Hello folks! 

Though I am done with this fanfic, I thought it'd be a fun little touch to add some deleted scenes!

For this first one, this is an alternate version of Chapter 27 where Kousei and Kaori were blessed with FOUR daughters!

UN-fortunately for Kousei, they all inherited their mother's personality! XD

Fanart done by Doyle Liao! (YT channel linked above) Be sure to go check out the work of this awesome artist! Her Instagram handle is @doyleliao!

Enjoy the first deleted scene! More to come!

"Daddyyyyyy!" a high pitched, six-year-old female voice roused Kousei from his slumber. At first, the thirty-year-old pianist just rolled over underneath the thick white blankets, grumbling under his breath.

Then he remembered what always came next.

"No no no, wait—!" he cried, raising his arms to shield himself.

But he was too late, as Kaoto's small yet mighty form came crashing down upon the soft cushions of the blankets, shattering any last remaining comfort the bedding brought him and exuding an "Umph!" from Kousei's mouth. As always, her three sisters Akemi, Chiyoko, and Etsuko followed close behind, surrounding the bed and leaping on top of their father's legs.

There was no escape.

Kousei was going to be showered with love first thing in the morning, whether he liked it or not.

"Good morning daddy!" Kaoto's beaming face said as she crawled across his torso to get to her target. "It's time for breakfast! Mommy said you and her are making something special today!"

While Kaoto, Akemi, and Chiyoko were each seven, six, and five respectively, Etsuko was the oldest, being nine years of age.

Kousei tried to protect his face from the grubby, sticky fingers that pinched and pulled at his cheeks, but his efforts came to naught as his daughters smothered him with their overbearing love.

"I love YOU! I love YOU!" Kaoto chanted as she clawed and teared at her father's hair the way any lovable gremlin would. 

"I love you more, daddy!" Akemi chimed in as she barraged Kousei's left cheek with affectionate pinches.

"No fair, I love daddy the mostest!" Chiyoko argued, assaulting the other side of Kousei's face with kisses.

"Mostest isn't even a word, Chiyoko," the oldest sister, Etsuko, laughed.

"Etsuko!" Kousei cried as he tried to free himself from the pile of cute demons holding him down. "Help me out here!"

"Sorry dad," Etsuko shrugged, her arms crossed as she sat at the foot of the bed. "Not after you forgot about my soccer game last week."

"Oh come on!" Kousei protested, clawing his way out from under the trio of adorable little goblins. Finally managing to sit up at last, he got in a few quick breaths before the three sisters pounced on him from all sides yet again.

"I want to go to the park today!" Kaoto smiled, hugging-but somewhat strangling-her dad from behind.

"I wanna jump so high on the trampoline that I reach Heaven!" Akemi grinned, trapping her dad on the left side with a big hug.

"I wanna go to the beach and build a royal sand castle!" Chiyoko added on, completing the inescapable trap of love with a hug from the right.

"Girls?" Kaori's voice called out from downstairs. "Is your father awake?"

"Yes mommy!" Kaoto shouted back, a sneaky glimmer in her eye. "And he says your playing is horrible!"

"KAOTO!" Kousei protested. But he was too late as Kaori came stomping into the bedroom, towering over his surrounded form and glaring at him with a mighty stare.

"Ladies? If you would be so kind?"

That was when Kousei felt six miniature claws of death immobilizing his face from all sides, and he knew he was doomed.

"Kaori, wait, MMMHPPHMMMHHPP!!!"

The four sisters laughed as their mother proceeded to pepper their father's face with kisses all around, and Kousei struggled to free himself once again, but to no avail.

"Mommy kisses daddy! Mommy kisses daddy!" the three six-year-olds chanted as Kaori finished her barrage of love.

"I did NOT say your playing was horrible!" Kousei clarified.

"I know," Kaori smiled, ruffling her fingers through Kousei's bedhead. "I just wanted to make sure you were awake. It's your turn to babysit, after all."

Kousei was confused. "Wait, what?"

"It's Saturday!" Kaori grinned, pointing down to her t-shirt with the words Nerima Community Orchestra emblazoned onto the torso. "Now, are you going to help me make breakfast so I can leave for rehearsal on time?"

"Yes dear, of course," Kousei smiled back. He tried to shrug Kaoto, Akemi, and Chiyoko off of him, but yet again his efforts came to naught.

"Carry us down there daddy!" Akemi pleaded.

"Oh you little...," Kousei sighed, but laughed it off as he stood up with Kaoto still on his back, and Akemi and Chiyoko still in his arms.

An hour later, it was time for Kaori to leave, and she gave her husband a kiss on the cheek as she walked out the door, purse and violin case in hand.

"Have a good day, sweetheart," Kaori said as she shut the door behind her, leaving Kousei to take care of her miniature clone...well, daughters.

"GET HIM!" Chiyoko cried as she, Kaoto, and Akemi tackled their father to the ground. Kousei sighed. It was going to be one crazy weekend...again.

.............................

Kousei let out a loud, exhausted sigh as he flopped down onto the couch. He loved his daughters, yes, but did all of them need to have their mother's energy?

A knock sounded at the door after thirty minutes, and Kousei rose to answer it. Upon seeing it was his wife, he kissed her on the forehead and helped her take her jacket off as she shut the door.

"How was rehearsal, dear?" Kousei asked.

"It was good," Kaori replied, setting down her purse and violin. We made a lot more progress today!"

"I'm glad to hear that, Kaori," Kousei smiled at his wife. "Is there anything I can make you to eat? You must be hungry!"

"We ordered some catered dinner, so I'm fine," Kaori replied. Then she got an evil look in her eye. "However...,"

Kousei followed her pointed finger down to her sneakered feet. 

"Do I have to?" he groaned. 

"I've been standing all day," Kaori winked. 

"Fine," Kousei sighed, knowing better than to argue. He escorted his wife to the couch, making sure she had an extra pillow. "Wait here."

Grabbing the medium-sized metal basin from the kitchen cabinet, he filled it with hot water and grabbed a fresh bar of soap and a clean rag. After heating up a plate of chocolate caneles, he made his way back to the living room where his wife waited.

"Well aren't you so sweet," Kaori teased as Kousei removed her shoes and socks.

"Like you'd give me a choice," Kousei quipped back, placing her feet into the basin of water. 

It didn't take long for Kaoto, the lightest sleeper of the four, to hear something was amiss and crawl out of bed. Sneaking down the stairs, she poked her head around the wall and saw her dad kneeling before her mother as he carried out his Husband Duties. 

Kousei's Father Senses kicked in, and he looked up to see Kaoto duck her head around the corner barely in time.

"Go back to bed, Kaoto," Kousei said. 

"But I wanna say hi to mommy!" Kaoto retorted. 

"You can come down, dear," Kaori replied. "But keep it quick."

"You know that's not going to happen," Kousei whispered as Kaoto's stocking feet pattered down the stairs.

"You're right, I do," Kaori grinned, continuing to munch on the chocolate treats.

"Daddy loves mommy! So daddy rubs mommy's feet! Daddy loves mommy, so daddy rubs mommy's feet!" Kaoto chanted as she bounced up and down on the edge of the basin.

"Doesn't even rhyme, Kaoto," Kousei chuckled as his daughter teased him.

Just as Kousei expected, the other three sisters soon heard the commotion and came running down to join in on the fun. Which, as usual, consisted of surrounding their dad, jumping onto his back, and trapping him with adorable little hugs as he rubbed Kaori's feet. 

