This idea was original in a review from Originaljuan92 and it was supposed to be a lot shorter but I decided to run with it a bit more and flesh it out. It gets a bit heavy towards the end but it's mostly a base to set up more things later.
Let me know in a review if anyone would like to see anything else.
Family Pair
"Souji-kun would you mind making sure both Yuuta-kun and Junko-chan's bento is done for school?"
"On it." Souji quickly packed the finishing touches to his kid's bento boxes for the day and set them on the counter. before quickly washing up the utensils and putting them in the dishwasher. Noticing that it was full, he put one of the cleaning cubes in the slot, set the time and slammed the door shut. The familiar whirl of the motors starting clued him in he could now leave that for his other chores.
"Sorry I need to disappear this morning. There is an important interrogation I need to get to on short notice."
A quick raise of the eye brow was his wordless question. "And no I won't need you for this one. I'm assuming you've got a lecture you're doing today?"
Grinning brightly while reaching over to grab another bento box just out of his wife's vision.
"Yup I've got one at 1pm so I can grab the kids from school."
"Perfect," She hastily grabbed her jacket and rushed to put it on. "I'll be back by 7pm hopefully if not don't wait up for me." She rushed over him giving a quick kiss on the lips. She savoured the feeling even though it was brief. Their watches beeped in tandem just as they came apart.
"Here," Shoving into her hands was a well made blue bento box. Instantly knowing what it was, her eyes widened.
"You didn't have too. "
"I know, take it and have a good day." She smiled brightly giving him another quick kiss.
"Love you," She moved swiftly out of the door quickly checking the charge docks with Yuuta and Junko's watches still on there. "Make sure you take your watches on the way out!"
"Yes Mum!"
"Will do Mum!"
"Great, I'll see everyone tonight!" With that she left with an unceremonious slam of the front door.
Next down the stairs was Junko in her school uniform still brushing her hair, using the mirror in the hallway to make sure she was proper for school. Taking a moment to tie up her hair in a loose ponytail, she quickly tied the knot before turning into the kitchen.
"Dad is my lunch-"
"On the table." Flicking her bag open she quickly put the well wrapped box into her bag and fastened the top to make sure it was secure.
"Thanks, I have after school Judo practice this afternoon, just a reminder." He ruffled her hair causing her to whine and try and paw his hand away.
"Don't worry it's on the calendar. Now get out of here so you aren't late, and take your watch with you."
"Ok Dad, see you this evening." Just as she was leaving she slipped on her watch as it beeped, identifying itself.
'Shirogane Junko~'
"Alright see ya!" With that she was out of the door. Realising everything was done, he undone his apron and threw it over the back of the chair.
"Come on Yuuta, time for school."
"Coming!" Making sure his school bag was ready, Souji placed his Bento in the cloth wrap and done it up tightly to make sure it was secure before putting it in his school bag. He heard the light trampling of his youngest bombing it down the stairs before screeching to a halt at the kitchen door.
"Here and make sure you put your watch on." Fumbling with his bag for a moment before finding it comfortable he went to the passage way's table and took his watch from the dock. Putting it on himself it beeped as it when through it authorisation process before announcing his name.
'Shirogane Yuuta~'
Just behind him Souji grabbed his jacket from the coat hooks to shoo his son out of the door with him.
"Come on, let's get you to school. last thing I need is the teachers being on my case."
"Okay!"
With keys in hand, the pair of them left in haste as Souji closed the door and locked it for them to jump in the family car.
...
...
Getting into the police department Naoto surrounded by multiple officers as she made her way through the precinct to interrogate the supposed suspect.
"So Detective Shirogane, here are the files you requested on the suspect. I hope it's everything you need." Taking them in hand, she quickly speed read the cover, then giving a curt nod to the man walking to her left acknowledging that this is what she needed.
"Thanks, the fact it's short notice means I'm working with a limited amount of time, as long as I have the two of you with me here we should be fine." Taking out her phone quickly she went through her messages and found Souji's name. Typing quickly...
