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One hundred and thirty-seven.
That was the exact number of homicide cases Kyoko Kirigiri had solved over the past four years. She’d seen countless dead bodies in her teenage years, more than most people would see in their entire lifetime. It was a job that demanded a cold, ruthless, calculating nature– never allowing one to falter in their conviction. And yet, in spite of her stoic demeanor, she found herself feeling nervous over a seemingly trivial matter.
Today was the day she would meet Makoto’s family.
She’d seen the aftermath of crimes worse than most could imagine, yet it was something as ostensibly mundane as meeting her boyfriend’s parents that had her restless. It was an unreasonable reaction and she knew it. From the way Makoto talked about his parents, it was clear that his kindness and patience ran in the family– clear that she didn’t need to worry whether they would… approve of her. But despite her placid mask, she’d always been prone to overthinking.
Even the box of chocolates she’d been carrying was a part of her mission to make a good first impression, after all. Her actions would need to speak for her, considering her difficulties expressing herself verbally. Occasionally, she even found herself struggling to speak of her feelings to Makoto, let alone those less close to her. And while usually she wouldn’t care for other’s opinions of her, his family was a different matter entirely.
It was during their last week of school before autumn break when Makoto offered to introduce her to his parents, and he must have noticed her uncertainty despite her attempts at masking it. When had she gotten so careless around him, she wondered? Either way, he had tried to comfort her, grounding her with the weight of his hand on hers. “It’s okay, they’ll love you,” he’d said with a huge smile. “I can’t get through a single dinner without them asking when they can meet you!”
'It would only make sense for them to want to meet me, considering my courting their son,' she thought, rubbing her temples in frustration. And while she wished to find a way out of that uncomfortable situation, it would’ve been nothing if not impolite to decline.
That was how she ended up in front of their home at 11AM on a cloudy autumn morning, internally going over the facts that led her to this point as if it were a homicide case. It may have seemed foolish, but it helped her feel in control over a predicament otherwise so unfamiliar to her.
Still, no matter how much she thought her plan over, the answer to her biggest question continued to elude her. How should she behave around his parents? Should she act as she did with her clients, or would that seem too impersonal? Perhaps treating them more similarly to her teachers would be more reasonable? All of this was so strange, and it terrified her that there was no one correct choice she could make– not with what little knowledge she had on his parents, at least. Her face didn’t show it of course, but the vivid malaise twisting her stomach was unyielding nonetheless.
She sighed, knowing she shouldn’t keep the family of four waiting for any longer than she already had. So, while a small sense of foreboding grew in the back of her mind, she took one last step towards the doorbell and rang it.
Within seconds the door swung open with such enthusiasm, it left her stunned like a deer in headlights. The culprit was a somewhat older lady with tanned skin and brown hair that barely reached past her shoulders. She gave Kyoko a great, dimpled smile that made it obvious she was Makoto’s mother… and equally clear whose genes reigned superior in Makoto.
“You must be Kyoko!” she sang in excitement, clasping her hands together. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! Makoto has told me all about you!”
“M-mom! Don’t say it like that!” A yelp echoed from the back, the flustered tone making it obvious who it belonged to. “Uh… hey, Kyoko."
Her anxiety vanished the moment he greeted her, a presence that calmed the storm in her mind, soothed the fears pooling up in her stomach. After gently smiling and nodding towards Makoto, she took a refined, elegant bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Naegi. Thank you so much for having me.”
As she straightened her back, she held out the fancily wrapped, pink box. “I brought a little token of my thanks. I bought these while I was in Odaiba for a case and found them to be quite delicious, so I hope you will enjoy them similarly.”
“You’re every bit as polite as Makoto said,” she chuckled, graciously accepting the present with a neverfading grin. “But don’t worry about the formalities, sweetheart. You can just call me Aiko! I mean, you’re basically a part of the family now, aren’t you? Now come on in, you must be freezing!”
“...Thank you.”
She was taken more than a little aback at the endearing nickname, much less having been called a part of the family. For some reason, those kind words made her heart feel… warm. Aiko’s hospitality made it clear that the similarities between herself and her son did not stop at the physical level– the Naegi family’s kindness must have been hereditary as well.
After taking off the boots she’d grown so accustomed to wearing, Kyoko noticed that Makoto was fidgeting with the hem of his pine green sweater– his telltale sign of anxiousness. It was a bit of a relief, seeing that he shared her nervousness. Once his eyes met hers though, he snapped out of his trance with a timid grin. “How was the trip? Did you get here okay?”
“It was no issue at all. The train ride was quite short. I’m surprised you chose to stay at the dorms instead of opting for the daily commute.”
Makoto’s face twisted in a strange way, much to Kyoko’s confusion. But her befuddlement was swiftly answered by Aiko. “Makoto just doesn’t want to stay with his family any more,” she sobbed, wiping a fake tear. “Our little boy is starting to get ashamed of his parents. Puberty is so cruel!”
Oh. She… probably shouldn’t have brought that up.
“I’m not ashamed of anyone, mom! I just thought it’d be a good idea to… you know. Spread my wings a little!”
“That’s basically the same thing,” she pouted.
“No it’s not!”
Kyoko couldn’t help but chuckle at her partner’s desperate attempts at defending his choice, which earned her a gentle smile from Aiko. “We ought to hurry along. Everyone's waiting for you in the living room!”
As the three of them passed through the hallway, Kyoko’s schooled eyes noticed just how quaint their house was. Much like Makoto himself, it had a comforting sense of normalcy to it that contrasted her own, complicated life. The parquet floor creaked every now and then, proving that this house was old, filled with sweet memories. Memories that were kept in small picture frames, scattered across the walls.