"Time to ride the horsie into battle!" Chiyoko sang as she mounted herself on Kousei's shoulders and took control of the "reigns".

"OW! Chiyoko, that's my hair! Not reigns! We've been through this!" Kousei exclaimed.

"I want a turn next!" Akemi laughed, climbing up her father's already sore back. That was when Kousei heard the "click" of a phone camera.

"Etsuko, a picture? Seriously?" Kousei said.

"What? For the family album," Etsuko said as she put her mother's phone back into her purse.

"Thank you dear," Kaori said with an innocent smile, enjoying the caneles.

"You're welcome, my darling virtuoso," Kousei sighed as his daughters continued to bombard him with love from all sides. 

Deleted Scene #2: Kaori Demands Kousei Atone for Forgetting Valentine's Day (Location: New York, during their time in college)

"Thank you for the cheesecake, my handsome pianist," Kaori smiled as she finished her last bite of the wonderful dessert.

"Of course, my dear," Kousei said, admiring her beauty from across the table. He was proud of himself for picking this spot. A nice, quant little cafe close to campus and tucked away from the bustling New York streets.

Suddenly, Kaori's expression changed, and she crossed her arms, sticking her nose into the air.

Kousei sighed. "I'll order you another slice."

"No, none of that," Kaori cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"Then what?"

Kaori glared at him. "You really don't remember?"

"No Kaori, I don't. Please, what is it?"

That was when Kaori pulled out her phone and angrily pointed at February 14th on the digital calendar.

"I got you the CDs you wanted to make up for it, remember?!" Kousei protested.

"Yes, but you wouldn't have needed to if you hadn't forgotten about Valentine's Day in the first place!" Kaori countered, pretending to wipe away tears.

Kousei pulled at his hair in frustration. Even after almost seven years of dating, Kaori always won.

"I'm sorry, Kaori. Truly, I am. I was busy preparing for my recital that weekend and forgot to set a reminder."

Kousei saw that Kaori's expression remained unchanged. Which was his cue to continue on.

"What would you like me to do to make up for it?" Kousei asked. "I'll do anything?"

"Anything?" Kaori said, intrigued.

"Yes, Kaori," Kousei laughed. "So please, what is it?"

Kousei saw a smile come across her face. Good-he was about to be in the clear! Then a chill ran up his spine. It wasn't a smile of joy.

It was a smile of cunning.

With dramatic slowness, Kaori pointed behind Kousei, and he turned his head, fearful of what he was about to see.

That was when he saw the sign.

"Um...okay...sure. Let's go. I'll take you there."

"Oh no you don't!" Kaori declared, standing up and placing her hands on her hips. "You're taking me in there, yes! But I'm not getting my nails done by just anyone."

Kousei gulped. "What do you man?"

"You're painting my nails!"

Now Kousei was quivering. "Wh-which ones?"

"All of them!" Kaori hissed, walking around the table and taking Kousei's hand.

Kousei was not about to go down without a fight, and attempted to make a break for freedom. That was when Kaori yelled for her henchmen...that being six of her friends from the dorm who intercepted Kousei and whirled him around to face his fate.

"And even better?" Kaori continued, rubbing her hands together. "When you're done painting mine, it's your turn! And I've already talked with the shop owner about this! The girls and I are going to be the ones doing your makeover!"

Kousei was squirming with all his might by now as Kaori's friends pushed him towards the door. His face turned pale. His eyes grew wide. He'd faced a nuclear apocalypse and played the piano in two different universes to bring peace. But not even those could prepare him for the horror of the humiliating torture that awaited him.

He'd only ever been in a place like this once, back when he was very young, when Hiroko had been babysitting him.

A place he'd hoped to never have to set foot in again...

THE NAIL SALON.

"NO...NO...NOOOOOOO!!!"

Deleted Scene #3: Takahiko Stands Before The White Throne

Kousei had never felt his heart beat faster in his life. Everything seemed to move at a blur. Just ten minutes ago, his father had stormed out of the house and into his car to stay overnight at a friend's house. Very soon after, Kousei heard a loud crash at the intersection down his street, followed by piercing screams.

Now, his father's bruised and bloodied body lay flat on the gurney as the paramedics in the back of the ambulance tended to him.

"We are going to take care of your father young man, don't worry!" one of the EMTs assured Kousei.

But Kousei had tuned out everything around him by now, except for the beeping of the heart monitor. He hadn't been to church since he was little, back when his mother had still been alive. Yet right now, in this moment, Kousei could only think of one thing to say.

"Elohim Essaim, Elohim Essaim, most humbly I implore you...let my father live!"

.....................................

Takahiko caught himself just in time as his fell forward into the...sand? Dust? What was this mysterious, gray, substance he was standing in? As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw that he was very much alone. The gray field was quiet, yes. But unlike most times he'd experienced silence, this solace was not comforting.

It was unsettling.

Suddenly, a bright white light broke through the black sky, and Takahiko brought up his hands to shield his eyes. An object that appeared to be a glowing white orb descended through the darkness, stopped, then suddenly moved towards him!

"Please, don't hurt me!" Takahiko cried. That was when the light ceased its movement. As Takahiko opened his eyes, he saw it wasn't an orb.

It was a man.

A very tall, very imposing, very muscular brown-haired man robed in white and clothed in glowing bronze armor. A large sword was strapped to his side, and a giant pair of wings expanded from his back. Takahiko was about to ask this strange man what was going on, but he was cut off.

"Takahiko Arima. Come with me at once."

Takahiko was stunned.

"What? Come with you where? For what?"

"Take my hand," the man said ignoring Takahiko's questions.

Takahiko saw that he had little choice—he preferred the man's sword didn't have to come out of the scabbard—and grabbed his hand. Immediately, Takahiko felt a tremendous rush of speed overcome his body as the man spread his wings and darted into the sky.

"What—where am I—what is this place? Am I dead?" Takahiko shouted over the noise.

"That will be decided at the Throne," the man replied, keeping his eyes focused straight ahead.

"The throne? What throne?"

In answer to Takahiko's question, the speedy travel suddenly ceased, and Takahiko found himself standing in a giant room with a blue floor that seemed to be made up of the stars themselves. Looking above, he saw that the room had no ceiling—the space around them seemed to be endless! A pair of giant, black gates stood in the center of the room, with towering walls of golden bricks on either side. Two men with the same attire and weapons as the one now escorting Takahiko stood on either side. Takahiko scratched his head—why did these beings look familiar?

Then Takahiko realized.

"You're—you're an angel!" he exclaimed.

"I am a servant of the Most High, and am pleased to do as he instructs me," the angel replied.

"Where are we now? What's going to happen? Aren't I already dead if I am in this place?"

That was when the angel turned to look Takahiko in the eye, and Takahiko froze.

"You are about to set foot in the Hall of the White Throne, where you will give an accounting of your life to the King Of The Universe. The One who sits on the Throne has observed your heart, and it is here where the Final Verdict shall be given."

Despite being in a very cool place, Takahiko felt himself begin to sweat.

"The Final Verdict. You...you mean...,"

"This is the most critical and defining moment you shall ever face," the angel continued. "The Book of Life shall be checked for your name. Only if your name is written may you enter into the Holiness of my Master's Kingdom."

The angel paused to let those words sink in.

"May your name be found."