'Going in for another interrogation, keep yourself close.'
...
...
As Souji set himself up in his office at the University, his phone and watch pinged a light tone signifying it was Naoto. Reading it quickly, he nodded and set his device to loud so he could hear it over everything else he was doing.
Noting that he didn't have too long before his lesson starts, he quickly sent a bunch of the documents to be printed while copying some of the rest over to be transferred on to his USB pen drive for his presentation.
Grabbing a quick cereal bar from his desk he opened it and took a bite, wondering how everyone was finding their lunches.
...
...
"Junko-chan sit with us!" The next heir to the Shirogane Estate sat down on the set of desks put together which had her friends who had already started eating lunch. Ruffling through her bag before pulling out an elaborate purple bento box and setting it on the table.
"I'm always jealous of your lunch."
"Yeah, it's not fair, is your dad a chef or something." Junko blushed at the attention but shook her head.
"Oh he definitely isn't but he likes to act like it. He loves to cook. Apparently that's how he won my mum over. "
The person next to her pointed with her chopsticks to the numerous amounts of food.
"I haven't seen a maki look like that before. Are you sure he's not a chef." Junko couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm sure Mika-chan. Weirdly enough he's a lecturer and my Mom's assistant." She put her finger to her chin in thought. "Maybe that's why he's so good at cooking."
Taking a quick bite of one the tiger rolls, it melted in her mouth as she sighed with the explosion of taste. "Oh this is good. I haven't had these in weeks."
...
...
In one of the side rooms Naoto finally got time to herself as she sat at the small table in the break room. Whipping out her side messenger back, she pulled out her bento box made from Souji and laid it on the table. She turned down lunch with the prefectural police chief and other higher up officers so she could just eat in peace. Flicking the front of the box open revealed the various types of food inside. All of it was carefully organised and wrapped to make sure they stayed as fresh as possible. Her mouth watered at her husband's cooking being available. The smells of all the food invaded her nose as she took her chopsticks and started to dig in.
"Detective Shirogane?"
Looking up with her mouthful she raised an eyebrow at a couple of the police officers who were also on their way in. Not caring how undignified she looked, her expression told them to ask their question.
"Mind if we sit here as well?"
One great swallow. "Sure, go for it."
"Excellent not often we get to eat and chat with the great Detective Shirogane."
"Trust me, you are not missing much." The other one looked at her bento box, for some strange reason that made her slightly self conscious.
"Was that made by your Estate staff?"
She blinked before taking in another mouthful of food. "No, my husband made it for me."
"Woah..." They said in unison at the wonder of her lunch. All she could do was roll her eyes.
...
...
"So class make sure you have the assignment done by the 24th of next month. It will be 30% of your ending grade. So give it your all."
The collective group of murmurs and chatter acknowledge his instructions.
"Yes Seta-Sensei!"
"Good, you guys are dismissed." With that the class started to empty out and leave as Souji started to pack up his things. Looking at his watch he saw that it would be time to pick up Yuuta soon especially since Junko has after school Judo lessons.
"Oh Seta-Sensei?" Souji looked up to see a couple of his students standing at his desk.
"Hmm, how can I help?"
"Well some of the materials we didn't quite understand, I was wondering if there was a chance if you could spare 15 minutes to go through it with us?" Souji quickly looked at the time, double checking he had enough of a buffer to pick up his youngest. Realising that he did he smiled at his students motioning them to sit down.
"Sure let's do that. You only have 15 minutes though."
"Thanks Seta-Sensei."
After making sure his students were well informed with the tools needed for their assignment, he left pleased knowing that has shown up any issues they may have. On the way out of the University building he stopped by the bathroom to change into some casual clothing and a pair of trainers. If Junko was staying at school for Judo practice he might as well play some football with Yuuta at the park while they waited.
...
...
"Alright everyone make sure you are outside, your parents are waiting." The middle age teacher said as she herded the group of elementary school children to the playground. It's been a long day but they were well behaved. Yuuta walked out just behind them staring at his watch.
