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When there was a knock at his door, Arataka knew that it was Mob. He was the only kid he knew that was polite enough to do so. He was never one to open the door with his abilities, or worse, take the door off its hinges (he'd had a ‘talking’ with Tome after she had decided that removing a door completely had been a suitable way of entering his apartment.)
He had now given all the kids a spare key because... why not? They would have entered without one anyway. This way, they all knew that they were welcomed at his and Katsuya's place.
Though Mob was still polite enough to knock, even with the spare key. He was ready to open the door full swing and with the same level of enthusiasm as always but stopped when he noticed Mob fidgeting awkwardly with the hem of his t-shirt, glancing down at the ground.
So it was going to be a quiet day, got it.
Reigen could deal with that.
“You alright kid?” He asked gently, when Mob shook his head he crouched down so he was at eye level with him, studying his face momentarily.
He had worked with Mob for several years now and overall he was a quiet individual. Plus, Reigen was surrounded by loud individuals too so it often drowned the former out. Not that Mob seemed to care, he always looked content to listen to his friends and sometimes contribute to the conversation.
Though, he noticed that sometimes it got just a little bit too much for the kid. Maybe on days when they had back-to-back exorcisms to attend to without allowing themselves a moment to breathe. Or perhaps when he and Dimple had been arguing a bit too much. Or school had been draining and then Arataka's over-the-top, extravagant personality was slightly too loud and a little bit pushy.
On days like those, Reigen slowly started to understand how to handle Mob. It was because of the kid that he was slowly starting to comprehend these behaviours and know when it was time to tone them down. When the kid was a little antsy, would refuse to speak at all, or would look for an exit as soon as possible.
Reigen wasn't one to get overwhelmed, far from it, actually. So he can't stand there and say that he knew what it felt like. Even as a kid, he was a stubborn and annoying brat who never knew what a volume switch meant. Inside voice was not in his vocabulary growing up. But, with time and with help from Dimple, then Ristu (hey– the kid could be considerate towards Reigen sometimes, even if those occasions mostly involved his older brother) and then Serizawa too, he was happy to say that he had reached a point where he could read the signs and know exactly what to do.
Mob didn't look like he was going to talk anytime soon, which was perfectly fine. Instead, Reigen stood up, his knees cracking at the movement and shuffled to the side, “Find somewhere you want to sit Mob and I'll go grab some headphones.”
He realised, at one point, that Mob would sometimes come to his apartment to get away from the noise of his everyday life. It was after a few particular visits and a comment from Katsuya about noise-cancelling headphones that he decided to stock up on some items. Mob would bring something to do; school work, a book to read, sometimes a handheld console or a video game. And Reigen would give him the space he needed unless Mob asked otherwise.
He deposited the headphones on the coffee table, Mob situated on the couch. Then lay down the weighted blanket beside him. Sometimes the kid would take it, other days he wouldn't. Reigen often let Mob decide because, at the end of the day, the kid knew himself far better than Reigen did.
Usually, on days like today, Reigen would do the boring side of his job. He would sit at the desk pushed up into the corner of their spare room. Ever since he and Katsuya moved into a bigger apartment, it was odd not to have his whole life displayed in one singular room. Instead, they had the main living space and kitchen area, then two whole bedrooms (one for guests, whenever someone decided to stay, and then one for themselves) and then a decent-sized bathroom.
Though he wasn't about to leave the kid. So as Mob started doing what looked to be homework, he plonked himself down on the floor, leaning against the opposite arm of the couch. With enough distance between the two of them, it hopefully didn't feel overcrowded. Though close enough in case Mob wanted to grab his attention.
He wasn't sure how much time had passed but he had managed to reply to a hefty amount of emails, making a to-do list as he went through potential jobs he might have to go and do the following week. There was a tug on his sleeve and he glanced up to see Mob hadn't moved from the couch but the psychic pull didn't release from his shirt.
“You okay?” He asked and this time Mob nodded. Reigen couldn't help but smile. “Do you need anything?”
Silently Mob patted the couch cushion beside him and Reigen knew what to do. Sometimes, Mob liked to keep his distance from everyone, even the slightest touch sending sparks uncomfortably through his skin. Then, sometimes, he valued the contact though he often struggled with how to ask for it usually reporting to quiet hand gestures.
