 

Placing a kiss on Kaito’s ear, he hummed, speaking in a more normal volume now. “So, do you have a meditation crystal, Kai-chan? Is it pretty?”

Kaito laughed sheepishly again. Using his free hand, he reached into his pocket and brought out an irregularly lumpy oval shaped rock, with dark swirls of blue and purple, that shone in the sun as he lifted his arm to show Kokichi, “Yeah...it’s silly, I know, but...along with the polishing thing, I’m supposed to try to envision the stone when I’m upset? Uh, to…”

“Call on its blessings!” Miss Crystal (She had several PHD’s, but had discovered that people tended to demand more literal explanations of her techniques when she had people call her ‘Dr.’, so, to get around that had just insisted people call her ‘Miss’. Placebo effects don’t work that well if you think too hard about it.) said, looking over to them as she beamed at the group, excited to see Kaito sharing his stone, “And when the stone hears your call? It gives you a sense of less ‘Gaaah!’ to more just a ‘Grrrrrr’. And if doesn’t? Keep calling it till it does! Hey!” she said, looking back to Shuichi, that same manic, wild smile on her incredibly intense face, “Keep polishing! You are radiating stress! Forget the twenty copper, as part of Kaito’s therapy, you gotta keep a stone too. For successful mental health!”

“What? Why am I part of Kaito’s therapy now…??” Shuichi muttered, continuing to polish the stone. “I’m not even stressed out today…”

It was pretty. “It looks like the universe…” he mumbled, maybe not as enthralled by its meditative properties, but certainly enthralled by shiny objects. Pretty, sparkly things that could fit in your hand, could fit in your pocket to carry around and bring out to look at whenever you wanted. 

...maybe he would dish out twenty copper for one, if just for a piece of art. 

Especially if Shuuichi was getting one too. Laughing lightly, Kokichi grinned down at his boyfriend. “I think we’re all part of his therapy, in a way. Or at least factors in each other’s mental health. I’m not an expert, but if an expert is sayin’ you’re a part of it, then you’re a part of it, Shuu-chan. Doesn’t hurt to have an outlet for stress either.”

“Heck yeah! He gets it! Also, you all need therapy anyway.” Miss Crystal said, glancing around at them, twitching slightly as she watched the auras around them dance and twist around their skin in alarming ways that had made her stop them in the first place. 

When your career was ‘make bad brain hurt less’ and you could literally see, all the time, the energy that said brains were radiating around people?? Then you either got real into drugs and tried to ignore it, or you became like Miss Crystal, and find yourself on the streets on your off time, literally trying to use street sales pressure techniques to get people to do the bare minimum of mentally taking care of themselves, holy shit you idiots. 

She glanced at Nadya. Yeah. Even you chick. Fucking get help, you just came back from war, you better be seeing someone about it! 

Taking a breath, Miss Crystal gave out another little, “OH-HO HO HO HO! So! Mediation rocks for everyone? Come on, I got colors of all shades! Miss Harukawa, you seem to suddenly be really into purple! I got a purple leaf shaped rock over here with your name all over it! What do you say?!”

Maki rolled her eyes. “No.”

“Short and sweet! I’ll get you one of these days, Miss Harukawa!” Miss Crystal cackled, before looking to Kokichi and Nadya, “Either of you? Look at my wares, I got it all! Polishing ointment comes with the stones, though you gotta come to my shop to buy more when you run out! Kaito! We’re still meeting up tomorrow!? Happy birthday, by the way!”

“Uh, yeah, Miss Crystal. Thanks.” Kaito blushed, again, just...kinda embarrassed by her. She was a lot...but he still liked her. Even if she was maybe crazy. 

Kokichi’s expression dimmed a little, his gaze lowering as he shrank against Kaito’s back. Yeah...he knew. Like he told Shuuichi, he was hoping to get a meeting with someone after the festival. Finding someone who had specialties in trauma and depression was easy, but...there were...other things that he’d only find out once he met them. 

(A good sign would be them just calling him Kokichi. Not ‘Prince’. He knew it was just a way of being polite but…)

Still. It was something he should’ve looked into years ago. 

While he was tempted to buy a stone...huh. Actually...if Kaito and Shuuichi both had one...maybe it’d encourage them if he got one, actually. Even if he kind of just wanted it in general, and not as a tool. 

Peeking over Kaito’s shoulder again, Kokichi looked at the lines of rocks more carefully, and he found his gaze drawn to a small blue stone with what looked like flecks and swirls of gold in it, tumbled into a sort of egg shape. If Kaito’s stone was the universe, then this one was the night sky...beautiful. Pointing it out, he asked, “That blue and gold one? Would that be alright for me to buy?”

The point of the wide variety of stones was that, basically, if people picked theirs out themselves, they’d be drawn to the one that most would help them out. Miss Crystal had shoved the off-white, warm golden rock into Shuichi’s hands because HOLY SHIT did that kid need a ‘calm the fuck down’ charm on him to call on when he needed it, so hopefully he’d keep it on himself (because this was his aura NOT on a stressful day? The kid probably just didn’t know what not being stressed felt like anymore).

The stone, in turn, Kaito had picked out his first day (free of charge, all of her patients were given a stone) had been a ‘focus’ stone, and he held it when (as far as she could tell from outside of his head) he started to confuse himself, thinking in layers of ‘what I want’ and ‘What people should think I want’ and ‘what I should actually want’ and ‘What Kokichi would want’ and ‘What Kokichi should believe I want’ and ‘What Byakuya wants’ and so on and so forth, helping him shift through that mess a little easier to get to that bottom layer of ‘what I actually think’.

And Kokichi, for himself, had picked out a sleeping stone. Good! Sleep was fucking KEY in good mental health! You can’t take care of your brain when you’re literally too tired to think, and then the brain gets worse cause you keep beating it up, but it gets harder and harder to even know how to take care of it because hurting your brain convinces you that you don’t need to do anything because again you can’t think, and it becomes an ugly, self-perpetuating cycle, and yeah. Good. Fucking go to sleep, Prince Kokichi.

“Sold! To the man in the sky!” The therapist said, pressing the stone into Kokichi’s hand, before taking out two sets of the ointments and cloth as she shoved them into Kaito’s pockets. “Perfect! Miss Harukawa! You going to set up an appointment with me soon?”

“No.”

“We’ll talk about it more later! Alright! Is that it, is that everyone!? Okay! Perfect! It was s~ooooo lovely meeting all of you! Kaito, I will see you tomorrow! Ciao! Arrivederci! Arigato gozaimasu!! Okay bye!!!”

“...Maki, I think she wants you to go to therapy.” Shuichi said, still idly rubbing his stone. 

“Shut up, Shuichi.”

Luckily Kokichi had his coin purse in his jacket--an inside pocket, no need to worry, Maki-- so he didn’t need to wiggle around too much on Kaito’s back, and as Miss Crystal handed over the little egg, he passed back two silver. For a moment, before putting the stone in his pocket for safe keeping, he just looked at it up close, appreciating all the little stars in the night sky.

For some reason, he found himself looking forward to that night, if just to compare the two. 

“Thank you, Miss Crystal!”

Once they parted and started heading back to the castle again, Kokichi hummed. “I like her. I doubt your meetings have ever been boring.” And hopefully not any more stressful than just self-reflection could be. He trusted Maki not to connect Kaito with someone who had strong feelings about Luminary, and he didn’t want to pry into anything Kaito didn’t want to share freely...but he still worried. Less, having seen what Miss Crystal was like. 

“Mm...we’re still gonna have some time before dinner. Kai-chan, would you mind if I skipped out for a little bit and took a bath? I think it might be just what my chest needs.” ...and he could plan a little more for that night. 

“Hm? Of course, babe. I’m actually shocked you even still want to do dinner. It’s been a long, very active day.” Kaito laughed, putting both arms back under Kokichi, so that he could lessen the strength he needed to hang on. “But yeah, you want to chill out in some bath time? I am all about it.”

“Ya know what we should do? I’m still in the mood to play games. Let’s see if Tim knows how to play any games.” Shuichi pointed out, finally putting his rock away into his pocket. “I wonder if we have any sports stuff at the castle?”

“Oh! Capture the flag. We’re playing capture the flag.” Maki decided, eyes shining, “We’re gonna bring out the sparing weapons and play capture the flag in courtyard.”

“....oh fuck yes. Nadya? You wanna play capture the flag with us? You’re welcome too.”

“I wouldn’t miss dinner for the world! But...thanks. I just need a sec.”

Kokichi smiled, oddly...feeling proud hearing that his friends wanted to play around in the courtyard. It’d been a while since any of them had done it, but the idea that they’d just...hang out in their room? It was nice to just spend quality time together, but it did feel a little...like they were hiding. Isolating. Hearing that his family wanted to treat the castle more like a home...Kokichi was almost disappointed he wouldn’t be there to watch it.

A glimmer of competition in her eyes, Nadya gave the group a smile. “I have never used weapons in a game of capture the flag, but I am interested to see what new layers they’d bring to the game. You can absolutely count me in. And, Mr. Saihara, with that move in the chess game...I would not count my victory as absolute. I would not go easy on you, but I wouldn’t count you out.”

“If you mean my key move ‘throw Maki at the problem’, then thanks, I appreciate that.” Shuichi snorted, the group heading back.

-

Tim hadn’t been much into the idea of capture the flag when they had suggested it, but because they had an uneven amount of people, Shuichi talked Haneda to join in as well, and once Miss Kawai was a part of the game, and Tim was suddenly in prime ‘show off to someone he respects who doesn’t see him do stuff like this often’ position? He got real competitive. It was three way capture the flag, three posts with rags, essentially, tied to them, winner being whoever had all three flags at once. Tim and Haneda were one team, Maki and Nadya another, Shuichi and Kaito third.

Ultimately, Tim’s team won, because their team stayed focus and used sneaking techniques while the other two teams got way, waaaay too into the sparring side of it and simply lost track of who had which flag until it was too late.

They actually played a few times, since the games went pretty quickly, and by the time dinner was coming around, Kirumi showed up all of the sudden with wet rags, deodorant and air freshener and a stern expression on her face saying they all needed to change their shirts, at the very least, before they went to the dining hall the night.

So, slightly refreshed, the group ended up in the dining hall that night, and Hajime and Chiaki were already there waiting for them, the group taking up a table, Kaito keeping a look out for Waku, hoping to get a chance to invite her to sit as well, though she just might not be in the castle that afternoon. Did she live in the castle? Kaito realized he didn’t know and would ask her.

Kaito had insisted on at least seeing him off at their room, so Kokichi had company all the way until then. And, despite having some other things he wanted to take care of, after placing his new rock on a little cushion he had on his shelf, Kokichi un-layered himself and got in a nice warm bath--bubbly, of course. 

Almost immediately some of the ache in his ribs eased, and for a good while, Kokichi just stretched out and relaxed. Today had been...good. There had been some stressful parts, but...everything with Hina? Ultimately good. Maki got to reunite with one of her sisters, and they had a path forward for helping--or at least reaching out to--one of her brothers, and a close friend of Shuuichi’s. It wasn’t a world-shaking change...but to Hina and Yuta, it would mean the world. Maki was still helping her siblings. 

With Ren…

...he didn’t understand. He didn’t know why the guy seemed to hate him so much. But...maybe it was okay to not understand. Despite striving to take care of all his citizens, regardless of what they thought of him...if Ren wasn’t going to tell it to his face, was just going to resort to petty bullying...then it wasn’t Kokichi’s job to go searching for that answer. At some point, he couldn’t be the only one to reach out. He wouldn’t stop, but...maybe he’d actually convince himself one day, and stop feeling guilty for things he didn’t know about. 

A wild thought. 

Kokichi ended up staying in the bath a bit longer than he’d intended, startled a bit when he heard Shuuichi and Kaito stop by, scrambling to better hide the bow he’d found under the sink. But, promising to be right behind them, Kokichi grabbed the gift bag with the book set and placed the ring box in the new sweater he was wearing, and headed down, meeting Waku on the way and chatting a bit. 

Dinner smelled wonderful. There were things he hadn’t brought up, of course, things that had been planned for the menu originally, but there was a huge pot of tomato soup, a board filled with slices of steak that he could tell only had salt and pepper to flavor, all sorts of roasted and fried and broiled vegetables, and, naturally, many baskets of sweet rolls. 

Balancing his food while still holding the gift bag, Kokichi joined his family at their table, giving Kaito and Shuuichi a wink. “See, told you I wouldn’t be long.”

If asked, Maki, Shuichi and Tim would say they didn’t mind Dicean food and didn’t miss Luminary food all that much at all, and indeed, believed this...it was pure coincidence that their plates were literally all full with their second portions already. Hunger from an active day, that was all. Definitely not because it tasted good and familiar to them.

Kaito, in turn, was almost finished with his second portion, and fully intended to get a third as he beamed happily at his husband, scooting over to give Kokichi space to sit next to him. “Hey babe! How are you feeling? Did you have a relaxing bath?”

“Mhmm! I really gotta keep track of ‘em better--I could spend a day in the bath if I’m not careful.” Kokichi had some meat on his plate, sure, but besides the soup, he’d trended more towards the Dicean-style seasoned vegetables. It seemed much the same for the other Diceans, some of them opting for the turkey meatloaf too. 

Finding her own place next to Hajime and Nadya when she’d been waved over--and initially invited by Kokichi on their way down--Waku was happy to see Kaito in good spirits. “Happy birthday, Kaito! It sounds like you all had a great day.”

Kaito grinned in excitement to see Waku, as he told her, “Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before this that we were celebrating. It was all pretty last minute and I wasn’t really thinking about it. Kokichi set this up for me! I mean, not the concept of dinner, but he got some stuff for me put on the menu, and then he took us all out to hang out around the city! Isn’t he sweet?” Kaito gushed,  kissing Kokichi on the cheek, before looking over at Maki and Shuichi and saying, “And Maki and Shuichi got me this amazing coat, Waku, I have to show you later! It’s amazing, it has three different zippers and none of them zip anything together! Oh, and Hajime and...oh, shit, I’m so sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.”

“....Chiaki.” Said the small woman after a moment, smiling softly at the energetic group as her boyfriend tried to choke down the extremely plain steak next to her. “Chiaki Nanami. It’s a pleasure to meet you all, after hearing so much about you. For clarity’s sake, might I get a tutorial on the group?”

“Tutorial?” Maki asked, raising an eyebrow as Tim, beside her, dug his teeth into a particular difficult part of the steak and started to literally growl as he pulled his head back, forcing it open. 

“She doesn’t know all of your names.” Hajime explained. 

“.....I am somewhat familiar with Prince Kokichi, of course. We have met on occasion. But beyond that…”

Maki pointed to herself. “Maki Harukawa, Kokichi’s Security Team, ex-Luminary Assassin.”

“Maki! Don’t just tell people that!” Shuichi balked, widening his eyes at her.

Maki looked confused as she said, “...I mean, they’ll find out eventually, right?”

Kokichi blushed a little but pressed his head against Kaito’s arm affectionately. Even just seeing something like that, which the princes did all the time, Waku couldn’t fathom the snippets of doubt she heard, wondering how the princes could stand each other. They were in love, plain and simple. 

“Kokichi’s really good at birthdays. I’m glad it all turned out for you guys! And I’ll look forward to seeing that coat--it sounds like Maki and Shuuichi made real sure you’re gonna be warm this year.”

Familiar enough at this point with Chiaki’s personality, Kokichi was phased and only gave his friends a soft smile and a shrug. “It’s Maki-chan’s choice to tell people or not. If people are really so curious about you, then they can always ask for, like, your job history ‘n stuff, but there are enough rumors that I’d think it’d be easiest to get out ahead of them.”

Waku nodded as if to confirm. Very early on there had been all sorts of rumors about Maki, some being spot on, and others vaguely just calling her a killer. 

Shuichi sighed, wishing she would take more efforts to protect herself, but...well, maybe with more time adding distance between her and their past, people knowing something like that about her would be less an understood thing. He just didn’t want Diceans judging her for it… “I’m Shuichi Saihara. Uh…” he blanked at the second part. Not really wanting to say, just...the ‘surrogate’...

“He’s going to school soon!” Kaito inserted easily, cheerfully chewing through his vegetables, “The local university! We’re all very proud of him! He’s gonna do great!”

Shuichi blinked, before nodding after a moment. “Yeah. I’m going to go to school. I’m thinking of trying to join a detective agency or something.”

“Yeah? Neat, Shuichi, that’s awesome. If you need someone to take you to the university, hit me up, I used to go to school there, I can show you the ropes.” Hajime offered, aware that Shuichi was still on house arrest, essentially. 

Shuichi blinked in surprise at that again (lots of very expressive blinking, these days) before nodding at Hajime, “Oh, uh. Sure. Thank you.”

Kaito raised his hand to Chiaki, “Kaito Momota! Luminary Prince! Seriously, Chiaki, your boyfriend there has helped us out so many times in the few months we’ve been here, and a lot of it was stressful, to put it lightly. We really owe him a lot, and he’s been a picture of stability.”

“Even if he is kind of a coward.” Maki muttered.

“Coward!? I was totally ready to fight off that dude today! He could have been anyone! He could have been crazy! We didn’t know! I was so brave!”

“Yes, thank you. You were invaluable in defending us against the bitter chess nerd.” Maki snorted. 

Chiaki laughed lightly after a moment of silence, processing, “Hajime, I do not agree with your assessment. I believe Maki likes you just fine. I think she has found you are fun to tease.”

Hajime just muttered to himself, grumbling.

Kokichi nodded proudly, also chiming in, “Shuu-chan’s also been doing some research for Dicean administrative matters. I’d almost be sad to be seeing less of him in the office if I wasn’t so excited for what classes he’s gonna take at school. Luckily, Nadya-chan and I are kickin’ some paperwork ass.”

Nadya took that moment to introduce herself, while Kokichi gave Hajime a sympathetic grin. “You are really fun to tease, Hajime-chan, but even more than that, thanks so much for your help. Today too. Knowing that you were there, and that you and Chiaki-chan knew some of the people there was a huge comfort.”

Nodding to Chiaki, Nadya gave the woman a warm smile. “I am Nadya Milai, administrative assistant to Mr. Ouma and shortstop for the Usot Andelusians.”

“And I’m Waku Harai! I work with Hajime here in the castle!” the younger housekeeper piped up. “He comes to work all happy and soft sometimes, so I guess that’s from you--you two are real sweet.”

Chiaki nodded, another distant smile on her face as she said, “.......Thank you. I appreciate you all catching me up. You all seem like a nice group.”

Maki frowned at her charge, before reaching over and pinching his ear. Wincing, Timothy sighed and called out, “Timothy Green.” before looking over at the serving table and saying, “Can I go get dessert?”

“Bring some back for me and Shuichi, then yes, you may.” Maki said, Timothy immediately getting up.

“I’ll make a run too. Babe, I already know you want some, Nadya, Waku, you guys want some? I could try to bring some back for you and Chiaki, Hajime, but I’m not sure I’ll-”

“You’re good, I’ll grab ours.” Hajime said, getting up to go join Tim in line.

Kokichi giggled sheepishly at his predictability, though he raised an eyebrow. “It’s never too early for dessert, but we might be sitting for a while, hun--I’ve barely started eating dinner.” Indeed, his soup was barely lowered from where it’d started out, and it was only the disappearance of a roll and his steak that indicated that Kokichi had been steadily eating throughout the introductions. 

Ever the bird. Waku laughed fondly before giving Kaito an ‘okay’ sign, while Nadya graciously shook her head. “I’ll take you up on it, thanks, Kaito!”

Looking up at Shuuichi, and even though talking wasn’t him eating, Kokichi tried to ask quickly before their lover returned. “Did you guys already do presents, or are we doin’ it after dinner? I know I’m not that subtle bringing a bag in, but I’m hoping for something of a surprise, you know?”

“We haven't, no. All my presents are still in the closet. Maki, other than the coat, did you get him anything?” Shuichi asked, glancing over at her. 

Maki shook her head. “Made him something. He’ll like it. It was something I wanted to do either way, but I used Kaito’s birthday as a sort of deadline for myself.”

“Nice. Are you...going to tell us? What you made?” Shuichi asked.

“No.” Maki answered.

“If we guess it, will you tell us?” Hajime asked, getting back first somehow, likely using dark housekeeping powers.

“No.” Maki answered.

“Is it violent? Did you make him a sword?” Hajime guessed.

Maki narrowed her eyes at him. 

“.....You got him a coat, so did you make him clothes?” Chiaki asked.

Maki twitched. “No.”

“Aw, I could’ve brought it down… Guess I’ll just tempt Kai-chan with mine, then, since I brought them with me.”

As the others guessed what Maki could’ve made Kaito, Kokichi closed his eyes and tapped his lips, thinking. Maki was certainly capable of making a lot, but the closest he’d seen her actually crafting was when she was sharpening her daggers in the library, all that time ago. No leads there, not even by what she wouldn’t do…

“I imagine designing a new training regiment would be more of a self-gift,” Nadya mused.

So, then...what would Kaito really like, then? Really anything heartfelt from his friends, but there was more to it than that. ...some kind of memorium for his friends would be really thoughtful, but Kokichi couldn’t imagine where Maki would even get the supplies to make something like that. And...even for Kaito, he couldn’t see her making anything religious…

“I think he’d cry if you made him a friendship bracelet,” Waku giggled.

A travel itinerary would be sweet too, but Maki had told him that Kaito was the type to enjoy the comforts of home. Were there parts of Luminary she’d be able to make here? ...a pub crawl was kind of what they were trying to avoid for Kaito…

“...a memory album? Like...to fill with drawings and notes and memorabilia of cool stuff he goes to or experiences?”

“Cute. No.” Maki said, chewing on her food, “Now all of you shut up, he’s coming back.” 

Kaito and Tim returned with the dessert plates, pacing them out as appropriate, Kaito and Tim continuing some conversation they had started in the line, though Tim seemed determined to end it now they were back at the table, Kaito not quite picking up on this as he said, “But, seriously, you don’t really need a lot of gimmicks to tell someone you like them. You can, of course, and its usually a nice memory, but just being honest and direct about how you feel really is the best-”

“Yes, okay, yes, shut up, I said I get it already.” Tim huffed, face pinking in embarrassment as he sat back down, immediately stuffing the sweets into his face as he quietly fumed, ignoring Kaito’s baffled look.

If he didn’t want the advise, why did he ask? Well, Kaito would ask him about it more later. Poor kid, dealing with his first crush...cute.

“So, what were you guys talking about?” Kaito asked, looking around.

“Who secretly has incredibly weird hobbies, inspired by Hajime’s incredibly weird hobbies.” Maki said quickly.

“Cosplay physical chess isn’t weird!”

Ah well. He’d be finding out soon enough anyway. 

Kokichi eyed his dessert with gluttony as Kaito placed it down in front of his dishes, but dutifully returned to his dinner. For one, he just didn’t want to leave scraps that they’d have to throw in the compost, but he’d only hear teasing for the rest of the night if he ditched his vegetables to eat sweets. 

However, the conversation that ensued wasn’t very good for him keeping his mouth occupied with food. “That chess game is kind of specific, so I guess it’s weird only in that it’s not common, but it should totally go more mainstream,” Kokichi decided. “It’s a ton of fun!”

“Hmm… Would having a collection count as a hobby?” Nadya asked, easily keeping the new conversation going. “If it does, I suppose the fact that I collect ancient tomes could be classified as a strange way to pass the time.”

Shuichi looked up in interest, “Ancient tomes? That’s…” Shuichi furrowed his eyebrows, “...difficult. And strange. I’d be curious to see it sometime. Is it all Dicean literature, or do you collect from other cultures as well? Do you have any Luminary tomes?”

“You’d be welcome to look through what I have. Personally, my interest lies in finding texts from before what we recognize as our nations existed, or the forms they took before. As you can imagine, it’s highly difficult to find something that meets that criteria for Danganronpa.” Nadya rolled her eyes a little, but returned a smile to Shuuichi. I’d have to double check, but I may still have some Luminous, or proto-Luminous tomes.”

“Still have?” Kokichi asked, his eyes going a little starry as just the thought of all sorts of books he’d never read.

Nadya made a little ‘o’ with her mouth before explaining. “Ah, yes, well, books are rather heavy, and ones as old as what I try to find can be quite fragile. I only have a few that I’ve Timothy kept with me long term. So whenever I find something new, I work with the local library to make a copy, then send a letter back home to see if they have a copy, since there’s a wide interest in ancient knowledge among my home village’s community, and if they do not, I send one there. I do have a list, however, of everything I’ve collected, along with notes I found pertinent about the item. If you find something that piques your interest, the castle library may have a copy, but if not I can write home to see if they can send it back--or another copy, if it may be the best path.”

“Interesting. Yeah, I’d like to see it, if you ever have a free afternoon.” Shuichi said again, briefly wanting to ask Nadya if any of her found tomes ended up in the archive downstairs...and his shoulders tensed up.

“...anyone else have any cool hobbies?” Shuichi said quickly, because he had learned by this point that the only way out was through, just keep the conversation moving and don’t think about it and you’ll feel better in a second.

“I don’t want to know cool hobbies, I want weird hobbies.” Maki said again, smirking over at him. “Cool hobbies are only interesting to the person who has it. Weird ones are a gift to everyone.”

“Right. Like that thing you used to do as a kid, Maki, where you used to write those really sexy stories about characters in books we rea-”

“DO YOU WANNA DIE!?”

“Oh my god, that’s right.” Shuichi said, eyes widening as Kaito brought up an age-old memory that he had long forgotten about, “Maki, you used to have notebooks filled with stories like those. The grammar was so terrible, but the scenarios were so...imaginative. Do you still have those?”

“I WILL KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND, SHUICHI, DON’T TEST ME!” Maki screamed, tightening her chokehold around Kaito, who was desperately tapping against her arm. Uncle! Uncle!!!

Timothy watched, chewing on his dessert. A weird mixture of admiration and embarrassment. His mom was so strong...and, just, so damn stupid.

“Writing is a cool hobby,” Kokichi hummed, deciding not to comment on what exactly it was that Maki was writing. He could live a very happy life not knowing that his sister-in-law used to write erotica. “It’s fun to come up with stories, but I never had the patience to write anything I thought down.”

They spent the rest of dinner both laughing and trying to calm Maki down, and when Kaito asked what was up with the bag Kokichi had, he just teased that he’d have to wait until they were all ready to see. And after parting ways with most of their group, the four of them found themselves settled in Kokichi, Kaito, and Shuuichi’s bed room. 

Pushing the gift bag at Kaito, Kokichi gave him an excited grin. “Okay! Open it now!”

Shuichi had asked Maki and Kaito if they were inviting Timothy to the gift exchange, and it was Maki that had explained to him that they were worried Tim himself might not actually be familiar with the idea of giving/getting gifts on birthdays, due to his upbringing, and they didn’t want him either ending up envious of Kaito’s gifts or embarrassed by not having a gift to give himself. So, they were going to wait for his birthday to give him a bunch of gifts so he’d be more comfortable with the idea before putting any pressure on him to be a part of others’ birthdays.

Shuichi wanted to point out that, since he had friends at school now, this might come up sooner than his birthday...but, well, he’d talk about it with them later. Maki and Kaito were trying their best, and it’s not like Shuichi really knew any better. They were just trying to not let Tim be uncomfortable for tonight, anyway, and he could respect that.

So, bidding Tim a goodnight (Kaito pulling him into another hug that Tim loudly fought against), the four had headed to the room, and Kaito had grinned wide, cheeks red, as all of them started pulling gifts out, Maki one gift, Shuichi two, and Kokichi’s bag. 

It was incredibly sweet, and honestly, Kaito was entirely satisfied just because he knew they had all thought of him. What they actually got him was just a nice surprise, but this moment right here? This was the actual gift. He felt warm under their gazes, and basked in it for a moment, holding Kokichi’s gift in his lap as he laughed, “Yeah? Should I? You think so, ‘Kichi?”

Maki rolled her eyes as she sat on the window seat, pulled up again, Shuichi at the desk chair. “Don’t tease, Kaito, just do it. I’m certain, knowing Kokichi, he put a lot of thought into his.”

“I got mine in, like...five minutes.” Shuichi admitted, laughing lightly at himself, “Kokichi was with me. Hopefully you’ll still like it anyway.”

“I’ll love all of them, thanks guys. Alright, let’s see what’s inside. I’m so excited, my first wrapped gift from my husband!” Kaito said cheerfully, before pausing and, blushing a little, he said, “Well, maybe not the first time I’ve unwrapped a gift from him…”

...Kaito’s face went more red and far away. Maki grabbed a book from the shelf and threw it at his head. “Stop thinking lewd thoughts and open it.”

“Ow! Okay, okay, my bad.” Kaito laughed, opening it up.

Kokichi could only pout as he was teased, pushing the bag to Kaito more and more until Maki nipped it in the bud. Even without Shuuichi confirming it, he could pretty much guess that Kaito would like the set of books, but still! He wanted to see Kaito pull them out, see how he reacted. It was the best part of gift giving, seeing that you really got someone something that they wanted. 

Though, Kaito was pretty easy to please. Kokichi’s face, after a confused beat, lit up red as well. He didn’t… Chisa had said that, called him a present, but...that sort of humiliation wasn’t what was coloring his face now. Sometimes it still did hurt, but...it was becoming less and less these days. Really, it was just embarrassing for Kaito to so blatantly remark upon their sex life, even if it was with their boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend who had been Kokichi’s confidant and was Shuuichi’s sister so...she was still involved, though not physically. 

Groaning, Kokichi covered his face. “Opennnn it!”

Kaito grinned down at Kokichi, not really catching on that he may have made him genuinely uncomfortable with the comment, as he said, “Okay babe. Alright...oh?”

Kaito realized they were books almost as soon as he got his hands on it, pulling the set out of the bag, and while the color pattern, green, gold and red, was immediately familiar, he wasn’t certain what he was looking at until he read the title of the first book...and then he grinned, an excited look on his face as he said, “No way! Shuichi, Maki, look at what Kokichi got me!! Oh my god, babe, I can’t believe you even found these!”

“What is it?” Maki asked, raising an eyebrow, not recognizing the series for a second...before saying, “Oh! The Hyrule stories. I remember those. Kokichi, how did you know?”

“We talked about it ages ago, how in love I was with Gannon? Oh, Kokichi, this is awesome babe, I’m so happy you remembered! Come here, beautiful!” Kaito said, reaching over to Kokichi and scooping him up, laying a blast of kisses all over his face.

Shuichi laughed, smiling warmly at the both of them as he said, “Alright, that’s gonna be hard to follow up. Kaito, I’m gonna want to read those too, if you don’t mind me borrowing them. I heard the second book has a lot of Zelda in it.”

“Hell yeah, Shuichi! Then we can gush over them together.” Kaito said cheerfully, looking forward to the idea as he hugged Kokichi.

Maki looked over to Shuichi, “Want to give him yours next?”

It was soon enough that Kokichi could peek over his fingers, the blush slowly lightening, and a fond grin growing on his face. He knew it would be a good gift, but seeing how excited Kaito got…

Kokichi giggled proudly as Kaito scooped him up, and he did his best to return kisses whenever Kaito got closer to his lips. “I’m glad you like ‘em! Those three were the only ones I could find in a box set, and you talked about how much you liked collector’s editions of books so… I’m totally keeping an eye out for the rest of the series though, so don’t be super surprised when you get really similar presents from me in the future.”

Capturing Kaito’s lips one more time, Kokichi wiggled back out of Kaito’s lap, giving him more room for gift opening. “Go on--I’m sure Shuu-chan’s waiting for his turn at Kai-chan kissing him all over in thanks.”

Kaito got a few more pecks in on Kokichi’s cheeks before he managed to wiggle away from him, Kaito chuckling as he suddenly found himself ‘Kichi-less. “Alright, alright, though our Shuichi isn’t as much of a kiss fiend as you...Shuichi?”

Kaito happily took the two small wrapped pieces, Shuichi saying, “I wrapped them individually, but they’re related. I recommend opening that one up first.”

“Got it, got it. What did my handsome, intelligent boyfriend get me...awwww, Shuichi, new paints! Ooooh, metallic? And…” Kaito laughed, blushing slightly, “Rainbow Unicorn Glitter...okay, actually, I love it.” Kaito laughed again, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he said, “Timothy’s going to judge me so hard. All of our figurines are absolutely about to get some glitter paint on them.”

Shuichi smiled warmly, before encouraging him, “Well, you can practice using them on the next gift.”

“Yeah? Let’s take a look....oh!”

Kaito blushed hard, looking down at the incredibly busty, sluttily dressed, so fucking pretty fairy figurine in his lap, before practically giggling in embarrassed excitement as he said in a small voice, “oh my god i love it.”

Maki snorted, rolling her eyes. “Oh my god, Shuichi. Really? That thing is so tacky.”

“Shut up Maki I love it!” Kaito said, holding the figurine defensibly, before shuffling off the bed and going over to Shuichi, putting his hand under Shuichi’s chin and lifting his head up a little, kissing him with soft, gentle little chaste kisses for a bit before saying, “Thank you, Shuichi, I love her. I’m gonna glitter the shit out of this fairy.”

Shuichi laughed, happily accepting the kisses, a small blush on his face as he said a tad sheepishly, “Good. I’m glad you like it Kaito. Alright, alright, come on now,” Shuichi laughed as Kaito leaned in for more kisses, putting his hand over his boyfriends face and stopping him, rolling his eyes as Kaito just responded by placing the kisses on Shuichi’s palm. “Maki’s turn. Maki?”

Maki handed Kaito her gift, a messily wrapped thing of brown paper, that was clearly obviously a binder shape, as she said, “This is really for all of us, but I thought you’d like it regardless.”

Kokichi watched raptly as Kaito opened Shuuichi’s presents, his boyfriend’s predictions right on the money. Excited for the paints, especially in the uniqueness of them being metallic, embarrassed and excited for the glitter paints, and… 

Kokichi snorted softly, hiding his giggles behind a hand. Of course Kaito loved the fairy figurine. Not only was it just a nice figurine in general, but a hot girl? There was no way Kaito wasn’t going to be over the moon. 

Once Shuuichi’d had enough of Kaito’s affection, it was Maki’s turn, and this time Kokichi was going to be surprised right along with his husband. None of them had been able to guess what her gift was, and he only knew it was handmade. Looking like a binder, it was going to be a collection of things, probably...but Kokichi had no idea what. Maybe one of the ideas he’d considered guessing, maybe something completely different, but there was only one way to find out. 

Maki’s gifts, historically, were either hilarious or deadly important. She never bothered with a middle ground. It always made her gifts interesting, if nothing else, and Kaito wondered which one it was going to be this time as he opened it up…

He frowned...then his face softened. On the front of the binder, in black sharpie, was neatly written KOKICHI/SHUICHI/BABY-PROOF TRAVEL PLANS 3YEARS

Kaito swallowed hard, opening up the binder to a random page. It was a travel destination, with maps with certain areas circled, hotel locations, recommendations for events and destinations based on how old the baby was by that point, travel times and adequate travel plans to get there and back comfortably and safely, healer locations and hospitals, and at least for this one he was looking at, a letter from the areas guardsman headquarters, answering Maki’s questions that had led to the stats that were listed on the other pages.

“They’re not all finished, but it was close enough to done that I thought you might like to see it. I know that our last trip out was...bad.” Maki said, her face impassive, but her fists clenching tighter. “I take responsibility for that. But...I don’t want any of you to be scared to go out and see the world. I know you don’t want that for Kokichi, Kaito. I can’t make anything 100% safe, but...at the same time, I don’t want you all to feel like the world is too dangerous to explore. So, here are, at the moment, exactly thirty-three locations that I’ve reached out to the local guard force, spoken to people from the areas, gotten maps of the area in advance, and my recommendations on when it would be safe to see them, based on how old the baby is…”

Maki paused. Before nodding her head, satisfied she had said everything worth saying the subject, as she said, “I love you all. I want you to be happy and healthy...and I know that I haven't always acted with that interest in mind. Especially recently. I...I know we need to talk about that someday. It’s occurred to me that I perhaps could have been more honest with you about my feelings on certain subjects, that maybe insisting on keeping you out of the loop was me being...cowardly.”

She paused. Before sighing, deciding it wasn’t worth going into right now. They needed to talk about it, but not today. “...but regardless. I hope this makes up for that mistake in part. Happy birthday, Kaito.”

“...thank you, Maki.” Kaito said quietly, turning to another random page, smiling as he saw daycare locations on this map, labeled ‘Age 2’. “This is a huge comfort to me.”

Maki nodded, smiling slightly. Satisfied with that.

Kokichi’s expression had softened as well as he peered over at the binder, his eyes actually burning a little from just...how incredibly touched he was by the gift. It really was something for all of them. 

He didn’t want to be afraid of the world. He...he couldn’t hold his old beliefs, that naivety, because it would get people hurt, but...he didn’t want to be too frightened to step outside the castle. Kaito had been right, that it seemed like every time they went out something happened to him, but that wasn’t...he didn’t want to stop trying. 

...Kokichi was frightened. Any remaining remnants, or remnants from another country coming by, about just...people with the wrong idea, or people that were straight up bigoted. And any numerous dangers that people not in his position had to consider. It was easy to think that they were safe in the castle and going anywhere would just bring danger knocking, but...if it was true for everyone, then he shouldn’t be the only one to be scared. 

Having a plan like this, not just for danger, but for life and accomodations…

“...Maki-chan…” Kokichi looked over to her with wet eyes, an affectionate, grateful smile on his face. Giving them all more peace of mind was probably the greatest gift anyone could give. 

Pressing against Kaito’s side, Kokichi wiped his eyes and gave an airy laugh. “I kinda wanna suggest that you take a look through and pick out our next trip after the waterfall but...damn, I still have a few things to give you.”

“You have another gift, Kokichi?” Maki asked, before saying, “Oh, and, while we still can go to the waterfall, Kokichi, I decided to look into the hotsprings you mentioned, and discovered it’s actually in the same area as the waterfall, not even a half hour away by carriage. I’d like to suggest if we do the waterfall trip, we make it an overnight stay at a lodge near there, and warm up in the springs afterwards. I’d arrange to have a carriage pick us up from the waterfall and drop us off at the lodge, which was built next to the hot springs with this purpose in mind...we don’t have to do it all in one trip, of course, but I thought I’d recommend it.”

Kaito, who had been happily leafing through the binder, reading over all of Maki’s hard work, before looking up curiously, both at the promise of another gift, and at Maki’s suggestion, “Oh, that could be nice...if it’s hotsprings after a waterfall, maybe we should wait until it’s a little colder, so we can enjoy it more?”

“Does it need to be colder than it is right now for you Kaito? We’re all literally barely tolerating the cold as it is.” Shuichi sighed. “Sitting in warm water while it’s this cold out now doesn’t sound bad either...though, Kokichi, you did say you liked the idea of doing it while snow was out...maybe it’d be worth it for that.”

“If we wait, then I wouldn’t recommend us walking there then. I’d just rent a carriage for two days in that case.” Maki mused… before shaking her head a little, “We can think about it more later, it was just a suggestion either way. It can still be two separate trips, if we’d like. Kokichi, you had another gift?”

“Oh, really? I didn’t think they were that close...that’s awesome! While it’d be too cold to swim at the waterfall, we could still get some water time in at the hot spring. That’s an awesome idea!” They’d definitely have to talk more about the logistics, though. A two-day trip sounded ideal so they wouldn’t have to rush at either location, but the travel to and from and between… He had thought it could be fun to walk to the waterfall, but he wasn’t married to the idea, and especially if they waited for snowfall? Well, his Luminaries might not want to stay at the waterfall for very long in that weather, and they’d have to time the right window where the snow was only a couple inches at most. 

Big logistics talk. But later!

Nodding, Kokichi reached into his pocket. “Right, first, this isn’t from me--my dad asked me to pass it on since he wasn’t sure he was gonna see you today, Kai-chan. Soooo here!” He pulled out a small needle felt plush of a lilac-colored dolphin, about as long as the full length of Kokichi’s hand and arched as if it was leaping out from the sea. Ikuo had thought for a long time about what sort of animal he felt fit Kaito, and he’d landed on the socially-focused dolphin. Kokichi wasn’t so sure, but it was a nice gift and a nice gesture. 

Once he’d handed it over, though, Kokichi hopped off the bed to kneel in front of it, reaching into his pocket again to pull out the ring box. Getting into a very meaningful pose, Kokichi looked up at his husband as he opened the box. “Kai-chan...would you be the world’s next Green Lantern?” 

“Oh, Ikou! Damn, I should have gone out of my way to invite him to join us at dinner… I just didn’t think of it. Next time, I’ll put more thought into all this.” Kaito said sheepishly, looking affectionately at the gift, even if it was a tad confusing. A lilac dolphin? He wondered what made Ikou think of it… “It’s cute. And soft...oh!” Kaito got up, going over to Shuichi and squatting down in front of his chair, ignoring Shuichi’s offended squeak as he lifted up his shirt, pressing the dolphin against his stomach.

“Gorgeous! Sweetroll! You feel that? Your grandpa gave this to me! I’m gonna put this in your crib when you’re born. Don’t worry about doing rough baby things to it like stretching or drooling on it, I’ll ask your grandpa to show me how to fix it. This is gonna be my sweet baby's first toy. Do you like it? Do you?”

“Kaito, please stop talking nonsense at my stomach, I don’t think they even have ears yet. Or, like...a brain.” Shuichi huffed, as Kaito ignored him, his speech de-evolving into gibberish baby talk as Kaito kissed at Shuichi’s stomach a few times, promising lots and lots of soft, sweet baby toys, yes you’ll have them, yes you will~

Kaito laughed, entirely un-embarrassed as he lowered Shuichi’s shirt again, standing up as he turned to tell Kokichi, “I’ll be sure to tell Ikou I like his...oh. ‘Kichi?”

Kokichi had gotten down from the bed and knelt down while Kaito was distracted with Shuichi’s belly, holding up a small black box. Kaito was really, really confused for a second. He looked like…

Kaito blushed at the body language (it was funny. He remembered kneeling like that in front of the king and his people and Kokichi, flustered at the truth of Kokichi’s identity and trying his best to not let it show, to be who people needed him to be in that moment...it was strange, because seeing Kokichi in that same position filled him with such warm butterflies, though when their situations were reversed, Kokichi probably hadn’t felt that way…)... and then snorted at the words, putting his fist in front of his mouth as he covered his barking laugh with it, grinning down at Kokichi as he asked, “What?”

Then, leaning down to see what Kokichi was actually talking about...he started laughing. Cheeks rosy as he realized what Kokichi had done. “Oh my god...Kokichi, that’s beautiful! What? I can’t believe you did that!” Kaito laughed, loving his absolutely ridiculous husband, giving him an affectionate grin as he leaned down to offer Kokichi a hand up.

Shuichi chuckled too, but Maki snorted. “Kaito, you nerd. You’re supposed to say ‘I will’ and offer him your ring finger.”

“Hmm? Oh!” Kaito looked down at Kokichi, and grinning wide, offered him his left hand, “If it’s you asking, ‘Kichi? I will!”

It was only a feat of incredible acting that Kokichi didn’t burst out laughing when Kaito did, not even a twitch of his lips as he kept up that serious expression like he really was taking on the duty of finding a new hero. Though, when Kaito accepted…

Kokichi burst out into a bright grin, carefully slipping on the crystal and metal ring onto Kaito’s middle finger, internally relieved when he found it slid on without an issue. He’d only been able to give the jeweler Kaito’s ring finger size, but they’d gotten a pretty good estimate from that. 

Once the ring was given, Kokichi stood and placed the box on the nightstand, giggling bashfully. “We only talked about it for a second, but… I mean...you’re my hero, Kai-chan. I wanted to get you something special that reflected stuff like that...you know?” Kokichi’s cheeks went pink again as he looked to the side, a little embarrassed to say something like that, to say that he wanted to give Kaito a physical reminder of how he felt about him, since their actual wedding rings, while traded with happiness, were...more symbolic of the peace between their nations. The unity of princes. 

The Green Lantern ring was Kokichi’s affection and admiration of Kaito. 

Kaito admired the ring in the light, liking the way it kept catching little angles as he moved it back and forth on his hand, an incredibly pleased grin on his face as Kokichi went to go put the box away. It was such a nice gesture, and it was really cool looking...like wow...but he looked at the back of Kokichi’s head as he listened to his husband's thought process on the gift.

Shuichi and Maki both watched quietly, giving each other glances, as Kaito went up to his husband and drew him into a hug before Kokichi had a chance to turn back around, leaning down as far as he needed too to rest the side of his face against Kokichi’s head, a quiet, thoughtful look on his face as he did so. Genuinely thoughtful, like he was thinking hard about what Kokichi had said, and just wanted to be close to Kokichi while he did so. There was silence for a moment…

It was Maki who saw Kaito’s eyes suddenly burn red, though Kaito turned his face and buried in into Kokichi’s hair before she saw the actual tears fall. His grip around Kokichi got a little tighter and there was a telling intake of breath, tight and strained.

Kaito didn’t say anything for a moment, which was the strange part. The guy was a motor mouth, really, and it was rare for him to not talk, even if he had nothing to say. And he clearly had something on his mind right now, the way he held onto Kokichi, his shoulders trembling a little. After a bit, it was finally Shuichi who quietly said, “...Kaito?”

Kaito laughed, the sound strained, before he finally lifted his face up, running the bottom of his palm across his eyes and down his nose as he laughed at himself some more, looking embarrassed. “Sorry, sorry, I’m good. Um…” he laughed again, before leaning down to kiss Kokichi gently on the cheek, finally letting him go, “...thanks Kokichi. I…”

His throat closed again, clearly struggling to say what he was thinking, or what he meant, or what he was feeling...before finally settling on, in a quiet voice, “Thanks Kokichi. I...I really want to be your hero. And…” Kaito’s face got tight again, struggling with himself, but he pulled it back together, laughing at himself as he looked at his husband adoringly, “...yeah. That’s very…. That means a lot to me, beautiful. I love you, ‘Kichi.”

As Kaito enveloped him in a tight hug, Kokichi wrapped his arms around Kaito’s arms, pressing back into Kaito’s chest, just wanting to be there for his husband. 

...Kaito had asked him...more than once, how Kokichi could stand him. And...it was true that not all of the horrible things that had happened to them had just been happenstance. Some of those things...really had been Kaito’s fault. 

Kokichi didn’t want to seem like he was just pretending that those things had never happened, or that he thought they weren’t important. But...Kaito was so much more than...a crazed decision or a different moral outlook. It was only in the memorial garden did Kaito ever even bring up abandoning Kokichi, and that was only after Kokichi brought it up in a much worse way. Despite being...sick and weak and irrational and naive and so, so different...Kaito had always stuck by him. Maybe some of that had been duty but...Kokichi knew that a lot of it was Kaito’s choice. 

And for his choices to devote himself to making him happy, to bringing Kokichi outside and to fun trips, to try and see things from a Dicean point of view, to dedicating himself to Shuuichi and their kid...Kaito was a hero. Painfully human, but a hero all the same. 

...not even close to a monster. 

“I love you, Kai-chan.” Kokichi’s voice was tight with emotion as he turned around to give Kaito a hug back, nuzzling against his chest before he stepped back, nothing but adoration in his gaze. “Happy birthday.”

-

They all hung out for another two hours, Kaito at one point drawing Maki into starting to paint the fairy figurine with him, putting on some of the metal paints first as a base, while Kokichi and Shuichi both looked over the Hyrule books a bit, reading aloud to the group certain passages they liked and discussing the story with each other a bit. It was fun and comfortable and casual, but after a moment Shuichi started yawning once...then again. And then Kokichi yawned with Shuichi, though he seemed content to keep cherpily talking as if nothing was wrong.

Maki and Kaito gave each other a look, and Maki announced that it was time for her to turn in. 

Wishing the boys a goodnight, Maki left with a reminder that they needed to take their medicines. “We’re on it, Maki, don’t worry!” Kaito called to her back, as the door closed behind her. Looking over his shoulder to his loves on the bed, looking over the books, Kaito said to Shuichi, “I’ll get your medicine put together, handsome. Give me a minute.” before heading into the closet to grab a tablet, then heading to the bathroom.

As Kaito disappeared inside, Shuichi yawned again, and then said, “Alright. How are we doing this? Any ideas?”

It was fun, existing all together and doing things they enjoyed, trading the other group snippets here and there. It was comfortable enough that Kokichi would be happy falling asleep right then and there...but he and Shuuichi had a plan, and they weren’t giving up on it just because it was a little late!

It was Kaito’s birthday, and there were plenty of things their lover appreciated, but they knew sex was always going to be a high spot. 

Still...it was very comfortable all cuddled up next to Shuuichi. 

“Mmm… I’d say he always gets excited when we start doin’ stuff together, so we could start making out and then invite him? Or…” Kokichi swallowed a yawn, resting his head on Shuuichi’s shoulder. “...get naked before he comes back?”

“Mmmm,” Shuichi blinked, the movement feeling slow and heavy...it had been a long day already...but he was not going to be the weak link on this! If Kokichi was still up to it, so was he, and he knew Kaito would love it. “How about...a mixture of the two? Though, we have to be quick. I think we have a few minutes-” Shuichi guessed, hearing the sink turn on, guessing Kaito was brushing his teeth while he was in there, “-so, let’s get naked real quick, and you can sit on my lap? And we’ll be kissing when he comes out, be all, you know…”

Shuichi stopped, putting the back of his hand against his mouth as he yawned again, enjoying the feeling of Kokichi’s head against his shoulder.

“...sexy and ‘come-hither’ and all that.”

Shuichi and Kokichi started to get ready for this, Shuichi looking regretfully over at the fire, which was lowering a little as he took off his pants and underwear, tossing them over to the desk chair before hesitating at his shirt. Not because of his chest, but… “It’s kinda cold.” Shuichi admitted, looking over at Kokichi as he asked, “Let me grab our night shirts and put them by the bed, so we can get into them after we’re done.”

Grabbing some night clothes for himself and Kokichi, Shuichi realized he had run out of time as he put the clothes on the nightstand next to the bed, cursing lightly to himself when he heard the bathroom door start to open, quickly getting onto the bed and pulling Kokichi into his lap as Kaito came out, holding a cup of water with Shuichi’s medicine in it as he looked mildly surprised, glancing back and forth between his lovers.

“Uh...you two...comfy there?”

Agreeing to go with the combo plan, Kokichi lazily shed himself of his clothes, maybe not as quickly as he would’ve with their time limit, and tossed them off onto the floor on the other side of the bed. It was definitely too cold to just hang out naked...but not if they heated things up. Especially if they had clothes nearby. 

Knowing he’d climb into Shuuichi’s lap when his boyfriend returned, Kokichi laid against the pillows on his side, trying to preserve his body heat. Just a sec, then he’d be in Shuuichi’s lap, then in Kaito’s arms and…

Kokichi blinked his eyes back open when he felt Shuuichi quickly pull him close, only dazed a moment before he draped his arms around Shuuichi’s shoulders, leaning in to kiss him. ...which ended up just being a graze of their lips before Kaito returned, looking more...confused and surprised than delighted or excited. 

“You know I’m always happy when you two are touching me,” he beckoned. “So why don’t you get over here and join.” Maybe Kaito had been more in the ‘don’t initiate until they do’ mindset. Never hurt to say things bluntly.

Taking Kokichi’s lead, Shuichi (though he wasn’t entirely aware he was doing this) fluttered his eyelashes at Kaito, pressing his body closer to Kokichi as he said, “Yeah, Kaito. We need you to come take care of us...it’s cold. Come warm us up.”

A pause as Kaito looked between the two thoughtfully still...glancing at the small lines starting to develop at the edge of Shuichi’s eyes...the small spotting on his husband's chest, likely from when he had been coughing on the ground…

Kaito blushed slightly, and grinned, going around the bed and leaning over to pass Shuichi the glass of medicine, who took it with the arm that wasn’t helping support Kokichi in his lap, a confused look in his golden eyes as Kaito said, “Oh, I do, do I?”

“Uh...yeah.” Shuichi said, making another attempt as he glanced down at the glass, saying to Kaito, “We need our Kaito...I can take my medicine after.”

“Why don’t you drink it for me now, handsome, while I make the room a little warmer. You guys are cold, I can see your nipples perking up. Give me a second.” Kaito laughed lightly, heading to the fire. “It’s okay, Shuichi, go ahead and drink it.”

Shuichi frowned, but did so. Maybe Kaito was expecting to finish quickly? Before the medicine made him tired? 

Kaito hummed cheerfully to himself, putting a few fresh logs into the flames, watching carefully the flame build before closing it up again, looking back at his lovers, his eyes full of total adoration as he smiled softly at them, genuinely appreciative...before snickering. “You’re both so sweet and sexy right now...I’m gonna enjoy this mental image for a long time. Alright!” Kaito said cheerfully, clapping his hands together as he grinned wolfishly down at them, the fire his backdrop as he grinned with all of his teeth, eyes glinting, “You two ready for me to ‘take care of you’?

Kokichi pouted as Kaito left to go tend the fire. “Hey, how do you know we just haven’t been touching each other, huh? Having a little fun together before it’s Kai-chan time.”

Maybe because Kokichi had slouched back down to rest his head on Shuuichi’s shoulder and looked more like he was being propped up by their boyfriend than was perching in his lap. Still, Kokichi did his best to look ready to go and eager to please, wanting to still make every little moment of the day special. 

“We’re all yours, Kai-chan. C’mon.” Kokichi held out his open arm, beckoning Kaito closer.

“Hell yeah, you are.” Kaito chuckled, going over to his boys, kissing first Shuichi, chastly, against the lips a few times, gently touching the side of his face, before moving onto Kokichi, kissing him deeply, taking a moment to taste him, enjoying himself...and then, after he broke the kiss, straightening back up and going over to get the clothes Shuichi had pulled out.

“Kaito?” Shuichi asked, confused, raising an eyebrow as Kaito did Kokichi first, putting his hand on the middle of Kokichi’s shoulders blades and cheerfully telling his husband ‘arms up!’, which Kokichi eventually complied towards, putting his shirt on him and kissing his husband on the forehead, before grabbing the second shirt.

“You too, Shuichi. Arms up handsome~”

“Kaito, are we sending a mixed signal somehow? We are trying to be sexy.” Shuichi grumbled, before putting his arms up, feeling incredibly silly as Kaito pulled his shirt over his head as well.

“And you’re succeeding. Trust me, I am going to be kicking myself later for this. But, for now, doing this-” Kaito said, kissing Shuichi gently, before pushing him backwards, watching with fond amusement as Shuichi fell back onto one of the pillows, taking Kokichi with him just by how they were sitting together, “-is really going to make this a perfect end to my day with you guys.”

It wasn’t the end of Kaito’s day. He still had to do his final Atua ritual later, in a few hours. But for his loves, to be warm and cozy and sleeping soundly before he left?

Kaito pulled the covers out from under them and, getting in as well, perfectly content to snuggle them until they were both out, pulled those covers up to their shoulders, kissing both of them again, Shuichi’s cheek and Kokichi’s forehead, before wrapping his arms around them as he said in a soothing, quiet voice, “Thank you guys. For my birthday kisses and my gifts and my great day out. This was amazing. You’re both amazing. But it’s also been a very, very long day and a lot of walking around for my pregnant boyfriend and my poor husband who got up this morning before all of us to go get breakfast and then got chased around by Maki. That’s a lot. The only thing left I want from either of you today is knowing you’re getting some rest, okay? I love you guys…I love you so, so much.”

Even from the kiss, Kokichi could tell that this wasn’t going to be sexy times. The kiss was deep and breath-taking, don’t get him wrong, but...that didn’t always signal that things were ramping up when it came to Kaito. Sometimes he kissed you like he was going to devour you just to say hello. So while Kokichi put up a soft protest to being clothed, he wasn’t that surprised. 

And for however much Kaito loved sex...stuff like this was what made him a wonderful partner. 

Kokichi put one arm over Shuuichi’s as they went down, but he quickly snuggled to Kaito’s side once he joined them, wanting to at least give him this. A slow, soft, goodnight kiss. An ‘I love you’ kiss. 

“Love you too… I’m glad you enjoyed everything. I’d planned out my own gifts in advance, and I’d been thinking of the dinner menu, but...everything else just kind of came together. I just wanted to give you a good day…” Kokichi looked over his husband with love, not saying how...he knew it wasn’t home. That it wasn’t a huge party with all his friends. But...it was fun and sweet and still with some good friends, and hopefully that was good too. 

Sighing like it was a great concession and, er, like he hadn’t already been ready to doze off for a while, Kokichi leaned up to place a kiss to Kaito’s cheek. “I think getting rest is something we can do. Happy birthday, Kai-chan. We love you a whole lot.”

-

Shuichi and Kokichi had gone to sleep pretty quickly after that, Shuichi grumbling light-heartedly a bit about Kaito not being a total horndog the one time Shuichi and Kokichi were trying to initiate some stuff, before clutching onto Kokichi and murmuring idly about wanting to go to school and how amazed he had been watching Kokichi leap around…

Kaito sighed contently when he heard the small sounds of them sleeping, Kokichi’s little breathy huffs and the small whispers of nonsense that Shuichi sometimes muttered out when he was dreaming. Kaito hung around for a little while after that, just enjoying himself, before quietly leaving the room and heading to his shrine.

The final ritual was simple enough, and it was the point of why shrines needed pieces of iron in the first place. Kaito took the same heating bowl that he used for the first day ritual, and lighting some fresh embers there, he put the iron on it and let it heat. 

As the iron heat up, Kaito sat in front of the table and read from the book, noting passages he felt were relevant to his life right now to the air, making promises to respect his body and the bodies of others, thankings the sages and asking them to watch over him and his for the next year.

Then, sighing, he put his hands around the top part of the iron and said a few words about the safety of the iron and the dangers of the fire, and how Atua’s guidance would navigate the difference. At that point, Kaito was supposed to pass the iron around with others, the idea that everyone would pass off the heated iron carefully enough that no one would burn themselves on it, but...well. He just thanked Atua for his guidance and put the iron back down on the embers, before pouring a glass of water on it to cool it.

Then, his ritual done, Kaito prayed for a little while longer, telling Atua about his day, as he went to go read his letters...and was relieved to see basically all of them were just his friends and his temple using his birthday as an excuse to get in touch. Asking him how Dicea was, hoping his marriage was going alright. A few of the letters sounded more worried than others, mentioning some worrying rumors they had heard, but they were just checking in. Kaito would write back to all of them later. It was sweet of them to write…

Putting all the letters on his table, trying to think of a nice way to preserve them later, he headed back to the room and went back to sleep.

-

It was nothing, really. But nothing in the way that made that little crease between Kokichi’s brows a permanent feature for the whole work day, and had gotten him to declare a bathroom break just so he could calm down and not...alarm anyone. Shuuichi was pretty good at sensing when he was upset, but...as long as he wasn’t crying in the office, he’d take that saved face. 

Compared to all the other letters that even mentioned Kokichi and Kaito’s marriage, they really were such a small percentage. Most of the time he could just sigh and roll his eyes a bit while he wrote back, assuring that everything was fine and that no one would try to cover something like their concerns up. 

Still, just this one…

Kokichi sniffled, wiping furious tears as he perched on the tank of the toilet in one of the stalls, trying to gain back his composure. He was happy! Really! At first he just wrote off people’s concerns as being about Luminary’s reputation and Kaito’s reputation, but… Did they seem unhappy when they went out? Kokichi was always thrilled to share experiences with Kaito but...were they giving off bad signs or something?

Why else would people still write in, offering to...to stage a kidnapping so he wouldn’t have to live with Kaito anymore? Offering their condolences that the last people to try had failed, run into terrorists. Acting like, oh, of course he had to be helpless and miserable in his marriage, so why not abandon every other part of his life and make some of his people into criminals to help him escape? 

He had a child on the way, how could they…?

...c’mon, Kokichi, pull it together. You guys are going to the theater tonight, gonna watch Hina and all her comrades’ efforts bear dramatic fruit. It’s going to be a lot of fun! It’s just some...misinformed person; just write back correcting them and go on with your day. Aiichi handles people yelling at him in court all day, you can handle just...a stupid little letter…

He wiped his eyes again, holding in a frustrated cry. 

Kerry sighed, doing their best to keep up with the other housekeepers, but…

When the castle had opened up a position with the loss of one of their long term employees, Susan, Kerry had decided to apply for...well, they weren’t sure why they had applied. They had seen the advertisement for the position and had just gotten this idea in their head that maybe if they had a schedule? And a job to do and people who actually needed something from them? Then maybe they’d spend less time sitting in their parents living rooms staring at their ceiling, thinking to themselves ‘what am I doing with my life?’

They supposed it had worked to an extent. Now they were struggling to keep up with the workload of the housekeepers for money they in no way needed, saving it up with no real goal in mind, thinking as they went to bring toilet paper into the bathrooms on the third floor ‘what am I doing with my life??!’

They caught a glance of themselves in the mirror as they went in, pulling their tray of refill custodial items behind them, and sighed. Their hair looked a mess. Why did they look like such a mess? The other housekeepers looked so put together while they worked...why was it only Kerry who got halfway through the work day looking like a sweaty, stressed out mess? Purple hair caking to dark skin, pink eyes looking exhausted...ugh. A mess.

...they frowned. Suddenly freezing.

Was someone crying in one of the stalls?

Kokichi held his breath as he heard someone come into the bathroom, but he had a feeling it might be too late. All he could hope was that they’d decide the trouble wasn’t worth it, do their business, and leave.

(It wasn’t much of a hope. Considering how often he saw people stop perfect strangers to ask if they were okay or even just compliment them on something to make their day brighter… It was a lovely trait that he loved his people for, but right now, he didn’t want anyone to see his shame.)

...at least he’d had the foresight to lock the stall he was in, flipping the little sign above the handle as occupied. Please, just...move on…

Should they??? Say something????

No, right? People didn’t cry in stalls as a ‘cry for help’. They locked themselves into stalls because that was the closest private place they could get too. Kerry understood that. They could respect that. Just let a person cry! Crying was necessary sometimes! 

They should….well, they can’t go, right? They’re on a schedule! They’re already behind schedule, for that matter! Maybe the person would take a really long time crying? Sure, they had a feeling the other housekeepers would understand why they failed to refill this bathroom, but, like, that still meant that they hadn’t done what they had been asked to do, and so far Kerry kinda sucked at this and they knew no one was saying that they sucked at being a housekeeper and how they all wished they hadn’t been hired in the first place (maybe not out loud but definitely in their hearts) and, man, Kerry didn’t want another thing proving how shit they were…

Okay! Okay! Ya know what? They’d just re-fill the toilet paper and soap real quick and just be in and out and the person could cry their hearts out in like fiiiiiiive minutes and that would be fine, probably. But they had to pretend like they hadn't heard anything!! So…???

Kerry started to whistle and hum loudly, changing out the items as they gave the occupied stall worried looks.

Kokichi could hold his breath for what he always thought was an impressive time considering how messed up his lungs were, but it was on a completely different scale from what...they sounded like a housekeeper doing refills in the bathroom. Not just a quick in and out. Eventually, he had to take a breath, and when he did a choked sob followed, accented with sniffles afterward, and Kokichi could only try to bury himself in his shirt to muffle the sounds, not wanting to humiliate himself in front of whoever it was. 

...and he could only hope that they wouldn’t recognize his voice, and that they would be more likely to tell Ikuo than Aiichi, and...oh god, what if they told Kaito? 

His husband was already dealing with prejudice every time he stepped outside the castle, and even some inside of it. Hearing that still people thought he was a spy or an intruder, or even just a bad spouse...Kaito didn’t need that. Kokichi didn’t need that, but they were in his letters nonetheless. 

In a desperate bid, he tried to keep his voice level as he whispered out, “I-I’m sorry, I’m alright. If - if you leave an extra roll on the counter, I can refill the stall when I’m done, s-sorry.”

...ah geez, is that a kid?

Not that Kerry was much older. They were only seventeen. And, actually, maybe it wasn’t a kid? Crying could make someone’s voice sound younger than they were. Maybe it was someone their age? Ah geeeez…

Kerry tapped his index fingers together a bit, biting their lip nervously… before saying, “Uh, you don’t need too...are you okay in there? I, I mean, obviously you’re not, of course you’re not, but are you...you’re not hurt, right? Do you need anything?”

That was a new voice… But it couldn’t be just a visitor, unless they were kinda weird and wanted to look through everything in the bathroom. Great...what a wonderful first impression to someone new. Way to let another person down, Kokichi…

He sighed. That wasn’t fair to anyone, and...if this person was a new hire, they deserved more than him just...having a tantrum in a bathroom stall. 

Wiping his eyes with the bottom of his shirt and blowing his eyes with a bit of toilet paper, Kokichi tried taking a few more wobbly breaths before he peeked out of the stall. Definitely not someone he recognized, and definitely a housekeeper.

Tentatively stepping out of the stall, Kokichi tried to give the newcomer a smile. “I am okay, thanks. Sorry for freaking you out--is this your first day? I’m Kokichi, I work down the hall.”

“No, no, no, I didn’t- I’m not freaking out. Are….are you freaking out?” Kerry asked, before squeaking as they said, horrified, “Oh, no, I don’t mean- I’m not saying that just taking a cry in the bathroom is you freaking out! That’s not a freaky thing to do! Ah geez…”

Tapping their fingers together a bit, Kerry tried to give Kokichi a welcoming smile as they said, “Yeah, it’s, well, no, it’s not my first day, it’s my first week, but thanks… it’s nice to meet you Kokichi. Tough day?”

Kokichi managed a bit more of a genuine smile at the new housekeeper’s nervousness as he shook his head a little. “I was freaking out a bit but...it’s okay. You’re good.”

First week? Dang...he had been a bit busy, but Kokichi felt bad he hadn’t been able to greet the new member of their staff earlier. Maybe he wouldn’t have felt so inclined to face them now, though. 

Sighing a little, Kokichi pressed a sleeve to one of his eyes, his tears having pretty much stopped by now, but his eyes were still kind of wet. “I just...got some news I wish I hadn’t. I’ll go back and answer it but...I just needed a sec. Maybe this was just the snowflake that caved in the roof, you know?”

“...could I have your name? If you see me in the hall or dining room or whatever, please feel free to say hey. I hope your first week’s been going alright--are you in Hajime-chan’s group?” In trying to ground himself more, Kokichi just tried to learn more about their new hire, wanting to make them feel welcomed in the castle.

“I’m Kerry Terry. It’s, heh...it’s okay. You can laugh.” Kerry said, smiling lightly, rubbing one of their arms as they laughed awkwardly. “A nurse suggested it when I was born and apparently it made my mother laugh so hard my father couldn’t think of me as anything else after that.”

Definitely another teenager. One that talked a little weird, but, well, the world took all sorts! Maybe they were just a little socially awkward? That was okay. Kerry’s friend group was almost exclusively socially awkward people...maybe that was why they had all so immediately lost touch with each other after graduation? Ugh…

“Kokichi is a nice name. I’m sorry about your bad news…” Kerry rubbed at their arm again… before asking, “Do you want to talk about it? I mean, I gotta keep changing out the toilet paper, but I can listen and do that at the same time.”

Kokichi did laugh, but only in delight, his eyes lighting up a little. “A rhyming name! That’s top tier! And, aw, a name made from joy too. You have a wonderful name, Kerry!” Maybe he was thinking about it that way just because of their conversation about their kid’s name but having your name be made of happiness, or a wish for your kid...it felt important. 

...he’d always considered his own name something ironic, but...maybe his parents had just wanted to wish him luck. Or...that despite everything, he lived, and while Kokichi knew Aiichi didn’t really believe in luck...maybe he thought that way just once…

Sighing a bit more softly, Kokichi shook his head a little, moving to get out of Kerry’s way. “It’s...a bit much for anyone who...isn’t directly involved, you know? I don’t mean to pull everyone into my personal business. I wouldn’t want to upset you either…”

Moving over to the sinks, Kokichi wetted a handtowel and pressed it against his eyes, hoping to soothe their redness before he went back to the office. “Thanks for offering, though. You’re really kind.”

Kerry shrugged, though they took the opportunity to start changing out the soap as they said, “I doubt it’d upset me...wait, is that rude to say? That might be rude. It can be kind of hard to comfort a stranger…” Kerry admitted, before shrugging again as they said, “But sometimes it’s easier to say things to strangers because they don’t have a stake in it. I know I’ve told, like, truly terrible and way too personal things to people I’ll never see again than people I’ve known my whole life…”

“Though, thinking about it, if we both work in the same place, I guess I won’t be a stranger forever. So yeah, maybe that’s the right choice. I mean, do whatever makes you comfortable. So long as you’re okay!” Kerry decided on eventually. “So...what do you do in the castle?”

Maybe there was something to that, though Kokichi had never really had the opportunity. He had spilled his guts to Kaito in the greenhouse that night, things he’d never told anyone...but Kaito hadn’t exactly been a stranger. They hadn’t really known each other, but they’d been engaged and knowing they they’d be married, and they’d been trying to find an assassin together so…

...not really the same kind of stranger. 

Deciding to just put it to the side, Kokichi decided to answer Kerry’s question, though...it was a little strange. Maybe he just didn’t know what Kokichi specifically did as the heir, and was curious about it. “I answer administrative letters--stuff like market reports, and relief aid, and event planning. Just...anything people write in to the castle about, really. I don’t really do the in-person stuff, though--Aiichi handles all that.”

Kokichi sighed a bit, thinking of the social letters again before he brightened back up, looking at Kerry. “So...if you need anything, hit me up. Even if I can’t solve it myself, I’ll know who to direct you to. Though, if it’s job-related, asking Hajime-chan or other housekeepers might be faster than going through me.”

“Oooooh, administration? I’m so sorry.” Kerry laughed, snorting into their hands a little as they said, “Death by desk, am I right? God, that must suck, seriously, I’m so sorry. But, no, seriously, I’m sure it’s great.”

”And I appreciate the offer, but like honestly if I’m not fired in an hour I might just throw myself into the deep sink and die by fire water, ya know what I mean? Like, I am absolutely not going to last here.” Kerry laughed, rolling their eyes. “I am a dumpster fire. Like, you keep saying the name ‘Hajime’ and I’m really getting the impression I should know who that is and I’m actually starting to get really embarrassed that I have no idea. I don’t know anyone’s names yet. Do I work with him?”

Kokichi blinked a little in surprise. He’d...never been dissatisfied with his job and, granted, he’d only had the office for a little while, but he never felt like it was a bad place to be. In some ways, it was a huge breath of fresh air from working in his bedroom. Kerry certainly had some deep gallows humor…

“I’m sure you’ll get the hang of things if you keep at it,” Kokichi smiled encouragingly. “Or discover that you really don’t like housekeeping, and then you know something to avoid in the future! No one’s good at anything right away, and housekeeping has a lot of nuances. I know it’s all practice, but it’s still amazing to see people folding, like, ten creases a second, or looking at a mess and knowing exactly how to approach it. It just takes making every mistake ever to grow.”

Laughing kindly, Kokichi nodded. “Hajime Hinata’s one of the shift managers for the housekeepers here--kinda just made an assumption that you’re working with him, though, since you’re on the day shift. Tall guy, brown hair, green eyes, kind of a no-nonsense attitude but still really kind and gets pulled into nonsense anyway. Eh,” he shrugged, “Names are practice too. You’ll get there. I know I’ll be rooting for you, at least.”

Kerry laughed a little at this, tapping their fingers together as they shrugged a bit, “Yeah? Hajime Hinata, Hajime Hinata...I don’t know why I’m repeating it like I’ll remember if I do. That never works for me.” Kerry snorted, shaking their head a little in embarrassment as they said, “You’re pretty positive, huh? That’s nice. Well, if you're really sure you’re okay, then I guess I’m just sorry I interrupted your crying time. Feel free to say hi when you see me in the halls and stuff. I can score you free toilet paper anytime, just ask...or, wait, is that theft? That might be theft...ah well, it’s just toilet paper.” 

Kerry winked, and then giggled, embarrassed at the wink as they said, “Feel free to hit me up, you’ll get the ‘cool dude’ discount, Kokichi. Hope the rest of your day doesn’t suck as hard. I gotta finish refilling the bathrooms here, so don’t let me keep you. See you later!” Kerry said, going back into the stalls to continue their duty.

“I’m trying.” Kokichi huffed a smaller laugh. It was a lot easier to be positive about other people than trying it for yourself. But he was trying. If he wanted to grow, he was going to have to put in the work. “I like to see people succeed, and being in a new place can be a little easier when you know that there’s someone cheering for you.”

Giving his eyes one last little pat...they were still kind of red. Not that he thought he’d be able to hide this from, you know, his boyfriend who’s a trained detective but...he’d mitigated the worst of it. And hopefully Shuuichi wouldn’t ask. 

“Thanks, Kerry. My day’s already looking up a little--it was really kind of you to lend an ear and check in on me. Good luck with settling in here.” Giving the housekeeper a little wave before they ducked into the stall… Yeah. Just a misguided, vocal minority… And it was his job to give them the right information. Some people just needed a little more reassuring than others. 

Taking a deeper breath, Kokichi left to go back to the office, hoping he could finish a few more matters before they got ready to go to the theater. 

-

The theater was packed, which was almost always the case on the opening night of a local theater, but Kaito was always surprised whenever he saw it. Holding Kokichi’s hand, he whispered to the others, “Wow. Pretty packed, huh? I think we got lucky to even get seats together, now that I see how many tickets they sold and we bought ours the night of.”

“You...paid for your tickets, Kaito?” Shuichi asked, frowning, looking over at his boyfriend in concern. “This is a non-profit theater. It’s literally just a reservation thing. Kokichi made the reservations days ago. Who did you buy the tickets from?”

“...” Kaito sighed, “...the teenagers by the front window? The window was closed and they said they worked it and had just stepped outside for some fresh air.”

Maki’s eyes narrowed, “Give me five minutes.”

“No, no, don’t, it wasn’t that much, I don’t want to raise a fuss.” Kaito sighed, running his hands through his still very green hair. 

Tim, by Maki’s side, whispered, “Why do I have to be here again?”

“You’re getting cultured. Don’t be ungrateful.” Maki scolded, pinching Tim’s ear as she said, “And don’t pull that face during the performance. These people worked very hard to pull this together and if you don’t respect them tonight, I’m going to make you volunteer to clean up here for the rest of the performances.”

“...Fine.” Tim huffed.

“Plus, if it’s good! Maybe you could invite Kimiko for the next one, ehhh-?” Kaito said, grinning down at him.

“Mom. Cut him. Please.”

It was...amazing. Something straight out of a dream. Streams of people heading into the theater, meeting up with their groups and heading to their seats, chatting with the theater staff minding the doors, talking about a friend of a friend had seen practice and it was going to be spectacular! 

Kokichi had been to the theater before but...never on opening night, and only when the reservations had died down to just anyone being able to pop in to see a show. Once he’d made it into the auditorium it was always fine, and he’d loved the shows (there were enough play and performance posters in their room to prove it) but there was just something...magical about walking amongst the sea of people and seeing for the first time what the show was going to be…

Still, he was careful to not get swept up in the current, and he held onto Kaito’s hand, sighing in a bit of a laugh when he’d heard of the grift. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind talking to them--it’s pretty mean to sell bogus tickets and take advantage of people who aren’t familiar with the theater.” As it was, he’d probably let the theater staff know, if they didn’t already, and maybe they’d put up a sign or something for opening shows. It was a lesson that the kids would have to learn some time. 

Though, without talking to the teens, they found their seats, one of the raised booth-like areas just above the main floor, built to make the side seats get a bit better of a view. You could see the whole stage, albeit at an angle, but it was still good. And since there were fewer seats on the platform, there weren’t any tall people sitting in front of Kokichi. After enough performances of sneaking into an empty seat only to have his vision partially blocked the whole time...well, leaving the castle not in secret was something he could take advantage of this time.

“So, there’s gonna be an intermission halfway through for bathroom breaks and stretching your legs, and people usually sell small treats in the lobby for refreshments, but if you need to leave in the middle, just follow the wall once you step down the stairs, and you’ll run right into the bathroom. No shuffling in the rows needed!” Kokichi chirped, plopping himself right down in a seat in the booth, looking excitedly even at the closed curtains.

Shuichi, who had seen Kokichi’s strained face earlier during work, but had decided that Kokichi would tell him what was wrong when he was ready and so hadn’t pried, laughed lightly at his boyfriend as he sat down, chewing on some candy they had brought from the castle. “I’m pretty sure they’re going to announce all that as well, Kokichi.” he teased lightly. “Maybe we should send you on stage to do it for them.”

“Can I have some, Uncle Shuichi?” Tim whispered from Maki’s other side, Shuichi nodding and passing some pieces of candy over to Tim, Maki just rolling her eyes at the two.

“Hina said she and Sakura were background characters in one of the fight scenes, so try to keep an eye out for them!” Kaito told the others, peering down excitedly.

Kokichi giggled a bit, grinning shamelessly. “Hey, but you get it personalized for where we’re sitting! We’d be watching that all night instead of the play if it was a common service.” 

Kokichi playfully needled Shuuichi for some candy too, talking about how excited he was to see the play, and that he’d probably even be tempted to see it more than once to catch Hina and Sakura’s part, and oh, can you see alright, maybe we can switch…

And before long, the overhead lights went off and the stage lights went on, a duo dressed like fantasy characters taking the still curtained stage. Projecting, they announced, “Ladies and gentlemen and friends of all creed! Welcome to the Oshisei Memorial Theater’s production of! A Dream of Mid-Summer! Please enjoy!”

Kokichi joined in with the excited applause as the curtains drew back, revealing a, well, dreamy set of a town center accented with plants. Gently taking Kaito’s hand, Kokichi leaned his head against his husband’s arm, excited not just to see an opening show, but to see it with the people he loved.

“Ahoy! It is I! The Fairy King Leo!” Ahoyed the Fairy King Leo, while off stage the sound of a ship horn blared, “I have returned from my long trip at sea to my fairy kingdom! Lo, fairy knights! Report to me! How goes the kingdom!?”

“Blesséd be, the king has returned!” A small group of armored, apparently, fairy knights gathered around the Fairy King, cheering his homecoming. However, one from the group stepped forward, lowering his head. “The kingdom fares well, my king, however...your dearly betrothed, Fairy Queen Elise…”

The knight seemed to have trouble saying whatever it was until another of their fellow knights leapt forward onto center stage, letting the news echo into the theater. “Ya gurl’s fallen in love with a human!”

“WHAT!? That HARLOT!” The King gasped, “What? Just because I left unexpectedly to tour the seven oceans and tasked her to wait 150 years for my return?? She goes and shakes up with a monkey!?? Knights! Show me this human so that I may punish them for their temptress ways!”

“This guy seems like an asshole. I’m already rooting for the human.” Kaito whispered to Kokichi. “Who calls their wife a harlot?”

Kokichi nodded a bit, though he kept his eyes on the stage, already enchanted by the story. 

In almost a dance of movement, the knights ‘yea’ out their loyalty, running off stage in search of the human and, as they did, turning bits of the set around, turning the setting into a grassy field on a warm summer day. In the middle of the field are two actors, differentiated only by how one seems to be covered in glitter. 

“My dear Elise, goddess of all that is bright and good…” The actor sighs, losing a bit of the melodrama that had been in his voice as he shifts onto his stomach, propping up his chin as if this were a teenager’s gossip session. And...honestly, it kind of was. “I love my cousin, I do, Luci’s great but...me? Getting married? Lady Cynthia has nothing but a glowing reputation, nothing against her, but I’m not cut out for the romantic life. I’m meant for adventure! Conquering great evil, staining my hands with the blackest of blood so that the sun may shine down on the innocent!”

The man gave a shrug again, back down from his grand speech. “I have nothing to offer the daughter of a noblewoman, Elise. I have my duty, but the world has so much more meant for me… What should I do?”

The glittered actor chuckled, and as the goddess leaned over to the hero, they asked-

Kaito blinked, looking at the actor playing the goddess and realizing he recognized him. “...Behemoth?”

-“Why?” Asked Elithe, raising her massive eyebrow with a delicate raise, “Adventures are hard, baby. You get dirty, blackened blood all under your fingernails, tangled hair. It’s a real bother. Getting married sounds easier.”

“Hah!” the hero barked, though there was a certain fond, gentleness in how he leaned towards the queen. “All the more reason to leave such things as love and warmth to those already basking in them. To make sure that such pure souls can take the easy path that we--that is I, dear Elise--in the shadows pave. Is it not the greatest achievement to strive to make the world better for those around you?”

Kokichi hummed softly. “His costume is really great… Somehow a fairy queen seems like a good role.”

“Is not love it’s own adventure? And are not those who give such love so gently and so generously not making the world a better place? For your affection does lift others and give them strength, so that they too may turn to lift others even further… though, Cynthia’s as basic as they come, and tacky on top of it. That dress she wore to Lady Becca’s wedding? All I could think was, girl, where are your friends, who let you go out in that?”

Elise smiled warmly at the hero's loving look, and went to place her hand lightly against his chin as she said, “Though, if love is an adventure, and you see no adventure in a life with her, perhaps it’s because there are...other...adventures, tempting you away?”

