Chapter Text
-Byakuya - : " A Father’s Message to the Astronaut Who Longs for the Moon"
February 14th, 2014.
That night, Byakuya had just returned home from campus, carrying a bag filled with vegetables and instant curry soup for dinner. Ever since he had been accepted as a JAXA astronaut a year ago, he’d been savoring his final months as a lecturer there before years of training would pull him away from his adopted son.
Not that he regretted it—becoming an astronaut was his lifelong dream. And Senkuu, his adopted son, not only supported him but would one day follow in his footsteps. So, what could Byakuya do now?
Other than being a father who would fly into space to bring back the most amazing scientific gifts for his son.
That’s what he thought. He should have thought.
Until he saw a sweet little chocolate, wrapped in purple paper with a cute cat sticker, sitting in the fridge.
His brow furrowed at the sight of it. It was rare—almost unheard of—to find sweets in their fridge. At most, the only “snacks” that ever sat there were coffee and energy drinks.
“Not that you could even call those snacks,” Byakuya mused.
It wasn’t that Byakuya had failed to teach his adopted son about proper eating habits. Senkuu was just… being Senkuu. So it was no wonder he frowned in curiosity.
“Why is there chocolate here?”
Curious, the older man pulled out the box of chocolates, unwrapped it, and found round chocolates inside, with Senkuu’s name written in white chocolate.
His gaze shifted to the calendar on the wall, catching today’s date. Instantly, his thoughts whirred like an old gear oiled after years of rust, turning smoothly until it lit up a little lamp in his mind.
“Oh!” he murmured, then grinned widely. “So my handsome son got a love chocolate from a girl? Ohoho, you’re quite popular, aren’t you, kid?”
In the middle of his laughter, the bedroom door suddenly slammed open, revealing the little mustard sprout who grew up nourished on fertilizer branded science.
Byakuya looked at Senkuu with amusement, waving the chocolate box in his hand.
“So, Senkuu, tell me—which girl did you make fall in love with you this time?”
Instead of answering, Senkuu wore a face that looked ready to drop a toxic smoke bomb on the entire city under the pretext of an experiment. The boy walked closer only to kick Byakuya in the shin, making the older man wince in pain.
After satisfying himself with tormenting his annoying father, Senkuu snatched back his chocolate and disappeared into his room, locking the door without so much as a glance at the poor old man.
Until dinner time, Senkuu never opened his door. The science brat only came out when Byakuya was entering his own room to sleep. Through the door he had deliberately left ajar, Byakuya caught a glimpse of Senkuu quietly eating his dinner and washing his dishes.
Meanwhile, Byakuya, after making sure with his own eyes that his adopted son had eaten, sighed in relief and lay down on his bed.
Before sleep fully overtook him, Byakuya chuckled softly.
“What a proud little man,” he muttered.
.
.
March 2014.
A month after that incident, Byakuya suddenly noticed a peculiar change in their refrigerator.
No, it wasn’t chocolate this time.
It was cola.
Lots of cola. From various brands.
Byakuya stared at the fridge contents in bewilderment. Was his health-conscious son, who prioritized nutrition above all else, really planning to drink something as unhealthy as this?
Picking up one of the cans, Byakuya knocked on Senkuu’s door with an urgent rhythm. It was time, he thought, to play the responsible parent and scold his son about his diet.
When there was no reply, Byakuya opened the door—only to find it unlocked.
Inside, he saw his son fast asleep in front of the computer, still glowing faintly on the desk.
Seeing that, Byakuya smiled. His heart softened at the sight of this ten-year-old boy, asleep in front of a monitor like an overworked office worker. Senkuu’s breath rose and fell quietly and steadily, showing he was in a deep, peaceful sleep.
Abandoning his tiny spark of irritation, Byakuya gently lifted Senkuu and carried him to bed, laying him down with care. He decided to save the lecture for later, when the boy was awake.
Just as he was about to switch off the monitor, something on the screen caught his eye—and left him surprised.
Instead of some extraordinary blueprint for a rocket or anything grand, Byakuya found an open website displaying… recipes.
Yes. Recipes.
“Healthy cola recipes?” Byakuya frowned, resting his chin on his hand. His fingers scrolled the mouse, moving the screen downward.
“And… candy recipes? What’s he planning to do with these?”
Amid the unanswered riddle, the corner of his eye caught sight of the Doraemon desk calendar he’d bought as a birthday gift for Senkuu.
On one of the dates, a red marker circled the day. At the bottom corner of the square, a tiny note was written:
“Candy for the Stupid Kitten.”
That date was March 14th—one week from now.
Realizing this, Byakuya blinked twenty times, then quietly shut down the monitor and softly closed the bedroom door with a faint creak.
After leaving the room, he sat down in the dining area, sipping bitter coffee, exhaling a long breath into the air.
“Ah, so that’s how it is.”
The old man’s face shifted from confusion to an amused smirk. The playful soul within him as a mischievous father rumbled with the urge to tease and poke fun at his adopted son’s childish little romance.
“I’m not sure if Senkuu truly understands the meaning of giving candy back to a girl who gave him chocolate… but well…”
Byakuya chuckled under his breath, his smirk widening.
