Fun fact: I messed up the number of Hoshinos and instead of hitting delete, I just turned it into Ai stumbling on her words. I am a narrative genius.

People often underestimated how difficult it was to do something ingrained into muscle memory for years somewhere away from home. Like grocery shopping, for example. Even the action of getting to a convenience store became difficult. As the brain would map out paths that weren't there, so used to bringing up the information drilled into it by weeks, months, years of repetition.

Hachiman got lost at first. And, when he finally went inside and checked the things he needed to buy, he found out that things were slightly different. Prices were higher, stuff weren't always where he expected to find them, and overall, just made this little trip a lot tougher. More annoying than it needed to be.

The sun was setting when he got everything and mentalized himself to walk back to the apartment. Making an effort to remember the path that he traced before needing to get out the phone to orientate himself, just to see if he learned.

The result was… Inconclusive. So he checked the route and walked slowly to try to get used to the sight of the buildings and streets. They'd look different during the early hours of the day, of course, and the birds didn't help him differentiate one street from another, but Hachiman still wanted to do this. Keep himself busy while going back and pretend that his heart didn't jump from his throat when a slow-moving car came to a stop at the turn that Hachiman was heading toward.

"What are you doing out here? Do you know what time it is?" Oh, thank goodness! It was Hoshino's mom! Hachiman was fearing that he'd get kidnapped here… For whatever reason.

"Well, yeah. That's why I'm here." Hachiman pretended not to have become a nervous wreck for a moment there, and lifted up the bags he was carrying. "You guys don't have anything for dinner."

Saitou (Miyako) blinked a couple of times, like Hachiman was saying something ridiculous. Only to seemingly come to a conclusion on her own. All of this in the span of a couple of seconds.

"Did Ai force you to make dinner?"

Hachiman slumped his shoulders a little.

"…Kind of."

"Don't let her push you around so much. You're not one of our employees." Saitou Miyako sighed and looked forward, making something click inside the car like she hadn't implied that she'd okay with Hoshino pushing around the people working for her. "Hop on. I'll at least save you from the walk back."

That did sound great, so Hachiman didn't hesitate to take the offer. No comment on the faux pas that he noticed whatsoever.

"Thanks."

"Why did you come all the way here, though?"

"The map got me here."

"Ichigo gave you the location, right?"

"Eh? Yes. How did you…?"

"This is not the closest store, but it is on the route to the office and back." Saitou Miyako sighed. "Of course it was him."

"It's fine, I don't mind walking." Hachiman didn't feel like defending her husband, but he wasn't going to talk shit about him either. Not when he had mediated between Komachi and the twins, leading them into playing so that neither would get hurt by Komachi's terrible mood. "Why were you driving so slowly, though? I thought you were following me."

"Ai told me about those things." Saitou Miyako leaned down a bit to look at the roofs of the buildings and the cables on the streets. Where the black birds rested when they caught up to the car. "I figured maybe you were around, and you were."

Hachiman frowned (more than usual) at the thought. This wouldn't be the first time someone found him like this, and it started bothering him more than he could hide.

"So? What are we having tonight?"

"You changed your mind about this pretty quickly, huh." Hachiman couldn't help raising an eyebrow before looking through the window. "Curry."

They found the Hoshino family gambling with Komachi. Which Hachiman wasn't sure he approved, given that she was doing so knowingly and willingly with literal toddlers as her opponents. And, even with Saitou Ichigo playing the dealer and Hoshino herself participating, Hachiman silently lowered his head in front of Saitou Miyako for the trouble caused.

Ruby's strange skill at it did not make it acceptable.

"This is how it starts. Then they become gacha addicts." Was what the woman had to say about the little kids playing, which was a strange approach to the problem. But one that Hachiman guessed it was as good a point as any. Gacha addiction was no joke, if Zaimokuza and Ebina were anything to go by. So he silently nodded in Hoshino's direction and walked toward the kitchen, leaving the true adult of this house to do her job. "I hope you're at least not allowing them to download any on your phone, Ai."

It wasn't as strange as Hachiman thought it would be, all things considered. Being around Hiratsuka and the group study gave him plenty of opportunities to listen to an older woman chewing up some new-born adults plenty of time. So his retreat to the kitchen was more instinctual than he'd like to admit. More "I don't want to be the next one yelled at" than it should be. But, if Hachiman's life had taken the turn that it should; then he'd probably not be anywhere near Tokyo playing house with a family consisting of an idol, her bosses, and two kids that looked more like overseas people than anything.

