Chapter Text
"Oh my God, Kira is that you! Wow, I haven't seen you since high school."
Yoshikage Kira looked up from his three-year old daughter holding onto his hand to the redhead waving enthusiastically towards him from a distance, her own child clinging onto her hand. Though this one was basically pulling on hers to finally go into the preschool and fulfill all her curiosities. So much so, that Shinobu had to pick her up and prop her on her hip to keep her from running off.
Kira glanced down at his own child, Haruka, who was the exact opposite. She was fearful and wary of this strange new world around her. The idea of being placed with other children and new adults without the comfort of her father was downright horrifying to her. Kira was surprised she could even fully comprehend that for her age. She hadn't been this nervous up until now, when she began to pick up on what was happening somewhat. Since then she'd gripped onto Kira's hand like a vice and had hidden behind the sanctity of his leg. He sighed to himself. She wasn't going to go in easily, was she?
"And who is this?" Shonobu cooed, bending down slightly to look at the child. Big mistake, as it only caused her to step in closer behind her father for protection. She wasn't crying as most children would, though her expression showed distress all the same. Big, strangely pink eyes behind misplaced strands of blonde hair. The more Shinobu looked at her, the more she wondered if the child blinked. She was almost like a doll, staring up at Shinobu, analysing her. Something straight out of a horror movie. But she hadn't the heart nor the guts to say such a thing in front of Kira or his daughter.
"Awe, is she shy?" she giggled in amusement. Kira sighed, though he was smiling. "Yeah. This is Haruka, and she isn't fond of other people," he explained politely. "That includes children and adults." Shinobu put a hand to her chest as a mime of sympathy. "Awe, a daddy's girl? I see." She then turned both of their attention to her own mini-me, slightly more settled but still looking around excitedly at all the other parents with kids her age.
"This little one can't wait to get away from me," Shinobu griped. "Say hi, Momo." The girl in turn looked up at the tall blond man, and beamed widely at him. "Hi!" she waved at him. A pink-faced, giggly toddler with little reddish-orange pigtails. Basically Shinobu's mini-me, and definitely going to be even more of a handful in the future. Kira gave her a small wave back.
"I forgot you had a kid. And you and Kawajiri tied the knot, didn't you?" Kira continued the conversation. Shinobu huffed, sounding less than happy about it. "Unfortunately," she admitted with a dry laugh and a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Like, I love Momo to bits, of course I do. And it's not as though Kosaku is a bad husband. He isn't even a heavy drinker, and he provides for us well. But my life's become so mundane..."
She stood, pondering over the issue, frowning at the ground beneath her. Momo was the only reason she'd gotten married so quickly. A rushed arrangement to hide their mistake of conceiving out of wedlock. She didn't get the big grand wedding she'd dreamed of since she was a young girl. The extravagance was lost on her all because of the kid. She didn't even get a good dress because her pregnant belly made any nice and luxurious one she would have wanted way too hard to fit into.
She was finally brought back to the present, by her daughter squirming more heavily and begging to be put down. "Fine Momo. Just don't run off," she warned, before gently setting her back on her feet. To her surprise, Momo didn't try to stray far from her side this time. Instead she was walking forward. Towards the other girl her age. Haruka shrank away from her, as though she were allergic to just being too close to other kids. This didn't spur Momo away from the poor child, though. In fact, it almost seemed to encourage her. "Hi! I'm Momo, what's your name?"
The moments of silence were almost agonising, at least to the two adults. "Listen Momo, honey, I don't think she's up to talking right now. Let's go in and you'll meet loads of new friends I'm sure." But then came a much smaller voice from behind Kira. "H-Haru... ka."
Both parents raised their eyebrows towards her, but Momo didn't realise what a major milestone this was for her. "That's a nice name," was all she said. "Ooh! What's your favorite colour?" Haruka smiled a little. Once the floodgates had opened, talking to this strange, excitable new girl became that much easier. "Purple," she answered. Her voice was barely audible, just enough for Momo to hear. But she was just happy to have someone to talk to.
"I like you, Haru," Momo said, confidently. She outstretched a hand to the blonde child. "Would you like to be my friend." There was hope in her big brown eyes. Haruka was still hesitant. She'd never really had a friend before. She looked up at her father for any guidance. But he merely raised his eyebrows at her with a small smile, letting her navigate this situation on her own. Deciding for herself that this girl was nice and pretty, Haruka took her hand with a smile. Momo practically glowed, knowing exactly what she meant.
They held each other's hands as they walked into their new preschool together. And, thanks to Momo, aside from a yearning, anxious glance towards her father at the door, Haruka did better than expected when Kira had to leave. Which was good, because Haruka clinging to his leg was the last thing he needed this morning. Even though he'd taken a rare day off work just in case Haruka needed help to settle in. He'd almost considered not taking her the first day at all, realising that she could already sense something was wrong. But he refused to have his child be behind in anything, even at her age. She'd thank him for this later.
"Man, little kids make friends so easily, huh?" Shinobu commented when they were outside and finally childfree. Kira nodded in agreement. "Well, yours is for sure. She seems incredibly charismatic." Shinobu laughed a little at that. "Oh, isn't she just... But Haruka's sweet though. Poor thing is so anxious already. She'll have a hard time when she's a teenager, for sure. More hormones and all that."
Kira snickered quietly. He remembered his early teenage years being similar. So wary and cautious around all of his peers. Suppose the apple didn't fall far from the tree. How close it fell would be interesting to see given his private behaviors.
Ones he thought about in the car, relieved he didn't have to tiptoe them around a toddler anymore. His most recent was in the fridge still. They hadn't even had the chance to have a proper date yet, as Haruka was always lurking somewhere, and he'd like to do so before she rotted too much. It would have to be quick, as he'd have to pick up Haruka from preschool later, which was a shame. But sometimes as a parent those sacrifices needed to be made.
But, who knows, maybe one day he wouldn't have to. Maybe one day she'd even understand. How much of his impulses ran through her veins was only up to fate.