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“Hey, Wasuke, do your parents ever fight?” Yuta asked, smiling with a curious gleam in his dark eyes at his —begrudgingly— friend and classmate. Rika stood by his side, smiling fondly at her future husband. They had approached Wasuke’s desk, a boy with turkish rose hair and hazel brown eyes and whom his parents were well known for being all lovey-dovey, sometimes not caring about PDA at all.
Wasuke blinked, looking at them with an eyebrow raised. “Huh? Why would you ask me that?” Wasuka asked, scrunching up his nose and glared suspiciously at the “couple”.
Rika glanced back at Wasuke. “Your parents are the blueprint for what we want our marriage to be.” She explained, giving Wasuke an unamused look.
Wasuke stared at her with a grimace. “Aren’t we just 11?”
“Answer the question, Wasuke.” Rika insisted, her smile not matching her gaze.
Wasuke rolled his eyes before closing them with a furrowed brow as he hummed. Trying to recall if his parents had argued in front of him. He looks like his father with his eyes closed. Yuta thought with a giggle.
“Ah! There was one time mom got angry.” Wasuke said, opening his eyes again. Staring up at the ceiling as he recalled the events.
“Oh? Really!?” Yuta asked, slamming his hands on Wasuke’s desk as he stared in surprise at his friend. It was hard for Yuta to imagine such an adoring couple be mad at each other, his eleven-year-old mind could not believe that both Mr. Ryoumen would ever get into a fight. He always thought they were the mythical married couple who never fought.
Rika sighed, resting her left cheek against her left palm and grabbing her left elbow with her right hand. “So even a perfect couple like them have their ups and down.”
Wasuke felt his right eyebrow twitch as he narrowed his eyes in annoyance at Rika and Yuta. “Sorry my parents aren’t perfect.” Wasuke huffed, leaning back on his desk chair.
“But, what did Yuuji-san get angry about? Did your father forget an anniversary?” Yuta asked, staring intently at Wasuke.
Wasuke snorted. “Dad would be dead if he did.” He said, poking a little fun at his father.
“So?” Rika asked, giving Wasuke a curious stare.
Wasuke sighed, crossing his arms. “It wasn’t all that interesting.”
The school decided to make a small event for Father’s Day. Each class would either recite a poem or do a choreographed dance and much to Wasuke’s dismay, his class had ended up doing poems. The theme —obviously— being what you loved about your dad or any paternal figure in your life. Wasuke was going to be up on the stage soon and though he was always compared to his father, Sukuna, for being the same troublemaking kid. Wasuke was nervous and a bit shy since Yuuji had helped him with his poem and it ended up being a little… emotional and cute. Something that Wasuke was not!
Yuuji crouched down to be at the same eye-level as his son. “Don’t worry, Wasuke, just look at us not and not the crowd.” Yuuji smiled reassuringly at his son. “Your father and I will support you, right Kuna?” Yuuji asked, glancing up for his husband’s support.
Sukuna, however, was on his phone. Brow furrowed as he talked to someone, most likely from work.
“Kuna? Kuna!” Yuuji called out to him a couple of times, but Sukuna kept on arguing over the phone. A nine-year-old Wasuke watched as Yuuji’s face got serious before standing back up again and crossing his arms. “Sukuna.” Yuuji called out in a strict voice.
Sukuna’s voice immediately died down, glancing wide eyed at his husband. Although Yuuji was smiling, his eyes were clearly not.
“Get off the phone. Now.” Yuuji ordered. Wasuke never understood why some other parents would give Yuuji a glare when Yuuji ordered his husband to get off the phone —it was a bit rude! This was a special event for Wasuke, after all—, but nonetheless, Sukuna did it without being told twice.
“Sorry, my love.” Sukuna said, wrapping one arm around Yuuji’s waist and pulling him close. An apologetic look on his blue eyes.
Yuuji huffed. “If you’re sorry, you better be the loudest when Wasuke goes up.”
“What!? N-No! Mom, I’m okay!” Wasuke sputtered, face red in embarrassment at the idea he forgot his anxiousness of performing to the whole school.
“Ah, so that’s why Mr. Ryoumen shouted so loud that time.” Rika said.
Yuta hummed, holding his chin with a sharp glint in his eyes. “I see.”
“Please stop asking me about my parents, I don’t want to remember embarrassing shit like that.” Wasuke groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Yuta gasped. “Wasuke, you can’t say bad words!”
Wasuke rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“Pfft, that’s nothing kid.” A new voice joined in. The three kids turned back to notice Yaga, the principal, standing outside their class door. He was walking by when he heard them talking about Yuuji since Wasuke’s desk was close to the door.