Some of those pictures carried within them the entire family, while others contained separate members. One in particular caught Kyoko’s eye: a picture of Makoto’s parents on their wedding day. They were both beaming, and despite the poor quality of the picture that came by virtue of its age, Kyoko could still make out tears of joy in the corners of their eyes. They were truly a happy family.
…Her stomach twisted with discomfort, a hint of melancholy creeping up her spine. This house was so inviting, so… real. The place she called home paled in comparison.
That house wasn’t inviting. It wasn’t filled with memories. It was like her entire life: built with efficiency and optimization in mind, not comfort and kindness. Her grandfather had never been one to show sentimentality– not even with family– so the memorabilia adorning this house would’ve been nothing but weakness to him.
Ever since Kyoko had met Makoto though, she found herself appreciating the things she’d once dismissed as ‘pointless’. Years spent in a harsh environment had encased her heart in ice, yet the blaze of his warmth melted through as if it were nothing. He’d taught her the beauty of the negligible, of the unimportant. And this house– this home– made it clear who’d been the one to teach him, in turn. It was his family.
The family that was now in front of her, seated at the living room table. Luckily, Makoto’s presence next to her was calming as always, keeping her grounded.
Makoto’s father immediately stood to approach her, and the similarities between the two men were not lost on her. He was barely taller than his son– maybe an inch or two at best– and while his hair was jet-black, it seemed his locks were just as unruly, sticking out in every-which way. Kyoko couldn’t help but find the contrast between the rebellious hair and his composed demeanor slightly comical.
With a small, curt smile, he extended his hand to hers, the two meeting in a firm handshake. “It’s so nice to finally meet the girl Makoto’s been gushing about these past few months! My name’s Kenji Naegi– Makoto’s father, of course.”
“Dad!” His son cried out in embarrassment, red sprayed across his cheeks.
Kyoko nodded in response, hoping that her face hadn’t been mirroring Makoto’s. ‘Gushing’ was… quite the choice of words. Still, she had to remain composed; making a good first impression was of utmost importance, after all. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, sir.”
“Woaaah, she really is like a detective! So cool and elegant!”
The young, energetic voice that filled the room took Kyoko by surprise– not only because she’d yet to hear it, but also because both her cadence and enunciation were very similar to Makoto’s. That was to be expected, considering that the short girl must have been his sister, yet the similarity took her aback all the same. They even shared the same rebellious strand of hair that poked up in an almost antenna-like way.
“You must be Komaru,” she deduced, taking a small bow. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yep, that’s me! It’s nice to meet you, too!” Raising her arm in a salute, Komaru’s voice never faded in volume and exhilaration. “Honestly, I still can’t believe you’re real. I totally thought Makoto was lying!” she snickered.
While her eyes showed no discernable emotions, the slight tilt of her head conveyed enough confusion to compensate. “Why would he lie about something like that?”
“Well, you know… he’s always just been some guy, never sticking out much, and then he suddenly gets a girlfriend as beautiful as you? It came out of nowhere! Guess that Ultimate Luck finally came in handy, eh?”
Ah. That was strange. She knew that Komaru was just trying to tease her brother, yet the belittling choice of words made Kyoko a little… irritated. Makoto was much more than just ‘some guy’. “I appreciate the compliment, but I assure you that I feel… equally lucky to be with him.”
As she turned towards Makoto to gauge how he’d been feeling, she saw him nervously twiddling his thumbs– which made her look around to see the rest of the family chuckling as well. It was only now that she realized how embarrassing her words were, trying to steady herself with a cough. “That is to say, I... already enjoyed our friendship. It seemed only natural that this would be the next step to take, so…”
...She was just digging her grave even deeper, wasn’t she?
The disparity between the detective’s calm face and cheesy words hit Komaru like a splash of cold water on a hot summer day. Heat rushed to her face, feeling blessed to finally witness the gap moe-archetype of her favorite manga in real life. Rapidly, she nodded. “Y-yeah, that’s totally fair! You two work really well together, after all!”
Makoto had, in the meantime, retreated to the back of the room, leaning his head against the wall. He knew that this would be his fate from the second he’d invited Kyoko, but that didn’t make the endless teasing any less embarrassing.
His mother grinned, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Now now, no need to be so dramatic! It’s only natural for a young couple to act lovey-dovey, isn’t it?”
“Lovey-dovey…?” Kyoko questioned, unable to stop the pink from dusting her cheeks.
“M-mom!”
“What? It’s true! Why, back when your father and I met, we were all over each other, even in class–”
Luckily for everyone involved, Aiko was cut off by both her children dry-heaving in an impressive show of synchronization. Kenji, however, was merely laughing to himself, a melancholic expression on his face that made it clear he missed their honeymoon phase just as much.
Once her children’s stomachs had calmed, Aiko turned to Kyoko. “Say, would you like a cup of coffee? A friend of mine brought back some beans from India as a souvenir, and Makoto kept telling me to leave some for you!”
She nodded in turn, curiosity mingling with the warmth that blossomed in her chest, sparked by her boyfriend’s considerate nature. “I would like that a lot, thank you very much.”
“In that case, how about I get us all some drinks, and you two tell us how you met? I’m sure everyone else is just as curious as me!”
Komaru swiftly waved her hand, making it clear that, yes, she was very interested. “Oh, oh! Me, me! I wanna hear! Did you and Makoto work together on a case?! Maybe he was the suspect! Oooh, the drama…! My bad luck has cursed me! I am being framed for a crime I didn’t commit… and you’re the only one who can save me…”
Kyoko shook her head, though internally she found the girl’s overly colorful imagination rather comical. “My apologies, but it’s nothing nearly as interesting as that. Though admittedly, I could imagine Makoto getting framed, considering his infamous luck.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on my side here?” Makoto pouted, his arms crossed.
