Chapter Text
"... and she's a very nice girl, or so her father says." Tobirama wants to sigh, but suppresses the impulse as his father keeps describing yet another daughter of a business partner. "She's doing her MBA, so I'm sure she'd have a lot in common with you."
"I don't think we would suit." Tobirama shakes his head, refusing to back down. "Besides, between the students inflicted on me by the university and my research, I don't have time to date."
"You could make time if you wanted to," otousan dismisses his objection, waving it away. "Meet her and see, I won't press you for more than that."
Kawarama grimaces behind his bowl of rice, and Tobirama shares his feelings. It always begins like this - a single date, organised by their father, then another one if the woman isn't completely objectionable, and soon there will be expectations.
No, Tobirama has had quite enough of it.
"Otousan." He puts down his chopsticks, making sure to align them carefully on top of his bowl. "I'm never going to date any of these girls."
"Your brother used to say that, but now look at him." Their father points at Anija, who smiles sheepishly but puts his hand over his wife's, covering it completely. "Happily married! It's possible, Tobirama, you just have to try."
"It's not possible, not for me." Tobirama looks up, catching his father's gaze. "Because I'm gay."
The silence that falls over the table is both sudden and total as the whole family stares at him in shock. He's never mentioned it before - he never thought it was anyone's business but his own - but if this is the only way Tobirama can get some peace, he'll do it.
He won't date another woman again, ever.
"Well..." Anija's voice breaks the hush, sounding overly loud by comparison. "There's always a nice boy...?"
Otousan shoves his chair back, standing up and storming out of the room, clearly disagreeing with that option, and Itama bites his lip. "Well, fuck."
Tobirama shakes his head, getting up and heading for the door.
"Nii-chan, wait!" Kawarama chases him down the hall, but Tobirama doesn't stop for his brother the way he'd normally do.
No, he needs to get out.
He always suspected his father would take this particular bit of news badly, and he won't stay under a roof where he's not welcome.
"I'll be back for my things when I can," he grabs his coat and swings it over his shoulders. "Don't wait for me."
He closes the door in his brother's face, and takes a deep breath. The chill of the air is calming, and he draws it into his lungs.
Dinner from a conbini, a bed at the capsule hotel near the station, and then he'll take the train back to Tokyo in the morning.
This isn't a disaster, it's just the way of the world. All children have to leave the nest some time.
It looks like it's finally his turn.