We didn't have to have another "survivor reunion." After the first one, we all wound up staying much closer than we'd originally expected to. But here I am. In Big Mac's car, once again trying to stop food from flying everywhere (this time sukiyaki). The heater is pounding down on us, protecting us from the nippy air outside. This time, I'm in the back seat with Komaru. Because Kyoko is with us, smiling softly. Once again, fantasies are flooding my head. These ones are actually for my writing though! I swear! Because I'm almost at the emotional climax of the novel I've been writing, so it's gotta be special. It's gotta be spicy. Hehe.

"Whatcha thinkin' bout?" Komaru asks with a sing-songy tone, seeing my ecstatic expression. I answer only with a laugh. She knows exactly where my brain is right now. "Agh, Eiki, hurry up! I can't WAIT to read this one! It's gonna be great!" she cheers, bouncing in her seat a bit.

"Komaru?!" Big Mac exclaims with a look of utter shock.

"What? I'm not a kid anymore, Makoto. I can have womanly interests. Besides, it's only a little bit sensual," she declares, protecting their tray of nikuman.

Kyoko puts on a smirk that I can see from the rear-view mirror. "Yes, trust me. I've read a few in my spare time, and they have an acceptable level of maturity."

"What, are you saying you don't read my books, Big Mac? I feel b-betrayed! How could you not support my professional endeavors?" I tease.

He sputters, seemingly not knowing what to say.

"So? Do you read 'em or not, bro?" Komaru leans in mischievously.

"This is a trap! Neither answer is the right answer, so I'm just gonna not answer!" he pouts.

Komaru and I take turns booing him. He starts amping up the J-Synth music over time to try and drown us out, even singing himself. But as he increases the volume, so do we. It gets to the point where I start to wonder if anyone can hear us from outside the car. Eventually, the torture session ends when we roll up to Hina's donut shop. Right before we open the doors, however, Kyoko suddenly locks them. "Psst. The answer is yes, he does read them." We bust out laughing, and Kyoko gives Makoto a loving kiss before he can cover his beet-red face.

We hold ourselves and keep as much warmth in as possible until we manage to get out of the parking lot and into the store, still shuddering with laughter.

Immediately, we're hit with a warmth and the smell of frying oil mixed with sweetness. "Hey, guys! I'm whipping up a fresh batch! The dough's still rising, but I figured I'd prep the oil and frostings! Wanna sneak preview?" Hina offers with a little wiggle of excitement. Komaru practically teleports over to the bowls of icing. I kind of quietly, guiltily shuffle over there and dip my pinky into the bowl with chocolate glaze. It's rich, decadent, and oh-so-gooey. Komaru and I look at each other and can't help but chuckle with delight.

Kyoko takes a small speaker out of her bag and starts to play some cozy ambient music. Komaru snags Hina's hand and drags her over to dance. She takes mine, as well, so the three of us sort of take turns dancing with each other and giggling like little girls. I honestly couldn't have imagined doing this ever. Interestingly enough, Kyoko seems mildly surprised when Makoto asks her to dance. What did you think would happen?

Yasuhiro busts in, slams his platter of steamed crab onto the table, and starts boogying without saying a word to us. It's hilariously off-beat, considering the songs are pretty slow and he's going at it like a cheetah would chase prey. Of course, we record it, just like the last time I saw him dance.

Ever fashionably late, Byakuya strides in like he owns the place. "Hello, again, everyone," he greets as he sets down a dish of fugu tataki. I wish I could say I was surprised. But I'm positive he had this done by the highest-rate chefs, so I'm not worried. Still dancing, I glide over to him. He twirls me without even missing a beat.

"Hello again to you, too," I smile.

Now that everyone is here, we dive into the food. Everything is filling and scrumptious, flooding the pit of my belly with a comfortable warmth. To add to the coziness, I chase it down with some atsukan. Instead of catching up on each other's lives like last time, we reminisce on all the stuff we did in the past year. Apparently, Hiro dragged Kyoko off to an OOParts museum a while back, and she spent the time trying to solve the mysteries behind them and prove to him that nothing suspect was going on. Hina and Komaru also started taking improv classes together, I guess, and the mental image is delightfully amusing. The boys went on a scavenger hunt together. And of course there's the stuff I was involved in, like Hiro's hitman incident, teaching the class, and the apple picking. We also plan things we want to do someday, like take basket-weaving classes, give the boys makeovers, and try out silent disco. Byakuya mentions that it wouldn't be too hard for us to get permission to paint a mural.