“HARLOT!”

Came a shout off stage, accompanied by the sounds of horns as Elise suddenly stood up, looking around and looking annoyed as she said, “What? Come on, when did he get home? A girl tries to get some the first time in a century of course that’s when he decides to come home...”

The hero jumped up at the shout, hand immediately going to his scabbard. “What sort of foul blaggard goes about saying such nonsense? Let alone in the presence of such upstanding company. Show yourself, coward, so that you may beg forgiveness, or pay for it.”

Leaning towards Elise, the hero asked in a stage whisper, “You know this guy? I can cover for you if need be--all I wish is your safety.”

Kokichi leaned forward a little, his free fist clenched in his lap. Were they going to get to see a sword fight? So early on?!

As the knights all swarmed onto the stage, (Tim snorted at the way they held their spears. Amatuers. They were begging to get them knocked out of their hands.) pointing their weapons at the fairy queen and the hero as they circled around them, King Leo was carried in on the shoulders of an exceptionally large masked knight, (‘Oh!’ Kaito thought to himself, as the theater laughed at the display, ‘I bet that’s Sakura!’) as he declared, “There you are, harlot! Step away from that human, Elise! He will be executed at once, and you will return home immediately!”

“Mmmmm, no. I like the human. He knows how to treat a lady. Unlike some other ‘Gonna go on vacation without the missus’ braggarts I can think of.” Queen Elise snorted. Then, putting her hands on her face dramatically, she said, “Oh, no, hero don’t! Don’t duel my husband for the right to my hand! Don’t endanger yourself like that for little ol’ me!”

“If anyone picks a fight like that specifically to get you to fight on their behalf?” Mai whispered to Tim, who nodded along, “Punch them in the face yourself. That’s not the sort of company you keep.”

The hero turned back to Queen Elise, shaking his head with a grin. “My queen, the right of your hand is yours to offer and yours alone. On the other hand, one who would so abandon your loved ones and spit their name in vain…”

(Kokichi ooh’ed softly. This was...nothing like the play he’d read, but very cool as its own story.)

Turning back to the king and the knights, there was a wide, excited grin on the hero’s face. “It seems I’ve found evil without having to go on a journey after all. If you do not honor those around you, you will find no honor extended. Even a fight five to one I’ll gladly accept in the name of justice.”

“ON YOUR GUARD!”

Kaito gave a small huff. Good luck with that, guy. More likely than not you’re gonna accidentally bust one of these guys heads open and scare the queen right back into the guys arms.  Lose/Lose scenario.

The fight began, with the King laughing maniacally on top of the massive knights shoulders, as one by one the knights, in a beautifully choreographed fashion, went after the hero! Swords clashed loudly as the hero effortlessly blocked strike after strike, leaping at one point while one one knight swung under his feet, then ducking immediately as another one swung over his head. 

Then, (To the audience's laughter, even Tim snickering a little as he got engaged in the story, taken in by the flashy theatrics.) the hero threw up his sword to distract the two attackers, who both looked up at it, their body language baffled, as he grabbed both of their heads and, WHAM, knocked them together, both guards crumbling.

One by one all five of the knights fell, and the queen chortled. “Well, well, well. Looks like five fairies are no match to one human! What’chya gonna do now, Leo?”

The King snarled, and said, “Those were all my weakest, most pathetic knights-!”

“Aww, man, that’s not very nice,” Whimpered one of the knights on the ground.

“-Now it’s time for the supposed ‘hero’ to fight a real adversary! Go! Mega Knight!!”

Then the King leaped off the knight he was riding the shoulders of, who roared, running at the hero!

“Lo, so you extend your cruelty to your comrades as well? I do not pity the lone island you will find yourself on, monarch.” 

The hero, knowing he was outmatched when it came to pure strength against Mega Knight, kept on the defensive, dodging and trying to get the large knight to trip herself up, but the knight was not only strong, but agile as well, and the hero found himself slowly backed into a corner. As it was looking like he would have to brace against an attack head on…

“WITNESS THE RADIANCE OF THE SHINING WARRIOR! DRAMATIC ENTRANCE!!”

Full speed, a figure dashed across the stage, hurtling into Mega Knight (Kokichi gasped again, more worried about Sakura, though he trusted that they’d practiced this move ad infinitum) and disrupting the strike just enough for the hero to dodge past it. As he did, he gaped at his savior.

“Lady Cynthia?!”

The figure, a woman with high pigtails, grinned at the hero as she jumped back from the knight, readying herself for battle as well. “Hi, Prince Owain.  I was wondering where you’d gotten off to, but seeing this now… Any battle the great hero Owain Dark takes on is a battle worth fighting. Count me on your side, friend.”

“Would that actually work?” Tim asked Maki quietly, who considered the question before nodding. “Cool.” Tim whispered, watching the newcomer with more interest.

“Oooooh, yaaaay. Cynthia’s here. Hurraaay.” Queen Elise said, staring at her fingernails, looking entirely unenthused.

But the hero grinned, Owain looking over at Cynthia with appreciation as he said, “Alright! Together then!”

The two fighting in tandem, fighting with ‘Haus!’ and ‘Hyaa’s!’ as the took on the Mega Knight, who roared and fought ferociously against them, the king and queen making commentary on the fight as it went, snarking at each other. While the action in them middle was genuinely impressive, the king and queens commentary kept making the audience laugh, and while the sparring made Kaito...weirdly uncomfortable, he found himself snickering right along with everyone else, grinning wide as it looked like for a moment the hero and his fiance were going to win!

Then, just as the Mega Knight was on her knees, groaning at her beating dramatically, Owain raised his sword to strike her down, and-

“Not today!” Said one of the knights that had been laying curled on the ground, another funny set dressing as the fight danced around them, sometimes ‘accidentally’ stepping on them as the knights let out exaggerated groans. 

The Mega Knight was hooded in a metal helmet, but her body language was...notably confused as around her, everyone else reacted to the rising knight without so much as a hesitation. The knight leapt up, and grabbed the hero, throwing him into a suplex- (“Well done.” Maki whispered, nodding at the flawless execution of the move.) before, grabbing his sword that he ‘lost’ by swinging it into the air, she fought off Cynthia, who was still trying to finish the job on Mega Knight, Mega Knight watching all this in confusion before Cynthia, as well, fell dramatically.

“Aha!” Said the king, “So I win after all! Truly a happy ending!”

“Not so fast! You treated us poorly, King!” the knight said, raising her sword as she continued on, “And I don’t win todays battle for you! I win it for her!”

The knight pointed her sword to Mega Knight...who finally whispered something, clearly confused, to the other knight, though no one in the audience could hear it.

Kokichi sat up in his chair--though he’d already been somewhat at the edge of his seat--when he heard Hina’s voice, watching her more carefully now that he knew which knight she was. They had really put a lot into this story...normally he’d expect Owain and Cynthia to win, gaining the respect of the knights to stand against the king, and perhaps fixing his marriage to Queen Elise--though Behemoth really sold the character as being totally over King Leo--but to have them lose and have the knights stand on their own…

It felt far more powerful. Maybe Hina could introduce him to the playwright and he could ask for a copy of the script…

“Aww…” he whispered when Knight Hina declared her battle won for Mega Knight Sakura, knowing that it was part of the play but, like...it was still sweet. 

Though, it was very much not part of the script, and the knight Sakura had whispered to was grinning under their helmet, simply giving her an encouraging nod. Go on, thank your champion. 

Mega Knight, realizing something was going on, stood up, and said, “Uh...thank you fellow knight...I would have died if not for your intervention.”

“Maybe. You’re so big and strong, it’s hard to think you could ever fall. That’s what people admire about you. It’s why people want to be around you, and learn from you, and take comfort from you. Because you’re strong, and reliable, and incredibly kind, always looking out for people in need… you’re a knight who takes care of people. I’ve always respected that about you.” The newly risen Knight said to Mega, sheathing her sword as the King and Queen simply watched this, King Leo at least trying to look somewhat scowly the whole time while the Queen merely watched with a somewhat giddy smirk as the knight reached over to take Mega Knights hand between their own.

“It’s what I respect about you...but what I love about you? Is how you’re like when people get to know you. How compassionate you are to people who are afraid. How brave you were to start your own business, even after watching your father struggle with it. How you’re so strong in the face of adversity, but you cry watching new born kittens play with each other for the first time...this and a thousand other things, I love about you. Sakura...you’re the worlds Mega Knight. But…”

The Knight knelt on the ground, taking off her helmet, still holding her hand with one hand as she reached out to a knight nearby her, who immediately, eagerly put a box they were hiding on their person into her hand, opening it for her so that she could present it to Mega Knight.

“...you’re my princess. And I want to spend the rest of my life treating you like one...Sakura Ogami? Will you marry me?”

“...Oh Hina…” Mega Knight said, taking off her own helmet, Sakura looking down at Hina with gentle, adoring eyes, “...yes. Yes I would.”

Kokichi gasped again, having let go of Kaito’s hand to use both hands to cover his mouth, his eyes filling with happy tears as…

This was quite possibly the sweetest marriage proposal he’d ever seen. He hadn’t seen too many, that was true, but this… 

“Ohmygod…” he whispered, sniffling quietly. Hina and Sakura were going to get married.

Kaito grinned, giddy. Awwww, look at that...wow, Hina must have been planning this for ages. They were lucky they just got back in touch with her in time to see this. He glanced over at his friends and...smiled softly. Kokichi looking happy and excited, if a little teary, but Shuichi just smiling softly, if a little sadly (Probably thinking of Yuta. It would have been nice if the guy had been here for this.) while Maki just looked...intense. Kaito was going to guess she was feeling a pretty intense version of happiness right now and, in Maki fashion, didn’t know how to process that intense emotion without feeling equally aggressive about it.

Maki would probably give Hina a hug when she could. Kaito was happy Maki had gotten to see this. Her little sister was alive. Her little sister was proposing in front of an audience, surrounded by friends, to one of the flat out sexiest people Kaito had ever seen. 

Maki hadn’t failed Hina. Hina was doing just fine.

The audience cheered as Hina th Knight squealed, leaping into the Mega Knight’s arms in joy, as all the other knights got up. Speaking for all of them, one of the knights said, “I am touched by this display of love, and am humbled we were defeated in battle! In honor of Sakura and Hina’s commitment to each other, I say ALL we knights join Owain and Cynthia against King Leo!”

“Huzzah!” shouted the other knights in agreement, as King Leo gasped.

“Well, then I shall make my escape! But don’t think you’ve seen the last of me! I will win you back, Elise!” King Leo shouted, waving his fists and making a run for it as Cynthia and Owain got up to stand with the knights, Hina and Sakura getting back into character, though they were still holding each others hands, both of them with wide smiles on their faces.

The queen just snorted, raising an eyebrow at her husband as she said, “After a proposal like that? Gonna have to try harder than that to earn back my affections, baby. Come on now, group. Let’s go reconvene at the magic meadows! Give our newly betrothed knights a second to themselves.”

As the knights ran off the stage, all laughing and cheering together, the queen stopped and looked over at the audience, “That goes for you all too! Intermission time! See you in Act Two!” She called out, as the curtains fell and the lights turned on, the audience laughing and cheering, before shifting around to talk to each other and get out of their rows.

“That was wild. Man, that first act flew by. It felt like we only just started watching the play!” Kaito said aloud, sighing as he leaned back into his chair.

Shuichi looked at his watch. “It’s been an hour.”

“What!?”

Kokichi sniffled again and wiped his eyes, looking back at his friends. He might’ve not been as close with Hina, but even just talking with them for a little bit he could tell how much she and Sakura loved each other, and getting to witness such an important moment… Maybe he was just a little emotionally raw that day, but he was happy to be happy for them. 

“That was so sweet… I hope they won’t be too swamped so we can give our congratulations after the play.” Sighing a little, Kokichi stood up to stretch. “I’m gonna take a bathroom break--do anyone want a snack? I can grab whatever they’re selling in the lobby if you wanna stay in here.”

“I’m gonna send them a message at least. Just a quick congratulations to Hina…” Maki said, having gotten her emotions under control, her face much more calm and pleased then that aggressive look she had before, when she was trying to process...and she turned to Timothy. “Tim. I have a mission for you.” she said.

“Yeah?” Tim asked, looking interested. This would be his first, like, ‘mission’ mission given to him by Maki. “Okay. What do you want me to do?” 

“Deliver this message to Hina without disrupting anyone. Preferably without being seen at all.” Maki informed him, knowing he’d enjoy the challenge, before looking to Shuichi. “Can I borrow a page from your journal?”

“Sure. I’ll sign my name onto whatever you write as well, so she knows I wanted to wish her well too.” Shuichi said, signing the bottom as he took a page out of his journal, passing it onto Maki, “Though, Kokichi, I think I need to go use the bathroom too. I’ll come with you.”

“Let me see what you write, Maki! That was so cool to see! What a fun way to propose to someone! Though, man, Hina must have been so sure Sakura would say yes. Otherwise that would have been real awkward.” Kaito laughed, scooting over to Shuichi’s seat as his boyfriend got up to follow Kokichi, reading over Maki’s shoulder.

Aw, that was sweet. And a good mission for Tim, since there wasn’t any real danger. Just a challenge! Kokichi would probably save his congratulations for the next time they saw each other, if not after the show. The message was just for family.

Humming happily as Shuuichi stood up to join him, Kokichi quickly reached for his hand, both just because he liked holding Shuuichi’s hand, and because they were certainly not the only people shuffling out of the auditorium to relieve themselves. 

“Kai-chan’s right, but knowing that Sakura would say yes? That was super romantic. And with all the other cast members and the theater crew helping out…” Kokichi shook his head with a grin before smiling playfully up at Shuuichi. “This is purely a thought exercise, so don’t overthink it, but how would you wanna be proposed to, Shuu-chan? Just something off the cuff now, or if you ever thought about it growing up?”

“It was cute to watch, but ugh...not like that. I’d feel so embarrassed to be put on the spot like that, in front of all those eyes…” Shuichi literally shuddered imagining it, before shrugging. He knew a question like this could be kind of loaded, but, well… he had never imagined himself as being the kind of person you proposed too, honestly. And his current situation didn’t change his thinking on it. 

Kaito and Kokichi were married already. They weren’t going to marry him.

“In general? I’ve never really thought about it. I guess I’d appreciate it being, I don’t know...comfortable? Not in public, I mean. Heh...definitely not like how your proposal went.” Shuichi chuckled, looking down at his boyfriend with a raised eyebrow. “What about you? How would you have wanted to be proposed too? I’m gonna take a leap and say ‘not with chests of gold, fur coats and paintings’.”

“I could guess as much,” Kokichi lightly teased with a snort. “It was only so sweet because it’s obvious how much Hina and Sakura know each other. When you know how all the pieces are gonna play, then you can get grand and creative with the setting--you know, to take all the magic and romance out of it.”

Kokichi really wasn’t asking to sneakily get information on how to propose to Shuuichi, but...hey, it never hurt to take notes. And what his boyfriend said could be as much as he’d know anyway. Shuuichi didn’t want something huge and over the top and, well, public. Probably something meaningful and sweet, planned out but without the strict expectations of everything needing to go just so. Just as romantic as what Hina had done, in his eyes. 

Sighing a little, Kokichi rolled his eyes. “Look, I’ve always known that I’d never have a very personal proposal. The most I ever hoped for was that I could be friends with whoever I ended up marrying, and I super lucked out there. But the proposal itself?”

“I know Kai-chan didn’t plan it, so that’s just why I can say all that just...made me super uncomfortable.” Kokichi grimaced, getting in line for the bathroom. Still, he had the sense to talk more quietly about this. Other Diceans likely had similar feelings...but he was still trying to keep relations high. Shit-talking Luminous traditions so blatantly wouldn’t help that. 

“And to be fair, it all kinda comes under the shadow that when I saw who Kai-chan was, I just...wanted it all to be over so I could go scream in my room for a while. Which I did.” Kokichi rolled his eyes again, though more at his own dramatics. “The whole thing just felt like we were objects, shown off for our shine and glitter to be sold to the approving masses. Again, I knew I’d always be married as a statement or as a symbol but...it really hit me then how much I wanted to be married as just...me.”

Kokichi’s face went void of expression for a moment as he stared off into the distance before he grinned up at Shuuichi with a wink. “Got lucky there too. Got married to someone that likes me as a person, and got a boyfriend that likes me for me too.”

As Shuichi smiled warmly down at Kokichi, gently taking his hand and squeezing it a little as he said quietly to him, “Yeah, you do,” two men who were waiting in line behind them listened in on this, whispering quietly to each other, one of them looking a little embarrassed, the other one smirking, his eyes tracing Shuichi’s backside as he leaned in to whisper to the other guy again.

Shuichi let go of Kokichi’s hand as they moved along in the line, next up, brushing Kokichi’s hair back behind his ear as he said, “You know, I’m kind of getting used to the pink. It looks nice on you. Though, I can’t wait for the blond to wash out.” Shuichi sighed, leaning against the wall, to one guy's disappointment, “It’s...a lot.”

Kokichi wrinkled his nose though his smile didn’t drop. “Really? Maybe I’m just biased… ‘pparently Aiichi kept the pink up for years for some kind of “look”. Teenagers do that sort of thing, but reconciling that with my dad… Gotta wonder if he ever told my mom he wasn’t a natural.”

Reaching up to cup Shuuichi’s cheek fondly, Kokichi shrugged. “Your hair is pretty hard to beat, Shuu-chan. This is a lot flashier than your usual, but I still like it. Makes you look like a fantasy hero or something. Ooh-”

Kokichi turned, seeing someone walk out of the bathroom and, quickly, he popped up on his toes to place a kiss on Shuuichi’s cheek. “Be right back! I’ll wait for you on the other side of the wall,” he gestured out to where the line wasn’t.

“Kay. See you in a bit.” Shuichi said, watching Kokichi go, before lowering his cap a little, waiting for another person to come out.

“Dude, go on, ask him. You were the one wondering.” the smirking guy whispered to the embarrassed guy, who just shook his head.

“No, dude, just leave him alone, that’s not...it’s just a rumor, man.”

“Pfff, body like that? Bet it’s not...fine, you know what? Miss every shot you don’t take. I’ll ask him.”

“Dude, fuck, oh shit…” The embarrassed guy just watched in muted horror as smirking guy tapped on Shuichi’s shoulder, making the ex-detective jolt a little, not having been paying any attention to either of them.

“...?” Shuichi just looked at them, his face growing tense and wary, still not used to being approached by strangers and not liking it, as he muttered, “Yes?”

“You the surrogate? From Luminary?” Smirk asked, as his friend just ran a hand over his face, clearly displeased. “Hey, all Luminaries are Atuans, right?”

Shuichi looked over at the bathroom. Please, couldn’t someone just leave it already...he didn’t want to stay here.. “...sort of.” Shuichi answered, now just looking back and forth between the bathroom door and his feet.

“Right, right, so...aren’t Atuans all, like, into sex and sellng their bodies and all that? Like, that’s the whole religion, right?”

“Oh my god, dude, you’re going to get us kicked out of this theater.” Embarrassed guy groaned.

Shuichi didn’t answer. He wanted to say no, wanted to be outraged, but that didn’t feel fair to Kaito… he just wanted to get away from this guy. He looked over at the bathroom again.

“Right, so...if you’re Atuan?” Smirk asked, looking genuinely excited, “...you’re, like, for sale, right? Are you working tonight? How much?”

“I’m just gonna go.” Shuichi decided, not willing to wait in the line through this, as he pushed himself off the wall to walk away… but stopped as a figure moved around the corner of the hall, having been walking out the bathroom hall and, hearing the tail end of that, put a massive hand on Shuichi’s shoulder.

“There’s a stall open now, baby.” Behemoth said, massive and still covered in glitter, a dark look on his face as he said, “You go on in now. Me and this young man are about to have a conversation.”

Shuichi wasn’t actually familiar with this person, but just nodded, more then willing to take the offered opening as he headed inside, while behind him smirking guy said, “Hey, come on, it’s a legitimate questi-”

Shuichi escaped inside. Sighing in relief. Fucking asshole…

Kokichi finished his business quickly, glad that the theaters had started breaking up their acts into smaller segments. He’d had some tea before they left and it had gone through him.

Exiting the bathroom, Kokichi laughed to himself, seeing just a trail of glitter going down the hall. Maybe Behemoth had been through? Dang, he wanted to compliment his acting. 

Even if no one had piped up, Kokichi wanted to grab some food from the lobby. The theater usually sold these little dough dumplings, fried to be either sweet or savory, rolled in cinnamon and sugar or tossed in a pepper butter sauce with some kind of cheese inside… If Kokichi didn’t love seeing the performances so much, he’d say the food was one of the best parts about coming. 

Waiting for Shuuichi, Kokichi kept himself entertained by seeing how many people did double-takes as they walked by, some hurrying past and whispering to their friends, or giving him a shy smile, which, naturally, he returned.

Fucking ‘how much’, Shuichi would tell him how much, more then your broke -ass can afford, that’s how much. Shuichi fucking dated royalty. Sure, basically broke royalty, but still. Fucking entitled piece of shit, ‘oooh, how much?’ just wait, if that guy was still out there…

Shuichi sighed a little in relief to realize he wasn’t. Ha! Yeah, you better run…

(He’s have to thank fairy queen guy for helping him out next time he saw him...her? Sort of tough to guess on that one. He’d just ask, he supposed.)

“Hey Kokichi. Still wanted to get food?” Shuichi asked, coming up to his boyfriend.

Kokichi latched back onto Shuuichi almost immediately. “Yes! Oh, Shuu-chan, you’re gonna love these--they’re like mini-elephant ears, sorta, though sometimes they sell versions that have chocolate inside. Have you ever had an elephant ear, is that an international thing?”

Because they went to the bathroom first, there was less of a line for refreshments, and Kokichi was practically drooling at the scent of cinnamon sugar and fried dough. “Really, I could eat a million of these, but even for sweets they’re pretty awful for you. S’why I’ve never asked Miss Catherine to make ‘em. Special event food only!”

“Yeah? Let’s get one for Tim too. I know he didn’t ask for anything, but that might just be because he was distracted by Maki’s task.” Shuichi mused, perfectly content to be the ‘fun’ uncle, and looking for opportunities to flex that. Hell, he was the drug addict of the family. Maybe to a teenage Tim one day, Shuichi’s ‘bad boy’ days would count for some brownie points...so long as neither of his parents ever told him the shit those two would get up to in their teenage years. Shuichi would never be able to compete.

“Good plan!” Were they spoiling their nephew a bit? Maybe, but that’s what uncles were for, to an extent, and a few extra sweets wouldn’t hurt him. And even if they said no, Kokichi was getting the dumplings for them all to share. Like he’d said, he could probably eat the two boats of ‘em he’d paid for--plus a small cup bonus, which had made him beam at the winking worker who congratulated them on the new baby--but he’d probably feel like crap, even with his high tolerance for sweets. 

It wasn’t long before he and Shuuichi were heading back to their seats, a good deal of other people returning too, signalling that the intermission was likely going to end soon. Holding the boats up, Kokichi offered the sweets to the others. “They had savory ones two, but since no one requested anything and you sent the two with the biggest sweet teeth to go…” He shrugged with an unashamed grin. 

“Mom?” Tim asked, as Maki frowned at the treat, giving Shuichi a dirty look, who just smirked back at her before she sighed, passing the treat over to Tim. “Thanks, Uncle Saihara, Uncle Kokichi.” Tim said politely, before taking an extremely aggressive bite from it, ripping through it.

“Uncle Kokichi?” Kaito asked, this being the first he had heard Timothy refer to Kokichi as such, grinning down at him. “Cute.”

As they chewed on the snacks the two had brought up, the lights started to dim, people hushing for a moment before applauding as the curtains opened up, the group of knights stood with the hero and heroine in a ‘magical field’, which was essentially the last set, but with a few extra trees and a ‘bonfire’, a mix of light and cloth blowing in the middle of the set.

“Prince Dark! We follow to the ends of the earth, and swear a vow of eternal loyalty to you and your family, Princess Cynthia! Pray tell! What would you task us with, your knights so devoted!?”

Prince Owain, so cock-sure in a fight, now stood before the knights awkwardly. “Well...you’ve assured that your people have not suffered under your king’s rule--or, perhaps in spite of it. We seek no quarrel with the Fairy Kingdom--I simply wished to stand to honor the dignity of Queen Elise, and then all of you.”

“And...to be honest,” the hero coughed into a hand, “Adventuring with a squadron is more like an invasion than an adventure…”

“If I may,” Cynthia spoke up, “It takes far more courage to maintain peace than to cast stones. Why don’t we make a deal, an alliance, to help each other’s nations with any problems that may occur--for the people, and not the leaders. Protecting a nation’s heart, and not its face.”

‘Tried to warn ya, dude.’ Kaito thought idly to himself, popping some more sweets in his mouth, ‘See how quickly you became the bad guy? Suddenly ‘adventuring’ isn’t a lot of fun, huh...poor bastard.’

Ugh. And the guy was about to try to broker peace between two hostile kingdoms as soon as he started gaining followers...poor fuck was in for a miserable time… heh. It was kind of funny to watch a fantasy person go through it. Cathartic.

“Wait!? So, we shall not beat down and rip apart and stab through the gut those filthy, disgusting, despicable- oh! Queen Elise! You return!” said the knight, all the knights visibly shaking in fright and embarement for a moment before bowing as the glittering queen fairy came in, that heavy, thick brow of hers lifted daintily.

“I do. So kind of you to notice, Maurice.” The queen said, a snark in her tone, before she turned to Cynthia, “Noble knights! This human, though her clothes are so poorly worn! And her posture is subpar! And her hair style is so clearly last season!...has a point!”

The knights gasped.

“For everyone's safety, peace MUST be brokered between the fairies and the humans. War will end in nothing but fire and destruction! Besdes, my husbands a loud mouth idiot, but I don’t exactly want him gutted. So! Peace must be obtained at all costs! And that cost?”

The queen grasped the heroes hand, bumping her hips against Cynthia a litltle to squeeze in between them as she said, “Polygamy! You, Owain, shall marry into mine and my husbands marriage! Our union will unite our kingdoms! And...it’ll be pretty hot.” The queen cackled.

The audience, and the knights, gasped.

Owain had leaned over to Cynthia in a stage whisper as Queen Elise talked down her looks, “I think you look fine, Lady Cynthia.”

“You can just call me Cyn, Owain,” the woman smiled back, a brief moment between the two. 

However, when Queen Elise revealed her plan to establish peace between fairies and humans… Owain looked shocked. “...I still do not believe I am suited for marriage, dear Elise. And yet… I do not wish war for my people. That is the path I have walked my entire life, to face the darkness, hold it back so that those I have sworn to protect may never feel its touch. However...we need not unite our kingdoms for peace to reign.”

“Plus, I don’t think I can even do that,” he finished lamely. “My cousin’s set to lead our people, not me. I am oathbound to protect them all the same, but they will not follow where I go.”

“Darn, really thought that would work.” Elise sighed, letting go of his arm and huffing, “Alright, alright, so what was plan B then? I mean, even if it doesn’t gain peace, I’m still down for the three’s company, but we can discuss that later, handsome.” Elise said, winking at the prince. “But, alright, war first, personal relations second.”

“Mom? What’s she mean by ‘threes company?’” Tim asked Maki.

“...ask your father.” Maki whispered back.

“What if we just...returned the queen to King Leo?” One of the knights suggested.

“I’m sorry, what if we returned the who to what now?” The queen scowled, looming over the knight as she said, “Little Knight, I’d like to see you try.”

“No, no, I mean!...King Leo seems less mad at humans and more broken-hearted than anything. What if we just..got you two back together again?” The knight suggested meekly. “Like, maybe even just...as friends???”

Kokichi had to give kudos to the actor playing Owain, because the man lit up red like Kokichi had never seen anyone do on command.

In the moment of Owain trying to cough past his fluster, Cynthia stepped forward with a shrugging nod. “The Fairy Kingdom hasn’t been hostile to humans--honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever met a fairy, your grace. We have no greater reason to quarrel. Just when you see an asshole, you stand up to them. And...judging my what Owain explained of the fight… King Leo has no reason to be mad. You haven’t been unfaithful, and while you’re rightfully mad at the lack of faith he has in you, maybe just explaining everything will soothe his anger.”

“I mean, not for lack of trying.” Elise muttered, to the giggles of the adults in the theater, “But I see what you mean. Well, then I guess the next step is simple. We simply have to go to the fairy circles, pass the trials, swing by my fairy castle, and talk to my fairy husband.”

“...Trials?” One of the knights asked.

“Yeah, yeah, you know. Solve the sphinx’s riddle, sneak through the spider queen's cave, and face the deep dark down’s specter prince. Ya know, the usual way of getting anywhere.” Elise shrugged.

Owain and Cynthia looked at each other, similar grins slowing growing in realization. 

“Fairy circles?”

“Trials?”

“...you know, this sounds like…”

“Onward to adventure!!” Cynthia exclaimed, taking Owain’s hand as they dashed off stage, the knights scrambling to follow and changing the set as they did. 

As the set changed, all the lights dimmed real dark. The spotlight was only on Cynthia and Owain now, the two taking large, exaggerated steps, like they were sneaking, as they said to each other how quickly they had made their way to the fairy circles, and how strange the words the queen had been to activate the circles…

And then the lights all shone on the center stage, the queen and the knights revealed to be hanging around the outskirts of the stage as a big, paper-mache sphinx, with red glowing eyes and a glowing mouth that lit up every time it spoke.

“You, who pass through my realm, to the land of telling dreams and dangerous magics...humans, who do not belong in such places...prove you are wise enough to be the exception to our laws. Answer my riddle, and you may pass further into the realm of magic.”

“I’m the fairy queen! Can I just vouch for them?” Queen Elise asked.

“No.” The sphinx said.

“Whelp, I tried.” the queen shrugged. 

“Thank you, Elise.” Owain smiled gratefully before turning to the sphinx. 

“We can do this!” Cynthia cheered, looking determined. “You’ve studied with your cousin, and my mother was a tactical genius! We’ll figure out any little old riddle!”

“Only one color, but not one size,

Stuck at the bottom, yet easily flies.

Present in sun, but not in rain,

Doing no harm, and feeling no pain.

What is it?”

The hero and lady stood still, blank smiles on their faces. 

Kokichi perked, a bright smile on his face as he could barely keep himself from mouthing the answer. As someone often stuck in bed, and having grown up with someone like Waku, riddles had been a favorite pastime in the castle.

The stage actors were discussing between each other the riddle, and it was clearly to give the audience a chance to guess to themselves before finding out the answer. Kaito frowned, brow furrowed. “Present in sun, but not in rain...the moon?”

“Doesn’t the moon change color though?” Maki asked, the hanging row seats private enough that the group could easily chat together without disturbing anyone. “It turns red sometimes. Yellow too.”

“The lighting around it does, but the moon itself doesn’t…” Shuichi shrugged, “I wanna guess certain animals, like cicadas, but it’s probably more symbolic or something.”

First, the queen guessed. She was wrong. Then Cynthia and Owain guessed. Wrong. Then one of the knights meekly put out, “A shadow?”

Kokichi smiled, satisfied. A shadow was an absence of light, if you wanted to call that a color, and became any sort of size depending on the lighting and the object blocking the light. It always came from the “bottom” of an object, but could stretch along fields or warp up walls. They still were present in rain, but only from artificial lighting, and since they weren’t a physical object themselves…

The sphinx seemed to sigh, moving back to allow the group passage. “Here I was, looking for a snack… Count yourselves lucky, mortals, to have a sage amongst you.”

Cynthia and Owain skipped back to the knight that had gotten the riddle right, offering high fives and congratulations before they set off for the next trial. 

The stage went dark again, stage lights following the group of adventures. As they walked, the group talked about themselves and each other, Cynthia and Elise arguing a little in a way that suggested they were probably being set up to be friends later in the play, before the group stopped, little skittering noises happening…

 “...Kokichi. Come with me.” Kaito suddenly said, grasping his husband’s arm and pulling him up. “Maki, come get us after.”

Maki glanced over at Kokichi and Kaito, the stage lights suddenly turning silver and blue as the audience gasped, a female voice speaking in a hissing tongue, and as she glanced at the stage she just nodded to him as Kaito pulled Kokichi out of the rows and into the second floor lobby.

The curtains closing behind them, Kaito looked sheepishly down at his husband. “...sorry…”

Kokichi quietly protested at first but...the spider queen had been the second trial, hadn’t it. He wanted to say he’d be fine with any prop spiders they would’ve made, that they were far enough from the stage that even realistic-looking ones would be alright but…

...his friends were looking out for him, and if they thought he couldn’t handle it…

...there hadn’t even been a real spider in Kaito’s story, just Shuuichi’s hand. 

Kokichi sighed softly and squished his face into Kaito’s chest, wrapping him in a loose hug. “...you can watch, if you want. If you guys think it’s too much for me…” Kokichi was glad Kaito was wearing a jacket, so he wouldn’t be able to feel the way Kokichi’s face scrunched at that. “Then I won’t look. But you should be able to enjoy the play.”

“Eh, it wouldn’t be much fun without you.” Kaito laughed, squeezing Kokichi tight and rubbing his back a little, before sighing. “I’m sorry I just..pulled you out of there. I just...I just got worried.” Kaito said, going to lean on the wall next to the entrance, sitting down beside it, pulling at Kokichi’s hand as he did so, so that when he was sitting, he was holding Kokichi’s hands and looking up at him.

“...I got scared, Kokichi. I’m sorry.” Kaito sighed. “Would you have been fine?”

Kokichi was quiet for a moment, leaning against the wall and tipping his head back against it too. Holding onto Kaito’s hand. “...I want to say yes. Anything they have on the stage, I know it’d just be a prop. I’ve made fake spiders myself and I’m not scared of them. But...I don’t know. Sometimes it just seems like a coin flip over what’s gonna freak me out.”

Echoing Kaito’s sigh, Kokichi looked down at his husband with a small smile. “...I do appreciate you looking out for me. If it’s a sure thing, I’d much rather step out for a few minutes that start panicking in the middle of the theater. But...if we come see this play again, maybe we could get seats by an exit, and see how I handle it? I think...if it’s fake, and it’s not a surprise...I might be okay.”

Kaito sighed, slightly massaging Kokichi’s hands before bringing them to kiss at his knuckles. “...I know I’m supposed to be the one who assumes you’ll always be okay. And I want to be Kokichi. If you want to go back in now before Maki comes to get us, we can do that? Or come back and try again with the next showing, like you said...I’m not trying to accuse you of being weak, ‘Kichi, when I do things like this. I just…”

Kaito frowned, before kissing Kokichi’s knuckles a few more times. “...I’ll be braver next time, ‘Kichi. I’m sorry.”

Kokichi frowned softly, his brow furrowing. He loved Kaito’s faith in him but…

“...you don’t have to be.”

Kokichi lowered himself to sit next to Kaito, stroking a few fingers along the side of Kaito’s face. “...I love that you believe in me. When you said that...it felt like for once, I didn’t have to scream to be heard. But...there’s a difference between...thinking I’m helpless, and thinking I can do everything.”

“I’m learning it too,” he offered with another small smile. 

“...it’s okay, if you get worried or scared that I’m not okay. That I’m gonna have a panic attack...or I’m gonna faint, or especially if I’m gonna have a heart attack. Those are scary things. I’m…” Kokichi looked down into his lap, his lips pressed together. “...I’m trying to find those boundaries myself. And that you and Maki-chan and Shuu-chan let me try...it means the world to me. But there are some things that...I shouldn’t try. That we should know without thinking about it more than a second that I can’t do. And...that’s okay. So if I’m heading into a situation like that...I want you to stop me. Or, at least bring it up so we can talk about it.”

“...I’m wrong a lot, Kai-chan. I’m just a person. I don’t want you to suffer for my mistakes, especially if you see it coming.”

Kaito looked down at Kokichi, surprised by that. Sure, he had suspected for...awhile now that maybe some of the things Kokichi said about stuff wasn’t...entirely right. But, Kokichi wasn’t supposed to admit that. That just...wasn’t how things worked. Leaders weren’t supposed to admit when they messed up, any more than the people below them were supposed to doubt them.

...but. That wasn’t his and Kokichi’s relationship.

It was strange. Sometimes Kaito really struggled with how strange it was. It wasn’t like how his mother had warned him it’d be. It wasn’t like the relationships Kaito had grown up seeing. In some ways, sometimes, he found himself wishing his and Kokichi’s relationship was more like what Luminary had prepped him for. He couldn’t help but think he would have done well as a subordinate… would have taken comfort in being told what to do or how to think. Would have felt safe, letting someone else take control.

But...then he’d have missed out on the chance to be his husbands hero. His Green Lantern. To be for him in ways that Kokichi actually needed him to be, rather than just in the ways he wanted him to be. To be both the guy who pulls him out of the theater and the one who insists on going to the beach. With all the dangers and delights that come with that…

“...I understand, Kokichi.” Kaito said, thinking maybe he actually did. It was taking a few months, and honestly, Kaito might find himself relapsing to old habits sometimes, but...he sighed, putting his arm around Kokichi’s shoulder and leaning down to kiss his temple. “I don’t want to stop you from doing things every time I get nervous. Can I tell you a secret? I get nervous a lot. Your brave, strong, roguishly-handsome husband can be a scaredy-cat sometimes,” Kaito smirked, before sighing a little,  “But...you and I are gonna work together, right? To find the boundaries? To push how scary things can get before we should actually decide to not do them? I never want to stifle you if you don’t need me too… but… I’ll be honest with you. When I’m scared for you. And we can work it out from there.”

“Right?” Kaito asked, looking over to Kokichi warily. “That’s how we do this?”

Kokichi smiled a little more, looking up at Kaito and pressing into the hug. They’d talked about this before but...never quite had all the pieces to really communicate. Kokichi could only speak for himself but...with his pride and his lack of understanding...he could now understand just a little of how...baffling things had been for Kaito. How they still were, to an extent. 

But they kept trying, and with it came better understanding. 

Leaning up, he placed a kiss on Kaito’s cheek. “Thank you, and I’m sorry for scaring you. For being unreasonable and a brat and...all the things people say about me that I hate but...can be true. Sometimes.” He huffed softly, still hating to admit that. “But my brave, strong, roguishly-handsome and absolutely adorable husband helps me out so much...so I need to be better so when he gets nervous...I can either admit that he’s right to be, and we leave things there, or know how to prove that I can handle whatever’s coming. There’s always going to be things I can’t control, but for the ones I can...I never want to scare you, love.”

Chuckling softly, Kokichi pressed his head against Kaito’s arm. “I think that’s how we do this, yeah. Talking seems to help.”

Kaito pressed back, feeling soothed by that. Feeling like maybe they had just gotten one more piece to making this work for real...and he looked up when the curtain moved next to them, Maki peeking her head out, looking around before finding them.

“Spiders are gone. The power of friendship. Didn’t miss much.” Maki informed them, before going back through the curtain.

“Guess it’s okay to go back in. Come on, let’s go watch them fight...shoot, what was the third trial? Something about a spectre? Ah geez, it’s gonna be ghosts isn’t it…” Kaito frowned at that, shivering. “Ugh. Spiders and ghosts. Maybe whoever wrote this play had something against us.” he joked, standing up as he offered Kokichi his hand.

Kokichi took the offered hand, standing back up before giving Kaito’s arm a hug. “If it’s too much, we can stay out here. But if you think you’ll be okay...Kai-chan can still hold me if it’s scary. If we come back to see the spider scene, I’m definitely holding onto you no matter how fake the props look.” 

Giving Kaito a grin, they made their way back into the auditorium, keeping to the wall to avoid bothering anyone as they stepped back into the booth. 

They would figure it out. Slowly and while making a lot of mistakes, but it wasn’t just the two of them. And when people came together...really amazing things could happen. 

Like the almost damp-looking set for the next scene, highlighted in pale blues that made everything seem somber and empty. Kokichi made sure to keep his hand in Kaito’s.

The music went soft and somber, more ambiance then truly a melody. Whatever had happened in the previous scene, it was clear that Queen Elise and Princess Cynthia had had a ‘moment’, because the two were now holding hands, looking worriedly around.

There was a crashing sound, and all the actors shook, like the ground itself was vibrating. A voice, somehow everywhere at once, ooo’d out “Deeespaaaair...deeeespaaaaair…”

“Oh, damn, this is bad… the deep down dark specter prince is actually usually a pretty chill dude, lets most people pass without so much as a second glance. But someone here must be triggering his dislike...I mean, not you, my sweet baby Cynthia.“ Queen Elise said, patting Cynthia’s hand with her free one reassuringly. “But one of these other locos. Someone is definitely emitting ‘bad vibes’ to our dearly departed prince here.” 

Owain, having been walking and chatting with the knights, placed a hand on his chin, looking around the lonely scenery. “Is it simply a matter of personality, do you think, or is it that one of our company is harboring difficult feelings, struggling with themself, so to speak? If it is the latter, would it not be a manner of resolving things with oneself?”

“...’cause, to be honest, I really don’t know what to do if it’s personal,” the prince admitted with a sheepish grin, looking over the company with an amount of worry. “I refuse to abandon anyone, period, let alone when we’ve made it so far.”

“Usually it’s some sort of personal matter. Though, we won’t really know till we try to go through, and he stops one of us. He’s very nosy.” The queen huffed, before rolling her eyes and saying, “Alright, let’s see...Deep Dark Down Prince? Is this about how I clearly find Prince Owain attractive, and have spent, like, the last year trying to get into the dim idiots pants, or-???”

There was a clash of sound, like thunder, and a sudden flood of smoke from the sides of the theater… and the voice called out, “...N’aaaaaaahhhhh…flights of fancy and crushes to distract yourself from a lonely homelife tend to resolve themseeeeeelves.”

“Whelp. Not me then.” The queen shrugged.

“Do they have to do the voice? The voice is unnecessary.” Kaito mumbled, trembling a little, watching the fog with a paranoid eye. He felt like he could see figures in there.

“This dialogue feels kinda rushed and all over the place.” Shuichi observed, rolling his eyes, “I don’t know, I don’t buy that the writers really thought the character motivations through enough for a scene like this.”

Kokichi squeezed Kaito’s hand and gave it a pat with his other hand for good measure, leaning back on his arm like he’d done at the start of the play just to reassure his husband. Though, he sent Shuuichi an amused look. “Sometimes you have to rush to keep the action going. If this was going to be, like, a five hour play, then I think they’d pace it out more.”

Owain gawked and coughed awkwardly into his hand, the knights around him sighing and facepalming. It had been exceedingly obvious what the queen had been trying to do, and, really...they thought the human prince was just being diplomatic. What an idiot.

Throughout it, though, Cynthia kept her gaze on her future fiance, thinking through the things he’d said on their journey. “...Owain? Were you...actually considering abandoning your kingdom to get out of your marriage to me?”

Katio frowned. Mumbling, “No, of course he wouldn’t.”

“No! Of course he wouldn’t!” shouted one of the knights, sounding outraged at the very idea. “Royalty is bound to the service of their people! None of them would ever forsake such a sacred duty for something as flighty as ‘adventure!’ Right, Prince Owain!?”

Sighing, Owain shook his head at the knight. “Those things aren’t mutually exclusive, my friend. There are many ways to serve a kingdom. And...honestly? When my cousin first told me of our betrothal...I wanted to. I do nothing for the practical affairs of our kingdom, and I had been thinking of leaving to work on the ground for a while. Not binding someone else in a loveless marriage seemed like the spur I needed.”

The hero-prince looked up at Queen Elise, though his cheeks went pink. “However, my indecision was a decision in itself, wasn’t it, my queen? While I may not have caught on to what you had ultimately wanted from our time together...you have still been a dear friend and my greatest confidant. As I wrestled with what to do, you were always there to get me out of my head.”

Walking up to Cynthia, he offered a hand. “I have made my decision, though. Journeying to the fairy realm may be one of the most wondrous adventures anyone could ask for...but it’s been the greatest because you’re here, Cyn. Actually meeting you… It was my naivety and selfishness that spurred me to consider acting without knowing a thing about you. But...I think every day, no matter what we do, could be an adventure if we are together.”

The lady looked at the prince’s hand, a somewhat sad, knowing smile on her face. “I suppose I’ve had the benefit of knowledge, then. I, too, wasn’t thrilled with the news that I was to be married off...but hearing the tales of the great hero Owain Dark gave me hope. I am no princess, Owain. I don’t know why you’d need three forks at dinner, and I don’t know how to mediate between quarreling nobels. Being married to a prince...I thought I would be such a disappointment. But knowing that my betrothed was a noble sort who preferred to roam the land with a sword in hand?” Cynthia laughed. “I’m handy with a lance myself, you know! But it was foolish to believe you’d have the same knowledge when my reputation doesn’t travel as far.”

Instead of taking the prince’s hand, Cynthia curled his fingers inward to make a fist, then tapped her own against it. 

“...why don’t we talk to your cousin when we return, yeah? I’m sure someone as brilliant as Lucina can find a place where people like us can serve the people.”

Owain laughed. “Wherever you go, I’ll follow, Cyn.” 

Awwwww, Kaito thought. That’s cute...GAH! More spooky smoke!? Did there HAVE to be more spooky smoke!?

The theater filled with more and more eerie smoke on the stage, and after a tense moment… “Goooooood.” and a light opened up in the middle of the stage, like a doorway.

“Guess that was it. Good job, you two.” Queen Elise smiled, looking over to her friends, “Glad you finally got that worked out...Cynthia. Babycakes. You and I are going to talk about swingers parties. Now that’s an adventure.” 

The queen chuckled, before shaking her head, “Nah, I’m just kidding...unless? But no, I’m kidding. Alright, let’s go talk to my hot-headed husband. Get this all cleared. Alright! Together, everyone?”

“Together!” The knights called out as one, rushing to the middle doorway, the Queen laughing loudly as she followed them inside, winking at Cynthia and Owain as she said over her shoulder, “Hurry up, you two! Don’t get all lost in each others eyes back there.”

The human duo laughed before affirming, “Together,” as they walked over to follow their friends into the fairy realm. 

It was rushed, and the whole thing with King Leo didn’t make a whole lot of sense...but to be fair, if they’d based anything off the original play, there wasn’t a lot that made sense in that one either. Just a lot of problems that weren’t really there. A dream. 

While he didn’t have to soothe Kaito against any ghostly theater tricks anymore, Kokichi still nuzzled at his arm, feeling warm and fuzzy at the two characters clearing up their miscommunication and blurred feelings. He definitely wanted to get his hands on a copy of the script. 

When the lights came up and the smoke cleared, the stage was set back to the original scene, the town square in the fairy realm, though now there were people in the background, extras going about their day, though hurrying across the stage, barely paying the heroes any mind as they seemed to scramble to get to where they were going.

“Huh. Everyone looks busy. Ooooooh, nooow we can get to work on fixing up the potholes, huh?” Queen Elise tsked, raising an eyebrow at some of the fairies who were refilling cement holes, “When I ask, it’s ‘oh, sorry my queen, but we’re waiting on this signature or that clearance’ but when my husband comes home, oh, suddenly we can fill some holes. Fine. I see how it is.” The queen huffed.

“It’s a coincidence, my queen! We just finally called the help desk over at traffic management and it turns out the request was put into the wrong in-box and the guy who got it wasn’t sure who to forward it too-” said one of the random fairies filling in the hole.

“Yes! Telephone technology. See? We’re hip to the new age technology. Those things have only been around for, what, a few weeks? And we got a reference in there. High five!” The queen said, the two fairies filling holes grinning and high-fiving the queen before rushing off. “Anyway, it looks like my husbands got our people running scared. They’ll all burn out and make mistakes at this rate, so best to get to him soon to call off the hustle.” The queen said, looking to the others. “Follow me!”

As the cast moved, the extras all ran around them, changing the set as the main cast moved long, and it looked a great deal like the outside was morphing slowly into a castle courtroom, where King Leo was standing on an overly elaborate throne, two guards on either side as he said, stamping his foot down like a toddler having a tantrum, “Where IS SHE!? Where!? Where, where, where!? Someone find my wife already! Anything could have happened to her out there! The harlot!”

Owain and Cynthia both grimaced together, leaning in to talk to each other in stage whispers. 

“It seems that our last encounter has not stuck in his mind at all. It’s one thing to be worried, but another to think your loved one incapable. Along with continually insulting her…” Owain grumbled.

“He leaves for over a century and then has the audacity to act like a spoiled child when she’s not waiting patiently for him like a pet you come home to. I sure hope Queen Elise has a trick up her sleeve for this…” Cynthia sighed. 

While they each wanted to confront the king themselves, they waited for the Fairy Queen, hoping that this misunderstanding could be solved without a fight. Buuuuuut should it come to one? They were ready.

Kaito started to worry his joints, looking between the King and Queen with a concerned look. They’d talk it out, right? They had talked out every other problem in the story. Surely they’d just...work past this one too?

“Oh, hell no.” Queen Elise scowled, walking up to the throne, knights on either side of her, Cynthis and Owain following suit as the queen crossed her arms, before turning back to the audience, talking in their direction, though she was clearly referring directly to the king. “You do not get to pretend to be worried about me and call me a harlot in the same breath! Nope! That is not how this works!”

“Elise! There you are! With that foul tempter, Owain! Knights! Seize him!” The King shouted, pointing to Owain.

There was a beat, before the knights realized, “Wait, are you talking to us?”

“Of course I am! Who else would I be talking too!?”

“King Leo, we all...quit? Like, almost two hours ago. We chased you off with swords, sorta, remember?” One of the knights called out, speaking for the group. 

“What, you meant that? I thought you were all just acting out.” The King huffed, “Why on earth would you quit!?”

“Mostly because you were rude!”

“And also because we want designated vacation time!”

“And, if we’re asking for things anyway, a raise!”

“Can we also get more maternity and paternity leave? Two weeks is just not enough time for the non-birth giving parent to help the birth parent get settled, and it suggests weird things about who’s expected to maintain their career in the long term!”

“Darn it, people, we have a drop box for requests like that! Just write them down and I’ll get around to reading them eventually!” King Leo said, stamping his foot again.

“You could just give me the right to change their job contracts, since you want to go off and tour the oceans all willy nilly all the time. I could have been dealing with this the whole time.” The queen reminded him. “Actually, that’s a point. I’ve spent the last century taking care of this place. Maybe I should just be in charge?”

“Oh yeah? You and what army?” The King sneered.

“...yours?” One the knights pointed out.

“Right. Keep forgetting that.” The King said.

“If you’re not taking care of your people, why do you even want to be king, really?” Owain asked, his tone more curious than accusing. They had the manpower here so...there was no need to gear up for a needless fight. The ball was in their court to enact mercy. “If you’ve just spent the last century and a half sailing the seas...why aren’t you just a sailor? Or someone involved in sea charting? It sounds like that’s where your passion lies, and not with nation administration.”

“I mostly just want to continue feeling powerful and important.” The King shrugged. “I mean, if I was a captain of the ship I’d probably keep getting that dopamine hit, but I’d probably actually have to work way more.”

The queen rolled her eyes, and said, “What if you kept your royal title and you stayed in the castle when you wanted too, but it’s entirely symbolic? And also, since we’re not having kids, we’ll just appoint a prime minister to actually rule the kingdom and the royalty and castle and stuff becomes more about tourism than anything else?”

“Mmmm, how much time do we have left before this play’s gotta be over?” The king asked.

“Fifteen minutes!” Shouted a knight.

“Then, sure. That all sounds good to me. Elise, can we try to make our marriage work again?” King Leo asked.

“Mmmmm….sure.” The queen shrugged, before turning to the rest of the cast and saying excitedly, “And that gives us fifteen minutes of a celebratory dance party! Hit it, band!”

And the next fifteen minutes truly was just a series of the cast showing off their best dance moves. Think the second act of ‘The Nutcracker’, but more fun, because holy shit is it a drag to get through the second act of The Nutcracker. Like, wow. But yeah, all of the cast, showing off their best dance choreography, as the audience eventually started clapping and stomping their feet along, enjoying the energy of the event.

When the curtains finally closed, after the cast all got their chance to wave goodbye to the audience, Kaito shook out his wrists, his hands smarting from clapping for so long. He had gotten...a little bummed out that ‘answer’ to the King and Queen’s situation was getting the king to agree to only be a leader in symbol. It didn’t seem...like something you could actually convince a king to do. And the method of salvaging the strained relationship had literally been handwaved away...but, well, what had he been expecting? The answer to one of his biggest problems in a two hour play? The dancing ending was more fun anyway.

“Do they do actor door greetings here? Afterparties? We should go congratulate everyone. Especially Hina and Sakura!” Kaito said to the others, as the audience all started the process of getting up and spreading out.

Kokichi wasn’t sure if there was more of an ending to the play, but somehow the dance party seemed more fitting, especially to the first act twist of an engagement. More of a celebration than the reality of a lot of paperwork and rearranging. 

Standing up to stretch, Kokichi gave his friends a sheepish look. “I have no idea--I’ve never stayed around to see. But the worst that can happen is someone just telling us we can’t go backstage, so let’s give it a shot!”

“...aaaaaand I need another bathroom break,” he chuckled. “You guys go on ahead, and I’ll meet you backstage, or if not, then I’ll meet you by the front doors.” And maybe he’d get lucky and see those teenagers that had sold Kaito those tickets. A little extra pocket change wasn’t worth taking advantage of people. 

Kokichi might have a tough time finding the, uh, ‘teenagers’ that had grifted his husband, as Ace, John and James chewed on theater candy down at the lobby, waiting for their parents to finish changing out of their costumes, looking super bored. They no longer had most of the twenty-five copper Kaito had given them (five copper per ticket) anyway. That copper had turned into candy.

The three pre-teens did notice Kokichi coming down, though, and only James was like, “Uh, guys, maybe we should sit somewhere el-”

“Hi Prince Kokichi!” Ace greeted cheerfully, waving at him as he passed. “Like the play?”

Kokichi looked around for a moment, hearing his name, before spotting the three kids and heading over with a warm smile. “Ace! John, James, hi! Yeah, it was really cool! Hina’s proposal was so sweet I definitely teared up. Did you three come to watch, or were you helping out too?”

Despite everything that had happened, Kokichi was happy to see the three kids out and about in town. Just kids doing kids things, living in a place that would see them growing up happy and healthy. Maybe it was just because of him learning about life in Luminary around the same time he met them, but...Kokichi felt a little more protective of his citizens. 

“Our parents all act in the play.” Ace explained, gesturing to the twins as she said, “Their dads the King and their moms one of the knights, and my dad’s the-”

“Sweetheart, you bothering the prince?” Behemoth asked, coming up behind Kokichi as Ace’s face lit up. “I apologize if they’re fussing at you, Prince Kokichi. My daughter’s a rascal. Baby girl, what are you doing?”

“Nooothing! Dad, you were amazing!” Ace exclaimed cheerfully, rushing over to him and crashing against his waist, grinning wide as Behemoth picked her up and sat her on his arm as she looked at him eagerly, “You were so funny this time! Why aren’t you always funny? The last guy you were was sooooo serious. I like the fairy queen so much more.”

“The last play was more serious, sweetheart. But I’m glad you weren’t soooo bored this time.” Behemoth teased gently, before looking over at the boys and saying, “Guys, your folks are gonna be out in a minute. Your moms gotten her hair stuck in the helmet again and they’re detangling it.”

“Thanks, Mr. Bullworth.” John said, James chewing on some candy as he nodded too, “We liked your dancing.”

“Thank you boys.” Behemoth said, looking over at Kokichi, “Your pregnant daddy doing alright now?”

Kokichi nodded his understanding but didn’t get to comment before there was a voice behind him that finished off Ace’s sentence. What a small world. Grinning, Kokichi shook his head. “Not at all--Ace, James, and John are always a pleasure to talk with when our paths cross.” His expression softened at the familial love before continuing. “Congratulations on a wonderful opening show, Mr. Bullworth,” (Kokichi had an inkling that Behemoth might not appreciate being called ‘priest’ in a non-Atuan-focused area), “I don’t know if you ran into any of them, but my friends and I thought you were an incredible character.”

However, Kokichi’s eyebrows drew in a bit in confusion, his smile not dropping, but growing befuddled at the...what? Speaking a little slower, Kokichi’s head tipped to the side. “Shuu-chan? I mean...yeah? He seemed to enjoy the play too? He and the others were gonna go see if they could go congratulate Hina and Sakura, so…”

Behemoth nodded, appeased by that as he said, “Good. And, you all are familiar with those two ladies? Damn. Small world. Ngh, guess that means I’ll probably see that husband of yours around here somewhere. Ah well, at least he followed through on giving the king those updated temple plans.” Behemoth huffed, before turning to the twins as he put his daughter down, “Alright, let’s go get some snacks, yeah? They’ve got cheese and crackers over at tables in the halls. Where’d you kids get all that candy, anyway?”

“Bought it.” John answered, as the three kids followed the giant down the hall.

“With what money?”

“Our money.” James answered, the four turning the corner and disappearing into the crowd.

Still a little worried over Shuuichi, Kokichi did huff a little laugh at Behemoth’s tolerance of Kaito. His husband had mentioned that none of the Atuans had, like, become friends with him, but tolerance was all anyone could ask. Anything more would be the result of dedicated effort. 

Nodding, Kokichi decided to...fib a little bit. “Yeah, Sakura’s pub was where Kai-chan and I actually first spent time with each other, and over time we’ve just kept running into each other. And I didn’t get to before, but...thank you for looking after my husband that other day. He knows he’s not the...most popular person around here, but he really does want to help things get better.”

Bidding the kids and Behemoth farewell with a wave, Kokichi turned to head backstage, hoping to meet up with the rest of his party. Weaving through a crowd going the opposite direction wasn’t the easiest thing, but Kokichi managed with minimal jostling. 

The party had, indeed, found Sakura and Hina, the cast sort of stopping by the snack tables and talking to people about the play on their way out, enjoying the congratulations and chatting with friends and families about how well it had gone. There was a crowd around Sakura and Hina, and by the time Kokichi would have gotten there, Hina would have just finished hugging Maki as strongly as she could, Maki with a soft look on her face as she let her.

“Oh, there you are babe! I’m glad you got here in time, Hina and Sakura were just about to head out.” Kaito grinned, reaching out towards his husband, taking his hand to help pull him through the last of the crowd before leading him back to the group. 

Hina threw a hug around Shuichi next while Sakura just smiled fondly at all of them, an entirely pleased look on her hard, chiseled face.

Kokichi jogged and ducked through the last few people in the crowd, using Kaito’s hand as a guide before he came into the small clearing, all the worry smoothing from his face as he grinned at the newly engaged couple, eyes crinkling in appreciation. 

“I’m sure the words have almost lost meaning by now, but congratulations, you two!” Kokichi cheered. “That was such an amazing moment.”

Finishing her hug with Shuichi, Hina grinned at Kokichi, going to grab Sakura’s arm and leaning against her as she said, “Wasn’t it though!? I was so scared, no one has any idea. Well, maybe my castmates do, because they got to listen to me puke my guts out before the performance started. Everyone had to keep distracting Sakura for me so that she wouldn’t see what a mess I was and guess something was up.”

Sakura caught Hina’s hand a little and squeezed it as she said, “I did get the sense something was going on. But I did not expect it to be something so important. I was quite thrilled.”

“Gah! I’m so glad!” Hina said, blushing hard as she looked up adoringly at her fiance, “I know I keep saying that, but I was so scared, Sakura. I didn’t know if you wouldn’t like that all those people were watching, but considering we met in this theater, I just couldn’t get past this idea that it would be so romantic and-”

“Hina.” Sakura interrupted gently. “I was very happy. It was a very romantic gesture. And I would have been happy with whatever way you decided to ask. I wish to be your wife.”

Hina blushed scarlet, burying her face in Sakura’s arm as she squealed. “Yaaaaay!”

Maki watched this with a warm smile, before saying, “Are you still up to the phone call tomorrow? Like Kaito said, it’s all set up, but if this is too soon after an event like this…”

Hina furrowed her brow, shaking her head. “No, no, I want to do the phone call tomorrow still. Thank you. I want to...I want to tell Yuta what happened and…” Hina smiled wide, her eyes burning red, “I want to invite him to my wedding...I still can’t believe that’s a thing I can say and actually mean it. I want to invite my brother to my wedding…”

“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to come.” Shuichi said gently.

They really did seem like a good pair--s’why they were getting married, he supposed. He wished them nothing but happiness. 

And bringing Hina’s brother to Dicea would be a part of that. 

For how much his friends were planning things on the Luminary side...Kokichi knew that once that was cleared, then the rest would be easy. Hell, he’d write up Yuta’s citizenship papers himself when they got to that point. But until Yuta was able to come to Dicea...there wasn’t much he could personally do. So he would just cheer on the others. 

“It’s incredible news to share,” Kokichi sighed happily, caught up in Hina’s excitement as if his own wasn’t enough. 

After awhile, the crowds started to disperse, though even just outside of the cast greetings, the party suddenly found themselves being ‘meeted and greeted’ by people as well. Well, specifically Kokichi and Shuichi were, Maki glaring at people that were still brave enough to go over and talk animatedly to Kokichi, thanking him for this thing or that thing, curious to hear what his opinion of the play had been and inviting him to other events that were coming up. Shuichi was mostly just congratulations on the baby, questions about how he was feeling and if he knew anything about the fetus yet. 

“It’s, uh...healthy.” Shuichi awkwardly supplied, stepping slightly behind Kokichi, putting his hands on his shoulder as a sort of defense against the eager questions and focused eyes. “Thank you.”

As Maki hovered nearby, keeping an eye on things, Kaito and Tim found themselves waiting by the wall, having gotten out of the way when they realized the crowd was only going to get thicker around them before it got thinner. “Well?” Kaito asked Tim, looking over at him. “What did you think of the play?”

Tim shrugged. “Monsters were kinda cool. Dancing was boring.”

“Girls like to dance, you know.” Kaito grinned down at him.

Tim pouted. “So? I don’t care.” 

“I could show you a few moves.”

Timothy scoffed. “You can’t dance.”

“I can! Really well, actually. It’s one of my super powers. I’ll show you one of these days...so you really didn’t enjoy yourself?”

“It was fine.” Tim shrugged.

“...you wanna be really tall on the way back to the castle?”

It was inevitable, but Kokichi tried to shuffle off to the side once people started to notice he was there, wanting to give Hina and Sakura some space. He appreciated his people’s thanks (still one of his favorite things, meeting the people behind the letters) and he was happy to talk up the efforts of the theater crew and actors (because he really did enjoy the play, and they deserved all the credit for it) but...part of it was practiced. The bright, pleasant smile and routine phrases. And, once it was clear Shuuichi couldn’t escape, trying to divert attention as well as he could for his boyfriend’s comfort. 

And, despite being quite a bit shorter, standing tall in front of him. Which…

“H-hey!” Kokichi squeaked in alarm, someone being a little too thankful and just scooping him up off the ground into a crushing, hey-my-feet-aren’t-touching-the-ground- anymore hug. 

Shuichi blinked in surprise for a moment, but his face darkened, a snarl-

But a hand was on the person’s shoulder immediately, Maki getting through the crowd immediately as she ever so slightly squeezed. “We’re putting him down. Now.” she informed the person. Her voice calm, certain this was just an over-enthusiastic fan and not trying to escalate.

But heat coming off her like a furnace.

Kaito watched with some concern at the corner, Tim’s legs now around his neck, leaning against his head with interest as he confessed to Kaito, “I really like it when she does that. I hope I can do that someday.”

“Yeah.” Kaito said, wondering if he should intervene.

“Oh, sorry, sorry!” 

The person set Kokichi back down on the ground, letting out a tittering, embarrassed laugh. And, once he got his breath back, Kokichi offered an understanding smile, hiding a grateful nod Maki’s way. 

“You’ve got a great bear hug! But let’s ask before you use it on anyone, yeah? No matter how nice, it can be startling to get a hug when you’re not expecting one, and even worse for our friends who don’t really like to be touched. I’m glad I was able to help you out with the shipping mix up, though, and thanks for writing in--I’m sure a bookstore could find some use for chicken wire, but you’d rather have the shelving dividers, yeah?”

Eventually the crowd thinned, and Kokichi took his chance, still smiling and greeting people, but slipping a hand around Shuuichi’s arm and leading him back towards the others, hoping they could get back home without another detour. 

“Sorry for keeping everyone… We ready to head back?”

As the group walked home, Shuichi holding Kokichi’s hand, Kaito keeping his hands on Timothy’s ankles so he wouldn't accidently fall backwards, Maki keeping an eye on everyone by keeping a step behind them, Timothy finally asked, “I get why Uncle Kokichi gets that attention. Why do you get it, Uncle Shuichi?”

Shuichi paused, thinking about it… before saying, “Because people like Kokichi so much. So, they’re excited that I’m having his baby.”

Timothy frowned. “I thought it was Dad’s baby?”

“We’re not sure…” Kaito hesitated. Maybe that wasn’t something to talk to a nine year old about. So he self-corrected, “We’re all your sibling’s dad. Me, Kokichi, and Shuichi. And people are really excited for Kokichi to have more family, along with people tend to get excited for babies in general.”

“Why?”

“Who knows.” Maki muttered, though she was mostly playing. 

“Life is really special,” Kokichi hummed. He squeezed Shuuichi’s hand softly, pressing against his arm for a moment. “With every person born...they could be someone’s friend one day. A partner. Not to mention the limitless possibilities of what they could do in their life. By being excited for new life...it’s respecting your own, and those of everyone you love.”

Kokichi mulled on that himself for a moment before shrugging. “That’s how I reason it out, anyway. Maybe not to the extent Shuu-chan’s getting, but it feels nice to be congratulated too, especially since babies are a lot of work to take care of and raise once they’re born. Thankfully, we have a lot of people to help us out for our little one.” Kokichi grinned up at Shuuichi and pressed against him again. 

Looking up at Tim, Kokichi hummed again. “We were talking about it a while back, but do you have any ideas about your little sibling’s name, Tim?”

Tim frowned, his fingers digging into Kaito’s hair as he leaned back a little, looking up at the star filled night sky, the play having gone late. “Names? Mmmmm...Bartholomew.”

Kaito snorted. “Where did that come from? That’s a pretty intense name, Tim.”

Tim shrugged. “It was my commanders name. I always thought it was cool.”

“Any name is for anyone, honestly, but somehow I don’t see the name ‘Bartholomew’ lending itself well if Shuichi’s baby is born a girl. Any more female-inclined names?” Maki asked Tim.

Tim sighed, blowing his air out in a small ‘Pffff’ sound, before saying, “Flowers? I’ve met some girls with flower names. Like ‘Rose’ or ‘Daisy’? I don’t know. Just make her pick her own name.”

Kaito snorted. “Who? The baby?”

“Yeah. Why do we gotta pick a name for her? She can pick her own.” Tim reasoned, though there was a small smirk on his face that suggested he was maybe trying to make a joke. “Just wait till she can talk and ask her.”

“Brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that. That settles that.” Shuichi said, laughing a little.

“Mm. Nature-based names are super common in Dicea,” Kokichi mused, despite not personally knowing all too many people with that common convention. Lake, Fuyuji, now Sakura… He’d gotten letters from probably ten different “Flora”s though, and that was just one name among hundreds. Their kid would probably do well as a Forrest or a Poppy.

Something to think about, at least. 

Kokichi giggled along with Shuuichi, snorting a bit. “Ah, I can’t wait to finally learn our kid’s name--an infinite string of ‘bababa’s.”

The group proceeded to think of a number of names that a baby might pick for themselves, including ‘Bleghba’, ‘Eeeya!’ and the surprisingly coherent, ‘Lady Gaga’. And overall by the time they all got home, there was a lot of giggling from the makeshift family, a good day out.

When they got home, they all stopped by the dining hall, getting some late dinner, catching Ikuo and telling him all about the play. As Timothy gave a dramatic re-telling of the most action packed part of the play, where all the actors got stuck in a spider web, Shuichi frowned, finding that now that the day was winding down, the guy at the bathroom kept coming to mind. Which was stupid. He had barely said anything to him.

...but an old conversation about...being sent to the brothel kept following behind the thoughts of what the man said and...it didn’t matter, it didn’t matter, those memories only had as much power as he let them have, he was fine, he was fine.

...but those reassurances weren’t helping as much as they usually did. And, feeling his stomach twist uncomfortably, Shuichi suddenly carefully said, “Hey, I’m feeling pretty tired. I’m going to go upstairs and head to bed, you guys.” he said, getting up from the table.

Kaito looked up in concern. “Everything good? Is it baby stuff?”

Shuichi shook his head, “No, no, just tired from sitting and watching the play. I’m just gonna take my medicine and go to bed.” Shuichi told him, putting his hand on Kaito’s shoulder and squeezing it reassuringly before saying to everyone else, “Goodnight.”

Kokichi looked up and didn’t let himself frown as much as he wanted to, Behemoth’s comment coming to mind. If he let it go for the night, then Shuuichi might brush him off later, saying it didn’t really matter anymore so…

“Ah...if you don’t mind, Shuu-chan, I wanna go get changed into something more comfy. I’m all good for braving the cold, but not so much for hanging out at home right now,” he laughed, gesturing down to his thick coat and tucked in scarf. 

He didn’t want to bring it up in front of Maki and Kaito and Tim--not yet, anyway--knowing how much Shuuichi wanted to be reliable for Tim, and not wanting to needlessly worry the more...action-prone members of their family if it was something that didn’t really have a solution. So...this might be his only chance. 

Shuichi didn’t really have any reason to doubt Kokichi, and it probably was too hot to be that bundled up, so he smiled softly, nodding as he said, “Of course, Kokichi.”

As the two walked away, Maki leaned into Kaito and whispered, “He’s taking his medicine?”

Kaito sighed at the question, but nodded, “Yes, Maki, every day. He’s never missed a dose. It’s okay, I really think he’s past the worst of it. He’s not going to forget it or ignore it if we’re not watching him take it ourselves, ya know? Besides, Kokichi’s gonna be there.”

Maki frowned...before nodding. Embarrassed at her lack of faith, but… “Okay. If you’re sure. He’s doing so well, that I’ve been wanting to talk to Kokichi about letting him just have all of his freedoms back, no musters, no more being confined to the castle...but I don’t know… I have nightmares that we just find him… you know…”

Kaito glanced over at Tim, who was still animatedly talking to Ikou, who was listening to the child with amused, rapt attention, and sighed, nodding his head as he whispered to her, “I get those too. But, it would be so difficult for him to  get his hands on pollen now anyway, and he really doesn’t even seem to want it...I think it’s going to be okay.”

Maki sighed, rubbing her hand over her face. Clearly not quite convinced.

Shuichi and Kokichi got upstairs, and Shuichi yawned as he closed the door behind him. “That was a nice day...we got a lot done with the letters this morning, got to see a proposal between Hina and Sakura, and the play itself was a lot of fun. This was a really good day, actually…” Shuichi said, half-reminding himself. He just needed to go to sleep. The memory would leave him alone if he went to sleep.

Kokichi got to work stripping down his layers, not just using needing a change as an excuse to talk to Shuuichi alone. “It was! Even if I don’t think they’ll be as action-packed as today, I am looking forward to doing more with our weekends...or, really, any afternoon we feel like spending in town. Despite living here my whole life, there’s so much I’ve never seen…”

But this wasn’t about him right now. Down to a sweater, Kokichi trotted over to Shuuichi, wanting to nuzzle against him but...not wanting to crowd. “But...I know as well as anyone, a nice day can have some not so nice parts. Shuu-chan…? I ran into Mr. Bullworth after the play and...he asked me if you were alright? But not...not like just in general.”

Kokichi let a little of his worried frown come onto his face, his voice soft. “...did something happen at the theater?”

“...Mr. Bullworth?” Shuichi asked, that name not ringing any bells, but the context… “Oh. The Fairy Queen?”

When Kokichi confirmed it, Shuichi lowered the cap on his head a little, taking off his coat and shaking the frost off it a bit before saying, uncertainly, “It wasn’t a big deal. I mean...maybe don’t mention it to Kaito. But, yeah, Mr. Bullworth helped me out. There was a guy...I mean, it makes sense really. Atua’s original pantheon purpose is the version they use in Dicea, so I’m actually a little surprised no ones brought this up with one of us before now, actually. Or maybe someone has and Maki or Kaito just hasn’t said anything about it…”

Shuiichi felt so damn stuid for how genuinely uncomfortable he felt when he just shrugged and tried to say casually, “Some guy tried to, uh, buy me tonight. Or, no, that’s...like, my time. He tried to buy my time. Uh...I didn’t really know how to react. But Mr. Bullworth overheard what was happening and stepped in for me, so...yeah. It was fine…”

Shuuichi said so many pieces of what happened without really saying it, so it took Kokichi a few moments to understand what he was even saying, though there was a huge look of alarm and outrage before Shuuichi corrected that someone was trying to buy his time. 

Atua’s original...purpose, someone trying to buy Shuuichi’s time…

Kokichi’s cheeks puffed out and reddened in anger, his eyes narrowing though he knew there wasn’t anywhere to direct that anger at the moment...so he let it out in a heavy puff of air, his teeth gritting as he growled out, “The fucking audacity...ugh.”

Another sigh to level himself before Kokichi reached out to Shuuichi’s shoulder, sympathy given enough space to bleed through the fury. “I’m so sorry that happened, Shuu-chan...shoulda let you go into the bathroom first. Good thing Mr. Bullworth was there…” Kokichi ran a hand through his hair, the worry on his face fighting with the irritation. “Someone trying to solicit you...fuck. Fuckin’ lucky Behemoth was there, would’ve talked about suing for harassment… Even if you know someone’s a prostitute or an escort, you don’t bother them with business while they’re, they’re at a theater! Obviously not working! Damn!”

...the sighs hadn’t worked. Kokichi brought his hands back to himself and took a looong, deeeeeep breath, the kind that made him a little dizzy if he wasn’t careful. And when he finished, the sympathy won out. “...you’re okay? It’s not okay that that happened, but...you’re okay?”

Shuichi smiled warmly at Kokichi, honestly a bit soothed by how upsetting Kokichi seemed to find it. Made Shuichi feel less silly to be as bothered as he was, painful memories connected to it or not. Offering out his arms, opening himself up for a hug if Kokichi would walk into it, he said softly, “Yeah, I’m okay Kokichi… it bothered me a little bit, but I’m not hurt or anything. I’m okay. I was just more embarrassed by how I reacted more than anything. Wish I had, I don’t know…” Shuichi sighed, shrugging, “Just wish I had felt as confident as Mr. Bullworth seemed.”

...he was now pretty sure Nao hadn’t ever meant it, when she said he was going to be sent back to be assigned to a brothel, in Luminary. But Shuichi couldn’t forget how real the threat had seemed. How scared he had been… and on top of that, the new repulsion from remembering his fond daydreams of just being...locked in a closet or something and being put on display and not even good enough to fuck but definitely good enough to gawk at and how real and possible that had felt…

Shuichi shuddered, feeling sick at the memory. “...I just wish I wasn’t so...I don’t know what I wish. I just wish people wouldn’t say things like that to me.” Shuichi eventually settled on… before sighing. “Don’t tell Kaito, okay? He’ll mean well, but I can just imagine him trying to reassure me what a sexy hooker I’d make, and that’s not really what I want to hear. Or demanding to know who the guy was. Also not what I want. It’s not a big deal.”

Kokichi scuttled into the hug immediately, wrapping his arms around Shuuichi’s waist and nuzzling against his shoulder. There was nothing shameful about being a sex worker, but...it was an issue of consent, and one that Behemoth had likely seen time and time again as the Usot union leader. People could think what they liked, but when you involved other people...Shuuichi had never consented to viewing his body sexually, let alone to have an interaction about setting up a meeting. Nor did any sex worker when they weren’t “in-office”, so to speak. Going up to a stranger and requesting sex was just...disrespectful, and definitely harassment. 

“...you shouldn’t have had to react. That situation shouldn’t have happened at all…” Kokichi rubbed Shuuichi’s back a bit, just wanting to hold his boyfriend close. And as Shuuichi explained likely why he hadn’t said anything to Kokichi, and why he didn’t want Kaito to know… Kokichi laughed softly, fondly.

“Sometimes Kai-chan’s reassurances are some of the best things you can hear, but...you don’t exist as a sexual being 100% of the time. Your worth is not defined by how fuckable you are. There’s a lot more to a person than what they do in private. Shuu-chan is thoughtful and loving and clever and so sneaky I keep having to remind myself of it so I don’t keep falling into your schemes, and so many other things… Shuu-chan’s a person, not an object or a prize. And people need to respect that.” Kokichi squeezed Shuuichi close for a moment, wanting to emphasize his words.

Shuichi listened, smiling a little. “...thanks Kokichi. I…” Shuichi blushed a little, before laughing quietly to himself, “You’re a flatterer, you know that? You can be just as bad as Kaito, in your own way.” Shuichi teased, hugging Kokichi back just as tightly for a moment, before saying, “But, the things you say can be really reassuring too...thanks.”

After a moment, Shuichi gave a final squeeze before saying, “I should take my medicine. I really do want to go to bed. I’m not as bothered as I was, but it was a pretty busy day. Thanks for asking, Kokichi. It was on my mind.”

Kokichi giggled sheepishly before shrugging without letting go of the hug even a bit. “What can I say? You and Kai-chan are just chock full of inspiration for me to gush over. I’m a liar, but sometimes the truth is too irresistible to keep mum, you know?”

With that final squeeze, Kokichi leaned up to place a soft kiss to Shuuichi’s cheek. “Always, love. I hope that you can talk to me about anything that’s on your mind, good or bad. I’m gonna head back down to the others, but Kai-chan and I prolly aren’t gonna be too long--if you’re awake even a little for it. I love you.”

Leaving Shuuichi to settle down for bed, Kokichi headed back downstairs, upset that something like that had happened...but happy that it turned out alright, and that Shuuichi felt safe enough to confide in him. He’d really have another thing to thank Behemoth for the next time they crossed paths.

-

Three days later, and things were looking up. Hina had spoken to Yuta, and while they had been given privacy to talk, the general gist Kaito had gotten for how the conversation had gone was first disbelief, then suspicion...then joy. They had talked for hours, and when Hina finally came out of the room, smiling and red eyed, she said that Yuta wanted to come, relief obvious in her voice.

So, Kaito had promised to reach out to Fuyuhiko next, the two setting up a phone call to talk to each other later in the week. Kaito...didn’t think it was a coincidence that Byakuya had demanded to talk to him yesterday, out of the blue, but their conversation had mostly just been about Byakuya making certain the previous calls hadn’t been with Kaede, and, surprisingly enough, he seemed incredibly concerned that maybe Tengan had been getting into contact with Kaito. Apparently, not only had the returning Luminary party not made it to the capital yet...as far as they could tell, they had never even made it to the country. 

Kaito, concerned, had gone to King Aiichi, and apparently the king and his brother had been in contact about this already, Byakuya confirming that the Diceans hadn’t interfered with the parties return for any reason, and the two working out where the party had traveled to after leaving. Kaito...wasn’t certain, based on that conversation, if Aiichi was telling him the truth when he said that the case was ‘still in progress’ and that nothing noteworthy had been found yet, but…

...he guessed he just hoped everyone was okay. He had promised Byakuya he’d get in touch with him immediately if Tengan tried to reach out to him for any reason. Nothing about Yuta or Fuyuhiko had been brought up.

But, all in all? Kaito was counting this week as a win, so far, with the play, and Yuta, and just...nothing going dramatically wrong that he had heard about? Timothy had gotten a ‘good job’ note sent home from his teacher even! Kaito and Maki had gushed over that, to Tim’s endless embarrassment...it had all been going so well…

Kaito sighed, running his hand over his face as he told his husband, “...’Kichi? I think you should reconsider. You look like you’re about to pass out, babe.”

“...I’m fine...okay enough, anyway…” Oh fuck, he felt like he was going to pass out. 

It had started with a little tickle in his throat yesterday. No matter how much water he drank, it never quite seemed to go away but...it wasn’t that much of a bother. Not until he’d gone to sleep feeling a bit off, and then woke up feeling like…

Kokichi felt like his head was filled with weighted cotton, his head feeling fuzzy but like he’d fall over if he moved just wrong, and his whole body felt weak and shaky. Even just talking to Kaito, his voice was low and scratchy, indicative of a sore throat and...just going back to bed did seem tempting…

But it was almost Harvest! And already people were getting in the spirit, already carving pumpkins and getting food prepped for the festival and putting up decorations in town and...all sorts of things that during their free afternoons Kokichi wanted to show off to his friends…

...he...he couldn’t get sick now. Be sick during the festival. He and Kaito were going to see the orchards for the first time...take the carriage ride there… 

He’d been sick for so many festivals, but this was the most important of all. The first festival his friends were going to experience as Diceans…

Not to mention the work he really did have to get to. Bracing himself against the wall as he tried to pick out clothes, Kokichi started to shake his head before he remembered how dizzy it made him. “Gotta… I have to review the safety reports for the haunted house… S’important to get it all cleared...festival is the first day their season starts to get really busy…”

Kokichi barely made it to their dresser before slumping against it and slowly dropping to the floor, breathing unsteadily. 

