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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Ahh, that's a good thing to hear from Kyoko. There had been a small part of Shinji, very small by this point, that was worried about dragging her in to things she might not have wanted any part in. What fun was there in waiting around a comatose body for several days? What if she wanted to confront her own sorrow in a different way? He knows he couldn't have forced her to stick around if she was really averse to it, but that mumble was enough to squash out any lingering doubts.

There's no need to worry when she says things like that, when she includes herself in on the waiting, on any future, hypothetical waiting. Shinji tilts his head ever so slightly so that he can steal a glance in her direction, just... wanting to see if he can read the look on her face as she said that, before closing his eyes and exhaling softly.

"Right." If he's somewhere they can't chase him down, then no wait will be too long. "We're always going to be here for you."

So it was time for him to die all over again.

That's what he was getting from the ache in his heart. There was too much going on here between what he could and couldn't have. He held on tight to Shinji's hand like a lifeline, as if it were the only thing that was going to get him through the turbulence Kyoko's gentle gesture had thrown him in to. It already meant so much, he shouldn't have wanted it to mean anything more than that. It didn't mean more than that. It didn't need to mean more than that.

But god it was nice to pretend it did. Just for tonight.

"...Then I've already gotten everything I could have possibly wanted for a birthday." Not the most poignant thing he could have said, but it was better than his alternative. He didn't need to get into how miserable it had been to wake up to the same nothing day in and day out. He didn't need to reiterate how happy it'd been to wake up to them at long last. Not when he could simply be happy with them. Just like this.

That had been a dangerous thing to say. Kyoko had known it even as she let the words slip from free from her lips--this might be showing just a little too much of her hand.

But she couldn't help it--she wanted him to know at least that much. And, risky as it was, this might be the only chance she ever got to put words to the burning in her heart.

Anyway, everything was fine right now; Shinji had chimed in easily, and Kaito had accepted her confession quietly. It was safe to sniffle, rub her face against her shoulder, and look softly up at the two of them again. "... Jeez. Don't think you're gonna get away with just this."

"We're both gonna spoil you rotten." That's a promise, Kai. "After all that, you deserve more than this."

He understands, he really does. What could be better than seeing the people you love after going through so much turmoil. If he were in Kai's shoes, he wouldn't dare ask for any more, but he's not. He wants to make sure Kai gets showered with as much love and care as they have to offer him.

Shinji shakes his head a bit, nuzzling slightly into Kai's hair as he does, and just... soaks in the presence of the two others here. He's so glad, so glad that things can settle back down into something resembling normalcy. "Thank you... for coming back to us."

"Mmm." Kai tilt his head a bit, not enough to brush Shinji away but just so that he could lean his cheek against their clasped hands. He didn't know how he could reply to that. He wasn't sure that desperately wanting to return to them had actually done anything. Maybe it had. He was grateful someone listened if it did.

"Wanted to," he ended up mumbling. He'd always want to.

There was something else he wanted though, and maybe if they were both so adamant about their threats of a good time... It felt like a childish request, but whatever. He was fine with that. Whatever shame he had about it was left wholly back in Japan.

"When we go back to bed, could we... go together again?" He really wasn't ready to let either of them go yet. "If it's okay."

Kyoko had nodded along with Shinji's threats of spoiling, and was already plotting a future of breakfast cake when Kaito piped up with that request, and she had to pause.

"... Huh?" He... was asking just Shinji, right? But then, why would he need to ask? Why would that not be okay? Why say "again" like it was something unusual? Kyoko knew the answer, but she couldn't help trying to avoid it, looking frantically at Shinji. "Huh??" Surely he would object, right?

It's good that there's no room in his heart right now for any jealousy. There's too much tiredness and warmth and worry and gratitude, nothing that can be squeezed out and replaced with any prickly, selfish feelings.

That, of course, doesn't mean the third party involved is going to be able to swallow the request so easily. What Kyoko will see when she looks Shinji's way is him looking awfully calm with the idea of all three of them whisk themselves away to one single bed. He gives her an even level look, sizing up the intensity of that kick of panic before actually answering Kai -

"Only if Kyoko wants to."

But, like, is she going to really going to tell him 'no' after that promise to spoil him? But he's not going to assume, or force her. It's up to you, Kyoko.

Shinji surely was the sweetest boyfriend Kai did not deserve in the slightest. So good. Trying so hard for his dumb partner. Kai loved him so much. He squeezed the other boy's hand, offering that silent thanks for indulging the idea of his request.