"How come you are looking at your watch all the time?" His classmate asked which caused him to look, startled out of his concentration.
"Huh? Oh? It's how I know my Dad is here."
"Oh..." Suddenly Yuuta's watch beeped, loud enough that his classmates and his teacher looked at him to see where the noise came from.
"I hear this every day and it's just something I can't get used to." His teacher sighed.
Seta Souji: Distance 20m
"He's here!" In the background he could see his father making his way through the crowd of parents, occasionally saying hello to ones that he met in the playground before.
"Dad!" He shouted as he ran up to him before his teacher told him to wait.
"Omph, hey there Trouble." Souji greeted, grinning down at his youngest as his kid hugged his leg. Ruffling his son's mop of dark grey hair causing him to groan. Both of their watches bleeped to match the newly updated distance.
Seta Souji: Distance 1m
Shirogane Yuuta: Distance 1m
"Seta-san!" Lifting Yuuta up he placed him on his shoulders, he made his way over to his teacher who was waving them down. "Afternoon Seta-san,"
"Ah Tanaka-Sensei, how's his progress today?" The teacher gave a smile before handing over some of the papers from the day's lessons.
"Going really well. I'm assuming you've been supplementing his school studies with work at home?"
"Yeah, just little things. I promise I'm not over doing it." Laughing lightly she looked over at his son above his head before getting eye contact with Souji again.
"It definitely shows, his Japanese level is great and he's the top of the class for his English and mathematics. Here are a few of his work sheets, if you want to go over anything in your spare time at home, I've marked the parts he's had trouble with which I'm sure he'll improve on. He adapts well." The elder Seta looked up.
"Hear that Trouble, good work."
Flailing arms in celebration. "Yay!"
"Anyway I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good evening Seta-san." Souji bowed which had the secondary effect of making Yuuta bow too while on his shoulders.
"You too Tanaka-Sensei. Right, let's go play some football in the park while we wait for Junko to get out of school."
"Okay!"
...
...
"Man, your shoulder throw is getting mean Junko-chan." The Shirogane could only grin tiredly. She was feeling uncomfortably sweaty, she figured she would rush home and shower rather than hang around and do that at school. She didn't live far at all so it won't take long.
"Yeah my Mum and Dad's Jujitsu sessions are exhausting so you learn to defend yourself pretty quickly."
Her class mate Mika looked at her strangely.
"Your parents are martial arts practitioners?" The heir shook her head in exasperation at the thought of her parents.
"You can say something like that. They both decided to take it up for Mum's work. Saying that watching them practice and spar you wouldn't think they are married I swear. It's like they've fought as enemies before and they've been holding back all this time. It's strange."
"Do they secretly hate each other or something?" Junko raised an eyebrow but looked at the ground in thought as they headed to the front of the school grounds.
"No, well not that I'm aware of. Like they are so lovey-dovey at home it almost makes you sick but there is still a lot about their teenage and young adult lives they don't speak about which I think might tie into it all. I might ask them about it now you bring it up. It's been on my mind for a while but I could never find a good time to bring it up. And even when I do the answers are always vague." Mika frowned, not feeling she could relate to the situation.
"Hmm that is strange, I hope you can find out."
"Yeah me too." Suddenly Junko's watch bleeped loudly signifying it's got a distance notification. "Shoot I forgot to turn it to vibrate."
"Hmm what's it saying?" Looking down, her eyes widened in surprise.
"That can't be right..."
Seta Souji: Distance 50m
Shirogane Yuuta: Distance 50m
"Hmm?"
"My Dad and my little brother are close." Right on schedule a black Subaru Impreza Wagon with tinted windows pulled up outside the school main gate just as Junko and Mika got to it. Looking curiously at the car, the window started to wind down showing Souji leaning over so he could talk. Accordingly all three watches beeped.
Seta Souji: Distance 1m
Shirogane Yuuta: Distance 1m
Shirogane Junko: Distance 1m
"Wait, everyone in your family has those?" Mika asked, perplexed.