“Oooooh, nope, nope nope nope, come here you.” Kaito sighed, getting up from where he had been sitting on their bed, going over to scoop his husband up, sighing again as he took him back to their bed, sitting him down. “‘Kichi, beautiful, babe, light of my life… let’s think this through, okay? We have a few days before the festival, right? Don’t you want to be feeling strong before the day of? Will you get any better the next few days if you stress your body out falling down the stairs?”

Kaito wasn’t laying Kokichi out, knowing his husband might panic if he realized Kaito was trying to put him to bed. He just was helping him sit up on the bed, sitting next to him as he kept a steadying arm on his back, trying to negotiate as he said, “Haunted house stuff? Does it have to be you that does that? I can go pick up what you need for that and we can enlist the time of someone else who's allowed to approve it, right?”

Kokichi groaned before breaking off into coughs, leaning against Kaito to keep him sat up. Kaito was right, but...what if he wasn’t feeling better in time? What if it was only going to get worse before it got better? There was so much to do...and he wanted to make use of all the time he could while he was still...well, conscious, at least. 

...but he might make himself worse, prolonging a shorter illness by trying to power through it. 

Huffing, Kokichi closed his eyes, pressing against Kaito’s arm. “...why are you always right about this stuff…?”

“...Hideki does paperwork stuff too, and he has the authority to sign off that the safety inspection is suitable for the...the public. Pretty much...and paperwork I don’t do, he does...and Mikaku is...he does what Nadya-chan does for me. The more straight-forward things…’n filin’.” Kokichi swallowed around his scratchy throat, leaning more heavily against Kaito and not opening his eyes at all. “...the paperwork for the inspection’s at my desk, though. If you...or someone, could take it to his office and let him know what it is…”

...nnnngh...Hideki? Did it have to be him?

Don’t let it show on your face. If Kokichi thought for an instant this would put Kaito in a bad position, he wouldn’t let him help, and would try to do this himself again. Shuichi was working with Nadya right now, Kaito could go ask him for help….ugh, no, no, don’t pull your boyfriend away from work he actually enjoys doing so you don’t have to talk to someone you don’t like. It was fine. Hideki would probably barely say anything to him.

Kaito just grinned, pushing some of the hair off of Kokichi’s forehead (Hmmm. Fever. Kaito would swing by the medbay to grab some stuff for Kokichi’s symptoms too) as he said cheerfully, “It doesn’t take a genius to want to do the things that will make my husband feel better, faster, babe. It’s easy to be right when the answer is ‘work less hard’.”

Kissing his temple (he wasn’t worried about catching it. A cold wouldn’t hit Kaito the same way it did Kokichi. He’d wear the mask Haneda had made him, since he was probably inevitably carrying whatever Kokichi had regardless, and otherwise he’d be fine to power through it.), Kaito said, “Okay! Today’s going to be both easy and productive, Kokichi! We got this! Let’s get you undressed and back under the covers, I’ll go get you some medicine, and we can start getting you feeling a little less miserable, kay? And any work stuff you can think of? You just explain to me what needs doing and I’m gonna get whatever it is needing done, done, kay? Consider me, like, a really, really long, strikingly handsome third arm! It’ll be fine. I promise.” Kaito said, kissing him again. “Just take it easy for the next few days, and be excited for the festival. Kay?”

“Mhmm…” Kokichi miserably groaned. “Most of the other stuff I have… Nadya-chan’ll know how to sort it; it’s just the safety reports that need the special attention… But if you could let her and Shuu-chan know I’m not coming in...I’d appreciate that.”

As Kaito helped him out of the few clothes he’d managed to put on, Kokichi did his best to not just...ragdoll everywhere, though he had to break to cough and didn’t really have the energy to move much. It was so frustrating! ...but Kaito had helped him through worse. 

Once he was tucked in under the covers, Kaito was gonna go sort out the business Kokichi couldn’t, but...he reached out his arm to hold his husband’s hand for a moment. “Kai-chan? Thank you. I’m sorry this keeps happening…”

Kaito blinked down at him, confused, before gently squeezing his hand back, running his thumb over his knuckles...before sitting back down beside Kokichi.

He leaned down, and placed a few gentle kisses on Kokichi’s face, feeling the sweat on him, one on his cheek, one on his forehead, one on the corner of his lips. His husband was a little sweaty and a little sticky from sickness, but Kaito didn’t mind. And putting his hand on his cheek as he leaned back, he said, “You don’t have to be sorry about stuff like this, babe. I mean, so long as we’re not, heh, uh...sitting in a garden for six hours in the cold? Then this isn’t your fault. And it doesn’t bother me that it happens.”

Grinning softly down at him, he said, “Seriously. This isn’t, like, ‘self-sacrifice’ thing or anything like that to me. It doesn’t bother me that you get sick a lot. You just need a little more rest than everyone else, and as for, like...needing things from me? Trust me. You needing me to grab you medicine and stuff is the least you can demand of me. It’s really not a hassle. So, all that to say...don’t be sorry, kay? There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“Though, I am always happy to accept any thank you’s! Especially in the form of ‘Kichi kisses!” Kaito said cheerfully, leaning over to kiss him again, before reaching into his pocket and pulling on his mask, winking at Kokichi as he said, “Cool looking, right? I think Haneda really nailed it.”

Kokichi grimaced a little at the reminder of the last time he’d been under the weather. That whole day had been such a mistake… But it was done, and they were trying to be better than that. He was trying to be better than that. Slow down, be thoughtful, talk to your friends...and after the festival he’d set up a meeting with a therapist and...start getting some help. 

...and him getting sick wouldn’t change. But...that was okay. He’d never like being sick, of course, but it wasn’t the end of the world, and he wasn’t alone anymore. 

Kokichi smiled at the kisses and tilted his head into Kaito’s hand. “...what did I ever do to deserve someone as wonderful as you…? Guess I’ll just have to show my appreciation… And have a lot of fun at the festival when I’m better.” Because he would be better. 

Grinning tiredly at the star patterned mask--seriously, Kaito would have a whole star outfit before too long--Kokichi hummed, each blink already getting slower, as the softness of their bed cradled him and the warmth of their blankets and the fire crackling in the hearth warded off his chill. “She’s really skilled at embroidery… She says the masks are just to keep people’s germs away from her...but Haneda-chan’s really thoughtful...and kind… I’m glad that a person like her is looking after Tim…”

“Fuck yeah. God, I seriously don’t know what we would have done without her. We’re trying, but man, learning how to parent is, uh...well, it’s been a relief to have help.” Kaito sighed, before looking at his sleepy husband, saying quietly, “Okay, I’ll be back, Kokichi. If you’re asleep, I’m gonna wake you up for lunch. Get some rest.”

Looking over Kokichi one last time, making certain he’d be comfortable, Kaito headed out...and took a long breath. Okay. You’re fine, man. You can do this. Don’t fuck it up, or Kokichi won’t feel comfortable enough to take your advise to rest next time. Everything has to go smoothly! 

The office was closer, but Kaito went to medical first, just going to pick up some stuff that would help Kokichi’s symptoms when he next woke up. Bringing it back upstairs, Kaito dropped the medicine off on the desk, deciding to not wake his sleeping husband up for it, before heading to the office.

Opening it up, he saw Shuichi was writing out a list with about five binders laying open around him, and Nadya was similarly busy with work at her desk. “Hey guys! Kokichi’s going to be out today, but I’m running messages back and forth and helping get, uh, any paperwork that needs done moved to people who can do it. Either of you need me to tell him anything or need any help with their work? Uh, that I can do, I mean?” Kaito asked, as headed to Kokichi’s desk, finding the paperwork Kokichi was talking about relatively easily. “I think I’m making a trip to Head Secretary Hideki next, if anyone has anything to go there?”

“Nothing from me, Kaito, thanks. I thought Kokichi looked a little pale yesterday. He alright?” Shuichi asked, glancing up from his work.

“He’ll be fine! Just needs some rest. Nadya?”

Seeing that Kaito had found the inspection report easily--for how cluttered Kokichi had his workspace while he worked, he always did tidy it up nicely at the end of the day--Nadya gathered a few letters that had been at her side, getting up from her desk to hand them over to Kaito herself. “I will direct my wishes towards Kokichi’s health. Thank you for helping us out with organizing things in his absence, Kaito. I had a feeling that this might be a sick day when he didn’t show up earlier, so I’ve consolidated the work that would normally require his hand--if you are already making a trip to Mr. Fukui, would you mind taking these along as well? They are not as time-sensitive as the inspection reports, but I would assume it would set Kokichi at ease to know that they were being addressed.”

It had been...nerve-wracking, was perhaps the correct word, to start calling her co-workers...her friends, by their first names. After being invited along to Kaito’s birthday festivities, Nadya and Kokichi had talked a bit the next morning in that short bit of time before Shuuichi joined them in the office. And...they were friends, now. People who Nadya liked and wanted to continue getting to know. And part of that was opening herself to those opportunities. 

As she passed over the letters, Nadya gave Kaito a warm smile. “I’m sure Kokichi is very happy to have you looking out for him. If you find yourself with free time, there’s always work to be done here, but you already have an important duty, Kaito. Even if all it requires is checking in on your husband every now and then.”

Moving back to her desk, she asked, “Should I heat up the kettle? Prepare any drinks for your return, or perhaps a refill, Shuuichi?”

Shuichi nodded amicably towards the demon (he wasn’t actually convinced she was a demon anymore. Or, in the sense, he maybe wasn’t sure what that word meant anymore, considering this new information that people could just ‘do magic’...but honestly? He thought it was funny thinking of her as such. Just a little thing to amuse himself) as he said, “Sure, Nadya, if you don’t mind. Ya know, I didn’t realize how much I liked coffee until I couldn't drink it anymore? Man I miss coffee...the tea helps.” Shuichi sighed, chuckling to himself a little bit.

Kaito happily took the letters from Nadya, more than pleased he could actually help her out as he promised to pass the letters along as well. “Thanks Nadya. And thanks for looking after my Shuichi here!”

“She’s not...I don’t need looking after.” Shuichi grumbled, pouting a little as Kaito stopped by to kiss the side of his head real quick. 

“Didn’t mean it like that, handsome! Just meant it’s a comfort to know she’s here in general.” Kaito told him, before saying, “Alright, be back in a bit guys! If I don’t end up getting more work from ‘Kichi I’ll come back and help out with, ya know, whatever!”

As Kaito headed out, Shuichi cast a guilty glance to Nadya, “I wasn’t trying to say anything about you, Nadya. Sorry, that just annoyed me. Nothing against you.”

Nadya shook her head as she set the kettle to heat back up, still enough water in it for a few more cups. “I think nothing of it, Shuuichi. I am not your keeper, and while Kaito was not trying to insinuate as such, certain turns of phrase can certainly rub people the wrong way. Personally, I find your company in the office to be a comfort, even if we often work independently without an exchanged word for hours. There is something soothing in companionship.”

Returning to her desk, Nadya thought for a moment before slowly broaching the subject. “...you know him better than I, but… From my point of view, Kaito is a person with many worries. Someone who knows just out of their control the world is, and yet still chooses to care deeply. So...to soothe some of those worries, it makes him feel better to have as many trusted individuals around those he loves most as possible. I do not get the sense that he finds you incapable--simply that he knows how luck can turn its back on you, and he wants failsafes to cushion the blow. Unfortunately, that can result in stifling or patronizing actions, which are still not excusable by their benign roots.”

“...again, I have only known you all for a comparatively miniscule amount of time. If my words are unneeded, please feel free to disregard them,” she smiled with a shrug, looking back to her work.

Shuichi laughed lightly, saying, “Someone who knows how out of control things can get? Yeah, that’s probably a decent way of describing it. Did you know me, Maki and Kaito have known each other since we were all ten? Basically our whole lives, by this point...so, yeah, when you know someone that long? It’s weird to hear someone say something about them in a way you haven't heard before.”

“Kaito’s...kinda possessive. And, yeah...he’s a big believer in surrounding himself with people he can trust. Because the world’s made up of allies, enemies, and servants. In a lot of ways, he’s very much a Momota.” Shuichi sighed. “That’s absolutely a Luminary noble thing. And it didn’t used to bother me. I mean, honestly, it made things a lot easier that he thought like that, made things a lot safer...but that was back in Luminary. Where we needed it. Now?”

Shuichi realized he was venting about something that was barely related to what had just happened, just...a floodgate randomly opened as he frowned, looking frustrated as he said, “Here, it’s...it’s embarrassing. And annoying! And I just...why can’t he just turn it off?” Shuichi asked, running his hand over his forehead, feeling...ah geez, “Fuck, sorry, I think I’m just feeling hormonal or something.” Shuichi realized, groaning. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to just say all that out of nowhere.”

While she’d grown up in a culture very different from the average Usoti, Nadya was still Dicean, and hearing a person described as a servant… She couldn’t help the slight frown on her face. Even despite knowing the reality of Luminary...it was such a snap response for most Diceans to just shake their heads and call it wrong. But it wasn’t a very helpful response. 

One that would make people embarrassed and annoyed. 

Smoothing out that frown, Nadya shook her head. “It’s fine, Shuuichi. It might not be what you wish, but I enjoy hearing you speak your mind. I can only ask that you might forgive me for offering unsolicited advice if you had only wished to vent.”

“And with that…” Nadya turned back to the kettle, turning off the heating element to pour a new mug of tea for Shuuichi. “...it would be rather nice if we could simply turn on and off various emotions and ways of thinking, albeit making the world far less expressive. But people are quite possibly the most irrational part of nature there is. I would hazard a guess that Kaito is frustrated by how he thinks of people as well, but the only way to change it is through focused practice, and likely for much longer than three months. For someone not used to it, facing that there are many people in the world that don’t think in terms to you at all can be something quite difficult to wrap your head around.”

“It may feel like you’ve all been here for a long time, but from a few friends of mine who immigrated to Dicea...adjustment is something that never truly stops happening, or if it does, it’s something that they haven’t reached yet. It just becomes less earth-shattering. And in return, you share your own culture with those around you, and they adjust as well. I believe that measuring things in terms of years might be a more accurate time scale.”

Shrugging, Nadya set the steeping tea on Shuuichi’s desk, off to the side on one of the wood-burned cork coasters Kokichi had gotten for all of them. The one of Shuuichi’s desk was a design of a lotus. 

“...yeah. I mean, I don’t have any personal experience with immigrants other than, I guess, being one… I don’t know.” Shuichi sighed, taking the tea with a grateful look, blowing on it a little, “It’s...it’s hard. It’s harder than I thought it was going to be. It’s kinda scary, seeing Kaito and Maki and...and me. And everything I’ve ever known through the eyes of other people who...make me feel like kind of a freak. There was this one healer? I don’t even remember why we were so scared, but we were all panicking, and I tried too...”

“...it doesn’t matter. I just tried to do something that looking back it was totally unnecessary, and I bet we freaked Kokichi out, and I don’t know if I was in the same situation right now, if I wouldn’t just do it again…” Shuichi sighed, before giving Nadya a shy smile. “Thanks for listening, Nadya. Again, I think I’m just feeling hormonal, but it’s nice of you to tolerate it.”

“And, I gotta assume out of everyone, you can understand it more than most Diceans. I mean, you grew up in some isolated magical community, right? I can’t imagine it was all smooth sailing, fitting in with, ya know...I don’t know. Do you have a name for people who don’t do magic?” Shuichi asked.

Nadya returned his smile as she sat back down. They were less productive this way but...well. She wouldn’t say it to Kokichi’s face, since he never rushed them for deadlines, but they were far, faaaaaar down the triage line of kingdom matters. There were more urgent things that popped up, sure, like if there was a natural disaster, or a seasonal thing like the haunted house, but for routine work, Kokichi was such a workaholic that they were working on matters that people could reasonably work out for themselves, or talk to their city representative to take care of. Things that went faster going through the castle, but still--things they could have a conversation around and not be pressed for time. 

“You all grew up in an incredibly different environment. For some of the more potent differences, it might seem shocking to Kokichi, or even others of us who have been in Dicea longer, but still. No one is expecting you to...let go of all the instincts that allowed you to live and thrive in Luminary. You just need time to learn what works here, and what old habits are more on the side of excess energy.”

Giving him a nod--she was always happy to listen, and out of all her new friends, she was probably closest with Shuuichi--Nadya chuffed out a laugh, giving Shuuichi an amused look. “Non-magic users? It’s not very creative, is it. There are many designations for people who use magic--mages, like myself; psychics, fae, among others--but not really an overarching name for those who don’t use magic.”

“But, you’re correct. In some ways, it was easy, since what I was looking for was, well, people who weren’t interested in magic, and that’s very easy to find in people who don’t know it exists,” she half-smiled, leaning back in her chair, “But there were some things… Everyday conversations that I suddenly didn’t hear anymore. Having to be careful to not mention anything off-hand. It’s less of a transition and just...having a piece of life suddenly missing. And, in exchange, having other parts of the world shine much brighter.”

“Yeah? Well, I mean...so long as you’re definitely not a demon? Which I know, I know, you’re not...right? Just kidding, I know you’re not…mmmm” Shuichi narrowed his eyes at Nadya for a second...before shrugging, “Yeah. Not a demon. So, I mean… if you want to talk to me about stuff like that? Obviously I can’t say I’ll understand what you mean, but I won’t mind doing my best, if you ever need someone to talk to about it.”

Shuichi laughed softly, shrugging as said, “I mean, you do it for me all the time. So I want to offer it back. You don’t have to take me up on it. It’s just an offer.”

“Oh, believe me, if we ever do encounter a demon, I will point them out to you before we steer your boyfriends far away from them,” Nadya tittered before her expression softened into a grateful smile. “But...thank you. I had never been as interested in using and studying magic as my peers...but sometimes I do miss it. Talking about it. So...I appreciate it. Thank you, Shuuichi.”

As Shuichi and Nadya bonded slightly over their mutual ‘fish out of water’ stories, and more over Shuuichi being a spaz and Nadya becoming master class at dealing with that, Kaito was now outside of Hideki’s office, genuinely wondering did he...knock? There was no secretary. No middle person. How was Kaito supposed to know if the Head Secretary was with someone important without a middle person?? Why didn’t Dicea share at least this one freaking office trait with Luminary! He could have just dropped off the paperwork with a clerk assistant then!

...ugh, stop it, you’re just stalling. This is a business thing! Kokichi’s business thing! Kaito was literally just a mouthpiece for him now, and barely even that. There was nothing he was even supposed to say to him!...wait, right? Wait, was Kaito supposed to explain anything? No, right? Was he?? Shit, what had Kokichi and Nadya said? Just deliver the things…??

...God DAMN IT Kaito Momota, look at you, fucking staring at peasants door like a chump, what would your mother say, you are a MOMOTA and you are NOT scared of a Dicean secretary! Just knock on the stupid door!

Plastering a grin on his face, Kaito knocked. 

The Harvest Festival was in just a few days, and while Hideki wasn’t someone perfecting a dish to show off, or out in the streets decorating, or one of the leads for one of the numerous events, there was still plenty of work to do. All sorts of pencil pushing that most people would loathe, but Hideki had spent over two decades dutifully doing. 

He was arm-deep in preparation minutiae, things most people wouldn’t notice, or that would be fine to go unlooked, but would be better to be managed. So all Hideki did when he heard a knock on the door was call out a distracted, “Come in!” He could break for a meeting or new news, but until it demanded his attention, he’d keep focused. 

Alright, go in there, do not make an ass of yourself, don’t even say anything, in and out, cool as a cucumber, do not punch him, “Delivery!” Kaito called out waaaay too cheerfully as he opened the door, glancing around real quick to see if he actually was interrupting  a meeting with anyone else before stepping in, not really looking at anything in particular as he announced, “Deliveries for Kokichi and Nadya!”

Putting down Kokichi paperwork first, Kaito quickly explained, “This ones for the, uh, haunted house stuff? Safety stuff. I think I just need you to sign off on it and then I take it too…” shit, shit, there had been a second part to that, what was the persons name, fuck, just play it off! “The next person! And this ones from Nadya…” Kaito blanked. Had she explained to him what it was?? “She said you’d know what it was about.” Kaito decided to lie, before guessing, “I probably just need your signatures for that one too. Festival stuff! Well, maybe not Nadya’s, but definitely Kokichi’s...when should I come back for it?”

God damn it, Kaito, shut up! You weren’t going to say anything at all! What happened to that plan!?

Hideki looked up, his eyebrows knitting in confusion for a moment before he sighed to himself. From Kokichi and Miss Milai. Then Kokichi was likely ill, and Nadya had work that couldn’t be finished that day without him. Nodding in understanding, Hideki took a look at the paperwork Kaito set down on his desk. Ah, the safety inspection. Fifth one this year--with Nao quitting, she’d really pulled out all the stops for the haunted house, and with creativity came needed caution. 

“Thank you, Kaito. I’d like to look over these, however, so you can leave them with me--you don’t have to wait around to deliver them to the next person down the line.” Tearing his eyes away from the paperwork, there was a glimmer of concern in the older man’s eyes. “How’s Kokichi doing?”

“Kokichi? He’s doing great! He just needs a little rest, but otherwise he’s entirely fine! Nothing anyone needs to concern themselves about!” Nothing you need to lock him away for you piece of shit. “I’ll be certain to let him know you asked after him!”

Putting the last of Nadya’s letters down, Kaito grinned cheerfully, “Anything I should bring back up to the office while I’m here? Or that you need sent along? I’m making the rounds!”

Hideki nodded, accepting Kaito’s words. “That’s good to hear. He really loves the festivals, it would be a shame if he was ill through this one. Thank you for looking out for him.”

If Kokichi was out… They likely had enough work to do regardless--Nadya was steadfast in collecting new letters. It would only be more stress to give them work they wouldn’t get to. “I believe that we all have enough work for the day, thank you, though. If you need anything more from me, you know where to find me. I hope you all enjoy the festival this weekend.”

Do not. Get irrationally angry. For no reason.

Kaito twitched, trying to keep his temper. The guy was being nothing but polite! Fuck that was infuriating. You can do the same! Come on!

“Awesome! Thank you so much! You have a good one then!” Kaito said, fighting the impulse to bow before heading out of the office. And the second he closed the door behind him, he let out a frustrated growl, putting his hands through his hair and resisting the urge to just...he didn’t know! Fuck! He wanted to fight someone.

...no, no you don’t, calm down, you’re just...annoyed because you hate the guy and you’re acting out. Fuck but Kaito hated him. He hated him so much. Being in the same room as him was like swallowing bile.

Just be calm. You didn’t lose your cool when he was saying all that shit, losing your cool now when he was doing a whole lot of nothing? No one would understand. You’d be crazy and irrational and monstrous. God fucking damn it.

Kaito took a breath and pulled the stupid fucking rock out of his pocket. He had taken these days to killing two birds with one stone and just polishing the damn thing while he was praying in his shrine. He just wanted to talk to Atua anyway. Weird ass therapist and her stupid rocks and this weird, stupid country.

...nnngh. Fuck, now you’re just throwing a temper tantrum. Calm down, you asshole, what are you, fifteen? Kaito sighed, feeling still incredibly annoyed and embarrassed about it. He’d go pray a bit and get back to zero and then go upstairs and check on Kokichi. Yeah…

Kokichi had fallen asleep not long after Kaito left and...these days, his sleep had been pretty good. The nightmares were less frequent, and the ones he did get were more uncomfortable than terrifying and...heart-rending. He didn’t know if he’d finally worked past some mental block, but, hey, he wasn’t complaining. 

Still, it didn’t mean that Kokichi always stayed asleep once he’d started. 

Later in the morning, Kokichi woke up. Alone. Which was fine! Better than having someone staring at him, honestly. And Kaito had told him he was going to help Shuuichi and Nadya with business so…

Internally rolling his eyes at himself, grumbling about dependence and how Kaito was someone with his own life and things to do, Kokichi pushed himself up, wanting to get some water for his aching throat. But...whoa…

Kokichi closed his eyes against the whirling room, trying to take deep breaths over his heart already sped from the small exertion of sitting up. You’re okay...you can drink water by yourself, Kokichi, you’re fine. 

He didn’t reach out for the cup on the nightstand, shaking slightly as the world spun.

As Kaito polished the...the kind of stupid rock, he didn’t know… he prayed aloud, “It’s not like I have to like hm, right? No ones gonna tell me that...but it’s bad that I fucking hate him. Isn’t it? Like, if I can’t even be in the same room as him without wanting to start screaming at him? That’s a problem…”

Polish, polish, polish, “...and I shouldn’t daydream about him, like, accidently falling down the stairs. I know that. Kokichi would hate that. But, like, it’s not like I would be happy if it happened in real life...he just looks so funny, in my head, missing a step and, like, I’m right there, and man, I could probably catch him if I reached out quickly, but, ooof, ya know, it was so startling to watch him fall, didn’t even have time to react. Such a shame, when’s the funeral?”

Kaito paused, like he could actually hear someone talking back, scolding him gently, even though he knew he couldn’t, before he scoffed. “I know, I know, I just...he’s such an asshole. And not just to me! He’s another one of those assholes who made Kokichi’s whole life such a fucking mess that my husbands low-key tried to kill himself twice now since I’ve met him…” Kaito paused, frowning, “No, no, I mean...that first time didn’t happen. The thing with the pillow didn’t happen...yeah...fuck, now I’m blaming the old bastard for things I just dreamt up, what is wrong with me…”

Eventually, Kokichi steadied himself...somewhat. Enough that he could open his eyes, just marveling at how horrid he felt. He knew even little colds could knock him on his ass like this--a healer had explained it as his body had practically no defenses compared to the average person, so instead of a cold only kicking a stone around, it was running amok like a spooked ram in a glass museum--but...geez, really!? Like this?! 

Pepping himself up, Kokichi leaned over and reached for the cup on his nightstand, in part wanting to prove that he was okay by himself but mostly just really needing a drink now. Both hands...steady now… Kokichi brought the cup to his face, bracing it against his chest for a moment before greedily tipping it over to drink...he was so thirsty...and his head hurt...and his body hurt, every little joint seeming to ache no matter what position he was in…

Oop!

“Ghh - aak!” Kokichi shuddered as he lost his grip on the cup, water spilling all down his chest as the cup bounced off the bed and onto the floor, thankfully not a glass this time. But he still… Kokichi bit the inside of his lip. No crying just from a little accident...you’re fine, just get a towel.

...towels were in the bathroom, though…

Shivering and swallowing past the lump in his throat, Kokichi tried to shuffle the blankets off of him. 

The rock was pretty shiny now. Miss Crystal said that if he kept at it for a long time, one day he’d polish it into a perfect oval. She said that would be ideal, that the shape of the rock represented how much time he had put into his mental health, and then said a bunch of stuff about how more handling of it made it easier for the ‘energies’ to track him and...ugh. He wasn’t a little kid, and he wasn’t crazy anymore. He didn’t need to believe in magic to know things worked. Atua didn’t speak to him. Rocks didn’t offer calm. He didn’t need people to tell him that they did...he wasn’t stupid…

...he swallowed and finished polishing the rock, carefully putting it in his pocket, before getting up, bowing to the shrine as he said, “Atua, who loves me: thanks for listening. I know I’m kinda all over the place all the time… I know you don’t interfere. But if you could help me just...feel less shitty when I’m around the head secretary? Like, literally any head secretary… I don’t want to end up shouting at him, especially if he’s not even going to have the… the decency to at least be consistently an asshole. ‘Thank you Kaito’. Tsk. Like the last time I saw you you didn’t say you couldn’t wait for my fucking home to tear itself apart into pieces...fucking two face asshole...no, no, you’re right, I was calm, I was calm, I’m calm, I’m not getting angry again. Atua be pleased…”

Kaito sighed, heading out of the shrine. Kokichi was likely going to be asleep for a while longer, but he should check on him anyway. Maybe get his medicine prepped before he got up.

…

…

“...snnff…”

“...hu...huhu...nng…”

...he wasn’t proud, okay? This wasn’t a moment he’d hold his head up high and declare that he was the...the most capable...or...best person…

Kokichi coughed through his sniffling, barely managing to muffle it into his arm from where he was splayed out on the floor, dripping wet and feeling like he was going to hurl. 

He’d tried to hobble over to the bathroom, dry off a bit, but it felt like several weighted blankets had been tossed over him all at once, and Kokichi had dropped to the ground again and...had, actually, thrown up a little. And everything hurt even more than before, and he felt like he could barely move and…

He’d just wanted some water! Was that too much to ask?! For this stupid, weak child…

Kokichi cried into his arm, the tears making his eyes itch and his head throb. Why couldn’t he have just stayed asleep?!

Kaito was careful to be quiet when he opened the door, not wanting to distu-oh, fuck! 

Kaito heard him before he saw him, that familiar (painfully so) sound of Kokichi’s quiet crying, those little choking sounds as he sniffled and squeaked into his own chest. So he went in quickly, spotting Kokichi on the ground, halfway (well, that was maybe being generous in the estimate) to the bathroom. Kaito’s heart fell into his stomach as he hurried over, saying urgently, “Kokichi? Babe!? Are you hurt!? It’s okay, it’s okay, I’m here, let me see…”

Kaito knelt down, terrible visions of Kokichi just...bleeding or his face turning blue because his fucking heart wasn’t doing what it was supposed to again...and Kaito let out a small sigh of relief as he picked Kokichi up, pulling him into his lap and looking him over, not seeing any noticable injuries, and while red from crying, he didn’t actually look like he was struggling to breath beyond just needing a tissue from said crying. He was okay, he was okay… “Babe, what happened? You’re all wet…”

The prince frowned, not smelling anything, but, giving his husband a shaky grin, he asked, “Did you need to go to the bathroom? Do you still need to? We can go there right now, it’s not a problem, you’re fine Kokichi…”

It was weird, being saved by Kaito like this. On one hand...things would be okay with Kaito there. Kokichi always felt bad for making his husband play nurse when he was ill but...he would be taken care of. On the other...to be seen laid out on the floor, wet and crying was...humiliating. 

Shakily, Kokichi grasped onto Kaito’s shirt, turning in against his body in hopes of some of the pain going away. “...m...my head hurts so much…’s spinning… spilled water ‘n needed a t-towel but I…”

“...I threw up…”

It was horrifyingly embarrassing. But Kaito had never judged him for it. Had only ever wished that Kokichi didn’t have to go through things like this, and never looked at him with pity. 

...he didn’t really have the energy to keep crying anyway.

Trying to wipe his eyes with shaking hands, Kokichi tried to steady his breathing. “Everything hurts...like I’m being flung around…”

“Oh? Oh, yeah, I can see that…” Kaito noted, now seeing what he had thought was part of...okay, he had thought maybe Kokichi had pissed himself. But no, that was just vomit water (stomach acid?) on the floor. And likely some of what was dampening his shirt, though there were water stains on his shorts as well. Okay. Kaito was starting to get a sense of the scene. Okay. 

He was extremely careful, trying not to jostle him too much as he stood up, keeping Kokichi carefully tucked against his chest, keeping his arms strong so that Kokichi could curl his body like he was preferring too right now, as he said gently, “Is it? Okay, you’re fine. I brought medicine up earlier, it’s gonna help with the fever, which should make everything less ‘achey’ and ‘flingy’. We’re going to get that, and some water, into you first, and then we’re going to change your clothes, get you in something fresh that smells nice. Just keep being strong, babe, you’re going to feel better soon, I promise…”

Laying Kokichi down on top of the covers, he said to him, “Just one minute, wait one minute.” before hurrying off to grab the glass from the floor, going to mix the medicine with it. It would only help Kokichi’s symptoms, it wouldn’t actually make him ‘better’, but honestly, Kaito didn’t care if all it handled was surface level problems. He didn’t want his husband suffering. So, crushing the tablet, watching it dissolve quicker in the water, Kaito brought it back to Kokichi, gently, pulling him up into a sitting position as he said softly, “Sorry, sorry, I know, but let’s just sit up long enough to drink this, okay? Nice and slow, I’m not going anywhere till it’s all drunk up. Then new clothes, okay? You’re doing great, Kokichi, I’m very proud of you babe. That must have been crazy scary, to just find yourself on the floor like that. I’d have bawled my literal eyeballs out of my head in your situation.” Kaito laughed.

Kokichi whined something indistinctly, just wanting to believe Kaito’s promises that he’d feel better soon. Maybe he’d just gotten too used to feeling well, but he just felt...awful. And any little spark of hope he could get he’d take. 

Already, though, he could feel himself going adrift when Kaito set him down, but...there was nothing to do about it. Kaito was leaving to make him feel better, and...it’s not like everything felt fine in his arms. Just a little less bad. So, bracing himself, Kokichi waited for his husband’s return...even if it meant sitting up.

“H-hold on…” He couldn’t explain himself, just panting lightly as he tried to keep his nausea at bay. Kaito did say slow, but Kokichi needed slooooow. He couldn’t...he was just going to throw it all up again if he tried anything else. Kokichi weakly fisted a hand in Kaito’s shirt again as Kaito started tipping the glass, still so thirsty, but more wary of how volatile his stomach was right now. 

“...got really thirsty but...couldn’t hold onto the glass…” They were taking a small break, just letting Kokichi sip. “...can...can you stay...for a while? I don’t… I can’t do anything like this… I feel so bad, Kai-chan…” 

He didn’t want to trap Kaito. Hated to ask things like this. But the truth of it was...he was helpless right now. Kokichi couldn’t leave bed, and he could barely sit up without wanting to puke his guts out. He needed someone to be there and...he really wanted it to be Kaito. 

Eventually, he made it through the glass, stomach more or less steady, and Kokichi sighed in relief when Kaito laid him down against their pillows, knowing that Kaito was going to help him change, but enjoying the reprieve anyway. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay, take all the time you need, there’s no hurry.” Kaito murmured as they got through the water, Kaito steadying his hand every time Kokichi got a strained look on his face. His stomach twisted anxiously as Kokichi confessed to him how bad it was this time around, but Kaito absolutely refused to let that anxiety show on his face, just smiling calmly at Kokichi as he nodded along, keeping everything steady as Kokichi kept murmuring his explanations. 

“Can I stay? You think you could convince me to leave by this point, babe? Your work’s been dispersed, Shuichi and Nadya are humming away at the office, everything’s fine. I don’t have anywhere I want to be but here. I’m not going anywhere...well, except to get your clothes. Alright, let’s just lay down a bit. Give me two minutes babe. You’re doing great.”

Kaito glanced at the puke on the floor and, not able to smell it, decided to leave that till after the clothes change. As he got into the closet, picking some new sleeping clothes Kokichi would feel comfortable in during this state, Kaito took a second to fucking curse at himself...why the fuck had he gone to his shrine!? His husband needed him and he was fucking taking detours to polish rocks in a closet?? God damn it.

But Kaito banished the thought as soon as he headed out of the closet. He could yell at himself later. Kokichi needed him now. Literally everything else was second to that. 

“How about these? Nice, soft, super cute on you.” Airy and loose enough that Kokichi wouldn’t feel his clothes clinging to him. 

“Thank you…” 

Flu season was going to suck this year. Maybe he’d just gotten spectacularly unlucky this time around, but… He really should start wearing his mask out more. ‘Immuno-compromised’, another healer had called it. Unless he strictly stayed just in his room, there really wasn’t any way he’d avoid anyone carrying this year’s hot new virus, for whatever weird reason people tended to get sick more around this time of year. But even then it wasn’t perfect, not when he shared a room with two other people who then interacted with others and…

Kokichi flopped an arm over his forehead, grimacing to himself as he could feel his fever. 

He cracked an eye open when Kaito returned. Really any clothes that weren’t water and vomit-soaked would be fine, but the pajamas Kaito had picked out… Kokichi smiled a bit. “I thought you said I was always cute… Can’t resist fall patterning though...huh? ‘D be nice to bring some cheer here...even if I can’t show you guys what’s going on in town…”

...but he’d get better. It didn’t matter how bad it was. He’d get better in time for the festival, and even if they couldn’t see all the build-up, they’d see the culmination of everyone’s efforts, and they’d have a good time. 

Kokichi shivered, but tried to push himself up, eager to get into dry clothes. 

“Super cute, Kokichi. These clothes take your baseline cute levels and make them super. ‘Course you’re always cute.” Kaito huffed, rolling his eyes. Obviously. 

As he helped Kokichi sit up, putting his hand on Kokchi’s shoulder blades and pushing (...he was so light. It upset Kaito, sometimes, how light Kokichi was. He was so thin…) him up gently, Kaito helped Kokichi pull the shift off of him...and then frowned, realizing he had forgotten to grab a towel…

Deciding he didn’t want Kokichi to deal with having to lay back down and get up again for Kaito to make a trip to the bathroom, Kaito, like it was an entirely normal thing to do, took off his own shirt after tossing Kokichi’s wet one aside and idly started patting at his skin with it, drying him off as he said cheerfully, “Well, maybe if you’re feeling better tomorrow, or the day after, we can still go see some of the setup...but if not? The festival’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re definitely making it to that, Kokichi. If you’re not feeling strong that day, then we’re doing what you and your dad used to do back in the day, and you’ll just chill out on my back while I do the walking for us. Trust me. We’re not missing it, not for anything. Alright, pants next…”

Helping Kokichi out of his pants, wanting to make certain he was dry everywhere before the new clothes went on, Kaito easily lifted Kokichi up enough to pull his shorts down, patting him down on his thighs and waist, getting the water up. Then, once Kokichi was all dry, Kaito helped him get the new clothes on, idly saying the whole time, “Ya know, even if you’re not strong enough to go out the next two days, that just gives us time to do some stuff for the festival ourselves. Remember that pumpkin decoration thing? What if I got us a bunch of pumpkins? We can make a day of it, you showing us how to empty them out and decorating them? Maki and Shuichi will join us, we’ll talk Tim into trying to make one, we can get Ikou up here too. We’ll make tea and hot chocolate, it’ll be a lot of fun…there we go. How does that feel?”

Kaito looked to the other side of the bed, where the water mark still was, but… it was a big bed. So long as Kokichi stayed on this side, he’d be dry. “Let’s lay back down...there we go…”

Even if the world was still spinning, that got Kokichi to grin. 

Kokichi did what he could to help with getting him dry and into new clothes but...what he could do to help was more just not making things more difficult. And having to move around to do it...Kokichi wasn’t even remotely in the headspace to comment on Kaito using his shirt to dry him. 

But he was for the other stuff. 

“I want to make it to the festival… I wanna so much… Daddy’d always say that there’s next year, o-or even next festival just in general...and he’s right but…” Kokichi sighed, swallowing, trying to soothe his throat, though the water did help. “...this is your first one. I want you guys to have fun...to see what...what our festivals are really like…”

Hearing Kaito’s backup plan for the festival, though… Kokichi felt himself smile a little more, even if it was a little difficult to remain upright while Kaito was helping him with his pants. Had he mentioned what Ikuo used to do? They couldn’t always, of course. Sometimes Kokichi was sick to the point that even being carried around was too much for him. But there had been times, similar to this, where he’d gotten sick right before a festival, and while everyone had assumed he’d just have to miss out...Ikuo would scoop him up on his back, and they’d at least do a little tour. See all the decorations and get to feel a little of the energy that was too muted when he’d watch from his window. 

Maybe Ikuo had told Kaito himself, along with embarrassing dance party stories. 

Getting into dry clothes was something that Kokichi appreciated, but he was even more thankful when it was done and Kaito set him back down on the bed, feeling a little more grounded for it. Enough that he could imagine them actually having a good time, bringing some of Harvest into their room. 

“Mm...thank you… That sounds nice… Tim might enjoy it anyway, since you get to stab the pumpkin a lot to carve it...a-and then, if you save the seeds...even from the carving pumpkins, you can roast ‘em up and eat them…’s pretty good. I’d like that...we could set them up in our window...though gotta be careful to blow the candles out when we leave or sleep if we light them…” He coughed a bit, cutting himself off as he curled against the mattress. However, he extended a hand, just like he had before Kaito left that morning, wanting to hold his husband’s hand for a bit. 

Kaito sat next to Kokichi, and gave him his left hand, using his right hand to rub Kokichi’s back a little, knowing it would dislodge his covers a little, but wanting to help ease him from his earlier nausea, looking for the knots that vomiting would have created. 

As Kaito gently started the process of easing out those muscles in Kokichi’s back, he squeezed his hands, saying all the while, “Roasting seeds sounds nice. One more recipe I can learn. If you go back to sleep, Kokichi, I’ll only be gone for a second to ask someone to bring up food for lunch, by the way. I’m not going anywhere else… I bet you’ll make a beautiful pumpkin, when we do it. I can totally see that being something my artistic ‘Kichi is good at. Though, if you need help keeping your wrist steady for the cutting, your husband’s got you. What did I get these muscles for if not for pumpkin carving assistance?”

“Today’s a rough day, but it’s going to be a nice week, Kokichi. You don’t have to worry. All these little moments, where you’re not feeling good? They’re temporary, I promise. You’re going to feel better, and we’re all going to have a lot of fun, and you’ll get to show me all sorts of nice things, and then I’ll thank you for being my patient and enthusiastic tour guide by kissing all up and down my sweet, sexy husband’s body...it’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be okay…”

Kaito knew he had no real power to enforce any of this. That Kokichi’s health was a fight he had no real power in…

He didn’t care. He’d say it anyway. He’d believe it. 

Kokichi sighed a little as Kaito started rubbing his back. He was always so warm...and even with a fever it felt nice. And the pain of having the knots in his back unwound, well, it gave him different pain to focus on than the ache in his joints and the throbbing in his head, and that pain always gave way to relief. Kaito was so good to him…

“...’ve never made a pumpkin before… Knives and all that. Designed some that my dad carved, back in the day...but never made one myself… Don’t get your hopes up too high--s’really different from drawing. Lake would always...get too ambitious and over carve an’...would just end up with a candle holder, really. Just a pumpkin with a window…” He huffed a soft laugh, fond.

Kokichi wasn’t really sure he’d be able to handle eating lunch, but for Kaito, he’d try. It never felt like enough, what he would do for his husband...and yet, Kaito gave everything for him...cheering him up, even now. Crying again would make him feel pretty shitty, but Kokichi felt like it, with all the sweet things that Kaito was saying. 

Mustering up his energy, Kokichi shifted to curl around Kaito’s side, holding his hand tightly as he looked up at his husband, a deep, deep gratitude sparkling in his fever-hazed eyes. “...it’s going to be okay. I love you, Kai-chan. Tha...thank you. I know it’s not great seeing me like this but...still able to keep both our spirits up...you’re really amazing. My Kai-chan is a really wonderful person…”

“No? Well, even better, we’ll both make our very first pumpkins then! We’ll work together on one, it’ll be awesome Kokichi. It’s gonna be the best pumpkin on display this year, I already know it.” Kaito boasted, seeing Kokichi try to shift closer to him and helping him a little by meeting him halfway, just curling his legs to his side, focusing on the comforts he could offer his husband in the moment.

Even sick and feverish, Kaito couldn’t help but notice how beautiful his husband was. He didn’t say it aloud, having a feeling Kokichi might dismiss the compliment, at least this time, as Kaito’s particular way of seeing the world blinding him to what a mess a sickly Kokichi looked like...but he thought Kokichi really did look beautiful. He always looked so beautiful…

And he said such nice things to him, Kaito grinning wide as he said, “Am I? Well, if you say it, ‘Kichi, then who am I to argue? I guess I’ll just have to be a wonderful person to my sweet, strong, brave ‘Kichi, who makes it so easy to be wonderful to him...and again! I will one hundred percent accept thanks in the form of Kokichi kisses! When you’re feeling better, of course. I’m keeping a tab.” Kaito teased gently. “Though, because I’m a generous boyfriend too, you can pay some of that tab towards Shuichi too, if you want too. We will be wealthy in Kokichi love.”

...Kaito wanted to apologize for not getting back sooner. But if he brought that up, Kokichi might wonder where Kaito had been and he didn’t want to confess he had been busy throwing a temper tantrum over nothing while Kokichi was feeling sick. So, instead, trying to ease his own guilt on that, he offered, “Well, when we do the pumpkin carving, let’s invite Lake as well, and you can show her how a real pro carves a pumpkin. I’m...I’m sure she’d love to see you carve your first pumpkin too. It’ll be more fun with more people.”

“With us working together, I doubt there’s much we can’t do...or it’ll turn into a giant mess, but it’ll still be fun, I think,” Kokichi hummed, letting himself rest for a moment, just...appreciating Kaito being near him. So far it seemed to be true, but he really hoped Kaito’s immune system was as good as he kept boasting it was. Especially when winter kicked in, since his Luminaries would probably have enough issues dealing with the cold without having to fight off colds. 

He’d take care of them best he could, of course, but...he had a feeling it wouldn’t be as effective. 

Especially when Kaito kept upping the ante. Opening his eyes, Kokichi looked up at Kaito with a soft expression before shifting enough to hold Kaito’s hand against his heart. “...stuff like that is why I keep having to wrack my brain for greater degrees of being wonderful, Kai-chan. We don’t have to invite her...I know you don’t like her...but that you’d offer means a lot. I wish I had half the strength you have to look at...all this nonsense around you and just...cope with it. Wish I knew how to meet you halfway more...to make things easier…”

Kaito frowned, moving the hand on Kokichi’s back down a little, working on the muscle in his lower back now, as he...thought about that. He knew...he knew it was irrational…

“I don’t like her.” Kaito confessed, feeling ashamed of that as he said it...but clarifying, having been trying to reason it out for himself for some time now, “But it’s not...her. Or, I don’t think it’s her, I dislike. I just...I was really, really scared, when she...I didn’t know what was happening, Kokichi. These two people I didn’t know came back with you unconscious and they said they had...they had to knock you out, and...you had just…”

Kaito hesitated. He didn’t want to upset him…

“...you had just told me...that your father hated you. Wished you were never born. And, and, I...where I come from, people...they think like their leaders do. Because they want to please them or because they trust them or...I was so scared, Kokichi… I was scared everyone was abusing you. And I didn’t have any allies here and I didn’t know who I could trust and was married to someone I thought the king wanted dead and...everyone looked like an enemy and she just…”

Kaito sighed, trying to swallow the nerves down. “...she just happened to become the face of all those fears. One of the servants that was abusing you to please the king… it all seemed so… so real to me…”

“...but that’s not her fault...I really wanna try to stop seeing her like that. It’s not fair to you that I can’t let that mental image go…you seem to really care about her. I can make an effort to not be an asshole to someone you care about.”

Kokichi had figured it was something like that but...he hadn’t realized the extent of it. He hadn’t realized that...it was all his fault. 

He just looked at Kaito’s knee for a bit before nodding his head forward to place the barest definition of a kiss to Kaito’s leg. “...I sabotaged you from the start… You didn’t know anyone here and...of course you would think…”

There was a little puff of air against Kaito’s leg. “...I’m so sorry…”

That felt like a single grain of sand to the beach’s worth of regret and remorse Kokichi felt was owed to Kaito. No wonder Kaito had such a hard time feeling okay in the castle, if Kokichi had convinced him that...that everyone was an enemy. With his own...fucking temper tantrums, he obliterated his husband’s social life…

Kokichi wanted to close his eyes against his shame, but that wouldn’t help anyone.

Pressing against Kaito’s leg, Kokichi squeezed his hand as much as his weak grip would allow. “...it’s not fair to you that I created that mental image in the first place. I’m not...I don’t…” He sucked in a breath, the words twisting something in his chest that terrified him...but leaving Kaito out in the dust even a second longer was even worse. “...I’m not...healthy. I have a lot of problems, and especially when we met...I’d convinced myself of things that weren’t real. And I lied about things I knew about, because I was angry and scared a-and...I’m so sorry… I-I…”

Kokichi blinked, almost startled by the way his voice cracked and his eyes filled with tears. All of it...had been his fault… 

“...my dad doesn’t want me dead, and no one had been abusing me,” he sniffed. “Everything...the restrictions and all… It was all ever only to keep me safe, and...and Aiichi didn’t even realize that people were still following those rules all this time...he’s kind of an idiot, but he’s not...he doesn’t hate me. Everyone in this castle...everyone I’ve known growing up...they all only wanted to protect me. No one was...w-was abusing me…”

“No one’s an enemy here… But I made you think…” Kokichi squeezed Kaito’s hand a little more. “...I’ve ruined everything for you…”

Kaito found he had to fight the gut instinct to argue. To defend the initial interpretation he had of everyone here. It wasn’t right, what everyone here had done! It wasn’t right that Kokichi had never left the castle before this!

 ...except Kokichi had left the castle. Literally all the time, from the way his husband talked about it. And even back then, Kaito hadn’t… couldn’t bring himself to believe that people didn’t know Kokichi left the castle. He hadn’t understood why, when he had thought about it back then, they would all know and not say anything while still acting as Kokichi’s wardens for the king… it hadn’t made any sense, and Kaito had grown more and more paranoid that there was just something he was missing, some trick or manipulation by the staff…

...but it made a lot more sense if Kokichi had just been...allowed to leave this whole time and just no one had officially said it? Which was still fucking….what?? But...that was less ‘abuse’ and more just kinda ‘incompetence’...

And it would explain why the king had agreed so easily?? To a cross country trip…

And...and the kitchens were always so busy. Kokichi might not have been allowed to play with knives as a kid, but Kaito could kinda understand now that maybe the kitchen had just yelled at Kokichi to get out of the kitchens for the same reason they scowled at Kaito for barging in whenever he did…

...and Kokichi had tried to explain himself, not long after it happened, that Lake had been right to knock him out, despite how fucking freaked out it had made Kaito feel...how fucking trapped and helpless to help or protect his husband from the staff, who were allowed to hit him??? And… and not even Tengan had been allowed to hit Kaito in places people could officially see it, and Kaito had been so blown away at how casually they had treated hitting his husband, and he had been so angry...was still so angry…

Had been so angry and so scared and hadn’t known what was happening…

And as difficult as it was to kind of… come to terms that the version of reality Kaito had been struggling inside of for the last few months may not have been actually real? In any meaningful way? 

(Had they needed to climb the wall to go to that party? Had Kaito been wrong to lash out at the kitchen staff? God knows everyone keeps trying to explain to him why the league of assassins in the castle was okay…but knowing who the staff was? Their histories? Just made the history of abuse seem so much more possible...)

...despite that? Kaito frowned at Kokichi’s assessment, and shook his head sternly. “You haven't ruined anything, ‘Kichi. And nothing is your ‘fault’.”

“You were so, so stressed out when I first met you. You were going through something impossible, and no one… if you’ve been struggling with stuff like this? The mental health stuff, I mean...it’s not fair that no ones helped you with this stuff yet, even if you were resisting it. You’re so young, ‘Kichi...someone should have been making an effort. Dealing with being sick all the time and your heart attacks and the miscommunications and all the assassination attempts and the guy in the tower and then on top of all that, oh, here’s… heh.”

Kaito laughed, rolling his eyes a little, “Here’s also all of the Luminary problems, in the form of a husband who… who struggles, historically, to tell the difference between what he’s told is true and what actually is...who takes everything said so literally and has such a fucking temper and brought all these mean, violent, difficult people with him to just make that first impression so much harder...none of that is even kind of fair on you, Kokichi. To have to deal with all that, and then try to manage me on top of that? That’s fucking...that was too much to ask of you…that’s an impossible amount of composure to demand of someone...”

“...and it doesn’t matter anyway. Nothing is ruined. Nothing’s irreparable. And it’s my own fault if I’ve made any enemies here. You didn’t make me be an asshole to people. I’m just…. I’m mean to people I don’t like, Kokichi.” Kaito chuckled, looking tired. “I’ve made it my business to be an asshole and a danger to anyone I think deserves it. It’s not a good trait, or a noble one. It just...makes me feel good. Because your husband isn’t always a very good person, ‘Kichi...and if that blows back and hits me in the face? That’s not your fault. That’s just karma babe...that’s my own damn fault. Not yours. You don’t need to take responsibility for that.”

...he had been stressed out. For months. Enough that some weird stranger pushing him in the dirt had been enough to send him into another of countless mini-breakdowns that Kokichi had been having ever since he’d recovered from his big stress breakdown learning that he was going to be married to some weird strange foreign prince. 

And before that… Sometimes, Kokichi had just had days where he was...sad. Not feeling like doing anything even if he had the energy for it. Letting his days waste away when, even back then, he knew he had precious few. Ikuo had always said that Kokichi was justified in being angry or feeling helpless when it came to his health. That it wasn’t fair, and if he felt bad even when he was feeling healthy, that was okay. But then Ikuo had left, and the bad days got even worse, and...he didn’t know what to call them for a long time. Didn’t know what to do besides hole up in his room and just...feel worse and worse about himself. Never talking to anyone about it because he didn’t know how to reach out...and everyone was busy...and he’d ruined enough lives as it was. He didn’t need to burden anyone else. 

And wasn’t that just it? He was a burden. Only making people’s lives worse. Even his father probably hated him…

And it had only snowballed from there. 

“...I didn’t want anyone to know,” Kokichi murmured, somewhat coming to the realization as he said it. “...I didn’t want to burden them...didn’t think I was worth caring about. I can’t stop people from getting close physically...so I just...kept away in every other part. If someone tried to reach out...then I was always stepping away… It’s not fair to… You can only expect people to try so much…”

Kokichi sighed, confused by his own thoughts and not having the energy to sort through them properly, not in a way that wouldn’t confuse Kaito too, when that’s what he wanted to amend. But it all came down to… “...maybe, but you wouldn’t have thought you didn’t like them if I hadn’t implied that there was something to hate. For that...I still sabotaged you.”

“I’m not in charge of your actions...but I’ve influenced you more than I’d like. From my own...fuckin’ irrationality, and from misunderstanding the differences in our cultures… I don’t want to give you a reason to hate...but first impressions are long over now.” Kokichi let himself close his eyes, pressing his forehead against Kaito’s leg. “...another thing to be better about.”

Kaito didn’t really think his husband was in the wrong. But, well...as uncomfortable as a gesture like this personally made him feel?... Kaito took Kokichi’s hand and brought it up to his mouth, kissing his knuckles gently.

“For what it’s worth? If there’s anything to be sorry over? I forgive you for it.” Fuck that felt weird to say, Kokichi shouldn’t need his fucking forgiveness...but maybe saying so would let it not worry his husband so much. “And we’re still learning how to do this. We’ll both be better about things like this...it’s okay. It’ll all be okay. Nothing’s ruined. I’m fine. We’re both fine.”

“I love you, Kokichi.” Kaito promised, kissing his hand again, before letting it lay back down on the bed, pulling the covers up to cover Kokichi’s back now that his back felt mushy and evened out everywhere Kaito could feel it. “And I already know you love me too. Nothing’s ruined.”

“You could at least let me say it…” Kokichi gently teased. He wasn’t really...feeling light enough for teasing, but the words came anyway, soft and light. He wondered what things would look like if he hadn’t...colored Kaito’s perception like that. If Kaito would’ve made friends with so many more people in the castle, like he’d done with Hajime, and looked like he was doing with Waku now, or...if he still would’ve felt too exposed, not knowing how things worked and threatened by their weird way of doing things…

But what was done was done and...Kokichi was going to be more aware of how the things he said would impact how Kaito thought. (...and he hoped Kaito would put Kokichi’s opinions to more critical thought.) And they’d learn and grow and...they’d be okay. They’d figure it out. 

“I love you,” Kokichi said anyway. “Thanks for rubbing my back...and sorry for puking on the floor. ‘S gross…”

“Nah. Super cute. The most adorable vomit ever.” Kaito teased.

Kokichi stuck his tongue out and blew a weak raspberry. “Gross.”

Kaito laughed at that, leaning over to place small kisses on his husband's cheeks, before telling him gently (tasting the sweat on him) that he was going to get a hand towel. Kissing him gently again, promising to be back in just a minute, Kaito headed to the bathroom and got a towel first, cleaning up the floor real quick, before dumping that one in the hamper and getting the hand towel.

Heading back to Kokichi, he paused, his husband's eyes closed. Carefully, in case he was asleep, Kaito sat back down, softly patting the hand towel against his forehead and neck. Staring down at him as he did so, taking him in.

The pink hair was starting to wash out into the purple, and his hair was starting to break apart, not quite going back into its natural shape yet. His skin was still incredibly pale, and getting more pale as the fall grew longer. Little bruises littered him, some from being ill, some from Kaito… and sometimes that made Kaito uncomfortable, and sometimes it made him just happy, and sometimes it made him...well, sometimes Kaito couldn’t keep his eyes off them.

...his future king...he’d do amazing things. Kaito was certain of it.

He just...he just had to stay strong. Be healthy. Kaito had to make certain his husband was as happy and healthy as possible, so Kokichi could do great things...so Kaito would get to see them….

“...I’ll take care of you.” Kaito whispered, “Everything’s going to be fine. I’m here.”

-

To Kokichi’s dismay, it wasn’t just a 24-hour cold. However, that first day did seem to be the worst of it, Kokichi not driven to tears from how out of control his body felt again. He still coughed and had to be careful eating, slept far more than usual and usually needed someone there to at least steady him when he needed to use the bathroom but...the fever cooled by the end of that first day, and Kokichi found he could think through his headache by the middle of the second, and all the while he was slowly building his strength back. 

Not enough that he’d be able to carve a pumpkin, but enough that he could draw on one and show Kaito where to cut. 

Kaito had followed through on his word, and the day before the festival, he’d hauled four large carving pumpkins up to their room, ready for when Haneda and Tim returned from his school and they could have their little party. 

Kokichi had just woken from a nap, wanting to make sure he’d have the energy to keep awake for the whole time. “...so...if you wanna do extra, we can separate the seeds from the goop, send the seeds to the kitchens and the goop to the greenhouse, but no one’s gonna be pissed if we just bring trays of everything down. Considering how many pumpkins are on the market this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if we ended up hiring a temp or an intern to just separate pumpkin guts all season.”

Kaito had a brief instinct to volunteer to help with that, but...ever since this cold started, Kaito had been re-thinking the whole ‘needing a job’ thing. He wanted to support his family, keep them safe, in case anything terrible happened… but he was starting to suspect that whatever terrible thing could happen to them wasn’t likely to be connected to finances. Not in Dicea, anyway. 

So, he wasn’t sure...what to do with that thought. But his therapist said that he seemed to just want to be useful, and if that was his goal, to just keep trying things until found something that made him feel useful. That there was nothing wrong with not finding it right away.

He knew that separating pumpkin guts from seeds was ‘useful’, but he didn’t think he’d feel ‘useful’ doing it. He’d feel more useful, just...being available to Kokichi and Shuichi and Maki and Tim, right now. So, he had decided to put off the job search. 

Which was fine, because as Kaito huffed out a breath, repositioning the large pumpkins so that everyone would have plenty of space to work, before putting down the trays and the instruments they’d need to do the projects, his family kept him plenty busy as Maki knockd on the door, opening it up as she said, deadpan, “He invited his friends. I told him it was fine.”

Three kids ran in, Tim and Kimiko immediately running to the biggest pumpkin available as Tim called out , “Dibs!”, as Cali ran to the bed, enthusiastically shouting out, “Good Afternoon, Kokichi! Are you still sick!?” she asked, looking very, very much like she was thinking of throwing her body against the bed, with Kaito only just catching her in the air before pulling her back.

“He’s doing better, but he is still sick, Cali! Let’s not touch the bed, we don’t want you getting sick too.” Kaito laughed, giving Maki a Look, who just shrugged, as Kaito gently pushed Cali back towards the other kids, the pink-haired girl enthusiastically running back to them. “Where’s Shuichi?”

“With Haneda. They’re trying to find Ikou and Lake, let them know we’re starting. Kokichi, are you certain you want to do this in here?” Maki asked him, looking to the prince, “There’s a thousand rooms in this castle, we don’t need to make your bedroom smell like raw pumpkin. It’s not too late to move this.”

Kokichi barely had enough time to pull a blanket over his face before Cali lunged at him. It wasn’t perfect since...well, it was his room, and any germs he’d spread were likely all over it...though...he’d probably spread what he was going to spread to Tim, and despite the heavy encouragement to stay home when you were sick, schools were still one of the worst hotbeds for illness, so the kids had probably come into contact with whatever Kokichi had caught anyway… But he still felt better trying to keep his germs away. 

“Hi, Cali--it’s good to see you and Kimiko. I hope you guys had a good day at school.” Even behind the blanket, Kokichi still grinned at the kids. Over time it had become less of a ‘thank goodness Tim has friends’ and just...extended happiness to see his nephew’s friends. They still came for training every morning, but especially with the weather getting colder and colder--and training time always being before the sun really had a chance to warm things up even the little it was doing these days--the most Kokichi tended to do was check in on the group from a window, often too sleepy and too greedy to keep his warmth to drop by the backyard. 

Considering Maki’s words...Kokichi really should’ve expected Cali and Kimiko to join in. And with everyone there. “...I think you’re right, but more, er, ‘cause I don’t want anyone to catch what I have… Sorry, Kai-chan, for bringing all the pumpkins here. And could someone get me my mask? We could just use one of the empty rooms in the hall if we don’t wanna go far.”

“Aw, man, are we moving the pumpkins?” Kaito groaned, “Damn...can we at least stay on this floor? What about the mirror room, that dance studio place? Lots of open floor space.”

“Why not the room that you’ve been trying to cook in, Kaito? Having a bunch of sinks around would make clean up easier.” Maki pointed out.

“There are always other people coming in and out of there...I mean, maybe that’s not a bad thing, but I’d feel kinda in the way. And the mirror room is almost always empty, whenever I walk by it.” Kaito huffed, before shrugging. “Kitchen would be easier...ugh, farther though.”

“We can help carry the pumpkins, Mr. Kaito.” Kimiko offered, standing next to a pumpkin that was literally, actually half her size.

“Oh, you can, huh?” Kaito snorted, before getting up and saying, “How about this, Kimiko, I’ll carry the pumpkin and you can open the doors for me, kay?”

“Here, your mask.” Maki said, bringing Kokichi’s mask to him from the closet doorknob. Turning to Kaito, she said, “Well, if we’re going, let’s start moving them now. Let’s just do the kitchen. If anyone wants to complain, Cali can challenge them to a spar over it.”

“YES!!”

“Thanks, Maki-chan,” Kokichi quietly thanked, ducking under his blanket to slip on the ear loops and fix the attachment at the back. Again, not perfect, but it would help, and when it came to vira, every little bit counted. Mask donned, Kokichi dropped the blanket and carefully slipped out of bed, still feeling a bit of a headrush, but he remained steady. He didn’t mind walking around the castle in his pajamas, but...a little extra warmth would do him well. 

Carefully making his way to their closet to grab a robe, there was a knock at the door before it opened, revealing the rest of their party. Haneda narrowed her eyes a little, watching Kaito heft up one of the pumpkins. “...thought we were doing this here?”

“Change of plans!” Kokichi chirped, tying himself snugly up in a fluffy purple robe. “We’re headed to the kitchen workshop--easier clean up, as Maki-chan pointed out, and, ah, you all don’t have to deal with sitting where I’ve been coughing for the past two days.”

Ikuo nodded quietly with a low hum, coming in to pick up another pumpkin, Haneda sighing before she followed suit, and Lake...hesitated for a moment, glancing to Kaito before she entered the princes’ (and their boyfriend’s) room, lifting up the remaining pumpkin before she sent a dazzling grin to the younger nanny/housekeeper. “Hey, Haneda, wanna watch me carry two of these babies? I totally can, and it’ll save you the effort!”

Haneda just rolled her eyes. “I’m not your wife, don’t show off.”

Lake just laughed louder, though the way her cheeks went red had nothing to do with the weight of the pumpkin she was holding. “Sure! You’ve got it!”

“Are you married, Lake?” Kaito asked, not...entirely certain how he should act around her, and just settling on being polite for now as he patiently waited for Kimiko to open the door, who did so. Under Maki’s instruction, Tim and Cali started picking up the trays, spoons and knives, following the adults behind. 

As the kids went off, Shuichi walked into the room around them, looking to Maki quizzically, who replied, “Room change. Now you won’t go to sleep to night trying to breath around the small of pumpkin.”

Shuichi shrugged, before smiling at Maki. “Thanks.” Turning to Kokichi, he went to go offer his boyfriend an arm as he looked him up and down, “That naps seemed to help a bit...walk me to the new room?” he asked. “Do you want to have any of the medicine before we go? Or just some water?”

If it were possible, Lake went even redder. And louder. “Ha! HA! No, it’s just a joke around here, Prince Kai! Everyone knows that ‘Zumi and I are friends; thick as thieves! Not, phu-ha, dating, o-or married or anything. Just a joke!” 

“Just propose already and shut up…” Haneda grumbled, following suit in the pumpkin train. 

Kokichi gratefully took Shuuichi’s arm, squeezing it gently in greeting. He might be able to make it to the kitchen on his own...but it was safer to have some help. “Hey, honeypie. And I’m good--Kai-chan helped me with water and medicine when I woke up. Thanks, though. At this rate...I really think I’ll be able to make it to the festival tomorrow. Have you been able to see any of the set-up? See anything you really wanna go see?”

“I haven't. I haven't been out of the castle in a few days.” Shuichi explained, holding Kokichi’s weight a little as they walked, “But I hear people talk about things. Apparently there’s going to be a lot of artwork on display? That sounds like it could be fun to see.”

Kaito had no idea who ‘Zumi was, but it sounded like Lake had a crush. So, he had to guess it was the other person not interested in the relationship, if her affection was this obvious and they still weren’t dating. That’s a shame…

Getting into the kitchen, Kimiko held the door open as the line of pumpkin carvers walked in, Kaito putting his pumpkin down on the large metal table set up in the center of the room..before laughing awkwardly at the poor person who was staring at the line of people arriving, a pie clearly cooking in the oven. “Sorry! Sorry! We’re not using the ovens, don’t let us get in your way!”

The person’s nose...wrinkled a little, something clearly distasteful in the expression, before shrugging, returning to reading their book, waiting for their pie to finish.

“Ooo, that sounds great… Like, there are always the pumpkin carvings, and sometimes people make sculptures out of them, but it doesn’t sound like that’s what people mean if they’re just saying ‘artwork’... I wonder what it’ll be!” They probably didn’t mean decorations either, unless someone went above and beyond. Usually no one did anything actually scary outside of the haunted house, though, so even if there were ghost decorations up, it shouldn’t be anything that would spook Kaito out too much. 

Thankfully there were chairs in the workshop too, so once they were all inside, Kokichi quietly asked Shuuichi to drop him off at one. If they were going to use counters instead of the floor...this was better for him. 

“Alright, so the first step to pumpkin carving is scooping out all the goop! Everyone, at your pumpkins! First, cut a circle on the top, around the stem--make it bigger than you think, it makes it easier to get all the goop out, and to get the candle in at the end.” Despite never making one of his own, Kokichi had watched jack-o’-lantern carving enough to know how to do it, so he took up the role of instructing. 

It looked like the kids were working on one, Maki standing by with sharp eyes and quick hands, and Kokichi knew he and Kaito were going to work on one…

Tipping his hat to the younger man, Ikuo approached Shuuichi. “Mind if I help ya? Ain’t ever been used ta designin’, but helpin’ out with the hand-craftin’ is more down my alley...an’ it looks like Bunny’s got that covered.”

...which left Haneda and Lake to gather around the last pumpkin, Lake declaring that their teamwork would bring about great things, while Haneda sighed and resigned herself to making a jack-o’-lantern, and not looking after the kids like she thought. 

Kaito frowned, trying to work out the best way to approach this...before starting to make little stabs into the top, not fully going in, making small holes. Then, when he had finished the little series of stabs, he tipped the pumpkin to Kokichi’s direction, “What do you think, babe? Should I go bigger before I cut?”

Shuichi took out his journal, opening it up to a blank page and started by making a simple but eerily accurate silhouette of the pumpkin they were working on, saying to Ikou, “Alright, what if we did this? Or...hold on, let me give you a couple options, give me a second.” Shuichi mumbled, brow furrowing as he redrew the pumpkin several times on the page, before jotting down little ideas as he murmured to himself.

“Cali, if you don’t hold the damn knife like I showed you, you’re going to lose knife privileges.” Maki snarled, watching as Cali held the knife with two hands, thumping it down onto the top of the pumpkin as Kimiko and Tim held it steady.

The person watched from the corner, looking up from their book every now and again.

As Kaito took Kokichi’s advice on the top, he suddenly said, “Oh! Lake, Haneda, I’m planning to make a run to get the ingredients for hot chocolate and some tea in a bit. I’m getting both, but you two have a preference for what kind of tea you want? Ikou?”

“Maybe a little bigger, but, yeah, that seems like the easiest way to cut any piece out--go for it, hun!”

Ikuo just nodded, appreciating an artist’s vision as he got to work prepping the pumpkin for whatever Shuuichi had in mind, his skill at pumpkin carving not diminished, it seemed, by his years away. Or, if it had, he was still pretty good, and neither he nor Kokichi were telling. 

Meanwhile, Haneda had just stopped Lake from stabbing right through the pumpkin, but seemed content to let the guard scoop out the innards, Lake’s gloves set off to the side and her sleeves rolled up. It was when Lake was elbow-deep in the gourd, scraping at the walls with one of the spoons they’d brought up that she looked up at Kaito’s question. “Oh, that’s a great idea! Just lemme know if you want another pair of hands getting everything!”

“Preferably ones not covered in pumpkin,” Haneda griped before nodding tersely at Kaito. “Keemun, please.”

There was a little huff from Ikuo, a fond laugh if you knew how to read it. “I’ll take th’ hot chocolate, thanks Kaito. You still workin’ on the cookin’ lessons?”

“Um, yeah, as much as I’m ever working on them.” Kaito shrugged, feeling a little sheepish at the question, “I learned from Chako how to make ribs the other day? I mean, we didn’t actually make the ribs, she just went over it with me and I tried making them in here...uh…”

“It’s why the third floor smelled like smoke the other day.” Tim supplied, Cali snickering as Kimiko took some of the innards from her, stacking what Tim and Cali were fishing out neatly onto the tray. “He burned it.”

“Ribs take a real long time to cook, and I got this idea in my head that if I cooked at a higher temperature, it’d cook faster? Yeah…” Kaito chuckled, “Not how that works.” 

Making new holes around the top of the pumpkin, slightly bigger, Kaito finally finished cutting through his pumpkin top, taking it off as he started digging out the insides, slopping them onto the trays, before saying to Haneda, “So, Haneda, are you going to the festival? We’re planning on taking Tim, so you can have the day to yourself if you want it.”

Ikuo shook his head with another little, fond laugh. “She really doesn’t put on any a’ the kiddie gloves for ya. Tarts an’ ribs...would’n be surprised it she had ya makin’ custard next. ‘Least ya won’t be gettin’ bored with anythin’.” 

Cleaning up the errant strings that didn’t quite make it onto their tray, Haneda huffed, shaking her head. “I’ll probably be by to grab some food, but festivals aren’t my scene. I’ll be back here, enjoying the castle being as quiet as it ever gets. I’ll be here if you need me, but don’t need me.” She sent something of a quick glance over to Maki, amused with herself for stealing a line. 

“A quiet castle sounds just as good as a festival, honestly. Maybe even better...Tim. If you follow through on that thought, I’ll kill you.” Maki promised, watching Tim eyeing up the back of Cali’s neck, carrying some pumpkin gunk in his palm for just a tad too long as he considered the prank. Tim frowned, giving Maki an annoyed look before putting the gunk down on the tray, Cali none the wiser.

The person in the corner looked up from their book, a concerned look at Maki’s threat, though they went back to their book when nothing came of it. Luminaries...so barbaric…

Shuichi jotted down a few more ideas, before showing them to Ikou. “What do you think of number three? I’m not terribly creative, which is kinda why all of them look so much alike...sorry.” Shuichi frowned, looking a little embarrassed, as he looked at the side profiles of a bunch of mythical animals, “But I think the third ones kind of interesting. Do you think we could manage the teeth?” he said, looking at the outline of a dragon's face.

Kaito looked over at Kokichi, taking the sharp end of his knife and saying, “Okay, let’s outline something. Any ideas, babe? We gotta make it good, I get the feeling we’re going to have some competition, if the way Shuichi and Ikou are looking over his journal are any indication...I think they’re really thinking it through.” Kaito said, narrowing his eyes at his boyfriend and father-in-law, “We can’t let them leave us in the dust!”

Slotting the top of the pumpkin back in place, Ikuo dried off his hand, humming as he looked over Shuuichi’s sketches. “Ain’t nothin’ I’m lookin’ at worth bein’ embarrassed over, son. Ya got a good hand an’ a good eye. Tha dragon looks good--there’s a trick too, where ya only scrape at th’ outside so the light comes through without bein’ empty space. Might work out for this design.”

Kokichi carefully walked over to the counter and took up a marker instead of the knife. “A lot of people make silly faces for their pumpkins, and I kind of like doing that, but for something more ambitious…” He thought for a moment before starting to loosely draw out an outline, something resembling a cute cat starting to come through. “We could use some of the cut parts to make ears, and do something creative for the whiskers...what do you think?”

Kaito grinned, leaning over to kiss Kokichi on the cheek as he said, “Cute, I love it. Easily the best idea, Kokichi.”

“...Come on, Ikou, let’s make ours really cool.” Shuichi huffed, pouting, before taking one of the smaller knives and starting to make little holes in the cut off top bit as he muttered, “Best idea? Sure, uh huh. Just you watch…”

As the kids looked over, seeing Kaito gushing over his pumpkin with Kokichi and the area around Shuichi get...colder? Blasting a chilly wind the same way Maki generated furious heat as he found himself getting jealous and competitive, one of the kids finally asked the others, “So, what are we doing with ours?”

“Making a smiley, scary face. Right? I thought that was what we marked out.” Tim said, looking curiously at Cali, as she just frowned.

“They’re making dragons and cats and stuff, though. Can’t we do anything cooler?” She pouted.

“I mean, we’ve already started on the face…” Tim pointed out.

“Oh...I know. I have an idea.” Kimiko laughed, smiling sweetly at both of them, before turning to maki as she said, “Miss Maki? Can you help us make a-” before whispering to her.

Maki smirked and nodded.

Ikuo smiled to himself, more amused than anything by the rivalry between his son, pseudo son-in-law, and super pseudo son-in-law. His kid had found a good family. “You’re the boss, Shuuichi. I’ll just be yer hand where ya need ‘em.”

“...and then the scales are gonna be latticed, yeah!? Super cool!” Lake gushed over her idea for a hero taking down a giant monster, not a cut or a mark on the pumpkin until Haneda sighed, taking up a marker. 

“The whole damn thing is going to collapse that way. Just...let me mark it out, and you can take the big pieces out. Then we can carve the rest. Just don’t. Touch. Anything unless I’ve marked it out.”

Kokichi hummed to himself, resisting the urge to actually mark in the shading, but before long a cute cat licking its paw came into being on the pumpkin. “Alright...I think I’ll leave the cutting to you. I don’t… I think it’d be better for someone not gonna suddenly cough to handle the knives, you know?”

Kaito grinned at the markings put down, marveling as he said, “If I don’t mess up the cuts, that’s going to look amazing babe...and it’s fine. You can help cut next time.” Kaito insisted, taking the knife and starting to carve into the marked areas as he said, “When you’re ready to do it, someday, we’ll ask Maki to join us. She won’t let you cut yourself, you know how she is. If she can get Cali through today without so much as a nick? Teaching you will be a piece of cake. Right Maki?” Kaito called over the table. “...Maki?”

Maki, in turn, had somehow found some metal utensils throughout the kitchen, and had...essentially twisted all the metal together, clearly working out a shape on them, while in the corner, the person watched her, visibly outraged. Maki looked up from her small metal sculpture at hearing her name called, as she said, “What? Yeah?”

Kaito’s grin twitched, and he looked over at the person in the corner. “Uh, we’re going to replace those! No worries!”

The person grumbled at that, going back to their book.

“...anyway, yeah. Next time, ‘Kichi. Alright, give me five more minutes to start cutting, then I’ll take a break and go get the stuff we need to make drinks! Uh…” Kaito glanced at Lake. just...knowing that he needed to be trying extra hard to make an effort today as he said, “Lake? Still okay with helping me bring up ingredients?”

Kokichi smiled a little, though under his mask you could only really see the tiredness in his eyes. He wondered if he really was allowed to use knives for this kind of thing...but, regardless, he wanted to try. And...be very careful with it. Don’t cut towards yourself, make light preliminary cuts...all those things. 

Maki would definitely help but…

“Pfff…” Kokichi laughed through a sigh, shaking his head at Maki’s art project. Well, as long as she was having fun… Maybe they could buy some scrap off of Mr. Izayoi and she could experiment more. 

Lake looked back up when she heard her name, Haneda quickly swooping in to take care of some more delicate areas while she was distracted. “Totally! I’ll just wash my hands then be good to go when you are!”

Haneda wasn’t sure if it was wiser to work on the detail work or the broader strokes in Lake’s absence, positive that the older woman would slice through it all no matter what she was working on.

Kaito started the cutting process, doing his best to keep Kokichi engaged as he took up the bulk of this part of this process, making idle conversation and gushing over Kokichi’s design as he cut through. The more he gushed over Kokichi’s design, the chillier things got around Shuichi, and was helping Ikou best as he could while glaring at Kaito, both jealous of Kaito’s attention towards Kokichi, but more annoyed at Kaito then he was at Kokichi for it. 

After a bit, Kaito sighed and said, “Okay, let me just wash my hands, Lake, and we can head down. I know I should have gotten the ingredients earlier, but I wanted milk up here and this room doesn’t have a fridge so...was worried it would spoil while it sat. Ya know?”

“Kaito! Grab some butter knives for me too!” Maki called out, still fussing with her metal sculpture. “I need more material! 

“Um...kay!” Kaito called out, just, like, endlessly concerned.

“Kokichi, wanna work on our pumpkin while Kaito’s gone? Ikou’s showing me how to thin certain parts of the pumpkin.” Shuichi said, carefully watching Ikou’s hands.

Kokichi really appreciated Kaito. After not too long, he had tottered his way back to his chair, finding himself tiring just from leaning against the counter, but though he couldn’t contribute much, Kaito still made him feel like he was a part of it. Like they really were having a big family event with everyone working. 

When it was time for Kaito and Lake to go get the drinks, though, Kokichi looked over to his boyfriend and dad, feeling that same appreciation. “Um...I mean, I’ll watch. Can’t really help much…

Grumbling, Ikuo sent his son a withering look from under the brim of his cap. “Havin’ a guidin’ eye is still helpin’, Bunny. Ain’t gon’ leave ya by yer lonesome.”

Carefully, Kokichi moved his chair over nearer to Shuuichi and Ikuo, taking a good look at what they’d made so far. “...oh, it’s going to be a dragon, right? That’s super cool! I always love how super sharp points look on jack-o’-lanterns.”

Tugging her gloves back on, Lake left alongside Kaito, a little nervous being alone with the guy who still hated her guts...but that just meant she had to try harder! For Kokichi’s sake, if not her own pride. 

“Hey, thanks for inviting me to this. I know I’m not your first draft pick or anything,” she dryly laughed, “but that just makes it mean more that I’m here. Think of me what you will, but my opinion hasn’t changed, Kaito--you’re a good guy.”

Shuichi preened a little, a little appeased that one of his boyfriends liked his idea, as he confessed to Kokichi, “I’m not exactly doing a lot of cutting either. Ikou’s got it and I feel like I’d be more in the way trying to do any of it myself. Sides, uh...probably best I not get cut. I think I’d freak out more than just you, Kokichi.” He said, saying this last part quietly as he glanced over at the person in the corner, just by coincidence his eyes flashing pink as they moved through the lighting of the room. “Better safe than sorry, right?”

Outside, on the stairs, Kaito rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, “Uh, yeah...about that...look, I’m...I’m real sorry about that spar I bullied you into, however long ago that was. That wasn’t...I know that wasn’t super helpful, especially considering spars don’t really mean the same thing here as they do back home? Um...that probably all seemed pretty crazy. I’m sorry I did that.”

“Daddy’s got a lot of practice,” Kokichi laughed. “He’s good at making what you have in your head come into reality.”

“Only ‘cause I got good directions,” Ikuo hummed, indeed following Shuuichi’s guide dutifully. 

Kokichi’s expression softened as he caught Shuuichi’s glance (and the pink), and he lowered his voice a bit. “...you doin’ alright? In general, and… I mean...I’d feel awful if I got you sick…” He was asking about that, but…

Shuuichi had been doing well lately. Really well. Enough that Kokichi could almost forget sometimes that being pregnant wasn’t the only health thing going on with him. Shuuichi hadn’t talked about hurting himself or...wanting to be degraded...or Nao, anything about her, really, in a while. But just because he wasn’t talking about it didn’t mean that nothing was going on. 

Lake laughed again, though it was softer, and she ran a re-gloved hand through her hair. “Ah, nah, don’t worry about that--old news, under the bridge! It was kinda weird...but nothing completely bonkers, you know? I liked sparring with you, even if your arm was broken and it was kinda not for practice and for...having a personal talk? That’s what that was for, right? I didn’t get it double wrong?”

