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Messages and calls from Terushima were endless ever since your accidental encounter with him. After witnessing your form being swept away by a man that isn't him, he had no shame trying to reach you on your phone and bombard you with countless of texts. Because of that, you had to mute his number so you can have your moment of peace.

The crowd is more dispersed and less tight once you and Tooru walked on the pavement of the street to the direction of the neighborhood park. He slid his arms off from your shoulder. The warmth hindered a second longer behind your neck and then grew cold to your dissatisfaction.

"Was that your ex or something?" a question that caught your attention. But he simply didn't need a verbal answer after seeing the annoyance displayed on your face.

You spatted, "He wishes. Sorry you had to see that."

"Is that so?" Tooru pondered and then shrugged, unbothered by the mishap. "I thought that would be the case by the looks of him chasing you."

"He looked more like a creeper than an ex, if you ask me," you disputed which you earned a laugh from him.

A subtle hum uttered from his mouth while he tapped his finger against his chin in a thinking manner and eyes raised at the sky. A constrained smile appeared on his lips like he thought of a wicked idea. "Well, if he bothers you again, you can easily use me as your boyfriend next time."

His offer was so casual that you scoffed a laugh. At least, you were flattered that it concerned him.

"As sweet as you are, I couldn't possibly use you like a tool," you let out gently, brushing pass him to walk a few steps ahead.

"Oh, but I'd make a perfect pretend-boyfriend," Tooru wavered as if he was talking big. It was curious to you that he's flaunting himself at this point with hands at his hips. "If you need one, give me a call. He'll be intimidated once he sees me."

I think he already is... You grumbled to yourself, but finished the unnerving discussion by your simple answer.

"Noted."

A red light flashed on the street when you two came to a corner, and across that street is the residents' park that Oikawa was preaching about. It was a place he spent when he was a child, and he spends his time here whenever Tetsu wants to play outdoors on their day offs. Nostalgia resurrected in his eyes just by looking at the open green field. Specs of small children ran across the field with their respected guardians either playing with them or watching on the side.

"We have to hide you! Quick!" Tooru ordered.

Before you had a second to react, you were thrown in your own coat as darkness filled your vision. Like a turtle, Tooru had lifted the back of the collar of your brown peacoat that hung so loosely over shoulders and yanked it over your head, shielding you as he led the way to a particular spot of the park.

You were about to retort at his abrupt action, struggling but you were too busy fixating your feet at your now hunched form due to the man's arm putting you in a headlock in attempt to cover you.

"Tetsu! Guess who I brought?" he sang above you. You can detect the faint voice in the background as a pair of small feet scurried their way to where you two were.

"Who's that? Who's that?" the boy approached, his voice muffling from your ears.

Finally, the brunette's hands released your coat to reveal your head, face covered in your own hair and ruffled by the fabric- no thanks to the older Oikawa. "Ta-dah~! Surprise!"

"It's [Name]!" shouted Tetsu. His brown optics shined so elegantly with light reflecting off from them - you felt the contentment through them. His bunny eared hoodie slipped off his head by the wind as he ran towards your direction with open arms.

Almost tackling your legs, you lost your footing by the force and plopped yourself on the plush grass. "Tetsu!"

"I missed you, [Name]! I didn't know you were coming!" his voice pitching higher and higher the more he rubbed his chubby cheek against your knee. Then his glowing eyes aimed up happily and spotted an item in your hand. "Is that milk bread? Did you bring it for me? We can finally play now that you're here! Are you happy to see me?"

You were overwhelmed by his excitement, wanting to react to your sore butt but Tetsu's puppy dog stare distracted you from the pain. He was picked up the minute he climbed to your stomach by Tooru who lifted him under his arms, simba-style.

"Tetsu, she needs to breathe," he reminded while placing the child at his hips as a pout stretched on the boy's lips. Amusement displayed on your face, quirking a nervous brow.

Guess I'm still not used to kids.

"Ma'am, do you need help?" a different figure approached by your sitting form, speculating his tanned hand extended out for you to grab hold of. You obliged to take it and the man pulled you up off the ground to your feet.

"Thank you," you smiled up at him and he nodded.

"Oikawa," the man turned his attention on Tooru, "teach your kid about personal space."

He said it in a way like a warning and, to your surprise, Tooru jumped at his stern words.

"But I do teach him about personal space! He just likes [Name] a lot," he defended but he gave a huff in enthusiasm. "Oh, but you wouldn't know, Iwa-chan. You're not even a father yourself."

