This story takes place after the manga's ending. I used the characterization of Akito and Sana from Deep Clear since they are a lot older, so sadly you won't see too many of Sana and Akito's childhood antics. I don't own the rights to Kodocha/Kodomo No Omocha, or any of it's characters, but I'm a huge fan. I hope you enjoy this attempt at a fanfiction.

Chapter One: Ai

Akito ran as fast as he could through the streets of Tokyo. People were used to seeing him weave through the crowd in his grey track suit, but it'd be easy for a tourist to think he was running from something.

He was-but it wasn't something he could ever permanately escape. Regret and longing sometimes overcame him, but when he ran, all he could feel was adrenaline and exhaustion. He much prefered the latter.

He sat down on a park bench and took a swig of water. His mind went completely blank for a moment... but then he thought of her.

He stood up, and sprinted back to his two bedroom apartment.

Akito did well for himself. He was only 25 and was already maintaining a private practice as a physical therapist, so it wasn't that he couldn't afford a house, it was just that buying a two bedroom home for himself felt like a more permanate lonliness-so he rented.

"Akito It's cold out! You should take a bath, and I'll make you some tea."

"Aki you work so hard... I'm going to work hard too!"

"Dammit!" Akito slammed his fist on the kitchen counter. Like many times before, he'd lose sleep over the girl he just couldn't seem to get out of his head.

The phone rang.

"Yo." He answered cooly.

"Akito, I'm so glad you answered! We haven't seen you lately! You should come see your goddaughter, she's so precious! She almost said dada today! It was amazing!"

"..."

"Hey Akito, are you there?"

"Yeah. I'll come see her as soon as I find the time."

"You said that last time Akito, and she's been waiting and waiting for you!"

"Tsuyoshi, she doesn't even know who I am."

"...Maybe so... but still! Don't you want her to? Are you okay Akito? Aya and I are worried about you. You and Sana won't even speak eachothers names..."

"..."

"Akito... if you want to talk-"

"I'm fine Tusyoshi, just drop it. I'll come see her tomorrow."

"But Sa-" Akito hung up the phone before he could finish saying her name again. He couldn't bear to hear it a second time. Not now.

Sana and Akito had grown apart- or at least that's what Sana told the tabloids when asked about the breakup with her mystery man.

But Akito knew the real reason: He'd asked her to leave.

After high school Akito went off to college, and Sana focoused more on her career. She had taken a long break, so getting back into it proved challenging for her.

In between jobs, she'd visit Akito at his college dorm, and sometimes it felt like a place of their own. They had supported and encouraged one another through age 21, but the time she had to visit him dwindled as she regained her fame. Paparazi also became a concern, for she didn't want Akito to be photographed and written about in a way that might be a detriment to his future career.

Near the end, Sana had been filming a movie on location for 3 months, and didn't reciprocate any of Akito's attempts at contact. He'd hoped that during his summer break he'd get to spend more time with her, but that hadn't been the case. She wrote him a letter half way in that said:

Dear Aki,

I hope you're summer vacation is relaxing. I can't wait to see you when I get back. It's been so hectic here. I hope you can forgive me. I was going to call, but I felt like a letter of apology would be more suitable for this situation.

Anyways, good luck with your studies and your karate! I'm always rooting for you!

Love,

Sana

Akito felt frustrated. He tried to be patient and understanding but then she missed his 22nd birthday, and his graduation.

Sana came by a week after each event, bearing gifts, but had to cut each visit short for work. The last time he saw her, he told her it'd be best for them to just not see eachother anymore.

"You need to leave..."

"I thought you'd be happy to see me..."

"I can't do this anymore... it's time... to break up..."

Akito began his residency, and Sana, ironically, took a year long break before she continued on in her career. They hadn't seen eachother since.

Akito thought about this often, and had trouble dating after the fact-not that he tried. He got rid of his television and focoused on karate, fitness, and work, just as he'd focused on this day.

The next morning, after his run, Akito went to the store and got a bib that said "Mama over Dada". He didn't wrap it because he figured the baby would be too dumb to understand what a gift even was.

He made his way to Tsuyoshi and Aya's three bedroom home, but was taken aback by a black car with tinted windows parked out front. The driver rolled down the window and waved, and Akito let out a sigh of relief.

It wasn't Rei.

He knocked on the front door and it immidiately swung open.

"Akito! You really came!" Tsuyoshi exclaimed excitedly. "Wait uh... Akito before you come in you should know.."

"SOOOO KAAA-YOOOOT!!" A familiar voice shreiked from inside the house. The baby crawled to the front door and plopped down on her behind right next to Tsuyoshi, staring Akito in the eyes, and sucking on a pacifier. Giggling and crawling close behind her was a beautiful woman with long brown hair and deep brown eyes. She imitated the baby and plopped herself down, but paused as she met eyes with Akito.

"Yo." He choked out.

"Yo." She responded.

Akito broke their gaze, shot a quick look at Tsuyoshi, and placed the bib around the baby's neck. "Here. A gift for you."

Sana and Aya giggled at what it said, but Tsuyoshi lamented "What the heck Akito..."

Akito smirked and walked into the living room. He plopped himself down on the couch, and to everyone's surprise, the baby followed.

"See Akito! I told you she's been waiting for you! Sana's been here like every week, and Ai never follows her!"

Sana nodded, "It's true, she always makes me follow her."

Akito shuddered a bit at the sound of her voice, and Tsuyoshi took notice.

"Aya and I are going to go change Ai's diaper really quick. We'll be back!" And just like that, the new parents carried their baby up the stairs, and the ex couple was left downstairs, alone.

The room fell silent. Sana sat down opposite Akito for a second, then got up and said, "I wasn't planning to stay very long. I'll head out as soon as they get back."

"Whatever you wanna do is fine with me." He replied.

There was silence once more.

"I'm happy to see you're doing well... Tsuyoshi tells me you started your own practice and everything. You've worked hard. You deserve it." she said softly. Akito looked up at her and she continued, "I mean it Aki-"

"I don't need your aknowlegement of my efforts." It hurt him to talk to her that way more than it hurt her to hear it. When he saw her reaction to it, he decided to calm down.

"I see..." Sana trembled. "Hey... so um.. tell Tsuyoshi and Aya I'll be back as soon as I can. I'm gonna get going now." Sana smiled and waved, then went to put on her shoes near the front door. Akito followed. Sana, surprised, looked up at the unexpected happening.

"So I take it you come here a lot."

"Um... I'd say so. I come around once a week. My career is more stable now so I can turn down jobs whenever I see fit."

Akito directed his gaze toward the door. "So who's your new driver? You got a background check on the guy, right?"

Sana smiled, "Of course."

"Good."

Sana returned her focus to lacing up her shoes. When she was done, she stood up and met eyes with the handsome man that stood before her.

"It was really good to see you Akito. I mean it."

She smiled at him softly, opened the door, and was on her way.

Akito left shortly after without a word to Aya and Tsuyoshi.

Instead he wrote on the whiteboard, "I will be back to see Ai in one week."