Chapter Text
Haruka didn't expect things to change so fast, but they did. The Shishitoren guy’s stopped bothering the neighbourhood people. They even lowered their head whenever they crossed paths with Haruka, which… well, he can’t say he’s not at least a little bit pleased. He saw Yugo talking with Shishitoren members more and more often too, and he looked like he had a good time with them.
Yugo wasn't nearly as happy when he found out Togame was the one who beat him out of work for two days tho, because yes, Haruka very much didn't woke up for his shift, and had a very worried Yugo banging on his door that evening. His excuses lasted a couple days until he inevitably found out what happened, he wasn’t happy, but Haruka managed to calm him down a bit.
—…You know I’m not even mad, right?
Yugo looked up from the dishes he ended up doing after he sat for too long in the kitchen— Hm? What are you talking about?
Haruka blushed— I mean, you’re still kind of mad with those two? —he mumbled—. T-That doesn’t have to do anything with me! I was just, uh… Doesn’t mind, I don’t…
His ears felt like burning just for saying that— Just forget about that…
—Hm —he looked back at the dishes—. I mean, I get why you fought with Togame, I’m not mad with him or with you, and I know that Choji is taking steps to fix things so I’m actually happy for them.
The younger one heard quietly— So… You are not going back anyway? Everyone looks happy having you around but…
It’s not like he can’t get it, he would not go back to his hometown for nothing in the fucking word, even if they showered with gold and money. But it doesn't seem like the same situation— Oh, yeah, going back would be great but… I already told Asuka —he laughed—. It’s not just my grunge anymore.
—What does she has to do with anything?
She’s a high schooler, barely taller than Choji and honestly more barks than bites.
—Who do you think left Togame with that ugly eye? She’s mad.
Unless she’s not?
Now Sakura was the one looking away from his cutting work to look at Yugo— SHE DID WHAT!?
Nothing had been procesad when he heard soft groans coming from the front kitchen where she had been napping, because they just painted the living room she usually sleeps in— Oh no-
For such a quiet baby, Sayu sure used her little lungs when she wanted too— Mama is here, mama is here, please don’t cry.
She fussed a bit before settling on his arms again, frowning at him— I scared you? —he huffed— I’m sorry.
He fought to get her on the sling, with her fussing to just not be let go at all, complicated thing when you’re trying to wrap a cloth around you, honestly— Everything alright?
Sakura assumed the man behind him was Yugo, he extended the pup to him— Take her for a second, I have to fix this crap.
—Ok?
He heard her cuing, not as upset as he expected her, having her in someone’s arms without wreaking havoc was weird enough, but he just focused on fixing the sling to get her in his arms again— There… it is, give me-
In front of him, holding a terribly ofended baby, was Togame, looking at him with those quiet eyes that Sakura absolutely can not get lost in right now. He stole the baby from him and held her against his chest— I- I thought you were Yugo, I’m so sorry!
His eyes grew wide a bit— Oh no, I’m the one sorry! —he took an step back— I thought you had seen me, sorry for startling you.
Haruka saw him, quite tired and certainly smaller, he very much had a swollen eye, and a broken lip— I can’t believe Asuka actually did that to you —he mumbled as he fixed her.
Togame frowned— Wait, do you know them? —he suddenly asked— Wanijima and Asuka.
—What do you mean? Of course I do? —he answered, just as confused— I’ve been working here for months.
Togame was so shocked he actually looked stupid— Yeah —Yugo chimed in, walking right beside Sakura—. Weird to see you here so early tho.
—Oh, right! This is for your mother, actually —he went outside the shop and walked back with a cardboard box on his hands— Uncle Yui told me to bring this to her, as a thanks, and told me to apologize to you again.
Sakura’s face grew red, and his face twisted in shame— W-Why would they even-!?
Togame looked ashamed too, rubbing the back of his head— They were in line to beat the crap out of us, you know? —he laughed—. They were really mad when they knew I got you in particular in this mess.
—What does it have to do with anything!? Someone had to beat your ass!
The guy finally looked up— Sakura, you are an omega and a dad, fighting with you is really messed up!
—Have to agree with him —Yugo agreed—. I would have never let you do that if I knew what you where about to do.
Sakura couldn’t care less about that— Someone had to do it —Sakura mumbled—. It’s not like you have the guts to actually hurt anyone.
Not him, at least, or so he felt at the moment. There is a really high chance he was dilutional because of the blood loss, he would feel certainly better if that was the case— Uu —Sayu mumbled, trying to reach for the open box still on Togame’s hands.
—Sorry baby, that’s not yours.
He was dying to let her eat whatever she wanted, but he couldn’t give her sugar just yet, she was still too small— Actually, I think is ment to share, it’s a ton of stuff —Togame looked inside the box—. Strawberrys?
—AH!
Sayu was way too ready to jump away from his arms to get strawberries— You brat, come here! —he laughed.
—I’m going to clean that then, it’s almost lunchtime anyway —Yugo smiled and took the box—. There are more veggies, they are plenty sweets too.
Sakura blushed— What the hell…
There were, indeed, vegetables, fruits and, aside, pastries and sweets.
—I’m sure you’ve seen him before, he’s very nice and is always giving sweets to the people around him —Togame explained—. He has a bakery around here, and his son has a bakery on Makochi..
Sakura wondered what kind of tooth fairy is that, but decided he didn’t really need to know.
