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Suguru, Shoko, Yu, and Kento knocked on the door softly, just in case Megumi was asleep. The night air was cool and quiet, the soft knocking barely disturbing the tranquillity. Satoru opened the door with a dozing baby in his arms, proving them right. Megumi’s small face was nestled against Satoru’s shoulder, his dark hair sticking out in tufts. They removed their shoes at the door as quietly as they could, trying not to make any noise with the bags of food, diapers, wipes, and more in their hands. The soft rustle of plastic and crinkling paper seemed too loud in the stillness of the home.
Satoru gestured towards the dining table, signalling them to put down the food and items they had brought. They set it down slowly, the wooden table creaking slightly under the new weight. The furniture was well-worn but comfortable, and the room was filled with the soft glow of a single lamp, casting warm, golden light.
The tired man disappeared into the bedroom, softly rocking Megumi as he walked. He wasn’t sleeping restfully, squirming and whining, brows pulling together in frustration. Every once in a while, he’d kick his small legs into Satoru’s chest, babbling in discomfort that his father couldn’t understand, no matter how badly he hoped to. The nursery was dimly lit, the soft glow from a nightlight casting gentle shadows on the walls decorated with star and moon decals.
“I’m sorry, Megs,” Satoru sounded exhausted as he whispered, his voice barely louder than a breath. “I’m really trying.” He cooed weakly, his voice breaking ever so slightly. The gentle swaying motion as he rocked Megumi back and forth was rhythmic, almost hypnotic.
Megumi answered with a small cry, weakened by fatigue and a desperate desire to sleep. His tiny hands clutched at Satoru’s shirt, the fabric damp with a mix of drool and tears.
“What am I doing wrong, kiddo? Please, I wanna be the one to help you, but I don’t know.” His voice was so devastatingly broken and unlike him. “I just don’t know.”
Back in the living room, the others exchanged concerned glances, despite how quiet Satoru tried to be. They could hear the faint murmurs from the bedroom, the soft, broken cadence of Satoru’s voice. It was a stark contrast to the confident tone they were used to.
It made sense, Kento figured, as his grip around a bag of food tightened at the weak sound of his friend’s voice. Satoru was nothing but stubborn, believing he had to be the only one to take care of Megumi, his son. But that didn’t mean the others couldn’t help. But, of course, the strongest sorcerer of modern history rejected any notion of aid. It bothered Kento as he took out tupperwares of food and placed them gently in the fridge.
Yu stood up from where he was still at the entrance of Satoru’s home. He’d reorganized the shoes, making sure they were all aligned and weren’t at risk of tripping someone. He raised his head as Satoru walked back into the living room, a squirming Megumi still in his arms. Large dark green eyes were squeezed shut as dribbles of tears and snot ran down his face, small hands clenched in weak fists. A part of him ached at the sight, desperately wanting to reach out to help, but knowing it would only lead to rejection.
“Sorry about that,” Satoru spoke softly, making Megumi whine at the vibration against his face, “He’s been crying for a while, I don’t–”
“‘Toru,” Suguru rose from the couch, making his way to his boyfriend with a sad expression, “You seem exhausted. Let us help you. I can–” He stretched out his arms towards the wriggling baby in his arms, “Lemme hold him.”
The white-haired man swallowed down the lump in his throat, the weariness in his eyes more evident under the soft lighting. “No, it’s okay. I just need–”
“You don’t need,” Shoko interrupted, her voice gentle but firm, “to do anything.” She made her way to him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. His cursed aura was tight and tensed, clearly exhausted. “Let Suguru hold Megumi. You need to sleep.”
Satoru shook his head, backing away, which made Megumi whine in his arms. The sound was sharp in the quiet room, making everyone tense for a moment before relaxing as Megumi returned to sniffling into his shirt. His little body trembled with each shaky breath, the sound heartbreaking.
