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As he looks at the purple liquid spreading unevenly on the floor, Ryuuichi Kashima thinks he might be tired.
The last time he slept feels like it happened three weeks ago instead of last night. Wait, was it last night?
Didn't he spend his sleep time studying for today's test?
Oh god, did he show up for the quiz?
He thinks he did, but how come he can't remember? Did he fail due to lack of concentration? Oh, grandma will be so-
It's Taka's energetic voice to drag him out of his trance, "Ryuu made a mess!"
Ryuuichi blinks as the daycare room come to focus once more,
"A mess!" Takuma repeats, enthusiastically thrusting his arms up before running around.
"A mess..." The timider twin agrees, unsurely moving closer to Ryuuichi.
"Is brother Ryuu okay?" Kirin asks, holding her stuffed giraffe as she blinks widely at him.
"Ah, yes." The boy says to the children, the apologetic smile already forming, "I'm sorry, everyone, but it seems I'll have to go out and buy more juice for us. Can you wait for a bit longer?"
"Right, right," The other caretaker's voice fills the room, and Ryuuichi has to blink again. Wasn't the man sleeping on the floor five seconds ago? "Our darling Ryuu spilt grape juice on the floor, and now we won't have it on lunch." Usaida sighs deep and gives a dramatic pause, "Only for afternoon-snack. My my, what a life. Now, have you guys washed your hands already?"
"Usaida-san," Kashima intervenes hurriedly, "I will go buy more now. They don't have to wait until-"
"It's fine," The pink-haired man says emphatically, then winks at Ryuuichi, "It's good for children to learn how to wait until nice things happen, don't you think?"
"Oh, but-"
"Besides, aren't you the one caring too much about it?" Usaida points, "Look, the little ducklings are already over it."
"Huh?" The older Kashima blinks, looking around surprisedly to catch the kids already moving around from one place to another as always, "Ah, you're right..." He sighs, relieved.
"Yup, sure, I usually am. Now we've settled this: are you okay, Ryuu?"
"H-hum," The younger stutters, consciously rubbing his neck as he gives a sheepish smile. And the boy is still honest as ever, "I haven't been sleeping much lately, with the finals and the daycare, so I'm a bit tired."
"Oh," He hums, intrigued, "Didn't the old woman give you free time to study as always?"
"Well, you see..." Kashima says, "I think she forgot the date. And I got a bit ashamed of asking her. I mean, managing my school life is the minimum I can do, isn't it?"
At that, Usaida looks curiously at the boy in front of him: the brown hair and average stature, honest eyes. And still so, so,
"You know, sometimes I wonder how it is possible you and Kotaro to be so alike."
"Hm? What does that mean?" Ryuuichi asks, alarmed.
But the other caretaker is already moving away, heading to the cleaning room to fetch some cloth and disinfectant to clean the grapey mess.
Gentle.
Ryuuichi is a good kid.
Usaida Yoshihito, 24 years, has always thought the world is better seen with closed eyes.
And if he, sometimes, gets asleep in the middle of his observations ― Well, isn't it what life is?
I think you don't feel so lonely when you're taking care of others. Isn't that wonderful?
Oh, that pushy old man, always meddling into everyone's business.
At least he wasn't like that.
"Right!" Usaida declares after lunch, "Storytime, everyone! What should I read today?"
"Ryuu reads to us!" Taka yells.
"He does the voices!" Takuma agrees.
"And he promised he'd read Kiki's story to us today!" Kirin's eyes can't shine more.
Kashima looks equal parts exasperated and ready to go to war as he tries to look over the thread of children suspended around him.
Usaida can see his tired eyes and purple lines, and no, he isn't like the chairwoman's son at all. He won't meddle in anyone's business. And if Ryuu feels like it's too much, he should very well learn how to say no to the brats.
Therefore,
"What? I can do even better voices," He declares, grabbing the book and opening it on the marked page, "Just watch, you ingrateful ducklings."
"Yo, baseball-guy." Usaida waves his hand above his head carelessly, "I'm sorry, but I'll have to steal you from the club's activities today."
"Huh?" Hayato says, annoyed. Looking over his shoulders with a bat hanging on his hand, "Why do I have to?"
"So," He drags slyly, hands hidden inside the apron, "Our dear Ryuu has all but collapsed on the daycare's room, and I don't think he'll wake up anytime soon. Ah, don't give that face. I'm not lying. Look here," Usaida keeps talking as his hands come back with his phone, "See? I even took a picture."
As the boy looks into his phone, Usaida looks at Hayato's face and grins wider,
"Do you want me to forward it to you, big brother?"
