Chapter Text
The cathedral is old… is what Hinawa concurred as he pulled the sheets covering their soon-to-be operational desks, fluttering the grime sitting atop it to flitter endlessly as it showered the room in a rain of dust. The other man in the room coughed, he sparred Hinawa a curious glance “...You know Hinawa- I don’t know much about you personally,”
His now official Daitaicho, Akitaru Ōbi asked “-Do you have a family?”
Hinawa’s mind flitted to Tōjō’s smile. Tōjō reading a book by the window, and vestiges of what is left before he was consumed within the inferno fire of Latom - Scorched to the core.
“—My father raised me on his own, but he died last year.”
“..I see, just your father.” Ōbi hummed in thought.
As if in wordless homage, they both steeped in the comfortable silence following the brief exchange. Feeling warmth streaming its long golden fingers through the window, dancing together with hands that clean.
And in its pregnant silence, born yet another question from Ōbi’s curious lips “..Got a girlfriend?”
Certainly, that question was the last thing Hinawa expected coming from his Daitaicho, though regardless it was still such a simple question to an obvious answer - yet the pulse that accompanies it still managed to leap itself off its track-- “….. A girlfriend?? ” The lieutenant inquired back foolishly.
The silence that followed chased around the seconds, Until— “Should I have said boyfriend-?”
Hinawa’s pulse promptly smashed itself through the proverbial roof of his ribs. Alighting a rebuttal that teetered on the edge of his tongue, set to digress-- until Akitaru Ōbi himself swiftly interjects with a look of horror in his eyes --“I’m not prejudiced!” Ōbi uttered hastily, quelling Hinawa’s beating pulse back onto its tracks.
“I-I don’t have either Daitaicho.. I’m not interested in having a lover.” Hinawa replied truthfully. which earned him an inquiring tilt, “....I just can’t imagine having one with a job like this, where you could die at any moment.”
Ōbi’s brows immediately drew in shock at that exclamation, the captain’s back hunching forward in a sign of dejection “You shouldn’t say that kinda’ thing! ...Are you sure you really want to join company 8??”
That statement took Hinawa by surprise, and it left him contemplating- was he not supposed to? --“I didn’t think it’d be such a weird company. Can I quit then..?”
In reply, Akitaru Ōbi simply smirked “Hrmmm, nope~”
It was such a ridiculous answer.. Hinawa would’ve laughed if he weren’t trained any better, so his lips settled into a smirk instead. —Whether he believes it or not this man right here will be his Daitaicho from now on. A man that will lead his future, and others in a journey to vanquish Infernos- and to debunk any truth behind the mystery of such Infernos.
“Hinawa.. We can’t have anyone who belittles their own life in company 8. I need a truly strong fighter! --Who can value their life and the lives of others in my team.”
Hinawa felt his smirk tug wider “..You’re like the king and the father of company 8 huh..?”
His Daitaicho sputtered at the implication to his age, and Hinawa couldn’t help but chuckle, -- If Tōjō were here… The man would’ve been proud to see Hinawa finally ‘warm up’ to others as he liked to say, Tōjō would have also smiled to see him standing alongside justice and embracing the holy sol.
But above all, he would be proud to see a version of Hinawa— short of all the edge Takeshi Hinawa has stowed upon years within the military, into a being capable of opening up to a new prospect in life.
Hinawa’s eyes met the soft smile of his Captain, and he could feel himself mirroring back the gesture “This is our castle from now on! If i’m the father, then you would be the mother of this company lieutenant-!” His captain proclaims it with so much pride booming in his voice that Hinawa couldn’t interject. I suppose he’s a mother now...
And alas, that was the start to something great birthed from within 8th’s cozy yet ramshackle cathedral.
Ever since Hinawa started his journey he had dedicated his life and pride in the 8th's name, though despite his undying love, their company is still undoubtedly.. A newborn.
And it was up to Hinawa and his captain to nurture it from the ground up. --He was after all deemed the mother, and he kept true to that title when he recruited their first member- Maki Oze, a soldier from his military section he was proud to endorse.
The 8th were striving to make a name for themselves amongst the Special Fire Brigade, and Hinawa didn’t take a second guess selecting her. She was an instant fit. Aspiring, passionate, and hardworking, not to mention a second gen that could handle fledgling setbacks with a blink of an eye.. Also it doesn’t hurt that she obeys.
Captain ōbi was more than pleased to welcome Maki into their crew - and slowly, Hinawa felt the tension in his shoulders wane as they exchanged handshakes and friendly greetings. It made him happy. A swelling pride gradually taking roots as the company gingerly bloomed right before his eyes.
That night, Hinawa cooked a grand dinner worthy of the last supper - making sure he parried his Captain’s endless domestic teasings for it as he served them both, unperceived to Maki’s bashful adoration lighting up her eyes while she watched the duo interact closely.
Iris was the very first privately-recruited member the 8th has had the pleasure to welcome into their crew.
She was a sister born from the walls of the Holy Sol temple. Hinawa might not be religious, but he had heard of the tragic fire that collided within the holy temple years ago.. Where most of the nuns were burned alive in the mercy of the scorching infernal fire.
It was deemed the worst reported tragedy of the “Spontaneous human combustion” to have ever occurred - leaving but ashes and corpses in its wake, except for two sole survivors. —The infamous Captain Hibana of the 5th, and Iris. Now apparently standing in their kitchen with a tender smile gracing her lips.