The family seated themselves as Aiko went to the kitchen, Kyoko sitting next to Makoto and opposite to Komaru. A dark green tablecloth hung off the width of the plain white dining table, the alluring simplicity of it making for a perfect match to the rest of the Naegi household.
It was clear how many meals were shared here by people who cared for each other immensely, and weren’t ashamed of speaking those feelings aloud– an admirable trait that Kyoko had envied since the day she first met Makoto. Despite being his biggest weakness, it was also his biggest strength– and the complete opposite to Kyoko’s entire way of life.
Once Aiko returned, she set a steaming hot cup of coffee in front of everyone seated at the table– save for Komaru, who received a mug of thick hot cocoa instead. She was rather young, Kyoko supposed, so perhaps she’d yet to acquire a taste for the bitter brew. “Thank you,” she murmured with a courteous nod.
A comforting warmth spread through Kyoko’s body as she savored her first sip. Not much bitterness, she noted in delight, as a flavor she couldn’t quite put her finger on danced on her palate. It was reminiscent of dark chocolate, the hints of the flavor so fleeting, yet stunning all the same.
“It’s good, right?” her boyfriend smiled at her, eyes glowing in excitement. “I think it’s kinda got a little chocolatey taste, and since you like drinking your coffee with some chocolate on the side, I figured you’d probably enjoy it! Was I right?”
Her lips curled into a small smile of her own, his consideration as cute as ever. “You were, indeed. The taste feels almost tailor-made for me, truth be told.”
“Right? I thought the same thing!”
“Can confirm,” Komaru snickered, stirring her cocoa to avoid that nasty skin from forming. “Literally the first thing he said when he drank it was ‘Kyoko would love this’, with that lovestruck smile he always has when he talks about you.”
Makoto’s eyes widened as he turned towards his sister at breakneck speed.
“What? I’m right!”
By now, his cheeks had been dyed a dark shade of red that beautifully complimented the light pink on Kyoko’s. He did tend to smile in that charming, heartwarming way around her– but even around his family? All because he thought about her? It was strange, unfamiliar, and she frankly wasn’t sure how to handle that new bit of information.
“I… appreciate that you kept me in mind. Thank you, Makoto,” she mumbled, averting her gaze as subtly as she could.
Her words startled the boy, his loving eyes glistening like the morning dew. While there were a thousand words he wished he could say… he elected not to, so as to avoid further teasing from his family. That was to little avail though, as his sister interrupted them with a wail. “I can’t handle this anymore! I need to know how you two met! Makoto keeps telling us you just met in class, but that can’t be it, right? There’s gotta be more to it, right?!”
His father was the one who came to the couple’s rescue, his stern, calm voice echoing in polarity to the rest of the family. “Komaru, whether or not she wants to tell us is her decision to make. Kyoko is our guest, we shouldn’t be pushing her boundaries.”
As she realized how her words may be misconstrued, the girl flinched out of regret. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, Kyoko. I’ve just been really curious, is all!”
The remorseful look in her eyes was another similarity to Makoto, the detective noted. She shook her head, wishing to dispel any lingering fears she may have had. “Don’t worry, it’s quite alright…” Glancing anywhere but at the family did little to make gathering her thoughts easier, so she still ended up stumbling over her words. “But it’s… really not an interesting story by any means.”
“If that’s all you’re worried about, then you don’t need to be.” Aiko smiled, comforting as always. “We’re just curious!”
While Kyoko couldn’t understand why anyone else would be curious about it, the story of how she met Makoto had swiftly become one of her most treasured memories. From the first time he called her ‘pretty’– an off-handed remark that unintentionally spilled out of his mouth– that sweet little man made her feel incomprehensible things that she couldn’t have hoped to identify. He’d taught her so many new emotions… it only made sense for her to fall for him, didn’t it?
That was the reason she hated it when people called Makoto plain, basic, or otherwise belittling terms. He was far from normal; he had this… this quality about him that made people feel so at ease, free to show parts of themselves they’d never show to anyone else. Makoto Naegi was a truly special person. And maybe she could convey just how special he was by sharing their story.
“...It was a coincidence, really. We just so happened to be placed in the same class, and as students do, we introduced ourselves to the class. Nowadays, I must admit that my introduction was… rather abrupt and brief.”
Back then, her sole intention was to settle the score with her father and leave Hope’s Peak Academy as soon as possible. In her mind, a detailed introduction was pointless, so she stuck to the bare minimum– only stating her name and talent.
“Makoto’s introduction on the other hand…”
Throwing his head back made it clear how much Makoto regretted that memory, groaning in despair. Kyoko chuckled.
“It definitely set the tone for what sharing a class with the Ultimate Lucky Student would be like. The moment he stepped in front of the blackboard, a baseball smashed through a window in the back– fortunately not injuring anyone, but leaving shards of glass scattered across the floor. Poor Makoto was incredibly flustered.”
“Someone could’ve seriously gotten hurt! I think I had every right to be a little shaken!”
“Of course you did. But truth be told… that was what first made me curious about him.”
“...Wait, really?” Makoto’s eyes widened. “You never told me that.”
His flushed cheeks were so adorable, she couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a small, smug smirk. “I did say you were interesting, didn’t I? You just never asked for me to elaborate."
“Still, I had no intention of spending any further time with Makoto.” Her brows furrowed, regret visible in them. “I thought of trying to make friends as… a waste of my time, truth be told, so there was no reason for me to try and approach him. Or anyone else, for that matter. But clearly he had different thoughts on the matter, inviting me to class outings at every opportunity.”
