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Kyoko tapped a sharp, worn nail on the table. She didn’t like cutting them, because that meant she had to take off her gloves and look upon her biggest mistake. Her biggest regret.
Was it a regret? She’d do it again if she knew it would work…
But it didn’t. And she had to live with that…
Had to live with a lot of things.
A lot of things.
A lot…
The door opened, and she perked up. “Hello my little girl!” Kyoko’s glare made her father, Jin, deflate. “Uh, hi! Er…how are you?”
“Fine.” She turned to the second person to come in. Kyoko didn’t show it, but her heart ached upon seeing him. “Hello, Makoto.”
“Kyoko.” Makoto had his arms behind his back and was wearing a suit. His Babyface had a mask of professionalism he probably learned from the lawyer. Barkgang? Doggang? The one that goes on a monologue about justice and how she’s going to hell every once in a while. That one. “You got it right once again, great work as always.” His hand went to adjust his tie. Was he nervous?
“Of course…” Kyoko clasped her gloved hands together. “I always knew Shikiba was in the know. No way the last Ultimate Council didn’t use him for some sketchy shit.” A small grin entered her face, followed by her making a shooting gun motion with her hand. “So, what was the scheme? Was it just embezzlement, or was he actually researching something?”
“Yeah! Uh!...” Jin cleared his ear with a pinkie finger. “He tried making a plant army to defend the Earth from an alien race known as the Rhinogradentia with the DNA of multiple Ultimates to ultimately-ha! Get it?- one day take over the world for himself!”
…
…
…
“That’s a real thing.” Makoto said. “I-It’s all over the news, it’s getting added to our Wiki. S-Search it up, this is actually what happened.”
“I…wow.” Aliens? Plant clones? All totally believable. “I’m just shocked he wasn’t pocketing Hope’s Peak funds…”
Jin and Makoto gave each other a look before deciding not to bother interrogating her. “Well…it’s over now!” Jin said. “No more ali-well, those are still an issue…no more plants!”
“Th-the plants are still around, Kirigiri-Sama.” Kyoko scrunched up her face. “We’re not committing plant genocide while-uh…” The 2 suddenly turned to look at her.
“...What?” Kyoko leaned back in her chair and gave both of them a dirty look. “How was I supposed to know the specifics?”
“N-No we’re not…we’re not mad about any of that!” Makoto explained. “But, um…well…uh…”
“Maybe we should just…show you.” Jin opened the door, and Kyoko followed, confused and more than a bit annoyed.
“Can someone please explain to me what’s going on?” The Detective asked, arms crossed. “Aliens, plant people, and now this. What’s the issue?”
“Well!” Makoto stopped in front of a door that would lead to an interrogation room. More specifically, the part where investigators could spy through a one-way mirror. “It’s kind of related to the plant people thing.”
Kyoko paused.
…
“Oh…oh no…” She walked into the room with her eyes closed. “Please tell me she’s, like, my age.” Kyoko opened her eyes before either could respond. “GRR!!” Younger. Much younger. Younger than 13, no doubt. Besides the age, the ‘plant girl’ was a split image of Kyoko from long ago. For some God forsaken reason, little to no plant features were visible.
It just made her scared eyes all the more real.
Her lack of wear other than a long white dress so…sad.
It made her perfect, unblemished hands glowing like precious pearls.
Pearls Kyoko threw away for nothing.
“Uh! Honey, are you?-”
“Don’t fucking touch me!” Kyoko slapped Jin’s hand away and stomped over to the glass. On the other end sat the clone. Aside from her were Celeste and Aoi, both having a ‘conversation’ with her younger self. Kyoko couldn’t help but wonder who gave baby Kyoko a black eye. Aoi? Celeste? Both could have tempers, especially Celeste…but neither would hurt a child, right? “What happened to her?”
“A-a fight!” Makoto explained. “We were exploring the mansion you told us about, and ap-apparently she and a bunch of hybrids made their home there.” He grit his teeth and shuddered as he remembered the, in hindsight, wholly unprepared exploration. “Kyoka-um, that’s her name-tried to get us to leave. We fought, and uh…”
“Leon did a sick jump kick to the face!” Jin explained. “I-I actually got a…copy of…the body cam record…ing.”
Kyoko glared at Jin until he was a sweating mess. “...What’s going to happen to her?”
“Well!” Aoi, having just ended the interrogation, entered followed by a tired Celeste. “It doesn’t look like she wants to cause anymore…” She stopped, surprised to see Kyoko there. Once she realized that this wasn’t, in fact, another clone, she continued. “Trouble.”
“I concur.” Celeste added. “I believe that rehabilitation is possible if we provide her with enough support.”
Enough support…
Kyoko stared through the window into the room Kyoka was in. The girl had stood up and was stretching. Her little eyes were placed on the whiteboard inside. Or, rather, her reflection on the whiteboard.
“Uh, Kyoko?” Makoto was about to tap her on the shoulder, but stopped. Not a good idea. “Do you…agree?”
Kyoko blinked. “W-what?”
“I think we should give Kyoka to Junko and Mikan for a bit!” Aoi said. “They handled the warriors well, so who-”
“I’m going to talk to her.” Without waiting for anyone else, Kyoko walked out, pushing Aoi and Celeste to the side. She ignored the voices of her father and classmates, grabbed the door handle (noting the second layer of skin she permanently donned after that day) and went inside. “Hello.” Kyoko was blunt as always, but this time, she remembered the spite others often claimed to hear, and softened her tone. “Kyoka, it was?”
Kyoka jumped, her eyes wide with fear and awe at the detective. Kyoko didn’t know why, she didn’t feel like anyone worthy of either from appearance alone. She always dressed in a way that was simple, unassuming. Then again, she did have what Mondo once called a resting bi-
Was she crying?
“M-Momma…” Kyoka shook where she stood while tears streamed freely down her face. “I-I…you’re real…” Her voice was quiet, innocent, like Kyoko's when she was just a child. But Kyoka’s voice had emotion in it: despair. And somehow, awe. “I-I didn’t think…I’m!-” Kyoka fell to her knees and tried to block out a sob. “I’m just…just a clone…! There’s-I!-How could I have ever hoped to…?” She looked up at her greater half like a sinner looking upon an angel. “I’m…so sorry…that I exist…I’m really just…a violation.” Kyoka spoke with shuddering breaths, her lungs felt like they were on fire.
“...” Kyoko stepped over and placed a hand on her clone's shoulder. She knew what she had to do, even if it felt sacrilegious to give rather than receive. ‘It’s okay.’ Kyoko signed before wrapping her mirror in a hug.
❈────────•✦•────────❈
Kyoko sat on one end of the table. Kyoka sat on the other.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“So!” Chisa, who sat in the very middle of the table, clasped her hands together. “How was the first night?”
“...Did you enjoy the bed?” Kyoko asked. Kyoka simply nodded. “Good.”
“...Lovely!” Chisa let out a nervous chuckle. “Uh…Tengan-Sama, help me out here!”
Kazuo Tengan, Class 78th’s homeroom teacher, took a short sip of his tea. “This dorm is a bit too small for two people, isn’t it?”
“Yes…” Kyoko mumbled. “Will…will she be…?”
Tengan chuckled. “Why would we take her away right after you got her?” He asked. “No, I’m suggesting you move into one of the honors cabins. Conveniently, one recently opened up, so you just need to wait until I can move everything out.”
“Interesting…” Kyoko mumbled, placing her clenched hand over her mouth. “Kyoka, do you…want to move?”
