A/N:

While I was trying to write this chapter, I had a mini break and did a quick fanart/family portrait. Reader-Chan(aka y/n) is supposed to be anonymous so I drew myself hehe, literally drew it and finished it nearly 4 in the morning. If it was digital, it would look a lot cleaner but I'm hella lazy to deal with technology.

Hope y'all appreciate it!

•

Words couldn't describe what Tetsu could be feeling at the moment when his dad told him the unfamiliar news. His young face drew a blank while gazing at Tooru, awaiting for more detail to blow out but all he heard was silence.

So the little boy trembled his sentence unsurely. "What do you mean, Daddy?"

His voice sounded normal, thank goodness. You thought he was going to throw a tantrum the minute he opened his mouth but you don't want to jinx your luck just yet, because he might just do that.

All the nerves are collecting within Tooru's palms, carefully trying to pick his words before bombarding them on his innocent son. It was like he was stepping over a mine and Tetsu could blow up any minute if he isn't wary.

"I have to play volleyball for work. The coach called me to come play," he simply explained for the kid to understand.

Tetsu blinked. "Why?"

"Because," he couldn't find the words, but eventually answered quickly, "they don't have someone to teach them."

The small boy peered down at his feet with stilled eyes, registering his father's words slowly like he was trying to understand them. Then his face glanced up at him again with determination.

"But Daddy will spend time with me, yes?" his eyes were hopeful, desiring for Tooru to make promises he couldn't keep and that was his worst fear. All he had to do is be honest with him.

"I don't know, Tetsu. I will be gone for a week so I won't see you until then." Then that's when you witnessed the shock in the toddler's expression, the look you and Tooru were afraid to see.

With his tiny hands slamming over the brunette's knees, Tetsu looked desperately at his dad's weary eyes and spoke in a pleading manner. "But you can't! It's too long!"

"I know, I know," Tooru wavered, urging him to calm down. "Look, I will try to do my best not to go. I will talk to them today and I will let you know by tonight."

"Do you promise?"

Then the sweat finally secreted in the man's pits. Just when he thought he didn't have to keep promises he couldn't keep, Tetsu is testing him how far he will go to do that. But knowing his son, he'll believe in any coaxing word given to him.

"Do I promise... what?" He wanted to know.

"Promise that you will try to go ride rollercoasters with me," the boy stated clearly, blinking his shiny eyes at him - the way he would always look at you whenever he wants something - the adorable look.

Tooru breathed through his nose to relieve his stressing sigh, and then he patted his large hand on the boy's head of brown hair, ruffling it gently to distort the short curls. "I'll try, Tetsu."

When he stopped, Tetsu wasn't looking at him any more but at the ground. A smile would always compliment his feature when he is given a promise, but a worried frown stayed on his lips. It had brought concern to you when seeing him this way, you thought he will be dwelled in thoughts about his dad the entire day hoping for him to make it.

"I should go now," informed the taller Oikawa after checking his watch and standing up to his full height. He then turned to you who is now holding his son in your arms. "You two take care."

"Bye, Daddy," peeped the little one which brought Tooru's attention. A small smile formed on his lips as he ran a hand through Tetsu's head.

He nodded, "I love you."

Then his mocha eyes drew on you. His mouth opened to say something but your brow quirked when he stopped himself, then heaving a breath and grinned. To conceal his odd action, his hand cupped your chin to make you look at him in the eyes, suddenly turning dark and flirtatious.

"I'll see you later," his sentence stretched in a sing-songy voice and brought your lips to his mouth.

His kiss surprised you, as this is the first time he actually made an intimate act in front of his boy, making it clear that you aren't just a friend to him, at least not to Tetsu's eyes. In the meanwhile, he was watching you two like a hawk, intrigued, witnessing the first time in his life that his father kissed someone other than him - who is not family, yet.

Then he watched your dazed face after being kissed by Tooru's lips, completely charmed and drunk in love. He thought he saw hearts escaping your eyes as well as his dad's and sparks were flying.

"Stay safe. Don't forget your lunch," you bid, motioning your head at the box lunch you prepared for him earlier sitting at the dining table.

Surprised, his eyes wondered at it and beamed a grin. "This is a first. Thank you, sweetie." The Oikawa man squeezed your side before he grabbed his duffle bag from the floor and walked to the front door with the lunch in his hands.

Finally, it was just you and Tetsu, and the day belonged to you two to spend with each other. You steered your gaze at the boy who was already staring so wondrously at you and hoisted him up higher against your hip.

"Let's go have some fun today, buddy," you cheered. "Maybe before we bake, we can get taiyaki on the way later."

