A/N: Dearies, this is Chapter 10.

Chapter 10: All of these, just for you

xxx Tetsuhiro xxx

Blissfully unaware of Souichi's panic in the apartment, Tetsuhiro was currently making his way home, Emi strapped to his chest and a bag of medicine and groceries for dinner clutched in one hand. He nodded benignly at neighbours as he traipsed the familiar path between home and the shopping street, basking in the joy of fatherhood when passersby commented on Emi's adorableness.

He wanted to get home quickly. Tetsuhiro patted Emi's back soothingly as he picked up his pace. Their baby's sniffling had gotten worse in the afternoon and fearing that she would develop a full- blown flu like Sempai, he had made a split decision to bring Emi to the doctor's.

The choice had been right, according to the doctor. She had the onset of the flu but now that they had caught it early, Emi was going to recover quickly with sufficient rest and some medicine. Tetsuhiro had also bought some fever medicine and painkillers for Souichi, as well as ample groceries for the week. He was going to nurse his babies back to health!

"Hnn nn nnn…"

"Shh, sweetie; we'll be home soon, okay?" Tetsuhiro used his free hand to stroke his daughter's thick hair as she cried fitfully. He could see that her cheeks were still flushed with heat and she felt warm, even through his shirt. Poor baby. "Love you much, Emi- chan. Papa will help you get well soon."

As their home came into view, Tetsuhiro took out his keycard, preparing to enter the duplex. He was going to feed Emi her milk and medicine and then prepare dinner for Sempai. Was he still sleeping? He had seemed so exhausted, falling back asleep right after lunch. Souichi had not even noticed that Tetsuhiro had helped him to change into a fresh set of clothes. Just as he was about to tap the keycard against the sensor, somebody grabbed him roughly by the shoulders.

"Tetsuhiro- kun!"

"H-huh?" Tetsuhiro was swung about abruptly and his eyes widened as he regarded the man standing before him. "Ehh—? I-isogai-san?!"

"Finally—found—you! Geez, what the hell happened to your cell?! Hahh—" Withdrawing his hand from Tetsuhiro's shoulder, Taichirou Isogai bent forwards, panting as he caught his breath. His short hair was windblown, its carefully- styled shape skewed. "Idiot! Why didn't you leave a note before leaving? Urghh, that doesn't matter anymore—get back inside, quickly!"

"Wha—why are you here?! Wait, you can't be eying my Sempai again, after all this time?!" Tetsuhiro shot suspicious glances at the suited man, forgetting about the keycard completely. With a sound of impatience, Isogai snatched the key from his hand and tapped into their house as though he owned it.

"Souichi- kun called me in a panic! Saying stuff like Emi had disappeared and all—I forced him to stay home while I went out to find you; what the heck happened?" The two of them crowded into the genkan and Isogai hurriedly took off his leather shoes. "Come on, stop dallying around!"

"…" Tetsuhiro left the groceries by the front door and followed after Isogai. Sempai must have wakened up and discovered that he was alone in the house. Had he forgotten that Tetsuhiro had already come home and that Emi would likely have been with him? Or was he really so angry with him that he had stopped trusting Tetsuhiro with their own child? The thought depressed him. Sempai had even called up Isogai to help him get Emi back. "Isogai- san, where is Sempai?"

"I have no idea—I made him wait in the living room before I went out. We tried calling you but it did not get through! Seriously—"

"My cell broke last week…" Both men stopped as they regarded the empty living room. A cushion had fallen to the ground, as though somebody had thrown it aside in fury. Sempai must have sat there until he had not been able to take the frustration. Going over to the cushion, he picked it up and placed it back on the sofa. He must have been worried to death about Emi…The logical place to find the missing man came to him in a bolt. Without turning to see if Isogai was following, Tetsuhiro went up the stairs as quickly as he could without jolting Emi.

"Emi!"