Takahiko had no time to ask further questions, as the other two angels guarding the gates opened them up, then ushered Takahiko in. Before long, Takahiko found himself having to shield his eyes again as an overwhelming, piercing white light illuminated the entire room. If he squinted, he could make out the outline of the White Throne. But who was that who was sitting upon it? He could see what looked like a white robe and glowing pair of hands, but...

"The one sitting on the throne, is that—?" Takahiko began.

"Yes," the angel replied. "The Mighty God himself. The Everlasting Father."

Again, the angel gave Takahiko a foreboding look.

"Prepare yourself,"

The figure seated on the White Throne spoke, and Takahiko froze in fearful reverence.

"Akari Hagimoto,"

"Wha-Akari?!"

Takahiko lowered his gaze to the base of the giant throne, where a slender woman with black hair and casual attire stood. Off to her right, another angel stood behind a small lectern where a huge book lay opened up to what he guessed was the center. Takahiko opened his mouth to call out Akari's name, but the angel stopped him.

"Intervening is forbidden," he said sternly.

"I—I—sorry sir," Takahiko stammered. "Akari is just an old friend of mine, that's all! I haven't seen her in years. But wait, if she's here then that means—"

"Watch," the angel said.

"Akari Hagimoto, it is time for you to give an account for your time on Earth," the Lord's voice boomed.

"Yes—yes my Lord," Akari shuddered. "As you know, I was very active in my church for a long time. Since before I was in high school, Lord! I hope it went towards a good cause."

Takahiko nodded in silent agreement. He recalled times where Akari had helped babysit the children in the church nursery, and organized Mobile Meals events for the homeless people in their area.

"Surely her efforts must count for something!" Takahiko thought.

"Orion," the Lord said to the angel. "Review Akari's life."

"Yes, my Lord," the angel answered. In that moment, Takahiko saw what looked like a giant window into time form out of thin air, and Akari's life was put on full display.

What Takahiko saw shocked him.

"Come on now Kenzo, it'll be our little secret! My husband is out town for the next week. What he won't know can't hurt him!"

"Oh, don't worry about what my mother will think. She's getting senile and she's always been in the way. She probably won't even notice this money is gone, so just take it."

"Look, I'm just saying, if you're thinking of making that lady the head of our Homeless Outreach program, there are some things you need to know..."

The window faded out, and Takahiko had never been more terrified in his life. He'd never suspected Akari had been the reason for her and her husband's divorce, let alone someone who would steal from her own mother. But nothing was hidden from the sight of the Lord, as had been demonstrated just now.

"My Lord...please!" Akari began to beg, falling to her knees. "My time with that man, it was just a one-time thing! The children, the homeless, it was my joy to help them!"

The Lord, however, saw right through Akari's crocodile tears.

"Akari, did you not heed my Word when I said, 'Everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world,'" the Lord declared. "And the one who robs their mother and father is partner to Him who destroys! You followed the sinful desires of your heart instead of heeding my commands. And it is now revealed where your Heart lies."

"But Lord, I was nothing but a servant! From the time I could talk!"

"And your reward has already come to you in full, Akari!"

"Wha—that's all?! All of my works, the things I did for you, and this is the only thing it gets me?"

"Orion," the Lord interjected. "Is the name Akari Hagimoto found in the Book of Life?"

Takahiko saw the angel turn a few pages, run his finger down the list, then look up at his Master with a brokenhearted expression.

"No, it is not, my Lord," the angel named Orion replied.

"What?! But how!" Akari protested.

"You are not justified by your works, Akari," the Lord replied. "My Word is clear on that. It is only by faith in my Son that you are justified. Had you come to me with a broken and contrite heart, I would've gladly forgiven you and erased your sin."

"But Lord, I prayed! I asked forgiveness of my sins!" Akari cried.

"Yes, you did!" the Lord said. "But Akari, you honored me with your mouth while your heart was far from me! Had you truly been repentant, your life would've shown a genuine transformation. You would've hated what was evil and clung to what is good! But you never truly surrendered your life to me."

The Lord's voice stopped speaking for just a moment, and Takahiko saw Him lean forward on the throne. And the next words the Lord spoke made Takahiko feel even more sorrow. For they were not words of strong proclamation or fierce commands...but words of sadness.

"It isn't the works, Akari...it's the heart. You do not know me. And I do not know you."

Again, the Lord stopped, and sighed with a sigh that clearly conveyed he was making this decision with a heavy heart.

"My Word is clear. You have made your choice. Now you must depart from me."

"What?! No, no, NO!" Akari screamed as two more angels walked in from the right and bound her hand and foot. Takahiko gasped in fright—he could've sworn he suddenly saw her face contort into an expression full of more rage and rebellion than he'd ever seen before.

"Just what kind of God are you?!" Akari yelled in defiance.

The White Throne shook with great power and bright lightning flashed around it, followed by a clap of thunder louder than anything Takahiko had heard before.

"I! AM!"

Even after the thunder died down, Takahiko was still frozen by absolute, crippling fear. He scarcely had time to process what he had just seen, however, for it was in that moment that his name was called.

"Takahiko Arima, come before my Throne! It is time for you to give an account for your time on Earth."

Takahiko, with much effort, stepped forward and hung his head as he tried to make himself less visible.

"Um—yes Lord," Takahiko spoke in a quiet voice. "I suppose it's not much, but I was a good father and husband to my wife and my son, Kousei! I was never unfaithful once, and I worked hard for them every day! I didn't always go to church, I'll admit, but I did go on occasion!"

For a moment, all was silent, and Takahiko was beginning to think he might be in the clear. The next question that came from the Lord, however, indicated that this conversation was far from over.

"Yes, Takahiko," the Lord said. "But did you love them?"

Takahiko was puzzled. "Did...did I what, Lord?"

"Did you love your wife and your son?" the Lord asked again.

"But—but—Lord, that goes without saying! Of course I did!"

"No, Takahiko," the Lord answered. "It does not go without saying."

"What? But, my Lord, I—!"

"Orion!" the Lord's voice thundered. "Is Takahiko Arima's name found in the Book of Life?"

Again, Takahiko heard the fateful rustling of the pages, and his face went pale as he saw the angel's expression of pity.

"No, it is not, my Lord."

Six words, yet an immeasurable weight of terror and reverence behind them.

"My Lord, please!" Takahiko began to plead. "I worked hard every day to provide for the needs of my family! I gave all my money to pay for treatments when my wife was ill!"

"Orion," the Lord commanded. "Reveal the works of his life."

"Yes, my Lord."

Now it was Takahiko's turn to look on in humiliation and shame as the window-into-time re-opened and his life was played back before his very eyes. Things he didn't even remember saying, things he'd buried deep in the recesses of his mind beneath pride and denial.

All laid bare before the White Throne.

"I assure you everything is fine at my home, Boss! I don't need to take time off! Just let me help get this project off the ground and I'll go see my son after that!"

"Sengoku, my friend, you worry too much! I think Ms. Hiroko is just exaggerating. Look, if it turns out my son is indeed being abused at home, I'll go back and check on him. Right now, let's just focus on getting this work done."

Then, the playback suddenly showed something else...his eleven-year-old son, in his blue suit, beaten and bloodied by the cane of his wife, crying bitterly and staring at his mother with a mighty rage.

"Now I just wish you were dead!" the young Kousei spat, hurling the cruel words at his mother.

The playback faded out, and Takahiko was mortified. His vocal cords refused to form a reply as the Lord laid out the truth of his life.

