Chapter Text
Shuichi doesn't like the dark. His bed provided minimal comfort even as he's protected by his favorite red blanket. His trusted entourage of stuffed animals watched over him from the top of his dresser and besides him on the bed. Despite these surface level comforts, no piece of armor could dispel the primitive fear that rested within Shuichi.
It wasn't the fear of the unknown that darkness brings that bothered the young boy. No, it was the eerie silence that followed it that fueled anxiety. A silence that left Shuichi alone with his own thoughts. Thoughts that replayed the chaotic events of the last two months like a movie. Events that brought him into a new home, comfort in the arms of strangers. His father had called him earlier today. His once stoic voice was replaced with crackling shame. Father's departing words in particular stuck to him like gum in his hair.
"I know you'll be a better man than me, Shuichi."
His father's departing words echoed through Shuichi's ears as he fidgeted with the unknowns of his patriarchs fate. Even months after the arrest all Shuichi knew was that his father was in jail for "working with the wrong kind of people". That the news labeled his father as a "disgrace". Perhaps Shuichi knew his heart just wouldn't handle the details, always changing the channel when his father was mentioned. A deep sigh escaped Shuichi's lungs as he began tossing and turning feverishly.
Father did try to bond with him every once in a while. Sometimes he was treated to a movie at the cinema six and dinner at the diner by the river. Such pleasant evenings were rare, as more nights than not were spent alone waiting for the patriarch to return home by his lonesome. Shuichi did not miss the bedtimes spent fighting sleep as he anticipated the sound of the front door unlocking. Though it's not like father would even check on him when he did stumble home late at night.
Tears welled up in Shuichi's eyes, a hurricane of grief and repressed loneliness battering his heart. He missed his father greatly even if he was aware of the distance that grew between them even before the arrest. Shuichi didn't want to cry, and he especially didn't want to alarm his guardians down the hall either. But sometimes the pain is just too strong to repress.
There was humourous irony, even if Shuichi failed to see it. A fairy tale ending for a child who lost one parent to the grips of death and the other to the punishment of the law. Ending up with not just two guardians, but under the care of three loving individuals. Shuichi loved his two "new dads" in the stern but caring Hinata and the eccentric yet intelligent Komaeda. He even found a stable mother figure in the kind, if lazy, Nanami. Shuichi frowned as his uncertainties with how he should address his guardians flared up, being too polite to address them by their first names like they've insisted since meeting him at the café in what seems like ages ago. He felt urges to properly refer to the trio as his parents, even if he wasn't sure if he was ready yet.
An idea quickly popped into Shuichi's mind, straight from his heart. He knew at least one of his guardians had to still be awake, the clock besides Shuichi reading 10:45 pm. His tears have stopped but despair remained entrenched within him. All he wanted right now was to be hugged and reminded he wasn't alone. He needed Hinata. He needed Komaeda. He needed Nanami. He knew he wasn't going to feel any better by wallowing by himself.
Shuichi sat up in his bed, his nerves soothed through practiced breathing exercises. He took one last deep breath before grabbing his favorite stuffed tiger and climbed out of bed. Shuichi slowly shut the door behind him as he entered the dimly lit hallway. He glanced to his right and confirmed Nanami's den to be empty before creeping slowly towards the master bedroom at the other end of the hallway. As Shuichi approached the room, he noticed light escaping under the door and took it as a welcome sign that his hunch was correct. Reaching the wooden door Shuichi felt a sudden wave of self doubt before he could knock.
"What if they think I'm too old for this?" Shuichi thought to himself out loud, despite being the tender age of six.
"Would it be weird to ask? I mean they're not my real parents and why would they want another body in that big bed they all share?"
Shuichi stood at the door like a statue as he spoke to himself. He got so lost in his head that he didn't notice the door opening revealing a mildly surprised Hinata, who was certain Shuichi had already fallen asleep by now.
"Hey there, Shuichi" the older brunette piped up, smiling softly at the visibly distressed boy. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" He paused. "Are you okay?"
Shuichi turned beet red as soon as he noticed Hinata.
"O-o-hyeahIwasjustgoingtothebathroomto… uh. Brush my teeth" Shuichi spat out, devolving into a mumbling mess. Hinata chuckled lightly, seeing through Shuichi's lie. He let the boy continue his story.
"Yep, I was going to brush my teeth and I… Uh…" Shuichi sputtered as he heard himself out loud. One look at Hinata and he knew he was going nowhere with his fibs. At least his guardian didn't appear to be annoyed, a rarity Shuichi mused to himself.
"I could hear you mumbling from our room kiddo." Hinata stepped further into the hallway and dropped down on his knee to look at his foster son.
"Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"
Hinata asked, going with the easiest guess he could think of. That guess seemingly being on target as Shuichi's response to the question was an embarrassed, shifted gaze back to the ground. Hinata sighed in relief, the full picture being clearer to him now. Shuichi looked back up at the brunette.
