Chapter Text
Megumi sat up and blearily looked around him. The surrounding clean space reminded him that he wasn’t at his father’s house anymore.
“Morning,” Yuuta Okkotsu piped up from the kitchen. Right. He now resided in his aunt’s apartment that she shared with her husband. Megumi nodded in his direction. His new bed, their couch, directly faced the kitchen. Yuuta, dressed in a pair of baggy, gray sweatpants and with a headband holding his hair back, shuffled around it, preparing breakfast.
He quietly whistled to himself as he pulled dishes from the cupboard. The serene scene startled the teenager. Just a few days ago, mornings had been spent avoiding his foul tempered father and trying to sneak treats to his dogs Shiroi and Kuroi without getting berated.
“Any plans today?” Yuuta’s cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Yeah, I’m going with Yuuji to pick his brother up.”
His uncle paused. “Should I pack lunch for you too?”
“Don’t bother, but thanks.”
“It wouldn’t hurt you to have lunch,” Maki Okkotsu entered the kitchen. She wore the matching oversized, gray sweatshirt. Ah, there was the other half. “Now that you live with us your diet is going to consist of something else besides microwavable ramen.” Despite her firm tone Megumi could detect the genuine concern.
She walked up to her husband, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back.
“Hey there,” Yuuta smiled at her as he continued slicing fruit.
“I’m still tired,” she muttered but gave him a small smile.
Megumi flopped back down and threw the blanket over his head. Seeing their interactions reminded him of just how bad his former living situation had been. And apparently seeing adults behave lovingly would take some getting used to. He closed his eyes and covered his ears with his hands. He just wanted to see Shiroi and Kuroi and smother them with his love and affection. The dogs didn’t judge him, insult him or fuss at him. The distraction of being with them is what got him through each day. Except now he couldn't see them anymore.
“Hey,” Yuuta, now crouched by the couch, gently lifted the blanket up so he could see the kid’s face. “We may not be able to keep them here, but we’re going to figure something out for your dogs.”
Megumi blinked. How did this guy figure out he was in the middle of a missing-his-pooches session?
“That’s right, and now get over here and eat,” Maki said from the small table.
“Hey, Megumi!” Yuuji Getou, his classmate, jumped up from the bench. Megumi, now dressed in a pair of blue corduroy pants, a black button up and white sneakers, came to a stop. Yuuta’s old clothes fit him surprisingly well, despite him being slightly taller than his uncle.
“Ready for an adventure?” Dressed in a brightly colored button up and yellow shorts, Yuuji practically glowed on the dingy sidewalk.
“Not really,” Megumi replied. He hadn’t slept well and being homesick for his dogs contributed to his foul mood.
“Oh,” he paused. “Well, it’s actually not really an adventure. We’re just going to get my brother from juvie.”
“Excuse me,” Megumi raised a dark eyebrow. “You didn’t tell me he was criminal.”
“Pfft, he’s not a criminal!” The other boy laughed. “He just got in a scuffle and the other bozos got away.”
“That so . . . ?”
“Well, in the fight he did er, break a shop window with a brick. But he didn’t mean to. The brick was aimed at a goon.”
Megumi raised his other brow. “You’re not helping his case.”
“Come on, let’s go!” Yuuji grabbed his wrist and dragged the reluctant kid to the bus stop.