A Little Twist

Fifty-Nine

'What? You planned this?' Laito knew he wasn't the father but he didn't expect this. 

'What the hell, Shu?' Ayato doesn't know where to look. 

Kanato shakes his head. 'Is that why you took her away for about a week?' 

'Yes,' Shu answers briefly. 

Reiji disapproves of the method. 'How would you know what to do? Before Daiki, you never read a book unless it was a music book.' 

'Audiobooks,' is Shu's reply, and pulls Risa closer. 'And don't blame her for lying. I'm the one who asked her to keep it quiet. I had a lot on my mind and that hasn't changed. I plan on taking them with me, but I can't do that without making preparations.' 

So that's what this is about? Risa is blaming herself for lying when he asked for it. She's feeling guilty. Reiji understands a few things. 'And now?' 

'At least, I feel like I can breathe again.' Kanato hugs Teddy. 

'Despite the fact that you're a vampire. You don't breathe, like the rest of us.' Subaru realizes that Shu will take them away after he graduated. Damn it, after all this time, he tells us now that he wants to leave. 

'Do you realize that most of us like Daiki?' begins Reiji and he lifts her head. Tears for feeling guilty. I guess she was trying to convince Shu to tell the truth. 'I'm not blaming you, Risa.' 

Hearing those words, she breaks into crying. 'I never meant for anything like this to happen. I hate lying so much. Keeping things quiet is just as bad for me. Don't punish me, please?' 

That's one thing, I can not do, darling. Reiji shakes his head. 'I won't.' To prove it, he pulls her into a hug. 'You kept it quiet because he asked you to. After coming clean, he must have had a lot on his mind and had to sort it out first.' He moves his eyes to him. 'Have you everything sorted out, now?' 

'I have.' Shu knows what he wants. 

'For how long does she know? And what now?' Reiji makes sure she sits on the chair. 'Will you take it easy? I can't hurt you, remember. I promised you something. We all did.' 

Laito sees through his brother. 'You told her everything when that letter arrived, didn't you?' 

This time, Shu nods. 'Yes, and I had to explain everything if I wanted to leave this place. I gave her some time to think about it, and we had multiple conversations about where we go from here.' 

Risa sees Daiki's little hand slightly in a fist. 'He's getting hungry.' 

Reiji moves away from her. Shu will take you upstairs. 

'Wait a moment.' She reacts after Shu pulls her back on her feet and turns to the others. 'Am I losing your help since you know he's Daiki's father?' She swallows. 

'Absolutely not, I helped you from the moment you came back. I'm not abandoning you or him.' Reiji reassures her. 

Laito shakes no. 'For as long as you both are here, you can count on me, Mama-chan.' 

'Me too,' sounds Ayato. I know I will miss you, little man. 

Risa sees Subaru smile. 'Thank you all.' Besides one. She turns away and is back in her room with Shu. 

'It's okay to cry, Risa.' Shu pulls her closer. 

'I guess he got his wish.' She knows the tears are audible in her voice. 'He never got to know Daiki or cleaned a diaper.' I don't know to be happy or sad. 'Don't ever ask me to lie again.'