●・○・●・○・●
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR,
growth

-

༇ IT'S early in the morning, and Kaede is already at school, waiting.

Only two days ago, he told Hana those cruel things just to deny his crush. On the same night, he ran into the woods and hurt himself. The next day, his parents allowed him to stay home from school because he clearly needed some time for himself, but now he's back— and seeing Hana for the first time since it happened.

Obviously, he will apologize. He has a plan in mind. First, he shall not stutter as he speaks to her, and calmly tell her he's sorry, that she's very pretty, and that he just panicked. Then, since that's very lame, he will smoothly ask if she wants to walk home together after school, and that's when he'll properly apologize. Say he's sorry, ask what he needs to do for her forgiveness, and ultimately tell her she's so beautiful that he simply fumbled— because yeah, he's still too lame to admit his feelings.

Not a perfect plan, but at least she'll, hopefully, forgive him a little bit, start talking to him like before, and they'll forget this ever happened.

When the bell rings, Hana walks into the classroom with a girl by her side. The girl, who Kaede thinks is named Nako, has long hair with a few blonde highlights, glittery eyelids, and a mix of silver and gold jewelry.

His shoulders become less tense. Hana seems in a good mood and seems to have made a friend, which is great. Other than Nozomi, Kaede can't recall Hana ever having many female friends.

But then Hana and Nako walk straight past him and sit down in the corner of the classroom together, and his day is ruined.

Should he go up to her? He probably shouldn't. He'll embarrass himself by stuttering. But maybe that's the key— maybe they want him to go up to her? Maybe that's how their minds work. Maybe it's a test.

Kaede doesn't have a lot of time to think about it, because the first period already begins.

And in the back, Nako whispers, "But he's kind of cute."

"Yeah, he is," Hana whispers back, "but I don't forgive him. He hasn't properly apologized yet! I'm waiting for him to bow down."

"At least give him the chance to do that," Nako responds quietly. "Give him one chance, and if he ruins it, boom, it's over."

"I don't want anything with him anyway. I mean..." Hana sighs. Shrugs. "Sometimes, it feels like he's my best friend, sometimes it feels like we're strangers, and sometimes I start thinking way too much about him. Is that normal?"

Nako also shrugs. "I have a crush on four different boys and I don't even know two of them. What if you just ignore him until he comes to his senses and apologizes?"

"That won't take long," Hana says confidently, "he's abnormally sweet. That's why it hurts so much! Why would he say that?"

"He probably wasn't lying about liking you, but didn't want to be embarrassed after you rejected him, and started denying it."

At that, Hana stops. "Ohhh, right— wait, no. He can't have a crush on me. We've known each other since we were babies and my dad is going to kill him!"

"Should I ask him?" Nako offers.

"If he likes me?"

"Yeah."

"Eh, sure, I guess? But do it subtly. Don't make him say more stupid things."

During the following periods, Hana and Nako keep whispering to each other, while yesterday, they barely knew each other. Hana simply bumped into Nako this morning, Nako complimented her clothes, and then Hana asked if she could sit next to her instead of Kaede. Now Nako nearly knows Hana's entire life story and the other way around.

At lunch, Hana is already out of the classroom before Kaede can even stand up, and he finds her at the table with several others girls— whose features just scream that they're popular. Nako seems to be introducing Hana to the girls, so Kaede decides to leave them alone. Makes his way to a random corner and pulls out his phone.

Shindou

How to make friends

Ask your PE teacher to box
Show them what you're good at ig
Might impress some ppl
What about Hana

She made new friends today
Sat down somewhere else

Have you talked to her yet

No
I will do it after school

Good luck

Thanks

Kaede puts his phone away and glances around, searching desperately for Kaoru, but he's nowhere to be seen. He's so desperate that he pulls out his phone again and texts his father, Is Kaoru not at school?

To which his father replies, No, don't you know? He has a third degree burn on his arm. Boiling hot water. He's staying home until most of the pain is gone and he's no longer affected by all the painkillers

Shocked, he reads the response several times. His eyes flicker around to spot Kaoru's friends, who he eventually finds sitting at a table. Kaede hesitantly walks over to them.

