~Chapter Twenty One : Family~
~Start~

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(Y/N) placed the last piece of toy in the toy basket. She sighed in satisfaction and looked at all the kids who were now sleeping peacefully on their individual futons. It was nap time and seeing everyone sleep made (Y/N) want to close her eyes and sleep as well. However, she just stretched her body and yawned, standing up.

"I wonder if I asked Akito too much?" She wondered as she stealthily opened the door and gently close it behind her. "I guess I'll go check up on them to see what they're doing..."

(Y/N) reached the door to the outside and opened it. She peeked to through the side of the wall, searching for her friend and smiled when she found him with his back facing her. She walked towards him and about to greet him. "Hey, Akito! How's it go...ing...?"

She trailed off as she went closer to his figure to find that on his lap was the boy she talked about earlier. The boy has sound asleep and was clinging onto Akito while the cat boy holds onto him carefully. The orange-haired cat boy looked at (Y/N) as she came to a stop infront of him. "Shh." He shushed. "You'll wake him up. It's nap time, isn't it?"

"Y-Yeah..." (Y/N) said as she blinked and laughed nervously. Akito went back into patting the peaceful boy's hair, allowing to become more comfortable.

What suprised (Y/N) was actully not the fact that Akito managed to tame such grumpy kid. In fact, (Y/N) expected him to achieve that, which is why she asked him to be the one doing it in the first place. But it suprised (Y/N) that for someone like Akito to be exposing his cat features out for everyone to see. His ears were twitching while his tail was calmly swaying left and right behind him.

"You know...This kid..." Akito started and (Y/N) looked at him to listen. "He kinda reminds of myself."

(Y/N)'s eyes widened in interest, she sat down next to him in the bench. "Really? Why do you say so?" She asked, interested at what he has to say.

Akito looked at the kid with a gentle look in his eyes and smiled. "He has this stupidity in him called Pride." He explained.

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"Hey, why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be eating inside?" The orange haired cat boy spoke as he walked towards the lone child who was startled by his voice.

The boy with mint colored hair gasped in suprised and looked at his direction. Immediatly, his feet touched the ground, ready to run away from his approach. However, there was no way he could beat Akito's senses. "I won't do that if I were you." He said as he stopped infront of him with his hands on his pockets. The boy stopped in his movements as the orange haired stared down at him in intimidation. "Such movements aren't neccessary when I just want to talk to you."

Though nervous, the kid bit his bottom lip and glared at Akito in signs of rebellion. He turned his heel and began to run away. Watching the kid, Akito sighed in exhaustion and was definitely not in the mood for a tag. "But this was a request for Master..." Akito blushed at the thought and prepared himself to run. "...The things I do for her."

Then, he sprinted towards the running child who quickly noticed his speed and turned to a corner to avoid him. However, Akito seemed to expect the action and moved to the other side, quickly passing him and stopped when he was infront of him. But because the boy did not expect this from Akito, he couldn't stop himself on time and landed on Akito's chest, tackling him to the ground.

Akito grasped the child for him to not get away. "Hey, I just want to talk to you! Is that too much to ask!?" Akito yelled as he gritted his teeth as the child on his arms struggled to be free.

"I-I don't want to talk to adults like you!" The child yelled. "You people don't-"

Akito wondered why the boy suddenly cutted his own words and stopped struggling. He looked up at him to see that he was staring in awe at him. "Hey, what's wrong...?" Akito asked and widened his eyes as he realised what he was staring at.

The head wear that he was wearing this whole time to hide his cat features has been blown off, revealing his cat ear for everyone to see. "Oh..." Akito sighed in defeat, accepting his fate and sitting up with the child on his lap. "So, what's up?"

"Cat ears?" The boy blinked as he calmed down and looked down to see an orange tail swaying behind Akito. The child began to stare at him as he narrowed his eyebrows at him. "W-Why do you have cat ears? Aren't you a little too old for that?"

