Chapter Text
Kazuichi looked around the dinner table with a hint of exasperation. The smell of his perfectly cooked roast chicken filled the kitchen, but the twins, Kage and Hibiki, had their eyes locked on the untouched mounds of broccoli. They wore expressions of disgust on their little faces, as they poked at the green veggies with their forks.
"Now, now, gentlemen. The broccoli on your plate is a treasure trove of nutrients," Gundham said, trying to coax the boys into eating their greens. "It is a gift from Mother Gaia to strengthen your growing bodies. You must not neglect the gifts of nature!"
Kazuichi couldn't help but chuckle a little. It was always funny hearing Gundham use his unique way of speaking when engaging with the children. Even in the most domestic settings, he liked to keep up his demon persona. The boys, however, remained unmoved by Gundham's dramatic speech. Kage's face scrunched up as he stuck out his tongue at the offending broccoli as if the sight alone was too much to bear.
"Come on, guys," Kazuichi said in a much more casual tone, "just a couple of bites, okay?"
He then shifted in his seat, turning to face Reina's high chair. He scooped a spoonful of puréed peas and carrots into her mouth. She wrapped her lips around the tiny plastic spoon, her chubby cheeks puffing out as she chewed and swallowed her food. "Look at Reina-chan, she's eating her veggies like a good girl!"
Kage and Habiki watched as Reina enjoyed her dinner with gleeful sounds. But unfortunately, Kazuichi's gentle persuasion didn't seem to be working on them either. "But daddy..." Habiki whined, "the little trees are so yucky."
Gundham took a sip of water from his glass, as his eyes narrowed at the boy's obstinance. "Your daddy worked hard to make this meal," he said as he set the glass down, his tone more serious now. "It would be most unkind not to at least attempt to consume the greens he prepared. Just think of the broccoli as a challenge from the culinary realm that you must conquer. You must be brave and at least attempt to defeat your opponent."
Kazuichi shot Gundham a sideways glance, the corner of his mouth twitching as he tried to suppress another laugh. Despite the seriousness of his husband's words, the boys didn't seem to be taking the bait. Deciding to switch tactics, Kazuichi picked up a piece of broccoli and leaned over to Kage.
"Look, Kage-kun, this airplane is trying to land right in your mouth!" he said enthusiastically and held the vegetable up with his fork. He began to make whooshing noises, swerving it around in the air as he slowly moved it closer to Kage's pursed lips.
But Kage wasn't having it. He pressed his lips together tighter and pushed his head back, pouting dramatically. The broccoli hovered in the air, Kazuichi's hand moving it in a circle, the sound of the imaginary engine growing more desperate. "C'mon, don't be a party pooper, Kage. Please, just one bite?" Kazuichi pleaded with the 5-year-old.
"I'm not a baby anymore, Daddy!" Kage exclaimed, his little hands slapping the dinner table as he squirmed in his seat. "I don't wanna eat your airplane veggies!"
Gundham's expression turned stern at the sight of the boy's little tantrum. He could not understand their lack of compassion for their father's feelings, as he had always cleaned his plate as a child, despite how difficult it was to stomach his mother's unpalatable cooking. "Kage, Habiki, your disregard for the nutritional bounty we’ve provided for you is most disappointing," he said firmly, though not too harshly. "You shall not be dismissed from this table until you have each eaten three pieces of broccoli. Do you understand?"
Kage whined in response, throwing his head back and kicking his little legs under the table. "But we're not hungryyyy."
"Yeah!" Hibiki echoed his twin's sentiment. "Our tummies are all full, Papa!" The little boy then stuck out his stomach and patted it for dramatic effect.
"Ooh, is that right?" Kazuichi questioned, knowing their tactics all too well. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Okay, okay," he said with a knowing smirk. "If you're too full to eat your veggies, then I guess you won't have room for dessert later either, huh?"
That seemed to get the boys' attention. They both froze, pink eyes widening at the mention of dessert. Earlier they had helped Kazuichi make their favorite, chocolate chip cookies, and were looking forward to getting to have some after dinner.
The twins shared a brief, panicked glance. “But Daddy, we didn't say we're not hungry for cookies!" Hibiki exclaimed, his brows knitting together as he looked up at Kazuichi.