Kenji snickered. “That certainly sounds like Makoto... always wanting everyone to get along. He was probably worried when he saw that you weren’t socializing much, right?”
“I’d imagine so,” she gently smiled at her partner. “But no matter how much I declined, he kept asking. Never pushing me, but always giving me the chance to come, should I feel like it. And after a few months of that, he got a little more… bold, so to speak, and asked if we could eat lunch together.”
“Oh my! Makoto, how daring!” his mother teased, her sharp gaze twisting his stomach into knots.
Komaru scratched her head in confusion. “Wait, how come you said yes? Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in making friends?”
“I figured that as soon as he took note of my silence, he would leave me be. But to my surprise, he just ate away, not speaking up at all. I imagined he may have been feeling nervous, or uncomfortable, and yet he returned the next day, behaving the exact same way. It took him a few days to speak up and ask me a question– to be specific, he asked for my help regarding our homework. At first, I suspected ulterior motives. But…”
The ghost of a smile that formed on Kyoko’s face was involuntary, her body’s automatic response whenever she recalled his soft, small grin.
“He told me that he just wanted to be my friend. I couldn’t detect any dishonesty in his words, and considering that he’d been the one to plan our class-outings and create the group chat, it seemed to me his words were sincere. I wanted to refuse, to say I didn’t plan on making any friends, but… against my better judgement, I agreed. I suppose a small part of me just… didn’t want to see him dejected.”
Warmth soared from his chest to his cheeks, dyeing them the appropriate color. Normally, Kyoko’s words were like a mystery for him to solve, each word carrying within it a hidden meaning– and Makoto loved it. But now, while talking about their meeting, her gentle honesty brushed the strings of his heart. No riddles... Just honesty.
Under the table, he slowly moved his hand atop of hers. Her eyes widened at the unexpected contact, but instead of moving away, she simply intertwined their fingers, that tiniest hint of a grin on her face neverfading.
Makoto was her happy place, and the two of them learned so much from each other. He showed her that expressing emotions wasn’t always weakness, while she taught him that wearing his heart on his sleeve could very well backfire. It was in each other that they found a safe space to be vulnerable. And now, she found herself taking a page out of Makoto’s book– to prove to his parents that he was so much more special than he realized.
“It started as little more than casual conversation, really. He asked about my hobbies, my profession, and about school work, while I wanted to know more about his upbringing. At first, I justified it as an investigation into his luck, thinking if it’d been affecting him his entire life, that would add more substantial evidence to… well, the existence of luck as a whole. But I lost track before I knew it, asking about much more mundane things… which, unbeknownst to me, was because I just wanted to know more about him. And somehow, out of nowhere, Makoto had managed to work his way into becoming… my friend. And, well. Um.”
She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, suddenly feeling a little faint. Emotions were well and good, but unfortunately whenever she talked about things so near and dear to her heart… embarrassment was the most prominent one she felt.
“And becoming my… partner.”
The sudden show of vulnerability silenced the room, Makoto’s family giving her tender looks, while the boy himself was entranced by her every word. Kyoko found herself unsure of how to continue, straightening her bangs just to keep her hands busy. “That… should be all, I believe. I hope I was able to explain everything in sufficient detail.”
“Believe me, you definitely did!” Aiko chuckled, tightly grasping her husband’s hand. “Hah… this is so nostalgic! When Kenji and I first met, he was also a bit… closed-off, so to speak, but I thought his lone-wolf attitude was totally hot!”
The youngest girl’s face twisted once more, her expression making her discomfort even more clear than before. “Ew, mom! Don’t call dad hot!”
“You should be happy that your parents are getting along so well, sweetie.” Aiko teased, kissing her husband’s cheek.
Makoto could do little more than chuckle, fully aware that if he were to speak, it would come out scrambled and nigh incomprehensible. Kyoko felt similarly, pretending to wipe her mouth with a napkin to subtly hide her flustered expression. Of course she’d kept the most private details of her heart’s extensive dilemma to herself, knowing that there were some things best saved for only the two of them– yet that didn’t make the parts she had shared any less embarrassing.
Before either of them managed to overcome their tied tongue, a loud crash shattered the silence, jolting everyone in the room. A look outside the window revealed the source clearly: It was a roaring crackle of thunder echoing through the town, the mighty boom bashing against their eardrums despite the closed windows dampening the noise.
“Holy crap! Where the heck did that come from?!” Komaru yelped, her heart pounding in her chest.
A glance at the gray clouds and drenched streets led Kyoko to a preliminary conclusion. “I assume we got a little too caught up in our conversation to notice the storm start.” Her brows furrowed. “Still, this is rather strange… it wasn’t supposed to rain today, much less a storm.”
Flashes of lightning continued to illuminate the darkened sky on occasion, much to Makoto’s dismay. Then, realization struck as he swiftly turned to his partner. “Wait, when’s your train coming?!”
Understanding what he was getting at, Kyoko perked up with a tinge of concern in the back of her mind. If her train were to be cancelled due to poor weather conditions, returning to the dorms would be rather difficult… so she fished her phone out of her bag, swiftly opening her transit planner app.
The way her eyes narrowed said more than enough. Makoto groaned. “Awww crap… I’m so sorry Kyoko, that’s just my luck…”
“That’s not true. It’s not like you can control the weather. Things like this happen– there’s no need for you to blame yourself. I can look into getting a taxi home.”
