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Tsumiki has been quiet ever since Toji appeared at the door and demanded time with both of them.
The first time (as well as the second, and third time, and so on and so forth), he'd only asked for Megumi. He tried their hardest to support Tsumiki from what she perceived to be her brother abandoning her but the knowledge that Toji was really only interested in Megumi weighed heavy on him, and then later Suguru, Nanami and Ieiri. Seeing her gaze out the window of her room in their new house and watch Toji walk away with Megumi, the latter who turned back every time to look up at her and say goodbye, was heartbreaking for Satoru. Tsumiki is such a sweet girl.
But when he asked for them both for the day, scowly and moody, Satoru knew what the kids didn't. He only did it to appease Megumi, who likely talked about missing his sister while they were gone together. Suguru had suggested, more than once, that they not allow either child to go on their own but he felt as though he had no right to stop Megumi from interacting with his father, as despicable a man as he may be.
Now that Tsumiki goes with them, building up to twice a month by now, she comes back different. A little quieter, a little sadder. She's starting to withdraw from himself and Suguru, going back to how she was before; over-protective of Megumi, codependent to a fault, and incredibly sensitive to the emotions of the adults around her. More than once, when Satoru was mad from work or having to let them go, Tsumiki would be able to tell and assume he was mad at her before crying in her room for a while.
Every now and then, he remembers that the kids were on their own for a long time before himself and Suguru arrived to take care of them. Then he finds a snack in Megumi's room, tucked underneath the floorboards or hidden in his laundry. He finds Tsumiki hoarding money in her room, every last physical piece of yen that Satoru gives her offhandedly. Even if Tsumiki's mother was there, Toji had abandoned them repeatedly to do his work as the Sorcerer Killer leaving her the responsibility to take care of two kids and a house. They were alone a lot.
He doesn't like seeing it.
Everything is off kilter as well, given Suguru has come back after he disappeared off the face of the earth for four years, doing who knows what with who knows who. Satoru had been so concerned when they started to drift in their third year of school and then Suguru left him in the middle of the street. For four whole years. He'd been back a few months when Toji arrived, meaning the kids had two life-altering events happen in a very short time. Megumi is still a little hesitant around Suguru whereas Tsumiki went the route of appeasing him by being polite, or staying away from him altogether. All Suguru really wants is to bond with them, let them know he's here now and he’s not going anywhere.
Satoru supposes he’s got to prove that to him too.
Being open and vulnerable with them comes easier for Suguru than it does him, and they have warmed up quicker to Suguru because of that than they did to him. Only a little hurtful but he understands; Suguru, after coming back and realising how bad it is to bottle it up or whatever, talks to the kids a lot more about his feelings. They were apprehensive until they went out for ice cream and came back all over him, in their own way.
Watching Tsumiki through the rear-view mirror of the car, Satoru drums his fingers on his knees. He can't even think about how good looking Suguru is while driving, his hair pushed back into a ponytail with his bangs out, and a pair of pink gauges in his ears rather than black for the holiday. He looks so good and all Satoru can think about is how Megumi is the one doing all the talking for once. He's chatting about birds though, his nerd book clutched in his hands, so Satoru isn't listening either.
Tsumiki has been withdrawn for three days. Usually, it's only around one day after she comes back. Are the visits with Toji negatively affecting her? Reminding her of her mother? He knows the Zenin's have a few outdated ideals about women but he might have made a mistake by assuming since Toji hates his family, and the whole clan, he would disregard those ideals as well. Is Toji treating her badly?
Is she… unhappy with them ?
Suguru parks the car and gets out, looking over at Satoru from the other side of the car to confirm they're ready to go. He unbuckles himself as well, getting out and walking around the front of the car. He’s jittery, more nervous then he should be, but this is how he’s always felt at the prospect of laying himself bare like he plans to. Showing his soft underbelly has never been easy for Satoru. He stops Suguru from opening up the car door on Tsumiki's side, pulling him back for a moment.
"Can I walk with Tsumiki today? I want to talk to her about something." His voice doesn’t shake, which is a win in itself but Suguru squints at him for a moment, eyeliner making it seem much more defined and judgemental than it probably is. Suguru nods after a moment, looking at the window of the car where he can see Tsumiki. She’s looking at her hands instead of them. Megumi has probably started to beat himself against the door by now, so eager to be free of his booster seat.
