Chapter Text
Night shift had never been Choso’s favorite. It was an important duty, and one he took very seriously. People needed blood transfusions at all hours of the day, but the ones that happened at three o’clock in the morning needed to happen right then. It was an honor to be there for patients who were experiencing likely one of the worst days of their lives.
But he was still human. A very, very tired human.
The world didn’t stop spinning just because he was getting off work when most people were starting their days. He tried to push himself to see people in the mornings before going home, since the second he crossed the threshold of his and Yuki’s apartment, he was liable to pass out.
This wasn’t just anyone, though. This was his little brother. His family. Confirmation that no matter how lonely Choso felt growing up, now he didn't have to be alone anymore.
As a child, he never knew his mother, and "raised" isn't exactly the word he'd use to describe his father's impact. Not unless he meant it in the same way that a scar is a raised incision on the skin.
All families weren't perfect. They had their own problems and struggles, certainly. Choso had listened to more than his fair share of friends and patients lament about the challenges they were going through with their families. The siblings they were fighting with. The parents they didn't speak to anymore. The grandparents that didn't want to be put into a retirement home.
It isn't logical to be jealous of people's hardships, but it doesn't stop Choso from wanting to scold them for not understanding what a gift it is to even have a family to complain about.
He had spent so much of his life alone, but he didn't have to be by himself anymore. Now he was going to meet his little brother. Ever since he spoke to Yuuji the other day to arrange this, he'd been so excited. Over text, he seemed so gentle and kind and —
“YOU!”
There's a very large man standing in the doorway of the restaurant pointing directly at him. He's built like a upside down A-frame house and probably just as sturdy as one, with dark curly hair pulled into a ponytail on top of his head. The whole cafe turns to stare at the man, equally as confused about what he could possibly mean.
Choso swallows hard. The man seems to take Choso's apprehension as a sign that he's the person he's looking for. Hopefully, it was all just a big misunderstanding.
“Are you Tsukumo Choso?”
Apparently he was looking for him. And he knew Choso's full name. Did that mean …
“I am." Choso nods slowly. "Are you Yuuji?”
Based on his texts, Choso had been expecting his little brother to be slightly less … intense. But none of that mattered. Choso didn't care what his little brother was like, he would love him regardless and do everything in his power to be the best older brother possible.
“No, I’m Itadori Yuuji’s older brother.”
Choso blinks very hard.
“I thought that … I was Yuuji’s older brother?”
Is this man some kind of post night shift sleep paralysis demon? He'd heard tales from the other night shift nurses of things like this happening, but he'd assumed they were just old wives tales used to scare new hires. Clearly he needed to be paying more attention to them.
“I came here to deliver a warning." The man's tone is deadly serious, the kind of confidence that comes from knowing he could absolutely punch the daylights out of Choso if he wanted to. He encroaches into Choso's space, towering over him. "Our younger brother is a pillar among men. And if you hurt him or abandon him or so much as say anything mildly off putting, I will find every Doc Marten in Japan and make you watch as I fuck up the leather on all of them."
Choso looks down at his own pristine Doc Martens, far nicer than the dark jeans and t-shirt he's wearing that have seen better days. He's never been the recipient of such a … personalized threat before. Nothing explicitly stated in the threat will physically harm him (it's not as though the man is going to ruin all of that perfectly good leather by force-feeding it to Choso or something), but something in the man's tone is decidedly violent.
Truthfully, he isn't quite certain what to make of any of this. His body wants to go into fight or flight — sweat beginning to drip from his underarms and his breathing requiring more effort to remain steady. On the other hand, his mind can't help but short circuit at the absurdity. This man who claimed to also be Yuuji's brother — which, did that mean …
"So — just so I understand…" Choso starts. He needs to start getting to the bottom of who this man is somehow and this feels like as good a place as any to begin. "Are we also brothers?"
“Why would you ask me that?" The man turns on a dime — any air of intimidation gone as he wipes tears from his eyes and snot from his nose.
"I'm sorry?" Choso isn't quite certain why he's the one apologizing even though this strange man is the one threatening him, but it feels like the right thing to do.
"Kick rocks," the man snarls, turning to leave. "Oh — and don’t tell Yuuji I was here either.” He shouts the last bit from the entryway, letting the door slam behind him.
That was … certainly something. Choso's eyes dart around the restaurant, trying to see if any of the other patrons are as jostled as him by what just happened. None of them pay him any mind. There are no odd stares or whispers that he can sense are about him. It's as if the massive commotion in the middle of the restaurant never happened.
Maybe Choso really had imagined it. He hadn't exactly been sleeping well recently. He'd been under more stress than normal. Maybe the mounting pressures were leading his mind to create imaginary cryptids to —
"Excuse me." Choso jumps out of his seat at the new voice. "Are you … Tsukumo Choso?" The new man says his name slowly, as if he doesn't want to startle Choso any further.
"I am."
Choso turns to look at the new man. The first thing he notices is the hair, a soft pink color that brings out the slight tan of his skin. Beyond that though, staring back at him are features Choso has seen in the mirror his whole life. They share the same shade of brown eyes, the same angle of their jaw, the same shape of their nose. More than any of that though, he can just tell that this is his little brother. If he had to, Choso would be able to sense that Yuuji was his brother without ever seeing him. Something in his soul would simply know.
"You must be Yuuji."
Yuuji nods politely and sits in the chair across from him. "So, uhm, how's your morning been?"
Choso's hand freezes as he goes to move some hair out of his eyes. Was this a test? That strange man had said not to mention to Yuuji that he was here, but maybe that's …
Over Yuuji's shoulder, Choso notices a rustling in some of the bushes from outside. It's a bit hard to see because the windows aren't all that big, but not many men are too big to hide behind a full garden of trees and hedges. The man from earlier sticks his head up, taking two fingers to point at his own eyes then at Choso.
This catches Choso off guard, his eyes narrowing to see if he's really there or if his mind is extra committed to playing tricks on him. Apparently, the curiosity piques Yuuji's interest too, because he starts to turn around. The man can see this from the bushes and is apparently not pleased by it. He starts making a series of much less clear but much more threatening gestures. It looks like he's trying to describe a blindfold and Choso being taken to a secondary location?
On instinct, Choso reaches out and grabs Yuuji's head, swiveling it back toward him and away from the windows. "It's been fine." The words come out hurried and louder than he expected, too intent on forcing Yuuji to pay attention to care if he's being disruptive. "One of the blood bags exploded and got all over me, which was less than ideal, but —"
"Huh?!" Yuuji visibly scrunches away from him. His eyes go wide — brow launching all the way to his hairline to make room. That's odd. Why is he …
Oh. Right. They still don't actually know all that much about each other. They know that they're brothers — and for Choso, that means that he loves Yuuji and will do anything to ensure that his safety and happiness. But he's missing some of the details. All these years they've been apart still happened. They have so much to catch up on.
"Sorry, uhm — I'm a Hematologist. Or going to be, I should say. I'm doing my Fellowship now."
