Chapter Text
Kenichiro Doman doesn’t care for kids.
It’s never been anything he’s been particularly interested in, nor something that’s ever called for his attention either- and more than that he wasn’t exactly built to handle kids.
He’s never been all that social, never really been drawn to others, and his tall, broad stature coupled with the generally intimidating aura that seems to follow him into each and every room has never mixed well with young children.
Most either avoid him or burst into tears whenever he draws near, and sure, it’s annoying (and maybe even a bit depressing) but it’s nothing he’s ever had to worry about, so yeah.
Kenichiro Doman doesn’t care for kids.
Or at least he doesn’t until he meets Mitsukuni Asamine.
Now Mitsukuni is a lot of things- a lot of good things- that’s for sure. He’s strong, passionate, ambitious, and more than that he’s got this sense of justice that seeks to surprise Kenichiro again and again.
Another thing about Mitsukuni is that he has a younger brother.
A younger brother who stands shorter than most kids in his year, with an age perhaps a few years too young for Mitsukuni to be bringing around whenever he decides to hang out with Kenichiro. He can tell it from the way the younger hides behind his brother, wide blue eyes peering intermittently up at his towering figure, brows raised high in either fear or awe.
“This is Matakara, my younger brother.” Mitsukuni had said when they’d first met, that signature smile, rounded against the edges, plastered across his face as he’d spoke, one hand gripping and tugging at Kenichiro’s shoulder with jest as he had held Matakara’s hand in the other. “And this is my best friend, Ken. You’ll be seeing each other quite a lot so I thought it’d be best if I introduced you guys.”
And Matakara had made a soft noise of shock and despair at that, barely masked by the fabric of his brother’s pants as he stared up at the two, gaze flickering as if to ask his brother,
‘ Really?’
After that- rather rocky- introduction, true to his word, Kenichiro began seeing Matakara far more often.
Whether that be during his and Mitsukuni’s outings for petty fights or snacks, or whenever he’d inevitably find himself crashing in the Asamines’ small room, holed up in their relative’s old bathhouse as Mitsukuni, with a heart of gold and the patience worthy of a saint, explained their curriculum to Kenichiro when he should’ve been working through their actual work instead of holding himself back for the other’s sake.
During these unprompted, unplanned study sessions- because god knows Kenichiro would never willingly study and learn when he could be out there proving his strength- Matakara, bright-eyed and curious would always peek from behind his brother’s shoulder to see what two were transfixed by, even interjecting between to ask questions to his older brother, eyes sometimes worriedly flickering over to Kenichiro for fear of bothering him as he spoke in hushed breaths.
Kenichiro never felt bothered or upset when Matakara would ask his questions, but it seemed as though the fixed furrow in Kenichiro's brows and perpetual frown fixed against his lips spoke otherwise.
Kenichiro never minded Matakara’s company. Never minded it when Matakara would get fidgety or bored and ask for his brother, or when he’d undoubtedly have his nerves get to him during Kenichiro’s visits and quietly ask his brother if the other could go home.
After all, what else could either of them do? Matakara was young, and Kenichiro wasn’t good around kids and vice versa. The Asamines’ parents were both who knows where and their relatives never cared enough to check in with the two young brothers. Matakara only had Mitsukuni and it wouldn’t be fair to either of them if Kenichiro took his older brother away.
It was just the two of them and Kenichiro knew that, and he’d rather shoot himself in the head repeatedly than try to dispute that unwavering fact of their life.
During one study session extended to the late hours of the night, one that prolonged far past Matakara’s bedtime, Mitsukuni, with that same, soft, hushed breath silently turned to the other, and, without the slightest waver in his voice asked Kenichiro for a favor.
“Can you promise to look after Matakara for me if I’m ever not there?” He’d said, voice certain as he’d stared straight at Kenichiro.
“What?” Had been Kenichiro’s answer, voice gruff and coarse, a harsh juxtaposition to Mitsukuni’s gentle whisper.
(But that was to be expected. Mitsukuni was always gentle in a way Kenichiro was not.)
“Well y’know, I won't always be at home and Matakara needs someone to rely on when I'm not there.” Came Mitsukuni’s reply, as sure as ever as he gave Kenichiro a soft smile, setting his pencil to the side as he waited for a response.
“What-” A soft shuffle from the corner of the room interrupts him, Matakara’s sleeping form slowly turning in the dim light of the lamp. Kenichiro pauses, eyes wide, quietly waiting for the small figure to stop moving.
When Kenichiro starts again, he reduces his voice to the smallest of breaths, lips mouthing the words as opposed to saying them. “What makes you think I’m… qualified enough to take care of him? I don’t think your little brother even… likes… me.”
Mitsukuni simply gives him a small grin in response, eyes crinkling around the edges, features lit up in the warm light as he shifts to move his hand from his lap to the other’s own palm.
“Well first off, you’re definitely qualified enough to take care of him. All you gotta do is make sure he doesn’t get himself in trouble- and I know I can trust you on that. You’re my best friend after all.” Mitsukuni says, voice so assured Kenichiro almost believes him in earnest. Mitsukuni then pauses slightly, eyes flickering over to the small lump hidden beneath the duvet covers before he continues. “And Matakara does like you. I promise. You should hear how he talks about you when you’re not here. I swear he probably thinks you’re even cooler than me.”
Kenichiro fixes the other with a bemused, hesitant look, eyes scrunched up slightly in disbelief as he moves his hand from Mitsukuni’s. Frown deepening ever so slightly as he glanced at Matakara’s sleeping form.
“I… don’t know if I believe you on… either of those points,” Kenichiro states plainly, voice coming out deep and low in an attempt to be quiet as his lips purse. “Anyways I’m not… good. With kids.”
Mitsukuni’s lips draw into a soft pout, eyes squinting as he gazes up in thought before he looks back at Kenichiro. “Hmm, well maybe not, but that doesn’t mean anything- at least not to him.”
“He hides behind you each time I visit.”
Mitsukuni gives a soft, breathy giggle in response. It’s a soft, airy sound that has Kenichiro feeling oddly abashed. “Well, that’s only ‘cause he’s embarrassed.”
“…What?”
“Yeah man, it seems like he’s scared to do stuff with you around, but that’s only ‘cause he wants to impress you,” Mitsukuni says, tone easy, almost teasing as he catches Kenichiro’s palm once again, this time holding it with both hands. “I’m being serious, Ken.”
Kenichiro pauses, eyes searching the other’s matching blue eyes for any sort of deceit, lie, or humor, but there isn’t any. Rather it seems as though in this moment, Mitsukuni’s more serious than he ever has been before.
“I… see.” Kenichiro manages, voice cracking slightly as his fingers latch against the calluses on Mitsukuni’s fingers.
“So? What about it? Can I trust you to leave Matakara in your capable hands?” Mitsukuni says, and with his lips quirked in a slight smirk, Mitsukuni drops his before serious tone to tease Kenichiro instead.
Kenichiro Doman doesn’t care for kids.
But, with the way Mitsukuni’s hands lay clasped around his own, eyes crinkled around the edges, a smile playing against his lips as he gently tugged the other’s fingers, calluses brushing against calluses-
“Sure.”
Kenichiro Doman doesn’t care for kids until he does.