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Denji and Power were not kind by nature. If you find them doing something that seems nice and non-threatening then, there were two possibilities: 1) they wanted something, or 2) they were going to prank you.
To say that Aki was familiar with their tactic was understatement.
He'd known their tactic way too much, to say that he's experienced.
It was not hard for him to be suspicious, when the two rascals suddenly became too smiley and greeted Aki joyfully when he just opened his door.
Even more, when apparently Power's opening line was:
"Good morning! What would you like for breakfast?"
For a moment Aki was speechless. He just blinked like an idiot, totally in disbelief that this Blood Fiend had just asked him what he wanted for breakfast.
"You heard Powy, we'll cook you something." Denji said when Aki hadn't answered. "And don't worry, we won't poison you this time." He added as an afterthought.
Power giggled. "Most likely."
Denji smacked her head. Finally, a familiar scene. This made Aki aware of his silence, and he decided to give them a chance.
"I think, miso soup would be wonderful."
Power made a face that clearly stated otherwise, but Denji had already said, "Yes, Captain!" then dragged her into the kitchen.
Aki half-consciously walked to the bathroom, wondering if today could be any weirder.
×
"Where's the jacket you wore yesterday?"
Aki looked up from the newspaper he was reading, to find Power with a dirty laundry basket on her hips. She wore the ugly apron that Denji bought for Aki as an April Fool's gag gift, it was bright yellow with a scribble on its front: 'I'm The Mother in This House'.
"What?" Aki was too amazed by Power's miraculous fashion, that he missed what she had said.
"Your jacket, Topknot. You wore a blue and gray jacket to go out with Himeno yesterday, right? Where's the jacket? I gotta wash it!"
Aki couldn't believe his ears. Did Power, one of the most laziest being on this planet, saying that she wanted to do the laundry? Especially for other people?
"POWY, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG!"
Denji shouted from the bathroom.
Power pursed her lips, before shouting back, "HAVEN'T FOUND TOPKNOT'S JACKET YET!"
She grumbled to herself before casually stepping into Aki's room, when Aki was still in surprise over his juniors' behavior.
"I'm taking this, 'kay." Power waved his jacket, before throwing it with all her might and —if Aki had guessed— had landed right on Denji's face.
"YOU FUCKING—"
Power stuck out her tongue, and yet still stepped into the bathroom.
Aki craned his neck, trying to get a look.
But all he heard before the door was closed, just: "- which detergent Hayakawa usually use?"
×
Miss Makima had to clear her throat twice, as Aki stood like a fool in front of her office.
"What's wrong, Hayakawa? Why are you standing outside my door?"
Aki bowed deeply with a flushed face, muttering something about being late to patrol with Himeno.
Miss Makima did not have time to question him further and Aki was grateful that he could escape as fast as possible, because—
"Power and Denji made a bento? For me ?"
He waited for the bento box in his hand to rebel and bite him back or something, but nothing happened.
×
"THEY WHAT?"
Himeno laughed so hard that all the eyes in the cafeteria immediately turned to their table. Aki face-palmed for the umpteenth, sighing loudly.
"Sorr—I'm sorry," Himeno choked, trying to stop laughing. She wiped her teary eyes, then took a sip of soda, before chuckling again.
"Denji? And Power? The Denji and Power?"
Aki huffed. "You heard me."
"Sorry, sorry," Himeno thought everything was so funny, that Aki had to glare at her to shut up because she started to attract attention. "Okay, okay. So to summarize, today, Denji and Power cooked you breakfast, offered to wash your clothes, and even prepared your lunch—"
Aki could almost predict the sentence that would come out of Himeno's lips next.
"—to celebrate Mother's Day?"
Today was never-ending surprises.
And even though Himeno considered what Aki had to go through today as a carefully executed joke that was both hilarious and smart, Aki wouldn't lie—what Power and Denji have done was very impressive. Aki didn't know where they got this idea. He was also genuinely surprised to find the miso soup they made was edible. The bento's in front of him also looked delicious. It was just easy meal: plain white rice, stir-fry meat, fried sausage, and some watercress. No sophisticated condiments, no garnishes.
Aki probably wouldn't know this bento was special, if he didn't find a greeting card in it.
The card was simple, just an illustration of three birds perched on a branch with the words "Happy Mother's Day!"
Cards that you could buy anywhere.
However, you will not find Denji's scrawl, on the head of one of the birds with the words 'it's me!' followed by a simple chainsaw doodle and Power's on the other bird, 'this one is me!' decorated with smirking devil emoji.
Aki didn't even realize that he was smiling as he studied the greeting card from Power and Denji, until Himeno brought her face closer, showing her trademarked wide grin.
"Happy Mother's Day, Aki!" She chuckled in delight.
This time, Aki laughed too.
×
"It's his turn!"
"What the heck, I'm the last one dicing the onions. You do it."
"I hate vegetables!"
"Onions ain't vegetables, they're condiments."
"It's the same! I hate it!"
Aki couldn't help but to take the cutting board and knife from Power's hands, telling her to just get the meat out of the fridge.
"How long do I have to wash these potatoes?"
Aki didn't even spare a glance. "Until they're all cleaned up."
"Then, let me use the soap," Denji groaned. "Look, no matter how hard I scrub, these dirt won't come off. That means I have to use the soap."
Aki sighed.
"Why don't you, guys, go sit and watch the TV, instead of helping me? You do know well, you aren't helping at all."
For a moment, Denji and Power seemed pleased to hear the possibility to escape from kitchen chores. But then the two of them exchanged discreet glances at each other, as if they were communicating.
Aki pretended to check the stove.
"Huh, onions are nothing, I can chop them finely without crying," Power puffed. She reached for the cutting board and knife that Aki had put away and she brought them to the table, ready to cut the onions.
This Blood Fiend was not kidding when she said she could chop it finely.
"You only need to dice them, Power," Aki reminded her. "I need diced onions, not onion puree."
Power stuck out her tongue, but she slowed down her chopping nonetheless.
"How are the potatoes, Denji?"
Aki turned, only to find Denji peeling potatoes. He peeled it way too thick and clearly uneven.
"I'm so dumb," Denji slashed one side of the potato, hard. "We're not gonna eat the skin anyway, why do I bother to wash it 'til clean and shiny?"
Hearing Denji's words, Aki couldn't help but laugh. His laughter was so loud, so loose, that he didn't notice Power and Denji were staring at him.
Aki Hayakawa never laughed.
Of course, Aki smiled on rare occasions, or made a 'hmph' sound that was similar to a chuckle. But, laughing, so loose that he hunched over?
The sight was so strange.
The sight was so foreign.
The sight ... brought new atmosphere, made this little apartment feels like a different place.
Power might not cut the onions properly.
Denji probably peeled the potatoes too thick.
The meat that Aki cooked might turn out overcooked later.
But the atmosphere of their dinner that time was the most luxurious moment they could afford.
And, after they finished eating it, after Power and Denji returned to their own rooms, when Aki was only left with a pile of dirty dishes to wash, he would find the dish soap in the sink had been replaced with strawberry shampoo.
Aki would also find that the dish washing sponge had been replaced with a styrofoam from the electronics he bought the other day.
But, instead of getting angry, Aki only needed to remember the three birds perched on a branch.
Happy Mother's Day, the card read.
Aki Hayakawa smiled. He would choose death over admitting this out loud, but really: being Denji and Power's 'Mother' wasn't so bad.
「 F i n. 」