#𝙶𝚘 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚞𝚍𝚢 [ BEFORE GAME ]

[jesterofinaba]

@chibitantei | from here

Adachi had made sure to hang up the phone well before he got to his apartment, just in case Naoto got any idea of the conversation he'd just had.

Balancing school, multiple jobs, and raising a kid was proving to be harder than Adachi thought, and once or twice, he'd had a test where the score slipped underneath the As he strove for. Fundamentally, he knew that a B wouldn't have been the end of the world, but of course his parents kept tabs on his grades, and he'd just been on the receiving end of yet another lecture from them on him not trying hard enough, and what did he need all those extra jobs for, he could get money once he got his education and a good career.

When Naoto got old enough to where her grades came from exams and not art projects, Adachi knew he wasn't going to act the same.

Inside the apartment, he could hear Naoto watching cartoons as he hung up his jacket and set down his satchel, and when she ran up to him, excited, he gave the best smile he could muster.

"Hey, kiddo."

Clearly, she could tell that not everything was alright, because as soon as he had a seat on the couch, she was asking him what was the matter.

"It's just been a long day. You know how little things stack up? It was kinda like that.

How about you tell me about your day? That would cheer me up."

[jesterofinaba]

high school adachi: muttering about miserable he is, oversharing the minute he’s in a conversation with someone, a know it all,

anyone who’s ever interacted with him: oh my god will you fucking lighten up

[jesterofinaba]

@supportive-editor​ | from here

“I would have been fine, you just wanted an excuse to skip cl- gh-!”

Tohru stiffens as his classmate easily picks him back up by the collar like a kitten being lifted by the scruff of its neck. He’s set back on his feet and, face red, Tohru scowls, looks at the ground, and pushes up his glasses.

He wouldn’t have been fine, and they both knew it. Getting pushed around and whispered about for the way Tohru acted was nothing new. The bitter wallflower who consistently scored top of the class and did nothing else was a pretty easy target. Still, getting saved from a beating... that was unexpected. He wasn’t sure why Shibusawa stuck around him, besides maybe for homework help and that Tohru was his tutor, but being around when he didn’t have to be... weird.

But he had to admit that he liked the company.

Once composed, Tohru dusts himself off before straightening his uniform and picking up his dumped belongings.

“Alright, I guess I owe you one.” There’s a ghost of a smile on Tohru’s face, a rarity. “What do you want? An out for your next detention? Tutoring for free?” Just in line with Tohru’s thinking - transactional. He didn’t know much else.

[jesterofinaba]

another niche au starter for @chibitantei​

It felt a little like balancing on a tightrope, spending time with Seiji instead of his usual routine of staying out of everyone’s way. Tohru was far used to trying his best to blend into the background when it came to social interactions, hiding in the library or immediately running back to his parents’ apartment as soon as the school day ended, no clubs or part-time job. As much as he’d like the money, his parents frowned upon it, so no minimum wage worker position for him.

Still, working with Shirogane Seiji on the last few school projects had made him say more at school than his previous efforts of only showing off his knowledge, cracking a few smiles here and there with a shy laugh and adjustment of his glasses. There was something that meant kind of like filling a void that Tohru hadn’t noticed was there before, having a companion - not a friend, not really, just a classmate or acquaintance. He wasn’t too loud, could keep up with Tohru’s intelligence. But still. They’d have to separate by the time they graduated, so it would be best if he didn’t get attached.

They’d worked on studying for an English exam at Tohru’s apartment last time, the library being full for the end-of-term exams, since he knew his parents wouldn’t be home for quite a while and they’d have a quiet place to work. The same applied now, and that meant Tohru could scrounge around the kitchen to see if there was anything they could get to eat, so he offers as they walk out of the classroom, Tohru shouldering his bag and looking behind him to see if anyone else was listening.

He didn’t really want to give any of their other classmates any more ammunition against the know-it-all wallflower.

“You know, Shirogane-kun,” He starts softly, satisfied with the amount of distance in his words, “we can go back to my parents’ place again today, if you want. It’d be quiet.”

[jesterofinaba]

Hierophant!Adachi starter for @chibitantei​

It’s okay. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. He has absolutely nothing to worry about.

It’s just that it’s Naoto’s first day of school with him, and Adachi wants to make sure he does this right.

