Hello, hello. Thanks for clicking.

To clear up a few things before we start, be aware that I try to arrange names like the Japanese. That means instead of FirstLast, it's LastFirst.

This makes Average Joe into Joe Average.

Also, in Japan, you only call those close to you by their first name. Most other people, even friends, are referred to by their family name.

Sorry for the delay. On with the show.

"I'm home!"

Naegi Makoto closed the door to his home behind him, set his briefcase at his side on the floor and took off his shoes. As he shed his suit jacket and stored it in the closet by the door, he could smell an appetizing aroma, even from where he was at the front of the house.

In a few seconds, Ikusaba Mukuro was at the doorway to greet him with a smile on her face. It was clear that she had just been cooking, for she was wearing a half white, half black apron, and had a ladle in her hands.

"Welcome home, honey! Perfect timing! I just finished cooking!"

"Really?" Makoto was infected by Mukuro's smile. "Lucky me!"

Makoto put on his slippers and Mukuro lovingly embraced him. She grabbed an arm and pulled him to the kitchen, idly chatting.

"How was work?"

Makoto shrugged. "Same old. I wouldn't want to bore you."

"That answer is pretty boring, you know."

"You'd fall asleep if I told you about my day. It's lullaby material."

"Then, we'll save it for when we go to sleep."

The two reached the source of the delicious smell. Makoto guessed what it was, but he asked anyways.

"What's cooking?"

"Curry!" Mukuro proudly puffed her chest. "It's my specialty, you know! I bet I make the best curry in the neighborhood!"

Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Really? How come I didn't know about such amazing curry until now, after spending so much time with you?"

"Who knows?"

"Who knows, indeed."

"Why do you sound so doubtful in my abilities? I made this curry with sweat, tears and love!"

"And Glico," Makoto added.

"What?"

"The wrappings are still on the counter, dear."

Blushing, Mukuro rushed to the counter beside the oven and hastily collected empty packets of Glico instant curry paste. She promptly disposed of them.

"I-it's still technically homemade!"

"I never said it wasn't!" Makoto laughed.

After she tidied the area, Mukuro filled a plate with rice and curry.

"By the way," Makoto asked as he took a seat at the dining table, "What about the bath?"

Mukuro looked at him questioningly as she served Makoto the curry. "What do you mean?"

"Well, usually, in this situation, wouldn't you get the bath ready before I get home?"

"And cook at the same time?" Mukuro got herself a dish of curry.

Makoto chewed on the question, along with a spoonful of his meal. "Yeah, I guess."

"So would you eat and bathe at the same time when you got home? That doesn't make sense."

"No no no, you don't understand," Makoto said, with more passion than necessary. "When I get home, you'd greet me, and say, 'Would you like to eat first? Or maybe you'd like to take a bath? Or perhaps you'd like m-'"

"Stop right there!" Mukuro covered her body with her hands, as though she had just been violated. Her face was red. "Pervert! You watch too much anime!"

Makoto burst out into laughter, clearly amused. Mukuro turned away, still blushing.

Calming down, the two ate their meals. The curry wasn't bad, not in any sense of the word. Makoto smiled, and savored not just the taste of the meal, but the whole atmosphere of the current moment. He was pretty sure he'd be fine if the world suddenly ended. Life couldn't get better than this.

"It's like a dream…" Makoto muttered.

Mukuro looked up from her plate. "What?"

"This whole thing. It's unreal." Makoto smiled widely. "I wouldn't even be able to imagine you acting like this back in high school."

"Y-yeah…" Embarrassed, Mukuro turned a familiar shade of red once again. "It's all thanks to you."

"I didn't do anything."

Mukuro looked up at Makoto, and stared intensely into his eyes. "No. You did more than anybody else could have. You changed my life, Makoto. You don't know how grateful I am for that."

It was Makoto's turn to go red. "I'm as grateful to you as you are to me, Mukuro."

"No way. I'm a hundred times more grateful than you are." Mukuro's tone became lighter.

Makoto grinned. "What? No matter how you look at it, it's the other way around."

"What happened to being as grateful as I am?!"

They both laughed lightheartedly, and finished up their meals. Makoto wiped the table clean, and Mukuro began washing the dishes. There wasn't much to clean, as it was just the two of them that ate.

As they were finishing up, cries began coming from the bedroom.

"Ah, he woke up."

"Yeah."

Mukuro put away the last of the dishes, and took off her apron.

"I'll take care of the baby. You can take your bath."

"Yeah, thanks."

Makoto headed to the bathroom, while Mukuro rushed to take care of the baby.

Wait, what? Baby?

Frowning, Makoto undressed and filled the tub.

Since when did Makoto have a baby?

As Makoto got into the bath, he got even more confused.

Surely, he'd remember if he had a baby, right?

Makoto thought back. He had come home from his job, and…

Wait just a second. Job? Makoto didn't have a job. He was still in high school.

Makoto began to feel less and less aware of where he was. Maybe he could ask Mukuro…

No, Mukuro too. Why was he greeted by Mukuro? Where was everybody else? He wasn't familiar enough with Mukuro to be on a first name basis. Why was she here, in his house?

His house? Makoto didn't have his own house. He lived in a dorm. Besides, getting his own house while he was still in high school would be impossible.

Impossible.

Unreal.

Almost like a dream.

A dream.

It was all…

Makoto opened his eyes. He sluggishly sat up in his bed, disoriented. Sunlight shone through the window. Notebooks were still scattered on his study desk from all the studying he did late last night. A hamper full of fresh clothes, not yet folded, sat by his closet. Slowly, his mind woke up.

Yes, that's right, he's in his dorm. His own room in Hope's Peak Academy, which he aquired through sheer luck. Nothing out of the ordinary. Checking the clock on the nightstand to his right, he saw it was about half past seven. Class would start in thirty minutes.

Yawning, Makoto got out of bed, thinking of the dream he had. It was one of the most vivid he's had. And it's contents… How out of place. His subconscious couldn't have gotten Ikusaba more wrong. The Ikusaba he saw in his dream and the real one were complete opposites, like light and dark.

But it wasn't that bad.

Makoto shook his head. What was he thinking? What was his subconscious thinking? It was almost as if he…

Blushing, Makoto got dressed. He decided not to think too hard about it.

Mukuro showed no emotions on her face.

She got up, and changed into her day clothes.

She tried not to think of the dream she just had.

"…"

She just did, didn't she?

Mukuro showed no emotions on her face.

At least, not usually.

But as she recalled that dream, she slipped.

Her face turned a few shades redder.

Yes, that's right, it was all a dream. Shoot me. Please.

If you liked it, I'm glad. But how will I ever be glad if I don't know you liked it? Best thing to do, review.

If you didn't like it, well, I'm not quite glad. I probably could have done better. Probably shouldn't have even uploaded this. Review so I know my place. If not, I'll just think I'm a god among men.

Until next time.