A/N: Alright, here's Chapter Two of "Mokubo's First Christmas Party". Please read and review, and enjoy!

The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: Mokubo's First Christmas Party!

Chapter Two: Christmas Dinner!

"Itadakimasu!" Everyone cheered before digging in, everyone except Kawako and Mokubo sitting at the table.

Mokubo and Kawako meanwhile were being breastfed by their respective Mothers while they ate their dinners. Succulent fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gray, buttered corn on the cob, and honey glazed baby carrots lined their plates before gradually disappearing into their bellies, humming in pleasure at the delicious Christmas Dinner that Makoto had prepared.

"Makoto, this is DELICIOUS!" Hana praised "This might even put MY cooking to shame!"

"Y…you're exaggerating, Mom…" Makoto objected "There's no way my cooking's as good as yours…"

Shingi interjected "Don't be so modest, son. Your Mother's right; this really is some of the best food I've ever tasted!" Shingi turned to his wife and added "No offense, honey."

"None taken, dear."

Komaru raised her glass and proposed "A toast to Onii-chan, for being such a great cook!"

"K…Komaru! That's not…"

"Kanpai!" Everyone else interjected, raising their glasses in unison, making Makoto smile bashfully, blushing in embarrassment at their praise.

Shaking away his blush, Makoto asked "So Komaru, how are things on your end?"

"Oh, it's good, thank you! I'm still teaching Toko's classes most of the time, but sometimes Toko's been brave enough to teach with me and actually interact with the other students." Toko blushed in embarrassment as Komaru exclaimed "She's really been coming out of her shell over the past few years."

"Y…you're exaggerating…"

Hiro laughed and interrupted "Hey, don't be so bashful, Toki! You're making real progress, for serious! It won't be long until you're teaching that class all by yourself!"

"Mama!" Kawako giggled, clapping her hands.

"Kawako…Hiro…" Toko smiled, stroking her daughter's hair and leaning her head on Hiro's shoulder as she murmured "…Thank you…"

Everyone smiled at the sight, Komaru exclaiming "Aww, you three look so cute together, Toki!"

Makoto nodded in agreement before asking "So Komaru, is there a special someone in your life? I'd like to know when I'm going to be an Uncle Koto."

Kyoko playfully slapped her husband on the shoulder, causing him to rub it soothingly as Komaru blushed and denied "N…no…there's nobody I've dated yet…and I'm not in any hurry to have kids, so…" Damn it Makoto, this is revenge for teasing you about you and Kyoko when we were teenagers, isn't it?

Makoto and Kiki snickered while Kyoko merely smiled in amusement and Hana assured her daughter "Komaru, someday you'll find Mr.…or Mrs. Right and you'll have a wonderful family with them."

Kyoko nodded "That's right; I got exceptionally lucky meeting Makoto when I was a teenager, but before him I never thought I'd find love. And if a girl like me was able to find love, then I know that you will someday too."

"Yeah, Aunt Komaru!" Kiki cheered in between bites.

Komaru beamed, nodding "Okay…I'll keep an eye out for my special someone…but I meant it when I wasn't in any hurry to get married or have kids. Until I run into the one for me…I'm perfectly happy helping to teach at Hope's Peak and being the best Auntie to Kiki and Mokubo."

"The best?! Well then, I'll just have to up my game so I can be the best Auntie to the little ones!" A fired up Hina rebutted.

Komaru narrowed her eyes and refuted "Dream on, Hina! I'm their favorite Auntie, and that's something that'll never change!"

"No way! All I've gotta do is struggle for that gold medal, and I'll be their favorite Auntie!"

"No, I'll be their favorite!"

"No, I'll be their favorite!"

"NO, ME!"

"NO, ME!"

…Not this again… Makoto, Kyoko and Kiki sweatdropped, sighing at Komaru and Hina's competitive antics before Kyoko put her foot down.

"Enough! This is a peaceful, joyous Christmas dinner, and I won't tolerate having the peace disturbed by your ridiculous competition. Settle this debate on your own time, but I won't have tonight ruined by your antics. Understood?"