Arataka pulled himself off of the floor and sat on the couch, allowing Mob to lean onto his shoulder, hair prickling the crook of his neck. Reigen had never thought of being a father and had never thought that he'd find himself with someone either, but here he was. Though he and Katsuya decided against adopting any children, he supposed they didn't have to because they'd managed to form their own little family. He's realised blood didn’t mean anything when it came to your family.
Eventually, his eyes started to strain and his laptop screen stared back at him tauntingly so he shut it and left it on the couch beside him. On his other side, Mob had managed to drift off to sleep, somewhere along the way he had discarded the headphones and swapped them out for the weighted blanket. Letting his eyes slip shut, Reigen leant back into the plush couch cushion.
That was how Serizawa found them, tucked next to each other and sleeping peacefully on the couch. He decided to snap a picture of them before quietly getting some food ready for when they woke up.
—
Serizawa had just gotten back to their apartment after a day packed full of jobs. Arataka had stayed behind and whilst they usually would walk home together, Serizawa had offered to go back slightly earlier to prepare dinner whilst Reigen dealt with their last client.
(Likely, the solution to their ‘spiritual’ problems was a back massage, something Reigen could easily handle on his own.)
It hadn't even been five whole minutes when the door opened again, and Katsuya was going to give a surprised greeting to Reigen, asking why he was back so soon. However, he stopped, spotting Hanazawa sauntering in instead. Not holding the usual amount of bravado he usually did, but instead slumping down onto the couch quietly.
“Hello Teru,” he welcomed, the blond glancing towards Katsuya and producing a wry smile.
“Hey, Serizawa. Sorry for not knocking.”
The apology wasn't needed, most of the kids that hung around the office had keys anyway. Arataka had suggested the idea since a lot of them liked to show up unannounced already, so why not give them all a spare set of keys so they felt welcomed at any time?
Hanazawa was like Reigen, in some aspects. In fact, Serizawa saw that Arataka had a lot of similarities with a fair few of the kids they'd picked up along the way. Teru had a perspective side and whilst he often came off as arrogant, those who knew him well saw the kinder undertones to him. Similarly to Reigen, Teru liked to act like he had it all together. That life was perfectly perfect and nothing was out of place.
Though (and Katsuya wasn't sure if either of the two knew this) both individuals didn't have the best poker face. Reigen's emotions slipped through the cracks more often than not, after spending several years in his company it was easy to pick up the cues. Teruki too. Whilst he could act nonchalant and fine, he was a child at the end of the day and children always thought they were being much sneaker than they actually were.
Something was bothering Teru, that much was clear to Serizawa.
What gave it away was the way the kid hadn't really said anything since getting here when he would usually be full of life and conversation. Plus, he was picking at his nail beds, yanking at stray cuticles. Serizawa knew that was a way Teru showed off nervousness.
Cooking could wait. He sent off a quick message to Arataka, letting him know they had company.
“Everything okay Teru?” He asked, deciding not to approach him but to stay standing in the kitchen opposite the living space.
The kid shrugged. “I guess so.”
Well, that was a better answer than just yeah, I'm fine.
“Want to talk about it?”
It was as if those simple words caused something to change. As if they flipped a switch, Teru slouched forward slightly, running a hand across his face and then through his hair. His posture changed, his aura more vulnerable– with no mask to hide behind.
“I don't want to be a bother,” Hanazawa said quietly, voice usually vibrant now toned down dramatically.
This was Serizawa's cue to approach, sitting down gently on the couch. “You could never be a bother. What's on your mind?”
“Today would have– today would have been my mom's birthday,” he croaked, face downcast but visibly shaking.
Serizawa did not know much regarding Teru's parents. Just the fact that a teenager was living by himself, something that never felt right to him. Though he never pried and no one ever spoke about it, as if it were normal. He gathered that either the parents were gone, somewhere else completely and had abandoned Teru. Or, the more sinister thought was that they had both unfortunately passed.
The way Teru spoke about made him think that it was the latter.
“I just,” Hanazwa sniffled, scrubbing at his eyes and Serizawa dumbly thought to himself, oh, tears. “I just don't want to be alone today. I feel lonely.”
The kid's voice cracked and he tried to curl up even further in on himself. Instead, Katsuya took Teru's hands and the blond finally looked up, shiny, grief-stricken eyes meeting his own.
