Through the Years (NDRV3)

3:|| Sweet Little Life:

Small A/N: yeah, there will be mentions of Korekiyo's sister so be warned... She's nine in the first few chapters though. But she gets obviously worse as the story progresses until she dies. 

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Korekiyo stared at the ground as he held his sister's hand. It was the next day, and she was walking him to the place he had been dropped off a few times before. At the door, she gave him a hug before standing up and leaving. It was a wonder that she was allowed out of the house alone with the boy, because she was only nine while her brother was five. But she was a favorite of her parents' and they trusted her probably more than they should. 

The boy knocked on the door, but it was so small he wondered if it had even been heard. Evidently, it had, and by Kaito rather than the caretaker Komaeda. 

"Komaeda is busy and can't answer the door, so he told me to!" Kaito explained, sounding proud he had been tasked with answering the door. "Once everyone is here, he has something to show us! I'm excited!"

There were stars in his eyes as he spoke. That was amusing, because Kaito was fascinated by space, too. 

Korekiyo said nothing. Not that he ever said anything in the first place. It was known to the other kids since the first day Kiyo had come here that he was quiet and reserved. 

Eventually, everybody did come. Not that they had to wait for Kokichi, because he literally lived on the streets. That was why he was dirty and impolite and smelled kind of funny. But Rantaro's family would take him in someday, the boy had said, and that would be nice. 

Shuichi tried to sit away from everyone else, but Kokichi made sure to sit as close to him as possible. He had just met him, but he had taken a liking to the shier boy. 

Komaeda sat down in front of everyone as usual, a warm smile on his face like a ray of sunshine. Korekiyo didn't mind the caretaker. Next to his sister, Komaeda was one of the only people he felt safe around. 

"I have something I want to show you all, seeing as I had to bring him in today," Komaeda began. 

"Him? Like, it's alive? And male?"

Komaeda heaved a sigh. "Yes, Tenko. Now..." He pulled something out from behind him and placed it in front of him. 

"It's a baby carrier!" Tsumugi cried, pointing. 

"Yes, I had to bring my son in today because my husband can't stay home to watch him, and we couldn't find anybody to watch him either."

"YOU HAVE A HUSBAND?!" Kokichi yelled, perhaps too loudly. Komaeda's baby started crying as a result of this. 

"Yes, Kokichi... Lower your voice, you're scaring him."

The kids inched closer to get a better look at the baby boy wrapped in blankets that the caretaker lifted gently out of the baby carrier. His eyes were screwed shut as he screamed, and tufts of brownish hair were on his forehead. 

"He's so cute!" Angie cried. 

Kaede squealed. "What's his name?"

The caretaker smiled. "His name is Naji."

Kokichi's nose wrinkled. "Oh, why would you name your kid that?"

Komaeda rolled his eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I should have consulted you first before naming my son."

Maki hissed at Kokichi and nearly slapped him, but Kaito grabbed her by the waist and jerked her away. 

Kirumi stepped even closer so that she was right beside the caretaker, looking down at baby Naji. At once, the infant stopped crying. 

"Oh."

Komaeda chuckled a little. "Aw, he doesn't seem to mind you at all. You're really a gentle soul, Kirumi."

"Oh."

"Here, you can hold him, since I know he won't fuss."

"I didn't know you were good with babies, too. Nor did I know you had one. He's sweet. His name is cute."

"Thank you, Kirumi."

Korekiyo watched Kirumi's every move. She was another that he didn't mind so much, because she was calm and quiet and gentle. Of the kids here, Shuichi and Rantaro were the other two Kiyo was okay with being around. 

Kokichi shuffled forward too, leaving Shuichi to stand alone. He looked the caretaker dead in the eyes. 

"What about this husband business, hm? I was never told you were married! You never told us! I feel betrayed. Who else feels betrayed?"

Miu raised her hand, but nobody else. It seemed that Miu always joined in when Kokichi was being stupid or chaotic. 

Komaeda chuckled. "I've been married for three years."

"THREE??? Who is this man whose hand you have taken in marriage, I wish to know!"

"Pfft, if it matters so much to you..." His voice trailed off as his phone started ringing. He answered it. "Hey? Aw, hello to you to, Hajime. Everything's fine here, yeah. Mm... That's good to hear. Naji's fine, I'm introducing him to the kids. The homeless one with the attitude asked about you. Kokichi. Yeah, he's an interesting one. Well, I'll talk to you later, Hajime. Love you, bye!"

Kokichi crossed his arms. "How dare you talk about me in front of me, to your HUSBAND, no less. Hajime?"

"Yeah, that's his name."

Miu crossed her arms too and scoffed. Beside her, Kiibo had a confused look on his synthetic face. 

"Whatever. Let's get on with the day, everyone," the caretaker said, gently taking his baby son out of Kirumi's careful arms. 

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Woo, longest chapter so far, I think. Anyway, these little kids are so silly, I love them. That's all for now, folks. Time in next time for whatever the heck the next chapter is gonna be. 

(word count: 900)