"I know what that's like," Devero says softly. "My parents never claimed me. They wouldn't even sign the info release that would let me know who they were. They didn't want anything to do with me."

As old as this wound is, it still hurts, and he has to look away for a moment. But then he looks back, from Buttercup to Koumyou and then back to Buttercup.

"I may have never had a dad," he says, "but I still know Koumyou's an excellent one." And then his expression goes a little sharp and a little teasing. "You wouldn't have fought me so hard over the illusion if that wasn't the case, hm?"