“Oh? Uh…” Kyoka fidgeted her perfect, beautiful hands as she turned her attention to the 2 teachers. “Will…will my siblings all?-”
“Not yet,” Tengan said rather bluntly. “We need to see if rehabilitation is possible, and where might be their best permanent home.”
“Oh…” Kyoka’s bottom lip quivered. “I see…” She looked up at Kyoko, her ‘mother.’ The perfect version of herself. “I want…to go wherever you…go.”
Kyoko placed her gaze entirely on Tengan and Chisa. “I’ll go wherever's best for her.”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Are you…sure she meant that literally?” Celeste asked.
“Of course.”
“Um…Kirigiri-Tan? Did you mean that literally?” Hifumi asked.
Kyoka squirmed uncomfortably in the homemade baby wrap. “N-no…”
The only sound anyone made came from Tengan in the form of laughter.
“This is still for the best.” Kyoko said.
“It’s not.” Junko said. “I-It’s really…really not.”
“Y-Yeah, uh…” Chihiro spoke up next. “What…what do you even expect her to do during class?”
Kyoko took a Monopoly box out of her backpack and placed it on her desk. “She can play while I learn.”
“B-B-By herself!?!?!” Aoi asked.
“Y-Yeah, you can play it by yourself!”
“Blasphemy.” Chiaki said in a casual tone while passing the open door to the classroom.
“Um…n-no,” Makoto said. “No, you can’t…you can’t do this, Kyoko. Put her down.”
Kyoko sighed and gently placed Kyoka on the ground. “Fine! But don’t think I’m going to lock her in her room all day.”
“WOAH! That’s not what we were gonna suggest!” Taka cried. “That’d be abusive as heck!”
…
“Abusive?” Kyoko asked. “Neglectful, horrid, but not…” The classroom went quiet as they watched Kyoko ponder their words. “Oh…”
“Um…” Kyoka spoke up softly, running her pretty little hands over her long, white hair. “Can I go…back?”
“Uuuuuuuhhh…” Mondo grimaced and scratched the back of his neck. “It’s all…kinda…”
“We burnt it to a crisp!” Yasuhiro said. “All gone! We didn’t want anything crawling out!”
Kyoka whimpered, causing Kyoko to quickly grab her. “Fuck all of you!” She said, placing Kyoka back in the baby wrap. “You’re all assholes, don’t ever talk to me or my child ever!-”
“Wait!” Kyoko’s glare landed on the thief. The traitor. The snake. “Um…does Kyoka have any…toys?” Sayaka asked.
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Um…” Kyoko handed Kyoka a doll. “Do you like…Barbie?”
“...Who’s Barbie?” Kyoka asked.
“Of course you didn’t…”
“What about Madoka Magica?” Sayaka asked, handing Kyoka a doll of a character Kyoko didn’t recognize. Mami something? She wasn’t sure. “Uh, is that anime appropriate for her?” Sayaka asked Celeste, who violently shook her head NO.
“She’s…pretty.” Kyoka said, holding the doll close.
“Wonderful!” Kyoko did something neither Sayaka nor Celeste had seen before. She smiled. “I’m glad you!-”
“NOM! Om! NOM!”
…
“Urp!”
…
“I was hungry…” Kyoka weakly defended.
“Oh…oh shit, um.” Kyoko frantically looked around her new house and all the boxes lying around. “I didn’t feed you, did I? Uh…” She finally found the milk bottle and…poked Kyoka’s cheek with it. “C-Come on…do something.”
“...Kyoko.” Celeste dropped her accent, too confused to keep it up. “What, what are you…?”
“You…do know the difference between a…a baby and…a child, right?” Sayaka asked.
Kyoko’s face fell, and she simply shook her head no.
“Uh, hey!” Leon stepped in with a big box full of trash, as far as Kyoko was concerned. “Hiiii…remember me?” He asked Kyoka, who still had a bruise from their first encounter. “Yeah, of course you do, uh…” Kyoko stepped between the 2 as Leon grabbed something from his box. “I uh…wanted to make it up to you! Give you a peace offering and…stuff.” Leon went quiet. The awkwardness of the situation making it hard to continue. But he did. “Uh…here, it’s my favorite dinosaur. Keep it.” Leon said, handing Kyoka a T-Rex toy.
“You should leave.” Kyoko said bluntly. Leon was about to do just that when a pre-recorded roar filled the cabin.
“Wow…” Kyoka pressed the button on the toy’s chest again, her eyes wide and a bit fearful. “T-Rex…” She mumbled before taking a cautionary bite of the tail.
“Why…why would you?-”
“More.” Kyoko said, cutting Leon off. “Give. Her. More.”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Junko! What do children eat?” Kyoko yelled while banging on Junko’s door. “Junko!”
Mikan swung the door open, eyes bloodshot and hair all over the place. “WHAT!?”
Kyoko jumped back, frightened. “Mikan? I!-” She calmed down, but remained cautious in case the nurse charged her. “Do you know what medicine children need?”
In a blink of an eye, Mikan turned from ‘I’M GONNA MURDER EVERYONE HERE!’ mode to ‘Medicine Encyclopedia’ mode. “Well, uh, i-it entirely depends on what their prescriptions are.”
“Uh…are we talking about the plant?” Junko asked, too tired to be fully invested in the plot. “I-I don’t think she has…human…biology.”
“Well…she’s a clone.” Kyoko explained. “So, her biology can’t be that dif-”
“She’s fucking half plant.” Junko yawned and stretched, still in their blue pajamas. “Also, why us?”
“You weren’t the first choice.” Maki grumbled, walking past them and giving Kyoko a death glare.
“She knocked on mine and Harukawa’s doors first!” Toshiko Kayura added. There were bags under her eyes, and that combined with their swaying made it clear she was exhausted beyond belief. “Asked us what children eat, and you know why she asked me!?”
“Because you’re a chi-”
“I AM 16 YEARS OLD, JUNKO!!!!” Toshiko screeched. “Erm. I mean…actually no, I-I hate all of you.” A surprisingly intimidating glare entered her face. “I don’t hate a lot of people, but your class? 53rd and 77th included? Oh…Oh, I hope you all…!!!” Before she could say anything else, Toshiko walked away.
“...We’re way too cruel to Class 28th-um! B-But I agree with Junky!” Mikan said. “H-her biology is pr-probably veeeery different from yours or me’s.”
“I see…” Kyoko scratched her chin. “Can…can you do an autopsy on her? Without killing her?”
Mikan blinked a few times. “Y-you mean…a regular medical examination?” Kyoko, confused herself, nodded her head. “...Yeah, I can do that.”
“Great!” Kyoko smiled and extended her hand. “Where’s the paperwork?”
“N-No need for that!” Mikan said. “We ca-can skip all that stuff since we’re…ac-acqui-we know each other.” Mikan didn’t hate Kyoko, far from it. But she would be lying if she said Kyoko was a friend.
“Oh…?” Kyoko looked surprised at that. “None?”
“Yes, my darling!” Junko was now suddenly dressed as, well, there’s no better description than: as a pimp. Also, she was now behind Kyoko and rubbing her shoulders. Because of course she was. “No need for paperwork! Paperwork is boring!”
“Don’t touch me!” Kyoko said, slapping Junko’s hands away. “God…but really? None?” She asked Mikan. “I thought there was…mountains and mountains of this stuff I’d have to do.”
“Er, s-sometimes, I guess?” Mikan, now fully awake, couldn’t help but be curious… “What…makes you think that?”
