Chapter Text
“I don’t care! We have been pushing this deadline back further and further because of your incompetence!”
“Mr. Tokito, please we just need a few more days to finish.”
“The client is breathing down my neck because this isn’t even close to finished!”
“Mr. Tokito”
“You can’t find me a good enough reason and my patience is gone.”
“Mr. Tokito”
“Please! I’m begging you to give us just a little more time! It’ll be finished before you know it!”
“No! I’ve had it.”
“Yuichiro!”
“What?! … Oh, I’m sorry Aoi.”
“Sir you need to leave. We will let you know when and if you may continue with the project. Thank you.”
“Please, I just…”
“Thank. You.”
Yuichiro sighed, plopping down behind his desk.
“Thank you Aoi.”
“Of course, Sir. But now, you need to leave” Aoi said gently pushing him out the door.
“Why? My day is far from over” He struggled a bit. “Aoi, why are you doing this?”
“Because…” Aoi huffed. “I know a certain little boy, who is waiting for you. And I would appreciate it if he wasn’t waiting an hour this time.”
“What are you…” The boss’ eyes went wide. “Muichiro!”
“There it is.”
“Aoi please- “
“I know. I’m holding calls, making sure the building doesn’t explode and I will have some apple slices when you get back.”
This was a regular occurrence. Yuichiro (22), already so overworked and exhausted, would often forget to pick someone very important up from preschool. Muichiro (4) absolutely adores his big brother. He never minds when he is late. Imagine being 18 years apart. It was a surprise honestly.
Where’s mom and dad? There were complications when their mom gave birth. Her body at her age couldn’t handle it. It wasn’t unheard of for the most part. Yuichiro, without a second thought, took over watching and caring for his literal baby brother. He put his life on hold. Some say it’s still there.
Their father was in the very position Yuichiro’s in now. He ran a very successful and well-known construction company. Just as overworked, making sure his boys were taken care of. It was one night and a few drinks later, the boys found themselves well, alone. Oh, the patriarch of the house wasn’t intoxicated, but the driver that hit him sure was.
Yuichiro has had more than enough heartbreaks. He’s doing everything in his power to keep Muichiro safe and together.
He got in his car and raced to the school as fast as he could. Within the law…this time. He has had enough tickets. He reached into pocket for his cell phone to call the teacher but came up empty handed.
“Dammit”
Meanwhile back at the office, the boss’ phone was ringing.
“Good afternoon, thank you for calling Mist Industries. This is Aoi speaking, how may I assist you today?”
“Good afternoon Ms. Kanzaki. I assume Mr. Tokito is on his way?”
“Oh, Miss Fine! Yes, he is. I apologize, he must have forgotten his phone when he rushed out of here. He should be there in the next 10 or so minutes. I do apologize.”
“It’s quite alright. I know the pressure he is under. I just wanted to know how long I should keep Muichiro entertained.”
“We cannot thank you enough for being so patient.”
“Might I suggest having someone else on Muichiro’s pick up list?”
“I will have a talk with Yuichiro, but you know how he is when it comes to Mui. But I will do my best.”
“It is merely a suggestion. Thank you, Ms. Kanzaki. I will get Muichiro ready.”
End call.
“Please be close Yui.”
Just as she finished her thought, the boss pulled up to the school.
“Miss Fine! I’m so sorry!”
The teacher chuckled. “It’s quite alright Mr. Tokito. Everything is just fine. Muichiro look who’s here!”
The little boy looked up from the picture he was coloring, smiled big and ran into the arms of his guardian. “Nii-san!”
“Hey Mui” The older said catching the youngest in his arms. “How was your day?”
“Good. I colored this for Miss Aoi” He held up a picture of a butterfly colored with bright greens and blues.
Yuichiro chuckled. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“Here’s his backpack. As well as a little extra snack for the road” Miss Fine said with a smile.
“Thank you so much. I promise I’ll be better.”
“Mr. Tokito, I don’t know if it’s possible, but would it be easier to have one other person on the pickup list? You would have less to worry about and I’m sure whoever its is wouldn’t mind watching this sweet little boy for a little while.”
“I appreciate where you’re coming from. But I can do this just fine. I don’t have anyone else. I will gladly drop everything that I am doing to bring Muichiro home.”