After a while, Hina's dough has risen sufficiently, so she beckons us all over to watch the frying process. The little donuts sizzle and gurgle in the deep pot, goldening and releasing a slightly spiced aroma. Nutmeg? I think it's nutmeg. She places finished donuts on a rack so any leftover oil can drip off. We all drink just a little more while we wait for them to be cool enough to frost. And then we do. We slather donuts with frosting, doing our very best to evenly distribute it so that each donut has around the same amount. Do we succeed? Not particularly. Hiro and Komaru tend to put more on than Kyoko and I do, for instance. But at least we don't run out of any one flavor before exactly a third of the donuts are covered in it. Hina, feeling generous, takes out an actual armful of bottles of sprinkles and places it onto the counter. We look at her wide-eyed, as if asking permission. She merely smirks. We. Go. Crazy. The whole place is alive with chaotic energy. Even Byakuya refuses to restrain himself, carefully inspecting each bottle before going ham and shaking them onto donuts in a frenzy. His grin is electric, captivating. Holy shit.

After that, they're finally ready for us to eat. At first, I wonder if Byakuya will even bother with "commoner food." Even he himself seems hesitant. So I take one— a strawberry one, because it's his favorite flavor— and gently bring it to his mouth. He bites his lip nervously, but then accepts a bite. His eyes close. "That good, huh?" He nods. So I take a nibble myself. They're perfect. The outside is crisp but the inside is soft enough that they practically melt in my mouth. The icing is sweet but not overwhelmingly so, and I can't help but swoon. He laughs, cupping my cheek in his hand.

Just like last year, we eventually decide to go outside. I shiver from the glacial air that burns as it glides down my throat, but all the warm food and drink prevents my fingers and ears from numbing. "Hey, guys!!! Check this out!" Hiro emphatically yells. We swivel around to look at him. He's holding that old hacky sack, shaking it temptingly.

"Aha!! A challenge! I'll destroy you all!" I give Byakuya a cursory glance, sort of like an invitation, before running off to join the gathering group. I turn around briefly, and, to my surprise, he's walking toward us. My heart flutters.

At first, we simply try to volley it between us as long as we can. Cooperation and whatnot. A few of us get especially into it, willing to dive and run and crouch. With our entertainment boosted, we switch to playing Count and Catch. Our competitive spirits rile up to the point where it's nearly maddening, but Hina ultimately prevails.

"Alrighty! As the victor, you get to choose what we do next!" Hiro announces.

"Guys, I have the greatest idea!" she claps once, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.

"What is it?" Makoto asks with curiosity.

"Let's play some improv games!"

"YEAH!" Komaru agrees excitedly, "We can play He Said She Said!"

"W-Wait!" I call out, "At least explain the rules before deciding that all on your own!"

"It's a storytelling game! One person starts off with a sentence, and then the next person will say, 'she said,' and then describe what they were doing while they said that line. The person then has to adapt to whatever they told them! Like this. 'I'm flat-out exhausted,'" she starts.

Komaru follows up with, "She said, wiping her brow. 'But you only did five jumping jacks!'" They both turn to look at me expectantly as Hina swipes her hand across her forehead

"U-Uh! Sh-She said, stretching to loosen her muscles. 'Yeah, where's your f-fighting spirit?'" Komaru starts stretching her legs, doing toe touches and similar things.

Byakuya immediately gets the hang of it. "She said, jogging in place. 'I think her fighting spirit is wherever my self-confidence disappeared to,'"

"He said, laughing to himself. 'And my patience,'" Makoto chimes in.

"He said, looking annoyed at the whole group. 'And my innocence. I wonder, where DID they go?'" Kyoko questions.

"She said, tapping on her head and looking upward. 'Well, how about we go look for them?!'" Hiro contributes.

The story plays out dramatically and wonderfully. We go on a grand expedition to find our virtues, crossing field and fountain, moor and mountain. We make sacrifices. We have successes and failures. We develop our characters. And finally, we find the legendary Trove of Vanished Probity, occasionally taking a break to die of laughter.

But the hour grows late, and, unfortunately, nothing can last forever. "Do we h-have to go?" I plead.

"I'm sorry, Eiko. I have to get up early tomorrow for work, and Komaru has a test to study for," Makoto confirms, regret in his tone.

"I can take her home so she can stay just a bit longer," Byakuya tells him. His voice wavers a smidge, as though trying to sound steady and failing.

"Awesome. Thanks, Byakuya," Makoto accepts. He gives me a hug and softly murmurs into my hair, "Good luck, Eiko." It sends a shiver down my spine, though whether that's from his cold breath or the implications behind the words, I can't quite tell. Kyoko gives a fond wave goodbye, takes Makoto's hand, and strides off with him.

Komaru rushes up and gives me a big hug, as well, squealing happily. She boops my nose before dashing off to Big Mac's car.

The four of us spend about another hour goofing off and playing pretty much whatever game we can think of that's active enough to keep us even the slightest bit warm. Eventually, Hina has to put an end to it, since she needs to prepare more batches of donuts for the morning rush. Hina and Hiro exchange goodbye hugs with us, and Byakuya guides me to his car.

"I-I must admit, I had a bit of an ulterior motive for offering to drive you. Would you be terribly opposed to coming over to my place for some coffee? I have some Supremo grounds from Columbia. Hard to come by and yet world-renown."