“You're allowed to cry, Teru,” he said, reminiscent of a time with his own mom. They had countless conversations like that, where she would comfort him and tell him it was alright to let it all out. It was a crutch he had leant on many times, being able to have a loving parent be there for him did so much more than his younger self ever realised. If Teru needed that someone, he could do that. Reigen, too. They had grown fond of these little rascals over the past couple of years.
“I'm here,” he continued, repeating the mantra he held close to his own heart, “you can cry.”
So, Teru did. Body crashing forward, he hid his face in Seizawa's shirt as sobs wracked his small frame. As he let out broken tears, staining the fabric he clung onto. Katsuya wrapped his arms around the kid, a hand cradling his back and his other one running through blond locks. He decided to pulse his aura outwards– hopefully, it was a steadying wave of energy that washed over Teru like a comforting embrace.
Eventually, he quietened down and Serizawa just knew that the kid wanted to apologise for acting that way. Whist Serizawa wouldn't allow that, wanting Teru to know that crying like that was normal and fine– neither of them got a chance to say anything because the front door swung open loudly.
“I bought ramen!” Reigen didn’t even hesitate at the sight of Teru, eyes rimmed red and tear-stained cheeks. He knew Serizawa would explain anything that needed explaining later. Instead, he just shut the door behind him and ceremoniously dropped the bag of food onto the coffee table.
They sit, eat and then play some games afterwards (Serizawa managing to win them all, much to the chagrin of the other two). It was getting darker outside, the early evening dusk turning to a deep navy blanket. Teru glanced out the window, noting that time had gotten away from them once again.
“I'll set up the spare room,” Arataka announced, picking up the paper packaging from the table and shoving it in the bin as he walked past. “If that sounds alright with you Teru?”
“Oh, erm, if it's no trouble,” he replied meekly.
Reigen smiled, voice echoing down the hall as he made his way to the spare room. “It's never any trouble. You're welcome here any time Teru. This is your home as much as it is ours.”
Serizawa watched as Teruki's face flickered, eyes brimmed with warm tears as a wet laugh bubbled up his throat.
“How are you feeling?” Katsuya prompted softly.
“I feel loved.”
“Good. You are loved Teru.”
Katsuya was wrapped into a hug once more, the tight embrace so much different than the one before. It wasn't desperate for someone's touch. Instead, it was reassurance incarnate. It was joy, it was happiness and it was family.
—
Tome liked to make her presence known. Reigen often saw himself in her, with a loud personality and a need to be heard. Not in a bad way, never in a bad way. Her personality was charming and persuasive and there was a reason why Arataka hired her as a receptionist for the office.
So when he shut the door behind him, Serizawa off at an evening class, he was surprised to see her quietly sitting at the kitchen peninsula. She idly traced her finger over the countertop, not even looking up when the front door closed.
“Hey Tome,” Reigen called out to her. Still nothing. He went about putting away the few groceries he had picked up on his way back. “What brings you here?”
There's a sigh, dramatic and elongated and Reigen knew that it was a mask for how she was truly feeling. There were perks for being so similar, he supposed. He could read her like a book because she played all the same tricks he played. Perhaps she could also read him like a book too but as time went on Reigen started to realise he may not be as nonchalant with his emotions as he had initially thought. A lot of people he surrounded himself with apparently could see through his masks fairly easily.
“Was that all?” He prompted lightly, knowing that a little alleviation would help her open up.
Finally, she looked up and Reigen could see that there was something deep and hidden behind her eyes, her usually extravagant flash gone. “My mom.”
Ah. Parents. The joys of being a teenager and having to live under someone else's roof, even when you and that someone didn’t exactly get along well. Reigen knew that feeling all too well. From time to time he would receive emails from his mother but he often felt they were patronising. They were usually attempts to coerce him into finding a better job. His father hadn't spoken to him in years and Reigen wasn't about to bridge that gap again anytime soon.
He didn’t ask anything else, allowing Tome to think of what she wanted to say. He always found it better that way. He had had his fair share of ‘interventions’ with school staff and whilst he had never thought they helped when he was younger, as an adult he had managed to steal a few tricks from them.
“She–” Tome began, glancing off to the side, hesitant to continue. She huffed, annoyed, resting her cheek in the palm of her hand. “She hasn't kicked me out, per se, but let's just say she's not entirely happy with me being in the house right now.”