“I can do it, I just need to get him to rest–”
“Satoru,” Kento finally spoke up, closing the fridge door close with a soft click, “You’re the one who needs to sleep. Let us help you.”
Blue eyes began to gather tears, turning glassy as he held onto Megumi slightly tighter. The emotion in his eyes was raw, a mix of fatigue, desperation, and love. “I just… I wanna be strong for him…”
“And you are,” Suguru muttered softly, approaching him to smooth his hair back from his forehead, frowning at how greasy his hair had gotten. It must’ve been a while since he’d gotten the chance to wash himself, “You are so strong. But you can’t give Megumi the help and support he needs if you’re not doing well. So let us help you. Give him to Shoko, she’ll be able to figure out if there’s anything wrong with him.” He ended up with a light kiss on his forehead.
Satoru glanced over at his friend. Her arms were open and her expression kind. Gently, Satoru transferred the bundle of weight into her arms. Shoko adjusted her arms to hold up his head as Megumi opened his eyes, his bottom lip trembling as he stared up at her. Kento was right by her side as they were careful to hold him.
Yu’s hand rested on Satoru’s shoulder, “Let’s go to the washroom, you need a bath.”
“Y’know you can just say I stink,” Satoru rolled his eyes but walked with him anyway. His arms and fingers were twitching with the urge to hold his kid, but he resisted, following his friend into the bathroom, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
The hallways felt longer than usual, and every step seemed to echo his exhaustion. “I don’t wanna let him down,” He murmured, barely audible over the soft hum of the bathroom fan and the quiet house.
“You won’t,” Yu reassured, turning on the tap to fill the bathtub. The soft sound of the water splashing against the porcelain was calming. “Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of Megumi. You can’t pour from an empty cup.” He replied softly, occasionally running fingers through the tap to make sure the water remained warm.
Satoru nodded, the logic sinking in but still feeling foreign. He watched the water rise, the steam curling up and fogging the mirror. His reflection was a ghost of his usual self—pale, with dark circles under his normally bright blue eyes, white hair dishevelled and greasy. “I just... I don’t know, I just wanna be there for him. Every second, you know?” He whispered back.
“And you will be,” Yu said, his tone gentle. He adjusted the temperature of the water, making sure it was just right. “But you need rest too. Megumi needs a healthy dad, not a worn-out shell.”
As the tub filled, Satoru began undressing, his movements sluggish and hesitant. His clothes, rumpled and stained from sleepless nights, fell to the floor. “It’s just hard. I keep thinking, what if he needs me and I’m not there?”
Yu placed a reassuring hand on Satoru’s shoulder, a soft smile on his face, feeling the tension in his muscles. “And that’s why we’re here. You’re not alone in this, Satoru. We’ll help.”
Satoru nodded again, a small, tired smile forming on his lips. “Thanks, Yu.”
Once Satoru settled into the warm water, Yu left him to relax and returned to the living room where Suguru, Shoko, and Kento were quietly discussing their next steps.
“How is he?” Shoko asked, bouncing a now slightly calmer Megumi in her arms. She gently wiped the remnants of tears and snot from his small face with a baby wipe, smiling at how he tried to bat it away with small chubby hands.
“Exhausted, but he’s getting there,” Yu replied. “He’s in the bath now. Hopefully, it’ll help him unwind.”
Suguru sighed, running a hand through his long hair. His eyes were tired but filled with hope. “We need to make sure he gets some sleep tonight. It’s probably been days since he’s had a decent rest.”
Kento nodded in agreement, his expression serious. “We should take turns staying over for the next few nights. Make sure he knows he’s not alone.”
“I’ll take the first shift,” Suguru easily volunteered. “I don’t have any missions for the next couple of days, so I can stay here.”
Shoko gently rocked Megumi, who was now sucking on his thumb, his eyes half-closed and drooping. “I’ll check up on Megumi now, see if there’s anything physically wrong. Hopefully, it’s just a phase.”
