Crow of Judgement 🇮🇪🇩🇪

Rei waved away Ko's hand. "Restrain yourself, child. I know you're excited, but I must decline your offer."

Ko had taken one of his petite paintbrushes and lavished his face with three generous strokes: orange, green, and blue. "C'mon Ma," said Ko, dipping the tip into the orange paint container, "It's my birthday! You gotta embrace the festive spirit at least a little bit." He held the brush up to her face, standing on his tippy-toes in order to better reach her height. She took a step back, swiping the paintbrush from his hand.

"Aw, come on!" he cried.

"Once again, I decline. You know very well that I don't waste my time on frivolous activities."

Ko huffed, eyes dropping to the floor. "Wonder how you like Teruya, then..." he muttered.

Rei pretended not to hear him. "Anyways, I need you to behave yourself. Teruya should be here very soon," she said, glancing at clock on the wall. It read 5:58 PM. Realizing she still held the paintbrush, she walked out of Ko's bedroom, heading downstairs.

"Wha- hey! I wasn't done with it!" Ko followed behind, hand outreached and grasping. Rei ignored him, walking into the kitchen.

As she rinsed the paintbrush, freeing it of its colorful paste, three rapid knocks at the door snapped both mother and son to attention. Setting aside the paintbrush on a towel, Rei approached and unlocked the door, twisting the knob to reveal none other than Teruya Otori. He held a hefty knitted bag in his right arm, and his green eyes sparkled with a heightened serenity- and that was saying something.

"Speak of the Devil," said Rei, a faint smile on her lips.

Teruya's grin widened. "Good evening, Rei-Rei~!"

He gave her a quick hug with his left arm. She stepped aside to let him in, and he accepted with an extra skip in his step. He set his bag atop the couch, quickly turning to address his godson.

"Happy Happy Cake Day, Birthday Boy~!" Teruya leaned down and entrenched Ko in his arms, picking him up several inches off the floor and spinning him around. Ko clung onto him, giggling uncontrollably. After making himself sufficiently dizzy, he lightly put Ko down and stumbled his way to the couch. He put a hand to his forehead.

"Phew! Ten years to the day already, huh? I remember it like it was yesterday," Teruya said, reminiscing. Smiling, he beckoned Ko to sit on his lap, which the boy eagerly accepted. Standing from afar, Rei closed her eyes. "Yes... I vividly recall everything... including how you burst into tears the moment you saw him."

"Can ya blame me? I was looking at the most adorable alien-looking baby of all time!" Teruya chimed, smile widening as he remembered how small, wrinkly and blue Ko looked as a newborn. Rei nodded. "He certainly had big eyes."

Ko crossing his arms. He bit the inside of his cheek, refraining from making any comments. His expression quickly shifted into excitement as he asked: "Can I go change into my rainbow shirt?"

Rei shrugged. "While I typically forbid such bright clothing, I suppose an exception can be made for today."

"Oh goodie! I'll go help ya pick out the best birthday fit!" said Teruya, grabbing Ko by the hips and shifting him off his lap.

"Yes, go prepare yourself. Your father will be here soon enough."

Ko's expression fell. "Uh, Ma? Are you sure he's going to come? Even if it's my birthday, it's still a work day," he clasped his hands behind his back. "He'll likely be too busy to attend."

To Kojiro's surprise, Rei emitted a soft chuckle. "Oh, don't worry child. I will make sure he'll be here." she said lowly, an odd smirk on her face. She raised a finger to stroke a lock of hair behind his ear. Kojiro's eyebrows knit. "But what if he says-"

"He will attend. Mark my words." She placed her hand on his shoulder, squeezing for emphasis.

Kojiro silently swallowed. "Uh... okay."

Ko didn't want to know what that was all about. Nor did he want to, in all honesty. "C'mon buddy, let's get ready," said Teruya, sticking out his hand. Taking his offer, they went to Ko's bedroom.

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"N'aaawww, Kiko, lookit this one!"