The confusion stayed on his face a second longer before you found his signature smile on him, widening as his baby teeth and gummies. Your change of topic excited him as his doubtful thoughts about his dad washed away instantly.

>>>

Markets are such an ordinary place for you to be in but Tetsu made it less ordinary by making every item he sees a luxury. Seeing him in the toddler seat attached to the cart made you feel an alter ego as you pushed your way through the aisles of the store. It totally made you feel like a mom the way he was mindlessly playing his dinosaur while you shopped, and then pointing at every snack he wished to have.

His overexcitement made everything new as you saw what the world is like in a child's mind. It's a playground everywhere he goes. You start to get why Tooru would spoil him to death because of his overzealous reactions - so innocent and so pure. You wish to see it all the time.

"[Name]! [Name]! Can we get this?" Tetsu was out of his baby seat for a minute to look at all of the baking decorations since you told him it was his choice to pick some.

He ran to you with a packet in his hands and they were cake toppers but it was a space set. A rocket ship, astronaut, alien ship, and a planet is what you've seen through the plastic film as they made Tetsu glow in pink blushes.

You nodded at the boy, placing your hand behind his head, "Of course. You can throw it in the cart."

But his eyes caught something flashy in his direction before he was able to do that. You stopped midway from grabbing the number five candle from the rack when you glanced at the curious boy approaching what seemed like party hats. They were navy blue, dazzled with glittered stars, and topped with a ball of gold film sprouting with shine.

It was a simple design on a cardboard cone, however, it made Tetsu speechless.

"Do you want that too?" You neared the stunned child who's afraid to even ask about it.

He nodded shyly, "Yeah."

"Go ahead," you gestured him to take it but he didn't budge a muscle.

"Do you think Daddy like one too?" The question made you ponder. Despite of this morning's issue, Tetsu is still optimistic of his dad showing up for his birthday. "Will it fit him?"

A stifled breath escaped from your lips in amusement. Although you were pessimistic for the boy's spirit being crushed, you joined him on his parade by grabbing, not only two but three party hats.

"I'm sure it will, Tetsu," you assured him with a smile and he glistened even brighter at your participation.

You just hoped that Tooru will do the best of his ability to make it for his birthday tomorrow.

It didn't take long for you to finish when you approached the checkout line and Tetsu obliged to help you put your baking ingredients on the moving, rubber table, all except the eggs. Even the cashier was so amazed at the boy's cuteness, he was given a sticker for simply being a sweet child. You can sense all the women you passed by grew envious that you had such a good kid while theirs are screaming their heads off in the market for unnecessary reasons, like not receiving a piece of chocolate before lunch as one.

You have no idea how Tooru does it, but you were so thankful Tetsu didn't turn out like a spawn of the devil.

After lunch and a trip to the taiyaki stand, you've entered your apartment with groceries in hands while Tetsu is still finishing his half-eaten snack. Environmental adjustments were easy for him as he immediately ran inside to gawk at every corner of the room. It isn't no penthouse, but he made it seem like it was a mansion.

All your worth of saving at least satisfies one person's liking unlike your parents.

You made sure your place is kid-friendly for him by tucking and putting away every wire he could've stepped on and anything that is sharp out of his reach. Soon, you began to do your task in baking a cake with Tetsu and he eagerly watched from the sidelines, waiting for you to command him with a job to do.

>>>

A long and messy day it was, you were exhausted after committing long hours of baking and cleaning in the kitchen due to Tetsu's frantic energy. His enthusiasm was hard to control.

Tooru arrived at your place momentarily after he left work. With a simple text from him, you went to the front door to crack the door open for him to enter. He appeared in casual clothes, hair clean and tidy from a recent shower he took before coming here. You were expecting a solemn face from him when meeting his eyes again, but they remained indifferent. That says, to you, he might have something to tell to Tetsu.

"Sorry, I'm late," he greeted with a single peck to your lips. "Where's Tetsu?"

"He's watching TV," you pointed deep into your living room where the little one is glued to the screen, sitting with hands laid flat on the floor in between his parted legs and watched his favorite cartoon with wonder.

"Nice place," Tooru commented once he stepped inside, scanning your loft decorated in modern mid-century furniture - minimalistic and simple.

Until he heard Tooru's voice entering the room and calling out his name, Tetsu swiveled his head and excitement filled his eyes.

"Daddy! You're here!" He began to run into his dad's open arms while he crouched and enveloped the small boy in an endearing hug. Once Tetsu meet him face to face, his arm raised. "I baked a cake with [Name]! Do you want to see?"

