The clink of cutlery against plates filled the room. The scent of miso-glazed salmon, roasted vegetables, and a delicate citrus reduction had wrapped around the dining space like a spell.
Anna Grove, professional and composed, took her first bite of salmon with a simple, "Thank you," and a nod.
Then she froze.
Eyes widened. She blinked once. Then twice.
"Oh," she breathed, the fork hovering mid-air. "Oh."
The next sound she made was a muffled hum of delight, a hand lightly covering her mouth in a valiant attempt to remain composed, but Satoshi didn't miss the way Ashwatthama's brow rose just slightly.
Anna swallowed, sat straighter—and then promptly blushed.
"I—apologies," she said quickly, setting her fork down. "That was… highly unprofessional. This is just…" She gestured toward her plate. "Absolutely divine."
Satoshi flushed redder than a beet. "I—I'm glad you like it."
Ashwatthama hummed. It wasn't quite a grunt. It almost—almost—sounded like agreement.
Across from them, Shirou's lips twitched faintly. "You get used to it," he said, voice dry but not unkind. "I haven't been able to eat takeout since we got married."
Riley, halfway through her own plate, nodded so hard her fork nearly flew out of her hand. "Dad's the best cook! And he makes treats sometimes!"
Ralts chirped softly in agreement, psychic warmth rolling through the room like a ripple.
Anna smiled then—genuinely this time. "Well. It's certainly the warmest home I've stepped into this month."
Satoshi blinked. "Really?"
She nodded and dabbed her mouth with her napkin. "And now that we're all a little less nervous… would you mind if I asked a few questions?"
"Of course," Satoshi said, sitting straighter, heart suddenly hammering again.
Anna leaned forward, just slightly. She didn't take out a notepad. Didn't make it a formal interrogation. She simply… asked. Little things, at first.
To Ashwatthama: "What do you do for work?"
"Bodyguard," he replied curtly. "Currently unemployed. Supporting the household through savings."
To Shirou: "And you?"
"I help manage logistics for the restaurant business we're building," Shirou answered smoothly. "And handle things that need… heavier lifting."
To Satoshi: "How did you all meet?"
He nearly choked on his water. "That's a long story," he said quickly. "But we're committed. All of us."
Anna tilted her head slightly. "And you all take part in raising Riley?"
"She has a room, a schedule, a balanced diet, and help with emotional regulation," Shirou added. "Ralts helps with the last one."
"Ralts is my best friend!" Riley added cheerfully.
Anna looked at them all again. The three men. The girl. The not-quite-human creature glowing with calm psychic joy.
Then she smiled again, kept eating while asking more questions.
.
From the living room window, Satoshi could just barely make out Riley's small figure seated on the edge of the backyard bench, Anna Grove beside her. Ralts hovered nearby like a green-and-white guardian, glowing faintly in the sunlight. Riley's feet swung above the ground, her body language small but not curled in. She was talking. Slowly. Carefully. Anna listened with practiced patience.
Satoshi couldn't hear a thing, which, of course, meant he was pacing again.
"She's going to ask about our story next," he muttered, tablet in hand as he scrolled through their Company-assigned identities. "We managed to skip it before but we need to make sure everything lines up."
Shirou sat on the couch, arms folded, one ankle resting on his opposite knee, completely at ease. "I thought we had a paper trail already. We know it, too."
"There's enough of a trail to seem real, yes. But… it's vague. And suspicious if she digs too deep."
Ashwatthama leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Meaning?"
"Meaning," Satoshi said, "that while you're listed as having arrived in Nebraska a few months ago on a work visa—Security work—there's no history of how we met. Only that you started showing up in proximity to us shortly after."
"And me?" Shirou asked, now getting serious.
"You're listed as my husband, we knew that. We also know we met in England. Married two years ago. That part's solid—there are even pictures. I think the Company faked a trip to Cornwall. Romantic beach wedding or something."
Shirou hummed. "We met in England, but there's nothing specific about it, I guess?"
"Right." Satoshi pointed at him. "I mean, we're both Japanese descent wiith similar backgrounds. Maybe we clicked instantly. Real 'meant to be' energy."
Shirou nodded once. "Sure. I can work with that."
Then Satoshi turned to Ashwatthama and sighed. "And because your record is barely two months old and we got married, like, immediately, we're going with... love at first sight."
"You're kidding," Ashwatthama deadpanned.
Satoshi winced. "Sorry. It was the best I could come up with."
There was a beat of silence. Then Ashwatthama raised a brow. "Who fell in love first?"
Satoshi's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. "I—uh—well, maybe—"
Shirou didn't even look up. "We both did. Clearly. Because you don't look like the romantic type at all, capable of wooing us."
Ashwatthama grunted, but didn't dispute it.
Satoshi turned red. "I just didn't expect to have to improvise multiple fake marriages backgrounds in an hour, okay?!"
"Relax," Shirou said dryly. "We'll sell it."