"Is it about her feelings?" He asks, apprehension coating his tone. "'Cause you have to be delicate about it, Satoru, she's sensitive."
"I know how to be delicate!"
"Do you?"
"Yes."
“Are you sure? If you upset her,” Suguru trails off, likely remembering the time Satoru tried to comfort Shoko but only made it worse by bringing up her failed romance with a non-shaman girl. Satoru winces at the memory.
“I won’t! I swear. Besides, if I’m–we’re–if I am a parental unit in her life, we need to be able to talk about this right?” He can’t call himself her dad, not when he knows her dad’s Facebook handle and the bright, shiny new family he’s had for a while now. It feels like usurping, like he’d be cursing himself with a blight. Still. Her happiness is a goal he wants in life, herself and Megumi priority one, no matter what.
(Satoru used to think those mothers who dove off a sinking ship with their babies clutched tight to their chests, risking drowning themselves so their child would live, were silly. You can always have another kid. You don’t get another life. Now, he knows. If a boat was sinking, he would throw himself to the waves and peacefully drown if it meant more air for Tsumiki, another chance for Megumi. It makes him ache, at times, the way he loves them and his inability to express it. He hopes they know.)
(By Tengen, he hopes they know .)
"Okay," Suguru concedes, though he doesn't seem too happy about it. Suguru instead takes Megumi out of the car and picks him up, settling him on his side as they walk towards the other car parked in the lot. For an eight year old, he doesn’t do a whole lot of walking. This late in the afternoon, there's only so many people here but Shoko and Nanami asked to meet up to help with their own groceries. Nanami, who has split from the sorcerer world fairly recently and moved into his own apartment in the city, struggles with finding time for grocery shopping and making dinner while he's working a full time job.
Megumi is fairly happy to see Nanami and Shoko, all things considered. He doesn't squeal like other kids do or giggle when Nanami picks him up as well, the eight year olds feet locking behind his back in the hug. Shoko tugs at his hair. Suguru frowns exaggeratedly and takes him back, cradling him to his chest like a new-born baby and wailing about child abuse. Megumi only screams a little bit, but otherwise he seems fairly content with everyone tossing him back and forth like a hot potato.
Satoru turns back to the car and looks in at Tsumiki. She's staring down at her hands, picking at the skin around her nails. She hasn't even complained that he spaced out for a second, thinking about how good Suguru is with kids and now their own little village has assembled around the two kids. Even Yaga likes them enough to keep them a secret from the higher-ups. He has also kept it a secret for the time being that Suguru is back, which he appreciates. He deserves a break.
"Ready to go in?" Satoru asks and leans in to undo her belt. She's twelve now, meaning she could do it on her own, but Satoru likes doing things for the kids. If he can't talk about how he feels, then he can damn well show them how he feels. Acts of service it is! Tsumiki, drifting a little still, looks up at him and nods instead of verbalising it like she normally would. His heart pounds, threatens to break free and swallow her down. If only he could keep Infinity on her at all times, he thinks a little wistfully, maybe then she’d stop getting hurt. What use is he if not to keep her safe?
"I know we usually do our shopping online and get it delivered, but dear Nanamin and Shoko need help! Well, more Nanamin, the poor soul just moved out on his own. He's never experienced what it's like to live on his own until right now and he's struggling so much. Shoko is just here to laugh at him, I think," he babbles as they walk towards the group, Tsumiki's hand loose in his own. Her skin is cold. Looking down at her, Satoru sees that he forgot her jacket at home.
Damn, he always forgets their jackets!
Normally, Tsumiki would say it's mean to laugh at people struggling. This one's got a bleeding heart, unlike her brother who would probably scowl up at Shoko and keep silent. She cried when Satoru stepped on an ant in the backyard during summer, wailing about ti’s family and what if it had a brother who was waiting for it and a mother who needed it? He never felt more like a killer than right then, watching the fat tears roll down her face. Satoru got used to the high strung nature of Tsumiki’s emotions a week into knowing her and had acted accordingly. (Although, the ant incident threw him for a loop.) There's nothing wrong with being sensitive. Satoru just needs to be a bit more sensitive about it himself. It’s not on her to change, it’s his responsibility.