"Hi," he greets, clearly nervous. "Can I sit with you?"

"Sure." Kaoru's friend Elikai moves to the side. Kaede quickly slips down next to her. "Hi, Kaede."

Nowadays—at school, at least—, children have been leaning towards usage of first names more, due to the influence of western media, and the fact that they're in Tokyo also plays a big role.

"Have you heard about Kaoru?" He asks.

"Yeah. We were planning on visiting him today," Shoma confirms.

"We looked up third degree burn scars and honestly, they looked kinda cool," Nanaka adds. "Have you seen him?"

"No, I only just found out what happened. Eh, is it okay if I come with you guys? I'd also like to see Kaoru, and I need to talk to Hana, but it's difficult to reach her in school."

They shoot a glance in her direction, then look back. "Sure. We have to get him some presents first, though. You mind coming to the store?"

"No, not at all," Kaede says, maybe too quickly. "I need to buy both Kaoru and Hana something."

"Hana, too?" Nanaka wiggles her eyebrows in a way that reminds Kaede of Baya. "Finally confessing?"

"No, I— what? How do you even... I—"

"Kaoru tells us everything. Apparently his father gifted your father massage oil with some kind of heat formula on Christmas?" Elikai snickers. "And, even if Kaoru didn't tell us, it's obvious."

"That his father gifted my father oil?"

"No! That you like Hana, of course." Nanaka laughs even louder. "What are you getting her?"

"Something... that will make her forgive me for being, eh, rude."

"Rude? What did you do?"

"Well..." Kaede hesitates, but once he starts explaining, he can't stop. "I really, really like her, and she was guessing who I had a crush on, and I confessed, but she rejected me, so I told her it was a joke and that she's ugly and that I would never want to date her, and now she's obviously upset and I haven't apologized yet and it's been two days."

"Ah," Renji hisses.

"Ohhhh-ohhh!" Nanaka makes an excited sound. "Let me help! You need tulips and jewelry! She'll love that!"

His eyes light up. "Really?"

"Yeah! I'll help," she immediately offers.

●・○・●・○・●

Kaede doesn't know how exactly he got swept up in this, but by the time they're all walking out of school together, he's moving in a little herd of Kaoru's friends like he's one of them. It's strange. Has he just made permanent friends, or are they just that nice?

Nanaka has him by the sleeve and is dragging him toward a florist while Elikai and Renji trail behind them arguing over what snacks to bring Kaoru. Shoma keeps pulling out his phone and texting Kaoru for updates on what he wants.

Kaede's still anxious and unsure about seeing Hana. But it helps, being around people who act like this is normal, like he didn't completely ruin everything two days ago with the dumbest words to ever leave a human mouth.

The florist shop is packed with dozens of flowers. There's soft music playing and an old lady arranging roses behind the counter. Nanaka immediately starts pointing at flowers.

"Okay, so tulips mean perfect love," she announces. "Which is so cute. But not too serious. Yellow tulips mean cheerful thoughts and sunshine. You need those."

Kaede looks overwhelmed, clutching his backpack straps like they're the only thing keeping him upright. "Okay," he says. "Yellow tulips. Maybe, um... pink too?"

"That's adorable. Pink is for caring and affection! Okay, yes, yes. A small bouquet. Not too romantic, or she'll explode."

The old lady chuckles behind the counter. "You're getting flowers for a girl?"

"Yes, ma'am," Kaede says, bowing.

"Good. Boys need to do that more." She starts wrapping the bouquet Nanaka puts together.

By the time they leave the florist, they've also picked up cookies, a bottle of juice, a deck of cards, and a jar of candy for Kaoru. Kaede has also bought a small silver charm shaped like a cat paw for Hana. She used to collect little trinkets like that and clip them to her bag.

Tonight, he'll easily make the money back. More and more people have been betting on him at the boxing club, and he makes a solid amount with it as long as he wins— which is definitely not always.

The closer they get to Hana and Kaoru's house, the more Kaede's stomach tightens. Their house seems bigger every time Kaede looks at it, and even though he lives next to them, his house is definitely not as big.