"You justified the neglect of your son and your absence from your home before your boss, and before your co-workers!" the Lord said. "You claimed that you walked with me because you went to church, but Takahiko, I knew you not."

"But Lord, what else was I to do to pay for my wife's treatments!" Takahiko begged. "I went and saw my son the weekend his mother passed away! I called him when he was at home! I devoted my life to taking care of my family!"

"Takahiko, there is a reason those who know me refer to me as God The Father, and a father to the fatherless," the Lord said. "I did not only give manna and water to my people when they were living in the wilderness. I gave my Presence, my Word, and my Guidance to them as well."

The Lord paused before continuing on.

"There is much more to raising up a child in the way he should go, Takahiko. My Word is clear that children are a heritage from me, a great reward! Did you not heed my Word when I said that a father who gives his children a scorpion when they ask for an egg is evil in my sight!"

"But Lord, when did I do such a thing!" Takahiko sobbed.

"When you made continuous excuses for not being in your son's life!" the Lord proclaimed. "When you refused to run home and put a stop to the horrid abuse your son was enduring, you gave him not one scorpion, but an entire nest's worth!"

Again, the sky around the White Throne flashed with lightning and rumbled with mighty thunder as the Lord continued to speak.

"Had my life been within you, you would've repented and I would've gladly forgiven you," the Lord stated. "But you never did. Instead, you only followed the path that would grant you more power and success in your career. Empty endeavors that allowed you to live comfortably, but without fruit! You paraded the neglect of your son and the destruction of your family before your co-workers, justifying it in your selfish pride! THIS! Was an abomination!"

Takahiko fell to the ground, wailing in terror and feeling more powerless than he ever had before.

"But Lord, I was deceived! I only did what the other people in my company were doing! I didn't know!"

"I gave you Hiroko!" the Lord revealed.

"What? Lord, I don't understand."

Once again, the window-into-time opened up, and Takahiko's heart sank as he saw the phone call he'd had with Hiroko many years ago.

"Takahiko, Saki's condition is getting worse, and Kousei had three new bruises when I brought the groceries to your wife's home! I've tried to tell her to stop, but she won't listen to me!"

"Hiroko, please, we've been through this. I need to help my company get these new products into the market or I'll lose my job and then I won't be able to pay for Saki's treatment!"

"Stop with those excuses already! I know your workplace allows you to have paid-time-off! I have more than enough money to help with Saki's treatment for the next few months! Get over here and protect your son!"

"Hiroko, I've had enough of your nagging! If Saki is truly hurting Kousei, then get the authorities involved! I don't have time to focus on something that may or may not be happening!"

"How dare you!"

"Bottom line, you still don't understand what my business endeavors are about, and you don't even care!"

"No, I'm the one helping raise your son while you're off playing CEO! Whose the one who doesn't care!"

Once again, Takahiko found he had no defense...those had indeed been his own words.

"Takahiko, you knew," the Lord said sternly. "You were warned many times! You bought into a lie that gave you self-justification, and worse yet, the harm that came from that lie hurt the precious child I blessed you and Saki with!"

"But Lord, I felt called this job!" Takahiko cried.

"You were called!" the Lord agreed. "And it would've turned out differently, if you'd only surrendered your life and your marriage to me! But now you must depart from me, for my life is not in you!"

Takahiko heard the rattling of chains behind him. His blood ran cold. Was this really how it was going to end?

"My Lord, wait!" another voice suddenly called out.

Takahiko whirled around to see another swift-footed angel dashing into the Throne Room, kneeling in reverence as he reached the foot of the White Throne.

"My Lord, please be not angry with me," the angel said. "But it is not this man's time!"

Takahiko was speechless.

"Worry not, Raphael," the Lord said. "Please inform Takahiko as to what has transpired that has made this so."

"Yes, my Lord," Raphael replied. He stood and looked at Takahiko, with a compassionate yet resolved stare.

"Had your son not listened to the urging of the Holy Spirit to pull you from your car after the crash, you would've lost your earthly life at this very moment." Raphael explained.

"Kousei!" Takahiko cried.

"The Lord has allowed this to transpire by his grace and mercy, and has a strict charge for you when you return."

Takahiko looked back up at the White Throne, and a sense of relief mixed with holy fear filled his body at the next words he heard.

"Takahiko Arima...you, are being granted, a second chance."

Takahiko could not control himself, and fell facedown in unparalleled gratitude as his tears flowed down his face.

"Thank you, thank you Lord!" he cried. "I'm so sorry! Forgive me! I'll love my son with all my heart when I return, I promise!"

"You are welcome, my child," the Lord said. "But be sure not to forget this moment and heed my instructions."

"For now, you may return," the angel that had first escorted Takahiko said as he stood the man up. "But make no mistake, you will return here again one day."

Before Takahiko felt himself leaving the hall of the White Throne and returning to Earth, he looked into the eyes of the angel one last time. And he heard the four, fateful words he'd heard when he'd first arrived.

"May your name be found."

Deleted Scene #4: The Selection of the Guardians

"I had thought there would be more to the mighty Captain Carter than just the shield," Batroc the Leaper mocked as he assumed a fighting stance.

"I'm definitely more than just the wielder of a shield," Carter answered with confidence. "I'm a very good dancer as well."

The heavily-built, bald thug lunged at Captain Carter, but she her superior agility gave her the upper hand as she dodged Batroc's punches and landed a solid uppercut to his chin. As Batroc stumbled backward, Captain Carter readied her shield, then stopped short as she saw Batroc freeze mid-step.

What on earth was going on?

That was when she sensed another presence nearby, and looked up to see a large pair of glowing white eyes staring down at her from the stars.

"What in the—who are you?" she asked.

The Watcher had expected this confusion, as this was the first time he'd ever revealed himself. But he didn't have time to explain all of that now.

"Captain Carter, the soldier lost in time, and hero of the Allied Forces...you have been Chosen."

..........................................

Star Lord T'Challa kicked away the old man—who was anything but an ordinary old man—away from the civilian just in time as the giant, blue substance enveloping the Earth ceased it's all-consuming surge. Not wasting another second, T'Challa shot five electro-shockers onto the old man's torso, watching with relief as the powerful shock stunned the foe and put him to sleep within seconds.

This old man was no man, after all...this was Ego, the most dastardly, cunning deity who'd proven himself more powerful and villainous than Loki in the span of only a few hours.

Remembering the civilian man whom Ego had been sucking the life force out of, T'Challa darted over to him and checked his pulse. Much to the T'Challa's relief, the man's pulse was still steady, and T'Challa's quick scan revealed there was no internal bleeding.

Just then, a shadow fell over both of them, and T'Challa looked up in terror, expecting to see Ego revived and looming over them. Instead, he saw someone else.

"Star Lord T'Challa, intergalactic scavenger and helper to many, and lost Prince of Wakanda...you have been chosen."

...........................................

"Thank you for all your help, Nolan," Cecil said as he firmly shook the Viltrumite's hand.

"No problem, Cecil," Omni Man replied. "I'll be sure to let you know if I find any other planets who are willing to join our coalition against the Viltrum Empire."

Cecil's gray head dripped with sweat as he wiped away the last physical reminder of what had been very tense negotiations with a nearby planet.

"If what you've told us about where you come from is true, we're gonna need all the help we can get."

Nodding to the veteran director of the Global Defense Agency, Omni Man began walking away from the US Capitol Building as various press agencies swarmed about the entrance. As he made his way through the crowd, Omni Man spotted the other Guardians of the Globe and went over to join them on the front lawn.

