●・○・●・○・●
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN,
what rhymes with oops

—

༇ WE need to talk."

That's the first time in Kaede's life that his parents have told him that— in a serious tone, at least.

He nods once, slightly confused. "Okay."

Arisu stays standing, arms folded across his chest. "We're going to ask you something, and we really need you to be honest with us."

"Okay," he says again.

"Where did you hear the name Isao Shirabi?"

Kaede looks down at the tea for a moment, then meets his father's eyes. "I was looking through the list of victims from the meteorite and came across that name," he lies.

The only reason he doesn't tell his parents the truth his because Shirabi is an immediate connection to the boxing gym, and his parents will definitely not allow him to go there anymore once they find out about it.

Usagi folds her hands on the table. "We don't want to push you. We really don't. But this is serious. None of us understand how you could've possibly known it... and I'm sorry, honey, but we don't believe that you got the name from the list. Why did that name stand out? Why did you even look through the list? Why would you ask Aguni specifically? Why didn't you tell Aguni about the list before?"

Kaede opens his mouth, then closes it. Takes a breath. "I'm telling you the truth."

"We've trusted you. We've always given you your space, Kaede. But now we need you to meet us halfway," Arisu adds.

Kaede's shoulders stiffen almost imperceptibly.

"Tell us the truth. We can see when you're lying."

"I'm not lying."

"Then explain. Why did you look at that list in the first place when you know it hurts every single adult surrounding you?"

He has no answer to that. It was a bad excuse anyway— he should've just kept his mouth shut. Lying might be worse than not speaking.

"We hate to do this, but let us check your phone. This is important, Kaede."

Without a word, he pulls it out of his pocket and sets it on the table. Screen up, already unlocked.

Usagi picks it up with a grateful smile. Kaede stares straight ahead, not afraid.

They go through it together. Messages. Search history. Contacts. Kaede doesn't even glance over. Apart from the physical wounds on his body, there is no evidence of the boxing club.

"Did you delete something?"

"No," Kaede says calmly. "I didn't."

"Then how—" Usagi starts, then falters. She's not angry. She's confused. That's somehow worse.

They go through it again. Every app. Every download. The notes folder. Even deleted messages. Nothing.

Arisu looks at him hard. "Kaede. This isn't a game. You have to tell us. You didn't dream that name. You didn't make it up. Someone told it to you. Who?"

Kaede shakes his head. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry— explain," Arisu snaps.

"Ryohei," Usagi warns, but it's halfhearted.

Kaede looks at his father with wide eyes. "I can't explain."

Arisu gets up again. Paces. "You're not in trouble. We're not going to punish you. We just want to understand. And right now it feels like you're protecting someone."

Kaede doesn't answer.

"You are, aren't you?"

Still no answer.

"We can't protect you from things we don't understand. If you know something, you have to tell us."

He can't bear the thought of their faces when they realize he's been lying to them for almost three years. That their sweet boy lives a second life.So he stays quiet.

Usagi slides his phone back to him. Her hand lingers. He takes it gently.

"We're not done with this," Arisu says. "You know that."

"I'm telling you the truth—"

"Then where did you get that list?"

"...from a paper?" He tries, as if asking the question out loud.

"Where?"

"A... shop?"

"Kaede—"

The boy stands up. "I'm going to bed."

"We're not done with this—"

"Sleep well."

●・○・●・○・●

Hana stirs under her blanket, stuck between sleep and awareness. It's Saturday. She has plans. Her phone on the nightstand buzzes once. A message from Kiyoshi.

I bought the soda! See you soon ❤︎︎

She smiles faintly at the screen. Her heart beats a little faster. They're planning to meet up today, just at home, relaxing.

Yay! She sends back. See you!!!!!

It's still early in the morning when she makes her way downstairs. Her father is most likely to be up, although one and a half year old Sakiko has been ruining his 'biological clock'. It's not that she cries that much, she just babbles a lot in her sleep. A lot.

Baya always sleeps in, and not even just a little bit. She fully sleeps in. Kaoru has a simple pattern of waking up around nine in the weekends, so he got enough rest but has a full day ahead of him.

Hana grabs a carrot from the fridge and slides it into Cinnamon's large cage, followed by a scoop of her food. Lastly, she refills the bunny's water.

"Cinnamon?" She whispers, impatient. He usually shows up the second he hears the rattling of his food.

She peeks a little closer, then freezes.

Cinnamon Two is lying on his side in the hay, legs stretched out, little mouth slack. His eyes are open but glassy. There's no rise or fall in his belly.

She crouches instantly, flinging open the cage door, hands reaching, though she doesn't touch him yet.