Before they enter the grocery store, Satoru sees a little cafe inside and makes a split decision. He takes out his phone and tells Suguru they'll meet up with them in ten minutes or so, and that he's going to talk a little more with Tsumiki. She seems confused as they waltz into the cafe, Satoru asking for two hot chocolates with cream and marshmallows. Tsumiki goes and sits at a booth as he waits for their drinks, ignoring the confused text messages from Shoko that get increasingly aggressive as he doesn't answer.
When he sits down opposite to her, sliding the cup of hot chocolate towards her, she wraps her hands around it but doesn't make a move to drink any. It's a little too hot right now anyway. Taking in a deep breath, Satoru takes off his blindfold and drops it down on the table beside his mug. Tsumiki never liked it when he had the blindfold on, or even the sunglasses, and he’s yet to figure out why. Maybe she thinks his eyes are pretty, maybe she wants to make sure he’s not lying. Her hands tighten on the mug when she sees it, small bones presing against her young skin. Unbidden, her chin wobbles a little before she stops it. He feels like Infinity has turned on him and is crushing him rather than protecting him.
"Tsumiki," he starts and then pauses because he doesn't really know what to do right now, "I've been getting the feeling that you're upset lately." She doesn't say much, taking a page out of Megumi's book it seems, and out of nerves he keeps talking. "I'm a little worried, is all, there's nothing wrong with being upset! But, if it's something Suguru or I have done, you should definitely tell us. And I know Suguru is usually the one who talks with you guys like this, but I..."
wanted to help? Act like the care-taker I am? Put in more effort than my own parents did, be better than them for his kids? I love you both so much but it's really hard for me to say it because if I do, then I'm acknowledging you're my weakness and the Strongest can't have a weakness.
"I don't want to see Fushiguro-san anymore."
Satoru blinks at Tsumiki, dropping his mug down a little on the table from where he'd lifted it to take a sip. She's still not looking at him, instead gazing into her mug and she picks up a spoon to swirl the marshmallows around. The pink and white ones mix together, melting the cream into the hot chocolate some more. He wishes he'd asked for cinnamon or caramel on hers given she prefers it that way but he'd forgotten in the moment. What if she doesn't want to drink it because of that? That's how Megumi makes it for her.
"That's okay," he reassures, a little slowly. "That's fine, Tsumiki. I... If you felt like you had to go, then I'm sorry." Had she? They asked Tsumiki if she wanted to go with Toji when he first asked, or rather stated he'd be taking her with him, and if she was okay with it. Satoru would have Hollow Purpled him again if she said no and he kept pushing, which he would have. He's distinctly aware that Toji isn't her father, that he's her step-father and has no right to her time or presence. He’s also aware that Toji may have been the only father figure in her life, given the Facebook status of her father reveals he’s been married to his now wife for ten years.
"No!" She bursts out, looking at him properly for the first time since the conversation began, not like a ghost drifting in front of him. "No, you guys never — I knew I didn't have to go if I didn't want to. I just..." Tsumiki trails off in an unnatural show of hesitance, poking at her skin again. Gently, Satoru reaches across and takes her hand, pulling her small fingers away from her nails and holding her hand in his own. Its started to warm up from the drink, sweaty palm pressed to his. His hand encases hers, so much larger and lived in. He never thought he’d grow into his hands as a teenager, and it feels odd to see such small ones in his, even if these ones fit just right.
What could have driven her towards going? Old, fond memories with her mother still around where Toji was there? That could be the reason, given whenever Megumi came back he'd camp out in her room for a while. Satoru overheard him tell her about how Toji never talks about their mother, but does take them to places they used to go when they've got time. She could have missed that, the old feeling of family she had. Although, himself and Suguru try to make new memories for themselves, Satoru definitely brings them back to their old apartment every now and then just to hang out. He still owns it.
No, it couldn't have been reminiscing about her mother. Afterall, she's free to do that whenever she wants in the comfort of her own home with them, not with a serial killer.
Is it the general link between them of having family members that are sorcerers while not being one? Tsumiki has never shown any issue or hostility towards them for being a mainly sorcerer household but she might not have felt comfortable sharing that with them. She would have told Megumi though, and he would have started to resist his training. So, it's not that.