He had been right. As Tetsuhiro flung open the door to the nursery, panting slightly, Souichi spun out of the chair. There was a clatter as it fell backwards. "Emi! Dear Kami…" The man reached for the baby, a look of desperate relief in his eyes. However, the sight of Tetsuhiro caused him to falter. "—You—"

"Sempai…" Tetsuhiro jerked into action when he saw the blood drain from Souichi's already pale face. He was going to faint. Rapidly, he straightened the chair and forced the sick man to sit. As Souichi watched his every movement, Tetsuhiro released the swaddle straps that secured Emi. He removed the carrier completely, Emi now in his bare arms. Souichi's gaze fixed onto the sleeping baby as he passed her to him carefully.

As naturally as breathing, Souichi's arms curved around Emi's tiny body and the tension seemed to drain out of the man as he bent down and nuzzled the baby's hair. It was obvious that he had really thought that Emi had disappeared. Tetsuhiro stood beside them quietly, waiting.

"…Why did you leave with Emi?"

The question had been so soft that Tetsuhiro nearly missed it, even in the tranquility of the nursery. Souichi was not looking at him. Instead, his head was still bent towards the baby. He felt extremely remote from Tetsuhiro. There was an invisible wall between them now, cold, high, and all because Tetsuhiro had left. Standing there, the physical distance between them made it worse. Slowly, Tetsuhiro knelt beside Souichi. "I didn't leave, Sempai…and I would never think of taking Emi- chan away from you. We went to the doctor's at the shopping street…please, believe me on this."

"…You ask me to believe in you but you were the one who disappeared."

"I—I know that it's too much to ask—"

"You were gone…Emi was gone…I was alone when I woke up—" Souichi continued speaking as though Tetsuhiro had not spoken, his voice becoming more and more worked- up. "—That damned black luggage had gone, your boots were not at the genkan; even the porridge that I knew I ate had disappeared—! Do you know how that felt, Morinaga?"

"Sempai—"

"It was as though—as though you had disappeared, again. And that Emi had g-gone with you…"

With sudden clarity, Tetsuhiro knew exactly what had happened when Souichi had woken up to find them missing. Kami, he was the worst man on earth. Sempai had been right to mistrust him. He had never given him cause for assurance with all his willful actions. His strong, beautiful Sempai had thought that he had been utterly abandoned. Tetsuhiro had caused him to know that kind of unspeakable loneliness. How was he going to reverse the damage that he had wrought? Getting unsteadily onto his feet, Tetsuhiro shakily brought Souichi and Emi close to him. "Sempai…"

The first tears dampened his top as the other man leaned into him, his sobs all the louder because of their silence. Helpless. He was utterly helpless. Tetsuhiro stroked Souichi's hair repeatedly, chest wracking as he cried along. "P-please don't—please don't cry so, Sempai. I'm so sorry. You can—you can hit me, smack me, punch me—anything but your tears…please…"

"D-damn you…!" Souichi thumped his fist repeatedly against Tetsuhiro's back, coughing and hiccupping against his abdomen. "W-why do you do this to me—again and again, Morinaga? You goddamned promised me—!"

Tetsuhiro's arms tightened around Souichi's thin shoulders. He was naked against his accusations, shamed in the face of such sorrow. His punishment was this exquisite self- mutilation, Souichi's pain becoming his own as he hugged him close. "I'm sorry—I'm so, so sorry…!"

It seemed an eternity that they stayed in the nursery, arms intertwined around each other, Souichi pressed close to Tetsuhiro's warmth as their tears eventually slowed, then dried. The storm had passed and now, the calm that came after felt cathartic.

When their baby began to stir restlessly, her eyes scrunching up as though to cry, Tetsuhiro made to step away to let Souichi place her in the crib. However, the firm grasp on his shirt stopped him. He paused.

"Where are you…going?"

"Nowhere. I'm not going anywhere, Sempai." Tetsuhiro wanted to cry again at Souichi's question. When Emi seemed to settle down again, he took hold of Souichi's hand and stepped into his warmth again. "I'll never go anywhere else again."