Ah. Parents. The joys of not seeing eye to eye and then feeling obligated to shunt you out of the house when they see no other option. Reigen knew that feeling all too well too.
“Alright,” he leant back against the counters opposite her, his stance open and inviting. “What happened between you two?”
Again, Tome groaned, eyes rolling slowly. Not towards him, Reigen realised but towards her mother. “She doesn't– she's just being difficult.”
“Difficult?”
“Yeah.” She seemingly doesn't want to elaborate and whilst he would usually allow it to slide he thought today might be an exception to that rule.
“Why is she being difficult, Tome?” He prompted, trying to use his adult voice. Usually, it was not very effective. Especially when you were talking to a bunch of children who only respect you half the time. However, he thought that this time might have been a success as Tome sighed again, much more gentle this time. She moved so both arms rested atop the counters.
“She doesn't accept me,” she said quietly, gaze averted. “I came out to her and she didn't accept me .”
Oh.
Fucking parents.
Reigen really did know all those feelings far too well.
“I'm sorry Tome,” he managed, trying to suppress the emotion that came out along with it. Though she had already noticed (damn perceptive kid) and was now staring at him, hard. “Parents suck sometimes.”
“You're talking as if you've experienced this before.”
Damn perceptive kid.
“Oh!” Her face changed from something a little less sad to a little more understanding, “I didn't realise your parents don't accept you and Serizawa. That sucks.”
Reigen can't help but bark out a laugh, all tension gone from the whole conversation as Tome relaxed into her seat. At least Tome knew she was loved no matter what when she was with them. If she had been too scared to come out to Reigen then he knew he must have done something wrong to make her feel that way. Luckily, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“I don't know what my parents think about my relationship. I've mentioned it to my mother but she's never outwardly acknowledged it. Said she was happy for me once but I don’t know if she really meant it or not.”
“Then, erm, what don't your parents like?” She asked, slightly confused.
“I'm trans, Tome.”
“Oh… oh.”
And Reigen was laughing again, Tome's face flushed from not realising– because he thought he had been fairly obvious. There was a small trans flag in the mug of pencils and pens on his desk. Teru had given him a pin badge as a gift once and it was pinned to the lapel of his blazer. Then there was the picture of him and Katsuya at the pride parade they had attended last year tacked to the notice board amongst all his other cherished memories. He was particularly fond of that image, Katsuya looking happy despite being in a large crowd with a flag draped over his shoulders. Face paint was half melting away on Reigen's sweaty cheek but his grin showed that he didn't care.
“That– that makes sense.” She muttered. “How did I not realise that before?”
(Maybe, sometimes, she wasn't as perceptive as he thought she could be.)
He shrugged, “I'm surprised too. That means you were the last to realise. Even Mob knew before you.”
“Hang on,” she exclaimed, balancing on her stool as she half stood up to defend herself. “You must have told him or something!”
“I didn't tell him anything,” he smirked. Though if he had to guess, Teru most probably did but Tome did not need to know that.
“Unbelievable,” she groaned, this time he could sense the smile tugging at her lips as she sat back down.
Reigen didn't want to have to turn the mood sombre but he did need to ask the question. “Do you need to stay the night?”
“Ah. No. I don't think so,” she answered. “I think eventually she'll come around. I mean, she's always been supportive of me hunting down aliens and befriending actual psychics but she draws the line at being a lesbian? Unbelievable.”
He can't help but chuckle at her dry humour. Another similarity the two of them share. “Only if you're sure it's safe to go back. If not, you know Serizawa and I will gladly let you stay.”
“I know, I know. But my mom is a good person. I think it's shock, y'know? At least, that's what I'm hoping.”
Reigen did know. He knew it all too well. He had felt brave enough to tell his parents that he didn't feel comfortable in his own skin. After years of spending his nights glaring in the mirror trying to decipher what felt wrong. When he had realised, he then had the internal battle of whether he even wanted to tell his parents but finally, with his sister's support, he felt comfortable enough to do so.
Turned out that was maybe not his best decision.
He had spent the night at his friend's house.
