March 20, 2038.
You'd think there would be better things to spend your 21st birthday doing than scrambling to get ready for class, but Kiyoshi's life is nothing if not a little neurotic.
He hauls himself out of bed… slapping his phone once and then slapping it again to actually shut the alarm off this time. He groans… rubbing at his temples and then stretching. Then, without further ado, he makes his way over the mirror and starts to get himself ready. He may feel like he got run over by a truck, but that's just what you get when you sign up for college. Wakey-wakey you big dumb idiot!
'Why did I sign up for 8 AM classes again?' he thinks briefly, before remembering the answer is that he's a glutton for punishment and loves to suffer. At least until he remembers he should recall that statement and that that's not the truth either.
'You're not a big dumb idiot and you're certainly not a glutton for punishment,' he tells himself, grooming himself in front of the mirror. 'You're a successful, ambitious young man and if your college only offers one microbiology in medicine course then you are going to take it, goddamn it!'
He smiles slightly. He still, like, feels like he got hit by a bus, for the record, but hey! That's a smile! Positive reaffirmation: it works!
He combs his hair and rubs at his eyes... slips out of his pajamas and then into something a little more formal. After running into the bathroom and splashing his face with some water he even feels something close to alert. Maybe not ready to face the day… but… y'know: ready to slog through it; and when you're Kiyoshi that's all you need.
He makes his way over to the fish tank and sprinkles some food in... whirls around and marches over to a minifridge he keeps on his desk to dig around for something of his own. It's as he does so, however, that he hears the pitter-patter of soft feet against the carpet.
"If you're looking for a chance to eat the fish I just fed them. You're a little too late this time, buddy. You'll have to try again tomorrow."
There's a 'mrrp' and a thumping noise as something leaps up on top of the fish tank. Kiyoshi sighs and turns around.
"Hana," he says. "You are a beautiful young woman and I treasure you. If you try to eat my fish again while I'm doing man heroin I will throw you out the fucking window."
Hardly convinced, 'Hana' tilts her head and gives him a look. She squirms, slightly, as he picks her up and carts her over to the doorway... but needless to say he doesn't 'throw her out the fucking window.'
"Dad!" he shouts. "Can you get Hana!? I'm trying to do my T! The last thing I need is her startling me!"
He swears he hears Dad murmur 'it's your cat,' but all the same he's already trodding down the hallway. Kiyoshi lets out a sigh of relief and carefully shuts the door on 'his baby.' He loves her- don't get him wrong- but now is not the time.
Besides, she is not his cat. The beautiful black and white tabby is more akin to an unwittingly acquired stepchild. He never asked for a cat! He's a dog person, really! But Makoto just happened to let Miss Nao out and she just happened to get pregnant and Nagisa just happened to tell him there was no way in hell he was letting him release street cats. What sort of friend would Kiyoshi be if he hadn't offered to home one of the beautiful baby kittens Makoto had already gotten so attached to? They may have been reared by a demon, but they were 'so small!' and 'depending on him!'
Curse his tender heart. It's not all bad, though. Taro had enjoyed the little lady's company during his later years... and hey! At least she'd had the good sense to not grow up to look like her mother. If he didn't know the secret truth behind her bloodline Kiyoshi'd almost be able to believe she's a normal cat.
...Almost.
He hears a yowling down the hall. A temper tantrum, no doubt. But with no time to focus on that, he returns his attention to the minifridge and reaches in to retrieve a vial and syringe. He pulls up his pant leg… swabs his thigh down, and carefully finishes up his injection before tossing the needle and returning the vial to the minifridge. Perhaps suspect behavior if he weren't… y'know, doing something as anticlimactic as injecting hormones.
With that, he stands. He murmurs a quick 'fuck' at the string, but he's used to the process by now. He heads across the room… brushes his hair one more time just for good measure… ties his tie, and he's ready to face the day.
He makes his way into the kitchen where his mom and dad wait. Dad's nursing a coffee, pretending there isn't a fussy cat housed on his lap, and Mom's watching him, one 'leg' crossed over the other as she sits. Kiyoshi gives them a wave.
"Sorry 'bout dumping the cat on you," he says, pouring his own coffee. "I just didn't want to break anything off in my skin." (An unlikely scenario but a persisting paranoia nevertheless!)
"Don't sweat it," Mom says. "You only took a minute. Besides…" she smirks. "We both know Tadaomi's in love with her anyways. He's always clamoring to spend more time with her."
"I am not," Dad says, petting her with all the intensity of a father who keeps insisting he doesn't want the animal but ends up falling in love with them anyways. "I am simply a responsible parent."
"Okay. Whatever you say, Dad," Kiyoshi says with a laugh.
"I mean it," Dad insists. But regardless of what he says, Hana's purring in his lap, and that's pretty damning evidence.
Kiyoshi knows his dad is more of a dog person, too. He's like… one hundred percent gonna get four of them the minute Kiyoshi moves out just to fill the void in his heart… but he's glad he was willing to give Hana a chance, too. She may not have been what either of them expected in a pet, but… she's still a welcome member of the family.
"Okay. Maybe it's you I should be apologizing to, then," Kiyoshi says, craning his head back to face the cat. "I'm sorry I kicked you out. That was insensitive of me. You rule the house and I should have let you break off all the needles you wanted in my leg. I'll do better next time."
Hana lets out an unsatisfied 'mrrp' as Kiyoshi turns back to his cup of coffee. He takes a sip, but flinches on instinct.
"Hhhhhottt…"
"Indeed," Dad says. "Just brewed." He pauses. "Happy birthday, by the way."
Kiyoshi snorts. "And here I was thinking you almost forgot."
"Of course not," Dad huffs. "I've got it marked down on all my calendars."
"I know," Kiyoshi says with a smile. "I'm just screwing with you."
He reaches out for some creamer. Even lets himself have an extra teaspoon of sugar. Usually he tries to stay pretty healthy, but he may as well treat himself for both the 'birthday' and the 'getting up at 7 AM' things.
"Right. It's me who's always forgetting these things," Mom jokes, leaning over. "How old are you again now? Seventeen?"
"I wish," Kiyoshi replies, rolling his eyes. He starts to reach out for a breakfast bar, but Dad stops him.
"Don't," he says. "I made you an actual breakfast. Figured you should get something on your stomach before class for once in your life." He pauses. "If… you have time, I mean."
Kiyoshi glances at the clock.
"I've got time," he says, sliding into his seat. "I'm gonna have to hurry, though."
"No worries," Dad says, sliding him a plate of eggs. "I just wanted to make sure you ate."
"You always make sure I eat, Dad," Kiyoshi says with a laugh. "What are you talking about?"
"Well yes, I do make sure to watch you, but…-" Dad drifts off. "I worry, alright?"
"I know," Kiyoshi says. "...And I appreciate it."
He digs into his meal. It's good- if a little plain. Dad's no expert chef, but he still appreciates it. What it lacks in gourmet it makes up for in love.
"How are you planning to spend the special day?" Mom asks, already long done with her own breakfast. "Got any plans with your lame friends?"
"After I'm done with towers of homework, you mean?" Kiyoshi asks. "...Yeah, I plan to hang out with my 'lame friends.' It's nothing much but we're going to order some pizza and play some video games. None of us have class tomorrow, so we can stay up as late as we want."
"Sounds fun," Dad says in a voice that implies he understands very little of the actual fun behind that but wants to sound supportive nevertheless. "Will you be home before morning?"