"Yeah it's my mum's call, don't ask." Turning to the car and peering in through the window. "So what brings you here?"
Souji sporting his signature grin. "I've just finished playing football with Yuuta back there and I thought I can come get you on the way home. Jump in."
Junko shot an apologetic look to Mika who only waved in understanding.
"Oh is Mika with you?" The eldest sibling nodded as she got into the car. "Mika, get in and I'll drop you home, it's on the way back."
"Yay road trip!" Everyone heard from the back of the car which only made Junko laugh.
"Are you sure Seta-san? I don't want to be any trouble-"
"Don't worry about it, it will take no time at all." With that Junko's best friend climbed into the back seat as they took off to the destination of home.
...
...
Somewhere in the police department temporary office Naoto was signing some papers and marking off some investigation files to send back to the Estate when her phone and watch bleeped.
Family Members: Seta Souji, Shirogane Yuuta, Shirogane Junko
Location: Home
"Excellent, hopefully I can finish these quickly and get home early." She whispered to herself as she continued to sign documents so she could finish up and go home.
...
...
6pm at the Shirogane-Seta residence at Souji was working over multiple pots and pans as he organised the family's dinner, Yuuta was going over the study tasks that was set to him by his teacher for home work while on the opposite side of the table Junko was face deep in her laptop, with the schematics on the latest gadget she was working with her mother on for the past couple weeks. Looking again closely on the CAD design on the screen she moved her hand over to the soldering iron set and current construction of the portable camera that was a work in progress. After soldering the two wires together the power for the camera switched on, bringing a smile to Junko but the smile quickly faded into a frown.
"Argh!" The groan of frustration attracted the attention of her father who was carefully micro-managing the dinner.
"Something wrong?"
Taking off her safety goggles and leaning back in annoyance, Junko took a breath before speaking.
"So the camera sensor is an improvement over the one Mum has already got but the collaboration is always off and I can't figure out why. I've been at this for days, I might actually have to ask Mum but I don't really want to..."
"Want to be able to stand on your own two feet and not be reliant on her?" She subconsciously nodded.
"Yeah exactly- Wait how did you know that?"
"Your mother is exactly the same."
The scoff he heard meant he was right on the money.
"Did you still want that 3D Printer for your birthday?"
"If this keeps up with each new thing I make then I might have too. Did Mum ok it?"
"Don't worry I can convince her..."
The lock on the front door clicked as everyone heard the door open.
"I'm home everyone!" The head of the household announced her return.
"Welcome back! You're back early."
"Mum!" Yuuta shot out of his chair and ran into the hallway out of eye sight for Junko and Souji.
"Woah! Hey there little one. How was school?"
"It was great, Dad played football with me today." Ruffling her youngest hair as she followed him into the kitchen.
"Did you beat him?"
"Yup, it was easy." Looking towards Souji for verification of the result. He shrugged, the grin not leaving his face.
"What can I say, it was convincing." Suddenly all four watches bleeped.
Shirogane Naoto: Distance 1m
Shirogane Yuuta: Distance 1m
Shirogane Junko: Distance 1m
Seta Souji: Distance 3m
"Ha Dad is the odd one out!" Yuuta called only to have a Souji grunt in response, his attention already back on dinner.
"Well this odd one out is sorting out dinner so be grateful." Sticking his tongue out at his son for only him to do the same.
"How is everything Junko-chan?" Naoto put a slender hand on her shoulder as her daughter could only shake her head in disappointment.
"So I'm trying to get this portable camera working like you said and I've replaced the sensor so I know it's better but I can't get it to collaborate properly. I'm out of ideas." Leaning down and taking a look at the insides of the shell, she noticed just where her off spring went wrong.
"Changing it from a Panasonic to a Sony sensor was an excellent idea but I've seen where you've gone wrong."
"Where?" The elder Shirogane pointed to the wiring and the order that it was in.
"Here, you've orientated the camera the wrong way. Turn it 90 degrees anti-clockwise and you should be good to go."
