Hiroki paced the entrance hall, staring hard at the floor. He clutched his phone at his side, and every once and a while a phantom vibration would send shivers up his arm.
"Hiro-san? Has Miyagi texted you back yet?" Nowaki asked, a troubled look on his face as he strode out of the kitchen. He still looked groggy from the napping he had done to catch up with his sleep.
"No," Hiroki said, slowing to a stop and raising his phone for about the hundredth time.
"Well, come into the kitchen and have something to eat. I made you somethin'," Nowaki slurred, beckoning Hiroki to him. Hiroki sighed and followed Nowaki into the kitchen.
"Breakfast for dinner?" Hiroki asked, catching sight of the steaming omelet on the table.
"Yeah," Nowaki said, fondly patting Hiroki's head as his little lover took a seat. Hiroki mumbled thanks and raised his chopsticks to dig in. He paused, though, looking back up at Nowaki. He had gone back to the stove and was preparing himself something to eat.
"Nowaki… I'm worried. It's getting colder outside, and if Shinobu isn't wa-"
"Hiro-san, it's nine o' clock. You're not going out there to look for them," Nowaki said firmly, glancing over his shoulder. Hiroki pursed his lips irritably, resenting Nowaki's uncanny ability to practically read his mind.
"I'm carrying your kid, not your grandkid, dad," Hiroki said wryly, propping his elbow up on the table and pouting as he nibbled at his omelet.
"You were the one who was so scared last night that you couldn't go into the bedroom without me to hold your hand," Nowaki countered without hesitation.
"Fuck off, you know how I get late at night!"
"Hiro-san, I don't want to argue. Shinobu-kun's a big boy, and Miyagi has surely found him by now. I'm sure Shinobu-kun is safe and warm."
"Nowaki," Hiroki said loudly, abruptly standing. Nowaki turned to look at him. "I am a twenty-nine year old man. In the next couple months, I'll be thirty. I know you signed for this apartment, and that you usually end up taking care of me instead of the other way around. I know, but I'm still an individual person. Shinobu is a minor, quite possibly outside, all alone, in the dark. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to make sure a minor is safe, regardless of what school they go to."
Nowaki stared at Hiroki as his little lover glared back at him with determination.
"Fine. But I'm coming with you," Nowaki sighed. "I don't want you out there alone this late at night."
Hiroki nodded gratefully and bounded off to the bedroom to get dressed.
"Shinobu? Shinobu!" Hiroki called, raking the light of his flashlight over the streets as he quickly walked down the sidewalk. Nowaki was never more than a foot away from Hiroki, his own flashlight searching for threats.
"I don't see anything, Hiro-san," Nowaki said.
"Hush, you're not even looking for Shinobu," Hiroki snapped.
"Hiro-san, I know you're worried, but please calm down a little. I'm keeping an eye out for Shinobu, too, but I'm also looking out for anyone who might try to hurt you," Nowaki said gently. Hiroki slowed his marching to a stop and chewed his lip as he turned on the spot with the flashlight.
"I… I just know he's out here somewhere," Hiroki muttered, furrowing his eyebrows. "I can feel it."
"Uh… how?" Nowaki asked. Hiroki flashed a scowl at him.
"I don't know, alright? Maybe it's just a pregnant man to pregnant man thing. I just have a feeling that Miyagi hasn't found Shinobu yet," Hiroki said shortly.
"Quiet down, idiots. Your flirting is going to wake up the whole neighborhood."
Hiroki yelped and Nowaki jumped at the sound of the voice. They spun around to face the source of the voice, shining their flashlights in the eyes of an irritable, squinting Shinobu. Shinobu glared at them, putting a hand on the still-present baby bump.
"You didn't abort!" Hiroki exclaimed, rushing forward and grabbing Shinobu's shoulder.
"Don't be an idiot," Shinobu muttered. "My beautiful sons weren't the ones who caused the fire. They're helpless."
Hiroki frowned as Shinobu bit his lip and trembled, clenching his fists at his sides.
"Shinobu, are you going to cry?" Hiroki asked very softly. Shinobu glowered at him.
"Of course not! I'm not a baby!" Shinobu barked. His face contorted and he jolted as he lowered his head and covered his eyes with his hand.
"You've been waiting for Miyagi this entire time," Hiroki whispered, his eyes darkening as he reached up to tenderly comb Shinobu's sandy blonde locks of hair back. He felt oddly surreal as he stood there, illuminated both by the moon and the flashlight, stroking back the hair of a boy he usually hated. He felt a strange, warm sensation blossom up from his baby bump as he gently whispered soothing words to Shinobu.
Kamijou Hiroki, the devil of M University, was being motherly. Almost... angelic.
"You've been waiting for him to come find you, to tell you how much he loves you," Hiroki murmured, cupping Shinobu's soaked face in his hands and gently swayed, slowly rocking the three sleeping babies between them. Shinobu's sweater vest-clad belly brushed ever so slightly against the soft material of Hiroki's baby blue, cotton shirt.
"He didn't come," Shinobu wept into his hands, his knees quickly weakening. Hiroki slowly eased them both to the ground, where they knelt before each other. "He didn't yell or scream at me when I told him that I wanted to abort… he doesn't even care…"
"He cried for you," Hiroki breathed in a slow, airy voice, shutting his eyes and leaning forward to press his forehead to Shinobu's. "He cried for the babies, he loves them."
"Then why isn't he here? I was so afraid for the babies, I thought someone was going to-"
"He's searching for you. Somewhere in Japan, Miyagi is searching for you, to tell you how much he loves you. He's going to show you how much he loves his babies."
Shinobu looked up, a squeaky strangled noise tearing itself from his throat. Hiroki pulled away from his forehead, wiping Shinobu's tears with the pads of his thumbs. He then moved down to take his hands. Hiroki very slowly brought Shinobu's hands to his own baby bump, and Shinobu jerked and gasped, trying to pull away.
"It's okay," Hiroki said quietly. He reached out to gently lay his hands over Shinobu's swollen belly. "We share something very, very beautiful, Shinobu. These creations of love within us mean more to us than even ourselves. We can't let ourselves be discouraged or frightened by those who oppose us. We can't let ourselves blame these innocent, pure lives inside of us. We need to stay strong."
Shinobu nodded dazedly as Hiroki ran delicate fingertips over his baby bump, sending shivers up the small boy.
"Let's do this together," Hiroki whispered, his voice hypnotizing and calm. "Let's be strong together. Let's complete these pregnancies and create our families."
Shinobu and Hiroki had begun to weep silently together in the power of their sudden mutual respect and admiration towards each other. Without their awareness, a tight bond was forming between them, mending the awkwardness and coldness of their past.
All because of these beautiful creatures growing inside of us.
Hiroki couldn't help but to smile at the irony of the idea forming in his head. It was perfect. The perfect way for a fresh start with his and Shinobu's friendship.
"Shinobu," Hiroki said softly, reaching up to cup Shinobu's face in his hands once more. He tilted Shinobu's chin down, pressing a brief kiss to the top of his head.
"Yes?" came the trembling reply.
"I want to do this together. I want you to be there to protect my baby if anything ever happens to me and Nowaki, and I'll be there if anything happens to you or Miyagi. Be my baby's godpapa, and I will be the godpapa to yours."
"…Yes."