"No, no, no. Cinnamon?"

She whispers his name like this is just a really deep nap and begins to stroke his fur. It's soft. Still warm, but limp. His head rolls gently to the side.

Hana sucks in a sharp breath. Tears spring to her eyes without warning. She presses her forehead against the edge of the cage, sobbing silently.

Cinnamon, with that the stupid last name 'Two'. Her first pet. He was older than Hana herself— almost sixteen. He used to fall asleep on her lap while she watched cartoons. Chewed the corner of her workbooks. Sat beside her every time she cried. Once got stuck behind the fridge and Chishiya had to disassemble half the kitchen to get him out.

Gone. Hana kneels there for what might be ten minutes. Or twenty. Time folds strangely when something like this happens. Her hands shake.

Eventually, her phone buzzes again.

Is it okay if I come earlier?

She stares at the screen for a long time before answering. Her fingers move slowly. I just found Cinnamon. He's dead. I don't think I can meet up today, sorry ❤︎︎

She hits send, then locks the phone and sets it down. She can't deal with anything else right now. The sobs continue for several minutes before footsteps echo down the hallway.

Chishiya pauses when he sees her crouched by the cage. His steps go quiet. She doesn't turn around. "Hana?"

She doesn't answer. He moves closer. When he sees inside the cage, he stops. Stands there for a moment, unreadable.

Hana finally turns to face him. Her face is red and swollen with crying. "He was still warm," she peeps. "He didn't make any noise."

Chishiya kneels beside her. He looks into the cage. One hand rests on her back. "Old rabbits often don't."

He reaches into the cage and gently lifts Cinnamon's body into his arms. He cradles him. His face remains unreadable, but there's reverence in the way he handles the rabbit. "I'll a the box," he says. "We'll bury him properly."

Hana nods, tears still spilling.

As he disappears into the hallway, another door creaks open. Kaoru steps out, hair a mess, still in his sleep shirt. He pauses when he sees Hana. "What happened?"

She doesn't speak. Just looks up at him.

Kaoru stares for a long second. Then his expression cracks, just barely. "Cinnamon?"

Hana nods once.

His shoulders sag. He looks away fast before he walks over, and he sits beside her without a word. Wraps one arm awkwardly around her back.

Chishiya's footsteps are slow as he carries Cinnamon's body upstairs, wrapped in a towel that covers the entire animal. 

Baya is sprawled across the bed, blanket kicked off halfway, hair splayed across her pillow. She doesn't stir when Chishiya leans down and nudges her shoulder. "Yuzuki."

She groans softly. "Five more minutes. Unless the house is on fire."

"It's about Cinnamon."

Her eyes snap open. "What?"

He lifts the towel slightly in his arms, then pulls the edge back just enough to show Cinnamon's still face.

Baya sits up fast. "What?" She repeats.

Chishiya stands back as she moves. She's fully awake now, blinking rapidly. "No," she says. "Last night he was fine."

"It happened during the night. He's fifteen, Yuzuki."

"That doesn't mean—" She stops short, taking the rabbit in her arms. The second she does, her whole face crumples and starts crying. Not like Hana, whose grief is quiet. Baya's open and noisy. Her sobs echo off the bedroom walls. "I don't want to just... put him in the ground like nothing."

"We'll do it right. Maybe near the flowers in the garden."

Baya wipes at her eyes. "Have the kids seen him?"

"Hana was the one who found him. Kaoru just came downstairs."

She starts to stand, then hesitates, glancing down at Cinnamon. "I'll... I'll put him in the shoebox from the closet. That pretty one."

"I'll get it."

No one says much as they go out into the backyard. The sun is hidden behind clouds. Near their colorful, small field of flowers, Kaoru begins to dig.

Everyone helps. Even Sakiko, waddling out in her pajamas, holding a plastic toy shovel in her fist. She doesn't fully understand what's happening, but she mimics Kaoru's movements and starts crying because she sees her mother and big sister cry.

When the hole is ready, Hana kneels, placing the box gently into the ground. She lingers for a long time, whispering her final goodbye. Lastly, she places a carrot inside the box before they cover it.

Chishiya marks the spot with a flat stone, and Hana writes 'Cinnamon Two"' in sharpie, followed by a clumsy heart.

And even though it really hurts, it almost feels relieving as well. Cinnamon was old. This moment was predictable. Every day, no matter who looked into Cinnamon's cage, they were waiting for the moment to come. It was tense. Now it's over.