Sat on the couch, starry-eyed Teruya eagerly shoved his phone into Ko's face, the screen blaring a photo marked February 21st, 2014. Between squinted eyelids, Ko could make out the image of a baby with bulbous orange eyes and a blue binky in its mouth, its wall-eyed stare directed at the camera. Lying in a crib, it was surrounded by blankets, but wore a tye-dyed onesie- the entirety of its faux fur covered in various sploches of red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. It also had two little semicircle attachments- ears- on either side of its hood. Kojiro's frown was cartoonishly comical as he glanced at Teruya.

"Seriously? Even when I was a baby?" He deadpanned.

Teruya reclined his phone, protesting. "C'mon, don't give me that look! You were adorable in that outfit!"

He leaned back, eyes flicking upwards. "Well, you were adorable in every outfit I made for you, but that one was my favorite. Gosh, you were such a gorgeous baby, Kiko!" He cooed.

Teruya kept smiling even as Ko lightly smacked his palm on Teruya's face, cheeks flushing. "You're annoying," he grumbled. Teruya chuckled, lightly ruffling the boy's hair. Ko rolled his eyes, slowly leaning his head against the elder's shoulder.

From a distance, Rei leaned against the wall, observing the display with a rare sense of peace. She tilted her head upward, letting her eyes slide shut to appreciate the silence.

Well, until the doorbell rung, startling all three. Adjusting her coat, Rei turned and approached the door, mechanically unlocking it. The door swung outward, a crisp humid breeze flowing in. She was met with a pair of narrowed crimson eyes.

"Rei... Good evening," greeted Tsurugi.

"Likewise," said Rei. She glanced him over. She noted that he was carrying a black duffel bad in his right hand. "I appreciate that you're ten minutes ahead of time."

Before he could respond, Tsurugi found a short rainbow blur barrel towards him, glomping his right leg. "Daddy!" Kojiro squealed, squeezing tighter. Tsurugi flinched instinctively, but once he registered the identity of the assailant, his rigid posture loosened. He placidly placed his hand on Ko's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Good evening, Ko. Why do you have paint on your face...?" Tsurugi asked with a tinge of amusement. Ko looked up, cheek squished against Tsurugi's leg as he blinked rapidly. "Can I paint your face too?"

Tsurugi chuckled. "No."

"Glad we can agree on something," said Rei, seemingly also amused. "Anyways, it's almost seven o'clock, so come inside please," she said, nudging Ko back inside. Tsurugi followed suit.

Teruya greeted Tsurugi, arms wide. "Tsurugi! Ya actually showed up!" He patted Tsurugi on the back. The former officer huffed, crossing his arms and averting his gaze. "Obviously. What kind of father would I be to miss my son's tenth birthday?"

"You'd be a monumentally shitty father," chimed Rei, walking into the kitchen.

Teruya gasped. "REI! Language!" He clasped his hands over Ko's ears, the boy giving him a deadpan look. "You act as if I don't know what vulgarities are," he said, removing Teruya's hands. Tsurugi placed a hand on his hip. "He have a point, though. You shouldn't curse in front of children- they might develop a habit for it." Tsurugi threw a sideways glance at the kitchen. Teruya cleared his throat.

"Anyways, I'mma assume you've got some goods in that bag, yeah?" He elbowed Tsurugi in his side, and the latter raised an eyebrow. Once it clicked, his eyes widened. He nodded.

"Oh. Yes. Where should I put them?"

Teruya smiled, taking the duffel bag from Tsurugi. "Just hand 'em over to me, I'll set them all nice n' pretty on the table!" He winked at Tsurugi, then looked down at Ko. "Just keep this lil' fella occupied for the time being, m'kay?" Ko was royally confused by his father's' exchange, evident by his small frown. Teruya patted Ko on the back. "Just sit tight with Daddy for awhile- I've got some stuff to do."

Ko surmised that "stuff" meant something exciting, so he smiled. "Alright!"

He grabbed Tsurugi's hand, intertwining his fingers with those of his father. Tsurugi stiffened, but didn't pull away. As Teruya walked off, Ko led Tsurugi to the couch, releasing his grasp and plopping lightly on the middle cushion. Tsurugi sat to the left, resting against the sofa arm.

Kojiro hoisted himself upright, using Tsurugi's leg as leverage.