She moved to the couch and laid Megumi down on a soft blanket, carefully examining him with practiced hands. Megumi whimpered but didn’t cry, his tiny fists clenching and unclenching. The living room was filled with the soft sound of his hard breathing and the occasional sniffle.
“You’re doing great, Megumi,” She murmured softly. “Just let Auntie Shoko take a look.” Her hands were gentle and sure, checking for any signs of discomfort or illness.
Suguru sat next to her, watching intently. His dark eyes scanned Megumi’s face, looking for any signs of distress. Megumi looked back at him, his large eyes narrowing at seeing anyone other than this dad, “Do you think it’s something serious?”
Shoko shook her head, her fingers lightly pressing on Megumi’s abdomen, smiling at the small gurgle he let out at the pressure, “Doesn’t seem like it. He’s just tired and a bit distressed. Could be teething or maybe just a growth spurt.” She smiled softly at the baby, her professional demeanour mixed with genuine affection.
Kento came over with a small blanket, draping it over Megumi. The fabric was soft and warm, comforting against his tiny body. “We’ll keep an eye on him. If things don’t improve, we can take him to a doctor.”
Suguru looked towards the bathroom door, concern etched on his face. The muffled sounds of water and the occasional sigh from Satoru were slightly audible. “I hope Satoru’ll be able to sleep.”
Yu patted his shoulder, his touch reassuring and his smile bright. “He will. He has us.”
After a while, the sound of the bathroom door opening drew their attention. Satoru emerged, looking slightly more refreshed but still worn out. He had a towel wrapped around his shoulders, his damp hair sticking to his forehead. The steam from the bath had given his cheeks a slight flush, making him look more alive.
“Feeling better?” Shoko asked, a smile tugging at her lips. She was still cradling Megumi, who had finally started to calm back down.
“A bit,” Satoru admitted, glancing over at Megumi. “How’s he doing?” At the sound of his voice, Megumi’s head shifted from atop Shoko’s shoulder. He stared at Satoru, his eyes wide as he babbled mindlessly.
“He’s okay,” Shoko replied, clearly noticing how Megumi wanted to be held by his dad. “I think he’s just overtired. You both are.” She gently rocked him, who blinked up at Satoru every once in a while, seemingly entranced by the familiar man, his fists continuing to clench and unclench as if wanting to reach out for him.
Suguru stood up, walking over to Satoru. He placed a comforting arm around his waist, nosing his temple as he leaned in, guiding him toward the bedroom. “Come on, let’s get you to bed. You needa’ sleep.”
Satoru hesitated, his eyes flickering to Megumi. Green eyes watched him back, beginning to drop slightly with exhaustion, but still trying to maintain eye contact. “I don’t know if I can sleep.” His eyes began to tear up at the reminder of Megumi’s previous cries. “What if he needs me–?”
“He’ll be fine,” Suguru reassured him, placing a hand on his back. “We’re here, remember? We’ve got this.”
Reluctantly, Satoru nodded, tearing his eyes away from his son. “Okay. But wake me up if anything happens, alright?” He looked around the room, pointing to all his friends.
“We promise,” Kento said, offering a supportive smile. Satoru nodded at that, hoping it was a clear thanks.
As he made his way to the bedroom, Suguru followed, staying by his side. The room was dimly lit, the bed inviting with its soft sheets and pillows. “I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”
Satoru chuckled softly, the sound tinged with exhaustion. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to,” Suguru insisted. “You’re not alone in this, ‘Toru.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently smoothing the frizzy hair from Satoru’s forehead.
With a grateful nod, Satoru climbed into bed, feeling the weight of his fatigue settle over him. Suguru stayed by his side, his presence comforting. “Rest now. We’ll take care of everything.”
As Satoru’s eyes fluttered shut, he felt a sense of peace for the first time in days. The soft murmurs from the living room, the gentle hum of the house, and the presence of his friends all around him allowed him to finally let go. Knowing that Megumi was in good hands, he drifted.