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A hand grabs Hikaku's wrist and he lets himself be dragged into the kitchen.
"Hikaku!" His mother's eyes are fierce and she pokes him in the chest with a pointy finger. "Why are there two clan heirs in my house?!"
It's the same expression that used to make him quail when he was a child, but Hikaku's all grown up now and he merely raises an eyebrow in the face of her wrath.
"You knew I was courting them," he points out. "It shouldn't have been unexpected."
"Courting, yes!" She splutters, waving her hands around in agitation. "But you'll be marrying into their families! Why are they here?!"
"All they have left are their brothers, okaasan." Hikaku catches his mother's hands, squeezing her fingers gently. "They have no other family. Would you truly deny them the kind of celebration that our family takes for granted?"
"Of course not!" She softens at the thought, just as he knew she would, no matter that the two war orphans they're discussing are grown men. "But, but, their rank is so high! They're used to the kind of delicacies that are served in the capital! And I only made oden!"
This is the heart of the matter, Hikaku knows, but it's also a completely misguided fear.
"Okaasan, you didn't know this before but..." he lowers his voice and she leans in to hear his whisper. "They eat mission rations in the office."
"What!" She's completely outraged and Hikaku nods in firm agreement. "How can they possibly think that's appropriate when we - !"
"Exactly." Hikaku watches her cast a worried glance at the front room where they left Izuna-sama and Tobirama-sama to make awkward conversation with his father. "I promise you, feed them anything and they will love you forever."
"Mission rations!" She yanks her hands away, bustling off to grab ladles and bowls. "In the village! Well, I can certainly do better than that!"
Hikaku smiles to himself.
Yes, she certainly can.
Ten minutes later as she watches Izuna and Tobirama devour her oden:
Hikaku's Mother: ... I must feed them more.
Hikaku: Please do.