"Depends," Kiyoshi says. "Don't want to drive tired. I'll keep you updated."
Dad nods. "That's all I could ask."
"Yeah, don't worry," Kiyoshi reassures. "You know I'll be responsible."
"Listen to him," Mom says with a sneer. "'You know I'll be responsible.' 'I'm only celebrating my twenty-first, it's not like it's anything special.' We really did go about raising the most square kid on the planet, didn't we?"
"Well…" Kiyoshi says with a blush. "You know what they say: like father, like son. I'm not much of a partying guy."
"I, for one, am proud of him," Dad says. "The last thing we need is him engaging in reckless behavior. If he wants to spend his twenty-first birthday ordering pizza and hanging out with his oddball friends then just let him."
"I will," Mom says. "Just make sure to know you can also always let yourself live a little, alright, sweetie? Your mama will be here for you. Get blackout drunk? Let me know and I'll be there to pick you up. Wanna crawl in through the window in the middle of the night? Hell yeah! I'll be right there cheering you on."
"I know," Kiyoshi says. "And… I'll keep that in mind. Even if it's doubtful." He laughs. "I have a master's to study for, Mom. I don't exactly have time for 'debauchery' or 'nonsense. I've hardly even got time to sleep!"
"And that has got to change," Dad says. "I know you're working hard, but make sure to take care of yourself, too. I will have a nice long talk with your professors if you need me to."
"Please don't," Kiyoshi says. "I'm fine… promise. It's hard, but… I'm trying my best to balance it." He shrugs. "Besides… I really do enjoy what I'm doing. The work is super interesting, and my classmates are great. Now that we're getting into more specialized courses I'm especially having a good time. My mandatory classes were ass."
"Damn right," Mom agrees. "I still don't get that shit. They put you in a language course!? Seriously!? When are you going to need that dissecting rat bones? And don't even get me started on the time they put me in an advanced algebra course."
"Well… you were studying to be a teacher, Mom."
"For middle schoolers! They're never going to touch on any of that shit. They're still trying to figure out what the hell 'x' even is!"
"Well… you got through it," Dad says. "So it's hardly worth complaining about now."
"Do you even know me?" Mom retorts. "Give me something to bitch about and I will run with it. Speaking of, have you heard what that little brat Taiki did last week? I could hardly even believe it, but…-"
Oh yeah. That's right. Kiyoshi almost forgot to mention it, but… teaching.
His mom. That's what she does now. She stuck with it.
...He couldn't believe it, either.
She applied to Nagisa's school shortly after her accident. And even though it shocked everyone a bit at first she's taken a surprising shine to it! She loves working with (...And teasing) the kids, and even if she can pretty much always find something to complain about it's more than clear she's enjoying what she does. Sure… Kiyoshi never would have expected it, but there are a lot of things he wouldn't have expected… and as long as she's happy he's happy. All he wants is to see his mother thrive.
"And then he tries to throw the textbook at her! Can you believe it!?"
...Thrive, and gossip about thirteen-year-olds.
"I'm over here like 'holy shit,' because now I have to deescalate that, and he hadn't even shown signs of being pissed off until now. The little girl's crying because she's fucking concussed and the whole class is cheering because of course they are when I grab the brat by the hand and am like 'Okay. Nagisa's room. Now,' because he's the principal and I'm the teacher and I do not get paid enough for this shit. But when I go in there he's already in the middle of a class and they're setting off fucking bottle rockets and I'm like 'Okay… so first of all, why wasn't I invited? And second of all one of your brats is acting up!' But I don't actually say that because he's 'not a brat' and I'll 'hurt his feelings,' so I'm just like 'Yo! Asshole! This is your problem to deal with!'"
"...How you talk to your employer," Dad notes.
"Duh," Mom replies. "He may be my boss, but I'm still his senior."
Dad must decide not to comment on that not being the way you talk to your students, either.
"Anyways, he managed to get it worked out. Because of course he did... he's the baby whisperer. Turns out Toshiko stole Taiki's phone. He wasn't set off for no reason. But you wanna know the real kicker? She took it because she was jealous… she wasn't allowed to have any electronics at home. Real strict Amish parents or some shit. And Nagisa… fucking bleeding heart, was like 'That's so tragic! Unique life experiences are important, but you also need a way to communicate with your peers. If you're feeling othered or frustrated I could always buy you one. You just have to promise not to let your parents see it if I do. I don't want you to get in trouble.'"
"Chrrrrist," Kiyoshi says, shaking his head. "...Now that's the Shiota-sensei I know. I swear to god one of these days he's gonna get sued for blatantly ignoring what the parents tell him. I mean… I'll be cheering him on, but…-" He gives a defeated shrug.
"You kidding me?" Mom replies. "He's got the dough to be handing out iPhones like candy. A little 'lawsuit' is nothing." She sighs. "As long as his kids are happy he's happy… no matter the cost."
"Ain't that right?" Kiyoshi says with a laugh. "How'd that go, though? Are the two kids doing better, at least?"
"Yeah," Mom says. "Taiki has a temper, but once we got him calmed down he actually felt really bad. Went and apologized to Toshiko right away. Toshiko, meanwhile, is of course enjoying her new little gadget. I still think the whole thing's ridiculous, but she is starting to talk more with her classmates, I guess… so it's not all a waste. Her test scores are up, too."
"That's good!" Kiyoshi says.
She's much more crass about it, but… it's more than clear his mom cares about the kids, too. Just like Nagisa does. She's happy to see them thrive. And Kiyoshi's thankful for that. He doesn't know what he'd do if she were unhappy with her place of work.
"Yeah," Mom says. "I'm glad all's well that ends well even if the whole thing initially gave me a goddamn heart attack." She rolls her eyes. "Nagisa sure enrolls some really weird fucking kids."
"Oh, yeah, for sure," Kiyoshi agrees. "But to be fair you raised a really fucking weird kid, too. Think about it like repaying the favor."
"Aw," Mom says. "I don't think you're that weird. If anything I just think you're weirdly un weird. You turned out pretty normal despite having us as parents."
"Well… I don't know about that," Kiyoshi says with a laugh. "But I appreciate the thought."
"Speaking of the weirdos, though," Mom says, glancing towards the clock. "I should probably get heading out. Class starts soon. I wouldn't wanna be late."
"Yeah," Kiyoshi says. "Don't want them leaving tacks on your chair again, do you?"
"Christ, no," Mom says. "Besides… we've come to the agreement that if I'm more than ten minutes late they're allowed to just leave. And we wouldn't want that to happen, would we?"
"Yeah… no. Probably not, even if it would make those kids' days."
"AKA the last thing I want," Mom says, standing. She flashes a peace sign. "Irina out. Any last things you boys want to say before I bounce?"
"Yeah, actually," Dad says, following her to his feet. Slowly… he makes his way over to her side. And before either of them can react he plants a kiss on her lips. "Have a good day, alright? I love you."
Mom beams.
"Don't worry," she says. "I will. You two, too? Alright!?"
And with that… she's off! Kiyoshi and his father give her a wave as she goes. But it's not long after she's left that Kiyoshi realizes he should probably do the same.
"I should get going, too," he admits, standing. "Don't wanna be late for class. Hope you don't mind me leaving you alone?"
"Of course not," Dad says. "Work's starting for me any minute now as well. Have fun with your classes."
"Yeah. I will," Kiyoshi says, making his way over into the living room. He crouches down to give Hana a pet as he passes by, before grabbing his coat from the rack. Dad tails after him as he does, but doesn't speak.
