Work Text:
As unit leader, Rei had all of his member’s family as contacts in his phone for emergencies - albeit minimally used in general.
…He didn’t think this qualified as an emergency.
Koga’s parents had called him, always a nerve wracking experience. They knew how much their son looked up to Rei, convincing them to let him attend Yumenosaki despite their own wishes just so he could strive to be like Rei, only to eventually share a stage with him. He didn’t want to say anything wrong when running the risk of proving to be irresponsible or a bad influence, even when knowing he wasn’t such a thing.
They called Rei, but not for an emergency.
“Can you do me a favour and tell Koga we won’t be able to come to his graduation? We’re too busy with work up here, but I don’t think I could handle telling him myself.” Koga’s mother said with a gentle laugh as if she wasn’t throwing away any support for her son’s passion that could’ve possibly been there.
“Of course, I’ll let him know next time I see him.” Rei said stiffly, trying his best to sound nice despite the bitterness flowing through his entire body.
He wanted Koga to be happy, he wanted Koga to not feel sad and alone when graduating like he did. His own parents hadn’t attended his graduation a year ago, too busy with international business to support their eldest son and successor.
Rei hung up the phone, deciding he needed to calm down before finding Koga. He always tried to be presentable and calm in front of his juniors, he didn’t want to ruin that now.
He made himself a cup of tea, hoping to calm his nerves rather than breaking down in front of Koga, and sat down to bury himself in his work.
-
An hour or so later, it was time to throw away his nerves as best as he could to find Koga.
“Puppy..? Are you here?” Rei asked, pushing open the door to UNDEAD’s music room and spotting a familiar head of grey hair shuffling through some papers.
“What do you want?” Koga huffed, angrily trying to clip his sheet music into the binder they had seemingly fallen out of.
“Can we talk?” Rei asked softly, closing the door behind him as he entered fully. Koga looked up at him with an eyebrow quirked, as if to prompt him to continue speaking. “Your mother called me. She said both of your parents will be too busy to make it to your graduation.”
Koga stared at him for a few seconds, anger deflating into disappointment as his shoulders dropped, but didn’t say anything. Rei pulled his hands together, nervously playing with his fingers and the edge of his sleeve as he waited for Koga to figure out what he was feeling.
“...And they couldn’t even tell me themselves?” Koga said, quieter than usual.
Rei shook his head, “I’m sorry I had to tell you this, you know I wish things were different.”
“It’s not your fault…” Koga mumbled, dejectedly picking up his binder and standing up. “Yours didn’t show up to your grad either, right? I know you would’ve wanted mine to be there, or whatever,”
“They’ll be showing up for Ritsu’s!” Rei exclaimed, clasping his hands by his face despite the lingering bitterness. He was their successor, but he wasn’t important enough for his parents to show up to his graduation, or even give notice that they wouldn’t. Despite the four years, a war between teenagers, and more, he was not a priority. To Rei’s parents, he was basically an object. At least Ritsu was different, even if he hated that it couldn’t be him who got to experience their attention.
“I’ll punch your stupid vampire parents whenever I see them, then.” Koga scoffed, mad over the abandonment of his senior from a year ago, despite the time that had passed.
(Well, they were in the same boat regardless. Maybe they were more similar than Rei thought? Or maybe he was still just grasping onto straws to feel similar to someone he admired so much.)
“Please don't,” Rei said with a fake sob, “You know I’ll just end up in trouble for that, so pretty please?”
“If you say so…” Koga grumbled, finally looking up at Rei after his words. “Thanks for telling me about my parents, even if you didn’t want to.”
“Did you expect me to let you be disappointed on your graduation?” Rei hummed, curious.
“You could’ve; you were.” Koga shrugged.
Rei shook his head, reaching up to fluff Koga’s hair despite the younger boy’s displeasure. “I want you to be happy, you know that.”
“I guess…” Koga hummed as he smacked away the hand on his head, not quite believing Rei’s words, despite having no real reason not to.
(He’d seen Rei at his worst, he’d supported Rei through his worst, it only made sense that Rei would want to pay him back that same kindness for sticking by his side. Yet, when your parents had left you to be alone on one of the most important dates of your adolescent life, it didn’t feel believable that anyone in the world was on his side.)
“I’ll be there for you even if they aren’t, you know that.” Rei said, voice quiet yet serious.
“You’ll have to be there for Ritchii, anyways.” He scoffed in response.
“Well, yes, but he’ll probably be mad if I get too near him! I’ll spend most of it by your side, promise. Kaoru will be there too, we both made sure to take the day off, okay?” Rei said hurriedly in an attempt to defend himself from the allegations. “Even if you don’t believe me, I’ll be there to support you.”
“I know, I know. Quit being mushy, it’s actually weird?” Koga huffed, pushing past Rei and out of the practice room.
Rei let out a sigh, turning off the light and exiting the room as well.
All he could do was try to support his juniors as much as he can, especially if their parents won’t do it in his place.