To Be A Hero Special Issue 2: Adventures in Parenthood

Chapter 4: Family Is Everything

(Opening Theme: Kobato Opening 1-Magic Number Performed By Maaya Sakamoto)

The sound of the ships horn stirred Shota as he couldn't help but let out a groan. Momentarily he seemed to have forgotten where he was until he felt the world basically rocking. He managed to sit himself up as he let out a yawn.

"What time is it...?" He groaned before---

"SHOTA-NIICHAN!!"

He soon found himself being tackled by Little Reina as he fell back on the bed--A familiar object fell from the dresser. "Ow---" Shota said.

"Shota-niichan its morning now!" Reina said, "Wake up now!"

"---I'm pretty awake since you hit me like that." Shota said.

Reina jumped on the bed slightly, "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!"

Shimizu soon came into the room as she couldn't help but laugh a little. "So this is where you went off to Little Alice." Shimizu said before she picked her up, "Sorry about that Sho-chan, she really wanted you to join us for breakfast."

"She has a funny way of waking people up." Shota said.

"Well---There's still time before they open up the restaurant---" Shimizu said, "---So we can go to the baths they have on the ship."

"Aww, but I'm hungry now." Little Reina said.

"I know, but we didn't have a chance for a good bath last night since we got in so late." Shimizu said.

"... Do I have to participate?" Shota asked.

"Well this room didn't exactly come with a private shower, so you'll have to." Shimizu argued.

Shota groaned as he said, "I should have stayed in bed.."

BAM--Went the door suddenly, revealing that Malcom had been the one to kick down the door. He had been wearing nothing but a kimono the ferry had provided.

"Sorry I'm late!"

"...Yep, I knew waking up was a bad idea." Shota said.

"Come on you!" Malcom said as he dragged him out of bed making Shota scream out of surprise when he fell on the floor, "A good bath will wake you up!"

"WILL YOU STOP?! YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRAG ME!" Shota yelled.

Malcolm replied with a smile, "No way! You're gonna enjoy this vacation standing up with us!"

"You say that and you're dragging me across the floor!" Shota said.

Reina only laughed, "Shota-niichan and Malcom-niichan are funny!"

"They are." Shimizu said, "Now lets get washed up before breakfast."

"Okay!" Reina said as she hopped out of Shimizu's arms, "I'm gonna go get Katsura-neechan!"

"Don't run, you'll trip!" Shimizu called out as Reina ran out of the room. She couldn't help but shake her head as she smile, "I don't know where she gets that from." It hadn't been long before she noticed a ring box on the floor. She picked it up before she opened.

"Is this a---?"

***

-Men's Public Bath-

Shota didn't understand why the people he knew were always so pushy. He thought he could enjoy some time to himself without a care in the world. Yet---Here he was sitting inbetween Hizashi, Malcolm and even Oda.