Surprise! Second to last chapter! Lmk what you think

"You going to finish that?" Yuta blinks profusely after zoning out for a bit. He looks at Panda, who stares hungrily at his drumstick sitting all by itself on the plate.

Yuta looks at it before shoving it to Panda's side. The curse doll drools before munching on it, leaving nothing but bone. Suki watches at the side of a table like a house pet, craving the food they had instead of the cat food they would give her if she could eat it. He burps and Yuta chuckles a bit, returning back to his thoughts.

It's only been a few days after Getou's defeat. He and Rika defeated him, with the help of Tamaki and his friends. Gojo ended up taking his old best friend's life and afterwards, sulked in it before returning to his happy self.

It was New Years eve and the faculty and students all gathered for a feast made with the help of Tamaki and Principal Yaga. Yuta sat in his dinner suit, marveling at the people around chatting or listening to the music across the big lobby.

Tamaki is his usual apron over his nice, dressed shirt and looks at Principal Yaga with a nervous smile as the older man as he violently slams the crust with a rolling pin.

"S-Sir..you're supposed to roll it."

"Who says that?"

It's in the name, sir." He mumbled, holding the tray of more crispy baked drumsticks with lemon garlic sprinkled on them. He gives it to one of Yaga's curse dolls, who served as the waiters for this evening. All of them occupied the kitchen, along with Tamaki and Yaga. The curse dolls worked on crushing fruit for Yaga's slab pie he was making. Others had cleaned while Tamaki looked over the main dishes.

"Does it taste all right, babe?" Tamaki asked, leaning over to the nearest bar as Maki ate and sat on her stool. She gulped down her pasta with a thumbs up.

"It's perfect, Tamaki. Just like always." She manages to smile with garlic laced in her lips. He smiles brightly and kisses her on the cheek,

"I'm glad. If you want more, just give me a holler." He winks at his girlfriend.

"And your dad? Is he coming over for dinner?"

He texted his father earlier and he said he would. Though he hasn't made his presence known.

"I hope so.." He breathed out with a pout. Everyone was eating the food and he feared there wouldn't be enough for his father.

"Hey.." She puts a hand over his. "It's okay if he doesn't come, alright? Plus, more for me!"

He laughed,

"Yeah, that's right. As long as my queen can eat plenty, that's all that really matters!"

She immediately blushed when he called her his queen. It was something she was not used to. She averts her eyes,

"S-Stop.." He laughs some more before resuming his cooking. Ijichi had an arm slung over him as Gojo spoke to him loudly, with a fruity drink in hand. Gojo was not one for hard-core beer so the tasty, lime margarita was enough for him. Shoko, meanwhile, drank a dour beer in one gulp before chowing down on the food again.

Tamaki looked out and his eyes widened.

"Dad!" He exclaimed happily to see him. His father was scratching the back of his head with a scowl as Gojo came up to tease him and his new beau.

"The newest and strangest couple ever, Haru Hatsumi and Mei Mei herself~!" He yelled it at the top of his lungs, enough for everyone to hear. People began to whisper amongst each other and Haru blushed for a second.

"Do you really gotta act like a child?" Haru deadpans as Mei Mei laughs.

"If you insist on teasing us, there's a fee for all of that~."

The couple put their hands out,

"Pay up."

"EHH? Whatever happened to free speech?!" He exclaimed. Tamaki dries his hands and discards his apron quickly. He runs up to his father and hugs him off guard. The father lets out a soft 'oh!' before hugging him back, with a smile.

"Happy new years eve, father."

"The same to you, Haru." He kisses the top of his head, pulling back to look at him. He sniffs at the aroma of a delish taste. "Mm, what's that smell?"

"It's some food I cooked up for today's dinner! You gottt to try it!" He happily says. Maki walks behind them. Haru looks at Maki.

"Hello, Maki. Hope you're finding yourself well." He greets. Maki smirks and wraps a hand over Tamaki's arm.

