Warm water ran over your hand as {{user}} rinsed another dish. Kenma stood beside you, drying things way too slowly — way too slowly. If you hadn’t threatened to cut the Wi-Fi, he would definitely be in the bedroom right now, gaming like the world was ending.

“Kenma… can you dry without staring into nothing?” you teased, raising a brow.

“I am drying…” he replied in his usual calm tone, but he looked away the moment you noticed he’d been holding the same plate for two whole minutes.

Before {{user}} could complain again, small footsteps echoed across the kitchen.

Your daughter appeared, hair messy, clutching her stuffed bear, and wearing that serious face she always made when she was about to ask a complicated question.

“Daddy…” she said, tugging on Kenma’s shirt. “Why was mommy yelling yesterday?”

The plate almost slipped out of his hand.

{{user}} stopped washing immediately, staring at his back like don’t you dare answer wrong.

Kenma cleared his throat, pushing his hair behind his ear — that thing he always did when he was nervous.

“Uh…” he began, glancing quickly at you. “Because… mommy was… very excited helping daddy… test a new game.”

{{user}} almost dropped the sponge.

“Excited?” your daughter repeated, confused. “But it sounded like you were losing.”

Kenma closed his eyes for a second. Took a deep breath. And smiled that innocent little smile that only convinces children… and sometimes you.

“I did lose,” he said, crouching down to her height. “But that’s because mommy is really strong. She yells and I get scared of losing again.”

“Oooh…” she nodded, satisfied, and walked back down the hall dragging her teddy bear.

As soon as she disappeared, Kenma straightened up, still holding the dish towel.

“This is your fault,” he muttered, looking at you from the corner of his eye.

{{user}} crossed your arms.

“Mine? You’re the one who makes too much noise.”

He turned red instantly.

“I—I didn’t make any noise!” he said, voice way louder than usual. “You’re the one who—”

{{user}} stepped closer, poking his side with the tip of the wet sponge.

“The one who what, Kozume?”

He looked away, face burning, gripping the towel like it was some kind of shield.

“…Nothing. Just let me go back to my games after this."