●・○・●・○・●

Cinnamon's cage has been emptied, cleaned, and set aside. Kaoru hasn't said much since breakfast. He's holed up in his room with his headphones on, eyes red but blaming it on allergies. Baya's been moving around the house trying to busy herself with laundry and dishes, pausing more than once just to glance at the empty corner where Cinnamon's cage used to sit.

Hana hasn't moved from the couch.  Her cheeks are still puffy from crying, and the tissue box next to her is a battlefield. Her fingers curl around her phone, which she hasn't unlocked in over an hour. She doesn't feel like responding to anyone, not even Kiyoshi. Losing Cinnamon wasn't just losing a bunny. It was like a chapter of her childhood got shut permanently without warning. She doesn't hear the knock at the door.

Chishiya does. He opens the door. There's a pause. Then: "It's for you."

Hana frowns and sits up just enough to peer over the couch.

Kiyoshi stands there, wearing a white shirt under a gray hoodie, and his hair is neatly brushed. He's holding a small paper bag in one hand and a bouquet of three yellow tulips wrapped in paper and tied with string.

"I didn't want to text again," he says. "You didn't reply and I thought maybe you... I just thought maybe you shouldn't be alone."

Hana stares at him, stunned. She swallows hard.

Behind him, Chishiya looks over his shoulder at her. His expression is unreadable. After a moment, he steps aside without a word and lets Kiyoshi in.

"Hi," Kiyoshi says again, quieter this time.

"Hi," Hana croaks. Her voice is almost gone. Her nose is red. "You didn't have to come."

"I wanted to," he says, inching toward the couch. "Here. I brought a few things." He sets the paper bag down on the table beside her. Inside are two cans of soda, a pack of candy, and a little ceramic rabbit figurine.

"It's not much," he mumbles, glancing away. "But I thought maybe... it'd help. A little."

She gently takes the tulips from his hand. "Thank you," she whispers.

Kiyoshi shrugs, trying to play it cool. "Tulips mean comfort," he says. "I asked my grandma."

Hana manages a tiny smile.

He reaches into the bag and pulls out one of the sodas.

"Wanna toast?"

She raises hers with a teary smile. "To Cinnamon."

"To Cinnamon Two. May he have endless hay and zero vet visits in bunny heaven," Kiyoshi says politely.

The cans clink softly.

Later that evening, Hana's bedroom is a mess of loose books and pillows that never stay on the bed. Her speakers hum with a playlist. She's c on the bed, leaning over a color book, rambling about something Kiyoshi can barely follow. That's what she does. If she's sad, she talks. And it helps.

He's sitting beside her, leaning on one arm, head tilted slightly as he watches her talk.

"...and then I said, 'Ma'am, that's not even how biology works,' and she looked at me like I was the problem," Hana finishes with a laugh, flipping to the next page. "Anyway. You think I should finish coloring this one?"

Kiyoshi smiles faintly. "It's already kinda perfect."

She glances up at him. "You always say that."

"Because it always is."

That makes her go still for a second. Then she grins. "You're so lame." She tosses her color book to the side and leans closer, her knee bumping his. "I think my dad is finally convinced you're a good person after two years of you being my boyfriend, only because you showed up."

"That's my biggest achievement so far."

"Nope." Hana chuckles. "It's definitely our... anniversary? I mean, like I said, we're past two years! I feel like we're going to marry one day. Or do you not see that?"

"I can already see the rings," he teases.

Her face gets red almost instantly. She covers it with her hands. "Oh my, stop. That's not fair. You're being sweet on purpose."

"You asked. You always ask and then panic when I answer."

"That's not true," she says, peeking through her fingers.

"Mmhm."

Hana lowers her hands and studies him. He's still so calm. Calm in that way that makes her heart beat louder sometimes.

He looks back at her, softening. "Wanna do it again?"

The question makes her pulse jump. "Yeah."

Their lips meet again— just a peck. They stay there for a few seconds. Her hand finds his, fingers threading together clumsily. When they pull apart, their foreheads bump lightly. Hana's cheeks are pink and glowing.

"It feels disgustingly nice," she points out. "Makes me feel better after Cinnamon..."

Kiyoshi squeezes her hand. Hana squeezes back.

"Do you want to try again?" She asks awkwardly.

"Yeah," he says, fast, then clears his throat. "I mean. If you do."

So they do. Their lips find each other again, this time with a little more confidence. A little clumsy in places when noses bump or they move out of sync, but they're figuring it out.

Kiyoshi's hand lifts uncertainly, then rests lightly on her waist over her hoodie. His thumb brushes there once, then stops like he's not sure if that's okay. Their kisses grow a little deeper, not wild or fast, but more rhythm. Hana breaks into a breathy laugh when their teeth knock lightly. "Sorry," she says.