"I'm doing good." She says, looking at Tamaki. "Especially since your son has done a great job setting up the decorations and making us all that food. He had some help, of course."

"Woah..you did all of that for us?" Haru gasped out. Mei Mei leans in with a smile.

"My, your son truly is wonderful, Haru~" She cooed. Her arm does the same and snakes around his arm. Everyone was all well dressed, including Haru and Mei Mei who looked like a Hollywood couple in a lovely suit and fancy, black dress.

"I never got to introduce myself. My name's Mei Mei, your dad's girlfriend. Nice to finally meet you, Tamaki." She smiles and comes close, giving a kiss to him on the cheek.

He stammers in his own words,

"O-Oh, well it's nice to finally meet you too. I hope you make yourself comfortable here."

She giggles at his politeness. She pinches the side of her cheek with an amused stare,

"Hehe, you're too cute! Just like your father here." She grins, darting her eyes at the taller man next to her. "He acts cold and stoic on the outside but on the inside, he's such a cute softie!"

Now it's Haru's turn to blush.

"Mei Mei, why don't I show you to a table? Maki asked and Mei Mei nods. "Yes, I'd love that! Also show me where that wine cabinet is too!"

"Absolutely." Maki nods, taking the girl to the direction as the two guys watch them leave.

"A big softie, huh?" Tamaki smiles. "Who would've thought.."

"I'm sorry I kept her a secret for a while, Tamaki. I just thought-"

"That you wouldn't care about mom anymore?" He shakes his head. "I know you still do. To be honest, I'm happy you found someone! I think mother would have wanted that more than for you to gloat all to yourself."

His heart jumps at that,

"Thank you, son." The two wander far from the commotion, sitting on a lonely couch as they speak.

"To be frank, my relationship with Mei Mei was rocky to say the least. At first, I thought she only cared about money and what I possessed." He chuckles after that,

"I mean, she can still be a bit greedy but the more I got to know her, the more honest and kind I realize she was."

Haru recounted the memories of the first time they were paired up together for special missions up against even the strongest of special-grade curses.

He thought he would never pick up his swords again but the idea of his wife's killer lurking somewhere made his blood pump. He had to enlist and hoped it could have been him, all alone.

But he met Mei. He distanced himself from her, scowling at her if she ever got in the way or helped him in the slightest.

There was an unwanted distance that then came closer when they drank together that one fateful night. Wounds and hearts opened that night.

She looked at him. His piercing, blue eyes with so much sorrow and history stare back. He's beautiful, she thought to herself.

The pain, the cold, and oh so broken Haru Hatsumi was beautiful in her eyes.

And after every mission, every bond they had together,

Made her realize that, well, some things are just better than money.

To strangers. To drinking buddies. Friends to lovers.

That's the story how the two came to be.

"She's an amazing woman, Tamaki." He looks over at Mei Mei who looks back from a distance. She playfully swings the bottle of wine in her hands, waiting for Haru to join.

"For once, in a long time. I'm happy and I'm even more that I am able to still have you as my son..

I promise, tonight, that I will be a better person. A better father."

Tamaki's heart beats fast and tears want to come out but he looks away, with a heavy sigh.

"Dad, you've always been a good father." The two embrace hard and long before seeing their girls.

The night was so much more memorable after that. The adults nearly got drunk and danced while the students made their way to the floor too.

"Come on, just a little sip!" Yaga suggested, putting a droplet of beer towards Tamaki. He puts his hands in defense, saying he's okay without it. Maki took it without hesitation. Like the big girl she is, it didn't affect her so she took a bit more.

"Eh, still not feeling it." She mutters and Tamaki laughs, taking her arms and pulling her to the dance floor. The two danced like how they did back when they were stuck in his house. Toge and Panda join along with Yuta watching with reluctance.

