Chapter Text
Sitting with the Hiroses was a little awkward. The conversation went from asking Mr. Hirose what he does for work, till it moves to Saho getting all the attention because she has a full ride scholarship to a fashion school in England. Kana looked at her phone and then heard a knock at the door. She jumped up and ran. She grabbed a package and squealed.
"What did you buy now?" Okuto asked. Kana opened her box.
"A shit ton super good Pokémon cards!" She smiled and raised her package. Her mom gave her stuff for swearing, saying how it isn't lady-like. She ran upstairs and slammed the door. Mrs. Nakumura rolled her eyes and looked at Mr. Hirose.
"So.." She looked at the adult. "How did you and your wife meet?" Saho put her knees up to her chest. Neither of the siblings have heard how their parents met.
"Well..." He looked at his kids. "To be honest, I'm not sure. I believe it was in college? She was in one of my classes. And she and I started talking. She asked me about my bag, and then... I don't know." Saho twirled her hair with her finger while Aiki bounces a knee.
"I don't remember us dating." Mr. Hirose seemed like he was forgetting something. "We just started to. And then she said we should get married... And we were together? Friends? For ten years, and she was pregnant with Saho." I agreed. I don't know why though."
Okuto put his hand on Aiki's knee to calm his boyfriend down. Aiki looked at the taller and nodded, a silent thanks.
Mrs. Nakumura felt the room aura get tighter and uncomfortable. "Oh. Oh my." She looked at the floor. "I'll tell you how I met my husband then." Okuto nodded. He knew that Kana knows, but he never asked.
"Well, it was highschool." The woman started. "And he was, oh, something all right. How do I describe him?" Mr. Hirose and Mrs. Nakumura went to the same highschool together.
"Annoying as fuck?"
Mrs. Nakumura rolled her eyes. "I would say loud. But yes. He was very smart though. My friends set us up for a blind date, and I guess ever since it's been like this. He was lovely, and got a good scholarship." She tapped her foot on the ground. "His job is so great, that we barley see him anymore." Saho bit her lip.
"I-.." The young lady looked at her brother. "I'm sorry, both Dad and Mrs. Nakumura." The two adults in the room smiled.
"Just don't end up like me." The mother declared, leaning back in her seat. Mr. Hirose chuckled.
"Try to at least know when you're dating." The father advised. I think it would have made a difference.
Saho smiled. "Zenta and I are still strong I guess." She blushed as she said this. "Three years is kinda crazy I'm not gonna lie!" Aiki smiled at his sister's joy. He doesn't mind Zenta, he thinks he could learn how to fold a pair of socks. But he makes his sister happy. What more could a brother ask for his sister?
"I like Zenta." Mr. Hirose agreed. "He's nice and he helps with the dishes. Saho slightly kicked her feet around from happiness.
"Will Zenta come over for Christmas?" Aiki asked. He looked at Mrs. Nakumura. "If- ifthats okay." The mother of his partner nodded.
"Maybe, sweets." Saho stopped herself from picking at the loose string. "His... His parents are getting a divorce. So he's not sure about Christmas." Saho bit her lip.
"Love family drama." Aiki grunted. He felt Okuto's head hit his shoulder. The taller boy fell asleep. Aiki smiled.
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
Christmas day arrived. Aiki had his face buried in his lover's chest. His lower limbs tangled with the others and his arms around his boyfriend's waist.
Okuto began to stir. "Mmm." He opened one eye, and smiled. "Baby.. We gotta get up." Aiki shook his head no and got closer.
"Nuh uh." Aiki wanted to stay there forever. "Longer. It's only..." Okuto looked at the clock.
"Nine?"
"Nine." Aiki giggled. "I l- nevermind. Not now." Okuto looked down but shrugged. He kissed the top of the brown-haired boy. Aiki tried to get himself closer to his boyfriend. Okuto noticed this.
"Aiki, what's wrong?" Okuto knew something was wrong. He put his hand in the small of the shorter's back.
"I- I don't like Christmas." Aiki mumbled. "I just pretended to for... Forever honestly.... I don't have a real reason I guess." Aiki closed his eyes. "I'm- I'm not good with holidays. We always go to my mom's side, and they're loud, and rude. Everything is too loud."