"What? You got something to say to me, too?" Kiyoshi asks, fumbling for his keys. "Because if you're going to tell me to have a good day: don't worry. I will. I won't let myself get too stressed out over school and I'll be responsible when I'm with my friends. We won't do anything too dumb or stupid."
"No," Dad says. "It's not that. Of course it's not that. You just…" he pauses. "You just said you might not be home tonight. And so in case I don't see you, why don't I just tell you what I'm proud of you for today now?"
"Oh," Kiyoshi says. "Okay, I guess. Hit me."
Admittedly it's a bit of an embarrassing tradition to have stuck around, but all the same he appreciates the gesture. Sometimes it feels like Dad hasn't missed a day since he first decided to start doing this, and even if it's awkward… that… that means a lot. Kiyoshi was really, really hurting back in middle school. And so for Dad to see that… to remember that and decide 'I never want to see that again,' it makes his heart warm. He's more confident now... and needless to say he knows he's loved… but a reminder is a reminder. And he'd never, ever turn that down.
After all, this is as important to Dad as it is to him.
"Today… I'm proud to see you all grown up. I mean… I guess you have been for a long time now, but you're still maturing and changing every day. And watching that is an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. I'm lucky to have you in my life and I… I…-" Dad hesitates. "I love you. I can't wait to see how you grow further. Happy twenty-first."
Dad leans in to hug him, but Kiyoshi beats him to it. Wrapping his old man in a hug, he smiles.
"Love you, too," he says, burying his face in his shoulder. "...More than anything."
Their relationship's come a long way in the past seven years. And some days Kiyoshi swears he's just as proud of his dad as his dad is of him. But he doesn't say any of that as he leans away. His dad already knows. And besides… he's got classes to get to. The last thing he needs to do is get teary-eyed.
"I'll see you soon, alright? If I'm not home tonight I should be back by tomorrow morning. Good luck with work."
"Good luck with school," Dad returns. "That… and… er… your video games. Whichever takes more precedent at the moment."
With that, Kiyoshi heads out! Giving his Dad one last wave he struts out onto the driveway and gets in his car. He can see Dad watching him from the window. He snorts, slightly. Making sure he pulls out carefully, no doubt.
'Don't worry,' he thinks. 'Been doing it for three years. I've got this in the bag.'
But before he starts driving he remembers he should probably text his friends. They've got plans, after all. And he's gonna want to make sure those are A-GO before he goes anywhere. He pulls up the group chat.
[3/20/2039 7:32 AM:] [Kiyoshi ] We good for tonight? Don't wanna sound neurotic, but... y'know... I am, So I've gotta double-check: We've still got plans?
[3/20/2039 7:32 AM:] [Fumiko💜] Uh. Yeah. Duh. Reminder that you're still on pizza duty, though. And do not get from that CityShop place again. I swear I'll throw up.
[3/20/2039 7:33 AM:] [Kiyoshi ] Some way to talk to a guy on his birthday you've got there, don't you? One of these days you're going to hurt my feelings.
[3/20/2039 7:34 AM:] [Kiyoshi ] Don't worry, though, I won't. I didn't exactly like that place either.
[3/20/2039 7:34 AM:] [Kiyoshi ] You just remember you're on Smash duty. If I come over and all the controllers aren't charged again I'm going to lose my mind.
[3/20/2039 7:35 AM:] [Fumiko💜] Okay, okay. I'm on it. Please stop calling it that, though.
[3/20/2039 7:36 AM:] [Kiyoshi ] Whatever you say, your highness.
[3/20/2039 7:36 AM:] [Kiyoshi ] I'm about to head out so I won't get back to you right away but if you have anything else to let me know about just text me. I just wanted to check in before I did.
[3/20/2039 7:36 AM:] [Fumiko💜] Can do! Have fun with your little pseudoscience course and I'll see you soon. Happy birthday!
Kiyoshi considers debating her but decides against it. He knows full well she knows full well it's not pseudoscience. She's just screwing with him. Besides… she wished him happy birthday. He can't stay mad at that rate.
With that, he kicks on the engine... still hasn't gotten a response from Makoto but that's only logical considering it's 7 AM in the morning. Makoto's most likely response would be something like 'Dude it's seven why the hell are you up?'
He doesn't need much RVSP from Makoto, anyways. He lives with Fumiko. If he's gotten the go from one of them he's gotten it from the other. His plans for the night are sealed.
He grins as he pulls out of the driveway. Even manages to not hit the mailbox like his dad is so worried about. With that… he's off! Only the open road ahead of him and the petrifying fear of driving left in his morning routine.
He shifts, slightly, bemoaning the woes of being 6 foot in modern Japan, but manages to get his mind off of it relatively quickly. Instead… he focuses on his friends' words. On their plans, and even better: On how well the two of them have been doing recently. Now that cheers him up in an instant.
They've been awesome. Started college and everything. Fumiko's on her third year in education and Makoto's two into general courses. He's still undecided, for the most part, but prospecting a lot of interesting things. His grades are way better than when he was younger, and alongside that he's been waiting tables on the side. At first Kiyoshi'd been surprised, but Makoto's taken a surprising shine to it. He likes getting to meet different people, and he always has some sort of story to tell.
When it comes to part-time jobs, Fumiko's helping out a little bit with Gakushuu's company. That's right: their bogus internship actually turned into something! She's still mostly focused on education, of course, but when it comes to paying the bills most anything will do. She and Makoto do live on their own, after all.
Have since they were sixteen! True to her plan Fumiko broke away pretty much the minute she graduated Junior High. Now that had been a fiasco, but Makoto had followed after. Realizing his living situation had been kinda shitty too the pieces just fell together and they'd decided it was for the best they tackle this together. They've been sharing an apartment for a few years now. Kiyoshi helps them pay the rent sometimes when they're running low because he's a bleeding heart. It's okay, though. They repay him by letting him barge into their apartment at pretty much any time with three cups of Starbucks and a new thing to complain about.
He's not working hardcore… like Fumiko, he's mostly focused on school, but sometimes he does pet sitting gigs and other similar stuff on the side. It's nice to have a cushion just in case a new video game comes out or Fumiko and Makoto's water heater explodes again. It's not a ton, but it's enough to get him by for now.
And hey! At least his parents are paying his tuition. All around school has been good. Even if his classes are balls to the wall hard and he has to wake up at 7 AM he enjoys what he's doing. He's starting to develop some interesting theses, and what do you know? His classmates are actually really nice! Kiyoshi is even… dare I say it, but- popular! People like him.
Over the past three years he's gotten a chance to know a lot of really cool people. He still gets nervous sometimes, of course, but he's nowhere near as convinced his classmates are out to get him as he was in middle school. He's personable and he's funny and people like him! Mom keeps joking that his harem's back, of all things.
Now Kiyoshi's not sure about that… the thought makes his face flush red, but… it's the thought that counts. And if Mom can tell he's doing good, then…
...Well, that's a good thing!
Before he even knows it he's arrived at school. Carefully he pulls into the parking lot and steps out of the car. Stretching, he looks over at the building, and rubs at his eyes once more.
Half-awake but far more than half-content, Kiyoshi's ready to face the day.
"GOD. DAMN IT! GET OUT FROM UNDER THERE. CLASS STARTS IN TWENTY MINUTES. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THISSS!"
" REEEEEEAEAEAOAOAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAWHHHH!"
And so Fumiko's morning is going well.