"What happened after Mama and me left work?" asked Ko.

Tsurugi shrugged. "Nothing significant. Had there been, I would've ordered your mother to return to work at once."

Ko frowned. "Oh... okay then. I guess that makes sense..."

Tsurugi leaned in, quieter than before: "In the event you exit work early, I encourage you to stay productive. What have you done in the three hours since you've left work?"

Kojiro's frown deepened, gaze downtraught as he curled his hands in at his lap. "I've... been getting ready for tonight..."

Tsurugi hummed, closing his eyes. He tapped his foot on the rug. "Think of all the time you could've spent reading, or studying, or practicing your memorandum flashcards..." he counted on each finger as he spoke. Ko's shame sank into the pit of his stomach as Tsurugi trailed on.

He sighed silently. "I'll do better from now on..." he muttered, his cadence reflecting a machine reading from a script. Tsurugi pet his head, pushing a few strands of hair behind his ear: "Good boy."

"Kiko! Tsurugi! Come to the table!" shouted Teruya from the kitchen. Both man and boy obliged, standing up and entering the brightly lit dining room. Taking their respective seats, Ko sat on the left, directly adjacent to Tsurugi.

Upon the table were gifts, each wrapped in one of three distinctive patterns. To the left were three thin, rectangular boxes stacked atop one another, concealed in orange wrapping paper with miscellaneous white polka dots. In the middle were three presents, each wrapped in a white paper with garish tricolored rainbows generously sprinkled about; each rainbow was a stripe of red, yellow, and green. To the right, there was an ascending tower of three boxes, each smaller than the one below it. All three were wrapped in a midnight blue, with brief speckles of white and gold scattered about. It reminded Ko of Starry Night Sky by Vincent van Gogh.

"Woah..." he breathed out, raising a finger to caress one of the rainbow packages- only to have his hand swatted away. He flinched. "Hey! No presents until dinner is finished," said Rei, retracting her hand. She then walked back into the kitchen, leaving Ko to sulk.

"Aw man...!" Ko shrunk back in his seat. He rested his hand on the table, and Teruya outreached, squeezing the boy's hand. "Chin up, Kiko. At least ya get to have yer favorite meal!" Ko perked up instantly.

Rei approached from behind, setting down a plate of two halves of sizzling grilled cheese sandwiches and a clay bowl of tomato soup. His tiny body was trembling with glee, and he snatched his arms around Teruya, burying his face into his scarf. Teruya flinched in surprise, but slowly returned the embrace. He lightly pat the boy's back. "There, there, sweetie..."

Rei and Tsurugi watched on. They exchanged a brief glance, sharing a smile.

-----------------------------

Kiko's plate had long since been cleared. The adults' plates were still partially full, but Ko was getting antsy, unable to keep his eyes off the presents for more than a few seconds. Teruya noticed out of the corner of his eye, sliding his hand underneath the table and giving Ko's knee a light squeeze. Ko glanced up at him. Teruya, still chewing, gave him a curt nod.

He blinked, raising a hesitant hand before asking, "Can we proceed with the presents..?"

"Hm, I don't see why not," said Rei with a short shrug of her shoulders. Swallowing, Teruya nodded. "Then we can have dessert!"

He nudged Kojiro. "C'mon buddy, go on and pick which one ya want."

"Hmm..." He carefully inspected his options, attempting to be thoughtful. Inevitably, his true preference shone through. "I'll go with... the rainbow gifts first!"

He delicately picked up the small box sat on top, which displayed a little pink bow in the center. Without a moment's hesitation, he ripped off the bow, which crinkled under its own weight as it fell unto the table.

Removing the dominant layer of wrapping, Ko uncovered a small velvet box. Curious, he pulled the lid and tossed it on the table. Within the box was a stained, gray doll with sad, worm-like threads attached to its head. Its gown was a mossy green color, not unlike the color of a dark, rainy forest. Its eyes were two small black buttons amateurishly sewn into the face, as was its smile. It had no ears.