Aiko raised her hand to her cheek, worriedly eyeing Kyoko. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. That storm seems really bad, doesn’t it? Not really the best conditions for a cab ride…”
His mother was right, and Kyoko knew it. While her concerns were still ample, she’d been left at a dead end, unsure of how to get out of this sticky situation.
Everyone was silently weighing their options for a moment… until a confused Komaru spoke up.
“I mean, why not just wait out the storm here? If it gets really bad you can just stay the night, right?”
…Huh. That was the most logical solution.
She had no more obligations for the day, having ensured to take it off so she could focus entirely on meeting Makoto’s parents. If she were to return to the dorms, she would likely not do much more than cozy up in her bed and read. Still, it seemed somewhat… imprudent. "Thank you for the offer, but I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Aiko shook her head, giving the young detective a reassuring smile. “You wouldn’t be intruding, sweetie! We would love to have you! And besides, doesn’t a sleepover sound rather lovely?”
“You can stay in the guest room!” Komaru shot her a thumbs up. “Makoto and I used to sleep there all the time. We’ve got some really comfortable futons, a big TV you can binge movies on…”
Despite the discomfort in her stomach, she really did not have much of an argument against it, did she? The weather would make it difficult for her to get home. Inadvertently, her gaze moved to meet her partner’s– and his concerned look made it clear that he’d seen through her attempts at covering her hesitation.
"If… if it’s any help, you could sleep in my room, and I’ll take the guest room? My room’s got a lock, so that might be a bit more comfortable for you?”
…Ah, he must’ve expected her to be concerned about her privacy.
Alas, that was the least of her worries. She knew that Makoto would never do anything inappropriate, and the rest of his family seemed much the same. If there’d been any doubt of that in her mind, she wouldn’t have fallen for him. No, her concern was a much more trivial one.
For one, she’d worried about intruding on her partner’s family– yet that one had luckily been lifted by his mother’s encouragement. Her biggest worry was her lack of experience; the fact she didn’t know what a sleepover would entail. It was just like the first time Makoto took her to karaoke– an event so normal for teenagers to go to, yet one she hadn’t a clue how to approach.
…But even that new experience was so much fun once Makoto had explained everything to her, just as most things he’d shown her. All those memories she’d never had the opportunity to make were on a silver platter to her, served by the one person she felt comfortable enough with to wholeheartedly enjoy them. Maybe this… would just be another one of those.
She shook her head at Makoto, the ghost of a smile on her face so small that none but him– the one so used to analyzing her microexpressions– could notice. “There’s no need to worry, Makoto, the guest room is more than fine. I merely didn’t want to be a bother to everyone. But if it's truly no trouble for you all, then I would happily accept that offer.”
Turning towards Aiko, she took a long bow. “Thank you very much for letting me stay the night, Miss Naegi. And I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“Oh please, Kyoko! It’s the least we could do!” She chuckled. “Makoto, you go ahead and set up the guest room, alright?”
“Sure thing! You just leave it to me!”
Before Makoto could leave, he found Kyoko right beside him. “I’ll help, of course. It’s the least I can do.”
The wide smile his lips curled into involuntarily made her heart race.
As they slowly climbed up the creaking wooden stairs, Kyoko could’ve sworn she’d heard a chuckle from downstairs. But before she could further investigate, Makoto’s sweet voice interrupted her thoughts. “I’m, uh… sorry about all that.”
“Sorry about what?”
“Well, you know… My family can be a bit pushy sometimes. I hope you didn’t feel forced to, uh… talk about how we met, or like you have to stay the night. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was really happy when you talked about it, and I’m really excited we can have a sleepover, but…”
Seeing Makoto so troubled made Kyoko feel ill at ease, so she reached out to tightly grasp his hand. “Don’t worry about it, Makoto. It only makes sense for parents to want to know what led to their child meeting their partner. Although I will admit…” She sucked her tooth. “I feel like I may… have said some rather embarrassing things.”
Running a hand through the back of his hair, Makoto couldn’t help but feel just as flustered. Still, there was no need for her to feel bad. He squeezed her hand in reassurance. “I get that… but hey! Look at it this way! Now we can be embarrassed together!”
Smirking, she teased him in an effort to calm her own steadily growing nerves. “Hm? Why would you be embarrassed about your apparent ‘gushing’ over me?”
He gulped, the heart in his chest bouncing so rapidly that he could hardly squeeze out more than a mumble, afraid his voice might crack.
Without a word of defense, he opened the door they’d just reached to reveal her room for the night.
It was a simple space, much like the rest of the house. Wooden parquet was covered by a large rug, atop of which lay a small coffee table, with a TV and a sofa pushed against opposite walls. A large window showed that the storm was still very much unyielding, the winds making the trees seem almost as though they were made of rubber with how unnaturally their branches were bending.
“This really is quite the nice room,” she muttered as she analyzed her surroundings.
“Yeah!” Makoto’s voice came out muffled, and when she looked towards him, she noticed him buried face-first in a closet. Moments later, he reappeared with a futon in his arm, continuing as he unrolled it. “I used to stay here all the time when I couldn’t sleep. Something about it is just really relaxing.”
Seeing Makoto do all the work made Kyoko feel a little guilty. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Oh, you don’t need to do anything! Unrolling a futon isn’t really something that needs two people, hehe. But hey, we can figure out what we wanna do until nighttime! I mean, it’s only like, 2 PM? We’ve got a whole day locked in here, so we might as well make the best of it!”
“...Hm.” She tapped her chin, lost in thought. “I suppose we could keep playing cards? We were cut off by the bell during lunch last week, after all. I’ve never had a sleepover before, but that seems like something you do at one, right?”
