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Hachi is slicing cabbage in the kitchen when Shin knocks at the door. He’s the last to arrive at their dinner get together, Nobu, Nana and Ren are already gathered at the table by the window. Yasu was working late, but Hachi was secretly hoping he’d stop by later in the night. She was making enough food so everyone could probably eat their fill twice, maybe even three times.
She smothers him in a tight hug that could be best described as motherly and he giggles. Maybe it’s not her place to act like this with him, it’s not her job to be so protective and he didn’t ask for it, but she can’t help but want to. He always seems so grown up so she ends up swelling with something like gleeful pride every time she gets to see him actually enjoy himself and be a kid.
“Hachi!” he says in a sing-song tone, “Notice anything different?”
Nana has put out her cigarette and strolled over to greet the boy as well. Hachi tenses when the taller woman wraps her arms around her waist from behind, but her attention is still fully on Shin for the moment, even with the pleasant smell of nicotine and perfume clouding her senses.
“No! Oh- wait, did you touch up your roots? Your hair looks so nice today!” she gushes.
Shin beams, “I did, I did! But that’s not it, look closer.”
He sticks out his tongue in a comical way, making an ‘ah’ sound like he’s at the doctor’s. Hachi’s eyes widen at the slight swelling and the presence of a silver stud that definitely hadn’t been there before.
Nana whistles lowly, “Damn, that looks like it hurts. Swelling s’not too bad though.”
“Y-you got your tongue pierced Shin?!” Hachi exclaims.
“Yup! Do you like it, Hachi?”
“Uh, it looks very cool,” she says unsurely, “Are you okay though? Do you want ice or anything?”
“No, it’s okay! I’m just sad I can’t eat your spicy chicken tonight, it smells so good,” he whines with a small pout.
She smiles at his antics, “Aw, well there’s plenty, I’m sure there’ll be leftovers!”
Hachi jumps involuntarily when Nana noses at her neck, “It looks ready, should I help you bring it to the table?”
“Y-yes! That'd be great, I’ll just finish plating this salad…”
She feels like she can breathe a little easier when Nana detaches from her and begins removing the chicken from the frying pan. Shin abandons his guitar case and runs to sit across from Nobu and Ren, sticking his tongue out once again to get their reactions.
Hachi’s heart swells with warmth as she watches all the food she’s prepared be plated and their guests start digging in. She feels like she’d be content to just stand and watch them eat, but Nana doesn’t allow it, she nudges her and pulls her into a seat between herself and Shin.
“Thank you for the food Hachi!” says Nobu, who’s practically drooling.
“Thanks for having us, Nana,” adds Ren. He makes grateful eye contact when he says it. That plus the use of her name makes her look away with a bashful wave of her hand, her face reddening. She’s still not so used to his presence.
“Yeah thanks, strawberry,” Nana whispers in her ear, making Hachi’s face burn all over again.
Shin makes a whining cry sound, and picks up a sliced piece of cucumber to suck on dejectedly.
“The price of beauty, huh Shin?” teases Nobu.
“Worth it,” he replies, but the mournful look on his face is still there.
Hachi pauses cutting up chicken to look at him, “So what made you want to get that piercing Shin?”
He pauses to give her a confused look.
“O-Oh, I guess you guys have heaps of piercings, so it’s not that big a deal for you! I was just curious.” she laughs nervously, afraid that she’s embarrassed herself in front of the punks once again.
Nana laughs, “Maybe I should get a tongue piercing,” she says in a clearly teasing manner, “Since you find them so interesting.”
Hachi blinks obliviously, “Wait, really? Wait, why are you smiling like that, I don’t get it- Are you making fun of me?” she pleads.
Nobu hides his face behind his glass of water, “It’s one of those things it’s better you don’t know, Hachi.”
“I’m being left out again.” she cries.
Nana winks at her, and she gets the urge to bury her face in her hands.
“If you’re interested in our piercings, why don’t you get one yourself?” suggests Ren, sounding as effortlessly cool as ever.