School had been one of the most terrifying and daunting parenting tasks that Adachi had been afraid of when he’d adopted Naoto not too long before. He’d obviously never, ever try and advise anyone, especially a young kid like Naoto, to follow in his footsteps when it came to their studies. How much work was too much was a balance that Adachi was unfortunate enough not to know, and the only sigh of relief he could give himself was that at least it would be a few years before she would really need to study at all. That hadn’t stopped his parents, though, but Adachi has to shake that thought out of his head.

“Okay, Naoto, I think we’re about ready to roll. Remember, I’ll ride the train with you until my stop.”

He still gives a supportive smile as he helps put the hat to her school uniform on her head, straightening it before smiling and softly poking her nose. They were set to leave for school and work at about the same time; Adachi was already in uniform, all that was missing were his gloves and his own hat on the table. He puts on the gloves and holds his cap in a hand, then picks up his bag, then turns back to his adopted daughter.

“Ready?”

[jesterofinaba]

@coffee-stains-and-migraines​ | from here

Tohru is taken aback a little when Sadayo asks him if he forgot bus fare money again - well, he hadn’t forgotten it, just didn’t have any, but he frowns a little. It was more than that, but of course Sadayo wouldn’t understand.

“Well, I’m not gonna say no to a free bus ride, but that’s not what I’m saying.

I shouldn’t go home. Mom and Dad are in a mood again.”

[jesterofinaba]

Tell dotter about your dad, Copper :)

Father's Day - Accepting!

"Heh... I'm not sure you really wanna hear about my dad, pumpkin..."

An awkward laugh as he averts his gaze from his daughter, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I mean, he was kind of a di- mean. He was kind of mean. He cared a lot about money, so he made sure no one bought anything they didn't need, and he wasn't home much because he was always at work.

He looks a little like me, I guess, I look more like my mom, but I've got his eyes. But... that's about it. Not really that interesting..."

[jesterofinaba]

(I am attracted to family threads like moths to a lightbulb)

"I’ll come in there and pound your miserable hide! What do I have to do to get any respect around here?! I’m gonna give you a tanning like you’ve never had in your life! My word is my law!"

Matilda Movie Sentence Starters - No Longer Accepting

"Maybe we've seen Matilda a few too many times if you can rattle quotes off exactly like that..."

A slight flush comes to Adachi's cheeks. He'd always thought of the movie (no matter if it was in English or Japanese) as something that gave him comfort, since he'd watched it so often on those lonely nights alone growing up. He'd had the movie and the book basically memorized in both languages for quite a while, but maybe it was an issue if his daughter was on that track, too.

Even if he's tempted to follow up with the next line.

[jesterofinaba]

With each sunrise and sunset, it brought her closer to the final day. Slowly but surely, their belongings were put into neat boxes, duct taped shut and labeled. She thought Dad’s excitement about the move would wane as the day approached, but it never did.

When it came to her, Dad’s heart was displayed on his sleeve. Continuing to bitch about it made her seem ungrateful and almost anything was better than going back to the orphanage, even a tiny town like that.

Before the move to Nowheresville, there was one thing she had to do first. The items she used for her inventions were already packed. There was a lot of stuff she had to finish for classes—imagine getting into Todai from a hick high school—so her time was limited. She didn’t trust snail mail to deliver it to her new home on time or not lose it in transit.

The day before Father’s Day was when her order was finally ready for pick up. At the store counter, she was handed a small nondescript white package. After that, Naoto quickly visited another store for tissue paper and a small gift bag.

At home, she checked every nook and cranny of the apartment to make sure Dad hadn’t planted any bugs or wiretapped anything. Her present was a tie, similar to the belt around her hat. The colors were slightly off, but it was close enough. It even came with a buckle for some reason. There were sleeve garters that were part of the set, but the less said about those, the better.

She got to work neatly placing it in the blue gift bag and spreading the gray tissue paper so it would keep the surprise a surprise. Then, she shoved it under her bed so Dad wouldn’t snoop.

When Father's Day arrived, it turned out that the officers who had kids were persuaded to take the day off. Offering a brief thank you to the superintendent, she approached Dad, gift bag hidden behind her.

“Since we’re moving soon, I couldn’t make anything, but don’t worry,” she brought the bag out, forcing him to hold it, “I got you a present.” Her hands free, Naoto took off her hat and pointed at the belt. “It’s not exactly the same, but it’s pretty close. It even has a buckle like mine.”