Then the front door opens, and Hana steps out onto the porch. For a second, Kaede feels like he's known her all his life and also not at all. She looks exactly the same and completely new.

"Hi," she says cautiously.

"Hi," Kaede replies, equally cautious.

Nanaka elbows him so hard he nearly drops the flowers.

"We brought stuff!" She walks past Kaede and up the steps. "For Kaoru. But Kaede's is for you."

Hana blinks. "For me?"

Kaede steps forward, holding out the bouquet and the charm. "I'm really sorry, Hana. I said something awful. I was scared. And I took it out on you. I didn't mean it. I think you're... amazing. And kind. And really pretty. And I panicked."

Hana stares at him. Then, without a word, she takes the bouquet.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to walk home after school today so I could apologize properly, but—uh, we're here now, so..."

"You're an idiot." She holds up the tulips, inspects them, and gives a little sniff. "They're nice." Then, after a pause, she steps forward and wraps her arms around him. It's quick and awkward. Kaede doesn't know where to put his hands. When she pulls back, she's blushing slightly. "It's not the end of the world. Thank you. I forgive you— but I am sitting with Nako from now on. Sorry. She's just—"

"Okay," he says. He's smiling widely. "I don't mind that."

Behind them, the others cheer.

Inside, Kaoru's voice calls faintly from the living room. "Are those my cookies?"

Everyone shuffles into the house, dropping bags by the door and heading toward the sound of Kaoru's voice. The house smells good and Kaede can hear Baya running down the stairs with surprising speed.

"Oh, hi!" She greets, hugging each one of them. "It's so nice to see you. Kaoru's on the couch. Let me know if you need anything!" And then she disappears back upstairs.

"Kaoru!" Nanaka is the first to run over to him, impossibly excited. "How are you feeling?"

"Are you high from the painkillers?" Shoma asks.

"How much did it hurt to get burnt?" Renji wonders.

"How long will the healing process take?" Elikai adds.

Kaede stays behind. He feels awkward suddenly. Just because he hung out with Kaoru's friends does not mean he's apart of it now.

Hana taps his shoulder. "Do you want to go upstairs?"

"Huh? Oh, eh— sure, if you want."

She smiles and walks up to her room. Kaede follows nervously. Inside, it's a mess. A mix of blank and full papers is on the ground, as well as pencils.

"Sorry," Hana apologizes, "I made a new friend the other day and I... kinda wanted to adjust her drawing techniques. But I'm not good at it." She pauses for a moment. "I, eh, Kaede?"

"Yeah?"

"I overheard my parents talk about you and..." her eyes trail to his wrist. "I wanted to know if you're okay now. You shouldn't hurt yourself."

A big lump forms in his throat. He tries to swallow it away, but when he speaks, his voice still cracks. "Don't worry, I'm okay. It was... impulsive, I guess. Mom and Dad also suggested that I talk to a therapist, so everything will be fine."

"Ah, okay." Hana exhales. "I just wanted to check."

"Well, thank you," he stammers. "Are you sure you forgive me? I swear, I didn't mean it. I panicked, and I didn't want to... to be accused, and you're genuinely the prettiest person I've ever seen in my entire life."

Her eyes widen slightly. "Genuinely?"

"Yeah!" He goes on. "I mean, your hair is really long and... thick? And your bangs suit you very well. And your lips are kind of plump? And they somehow align very well with your nose, and I like the shape of your eyes. And, eh, yeah."

Hana stares at him. Her face starts to turn a very bright, very noticeable red. "My lips?" she repeats. .

"I mean, I'm not trying to be weird or anything! I just... noticed things. About your face. And stuff."

Hana makes a noise halfway between a squeak and a cough, then spins around so her back is to him, clearly trying to gather herself. She mutters something under her breath and bends down quickly to shuffle the papers on her floor, even though it doesn't make a difference at all.

"You think my bangs suit me?" she finally says, still not turning around.

"Yeah. Definitely. I mean, you look great. Not that you wouldn't look great without them! But, like, you pull them off really well and I just think they... frame your face. Perfectly. I don't know how to explain it."

She whips around, flustered and red all the way to her ears now. "You really mean that?"