Shuichi nodded, smiling softly. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine. And honestly, I’m actually really curious to see if I’ll get sick this season with anything? I know I’m...not experimenting or an experiment or anything like that, but I really can’t explain to you how physically stronger I’ve felt since...doing all this.” Shuichi said vaguely, glancing over at the kids, who were daring each other to try eating some of the pumpkin guts. 

“I mean, would not recommend it, it was all a terrible idea, but the strength stuff that I originally did it for? Still a thing, even, as far as I can tell, under the effects of the medicine...though maybe that’s just in my head.” Shuichi admitted, “If it’s not? I’m curious if my immune system got the same bump as everything else did.”

And as for the...other stuff?

Shuichi found that he was fine so long as he just...refused to think about it at all. Sometimes, something would make him think of The Week, and everything that had come from that period of time, and he’d feel his heart start to thump, and his stomach would twist, and he’d start to sweat...and, sure, once or twice, while that terror was starting to nip at his stomach, he had desperate thoughts of ‘If I was on the pollen, this wouldn’t feel so bad.’... but then he’d find something to distract himself, just, doing his best not to think about it, until the terror went away. 

Suppressing trauma was totally healthy and would work long term, right? Shuichi was fiiiine.

Downstairs, Kaito nodded. “Yeah, it’s...it’s…” He sighed, trying to think of how to explain it to someone who hadn’t grown up in the culture, just one of those sort of ‘unwritten’ things that Kaito hadn’t realized wasn’t universal till he had tried it here, “...it’s a way to have an argument with someone that you suspect will become violent regardless? But...with less risk of someone dying. Like, if the argument gets heated, and one of the people sparring wants to kill the other one? It’s easier to keep those impulses in check because you’re already doing a fight that you know and are practiced at that has, like...rules. You know? Usually someone watching, reffing. Concessions that it’s illegal to ignore. It’s harder to accidentally kill someone when you’re in a structured fight, even if you’re really, really enraged and can barely think. Just cause you’re so practiced sparring.”

“...I mean. That’s why we do it that way in Luminary, I mean. Lots of people die due to impulse killing. So, ya know...ya gotta try to take precautions. We have a lot of little rituals to mitigate people's desires to kill each other at home, though I never really thought about what the purpose of them was before coming here.” Kaito confessed, chuckling lightly. 

Kokichi nodded a bit. “I hope that you don’t get sick… Like, I’d always wish that, but whenever you have extra complications to your health, it’s always that much scarier…” Such as what would likely just be a little cold even for more susceptible people turning into a multi-day event for him. And while Shuuichi probably wouldn’t appreciate every conversation becoming about the baby, it wasn’t just the spores in his system that had Kokichi concerned about illness. 

What had happened to Miyako was physical trauma, but illness couldn’t be good either…

Giving Shuuichi a smile, Kokichi shrugged. “You’ve always been strong as long as I’ve known you, so I can’t help you there… And you probably have to add in that you’ve been going to training regularly for a while. But I’m glad you’re doing alright. A happy, healthy Shuu-chan is a top-notch Shuu-chan in my eyes.”

Meanwhile, Lake just had to...absorb that for a while, before she laughed lowly under her breath. “That’s wild. I know I’m kind of in a unique position myself, but… Guess it’s not such a big deal to know murderers in your neck of the woods, then. But if that’s your world, it’s good that you’ve figured out ways to temper that, yanno, systematically.” She waved her hand vaguely, not really knowing how to quantify all those rituals Kaito talked about. 

“Sure, we get arguments that get physical, and that’s most of what my job is, really. But once you break the flow, most folks around here aren’t interested in killing. It’s not the solution they want, you know? Not worth the toll either--guilt and rejection, and whatever comes from the government is more of an afterthought to most.” 

“In any case,” she grinned over at Kaito, “‘spose I should thank you for...putting together a precaution so you wouldn’t kill me? I wouldn’t let you, but everyone gets lucky sometimes.”

“Yeah. Dicea’s ideas of killing are...really hard to get my head around.” Kaito admitted, sighing. “At home, for everyone except the guardforce, the only thing that matters is why the person died. If the fucker had it coming? No one cares, you can literally leave the body in the street. And the only reason the guardforce has to remain neutral is because if they let all of the killers go because the kill was justified, then eventually the honor killings will get out of control. Everyones got a family member duty bound to take vengeance, ya know? Even the assholes. But you guys? I don’t know...it’s like you look at all deaths the same. Like, exactly the same. It’s so strange to me.”

“...sorry, this is a morbid topic. I really was just trying to apologize. And, heh, based on how that spar went? Killing you would be kinda hard.” Kaito admitted, snickering at her, before adding in, “Well, for a one armed guy, anyway. Now? Eh. I wouldn’t count myself out...look. In all seriousness?”

“...you...you didn’t deserve me wanting to kill you.” Kaito said, looking warily at a passing pair of people on the stairs, keeping his voice low. “I thought...I misunderstood the situation. I thought…” Kaito sighed, frustrated with himself, “Look, Kokichi told me right off the bat that this wasn’t the case. That you were just doing what you needed to do. But I had this idea stuck in my head that you and other people were just...taking advantage of him. Abusing him. And I didn’t know...I didn’t know how to react, so I made a bunch of weird decisions, and a lot of those decisions were disproportionately directed at you, specifically. And I’m really sorry about that. You’re not some abusive guard beating my husband to make his father happy. I’m sorry that it took me so long to come to understand that. You didn’t deserve any of, ya know...my fucking temper and dirty looks. I was wrong.”

Lake hummed, a firm look on her face as she tried to think through something she didn’t quite fully understand. “I think...it’s less that we think about the killing, and more just the end result that someone’s dead. Something could be justified or completely out of the blue but...someone’s still dead. No chance for redemption, all their possible contributions thrown in the trash. I guess in that way, we do look at it all the same. ‘Cept for people advocating for genocide but...yanno. They take those problems to the top--I’m not paid to come up with those solutions and I’m glad for it.”

“And don’t worry about it, Prince Kai--I’m kinda used to these sorts of conversations.” 

Lake’s expression had sobered a bit, but that only grew as Kaito...apologized to her. Something she hadn’t seen coming...like, at all. Ever. She’d figured that...she and Kaito would just step past this for Kokichi’s sake and just...never address it for the rest of their lives? 

But the prince was a surprising guy too. 

Snorting, not totally sure how to react to such a profound apology, Lake looked off to the side. “Aw geez… Seriously, I think it’d take half the guardforce to pry either Aiichi or Ikuo off me if I ever hurt Kokichi. You’re not alone in those feelings, believe me.” She sighed and shyly looked back over at Kaito. “...thanks. I really liked you, you know? Kokichi was terrified about the marriage, but just that little bit we talked...you felt like someone that we all could feel okay with matching him up with. Of course, it turned out to be more complicated ‘cause it always is, but...yanno, I just was happy that you seemed to be treating him right so...it didn’t matter if you hated me all of a sudden.” 

“I’m used to that sort of stuff, but Kokichi…” She smiled fondly, thinking of her sort of little brother/nephew that she hadn’t spent nearly enough time with. “He’s really strong in some ways, but he’s got a fragile heart. If he lets you in, you have all the power in the world to hurt him. I’d take you being an asshole to me a million times over if it meant that you were going to be good to him.”

“...but it’s nice to know that it was a misunderstanding.” Perking back up, Lake offered a hand. “If you wanna, we could just call it square and try again? I gotta say, I’d be pretty bummed to not be friends with a fellow cape-appreciator.” 

Kaito glanced at the hand and...found himself wanting to ask her if she was another failed assassin first. Some of the things she was saying sounding a little...grim and cryptic, and man, really...another one?

But, Kaito had promised to try to be less judgmental to the childhood assassins too. He was the leaderboard of ‘Kichi muder, after all, what right did he have to judge them? So, giving her a small smile, he took her hand and shook it. “Sure. Maybe I can show you some of the sketches I’ve put together for this really interesting cape I saw during a drug trip for one of my religious rituals. I’m still struggling to get the details down, but I think once I’ve got it all remembered, I’m going to have it made. Who knows, maybe Atua wanted it to exist and that’s why I saw it.” Kaito shrugged.

Getting to the dining hall, there was a break of conversation as they collected all the quested things. Milk, hot chocolate powder, some marshmallows, the variety of teas, and all of that on trays that had mugs and a tea set they could warm in the kitchen. Dividing it up between the two, they headed back upstairs.

On the way up, Kaito couldn’t fight himself on it anymore, as he said warily, “So...you keep saying stuff about ‘knowing murderers’ and having conversations about death...look, I’m not trying to find some new reason to have beef with you. I’m really, really trying to make an effort to, I don’t know...follow my husband's lead on this, I guess. But...are you one of the people that LRG sent after Kokichi, like, a decade ago?”

“Oooo, a vision from god and/or cool drug visuals! No matter what, it’s gotta look awesome!”

Once they’d collected all the pieces and ingredients for the group’s drinks, Lake and Kaito were headed back up and...she couldn’t help but stop for a moment, looking at Kaito in surprise before a barking laugh escaped her. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry for freaking you, dude. I’m kinda just used to people already knowing. Nah, I’m not--though, you’re friends with Waku, right? If it’s something you’re working through, you’re working through it, but those assholes were just as bad to her and the others than they meant to be to Prince K.”

In some cases worse, but that wasn’t her story to tell.

“No, I killed my parents, and my roommate killed a few folks in...I guess you’d call it a psychotic break? If you don’t count the vets...then we’re some of the only murderers you’d find around here. Kinda gives you a reputation.” One that Lake had weathered for long enough that she could talk about it plainly and hold her head high, but the lack of her usual boundless enthusiasm said enough about how it still affected her. 

“Oh.” Kaito blinked, looking at Lake with new interest. That was...probably a bad thing. But, she hadn’t tried to kill Kokichi, so… 

“...I’m sorry about that.” Kaito said, frowning. “That must be hard, being the only people like you in a place like this…” he sighed, feeling tired. He wanted to assume that if she was still here, and if Kokichi liked her, then the deaths were all probably justified, but...Dicea didn’t work that way. He really had no way of telling what kind of person he was talking to, or what her friend was like. He hoped it wasn’t something that would ruin this...this attempt to get past their misunderstandings with each other.

...it’s not like he could judge on this either, though, really.

“...I won’t ask you to talk about it, if you don’t want to.” Kaito decided, before, again, keeping his voice low, he said, “...but...I can...I mean, sometimes…” Kaito’s face tensed. Gripping his tray harder. “...I mean, sorry, sorry, I’m just struggling to find my words. I’m just saying that maybe I can relate more than most people…or, uh...like, maybe sometimes it’s...maybe that’s just what...”

...maybe just sometimes people had to kill their parents a-and that was all there was to it...

...Kaito sighed, realizing he couldn’t say that out loud, giving up as he said, “Nevermind. I’m just sorry that you’ve been dealing with that. You seem a good sort. I’m sure you wouldn’t have made a decision like that idly.”

Lake laughed softly, less enthusiastic than her usual, but still light. “Don’t worry about it, Prince Kai. Like I said, I’m used to it. Little more used to people reading the court case or just hearing about it and wanting to talk about it, but it’s fine if you don’t know what to say. Even coming from Luminary, guess stuff like this is still hard to talk about, huh?”

She sighed, looking tired. “...what you were worried about when it comes to Kokichi? That’s what I was dealing with. I was eleven. Folks came home wasted and caught me trying to run away. Things got violent, as they always did, and I thought I was going to die so...got to them first. It was defensive and I was a kid, so I got off lighter than most would...than most people wished I had...but, yanno. That’s the story, more or less. We used to joke that I was Ikuo’s trial run for nannying before Kokichi was born.”

“Oh…” Kaito thought about it, before nodding. “Good. Fuck them. I hope they’re having a miserable time in their trials.”

“I know killing doesn’t feel good. Even when it’s justified. But even if it doesn’t feel good, that doesn’t make it a bad thing. Some people need to die.” Kaito said idly...before a guilty look flashed across his face, saying quickly to Lake, “Um, though, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell Kokichi I said that. I really am trying to change my outlook on that. Be more Dicean. Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that at all...but, even with that said. I’m still sorry you dealt with all that. Abusing people who can’t defend themselves...fuck them.”

Kaito grinned slightly at the mention of Ikou, “Ikou really is a sweet soul. If you were both partly raised by him, then I can see where your forgiving natures came from. I really thought Ikou was going to hold being Luminary against me, being an active duty fighter for so long, but he never so much as threw me a second glance. He’s very kind...and really pretty.”

Lake shot Kaito a side look, not actually that surprised to hear him say something like that, but…her expression darkened. Hardened.  “...some people need to die, but not them. Death was too good for them, and involving me in their shitty lives was too good for them. What they deserved was being left to rot, tortured by their own thoughts until they wished for death. Not even getting it then, and trying to make up for it the rest of their long, miserable existence, and only then dying, forgotten and disregarded by the world…”

Her voice had dropped to a growl by the end, not even two decades fully dulling her anger about how her parents had ended up shaping her life...but then Lake took a breath and gave Kaito a cooly amused look. “There--now we both have things we’d rather not get back to Kokichi. Square again!”

Like the rest of the castle, Lake had wished they’d gotten to send that horrible woman from the Luminary Party to trial. Banishment was pretty severe...but just to someone who lived in Dicea. For someone who was only there for an event...it was barely a punishment at all. And Lake didn’t get the impression that the woman even had a conscience, that she was human at all. 

Even with the more unrepentant types, isolation had a way of making people crack. 

It would likely never be something that came up all that often, but the normalization of death in Luminary as a consequence...most Diceans would consider it foolish and letting people get off too light.

Lake snorted at Kaito’s last comment, talk of Ikuo bringing her bright smile back as she nudged their shoulders together. “Ah, ew, c’mon Prince Kai--that’s my dad you’re talking about!”

Kaito tensed when Lake touched him, kind of wishing he could get a little further away from her. That whole speech...it was so much like talking to Hideki again. He felt sick… he suddenly felt so tense. That ‘end of the world’ feeling coming back.

Dicea’s suicide rates must be insane… God, he suddenly wanted to die…

Kaito tensed his shoulders and reminded himself that he wasn’t the type of person to think like that. He wasn’t like that. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to die. He had a baby coming and his family and a whole future and he wanted to live for that. The feeling would go away. It would go away. It’s okay...you’re okay…

Kaito thought of the rings on his hand and tried to focus on that memory instead. He was Kokichi’s hero. He wasn’t a monster. You have to stay alive to help Kokichi. Kokichi’s going to do great things. Shuichi’s having your baby. You have to focus on that instead…

Kaito gave Lake a wary, strained grin “Yeah, heh, sorry...um, yeah. Thanks for talking to me, Lake. I appreciate you hearing out my apology.”

Lake could be oblivious to a lot of things (the whole damn castle almost felt a simultaneous feeling of ‘NO DUH!’) but...she was a guard. She had to pay attention to people’s body language and...the joking moment she’d thought they had was way off. 

Her smile faded and Lake took a respectful step away, her expression going apologetic. “...sorry, I thought that something like that was okay to joke about, but I was wrong. I…” Lake was a guard, but she wasn’t that great at finding out people’s motivations until they told her. “...I don’t feel much like a monster these days, but I can still be kind of an asshole...I didn’t need to put that on you, Kaito, I’m sorry. Gotta remember that friendship isn’t a zero or a hundred kind of thing…”

Kaito was quick to shake his head, laughing too loudly as he said, “No, no, you’re fine! Sorry, no, you’re fine. I’m not even sure what we’re talking about. Ikou’s a nice dude, that’s...that’s all we were saying.”

It wasn’t Lake’s fault that Kaito was learning the hard way how effective Dicea’s methods of punishment worked. Hell, it wasn’t anyone fault but his own that he hated himself. Kaito Momota, leaderboard of the Kokich murder attempts, raped him twice, kinda raped his boyfriend in a roundabout way, definitely continbuted to Shuichi’s life falling apart, reason Maki’s siblings aren’t being saved, heh heh heh, kinda responsible for so many peoples deaths now, including his own parents! 

And the worst punishment was living. The worst punishment was living. It was never going to get better…

Okay, okay, pull it together, you cannot afford to lose it right now. Pull it together… Kokichi was still sick and there was a lot of good things going on and you can’t fall apart right now. Just breath…

“...sorry. I’m fine. I tend to react to things too strongly. I’m working on it with my therapist. I’m okay.” Kaito said, taking a deep breath. He gave Lake a somewhat more natural grin now, slowly getting past the mental freak out, as he said, “It’s a really nice day, right? I want it to stay a nice day. Let’s go make our friends hot chocolate, yeah?”

Lake just looked at the prince for a moment, sure she’d missed something. But...just talking her ass off had gotten him in this state so...it couldn’t be the way out, right? Normally, she’d think that he would be...uncomfortable, walking around with a murderer. That was a normal response she got. But he’d just been talking about how normal it was, not just to know murderers, but to be one in Luminary, and hadn’t Maki--one of his best friends--been an assassin? Which was different from killing under your own will, she knew, but…

She didn’t think it was that. 

Maybe it really was what she’d said. The thing that made even people who thought she’d been in the right to kill her parents look at her with gross disdain. Because Lake had never regretted killing them. Thought they deserved even worse. And...for a long time, she thought she was a monster because of that. 

It was only after that fateful afternoon, one of the few full days she could remember spending with Kokichi, where he just...said, like it was so simple, that it was okay for her to be hurt about what happened, and that being angry didn’t make her a bad person, that she’d started to come out the other side. That she’d been able to give the same advice to Nazumi, who hadn’t been thinking about the people she killed at all, and wasn’t that somehow worse than hating them? That just because you did bad things, it didn’t make you a monster. That anger and hate weren’t things that tainted you. It was just...a part of you, and what you chose to do with your future was much more important than anything that had happened in the past. 

Lake owed a lot to the Oumas. So...hopefully with Kokichi by his side, Kaito would make it out alright too. 

Giving Kaito a softer, slightly sad smile, Lake nodded and kept walking back to the kitchen. “...okay. But if there is something we need to work out...well, I’d be willing to give your type of spar another try. Sorry, Kaito.”

...Kaito didn’t like sparring all that much, anymore.

Fighting didn’t have that cathartic feeling it used to have for him.

He was tired of people looking at him like he was going to kill them. 

Kaito shook his head. “Nothing to be sorry for.” He muttered, but couldn’t bring himself to say much more than that as they headed back, lost in that sick feeling of guilt and regret. Still, when they got to the door, Kaito stopped a moment, and getting his face back together, he grinned as he called through the door, “Hey! We’re back with the drinks! Someone let us in?”

Kimiko rushed to the door and opened it up for them, smiling brightly at them as she said, “You got the hot chocolate?”

“We do!” Kaito said cheerfully, finding it much easier to ignore that helpless feeling among his family, going to put the tray down on the counter. “Alright, let me put the tea pot on for our tea peeps, and for our hot chocolate lovers, we have another kettle full of milk that we’re going to warm up on the oven burners! Shouldn’t take more than ten minutes! How’s everyone's pumpkins going?”

Lake followed Kaito over to one of the stovetops, dropping off her tray with one last companionable smile--she hoped--before returning to Haneda, absolutely marveling at all the detail work the housekeeper had managed in the time they were gone. “Haneda, this is amazing! Should’ve figured, you’re pretty good at stabbing things for art, huh? I think these dust clouds could use some more UMPH, though, right?! Like, really sell the impact!”

Kokichi looked up from his seat by Ikuo and Shuuichi, giving Kaito a wave at his return. “Kai-chan, when you have a sec, come see what Shuu-chan and Dad have done--it’s super cool! I can’t wait to see it lit up!”

“Gotta let us finish first, Bun.”

“Give me two minutes babe, I just want to start the burners! Sorry, excuse me.” Kaito said, grinning uneasily at Pie Person, who just raised an eyebrow before scooting over, giving Kaito space to set the kettles on the burners on top of the oven. “Thanks!” he said, lighting them up and, both kettles already filled with water and milk respectively, placed them down, starting to let them heat.

After setting the tea packets in the appropriate mugs and lightly spooning some cocoa powder into the rest, being one of those heathens that puts the powder in first, apparently, Kaito grinned at the setup, feeling proud of himself, before heading over to Kokichi, Ikuo, and Shuichi, putting his arms lightly around Kokichi’s shoulders and kissing the back of his head in greeting before marveling at the pumpkin.

“Wow! Ikuo, Shuichi, this is incredible! Your dragon is awesome!” Kaito praised, noting with some amusement the space there get less and less chilly as Shuichi smiled, increasingly proud and pleased by the compliments. Kissing Kokichi on the back of the head one more time, he went over to his boyfriend and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, saying, “Good job, Shuichi. Can I see what your other designs were?”

Shuichi brought his journal up to let Kaito see the other side-silhouette views of the mythical animals he had suggested, and Kaito hummed appreciatively at them, before saying, “I really dig the unicorn one too. And…” Kaito frowned, eyes narrowing. “...is that a squid?”

“Giant squid, yeah.” Shuichi responded, before remembering where he had gotten that idea in the first place, feeling guilty as he looked up at Kaito, who...was clearly struggling with why that idea sounded so familiar, as Shuichi supplied, “Saw a picture of one while in the crafts store, made me think of them.”

“...right. Yeah, I think I remember seeing that too.” Kaito said, remembering no such thing, but believing he did because that would explain that vague familiar feeling, right? Kissing Shuichi again, he said, “Well, they’re all awesome, bud. And Ikuo, you have some serious skill. I’m gonna have to ask you to show me how you did those really thin lines-”

HSSSSSSSSS.

“-but, later! Cocoa and tea time!” Kaito said, heading over to the oven.

“Dad! Make the cocoa first!” Tim demanded, before wincing at Maki twisted his ear.

“Don’t be greedy. Kaito, make the tea first.” Maki demanded, narrowing her eyes as the kids groaned, “Don’t test me. And Cali, watch your thumb! Do you want to cut it off!?”

Kokichi smiled fondly as Shuuichi looked more and more pleased with the attention and compliments. Shuuichi tended to avoid the spotlight, but when it came to his boyfriends, it seemed he practically glowed in the spotlight. 

“Mm...I don’t remember… I know, like, kinds of cuttlefish can change their color, but can squids? It might be cool anyway to figure out some cool effects if you wanted to make a jack-o’-lantern for one. Same with a unicorn horn! And I bet its mane would be really impressive to see all the little carving details… Maybe if we find ourselves with some downtime at the festival, you can make another of your designs, Shuu-chan!” Kokichi chirped. “With some eager assistants, of course.”

With Kaito back, though, they did need to work on their own pumpkin. Kokichi scooted his chair back over to their workspace, taking a look at what Kaito had gotten done and…

...he was feeling a lot better. It was fine. And some of the work was just like drawing with extra pressure… 

Sending a nervous glance around the room, Kokichi picked up one of the carving knives and got to work on some of the smaller areas while Kaito was preparing the drinks. 

It was like Maki could feel it in the atmosphere. She suddenly felt her back tense, glancing involuntarily at Kokichi, saw him holding the knife…

...his hands were fine, he was holding the knife with his right hand the same way she had shown him when he was throwing knives, which, while not ideal for carving, was still safe enough. His left hand was far, far away from his right, which, again, while not ideal for carving, was still safe enough. It was the uncertainty in his face though, and the weak way his wrist kept bending…

She glanced at Kaito, who was still messing with the tea and cocoa stuff. And looked at the kids, Cali and Kimiko needing constant supervision, Cali for being too bold with the knife, Kimiko for the exact same nervousness she wanted to keep an eye on Kokichi for, those hesitant, overly cautious cuts sometimes just as dangerous as the bold strokes…

...but she didn’t want Kokichi to lose confidence either....hmmmmmmmmmm- “That’s a fun design you’re working on Kokichi.” Maki noted, looking over at Lake and Haneda as she said to Lake, who worked regularly with swords and knew Kokichi well, “Lake, go check out the design Kokichi’s working on.” she said, watching Lake carefully, testing if she could be trusted to handle this right. She just wanted someone to watch his movements long enough for Kokichi to get past the nervous, weak start, without making him feel shitty about it.

Lake looked up with a hum, a little surprised but...ha! She knew she and Maki had hit it off well! Rounding the table, she took a look at Kokichi and Kaito’s pumpkin, a bit behind everyone else’s, but it wasn’t like they had a time limit or anything. “Aw, Prince K, what a cute cat! You guys gonna try to show what kind of cat it is, or that gonna be too busy?”

...it was a little concerning to see Kokichi holding a knife, but...this one was so small! Not any more dangerous than a fountain pen, which she knew Kokichi used all the time. Still…

“Hey, do you want me to hold the pumpkin from the back? It’s kinda hard to reach around on your own, especially when you’re in the art zone. That way, you can just focus and not have to worry about the pumpkin shifting!”

Kokichi had an idea of what Maki and Lake were doing but...they weren’t stopping him. And it wasn’t a consolation prize. He was still using the knife and not...like having Lake guide his hand. So he just nodded, giving her a smile. “Thanks, I’d appreciate that.” 

They were completely carving out relatively little, just the deepest part of the ears, the empty space in the mouth under the tongue, the paw pads, so he didn’t need to press that hard to carve away the outer skin and into the flesh for it all. Just...little, careful strokes, like he was working with pastels...or maybe watercolors. 

Maki watched Lake for a moment before, satisfied she hadn’t put her trust in the wrong person, she went back to watching the kids, just in time to stop them as she said, “Tim! Do not carve down towards Kimiko’s arms, are you crazy!?”

Tim blinked at her, surprised, “I was gonna stop before I got there…yes, yes mom, I’m sorry.” he quickly corrected himself, Maki’s murder eyes turned on at the resistance to her advise, telling Kimiko, “Hey, move your arms to the top of the pumpkin and press down.”

“O-okay! Sorry, Miss Maki!” Kimiko stammered, moving to the safer position as Cali carved out some more gunk from the sides.

“You’re fine Kimiko.” Maki said gently, trying not to scare the otherwise nervous girl, before turning her murder eyes to Tim, “Be. Careful.”

“Sorry mom.” Tim winced, being more careful with the carving now.

“Tea’s poured! Alright, this one’s Haneda’s, here you go...oooh, wow, your pumpkin is amazing, Haneda! You are really good with the details and stuff! And your design is so cool! Lake, did you design this?” Kaito asked, giving the pumpkin an appreciative look before moving to give Maki her tea, who nodded politely in thanks. Then he went to put his own tea on his side of the table, a little startled to see Kokichi carving, having totally missed that whole earlier exchange...but grinning wide as he said, “Kokichi, babe! That’s awesome, you’re doing such a good job!”

He noted that Lake was holding the pumpkin for Kokichi and felt a moment of appreciation for that. He knew his husband was capable of carving the pumpkin himself, honestly had no doubts about that. But it was good to know someone was looking out for him as he did so.

Haneda just hummed in thanks, continuing to stab at the pumpkin with the needle knife, wanting to finish the smoke before Lake returned and like...punched a hole straight through the pumpkin. 

And Lake, to her credit, was little more careful than usual as she turned to pump a fist in the air, still aware enough to keep the pumpkin steady for her little brother. “Yeah! It’s heroic, right? Action-packed!!” 

It perhaps wasn’t needed, since Kokichi pulled away from the pumpkin just in case. 

He smiled shyly up at Kaito, looking back over his work. “...yeah? I mean...we’re kinda behind everyone else so...I thought I could handle some of the smaller parts. I could keep going for a bit if you wanted to drink your tea?”

Looking over their own pumpkin, Ikuo watched the exchange proudly, glad to see Kokichi taking another step of initiative when it came to trying new things. 

“I gotta stir and pass around the cocoa first, but if you’re up to doing some detail work while I’m gone and when I take a few sips of tea, then sure!” Kaito said cheerfully, leaning over to kiss Kokichi’s forehead (still a bit of a fever, but at least he wasn’t on fire anymore) before heading back to the oven. 

Pouring and mixing the hot chocolate, he stirred them all into the milk, before topping the cups with marshmallows, a little less for Kokichi, Shuichi, Lake and Ikou’s, and plenty for the kids. Delivering the kids theirs first, receiving a chorus of thanks yous and cheers, Kaito brought the adults theirs next, and asked them as he put their cups down, “There’s more marshmallows if you wanted extra, just didn’t want to overload you with sugar. Anyone hoping for more, I can go get the bag?”

Shuichi looked at his and said sheepishly, “Can I get more?”

“Course handsome, give me one second.” Kaito said, heading back for the bag after putting down the cups.

Ikuo tipped his hat to his son in law, breaking for just a moment to wipe off his hands and take a sip, miraculously unphased by its steaming nature. A good cup, enough powder to actually make it taste like chocolate, and not that you were just drinking hot milk. It wasn’t the hardest thing in the world, but the next nod Ikuo gave Kaito was chock full of pride. 

Lake looked longingly over at her mug, but dutifully stayed with Kokichi until Kaito was done, giving him a bright grin and a loud thanks. 

Kokichi breathed in the chocolatey scent but...he was going to let Kaito enjoy his tea first. It was too hot for him to drink right away anyway. “Could I have some more marshmallows too? I love it when they get all melty in the drink.”

Working with a small v-shaped tool, Kokichi tried to get texture for the cat’s tongue. He found that it was difficult to get details right where he wanted them so, carefully, he brought his left hand a little closer, holding onto the top lip of the pumpkin and still greatly out of slipping range. “Thank you, Kai-chan. Drinks were a great idea.”

“Right? It makes the room smell nice, though, we definitely lucked out by getting some awesome pie aroma too!” Kaito said cheerfully, giving a grin to the person with the book, who...gave the prince a more curious look now, just shrugging slightly before going back to their book. They were still obviously barbaric, but, well, so far they were just carving pumpkins and not being...entirely atrocious or anything...though the metal claw thing the rumored assassin had totally ruined several kitchen supplies to make was still incredibly creepy.

Adding in the marshmallows as requested, Kaito double checked that everyone was good and supplied, before going back to his part of the table, kissing Kokichi on the temple in greeting as he said, “I return! Did you miss me? Lake, go get your drink, I’ll take up pumpkin steadying duty.” Kaito told her, holding his drink in one hand and holding the top of the pumpkin with the other, cheerfully watching Kokichi.

On the other side of the table, her hands hidden from Maki’s careful gaze, not even using a knife but using a scooper, Cali suddenly hissed through her teeth...and looked up, eyes teary, as Tim put a hand on her shoulder, putting a finger in front of his mouth.

Shhhh, he breathed quietly, nodding his head slightly towards Kokichi’s side of the table, before glancing into the pumpkin to see the damage. The metal end of the scoop had caught the side of her hand at just the right angle to cut it a little, small drops of blood trickling onto the bottom of the pumpkin. Frowning at it, he caught his mom’s eye, who’s eyes narrowed, before glancing into the pumpkin as well. “Tsk.” She said, taking a black handkerchief out of her hand and handing it to Cali inside the pumpkin itself, whispering to her, “It’s a thin one, just put some pressure on it for a few minutes. Let’s go to the sink to wash it out.”

Cali nodded, pressing the handkerchief against her palm as she let Maki guide her quietly to the sink, turning on the water and letting it run over her palm for a moment, before taking some soap and gently rubbing it over. Cali’s lips wobbled a bit, and Maki said quietly to her, “You’re doing very well. Straighten your chin and lift up your head, you’ll feel stronger.”

Cali nodded, doing so and, indeed, feeling a little less like she wanted to cry, as Maki opened up the small backpack she wore almost constantly now, taking out a thin stick bandage and, drying Cali’s hand, putting it on. The person with the book watching all this curiously. 

“Good. Very good. That wasn’t so bad, was it? You ready to go back to scraping?” Maki asked her, Cali hesitating for a moment, surprised Maki would expect her to go right back to it after hurting herself...but seeing the entire lack of doubt on Maki’s face, just nodded, deciding that it was probably fine, if Maki thought it was. Going back to the table, Cali just laughed when she saw the concerned look on the other two kids.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” she said quietly, grabbing the scooper again.

“Did it hurt?” Kimiko asked, eyes wide with empathetic concern.

“...I mean…” Cali sighed dramatically, “...a little…”

And Cali grinned smugly as Tim watched, radiating envy, as Kimiko made a small sympathetic cooing sound, taking Cali’s hand and placing a small, innocent kiss against the bandage, like her own mother did for her cuts (usually. Except for that few weeks where his mother had just...ignored her.). “Thaaaaanks, Kimiko.” Cali said cheerfully, smirking at Tim.

Maki watched all this and, seeing the envious look on his face, decided she was gonna beat her kid senseless if he cut himself on purpose, trying to get a kiss too. Kids.

Flicking a few fingers away from her head, Lake ceded pumpkin duty to the prince, heading back over to her own pumpkin (and her drink!), taking a sip before making the very recognizable “too hot!” sounds and setting it back down to cool. 

Giving Kaito a fond look, Kokichi returned his focus to the pumpkin, carefully bringing their design to life. “I could barely function without you. I wouldn’t dare to think how I’d fare if you left for any longer. What would I do if I needed someone to give me cheek kisses? Taking Shuu-chan away from his pumpkin would surely count as sabotage.” He glanced up from his work, giving both Kaito and Shuuichi a wink before looking back down. 

As he worked on clearing away the area around the whiskers, Kokichi noticed some movement out of the corner of his eye, and when he stopped to look at it...ah. An accident. But Maki had it covered, and it looked like Cali was okay. Nothing they needed to make a production about, then. 

Ikuo noticed the small altercation too, glancing up from where he was working on the dragon’s flames. Maybe he’d get some patterned bandages for Maki’s emergency kit. He turned his attention to Shuuichi, giving him a nod to the cocoa. “You enjoyin’ yerself?”

Shuichi, sipping happily at his cocoa, looked up at the question and smiled softly, nodding. “Yeah. Thanks for working with me on a pumpkin.” Shuichi didn’t say that he was sure Ikou would have preferred to work with Kokichi, but he was certain that was true. He really did appreciate the older man taking an interest in him, even if he knew it was just because of the pregnancy stuff. Sipping on his cocoa again, his nose wrinkling as he realized some of the marshmallow had melted onto the tip of it, Shuichi put down the cup and wiped it off, before saying, “If you want to take a break, I can try to do what you did for the hand claws for the feet. I was watching, I think I understand how you did it.”

“Pffff, cutie like you? You’d find some other strapping gentleman to give you cheek kisses.” Kaito said, rolling his eyes as he sipped at his tea a bit, “I couldn’t even be mad. Beauty like you? It’d be a loss for the world, if no one was giving you cheek kisses.”

Watching Kokichi work for a moment, after a bit, Kaito put his tea down, saying, “Alright, alright, my turn. Drink your cocoa babe, I’m gonna knock out those eyes.”

“‘A course. Glad you don’ mind an old man impedin’ on yer vision.” With a huff, Ikuo stepped back from the pumpkin, taking another swig from his drink. He’d figured that the couple--thouple?--would’ve wanted to all work together, but if Shuuichi wanted to strike out on his own, then Ikuo was happy to make sure it went smoothly. They had their own issues like anyone else, but Ikuo was proud of the people his son had chosen to be his family. They made Kokichi happy, which was all Ikuo could ever ask for, but they were pretty wonderful people above that too, anger issues and substance abuse and all. 

Kokichi rolled his eyes right back before sticking his tongue out. “Then the world would just have to miss out! I don’t let just anyone kiss my cheeks--only a select special few have that honor. Stand proud, Kai-chan, since apparently you’re making the world a fuller place.”

Giggling at the absurdity, Kokichi relinquished his tools and wiped his hand off, scooting his chair back a little to enjoy his drink. It was...actually really fun to work on the pumpkin, but he was already feeling a little tired. Not ‘I need another nap’ tired, but just...it was a good time for him to sit back and sip at his cocoa.

Time passed after that, the air light as everyone went back and forth between sipping on their drinks and working on their pumpkins, eventually pie person’s pie finally finishing, carefully taking it out and letting it cool for a bit before putting some final seasoning on it, leaving the group with, well, not a perfect impression of the Luminaries, but at least one more person in the castle who had seen them basically just acting like people, rather than bloodthirsty war-mongers. Every little bit helped.

After a bit, it was the kids who called out, “Hey! We’re done!” Tim specifically heading over to Miss Kawai and saying to her, “Come see, it actually came out really good.”

Really only fiddling with the details (and trying to fix the parts Lake had accidentally cut off), Haneda wiped off her hands and headed over to the kids’ station, taking a long, appraising look at their jack-o’-lantern, and taking into account the bandage on Cali’s hand. She laughed lowly, enjoying the true spirit of the season they’d managed to capture in the design. 

“First of all, good job looking out for each other. Even in familiar territory, it’s good to have people you can count on.” She nodded to Cali’s hand, but left it at that. Then, she pointed out the little joints and sections cut away to make a hand. “Whoever did these parts has a good attention to detail--the cuts are regular and even, which fits the design. Same with making the more organic tears look natural. It looks cool--nice job.”

The jack o'lantern was essentially a traditional jack, but with it’s face cut off, being held in the metal claw-like hand that Maki had put together for the kids. Tim had worked the most on the face and had been the one to cut it off, with Kimiko and Cali carefully working on the inside to give a sort of mushy sense of it being the inside of a head, the whole idea Kimiko’s. All the kids beamed at the compliments from the nanny, incredibly pleased at their success...and even more pleased when Kaito looked over at their pumpkin and made a face, skin going pale.

“...kids. Why? Why did you make a horror death pumpkin? That’s incredibly creepy.” Kaito shuddered, entirely unhappy with it, which just made the kids preen some more, all of them now openly smirking.

“That’s really good. Nice work on the claw, Maki.” Shuichi complimented, before saying, “Can we display that somewhere? It’s really good, we should show it off somewhere.”

Kokichi looked over at the kids’ pumpkin, giggling at the design and at Kaito’s distaste. “If it’s creepy, it’s perfect! And that jack-o’-lantern is definitely creepy. Harvest started out as being thankful for the fall harvest and another year of successful growth, but there’s vibes now about celebrating spooky stuff. Like people dressing in scary costumes and telling ghost stories and setting up these types of decorations. Then, when you’re all sated with your tricks, you get to sit down with a ton of treats!”

“Some folks just use it fer art ‘n general,” Ikuo explained further before humming. “Could put it on one ‘a th’ gate posts out front. Everyone goin’ in an’ out a’ the castle will see it, then.”

Lake let out a subtle sigh of relief when neither Kokichi nor Ikuo explained one of the other scary traditions people had taken to during Harvest. Most pranks were harmless, but there were always a few that took things too far. It always sucked, having to arrest people during festivals.

“...costumes?” Tim asked, looking confused.

“You didn’t know!? Oh my god! Harvest is tomorrow!!” Cali said, sounding genuinely horrified for her friend, who just looked more and more confused. “We have to get you a costume!!”

Maki, Kaito, and Shuichi looked confused too, Maki looking down at Tim in slight concern as he said, “....why?”

“Well, I mean, you don’t have to wear a costume, Timmy.” Kimiko said, frowning at Tim’s growing discomfort, her friend clearly embarrassed he didn’t know what was going on tomorrow. It hadn’t occurred to either of his friends that he just wouldn’t know anything about a festival they’ve done every year their whole lives. “But all the other kids will be, and a lot of the adults too...we can make you a costume though! Lots of people make their costumes the day before, it’s not a big deal.”

“Yeah! ! And everyone knows you get more candy the cooler your costume is!! We gotta get you set up for optimal candy!” Cali said, looking determined, not wanting her friend to miss out on that sweet, sweet loot! “Let’s go to your room and see what you have to work with!”

Tim looked more embarrassed, saying quietly, “I don’t have a lot of clothes…”

Maki’s whole body tensed, before saying, “That’s fine. There’s still shops open. We’ll go pick out a costume for you when we’re walking the girls home, if that’s what people are doing tomorrow.” Maki said, not about to let her kid feel like the odd one out all day tomorrow. Looking down at the pumpkin, she said, “Is there anything else we have to do to this thing? Or can Kaito take it down to display at the gate post?”

“If you want to leave soon, Maki, leave the pumpkin, I’ll bring it down after we… I don’t know, is there anything else we do to it?” Kaito asked.

“Candle!” Cali informed him.

Kokichi almost mirrored Tim’s look of confusion before he realized...he...hadn’t really told his friends much of anything about the traditions of Harvest. In all fairness, he’d never worn a costume to the festival so...it kind of just slipped his mind. Sighing, he rubbed the bridge of his nose a bit, embarrassed to have left his friends out to dry. 

“Ya really only wanna light th’ candle once it gets dark,” Ikuo supplied. “Gotta be careful ta blow it out before it burns all the way down, too, but there’ll be enough folks ta keep an eye on that one. Ones with the common sense not ta touch the metal either.”

Speaking more quietly to Kaito, Kokichi tried to smile, though there was still a guilty look on his face. “Everyone gets the same amount of candy, and it’s supposed to last, so Tim’s not gonna have to eat it all in a night. The feast tends to be a good deterrent for keeping kids from overindulging on sweets.”

Kaito was still a little lost over where the kids were getting the sweets. Was he and Maki supposed to  give them sweets? Or… “Are they passing out sweets to kids at the festival?” he clarified, getting some context clues. Before, considering, he called to Maki, “Hey, Maki-Roll! Can you get me a costume while you guys are out too?”

In the same way Maki didn’t want Tim to feel weird and out of place not being the one wearing a costume, Kaito didn’t want the kid to feel weird being the only one in their group wearing a costume. So, grinning, he said, “Doesn’t matter what, just anything that you think will fit!”

Maki nodded, “Sure, will do. Kids, go take a look at everyone else's pumpkins, and put your mugs on the silver trays, then we’re going to Tim’s room to grab your coats. It’s costume time.”

“Yeaaaaah!!! Costume time!!” Cali called, grabbing Tim and Kimiko’s hand and dragging them to Ikou and Shuichi’s pumpkin first, saying enthusiastically, “Oooooh, look at it! Your dragon is so cool!!”

Shuichi smiled down at them, saying “Ikou is good at this, isn’t he?”

“It’s a sort of game--kids come to do the activities or see stuff around town, and then give them candy and sweets as a marker to say that they did. I never… I didn’t think about it, sorry,” Kokichi explained, growing a little pink. He wouldn’t be wearing a costume this year either, considering he had to get all dolled up in his official clothes...though, they sort of felt like a costume at times. 

Tipping his hat to the kids, Ikuo grumbled out, “Thank ya, but I’m more in awe ‘a y’all’s creativity. Ideas’re a special thing--carvin’ just takes practice.”

Tim nodded, used to the man’s demeanor by this point, but Cali and Kimiko couldn’t help but wonder why the heck this dude seemed so grumpy, and giving him a confused look, moved on to the next pumpkin.

There was another confused look, this time at Haneda and Lakes’ pumpkin, as Kimiko finally said, “That’s really nice, but…”

“Why is some of it hanging off?” Cali said, far less tactful than her friend.

Lake let out a loud laugh, though her cheeks went pink. “Well! It, uh, adds to the dynamic nature of the scene! The power and destruction, the action, the-!”

“The fact that you could probably slice through a cutting board while chopping vegetables,” Haneda sighed, walking over back to her own station. “She cut through some of the structural parts. We’ll just put it among others so it doesn’t stand out.”

Kokichi gave Lake an encouraging smile. “It’s a lot better this year than usual. You’ll get the hang of it sometime!”

Kaito chuckled, looking at the details (even the destroyed details in the case of Lake and Haneda) in the other pumpkins as he said, “Well, at least you guys were ambitious. Me and Kokichi definitely took the safest route, out of all the pumpkins today. But I still think it came out nice!”

The kids moved on to Kokichi and Kaito’s pumpkin, and indeed, it was a pretty simple cut-out of a cute cat, with little whiskers and slits for eyes, and a little fanged cat smile with paws and a tail. The body itself wasn’t cut out, but you got the sense of where it was supposed to be, and overall the whole thing was very cute.

“Awwww, I love the paws! Look at the little itty bitty kitty claws!” Kimiko gushed, putting her hand on the little paws, like she was giving the cat a high five. She turned to her friends, smiling brightly, “Isn’t it adorable you guys!?”

Both Cali and Tim immediately nodded, barely glancing at the pumpkin. 

“Mmmhm, yep, adorable.” Tim coughed.

“Sooooo cute.” Cali sighed.

Kaito just snickered at this. “Alright, well, I’ll put all the pumpkins out for display tonight. Girls, you’ll see them up when you next come for training, and Tim, you’ll see them when you come home tonight! It’ll be nice!”

“Good. Alright, form up, let’s go!” Maki ordered. “We’re losing daylight!”

It was simple, but...it was the first jack-o’-lantern either he or Kaito had ever made, so simple was perfect for them. Still, Kokichi was able to feel proud when Kimiko complimented it, not taking it personally with the other kids’ disinterest...in the pumpkin, at least. 

“Thanks, Kimiko. I think it turned out pretty good for my first go at pumpkin carving.” Kokichi gave the girl a soft smile before waving goodbye to the kids as Maki rounded them up, off to go drop the girls off at their respective homes, and to go costume shopping with Tim. 

Washing his hands properly, Haneda and Lake off at another sink to do the same, Ikuo came by and tousled Kokichi’s hair gently. “You doin’ okay, kid?”

“Yeah, though I probably shouldn’t push it,” Kokichi sighed, leaning in to his father’s touch. “Should probably take my next dose too--I wanna make sure I’m in the best shape I can be for tomorrow.” 

“Oh, well...” Kaito looked at the pumpkins, then glanced at his husband...gah! Okay, don’t overthink it.

Turning to Lake, he asked, “Hey, Lake, would you mind watching the pumpkins for five minutes? I just wanna make sure Kokichi gets back to the room alright and then I’ll come back to take them down. Thanks again, all of you, for coming by so last minute to do this with us. It was kinda of a spontaneous idea, but I think it worked out pretty well.” Kaito said cheerfully, looking down at the pumpkins with some amount of pride. “Now it’s just clean up time.”

Lake looked up from where she was tugging her gloves back on, finishing just in time to give Kaito a big, confident thumbs-up. “Sure thing, Prince Kai! These pumpkins will be so watched!”

Rolling her eyes, Haneda was already stacking the trays of pumpkin innards and seeds. “I’m taking these to the kitchens. Just wipe down left otherwise. You guys have a good time at the festival tomorrow.” Taking her queue, and Kokichi going to be doted on by his husband, Ikuo started getting to work on cleaning up the counters they’d used.

Kokichi gave Kaito a soft look, them both knowing that Kaito didn’t need to help him with the medicine, but Kokichi appreciating it nonetheless, he took a quiet breath before standing up from his chair, washing his hands before walking over to Kaito himself. “Thanks, sweets. What are your plans for the rest of today, Shuu-chan?”

Shuichi looked up from the pumpkin, still quietly smoothing out some edges in the cuts, before blushing, realizing everyone was actually done with the pumpkins and he was the only one still fussing with them. “Um, I can come back to the room with you guys? Keep you company, Kokichi. Or, Kaito, I can help bring the pumpkins down?”

“I can handle the pumpkins, handsome, don’t you worry about that! Keep Kokichi company!” Kaito said, actually a little glad that Shuichi had decided to go back to the room too. Kokichi was doing a lot better, today, but Kaito had still found him sprawled out on the floor, crying, two days ago. He’d feel better taking his time with the pumpkins if he knew Kokichi wasn’t alone.

Not that Shuichi went too to many places, these days. Sometimes the guy would disappear on them and, Kaito, at the very least, had no idea where he went during those times...but most of the time? He had just gotten used to following one of them around, a peaceful little shadow among the friend group.

...Kaito was a little worried about that, admittedly. But as worried as he was about it, he could recognize that Shuichi just...didn’t have a lot to do, otherwise. It had ended up being Hajime, after all, who had taken Shuichi to the school to get class information, but it would be awhile before the next semester began, and there was the small little unspoken problem of...if he would be allowed out of the castle by the time the next semester started. Maki flipped back and forth on the issue basically every time anyone brought it up, wanting to say ‘absolutely’ one minute and then looking almost anxious at the thought the next.

...Kaito really needed to talk to her about how she was, lately. Especially when it came to Shuichi. Maki had seen things he and Kokichi had only heard about. The session, the warehouse, the attempted drowning in the tub… it made sense that she was more worried about things going wrong again then Kaito himself was, who was certain Shuichi was through the worst of it. She had seen some of the worst points of it.

He’d talk to her. There was time for it later.

Taking Kokichi’s hand, offering his arm, he promised Lake again, “Five minutes, ten at the most, I’ll be right back!” as Shuichi came up behind them, ready to head back as well. 

“Yessss, I’ll never pass up some good Shuu-chan company!” Kokichi giggled as he happily took Kaito’s hand and arm, using the opportunity to hug his husband’s arm in thanks than to dwell on that he needed a little extra stability. Kaito was right--he was just someone who needed more rest than other people. If his loved ones didn’t feel like they were...doing charity to help him out, then he needed to stop thinking about it that way himself. Needed to stop...making himself helpless. 

“Do you wanna play cards or a board game or something? I feel like I’m still good to go for a bit and, I mean...it’s not that active. Definitely not askin’ ya to keep me company and then just gonna pass out.” After that, though, it might be more up in the air. He wanted to be as healthy as he could for the festival tomorrow...but Kokichi knew it was going to be near impossible for him to be one hundred percent. There might be moments where...where he’d just have to do what he usually did during festivals. Just find a peaceful place to sit and rest. 

But the difference now, was that he was choosing it, and he could get up whenever he wanted. Didn’t need an escort to walk around. Could actually participate in the activities… 

It was going to be fun, and Kokichi didn’t want to miss a thing. So, that meant having to rest sometimes. 

Nuzzling at Kaito’s arm, Kokichi hummed. “You’ll have to show us where you put all the pumpkins tonight, so we can see them all lit up. We’ll prolly get a sneak-peek at what people in town have done too.”

“Do you have board games? I could be up to playing a board game.” Shuichi mused, as they got back to the bedroom, lowering his cap a little and stepping close to Kaito and Kokichi when they passed some staff members he didn’t recognize. Kaito looked softly at Shuichi, using his free hand to put a warm hand on the back of his neck, rubbing his thumb on the side of his neck bone for a moment, just getting Shuichi’s attention, who looked back to them, relaxing a little. “If you pick one, Kokichi, I’d be up to learning it.”

“I’m gonna try to find some good spots for it! And I’m gonna try to find those candles, too, if I can. Though, I’ll ask the guards if they’re up to keeping an eye on that if so.” Kaito quickly added, not wanting Kokichi to worry.

Opening the door for the group, Kaito leaned down to kiss Kokichi on the cheek again, saying, “You did great today, babe! I’m really proud of you. Alright! Shuichi, would you mind putting his medicine together?”

“Hmmm? If he wants me too. Kokichi, want me to get your medicine? I don’t mind.” Shuichi offered, raising an amused eyebrow as Kaito went over to kiss him as well, saying, “You’re going to be right back, Kaito, you don’t need to give us goodbye kisses.”

“I will always take literally any opportunity to give you two kisses. I really need you to just accept that new reality, Shuichi.” Kaito chuckled, kissing him again, before saying, “Alright! I’ll be right back! Love you two!” As he headed out.

“Mm! There are some in game rooms, but I have my own collection too. Lotta birthday gifts, over the years.” Kokichi basked in the cheek kiss (even through his mask) and headed over to one of their bookcases, looking through boxes that were decorative enough to be mistaken for book spines if you weren’t paying attention. “If you wouldn’t mind, Shuu-chan. I’ll pick out a game for us while you do?”

Board games, while having a lot of little pieces that could get lost, and often benefited more from a table than a bed, were generally low activity pastimes that, once Kokichi was out of the woods in whatever illness he was currently mired in, could play without issue. Cards too, and he and Ikuo had played many, many games over the first half of Kokichi’s life, but over time, people started bringing in more variety. Usually in the form of birthday presents, as he’d mentioned. 

While Kokichi had been using them to bond with Aiichi too, oftentimes most of the games they’d played had come from Kokichi’s collection. 

Picking out a game about making trade routes across a map of Dicea--he wondered if they’d be able to make a board for Luminary--Kokichi climbed up on their bed, taking a moment to rest and take off his mask, setting it on one of their nightstands. 

“That was a lot of fun...maybe I’ll try something more ambitious next year. If I don’t get sick again.”

“Do you mean in the design of your pumpkin, or a bigger pumpkin party?” Shuichi asked, looking curiously at the board game as he brought over Kokichi’s medicine, the mix dissolving into the water as he passed Kokichi the glass. 

Sitting down on the bed, Shuichi’s brow furrowed a little, trying to place it...before realizing, “Oh, this is a Dicean map. I think I can comfortably say we don’t have this game back in Luminary.” Shuichi said, laughing softly as he got comfortable, tucking his legs to his side and reaching out to pick up the rules book, saying, “Should I just go ahead and read this, or can I pick it up as I go?” 

“Why not both?” Kokichi giggled a bit before gratefully taking his medicine, swallowing it all down in a couple gulps to mitigate the bitter taste, and evidently failing, if the face he made afterward was any indication. “But I did mean the design. I was...kind of worried that someone would tell me I couldn’t carve anything but…”

“...it’s kind of weird to remember that I’m allowed to do a lot more than I thought. Nice, but I keep feeling like I’m having to keep a big secret, or that I’m doing something wrong…” Kokichi smoothed his hair back, only tinges of pink left, as he set up the board, shuffling the various decks of cards. 

Taking the white pieces, he gave a shrug. “I think it’s pretty easy to pick up. You pick up these cards, which have two cities on them, and you try to make a trail between them--you make routes, by collecting the road cards, and when you have the same amount of a certain color as places in a route,” he pointed out all the little places on the map, some only two sections, some six, and the rest in between, “then you can claim it. However, other people can block your routes by claiming it first, forcing you to go a different way, or just completely blocking you. You get points by completing routes on the city cards, and a bonus for whoever has the longest continuous trade route.”

Kokichi paused for a moment before nudging over the rule book. “...maybe it’s more complicated than I thought. Take a read.”

Shuichi laughed at that, before nodding, opening up the book as he promised, “It won’t take me long, and I’ll only have to read it once. Just give me a moment, Kokichi.”

As he flipped through the pages, he asked, “...so you are allowed to hold knives? I was wondering about that when I was watching you. Your medical records suggested you shouldn’t be near them, if I recall. Though, that was one of the reports made when you were...six?” Shuichi said, thinking back to the pages. “Six. And I remember it was important to not let anyone know Maki was trying to teach you how to throw them. Is that still a secret?”

Kokichi sighed about it, half shrugging. “I kind of want to keep it a secret. I’d like to never have to use that skill in a dangerous situation, but if it comes up, it being a total secret would probably give me a better advantage. But...as for needing it to be a secret…”

Kokichi idly shuffled the cards as Shuuichi read through the rules, just wanting to keep his hands busy. “...I talked to my father about it. About everything. Apparently I’ve been allowed to leave the castle on my own since I was sixteen...he just forgot to tell anyone.” A sigh. “...he said he’d prefer if I didn’t take up, like, sword fighting, or learning to be a prep cook, but...no one’s supposed to take blades away from me. And...we talked about it, I’m supposed to, if not have someone around while I’m using something sharp, then to have someone know what I’m doing and to come check on me now and again. It might still seem a little extreme, but…”

“...I agreed with it.” Kokichi’s cheeks went pink as he looked off to the side. His friends had always been so supportive of him standing up against what he thought were the restrictions around him, but...what would they think of him...agreeing with them? Making his own, in some cases? “I just… What would be annoyances to some people are life-threatening to me. No one’s ever expecting that they’ll knick themselves but...I think it’s a good idea to let someone know. So accidents are just accidents and nothing more.”

Shuichi nodded, finishing up the rules before putting the book aside, reaching out to start setting up the pieces he would need for his end of it as he said, “That makes sense. It’s all what you’re comfortable with. If you want to know someone’s stepping by to check on you when you need it, then yeah. More power to you.”

It didn’t even occur to Shuichi that Kokichi himself might find that idea uncomfortable. After all, Shuichi hung out regularly with one of the most paranoid people about safety he knew, Maki, and one of the people he had met in his life who regularly needed checking up on, for various rituals or parties or just sketchy one night stands, Kaito. If you were doing something dangerous, even if it was uniquely dangerous to you? Yeah, obviously tell someone. It was literally the bare minimum of protecting yourself.

Shuichi was in no way going to shame Kokichi for taking extra efforts to take care of himself...but as he was in the middle of taking his first move, he suddenly laughed. The sheer ridiculousness in what Kokichi just said only just hitting him as he looked up, raising an eyebrow as he laughed again, before saying. “...he forgot!? Wh-ha-ha-ha-at?? It’s been five years, and he just...never mentioned people should stop imprisoning his heir?”

Shuichi shook his head, murmuring to himself, “Man, between him and King Leon? I can’t believe the war only lasted fifteen years. Wow.”

Kokichi let go of a little breath, relaxing. Shuuichi was the least likely of his friends to freak out at something like this, but his comfortable reaction was still something that gave Kokichi comfort in turn. When he and Aiichi had finally gone over exactly what Kokichi was allowed to do, it was a lot of stuff like that. Let someone know if he was going on a trip--Kokichi had almost been offended that Aiichi would think he’d dip town without making sure his work would be covered--or if he was staying overnight somewhere, and it’d be appreciated if he let the guards on gate duty know if he was planning on returning late at night. Have a plan to get home safe if he was going drinking, and don’t mix with medicines if he was taking any. Have a plan if he was going to be using knives.

Just...general looking out for his own safety things, really. 

Though, Kokichi flushed harder as Shuuichi burst out laughing, before snickering. “It’s only been four years! ...but, yeah, Aiichi’s an idiot. It’s why he doesn’t do letter work, and mostly talks to people. He set the original restrictions and then just...assumed everyone would let off as I grew up on their own.” Kokichi rolled his eyes with an exasperated look, far less intense than how he’d really felt about it all. “Not a mind for details, my dad.”

“Sounds about right. I remember…” Shuichi hesitated, wanting to say he remembered the secretaries saying similar things, thinking it was going to get them an advantage, but...he didn’t know if that would make Kokichi uncomfortable, so instead he said, “...the party ended up mostly working with your Head Secretary, Hideki, about most of the policy stuff in the treaty. They kept trying to get the king alone for negotiations, but at least King Aiichi wouldn’t allow that. Which was probably for the best.”

Placing down a card and then drawing one considering what he had available, Shuichi glanced at the door to their bedroom and, Kaito not manifesting automatically, said, “Kings...honestly, Kokichi, I cannot explain to you how…” Shuichi frowned, looking frustrated, “genuinely stupid King Leon was. It was infuriating. He’d listen to you talk, and he’d get this blank look on his face, just nodding along to what you were saying and saying little comments like he was contributing anything to the discussion, and you could tell by the end of it that he had no idea what you were talking about. And then he’d get enraged when the thing everyone told him was happening became more obviously happening, and punish everyone like they had been keeping it a secret from him. It was...ugh. Thank god he’s gone. At least Byakuya’s more like Queen Sayaka...though, unfortunately, probably with the same paranoid tendencies, if the last few years are any indication.”

Shuichi sighed, shaking his head. “Momota’s. The intelligent ones are all insane and the stupid ones are all too emotional to take advice...honestly? I’m convinced it’s all the drugs they take for their rituals. Doing that your whole life, generation after generation? No wonder they’re all like that.”

Kokichi nodded a bit, picking his routes. “Aiichi has some good ideas, and he genuinely cares about our people and wants the best for them...but he kinda falters when it comes to how to get there. That’s why he works with people who are good at that kind of stuff--why he married my mom, too. Leaders are supposed to surround themselves with people who excel where they fail.”

He might’ve been poking fun a little, but going to court and hearing out everyone who came to talk to the leader...it was an important job. Not just something for a figurehead. And Kokichi knew his dad could be very clever with some things. The way Aiichi could soothe concerns and bring people together was...incredible. The way he could remain composed through almost anything… He hadn’t been lying when he told Kaito he admired Aiichi as a leader. 

Kokichi frowned as Shuuichi explained to him what the Luminous leaders had been like, feeling that same drowning sympathy that people had to just...live with that ineffective or even detrimental leadership for so long...but hopefully change was on the horizon. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi regarded the board, the names of familiar towns staring back up at him. “...there’s a reason people aren’t clamoring in the hall to each take their go at being leader. Some people...most people, honestly, just aren’t suited to it. I know Luminary thinks about it differently, but here… Knowing that you’re going to be the face of every disaster, making yourself a target for anger so people don’t crumble hopelessly, having to consider the needs of every single citizen and the future for them all too… Just...caring about everyone. It’s a lot to take on. Turns out, when they understand what it entails, not a lot of people want that sort of responsibility.”

He sighed again, looking over at the door. “But as long as you have the will...things can always get better. Hopefully that’ll follow suit for Kai-chan’s family, and for Luminary too.”

Shuichi shrugged, trading out a piece. “Yeah. Sometimes I think the kindest thing anyone ever did for Kaito was make him give up the throne. He would have been miserable as a king. He would have tried, but...I love him, but he would have made too many mistakes. Luminary would have eaten him alive.”

“And...it’s definitely a relief my own kid-” Shuichi frowned, that still feeling incredibly weird to say. Almost like he was making it up. “-won’t be bothering with any of that stuff. You’re...you’re not going to declare it heir, right?” Shuichi asked, giving Kokichi a concerned look. “You already decided against that? Don’t you Oumas all do your feelings thing when you first know about a person, or...sorry, I’m not super familiar with the tradition. But you don’t have a feeling about the baby? Right?”

As much as Kokichi believed in Kaito, thought he could do some wonderful things in leading people...he at least agreed that much with Shuuichi: Luminary would’ve destroyed him. If not the people taking generations’ worth of strife out on him, then on someone like Tengan coming around, making things even worse under Kaito’s nose. 

...at least in that way, he was protecting Kaito. 

Kokichi made a face, deciding to cede his turn and just save up color cards for a longer road. “Honestly, I think that tradition is really stupid. Most Oumas have gotten their “feeling” about a baby, yeah, but...how can you possibly determine if someone’s meant to be a leader when they’re a baby? Everyone’s sworn it’s real, but I’m going to be real pissed if it turns out past Oumas have just decided to adopt on a whim and it’s all nurture.”

Shaking his head a little, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a reassuring look. “But don’t worry. Little baby Saihara’s gonna grow up to be a normal kid without that sort of responsibility hanging over their head. While I accepted that for myself...I really don’t think it’s good for any kid. All I want for our child is them to be healthy and happy. What they decide to do with their life is up to them, and can come later.”

“So, no. I don’t have a nebulous, unclear feeling about our baby.”

Shuichi sighed, feeling a little reassured with that. He closed his eyes for a moment, before nodding, opening up those golden orbs as he said, entirely seriously, “A life in politics is literally the worst lifestyle I can think of. If I can do my kid any favor, keeping them away from politics is it.”

There was a small knock on the door, and Kaito opened up the door, Shuichi looking up, his eyes softening a little as he greeted, “Welcome back, Kaito. Are the pumpkins placed?”

“Heck yeah! You should see them guys, they looked really good down at the gates! And they’re so cool lit up!” Kaito said cheerfully, closing the door behind him and heading over to the bed, looking down curiously as he said, “You all playing a game?”

“It certainly takes a very specific type of person,” Kokichi agreed with a sigh. He’d never known anything else, but...being free to choose what his life became, not having all that responsibility piled onto his shoulders… If he could assure that for their kid, then he would. 

Of course, just by the nature of who they were, Baby Saihara wasn’t going to be completely removed from politics, but Kokichi would make sure that they would never be pressured by them. They’d be another kid growing up in the castle, and sure at least one of their dads would have a lot of work that would affect the entire country...but that just meant Kokichi would have to be better about separating work and his personal life. (Even if he’d promised his entire being to Dicea...but he had a responsibility to his family too.)

Kokichi looked over when Kaito returned, scooting over a little to make more room on their frankly quite large bed, grinning at the news of the pumpkins. “We should absolutely make a detour to see them when we go down for dinner. It’ll be dark enough by then to get most of the full effect too!”

“We’re playing Plot to Ride! It’s about making trade routes between Dicean cities. Since just Shuu-chan and I are playing, it should go kinda fast, so you can watch to see how it goes, and join in on the next round?”

“Plot to ride…” Kaito frowned, not recognizing the game at all, but he took the pamphlet when Shuichi handed him the rules book, opening it up as he said, “Oh, uh, okay? I’ll just read this I guess and join in the next game?”

Shuichi nodded, smirking slightly at Kaito as he said, “It’s really not that hard, so far...do you wanna bet on the outcome, Kaito?”

Kaito twitched, giving Shuichi an openly suspicious look. “You trying to hustle me, handsome?”

Shuichi shrugged, that soft, small smirk still on his face as he pulled another resource card. “That’s only true if you expect to lose, Kaito.”

Kokichi snorted softly. “I’d say it’s a fair bet. I know the game, and I’m more familiar with Dicean geography, even if you can see all the paths on the board. Meanwhile, Shuu-chan’s our resident genius and sneaky-man, so you can never, ever count him out on a game.” Plus, despite having mechanics that could be a little lengthy to explain, it really wasn’t a difficult game once you got the hang of it. No Betrayal and House on the Hill or anything. Though, Kokichi had gotten the special edition binded player’s guide for it. Maybe someday they’d get enough people with enough patience to play through it. 

“I was thinking, actually,” he started as he laid down a six-space train of blue pieces. “Maybe I could commission a Plot to Ride board of Luminary. Really, it just needs to be a map with key cities and various paths between them. I could probably make one myself if I had the materials and put in the time… But it would add some variety to the game. A board of the whole continent would be wild!”

Kaito looked more and more confused as he read the rules, but he snickered as he said, “A fair bet, huh. Great, now I’m feeling competitive… I could… I could win this! It’s just...I mean, it’s not a luck based game, right? It’s a strategy game. I can strategize… yeah! Totally!”

Shuichi rolled his eyes slightly, “Actually, this is too cruel. Let’s not bet on it. I’d feel bad by this point.”

“You’re so cruel, Shuichi.” Kaito pouted, before noting Kokichi’s idea of a Luminary map, trying to imagine the board as a Luminary map. “...Shuichi? Do you think you could design a map?”

“Sure, but why would I have to? Certainly Dicea already has maps of Luminary...don’t you?” Shuichi asked, realizing that was maybe not actually a sure thing. “You must, right? Luminary had maps of Dicea, we’d see them in the war room...though, thinking about it, I guess those maps are probably almost two decades old...but how much could things have changed?”

Kokichi nodded. “We do. In atlases an’ stuff. Though…” Kokichi trailed off at the point Shuuichi brought up. How accurate were those maps now? It’s not as if the shape of the land had shifted or had been broken up into islands, but…

He frowned, placing his chin in his hand as he thought. “...mostly what’s changed has been around the border towns. And, like, roads and trade routes change all the time, but just for a general map, those aren’t the most important to note… We’ve never drawn our borders differently, though, even when Luminary was occupying towns, and...I know some were abandoned...others newly built… Oh, and I guess the size of some towns have changed enough in the last twenty years to be noted…”

He hummed, only moving after a moment when he realized it was his turn. “Maybe we should go see some of the more recent maps of Luminary we have, and you guys can see if there’s anything weird about them. Might give an idea of how different the maps of Dicea are. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re both being fixed on a more official level, and a wider scale, since people are allowed to travel between Dicea and Luminary again.”

“Yeah, I was gonna say. I highly doubt we’re the only ones to think about that.” Kaito said, re-reading the resource system for literally the third time, thinking he might?? Get it?? “Our leaders aren’t stupid, someone would have reached out to the right cartographers by now. Cartographers? Is that...is that the word I’m thinking of? Map makers?”

“You got it right, Kaito.” Shuichi said gently, frowning at Kokichis’ move. Uh oh… he might be in trouble. Hmmm… shoot. Hopefully the next round would bring him more resources. “And I wasn’t saying we should do anything about it, necessarily. I was just thinking about it. It could be funny, seeing how up to date Luminary maps in Dicea are. Good for a laugh.”

“Though, hopefully, if they have thought of it, they think to mention it to someone within the next four years.” Shuichi snickered.

“Hmm?” Kaito asked, totally missing the reference, before saying, “Wait, there’s a currency system in this game? Ah geez, I’m doomed if we bet… can you at least promise that if I lose you’ll ask for something sexy?”

“I’d make you sing a song at the first open mic-night we can find.” Shuichi laughed.

“You’re so cruel… Kokichi, control your boyfriend.” Kaito groaned.

Kokichi nodded along with his lovers’ points, rolling his eyes a little at Shuuichi’s quip, though it did bring a smile to his face. Where Aiichi was broad strokes and a man of the people, Hideki was nothing but details and little facts, often getting into almost fights with people because he just...didn’t have the patience for nuance and feelings. Say exactly what you mean and get to work. He knew that between their head secretary and their strategist, Hideki and Mikaku had complied a pretty dang exhaustive list of everything that would need to be changed or updated concerning Luminary. 

It was...a lot, and not just things they’d agreed to in the treaty. 

Kokichi was easily pulled out of his work mind, though, perking up at a new bit of information. Looking at Kaito with wide eyes, he asked, “I didn’t know you sang. Though, if singing at an open mic would be something to lose in a bet, I guess that’s on purpose.”

He pouted a bit, turning pink. “...made me embarrass myself, singing to you, and you didn’t even think to mention it…”

“I don’t!”

“He can.”

“Shuichi, shut up!” Kaito said, face turning red, before grinning sheepishly at Kokichi, “Our Shuichi’s just being mean. I can’t sing, trust me.”

“He can’t sing in public.” Shuichi corrected, taking his turn. “He can sing. He used to sing hymns all the time in temple, the priestesses would gush at him about it.”

“Those are hymns! They’re different! And the temple ceiling makes everyone sound good. Trust me, me finding out I can’t sing was a brutal childhood lesson. I tried out for two musicals in high school, and completely bombed both of them.” Kaito said, looking increasingly embarrassed. 

Shuichi rolled his eyes, “Sure, because you put on that stupid voice when you sing in public.”

“That’s literally just my singing voice!”

“It is not.”

Kokichi looked between the two in amusement before he decided to take some pity on Kaito...maybe? Leaning over, he nuzzled at Kaito’s shoulder. “Well, when they finish the temple in town, maybe you can join in on the hymns then? If they sing the same ones as you know.”

...not a ton of pity. Kokichi grinned slyly after that, raising an eyebrow and nodding to Shuuichi. “Aaaaand we did agree that we’d sing lullabies to the baby. Guess I’ll just have to wait to hear Kai-chan’s singing voice and not be the only one putting myself out there.”

“What about you, Shuu-chan? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you humming anything more than thoughts.”

Shuichi shrugged. “I don’t know if I can sing. Never really had any desire to do it. I’m sure I have, but…” Shuichi shrugged again, clearly not all that enamored by the idea.

Kaito, in turn, said, “I’ve heard Shuichi sing a few times. Usually because the school made us, or for temple. He could be good if he wanted to be, I think, but he never really puts any effort into it. And, since we’re talking about all of our singing skills…” Kaito grinned, amusement in his eyes, “...Maki-roll…”

Shuichi sighed. “Now who’s being cruel. Don’t tell him that.”

“It’s always amazing to hear her sing, Kokichi. It’s always...so fucking funny.” Kaito snickered, putting a hand over his eyes, for once not overwhelmed by sexiness and more just...feeling bad at how much he was laughing. “Maki sings like she wants to burrow into a hole and die. The school tried to get her to sing by herself once, god knows why. Maybe trying to make her more approachable? The whole class thought she was going to murder them the entire time. One guy started crying, he was that certain they weren’t going to make it.”

“...it was pretty funny.” Shuichi admitted. “I was there. Maki was pretty pissed.”

Personally, Kokichi enjoyed music, and caught himself humming bits and pieces of songs he remembered when he was in a good mood. But if someone had never had that sort of inclination...well, he wasn’t going to force Shuuichi or anything. It was only that Kaito said he wasn’t good, not that he didn’t like it, that sparked Kokichi’s curiosity. 

But if Shuuichi didn’t really care, then what they were describing for Maki could only be hatred. 

Kokichi giggled a bit--though he didn’t understand why school would make you sing, outside of musicals, like Kaito had talked about, or if you were in singing or music classes--covering his mouth. “Oh noooo, poor Maki-chan. Well, I won’t ask her to join in with lullaby time, then. If she could make a teenager cry, I wouldn’t want to put her or the baby through that.”

“Ah well,” he sighed, idly taking his turn. “Guess that just means I have to be in charge of Dicean lullabies, and Kai-chan’s head of Luminous lullabies. Sorry you’re gonna be subjected to our voices, Shuu-chan. At least considering they’re supposed to be soothing, we’ll try not to wake you up if duty calls in the middle of the night.”

“I can do the midnight cryings, Kokichi, I wouldn’t expect you to lose sleep if it can be helped.” Kaito said immediately, looking urgently at his husband as he said, “You’re going to be working during the day, so it would make sense for me to do it. I’ve got it.”

“Let’s see what taking care of this thing is actually going to be like before you make promises like that, Kaito. Besides, you might have a job by that point too.” Shuichi said gently, frowning at Kaito a bit, before turning back to the board. Though...that was a point. “...do any of us have any idea how to raise a babe? Like, the day to day I mean? Like...do we…” Shuichi frowned. “Do we make a nursery for it? Is it safe to let a baby sleep by itself at night? But nurseries are a thing. When does the baby expect to live in its nursery?”

“I mean...I’m not sure I’m gonna get a job after all. Not right now.” Kaito murmured, not sure how to explain his thought process to the other two and feeling weirdly uncomfortable to say that aloud. “And yeah, babies need nurseries! But...that’s a point? Is one of us expected to sleep in the nursery with her? Shoot...I need more books about babies themselves, not just the pregnancy’s...”

Kokichi, thankfully, had had thoughts like these before, and in his worry had gone to his dad. And thankfully he hadn’t been the only baby Ikuo had looked after. He really doubted--and hoped fiercely--that their baby wouldn’t...need a whole room full of...medical equipment...and an incubator and breathing apparatus and…

Swallowing, Kokichi started talking to distract from those kinds of thoughts. “According to my dad, it’s best to keep the baby with us in our room at night--at least for the first year. That way it’s easy to keep an eye on them and respond to anything they need quickly. Ikuo wanted to start making plans for a crib but, uh… He doesn’t want to rush you too much, Shuu-chan,” Kokichi chuckled. 

“Though, we should make a nursery, and that’ll eventually become their room--dunno if that’s regular or just a family thing, but I mean, this room used to be my nursery. And it’s pretty customary, I’ve heard, to have a bed even when the baby’s still using a crib, so if a parent needs to stay with them, you’re not stuck sleeping in a chair.”

Giving Shuuichi and Kaito soft looks, Kokichi gave something of a shrug. “I’m not totally sure how to take care of a baby...but we have a lot of resources and a lot of help. And I really don’t mind getting up at weird hours for whatever our kid needs--that’s just part of being a parent. Even with three of us and any help we might enlist, I have a feeling we’re all gonna be exhausted anyway so...not too much point in trying to save any one of us from it.”

“Well, I mean...if one of us is focusing on it? I mean, I only ever had one nanny at a time, and Shuichi, you had, what, two keepers in the orphanage at any given time? For like thirty kids...wait...no, right, you weren’t in the orphanage till you were like, four, right? Bad example.”

Shuichi nodded. “Yeah, I was going to say, Kaito. Though, the babies the orphanage does get usually has a lot of help from the older kids. The caretakers aren’t the only two people paying attention to them. A lot of older kids had babies assigned to them specifically, for accountability purposes.”

“Mmmm….probably still a bad example.” Kaito laughed awkwardly. “Sorry. Anyway, sorry, I’m trying to argue that I probably could take the bulk of it, if we needed to. But, you’re right, Kokichi. We do have a lot of resources for help. Sorry, I don’t know why I always look at all problems like, I don’t know, if the four of us don’t figure it out between us, it’s all going to fall apart.” Kaito said, rolling his eyes at himself, “Miss Crystal calls it ‘closed loop thinking’, though...I still don’t really understand what she means by that. Like, when I asked, she started talking about fears of failure, and I don’t really get how that relates...we’re supposed to talk about it more next session.”

“How's’ all that going, by the way?” Shuichi asked, frowning at the board. Damn. “I might be about to lose this.” Shuichi admitted, glaring at Kokichi’s trade routes.

Kaito shrugged, “It’s alright. I think I need to ask her to slow down when she talks though. She’ll go on these tangents, and I’m really trying to follow what she’s saying, but after awhile the words just sorta blur together, and I get embarrassed asking her to repeat herself over and over. Just, I don’t know, communication issues we gotta shift through.”

Kokichi knew that he himself was a pretty piss poor example, but… There was a lot of stuff that a baby needed attention for. Not just food or diaper changes, but...being overstimulated or just scared by literally every single new thing in the world, and bonding with parents, and being introduced to things and, even from a young age, being entertained. Learning and playing and loving. 

...he’d grown up feeling like his father hated him. Aiichi was busy running a kingdom, sure, but...he’d still been his father. Kokichi didn’t want their kid to doubt for even a second that any of them didn’t like them, didn’t care about them. He wanted to be present in their life. For the fun, exciting moments, for the scary ones where his kid needed them, and just for the day to day. 

Kokichi rolled one of the road pieces between his fingers for a bit, kind of letting Kaito and Shuuichi’s conversation wash over him before he tuned back in. Giving Kaito a smile, he nodded. “I’m glad you seem to be getting something out of it. Hope you guys can figure out a way to talk that works better too. Said this before, and I figure you’d’ve asked if she brought it up, but if either of you want me there for something, all you gotta do is ask.”

“...I let you know when I’ll be at my own appointments, though, once I get that all set up.”

“Have you started looking, Kokichi? I know you wanted to wait till after Harvest, but with it being tomorrow...I mean, no pressure.” Kaito added quickly, giving his husband a wary look. He was honestly just thrilled Kokichi was seriously thinking about it, but he didn’t want to discourage him by adding too much pressure to get it done right away. He didn’t think he would, but, well… he didn’t want Kokichi to get frustrated and quit before he had even started.

“I haven’t had the time to reach out, so I don’t know if they’re accepting patients in the times I’d have available…” Kokichi started, already feeling a little stressed thinking about all the work put into Harvest, even if he’d taken the last few days off, “But I’ve looked through the listings of therapists who are accepting new patients period. Narrowed down people who have specialties in trauma and depression, taken a look at some ratings… I know it just looks like I’m putting it off but...I will take a more thorough look once the festival is done and set up meetings.”

He would. Things had just been...busy. 

Idly, Kokichi didn’t even notice he was rubbing his temple a bit, nearly taking the last path pieces for another road. He’d find a therapist that worked for him, get some help on what to actually do to get better, live more healthily...and hopefully he’d be further down that path by the time the baby came. Hopefully he’d make his way, step by step, and be the sort of person his family could depend on. That his country could depend on. 

He had time. 

(...but not as much as he wished…)

Turning to the side, Kokichi yawned quietly and...tried not to think about it all too deeply. 

Kaito and Shuichi both watched this, before glancing at each other. It was pretty obvious something about that thought stressed their lover out. And, well...why wouldn’t it. It was a stressful situation. 

“I’m sure the festival tomorrow is going to go smoothly, Kokichi, and you have plenty of time to pick a therapist. You’re not racing against the clock of a court-mandate, unlike some people.” Shuichi said, raising an eyebrow at Kaito. 

Kaito laughed, shrugging, “Got me motivated, didn’t it? Looking back…” Kaito had wanted to say that looking back, he was glad that something had finally triggered someone making him get help. But, well, that punch probably had… a lot more consequences then just him going to therapy. Looking back, had probably been the deciding factor for the Brockmans’ plans. So...looking back, probably wasn’t worth it actually. He let the thought go. “Anyway, I’m just glad I’m doing this. And Kokichi, I think you’re the type of person who would get way more out of this way faster then I have. I think you’re gonna be relieved once you start. It can even be fun sometimes! It’s not all doom and gloom and hating yourself and crying, ya know? There’s light moments where you’re laughing and reflecting...it can be nice.”

Kaito leaned over, taking Kokichi’s shoulder and kissing him on the shoulder as he said, “But...if the thought is stressing you out? Then it’s not something you have to get done, like, right after the festival or anything. And prep for the festival is basically done, right? Tomorrow we get to go and enjoy all the hard work our ‘Kichi put in! That’s exciting!”

Kaito grinned at his husband, lowering his voice a tad as he asked, “Are you going to have that mask on the whole time? Cause not gonna lie, ‘Kichi. Really wanna kiss you all over that place. Want to harvest Kokichi kisses for harvest.”

Shuichi rolled his eyes. “Bad joke.”

“Only if you point it out, handsome.”

That was true, but...Kokichi should’ve looked for a therapist years ago. He couldn’t help but feel like he was so far behind...and like his friends were disappointed in him for not doing anything sooner. Even if therapy hadn’t been something any of them had considered an option until recently. 

