Chapter Text
Chishiya's neighbor was an odd man. He was a tall, scruffy man in his mid-thirties with messy black hair that fell into his face and big Bambi eyes. He had a constant look of exhaustion on his face whenever they crossed paths, but smiled weakly all the same. Chishiya had pleasant interactions with him, but never thought about him more than he would any other person.
Well, until evening and night fell. Arisu had a young baby in his care, and her babbles and cries drifted through the walls, regardless of the hour. Although Arisu was fairly okay at handling things, Chishiya still found himself waking up at ungodly hours of the night to the baby's shrill cries piercing through his sleep. Usually it would only last 10–20 minutes at most, and he'd easily fall back asleep. Yet, there were nights like that one where the crying would drag on and on for what felt like forever as he held a pillow over his ears.
His head pounded, and he knew that he'd be exhausted by the time his shift rolled around the next day. Peaking at the clock, a frustrated groan slipped from his lips when he saw the time.
___________
Arisu sighed, feet throbbing as he forced himself to pace back and forth in the small nursery, bouncing his daughter in his arms as she wailed loudly in his ear. He didn't know why she'd been so restless that night, but several failed attempts to put her to bed left him consoling her on and off cries for almost 2 hours. He knew he'd be dead on his feet in the morning, that he would be forced to wake up extra early to drop her off at daycare, so he could rush to work and not fall asleep at his computer. He knew that his every waking moment would be accompanied by a pounding in his skull,
That was, of course, after he got her down for the rest she so obviously needed.
"Oh, Akemi," he whispered her name like a prayer under the sobs, kissing her temple as she balled his shirt in her tiny fists. Short black hair stuck to her tear soaked face, and he brushed away her bangs with delicate fingers. God, she looked just like her . Arisu barely restrained himself from tearing up, remembering his beautiful wife and the life they created in the form of Akemi.
Arisu wasn't that bad at taking care of Akemi, as he'd been her primary caregiver for many months and made it his goal to be in her life as much as possible. Yet, he wasn't her. He wasn't Usagi. And Usagi wasn't there anymore, long gone . He thought that after 6 months, the pain of losing her would have dulled, but times like this reminded him how much he misses her.
"Dada!" Akemi screamed, pressing her wet face into his throat, skin burning hot from overexertion.
"I know, baby, I got you," Arisu let out a shuddering breath, and judging by the time, it looked like another sleepless night. Just then a loud knock startled him and ruined any progress as she cried louder. Blinking back tears, he robotically walked to the door and opened it, an apology already on his tongue. On the other side stood his next door neighbor, Chishiya, with tired eyes and hunched shoulders. "H-hey Chishiya-san, I'm sorry if we woke you,"
"It happens," Chishiya hummed, staring intently at the small bundle in his arms. "But it's been abnormally long and for the sake of everyone's sleep, I choose to check up on you,"
"Oh, haha, yeah. She's just having trouble sleeping tonight, and I'm not sure what to do," he figured she must miss mother's touch and wanted a comfort he couldn't offer. Already he felt antsy standing with the door open, knowing that her cries were louder to the other people on the floor.
"If I… If it's appropriate, I'm good with kids, and I'm willing to help," Chishiya bit his lip nervously as he paused before making his offer. Arisu blinked, considering the option. Immediately he felt an overwhelming guilt that his inability to comfort his own child made his neighbor, someone whom he could hardly call an acquaintance, want to handle the situation himself. Then, suspicion, a fierce protectiveness and need to keep her safe from someone he didn't know he could trust. Finally, as he stepped aside to let him enter, he gave in to his exhaustion and the overwhelming thankfulness.
"You're so kind, thank you, Chishiya-san,"
"If it means I can sleep for a few hours, I'm willing to assist when I can, Arisu-kun," Chishiya shrugged, and he shrivelled in guilt. Arisu brought him to the nursery and gestured to the things that normally soothed, with that, he tentatively handed Akemi over to him. Part of him fought against it, pained to give his crying child to another living person, especially one he didn't really know. Even so, Chishiya was surprisingly gentle as he cradled her to his chest, blank expression softening ever so slightly as he took a seat in a rocking chair.
Arisu silently backed out of the room to clear his head, deciding to excuse himself to the kitchen to make some tea. It was like a punch to the gut, he realized, another small thing that set off the over mounting grief he was barely managing as it was.