Yuuji tries to look calm and at ease, but it doesn't seem quite right. Almost like he feels like that explanation should be enough to make Choso's interactions with blood not cause for alerting the authorities, but he's still missing something.
"A doctor who studies blood," Choso offers, hoping that's the final piece Yuuji needs for this to click.
Yuuji's shoulders relax. "Oh. Good — that's … wow, you're a doctor. I guess you got all the school smarts."
From anyone else, the remark might feel like a jab, but it's too full of pride to be anything other than glowing praise.
"I'm sure you're very smart too."
"I'm smart with some things," Yuuji muses. "Like, people I really get. Same with writing and telling stories, that's always been easy for me. But math and biology and chemistry and all that — that's never been my strong suit."
He's so confident. Not the cocky or grating kind. This is much easier than that — the kind that comes from genuinely knowing the sort of person he is and doing it on purpose.
Choso is so proud of the person Yuuji has grown into all on his own.
"Are you in school right now?"
"I am. I'm studying to be a journalist. Technically, the degree is Communications with a minor in Media Studies, that's what I wanna do with it."
Choso nods and smiles. Journalism is an important field. His little brother is going to make such a difference in the lives of other people in their community.
"So," Yuuji drawls. "I can't believe we're brothers."
"We are. That is why we're here."
"Right. Well, I mean — just, it was definitely a journey to get here, ya know?"
Choso does not know so he sits quietly and waits for Yuuji to continue. The silence goes on for a little bit, but that's alright with Choso. He won't rush his little brother to talk before he's ready.
"Like how the clinic messed up the testing results the first time."
"They what?"
This clinic had a good reputation among the other hospitals, but if they'd treated his little brother unfairly, Choso wouldn't hesitate to help him file a malpractice claim.
"They — well they did for me at least. I got given the wrong results at first, so I thought that my brother was this guy named Todo for like a week. He was pretty bummed when he found out we aren't actually related, but I'm glad I got to meet him. He's super cool."
Choso clenches his jaw and nods very slowly as all the pieces begin to click into place. That man from earlier had called himself Yuuji's brother, but also seemed distraught over Choso's question about the two of them being brothers. Choso isn't a gambler (he finds the whole practice confusing and counterintuitive), but he'd be willing to bet it all on that man being this Todo person.
Cool isn't the word that Choso would use for someone who came into this restaurant uninvited, threatened him, and is still glaring daggers at him from outside. He would have chosen something like intense, or insane. Yuuji means it when he says it though. Perhaps he just has a way of bringing out the best in people.
"Did Ieiri's … colleague also have to call you?" Yuuji stumbles over the word colleague, as if he's not certain what the proper title is for someone who works in a medical office and doesn't want to offend. He's so respectful.
"I wasn't seeing Ieiri, I'm a patient of Nitta's. She and Yuki were roommates in college, so it felt right."
"Who's Yuki?"
"My wife."
They aren't newlyweds anymore, but getting to call Yuki my wife still makes Choso giddy like it's the first time he's saying it. The news takes Yuuji by surprise, his face re-ordering in real time as he processes that he has a sister-in-law.
"Oh wow. How long have you been married?"
"About a year and a half."
"That's so cool. I've always wanted to get married." He says it with a dreamy look in his eyes, like he's recalling a particular conversation or envisioning an already preplanned day. Maybe he is.
"Marriage is a wonderful goal to be working toward with someone." Choso smiles fondly. "Do you have a girlfriend?"
Yuuji shifts slightly in his seat, the dreamy look in his eyes reordering into something more discerning. "Oh, no. Uhm — I have a boyfriend."
They grow up so fast.
So Yuuji was thinking of someone specific. He was still so young — yet here he was ready to walk down the aisle. Choso wanted to trust that his little brother wouldn't rush into something as big as marriage without being incredibly certain first. But still, it was his duty as Yuuji's older brother to ensure that his boyfriend had nothing but the best intentions with his little brother. They didn't have parents to remind this guy that if he did anything to hurt Yuuji, there would be hell to pay, so Choso needed to step up and fill this role. Maybe be could —
"Are you … being homophobic right now?"
Choso blusters, only now realizing what his silent planning to keep his brother safe must've looked like from the outside. Any kind of homophobia would not be tolerated on Choso's watch, but especially not any homophobia directed toward his little brother.
"What?! No — I support you fully. I apologize if it came off that way, I just …" Choso takes a moment to collect himself. "I'd like to meet him at some point if that's alright with you. I want to make sure that he treats you well and see that you're happy with one another."
Because at the end of the day, that was all that mattered — Yuuji knowing that he was loved and cared for and supported exactly as he was. By everyone in his life, but especially his boyfriend. It can be a hard lesson to learn when you're young and don't have anyone around to teach it to you. Choso had certainly taken the scenic route towards his own understanding of it. And if there's any of that road left for Yuuji to walk, he wants to make sure that he doesn't have to do it alone like Choso did.
Some of Yuuji's natural excitement returns to him. "Definitely! I'd love to meet Yuki too — maybe we can make it a double date."
"That sounds like an excellent idea."
Yuuji beams back at him, and Choso feels more at ease than he has in years. Maybe in his whole life. He knows what his little brother's smile looks like.
Every now and then, Choso gets to meet with expectant parents at work, especially if there's any concerns about anemia or other hematologic conditions in their prenatal or postpartum care. The one thing they all have in common is the moment after they see their baby for the first time, this voice — not even from inside their own head, directly from their soul — calls out to this new child in their arms I love you so much already, I will protect you and watch over you and care for you as long as you need me and then some.
That's the only way Choso can articulate how he feels right now. His soul knows that the one sitting across from his is his flesh and blood. There is no doubt about it — Choso loves Yuuji so much already.
/////
"I think Choso hates me."
Yuuji flops onto their couch like a dead fish. He wishes he was a dead fish right now. Fish have hundreds of siblings. So what if one of them thought fish-Yuuji a freak and never wanted to see him again? There's literally a million more fish-siblings right there that probably think he's really cool and fun to be around. And it double wouldn't matter because in this scenario he's a dead fish, so there's also that.
"No one hates you Yuuji," Megumi soothes, coming to sit next to him (well, as next to as he can with Yuuji taking up most of the couch to maximize his wallowing). "We get Christmas cards from people that you physically fought in middle school."
"But you weren't there! You don't get it." Yuuji pouts.
"Did he at any point say out loud that he hates you?"
"Well … not out loud."
Megumi ignores Yuuji's, like, really viable technicality and keeps talking. "Did he say out loud that he never wants to see you again?"
"No. We actually have plans to hang out again on Saturday."
"Right." Megumi drawls out each letter in the word, his disbelief as obvious as the furrow forming between his eyebrows. "So what's actually got you so worked up?"
"It's just …" Yuuji tries to find the words, but none of them sound reasonable enough to be upset about. He opens and shuts his mouth several times, each time more frustrating than the last. "Never mind, it's dumb."
Yuuji avoids looking at Megumi for as long as he can manage, knowing that when he eventually breaks, his emotional resolve will crumble too. Megumi is patient — he can outlast Yuuji's most stubborn tendencies to handle problems on his own.