"…Where did you go the past week?" Souichi leaned into Tetsuhiro, as though too fatigued to move. His eyes were closed but his fingers still held firm onto his shirt.

"I stayed at a business hotel near S Pharmaceuticals. It costs 8000 yen a night for a room even smaller than this nursery. It has just a single bed and a wardrobe, an wooden square table like the one at Matsuda- san's house, and an ensuite bathroom…" Like a lullaby, Tetsuhiro soothed Souichi's hair as he spoke, lulled by their proximity, his lover's breathing steady against his abdomen. "It was gray, and dull, and empty. I—I missed you and Emi- chan every second of every day."

"…I don't believe you…" There was resignation and doubt in Souichi's voice. His head shifted fractionally, as though to move away.

"Please believe in me, Sempai." Both of them knew the double meaning of his words but neither wished to stir up the thunderclouds again. Tetsuhiro fell silent and guided Souichi back to him, relaxing when the man compiled. There was still much that was being left unsaid. However, it was not the time now. Now, they had to heal each other.

"Uwahh—! Wahh~wahhh~!"

Emi's cries came again abruptly, sounding like an alarm that jarred the slumberous atmosphere that had settled in the room. Right at that moment, there was a knock at the door and Isogai entered, taking in their reddened eyes and desperate embrace. He did not say anything, merely gestured for Souichi to pass the crying baby to him.

Soothing Emi expertly until she calmed down and was sucking her thumb while sniffling, Isogai ruffled her thick hair before settling her into the crib. With that done, he turned back to the adults, arms akimbo, a stern expression on his handsome face. "I have no idea what happened between the two of you but get out of this room, now. Emi- chan needs her rest! She looks sick and you—" He frowned at Souichi. "You look dead on your feet. Tetsuhiro- kun, bring him back to bed, on the double! Geez, somebody needs to take control of the situation, and that person is me!"

Without waiting for a reply, the irrepressible man pulled Souichi from the chair and ushered for Tetsuhiro to take his arm. Seeing as how they were still gaping at him, Isogai smacked Tetsuhiro's back and began to push the duo out of the room. "Go, go! Get out of here unless you want to infect Emi further!"

That got Souichi and Tetsuhiro moving. With Souichi leaning reluctantly against him, Tetsuhiro quickly put his arm around his lover's waist, pulling him closer as they headed back to the master bedroom.

"What are—"

"Shh, Sempai. Let's just get you back to bed, have some rest…" Tightening his arm against Souichi's struggles, Tetsuhiro tried out a cheeky smile, a tiny one that was meant to test the waters. Souichi's spirits seemed to have lifted some, just like his. "If you liked the spinach and egg porridge that much, why don't I cook it for you again? This time around, I'll feed you so that you won't forget about it, okay?"

"No! Idiot—don't think that I've forgiven you! Urghh—" Souichi cursed when his next step forward turned out wobbly. Glaring at Tetsuhiro and his suspiciously twitching lips, Souichi elbowed his side, making the younger man squirm. "Stop with that shit- eating grin or I'm going to punch you!"

"Yes, yes, Sempai," Tetsuhiro said. Nonetheless, as they entered the master bedroom together and he tucked a fuming Souichi into bed, he could not resist placing another kiss on his forehead. "Rest here. I'll cook dinner in a jiffy."

"O-oi!"

Dancing out of Souichi's reach, Tetsuhiro hurriedly went to the door, narrowly avoiding the pillow that was thrown at his head. His darling's temper was back but that did not dampen his mood at all. In fact, he had never felt so…contented since the fight. He preferred the temperamental, volatile side of Sempai, not the crying, heartbroken man who had sobbed in his arms…the thought sobered him.

"...gage."

"Huh? Sorry, Sempai, I didn't catch what you said." Jolting from his reverie, Tetsuhiro paused at the door and turned back to regard his lover.

