(A Boku No Pico Fanfiction)

Ch.16: Adoption

Manko's POV

Today was the day! I have worked so hard for this day to come! I was shaking in excitement and tried to keep my excitement to a minimum. If I let it all out, I'd get distracted. I had asked the boys to get ready in their nice clothes and meet me back downstairs to go. After they left, I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled.

"Today is the big day". I looked back and see Tamotsu smiling at me. "You look beautiful....perfect for today", he said, wrapping his arms around my waist. I felt him kiss the back of my neck, and I blush. "Hey...why are you acting so lovey dovey?", I ask. He smiled and said, "oh...no reason, just wanted to", he said. I let it go and then I took a deep breath. Tamotsu noticed and asked if I was alright. "Yeah....just getting the jitters is all". He then puts his hands on my shoulders and tells me that I was strong and that I could do this. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one adopting three kids in front of a courtroom and judge!". Tamotsu paused and he moved his hand to the back of his head and giggled out of nervousness. "Well...your right, I mean...I have no idea what it's like, but....being with you and having to step in and raise them with you....its the closest I've ever felt to being a father. I love the boys, and I love you. So...technically....they are like my own kids". "But if you wanted to be their father, you would have to marry me and adopt them too", I said. Tamotsu paused and he sighed. "Well....I...I mean...". Before he could say anything else, the boys came down. "All ready!", Chico said cheerfully. "I hope they will allow this", Coco said, wearing a nice white tail coat with pink pants and tie, and white shoes. His hair was slicked back. He looked like a young idol. He looked so cute! "Will they allow my outfit?", Chico asked, holding his green sweater jacket out, revealing a buttoned up white shirt, with a lime green vest over it. The colors didn't match, he had different varieties of green on. His pants were black shorts, they seemed inappropriate for the court, but I couldn't say no to him. He did look fashionable, especially his cute parted hair. I smiled, wondering when my boys got so much style. I then looked at Pico, who had one a dark blue jacket, a white buttoned shirt, and he had blue pants on. His hair was styled with clips, he seemed rather normal than the others. "So...what do you think?", Chico asked.  I remembered that I forgot to say anything about their attire. "You all look handsome. I bet everyone would be looking at how fashionable you three look". After I said that, Chico and Coco got excited. Pico had his arms crossed and still seemed mad about what happened the past few days. "Should we get going then?", Tamotsu asked. I nodded and we all got inside the car, making sure I had everything needed for today. Tamotsu drove us to the courthouse and I could feel my heart starting to beat fast. No...calm down. You can do this. Today is a special day for you, so don't chicken out. You just need to let the judge and the people see that you have what it takes to be a mother. I've been raising the boys for months now and I have got this. So don't give up. I need to rhino happy thought, yeah, happy thoughts. I let go of my worries after taking a deep breath and look over my notes on our way there.

Pico's POV

I looked out the window as we were on our way to the courthouse. I knew exactly what was going on. I'm not so sure if the other two know. I look over and see Chico smiling from ear to ear and Coco was looking out the other window. I knew that this would be difficult for Coco and I, him even more. Manko was going to adopt us and I really appreciated her. In a way....she's a parent to me. Not so sure about Coco. I hope though, that he feels safe with her. We won't find out till later when we have to give our statements. 

We soon arrive to the courthouse and I could feel my heart beating fast. I was kind of nervous. We all get out of the car and I see Manko getting nervous. Mokkun comes up beside her and tries to calm her. "Do we go inside?", Chico asked. "Yeah...lets go boys", Manko said, catching her breath. We all head inside and we are in shock to see the place. It was a large room, with so many wooden seats, facing the front of the room, where the judge would be at. Chico paused and asked if the judge would be coming. "He comes after", Coco said. "This way", a man said, leading Manko to a place to sit. "You boys come sit with me", Mokkun says, guiding us to a bench, behind Manko. She looked back at us and looked worried. "She looks nervous", Coco said. "Yeah...of course", Mokkun says. "Lets try our best to keep her hopes up", Chico said. I had to agree, despite everything. I was here for Manko, to support her and make her relaxed. Today was the day we would become a family....more than just friends. We would become brothers and Manko would become our mother. 