Makoto’s brows furrowed a little. In retrospect, it seemed obvious– due to the expectations placed upon her since her childhood, many things he considered “normal” were very new to her. But it still saddened him to see that even spending the night at a friend’s house seemed to have been a taboo for her.
Thus, he promised himself that he would do everything in his power to make this a great first sleepover. The best, even! He smiled widely.
“We can do whatever you like! I mean, a sleepover is basically just a hangout that lasts the whole night, right?” he chuckled. “So if you wanna play Old Maid, we can do that! I’m still upset about the last round.”
Spending an entire night talking to Makoto… the thought was rather enchanting, Kyoko thought as heat rose to her cheeks. The days they’d spent playing chess, watching movies, or just talking about meaningless things were the ones that Kyoko found herself looking forward to the most.
When most of your time was filled with violence and hate caused by crimes, Makoto’s affable nature was like a beacon cutting through the gloom of everyday life. That was why he was her sun, after all– the light of her life, teaching her that in spite of all the terrible things she witnessed on a daily basis, kindness was still plentiful.
One of the benefits of staying the night… was that they finally had some alone time again. So when the desire to hold him arose in her heart, there was nothing stopping her from granting said wish by placing a gloved hand on his. It made her heart skip a beat as always, but the way Makoto flinched with light pink dusted on his face made it all the more worth it.
She couldn’t help a soundless laugh from escaping her, his embarrassment as adorable as ever. Rubbing small circles on his hand, she tenderly whispered: “Well, it has been a while since we’ve had an entire day to ourselves, hasn’t it? We should make the most out of this situation. No need to stop at playing cards.”
Kyoko had a talent for making him blush with her sudden romantic gestures– no matter how much he tried bracing for it, she always managed to take him by surprise. This time was no exception, his heart pounding in his chest so hard he felt as though he was about to faint. “I mean, uh… If you want, we could have a little bit of a… date night?”
“I think I’d like that,” she smiled, giving Makoto a peck on the cheek that made his heart soar. “What would you like to do?”
As Makoto basked in the afterglow of the romantic gesture, he found himself struggling to focus, looking around the room in an attempt to find a spark of inspiration. His eyes landed on the fairly large TV. “You wanna binge some movies? The TV’s awesome, it’d be a waste not to use it!”
“Sure, I don’t see a problem with that… though we do still have to play Old Maid later, you’ve gotten me all riled up now.” She gave him a sly grin, to which he responded with a chuckle. That competitive side of hers so rarely reared its head, but he loved it all the same.
“We can do that, no problem! But let’s pick out some movies first.”
Opening the door to the large shelf next to the TV revealed a massive collection of DVDs covering just about every genre, from romance to mystery, thriller to documentary. Kyoko’s eyes involuntarily widened at the enormous selection in front of her. “...Wow. I didn’t know you were so into movies.”
“Oh, I’m not! It’s mainly dad and Komaru. They… really love their movies. Believe it or not, this is only one of three shelves.”
She blinked twice, trying to process what he’d just said to little avail. “Surely the other two are smaller?”
“...Bigger, actually.”
Before she could inquire more about said massive collection, Makoto changed the subject with an awkward laugh. “So, uh… does anything here catch your eye?”
Unfortunately, Kyoko wasn’t much of a movie watcher, so none of the titles meant anything to her. If she were to pick one now, she would literally be judging a book by its cover. Or, well, a movie. “I’m… not very well-versed regarding movies. Could you pick one?”
As Makoto scanned the stacks upon stacks of DVDs, he found himself subconsciously biting his lip in an attempt to stay concentrated. ‘What would Kyoko like…’ he wondered, tapping his chin. After a few moments, he sighed.
“Man… this is hard. We’ve got way too many to pick from. Is there, like, a genre you’re interested in?”
“Unfortunately I don’t think I’ve even watched enough movies to know what genres I like. Is there one you’ve been meaning to watch?”
“Well, if I had to pick one…” Makoto stretched for a DVD that forced him to stand on his tiptoes to reach. “We’ve gotta watch a horror movie, right? It’s a sleepover staple! Hina recommended this one, I think…”
As Makoto handed it to her, she saw the title written in a big, red font that was clearly trying to emulate the look of blood. It read: Ashes to Dust, Knives to Rust. Part 1-5. She raised a brow in scepticism.
“Okay, look, I know it sounds edgy, but apparently, the second one’s a storytelling masterpiece.” Makoto raised his arms in defense.
She chuckled. If Makoto was that interested in it, then it had to have at least some merit to it, right? “Alright, I’ll believe you. Can I help you set it up?”
With a wide smile, he shook his head. “No, don’t worry! You just sit back, I’ll get everything ready.”
…While she felt a tiny tinge of guilt watching Makoto setting everything up for her, she couldn’t deny that it was nice to be able to lie back for a bit. Until the sweet, soft cushions of the couch lulled her into relaxation’s song, she hadn’t realized how tired she’d been.
Even this lovely sofa was a perfect example of the contrast between her own house and her partner’s. Every piece of furniture in her grandfather’s house was hard, supposedly promoting good posture– but this warm, welcoming sensation was an entrancingly lovely change of pace. She could even find herself falling asleep right where she was seated instead of the futon. Each and every part of this home was so warm and welcoming.
And when Makoto sat down next to her with a huff, she finally felt truly at home. As he rambled about how annoyed he was by the DVD player’s slowly deteriorating functionality, Kyoko realized that these mundane conversations were the first thing to truly make her feel… fulfilled. This was the first thing she wanted for herself. And Makoto had shown her that. A quiet warmth bloomed in chest, courtesy of her partner’s gentle smile and kind words.
“Kyoko? You alright?”
She perked up. “My apologies, what were you saying?”