"One hundred percent."

Finally, a giant smile breaks through. "Thank you so much!" She hugs him for some reason. "No one's told me that before— except for Mom, but that's my mom, you know?"

"It's the truth," Kaede responds, grinning to himself. "And sorry about the things I told your dad, if you heard about that too—"

"Sorry?" Hana repeats, scoffing. "Don't be sorry. I think we should team up and yell at him together. He's being so... frustrating!"

"You're on my side?"

"Yeah, sort of! Dad is either working or reading his stupid journals. And you know how my parents always bicker? Well, Sakiko listens to that, and she doesn't understand the difference between playful teasing and genuinely mean comments, and now she keeps insulting Mom, and Dad barely does anything about it! Also, he's always grumpy."

"That's... just the way he is," Kaede says slowly. "I mean, not the part where he doesn't confront Sakiko, but no amount of yelling will make your dad a sunshine. I don't think he ever stops being a doctor, you know?"

"But still! I feel like he gets away with everything."

"You can talk to your mom and then she will talk with your dad," Kaede suggests. "Before you get into a real argument with him."

Hana exhales loudly and flops backward onto her bed. "Yeah... maybe. But I kind of want to argue with him. Just once. Like, a big one. The kind where I storm out and dramatically say, 'You never listen to me!'"

"Wow. That's specific."

"I've rehearsed it," Hana admits with a grin, turning her head toward him. "In the mirror. Twice."

"I can't imagine yelling at your dad without, like, dying from fear. I thought he was going to stab me when he found me in the woods."

"Well, yeah," she says, wrinkling her nose. "That's part of the problem. No one ever tells him off. He just says things and everyone nods like he's made of facts."

Kaede walks over and sits carefully at the edge of her bed, making sure to leave some space. "If you do storm out, I'll be waiting dramatically on the porch to applaud you."

"I'll hold you to that," she says. Then her face turns thoughtful. "Hey?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad you're okay. I mean that. Also, just so you know... even though I don't like you like that, I still think you're cute and very sweet. Like, objectively."

Kaede's eyebrows shoot up. "What?"

"Yeah!" Hana chuckles. "You're kinda perfect."

So why don't you like me back?

But he doesn't say that. Instead:

"So why don't you like me?"

Wow.

Hana stares at him. "Was that... was that a joke or a genuine question?"

"A joke."

"Ah." She nods. "Well, either way, I guess it just doesn't... click like that."

Downstairs, someone yells, "KAORU JUST TRIED TO STAND UP AND FELL OVER—"

And Hana groans. "We should probably go check that."

Kaede nods, standing up, even though every part inside of him is crumbling. "Race you."

"Loser has to sit next to Renji," Hana says, already halfway to the door.

"Oh, hell no," Kaede shouts, chasing after her.

●・○・●・○・●

Everything is pretty peaceful the following months. Kaede goes to a therapist every week, just to talk about things he has been building up, and Kaoru's arm begins to heal. He can move his arm and hand, but isn't able to feel anything while pressing on the scar itself. Hana continues making more and more friends, getting absorbed into a busier world, and even starts joining parties.

Hana sits Sakiko down one day and gives her a lecture about how it's not okay to be that rude to her own mother, and Hana gives Chishiya subtle hints about it as well.

At school, Hana does not sit next to Kaede. Neither does she sit with him during lunchbreak—she sits with her friends and he sits with his: Kaoru's friends have adopted him—. It's fine, he tells himself, because they do talk a lot when their families hang out.

Other than that, Hana is busy with Seika. All the time. Sometimes, Baya comes with her so she can catch up with Okabe and Satoshi, but not often, because things never went to the way they were, and it's honestly awkward between Baya and Satoshi. 

Right now, it's late in the afternoon, and Hana and Seika are in Seika's bedroom, sprawled across her floor. Hana is flipping through a magazine. Seika is lying on her stomach, chin resting on her hand, legs swaying behind her in the air.

"Do you think I'd look good with this hair?" Hana asks, holding up a picture of a model with a bob and blonde highlights.

Seika looks at the photo for a second. Then at Hana. She lifts her chin a little. "No."