Okuto listened. He knew what Aiki was saying. "We only stay here. Kana isn't too loud." He bit his lip. "If it's too much we can go back here? Okay? Just squeeze my knee." Aiki nodded. He liked this deal.
-
The boys laid in bed till 9:30. They knew they had to get out when Kana used her fists and forearms to bang on the door. "Get the freak up bruha!" She gave the door a kick. "Merry Christmas!" She ran down the stairs and giggled.
"Come on.." Okuto untangled himself. He stood up with his boyfriend and they held hands as they descended down the stairs. "When's your dad and sister coming over?"
"Um. Nine-forty."
"Ah, okay."
Mrs. Nakumura put a plate of cookies down on the table and smiled. "Merry Christmas kiddos. Eat a little before presents."
Kana seemed like she was gonna burst out of her skin with excitement. "Are they chocolate chips again?" Mother shook her head.
"No, they're peanut butter." Aiki looked at the cookies now. He loves peanut butter. Okuto smiled. He set this up.
-
A loud knock was heard from the door. Kana got up, she was excited to see Saho. She thought she was super pretty. She opened the door, in just her boy shorts pajamas and an oversized shirt she won at a fair. She looked up and her eyes wided.
"Oh my god." She wanted to cry. "Dad?" Okuto sat up real fast and got up. Aiki smiled, seeing his boyfriend so excited. Mrs. Nakumura looked up and got up slowly. She couldn't believe her ears.
The siblings held onto their father like their lives depended in it. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god." Okuto was practically shaking. "Dad! There's so much- I have- I have a boyfriend! Oh my god! I-" No real scentance could form, he was too excited.
"Dad!" Kana was jumping up and down. "I'm top my classes! And- and I'm- oo I'm also joining baseball! I'm-" Aiki watched the two react to seeing their dad like it was Santa. Mrs. Nakumura walks up to her husband. The kids pull away as the couple holds hands.
"Oh, sweetie." She kissed him. Kana fake gagged.
-
The Hiroses came over. Saho was on the floor by the tree passing out presents, Zenta was next to her, helping.
"This one says... Kana from Okuto." Saho passed the present to the young girl. Kana opened the ring box and saw it was a phone charm of Venesuer, her favorite Pokémon. She sqeeled, which made Aiki cover his ears.
"Oh my god! Thank you, thank you, thank you-" she kept going on and on. Okuto smiled. Kana gave her brother a hug, who gratefully returned the embrace.
"This one is for... Icchan? From Kana?" Saho looked up.
"Oh! It's Nii-chan's octopus! I'll go give it to him." Kana took the present and went upstairs quickly.
"What. What did he get Icchan?" Okuto asked.
"A puzzle thingy." Aiki answered. Kana came back down the stairs.
Saho handed out a few more presents. It was mostly things from parents to their kids.
"This one is... To Aiki! From Okuto." She handed the present to her brother. It was a small square, something. Okuto blushed out of embarrassment. Aiki unwrapped the pink and purple wrapping and saw it was a CD.
"You, well you listen to that Western Album a lot .." Okuto looked more nervous then when he confessed his feelings. Aiki held the CD. It was "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love" by Olivia Rodrigo. Aiki smiled and kissed Okuto. The taller leaned into the kiss.
Once they pulled away, Aiki smiled. "I love it, thank you baby." Saho smiled, Kana laughed.
"Nii-chan was so nervous to buy that." The black haired girl tapped her fingers on her leg. "Like stupid nervous. Kinda pathetic honestly. I had to hype him up-"
Mrs. Nakumura cut her off. "Enough."
Saho handed out her dad's presents and the presents the black haired siblings bought their mom. She handed a present from her to her boyfriend, and a present that Zenta got Aiki. It was the Tomadachi Life Living The Dream for the Nintendo. Aiki giggled to himself.
"Did Saho tell you to get this?" Zenta nodded.
"She knew you wanted it." Zenta looked at his girlfriend. "But she already bought you that um. Wait I'll wait till you open it." Aiki looked like a dog as he put his head to the side.
"Well, thank you, Zenta. I've been wanting this."
Saho smirked, but kept to herself. She handed out more gifts, smiling to see everyone so happy.
"To Okuto from.. Aiki!" She handed the gift to her brother's boyfriend. The gift felt floppyish, he looked over at his boyfriend. Who was practically giggling with excitement. Okuto opened the wrapping, he saw a special edition of Loveable Lunches. His eyes got wide and he immediately covered it up out of embarrassment.