“I’m not too worried about the speed of revelation or anything,” he partially lied, “But I am hoping to find someone that can help.” And wouldn’t be just his luck to find another quack or someone looking to take advantage of his position. Again, it’d been a long time since Kokichi’d had a bad doctor...but the ones from his childhood had left a deep impression. At least it seemed like Itch and Tom had been the only Remnants that interested in him. So he...probably didn’t have to worry about someone targeting whoever he chose and impersonating them while trapping them in their basement…

...if Kaito could have the courage to try again, so could he. 

Ever good at bringing his spirits up, Kokichi rolled his eyes a bit. “Yes. I think I’m over the hill, but I’m still gonna wear my mask just to make sure I’m not spreading anything gross. And it gives me an excuse to not really wear makeup, though I’m sure Denji-chan’s still gonna insist on eye makeup.”

He sighed, ‘THWUMP’ing back on the bed. “They’re probably going to wake me up kinda early to get ready, but you guys can sleep in if you want. Since you didn’t ask for any dressing or makeup. And...I’m gonna be by my father for his speech, but after that, we can hang out and enjoy the festival. Take your morning slow, and don’t worry about things; no one’s expecting you to stick with me for the official stuff.”

“Oh...that didn’t even occur to me, that we’d have to present ourselves or anything…” Shuichi murmured, imagining it...paleing… 

Kaito leaned forward, snapping his fingers in front of Shuichi’s eyes. “Snap out of it, sidekick. He just said you don’t have to do it, no need to make yourself sick thinking about it.”

Looking down at his thwumped husband though, Kaito grinned. “Awww, are we going to see pretty ‘Kichi again? Or, first time for Shuichi, right?”

Shuichi shook his head, “He was dressed up for the proposal. I’ve seen him done up before.”

“Yeah, but that was different. Denji make Kokichi look, you know…” Kaito paused, trying to think of the right comparison, “...think my mom, all dressed up. Really pretty and sophisticated. Royal.”

Shuichi’s brow furrowed, a clear look of distaste crossing his eyes as he pleaded with Kaito, “Please never compare our lover to the princess-consort, ever, ever again...ugh. I have to bleach my brain…”

“It’s a compliment! I don’t mean he looks like her! I just mean it’s similar levels of dressed up! Come on… ‘sides, my mother was a beautiful woman, it’d be a compliment either way.” Kaito insisted.

Shuichi put his head in his hands, groaning. “Kaito, please. Ugh….that’s so gross…”

Kokichi snorted a bit of a laugh at Shuuichi’s distaste, knowing how much Shuuichi couldn’t stand Kaito’s mother. He thought about making some comparison to, as Shuuichi and Maki had called it before, ‘Kaito-vision’, but...it seemed a little too cruel to his husband. However horrible Queen Sayaka had been...Kaito still loved her. 

“You mean I look ridiculous, all laced up in fancy clothes and hair all pinned to hell so you can’t even tell I cut it myself.” Kokichi rolled his eyes again, working a hand under his head to look at his partners. “I just don’t look like me, which kinda worked to my benefit when I didn’t want people knowing what I looked like, but...it’s just formal tradition. Gotta put on the special clothes, gotta brush my hair. I guess it’s the least I can do to make Denji-chan happy to let them do my makeup too. Fuck knows how bored they must get doing my father’s every day.”

Sitting up, Kokichi reached over the board to cup Shuuichi’s cheek affectionately for a moment. “...but don’t worry. I can’t stop people from being excited for your pregnancy...but there’ll be enough going on that I’m sure Shuu-chan can slip into the background for most people. And there’ll be a million excuses to get out of conversations too.”

Shuichi gave Kokichi a grateful look, before giving a small little shrug. “The attention isn’t...bad or anything. No one’s being unkind or even that aggressive. I just...get uncomfortable with it. I’ll be glad when it’s done.”

“It’s gonna get worse before it gets better, handsome. People are absolutely going to fuss over you once you get into ‘waddling ball mode’.” Kaito observed, before grinning, “I wonder what kind of preggo you’re going to end up looking like? I’ve seen mom’s who just look like they have a literally bowling ball in their shirt to the very end and ladies who literally seem like they just inflate. You could roll them down a hill!”

“I hate you, Kaito.” Shuichi grumbled.

“Aww, come on, you’re gonna be super cute either way. And we’ll help you through it, Shuichi. Just remember that it’s all temporary.” Kaito reassured.

Shuichi jaw started to click in frustration as he grumbled, “I’m gonna ask Maki to break your arm again, and when you’re rolling around on the ground tell you to remember it’s just temporary.”

“I love you too, Shuichi.” Kaito snickered...before saying, “Oh! How’s the breast pump stuff going? I haven't seen you doing it...you are still doing it, right Shuichi? It’s important, handsome, I don’t want you to hurt yourself again…”

“I’m usually doing it during my baths.” Shuichi sighed, looking worried as he said, “...I hope the housekeepers never actually look in the trash when they pick it up. I try to cover up the bags but...maybe I should pour it out into the toilet and flush them instead…”

Now even Kokichi was giving Kaito an exasperated look. Before they even knew Shuuichi was pregnant he’d been insecure about his body. Maybe talking about it now would take some of the brunt off, but chatting about how big Shuuichi was going to get probably wasn’t exactly getting him to jump for joy. Kokichi wished that Shuuichi didn’t have to go through all this but...getting bigger was just a result of the baby growing. Nothing to do about it. 

Sighing, Kokichi laid down his last cards and placed the last path pieces, signalling the end of the game and the time to tally up the points. “Other than what’s on top, since you can’t really avoid looking at that...especially for bathroom stuff, people generally trust ya to not put anything that’d need to be disposed of separately in the trash. I dunno how that stuff would fair in water treatment so...I think you’re okay the way you’ve been goin’.

“...Ah, I won! Mostly by luck, I think--you’re penalized by the route cards that you don’t complete, but at the end you can take a gamble and try to take ones you’ve already completed by accident, and it worked out for me this time. Good game, Shuu-chan.”

Starting to clear the board, Kokichi looked up at Kaito. “You wanna play a round? It really does feel completely different with three people playing.”

“If you’re not to my of a sleepy ‘Kichi, sure.” Kaito said, putting the rule book down on his lap and grinning at Kokichi, “I could do a round. But we’re not gambling. I’m not that much of a sucker, Shuichi.”

“Knowing your luck? Literally just refusing to bet means you’re gonna win for once.” Shuichi said plainly, helping Kokichi set the board up again for three people as Kaito just twisted his lip at him a little, not amused. “Oh, and Kaito, don’t brag to anyone about Kokichi’s knife throwing stuff. He wants to keep it a secret.”

Kaito blinked, before looking at Kokichi in confusion. “Oh? I thought it already was a secret?”

“I mean even with the new lifting of the restrictions around him. I figured I should say something. If he thought it wasn’t going to get you into trouble? That’s absolutely something Kaito would brag about the second he saw an opportunity to do so.” Shuichi said to Kokichi, explaining himself.

Kaito shrugged, “It’s cool, why wouldn’t I want to brag about it? But alright. That what you guys were talking about while I was gone?”

Kokichi hummed in understanding when Shuuichi explained himself before shrugging a little. “Mostly, yeah. Now, the secret’s less ‘my dad’s gonna have a conniption fit if he finds out’ and more ‘I want all the advantage I can get if I need to use it in a serious situation.’ Aiichi probably would still freak out if he knew, though,” Kokichi snorted. “Would insist on me wearing, like, full body armor during lessons.”

Quiet for a moment as he shuffled one of the card decks, Kokichi shyly smiled up at his loves. “...he said he was really proud of me for setting up my own security. That he’s excited to see Maki-chan flourish in the role, ‘n that she seems a good fit. I know you can never please everyone but...it’s kinda nice to know she has Aiichi’s support, yeah? It’s not really a coworker review, but having a character statement would still help a resume for wherever she’d wanna apply in the future. If, yanno, I get to be too small a pond for her.”

Snickering to himself, Kokichi perked up as he remembered something he’d wanted to ask Shuuichi. “Oh, Shuu-chan, you went to the university the other day to enroll, right? What classes do you think you’re gonna wanna take next semester?”

“Um...I mean, I got to talk to a guidance counselor for a few minutes while I was there, Hajime introduced me to his old one, and I was recommended to start with just two classes, to get used to Dicean classes? Introduction to Criminal Law and… well…”

Shuichi sighed, looking uncomfortable as he admitted, “The guidance counselor felt really strongly that I should also take ‘Ethics in Criminal Law’...”

Kaito glanced over at Shuichi, before reaching over to tussle his hat a bit, trying to get Shuichi out of his head as he said, “I’m sure they recommend that for anyone going into anything dealing with the law or crimes or that. Trust me, handsome, I’ve been keeping an ear out. No one here knows anything about you, or, who you were, I mean. It wasn’t personal.”

“I know…” Shuichi said, though he didn’t look entirely convinced.

With a sympathetic look on his face, Kokichi huffed before saying, “I’ll go one further. It’s a requirement for anyone interested in any sort of law more than just a passing curiosity. Literally nothing to do with you.” And nothing to do with anyone knowing about the blackmail and threats Shuuichi was meant to do in his old position. Or any of the other things that Kokichi had an idea he hadn’t heard about. 

Kokichi sighed. “Even though I’ve never gone to school, I’ve taken an Ethics in Law course too. Or, really, just Hideki fitting it in whenever we went over laws and judicial procedures and all that sort of stuff. Even so, neither I nor my father are experts, so whenever there’s a case that gets taken to the admins? There are lawyers and judges out the wazoo to make sure that however the law comes down, it’s fair and principled to everyone. It’s the sort of thing that everyone in these kinds of fields has to know.”

“...if they really insisted on it, I’d guess that they were more trying to recommend that you take the ethics class alongside the intro to law class at the same time, instead of taking them during different semesters. Prolly can get more out of each that way.”

“Yeah? Maybe that’s what it was then.” Shuichi said, looking a little more reassured now. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Kaito would tell him if rumors were spreading around about him and the, ugh…’Boogieman’ reputation. He just didn’t believe people would spread those rumors where Kaito, specifically, could hear. Shuichi was constantly worried about hearing the ‘B’ word again.

Kaito grinned as he made his first move, pausing as Shuichi corrected him, before trying again, doing it right this time. “Ahhh, look at my group, all of you, like, growing and spreading your wings and stuff! Maki’s doing well in her first job and she’s got a potential recommendation from the Leaders of Dicea for all her future jobs! That’s gotta be worth something, even in Dicea. Shuichi’s going to school next semester, and Kokichi’s working on a bunch of personal stuff! Along with all his regular work...you guys are so impressive! It’s really inspiring!”

“I can’t imagine what ‘better’ job Maki could get after this.” Shuichi said, looking genuinely confused at the talk of ‘future jobs’ she could apply for. “She’s on the security team of the Heir Apparent. Barring being the king's security guard, how more high profile can you get?”

Kaito paused, before saying carefully, “I mean...she might not want to live in the capital forever, Shuichi. Maki’s twenty-two and Tim’s nine. By the time he’s grown, she’ll be, what...early thirties? She might want to move on with her life once she doesn’t need to be stable for him, ya know. Hell, knowing Maki, even before that, just...taking Tim on some adventure with her.”

“...I have a hard time imagining her leaving the castle. We’re not suited for that.” Shuichi observed. “I think she’ll stay.”

Kaito frowned. “You didn’t feel that way coming down here.”

Shuichi shrugged. “Did things on my own for, like, two days, Kaito, and got addicted to drugs and pregnant. Let’s just say I’ve gotten a hard dose of reality.”

Kokichi nodded a bit, feeling similarly proud of his friends. While a recommendation from him or Aiichi wasn’t a golden ticket, and wouldn’t boost Maki into, like, head positions for wherever she might apply...it was a very good recommendation. One of the primary things people trusted the leader for was good judgement, and if they said someone was a great employee, then anyone looking to hire Maki would know that taking her on wouldn’t be much of a risk at all, and they’d likely find themselves with one of their best employees. 

And while Shuuichi had a point, and, at least for now Kokichi’s talk of Maki’s future employment was pretty hypothetical… “High profile doesn’t exactly mean ‘better’,” he agreed with Kaito, taking his turn. “Right now, I would adore if Maki-chan wanted to be the head of my security for...forever? When I was convinced that she’d quit, I had no idea who I’d even ask to take the job. But no job is forever, and employment contracts are specifically made to avoid putting pressure on people to feel like they can’t leave.”

“...people change, and what’s perfect right now might feel ill-suited later.” Kokichi sighed, knowing Shuuichi had a harder time than most with stability. With freedom, as much as he hated to think about it. He thought again about what Maki said about her friends enjoying the comforts of home, how Shuuichi could spend his whole life in the castle and never miss what was outside it. Shuuichi and Kaito, and now Kokichi, were Maki’s friends. Her family. If they stayed, it was a compelling point to have her stay too, but…

Then again...Kokichi remembered how Maki looked up in that tree. Free and at peace. For once leaving home of her own volition, even if the spur was Kokichi and Kaito’s idea. Kaito had said that she’d sometimes leave for months on missions but...without any missions, Kokichi could easily imagine that happening still. Not with Tim around needing his mother, but…

Reaching around, Kokichi pulled a pillow into his lap, hugging it to his chest as he rested his head on the top. “...I’d really like it if Maki-chan always considered the capital home, but I don’t think she’ll stay. Not to leave permanently, but...I can’t imagine her only leaving when we all go on vacation. I think she’d really like getting to travel without her destination meaning work,” he murmured.

Kaito looked at the doubt in Shuichi’s eyes and the sad sort of way Kokichi considered it...and grinned, taking his turn. “And we’re all going to be very, very happy for her when she decides to start doing it.”

“I know maybe right now it doesn’t feel that way… but seeing someone do what’s best for them, even if it means it’s away from you…” Kaito frowned, before nodding his head. Certain of this. “It feels good. It feels good, knowing someone’s happy doing whatever it is they’re doing. If Maki gets to a point where she feels comfortable leaving us? Where her next trip isn’t about keeping us safe, or, ya know...killing my brother or anything like that? That’s a good thing. That’s our Maki at… at her very best. I’m excited for it!”

“And she loves us. She’d always come back, eventually. And that will be exciting too! We’ll get to hear all about what she did when she was away. It’d…” Kaito frowned, realizing how sincerely he felt about this as he said it aloud, “...It’d make me really happy if Maki got to do things like that with her life. She deserves better than staying at the castle the rest of her life. She deserves to be her own person.”

Kaito looked over at Shuichi and said softly, “I’d really like that for both of you, honestly. I didn’t ask you to come to Dicea to just… babysit me for the rest of your lives. I know right now it feels like your options are almost nothing, with the restrictions and the relationship and a baby on the way, but… whatever it is you decide you want to do with your life, Shuichi? In the long term? I hope you know you have my support.”

...Shuichi shrugged slightly, before nodding. “Thanks.” he said simply. No idea what to do with any of that. His future seemed pretty much written in stone, to him. But, well… maybe it wouldn’t always be like that for him. Who knew.

Kokichi smiled softly as Kaito talked, feeling...more hopeful about things. As much as he liked having Maki around, hanging out with her...he knew he’d be so elated for her to do with her life as she saw fit. To get to live according to what she thought was best, and not under orders. So...he nodded into his pillow, giving Kaito a soft, approving smile. 

It’s what he wished for all of them. 

“...I wish I had understood things more when you guys first came here,” he sighed, a thousand regrets that they’d been over more than enough times. “Had been able to give you all more options… But what we’re making with the hand we’ve been dealt...is pretty okay in my opinion. There’s not a lot I’d trade my relationship with you two for, after all.” Kokichi grinned fondly, squishing into his pillow more before taking his next turn, determined to make it through the game without being “too much of a sleepy Kokichi”.

“Fuck, I’m just glad you didn’t end up in Lumimary. I had nightmares about you coming to Luminary, Kokchi, while I was doing my ritual? I won’t go into it, but man….it was bad.” Kaito said, shuddering. Of all the things to remember, he wished the nightmare stuff hadn’t stuck as much as it had. So far all of his memories of his ritual were vague images of the sea, Kore, the party with the woman, and just...a ton of dead people who were very much still alive, and in this room with him. So many nightmares. “I mean, damn…”

“Yeah, that’s probably for the best.” Shuichi agreed, taking his turn, feeling more confident this game. “Especially if it meant you had to marry Byakuya? Somehow that’s a relationship I don’t think would have worked out quite as well.”

“That’s really weird to think about...ya know, he’s probably picked who he’s going to marry by now. Any bets, Shuichi, on who you think he picked?” Kaito asked, once again trying to do a move that was illegal, being corrected as he went. 

“Mmmm...what was her name? Saber’s sister?”

“Sythe?”

“I could see him taking her. She’s strong and smart, from a powerful family. He’d have to offer her something impressive in exchange, but despite just picking someone for convenience, Byakuya strikes me as the type of guy who would still want to ally himself with someone who could help him.” Shuichi mused.

“Maybe… I mean, he’d have to offer her something compelling though. When I met her, she really seemed set on taking over the family business at some point. She’d have to give that up to be queen. I was guessing Bailsong’s cousin. Marigold?”

“Marigold...the giggly blond with the curves? You think Byakuya’s that shallow?”

“Shuichi! She’s not just her looks.” Kaito scolded, looking offended, “She’s a hardcore socialite. I’ve heard both Byakuya and Kaede compliment her ability to control social groups. He’s already strong and from a powerful family, but he’s not super good with people. If he wanted a good ally, she’d be it.”

Kokichi raised an eyebrow, a little more awake now. Usually, it was him thinking that it was a relief he hadn’t ended up in Luminary, and then after a bit, Kaito vaguely agreeing. He’d never...heard Kaito be so...vehemently against it. 

Nightmares would do that, he supposed. Even if it was just Kaito’s brain being mean to him, it could still put him off the idea. 

Kokichi wrinkled his nose at the idea of having to marry Byakuya, the other half of that thought experiment that had always seemed...less terrifying, and more just annoying and unpleasant. While he was glad that Shuuichi was so relieved, he...really didn’t envy whoever Byakuya would end up proposing to. It would be a political gain for both parties, and he somehow doubted that anyone that agreed to marry Byakuya was even expecting friendship, but still. Eugh. 

Not knowing any of the people Kaito and Shuuichi were talking about, Kokichi just listened and took his turns as they came around, until he hummed questioningly. “...oh. Should we send a wedding gift? As far as I’m aware, just a notice of congratulations is usually customary for allied nations but...he is your brother. It’s not a good idea to travel, but sending something would be second best.”

Shuichi glanced over at Kaito, who frowned… “...no. That’s probably okay. We shouldn’t do that. A letter of congratulations to maybe be read during the ceremony would be more appropriate.”

And would be less publicly embarrassing. Neither he nor Kokichi had the funds to send Byakuya or his new wife anything impressive, and sending his brother an inexpensive gift would be worthy of mockery at best, and at worst, viewed as an extremely public slight against him. He knew Byakuya likely had a good idea of his funds by this point, if only because Byakuya had never asked him about it specifically. So he knew his brother would understand why no gift was sent. It was just everyone who heard about it that concerned Kaito. A formal letter by itself would raise less eyebrows then a poor gift.

“I think I might actually win this round… Kaito, I’ve literally told you twice now that you can’t do that in that order.”

“Right! My bad. Like this, right?” Kaito said, fixing himself.

Kokichi just nodded, relaxing more into the comfortable slump he’d been slouching into. Shuuichi and Kaito were far and away the experts for what would be best for a Luminous wedding. In Dicea...being there was the best, but if you couldn’t make it, then sending a nice letter with cute anecdotes and light teasing was next. Presents were kind of an after-thought if anything, just things that could be helpful for the new couple. Fancy sheets for a bigger bed, a collection of postcards so the couple could send notes to friends and family as they traveled together, or an album in that same vein. 

He had no idea what would be appropriate in Luminary, so if a letter would be best? Then they’d write a letter. 

Humming that Kaito had fixed his move, Kokichi took his turn, finding himself with unlucky draws this round, and stifled a yawn into his pillow. 

Kaito glanced at Kokichi, before yawning himself. “I’m actually getting pretty tired, guys. Lots of pumpkin heaving today. And we have a really long day tomorrow…”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, “You trying to fold early?”

“I’m not gonna win, right? I’m way behind you two. I’d be comfortable by this point saying I lose.” Kaito said, looking down at the bored. “Start getting ready for bed and all that.”

“Okay. Kokichi, did you still want to play to the end?” Shuichi asked, looking over to his boyfriend.

Kokichi gave his husband a dry look. “...we haven’t even had dinner yet. Just ‘cause I have a fraction of the stamina you all have doesn’t mean you have to go to bed before the sun’s even set all the way.”

“...and it’s no fun if you just stop playing if you think you’re gonna lose…” 

Sighing, Kokichi arranged the cards in his hand. “...I wanna keep playing, but if I doze off, you can consider that a forfeit and tease me for it later. Should wake me up for food, though. Even if I need the rest, I should at least eat something. Not gonna have breakfast, after all.”

Kaito frowned, looking out the window, “Oh, right, it’s not late yet...why did I think it was so much later than it was?”

Shuichi shrugged, “Busy day?” he asked, considering Kaito’s side of the board as he said, “So, should Kaito’s pieces all be redistributed, or…”

“No, no, I’ll keep playing.” Kaito sighed, picking his cards back up again. “I forgot we have to be up for dinner. It’s too early to go to bed.”

“You can take a nap, if you’re actually tired Kaito.” Shuichi pointed out.

“Nah, nah, I’m fine. Might take a bath after this game though.” Kaito suddenly grinned, looking over at Shuichi as he said, “Wanna join me? I can ‘empty you out’ in there…”

Shuichi blushed, glaring at Kaito for a moment...before saying, “I’ll think about it.”

“Yes! A maybe!” Kaito said, now looking considerably more awake.

Kokichi snickered into his pillow, looking between his lovers. “...think you’d have room for one more? If you need to have a meeting with the five-five and up club, though, I’ll take a bath after. Do actually need to do that tonight.” 

“...mm. What sort of costume do you think Maki-chan’s gonna pick up for you, Kai-chan? I’d like to think she’d take some pity and make sure you wouldn’t be freezing tomorrow.” He considered his options for a moment before placing down a path. “Stuff with cloaks tend to be popular, since they’re really easy to put together. Maybe she’ll get you a reaper cloak.”

“Ya know, I really can’t guess? I mean, I would have guessed literally a second before you said that, but the mere fact that you said ‘cloaks tend to be popular’ makes me think that this might be another culture difference.” Kaito said, taking his turn lazily, still pretty certain he had already lost.

Shuichi nodded, taking his turn next, “Right? Especially when they said the kids do it and, like, run around in it? Costumes must be an entirely different context here.”

“So, at home… are you familiar with the term ‘masquerade’?” Kaito asked his husband. 

Kokichi raised an eyebrow, looking between his lovers, not having expected that costumes would be another culture difference. “I mean,” he started slowly, “I know the word? To go about being something you’re not. Which kinda relates to costumes, I guess.”

Kokichi took his turn, trying to see where Shuuichi was trying to line routes up and block them before he handed the game over. Shrugging, he took his cards. “What does it mean in Luminary, since that’s obviously not what you were asking about?”

“It’s the only event where we wear costumes back at home. They’re, like...basically really elaborate parties? Dances.” Kaito explained, “Very formal. I mean, you don’t have to have a formal occasion to justify having one, lots of little communities put them together just for the sake of having them, but even really simple ones among the lower classes follow these really standardized, like, party rules. Is…” Kaito looked over at Shuichi, “Am I explaining this right?”

“They’re a style of party.” Shuichi explained, frowning at Kokichi’s move. Was he trying to trick him? What was Shuichi missing… “Where our ‘costumes’ are extremely stylized formal wear, usually with some form of theme, and an elaborate mask to come with it. Most of the men’s formal wear involves some sort of cloak or cape or some other formal-wear addition, so the fact that you suggested it like it was only a possibility...hear, let me draw out one real quick, while Kaito’s taking his turn.”

As Kaito looked over his pieces, taking his time, Shuichi took out his journal and jotted down a simple but convincing drawing of a man in a formal suit, with a cloak around his shoulders, a top hat, and a half-face mask that turned upwards at both ends. 

“Something like this.” Shuichi said, passing the journal, before passing him his pen as well and asking, “So, what do costumes here look like?”

“And kids don’t participate in masquerades as a rule. There’s probably some old reason why, officially, but the reason I always thought it was growing up was cause masquerades are sort of weirdly...sexy?” Kaito said, before laughing, “More than just to me. Like, by design. It’s a very adult feeling, the parties. It’d be creepy to involve kids.”

Kokichi listened curiously. They had costume parties in Dicea too, but even those sounded completely different. Instead of being some sort of event it was just...a theme for a regular, personal party. Or so he’d heard--Kokichi had never been to one. Or...any sort of personal party, unless the brewery counted. 

And when he looked at the drawing Shuuichi had made… “Oh...oh, yeah, these are completely different. Like...I suppose you could do something like this for a costume, but...honestly, it’d kinda look like you’re trying too hard to look elegant. Unless you were a character that dressed like this but… Mm. The mask looks cool, though.”

“Honestly...what everyone playing chess at the park was dressed like, that’s a lot of what you’d see during Harvest,” Kokichi explained, still taking the journal and pen to make a few, small, quick sketches. “Dressing like a character is super popular, but dressing as just, like...concepts too? That’s more old school, I guess.”

Kokichi made a few drawings--a figure covered with a sheet, a very low effort ghost, but still popular, someone dressed in black he shaded in, just wearing a headband with cat ears and a tail and whiskers drawn on their face, and someone wearing a large shirt that they’d stuffed with blankets, a costume of a jack-o’-lantern like they’d just carved. Turning it around, he showed his lovers. 

“There are sexy costumes you can get, but specifically for Harvest, it’s too cold to be wearing something super revealing. And if you just had a party with some friends, I guess it could be an adults-only time, but...I dunno. It’s always just felt like a fun for all ages sort of thing.”

“A masquerade party,” Kokichi hummed, leaning into his pillow once he’d passed Shuuichi’s journal back. “It does sound like fun, sorta…”

Kaito and Shuichi peered at the drawings, looking at the various costumes...and it was Kaito who blushed. 

“Oooooh.” He said, laughing a little at himself as he said, “So...dressing up like a bunny isn’t just like...a Dicean fashion statement then.”

“Yeah, the bunny costume at the chess game threw me off too.” Shuichi admitted.

Kokichi blinked before bursting out into snorting laughter. “Wait, wait wait wait, did you guys think that everyone there was just...wearing normal clothes?! Hajime-chan even said it was costume chess! Oh my god…!!” 

No wonder Maki called it a weird hobby. It still wasn’t the most average thing, but if all his friends had thought that everyone was just dressed how they liked…

Kokichi fell over onto his side, still rapidly giggling, wondering just what on earth his friends would’ve thought if he’d forgotten all about costumes all the way until the festival. 

“I mean, I noticed what he called it, but I thought that was just what they called live chest. Like, the costumes were the pieces they represented?” Shuichi said, eyebrow twitching. 

“I’ll be honest, I didn’t think about it at all.” Kaito admitted, shrugging, “I just kinda let the word wash over me and moved on...awww, so wait, Hajime and Chiaki don’t just wear matching outfits during their dates? I really thought that was cute…”

“...we are not wearing matching outfits, Kaito.”

“Just sometimes! It could be so cute, Shuichi!”

Kokichi continued to bray, absolutely tickled pink by this particular instance of cultural differences. Still, they had a game to finish and a bath to take, so Kokichi eventually had to rein his giggles in, wiping his eyes as he shakily sat back up. 

“Bring it up for our anniversary, and I’ll consider it, hun. Otherwise, I think you’d be struggling to ever match with me. Or for Shuu-chan and I to ever match. We wear waaaaaaaaaay too different things.”

Taking another breath to calm down, Kokichi took his turn, managing to cut off at least one of Shuuichi’s paths, though he had no idea if Shuuichi was even planning on going that way. 

“Man, I wonder if I should be worried what Maki ends up picking then, if it’s not gonna be a mask?” Kaito mused, watching Shuichi think, who was super overthinking Kokichi’s last few moves. “Really thought I was just asking her to pick some random cheap masquerade mask.”

“She’s going to get you something to make you look stupid.” Shuichi guessed.

“...yeaaaah.” Kaito sighed, resigning himself to it already as he said, “You’re right.” 

“...and with that... I think that’s game? Isn’t it?” Shuichi asked, still looking for the trick. He really felt like he had Kokichi on the ropes that last few turns, but was still a little paranoid that Kokichi was setting him up for a trick he wasn’t seeing. Kokichi wasn’t super sneaky with Shuichi, at least, but Shuichi had read enough reports about his pranks in the past to know to be wary.

Cause, like...when he was away from them these days? The few hours he had to himself? 

That’s what he was doing.

It was maybe a...maybe a bad hobby. But Shuichi had been entertaining himself the last, well, really only little over a week, almost two weeks, just...breaking into random offices and reading, like...literally just whatever he could find. No purpose behind it. No, like, specific information. Just...reading things he was pretty certain he wasn’t supposed to be reading.

It gave him a sense of control, even if that control was still basically over nothing.

And he wasn’t ‘breaking in’ like Kokichi could. He still didn’t know how to pick locks. He was just casing certain rooms for awhile before he went into them, learning schedules, seeing who left what unlocked when. It wasn’t hard to break into most places. Most people, deep, deep down, just...didn’t believe anyone would really do it. Especially during the middle of the day. So they didn’t seriously think about their own habits that they repeated day after day, like leaving their office unlocked for that ‘fifteen minute’ break they took that always became more like twenty-five minutes because they stop and chat with Sadia at the office next door for ten minutes on their way back.

And with those twenty-plus minutes, Shuichi just walked in and read whatever he could get his hands on. 

He knew it was a risky hobby. Someone could take offense and, well...honestly, he was more concerned about Kokichi being upset with him than anything else. Being disappointed. 

But...not worried enough to not do it.

Kokichi shrugged and leaned over to give Kaito’s arm a nuzzle. “If anything, that’s part of what the costumes are for during Harvest. Especially for dads. Looking silly or whatever...it’s all part of the fun.”

Looking over at the path pieces and seeing they were gone, Kokichi hummed affirmatively, turning over his route cards and motioning for the others to do the same. “Yupp, yupp. Tally time!” Mostly for Kaito’s benefit this time, Kokichi counted up their points aloud, adding together the completed route cards and subtracting the incomplete ones, then counting up who had the longest continuous path…

Kokichi really had no idea that Shuuichi was wary about anything, let alone something in the game. They were just...playing a light strategy game to pass the time until dinner. Something that even Kokichi could do while he was sick. He liked pulling out hidden strategies in games, and he always had some sort of goal, but often it was just to have fun. 

“Dun-da-da-duuuun! You got me this time, Shuu-chan!” Kokichi announced, though they could’ve gathered that as he counted the points. “Taking the route cards conservatively really helped you out this time--I couldn’t block you for shit. And you didn’t lose by that much, Kai-chan. Maybe try keeping your paths coming off of each other rather than making a lot of segments--hard to do when you have routes far away from each other, I know, but there’s always next time to get lucky.”

Stretching out a little, Kokichi hummed. “...I think I’m feeling strong enough to go down to the dining hall, if you guys wanted to do that?”

“Food time! Heck yeah!” Kaito said, randomly scooping up Kokichi into his arms as Shuichi took up the task of putting the board game away, putting a flurry of kisses against his face before saying, “You sure you’re not too sleepy, babe? You were almost out at one point there.”

“Food would be good, though.” Shuichi said, cleaning up the last of it, before closing the box and heading over to the bookcase. “He might need rest for tomorrow, but not at the expense of not eating. He’ll feel like garbage tomorrow without something in his system.”

“I feel like I keep telling you the same things, Shuichi, but with fruits and vegetables.” Kaito pointed out, raising an eyebrow at his boyfriend, who just gave him a blank look for a moment…

...before pouting a little, saying, “They don’t taste right anymore. I’m starting to think it might be a pregnancy thing? Maybe? I just...sweets taste really, really good. I thought it was just a difference in Dicean sugar, but I was talking about it with Maki the other day, and she says she doesn’t taste any difference at all. I’m gonna bring it up with the OB or with Seiko or someone, but I think my body is just really craving sugar these days.”

“...you can still eat fruit then! And I don’t care if it doesn’t taste as good now, you’re eating vegetables, Shuichi. Even if you do need more sugar now or something, we’re not assuming you don’t need other nutrients anymore!”

“Kaitoooo.”

“Mmmrg...yeah. I’ve tried skipping dinner before Harvest before and it just makes me feel awful, even without being sick too. Food then bath, then I’ll sleep. Believe me, it’s a big day tomorrow so I’m not trying to prolong anything.” Kokichi rolled his eyes a little but graciously snuggled against Kaito’s chest, basking in the kisses and being careful to only return some to Kaito’s cheeks and jaw. It was probably too little too late, but he still wanted to avoid passing on the vestiges of whatever he had onto his husband and boyfriend. 

Though, that wasn’t the only health-related thing he had to worry about. Kokichi raised his eyebrows a little, confused. “Wait...I thought you just had a sweet tooth like me; is this not normal for you?”

Even before they’d had sex that first time, Shuuichi seemed happy to accept any treats Kokichi wanted to share, more than Kaito or Maki ever accepted so...he hadn’t figured anything was weird. 

He frowned slightly in worry, now thinking over all the times he’d shared candy or recommended desserts to Shuuichi in a new light, but… He sighed. “Shuu-chan, if I agree with Kai-chan about diet, then it’s pretty set-in-stone stuff. I believe that you get to eat whatever you want, but...that’s after you get the base of what you need. If it helps, I can point out dishes that have sweeter sauces with them, so it’ll be easier to eat vegetables ‘n stuff.”

Kokichi started to squirm, trying to get out of Kaito’s lap and off the bed. “Plus, whatever you’re craving, I’m sure people will be happy to accommodate. Pregnancy favoritism and all that.”

Shuichi shrugged a little, “I mean, I’ve always liked sweet things well enough, but ever since I got to Dicea, they’re just steadily started tasting more and more amazing? Like, other foods don’t really compare anymore...especially honey. Wow I love honey now.” Shuichi sighed, not exactly displeased looking. “Again, thought it was just Dicean sugar, but Maki had no idea what I was talking about. Kaito?”

Kaito moved his legs out to give Kokichi easier access off of him, before following behind, getting off himself. “Sorry, handsome, didn’t notice any difference myself...though, actually, wait a minute…”

Kaito frowned, rubbing the back of his neck as he said, “...Dr. Ford? Or, the Dr. Ford imposter...literally every single session he made me drink, like, two glasses of sugar water. He insisted on it. I thought it was just a weird personal quirk, but...I mean, if you think it’s got something to do with the pollen? The imposter might have been trying to...I don’t know? Move it along? Stabilize it? Actually, with that new information, we should tell your doctors about it as soon as possible. I’ll make a trip to both of them the day after tomorrow.”

“But sugar didn’t taste any different to you?” Shuichi asked, following his princes to the door, Kaito opening it up for them as they walked out.

“Not that I noticed, no. No better or worse than normal.” Kaito shrugged.

“...you ever worry about the fact that we have no idea where the imposter went?” Shuichi asked.

“I try not to think about it.” Kaito said simply.

To Kokichi, that just...kind of sounded like Shuuichi was getting more of a taste for sweet things, which, while unusual, wasn’t the craziest thing in the world. But… Kokichi brought his hands to his chest, anxiously pressing his thumb into the palm of the opposite hand as Kaito talked about the Ford Imposter… If it was pollen related…

...good idea to let the doctors know.

Kokichi sighed deeply, fixing his mask as they headed towards the dining hall. “...that’s probably for the best. There’s nothing we can do about it so…” Togami hadn’t said a word about where the imposter went or who they were. Only that they were gone. Considering he hadn’t held back when he explained about the deaths of Kaito’s friends, that was a good indication that the imposter was alive but...they had no clue who that person was. What they actually looked like or their name…

The most they could do was release a PSA about letting people know if anyone started acting strangely or asked you to do uncomfortable things. It tied in with their release about the symptoms of pollen poisoning, so...they hadn’t freaked the public out any more than people would reasonably be worried about a new drug. 

Talking more quietly--and waiting until they weren’t near anyone--Kokichi hummed, “Well...Shuu-chan’s kisses taste like honey… Maybe it’s a mix of pollen stuff and pregnancy stuff. In all, I’m at least happy to have someone love sweets as much as I do, but it’s a good deal to let the docs know in case there’s any health stuff you gotta be aware of. A little sugar never hurt anyone, though--not unless you’re diabetic or have something like that, but still.”

“I don’t mind it much. It’s better than, I don’t know…” Shuichi looked down at Kokichi, smirking a little as he joked, “I could have gotten really, really into something like vinegar? Just, drinking vinegar straight from the bottle. Now, that would be fun to kiss, wouldn’t it?”

“Or, or, oh my god, spicy foods? What if the pollen had made you really into spicy foods??” Kaito said, reaching down to take Kokichi’s hand as they made their way down the stairs, partly to be closer to his husband and partly out of concern for any dizzy spells on the way down. “I mean, I’d kiss you either way, Shuichi, but it’d be torture if you were nothing but spicy kisses the whole time.”

“I’m gonna learn how to down hot sauce.” Shuichi said, his face totally calm. “Just to randomly surprise you with spicy kisses.”

“What!? You hate spicy things just as much as I do!”

“I will learn.”

Kokichi grimaced, making a face at the thought of kissing a permanently vinegary Shuuichi. He’d brave through it--same as Kaito braving spicy kisses, apparently--but...eugh. They really had lucked out that Shuuichi was craving sweets. 

Squeezing Kaito’s hand affectionately, Kokichi reached out for Shuuichi’s hand too, laughing lowly. “So I shouldn’t request a more mild bowl next time we have curry? I can’t believe our Shuu-chan’s gonna become a spice-head just to tease you, Kai-chan. One of these days he’s gonna take the One Chip Challenge and barely bat an eye.”

“One chip challenge?” Kaito asked, as Shuichi’s face immediately balked. He didn’t know what it was either, but through context? Sounded like a baaad time.

Both Kaito and Shuichi got a little quieter as they got to the dining hall, Shuichi lowering his cap a little and Kaito just sort of, well...trying to call less attention to himself in small ways as well. His red hair was mostly back, with a few darker greens still clinging onto random spikes of hair, which, just because his hair was getting a little too long, was starting to fall to the side, even as he gelled it up. He’d either have to get a haircut soon or just stop spiking it, by this point, and he wasn’t sure which one to do. He really liked his hairstyle, but man...it drew eyes. 

Kokichi said he cut his own hair, didn’t he? Maybe he could let his husband go wild on it. Worst case scenario, his hair would just be a little funny looking for a moment, and then just shorter for awhile when he got it fixed. It could be fun! Might be less noticeable, too.

“Mhmm,” Kokichi nodded, not raising his voice any as they entered the usual din of the dining room, just out of respect for how uncomfortable his friends always looked when they came down. Maybe one day they’d enjoy it like he did...but maybe not, and regardless he appreciated that they’d come down with him for dinner. Which looked like a lot of light foods tonight--Kokichi wasn’t the only one readying their appetite for what usually amounted to a full-day feast. 

Passing plates to his lovers, Kokichi explained the challenge more. “While in general people enjoy spicy things more here than in Luminary, there are a lot of degrees to that. And so you get people that try to eat the spiciest things ever, whether because they actually enjoy it for some crazy reason, or in competition. It’s less common, but it happens with sour stuff too.”

“The One Chip Challenge is this special tortilla chip you can order that’s just covered in the hottest chili powders you can find. Like...seriously,” he fixed Kaito and Shuuichi with a look. “It’s over 1.5 million scovilles. You have to fill out a survey before you can buy ‘em, to make sure you don’t have health issues, ‘cause it literally can send you to the hospital. Even if you’re okay with it, I’ve heard of people basically being passed out for a day because of it.”

Shaking his head, Kokichi sighed. “If I were the No Fun Guard, I’d totally ban stuff like that, but...people are being as safe as they can, and there are the proper restrictions for it. I can’t even imagine what it tastes like--I don’t even like spicy stuff that much, even if my tolerance is through the roof compared to you guys.”

“You warnin’ ya boys about what to watch out fer tomorrah?” 

With a gentle hand on his shoulder, Ikuo gave Kokichi a soft hello, nodding to his in-laws as well. 

“Hey Ikou!” Kaito greeted, brightening up to see the older man, grinning up at him as the three men took a seat at the table with their plates, Kaito immediately spooning for the vegetables as he said. “You eaten yet? Wanna sit with us?”

“Good afternoon, Ikou. Or, evening by this point, I suppose.” Shuichi said, politely nodding at the nanny/housekeeper/circus performer. He liked Ikou quite a bit, but still hadn’t quite gotten past the quiet/polite phase with him yet, let alone anywhere near the casual sarcasm and teasing he had with Kaito, Maki and Kokichi.

Though he did sigh and say, somewhat with regret, “Honestly, Ikou, Kokichi’s lost his touch. I always hear about these great pranks he pulled as a kid, and all I could think when he was warning us about the chips is: that would have been really funny to prank Kaito with. We clearly missed out on Kokichi’s prime.”

“Hey! Kokichi literally just said people go to the hospital on those things! Come on, Shuichi, have some mercy on a guy!”

Grunting, the older man simply nodded as he followed the three over to a table, casually carrying his own plate. Though, he quirked a brow with an Ikuo-style amused grin when Shuuichi piped up.

Before he chimed in though, Kokichi nodded gravely. “I really think even a speck of the chili powder they use on the chips would straight up kill Kai-chan. Hooooowever,” he grinned, “there are plenty of non-dangerous, still super out of your league foods in Dicea. Pranks are no fun if someone gets hurt, after all.”

“Ain’t’cha keep sayin’ that,” Ikuo huffed. “But I’ve heard ya haven’t really done anything in over a year. Or anythin’ big in five. Never thought it’d be somethin’ ya’d grow out of, but ain’t no one accusin’ ya ‘a not bein’ dedicated t’er work.” Maybe accusing him of being too dedicated, though. Ikuo had recognized that Kokichi started pulling pranks to get attention and to make people laugh, and he had been careful not to hurt anyone, so the nanny had just supervised. When Kokichi got the chance to do more for people than his pranks allowed in the form of his work...it was no wonder that he’d often worked himself into illness. 

And it was no wonder that Kokichi hadn’t felt much like laughing when the marriage was announced either. It turned out alright, but with work still going on, close friends that would pay attention to him no matter what it was he was doing, and a child on the way… Ikuo wouldn’t completely let his guard down, but he thought it was pretty understandable that Kokichi had calmed his mischief. 

“Right, pranks...I mean, Kokichi’s gotten me a few times, actually. He hit little jumping paper spiders in my luggage when I was first moving into the room, which got me pretty badly the first time they popped out.” Kaito snorted, shaking his head, “And I almost set a forest on fire when the guy had me convinced there were...well, not ghosts, obviously, cause, I mean, ghosts don’t exist, like, I mean…” Kaito laughed nervously, “Obviously. But I was convinced something was out there.”

“Alright, I’ll bite.” Kaito said after moment, taking a sip of his water. “I’ve been given the impression some of the pranks were insane. What was some of the big stuff you used to do, Kokichi?”

Kokichi gave his husband a wide-eyed, innocent look. “I’ve never done any sort of big prank in my life!”

“Avoidin’ the nightwatch an’ sneakin’ inta every office ta glue down every sealin’ stamp,” Ikuo rolled his eyes. “Makin’ some weird contraption ta rain down confetti over the whole entry hall. Replacin’ Lake’s weights with lighter ones, makin’ her think she was gettin’ superstrength. Floodin’ th’ welcome mats with paint. Fillin’ his old man’s office with popcorn.” 

The older man shook his head. “Least there’s less cleanin’ these days.”

“Ooooh, I really like the paint one.” Kaito said, snickering at his husband before leaning down and kissing the side of his head as he said, “You’re a brat, you know that? Man, it’s a good thing you grew out of that before Tim got here. Maki would lose her mind.”

“Timothy went through a pretty quick phase when we first got here. I think Maki cut it out of him, but for a minute there he was…” Shuichi stopped, trying to remember, “...he lured a horse somehow into the main lobby, and left it there? And apparently the horse wasn’t as easy to get outside as it had been for him to get it inside, because it refused to move for awhile. Oh, then there was the thing with the tar…”

“Tarring King Aiichi’s seat? God, that one scared me.” Kaito sighed, his face paling at the memory, “Maki was losing it and we didn’t really know, like...anything about anything here back then. She was convinced Tim was going to be sent back to Luminary, and I was just scared that he’d do something to take it out on the kid...I mean, that was a fear then. I know better now.” Kaito said quickly, “But, wow, I was worried.”

“There’s so many offices in this castle. And, like...lots stamps in all of them. You glued all of them?” Shuichi asked, giving Kokichi a slightly mind boggled look. That was impressive.

Kokichi snickered and pressed against Kaito for a moment, a little pleased that his friends thought his childhood antics were something to comment over. “Honestly, hearing about Tim’s pranks kinda got me back in the mood for ‘em. I wanted to get him some supplies, like handing the torch over, but the tar thing happened and while it was hilarious, you guys were so scared so...kinda let that all die down again.” For a moment Kokichi just let his hand rest on Kaito’s arm, a quiet moment of being there. There was never the possibility of any of them being sent back to Luminary, but for any danger...Kokichi would be there, and he’d do everything he could to be good to his family. 

Still, he gave Shuuichi a proud, lazy smirk. “A night’s a long time, and I had a lot of glue. I didn’t plaster them down or anything either--just enough to stick to the table and make ya a little confused when you try to grab for it. A momentary inconvenience to laugh about--that’s the true mark of a good prank. Or just confusing the hell out of people,” he laughed, still so amused over how Tim managed to lure a horse into the entry hall.

“Ya know, I went through a pranking phase too, when I was kid…” Kaito grinned, before saying, “Buuuuut…”

“It was cute.” Shuichi said, smirking slightly, giving Kaito a fond look, “His pranks would fall apart before they ever got off the ground, but there were a lot of people in the castle who just kinda...pretended like they did? Kaito would recruit me and Maki to do these way, overly complicated, dramatic pranks, and we’d help...sorta…”

“Half the time you two faked your ends of it and the other times you straight up sabotaged me! You’re terrible friends!!”

“It was really funny watching people realize a prank was supposed to be happening and seeing the looks on their face when Kaito would pop out, all excited, like...are we gonna ‘fall’ for it? Or not??” Shuichi said, laughing slightly as Kaito fumed. “The best times were when they faked it, cause they’d be so over dramatic about it, and Kaito would get so excited it worked.”

“I thought they were working! I didn’t know they were faking!! I put a lot of thought into those pranks!!”

Shuichi laughed again, though he sobered a little. It had been a short phase in Kaito’s life, literally just when they were ten. It was one of the things that the three had bonded over when they were first getting to know each other, the ‘pranks’...but then Kaito had tried a prank on the wrong person, Tengan had gotten involved… and the next time Shuichi had saw Kaito, the kid had been jumpy at the idea of pranking anyone. That being the first time Maki and Shuichi had noticed that something was going on between him and the Head Secretary.

...which had also been a bonding experience, in it’s own way.

Kokichi laughed softly, fondly, cooing over Kaito. “Awww, hun. Baby Prank King. Wish I could’ve seen it… What sort of stuff did you plan, then?”

There was a part of Kokichi that he tamped way, way far down that was afraid to ask… Hoping that Kaito wouldn’t say the sort of prank that was just...made to make fun of someone, or just make work for people, or to laugh in the face of fear or panic. Kokichi had every opportunity in the world to...scream and get people running, or pretend to faint and have people trying to help him. But those weren’t pranks. It was just cruel. 

And while Maki and Shuuichi said that Kaito had been one of the best at treating people like people...it sure didn’t seem like he had steep competition. 

But assuming the worst like that would only leave that fear to spoil in Kokichi’s mind, rather than getting any real story. Which, likely, would just be sweet and cute. 

“Oh, man...none of them are as impressive when you know they didn’t work.” Kaito blushed, scratching his chin a little, “And, like, looking back, it was...look, I thought they were really impressive when I was ten…”

Shuichi rolled his eyes. “Just tell them, I know you want too.”

“Well, okay…” Kaito grinned, blushing harder, as he said, “Definitely one of the more elaborate ones I tried was trying to convince everyone in my temple it was a holiday? Like, we made pamphlets and stuff, and I asked Shuichi to mimic the font in The Good Book, putting in an extra page where it said made up holiday was a thing. Then I put that page into as many copies of The Good Book as I could find? Like, really elaborate! I thought it was brilliant! We worked on it for like four days!”

“What was the holiday, again? I remember which Saint you picked... what was her name…”

“Fiona, The Frozen Faith!! She survived in the ice for three days and had a full recovery, after going back for the third time during a snow storm to recover the funds for her brothel! It was really brave! Anyway, so, I tried to say that her holiday meant we had to have an ice cream banquet and that the priestess’s had just been missing it this whole time...ya know, if I had given them more time? I bet you anything the priestess’s would have actually played along!”

Kaito shook his head, laughing as he said, “But, me and Maki and Shuichi got some shaved flavored ice for our trouble! So that was nice.”

Kokichi giggled, that little worried piece of him soothed with the prank. Very cute. And still a very valiant prank, even if it didn’t get anyone. “That’s a good one! A true-blue silly prank. I’d love a holiday that you celebrated with an ice cream party…”

“Oh!” Kokichi perked up, confused for a second before he remembered that Kaito had explained what shaved ice was before. “Oh, yeah, we totally have to try that some time--the shaved ice thing, I mean. It’s… Does it have the same texture of snow or… I guess you wouldn’t really know, huh…”

Kokichi slumped down in thought, trying to figure out how they’d get to that point of trying the cold treat, but was startled out of it when Ikuo reached over to ruffle his hair. “Ain’t quite like snow, Bunny. Actually gotta chop up some ice. Bet yer friends’d like syrup pops anyway.” 

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yea, that’s basically it ‘Kichi! Shaved ice with a variety of syrups, usually!” Kaito confirmed, grinning at Ikou, “They were really common back at home cause they were so easy to make. More often than not, you just went to the freezer and scooped up some of the broken up ice they already had, put it into a cup after smashing it some more, and through some flavored syrup in there, and boom! Perfect treat for kids!”

“I used to like to let mine melt and then sip it like a drink.” Shuichi recalled, frowning at the far too many cucumbers in his salad, Kaito having been certain to grab some extra for him, along with a ton of spinach. Nnngh. 

“Yeah, that’s cause you’re a heathen, Shuichi.” Kaito frowned, looking genuinely disturbed, as he said, “I thought it was weird then and I think it’s weird now.”

“Delicious, chilly syrup soup.” Shuichi mused, smirking at Kaito’s face. Turning to Ikou, he asked, “Is it more common in some places in Dicea then others, or did you find out about shaved ice from the front lines?”

Kokichi thought about it for a moment. “I mean...it’s like letting ice cream melt, right? And then it’s basically a milkshake in a bowl so...it’s not that weird...I think.” Did it change that much when it was...what sounded like an icier popsicle? Further evidence was needed…

“More common near th’ border,” Ikuo explained. “Hotter. Thought it was weird as hell when I first saw it at a birthday party th’ troupe was performin’ at. An’ we didn’t really have the right syrups on the front lines, but durin’ the summer, we’d mix cold tea with ice an’ let it ride. Some folks balked, but it was still nice ta have.”

It had been an idea from a few of the Luminary defectors they’d had in their company at the time, amused at how horrid the Diceans thought the heat was. They’d quickly found ways to cool off, after the first summer they spent on the Luminary side of things. Still, it was a lucky break if the fighting had moved back to Dicea by the summer, even if it meant the invading soldiers were closer to citizens. 

“Ah, yes, the famous Bunny Men. Does your troupe still perform, Ikou? You know, I’m sure Kokichi’s told you all about it already, but we went and saw a performance by this group called Dice...oh, hey Hajime.” Kaito grinned, though he raised an eyebrow as he saw Hajime was carrying two small plates of cake with him.

“Hey guys, working right now so I can’t sit, but we had some cake leftover from an experiment the kitchen was doing this morning, and I thought, Shuichi, Kokichi? You guys want them?” Hajime offered.

Shuichi blinked, “Oh, uh...thank you, Hajime.”

“No worries, no worries. Here you go.” Hajime said, putting the plate in front of Shuichi, then Kokichi, smiling warmly at them both before looking to Shuichi, “How are you doing? Things alright?”

Shuichi gave Hajime a curious look, before nodding. “Yeah. Thanks.”

“Good! Alright, well, reach out to me if you need anything. Hey there Ikou, good to see you! Alright, I gotta get back to work! Later then!” Hajime said, nodding to them all before heading off.

As the group watched him walk off, Kaito looked over to Shuichi, raising an eyebrow, “...so, do I need to spar him for your honor, or??”

“I don’t….think so??” Shuichi said, already grabbing his fork for the cake though, “Hajime’s just been really nice lately. But no, I don’t think he means it like that, Kaito.”

Ikuo grunted with a sort of nod, though it was unclear if he was saying that the Bunny Men still toured, or that he heard of their time at the DICE show. Though, he had absolutely been regaled with the tale of their time seeing DICE. Ikuo was intimately aware of his son’s admiration of the group and had been happy that Kokichi had finally gotten a chance to see them. 

Kokichi perked as Hajime came over, laughing dryly as he heard the reason for the cake though his smile was genuinely grateful. “Getting ahead of the crowd a day early, Hajime-chan? Guess it’s steep competition this year. Thanks!” He had a little more decorum these days, so Kokichi worked on the last of his dinner before digging into the cake, though he looked over at Shuuichi and Kaito curiously. 

“...Hajime-chan and Chiaki-chan are really serious about each other,” he noted softly, not...entirely sure what Kaito was talking about. “I don’t think Hajime-chan’s lookin’ to woo anyone. I think he’s just...you know. A little more personally invested in our well-being than the average person. Considering.”

“Mmmm…” Kaito narrowed his eyes at the back of the housekeeper...before grinning, laughing as he said, “Alright. But if he ever gets handsy with you, Shuichi, I’m gonna wrestle him...and I really, really wanna wrestle him, so, like-”

Shuichi sighed, rolling his eyes, “Seriously, Kaito? No.”

“What! I’m just saying, if he likes you, batter your eyelashes a little, make that cute, shy face you make sometimes-boom! It’ll be wrestling time! It’ll be epic!”

“I’m not going to try to seduce Hajime so you have an excuse to wrestle him. Just challenge him to a wrestling match if you want to do it so badly.” Shuichi said, cheerfully eating his cake. It was good…

“I tried already! He thought I was hitting on him!”

“Were you hitting on him?”

“No!! I just wanted to wrestle!! He’s got a great body for wrestling!! Have you seen his pecs!?? They’re incredible!!”

Kokichi rolled his eyes a bit, finally getting to his cake, a little envious of how much Shuuichi seemed to be enjoying it. Mm...a spice pound cake… Very in-season for experimenting. 

“Kai-chan, saying that you think Hajime-chan’s chest--that you’ve seen--is incredible might be why he thought you were hitting on him. Maybe ask again though--ask if he’d spar you in a wrestling match.” Kokichi giggled a bit, munching on his cake. He’d take his time with this gift while he could… Hopefully actually doing stuff during the festival tomorrow would cool people’s jets a bit, but he still had a feeling he’d be stuffed the whole day. 

...maybe he’d talk to Shuuichi about it, let him know it was a good way to get out of eating vegetables. Not that he’d always encourage such a thing...but it was a festival! If his boyfriend couldn’t get to indulge in sweets and get out of eating vegetables then, then when?!

“I didn’t need to see them, man, I felt them when he helped us jump the wall.” Kaito said, sighing happily as he turned red. “His shirts hide it, but trust me, babe. I am envious. I have no idea what Hajime’s exercise routine is, but those things were footholds.”

“Ahem. Kaito. I think you’re forgetting we have company.” Shuichi said, not blushing from second hand embarrassment as he gestured towards Ikou. Turning to Ikou, he bowed his head, “I apologize on his behalf. Kaito forgets that not everyone feels as comfortable as he does about people's bodies. I assure you, none of this conversation is actually leading to anything.”

“Huh…? Oh. Oh! Yeah, no, of course not! He just has a lot of muscles! Sorry, I didn’t mean...I mean, no, of course...ah geez.” Kaito’s face was burning red, not having noticed he was coming off as kind of a pervert right then till Shuichi said something. “My bad, my bad. I’m really sorry for being gross about it.”

Ikuo had raised a bit of an eyebrow but looked pretty unphased about it all...which was a pretty standard Ikuo expression. “Yer talkin’ more like an overzealous athlete. Ain’t nothin’ too jarrin’, though some folk don’ appreciate it. Don’t bother me, son, an’ if it ain’t botherin’ yer guys, then there’s nothin’ ta ‘pologize for.”

Kokichi sighed a bit but gave his dad a smile, indeed unbothered by what he was becoming more used to when it came to Kaito. “Kai-chan finds a lot to love about people. It’s a good quality, even if he can get carried away at times. Maybe you could explain that to Hajime-chan next time you ask him to wrestle. Might clear up any misconceptions about last time.”

Leaning against Kaito’s arm affectionately...Kokichi knew better than to say something like, ‘he even says that I look good’ or something to that effect around his father. Both for Ikuo’s protective fury and how Kaito would double down talking about how sexy he was. There was only so much embarrassment he could take at one time. 

Kaito laughed a little, a little embarrassed as Shuichi and Kokichi both explained his behavior to Ikou, before saying, “I don’t know if ‘loves’ the right word. People are...very pretty, sometimes. ‘Love’ is just for my Kokichi and my Shuichi.” Kaito said, leaning down to kiss the top of Kokichi’s head… before he frowned.

(“I was made to fall in love. I like it too.”)

Kaito looked over at Ikou, frowning. “I think I had visions about you, Ikou? During my religious ritual? We were dancing…”

Kokichi perked up happily at the kiss, and Ikuo looked on approvingly. He knew that Kaito was dedicated, but every little piece of evidence was still sweet to see. They had their problems...but his son was with people that loved him and treated him right. There wasn’t much more a father could ask for. 

Snorting, the older man shook his head. “Nah, that happened. Or somethin’ like it. Found ya wanderin’ ‘round outta yer gourd, so I was keepin’ an eye on ya. Ended up tryna dance on the staircase. ‘M jus’ glad we made it ta the dinin’ hall all in one piece.” 

The comment was innocent enough, just remembering something, but Ikuo remembered Shuuichi’s warning enough. No details, and Kaito wouldn’t get stuck in his head over it. It did help that everything Kaito had been talking about very much seemed like the broken thought segments of someone on a trip.

Kaito frowned, before nodding. “Right, right, I escaped the shrine. Forgot about that. Don’t remember any of that, not really...awwww, we danced on the staircase? That must have been fun!”

Shuichi looked kindly over at Ikou and said, “I’ve said it already, but thank you again for looking after him. I’m...I’m sure anyone else would have made sure he got to one of us safely, but…” but he wasn’t actually sure of that. Kaito had been in an extremely fragile state, and literally couldn’t remember what was happening moment to moment...any bitter Dicean would have literally had free reign to do whatever they felt like with him. Honestly, Shuichi had found himself wanting to yell at Hajime, when he found out how Kaito had gotten out of his shrine in the first place.

...but nothing had happened, and this wasn’t Luminary. Diceans weren’t inclined towards abusive behavior if they thought they could get away with it.

(...Nao was an outlier.)

“...it was good it was you. Reassuring.” Shuichi said, bowing his head to Ikou again.

“Yeah! Seriously, thanks! God, could you imagine if I fell down the stairs and broke my arm again? That’d have been a bummer.” Kaito laughed.

Ikuo tipped his hat to Shuuichi. “Nothin’ of it. ‘M glad I could help out--ain’t a good time if ya don’t have a tripsitter, no matter how many times ya’ve toked. Sure we’ll all be better prepared next time, but it’d be good to have us all knowin’ when we’re gonna check in--make a plan, an’ all that.”

Kokichi blew a puff of air, now done with his cake, and wrapped his arms around Kaito’s closest one, nuzzling him furiously. “That’s something I don’t wanna match with you on.” And it’d have been more than a bummer. Honestly, Kokichi would’ve been far more worried about Kaito tripping and breaking his neck than his arm… But things had been okay, and he didn’t… He was a buzzkill way too much. No need to worry about it.

-

The trio spent a good deal of time down in the dining hall, Ikou leaving first, the trio only lingering for so long after the former nanny had left because Shuichi was taking so long with his own dinner, picking at the vegetables. At one point Shuichi had suggested that the other two were probably eager to get back upstairs, and Kaito had, with a grin that just edged on being mean, insisted that they were fine and could wait until Shuichi was done eating.

It was only after Shuichi started looking notably frustrated and Kokichi started to worry that Kaito had finally sighed and took half of Shuichi’s vegetables onto his own plate, insisting they could head back upstairs when they were both done. 

Finding half the portion less intimidating to get through then the full plate, Shuichi finally started getting through them properly, and when he was just about done and was picking at his plate again, Kaito took mercy again, eating the rest in two big bites before saying, “Alright, you two ready to head up...oh! Maki!”

Maki and Tim had just come down to the dining hall, Tim in different clothes then when he had left, though they didn’t seem like a costume. Kaito suddenly got the idea that Maki might have been not just worried about his not having a costume for tomorrow, but also his comment that he didn’t have a lot of clothes to choose from. Kaito suddenly wondered how many bags of clothes were now up in Tim’s room, waiting to be put away. 

...he kinda wished she had invited him, if that was what she was going to do. Maki didn’t have a bad sense of fashion, but Timothy… Kaito got the impression she had, if not picked the clothes herself, at least influenced his choice. Brown pants with suspenders, a white, button up shirt, and a brown, slightly puffy hat was cute, and childlike, and...honestly, the sort of thing  Maki’s mentor might have put her in, trying to make her appear less intimidating by highlighting her childish features.

But, if Tim was annoyed to be in such obviously childish clothes, outside of the range of the formal stiff clothes he had come to Luminary with, he didn’t show it. Instead, he just nodded politely to the rest of them, sitting down with his plate as Maki sat next to him… Kaito frowned, pouting, as he said, “Hajime give you that?”

Tim glanced to the cake on his plate. “Yeah. Said he was saving it for me.”

“Aw man, why didn’t I get cake…”

“Because you’re the kind of guy who wants to use your boyfriend to catfish him into wrestling with you.” Shuichi muttered.

Kokichi definitely understood being disgruntled with veggies on your plate, but how Shuuichi just picked at everything...was a little worrying. He knew Shuuichi wouldn’t just eat no vegetables at all, but...just because cravings were what your body wanted most, it didn’t mean you didn’t need anything else. Thankfully, though, Kaito lessened the load and Shuuichi seemed fine to eat after that. 

As Maki and Tim came by, Kokichi waved with a grin before snickering at his husband. “Also because you don’t like sweets that much? Hajime-chan might’ve thought that you’d just give your slice to me an’ Shuu-chan to split, and while I’d be okay with that, it does make things a little easier to not give you something you’d give away. Do you actually want something sweet?”

...or was he more excited for a different kind of dessert, Kokichi definitely didn’t say because they were in public and around Kaito’s son. Creepy. 

Kaito grinned at Kokichi, shaking his head as he admitted, “Nah, cake sounds a little rich for me right now. I’m just jealous of Hajime’s affection for all of you. But, you’re probably right, babe. It’s probably more he just knew I’m not a sweets guy. After all, Maki didn’t get a piece.”

“Are you suggesting me and Hajime are friends?” Maki asked, sounding amused.

“You are so friends. Just the, ya know… mean to each other kind.” Kaito shrugged, smirking at Maki as he said, “Admit it. You like the guy.”

Maki shrugged, “I like Dicean housekeepers. They don’t make me want to rip my hair out from frustration.”

“I like your outfit, Timothy.” Shuichi said gently, looking fondly at the boy. 

“Thanks. We left dad’s costume on your bed, Uncle Shuichi.” Timothy told him ,already digging into his meal.

“My bed, huh?” Shuichi said, raising an amused eyebrow at the boys choice of words, before asking him “Will it make him look stupid?”

Timothy paused, thinking about it, before saying, “No more then usual.”

“Everyone’s so mean to me.” Kaito grumbled, before standing up, looking at his loves as he said, “Alright, you guys ready to head upstairs? Maki, you need anything from me before we go?”

“The kids aren’t doing training tomorrow morning.” Maki said, after thinking about it for a moment...before saying, “I still want you and Shuichi to do his laps though.”

Shuichi sighed slightly, getting up. “Can we at least do them later, since we’re not taking anyone to school tomorrow?”

“...sure. But I wanna see you by nine.” Maki said, giving Shuichi a stern look. “Don’t start negotiating with me.”

“Fine.” Shuichi agreed.

Kokichi laughed softly, always glad to see his friends relaxed and comfortable to take light-hearted jabs at each other. Especially when they brought in pieces of life. Still, he got up to stretch, ready to follow Kaito. 

“Nine…” he huffed, sighing to himself. “Well, I’ll see you guys later in the morning, then. Opening ceremony is at eight, so Denji-chan’s prolly gonna wake me at...six? Maybe they’ll take pity and I’ll get to sleep a little longer.” 

...and if none of his friends were ready to go out and experience the festival after Aiichi’s speech and the event announcements…

...he didn’t need to wait around! He wasn’t going to be sitting off to the side again! He could go scope out stuff ahead of time and...let his friends know what was there! And they could plan out what they wanted to do!

Groaning, Kokichi threw himself at Kaito, wrapping his arms around his waist and snuggling his face in Kaito’s chest. “Don’t keep me waiting too long though…”

Kaito frowned, putting a warm arm around his husbands shoulder and leaning down to kiss the top of his head as he asked, “The festival starts at eight? I sort of assumed it was an afternoon thing. Not so much, huh?”

Shuichi sighed. “Of course the morning Maki lets us sleep in, there’s some crazy early ceremony.”

As the three headed out the dining hall (Kirumi was on her way in and stopped a moment to curtsey to Kokichi, wishing him a good evening.), Kaito told him, “We’ll go to the ceremony, Kokichi. We’ll just get up earlier and do the laps at our normal time, that way we won’t miss your ceremony.”

“Depending on who you ask, it’s an all day thing or...it’s already being going on for nearly a week,” Kokichi huffed, giving Kaito one last furious nuzzle before parting to walk, giving Kirumi a smile and wishing her a good evening back--even with her potentially raising Kaito, winning her freedom through bloody means, and attacking Maki and Tim...there were still so many stipulations with all of those things, and especially if she was a refugee, he couldn’t bring himself to start treating her differently because of it. “Some people are really into Harvest.”

But just because he had to be there for the ceremony didn’t mean he was going to drag his friends into it. Kokichi shook his head a bit, giving his lovers a slightly worried, apologetic look. “No, no, you don’t have to do that. If you want to sleep in, go for it. The festival is gonna be going on all day. A-and it’s just Aiichi giving some inspiring speech and announcing everything that’s going to be going on--I’m not actually gonna say anything. Really, you don’t have to be there.”

He’d told them that they didn’t need to stand with him, but...they didn’t need to be there at all, really. Plenty of people skipped out on the opening ceremony, wanting to get a little more sleep in or prepare more for a day of fun. It was just a show of good will that Kokichi was there, kind of showing off both him and Aiichi as the current leader and heir. Politics, really. 

...he could understand if Kaito and Shuuichi wouldn’t want to be around for something like that, and he didn’t want to make them feel like they had to.

Shuichi nodded, appeased, but Kaito frowned slightly at that...wouldn’t it be, like, a public slight? To not show up to show support for Kokichi? Kaito was his husband, if he didn’t show up to the literal first ‘official’ public thing Kokichi had done since the wedding, wouldn’t people think Kaito was trying to offend Kokichi?

Probably...probably a culture difference. But, Kokichi had never been in a relationship before, and he had never...actually, that was a good point.

As they got up the steps, Kaito asked curiously, “Does King Aiichi date?”

Kokichi shook his head. “I mean, if he had, I never knew about it. But as far as I know, he’s never gone out with anyone that wasn’t my mom.” He made a face. “...I never thought to ask.”

Kokichi hadn’t known anything about Hope’s Peak until Kaito had explained it, so he never knew if Aiichi had dated anyone while he was in school...but suddenly becoming leader at 16 would put any relationship through stress, even with someone else who was being trained to lead their country. Then...Kokichi had never heard about his father being interested in anyone but Miyako once he came back to Dicea. And even if Kokichi had never felt particularly...raised by him...Aiichi had told him how scared he was for Kokichi’s health and...didn’t really think about much other than trying to stabilize the country from the LRG’s influence, and to make sure Kokichi would be alright, not to mention that tensions had been rising with Luminary and broke out into full-out war by the time Kokichi was five…

...While it just wasn’t feasible to be preoccupied all the time, Aiichi...had been rather focused on the war and trying to prevent as many deaths as possible. Trying to make sure that everyone else in Dicea wouldn’t go hungry from trade restrictions, and that their border towns could be as protected and defended as they could afford. All while trying to keep things moving forward like every leader was tasked with…

Kokichi’s brow furrowed as he looked to the stairs. “...with the war over...I wonder if he’s gonna think about it. A leader’s work is never done, but...there’s less to constantly worry about now.”

...was he going to get another mom?

“I mean, the guys only in his forties, right? There’s no real time limit to dating, but if there was, forty definitely isn’t it.” Kaito mused, glancing down at Kokichi, before grinning, running his hand affectionately through his husband's hair. “Maybe dating someone nice would make him less creepy, huh?”

“Are Dicean leaders in office until they die?” Shuichi suddenly asked, as Kaito opened the door to their bedroom for them all. Also now thinking about the fact that the current leader was only forty something.

...Kokichi was twenty. Assuming Aiichi had another forty years under his belt, on average…

...Assuming...the possibility Kokichi didn’t…

Shuichi frowned, feeling tired. What a terrible thing to do to a person. Dedicate their whole lives to a job that they’d never get to do… though he wouldn’t say that. It was cruel. It assumed the worst. It’d probably hurt Kokichi to be reminded that it was a real possibility.

And it would terrify Kaito.

Yeah...best not to ever voice that worry aloud.

That made Kokichi snicker a little. He was on better terms with his father these days, had more of an understanding, but he still enjoyed hearing slights against him. “He’s thirty-nine, though I’d be delighted to hear you say that he’s in his forties with him around. Then again,” he sighed, “He probably wouldn’t react at all, the jerk. Takes the fun out of it all.”

Kokichi trotted over across their room to put his mask away, starting to dis-robe after just a moment of thought. No matter what they decided to do, he did need a bath.

“Leaders lead until they’re unfit,” he said simply, squirming out of his robe. “Sometimes that means until death, yeah. Sometimes before if they find they can’t perform their duties, and some just quit ‘cause they don’t wanna do it anymore. Others are taken from office because they don’t have the people’s trust anymore, or someone’s proven that they’re better for the job. It’s really a case-by-case basis.”

He knew. 

He knew it was a real possibility that he’d never actually be able to be leader. He’d known for a long time, and had spent many nights crying to himself about what they’d have to do to find a new heir, and that...it’d mean that his entire life was a waste. 

...but Kokichi’s life was still lived, and he had people to share it with now. Had for a long time, even if it had only been a few people. And even if he might die before he was the leader...there was no point to go through his life living like he was already dead. It was better to expect that he would be leader, and that he’d have gotten the experience he needed for it. It was better to make the most of his short time, rather than lamenting its length. 

Chucking his pants and shirt into the laundry basket, Kokichi put a hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow. “So am I taking a bath by myself or what?”

“...you can quit?” Kaito said quietly to himself, totally blown away by that idea. That was a marvel to him. As someone who had been incredibly relieved (even if it was only years later looking back) to have been taken out of the running to be king, the idea that people had the option to quit and just...didn’t? Why didn’t all the Ouma’s quit?? Like, as they got older?? Did they???

Would Kokichi quit when he got old enough?

Kaito marveled at the idea that maybe, someday, he and Kokichi could be retired together and get to live their lives outside of their titles (maybe they could move out of the castle someday. Get a...get a log cabin or something, next to some nice little lake somewhere…), the pressures of the kingdoms not on either of their shoulders anymore. He couldn’t believe that was a possibility. Sure, no way Kokichi wanted to even consider the idea now, way too dedicated to Dicea, but, well...maybe when they were both in their seventies, or heck, maybe even sixties! Maybe he’d feel differently about it! There was hope! 

As Kaito cheerfully daydreamed about a possible more peaceful future with his husband someday (Shuichi would love to live next to a lake! He liked when fog danced on water, and that happened on lakes all the time right?? He’d be enchanted! And Maki would love the woods when she came to visit!!), he snorted as he raised an eyebrow at his husband, that thin, pale body on display as Kaito grinned, walking over to him and putting his hands on either side of Kokichi’s jaw, “You’re such a brat. Wasn’t this supposed to be Shuichi’s bath?”

“Actually, you were the one who wanted a bath, Kaito.” Shuichi rolled his eyes, taking off his hat and placing it on the night stand, much slower to get undressed then Kokichi, but taking off his jacket, “An I remember saying maybe, not yes.”

Kaito snickered, looking up from Kokichi, a predatory gleam in his eye as he ran his hands posessively down Kokichi’s back, grinning at Shuichi. “Oh please. Like you could resist our ‘Kichi…”

Kokichi giggled softly, still having fun being bratty once in a while, and he pressed against the still very much dressed Kaito, their situations a little weird this way. He’d wanted to get undressed for practicality, yeah, but he could’ve easily gotten undressed in the bathroom. But it was kind of fun to...maybe start setting the mood a little. Not that Kaito needed much to declare the mood set.

Giving Shuuichi a softer look, Kokichi smiled as he started going over to the bathroom, unbothered with being in the buff around his lovers. At least right now. “I’d like Shuu-chan to join in, but...like I said before. I literally can just take a normal bath if you’re not in the mood. Or just wanna do something with Kai-chan.”

“Though,” he winked up at his husband, “I have a feeling that if it’s on the table, Kai-chan’s gonna help me take more than just a regular bath. So I guess the question is more like if it’s gonna be a double or single for him tonight.”

Still, to be prepared, Kokichi brought out towels for them after he slipped into the bathroom and turned on the tap, starting to let the bath fill.

Kaito watched Kokichi leave them, his eyes following his every movement with open, obvious lust. Kaito, usually, only needed an excuse, the only time he wasn’t entirely ready to go being when he was tired, sad (and even that, historically, wasn’t enough to always dissuade him), or if he thought it’d be bad for the other person for whatever reason. And, before, when Kokichi had been half asleep, it had seemed like such an obvious non-start that Kaito hadn’t even thought of trying to entice Kokichi to join them.

So he was fucking giddy that Kokichi had seemed interested on his own.

Ah, but, then there was the other one. His finicky, moody Shuichi… Kaito glanced over at his ex-detective, trying to judge with a quick look over if Shuichi was just holding back for playful reasons or if he was actually not interested, and given the fact that his boyfriend didn’t seem that annoyed, Kaito guessed playfull, grinning as he went over to his boyfriend.

Shuichi watched Kaito approach for a moment, before huffing, as Kaito ran his arms around his waist and pulled him into his hips, swaying with him slightly, much like they had in the shrine all that time ago, as Kaito kissed at Shuichi, capturing his lips once, again, before bending his head down to run kisses into his neck, whispering sweetly to him, “Come on, handsome...you really don’t want to come take a dip with us? Fill the room with the smell of lavender...taste Kokichi...be tasted…” Kaito purred, darting out his tongue slightly into the sensitive spot where the neck twisted into the jaw, smirking proudly as he felt Shuichi shiver.

Shuichi huffed again, “H-honestly, Kaito...yes, okay? Stop trying to eat me already, Kokichi’s already filling the bath and you’re not even undress...seriously, how do you do that so fast?”

Kaito, who was now entirely naked, looked at Shuichi curiously, innocent confusion on his face before he realized Shuichi meant his clothes, just grinning with a shrug. “It’s one of my superpowers. If you want to get undressed without me staring at you the whole time, then I’ll go join Kokichi, but don’t keep us waiting, handsome.” Kaito said cheerfully, going to kiss Shuichi again before quickly hurrying to the bathroom.

Opening the door, he looked over at Kokichi and beamed in delight. “There’s my beautiful man. How’s the water?” Kaito asked, strutting to him, entirely unconcerned by either of their naked states as he grinned down at him.

Kokichi was sitting on the edge of the tub, swishing a hand in the pooling, foamy water as he fiddled with the temperature, trying to get it comfortable while also filling the tub. But not too much. The bathtub was big enough for all three of them, but he had to account for the displacement of all three of them. Not just his skinny ass barely disturbing the water. 

“Getting there,” he hummed, looking over at Kaito, a twinkle in his eye as he took in that Kaito had undressed as well. “Can you guys already smell the bubble bath outside? I know the actual bath part will probably come later, but still! A bath isn’t a bath without bubbles!”

Emphasising his point, Kokichi scooped up a handful of foam, enjoying it before, with a grin, blowing it towards Kaito, little clumps of bubbly soap whirling through the air. 

“Not outside no, but it smells good in here.” Kat grinned, squatting down by the tub, letting a knee down to stabilize himself as he leaned against the tub, watching with a small laugh as his husband sent some foam flying, the little bubbles falling quickly, but something very pretty about watching that brief moment where bubbles sparkled in front of Kokichi’s face, those alluring eyes of his looking entirely pleased with themselves as they stared down at Kaito, before that little ‘blow’.

“It’s such a shame you have no idea what you look like…” Kaito mused, staring at Kokichi adoringly, “You get to be one of the lucky people in the world who can stare at you all day, if you wanted to, and you can’t even appreciate it...I have no idea how you ever manage to turn away from the mirror, honestly.” Kaito said, joking but...almost kind of not. If he looked like Kokichi? Or Shuichi even? He’d never stop admiring himself, whenever he could get a chance. Playing with his own hair, making fun expressions in the mirror with those wide eyes, fluttering those long eyelashes…

Pretty boys. They had all the luck in the world.

Grinning, he straightened up, taking some of the foam thta Kokichi hadn’t manage to blow from his hands and, laughing, said,, “And you’re also, just, so fucking cute. It’s a sin, how alluring and cute you are.” Kaito decided, putting some of the foam on the very tip of Kokichi’s nose and laughing at how cute Kokichi looked with it, before leaning in to kiss him. “‘m so lucky…” Kaito whispered against his lips.

Kokichi snorted and rolled his eyes a little, but his smile never dimmed and was nothing but fond. “I think I’d just start looking worse and worse if I spent all day looking in a mirror. Not to mention how miserable I’d be! Not when there’s so many prettier things to look at! Liiiiiike, mm, maybe you know one or two--I’d think you’d be pretty familiar.”

Giggling, Kokichi closed the distance between them, tasting Kaito’s lips and pleased to find that he hadn’t sprayed soap on them yet. He’d take as many kisses as he could get before the bitter flavor of soap permeated everything. Cupping Kaito’s jaw, Kokichi just pressed their foreheads together for a moment, happy to just be near Kaito. 

“You know, I’ve always thought I was pretty unlucky, but you’ve gone and turned that idea on its head,” he hummed, covertly--he thought, anyway--stepping his legs over the edge of the tub into the water, the steam not enough to warm him from the ambient temperature of the room. Warm, but not quite enough to be hanging out naked in. “You make me feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world, sometimes.”

Kaito looked down, well...leered down, totally distracted for a second as Kokichi spread his legs, Kaito grinning wider...before looking up at Kokichi, a touch of concern taking over his face as he watched Kokichi dip his legs in. 

Getting up, Kaito stepped into the tub as well, wincing slightly, having expected it to be cooler than it was...before sighing contently, sitting on the side of the tub with Kokichi as his skin quickly adjusted to the hot water. If there was one big thing about Luminary he missed, man, it was the heat…

Looking over to Kokichi, he bumped his shoulder onto Kokichi’s a little, before saying softly, “You can be unlucky in some stuff and still lucky in others. And the stuff you’ve been unlucky in, you’ve been really strong and brave about. I...I know there’s probably a part of you that doesn’t agree with that. But it’s true. You impress me all the time.”

...there wasn’t much he could do about his health, other than the kind of obvious things to not make it worse...which he’d still been doing, but was getting better about. There wasn’t anything he could’ve done about the riots or how Aiichi had chosen to act his whole life. About the war or Ikuo choosing to leave. About the streak of horrible healers he’d had. 

He...didn’t think he’d acted very brave or strong, just weathering through everything, but…

Kokichi kissed at Kaito’s shoulder, his eyes softened with love and gratitude. “...thanks, Kai-chan. I hope I can keep impressing you. ‘Least half as much as you always make me go in awe of you. I love you.”

Kaito smiled softly at the kiss against his shoulder, and his face reddened slightly at the ‘I love you’. Kokichi said it pretty often now, but it still made Kaito’s heart quicken a little, every time he did-

Shuichi put his arms around Kaito’s shoulders, looking down at Kokichi as he asked “Is the water that hot? Why aren’t either of you in yet?”