Akito grew a vein and glared at the child. "Now, listen here, it's not like I asked to be like this, you know that?" He growled. "I was born with this."

The child hummed as he raised his eyebrow. He went closer to Akito's face and began inspecting his cat ear. "Oh...They're attached." He commented as he continued on inspecting them.

"I just told you the reason, you little..." Akito trailed off as he looked at the child, only to be suprised when he saw him really looking interested in his features.

The child's eyes seemed to be sparkling in amazement as his lips were slowly forming a smile. "H-How cute..." He whispered as he gets happier and happier with every moment. However, he seemed to realise his overwhelming happiness and quickly let go of his cat ear. "U-Um..."

Akito stared at the kid who looked away and blushed in embarrassment. "Y-You didn't see anything!" He exclaimed as he bit his lower lip. "Your fur was so fluffy and cute that it's so irresistable and I-!"

"I-I mean! Isn't it weird for you to be a cat still!?" The child retorted, attempting to hide his face with his already long bangs.

Akito blinked and for a few seconds, he hummed, understanding his situation. "...Do you...like animals?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

This caught the boy's attention and he looked up to him. "O-Of course! Who doesn't!? E-Especially the cute ones!" He exclaimed. "They're better at being friends than humans!"

"T-They can't talk but they know how to listen and insects too..." He said as he looked down. Akito noticed that his mood was beginning to lower down as well. "But there's not much animals coming out here so I can only interact with insects..."

"But then, other kids don't like them and they end up disliking me too..." He explained. "That's why, they looked at me like some creepy guy who only likes insects..."

"...Then, Why don't you tell them that it's not only insects you like?" Akito asked.

"...I can't." He said and begin to yawn. "If I do that, they might make fun of me for liking something cute since boys are not supposed to like cute things..."

"I'm scared too..." He said and rubbed his eyes. "They might laugh at me..."

Akito's eyes widened at his reason. "They'll...laugh, huh..." He thought as his lips made a straight line. Akito then lifted his hand and placed it on top of the boy's head in an attempt to comfort him.

This caused the boy to yawn once more and slowly leaned near Akito. "Hey...What's your name?" Akito asked, giving him a comfortable place to lean on.

"...Riku." He said, sleepily as he slowly closed his eyes to enter the dream world, comfortably sleeping in his arms.

Once realising this, Akito smiled gently and pat his head. "You're one weird kid." He said as he chuckled. "...Kinda like me."

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"So Riku-kun is having trouble with that, huh?" (Y/N) said, understanding everything Akito told her.

Just after she said those words, Riku began moving. (Y/N) and Akito watched him as he slowly opened his sleepy eyes and looked around. "Morning, Riku." Akito said.

"Oh...Cat person..." Riku said, blankly staring at him.

"It's Akito." The orange haired said as a slight vein appeared on his forehead.

Riku ignored his comment and looked at the person beside him. (Y/N) frozed and gave a slight smile as he blinked, studying her appearance. "H-Hey there, Riku-kun..." She said. "Did you sleep well?"

"You're that lady I saw earlier..." Riku said and narrowed his eyebrows at her. "You're the one who scared that beetle away from earlier. Seriously, it took me a really long time to find that beetle!"

"A-Ah, is that so? I'm sorry, I really am..." (Y/N) apologized, scratching the back of her head.

Riku looked down, looking to be quite worried about something. Akito noticed this and knocked his head gently. "Come on, if you want to say it then say it." He said as Riku looked up at him. "No one's gonna understand you if you don't speak up."

Riku blinked and looked back at (Y/N) who tilted her head, wondering what they're talking about. Riku hesitated but looked straight at (Y/N). "U-Um...It's okay...There are plenty of beetles out there and..." He said as his face was getting red and his voice was getting lower and slower. "I-I can find another one so...You don't have to...feel sorry about it..."

(Y/N) blinked at the boy's change of tone. "It really is a Mini Akito..." She thought and smiled. "How cute..."