She knew what she was getting into when she agreed to live with Makoto. She knew her best friend came with strings attached, and she knew one of those strings was a cat with particularly sharp claws. But all the same, she has things she planned to spend her morning doing, and pretty much all of those were better things than desperately trying to coax Miss Nao out from under the couch.
Life with the Missus is fickle. Some days she seems almost behaved! Now is not one of those days. This morning... perhaps... she appeared to be in a good mood... she hadn't scratched and she hadn't clawed as Fumiko had risen to make breakfast. Instead, she'd simply hovered around the edges of her vision… a reminder. And similarly she'd been calm as Fumiko had gone about the rest of her morning routine. Texting her friend… browsing Twitter on her phone… all of it Miss Nao had watched her curiously throughout. It's as she started to leave for class, however, that things went wrong.
You see… it's routine to crate Miss Nao when no-one is watching her. On the mornings that Fumiko heads out to school while Makoto is still asleep more often than not Miss Nao has to go in the cage. It's nothing personal… it's just that she's a demon from hell who likes to chew on the wires: a hobby that is both a danger to herself and others. She's uncrated the minute Makoto is awake and it's not like it's a small cage. She just cannot be given free rein of the apartment. This is an understood fact of the house.
...For everyone except Miss Nao, that is. Needless to say, the little lady doesn't particularly like having her reign of terror stomped out and will do anything in her power to cause as much trouble for Fumiko as possible. Sometimes, that trouble manifests as hiding under the couch and chewing on the electrical wires, tail wildly lashing, minutes before Fumiko has to go to school!
"I don't have time for this. Seriously, Miss Nao . Just come outttttt. Makoto will be up any minute. "
" REEEEHHHHHHH !"
"...I won't even crate you, if you really want. But I have to make sure you're not under there."
"REEEEEEEHHHHHRRRGHHGHGHGHGHHHHH!"
A delightful sound, and a unmistakable cry of 'Fuck you. I do what you want.'
Sometimes Fumiko's not even sure what it is that sets this cat off. It's not like this sort of behavior is a thing that pertains exclusively to Fumiko attempting to crate her. This is behavior during dinner time… during lunch… during breakfast, and during 2 AM at night... behavior that refuses to curb no matter how gently or sternly her owners talk to her, and that isn't remedied even by three-hour binges of My Cat From Hell. It's sporadic. It's indecipherable. It's obnoxious. It's…
"KHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."
...Painful.
Fumiko pulls her arm out from under the couch, letting out a quiet hiss. Usually she's pretty good at dodging Miss Nao's swipes, but even a champion falters every once in a while. It appears this is just one of those mornings.
'Happy birthday, Kiyoshi,' she thinks. 'Can't wait for you to have to deal with this when you come over.'
She snorts. True to his nature Kiyoshi's still fucking terrified of the cat. Fumiko can't blame him. He's gotten a lot braver and a lot cooler in a lot of ways over the years, but some demons never rest. And this demon just happens to be named Miss Nao. Hurrying to her feet, she makes her way over to the kitchen sink and starts to wash her wound. It's not particularly deep, but she'd like to get it taken care of before anything else.
She still needs to get Miss Nao out of there, but she'd like to make sure she doesn't catch Cat Scratch Fever, first , thank you very much.
She considers grabbing a treat to lure Miss Nao out with as she glances towards the cabinet. She hates to reward her for this behavior but she has got to get going. It's either that or wake poor Makoto up. Fumiko wishes she could just leave without dealing with this at all, but that's not an option. She doesn't want Miss Nao starting a fucking fire with Makoto inside. And besides… Fumiko does care about the cat. It's a love-hate relationship, but she doesn't want her hurt.
She sighs and dries her hand. There's a slight sting but something tells her she'll be fine. It's as she starts to turn around, however, that she hears a "Pspspsp!" and "Hey baby!" behind her.
...Oh. It seems she won't need to wake Makoto at all.
There's a frustrated mewling and an "Awww… come on," as Makoto crouches down onto the ground. It takes a hot second, but sooner or later he manages to coax Miss Nao out from under there. He stands, cradling the cat in his arms, and gives a bright smile.
"The Missus giving you trouble?" he asks. "Sorry 'bout her."
"Yeah. Something like that," Fumiko replies with a snort. "She got me good," she says, holding up a hand. "Still hurts like a bitch, too. And right when I'm trying to head out for class."
"You can always wake me up, y'know: if you're really in a hurry."
"I know," Fumiko says. "But I just feel bad. You look so content when you sleep."
"Aw," Makoto says, creeping her way. "You really think so?"
He approaches her with the cat still in his arms. Miss Nao's far from 'tamed,' but she's come around to appreciating him a little more. That… or she's gotten used to his usual brand of bullshit. She lets out a yawn as Makoto steps into the kitchen.
"Yeah," Fumiko says. "Duh."
Makoto's nose wrinkles slightly. It's clear he just stepped out of bed… his hair's a mess and he's still in his pajamas, but there's a certain wholesomeness to his demeanor nevertheless. He's taller than he used to be… soft-looking, but still strong. And with his dark strands of hair falling over his face he gives a laugh.
"Well," he says. "Guess we're really gonna have to get claw caps for her, then. I'm telling you: they're the solution. Can't scratch the shit out of you if she's got pretty nails to maintain, after all."
"Viable in theory," Fumiko says. "But I'd like to see you just try and put those on. She'll tear out your motherfucking eyeballs."
"Awwwww…" Makoto says. "She wouldn't do that. Would you, baby?" He coos, leaning down to make kissy noises in Miss Nao's face.
She hisses at him.
He pulls back, brow furrowed. "Feeling spicy today, aren't you!?" He asks. "Okay. No kissies then. I see how it is." He turns to Fumiko. "What was she doing under there, anyways?"
"Same shit as usual," Fumiko says. "Didn't wanna be crated. That, and personally wanted to drive me insane. She's really doing a number to the lamp, you know."
"Naughty!" Makoto says with a gasp. "You can't do that Naoooo. You're gonna get hurt. That, and you're going to upset your mother." He shoots another glance Fumiko's way. "Need help cleaning that up? I hope it didn't go deep."
"Nah," Fumiko says. "I'm fine. It's not exactly her best attempt." She flexes her hand. "Besides… I've got class to get going to. Can't be held up much longer."
"Fair," Makoto says. "But you gotta stay safe, okay? I dunno what I'd do if she, like, ripped out your jugular."
He's got this concerned little look on his face. It's sweet, really, that he gets so worried about stuff like this. Fumiko's fine, of course, but… it's nice to feel cared for.
Their relationship is doing better than ever. It's funny… back during middle school Fumiko never could have conceptualized living with Makoto. At the start of the year she thought he was an immature slob, and towards the tail end there she thought he was a demon from hell. But he's matured a lot since then. Of course deep down he's still the same goofy loser, but…
"At least put a band-aid on, alright?"
He always makes her feel seen.
Fumiko catches the box as he tosses it her way. She sincerely doubts a rainbow band-aid or ten will help with her cat scratch, but it's the thought that counts. She retrieves one and tears the plastic off with her teeth.
"Looking good!" Makoto says as she holds up her hand. "I bet all the people at college will be jealous."
"Yeah," Fumiko says. "My professors will be real jealous I got maimed by a cat that doesn't even look like a cat. Not like this is a common occurrence." Sarcasm drips from her tone as she speaks. All the same, Makoto laughs.
"Tell everyone I said hello, alright? And be careful. It's a busy drive."
