Tohru pounced on them the moment they walked back into Kazuma's house. "Thank goodness, I was so worried about you!" she exclaimed, hugging Hajime tightly before looking anxiously up at his face, still streaked with dried tears. "I'm so glad you're back, Hajime, is everything alright?"

From the worried look she gave him before looking at Kyo, Hajime knew she was pretty sure the answer was 'no.' And given the way they had left her...that was pretty understandable.

But Hajime was ready to make it up to her. "Yes, everything's ok, Mom, I promise. But I was wondering," he said, his voice hesitating just a little, "could we talk, maybe? All of us?"

Tohru nodded immediately. "Of course we can, Hajime, let's go sit down. But can I give you all some lunch first? None of you had a chance to eat before you left, and it might be better if you had a full stomach before-"

"Mom," Hajime said, his voice affectionate but resigned, "I'd really just like to talk first, if that's ok."

Tohru shot Kyo a questioning glance, and Kyo chuckled as he wrapped an arm around her. "We'll be fine, Tohru, don't worry about us."


Kazuma and Kunimitsu were sitting at the living room table, and both of them looked up anxiously when the others joined them. But Kazuma only had to look at Hajime to see that everything was well, and a look at Kyo, who gave Kazuma a wry smile, only confirmed it.

"Well, it's nice to have you all back," Kazuma said, smiling at the three of them. "Can we get you any lunch?"

"Later, Grandpa," Hajime said, sitting down between Mutsuki and Tohru. "I was actually wanting to...talk to everyone, first. Especially Mom," he said, glancing at her, "But everyone else, too."

Understanding lit up Kazuma's eyes, and suddenly he was beaming at Hajime. "Of course, Hajime. We are at your disposal."

As he watched Kazuma, Kyo could feel the tiniest pricking of tears. All he had ever wanted from fatherhood was to be half the dad Kazuma had been, and to help foster a bond between his kids and their grandpa. To see the way Kazuma looked at Hajime, the sheepish but proud way Hajime smiled back...

Kyo might wish things had gone differently, especially with Kazuma. He definitely wished Kazuma had told him sooner. But Kazuma had been there for Hajime when Kyo's son needed him, the same way he'd always been there for Kyo himself, and that counted for a lot.

Tohru was still looking anxious though, and she finally blurted out, "I really am trying to be patient, Hajime, but I'm starting to feel like I'm the only one missing something here!"

Hajime blushed at that, then laughed, along with Mutsuki and Kyo. Then he glanced around the table, at the smiling, supportive faces around him.

He could do this.

"Mom...do you remember this summer, you called me during the week everyone was at the beach house?"

Tohru was frowning, trying to remember. "Well, I call you often, Hajime! What happened during that call, can you remind me?"

Hajime took a breath. "Well, you were really...cheery. Like you were trying to sound happy, but you were actually upset," he said, looking down. "And when you were being like that, you got kinda...weird," he admitted, blushing.

"Weird?" Now Tohru was blushing too. "I was weird? I'm so sorry, Hajime, you know I'd never intentionally be weird to you!"

"Yes, I know, but you...well, you started asking me some things, Mom. Like, really pointed things."

"Things?" She asked, frowning, and Hajime nodded.

"Yes. Like...if I'd made any new friends this year. If I'd met any new people. You told me..." he said, shifting uncomfortably, "that I could tell you anything, and if there was anything important in my life, you wanted to know about it."

Tohru was crimson now, hearing what she'd thought had been casual and subtle being laid out so incredibly baldly.

Hajime swallowed. "And you've said...kind of similar things some times since. Asking me about meeting people, reminding me I can talk to you, letting me know you want to hear about my life, reminding me that you guys always support me..." He swallowed again, then asked her, "Why were you saying that stuff, Mom? You never used to say anything like that, then since this summer, it's been...a thing. A regular thing. Why?"

"It's really been stressing him out, Aunt Tohru," Mutsuki cut in, and Hajime shot him a glare.