“Well…” Kyoko fidgeted with her hands and double checked that the gloves were still on before signing. ‘That was always the excuse for why Grandpa didn’t take me to one.’
❈────────•✦•────────❈
Kyoko slowly snipped away at her remaining nails. The doctors had suggested removing at least the single remaining nail on her right thumb, but she violently rejected that proposal. It took years of effort, but at least one hand looked…
Acceptable. In private. Away from everyone.
And that was being generous.
A crash, a scream. Kyoko froze.
Immediately, she grabbed her gloves and shoved them on. She couldn’t let Kyoka see…that. Then she ran out of her room. “W-what happened?!”
“I!...” Kyoka stood in the middle of the room, a shattered plate at her feet. “Sorry…”
“Oh…” Kyoko looked at the scene, knowing what she had to do. “Um…” Looking away from Kyoka, she pointed toward a corner. “Go over there.”
“Oh? Um…” Slowly, Kyoka avoided each glass shard as she made her way to the corner. “Wha-what else?”
“Um…” Kyoko looked around. Nobody here but her and Kyoka. No one to ask for advice. “Put your…nose against the wall.” Kyoka did as she was told, albeit baffled. “Um…stay there for…five minutes…?” Usually, when Kyoko was placed against the wall, she had to wait fifteen minutes. But she didn’t think that was necessary. Especially considering what she had to do next.
“Um, I’m sorry…” Kyoka said, shaking. What would happen next? “I-I-I won’t-”
“Just…” Shaking herself, Kyoko raised the broom by the end. “Stand still…”
…
Tap. Tap tap…
“And one more…” After tapping Kyoka’s legs with the handle of the broom, Kyoko tapped her on the head once. “That’s a good punishment, I think.” She threw the broom to the side and watched as it slid under the table. By tomorrow, it’d be replaced with something pure. “I’ll clean it up. You can go now.” Without looking Kyoka in the eye, Kyoko walked off to find another broom she swore she had lying around.
A couple of hours later, after everything was cleaned up, Kyoko was reviewing a series of cases in her room. “Hmm…” She was so focused on the connections each could have had that she didn’t notice Kyoka in the doorway.
“Um…” Kyoka ran her glowing hands over her hair in a rhythm as she spoke, the movements were done so subconsciously and without shame that Kyoko couldn’t help but be memorized. She was really once able to do the same? “Mom? Um…why did you…punish me like that?” She asked.
Kyoko twitched, looking down in shame. “I’m…sorry about that.”
“I’m okay…” Kyoka whispered. “But, um, why like…that? Why not just…hit me?”
Another, bigger twitch. “Y-you didn’t deserve that!” Kyoko said, louder than she wished. “Er, s-sorry, I…” She reached for her Rubik's Cube and began messing with it. “It was just an accident, you didn’t need any…harsh discipline.”
“I…see…” Kyoka took the chance to step inside and look around at all the papers and clothes strewn about. “What are you doing…?”
“Oh, uh, detective work.” Kyoko pointed toward a map of the city. “Searching for…culprits.”
“Oh…” Kyoka went silent as she analyzed the map and all its details. “What did…they do?”
“A…lot of things.” Kyoko mumbled. “A lot of alleged things: killers, thieves.” A pause. “Child abusers.”
“Ah!” Kyoka, the ever clever girl she was, instantly clocked it. “That’s why…it must be really sad seeing these things all the time.” She said, gently laying a perfect, free hand on Kyoko’s mutilated and hidden hands.
“Not really, I’m…used to it all.” Kyoko admitted.
…
“I think I might be fucked up.”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Both Grandpa and Mom would hit me.” Kyoko said. “With the broom, or mop, whichever was closest. They wouldn’t feed me either. I had to get a job at six mowing our neighbors' yards to feed myself. Then, when my Mom started going insa-”
“Hold it!” Miaya adjusted her computer's settings so that it could get her words out faster. This was going to be longer than she expected… “First, why did you sign up for this session?” She asked through a digital voice. “From what I’ve heard, you considered therapy before to be a waste of time.”
Kyoko nodded. “I did…” She sucked in her lips and averted her gaze to the floor. “But…things changed when Kyoka appeared.”
Miaya nodded and began typing notes with one hand and words with the other. “What changed exactly?”
Kyoko began playing with her Rubik’s Cube. “S-sorry.”
“No, no, please, use it as much as you need.”
“...I-” Kyoko’s lower lip trembled and her breath quickened. “Who could…hurt her?” She asked. “She’s so delicate, so small! Kyoka’s kind and…a-and doesn’t get-get in the way! Was I…?” Kyoko could see her gloved, disgusting, burnt, horrid hands. “Was I the same? Once?”
Miaya was quiet for a few seconds, taking the information in. “Has Kyoka’s arrival made you consider your childhood abusive?” She asked.
“I don’t know…” Kyoko said. “But, I…if I were abused, I-I don’t want to continue the cycle.”
Miaya nodded. “Do you think you will?”
“No idea.” Kyoko’s face turned blank as she looked up at the Ultimate Therapist. “That’s why I came here, to find out if I will and how to prevent it.”
…
Miaya wrote many, many notes on her computer. “Okay.” She said. “Now, I’m going to need you to sign this.” Turning the computer around, Miaya presented Kyoko the screen. “Just scribble your name in. Doesn’t have to be-”
“What exactly am I signing?” Kyoko asked.
“At least three months of therapy, once every 2 weeks.”
She scoffed. “This is the only-”
“Forgive me, but I feel this is necessary.” Miaya said. “If you don’t sign…we may have to end the session here.” It was a bold and risky maneuver, one that would threaten her career if she weren’t an Ultimate. And even then, this new Ultimate Council made it clear she wasn’t immune to punishment anymore.
Luckily, Kyoko made it easy and signed with a groan. “Fine, just…tell me if I’m being abusive, okay?”
Miaya nodded, satisfied. “You’re not.”
“Wait, what?” Kyoko looked baffled. “How did you?-”
“Well, let’s look at the facts.” Miaya began counting on her fingers. “Your parents didn’t feed you, left you alone all the time, didn’t give you toys, hit you, etc.” She shook her head. “What are you doing for Kyoka?”
“Hm…” Kyoko continued messing with the Rubik's Cube. “I’ve tried cooking for her, I never leave her side, she has toys and…I tapped her on the head with a broom yesterday.”
Miaya nodded. “Yes, you also said you threw it out that night, correct?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“I see…” Miaya scratched her chin. “Tell me, why do you think you may continue the cycle? Kyoka has only spoken highly of you, as has everyone else I discussed her adoption with.” Kyoko stared at Miaya, unblinking. “Despite how horrendous your childhood sounds…you seem like a wonderful mother.”
Kyoko let out a whimper. “But I’m…”
“...Kirigiri-Chan.” Miaya gently placed a cold, metallic hand on Kyoko’s warm, fleshy, mutilated hand. “Let’s focus entirely on you, okay?”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Nonono!” Teruteru interjected again. “We’re making rabbit soup, not rabbit everythin’!”
“But I like…meat.” Kyoka said, threatening to add more rabbit meat to the brew.
“Remember, she’s only able to digest meat. And plastic toy.” Kyoko said, causing Kyoka to crave some barbie dolls. “So, I mean, let her add as much as she-”
“Yeah, yeah! But if she wanted to learn how to make rabbit steak, y’all should a’ asked instead a’ soup!”