"Wow. Brutal."

"You'd look better."

"Liar."

"Not lying. She looks like she tries too hard. You don't have to."

Hana closes the magazine. Tosses it aside. "You're so annoying."

"I'm just right."

Seika rolls over, reaches for her bag, and pulls out a tube of lipgloss. She holds it by the cap.

"Try this."

"On me?"

"No, on the lamp."

Hana glares.

Seika laughs, then sits up and moves closer. "Come here."

Hana hesitates, then leans in, heart picking up just a little. It's not the first time Seika's done her makeup. It's not even the first time Seika's leaned in close like this. Her fingers tilt Hana's chin just slightly. Her other hand opens the gloss.

"Don't move."

Hana doesn't.

The applicator brushes her bottom lip. Seika's eyes are focused. Her thumb gently drags across Hana's jaw, steadying her. Hana's lips part slightly without meaning to.

"There," Seika says. "Shiny."

"Pretty?"

"Mm," she murmurs, "You know you are."

There's a beat where everything feels slow and electric.

Then Seika sits back, casual again. "You should wear it more."

Hana exhales and picks the magazine up again. She reaches a page on which a girl is pictured, posing on a beach, promoting fashion and traveling to Australia.

"That's where I wanna go," Seika says suddenly.

Hana looks up. "Huh?"

"Australia. When I'm done with high school, I want to study there."

"Study what?"

"Interaction Design," she says simply. "The University of Sydney."

"That's so cool." Hana sits up straighter.

"I know you like Education and Social Work," Seika continues slowly. "They also offer that course. So... if you're scared to go to an university alone, know I'll be in Australia."

She scoffs. "Are you asking me to come with you?"

"Yup." Seika grins. "I am. Four years in Australia. We can come back every vacation. That's, like, my biggest dream."

"I don't even know what I want to be when I grow up," Hana replies.

"You can figure it out. Two more years left at high school, Hana."

●・○・●・○・●

A few months later, Hana is in desperate need of a certain conversation.

But her mother would panic and squeal. Her friends would start asking weird questions. Her classmates would make it a thing.

So she goes to her father. He is emotionally available enough to be having this conversation, but still rather logical— exactly what she needs, though she's also frightened.

Late at night, she can see the light escape from below the doorframe of his office, and she knocks.

He opens the door. "You're knocking. That's new."

"Can I talk to you?" she says, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

Chishiya stares at her for a long beat, and says, "Come in," which means he can see it's serious, because Chishiya doesn't like inviting people into his office.

She steps inside. Her arms cross. Uncross. Cross again. She tugs her sleeves down past her wrists. Eventually, Hana sighs. "Okay, um. This is... kind of weird. And I'm not sure how to say it without it sounding like I want advice from a romance movie. Which I don't."

Chishiya raises an eyebrow. "Are you pregnant?"

"What—? No! Oh my God, no."

He nods, like that's one scenario off the checklist. "Good. Continue."

She groans. "Okay, okay. So, I like someone. I think. And I don't know what to do. Because... it's not like before. It feels... big. Big and weird. Not bad weird. Just... different."

Chishiya's face doesn't change (his eye twitches at the thought of Kiyoshi/Kaede 2.0). "Do you want to tell me who?"

"I don't know if that's the point."

He waits.

Then, finally, she says it. "It's a girl."

She holds her breath.

No response.

She blurts out, "It's Seika. She's smart and funny and kind of mean in a funny way, and she always says what she thinks and she listens when I talk and I like the way her voice sounds when she says my name. And we hang out a lot and lately I feel weird around her, and I think I might, like, really, really like her."

Still, no real expression from Chishiya. Just a blink. "Okay."

Hana squints her eyes. "Okay? That's it?"

"What else would you like me to say?"

"I don't know!" she explodes. "That it's okay? That I'm not a freak? That I'm not making this up or being weird or broken or confusing friendship with—"

"You're not broken."

She stops.

Chishiya's voice is calm. "You're not a freak. You're not confused. You're a teenage girl having real emotions about another person."

Hana blinks, throat tight.

