A/N: Reposted from the collection: Fickle Petals (this was originally drabble 5). Written for The Prompts in Steps Challenge, Step 3 – Prompt 9 (problematic)
Taiki's Babysitter
Akari didn't remember signing up to be Taiki's babysitter, but somewhere along the line she'd become exactly that. And she did a good job of it too, particularly considering how Taiki often forgot to tell her when he was in need of one – like every other club thing he helped out with. Her sixth sense had gotten sharp though; she'd gotten good at sniffing out when he'd left his house to overwork himself again.
And Taiki's mother had gotten good at knowing when to expect her, how much information she needed and what sort of mutters against her son she'd receive in return. She'd also gotten used to finding Akari in her son's bedroom when she came to wake him up – something she might worry about later down the line, but for the time being they were both too young and sibling like and innocent for the time being.
And Taiki himself was often walking blind to his own needs and limitations, but he truly was grateful to his mother and to Akari who always made sure he wouldn't wind up in a hospital bed for his own carelessness. But even though he knew he could without them, he couldn't find it in himself to slow down: to think about his own limitations a little more – because he could do all those things; that's why he did them. Collapsing from exhaustion afterwards wasn't a limitation that could stop him. And maybe he did take advantage of the women in his life for that, or maybe it was because they were always behind him that he could go above and beyond what he'd be capable of otherwise, but he had that burning desire inside of him which refused to slow down – even if it did cause problems for those around him.