“Eeeee!” Kaito...emoted? An excited, unmanly squeal of excitement erupting from the bottom of his throat which almost caused Shuichi to leap back from him, staring at him in open, startled confusion, looking around to look at Kaito’s face, wondering what the heck had just happened as Kaito, face beat red, suddenly put his palms into both of his eyes.

“...felt Shuichi boobs on my back.” Kaito said, voice tight as he tried desperately to get a hold of himself, a lewd grin wide across his face as he kept his eyes covered, incredibly pleased as he said, “...give me a second…”

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, looking over at Kokichi with a ‘is this guy serious?’ look, before rolling his eyes. “Horndog.”

“Sinner...total sinner…” Kaito agreed, steaming. “...gonna be a whole level in my trials of just both of your bodies, taunting me…”

Kokichi had been in the process of turning back to look at Shuuichi before he was completely caught off guard by the...sound? Kaito made? It was definitely a sound, but...Kokichi had no clue where to even start in categorizing it. 

A happy, horny sound, apparently. 

Kokichi returned an exasperated look to Shuuichi, mostly just feeling bad on his boyfriend’s behalf but...at least Shuuichi didn’t seem uncomfortable with Kaito talking about his chest. He could be totally off base...but just a little while ago it seemed like a possible reaction that Shuuichi would’ve stiffened and covered up his chest and just...would’ve left. 

It might just be in his head, but Kokichi felt a little proud anyway. 

“Kai-chan, we came in here kinda planning on getting busy,” Kokichi chided with a sigh, actually moving into the water and scooting across the tub to make room for Shuuichi to get in. Though...there was plenty of room. With another sigh, he smiled up at Shuuichi. “Water’s a bit warm, but feels good. Take your time.”

The truth was? The reason Shuichi had taken so long to come into the bathroom in the first place was because he had spent the last ten minutes preparing himself for Kaito being...well. Kaito. 

And, honestly? Not just the last ten minutes. Since Kaito had asked him during the board game. Shuichi hadn’t told Kaito ‘maybe’ to be coy or cute. He honestly hadn’t been entirely certain he was ready to do this. Neither of his lovers had seen his chest entirely since the ‘milking’ incident, or if they had, definitely hadn’t touched them since then. And when Kaito had offered to bathe with Shuichi and ‘empty him’ right after talking about breast pumping, Shuich had realized where Kaito’s head was at. His boyfriend wanted to mess with his chest, and the whole invitation had been about that, it seemed to Shuichi.

And...and he didn’t know.

He wanted to be ready for that. Shuichi didn’t like his fear and repulsion of his own body. It’s not like it was fun. It didn’t make him feel any better to hide from himself. The best he could say was that sometimes he just….forgot what he looked like. Which made it so much worse when something happened and he...remembered.

And, if it was anyone but Kaito or Kokichi? Shuichi wouldn’t have walked away. He’d have run. Terrified and embarrassed and just desperately not wanting to be looked at.

...but it was them. If he couldn’t be naked around them, then who? He wanted to trust them to not...do whatever it was he was afraid of people doing with him. He wasn’t even sure what it was.

(Freak, freak, please don’t make him feel like a freak, please don’t talk to him like he was lesser, like he was stupid, like he was something not even good enough for animals, please, please, don’t look at him in a way that makes him ashamed)

He didn't know. But...he knew whatever it was, he didn’t really feel it when Kaito and Kokichi looked at him.

So as Kaito literally had a conniption over finally feeling Shuichi’s chest casually pressed against him, Shuichi just sighed, accepting this reaction as just being something very… ‘Kaito’. And that meaning nothing more or less than ‘Kaito likes boobs’ and ‘Kaito likes Shuichi’ and being, apparently, incredibly pleased to mix those two worlds, creating the new ‘Kaito likes Shuichi’s boobs’.

As Shuichi just rolled his eyes at Kaito again, he stepped in around them, being the first one to brave the heat as he slowly sat down in it, sitting in the middle of the tub, leaning back as his body adjusted to the heat, idly playing with the foam, before looking up to Kokichi. “I have to ask, Kokichi...you know this tub is massive. Right?”

For his part, Kokichi only blinked once before widening his eyes in wonder, pressing his hands to his cheeks. “Noooo… Really? Massive? I thought this was, like, the smallest bathtubs came!!”

And with a giggle, he relaxed, letting the heat of the water soak into his bones. “Yeah, it’s big as hell. Pretty fortunate for us, since we can all take a bath together. Why do you ask?”

“Well, I mean…” Shuichi lightly kicked the water, his strong, meaty thighs rippling the water as Kaito stayed perched on the side of the tub, watching hungrily as both his loves dipped into the foamy water, looking sweet and seductive within the sparkling water, “...you grew up in this room, didn’t you? Which means you’ve only ever been smaller then you are now, here. Hasn’t this bathtub always been a bit big for you?”

Kaito laughed. “Ya know, the first time Kokichi took a bath in here while I was here, I worried he was gonna drown? You can practice your swim stroke in this thing.”

Kokichi stretched out as well, his legs not even coming close to reaching the other side, even sitting sideways as he was. Not that it really mattered, since the whole tub was a square, at least where it concerned the bottom. “I’m a little offended that you think I wasn’t once eight feet tall and simply shrank to my current height.”

Grinning, Kokichi rested his head against the shelf seat. “But, yeah. It’s always been big--bigger than I’ve ever needed. Buuuuut…” 

He thunked his head lightly back against the seat. “We had the whole bathroom renovated when I asked to take baths by myself. I mean...you saw, if I’ve had a heart attack, it’s really better to just have a sponge bath and stay in bed, but there’s still a big middle ground for me.”

“Apparently they needed to make the thing this big to put in the seat and the headrests--something about the slope of the sides. And… I haven’t used one for a long time, but it makes it easier to fit in shower seats that are separate too. Like if the side isn’t enough. Prolly would be if I knew you could detach the showerhead, though.” He rolled his eyes a little, thinking back to that discovery...had it been the first time he and Kaito ever washed up together? 

Shrugging a little, Kokichi lifted up a leg, just enough to poke out of the water, enjoying the break of bubbles against his skin. “It’s construction code to make accessible spaces a bit bigger than the usual of whatever, in general. Got me a pool for a bathtub, and I’ve never slipped, so I’d say it’s working.”

“Well, I like it. It’s honestly really awesome to have a bath I don’t have to, like...not move at all in.” Kaito laughed, watching that little leg with another hungry stare. Kaito wasn’t holding back. He was taking his time. He didn’t get to have his birthday, mmm…’meal’, if we’re sticking to the metaphor, but now here both his boys were. Naked and relaxed and wide awake, lounging casually and confidently in warm, nicely scented water, both of them knowing he was going to come in there and start indulging himself on them at some point, and just...patiently waiting.

Fuck. Atua be patient with him, but fuck that was a nice image…

Shuichi raised an eyebrow at Kaito, asking, “Kaito, did your bathroom not have a tub that fit you?”

“Were you...did you seriously never go into my bathroom all that time? You had to have, we spent plenty of time in my room.” Kaito frowned, trying to think back.

Shuichi shrugged, “Your shower curtain was always closed. You kept it closed because-”

“Right! Right. The cool bear design.” Kaito laughed, blushing slightly in embarrassment, “I just liked to keep the curtain closed to keep this awesome image of a bear, like, roaring with all these crazy, drooling teeth...I thought it was cool.” Kaito laughed. “But, nah, my tub was, I think, pretty average sized. I probably could have asked to get a bigger one, but if I ever really wanted a big bath, there was always the castle public bath...really liked going there…”

Shuichi frowned, eyebrows furrowing, “Public bath in the castle..Kaito! The guards bath!?”

Kaito laughed loudly, rubbing the back of his neck, face flushing red as he said, “What?  It was a sorta public bath, and no one ever kicked me out…” Kaito’s eyes went far away, dreamy, as he said, “...and man, Shuichi, the muscles…”

“Oh my god, Kaito.” Shuichi groaned, putting a hand over his face, as he asked, “...from how young??”

“...” Kaito scratched his chin. “I feel like if I say, you’re going to get mad at me for some reason.”

“Kaito.”

Kokichi raised an eyebrow but huffed out a few giggles when Kaito explained himself. Very Kaito. Their shower curtain was one Kokichi had had for a while, just...black, with a criss-crossing grid pattern embroidered into it, only visible if you were nearby. Kind of the standard for the castle bedrooms and attached baths. While he had covered the walls and brought all sorts of trinkets and garbage into the room, Kokichi had never really...decorated. The ceiling was light blue that bled down to the walls, growing darker as it went down, but the room had been painted that way before he was born. All the furniture were of good quality, but pretty basic, and the sheets were what they used for every bed in the castle. Same with the curtains, cushions, and, yeah, the shower curtain. 

He’d had a more personal baby blanket, but it was in a box in their closet, preserved with a few other stuffed animals resting on top. 

...maybe they should decorate, finally. Stuff for the three of them. 

As Kokichi contemplated that in his head, he almost missed his lovers’ conversation, though with tones like that he couldn’t help but be pulled back in. 

Sighing dramatically, Kokichi leaned more into the water, lifting his other leg out of the water, but for effect this time. “With how much Kai-chan loves muscles, it’s kind of a wonder he finds my body pretty at all. Shuu-chan, totally, but ain’t nothin’ but bones here. At least you’re invited to this bath.”

Shuichi groaned as Kaito smiled slightly, saying vaguely, “I mean...some people appreciated me being there…”

Shit like that. Shit like that was why Shuichi didn’t always feel like Byakuya’s eventual over protective fury hadn’t been entirely unearned. Definitely not the way he went about it, certainly, but fuck, Kaito...Kaito had been, way too often, way too reckless with himself, especially in the pursuit of lust. Shuichi knew that Kaito hadn’t started having sex until Togami, but that hadn’t been the start of Kaito doing risky, physical things with people. Togami had just been the first one to push it to sex. Ngh…

...oh well. At least it seemed to really, genuinely be done this time. Maki didn’t know, but Shuichi did know that Kaito had been sleeping with members of the party on the way to Dicea (and in fact, Shuichi was the main reason people, Maki included, hadn’t found out about it. Kaito had begged him for help keeping the secret, when his attraction and flirting with some of the guards of the party had started obviously pushing towards something more obviously physical. Maki would have killed him if she knew. Worst then that, Tengan might have actually seriously hurt him if he knew, so Shuichi had agreed.). But now? 

Well, honestly, Kaito wasn’t the type to stray from his partners in the first place, which was legitimately a huge comfort to Shuichi. Kaito took his vows to people, even unofficial ones, very seriously, and if he had promised himself to someone and knew they didn’t want him sleeping around? Then he didn’t do it. So, yeah, with himself vowed, officially, to Kokichi, and unofficially, to Shuichi...Shuichi could trust Kaito wasn’t going to stray.

So, his dangerous, risky lifestyle of just kinda throwing himself at people? Trusting his well being with stranger after stranger? Shuichi was incredibly glad all that shit was done. No more orgies. No more fucking ‘Chads’.

“Besides, I got my own muscles to admire.” Kaito shrugged, flexing his pecks a little, laughing playfully, before finally dipping into the bath, leaning over to kiss Kokichi as he said, “And you’re ridiculously sexy in other ways, babe. I believe I’ve used the word ‘ethereal’ before…” Kaito praised.

And then, after kissing Kokichi lightly a bit...he suddenly said, the idea popping into his head entirely randomly, “Ya know, I moved out of my childhood bedroom at eighteen… is it weird to still be living in the room where you first started trying weird masturbating stuff?”

The next look Kokichi gave his husband was less teasing, and, perhaps for Shuuichi who could see all sides of the conversation, the innuendo went right over his head. Kaito had talked about it with him, and Kokichi knew and accepted that his husband was a little in love with most people, but his reputation in Luminary was still one that Kokichi barely remembered half the time. “Oh, I bet, ‘cause any time with Kai-chan is a pleasure, but, still. Invitations can be real nice, yeah?”

Quite happy to have Kaito within touching range again, Kokichi kissed back, even if he had to laugh at the praise he’d practically baited. Until talk of other bating made his face go red and hidden as Kokichi covered it with his hands. 

“Uuuuuugh, no! As far as any of us are aware, the first time anything sexual has happened in this room was our wedding night--you have no proof and I’m not admitting to a single thing! I have a right to my silence and any conjecture cannot be used in a court of law!”

Kaito snickered, face reddening as he grinned down at Kokichi, watching as it was Kokichi’s turn to be overwhelmed. Cute… “So...what do you think, Shuichi?” Kaito asked, glancing at his boyfriend, his canine teeth on full display as he grinned, “Was our Kokichi a ‘bed’ guy or a ‘bath’ guy?”

Shuichi raised his delicate eyebrow again, saying sternly, “If he doesn’t want to talk about it, Kaito, he doesn’t have to. Don’t push.” ...before glancing over at Kokichi.

...cute.

And, because Shuichi was friends with Maki and Kato because he, too, was kind of a little shit sometimes, he looked to the side and mused, “...but growing up without a lock on his door? It’d be rational to assume he felt safer with two doors closed over one…”

Kaito grinned, looking around the bath as he said, “Awwww, oh my god, ‘Kichi, where exactly did you do it in here? What was your position? Everyone remembers their first time nutting, don’t tell me you don’t know exactly where in here it was.”

Kokichi just shrank farther into the bubbles, though he wasn’t really upset with the conversation. Just flustered and unwilling to put the sort of thought into determining if it was weird to live in the room he’d...well, been a horny teenager in. 

One that...yeah, didn’t have a lock on his door, and was often interrupted by people worried because they’d heard a weird sound. Having a detective as a boyfriend would probably make his attempt to get out of answering anything harder. 

Good thing that Kokichi liked challenging games. 

Peeking over his fingers, Kokichi just pouted at his lovers. “If you’re so sure you know everyone’s masturbaiting preferences, then why don’t you guess. Too bad you’ll never get it--still ain’t admitting to anything!”

...and it helped him get out of that particular story. He’d been in the bathtub without any water, the curtain drawn just to give him that extra bit of privacy. However...cumming on purpose for the first time had taken more out of him than he’d been expecting, and being that short of breath…

...he’d starting crying and panicking and...more than just being humiliating, it was just...depressing, and that really wasn’t the sort of thing he wanted to share with his lovers.

“You’re definitely not a toilet heathen. Are you? I’m not judging if you were a teenager trying to be clean, but Kokichi, my love, we do not masturbate on toilets. House rule.”

“Castle rule.” Shuichi corrected.

“Castle rule.” Kaito conceded, nodding. Reaching over to put his arm around Kokichi’s back, pulling him closer into his side, smiling softly as Shuichi adjusted to entwine his legs lightly with theirs, just wanting to be closer to them. “Hmmm...I bet it was super innocent. Like, you were just taking a totally normal bath, right over at the head there, and horny teen ‘Kichi just suddenly, miracuously discovered his dick existed and thought, eh...why not?”

Kaito grinned, leaning into Kokichi’s ear, saying lowly, “I bet you did it with one hand, with just your fingers, for awhile. And you didn’t really feel much of anything for awhile, and you maybe even thought, ‘man, what’s the fuss everyones going on about?’, and you almost just stopped, but man, your stomach had these-” Kaito brushed his fingers over Kokichi’s abdomen, “-strange, fluttering little butterflies, and it kept you exploring, those strange, exciting little tingles…”

“I feel like you’ve spent too long imagining this, Kaito.” Shuichi huffed, leaning comfortably back into the back of the tub, his chest half submerged in the bubbles as he rested his arm on the shelf there. “That’s a lot of details.”

“I have a very active imagination.” Kaito half explained, half bragged, kissing Kokichi’s temple gently… before saying, “Wanna help me bully Shuichi into telling us about his first time?”

Shuichi’s eyes narrowed, his cheeks reddening.

Kokichi snorted. “I’ve never masturbated on a toilet, I’ll at least admit to that. There, you’ve gotten one thing out of me--rejoice.”

He thought Kaito was just going to spit out a stream of random scenarios, maybe even Shuuichi chiming in with some creative ones just to get in on the fun but...with Kaito speaking lowly into his ear, touching along his abdomen… It reminded him of their lies. How you could bring up as many little details as you wanted, getting absurd just for the fun of trying to explain it and...they’d had a lot of fun with lies…

Kokichi couldn’t help squirming a little, Kaito’s words warming him up in a different way from the water. He was almost...disappointed when Shuuichi interrupted. And he doubted his shy detective would admit to any fact either so…

Humming for a moment, Kokichi nuzzled against Kaito’s shoulder before regarding Shuuichi with a teasing, almost challenging glance. “Think we’ll get a dead end there. So...we heard Kai-chan’s guess. Shuu-chan. If you were me, how would I masturbate?” He...hoped Shuuichi would catch on that it was just...an opportunity to be exploratory and sexy rather than...actually guessing, or thinking about him when he was a teenager. And...maybe by making it about himself, it’d free Shuuichi to get a little more creative, rather than focusing on his own body.

Shuichi had...no idea what Kokichi was trying to get him to do. He thought his boyfriend was sincerely asking him to guess, which was a little strange, considering how embarrassed he had been a moment ago, but well…

Shuichi paused to think about it, equations running through his mind, as Kaito just snickered at him a little, running his foot up and down Shuichi’s leg as he watched his analytical ex-detective think way too hard about this. “This is either going to be really funny or uncomfortably close.” Kaito warned his husband, whispering into his ear, before taking the opportunity to kiss at the shell of his ear, just enjoying placing small, gentle kisses on Kokichi’s body as Shuichi thought.

“Kokichi’s a very private person, sexually…” Shuichi murmured, his eyes going distant as he continued, “Plus was chronically lonely. Touch starved? Insufficient evidence, but not unlikely. Touch starved plus control of his body when ill largely left to other people when he was touched, so that has to create a compl-”

Kaito frowned, reaching forward to grab the underside of Shuichi’s knee, pulling a startled Shuichi forward towards them, the blue haired man having to catch himself by his elbows before he fell under the water as he asked, “Kaito?”

“That’s too much, handsome, you’re doing that not fun thing you do when you try to break someones background and personality down into parts. It’s not nice, we’ve talked about this.” Kaito scolded, his face softening as he pulled Shuichi closer by the leg, saying gently, “Come here, stop being so distant from us.”

Shuichi eventually righted himself as Kaito finally let his leg go, before crawling over to their side of the tub, resting himself onto top of Kaito, who put his free arm over his back as Shuchi softly floated just above his skin, pressing him down on himself. Resting his head on Kaito’s chest, Shuichi looked over at Kokichi with concern as he asked, “Was I being unkind? Sorry Kokichi...”

Kokichi knew what his prompt had the potential for, so he took Kaito’s warning to heart. It was just...trying out something new, at least for Shuuichi. And so when Shuuichi really started to break down a guess...he wasn’t that surprised. And...oddly, it didn’t hurt.

Cuddled up to Kaito’s side, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a smile when he joined them, leaning in to place a kiss to his cheek. “It’s alright. None of that stuff is, yanno, very happy, but...I’m okay. It doesn’t bother me.”

“...but touch starved, huh?” he mused, nuzzling against Kaito’s arm, happy to keep their legs tangled. “Never thought about it that way--kind of explains why I’m so happy to be all over you guys.” Kokichi laughed a little, amused that that was what he was currently doing, even if it was purposefully more than casual touch. “I think you’ve kept me pretty sated though.”

He leaned forward again to kiss Shuuichi once more, a sly grin starting to upturn his lips. “However, as Kai-chan’ll keep tellin’ ya, I’m pretty greedy, so I’m gonna keep coming back for more.”

Shuichi smiled warmly, happily leaning into the kisses, glad he hadn’t upset Kokichi as Kaito just kept his arms around both of them, his bright purple eyes staring down at them as Kokichi kept placing small kisses against Shuichi…

“...” and then Shuichi said, eyes narrowing slightly, “I bet you had a doll specifically for masturbating with, and that some of your books on the bookcase were your masturbating material for your fantasies.”

Kaito snorted, taking his hands off both of them and putting them on his face as he said, “I really, really need you to deny the doll thing, Kokichi, or I’m going to literally go out there and stab Smug Rabbit, I swear to Atua… though, if the book thing is true! You have to show me your favorite scenes.” Kaito snickered, taking his hands off his face and putting them back down around Kokichi and Shuichi’s backs, grinning lewdly at them as he said, “Maybe we can recreate them. Bring those fantasies to life, eh?”

Kokichi choked, going red again just from the lewdness of it all before he scoffed into a laugh, rolling his eyes. “Sure, I’ve totally masturbated with the stuffed animal my dad hand-sewed for me for my fifth birthday. Oo, so sexy.”

Shaking his head, Kokichi reached out to lay an arm over Shuuichi’s side, gently rubbing his back. “Where’d you even get an idea like that? Is it some common thing I’ve just completely missed? Here’s another little nugget of info--no, I’ve never used anything but my hands to masterbate. Geez, really making me give out the juicy details!!”

...maybe that the color hadn’t faded from his cheeks told enough of a story though. 

He’d gotten sex education, but for anything actually...sexy? How else was he supposed to fantasize anything!? If a character drawing in a book caught his eye, or there was a scene meant for older audiences than a child...he didn’t have much else to think about. 

Rolling his eyes a little, Kokichi huffed and placed a kiss on Kaito’s cheek this time. “Honestly, I like making new fantasies together. It’s more fun to think up stuff with you guys.”

...Kokichi very pointedly didn’t deny the book guess. 

Oh, Kaito was absolutely going to get those scenes someday.

Kaito grinned, enjoying this, leaning in to capture Kokichi’s lips when Kokichi broke his kiss on his cheek, letting his hand drift down to Kokichi’s waist, his hands brushing over his ass, lightly at first, before then firmly, using the cupping as a way to adjust Kokichi’s body, lifting him higher into the water to make it easier to kiss him. Shuichi quietly watched as Kaito lost himself in Kokichi’s lips for a bit, the room suddenly quiet, nothing but the small sounds of lips pressing against each other. Small smacking sounds getting wetter, Kaito’s deeper voice somehow coming across even in his breaths as he drew in a needy breath through his nose, not willing to break the kiss to get a proper breath in for another moment, his hands squeezing at Kokichi’s backside as his tongue explored.

“...hmm...hah.” Kaito felt his neck start to tense, and finally broke the kiss, taking in another, real breath this time, “h-uaaah...h-aaa…” Kaito looked adoringly down at his husband, the warm taste of him still on his tongue, the kiss not really Kaito’s way of ramping things up. He had just felt a rush of affection for Kokichi, and had wanted to kiss him…

...then he glanced to his right, and suddenly laughed. “Shuichi’s bubble butt can’t get under the water.” Kaito noticed, Shuichi, stretched out on Kaito’s body, his back and most of his legs still under the water, his pale cheeks still out, “Shuichi, your ass is like an island in a soapy ocean.”

Shuichi blushed, giving Kaito a dirty look as he said, “Well, we need more water in here then.”

“I don’t think more water would help.” Kaito snorted, “I think we could all be totally submerged and your booty would still be peeking out, a flag that we were here at all.”

“You’re so stupid, Kaito.” Shuichi blushed, burying his face in his arms.

“Mmmn...mm…” Kokichi couldn’t help but lose himself in the kiss for a moment, a skill Kaito was very proficient at, especially when their bodies were pressed together and Kaito was squeezing his ass… By the time Kaito broke it, Kokichi was panting lightly, feeling ramped up even if Kaito hadn’t meant it that way, his face now an aroused deep pink rather than the embarrassed red.

So it took him a moment while he was catching his breath to process Kaito teasing their boyfriend over his voluptuous behind. 

Whining, Kokichi sat up more in the water to place kisses along Shuuichi’s shoulder. “Is Shuu-chan cold? There are a lot of other positions we could try where he’d definitely be all in the bath. And I think his--very cute--butt is over the water just cause Kai-chan’s letting him float away. Shuu-chan’s sorely lacking in kisses to bring him back down to earth. Or...acrylic or metal or whatever bathtubs are made out of.”

Practically leaning over Kaito’s side at this point, Kokichi managed to sneak one kiss against Shuuichi’s neck, being the first to remedy this and...really, just starting to really feel like touching and being touched.

Shuichi peeked up from his arms, low key enjoying Kokichi’s fussing over him as he murmured, “Well...I’m maybe a little cold…”, those cool, yellow eyes closing slightly as Kokichi pressed warm kisses into his neck, Shuichi shivering at the intimate touch, before shifting onto his side a little, gently reaching out a hand to the side of Kokichi’s face, the touch a small request for Kokichi to refocus his kisses against Shuichi’s lips instead.

Tongue was always an afterthought for Shuichi, the two pressing chaste, small kisses against each other, Shuichi feeling warmed and looked after as Kokichi leaned down to kiss him, Shuichi feeling a little lazy to just be laying there, passively accepting Kokichi’s touches, but...kind of liking that lazy feeling. Just enjoying the feeling of being loved, as Kaito’s hands kept them secure in the water, keeping the two from floating away from himself.

Kaito watched this, feeling something inside of him tighten. The introduction of Shuichi into their sex life (along with….many other factors) made it extremely difficult for Kaito to indulge in that controlling, indimidating, feral side of himself that he and Kokichi had enjoyed so much their first few times together. And, he didn’t mind entirely. He liked these small, cute, intimate moments. And he had needed to get that side of himself under control for Kokichi’s sake. And also it felt...weird to show Shuichi, specifically, that side of himself, his childhood friend knowing him too well to feel like expressing that vicious control would be anything more than silly to him at best, uncomfortable at worst.

So, yeah, all for the best, probably...but man...sometimes Kaito wanted to lose his mind on them...especially when they were being sweet and cute with each other like this, which just made him feel bigger, made him feel…

“...” Kaito sighed. “Alright guys, before anything starts. Our rule, remember?”

Shuichi broke his kiss and sighed, a little disappointed as he said, “Boundary talk?”

“Boundary talk!” Kaito said cheerfully.

It wasn’t just to warm Shuuichi, to give affection to him and, while again he didn’t seem too bothered by the comments about his body, Kokichi still wanted to ease and distract...he was getting his fill of sweet Shuuichi kisses too. Maybe there was something deeper to the whole ‘touch starved’ thing than he’d already acknowledged, but Kokichi really couldn’t get enough of that satisfaction, hearing his lovers’ happy sounds and knowing that they were enjoying this as much as he was. 

Even better if they were enjoying it even more. 

But boundaries were an important step to making sure it stayed enjoyable. Kokichi lingered just enough to press his nose against Shuuichi’s before he relaxed back against Kaito’s side, thinking for a moment. 

“...I don’t think even if we re-fill the tub with hot water it’ll get as hot as it was in the sauna, so I think I should be okay there…” Kokichi hummed, resting his head against Kaito’s chest. In his opinion, that had been the only sticking point of their little escapade but...there had been something else. And he did need to walk tomorrow. 

Sighing, Kokichi wrinkled his nose a bit. “...I don’t think I can do anything super active tonight. I feel way better, but I don’t wanna jinx it and end up in bed tomorrow. And...um…” He flushed again, giving Shuuichi a shy smile. “It feels amazing, don’t get me wrong...but when you go nuts on my sweet spot, it makes me super useless, and I can’t last for long. I think that might be a special occasion kind of thing.”

Shuichi flushed red, looking both aroused at the memory and deeply uncomfortable as he said, “Oh, that’s right, I hurt you…”

Kaito put a comforting hand on the back of Shuichi’s head, running his fingers through his hair as he said, “Kokichi literally just called it a ‘special occasion thing’. So, somehow, I don’t think you traumatized the guy. If anything, it sounds to me Shuichi found a sexy things he’s really, really good at, but needs to be treated, ya know...like a super power.” Kaito laughed, before saying lightly, “And needs to be agreed upon beforehand. That make sense, handsome?”

Shuichi nodded, reaching out and putting a hand on Kokichi’s arm, running down it before finding his hand, interlocking their fingers as he said, “Okay, Kokichi. I won’t do that without permission. I promise.”

“And you won’t do that without, just, way more lube next time. Real lube, no substitutes. He won’t feel it as much the next day then.” Kaito said, his voice stern, no arguments tolerated on this one. Then he sighed, thinking. “Alright, so, we have a big day tomorrow, our ‘Kichi’s still feeling a little sick, and he needs to be one hundred by the morning. So, something gentle...Shuichi? Your turn.”

“Mmmm…” Shuichi hesitated, before saying, “I know...you wanted to play with my chest today, Kaito. But...could we hold off on that? I don’t...really want to end up leaking right now…” He thought it’d be gross, to cover his lovers in his weird...fluid. While in a bath. He guessed Kaito wouldn’t mind, and would probably enjoy it, but...he didn’t know how Kokichi felt about it, and he didn’t wanna be gross to his boyfriend. Even just the vague idea made him super uncomfortable. Maybe when he and Kaito were alone he’d be okay with it, but not right now, with Kokichi.

Kaito was a little disappointed, but he didn’t let it show on his face, just grinning down at Shuichi as he said, “No problem! Honestly, I’m just thrilled they’re making an appearance! Fuck my boyfriend is incredibly sexy….my big dicked, small breasted, bubblebutt beauty...fuck…”

That was maybe a little too much, and Shuichi’s face reddened, not entirely from arousal this time, as he squeezed Kokichi’s hand a little. Yeah he...guessed he did look like that, huh…

“Alright, for me….let me think...Kokichi, do you not want to be penetrated at all today?” Kaito asked, glancing down at his husband. “You don’t have too, babe, and when it comes to nothing hurting the next day, that’s the way to do it.”

“A very intense superpower,” Kokichi agreed, smiling lovingly when Shuuichi reached over to hold his hand. He’d really enjoyed it but...like with when he and Kaito had first been doing stuff together, it felt like he couldn’t really do anything to make Shuuichi feel good too if he was losing his mind. Which...was okay, he guessed, if it was a finale sort of thing, but definitely not if anyone wanted to go more than once. 

Having actual lube would probably help with that too. Kokichi had a bit of a sheepish look on his face but he hummed an agreement. He didn’t think he’d start carrying around those lube packets Kaito got but...he could be a little more aware of when they might need them. 

Kokichi couldn’t help his gaze drifting down to Shuuichi’s chest for a moment. He knew Kaito had been...well, always sort of excited to touch Shuuichi’s boobs, both for his own enjoyment and to help Shuuichi become more comfortable with his body. But! Like what Kaito said, even just being shirtless was a step forward, and a step was a step. As long as Shuuichi wasn’t hurting from them, then Kokichi would be happy to keep his hands to himself. 

He squeezed Shuuichi’s hand back, giving him a soft look. Kaito might be of the same mind but...his passion could be a little overwhelming if you weren’t prepared. 

Sighing, Kokichi rubbed his thumb along the side of Shuuichi’s hand and nuzzled against Kaito’s shoulder. “I guess so… It’s kind of weird to put a condom on in the bath too, isn’t it. I wouldn’t mind fingers, but...that’s kinda just for my own pleasure so...yeah. I’m okay with no penetration.”

Kaito groaned. “Oh, right...shit. The condoms...damn.” Kaito frowned, frowning, suddenly a little worried. He had promised Maki that he would start wearing them for both Kokichi and Shuichi, just in case. And Kokichi was right, putting on one in the bathtub would be tough, so...nothing that could pass those fluids to either of his lovers. No penetration, no… honestly, probably no blowjobs, right? If he was looking out for their health now, then having them accidently swallowing anything was probably just as bad as cumming into them.

Kaito absentmindedly kissed the top of Kokichi’s head while rubbing Shuuichi’s back. Taking care of his boys was complicated sometimes. Worth it, always. But complicated. Hmmm...

There was always grinding, of course, but between the three of them, well, that’s tough. It’d likely come down to taking turns, which can be fun for the voyeurs of the group, but Kaito suspected he was, in fact, the only one with a ‘voyeur’ kink. 

(and, like...just all of the kinks, really. Kaito had sometimes avoided people who confessed to him certain extremely odd kinks, like pissing stuff, not because he was disgusted by them, but more because, like, geez...there was some stuff he really didn’t want to be sold on… like when Kore had tried to get him into ‘petplay’, Kaito had begged him to let it go without experimentaton, because fuck he didn’t need that reputaton on top of everything else.)

Alright, alright, alright...come on, Kaito, this is what you’re good at! Your guys are expecting you to show them a good time! Look at them! Look at how fucking breathtaking they both are!! You’re gonna let these two beauties down!??

Okay...Kaito took a deep breath, and forced himself to relax. Stressing out about this would not only ruin his own good time, but theirs too. Relax. No one’s in competition here, no ones judging. You’re just enjoying spending time with two people you love very much. That’s as low key as it gets. So what if a shit ton of medical and psychological hangups were taking most of the tricks you knew out of your book? It’s all about atmosphere…

“...you know~” Kaito said, a tease in his voice, rubbing his fingers smoothly up and down Shuichi’s back, massaging the muscles back there, as he tilted his head down to kiss Kokichi, a lingering, chaste taste against him that always made his chest feel warm by the taste of him. “...what if we made this a game? A fun...hold-out game.” Kaito said, thinking quickly, as he kissed Kokichi again.

Shuichi, whose head was resting against Kaito’s chest, eyes closed as he relaxed into the massage, blinked those golden orbs open before saying, a bit of suspicion in his voice, “Hold out of what?”

“Well...we were just talking about masturbating…”

Like Shuuichi, Kokichi had been a little suspicious about a sexy game Kaito would think up, but it was greatly overshadowed by his curiosity. And with the hint Kaito gave, then just the spirit of competition. 

Snorting against Kaito’s shoulder, Kokichi raised an eyebrow, smirking at his husband. “Holding out how long until we break and touch one another? I don’t see how the last person standing would get much of a prize out of that, since getting to make my lovely husband and boyfriend feel good is the best sort of prize I could think of. And...no offense, love, but I think you’d break right away.”

Sighing dramatically, Kokichi brought Shuuichi’s hand up to kiss at, nodding towards him. “Look at him, sweets. Shuu-chan is too cute. Resisting an invitation to make him feel good would just be inhuman, and we both are very painfully not that.” 

“...were you going to suggest a circle jerk instead?” he wondered, half-teasing and half-curious. 

Shuichi looked adoringly at Kokichi, smiling lazily, a small hint of red in his cheeks as he glanced slightly to the side of Kokichi’s face when he kissed his hand. “You’re both such flatterers…” Shuichi said quietly, his tone sounding a tad scolding, but his appearance clearly showing he was pleased. It was nice to be wanted.

Kaito shook his head, looking astonished as he said, “I would never resist making Shuichi feel good, babe! Nothing makes me happier than watching out boyfriend just fucking…” Kaito’s grin bore more teeth as he pushed his arm out to Shuichi’s island ass and squeezed, causing that small, pleased tint of red to blossom into an entire face-burn as Shuichi’s stomach tensed at the touch, “writhe.”

“I take it back,” Shuichi muttered, hiding his burning face in his arms again, “Kokichi’s a flatterer. You’re a pervert, Kaito.”

“Guilty.” Kaito admitted, enjoying running his hands over the thick curves of Shuichi’s ass, before admitting, “I was thinking a circle jerk, though. Whoever cums last wins. We haven't done it before, it’s easy, you can go at your own pace, and only the truly adventurous have ever hurt themselves or completely wiped themselves out masturbating. Both of you will be fine for tomorrow that way.”

“Both of us?” Shuichi said, peeking up, “Were you worried I wouldn’t be?”

Kaito gave Shuichi an apologetic look, “Let me be worried, alright? It’s my job to worry about you...oh!!” Kaito said, looking over at Kokichi, suddenly extremely excited, “I know how to make this game particularly tough, too! Hold on, you two, let me up, I’m gonna go grab something!”

Kokichi scoffed quietly but gave each of his lovers more kisses. Kaito was a pervert, but...it was honestly kind of hot sometimes, and fuck knew that he and Shuuichi benefitted from having someone as enthusiastic as Kaito as their lover. And, unintentionally echoing Shuuichi’s thoughts, it was nice to be wanted, and Kaito’s whirlwind of need sometimes hit that insecurity right at the root. 

But a circle jerk, though… Like, obviously Kokichi knew what it was, since he’d brought it up but...not even in some of the more erotic books he’d read had there ever been one. It was like a concept with no practice, and Kokichi was a little surprised that he’d guessed correctly. 

It was a good idea, though… No penetration, they all got to touch each other without someone waiting on the sidelines--though Kokichi doubted that any of them minded when they’d done it before--and even with a competitive spirit, Kokichi doubted that he’d let it go too far when it came to himself. He had trouble holding out anyway. And that meant that he’d be all good for the festival!

Perking up, evidently pleased with the idea, Kokichi backed off of Kaito as he requested, curious once again over what he’d be getting. Shooting Shuuichi a look, he hummed. “...he’s not getting the vibrator, you don’t think? That would only work for one of us…”

“Maybe he’s going to get the books and doll you use to masturbate with?” Shuichi said, curling his arms around his knees as he sat in the tub beside Kokichi, giving him an entirely serious look.

“Really, where’d you even get an idea like that?” Kokichi rolled his eyes. “I like stuffed animals ‘cause they’re soft and fluffy and nice to hold. And very cute, and usually nice gifts from people. The thought of using any for something like that, or even just being around while we’re doing stuff is…” He made a face, something akin to if he was given a plate full of boiled pig’s feet. Disgusted. 

Shuichi’s expression didn’t change, though for someone like Kokichi, he might have seen the small twitch of amusement in his eyes as he asked, “So, was it an action figure then? Cause I’d argue that’s basically the same thing.”

Kokichi leveled a dry look at Shuuichi. “I don’t have any. And would you like rubbing some hard plastic thing with a lot of sharp angles and bits on yourself?”

...it only dawned on Kokichi once the words were out his mouth that...maybe? Shuuichi had. But...freaking out and trying to take the words out might only freak him out so… Kokichi just sighed and sank down in the water a bit, enjoying the heat. 

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think Shuu-chan’s self-projecting. Maki-chan’s shown me her stuffed animals, at least, and Kai-chan even tricks his figures out. But noooo, Shuu-chan won’t show me his dolls, too selfish with them for me to even lay eyes on.”

(Don’t think about it.)

(It doesn’t matter.)

(If you let yourself think about it, even for a second, you’re going to cry, and ruin your boyfriends’ day.) 

Shuichi’s face was still carefully controlled, trying to hide his teasing amusment as Kokichi tried to explain to him why fucking an action figure wouldn’t be a good time, as if that itself were the issue...before his eyes widened, ever so slightly, a small twitch in his mouth.

“...I don’t have any dolls or action figures.” Shuichi said, shrugging, the answer honest. He...he did not have dolls or actions figures, and definitely did not masturbate with things like that as a kid.

...not things like that anyway.

Shuichi smirked a little, reaching out to put his hand lightly on Kokich’s neck, leaning over to kiss him on his shoulder as he said, “I’m just teasing. I’d be shocked if you ever so much as used a sock. Though you definitely jacked off to books.”

“I returned! Sorry I took so long, wanted to make certain it still worked, after sitting in the drawer all this time. I present to you both...the challenge!” Kaito said, stepping back into the bathtub and pulling out the Abomination. “Alright, alright, before you ask, hear me out. Here’s how it’ll work.”

“We’re going to play one of three things, depending on what you both are feeling up to.” Kaito started to explain as he sat down, letting the water back up to just below his chest, “Telling a sexy story, playing ‘Never Have I Ever’, or playing a game of Questions. For the telling a story idea, if you stutter? You get the vibrator on you. For the never have I ever game, if you’re the only one to do it, or the only one to not do it, you get to use the vibrator on whoever you want. You just have to be the only yes or no. For questions? So long as you’re the one asking the question, you get to use the vibrator on whoever is answering the question, who gets it once the questions answered! Whoever cums last gets a prize!”

Kaito laughed loudly, before grinning at them brightly, “Well? Does any of those sound fun?”

“It sorta sounds like a lot, Kaito.” Shuichi noted, raising an eyebrow.

Kokichi wrinkled his nose a little but was saved from having to have any sort of response by Kaito returning. That was what erotica was for, Shuuichi! (Even if, when he was first exploring his sexuality, that wasn’t the sort of story Kokichi had jacked off to, but even thinking about something like that felt like Shuuichi was just going to read his mind or something, so hush!)

And it looked like he was right there too. At least it wasn’t going to go unused forever in their drawer. 

Thinking over the games Kaito suggested, Kokichi hummed, playing with the bubbles on the surface of the water. “I think playing Never Have I Ever would be too easy to manipulate… Considering we lived in different countries and all. Personally…” Kokichi flushed a little, but looked over Kaito and Shuuichi lovingly, though a bit shy. “I...kind of like the questions one. I like getting to know you guys. Dunno how...effective it’d be, trying to do all of that while touching each other and using the vibrator, but...I’d be open to trying.”

Kaito grinned, idly spinning the vibrator like a baton as he said, “I was leaning towards questions too! Though, knowing you two, half of what you guys say will be lies anyway.” Kaito sighed dramatically, giving his two somewhat famously sneaky lovers an openly exasperated look, “But! Sometimes the kind of lie a person tells is just as revealing as the truth! So it’s fine. It’s all communication, which is key!”

“Communication under threat of vibrator,” Shuichi said, raising an eyebrow, before frowning slightly, a touch of concern in his voice, “And I don’t lie to you, Kaito.” Shuichi lied.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to me specifically,” Kaito lied back, grinning at his golden eyed lover, putting his hand around the back of Shuichi’s neck and pulling him in for an adoring kiss. 

Once the kiss broke though, he clarified, “But I know damn well you how well you can lie, sidekick. Kokichi, don’t let this one pull the wool over your eyes. Our Shuichi is sweet and kind and is sneaky as all hell.” Kaito said, the warning probably not needed by this point in their lives (Kokichi having seen Shuichi lie plenty while under the effect of the pollen), but sometimes needing to remind himself of it too (Kaito knew Shuichi lied a lot, but man...the desire to trust him in the moment would always be Kaito’s downfall. Kaito wanted to trust Shuichi more than anything).

With that in mind, Kaito pulled Shuichi in for another deep, lingering kiss, rubbing his thumb up and down his throat (gently, gently. Don’t go anywhere near his windpipes. Make sure he can get his breaths in. Be good to your boyfriend, who puts so much faith into you.) as he pushed his tongue in, dropping the vibrator onto the bottom of the tub as he used his other hand to rub at Shuichi’s inner thigh, starting low, innocent, and than climbing higher, higher, pressing calloused fingers against that smooth, meaty, muscular leg as he went up, to the side of Shuichi’s dick. 

He did this until he heard Shuichi’s breath hitch a little, a shudder in his body as his body-shy boyfriend opened his mouth a little wider, inviting, eager, for Kaito to take more from him...and Kaito grinned into the kiss, reaching for Shuichi’s right hand and bringing to The Beast as Kaito said teasingly, “Get yourself started, handsome. You rise slow and cum long, so you have an advantage over both of us. Plus, it’s so sexy, watching you touch yourself.” he growled into Shuichi’s mouth, kissing him again, before leaning back, no longer touching Shuichi at all.

Shuichi, face flushed, looking needier and a little annoyed that Kaito had stopped touching him, left his hand on his dick as he muttered, “Pervert…” before hesitating, fine with the idea of a circle jerk in theory, but suddenly finding himself nervous at the idea of working himself while they watched.

Figuring Shuichi just needed a minute to get himself used to the idea, Kaito grinned at him, before looking over to Kokichi with a small, wolfish wink, teeth sharp as his grin widened, looking over at Kokichi eagerly as he reached out for his husband’s neck next, “Come here, beautiful. You next. Only fair to let me get you revved up a little.”

Kokichi nodded in agreement. People lied alllll the time, sometimes without even meaning to. But no matter the validity of what someone said...if they said it, then it had an impact, and that impact reflected back on them. Sometimes what a lie said about a person didn’t mean much, but sometimes it said a whole lot. 

And the lies his lovers told each other just softened Kokichi’s gaze, watching quietly as they got wrapped up in each other. They were both dangerous sorts of liars. Someone whole lied to themself, and a liar that told the truth sometimes. And even knowing that...neither would allow it to get in the way of their bond. Maybe that was just another sort of lie...or maybe a stronger truth than Kokichi could see. But either way it meant his loves loved each other deeply and...there wasn’t much more than could make Kokichi happy at the moment. 

Though watching Kaito work Shuuichi up with kisses and purposeful touches was quite pleasant as well. 

Kokichi watched with a pleased, smug expression as he fished the vibrator out of the water--if he knew Miu, and he did as closely as an associate and bored teenagers and young adults did, then the vibrator was absolutely waterproof--setting it on the tub bench so they wouldn’t lose it in the water. He knew Shuuichi was shy, so he wouldn’t go on like Kaito did, at least while not in the throes of pleasure himself, but watching Shuuichi turn pink and get that cute wanting expression…

Kokichi could only snicker as that expression turned pouty, and he eagerly floated over to Kaito’s side, moving in for a kiss immediately before pulling back to wink over at Shuuichi. “Touching is obviously part of this, Shuu-chan. You won’t be alone for long.”

“Shhhh, don’t tell him! I want our Shuichi to show us how he gets himself all hot and bothered when all the lights are off and he’s hiding under his covers.” Kaito chuckled, and knowing that Kokichi liked it differently, he cupped both sides of Kokichi’s neck and his jaw between his hands (a little more firmly than how he touched Shuichi, but always careful. Always careful. Don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt him.), feeling the pulse in Kokichi’s neck, even and calm for now, as Kaito grinned down at him, “You too, really. I bet you touch yourself quick and intense. Always chasing after pleasure, my ‘Kichi…”

“Our Kokichi.” Shuichi said, something jealous flashing through his eyes as, watching them, he started to hesitantly touch himself, running his fingers up and down his dick.

Kaito smirked at Shuichi, before capturing Kokichi’s lips, his kisses for his husband stronger, more abrasive. A claim as much as a kiss, breathing all of Kokichi in, his grip strong, not wanting Kokichi to escape him… before his whole body relaxed, his grip lighter, the kisses lowering in intensity as he gave him small, sweet kisses now, a gentle press against his lips before kissing, lightly, against the tip of Kokichi’s nose, and then to his cheek as he said into Kokichi’s ear, “Your boyfriend’s feeling possessive, ‘Kichi. You make him flustered and defensive of you…”

Shuichi huffed lightly. “Look who’s talking.”

He couldn’t help the soft little sigh that escaped him, enjoying feeling Kaito actually...touch him. More than gentle, featherlight brushes, which he did still enjoy but...he hated thinking that Kaito was forcing himself to treat Kokichi like he was made of glass. Kaito and Shuuichi both heavily outmatched him when it came to strength, sure, but...he wasn’t going to just break. He liked it when his lovers could lose themselves in their passion, and if he had a sore butt the next day, whatever. Not that that would be an issue tonight, but still. 

Kokichi slung an arm around Kaito’s shoulders as he really started to kiss him, using the other one to get things started, running his hand down Kaito’s chest and abdomen and stopping just shy of his dick, instead taking his time feeling around Kaito’s hip and thigh, feeling sufficiently “revved” by the time Kaito pulled back, though he still had enough air to giggle at what Kaito whispered to him, and Shuuichi’s indignation. 

“Shuu-chan has nothing to be jealous of,” Kokichi said, even as he nuzzled against Kaito’s cheek. “I’m as much his as I am Kai-chan’s, and as you both are to me. But if you’re feeling lonely…”

Shifting out of Kaito’s grip, Kokichi returned to Shuuichi’s side, leaning up and over to place a soft kiss on his cheek as he ran a hand down the outside of his thigh. He knew that they had stuff to get to that didn’t involve constantly pecking and trading light touches, but it was nice, and while he knew it was teasing now, Kokichi didn’t want anyone to feel like they were third-wheeling. 

Half-hugging Shuuichi for a moment, Kokichi huffed, getting to it finally and reaching down to touch himself. “And there’s nothing wrong with wanting things to go quick when you’re by yourself! It was a little harder for me to drag things in front of the door if I wanted to ensure any extended time of privacy.”

Shuichi felt himself warm and perk up again when Kokichi, this time, came over to touch him, happily leaning into his kiss, and smiling at the touch against his thigh, feeling encouraged to touch himself a little more firmy while Kokichi was paying attention to him. Though he paused when Kokichi hugged him, just resting his head on the crook of Kokichi’s sharp shoulder-blades, placing small, warm kisses against his skin. 

Just as quickly as Kokichi had arrived though, his boyfriend was gone, and Shuichi already missed him as he left. For some reason, it felt rational to blame Kaito for the sudden lack of Kokichi on himself, and he went to shoot a glare at his childhood best friend, before noting, “Hey! Kaito, you cheat, you’re not touching yourself!”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah.” Kaito said, glancing down at himself, grinning cheerfully as he said, “I forgot, I’m part of the race too, huh? I was just enjoying watching you two start. Alright…” Kaito didn’t put his hand on his dick yet, instead leaning back against the wall of the tub rubbing his hand up and down his chest and stomach, first in short bursts, then longer, going up to his neck and down to his groin, than back up again in long, smooth, finger light movements.

Shuichi frowned. “That...doesn’t count. You’re barely touching yourself.”

“Y’all’s masturbation sessions probably could have used the benefit of a partner, at some point or another,” Kaito sighed, closing his eyes a little, enjoying the feeling of small tingles as his hands went up to his neck...down to his groin...touching all the little bumps and muscles and sensitive skin to and from his starting and stopping spots. “You should treat yourself like you’d treat each other. Explore. Get yourself in the mood. Take your time. It’s a...mmm…” Kaito smiled slightly, now running his fingers side to side on his chest, “a lot better that way.”

“I still feel like you’re cheating. One of us should get to ask a question on Kaito first.” Shuichi observed, reaching for the vibrator.

Kaito chuckled. “Sure. Which of my sweet, shy lovers are willing to try to use that thing first…”

“Not for a lack of trying,” Kokichi sighed, but wasn’t all that put out as he gently ran a hand over his dick, already interested with everything they’d led up with and receptive to his touch. Considering that was kind of the opposite of the sort of contest they were having, though, Kokichi kept things slow and light, not diving right in, trying to get himself as riled up as possible right away like how he usually went about things. “Plus, Kai-chan was so gracious as to get us started already, so that kinda skips step one, at least for me.”

Kokichi smirked a bit as Shuuichi reached for the vibrator but...huh. How...would they actually use it? They’d put penetration off the table and...wouldn’t it just feel more weird than nice to put it against each other’s crotches before anyone got hard? 

But to save Shuuichi the trouble and help ease him into the game more, Kokichi grinned at his husband as he thought about...what actually to do. 

“Well...Kai-chan always talks about how he’s down for whatever Shuu-chan and I would wanna try, but...you’ve gotta have more of a preference than that, right? What’s Kai-chan’s favorite kink, or just your favorite thing to do during sex?” Taking the vibrator from Shuuichi, Kokichi flicked a switch at random, almost dropping the damn thing before he managed to turn it onto a less intense setting. Then, he knelt in front of Kaito, at first starting to brush the vibrator along his inner thigh. 

Kaito grinned adoringly at his husband (he loved that Kokichi wasn’t afraid to try new things anymore. Taking away his arm movement so early into their sex life had been a fucked up thing to do, the more Kaito thought about it. He was still learning, when it came to his husband.) as the lilac haired man looked him over critically, clearly trying to work out the best way to use this thing. 

When Kokichi eventually settled on his inner thigh, Kaito just grinned warmly at him, thankfully not the ticklish type as he hummed, “That’s kinda nice, babe… I like that…” 

It actually didn’t feel like much, but it did relax the muscles on his inner thigh a little, and some of the vibrations rippling slightly up his leg gave, while no real pleasure, enough of a phantom sensation that Kaito could enjoy it. Besides, it was hot seeing Kokichi come at him with a vibrator, and the mental image alone was enough to make Kaito’s ears burn pleasantly red.

As for the question… “I have a real… control kink? Power imbalance kink. But, both ways.” Kaito explained, certain he wasn’t saying anything Kokichi didn’t already know, so deciding maybe to expand on it to make the question worth it. Giving Kokichi a fond, if somewhat apologetic, knowing look, he said, “I like feeling big and tough and unstoppable in bed. Feeling like I’m the other person's whole world. It’s definitely an ego thing… but I also really like it when someone can do that to me. There’s something…”

Kaito paused, thinking about it, “Exciting about being under someone else's power, and also kind of comforting in not having any choices. Or, at least for me, there is. But… it has to be with the right kind of person, under the right circumstances. Like, I would never ask you two to do that, because I think it would freak me out to have multiple people touching me and not being able to move for real, rather than just me controlling myself because I’m trying to keep fudge from spilling on the bed.” Kaito chuckled, enjoying that incredibly fond memory.

Shuichi nodded quietly, understanding where Kaito’s fears came from, so not feeling terribly surprised by it. Kaito had his own sexual scars. Though, honestly, Shuichi had always thought how Byakuya had outed him had hurt Kaito worse than what happened. But apparently there was still some stuff lingering there. Maybe he should talk to him about it someday.

But if it was touching on painful memories, they weren’t bothering Kaito right now, who just grinned and said, “Though that’s just kinda my favorite. There’s loots of fun kinks. I’d love to try some more stuff with you both, if you were ever curious. Blindfolds can be fun. My turn!”

Encouraged with Kaito’s response, Kokichi kept on the same pace, moving the wand down Kaito’s thigh as he spoke and, by the end, getting down alongside his dick, and while he was curious to see if Kaito would like that any more, he handed it over without fuss, sitting back to get back to touching himself, not wanting the cheating accusation to be turned to him next. 

A power imbalance kink… It could absolutely be a good thing sometimes. Kokichi loved when Kaito would...well, be everything he had explained, becoming Kokichi’s whole world. Intense and incredible. He could understand that enough. 

(And he wasn’t sure if Shuuichi had noticed. At that apologetic look, Kokichi had stilled for a moment, but not out of discomfort. Just to offer an understanding, forgiving look in turn, gently rubbing Kaito’s other thigh with the hand he wasn’t holding the vibrator with.)

Humming with a nod, Kokichi noted, “Well… To echo you, if there was anything new you ever wanted to bring to bed, it never hurts to ask. I dunno if I’d be as enthusiastic as you’d be, sweets, but if it’s something more along the lines of just something I’d never heard about...I mean, can’t hurt to try.”

Kaito smiled warmly back at him, before laughing. Taking the vibrator in hand, he winked at Kokichi, saying, “I’m going to find, like, a book or something, or make a list, or something and just hand it to you and say, ‘here. Pick one’. Like a dinner menu of sex. That could be fun.”

Kaito had some real, strong theories of what actually really would excite Kokichi, because for everything that had happened, Kaito was still harboring the suspicion that his husband might be hiding a strong masochist instinct in him. Again, things were still a… a little too weird and uncomfortable for Kaito to just straight up say, “Hey, babe who I did terrible, traumatic things to until you literally cried, do you get off to me being mean to you??”

Yeah… maybe someday. Not yet. Maybe when Kaito felt less like he’d mess up and hurt him for real again. 

“Okay! Tit for tat! Kokichi!” Kaito said enthusiastically, leaning over to kiss at Kokichi’s neck, kissing up and down his neck as, not getting near his truly sensitive spots yet, Kaito grinned into his neck before carefully placing the vibrator on the very, very tip of Kokichi’s right nipple. Not pressing in or anything, just a small, featherlight vibration against the very farthest points of his nipple as Kaito kissed into his neck and asked, “What do you consider the weirdest wet dream you’ve ever woken up with your skin sticky from cum too?”

Then, after asking his question, he bit down lightly at Kokichi’s neck, sucking the skin as he moved the vibrator down his front, featherlight, before hoving the vibrator just, just out of contact range from the head of Kokichi’s dick, letting it linger just out of range...before moving the vibrator back up again, repeating the process to Kokichi’s left nipple now.

Shuichi watched this, entranced, until one of his hands went up to his own nipple, touching it lightly without thinking about it… but he remembered if he messed with them at all, they were going to leak. Flushing slightly in embarrassment, he moved both hands back down to his dick, trying to keep them occupied so he wouldn’t try something like that again.

Kokichi snorted fondly, actually looking forward to that a little. Kaito was always so accommodating and...well...the one time he wasn’t...didn’t turn out very well. He felt better about their relationship these days and...he didn’t want Kaito to feel bored in their love life. If there were things he wanted to do, then Kokichi wanted to make it a known fact that he could bring ‘em up. 

He should’ve expected it, but Kaito was far more handsy in asking his question, and Kokichi couldn’t help his happy hums at Kaito started kissing at his neck, his blush getting just a little hotter from how Kaito used the vibrator. Probably a better idea than his…

“Hmm...mmm… W-well...I don’t really remember my dreams, a lot of the time…” Unless they were nightmares, and...Kaito already knew about that one. “But...there was one… I’d dreamed up some boyfriend which isn’t that weird, but we were sitting in a Unity tree, a huge one, sitting on like...branches that were also cushions? Under all the decorations… I’m positive that other stuff happened, but...I really only remember that, and that we were making out. S’weird, kissing in a dream.” Kokichi laughed lightly, swallowing a few chuckles as Kaito brushed closer to one of the more sensitive spots on his neck right as he pressed the vibrator a little closer to his nipple, humming in satisfaction. 

“Dunno if that’s what you were really asking, but it came to mind.”

Having to take a few steadying breaths once Kaito backed off, the question answered, Kokichi opened an eye to grin at Shuuichi, happy to see that his boyfriend was enjoying everything still. “Think it’s about time for a Shuu-chan question, yeah?”

Kaito was...not entirely certain what a Unity tree was? Probably something he’d ask for clarity on later, but for now, “Awwwww, my sweet ‘Kichi, making out with cute dreams boys. What did he look like? Was he your type??”

Shuichi gave Kaito a fond, if exasperated look as he said, “I think you already got to ask your question, Kaito. Stop trying to cheat and let Kokichi have the vibrator.”

“Awww, someone’s eager.” Kaito teased, before placing one last kiss against Kokichi’s shoulder and backing away, handing his husband the wand before looking down at himself. His dick was hardening in the water, and he kinda wished he could see it more clearly. Hell, he wished he could see theirs more clearly. The next circle jerk would definitely have to be done out of the water. Let Kaito look to his hearts content.

Still, he put his hand, finally, on his dick, making a small, pleased sound to feel the firming muscle between his own fingers. He actually did kind of miss masturbating, whenever the thought occurred to him. Ford, well, Fake-Ford hadn’t ruined that for him. When he thought about that incident, it mostly just made him feel embaressed and stupid… because it was embaressing and stupid. Fuck he was stupid…

...he knew he should talk to Miss Crystal about it at some point, but fuck, god, he was so fucking dumb and the idea of telling anyone…

...anyway. It hadn’t changed his feelings on masturbating. It was just an uncomfortable memory by itself.

Shaking the memory from his head, Kaito refocused on the present, grinning as he leaned back again, watching his loves as he asked Kokichi, “So, any ideas what to ask our Shuichi?”

Kokichi thought about turning the vibrator up, or using one of the other modes on it but...it felt a little weird to do before bringing it to Shuuichi for the first time, so...just the mode they’d been using, for now. Maybe Shuuichi would get curious with it when it was his turn. 

Coming close to kiss at Shuuichi, light ones against his lips, Kokichi thought, buying himself a little time. “Hmm… Ah! Shuu-chan… If I hadn’t gotten overheated, what would you have wanted to do if we stayed in the sauna?” Respecting that Shuuichi didn’t want his chest touched right now, Kokichi instead took the other page from what Kaito had done to him, placing the base of the wand lightly against Shuuichi’s tip and slowly moving it down. 

He couldn’t ask Shuuichi about previous lovers or...even what he imagined future ones might be like, but there was still plenty to ask. 

“Oh my god, I love this question. Wait, I don’t understand the context?” Kaito realized, both tantalized by hearing more about their time in the sauna and realizing in his over excitement he had no idea what Kokichi was implying. “Shuichi, I need to know! Please!” He quickly tacked on at the end, just in case it triggered an info-dump.

But Shuichi seemed fine… well, in that he wasn’t triggered into going away into his head, looking for information. He was flustered though, as his legs and thighs jumped when the vibration of the wand was suddenly at the tip of his head, a loud gasp in his throat as he said, “ah…!”

Licking his lips, suddenly finding himself quickly losing his composure, and staring down at the vibrator like he couldn’t quite believe it, he stammered out, “I-I...mmm! oooh...I asked K-Kokichi if we could...oh, oh, please, please, back it off a little...mmmmm...thank you…” Shuichi sighed, face flushed red as Kokichi moved it off his tip, slowly moving it down the side of his dick. That still felt good too, but the vibrations on his head was a little...well, he liked it a lot, honestly. But he’d definitely struggle to think clearly if he was fighting through that sudden, intense buildup in his groin. “I asked...hmm, I asked Kokichi if we could do it again...w-wasn’t, ha,” that last one had been Shuichi’s own fault. He had missed the feeling of something massaging his head, and had dared put his fingers against the slightly reddening spot where the vibrator had pressed. 

Looking up at Kokichi, lust and need red and longing on his face, Shuichi said dreamily, “We had just finished and I...mm, I wasn’t tired yet...wanted to go again…”

“Ooooh.” Kaito said, marveling at Shuichi’s courage, even as he grinned to see Shuichi getting so lost in the feelings of his body. “Oh, but I’m guessing that’s when you both realized Kokichi was getting overheated.”

“Yeah…” something like that. Kaito could probably be spared being told that Kokichi had been half-delirious and probably about to pass out any second, by that point. It’d just make him worry. 

Thinking about it, Shuichi considered what he would have wanted to do… before admitting, “...I think I might have wanted you inside me next. Like…” Shuichi blushed harder, the only way you could tell the blush was from embarrassment rather than an increase in his arousal being the way his eyebrows moved together and up a little, glancing to the side. “Like me r-riding you or something...it’s been a while since anyone’s cum into me…”

“I literally did that, like, the other week, I think! A while. Honestly, you’re both so greedy.” Kaito said, rolling his eyes, though he gave Shuichi a fiendish grin, leaning over to use his free hand to pull Shuichi’s neck again, moving him close to kiss him while the vibrator still ran up and down his dick as he said, “Trust me, the second Seiko clears it? Fuck, Shuichi, I’m gonna drink some caffiene, maybe grab some pills, and go until you can’t remember your fucking name.”

(...)

(...the memory was hazy, but he knew it had taken him several times to answer her question of what his name was to her, and when he had finally done it, he had been so proud…)

A hot flash of shame rocketed through Shuichi’s stomach, but he ignored it. Still, he needed a break from the vibrator as he closed his legs slightly, saying, “M-my turn to ask a question.”

Kokichi had glanced over at Kaito, endlessly amused with his excitement, but he was sure to give most of his attention to Shuuichi, wanting to make sure his boyfriend was well-loved. And maybe that was a little too much at times, but Kokichi was quick to shift gears whenever Shuuichi needed it. 

While he kept up the steady rhythm of dragging the vibrator along Shuuichi’s shaft, Kokichi looked a bit surprised by Shuuichi’s answer, his eyebrows raising before he continued placing kisses along Shuuichi’s shoulder now. Obviously he knew Shuuichi liked taking but… And especially compared to Kaito…

...Kokichi couldn’t help feeling like Shuuichi had only found anything pleasurable about taking in his cock because Kaito’s was there too. On his own...there was no way he’d be enough, right? Kaito was right in reassuring him that he wasn’t small, they were both just big, but…

...they could talk about it another time. Maybe he’d be more confident then. 

Just giggling at Kaito again, Kokichi shot him a look as he sat back, passing over the vibrator. “Don’t over do things! Though…” he purred, leaning over to ghost his lips over Kaito’s jaw, “I do miss Kai-chan cumming into me too. I’ll certainly be happier that you two don’t have anymore spores, but that’s a pretty sweet bonus.”

Looking back over to Shuuichi, Kokichi motioned for him to flip the vibrator over. “And by the way, there are different...speeds, I guess, and functions than just what’s on right now. Got it from a pervert that I think even outclasses Kai-chan, so I doubt I’d be surprised by how varied that thing can get.”

Taking a second to catch his breath, Shuichi listened to Kokichi’s explanation as he took the wand from him, looking it over curiously. Oh, yeah...it was hard to tell from a glance, but there were buttons raised under the ‘skin’ on the side, each one lit by a faint little different colored light. 

As Shuichi inspected it, Kaito grinned over at Kokichi, reaching out to nab his knee and pulling him closer to him through the water, running his hand up and down Kokichi’s leg ha he said, “Maybe, when we’re all healthy again, in full condition, we can try raising your stamina again? If our Shuichi’s sometimes counting on you to go again, well, then it’d be responsible of us to get you up to two, don’t you think?”

Leaning down as far as his back would allow, Kaito placed a few kisses on Kokichi’s leg, before smirking up at him as he said, “And it was kinda fun, wasn’t it...practicing those breathing techniques, trying so desperately to hang on just a little bit more…”

Kokichi huffed a laugh, parting his legs a little for ease, as well as leaning back in the water a little to give Kaito’s back a break. “Fun’s a word for it. Maddening’s another. You know just how to drive me nuts…”

“But…” His expression softened a bit, looking Kaito over with more affection, gently trying to run the lower part of his leg along Kaito’s side. “...I think that’s a good idea. I don’t wanna...keep holding you guys back because I can’t hang on. It’s important to me that everyone’s feeling happy and engaged and taken care of and...everything. All that.”

His gaze drifted over to Shuuichi too, loving and adoring the two men who’d brought a whole lot of love into his life. He’d probably feel weird about the comparison, but making everyone content...it was what Kokichi was built for.

Kaito hadn’t meant for Kokichi to take the idea so seriously, and he straightened up a little, giving Kokichi a small, slightly concerned look. He wasn’t holding them back…

But before Kaito could reassure Kokichi that that hadn’t been how Kaito had meant it, Shuichi frowned and said aloud, “This red button has a little electric sign next to it. What does that mean?”

“Um, maybe a sign of letting us know when it needs to be charged? I don’t know, I’ve never messed with a vibrator like this before. It’s big and kinda weird.” Kaito pouted, missing his small vibrators, which could be so nicely pressed against the body and, heh, pushed inside of a person, accompanied and intensifying the sensations of a dildo. He supposed this thing was two in one, but, well, he was just used to doing it a certain way, okay? “Try pressing it.”

Shuichi nodded, putting his hand on the button…it was a little tough to push down...he put more pressure…

He didn’t know this, but there was a safety switch specifically for this mystery button that was not, at this moment, turned off. So no matter how hard he pushed the button, nothing happened. After a moment, he just shrugged. “Guess it doesn’t do anything.” he reasoned, for lack of further evidence, before considering the other buttons.

...well, what could possibly happen? Besides, Kaito was cheating again. Shuichi could see him not using his hands on himself, running his hands over Kokichi’s legs. So, an idea in his head, he shifted onto his knees, shuffling through the water as he smiled warmly at his boyfriend, who looked over at him with curious, magenta eyes. “Thought of a question, handsome?”

Shuichi smiled, shaking his head. “Not yet. Give me a moment.”

Then he reached out and, feeling fairly confident this would be appreciated considering the earlier comment, put his hand over Kaito’s eyes, gently pushing him back against the bathtub wall, leaning his shoulders and head back so that he was ‘looking’ up towards the ceiling.

Kaito swallowed, though he grinned as he said, “Shuichi?”

“Sorry, I have a question on the tip-” Shuichi said, moving the vibrator down in between Kaito’s legs, finding his head as he picked a random button. Kaito jumped as an uneven rhythm suddenly started humming through the water, his shoulders tensing as Shuichi kept his hand where it was at, saying simply, “-of my tongue...what was it, what was it…”

“Nnn...th-that’s not…” Kaito took a shuddering breath, thinking the vibrator was off for a second, only to realize part of the seemingly random pattern was to stop for a few seconds, before starting from the beginning again, “fair, Shuichi.”

“What was it about...definitely was something sexy…” Shuichi mused.

Huh… Kokichi looked over at the button, not even having a clue what it meant. He probably would’ve appreciated some sort of guide to what the vibrator could do, but knowing Miu, she probably intended him to find out through experimentation. Try to be clever and talk about functions trying to get him to give her the deets about his private time. Thankfully, while being a genius, she was also a huge idiot, so he’d be able to see the traps miles away.

Not like sneaky Shuuichi. 

Laughing to himself, Kokichi sat back up, but soon found himself by Shuuichi’s side again, leaning his head against his boyfriend’s shoulder as he watched Kaito’s pleasure grow. “Aww, Shuu-chan… Trying to even the playing field? Sneaky-sneaky. I’m almost insulted you don’t see me as a threat to victory, though.”

Snickering, he started kissing at Shuuichi’s shoulder, sitting in a way that he knew Shuuichi could barely feel his growing erection. 

Hey, if Shuuichi was cheating at getting Kaito all cute and flustered, he wanted to cheat too!

Shuichi distractedly looked over to his shoulder, seeing Kokichi’s face flushed with amusement and arousal… h-hell, he didn’t even need to see it on Kokichi’s face, he could feel it on h-his hip...he suddenly found himself really, genuinely forgetting what his question was as he had visions of leaning over to kiss Kokichi, maybe...maybe put him on his back…

Brmmm- Brm Brm, Brmmm--- Brmmm- Brm Brm, Brmmmm-- “Shuichi, please, please, your question!? Handsome?!” Kaito said, his voice getting desperate as he didn’t fight Shuichi’s hand on his eyes, but was starting to buck and twitch a little under the constant, starting, stopping pressure of the vibrator, a little whine coming out the back of his throat as he said, “at least give me a chance to answer!”

Shuichi smiled at that. That was cute. He liked when their bodies started moving like that. Like they were twisting and turning into place. He wondered how long Kaito could actually last under constant pressure like this, and trusting his boyfriend could manage, asked, “What’s the most embarrassing way you’ve masturbated before?”

“Ha, ha, hrmmmmmnnn Shuichi.” There was a clear growl in the end part of that, Kaito now genuinely struggling to not fight back, to not push Shuichi off him, get himself on top of him, fuck, fuck, he couldn’t bareback, that was fine, he’d pull them both out of this tub and onto the bed and just go wild on them...and then that fury passed for the moment and he just whined again, reaching up to clutch at Shuichi’s wrists near his head as he said as quickly as he could, “I was young and really horny all the time and the gymasium had those rolling balls with the handles and and I couldn’t stop thinking about them so I snuck in one night and put myself onto the handle and bounced on it and it didn’t feel good and I didn’t get anything out of it and and wiped it off and put it back and never told anyone what I did and felt really bad and was still fucking horny, Shucihi please!!”

Shuichi took the vibrator off Kaito, who whined again, small, relieved breaths coming out of him, as Shuichi blnked down at him, finally uncovering his eyes, Kaito’s intense gaze blinking in the light, as Shuichi said, “...huh.”

“...Kaito! The old ladies used those balls!”

“I only did it once and I cleaned it off really well!”

Aww… Now Kokichi was actually starting to feel a little bad for Kaito. He knew Kaito would be alright, and likely would think back on this fondly with that excited blush he always got when he thought about times they’d banged, but still...it was a bit much. 

Still, he did trust Shuuichi to back off when Kaito needed it--and...he was still there if Shuuichi’s curiosity got the best of him and tried to go past that time limit--so Kokichi just kept kissing at Shuuichi’s shoulder and onto his back a little, making sure that Shuuichi could feel the brush of his hand as he stroked himself. 

Even as he could only shake his head at Kaito’s answer. “Can’t say I’ve ever been tempted by gym equipment. I’m starting to feel like I have the most boring stories here. Bluuh, should’a lied from the start,” Kokichi sighed, placing another kiss to Shuuichi’s neck. 

Before moving away to lie next to Kaito, giving his cheek a kiss as well. “You okay? Almost looked like you were about to lose.”

“Better boring stories than humping gym equipment. How old were you, Kaito?” Shuichi couldn’t help but ask, fascinated. 

Kaito took another few deep breaths, holding them, letting them out...in, hold, let out...before nuzzling Kokichi into his side, happy to feel the press of his naked body against him, his whole lower half tingling as he insisted, eyes closed, “Ha? You...you think that’s enough to break me? I’m Kaito Ouma Momota, Luminary Prince of the Stars, Dicean Prince-Consort of the Cacti...takes more than that to beat me...ooof, give me a second.” Kaito moaned, finally opening his eyes and looking down at his dick, which was high now, pressing itself effortlessly into his stomach. Shit. He...definitely didn’t have long. 

Looking up to Shuichi, he sighed, giving his boyfriend a lazy grin, his eyes a little hazy as he said, “I don’t know. Too young. I was a very early bloomer. I honestly couldn’t tell you when I started doing things like that.” Kaito confessed, looking over to Kokichi--who looked delicious now--as he, entirely casually, suddenly swept his husband into his arms, pulling him into his lap, and kissing him deeply, encircling his whole body with his arms as Kaito kissed greedily at him, wanting to finish so bad...wanting to touch him so bad…

His fingers pressed and squeezed at Kokichi’s small, pink nipples, playing with them between his fingers as he kissed at his mouth and nipped at his bottom lips, licking the light stings away before kissing fiercely again, trying to remind himself of all the reasons why you can’t, can’t, can’t just...shove him on top of his aching, needy dick…

Breaking the kiss, he sighed and looked up to Shuichi. “Pass it to me. My turn.”

Kokichi giggled happily as Kaito pulled him close, and made other happy noises when Kaito moved him into his lap and kissed him, sighing and humming against Kaito’s lips. Their experience gap was closing little by little but...it was always super apparent. And...not just from the amount of partners, apparently. Kokichi never really thought much of the almost three years between them, but if Kaito had started exploring himself early, had gotten his first kiss before high school…

He didn’t have much frame of reference, but Kokichi guessed he was...an average or late bloomer. And he hadn’t gotten the nerve to even try to flirt with anyone until the latter half of his teens. He had so much to catch up with...but at least Kaito never really made him feel bad for it. Made it kind of fun, actually. 

“Mm...muh...nng…” 

Kokichi’s happy hums started to get needier, his hands wandering more as he squirmed in Kaito’s lap, not even needing to be the subject of the vibrator for Kaito to wind him up and send shocks to his gut. Left panting when Kaito broke their kiss, Kokichi followed his gaze over to Shuuichi, face truly flushed and wanting now. And...judging by the sound of Kaito’s voice, he should be prepared for more.

...it was looking like he wasn’t going to be the one winning their game. 

Shuichi swallowed, passing Kaito the vibrator, but not wanting to be ‘other’ from this, Kokichi looking very cute huffing and moaning in Kaito’s arms, Shuichi went to Kaito’s side, resting his chin on Kaito’s shoulder as he watched Kokichi in his lap, kissing his shoulder absentmindedly as both hands went down to his own junk, pressing and massaging more urgently now, taking the long length of his dick and rubbing it against Kaito’s side, just wanting that skin on skin contact.

Kaito looked over at Shuichi, amused as his shy boyfriend basically humped at his leg right now, before deciding he’d take care of Shuichi next, focusing his hunger on Kokichi. Quickly, he clicked through the buttons, trying to find a good one, before finding one that started low, and then revved up until the vibrator was shaking violently, before going back down again and starting over.

That would work.

“What do you like best when I touch you?” Kaito asked, before leaning in to cut whatever answer Kokichi had off, kissing him deeply as he placed the vibrator firmly against his tip.

A very Kaito question, but before Kokichi could even think to answer he found his mind going blank from Kaito’s lips...and the vibrator right against his tip. Kokichi squirmed more, especially as the intensity revved, unable to keep himself from bucking at the wand, clutching at Kaito’s shoulders. And even when Kaito gave him a moment to speak, Kokichi couldn’t. Or, at least, nothing comprehensible.

“Haah-ah, uung…! Mm! K-Kai-chan...ahhhh!” Roughly rocking his hips in Kaito’s lap, Kokichi just shook his head a little, gasping in breaths. “I-I…! Nng, I’ve never felt like h-how Kai-chan - nnggg-gah - m-makes me feel, an’ I love it! Muh-muh makes me feel loved an’ wanted an’...uuuuhh…”

Kokichi shook for a moment, his words stopped fast in his throat as his hips stuttered, but...not yet, not yet… Even with that delicious magma feeling in his gut, coiled tight… Almost without thinking, Kokichi brought a hand back to his crotch, not physically keeping himself from cumming, but acting as if holding himself would help him hold on. 

In a gasp of air, Kokichi opened his eyes just a little, looking up as his lovers with just the neediest expression. “Love feelin’ loved!”

...awwwwwww.

Kaito felt a lot of that heated need leave him at hearing that declaration. It was a very Kokichi answer, but he still found himself taken aback by it. He pulled the vibrator away, letting his husband catch his breath as he considered him. He was clearly barely holding on. His body, thin and pale as it was, huffing and red from his stomach to his face, the blood and heat rushing through him as he shivered, keeping his hands around his groin but spreading his legs as well as he could from the position he was in. Open, both physically and emotionally.

Kaito looked over at Shuichi, kissing his temple as he said, “Just be patient. You’re next, I promise.”

“Can I help?” Shuichi asked breathlessly.

“‘Course, handsome.”

Putting the vibrator aside, Kaito lifted Kokichi’s shoulders up, pulling him closer to his chest, so that he was most sitting up than laying down in his lap now, so that he could kiss him gently as he reached down, pushing Kokichi’s hands aside. Taking that sweet, chubby dick into his palm, Kaito carefully started to massage, coaxing fluid out far more slowly and smoothly than the vibrator would have allowed, as he kissed at Kokichi, his forehead, his cheeks, his lips, neck, chest.

And as he did, he said, “I love you.”

He said, “You’re one of the best things that ever happened to me. I’m so lucky to have you. I want you all the time.”

He said, voice low, longing in it, “My husband...my future king...you have no idea what you do to me…”

“What you mean to me…”

“I love you so much. I just want you to feel good. Happy, healthy. My beautiful ‘Kichi…”

“Our beautiful Kokichi.” Shuichi pouted, his hands on Kokichi’s stomach and shoulder, his head and lips lingering at his temple and hairline, just wanting to give him smooth, lovely touches.

Kaito laughed. “Our beautiful ‘Kokichi. Come on, it’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with losing. It’s okay. I just want you to feel good…”

Especially with Kaito having brought it up, Kokichi tried to implement those breathing exercises, tried to cool himself back down to keep the game going… But it really only resulted in him taking stuttered breaths and little gasps, the fire in his belly too hot and needing all the oxygen it could get. 

Kokichi was pliant, easy to be shifted in Kaito’s lap and...well, like his husband had said. This sort of game only went bad if you pushed yourself too far. As much as Kokichi liked winning...this wasn’t exactly his strong suit, and losing wasn’t so bad. 

Warbling as Kaito sang words of love, Kokichi felt himself tearing up a little, overcome with emotion and burning all the hotter for it, his cock twitching in Kaito’s grasp, leaking precum into the water. Maybe it was just because he’d never had a casual partner before but...sex always felt so emotional to Kokichi. And with everything Kaito was saying, with Shuuichi’s gentle touches and insistent clarification…

“A-A-uuuun, mmmm, Ka - Shu - ungGG!” His voice cracked as he threw his head back against Kaito’s shoulder, a leg twitching as his cock throbbed and spurted, corresponding directly to how much love Kokichi currently felt for his sweet, lovely Kaito and Shuuichi. “I I-I love you, I love you two so much, fuck, auuuuung, mm...mm…”

When Kokichi was actually beginning to burst, Kaito still said things, but what those things were were incomprehensible, and it didn’t matter anyway, because all Kaito wanted to do was keep whispering sweet nothings into Kokichi’s skin, wanting Kokichi to feel loved and watched over the whole way through. Shuichi, in turn, said nothing, but placed his face into Kokichi’s shoulder, watching, eyes cool, analytical, and incredibly fond as he watched Kokichi’s throes of passion as Kaito whispered nothing into him. 

(though, for the curious, of course it was a prayer. Kaito showed love in many ways. He knew the prayers didn’t mean much to his lovers, but to him? They were sacred things, given to his lovers in their most vulnerable moment. Proving his devotion. Their worth in his eyes. Dedication to the very core of him.) 

Kaito continued to kiss at Kokichi after the shuddering faded, warm, small presses. He only remembered their ‘game’ wasn’t over when he noticed Shuichi shift, a small, needy sound in his voice, his arm moving slightly even as he rested against Kokichi’s shoulder. Still trying to finish himself. 

Right. Kaito’s job wasn't done. Okay. First to assess Kokichi though. He looked at his small husbands face, not wanting to leave him in the water if this was one of those sessions where Kokichi would barely be awake in a moment. Kissing the small bruises he had nipped into his neck, shifting his body to pull them both of the water as Kaito sat at the edge of the tub (“Kaito?” “One second, Shuichi, I promise, I promise.”), looking over Kokichi’s front out of the cloud of the water (No new bruises anywhere else, dick didn’t look painfully red. Okay…) as he said gently, “How are you feeling babe? Do you need anything? Does anything hurt?”

It took Kokichi a bit to come down, having to calm from the emotional climax too. He knew all those things that Kaito said, and that Shuuichi said through touch. They both told him all the time that they loved him. But...he didn’t know? It just hit him harder right then and...he needed a sec. 

Emotional vulnerability was a hell of a ride, especially when combined with physical vulnerability, Kokichi found. 

