Chapter Text
“Rin are you sure, like 100% sure, that your brother is as evil as you say?” Rin let out an annoyed sigh as Niko turned his attention to his phone. They were walking to their homeroom, discussing the latest offense Rin's brother had committed against him. Today’s something about not wiping down the kitchen counter and leaving before Rin. He was never too sure after all Rin and Sae were rarely on good terms.
Niko couldn’t relate to that. His brother, while annoying, made sure Niko knew how he felt. It was something he’s done since they first learned they’d be a family. They were so close that unless he told people they were step-brothers, everyone thought Aiku was Niko’s biological brother. It’s something that’s messed with his life on multiple occasions, though it's always been in generally minor ways. Things like teachers assuming he’d be just like Aiku or getting his name wrong.
The conversation died out as they reached their classroom, with the chatter of their peers talking over. Or at least it should’ve. His class was always particularly chatty making it easy for Niko to blend into the back and not draw attention—the very opposite of what was happening now. Around 20 pairs of eyes were directed toward Niko and very quickly he realized why.
On his desk was a gift. It was wrapped in a pale teal cloth with blackberries printed on it. As Niko walked to his desk, questions ran through his head. The feeling of being watched set his skin on fire and he hated how his cheeks warmed a bit. The room was quiet as he sat down, everyone watching with bated breath as he opened the wrapper carefully. The cloth fell, revealing a bento box with a note on it. In cursive English.
He could make out a few letters but he struggled to read the majority of the note. He handed it over to Rin before opening the bento. He could hear Rin translating the note with an annoyed grumble as Niko examined the bento. It wasn’t one of the layered boxes, rather the food was placed in different squares. In the largest one were two onigiris. He gave one to Rin before taking a bite into his own. He could still feel the eyes on him but they almost faded as the classic tuna mayo filled his mouth.
Next to the onigiri, was beef stir fry over white rice. Some snacks and hard candies, like kappa ebisen and awadama. All in all, the bento was well made and there was evident care put into it. As the teacher entered the room his classmates finally took their eyes off of Niko. The usual chatter returned and it was almost like nothing had ever happened. If not for the gift on his desk, nothing would be out of the ordinary. Rin handed him the translated note, a simple thing. The admirer hoped Niko enjoyed the food and gave a final compliment on his hair. It was strange, but Niko wasn’t immediately put off by it, unlike previous confessions.
Perhaps it was because this wasn’t a confession. It was a gift from an anonymous person trying to catch his attention. He couldn’t help but wonder who this could be but now wasn’t the time to stress it. Focusing his attention back to his teacher, Niko almost missed the flash of blue that passed the window. Cyan-blue hair was the only thing he could catch but that didn’t stop a weird feeling of familiarity that grew inside his chest.
*.*.*.*
Walking home the empty bento box weighed down his bag. He and Rin had already split up, leaving Niko alone to attempt to explain today to his family. Rin’s idea was to say nothing about it but that only worked when you had a family as dysfunctional as the Itoshi’s. Two brothers who never speak unless it is to fight and parents who can’t be bothered to involve themselves.
Niko’s family was more… open to say the least. His mom married Aiku’s dad when Niko was little. The four of them were a close family, with them having a family dinner once a week. Aiku’s dad was quick to attempt to gain Niko’s approval. Engaging in his interests and hobbies as well as making sure Niko’s mom was always smiling. Sometimes, he thinks his stepfather is still trying to get his approval and such thoughts are affirmed when he walks in through the door.
Inside, it’s a familiar scene. Niko’s mom was in the kitchen while his stepdad tidied up a bit. They worked at different hours with Niko’s mom in the night and Aiku’s dad in the day. Niko’s mom worked as a private chef and caterer for varying men and women of high acclaim. She was one of many always handling the dessert courses but in the kitchen, few could challenge her.
His stepdad, on the other hand, worked during the day as a teacher. He worked as a Japanese Literature professor. Teaching classics from throughout the ages. Oftentimes, he’d bring back some spare books he had taught during his lectures. Niko always found himself more interested in the mythology and religious texts he’d bring back, something that his stepdad took note of. It didn’t take long for Niko’s presence to be acknowledged in their quaint home.
“Kiko? Is that you?”
“Hi, mama,” Niko said, taking his shoes off. His bag was left by the shoe rack as he let himself relax. The extra bento was pushed to the back of his mind as his mom came out of the kitchen. Niko’s mother was not a petite woman, standing just slightly taller than Niko with a rounded figure and boisterous personality. He supposed pudgy or fat would be how others would describe her. Rounded and soft features showed proof of her years eating well. She took space in the figurative sense so it’s almost surprising Niko was so different from her.
She wiped her hands dry on her apron, a faded baby blue with her name embroidered on the front of it, before pulling Niko close into a hug. Kissing his hair, she pulled away to give him a once-over. Once satisfied with what she saw, she returned to the kitchen. Niko followed after her, waving at his stepdad as he did. He saw no signs of Aiku on the first floor, but his shoes were with the others on the shoe rack. Either he was upstairs or wearing something different, Niko didn’t know and he wasn’t all that interested in the answer.
“Kiko, how was your day? Are you hungry? What’d you eat?” Niko couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped him. Maybe it’s because his mom is always cooking but ever since he was little, she’d been under the impression he wasn’t eating enough throughout the day. It was only recently she stopped packing him a 3-course lunch and mellowed out to something a bit more average.
“I’m fine mama. I’m not really hungry, if anything, I feel a little full…” That last part came out in a hushed mumble but his mother heard it nonetheless. He watched as the woman froze in place for a second before turning quickly to stare at him. Niko sat at the dining table and in just a blink his mother was in front of him. She pushed his bangs back, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead before touching other parts of his face, checking frantically for a fever.
"Not hungry? What do you mean?" She sounded almost panicked about the idea and Niko couldn't help but laugh as he fixed his hair.
"I ate earlier-"
"Hey, Ikki! Why do you have multiple bento boxes in your bag?"