as we walk ; geto suguru

Tension

You watch from the side as Nanako and Mimiko mix the brownie batter together with a spoon, counting up to fifty in unison as fifty stirs are needed to create the right softness for a good brownie.

It was a Thursday evening, 7:18 PM specifically, and you were waiting for Geto to come home so you could tell him what your plans were for the agonizing day tomorrow. Your nerves still haven't set themselves nearly a week after receiving the text from Shigemo. It wasn't clear as to why you were so anxious; you knew that even if Shigemo did spark a custody trial, all the odds were in your favor. Nanami was ready to serve as your lawyer as one of the top lawyers in the area. Nanako already favored you as a parent, considering she didn't even know Shigemo existed. You also knew that your living environment was much better for your daughter as well since Shigemo lived in a one-room studio apartment by himself. Plus, you and Nanami had already been discussing proper evidence to serve in court, painting each one in intricate detail.

Yet, you still couldn't find it in you to shake the nauseating feeling off your chest.

Nanako was nearest to you and you softened when she and Mimiko let out a laugh as a bit of batter spilled over the sides of the bowl, slowly seeping down on the kitchen countertop. Making a mental note to clean it up later. Though her blonde hair reminded you so much of Shigemo, whenever you brushed it in the morning you couldn't help feel at peace, taking in its softness as a brush glided through her locks. Other than that, the majority of her features were taken after you, especially your expressions.

She was absolutely precious to you, like a lotus flower, and you didn't know what you would do if you lost her to Shigemo. When she giggled again, scrunching up her nose like what you do when you laugh, you felt your heartstrings pull at themselves. Comfort began to finally settle in your chest as you watched your daughter finish up the batter and look at you with her bright eyes.

"We're done!" she announces with a big smile on her face. Mimiko peeks out behind her and gives you an open-mouthed grin, nodding.

You're about to spray the brownie pan with canola oil when the door clinks suddenly, alerting a certain someone's presence.

"Mimiko? (Y/N)? You here?"

"In the kitchen!" you call out to Geto.

He had a shift in his schedule, meaning that he would leave work around 6:45 or so and you both arranged so you would pick up Nanako and Mimiko at the pick-up time and just leave them in the kitchen until he came home. Geto entered through the doorway and greeted you and the girls, who were showing him their brownie mixture.

"We counted all the way to fifty!" Nanako exclaims proudly.

"Can we lick the spoon?" Mimiko asks you.

You didn't want the girls catching possible food poisoning so you shake your head, earning whines from the four year olds.

"I'll let you both have a nighttime brownie instead once they're done," you say as you pour the batter into the pan and push it into the pre-heated oven.

"Should they really be having sugar at this time?" Geto asks, sitting himself down in a chair.

You set the timer and look over at him over your shoulder.

"Thought it'd be a good reward for them. Both of them did A pluses on their spelling tests, after all,"

"Oh? Mimiko, can I see?"

Mimiko jumps down from the stool and shuffles through her backpack and pulls out a wrinkled sheet of paper with a big red "A+! :)" written on it, courtesy of Gojo.

"Good job," Geto praises with a gentle smile and Mimiko beams at him.

"Twenty two!"

Turning your head towards Nanako, she points at the digital timer on the oven and you nod, high-fiving her as she correctly identifies the number.