“Let’s make both!” Nekomaru said. “Some steak, some soup, uh…” He messed around with the stove. “Uh, do we make it at the same time? One at a time? Uh-”
“This kitchen ain’t big enough to-”
Splash! Sizzle…
“I-I didn’t mean to-to drop…that.” Kyoka said honestly.
“Ah!...it’s fine!” What it was was a cooking travesty unfolding in front of Teruteru’s very eyes! “W-We’ll just have…chunky soup! That can be nice sometimes.”
“Ah, well I’m probably not gonna eat it then…” Kyoko said. “I don’t like…chunky stuff.”
“Oh!” Kyoka hopped off her stool with an ashamed look on her face. “Sorry…”
“No no, it’s fine!” Kyoko said, leaning down and placing a hand on her clone's shoulder. “I’ll probably just order myself some pizza again.” Nekomaru and Teruteru glanced at each other, then they looked back at the trash can, already full of pizza boxes. “It’s no big deal, Lily Pad.”
“Actually, maybe I can make a quick run for some more ingredients?” Nekomaru said, walking over to get his coat off the hook before anyone could object. “I’m sure the cafeteria still has some stuff!”
“Um…” Kyoko turned to Teruteru, then Kyoka. “I-If you insist…”
“Yeah, don’t worry, I’ll be back in and out in ten seconds!” Nekomaru blew a kiss to his boyfriend. “Love you, see you soon!”
“Love you too!” Teruteru blew a dozen kisses in Nekomaru's direction before he left.
“...Kyoka, wash your hands.” Kyoko flung some sauce on her daughter's hands. “You got some…stuff on you.”
“THAT WAS MY KAMEBISHI SAUCE!!!!!” Teruteru cried out, gurgling out a few hundred bubbles and sobbing his eyes out.
“Yeah, that. Go wash it off.”
“O…kay?” Kyoka awkwardly walked over to the bathroom to wash it off. Not before licking some of it off her perfect hands, though. “Mmm…”
“Wonderful…” Kyoko waited for Teruteru to recover. “Don’t.”
“H-Huh?”
“You know…” Kyoko crossed her arms. “Flirt with her.”
.
“WHAT!?” Teruteru screamed so loud it felt like the whole cabin shook. “W-W-What makes ya think!?!?-”
“You flirt with everyone.” Kyoko said. “And!-”
“I’ve stopped!” He screamed. “Like! A year or two ago now! I’m-I’m-I’m with Nekomaru now!” Teruteru pointed a finger accusingly in Kyoko’s face. “S-Since when have ya seen me flirt with anyone recently, Ma’am!?!?”
Kyoko opened her mouth.
…
…
…
“Oh…”
“DAT’S RIGHT!” Teruteru was red in the face and swinging his wooden spoon all over the place. “Y-YOU INVITE MAH ASS OVAH AND JUST CASUALLEH IMPLAH AH’M A PEDOPHILE!?!?”
“I-I didn’t!-well…” Okay, maybe he had a point there. Teruteru of all people, had a po-
“WHAT DOES THIS IMPLY ‘BOUT’CHU!?” Teruteru made another point. One much more damning.
“I!-That’s why I wanted Nekomaru to be here too, ass!-”
“YA INVITE ME TA TEACH YA SOMETHIN’!” He began. “THEN YA!-” Teruteru paused. Kyoko turned to find Kyoka peeking around the corner before ducking.
“I-uh, s-sorry, I…” Kyoka peeked her head back out. “Was I…?”
The front door opened. “Hey, I’m back!” Nekomaru panted while carrying a bag of meat in his hands, which he plopped on the counter, unaware of the tension in the room. “Hope I didn’t leave y’all waiting!”
Teruteru and Kyoko looked at each other. ‘Please…’ Kyoko thought. ‘Please don’t leave…’ It was the first time since Akane burst into her room and beat the shit out of her that she felt fear. Erm, that’s another story. Don’t worry about it.
“...No, ya didn’t.” Teruteru quickly combed his hair back, calming himself down. “C’mere, Kyoka, your pot’s boilin’ all up!”
“Oh!” Kyoka ran over and began stirring it.
Kyoko let out a quiet sigh and gave Teruteru a nod.
…
“Uh, say.” Kyoko said while cutting through some of the meat. “How long have you two been dating…?”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“I am sorry.” Kyoko said, giving the Ultimate Student Council a bow. “For being a bad friend.”
“And…?” Miaya said through her computer.
“And threatening to out you, Celeste.” Celestia chuckled in response. “And being insensitive to you, Mondo.”
Mondo chuckled as well. “All in the past…” He said. While he was still, clearly, hurt by the words she spoke in the past, Mondo didn’t throw any attitude her way.
“And, uh…” Kyoko turned to Sayaka, and right beside her the Council President himself, Makoto. “Sorry for…harassing you both…”
Everyone looked to see how the two responded. “I forgive you.” Sayaka said. “Thank you for the apology, Kirigiri-Chan.” Formal. Very formal.
Not as formal as Naegi. “I concur.” Concur? Makoto would never!-well…God, she wasn’t paying attention at all to the world around her, was she? “The Ultimate Student Council thanks you for your show of respect and reconciliation.” He banged a small gavel on the table. “While we hope to build a stronger bond with you, we hope you understand why we can’t add you back onto the council.”
“Of course!” Kyoko said. “I feel we can all agree I was wholly unqualified for the position, especially in comparison with my replacement…”
Hifumi turned to the sleeping Komaru and nudged her. “AGH!” The Ultimate Medium flailed her arms around before remembering where she was. “Oh, um, no, that’s wrong!” She said, pointing at Kyoko. “I-is it…?”
“...Perhaps.” Kyoko confirmed.
“Well, if that was all.” Kyoko’s eyes widened. How could she forget to apologize to Chihiro?! “I move that this Council Meeting be dismis!-”
“Wait!” Kyoko interrupted. “Uh, sorry, I just, uh…” She looked down and almost began signing, but realized Chihiro probably wouldn’t understand it. “...My apologies for calling…Alter-Ego…a robot.” She said, looking up at Chihiro. “He’s…as much your son as…anyone…?” Kyoko turned to Miaya, who nodded.
“...I appreciate it.” Chihiro said. “Thank you for-”
“Can they be friends?” Kyoko could feel Miaya looking her way as she spoke. “Um, s-sorry to, uh, ask but…since I apologized maybe Alter-Ego and Kyoka could…”
“Vision. Their name is Vision, Kyoko.” Chihiro corrected. Chihiro, the girl (Or. Boy) who couldn’t hurt a fly. Couldn’t hold a grudge, no matter how minor. The same Chihiro who looked down at her with a look of skepticism. “Also, are you…making demands of the Council?”
“N-no!” Kyoko cried. “I-I’m just!-”
“Forgive her.” Miaya said. “She only wants what’s best for her daughter.”
“I can see that,” Chihiro immediately countered. “But I’d be a little more forgiving if she bothered remembering his name…” He turned to look Kyoko in the eye. The look was enough to melt her where she stood. “It’s been his name for…six months now.”
Kyoko gulped and nodded. “I will…remember.”
“You know, I wished to save this for a one-on-one conversation!” Taka started, causing Kyoko’s heart to sink. “But, I would like to raise a complaint made by Teruteru, which may be relevant!”
Sakura raised an eyebrow. “What was it? From what I heard, he and Kyoko were doing just fine.”
“Not quite…” Taka continued. “Essentially, during their recent FRIENDSHIP BONDING ACTIVITY!™, she asked him not to flirt. With Kyoka.” Many nodded. Then did double takes, looking at each other and Kyoko as they took the information in. “He didn’t request discipline, mind you, but Teruteru felt it was safest to have the incident on record in case of anything similar coming up in the future!”