Tohru covered her face with her hands. "It's too embarrassing, Hajime, please don't make me say it!"

Kyo was surprised, and that surprise was evident on his face when he looked at Tohru. "Wait, you were calling and saying that stuff to Hajime regularly? I thought it was just the one time!"

"The one time?" Hajime repeated, blushing and looking at Kyo. "I thought you said you didn't suspect!"

Now Kyo was blushing, too. "I didn't suspect! Or guess, or anything, but neither did your mom! I didn't think so, anyway," he said, suddenly giving Tohru a calculating look that made Tohru defensive.

"Seeing how I don't know what either of you are talking about, obviously I didn't 'suspect', and I still don't!" she said, looking from her son's red face to her husband's in bewilderment. "Will one of you please just tell me? Please?"

Kyo looked away and rubbed his forehead. "Tohru, first just tell the kid what you were doing, ok?"

Tohru blushed, and she gave Hajime a guilty look. "I was trying to figure out...if you maybe had a girlfriend. A secret one," she admitted finally.

Mutsuki, Hajime, and Kunimitsu all practically choked, then Mutsuki and Kunimitsu started laughing. Kazuma was calm, but with an amused expression on his face, while Kyo gave Hajime an apologetic shrug.

"Like I said, Hajime, pretty sure she didn't guess."

Hajime was giving his mom a bewildered look. "Why would you think I had a secret girlfriend?"

Tohru was defensive. "Because you're seventeen, Hajime, and in your last year of high school! And..." she blushed again, glancing at Kyo who gave her a pointed look, then she sighed.

"I saw Katsuro with Asuka that day, Hajime, the day that I called you that first time. I saw them, without them seeing me, and I saw that they were...dating," she admitted, looking down. "Katsuro never hinted to either of us that he was seeing anyone, Hajime, not even a whisper, and I felt very...left out," she said softly. "I know you all have your own lives to lead, and I know you're all...growing up," she said, looking up at Hajime with teary eyes. "And I know that means you'll all have things that are private. I want to respect that Hajime, truly, but...it's hard, sometimes, not to know what's going on with you all," she admitted with a sniffle.

Hajime's mind was spinning. "So you saw Katsuro with a girl you didn't known about, and that made you think...that I had a girlfriend, too, somehow? And I hadn't told you?"

Tohru nodded meekly. "You're older, Hajime, and you've always been so social. And you'd been living here for over two years, and we don't get to see you nearly as often as I'd like, and you're so busy and have so much going on that can make it hard to have long to talk-"

"We get it, Tohru," Kyo cut in, smiling affectionately and hugging her. "You're having a tough time cutting the apron strings, pretty sure Hajime knows that."

Hajime was still processing. "So all this time you've been saying stuff to me, it's basically been because of...Katsuro?"

He'd let himself get worked into a ball of hormonal anxiety because his mom was insecure his brother was waiting to say that he was dating?

Tohru nodded, blushing. "Though if it makes you feel any better, I've also been saying similar things to him. But he seems to have finally listened, since we got to properly meet her at last!" she said, both sheepish and triumphant.

Hajime was incredulous, though, and it didn't help that Mutsuki was still snickering.

He felt like a complete idiot.

"How come you were so extra intense about it after the Culture Fest?" he asked, eliciting another blush from Tohru.

"You were so adamant you didn't want us to come, and you didn't want anyone else to come either. I felt for sure you had to be hiding something, and I was worried about you. It's possible I went overboard," she admitted.

Hajime passed a hand over his face. He'd wondered if Uncle Haru had suspected anything, if Uncle Haru had said something...but no. It was just Hajime's own desire for distance, coming back to bite him in the ass.

His family always had had knack for making everything into a ridiculously big deal, himself included.

Hajime took another deep breath. "Mom, I don't have a secret girlfriend, ok? Not a secret one, not a public one, not one at all. No girls, in any romantic capacity," he said firmly, and Tohru gave him an apologetic little smile.

