Chapter Text
The next day, Mikey took Shin home for the first time. His grandfather, Mansaku, lectured him about the hasty decision, and like the others, attempted to convince Mikey the pup would be better off living with someone else.
"Manjirou, be sensible about this..." The aging beta pinched the bridge of his nose. When Emma had finished her phone call (more like a disbelieving shouting match, in all honesty) earlier that day, she’d relayed the bizarre turn of events. He hadn't thought she was serious. Either that, or his granddaughter had suddenly developed the kind of sense of humor that a grandparent could only disapprove of. Now though, the sincerity of her shock seemed to ring true.
His surviving grandson stood in the doorway, posture stiff and adamant. His arms were full.
Emma popped up behind Mansaku’s shoulder, looming with eager curiosity, as they both took in the scene. Even his old ears could pick up on the impromptu squeal that Emma attempted to muffle behind her hands, and he ignored the zealous waves wafting from behind him, squaring his shoulders.
“You may think otherwise, Manjirou, but that pup is not yours.” Really, foundlings in this day and age? What was the world coming to? There were shelters for that.
Manjirou’s expression immediately morphed into one of defiance, foot stomping and cheeks puffing childishly.
“He is .” The boy emphasized. “Doesn’t matter where he came from. He’s mine now .”
The elderly beta took a deep, audible breath through his nose. Though Mansaku watched his Omegan pup’s foolish display with an impassivity sharpened only through decades of practice, the old man recognized beneath that surface immaturity, a familiar, stubborn fierceness in his grandson's eyes. He knew deep down that he was fighting a losing battle.
When Manjirou was six, they’d visited a hedgehog cafe, and the boy had begged and pleaded to take one of the prickly critters (affectionately christened ‘Bean,’ God rest his soul) home on a whim. But this wasn’t like that time. Now there was a living, breathing, human child involved (more than one, he aptly noted, eyes tracking over his grandson’s youthful visage). Mansaku had to strengthen his resolve, or the situation could end up just the same.
"Please, Gramps.” Those dark pools pleaded. “He needs me.” Manjirou maintained his imploring eye contact, and Mansaku’s moustache twitched, as his grandson continued to speak without waiting for a reply.
“Will you help?"
.
.
.
Mansaku could only sigh, staring into eyes so much like his own and feeling his will crumbling in real time, scattering away into a million tiny specks. He couldn’t really be considering this, now could he? Old age was softening him.
‘Idiotic grandson…’
.
.
.
But then again.
It wouldn't be the first time that the Sanos had taken in a stray.
"We still need to report a found child. We don't know anything about the circumstances of how he ended up where he did. We can't just assume, Manjirou." He began, reproaching the quickly souring look on his grandson's face. "If someone comes forward to claim him, you will need to let him go."
A growl reverberated low in Mikey's throat and Mansaku gave him an unimpressed look. "... but if no one does, well... you two seem to have bonded, and it would be unwise to separate a pup so young from his mother." These were the bleak histories which shaped tragedies, and it would do best for all involved to avoid such things. Despite his misgivings, he knew this well enough.
Spirits immediately revitalized by his grandfather’s tentatively supportive words, Mikey’s eyes sparkled. Mansaku knew if his grandson had a tail, it’d be wagging fiercely by now.
“Thank you, Gramps. I’m gonna take good care of him! Promise!” Clutching Shin-chan close in his swaddling cloth, Mikey’s eyes gained a soft look. “I won’t let anything happen to him.”
Mansaku sighed and shook his head, but chuckled nonetheless. “I know you won’t, Manjirou. You may get up to mischief, but I know you’re a good boy on the inside.”
Whilst this was potentially the highest direct praise he’d ever received from his grandfather, Mikey could only bring himself to care for the fact this approval meant he could keep his pup. And come hell or high water, he would .
They filed a report the following morning (begrudgingly, in Mikey's case) and fell restlessly into an uncomfortable waiting period. A social worker later met with them, agreeing that since the pup was so young (estimated to be somewhere around 3 months of age), and had already imprinted on Mikey, that for his health and comfort, it was best to keep them together for the time being.
The Sano family quickly adjusted to having a pup in their home. Emma took to auntie duties with fervor, stealing Shin-chan for herself whenever she could get away with it. Mikey was not a fan of this, but could do little to curb his sister's annoying behaviors (other than bicker with her about the unfairness of hogging HIS pup).
And so they settled, somewhat, into a routine.
The weeks flew by. Shin-chan seemed to grow more and more into a happy and relaxed baby, and Mikey grew more and more attached. He dreaded one day waking up to a call that his precious pup had been claimed (by some undeserving assholes, mind you). But as the seasons changed, and Shin-chan thrived, the call never came.
It’d gotten to a point where Mikey could hardly remember a time before Shin-chan was a part of their family, like an act of fate had placed the pup in his open arms.
Though the shift in their leader’s priorities had not been as readily accepted by the Toman pack as a whole, by now, most had come to terms with the fact that in spite of what they may feel, the baby wasn’t going anywhere. It was clear Shin was there to stay, and while Mikey couldn’t be happier, a darker part of him cursed the parents who had never come forward to collect their bundle of joy.
Ah, well. It was their loss in the end.