Chapter Text
The first time Keito met Souma, he just got into highschool, and the other was only two years old. It was Keito’s Cousin —Souma’s parents' funeral. The kid, with tufts of purple hair and big violet eyes, observed the people that came with a big smile, not really understanding what was happening. He tried to greet everyone (formally perhaps? Keito is unsure), with a string of words that barely made any sense.
Keito, who was just newly presented as an omega at the time, wept for the child.
It is quite hard to explain, seeing as they have never met each other before. Keito doesn’t really remember his late cousin either. But the knowledge that the child is entirely alone made his heart ache. His heart ached even more when Souma—upon noticing his scent—perked up, toddling over to him, and then stopped midways as he realised that it was not his dam. The toddler looked up at Keito questioningly, but settled for a toothy grin. For the rest of the duration of the funeral, Souma stood by his side, his lithe hands clinging onto Keito's shirt.
Right then and there Keito decided that he would do everything to raise the child.
Being the only unmated Omega in a family full of Alphas, it is quite easy for everyone to give Souma to him. In fact, most elders in his family physically sagged in relief when he said he was willing to care for the boy. Keito almost felt offended. But when they brought Souma to him, one look from his innocent eyes fully dissipated his anger.
“Souma,” Keito called softly, kneeling down to Souma’s eye level, “My name is Keito. Would you like to come and live with me?”
The boy levelled him a stare before nodding. And that is how Keito then began living with the toddler.
It was not easy, but it was not necessarily hard either. His family is powerful enough to pull some strings and assure that Keito can take care of the toddler whilst still attending his duties as a high school student. He is allowed to stay on-site with Souma, and whilst he goes to his classes he could send Souma to the daycare on the campus, where children of his Teachers also attend. Then again Souma has always been well-behaved, to the point where even Eichi has grown fond of the kid.
Keito has his doubts, of course. Despite being childhood friends with Eichi, Keito still cannot fathom the look on his face when Keito first told him of Souma. He had to tell Eichi before he moved out of their shared room, as Eichi would have to find another person to room with.
Eichi stayed silent as Keito told him about Souma. At the end of Keito’s explanation, Eichi wore a neutral smile and simply told him to bring Souma to meet him sometime later, after Keito and Souma had settled nicely into their new room. It took Keito two days before he could bring Souma with him to meet Eichi.
Souma has always been a well-behaved kid, and so easily likeable, with his cheery demeanour and adorable smile. But if there’s one thing Keito can say after knowing the kid for around two weeks is that he is loud. He is easily excited, eager, and inquisitive about nothing and everything. His words are more of a gibberish now, which makes him even more adorable, but Keito is unsure of how his childhood friend would respond. Lately he realised that Souma has been trying to copy his mannerism, which really just makes him melt even more.
Silently, he prayed that Eichi would be able to see Souma’s charm. He would not want to choose between his childhood friend and his ward.
And the boy successfully charmed the Tenshouin Heir.
Eichi would then occasionally ask Keito to bring Souma with him to the Student Council meetings. He would even put Souma on his lap whilst explaining to him what he’s currently working on. Souma probably does not understand what Eichi is saying, but he sits peacefully anyway, sometimes nodding to whatever Eichi says. He has always been manageable, so lovely, it's as if he understands nothing and everything.
However, Keito knows that one day this lovely child would ask about his actual parents.
They both don't look alike in any sense, so of course the question would arise. The first time Souma had asked about his parents was when he finally reached five years oldㅡnot long after Souma got into preschool. It was an afternoon after Keito had picked Souma up from his school. He was preparing their dinner after he left Souma with their afternoon tea—Souma had insisted on having tea “like grown ups” after seeing his grandparents (Keito’s parents, but he did not know that and Keito thought it’ll be too much for a five year old to understand anyway) do the same.
"Kei-nii," the boy had asked then, "Where is my dam and sire?"
Keito halted his cooking. So the time has come for him to compose an answer.
Turning off his stove, he moved the fish he’s currently frying to a plate and put it aside. He’ll come back later.
He then walks back to the dining room, where the other was watching him with unreadable eyes. He then slowly, as if to not startle Souma, sat in front of the boy. "Your sire and dam…" Keito paused as if weighing his words. He was unsure of how the kid would react, but he knew that one day things would get really messy if they never got around the subject. So how is he supposed to explain to a 6 year old that his parents are gone?
"Your sire and dam are no longer here, Souma." he settled on the plain, diplomatic answer. “So our family entrusted you to me,”
"I know that," he answered almost petulantly, "I am staying with Kei-nii after all. But where are they?”
Silence engulfed the both of them.
“... I do… have them… don’t I?” He asked hesitantly. With a smaller voice, he asked, “They did not leave me because they don’t love me..?”
Keito stared in shock. He immediately kneeled in front of Souma, gathering his lithe hands on his, voice shaking. “Souma, no, they love you very much. They love you, very much so, that you are still here right now. There is no doubt about that.
“Would you tell me what prompted you to say this, Souma?”
For a while, the kid darted his eyes downward, as if afraid of meeting Keito’s eyes. He then mumbled, “People said that my sire and dam don’t want me, that’s why they never came to school. Or see me.” Keito almost wept himself as the boy then raised his tear streaked eyes to meet his, “Do they really not want me, Kei-nii? Is that why I am with you, and they never visit?”
“Of course not!” Keito quickly answered. “They are—” Keito choked up, finding it hard to continue. His next words are almost whispered. “They are not here, Souma.”
He cursed himself for failing to foresee this. He thought as long as he raised Souma and shower him with care, it would be enough. He was hesitant to even bring up the subject with the other, but now he regrets it. He forgot that Souma, too, has feelings.
For a while, both of them stayed that way—Souma quietly sobbing, and Keito holding back his tears as he tried to find his voice.
“Tomorrow,” Keito then continued, voice a bit wet, “We will both take a day off. I will show you something.”