“For now, it’s best to just wait and watch.”
.
.
January 3rd, 2016 – 10 PM
Byakuya shivered in the cold. Tokyo might not be buried in snow, but the chill in the air was sharp enough to freeze his already aging spine. If it weren’t for astronaut training toughening his body, Byakuya figured he’d already be curled up under a kotatsu with a heating patch slapped on his aching back.
“Time really is cruel,” he muttered, slipping both hands into his jacket pockets.
He’d taken a short leave from his astronaut training just to come home and celebrate the new year—belatedly—and more importantly, his adopted son’s birthday. In his hand, he carried a cassette recording signed by Lillian as a birthday gift for Senkuu.
Byakuya was already looking forward to celebrating tomorrow. He planned to take Senkuu out for their usual favorite ramen, and maybe, just maybe, drag him on a little outing.
Specifically, to watch the live magic performance of the young magician Asagiri Gen. Byakuya had already bought four tickets for himself, Senkuu, Taiju, and Yuzuriha. He’d even sworn to drag Senkuu there, even if it meant tossing him into a sack. Oh, and he had five more tickets for the amusement park that was conveniently hosting a science show—something Senkuu definitely wouldn’t want to miss.
That was what he thought.
But he didn’t expect… this easy agreement.
“Asagiri Gen’s magic show? You already bought the tickets, old man?” Senkuu asked, scratching his ear with his pinky, while his other free hand plucked the tickets from Byakuya’s hand. When he saw the second ticket, his brows furrowed.
“Tickets for the amusement park?”
Byakuya scratched the back of his head, laughing with a wide grin.
“There’s a science show there. You have to come, or the three of us will drag you by force!”
He had already braced himself for the barrage of logical excuses that usually came whenever Senkuu rejected anything that interrupted his research.
But instead, what he got was…
Senkuu studied the tickets for a few seconds, then slipped them neatly into one of his thick biographies. Turning back to face his monitor, he replied flatly:
“Fine. Now leave so I can finish my research before we waste time tomorrow.”
Byakuya froze. His jaw dropped, eyes widening in disbelief.
It was still curt, still classic Senkuu in tone, but…
Was that… an actual agreement?!
For a moment, Byakuya was tempted to drag Senkuu straight to a laboratory and run a full scan of his brain. Had his son been kidnapped and replaced by a doppelgänger? Or perhaps he’d suffered some kind of amnesia that rewired his personality?
He almost did it, but in the end, he held back. That curt, logical answer could only belong to his son.
So instead, Byakuya decided to sleep early, ready to wake up tomorrow refreshed so they could have fun without exhaustion.
.
.
Sunday Afternoon, January 4th, 2016
Byakuya greeted Senkuu’s friends, Taiju and Yuzuriha, at the door. The two kids, now almost teenagers, were dressed nicely—almost fashionable—so different from the time he used to take them to the zoo like a kindergarten teacher.
“Thank you so much for the tickets, Byakuya-san,” Yuzuriha said politely, bowing slightly. The lovely girl smiled warmly. “We can’t wait to see Asagiri Gen’s magic show this weekend!”
“Yeah! Normally we only see his shows on TV!” Taiju chimed in, clenching his fists with excitement. “This is his first ever live performance, and we barely managed to get tickets!”
Byakuya patted their heads affectionately, careful not to ruin Yuzuriha’s neatly done hair.
“Ohoho, I’m so glad you two are excited! Thank you for helping us celebrate Senkuu’s birthday together!”
“Of course! It’s our pleasure!” Yuzuriha and Taiju answered in unison.
Their kindness truly felt like a blessing from the gods. For Byakuya, it was enough to make him cry tears of gratitude—his almost antisocial son actually had two caring friends.
Moments later, Senkuu emerged from his room—without a tablet or anything research-related in hand.
Byakuya’s heart swelled with relief. His son was actually leaving his research behind for a day.
The magic show they attended was by the young rising magician, Asagiri Gen. He was still very young—if Byakuya remembered correctly, he was about the same age as Senkuu. Despite his age, Asagiri Gen already had his own TV magic show, and now he was performing live on stage in front of more than 100 people. Byakuya was certain there would’ve been even more attendees if the tickets hadn’t been so limited.
And when Byakuya settled into his seat among families and excited children, he felt honored to be one of the lucky few. Even though they weren’t sitting in the very front, they still had a perfect view of the stage.
As the stage filled with mist, the spotlight illuminated the center, drawing everyone’s gaze into the haze.
The audience held their breath, a whisper of anticipation hanging in the air before the magic began.
Byakuya sat in the middle row, with Senkuu leaning back beside him, arms crossed and brows slightly raised—the usual, signature posture of his son. Yuzuriha sat on Senkuu’s other side, clutching her small shoulder bag tightly, her face glowing with excitement. Taiju sat next to her, fists clenched near his chest, looking like he might scream any second.
When the mist cleared, a small figure appeared—a child dressed in a classic magician’s black-and-white suit, accented with a purple bow tie and pristine white gloves. A tall hat perched atop his jet-black hair, looking almost too big for his small frame.
“Welcome to the debut performance of Asagiri Gen!”