"Thank you for telling me, Hajime, and I'm sorry I was so pushy."

He smiled at her, once more feeling his heart hammering in his chest. "It's ok, Mom. But..." His eyes shot around the table, once more looking at the people there. People who supported him. Who cared about him.

Who loved him, and always had.

No matter what.

Under the table, Hajime found Mutsuki's hand and squeezed it hard, feeling in Mutsuki's return grip, in Kazuma's softly shining eyes, in Kyo's crooked smile, and in Kunimitsu's slight nod the courage to finally say what he'd been wanting to say for so long.

"Mom, I don't have a girlfriend," he repeated, his voice slightly shaking but resolute. "But I do have...someone. Someone I've been dating for almost a year and a half now, someone incredibly...special to me," he said, his voice catching. "Someone who I love very much," he said, his said, his grip tightening even more around Mutsuki's hand.

"Someone who loves him back, an enormous amount," Mutsuki said, his voice soft.

Tohru's face had lit up when Hajime started talking, only to be rapidly taken over by confusion as she tried to make sense of the rest. Hajime could see her trying to think, trying to figure out the logical progression when he'd already said there was no girl. He almost wanted to laugh at how serious her face had become, hope and excitement and confusion all warring together. Then her eyes suddenly widened and she looked up, glancing from Hajime to Mutsuki, back to Hajime, and sharply over to Kyo, a question written all over her face.

As Tohru stared at Kyo, Hajime took another breath, then lifted his hand and set it on top of the table, Mutsuki's fingers still entangled with his. And as Tohru looked back at him, and at their hands, he said "Mom...Mutsuki and I are dating."

The room was absolutely quiet for a moment, Hajime practically holding his breath as he watched Tohru staring at their hands. Then she broke into a big, beaming smile, leaning forward and hugging him as she burst out,

"I'm so glad you finally told me!"


In retrospect, Hajime couldn't believe he'd ever been worried. After her initial joy at being in the loop wore off, she had scolded him soundly, somewhat appalled that he'd ever even suspected they wouldn't be supportive. She'd scolded Mutsuki too, chiding him for keeping it a secret and for not doing a better job convincing Hajime they'd be happy, because "Of course we're happy! We love Mutsuki, don't we, Kyo?"

Tohru had asked who else know, and Hajime and Mutsuki admitted it was just the people in the room, but that they planned to tell Mutsuki's parents soon. That had been an obvious relief to Hajime's parents, because, as Kyo said, "I can't keep track of all who's allowed to know what anymore."

At that comment, Hajime's eyes had flown to Kazuma, but Kazuma had given him the tiniest, most imperceptible shake of his head. This was Hajime's moment; there would be time for him to talk to Tohru later.

That had been the plan, anyway, before Mutsuki looked over at Kazuma and said "It's nice to have things out in the open, isn't it, Master Kazuma?"

Hajime had given Mutsuki an incredulous look. "Seriously, Mutsuki? Mom doesn't know yet!"

That got Tohru's attention, and her eyes had widened. "Wait, Hajime knows? And Mutsuki? Am I the last one? Just how much are you all keeping from me?" she demanded, looking around the table. "This is really starting to feel unfair!"

Kunimitsu was snickering again, and Kyo passed a hand over his face before looking over at Hajime. "Again...you really sure, out of all the guys out there, you want Mutsuki?"

Hajime sighed. "I don't get it sometimes either, Dad."

Tohru was still looking around in confusion, and Kazuma sighed before giving Hajime an apologetic look, one that Hajime returned.

"Sorry, Grandpa."

"Don't be," Kazuma said with a chuckle. "It was meant to 'come out' this weekend anyway, either way." His eyes twinkled at Hajime, who stared for a moment, unable to believe that his grandpa had just made a joke about this. But then he laughed, and he was still laughing when Kazuma looked over at Tohru.

