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“Hi Uncle Kaz,” Haruka says as she bounds up to Kiryu, curiosity radiating from her small features. “I have a question for you!”
Kiryu places a bookmark in the novel he’s currently reading it, then sets it on his lap. “Of course, Haruka. What is it?” He hopes it’s one he can answer; he’s not always able to. Damn kids and their algebra and fancy arithmetic; Kiryu swears Haruka’s curriculum is leagues harder than anything he encountered back in the day. That, or he just didn’t pay attention. It’s probably a combination of both, really.
Haruka takes a seat next to him, but doesn’t pull out any schoolwork. Good, maybe he will have an answer for her then.
“Well, Majima-san said something strange the other day…” Haruka trails off, her eyes gleaming. “Uncle Kaz, why does Majima-san call you babygirl?”
It takes Kiryu a few moments to process the implications of her question. Then, his face reddens, his composure ablated.
Scratch his earlier thoughts, Kiryu would much rather be asked for homework help.
“Where’d you hear that?” he eventually manages to get out, spluttering. Haruka shrugs.
“I don’t really remember anymore.”
Well, whatever the instance, Kiryu’s concerned. Some things should stay between him and Majima.
“Uh,” he stumbles over his words, the very picture of inarticulacy. “It’s a term of affection. Majima no nii-san calls me that because he loves me,” he eventually settles on, hoping that’s enough to satiate his daughter.
It’s not.
“So, should I call you babygirl then, Uncle Kaz?” Haruka’s question is innocent, posed with the best of intentions. Kiryu shuts it down immediately.
“No!” he nearly shouts, his hands involuntarily crushing the book that rests in them. Haruka winces at the volume. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so loud. But no, it’s a term of affection for lovers. Not for us.”
“Ah! I think I get it now. Thanks for helping, Uncle Kaz. Enjoy your uh, reading,” she bids him goodbye, her eyes trained on his lap as she leaves.
Kiryu stares down at the crushed book. Oops. Not a big deal, in the grand scheme of things.
There’s a never dull moment with Haruka around. He’s an old man getting older, and she keeps him on his toes—just the way he like it, though perhaps he ought to talk to Majima about keeping his terms of affection for him on the down low.
“So, how’d Kiryu-chan react?” Majima asks Haruka over a pair of milkshakes at the local Smile Burger, a shit-eating grin on his face.
“I’ve never seen his face so red before! He looked like a tomato,” Haruka laughs.
“Damn, I wish I could have been there. He do anything else?”
“Not in response to that question. But I asked if I should call him babygirl afterwards, and he completely lost his composure.”
Majima howls, laughter so boisterous other patrons stare at them. Haruka makes an effort to ignore them.
It takes a while for Majima’s amusement to fade enough to enable speech. When he recovers, his grin is bigger than anything Haruka’s seen from him before.
“Shit, kid, that’s better than anythin’ I could have ever come up with. Consider this the best ten thousand yen I’ve ever spent,” he says as he pulls out his wallet from his back pocket, handing Haruka a stack of crisp bills. Haruka pockets them with a blinding grin.
Majima’s so pleased; she might as well as push her luck. Just a little.
“Majima-san,” she starts. Majima encourages her with a nod in her direction. “There’s a new plushie at the Sega arcade down the street I’ve been wanting for a while…” she trails off, her request left unsaid.
Majima immediately hops off his stool, grabbing his and Haruka’s empty glasses. “Why didn’t ya say so earlier, Haruka-chan? Come on, let’s get goin’—Goro “Plushie Pursuer” Majima waits for no one!”
Haruka smiles to herself as she follows Majima in a whirlwind out the door. It pays to be smart, that’s for sure.