The young magician’s smile was captivating—like a flame luring a moth. Inviting the audience to draw closer, closer, until they were consumed by the wonder.
“Allow me to enchant you with illusions you’ll never forget.”
And with that, the show began. Trick after trick unfolded like an endless stream of magic spells. It was as if he was pulling the entire audience into a world where time stopped.
Every clap, every awed “Woooah!” echoed through the hall with each new trick. One round of applause was louder than the last. Truly…
“This really is amazing magic,” Byakuya murmured, his hands clapping nonstop, his mouth sighing in awe, and his eyes sparkling with childlike wonder.
Beside him, Yuzuriha and Taiju sat wide-eyed, pupils dilated with the same awe he felt. Taiju kept almost shouting like an overly enthusiastic fool, forcing Yuzuriha and Byakuya to take turns calming him down.
Meanwhile, Senkuu…
Still leaned back in his seat, arms crossed over his chest. But his reaction wasn’t what Byakuya expected.
His stubborn son’s lips curved ever so slightly at the corners. His sharp eyes stayed fixed on the stage, analyzing every move, just like when he observed a new experiment. After each trick ended, Senkuu would let out a small chuckle—the kind that made him seem like a young adult rather than a twelve-year-old boy—Thirteen, today.
Amazement. Satisfaction. Pride.
Those were the emotions painted on his son’s face.
Byakuya frowned, suspicion furrowing his brows. That expression—so unusual for his stubborn boy—wasn’t something he saw every day.
His confusion only found its answer after the show ended, when Senkuu and his friends boldly slipped past the stage curtains, heading toward the backstage area almost without his supervision.
“Wait, kids!” Byakuya grabbed their arms. “You can’t just walk into the backstage like you own the place!”
Instead of listening, they ignored him completely, wearing blankly confused expressions.
Senkuu gave him the kind of look one would give a fool and replied flatly,
“What are you talking about, old man?”
Byakuya let out a heavy sigh, placing his hands on his hips, ready to launch into his fatherly lecture. His mouth opened—without a single word coming out—because suddenly a cheerful voice interrupted them from a distance.
“Senkuu-chan, Taiju-chan, and Yuzuriha-chan!”
The voice came from none other than the little magician, Asagiri Gen, calling out to them from behind.
Three heads immediately turned toward the sound.
There he was—the young magician—running toward them in his classic black-and-white outfit, now without his tall hat. When he was only a step away, he grinned brightly.
“You really came!?”
As the little magician approached, Byakuya furrowed his brow. Confusion and disbelief tangled in his aging mind.
Why is this popular child magician coming toward us? How does he know their names? Wait—what is going on here?
Taiju was the first to react, jumping forward and hugging Asagiri Gen so tightly it nearly crushed him. Luckily, Yuzuriha managed to stop him before the magician fainted.
“Of course we came! We promised we’d be here to cheer you on! Right, Yuzuriha, Senkuu?” Taiju said with the same boundless enthusiasm, albeit slightly restrained.
“When you said the tickets were sold out, I thought you wouldn’t make it,” Gen sighed, his cheerful smile fading into a faintly sulky tone.
“Senkuu’s father, Byakuya-san, managed to get the tickets for us, Gen-kun,” Yuzuriha explained gently, patting Gen’s shoulder in reassurance.
“Ah, I see. Lucky indeed,” Senkuu said with a mocking little smirk. “So you don’t have to give us an exclusive private show, Lazy Cat.”
Gen lightly punched Senkuu’s chest, clearly offended.
“It’s not my fault my manager limited the tickets to just 130 people, Senkuu-chan!”
Their interaction flowed so naturally—like noodles streaming through a Nagashi Somen bamboo slide.
They spun around in their own little bubble, leaving Byakuya standing awkwardly outside the circle, completely clueless.
It was as if he were an outsider, stuck wondering in the whirlpool of confusion, What on earth is happening here?
Thankfully, the bewilderment didn’t last long.
Asagiri Gen suddenly bowed politely in front of him and introduced himself.
“Ishigami-san, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Gen Snyder Wingfield. I’ve been friends with Senkuu-chan since the 5th grade. Senkuu-chan really helped me a lot after I moved to Japan.”
The introduction came from this polite little magician—apparently Senkuu’s childhood friend. And this boy… this foreigner… was incredibly polite. His soft voice carried a shy tone, cheeks faintly flushed. It was almost too cute to handle.
Snapping out of his confusion, Byakuya was taken aback for a moment before awkwardly introducing himself—not at all like the wise, composed adult he was supposed to be.
“Oh, yes, nice to meet you, kiddo. Just call me Byakuya. And thank you for being friends with Senkuu. Must be tough being friends with such a stubborn boy, huh?”
In front of him, Gen and Yuzuriha both giggled softly, while Senkuu frowned, letting out an annoyed huff.
“Hey!”
Ignoring his son’s protest, Byakuya continued talking with Gen, wanting to know more about his son’s friend.
Though he was still puzzled over how Senkuu became friends with someone as famous as Asagiri Gen, it all started to make sense.
This little magician really was the type who could effortlessly get close to anyone, even someone they’d just met five minutes ago. With his amazing social skills and natural charisma, it was no wonder he managed to break through Senkuu’s stubborn walls.