"Of course." Tooru placed his child down as Tetsu led both of you to your small kitchen. You assisted him to open the heavy door of your fridge and slide the miniature box out of the shelf. With ease, you pushed it onto the counter while Tetsu was picked up from the floor by Tooru to watch you open the cardboard box, revealing the sloppy work that you and Tetsu assembled together.

The frosting art of stars and messy writing printed on top of the vanilla cream and cake toppers standing in the middle of the crown. Surely, it wasn't clean or perfect but it was perfect to Tetsu's eyes, and he seemed pretty proud of it.

"Wow~! It looks delicious," Tooru exaggerated, stretching out his sentence in amazement for his son to recognize his tone. "You did this? I'm so jealous!"

"Daddy should try it tomorrow! It has chocolate inside." By the boy's quick reminder of his birthday, you caught the man's expression desolating slowly as you found the solemn you searched for now appearing on his face.

That didn't look good to you and it certainly did not look good to Tetsu either. His child-like smile faltered when he stared at his father's expression, emotionless and stern.

"Is Daddy coming to ride rollercoasters?" The boy was not oblivious to Tooru's silence.

He didn't wait to answer him as he put him down on the floor and took a seat for what is about to happen. Words that will definitely make Tetsu go berserk.

"No, Tetsu. I'm afraid not."

You knew it. His answer was so predictable, you can smell it miles away.

You can even feel Tetsu's body quaking, shivering out of emotional despair and Tooru noticed it by sending him an easy stare with knitted brows.

"Hey, don't look so sad. We can always spend it another day-"

"Why?" His voice quivered. "Why is Daddy lying?"

Astonished by his angry tone, you and Tooru were hearing this for the first time, especially you. You never heard Tetsu talk back or get mad, but he was swimming in both anger and grief.

Tooru allowed his voice to stay calm and light hearted, knowing that shouting wouldn't make him behave better. You thought he sounded too gentle. "I'm not lying, Tetsu. I have to go to work. I can't get out of it."

"But you promised," the boy hurried. "You said you will not play volleyball tomorrow. You promised!"

"Tetsu..." a little firmer this time, the brown headed man bite back from giving in to his weeps. "I'm sorry but I can't. Work is also important."

"No!" Tetsu shouted louder. "You promised, Daddy! No!"

"Tetsu, try to listen to your Daddy."

"No! I don't wanna!" Not even you can ease him from his outburst as he continued to cry. "Daddy breaks promises! Daddy is always leaving me! He always works!"

The tears were peeking at the corner of his huge eyes, falling relentlessly when his curled fists shot up to wipe his cheeks. Whimpers kept on fluttering through his tight lips from breaking out a sob until finally, he is unable to suppress them and he screamed.

"I hate you, Daddy!"

The sound of that statement made Tooru froze. His expression was longer readable as his hair shielded his eyes from you studying them. You were about to comfort the sobbing boy but Tetsu made a run to where your room is to hide himself from the world. All of his day's worth of hope came tumbling down on him, crushing his precious soul.

Your attentive eyes shot back at the still brunette on the chair with his elbow propped on his thigh, holding the back of his head to think about what he done.

"Tooru-" but his form stood before you can place a hand on him. His back faced you with hands at his hips. He was staring at nothing.

But you watched him for another few seconds as he brought his slender hand rubbing his undetectable face.

Your shoulders slumped while you approached the stiff man and wrapped your arms around his torso, hugging him closely from whatever frustration, sadness, or confusion he's been enduring. Then your arms hooked around his shoulders to press your lips onto his hard back in hopes he'll respond to you. That single effort of affection made him lost his cool.

"It's okay," you consoled quietly, muttering against his shirt. "He'll understand."

Tooru stayed silent before breaking out a long sigh. "I tried... I did."

You began to hush him when he was starting to break through his composure. His voice was getting lost in a whisper and you prevented him from saying any more, because you know that all he felt was regret.

"Look at me," you invited and he did, but he turned slowly with watered eyes meeting your empathic ones. This expression made you hesitate at the new face he put on. Although he was at a brink of tears, he still looked beautiful and it hurts you to see a beautiful man become undone.

Hands at each side of his face, you brought his head lower to your level until his forehead made contact with yours. You didn't move but he leaned closer to kiss at your parted lips, searching for relief out of his excruciating pain as he trapped your waist in his arms.

When Tooru pulled away, his breath hovered over your mouth to make an apologetic statement.

"I'm sorry I have to dump this on you," he managed to speak but you shook your head at his ridiculous words.

"It's not your fault."

To him, it certainly is. The way how his son screamed back at him, that was pent up frustration through out the years Tooru raised him. In the past, that was the one thing he regretted doing whether it was for good reason or not - leaving.

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Posted: 05-17-21