Satoru feels like he's thinking himself in circles, and it's only been a second since she stopped talking. What could it possibly be? Did she, unlike Megumi, realise how awful Toji is? He's generally abrasive, rude as fuck, volatile, did he mention rude?, and doesn’t care much towards the wellness and health of his children. Once, Megumi came home and told them that he got to wander the forest for a while as Toji did "his job". He took a literal child to kill a sorcerer. Satoru considered rescinding whatever goodwill they had, but that was one of the first meetings, and the rules have gotten stricter since.
As if he'd struck gold with a throwaway thought, Satoru straightens and tightens his grip on Tsumiki's hands. She had been there when Megumi told them that and had started to bawl and cry in the bathroom. Suguru had to sit outside the bathroom for half an hour while reassuring her it was okay to be upset and that no one was mad at her. They'd misunderstood, he realises, having thought she was upset because Toji didn't want to spend time with her. She was upset because her brother was in danger.
Come to think of it, Megumi started staying in her room again after that. They could never decide if it was his idea or hers but Satoru is starting to think it was both of theirs; Tsumiki because Megumi was in danger and she didn't know, couldn't protect him, and Megumi because she got distressed when he left and he wanted to soothe her emotional pains as best he could.
His children are so very sweet, sometimes, and at others literal devils. She could have told them that!
"It's about Megumi-chan, isn't it? You're going for him?" Looking caught out, Tsumiki freezes for a second and then nods. Okay. That makes this next bit that much easier. He gets to reassure Tsumiki about Megumi, give Megumi a little chat (and possibly a phone with their numbers literally engraved into it so he never forgets them) about being safe with Toji and that he can call them whenever he wants if he doesn't want to be there, and then scream down the phone at Toji down the street so the kids don't hear. If he's going to be involved in their lives, they need to be safe. He won't budge on that.
"He'll be fine, 'Miki, there's no need to worry," he tries but she bursts forward, hands on the table and eyes wide.
"Yes there is! He doesn't like Megumi, he never has! When — When Fushiguro-san used to look at Megumi, it was with so much hatred, Satoru! Mommy said it was because he reminded Fushiguro-san of his family but I think it's because he's a sorcerer and he's not." While Tsumiki starts off loud and strong, she ends quietly and her eyes water, lips wobbling.
Forgetting about the hot chocolate between them, Satoru gets up and swerves around the booth, sliding onto the chair beside her and pulling her closer. In the grocery store cafe is not the ideal area to have this conversation, sure, especially because it involves talking about their lives that must remain private to the rest of the world, but it's very empty at the moment and very late. They're likely the only people here. Her face is red and blotchy when he touches it, brushes away the tears that have started to glide down her cheeks, and she presses close to him so quickly it’s a wonder they were ever apart.
"Tsumiki," he starts but she shakes her head and tucks it into his neck, sniffling. Satoru slides his hands back, rubs a hand down her back to soothe her and then lets the other play with her braids, twirling the one on the left around his fingers. Suguru is so good at doing hair, he notes, staring down at the two Dutch braids in her hair, starting at the top of her scalp and going all the way down before the actual braid ends halfway through her back. "Tsumiki, honey, it's okay. Megumi is a strong kid, and he knows how to protect himself."
The write ups from his school and the partial suspension for fighting kids that are older than him, says as much. Satoru doesn't mention Megumi's nasty attitude at school though, instead focusing on the brighter parts.
"Megumi knows when something is bad or not, chicken, and he knows that myself and Suguru are there for him if he's in danger. He also knows that he doesn't need to see Toji if he doesn't want to.” She still whines a little, upset and starting to work herself up, and Satoru’s got about five seconds before he’s got to take them home completely. He flounders a little, wonders what could make her feel better, and then realises he’s got to tell the truth. “Chickee, it’s okay to be upset or worried for Meg, but he’s a good kid. I’m sorry this is so upsetting for you, I had no idea. That’s on me.”
“What if… what if he gets hurt and I’m not there to help him?” Satoru frowns, cups her head in his hand, and wonders a little abstractly how much force it would take to cave her skull in. So many things can hurt kids — hell, kids can hurt other kids! Megumi could get hurt out there without Tsumiki and she would be inconsolable, undoubtedly. But Tsumiki is only twelve. She shouldn’t be worrying about Megumi bleeding out in the woods. She should be worrying about if the girls in her school liked her hair that day or if she’ll be able to hang out with her best friend over the weekend. Normal, kid things. Satoru feels like crying a little.