"I asked you here for a reason this weekend, Tohru, a reason I've already shared with Kyo," he said, glancing across the table and smiling at his son, who smiled back. "And since Hajime already knows, too, I suppose it's only fair to tell you that Hajime is not in the minority at this table. In fact," he admitted, glancing around at the six people sitting there, his mouth twitching slightly, "As surprising as it is to say this, everyone at this table, with the exception of Kyo, is in a relationship with a man."

Tohru stared at him for a very long moment, then suddenly burst out "EH?"

"Apologies for springing it on you so suddenly," Kazuma began, only to be interrupted by Kyo.

"Suddenly? Suddenly? Twenty-one damn years later is hardly 'suddenly,' Dad," Kyo said, unwilling to let that little turn of phrase go by unchallenged, and Tohru's eyes got bigger.

"EH?"


Lunch was stone cold and had to be reheated by the time any of them remembered it, but Hajime didn't mind. He would have eaten it cold, congealed, or possibly even spoiled without noticing or caring, he was feeling so impossibly and unbelievably happy as he sat there, holding Mutsuki's hand in the full, smiling view of his parents.

For the next few hours, they all sat together in the living room, talking. Most of the talking was between the adults; Tohru, like Kyo, had a lot of feelings about Kazuma and Kunimitsu keeping their relationship hidden for so long, and she was fierce in voicing them. Kunimitsu teasingly asked Kyo if he was going to start calling him 'Step-Dad' and Kyo told him he was lucky Kyo had always liked him, because otherwise Kyo would be having some serious talks with Kazuma about raising his standards.

At one point, Tohru had given Kazuma an inquisitive look. "The one thing I'm curious about, Master Kazuma, is why now, after all this time? Obviously I'm glad you told us, and I wish you would have done it sooner," she said chidingly. "But to ask us to come here just so you could tell us...did something happen to provoke it?"

Kazuma considered the question. "Well, the short answer is both yes and no, Tohru. But simply, I was having a conversation with Hajime, and he made me realize that even if I didn't think it mattered whether I told you, the truth was that it mattered quite a lot, for a multitude of reasons," he said, smiling over at Hajime. "And once I realized that, then I knew I had to tell you."

"And I'm really, really glad you did, Grandpa," Hajime said, beaming at him.

Kazuma's return smile was bright. "Me too, Hajime; me too."


Later that evening Tohru and Kyo sat in their room at the dojo, Kyo watching as Tohru brushed her hair. He'd always loved the small ritual, but tonight she could tell from his expression that his concentration was on something far different, and eventually she lowered her brush.

"What are you thinking, Kyo?" she asked, and he flicked his eyes to hers with a small smile.

"Can't you guess?"

"Yes and no," she said with a smile, studying his face. "I know what you're thinking about in general, I'm sure...but what are you really thinking about, Kyo?" Tohru asked gently.

Kyo gave her an affectionate look. He loved so many things about Tohru, and always had: the way she smiled at him, the way she encouraged him. The way she looked at him and saw him.

The way she could always guess what he was thinking.

"I'm thinking...a lot of things," he admitted as she set down her brush and snuggled into his arms. "Today was a lot," he said, and she nodded.

"And I know it's not about me, it's about Dad and Hajime, but...it kinda sucks, honestly," Kyo admitted, looking down. And for a moment Tohru was shocked, until Kyo looked up at her, his eyes sad.

"Neither one of 'em was willing to tell me, Tohru, not for so damn long. Dad and Kunimitsu...they've been...together...almost as long as you and me. All the milestones we've had...all the things we've been through together...they've been together there in the background all this time, and they never said! And I never saw," he said quietly. "Even if I wasn't looking, shouldn't I have seen? Shouldn't I have known?"

He sighed, then continued. "And Hajime...the kid was so afraid, Tohru," Kyo said, his voice full of pain. "When I saw him and Mutsuki...kissing..." he said, trying not to stumble over the words, "he didn't even think before running away from me. When I caught up to him, he was so damn afraid...afraid of me," Kyo said, so very dejectedly it mad Tohru's heart break.