“Teacher Yaga!” Yuta exclaimed with a smile while Rika politely greeted him. Wasuke, on the other hand, only clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow in annoyance at Yaga. He’s been sent to his office one too many times.
Yaga walked closer to the classroom door before leaning up against the doorway with crossed arms, smiling down at the kids. “You should see your mom when he’s pissed. He’s a fierce tiger that not even the oh-so-powerful Ryoumen Sukuna is a match for him.” Yaga chuckled, recalling a time where he used to be a teacher at the high school where Sukuna and Yuuji graduated from.
“No way! But Yuuji-san is the nicest person I’ve met!” Yuta exclaimed, recalling the times Yuuji had thanked him and Rika for being Wasuke’s friends —despite his bad attitude— and whenever they went to Wasuke’s house, he was a nice host who would buy pizza for them and let them stay a little up later to watch movies. Waking up with a blanket over them the next morning. Although, he was a bit curious to know what would make a nice person like Yuuji tick.
Wasuke had raised an eyebrow, lowkey interested in what Yaga said as he’s never seen his mother pissed off before.
Yaga laughed. “Of course he is nice! But even he has his limits,” Yaga said, raising his index finger. “Calling him by name is just a first warning, his full name is the second warning,” The boys nodded, leaning a bit closer to hear what Yaga had to say while Rika smiled, amused. “But when Yuuji calls Sukuna Mr. Ryoumen? That’s when you know he’s pissed.”
Rika hummed, holding her chin and nodding with a sharp glint on her eyes. “I see, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“In mind for what!?” Wasuke exclaimed, looking over at Rika annoyed.
“Teacher, have you seen Yuuji-san use the last one?” Yuta asked, a curious glint back on his eyes.
Yaga laughed again. “Why, I have seen him use all three at once!”
“Really!?” The three children exclaimed in surprise.
It has only happened once. It was when Wasuke was three years old and he got lost at his own birthday party. Everyone had been invited that time, family members and friends of the family. And in Yaga’s case, he was invited by Yuuji. Yaga was touched that Yuuji would invite him to his son’s birthday party, so he had come with one of his ‘plushies’. A brown bear with blue boxing gloves.
Yuuji was still a bit protective of Wasuke, always keeping a close eye on his son and thus, he wasn’t exactly relaxing and enjoying the party as he should’ve. Sukuna wanted his mate to have fun, relax as he caught up with relatives and/or friends. Sukuna loved Yuuji and his concern had come from a genuine place. So, he had offered to keep an eye on their son instead. “Kuna… are you sure?” Yuuji asked, glancing up after he finished wiping the leftover icing of the cake on Wasuke’s face.
Sukuna smiled softly at Yuuji. “Of course.”
Yuuji decided to trust Sukuna. There was no reason not to, Sukuna loved their son after all. Feeling more at ease by his mate’s words, Yuuji went to sit down with Nobara and Megumi. Catching up on what they have been doing these days.
Biggest. Mistake.
Sukuna’s “watching over” consisted of sparing a glance at Wasuke, saw his son playing with Satoru’s daughter in the small sandbox near the playground set for the kids and then went back to talk with Shiu and Toji. A can of beer in his hand.
It was then, to no one’s surprise when Wasuke got distracted by something and wobbly left Satoru’s daughter in the sandbox to go somewhere else. As if feeling something had happened, Yuuji’s gut acted up again and excused himself to go and check on his son for a second. But, surprise! He was nowhere to be seen. Not in the small playground, where Satoru’s daughter stayed and a few other children brought by some of the guests ran around.
Yuuji took a deep breath before walking over to them, asking if they’ve seen Wasuke and feeling a knot on his chest when they all shook their heads or said no. Yuuji even checked under the table with the cake just in case Wasuke had tried to grab some more and was hiding to avoid being seen.
Yuuji breathed in. Then, he breathed out.
Choso, Nobara and Satoru had been nearby. Watching with worry as Yuuji had frantically looked over Wasuke, asking the guests if they’ve seen him too. Soon, the air started to be filled with a sour scent. Yuuji slowly made his way to his dear husband before he stood behind him. Yuuji tapped Sukuna’s shoulder at first, so as to not be too disruptive of Sukuna’s talk with Toji and Shiu. “Kuna?”
“Give me a second, Yuuji.” Sukuna said, dismissive.
Satoru whistled in the distance. “That’s not a good look for Sukuna.” Satoru said as he watched how Yuuji’s sweet and warm hazel eyes were narrowing.
