Katori sat in the driver's seat of Exkaiser, quietly watching the rain outside. Neither had thought to check the weather when they'd brought the kids out for a camp out, and about halfway through it had started to storm. Kenta and Kouta were both fast asleep in the back, and Haruka had curled up with Champ in the front, Katori nii-chan's thigh a comfortable pillow. Exkaiser had been quiet for a long time, and the android wondered if perhaps he had drifted into recharge. As the android gently brushed back some of Haruka's hair, exkaiser's voice rumbled softly from the dashboard.
"I guess we can't tell them if they're asleep."
Fighbird patted the dash apologetically. "I'm sorry, senpai… at least Kouta knows?" he piped up, looking back at the sleeping figure.
"Because we're both around Kouta more," Exkaiser confirmed. "And he's sneaky."
"Well, to be fair, it is his garage."
Exkaiser chuckled, rocking on his axels. "True, but will your family accept me as easily as Kouta did you?"
"Well… that's why I've been hesitant about this, they're very atta—ah!" Katori blinked, looking down. Haruka had moved quickly, arms around his waist and clinging tightly. She wasn't looking at him, but her body was tense and she held fast.
"He can't take you away," Haruka whispered, voice as harsh as she could manage. "You can't leave us."
And this is where Fighbird was torn, it was easy to see. He made a conflicted sound in his throat, rubbing at Haruka's shoulders in an effort to be reassuring. Stuck between wanting to make all of them happy and still be happy himself was a hard thing. "How long have you known?" he asked curiously, head cocked.
Haruka shrugged, mumbling into his hip. "When you guys started to hang out all the time without us around."
"Oh." Katori scratched the back of his head. "I guess that's a big hint."
"What if you forget about us? Me, and Kenta, and Champ?" Her eyes were huge, worried.
Exkaiser waited a moment, watching the rain fall. He'd felt this too, hadn't he? "It's impossible for him to do so," he said calmly, choosing his words carefully. "Fighbird's people know nothing but love. To forget a loved one causes pain." He felt Haruka shift in the seat, and continued. "I waited a long time for him to return to HQ, but he could remember everything that had happened with us before we were separated. If he somehow managed to forget you or I, he would become ill. It's very slow deterioration. Until Fi- Katori could recall who it was he had forgotten, he'd be miserable."
Haruka had let go a little to shift and look at the dashboard panel. "Nii-chan would be hurt if he forgot us?"
"Yes. That's why he will remember. All of the time you've spent together, he can name without fail, especially times when he was happiest."
Sniffling gently, Haruka sat up and pressed against Katori, who was still somewhat at a loss. Good thing Exkaiser seemed to know what to do. The girl eyes were still fixated on the dashboard, but she rubbed at one with her palm. "So…" she murmured. "You won't replace us?"
"Of course not." Exkaiser shifted on his axels sheepishly. "Besides, if I ever needed to, I would remind him that he has the both of you."