Yet here he was, preparing Komachi's favorite curry for them. Because he'd be damned if he tried to prepare anything better.

He wasn't trying to impress them or anything, after all.

"Hey."

"What?" Hachiman turned around, expecting Komachi to be the one to suddenly come in and interrupt his thoughts. But finding Hoshino flinching at Hachiman's tone. "Oh… I thought you were my sister."

"…That wasn't a very loving reaction."

"She'll often come to the kitchen to pester me to hurry up when she's hungry." Hachiman released some air through his nose.

"But isn't that reaction a bit rude?" Hoshino hid her arms behind her back and tilted her head while asking. She didn't pout or anything, nor did she make her tone sweeter. But Hachiman still couldn't decide if she was purposefully making herself cuter or not.

"Annoying things are annoying." Hachiman returned his attention to the food. "Th brat can't get away with everything, y'know."

"Eh…"

"Anyway, did you need something? Am I in the way?" It was a bit uncomfortable to have someone so close while trying to cook, so Hachiman would rather be told to step aside so that she could get whatever she came for before having to go through being this stuffy space.

"Yes, to see you." Hoshino replied while still looking like she was thinking about what Hachiman said.

He closed his eyes, stopping himself from sighing, and opened them to continue working.

"Well, here I am."

"So cold… Are you sure you're not upset?" Hoshino looked at him work, voice still even. "You said you understood why I wasn't okay with Aqua being on the wall, but was that true?"

"I'm not mad or anything." Hachiman turned his tone softer, even though he didn't mean to be conciliatory here.

"Is it because I told you to make dinner as punishment? I do think it was necessary."

"I'm not mad." Hachiman repeated with a more normal tone.

"You don't have to be so dry about it." Hoshino grabbed the hem of his shirt, getting a step closer. "I won't understand if you don't tell me what's going on."

She made it sound like he was doing something wrong, but Hachiman had no idea how to tell her that it wasn't the case without sounding salty. Even looking at her would be interpreted in a negative light, given that Hachiman wanted to have some space. And actually felt a little annoyed at the proximity in spite of Hoshino's seriousness.

What to do…?

"I'm trying to cook, Hoshino. I need a little space here." Would that be interpreted as him trying to change the subject? He could never be sure with this girl.

"Okay, but is that an everyday thing or…?"

Hachiman stopped cutting and slowly turned to face Hoshino, eyebrows furrowed even before he saw Hoshino shift her expression slightly when they made eye contact. Like she was taking a mental step back instead of a physical one, because she definitely did not take the hint about Hachiman wanting her to actually give him some room to maneuver.

"Are you…?" Hachiman's expression became harder. It was a strange feeling, similar to a realization but not quite like that. Because realizing something meant that he had managed to connect the dots, read between the lines and come to an acceptable conclusion. But he hadn't, and the idea that popped in his brain was just as confusing as Hoshino's behavior itself. "Are you having second thoughts about this?"

Hoshino corrected her posture while thinking.

Her expression hadn't changed from the closest to a poker face that she could muster.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you feel guilty about making me cook?" Hachiman returned his attention to the food, as he did feel like he'd be getting hungry soon. So he might as well make himself wait for less time before dinner was served. "I could've turned you down if I wanted, you know?"

"I don't think so, no."

"You don't think I could've said no, or you don't think you feel guilty?" Hachiman wondered for a moment if she herself understood what she meant. But remembering how little self-awareness this girl had, when it came to these things, did help Hachiman a bit to keep himself centered.

"I don't think I feel guilty." Hoshino stated without pondering about it too much, releasing Hachiman's shirt and hiding both hands behind her back. "I am in the right, after all."

"Eh… Is that so?"

"Don't tell me you didn't mean it when you apologized."

"I did mean it, since I get it. I know where you're coming from." Hachiman continued to talk while giving his attention to the food.

"That's fantastic." Hoshino all but killed the conversation here, leaving Hachiman with an awkward silence where he just felt the pressure of being stared at while he worked.