He makes it a whole seventeen seconds before confirming that Megumi is looking at him with such gentleness and understanding and earnestness that Yuuji has no choice but to sigh heavily and tell him everything.
"It's … he's — Choso's just like an adult, ya know? He's a lot more stoic and reserved than Todo was when we first met. And quiet? It's hard to tell if he's just like that or if it has something to do with me. I can't get a read on him."
And, sure — it's not exactly normal to have an honorary older brother to compare your actual older brother to, but Yuuji hasn't exactly had a normal last couple of weeks, so.
"If it helps, just based off of that I like him more already," Megumi shrugs.
Yuuji glares at him, but then remembers the Horrors that Megumi endured trying to welcome Todo into their lives, and his gaze softens to more of a you're right, I'm just not in the mood right now.
As expected, Todo hadn't taken it well when Gojo called to break the news to him. It also didn't help that Gojo called when Yuuji was at the movies, which meant none of Todo's (eighty. seven.) calls went through.
Todo actually made the 10 O'clock News that night because one of his neighbors thought the sounds of his crying were heavy machinery drilling. The whole building had to be evacuated while they investigated a "potential terrorism threat". Needless to say, when the only thing for them to find was a grown man crying in his apartment watching Brother Bear, they had a lot of questions.
When the two of them finally had a chance to talk about it, it was clear that Todo had taken it hard (to put it mildly). Yuuji had too, in his own way. Having a brother in general was a big change — having a different actual brother was even more so. He'd barely wrapped his head around the fact that he really hadn't been alone this whole time when the universe (or really, Gojo) had decided to throw him another curve ball.
Todo was adamant that their relationship couldn't be the same now that they weren't truly brothers, but Yuuji didn't think that had to be true. Even if they weren't related, they could still be friends. Plenty of people had aunts and uncles and cousins they weren't related to by blood or law that they still considered family. That was how he and Todo could be. Brothers of a different kind.
"That reminds me," Yuuji sits up. "Please don't mention how this morning went when Todo gets here. I'm worried if he finds out that Choso isn't as warm and fuzzy as he is, he might start a witch hunt or something."
"Fine," Megumi relents. "But if he starts being crazy, then I'm lying and telling him that Choso is already invited on my family's annual vacation, unlike him."
The door to their apartment buzzes, giving Yuuji no time to negotiate, so he's forced to accept Megumi's conditions with a hesitant, "If you must."
When he opens the door, Todo's energy is all wrong. He's way too somber — accentuated even further by the all black outfit and red-rimmed eyes he's rocking. "Hello bro— Itadori."
Even his voice isn't the same bellowing roar it usually is. He sounds almost meek. It makes Yuuji's heart lurch.
"Todo, I already told you it's fine. Even if we aren't genetically brothers, you can still be my big brother. Just like … an honorary one!"
"You're too generous with me, truly." He pulls Yuuji into a bone crushing hug.
"Please don't hydraulic press my boyfriend." Megumi quips from the living room.
"You don't know what I've been through!" Todo cries, a fresh wave of tears raining down on Yuuji's scalp.
Yuuji can just barely hear Megumi mutter something that sounds suspiciously like I could say the same but thankfully the sound of his own tears keeps Todo from catching it.
After what Yuuji would describe as longer than strictly necessary, Todo begins to collect himself. "Forgive me, brother," he croaks, wiping the last of his tears with his sleeve. "I want to be supportive of your new brother because you deserve only the best, but he just seems so odd. It's hard to believe that he will be able to guide you as well as I could."
Yuuji can't help but smile at him. Todo really is a big softie underneath all the crazy. He's always just wanted to show Yuuji that he's got his back and will go to the ends of the Earth to defend him. It's super thoughtful of him to be thinking of how he's adjusting to Choso after how today —
Wait.
"Todo, did you … — have you met Choso?"
Yuuji hadn't told Todo that he was getting lunch with Choso today — he'd been too worried about Todo showing up unannounced and making it awkward for everyone. Dealing with it once was bad enough, but he already knows that he can get through anything with Megumi at his side. Subjecting someone he's never met before to Todo like that would've been cruel and unusual punishment.
As soon as the question leaves his mouth, it's obvious that Todo knows he said something he shouldn't have. His face is tomato red and he won't stop opening and closing his mouth — stuttering and starting sentences that never turn into anything coherent. Megumi strides closer to Yuuji, implying with presence more than words that Todo is not going to talk his way out of this.
Todo seems to reach the same conclusion. Instead of using that realization to spur himself into telling the truth, Todo simply turns around and tries to walk back out of the apartment.
"Todo." Megumi's voice is ice cold and freezes him to the spot. "What did you do?"
His shoulders slump in defeat. Todo sucks in a big breath and spews out his whole thought in a single go, "I made the man who called from the clinic give me the name, phone number, and address of your biological brother and I used his phone number to log in to his Google Calendar and saw that he had scheduled a lunch with you so I went to the restaurant before you got there and told him that if he wasn't a perfect brother to you there would be hell to pay and then I watched you eat lunch from outside the restaurant to make sure he wasn't being weird."
Man, what the fuck?!
Yuuji's eyes dart to his boyfriend's, but Megumi is already staring back at him with the same bewildered look plastered across his face that Yuuji knows he's certainly also sporting. In the split second Yuuji had taken to check in with the only other normal person in their apartment, Todo had already flung the door open and was booking it out of their building.
Without needing to check to make sure Megumi is on the same page, they both shout "Todo!" and take off after him.
/////
The only thing that keeps Choso from immediately collapsing into an exhausted heap on the floor when he finally gets home is the excitement buzzing through him over getting to tell Yuki all about meeting Yuuji.
She'd been nearly as elated as he was when they found out about Yuuji. The idea of doing genetic testing to see if he had any siblings out there was something Choso had toyed with ever since moving to Tokyo. It had never made it past the idea stage until a few months ago. Every time he'd started seriously looking into it, the potential disappointment of finding out that he really was alone outweighed the sliver of hope that he had family out there somewhere.
Yuki was the one who made it seem less scary. Encouraging him to stay optimistic and talking through all his worries with him, with data when he needed it and kind words when he didn't. It didn't hurt that Yuki's best friend since undergrad, Nitta, worked at one of the most reputable clinics in town and was willing to work with his Fellowship schedule to find time for all the necessary appointments.
"Yuki," Choso calls into the apartment. "I'm home."
There's no answer, only what sounds like muffled drilling coming from further into their apartment. Choso chuckles slightly, a smile settling across his lips before he even realizes he's done it.
Their apartment isn't anything to write home about. A very run-of-the-mill Tokyo two bedroom. But Yuki isn't one to just accept things as they are. She's on a first-name basis with all the employees at their local Viva Home and was constantly finding new ways to make the place feel more like home. From re-doing the tile in the bathroom, to painting most of the walls, to putting a small vegetable garden on the patio — she was always working on something new.
Today's project was apparently mounting her handmade bookshelves to the living room wall. Choso's one stipulation about all the home improvements was that she used proper safety gear at all times when working — noise-protecting headphones and safety glasses prevented her from noticing him coming in.