Asagiri Gen truly was full of tricks and surprises—armed with a hidden weapon behind that smile, capable of shattering Senkuu’s social defenses.
Byakuya chuckled softly, feeling how easily even an adult like him could get swept into the warm whirlpool of these children.
Not wanting this moment to end, an idea suddenly popped in his mind, bursting like fireworks.
He decided to invite Asagiri Gen to dinner—even if it was just ramen.
“Hey, how about we celebrate your first big show, Gen-kun? I know a legendary ramen shop nearby,” Byakuya suggested. “It might just be ramen, but I swear it’s 10 billion percent delicious!”
Upon hearing that, Gen immediately turned toward him, eyes sparkling. His wide smile nearly outshone the stage lights. His expression was completely different from the one he wore on stage—now so childish and genuine, like a boy his age should be.
“Ramen?! Really?! I haven’t had it in so long, can I come?!”
Byakuya gave two enthusiastic thumbs up, grinning widely as he let out a hearty laugh.
“Of course! We’re the ones inviting you, remember?”
Gen’s smile grew even wider, his little hands clenched in front of his chest, eyes glowing with pure joy.
That pure, innocent expression made Byakuya clutch his chest dramatically, covering his mouth to stifle the emotional squeal threatening to escape.
One word: “Too adorable!”
Unfortunately, the happiness shining on Gen’s face lasted only three seconds.
“Gen-kun.”
A deep voice cut through the air, belonging to a well-dressed man in a crisp suit holding a tablet. Standing just behind them, a badge hanging from his neck clearly read “Manager.”
“Ge…rmana-chan?”
When Gen turned and saw him, his expression immediately dimmed. The pure joy was replaced by a childish pout.
The manager frowned slightly, regret flickering in his eyes at seeing his little star sulk, but he didn’t relent.
“It’s already past eight. You need to go home and rest.”
“Umhn…” Gen grumbled softly. If it weren’t for the gloom on his face, that pout would have looked utterly adorable in Byakuya’s eyes. “Can’t we at least stop for ramen? Just for a little bit?”
“I’m afraid not.” The manager shook his head. He tapped his tablet twice, revealing a list of unanswered messages, then added, “Besides, your parents in America already called.”
Byakuya felt a pang of sympathy for Gen. The boy’s schedule seemed far too strict for someone his age. But since the reasons for refusal were “to rest” and “a call from his parents right after the show,” it meant—no matter how heavy it looked—there was something important waiting.
Especially for a child living thousands of kilometers away from his family.
It was family business. Or maybe just their weekly check-in. Whatever it was, as a father himself, Byakuya knew when to step back.
So instead of trying to persuade the manager to spoil the kids—as Byakuya usually did, always siding with them—he crouched down so he could meet Gen at eye level.
His warm smile softened his tired red eyes.
“You know, Gen-kun,” he said gently, “the time difference between Japan and America can be as much as 13–14 hours. If your parents are calling you now, it means they’re staying up late at night or waking up at dawn just for you. So, why not go and tell them all about your first show? I’m sure they watched it.”
Gen’s eyes widened slightly. His fingers played with the longer strands of his asymmetrical hair. His lips still pouted, but he nodded obediently.
“Of course I know. My parents are very busy, but they always make time to watch my shows and call me.”
Byakuya smiled with pride, resisting the urge to ruffle that neatly styled, adorable hair.
“Exactly. You’re such a smart kid!”
Even with the comforting words, Gen’s smile didn’t return.
Amid the faintly awkward atmosphere, Senkuu let out a quiet sigh beside them.
He dug his hand into his pocket, pulled out a small folded piece of paper, and handed it to Gen without saying a word.
All eyes turned toward the paper with curiosity.
Gen stared at it intently and murmured, “A… ticket?”
“Amusement park,” Senkuu said flatly. “Byakuya bought five tickets. You’re free on Thursdays and Fridays, right? You can come—if that devil manager of yours lets you off for a day.”
His tone was as detached as ever, but in his eyes, there was the faintest flicker of empathy. A rare, subtle kindness from a boy ruled by pure rationality.
Gen looked at the ticket like it was the light of a falling star. His dim gaze suddenly lit up again with hope.
He turned toward his manager with pleading eyes that were impossible for most people to resist.
Beside him, Taiju and Yuzuriha exchanged a glance before nodding in silent agreement—then mirrored the same puppy-eyed plea.
“Manager-san, please let Gen-kun take a break and join us! We’re begging you,” Yuzuriha pleaded, clasping her hands together earnestly.
“Please give us this chance. We’ve been looking forward to a day out together before we enter middle school next month!” Taiju added with equal seriousness.
And Byakuya—rather than acting like the wise adult he should be—joined in, mimicking the kids’ pathetic puppy eyes, silently begging the manager to let Gen visit the amusement park.
The manager, on the other hand, wrinkled his brow in utter disgust, as if seeing an old man like Byakuya pull that face was just too much.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighed deeply, and finally relented.
“Fine, fine. But you’ll have to ask your parents for permission too, okay?”
Hearing that, Gen instantly cheered. He suddenly spun around and hugged Senkuu tightly, his wide smile bursting with joy.
