Yes, I realised after I posted that you'd make the connection. Didn't realise it would upset you that much. If their grandparents were alive, it would be a bit corny, but they're not, so it's a nice gesture, a little bit sad but nice.

I'm really glad that you enjoyed this ficlet. I didn't want it to be soaked in angst, but I did want to emphasise the fact that they were both trying to recover from a huge loss. And it's nice to see Takehiko as a child, back when he was actually small and thin and a little frail. Gives you a sense of how far he's come, doesn't it?

My favourite bit is actually the interaction between Kondo and Helga. It came out of nowhere, but it was so much fun to write.