He inches slowly into her field of vision, not wanting to startle her while she's putting holes in the wall. When she's particularly focused on something, she scrunches her lips to one side in a way that always makes Choso smile.
When she finally notices him, her pursed lips become an easy smile. She pulls the noise protection headphones off and secures them around her neck.
"So, how'd it go?" She's grinning widely now, and it reminds Choso of staring into the sun — the brightness she's capable of was disorienting.
"It went very well. Yuuji is …"
What isn't Yuuji? He's incredibly kind, a natural conversationalist, infectiously joyful — he's everything Choso could've hoped a brother of his would have grown into. Choso doesn't quite have evidence for all of it. Couldn't offer any sort of differential diagnosis that shows his work via eliminated options along the way to arrive at these conclusions about Yuuji. He just … knows.
"I'm very proud to be his older brother."
Yuki tilts her chin to one side. "Were you nice to him?"
"I'm always nice."
"Mhm," she lilts. "But were you Choso nice or were you normal people nice?"
"Am I not normal?"
"I'd like you less if you were," she shrugs.
"That's not what I asked."
"I never claimed to have all the answers."
She attempts to divert the conversation by adjusting one of the shelves still piled on the floor — preparing to lift it into the braces she was drilling when Choso got home. The shelf she's going for is particularly large, likely one of the base shelves that will have to hold more weight than the others.
"Oh no, you don't," Choso chastises, already reaching to take the shelf from her. He shoots a pointed look at the swell of her belly. "The doctor said no heavy lifting."
Yuki had not been adjusting well to the doctor's rules about what she could and couldn't do now that she was pregnant. She'd always been a true go-getter — the kind of person who never let anything or anyone stand in her way when it came to going after what she wanted. Her tenacity was one of the many things Choso loved about her, but he honestly isn't sure how she's going to handle the next seven months. Especially as the list of things she wasn't allowed to do continued to grow the further along she got.
She yanks the shelf closer to herself. "I'm growing a baby, I'm not helpless."
"Following well-researched medical advice does not make you helpless, it makes you good at your job," Choso counters.
Technically, Yuki's area of scientific research isn't pregnancy — epidemiology had always been her primary focus — but his point still stands. Research shows that lifting heavy objects while pregnant can increase one's risk of premature labor down the line, and what kind of scientific researcher would Yuki be if she ignored the hard work of others in her field?
He holds his hand out again. "Please let me put up the shelf."
Yuki does not admit defeat, but she does allow Choso to take the shelf and put it in place and that's good enough for him. He thinks about just doing the one shelf she handed him, but if he leaves the other shelves out she'll just put them up while he's asleep so he finishes slotting all of them into place.
"Thank you." Choso threads a hand around Yuki's waist to pull her close and press a soft kiss into her temple.
"Yeah, yeah." She waves him off with a poorly suppressed smile and starts heading toward the kitchen. The rest of her project temporarily forgotten as she starts boiling water for tea. Muscle memory moves Choso's feet toward the far cabinet and brings his hands to the collection of tea bags on the bottom shelf. Chamomile and lavender for him. Hibiscus and pomegranate for Yuki.
It's only of the many routines they've carved out for themselves over the years. When Choso gets home in the morning from the night shift, he and Yuki make tea together before Choso goes to get some sleep. Time together can be hard fought with as busy as they both tend to be. But for these few minutes, the only person in the world Choso is focused on is his wife.
Tea time always held a special place in his heart, but ever since Yuki found out she was pregnant, each one felt more special. Choso caught himself trying to commit to memory the way each mug felt in his hands, the flavor notes of each brew, the way the steam danced in front of Yuki's face when she brought her cup to her mouth.
Their tea times as a family of two were numbered. Pretty soon, there would be a third human in their world altering and changing their routines. Choso couldn't wait to meet them.
"Before I forget," Choso starts, turning to Yuki. "I was going to reach out to the couple down the street to see if they'd be willing to help us find a space to host the baby shower since —"
"We can't schedule that yet." Yuki cuts him off emphatically, like she's appalled that he would even suggest this.
"Why not?"
"We still haven't told everyone we need to tell! It's rude to start planning a party when all the VIPs don't even know I'm pregnant."
"Who else is there to tell?"
Yuki's parents and sisters had been the first people they called when they found out — Nitta a close second. Choso's mother has been dead for quite some time and his father has been dead to him for even longer. There isn't anyone else that —
"Duh. We've gotta tell Yuuji! Or do you want your little brother to find out he's gonna be an uncle through an invitation in the mail?"
Choso's whole world narrows and reorders around his wife's words. He wants to believe the exhaustion and newness are to blame for the oversight (both very viable reasons based on the day he's had), but it still hits him right between his ribs.
He'd forgotten his little brother.
"Yes, I suppose that would be quite jarring."
"'Quite jarring'" Yuki mimics. "Please. The world won't end if you say that something would fucking suck you know?"
Choso tries to laugh, but his body won't let him. There's a preoccupation in his heart — a sinking feeling in his gut. He's being chipped away at and isn't all the way here anymore.
"I know that look." Yuki nudges his shoulder with hers. "Come on. Spill. What's on your mind?"
Letting him brush things off has never been Yuki's style. She stares down at him expectantly, waiting for him to do as she says and talk through what's bothering him. It's never come very easily to him. Growing up not having people around to rely on does that to a person, he supposes.
That seems to be at the core of all sides of this. In the same way that it's hard for him to rely on other people, Choso isn't as good as he would like to be at being reliable to others.
Fellowship is stressful and takes up so much of his brain space. He loves being a husband, but it still requires effort and attention to be the kind of partner that Yuki deserves. Fatherhood is a huge responsibility that he has no blueprint to refer back to. Brotherhood was just as big as all of those things, but a whole lifetime of thinking it wasn't for him is coming back to bite him now that he knows he has it.
Choso wants to give everything he is to all of those things — to be a good doctor and a good husband and a good father and a good brother. He's had lots of practice splitting his attention in two ways, but a third out of the blue and a fourth on the horizon had him treading water.
Yuuji is family and he loves him, but getting used to how big that feeling is has him short-circuiting and forgetting the basics.
He says as much to Yuki, letting her into the tangled mess that is his emotions right now. It's clumsy and awkward and would probably make more sense after a few hours of sleep. None of that phases Yuki in the slightest, attentively taking in and cataloguing each word.
"You know," she starts. "If all the other people in the world cared about being a good man half as much as you did, the world would be a much better place."
Choso blushes at the praise, ready to brush it off but Yuki keeps talking.
"Eh, eh," she holds her index finger up to dispel the protest she already senses coming. "Whatever you're about to say about you not being special — swallow that shit right now. I'll have none of it."
Begrudgingly, Choso lets Yuki's words stand. Not an easy feat when his brain is screaming at him about how horrible of an older brother he was to Yuuji just now. It doesn't escape Yuki's notice, her whole presence softening as she moves closer to his side.
"This is a big change and it kinda got sprung on you. Even though you're happy about Yuuji, it's bound to take some time to sink in that he really is your brother. Don't beat yourself up for it taking some time to rewire thirty one years of neural pathways. Some things take time, and that's ok."