"What's it say about me, Tohru, that neither of 'em felt they could tell me? All this time, they've both been hiding, not just that they're...gay...but that they actually have someone. Boyfriends. Or partners," he corrected, thinking about Kazuma. "And neither of 'em told me," he said, his eyes downcast. "Did they think I'd be mad? Did they think I'd be...disgusted? I just don't get it, they should both know me!"

Tohru wrapped her arms around him and held him close. "Kyo, you of all people should know that fear isn't rational. How long did you fight telling Hajime about the Curse, even with him actually pushing you to do it?"

"I know...but I feel like this oughtta be different, somehow. And I wish they would've said something sooner."

Tohru nodded. "Me too," she said softly. "When I think about how hard Hajime's been struggling for all this time because of my insecurities, because I couldn't just trust him to know we were here for him...that he felt I was forcing him into something that made him uncomfortable..."

Her eyes welled up with tears, and Kyo held her close.

"You didn't know, Tohru. Hajime's doesn't blame you for anything, you know that, right?"

"But he should, Kyo! Hajime, and Katsuro, too," Tohru admitted, looking down. "I just..." she sniffled. "I just didn't want them to shut me out! But all I ended up doing was making them pull away even more, and upsetting them..."

As Tohru sniffled, Kyo rested his cheek against hers. "Guess at this point, it should be easy to admit we're not perfect...but it's still pretty damn hard, isn't it?"

She nodded, and he sighed. "Well, the important thing is...that we're trying, right? We're trying our best, and however long it's taken, they trust us, and they're letting us in now. All of 'em," Kyo said, thinking in turn about Kazuma's calm face, Hajime's anxious eyes, and even Katsuro's nervous but excited smile. "All we can do now is keep supporting 'em, let 'em know we're happy for 'em...and maybe back off just a little bit," he said, giving Tohru a rueful smile.

And at that, she gave him a sheepish look.

"I'll do my best."


Hajime and Mutsuki lay flopped together on Hajime's bed, Mutsuki's head resting gently on Hajime's chest.

"You know that I never gloat," Mutsuki began, earning a snort from Hajime, "or say things like 'I told you so,'" earning him a second snort, "so that has to mean you forgive me for doing both this time. I told you so," he said smugly, looking up at Hajime who was rolling his eyes.

"You know, Mutsuki, for a guy who pulls the exams scores you do, you're pretty damn dumb. I'm sure 'never' means the exact opposite of 'literally all the time,' which is how much you actually gloat."

"Name one time," Mutsuki protested, putting his hands on Hajime's chest and pushing himself up.

Hajime 'oofed' slightly at the pressure. "The time you tricked Mitoma into joining the Student Council."

"Doesn't count, that wasn't gloating. That was being satisfied with a job well done, and besides, she agreed to it!"

"Under duress, and you were totally gloating, but fine. The times you tricked Hasegawa and Mitoma into cleaning your desk for you."

"Doesn't count, they were happy to do it so it wasn't a trick."

"They weren't happy to do it, they were afraid that mess was going to turn sentient and attack us."

"Either way, doesn't count. Try again."

Hajime was smiling now. "Literally every time to you convince me to cook something you want for dinner instead of what I want."

"Doesn't count, you love doing things for me."

"Sometimes, not all the time. Not when you're being a pain in the ass."

"I'm never a pain in the ass," Mutsuki protested, looking at Hajime with wounded eyes. "I'm charming, delightful, and a sheer joy to be around, always."

"Who says that, your parents?" Hajime teased, and Mutsuki laughed.

"Hardly. As much as I adore them and they adore me, we both know Mom and Dad have this weird belief that I'm somehow occasionally exasperating," Mutsuki said, shaking his head.

"Because your parents are smart, Mutsuki," Hajime said with a laugh. "And they ought to know, don't you think?"