Ko was transfixed by the odd doll. Rei and Tsurugi looked upon it confusedly, although Rei was slightly more bemused. All three looked to Teruya for explanation, and he just shrugged. "I received this lil' guy- or girl, I guess?- from one of my many travels across Japan back in my youth. He-slash-she has been sittin' in an old box in my attic for years now, and once I found him-or-her, I figured ya'd be the kinda person to 'preciate it!" He glanced the doll over. "Though it's allegedly cursed."

Tsurugi huffed. "Great, that's exactly what we need."

Rei cast him a glance before looking back at the doll. "It's certainly in rough condition," she noted, extending a hesitant slender finger to graze the doll's eye. "What do you want to do with it, Ko?"

Ko's dilated pupils didn't detach from the doll. Slowly, he reached inside the box and grabbed the doll with one hand, dropping the rest of the box to hold it with the other hand. He held it against his chest like a mother nursing a baby. His lip quivered. "I love her."

"A she it is!" said Teruya, happy that Ko cherished the gift. Tsurugi rolled his eyes, but chose not to comment.

His smile remained as he gently set the doll down in its box, tenderly placing the lid over her. He evaluated the box with an up-and-down glance. "I can turn that into her crib."

Teruya nodded. "With some cloth and padding, absolutely."

Ko turned his attention to the next present, this one considerably larger than the gift previous. With some struggle, he slipped both hands beneath the box and hoisted it upward, setting it down in front of him with a mighty thump! (he really should invest more time into exercise.)

He exhaled, his little twig arms relieved of their strain. Wiggling his eager fingers, he undid the bright rainbow wrapping paper and came to a halt: the package beneath was an amazon box with thick tape over the folds. Teruya jolted. "Ah! Sorry 'bout that, imma be right back!" He got up and entered the kitchen. Once he came back, he held a small boxcutter in his hand. "Easy now," he said as Ko swiped for it. Teruya held it above Ko's height, refusing to hand it over. With his other hand, he booped Ko on the nose: "Kids aren't supposed to play with knives," he said sweetly. Ko grumbled, crossing his arms.

Teruya gently pressed the tip of the cutter's blade against the tape, slitting a smooth cut between the two folds from front to end. He stepped back, allowing Ko to lean in. Grabbing both folds, Ko pulled them open, and his eyes were greeted with a small white oven, which had a large stick on the front that read Ultimate Easy-Bake Oven while surrounded by miscellaneous cooking-related symbols and objects. Ko's eyes dilated once more, and he felt a faint rumble in his eternally unsatiated stomach. Observing Ko's reaction, Teruya chuckled.

"Figured ya'd have that reaction," he said, setting the boxcutter aside, a safe distance away from Ko. He pulled the oven out of the box and set in on the table for Rei and Tsurugi to observe. "This baby can make cookies, pretzels, and pizzas!" He pulled out a small thin book from within the box, which was covered by the oven. "That's accordin' to the manual, at least."

He placed the manual in front of Ko, who began flipping through the pages inattentively.

"I got this so ya could make ya own treats when ya not with me. Don't worry, Momma's okay with it so long as you make them yourself. Right, Rei?" His bright eyes turned to Rei, who nodded, albeit with some reluctancy. "I don't make desserts, but if you put in the effort to learn such a skill, child, then you may reap the fruits of your labor."

"Yay!" exclaimed Ko, pumping his fists in the air. Tsurugi, however, was less than impressed. "Let it be known now rather than later that this toy will not be allowed in my house." He said, crossing his arms. Ko's enthusiasm died, replaced with a frown. "Why not?"

Tsurugi's tongue clicked atop the roof of his mouth. "I will not let you suffer distractions from your duties, nor poison your body with high-calorie junk," he said. Ko deflated, arms hanging limply at his sides. Teruya pat him on the back. "It's okay buddy, you can put up with no treats for one week."

Ko pushed his negative feelings to the pit of his stomach, focusing on the third and final gift.

Now, the final gift was one hefty box, and Ko struggled to pull it within his reach. Teruya chuckled, using both arms to push the package for Ko. "It might be a bit heavy, but I know ya gonna think it's worth it!"