“That’s…” Kyoko’s heart burned inside her chest. She scared Teruteru that much?
“K-Kyoko, is this t-true?” Toko asked, already tearing her hair out because of the situation. “What prompted it? He d-d-didn’t…!”
“No!” Kyoko yelled. “Nothing! I-I was just…being stupid. I’m so-”
“I’m sorry!” Aoi spoke up. “You invite him to your home to help, and you immediately accuse him of being a pedo!?” She crossed her arms and scowled. “That’s fucked up.”
“I second this.” Byakuya, who was quiet until this point, finally spoke. “Kyoko, what was your plan here today?”
“To…apologize…” Kyoko turned to Miaya, who nodded.
“Why?” Byakuya continued. “Because, from what I’ve heard from Mikan, and now Teruteru, you seem to be apologizing, conveniently, to the classmates that can offer you the most help, and not, say…” He looked down upon her like he did the first day they met. Some things never changed, it seemed. “The Ultimate Imposter, who has suffered your abuse in relative silence.”
“I…uh…” Shit. No defense for that. “...I’ll do it…as soon as possib?-”
“Something that concerns me about that.” Fuck. Mukuro too!? “Is that we prompted it, rather than you wanting to make amends yourself.”
“That is something me and Kyoko are working on.” Miaya finally spoke up, not willing to see Kyoko get crushed by the sudden wave of scrutiny. “To provide context, her Alexithymia and Autism in general make remembering things, especially of an emotional nature, hard much of the time.” She explained. “I am sure that without prompting, she would have remembered and apologized accordingly. It’s just that since she now has a child, it hasn’t been a priority.”
“Surely, she’d have found the time, right?” Junko asked the room. “Like, surely just an ‘I’m sorry’ wouldn’t take more than a minute, right?”
“Guys!” The room finally went silent, all eyes on her. “I…look, let’s be blunt, I wasn’t a good person even a few weeks ago before…” Kyoko could barely remember her life before Kyoka arrived. It had all mixed together. A series of cases followed by more cases followed by more and more… “I’m…still not. But I want to change.” She placed a hand over her heart. “For Kyoka’s sake, I want to be better, before all the pain I inflicted on you is wrought on her…”
The Council stayed silent. Then the whispers started.
Kyoko and Miaya could only watch from where they stood as the council gave their thoughts and opinions to each other. “Ahem!” Yasuhiro, of all people, was the one to speak for them at last. “Despite some setbacks, the Council has no reason to believe you’re not being genuine in your efforts.” He tried to hide it, but he was clearly messing with his crystal ball below the desk and out of sight.
“BUT! It isn’t enough.” Leon continued, hands clasped together. “You really hurt people, Kyoko. Some of your stunts were expulsion worthy.” Kyoko cringed.
“As of today, the Ultimate Student Council sees fit to give you an Ultimate Demand.” Komaru added, looking to her brother for guidance, who simply nodded along with what she said. “Apologize to everyone you hurt, regardless of who.”
“OOH! We can make a PUBLIC site for students and staff to issue complaints about your behavior!” Taka said. “Then, you can review them on your own time and issue apologies to all of them!”
“But don’t act ignorant and wait for others to make the first move.” Mondo added. “You need to show you mean it, so if you know you’ve pissed someone off over the years, you better go to them and say sorry, dammit!”
“I believe a good deadline is…the end of the year?” Hifumi suggested, to a few nods of agreement. “Seems more than enough time for you, Kirigiri-Chan, considering you’ll also be taking care of Kyoka for the foreseeable future.”
“Forever, most likely.” Kyoko and Chihiro shared a look. Despite their disagreements, the shared experience of sudden parenthood gave the two an indescribable bond. “If you fail to complete this, then your punishment will be-”
“Very well.” Kyoko bowed once more. “I accept.”
“Eh?” Chihiro looked confused. “But we didn’t say what punishment you’d receive if you fail?”
“I’m sorry, but does it matter?” Kyoko asked. “I won’t fail…”
The Council all shared looks.
“Very well.” Sayaka said. “Six and a half months, that’s all the time you have. And with that, I motion to dismiss!”
“The Council Leader Concurs! Any objections?...” The meeting was dismissed with the slam of a gavel. “Don’t mess this up, Kyoko. You have a little over six months.”
To everyone’s shock, including Kyoko’s, she got it done with six months' time to spare.
❈────────•✦•────────❈
Kyoko didn’t have friends when she was a child. So she didn’t want to keep Kyoka away from Vision or the Warriors of Hope. “But you need to finish your homework, Kyoka!”
“No fair!” Kyoka stomped her foot on the ground. “Momma! I promised Towa-Chan I’d join her in the science lab todaaaaaay!”
Kyoko sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Then you should have finished your homework from last week, honey. You’re already behind!”
“I need to catch up on, like, half a year's work!”
“N-no, you don’t,” Kyoko crossed her arms and gave Kyoka a stern look. “Your workload is half everyone else’s, and they’re doing just fine!” She pointed down the hall. “Go to your room and finish your schoolwork.”
Kyoka’s eyes watered. “S-screw you!” She sobbed, dramatically stomping away. “I hate you! You’re the worst mom ever!” She slammed the door behind her, leaving Kyoko shaking where she stood.
“Oh, jeez…” She sat down on a chair and just…wondered. ‘Am I a good parent?’ Without even realizing it, she went on her phone and immediately began Googling. ‘Is it good for a parent to force their child to do homework?’ Yes. Yes it was. ‘Is it okay if a child throws a tantrum?’ Surprisingly, yes. It lets them release emotions and was, apparently, a sign they felt safe enough to do so. “Oh…” Kyoko supposed that’s why she was such a well-behaved child…she never felt safe enough to be anything else.
…
‘How to know if a child is throwing a tantrum or if you’re just being abusive?’
Unfortunately, the AI didn’t respond this time. The bastard. Kyoko would call Miaya, but she was probably talking to another Ultimate. Who knew the Ultimate Therapist would be in such high demand among fellow Ultimates?
So…now what?
…
What did she want when she was a child? Her mom. That’s what. So, with a sigh, she walked up to Kyoka’s room, hesitated, then knocked. “Kyoka, can I come in?” She waited for a minute before walking in anyway. “Sorry, uh-”
“It’s fine…” Kyoka mumbled, pouting. “I’m doing it…”
And she was, judging by the amount she had written so far. “What’s it about?” Kyoko asked.
“Rhino’s…” Kyoka mumbled. “And poaching…”
“I see…” Kyoko lowered herself to be on her daughter's level. “Are you interested in it?”
“They’re cool…”
“Good…” Kyoko picked up another paper. Geometry homework from 2 weeks ago. “I’m pretty sure this is the one you’re most behind o-”
“I don’t wanna!” Kyoka whined. “It’s too complicated!”
Kyoko read through the questions. “What parts?”
Kyoka pretended to pay extra good attention to her writing, so she didn’t have to look up. “Everything.”
“Fair enough…” Kyoko just sat there quietly until Kyoka finished her paper. “Good job.”
“Thanks. Sorry for calling you a bad mom,” Kyoka said, wiping a tear from her eye with a beautiful finger. “You’re awesome.”
Kyoko’s heart grew two sizes larger at that comment. “Thank you, I forgive you.” Gently, she placed the math test in front of Kyoka. “Do you want me to he?-”
“Yes please!”
