A/N: Here's my submission for Day Three of Naegiri Week 2021, taking place after "The Naegis' Secret Diary!" Please read, review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Naegiri Week 2021

Day Three: Storm!

*Boom*

A flash of faraway lightning accompanied the clap of thunder in the distance. Makoto and Kyoko looked up with worried eyes as the lights flickered. In seconds, the house dimmed, electricity no longer powering the house's lights and appliances.

"Great." Makoto sighed. "Power's out…hopefully Kiki has it better over at Hope's Peak than we do here."

"I'm sure she does, but let's check on the others." Kyoko turned on the flashlight app on her phone, causing a small cone of light to emit from the camera lens. "There's a chance the thunder could have woken them up."

"Yeah, good call." Makoto agreed before he followed his wife out of the kitchen.

Makoto creaked the door open and peered inside. He smiled with relief as he saw his son happily sleeping through the thunderstorm that raged outside the protection of their home. Quiet as a mouse, Makoto closed Mokubo's door and nodded at his wife.

"Moku's just fine. He's sleeping right through this storm."

"I'm glad, plus Hogo's sleeping with him, so he should be alright." Kyoko sighed before she turned down the hall. "Alright, let's go check on Koto and Kiri."

Makoto nodded in agreement and followed his wife, hoping that his youngest children were sleeping as soundly as their big brother was.

Sadly that was not the case, as the latest clap of thunder caused the twins to practically jump in the bed they shared.

"Koto…" Kiri sniffled as she clung to her brother in a rare act of desperation and affection. "I'm scared…eek!"

Another boom echoed in their ears, frightening the young children and causing them to tense as the door to their room simultaneously opened. They slightly relaxed as they saw their worried parents peek in.

"I guess the storm outside woke you two up, huh?" Makoto guessed as he closed the door behind him and Kyoko.

The two nodded meekly as Kyoko strode to the bed. She sat down and embraced her frightened children, providing them with the warmth and security that only a mother could.

Makoto smiled at the touching motherly scene, his heart warming at how unusually docile the normally feuding twins were right now. If only they'd get along with each other more often… Makoto shook the thought away and sat down next to his children, wrapping an arm around them. "Hey, you two. Are you guys alright?"

"…The storm just scared us awake." Koto admitted before Kiri sniffled.

"…We want Kiki…"

Both parents sighed before Makoto told his children "Kiki's at Hope's Peak; I can't just drive over and bring her home on command."

"Besides, as much as I'd like to, we can't keep Kiki at home forever." Kyoko admitted as she stroked her children's hair. "She's sixteen; she's almost an adult. Before too long she'll be moving out and starting a career and maybe a family of her own." I'm not ready to be a grandparent, but Koto and Kiri need to hear this.

"But…" Makoto cuts off the twins with a smile.

"But even though Kiki's gonna move out someday, she'll still be with us, in a way. She'll always love you as a sister, and no matter how far away she is, she'll always support you, just like how we'll love and support any of you, no matter how far away you live once you grow up."

Koto and Kiri bit their lips, taking in their father's words.

"And besides…" Kyoko reminded them. "We're still here with you right now, so we can weather this storm together, as a family."

"That's right." Makoto agreed. "We'll be here as long as you need us."

"…Promise?" They asked hopefully, causing their parents to giggle.

"Promise." The two parents held out their pinkies in an unspoken vow.

Koto latched onto Makoto's pinky, while Kiri wrapped her own finger around Kyoko's scarred pinkie.

"Now, how can we help you get back to sleep?" Kyoko asked.

"…Could we…" Koto began after he and Kiri anxiously bit their lips.

"Yes?" The two parents asked, allowing Kiri to finish the request.

"…Maybe sleep with you in your bed…?"

Both parents rolled their eyes, smiling in amusement at how hesitant their children were.

"It might be a tight squeeze, but I think we can make it work."

Kyoko nodded with her husband. "Alright, let's hurry to our room, chop chop!"

"Score!" Koto cheered as he leapt off the bed. "I call the middle!"

Kiri pouted before she chased after her brother. "Hey! Come back here! The middle's mine!"

…You can both have the middle… Makoto and Kyoko sweatdropped before they smiled exasperated smiles.

"Well, at least they're back to normal."

Kyoko giggled as Makoto scratched his cheek. "Indeed. Let's go before their argument turns into a tussle."

Makoto nodded, following his wife to their bedroom where their bickering children would surely be waiting.

Makoto and Kyoko smiled as the twins were now nestled between them under the cover. In a rare show of familial love, Koto and Kiri fell asleep in a heartwarming sibling embrace, protecting each other from the stormy scares.

"Those two fight like cats and dogs…but it's nice to see them show how much they love each other every now and then."

Kyoko nodded before she briefly kissed her husband. "Indeed. Now, why don't we go to bed? Hopefully the power will be back on by the time we wake up."

Makoto smiled in agreement before they settled down. The patriarch wrapped his arms around his son, while the matriarch embraced her daughter.

"Good night, Kyoko. Good night, Koto. Good night, Kiri. I love you." Makoto yawned, causing Kyoko to smile.

"Sweet dreams, Makoto. Sweet dreams, Kiri. Sweet dreams, Koto. I love you too."

With that, they closed their eyes and settled into slumber. The storm had tried to rattle their family, but even with the eldest away at Hope's Peak Academy, no Tragedy, let alone an insignificant storm, would cause any Naegi to fall into despair.