"No, that was me," Kiyoshi replies, a little red. "I keep forgetting to... I don't know, tilt my head more?"

They look at each other, grinning.

Knock knock. "Hana."

The door clicks open almost immediately, the person—Chishiya—barely waiting for a response. His eyes narrow slightly.

Kiyoshi immediately straightens. "Good evening, Dr. Chishiya."

He looks at his daughter. Then Kiyoshi. The faint sheen of lipgloss smudged at the edge of his mouth. Then Hana again.  

Hana gulps. "We were just, uh, talking."

"Clearly."

Kiyoshi rubs at his mouth instinctively, and his face burns red.

Chishiya raises an eyebrow. "Don't bother. It's already recorded in my brain forever."

"Dad—"

"I allowed you to date. I didn't authorize a lipgloss transfer."

Kiyoshi, somehow still polite, says, "I apologize, sir."

"Don't apologize to me," Chishiya says flatly. "Apologize to your dermatologist when that gloss gives you clogged pores."

"Dad!"

"I'm going to go sit in the kitchen and reevaluate my parenting choices." He points at the open door. "You have five minutes. Then this door stays open forever."

Hana throws herself back on the bed. "He's so frustrating."

"He's scarier than any final exam," Kiyoshi adds.

They don't speak for the next few minutes. Hana's lying on the bed, face flushed. Kiyoshi awkwardly plays with the corner of her pillow.

Knock knock knock. But this time it's more like a happy little rhythm, followed by: "Hellooo, anyone kissing in here again?"

Baya walks in, Sakiko balanced on one hip. Sakiko is giggling, clutching a stuffed animal by the ear.

"Maaamaa—" Sakiko squeals, then points at Hana. "Nanaaaa!"

"Hi," Hana says, sitting up fast, already holding her arms out.

Baya beams and passes the toddler over. "Your father walked past the laundry room whispering, 'I raised her better than this' like he was in a drama." Baya flops onto the bed, lying sideways across Hana's legs. "So... you kissed?"

"Mom," Hana whines, cradling Sakiko, who's now trying to grab Kiyoshi's hair.

"What?" Baya props herself up on her elbows. "I'm not mad! I'm interested. Big difference."

Kiyoshi chuckles nervously. "Hi, Mrs. Chishiya."

"Hi, Kiyoshi." Baya gives him a warm smile. "You're so polite. Oh, I love you."

"Stop flirting with my boyfriend."

"I'm not! I'm just saying he's respectful. That's rare. Look at your father. He tried to drown me once. Anyway. so. You kissed. Again. I knew it. I told your dad this would happen eventually. He said 'Not under my roof.' And I said, 'You first kissed me while explaining the human body,' And he said, 'Yes, and I've never recovered from it.'"

Kiyoshi, red, clears his throat. "Yeah."

"I know your dad gets dramatic. He worries. A lot. But between you and me—don't tell him I said this—he trusts you and I guess he's somewhat approved of Kiyoshi by now. Either way, he's gonna have to live with this. Kissing means... more things might be coming, you know? And that's hard for him to accept due to past situations, which is hilarious if you think about it and know the context— which you don't, thank God."

"Yeah...?" Hana questions. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Good."

Sakiko babbles something and tries to hand Kiyoshi her stuffed animal.

"Aw, thank you," Kiyoshi says, accepting it.

"She likes you," Baya says, delighted. "That's a good sign. Sakiko can smell fear, I'm sure."

"She's really sweet."

"She also cries directly after I feed her only so she gets more food," Baya adds fondly. "But sweet, sure."

A pause. "Wait." She coughs. "So here's the thing. I know you two aren't doing anything serious yet. I can tell. And I'm glad you're taking your time. But I also know how fast these things can change."

Hana shifts uncomfortably. Kiyoshi looks away.

"I'm not here to embarrass you, okay? I'm not assuming anything. I trust you. But it's still my job to say this out loud, especially to you, Kiyoshi, because I've already educated Hana on this." She looks at him pointedly, but not unkindly.

He blinks, wide-eyed. "Yes, ma'am."

"You don't have to call me ma'am. That makes me feel eighty. But thank you. Listen. If you two ever decide to explore anything physical beyond kissing, I want you to promise me something. You will talk to each other first. Really talk. No guessing. No assuming. And no pushing, not even a little. If it's not a full, clear, enthusiastic yes from both sides, then it's a no. Got it?"

Kiyoshi, still bright red but entirely sincere, nods. "Yes. Of course. I swear."