Putting it back on her head, the other hand rested on her hip. “You’re the best dad I could ever ask for, you know?” She paused for a bit, narrowing her eyes slightly in mock irritation. “But if you get weepy over a tie, I might have to retract that statement.” 

Father's Day - Accepting!

With all the preparations for their move from their little Tokyo apartment to the small country town of Inaba, Adachi had completely neglected to remember that there was any kind of holiday coming up. Naoto hadn't been too pleased at the announcement of their move, and still seemed upset about it even now as they packed, and the newly-appointed head detective really couldn't blame her. He felt the same anxieties over leaving behind everything they knew and the friends they'd had (something that Adachi wasn't used to having, and was even less used to leaving behind).

However... he felt oddly optimistic about the idea. Sure, there would be nothing going on, and it'd be pretty boring, but that would be a safer place for Naoto to spend the rest of her childhood. He'd be making more money and they could live in an actual house, for another thing.

And... being Naoto's dad and fighting to be a good influence for her had given Adachi the confidence to try and fight to be a good cop - and a good support system - for other people besides her. He did that to the best of his ability while a street cop, but being in charge or a precinct... He could be sure that everyone there was protected and safe.

All he had to do was make sure any potential criminals - and the people that would now be working under him - would know that despite his size, he could throw his weight around with his attitude and words alone.

Those thoughts race through Adachi's mind as he packs another box with dishes in preparation for their move, taking advantage of the day off that his boss had given him. In actuality, that had been the reminder that it was Father's Day at all, so of course, he can't help a soft smile when Naoto presents him with a bag.

He finishes packing up the mugs, setting his red one snugly next to some of the bowls, before taping up the box and setting it aside to look at the present. Opening it revealed a tie and a set of sleeve garters, and, as Adachi recognizes with a grin, they match the pattern on Naoto's hat. Like his daughter said, there was even a similar buckle that functioned as a tie clip. She says not to get weepy on her, and he tries his best, but he can't help but envelop her in a hug regardless.

"You're the best kid I could ever ask for too, you know. Hopefully that doesn't make me sound too sappy."

He holds up the tie to his neck with another smile, and ruffles her hair with the other hand when he lowers it.

"And you know with a look like this, none of the folks in Inaba are going to have trouble figuring out we're a family.

Thanks, Naoto. I'm going to wear this a ton for work, the sleeve garters too. I think it'll give me some luck when solving whatever cases are out there for us to work on."

[jesterofinaba]

[Once in university and no longer kept on as short of a leash by his manipulative and controlling parents, Adachi began to rarely, rarely allow himself occasional breaks in the form of things. I’ve mentioned to a few people that Adachi is inherently a very material person, sees happiness and success in the form of tangible things, and so the few pleasures he allows himself are strictly material - books, DVDs, food, sweets, drinks.

the PS2 had a few massive price drops around 2002-2004, around the same time Adachi would be in university. He bought one secondhand for even cheaper with some money he scraped together as a reward to himself for getting perfect grades all year - something he’d always wished his parents had done. He only had a couple games when he could find them really cheap, but one game he did have was Silent Hill 2.

It’s one of his favorite stories of all time.

Adachi is also a bit of a literature and film nerd for works that interest him (though it’s something he won’t let slip unless he really trusts you), so he loved all the old horror film influences in it, as well as the inspiration from Crime and Punishment. He loves solving riddles and puzzles and mysteries, loved the cheery disposition but chilling undertones from the radio announcer’s game show, the way that James becomes an unreliable narrator and a pathetic antihero who hides his crime behind his blandness and niceness, showing that he lets on more than he should let on more and more, shouting at bratty children who suspect him of his crime, the atmosphere of choking fog ...

He played it over and over again, and though he’s awful when it comes to horror, he played it until he wasn’t as afraid and he could look through the cracks and analyze as much as he could possibly glean from it.

He probably didn’t know about any of the other games, or at least didn’t allow himself to buy any of them unless he saw them sold for much cheaper, which he never did. The system and game are in a cardboard box in his Inaba apartment, and were never unpacked.

But he may quote a line from it occasionally, and if someone he trusted recognized it, it’d be hard for Adachi to contain his excitement about finally getting to talk about it with someone.]

[jesterofinaba]

“Where did she even get the mushrooms from...?”

