hugtopia_logs | happy birthday to u

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happy birthday to u

♥ Who: sad rawna kids, maybe less sad other people
♥ Where: rawna’s house
♥ When: 7/4-7/8
♥ What: canon update party
♥ Rating: prolly pg for intense worry

This was not how the afternoon was supposed to go.

It was really just supposed to be a little lounge in the afternoon. Kai had taken Bug out for a little romp in the sunshine, let the little guy stretch its… uh… rind? Get its roll on. Enjoy that one patch of grass for a while, a fruitbug needed some quality time outside sometimes, probably. Kai did at least. Playing with the orange eventually devolved into just sitting around for a bit as it rolled around, and that eventually led to laying back to watch the clouds roll by. Had there been any plans for dinner? Was the kind of idle thought that passed by. Maybe when all three of them were home, they could try making oyakodon or something together. That seemed like a good time.

When idle thoughts and lazy clouds became a nap, he didn’t know.

He didn’t wake up when Rawna’s priests came and picked him up. He didn’t wake up when Bug squeaked at them either, so he missed all the erratic circles it rolled around them as they went off to the temple.

It rolled all the way there, and all the way back, rolling around in obvious circles in the yard until someone it knew came home. Was it you? Yes? Well, better follow that fruit cuz there it went down the road to Rawna’s house.

The priests were kind of expecting them. Even with the mishaps that had happened, Rawna’s priests were familiar enough with this group to know that there was one pertinent reason Shinji or Kyoko would have shown up right now…. Even if they didn’t yet. Yes, their friend was this way. Yes, they could visit with him.

He didn’t wake up then, either.

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Ah... it really was good to see that smile again. It was enough to calm her fluster a bit, as she softened down into a smile of her own.

"It was where I wanted to be," she insisted softly, looking at Kaito as well. "I... we both wanted to stay until you woke up no matter what."

"Exactly." No matter how long it had taken, neither of them were going to give up. Nearly four days was... pretty rough, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. With that thought in mind...

"You said... it had felt like weeks to you, right? Even though it was just a few days for us."

He doesn't have to elaborate on what happened if he doesn't want to, but the option is there, if he wants to take it.

Right where they wanted to be, huh. Kai could only give those tender sentiments another warm squeeze as he dipped his head slightly. It wasn't quite to hide that soft flush on his cheeks, but if that was a bonus than sure.

It was more to soften the tight line his mouth became for a moment, thinking about those weeks. "Yeah," he said quietly. "We can... we can talk about it later."

There were more important things that needed to happen first, like getting them well rested and fed.

That was right... had Kaito really meant it literally, when he said it felt like weeks? To be honest, Kyoko wasn't super clear on what happened during these weird Havenwell comas. The way Mina had described her experience, it sounded like getting a glimpse of home, but how real was it? Did you really feel time pass? Four days was a lot, but weeks was pretty dramatic.

But the secrets of Kaito's time away from them would stay locked away for now. Kyoko looked cautiously at him sidelong, frowning a little. Had it been terrible, like it was for Mina?

"... Mm. Whenever you want," she promised softly. "You can let us hear about it."

Perhaps when they are all a bit more... stable. If Kai doesn't feel the need to share right away, it's not so important that it can't wait.

"Of course."

Shinji's mind wanders to thoughts of tall prison walls, and impossible flights over them. Had Kai gotten to finally experience that sight? He can wait to hear the answer - he'd already waited days, after all - and surely they'll all be in a better place to deal with whatever new information Kai has after some substantial food and rest. It's just another part of letting him lean on them, whenever he's ready for it.

"Mmm. In a little bit then."

There was no rush to express how much of an idiot he'd been. Everything had turned out fine in the end, at least, so even if he was a bit loathe to unveil the depths of his stupidity, there wasn't a good reason not to. He was fine, somehow. There was just that one detail in the middle that probably wouldn't go over very well with two sleepless worried hens. It'd be better to wait.

"'M just glad to be back where I wanna be too."

Here with them, shuffling up to the home they'd made for themselves so far.

So whatever Kaito had seen in that deep sleep, it hadn't swayed him in his preference for Havenwell. Probably it was hypocritical and cold for Kyoko to be relieved about that, but she was too weary to deal with complex feelings. He was here with him, and he was glad for it, and that was all that mattered.