Hana covers half her face with one hand. "We're not even thinking about that yet..."

"I know you're not. That's exactly why now's the best time to say this stuff. Before it gets all confusing or scary or awkward. You deserve to know the rules before the game even starts."

Sakiko lets out a loud, wet sound with her mouth, which almost shatters the tension. Kiyoshi tries not to laugh.

"Also, please use prote—"

"I'm fourteen," Hana gasps.

"I'm just letting you know! I'm aware you won't be doing anything at fourteen yet, but I still won't tell you 'ohhh if you get up to things at this age, you're grounded for the rest of your life!' because that makes it more tempting. So be safe."

Kiyoshi is a human tomato now. "Yes. I... yes. I understand."

"I'm not worried about you two," Baya says, standing up and adjusting Sakiko, who's trying to steal a hair tie off Baya's wrist. "You're good kids. Sweet kids. I'm so proud of you for going slow and being honest." She pauses at the door, then adds, "Also, don't kiss too much. You still have math homework."

Hana throws a pillow at her.

"I love you!" Baya sing songs, slipping out the door before the pillow can hit her. Sakiko yells something unintelligible.

The door closes again.

The room is dead quiet.

"...your mom is amazing," Kiyoshi says.

Down the hall, Baya is still giggling under her breath as she carries Sakiko toward the kitchen, the toddler bouncing gently on her hip and mumbling what sounds like a secret in her ear. Baya responds dramatically, gasping. "No way, she said what to you? Unbelievable. Scandal after scandal."

Chishiya is sitting at the kitchen table by now. Baya sets Sakiko on the counter carefully and plants a kiss on the top of her head. "There." She turns to her husband. "Don't set Kiyoshi on fire now."

"But—" he lifts a finger as if he's about to deliver a critical analysis, then sighs deeply. "Never mind. I'm outnumbered in this house anyway."

"Damn right," Baya says, pouring two small glasses. Sakiko nods like she understands, even as she picks her nose and wipes it on the side of the fridge.

Chishiya watches it with a grimace.

Sakiko looks directly at her father with a blank expression.

Chishiya stares back.

Then Sakiko picks up the juice cup and deliberately pours a tiny drop onto the counter.

"Sakiko," Baya says warningly.

"I respect it."

"Of course you do."

"She wanted to see if surface tension was real. That's a scientific method."

"She wanted to piss you off," Baya corrects.

Sakiko hums and picks up a spoon, holds it like a scalpel, and begins performing surgery on a piece of toast crust.

"See?" Chishiya says. "She's preparing for med school."

"You don't need to encourage her."

"You encouraged Hana to swordfight with Kaoru when she was five."

"That was different."

Sakiko lifts the crust with the spoon and announces, "Dead."

"Pathology. She's brilliant."

"She's you." Baya says, laughing now.

"She tried to bite me last night. Sounds more like a you thing."

"She did bite you last night," Baya realizes.

"I still have the mark."

"Get it tattooed. A permanent reminder of your daughter."

"I have mixed opinions about tattoos," he acknowledges. "Kaoru would know."

"You gave him a whole lecture as if Kaoru is the kind of person to get a tattoo."

"You never know."

Baya stands slowly. "You wanna give her a bath?"

Chishiya looks skeptical. "The chance she'll bite me again is—"

"—approximately fifty percent. One gen from me and one gen from you. Chop, chop, hurry up."

"Glad to know you've revised biology."

She scowls at him. "I will—"

"—bite me?"

Chishiya stands up and carries Sakiko upstairs before Baya can say anything else. Her plush rabbit dangles upside down by its ear, and her fingers drum once or twice against Chishiya's shoulder before going still again.

He sets Sakiko down on the rug by the bathtub and reaches over to start the water. She sits perfectly still, rabbit in her lap, and watches him without expression.

"Would it kill you to smile once in a while?" he mutters, twisting the knobs to find the right temperature.

She just makes a low humming sound, the exact one her father always makes.  He shakes his head and prepares her towel, pajamas, and baby shampoo. It's like prepping a surgical tray.

Once the water's ready, he tests it with his wrist, then nods in approval. He turns back to her.

She settles in the warm water with her back straight, rabbit clutched to her chest.

"You can't bathe with that," Chishiya says dryly, reaching to take it from her.

Sakiko's grip tightens.

"You'll get mold."

She stares at him. Then, offended, she releases the rabbit. Chishiya sets it on the sink, watching her eyes follow it the entire time.

"Good decision."