She takes the mug of tea from his hands and sets it on the counter. "Now go to sleep, you've been awake for over twenty-four hours, and I'm sure that's not helping the situation at all."
Choso lets himself be guided back to their room, the prospect of sleep already making his limbs heavy. For all the good of today — of finally meeting Yuuji — he still struggled wash the sting of imperfection from his mind. Of not being as considerate of a brother as he could have been today. But tomorrow was a new day. A day where he could try even harder to be the best big brother he could be.
/////
Yuuji wasn't quite sure what to suggest when he and Choso made plans to hang out on Saturday. It's just … different than what he's used to. Granted, used to is maybe a bit of a stretch because he only had an honorary older brother for about a week and a half before getting the rug pulled out from under him, but still.
Spending time with Todo is more like spending time with a friend. They can play video games or go workout or watch a movie — the classics. It felt wrong suggesting any of these activities to Choso. Maybe it would one day, but right now it just … isn't.
So Yuuji had done exactly what he always had when he wasn't sure what to do about something — ask Megumi what to do. And Megumi had done exactly what he always had when Yuuji wasn't sure what to do about something — tell Yuuji what to do.
That's how he ended up meeting his big brother at a pond to feed ducks. Yuuji thought Megumi was crazy when he suggested it, but the more he thought about it, it kinda made sense. Spring is finally starting to stick after a harsh winter. It feels like a crime to suggest something indoors when the weather was finally nice and everything is in bloom, the sweet scent of flowers carried in every cool breeze.
This also seemed like more of Choso's pace than anything Yuuji would've suggested. Yuuji tended to move at the speed of light, whereas Choso's internal clock seemed to be set to the pace of a light drip of molasses.
But mostly, Yuuji wanted to figure out more about Choso and hoped that the slowness would force them to talk.
There are some things that Yuuji knows about him.
He knows that Choso is married to a woman named Yuki that he's clearly very in love with. He knows that Choso is doing his Fellowship to be a hematologist. He knows that the two of them have the same mom, but different dads. He knows that their mom was married to Choso's dad, who treated her horribly, so she had to leave, but wasn't able to take Choso with her when she did. He knows that Choso lived with his dad until he was sixteen and got into university early. He knows that their mom died sometime around then, shortly after giving birth to Yuuji.
(Choso still has some memories of her from when he was very young. The perfume she wore every day smelled of patchouli and pear. Helping her make oolong tea every morning with breakfast. The time she explained to him that her grandma was a water fairy and that's why water would fall from her eyes so much.)
He knows that Choso grew up in Yamaguchi but moved to Tokyo when he was twenty to start medical school. He knows that Choso is allergic to shellfish and apparently their family has a history of high blood pressure, so he's gotta keep an eye on that.
And all of that's fine and dandy, and he's glad to know all of it, but Yuuji still doesn't know much about Choso. He's got a long list in his brain of things that Choso has done or lived through, but none of that is about him.
Accomplishments and timelines were things that other people cared about, but, honestly, they didn't matter to Yuuji all that much. He didn't care if somone was unemployed or if they owned every mall in Japan.
What did they dream about? When they're sad do they spend time alone or do they seek out other people? What's something that makes them laugh no matter how sad they are? Do they think we live once or die once? What do they hope other people see when going about their days that makes them think of them?
Those are the things Yuuji cares about.
"I've lived here for so long, but did not know this park existed."
Yuuji glances at Choso, who is fully engrossed in the park before them. Taking it all in for the first time. He watches as his big brother studies the fresh blooms decorating all the trees, the family of ducks making their way along the path, the other people at the park.
"It's one of my favorites."
The family of ducks begins to meander near the bench they're sitting on. They're really cute — seven tiny ducklings and a momma duck. Yuuji reaches into his backpack and pulls out some food to feed them. Megumi hadn't let him take a loaf of bread (apparently it's very bad for the ducks) and insisted on making them a mix of birdseed, oats, and corn that would be much better for their digestion.
He puts the bird food bag between him and Choso, offering to let him toss some of the seed mixture to the ducks. One of the ducklings is the first to notice — breaking away from its family and bee-lining straight for the food. The momma duck is not happy that one of her babies is on the loose and diverts the whole gaggle to follow. She's waddling at a truly admirable speed for her tiny duck body. The quick back and forth of her tiny webbed feet are matched with a loud series of quacks that makes Yuuji laugh.
Choso is a bit apprehensive about the whole situation. He's tossing the seed mixture as far as he can from where they're sitting and has got his head on a swivel to keep track of all the birds. Throwing seeds, oats, and corn isn't a super exact science though, so it doesn't stop a lot of the food from landing near their feet, bringing the ducklings even closer.
A particularly large handful slipping through Choso's fingers before he could properly toss it sends the ducklings stampeding towards them. In response, Choso tucks his feet up on the bench and gives up on tossing any more seeds. The momma duck is not a fan of the sudden movement and starts loudly honking at him.
This whole situation is clearly stressing Choso out, so Yuuji tries to do the right thing and gently guide the momma duck away from Choso. Megumi's given him some pointers on how to properly handle animals in the wild (you get drunk and bring home a squirrel from the park one time and suddenly you're sitting through a lecture from your boyfriend on animal handling), so he's definitely got this.
Apparently no one in this situation liked that idea. At the same time that Choso jumps into action to defend Yuuji from this momma duck by throwing himself between the two of them, the momma duck launches her tiny body into the air — pecking and biting her beak at whatever she can get her teeth on.
Which, unfortunately, is the sleeve of Choso's shirt.
For a second, it looks like she might drag Choso to the ground through sheer force of will. Instead of having to break up a WWE Smackdown between his older brother and a duck though, they're all saved from that fate by the duck completely ripping off the sleeve of Choso's shirt. Seemingly content with the message she's sent, the momma duck guides all of her ducklings away from Choso and Yuuji and towards the big lake a few meters away.
The stunned silence lasts for approximately three and a half seconds before Yuuji looks at Choso's tattered sleeve on the ground and bursts out laughing. He's sure that everyone else in the park is staring at them, but honestly Yuuji can't even blame them. One of them just got attcked by a duck and the other is laughing like a maniac over it.
Choso looks a little sheepish, blinking rapidly and lips pressed into an awkward smile. It makes him look more like a person than the stoic entity he seemed when they first met. Like, this isn't Choso the accomplished doctor or the doting husband — this is just regular, human Choso experiencing the insanity of normal life. It's the kind of story you bring up for years down the line, the re-telling becoming even funnier than the actual event. The things that connect you to other people.
Yuuji wipes at the corner of his eyes, tears threatening to spill from the force of his laughter.
"I take it you're not a big animal guy," he teases.
Choso sighs heavily, embarrassment and frustration and acceptance filling the sound.
"It is true, I'm not known for being the best with animals," he chuckles slightly, then pauses, refocusing his attention. "But I respect the duck's dedication to protecting her children from what she perceived as danger."