But they couldn't all stay glued together like this forever, especially if they wanted to do important things like Enter Their House. For some reason, the front door was not designed to admit three people walking abreast. What was with that, huh.

So Kyoko would gently disentangle herself at last to go open it up, and then usher the boys in. "Aah, Kaito, do you think you can eat? You'd better at least have some water right away."

Kyoko's not the only one who feels a sense of relief at knowing Kai still doesn't want to go back to his own world. Here is where he'd rather be, with them. In their home, greeted back by the flowers blooming all across the front yard. Which can really only comfortably accommodate one person walking through the door at a time. What's up with that?

Shinji falls back a step, using his hand to lightly guide Kai through the door before reaching back to offer his other one to Kyoko. No reason to stop the support train if they're all just as tired as they were before the short journey back.

"That's probably a good idea for all three of us, honestly."

Without all of that worry weighing them down, stomaching some essentials might be a bit easier.

Awfully rude of you to break up their party, door. At least an orange could go tumbling through around their legs to go find the kotatsu to scoot around under. Thanks for your services, little buddy.

"Hmmm, maybe."

Suddenly the conductor of this line of handholds, Kai scooted them along inside. Everyone take a moment to toe your shoes off. Okay let's go.

"I was thinkin' you guys could get a proper nap and I could get a little food going?" Let him use the power of all his sleep to stand up for a bit while they rested.

Shinji reaching for her hand again, even now, here in the safety of their own home after the scary things were all over, made Kyoko pause and blink. He... still wanted this? Enough to go back for more when it would make perfect sense to let it end naturally here?

Or maybe he just thought she needed assistance. A fair assessment, she had to admit as she stepped inside and felt herself sway a little. Well, all right then. Maybe she shouldn't think too hard about it at this point.

But almost as soon as she'd slipped her hand back into Shinji's, Kaito was chiming in with a truly wild idea. "Huh?? Making you do chores when you just woke up? That's too much!"

Incredible, having the energy to overthink such a small gesture. Not Shinji, he's definitely just going on what feels the most right to be doing without examining why.

Any overthinking should be devoted to making sure that Kai's not pushing himself, anyway. It doesn't entirely feel like they'd be making him do anything particularly big and involved if he wanted to whip up some kind of meal, but it still seems kind of. Hm.

"You were just asleep for nearly four days," he reminds Kai. Even if he remembers being up at all kinds of things, his body was still just hanging out doing nothing for that long! "You should be taking it easy, Kai."

"It's not a chore, geez," was Kai's first protest as he led them through the house. Notably and without much surprise, they were not going to the kitchen.

"And both of you were apparently awake for nearly four days," he pushed back. No one was actually in a position to be doing much of anything! He at least had a backup option. "If it's too much I can always just pop the omurice button, don't worry about it."

There was no convenient nap button though. There was only bed. This bed.

Correct, they were not going to the kitchen. Kyoko didn't even break away to go to her own proper bed, at least not yet. She wasn't getting into this one either though, just nudging the boys towards it.

"We were not!" Not that whole time! There were definitely An Amount of naps, between the two of them. "I was sleeping even when you woke up!" How long she'd been asleep before that was a mystery nobody needed to solve.

"We'll have omurice for sure, but you have to at least sit down and recover from the walk first!"

Surely, a brief sit-down with them is a doable compromise. Shinji's not about to argue the opportunity to finally get some kind of meaningful rest, which means that even as he has yet to let go of Kyoko's hand, he's trying to give Kai in closer to the bed as well.

"Even just for a little while," he insists.

It was all going according to impromptu plan, so there wasn't any resistance on Kai's part on getting shuffled towards bed. He'd even take a seat! Just not before turning to take each of their hands to make sure they were coming to the same destination.

"I'll take it real easy. Won't go anywhere 'til you both get some rest, ok?" He gave their hands a squeeze. "Please."

Kaito was sitting down now. Good. Mission accomplished. Excellent work, everyone.

Kaito was also, surely coincidentally, still holding her hand, as was Shinji. Unsure of how to proceed from this point, Kyoko was left standing awkwardly in this hand-holding circle, glancing uncertainly between her roommates. Probably she should leave now, and give them some privacy! But yanking her hands away while they were still holding them would feel kinda mean. If she just sort of loosened her grip, would they naturally remember to let go of her? That was what she was trying for now.