"Besides," Chishiya adds, picking up his coffee, "statistically speaking, emotional intimacy often grows into romantic attachment when paired with frequent proximity. It makes perfect sense. Especially for someone like you."

"Someone like me?" she repeats, wary.

"You like deeply. That's your flaw and your strength."

She frowns. "Isn't it weird, though? I've never liked a girl before and I never thought of liking girls and I still think boys are handsome but I also don't know if I'm bi." Then she whispers, "You're not... disappointed?"

Chishiya looks at her fully now. "No. I would be disappointed if you felt you had to lie to yourself just to make me more comfortable. So no, I'm not disappointed. I'm glad you told me."

"You're so weirdly good at this. I thought you were gonna be all cold and robot-like. You are soft sometimes."

"I'm efficient," he corrects. "There's a difference."

He lets her stay in the office for the next hour, curled up in the chair, while he works in silence beside her. And he doesn't bring it up again. Not that day, or the next.

●・○・●・○・●

"Stop assaulting the bag."

Kaede grunts through his teeth, pulls off his gloves, and tosses them aside. "What do you want?"

"I was gonna say lunch, but now I'm invested. What happened?" Shirabi asks.

Kaede sits down on the bench and wipes sweat from his neck. "She's dating someone."

Shirabi raises an eyebrow. "She being...?"

"Hana."

There is a long beat. Shirabi blinks slowly. "Ohh. Shit."

Another beat.

Kaede mutters, "She's dating a girl."

"Woah— okay, plot twist. Didn't see that coming."

"Exactly! I mean, I could've handled her dating some dude. That's beatable. But this?" Kaede motions vaguely in the air. "How do you compete with a girl? What am I supposed to do? Grow boobs?"

Shirabi actually snorts.

"It's not funny! The whole world is against me! Why can't I have this? It's been so many years and I don't care that she's dating a girl— well, I do, but like, you know—but I do care that it likely means she no longer likes boys and even if she does, she will not like me, ever, because I've been here for sixteen years and she's never looked at me that way—"

"Breathe, dude. It's not the end of the world. There are other fishes in the sea."

"You're not listening. There might be other fish, but I wanted that fish."

"Okay, gross phrasing," Shirabi mutters. "But noted. You love the koi."

"She's not a koi, she's like... a very rare jellyfish. Shiny and smart and kind of dangerous and only glows when no one's looking."

"Are you sure you're not in love with a Pokémon?"

"You're not helping."

"No, I am. I'm grounding you with comedy because otherwise you'll spiral and end up texting her something like 'Oh Hana, star of my youth, why doth thine heart beat for another maiden—'"

Kaede shoves him. "I would never text her that. I'm not that desperate."

Shirabi looks at him skeptically. "You just asked me if you should grow boobs."

"I was making a point."

"Your point was concerning. Oh fair Hana, thou hast pierced young Kaede's heart with Cupid's lesbian arrow. And he is wounded. In the soul... and probably the groin."

Kaede throws his head back and moans. "I hate you."

"But do you hate me... or do you hate yourself?" Shirabi's voice deepens with intensity. "Dost thou ever dreamt of touching yon maiden's hand beneath the cherry blossoms?"

"Stop talking like that."

"Wouldst thou prefer I serenade her?" Shirabi stands suddenly, puffing out his chest. "'Oh Hana, thou radiant sapphic star, why must thy affections drifteth afar? For yon Kaede waiteth, loyal and true, with soft boyish hair and eyes of dew—'"

Kaede smacks him with a towel.

"HEY!" Shirabi yelps. "That is no way to treat a bard!"

"You're not a bard, you're a walking personality disorder."

"Thank you. It's part of my charm."

"I am going to kill you."

Shirabi bows. "You'll have to find me first, good sir. For I shall vanish, like thy chances with Hana."

Kaede throws a water bottle at his head.

Shirabi ducks. "Ha! That's the best joke I've ever made in my entire life!"

Kaede mumbles from behind his hands, "Maybe if I had a car, I could've taken her on cute dates and—"

"—driven us all off a cliff," Shirabi interrupts. "Please. You can't even park your bike straight."

Kaede rolls his eyes, dropping his hands. "You're not exactly the model of maturity either."

