The triplets sat wobbling on the table, each bundled up in soft onesies, looking up with wide curious eyes. Their tiny feet kicked in the air as their two parents stood before them—determined.
"Come on, baby," Yuke leaned in with an eager smile, "say Dada. Daaa-da~"
Yuri crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "No, say Papa. Pa-pa~ Come on, babies."
"No, dada first," Yuke insisted, pointing at himself with pride.
"Excuse me? Papa's better. Say papa," Yuri countered, leaning closer with a pout.
While the two continued their adorable battle, Akira casually walked past the table in the background, deep in discussion with K over a document.
Suddenly, all three triplets perked up like sunflowers following the sun. They stared at Akira with sparkly eyes and drooling mouths, arms raised excitedly.
"Dadddiiieee!!" they squealed in unison.
Yuke and Yuri froze.
"Ohhh!!" Yuke gasped, eyes wide. "Did you hear that?! They said it! They called me daddy!"
Yuri scoffed. "Hell no. They were looking at me when they said it."
"Excuse me? Noah and Miko were clearly staring at me. Majority wins. I'm Daddy," Yuke declared with a confident pout.
Yuri glared, unamused. "Mimi was clearly looking at me when she said it. Weren't you, my sweet baby Mimi?" He leaned forward with a sugary smile, patting Mimi's chubby cheek.
Just then, Akira passed by the table again and stopped near the main door, reviewing documents that K held open for him.
The triplets turned their heads in perfect synchronization, their entire being lighting up like a festival.
"DADDY!!" they screamed again, clapping their hands excitedly, eyes practically glowing.
Akira turned around, caught their gaze, and smiled. He blew them a gentle kiss, waved his hand elegantly, and then walked out with K.
Yuke and Yuri stood in silence. Their souls left their bodies for a full five seconds.
Yuke blinked.
"…So it was Brother all along. We were hyped for nothing."
Yuri's expression slowly changed as realization bloomed. His cheeks flushed pink.
"Oooh… So that was the 'daddy'... then that would make me the mama…" He blushed harder, lowering his lashes and acting shy. "I don't mind…"
Yuke gave him a long look. "Really, Yuri?"
Yuri blinked innocently. "What? Don't like it?"
Yuke groaned, pouting as he turned away. "Of course not!"
The triplets laughed, watching Yuke's sulky face as if they understood the joke.
Yuri's smile faded slightly as he sulked inwardly.
Even the kids are making fun of me now…
---
Four Months Later – Nighttime in Aoi & Mickey's Room
The moonlight spilled into the room through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the floor. Aoi stood on the bed, holding something above her head like it was a golden trophy.
Akira entered in his navy blue silk nightwear, arms folded casually.
"So… the game is finally here, huh?"
"Yap!" Aoi beamed proudly, raising the Roleplex box even higher.
Akira smirked. "Good. Then let's play. But… where are the controllers?"
Aoi blinked, thinking. "Hmm… wait."
She turned and pointed toward the tall shelf near the ceiling.
"There!"
Akira raised an eyebrow. "Okay. And where are the stairs to reach that shelf?"
Mickey, who had been silently standing by, coughed lightly.
"Actually… Brother… one day, Aoi threw me on the stairs…"
Akira turned slowly, confused. "Threw… you?"
Aoi nodded, face turning red.
"Y-Yeah…well it was made of wood. And… i was angry then …well… his big ass broke the stairs."
"AOIIII!!!" Mickey groaned, hiding his face.
Akira burst out laughing. "Is that so? Hmm…"
He looked back up at the shelf. "Then I'll lift you up, Aoi. You grab the controllers from there, alright?"
Aoi's face instantly turned pink.
"M-Me… Brother?"
Just as she was beginning to blush harder, Mickey raised his hand in defeat.
"I can do it…"
Akira held Aoi effortlessly as she reached for the controller box on the tall shelf. Behind them, Mickey stood with puffed cheeks, arms crossed.
"Meanniiii..." he muttered under his breath, watching them.
After finally setting everything up, they all sat on the floor—Akira in the center, Aoi on one side, Mickey flopped on the bed behind them, sulking quietly.
The screen blinked to life.
Suddenly, the door creaked open slowly. A soft voice followed.
Akira looked up and immediately smiled. "Oh, kids, come in fast."
The triplets ran into the room, their steps tiny but energetic.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" Noah asked as he made his way over.
"About to play a game," Akira answered, patting his lap.
Noah climbed up and plopped down on Akira's lap like it was a throne. He relaxed instantly, getting comfortable as if settling in for a show.
Miko looked over at Aoi, eyes wide. "Aunty, are you playing too?"
"Yes," Aoi nodded proudly.
Meanwhile, Mimi wandered over to the bed and climbed up beside Mickey, Miko following right after by grabbing onto Mickey's shirt for help.