“I apologize for stepping out of line.”
“No no, I didn’t mean to take a harsh tone. Its just…hard right now. But I’m doing everything I can to make this work.”
“Believe me, I have total faith in you. I might have a suggestion that works, but we can talk about that another time. If you’re interested that is. But now I think its time this little one would love to spend time with his favorite person” The teacher now appealing to the big boss’s softer side.
“Yes well, thank you again” Yuichiro then picked up Muichiro, settling him on his hip. “Ready to go Munchkin?”
Muichiro giggled at the nickname. “Yea! Are we going to Nii-san’s work?”
“We sure are. And when you get there Aoi has a snack waiting for you and you can give her that pretty picture” Yuichiro explained while clipping the small boy into his car seat.
The car ride was quiet. Because five minutes into it the baby in the back fell asleep. Yuichiro looked through the rear-view mirror and smiled. Sure, this is a lot of work, but he wouldn’t trade it for the world. After another few minutes, the boss could see his building come into the distance. Parking was easy. Being the big dog, you have your own spot right upfront.
“Mui, wake up. We’re here” Yuichiro cooed as not to startle his brother. Muichiro stretched and the elder took the opportunity to pick him up, the little one instantly locking his arms around his big brother’s neck.
The lobby attendant opened the door and offered to help the boss get to the top floor, but Yuichiro declined. Thanking him though. He’s not a complete monster. Getting in the elevator, Muichiro was much more awake and wanted to press the button. How could Yui resist? Want to know the problem with working on the top floor? It was the top floor. As they were going up, Yuichiro could see the discomfort his brother was feeling. The eldest opened his mouth to imitate a yawn and Muichiro fid the same letting out an actual yawn. Doing so, relieving the pressure in his ears.
Once they reached their destination, Aoi wasted no time in making her way to them.
“Muichiro! Welcome back!”
“Aoi!” The little boy squealed, reaching out for his favorite assistant. Who, happily, took him in her arms. To say he was spoiled was an understatement. But hey, who could blame them. “Look!”
“What is it?”
Muichiro all but shoved the picture in the woman’s face. With his biggest smile, of course.
“Oh, Muichiro it’s beautiful! Is it for me?” The boy nodded. “Thank you! You are just the sweetest! Would you like to help me hang it up?”
Muichiro started bouncing up and down in her arms excitedly. Aoi went to her desk, ripped off some tape and handed it to her little boy.
“Ta-da!”
“Oh, it looks wonderful! What do you think big brother?” Aoi said, urging a smile from the elder.
Yuichiro chortled but could not help but smile at the sight before him. “It looks absolutely wonderful” He glanced at the clock on the wall and realized the time. “Aoi, I must run into a meeting. Could you please- “
She waved him away. “Yea yea, I have everything under control” Ending her statement with a wink. Fifteen minutes into the meeting, the phone rang. Leaving the baby’s side for a second Aoi answered it. A two second phone call turned into what felt like a 45-minute heart attack. Until she turned towards the meeting room that she started panicking. “Mui! No!”
“Nii-san! Look!”
Yuichiro was surprised to see his brother, normally his assistant is good at keeping him occupied.
“Uh, Mui please go play with Aoi. I’m a little busy right now” He turned back to the group but felt a tug on his blazer.
“But I wanna show you something!”
“Mui please, I’ll look at it when I’m done. Go outside please.”
“But Nii-san! Look! Look!”
“Get Out Muichiro!”
The little boy stepped back, tears forming in his eyes.
“Oh Mui, I’m so sorry.”
But the boy didn’t want to hear it. With a wail he took off running.
“I sincerely apologize for that intrusion” Aoi bowed turning on her heels. “Muichiro! Please come back.”
Yuichiro groaned, completely forgetting the other people in the room. Until one of them cleared their throat.
“Mr. Tokito, should we come back another day?”
“No, its fine, we’re almost done here”
“But sir, your son needs you.”
“He’s not my son. He’s, my brother. Let’s finish this up.”
“But sir”
“Enough. The quicker these ends, the quicker I can go to him. Ok? Now continue”
They continued, with caution obviously. They were worried about the boss. They know the pressure he’s under and have tried to get him to step back a little.
Meanwhile, Aoi was trying to find where Muichiro hid. Until she heard sniffling from under her employer’s desk.