“It worked! Senkuu-chan, thank you! Don’t forget your promise, okay!”
Senkuu scratched his ear lazily, rolling his eyes with his usual nonchalance.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t make me regret giving you that ticket.”
Gen tightened his hug, replying brightly,
“I won’t. Ten billion percent.”
The farewell ended with Gen clutching the ticket of happiness, waving from inside the car with a smile that refused to fade.
Meanwhile, Byakuya was left dumbfounded.
His son—who usually rejected any kind of skinship, like hugs from his best friend Taiju or even from Byakuya himself—had accepted that hug so easily.
Not only that, Byakuya also realized something else that puzzled him even more:
They were planning to go to the amusement park on a Thursday.
A day when Senkuu had already scheduled a visit to the city observatory.
A day when the science exhibition—which should have been the only thing to lure Senkuu into an amusement park—was not being held.
“Could it be… Senkuu and Gen…”
As he slurped hot noodles at the ramen shop later that night, Byakuya couldn’t stop staring at his son with a perplexed gaze.
The gears in his mind turned bit by bit, almost reaching enlightenment.
Almost.
.
.
Thursday, January 8, 2016 – Morning.
Byakuya sat waiting on the living room sofa with Taiju and Yuzuriha, both dressed in casual yet stylish clothes. It struck him just how cruel time could be—turning yesterday’s innocent children into young teenagers overnight.
He hadn’t paid much attention the day before, but now it was obvious: Senkuu had spent thirty whole minutes in the bathroom and his room. A reasonable amount of time for a teenager his age—but not if it was Senkuu we were talking about.
In the past, Senkuu nearly left for school without even brushing his hair if it hadn’t been for Byakuya’s reminders. And of course, Senkuu always had a logical rebuttal to justify his disheveled appearance. But now? Now he was taking ages in his room…
“Or… could it be?”
As if answering his thoughts, the door finally opened.
And out came Senkuu.
He wore a hoodie and white-to-green gradient sneakers matching the shade of his hair, a crossbody bag across his shoulder, and a pair of round purple sunglasses resting on his head.
That stylish look made Byakuya spit out his coffee.
Again, it wasn’t strange for a teenager to dress fashionably. But this was Senkuu.
Senkuu, who valued efficiency above all else. Senkuu, who Byakuya fully expected would just throw on sweatpants and a plain T-shirt. But here he was, looking… put together. Modish.
“Did NASA just discover a new habitable planet or something?!” Byakuya thought, utterly stunned.
Senkuu, either unaware of Byakuya’s shock—or simply ignoring it—walked straight to the door and led the way to the amusement park.
“We should hurry. It’ll be a hassle to let that Stupid Kitten wait too long.”
Stupid Kitten? Byakuya blinked. Why is Senkuu calling his friend that?
Then he remembered—they were meeting Gen.
The older man quickly followed his son. Senkuu was right; it would indeed be troublesome to leave a child star—a young magician, no less—waiting in the middle of a crowded place.
With questions swirling in his mind, Byakuya walked toward the amusement park.
When they arrived and saw Gen standing at the end of the street waiting with his manager, some of those questions slowly began to answer themselves.
“Oh, Byakuya-san, Taiju-chan, Yuzuriha-chan, Senkuu-chan! You’re here!” the young magician called out, waving enthusiastically from a distance.
As they approached, Byakuya’s crimson eyes widened.
There in front of him was Gen, wearing a lavender-toned hoodie and sneakers—the same soft purple shade as the lavender growing along the sidewalk. A crossbody bag hung from his shoulder, a white cap hid his hair, and round green glasses concealed his face.
He was clearly in disguise to blend in with the crowd, making it harder for anyone to recognize the TV star. So that no one realized a little TV star was wandering at their feet.
But that wasn’t what caught Byakuya’s attention. What really caught his attention was the moment Senkuu and Gen stood side by side.
They… matched.
Like shrubs and lavender blooming together along the pavement.
Seeing that, Byakuya had several speculations. But he held them back. For now.
The day at the amusement park turned out to be delightful. Taiju spent nearly all his time with Yuzuriha—of course.
Meanwhile, Senkuu—surprisingly—ended up spending almost all his time with Gen, even though he was the one dragged around to different rides by the magician.
So Byakuya spent most of his time with Gen’s manager, watching the kids from a distance like a proper adult. During his watch, he noticed Gen eyeing a churro stand with longing eyes, like he really wanted one. Unfortunately, his manager had forbidden him from overindulging in snacks. So Gen could only look from afar.
Byakuya was about to comfort him when suddenly, Senkuu turned around—no, more precisely, turned toward Gen’s manager.
He pointed at the churro stand. Then at himself.
“Are they using some kind of secret code?” Byakuya thought, looking between Senkuu and the manager in confusion.
Beside him, the manager sighed in resignation, as if he’d just lost a silent battle.
The manager gave a single nod, then waved his hand in a dismissive “go on” gesture.
The interaction seemed so natural, as if they’d done it many times before.
In response, Senkuu dragged Gen toward the churro stand and bought one the size of a ruler, dusted generously with chocolate and sprinkles.
