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Kakyoin walked with his children on either side of him, a small, mitten-clad hand in each of his own. The kids stumbled slightly as they trudged through the snow but Kakyoin steadied each of their steps.
Jotaro walked behind them. He carried two smaller sleds under his right arm and towed a larger sled behind him with his left.
“Mom, why is it so cold,” Jouta whined.
“I promise, it’ll all be worth it when you’re riding that sled down the hill,” Kakyoin answered. “Right, Jolyne?”
“Yeah!” Jolyne yelled while kicking some snow into the air. “You go down the hill so fast, like a million miles an hour! Just don’t crash into a tree! My friend did that and she had to get 7 stitches on her lip.”
Jouta whined. “I don’t want to! I want to go home.”
“You’ll be fine. We can go down the hill together,” Kakyoin assured him.
“What if we hit a tree?”
“We won’t hit a tree,” Kakyoin insisted.
“I’m going to ride with Dad!” Jolyne yelled. “He goes extra super fast!”
Jolyne let go of Kakyoin’s hand and skipped behind them through the snow. “Dad, can I sit on the sled while you pull it?”
Jotaro nodded at her. He paused for a moment, letting Jolyne get secure on the sled. When he started walking again, Jolyne cheered as she was pulled along on the sled.
“Hey, Dad?” Jolyne called out.
“What?” Jotaro answered.
“Are you and Mom going to have another baby one day?” Jolyne asked.
Kakyoin’s steps stuttered a little. He certainly wasn’t expecting that question.
“Why do you ask?” Jotaro asked.
Jolyne hummed. “A boy in my class said that his parents just had another baby and that he hates it. He says the baby is loud and smelly, and it’s the only thing his parents talk about.”
Jotaro hummed, not unlike how Jolyne did seconds earlier. He considered her words before responding.
“Babies can be hard to get used to but he’ll grow to like his sibling eventually. You got used to Jouta.”
“Hmm, I guess,” Jolyne answered. “So are you and mom going to have another baby?” Jolyne asked.
Kakyoin had been hoping she had forgotten and dropped the question.
“Mom and I have discussed it,” Jotaro carefully chose his words. “We have not come to a decision yet.”
“Mom is very busy and has already given Dad two very beautiful children,” Kakyoin yelled out, barging his way into the conversation. “Mom isn’t sure what Dad thinks there is to decide on.”
“Dad is very grateful for the children Mom has already given him,” Jotaro answered. “Their children have turned out so well. Why wouldn’t Dad want another baby?”
“Mom is very happy with how things are right now. Mom doesn’t see any reason to change anything.”
“Dad is also very happy but thinks that another baby could make everyone even happier.”
“Mom has been enjoying sleeping through the night and doesn’t want to ruin that.”
“Dad has offered many times to handle nights so that Mom can get plenty of sleep.”
“Mom seems to be the only one who knows that they only have three bedrooms and no space for a nursery.”
“Dad has the financial means to buy a new house with no problem, and Mom is entirely aware of that.”
“Mom thinks Dad has clouded judgment!”
“Maybe Dad’s judgment wouldn’t be so clouded if Mom stopped teasing him every night!”
Kakyoin stopped angrily stomping through the snow. He let go of Jouta’s hand and bent down. He quickly formed a decent-sized snowball, turned around, and promptly chucked it at Jotaro.
It nailed him. A snowy mark was left on Jotaro’s coat in the middle of his chest.
Jotaro calmly leaned down and formed a slightly bigger snowball.
“Don’t you dare!” Kakyoin said while wagging his finger at him.
Jotaro threw the snowball. It lightly bounced off Kakyoin’s shoulder. It didn’t hurt at all but Kakyoin still let out a dramatic gasp. Jolyne giggled at his response.
Kakyoin hurriedly crouched down and formed several snowballs. He saw Jotaro do the same out of the corner of his eye.
“Jouta, baby, I need you to help Mommy make some snowballs, okay?” Kakyoin quietly instructed.
Jouta quickly nodded and did as he was told.
Jolyne had eagerly started helping Jotaro make snowballs without a word. When she threw one their way, Kakyoin was quick to throw one back, lightly hitting her on the side. She screamed with delight and threw more snowballs.
Kakyoin did all the throwing between him and Jouta. Jouta wasn’t capable of throwing very far. Eventually, Kakyoin put a snowball in his hands, wrapped his arms around his middle, and hoisted him up. Kakyoin carried him until they were only inches away from Jotaro and Jolyne. Jotaro put a hand up to Jolyne, silently signaling for her to not throw anything.
Once they were close enough to Jotaro, Kakyoin set him down. “Throw it, Jouta!” He encouraged him. “Get him!”
After several seconds of encouragement, Jouta lightly threw the snowball. It barely hit Jotaro’s hip before it plopped to the ground in pieces.
Jotaro clutched the place where the snowball hit him and slowly fell into the snow. Jouta squealed with delight at his reaction.
Despite being covered in snow, Kakyoin felt very warm and content. He truly was very happy with how things were, but he couldn’t help but think that Jotaro had made some good points. Not that he would ever admit it to the man.
Jolyne tossed a snowball at him, and Kakyoin fell to the ground as slowly and dramatically as possible, making an effort to outdo Jotaro. The kids laughed and cheered.