Their first class officer Maki; quickly warmed up to the nun in no time. The girl presumably feeling glad to have another female member honoring their team. --Hinawa himself had no problems warming up to Iris also, and so does his captain Ōbi.
As a matter of fact, that was probably the fact why his captain has chosen to recruit a sister despite knowing the nun’s lack of contribution in battle... But in spite of his doubt, Hinawa refused to deign his captain’s choices in this regard.
Still, as a soldier, it was never in his mind to practice mercy- what Hinawa knew from the four walls of Tokyo army are orders and to accomplish it. Anything in between are of no concern. So to constitute compassion into their mission... Hinawa could never personally condone.
—Yet that wisdom was short-lived somehow. He was proven wrong right on the battlefield, as a merciful liberation was promptly invoked by sister Iris— relinquishing peace to the tortured souls that have fallen in the hands of Ratomu.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, let the soul return to the flaming fire. Látom.”
Amongst the ashen grounds flickering with fire, it was the very first time Hinawa caught sight of what resembled peace framing his Commander’s eyes - Contentment.
The parting blessing bringing a smile to his lips as he thanked sister Iris for the prayers.
“Daitacho?” Hinawa inquired on the aftermath.
“Yes lieutenant Hinawa?”
“...How are you feeling?”
“Hmm..? Whatever do you mean by that~?”
Hinawa resists a blush at his captain’s grin, “I mean- you looked oddly satisfied with the purifying today. What changed..?”
The man gave his question a thought as they walked side by side to the matchbox, “I guess i’m just glad to have sister Iris with us today... It’s great knowing the victims are receiving god’s divination before returning to the blazing fire.” Ōbi’s fingers toyed freely with his Core annihilating pile bunker.
“I see.”
“~Hmm?? What’s with that look on your face lieutenant?? Cheer up! You don’t need to be worried about sister Iris... I trust that you and Maki will protect her on the battlefield,”
“..I understand that Captain, but be wary, you might be asking too much of Maki and I when we clearly have our hands full with you already.”
“Ouch! That hurts Hinawaaa~ But i guess i’ll yield.. after all, I always respect mother’s wishes.” He smiles back coyly at him.
This time, Hinawa was incapable of suppressing the warmth on his cheeks, cherry red tint blossomed steadfastly atop his nose and cheeks, undoubtedly bringing satisfaction to his captain’s already rising grin.
Hinawa glared -- “It seems your brain has also become purely muscle.” He quips back sassily before marching headfirst to the matchbox, ignoring the gleeful calls of his commander to return.
Next, came the troublesome duo Shinra and Arthur.
The addition of teens to their crew made Hinawa fully come to terms with his title as the 8th’s maternal role. In all the months he’s been here, he had never felt more like a mother to them than he already has as a single man bearing the sole responsibility of the 8th’s stomach.
Hinawa almost wished he’d grown up with a sibling for the obvious reason that he’s clearly lacking the knowledge of mediation to manage the two incongruent soldiers from their constant rivalrous battle.
...Though regardless of Shinra’s hot-headed nature or Arthur’s manic delusions— Hinawa could appreciate the fact that even with the demise of the 8th’s peace, they are now becoming a veritable team with the newest addition of Vanguards to their crew.
Although Hinawa won’t lie that he does quite miss the peace that resides in the cathedral once upon time... But I guess having the two wasn’t so bad.
------
“Mmm, this potato croquet is delicious~!”
“..I’m glad its to your liking Commander.”
“—If i could cook like Lieutenant Hinawa, I would be 50 pounds overweight by now! Everything is just so delightful~!” Maki praised as she took another bite of her omurice.
“The sun-god truly has blessed you with bountiful talent lieutenant Hinawa,” Iris followed up as she inhaled her eight serving of Karaage.
It’s not like he wasn’t privy to compliments... Hinawa has been told he’s handsome, strong, responsible. But he was never the kind to ever grow comfortable to accepting it- it felt too much like a responsibility... A responsibility he still struggled to traverse through.
Evidently so- when the touch of a blush starts to creep back atop his nose and cheeks.
He purposely avoided Ōbi’s curious stare, only to come face to face with Arthur’s inquiring look ——“Gunsmith, why art thou skin painted crimson?? ...Had Shinra’s abhorrent foot odour completely slain thou appetite-??”
“What the hell does that mean?!-- I’m wearing shoes right now!”
The blonde snickered beside him, stirring his miso soup a tad bit aggressively “...what it means devil. Should Ratomu blesseth thy chronic foot fungus!”
Everybody on the table gagged, and my god... Within twenty-years of his life, Hinawa has never come across two teens so codependent on a single braincell.
“Stop it you two.” Hinawa puts down his chopsticks with a glare. Though the fight hardly ceased as insults still flew past the dinner table, and Hinawa is 100% sure they’re not bantering anymore... “Ok, you tw-“
“STOP IT YOU TWO! —LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER.”
The table fell silent upon ōbi’s loud declaration. Frozen in shock at what they all have collectively heard a previous second ago. And Hinawa... He just prays for Latom to scorch him clean off the earth, when eight pair of eyes immediately landed on him.
“Mother...?” Arthur gawks.