“Tsumiki, listen to me, okay? Megumi is not your responsibility.” This is all his fault. If he’d moved in with them faster, took care of them better during those first few months, none of this would be happening, he’s sure. “He’s mind, just like you are. I have to be worried about both of you and I'm sorry, hon, but if seeing Fushiguro is hurting you, I'd prefer it if you didn't go." He feels a little bad telling her not to go, but if it's really for the best, then it's what he's got to do, he guesses. Tsumiki, taking in a deep breath and rubbing her snot on his sleeve (that's... gross, but okay), nods.
He feels like he should talk about how responsible Tsumiki feels for Megumi a little more. He supposes they should talk about why exactly she feels responsible for him, although guessing the answer isn't hard. He should tell her that she doesn't need to take care of him anymore. Megumi is a kid, much younger than Tsumiki, but she's still a child as well. He can feel the spirit of Nanami smacking him upside the head for letting this go on for so long.
Although, given how Tsumiki still shakes and sniffles every now and then, Satoru figures they can talk about this later. When they’re not in a shopping store.
"That's enough for tonight, maybe?" Satoru says because even if he feels like they've done a load of talking, Tsumiki might want to keep going. As draining as it might be, Satoru would be willing to keep going. He’ll drown, just for her. He wants her to feel comfortable like this, talking about things with him. Satoru wants to be better. He will be better. Afterall, he's the Strongest and his boyfriend, as fragile as he is right now, is also the Strongest right alongside him.
If they can't raise two kids, who can?
Tsumiki nods. They stay in the cafe for a little bit, drinking lukewarm hot chocolate and snickering about the cream moustaches they get. Satoru gets told his suits him because of his white hair, but poor Tsumiki gets cream on her nose and inhales it by accident. Cleaning her face off, his phone buzzes on the table and while Tsumiki finishes off her mug (and his, when she thinks he's not looking), he checks it.
the betrayer (^///^), 19:28pm
entering the candy aisle, if you want anything, you better get your butt in here because I'm not buying it for you
the kids don't need that stuff available to them
Scoffing down at his phone, scandalised that Suguru would dare suggest the kids don't need their after dinner sweet treat, Satoru shakes his head. Tsumiki seems equally as scandalised about this and she hops down from the booth after him, grabbing onto his hand as they basically power walk through the store. If only she would let him pick her up! As soon as she turned eleven, a measly one year after meeting each other, Tsumiki stopped asking to be picked up.
(Maybe… if he just picked her up, without asking, she’d go along with it? Afterall, they rarely ask Megumi and he suffers through it very silently because he’s not actually suffering. And Tsumiki is only twelve, that’s nothing for Satoru. He’ll give it a try later, maybe, when they’re not so fragile.)
The candy aisle is one of the last ones, meaning they've done most of the shopping without him! Megumi and Suguru are a deadly duo to do the shopping because they both believe in healthy, organic food or whatever. It tastes like crap, that's all Satoru cares about.
Satoru sees Nanami before he sees anyone else. The damn kid shot up like a weed while they were gone in his final year and packed on some muscle as well. Satoru almost didn't recognise him when they met, and he'd physically recoiled when Nanami asked if he'd bumped his head that morning, not expecting the deep voice. Suguru is nowhere to be seen originally, and Satoru is surprised to spot him down on the ground after scanning the whole aisle. Megumi is pointing towards a box and Suguru is frowning at it, looking between the box and the kid.
"Hello!" Satoru calls out, loud enough that the whole store hears them. "Hello! It's us! You're favourite people in the world!" Nanami turns towards them on instinct then realises how loud they're being, turning away with a pained look on his face.
"Stop yelling," Nanami says, exasperated to an endless degree. Tsumiki laughs a little behind her hand, scuttling over to Megumi when he lets her go. Surprised to see her so quickly, Megumi is thoroughly distracted from Suguru and latches around her like a limpet. The co-dependency is rearing its head again, he sees, and then squints. Yeah, they should have had that talk about responsibilities and being kids a bit earlier, huh?
Tsumiki and Megumi, now attached at the hip, are pretty far away from him. Surprised that he's getting so nervous about it, Satoru picks up his pace as he walks over. The reminder of Megumi being in danger, without him even realising it or knowing until after the fact, is now fresh in his mind and causing a rare spurt of anxiety. Only, Nanami and his stupidly tall, muscular body is in the way of the wet floor sign and Satoru slips on the ground.