"Speak for yourself," Ashwatthama muttered, though not quite as harsh as before.
The three of them looked out the window again as Anna leaned in closer when Riley spoke, listening intently. Ralts was now braiding a small flower crown with its tiny hands.
"Do you think she'll pass us?" Satoshi asked softly.
"She smiled," Shirou said. "That's rare for someone in her job."
Ashwatthama shrugged. "Riley didn't run."
Satoshi took a breath. "…Okay. Let's prepare for the follow-up questions just in case. Like what we do for fun or hobbies."
"Is stress-cooking a hobby?" Shirou offered.
"Apparently." Satoshi sighed as he plopped onto the edge of the coffee table, rubbing his temples. "Okay. We've got the marriages. Barely. Let's ignore the hobbies and talk about the domestic stuff first—like how we divide chores and what our daily life actually looks like."
Shirou leaned back slightly. "I cooked breakfast once when you oversleep."
"You made toast," Satoshi muttered.
"It was golden."
Ashwatthama grunted. "I vacuumed yesterday."
"You threatened the vacuum into submission," Shirou said flatly.
"It didn't argue."
Satoshi coughed into his hand to hide a laugh. "Okay, okay, this is good. Light teasing makes it sound like we're familiar. That we have routines. Real couples bicker."
"We're not a couple," Ashwatthama muttered.
"You're married to me," Satoshi reminded. "So unless you want to fail this surprise marriage exam…"
Ashwatthama gave him a long, smoldering look that probably scared actual demons.
"…So, chores," Satoshi continued quickly. "I do the bulk of the cooking. Shirou helps with groceries and organizing our accounts. Ash, maybe you do things like repairs, physical maintenance, heavy lifting?"
Ashwatthama rolled a shoulder. "I fixed the fence gate."
"And the pantry shelf," Shirou added. "That counts."
"Perfect," Satoshi said, typing quick notes into his tablet. "Now—let's go back. What do we do for fun?"
Silence.
They all stared at each other.
"…Sleep," Ashwatthama said finally.
"Train," Shirou said, shrugging.
"Cook," Satoshi added, then paused. "We sound so boring."
He stopped when Ralts floated lazily by the kitchen door, swaying to some psychic tune in her head, while muffled giggles from Riley filtered in from outside.
Satoshi exhaled slowly. "Okay. So. Two husbands—one long-term, one new. Riley's settled. House is clean. Chores are handled. We have hobbies. Ish."
"We're stable," Shirou said.
"Mostly sane," Satoshi added.
"Legally married," Ashwatthama deadpanned.
"…Yeah, let's hope Anna doesn't look too hard at the how of that," Satoshi muttered.
But still, as they sat there—three misfits trying to stitch themselves into a believable unit—there was something comforting in the rhythm of it. Something real. As if they were starting to believe it too.
Even if it had started as a lie.
Satoshi sat up straighter as an idea occurred to him. He stared at the front door like it was a bomb waiting to go off. "Do you think she'll ask about our… intimacy?"
There was a long pause. Then Shirou, without missing a beat, said dryly, "Don't think so. Though if she does, you're clearly the bottom."
Satoshi choked. "What—Why?!"
Shirou shrugged, perfectly calm. "You give the vibe."
From his spot against the wall, Ashwatthama smirked—just a little. "You really do."
Satoshi whipped around to glare at them both. "I'm not short!"
"No one said you were," Shirou said, expression blank.
"I'm 1.80 cm! That's tall!"
Ashwatthama arched a brow and looked him over slowly, gaze deliberate. "You're lean. Soft. And you get flustered easily."
"That's not—!" Satoshi sputtered.
"And," Ashwatthama continued, clearly enjoying himself now, "you've got that nurturing thing. Always cooking, worrying, hovering—classic bottom energy."
Satoshi let out a high-pitched noise that could only be described as betrayed rage.
He took a couple breaths to calm himself.
"I just realized," he muttered after a beat, collapsing back on the couch and burying his face in his hands, "by not choosing my type in the Catalog, I set myself up to look like the bottom in this relationship."
Shirou's mouth twitched. Ashwatthama gave a low snort of amusement—almost a laugh.
"Which was your type, again?" Ashwatthama asked, arms folded but watching him with lazy interest.
Shirou beat him to the answer.
"Pretty," he said. "Feminine-looking. Satoshi likes delicate features and, I guess, people shorter than him."
"I do not," Satoshi mumbled into his hands.
"Sure you do," Shirou said.
Ashwatthama looked at Shirou. Then at himself. Then down at Satoshi—still red-faced and flustered. He snorted again. Louder this time. "So instead of your dream wife, you got two tired war dogs with bad tempers and worse coping skills, both taller than you."
Satoshi moaned. "Why are you both like this?"
Shirou just sipped his tea with smug satisfaction.
Ashwatthama tilted his head. "You summoned us. Maybe we're your type and you just didn't know it yet."
Satoshi opened his mouth. Closed it. Turned even redder.