"We've got a new ally," he informed them, relieved that the negotiations had gone well."

"Wonderful," The Immortal replied. "Now, we best get back to headquarters to debrief and conduct some training."

That was when everything around Omni Man froze, and the Viltrumite hero was puzzled. A bright blue portal opened up behind him, and he turned to face a man wearing a dark purple cloak, and a bald, white-eyed alien wearing golden armor and a blue cape.

"Omni Man, selfless defender of Earth, and traitor to the tyrannical Viltrum Empire...you have been chosen."

.....................................

Mark Grayson nonchalantly munched on his pizza, feeling the chilly evening breeze blow through his hair as he looked down over the city. It had been four months since his father's disappearance...

And betrayal.

Even now, Mark still refused to believe that those events had happened. The cruel revelation. The wanton destruction. The senseless killing. The needless violence.

All so his father could make a point to him.

And yet, deep down, part of Mark still wanted to believe that his father could change. That he was not the wicked, cold-blooded killer Viltrum had made him.

His musings were interrupted by a deep, authoritative voice from the sky, and Mark nearly fell out of his chair in fright.

"Invincible, son of the conqueror Omni Man, and fearless protector of Earth...you have been chosen."

.........................................

The entire wall around Shiganshina suddenly began to crumble, and Mikasa screamed in fright as her ODM cables detached from the Cart Titan. Regaining her bearing, she waited for her ODM cables to fully retract as she looked for a viable fallback point.

"Mikasa! Over there!" Armin yelled, pointing to a nearby house. Taking aim, Mikasa shot her cables onto the roof and steadied her swords as the ODM gear yanked her body to safety.

But upon landing atop the roof, Mikasa suddenly saw everything around her stop, and looked up to see an odd, extraterrestrial being staring down at her.

"Mikasa Ackerman, childhood friend and lover of Eren Yeager, and lost heiress to the Azumabito Clan...you have been chosen."

.........................................

"All coastal defense towers are ready, Commander Erwin," Eren Yeager reported. "The defectors from the Marleyan warrior unit are making plans with the Hizuru Navy right now as well."

"Very well, Yeager," Erwin nodded. "See to it that Captain Levi and Hange are ready with their boarding parties should the battle come to that."

"Right away, Commander," Eren nodded, saluting before exiting the tent.

Eren was tempted to transform into his Attack Titan form and shout a loud war cry so as to blow off some steam. However, he knew that to do so would be foolish, as the energy generated by a Titan transformation was capable of obliterating most things within one hundred meters.

"Eren!" a familiar voice called out. Eren turned to see Reiner Braun, one of the Marleyan defectors, sprinting over to him.

"Bertholdt wanted me to let you know he's planning to be the first strike against the Marleyan fleet when they come," Reiner informed Eren. "He'll need you and I to board the flagship and go after the Beast Titan before he targets our coastal defenses."

"Alright, sounds good," Eren nodded. He stole a glance out to the sea, and restrained the fury growing inside his heart. For now, the horizon was tranquil and sunlight danced over the surface of the calm waters.

In just a few hours, it would be filled with the ships of their enemies who sought to wipe Paradis Island off the face of the Earth.

"Hard to believe that the other Warriors and I only arrived her five years ago," Reiner reminisced.

"Five years just in time," Eren added. "Without the your help, our island would be getting annihilated without a chance to fight back."

"Your help will be needed elsewhere first," a voice boomed behind them.

Eren and Reiner whirled around, ready to transform into their titans if necessary.

"Eren Yeager, inheritor of the Attack Titan, and Reiner Braun, defector of Marley and wielder of the Armored Titan...you have been chosen."

....................................

"I'm taking away your bending...for good!" Avatar Aang said as he gripped Yakone's forehead and entered the Avatar State.

The notorious bloodbender crime lord struggled in powerless terror as Avatar Aang's energy-bending consumed his entire body, sucking every last ounce of power he had left. Once it was over, Aang watched as Yakone's head drooped in exhaustion. He was still alive, yes. But never again would he be able to utilize his bending to oppress the weak.

Aang turned around to walk back to Republic City Hall. Two of his friends plus the Republic City Council had been knocked unconscious by Yakone's blood-bending. He had to check on them!

That was when Aang saw him.

The Watcher.

"Avatar Aang, survivor of Fire Lord Sozin's genocide of the Air Nomads, and master of the elements...you have been chosen."

........................................

Avatar Korra had never been more furious in her life. An entire police force composed of metalbenders who utilized their powers to enforce the laws of an oppressive government? Zaheer and the Red Lotus had taught her how to deal with problems such as this.

She would rectify this at once.

She pulled her hood over her head, hiding her combustion bending tattoo. She prepared herself to dive into the ocean and sneak into the city via the harbor, as her and the Red Lotus had planned.

As she looked into the water, however, she saw another face in next to her reflection, and whirled around to face this unknown entity.

"Avatar Korra, elemental prodigy, student of the Red Lotus, and abducted daughter of Water Tribe Chief Tonraq...you have been chosen."

.................................................

The Watcher walked into the meeting room set up by Strange Supreme, and smiled at the sorcerer's talent for design.

"A pub?" he asked.

"Read about it in Captain Carter's biography," Strange Supreme answered. "Figured it would be an appropriate choice. Have you selected all of your members?"

"Not yet," the Watcher said. "There are a couple more that I need."

"Alright then," Stephen Strange said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's do another search, shall we?"

Opening the map of the timelines, Strange Supreme allowed the Watcher to inspect them before making his selection. At first, the Watcher did nothing. Then, he pointed to the timeline where the threat had come from in the first place.

"There. That one."

"Huh? But I thought Doom destroyed everything there."

"Not everything," the Watcher said. "Let alone everyone."

The Watcher zoomed in on the barren universe, putting Earth into focus. As he'd hoped, the last member he needed for this mission was still there.

The other Guardians had been selected to solve the combat aspect of the mission.

This young man, soon to be a Guardian would solve what would come after.

For this boy was no ordinary boy.

This boy was a boy whose skill at the piano had moved the hearts of everyone who'd listened to him at only five years old. A boy who had endured the loss of his first pet kitten, the loss of his mother and the girl he loved to terminal illness, and had overcome his trauma that he might play the piano again.

And, at presently, a boy who sat alone, weak and scared in an underground fallout shelter, as he contemplated how he was to survive alone.

A boy whose piano playing had a special power behind it.

Kousei Arima.

Deleted Scene #5: Kousei tells Kaori about his old timeline

"Happy Anniversary, Kaori Miyazono," Kousei smiled as he presented the large bouqet of red roses to his beloved violinist.

"Happy Anniversary, Kousei Arima," Kaori smiled back as she excepted the beautiful gift.

Cliché as it was, the two had agreed to celebrate their one-year anniversary by having a simple picnic in the park by Towa Hall. With a basket full of egg sandwiches, fruit, and chocolate canelés, the two musicians sat on the blanket and enjoyed their meal as well as each other's company.

As he finished eating his third sandwich, Kousei looked over and saw a distant, almost faraway look in Kaori's eyes as she gazed at the park. Kousei may not have had mind-reading powers—or other powers for that matter—but he couldn't help but feel something was amiss.

"Kaori? What's wrong?"

At first, Kaori said nothing. Then, she asked a question that took Kousei off guard.

"The Kaori in your old universe...what was she like?"

Kousei didn't know what to say at first. Then, a smug smile formed on his face.

