"The guys in the dorm?" Makoto questioned.
"Yeah, your cousin should've arrived by now." Kenji replied.
"...Huh?" Makoto replied confused.
"Kuro Akira. Your auntie's son."
"Kuro?" Makoto asked.
"Your auntie took up her husband's last name, but you were still with your mom at that time." Kenji told Makoto.
"Oh." He replied.
The crossroad then beeped as they both walked over, walking to a small and empty playground. Kenji stayed standing as he watched Makoto walk over to a swing set and sat down. Makoto lightly swings on the set as Kenji just watches him swing. A fonder and much brighter memory just comes into his mind, seeing Makoto swing innocently and softly on the swing set.
***
"Papa! Can you push me a bit more? I wanna swing higher!" A much younger makoto smiles.
"Sure Makoto." Kenji smiled.
A younger Kenji walked over to Makoto as he pushed him from behind lightly, making Makoto swing higher. Makoto was laughing innocently as his attention rose to a younger Kiriko and Aki. Both were nearby as Kenij had heard a small commotion coming from them.
"Stop picking on my little brother!" Kiriko shouted standing in-front of Aki, one arm moved open to have Aki behind her.
"Oh? Is this your older sister pipsqueak? I wouldn't think you'd have to be saved by a girl." The older boy mocked.
"How…How dare you!" Kiriko gritted her teeth angrily.
She dropped her bag onto the ground as Kenji looked at Makoto who was having fun with the swing. He couldn't leave him alone but he also had to stop the fight before it could get any worse.
But as soon as Kenji was going to move, Kiriko already took a swing at them, her fist hitting nothing. The boys had already backed up and swiftly moved out of the way, Kiriko took another swing as she was specifically aiming for their leader.
The boy kept backing up as Kiriko kept aiming for his head. It was the reason why she was missing her punches as her fists were completely filled with rage. Moments later the boy slipped past her right straight and went in for a liver punch.
But instead of the punch landing on her liver, Kenji had caught the punch and held Kiriko's arm up. The boy looked up at Kenji as his eyes were locked on the boy. A finger wouldn't land on his precious daughter while he was around, his eyes glared with a death sentence.
The boy was outright frightened as Kenji let go of his fist and Kiriko's arm. They backed off as Aki had left to go monitor Makoto. Aki pushed Makoto a little higher as Makoto let out a cheerful giggle, Kenji looked over his shoulder to Makoto and Aki with a soft sigh.
He then turned his attention to Kiriko as she grasped her arm tightly, he could sense her anger at herself and towards the boy she was trying to hit. He didn't want to apprehend her for her actions since she had more than enough reasons to punch the boy in the face.
"Sorry…dad…" Kiriko apologized lightly.
"Don't be sorry Kiriko, You were only doing what you thought was right." He pats Kiriko on the head.
"I know but…I acted out of instinct again…" she apologized again.
"Kiriko." Kenji snapped at her.
"..." she looked at Kenji.
"You were protecting Aki, You did the right thing." He softly smiles at Kiriko.
"I…" her sentence was cut short by Kenji patting her head again.
"Plus, I would have let you sock the shit out of that boy if we weren't at a playground princess." Kenji admitted.
This made Kiriko feel better about herself and her outburst as she chuckled a bit. "Thanks dad." she said softly as both made their way back to Aki and Makoto.
"Dad?" an echoed voice reverberates in his mind.
***
"Dad!" Makoto's voice calls out.
Kenji blinks as he looks over at Makoto who was sitting on the swing set. "Did you space out or something dad?" Makoto asked him as he had stopped swinging. Kenji chuckles a bit, rubbing his nose a bit as he sits down on the second swingset.
"What's so funny Dad?" Makoto asked him.
"Nothing son, I'm just happy." Kenji replied.
"Oh."
Makoto and Kenji just sat there as the quiet area let them consolidate their thoughts. Kenji's soft expression became neutral over time as Makoto just softly swung once more.
"So why did you come out here dad?" Makoto asks him.
"Well it's simple." Kenji replied
"Simple as?"
"Well…It's simple that I got to support my son, although we aren't on good terms again."
"Good Terms…Well you're still my dad, nothing's going to take that away from me." Makoto tells Kenji.
"I know Makoto, I'm just worried about your future, that's all."
"My Future?" Makoto replies confusedly as he looks at Kenji.
"Like everyone else in this world, a dad just wants to see their children succeed."
"...Yeah I know…" Makoto pouts a bit.
Kenji chuckles as he reaches over, however he abruptly stops his hand from patting Makoto on the head, a force of habit and instinctual thing He's been doing since Makoto was little. It was a gesture of appreciation and acknowledgement for him when he was younger, but Kenji just guesses that since Makoto is older, he doesn't need these kinds of childish antics.
"Sorry son, force of habit." Kenji chuckles with a soft smile that turns into a small frown.
"It's okay dad, I know you're just trying to cheer me up." Makoto replied.
"I…" Kenji was about to say something as he stopped himself.
"Hm…?" Makoto looks over again.
"...Nevermind Makoto…" He shakes his head a bit, "I should be heading home, you're free to come home if you need to. Remember that." Kenji reminds him.
"I…okay." Makoto softly replies.
Kenji gets up from the swingset seat and clicks his tongue as a ripple appears at the front of the playground, Kenji starts walking over as Aki pokes his head through before walking out. Kenji walks over as Makoto just watches him walk over, His older brother stands there before moving out of the way for Kenji.
"Dad!" Makoto shouts out.
Kenji stops before he walks in and turns around to see what Makoto has to say. Makoto has a thousand words he needs to say that should've been said months ago, however his own doubt and fear are keeping those words from coming up and out.
"I'm sorry. For storming out of the house…and yelling and stuff…" Makoto admits.
Aki looks at Makoto with crossed arms with a bit of a raised eyebrow, he was surprised as Makoto usually never admits when he's fucked up. However this was an exception as Kenji walks over to Makoto, he pats his head and messes with his hair slightly. Makoto doesn't move while his hair is being rustled, But he does look at Kenji, his eyes are slightly glossy.
"I should also apologize for starting that argument. I just wanted what was the best for you, knowing that I would never put you in danger or try to get you in danger." Kenji reassures him.
"Are…are you sure…?"
"Of course." Kenji smiles, "No father wants to see their sons in a casket. I overreacted, we were both in the wrong. I'll tell you when we find your mother Makoto, I promise that."
"...No strings…?" Makoto replied.
"No strings…focus on your studies…find who you want to be in the future. Treasure the smaller moments okay?" Kenji asks him.
"Okay…" Makoto replied.
Kenji smiles as he removes his hand from Makoto's head and leaves through the portal. Aki walks over and pats Makoto on the shoulder, Aki smiles softly as he softly punches his shoulder before leaving as well. The portal ripple closes as Makoto just stands there, letting out a soft sigh into the cold dark night.
Not too far from his position, someone was seemingly spying on their position, they bring up a radio to their mouth as it statics up to life.
"Looks like you missed one sir, A survivor…" they spoke into the walkie-talkie.
"Was it the child of that esper? The Oracle?" A voice came through.
"He has purple tipped hues, not red." They replied.
"He could be using dye to cover the coloration. No matter…just keep an eye on him. If there's any indication that he is her child, we can gain an edge…"
"Yes sir. Seer out." They turn off the walkie talkie as they just spy from an apartment.