His baby girl was so young, and when he spent her first birthday without Usagi there to see her pride and joy on that special day, he had to rely on Karube and Chota, so he could cry away from her little eyes. Those two had really been his rock when grieving, and had been part of the reason he’d moved out of their old house and into this two-bedroom apartment. Now, another sleepless night without her mother to kiss her pretty face until she giggled, and Arisu missed her so badly.
Before the grief could swallow him and bring him to tears, the kettle whistled loudly, and he blinked rapidly. He quickly clicked it off and went about pouring two cups of herbal tea. By now, the crying had significantly quieted. He took both cups to the nursery and a ghost of a smile crossed his tired face when he saw Akemi curled up against Chishiya's chest, thumb shoved in her mouth and eyes lidded. The blond looked to be nearly falling asleep, absent-mindedly combing through her hair.
"Hey," he whispered, and set both cups down while Chishiya transferred her to her crib, easily shushing her brief whimpers. She cooed sweetly as her eyes fluttered shut, and Arisu couldn't stop himself from leaning down to kiss her forehead. Chishiya stretched out, and silently accepted the offered tea. As they exited into the hall, Arisu felt his shoulders slump. "Seriously, thank you so much,"
"Like I said, it's nothing to make a big deal of," Chishiya shrugged, leaning back against the wall and cradling his cup.
"I suppose, but you could have easily just told me to get my shit together, and you didn't have to help me. Usually her mother could soothe her better than I could," Arisu looked down, twisting her wedding band around his finger, willing himself not to cry. He never once took it off, even if he felt silly carrying around the ring to a marriage that was good and gone. They stood in silence for a while and drank their tea, Arisu taking the time to calm himself.
“You’re doing pretty good from what i could tell, don’t sell yourself short,” Chishiya hummed, strangely kind as he handed back his now empty cup. Whenever they finished, he bid the blond goodbye as they parted. When he was done, depositing the cups in the sink, he collapsed into bed, chest heavy with grief, mind full of an aloof blond and his beautiful daughter.
____
Chishiya wasn’t entirely sure as to why he’d offered his assistance to the tiresome dad other than a desire to end the screaming and allow him a few hours of rest before his 10-hour shift the following morning. He wasn’t exactly fond of babies or toddlers, and his patients rarely dipped below age 5. Still, little Akemi had seemed to calm so easily in his arms, not 5 minutes of being held and rocked before she quieted, curious black eyes so much like her father's studying him. Sure, on an objective level she was a rather cute baby, but it didn’t explain the way he softened at her every coo. He eventually chalked it up to his profession and went about his life, more than a handful of days passing before he saw either Arisu.
He was just coming in from an overnight shift, just about ready to collapse onto his bed and sleep for a few hours. Standing in their apartment lobby was Arisu, a now much more awake and happy Akemi on his hip as she babbled on about nonsense. Despite his tiredness, Chishiya still waved to them both, pleased when he got an excited wave back from the little one as she held out her little arms towards him. Her father was sheepish about it, even as he cooed in her ear. “Aw, do you see Chishiya-san? Can you say Chishiya?”
“Hi! Hi Chi!” She squealed as he approached, and even he could admit how utterly adorable it was to hear her shout his name so happily, and softened immediately. “Chi! Chiya,”
“Good job, baby girl, that's right,” Arisu smiled softly, and what a sight he made not on the verge of a melt down, still tired but a world more put together. “Man, you look pretty tired. I didn’t realize you worked so early, I feel even worse for keeping you awake,” Arisu chuckled, hiking Akemi up when all her squirming nearly allowed her to escape.
“I normally don’t,” he had to stop himself from explaining that another surgeon had been exposed for accepting bribery, and had been taken into jail, leaving Chishiya to pick up his shifts. That was certainly more personal information than he would ever give voluntarily.
Arisu didn’t seem to even notice his cut-off sentence, or perhaps chalked it up to his exhaustion. "Come now, Mi-mi, Chishiya-san is very busy,"
“Nu uh! Chiya!” she looked up at him with the biggest fucking eyes, and shit, how did Arisu have the heart to deny her of anything when she had that look on her face. Already, the thick walls Chishiya had built up to guard himself were weak, and it was his own need to sleep that prevented him from giving in to her wishes.
“Come on, little bunny, weren’t we going to go visit mama today?”
“Oh! Mama! Ma!” Akemi immediately lit up at the mention of her mother and wrapped her little arms around his neck as she babbled. Arisu looked down fondly at her daughter, and it felt like a private moment he wasn't supposed to be privy to.
