A/N: This follows the universe of my first fanfic where Kiriya is reincarnated and he lives with the Yukishiros, just because their house is so big and probably has tons of extra rooms. And no honorifics because they're that close XD.

Cure Narrative 39: Nostalgia

Season: Futari wa Precure (Max Heart)

Pairing: Honoka x Kiriya

Summary: They knew each other too well.

Italics: thoughts

He glanced at his watch.

Ah, it's almost 6pm, Honoka should be home from the Science Club Committee Meeting already.

"Come on, Chuutaro," Kiriya tugged at the leash lightly, "Time to go home."

Leash. Honoka didn't need a leash when she walk Chuutaro, they had been together for a long, long time.

Kiriya wasn't exactly good with animals. There had never been a point in his reincarnated life where he was required to interact with them, let alone his first life.

He wouldn't normally interact with animals either. It was only under this rare circumstance where Honoka's grandma was out and Honoka herself had Science Club, so she asked him to walk the dog.

Therefore, leash, just in case.

As he arrived at the courtyard, he released Chuutaro from the leash and let him run free.

Honestly, Chuutaro is very obedient, I can consider not using the leash next time.

Glancing at the shoe stand which signified Honoka's return, he called out, "I'm home."

"Welcome home," Honoka's voice came.

Kiriya followed the voice to the kitchen, "Ah, I'll help." He washed his hands and started cutting the unfinished carrots.

"Thanks," Honoka said while tending to the pot of stew in front of her. She already knew that there was no point in telling him to take it easy, he would somehow win in a battle of insistence.

"So, how does walking a dog for the first time feel?" she asked.

Even though she had her back facing him, he still self-consciously hid his arm, "Easier than I thought. I might not need the leash if there's a next time."

The problem wasn't the dog, it was my luck.

"Told you so," Honoka giggled.

"Your opinion is biased," he retorted, just because it would make her giggle more.

"Let's eat."

Honoka, being the observant girl she was, of course she noticed Kiriya was hiding something.

He keeps his left arm under the table constantly. I wonder what's going on.

"Kiriya," she inquired sharply, "are you hiding something?"

"No," he gulped inwardly, but replied without fretting.

Frustrated, but with no other options, she waited. Until she finished eating and walked past him to place the utensils in the kitchen, she grabbed his left hand and pulled it out from under the table.

"Hey!" he yelped, completely surprised since Honoka seldom do something like this.

She saw the scratch marks on his forearm, and gave him a look, "You were hiding this? Are you serious!?"

"I was hiding it because I knew exactly you would react like this!"

"It would've been fine if you just let me treat it!"

"You always overreact!"

"I'm not overreacting!" Honoka, at this point, realised that continuing this shouting was meaningless, "How did this happen?"

Kiriya gave up struggling out of her grip, frankly, he could force his way out, but he might hurt her, "There was a passerby with a cat that didn't seem to like Chuutaro... or me."

"You are coming over here, right now," Honoka pulled him to the toilet and took out first aid supplies, "I can't believe I didn't notice this earlier!"

"There you go, overreacting again," Kiriya rolled his eyes subtly.

"I. Am. Not. Overreacting," Honoka pouted a little, "It really will get infected if you leave it like this. You didn't clean it properly, right? I'll do it."

"I... it's fine! I can do it myself!" Kiriya insisted, "I'm not like the time I got hurt on the farm anymore."

"I'm starting on it already, don't worry about it," Honoka persisted as well, and then she commented, "Though you really did changed a lot since then."

"I just assumed you were somewhat an awkward child then, asking something so strange," she continued, "but it makes a lot more sense now."

Kiriya blushed, "Awkward? Was I that weird?"

"A little," she chuckled.

"You answered me nevertheless," he smiled, "I remember what you told me that day."

"I never thought my simple words back then could've changed our fates."

"Speaking of which, there was one thing you said which I still ponder over to this day."

"Hm?"

"The last time when you were treating my wound, I asked you whether all humans care for others like you do, and you said yes," Kiriya recalled, "I took your words for it then, but I kinda disagree now that I've been living on Earth for a while."

"Why?"

"You care about everyone you come across because you're a special girl, Honoka. Your overreaction stemmed from your kindness," Kiriya spoke with absolute honesty, "I've had plenty of time to observe the world. I've seen what typical humans do. And wasting time to treat a random boy's wound isn't a typical thing to do, you're a part of a very small fraction of humans that care for others as much as you care for yourselves. It isn't the norm, you have an outstanding trait."

"Is that so?" Honoka blushed from his sincere compliments, "Well, I guess you are right about not all humans care for others. But, if you asked me whether all humans would do what I'm doing now, the answer is even more surely 'yes'."

"Huh?"

"Because, if it's for someone they love, every human would care for that someone unconditionally," Honoka smiled.

"..." he let out a groan and covered his face with his free hand, "I don't understand how you can be so unpredictable at times. It's kinda embarrassing..."

"You say that but you feel the same, don't you?"

Somehow, he made sure his lips smoothly snuck to hers, "Of course I do, silly."

End of Chapter 39