"G-good." Here was a meaningful look at Shinji. "You won't let him push himself, right?"

Is there some kind of particular plan here, with Kai keeping a hold on both of their hands? Shinji's a bit lost, personally, and while he does let Kyoko's hand finally go as she loosens her hold, he gives a vaguely bewildered look to Kai's hand still holding on to hers.

That's. Fine. Probably. He won't question it.

"Of course, I'll make sure he rests for at least a little while."

Okay. Well. He supposed he'd need to be blatant about it. Here's another tug to bring them closer.

"I'll rest. You two are taking a nap. If you're both in the same spot I won't need to wobble around to check on you and make sure you're not trying to bake a cake instead of sleeping or whatever."

That little tug did bring her stumbling closer, but not without an alarmed little "uwoh!" What! Really?! He wanted that kind of arrangement??

"I--I won't bake anything until later! I promise!" You don't have to watch her, jeez! "Have a little confidence in me!"

The wheels in Shinji's head are definitely chugging now, and when he puts the pieces of what Kai's implying together, his eyes light up in understanding. Ah, so that's the angle he's going for.

He gives Kyoko a sidelong glance, and while he does want to take her promise at face value, he can't deny.... having her right there would make it much easier to make sure she does let herself rest. He doesn't feel right pushing her too hard about it, but if he doesn't make too big a fuss, maybe she'll be more okay with the idea...?

"I mean, if it'll make it easier for you, Kai."

Think of his condition! It will ease his worries! This is not a bad idea, awkward as it may be.

Shinji's hand got an extra squeeze, a wordless little thank you for not being too upset with the idea. He really was just trying to think of what would put the most minds at ease at once, and this seemed like it was it for multiple reasons. There was just the fluster to contend with, but that was worth it.

"Mhmm." There was a flicker of a warm smile there. "You looked after me for so long, at least let me get a few hours to return the favor before I lean on you again."

And here was Kyoko's extra little squeeze too. "You already know he's a good nap partner, right? You'll get well rested in no time."

Wow, Shinji, just joining right in on the murder, huh.

Kyoko would not have thought she'd have the energy for much fluster, but here she was burning up all the same. What the heck. What should she do? Why were they both acting like this was okay? Weirdos!!

"I really don't get you," she went ahead and said, though it came out as a mumble as she gingerly sat down on the edge of the bed, beside Kaito. "Both of you."

Sorry for being a weirdo and also a murderer, but, like, You Know.

If it makes her feel any better, the comment about being a good nap partner is enough to drag a bit of fluster out of Shinji as well, his cheeks coloring a slight pink as he joins the both of them on the bed, on the other side of Kai. And, ahh, even just sinking in to the soft cushioning of the mattress this much melts so much of his stress away. Hello, extra comfy bed, he missed you.

"Just for a while," he assures her, unable to stop himself from letting out a yawn as that tension seeps right on out of him, letting that fatigue make itself truly known.

Was it really that much of a surprise that he'd want them all together on a bed when she'd already guessed he would have liked that? Gosh.

He smiled a bit more though, at least having the decency to look a little sheepish about it. This was pushing things, he knew, and he was grateful she was being a good sport about it too. "Sorry for being weird," he said out loud with a light chuckle, and then he echoed, "Just for a while, yeah."

That was quite the yawn though. Kai finally let go of their hands, but it was just so he could give them each a pat on their knee and then give Shinji a soft hair ruffle. "C'mon, scoot on back and get comfy. I'm... I'll be right here. Not goin' anywhere else."

She wasn't serious when she thought that! It wasn't a suggestion! Jeez Kaito!

But if this was really what he wanted, right now, and Shinji wasn't against it... if this was the only way to get Kaito to take it easy and not push himself... wouldn't she be kinda unreasonable to make a big fuss and refuse? She'd be causing trouble for poor, tired Shinji, too.

"Just... for a while," Kyoko mumbled. Just one nap. She'd been in this bed before.

That scandalous--even though it was innocent! and she knew it!--pat to her knee almost made her give it all up and bolt, though. Face a full-on tomato, Kyoko clenched her hands into fists on her lap, and steeled herself. "Um--let me take the far side, then. You can be closer to him that way, Shinji."

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