Kyoko giggled. “Okay, so do you know what fractions are?...”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Okay…” Kyoko patted Kyoka on the head. “Do you have your lunchbox and wallet?”
“Yup!”
“Your phone?”
“Yup!”
“EpiPen?”
“Yum!”
“Okay, gotta replace that…”
“I have some!” Mikan, the angel that she was, placed a box of spare EpiPen into Kyoka’s backpack. “Monaca and Nagisa have some to sp-spare, but don’t take any of Jataro’s, he needs that, okay?”
“No I don’t…” Jataro said, unsubtly hiding his face behind his perfect little hands. “I’ll be fine!”
“Thirteen percent is way too high!” Junko said, ruffling his hair. “You promise not to give EpiPen to Kyoka?”
“I prooomiiiiise…” Jataro said, solemnly.
“And, Kyoka?” Kyoko turned back to her daughter.
“If he needs it, fine!” Kyoka jumped up and pecked Kyoko on the cheek. “Bye mom!”
“B-Bye…Kyoka…” Kyoko could only watch as the kids all packed onto the bus before it drove off.
…
3 days. Kyoko can survive 3 days without Kyoka. She survived 18 or so years without her. Kyoko could spend some time on cases now! Maybe try apologizing to Class 28. Again. After the incident at the Korean border. Then again, she was preeeeeeetty sure that was the straw that broke the camels back. Forgiveness was out of the picture…
“Hey honey!” Jin walked up, but kept his distance. “You uh, doing. Good?”
Kyoko nodded. “Of course, thank you for asking!”
“You’re taking it surprisingly well.” Chihiro said while checking his phone. “I expected at least some tears.”
“Yeah!” Junko gave Kyoko a thumbs-up. “You taught her well! The first time I met her, Kyoka was a nervous wreck! Now look at her!” Kyoko went to look. But she wasn’t there. “Or. Don’t. I guess.”
“Are you…s-s-sure you’re taking it well?” Mikan asked. “You two have been attached by the hip since the start!”
“I’m…fine. Really.” Kyoko lied. “I’m sad, but…I’ll live.”
“And so will Kyoka!” Suddenly, Kokichi appeared! “You’re doing an absolutely splendid job raising Kyoka, Kirigiri-Chan!” He said with stars in his eyes.
“KOKICHI WHY WON’T YOU!?-Wait. Wot?” Jin’s outburst made everyone jump. Aside from Kokichi, of course.
“What? Not everything I say is a subtle jab!” He said.
“Oh…a welcome surprise!” Kyoko said. “Thank you.”
“Of course!” Kokichi wiped some sweat from his forehead. “She’s growing sooooooo fast! It’s a miracle she’s made it this far without dying!”
Kyoko’s disgusting hand twitched.
“Kokichi?”
“I mean, like, you’d expect her to be completely incapable! Seeing as, you know, she’s a plant!”
“Kokichi, shut your mouth!” Chihiro yelled, red in the face. “Kyoka is incredibly capable!”
“Oh? How so?”
“Why, let’s put it in perspective!” Junko said, donning a scientist's coat and pulling a whiteboard from nowhere. “She’s surprisingly socially capable! And has a gift for writing!”
“K-K-Kyoka has been…really helpful with the Hybrids!” Mikan added.
“Yup!” Jin jumped in. “And her grades are amazing despite only being here for a few months!” He said while doing a silly little dance, Kyoko couldn’t help but giggle at. “If she keeps this up, she may graduate on time with all the other young Ultimates!”
Kyoko knew all of this, obviously. But putting it all together like this…it made her proud.
“Wow…that’s really impressive!” Kokichi stared directly at Kyoko with a sinister grin. “At this rate, she’ll be completely self-sufficient!” He gave the young mother a bow. “Great job, Kyoko! At this rate she won’t even need you, so you can go back to those cases you love so much!” Before anyone could punch him for the obvious psychological warfare, he jumped back. “Again, wonderful job! Hope this made you think!” Kokichi casually walked away.
…
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!-”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Did you know your ex-wife was institutionalized, Kirigiri-Sama?”
“No!” Jin shook his head and made a huge X with his arms. “Never! If I did, I would have…” For once, the principal went quiet.
“Kyoko.” Miaya turned to find Kyoko with the world’s best poker face. “How does this make you feel?”
‘Shitty.’ She signed. ‘But I’m not surprised.’
“I-I-I would have helped! However I could!” Jin interjected. “But, I mean, what could I have done…?”
“Maybe you SHOULDN’T HAVE?!-”
Miaya’s computer let out a static shriek. “Kyoko. No yelling. Please.”
Kyoko shrank in her chair. “S-sorry…”
“It’s…” Jin went quiet as well. Neither son nor daughter looked at each other.
“Forgive me if this is personal, but…why did you leave, Kirigiri-Sama?” Miaya asked. “Your wife, that is.”
Jin cringed. “We weren’t…”
“I was an accident.” Kyoko mumbled. “Mom told me…”
“Yeah…” Jin confirmed. “There was never really a spark in the…thing. I-I felt like she was trying to keep me down, you know?”
Miaya nodded and jotted down some notes.
“Did you think I kept you down?” Kyoko asked. “Is that why?-”
“I-I didn’t want to leave you, Kyoko!” Jin dragged his chair closer and placed his warm, battered hands on Kyoko’s cold, dead ones. “She didn’t want to divorce! And Dad didn’t want you to leave without detective training, so I…” He turned his head down. “I took the…coward's way out and ran.”
Kyoko’s bottom lip trembled. “Grandpa said you left me without a second thought…”
“But that’s not true.” Miaya said. “It took a lot to get him to leave you. Far from an excuse to cut contact, but it's important context that complicates the situation.”
“Yeah…” Jin mumbled. “But…I’ve got no excuses. I just…I wanted a clean break and…” He ran his regretful hands over his face. “I’m sorry.”
Kyoko reached out with a gloved hand. Would he accept? “I…forgive you.” She placed it on his shoulder. “I just…” Now she was the one with her head in her hands. “I don’t know.”
“Do either of you want a better relationship?” Miaya asked.
“O-of course I want to make amends!” Jin cried. “Since she reappeared, I’ve…”
“For the longest time…I convinced myself I hated him.” Kyoko said. “And maybe I do…but I don’t want that forever…”
“I see…” The click clack of typing filled the room. “But that wasn’t the question. Clearly, you two have already passed that hurdle. For the most part.” Miaya looked up at the duo. “Now, the hard part. Do either of you want to put in the hard work…and actually build a relationship here?”
Kyoko and Jin looked into each others eyes. “If…he’s willing to make the effort. Yes.”
Jin gulped. Hoping he’d got it right. Slowly, he raised his hands.
‘Of course.’
❈────────•✦•────────❈
Kyoko lazily sipped her wine glass while watching the various Ultimates around her drunkenly dance and sing and all other manner of things. ‘Idiots.’ She thought. ‘Utter buffoons…every single one of them. Then again.’ She took another sip. ‘I’m also being foolish, am I?’
“Hello there.” Kyoko nearly spat her drink out when she saw who walked up to her. “Can’t say I was expecting you here.” The Imposter said.
“Um. Neither did I, um.” Without thinking, Kyoko poured the last of her drink into a plant's vase. Soon after, it began swaying its leaves around drunkenly. “Sorry. I-I should, uh, probably go-”
“No, no!” The Imposter waved their hand around. “I’m not saying you should leave, just asking why you’re here.”