Ko grabbed the boxcutter and slit a long, narrow opening atop the box, setting the blade aside and using his meager strength to pull the folds open. What greeted him was a massive set of DVDs, startling him. Eyes widening, he picked one up to inspect it. Five brightly colored ninja-looking soldiers were plastered on the cover, each one a color of the rainbow. Himitsu Sentai Gorenger was the bold letters at the bottom, with Vol. 1 stamped in the righthand corner.

"The... The entire first volume...?" Kojiro asked slowly. "Actually, all fourteen volumes in total!" chirped Teruya, throwing his hands behind his head. "I know ya like to watch reruns of this show when ya come over, so I figured I oughta get ya caught up on all the episodes!"

Tsurugi emitted a soft chuckle. "Well, if nothing else, at least it teaches morals..." he muttered.

Kojiro scurried over to Teruya, embracing him. Teruya returned the intensity of the squeeze tenfold, the two becoming a synergized ball of vibrating warmth! Well, until miss matriarch cleared her throat, snapping both boys back to attention.

"Cute display, gentleman, but let's return to the presents," Rei said, taking a sip from her half-empty mug. Tsurugi had shifted in his seat, arms nestled in his lap as his hardened gaze watched the floor. Sensing the odd tension, the boys released themselves for each other's embrace, with Kojiro awkwardly shuffling back over to his seat.

"So, want to move on to your next set?" Rei asked.

Ko glanced at the orange polka-dotted boxes. Since they were closer, he chose to open them next. Leaning forward, he grabbed with one hand a thick yet short box from atop the pile, its weight almost nil compared to the heavyset his poor, unexercised arms just had to carry. He made quick work of the rectangular object's wrappings, revealing a book.

Ko lifted the book from its wrappings, analyzing the cover: The Tokyo Zodiac Murders was its title, and behind the blocky black letters was the face of a woman, half-covered from view, but whose lone eye bore into the soul of the onlooker. A tingle ran down Ko's spine, but he couldn't help but smile. Observing his reaction, Rei felt pride erupt within.

"It was an old read of mine. I'm confident you can handle it, given your interest in mysteries," she said, crossing one leg over the other. Kojiro opened the cover, flipping through the first few pages. He checked the back of the book- "Two-hundred-fifty-one pages, huh?" he said, a cheeky smile erupting. "I could crunch that in less than a week!"

Rei closed her eyes. "Hmph, I should certainly hope so- anything less would tell me you need serious literacy remediation."

Still smiling, Ko set the book down, making a mental note to begin the first chapter that very night. He cast his gaze upon the next box, slightly bigger, but still perfectly within his grasp. Ko's nimble fingers made quick work of the wrapping paper, and its became a flurry of scraps within seconds. Amid the mess revealed a small DVD case.

Ko held the Blu-ray case, the title reading in broad, white letters The Taisho Trilogy. His eyes widened as he saw the name Seijun Suzuki stamped above the title. He looked up at his mother, blinking his big ol' eyes. Rei managed a small smile. "I know you've developed an interest in midcentury films. While I don't see much value in low-brow B-movies, perhaps you could find something I'm missing," she shrugged.

Teruya shifted in his seat, eyebrows knitted as he glanced over Ko's shoulder at the Blu-ray case the boy held. "Uhm, not to be a buzzkill, but are ya sure that's okay for a boy his age?"

"Oh, don't worry, I was careful to select a filmset that was... relatively age-appropriate," she turned her gaze to Ko, eyeing him knowingly. "Still, I will watch them alongside you to make sure nothing vile slips in. Evidently, a certain someone can't be trusted to regulate screentime." She stared Teruya dead in the eye, causing him to recoil into his seat. "C'mon now, it was one time!"

"Yes- and thanks to your negligence, he knows what Oruchuban Ebichu is-"

Teruya slapped his hand against the table. "ANYWAYS, let's see that last gift!" He hastily grabbed the third orange-wrapped gift and handed it to Kojiro. It was slim but broad, and of moderate weight. Ko shook it a little, a brief jingling noise emitting from within. Surprised, her set it down and undid the wrapping.

What he saw was a white plastic kit containing a scalpel, pins, a large needle, a pair of fine scissors, a bone cutter, and a magnifying glass. Besides the tools, the body of a fetal pig was packaged in plastic wrap, the scent of chemicals emanating from the pig.