Senkuu, who didn’t even like sweet snacks, then snapped the churro in half—perfectly even.
He handed one half to Gen, keeping the other for himself.
Gen looked at the churro like it was a Christmas present.
He accepted the sweet treat like it was an award, then ate it with a smile that stretched across his face like a rainbow over the horizon.
The two young teens were completely lost in their own little bubble.
Meanwhile, Byakuya clutched his chest dramatically and covered his mouth as if holding back a tragic wail.
His eyes welled up like an unstoppable rainstorm, while his heart melted like ice cream in summer.
“Oh, by the rabbits on the moon, they’re so ADORABLE!”
When they got home, Byakuya and Senkuu sat at the dining table in their apartment.
In the middle of dinner, Byakuya began voicing his speculation, much like a scientist laying out a hypothesis.
“So, you and Gen… are dating.”
Rather than a question, it sounded more like a statement.
Across from him, Senkuu choked on his energy drink, coughing like an old man, then glared at Byakuya in annoyance. “No.”
Byakuya smirked, grinning teasingly.
“Oh, you don’t have to lie. Just tell me the love story between you and that ‘Stupid Kitten’ who gave you Valentine’s chocolate. And you returned it with ‘cola-flavored candy,’ didn’t you?”
Senkuu froze, staring at Byakuya as if he were looking at a demon from hell. After kicking his foster father’s shin, Senkuu replied indifferently,
“Tch. I already said, we’re not dating.”
A brief pause, then in a lower voice, “Not yet. At least, not for now.”
Byakuya scooped a piece of meat, chewed, and swallowed it with relish before asking again, “So, what are you waiting for, kid?”
Senkuu scratched his hair, those sharp crimson eyes glancing to the side awkwardly. “After we enter middle school.”
Byakuya nodded in understanding.
Although there was no strict age for someone to start dating, his genius son really had a mature, thoughtful mindset. Making it official when they truly stepped into their teenage years.
Which left only one small piece of advice for Byakuya to give.
“If you don’t make your move soon, someone else might snatch your cat away, you know.”
Senkuu frowned, pouting slightly.
“I know.”
.
.
December 25th, 2018, night.
Byakuya exhaled, his breath forming warm steam in the cold air. His gloved hands carried a strawberry cake and Kentucky fried chicken from KFC. A little sweetness and late-night snacks to celebrate Christmas Eve and the winter holiday. Oh, and of course, a big bottle of cola!
In previous years, their Christmas celebration was only attended by Senkuu, who would be dragged out of his room, and Taiju, who always wore a Santa hat. Sometimes, Yuzuriha would visit, bringing along her homemade cake. But this year was different. There was one additional presence that made the atmosphere livelier, like a sprinkle of magic from another world. Who else but the little magician—aka his future son-in-law—Asagiri Gen!
Byakuya couldn’t wait to see the VIP magic show from the young magician in their apartment.
Or so he thought.
Until he saw the dim lights and the eerily quiet atmosphere—so different from the Christmas celebration he had imagined. When Byakuya opened the door to their apartment, it wasn’t a Christmas tree and twinkling lights that welcomed him. It wasn’t the warm smiles of the young teens, nor the surprising magic tricks from his future son-in-law.
No.
What greeted him was nothing more than the dull glow of the neon lamp above the kitchen. A house with people in it, yet silent. When Byakuya glanced at the shoe rack, two pairs of sneakers—green and purple—were still neatly placed. It meant that his son and his boyfriend were inside the house. But when he turned toward Senkuu’s bedroom and the guest room, the doors were closed, as if forbidding any outsider from entering.
Byakuya’s first thought as a parent with a teenage son was:
“Ohoho! Could it be they’ve already reached that stage? Really?! My, my, Senkuu is truly bold, huh.”
Crossing his arms over his chest and nodding like an all-knowing parent, Byakuya chuckled to himself. Then, the second thought that crossed his mind as a “wise” parent was to scold them the next day—after they were done—and give them a talk about doing that safely and comfortably.
“Hmm, well, they’re still underage, after all,” Byakuya sighed, feeling a little like he had failed as a foster parent, knowing his son had taken such a step already. “Well, at least they like each other, and since Gen is a boy, there won’t be any cases of teenage pregnancy.”
Or so he thought.
Until he saw a small package lying in the first-aid box behind the bathroom cabinet. At first, Byakuya thought it was just a tissue box. So, after washing his face and shaving his beard, he picked it up to dry his face. Unfortunately, what he saw stabbed his eyes like a laser.
It was a tampon!
Byakuya quickly shoved the white item back into the cabinet, hurriedly wiped his face with a towel, then sat on the sofa with a cup of coffee. He tried to pretend that the embarrassing discovery had never happened.
Even though his mind kept screaming, “Why on earth is there a tampon here?!!”
Clearly, Senkuu had no need for it, not even for his weird experiments. Nor would Yuzuriha, who only came over occasionally to hang out. So, who on earth was using it—
That was when Byakuya’s thoughts began spinning like oiled gears, generating enough kinetic energy to light a bulb. All based on one simple theory: “The reason Senkuu always calls Gen a cat.”
Which produced a hypothesis: “Because Gen is a futaneko?!”