"Y-yeah. Well, I couldn't fall asleep because I was thinking about… my f-father."
Shuichi's voice dropped as he spoke. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder, as he looked back at Hinata who wore a sympathetic face. Courage came back to the boy as he found his voice again.
"Could I maybe sleep with you guys tonight? If that isn't weird or anything of course but if it was I would understand."
Shuichi was cut off by Hinata awkwardly placing his other hand on Shuichi's other shoulder. Rectifying his mistake, Hinata rustled Shuichi's hair, electing a calming giggle from the boy.
Hinata paused, clearly weighing the offer. "If you're comfortable, you can hang out with us tonight." Hinata decided as he let go of Shuichi. Hinata knew his lovers certainly wouldn't mind their little distressed visitor tonight.
Following Hinata into the bedroom, Shuichi saw his other two guardians on the massive mattress that took a significant chunk of space in the large room. Komaeda laid on the left side of the mattress, already asleep as he softly snored away. On the right, Nanami sat up in bed fully immersed in whatever game she was playing on her Nintendo Switch. Hinata walked over to his longtime girlfriend and kissed her forehead, breaking her focus away from her game.
"Hey Chiaki, we're going to have a visitor with us tonight." Hinata announced.
The mauve haired women perked her head over to the open door, looking over at the blushing child. Nanami quickly smiled invitingly at Shuichi.
"Oh, that's fine by me, I think." Nanami yawned, shifting towards the edge of the mattress. Hinata climbed in through the foot of the large canopy bed, laying next to Komaeda who instinctively cuddled up on his boyfriend. Deciding standing around wasn't the best option, Shuichi followed and climbed the large bed, laying between Hinata and Nanami. Shuichi gripped his stuffed tiger as Hinata grabbed the covers and pulled them over everyone.
Now that Shuichi reached his destination, he found himself as restless as ever. He was almost envious to discover the memory foam mattress was noticeably more comfortable than his own. Shuichi made a note to talk about getting his own like Komaeda had offered when Shuichi officially moved in. He looked over at Hinata, who was now reading a book while Komaeda was curled up on him. Both men looked peaceful, far too peaceful for Shuichi to bother them.
Shuichi then turned to Nanami who already went back to her game, faintly familiar music ringing from her game console. He glanced over at the Switch and saw Nanami was playing Pokémon Sword, to his lack of surprise. Shuichi watched quietly as Nanami took out a poor trainer's whole team with her level 99 Cinderace. Gleeful excitement escaped Shuichi's lips as he cheered on Nanami's victory while she reaped in the rewards. The fanfare caught Nanami's attention, who happily motioned to Shuichi to come close., Shuichi scooted next to Nanami with zero hesitation.
Shuichi soon cuddled up on the lone matriarch as he watched Nanami play her game, her arm around him in a loving embrace. Nanami always gives the best hugs. Between the warmth and the woman nuzzling him sweetly, Shuichi quickly found himself completely relaxed. A relaxation that made him forget about his earlier troubles. A relaxation that made him feel wanted. A relaxation that made his eyelids heavy. It took only 10 minutes before sleep took over Shuichi, entering dreamland feeling loved and safe.
As interesting as Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas may be (a rare solid recommendation by Enoshima), the sound of a soft "hey hey" from his girlfriend wafted in Hajime's ears. He looked over and saw a now fast asleep Shuichi completely curled up on Chiaki, who turned off her game as she softly played with the boy's hair. The two adults' eyes met, and greeted each other with equally heart filled smiles.
Hajime felt at ease knowing Shuichi was adjusting to his situation faster than anticipated, knowing that every day he and his lovers' decision to take care of the child was proving to be a fruitful idea for everybody. Hajime chuckled to himself, looking down at a sleeping Nagito. He wondered if the former lucky student was sharing his talent in his sleep as Hajime felt lucky right now. Lucky to share a moment with the three people in his life he loved more than anyone else. Lucky that he found himself a happy if unconventional family.
"We made the right decision." Hajime admitted, happiness filling every inch of his body at the moment.
"I never thought we'd all adjust so easily, but here we are." Chiaki happily hummed. "I love him. I can't imagine a world without this kid now that he's here for good."
"You're speaking for all of us." Hajime agreed. "I can't believe I can call myself anything close to a parent if I'm being honest." He mused as he ran his fingers through Shuichi's hair. "I wouldn't give it away for anything."
Hajime and Chiaki shared another smile before leaning in for a kiss.
"You're a fantastic dad." Chiaki assured Hajime. "You both are." Chiaki added as she smiled at Nagito as he drooled on Hajime's chest.
"And you're a wonderful mom, Chiaki." Hajime smiled before yawning deeply.
"Good night everyone." Hajime called out to all of the occupants in bed as he reached over and turned his bedside light off. "I love you all."
Chiaki grabbed Hajime's hand as Shuichi shifted more onto her chest, his peace undisturbed even as he moved. Sleep quickly took over the Hajime and Chiaki and before they knew it, all four people slept soundly together as a family.