"Thank you for being so nice, Riku-kun but I really am sorry, you know..." (Y/N) said as she pat the mint-haired boy's hair. "As repayment, how about I'll join you in finding more interesting insects? I may not look like it but finding insects was one of my favorite hobbies!"

"...A hobby that lasted for two days." Akito said in a teasing voice.

(Y/N) flinched and nervously laughed. "But you know! It really did become one of my favorite hobbies!" She retorted, puffing her cheeks at Akito, in which the cat boy sarcastically responded at.

Riku looked at (Y/N) and Akito in awe before snickering and giving out a small giggle. The two stopped arguing and looked at the boy who noticed his own laughter and blushed in realisation.

"W-What? I-Is my laugh weird?" He said, puffing his cheeks and hopped off Akito's lap. He sat between the cat boy and the girl who looked at each other in wonder. Then, to their suprise, he grabbed both of their arms and hugged them as he blushed.

Seeing their suprised look, Riku pouted. "W-What's with those faces...?" He asked and smirked. "You two look so lovey-dovey with each other and it makes me wonder if you're a couple or something..."

Hearing this, Akito and (Y/N) widened their eyes and blushed at his statement. Akito, being the most affected, knocked Riku's head slightly. "You little brat...!" Akito said, blushing madly. "D-Don't get the wrong idea!"

"Ouch..." Riku said but with a smile on his face. "But seriously..."

Riku hugged their hands tightly and looked up at them with a blush. "...Would you mind if...I pretend to be the person who completes the family...?" He asked, his voice getting lighter. "...I-I thought that a family with you two would be kinda nice so..."

Akito and (Y/N) widened their eyes and slowly looked at each other. Akito quickly looked away though with the same blush on his face before letting out a sigh. Then, his hands went on top of Riku's head and pat him. "I-I'm not one to decide that...!" Akito said and looked at (Y/N) and to Riku before looking away once again. "B-But...Do what you want...I-I don't care..."

Riku laughed at Akito's response and turned to (Y/N) with sparkling eyes, seemed to be asking for her permission. (Y/N) couldn't help but giggle at Riku's reaction. "Well, I've grown quite attached to you so I guess, why not?" She said, stroking Riku's hair, who seemed to have gotten even more happy. "You do feel like a child I want to have."

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A lot has happened in that particular day. (Y/N) and Akito decided to help Riku with the misunderstanding about his hobbies. The children gave hesitance on accepting him at first but seeing Riku to be such a harmless person, they soon learned how to approach him at such a fast rate. It didn't take too long before Riku began to feel welcomed by the other children for the first time. Of course, (Y/N) and Akito saw this development and earned themselves a high-five from each other.

Starting from that point, Riku was now involved in every activity that (Y/N) and Akito prepared for the children. They all had as much fun as they could until the time where another teacher is assigned to take care of the children overnight. The children were disappointed but their mood went back up as they realised that Akito and (Y/N) will be coming back in the next coming days. However, that didn't stopped the mint-haired child to feel much more disappointed and sad than anyone else.

(Y/N) and Akito said goodbye and was about to exit the gate of the orphanage when they were stopped by Riku, himself. The two turned around to find the boy hiding behind the nearest tree. They both sweatdropped at his attempt of approach. "Riku-kun? What are you doing there?" (Y/N) asked, her voice a bit louder to let him hear what she's saying.

They saw Riku's mouth moved, signalling that he was replying however, since he was quite far away, (Y/N) can only hear a distant voice while Akito heard it quite well. "...What did he say?" (Y/N) blinked, sweatdropping.

"Maybe it's best to just go there ourselves." Akito suggested. "That kid's shyness is unbelievable."

As they walked closer to him, Riku flinched and came out behind the tree. It was silence for awhile but (Y/N) decided to destroy it. "So, what did you want to say?" She asked once again.