[jesterofinaba]

Hierophant!Arcana starter for @chibitantei​

Adachi stared down at his shoes as he made his way down a crowded street. He mentally was kicking himself for wearing leather shoes when he knew it was supposed to rain. He’d spent all afternoon at the library, studying as usual, and by the time he realized it was evening there was a steady downpour.

University wasn’t really any more difficult than Adachi was used to in terms of work, but it sure got tedious after a while. But it’d all be worth it when he got his badge and he was out on the field like a real cop. All the long days and hours cramming, both now and when he got to go to police academy, would be worth it. Maybe he’d climb through the ranks, be a real detective, and have the kinda career that he could be proud of. It was wishful thinking, but it made him want to push forward and keep working even after he could technically stop, so he kept at it.

Adachi was wondering whether or not he could risk putting off writing a paper and just put on a movie instead, turning to walk down a side street to hopefully avoid getting his shoes splashed anymore. He looks around him before something out of the ordinary makes him stop.

Was that a kid? By themselves? In this rain? Something had to be wrong. No one else was stopping, or even seemed to notice. Yeesh, was everyone else wrapped up in their own shit that they didn’t see something off like that?

He hesitates, wondering if maybe someone else had helped the little rugrat already, or maybe if someone else was going to before he did. He really did have that paper to write... but dammit, he knew he wouldn’t forgive himself if he didn’t do anything. He’ll just do his good deed for the day and reunite the kid with their parents.

After wiping the droplets of rain off of his double-bridged glasses and moving his umbrella to the other hand, he crosses the street to see if the kid needed any help, giving an awkward wave.

“Hey, uh... whatcha doing out here all by yourself, kiddo? You might catch a cold in this kinda rain.”

[jesterofinaba]

“Tohru.” Her voice drips with false sweetness, and her bright smile is equally deceptive. Her displeasure is never obvious, always subtle, but she knows her son can pick up on the hints. After all, she’s seen the same in him. “You could have waited until your career was established. You could have found a nice woman to marry, and then you could have children of your own.” She pauses to let her words sink in before continuing.

"Your father and I didn’t spend our time raising you and giving you a good education for you to neglect your studies. What do you think you’re doing, taking in a random child you found on the street?” There's another pause, and while her smile never changes, the air drops a few degrees.

When she speaks again, her voice is still falsely sweet.

“It would be in your best interest to get rid of that worthless child.”

Unprompted Asks (that are almost a year old) - Always Accepting! @chibitantei

Adachi always felt stilted and uncomfortable talking to figures of authority, and his parents were the biggest examples of this. He had spent nearly every minute of his childhood and adolescence bowing his head and accepting whatever they gave him, no matter how unfair he thought it was underneath the surface. His anger always simmered underneath, never reaching the rolling boil he'd always wanted to unleash. How nothing was ever fair. How he'd never gotten to do anything other kids were allowed to, just because he was going to handle saving his family from some kind of debt just because children were so difficult to raise, so he had better make his existence worth their while and be successful to pay up.

He'd always complied with whatever his parents asked. Academics, food, study habits, hell, even his choice in career, and he'd always done what they ordered him to, because he knew how severe the consequences could be.

This time was different.

Adachi wasn't too far from graduating from university, he'd had a job lined up as a street cop in the city (of which he'd told his parents in only the vaguest of ways before changing the subject)... and he'd adopted a child, something he'd been forced to tell his parents under duress.

When he'd taken Naoto in, he knew at least a portion of it was, besides wanting her to be safe and able to pursue her passions, included delusions of grandeur that he could be the kind of parent he had always wanted. Someone kind and always home and who listened and encouraged instead of demanded and took and punished. He had no real clue how good of a job he was doing (letters to Santa aside), but he was hoping to do a good one to do more than just for his ego.

They'd learned to really care for each other, and like hell was Adachi going to take parenting advice from his mother.

People had always said that he looked just like her. Built tall and lean, with a glint in their eye that could prove dangerous if crossed. And he could see that disapproval in her tone, the subtle disgust she tried to hide, just like she could always tell the anger he kept quietly hidden under his meek exterior.

"She's not worthless."

There's a bite in his tone identical to hers, and it grows as he continues.

"And I have no intention of getting married, Mother. And if you ever had any modicum of trust in me, maybe you would know that, and you would know that I do things for a reason. I'm not the type of person to put off my work except for things that are important. And Naoto needs a parent.

