Shujinkou sighed as he followed his mother into their home. Everything that has happened today has left him drained both physically and mentally.

Lacking his usual hesitance due to his ragged state, Shujinkou announced aloud, "It's official, Mom."

Hiro glanced back with a curious look on her face. "What's official?"

It was then when his missing hesitance kicked in. He felt like kicking himself, but also felt as if he needed to get this off his chest. But deciding whether he should actually do so or not was a struggle.

Not only what he could potentially say next would be extremely awkward, but it could also change the way his mother looked at him forever.

Oh, forget it.

He took a deep breath and admitted, "I have officially become a pervert."

He expected an 'energetic' reaction from his mother, but she didn't say a word. She simply stood there, as if she was trying to understand what he meant.

"What makes you say that?" Hiro finally asked.

"Well… I was kinda… eyeing the others." Shujinkou timidly answered.

"'Eyeing'?"

"Yeah, you know… the places guys would usually look at."

An extremely worried look crossed his mother's face.

"The common ones! Up and Down!" Shujinkou frantically corrected.

Those words only made the worry on his mother's face much more blatant.

"Legs and chest! Legs and chest!" Shujinkou shrieked.

"Oh." Hiro breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't expect her to be fully relieved by his correction, but it was better than the alternative. "Well, normally I would give the standard 'you're a young man and it's natural to be curious', but…"

"But?"

"I'm fairly certain that wouldn't make you feel better…" she weakly chuckled. "Plus, I don't really understand men in general so I wouldn't know what would be the right thing to say here."

"Fair enough."

Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. He felt like he should've known that this would have been a tough subject for his mother to try and navigate him through.

"But…" Shujinkou's ears perked up as he prepared to listen to what his mother had to say. "Even though I don't know men well, I'm pretty sure I know my son well enough. And I'm sure you wouldn't do that if the opportunity presented it to you. Plus, it's clear that this bothers you more than a pervert would be bothered, if at all, so… What's the whole story?"

Shujinkou continued to scratch his right cheek, harkening back to the events of this afternoon.

"Well, after Monika finished bandaging my head, I found myself sneaking looks. I don't know why; I didn't even know I was doing it until it finally hit me that I was or my hand hit me to get me to stop," he explained.

"So that's where the handprint came from…"

Hiro recalled the hand shaped mark she found on his son's face when they met at the hospital. She didn't realize it was self-inflicted.

"You probably shouldn't have done that with a hurt head," she pointed out.

"Monika said the same thing..." Shujinkou awkwardly chuckled. "But I felt like I deserved it for doing that. I mean, they're my friends; I shouldn't be looking at them like that. I shouldn't really be looking at any female like that."

"Well, it's important that you're not happy with what happened and with context, it's very likely that it was just a random moment caused by your recent fall to your head."

Hiro paused as she considered what she just said.

"That said, the implications to that would be worrying, but the doctors said that your head was fine so… now worries?" she continued.

"I hope so…" Shujinkou sighed. "But that's not all I'm worried about the whole looking thing."

"What else is there?"

"I'm pretty sure the others noticed what I was doing. I'm not exactly the most subtle person around. Plus, I did it right when they were facing me, so it's pretty much impossible that they couldn't have noticed. They gotta be mad at me for pulling something like that."

"I wouldn't be too concerned. I'm pretty sure they reached the same conclusion that I have," Hiro assured him. "After all, you've told me of the time Monika didn't assume you were peeping into the girl's locker room on purpose and helped you get out of it. There was also the time, the girls weren't mad at you when you thought they were after you almost kissed Mali."

"That's true," Shujinkou conceded.

Thinking back to those moments, he always did find it surprising his friends weren't angry at him or for very long. For the most part, they've always given him the benefit of the doubt.

Granted there was that one time…

Shujinkou's cheeks grew red with embarrassment as he recalled a moment that got him in trouble with two of his friends.

"I'm just going to be optimistic. And a little cautious just in case," he thought aloud.

"Probably would be the best move," Hiro agreed. "You wouldn't want to come off as what happened was something that didn't bother you."

She then turned around and walked into the kitchen.