Mimi gave him a suspicious squint.
"Mickey… you being lazy?"
Mickey's mouth dropped open. "What?!" He pointed at himself dramatically. "Also—call me uncle, not Mickey. Say it. Uncle."
"Mickey," Mimi and Miko said in unison.
Mickey groaned and dropped backward onto the bed dramatically.
"Uff, so hard to teach toddlers…"
Meanwhile, Akira and Aoi were already deep into the game, pressing buttons, clicking sticks, completely focused.
A couple of hours passed like this. Mickey eventually got bored and began searching for his earbuds. He bent over near the gaming setup, digging through a box just under Akira's crossed legs.
Miko, half-awake, pointed directly at Mickey's butt in front of her.
"Gyat."
A moment of silence. Then—
Akira and Aoi instantly clamped their hands over their mouths, shoulders trembling as they tried to hold back laughter.
Mickey turned around, hand on his hips, eyes wide.
"Who said that, huh?!"
Aoi pointed at Noah.
Mickey gasped in betrayal. He reached forward and began pinching Noah's soft cheeks gently.
"You little goblin! From where are you learning these things, huh?!"
Noah just giggled, kicking his feet and laughing freely.
A few minutes later, Noah yawned and lazily reached out, placing his tiny hand on Akira's cheek.
Akira spared him a quick glance, still focused on the game.
"You sleepy, Noah?"
Noah nodded and tried to climb higher, resting against Akira's shoulder.
Akira gently supported him with one arm, keeping the game going with the other.
"I'll take him, Brother," Mickey said, walking over. "You're playing. Come here, Noah, let's sleep."
But Noah smacked Mickey's hand away.
"Ahh," he mumbled, cuddling deeper into Akira, one little hand grabbing his collar.
Mickey staggered back, holding his hand, teary-eyed.
"He smacked me…"
Akira chuckled. "No use, Mickey. Let him be. You go to sleep."
Mickey crossed his arms in a pout.
Oh, so you think only you can sleep on Brother. You wait.
He cleared his throat. "Brother… I want cuddles too."
Akira smiled and tapped his lap. "Come here fast then."
Mickey's ears turned pink. "R-Really?" He gulped and shyly walked over, plopping onto Akira's lap and wrapping his arms around him, resting his cheek against Akira's other shoulder.
"Is this… heaven?" Mickey murmured.
Time passed. The game continued for a while, but one by one, the room fell into soft silence. Mickey eventually drifted off too, still wrapped around Akira.
Akira and Aoi finally turned off the game.
"That was a good one," Aoi sighed.
Akira nodded. "Yeah."
Aoi looked at him and smirked. "But… how are you going to get up now? They're both sleeping on you."
Akira smiled gently, looking down at Noah and Mickey. "It's okay. They're not that heavy."
He carefully shifted his arms and lifted both of them at once, one on each side, held securely and tenderly.
He walked over to the bed and laid Mickey down first.
Aoi quietly placed the blanket over Mickey's curled-up form. "Sleep tight, dummy," she whispered with a smile.
Then Akira picked up Miko and Mimi as well, one in each arm, and left the room.
---
Down the hallway, as Akira entered his own room with the toddlers still in his arms, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He took it out with one hand, balancing all three little ones effortlessly.
"Hello?"
J's voice crackled on the line. "Sorry to disturb you at this time, Boss, but it's an emergency. Can you come to the XYZ restaurant?"
Akira sighed deeply, glancing at the clock.
"…Really, J? It's 2 AM. I haven't slept at all."
J's voice over the phone softened, just slightly.
"Please, Boss."
Akira let out another breath. "Fine. I'll be there in a minute."
He quietly opened the door to his room, cradling the three sleeping toddlers carefully in his arms. Then he stepped out and walked down the hallway to Astra's room, knocking gently.
The door opened.
Astra blinked in surprise at first, then softened immediately as he saw the children in his arms.
Without a word, Akira placed Noah, Miko, and Mimi onto Astra's bed. They shifted a little but didn't wake. Astra gently adjusted their sleeping positions.
Akira turned to leave.
But before he could take another step, Astra reached out and grabbed his sleeve.
"Where are you going, son?" His voice was quiet but firm.
Akira turned back. "Mom… it's an emergency. I have to go."
Astra frowned, glancing at the time. "No. Have you seen the hour? You are not going anywhere. Lay down on this bed right now. You sleep with me tonight."
Akira paused. Then he gently placed his hand over his mother's.
"Mom… if it wasn't serious, J would've never called. He's a well-trained guard. Please… try to understand."
Astra looked at him for a long moment. The worry in his eyes didn't fade, but he finally sighed, pulling his hand back slowly.
"Fine… but come back early, okay?"
Akira smiled softly. He leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
"Okay."
Then he turned and walked out into the quiet night.