She doesn't acknowledge the praise. Just dunks both hands in the water and then stares at them. He crouches down beside the tub and reaches for the cup. Pours warm water over her hair. Then comes the shampoo, then the gentle lathering, then the rinse. She hates water in her eyes, but she doesn't complain. Just grunts once when the water drips a bit too close to her nose.

When bath time ends, Chishiya wraps her in a towel, like a burrito. Her head pokes out, hair damp and sticking to her forehead.

They enter her room. The nightlight plugged into the far wall casts a faint glow across the room. Baya had insisted on decorating with pastel animals and string lights, so that's what it looks like now.

He kneels down by her tiny dresser and takes out her pajamas: yellow with sleepy clouds. She watches him silently from the changing table as he pats her dry and carefully helps her into them. Arms first. Then legs. One at a time. Once dressed, he lifts her again and brings her to the crib, but she reaches a hand out. Not toward the crib.

"Fine," he mutters, and changes route. They settle on the floor mat beside her bookshelf. She sits in his lap, back straight, legs splayed in front of her, like a very serious little professor. He wraps an arm around her waist to hold her still and reaches toward a small box on the shelf to pull out a stack of flashcards. Simple pictures like colors, animals, shapes.

He shows her a red circle.

"What's this?"

She places a finger on the red shape. "Ball."

"Correct."

Next: a green triangle.

"Tree."

Then a picture of a bunny. She points. "Usagi."

He flips another. A picture of a sad face. "What emotion?"

Sakiko stares. Her face doesn't change.

"Sad," he tells her.

She squints. "...Why?"

"Why they're sad?"

She nods.

Chishiya sets the card aside. "Maybe because someone took their rabbit."

She goes very still.

He glances down at her. "Not your rabbit. Hypothetically."

"Mon," she mutters.

"Are you French now?"

"Mon!" Sakiko raises her voice. "Mama— Nana and Mama... sad, Mon."

"Mama and Hana are sad about Cinnamon?"

Sakiko nods unsurely.

"Well, Cinnamon Two is now... in a bunny heaven with a lot of other bunnies," Chishiya tells her. "Say, 'Bye, Cinnamon, rest in peace."

"Bye, Mon. Pest in reace," Sakiko repeats.

A few more cards, a few more answers. She misses only one and seems genuinely irritated with herself afterward. Chishiya pats her hair lightly.

"You're doing well."

Sakiko reaches toward the stack again, grabbing another flashcard before Chishiya can even pick one. Presses it to his chest this time. An orange square with a picture of a fox.

He glances at it. "I'm not taking the test," he tells her.

She holds it there, unwavering.

"Fine. That's a fox."

Sakiko continues to press the card against him. Slowly, her lips curve upward before she plucks the next card from the pile and holds it up triumphantly: an umbrella.

"Parasol," she announces.

"Umbrella," he corrects. "Not for the sun. For the rain."

She frowns, annoyed. Then flips it around and examines the back, which is blank. Unsatisfying. She flips it again, as if the picture might change if she just tries harder. It doesn't.

Chishiya sighs and gently pulls the card from her hand.

She reaches for another card. This time it's a picture of two bears: one big, one small. She points at the big one. "Papa," she says.

Chishiya freezes.

Her finger moves slightly. Points at the small bear. "Me."

His throat tightens in a way that surprises him. She stares up at him. "...Mmm," he mutters, clearing his throat. "That's subjective."

She continues to stare.

He brushes a hand over her hair again. "Fine. You win. Bear card is correct."

Satisfied, she relaxes back into his lap, one hand loosely clutching the card. For several minutes, Sakiko lies still. Her breath evens out, her rabbit tucked tightly beneath her chin.

●・○・●・○・●

"Kaykay!"
"Kaede."
"Honey."
"Ka!"

Miyu wants to play with him. His parents are still interrogating him. Even Souta is calling for him.

Mornings in the Arisu house are usually like this— not always directed at Kaede, no, because Arisu and Usagi try their absolute hardest to make Kaede not feel like a babysitter, but the mornings are definitely busy. And the middays. And the evenings.

Kaede has not been in the right mood lately. Kuina taught him that his mood shouldn't have to affect others unless it's completely valid, and in this case, it's not. He hasn't seen Shirabi in a while, nor has he visited the boxing club. It feels too risky. But he misses it. So much.

"I'm going to H—" he stops in the middle of his sentence, tilts his head, and thinks again. "I'm going to Nozomi," he says instead. "We'll walk to school together. Bye."

He grabs his bag and shrugs into his hoodie, tugging the sleeves down over his palms. Usagi's voice drifts through the house in gentle tones, and Arisu's low murmur follows.  It's not a bad house. It's full and warm and busy. But sometimes, even the warmth feels too tight.