Her parents were nice and they were understanding too. That was probably what hurt the most. Not when his father scoffed disgustingly and uttered “This is just a stupid phase that you'll grow out of” not when his mother didn't say anything at all. But when his friend's parents, who he had only met a couple of times, accepted him with open arms as if he were their own son. They let him cry into a warm embrace and told him that if he needed a place to stay, their door was always open to him.
That was the worst part, someone else's parents accepting you when he knew his own damn parents were at home, most likely conversing about how they went wrong raising their daughter for her to end up like this.
“I hope so too,” he said after he realised he had been quiet for too long. “Do let me know if I have to intervene though. I don't care if she's your mother, I will win a fight with my words against anyone if I have to.”
That made Tome laugh and Reigen couldn’t help but smile as her sad expression was long forgotten. “Can I, erm, can I ask what your parents were like?”
“Huge pricks.”
He knew Katsuya would scold him for using certain language around the kids but he wasn’t here to stop him so Reigen allowed him to say it just this once.
“Oh.”
“Don't look so beat up about it, I came out to them when I was sixteen and managed to move out when I was seventeen with help from my older sister, so it wasn't all too bad,” he explained. “My mother hasn't really said a lot about it. I think she must have suspected, right? From the moment I refused to wear dresses because I hated how they looked on me and how I wanted dinosaur shoes and not unicorn ones. Though, even after I came out she never spoke about it. Never asked about it, ever. As if everything was the same as before, I guess. Which was better than her not saying anything and then hating me, I suppose.”
“You said she still keeps in contact with you?”
He hummed, “yeah. So that's got to count for something too, then. She invites me to the family Christmas Dinner every year too, though I never go. So I think somewhere along the way she realised nothing was changing and this was who I was.”
“And– and your dad?”
“Piece of shit.” Look, Katsuya wasn't here so Reigen could slip in a couple of swears if he wanted to.
“Sucks,” Tome commented, sounding genuinely apologetic.
“Yeah, but it's fine.” He didn't know if it was fine but he was not about to unpack that trauma in front of Tome. She was a kid– he was here to support her, he was not here for support. “He basically ignored me after I came out. Said a few not very nice things in the first couple weeks and then, nothing. I think maybe my sister said something to him, she was always the favourite and so she managed to alleviate something . After I left, I cut all ties. He didn't want to speak to me and I didn't want to speak to him.”
“I hope my mom is nice to me.”
Reigen lifted himself away from the counter, “I hope so too kid. And, if not–”
“Yes, yes, you'll come round and berate her. Whilst I do kind of want to see that, I think it's all going to be okay.”
“Good. That's good. So I don't need to also offer what I was going to offer you then?”
That piqued her interest. “Offer me what , exactly?”
“Well, I spent a few days away from home after I came out. Mostly to let my father cool off. The friend I stayed with had this brilliant plan where we lay on the floor and just sort of yelled about everything wrong in the world.”
“And you're offering me that? Laying on the floor and yelling?”
“It's a very cathartic experience, I'll have you know,” he stated matter-of-factly.
Tome glanced over to the floor space between the kitchen and the coffee table. Just enough room for two people to lay down and shout at the ceiling.“Will I… can I swear?”
“I don't see why not. I think you deserve it.”
She grinned. “I'm in.”
—
Katsuya almost shrieked when he came face to face with Shou, the latter floating outside the window.
He cracked said window open, the weekend sun shining through into the living room. Reigen was out running errands so Serizawa had picked up doing a couple of chores around their apartment.
“Everything alright Shou?” He asked, pushing the glass further away from the windowsill so there was just enough room for the teen to fit through the gap.
“Can I come in?”
Well, at least he asked. He'd heard of the scares Reigen had had in the past when he hadn't heard anyone enter the apartment only to find the redhead sitting on the couch.
“Sure,” Katsuya gestured into the living room, Shou happily stepped through the opening and landed on the floor. He didn’t choose the couch, instead flopping over onto the floor. “Anything you need help with?”
Shou huffed, glaring at the ceiling. “Visited my dad today.”
“Ah.” That made sense, this wasn't the first time Shou had come to the apartment after visiting his father. Serizawa settled down on the floor too, pressed up against the wall below the window. “And how did it go?”
“Rubbish,” Shou hissed, his anger still seemingly directed up at the unsuspecting ceiling.
When he didn't go to elaborate, Serizawa gently pushed him further. “What did you two discuss?”