"Anything else happen today?" she asked.

Shujinkou solemnly scratched his right cheek. "I also talked to Natsuki today."

"Really? What did you guys talk about?"

"Not much… I asked her how she was doing and it turns out that I got her grounded. She said she needed some space and said Sayori chased her around the school. Though I found out not too long after that that part was a lie."

"Really? What was the context of the lie?"

"She said it after I wondered why she in pain when she strapped her bag over her shoulder."

Moments after his answer, Shujinkou heard several knocks on the front door. Opening it, he was only slightly surprised to find Sayori on the other side.

"Oh good, you are home, Shiko," Sayori beamed.

"Where else would I be?" he questioned.

Sayori looked away, nervously chuckling."You know… At the hospital… for me dropping you on the head…"

"I told you it wasn't a big deal. I'm fine," Shujinkou assured her.

"That's great. Monika told me to give you some space, but I'm glad I didn't."

"Monika wanted you to give me space?" An uneasy look fell on his face. "You guys did notice, didn't you?"

"Um…" Sayori looked ahead and timidly waved at Hiro. "Notice what?"

"Mom knows."

"Yes, we all noticed…" she admitted. "But it we know it's because I dropped you on your head. We know you wouldn't do that under normal circumstances. Besides, I wouldn't have any reason to be mad since you didn't really look at me that way anyway."

"Oh. I'm glad I didn't upset anyone…" Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. "Want some Sea-Salt ice cream?"

"Yeah!"

Shujinkou turned around to find his mother presenting two of the frozen treats. Thanking his mother, he then led Sayori to the front porch and gave her one.

"So, what else brings you around here, Sayori?" Shujinkou queried.

"Huh?" his guest shot him a surprised look. "What makes you think I have another reason?"

"You have that look in your eye that screams, 'There's something else I want you to tell me!'"

"Wow… you know me so well," Sayori chirped.

"I know enough," Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. Saying that seemed strange somehow. "So what do you want to know?"

"I wanted to know what made Natsuki lie to you earlier."

"I didn't tell you the context?"

She shook her head. "Nope. I didn't realize that until Monika made me realize I had no idea why she lied in the first place."

"Well, she looked like she was hurt and I asked her why. That's when she said she hit a corner avoiding you," Shujinkou explained.

"So, she was hurt and lied about it…" the worry on Sayori's face seemed very familiar to Shujinkou. It was nostalgic. "What else do you think she lied about?"

"I don't know. I hope it's the only thing but… I don't know."

Shujinkou thought back to his conversation with Malizia. His confusion and hesitance… The emotions he was feeling felt as if he was proving her words right. He may be nothing but talk.

"Monika thinks we should give her some space so we don't jump to conclusions but… I know from experience when someone lies about how their father affects them," Sayori solemnly continued.

Those words affected him deeply. "Maybe… Maybe I shouldn't be involved in whatever this is after all…"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"What you just said made me realize I'm probably not the best person to try and understand this situation because I didn't have such a good relationship with my own dad. Even Hiroko only had moments when she did something that pleased him. "

"I wasn't trying to dissuade you, Shiko; I was just-"

"I know… I'm just being realistic," Shujinkou interjected. "This may be too personal for me and I'm trapped between optimism and cynicism.

You know, if it wasn't for Gramps, I may have had a poor opinion on fathers in general. I mean, mine barely paid attention to me, disappeared often, made Hiroko feel like she needed to work her butt off for any affection, slept with other women, which I horrifyingly walked in on more than I wished… And kinda has a shady vibe to him."

Shujinkou looked up at Sayori then back down at his ice cream.

"Honestly, I always found it incredible that the first friend that I made here always showed that she cared about me more than my own father after only a week knowing each other."

"Shiko…" a bright smile crossed Sayori's face. "You're my best friend; of course I cared about you a lot. Still do."

"I know, if you didn't you wouldn't have bothered to try and get me out of my funk after Hiroko died," Shujinkou said with a sad smile. "My father left but even from a distance, you stayed by my side. Really shows sometimes that blood isn't thicker than water."