"Oh, ya know, she was weird, and annoying, and boring, and ugly, and ate too much sweets, and—,"

That was when Kousei felt a very sharp jab of pain on his head as Kaori's fingernails seized his hair and turned his head to face hers with much force.

Kousei's blood ran cold as he saw the fire burning in his very angry, very fierce girlfriend's eyes.

"What did you just say?" she hissed in a low voice that sounded more like the predatorial growl of a mountain lion than a human voice.

"I was kidding, I was kidding, I take it back! She was brave, and sweet, and kind, and beautiful, and—!"

"More than me!" Kaori hissed again, pressing her face even closer to his. Kousei saw his life flash before hie eyes...not even Doctor Doom's annihilation of his old world could hold up to a girlfriend's wrath.

"No! Nonononono I swear, you're much more—!"

That was when Kaori released her death grip on her boyfriend's hair and burst out laughing, clutching her side as she rolled over on the picnic blanket. Kousei sighed in exasperation.

"Kaori, seriously?"

"Oh Kousei, the look on your face!" she cried as she wiped away her tears. By now, the whole spectacle had caught the attention of some of the kids in the park, and Kousei felt his face grow red as some of them began to point their fingers and tease. However, Kousei had learned to roll with the punches by now, and began laughing himself.

"So, can I have it back?" he asked Kaori once she'd recovered from her laughing fit.

"Have what back?"

"My heart that you stole the day you looked at me," Kousei winked.

Kaori tried to hide it, but her own face turning red. "You dummy. Always with those stupid one-liners."

"Well, honest communication right?" Kousei teased, taking her hand in his. "You stole my heart. I want it back."

"Very well," Kaori smiled back. "On one condition."

"And that is?"

"A kiss," Kaori said, putting her hand on Kousei's right cheek.

"Right now? Here?" Kousei said under his breath, looking around in a way that showed how flustered he was.

In answer to his question, Kaori pulled his face towards hers and wrapped his lips in a deep, affectionate kiss in plain view of the nearby kids whose parents had not yet directed them to look away.

"Aw that's so romantic!" one little girl squealed.

"Ewww!!! Icky!" a group of boys complained.

Once the kiss was over, Kousei put his hand to his heart in a joking manner.

"Alright, there it is," he said, not taking his eyes off of Kaori.

"You're welcome. Just as long as that heart stays loyal to me," Kaori grinned.

"It most certainly will, my darling virtuoso. In this universe and all others." 

Deleted Scene #6: Strange Supreme helps Kaori prank Kousei via utilization of his 'Cloning Spell' (Location: after the mission in the Star Wars universe)

"Well, all in a days work!" Strange Supreme congratulated the other Guardians. "Good job everyone!"

"Thank you sir! And yo, Kousei, Kaori!" Invincible praised. "You guys did awesome with that Celtic duet!"

"Really guys, it was nothing!" Kousei chuckled.

"And you too, Takeshi and Emi!" Avatar Aang applauded. "That piano duet really was something!"

"Glad you enjoyed it, sir!" Takeshi and Emi said with a bow.

Captain Carter and Star Lord T'Challa exchanged a knowing glance. Takeshi and Emi moved in sync alright...they'd end up as a couple sooner or later, no doubt.

"Nothing, you say?" Kaori's voice spoke up.

Kousei turned to look at Kaori, bewildered. "Huh?"

"All that time, all that practice," Kaori said with a blank stare, then raised her voice. "You mean to tell me that was nothing!"

Kousei gulped. Now was really not the time for this.

"Kaori, I didn't mean it like that, honest!"

That was when Kousei heard an odd Shwoom! Shwoom! Shwoom! all around him. He turned to look, and that was when his face grew white as a sheet. At least fifteen copies of Kaori had suddenly spawned, and he cowered in fear as they surrounded him. The fiery gaze of one Kaori was bad enough...but sixteen?

Kousei saw Strange Supreme waving his hands—which were glowing with orange magic—out of the corner of the eye, and that was when he understood.

"Doctor Strange!" Kousei said. "Seriously!"

"Is that all our great performance is to you?" one of the Kaori clones growled. "Nothing!"

"No no no, please!" Kousei pleaded, quivering in fright as Kaori and her clones closed in on him. "It was the greatest performance of our life! I'd do it again! Here, let Strange use the Time Stone! We can do it again, I swear!"

Kaori and her clones ceased their encroachment on the helpless Kousei, and Kousei opened one eye with caution. Not sure which one of them was the real one, he just glanced at all of them in hope of getting it right.

"It's okay, Kousei!" one of the copies said, a giant beaming smile on her face. "We all know you didn't mean it like that!"

"You are forgiven! And we love you!" they all chorused in unison, swarming around Kousei and bombarding him with hugs before he could escape.

Kousei squirmed in an awkward manner as Kaori and her clones trapped him in an embrace of suffocating love. His face had gone from pale white to beet red, and the Watcher plus the other Guardians roared with laughter. Takeshi and Emi, for their part, snapped dozens of pictures on their phones. They'd later use these to tease Kousei, no doubt.

"Kaori—no air—I need to breathe!" Kousei wheezed.

The horde of Kaoris eased up on their collective hug—only a tiny bit though, just enough to where Kousei would survive.

"Guys! Help me out here!" Kousei appealed to his fellow Guardians.

"Sorry kid!" Omni Man shrugged. "You're on your own on this one!"

"I think we're enjoying this far too much!" Captain Carter added.

At long last, Strange Supreme ended his spell, dissipating the Kaori clones and opening up portals for everyone to return to their respective timelines.

"Fantastic work again, young musicians!" the Watcher waved at Kousei, Kaori, Takeshi and Emi. "Until we meet again!" 

Deleted Scene #7: Watari stands up for Tsubaki (shortly after their break-up in Chapter 16)

"Great practice today everyone!" Watari told his team. "Let's bring one hundred percent effort tomorrow as well!"

As the optimistic members of the soccer team filed out of the locker room, Watari changed out of his shirt and made sure to put on a fresh pair of socks as well. The soccer field was a fun place to be, yes. But the soccer caption could do without the mud and dust.

Departing the locker room, Watari whistled a tune to himself. And not just any tune; one of the classical songs he'd heard Kousei play before. Which piece did Kousei say it was again? Ah yes, Minuet in G by Beethoven.

"You sure you don't wanna come to the party at my place next week? It'll be all kinds of fun."

"Um...not really, Kanjo. Thank you for the invite though."

Watari stopped in his tracks.

The voice of the person who'd declined the invite wasn't just anyone. It was Tsubaki.

Watari hesitated. It had been six months since he'd apologized to her. They hadn't talked much since then, except for class assignments and such. He didn't like what he was hearing, that much was certain.

But was he—the one who'd hurt Tsubaki in the first place—even qualified to intervene at all?

"You sure? I heard someone will be there who'd really like to meet you." Kanjo's voice said.

"They can just meet me here at school, right?" Tsubaki deflected.

"I think this person would prefer to get to know you in a more...private setting."

Watari clenched his fists. Kanjo was referring to himself. And there was no mistaking what the wicked boy's intentions were.

Around the corner, Tsubaki felt her hands going cold as Kanjo gazed down at her. His dark eyes and coy smile didn't sit right with her at all. Should she scream? Run? Slap him for pressuring her to come to his house three times now?

"Back off!"

