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"Really, Kurai. I can take care of myself, you don't have to keep following me around."
"No, Renka-san. My duty is to help and protect you, and the young master."
Kurai replied seriously as he carefully controlled the wheelchair, so that the bored lady and the young master who had just given birth a few days ago could be comfortable. But the lady with sunset-colored hair was not satisfied at all, she hugged the child who had just arrived from the yokai hospital to her chest, feeling the small warmth from the child. Renka couldn't be blamed, because they were of different species, Rensuke had to leave her to go to the yokai hospital, and only when both of them were stable could they meet...so there was no reason why Renka wouldn't want to show off her adorable child to the other pregnant women! But Kurai kept sticking around, making no one want to get close to them.
"Honestly, I just wanted to show off Rensuke to the other pregnant ladies, but you scared everyone."
"But isn't that dangerous, madam? Because of the young master's current form..."
"I'm not that careless, I've covered Rensuke well. But my baby is this cute! They definitely won't be scared."
Renka said with such positive energy in her, she spoke so naturally that Kurai suddenly truly believed that humans wouldn't be scared when they saw a one-eyed yokai... something that absolutely wouldn't happen, except for someone as innocent and carefree as Renka, who wouldn't be afraid of a yokai with a different appearance, but Kurai wouldn't say that out loud, he didn't want to see Renka sad because of his words.
A while later, when the three of them finally reached the hospital garden at Renka's request because she was bored in the hospital room. Luckily, there weren't many people here so Kurai didn't need to be too cautious, and Renka was very satisfied to enjoy the warm sunlight and natural breeze that made her forget the smell of disinfectant and relax with the child in her arms.
But peace didn't really come to Kurai when he needed to leave because his boss needed him. He had to leave Renka in a cool place in the garden because she didn't want to go back to the hospital room and leave, and Renka smiled happily and waved goodbye to him. Even though her people had left, she wasn't worried at all, because she knew with her husband's personality, she was pretty sure there were still others watching over her, they just didn't show up. But anyway...
"Finally we have some time alone, Rensuke. Ah... I really wanted to show everyone how cute you are."
Renka muttered and rubbed the soft chubby cheeks of the newborn baby in her hand, the baby was still sleeping soundly in the mother's arms..even unconsciously sucking on her mother's finger, making Renka want to melt. Too bad, she wanted to show off so much, she wanted to show the patients, nurses and doctors how adorable the crystallization of her love was. But even so, she still didn't dare to do it, even though she always appeared positive, she didn't want to see..anyone's fear or contempt for this child, she took off the child's mask, looked at her one-eyed child sleeping peacefully and wondered if there was anyone who wouldn't be afraid of a one-eyed yokai...
"Excuse me, madam.."
A curious child's voice called out beside Renka, startling her. She quickly put Rensuke's mask back down beside her before looking at the child who had just spoken. The child obediently stood next to her wheelchair while speaking in a slightly lisping voice, a mix of Osaka and Kyoto, but she still understood.
"Madam...do you know where my parents are?"
"Heh, I don't know. Are you lost?"
"Yes, I, Ame and mom went to visit dad. Dad fell and went to the hospital and while I was walking, I lost Ame and mom."
The child spoke with a bored expression, his unusual hair also drooping down like a sad puppy's ears, which made Renka laugh and gently pat the boy's head.
"Ah, it's okay, why don't we wait here until your mother comes to find you? Just wait a while, if your mother doesn't come, we'll go find someone, okay?"
"Okay! Then I'll wait for Ame and mother. By the way, madam, is this child your child?"
The child quickly regained his composure and happily stood next to Renka, his curious reddish-brown eyes began to look at the child who was lying obediently in Renka's arms with interest. Renka was also very happy to let the boy get close to her son...after all, children are very innocent, they probably won't be afraid, right...
"That's right, this is my son, his name is Rensuke."
"Huh...so cute, but why is he wearing an eye mask? Doesn't he look uncomfortable?"
"Ah no, this is.."
Renka didn't know how to explain, she looked around, making sure no one was there, then she whispered to the boy mysteriously as if she was telling him a secret.
"I'll show you what's under this mask, but you can't scream or tell anyone."
"Okay! I promise!"
"Promise! Hook your finger."
The big one and the small one were like two mischievous children hooking their fingers to each other before focusing on Rensuke. Renka gently removed the mask, at the same time the child who was sleeping soundly opened his eyes, the child's eyes looked up at his mother and then at the boy who was staring at him. Renka also looked at the boy, not sure what expression he would show, but if he looked scared, she would understand... but that would be disappointing. But unlike what she had expected, the boy's expression... could be said to be shining, if Kurai were here, he could compare the boy's expression to the first time Renka saw Rensuke.
“So cute!!!”
The boy said sincerely while his unusual hair curled into a heart shape. His hand almost touched Rensuke but then stopped as if to hurt the child, but the child didn’t think so as he reached out, his small hand grabbed the older boy’s pinky finger and giggled. Rensuke’s action made the boy stutter in surprise, and Renka seemed to faint at this cuteness x2, but she quickly held back her heart as she spoke to the child.
“Rensuke seems to like you a lot, huh?”
“Really!...Rensuke, I'm Haru. And I like you too.”
Haru crouched down next to Rensuke and smiled brightly like the sun. As if understanding what Haru was saying, the child's smile grew even brighter as he tightly grasped Haru's finger and swayed. As for Renka, she smiled gently as she watched the two children in front of her happily. This was the scene she wanted to see, the scene that Hajime had worked hard to achieve for her, where humans and yokai could coexist peacefully...what a beautiful scene.
"Do you like Haru that much? Haru is older than Rensuke, so you two should help each other in the future, okay~"
"Yes! Haru is 8 years old! Haru will take care of Rensuke! Just like Ame takes care of me."
To Haru, this was just childish determination. But to Renka, she hoped that one day when yokai and humans lived together in harmony, these two children could meet again. The three of them spent their time peacefully together like this, Haru playing with Rensuke while he giggled, Renka would occasionally join in with small jokes that made the atmosphere cheerful. But this happy time was interrupted by a loud call from another area of the hospital.
"HARUUUUU!!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!"
"Ah, it's Ame's voice. He's looking for me, thank you for waiting with me, madam."
"It's okay~ It's great that your family found you, but we probably have to part ways. Rensuke, let go of Haru's hand."
"Owe...."
It was quite obvious that Rensuke didn't want to let go at all, and this was quite cute in Renka's eyes, but Haru was in a state of confusion with this situation. But Haru was quite smart, the boy smiled happily as he hooked his finger with Rensuke and said sincerely.
"We'll meet again sometime, I promise! So I'll go first now. See you later."
"Bow...."
Rensuke finally obediently let go of Haru's hand, letting the boy happily say goodbye to them and leave in the direction of the call, leaving the mother and son to watch the boy leave.
"Uwa.."
"Hm? Rensuke really likes Haru huh? You know, your name means bond..maybe the bond will let you two meet again~"
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Bonus:
*Haruaki's first time coming to class 2-3.*
"Hm...Nyuudou Rensuke...why does this name sound so familiar...like that kid I met 17 years ago."
Haru has a really good memory!
*Rensuke's first time talking about Seimei at Renka's grave.*
"Our new teacher's name is Abe Haruaki, but we like to call him Seimei, he's so blah blah..."
[Hm~ Haru really kept his promise huh.]