"Well… If it makes you feel any better, I never really liked the fact that I liked you more than Jomei," Sayori admitted. "That's supposed to be impossible."

"I keep remembering now and again that you never actually called him my father."

"He never really acted like one to you or Hiroko. I also never called him Auntie H's husband. Like I said, I never liked the fact that I liked you guys more than he did and I really didn't like how he pretty much ignored you unless you got involved in something. What Hiroko went through was bad enough, but doing that to you was much worse."

"I don't know, I'd say all three of us had it equally as bad."

"Maybe it's too personal for me too. I already watched people I really cared about go through that and I really don't want another to have to live through that."

Her words once again weighed heavily on his heart.

"But that's enough about the past. I'm currently working to make sure things work out just in case," she assured him with a bright smile.

But her words did nothing to assuage the feelings in Shujinkou's heart. He wasn't sure what it was he felt exactly and that was exactly what scared him. The first time he felt it, Sayori seemed worried about him and now he was feeling it again.

"Sayori…" Shujinkou stood up and opened the door behind them. "Sorry, but I think I'm going to turn in early. See you tomorrow, okay?"

Without giving her a chance to respond, Shujinkou shut the door behind him and immediately ran to his room.

I'm allowed at least one sudden conversation ender, right?

Though he tried to convince himself of this, he was still plagued with guilt and regret. As lied down on his bed, Shujinkou could only sigh.

"If I was trying to get her to not worry, then I just did a terrible job…"

Shujinkou closed his eyes.

Hopefully tomorrow is a better day…

"Shiko."

I still can't believe that actually happened…

"Shiko."

I just feel so empty now…

"Shiko!" A loud voice screeched in his left ear.

The shock of this sudden vocalized attack sent Shujinkou flying off of Sayori's bed.

"Ow…"

The stunned child immediately cradled his left ear as his friend entered his field of view. She crouched down near him, looking down at him with worry and curiosity.

"I was only gone for a second, Shiko. What happened to make you look so lifeless?"

In response to her question, Shujinkou slowly raised the comic book he had been reading earlier.

"I finally finished it. I've been binging Ultimate Spider-Man and I've finally finished reading Issue 160," he explained.

"Ohh… So, did they actually do it?" Sayori asked.

Shujinkou quickly sat up and cried, "Yes, I've lost my favorite Spider-Man! I didn't expect it to hit me as hard as it did, but it did."

It felt embarrassing to express his sorrow over losing his one of his favorite fictional characters, but he couldn't help it.

"I guess there's only one thing to do now then…" Sayori excitedly wrapped her arms around Shujinkou and drew him into a tight embrace. "Hugs to make the sadness go away!"

"Mary Jane was hugging Peter's lifeless body…" Shujinkou mumbled.

"Oh. Then what will make the sadness go away."

"Probably if I read the Ultimate Fallout mini-series advertised on the last page. I can at least get some closure to get rid of my 'I can't believe this actually happened' feelings."

Shujinkou dramatically jumped on his feet. "My mission is clear. I have to head home and retrieve that mini-series! I really need closure over this!"

"Wow, Shiko… I haven't seen you this worked up over a book since your lecture over why manga should be used for a book report," Sayori marveled.

Shujinkou awkwardly scratched his right cheek. "…It was more of a rant. Anyway, I'm going to head home and grab it. I'll be back soon."

Shujinkou walked towards the bedroom door and saluted his friend. "Wish me luck, Soldier."

"Good luck, Captain," Sayori replied, saluting back.

Shujinkou ran back home and opened the front door. He hopped inside and immediately spotted a young woman. What she was wearing left very little to the imagination. The sight itself was enough for Shujinkou to shriek.

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, the woman was looking down at him. She was a beautiful woman with spiky, and surprisingly shiny orange hair and a beauty mark near her mouth.

"Ah!"

Shujinkou immediately sat up and backed away from the stranger. While he felt a little better now that she was wearing an all encompassing sweater, that source of relief also came with its own problems.

"Who are you!? And why are you wearing my mom's sweater!?" the child exclaimed.

