After the entire spectacle Hyouka had just proudly delivered, Foca, Luca, and Tuesday were glowing with pride.
Honestly, them being at the restaurant had only partly been about keeping an eye on Hyouka—hovering nearby, ready to intervene if things went south.
Which, clearly, had been unnecessary.
Hyouka handled Maxim like a seasoned professional with a petty streak and a God-given sense of timing.
The real reason they were there was because they were also meeting someone.
And that someone had just arrived—beaming.
"Little bread!" Pearl squealed the moment she spotted him. "I've missed you!" She wrapped Foca in a bone-crushing hug, squeezing like she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.
"I've missed you too, sis," Foca murmured, returning the hug just as tightly.
"You have no idea how excited she was when you invited her to dinner," a familiar man behind Pearl said with a soft, knowing smile.
"Babe!" Pearl whined, spinning around to swat him playfully. "Stop ratting me out!"
"Cole," Foca said, smiling as he stepped forward—and to everyone's mild shock—pulled him into a hug first.
Pearl's eyebrows shot up. So did Cole's.
Foca rarely initiated skinship. Ever.
"I've been well, little bread," Cole said warmly, hugging his brother-in-law back. "Really good."
"Tuesday—gurl! You look beautiful!" Pearl exclaimed, leaning in for dramatic air kisses.
"And you look mighty fine yourself," Tuesday replied, eyes dragging appreciatively over Pearl's pearl-colored dress. Simple. Elegant. Quietly lethal.
"Give me a twirl," Tuesday demanded.
Pearl didn't hesitate. She spun happily, fabric catching the light, confidence doing most of the work.
"Period." Tuesday clicked her acrylics, face twisted into a stank expression that said approved, certified, no notes. "That's slaydge."
Somewhere nearby, Luca nodded solemnly, like he'd just witnessed something culturally significant.
And just like that, the chaos faded into warmth—laughter, love, and the kind of reunion that felt earned.
****
Pearl then turned her attention to Luca.
"Luca, how are you?" she asked, pulling him into a hug without hesitation.
"As well as I can ever be, sis," he replied, returning it easily.
She lingered a little longer than necessary, lowering her voice so only they could hear.
"How's Ha—beep—doing?" Pearl whispered, concern threading through her tone. "He feels a little… off today."
"A lot's happened," Luca murmured back reassuringly. "But don't worry. He's getting better."
The hug may have gone on a touch too long, because Foca cleared his throat pointedly.
"Sis," he said with amusement, "your husband is standing right here. One more second of hugging Luca and he's gonna start getting jealous."
Cole just laughed. He trusted his wife completely—this was all part of the usual chaos.
That did it. Pearl and Luca finally pulled apart.
"Me?" Pearl scoffed playfully. "I guess I just missed this motherfucker."
"Awww," Luca gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Thanks, old hag."
"No problem, shithead," Pearl shot back with a smile.
"Boomer," Luca countered sweetly.
"Asshole."
"Bitch!"
"Slut!"
Luca froze, eyes wide in exaggerated horror. "Hey! That's below the belt," he protested. "I haven't slept with anybody for two years now. I've been a very good boy, thank you very much!"
"Bullshit," Pearl said flatly, not buying a single word.
"You gotta concede this one, sis," Foca chimed in with a soft laugh. "Luca's actually been celibate for a couple years now."
The table collectively felt that revelation land.
This time, Pearl gasped in horror.
"Did your dick shrivel up or something?!"
"Okay—nope. That's where we're stopping," Luca said immediately. "I'm not about to discuss my dick with my best friend's sister."
"C'mon now, babe," Cole said gently, already stepping in as he tugged Pearl away from Luca. "Let the man live."
"Wait—no, I need to know!" Pearl protested, clinging to Luca's arm like a raccoon with gossip.
Then, in a split second, her grip softened.
She gave Luca's arm a gentle squeeze and met his eyes with something quieter. Grateful.
"Thanks for taking care of Ha—beep," she mouthed discreetly.
Luca smiled back, soft and sincere.
Neither of them noticed it.
But Foca did.
As Cole successfully herded his wife away, Foca gestured for everyone to take their seats.
While they settled in, he leaned closer to Luca and whispered quietly,
"What were you talking about with my sister?"
There was no accusation in his voice. Just curiosity.
"Nothing much," Luca admitted. "She's just worried about you. She noticed you've been a little off today." He paused, then added, almost proudly, "I told her I'm taking care of you. That you're getting better."
"Thanks, Luca…" Foca said softly.
The words hit Luca square in the chest.
His heart immediately went feral—beating too fast, too loud, spiraling into dangerous territory. The closeness didn't help. Their faces were way too near.
For one terrifying second, Luca was convinced he might actually kiss him.
And that would ruin everything.
So he pulled away abruptly.
"N-no problem," Luca muttered, clearing his throat as he loosened his tie.
Foca smiled—soft, guilty, knowing exactly what Luca was fighting.
Proud of him.
And ashamed of himself.
He'd teased Luca earlier, just to test the waters. And now, seeing how hard Luca was holding back, Foca felt the weight of it.
He made a silent promise:
Never tease Luca again—unless he was finally ready to face the consequences.
Unless he was ready to reciprocate. If that day would ever come.
Under the table, Foca pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message.
Luca's phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at it.
Foca:
I'm sorry for teasing you. Forgive me? 🥹
Luca huffed a quiet laugh, thumbs flying.
Luca:
Ur forgiven. But don't do that again unless u want me losing my shit and end up kissing you 😤
Foca smiled at the screen.
He was forgiven.
But more than that—he finally understood something he should've realized when he received Luca's confession, earlier that day.
Luca's feelings weren't something to test.
Or poke.
Or take for granted.
They were genuine and something to be cherished.
And respected.
As they should be.