"I said, where's your damned luggage! The one you took when you—that black one!"

Rather taken aback by Souichi's sudden query, Tetsuhiro strode back to the bed and pulled out the baggage from beneath it. He had stowed it there that afternoon, not wanting any visual reminders of his leaving to aggravate Sempai. "…Did you mean this bag?"

Souichi's eyes widened as Tetsuhiro wheeled the bag out, as though he could not believe his sight. Then, with a weary sigh, the long- haired man thudded back against the bed-stand, an elbow covering his eyes. "…Damnit."

"Sempai…?" He was suddenly afraid. Tetsuhiro left the luggage standing by bed- end and slowly approached Souichi. When he saw the clear streak of a tear leak from behind Souichi's hand, panic overtook him. The bed creaked as he sat beside Souichi. "Why—"

"…Nothing. It doesn't matter anymore." Souichi's eyes were wet but he looked mutinously at Tetsuhiro as he brought his hands down into his lap. "What happened to your cell? I tried calling you but your line was no longer in service."

"…It dropped on to the ground that day…" Neither specified which day that Tetsuhiro was referring to. The wounds were still fresh, barely scabbed over. Tetsuhiro winced a little when he saw how bony Souichi's fingers now were. Sempai must have neglected to eat the whole time. Memory flickered at the last time that Souichi had fainted from stress and hunger. It had been his fault that time, too… "I'm planning to get a new one soon…Do you want to go with me and help me choose one?"

"Hrmph! Why should I? You make me so fucking mad, idiot! So damn mad..." Souichi tried to tug his hand back but Tetsuhiro had linked their fingers together. "Your hand—!"

"I don't want to let go, Sempai. I don't ever want to let go of you, anymore."

"…Idiot! I said, let go!"

Tetsuhiro glanced up at his lover. A fierce blush shaded his cheeks, turned it that beautiful hue that he loved. His fingers hooked securely around Souichi's but he knew that the man could have easily shook him away if he had really wanted to. However, it seemed that Souichi had finally given up struggling. He simply lay against the pillows, refusing to look at Tetsuhiro.

The rhythm of Souichi's breathing became clearer as Tetsuhiro's focus narrowed until he was acutely aware only of him. His scent was everywhere; his skin, warm, dry, a little rough to his touch. Sempai's fingers were beautiful, each digit curving sensually around his. He had once let go of these hands…Tetsuhiro leaned down and kissed the centre of Souichi's palm.

Above him, he thought he heard a sigh, barely silenced. Emboldened by this sign of desire, Tetsuhiro let his breath tickle Souichi's hand and his tongue flicked out, licking the sensitive spot right where his palm met the elbow. Souichi's hand jerked up reflexively and Tetsuhiro felt his groin respond.

"What are you doing…?"

Souichi's voice was filled with so much uncertainty, as though he had forgotten Tetsuhiro's touch. Pulling the bothersome quilt away, Tetsuhiro let his body fold over Souichi's. If he had forgotten this heat, this attraction, then he was just going to brand it into his skin. Swallowing Souichi's denial, he leaned in and kissed him deeply. "Sempai…"

"You…"

Tetsuhiro gazed into Souichi's glazed eyes, seeing the desire that was now surging beneath his skin and coiling tight in the junction of his legs reflected in those clear orbs. "You taste so sweet, my love." With one hand caressing Souichi's lips, Tetsuhiro traced his other downwards, palm lying flat as he touched his lover through the thin sweater.

"Idiot—stop! I don't want this—"

"No? But, Sempai, look at this—"As Tetsuhiro found the nubs and began tweaking them gently, Souichi arched up, moaning. His nipples were now visibly aroused, peaking out sharply beneath the fabric. Burning to touch skin, Tetsuhiro snuck his hand beneath the sweater, pushing it upwards, Souichi leaning into him as he licked his way up the man's abdomen, his diaphragm, his chest. The rapid thrum of Souichi's heart sounded directly beneath Tetsuhiro's ear and he felt the heat as Souichi's arms, still entangled with the sweater, came to rest helplessly around him. "Your body is so much more honest than your words, Sempai…"

"That's because—hahh…you are just having your way—!"