He was fully expecting the answer to be a 'no.' There was no shame in asking, but he wasn't going to press very hard. Pretending was just pretending, he wasn't going to be weird about it.

"Yeah," Kai agreed easily. He looked softly over at Kyoko again. "... Don't worry about it though, if you don't."

The only sensible answer would be "no"--surely even Kaito knew that by now. Surely Shinji knew it even better. And even if all innate good sense had been lost, they'd both had plenty of experience with how Kyoko operated. This was obviously a no-go; they should both know better. But the request had still been made, and gone blatantly unopposed.

Ah. These two, they really must not see her in anything but the most innocent, pure light, completely separated from anything resembling desire, like some kind of pet. Maybe that was to be expected. She should probably just be glad she hadn't given herself away a minute ago.

But guilt still tugged at her heart, even as that soft look from Kaito pulled it in the other direction. "You... really don't wanna stop holding hands yet," she concluded quietly, head dipping as she bit her lip. "I get it, but... it's not like it can go on forever, you know."

Everyone's still far too exhausted to be overthinking things like that. Well, everyone except Kyoko, maybe. Two thirds of them were too tired still. Or maybe the others were overthinking things in a different direction, who can say, really.

That answer from Kyoko doesn't... sound entirely positive, though. He frowns softly to himself, but keeps quiet, letting her answer fall to Kai as he slowly lifts his head away from the other boy's. He won't push the issue himself, it's her call to make at this point. The hand still at Kyoko's back gives her a gentle little pat, don't worry, don't worry.

Two thirds were overthinking in different directions, and one just wasn't thinking at all.

"I know," he said quietly, "but if it's one night I can pretend it can and hold them both as much as I want." Kai gave his head a little shake now that there was no fear of disrupting Shinji, smiling faintly. "You don't gotta indulge me, I'm just bein' greedy."

Just for one night, he was asking this thing that he knew she ought to refuse. Maybe if her heart were a little less tender and tired right now, Kyoko would hold strong, and refuse.

Or maybe she would dip her head in a tiny nod anyway, just like she was doing now, because there was no denying that this boy was her weakness.

"... Since it's tonight," she mumbled carefully, "if it's what you want, it's... all right."

Oh, would you look at that. It turns out Kyoko will indulge him for tonight, at least. How nice for Kai, a lovely little prelude-present before they attempt to destroy him on his birthday. It would be kind of weird for him to be thanking Kyoko for relenting, but there is some gratitude in the way he looks at her after that, should she notice.

"Whenever you two are ready to go back, then." It doesn't have to be now, but what's most important is that she doesn't mind at all.

How unexpected. Kai looked at her in surprise, that look turning to careful concern. He really couldn't tell if this was something she really hated, and that would worry him even more if it wasn't Kyoko. She'd never been shy about pushing him away, so this was... fine? It might have been fine. He hadn't dared to curl his hand around hers lest he invite that push sooner. Now was the time though, shyly giving her hand a squeeze. Thank you.

"'M good with now," he said as he tilt head up to look at Shinji, a grateful look on his face for him too. He didn't have to go along with this. Neither of them did, actually. Both of them were really far too good to him.

He glanced at Kyoko once more, soft all over again. "If you are." If you were sure.

Kaito looked at her, and Kyoko had to look away before those gently worried eyes could pierce her too deeply. Her cheeks were still tinged pink when she turned her gaze on Shinji--ah, and she didn't know what to make of the look he was giving her, either. How strange this all was.

But she didn't hate it, even if she did have to hate herself a little bit.

That soft prod got another tiny nod in response; putting this off would only give her time for nerves to build up. Better to do it now, if that was what Kaito wanted. Besides, it wouldn't be good to keep Shinji up unnecessarily, when he surely needed more sleep.

He is a pro at running on little sleep, do not go just because you're worried about him! Her other concerns are much more legitimate, even if he does appreciate the idea of getting a bit more shut-eye at this point.

"Mm," that nod seemed like as much of a 'yes' as anything, so Kai's hand gets a gentle little tug. "Now is good."

Now, then. Even if they were all good at running on little sleep in their own ways, that didn't mean they should when they didn't have to. Not when they could just curl up together and sleep away all of this emotional exhaustion. Maybe it wouldn't work that way, but it was worth a shot.

Kai moved easily at Shinji's prompting, easing himself up out of his seat. Keeping his hand wrapped up in Kyoko's, Kai gently encouraged her to follow. Up and out of the kitchen. Back down the hall.

To that warm and inviting bed that was beckoning to all three of them. Kai was just going to help himself to the middle this time.