I know you wanted me to be a police officer to make you and Father look good, but I found a reason that I want to be one, and it's to make sure people are safe, even ones who people like you think don't deserve the safety that my job should provide to everyone."

He could launch into a tirade that would do nothing but make himself feel better (and look like a self-righteous prick), about how she and his father did jack shit in terms of raising him, hell, the television and his study books raised him more than they had, and that he was going to do everything in his power to make sure he never treated a child like they treated him, to make him feel worthless and stupid and so unfathomably alone.

But he's not going to. He's going to walk out and make them work without him, and he's not going to give a damn whether they figure out where they messed up or not.

Adachi was going to do what he thought was best. He wasn't going to let them control him anymore.

He picks up a box of things he'd taken from his childhood room, and stares his mother down with all the unmitigated fury he'd hidden for his entire life.

"I'm going, and I'm not coming back. It would be in your best interest to never contact me again.

Don't underestimate the Japanese police. It'd be easy to find you out and track you down, and arrest you for harassment. And I wouldn't try and fight the jury system's conviction rate, if I were you."

And with that, he picks up the box and his satchel, and calmly walks out the door, shutting it politely behind him.

[jesterofinaba]

❛ do you think we’re friends in every universe? ❜

&. 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. - No Longer Accepting

Tohru was lying on his back, looking up at the night sky. His mother and father wouldn't be home again tonight, and he'd been perfectly content with the idea of staying home alone again. He'd mentioned it to his best friend, Takuto, and apparently his parents thought that was weird and so decided to let him stay the night, even though it was a school night and everything. Tohru was excited - Takuto was one of his only two friends, and he didn’t have to spend another evening by himself.

They were outside, just laying in the grass and looking up at the stars, trying to milk as much time outside as possible before Takuto's parents finally call them in. There weren't many stars to look at, because of this thing called light pollution that Tohru had read about in a newspaper that his parents had forgotten to pick up (and so of course he had to talk his friends’ and teacher's ears off about everything he'd learned).

Still, Takuto's question was a really important one. The universe was a really big place, no matter how many stars they couldn't see.

"I think so." Tohru replies with a lot of confidence. He tries to act like he's the more confident out of the two of them, he just needs to work on not crying around him when they're by themselves more. "I mean, maybe there's a universe where one of us moved away, and we don't meet until we're grownups or something. But I think we have to be best friends in every one. Because we're pretty great best friends now!"

He then turns to Takuto and gives him a mischievous kind of smile.

"And Rumi too! Maybe you two finally kiss and get married and stuff in one of them."

[jesterofinaba]

A very special Christmas gift for @chibitantei​

December was a rough month, this year tougher than it had been in years prior, but it was a good kind of tough. A stark difference to the holidays he’d spent as a child, sitting at home alone, waiting by the door in vain for his mother and father to return from work or wherever they went in the hopes that they remembered the holiday and brought a gift (which, about every other year, they did), or the few years after he’d left home where he’d stayed holed up in his apartment by himself, there was someone else to buy for now. The semester had just ended, bringing with it the end to some tough courses and some stressful exams, and there was also the daunting fiscal responsibility of buying decorations and gifts. But Adachi didn’t mind.

Adopting Naoto was, and he could say this with the utmost confidence, the best decision he’d ever made. Sure, he had to pick up extra jobs and pinch pennies even more than usual to keep her fed and clothed and to make sure she had toys and books, and more than that on occasions like Christmas, but he didn’t regret it. Naoto had been a sure sign on how unfair society could be to a person, and Adachi couldn’t help but feel pride in seeing her happy. That he’d made a change for the better. Sure, he wasn’t any kind of dad, but he was helping this kid have some semblance of a childhood - more than he’d had, anyway. And… he cared about Naoto. He wanted to help her because she was such a good kid that deserved the world, not the world taking it all away from her just because of some bullshit notions about orphans or adopted kids.

He thought that would be the end of being an adopted parent, though, expecting her to have the same feelings of indifference that he tended to feel during his own parents on a good day, but… she seemed to like being around him, too. He hoped, anyway.

At least, until early in December, when it was confirmed for him.