"…We are not talking about this when the social worker is still on the premises," he hissed.
"Smart," Shirou muttered. "She might ask who's the big spoon next."
"Don't say that!!"
The door creaked open and Satoshi froze mid-glare—still crimson-faced and halfway into pretending he was not being bullied by his two hulking husbands.
Anna Grove stepped back inside, her expression unreadable as always, her clipboard now tucked under one arm. She paused only briefly to glance between Shirou, Ashwatthama, and Satoshi.
Shirou looked politely neutral.
Ashwatthama had definitely been smirking a second ago and now stood there looking like a serene, muscle-bound statue.
Satoshi, unfortunately, had the flushed cheeks of a man recently accused of being the household bottom and was definitely trying too hard to smile like a sane, competent adult.
"Everything alright?" Anna asked, voice smooth.
"Yes!" Satoshi said too quickly. "Just, uh, reviewing weekend plans."
"Mhmm."
She didn't buy it. Not even for a second, but she didn't push. Instead, she took a seat across from them, uncapped a pen with a soft click, and said, "Now that Riley's had some time to settle, I have a few follow-up questions."
Satoshi nodded, sitting upright, clasping his hands in his lap. Ashwatthama leaned against the wall. Shirou folded his arms, posture casual—but watchful.
Anna flipped a page. "Relationship dynamics. How do you manage disagreements?"
"Healthy communication," Satoshi said immediately.
Shirou added, "Also sarcasm."
Ashwatthama shrugged. "We're good at teasing each other."
Anna made a note. "And when did the three of you agree on adopting Riley?"
Satoshi hesitated, then offered, "It was a mutual decision. We all wanted to give her a better life."
"And how long have you all known each other?" she asked, nodding slowly.
Satoshi cleared his throat. "Shirou and I met in England. A little over three years ago."
"Married two years ago," Shirou added with crisp precision.
"And Mr. Ashwatthama?"
Satoshi glanced at him. "We met recently. It was… fast. But meaningful."
"Love at first sight," Shirou deadpanned.
Ashwatthama's expression didn't change, but Satoshi felt the glare.
Anna raised a brow. "Interesting. So polyamory is a shared value among you?"
Satoshi smiled—too wide. "We're all very open-minded."
Shirou: "It works for us."
Ashwatthama: "Apparently."
Anna jotted a few more notes, then looked up—eyes sharp now. "And your sleeping arrangements?"
Satoshi's breath caught. "Uh—"
Shirou stepped in smoothly. "Shared bed. Riley sometimes sleeps with us when she has nightmares. We're used to it."
Anna tapped her pen once against the paper. "Does this happen often?"
"Only when she has nightmares. She sleeps in her room the rest of the time. We're helping her feel secure first."
Anna's pen moved. "Do you foresee that interfering with your own relationship dynamic?"
Shirou answered smoothly. "No. Riley's needs come first."
Then she glanced directly at Satoshi. "And when it comes to intimacy between the three of you—is there a shared agreement? Boundaries?"
Satoshi coughed. "W-We're still working that out. It's new. We're committed to making sure Riley is comfortable first."
"No tension?"
"None worth mentioning," Shirou said, with Ashwatthama nodding.
"Do you engage in public displays of affection in front of Riley?"
Satoshi looked like he might pass out, but luckily Shirou was the one who answered with mild amusement, "We hold hands. Sometimes."
"Riley hasn't shown any discomfort with that?"
"No," Satoshi said quickly. "If anything, she seems to like seeing us close. It reassures her."
Anna nodded. Then her gaze softened slightly. "What kind of schooling are you planning for her?"
Satoshi smiled, this time more genuinely. "We were thinking homeschooling at first—at least until we settle in Brockton Bay and find a good local option. We don't want to throw her into anything too fast. But I've already been going over curriculum, and we'll get a licensed tutor involved if needed."
"She's bright," Shirou added. "Picks things up fast. We're balancing emotional development with routine."
Anna wrote that down with a small, satisfied sound.
"Plans for further support?"
"We're discussing therapy," Satoshi said. "Once she's comfortable enough for it."
Anna didn't bat an eye. "About the intimacy between you three, is the relationship balanced? No jealousy?"
Satoshi nearly bit his tongue. "I—uh—"
Shirou, as calm as ever, "We have a strong foundation of trust. And understanding."
Ashwatthama: "We don't fight over no one."
Anna's eyes flicked to each of them. "And do you think Riley will feel emotionally and physically safe under your current arrangement?"
"I—I do," Satoshi said honestly. "I really do."
Anna stared for a long moment. Then she smiled—small, but genuine.
"Good," she said. "Because Riley says she's never felt safer."
She packed up her folder, nodding as she stood. "We'll need a home visit follow-up next month, but for now—things are looking very positive."
Everyone let out a small sigh of relief as she started explaining them the next steps to take.
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Also, if you want to support me and read chapters ahead, go to my p@treon: JorieDS