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CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE,
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༇ "NO," twelve-year-old Souta wails. "No, no, no. This is a disaster."

Miyu, who is almost fourteen by now, rolls her eyes. "Shut up. It's not a disaster."

"It is. How shall our last name develop? This... this is the end of the Arisu family tree," he gulps.

"And so what? Be happy Hana even survived giving birth to a girl." Usagi chuckles, setting a glass of water down in front of Souta. "Be happy for Kaede, too."

Souta waves it off. "Kaede should do better. Let them try again. I'm telling you, if Suzume and Kaoru get kids, it's also going to be just girls."

Miyu raises her eyebrow. "Misogynistic?"

"No. Don't lie, you also wouldn't want a family full of boys. Just girls is the same issue. We need some... some mixture."

"You don't even know the baby's name," Miyu adds. "Imagine you visit the hospital to find out she's named after you. Are you gonna keep complaining then?"

"Wait, what?" Souta perks up, as if only now realizing that's a possibility. "Oh, lord, we have to visit right now. Is Hana okay with that?"

"Ha!" Arisu jumps in. "I'm gonna see my grandchild before Miki does. You know, he and I have always had this silent battle of whose kid does what first. When Kaede was the first to get a medal because of sports, Chishiya was so horribly jealous. When Kaoru got second place at school, I scowled Kaede. We're battling. And now I'm seeing the grandchild first."

Usagi places a hand on his shoulder, mocking. "I hate to break it to you, but Baya was there when Hana was having contractions, and when she left to get some stuff, the baby was born by the time she came back."

"But it's still not Chishiya who has seen the baby," Arisu argues.

"How could he possibly see the baby if he's in jail?" Souta pulls a face.

"I don't know. That dude has connections."

Souta slams the glass down. "Shoes," he says. "Where are my— ah, here. Dad, come on. We're going."

Arisu joins in by tugging his jacket half on and half inside out. "Yuzuha, let's go."

The drive is chaotic. Arisu honks at two cars that are not even in his way, mutters about Chishiya racing him, and almost takes the wrong turn until Usagi scolds him and points at the sign clearly marked 'Hospital'. Miyu sinks lower in the back seat, earbuds in, pretending she is unrelated.

The nurse at the desk recognizes them. "Arisu family?"

"Yes!" Arisu leans on the counter dramatically. "We're here to see Hana. She has just given me a grandchild, you see, and this is urgent—"

The nurse hides a smile. "Room 204. Only two visitors at a time."

Arisu stops. "Two? But we're four."

"Dad," Miyu says flatly, "go in first. We'll swap."

He nods and grabs Usagi's hand, dragging her toward the elevators. Once inside room 204, the blinds are half-open. Hana looks pale and tired, but glowing at the same time. Kaede sits beside her, looking mesmerized by the small bundle Hana cradles.

"Arisu! Usagi!" Hana's face lights up.

Arisu forgets every speech he had prepared. His knees nearly give out. "Oh... oh, oh."

Usagi bends towards Hana, brushing her hair from her face. "How're you feeling? Did everything go well?"

She nods. "It did. Kaede and my mom helped a lot."

"Where is she now?"

"Picking Yosho up from Aguni's. They'll be back any moment now."

Nodding, Usagi turns her gaze to the baby.

Kaede beams. "Meet Sachi Chishiya."

Arisu looks like another meteorite just hit him. "Chishiya?" He repeats, whispering.

"Yosho is also named Chishiya," Kaede points out. "Haven't you done any research at all, Dad? Hana and I aren't married yet, so the kids take her last name. Also, I'm taking her name, too, once we do marry."

"Souta is going to murder you," Arisu realizes. "Souta is our only hope, unless... you get a new child, Kaede and Hana."

Hana laughs so loudly it shocks them. "Never again," she yelps. "Two is more than enough."

"Sachi. Sachi Chishiya," Arisu murmurs before he rounds on Kaede. "Never mind. This is destiny. She's already perfect. You better take care of her better than you've ever taken care of anything, Kaede."