"Don't worry," Fumiko says. "I will. You need anything while I'm gone? I'd hate for Kiyoshi to show up only for us to not have any Pepsi."
"Oh shit," Makoto says. "That is today, isn't it? I need to wish him a happy birthday!" He shrugs. "Don't think so, though. We're pretty good. And if it turns out I'm forgetting I can always pick it up real quick after I tutor."
"That's good," Fumiko says. "I made breakfast for myself earlier if you're in the mood for toast. There should still be some on the table." She turns. "Good luck watching the cat, by the way. You're gonna need it."
"Really?" Makoto asks. "You should be wishing me luck with Futsuki."
"Nah," Fumiko says. "They're a good kid. Something tells me you'll be fine."
With that, she turns to leave. It's before she can unlock the door or say 'have a nice day,' however, that she feels something loop around her neck.
"Forgetting something, aren't you?"
Makoto gives her a cheeky smile.
Slowly… Fumiko's hands drift to her nape. They touch soft fabric and make her pause. She can't believe she almost forgot!
...The scarf. That's right: she still has it. It's precious to her, after all. And here she was almost heading out without it.
"Holy shit," she says. "You're right. I guess I was in a pretty big rush."
"Well…" Makoto says. "I can't exactly blame you. You did kinda have a cat screaming in your ear. And besides…" he pauses. "You don't need to worry about forgetting. I'll always be here to remind you."
"Thanks, Makoto," Fumiko says with a smile. She adjusts her scarf slightly… lets it rest comfortably. "You know I appreciate it."
"I know you do."
With that, he leans in for a quick hug. "I won't hold you up any longer, but have a good day, okay? I'll be cheering you on!"
"Same here," Fumiko says, hugging him back. "I'll see you again soon."
And with that… she's off! She unlocks the door and makes her way down the hallway... takes the elevator down to the first floor and steps out of the building. Then, making her way over to their car, she hops inside and starts up the engine.
It's a surprisingly bright day out. The past few have been cloudy and it comes as a nice change of pace. Even if Fumiko's still a little annoyed by how the cat acted she just can't stay in a bad mood. Not after chatting with Makoto. And besides, it doesn't seem like she'll be that late to class.
Of course… she can't make a habit of this; she's no slack-off! But she's learned to be a bit less stuck-up about these things over the past few years. Mistakes happen… life is chaotic. She's come to accept that. And she certainly won't beat herself or anyone else up for it being that way.
...Yeah. She's doing better.
It's funny. She couldn't have seen this coming all those years ago, either. Of course it was always the plan to break away and become a free-spirited person or whatever, but she guesses she also never saw it as really possible. In some ways she didn't even conceptualize herself actually living to twenty. But here she is! Alive! And surprisingly happy, too. Of course there's been a lot to adjust to in the life of a lower-middle-class person, but… it's not all bad. She's gotten a chance to learn a lot of new things, and the people she loves have always been there to support her. She knows she couldn't have done it without them.
But she couldn't have done it without her, either. She knows that's a pretty silly notion. Of course you can't do anything without yourself. But it's still pretty important to think. She's been fighting as hard as her loved ones have all this time, and she never wants to forget that. She thinks all of their efforts are pretty worth commemorating.
She guesses what she's trying to say is that she likes herself now. Really and truly. And although it's her friends and family that gave her that strength it's a love she's fostered on her own, too.
Now she doesn't just have to think in terms of the future... 'I'll be better one day...' She is better and she's getting better every day. She's loving college and it's no longer a far off goal for her. She's learning to teach, and before she even knows it she'll be doing it for real! At Constellate.
She's thought it through a lot. At first she wasn't sure if she wanted to stay near home or expand her efforts to other places, but ultimately she decided Constellate was the only place for her. Not only is it right to repay Nagisa for all he's done for her, but she wants to participate in a system that really cares about the kids. She wants to help people who felt like she did. And she really, really hopes this'll give her that opportunity.
Constellate has expanded a lot over the years. There's a dozen teachers and just as many classes now. But Nagisa has made sure to remind her that she'll always have a place with him. The minute she has her degree, well…
...She's been told she'll fit right in.
It's nice to have goals to work towards while also being able to treasure the present. Now the future feels a lot less like a reason to live, and a lot more like a reward for doing so.
She's talked about it a lot with Kayano… the tumultuous process of doing better. Of course it's not linear - some days she doesn't even wanna get out of bed. But her sister seconds that she's doing better. And her sister seconds that she's gonna do great things.
It's almost bittersweet… that she's doing better than Aguri ever did. But all the same, she's thankful to be afforded the chance. She promises she won't let it go to waste. She'll treasure it- fully and truly this time.
Because now she doesn't need to ask Makoto or anyone else for the strength to go on. She's found her will in a million different things and people. In herself, even... and as flattered as Fumiko is to hear from him or her sister that she's going to do great things, Fumiko doesn't need to hear that. Not really.
Because thankfully and finally, Fumiko already knows.
[3/20/2039 3:12 PM:] [Makoto] Outside now! Mind letting me in? 😜
Makoto stands outside the Nagisa household, teetering from foot to foot. He knocks on the door once, then again, just for good measure. He doesn't mean to come off as impatient... he supposes he's just excited. He is going to get to see his favorite kid, after all.
The door cracks open after what feels like forever. And there stands Nagisa... tie fixed firmly around his neck and giving Makoto a wave.
"Hey," he says. "Come right in. Thanks again for doing this. You know I appreciate it."
"Awwww… no," Makoto says, stepping inside. "There's no need to thank me. You know I love spending time with them. The pleasure's mine." He gives a bright smile and takes off his shoes. "Speaking of… where is the person of the hour? Don't tell me they're avoiding me."
"Nah," Nagisa says. "You know how they are. They're just a little shy. Give me one moment."
He peeks his head into the living room and says "Futsuki! Someone's here to visit you. Can you come in?"
There's a moment of silence and then a shuffling sound. The pitter-patter of footsteps, and then a question... spoke in a quiet voice.
"Uncle Makoto?" They ask.
"The one and only," Nagisa replies, and the footsteps quicken.
Into the room steps a child. Roughly five or six years old, and with bushy brown hair, they look around for a moment before their golden eyes lock on Makoto. They hurry his way and reach out for a hug.
Makoto quite literally picks them up. They let out a quiet squeak, but soon relax. Then… wrapping their arms around him, they comment, point-blank "About time you showed up."
"Jeez, jeez," Makoto says, face flushing red. "I'm only twelve minutes late, so cut me some slack. The cat was giving me trouble."
"Okay, whatever you say," they reply, pulling away. "But I'm still telling Dad to dock that from your pay."
Makoto lets out a huff. "Bold of you to assume I'm getting paid," he responds, placing them down. "I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart, I'll have you know."
Their nose wrinkles slightly… and the child lets out a giggle. They're trying to keep a serious face… no doubt repeating the words they heard from Gakushuu, but they just can't help it. Makoto's overdramatic reaction is too funny.
Their name? Futsuki. Their game? Well… they don't have one. They're like six. But they are Nagisa and co's beloved offspring. The spitting image of their mother and the pride and joy of everyone around them: they're an overly spoiled, albeit rational kid. Introverted by nature, but still kind… they're snarky and oftentimes described as 'wise beyond their years.' With a bad habit of repeating rude or even inappropriate comments from their parents, they can come off as a little demon at worst and an old man of sorts at best.
Needless to say... Makoto fucking loves them.
"Okay," they say blankly, seeming to take his word for it. "Come on, then. I got a gift for you. But you only get it if you put in the work."
