POV: Saiki Kusuo

T: Mother!

Kanade looks up to her.

K: What is it, Kokomi?

T: I want to talk with you privately!

Guess it's Kokomi's turn.

K: Alright then, you can sit down and Tadao can keep Kusuo company.

Kokomi looks to me in surprise.

T: *Kusuo?*

S: *I had a nice talk with her.*

T: But,

Kokomi also sees Makoto still kneeling on that same spot.

T: I want it to be just us.

She was the first person that acknowledged Makoto as a person today.

K: Oh, okay then. Follow them, Makoto.

M: Yes Mother.

Makoto promptly stands up and walks to Kokomi's father, who I will also call Tadao from now on. I follow Makoto and put a hand on Kokomi's shoulder while I walk pass her.

S: *Don't be scared. She's still your mother.*

Kokomi puts her hand on mine in assurance.

T: *I know.* 

Looks like Tadao had a good talk with her about Kanade.

F: Alright boys, follow me.

I look at the last time I see Kokomi standing before Kanade in nervousness. I trust Kokomi that her talk with her mother will go well. Makoto and I follow Tadao upstairs and to a room that's never used or opened when I visit. Tadao opens the door to see a tatami mat room, two whiteboards on opposite sides of the walls, three cushions and small rectangular table in the middle. 

Makoto and Tadao sit in front of the whiteboards behind the table and I sit betweem them. I suddenly felt an air of intensity between them.

F: We haven't had this match for a while now Makoto.

M: Maybe your capabilities have dulled after that long Father.

F: Hoping for that scenario shows fear Makoto.

What match are they going to do? What's going on? 

Makoto takes a deep breath and quickly puts out his phone to show a picture of Kokomi wearing an apron and whipped cream on her nose.

M: LAST WEEK, KOKOMI BAKED A RED VELVET CAKE AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY HEAVENLY! KOKOMI BEING ABLE TO BAKE IS JUST ONE OF THE SO MANY TALENTS THAT KOKOMI'S ABLE TO EXECUTE GRACEFULLY AND PERFECTLY! SHE'S TRULY A GIFT AND ANGEL TO THIS WORLD!

...haven't seen this side of him in a while. But what does this have to do with-

F: OH REALLY?!

I was caught off guard from the sudden high volume coming from Tadao. Tadao also immediately responds with pulling out his phone with a photo of a happy and satisfied Kanade

F: MY LOVELY KANADE HAS BEEN FATIGUED FROM MULTIPLE AGENDAS FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK, SO I GRACIOUSLY PREPARED A KOBE STEAK FOR HER AS A REWARD, AND HER REACTION TO IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. THAT'S THE TRUE ACT OF LOVE MAKOTO, WHERE HER HAPPINESS WAS CAUSED BY YOUR OWN HANDS. ADDED ON TO-

...so that's where Makoto got his..."passion" from. My previous image of Kokomi's father being a gentlemanly and polite man is shattered into pieces. 

F: You might think we tie in our battle every time Makoto, but now we have Kusuo with us!

what?

F: After our battle, Kusuo can decide who's the winner!

....I regret being here.

POV: Teruhashi Kokomi

Kusuo, Oni-chan and Father walk out the room, leaving only me and my mother in the living room. I'm still standing in front of her in uneasiness.

K: Come on now, sit down.

I accept her request and sit down in front of her. I don't know where to start. Maybe a good way to begin is to check her thoughts on Kusuo.

T: Uhm, Mother. Kusuo-

Mother raises her hand to me, signaling me to stop talking. 

K: Kokomi,

T: Y-yes?

K: You don't need to defend Kusuo. I had an interesting talk with him while Tadao was consoling you.

I ask her shyly.

T:...so what do you think of Kusuo?

Kanade smiles from my hesitance.

K: How cute. This is what my daughter looks like when she's hopelessly in love.

T: W-wha-

K: I understand. Kusuo was a very fascinating boy to talk to. A quick thinking one at that when he already has those superpowers. I would've loved to have him work for me.

I'm happy that Mother's approving Kusuo, but I'm not entirely happy that Mother's taking interest in Kusuo like that.

K: Kokomi, your jealousy's showing.

T: O-oh, sorry...