Shoko, who turned up at the end of the aisle with a bottle of wine in her hand, points at him and laughs. Suguru rises from his crouch a little, gaping at him. Yeah, Satoru feels the same way; how the fuck did he slip? He's Satoru Gojo, for God's sake! He doesn't slip on water, certainly not in a store! Nanami puts down the box of chocolates he was looking at for Haibara and quickly walks away, pointedly not looking at him.
None of these reactions are surprising. He's annoyed, Suguru is caught between worried and amused, Shoko is delighting in his pain, and Nanami is pretending they don't know each other. Those are the usual reactions whenever he embarrasses himself. No, what's new is Tsumiki, gaping and surprised, pointing at him and shouting at the top of her lungs;
"PIMP DOWN! Suguru, our pimp fell down!"
Satoru gapes at her, leaning up on his elbows. Suguru whips around to stare at her, a gasp tearing itself from his throat. Nanami trips over his feet, careening onto the shelf beside him and he too whips around to stare at her. Megumi seems to be in a similar state of distress, although in his own strange way; a half a step forward, intense gaze on him, a small hiccup popping out of his mouth. He doesn't dare come over to Satoru, that would be too much for him, but he doesn't look away.
Shoko, the real betrayer it seems, falls to her knees with a gasping laugh. It's loud and boisterous, a bouncing thing that he hasn't heard for a while. Not since before the Star Plasma Vessel mission and both himself and Suguru changed. He wonders if maybe they didn't make her laugh anymore and promptly feels like shit. Although, if a kid calling him a pimp is what makes her laugh, she deserves to rot in hell.
"No!" He says, practically shouting, and points at her. So much time spent together, bonding before getting into the actual store part of the grocery store, and she forsakes him? Disregards his love and care? "No, where did you learn that? Who told you that word?"
Tsumiki blinks at him innocently, still frowning and worried, rooted to the spot. Suguru is speechless beside him, twisting between laughing at Satoru and demanding where Tsumiki learned to call him that. Because, certainly, someone told her to say that — she wouldn't have done it on her own.
"Why is your child calling you a pimp, Gojo?" Nanami demands, looming over him. Satoru sits up and swats him away, annoyed at him because now he can see the wet floor sign that was previously hiding behind him. "Where did she learn that word? Gojo, why does your child call you a pimp? How does she even know what that means? Does she know what that means?"
"I don't know," he hisses and stands up, beyond irritated that his ass hurts now. He really slapped off the ground, Tengen above, what the fuck. Are these floors made of concrete? Why the hell didn't Limitless protect him? Oh right, he stopped using it in the cafe so he could hold Tsumiki close to him. He must not have put it back up considering he'd held her so close the whole time, up until he fell. What a pain being a parent has turned out to be. Rubbing his butt, he thinks the pain is getting a little too corporal.
"Tsumiki," Suguru starts and crouches to be at her level, hand tight by his side but the other soft on her shoulder. His back is tense, and he keeps flicking his hair over his shoulder from the ponytail. He's — he's fucking amused! He thinks this is funny! He thinks Satoru's pain is funny! "Where did you learn that word? That's not a very nice thing to call Satoru."
"The woman on the tv called the man who took care of her a pimp. She said that before they met, she was homeless and didn't have 'a dime' which I looked up and meant money. And we didn't have money until Satoru picked us up, and we were homeless as well. But then she said, 'you're my pimp, bitch, I don't need to know how to cook' and Satoru said I don't need to cook either! So, I thought... maybe... he takes care of us," Tsumiki meekly finishes off, finding some hesitance in her conviction now that everyone around her is gaping at her.
Nanami turns to him and swats him upside the head. Satoru, still having forgotten about Limitless, flinches and clenches his jaw. What the fuck. What has his life turned out to be. Satoru turns to look at Nanami, raising an eyebrow and tilting his head in question. Nanami, strong willed in the face of his ire, only scowls back at him. Shoko approaches them, having gotten over her fit of laughter for a second round to alight as she hears Tsumiki's explanation.
"What TV are you allowing your children to watch, Satoru?!"
"I'm not — where did you see that? Bitch isn't a nice word either, Tsumiki!" Satoru scolds, going closer. He sends a venomous glare to Shoko for laughing so hard, and then touches Suguru's back lightly. It's a marvel to him that Suguru came back, every now and then, and he delights in it by touching him as often as possible.