"Well, I hope you two have a good time,” Chishiya nodded his head calmly and watched with curiosity as the light in Arisu’s eyes dimmed ever so slightly. His wife must be unwell, then, if she wasn’t living with the duo and was unable to care for her child. But it was frankly none of his business what his neighbor's living situation was with the mother of his child, and berated himself for even considering it.
They parted ways, with Akemi excitedly shouting ‘bye bye,’ until he’d disappeared into the stairwell, refusing to admit the entire interaction made his chest all fuzzy. Even when he’d entered his home, a smile gracing his features, he was surprised to find it entirely/ genuine.
________
Another sleepless night, another hour of Akemi throwing a screaming fit whenever he attempted to put her in her crib. While he had planned to dismantle the damn thing by this point and give her a proper bed, the little rascal would only take it as an opportunity to run around when she was meant to be sleeping.
“Come on, Mi-mi” he huffed as she squirmed around, making grabby hands at her toy chest like she wanted to play. “No, baby, it’s time to go night night,”
“NO!” she wailed. He already knew that her cries had once again woken up the people around him, and the last thing he needed at that moment was a noise complaint.
He huffed, trying not to cry out in frustration, and another knock at the door made him finally put her down. She sniffled and crawled towards away, a proud smile tugging at her lips when she won. To no one’s surprise, Chishiya was standing on the other side, that same tired expression he always wore. Throughout the last month or so, he’d come over 2 more times, and each time made Arisu a little more embarrassed. After all, what kind of father couldn’t take care of his own kid? Not that he ever said that to the man, as he’d always been at his wits end when the help was offered.
“I doubt she’ll listen to you any more than she’s listening to me tonight,” he said with a humorless laugh, scrubbing his eyes and fighting against a yawn. Chishiya nodded seriously, and already they could hear her loud babbles and the crash of plastic toys hitting the floor. “Arisu Akemi!”
As he rounded the corner, he found the child in the process of pulling out a stupidly loud toy that he’d removed the batteries to long ago. A gift from her godfather Karube that had been a headache to him for months until he gave in. She smiled innocently at him, and he just knew that it’d turn into tears the second he picked her up. Which, of course, it did.
“It’s bedtime, little bunny, you need to rest,” he explained, despite knowing it was falling on deaf ears. Chishiya leaned against the door frame behind him as he observed the spectacle, raising a brow when Arisu gave him a ‘see what i mean’ look.
“Maybe you should let her play a little longer,”
“Oh no, she knows when bedtime is, and she’s just being a little diva,” Arisu shook his head, and his point was only proven when she immediately stopped screaming and just stared up at him like he’d personally wronged her. Despite just turning one, the little girl had her father's scary intelligence, and he knew that she was playing the endurance game, which he had no intent on losing. He pushed himself off the wall and came into her view, and Akemi immediately lit up, big watery eyes aimed just at the blond.
“I mean, she’ll tire herself out and there won’t be any more screaming, so i don’t see the harm in it,” Chishiya explained calmly, and he easily accepted the busy body into his arms when she reached for him, brushing the tears from her flushed cheeks with a gentle touch he could only expect when seeing the man handle her. Arisu sighed, knowing that, like every other adult, he’d fallen for her charm and given in. “Don’t make a habit of it, of course, but…”
“Hmm, fine,” Arisu couldn’t help the smirk that he skillfully hid from him, knowing immediately that Chishiya, for all his aloof vibrato, was unimaginably whipped for a toddler. Yet, it was strange, seeing as the man only ever came to put her to sleep and leave again, and if he stuck around? “I don’t know if you’d rather go back to sleep now that she’s calm or…”
“I might as well see her to bed, in case she kicks up a fuss,” Chishiya hummed, and the way Akemi clung to his white hoodie made it apparent that she also wanted him to stay.
“Chiya! Ay!” she squealed, crawling quickly to the toy chest again once set on the floor, with Chishiya diligently at her side. It was astounding to him how such a stoic man could become so soft and gentle when presented with a small child and her grin. When she held up a soft plush bear, Chishiya hummed gently and quietly accepted it. Although Arisu would love to put her to bed and get some rest himself, the sight of it all warmed him.
Sure, Karube and Chota took care of her whenever he needed them to, and they never hesitated to play with and cater to her. Yet… Chishiya was different. It was so weird to see. Yes, he'd come over a few times to help comfort Akemi over the course of the previous few weeks, but that had been it. Just cradling her until her cranky sobs dissolved into sniffles and a light sleep. Never before had they spent any time together, just existing.
“Ah! Ba!” Akemi cooed, using the edge of the container to stand, rocking back and forth happily.