But as he started to come down to rest in the afterglow, Kokichi was startled out of both when Kaito lifted him out of the water, the air saturated and warmed so at least it wasn’t a shock of temperature too. “K-Kai-chan?”

...but Kaito was just checking up on him and… 

Kokichi sighed, reaching up to tilt Kaito’s chin down a little so he could kiss his cheek, feeling a little too boneless still to sit up himself. “I’m fine, hun...thank you. That was...really good…” he laughed softly, a little bashful but still riding on those fluffy loving feelings. 

Swinging his legs through the water a little, he looked down to Shuuichi, smiling sweetly in the face of his boyfriend’s obvious need. “It’s my turn to ask a question...isn’t it? Or can I just help make Shuu-chan feel good?”

Kaito was suspicious for a second, but...historically? Exhaustion wasn’t something Kokichi was very good at hiding. Or, if it was, Kokichi failed as often as he succeeded, so chances were, if he wasn’t acting like he’d pass out any second? Then he probably wasn’t going too. Okay…

Kaito grinned, kissing Kokichi’s cheek, before carefully bringing them back down into the bath. “Kokichi, I say you just join forces with me and we get him to surrender. He wants us too anyway, don’t you?” Kaito asked, grinning wolfishly at his boyfriend, who tried to glower at him a little, but the need in his face too strong to allow it to have any of its chilly ‘oomph’.

(It was so funny, how many of Maki’s mannerisms Shuichi had. It was the sort of thing you only noticed when he lowered his guard around you. Same with her. Kaito couldn’t count how many times he heard Maki say, entirely sincerely, ‘Insufficient evidence’ in totally normal conversation, along with a whole host of other Shuichi inspired phrases.)

(He loved them both so fiercely.)

(He loved all of them so fiercely, that sometimes it was hard to deal with.)

(Heh...he had a kid with all of them...that was so actually incredible…)

Gently shifting Kokichi off of himself, Kaito reached out for Shuichi, but Shuichi was quick to shuffle forward without needing any goading or coaxing. Kaito watched, grinning, feeling weirdly full of pride as Shuichi launched himself at him, putting his arms around his neck and kissing him, a soft, needy sound coming out in every breath as Kaito spread out his legs, thinking Shuichi might have an easier time maneuvering himself to sit on his legs rather then cradling into their center like Kokichi did.

Shuichi wasn’t saying it, but Kaito thought he understood, with how eagerly the otherwise reserved golden eyed beauty was. 

Love me too.

Love me like you love him.

Make me believe it.

(Remind me, over and over, that I was wrong. That I can be loved.)

Kaito laughed, the motion openly adoring, rubbing Shuichi’s back and kissing his temple as Shuichi desperately kissed at him. Reaching his other hand around Shuichi’s waist, his hands rubbing up and down appreciatively that curve as he held Shuichi close to himself, as he asked him cheerfully, “Shuichi, handsome? Are you okay with Kokichi taking his turn?”

Shuichi glanced over at the vibrator, his dick, not against his stomach, but no less throbbing and aching as it pressed to the side of Kaito’s stomach...he considered it, before nodding, “Y-yeah…”

“It’ll feel good, handsome. We’re gonna take care of ya.” Kaito promised, kissing Shuichi’s cheek, before encouraging him to sit on Kaito’s leg, Shuichi’s legs spread towards Kokichi as Kaito moved his arms around Shuichi’s shoulders, hugging him against himself as he said, “We love you very much. It’ll be fun! Just relax… alright! Any questions for our Shuichi, ‘Kichi?” Kaito asked brightly. Shuichi ready again.

“You just want to win, don’t you?” Kokichi teased, but slipped back down into the tub, happy to be back in the warm water. Kaito hadn’t even said what sort of prize their winner would have, but knowing him...Kaito would likely just ask for them all to have another night like this soon, and that was a prize for all of them. 

Still affectionate but not feeling the fire anymore, Kokichi lovingly rubbed Shuuichi’s back as he and Kaito kissed, wanting to be a part of things, but knowing that the passion was better highly focused between the two of them. 

At least right then. 

Messing with the vibrator a bit, Kokichi found a consistent, medium vibration, but with the little nodes along the length slowly pulsing in and out. Nodding along with Kaito, Kokichi kissed at Shuuichi’s cheek again, lingering on his lips for a moment before pulling back with a kind expression. “I’ll only ask something as part of the game, but I just want to show my love to Shuu-chan. As long as he’s feeling good, an answer can come or not.”

Maneuvering the wand between Shuuichi’s legs, Kokichi pressed it against his balls, murmuring into his ear, “What’s Shuu-chan’s favorite part about dating us?”

Shuichi shuddered, a small, keening “Hmmmmm” escaping him. Well, maybe not ‘escaping’. Just...sent out. A happy, excited sound as he put his hands up to grasp Kaito’s arms, which were securely around him, all eyes for Kokichi in this moment, but still appreciating Kaito’s consistent kisses against the side of his face and his neck, a constant reminder of his presence.

The answer was likely the same as Kokichi’s, which felt a little silly to Shuichi. He loved how they made him feel loved. A bit of an anti-climax, to take Kokichi’s answer, but there it was. So he opened his mouth to say it.

“...Y-you both go s-so far out of your w-way to, mmm...nnn,” Shuichi closed his eyes, squirming at the pressure on his balls. So nice, so close, so not enough….he wanted more, please… “...n-not scare me.”

“You...I’m so hard to take care of.” Shuichi said, knowing this wasn’t sexy, but his chest and stomach swelling with sudden emotion, knowing he had to say this. “I know I’m exhausting, and I was cruel, and stupid, a-and d-dirty--”

“Careful, Shuichi.” Kaito said lightly. The look dark. Clutching him tightly. “Careful.”

“...” Shuichi laughed, nuzzling his head into Kaito’s neck, as he said, “See? That. Like that. I-I’m not scared. I know you just don’t want to hear me say bad things about myself. A-and...and even if I do, you’ll still be here, and you’ll be so careful with me, and treat me well, a-and...and you’ve both...I couldn’t have survived this. I couldn’t have. I needed you and you were there.”

Shuichi laughed again, sighing happily as he leaned his whole body ino Kaito, staring adoringly at Kokichi. “That one. The last one. That’s what I like most about dating you. You’re there when I need you.”

While Kokichi kept the vibrator’s focus on Shuuichi’s balls, finding where it wouldn’t hurt to move and press, he started to stroke The Beast with his free hand, at first slowly, though he knew Shuuichi didn’t need the build up. 

And while it wasn’t as intense as his own turn on Kaito’s lap, Kokichi still felt love welling in his heart, overflowing enough to make his eyes wet. Not caring about the soap, Kokichi hunched down to place a kiss on Shuuichi’s cock, his length plus being seated on Kaito’s leg lifting his cock just out of the water, as he sped up his strokes. 

“...always wanna be here for Shuu-chan. Whether he needs someone, or it’s just nice to have company...I always wanna be there to run up and hold your hand, you know? The world is a happier place with Shuu-chan in it, and...I’m kinda greedy, ‘cause I wanna be around that happiness all the time. Even when it’s hard, it’s always worth it. Spring always comes...but it’s gonna be more beautiful than I’ve ever seen ‘cause you’re here now. ‘Cause we’re together.”

As it’s been said before, it doesn’t take much for Shuichi to get overwhelmed by sensation, once he was open to being touched at all. And also it’s been said before, even despite how quickly it takes his body to be revved up and driven wild, his actual orgasms came slow, sometimes almost agonizingly so.

 As Kokichi said his kind, pretty things, Shuichi clutched Kaito’s arms and gasped, mouth gapped open, looking down at Kokichi with a desperate ache. He didn’t always feel great about doing this, but already he could feel those little “Please, please, please”s on his lips, like his lovers would actually deny him if he didn’t beg for the release. He knew they wouldn’t, but still he found himself keening out “please, Kokichi, a little more, please!”

“Shuichi, our Kokichi just said a lot of very nice things.” Kaito gently reminded him, his tone teasing as his hands wandered, avoiding Shuichi’s nipples...but only just. “Don’t you think you should thank him, say something nice back?”

“Nnnnn I love you, thank you, please, pleasepleaseple-haaa! Haaaa!!!!” 

Shuichi’s leg’s and hips started to twitch and spasm, though the relief on his face was immediate as his dick started the long process of releasing itself. Shuichi shuddered as he felt his dick spasm for a moment, hot liquid bursting from his groin and dissipating into the water, Kaito smiling into the kisses on the side of Shuichi’s face as he murmured, “I know that noise...!”

He looked up and grinned as Shuichi leaned back into his chest, taking deep, calming breaths as his legs stopped twitching, wincing slightly as Kaito shouted too near his ear, “Yes!! I’m getting you guys into cute onesies!!!”

Kokichi did his best to ramp things up, to give Shuuichi what he needed without accidentally like...giving him a friction burn or...accidentally punching him. He wasn’t particularly worried about either, but there were worries just in the back of his mind, cautioning Kokichi to take the best care of Shuuichi as he could. And while hearing Shuuichi’s pleas was cute (Kokichi would never be ungrateful hearing someone say ‘I love you’), he just gave an amused glance up at Kaito before keeping his focus on the process of Shuuichi cumming, making sure he was helping the whole way through. 

Though when Kaito announced what his prize for the game was…

Rolling his eyes, Kokichi groaned as he floated towards Kaito, pulling him into a demanding kiss (though he did reserve a hand for a gentle stroke over Shuuichi’s shoulder) and caressing his chest. Kaito might be getting a prize later...but there was business to finish up here.

And he’d never admit it but… Well, he hadn’t planned on parading around the castle, but just hanging out in their room? Kokichi didn’t mind getting a onesie again for just that. Even if it was silly and Kaito would gush the whole time. 

Kaito grinned into Kokichi’s kiss, loving that little feeling of Kokichi trying to drag him down (even if Kaito absolutely had to move with Kokichi’s pull to let it happen. His sweet, not even a hundred pounds husband <3), and responding to the smaller prince’s enthusiasm in kind. Putting his arm around Kokichi’s hip, he followed Kokichi’s lead, not trying to mock as he laughed into the kiss, just finding it incredibly attractive, as his small hands wandered over Kaito’s pecks.

Shuichi was just relaxing now, enjoying his endorphin rush, nuzzling himself into Kaito’s other shoulder as Kokichi pounced. He felt good… but…

Shuichi frowned slightly, shifting up and looking back at Kaito, “Can’t forget our cheater. You might have won, but you still need to finish...what kind of onesie are you going to put us in?”

“Don’t know yet! Something cute.” Kaito said cheerfully, just entirely thrilled that neither of them had argued with that being the prize, running his hand down Kokichi’s ass and squeezing it a little as he kissed him happily, perfectly content with all this. “And heck yeah we’ll finish me. But I won’t take long. Honestly, after what Shuichi did to me earlier? I don’t have much self control left in me either. Oh! But I wanna finish with the vibrator! This thing is brutal.”

Kaito kissed both Kokichi and Shuichi for a second, before reaching over for the vibrator, giving it a raised eyebrow as he said, “It’s still a total abomination, and it has way too many buttons that it kinda freaks me out a little, what else thing thing might be capable of, but I gotta say, ‘Kichi. Your friend gave you a fun gift.”

“Oh,” Shuichi stretched out his back and legs for a second, before shifting himself upright, reaching for the vibrator, “I wanted to play some more with the buttons. When Kokichi was using it, I noticed this-” Shuichi said, pulling back a small slab in the body of the vibrator, where beneath it was a small switch, “-and, see? It also had that little electric symbol on it. Maybe it’s connected to the red button? I just wanted to try it out, see if I’m right…”

Kaito shrugged, turning his attention to Kokichi as Shuichi started fussing with it, pulling him in for another kiss as he said, “Does Dicea have sex stores? ‘Kichi, beautiful, love, light of my life, would it be okay if I went to a sex store? Just to see what they have-”

Zzzz-ZzzT! Pop!

“Holy fuck! Give that here, give that to me!” Kaito demanded, fear shooting through his stomach at the sound and, fuck, in the water, get that AWAY from his PREGNANT BOYFRIEND and TINY HUSBAND, FUCK!! Snatching the vibrator away from Shuichi, who was still looking a little stunned to have heard the tell-tale sound of a taser popping electricity through the air (a sound he was very familiar with), easily allowing Kaito to take it from him.

As Kaito quickly moved out of the bath with it, looking over the vibrator with concern, awaaaaay from his lovers, Shuichi said, “I...I mean, just from the sound, it’s not a lot of electricity. I’d guess probably not much more of a feeling a fairly strong static shock…”

“I don’t care! Holy fuck what if we had pushed that button under the water!?”

“We’d have still probably been fine. We’d just have all felt the low voltage...the button was hard to push.”

“Okay! Okay! God dammit.” Kaito cursed, his heart still hammering in his chest, putting the abomination on the side of the sink as he took in several more breaths, “Fuck. That scared the shit out of me...no one’s playing with this thing anymore till we know exactly how it works!” Kaito demanded, glaring at the item. “I don’t care if it wouldn’t have done damage, that’s a real nasty surprise. Shit!”

The back of Kokichi’s mind echoed to the conversation of getting monster and dragon onesies for him and Maki--at least she’d gotten by without getting pulled into losing a game to Kaito. He had a feeling she’d be right there laughing with Kaito when it happened, though. And...less because of the ‘adorable-ness’. Ah well. A sacrifice to see the smile of one of his people. 

Kokichi rolled one of Kaito’s nipples around, pinching it lightly, this lover not having the same hang-ups, so it was fair game. Kaito might be talking like he was all normal, but if he said he was close, then Kokichi believed him. It was just a matter of getting to the finish line. 

Having fun all the way, of course. 

“Ugh, never say that in front of her,” Kokichi griped, still stealing kisses whenever he could. “Her ego will be bigger than the sun. Though, it doesn’t take much to get her back down to earth…” Miu was a true weirdo, and while that trait wasn’t exactly weird in and of itself, the things that would either excite her or get her to back down immediately… Hell, he’d only spoken to her once in person, but even through their letters she refused to be anything but completely her weird-ass self. It was admirable, in a way, if her weird-ass self didn’t encompass her ever-lasting horniness. 

Indulging in a few more kisses and internally musing over his not-friendship-just-acquaintanceship with Miu, Kokichi wasn’t prepared at all for what Shuuichi discovered with the button, jumping just from surprise at the buzzy sound. And while he had good reason to be concerned, Kaito’s reaction made Kokichi back off more than the actual shocker did. 

“I-I mean… That’s probably a good idea…” After a few moments, Kokichi found his words again, glancing between his lovers in concern. “Miu’s freaky, but...she knows about my health stuff. And if she calibrated any sort of shock to be alright for me, then it’s probably okay in general. But...yeah. Guess that lightning bolt symbol was kinda on the nose, huh?”

Taking a breath and trying to ease the mood, Kokichi crossed his arms on the side of the tub, looking up at Kaito. “Well...if you don’t wanna play with the vibrator any more, then what does Kai-chan want to finish him off?”

Kaito shot another glare at the abomination, knowing that he needed to calm down, that he was probably overreatcting, but, fuck man...can’t just...spring a god damn taser on a guy! Fucking warn a dude.

Kaito glanced over at Kokichi, before looking down at his own dick. He had kinda cooled down in his fear...not a lot but...nnnng, he couldn’t just stop now. They’d worry. It wasn’t like him. Okay… Kaito put his hands through his hair, rubbing at his scalp a moment, floofing his steamed up hair in several random directions, before letting his arms fall, a bright grin on his face as he looked over at Kokichi and Shuichi, heading back to them.

“A master bator like myself? Honestly,” Kaito stepped back into the bathtub, his heart rate finally going back to normal, more or less, as he put an arm around each of their waists, gently pulling them through the water to him, “I’d love just some kisses from both of you while I finish myself off. Then we can, I don’t know...drain the water and put a shower of you both, get you guys some not jizzy water to clean with.” Kaito chuckled.

“Not you?” Shuichi asked, laying against his side to kiss at Kaito’s neck, running a hand down his front.

“Well, me too, I guess. I don’t mind being a little jizzy.” Kaito laughed, moving to take one of his arms back to work himself-

Shuichi rolled his eyes, immediately moving his hand down, grasping Kaito’s dick before Kaito could get it himself. “Would you let us do literally anything? We can finish you off, Kaito.”

Well, that probably meant the vibrator was going back in the drawer for the foreseeable future. Oh well...more stuff to tease Miu about, if he ever felt like opening the trap door that was even mentioning his private life to her. 

Kokichi nodded in agreement. “Kisses we can definitely do, but there’s a lot more we can do at the same time too. This might’ve been a game of getting ourselves off...but not really, since I think we all got more out of our respective questioning times,” he smirked. 

Kissing at Kaito’s jaw, that spot just behind it that had always made Kaito hum and get grabby, Kokichi reached over to grasp Kaito’s dick just under where Shuuichi’s hand was. He kept his touch gentle, in case Kaito really did just want to touch himself but...Kaito always tried so hard to please them both, to make their intimate time safe and enjoyable. Kaito said it was because he liked doing all that stuff, but...so did Kokichi, and he bet Shuuichi felt the same, at least to some degree. 

“C’mon… Let us make you feel as good as you make us feel. Kai-chan should get to have this kind of fun too.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow, looking back and forth between his lovers. Was there...something wrong with him doing it himself or… they were done, weren’t they? Kaito was just playing catch-up by this point. 

...not that he minded, pers se. It was sexy as fuck, Shuichi looking a little exasperated, cool, golden gaze peeking up at him from below his bags, his hand already moving up and down Kaito’s cock. Then Kokichi trying to entice him by (shiver) getting that little spot on his jaw that made his whole body tingle in that fun, vulnerable little way. And as his face reddened, he grinned wide, the surprise taser now far from his mind as Kokichi moved his own hand on his dick as well, looking at him with those wide, pretty purple eyes…

...it was mind boggling that stuff like this actually happened, honestly. Kaito couldn’t make up masturbation fantasies as enticing as what he was looking at right now. Starry-eyed, Kaito grinned and nodded, leaning back to relax as he said, “Well, when you guys insist? How can I-I, ah…”

Shuichi didn’t need any further allowance. Kaito was entirely easy to read (Shuichi believed this with one hundred percent of his being.), and he clearly wanted them to do this. So, focusing his attention, Shuichi worked Kaito’s dick with his right hand, idly rubbing Kaito’s shoulder and neck with his left, kissing lightly against Kaito’s neck as his boyfriend reddened, looking down into the water where they were playing with him.

“M-man...you guys are getting...really good at this really f-fast…” Kaito chuckled, his breath stammering and stuttering as lightning shot through his stomach, the loss of hardness he had suffered after the scare now a thing of the past as he stiffened under their attention. “Nmmm...fuck, you guys are amazing…”

Kokichi hummed, pleased, when Kaito gave the okay, returning to that cheater spot behind Kaito’s jaw and… They’d never really talked about it...huh. Kokichi knew that he’d told Kaito that he liked the little bruises and marks that his husband left, and even if Kaito wasn’t always the most careful to leave them where no one would see, they weren’t in the most blatant spots…

Deciding to compromise, Kokichi just sucked at that spot for a moment, pressing his tongue against it and only using the barest amount of teeth, not aiming to leave a mark. But, just...wanting to be a little more enthusiastic. To really make good on treating Kaito as well as he always made Kokichi feel. 

Kaito was big, but he wasn’t Shuuichi big, so when it looked like Shuuichi was taking the lead on Kaito’s cock, stroking him, Kokichi let his hand linger down, cradling and gently massaging his balls, letting sensual touches linger between Kaito’s thighs. Being more than the rush for pleasure that Kaito had accused him of before. So there! 

“We have a really good teacher to thank,” Kokichi purred, working his way slowly down Kaito’s neck, getting a little bolder once he made it to where any accidental marks would be more easily hidden. “Kai-chan knows amazing well, and he gives such good tips… It’s nice to be able to use it in practice, make you feel good… Shivery and hot...loved. I love you so much…”

“A-ah…’Kichi…” Kaito gasped, moving his head back a little as Kokichi started messing with his jaw line pressure points. They were spots Kaito knew well could drive him nuts, but he wondered when Kokichi had noticed that? He had never gone out of his way to tell him about it, he was pretty sure. Mmmm, it felt good though…

Shuichi’s brow furrowed a little, finding himself a little jealous as Kaito got this strange look on his face, his face unusually unput together while he looked to his right, watching Kokichi as the small prince suckled at, as far as Shuichi could tell, was a kind of random spot on Kaito’s jaw...why was it affecting Kaito that much…? Was that a thing? Shuichi was fairly certain the same thing wouldn’t have any effect on himself. He should make a note on his journa-

“Mmm, Kokichi...fuck, b-babe…”

Shuichi’s look darkened. Favoritism. He could make Kaito squirm like that…

Taking a huff and stealing his nerves, Shuichi kept working at Kaito’s head, but moved to put his lips on the red-heads’s nipples, feeling a little smug as Kaito responded with a little jolt, clearly surprised at the ex-detective’s choice, before relaxing into the touch, his tone delighted and amused as he said, “Damn, Shuichi...ah. Ah!”

Shuichi nibbled at the nipple, and for a second, he was worried that maybe that had been the wrong choice, and the cry had been Kaito reacting to the shock of pain. And, well, maybe that was it in part, but the way Kaito’s dick jumped in their hands…

Shuichi focused his attention there, worrying the skin around the nipple after his small little bite, feeling incredibly pleased as he could literally feel Kaito’s chest starting to move as his breathing became unsteady...which was interesting. The more Kaito’s chest huffed, the quieter he became, with little low “nnngg”ing growls every time his breath became too heavy to keep in, his body tensing, hardening as every muscle started to flex, Kaito’s body prepping…

“...ha, heh….nnggghhhhh, fuck-” Kaito grit his teeth, his thighs squeezing together a little as his chest stilled, his whole body freezing for a second as he shot his load into the water, only able to get more noise out once that initial squeeze was past, his chest moving again as he gasped little, urgent breaths, his gaze distant and fuzzy for a second as he gasped, “Ah, a-ah, hah...hah...m-man, you’re giving me t-too much credit, babe...definitely didn’t teach you that...fuck I love you both...fuck you’re both so fucking sexy…”

It was harder to tell with the way Kokichi himself was so noisy in bed, but with how staggered their releases had become once they invited Shuuichi into the mic, Kokichi had started to notice that when Kaito came, he just went...quiet. Obviously not like he wasn’t enjoying himself, but like...maybe his release was so...pinpoint, that he couldn’t do a single other thing, not even breathe. 

It was still very cute, and Kokichi found himself giving Kaito almost a proper hickey down by his shoulder as his husband finished, through that moment of tensed silence into the quick breaths as Kaito tried to make up for the air. And, as he had been taught, soothing the area with his tongue afterward, nuzzling Kaito in affection as he wrapped his arms around his waist. 

“Love you tooooo~” he sang, giving a chaster kiss to Kaito’s cheek. “It seemed like Kai-chan had fun too, so I’d call that a successful game. Now we gotta hit the showers and...I’m about ready for bed.” He had assumed that was the plan but...still, Kokichi gave something of an apologetic look to his lovers. “...big day tomorrow.”

“Can we just go to bed now?” Shuichi grumbled, feeling more or less validated and now perfectly content to going back and laying against the side of Kaito’s chest again. “We’ll shower in the morning.” 

“Shuichi Saihara! Are you whining?” Kaito balked, giving his boyfriend a stern look as he ruffled his hair, saying, “I know I taught my sidekick better than that. You can’t be doing that! It’s gonna become a habit way quicker than you think, man!”

“I’m an unemployed, pregnant drug addict on house arrest. I think a tendency to whine will be the least of my worries.” Shuichi grumbled, closing his eyes, not even bothering to make a show of staying awake long enough to even get out of the bath, let alone take a shower. “Sleeeeep.”

Kokichi giggled softly, feeling more drowsy himself now that all of them were satisfied and in the wake of Shuuichi’s sleepy stubbornness. As nice as it would be to just go to bed… Reaching across Kaito, Kokichi put a hand on Shuuichi’s arm, gently rubbing his bicep. “You two can definitely just dry off and go to bed now, shower in the morning. But it’s a lot easier for me if I’m already showered when Denji-chan comes to get me ready. I’ll be quiet coming to bed.”

“Mm...actually…” Looking up at Kaito, Kokichi knew that it’d be best to get the water draining now and start washing up but...just a little longer of lying with his lovers… “Depending on the costume Maki-chan got you...make sure you layer up with underclothes, alright? It’s not gonna be particularly cold, but most stuff during the festival is outside. I’m definitely not gonna say no to periodically going in someplace to warm up, but it’s easier when you’re dressed for it.”

“See? Kokichi thinks I can go to sleep.” Shuichi said smugly, still not opening his eyes, smiling slightly as he felt Kokichi’s hand on his arm. “It’s fine.”

“Kokichi is going to spoil you by setting you up for bad habits.” Kaito said, his tone openly scolding, shooting a disapproving look at his husband.

“You said you were going to sleep in jizz water juice.”

“Because I don’t mind being a little dirty, not because I’m too sleepy to do something that would make me feel better later! That’s the habit I don’t want you to adopt, Shuichi, not jizz water juice!”

“I think sleeping when you’re feeling sleepy is a perfectly fine habit, Kaito.” Shuichi said, the two still mostly joking, but an edge in the conversation that suggested this might become an argument...before they were distracted by Kokichi’s advice.

“Oh! Right, my costume. I still haven't looked to see what it was. It was on the bed, right?” Kaito said, looking over his shoulder at the door to the bathroom, “I didn’t so much as glance at it. Kinda forgot it was there, honestly...but, alright. Layers. On it, Kokichi! ...heh.” Kaito suddenly grinned, looking down at his collarbone, “My skin kinda stings...Kokichi was kinda hard on me today, huh? What a brute… oh! Shuichi!” 

Kaito suddenly looked alarmed, looking over to his boyfriend, running a hand through his hair, pulling his bang backs to look him in the eyes, searching for something, “I’m sorry, I didn’t do it this time. How are you feeling? Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Do you need anything else?”

Shuichi blinked up at Kaito, before huffing lightly, closing his eyes again and nuzzling himself into Kaito’s side, “I’m fine, Kaito. You don’t have to do that every time. Nothing hurts, it was nice, I don’t need anything else. Thank you...I love you, okay? But I’m obviously fine.”

“It’s a good habit to ask…” Kaito mused, before nodding, trusting Shuichi was being honest with him without dragging his body out of the water to look him over. Glancing over at Kokichi, leaning to kiss his forehead, he said, “You’re still good...?”

Kaito and Shuuichi really would have the time to shower in the morning so...Kokichi didn’t think it was that much of a bad habit to go to sleep instead. Sleeping was important, and could make you feel just as good as a shower later. But...it could also be used as a pretty horrible procrastination habit. One that Kokichi had often found in siren calls beckoning him, though he tried to resist it the best he could. Sometimes things looked better in the morning, yeah, but...the things he was usually running from, that made him so tired...usually would still be there when he woke up. 

It wasn’t a great habit. 

Kokichi just gave Kaito an apologetic grin. 

He was startled at first by Kaito jolting over to Shuuichi but...right. Post-sex check-overs, the Kaito special. Basking in the kiss, Kokichi hummed, flushing lightly now that he’d had time to process the...stinging remark. “I’m great. Are you? We’ve never really talked about…” Kokichi gestured to Kaito’s neck, flushing a little more when he could pick out slightly reddened spots on his skin. “...is that all okay?”

Kaito blinked, watching Kokichi’s eyes, before putting a hand on his neck, grinning wide as he said, “Kokichi, you dog, did you get my neck too?! I only knew about the ones on my collarbone. Awwwww, I’m so proud!”

Shuichi opened one eye, looking between his loves as he noted, “Kaito got some on you too, Kokichi. Shoulder blades. Do I have any?”

Kaito looked him over, before shaking his head. “No, not this time. Do you want them? I can fix that up real quick.” Kaito grinned wolfishly, winking at his boyfriend, who huffed slightly, closing his eyes again.

“No. I mean, it wouldn’t matter either way, all of my clothes cover up almost all of my skin. So it’s not like anyone will see it.”

“Oh, right, shoot….how am I gonna show these off?” Kaito frowned slightly, lightly touching the marks on his collarbone, “Between the costumes and layers for the cold….hmmm….I don’t suppose they do wet t-shirt contests for harvest, ‘Kichi?”

Shuichi snorted.

Kokichi just grew redder, though he was relieved that Kaito didn’t mind. Seemed excited, actually, which was the best response he could hope for. Kokichi had been pleased with how he’d made Kaito feel while he was sucking and nibbling on his neck, and there was something satisfying about seeing them, but-! That didn’t mean it wasn’t embarrassing too!!!

Sputtering a bit, Kokichi shook his head. “Wh-what are you - don’t show them off!! I-I mean, I’m not gonna dictate what you wear, that’s your decision, b-but, Kai-chan!! No! Just be safe! Dress warmly!”

With a bit of a flustered huff, Kokichi reached over to flick the switch for the drain, letting the water start to drain out of the tub. Hiding his red face with a hand, he carefully stood out of the water and turned the shower on, no longer slugging about lying on Kaito, and just...well, the sooner he was done showering, the sooner he could go to bed. And not be kept up with thoughts of Kaito showing off what he’d done.

That...that wasn’t anyone else’s business.

There was always something incredibly cute about Kokichi getting flustered that made Kaito feel warm and happy to watch, but he frowned as he watched Kokichi shakily get up and step out of the bath, draining the bath as Shuichi just groaned to feel the warm water start to go away. Kaito was a little confused. Was Kokichi mad?

He jumped a bit when his husband turned the shower on them, Shuichi’s goans getting grumpier as there was a brief moment where everything was cold before the water turned hot again, Kaito looking a tad nervously between the two of them before throwing a grin on, turning to Shuichi as he started to stand up in the shower. “Well, that decides that! Come on, Shuichi, real quick rinse off, little bit of soap, you’ll thank yourself in the morning!!”

Shuichi might have argued more if he wasn’t literally in the shower right now, so he just sighed slightly and nodded, getting up with Kaito. Kaito almost moved to grab the soap for him, but Shuichi frowned at that, batting Kaito away from it as he said, “I can shower on my own, Kaito. I’ll only be two minutes. You’re taking a shower in the morning either way, so why don’t you leave us too it and, um...could you put our medicine together for me?”

“Right! On it!” Kaito said cheerfully, kissing Shuichi on the temple before stepping out, grinning down at Kokichi  and leaning down to kiss him as well, a quick peck on the lips as he said, “And no showing off the marks! Got it! All about it, ‘Kichi! No worries!”

As Kaito walked around Kokichi, grabbing a towel absentmindedly, it occurred to him, oh, right...Kokichi doesn’t like people knowing anything about their sex lives. Right...Kaito had known that, but had always kinda equaled that in his head to Kokichi not wanting anyone talking about his specific side of it. Kaito hadn’t realized he had meant Kaito as well...which made sense. The two’s sex lives were one and the same now, after all.

...okay. Sure! He could be discreet! No one needed to know anyway. He was in a whole new country! He didn’t have a… okay, no, he had a reputation here, but nothing to do with his sex life! Clean slate! No one knew! Awesome! He just had to remember that.

Once the water had warmed back up, Kokichi got to work, squeezing out some of his shampoo and starting to roughly rub it into his hair. It was maybe a shame he wasn’t more hesitant with his actions, for otherwise he might’ve seen Kaito’s confusion and worry. As it was, Kokichi just sighed, trying to calm himself down, and murmured, “I just want you to be warm…” before Kaito left the tub. 

...he really had no idea if this was just...how he was always going to be. What Chisa and Tengan had done had been...so horrific and humiliating that Kokichi couldn’t separate it from his feelings at all. No way to tell if he’d otherwise be fine with comments about fun nights or if that feeling when Chisa had asked if he’d been a nice present (or just that terrible) was going to taint every instance. 

Part of him knew it wasn’t healthy. His sex life was no one’s business other than for his partners, least of all her, and...really, most of the time he could forget that it had happened. Even when he got embarrassed about comments, it wasn’t like he was always thinking about that morning. 

...was it bad he just didn’t want details of his sex life getting out? 

Kokichi was quiet, his brows furrowed and lips set in a tense frown as he washed up. 

Shuichi had been correct to say he was going to be quick, not needing a lot of time to lather a layer of soap over himself and wash it off...but as Kaito closed the bathroom door behind him, giving his men some privacy, the ex-detective flashed those golden eyes at Kokichi. Something quiet and inquisitive in his expression.

...Kokichi likely needed to sleep. This wasn’t the time for a serious conversation. So, despite new information gathered from todays game (Power Imbalance + Unusual body language: additional evidence[-personal bias + AE= Theory Unlikely {Is it?}]), Shuichi leaned over to press a kiss against the back of Kokichi’s neck and said gently, “Are you okay? I’m certain he didn’t mean to frighten you. He won’t go against your wishes on purpose, Kokichi. I’m certain of it. I don’t think you have to worry about it.”

Kokichi looked over in surprise, his concentrated expression breaking before melding into affection. “I...I’m fine. ‘M not scared or...like bein’ some weirdo, forbidding Kai-chan from doing anything.”

...a worried expression really did come across Kokichi’s face then, and he looked up at Shuuichi. “...did I say it like that? Aw shit…” 

With a sigh, Kokichi shook his head, hair plastered against his head and neck now. “Well, I mean, I do want Kai-chan to be warm tomorrow but...it’s just embarrassing. I like having my private life, yanno, private. But it’s not like I’m gonna be mad or anything if Kai-chan shows off…’s just gonna make me cover my face an’ turn red an’ all that. S’not worth worrying over.”

The implications behind why he was embarrassed, sure, but...that was just a him thing. Not something that needed to affect anyone else. And if it had...he needed to apologize. 

Sighing again, Kokichi still had a little more to do in the shower, so he placed a kiss to Shuuichi’s shoulder, not wanting to risk standing on his toes, and gave him a tired smile. “I’ll join you guys in a sec.”

Shuichi nodded at that, not having believed Kokichi would go out of his way to, say, punish Kaito or anything like that. Even besides this not being a Luminary marriage, Kokichi himself just wasn’t like that. So, Shuichi hadn’t been worried about Kokichi getting ‘mad’. He had been worried that Kokichi had seemed, well… as he said. 

Scared.

There was more there, Shuichi thought. But, again, now wasn’t the time. So, he stepped out of the shower and was quick to wrap a towel around his shoulders (putting the towel around his hips made him feel too exposed, putting the towel around his chest made him feel uncomfortably effeminate, so a towel around his shoulders was his compromise with himself.) before heading out into the room.

Kaito was already dressed in his pajama bottoms and the shirt that he had started begrudgingly wearing as the nights got colder, and had both his own and Shuichi’s medicine ready. If Kaito had any concerns about what just happened, he wasn’t showing it, cheerfully sweeping Shuichi off his feet and kissing him deeply and saying how much fun that had been! And, as Shuichi drank his medicine, Kaito finally went to take the costume out of the bag on the bed…

For a second, Kaito was a little confused. It didn’t look like a costume, at least not how it had been described to him. It looked kinda like an old fashioned, stereotypical Healer outfit. Those white, short sleeved robes with the traditional thin red lines, and the hat, and oh! She threw his stethoscope in here! So...he was meant to dress up in an old healer uniform?

That was his initial thought. Then his brow furrowed further. The cut was kinda...weird...and now that he was looking at the bottom of the robe, it seemed a little short? Or small? Shoot, Maki-Roll may have accidentally gotten the wrong size. He should try it on real quick, make certain he wouldn’t need to rush to the store to get one that fit tomorrow. 

Oh! She bought red shoes to go with it!

...heels?…

True to his word, it wasn’t long before Kokichi joined his guys in their room, his hair roughly tousle-dried and his towel snugly wrapped around him as he braved the slightly cooler air to get out a pair of pajamas. And it was only in his desperation for warmth that he only really registered the outfit Kaito was trying on once he’d come back out of the closet, his eyes widening and jaw dropping before--

“Pff...pffff - SNRK!!”

Kokichi snorted so loudly it almost hurt his head, and he had to brace himself on the edge of the bed as he laughed. “Oh no!!! Oh no! Maki-chan, how could you, hee hee HEE!!”

He was going to have to insist on Kaito getting a cloak or something, just to keep him warm...aw geez… 

Looking up with teary eyes, still lost in giggles, Kokichi grinned. “I can not believe she got you a sexy healer costume!! Maki-chan.” 

Shuichi blinked sleepily at Kokichi’s howls as Kaito threw his hands in the air, saying to Shuichi, “See!? I told you! It’s supposed to  fit this way! I know when something fits, Shuichi!”

“It’s too short.” Shuichi argued again, frowning, “and too tight. I’m not convinced you could bend over in that thing without ripping it to shreds. Also, you’re going to break your ankles in those heels.”

“The heels are kinda tough.” Kaito admitted, looking down at the stilettos, before saying wistfully, “But look what they do to my legs.”

“People are going to stare.”

Kaito shrugged, “People always stare.”

“These aren’t your friends. You’re going to embarrass yourself.”

“This is a Dicean costume! If anything, it’s gonna help me fit in! Besides, I’m not gonna be the only one dressed like this! Right, ‘Kichi?” Kaito said, looking over to his husband, the healer hat fitting surprisingly well on his head, “Lots of people are wearing costumes like this, right?

It took Kokichi a few more moments to rein himself in, still giggling as he half-laid on the bed, now sniffling from the force of his laughs. “Muh - maybe keep other shoes on standby...ohmygod…” 

Wiping his face, Kokichi crawled onto the bed properly, shaking his head as he took in the full costume. “Some people, at least. Most people save the ‘sexy’ costumes for personal Harvest parties, but, like, if you have the costume, might as well wear it. You’re not gonna stick out wearing it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“...I’m half convinced Maki-chan just found the most revealing thing she could to make sure you’d freeze tomorrow.” Unable to keep from bubbling out in a few giggles here and there, Kokichi looked at Kaito with more kind worry. “Extra shoes, and a jacket? Just for when we’re going from place to place… My Kai-chan can brave a lot, but I’m thinking thirty degree weather might just be it.”

“Man...Kai-chan’s gonna wear what barely even qualifies as a robe while I’m gonna be four layers deep… We’re gonna look so silly together.” But unlike the embarrassment of having Kaito’s hickies out in the open, Kokichi looked quite pleased about that kind of silliness. 

Kaito studied Kokichi’s expression for a bit, before grinning, lifting his arms and spinning in place for a moment, smirking as he said, “I think I look good in this. And, hell, what’s a little cold to me? I literally run hot! It’ll be fine!!”

Looking over to Shuichi, he smirked a little sharper, saying tauntingly, “Kokichi says it’s okay, so it’s fine.”

Shuichi twitched. “Well, at least this isn’t likely to become a habit.” He muttered, rolling his eyes, personally not thrilled with the idea of Kaito going out like that. Because, honestly? In Shuichi’s opinion, Kaito did look good in that outfit. He knew even an entirely faithful Kaito couldn’t help idly flirting with almost everyone he spoke too, assuming he didn’t hate them already, but that didn’t mean Shuichi wanted him to, like…

...he didn’t know, okay! He just knew watching Kaito get hit on or leered at was going to make him tense. It hadn’t really been an issue since they had left the Luminary party, since people didn’t really like Kaito here, and honestly, Shuichi preferred it that way.

...wait, shit. No. That was a bad way to think about that. Of course he didn’t prefer Kaito being hated over being flirted with...shit.

As Shuichi grappled with the weirdly ugly thought that  had so casually run across his mind, Kaito grinned at Kokichi, heading to the closet as he said, “Still, I’ll pick out a jacket or something to go with it for when we’re outside, babe. Oh! The red jacket Maki got me for my birthday! It would even match the coloring! Here, let me see what it looks like together.”

Kaito ran to the mirror on the vanity desk to look himself over, putting on the hacket but notably leaving it unzipped, clearly intending to leave it unzipped outside as well, as he murmured, “My legs will still be pretty chilly...Maybe I can find someone willing to let me borrow some some leggings? ...Ooooor I can go raid the laundry room.” Kaito grinned, a glint in his eye as he said, “I bet I could sneak in there between shifts! Or, or, Waku would help me! Or, well, maybe not...hmmm...how to do a legging heist…”

Shuichi rolled his eyes, finishing getting dressed before going into bed, sighing sleepily, “This is how Kaito ends up with more mandatory therapy. Trying to steal laundry….”

Kokichi rolled his eyes a bit, having become the indicator for a petty point between his lovers. But, just like skipping a shower to have on in the morning to go to sleep, Kokichi really didn’t see anything wrong with wearing the costume. Or, he didn’t if Kaito was prepared for the cold. While scantily cut, the costume covered everything important and wouldn’t cause anyone to obscenely expose themselves, and if Kaito had spare clothes, then...well, they could just play the day by ear. There wasn’t any reason Kaito couldn’t pop back into the castle to change if it really got too cold for him. 

As Kaito grabbed his red jacket, Kokichi hummed approvingly, though it was less about how the outfit went together and more that the jacket was long enough that Kaito would probably be alright. Still, legs were an issue…

“Pffff, Kai-chan, please…” Rolling his eyes again, Kokichi wormed his way up to the head of the bed, getting under the covers and...you know, he hadn’t put that much thought into where he entered, but it was pretty central. It would only make sense for his lovers to get in on either side of him, though of course he’d scoot to make room if both went on one side. “Mm… I think Sei-chan is about your size. Dunno if he owns any leggings though… Can’t hurt to ask. I doubt anywhere’s gonna be open tomorrow, so best to ask around…”

Once he’d laid against one of the pillows, it hit Kokichi all over again how tired he was. He felt mostly better, but he still was shaking off the last of his cold, and between the pumpkin carving and games and everything, he was wiped. Ready to get some rest and fill up on energy for the festival! Because...he was really going to get to enjoy it. 

Smiling softly, Kokichi let himself sink into the pillows with a little hum. “...tomorrow’s gonna be a lot of fun, I know it.” 

Shuichi looked over to Kokichi, seeing that peaceful contentment on his face, and nodded, putting himself unde the covers and scooting over to Kokichi, putting his arms around his shoulder as he said, “Yeah. I think so too”

“Are you two going to bed? I’ll be back in a bit! I’m gonna go run around and see if anyone has some warm leggings  Ican use for this outfit!” Kaito informed them, walking over to them (his heels going CLACK CLACK CLACK) before leaning down to give them both a kiss, saying brightly, “In case you’re both asleep by the time I get back. Love you! I won’t be long, but don’t wait up for me!”

Shuichi twitched when he realized Kaito fully intended to go running around the castle exactly as he was, and sighed, ignoring that jealous feeling in his stomach as he said, “Be careful on the stairs. Go slow.”

“Good advise! Love you!” Kaito said again, before heading out on his search.

-

Just as Kokichi had said, at six-thirty on the dot, the mid-fall sun not even risen yet, there were two sharp knocks on the door. Unlike years past, however, the door remained shut, and instead a no-nonsense voice called through it. 

“CLOWN! Wake up! It’s time to get ready, and if you don’t open the door in the next five minutes, I’m coming in myself!”

While there was a lot Kokichi could sleep through, there was a little node in his brain that knew that when Denji shouted, it was time to get up. Not even noticing if his husband or boyfriend had woken up from the stylist’s calling, Kokichi carefully hopped over Kaito and off the bed, going to open the door. 

“Hey, can we be quiet? We can get ready, but I promised Kai-chan and Shuu-chan they could sleep through this if they wanted.”

Denji rolled their eyes but nodded, walking in with a basket full of beauty supplies. “If this means you’re not going to whine the whole time, it makes my job easier.”

Not Maki.

Danger?

As a sharp knock against the door and shouting filled the room, Shuichi’s first reaction was to stiffen, curling into himself a little. He knew his reaction was supposed to be to reach for his baton under his pillow, but no matter how many years Maki had tried to instill that into him, it had never stuck. 

Kaito, in turn, immediately reached under his own pillow, looking for his dagger, his heart racing for a second…

...right. There was no dagger. No baton either. Kaito had been afraid to start the practice back up again with Kokichi there, afraid he’d cut himself in his sleep somehow and send Kokichi spiraling. Shuichi had noticed Kaito wasn’t doing it and hadn’t started the practice back up when he moved in either. 

Oh well. Besides, it wasn’t danger. It had only felt like danger for a second. It was...uh, what was it again…

As Shuichi just mumbled something sleepily, scooting closer to Kaito before closing his eyes, easily falling back asleep now that the ‘danger’ feeling was gone, Kaito pulled him into his arms and peeked an eye open, looking at Kokichi and… shoot, Kaito knew their name… hairstylist. Denji! Right, right, harvest…

Awake now, Kaito rubbed his sleeping boyfriends back and quietly watched Kokichi get put together, just enjoying the chance to admire his husband. 

As usual, Kokichi could put his underclothes on just fine himself, so Denji just passed him the appropriate items, not making more than a soft comment or two here and there rather than the usual teasing banter the stylist and the prince usually had. For as much as people said Denji could run their mouth, they were very good at knowing what not to say. 

The small bruises along Kokichi’s shoulders, for instance. It was prime teasing material, but...they’d seen how nervous Kokichi could get about Kaito. If they were going to let the others sleep--and not start off Harvest in a way neither of them wanted--then Denji would keep their mouth shut.

Even if it was only letting one person sleep. Denji raised their eyebrows at Kaito but didn’t do much but wink before continuing to help Kokichi, now onto the trickier outer layers that he usually needed help with the ties in the back. 

The traditional garb Kokichi wore was both simple and complex, the outer layers made of wool while the inner layers would keep cooling sweat away from the wearer’s body, keeping them nice and toasty. Which wasn’t super needed in the fall weather, but Kokichi was always cold, so he could do with the extra help. 

Once his pants and tunic were properly adjusted--the cloak could wait until Kokichi was ready to leave--Denji ushered the prince into a chair, taking out a few different hairbrushes with a gleam in their eye while Kokichi stared them down with determination. 

A battle usually fought with yells would be silent this time. 

...has Kaito ever actually seen Kokichi brush out his hair before??

He must have, right? Surely. Kokichi’s hair was wild, but it was never tangled. Or, if it was, not like...not enough to like…

Kaito frowned, suddenly looking more intently at the many, many uneven layers in his husbands hair. Certainly not...certainly not…

“...’Kichi?” Kaito called out quietly, glancing down at Shuichi, who mumbled something about fishes being the winning card, Kaede. “You brush your hair, don’t you?”

Kokichi looked over to Kaito, his concentration broken for a moment, and in that moment, Denji struck. Their face lighting up, they had a veritable Cheshire grin as they leered at Kaito, sectioning out a bit of some of the longer bits of Kokichi’s hair and starting to brush, at least the very bottom fine...for now. 

“Oh, oh my, the fact that you have to ask, that you can’t confirm it to yourself already…” Denji just ignored the annoyed look Kokichi shot them, just steadily starting to brush out the wild waves. “Why do you think Kokichi’s got a tumbleweed on his head, Kaito? Instead of taking two damn minutes to run a brush through his hair in the morning, oh no, Pig Sty over here just cuts out any knots like a maniac!”

Pouting, but knowing better by now to squirm when Denji had their fingers in his hair, Kokichi looked somewhere to the left of Kaito. “...brush my hair somet-hhh!”

“I’m barely touching you, shut the dramatics.” 

Kokichi’s pout just grew, the slight sound of bristles snagging on tangles filling the silence. 

...Kaito’s eyes narrowed at the pig sty comment, and his blood began to boil the second Kokichi yelled.

He remembered his stupid fucking well polished rock over on the night stand and reminded himself that Kokichi was not being abused and no one here was an enemy. If he got angry, he’d be the bad guy. This was...probably fine. This was probably fine. This was just how...one of Kokichi’s ‘not a friendship’ friendships worked. It’d be like getting mad at Maki for cutting Kaito. It was out of love. 

...probably. It was probably the same thing.

Shuichi’s eyes fluttered open at Kokichi’s shout, and Kaito looked down as soon as they did, leaning in to whisper little assurances and a small question. Shuichi sighed, and Kaito asked a different question, and Shuichi again softly shook his head, but Kaito just grinned and said, “Nah, let’s do that.”

“Noooo…” 

“Come on, you have your pj’s on, let’s go.” Kaito said cheerfully, coaxing Shuichi out of bed, who followed sleepily as Kaito grinned over at Kokichi, in nothing but a shirt and boxers as he said, “Be right back, babe, gonna drop him off at Maki’s, let him get a few more hours.”

Again, Kokichi was so focused on staying still under the brush that he completely missed Kaito’s discomfort. And if he did catch it, how he and Denji talked to each other was so normalized in Kokichi’s brain that he would’ve been baffled about what was going through Kaito’s head. 

Ever since they had met at ten and thirteen respectively, Kokichi and Denji barely went a conversation without insulting each other. And “pig sty” barely even registered as that in Kokichi’s mind. Without him ever sneaking into town, and with him spending less time in their room, the princes’ and boyfriend’s room had stayed pretty clean. There were clothes strewn about sometimes, but they usually found their way to the laundry hamper in a day, and none of them really...brought stuff back all that often, and when they did it was put away. 

So maybe, with that being life, the comment was more of a shock to Kaito, but Kokichi was used to having barely even walking paths on the floor through all the crap he left out so...it was more just an offhand comment than anything insulting. 

Kokichi echoed Shuuichi’s groan as Denji worked through a particularly large tangle, hidden under uneven layers, but he kept still, sending Kaito an apologetic look. “Sorry for waking you up…”

“You’re fine, beautiful. Big day. I’ll be right back.” Kaito promised, not saying any of this too enthusiastically because he didn’t want to wake Shuichi up any more than shuffling him to Maki’s room already was doing. 

Honestly, if Shuichi wasn’t currently on a medicine that Kaito knew damn well knocked him out for at least nine hours every night, Shuichi waking up a little delirious for awhile if given less, he wouldn’t be coddling his sidekick like this at all, since being able to be awake when you really felt like you needed sleep was a pretty useful life skill. But that wouldn’t be fair to enforce on someone who was also drugged at the same time, so he gently guided him to Maki’s door, giving it a knock.

(...also, Shuichi was now also his boyfriend and pregnant, which, maybe, did bias Kaito on how much he thought his sidekick was actually capable of handling right now. Kaito was nothing if not logical fallacies.)

Kaito was lucky Maki was still in her room, and after explaining the situation, she agreed to let Shuichi sleep in her bed both now and while she went to go have breakfast with Tim later. “Just don’t let him sleep all morning.” She had said sternly, “Your husbands excited for this, for whatever reason, and I know he’d be disappointed if you both missed a lot of it to let Shuichi sleep.”

“Maybe.” Kaito said, not sure if Kokichi would be disappointed, or if he’d wrack himself with a shit ton of guilt for ‘making’ Shuichi get up for an event, or be totally fine with everything and not worry about it at all. Or, ya know, randomly try to kill himself.

...wow. Dark thought. Let’s pull it back together, Momota! Denji is not an enemy, don’t be pouty just cause you woke up mad. 

Prepping himself back up on the way back to the room, he opened the door and asked cheerfully, “So, how’s styling going?”

“...’babe’, huh? You guys are adorable.”

Kokichi rolled his eyes a little, but he’d known Denji long enough to know that was sincere. “Kai-chan is very adorable. ...wish he was more comfortable to show that to other people though…”

Denji sighed, still working through the knot in Kokichi’s hair. “He’s in therapy, right? He’ll adjust, and people will get more used to him and the others. He hasn’t run away yet, so he’s not giving up. Just be patient for once.”

“Excuse me for being concerned about my husband and our family’s well-beings.” Kokichi scoffed a bit, knocking his head back against the brush. Kaito was dedicated to him and their life in Dicea...so he wasn’t going to give up. No matter how rough the bumps in the road had been so far...they were still moving. 

“...I can’t believe how weak to cold he is,” Denji groaned, having enough of Kokichi moping in his head. “I heard that Kaito slept with his shirt off--the one damn time I have a reason to come bother you and he sleeps in a shirt. Where’s my hunk flash?!”

Kokichi shot right back at his older sibling, the two trading their usual jabs until Kaito returned. 

Denji still working on Kokichi’s hair. (Because no matter how much they teased and complained about it, they had always been gentle in brushing out their little brother’s hair, making it as painless as possible.)

“It’s going,” the stylist sighed, at least moved onto a finer brush.

While keeping his head still, Kokichi smiled up at Kaito. “Did you end up finding leggings last night? I think Shuu-chan and I barely lasted a minute after you left.”

Kaito glanced briefly at Denji, deciding it was safe to approach and he didn’t need to be defensive or on guard right now, just relax your shoulders you’re fine, he walked over to the vanity mirror, looking at Kokichi through the mirror as he leaned against the desk slightly, saying, “I did! A woman…” Kaito frowned for a second. Come on, come on, you know her name, it kept making you laugh because it was close to momo and for some reason you thought that was funny last night (oof, he must have been more tired than he realized)-Tomomi! 

“I ran into Tomomi, the, ya know, the-” another brief glance at Denji, before amending himself, “the lady with the job about organizing stuff? Or, well, I know you know her, just wanted to...anyway! She caught me going down the stairs, actually! I got really lucky, I hadn’t thought of anyone to ask yet, and she struck up conversation and, ya know, I gotta talk to her of course, so I stuck around to do that, and she was actually pretty nice about the whole thing when it finally came up! She took me to this art studio model thing? On the other side of the castle, there’s all these clothes there, and she helped me pick out a few different ones to try cause, ya know, I don’t know what my size for leggings are, though, gotta say, those things are pretty comfortable…”

Kaito cut off his own ramblings, a stray thought coming to mind before looking over at the closet. “I’m up anyway, ‘Kichi. Should I get dressed and go to your ceremony thing? I won’t come in the costume, but I can come back here afterwards and do the walk with Shuichi and then get dressed and meet ya back out in the festival…”

He looked over Kokichi’s outfit and suddenly grinned wide. “Your outfit is great, by the way. I know you don’t like dressing like this, fancy, I mean, but you really do look breathtaking in them.”

Yes! Another successful interaction with someone at the castle! Sure, Tomomi was regularly corresponding with Kaito’s brother and had accidentally passed on unsubstantiated rumors that...didn’t do them any favors when it came to Byakuya’s ridiculous temper but… She did mean well. He was glad to hear that she and Kaito got on alright last night. 

Looking at Kaito’s reflection in the mirror, Kokichi raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Really? I mean...it’s Aiichi talking about the values of Harvest and talking about everything everyone’s put together. I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to take the morning slow instead…”

Denji blew on Kokichi’s head, ruffling his flyaways. “Geez, Ko, when did you get so timid? Your man can make his own decisions--just say you want him to come.” Rolling their eyes with an exasperated expression, Denji reached for the last brush, a softer one that was meant to lessen the static in Kokichi’s hair and to make it shiny and soft. 

That, paired with Kaito’s compliment, made Kokichi’s cheeks go pink and murmur a thanks while the smug aura around Denji just grew.

“He does look amazing, doesn’t he?” they gushed, expertly starting to braid the uneven chunks into a cohesive style. “Wish I got to do this, like, at least once a week, but no.” Denji sighed, glancing to Kaito with a long-suffering expression. “You’ve seen his wardrobe. Kokichi’s cute, obviously, but wearing those huge sweaters all the time, colors that actively clash… Ah, at least one of you has fashion sense.”

“Hey, if you ever convince Kokichi to wear an outfit that actually makes sense, enjoy it for me, will you?”

Kokichi rolled his eyes and made a face at Denji’s reflection. “What, you’re giving up? Always thought you were a big, fat loser! Ha!”

Denji sneered right back. “Just widening my chances, brat.”

Kaito quietly listened to Denji, getting a grip on the conversation. Okay, he was coming...good! Good. He had been worried about not going. He knew Dicea was different, but it was… just because he knew it meant different things here, didn’t mean that Kaito still didn’t feel a little like he was openly insulting his husband, not going to a ceremony he was participating in. There were...social rules and...just because he didn’t have to follow them anymore didn’t make him feel any less weird not to do so.

And Kokichi wanted him to go! Which was even better!

And he listened quietly as Denji shared some of his grievances with Kokichi’s fashion choices (which, ya know, Kaito had admittedly shared when he first got here.), looking back and forth between them, eyes widening slightly at the way Kokichi was talking...huh.

He sounded like Koh.

...weird.

Sensing a small break in their back and forth banter, Kaito gave Denji a small grin, and offered, “I can show you the outfit he let me put on him once. I realized once we went out it wasn’t in style for Dicea, but I thought it looked pretty good on him.” Kaito said, the tone surprisingly light, considering he was running through a fond memory of pulling at suspenders.

Ever the professional, Denji’s fingers never wavered, but their eyes did light up in delight. “Oh, no shit?! Uh, yes please! I’ve had just enough coffee this morning that I might even be able to imagine him in it. You’re lucky you’re already dressed, Ko, or I’d demand you take the stage!”

Kokichi just sighed. “Ah, a small pleasantry I’ll take. Wearing more than one or two outfits in a day is sooooo tiring--what’s the point? Just pick something good for the day and be done with it.”

“What’s the point in wearing the same thing all day?” Denji shot back. “We both have more clothes than we can wear in a laundry cycle; take a chance to show off things you never have a reason to wear. Make a reason, even if it’s just to look hot as hell. Though, with how fashion-blind you are, this is all falling on deaf ears, right?

Finished with the first round of pinning his hair into place (there was a braid going across Kokichi’s head like he had for the wedding, but instead of being tucked to the back, Denji had pinned his hair into a sort of flower just in front of his ear, the different lengths becoming different shaped petals), Kokichi looked up with a sweet grin. “Oh, sorry, were you talking? All I was hearing was magpie chirps.”

Pretty…

Standing up, Kaito headed to the closet, looking around, trying to recreate the outfit. There’s the pants, thee suspenders had been...tucked away there...where was the black turtleneck...oh, probably out in Kokichi’s shirt drawer…

After a moment, Kaito had found everything, including the cape (huh...weird memories.), laying them all out into the outfit on the bed, stepping back and looking it over. It had been for a terrible purpose, but… Kokichi had gotten to go dancing in this outfit. The night hadn’t been terrible. Kokichi had been happy, for a moment there, dancing with his people, tasting a freedom he...wasn’t ready to acknowledge he had yet. 

...Kaito looked down at himself. He was still in a boxers and shirt. And, in theory, covered in jizz water. He should go take a shower. “Well, this is it. Again, I thought he looked great in it. ‘Kichi looks good in almost anything, though, really. You should have seen the way the cape spun around him-” Kaito grinned, shaking his head before saying, “I’m gonna go take a shower. The hair’s coming out great, by the way.” Kaito praised, leaning over Kokichi’s shoulder really quick to peck at his cheek before he got too much in Denji’s way, assuring him, “You’re beautiful, babe. Be right back.”

Denji looked over, giving Kokichi a momentary reprieve as they tried to imagine him in the outfit. The cape was totally not Kokichi’s style...and yet, in Denji’s mind at least, it just...seemed to fit him. Weirdly playful and ominous… The rest of the clothes outlining Kokichi’s at times envy-inducing silhouette (though Denji was fully aware how much grief Kokichi’s inability to keep weight on caused him) but as a whole...still giving freedom and comfort. 

The outfit wasn’t just visually appealing--it fit Kokichi’s sensibilities too. 

For a moment, there was a softness in Denji’s eye as they looked over Kaito. Kokichi said he was happy with his husband, and for the most part, Denji just accepted that. But...anyone who was as close to the prince as they were knew that Kokichi was a liar. 

So...maybe it was dumb and shallow and anything else insecure idiots tried to tear Denji down with, but seeing what that outfit really meant…

Their little brother really had a guy who was looking out for him. 

“Damn, yeah, not in current trend, but who gives a fuck about that anyway. That’s a style if I’ve ever seen one.” Playing with Kokichi’s ears, the stylist groaned exaggeratedly. “Koooo why can’t you wear what your husband picks out more often!! You’d look so goooood!!”

Kokichi fussed at his older sibling, wishing Kaito a good shower somehow in the middle of it before the two Diceans settled back down to finish Kokichi’s hair and start on his makeup, Kokichi insistently reminding Denji that he was going to be wearing a mask, and so didn’t need a full face done up. 

...the stylist seemed alright.

They kept tripping off Kaito’s danger reflexes for the same reason Lake did. Because, well...they were there when Kaito was convinced the castle was a literal horror story, the kind of thing his mother had warned him about. Not making nice with the ruling person of the house, so he turned all the staff and peers against you, making your life horrible...and to go from his mothers warnings to seeing Kokichi, who was suffering (Kaito had thought) under all the problems of being under someone else’s power who also didn’t like you…

Yeah. Lake and Denji had just had the bad timing of helping Kokichi with a difficult problem during a time when Kaito had been borderline freaking the fuck out, convinced he had just married into one of the worst possible scenarios, as far as royalty and nobility went. The worst being, of course, if Kokichi himself had been like who Kaito had thought Aiichi was, but his husband being the kind of person who couldn’t protect himself from ‘the bastard’, let alone anyone else…

Turning on the shower, dumping his clothes, Kaito just sighed and reminded himself to be grateful that this wasn’t the case. Now he just...needed to convince his impulses. 

Cause fuck he had been nervous talking to Tomomi yesterday. 

He wondered if she had noticed? He thought he was pretty decent at hiding it when he was intimidated (because Kaito was not super self aware) but fuuuuck he had barely wanted to say anything to her yesterday, just, terrified he’d say something wrong and she’d… she just had so much power to hurt him and…

He wondered if she even knew? How easily she could destroy his life. Kaito wished Byakuya had picked his informants more carefully. Someone who didn’t recognize the damage they could do idly was basically as dangerous as someone who would commit damage on purpose, and wow, neither of the informants had seemed to recognize how much power they had over Kaito. 

But...she had been nice. Really nice. She wanted to talk to him more later about doing the self defence class (which he had entirely forgotten they were even discussing) stuff, which is why she had stopped in the first place. And he had been nervous and had tried not to talk too much and she had just been...nice about it. 

That was the thing about the people here. They were nice (well, in their own ways), and Kaito...was just paranoid and scared and needed to get over it and start treating people here well.

With that firmly in mind, Kaito finished up in the bathroom adn, towel around his waist, he headed out, going to the closet to get his clothes as he said cheerfully to Denji, looking over Kokichi, “Wow! His makeup looks amazing! You have a lot of skill, you know that? It’s really impressive!”

Luck be a lady--or, rather, a hunk of a prince that didn’t bring clothes into the bathroom. While they hadn’t gotten an eyeful of Kaito’s lack of sleepwear, the prince definitely delivered. Denji didn’t even retaliate more than a smirk when Kokichi tsked and jabbed his bony little elbow into their side. 

Satisfied with the praise, Denji hummed happily. “I’m glad someone here appreciates me. I’d hope after a decade of working professionally I’d get to the point where you hear nothing but ‘wow’s.”

Kokichi rolled his eyes, framed with liner that made them a little sharper, accentuated with golds and browns and just a hint of orange, matching the season while bringing out his amethyst eyes. “Oh you’ve done it now, Kai-chan. It’ll be a wonder if anyone gets to see the decorations in town with Denji-chan’s ego blinding and overshadowing everything. Almost as much as you over shadow dad’s eyes everyday.”

“He likes bold looks, what can I say,” Denji snorted, adjusting little bits here and there. “If the guy wants enough liner to challenge a raccoon, all I can do is make it look as good as I can. At least he makes use of me, Mr. Brushes his Hair Four Times a Year.”

“I’ll fix that.” Kaito promised, looking for a safe place to kiss Kokichi and, not finding any (not wanting to mess with his hair or makeup), genty taking Kokichi’s hand and bringing it up to kiss at his pinky knuckle for a moment, before giving his husband a slightly scolding look as he said, “You’re lucky you’re cute, you know that? Cutting out knots is a bad habit. We’ll work on it.”

Kaito glanced in the mirror again and...Oh, shit. RIght, he had just...fuck, he had forgotten about the hicky’s. He had just told Kokichi last night people wouldn’t see that. He had just forgotten they existed. Kokichi didn’t seem bothered, so that was good, but probably better to be quick about this. 

Quickly heading to, first his clothes drawers, then the closet, Kato closed it behind him, getting his underwear on before looking around the closet. What would...be good for his first Dicean ceremony…

Taking out some warmer clothes Kokichi had bought for him a few months back, Kaito sighed a little as he looked them over. Not the most attractive things, but they were warm and Kaito hadn’t worn them yet. If Kokichi himself had picked them out, it’d probably be appropriate to wear. Okay! Let’s see if there were any combinations here that would look better than others…

Kaito eventually came out with a maroon long sleeved shirt, the jacket with the star lining that Kokichi had gotten specifically for fall weather, and, because he just couldn’t help himself, the tight black pants that he had picked out for himself that day too. Giving his husband a warm grin through the mirror, he promised “Five more minutes from my end and then I’m ready to go whenever you are!” as he headed to the bathroom to do his hair.

...he’d come out again in, like, twenty minutes, if left on his own. Playing with his hair.

“I think I’d almost be offended if he listened to you and not anyone else after all these years,” Denji sighed. “But if you can actually convince him to brush his hair? I’ll just take the blessing.”

While he appreciated the kiss and squeezed Kaito’s hand for a moment, Kokichi just pouted. “It’s so booooooring though! And it hurts sometimes. If I can just cut out the parts that get bad, I don’t see the problem.”

Denji rolled their eyes, giving Kaito a ‘can you believe this shit?’ kind of look before getting one of Kokichi’s masks, a plain white one with the Dicean emblem embroidered on the side, seeing where it ended and trying to coax Kokichi into just a little more makeup. 

As Kaito left to do his hair, Denji glanced up at the clock and nodded to themself. “Right… Thanks to you not making my job harder for once, you two should have some time to look around town a little before the ceremony starts. But it’s at eight sharp, so don’t go too far that you can’t make it back! You’ll have plenty of time to see everything later!”

For once. Even as they warned Kokichi, the two Diceans shared an excited little smile, knowing that this was going to be a festival to remember. 

Calling into the bathroom, Kokichi asked, “Does that sound good to you, Kai-chan? We can go look at all the pumpkins by the gates.”

Kaito wondered if Kokichi knew to put conditioner in his hair before he brushed it out, and frowned. It felt weird to explain that to a grown man, especially one with a personal hairstylist available to teach him, but… Kokichi knew you didn’t...brush your hair with just water, right? Or, Atua strike him, dry. Of course it would hurt…

Biting his lip a little, not wanting to insult anyone, he called back “Course, babe! Sounds good!” as he finished gelling up his hair, giving himself a testing grin in the mirror, trying out three expressions. First, heroic. He squared his shoulders, grinned hard, furrowed his brows...yeah. That looked good. Next, dashing. He relaxed his stance slightly, tipped his head slightly, thinned his grin and raised an eyebrow. Did he get the side of his hair right? Mmm, little more gel there… he tried again. Boom! Got it! Finally, neutral. He relaxed his shoulders, relaxed his eyes, putting on a purposeful air of calm and ease, his lips ever so slightly upturned. Okay… good. He looked good! Bang up job! 

Heading out, he ‘casually’ asked, “Hey, Denji? Kokichi’s hair is so thin, I’m worried I’ll snap pieces of it just trying to brush it. Which we’re doing.” Kaito told Kokichi sternly, shooting him a scolding look, before saying, “Do you have any leave in conditioner I could steal from you that’d help?”

While Kokichi grimaced at his husband, Denji looked exceptionally pleased as they nodded. “Hell, you can have one of my spare bottles. The brand would probably be enough to know, but I can leave a note with the store I bought it from, so you can get more yourself when you run out.”

Leering down at Kokichi, they poked at his cheek. “Never thought this would be something I’d watch you graduate from. Maybe you’ll actually get to the point I can give you a proper haircut, hm?”

“Not on your life,” Kokichi sneered back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m always gonna cut my hair and one of these days I’ll get such a rancid combo you can’t turn it into this,” he gestured to the smooth braid, “and fool people into thinking I don’t look like a clown 24/7.”

“I’ve won every battle over the past ten years, kid, it’s not going to happen.”

“Will!”

“Won’t!”

“Totally will infinity!!”

“Won’t.” Kaito said sternly, going to stand with Denji, still giving Kokichi a stern look as he said, “And also, don’t think that’s how we’re handling the baby’s hair either. Baby Saihara’s hair isn’t going to the chopping block just cause you refuse to learn how to do your hair, ‘Kichi.”

With that warning out there, Kaito relaxed, grinning at his husband as he said, “Besides, if you like the way your hair looks right now, babe...or, well, when it’s not looking like some cool-ass hair flower, than us learning how to manage your hair means we can keep it looking a way you like it! And it won’t be left up to chance.” Kaito shrugged, “And it’s not that hard anyway. Just takes learning. Anyway, let me see you!”

Looking over Kokichi, he grinned, taking in the rare example of his husband looking well...put together. Professional and adult. Damn...he looked really, really good. That would have been one benefit of Kokichi coming to Luminary. More opportunities there to look more like this, less chances of his husband wiggling out of them. “You look amazing. Denji’s earned their ego.”

“Ha!!”

Denji’s smug ratings were through the roof, a new record, even past all the compliments they’d overheard at the wedding. 

Meanwhile, Kokichi just pouted up at his husband. “I wasn’t… I can cut my hair because it’s my hair. I wasn’t gonna do that to our kid…” He huffed, begrudgingly accepting the appreciation Kaito was practically glowing with. 

It wasn’t like he thought he looked bad when Denji got him all dolled up. He just...never felt like he looked like him. And so it felt silly and dumb and while he smiled and thanked everyone who told him he looked nice, he always couldn’t wait to get out of the often tight and complicated clothes and shake the pins out of his hair and wash his face. 

At least his Harvest clothes were a little easier to move in compared to some of his other official outfits, even with the layers. 

Sighing deeply, Kokichi put his cloak on with Denji’s help and made sure his mask was secure. “Everybody done now? We can go?”

Kaito considered the mask, before saying, “Five seconds,” and this time being genuine about it, rushing to the drawer to grab his own, the one Haneda made, with the little stars on it. Putting it on, he headed back to his husband, raising a thumb, “Good to go!”

He didn’t know if it would help Kokichi not catch anything at the festival, but, well...Kaito would feel pretty shitty if Kokichi got real sick cause Kaito just passed it on to him, or whatever. So, sure. Mask it up. It’d go well with his nurse outfit later.

Kokichi looked over in a bit of surprise when Kaito grabbed his own mask but… He just took Kaito’s hand when they started going downstairs, feeling warm. 

The entry hall was buzzing around with people, even as early as they were. People were setting up tables with little bags meant for the kids out collecting candy during the festival if they didn’t bring their own, as well as maps with the major activities and a programming schedule for all the performances. All the stuff Aiichi was going to go over in the opening ceremony, but easier to have on hand as people enjoyed the festival. 

And even in the hall you could smell hints of all sorts of dishes, the sweet notes of pies and the deep, roasty smell of nuts, a bit of spice in the air, and just something that made your mouth water. 

Kokichi was very glad he had a light dinner. 

Ushering Kaito out through the doors, though, most people too busy with the final preparations to notice them (though Kokichi waved to a few who did), it was… There were pumpkins everywhere, the carved ones taking the spotlight while the ones left whole just made the space feel more full, not that the wreaths and garlands of fall-colored leaves everywhere left anything feeling bare. The growth of Harvest. 

And for the death… Kokichi just had to giggle, seeing the creative props everyone made, skeletons hanging out in silly tableauxs to the “teeth” hanging above the main gate, turning the castle entrance into a maw. 

They couldn’t go far, like Denji said, but Kokichi still pulled Kaito out a little more, wanting to take a look at the gate from the other side. “It always feels like it happens overnight, even if some of the decorations have been up for weeks…”

The last time Kaito had left the castle, it had been the day after Hina’s play, Kaito going to get her for her conversation with Yuta. That had only been four days ago, but Kaito had...entirely missed the preparation for the decorations around town, just focused on what he was doing and…

It was such a weird combination of nice and fucking creepy. Why were there teeth!?

Holding Kokichi’s hand a little tighter, he asked, “‘Kichi, I thought this holiday was about, like...food or something. What’s with the…” Kaito vagually gestured to aa display in a pastry shop they were passing, where a wedding cake was on display, a woman with a cheery smile and a tiny knife in her hand as, halfway down the cake, her presumed husband to be was buried head first into the frosting, a streak of red strawberry jam making a line between her and him. It was asthetically pleasing, cute, and morbid as fuck, “...other stuff?” 

“It’s about the fall harvest, and that comes with showing thanks through food, yeah,” Kokichi explained, absolutely delighted with the cake design. “But all our festivals are kind of about that, to an extent, so some have just...become more. Harvest is right around the time when things are getting colder, but travel’s still easy, and when the days are getting shorter. So...over time, it’s become a celebration of scary stuff. Things that lurk in the dark, but instead of being afraid...embracing it!”

He shrugged, grinning up at Kaito. “People have a lot of fun with it, at least. Even if I didn’t have fun with it myself, that’s enough for me to enjoy it.”

...he knew this was going to be a sticking point. But even if he put his own desires to the side...the haunted house tour was famous. Kokichi wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of kids in Tim’s class went and...just like with the costumes, once he’d remembered it, it would suck for Tim to be left out…

“...so, yanno, some of the activities are supposed to be spooky. There’s a haunted house tour--like, people decorated it and act in it trying to scare people, not like it’s actually haunted--but...I mean. I’ve always wanted to go, but I’d be fine going through with Tim, if none of you guys wanted to go through it.” Kokichi fussed with the edge of his cloak a bit, looking around town and not at Kaito. “The version that runs during the day is meant for all audiences, so it’s fine for kids. There’s a more intense version they run at night for a few weeks, but...I’m okay missing out on that if you’re not interested…”

Kaito...twitched.

He bluescreened for a moment, fighting with himself as he rapidly tried to think this through. A house where they tried to scare you?? It sounded like the freak shows back in Luminary, or the tests of courage trails,  or the Midnight Shows. Kaito hated that shit. He hated it, hated it, hated it. Whyyyyyy was that what Harvest was about!????

Fuck, fuck, Kaito wanted to go home and crawl into bed rather then go do the fucking scare people holiday??? But...Tim was nine, and Kaito’s son, and Kokichi was Kaito’s husband, and had a stress based heart condition, and fuck if Kaito wasn’t going to look after them, so... 

Putting on an entirely fake brave grin, Kaito said a tad too loudly, “Of course I wanna do it! That sounds...really exciting!! We should-” Kaito looked down at his husband, thinking of all the things the sickly prince had grown up not even being allowed to watch, and said, “-do both!! It’ll be fun, and it’ll be a great excuse to hold you close to me.” Kaito said, giving his husband a wink. “I’ll protect you, babe.”

Kokichi looked up at Kaito in surprise, feeling a rush of affection, but… With a fond huff, he pressed against Kaito’s side. “Hun, you hate this kind of stuff. But...thanks for putting on a happy face for me.”

“How about this,” he posed, rubbing the side of Kaito’s hand. “We go to the all ages one. And we can ask one of the people working there to give us a rundown of everything that’s inside, so you’ll know what’s coming. It’s something that they do for a lot of people, so it’s no big deal. And...I mean. It’d be a good idea to hear if there are any parts with bugs.” Kokichi grimaced, glaring at the ground for a moment before looking back up. “If there are...then I can just close my eyes and hold onto you until we pass it, right? Tim’s gonna call us old and lame but...there’s not anything wrong with making accommodations.” 

Hell, they even held tours where all the lights were on, taking away the atmosphere, just for people who were fainter of heart but still wanted to see the house. Despite her ideas to make the most horrifying thing in existence, Nao and the rest of the people that worked on the haunted house made absolutely sure that everyone who wanted to go through it could. 

“There’s plenty of other things that don’t have to do with scary stuff, though,” Kokichi reassured. “It’ll be fun, I promise.”

“Wh-what!? I...I don’t h-hate it! I, I mean, I was always the first one through on Courage Trails at home!! I excel at stuff like this! Facing danger, like a hero should!”

Sure, he was usually first because at some point or another he just bolted for it. But running top speed through the trails still counted! 

“...but, if it’d make the experience better for you, for us to know what’s coming first, th-than sure. We can do it that way.” Kaito said generously, giving a store door that had what looked like a werewolf head staked into it a wary look. “Besides, none of it’s real, right? Like...no one’s gonna attack us or anything? And everyone knows freaks and monsters and demons are just stories...so it’s fine, really…”

“Being good at standing in the face of danger doesn’t mean you like it. If you did, I think that’d just make you more of a thrill-seeker than a hero,” Kokichi hummed. “Plus, none of this is danger. It’s just...a little creepy, a little unsettling. And while people might, like, walk towards us or things might pop out, it’s against the rules for any of the actors to touch anyone going through the tour. It’s against the rules for anyone going through to interact with the actors too, but some people are just as surprised when they get all ‘fight’ rather than ‘freeze’ or ‘flight’. It’s more dangerous for the actors than it is for anyone going on the tour.”

While he’d never been on the tour himself, the way Nao had always told stories about the people walking through...that, and all her sketches made it almost as good as seeing it himself. She always just laughed off the injuries she got, the worst being a full-on black eye one year, but he knew that she tried to take on the more...interactive roles to take the brunt of people accidentally lashing out. 

...Kaito’s distaste for scary stuff wasn’t the only reason why the haunted house was a sore spot. 

“But...yeah. It’s all just props and costumes and effects. All fake stuff.”

In the haunted house, yeah, but for the Usoti residents who knew more about reality… They got a kick out of it, honestly. Because the horror of Harvest was about embracing things that were different and weird, and for as many startled yelps there were coming from different sections of the tour, there were laughs and people roaring back and even young children leading lost “monsters” to the next section because, well, it didn’t matter what you looked like or where you were from, it was just the polite thing to do. 

It wasn’t the fact that there were different beings that was the scary thing. It was concepts like being stuck in the dark, or being separated from your friends, or always seeing things out of the corners of your eyes… Or, for the adult version, the cruelties that anyone could just choose to inflict. Murderers and abusers and scientists and doctors in malpractice. 

Kokichi and Kaito walked around a little more, but soon enough Kokichi started steering them back towards the castle, knowing it was about time for him to return. 

Kaito’s a little confused when he realizes where he’s being led for a moment, before realizing, oh yeah, obviously. The ceremony is at the castle. That made sense. Good, that would make it real easy to head back upstairs right after and go get Shuichi for the day. He had promised Maki they’d jog today, and Kaito was a man of his word. 

As Kokichi explained little strange decoration choices to Kaito as they walked (apparently, witch folklore in Dicea suggested Witch’s always had cats with them, which Kaito found interesting, since in Luminary they were accompanied by crows.), Kaito looked around, a little taken aback by how many people they were starting to wade through. Again, made sense if Kaito had thought to think about it for even a second beforehand, but it looked like a good portion of people within the capital were coming to see the speech, many, many already in costumes. 

He saw ‘animals’ of all types, including one large man who had done an impressive job of using his girth to make himself a pretty convincing miniature elephant, and, heh, there was a woman with him who was incredibly short, but she had on a...what could generously be called a hat or a mask or something, that basically looked like the long, long neck of a giraffe, that she somehow managed to keep up, looming above the crowd. 

He saw monsters, people wearing either cutsy or colorful versions of ghosts and werewolves and...probably vampires? Kaito guessed, based on the cloaks, if their lore on vampires were the same. Most of it looked goofy, but a few people looked...well, real, and Kaito gave them nervous, wary looks when they passed them, despite the cheerful and energetic atmosphere of the crowd. He just reminded himself it was costumes. Definitely didn’t want to be one of those people who Kokichi had mentioned, attacking people who were just dressed up. Kaito would have to control himself. 

Mmmmm...he was not seeing...a lot of costumes that could be called ‘sexy’ anything. Hmmmmmmmm… 

Deciding not to worry himself over it, they got up to the gates, and Kaito blinked in surprise. “Am I crazy, or was that stage not there when we left?”

Kokichi grinned when they headed to where more people were, not just preparing for everything, but people there to just...enjoy the festival, their preparations done. People tended to dress up for everything (the traditional garb everyone wore for Hanami, the chunk of people just out in swimsuits for Zenith, all the creative black, white, and gold outfits people favored for Unity…) but the Harvest costumes were his favorite. 

And, just as there were plenty of people wearing costumes, he and Kaito were far from the only people wearing hygienic masks. Whatever cold Kokichi had caught, people were still being cautious over, and even if it didn’t affect him so directly...it was nice to see. 

Snorting softly, Kokichi shrugged a bit, now leading Kaito to the side of the stage where he could see Katsuki standing guard, her usual suit traded for an all black one while she wore a white-striped shirt, her face painted skillfully to resemble a skull. “If it was, I did not notice.”

Before he could greet Katsuki, he heard a few murmurs going through the crowd. 

“It’s the prince!”

“The princes.”

“Aw, Prince Kokichi is so beautiful…”

“Even with everything that’s happened, that’s our prince for ya. Moving forward with his head held high!”

“It’s good to see his husband taking his health seriously.”

“Huh, I would’ve thought Prince Kaito would be dressed up too, with how outrageous everything he wore for the wedding was.”