"Uhmm mmm…" The red daze was descending over him. Tetsuhiro bit into the delicate skin at Souichi's collarbone and licked at the new wound as the man gasped. He wanted, no, needed to mark him. His. His, his, his. All his. Regardless of marriage, regardless of their umpteen fights and reconciliations, the only person who he wanted now, and would always desire, was Souichi. "I want you, Sempai. I want to touch you here—" His hands caressed Souichi's lips. "—Here—" His chest. "—And here…" With excruciating slowness, Tetsuhiro lowered his hips and was delighted when an answering hardness greeted his groin. Sempai was visibly aroused, the erect length of his cock straining against the cotton slacks. Tetsuhiro groaned and unzipped his jeans. As if hypnotised, they began grinding together. He kissed the hollow of Souichi's ear, loving it when Souichi jerked strongly, causing their hipbones to knock against each other. Kami, this was—he needed—

"Hey, why the hell are you taking so long to put him into bed—woahh, fuck—!"

Isogai had stepped into the bedroom, his expression of impatience morphing into shock and exasperation as he saw what they were doing. "What the fuck—one moment you two were crying and the next you are—I shouldn't have bothered with either of you! This is—Kami!" Before Tetsuhiro and Souichi could even untangle themselves, he had already stepped right back out, slamming the door in the process. They could hear him swearing as he thundered down the stairs.

"G-get off—" Souichi seemed to have regained his senses with the interruption. With flaming cheeks, he managed to catch Tetsuhiro by surprise and shoved him away. Glaring at Tetsuhiro as though he was daring him to say something, Souichi grabbed the errant sweater and quickly pulled it over himself.

Tetsuhiro thought that he looked deliciously rumpled. His groin stirred enthusiastically as he watched Souichi's abdomen muscles ripple while he changed. Darn that Isogai! He really had the worst timing! When Souichi had straightened his clothing and seemed ready to dismiss him, Tetsuhiro hurriedly grabbed his hand before he could reach for the blanket. "Sempai."

"What-t?"

Despite Souichi's attempt to appear stoic, Tetsuhiro's gaze flicked downwards and he saw that he was not the only one who had not calmed down. Ah, so that was why he had been in a hurry to get the blanket! With a little leer, he leaned closer to the embarrassed man. "Sorry that I got you in…this state. Do you need me to help you with…?"

"N-no! What the hell!" Furiously mortified, Souichi jerked his hand away and tugged the blanket out from beneath Tetsuhiro's weight. He pulled it over himself and lay down, turning away from Tetsuhiro. "Don't think that you've gotten your way, bastard! I don't need you, or your goddamned help!"

Tetsuhiro sighed at the peevish tone. Sempai was denying his desires now but just a few minutes ago, he had been responding so adorably to his touch. Still, he knew better than to force Souichi; that would just earn him a kick, based on past experiences. He gazed at the huddled form turned resolutely away from him. Sempai was fierce, stubborn, violent and definitely contradictory. Yet, he could be so amazingly endearing and innocent, just like now. Tetsuhiro's fingers tingled as he reached out and stroked Souichi's head. He loved him. So much that his mouth ran dry and his chest pulsed with unbearable warmth.

"Okay, okay, I won't disturb your rest any longer." He chuckled when Souichi's shoulders tensed, then relaxed at his words. Well, his track record of attacking him was not exactly the cleanest. "I'll make some zosui for dinner but it would be chicken and cabbage porridge, okay? I'm really glad that your fever has broken."

"Hrmph…!" Souichi finally turned back, his glasses slightly askewer as he glowered at Tetsuhiro. "…Feed Emi first before bothering about me. It's going to be time for her milk soon."

