Work Text:
Shin: hachi come out at the normal place
Shin: hurryyyyy
Her eyes were hurting when she rubbed them and forced herself to glance at the screen. The bright light made her had to squint in the dark. The alarm clock beside her read 1:45 AM. What’s Shin-chan doing at this hour there? Whatever it is, it must be important if he wanted to see her so urgently...
She opened the chat window and typed a response.
Hachi: what’s happening, Shin?
Shin: it’s not important, just come out here.
Hachi: okay…
She got out of bed and put on the first thing she saw in her closet before going there. It was only when she was outside that she realized why Shin texted her so late. There were several large piles of firecrackers all over the ground. The loud and flashy kind. They sparkled in the moonlight like stars.
The night was kinda lonely, though because they were living in Tokyo, there were still sounds of life that can be heard even late at night a few miles away from their meeting place. Other than that, only a body of water and trees around them.
Shin was standing still near the water, face immediately lighting up as he saw her approaching. He waved her over.
“Hachi! You came!” He walked towards her and enveloped her into a hug. He’s gotten so much taller and in a few years she thought she’d have to plant her face in his chest instead of his neck. She hugged him back happily for a moment before pulling away.
“You look healthy.” Shin cheered, sizing her up head to toe.
Hachi groaned in return.”Mhm is that a way to say I’m getting fatter Shin-chan..?”
“No wayyyy… Who says my mama is fat? She’s just plump,” was all Shin could say before his forearm fell victim to Hachi’s sharp pinch. He swatted his hand as he let out a small yelp and sorry to her.
Hachi massaged her temple as she sighed lightly. There’s a special kind of headache reserved when you’re dealing with your child, as it turned out.
Shin, suddenly recovered, face went serious and took her by the shoulder. “Come on,” he said while gesturing towards one of the piles. “I want you to blow them up for me.”
Hachi giggled quietly. This guy is so lame! She can't believe he wanted to see her blow stuff up, but… She smiled at him. “Are you sure it isn’t important? You seemed pretty excited when you texted me earlier.”
“Nope. Just hurry up and come over,” he said with an amused smile. His expression softened after a few moments though. “But please make sure to cover your ears okay?”
Hachi grinned again, knowing exactly why he asked her to do this. “I will, don’t worry.”
“Okay good. C’mon.” He took her hand and led her back towards one of the stacks of firecrackers.
They stood next to each other and stared at the pile silently. Shin began counting down from ten, then nine, and eight. When he reached one, he pointed towards the sky and let go of Hachi’s hand.
The sound of firecrackers going off echoed through the air and Hachi covered her ears with her hands. As soon as she lowered them, she heard another explosion. She looked over at Shin who was still grinning.
She laughed. “Wow, that was impressive. I didn’t expect those to go off so quickly.”
“Me neither. I was really hoping they wouldn’t go off for another couple seconds so I could hear you scream or something.”
Hachi rolled her eyes at his comment. “Well then I guess that makes us even.”
Shin chuckled. “Yeah, we’re even.”
He waited a minute before beckoning her over. As she got close enough, he pulled out a box of small sparklers they used to play.
“Here you go.” He held out the box to her and she took it from him. “You don’t think I call you to come up here just for those right?”
Hachi‘s laugh rang happily as she opened the box and fished out two.
“Thank you, Shin. Now I won’t need to hide my ears anymore.”
Shin chuckled. “That’s true, right now your ears are probably hurting less.”
She stuck out her tongue and shoved him gently. Shin shoved back and smirked.
Her hand held out one and the boy responded by lighting it with his necklace lighter.
Some few seconds after, the stick started to glow orange.
“There you go! Now they’ll actually look pretty!”
Hachi grinned, looking at the sparkly color in the dark. She spun around with the light in her hand and Shin thought it looked like fairy dust was coming out of her as she was dancing around.
“This is amazing Shin.”
Shin’s eyes lit up as he watched her. He couldn’t help it; he loved seeing her happy. It always lifted his spirit. He’d always think that she’d look young no matter what. He’s young himself, but she’s even more lively than him.
He turned his attention back to his own sparkler, lighting up the stick and his lips curled into a small smile as it burned slowly.
Hachi’s eyes followed the sparkler and landed on him. His face was tinted orange behind all the sparkling. Shin's smile was distant somehow and he’s just absentmindedly staring into space. Her head tilted to the side curiously at that.
“What’s wrong?”
Shin shook his head slightly. The stick between his fingers twirled effortlessly. “Nothing.”
Hachi raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because you seem kinda distracted.”
Shin sighed. “It’s nothing.”
“If it’s nothing, then why did you ask me to come up here?”
Shin shrugged. “Just thought we should spend the night together… that’s all.”
Hachi frowned.
Shin knew Hachi could tell he wasn’t telling the whole truth. If she wanted to she would have pressed further, but she didn’t push. Instead, she turned back towards the stack of firecrackers. Shin stomped on his sparkler to kill it and followed suit wordlessly.
They walked along the tree lined street and Shin stopped by a park bench.
He sat down and motioned for Hachi to sit down beside him. She complied and he laid his head against her shoulder. They sat on the bench, under the street lamps and under the light of the moon as well. A little breeze blew gently like a swift serpent, brushing off their bare arms that were clothed with a thick coat over their shoulders, along with a warm hoodie underneath it.