As if confirming that hypothesis, Senkuu emerged from the guest room fully dressed and tidy. As though he had never “been in battle” the way Byakuya imagined hormonally charged teenagers would. In his hands, he carried a basin of water and a hand towel. But Byakuya’s attention zeroed in on the heating pad—normally used to ease menstrual cramps. The old man stared at it as though it were a hidden treasure found on the dark side of the moon.
Senkuu didn’t seem surprised to see his father back home. Instead of greeting him, the young teen went straight to the kitchen, dumping out the basin’s water, then refilling it with cold water and a bag of ice. Meanwhile, the heating pad was left charging on the table.
Unable to bear the awkward silence—at least, it felt awkward for him—Byakuya pointed at the heating pad.
“Earlier, I saw a ‘white item’ in the first-aid cabinet. And now… that heating pad.” His throat tightened, and he swallowed hard. “So… is Gen…?”
Even though the old man didn’t finish his sentence, he knew Senkuu would understand what he meant.
And as expected, Senkuu nodded without even glancing back. “Hmn. That’s not a problem, right?”
His words—“that’s not a problem, right?” and not “is that a problem?”—already indicated everything. The low voice, the defensive stance… this scientist would accept no rebuttal except direct approval.
Not that Byakuya had any issue with it. But, as a wise adult, of course he had another perspective. A positive one, naturally. So, he began his little piece of advice.
“Of course not. I’ll always support you, no matter what decision you make, son.” Byakuya promised sincerely.
Hearing that, Senkuu’s tense shoulders eased, as if he’d actually feared Byakuya would oppose him. What nonsense.
Then, with a cautious tone, the old man continued.
“However, as a parent, I still need to give you a little reminder. Even though you two geniuses are more independent than most adults, I’m still responsible for you.”
Senkuu stopped putting ice cubes into the basin, raising an eyebrow in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean… you know…” Byakuya stammered, a little embarrassed, but it was his duty as their father. “You should be careful when doing that. After all, Gen is a futaneko, and if I’m right, our little celebrity is hiding his identity.”
Of course, getting a child celebrity pregnant at a young age before marriage would be a moral and ethical disaster!
Byakuya waved his hand in the air. “I mean, surely you wouldn’t want to ruin your boyfriend’s career because you weren’t careful while doing that, right?—Well, even though I’d be happy to have a grandchild—no! Whatever it is—basically—you get what I mean, right?”
Looking straight ahead, his son stared back at him with an expression of utter disgust. His brows and nose wrinkled…
“What the hell do you mean, old man?” Senkuu asked, revolted. “Do you think we’re doing that?”
Byakuya blinked like an idiot. “Aren’t you?”
Senkuu gave him a blank look, as if his respect for Byakuya had just dropped by 10 billion points. “Of course not. Do you want America to drop a bomb on my head again?”
Still wearing his dumbfounded face, Byakuya scratched his head in confusion. “I thought you already did. You know, teenage hormones.”
Senkuu let out an irritated snort, almost angry. “We’re still underage, idiot. Of course we’re not doing it—at least not until we’re married.”
“Oh. Then why are those things here? And Gen too… you just came from his room.”
Senkuu rolled his eyes in boredom. “Obviously because he often stays over here, genius. This apartment is closer to the TV studio and middle school than his own place.”
“And our other genius has been overworking himself until he got sick—right during his hellish two-week menstrual period.” Then Senkuu shoved the basin of icy water into Byakuya’s hands, annoyed.
“So, instead of wasting your time on thoughts like that, take care of your future son-in-law who’s sick while I go to the pharmacy to get some medicine.”
Without waiting for a reply, Senkuu grabbed the purple hoodie and slipped on matching sneakers, leaving Byakuya standing there like a fool with the basin in his hands.
It took a full ten minutes for Byakuya to snap out of his daze. And then it hit him—
“Of course, my son is a genius who knows how to take responsibility.”
With that thought, Byakuya stepped into the guest room and found the little kitten curled up on the bed.
The little kitten wore a green hoodie that swallowed his hands, a thick blanket cocooned his body, and a heating pad was wrapped around his stomach. His flushed face would have looked utterly adorable if not for the fact that he was running a fever.
With gentle care, Byakuya pressed a cold compress to the kitten’s burning forehead, wiping away the sweat trickling down his neck and back. Each time the old man’s hand brushed against his skin, the little kitten squirmed—almost purring if he were an actual cat.
Looking at that pitifully adorable figure, Byakuya couldn’t hold back his tears.
“Truly, my son Senkuu is a mature, responsible young man. He’s so lucky to have such an adorable lover like Gen.”
.
.
May, 2027, late afternoon.
Byakuya gazed at the sunset from the deserted island where they had landed the Soyuz. A quiet longing flickered in his crimson eyes as he thought of his son and his future son-in-law, still frozen somewhere out there.
Even though he was half in despair at watching human civilization crumble bit by bit, Byakuya clung tightly to one unwavering belief—
that one day, Senkuu would find a way to revive humanity’s civilization and reunite with his future son-in-law.
“Heh, even if I may never get to see it,” Byakuya chuckled softly, his laughter trembling as he imagined his son in a wedding suit, struggling to tame that defiant, anti-gravity hair.