“Told you he was just a guy. Honestly, he doesn’t need the extra glam--dude’s gorgeous as is.”

“Aww, are his mask and jacket matching? That’s really cool!”

Kokichi turned to wave a little at the forming crowd before smiling up at Katsuki. “Mornin’, Katsuki-chan. Your costume is cool--are the rest of the guards dressed up too?”

Katsuki nodded. “Affirmative. Captain Setsu said it would set more people at ease, and Lake Meo took to the idea with her characteristic enthusiasm. As a result, all of us on duty today are dressed for the occasion.”

“Katsuki!” Kaito said enthusiastically, “Awesome to see you!” Not that he didn’t see her basically every day, around the castle, but it had been a bit since they had actually spoken. “Your skull is awesome! Man, I wish I had thought to do something like that.” Kaito gushed, as if he had had more than a night to consider the idea, and hadn’t just had Maki choose for him regardless. “Me, Shuichi, Maki and Tim are gonna be wandering the festival today with ‘Kichi, so if you get off work later, come say hi! I’m sure Maki would love to see ya.”

He was not aware that Maki was currently a little frustrated with Katsuki, thinking the guardsman was hiding a potentially life saving technique from her for reasons Maki couldn’t quite work out in her head. To keep an edge on her? She fucking hoped it wasn’t something as petty as that...not with Kokichi’s safety potentially on the line someday…

Speaking of, Maki was actually in the crowd as well, sitting on the gate wall next to one of the pumpkins, Tim beside her as she said to him “Do you see them now? By Miss Okuniji.”

Tim nodded, sucking on a lollipop they had managed to get him from one of the stalls outside, the two’s training have been done about an hour ago, and then Maki helping him get his costume on. “Dad’s not wearing his costume.”

“He’s probably waiting till after the ceremony to be respectful to Prince Kokichi.” Maki explained, “He’ll wear it when we go walking.”

“Do you think he’ll like mine?” Timothy asked, tone casual.

Maki looked over at the little bat-winged devil next to her, Maki thinking she had actually done a pretty good job of making it look like the horns on his head were protruding from his forehead pretty well with the blending of the gray skin paint on his face and neck, and said, “He will. When you first approach him, make certain not to come from behind. Your father gets jumpy at events like these. Startle him too badle and he may kick you, thinking your an attacking animal.”

“He can try.” Tim muttered. 

“You haven't earned that confidence.” Maki told him plainly, Tim looking a little annoyed at that, and maybe just a tad hurt. “Your sneaking is getting better, but you still hurry at the wrong times, and stay still too long when you slow down. And Prince Kaito has strength and length to him. Never forget that even with all the training in the world, you have to keep in mind body advantages and account for them.”

“I’ll be bigger than him someday.” Tim decided. “Stronger too.”

“And I don’t think anything would make him happier.” Maki said , which made Tim feel a little better about the scolding.

In the crowd, people were getting excited about the princes (Kokichi had been a person of interest even before his reappearance into society, and so far all the news and rumors around him, along with the shock and tragedy of what had happened at the beach, had made Diceans both incredibly fond and a little protective of him, just by reputation alone, which was becoming more and more apparent every time he went out among them.), gushing over Kokichi’s look and making curious little observations about that strange husband of his (the rumors around him...mixed. To be the most generous you could be about it.). 

Among that crowd, four teenagers also watched them. 

Sixteen was a rough time in anyone's life. It was hard not to be a dickhead of some kind at sixteen.

One of them made a comment, another laughed, and they all nodded.

Katsuki nodded, fully aware that she would definitely be running into them again. Things were safer in the capital, but she had promised herself to be more vigilant when it came to Kokichi and his family. She was on duty until the mid-afternoon, but as long as the princes and their peers were going to be out and about, she’d keep an eye on them. “I will be sure to greet you all later, then. I hope you will all enjoy the festival, my presence or not.”

It wasn’t long before Aiichi came out of the castle as well, wearing similar clothes to Kokichi, but just as had been the case for the wedding, while Kokichi’s cloak was white around his shoulders and faded to black by the end, Aiichi’s was the inverse. While some of the crowd quieted down, others got louder, a particular voice calling from the crowd, “Hey, ya right bastard!!” to which Aiichi waved with a laugh. “Mack, we’re getting a drink later today, count on it!” 

In a direct contrast to the wedding crowd, the Diceans heckled and greeted their leader loudly and without shame, Aiichi taking all of it with grace and warmth. 

Then, with a warm smile to Kokichi, Kaito, and Katsuki (“Pardon me, Kaito, but I have to borrow your husband for a moment.” “Be right back, sweets!”), Aiichi took Kokichi’s hand and the two went onto the stage, standing before their people to be able to address everyone. 

And the opening ceremony of Harvest commenced. 

The ceremony was...weird. 

Kaito watched with a confused, unamused look as people kept calling out during the speeches, which looked like it was expected for them to do this. People kept cursing at the king, which was the weirdest thing. But, again, it seemed expected, and King Aiichi seemed to enjoy the attention. 

It was all incredibly rude, but maybe it was a Dicean tradition thing.

Kaito knew it wasn’t a fair comparison to make, but as King Aiichi talked, discussing thankfulness and cooperation and bright futures, Kaito found himself zoning out, thinking of what his mother might say if she was here. He smiled a little, Kaito’s imagination, as always, very reliable as he thought at her, “Mother, this is just how they do it here.”

She scoffed, wearing some beautiful new dress, custom made for not only the Harvest Festival, but this exact ceremony, and likely had clothes prepped for other special events of the day as well, prepared months in advance. “It’s disrespectful. The nerve of them...openly mocking their king…”

“I don’t think it’s meant to mock.” Kaito thought goodnaturedly at her, finding it much easier to reason it out to himself by explaining it to her. “I think that’s just how they talk to him. Ya know, like they’re friends, or something.”

“Be wary of befriending commoners. There’s no one more viscous in their uphill battles, than those who have nothing yet to lose.” The queen said to him, advice she had given him when he had first started going to school. “And trying to pretend your equal to them fools no one, and only builds resentment whenever the illusion falls.”

“Yeah well...you’re dead so.” Kaito thought tiredly, “Fat load of good that mentality did for you. Maybe if you had befriended the guards or the staff, they wouldn’t have let Byakuya murder you.”

“Don’t take that tone with your mother.”

“Sorry, mom…”

But he brightened up, tuning back in and dismissing his imaginary mother from his mind as Kokichi took a breath, Kaito watching attentively, excitement fluttering through his stomach as he realized Kokichi was actually going to say something too.

He didn’t say much, but Kaito beamed with pride as he spoke, the chilly fall day seeming brighter as he did, at least to Kaito. He glanced from Kokichi to the crowd, and saw the pleased faces of his people looking back at their future king, and Kaito stood a little taller at that from his place in the crowd. Immensely pleased to see people reacting adoringly to Kokichi, even if his moment was short and to the point, Kaito just, again, so fucking proud.

He was glad he had come. It would have been tragic to miss it.  

“Well said, Ko,” Aiichi quietly praised, the hand on Kokichi’s back as the father and son stepped off the stage more companionable than the weight on his shoulders it had always felt like. He knew there were people waiting to have a word with him, so, once they’d walked back to Kaito, he wished them a happy Harvest and set off into the crowd, a cheer more akin to something you’d hear at a rowdy bar than people greeting their leader (at least for people who weren’t used to it) erupting where he went. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi leaned against Kaito’s side for a moment. “Told you it was gonna be boring...sorry it took so long. You’re off to go wake up Shuu-chan, right? I would join you, but...ah…” Kokichi looked off to the side with a bashful laugh, already a few people edging closer to the princes, proud gleams in their eyes.

There was a reason Kokichi hadn’t led them to the dining hall to grab breakfast. 

It happened to Aiichi too, and apparently every leader and heir before, but while people already put their all into providing dishes for the feast tables, there was another sort of...almost competition when it came to food. Making little bites for the leaders to try, trying to cook up something amazing that would blow the leader’s socks off… Part of Kokichi wondered if it was only more exacerbated by how small he was, or just the fact that he had always been sitting off to the side where people knew to go, but he always became almost painfully full by the end of the day. Hopefully going from even to even would help that. 

A petite woman came forward, the boldest of the bunch, holding out a pastry cup towards the princes. “Prince Kokichi? Prince Kaito? I made some chestnut mochi for the festival--I would be honored if you’d try it.”

“Well, Kai-chan? I’d say I’m pretty busy down here. Tell Shuu-chan good morning for me.”

“Are you kidding! That was amazing! That was so cool! You did so well up there, ‘Kichi!” Kaito praised enthusiastically, grinning wide and beaming down at his husband, just, so thrilled. And, as much as he wanted to gush more, there were, like, literally dozens of people with plates in their hands looking at Kokichi like they were just barely resisting the urge to barrel through Kaito and shove those plates into his face. Huh. Okay.

“Another disturbingly familiar tradition?” Sayaka murmured with distaste in his ear.

“It’s fun, mom.” Kaito thought warily, unable to help looking suspiciously at the plates, “This is cute. I like it.”

“Well, I don’t. Your husband’s going to get himself killed.”

“No one wants to kill him, mom.” Kaito insisted, and just to prove he really believed that, he grinned at Kokichi, nodding, saying aloud this time, “Yep! We’ll be an hour, okay babe? Maybe an hour and a half at most. Then we’ll come find you.”

There was still no safe place to kiss Kokichi, so he just took his hand and kissed his knuckle again (through the mask) before saying, “Love you, have fun, be safe!” and ignoring the ‘tsk’ in his mothers voice, heading out of the crowd and into the castle.

Up on the wall, though, was the two people who didn’t have to pretend they weren’t paranoid as all fuck, and as Maki frowned at the crowd surrounding Kokichi, she told Tim, “Let’s move closer, follow me. Try not to draw too much attention.”

“We’re walking on the walls, mom, I think we’ll draw attention.” Tim observed, glancing down at a few people pointing up at him and whispering to each other curiously.

“Not the kind of attention I mean.” Maki said, deciding she’d elaborate to him later the difference between being noticed and being focused on.

As they hopped from wall to wall as close as they could get, before leaping to a tree, Makki not wanting to lose her vantage point on the crowd, she asked Tim. “If you were assassinating Prince Kokichi right now, how would you go about it.”

Tim didn’t seem disturbed by the question, mostly focusing on watching his footing to keep up with her, his movement nowhere near as graceful as hers as he said quickly, “Poison.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s clearly expected to eat things from strangers right now, and probably does it every year, considering they were ready for him, so, ya know...easy way to do it. Easy to plan around. Best way to do it.”

“It isn’t.” Maki told him simply, waiting on a branch that she could leap from easily if she needed to move quickly, likely with minimal damage.

“...it’s not?”

“No.” Maki said, fully intending to explain it to him but stopping to check the supplies in her backpack again. She knew it was all there, but with things this important, it was prudent to double check what you already knew for certain.

“Love you!” Kokichi called before he took a step back and raised the bottom of his mask to eat the mochi, happy to be starting off the occasion with something sweet. His preferences were generally known by now--Prince Kokichi loved sweets, and hated pork. He wasn’t as enthused with vegetables, but that just made some people even more zealous in perfecting their recipes, determined to make their vegetable dish the one that was the prince’s favorite.

There were other things the small crowd forming around Kokichi did for their prince. He was wearing a mask, and obviously even people who didn’t know his food preferences well knew about his health, so no one came super close to him, giving the young man his space. Also as time went on, they moved closer to the seating area set up by the stage, in case the prince got tired, and there were some refreshments nearby, so he could get water to cleanse his palette too! 

And, well, it was difficult to talk when you had your mouth full, so people filled the space themselves, explaining the dish and talking about the preparation, commenting that they were happy to hear Kokichi speak up during the opening ceremony, that he looked lovely, and were his husband and surrogate going to come by too? And when Kokichi had swallowed his bite, they waited with excited anticipation to hear what he thought, and for any extra comments he had before the next person came forward to present their work. 

Roasted pumpkin seeds, and fluffy cupcakes, stuffed, baked squash and ganache tartlets, peanut brittle and many other kinds of mochi, and a few people, now delighted that the prince was of age, handing over small cups of wines and ciders. Stuffed peppers and fried slices of taro...and all that was only the beginning. 

“We haven't gone over poisons yet, have we…” Maki realized, frowning at herself as she confirmed all five were there, before double checking the swab, which had already been soaking in the jar she had prepped five days ago after interrogating people on how the festival usually went for the previous night, ready to go today. She felt bad about that. Poison was one of those things you should teach young assassins right away, and the fact that they hadn’t gotten to that part of his training by this point said more about her not spending enough time training him more than anything.

If you asked Maki why she was still training Tim to be an assassin, her answer would be...muddled.

She didn’t know why.

It just seemed like something she should do.

“While there are many poisons out there, you have to consider the context of the poisoning itself.” Maki explained, “What is Prince Kokichi doing now? Explain the scene to me.”

“Uncle Kokichi’s eating a bunch of different peoples food.”

“If I have to ask you again…”

Tim sighed. “Uncle Kokichi is eating one bite of each plate, with roughly three to five minute intervals between each bite, stopping to talk to the individual before the next person approaches and he tries theirs.”

“Better.” Maki conceded, putting the backpack back on. “As said, there are lots of poisons out there, but whoever would be assassinating Prince Kokichi right now would be limited to  one dose, taken in a small bite, with a type of food that wouldn’t fall apart with poison being added to its ingredients. And it would have to work quickly, since the prince is surrounded by people whose jobs are to protect him. These circumstance restrict which poison could possibly be used to attempt it down to five.”

“Arsenic, Atropine, Strychnine, Cyanide, Thallium.” Maki listed, as Tim listened quietly, knowing he’d be expected to remember that. “If your protectors know those five poisons and are prepared for them, then successfully being assassinated by poison becomes virtually impossible. And so long as the poison type can be identified immediately, “ Maki said, thinking of the carefully prepared dipped swab, “Than the poison can be treated with minimal issues. Among those five, the most dangerous is Cyanide, while the least dangerous is Atropine. Fun fact:” Maki said, glancing at Tim with a small smirk, “Your father takes Atropine once a year, every year.”

Tim’s brow furrowed. “No he doesn’t.” he said skeptically.

“He does. It’s one of the ingredients in his ritual incense. Small dose, but it’s there. It’s partly what gives him his hallucinations.”

“...can I do that next year?”

“Do you want to die?”

Tim sighed, disappointed. “So, I’m guessing if we know what poison people would use on him, then we already have the cures available?”

Maki nodded, “I do, yes, and I would be stunned if Miss Okuniji didn’t have them as well, along with a swab that with a quick run across his tongue, would tell us which cure to use. Beyond that, it’s just keeping an eye on him for symptoms, and being ready to move quickly if he suddenly seems pale. Preparedness makes poisoning a suckers game, which most assassins know, so they don’t bother with it for situations like this,  but, well, you still have to be prepared either way.”

“Have you ever poisoned anyone?”

Pause. “Yes.”

“Who?’

“On people who couldn’t fight back.” Maki said simply. “Poison is only a good assassination technique on the already vulnerable. If you manage to successfully poison someone? It’s nothing to be proud of, or consider an accomplishment. It’s how you kill the sick, the desperately afraid, and children. There’s nothing good or worthy in it. Understand?”

Tim nodded. “Yes, mom.”

So...Kokichi didn’t want to sit down. It made him too uncomfortable, paired along with memories of just...being stuck there, chastised if he tried to leave, escorted even to the bathroom. He knew it was for safety reasons, and exactly that was why he stayed in the plaza, not wanting to be anywhere people weren’t expecting him to be. Where they weren’t keeping an eye on him. 

(He’d caught Katsuki’s eye for a moment, and she’d flicked her gaze up. He’d been a little worried when he didn’t see Maki come out after the ceremony, but...she’d been there all along, huh.)

It was still excessive, in how it’d been handled before, but he understood it. 

But after trying some chili oil on fresh bread so spicy it made him tear up...well, Kaito and Shuuichi were going to be an hour at the least. He could sit for a little while. And it did bring out a few people who had slightly harder to handle foods. 

...he did hope they’d be coming by soon, though. He needed a break. 

There was someone else watching the prince like a hawk, two small cake boxes held secure in their hands. While Prince Kaito was accommodating and bought plenty from her shop, Ruruka knew that Prince Kokichi and Mr. Saihara had the real sweet tooths of the bunch. Once the surrogate came out and she presented her puff cakes, well...who was anyone to deny someone pregnant their cravings? She’d see one of their group in her shop at least once a week, she was positive. 

Shuichi had been up and ready, if only begrudgingly, to go workout when Kaito had gotten to his room, and the two had looked outside the window of even their side of the castle, which was usually pretty sparingly populated even on busy days, and saw people wandering around out there in groups. Seeing that and knowing even the courtyard they usually ran around in would be likely busy, Kaito had suggested to a suddenly nervous Shuichi that they could do some small workouts in the room instead. 

So, what was meant to be thirty crunches (till Kaito asked him to stop because he had this weird idea in his head that it’d squish baby???), a series of high knees, jumping jacks (“I don’t...really like jumping jacks.” “Why not? You never minded them before?” “Things...move now...it kinda hurts…”) that quickly became running in place, and many squats later, they were done, Shuichi sweating slightly and Kaito not really warmed up but ready to get back to his husband as he went to change into his costume and Shuichi went to take a shower.

Both of them, uh…’dressed’, Shuichi wearing his normal clothes and Kaito wearing an overly extra jackets with a barely covering anything healer uniform beneath it, masks on, they headed downstairs.

Kaito had thought that Kokichi would be...harder to find. Honestly, he had been thoroughly prepared to go search for his husband out in the city, assuming Kokichi was dying to go explore and that he and Shuichi would just need to follow the rumor mill and catch up. But no, Kokichi was almost exactly where Kaito had left him, if now sitting in some nearby chairs, still surrounded by many, many plates. Shuichi, a step behind Kaito, grew quiet and slower, lowering his hat and looking nervously around, intimidated by all the people focused on Kokichi, and Kaito looked back at him and gave him a small grin, saying assuringly, “If anyone says anything to you, it’s just gonna be some form of congratulation. It’s fine, they're all focused on him, handsome.”

Above, in the tree, Maki sighed. “We’re going to need to go down there soon.”

“Why?” Tim asked.

“Uncle Shuichi just showed up, and I just saw three people break away from the group, heading towards him with plates.”

“Is...Uncle Shuichi likely to be poisoned?”

“Unlikely.” Maki said, standing up on the branch, “But they will very likely freak him out regardless. He doesn’t like attention from strangers. Let's head to a lower branch. Remember my lessons on tucking and rolling?”

“Yeah?”

“Practical exercise today.”

Kokichi perked up as he saw his husband and boyfriend come out of the gate, happy to be a point of pride for people, but really, he was getting full, and he really wanted to enjoy the festival with his family. It would be fun to explore on his own too, but...it’d be that much better, getting to experience it with his loved ones. 

Offering a few apologies as he tried to meet his partners halfway, Kokichi was almost surprised to be stopped by a slightly more familiar face when he was closer to Kaito and Shuuichi. “Oh, Miss Andou, hello!”

“Aren’t you a pretty sight for sore eyes, Kokichi! It feels like ages since I’ve seen you in my shop. A little less since I’ve seen you, Prince Kaito,” Ruruka teased, presenting the small cake boxes. She simply held the one for Shuuichi slightly to the side of Kaito, trying to coax him closer with the sweet and not scare him off before he had a chance to try it. “I’m no amateur cook, so today of all days I can’t let myself be shown up! I made mini puff cakes for the festival, but I knew two of my favorite customers would want to make sure that they each had one saved for them.”

Accepting the box, even presented with a small spoon, Kokichi widened his eyes once he saw what was inside, only having seen it in cookbooks before. “No way…” Digging into the cake, he held up the small spoonful for Kaito to see. “These are super difficult to make! The outside is the same pastry that cream puffs are made out of, then the inside is layered with sponge cake, jam, and custard… And you made personal ones for the festival!?”

Carefully moving the spoonful under his mask, Kokichi did a happy little sway, much to Miss Andou’s delight as he ate, the choux pastry flaky and delicate, the cake moist and light, the custard creamy and sweet with the jam, a mix of berries, complimenting it and providing a bit of tang. 

“This is incredible, Miss Andou! Thank you so much for saving these for us, and for making such a special treat for the festival!”

While a few people had tried to stop them on the way over, Diceans weren’t blind, and Shuichi’s nervous expression and the way Kaito’s face hardened as they approached caused them to pause, before Shuichi whispered something into Kaito’s ear and Kaito suddenly grinned wide at them, remembering himself. “Thanks, sorry, excuse us, we’re just trying to get to Prince Kokichi. Don’t mind us, coming through!”

Getting to Kokichi, Kaito grinned wider to see who it was, pleased to spot at least a somewhat familiar face, “Nice to see you again, miss! Wow, those look…” Kaito raised an eyebrow at the pastries, saying with entire sincerity and no malice in the comment at all, “pretty good!”

“Good Morning, Kokichi. I heard the ceremony went well. Congratulations.” Shuichi said quietly, literally all of his boldness lost in his intimidation at the crowd, staring at the ground for the most part as he adjusted his hat, trying not to catch anyone’s gaze. Still, his eyes caught the pastry, and seeing Kokichi’s reaction and that the candy maker clearly expected him to take the other one, Shuichi took it into hand and politely said, “Oh, thank you very much, Miss Andou. It was kind of you to think of me.”

He took a bite...than another. Then quickly another. Kaito chuckled as the pastry disappeared in rapid succession, and by the time it was gone, Shuichi left the spoon in his mouth, looking a little disappointed that he had eaten all of it already.

After a moment, he took the spoon out and bowed slightly to her, “That was exceptional. Um, thank you again.”

“Hey, nice! Good job!” Kaito said enthusiastically to her, Shuichi’s actions speaking volumes over his polite words, as he said, “If they’re so tough to make, would it be best if I requested you make them a day or two before I’d ask for them, miss? For special occasions, I mean, since my guys seemed to like them so much?”

Out of the crowd, Maki and Tim appeared, Maki greeting everyone with a small head nod, her eyes lingering on Kaito’s outfit for a second before turning to Kokichi. “I liked your speech. It was short. Your father takes too long to get to the point.”

Meanwhile, Tim ran up to Shuichi, who blinked down at him, “Oh...I like your costume, Tim. Very...what are you meant to be?”

“Demon-bat.” Tim said simply, before taking Shuichi’s pulse on his wrist, his uncle looking confused at this, before the small child explained, “Checking for signs of poison.”

“Oh. Thank you. I haven't been poisoned though. I would have recognized the taste for most, and be experiencing symptoms by now for the rest. I’m okay.”

Timothy nodded, saying seriously, “Okay. Mom’s watching over Uncle Kokichi today, so I’m taking over watching over you.”

Shuichi glanced over at Maki, who just shrugged slightly, rolling her eyes. Just something he’s gotten into his head to do, she ‘said’. Looking back down at the serious faced boy, Shuichi smiled warmly at him. “Oh, good. Thank you Tim. That’s reassuring.”

“You’re welcome.” Timothy said, squaring his shoulders and standing guard.

Ruruka twitched at the ‘pretty good’ comment, but seeing Shuuichi devour the cake more than made up for it. Hook, line, and sinker, though her skill was no trick. She smiled sweetly up at Kaito, extremely validated as she could practically envision all the orders she’d be getting from the castle. Already, some of the people who’d stuck around even after Kokichi had apologized that he and his family were going to be going around the festival, though he’d be sure to check out their dishes on the feast tables, were eyeing her cake boxes, wondering what the fuss was about. 

National acclaim, here she came!

“That would be a big help, your highness. They’re not so difficult for me, but they are time intensive--it’s like making four sweets for one. If you give me a day, I’ll whip ‘em up no problem for you all!”

Kokichi gave Maki a smile, taking his time with his cake. It was incredible, no doubt, but there was only so much enthusiasm his stuffed stomach would allow. “Thanks. I usually don’t talk during these things but...I dunno. It felt right. I know you probably have a better view from...wherever it was that you were, but you can hang out with me if you want. Dunno if it’d be more or less awkward watching me eat, just, a mountain, of food,” he half-joked. 

The group slowly moved, the last remaining people going on their way when it was really clear Kokichi was done tasting things, and, like the gracious leader he was, Kokichi came to Shuuichi’s side, affectionately pressing against him. “Morning, honeypie. I’m sorry we woke you up earlier. Have the last half of my cake as an apology?”

It was pure, raised politeness that compelled Shuichi to ask, “You sure you don’t mind?”, though the second Kokichi shook his head, Shuichi was quick to take the offered half cake as well, taking two quick bites before looking warily at the rest of it, slowing down dramatically in the effort to delay the inevitable ‘not having cake’ future he was staring down.

After said bites, he continued quietly, “And I didn’t mind. It was Kaito who insisted I move rooms. I think I could have slept through it. You look very nice, by the way.”

Kaito huffed a little, rubbing the back of his neck as he said, “Handsome, you kept waking up every random word. It was better to take five minutes to move you than keep disturbing you over and over again.”

Shuichi nodded slightly, if not looking entirely convinced, before looking at Maki with a slightly annoyed look. “You picked that costume just to bother me.” It wasn’t a question.

Maki smirked slightly, “Does it?”

“No.”

Maki smirked more. “Well, then there you go. Mission failed.”

Shuichi gave her a withering stare, his pseudo-sister just endlessly pleased with herself, as Kaito just rolled his eyes at both of them.

Turning to Kokichi, she casually reached out a hand and felt the tip of his forehead. No sign of fever. Good. “I don’t mind. It’s part of my job description. Besides, you looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

Give him a good few hours to digest, and Kokichi would be back, giving those who wanted it those bizarre few moments in the spotlight, but for now...he was glad to give his stomach a break. At least it would probably help him out if they went to the orchard later like they wanted. 

And giving Shuuichi more of the cake without making himself jealous over not eating it himself was pretty great. 

Kokichi laughed quietly at Maki and Shuuichi’s light bickering (if Shuuichi really was that uncomfortable with attention Kaito got, then that was something they could talk about) before shrugging a little, bemused at the light touch. “I always enjoy getting to talk to people, even if it’s more me just listening to them while I eat. And all the food people make really is delicious--I doubt it, but if I end up needing a snack later, those roasted seeds are super yummy. And no one tries to, like, feed me meat shatavari anymore, so it’s all good.”

Looking around, Kokichi addressed the lot of them. “Well...what do you guys wanna go see first? We could hit some of the activity spots so Tim can win his candy? Or check out the game stalls before the afternoon crowd comes in?”

“Game stalls sound interesting.” Maki said, a spark of intrigue on her face. “I’m curious what kind of festival games Luminary and Dicea share.”

“I don’t think any of us really know enough about the events here to have a real preference.” Kaito observed, scratching the edge of his goatee as he said, “I think we’re relying on you to be our tour guide. What do you want to do first, babe?”

While Kokichi had never really been able to explore the festivals, he was instrumental in planning the whole thing, making sure people had the correct permits and inspection passes and were organized among everyone else so he still was the best to lead them. And even if his friends had grown more accustomed to the city, he still knew it like the back of his hand. 

Picking up on Maki’s interest, Kokichi started off to where he knew the games were. “Let’s check out the games! We can beat the crowds and have first dibs on any prizes that catch our eyes!” He looked up at Kaito, something slight sad in his eyes, but overshadowed with excitement. “I still do wanna win you something.”

There were still plenty of people roaming the city, enjoying the festival or hurrying to their shift at one of the attractions, but having seen what the marketplace was like during midday, it was clear that it was going to get far busier. Like Kokichi had talked about back in the beach town, most of the games revolved around throwing--knocking down stacks of bottles, tossing rings onto pegs, tossing bean bags into cut outs, shooting a ball through hoops--while others were a bit more creative. Almost playing a one-sided game of air hockey, defending a slot while pucks came sliding out at you, a ten-foot tall rock climbing wall with a bell at the top to signify you’d made it, a jar filled with jelly beans that you could guess the amount of, a ‘test your strength’ machine, and a few people in smaller stalls, set up with board games and prizes to award if you could beat them. Something for everyone.

“See anything you like?”

Kaito looks around with some interest, feeling weirdly tall. Taller. The red heels giving him a few extra inches, and honestly, after walking around in them a bit, he’s started thinking of wearing them that night as a sort of workout project for himself. They definitely required different leg muscles than the ones he usually used to walk around, and he was pretty sure by the end of the night back of his lower quads were going to be in shreds...which was great! They’d heal back thick and strong! 

And speaking of muscles growing back thick and strong… he grinned enthusiastically at the ‘test your strength’ machine, saying to  Maki, “Hey, Maki-Roll! Wanna compare?”he asked her, pointing at it.

She raised a thin eyebrow ever so slightly, before shrugging, moving towards the machine as her answer.

The machine was a long, polelike thing, with a series of lightbulbs on the side, which Kaito thought was impressive. Whistling, he said, “They can afford that many lightbulbs for a simple festival game? Talk about indulgent.”

Shuichi hummed slightly at that, before saying, “I’ve noticed that myself actually. Lightbulbs and running electrical currents seem to be more common in Dicea… perhaps the material is cheaper here?”

Kokichi looked over the light display with a new curiosity, thinking over everything that used electricity. “Is it? I mean...we have solar panels, ‘n dams, and wind turbines and stuff to power things...and I guess comparatively, some of that stuff is pretty new… I’ve never really thought about light bulbs being expensive, so...I guess it’s all cheaper here?”

...he had handled energy budgets, but...maybe he should take a look at the electrical infrastructure more carefully, really break down how it worked and how much it cost… He hadn’t heard anything close to any communities running out of money to live on (and money in itself was just a stand-in for straight up bartering) so...it wasn’t anything detrimental, he thought. But it would benefit him to know more about how it all worked…

Kokichi tapped his lips, staring off to the side, deep in thought, easily slipping into ‘work brain’ since he’d been diplomatically talking with people for the last hour. Just completely not paying attention to Maki and Kaito playing the strength game.

Kaito shrugged, not actually certain how much a lightbulb cost, but aware that they were less common to see in Luminary. Most of Luminary was still working by gas-light, and he knew there was some debate about whether spending the time and resources putting in electric grid systems were worth it. It was all pretty hotly contested. 

But, most things, at least in Luminary, were. 

When you only had limited funds and a lot of them couldn’t even cover the necessities, replacing entire systems, even for potentially the better, scared the shit out of people who weren’t entirely certain that grocery stores would have enough for everyone when restocked at the end of the week. Though his mother-

“You try to tell them! You say, invest in this ten year project, and your children will never go hungry. And these hollow eyed morons look at you and go, well yes, but what about us?” Sayaka hissed in his ear.

Kaito frowned...that didn’t sound like his mother. He was getting that mixed up. His mother didn’t care what people said of her plans. She was only frustrated that they kept getting stopped. Mom didn’t think it mattered what commoners thought of anything, good or bad. That was…

“People are inherently selfish.” Tengan sighed, Kaito’s skin crawling as it felt like, for an honest second, the old man was there. “They steal from their own futures for a little extra today, and when the future comes and they have nothing, are baffled where it all went. That’s what makes the program so easy to maintain.”

Kaito blinked hard. Okay. What the fuck, brain? Was he having a breakdown? If so, could he have it later? He was in a sexy nurse outfit in heels with his family in the middle of a creepy version of the city. He didn’t even feel bad! He felt fine! Seriously, just…

Kaito frowned, and sternly told the now two imaginary members of his family to get the fuck out of his brain and let him enjoy himself, please and thank you. And, thankfully, that little...spiral? Mental detour? Daydream was begun and over in a matter of a few seconds, because Maki was only looking at him slightly annoyed as he realized he was taking a second to catch up to her. Right! Okay!

Running up the machine, he grinned at her and said, “Ladies first. No one seems to be running this, so I think we’re allowed to just hit it.”

“Hmmm… Timothy. Why don’t you try it first.” Maki decided, looking over to Tim, who was curiously looking around at everything.

Kaito grinned wider at that, as Tim looked at them blanky. “Yeah! That way you’ll be the score to beat! Make sure to give us a tough one!”

“Sure, alright.” Tim huffed slightly, but he did quickly go up to the machine, taking a big hammer that was chained to it, looking up at the potential scores. Most of them were jokes, and Tim focused on the one he thought maybe he could actually get too, biting his tongue slightly as he furrowed his brow, bringing up the hammer...and slamming it down! 

The light went up four. Tim, according to the pole, was a cute duckling.

“...aw.” Tim pouted, genuinely taken off guard. He had thought he’d get way higher than that...curse his tiny child arms.

But Kaito just let out a loud WHOOP!, Clasping Tim on the shoulder and saying, “Hey, come on now, that was a solid first try! And now that we know where you’re at, next year, you’ll come back and we can see how much progress you’ve made! That’s something to look forward too!”

Kaito had two scars on his back that were incredibly thankful that Tim didn’t have more force in his blows then that, actually. Heh heh. Phew.

“Alright, Maki! Your turn!”

As the adults started to go next, Shuichi went over to Kokichi, noticing his distant expression and quietly taking his hand. “Anything today you’re particularly looking forward to?” he asked.

Kokichi blinked up at Shuuichi for a moment, refocusing himself on what was going on, his brain catching him up to what was actually going on. Bad habit… He had all the time in the world to work on work, but all the pieces of Harvest were only going to be there for a day. Sure, the haunted house would be up for months still, and they usually kept the maze up for a while, and people tended to leave decorations up and since everyone was trading recipes for what they ate at the feast, the food would be around as people tried their hand but...still. Everything all together as it was...it was just for today.

Squeezing Shuuichi’s hand softly, Kokichi pressed against his side, and hummed. “Well, I am hoping we end up going out to the orchard, though I think I’ll stick with regular cider there,” he laughed. “I had a sip of this amazing nectarine cider someone’s been fermenting since mid-summer, and I’m definitely seeing if they have more out later, but the last thing I need is to get drunk today.”

“Mm, and seeing the results of the pumpkin carving contest tonight is always amazing.” Kokichi gestured into an imaginary scene before them, describing it to his boyfriend. “They get really huge pumpkins to work on, right? And they get put on palettes so everyone can see as they light ‘em up and...you know that trick Ikuo told us about scraping away at just the rind of the pumpkin, so you can kinda shade with your carving? The people who enter the contest are just on another level with it…”

He sighed, remembering the entries from years past. “And there’s always cool performances going on all day at the stage in the plaza. Dancing, dramatic story-telling, concerts, short plays even sometimes…” Kokichi shook his head a little, giving Shuuichi a grin. “Kinda only wanna stop there if we need a break, though. While it’d be new for you guys and it’s different every year...I wanna go see stuff I’ve never seen before.”

“That all sounds nice. It’s early, so we have all day. I’m certain we’ll be able to see most things, if not a little of everything.” Shuchi mused, not having any reason to doubt that, though he didn’t really have a grasp of exactly how much there was to see. “While our friends test their strength, do you want to go look at that bean jar thing? I wonder if there’s a trick to that…”

There were twenty lightbulbs in total, and after slamming down the hammer, Maki watched as the lights flew up, frowning slightly at it settled on sixteen. “An extremely ambitious arm wrestler?” Maki said, sounding offended.

Kaito squinted up there, saying, “You can read that? The text is so small to fit all that. You have sharp eyes, Maki-Roll. Anyway, that’s awesome!”

Maki twitched, clearly having expected to do better, before sighing, handing him the hammer. “Thank you. Try not to embarrass yourself.”

“Alright! Watch this Tim! You keep to your training, eat right, never give up! You’ll be able to do this too!” Kaito told Tim, who didn’t look convinced, going to stand with his mother, both of them watching him quietly, judgement clear on their faces as they mirrored each other. Heh. Cute. Kaito  felt a sudden rush of affection for both of them, and wanting to impress, wound up, tensed, and with a “HYAAAA!” slammed the hammer down.

And, actually...yeah. The lights went all the way up. Kaito grinned wide, excited, and peered up to see what his title was...before laughing goodnaturedly.

Kaito was a Try Hard Loser.

“That’s what I’m hoping--most people get to see a little of everything, even if they’re working one of the events,” Kokichi explained. Another thing he had liked about people coming over to see what he thought of their dishes was that, especially as the day went on, people talked about what they had done and what they had seen at the festival. It wasn’t the same as seeing for himself, but he’d been given all sorts of stories, and it had been enough to imagine what it was like. 

But he didn’t have to imagine anymore. 

Walking over with Shuuichi to look at the bean jar, Kokichi peered over it, humming. “...you just have to calculate the volume of a cylinder in beans, right? Like...counting the height and the diameter at the bottom…” He peered over it a little more, unphased by the booth attendant’s amusement, before narrowing his eyes and looking back over at Shuuichi. “...unless they stuck, like, a cup in the middle to create an empty space...sneaky. But there’d be a way to tell, right? Like things not falling around it right, and then...well, it’d still be a guess, but closer in the ballpark and--”

Kokichi straightened, looking back over at the strength tester when he heard Kaito yell, honestly kind of amazed that he got all the lights to light up. Grinning, Kokichi started to clap. “Nice one, hun!!”

“Thanks babe!” Kaito called back, giving him an enthusiastic thumbs up. Nearby, a small group of young women giggled, watching this, the bell sound of reaching the top having gotten a few people’s attention. Kaito grinned at them, giving them a small wink as he said to them, “Any of you ladies wanna try matching my record?”

Most of the girls just snickered, but a few of the more susceptible ones turned bright red, taken off guard by his attention. One of the women, with short hair and freckles littered lightly below gray eyes, smirked and said, “Well, if it’s as easy as that, I don’t see why not. Pass it over, big guy.”

“Hey, there we go! That’s some fighting spirit I like to see!” Kaito said, genuinely excited as she moved forward, taking the hammer from him as Kaito took a step back to watch her, her friends enthusiastically cheering for her now.

As Maki watched this, a tad disapproving, but somewhat glad to see Kaito up to casually interacting with strangers again (now, hopefully none of these ones would trash talk his dead mother and then kidnap his husband), she felt a tug at her skirt. Looking down, she went “Hmm?” To Tim, who pointed at an aiming toy crossbolt game nearby. 

“Do you know how to use crossbolts?”

“Yes. That’s not the same thing though.”

“Can we try it anyway?”

Maki nodded, letting Tim lead the way to play the crossbolt game, Maki whispering tips and adjusting his arms for him.

Meanwhile, Shuichi listened patiently to Kokichi, and, thinking about the possibility of there being an item inside the jar, or something like that. While Kokichi had never specifically discussed with him, Shuichi had heard about from a few records of Kokichi’s childhood, it mentioned enough that there might be something to it…

Shuchi looked up to the vendor. “Is there an item in the jar?”

The vendor looked even more amused. The Royal Surrogate thought he’d just tell him? It was kind of cute, that he thought that would work. “Well, telling you would be a disadvantage to everyone else, but the stars say...no.”

Shichi looked to Kokichi. “Is he lying?”

Kokichi glanced between his boyfriend and the vendor in surprise, just...figuring that he’d give a good guess himself and leave it at that. That’s all the game really was, though you could have an educated estimate depending on your background. Figuring it out mathematically like he’d suggested, judging the proportion of colors and guessing how many packs they’d used to fill the jar, guessing if they’d filled it with a significant number…

Kokichi blinked up at the vendor.

“...no. He’s not lying.” Kokichi shrugged a bit at Shuuichi, raising an eyebrow. “Least that’s what it seems to me. I guess we can just math it out then.” Unaware of the curious look the vendor gave him, and that Shuuichi was testing a hypothesis, Kokichi started to count out the dimensions he needed, writing numbers into the palm of his hand for a rough calculation. 

Going over to write his guess down on one of the slips to the side, Kokichi hummed contemplatively. “Somewhere around 1200, then… Let’s go with 1247, cause it’s too easy to have a whole number.”

“What are you gonna guess, Shuu-chan?”

Shuichi stared at the vendor, golden eyes calmly curious, as Kokichi said his number aloud. Because in his mind, the game wasn’t the jar. The game was the person who knew how much was in the jar. And seeing that slightly puzzled frown on the vendors face…

Shuichi smiled warmly, feeling a little better. It was nice to get to use his training sometimes, at least. Taking the piece of paper, he wrote his guess, carefully writing out on the slip-

‘More than seven.’

-before putting it in the pile as well, writing his name on the back before he did. Glancing at his paper, the vendor chuckled. “Funny, but you know that won’t get counted, right?”

Shuichi just shrugged, already pleased with the results anyway, before glancing over his shoulder curiously, hearing excited shouts. Kaito and a bunch of women were gushing over someone who had just tried the machine, the short haired woman apparently doing well enough for excitement. “Kaito’s starting to draw a crowd. He is aware that he doesn’t run that machine, right?”

But Kaito seemed to have adopted the idea, encouraging curious passersby to “Come by, come on, give it a try! Let’s see what you get! Beyond yours truly, our current best is Judgmental Mother in Law!’, which our dashing Miss Mukuro Kusaba scored not that bit ago! Who wants to try to beat her score! Yeah, you, come on buddy, you got some shoulders on ya! Give it a try man, let’s see how you do!”

Kokichi looked over and let out a soft chuckle, seeing Kaito turn the area around him into a party. It was stuff like that that made Kokichi wish Kaito could be more comfortable to do more often. Being the life of the party. 

“I don’t wanna ruin his fun, but we should check in, huh?” Shaking his head a little, Kokichi gave the guessing game vendor a nod before heading back over to Kaito. “Have a happy Harvest!”

Kaito really was starting to draw a crowd, Maki and Tim--after a moment of looking around--were off at another game stall, but...everything was alright. Not pushing through the crowd, Kokichi tried to get Kaito’s attention with a little wave, holding a thumbs up as he tilted his head to the side, asking if Kaito was doing alright. And...if he was, Kokichi didn’t really want to leave him by himself...but it was what Kaito had chosen, and Kokichi being around might attract unwanted attention so…

...he just wanted to check in. Then he and Shuuichi could check out some of the other stalls. 

Kaito was getting a little carried away, honestly. 

He hadn’t been this excited in awhile, or, it was more accurate to say he hadn’t been this kind of excited for a long time. Maybe not since they had first started making plans to go to the party at the brewery, and even then, as soon as Kaito had gotten there, he had realized it wasn’t going to end up for him how he had been kind of hoping when they had left, what with hand/knife games and all.

As the short but broad-shouldered man pulled back his hammer and, with an overdramatic “Chyaaaa! ‘ sound, he hit the panel, and...it went up ten lights. “A body builder with a broken back! Hey, hey, come on, that was great, don’t be embarrassed!” Kaito said cheerfully, as the man groaned, his friends laughing cheerfully at the result not far off, a few of them now talking to Mukuro’s friends, while she also clapped, backing Kaito up as she said to the man, “Yeah, that was a solid effort! Honestly, half of it is technique anyway, so don’t worry about it. You did great!”

The man blushed to be complimented by a very pretty, very strong woman, and he thanked them both bashfully when another man came by and said, “Hey, hey, let me give it a try! I bet I can figure out the technique!”

“Heck yeah, man! Go for it! We’re cheering you on!” Kaito said enthusiasticlly, his heart racing (he was talking to people he was talking to people fuck he missed this) when there was a tap on his shoulder, looking over to see it was Mukuro getting his attention.

She gave him a fond look (and, why wouldn’t she? Like most Flora, she had watched Kaito grow up, and had even been one of the ones who had whispered advice into his ears and played games with him as Atua. It was a fun, fashionable way to kill time, for a while there, among Flora-kind, right before the voices got to be too much for the guy and people thought he was going insane. Flora were always starving for entertainment, so it was inevitable they’d overdo it.) before pointing into the crowd, saying over the ruckus, “I think your husbands trying to get a hold of you!”

“Oh!” Kaito looked to see Kokichi giving him a thumbs up, and Kaito bit his lip, looking at the crowd… “Oh, okay. I should get back to them. It was really nice meeting you, Mukuro! Say hi if you see us around the festival again!”

“Will do.” Mukuro said, watching him go with some amusement. Ah, he had been a cute kid, like, what… a second ago? Humans grew up so fast. She was glad to see he had made it to adulthood. Handsome, too. Shame about the doctor messing up his transition. He’d have made a fun seedling.

Ah well. Junko might prefer the current ways, but Mukuro still liked to indulge the old way of doing things, at least for stuff like that. It was more fun to find willing humans than pick from captured, traumatized seedlings. And these festivals were excellent meet-and-greets. 

Going back to the humans she had started to court earlier, Mukuro smiled wide at her girls, saying, “Alright, ladies, where to next?”

Getting to his men, Kaito grinned, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, despite the chilly weather as he said, “Hey! I’m here! What’s up, where we going?”

“Oh! Uh…” He...hadn’t meant to pull Kaito away from everything. Kaito had seen them go check out the guessing game, was it just...redundant to check in between each game? (Was he sabotaging Kaito again?)

“I didn’t mean to break up the party,” Kokichi started softly, knowing that apologizing and looking guilty would make just as big of a deal out of everything. So he just...had to keep things light. “Wanted to check in since it looks like Maki-chan and Tim are off on their own adventures. It looked like you were having fun.”

...but it looked like the crowd was breaking up now, and that woman that had come over with a group was leaving too so…

Kokichi glanced around at the other stalls, so many more that they hadn’t even looked at. “Um, Shuu-chan and I put in our guesses at the jelly bean game but...do you wanna go play other things? I’d just embarrass myself trying out that strength tester, but I could do the other games here alright, I think.” Kokichi laughed lightly, making fun of himself. “Sure there’s maybe even something I could get a higher score than you on.”

Kaito glanced over at the jar, before grinning wide. “Oh man, I bet there’s, like, four hundred beans in there!”

“Maybe.” Shuichi said good-naturedly, reaching over to take Kaito’s hand, personally glad to have their tallest prince back. “That guess is as good as any.”

Kaito thought about asking to go over to put in his own guess, but looking down at Kokichi, just, in such a better mood now, he reached down to poke slightly at the edge of Kokichi’s pulled back hair, petting the edge slightly as he said, “Aw, it’s not embarrassing  babe. But alright, let’s find something you and I can compete more evenly in! I expect you to bring in your all and give me everything you got, Kokichi!!”

“What are they yelling about?” Tim asked, looking over to his dad and uncles, as the vendor brought down a large, white teddy bear from the prize section.

“Don’t know. You sure you want that thing? It’s gonna be difficult to keep clean, and you’ll have to carry it all day.”

“It’ll be fine.” Tim said, taking the bear in hand, the thing half his size. “Remember, we have to meet Kimiko and Cali later so that I can get Chase back from Cali.”

“Why does she have Chase again?”

“She wanted to paint her nails.”

“...” Maki couldn’t think of anything to say to that. “Okay.”

Calming at the affectionate touch, Kokichi grinned up at his husband. “You know I can’t afford to go easy on you, not if I wanna be the one winning cool prizes for my lovely husband and boyfriend before you do it. Kai-chan fueled on the power of love is a force to be reckoned with!” 

Giggling, Kokichi led the way to a game where you had to toss little frisbees into baskets, again asking if any of the prizes up on display caught his partners’ eyes. There were different types of cute stuffed animals, some simple clothing items like headbands and shawls, the sort of thing that would end up fitting most people, and little figurines of all sorts of things. Different types of balls and rings and some small toys. 

After the frisbee game, they went to a few different stalls, until Kokichi dead stopped in front of a ‘knock the bottles down’ game, eyes wide as he distractedly found Shuuichi’s arm and tugged on his sleeve, pointing to the very top of the display shelf. 

It didn’t look like much at first. Just a fancy pen. But if you read the little description next to it...it was color changing, had both a small knife and screwdriver head on the end, as well as a hidden compartment for hiding...well, whatever you wanted, but Kokichi’s mind immediately went to…

“...hey, Shuu-chan. Did you ever wanna learn how to pick locks?”

Shuichi’s eyes widened, glancing at Kokichi curiously, while Kaito suddenly looked mildly worried. “...the thoughts crossed my mind a few times,” Shuichi admitted, adjusting his hat against his forehead, “Why?”

“You carry around pens all the time,” Kokichi pointed out. “To write in your journal. And that secret compartment in that pen up there? It looks perfect for pins. With all the other functions too...it’s like the perfect, get out of a sticky situation, or cause some mischief toolkit.”

Blinking and calming down a little, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a sheepish look. “...I dunno, it just caught my eye and made me think of you… If you’d want it, can I try winning it for you?”

Ooooh, boy… a Shuichi that could get into any lock he wanted? Heh, ehhhh… Kaito wasn’t going to disapprove or try to stop it. He was just aware one of his lovers was about to get a new skill that Kaito would have to keep an eye on.

Shuichi, in turn, lit up, smiling softly at the offer as he said, “If you’d like too, sure. I’d love that, Kokichi.”

“You think you can do it babe?” Kaito asked curiously, before amending himself, “I mean, obviously you can! You can do anything! But are you good at this game?”

Kokichi glowed at the gentle ‘okay’ Shuuichi gave before giving Kaito a teasingly dry look. “I’ve never played any of these games before, Kai-chan. But… For the pen, I just have to knock down all four stacks with five balls, right?” he asked the person minding the stall. 

The woman nodded, keeping up a bright face as she started to sweat. This was...Prince Kokichi, right?! With his husband and surrogate, right?! Wasn’t the prince, like...severely ill? All the time? What if he couldn’t even touch the closest bottle stack? Was...was she supposed to like...move it closer? Or just give him the pen? It was a high score item but...it wasn’t like anyone was keeping track. Oh shit. Oh god oh geez oh man. 

“Yupp! You have the rules down for someone who’s never played!” Keeping her smile up, the attendant brought up a set of five tennis balls before going to stand off to the side, just...desperately hoping she wasn’t going to be an accessory to the prince’s humiliation. 

Shrugging his cloak as far off his shoulders as he could manage, Kokichi picked up the first ball and got ready to throw.

“Woo! You got this babe! Fucking wreck it!”

“What’s going on?” Maki asked, she and Tim walking up, finally catching up as Tim carried around his cumbersome bear.

“Kokichi’s winning me a prize.” Shuichi said, blushing slightly.

“Cute.” Maki said, before calling out, “Don’t fuck up!”

Setting his feet in the stance he’d learned from Tim, Kokichi threw the first ball, knocking down the pyramid of three bottles with ease, much to the attendant’s great relief, especially as more people came by. For whatever the prince’s health issues were, he could apparently throw a ball four feet away. 

The second stack, also a three-fer, just a little farther away went down no problem either, even that one not as far as the crate in the basement had been, all that time ago. Kokichi sure hadn’t built any muscle in the intermittent time but...he was eating a bit better, and spent his days more active, being out and about when he was healthy instead of curled up in a chair in his room. 

The third stack was where things got a bit dicey. It was about the same distance as the second, maybe just a tiny bit farther away, but it was a stack of six, and Kokichi’s plan of hitting one of the joining sides didn’t quite go in his favor, one bottle left standing on the other side. His eyebrows drew in a bit, making the nervous attendant hold her breath, but otherwise Kokichi didn’t comment, just knocking it down. 

It was four stacks for five balls, so he did have an extra but…

The last stack was a stack of eight and…

Kokichi paused, trying to figure out how to...get them all down in one shot. What he had tried with the six-count was to get the upper bottles to knock down the last base one on the way down but...it was mostly luck, and hadn’t worked out for him last time. Was there a better way? 

Biting his lip a little, Kokichi reeled back and threw the last ball, hitting the tower!!

...but not where he had aimed, only the middle two bottles getting knocked back. 

Kokichi slowly lowered his arm. 

“U-uh, woooow! Almost got it! You still qualify for a prize up to the third shelf if there’s anything you wanted?” the attendant cheerily asked, that momentary relief gone and the sweat absolutely back. Still, she willed her hands to be steady as she set the bottles back up. “And you can always give it another shot!”

Maki’s wrist started to move, already envisioning the shattering of the bottles, and Kaito, without looking at her, reached out and grabbed her hand before it could finish swiping through her skirt. “It’s just a game, Maki-Roll.” he reminded her quietly, before calling out to Kokichi, “Hey, babe! You were so close!! That was so impressive, you just about had it!!”

“That was your first time ever playing that, Kokichi?” Shuichi asked, giving Kokichi a fond look. “You did really well.”

Maki tsked. “He could do better. Are you going to try again?”

Around them, people were watching curiously, if only because it was the prince playing. A few people in groups whispered slightly to each other, before one of the more bolder passerbys called out, “Knock ‘em down, Prince Kokichi!”

Kokichi hadn’t said anything, but when he turned back to his friends, it was with a smile. “Course I am! I said I’d get Shuu-chan that top-tier prize, and if I got that close on my first try, then I can totally do it!” He laughed sheepishly at the passerby that encouraged him before asking the attendant for another go. 

And once again, she felt herself relaxing a little more. Okay… Okay. The prince is...just a guy. In far better spirits than she’d feared. This wasn’t even her job, but she didn’t have to fear losing it today! “Go for it, Prince Kokichi!”

“Actually,” he stopped her, “do I have to go in that order? I kind of just assumed… But can I start with the ones in the back?”

“Oh, uh, sure? There’s no rules against it…”

Kokichi nodded, changing his focus. The eight-stack was the hardest by far, and likely what he’d need to use the extra ball on. If he could work on that first, then...maybe it’d be a little easier? 

Instead of taking it out in one go, Kokichi focused on aiming for the two supporting points on each of the sides, and succeeded in getting the structure down in two balls. Then...he just needed to get the six-stack down in one. Which he hadn’t been able to do but…

...go for the top of the middle bottle on the lowest row. 

And down the tower went. 

Grinning a little now, Kokichi took the two three-stacks down with ease, and it was with joy that the attendant clapped for him and got down the case with the pen in it, before being stopped for a moment as Kokichi murmured to her, just freezing, before easing up and picking something out from the second shelf. 

With glee, Kokichi whirled around to present something in each hand to each of his partners. The multi-tool pen for Shuuichi. And a spinning toy for Kaito, the body of it red while all of the facets were gold. 

“Told you! Piece of cake!”

There was a spattering of cheerful clapping, the passersby showing their approval and support toKokichi’s success before laughing lightly to themselves, wishing Kokichi a happy harvest before the crowd continued to where they had all been going in the first place, though a few people found themselves waiting behind the group, wanting to take their own shot at the game.

“Fuck yeah! Awesome, Maki, did you see that shit!!”

“Well done.” Mai said, looking unsurprised but still pleased. “What did he get you?”

“Get me?” Kato asked, looking surprised as he looked over, seeing Kokicho presenting Shuichi his gift, the group getting out of everyone's way so other people could play the game, before Kokichi presented Kaito’s gift as well, while Shuichi looked fondly at the pen.

“...what is this thing?” Kaito asked, looking at the weird thing, before watching it move slightly in his hand...and, on pure impulse, flicking it.

….s-fwiiiiiiish…

…..

….

“Uh oh.” Maki said, watching Kaito just stare at the thing, a small, lost little grin on his face, “I think you hypnotized him.” She said to Kokichi, raising an eyebrow at him.

Kokichi giggled a bit, readjusting his cloak (stupid fancy clothes…) now that he was done throwing. “Well...I’m glad he seems to like it? It’s nothing that fancy...but I still did win a prize from the lower shelves. We haven’t found anything that Kai-chan wanted so...I thought why not get him this!”

Kokichi slipped his arm into Shuuichi’s, fondly hugging it for a moment as he explained to the group, “It’s like this...well, it kind of is a toy. Cool enough on its own, right? But they originally were designed as a focus aid for people who need other stuff going on to focus. Neat stuff! Doesn’t work for me, though, I just get too distracted, but I like ‘em just as a toy so...I thought Kai-chan might?”

Gently, Kokichi touched his other hand to Kaito’s arm, hoping to get more of a reaction from his husband. “Kai-chan?”

“...huh?” Kaito said, blinking, glancing over at Kokichi, before grinning, “Oh, yeah! Thanks Kokichi! I like it, it’s cool!” he said, still letting the things spin, curious when it would stop on its own, but leaning down to kiss Kokichi lightly at the edge of his mask. “Love you babe!”

“Alright. You all want to go look at anything else? We’ve won three prizes already, and we don’t want to be carrying too many things all day.” Maki pointed out, glancing purposefully down at Tim’s bear.

“Oh, cute! You win that Tim?” Kaito asked, grinning down at his boy.

Tim shrugged. “Yeah.”

“Nice. It for Kimiko?”

“...Nooooo.” Timothy muttered, eyebrow twitching.

Kokichi preened a bit at the thanks, pretty sure than he’d been on the money when Kaito had looked so entranced, but it was nice to hear it for sure. At this point, he wasn’t really sure what he enjoyed more--getting to play the game, or giving gifts to his partners. 

Laughing a little to himself, Kokichi cleared his throat and nodded, looked around. “Oh, right… Did you guys set up somewhere to meet, Tim? I think it’d be fun if you, Kimiko, and Cali got to go through the maze and the haunted house together--those are some of the activities that give out candy at the end.”

He looked to their group and posed, “If there’s no other games anyone wants to play, why don’t we head towards the garden? We’ll have to pass the plaza again, and if I can avoid getting stopped, I wanna grab some water…”

As the group walked to the garden, Kaito eventually gasped, Tim jumping up and grasping his shoulders, trying to climb his back. “Hey, hey now, if you wanna ride, you just gotta ask.” Kaito told him sternly, bending down as Tim, face just passive, finally managed to get up onto his shoulders, resting comfortably there, the bear a barrier between him and the back of Kaito’s head as Tim looked down at the crowds around them, Kaito holding onto his legs.

The air was still chilly, but the sun was high in the sky, and just climbing higher as the morning did it’s slow marching towards noon. Maki looked at Kaito’s outfit and asked. “So. Are you cold?”

“Nah, not really. Not yet.” Kaito said, it not really a lie, but the chill just slightly bothersome enough that he knew it would be once he didn’t have the benefit of the sun blasting down on them. “The jackets and leggings help. And I see now why you refused to wear heels to your missions, Maki-Roll. I don’t know how anyone fights in these.”

Maki rolled her eyes. “I’ve had some peers sing their praises, insisting that with specialized footwear, you could use the heels as a weapon. I think they’re full of it. They just like to feel sexy and are trying to justify it to themselves. It’s impractical for the job.”

Kaito grinned at Maki, and said, “So? Do I look good in it? I know you were teasing Shuichi, and Kokichi thinks you got it just to freeze me, but come on. You got it cause you wanted to see me in it, right?”

“Gross.” Tim muttered, “She got it cause she said you’d look goofy in it.”

“Awww, come on! I think I pull it off! Maki, don’t I pull it off!?”

Maki smirked. Keeping her opinion on the matter to herself.

Kokichi nodded knowingly, never one to be in the habit of dressing lightly in cold weather, but knowing intimately how being unprepared could suck. He put a hand on Kaito’s back supportively. “You look nice, Kai-chan. Silly, but I don’t think anyone wears that type of costume seriously. And as long as you’re not freezing and not about to get hurt from the heels, I’m happy.”

While they weren’t the most inconspicuous group, Kokichi tried not to linger on any eye contact with anyone, not wanting to be pulled into another tasting session. However it seemed for not. While he was getting a water bottle, he was stopped by someone and he ended up returning to the group with a small paper bag filled with roasted chestnuts. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi offered them up as they continued on to the garden. “Definitely don’t have the space to keep doing this right now… But they are pretty good. At this rate, I doubt I’m gonna wanna stop for lunch or dinner. Such is the festival, I guess.”

“I’ll take them.” Mai offered, taking the handful Kokichi passed to her, Tim wordlessly reaching down, another handful being passed to him as well. “Does this happen every festival? People trying to fatten you up? Or just during Harvest?”

Kokichi snorted a bit but shook his head. “Every festival. People like hearing what Aiichi and I have to say about whatever new recipe they made for whatever festival, so we both spend a lot of it eating. Though...I think it does happen to me more,” he mused.

“I was always easy to approach, you know? Just being in one place. Aiichi does tend to linger around  the plaza, since it’s in the middle of the city and everyone comes by at one point or another to get food and see the performances, but he totally ditches in the name of going out to talk to people who are working father away. Valid, but it’s definitely to get a break,” Kokichi rolled his eyes. 

“And there was that whole thing when I was little when word of my sweet tooth got out, so gifts of food are pretty normal.” He shrugged a little, idly looked around as they walked. “I appreciate it, and it’s fun to see people get excited when I like what they made. Just wish it was a little less sometimes so I don’t crash into a food coma by mid-afternoon.”

“Aw, my sweet husband with his sweet tooth...my boyfriend too now, these days. Makes it easy to think of apology presents.” Kaito said, thinking of the many pastries he was learning to make and the many trips to the candy ladies store, trying to make up for whatever random thing Kaito was feeling guilty about that day. 

“Why do you need so many apology presents?” Maki asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Kaito grinned uneasily back at her, “Because I’m a big stupid oaf who says things he doesn’t mean sometimes.” he said, partly as a reassurance. Most of his trips to the candy store lately was to make up for some accidental misstep with Shuichi, these days. Kaito tried to be delicate, but he could tell when he put his foot in his mouth and Shuichi was genuinely hurt by something he said, even if Kaito didn’t always quite understand why Shuichi had been hurt. So when he did that, he’d swing down into town and get him and Kokichi something, just as, ya know, a silent apology and acknowledgement that he had done something wrong, even if he wasn’t sure what.

He’d pry more, into what he did, but Shuichi often clearly didn’t want to talk about it, and Kaito wasn’t always ready to push. Sometimes if Shuichi didn’t want to talk about things, it was because he was afraid of Kaito’s reaction to whatever had upset him and...Kaito didn’t want to prove him right.

“Also, Shuichi, is the sweets thing permanent? Is that just a thing now?” Maki asked, glancing curiously over to the ex-detective, who shrugged.

“We’ll see. We think it could be something to do with the pollen. We’ve already told the healers about it, and otherwise it doesn’t seem like that big a deal so… maybe.” Shuichi said again, shrugging.

“Hmmm.” Maki hummed, before suddenly saying to all of them, “Kokichi, Shuichi? I’d prefer if you didn’t eat anything given to you unless myself or Katsuki are nearby. If you don’t have a reason to believe one of us is there, please decline any tastings. Tim, don’t take anything from anyone who gives you any unsettling feelings, and follow no one who tries to lead you away from the group without my express permission. Kaito. Don’t eat anything anyone hands you without you paying them for it.”

Kaito nodded. “Got it.”

“Sure.” Shuichi said, though he knew what to look for in his foods, at least.

“Fine.” Tim said, before looking over to Kokichi. “Anyone ever give you anything that tastes, like, really bad?”

Kokichi gave Kaito a sweet look and rubbed his back a little. He did appreciate all the little gifts Kaito would give him, from his latest cooking creation to treats from Miss Andou’s shop but...he did wish they could just be nice gestures rather than apology gifts. That they could just talk through stuff. 

But he also knew that the occasion that sparked those kinds of gifts weren’t apologies to him, but Shuuichi. And...he could mediate, but getting through those humps was something that his lovers needed to work out together. In a way that would actually work for them, and not just trying to appease Kokichi sense of “right”. 

Sighing, Kokichi pouted at Shuuichi a little. “I still can’t believe that it wasn’t just what you naturally like. I finally thought I’d found a kindred spirit, but no, Shuu-chan’s sweet tooth might be from a medical thing. Totally unfair. Buuuut if it is something that’s gonna stick around, then I’m happy for it, and I can finally properly deflect whenever someone asks me about my candy drawer, saying that I don’t eat it all by myself!”

Kokichi giggled a bit, playfully squeezing Shuuichi’s arm before he sobered at Maki’s warnings, nodding. They were good ones, and he appreciated that she was looking out for all of them, but… His gaze fell a little, his hold on Shuuichi’s arm tightening a bit unconsciously.

...not once had he ever had to worry about someone spiking or poisoning something he ate. And at their wedding...he hadn’t thought about it at all. Even if he had, the water tasted normal. But…

(...it had been so humiliating. Thinking he was freaky and broken, forced to have his and Kaito’s first time nonconsensually… Scaring Kaito so bad when he’d stopped breathing, and then having it all spread to the castle…)

Kokichi blinked up at Tim before he snickered. “Oh, totally. Especially when people didn’t really know the things I like? Someone made konjac onigiri once, and I only just avoided spitting it out.” He shook his head with a disgusted shudder. “It’s all good stuff, but I can not get used to that texture. If it’s made from vegetables or meat, jelly should not be a texture it should be in.”

“Konjac onigiri?” Kaito asked curiously, glancing down at his husband.

Shuichi’s vision tunneled. “Rice balls. Usually filled with some assortment of fruits or seaweed, served chilled, roughly  the size of-”

“Woah, okay, hey there.” Kaito said, looking over at Shuichi in surprise, reaching over to gently shake his shoulder, Shuichi blinking rapidly as he said, “Uh, thanks handsome, but let’s have you back. What happened? You distracted?”

“Oh, uh, sorry. I didn’t think I was.” Shuichi said, shaking his head slightly, it being a while since that had happened last. “No, I’m alright. I was thinking about my mentor for a second, so I think I had her in mind when you said that. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize, just wanted to make certain it wasn’t you feeling some sort of way about me right now. Speaking of Miss Kirigiri, has she written you back yet?”

Shuichi shook his head. “No. Not yet.”

“My mentor said she’s been busy with something. I guess there’s a rebel group that’s been giving the capital a lot of problems lately. It could be she just literally hasn’t had the time.” Maki offered gently. 

Shuichi nodded. “Sure. It could be something like that.”

Kokichi had just been about to explain himself when Shuuichi went off, surprising him. Now that he really thought about it...it had been a long-ass time since Shuuichi had mainlined information. Longer since it had happened accidentally. Kokichi had barely realized it, that he no longer regularly set Shuuichi off with questions he had phrased poorly. It was...kind of amazing that he’d been allowed to forget about it, but it wouldn’t do to completely forget about it. 

Shuuichi’s mentor… He rarely talked about her, though the few stories he’d shared left a strong impression on Kokichi. Really...neither he nor Maki talked much about their mentors. Their friends and family back in Luminary. 

...maybe just not with him. 

Word of a rebel group causing enough ‘problems’ to get the attention of the Luminary capital sounded promising, and it was only the subtle worry in Shuuichi’s words that kept Kokichi from looking more hopeful, but...none of that was stuff they could talk about right now. Even aside from Kaito’s feelings and Tim’s pride, they were in public? During a Dicean holiday? And seeming to root for a rebel group in Luminary would just...give all the wrong impressions. 

...and Kokichi didn’t know Miss Kirigiri enough to soothe Shuuichi’s worries, or recommend that they try to set up a phone call, so…

Tipping his head onto Shuuichi’s shoulder, Kokichi hummed curiously. “What were you thinking about? Is your mentor the kind of person who’d really enjoy festivals like this? Oooooor is she a real weird foodie? I know I’m far from having any sort of ground to judge other people’s favorite foods, but, really, ya gotta admit, noshin’ on chicken feet is a little weird, at least.”

“I mean, it’s not all bad. Have you ever had reptile feet? They crunch.” Kaito said, thinking cheerfully of one of the...more rare delicacies of Luminary, Tim nodding above him. “Mind you, reptile anything is pretty good…”

“We used to catch lizards and broil them, and then cook them over a fire. Put salt on them. I always like mine a little burnt.” Timothy murmured, Kaito grinning wide.

“You too? Right!? Reptile skin with just a little charcoal? We did that for camping.  Maaaan, wow, I miss that. Do you think they sell lizards anywhere around here?” Kaito mused, not having thought about that sort of food in awhile, but now looking around like he might find a stall hanging small crocodiles and tiny lizards on sticks and iguana jerky any second.

“I was just thinking about how much Maki reminded of me of her, for a second. When we went to parties or festivals or events, my mentor got very...protective over me.” Shuichi remembered, enjoying the warmth of Kokichi against his arm, the group taking their time walking around as the events of the festival happened around them. “I’m not sure why, but sometimes I got the impression growing up that she thought I’d just get whisked away one day, when she wasn’t looking. I’d wander away, she’d lose track of me, and when she found me, she’d…” Shuichi frowned, before shrugging a little, “She’d be very upset. It’d scare me. I always thought growing up she was just mad that I had disobeyed her, but looking back, I think she was just scared.”

“Miss Kirigiri loved the shit out of you, man, I swear. That’s why I’m certain something’s gotta be holding her up getting in contact with you. I know you think you let her down or whatever, but that woman adored you...ya know.” Kaito laughed, “In her own way. She’s not gonna abandon you or disown you over something small like, ya know...getting pregnant or whatever. I don’t think that’s like her.”

“I have to agree.” Maki said. “Miss Kirigiri was stern, but she wasn’t cruel. And if she had disowned you, I don’t think my mentor wouldn’t have mentioned it, or been so casual in talking about how busy she was.”

“Maybe…” Shuichi said again.

At first Kokichi thought Kaito was just kidding, trying to gross him out, and while Tim certainly had it in him to play along...he didn’t think they were joking. Kokichi was glad for his mask right then, hiding his grimace. He’d heard of people eating alligator but...just catching garden lizards?? And roasting them up, not even taking out the bones or anything...uuurg…

Luckily, Shuuichi reminiscing about his mentor was much easier to focus on. He knew it was different, but...at least in that instance, she sounded like a mom. Trying to keep an eye on your beloved kid, knowing how dangerous the world was and knowing how easily they could stumble into it…

...Kokichi would never know what Kaito’s parents thought about their marriage personally, if they even thought about it that way at all, but...he wondered what Miss Kirigiri would think about Shuuichi’s relationship with them. If, aside from all the complicated political stuff...if she’d approve of him. If she’d think that he was good for her...not son. 

Kokichi didn’t have the knowledge to give reassurances like Maki and Kaito did, but he squeezed Shuuichi’s arm a little. “Well...when she does have the time, and after you two have caught up, of course, I hope I have the chance to talk with Shuu-chan’s mentor. Gotta make sure I make a good impression an’ all.”

Shuichi looked startled at that idea. The idea that he’d have to make a good impression had literally never occurred to Shuichi, for...well, a lot of reasons that would have made Kokichi unhappy to hear expressed. He was a prince. Shuichi and his mentor were indentureds. Of course Kokichi had nothing to prove.

...but. Maybe that was just a Shuichi thing. Maybe Miss Kirigiri wouldn’t feel that way about it herself. Trying to imagine their interactions without all the...background stuff, Shuichi said, “...I think she’d like you. She likes responsible people who don’t commit crimes. You check both those boxes.”

“She likes intelligent people.” Maki supplied, “You want to impress her? Don’t say anything stupid, not even as a joke. She doesn’t have any patience for it.”

“She likes nice clothes!” Kaito supplied, eager to give his husband a hand, “Not that you can really express that over the phone or by mail, but she puts a lot of time and professionalism into her appearance, and admires people who do the same. It’s why our Shuichi’s always wearing those stiff fabrics. She’s always in some sort of suit, and she keeps her hair flawless.”

“Except for the ramen incident.” Maki smirked, and Shuichi chuckled as Kaito groaned.

“Poor Miss Kirigiri...no ones ever gonna fucking let that one go. I still can’t believe that asshole got away with dumping trash on her.” Kaito muttered, shaking his head.

“It was genuinely an accident. She’d have known if it wasn’t.” Shuichi said, smiling fondly as he remembered the sheer, unusual shock on her face when garbage had just...fallen from the sky on her.

Kokichi nodded, taking all of his friends’ suggestions seriously. He...at least tried to be responsible, and not committing crimes was pretty high up there on things he did. Intelligence...well, Kokichi thought he could be clever at times, but he doubted he’d have much of a way to show that until they somehow stumbled onto a subject he was particularly knowledgeable in. He supposed, if they were to trade letters, he would just do his best to write well and make tripally sure he hadn’t misspelled anything. 

And for dressing well… 

Kokichi snorted under his breath, remembering Kaito and Denji’s conversation that morning. Well, if they ever did end up meeting in person, he’d put a little extra effort in. Maybe he’d actually willingly brush his hair!

Though, while she put effort into her appearance, Shuuichi’s mentor was still human. Kokichi’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Even for a freak accident, that was pretty freak. “Oh shit…” He then snorted softly, shaking his head. “That’s one hell of an accident. But if she’s always put together, I can see why people would remember the one time she wasn’t. Stuff like that sticks with ya.”

Even with their meandering pace, the group finally made it to the garden, the whole thing decked out just like the city, colorful lanterns hanging in the taller foliage (though unlit for the day) and stakes tapped into the ground with streamers tied between them, showing the new paths for the maze. 

There were plenty of people milling about, but once she caught sight of them, a familiar blond head broke off a conversation and headed to the group, grinning widely. “Kokichi!! And the rest of the fam too! Are you guys headed for the maze?”

Shoot, what was this woman’s name again...damn, Kaito couldn’t remember. He knew she was the garden lady, but…

Kaito was saved when Shuichi bowed his head lightly at her. “Good day, Nazumi. Happy Harvest.”

Tim looked suspiciously down at the blond woman, going quiet at her approach, while Mai nodded. “We are, yes. My son has some friends there he’s meant to meet at noon. We still have some time though.” She said, glancing up at the position of the sun, though admittedly she could just look down at her watch. “Happy Harvest. The garden is looking well.”

“Our cacti haven't arrived yet, have they!? Or, uh, grown?” Kaito guessed, not sure when they were supposed to be planted, but excited by the idea of them nonetheless.

“Happy Harvest!” Nazumi wished in return, delighted when Kokichi acquiesced a hug, squeezing him tight for a moment. “Wonderful! I hope you guys enjoy it--I think it’s a really good layout this year. Thalia’s got a good head for the layout; just show’s ya what new blood can do! I don’t think we’ve ever had a maze quite like this.”

Kokichi looked past his honorary aunt to where she haphazardly gestured, catching sight of the young woman Nazumi had been talking to before, now giving the rundown to a group of...pre-teens, maybe? Who were getting ready to go through. A new gardener to meet…

Well, not that he really had to. Unlike his determination to at the very least learn the name of everyone who worked in the castle (ah, he hoped he’d see Kerry today, wish them a happy Harvest), knowing the people who worked in the community garden was entirely something he just...did if it happened to happen. He knew each new head gardener by name, at least, since their name was given to the castle for contact, and knowing Nazumi had been more of a coincidence, since he knew her through Lake. And while the position of Head Gardener was a paid job, and there were other jobs for the upkeep of the community garden that paid, the majority of people who worked in it were volunteers. Just...helping out when they felt like it. Hard to keep track of people when they had other stuff going on. 

But! He knew this new gardener’s name now! And that she’d helped out with the maze design! And that was something. 

Nazumi perked up at the mention of the cacti, an almost secretive smile on her face as she lowered her voice, something akin to trying not to disturb young children taking a nap. “The cuts came in, actually. We’ve gotta keep ‘em in pots and in the green room until spring, since we don’t want the little fellas trying to battle it out against winter, but…” She looked around, judging the crowd. “I can show you to ‘em, if you want? Just a quick peek though, since I gotta be helping out regulating the maze.”

Kokichi nodded, and though he’d never been himself, explained, “Some people get lost and turned around. S’why each group has a timer, both to brag about how quickly they made it to the end, but also so you can keep track of how many people are in the maze at once, and if people are taking a particularly long time, gardeners can go in to help ‘em out.”

“You’ve taken my spiel from me, kiddo! Don’t think I’ll have to bail you out today though, even if it’s your first time,” the older woman praised. “You know these gardens like the back of your hand!”

Shuichi looked around, a little confused as he said, “So, is the garden itself the maze then? I guess I was imagining a hedge maze. N-not that this isn’t good too! I’m just surprised.” he said quickly, not meaning to offend.”

“Sounds more visually appealing than a hedge maze, at least. Those things can be pretty dull.” Maki observed, also looking around, thinking about trying to find the entrance. It was where Tim and his friends had agreed to meet.

Kaito grinned wide, something dreamy in his gaze as he said, “Not with the right company…”

Shuichi frowned slightly, before reaching over and pulling at Kaito’s earring, who winced. “Hey? Come on, I didn’t-”

“Just bringing you back to reality.” Shuichi huffed a little. 

Tim also seemed to have the idea that the maze ‘entrance’ must be close by, before he put two fingers into his mouth, and as hard as he could, suddenly, shrilly whistled, causing Kaito to wince.

...in the distance was a sudden, excited barking.

Nazumi nodded, looking back at the garden with pride. “Hedge mazes can give a certain atmosphere, but growing a whole maze’s worth every year would put any sort of dirt through the wringer. Instead, having it in the garden gives people a chance to see parts of it they might’ve overlooked before, and it’s already here! ‘Course, we gotta lay out the maze paths, but it’s nothing more than a few planning sessions and an afternoon or work. Do miss the corn mazes out in the country time to time, though.”

Kokichi flushed a little at Kaito’s comment, though both he and Nazumi startled a big at Tim’s sudden whistle, and while Nazumi still looked confused, Kokichi grinned fondly as he could hear barking, and his aunty wasn’t far behind in putting two and two together. 

“Aw, well, don’t let me keep ya if your friends are here,” she laughed. “Just stop by our table to grab a timer, and don’t forget to get your candy at the end. Have fun, y’all!”

“Thanks, Aunty!” Kokichi chirped before taking a step in the direction of the barking. “Well, if Cali and Kimiko are here, let’s go meet up?”

Cali and Kimiko were there, along with Kimiko’s mother, Shirogane, who’s expression never so much as flickered at seeing the two men who had been, both in roundabout ways, the reasons she had almost lost her daughter. She knew she was still on thin ground there as well, Queen Junko still displeased by Shirogane’s total failure in gaining more corruptive influence within Dicea’s government, even after all this time, and the possibility of replacing her with someone more ‘capable’ always hovering above her head.

Flora lived long lives, and Shirogane would be fine with it happening eventually, so long as she got to watch Kimiko grow up. If she could just delay Queen Junko making an official decision on the subject for a mere, say...twenty or thirty years. Which was nothing to a Flora. But would mean the world to Kimiko, who still looked at her mother sometimes like she had betrayed her. Shirogane knew what her counterpart had done, due to hive-mind shenanigans, and it hadn’t been anything extreme. Just...ignored her. Dismissed her worries. Not loved her. Just for a little while, but…

Her daughter hadn’t forgotten, and Tsumugi was still desperately trying to make it up to her, while still appeasing her Queen.

While she knew none of that was, specifically, Kokichi or Kaito’s fault, she still couldn’t help but feel a rush of resentment run through her at the sight of both of them, Kaito for being Togami’s favorite little pet to sleep with, and Kokichi for representing how fucking infuriating trying to manage Dicea goverment was. Fuck, if only she had been assigned to Luminary, or hell, even Novoselic!

...but, then, she’d have missed out on Kimiko. So…

Looking fondly down at her daughter, who looked up at her, waiting for permission, she said, “Go on, my love.” and than Kimiko cheerfully raced forward, following Cali and Chase who had already run towards the group to greet them, while Shirogane walked behind them.

As Chase yapped, running around Kaito enthusiastically, Cali and Kimiko ran up and looked up at Tim, who was starting to try to wiggle off Kaito’s shoulders. “Wow! Your costume looks amazing, Tim!”

“It’s so scary!” Kimiko said, her voice suitably pleased and impressed, her own white, ‘blood’ covered dress matching the ‘ax-wound’ on her head. 

Cali, in turn, was wearing a tutu-skirt of many bright colors, a pink leotard with white leggings, and giant, colorful fairy wings, face paint brightly coloring her eyes and cheeks as she said, “I painted Chase’s nails! Come see!”

“Ow, ow, okay, hold on.” Kaito insisted, finally just picking up the squirming Timothy and putting him down by his armpits, Tim grudgingly allowing this before rushing to his friends sides, Chase excitedly barroling into him.

“Good day, everyone. Happy Harvest.” Shirogane greeted.

While Kimiko’s costume was definitely on the more disturbing side of things, Kokichi was still delighted to see his nephew’s friends’ costumes, seeing them fully in the Harvest spirit. And while Tim had set himself to look out for Shuuichi...he was still exploring his opportunities to be a kid, to have fun and enjoy the festival, and for that, there wasn’t much more Kokichi could ask for. 

Now with the trio together, he hoped they would have a blast. 

“Happy Harvest, Miss Shirogane!” Kokichi returned, smiling up at the ambassador. “I hope we haven’t kept you all waiting too long--how have you found the festival?” 

Kokichi didn’t see Tsumugi or Cali’s parents that often, really. In Cali’s situation, he supposed that was a good thing, that her mom hadn’t had a resurgence of worries about her daughter being around people from Luminary. He would do all he could to stand in Cali’s corner and defend his family to her, but...there were lines you didn’t cross when it came to a parent and their kid. He just hoped it wouldn’t get to that point, and that the strain on Cali’s relationship with her mother would ease with time, not deepen. 

Tsumugi, on the other hand, did come to the castle for business, time to time, but Kokichi was rarely ever in those meetings. Usually it was Tsumugi being invited over to discuss any changes Dicea was making as it pertained to international matters, and her setting up meetings when she got word from Queen Enoshima. Not...really too often, and the in-person stuff, yeah, wasn’t really Kokichi’s bag. 

Still, he was happy to trade waves when they happened to see each other when she dropped off Kimiko in the morning.