The silence filled the room, and Sakura started playing with Sayu’s little feet, there wasn’t much he had to say, he barely knew him after all. Still, Sakura was curious about him, since… well, since the fight. Togame was weird in more than one way, but Sakura wasn’t sure how close he wanted to get.
After a couple seconds that felt like forever, he spoke— How are-
—What’s her-
Great, both spoke at the same time, and Sakura felt like dying— Um, what’s her name? —Togame spoke again, scratching the back of his neck.
—Sayu —he explained—. I though you knew her.
He laughed softly, he sounded uncomfortable— No, not really, the thing about seeing you was a bluff, by the way —he explained—. I’m sorry if I frightened you back then.
—Nah, I never believed you — he said, halfway lying. He lowered his face to rest his lips on top of his pup’s head—. …And how are you? With the suppressants and all.
—Ah, that, better, I think —he said, unusually fast in Sakura's opinion—. That… I'm taking care of it, it's going to be better.
Sakura hummed, nothing good comes from using those for too long— Stopping is a good start I think.
—Yeah, thanks for saying it back then —he said—. Kanuma was already nagging me about it, but I didn’t listen.
Kanuma…
—Man-bun? —he mumbled out loud.
Togame nodded— That one —he laughed—. Those two want to apologize with you too, by the way.
—It’s whatever…
—It’s very serious for them, at least —Togame said—. I would be glad if you considered it later.
—Mn… —Sayu hummed, calling their attention.
Togame smiled, he looked sad, for some reason— Mng —she hummed, sucking her fingers and trying to look up.
—Looks like someone’s hungry —Sakura said back to her, pulling back the hair that got out of her clip—. Let’s fix that before you scream at me, ok?
—Sounds like my cue, then —Togame said, nodding along.
Yugo popped from the back kitchen— Leaving so early? You can stay for lunch if you want.
The taller man shuck his head— I still have stuff to do, but thanks for the offer.
Sakura saw him turning around, living a little wave that tasted like nothing.
His scent was off, not in the there's no scent at all like it used to be, it was more a there is a lot going on kind of scent. Sakura just hopped he was really doing something about that, he didn't want him bouncing back or something— ...Worried?
Sakura looked up at him— What?
Yugo smiled back— Are you worried about him? —he asked.
—W-who said I was!?
He marched straight to the kitchen, ready to prepare some vegetables before giving her her milk— Your face? —he offered—. There's nothing wrong with that, I'm worried about him too.
Sakura kept his silence, working on a pot that looked comically small besides the huge one used for the ramen broth— It's just… what the hell is wrong with him? —he fumed—. He was ruining himself for an stupid gang, even I can see how the suppressants fucked him up.
For once, the usually calm expression twisted into worry— Suppressants?
The younger one scoffed— Of course he didn't told you —he complained—. Looks like he's been abusing suppressants.
—Hm… Well, there are left overs from yesterday’s dinner, want some?
—Yeah, thanks.
Yugo was thinking about something, and Sakura was more than happy to be left alone in the kitchen— You are very quiet today, don't you think? —he said to the pup strapped to his chest—. The nap bad head is gone? Hm?
She looked up and cued, trying to mumble something to him, Sakura answered calm. Now that she can do more than cry, he finds her babbling comforting— Can you say mama? — he nuzzled her hair— Ma-ma.
Babies start speaking close to the year, but sometimes he forgets he is supposed to expose her to words. She can imitate his tone now, which is as silly as it sounds, because she imitates his grunts and sighs too— I should call your uncle, shouldn't I? —he asked out loud— We’ll call him at home.
She smiled— Amn!
Sakura smiled too, and followed with his day until his boss came around to open the restaurant— Feeling better? —she asked.
Surprisingly, Sayu was in a very good mood so he felt very good, at least it looked like a good day ahead of him.
Until, of course, he went home and his brother decided to not pick up the phone.
—Weird…?
He's the one nagging with calls, what the hell is he doing now…? Well, it's not like he doesn't work at all, he might by busy with something, or getting in trouble… and it's not Sakura's work to prevent him from getting in troubles, he had to remember himself.
—What are you-
No, he gives a shit about what he's doing.
—Call me back-
It's not an emergency either…
—Weren’t you the one crying about the weekly call?
Sakura sent the message and left the phone on the table.
He can't just forget, right? He wouldn't... Leave him behind like that. But Sakura was the one who left ultimately, and he was actually mad about that, does he even have the right to ask?
He stared at the phone before looking away, finding his pup sleeping her noon nap with her dummy and her doll— You sure are good sleeping, hu? —he smiled at her— At least one of us needs to sleep properly.
Not that it mattered much, once she woke up, if she was in a good mood, they would go make some groceries. And for a walk, Sakura is keenly conscious that he needs to waste energy if he wants to sleep, because what he did most of his life, rather than falling asleep, was fainting away. Not that he can do that with his pup, but being a little tired physically should help… Or so he wished.
—Hm…
His eyes darted towards his fridge, where the gift of that morning rested. It was indeed for share and Wanijima decided to give him a good chonk of it. Those vegetables were a good cut from his grocery list, so it was great but… The sweets looked great. He stud slowly, careful to not wake her up, and went to pick one of the little pies. They had a couple flavours, so he picked the apple one.
The little pieces melted on his mouth, and he felt a little more rested.
It’s sweet.