"Seriously? That's it?"
"Yeah," She gave Junko a small squeeze of the shoulder before heading to Souji. "Amazing progress though, I'm proud."
All Junko could do was blush over at the compliment.
"So how's my World then?" She asked her husband as she leaned up and gave him a kiss which he reciprocated sweetly.
"I'm good, and how's the Queen." She gave a small sigh.
"One that's tired of her non-family related subjects."
"Well this will cheer you up, dinner is almost ready." Turning back to the rest of the family. "Right guys let's clear the dinner table, we're about to eat."
"Okay,"
...
...
Junko was sitting in bed getting ready to go to sleep. She just put her phone and watch on her personal charge dock on the bedside table. The conversation with Mika played in her mind about the history of her parents. Just at the time Naoto happened to walk past the open door as she was heading down stairs.
"Mum!"
She caught on, turning around and walking into her room.
"Is something wrong?"
Naoto looked at her daughter knowing she was a little troubled.
"I wanted to ask about something."
"Go on?"
Looking down in thought, she wondered if she had a right to ask but it's her family, her heritage, it just feels that it's been veiled in secrecy.
"I wanted to know what was up with all of the security on the technology we use, the watches, how pleased you were doing contact sports and everything in the like it's like you were-"
"Paranoid?" Naoto finished. Junko flinched at the thought of accusing her mother of something that can be quite serious. Looking at her mum she seemed non-pulsed by the comment at all but held a look of understanding. She sighed and checked her watch quickly noting the time. "Do you want to have this conversation now?"
It was an open ended question, meaning she could take it or leave it for another time. Naoto already noticed she didn't want to drop it but the context implied this might take a bit.
"I'd rather have it now, I haven't stopped thinking about it recently." Naoto perched herself on the end of the bed, sitting at arm's length.
"Fine..." She rolled up the left sleeve of her night shirt to show her the scar on her upper arm which made Junko gasp.
"W-What's that?" Taking a deep breath, the elder Shirogane put aside the negative thoughts in her mind to be as objective as possible.
"That Junko, is a scar from a gunshot wound..." Unrolling her sleeve she pulled up her shirt to show her stomach, revealing a bunch of old scars in multiple places, be it pierce marks, cuts and slashes against her defined chest. "These are from various knife attacks and weapons."
Pulling her shirt down she looked at her eldest child dead in the eye.
"Being a Shirogane is dangerous. At the end of the day Junko, you are the heir to a family business of detectives going on for generations. The name attracts danger, I've had to lock people away that has aimed at friends and family to get to me and your late Grandfather. I've shielded you the best I can from all of the undertakings of trying to purify the criminal world and let me tell you sometimes the criminals aren't the only ones you have to look out for..."
"Police are corrupt?"
It was a half shrug, enough to know she was implying it was somewhere in the middle.
"They can be, which is in itself a problem. I've trained myself to watch my back because I was naive to think that they always want to help you but all it takes is one to stab you in the back."
"Damn..."
Naoto took her Daughter's hand in hers. "I didn't want to have this conversation too early but you've picked up both mine and your Dad's trait of being mature past your age. I didn't want to make you seem so cynical about the world before you've had the experience yourself. You have a chance at a clean break and to see the world in your own eyes. I lost my parents when I was young and that loss and emptiness formed me, defined me and I vowed not to have you be closed in like I was back at your age."
"I heard you were very shy and reserved at school." Naoto giggled just to lighten the mood.
"That is an understatement. If it wasn't for Your father I have no idea where I would be right now. It's why I love him to bits and really I can't live without him."
"The way you two act makes me barf sometimes."
"You know what's the reason for that?" She saw her mother's eyes fade in colour a little. They were officially on the serious side of the conversation.
"Why?"
She took a deep breath to get ready. "There have been four attempts on my life. As in assassination attempts."
Junko's eyes widened at the implications she was telling her. "No way..."
"I'm not joking at all. You know who was with me and tried to protect me with his life at every single one?"