Tsubaki and Kanjo turned in surprise to see Watari stomping over to them, his brown eyes alight with fire and his school uniform slightly stained with dirt from the locker.

Tsubaki, though relieved, didn't know what to say. Watari and Kanjo locked eyes. Kanjo was a senior, at least four inches taller than Watari, and had more popularity by far.

But none of that mattered to Watari as he looked Kanjo—a manifestation of the man he used to be—square in the face.

"I think Tsubaki has made it pretty clear she is not interested," Watari stated. "Leave. Now."

"Oh, really? What are you gonna do about it?" Kanjo laughed, crossing his arms.

"Why don't you come to the soccer field and find out?"

Silence. Tsubaki looked back and forth between them. She still didn't feel the best about Watari, no, but she wasn't about to be the reason a fight broke out! She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off again by another familiar voice.

"There, Mr. Zeniko!" Nao Kashiwagi's voice cried out. "That's him!"

"Kanjo!" the gruff teacher barked. "You back away from that student this instant!"

Now it was Kanjo's turn to get nervous as the older man who was built much bigger than him strode up to the scene, his brow furrowed in disapproval and his muscular arms crossed.

"Um...hi, Mr. Zeniko! Listen, I—,"

"Don't you play games with me, young man!" Mr. Zeniko cut him off. "I am told by Kashiwagi that you have repeatedly been speaking to Tsubaki despite her telling you to stop. And Kashiwagi also overheard you planning something nefarious regarding Tsubaki to your friends. Is that true!"

Kanjo glared at Nao. "Why you little snitch—!"

Mr. Zeniko stepped between them.

"I think I've heard enough. Come with me to my office, Kanjo," the teacher ordered, turning to Nao. "And Kashiwagi, you are to be commended for looking out for your friend."

As the teacher escorted Kanjo to his office, Nao checked in on her friend.

"Everything alright, Tsubaki?"

"I'm fine, Kashiwagi," Tsubaki smiled. "Thank you. And thank you too, Watari."

"No problem," Watari smiled. Then he hesitated.

"Do you need me to walk you home?"

Tsubaki and Nao exchanged a surprised glance.

"I think I got it, Watari," Nao assured him. "Thank you though."

"Just glad I could help," Watari said in a meek tone, turning around and resuming his walk home.

Tsubaki was grateful for Nao's company on the walk home, and the two friends made their usual small talk as they munched on some snacks. At one point, Tsubaki asked Nao how she felt about her reconciling with Watari, to which Nao gave her a shrug.

"Well, I think he can be trusted. But again, Tsubaki: it's up to you."

Deleted Scene #8: Kousei meets the older brother of the kid his other self rescued.

Despite the fact that this was his fifth visit to the therapist's office, Kousei couldn't help but feel like he needed something else to help lift his spirits. Kaori had not been able to practice with him after school, and Hiroko was out of town meeting with another piano student of hers.

Nothing too major of course, but still. Being alone in the house reminded him of his life back in his old timeline.

"Arima?"

Kousei stopped in his tracks.

"Is it really you?"

Kousei turned around. A tall, dark haired boy with brown eyes and a black high school uniform stood just a few feet away from him, his tie perfectly straight and a friendly smile on his face.

"Yes. Who are you?" Kousei asked.

The older boy chuckled.

"The name is Saitou," he introduced himself. "You don't know me, but in a sense, I know you. You—well, the other you that is—pushed my little brother out of oncoming traffic!"

Kousei was stunned. Even having come from another universe, his actions—though done by another version—still had an impact on others that he could scarcely comprehend.

"Everyone told me I was crazy when the news of your return first started going around," Saitou continued. "They all told me it must've been someone else who saved my brother. But I told them, every time: it was Kousei Arima."

Saitou extended his hand.

"I've waited almost a year now to thank you."

At first, Kousei was too amazed to speak. Then, he returned Saitou's smile and firmly shook his hand.

"Don't mention it, Saitou," Kousei insisted. "It technically wasn't me after all. I appreciate your words though."

"Yeah, I guess you have a point," Saitou laughed. "If this is a weird question, you don't have to answer, but...was I in your old universe too?"

"Yeah, but I only knew about you because you dated Tsubaki."

"Ha! Guess some things don't change, even in a new universe," Saitou replied, and the two young men shared a laugh.

"How'd you know to find me here?" Kousei asked.

"Oh, I live in the area because the high school is close by," Saitou shrugged. "I hope this wasn't a bad time."

"Not at all, Saitou!" Kousei said. "I need to get going, but thank you. I mean it. This is what I needed to hear today."

"Anytime, Arima," Saitou replied. "I'll see you around! And by the way...I believe me younger brother wants to be a pianist now."

Deleted Scene #9: Grandpa Kousei gets pounced on by an army of grandchildren (Four Daughters timeline)

Kousei rubbed his eyes as he sat up in the bed, and glanced at the clock.

9:30am? How had he been able to sleep in that late?

Then he chuckled to himself. It had been years since his four daughters Etsuko, Kaoto, Chiyoko and Akemi had grown up, finished school, gotten married, and started their own families. As such, he'd been able to regain some of the sleep he had lost from all the mornings where they had pounced on him.

Not that he resented them for that, of course. They had only done it out of love, and he treasured his daughters more than words could say.

Still though...the peace and quiet was something Kousei could get used to.

Kousei looked to his left, and saw that Kaori was not on her side of the bed. She must've gotten up early to make breakfast. How kind of her to do such a thing!

Then, Kousei heard the one, terrifying word he never thought he'd hear again just outside the bedroom door.

"GO!"

Kousei tried to throw off the blanket and make a run for it—

Too late.

Kaori swung open the door, allowing the army of children to surge forward in delight and besiege their grandfather with love as they surrounded his blanketed body.

"GRAND-DADDY!" five of his granddaughters cried as they tackled him back down into the pillows, pinching and pulling at his cheeks, hair, ears, and even his nose.

"We want to hear the story of how you and grandma met!" another quartet of granddaughters chorused in unison as they stomped all over his torso.

"Can you still jump on the trampoline!" Kousei heard some of his grandsons ask as they restrained his arms and legs.

"AHHH! What the—children, please settle down—OOF!—I still need my hair—AAAHHHH!"

In the bliss of his regained sleep, Kousei had forgotten the doomsday weapon his wife could unleash on them.

All four of their daughters—had five children each!

Eleven grandsons and nine granddaughters—all of whom were here in the house after several years, and united in one purpose.

To assault their grandfather with more love than he could imagine, whether he wanted it or not.

"Children, be careful!" Kaori laughed in the doorway.

"Kaori!" Kousei cried as he fought to sit up from under the swarm of children barraging him with affection. "What is the meaning of this! You didn't tell me all of them were coming to visit today!"

"It wouldn't have been a surprise!" Kaori said in an innocent tone.

"How long do we need to watch them for!" Kousei answered, freeing himself from the restraints of his grandsons and sitting up at last.

"All day of course!"

Kousei sighed. Why had he even bothered to ask.

"Our daughters are waiting outside; we're gonna go shopping for a bit," Kaori suddenly revealed, a cunning smile on her face. "Thank you for watching them, darling!"

"Kaori, don't you—!"

But Kousei's fate was sealed as soon as the door slammed shut, locking him in his grandchildren's prison of love.

"What games are we gonna play today grandpa?" one of the girls asked.

"I need to eat breakfast first," Kousei said with quick thinking.

"Hey, I heard he's getting old," one of the boys said. "Think he needs help going down those stairs?"