“Hey there Mui”
Silence.
“Yuichiro didn’t mean to yell at you.”
Silence.
“He’s very sorry.”
“He’s very sorry Munchkin.”
That got movement from the boy. He peeked from the corner and was looking straight into the same teal eyes he has.
“Please come out Mui.”
The youngest Tokito went back under.
“I didn’t mean to yell at you, but being the boss is hard.”
“Am I bad?” Said a meek voice.
“Absolutely not. You are the goodest baby ever.”
“I not a baby!” Mui huffed, giving up his hiding spot.
Yui laughed. “No, you are not!” Enveloping Muichiro in a hug and giving him raspberries on his cheek. Making the room resonate with tiny but loud giggles. “You are my big boy who I love very much.”
“Nii-san!” Is all Muichiro could get out between his brothers tickling.
“All better?”
“All better!”
“Good. Now, you sit here, and you be the boss!” Yuichiro said plopping the child in his chair. “Now, what’s your first order Munchkin?”
The boy put his hand on his chin before turning and pointing at the elder. “Yui vacation!” He giggled.
The man stared at the child. “Did…did you say vacation?” He took a deep breath and turned to his assistant who was trying to tiptoe out of the office. “Aoi…”
“Ok in my defense, I didn’t actually think he would repeat any of it.”
“Aoi” The boss said, crossing his arms trying to look intimidating. But his assistant knows him too well and dropped the act. “I can’t take a vacation, you know that.”
“I don’t think you’re in a position to make that choice” Aoi walked behind the chair and put her hands on the boy’s shoulders. “The boss said you need a break. And can you really say no to this?” she said, tickling Muichiro.
“That’s not fair. What am I supposed to do while he’s in school? I’m not going to just pull him out.”
“Of course not. You need to just be at home and do nothing.”
“Nothing? I have so much work to do here that…”
“Someone else will handle. And I’ll still be here to make sure it keeps running smoothly until you get back…in a week.”
“A week?!”
“Yes, a week. And I don’t want to hear from you unless I call you specifically. And my cell better only light up with pictures of you and Mui. Understand?”
The inner turmoil Yuichiro was going through was an understatement. On the one hand he knew he was losing his mind working nonstop. But he still had so much to work to finish and deadlines he had to make sure the contractors met. He was going to decline; however, a laugh was able to permeate his thoughts.
Turning his attention back to the “boss”, Muichiro was on the phone pretending to talk to someone the way his big brother does. All while Aoi was holding the receiver down, they didn’t miss any calls.
Then Yuichiro frowned again. While this was one of the most adorable and flattering moments ever, he doesn’t want Muichiro to think this is all that life is. Working until you can’t anymore. That’s miserable. Yui’s life is Muichiro, not this job. Is that just as bad?
“Ok ok, I’ll take a week. But that’s it.”
“Yay! Yui vacation!”
“Yay! Yui vacation!”
It was like an echo. An echo of cuteness. He smiled lovingly at the woman and his little boy. Until he almost had a heart attack when Muichiro stood up in the chair.
“Oh Mui! A swivel chair is not for standing” Aoi stated holding it in place.
“Sorry” He started making grabby hands at the actual boss. “Nii-san!”
“Use your words Munchkin.”
“Up please”
“Come here. Argh. When did you get so heavy? We have to cut out the furofuki daikon!”
Gasp! “No!!”
“I’m kidding! I’m kidding! I can’t stop cooking the only food you actually eat.”
“You both are so adorable! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to put the phones on night mode.”
“What are you talking about? Its only… 4:58pm”
“See, this proves that everything is going to be fine! Not a single ring for the last hour”
“How are you always right?”
“I have to be for your sake.”
“Thank you Aoi.”
“I wasn’t talking to you” His assistant shot back as she booped Muichiro on the nose, making him laugh.
“Of course, what was I thinking.”
Saying their goodbyes and promising to stay off his work phone, Yuichiro found himself in a drive through.
“What do you want Mui?”
“Chicken!”
“Nuggets or a sandwich?”
“Nuggies!”
“Nuggies…?”
Pause for thinking face. “Please!” The boy said kicking his legs in excitement.