"Oh. And so you're the one paying me, now," Makoto says. "I see how it is. Your dad wasn't willing but you were? That's very kind of you."
He knows full well that Nagisa would pay him if he asked, but he really doesn't want it. He's happy to help out for free. He just wants something for the kid to feel good about.
Futsuki smiles slightly. They don't reply, but that doesn't particularly matter. They take him by his hand… tugging it as they lead him into the living room. 'Hurry up,' they seem to say. 'Let's not waste any time.'
It's funny, almost, how eager they are to spend time with him. Of course they're too cool to admit it… but Nagisa's told him just how much they look up to him. The minute he's out of earshot he's just the awesomest guy. But breathing a word of that in front of him? No way. Not with their attitude.
That's okay. Makoto can see through their barely authentic apathy. And as such, he'll let them feel cool for now.
Nagisa's got all their stuff set up in the living room. Worksheets and pencils neatly organized on the table, they're all ready to learn.
That's right… learn! Makoto helps out with tutoring. He knows rationally that Futsuki probably doesn 't need it… their father is a teacher after all, but he appreciates getting to help out. It makes him feel smart. And even if teaching isn't quite what he wants to do with his life, well…
It feels good to be a role model.
He lets Futsuki lead the way… pat the ground beside them as they sit down. He scoots in and starts to look over their work. That is… at least, until he's distracted by the cat.
He hardly notices him at first. But then he spots a pair of bright golden eyes peering down on him. Perched on the couch like a gargoyle sits Overlord Destructor: Devourer of Worlds… another one of Miss Nao's offspring, and a being named by Futsuki themself. Super cool and, like, super evil, the fluffy black cat considers himself a friend to Futsuki and a foe to pretty much anyone else. He's a delight, when he's not… like, trying to rip out Makoto's jugular.
Makoto gives him a brief wave, but is soon elbowed by Futsuki.
"Stop looking at the cat," they say. "We have work to do."
Wondering, briefly, if the reason that Futsuki looks up to him so much is that he gave them a cat, Makoto shakes his head and clears his thoughts.
"Okay," he says, ignoring the pair of evil eyes on the back of his neck. "What are we doing today?"
"English," Futsuki says, pointing at the worksheets in front of them.
"And math," Nagisa says. "Don't forget."
"And math," Futsuki adds on, clearly frustrated. "Even though I don't like it and want it to die and am never going to use it in real life."
"I know," Nagisa says softly. "But you've still got to do it and there's a way to make it fun, isn't there? You just have to do it in a way you like. And you like hanging out with Uncle Makoto, don't you?"
"I dooooo," Futsuki admits with a huff. "But not more than I hate math."
"Hey. Hey. It's okay," Makoto says, wondering how it is that a six-year-old already has so much hatred in their heart. "We can do English first. And take a break in between. Does that sound good?"
"I guess," Futsuki huffs. They remain irritated for a little bit, but quickly lighten up as the lesson continues. They enjoy getting to show Makoto what they've learned, and it's nice to have another perspective on what they don't understand. Nagisa watches the two of them with a smile… leaning back on the couch and nursing a drink as they study.
For the most part, the work isn't anything too difficult. At least… not for Makoto, obviously. He may have been borderline illiterate at the start of Junior High but he's twenty years old, for Pete's sake! He's pretty sure he can handle some first-grade worksheets. And Futsuki seems to be taking to them relatively well, too. They're a quick learner, and super bright. It's practically in their blood! They don't always learn in the most conventional way, but…
"Wait. Not like that."
It happens during the math lesson. It's a little bit past four o'clock and they've been working for an hour now. Futsuki just took their break and they're working on some multiplication problems. At least… until Makoto stops them with a frown.
"What are you doing there?"
"What do you mean?" Futsuki asks.
"Your method," Makoto says, carefully taking the pencil from them. "You don't do it like that. You've gotta set it up so the three's against seven. Then you carry the two. You don't gotta multiply the three and four. At least not yet."
"Oh," Futsuki says, shoulders seeming to wilt slightly. "...I didn't realize."
Frustrated, they start to erase their answer. Their lip twitches slightly.
"Wait," Nagisa says. "Let me get a look at this. I'm not sure about…-" he drifts off, tapping his fingers on the side of his glass as he leans over to look at the worksheets. "Yeah, no. That's a valid way to do it. Continue on, Futsuki."
"Wait. Seriously?" Makoto asks. "But they've got it set up with the boxes. What does that-?"
"Lattice method," Nagisa interrupts. "It exists. Pretty sure I taught it to you back in middle school. Then again it's been a while. Either way…" he shrugs. "You're going to get the same answer. There's no need to stop them."
Watching Futsuki finish up their problem, it's Makoto's turn to say 'oh.' Suddenly he feels really bad. Quietly, he asks Futsuki if he can borrow their pencil.
"I want to see something real quick."
Futsuki gives him a hesitant look. Hostile, almost… and Makoto feels a chill run down his spine. But all the same Futsuki hands over the pencil. Makoto holds it carefully, scratching at the paper as he performs his own method. And sure enough, true to Nagisa's word, he receives the same answer: 2,961… clear as day.
Futsuki had been doing it the right way. And he'd have realized that if he'd just let them finish. But instead he'd interrupted them during the process itself based on it being unconventional alone. That's no fair.
"Crap. I'm sorry, Futsuki," he says. "That was my mistake, not yours. I shouldn't have stepped in like that."
He feels awkward saying it… and it still feels more than evident they're mad at him, but he'd rather feel awkward than pompous. He doesn't want to be one of those adults who can't admit when they're wrong. He was. And… it's important to him to validate Futsuki's feelings.
"Why don't you show me more about that method?" He asks. "I haven't really seen it before, so show me how it's done. I want to see how you map that out."
To be truthful he couldn't really care less about learning another method of multiplication. But it's not about that, not really. It's about letting Futsuki feel like the expert here.
He holds out the pencil invitingly. Futsuki hesitates… but takes it. Quiet but determined they continue to chip away at the worksheet.
Makoto lets out "Ahhh,"s and "I see"s. Of course it's not exactly something hard for him to understand, but it certainly must seem that way to Futsuki after him being so dismissive of it just seconds earlier. And plus… they are teaching him something new, even if it's not really a method of multiplication
Don't get him wrong… it'd be important to stop them if they were legitimately doing something wrong. That's what being a teacher is all about. But it's also important to let them try out things in their own way. When there's more than one way to go about something it's just plain wrong to tell someone there's not. Calling the most commonly accepted method the only 'right' one is elitist at best and cruel at worst.
Of course, Makoto hadn't intended it to come off that way. He hadn't corrected Futsuki out of malice or out of a desire to feel like the one in the 'right.' He'd simply seen something confusing and spoke before he thought. But that's not what matters. What matters is how his actions came across to a kid. And even if he hadn't meant any harm he'd still humiliated them and damaged their confidence. It's important to repair that.
"Oh. I get it now," he says, sure to ask questions. "And so you multiply the four by the six and the seven. You're basically doing the same thing I was, just formatted in a different way." He smiles. "That's really smart!"
"You really think that?" Futsuki asks, frowning. "I'd be mad if you were saying that just to make me feel better."
"Of course I think that," Makoto says. "It's cool that you're willing to go about it in an unconventional way. And besides… I didn't get it, did I? And I'm an adult! That means you've gotta be pretty smart to stick to your convictions."