Shivering at the sight of her Kirigiri glare, Komaru and Hina looked down at their plates in guilt and mumbled "Gomen…"

Kyoko sighed in relief as an awkward silence passed before Makoto coughed into his fist and asked "So…Hina, Byakuya…are you guys planning on having kids soon? I know you guys were talking about it during Kiki's 5th birthday party…"

Byakuya shook his head and replied "We've been in discussions, but we haven't really decided on timing."

Hina pouted and grumbled "Yeah, but it's getting harder to justify putting it off when nearly everyone else in our circle has kids now…"

"Y…you don't wanna rush into th…this…" Everyone turned in surprise to Toko, who interjected "Being a Mom isn't all f…fun! The lack of sl…sleep, changing dirty di…diapers, the pain of giving bi…birth…it's not something to rush in…into!"

"Toko…"

Byakuya nodded, agreeing "She's right, Hina; we don't need to rush into reproduction just because Makoto and Kyoko and Toko and Hiro have kids now. We can afford to let the timing come naturally."

"Byakuya…thank you…"

The others smiled as Hina's pout turned into a warm smile, the P.E. teacher digging back into her meal with her familiar gusto. The others then proceeded to eat at a more controlled pace, a comfortable silence passing as they continued to eat their dinner.

XXX

"Gochisosama!" Everyone cheered as they finished the last of their ice cream sundaes.

Makoto stood up and started collecting everyone's bowls as he announced "Alright, why don't the rest of you head over to the Christmas tree while I clean up the dishes? Then we can go and open presents."

"YAY! Come on, Mom!"

"Alright, alright…" Kyoko giggled, cradling her son in one arm while Kiki dragged her out of the Dining Room by her free wrist.

Most of the others soon followed suit, leaving Makoto and Hana alone before the elder matriarch offered "Would you like a little bit of help in the kitchen, Makoto? It's the least I can do after we dirtied so many dishes during dinner."

"Oh…if you want to…but if you want to go and play with Kiki and Mokubo, I don't mind taking care of things by myself."

Hana giggled and assured him "I think they'll be okay with everyone else. Besides, my granddaughter seems particularly eager to open her presents, and it'll happen sooner if there's two of us to clean up."

Makoto smiled appreciatively and nodded "Sure, I don't mind the help. So, shall we go?"

XXX

"Thanks again for the help, Mom…I didn't realize just how many dishes I used to cook tonight until now…"

Makoto smiled bashfully as his Mom returned his smile with a cheerful one and assured him "Don't worry about it, dear. Besides, I feel most at home helping out in the kitchen, so it's no big deal."

I can imagine… Makoto thought, recalling all the times that Hana had cooked and cleaned for him, Komaru, and Shingi when he was a little boy. Makoto went back to scrubbing his last plate, a comfortable silence passing as Mother and Son finished washing the dishes and Makoto announced "There, that's the last of them; now we just have to put them in the dishwasher…well, as many as we can, anyway."

Hana nodded and replied "You just tell me where goes what, dear."

"Okay, well on the top rack we usually put cups, glasses, and Tupperware. On the bottom rack is where we usually put plates and bowls and pots. There's also a compartment attached to the bottom rack for silverware."

"Okay then, shall we get started?"

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Mokubo's supposed to go to bed in an hour, and although I know we won't get done with presents by then, I'd rather not put off his bedtime longer than necessary."

With a silent nod, the two of them went to work, Hana covering the bottom rack and silverware compartment while Makoto covered the top. In less than five minutes, the dishwasher was full, making both Naegis to smile proudly and wipe the sweat from their brows.

"Alright, thanks, Mom! I can handle starting the dishwasher from here. Why don't you head to the living room and tell the others I'll be there momentarily."

Hana smiled and nodded "Okay, I'll see you there, Makoto." before walking out of the kitchen, leaving Makoto alone as he sifted through the cupboard under the sink for the soap pods.