"Oh my god. This is like, a bajilluin Yen! Where'd you get this?" He wanted to shake out of his skin. He kissed his boyfriend all over his sweet face.
Aiki laughed and tilted his head. "Kana and I went to this fancy store for books and manga." Okuto kept sprinkling Aiki's face with kisses. The chestnut boy laughed.
"Oh, thank you so much my cutie!" Aiki had never been called a "cutie" so this was a shock. "Oh so so sweet!" Aiki eventually got Okuto to calm down. But the latter was practically trying to shake out of his skin.
Mrs. Nakumura and Mr. Nakumura smiled. They've never seen their eldest so happy and giggly. Kana wrinkled her nose, mumbling something about "I can never get a fucking break these gays."
-
After presents were handed out, the two families ate their foods, but it was loud. The two boys sat close to each other. Aiki had his legs draped over Okuto's legs. They were watching a western Christmas movie that Saho loved. The older absentmindedly strikes a thumb over the shorter's knees. The two were engrossed in the movie.
Aiki put his legs in front of him and scooted closer to his lover. He put a hand on Okuto's knee and squeezed it. The signal was received and the two made their way upstairs. No one noticed. The door was closed behind him and Aiki sat on what felt like his bed now.
"Sorry." The shorter fiddled with his hands. "I just wanted to be alone for a minute." Okuto shrugged.
"Whatever really." The taller sat next to him. "Are you okay?" Aiki nodded, laying his head on his boyfriend's lap. He held put his hand out, hoping it would be held.
Okuto took his boyfriend's hand. "I'm okay." Aiki wanted to fall asleep as soon as possible, but he knew he couldn't. "I'm just sleepy. I wanted to be alone with you if I fall asleep." Okuto nodded. He's learned that his boyfriend gets tired sometimes from being social. It was rare, but it happens.
"You're adorable." Okuto played with the chestnut boy's hair. Aiki huffed at this.
"Nuh uh." Aiki disagreed.
Okuto didn't argue. He leaned down to kiss his partner's head.
"I love you." Aiki smiled, closing his eyes. Okuto's eyes widened. "You don't have to say it back." The one trying to sleep clarified. "I just wanted you to know.
"No!" Okuto panicked slightly. "I love you too! Like so much." Okuto smiled. "I- oh- I don't know. I love you. I really do!" Aiki smiled and wanted to sleep.
"Well, I guess we're even now." He fell asleep like that.
-
Saho didn't know where her brother was. She wanted to give her present to him alone, to not embarrass him. "Where's Aiki?" She asked her dad. He shrugged. And she groaned.
"Where's Okuto-kun?" She asked Kana. The young girl shrugged.
"Probably with Hirose." Kana looked around.
"Where's Aiki then?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
Saho groaned and walked away. She spotted Mrs. Nakumura and her husband. "Excuse me, Mrs. Nakumura?" The woman turned to the young lady. "Is it okay if I go upstairs to find my brother?" Mrs. Nakumura nodded. Saho gave her thanks and found her way upstairs.
-
Aiki stayed asleep on Okuto's lap. Okuto scrolled on his phone waiting for his partner to wake up. A knock was heard at the door, it was quite loud.
"Come in." Okuto replied, keeping his voice low. The door opened and it was Saho. She looked at her brother and smiled, closing the door behind her.
"Oh, we would do that when we were little." She looked at Okuto's chair. "May I?" The raven-haired boy nodded.
"He's always been, well?" He didn't know how to describe his boyfriend's behavior. Saho nodded.
"For an extraovert, he's always needed to sleep at parties." She smiled and put the present she held on the floor. "Hey, Nakumaura-chan?" Okuto looked away from his boyfriend and back at the young woman in his chair.
"Mh?" His hand rested on Aiki's shoulder. "What is it?"
"Thanks for taking care of my brother." She smiled at the sleeping boy. "It means so much. He dearly, dearly loves you. I know the thing with my mom was a lot, but taking him in and Just... Being there? It's more than words can describe how grateful I am."
Okuto smiled, feeling like his pride has grown. "It's no big deal."
"Not, it's the biggest freaking deal."
-
Aiki eventually woke up, but he pretended not to, hearing his boyfriend and sister talking. His two favorite people were talking to each other and it made him happy. He eventually needed to get up, so he pretended to stir a bit.