He knew how to handle situations like these. He and Shou had had similar discussions countless times. Weirdly, being traumatised by the same man had created a sort of bond between the two of them. He heard the other ex-members of Claw also looked out for Shou, all of them being self-appointed older siblings or something similar. It was sweet if you disregarded all the things they had gone through whilst the organisation was still active.
“He asked about school, I guess,” Shou began slowly. Organising the thoughts in his mind. “Nothing important, if I'm honest. School stuff, how living with mom was even though she's hardly around. Asked me about jobs, about friends. Boring, surface-level stuff.”
Shou didn't like his dad. Even a stranger could be able to tell that. His mom was a slightly different story. Whilst she cared for her son, the strained relationship she had had with her husband obviously hadn't helped her motherly relationship either. Even though Shou lived with his mom, she was more of a guardian just looking out for someone now rather than a mother and her child. Shou still loved her and she still loved him, he had confided that with Serizawa once. It just wasn't as smooth as what would be considered normal by society's standards.
“I guess he's trying to reconnect with you,” Serizawa offered, knowing full well the comfort would fall flat. The appreciation would be there but it wouldn't sway Shou's mind. Not that Serizawa would try to do that anyway.
The redhead sat up. “Well yeah, I get that but I don't want to. Don't know why I have to go talk to him every month,” he complained, crossing his arms defiantly.
“I've always said that if you ever wanted to stop the visits, you can, Shou.”
“I know,” he muttered. “It's just– then no one will go see him, y’know? And I don't know if I can completely allow that .”
“It's understandable to feel that way but he's not your responsibility. He wasn't there as a good father, you do not owe him anything.”
Shou looked over at him with understanding eyes. They shone with a deep gratitude and Katsuya thought briefly that Reigen would be proud with how far he's come at consoling others. He has his own way with words too, he's not just dependent on Arataka anymore.
“He's not a good person,” Shou mumbled.
“No, he's not.”
“So I don't have to visit him.”
“No, you don't.”
“So why do I feel like I have to,” he groaned, words thick with emotion. Serizawa promptly ignored the break in his voice. “It's not fair. He wasn't nice to me, or you, or anyone else on the team. So why do I feel like I should visit him?”
“It's okay to be confused. The solution won't come easy, that's something you're well aware of. I'm sure as you grow older you'll become more confident about what you want. And if that means cutting all ties with him, there are plenty of people who can help you do that,” Serizawa reminded him comfortingly.
“I just wish I could have done something back then–”
“You were not responsible for anyone else, alright?” He cut in. This had been a point brought up many times. Where Shou's guilt would shine through the cracks. Where he would feel the need to blame himself for what happened with Claw, with Mob, with Serizawa. “If anything, we adults should have realised something. I should have known better and looked out for you. You're a child, Shou. You're strong, I don't doubt that, but it's important to know that even children with the strongest abilities should be able to lean on an adult for assistance.”
“Alright,” he replied. Whilst Serizawa doubted the problem was just fixed, he knew it would take time, it did give him the hope they were making progress. Chipping away bit by bit until Shou would no longer deny responsibility that was not his. “It's just,” he added slowly, “he used you.”
“And I've come to terms with that. I've realised my own mistakes too–”
“But you did nothing wrong!”
“Some might say that whilst others may disagree,” he reasoned. “I think there could've been a lot of things I did differently. But, that is all in the past. What's important is that we are here and we are safe.”
“Okay.” Shou sounded like he believed him just a little bit more.
“Did you want to stay for some food? I can message Reigen and he can bring something back.”
“I'm good but thank you!” Shou shot up from where he sat, a pep in his step now. Through everything, the kid always amazed him with how he bounced back in full swing. “Thanks for listening Serizawa.”
“Of course, any time.”
Then, before Katsuya could suggest Shou leave through the front door, the redhead was tumbling out the window and on his way.
—
He heard the door open from where he was sitting in the spare room. Reigen was catching up with a few documents that needed filling. Katsuya was currently out at one of his classes.
He knew it wasn't Katsuya returning because the door didn't click open– there was no sound of a key turning in the lock. It had been opened using psychic powers if he had to guess. The telltale buzz of energy he had grown used to rattling through the apartment. Most likely, one of the kids had shown up.
“I'm in here,” he called out, deciding not to make a move out of his chair. Whoever the guest was could come see him if they wanted or he could leave them to their own devices.