The comment surprises Yuuji. Not because he expected Choso to get angry at the duck or be mad about his shirt or anything. It's just not something he would've noticed on his own — the parental instincts of a duck — but it was the first thing Choso thought of.
"You know, I bet you'd be a pretty good dad," Yuuji muses. "I know neither of us really got a lucky hand in the 'having a dad' department. But I think that's what would make you good at it, ya know? You know what it's like to not have a good dad so being able to be that for someone else is even more important to you."
He hopes that saying that isn't too … forthright? Maybe blunt is the word he's looking for? He's not really sure. It's just that there's a fine line between bringing up someone's shitty dad in a you're gonna be way better than he ever was way and in a now we're just talking about your shitty dad way, and Yuuji wouldn't exactly call himself good with subtly.
Next to him, Choso is not really breathing too much. Just lots of deep, steady focusing going on. He's not looking at Yuuji, which he can't tell if that's a good or a bad thing.
"That means more than you could possibly know Yuuji. Thank you."
Choso looks like he might cry — the centers of his eyes looking all glassy and mirrored. His bottom lip is slightly pursed and jaw is artificially stiff trying to hold it all together. It really did mean a lot to him.
He shifts his weight so that he's facing more toward Yuuji. "There's … well, I probably should have told you this last time we …"
And Yuuji's trying to pay attention. He really is. Whatever Choso is trying to say seems really important and he wants to honor that. It's just that out of the corner of his eye, Yuuji saw that family of ducks from earlier walking down the path away from the lake, but instead of seven ducklings, there were only six.
"… I could have told you over text, but it felt important that …"
That momma duck did not play about her babies, so where is the seventh duckling? He quickly scans the whole path between the bench and the lake. Looking for anything that could have side tracked the duckling away from its mom.
"… because this is going to be a big change that affects not just …"
There. Back by the lake. He can just barely see the water splashing and tiny wings peeking out above the grass. That must be where the last duckling is — stuck in the lake still. The rest of its family was getting further and further away. Yuuji couldn't let them just leave part of their family behind.
"… What I'm trying to say is —"
"I'll be right back." Yuuji blurts, standing up in the same motion and darting over toward the lake. The lost duckling is flapping its little wings as hard as it can muster, but the leap between the water and the ground is just too much for him to go back up.
Yuuji dips his hands into the water, scooping the duckling up and out of the lake. The momma duck isn't too far away — tiny duck legs are not nearly as fast as human legs. In a few short strides, Yuuji is back to the momma duck and is gently depositing the duckling by her side.
The momma duck is very grateful to Yuuji for returning her baby, nuzzling up against his leg like a cat. He can't help but laugh — Megumi is gonna lose it when he tells him how nice this duck is later.
Yuuji jogs back over to the bench and plops back down. "Sorry about that," he smiles apologetically. "So what were you gonna tell me?"
For half a second, Choso's eyes are as big as Yuuji thinks he's ever seen them. Before he can try to piece together what might be on his mind, Choso softens around the edges.
"Actually, I think it might be best if I wait until tomorrow. It's news that will likely impact both you and Megumi so perhaps it will be better if you get to hear it together."
"News? Is anything wrong?"
He hadn't meant to interrupt anything important. Yuuji just couldn't let that duck get separated from its family. Had he known Choso was trying to tell him some piece of big news that apparently affected both him and Megumi he would've —
"No, no," Choso assures. "Nothing is wrong. It's very good news. It's just … — it will be better tomorrow."
Yuuji shrugs. "If you say so."
As older brothers go, Choso's kind of cryptic. But that's alright. What's life without a little mystery?
/////
"Choso, baby."
Yuki's voice from above him pulls Choso out of the fugue state that he has entered trying to clean their apartment. Pride is unbecoming, but their apartment has likely never been cleaner than it is right now, thanks to him. He'd spent all afternoon sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, disinfecting, and organizing every surface in their home in preparation for Yuuji and Megumi's arrival this evening.
"I don't think they're gonna be on their hands and knees inspecting the baseboards for dust," she offers gently. "They're two twenty year old boys, I think they'll be amazed that we have things properly mounted to the wall and dish towels that match. It's gonna be ok."
Choso purses his lips, but decides to take the hint and put away the cleaning supplies. It was important to him that the home he welcomed them into was absolutely spotless. This would be their first time here, so it was paramount that he made a good impression.
Not to mention, this is also Choso's first time meeting Megumi, so he needed to ensure he was in the correct headspace to fully evaluate the man that Yuuji was bringing home. The more that he had heard Yuuji talk about him, the clearer it became that the two were very in love and very happy together, but one can never be too sure about these things. Not when the heart of his little brother was at stake.
Effectively banished to the kitchen, Choso busies himself checking on the food preparations for dinner tonight. They'd decided to keep it simple and make sushi — that way if one of them didn't like a certain food or was allergic to something, Choso wouldn't have accidentally ruined the whole meal by deciding to put bell peppers in it or something.
The doorbell to their apartment rings. It takes Choso approximately four steps to make it to the door, ready to drop everything to greet their guests. He barely registers Yuki asking, "Oh, they're here already?" from behind him as he flings the door open.
The first thing he sees when he opens the door is his little brother's smiling face beaming back at him. It makes Choso want to freeze time forever and smile and pull him into a big bear hug.
"Hey, Choso!" Yuuji steps inside the entryway at Choso's beckon, backing further inside to give the two of them more room. The two of them, Choso remembers, registering for the first time the man with Yuuji.
He's taller than Choso expected, probably closer to Yuki's height than his own. Spiky dark hair offset by piercing green eyes, far more discerning than Yuuji's. Already, he can see Megumi observing all the details of the apartment, taking his time with each one. He is very handsome, so Choso applauds his little brother's success on that front.
"Here." Yuuji shoves a small box into Choso's hands. "I know you said not to bring anything, but Megumi said it'd be rude to come empty-handed so we brought you this."
Choso takes a closer look at the box and sees the logo of a local tea shop in big script along the front. The flavor is listed as lemon ginger, which is very practical. A good thing to have on hand.
"I don't know much about tea," Yuuji babbles. "But Megumi really likes this one and I know that you mentioned you and Yuki drink a lot of tea, so — uhm, yeah."
His smile is bashful and genuine and Choso feels his lips pull into his best imitation of one. "Thank you. This is very thoughtful."
So the gift had been Megumi's idea. That's a good sign, but Choso would not be won over that easily. He turns his attention to the other man.
"You must be Fushiguro Megumi."
Choso tries to add an edge of intimidation to his voice — mustering all the authority of age his thirty one years have granted him. It's a challenging feat since Megumi is several centimeters taller than him, but that does not stop Choso from committing fully.
"Yes, sir," Megumi nods. "It's great to finally meet you."
Megumi doesn't seem phased by Choso in the slightest, which he supposes is good in the long term because it's important to him that Yuuji and his partner both feel welcome in his home. But he still has a duty to protect his younger brother and ensure that Megumi knows that if he does anything to hurt Yuuji, it will be the last thing he does.
