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Samatoki, Jyuto, and Riou aren't really sentimental. They may attribute this to their jobs, but their background and personality also play a significant part.
Date nights are usually filled with Jyuto complaining about the inept new recruits and how they give him more work than he already has, Riou telling them about the sightings of species in the forest (and what they taste like, if he managed to catch them), and of course, stupid fights between Samatoki and Jyuto because the first one can't keep his mouth shut and the other is happy to fight him just because the younger is an asshole.
It's not ideal, but it's the best quality time they can spend as partners, because, at the end of the day, that will always be their way of showing comfort, and they know it.
That's why they're surprised when, past midnight, after a few drinks he's prepared himself, Samatoki catches their attention with a "You know?" while resting at the kitchen counter, his back to them. Riou sets his glass on the living room table, directing his full attention to his leader. Juto takes another sip, wondering what nonsense he'll have to endure for the next few minutes.
Both are surprised by what Samatoki says without warning. Simple, usual words, but not something they've heard from him before.
"I think my mother would’ve loved to meet you."
Juto falls silent, his face expressionless, but his mind keeps rethinking what he just heard. What happened to Samatoki? He never mentioned his mother just like that. What was all this about? Was he about to die? Did they use true Hypnosis Mic on him?
He looked away at Riou, trying to communicate with him with his eyes, but he paid no attention to the cop at that moment.
The soldier looked fondly at the younger of them, a kind smile on his face.
"I'm very honored to hear that, Samatoki."
He didn't approach him; it seemed reckless. Jyuto preferred to return to Riou's side and sit on the sofa.
"It would have been a pleasure to have met her, too." The police officer wasn't sure how to continue. Samatoki was too spontaneous; social norms mattered little to him. What should he say next?
He cleared his throat before continuing. "I always wondered if... you looked like her."
Samatoki straightened his back, still not turning to look at them.
"She was beautiful. As beautiful as Nemu, but she looked even better when she smiled. When she really smiled, not when she forced it so as not to worry us."
He got up from his seat and entered his room.
For the first time, Jyuto and Riou looked at each other.
"I always thought Samatoki was really pretty," Riou told him softly. "I think you're right; the dominant genes in him must be his mother's."
Jyuto nodded. “I wonder if we should go after him. He seems unstable. Has something happened?”
“Today is her birthday.”
Samatoki’s voice made the cop tense. He held what looked like half a sheet of paper in his hand.
He passed between them and sat in the center of the sofa. Riou received him immediately, and the albino took the opportunity to rest his head on his chest. Jyuto joined got closer to him, feeling less confused thanks to his leader’s last words.
“If I had been stronger, she wouldn’t have had to kill herself to save us,” he whispered, interrupting the other two’s thoughts. “I should have been the one that killed that old man. Nemu would have been happier with her here. She needed her mother, not a stupid teenager like me.”
“You know it’s not true.” Jyuto grabbed Samatoki’s chin and forced him to face him. The younger man, however, looked down at the floor, his eyes barely visible between his eyelashes. “Of course she needed her, but so did you. And yet, you managed to take care of her, make her happy.”
“Jyuto is right, Samatoki. Don’t talk about yourself like that.” Riou’s hand smoothed some of the white strands back into place. “I don’t know anyone braver and more worthy of love than you. Your mother sacrificed herself for you, and she would be satisfied to know you made it through.”
Samatoki remained silent. He took a deep breath, and although there were no tears on his face, he seemed to be struggling to regulate his breathing.
For the first time since returning from his bedroom, he moved the hand that was tightly clutching that piece of paper against his abdomen away, showing it to his partners. It was a photo of two people. A woman with long, straight white hair was gazing adoringly at a little Samatoki, who was barely two years old. She was holding his hands, and the little boy was laughing.
She had the same eyes as him, but they didn't seem as hard. The same large silver eyelashes further accentuated the red in her pupils, contrasting with the light tone of her skin and hair.
"Ah, you really do look alike..." Jyuto murmured in surprise. "Even more than I imagined. She's as beautiful as you." He take Samatoki's face again, this time cupping her cheek with his gloved hand. "Yes, you definitely take after your mother. I always thought you looked too feminine."
"What the fu—"
Riou interrupted him, his turn to grab his face to make him look at the soldier, taking the opportunity to place a kiss on his nose.
“I'm grateful to her for giving birth to you. You're really cute thanks to her genes. Such a pretty boy.”
The police officer took the opportunity to take the photo in his hands to admire it. He couldn't help but smile, while wishing the woman a happy birthday in his mind.
Samatoki noticed, taking the photo from his hands with a care they didn't know the yakuza could have.
"Better not be thinking anything strange."
"I was apologizing to her for everything I thought about your face when-"
"Don't. You. Dare."
"Wasn't gonna-"
"I take back what I said. I would never have introduced you to her. I'd be ashamed if she knew what kind of weirdos you are."
"I haven't said anything."
"I don't fucking care, Riou."
...
After an annoyed sigh, Samatoki stood up, returning to his room to put the photo away. However, he paused in the doorway. He remained silent for a few seconds before addressing the others, without looking at them.
“I wanted to visit her tomorrow. At her grave. And I wanted you to come with me.”
Riou and Juto shared a loving look. It was impossible not
to love their leader, no matter how bratty he was.
“We’ll be there.”