The boss smiled. He’s thankful that even though it’s Friday, there weren’t that many cars in line. Today was a roller coaster, he had no intention of going home to cook. Yui would make it up to Mui tomorrow. And all next week.
What was he going to do? All he knew how to do was work.
After getting home, they settled at the dinner table and ate. Muichiro telling his Nii-san all about what he did in school and Yuichiro nodding along and giving the baby exaggerated responses to keep him going.
Then it was bath time and getting ready for bed. Which was easy and boy was he thankful for that. It was about 2 in the morning when the eldest was woken up with a start. Though he would rather blame the thunderstorm happening right now, it was mostly because of a dream. The reoccurring nightmare of when their father was taken from them. Getting out of bed he went to go check on Muichiro.
Thankfully, was still asleep. That child could sleep through anything. Not to mention the ability to also sleep anywhere. Slowly creeping into the room as to not wake the sleeping child, Yuichiro sat on the floor next to the bed. Carefully, he raked his fingers through his brother’s bangs.
“Am I doing right by you Mui? I know I’m not the best, but I am doing my best” Sighing, he continued. “I could never be what dad was. Everything you need. What I needed” And for the first time in years, the boss allowed himself to cry. The sobs that came out were even a surprise to him. A meek voice brought him back to the now.
“Nii-san?”
“Mui!” Flustered, Yuichiro quickly wiped his face to get rid of the sadness.
“Why are you sad?”
“It’s nothing munchkin, Nii-san is ok” The elder said with his best smile. What caught him off guard was what his brother did next. Muichiro sits up, puts his little hand on Yui’s cheek and wipes away a stray tear. Just like his big brother has done ever since he can remember. They say that his heart grew three sizes that day. Gently taking the younger one’s hand, Yuichiro placed a kiss on his palm, resulting in the world’s cutest giggle.
“Come on munchkin. It’s still way too early to be awake.”
“Can Nii-san stay here too?”
“Umm…” Stammering for a bit wanting to say no because of how small the bed was, couldn’t resist those turquoise eyes. Sure, he technically has those same ones, but much harsher. Giving up with a sighing smile, Yuichiro got in the bed next to his younger brother. He was absolutely going to feel this in the morning.
But damnit, he didn’t care. Once this precious little child snuggled up to him, he was done. And as for Muichiro, well…he went out like a light clinging to his older brother’s pjs. With a kiss to his forehead Yui murmured a “goodnight munchkin” and he too found himself drifting into a peaceful sleep.
The next time he woke, it was around 8AM. Yuichiro was by no means old in any fashion, although the bags under his eyes would pronounce otherwise, but my goodness he did feel like it. His neck was stiff, but his back was hurting the worst. Until the boss realized he was in this tiny bed alone. Sitting up quickly, panic coming in hot, was about to yell until he heard the toilet flush. And then he started breathing again.
Muichiro came back into the room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Morning Nii-san” All the while climbing back into bed to go to sleep.
“Hey, you can’t go back to sleep now.” Chuckled Yuichiro.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s time to start the day, silly.”
“Ok.”
Was all that was said by the toddler. No one knew better than his big brother. The eldest brought him back to the bathroom to brush his teeth and hair. Afterwards laid out some clothes so he could change while Yui went to change himself. The boss was just about done when he heard the pitter patter of feet reach his doorway.
“Nii-san, the zipper is stuck” Muichiro said pointing to his sweater that was bunching on one side. Yuichiro snickered which made Muichiro scowl a bit. “It’s not funny!”
“You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry muchkin. May I help you fix it?” Putting his hands up in defense while crouching down to the young one’s level. “Abracadabra! All fixed. Go downstairs and get ready for breakfast.”
“Thank you!” He then took off.
“Mui! No running!” But to his relief, the toddler stopped at the top of the staircase so he could go down carefully. Finally putting his slippers on, he made his way to the kitchen. “How about pancakes this morning kiddo?”
“YEA!” Mui said jumping up and down in excitement.
“Would you, I don’t know…like to help me make it?” It’s like he didn’t have to finish the question. In no time, Mui was trying to push a chair from the dining room table towards the counter. To make things easier and because he knows the little one would like it. Yuichiro picked Mui up by his waist and “flew” him to the counter with said chair in tow.
While cooking, Yuichiro realized that this was the beginning of his week off work. He already had no idea what to do.