Small footsteps approached and Reigen was slightly surprised to see Ristu poke his head around the doorframe.
Whilst they often did not see eye to eye on many things, Reigen still cared for the kid as much as he did with the others. It wasn't that he held any negative feelings towards Ritsu (even though he was sure Ritsu didn't exactly like him though. He wasn't afraid to voice his opinion when it came to his annoyances) it was just that the kid was reckless. Reigen knew that Ritsu would make shady deals with spirits or throw himself headfirst into danger if it meant protecting his family and friends.
Though, hypocritical, Reigen supposed he'd also do the same if given the offer.
“Good afternoon Ritsu,” he greeted, “what can I do for you?”
Reigen smirked when Ritsu just rolled his eyes, the action was familiar to them both. Ritsu didn't say anything, instead just crossing the room and flopping down onto the spare bed shoved up into the corner.
Arataka prided himself on his perception. It was why he had managed to survive so long in the office without any prior help. He picked up on subtle cues and reading the room came as naturally to him as breathing. He could tell, with the way Ritsu huffed as he lay down, that something was bothering the kid. However this was Ristu and whilst they had been through a whole lot together, it didn't mean that either of them were the type to confess troubled feelings in the presence of one another.
( Well , Reigen often tried to keep any negative feelings to himself. So he supposed it didn't have much to do with the fact that he didn't like putting stress on any of the kid's shoulders but more with the fact that he grew up always struggling with how to be vulnerable.)
If he was going to figure out what was going on, he would have to do so calmly and discreetly. A wrong move would send Ritsu back out the door, unbothered by looking rude by leaving mid-conversation.
“How was school?” He asked without looking up from his laptop. It was a safe question, one he had asked many times to the kids as it was always a good conversation starter.
“I don't want to talk about school,” Ritsu called out and that alone was telling .
“Alright. Then what do you want to talk about?”
“See, we had career options at school today,” Ritsu continued without acknowledging Riegen’s second question. He smiled to himself. He found it endearing that Ritsu, whilst always doing so discretely, didn't mind ranting about issues to Reigen. “And I just don't get the importance of it? Why do I have to sit and choose a career when, one, I might change my mind? And two, isn't it a lot of pressure to get teenagers to think about what they want to be doing for the rest of their lives?”
“Chances are, almost all of you will go through several different jobs in your lifetime,” Reigen pointed out.
“Well yeah, duh.”
Reigen ignored the rude addition. “So you have no idea what you want to do after school? That's pretty normal if you ask me.”
“See I said that too,” he complained and Arataka thought he might be getting a little bit closer to revealing a bigger problem. “And it's not as if I don't have any ideas of what I want to do. It's just not a doctor or lawyer or some shit like that.”
“Language.”
“You're one to talk. Tome told me about your lay down and swear at the world session you two had the other week.”
Again, Reigen was a master of ignoring unsolicited comments. Finally, he turned his chair, the wheels squeaking against the hardwood flooring. Ritsu still lay on the bed, staring upwards.
“You don't have to be a doctor or lawyer or anything similar,” he said slowly. “Do you think you have to pick a job like that?”
“ I don't.”
Ah. Reigen was starting to understand a little bit more.
“Okay, but someone else thinks you should choose a career path like that though?”
Ritsu sat up, legs dangling over the side of the bed as he levelled Reigen with an unamused look. “ Everyone thinks I should do something like that.”
“Everyone?” He echoed, raising a brow.
“ Yeah! The teachers are all like, oh, Ritsu, you have such good grades you shouldn't let those go to waste! Even the damned school careers advisor said something similar. Then there's my parents, who don't mean any harm but Mom always looks disappointed when I mention I don't want to go down any of the routes teachers are suggesting,” he let Ritsu ramble. This was the most he'd probably heard from the kid regarding a personal problem. It was a breath of fresh air to see him so open, even about trivial things like career options. Reigen could handle that.
“But you do have an idea of what you want to do,” he said, noting how the tone Ristu used implied that he had ideas but was perhaps too nervous to say anything to the adults in his life.
“I–” Ritsu hesitated momentarily before taking a good look at Reigen and deciding the worry wasn't worth it. “I want to do something that involves my powers. I want to help people, like my older brother has in the past. Like Serizawa does. Shou mentioned a job opportunity for me with a place he's looking at and it sounds perfect.”