"I plan to."

"Let me hold her," Usagi insists suddenly, thrusting her arms out.

Carefully, Hana shifts the baby into Usagi's arms.

Her smile immediately widens. "She looks like Hana when she was a baby. But she has Kaede's mouth."

"Take that, Chishiya. I win this round," Arisu whispers to himself. "And I have two more to go."

"So does Chishiya."

"No. Kaoru and Sakiko won't get any kids."

"Why?"

"Because I said so," he decides. He stops pacing, and leans down, squinting at the baby. Then, suddenly, he grips Kaede's shoulder. "This is your greatest mission. Forget martial arts tournaments. Forget medals. This—" he points at Sachi, "—this is what defines you. If you ever let anything happen to her, I will haunt you from beyond the grave."

"...You're not even dead."

"Not yet, but you never know! The point is... you guard her with your life!"

Hana bursts into laughter again. "You're being dramatic."

"And that also includes Yosho," Arisu adds.

The door creaks open and Souta barges in, dragging Miyu with him. "Did I miss it? Where is she?!"

"Quiet!" Usagi hisses.

His eyes dart around until they land on the bundle in Usagi's arms. "Oh my God. Oh my God. She's... she's a girl."

"You just figured that out?" Miyu asks, plopping into a chair, peeking at the baby before she pulls out her phone.

Souta ignores her. "This is it. I told you. Disaster. The Arisu line is finished."

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Usagi mutters.

But Arisu clasps his son's shoulder. "Don't panic, my boy. You're still young. You're the last hope of our noble bloodline."

Souta nods, almost sweating from the responsibility. "Yes. I will bear the weight. I'll... I'll have five sons if I must."

"Don't worry, Souta. I'm sure you'll do fine one day," Hana interrupts. "But for now, want to meet your niece?"

His bravado drains, replaced by nervousness as Usagi passes Sachi into his arms. He cradles her stiffly. "Hm." Not long after, he pushes Sachi back into Usagi's arms. "I don't like it."

Hana manages yet another laugh. "That's okay."

When the visiting hours are over, Hana still insists on going to the prison. The nurse frowns when Kaede wheels her down the corridor with the bundled baby in her arms, but Hana is determined. "I'm not waiting a day," she says. "He deserves to meet her today."

The prison is familiar by now. Hana holds her daughter while Kaede handles the paperwork at the front desk.

Finally, they are led to a room. As always, Chishiya is already seated.

His eyes soften the second he sees the baby in her arms. Slowly, he approaches.

Hana smiles through her exhaustion. "Hi, Papa," she whispers. "This is Sachi."

"How bad was it?" He asks firstly, eyes off the baby now.

"Not too bad. Mom and Kaede gave a lot of support," Hana explains quickly, too emotional to talk about her state instead of Sachi. 

Chishiya's gaze flicks returns to Sachi. "May I?"

Carefully, she rises the slightest bit from the wheelchair and shifts the baby into his
arms.

Chishiya exhales, as if he's been holding his breath far too long. His thumb brushes the blanket. The tiniest smile is displayed on his lips, nothing like the usual foxy smirk.

Hana's presses a tissue to her eyes before the tears can spill.

When the guard clears his throat, Chishiya returns Sachi to her arms, lingering just a moment longer to brush a finger along the baby's fist.

"Goodbye for now, Sachi," he murmurs.

Hana looks at the guard, helpless. "We can't visit any longer?"

He shakes his head. "Not with a newborn baby. It's—"

"Never mind, then," she cuts him off before he can explain. Kaede takes Sachi from her arms so Hana can hug Chishiya, who hugs back tighter than usually.  

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Suzume steps into the hospital room, holding Kaoru's shaking hand. A tote bag is slung across her shoulder, her bangs look freshly cut, and her outfit is the best one Hana has ever seen— and Suzume always has good outfits.

"Oh my gosh," she peeps. "Where'd you get those clothes?"