Riku blushed slightly. "U-Um...You know...I..." He stuttered as he looked up. "I-I just want to tell you that you two better go back tomorrow!"

"T-The others will get too t-troublesome if you guys are not here so..." He said, fidgetting on his sleeves. "S-So, there!"

(Y/N) and Akito looked at each other, knowing what's really up and crouched down at his level. "Don't worry, we'll be back, I promise!" (Y/N) said as she winked playfully at him. "We'll keep destroying those monsters that cause loneliness~!"

"What she said." Akito said as he gave Riku another one of his comforting head pats. "So don't go crying out of loneliness, alright?"

Riku widened his eyes and blushed. "N-No! I-I'm not...!" As he speaks, he bit his bottom lip and to (Y/N) and Akito's suprise, tears began to appear in his eyes. This caused the two to panic, thinking of what they did wrong and was prepared to apologize however, Riku quickly wiped his tears.

Akito and (Y/N) let out a sigh of relief but still is panicking on the inside. Before anyone could say anything, they were suprised once again when Riku tackled both of them in a hug. "C-Come back as fast as possible!" He exclaimed, as if they were going away for a couple of years. "I-It's lonely without the two of you..."

The two teenagers' eyes soften at the child and smiled gently as they both hugged back. "We'll miss you too..." Akito said while (Y/N) nodded as she stroke his hair comfortably. After a few seconds, they parted away and looked at each other with comfortable smiles on their faces.

"Akito~! Master~!" A familiar energetic voice was heard in the distance.  (Y/N), Akito, and Riku turned to see Natsuki waving cheerfully at them while the other cat boys were behind him. "We came to pick you guys up~!" Natsuki said.

Riku took the intiative to wipe his remaining tears and smiled at them. "I guess It's time to go now!" Riku said with a cheerful smile.

The two stood up and fixed their things. "Are you sure you're okay now?" Akito asked, still somewhat concerned.

"Of course!" Riku confidently said.

"...Alright, don't cry yourself to sleep tonight then." Akito said as he smirked. "We'll be back tomorrow after all."

Riku puffed his cheeks in annoyance. "I won't!" He said, crossing his arms infront of his chest. "Just go already! Your keeping your friends waiting!"

(Y/N) and Akito laughed at his cute attempt of persuation and just agreed to what he wants. They waved goodbye to the little child and turned their heels before walking away from him. "Bye for now, Riku-kun! See you tomorrow!" (Y/N) waved at Riku who waved back at her with a smile.

"...What a handful." Akito said as he sighed in exhaustion. "Is that kid really going to be okay, I wonder."

(Y/N) watched and listened as Akito expresses his secret concern for the child. She smiled as she decided to comfort him. "He'll be fine~! I know he'll be fine~!" (Y/N) said, looking forward as they walked. "Riku-kun is our child after all~!"

"Yeah, yeah...He's our chi-" Akito stopped in realisation and slowly a blush began to creep up his cheeks. "W-What!? N-No! That's not what I meant...! Did you just really decided to go along with that kid's fantasy!?"

(Y/N) shrugged. "Well, I don't see why not..." She said as she laughed at Akito's face and began walking once again. "I don't really mind having a family with Akito, you see~!"

Akito bit his bottom lip and looked away as he started walking after her with his heart beating faster than usual. "She doesn't mind, she says..." Akito thought as he stole a glance of (Y/N). "D-Don't go saying things like that easily...It makes my heartbeat increase..."

Akito breath out and tried to walk along by (Y/N)'s side, trying to calm his beating heart. "...Damn, it's really beating so fast..." Akito thought and then, everything seemed to have gone in slow motion for Akito. "Wait a moment...This is really weird...It's really beating so much...!"

"A-Am I sick or something...!? Do I need a doctor? What's going on here!?" Then, a picture of (Y/N)'s smiling face appeared and this caused Akito's eyes to widen in realisation. He gasped and stopped in his track. "...I-Is it because I...? With Master...? Am I really..."