“What is it that you won’t get to see?”
The melodious voice of a famous diva floated from behind the tree roots, revealing Lilian, still beautiful even clad in animal-hide cloth and woven straw.
Byakuya looked at Lilian with the same warmth he imagined his son would give to his future spouse and replied gently,
“My son’s wedding… with his future son-in-law.”
Lilian hopped down from the roots and sat beside him. “Oh, you mean that little magician, Asagiri Gen?”
“Yeah,” Byakuya nodded, his eyes tearing up dramatically with an exaggerated expression.
“I’ve already dreamed of holding ten grandchildren in my arms.”
Lilian smacked his shoulder, laughing,
“What, are you trying to make a baseball team or something?”
Byakuya grinned, “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
Lilian laughed again, her shoulders shaking with joy rather than the sadness of being one of the only two astronauts left on this island. When the cheerful laughter faded, she spoke again.
“Still, you seem a bit melancholic. What’s really on your mind?”
Byakuya blinked. The diva’s sharpness in reading emotions was truly just like Gen’s uncanny ability to read people’s hearts. Maybe it was because they were both celebrities.
Looking off into the distance, Byakuya poured his heart out,
“It’s nothing. Like I said, just a little regret… that I won’t be able to see their wedding, or my future grandchildren.”
“Are you worried about their happiness?” Lilian asked, her soft, melodic voice whispering with sympathy.
Byakuya chuckled lightly,
“Not at all. I’m certain that even if continents and oceans separate them, they’ll find each other. And they’ll live happily ever after—even if hell itself tried to part them.”
Lilian widened her eyes, whispering in awe, “That’s an incredible kind of faith.”
She gazed at the same horizon, her hands clasped against her chest as if in prayer.
“But because it comes from you, I believe it. I pray they live happily ever after.”
After saying that, Lilian added, “Still, you seem to hold onto some lingering regret. Why not settle that regret now? You have something you want to say to the two of them, don’t you? Oh, right. Just say it in a hundred stories.”
Lilian had perfectly guessed what was on Byakuya’s mind. Following the diva’s advice—his wife for so long—Byakuya wrote the final story in the hundred stories.
A story meant only to be told to Gen and Senkuu when they were together.
When he finished, instead of receiving congratulations from his wife Lilian, the diva only gave him a teasing scold.
“That’s it? So short?”
“That’s enough,” Byakuya replied calmly. “Because Gen is a genius at reading hearts, there’s no need for words to convey our love to him.”
.
.
-Ruri-
April 1st, 5756, late afternoon.
Draped in a white silk kimono, Gen stood beside Senkuu, his hand clutching Senkuu’s with nervous tension. The wedding reception and celebration had long passed, yet his skilled fingers still trembled with unease.
Beside him, Senkuu held his hand firmly, keeping Gen grounded. His free hand gently patted Gen’s back in slow, circular motions, like soothing a frightened little cat.
In front of the newlyweds, the priestess who had preserved the 100 Tales for 3,700 years—Ruri—sat formally on her knees. The dignity of an honored miko radiated clearly from her calm aura.
“Senkuu, Gen, you know that the 100 Tales are messages from the founder of Ishigami Village, Ishigami Byakuya, meant for Senkuu,” Ruri said softly.
Both nodded in reply. So Ruri continued, “But, in truth, there is one secret tale, meant only to be told to the two of you.”
Those words struck the newlyweds like an arrow piercing their hearts. Senkuu’s grip tightened, and he instinctively drew Gen closer by the waist—almost into an embrace. The affectionate gesture made Ruri smile warmly, sharing in the happiness of the couple before her, even as she silently ignored her own lingering sadness… still waiting for Chrome to propose.
“100 Tales, the Secret Tale,” she began. “To the astronaut who longs for the moon, Senkuu… listen carefully. You must not be harsh when you spend your ‘first night’ with Gen. And if you ever make Gen cry, I will haunt you for ten thousand years!”
Senkuu choked on his own saliva, half-cursing, “Tch, even in death you still manage to annoy me, old man.”
But the curse carried no hatred, only a faint irritation that concealed a deep affection. Though his tone was rough and his voice detached, those crimson eyes glimmered with warmth.
Ruri chuckled softly, and Gen sighed, the tension in his back easing at last.
“Byakuya-chan will always be Byakuya-chan,” Gen said, gently caressing Senkuu’s hand.
“Always a nuisance? Yeah,” Senkuu replied dryly.
Ruri and Gen laughed together again, their laughter lasting several moments before finally subsiding, leaving space for Ruri to finish the story.
“And now, for the moon who is always longed for… Gen.”
“I have always… always…” She paused, then smiled faintly. “Ah, just like Senkuu, I know you don’t need my sweet words to understand my heart. Isn’t that right, mind-reading magician?”
Gen laughed softly once more, his cheeks flushing pink with a mix of shyness and happiness.
Ruri continued, her voice filled with tender warmth,
“And so, there’s only one thing I want to say to you.”
“...Thank you for being Senkuu’s partner. We are truly lucky to have you by our side.”
And that… was Ishigami Byakuya’s view of his son and his future son-in-law.