“I can’t believe you guys…” Oki mumbled. He walked faster than normal. He was already late, but that wasn’t the reason why he was walking so fast. Two extremely attractive, and tall twins each walked by his side as if he were some kind of lackey for them. Vernon pouted a bit, before walking to catch up to him, “Come on, Oki, you can’t be that mad!” He mumbled as he wrapped his arm around him. 

Oki clenched his jaw slightly, glancing over at Vernon, “Is that why you were gone for most of the night? You were stealing uniforms?” he brought his voice down to a whisper, making Vernon look away. He smirked a bit at the accusation, “Come on, Oki…We’re your guardians. The least we could do is follow you to school!” Vanille piped in. She stood to the left of him, also wrapping her arm around his shoulder. Oki let out a small grunt and shook them off. 

He stopped in his tracks, turning to the both of them. He may have been shorter than them, but despite the size, the twins were weary of Oki just a little bit. He had a certain aura around him where they knew he meant business. “Listen here..” He stepped to them, making them back up. “We are going to this restaurant. You two are going to behave, cause no trouble, and then we’re going to school. If people ask who you are, you’re my half-siblings.” He said pointing at them. 

Even when they looked nothing alike. Vanille and Vernon had beautiful sharp features, pitch-black curly hair, and red eyes. Their skin was much darker and warmer than his own. Oki knew he didn’t look like them at all, but his father was infamous in this city. Who knows? Maybe he did have a few half-siblings around here somewhere. 

Vernon and Vanille looked at each other as he finished talking. Instead of being angry or annoyed at his bossy attitude, Oki saw that Vernon’s face cracked into a…very stupid smile. “We can be your siblings…?” Vanille walked closer to Oki, seemingly happy at the plan, “We can do that! But…We look so different. You’re like really pale.” As the words fell from her lips, Vernon nodded in agreement. “True, very pale. Nice skin though?”

Oki took that as a yes. Their blabbering was going to make him hit them. Hopefully, they would do as he asked. He said nothing as he turned to walk away.  

“Hey, wait for us big bro!” Vanille called out. Vernon laughed as they both caught up to him. 

When they reached the restaurant, Oki checked his cell. He sighed a bit, “I guess it’s not so bad. I have enough time to grab lunch.” He said. The twins stared at the restaurant in wonder. They had seen Oki walk in and out of this place for a whole month, but they never had the thought of actually going inside. Oki entered the restaurant, holding the door open for both Vernon and Vanille. When the twins entered, they looked around like they were two children in an amusement park. 

Oki walked to the front of the desk, a confused Ain stood at the front. Ain looked over at the two mysterious people who walked in with his resident loner. They wore the same school uniform as Oki did, perhaps they were classmates? Ain was a little afraid that he was being followed. But when the two students sat down at the bar, smiling brightly at him, he couldn’t help but awkwardly smile back. He gave them a little wave, glancing over at Oki. “Uh, Oki? Who are…they?” He asked, finally looking Oki in his eyes.

The boy always looked tired to him, but today he looked especially exhausted. “...You’ll never guess,” Oki mumbled as he sat next to them. “Are we too late for breakfast, Ain?” 

Ain gave him a playful smile. “Ooh, sorry! You just missed it.” he said. He noticed that the twins seemed to visibly deflate at that. They had really wanted breakfast. “But Kyoko can whip up something for you and your…friends?” He shrugged a bit, before sticking his head into the kitchen. He loudly called Oki’s regular, plus two more. When there was another unintelligible yell back, Ain walked back to the three teens. Vanille and Vernon had been playing with sugar packets, and the straws, while Oki looked ahead at Ain. “So! Introduce me to your new buddies, Oki.” 

“They’re not my buddies…They’re my–” Vanille snapped her head up, smiling at the owner, “Actually sir, We’re Oki’s brother and sister! I’m Vanille, and this is Vernon.” She gestured to her male counterpart, who only gave a wide smile in return. 

