Chapter Text
"Uncle Kaz!" was the first thing Kiryu heard as he awoke.
Wow, his head hurt really badly. Haruka and Majima were both staring at him with concern, and the last thing he could remember was being... outside, waiting to greet Haruka when she got home from school.
"What... happened?"
How would Haruka explain? Should she--?
"Some punks jumped ya," Majima said plainly.
...She wondered if Majima remembered it. He had to, right? He saw her!
"Haru-chan, can ya get him some water?"
"Mhm!" she nodded, running off into the kitchen to fill up a glass. She sighed... this was so weird, and honestly scary. She didn't want Kiryu in danger just because she had some kind of responsibility now.
She walked back to see Majima gently helping him sit up, and hear the noises of pain he made.
"Just... some normal punks?" he sighed.
"Yep... Can't believe it, myself. But ya seemed real outta it when ya messaged me..."
"Here, Uncle Kaz," Haruka smiled softly, handing him the glass of water. He started drinking it greedily, like it had been the first he'd had in a month.
"Ya get enough sleep last night?" Majima patted at him, making sure he wasn't seriously injured.
"I'm sure of it."
...It was kind of funny seeing Majima act all mother hen now, when that was so often Kiryu's thing.
"You're really sure I don't have... a concussion?"
"Certain. Ya just need some rest..."
"If you say so, Goro..." Kiryu shook his head, "Haruka, were you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine."
"By the way, Haru-chan," Majima turned to her, a serious look on his face, "I gotta talk to ya 'bout all this."
She swallowed nervously, nodding.
Majima had sent for one of his friends to come take care of Kiryu while the two of them went to the river. The whole way there, he had been oddly quiet. Even when Haruka asked him questions, his answers were very short.
There was an awkward silence as they sat down on a bench, facing the water together.
"So."
"So...?"
"How'd ya get involved in this kinda stuff, Haru-chan?"
So he did remember.
"I..." she scratched nervously at her arm, "It just... happened this afternoon..."
"Drop it."
"What--?"
"Drop it!"
"But--" she stammered, "I- I'm a warrior now! The Kingdom of Heart needs me!"
"Yeah, yeah," he sighed, "I don't wantcha gettin' hurt."
"I won't! I won't get hurt! I'm strong!"
"That's what they all say," he scowled.
What... what was she supposed to say to that?
"Whoever sent for ya, tell em to... leave ya alone. Leave us alone."
"But... Tappuku said..."
"Tappuku can find someone else."
"He said I have the twinkle!" she shouted.
Majima's eye widened, and he whispered, "The twinkle...?"
He was... conflicted. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to her when he could have just talked her out of this business, but... well, she was a stubborn kid.
And he knew exactly what the twinkle meant anyhow. She'd be under fire no matter how hard she tried to escape it. There was only so much he and Kiryu could do to protect her, especially now that he...
"Fine. But yer gonna let me train ya."
"T... train me?"
"And ya ain't, under any circumstances, tellin' Uncle Kaz the truth."
...How did he know all of this? And why...
"Why can't I tell Uncle Kaz?"
"He's got enough goin' on. He don't need this on his plate too."
She sighed, "I... understand."
"Let's go getcha some ice cream," he smiled softly.
When they got home, Kiryu seemed to be feeling a lot better.
"Nishida treat ya well?"
"Of course," he chuckled, "Haruka... I'm sorry you had to see that. You alright now too?"
"Mhm," she smiled, "We had a good time!"
"Good, I'm glad..."
He took a deep breath in and got up on his feet, trying not to stumble too hard as he pulled the two of them in for a hug. Majima couldn't help but plant a few kisses on him, to which he retaliated with his own kisses as Haruka squealed with laughter.
Things didn't really have to change all that much, right? It'd be... easy.
Yeah. Easy. Majima seemed to know about this stuff, and he'd be teaching her.
She was still Haruka, and these two dorks were still her dads.
...She sure had a lot to tell Fumiko about.