K: It's alright. He belongs to you after all. He is also the whole reason we're talking right now. I would've come back anyway after you graduate.

T: Why then?

K: I was supposed to tell you first, but that clever Kusuo got the information out of me.

Mother begins to explain to me what she does, our family tradition and why she insisted on preserving our family name. I had trouble wrapping my head around everything because of the magnitude of the situation. A national entity with an amazing but fragile bloodline to maintain. And I was supposed to be next. But I said no without knowing the full picture out of stubborness. It made me realise how big of a decision it really was to not follow in Mother's footsteps. Just because I want to spend my whole life with Kusuo, I'm abandoning a role that my family's been fulfilling for generations, and one that has been an unspeakably major contribution to mankind. It does sound like a shame for that to be gone. A small part of myself  is even starting to second-guess. 

K: Kokomi,

Mother finally woke me up from my deep thought.

K: It's okay.

T:...what's okay?

K: It's okay to not think of the responsibilites of the Teruhashi family.

T: But...our family has already done so much...for that to end,

K: Kokomi,

I look to her in worry.

K: Talking to Kusuo made me see why you would be the one to stop the tradition. The first reason is that your boyfriend is inhuman even by Teruhashi standards. And who knows, even without the tradition your child can be the greatest human being on the planet. And not letting that happen is a bigger missed opportunity than the Teruhashi family can ever make up for. 

K: It also made me realise that without realising it, I may be at fault to an extent.

T: How?

K: A Teruhashi has always been taught to spread love to everyone through her gifts and grace. And a Teruhashi was supposed to give the same amount of love to her family. I was meant to be the same...

K: Until I met Tadao.

T: Father?

K: Every husband of a Teruhashi has always acted as a subservient servant. A devoted follower that acknowledges a Teruhashi as a superior being and is only do as told. It sounds twisted but thats how prominent we were supposed to be. Tadao appeared to be the same at first, especially how we first met,

I smiled at how happy she was from recalling the memory.

K: But the more I spent time with him, the more I found his presence comforting. He has the same amount of loyalty a Teruhashi's husband is supposed to have, but his demeanor and personality is so gentle. He wasn't treating me like a goddess, he treated me like a fragile human being. His empathy easily saw through the human flaws that I've worked my entire life to hide. He doesn't see me as a goodess, he sees me as his wife.

K: And he showed me what true love really was,

K: That my love for humankind is nothing compared to the love Tadao and I had for each other.

I was surprised, but I also felt a warm feeling of happiness, seeing my Mother talk with such sincerity and affection for the first time.

K: And that might've been a sign that I am just as lovestruck as you are, so who am I to stop your feelings.

T: So that means...

K: Yes. I fully accept your relationship with Kusuo. I'm happy for you. 

...

I'm so happy. I can't describe the amount of joy I have from hearing those comforting words. The one part of my life that has been a mystery and one that I have been worried about ever since I've been with Kusuo...is just gone. Tears start running down my face uncontrollably that I can't stop. Mother just watches me with a warm smile.

K: It's alright. Come here. Hug your mother. 

I slowly walked to her and as soon as we hugged, my pent up emotions started bursting out and I started crying. Like my body stopped repressing the feelings I'm scared of showing. Like one part of my heart that I never noticed to be empty is being fulfilled. And then it hit me. My body realised it before my brain,

I have never been hugged by mother before.

The feeling is supposed to be unfamiliar to me, but it felt like I've needed this warmth my entire life. Without knowing it, I also let out my hesitant thoughts.

T: Mom, I'm so sorry for what I said to you!

Mother just gently pats me on the back.

K: It's okay. I forgive you. I always will. I'm...also sorry. I wish...I would've been there for you more...Because I'll always love you Kokomi...

I felt drops of water falling down my back. Mother's crying too. This sense of intimacy makes me want to hug for her too. 

T: I love you too...Mom.

I've never felt so close with my mother before.

POV: Saiki Kusuo

During the loud, intense (and frankly stupid) debate that I have to witness, both Makoto and Tadao stopped talking at the same time, like something has struck them. 

M: Kokomi's sad.

Weirdly unnatural family instinct. 

M: I have to see-

F: Makoto.