"Never claimed to be. I'm the side character with an unreasonably good jawline."

"I hate you."

"Don't be mad because I'm hot and helpful."

"You're hot adjacent."

Shirabi frowns. "What does that even mean?"

"Like... you're good-looking if someone squints and also has a concussion."

"Okay, damn?"

Kaede snorts. "Good."

There's a moment of silence. Shirabi leans forward and nudges Kaede's elbow again. "You know what your real problem is?"

"Oh please, enlighten me, oh wise one."

"You waited too long. The slow burn thing? Cute in books. Painful in real life. Should've just went for it."

Kaede looks at him. "You ever had a crush that didn't work out?"

Shirabi pauses, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Yeah."

"Really?"

"Dude. I'm hot-adjacent, remember?"

Kaede chuckles. "What happened?"

Shirabi shrugs. "I told her. She laughed."

"Oh."

"Then she kissed me."

"Oh?"

"Then ghosted me for two months and showed up with a new boyfriend."

"Oh."

"But," Shirabi adds, holding up a finger, "I didn't spiral. I hit the gym. I cried once, only once, to a sad drama. Then I moved on."

Kaede stares at him. "You're lying."

"Yeah. I cried three times. Once in the gym sauna. It was a very moist breakdown."

Kaoru gapes at her. "You are seriously delusional if you think he's going to hand over almost thirty million yen just because you flash him those puppy eyes."

Hana smirks. "Watch."

Before Kaoru can stop her, she's already halfway down the hall, her phone clutched tightly—no doubt ready to text Seika the second she gets confirmation. She pads down the quiet corridor, still riding the high of the idea. It's late, and the house has that still, humming silence of a place between sleep and insomnia.

She finds Chishiya in his usual post-evening spot: at the kitchen table, one hand cradling a lukewarm mug of tea, the other supporting his chin, lost in whatever research paper or article he's reading on his tablet. His eyes flick up the moment he hears her footsteps.

"Hana," he says. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I will be," she says quickly, stepping in with exaggerated lightness, the way Sakiko sometimes does when she's asking for candy. "I just... wanted to talk to you for a second."

Chishiya tilts his head. "What kind of 'talk'?"

She slips into the chair across from him and folds her hands neatly on the table. Her voice softens, sweet, her posture gentle. "You know how Kaoru's doing his degree at Todai?"

Chishiya nods slowly, cautious. "Yes."

"And how you're helping him with tuition? All of it, actually. Which is super generous and amazing of you."

He squints slightly. "Where is this going?"

"I was thinking," Hana says, drawing it out like it's the most casual idea in the world, "that I might want to study abroad. Just for a few years. You know, expand my worldview, experience new cultures. Australia, maybe." She adds with a hopeful little smile, "Seika's going too."

There's a pause.

"Uh-huh," Chishiya says neutrally.

"And I looked it up, and it's a little more expensive than Tokyo—"

"How much?" he asks immediately.

She hesitates only for a beat. "Like... twenty-seven point eight million yen. But! That includes everything! Tuition, housing, insurance, flights, food, textbooks—"

"That's more than my first apartment building," he says flatly, eyebrows arching.

"But you love me more than your first apartment building," Hana says sweetly.

Chishiya exhales. "That's debatable."

"Daddy."

He lifts one brow.

She leans forward, wide-eyed, soft voice. "Please. It would mean the world to me. And Kaoru's studying something serious, and I promise I'll study something serious too—"

"What exactly are you planning to study in Australia?"

"...Communications."

His silence stretches.

"With a minor in international relations!" she adds quickly.

Another long pause. Then: "Are you trying to become a diplomat or a YouTuber?"

"Neither! I'm just... trying to figure out who I am," she says with all the earnestness she can muster.

Chishiya folds his arms slowly. "That's a very expensive identity crisis."

Hana pouts. "So is Kaoru's lab stuff! And you didn't question him once!"

"I did. He just didn't try to manipulate me like a toddler begging for a pony."

"Okay, ouch," Hana mutters.

Chishiya leans back in his chair, tapping his fingers once against the side of his mug. "So you're saying if I pay for this, you'll go, study hard, and not treat it like a four-year vacation disguised as self-actualization?"