Across the street, he can already see the door to Kuina, Ann, and Aguni's house open. Nozomi is standing just outside it, like she's been waiting for a full dramatic entrance. Which, knowing Nozomi, she probably has.

She looks like something out of a Tim Burton dream and a Milan runway at the same time: today it's a layered dress over striped tights, a crushed velvet coat that trails slightly past her knees, and a thick red scarf knotted messily around her neck. Her hair is twisted into a half-up, half-down mess held by a broken chopstick, and she's wearing three necklaces, all different lengths.

She spots him and lifts her hand in an exaggerated wave. "Darling!" she calls across the street, far too loud for this early in the morning. "Your timing is exquisite."

"You look like you robbed three thrift stores," he says as a greeting.

"Good morning to you too," she replies sweetly, like he complimented her. "I dressed for the weather and my emotional state."

"Which are?"

"Foggy and unstable."

Kaede snorts, shoulders relaxing just slightly.

From the door, Ann appears and gives Kaede a small nod. Kuina is behind her, pretending to adjust Aguni's jacket, but mostly just sneaking food into his backpack. Aguni grunts without looking up, and Kuina smacks his shoulder.

"You're walking?" Ann calls out to Kaede and Nozomi.

"We are!" Nozomi chirps. "There's a dog that looks like a cloud on the third street and I must commune with it."

Ann just nods like that makes perfect sense. Kaede shifts his bag higher and starts walking. Nozomi falls into step beside him, her shoes clicking slightly against the pavement: black Mary Janes with mismatched socks.

They walk in silence for a bit. Nozomi doesn't push why he's so quiet today. She never does, which is strange considering she's loud and dramatic and kind of impossible to ignore. She just exists beside him, noisy in every way except the one that would demand answers.

"You haven't come to Mom's training," she says after a while.

Several years ago, she finally decided Kuina really is her mother. Ann is her 'second mother' and Aguni is 'technically her father'. Nozomi doesn't care if people at school laugh at the weird reasoning or ask if her parents have a polygamy going on. She just tells them her parents are two sisters and a brother raising a kid.

"I know."

"You're missed."

He exhales slowly. "I know that too."

She hums. Then spins in a slow circle as they walk, arms out like wings. "I made a potion last night," she says conversationally. "It didn't do anything. But it was pretty."

"What was in it?"

"Cucumber slices. Purple soda. Three rose petals. And Hana's edible glitter."

"That's a drink you're not supposed to drink."

"I did drink it."

"Of course."

They reach a corner with a crooked sign, where the sidewalk splits into two narrow paths. Kaede kicks a rock gently into the grass. Nozomi's pace slows. Her scarf keeps slipping off her shoulder, but she makes no attempt to fix it. A tiny, handmade pin of a cat is attached to her backpack strap.

She's the one to break the silence. "You say things about your feelings. Not your feelings."

He opens his mouth, then closes it. "That's not true."

Nozomi stops walking and turns fully toward him. "Kaede," she says, "I've seen you help like, twelve different people in the past two weeks. You carried Hana's books even though she didn't ask. You stayed late to clean the whiteboards at school. You helped Yuzuki make sushi and you learned a medical term only so Shuntarō would actually enjoy having a conversation with you— and I'm telling you, he somewhat did!"

"I don't mind doing those things—"

"I know you don't," she interrupts gently. "That's not what I'm saying." She takes a step closer, lowering her voice even though there's no one around. "I'm saying, you're nice to everybody. All the time. You're like a... polite, sad cat. But you never tell anyone when you're upset. Not even me. And I'm very good at keeping secrets. I once kept a rock named Senator Pebble alive for nine months before anyone found out I thought it could read minds."

Kaede blinks. "...that was a lot of information."

"I'm saying I'm trustworthy."

He huffs a laugh and looks away, just barely. His cheeks tint pink. "I don't really like making people worry," he says finally.

Nozomi frowns slightly. "You're not supposed to carry them alone. You could... you know. Set one down with me, if you wanted."

Very quietly, he says, "I miss one of my friends but I'm too scared to hang out with him because I'm afraid my parents won't approve of it."

Nozomi finally bumps her shoulder against his, lightly. "No comment. But if you want to talk about that more," she says, "I can sit very still and nod wisely like a therapist. I can also provide commentary in the voice of a raccoon, if that helps."

Kaede smiles despite himself. "Thanks."

"Hey!" Kaoru appears, fastening his pace as he makes his way to Kaede and Nozomi. "Can I please eat at one of your houses tonight?"

"Sure. Why?"

"Dad refuses to give me food for another week."