Shin brightens immediately, “Yes! Let’s take Hachi to the body jewellery shop!” he exclaims.
She smiles nervously, “Ah, I’m not too sure… I’m always between jobs and casual places are pretty strict about that kind of thing. I don’t think I’d get hired if I had piercings like you guys,” she laughs a little, “I’m not a musician after all,”
“You could always get a piercing somewhere that’s not visible…” says Nana slyly, taking a conspiratory sip of her drink.
Ren stifles a laugh and Nobu groans.
Hachi’s face reddens, “Wait, like what? You don’t mean-”
Nana cuts in, “Your nipples. Or…”
“Ah! Nana!” Hachi’s face is burning now, and even Shin is chuckling at her expense.
“What? I think it’d be cute.” she smirks.
“It sounds scary!” she has to stop herself from physically raising her hands to her chest in a protective manner, “Wait- Nana, don’t tell me you have yours pierced!”
She scrunches her eyebrows, “Hachi, we’ve literally bathed together, I think you would know by now if I did,”
Nobu nearly chokes on his food, “You guys bathe together?!”
Shin mutters something that vaguely sounds like ‘Why does that surprise you?’
“What, some girls are just close like that.” Nana replies calmly, “Is that really so weird?”
“Well us guys aren’t close like that,” the blonde emphasises.
“We could be close like that if you wanted to be,” says Ren with a wink.
Nobu bristles, “I think I’d rather not,” he says, shifting a little further down the seat.
“So is that a no to nipple piercings?” asks Nana, turning her attention to Hachi once again.
The girl squirms, “Can we please not talk about this in front of the boys? And Shin.” she begs. Nana manages to resist the sudden urge to pinch her little pink cheeks.
The blue haired teen perks up, “Wait, why am I seperate from the boys?”
“Because you’re…” Still just a baby, she wants to say, “Special to me,” she says instead.
He surprisingly accepts the answer, “Aw, Hachi! Adopt meee!” he sings, rubbing his cheek against her shoulder affectionately.
She pats his head happily, “Okay!”
Nana slams down her strawberry cup harshly, “Hachi, no.”
The brunette’s bottom lip sticks out in a childish pout, “But why not? I just want to take care of him…” her lip begins to tremble dangerously.
“Hachi, you’re twenty. You can barely take care of yourself, it’s not time to be adopting anyone. Shin’s not your responsibility, you can take care of him the same way you have been.” she instructs in her ‘this is final’ tone of voice.
Hachi hums somberly, “Okay, I guess you’re right,” she continues threading her hand through Shin’s spiked hair in a way she hopes is comforting.
“So… no appointment at the piercing shop?” asks Nobu innocently.
“No!” cries Hachi.
Now it’s Nana’s turn to look dejected, “Aw, too bad. I was going to buy you jewellery to match my new tongue piercing I’m going to be getting,”
Hachi flounders once again, looking to the raven woman beside her like a kicked puppy. Nana who had begun picking at her food casually shoots her a sidelong glance, offering her nothing.
“…I’ll think about it okay!” she concedes.
Nana smirks, knowing she’s won, “That’s my girl. Trying new things is a part of growing up, besides it only hurts for a second. Oh, and then another second when they do the other one,”
“The other one?!” she cries, and this time she does cover her chest with her hands.
Everyone laughs, and despite her reddened cheeks she can’t help but eventually smile with them.
After dinner she brings out dessert, a variety of puddings and custards. Shin beams excitedly that it’s something he’s actually able to eat. Hachi makes sure he has seconds, and then insists on thirds as well. Not long after he falls asleep on her shoulder, and once she notices she’s covering her mouth to try and contain her delight.
Nana lights another cigarette and smiles when Hachi gets her attention to show her, mouthing ‘he’s so cute!’ with the happiest expression on her face.
“I guess we’ll have to share a bed, if Shin’s staying over,” she teases softly.
Hachi blushes once more, but nods vigorously, careful not to jostle the sleeping boy.