Kaito led, and Kyoko followed quietly, eyes avoiding both of the boys as they made their way down the hall. Had his hand been this warm while she held it the past few days? Maybe it was just the gentle strength in his grip now that made her heart pick up.

Until they got to the bedroom, and it threatened to jump right up out of her throat. Oh no--what was she supposed to do now? She'd already navigated this situation once, but it was different now. Should she tell him to scoot over so Shinji could take that space? What did Shinji even want in this scenario? Kyoko perched uncertainly on the edge of the bed, but she didn't release Kaito's hand.

If you wait too long to figure out what to do, Kyoko, you're going to miss your opportunity to do anything altogether. Like right now - he goes Shinji, taking up the far side of the bed, leaving room for Kyoko to easily climb in on the other side of Kai. There we go, ready for a setup like back over the winter, when they were staving off the freezing chill. With that in mind, Shinji silently wonders to himself if Kai was feeling anything towards Kyoko even back then. Hm...

He doesn't think about it long, using his time to instead settle in close against Kai's side. There are plenty of other thoughts to be dwelling on right now, but the ultimate goal here is to shoo all of them off to get some rest either way.

All right, Kyoko, it's your turn to hey cozy too.

To be honest Kai would not have been able to confirm or deny if his feelings had been brewing back then. The only thing he was sure was that they'd probably been there longer than he might have thought. If he looked back on what his heart felt for Shinji too, it would have been the same. It's what had made falling in that so easy. This felt dangerously easy too.

Maybe just because it was really nice regardless? Because it was.

Kai greeted Shinji with a tender smile. Welcome to coze. He was so, so happy you were here. Please enjoy the stay. It wasn't long before that smile was making its way over to Kyoko too, as Kai gently gave her hand an encouraging tug. There was a spot right here, just for her.

Oh no--she had fretted too long, and now there was only one spot open for her. When Kaito gave her hand that tug, she couldn't help stalling another moment or two, biting her lip as she looked down at the boys in their cozy bliss. Really, why was she needed here, again? Didn't Kaito already have everything? There might be space for her in this bed, but Kyoko knew she didn't have a place here.

Just for tonight, though, she would make a tiny, temporary one for herself. She had to avert her eyes from the boys as she gingerly laid herself down beside Kaito, but she didn't turn her back on them, at least not yet. And her hand would stay nestled warmly in Kai's all the while.

"... G-goodnight, then."

Wasn't being wanted compelling enough? Though, if Shinji knew of those particular worries, he's sure he'd understand completely. Heck, he's already uncertain of how comfortable she actually is with this whole arrangement, but... if it's what Kai wants, Shinji's already more than happy to oblige by those wishes as far as he's able. He doesn't want to let Kyoko out of his sight quiet yet either, having her go off to be on her own after holding her hand for so many days feels like it would be far, far too lonely of a thing to do.

It's nice that she isn't immediately trying to make herself scarce, too. His own hand is still nice and warm in Kai's, but he's also not making a big effort to get too snuggly with tonight's company present. Let's keep the awkwardness for her down to a minimum, if possible.

"Mmm," he hums softly, taking a look over toward Kyoko with a downright fond expression, a smile playing faintly on his lips. "Thank you, again, for everything."

Well, now he had everything. Two halves of his whole, just where he wanted them to be. He really was too damn lucky, he hadn't needed to look far at all to find his reasons to live his life better. Those hands warm in his were more than enough.

He was on board for keeping the awkward to a minimum, knowing this was just a selfish request that was being very kindly obliged. Shinji had a future of downright clingy cuddles ahead of him scheduled for the next week at least. Of course, it was only the snuggling that Kai really had any jurisdiction over anymore.

The adoration that was so plainly on his face as he looked between them was another matter entirely. Maybe he could have done something about it. Maybe he just didn't care to. That's just how his face was now in the middle of all these sweet sentiments.

What?? Why was she being thanked right now? Cheeks pink, Kyoko looked over at Shinji, and was hit full in the face with the sweet expressions from him and Kaito both. What the heck. How was she supposed to survive in these extreme conditions?

Face burning darker, Kyoko shook her head, half burying it in her pillow in the process. "It's--I-- um... Don't worry about it."

For sticking with Shinji for four straight days! For agreeing to come along to bed with them! You're being a real treasure, that's why you're being thanked!

Shinji's said what he wants, though, he won't drag sleep-take-two on any longer than necessary. That bashful reaction will be taken as it is, nothing to chase down or insist upon.

"Mhm," no worries here, as long as the message has been delivered. "Sleep well, you two."

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