“Uh huh, that’s a good point,” Chishiya nodded calmly, a soft smile as if they were engaged in an actual conversation. Arisu smiled as he moved to sit down beside them, drumming his fingers on his thigh as Akemi stumbled over, falling to her knees, but it hardly phased her as she crawled into his lap, pointing to Chishiya.
“Yeah, that’s Chishiya-san,” As weird as it was, this must’ve been the most she’d been excited about anything for a while. It was nice to know that they’d made a new friend that could bring that smile to her face. She nodded happily and made grabby hands towards the blond.
“She doesn’t walk?” Chishiya tilted his head slightly, even as he held up the stuffed animal for Akemi to grab.
“A little, but that’s totally on me. She didn’t really have that many opportunities to walk around before we moved here, so she’s only just gotten around to it these past few months,” Arisu still remembered how he refused to put her down for hours at a time, how even when he did give her the chance to crawl around, his own anxieties would spike and he’d quickly scoop her up. It had been Karube, Chota, and even Hajime who’d stepped in and forced him into therapy and took it upon themselves to help raise Akemi.
“I see,” He nodded, and his attention was quickly pulled as she moved over to him, babbling on with intelligible coos. Arisu sat back and watched them interact, chest filled with something warm. They played and played until the exhaustion finally hit. Her toys were forgotten on the floor, and she curled up, head against Chishiya’s chest. He looked up at Arisu with slightly wide eyes, confused and questioning.
“Alright sleepy head,” He whispered and stood, picking up Akemi and kissing her forehead. Too tired to really fight it, she just sighed and relaxed. God, he couldn’t believe just how much he loved his baby girl. When she’d been born, he felt the unwavering love and desire to protect his daughter, and even a year later, he knew those feelings would never change.
____
Over the course of 3 months, Chishiya found himself becoming fairly good friends with Arisu. They spoke briefly outside the occasional nightly visit. When they met up every now and again in the café near their complex, it was mostly Arisu buying him coffee in apology for keeping him up so late. While he didn’t make friends, as he’d always been a person of solitude and found others to be annoying, something about the messy haired man really interested him.
And Kuina, apparently.
Kuina was his closest friend, which tended to happen by default, since he spoke to a total of 4 people on the regular. They’d met in college as they both studied at the same library, and she happened to be one of the few people who he tolerated enough to befriend. Although their adult life limited their time, she still made sure they met up every week or so to have fun.
“Oh come on, that’s adorable,” She squealed, leaning over the table as she looked at his phone. Arisu had sent him a photo of Akemi snuggled up with the stuffed bear they’d played with, and he’d shown Kuina. “Obviously I’m biased, so I can’t say she’s the cutest baby ever, but damn,”
“I suppose,”
“How the hell you even bag a single dad with a kid that cute?”
“Pardon?” Chishiya really hated when she used slang like that, as he didn’t often make it a habit to keep up with it. Kuina rolled her eyes with a smile.
“Is he cute? This Arisu-kun?”
“Kuina!”
“I’m just saying, I know you always say you’re into the single life, but I gotta say, this might be a look for you,” Although she was teasing him, he could hear the earnestness in her voice. Normally, he’d appreciate the gesture, and part of him did. Although they didn’t talk much, Chishiya weirdly cherished their connection. But…
“He’s married, I’m not interested in becoming a homewrecker,” Chishiya frowned slightly and distracted himself by eating. The restaurant she’d chosen was nice, and he made a mental note to come here later.
“Oh,” silence settled over them for a long while, and it gave him too much time to think. To feel awkward about being so involved in Arisu’s life while his wife was somewhere, likely oblivious to his existence. From the few glaces he’d gotten of family photos, he could see how much Akemi looked like her mother.
“It’s nothing, we’re just becoming friends, so no need to make that face,” not wanting to focus on his complicated feelings for a moment longer, he was quick to change the subject.
“If you say so, but be careful,” She said seriously, to which he rolled his eyes. Chishiya was nothing if not careful when it came to his own feelings, and the fact he even gave a fuck about his neighbors was strange.
“Obviously,” They finished up their meals quickly enough, and with a few hours left of the day, Kuina figured they could still have fun. She dragged him to a store, and they spent the remainder of their afternoon shopping, making jokes and leaving his personal life alone. As he walked around the store, a certain toy caught his eye. It was a soft white rabbit plushie with beaded eyes and a soft pink noes, and Chishiya felt an immediate pull to it. Something screamed to grab it, and Akemi came to mind.
Against all logic, he grabbed the thing, trying and failing to convince himself that he wasn’t already horribly too deep.