"Hey, what's up?" He fake yawned. To which Saho grabbed the present from the floor.
"I wanted to give this to you in private, but I'm sure you don't care about Nakumaura-chan." Aiki took the present and undid the wrapping.
It was the deluxe edition of Delicious Dinners. Aiki hid the manga from his boyfriend.
"What- what is it?" Okuto tried to look, but Aiki was turning a new shade of red.
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Saho laughed at her brother's reaction.
"You didn't tell your octo-lover that you like girls love?" Saho kept laughing. "I thought you told each other everything!" Aiki was more embarrassed than anything else.
"You read yuri?"
Aiki buried his feet into the pillow, putting himself on top of the manga. "Shut up!" He wanted to shrink into his own hole.
Saho stood up. "You're welcome, Aiki-wikey." She walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. Aiki huffed and sat up.
"So... You read girls love?" Okuto smirked. Aiki nodded. "Delicious Dinners, huh? It's like a knockoff Lovable Lunches."
"It's better." Aiki mumbled. Still feeling like he could burst. "Why do you think it's so funny?"
"You always tease me for liking Boys love."
"Shut up."
"You read yuri about middle aged woman."
"Shut up."
"You obviously love it."
"Quiet!"
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
"I think I'm gonna come home after New Year's.." Aiki told his sister. "I know it'll help mom maybe if I'm there." Saho smiled and kissed her brother's head.
"If that's what you want, you should tell dad." The older sister put her flats on. "Bye bye, Aiki. I love you so much."
"Bye, Saho." Aiki waved as his sister left, Zenta following behind her. "Love you too." Mr. Hirose walked to the door, he started to put his shoes on.
"Dad."
"Mh, what?"
"I'm coming home after New Year's." Aiki smiled. "Is that okay?" Mr. Hirose smiled, and the smile looked genuine.
"Of course, my son. I would love that." Mr. Hirose hugged his son tight. Aiki smiled and held him close.
Okuto heard his boyfriend tell his dad this. He knew Aiki had to go home soon, and that they can't be together like this forever as teens, but it still hurt to hear. The door closed and the dark haired teen walked away, he needed a minute.
-
"So... I'm gonna leave after New Year's." Aiki was laying down with his boyfriend in their shared room. Okuto was laying on his head on his boyfriend's chest. "I'm gonna try to go back to my house."
"I know." The taller boy kept his ear above the shorter's heart. "I heard you telling your dad and sister."
"Are you upset?"
"... Not really." He didn't want to guilt trip his partner. "I mean, I'd want you to stay forever, but I know you can't. And I do agree that going home could help your mom. I... I just like having you with me. Like.. I don't know." Aiki put his hand on his boyfriend's back, like he could hear the other's tears welling up.
"Baby.." He kept his voice soft. "I'll still walk to school with you everyday, I'll still walk home, and we can always have sleepovers and of course dates." He knew that this would upset his lover, but he knew he needed to go home.
"I know." Okuto felt his body slightly relax. "I guess I've become so used to it.. But the second things get bad, you can always come back. Okay?" Aiki smiled and kissed his boyfriend's head.
"Okay, I will."
-
New Year's went by quickly. Okuto was able to introduce is boyfriend to his dad finally, to in which Mr. Nakumura replied with a "oh I also like men" and then acted as if he didn't say that. Mrs. Nakumura laughed it off, but Kana almost threw a fit over it.
The Nakumauras + Hirose stayed up till midnight, the married couple gave a midnight kiss, and the two boys dating kissed as well. Kana took a photo of it happing.
It was the perfect way to start the year.
-
On Saturday, Aiki woke up to pack his things. Okuto laid there and watched him. He didn't help, he didn't say anything, he didn't even move. He just watched. He wanted to see how his boyfriend did things. He knew if he spoke it would make him cry. He'd cry and wouldn't stop.
"Octo-baby." Aiki finished and crounched down to his boyfriend's level.
"Crab-babe." Okuto whispered back. He stayed laying down.
"Get up. Come on." Aiki was pleading with him. "Please? For me?" Okuto sighed and sat up. He didn't keep eye contact. "Kuto, come on. Please. I know your upset."
"I'm not upset with you." Okuto was being truthful. "You're doing nothing wrong. I just don't want you to leave." Aiki sat next to his boyfriend.