Futsuki smiles slightly. And before Makoto even knows it their spunk starts to return. It's hesitant at first, of course… but as they continue to work it comes back at full force. They may have been burned, but ultimately they're… like, six. Needless to say they're quick to forgive.
Makoto's thankful for that. The last thing he wants is to hurt them. And besides… that hateful look they gave him earlier. It…- well…-
...He never wants to see it again.
Nagisa gives Makoto an approving nod. 'Good job,' he seems to say. 'I'd have been mad if you'd buckled down on that.'
And Makoto can't exactly blame him. Futsuki is sort of his pride and joy. He knows it took a… uh… lot of work for Nagisa to come to the conclusion that he was ready for a kid. And he'd rather die than let anything happen to them. Makoto feels much the same. And… well: the two of them know enough about child psychology to have the general gist of how to do the right thing.
The rest of the lesson goes by without an issue. Futsuki shows Makoto more of how they go about the lattice method, and even if they still don't like math they seem to perk up some at the opportunity to teach him. Makoto gladly lets them play teacher. He's happy they know what they're doing. And besides: if they're thriving, then… well…
He's thriving too!
At the end of the lesson, Futsuki hops to their feet. They're still quiet… they don't cheer or laugh, but that's okay. It's more than clear they're enthusiastic in their own way. And besides… when Nagisa pats them on the head, telling them they did a good job, they give him a bright smile.
They thank Makoto, softly, for helping them… even if he 'didn't do a lot' and 'kind of made a fool of himself.' The help's still "Appreciated or whatever," they admit with a deadpan snort.
"I'm glad to hear it," Makoto says with a nod. "And sorry again about what happened. Thank you for helping me learn something new.."
"No need," Futsuki replies with a huff. "I'll always put you in your place"
They say it so seriously… but there's this goofy little grin on their face. It's adorable how much delight they take in embarrassing him, even if it's also a little malevolent.
"Speaking of necessary," Makoto says. "I seem to remember you saying it's necessary to pay me. Do you have your gift for me? Or have I unearned it?"
"In a perfect world, maybe," Futsuki says. "But under the due process of labor… no. You've still earned your reward. Give me one moment."
With that, they scurry off. Nagisa gives Makoto a knowing look, but Makoto doesn't dare ask him what it is and ruin the surprise. Whatever it is he's sure Futsuki is proud of it, and that's enough.
After maybe a minute they return. They've got their hands positioned behind their back and a deadly serious look on their face. Instructingly, they say "Close your eyes, alright? And… and don't make fun of me, okay? We put a lot of work into this, so no matter what you do you better be grateful."
"No-one's going to make fun of you," Nagisa reassures. "I promise. Just show him what you've got. He'll love it."
Makoto nods and shuts his eyes. He holds his hands out, clasped, and leans down.
"What is it?" He asks. "Don't just leave me hanging."
Gingerly, Futsuki places something cold and plastic in his hands. They maneuver them to clutch it… that something soft and cylindrical, before telling him he can open his eyes. There's a hesitance to it, but all the same.
"I hope you like it."
Makoto's eyes flutter open... and what he spots is a red solo cup filled with dirt. Within that dirt, however… rests flowers: blossoming out at him in their own homemade bouquet.
"...We grew them," Futsuki says, shifting slightly. "Dad and papa and I. I know they're not exactly the coolest, but… well…-" They pause. "...I thought they looked nice. And I thought maybe the people I liked could appreciate them too. What do you think?"
Makoto blinks… staring down at the colorful flowers. Taking in the sight of roses and zinnias he's almost overwhelmed. But sooner rather than later he collects himself. And taking a deep breath, he gives Futsuki a smile.
"I love them, Futsuki!" he says. "They're so pretty. And you mean you really grew them by yourself? These look like they could come from a store!"
He means that. He has to spot at least half a dozen different flower varieties in there. That's pretty damn impressive for a six-year-old child and two of his parents. And that's not even getting started on the colors.
Futsuki must sense his enthusiasm, because they nod. Albeit still a little hesitant, they explain further. And as they speak a sense of pride seems to overtake them.
"It's not hard," they say. "It seems like it would be but it's just about getting into the routine. All you've gotta do is make sure they get the right amount of sun and water every day. And even that doesn't tend to be difficult. Most flower varieties are super resilient. Even if you mess up a little they're usually capable of recovering. They're used to growing up in way worse conditions than a garden, after all."
"I've got daisies, roses, zinnias, and daffodils in there, alongside thyme and coriander for some extra 'oomph.' What do you think? I wanted to add lilies, too, but it turns out they make cats super sick."
They crouch down to pet Overlord Destructor as they speak. The cat purrs, leaning into their touch. Makoto reaches out to pet him, too, but it's no use. Overlord Destructor lets out an irritated hiss.
"I think they're pretty good choices!" he decides on instead. "The zinnias, especially, are pretty. I'm already thinking of some places around the apartment I can put these."
"Really!?" Futsuki asks, perhaps a bit more enthusiastic than they'd meant to come across. They scoot backwards, slightly: cheeks pink, but don't let that enthusiasm fade. Instead, looking quizzically at Makoto, they make sure to instruct him to "Use glycerin, then, okay? That's how you prevent them from rotting. I'll show you how to do it sometime! Papa taught me!"
"...Glycerin," Makoto repeats. "Okay! Sounds good. I've gotta go pretty soon to celebrate Kiyoshi's birthday, but I can stop by again sometime and have you show me the ropes. I am sort of a novice with this stuff, after all."
"Sounds good!" Futsuki says with a smile. "Tell Uncle Kiyoshi I'm sorry for not getting him some, by the way. Initially, the plan was to pluck some for both of you, but I was scared I'd kill the plant."
"Hey," Makoto says. "It's okay. I can pass on a few to him. A… joint gift, if you will. If you're okay with that, I mean."
"More than," Futsuki says. "I bet you'd look really silly giving flowers to him. Just let me know how he reacts, okay?"
"I will," Makoto says. "And I'll make sure to pass on the glycerin tip to him, too. He'll probably already know how to do it, though. He's sort of a genius."
"Ha. Fat chance."
Futsuki's giving Makoto a mischievous grin. It's subtle… but it's clear they're a lot more relaxed than they were before. They're humming a tune and petting the cat as they look his way. It's funny, almost, how someone just needs the chance to talk about something they love to open up, even when they seemed so bashful before.
Nagisa engages with them as well. Asks them if they enjoyed growing the flowers and if they plan to grow more with him and Gakushuu. The answer, of course, is a resounding 'yes!' They want to move on to 'even bigger and better things!'
...He's a good parent. Of course Makoto hardly knows anything about parenting, but… he still gets the impression that Nagisa is doing a pretty near-perfect job. After all, he knows Futsuki from head to toe… all their little quirks and what makes them unhappy or doesn't… and he does everything in his power to make sure they feel safe and content. It makes Makoto feel fuzzy and warm inside. After all, parenting isn't just about getting the perfect child and making sure not to screw them up. It's about getting a wholly unique person and adapting to their specific needs… something Nagisa's an expert at.
'Unlike…-'
Makoto doesn't mean to think about it. He's moved on from it, mostly. What… happened back then. But all the same his mind occasionally wanders back… and twirling a daffodil in his fingers… watching Nagisa perform so perfectly, he can't help but think about Damien.
It's been twenty-three years since he died now. Sometimes Makoto can still hardly even believe it. But all the same… reminiscing on him isn't entirely a bad thing. Makoto's learned to forgive himself, even if that doesn't make what happened okay. And sure… flowers might make him a little sad, but it's nice to see something that brought him so much joy bring someone else joy as well. The world keeps on turning.
