Chapter Text
Kai woke up early, as usual. He went downstairs quietly, not wishing to disturb the others. He knew that at least a few of them had had a late night, and he knew how… irritated Reko could be if someone else woke her up. Or disturbed in any way her before she’d put her makeup on.
But waking up Reko wasn’t one of his jobs. Preparing breakfast for everyone? That was more like it. He started cooking . And just as it was ready, he heard someone coming down the stairs.
“Good morning Keiji.” He set the plate in front of the policeman.
“Thanks.”
Keiji was never talkative in the mornings. He’d just eat in silence, before going off to work. Kai didn’t mind this, as it gave him more time to focus on cooking for the next person, which was good given how much he ate.
Kai didn’t realise Keiji had left until he noticed the plate in the sink. And as he started running hot water to wash it, Q-Taro entered with Mishima. Kai’s routine was disturbed momentarily, as Mishima usually ate later than this. But no worry, he quickly got out the cereal.
“Oh, is this your famous Eggs benedict?” The professor asked, looking at what Q-Taro was eating.
“Sure is! You want to try?” Q-Taro answered. Kai winced as he tossed some into Mishima’s bowl. That he’d already put cereal in.
But at least someone was able to keep a straight face. “Thank you.”
Just then, Kai got a text.
Sou: Hey you making breakfast?
Kai: Yes.
Sou: Neato
Sou: Basically I’m not in the mood for my regular stuff
Sou: so can I make a request?
Kai: Of course you can. Unfortunately, if I don’t have the ingredients I won’t be able to though.
Sou: Nah nah, I think ya got this
Sou: Ask me what I want to eat
Kai: So Sou, what would you like for breakfast?
Sou: Glue.
Kai turned his phone off.
“Well I can see why you call it your best dish.” Mishima said as he looked up again. Kai nodded in response, too disturbed by Sou to talk right now.
“It’s great, isn’t it!” Q-Taro had wandered over to the fridge, and proceeded to eat an entire egg raw. Upon receiving stares from both people present to watch this… spectacle, he casually remarked, “What? Don't you eat the crust?”
“C-crust...”
“Each to their own.” Mishima was unphased. He had seen so much worse.
“Well, see y’all later!”
“Goodbye, have a good practice.”
Mishima waited until Q-Taro had left before asking for a new bowl. Kai obliged, and cleared the baseball players spot ready for the next person… who was just arriving now.
“Good morning Miss Nao.”
“Morning professor, how are you doing? Sleep well?”
“I did indeed, and I’m feeling very well for it. How about you?”
“Aha… I got enough sleep. Totally.”
“That’s good to hear. Your well-being is the most important thing Miss Nao, and I hope you take care of yourself.”
“Yep! I’m doing that!” Nao laughed, in the way that a person who hasn’t slept in 30 hours laughs.
“Excellent. Well, have a nice day. Thank you for breakfast Kai.” And Mishima left. After which Nao buried her face into the table.
“Hey Kai, can I have 5 espresso shots in my coffee today?”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I pulled an all-nighter again, fuck me up.”
“As you wish.”
“Wait wait wait. Take the biggest thermos we have, half fill it with the coffee with 5 shots, and the other half is Red Bull.” Kai made the concoction, and handed it over. “Thanks you’re the best.”
“Do you want some pancakes as well?” Kai was already making them for 2 people, what was one more? As long as Q-Taro hadn’t eaten too many eggs to make them..
“Sure, why not?” Nao took a sip, and Kai got ready to grab the first aid kit.
“Hey Kai, what’s the status on breakfast. Ya didn’t reply to my text.” Sou was standing in the doorway.
“I am prepared to do many things, but killing people is not one of them.”
“Fine, fine! I won’t have glue, I’ll have an entire roast chicken.”
“What?” But Sou had already gone back upstairs.
“He asked for a roast chicken.” Nao helpfully added.
“Thank you Nao. Enjoy your pancakes.” Kai gave her a plate, and set down two others. As if on cue, Sara entered, giving Gin a piggyback ride. Gin didn’t wear his hood to school, so Kai knew that he wouldn’t be as talkative as usual.
“Are you alright Nao?” Sara asked. It wasn’t an unreasonable question, as she was still slumped on the table, though she was doing it with more energy than before.
“Yeah! I’m doing great! These pancakes are great, can I just eat these for every meal? For free?”
“What are you drinking nyeh? It looks bad.”
“Coffee.”
“Woof! That is bad!”
“Eh, give it a few years and it’ll be your best friend.” She looked at the clock. “Oh f- heck!” She grabbed her bag and thermos and ran out the door, almost bumping into Joe.
“Yo, what’s up with her?” Joe started eating directly from a box of Lucky Charms.
“She’s running late, and her train leaves in 5 minutes.”
“Yikes! Glad I’m not in her shoes.”
“I don’t think they’d fit you nyeh…”
“That’s right Gin.” Sara smiled at the boy. “But if we don’t want to be late, we’ll have to leave soon.”
“I know.” Joe put the Lucky Charms back in the cupboard. “Hey, how weird would it be if I was just eating Lucky Charms? Like, not the cereal, but like, objects that give you luck.”
“That would be pretty weird.” She checked her phone. “Ryoko’s waiting.”
“I’m ready, don’t worry.”
“Stay safe Miss Sara.” Kai said.
“You too bro!” And she left with Joe, leaving just Kai and Gin in the kitchen. Gin quietly finished his pancakes then went back upstairs.
Kai washed the dishes, and started cooking some rice. Sou entered again.
“You got anything for me?”
“I apologise, there isn’t any chicken in the house.”
“Neato. Hey, have Gin and Kanna eaten yet?”
“Kanna hasn’t.”
“Well, she’ll have to eat in the car. I’m gonna be driving them to school now, see ya!”
“Goodbye.”
Alice and Reko came down after the others had left. Reko didn’t seem to have finished her makeup yet. Alice had.
“Do you want anything Reko?” Kai asked, as he gave Alice his fried rice.
“Do you?”
“Now you mention it, I am a little peckish.”
“Then eat something.”
“Alright.” Kai grabbed an orange and sat down opposite Alice.
“Good.” Reko patted him on the shoulder. “Alice, you better be ready in 20 minutes.” And she left again.
“So…” Alice spoke. “You got any plans for today?”
“Well, I’ll need to go shopping, we’re running low on eggs. Also Nao got some oil paints on one of her shirts, and she asked me to try and save it. So there’s that.” Alice nodded. It wasn’t exactly what he’d call an exciting day, but Kai was Kai and he enjoyed what he did.
“Oh, do you mind grabbing some stuff for me?” Alice pulled some money out of his pocket. “You know chocolate eclairs? Like the sweets, not the pastries. With the caramel and the chocolate? Yeah, Reko loves those, and I wanna surprise her. Keep the change.”
“Alright.”
“Thanks. Oh and, thanks for the food. And everything you do.” Alice left to do whatever rock stars do in the morning, leaving Kai alone again. He cleaned everything up before setting about with other housework.
It was going to be a good day.