“Ah, well, uh…” Kyoko took a sip of some tasty air. “My therapist said I should socialize more. So I asked Celeste to take me here.” She awkwardly waved her empty glass around. “Mostly wanted to try the wine.”
“Ah…” The Imposter nodded. “Is it good?”
“It’s fine. I’ve had better.” Kyoko smacked her lips. “Say…what were the, uh, original signs you were some form of trans?” She asked, adjusting her collar.
The Imposter raised an eyebrow and scratched their chin. “Hm. Hard to tell. I’d ask my parents, but we…obviously don’t talk. Why?”
Kyoko sighed. “I was cleaning Kyoka’s room and found that flag you and Hajime wave around sometimes. I’m worried-well!” She paused, taking the time to choose her words. “Not worried. No, I just…if Kyoka’s queer, I want her to-them to be open about it, you know?” Another louder sigh as the young detective leaned against the wall. “I don’t know, man.”
The Imposter nodded along and let out a small sigh themselves. Seriously, first Hajime, then Haruki, what? Were they the king queer of the school now? Not that they were complaining, of course. But it was getting odd at this rate. “Obviously, I’m sure you’d be supportive of them no matter their gender expression, yes?” Kyoko instantly nodded. “Good. Well, the best method I can suggest is just sitting them down and having an open and honest conversation about it. Don’t make it weird. Just ask Kyoka their preferred pronouns now that they’ve adjusted themselves to life on campus.”
Kyoko cringed as The Imposter spoke, but nodded. “That sounds…fine and all, but like…let’s be honest, I haven’t been the best in the past with this stuff.”
The Imposter let out a boisterous laugh. “Oh, I know.” Kyoko turned her head down in shame. “And you know what? Maybe that’s good! Because you’ve been in the headspace of someone who may give Kyoka grief in the future.” They placed a comforting hand on Kyoko’s shoulder. “You’re a good person, Kirigiri-San, just be honest, and you won’t have anything to worry about.”
Kyoko gave The Imposter a small smile. “...Thanks.”
“No problem.” The Imposter went to sip from their soda can, only to find it empty. “Huh.” They crushed it in their hands and tossed it into the recycling bin on the other side of the room, leading to an uproar of cheers. “Still got it!”
“Wow…” Kyoko went to sip from their glass only to remember she got the plant drunk. “Oh, uh, I’mma get a refill.”
“Mhm! Take care, Kirigiri-San!”
Kyoko moved through the crowd of drunks to get to the front counter where drinks were being served, finally making it and sitting down for a breather. “Um, can I get a refill?” The Yakuza that Fuyuhiko hired for the event took her glass and went to do just that with surprising speed. While Kyoko waited, she took out her phone and began looking through pictures of her and Kyoka…
The baby wrap was still the best idea she had-
“You actually put her in a fucking baby wrap?” Kyoko jerked her head up to find Damon Maitsu, Ultimate Debater, take his ca-God, now he’s got her doing it-looking over her shoulder!
“H-Hey! Piss off!” Immediately, Kyoko jerked her phone away. “Do you know this thing called privacy?”
“Excuse me, Ms. Kirigiri.” Another voice from behind her. Whooboy. “But who are you to say anything about privacy?” Asked the Ultimate Lawyer, Wolfgang Akire.
“Oh my God-Why are either of you here?” Kyoko asked right as she was given her glass back. “I’d assume these ‘Ultimate Hangouts’ to be beneath you.”
“And they are.” Damon clarified. “But you, like the rest of your class of peons, have dragged us down to your level.”
Kyoko scoffed. “Oh, please, there’s no one forcing you to be here!” She went to sip her drink.
“Yes, there is!” Wolfgang said, grabbing the drink out of Kyoko’s hands. “You may have gaslit the entire school into forgetting your crimes, but we haven’t, you creep!” He poured the drink onto the floor, making a dramatic show of it that put Kyoko on edge. “You are no mother. You are a DANGER to that poor child, and I refuse to let you!-”
Kyoko stood up. “I am a mother!” She said. “Who are you to say I’m not? I took up the challenge from the very start and!-”
“Exhibit A: What do children eat?” Damon asked, reading off of the note app on his phone. “You banged on a bunch of people’s doors asking not what a healthy diet would consist of, but what a child eats…in general.” He scoffed in disgust at her. “You’re a disgrace.”
“I-I’m sorry, who are you to say that, Maitsu?” Kyoko snapped.
“If it were just Mr. Maitsu saying that, I may agree.” Wolfgang said, his voice growing lower-and more pointed-as he continued. “But the entire class knows this, Ms. Kirigiri.” His sharp gaze pierced Kyoko’s heart. “Sixteen people still see the real you, and soon? We’re going to save that child.” Wolfgang placed a hand over his chest. “I swear, on my mother's grave, that child will not suffer your abu!-”
“Hey!” Suddenly, the loud guy, Kaito, from Class 53 stepped in between Kyoko and Wolfgang. “What the hell do you think you’re doing threatening a woman like this!?”
“I!-” Wolfgang paused and looked around. Various cameras were out now. “Uh! I-”
“We’re not threatening a woman, Momota.” Damon said, coming to Wolfgang’s defense and not the other way around for once. “We are simply announcing our intentions in protecting this…snake’s child.” He clearly wanted to say something worse. Much worse.
Kyoko scoffed, unable to speak.
“Oh, really? Okay then!” Kaito slammed his fists against each other. “Get out of here before I knock you out!”
“Dude, the fuck!?” Damon stepped back.
“What? I’m not threatening you!” Kaito responded. “Just announcing my intentions in protecting Kyoko!”
“DO YOU REALIZE WHO YOU DEFEND!?” Wolfgang cried out. “SHAME ON YOU!”
“Hey.” Suddenly, a large hand landed on Wolfgang’s shoulder. “Relax.” The Imposter said. “Let’s all calm down here, we don’t want a public spectacle now, do we?” They turned their gaze to Kaito and Damon.
“...Tsk!” Damon crossed his arms and quietly conceded.
“Ugh, fine! But you two better get out of here!”
“...Gladly.” Wolfgang shared one last glare with Kyoko before letting The Imposter take him off with Damon following soon after.
“Jeez!” Kaito sat down next to Kyoko. “For as much as Class 28 complains, they always find their way around us, am I right?”
Kyoko didn’t respond. 16 people. None of them were stupid, really. Well, unless it came to writing letters. But Keebo was pretty sure that the whole fiasco was just an excuse to commit ethnic cleansing, so who knows? Again, another story. Not important right now.
Either way. 16?
At least one of them had to have a point. Right?
‘Is this how you treat the person you “love”?’
“Yo, Earth to Kyoko!” Kaito waved his hand in front of her face before looking at someone behind her. “Uh, is this an autism thing?”
“I dunno…” The Imposter honestly answered. “Kirigiri-San?”
Kyoko clenched her red, demonic hand. Hidden beneath black fabric. ‘Why did you defend me?’
Kaito blinked.
“It’s sign language.” The Imposter explained. “She’s asking why you defended her.”
“Wha?” Kaito dramatically bopped himself on the head. “Cause it was the right thing to do, duoih!” Kyoko continued signing. “Uh, Pasta?”
“I think you know what she means.” The Imposter said. “Only right to give her a straight answer, yes?”
“Ah!-” Kaito paused, sighing. “Well…” He deflated in his chair, pondering his choice of words. “I mean. Well…” Kaito placed a hand on Kyoko’s shoulder. “You’re kinda… inspirational, I guess.” He explained. “If you can be better…maybe I can be too!”