Irritation emitted from the man's face by his comment as you can sense the need in wanting to hit him. By this, Tooru clung to Tetsu in hopes he would stop giving a threatening glare. An odd friendship that they have, but it looked awfully similar to the one you have with Naomi, just less forward.

Cutting the conversation, you grinned at the tan male. "So you're friends with Oikawa?"

His brow twitched. "Hardly."

"Liar liar, pants on fire," Tooru retorted lowly as Tetsu laughed and chanted with him.

He simply ignored them, thinking to himself how miserable he is to put up with, not only one but two Oikawas in his life. You felt his pain. "You must be [Name]. I'm Iwaizumi Hajime, and this is my nephew, Hine."

"Hi!" unlike Tetsu, the little boy was more brave in meeting you. His smaller tan hand raised a peace sign as a greeting but you noticed his pair of eyes aimed at the tin pan at your hand. "Is that for us?"

Everyone seemed to be more fond of the loaf of bread since you arrived, their eyes are now staring at the foiled pan clutched in your hand that is amazingly still warm from this morning.

You sweated. "Well, let's not waste our appetites. We still haven't had lunch yet, right?"

They all shook their heads, but Iwaizumi was the first to speak and pointed at the designated wooden bench a few feet away with plastic bags sitting over the top.

"Sorry, they're from the convenient store. I hope you like curry," he said with apologetic eyes. Hine cheered at the choice of food and skipped to the awaiting table. Panicked, Iwaizumi ran after him to stop his nephew from digging through the bags without his supervision.

After they took off, a whine blew out of Tetsu's mouth as his hand grabbed the hem of Tooru's light blue sleeve. "But, Daddy, I want to have milk bread first! I don't want curry."

His father put him down for him to start heading over to the bench. "You have to eat, Tetsu. Milk bread comes later. Right, [Name]?"

For some reason, when his mocha eyes directed at your startled ones, you felt the peer pressure from them as he seek for your assistance. Why he was doing this, you had no clue. Instead, a sigh exhaled and you wondered to where Tetsu was to lay your hand at the top of his head, bringing his attention on you.

"Listen to Daddy, okay? I promise to feed you milk bread and we can play all you want after," you smiled at the boy who is now astonished at your comforting words.

His cheeks grew pink. "You will?"

A simple act you thought, but it got him good. You still played along and nodded your head at him in encouragement. "Of course, but first you have to eat your curry before we do that."

The little Oikawa still frowned at your persuasion, but seemed to be engaged more than before. A low moan came from him and he muttered with saddened eyes, "...Okay. But you and Daddy play hide and seek with me, and I want to be 'it'!"

You laughed at his bargain. Your hand already ghosting behind his tiny back for him to walk ahead to where Hajime and Hine are. "Yes, yes. You'll be 'it'. Now, wait at the table with Iwaizumi."

"Okay!" Tetsu saluted before running off to the bench.

A pair of eyes watched you attentively while you and his son conversed into an agreement like a parent would with their child. You turned to see Tooru making a beaming grin at your way, utterly amused yet curious at your previous attitude. It somehow made you suspicious by his smirk and questioned his random expression.

"What?"

"You just called me 'Daddy'," he stated like it was obvious.

You still waited, unfazed by his observation and crossed your arms. "And?"

"Oh, nothing," again, he sang like an innocent child, ironically that he's a father. "I was just thinking you'd be a great mom one day."

His answer shocked you - a statement you thought you'll never receive in your life. Life is still youthful to you so the thought of parenting never came to mind, but his words made you feel a sense of maturity like you were proud to even hear it.

Scoffing, you denied whole heartedly to cover your embarrassment. "Was that a test or something? You have some nerve."

"Maybe. Maybe I do have some nerve," he continued to smile with his hand at the back of his head, then approached close to you with his warm breath tickling near your ear as you can hear his subtle whisper. "But if we were real parents, this would be the part where we kiss."

With your eyes now locking with his, you found tranquility in them. Was he serious? Probably not, but his hypothetical scenario sent you to a place with ideas and wondered what his true meaning behind that sentence. Tooru narrowed his gaze while peering down at your speechless form with a conniving smirk. It's like he knew he was teasing you.

His face was only inches from yours, but then turned his body to disrupt the eye contact and saunter his way to the bench where the rest of the boys who are fighting amongst themselves with their food. Before he was out of ear shot, he side glanced you with his tongue licking his lips and then pressed each other in a devious way - like he was ready to eat something delicious.

"Don't call me 'Daddy' if you don't know where it might take you."

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Posted: 04-07-21