"Alright everyone, court is now in session", a police officer said. Soon the judge came out and everyone stood up as he came. We did too and then he looked down on us, before waving his hands, to tell us to sit down. "Alright, so today, we are here for the case of Manko Murasaki, to see if she is eligible enough to adopt three children", the judge said., reading from his paper. He then looked at Manko and then at us. "So....Miss Murasaki...Lets just get down to it. You want to adopt your little brother and two boys that you have been fostering for a while, am I right?", the judge asked. Manko leaned forward and spoke into her mic. "Yes your honor". The judge then asked if she had a job and a house to keep them. "Yes, I work at a shop where I sell jewelry and I have also gotten help from my partner. He brings us groceries and has said that he would help me. I pay the bills while he pays for the food". "What about before you met this partner of your?", the judge asked. "Well..before that, I have been doing great. I just had my brother, but then Pico came along, I had enough to support them both, but then Coco came along and I will agree, I had some problems, but I came into contact with some money from a family member and used that money to enroll the boys into school and get them new clothes. I also bought my recent home so we didn't have to pay rent, just bills for water, electricity, and for the boys' lunch money". "What kind of contact? Did you ask for a loan?", The judge asked. Manko looked down and she said, "I asked my father actually....since he left us when Chico was young. I thought he owed it to us to keep our home. He threatened to take it away and so I did all I could to keep it. I wanted a home for my boys". The judge then cleared his throat and then looked at Mokkun. "What about your partner? Does he.....get in the way of raising the boys? Does he....get along with the boys?". "He hasn't been around that long, but yes...he gets along with them. From what I see, he's treated the boys like they were his own children. The boys are my number one and so I focus on them first. He doesn't get in the way. He's helpful and treats me and the boys like his own family", Manko said. The judge wrote something in his notes and then asks us to come on up. "Its okay, go on", Mokkun said. I followed Coco and Chico to the stand and the judge asked us a bunch of questions. It was kind of annoying. It was like he didn't trust Manko and her words. He had to get our approval before going forward. "Do you want Manko to be your mother?", the judge asked. "Yes...", Chico said. "Of course", I said. We then looked at Coco and saw him clenching his hands into his lap. "Coco...do you want Manko to adopt you?", the judge asked. Coco took a deep breath and soon he started to cry. Everyone was in shock, so was I. "Coco...", Manko said, standing up. She tried to get up and confort him, when the judge raised his hammer, telling her to stay put. "Coco...are you okay?", Chico asked. Coco nodded and then wiped his eyes. "I never had real parents growing up. I was alone. I had to find things for myself and scavenge for my own benefit. I felt like my life was over. Nobody seemed to care about me and it made me so sad. I cried everyday, hoping someone would show me some kind of affection and love. It wasn't until I met you two.....till I came home with you and became a family with Manko. She took me....some random kid off the streets and gave me food, clothes, a nice warm bath, and fresh water. She also gave me love and treated me like I was her own. She never yelled at me or treated me any less. She bonded with me and if you won't allow her to adopt us....then I would feel lost again. I love her. I want her to be my mother!". My eyes widened and I hear Chico let out a small laugh, like he was relieved. I look at Manko and see her smiling, with tears in her eyes. "Well....you three....I can tell how much you love her. So...by the power vested in me....I shall allow you to become a family". The judge raised his hammer, ready to bring it down, when the doors opened. 

"WAIT!". Everyone looked back and saw a woman with long blonde hair. She somewhat looked familiar. She walked towards the front, where some officer tried to stop her, when she said, "No...you can't.  I'm here for my son! YOU CAN'T TAKE HIM FROM ME! HE'S MINE!". Suddenly the room is in shock. The officer let her go and the judge asks why she came to the courthouse now of all days. The woman then looked towards us and she smiled. "My boy....my dear sweet boy....My little Pico...".