❈────────•✦•────────❈
Kyoko groaned.
Kyoka screamed. “She’s waking up! Momma!”
Kyoko tried to sit up, but an aching pain in her stomach made that impossible. “Stay here, Kirigiri-Chan.” The voice of Tengan calmed her. “Get the nurse, Kirigiri-Tan.” Kyoko finally opened her eyes just in time to catch Kyoka sprinting out the door. “Can you hear me, Kyoko?”
“Ten…” Kyoko coughed. God, her throat was so sore. “Tengan…Sama…?”
“Yes. I’m here.” Tengan gestured to the various hospital equipment around his student. “You’re in the hospital, you’ve been shot, Kyoko.”
Kyoko fully woke up at that comment. “And…Kyoka?”
Tengan tilted his head to the side. “She was…still away during the incide-”
“They.” Kyoko corrected(?). “Er, I mean-did Kyoka say anything about…”
Tengan looked surprised at that. “I didn’t know she told you…”
“Sh-they. They didn’t.” Kyoko violently coughed. “I-I found a…a flag-”
“Here.” Tengan handed her a glass of water. “Drink.” He subtly let out a sigh of relief as Kyoko grabbed the glass and drank it. “We can talk about this later. Kyoka is perfectly fine.” Physically.
“Good…” Kyoko laid back down on the bed with a sigh. “God, how long has it been?”
“What do you last remember?”
“Um…I was at…an Ultimate…hangout-”
“Good, no memory loss.” Tengan nodded to himself. “You’ve been asleep for four days.”
“Good, good…” Kyoko nodded, laying a hand on her stomach. “Not the…first time I’ve been shot by a…‘client’ I caught.”
“Yes, but-”
“MOM!” Kyoka burst into the room and wrapped their arms around their mother. “I love you, I love you, I love you!”
Kyoko reciprocated the hug and kissed Kyoka on the forehead. “I love you too, baby.”
“Oh, thank God, you’re awake!” Jin let out a mix of a laugh and a sigh of relief. “Yasuhiro said…”
“He’s gotten better…but it’s still not one hundred percent.” Makoto said, looking over a clipboard and paper. “How are you feeling, Kyoko?”
“Like shit.” She said, running her hand over Kyoka’s back. “Let me guess, Shikiba?”
“We’re not exactly sure…”
“But yeah, definitely him.”
“Oh, absolutely.” Makoto remained calm, but a thin vein appeared on his forehead. “Once we catch the bastard…”
“I’ll be sure to help!” Kyoko said, yawning. “Well, once I’m able to walk out of here at least!” She let out a chuckle. It wasn’t a good joke, but even then, Kyoko didn’t expect it to make Kyoka cry even harder. “Hey, what’s the matter!”
“Kyoko…” Makoto began, trailing off.
Kyoko shuddered. “Ma…koto…?”
“This…may be a lot to take in…” Tengan began.
❈────────•✦•────────❈
“Mako! Stop trying to eat Levi!” Mako screeched in Kyoka’s face, revealing rows upon rows of teeth and splattering their face with spit. “I will throw your rotisserie chicken out.” Mako immediately wilted, whimpering and begging Kyoka not to do anything rash in Plantanese. “Be nice to your siblings, Mako!” Kyoka said, throwing the chicken right into Mako’s mouth. “Or else!”
“HELLO there, my beautiful abominations!” Uncle Taka walked outside with a bucket of fish. “Who wants some SWEET DNA!?!?!?!?!?” He threw a fish in the air, which Kyoka immediately caught with their mouth and devoured.
“Mmm! Everyone say thank you to Uncle Taka!” The various plant hybrids all collectively hissed, all reaching up to catch the various fish Taka threw about.
“PROTEIN!!!”
“No need to yell, Taka.” Sakura walked out of the cabin with a platter of turkey and salmon sandwiches.
“Weirdly enough, his screams of fervor are soothing to them.” And Kyoka themself, of course. But they were too embarrassed to admit that. “Thanks again for the help!”
“Of course.” Sakura handed a sandwich to Levi, who began taking quick and snappy bites. “We’re always willing to help a friend in need.”
“I’M NOT!” Aoi screamed from the cabin's roof. “STOP TRYING TO EAT ME!!!”
Issuhiro started arguing in Plantanese, but got silenced by Kyoka shoving a sandwich in their mouth. “Yeah, you can’t eat her!”
“Yay!”
“She’s mine.”
“WHAT!?”
“Just kidding!” Kyoka laughed before slowly quieting down as they thought about it more. “But…I mean…”
“Uh, Kyoka!” Sakura interjected before Kyoka or any of their siblings did something drastic. “Your mom's inside, she might need some help…”
“Oh! Thanks for telling me!” Both Aoi and Sakura let out a sigh of relief. “She’s all yours, Issuhiro!” Aoi cried as Kyoka ran inside. “Momma?”
The house was quiet. Like it always was. But after the…incident, it was quieter. It was also a lot…smaller. Not because Kyoka grew, no, it was because all the counters had to be moved down a bit, and the tables, and…everything.
Kyoka heard some…snapping? Snipping? They didn’t know how to describe it, but they knew it was coming from Momma’s room. Slowly, they snuck their way down the hall. They didn’t know why they bothered with the stealth, but it worked out. As when they slowly opened the door…they finally saw them. Momma’s hands.
Kyoko turned to the door and gasped. “OH MY GOD!” She jerked back so hard that she almost tipped herself over!
“Momma!” But Kyoka was fast enough to catch her before she hit her head on the floor. “S-Sorry!”
“Kyoka…” Kyoko hid her hands in her pockets. “No, I, uh-y-y-I-” She continued stuttering as Kyoka lifted her back up straight. “How much…did you see?”
Kyoka didn’t know how to properly respond, so they chose honesty. “A…little.”
Kyoko’s poker face was legendary. It didn’t break when she first talked to Kyoka. Didn’t break when she was paralyzed from the waist down. And didn’t falter when word of her mother's death reached last week. But it broke at that moment. “I’m…so sorry, you…didn’t deserve to…”
“N-No! Don’t apologize!” Kyoka said. “I-I know you don’t want me…seeing…them.”
“Even then, I shouldn’t have.” Kyoko turned to the nail clipper she was just using, discarded. Kyoka would rarely spot nail clippings sometimes when they snuck inside while Momma was asleep or out. But they would only ever find a couple of nail clippings around, but now there were a lot more…
“Did you…get that nail transplant Auntie Junko talked about.” Kyoko winced, before nodding. “...Can I see them? Please?”
Kyoko knew what she had to do, even if it pained her so much to do so…she didn’t want to disappoint her child. “...Tell me to…put them away if you…” Shaking, she pulled them out.
…
…
“They look pretty.” Kyoka said.
“My…nails?”
“Your hands, they’re…” Kyoka reached out a soft, doll-like hand to touch Kyoko’s, gently tracing a finger over the bright red flesh. “They’re pretty.” Kyoko winced, but allowed Kyoka to continue admiring her…appendages. Her burden. Her hands. Hands that were not…they weren’t that bad. “Utsugi-Chan taught me some pedicure techniques…” Kyoka began. “Can I…?”
Kyoko looked into her child's eyes and saw herself in their reflection.
“...I-If not, then-”
Kyoko laid a warm, gentle, perfectly fine hand on Kyoka’s cheek. “Of course, anything for you, honey.”
It was only at that moment, when Kyoko let Kyoka go on and on about nails while getting hers painted, that she felt content.
