Hiroto was vibrating.
Not wiggling, not bouncing—vibrating.
They hadn't even left the apartment yet. His tiny suitcase with dinosaur stickers sat by the door, his little sneakers were already on the wrong feet, and he kept hopping in circles around Kai and Ren like a hyperactive sunbeam.
"Are we going to Merica now? Now? Now now?"He tugged on Ren's pant leg with every "now."
Ren crouched down, smoothing Hiroto's hair, trying to fix the cowlick that always popped up when he was excited."Soon, baby. We need to finish packing."
"We packed yesterday!" Hiro insisted, puffing his chest like a tiny superhero.
"Yes, but someone also unpacked everything yesterday to 'check if it was still there,'" Ren teased.
Hiro gasped dramatically."I was checking for monsters!"
Kai walked past them with two suitcases in each hand, the picture of calm dad energy."There are no monsters in your socks, Hiro. I promise."
Hiro narrowed his eyes in suspicion."How do you know?"
"Because only you could survive in that drawer," Kai said with a straight face.
Ren snorted, clapping a hand over his mouth to hide it."Kai!"
Kai smirked. "What? He puts wet Play-Doh with clean socks."
Hiro crossed his arms."That was one time."
Ren kissed the top of his head. "Come on, little tornado. Let's go."
THE AIRPORT
The second they entered the terminal, Hiro's eyes widened like he'd stepped into a magical universe.
"THIS IS BIGGER THAN OUR HOUSE!"
Ren laughed. "A lot of things are bigger than our house, sweetheart."
"Look!" Hiro pointed at a man holding a giant coffee. "He has the biggest cup ever!"
Kai whispered, deadpan, "That's what adulthood does to you."
Ren elbowed him. "Don't teach him that."
They got through security with surprising ease—only three times did Hiro set off alarms, once for taking off his shoes too early, once for trying to go through the scanner backwards, and once because he declared loudly,"I HAVE A TOY CAR IN MY POCKET DON'T ARREST ME!"
Ren nearly died.
Kai definitely didn't help by laughing.
On the plane, Hiro sat between them, bouncing so hard the tray table rattled.
"Are we flying? Like birds? Are we faster than birds? Can I see my house from the sky? Are clouds fluffy? Can I eat a cloud? If I eat a cloud will I be fluffy?"
Ren leaned over to Kai, whispering,"Is this payback for all the times I talked too much?"
"You talk too much now," Kai murmured, kissing his cheek.
Hiro gasped, pointing dramatically at them."Daddy Ren! Daddy Kai! No kissing when we HUMONGOUS FLYING."
Ren blinked. "When we what?"
"HUMONGOUS. FLYING."
Kai nodded solemnly. "He's right. We must respect the humongous flying."
Ren dropped his face into his hands. "This is my life now."
LANDING IN AMERICA
The moment they stepped outside, Hiro froze, mouth open.
"Everything is so giant! Why are the cars so big? Why is the road so wide? Why is the sky so tall? Daddy Kai, the sky is bigger here!"
Ren lifted him up, laughing."The sky is the same everywhere, baby."
Hiro patted Ren's cheeks seriously."No. This sky is HUGE."
They checked into a cozy hotel with soft white bedding, warm lights, and a view of a little American city—nothing too busy, nothing too loud. Perfect for their first family trip.
Hiro ran onto the bed and immediately face-planted into the pillows."This is the softest thing in the UNIVERSE."
Kai sat beside him. "Softer than Daddy Ren?"
Hiro turned, scandalized."Rude. Daddy Ren is squishy. This bed is CLOUDY."
Ren threw a pillow at Kai. "Stop teaching him new insults."
But he was smiling.
THEIR FIRST DAY OUT
They took Hiro to a huge park with a fountain, wide lawns, and ice cream stands everywhere.
The three of them walked hand-in-hand: Hiro swinging between them, little legs kicking in the air, laughter echoing.
Ren bought him a strawberry soft-serve.Hiro took one bite, eyes widening like he'd seen heaven."THIS IS WHAT ANGELS EAT."
Kai raised a brow. "What do devils eat?"
Hiro pointed at Ren."Whatever Daddy Ren cooks."
Ren gasped. "Hiro!"
Kai burst out laughing. "He's not wrong."
They fed ducks, chased bubbles, took photos, and let Hiro ride a small carousel. Kai held him around the waist while Ren took pictures, smiling so hard his cheeks hurt.
And Hiro… Hiro laughed like the world was perfect.
EVENING — THE HOTEL ROOM
They returned with tired legs, sticky fingers, and the warm glow of a perfect family day.
Ren helped Hiro take a bath, carefully washing his hair while Hiro splashed enough water to flood the bathroom.
Kai folded their clothes, watching the chaos with that quiet, fond smile that only Ren ever got to see.
Once Hiro was in pajamas, they settled on the bed to watch cartoons. Hiro snuggled between them, blanket tucked under his chin, eyelids drooping.
Then suddenly, without warning, he sat straight up.
Everyone jumped.
Hiro looked at them with the seriousness of a detective solving a major crime."I have a question."
Ren stroked his back. "What is it, sweetheart?"
Hiro stared at them."Who's my mommy?"
Kai and Ren froze.
Absolutely froze.
Ren choked on his own air. Kai had to look away to keep from laughing.
Then Hiro blinked at them, confused."Why are there two boys and no mommy? Everyone at school has a mommy."
Ren gently pulled Hiro onto his lap."Families can look different, baby. Some kids have one parent, some have two, some have grandparents, some have two dads. You have us."
Hiro squinted."So… no mommy?"
"No mommy," Kai said softly. "Just us. And we love you very much."
Hiro thought for a long moment. Then he nodded with total seriousness."Okay."
Ren exhaled.
Then Hiro added, "But if I don't have a mommy… then who tells you 'no' when you do silly things?"
Ren pointed immediately at Kai."Daddy Kai."
Kai shot him a glare. "Really?"
Hiro nodded like this made perfect sense."Yeah. Daddy Kai looks like he says no. Daddy Ren looks like he does silly things."
Ren put a hand over his heart, offended."I am responsible! I am mature!"
Kai kissed the top of his head."You put bubble bath in the dishwasher last week."
"That was ONE TIME."
Hiro giggled, sliding down under the blanket between them."I like my family."
Kai wrapped an arm around both of them. "We like you too, Hiro."
The lights dimmed. The city outside hummed.
Hiro yawned, tiny and warm."This is the best Merica ever."
Ren kissed his forehead. "It's just America, baby."
Hiro shook his head sleepily."No. It's Merica… because it has my daddies."
And he drifted off, curled between them like he belonged there all along.
Kai brushed Ren's hand gently."You're squishy," he whispered.
Ren shoved him lightly."You're impossible."
Kai smiled, soft and full of love."And yet…"
Ren rested his head on Kai's shoulder."…I like you anyway."