"Come on, Yuta! Join in!" Tamaki grins, pulling his new friend into the fray. The shy boy broke out of his barrier, laughing and jumping out of joy with them

"It's almost midnight!!" Gojo screams, silencing everyone and turning off the music. "Everyone, come outside for the countdown!"

People rushed out into the back of the building. Fireworks all set up for the countdown.

Gojo and Yaga both run ahead, ready to say the numbers and blow the fireworks into the air.

Everyone was so excited. Yuta looked around and saw all loved ones and friends holding onto each other.

"Made your resolution, already?" Tamaki stood next to him. Yuta looks with a big smile,

"Yeah!" He says. "It's to always have moments like this..with you guys, all together."

"That's a good one!" He grins. "Mine is like that too! I also got one, but that's all about Maki!"

He blushes,

"Maybe you should tell her that."

He looks at Maki who spoke more to Toge and Panda.

"I think I will." He dismisses himself as he walks over to the three.

"My resolution is for everyone to know that pandas are the best animals ever! No cats, no dogs! Nothing else. Just pandas!"

"Spicy tuna!" Toge chimes and Maki looks shock,

"What? But that's my dream!" Maki says and Panda chuckles, "Hey, I want to be stronger too! Maybe all three can be instead of one."

"Count me in." Tamaki bumps into them with a greeting smile. "We can all become strong so we can protect each other from all harm. Isn't that right, Maki?"

"Yeah.." She breathed out. She gave into that idea and smiled.

"We're going to tell that to Yuta! Come on, Toge." Panda pulled Toge away from the pair as they looked at eachother.

"Tonight's been wonderful, huh?" He asked and she took a step forward.

"I agree." She responds. "You know that girlfriend of your father's is quite the gem. Her and I have lots in common...she even says she has potential in me being a higher rank."

"L-Like a first rank?" He asked, eyes widened. She nods happily with a chuckle.

"Yeah, can you believe that? If she believes it, then maybe there is some hope for me!"

"Of course there is!" The countdown goes off but they get caught up in their conversation. Everyone chants as they spoke,

"Maki, you're one of the strongest people I know. And I promise you, that one of my resolutions is for me to see you reach the highest rank you can get. But even if that doesn't happen, my thoughts of you having potential will never change."

He grabs her hands,

"You're the one who will change the world..and hopefully, maybe, I can be there to see it.."

She looks deeply into his eyes,

"Yeah, you will be there with me Tamaki. I plan that you and I will be together..for a long time." She confessed. "I'm flattered you think my resolution is to just be stronger, but that's not it. It's also for you and I to still hold this love for as much as we can..hopefully forever?"

"R-Really?" He's shaken up.

"I want that too. I love you so much, Maki" His heart swells with love and he leans closer, kissing her. The fireworks erupted as they kissed. They see the two kissing and few of the couples out here did the same. Mei Mei smirked before tucking a hair and pulling Haru to a kiss. He kisses her back, relishing this moment.

Ijichi closed his eyes and waited for the promised kiss Shoko was going to give him. He waited for a moment before a hand forcefully clasped over his mouth. He opens his eyes and sees Gojo between them.

He laughs playfully before kissing the top of his hand, grinning.

"Here you go, Ijichi! New year's kiss!"

"Y-You're so mean, Gojo!!"

"Hey Gojo!" The teacher looks out to see his five first-years waving him over. He runs to him and sees a camera in Tamaki's hands.

"Let's take a group photo to commemorate this moment!" The teacher smiles and whistles over for Haru to come over.

"Can you take a photo of me and my wonderful students?" He asked and Haru smiled.

"Yeah, sure thing." Everyone positions themselves, with Yuta centered in the photo.

"Alright! One..two..three!!

"To the first years!" Gojo shouts.

A photo taken on this wonderful night, Yuta thinks to himself.

He looked at it so many times, he lost count. They are family to him, a mantra he will never stop saying.

-

Ayo, spinoff for Haru and Mei Mei? Idk lol.

Anyways, final chapter will be coming out soon as well