"No problem, Sempai. Oh, the doctor prescribed medicine for you two! I'll be bringing them in for you with dinner; it won't be good to eat them with an empty stomach."

"All right, all right. Now, go! Stop disturbing me!"

"Okay…" Tetsuhiro got up from bed and walked to the door. He turned a last time towards Souichi, and was surprised when their gazes caught. The long- haired man startled and then he grumbled something before flipping the blanket over his head.

The contentment in him increased exponentially. Tetsuhiro exited the bedroom before he allowed the smile to bloom fully on his face. They were healing.

Isogai was sitting at the kitchen table when Tetsuhiro entered after a trip to the bathroom. He glared at Tetsuhiro's freshly- washed hands, as though accusing him of doing immoral things. Ignoring the man's glower, Tetsuhiro went to the counters, giving the man a bow of thanks when he saw that he had brought the groceries in. "Do you want to stay for dinner, Isogai- san?"

"Hrmph, of course! You two owe me for making a special trip down to your house! Geez, I only did this because I live in Tokyo and Tomoe- kun asked me to take care of his brother! Kami knows why I had to take care of you, too!" Isogai loosened his tie and folded his arms. "What's up with the two of you? I'm completely confused!"

Tetsuhiro took out the chicken and opened up the plastic package. He paused at Isogai's question. Despite his deep- rooted suspicion of the man who had once forced Sempai to go alone with him to karaoke for who- knew- what reasons, he knew that he should be thankful for the man's conscientiousness this time around. Without him, Sempai might have gone out to search for them, sick and dazed with fever. With these considerations in mind, Tetsuhiro set the washed chicken on the chopping board and regarded Isogai seriously. "We had a fight."

"I gathered that when Souichi- kun was going hysterical over the phone about you disappearing with Emi- chan, or something like that." Isogai frowned. "Doesn't sound like a simple fight to me."

"…You are right. We fought over the issue of marriage. Or adult adoption, in our case."

"Ehhh? About that? Wait, wasn't that settled a long time ago? Souichi- kun asked me to help him get the papers from the agency!" Isogai looked genuinely perplexed, as though the outcome of that topic should have been a clear- cut one. "I assumed that he was going to propose to you with that!"

"He did, a few weeks before Emi- chan was born." Tetsuhiro could still recall vividly the bright happiness that had changed his murky future into something sparkling, and endlessly hopeful. However, soon after, there had come the crushing disappointment when Souichi had said that they did not need to get married…

"That's great! And expected. Which does not explain the fight." As he spoke, Isogai took out the vegetables and began to wash them as Tetsuhiro picked up the knife again. "Wait, don't tell me you—you rejected him?!"

"Of course not! Why would I do that?! It was my dream come true; my life's dream!" Of all the ridiculous— "I would never reject Sempai!" Except that he had, on the bridge that rainy day. He had said it as an ultimatum. Everything had been so messed up—Sempai's reluctance, that kiss that he had given to that female colleague, Tetsuhiro's own insecurities and fears. All of those had culminated into the painful breakup and separation later. "…I did reject him."

"Huh?! You, Morinaga Tetsuhiro, rejected Tatsumi Souichi's proposal?" Isogai sputtered, disbelief painted clearly on his face.

"Sempai…showed some reluctance in the adoption when I brought up the topic. It confused me greatly, as he had been the one who proposed in the first place." Tetsuhiro placed the knife down as he retold the events to an astonished Isogai. "It just happened out of the blue, as though, I don't know, something had happened to change his mind.

"No, I felt as though the fears that I had been harbouring had finally been realized. That Sempai regretted having this…homosexual relationship with me, and marrying another man would be preposterous."

"Hmm…" Isogai sounded thoughtful, as though he concurred with what Tetsuhiro was saying. "Ah, don't mind me! Continue; I want to hear everything."