Ko's eyes sparkled, his pupils dilating to such a degree that the iris was almost fully engulfed in black. He cranked his neck to his mother.

Rei nodded. "Rather than you picking at roadkill, I prefer that you channel your organic interests in a safe, sanitary environment where I can monitor you," she said. A muted chill ran up her spine as she remembered the moment when she and Ko were parked by the roadside. While she was distracted, Ko noticed a dead cat in the center of the road, its innards exposed in a puddle of syrup-y blood. He promptly exited the vehicle and collected a stick from the nearby bushes, slowly approaching the cat and poking at its foul intestines with the tip of the stick. she had scolded him then, but now, she sought to reroute the interest.

Regardless, Ko seemed pleased. He clapped his hands vigorously, a toothy grin on his face. Teruya laughed, albeit a bit awkwardly as he eyed the fetal pig warily. "Let's put that aside for now," he said, sliding the box as far from himself as possible.

The finale had commenced: Kojiro lifted the first midnight-wrapped present from the top, its rectangular shape fitting nicely in both his hands. He gingerly traced his left index finger over the wrapper, savoring the smooth sensation in contrast with the microscopic bumps from the glittery specks. His index finger and thumb joined to rip off a considerable chunk of the wrap, then removing the remaining shell.

Ko picked up the thick book, its title blaring A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking in bold yellow lettering. Sixth Edition was stamped in lowercase letters in the far right corner of the dark blue cover. Ko tilted his head, furrowing his brows as he looked up to his father.

Tsurugi looked him in the eye: "Given your future responsibilities, I believe it would be advantageous for you to begin studying now." He glanced at the book. "But don't worry, I'll help you practice the skills you learn."

Ko blinked once, an ambivalent smile curving upwards as his eyes fell. "Thank you, Daddy."

Rei gave Tsurugi a sideways glance. Sensing her scrutiny, he returned her gaze. They mutually broke it after a few seconds, returning their focus to Ko, who was silently flipping through the first few pages indiscriminately. He set the book aside, returning his attention to the two remaining presents. A wide, rectangular box was next, and ko picked it up. After undoing the wrappings, he brushed them aside to reveal an elaborate chess set, the label custom made written in the top righthand corner of the box in bold font.

Tsurugi closed his eyes, a fond smile rising at the corners of his mouth. "Kisaragi and I would often play chess during our free time at Hope's Peak. He always beat me, but my determination to win was an excellent exercise of mental acuity. I want to pass that skill onto you, Ko."

Teruya leaned forward. "Ah, I remember playin' this here n' there with my pops! I was never all that good at it, but I'd gladly help ya practice!" he chirped, patting Ko's back.

Tsurugi's eyes narrowed. "Actually, I was intending it as an activity for me and Kojiro specifically."

That knocked the wind out of Teruya's sails. His smile remained, but his eyes dropped to the floor. "Ah, well, I s'pose that's only fair..."

Teruya quietly leaned back in his chair. He nodded to the final gift: a stout box whose weight was immense the moment Ko attempted to lift it. "What did you put in here? Bricks?" He said through labored breath. Tsurugi smiled with a tinge of anticipation.

"Something far more useful than that, I assure you."

Kojiro quirked a brow, but continued fumbling with the paper. He ripped it away victoriously, crumbling it into a crude ball and tossing it into the living room. Teruya would have commtend on that, but his eyes were glued on the contents of the box. Ko's eyes shrunk into small pinpricks once he registered what was in the box: a single-action semi-automatic pistol. Ko could only identify the specific variation because his mother owned one herself, typically concealing it beneath her lab coat while at the foundation.

Rei's face twisted into a mesh of grotesque confusion and quiet shock. "What? Tsurugi, what the hell..."

"I learned how to use a gun when I was eight. I consider it to be far behind schedule for Ko to not yet know how to handle even a basic handgun, so, I've gotten him his own."

"Hold on, I wasn't informed of this," announced Rei, crossing her arms.