"That's what you call Shoko-san behind her back!" Megumi defends his sister, blindly throwing Satoru under the bus while doing so. Suguru sends him his own look, reads as 'you're sleeping on the couch tonight' , and then Shoko kicks him in the shin. Still no Limitless! Whining, Satoru holds his shin and hops around a little bit, grinning a little helplessly. "What's the matter with you?" Megumi asks, rather judgmentally.
"I stopped using Limitless so I could hold you brats, although I'm not sure why now!"
"Satoru, stop whining, god. You come in here, you yell, you fall over — what are you, an old man?" Suguru bitches, without even turning back to look at him. "Now, I know you didn't see that with us or in those cartoons you watch, so when did you watch that?"
"At night. After you tuck us in, Megumi and I get up and watch tv while you guys giggle in your room." Nanami's glare is fierce and Shoko dissolves into giggles again. She's getting a little too much amusement out of this for it to be fair, she's just gotten like three months worth of blackmail in three minutes. Crossing her legs, Satoru gapes at her because he knows what's going on when she makes that position, because he's made her do that a hundred times over.
"Tsumiki-chan, you've got to stop talking otherwise I'm going to wet myself," she declares and wipes away a tear from her eye. Suguru giggles, finally breaking his serious demeanor now that Satoru is there to scold them. Betrayal on all fronts. "You got your kids calling you a pimp," she starts, laughing at him again, "a bitch," this is the happiest he's seen her in years, "and staying up past their bedtime! Parents of the year here."
Shoko grasps Tsumiki and Megumi, pulling them away from them and praising them endlessly. She promises to buy them cookies and, when Megumi pipes up that he doesn't really like cookies because of how fuzzy they make his teeth feel, amends that Tsumiki gets a cookie and Megumi gets whatever health nut alternative he wants. He requests the fried broccoli that Suguru makes. Nanami stays around only to scold him some more, telling both himself and Suguru that they should be more responsible. He leaves then, pulling his cart away while leaving Suguru's beside it. As expected, it looks full of fruit and vegetables and almond based cereals.
"He acts like he's fifty," Satoru says and watches as Nanami picks up his phone and, most likely, calls Haibara. Those two, he swears, they're worse than him and Suguru. He knows that Haibara is only waiting for him to ask him to move in. Kids, he thinks fondly, and then frowns. Maybe he's the one who acts like he's fifty, "And Tsumiki! The gall!"
Suguru only smiles and comes closer, arms wrapping around his waist. Satoru smiles despite himself, lifts his arms to wrap them around his shoulders and steps in close. He can feel the imprint of his smile on his skin, lips pressed to his neck as he mumbles about how they've got to be more careful. Satoru shakes his head, mocks thinking and then mumbles that they've got to be less careful. They're only twenty, after all.
Grinning into a kiss, Satoru thinks that maybe they've got the best kids in the world. Only twenty and he's already carved out a family he loves and cares so damn much about, while for seventeen years it seemed like maybe he wouldn't be able to have a family like this. His parents certainly didn't approve of Suguru and he didn't even bother to tell them about Tsumiki and Megumi. They wouldn't have approved anyway, and besides. The last time Satoru talked to his parents was when he was eighteen, right after he found the kids. He’s not sure what spurred him into leaving them behind.
"Calling me a pimp," Satoru mumbles, unable to help himself. Suguru giggles, kisses him once more quickly, and then breaks away again to laugh into his shoulder. He shakes with it, a light sound that echoes through the whole store, and Satoru wishes he could pull out his phone and record it. If he could keep what was left of his reputation, he would have. He would do anything to listen to Suguru laugh like this the whole time. Maybe their time apart affected him more than he lets on. Just maybe. "I'm not a pimp."
"Well," Suguru wheedles and then jumps away from him when the Limitless goes back up, laughing all the while he summons a small curse to swim around Satoru's head and chew on the barrier between itself and his hair. Satoru chases him, going a little easier than he usually would because Suguru's got to take the cart with him, and they meet up with the rest of their gaggle at the till. The worker seems exhausted simply by seeing them but swatting Suguru's butt, listening to him threaten to gouge his eyes out, while also holding a very happy Tsumiki munching on a cookie and a gloomy Megumi who has to wait for his treat until they get home, Satoru doesn't think he'd rather be anywhere else.