"Can you get me a glass of water, please?" Still, this much was fine too. He was used to silence; he was used to having the quality of his food challenged. At least Hoshino would not be so harsh when it came down to it. Not like Yukino when he'd stayed late to study for the college entrance exams, before Yui…

…

"Here." Hoshino brought the glass close to his face, seemingly coming to the conclusion that he'd not want to wash his hands to grab it by himself or something like that.

Hachiman scoffed and blinked the sting off his eyes, lowering his face to safely take a sip while Hoshino slowly tipped the glass.

"Thanks." He cleared his throat, pretending to have needed the water for that. Now the silence was really, really rough.

"Guess I'm helping now." Hoshino put the glass away, trying to reach for the sink before Hachiman stretched his foot to stop her. "Sorry, your leg is in the way."

"I know, I did it on purpose." Hachiman lowered it slowly, and quickly put it out again when Hoshino tried to move through the path as soon as it was low enough. Getting her to kind of awkwardly take a step back while they locked eyes.

"You're still doing it on purpose."

"I am, yes." Hachiman nodded.

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'helping'? Go back to the kids, they probably miss you." Hachiman decided that he had the girl's attention, so he stood properly now. Trying to concentrate on the preparation once more.

"But I told you I wanted to see you." Hoshino pointed out like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"And here I am." Hachiman repeated the answer he gave her the first time she said that. "You don't have to do anything, let me handle this."

"I mean, I know I'm not that great a cook. But I want to learn."

"But not while my sister's eating with us." Hachiman gave her a faux smile to drive the point home.

"I'm not going to poison her or anything…"

"I've had people bad enough at cooking to do it without meaning to ruin my kitchen. No way." Hachiman scoffed.

"I'm not bad! I cook all the time, it's just… Y'know, pretty simple stuff." Hoshino looked at the fridge. "Even Ichigo-san and Miyako-san make some bland stuff. It's just that we're busy most of the time."

"Wow… You make 'simple' stuff, but Saitou makes 'bland' stuff? I see how it is." Hachiman stopped in his tracks for a moment, mulling over Hoshino's words. "…Is that why Saitou-san was excited about me cooking?"

"I have my pride." Hoshino lifted her chin, eyes closed like she was giving Hachiman a sentencing of some kind. "There's two Saitous in this apartment."

"I mean Saitou Miyako-san." Hachiman gave Hoshino a disappointed look. "You were all the time with Saitou Ichigo-san, you would know if I meant him."

"Why do you insist on calling them by their last name? It's kind of weird."

"It absolutely isn't."

"Well, it makes things awkward." Hoshino tilted her head again. "Like me. There's tw —three! There's three people named Hoshino here."

"I'm not calling the kids by their last name, that'd be ridiculous." Hachiman rolled his eyes.

"How is that different?"

"It's a matter of principle, Hoshino. Education." Hachiman frowned, wondering whether he'd have to explain further for a moment and deciding to cut himself some slack here. "Look, come here."

Hachiman led her out of the kitchen, where the kids continued playing cards with Komachi and the Saitou. Although they were playing a different game, seeing who kept the Joker last.

"Aqua." Hachiman called him out, and the little boy raised his eyes at the same time that he got his cards close to his chest. Avoiding to have them seen by Ruby the moment he took his gaze off her general direction.

"Yes? Is something wrong?"

"Call me."

"…Hikigaya-san?" The little boy frowned, a little confused by the sudden order.

"See?" Hachiman looked at the little boy's mother, who very clearly did not see what he meant.

"Of course." Hoshino lied as easily as she breathed, nodding her head and all.

"Is this about the way onii-chan calls people?" Komachi raised her eyes while taking one of Saitou (Miyako)'s cards and looking at it, unimpressed. "Leave it, he's way too old-fashioned to make him change."

"What do you mean?" Saitou (Ichigo) asked while looking between Hachiman and Hoshino, not really paying Komachi much attention.

"I was wondering why he calls you two the same." Hoshino motioned with her finger at her parents, like they were two objects that she was kind of pointing toward without much attention.

"Eh… An educated boy." The female Saitou smirked to herself in a dangerous way. It activated Hachiman's prey (?) instincts, but he reigned them in as well as he could. "Someone should learn from him."

Hoshino, in spite of being looked at, just stared back without reacting. Like she was waiting for the punchline to arrive.

"She's talking about you." Hachiman commented.

"I know, but I can't be talked down like that in front of my kids." Hoshino crossed her arms, looking a bit distant.