Suzume looks down at them, smiling softly. "I, uh, brought some of Nozomi's sketches to a seamstress."

Hana's breath catches. "Wow," she whispers, at a loss for words. Tears instantly prick in her eyes. "That's... beautiful."

She smiles shyly. "Thank you, Hana." And then steps closer, peeking at Sachi. "Did everything go well?"

Kaede nods. "Everything's okay." 

"We brought you some things. Snacks, clothes, and earplugs if you need them." She sets the toe bag down on a chair.

"Thank you." Hana's smile widens. "Do you want to see her?"

Kaoru stares at the baby, seemingly dissociated but completely invested at the same time.

"Do you want to hold her, Kaoru?"

He stiffens, shaking his head. "No." His breathing picks up until Suzume rubs her thumb along his knuckles.

"That's okay," Kaede cuts in. "You don't have to."

Suzume does end up holding the baby, rocking her with the biggest smile on her face.

There's a silence until Hana clears her throat. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you two ever... think about kids? I'm don't have any expectations, it's just out of pure curiosity," she says softly.

"I'd still love to," Suzume admits. "Someday. But..." She looks at Kaoru.

His jaw works silently, his eyes fixed on the floor. "I don't want them. I'd fail. They'd hate me."

Suzume squeezes his hand. "They wouldn't hate you."

"They would," Kaoru insists, eyes containing an almost panicked edge. "I'd need silence and space and... they'd cry. They'd touch things. They'd touch me. I can't—"

"Kaoru," Suzume interrupts. Her free hand comes to rest against his arm. "It's okay. We don't have to if you don't want to."

"...You still want them, though."

"I want you more," she answers.

When Kaoru doesn't answer, Hana does: "That's okay, too. You don't have to want the same things as everyone else." A pause. "Anyway, what have you been up two?"

"We just work most of the time and spend our evenings and weekends together," Suzume explains. "I like this way of living, with or without kids. Kaoru's helping Sakiko with school. She wants to study medicine, too."

"Oh, yes. I heard about that." Hana nods. "Miyu hasn't given up on her dreams of being a police officer, either. I'm not sure about Souta."

"He wants to be an astronaut," Kaoru speaks again.

"That does fit him." Kaede smiles. "Everything okay being a toxicologist?"

Kaoru nods hastily. "And being a martial arts teacher?"

"I love it." Kaede's cheeks catch a slight blush.

The four of them continue talking. Hana asks about Nozomi's sketches and how the seamstress managed to bring them to life so perfectly. Suzume talks about visiting the fabric shop with Sakiko, how the younger girl's sharp eye for detail impressed the seamstress so much she offered her an apprenticeship when she's older.

Kaoru eventually adds in, about how Sakiko studies anatomy late into the night, about how Miyu trains in the backyard, and about how Souta left brochures for NASA programs on the kitchen table last week. Each time he speaks, Suzume smiles widely— he's been struggling mentally a lot since they got out of the Borderlands.

At some point, Hana yawns, though she tries to cover it. Suzume notices immediately. "You're exhausted. We should let you rest."

"No," Hana insists. "I like having you here"

"It's okay to rest," Suzume says. "We'll come back. Right, Kaoru?"

"Yeah. We'll come back."

She watches as Suzume passes Sachi into Kaede's arms. Kaoru doesn't reach for the baby, but he doesn't look away either, not even when Sachi squirms and lets out a cry.

"Thank you for coming," Hana says. "Both of you."

Kaoru ducks his head, murmuring something that might be 'you're welcome' but comes out garbled. Suzume nods. "We wouldn't miss this for anything."

When they leave the room, Hana rests her cheek against Sachi's head, sighing. Kaede slips a hand onto her shoulder.

"They're so good for each other," Hana whispers.

"They really are."

"Everyone around us is. It feels so perfect," she goes on. "I used to hate how clingy my parents are, but now I'm only grateful."

Kaede snorts at that. "Best believe I'm staying far away from their bedroom the day Shush comes out of prison."