I check his car's clock. "Isn't it th-three in the morning?" I tease, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

"No, but seriously. Do you want coffee?" he asks, playing along.

"Of course I do. I guess I'm starting my day at three."

"What are you talking about? Your day started like twenty hours ago."

I giggle mischievously. "S-Sleep is for the weak!"

"Oh, is it now?! I was under the assumption that we required a good eight hours to properly function!" he interjects with fake agitation, making me laugh even harder.

Street lights come and go and we approach the grand, majestic gate of his home. Rows of immaculate plants pass. He pulls into his garage. I unbuckle and open the door. "Up-pup-pup! Nope! Wait right there," he demands. I comply with a wry smile, shutting the door. He gets out, opens my door, and offers his hand to me, I rise.

He takes and hangs up my coat and scarf. He preps the fireplace and sits me down beside it. And then I hear a low rumble and a drip as he brews up some coffee. The wonderfully striking bitter aroma wafts and wisps around my head like a hazy dream. I want to watch him, but I can't take my eyes from the captivating crackling fire. It pops and folds over itself and bits of sparks burst into life.

Soon enough, I feel his body wrap around me as his head rests on mine. One cup of coffee rests at either side of me. On my left is a black cup. The right's contents swirl hypnotically and are lighter in hue. I take the one with cream in it and take a sip. Utterly heavenly.

We sit in silence for a while. But soon I start to feel his heart pound against my back. "Are you okay? You seem n-nervous," I inquire.

"I have to admit something to you."

"Yes?"

"Well... I've told you all about how an heir is selected, right? The head of the Togami line has children with various high-born women and those children compete. There's no space for affection or even a modicum of caring for any partner. I've dwelled on and pondered that system for so long. When I learned of my family's death at the hands of the Tragedy, I made it my duty to rebuild the Togami Empire. I felt it was all my life had purpose for. I tried, at first. I tried my hardest. I couldn't understand why I felt the way I did. It was like how Mondo described it. A fuzzy uneasiness in my head that turned to a lump in my stomach."

"Maybe that's because... it's n-not what you really want anymore," I suggest, feeling my own heart start to pound.

He chuckles. Not a laugh of ecstasy, but of understanding. "Of course. That's precisely what I'm leading into. After all the time I spent with our class, and with the Future Foundation, I realized that it's okay for me to want something for myself at all. Ultimately, I don't want to reestablish that same structure. It's cold. Hostile. And I'm tired of putting pain into the world," he sighs, holding me tighter. I hold his hand and stroke the back of it with my thumb. Holy shit. Holy shit.

"When I met you again, and we drew closer, I came to an epiphany. What I want... at the heart of it all... is to be able to truly love another person. Not procreate and cast aside. I want to settle down with someone and give my all for them. I know you know how strong my convictions lie. And I'm sure you have also picked up on the fact that my feelings for you are... overwhelming. They confused me for so long. But I've had more fun the past year with you than I've ever had. Oh, this has drawn on too long. I apologize wholeheartedly for rambling." He takes a long pause. "My point is, my most earnest desire is you, Eiko."

I turn around to face him. He looks so unguarded, so willingly vulnerable as he waits for me to say something. "A-After everything that life threw at you and me... after an upbringing devoid of love, after so many personal misconceptions we were taught about ourselves and others— after the end of the world itself, even!— we were able to sift through all the pain and ego and actually find something worth it all. If you think about it, it's actually p-pretty miraculous. Of course, I want you, too." His expression turns to pure shock, and then the sweetest little look of adoration. "Stop, y-you're gonna make me melt!" I gasp, throwing myself across him to embrace him.

"So," he whispers into my ear, "we don't have to ever ask if it's a date again?"

I feel my cheeks heat up, and I squish him. "Every s-single time will be a date." My hands, which are wrapped across his shoulders, slide their way up his neck to his face. I give his brilliant blue eyes one last incredulous beam, and I guide him straight to me. Our kiss starts off soft and slow, still a little shy. But soon it grows passionate, needy. Our tongues adventure ever so slightly as we lean against his expensive carpet.

We pause for a breath, partly just to stare at each other again. "How did life become so priceless?" he asks.

"My life is better with you."

"Life is better," he echoes.

"Life is better."

[A/N] I hope you all enjoyed this fic. I made this for all of my friends who felt like they couldn't ship this in peace. You guys have gone through so much, and I just wanted to make a place where you could have refuge, I suppose. I put my all into for you, and I'm personally quite proud of how it turned out.

I know I normally put author's notes at the start of the chapter, and not the end. But, well, I have a bit of a surprise, I suppose.

I want to continue with this. Possibly just by adding oneshots every now and then. Possibly by making a whole new book. Either way, though this is the end of the fic's main portion, more will come. Thank you for always supporting me and my endeavors. I hope to keep supplying you with content you can enjoy. Because I adore writing for you all.

With everlasting love,
Munchy