"Why're you complaining?" an "interested" smile formed on the stranger's lips. "Unless that's you're way of saying you actually wanted to take a longer look."

Shujinkou could only whimper as the stranger slowly crawled towards him.

"Leave the kid alone, Nivia."

Shujinkou glanced up towards the voice that ended her approach. It belonged to the man descending the stairs: Jomei.

Nivia stood up and shrugged. "Just messing with the kid, Jomei. Wanted to see if he was as lustful as his father."

"You're not one to talk," Jomei coldly rebuked. "Now if you got everything you need, then get going."

"Ouch, you know how to treat a woman well," she laughed. "I hope you're son isn't taking lessons from you."

Shujinkou anxiously scratched his right cheek as he watched the strange woman leave their home.

"Dad… Were you and that lady…?"

"I rather not talk about it," he quickly answered. "Same deal as last time, okay?"

"Last time…"

Shujinkou curled up into a ball and closed his eyes. He shivered as he tried to keep that past memory down.

Slowly opening his eyes, Shujinkou could see the golden rays of the sun fill his bedroom. He rubbed the back of his head as he sat to bask the mark of a new day.

"Of all things to remember via a dream, it had to be that," he sighed. "Couldn't be him not having time for me, but no, it had to be one of those."

The rest of the morning was the same as usual; taking of his personal hygiene, getting dress and heading downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning, Shujinkou," his mother warmly greeted.

"Morning, Mom." He replied.

Shujinkou sat down at the table. He wanted to forget his dream, but found it impossible. Just looking at his mother was a constant reminder.

"Hey, Mom, do you have any good memories of my father?" he suddenly asked.

Hiro turned around, surprised. "Good memories?"

She remained silent as she took the seat across from him.

"Well there was our first meeting, the first dates… The wedding was especially nice," Hiro recalled.

"Anything else? Like after me and Hiroko were born?" Shujinkou asked.

"Um… I'm sure there were a few."

"A few, huh?"

"It's hard to have any memories when the person of topic becomes so distant."

Her response was as if it was tailor made to harken back to his comment about the equal effects Jomei had on them.

"Yeah… I'm surprised he paid Hiroko any mind at all," he admitted. "Did he ever sour your opinion on men?"

"Well, a little. I didn't think all men were evil, but…" Hiro briefly averted her gaze. "I had a bit of trouble even considering whether or not I could pursue another relationship."

"Sometimes I wonder if he ever ruined my opinion on fathers, or at least, I don't know how they're supposed to be behind closed doors. It's why I'm struggling with Natsuki's father. I just can't trust myself to know what to think or… if anything I've done so far was the best for everyone."

"Well, the thing about family relationships are that they are complex; none are the same," Hiro pointed out. "Some are full of open affection while others are more subdued."

I… had hoped that was the case with your father, but he appeared to e the case where family doesn't mean that much."

Shujinkou scratched his right cheek. As painful as it was to talk about this topic, it had to be even more painful for his mother.

"I'm sorry you and to grow up without a proper father figure and a inept mother," she apologized. "I knew it would have affected you some way, but it seems it was even worse that I feared it could be."

"You weren't inept, Mom. You were one of the reasons I'm the person I am today," Shujinkou assured her. "I mean, who else taught me about kindness and optimism?"

"Mom?" Hiro reminded him.

"True… But I mean something more to that like, how pointless it is to lose your cool over every little thing, how to see the bright side in the small things and most importantly empathy. I was always amazed how you could emphasize with almost anyone. It's why despite my natural reluctance, I know I can always talk to you about anything."

"Well… At least I passed down one good thing to you," Hiro replied with a smile.

Shujinkou nodded his head. "Yeah. I may not know what it's like to have a good dad, but I definitely know what it's like to have a good mom."

He then extended his fist across the table with a smile.

"You want to do that with your mother?" Hiro asked.

"Yeah. If you want to, that is."

Hiro slowly reached out and bumped her fist against his.

The two looked at each other, neither showing any discernible emotions.

"I think I felt the magic of a fist bump, but it went away quickly," Hiro noted.

"At least it wasn't awkward," Shujinkou replied.