“Just asking if you wanted to watch the movie!” He smiled, curiously tilting his head. “You must be pretty tired though. If you wanna take a nap, just tell me and I’ll get out of your hair!”
Sweet little Makoto, ever the gentleman. Kyoko shook her head. “No, don’t worry. I’m too interested in the movie to quit now. It’s hard to imagine a title like that hiding an actually good story… so either Asahina’s taste is very questionable– which isn’t entirely impossible, admittedly– or we’re dealing with a hidden gem of sorts here.”
“Yeah, it’s a fifty-fifty,” Makoto snorted as he fiddled around with the remote, smacking it when the TV refused to respond. “But Hina has pretty good taste in movies, so I’m sure it’ll be fine!”
Once Makoto got the movie to start, the couple sank back on the sofa, letting themselves relax while the opening credits rolled. As they did, Kyoko spotted a dark green blanket next to her– and it was only when she saw its cozy, inviting texture that she realized how chilly she’d been feeling. “Do you mind if I use this blanket?”
“Oh, sure! I mean, it’s yours for tonight anyway.” He chuckled.
Kyoko’s gloves meant that she couldn’t get a good feel of the blanket, but as it met her thighs, she could feel the soft, fluffy material vividly. It made her feel safe and snug. Yet it seemed quite rude to warm herself when Makoto was left to freeze, did it not?
Without a word, she shuffled closer to her partner so they could both fit under the thick, comforting piece of fabric. It was the least she could do, seeing how her partner allowed her to stay the night… though his blush that mirrored her own was a nice bonus. “You seemed a little cold too. Was I wrong?”
Feeling her so close lit a bonfire of embarrassment in him, a blaze that sent sparks flying through his nervous system. Any cold he may have been feeling had long since vanished. “Uh… yeah! I was feeling a little chilly… thank you.”
Truth be told, neither of them was paying particularly much attention to the movie. Their priorities lay elsewhere; in the feeling of their partner’s warmth, the comfort of their presence. It was in this intimate, close moment that the two felt at ease, with no expectations to fret over, no rules to adhere to, and no duties to fulfill. All they needed to do was love each other– something that came as naturally as breathing.
Losing himself in the moment, Makoto leaned against his partner, placing his head on her shoulder. For the tiniest of moments that seemed like eternity’s breath to the young boy, she froze… but when she nuzzled her head against his own, his each and every worry dissipated. Gently, she wrapped an arm behind his back to pull him closer, and Makoto’s heartbeat quickened, pounding in sync to the flutter of butterflies in his stomach.
This… was nice, Kyoko thought. Holding Makoto so closely to her, smelling the slightly woody scent of his shampoo, feeling his chest rise and fall in tandem to his breathing; all of it was enchanting, capturing Kyoko in a moment she never wanted to lose.
This boy had taught her just how simple life could be; that she didn’t need to be cold and unfeeling all the time, that it was okay to just lie back and breathe once in a while. Around him, there was no pressure to maintain the guise of a perfect heir to the Kirigiri legacy. She could just be… Kyoko. She could talk about the mundane things she’d never let herself fully embrace– like making fun of inaccuracies in mystery novels, listening to music, or even just drinking a good cup of coffee.
She wondered what her grandfather would think if he saw her like this, and her heart twisted. Over time, her feelings towards the man who raised her had grown… complicated, to say the least
Even as a child, she’d made every single decision with the Kirigiri creed in mind. She hadn’t realized it at first, but the more time she spent around Makoto and his charmingly normal life, the more she understood that she’d been missing out on so many things, all because of a legacy she had to do right by.
She loved her detective work. She loved her grandfather. But now, she also loved Makoto. A year ago, she would have considered this terrible judgement on her part– but now she’d realized that this was the best decision she’d ever made. Funny how the right choice came from going against everything she ever believed.
Tightening her hold on Makoto, she silently wished to never let him go again.
Until a sudden ear-piercing wail made both her and her partner flinch. ‘Ah, a jumpscare.’ Kyoko thought, a little ashamed at the way her heartbeat quickened. ‘Urgh. That’s what I get for getting caught up in my thoughts.’
Makoto, in the meantime, was even worse off. He leaned back against the couch, his chest heaving as he paused the movie. “Holy shit,” he muttered, his choice of words taking Kyoko aback. Cursing was an incredibly rare thing for him, saved only for when he stubbed his toe or got really mad about something. He must’ve been even more shaken than he showed.
“That was out of nowhere. It got me, too.” She sighed, sharing her vulnerability to make him feel a little more at ease.
“Man, I thought this was, like… psychological horror. I didn’t know it had jumpscares! Oh, when I see Hina again…”
She looked down, seeing his arms still tightly wrapped around her, and gave him a small smile. “Judging by how you’re holding onto me, it seems horror isn’t your forte. Would you rather watch something else?”
“...! Ah, sorry!” Makoto yelped, letting go of her… much to her quiet dismay.
For a moment, Kyoko found herself hesitating, her fingers twisting a loose thread on the blanket as she pondered whether or not she should speak her mind. But Makoto always brought parts of her to light that she’d never known existed– and this was no exception.
His closeness was something she hadn’t realized she craved until she first held him. The dark of her everyday life was illuminated by his glow, always so gentle and never crossing her boundaries, yet showing her how stunning new experiences could be. And now that they were alone, she wanted little more than to embrace him.
“...You didn’t have to let go.” The lull of her voice was like the night’s serenade, Makoto’s heartbeat now quickening out of excitement rather than fear. “I… I don’t mind you holding me.”