“Sukuna.” Yuuji called out, once.
“Hold on.” Sukuna dismissed him, again. By this point, even Toji and Shiu were sensing something was wrong and had stopped talking all together.
“Ryoumen Sukuna.” Yuuji called, twice.
“Wait, I’m almost done.” Sukuna dismissed him for the last time. Shiu was straining a smile, staring wide eyed at Sukuna while Toji shook his head. Murmuring a ‘he’s done for’.
Sukuna only stopped when the sourness hit his nose and when he turned around to face Yuuji, his stare was the coldest it’s ever been. His lips sealed in a thin line. “Mr. Ryoumen,” Yuuji said, monotone and through gritted teeth. “I believe I did not marry an irresponsible man, right? ”
Deafening silence.
The music had stopped, the murmurs had immediately shut up and someone uncomfortably coughed in the distance. Even Satoru didn’t dare say something to break the tension and try to lighten up the mood.
“No, I believe not.” Sukuna managed to stammer.
“Then, I will ask you once and you better answer. Where is my son?” Yuuji asked, almost growled as he furrowed his brow so deep and glared at Sukuna.
Sukuna glanced around and could not find Wasuke either.
Oh. Oh no.
Upon seeing Sukuna’s face pale so much, Yuuji smiled sweetly at him. He cupped Sukuna’s face before he gently pulled him down until their faces were inches apart. “If you can’t find my son before the day ends, I’m going to divorce you.” Yuuji threatened, his eyes were wide and burning with fury. His grip on Sukuna’s face had tightened with nails dangerously pricking before Yuuji released him.
“I still get the chills when I remember your mother’s face.” Yaga sighed, shuddering a little. Wasuke stared hard at Yaga, terrified of a lot of things he just learned. Number one being how his mother was somehow scarier than when Sukuna got mad and two learning that he got lost when he was three due to his father’s carelessness. Yuta laughed nervously as he was unsure of what to feel about seeing his friend’s kind, sweet and funny mother in this new light. I wouldn’t like to make Yuuji-san mad. He thought.
Rika, on the other hand, laughed with mirth. “As expected of Yuuji, he sure is fit to be Mr. Ryoumen’s mate.”
***
Wasuke waited by the swings to be picked up and since today it was his father’s turn, he expected him to come a little late. When he saw that familiar black car pull over the school’s gate, Wasuke ran up to it as someone walked out of the backseat. Wasuke tried to hit the person, but like usual, he was blocked by a large hand. “Well, well, looks like someone’s lively.” Sukuna chuckled. Wasuke huffed, glaring up at his father with pink dusting his cheeks.
Wasuke glanced back to wave goodbye to Rika and Yuta. Yuta waved back with a wide close-eyed smile while Rika nodded at him.
Even after they got inside the car and Uraume drove away, Wasuke’s burning stare had not gone unnoticed by Sukuna. “What?” He asked, glancing down at his son.
“Is it true you lost me when I was 3?”
Silence.
“Who told you that?”
“Yaga.”
Another silence.
Sukuna cleared his throat, glancing away as a few beads of sweat formed on his temple. Wasuke stared surprised at his father. It was the first time in his entire short life that he’s seen his father nervous . “Yes, but don’t bring that up in front of Yuuji.”
Wasuke hummed. I can use this against him to make dad buy me stuff! Wasuke thought, smiling mischievously at his father.
“So? Did you find me after?”
“I’ll be honest, no.” Sukuna sighed with a furrowed brow, recalling the event and shuddering a little. “Toji did, but he gave me a hand and let me tell Yuuji that I did.”
“Does mom know?”
“No and if you tattle on me, I will tell him about the time you were supposed to be suspended and I brought you to my office because you wanted Yuuji to buy you that video game that weekend.” Sukuna said, narrowing his eyes on his son. Wasuke clicked his tongue while Sukuna smirked, slightly shaking his head with closed eyes. “It will take you a hundred years before you can hold something against me, brat.”
Wasuke rolled his eyes. “Where did the old man find me, anyway?”
The silence that followed was heavy. Wasuke could notice there was a strange turmoil in his father’s eyes. “I don’t know, he didn’t say.” Sukuna lied.
Wasuke narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Did mom end up forgiving you?”
Sukuna chuckled. “I had to sleep on the couch for a year, but eventually, yeah.”
“So it’s true mom is scary when he’s pissed.”
“That’s right, so you better listen to everything your mother says.”
“I know that already!” Wasuke exclaimed with a pout.
And after that, Wasuke’s troublemaking days came to a mysterious end.