Ain’s eyes widened, pure shock taking over him. He stood up straight, beginning to take a good look at the three. “...Huh.” Oki looked away, unable to face his boss. Were they such bad lairs that Ain could see right through them?

“...I think I can see it. You guys have the same eyes.” Ain said as he smiled at Oki. Oki wondered what that meant. He turned to Vanille, whose eyes had changed into the same shade of grey as Oki’s, even the shape had changed into his sharp gaze. He glanced at Vernon, realizing he had done the same. Oki narrowed his eyes at the twins. Out of all the features to change, they chose one of his own most hated. There was one question that seemed to leave his mind in the chaos of learning of the twin’s existence. 

What exactly were they? Shapeshifters? From what he could remember last night, Vernon and Vanille blended in perfectly in the shadows, they left no trace, and if allowed, black smoke followed them wherever they went. He didn’t know what to make of them either. If their personalities and general demeanor were to be believed, they seemed to be harmless. Well, there was nothing Oki could do unless they proved otherwise.

Vanille and Vernon grinned widely. Vanille leaned into Oki, and nodded, “Yeah! We actually met yesterday, and we’re gonna be staying with him for a while.” She said. 

Ain seemed to understand completely. If their father was also Oki’s, perhaps he could understand their need to be with their newfound brother. “Okay…Looks like I’m making food for three from now on!” He said as he stood up straight. Oki let out a small sigh, “..Ain, can I please have a cup of coffee?” He asked as he rubbed his head. Ain nodded, turning to the twins, “You guys want anything?” 

“What he’s having, sir!” Vernon said quickly, eager to follow in his ‘big brothers’ footsteps. “Saaaame~” Vanille sang out. Ain quirked a smile at the two. “Wow…You guys are super chipper!” It was a nice change of pace, but he worried a bit about how well Oki was going to be dealing with the two. They may have been taller, but they seemed much younger than him. Well…if anyone needed a change of pace it was Oki. Ain reached the coffee pot, and grabbed a mug. 

The door to the kitchen swung open, revealing a tall, muscular man. He held three plates in his hands, he set them quickly in front of them, “Careful, they’re hot.” 

Oki knew him as Kyoko, but Ain knew him as his husband. Ain smirked a bit as he poured all three of them coffee, “Kyoko~ Thanks for the last-minute breakfast.” He said. Kyoko gave Ain a soft smile, leaning down to kiss the shorter man's cheek. He looked at Oki and welcomed him in with a handshake, “Oki. Good morning.” He said. Oki shook his hand back. They were always pretty cordial with each other, though he knew it was because Kyoko was a little afraid of Oki. Not because Oki was stronger, he honestly wasn’t. It was because of his face.

Ain wrapped his arm around Kyoko and pointed to the twins, “You ever think in your life you’d meet Oki’s siblings?” He asked as Vanille blew on the steam from her mug. 

Kyoko seemed just as shocked as Ain when he heard that. “Hm. No.” He said, as he took a good look at them. They seemed much more…expressive and normal than Oki. He rubbed Ain’s hair, “I’m going back to the kitchen. You guys better hurry, you’ll be late for school.” He pointed to the clock. Ain looked over, and hissed, “Shoot. Let me get your guys’ lunch for you.” He said as he followed Kyoko. 

Oki closed his eyes as he drank the coffee, the bitter black liquid burned his throat just the way he liked. He heard an unpleasant spitting sound, and he could feel his eyebrow quirk slightly. He opened his eyes and looked at Vernon, who had spat out the bitter coffee. Vanille looked away from her twin, rolling her eyes. Oki’s gaze seemed to land on Vernon, who was busy trying to get the taste of coffee out of his mouth. 

….

Vernon realized much too late that his sister was staring at him funny, and Oki had been watching him too. “...Can I get another drink?” He asked sheepishly. 

“Ugh…” Vanille mumbled, now focusing on the food and her coffee. Oki let out a heavy sigh…When Ain came back with three lunch bags, he asked for chocolate milk for Vernon instead. 

Vanille made fun of Vernon the entire walk to school.