Teruya nodded, concern bleeding through. "Yeeeahhh... I mean, I don't think a little kid should be given such a deadly weapon. It's not like it's a toy, ya know..." He traced an index finger across the barrel of the gun, its sheen illuminating against the garish light of the chandelier.

Tsurugi huffed, crossing his arms. "Obviously. Ko is a smart boy, I have full faith in his capacity for mastering such a skill."

Kojiro's cheeks flushed in response to his father's words, but his tiny smile was instantly crushed when Rei spoke up. "Smart or not, you didn't even tell me you were going to do this!" she growled, face reddening. "Does my authority not matter at all?"

Glancing between his companion's faces, Teruya gulped. He turned to Kojiro, plastering a small smile as he spoke. "Uhm, sweetie, I think you and I should take these upstairs," he said, gesturing towards the chess set, DVD cases, and books. "Mama and Daddy are gonna have a grown-up talk, alright?"

Ko looked unimpressed, but obliged Teruya's request. He set the gun aside and collected as many of the gifts as he could carry. Teruya carried the remaining gifts, hoisting them between him arm. As they exited the dining room and trudged upstairs, Teruya spared a glance at his comrades, who had gotten up to ferverishly whisper in the kitchen, and hurried upstairs.

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The door to Kojiro's bedroom flew open, and he and Teruya both stepped in. Ko haphazardly tossed his items onto his bed, dusting his hands with satisfaction. Teruya, a bit more mindful, carefully set his items onto the small wooden desk sitting in the corner.

"C'mere buddy," he said, grabbing the accompanying roller chair and sitting down. He beckoned Kojiro to sit on his lap with a pat on his leg, which the boy obliged immediately. He rapped his arms around Teruya's neck, leaning his forlorn face against Teruya's scarf.

"I know, I know. Momma and Daddy are stubborn mules, aren't they?"

"They don't seem to like each other very much," Ko grumbled.

Teruya's eyes drooped. He glanced towards the door, then leaned in, placing a tender hand on the youngster's shoulder. "...They don't. But... sometimes that's just how family is. Even if you don't have much in common, even if they don't really get along, you still stand by each other. It's a mark of true love."

Kojiro blinked. "Do you really believe that, Teruya?"

His voice was fragile.

"I... I do. I'm sure of it," he said. He leaned back, his eyes casting upward. "I've seen it from 'em, they way they combine forces to stop a threat, either to the foundation or, well, you."

He grazed his fingertips along Ko's back lazily, drawing invisible loopty-loops as the boy tensed and curled inward further.

A few minutes passed, but it were minutes of ill-ease. Teruya's anxiety chipped away at his mind, piece by piece. He couldn't keep his eyes off the door for more than a few seconds. "Sweetie, I'm gonna go check on Momma and Daddy, m'kay?" He gently pushed Ko unto the bed, standing upright. He gestured to the books. "How 'boutcha get started on one of these in the meantime?"

Ko casted a wary glance up at Teruya, but turned to pick up The Tokyo Zodiac Murders. "I'll read this one. It sounds quite interesting."

Teruya ruffled his hair. "Good choice! I'll be back in a few minutes."

He then opened the door, gently closing it behind him- he didn't want to risk Ko overhearing anything... unsavory. He trudged down the stairs, keeping an ear out for anything concerning. The aggressive whispering had escalated in volume since it began, but hadn't reached full-blown shouting. Once his foot landed on the final step, he turned his head around the corner. Tsurugi was leaning against the beige wall of the kitchen, arms crossed, nails digging into his coat. Rei stood diagonally of him, leaning forward against the counter, palms held against the marble tile for stability. Tsurugi spoke first:

"So... what you're saying is that he isn't ready to learn?"

Rei rolled her eyes. Her exasperation was evident. "I'm not saying he's not ready- I'm upset that you didn't bother to inform me beforehand! It's a serious step to take, and I need to be involved in every step of the process that ensure it proceeds smoothly!"

"What difference would it have made, had you known prior I was going to give him the pistol? Either way, you now know, and we can proceed with his education."

"Because it shows an utter lack of respect for my authority," she deadpanned.

"I hardly think so," he said evenly.

"You don't say."

