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Being parents was something both Tetsurou and Kenma did not expect they’d be fit to do. Tetsurou had a rough family growing up and he was afraid of the idea of taking care of a kid while Kenma just thought he’d be bad with children and won’t be able to be to raise the kid up properly. The idea that someone’s life was in his hand was something that scared Kenma greatly. However, when Kozume Kouichi entered their world, both new fathers didn’t regret their decisions in forming a family at all.
Taking care of Kouichi was a roller coaster of emotions, both of them were not perfect. They made tons of mistakes and had more panics than planned. But with the help of their parents, they slowly got into the right track.
“Has your son spoke his first words yet?” Yaku hummed, raising the kid up and down, grinning with Kouichi was squealing in delight.
“Not yet. But he has been spouting out syllables now.” Tetsurou took a sip of his drink, “We’re just trying to teach him papa.”
“He is going to turn 1 soon.” Kai pointed out while he checked the hotpot, “How is his walking?”
“He has been able to stand on his own…” Kenma murmured while busying himself with Fukunaga’s paella.
“Oi! Leave some for me!” Tetsurou hissed but Kenma ignored him, continuing to scoop some paella onto his own bowl while also pushing his husband away. “I can’t believe you like Fukunaga’s cooking more than your own husband!”
“The way you two act sometimes really make me wonder if you two are even fit to be parents.” Yaku shook his head, settling Kouichi onto his laps. “But how about say Yaku-ji first? Can you say Jiji?” He leaned down onto the toddler as he giggled, clapping his hands.
“Since when did I let you become his uncle?” Tetsurou shot him a glare.
“Kenma said I could.” Yaku grinned confidently, “What? Afraid your own son might say my name first before yours, astaxanthin face?”
“That’s docosahexaenoic acid to you!” Tetsurou bit back, oblivious to how Kenma had made his way over to pick Kouichi up from the libero’s laps. The streamer sighed, getting comfortable again with his son in his laps.
“Your father is still way too childish, right?” He murmured and Kouichi giggled, reaching up for Kenma.
“Papa!”
The room froze, turning to Kouichi. Tetsurou undoubtedly had a huge smile on his face, leaning over to his husband’s shoulder to look at the toddler.
“You said papa, right Kou?” He cracked a huge grin, “Can you say papa again?”
“Papa!” Kouichi giggled, reaching up towards Kenma again.
“Seems like he called Kenma ‘papa’ first.” Kai smiled.
“Kou, can you call me, papa too?” Tetsurou leaned in excitingly and Kouichi shook his head, grabbing onto Kenma’s shirt before declaring once more.
“Papa!”
“Guess we know who’s the favorite father is, don’t we, Tetsurou-kun?” Yaku hummed, elbowing Tetsurou with a smirk.
**~~~**
“Come on Kou.” Tetsurou cooed, holding his phone up to record the toddler struggling to stay balance on his feet. His tiny fists clenched tightly as he bit his lips in concentration. Tetsurou couldn’t help but to snort at how much it was reminding him of Kenma when the gamer was trying to beat a hard boss fight.
“Shut up.” Kenma’s voice snarled beside him.
Tetsurou laughed, “I didn’t say anything.”
“But I know what you’re thinking.” Kenma murmured, his eyes turning back to focus on his son. Kouichi then babbled something, raising his hands and made grabbing motion.
“If you want some up up, you have to come here, Kou.” Tetsurou promised, extending his unoccupied hand out to motion the toddler to come over. “Come on, you can do it!”
“You sure he’ll be able to walk?”
“If he’s the son of World-Famous Kodzuken, yeah he will.”
“What does him being my son has to do with him taking his first steps?” Kenma reached up when he noticed Kouichi was stumbling with his feet but luckily, the toddler was still standing.
“He hates to lose. Just like his father.” Tetsurou stated, his smile growing as Kouichi was taking tiny steps towards him. “That’s it!” He laughed, pride building up on his chest. “Come here, Kou!” Kouichi was surprisingly making more and more confident steps as he approached Tetsurou. Tetsurou couldn’t help but to laugh proudly while Kenma watched on silently, a small smile growing on his face.
“Papa!” Kouichi giggled, making an immediately slight turn to Tetsurou’s right side and waddled his way into Kenma’s arms. The toddler let out a toothy grin, looking up at Kenma as he reached up at the streamer.
“He came to me.” Kenma smiled, picking his son up and Kouichi immediately wrapped his tiny arms around the streamer, snuggling up onto him with a satisfied squeal.
Tetsurou hummed, making sure he’s recording this. The sight of Kenma’s small smile while he was cradling his son. “I’m not mad. It’s obvious who’s the favorite father is.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Kuro.” Tetsurou’s old nickname came out and he couldn’t help but to feel a small sense of nostalgia at the name. The former captain smiled, turning off his phone to scooted over to his husband, pulling him into a side hug.
“I’m a Kozume now, Kenma-kun. I don’t think ‘Kuro’ works anymore.”
Kenma scoffed, noticing Kouichi had calmed down from his attempts at walking and was slowly drifting off to sleep. “You’ll always be Kuro to me…” He leaned onto Tetsurou slightly, watching Kouichi dozing off with his fists still clutched onto Kenma’s shirt tightly.
**~~~**
Tetsurou narrowed his eyes at his toddler son in front of him. What weirded him out was that Kouichi had ran to him with his old volleyball tie around his neck, his chin raised as he proposed one of his ‘business ideas’ to the capitali- JVA employee. He definitely did not expect this kind of welcome home after his 2-week long away for his business trip. “And what am I investing in by buying you the whole bakery?” He amused his son.
“You’re investing in my father’s happiness.” Kouichi stated matter-of-factly and Tetsurou had to hold in a snort.
“But I’m also your father…”
“Papa deserves more happiness.”
“You know what. Valid point.” Tetsurou nodded, “But buying the whole bakery is a bit much. Will you accept weekly payment instead?” He took out a bag from the said bakery from behind his back and Kouichi’s eyes immediately lit up, nodding furiously.
“As papa’s manager, I accept your proposal.”
Tetsurou cackled, reaching over to pick his son up. Too easy. “Let’s go grab your father from his office and we’ll eat it together.” The former blocker carried his son to Kenma’s office, not seeing the recording sign on so he gave the door a quick knock before opening it.
“How did the business proposal go, Kou.” Kenma didn’t bother turning to the door.
“I’d like it better if your son didn’t take so much after you.” Tetsurou walked over, knocking the bakery box onto Kenma’s head lightly. The streamer looked up, his eyes immediately locking at the box. “Like father and son.” Tetsurou grinned, raising it up higher so Kenma couldn’t reach it.
“Tou-chan proposed a weekly payment.”
“Why not daily?” Kenma frowned.
“I don’t want to give you two too much sugar.” Tetsurou hummed, “Now take a break Mr. CEO, I think you need to check the validity of my contract.”
“As papa’s manager, a poison test is to be conducted!” Kenma snorted while Tetsurou squawked in offense, turning to his son in his arms.
“You really think I’m going to poison my own husband?”
“You can never be too careful.” Kouichi crossed his arms, nodding seriously and Kenma truly had to try to hold in his laugh.
Tetsurou shot him a glare, “Oi don’t laugh! What have you been corrupting our son with?”
“That’s you’re a conman?” Kenma mused, reaching to grab his son and set Kouichi down. “Now go, you need to prove you won’t scam us from a good apple pie.” He turned his husband around and Tetsurou could felt a small push on his leg as well.
“Move those giraffe legs of yours, tou-chan!” Kouichi shouted.
Luckily, the pie was not poisoned and Tetsurou watched the two Kozume devour the pie within minutes.