"Yes. I'll even send you my grades every semester. And I'll call every week. And I'll come home for every holiday. And I'll—"

"Fine."

Hana blinks. "Wait, what?"

"I said fine," Chishiya repeats. "But I want a full breakdown of the school's cost, all program details, and a signed agreement that if your GPA drops below 3.0, you're paying me back every yen."

Her mouth falls open. "Seriously?"

He smirks. "Seriously."

She practically jumps out of her seat, runs around the table, and throws her arms around his shoulders. "You're the best father ever in the history of fathers!"

"I'll hold that title until you get the first C," he replies dryly.

But his hand comes up and rests gently against her back, and for a second, he lets the hug linger.

At the hallway's edge, Kaoru leans against the wall, arms folded, muttering under his breath.

"Unbelievable."

Hana stays wrapped around Chishiya for longer than necessary, her cheek resting against his shoulder like she's trying to etch the moment into her bones. He doesn't push her away—not yet, anyway. His hand remains on her back, warm and steady, even if his other one goes back to the tea.

"You're seriously okay with this?" she asks in a quiet, muffled voice.

"No," Chishiya says. "But I'm used to being uncomfortable."

Hana smiles against his shirt. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

He exhales softly, a sigh disguised as resignation. "You've got exactly one week to convince me this isn't just about following your friend to a warm country with better beaches."

Hana pulls back just far enough to beam at him. "That's totally not the reason. But I will say, if I see a koala, I will absolutely cry."

"I assumed as much."

She doesn't return to her seat. Instead, she plants herself sideways in his lap, legs draped over the edge of the chair like she used to when she was ten. He doesn't object, though his brows rise with faint disbelief.

"You are not six anymore."

"But you said yes to my dreams," she replies sweetly, folding her arms around his neck and grinning. "That gives me lap privileges."

"I didn't say yes. I said fine."

"Which is the same thing from you."

He clicks his tongue. "You're too clever for your own good."

"Wonder where I get it from," she replies with a wink.

Chishiya lets out a low sound—half sigh, half reluctant laugh—and mutters something under his breath about this being the beginning of his financial ruin. But his arm shifts under her knees so she doesn't slide off.

Kaoru finally walks past the hallway, casting them a long, judging look as he mutters, "I would have gotten disowned for pulling half of that."

"You're not cute enough," Hana says, not even looking at him.

Kaoru snorts and disappears into the living room.

Chishiya looks down at Hana, one brow still slightly arched. "Do you plan to sit here all night?"

"Yes."

"You're going to get pins and needles."

"Worth it."

They sit like that for a while—Chishiya slowly finishing his tea, Hana talking quietly about the university programs she'd glanced at, the courses she wanted to try, how she'd love to intern with kids in vulnerable communities, how she thought maybe—just maybe—she'd even come back one day and help here too. He listens quietly, his hand occasionally smoothing the edge of her sleeve or brushing a stray lock of hair from her face like it's muscle memory. It is.

At one point, Hana yawns—dramatically, loudly, like the sleepy child she used to be—and nestles in closer.

"I might fall asleep," she mumbles.

"Don't," Chishiya says. "You'll break my hip."

She snorts but doesn't move.

Eventually, Baya passes by the kitchen on her way from the laundry room and stops short at the sight of her eldest daughter curled in her husband's lap like an oversized house cat. She tilts her head, one eyebrow raised.

"...Is this normal?"

"No," Chishiya says.

"Yes," Hana says at the same time.

Baya smiles softly and carries on without further comment, though the fond look on her face lingers as she disappears upstairs.

When the clock creeps past midnight and Hana's breaths grow slower and heavier, Chishiya glances down again.

"You're actually asleep, aren't you?"

A pause. Then, softly, "...No."

"Liar."

Hana grins lazily. "Just five more minutes."

Chishiya sighs, setting his empty mug aside. "You realize I'm the only parent here who's ever told you 'no' and meant it."

"You also said yes tonight," Hana murmurs, voice barely audible now.

He's quiet for a long moment.

"Don't make me regret it."

"I won't."