Gundham quickly caught on to Kazuichi's game. "Ah, but the rule is simple, gentlemen," he explained. "First, you must conquer your dinner before you can claim the sweet treasure of dessert."
The twins looked at each other again, then back at their plates. They hadn't expected their words to be used against them! Dessert was a very serious matter to their young minds, and they didn't want to miss out on the sweet reward they had earned by helping their daddy make the cookies. With a new look of determination, they each picked up a piece of broccoli.
Their parents watched with a mix of amusement and satisfaction as the twins tentatively brought the vegetable to their mouths. Kage took a little bite, his face contorting with the effort to chew and swallow, while Hibiki followed suit, looking like he was trying to swallow a mouthful of spiders.
"Good job, boys!" Kazuichi cheered, clapping his hands together. "Two more pieces, and then dessert is all yours!" With their eyes on the prize, the two little boys managed to down the second and third pieces of broccoli. As they swallowed their final bites, the twins both let out a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Very well done," Gundham praised, his tone still firm but now mixed with subtle pride. "You have shown courage in the face of adversity. Your reward shall be bestowed upon you shortly, after you have properly digested your supper."
Satisfied, Kazuichi turned back to Reina, his attention shifting to the little angel who had been quietly observing the entire scene. She watched her brothers with a curious gaze, her tiny pink mouth opening and closing like a baby birdie waiting for food. He resumed spooning the mashed peas and carrots into her mouth.
-
Soon dinner is finished, and Kazuichi sends the twins off. "Alright, you two go play," he says, wiping the corner of his mouth with a napkin, “but don't make too much mess, okay?" The boys don't need to be told twice. They leap from their chairs and sprint out of the kitchen into the living room, leaving a trail of laughter behind them.
Kazuichi stands and starts to clear the dishes, his eyes following the boys with a warm smile. Gundham gets up as well, assisting with the cleanup.
After placing the last plate in the dishwasher, Kazuichi approaches Reina's high chair. He carefully unclips the bib from around her neck, the fabric stained with the food smears of her dinner. The baby giggles as he lifts her into his arms, her chubby limbs squirming with excitement. He kisses her forehead, the scent of the baby shampoo lingering on her soft hair.
As Gundham moves to wipe down the surface of the high chair with a rag, Kazuichi makes his way to the living room, where he gently sets her down in her playpen filled with toys. She reaches out for a stuffed bear that Kazuichi had sewn together for her and brings it to her mouth, sucking on its ear.
Kazuichi then took a seat on the couch and sank into the cushions, relieved that it was finally time to relax after a long day of managing the kids. He leaned into Gundham’s side as he sat next to him, and Gundham casually draped an arm around his shoulders.
-
The living room feels warm and cozy as the family eases into the evening. On the TV plays a nature documentary that Gundham had picked out, as the boys play on the floor with a pile of blocks they had dumped out earlier.
Until suddenly, two pairs of pink eyes peer over the edge of the couch. "Daddy, can we have cookies now?" Kage asks, his voice hopeful. Hibiki nods vigorously, his black and white streaked hair swishing up and down with each movement, the same question in his eyes as he blinks up at Kazuichi.
Kazuichi smiled, looking down at his lap where the two little rascals were now eagerly awaiting their promised reward. "Yes, yes. It can be time for dessert." He pats their heads, then stands up and walks back into the kitchen, the twins rushing to follow after him.
The cookie tin is high up on top of the fridge, out of reach from grabby little hands. Kazuichi reaches up to grab it, standing on tippy toes, then pulls it down. He takes out two cookies, and hands one each to the boys. "Hear you go, my little champs."
They each grab one with a grin, their eyes sparkling with excitement. Kage takes a bite and hums in delight, "Mmm...yummy!"
Hibiki takes a bite too, nodding in agreement, crumbs already sticking to his cheeks. "So good, Daddy!"
With the twins' hunger for cookies sated, Kazuichi looks down at them, his heart filled with love. He can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment for outsmarting their stubbornness. Sometimes, it's the small victories, like getting two picky kids to eat their veggies, that make everything worthwhile.