"Hey… Futsuki," he asks. "You know about flower meanings? Or did you pick these out at random? 'Cause they can actually be pretty interesting if you look into it."
He says it absentmindedly. Lacking meaning, almost. But all the same he doesn't regret it. He remembers the way a smaller… more innocent Damien had tried to pass that knowledge onto him. He'd been the one who'd crushed that innocence. He figures the least he can do is continue the legacy.
"A little," Futsuki admits, still scratching under Lord Destructor's chin. "Karma helped me look into it back when Dad and Papa and I decided we first wanted to start a garden. I only learned the super basic or super cool stuff, though."
"Super cool?" Makoto asks. "How so?"
"Y'know… messed up or morbid stuff associated with 'em," Futsuki says. "People tend to associate flowers with being lame, but red windflowers represent death, and in some parts of the world balloon flowers can be a symbol for pentagrams. They're not all soft and sweet."
"Gee," Makoto says. "I hope you didn't put any of those flowers in for me."
"Nah," Futsuki says. "You're weird and annoying, but I don't hate you that much. Besides, Mom probably would have gotten mad at me if I did that."
"Awww. I dunno about mad," Makoto says. "But I'm glad she's looking out for me, I guess." He lets out a small chuckle. "Know the meaning of any of the ones you gave me? Or?"
"Some," Futsuki says, pointing. "I know daisies are… uh… innocence. And I think thyme is courage. But I didn't pick any of those out because of you, really. I mostly just picked what I thought looked nice."
"That's fair," Makoto says. "And look nice it does," he agrees, ignoring the fact that it's in a plastic cup. "What are the other flowers you've got in there again? I'll see if I know anything."
"Roses, zinnias, and daffodils. Alongside coriander. But coriander and thyme aren't really your typical flower. They're more like herbs."
Makoto racks his brain.
"Well let me see… I know red roses are romantic, but these aren't those. What's white again? Hate? No… that's not it." He shakes his head. "I think that's yellow. White might be purity, actually."
"Zinnias," he continues, "I think have something to do with sad stuff? But I can't place my finger on it. Maybe grief? But that just sounds messed up."
"Consider it because you give me grief," Futsuki says with a tsk. "Nothing morbid: just the truth."
"Okay. Okay. That works," Makoto replies. "And daffodils. I think I know daffodils: I've always liked them. They're new beginnings. Which leaves just coriander. What is coriander?" He breathes in through his teeth, deep in thought. "Now that's a weird choice."
Futsuki gives him a wounded look.
"You think so?"
"Not in a bad way. Not in a bad way," Makoto reassures. "I just… can't remember what…-" he drifts off. It has to be in there somewhere. He just knows it.
He drifts back to another time. To another body and another mindset. Damien's sitting at the foot of the table across from him, fiddling intensity with flower stems. He's not looking at Makoto, but Makoto's staring at him. He wants to memorize what his face looks like… make sure he never forgets. Somehow he looks so small.
"Hidden worth," he says, indignant, almost. "Coriander is hidden worth. Not that you'd know that."
Makoto's lip twitches. But all the same, Korosensei doesn't leap. He doesn't punish Damien, not yet. This is what he gets for taking in a teenager, after all, isn't it?
"...Let's get going," he says, instead. "We've spent enough time dawdling. I believe it's time we embark on our next mission."
Damien doesn't argue. Simply tosses the off-white flowers down onto the table and stands. He stretches and turns to stare at Makoto with half-resentful, half-hopeful eyes.
He hadn't been certain that his life was over. Not yet. 'Please,' his eyes seem to say. 'Tell me I have hidden worth, too.'
...Korosensei doesn't answer.
Makoto opens his mouth to speak. But Futsuki beats him to it. Raising a hand they say "Hidden worth, isn't it? Coriander, I mean? I seem to recall hearing something like that."
They're looking up at him with an innocent expression… but Makoto's mouth falls agape. As his world slows to a halt, all he can do is stare.
...Why's his heart pounding in his chest?
Futsuki's brow furrows. And they ask, softly if they've done something wrong. "If that's not true you can always correct me," they remind him. "I just thought that-"
"No," Makoto interjects, mouth dry. "...I seem to recall hearing something like that, too. I just…" he shakes his head. "No. It's nothing. You made me think of an old friend, that's all."
"Oh," Futsuki replies, as if that explains anything. "Okay." They pause… petting the cat gently. "Did they like coriander, too?"
"...Yeah," Makoto says. "They sure did."
He gives a sad smile. But thankfully Futsuki doesn't seem to notice. Instead… they return to infodumping about flowers. And soon after the topic drifts from flowers at all. Futsuki moves on. But even as they do, Makoto gives pause... and he stares at them, quiet, as they play with their dad.
They let out a low laugh as he picks them up and twirls them around. It's a joyous, innocent sound. It's a short time that kids get to stay the way Futsuki is. And Damien got to stay that way even shorter. But listening to Futsuki laugh… Makoto just can't help but treasure that time. And watching them thrive… the way a smile seems to creep up their face, Makoto wonders if he's seen that smile somewhere before. If…-
It just seems to click.
He's still not sure what Nagisa saw in him all those years ago... what made him say 'Korosensei.' But… he thinks he's starting to get it now. It's not a conclusion you come to with your head. It's something you feel with your heart. And…
The way Futsuki looked at him when he corrected them... the way they explain their passion so boundlessly… their snide, sardonic humor, and most importantly: the way they laugh… he's so sure he's seen it somewhere before. Somewhere so far away from here. And somewhere so detached.
They smiled the same way on that night. Unknowing, as they tugged on Reaper's jacket. "Please. Take me with you." They said. "I'll do my best. I promise."
Reaper had taken advantage of that smile. Treated it so callously until they were unable to smile at all. But watching Nagisa twirl Futsuki around in circles he knows they've finally placed that faith in someone they can trust. And Makoto can't help but think that… that…-
...Well, that they'll be able to laugh for a lot longer.
He's not certain, of course. You never can be with these things. But… a hunch is enough. And a hunch helps. If he's been given this chance to heal, then… well, who's to say Damien hasn't, too? They most certainly deserve it, after all.
He doesn't say any of this. Not to Futsuki. Instead, he simply engages them. Talks about the cat and the flowers and their favorite kids' anime... the walk they went on with Mom recently and what they want to do when they grow up... all the things the two of them could never talk about before... all of the things Makoto was too blind to acknowledge. Because those things aren't gone. Not yet. And even if it makes his heart ache…
He's glad it's not too late to fix things after all.
Soon, evening approaches, and it's time for Makoto to return home. As muddled as his thoughts are… he has things he needs to do; a life he needs to move on with. And as much as he wishes he could spend more time with Futsuki, he knows Nagisa will serve that purpose just fine. Better than he ever could, in fact.
He says goodbye to the two of them in the doorway, although Futsuki soon scuttles off. There's a TV episode they've been looking forward to, and no way in hell are they missing out on it. Nagisa and he laugh, watching them go, although perhaps for different reasons. And as Makoto reminds Nagisa it's a good kid he's got there, he pauses… stares down at the 'flowerpot' in his hands, and thinks.
He shakes his head. 'No.' He thinks. 'Not right now.' But as he steps out the doorway… something stops him. And Makoto turns around, only to give Nagisa a smile.
"Hey. Before I go, actually…
...Can I say something crazy?"