Hayato's mouth twitches as he starts moving away decidedly from the field,
"At least try sounding sincere, lazy idiot," He scoffs, "Sorry for stealing me from the club's practice, my ass."
Usaida laughs and decides he won't comment on the subtle blush he saw on the other's face.
He sends the picture of Ryuuichi sleeping in the middle of a bundle of children to Hayato anyway.
Okay, the old man could have it. Maybe he was a bit pushy.
"I am truly sorry for making you lose a day of practice, Kamitani." The boy says, dripping sincerity as he bows to his friend.
The pink-haired babysitter, still laid on the floor where he pretends to sleep, watches through half-lifted eyelids while Hayato's body stiffens, and he seems to be at a loss for words for a good moment.
It's a work of self-control to swallow the sides of his mouth where they're threatening to go up.
But then, Kamitani raises his left hand and brings it down fastly, a motion everyone is way too used to seeing on him.
The brown-haired babysitter flinches in preparation for a slap, and Usaida is left thinking that, maybe, he got the situation between those two terribly mistaken.
'Ah, wait a minute!', the first carer-taker thinks, anxious as Kamitani starts to lower his hand speedily, 'It was my fault for letting him sleep! And I was also the one calling you. Come on, you don't have to hit him!'
The palm lands right into Kashima's head soundlessly, and Usaida sits up abruptly, intervention ready on the tip of his tongue.
"Stop overworking yourself, idiot." The baseball player responds casually, too much so. The hand runs through the brown hair once, and Kashima moves as if to speak again, "It's fine. The team sucks anyway."
"Ah, thank you, Kamitani." He ends up saying, "You're very kind."
The older Kashima brother smiles widely, and Hayato's eyes seem shocked for a beat before he pulls his hand away from the brown locks.
"Hey, Kashima, I was thinking if you-"
Then, he turns around suddenly, looking straight at Usaida. And the pink-haired man feels at uncommon loss of what to do.
"Never mind." He says, glaring deadly serious into Usaida's eyes, who can't help the dry gulp, "I'm going now."
Maybe he should stop minding others' lives?
"Hold on, Kamitani!" Usaida watches as Ryuuichi hurries to follow the baseball player, catching him by the sleeve and pulling him to whisper something on his ear.
"Yes." Hayato nods energetically, faint blush back.
Ah, never mind.
"Wait," He calls again when the older Kashima starts moving to where the children are playing. Ryuuichi looks back, "Only as that?"
Oh, the stubborn affection of the youth, Usaida thinks, pleasedly spreading himself on the floor once more.
The brown-eyed boy smiles at him, excited gleam on his now well-rested eyes,
"No!"
Kamitani turns away then, but not before Usaida catches the shy smile he tries to hide under his cap.
Truly, what a tiring day. Usaida Yoshihito couldn't wait to get back to his apartment and have a well-deserved night's sleep. Saikawa is going to love hearing about it.
"Ryuuichi!" Grandmother screeches after, tugging the boy by the ear under the quiet eyes of the younger brother, "How many times will I have to tell I detest over considerate brats?!"
"A-ah, granny?!" The boy asks, teary eyes and a confused tone as he moves his hands sheepishly.
"Sir Ryuuichi," Saikawa bows from behind the woman, "We're both very sorry to have forgotten your exam period. Please, accept this treats basket as an apology. Also, please inform us next time."
"You!" The chairwoman turns to the butler, finger raised scoldingly, "Who gave you permission to assume my feelings? Stop it right now!" She shifts back, "As for you, little boy, I- what is this?!"
"Thank you, granny." The older Kashima says, hugging the woman tightly with one arm, his baby brother still on the other.
"And you too, Saiwaka-san," He declares, walking to the butler and hugging him as well, "Thank you for always taking care of us."
"Ah, sorry for that," He says to them, smiling almost timidly at two dumbfounded faces, "I just thought you should know Kotaro and I really appreciate you. Right, Kotaro?"
"Hm!" The child nods firmly.
With a last smile and a respectful bow to both adults, the Kashima brothers walk out of the room calmly, uncaring about the blush painting two face dear faces.
"Hey, sorry for asking, but would you like to have ice cream with me later?" Kashima smiles as he whispers, glad to have his warm face hidden from Kamitani, "As a thank you treat."
[Saikawa]: Thank you for always keeping us informed about the brothers situation.
[Usaida]: Don't mind that, they're cute. But you could talk with the old woman about a payment raise ;>
[Saikawa]: Sorry, I can't do that.
[Saikawa]: But we could talk more over some beer, maybe? Surely you also need some rest. I could go to your place and cook something.
Ah, Usaida muses with red cheeks, who's meddling now?
[Usaida]: Sure thing! I'm starvingg~