Teruya sighed ruggedly, stepping forward to establish himself as the well-worn role of the third party. "I'm guessing y'all haven't made much progress?"

"More or less," Tsurugi muttered.

Teruya squirmed, absentmindedly clutching at his chest. His voice was low. "Can I know what yer question was-?"

"MY question," she snapped, balling her fists on the counter, "Is why do you feel the need to insert your agenda into the one day he's supposed to have his wants catered to?"

Tsurugi exhaled. "I'm preparing him for the future, Rei. He's already received plenty of self-serving gifts, there's no reason why I can't use this as an opportunity to strengthen his skills," he said.

Teruya's eyebrows furrowed. He already knew, word for word, what this conversation was going to entail- and it would ultimately lead nowhere. It was like a hackney record player, stuck repeating the same terrible tune because the tone arm was jammed into place. A lightning bolt of something fierce struck Teruya- something unpleasant. It unsettled him, but it was uncontrollable: Anger.

He huffed.

"Both of you just... please, shut up."

Teruya hardly believed those words had escaped his mouth- and neither could they. Tsurugi and Rei turned to him simultaneously, expressions contorted in exaggerated, abject confusion. If Teruya weren't so pissed, he'd laugh at the comical display. Nevertheless, he wasn't going to back down. He laid his palms on the counter, spreading his fingers.

"Y'all both know as well as I do exactly were this is gonna go: nowhere. So just save ya breath and hush it up already."

Teruya clamped his eyes shut, breathing out, "If you two could get along long enough to make him, you can get along long enough to raise him."

The kitchen fell silent for several seconds. Teruya tapped his fingers against the counter, and Tsurugi and Rei both averted their gazes, staring at the floor. The silence was eventually broken.

Rei sighed, squeezing her eyes shut. She wore a grimace. Both men stared at her, one's gaze etched with worry and the other's gaze indeterminant. Her lips parted: "...Today is about Kojiro. I'm not going to ruin his birthday by repeating this argument for the umpteenth time."

She turned to Tsurugi, stabilizing her voice. "If you want to teach him how to use a firearm, go ahead. Just fucking tell me next time when you want to do something this major."

"Fine," Tsurugi huffed. It sounded forced, but it was good enough for now.

"Thank you, both of you," Teruya said, almost breathlessly. He straightened his spine, the weight of the conflict finally sliding off his shoulders.

Rei glanced at the fridge. "...I'll get the cake ready," she said before turning her back.

Eyelids drooping, Teruya walked to the dining room and grabbed his mug, taking a prolonged sip of his coffee. He savored it, enjoying the smooth, creamy sensation as his nerves were soothed. His caffeinated trance was interrupted by the sound of pitter-patter noises trailing up the creaky staircase. He turned to look, but nobody was there.

He glanced into the kitchen: Rei and Tsurugi were still there, silent.

Odd as it was, Teruya shrugged it off, finishing the rest of his coffee.

----------------------

The cake had been savored amidst a mostly silent table, but now it was 8:50 PM, ten minutes before Ko's bedtime. While Rei and Teruya were preoccupied with preparing Ko, Tsurugi zipped up his bag, hoisting it over his shoulder. He walked to the front door, unlocking it was a sharp click!

"Daddy?" a tiny voice called. Tsurugi glanced behind to see Ko standing there, fully changed into his rainbow pajamas. Classic. Despite the chipper attire, Ko's face -now free of the earlier tricolor paint- was markedly displeased.

"You're leaving...?" he muttered, shoulders sagging.

Tsurugi turned away, eyes focused on the door as he gripped the knob. "Yes. But understand, son, that duty calls no matter what time of day."

The boy's eyes cast downward. "Well, okay..." There was an audible footstep.

Tsurugi turned around again, a single brow raised. Ko took a second step forward, then a third. He wrapped his arms around his father, leaning his head against the elder's chest. Wordlessly, Tsurugi wrapped his free arm around Ko's hip, holding his bag on the other.

"I want to practice this weekend," he muttered, tired eyes glancing at the pistol still lying on the table. Tsurugi traced his son's gaze.

His posture relaxed. "Excellent. Goodbye until tomorrow, son."