All of the little children looked at each other with the same, sinister gleam in their eye.

"Why of course he does!" another grandson concurred, and Kousei felt himself being rolled off the bed.

"No no no, not like that—!"

It only took a few moments for the united platoon of grandchildren to roll Kousei off the bed, wrap him in a tight cocoon using his blanket, and lift him off the ground as they closed in on all sides.

"Put me down!" Kousei protested as his grandchildren surged out of the bedroom and down the stairs with their squirming cargo in tow.

At long last, they did put him down, but only to begin barraging him with questions as he scurried about the kitchen looking for things to prepare.

Such was his life being Kaori's husband. Sweet music, precious memories, but also more love than he'd ever asked for.

Deleted Scene #10: Multi-versal Birthday Party! (Original story timeline, with Gaku and Kaoto)

"Alright everyone, get ready!" Kousei reminded the other Guardians as they turned off the lights. He heard the click of Kaori's heels as she walked their son Gaku up the front porch.

Things were about to get crazy, that much was certain.

The front door opened, and a small ray of sunlight flooded the living room for just a moment before Kaori shut the door. Gaku took some time to remove his shoes, but the wait was all worth it when Kaori flicked the lights on at last.

"Surprise!"

Gaku jumped back in astonishment, looking first at his father before his eyes looked upon each of the other Guardians in the room.

"Happy birthday big brother!" Kaoto cheered as she put her party hat on.

Gaku's eyes grew wide with joy as Kaori ruffled his short, black hair.

"Wait...you...you're all the other heroes my dad told me about, aren't you!" Gaku almost squealed.

"Indeed we are, young man!" Strange Supreme stepped forward, bowing as he did. "Our mission today, according to your father, was to give you an unforgettable ninth birthday. That said, we hope you enjoy the things we have planned."

"Awesome!" Gaku roared, jumping up and down. Kousei and Kaori laughed. Though it was Gaku's party, he was giving them a gift by just acting like the enthusiastic, adventurous boy he always was.

"The first game we're playing is Guess Who!" Kaoto announced, motioning for the Guardians to line up. "What are their names, big brother? For every one of them that you get right, you'll get birthday money!"

Kousei grinned. No way was his son going to remember all of what he had told him.

Or so he thought.

"You have the shield with the Union Jack, short brown hair, and you were in love with a man from another timeline...you're Captain Carter!" Gaku deduced.

"Why yes indeed I am!" Captain Carter smiled, allowing the young boy to feel her shield.

"Next!" Kaoto grinned.

"A red cape, the red 'O', a mustache and big muscles. That's easy, you're Omni Man!"

"Well done, kiddo!" Omni Man said, high fiving Gaku. From there, the rest of the game was a piece of cake for the boy.

"Star Lord T'Challa!"

"The Watcher!"

"Invincible!"

"Avatar Aang!"

"Avatar Korra!"

"Black Widow!"

"Eren Yeager!"

"Reiner Braun!"

"Mikasa Ackerman!"

And with that, Gaku won the first game, receiving a generous sum of birthday money as a result. The party then moved to the backyard under Kaori's direction, where there was much more space for the jubilant celebration. Along with food of course—barbecued burgers and hot dogs to be precise! From there, the rest of the day was filled with all sorts of wild shenanigans, with Strange Supreme putting Kousei and Kaori's house under the Mirror Dimension at one point to prevent any damage.

"What happens here won't affect the real world," Strange winked to the couple. "You'll be thankful later. Trust me."

Kousei ended up being very grateful indeed, especially when he saw Eren and Reiner transform into their Titans at Gaku's request.

"SO COOL!" Gaku yelled, before demanding to see them fight.

"Avatars Aang and Korra, would you mind demonstrating some of your bending to Kaoto?" Kaori asked.

"By all means!" Aang replied, whipping out his collection of marbles and levitating it between his palms with a goofy look on his face.

"I want to see some fire!" Kaoto said with her excited curiosity.

"Sure thing!" Korra winked, shooting a blast of fire at the grill.

"Gaaah!" Kousei exclaimed. "Not too much on those burgers now!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Only-Guardian-Without-Superpowers," Korra teased. "Did you forget who does most of the fighting on our missions?"

At one point, Strange Supreme trolled Kousei yet again, creating twenty copies of Kaoto. The adorable demons wasted no time in tackling their father to the ground, jumping up and down on his back once their victory was secured.

"We love daddy! We love daddy!" Kaoto and her clones chanted as their small feet impacted onto Kousei's torso.

"Ow—oof—umph—my—back—is—not—a—tram—po—line!" Kousei grunted in pain each time.

"See Gaku?" Kaori pointed. "Star Lord T'Challa uses his rocket boots to fly! Not quite like Invincible and his father."

"I prefer to stay on the ground myself," Black Widow joked, showing Gaku one of her combat batons.

"Why are your eyes so big and white?" Gaku asked the Watcher with blunt curiosity.

"Gaku!" Kaori scolded, but the Watcher just laughed.

"Well, because I need to see everything, little one," the Watcher said, kneeling down to be more at Gaku's level. "There's a lot more to the world than meets the eye.

"Ya wanna try some flying?" Invincible interjected, winking at Gaku.

"Sure!" the boy replied.

It was only a small lap around the back yard of course, but Gaku had never had more fun in his life as Invincible and Omni Man took turns carrying him.

Kousei's back hurt from the surprise attack. But he didn't care as he watched his son be wild and free, just like his mother.

This birthday party, this moment, this family...

Were more precious than all the treasure in the multiverse.

........................................

"So, what'd you think of the others?" Kousei asked as he tucked Kaoto into bed later that evening.

"They were amazing, daddy!" Kaoto said in a delighted tone.

"Who was your favorite?"

"Hm, the man that could do all the cool magic stuff and had that cloak," Kaoto said, tapping her chin. "What was his name again?"

"Oh? You weren't paying attention?" Kousei asked with a sly smile, wiggling his fingers.

Kaoto knew what was coming next, and tried to defend herself against her father's Tickle Monster Attack. As always, she failed.

"Daddy, no!" Kaoto laughed as she wiggled and kicked under the blankets.

"Well, what was his name?" Kousei persisted, easing up on the tickling.

"Strange! Strange something!" Kaoto giggled again.

"Okay, that'll pass," Kousei said, putting Kaoto's nighttime hat on her head.

"I'm telling mommy!" Kaoto warned him as she hugged her teddy bear to her chest.

"Oh, I'm sure you will," Kousei chuckled, patting her on the head. "So, I'll bet you feel a lot safer knowing your dad is friends with those heroes, right?"

"Mm-hm!" Kaoto nodded.

"So if you get bullied at school again, you want me to call them all to help save you?"

"Nope," Kaoto shook her head. "I don't need them."

"Oh? And why is that?" Kousei inquired.

"Because I have you, daddy."

Kousei felt his heart melt. There had been many times where he'd felt like he wasn't doing nearly enough for his children. And yet, these five words from his daughter and the gratitude from his son had proven otherwise.

Tears came to the pianist's eyes, and Kaoto jumped on this opportunity to tease her father, as she always did.

"Daddy is crying! Daddy is crying!"

"Yes sweetheart, daddy is indeed crying. Because he loves you so much."

He kissed Kaoto on the forehead, hugging her one last time before getting up to leave.

"Good night, Kaoto," he said as he closed the door to her room.

A/N: And that's a wrap, folks! :) Hope you all enjoyed!