Makoto was about to leave the room until Tadao called his name. 

F: Sit down.

M: But Kokomi-

F: Makoto.

Tadao repeats his name but with a hint of strictness.

F: Kanade is crying too.

...of course he has that instinct as well.

F: It is a private moment between Kokomi and Kanade. We will sit here and wait for them for 5 minutes. 

Very insightful and mature. Really made me forget that Kokomi's father is well put together despite his...other character trait.

After 5 minutes, the three of us walk down the stairs to see Kanade that looks the same as before. I sit next to Kokomi and ask, 

S: Are you okay, Kokomi-

Kokomi immediately hugs me.

S: Kokomi? Are you okay?

I look at Kokomis face and she has the biggest smile on her with her slightly swollen eyes. Kanade notices my confusion and explains,

K: I approved your relationship with Kokomi, and we had quite a meaningful talk. She really does care about you.

I turn back to Kokomi and I pet her head.

S: She really does.

Tadao walks back and kneels next to Kanade.

F: Since Kanade gives her blessing on your relationship, then I will also support you two with all of my heart.

S: Thank you, Mr. Teruhashi.

F: Oh you don't need the formality, you three can just call me Dad. Even if it makes me happy that you greet me on the same level as Kanade.

 Kokomi lets go of me. 

T: Say Dad, 

No hesitation. It does make me happy to see Kokomi finally talking to Tadao and Kanade like they're her parents. Kanade and I noticed Tadao having a physical reaction from Kokomi wanting to ask him a question.

K: Tadao?

F:...it's nothing. Kokomi's just adorable when she calls me Dad. What is it, Kokomi?

T: I didn't expect Mother to love you so much.

Kanade and Tadao went quiet from the sudden statement.

K: W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-W-What are you saying Kokomi!

It's odd seeing the prideful and professional woman blush in embarrasment.

F: I know. She just doesn't show it that's all. If she didn't, you wouldn't have been born-

Tadao got greeted with a swift slap across the face by a highly embarrased Kanade from that bold comment 

K: Tadao! Stop talking!

F: Alright Kanade.

I guess even he understood that that comment was too much for Kanade.

T: And Mother,

K: Hm?

T: Don't you have something to say to Makoto?

Kanade looks to Makoto that went back to kneeling silently at the same spot and figured it out.

K: Ah, I see. How nice of you Kokomi, to not leave your brother behind.

K: Makoto.

Makoto looks up to her with the same docility. 

M: Yes, Mother?

Kanade gives another warm smile. 

K: I appreciate all you do for me, Makoto. Thank you for taking care of Kokomi while we were gone. I love you.

Makoto's blank expression freezes for a while, then his eyes start watering and his mouth starts twitiching,

M: Mo...

M: MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Makoto runs to Kanade, hugs her and starts crying uncontrollably.

M: Mother!!!!!!!

Kanade pats his back and gives him a motherly hug.

K: Yes yes, I am your mother. Good grief, you're still the same little boy that I raised.

After a few minutes and Makoto finally settled down, Tadao had an idea. 

F: Well, since we're all here, we might as well take another family photo.

S: I didn't know your family takes family photos.

T: We don't make that many copies since Mother is an important person. The last family photo we had, I was just a baby and Mother had a postpartum glow. They tried hanging it on the wall but the photo gave a blinding golden glow that made the house hard to live in.

Do not know how that makes sense.

Tadao comes back with a camera and a tripod and sets them up for quite a long time to get a perfect shot of Kanade. I walked to the camera because I assumed that they wanted to take a family photo without me, but Kokomi held my arm to stop me.

S: Kokomi?

T: Join us in the photo.

S:...are you sure?

T: Of course. Mother accepted you as my boyfriend after all. You're practically part of the family.

I looked to Kanade for affirmation and she merely smiled.

K: I'm not against it.

I look to Makoto.

M: W-well if Mother says it's okay then...

And I look to Tadao that just finished setting up the camera.

F: I have the timer ready. It would be nice if Kusuo joins us as well.

Kanade is in the centre of the photo on the armchair. Kokomi and Tadao stand next to her while I stand to the right Kokomi and Makoto stood to the left of Tadao.

After the photo I truly realised that,

I really am part of Kokomi's family.