"Fascinating," Nozomi gulps. "Do you feel like that's emotional or mental abuse?"

"Typical Shush," Kaede mumbles. "What did you do?"

"A woman asked how long my parents have been married so I told them 'I don't know but my dad is still dizzy from the wedding' and he ended up hearing that. Oh, and later on, Dad was practicing words with Sakiko and I told him he's doing great but has to remember to stay hydrated. Wouldn't want history repeat itself, I told him."

"Ouch." Nozomi reaches inside Kaoru's pocket and takes a piece of candy. "I need food to process that."

"Hey!" Kaoru grabs the candy. "Do you know what happens to people who steal?"

"What?"

"They end up like my dad at the altar. Flat. On. Their. Back."

"I swear he's going to teleport here and murder not only you, but also me for being a witness," Kaede mutters below his breath. He continues walking. "Nozomi, can I eat at yours as well? It's a bit busy at my home right now."

"Of course!" She says excitedly. "We'll make it a sleepover."

Kaoru scratches his chin. "Snacks. Horror movie. Maybe a second blanket because some people snore."

"I do not snore," Nozomi says.

"You sound like a tiny vacuum."

"I'm choosing to take that as charming."

They all laugh. It feels easy. They near the side gate, where other students are trickling in. Nozomi starts waving at someone across the field who may or may not be real. Kaoru reaches into his hoodie pocket for his phone and shifts his shoulder at the same time. His elbow swings out and knocks straight into Nozomi.

Nozomi lets out a loud, strangled yelp.

Kaoru freezes. "What the hell—"

"OW! You absolute jerk. My boob!"

Kaede suddenly feels as if all eyes in the world are on the three of them.

Kaoru goes red instantly, eyes wide in horror. "I didn't— I didn't mean to touch—I mean, I wasn't— are you okay?!"

Nozomi is half-laughing, half-wincing, holding her chest. "No, you hormonal goat. It hurt."

"I only brushed it—"

"Kaoru, I am developing. That is tissue!"

"I didn't mean to!" Kaoru says quickly. "You were standing weird!"

"Standing weird?!" Nozomi glares at him. "I am undergoing anatomical metamorphosis! This entire section of my body is under construction."

Kaede clears his throat. "Maybe we can all lower our volume just a tiny bit."

Nozomi takes a deep breath and straightens her scarf with flair.

"Let's go inside now," Kaoru adds.

"No, stay. Learn something," Nozomi huffs. "You boys need to be educated. It's like a science experiment happening on my body right now. My boobs hurt, I cry at commercials, and last week I thought about death for no reason."

"Can you not say 'boobs' with that much intensity while we're in public?"

"BOOBS."

"Hey! Shut up—"

"Oh, I'm sorry, do my real biological experiences offend your delicate male ears? Do I need to speak in code?! Fine. The fleshy growths on my sternum region are experiencing soreness due to hormonal fluctuations!"

"I want to walk into traffic."

"Good. Maybe next time you'll use your eyeballs and not your elbows."

"I said I was sorry!"

Nozomi softens just a little. "I know. I'm just educating you. You're both so clueless. Like, do either of you even know what a period cup is?"

"I do," Kaede says.

"Go on."

"It's a cup made of silicone rubber that gets inserted while a woman is on her period. It catches the blood."

"Oh." Nozomi tilts her head to the side. "Well, I bet you can't name the four phases of—"

"Follicular, ovulation, luteral—"

"Okay, okay, nerd. You know it all. Kaede, you've earned partial immunity from my rage. But you—" she points dramatically at Kaoru, "—you're on thin ice, mister."

"I'm trying, okay?" he says, hands in the air. "I don't want to be dumb about this stuff. But it's not like I got a puberty handbook. My parents explained all this but it's not like I remember every single thing and apparently it's different for everyone."

Nozomi softens. "Okay, fair. You want to learn?"

Kaoru looks cautious. "What's the catch?"

"I get to quiz you and you have to listen without complaining."

Kaoru grumbles but nods. "Fine."

Nozomi rubs her hands together. "Okay, tonight. At the sleepover. Our mission is to properly educate Kaoru. His father probably explained it with difficult words and his mother probably explained it way too fast."

"You also talk too fast."

"You're the one who committed accidental chest assault," Nozomi says sweetly.

"I brushed you—!"

"Your elbow is sharp! Also, they're uneven and it's annoying and I can't sleep on my stomach anymore and don't get me started on bras! Everything is so annoying!"

"We do not need a lecture on this in public!"

"I will talk about my boobs whenever I want, thank you. I live with my mom."

"That explains so much."