Chapter Text
Aiki immediately begins packing his essentials. Personal photos, important documents for him and his daughter, the minimum amount of clothes.
He’ll probably have to move to America with his mom and dad, but with the amount of times Okuto will call and visit he doubts the criticisms of his best friend will ever stop.
His mom and dad are okay parents. Aiki’s dad is always out for work and travels all the time, and his mom is a nurse so she had late shifts pretty frequently. His sister practically raised him.
He was neutral about his parents for most of his life, they never hit him but they were also never there. It was his sister that came to his school events and cheered him on while his parents focused on making as much money as physically possible just to spend it on bailing his older brother out of jail and giving him money for his rent and food, (which he spent on drinks, cheap condoms, and weed.)
He fears how his parents would respond if their ‘broken-condom-child’ asked for help with money and his daughter. They barely even know him.
As he started high school and met Okuto his relationship with his parents went even more downhill. His parents hated Okuto. Whenever they would cuddle or hold hands or show any form of affection his parents sneered. Acting like Okuto would turn their poor innocent child into a monster. They would lecture Aiki and demand him to stop hanging out with his best friend, but since they were never even home their rules never really stopped him. Their hatred for Okuto got to the point where they went into Aiki’s room and destroyed all of his photos of them together, stating that they were protecting him from humiliation and sin. (His parents aren’t even religious!)
Aiki learned to hide his photos and trinkets from his parents and Okuto stopped coming over. They instead met at his house or at the park or occasionally if they had enough pocket money they went to an aquarium.
Aiki loved going to aquariums with Okuto as he would rant about octopi and crabs and all the other sea creatures. He would stop and read every information sign and then point out the fish for Aiki and tell him all the facts. They would walk through the tunnels and hold hands with fish overhead; now that Aiki thinks about it, it sounds a lot like a date.
He places his and Kiyomi’s toothbrushes in a ziploc and his face burns brighter than his daughter’s red-40 watermelon toothpaste. Aiki wouldn’t mind going on a date with Okuto.
No! Aiki doesn’t even like Okuto like that! At least he didn’t. Aiki groans, there have been way too many emotions these past few days, Aiki feels like he’s about to combust.
Emotions are complicated. And Aiki really doesn’t have time to question whether he likes men or not or if he even likes people in general! He needs to pack the bags for him and his daughter and-
Fuck. His daughter is still waiting in his bedroom and has probably been stressed watching her father run through the house packing things with a tunnel vision that can only be rivaled with the tunnel vision he has when Okuto takes his shirt- okay maybe he has feelings for his best friend.
Rushing from the bathroom to the bedroom he sees a sleeping Kyomi cuddling Brick and Okuto’s pillow. Thank god. Aiki’s going to let her sleep because she was up for multiple hours last night screaming. Plus this might be one of the last times she’s going to be sleeping in that bed.
Aiki is glad to have a break from parenting and a moment to finish packing all his things.
~~~~~~
“Aiki? Hello? Why is it so empty in here?” Okuto toes off his shoes and sets his work bag on the kitchen counter. Looking around the dingy apartment with empty walls and empty shelves, Okuto gets a pit in his chest. Did Aiki leave him? Was he too overprotective? What if- Crash.
“Shit!” A yell sounds from the bedroom, and Okuto speeds his way over. Opening the door he finds Aiki under a pile of boxes, but not enough boxes to contain everything the apartment had. Okuto is utterly confused.
“Aiki? Where is everything?”
Aiki jumps up like a dog caught trying to get into the kibble bag. “Umm it’s in a truck. I rented one for the day, I’m moving.”
Okuto’s voice raises, “Moving? Where? This apartment wasn’t the best but there’s no way you could get something better and-” Okuto stops his rambling and looks to his best friend for answers.
Aiki shuffles his feet under him, “Umm it’s a one-bedroom across from Balthazar. But it has-”
“Balthazar?” Okuto cries. “That’s in the red-light district! You cannot raise a kid there Aiki. This is getting ridiculous. I’m not allowing this. You are unbelievable.”
Aiki begins to get upset, “Like I have a choice! You think I want to raise a four year old girl in the sexual crime capital of this area? Fuck no! But otherwise we’ll be on the streets and-”
“Aiki. You are moving in with me. I’m done arguing about this. She’s basically my daughter too at this point so I get to be part of the decision. You are going to move in with me.”
“Don’t act like she’s legally yours! I get the say where she lives! I’m not going to rely on you and become just like my good-for-nothing brother!” Aiki’s shouts halt and the room fills with both men’s ragged breathing.
“You mean Hiroshi?”
“Fucking yeah I mean Hiroshi. He has as at least three kids, is always drunk or high, and relies on my parents for everything. He has been in jail for assault like four times, but yet he’s their angel. His name even means perfect.” Aiki’s eyes well with tears, “I can’t be like him. I can’t give up my daughter cause then I’ll be just like him. I can’t rely on other people because I’ll be just like him. I-”
“If you think you are anything like that scumbag than you need to get a reality check. Not once have you put yourself before your daughter. You only drink on special occasions and you’ve never touched a drug. And I know you Aiki Hirose. You would never hurt anyone unless it was in defense. I know it’s hard to rely on others but Aiki, I’m your best friend. I love you. It’s not a problem for me if you want to move in with me okay? You can help with the bills if you are able if you want to feel like you’re not a charity case. But Aiki, I can’t put you both in danger like that. I need you to let me in. Please.”
Aiki’s eyes are shining in amazement that his best friend actually cares about him that much. Which he shouldn’t be so surprised, Okuto has always sacrificed everything for Aiki.
Aiki wipes his tears and runs into his best friend’s arms, “Thank you Okuto.”