Choso takes a step toward Megumi, ready to —
"Don't mind him," Yuki interrupts, materializing at his side taking the box of tea out of Choso's hands and going to put it in the tea cabinet. "He's very happy you're both here."
"Thanks again for having us," Yuuji says, already taking his shoes off and placing them near the door. Megumi follows suit, following politely behind Yuuji into the apartment.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Yuuji asks eagerly.
Choso looks around the kitchen at the remaining tasks. "I suppose I could use a hand chopping the rest of the vegetables if you're offering."
"Yeah, sure! I'm —" Yuuji starts to head to the kitchen, but is stopped by Megumi placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Actually," Megumi interrupts. "If it's alright with both of you, maybe I should help with the chopping. Yuuji's a great cook, but his knife skills are a little …" Megumi looks to Yuuji with a slightly pained look on his face, "questionable."
"He's probably right," Yuuji blushes. "Last time I tried to dice an onion I cut the corner off our counter. Megumi does most of the chopping now."
Choso blinks very hard, but does not want Yuki trying to replace the counter-tops herself right now should that happen again. "Fine by me."
There's minimal space for an extra cutting board between all the bowls of vegetables in various stages of chopped, but Choso manages to create some room. Before heading over to the prep space, Megumi washes his hands for the full JIHS recommended twenty seconds, which Choso takes as a good sign.
Yuuji comes around to the other side of the counter and leans over eagerly. "Whatcha making?"
"We are having sushi."
"Oh cool! I love homemade sushi."
Yuki comes to join their group, taking a spot near Yuuji. "Double homemade technically. I'll have you know I grew those cucumbers myself," she boasts. "And the green onions. And the carrots." She points to each of the vegetables from her garden in turn, full of pride for the results of her harvest.
The concept of homegrown produce seems to amaze Yuuji, his eyes and voice sparkling like he's meeting a celebrity. "Woah! That's so cool!"
Megumi looks impressed as well, albeit in his own, more subtle way. "Do you have a plot in a community garden?"
"Nah, we've got a perfectly good patio." She uses her thumb to point behind her towards the door for the patio. "I built a bunch of platters out there."
Yuuji's excitement turns more reverant. "That's awesome. My grandpa had a garden in our backyard when I was really little, but I haven't had one since."
"You wanna see it?" Yuki offers. "I've got a pretty cool set up!"
"Yeah!"
The joy of his wife and little brother getting along fills Choso with more happiness than he's ever felt before. They're both incredibly friendly and outgoing people, so there was never any doubt that they'd get along. But something about seeing it — about it being real. It's better than any future he could have imagined where they got to meet.
"We'll be back," Yuki calls over her shoulder. "You two have fun."
Oh.
The door to the patio thuds loudly behind Yuki and Yuuji as Choso and Megumi are left alone together.
This is … perhaps not ideal. In theory, this is exactly the chance Choso had been hoping for — an opportunity to evaluate Megumi one on one. It seems that he forgot that he could have to execute said plan in reality. And the reality is that he is not a very adept conversationalist.
They work in silence, the rhythmic sound of knives hitting the cutting board the only interruption to the quiet.
Choso knows what he wants to say, but the method of bringing it up — actually getting the words out. It's always been harder for him than he should be. He has no reason to suspect that there's anything wrong with Megumi. He has been nothing but polite and cordial, and Yuuji speaks of him so fondly. But still, this is what an older brother is supposed to do. He has to find a way.
"So," Megumi offers into the silence. "How has this week been?"
It catches Choso off guard — the interruption to the quiet and the nature of the question.
How had his week been? He wanted to focus only on the positives. The joy of finding out he had a little brother. The overwhelming blessing of meeting that little brother and having it be Yuuji. The excitement of getting to finally have the kind of family he'd always wanted. There was … more than that, though. It wasn't anger or dissatisfaction or sadness. He didn't feel negatively about Yuuji entering his life. Saying it wasn't all positive felt like a betrayal. There was just … something else.
"Definitely an adjustment," he manages.
Megumi nods slowly. "Right."
The silence returns just as quickly as it left. Beside him, Choso can feel the gears turning in Megumi's head — working toward something, but Choso had no idea what.
Choso takes the bowl of carrots over to the sink, running them under cold water and scrubbing any lingering dirt off.
Without looking up from the vegetables on his cutting board, Megumi starts talking again. Each word said slowly and deliberately. "I think we’re … similar. You and I. I take it you also aren’t used to having many fast friends?"
Choso chuckles at the bluntness of it. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only because I know what it’s like to meet Yuuji for the first time." There is no concern at having offended Choso in his tone. Only an easy acceptance that this is simply the way things are when it comes to Yuuji. "One second he’s a stranger, then the next he’s a permanent fixture in your life. And don’t misunderstand, I love him more than I ever thought possible, but it took me a bit to get used to how much he meant to me so fast."
The words freeze Choso in place. It's exactly the feeling he's been trying to place all week. Hearing it explained so plainly by someone who as lived it themselves makes it seem less like a personal failing as Yuuji' older brother, but more like a regular person experiencing regular things.
"I can guess this feels really sudden," Megumi continues. "But take it from me, it's worth the growing pains because having Yuuji in your life … that's the kinda of blessing other people would kill for."
For the first time this whole conversation, Megumi looks at Choso and it gives Choso all the confirmation he needs that Yuuji is so incredibly loved. If this small glimpse is any indication, he trusts that the two of him will forge a very happy future for themselves.
"He really loves you, you know," Choso says.
Megumi stands a little taller. "I really love him."
"Good," Choso nods. "I know you've known him far longer than I have, but he's still my little brother."
There was no doubt in Choso's mind that Megumi will be his future brother-in-law — there's truly no reason to give him a shovel talk. But honestly, Choso was kind of looking forward to it. It's a right of passage for an older brother and this seemed like his only chance. Surely Megumi won't begrudge him this.
Choso stands up as straight as he can, narrowing his eyes and steadying his jaw. He takes a step forward, adding as much gravel to his voice as he can muster.
"So if you ever hurt him or mistreat him, it will be the last mistake you ever make. Understand?"
Choso's words (for better or for worse) do not seem to strike any fear into Megumi's heart. The other man merely smiles and says, "I'll tell him you said so."
/////
Yuki had truly outdone herself on the patio garden. There were five different wooden planters, each with their own assortment of crops. Some were built on the ground with trellises helping cucumbers and tomatoes grow tall. Others had longer legs so that the base of the planter was waist high. Much easier to get to the pretty pink and blue flowers growing in them (Megumi would probably know what they were called, but Yuuji wasn't really sure about all that). Yuuji still remembers some of the gardening vernacular his grandpa taught him that feels relevant here — any of which he could use to further the conversation.
Unfortunately, Yuuji doesn't have it in him to be interested in soil varieties or pest control methods at the moment. Not when his big brother is inside, and Yuuji can't tell if he's actually happy to see them or he's just being polite. Yuuji's pretty sure Choso was smiling when they got there. And he'd said he'd been looking forward to this. It's still just hard to tell if it's real.
Maybe he needs to try something new.
"Yuki, can I ask you something?"