"Nope. I only accept character witnesses who actually understand my character."

"In other words, people who'll lie for you."

"So cynical," Mutsuki said with a sigh, then smiled, leaning down and resting his forehead against Hajime's. "Remind me why I love you again?"

"You mean besides the fact you know my dad, so you know I'll, quote, 'still be hot when I'm forty?'"

"When you say that out of context, it sounds creepy."

"It was creepy in context. You literally said it in front of my dad, Mutsuki. And my mom," Hajime said, blushing at the memory.

"It was a compliment! And your mom agreed with me, so I don't see the problem."

"Pretty sure Dad didn't see it that way."

"Well, Uncle Kyo has always needed to work on his sense of humor," Mutsuki said with a sigh. "But while that might be one reason," he said, grinning at he looked at Hajime, "it's a pretty small one. Why else?"

Hajime smiled up at him. "Why don't you tell me?"

"Spoilsport. I wanted to hear you talk yourself up for a while, there's nothing quite like a man with confidence."

"Hey, I've got confidence," Hajime protested, and Mutsuki smiled.

"Yes, you do," he said softly. "And I'm proud of you," he continued.

Hajime blushed slightly, his teasing mood fading. "Really?"

"Mmm-hmm." Mutsuki said with a nod. "I know I've been harping on you about it a lot lately, but today...you were great, Hajime. Really great."

Hajime chuckled ruefully. "Pretty sure 'great' is a stretch, Mutsuki, considering what initially happened with Dad."

"Eh, so we all got a good run in," Mutsuki said with a shrug. "Cardio exercise is never a bad thing. And even with you running...you guys still talked it out. And not just you and your dad, but you and your mom, too," he continued, smiling. "Watching you tell Aunt Tohru...I was so proud of you, Hajime," he repeated, his eyes shining. "You were so nervous, but you did it anyway, and now...we did it! It's out there! Almost, anyway," he corrected himself. "Obviously we have to tell Mom and Dad, and unless you changed your mind about your brother and sister-"

"No, I still want to tell them. You know once Sora finds out it'll be around the family like wildfire anyway, they should hear it from me."

Mutsuki nodded. "Smart plan. So, Mom and Dad, Katsuro and Sachiko, then...we just see where things take us?"

Hajime took a breath, then nodded. "I think that's the plan."

"Finally, a plan I can actually enjoy for a change!"

"Plans are important, Mutsuki. Not everything in life can be spontaneous."

"Maybe not, but there is such a thing as planning too much. As you," he said, tapping Hajime's nose, "should definitely know."

Hajime chuckled. "Says the master manipulator. How many steps were in your scheme to get Mitoma and Shiki together?"

"Them getting together was just a happy accident; you give me too much credit."

"I can never give you too much credit, Mutsuki," Hajime said softly, and Mutsuki beamed down at him. "You might be infuriating and as devious as a snake-"

"-So generous with the compliments tonight, you sweet-talker."

"But you're also smart, strong, and one of the most amazing people I know," Hajime said earnestly. "And finally being able to tell my parents just how amazing you are...it's one of the best feelings in the world!"

Mutsuki's eyes were shining as he looked at Hajime, and Hajime's as he looked at him. Then Mutsuki's lips were on Hajime's, and when they broke apart, there was a new light in each of their eyes.

"So, speaking about best feelings in the world," Mutsuki began, bringing a hand up to stroke Hajime's hair, and Hajime laughed.

"You're really going to go there, Mutsuki? I was being serious."

"So was I! Or are you saying I'm wrong?"

As Mutsuki's hand started to slide down Hajime's chest Hajime chuckled, then reached up to caress Mutsuki's cheek. He couldn't believe they'd made it here; after so much time spent worrying, stressing, and hiding, he could finally be here with Mutsuki, this brilliant, eccentric, strong, loveable, exasperating, beautiful person he loved so much...and not have to do any of that any more. He knew. Mutsuki knew. His parents knew.

And everything was ok.