"The fact that you're a mom does not erase the fact that you're also a daughter." Komachi raised an eyebrow, more weirded out than annoyed. "That'd be kind of shitty."

"Komachi, there's kids here." Hachiman admonished her immediately.

"Sorry, that'd be poopy-lame. Like that?"

"Those aren't words, no." Hachiman shook his head.

"I still have a pride to maintain." Hoshino added as soon as the siblings were done with their part of the conversation.

"That's beside the point." The male Saitou interrupted. "Is dinner ready?"

"No, she doesn't let me cook." Hachiman pointed at Hoshino with a thumb.

"I'm making him company." Hoshino didn't look guilty about this at all. "Checking how he does it."

"I am not an expert or anything." Hachiman frowned. "I'm just alright at making this particular dish."

"You'd be surprised how much difference being 'alright' makes." The male Saitou pointed out while taking a card from Aqua.

Hachiman didn't know if that was an insult or a compliment, so he awkwardly shuffled in place without knowing how to react.

"I'll get back to the kitchen."

"Please hurry up." Komachi clapped her hands together, almost showing Saitou (Miyako) her hand.

"Cook yourself, if you can't wait." Hachiman growled.

"Eeeehhhh…" Komachi was about to start throwing a tantrum, but her turn came and was forced to focus on the game. "Hmp."

"That's what I thought." Hachiman scoffed before getting back to the kitchen sink, washing his hands before resuming to cut the vegetables.

Hoshino followed him without fail, making him release a bit of air through his nose.

"Still checking on me?"

"I want to see you."

Hachiman could've used the same answer as the other two times, but he thought better.

"I thought you'd like to spend the evening with your children." Hachiman didn't want to shove that fact in Hoshino's face, but he didn't know how to phrase the idea better.

"Yes, of course." Hoshino rested her head against the fridge. "But… I've never seen them interact with someone else, I don't know what to do."

"Ah…" Hachiman nodded. "You don't want to mess that up."

"I don't want to set A-chan off and ruin their fun." Hoshino eyed the living room with some longing in her expression. "Everything feels so frail, like my weight would tear it apart. Like a delicate sink in the jaws of a meddlesome dog."

"That's… Specific." Hachiman furrowed his brows.

"Yeah, I don't know where it came from." Hoshino chuckled to herself while caressing one of her arms. "I've never had pets."

"That's fine. Uneasiness, when it comes to new things, is commonplace." Hachiman made a face. Like a pout, but a lot less cute, so it couldn't really be called that. "Fortunately, food is good to kick back and relax."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. Haven't you been cheered up by eating something tasty?"

Hoshino took a moment to think about it.

"Yeah!"

"There you go."

"Then, you'll cook me something delicious. Right?" Hoshino smiled innocently, and now Hachiman had the suspicion that she was indeed doing it on purpose.

"I'll do my best." Ah, but… "You don't like white rice, right?"

"Eh… It's not that I dislike it." Hoshino looked away. "I just don't trust it."

Okay?

"Hmmm… What to do…?"

"I'll watch you make it." Hoshino quickly interrupted him. "I won't complain if you let me stay and watch."

"You don't have to eat something you don't like." Hachiman was still thinking about an alternative while talking. Perhaps, if he made some sort of tomato sauce… But, then again, tomatoes.

"I'll watch you." Hoshino insisted. "Who knows? Perhaps I end up liking your rice."

The way she corrected her posture again, trying to stand straighter, made her look like she was putting up a brave front. Or perhaps her expression had faltered for a moment, perhaps she'd given him a hint that he had only unconsciously caught.

Or, perhaps, Hachiman was just seeing things. And Hoshino actually wanted to experience new things; everything pointed out at her being that kind of girl, after all.

Still…

"Sure." Hachiman returned his attention to cooking. "This is my 'penalty', after all. Watch over me to your heart's content."

Hoshino opened her mouth, visibly brightening up, but stopped without having said anything.

She held back her smile, making it smaller.

"Thanks."

Hachiman scoffed.

"Don't mention it." He really wanted to ask, stop pondering about why she reacted the way she did. But they had had this conversation before: There were things that they weren't ready to say, and thing that they weren't ready to be asked about. "Just stop making your kids bland food."

"I'm not a bad cook!" That set her off as easily as it would've one of her kids.

Seemed like it ran in the family. Hilarious.