“Have you finished writing your letter to Santa yet?” He’d asked, looking down on the coffee table at the several pages Naoto had written - trying to steel himself to keep from freaking about buying that many pages worth of gifts. Naoto had hastily covered up her work and said that this letter was confidential for everyone except for Santa, a response to which Adachi gave a good-natured smile and a serious nod. When it was finished, he said he’d take it to deliver to the North Pole for her, and waited until much later that night to open up the letter and read it. 

By the time he was finished, tears were silently rolling down his cheeks, something he hadn’t done in years.

After all the scrambling he’d done, the worrying about how she would be better off with some rich, Daddy Warbucks kinda family who could afford to spend more time with her and give her all the toys she’d want and who would know how to parent a kid… she wanted to be a family with him. Him. 

She’d written about how he’d been a good parent to her, that she wanted to change her last name to include his… to be a family with him… he had to fulfill that. Folding the letter neatly and storing it in a desk drawer in his room, he was filled with a new resolve. Santa wasn’t going to fulfill Naoto’s request, but he could. He was going to do whatever it took to make sure that Naoto was happy.

After about a week of trying, though, Adachi almost wished Santa could have taken care of a wish like this one. Changing your surname was a lot harder than Adachi had anticipated, and there was a lot of legal red tape and waiting around. Finally, Adachi got the go ahead to get the document, and a few days before Christmas, tracked in snow into the government building to sign the papers and take the certificate.

“Going through a divorce?” the person at the desk asked, as Adachi scribbled his name and threw his bright red scarf back around his neck.

“Something like that.” Adachi mumbled in reply, grabbing his copy and rushing back out the door and braving the blizzard in the city outside. 

—

Adachi had half-expected to be woken up at the ass-crack of dawn on Christmas morning, shaken awake by an eager eight year old awaiting presents that he’d laid under the tree the night before, but to his muted surprise, that didn’t happen. Naoto in fact turned out to be still asleep on the couch where she’d been waiting for Santa since before he’d put out the presents. He lays a blanket over her before starting breakfast, and when she finally wakes, he lets her open the presents.

He hides the document in the back of all the presents, behind the meager tree they’d decorated, so she would open it last. He’d managed to scrape enough money together to buy a few manga volumes she’d mentioned wanting, a model kit, and a large stuffed shark he’d seen at Junes - Naoto had been accumulating something of a collection of plush toys since he’d first adopted her. Her little stocking was stuffed with candy and other small things - erasers and screws and little toys and a pencil case. He’d scoured for small things to get her, and he hoped she liked them. 

Knowing how grateful she’d been even for having the larger room in the apartment, she should, but that doesn’t stop Adachi from trying. He’d thought about putting on some movies and getting takeout for dinner, and he’d even gotten another box of secondhand kid’s clothes for him and Naoto to sort through later, if she wasn’t too tired. 

Before all of that, though, Naoto has to open the special present that “Santa Claus” had left her. 

Inside an incredibly thin package wrapped in brown paper (the same paper that Adachi’s presents had been wrapped in, but he’d explained away that Santa had needed to borrow some wrapping paper last minute), was a manila folder, and on the inside…

On the inside was the legal proof that Naoto and Adachi could be family. A document certifying the name change between Shirogane Naoto and Shirogane-Adachi Naoto, just like she had asked for in her letter. Offering a soft smile, he looks over her shoulder at the gift like he’d also seen it for the first time, and adds quietly, “Looks like Santa made us a family for Christmas, huh?”

[jesterofinaba]

"Do you wish you had a real kid instead of a... fake one?"

Unprompted Asks - Always Accepting!

Adachi was in the middle of cooking dinner, Naoto seated at the kitchen table while Adachi turned on the stove and scoured the fridge for produce. After a long day at work, Adachi had actually found a bit of a comfort in making dinner for himself and Naoto, and hopefully it was a little something extra that made the little kid feel like she was actually in a home with someone she could trust.

At her question, Adachi slowly lowers the spoon he'd been using and turns the stovetop down to a simmer, turning around to face her. He's still in his work clothes, white button-up slightly unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. There's steam on his glasses, but he ignores it.

"What makes you say that, Naoto?"

He takes a seat across from her at the table, leaning down to get a look at her face.

"Listen, I don't know who told you that, but... you are my real kid, Naoto. Just because I adopted you doesn't change that."

He has a feeling that that alone won't convince her, but he's not leaving this alone until she walks away knowing that he cares about her just as much as if she were his biological kid, and that that it shouldn't matter to determine how much of a family they were.