"Dad?"
"Exactly. However I've almost seen him being executed in front of me by Yakuza and I had to take that idiot's life because if it wasn't him, it was my husband to be." Junko stared into her mother's eyes, noting they didn't waver at the thought of...
"You've killed someone..." Naoto looked down, the weight of her consciousness suddenly feeling a lot heavier. The thought of being judged by her own daughter wasn't something she anticipated.
"Not someone, people..." Junko squeezed her mother's hand feeling it tremble in her grasp.
"Does that eat at you?" Naoto shook her head at the thought of the question. It was not something a person her age should be asking. "What does Dad think?"
"Yes. I think about it from time to time. Who am I able to dictate who dies and who doesn't. I'm not a judge, jury and executioner. I'm a detective who has had to deal with the worst of humanity and when that decision comes, you have seconds to make it and you can't take it back. Sometimes I've made the decision for myself to keep living, sometimes I use it to save others like your father at the expense of someone else. It's rare that it happens and I can count those scenarios on one hand but really you never want to make that decision at all. Then you always raise the question in your head is it the right one..."
"This really gets to you doesn't it?"
"Yeah it does. I never want you to experience that."
"Sorry you've had to go through that Mum." The elder Shirogane shook her head again.
"I've grown to accept my decisions, I'm lucky I have you, your brother and Souji..." She leaned forward using a free hand to stroke her daughter's face. "You three are my reason to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep believing for a better world."
"You're amazing,"
"I want to believe that but it's something I'll work towards. I promise." She wiped the loose tear from Junko's eye as it threatened to fall. "Don't cry for me, the more I can keep a smile on your face the more resolve I have."
"I know Mum." She took a moment. "There was one other thing I wanted to ask you about?"
"Hmm?"
"W-What about the Inaba mystery case. I know you and Dad were involved but he's never gone into detail about it other than he got caught up in it as a witness."
The Sleuth raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Where did you hear about that?"
"I heard Auntie Rise and Auntie Nanako talk about it in detail once. But I couldn't put the pieces together. Everything I've looked into about it made no sense but I saw in records that Dad was at one point a suspect. What did he have to do with it? They talked like that's how you guys met."
The sharp eyes of Naoto narrowed dangerously.
"Were you eavesdropping?"
"I... Yeah I was..." Naoto sighed heavily. Not a good sign, Junko prepared for a stern telling off.
"Don't tell your father this. Promise me you'll never attempt what I'm about to do ever. If you can promise me that then I'll talk. I hate hiding things from you and I was your age when this happened to me."
Her daughter looked at her confused for a moment not too sure what she was hinting at, was this something she kept from her dad?
"I promise, how bad could it be?" Naoto left go of her hand and walked next to the moderately sized TV they had in her room.
"I know you can't do this but never, ever try it." Pressing her hand lightly against the screen, it started to ripple like a penny dropped in dark liquid. After a second her hand phased through the screen disappearing into the black mass.
"Oh my god." Pulling it out softly, she shook the fuzzy feeling in her hand she hasn't been accustomed to in a long time.
"H-How did you do that?"
"While I can't answer you completely now because it takes way too long, there is a supernatural world on the other side that reveals our secrets and true selves, the sides of us that can't lie. There are a few of us that have the ability to travel to it in our own volition and have the ability to drag others to and from that ethereal realm. This is what originally happened to me when I was your age. I was trying to make a point and bit off much more than I can chew."
"Does dad know? Did he see it happen?"
Naoto just laughed. "No, he saved me from there."
"Dad can do it too?"
"He's one of the strongest, don't tell him that because it will only feed his ego." The realisation of just how far deep the rabbit hole of her family went suddenly dawned on her.
"My family is really weird."
"Trust me you do not know the half of it."
"There is more?"
The Sleuth nodded. "Oh there is a lot more. I'll promise you this. I'll speak to your dad and we can sit down and talk about everything."
"Talk to me about what?"