"Akito?" (Y/N) called, looking back at him as she noticed he stopped his movements. "What's wrong? Did you forget something?"

Akito looked at her with a suprised look and with his blush who still hasn't calm down. "...No.  I-I didn't...I just remembered something, that's all..." Akito said as he started walking towards (Y/N) once again.

"Oh, okay? But you should really take a look at your face. It's really red." (Y/N) said, raising an eyebrow at him. "Are you really okay?"

However, Akito was too busy with his own thoughts that he couldn't hear what his Master said to him. "...No, that's not possible...Is it? For me to feel...like that towards Master...?" Akito thought as he looked up at (Y/N) who was staring at him in wonder. "I-I still have much to learn...I can't confirm this just ye-"

As he was so distracted by his thoughts, Akito stumbled over his own feet but luckily got himself standing once again. "What was that." Chikage asked, as the two neared their group. "Are you drunk?"

"...You saw nothing." Akito said, trying to pretend like nothing happened. "I just feel quite light headed, that's all..."

**********

Seeing the orange cat boy almost toppled over by tripping over his own feet, Riku, who was still their watching his 'parents' walk away, smirked in mischief. An idea popped into his head that he knew Akito wouldn't like. However, he couldn't bring himself to NOT do it.

Riku took a deep breath and yelled on top of his lungs. "Bye Mama (Y/N)~! Bye Papa Akito~!" Riku yelled, playfully. "Make sure you're lovey dovey tomorrow as well!"

And with that, Akito and (Y/N) tensed up and blushed as the other cat boys blinked dumbfoundedly. (Y/N) turned around to find Riku running away with a mischievous laughter coming from him which made her sweatdrop. "G-Geez...What a troublesome kid..." (Y/N) thought as she took a peek at Akito's face. "I'm sure Akito would surely not like tha- huh?"

Looking closely at Akito's face, he was blushing however, his eyes looks like they were spinning and it was half lidded. "I-I'm dizzy...T-Too much-" He didn't even finish his sentence as his body just collapsed, due to the amount of blood going in his head.

Natsuki being the closest to him, caught him before he falls down in the ground. "H-Hey...!" Natsuki exclaimed as the others yelled his name in suprise and panic.

And finally, the day ended up with the cat boys along with (Y/N) dragging a passed out Akito back in the house.

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~End~
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A/N :

Alright~! Finally! I've finished this! It took me longer than I thought! _:('ཀ'」 ∠):

I actually wrote this chapter in like three times (・ω・｀) The first one was too short while the second one was too long. However, this one gave wasn't that different from the second one since it's very long as well and that kinda ticks me off for some reason _:('ཀ'」 ∠):

But regardless, I've finished it and now, I can rest! (*'ω｀*)

(...No? Not yet? Okay. ('；ω；') )

Anyway, I just graduated and now, I'm transferring to another school _:('ཀ'」 ∠): which I'm not ready yet. The entrance exam is quite pressuring as well since it's been a long time since I've been into one. (Because you know, studying in the same school for 6 years straight can really change the way you look at other schools.) But just pray for someone as plain as Candy to hopefully get into a school who mainly focuses on Mathematics and Science ('；ω；')

P.S
I'm probably going to die. _:('ཀ'」 ∠):

But don't worry! I'll still try my best to update! Because I love it when someone reads my stories even if they don't like it╰(*'︶'*)╯♡

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This is a rough sketch of our new character Riku that I made and decided to color it to make it look atleast a little bit decent so...Sorry if it's not that detailed (￣▽￣)

By the way, Riku is probably around 7 or 8 if you're asking (￣▽￣) I didn't really thought that far, sorry~!

(Oh, and I'll probably draw Hiromi or Aimi in the next chapter ╰(*'︶'*)╯ or tell me who you want to see the most, please fell free to say it in the comments~)

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**Please Wait Patiently For The Next Chapter, Nya~**