"I won't be gone forever." He kissed his boyfriend softly. "You'll see me Monday, and we'll walk to school." Aiki put his hand behind his boyfriend's head. "And we'll walk home. And I'll have sleepovers." Okuto leaned into the kiss. "And you can come around my place and I'll show you around properly." The two boys kissed each other, only pulling away when they needed air.
"Promise me then?" Okuto looked utterly pathetic when he asked that. Aiki only smiled.
"Promise."
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
Aiki's sister picked him up. She smiled to see his boyfriend escort him him to the the car and carry his bags. He waved Aiki off as they drove away.
"Nakumura-chan is gonna miss ya." Saho commented. "That's sad, sweetie." Aiki agreed. When they arrived home, Saho helped her brother take in his bags. They took their shoes off and put the bags in his room.
"Come out when you wanna." Saho put her hands on his shoulders. "Ma will wanna see you, I'll be in the living room with her. Dad is at work. He'll be home at eighteen o'clock." Aiki thanked her, and she walked away., closing the door.
He noticed that his sister took back the manga he stole, and left the area for his new manga that was fancy. He put his clean clothes into their respective drawers. He laid in bed and grabbed his giant Crab stuffed animal. He clung to the inanimate object pretending it was his boyfriend. Now that he was home, he wanted to go back to his boyfriend's house. It felt safe.
He doesn't know how to feel about his mom.
-
The living room was tense. The son sat on the couch next to the daughter, and their mother sat in the armchair.
"Hello, Aiki." Mrs. Hirose smiled. Aiki gave a weak smile in return. "How was your... Boyfriend's... House?"
"Hi mom." Aiki held his sister's arm. "It was nice. I liked it there."
Mrs. Hirose sighed. "Aiki. I'm sorry." She slightly caved in. "What I did wasn't right. I never should have yelled at you or called you those terrible words." Saho looked at her mom and then her brother. She never heard about their mom calling Aiki names or anything. "And I know you won't forgive me. But I would like to try again." Aiki looked at his mom. A part of him still wanted to forgive her, but he knew he can't.
"Thank you for apologizing." Aiki bit his lip. "But I can't forgive you. I... I don't know how to describe it." He let go of his sister's arm. "But you hurt me in so many ways. It's why I didn't want to tell you, it's why I left the house and went to Okuto's. You yelling those things at me and calling me those disgusting things hurt me so fucking bad.
"I don't think I'll ever forgive you."
Mrs. Hirose knew that he wouldn't, it hurt her, but she knew she did this to herself. "I understand." Saho still felt like she was on the outside hearing that her brother was most likely called a slur. But she kept quiet, Aiki would tell her when he thought was right.
-
Aiki sat at the dinner table with his family. They were having tomato soup. The silence was uncomfortable, Aiki hates tomato soup, but he's never said anything.
Especially now.
He doesn't want to upset anyone.
He's already done so.
"Aiki, do you want some bread?" Saho was handing him bread. Aiki nodded and took a slice. He felt like everyone was focused on him since he was home again. It made him feel claustrophobic, and his mom is a minimalist.
"I need to use the restroom." Aiki stood up and went to the bathroom. He sat on the edge of the tub and calmed himself down.
He needs this weekend to end.
.·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·.
Okuto saw his boyfriend waiting at their spot. He smiled and ran up to him. "Baby!" Okuto kissed his boyfriend's cheek. Aiki smiled and kissed him back.
"Hi, Kuto." Aiki smiled, taking his partner's hand and holding it very tight, their fingers intertwined.
"How was the weekend with your mom?" Okuto asked, looking down at his boyfriend.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"..What happened?"
"Nothing. Literally. I- I can't wait for school."
Okuto felt his boyfriend tense, so he rubbed the back of his boyfriend's hand with his thumb. "It's okay. We can talk about it later."
"Thanks." Aiki leaned into his boyfriend. He smiled to himself.
"You know, as long as I have you." Okuto knew this would sound cheesey. "I think I'll be okay."
Aiki smiled. "Nah, I think. As long as we have each other, we'll be okay."
Okuto smiled, Aiki leaned up and kissed him. The two stood there, kissing softly, the sun rising behind them as birds flew and cars drove by.
The two felt secure together.
And that's all that matters to them.
The End