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Warnings for this chapter: Cussing, Deadnaming, Misgendering, and a panic attack after the first break.

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    "Himari-chan!" Nemuri shouts, frantically glancing around the park. Hizashi pounces forward, landing hard on his face when a giggling Hayate runs out of his way.

  "Why couldn't we take guard duty?" Nemuri asks herself, running a hand through her messed up hair. Himari runs between her legs and dodges the woman's arms trying to catch her.

  "We lost rock paper scissors to Shōta," Hizashi whines, lifting his head up from the ground. It was slightly scratched up and covered in dirt. Nemuri yelps in surprise when Hayate suddenly runs between her legs as well and loses her balance.

  "Shit!" Nemuri falls on her ass and quickly places her hands behind her to keep herself up. She looks up and gives the giggling twins a small glare.

  "Bad word!" Himari signs with a mischievous smile. Nemuri couldn't keep up her glare and smiles. She runs a hand through her hair again before placing a finger in front of her lips.

  Himari and Hayate bite their lips to stop giggling before doing the same thing. They try and keep a serious face, but burst into giggles again. They run over and tackle Hizashi and Nemuri.

  "It's about time we head home, hm? We can surprise Hitoshi-chan with a big dinner!" Nemuri exclaims and signs towards the twins. They both grin brightly and quickly scramble out of the adults' laps.

  "Himari? Hayate? There you are!" The twins freeze immediately at the soft sounding voice. Himari grabs Hayate's arm and yanks him behind Hizashi.

  Mihoko rushes over, eyes wide with worry and relief, messy hair pulled into a bun, and dark bags under her eyes. Hizashi protectively holds the twins to his legs while Nemuri stands in front.

  "I was so worried! Hitomi had taken you two and disappeared! God, I was so worried!" Tears start to fall from Mihoko's eyes as she takes a step forward. Himari flinches back and hides her face behind Hizashi's leg, letting out a whimper.

  Mihoko blinks once, a small flicker of anger passing her face before going back to a worried mother. "Oh, thank you for finding my children. I can't thank you enough!"

  Nemuri steps in front of the woman before she could move any closer. Mihoko's eyebrows furrow slightly and she looks up at the voluptuous woman in genuine surprise.

  "Wh-what are you–"

  "Himari-chan, Hayate-chan, and Hitoshi-chan are in mine and my fiances' custody until at least the trial. If you take a step further, I will detain you," Nemuri states harshly as she crosses her arms. Mihoko's worried mother expression quickly disappears and is replaced by irritation and anger.

  "Excuse me? They are my children!" Mihoko shrilled with a reddening face.

  "Leave," Hizashi orders, tightening his grip around the twins. Mihoko turns even redder and glares down at her children.

  "Himari! I taught you better than to make such horrible lies about your mother! Was it that silly girl, Hitomi? Tell me!" Mihoko asks angrily. Himari starts to hyperventilate, clenching her eyes shut.

  "Himari!" The young girl breaks into sobs before speeding away.

  "Himari-chan!"

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  "Hito-nii, Hito-nii. I'm–I'm–" Himari couldn't feel herself breathing. She couldn't feel anything except the cold, which was weird because it was almost summer.

𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙳 • 𝔹𝕠𝕜𝕦 𝕟𝕠 ℍ𝕖𝕣𝕠 𝔸𝕔𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕒Where stories live. Discover now