Hachi positioned herself to make it a little comfortable for him, in which he responded with a pleased hum.
“I can’t wait for my little sister.” Shin blurted out of all sudden, making Hachi instinctively reached out at her stomach.
She couldn't help but smile as she looked up and her eyes met his.
“Are you excited?” she asked, a playful hint in her voice.
“Very, it’s gonna be so fun having her around. I’ll take her to eat whatever she wants. Buy her whatever she wants.” Shin told her. He was smiling slightly at the thought.
Hachi laughed at that. “She’s gonna be one spoiled kid. Imagine how proud she’ll be to find out her brother plays in one of the most famous band in Japan.” there was a hint of boastfulness in her voice. Like a proud mom raising her kid.
Shin smiled softly. “Of course she will. I mean, there’s no better family member than us both.”
Hachi almost giggled at the purposeful omission of Takumi. This kid really didn’t like her husband . “Yeah, I think so too.”
Shin chuckled. “So how are you doing anyways, mama? Did you get enough sleep? Does your tummy hurt? Do you still have that awful cramping pain? How bad does it get this time of month?”
“Shin. Please stop asking me that.” Hachi laughed. “My tummy hurts a bit, but it’s alright now. My cramps have gone away. I do have a weird feeling though, so maybe it’s something related to that. But I think it’s gone now.”
Shin shot her a questioning look. “Why don’t you feel anything?”
Hachi hummed humorously. “Because I’m pregnant. That means there’s a lot going on inside of me. So when my belly feels like it's about to explode, it’s probably just because of that.”
“Ah I see.” He tapped on his rings absently. Humming, he asked, “Well, you’ll let us know if anything happens right?”
Hachi smiled an easy smile. “Sure thing. Though I’m due in like another two months, I don’t think there’ll be much problems.”
Shin nodded slowly, drawing out an understanding noise.
“Hey Shin?”
“Hmm?”
She hesitated for a beat before saying, “Do you usually stay up this late?”
Shin nodded. “Most days.”
Hachi paused. “Oh… Do you get lonely sometimes?”
Shin shrugged. “Sometimes. But I usually manage to find someone to hang out with… Or if not them, somebody else.”
Hachi wanted to question if he meant his women, but didn’t find it in her to ask.
“It’s not that.” he clarified.
“Mm? Not what?”
“You were thinking I stay up late because I’m with my women right?” Shin said offhandedly. He felt Hachi stiffened slightly.
“Yea…” she whispered.
“I don’t.”
Hachi furrowed her eyebrows. “Huh? Why not?”
“I don’t even do that stuff anymore. It’s just... I’ve had trouble sleeping recently.” He closed his eyes tightly for a second and exhaled slowly. “Sometimes it just gets to be too much, you know? All these thoughts running in my head, all these feelings, they just take over and it doesn’t matter how many times I try to distract myself… I end up thinking about her.”
He wanted to tell Hachi about the sleeping pills he had been taking recently, but decided against it.
“Oh Shin-chan...” she gave him a sympathetic look. A fond yet sad air mixed in her tone as she let her fingers softly stroke his hair.
Shin leaned into her touch. “It’s okay… I’ll be fine eventually.”
Hachi shook her head slightly. “Yeah, but if it helps any, maybe you can’t sleep because you keep wondering what it would be like if things were different, if you could be with her and be with her whenever you wanted.”
Shin fell silent at that. “Maybe you’re right mama.”
“I’m sorry.” He suddenly sat straight up, retreating from her touch.
“What for?” Hachi was a little put off at the sudden move.
“For not visiting you more often.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I miss you, Hachi. A lot. You always know where I am at any time and I never feel like I get to talk to you. Even now that you're far. I always wish you were here. I hate when you aren't and it makes me so angry." His eyebrows were furrowed.
Hachi seemed hesitant at first, but patted his hand reassuringly.
"Shin, it's alright. It's not your fault. We can’t help that you’re busy. That means that Blast is doing well, aren’t they? Besides, it hasn't been that long since you've visited."
Shin let out a tired sigh. "I wish it wasn't so hard. I miss you, mama.”
Hachi smiled, but it was a distant one. She said all that stuff but deep down, Shin knew she’s a lonely lonely woman. She always was.
Maybe that’s why this is all about, making her come out here just to make him feel good about himself. After being so busy that they never got to hang out for any celebration anymore.
It burned to think how she stayed home alone on Tanabata the other day, with Takumi canceling their plan for his schedule overseas. Shin imagined she’d played Blast’s recorded performances and watched Nana over and over all night in the apartment that’s too big for her small body. He felt shitty just by thinking about it.
“Hey mama?”
“Hmm?”
“Can you promise me something?”
Shin reached for her hand quietly.
“After my sister is born, promise that we’ll go out somewhere together.”
Hachi paused for a second and thought about it. “That sounds nice.”
Shin smiled. “Yeah?”
A laugh bubbled up in her throat. “Now that I think about it… I haven’t done anything with you guys in a while.”
“Yeah. But not with them,” Shin fiddled with her fingers lightly. “What I meant is just the three of us,” he placed her hand back on her stomach.
Hachi felt a smile blossoming on her lips. Shin’s a real smooth kid, wasn’t he?
“Sure.”
He linked their pinky together. It wasn’t showing, but he was even more excited than Hachi was.
“Then it’s a promise.”