The room froze as the two women in the room gasped at Souji's sudden appearance at her door looking confused at what they were so shocked to see him. Looking between the two, his bewilderment grew.
"How come you're standing next to the TV Naoto? Something wrong with it?" He peered at his daughter who was staring at him like she just saw a ghost or a monster. Looking at their expressions, Naoto's position and heavy atmosphere in the air, his mind put 2 and 2 together.
"Wait you told her?"
"I-Souji... I..."
"No Dad I put her up to it Mum was scared-"
Raising his hand to shut off the rambling from both of them gave him a second to think. His expression turned to a wry smile.
"It's fine I'm not upset..." That alone lifted the feeling of the room. Both ladies sighed in relief. "I just wished I was here for that talk."
Naoto looked down instantly in guilt. "Sorry Souji-kun,"
"It's fine, what's done is done. Anyway it's late and you should be in bed Junko."
"Sorry I was having a heart to heart with mum about the past and all." She fiddled with her fingers. "Can you do that thing where you can phase into the screen?"
Souji shrugged. "Yeah I can. Want a demonstration?"
Junko perked, a smile as she nodded enthusiastically. Naoto however gave him a strange look.
"What are you planning?"
He grinned, one where she knew he was going to do something stupid. He walked up to where Naoto was and pressed his left hand on to the screen to cause it to ripple.
"Just trust me and don't panic."
"Why should I not panic-" With that Souji phased through the TV in his daughters room upper body first causing them both to shriek in surprise until he completely went through the makeshift portal.
"Souji!"
"Dad!"
About a couple seconds later they both heard the sound of someone landing in the living room downstairs. Accompanying that was Naoto's watch beeping.
Seta Souji: Distance 8m
Jogging back up the stairs with a massive grin plastered on his face Naoto ran up and slapped him on his chest, almost winding him.
"Don't you know how dangerous that is?" She hissed, fear all but forgotten.
"Oh I know but I have this building scouted. I did so with Rise a couple months ago because I was slightly concerned the same thing would happen with the kids at some point. Luckily this area's midnight channel is quite localised, I think that's the case we both are persona users."
"Midnight channel?" Souji waved away Junko's question.
"Story for another time I promise."
"Why didn't you tell me you did that?" Looking away sheepishly from his wife who's anger simmered down to just frustration.
"I just forgot. I was gonna bring it up-"
"Mum, Dad is everyone ok? People are shouting..." In the door was a very sleepy looking Yuuta who was woken up by the commotion of everything going on.
"I'll take this one." Souji said apologetically as he turned to Yuuta and lifted him up in his arms. "Junko we'll talk about this tomorrow if Naoto is home?"
"I will be, we can clear everything up tomorrow." The youngest Shirogane yawned.
"Clear what up Dad?" Smiling softly at the tired expression of his son.
"My mess I left in the kitchen after cooking. Let's go Trouble and get you back to bed." With that they left the room hoping to put him to sleep for the rest of the evening. This left the women of the family in the room, the tension considerably less than before this conversation started.
"Sorry to put all of this information on you at once Junko, I know it must be hard."
"No it's fine. I'm happy I asked. I'm looking forward to hearing everything in full. If anything this has put my mind at ease a little. I thought there was this horrible family secret going on but it's just you and dad trying to keep me safe."
All Naoto could do was smile. That's Souji's understanding filtering through. "Yes, I know I can be a difficult mum most of the time but I wouldn't know what to do without you. The fact I have kids, the fact I have a husband, the fact I have friends means there is always a danger of people trying to get to me through others. I wouldn't let anyone do anything to you if it's the last thing I do. So try not to dwell on it tonight, and I'll have the rest for you tomorrow I promise."
"Yeah I understand. Sleep well Mum."
"You too," She gave her daughter a small kiss on the forehead and a big hug which she reciprocated in kind.
"Love you,"
"Love you too, see you in the morning." Naoto told her as she turned off the light to the room and closed the door.
Laying down the first thing that came to her head...
"My family is strange..."
Not like Naoto and Souji wouldn't agree with her.