His eyes glistened like morning dew on an open field, startled yet spellbound by his partner’s words. Like countless times before, her honesty was more entrancingly romantic than any novel could have hoped to be. Makoto gulped, trying to gather himself. “I, uh… I’m really happy to hear that! I like holding you, too…”
Kyoko’s chest tightened with a quiet longing to feel her partner again. She hoped that opening her arms would say enough– and thankfully, it did.
Makoto’s movements were slow and deliberate. Without a single word spoken, he told her that if she were to change her mind, he would immediately stop and give her space. But while cute, his worry was unneeded, which she clarified by placing two gentle hands on his back and slowly pulling him in.
He sank into her embrace, their warmth meeting even through their clothes. Makoto could smell the scent of lavender– the perfume that he’d come to love– mingling with the familiar smell of home. Something about it was so comforting it may well have rocked him to sleep, had he let it. With a sigh, he buried his face in the crook of his partner’s neck.
It always tickled when Makoto did that, yet Kyoko couldn’t find herself complaining. His breath on her neck felt so… reassuring. Like it proved that this was real, and not just one of the many dreams of normalcy she’d had as a child. It was liberating to feel his weight on hers, to feel her heart pounding in her chest as freely as it craved, with no need to suppress her emotions.
Around Makoto, she didn’t need to hide her yearning for companionship and closeness– because he shared it. He always let her take the lead, never wanting to cause her discomfort, yet swiftly picking up on her cues whenever she craved for something words weren’t sufficient enough to convey. So, she gently tapped his cheek until he looked at her.
When he tilted his face towards hers, his sincere, big eyes were at full display. That stunning shade of green she’d fallen for was reminiscent of a summer meadow, its colors slightly dulled yet inviting all the same. She carefully moved her head down and closed her eyes; a telltale sign of what she wanted. One that Makoto picked up on immediately.
As a small smile formed on his face, he leaned closer… until their lips met in a soft, fleeting kiss, hers brushing gently against his. Sparks surged through their veins like a firework of passion and tenderness– fleeting as a moment, yet the origin of a memory meant to last a lifetime.
Even when they parted, the fondness was visible in their eyes and small grins, making it clear that they were far from finished. Makoto moved his hand to intertwine with Kyoko’s, tightly squeezing the leather of her glove as he approached once more.
Kyoko always thought his kisses were… so like him. Showering her with affection as he bombarded her with short, loving pecks– sometimes even making sure to add an accompanying ‘mwah’ sound, just to make her chuckle. Every single time their lips touched, she felt her composure crumble until only a wide smile remained.
“...You’re so beautiful,” Makoto whispered, affection clear in his eyes.
His honesty made her heart jump, the butterflies in her stomach stirring more and more wildly every second. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she averted her gaze, unsure of how to reply. “...Thank you,” she muttered. “I think… you’re quite handsome yourself.”
He snorted, much to her annoyance. She covered his mouth with her hand, a sharp glare on her face. “Keep laughing and your kissing privileges will be revoked, Mister Naegi.”
His pleas and promises to stop were incomprehensible through her glove, but the despair in his voice and face expressed his regret thoroughly enough. Trying her best not to smile, she nodded as professionally as she could manage. “Good. Kissing privileges retained until further notice.”
…Needless to say, expecting either of them to refrain from laughing for much longer was wishful thinking at best. The contrast between her small giggle and his hearty belly laugh only made it all the more hilarious, and she couldn’t help but wonder what she did to deserve this.
Someone she liked. Someone she could kiss. Someone she could openly laugh with, with no care for the impact it would have on the reputation of the Kirigiri family. It was something she hadn’t even dared dream of, yet here it was, right in front of her. Her giggle faded into a long sigh, filled with gratitude for whatever led the two of them together.
Once more, she wrapped her arms around him, inching closer until her lips brushed his ear. Makoto perked up in surprise, before she quietly whispered…
“Thank you, Makoto. I love you so much.”
She pulled back with a faint smile, revealing Makoto’s flushed cheeks and awkward grin. “I… I love you too,” he muttered, picking at his sweater. “But you don’t need to thank me, Kyoko. I love being with you like this! I mean… if I’m being honest, I was barely even paying attention to the movie. I got totally caught up, just… uh…”
As the embarrassment caught up to him, all he could do was look away to stop himself from trailing off any further. “Just… looking at you. Thinking about how lucky I am.”
Kyoko couldn’t stop a wordless laugh from escaping her at how silly the two had been. “That’s a relief… I did the same, truth be told.”
“Wha– then why weren’t you scared?!” he yelped, eyes wide in shock. “I mean, it was so… loud!”
“I was scared,” she raised a brow, having been under the impression that her shock had been clear as day. “It was just mostly internal.”
“Man…” he sighed, slumping. “I need some of your detective training. I don’t know how you do it.”
A year ago, Kyoko may have agreed. But right now, at this very moment? Shaking her head felt like the only right response. “I disagree. Forgive my selfishness, but… I prefer you this way. This is you. And I wouldn’t trade that for the world.” She cupped his cheek, a small, sly grin on her face as she leaned into a long, loving kiss.
Kyoko’s life was one of discipline and expectations… but Makoto gave her some much needed respite with each and every word he spoke. He was her everything– her infinity– and she wished to drown in him. To forget all about the harsh reality of this world and just feel her partner’s soft lips upon her own.
…In truth, she’d long since noticed that the rain had calmed into a timid drizzle, a far cry from the torrential storm a mere hour ago. She could easily have braved it with a borrowed umbrella, if she so desired. But right now, Kyoko found herself caring little for her dorm room, much preferring to stay in her partner’s loving embrace. Maybe, just maybe… she could get lucky enough for the storm to continue, so she could stay like this for the rest of the night.