“Then do that,” Reigen said simply.
Ristu blinked. “Huh?”
“If that job sounds perfect for you, go do that job,” he repeated. “You said everyone thought you should do a job like a dentist or nurse or whatever. Well, I don't think that. Trust me, kid, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a job you do not enjoy. I know that from experience. So, if you want to try out the job Shou told you about, do it. If it makes you happy and fulfilled, great! If you realise it's not for you, that's also great. There are options upon options out there for you to choose.”
For a moment, Ritsu took in Reigens words. Then, “Wait, I didn't know you could give good advice.”
“I'll have you know my job is built up on giving good advice so naturally I'm a professional.”
Ritsu gave him a flat look. “Well, anyway thanks, I guess. That was actually useful stuff you just said to me.”
Reigen smiled. “Of course, if you need advice you can always come to me, you know?”
“I think I'd rather not do that. Serizawa is nicer than you.”
He laughed at the light insult, turning back to his laptop, waving a hand. “Yeah, yeah, tell me something I don't know.”
From the corner of his eye, as he moved around, he noted Ritsu was smirking too.
—
The past couple of weeks had certainly been busy. With the constant flow of jobs in the office and then, on top of that, the makeshift therapy sessions they had been having with the kids in their apartment, they had done a fair bit recently.
However, Reigen and Serizawa were perfectly content with that. Their home was everyone's home, after all.
That's why, as the sun just began to set beyond the horizon, their apartment was full of life and chatter one Saturday evening.
Reigen surveyed the scene from the kitchen as he was leant up against the counters.
The coffee table, a slew of games and empty take-out boxes piled on top of it, was currently housing a card game between Tome, Ritsu and Teru. If he had to guess, Tome was winning. It was because of her posture, back straight as if she was ready to announce her victory any moment now. Whereas Ritsu, forever the sore loser (even if the kid always denied it, he hated losing games) had an expression of steel as he frowned at his cards. Then there was Teru, just happy to play.
Shou half watched the card game unfold, he was currently fighting the urge to fall asleep on the couch. Every so often he would point at one of Ritsu's cards and mumble something, supposedly helping him with the game. Then, when he wasn't as distracted by the cards, he would shut his eyes and slump against the couch. Out of everyone, Reigen was always surprised that the kid could sleep anywhere. He wasn't kidding– he went into the office one day and Shou had decided to take a nap on top of the bookshelf. If he were a betting man, he'd bet that Shou would be asleep in the next twenty minutes.
Then there was Mob, leant up against Teru, also watching the game unfold. He seemed less interested in what they were playing and more concentrated on having conversations with everyone. That was nice to see. The kid, who used to be so nervous he could barely utter a word to anyone, was so comfortable and confident with everyone here that he could talk and talk and talk. When the current game finished (Tome had won, as suspected) Mob pointed at one of the several boxes on the table, deciding the next game for them all to play.
“What are you thinking about?” A voice, barely a whisper, spoke out beside him.
Katsuya was leant up against the counter too, both of them shoulder to shoulder. He looked into his swirling, deep brown eyes and smiled earnestly. “Thinking about how lucky we are to have this makeshift little family.”
Serizawa met his smile with the same energy, leaning forward and planting a kiss on Arataka's cheek. “Yeah, I agree.”
“Ugh, gross,” Tome yelled out from across the room, accompanied by Ritsu fake gagging at the public display of affection. “And to think I was just going to ask you two sickos if you wanted to join in the next game.”
Reigen laughed, tugging Katsuya in by the collar to kiss him on the lips, receiving a multitude of complaints from the kids. When he pulled away he sensed the mischievous, love-struck glint in Serizawa's expression. He called out, “Yes, we'll both be playing.”
“Well get over here then,” Teru interjected, next to him Mob was looking amused by the whole ordeal.
Years ago, when Reigen was stuck in a dead-end job and wondering what had gone wrong in his life to get him there, he never would have thought that this would be his life in several years. He never would have thought he would have a loving partner and then a gaggle of kids he liked to call his own, if he were being honest. They trusted him and he trusted them. A mutual bond between them all.
Family– it was a weird thing, wasn't it?
And yet, Reigen Arataka wouldn't have it any other way.