Tetsuhiro glanced at him warily. The entire nightmare was barely behind them, no, was not even solved yet. However, Isogai was listening so attentively and for some absurd reason, Tetsuhiro needed to say everything out loud. He had not been able to do so with Sempai but maybe, Isogai might just be the confidant that he needed.

"So, I started having all these doubts. I couldn't sleep that night after the quarrel and I could sense that Sempai had not slept either. The next day was horrible. I didn't know where our relationship stood—were we a couple? Or just a temporary—madness that Sempai wanted to get out of?

"However, things seemed to improve as we prepared to leave for the day. He wanted…" Tetsuhiro paused. No, this detail was too private, a slip in Sempai's defence that had shown Tetsuhiro that his love and desire were perhaps, not so one- sided. "Anyway, I began to feel hopeful again that we could work something out. I decided to look for him at Todai to have lunch together."

"Ooh, Todai. Seriously, that guy is one smart fellow." At Tetsuhiro's look, Isogai immediately fell silent and gestured for him to continue. The man looked like if he did not say everything out now, the poison would stay in him and kill him.

"I saw him eating lunch with a woman. And then they…"

"And then they…? What happened?"

"I saw them kiss." He knew, he knew that everything had been a misunderstanding, that that lady was married and Souichi had brushed his lips against her cheeks by accident. However, even now, the memory seared. The two of them had looked so…compatible. A woman with Sempai. "…But that woman is his colleague, and she's married."

"Wahh…your timing was horrible, Tetsuhiro- kun." Isogai quickly backtracked at the hurt look that Tetsuhiro threw at him. "Okay, okay, sorry. But she's married! And Souichi- kun is practically married to you, too! So, what was the problem?"

"The problem was that I chose not to believe in Sempai!" Tetsuhiro slammed his hands on the ceramic counters. "It felt like all my suspicions about Sempai's refusal to marry had come true. Because he had fallen in love with someone else, a woman!

"I couldn't take that. It felt as though my very existence had been denied, and Sempai had been the one to do it." Tetsuhiro could feel his face contorting as the black mass purged out of him. "So, I left him that day.

"I left him standing in the rain, which made him fall sick. I was the one who had wanted so desperately to get married but in the end, I left at the first sign of difficulty..." He raised his eyes to meet Isogai's unblinking ones with reluctance. "…I've not grown up at all, have I?"

"Yea, you are still the brat I know from Nagoya." Isogai grinned wickedly but he sobered quickly when he saw Tetsuhiro's eyes redden. "I'm kidding! Kidding, okay? Please don't cry; Souichi- kun would kill me if he knew. Come on." As Tetsuhiro wiped his eyes messily, Isogai sighed and loosened his tie. "But the important thing is, you came back, right? You came back of your own accord, unlike that last time. I think this shows something."

"I have to thank my brother for that…"

"No, no. If you had stubbornly held on to your pride, nobody and nothing would have brought you home. But you realized something yourself, didn't you? You actually don't need anything. You only want him. You came back because of that, despite knowing that the status of your relationship would likely remain unchanged."

"Because they mean more to me than life itself." As he spoke, Tetsuhiro was overcome by a calm certainty. This was a truism that he was speaking, a fact so unshakable that he felt reassured just by hearing it. Isogai was correct. "We may not have it in name, but our familial bonds are unbreakable."

"Exactly."

The two men gazed at each other, smiles beginning to lift their cheeks. Tetsuhiro felt as though he had just gotten to know Taichirou Isogai anew. They now shared a deeper understanding of each other, which felt strange and new but yet, deeply comforting. He now had an inkling why Sempai had called the man when trouble had arose. "…Thank you."

"You are very welcome. Now, let's get started on dinner! I'm starving! And so is Emi- chan and your darling Sempai! Come on, I'll help you."

To be continued.

a/n: Omg, I finally gave birth to this chapter. There were so many turning points here, which would make their lives easier in the next few chapters. Please, continue to bless me with your patience, my dear readers. I treasure you all so much. xx