Yuuji forces himself to start talking before he can change his mind. If anyone can offer him insight on the inner workings of Choso it should definitely be Yuki.
"Sure, what’s on your mind?"
Maybe this was a weird thing to ask your sister-in-law right out the gate. But also this whole situation is weird and Yuki seems like she really cares and Yuuji is a great judge of character, so he might as well just go for it.
"Does Choso … like me? Or maybe that’s too much too fast. He’s only known that I exist for like a week. But does he at least — I don’t know. Is he at least ok with the fact that we’re brothers?"
She doesn't respond right away, which does Not help Yuuji's nerves in this moment. He's trying really hard to stay as calm and chill as possible and do that box breathing thing Yuuta tried to explain to him. Some people take a second to think things over. Not everyone rushes into things right away like he does, and that's fine. For the best, probably. But, just this once, he would love a little bit of urgency because every second Yuki thinks about what to say is another second Yuuji becomes convinced that she's trying to find a way to politely break the news to Yuuji that Choso actually hates him.
"You know how other people tell you that Megumi is really standoffish or rude after they meet him for the first time?"
"Yes! All the time!"
Was Yuki secretly psychic or something? She'd met Megumi like four seconds ago.
"Wait, how did you know that?"
She smiles with pride, knowing she hit the nail on the head. "Because Choso is the same way. They both tend to keep how they’re feeling close to their chest, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t feeling it."
Yuuji nods to himself. When she put it like that it made a lot of sense.
"Megumi always tells me that I have a glass face and couldn’t keep other people from seeing how I’m really feeling even if I tried."
"You and me both." She shares a conspiratorial look that makes Yuuji feel like he's part of some secret special club. "But if we’ve got glass faces, I’d say Choso’s is more of a brick wall. Megumi the same?"
Yuuji turns the question over a few times before answering. "Hmmm, maybe when I was first getting to know him. But now that we’ve been together so long I’d say he’s more like stained glass. It’s not always super clear or obvious at first glance, but I can usually see it if I squint."
It could be harder to get Megumi to peel back the layers sometimes. Time and practice have definitely made it easier, but it's work Yuuji is grateful to be able to do. He'd do anything for Megumi.
Something in the way Yuki is looking back at him tells Yuuji that she's gone through her own version of the same.
"I like the way you think, kid." She bumps their shoulders together. "But to answer your question, he’s really happy about it. Choso’s big on the idea of family. He grew up without much of it, so I think that’s why he cares so much about it. But he is so excited that you’re his little brother. He loves you so much already."
He's so excited that I'm his little brother. He loves me so much already.
Yuuji's throat goes dry — all the water in his body fighting to come out of his eyes. This whole week, he hadn't been able to make himself feel sure that Choso liked him. But now he knows. Choso is just as excited as Yuuji is over the fact that they're brothers.
"Thanks, Yuki. That — that really means a lot to know." His voice sounds as watery as his eyes feel, fragile and moments from spilling over the edge.
"Oh come here." Yuki pulls him into a tight hug. It's borderline suffocating, but Yuuji doesn't mind. What else is family for?
Eventually his ribs would like to return to their original shape so Yuuji gives Yuki one more tight squeeze before deciding to go back to trying to give the garden the attention it deserved. She really did work hard on all of it and now that Yuuji wasn't spinning his insides in circles he was much better prepared to take in all the little design choices she'd made.
Yuki doesn't move to follow him to a different planter in the garden. She stays rooted to the spot and waits for Yuuji to turn back and look at her before speaking again. "So Yuuji, hypothetically speaking, how excited would you be about being an uncle?"
"So excited!" He answers automatically. "I think I’d be a great uncle."
"I can’t wait to find out."
She can't wait to find out? Did that mean …
"Are you…?"
Yuki nods and that means …
Oh my god. Oh My God. Holy shit. Yuuji and Megumi are gonna be uncles. Choso is gonna be a dad. They're having a baby. Oh my god.
Yuuji immediately pulls Yuki into a tight hug — his screams of excitement barely muffled by her hair. "Yuki! Oh my god! Congratulations! Oh my god! Ahhhhh!"
/////
Choso is about to offer to take Megumi's cutting board to the sink when the muffled sounds of Yuuji screaming from the patio stop both of them in their tracks. He can just barely make out what he thinks is Yuuji saying Oh my god and congratulations over and over again. It brings a smile to Choso's face.
She must've told him.
Megumi narrows his eyes toward the patio door. "What do you think they’re screaming about?"
"Yuki probably told him she’s pregnant."
"She’s what?"
Megumi's head snaps back toward Choso with astounding speed and intensity. He's examining Choso's face throughly, making sure he understands fully. Choso's easy smile seems to be all the confirmation Megumi needs, the other man's lips and eyes widening in amazement.
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you."
Megumi's genuine excitement for them makes Choso swell with pride.
"We just found out a few weeks ago. I think she’s been bursting at the seams to have people around that are important enough to tell it to."
The admission that the two of them are important to Choso and Yuki settles over Megumi. "I’m honored that you see Yuuji and me that way."
"Of course we do. You two are family."
Choso watches Megumi's eyes go wide for half a second before softening.
From the other side of the apartment, Yuki and Yuuji return — both overflowing with giddiness.
The answer is obvious, but Choso asks anyways. "Did you tell him?"
He just barely sees Yuki nod as Yuuji runs over and swallows him in a hug. "I'm so happy for you, Choso! Your kid is gonna be so loved — I can't wait to meet them! Megumi and I are gonna spoil them rotten."
Yuuji pulls them apart and Choso looks in the eyes of his baby brother. These big moments — the milestones in life — they've never felt this exciting to Choso before because he's been missing this the whole time. Being able to share them with his brother.
"Now that you two know," Yuki announces to the room. "You get to help plan the baby shower."
Yuuji turns back to face her. "I love parties! Sounds like fun."
Dinner commences in short order. The four of them work together to set the table and arrange all the fillings in an easy to work with way. Choso has never felt more like a true family than he does right now.
They're all about to sit down to eat when Yuuji's phone rings. He glances at the Caller ID and his nose scrunches slightly.
"Ooh, hang on a second. I should probably take this." He steps back "Hey, Todo, is everything alright?"
Choso feels his blood run cold at the mention of Todo. Megumi appears to be going through much of the same rollercoaster of emotions — his face is much more neutral, but his grip on his water glass is so tight that his knuckles have gone white.
So loudly that you can hear him through the phone and across the room, Todo says, "Brother, where are you? Let's hang out."
"Ahh I can't right now, I'm at family dinner."
"Without me???"
Yuuji's face drops. "Well … uhm, it's for —"
Choso interrupts, "Todo is more than welcome to come over for dinner. Any brother of yours is a brother of mine."
Todo might not be Choso's favorite person, but he clearly was a good and loyal friend to Yuuji. Most importantly though, he had been a brother to Yuuji before Choso had a chance to. That made anyone ok in his book.
Yuuji smiles with his whole heart. "Actually, feel free to head on over to Choso's place. The address is —"
All four heads turn to the front door in perfect unison as they hear a knock on the door.