Mahiro's hand clenched around the spare key, stomach churning with unease. He had promised Ryouta he'd do this, but he found himself second-guessing his decision to come out to his parents. This was all wrong. He couldn't do it, he was too much of a coward.

It was another few short moments before his hand, shaking with nerves, shoved the key into the lock with force. He was going to do this, not for himself, but for his lover.

The aromas of his mother's home cooking wafted through the doorway, the voices of his family soon reaching his ears. He could hear the soft, subtle tones of the twins, his father's voice, deep and strong, from the study, where he was most likely making a business call, and the jubilant hums of his mother singing something Mahiro couldn't quite concentrate on, for his heart was knocking violently against his ribs.

"Mahiro? Mahiro?" His mother called, and he gave her the best smile he could muster, pushing the guilty nervousness away from his mind.

"Hey Mom," He closed the door behind him. "What's for dinner? It smells great." Keep a mundane conversation, he thought, just relax. Everything is going to be fine.

His mother laughed softly, smiling at him from the kitchenette. "Just the usual," She laughed again, pulling away from the stove to hug him. As soon as she pulled away, she smacked him playfully, pouting slightly as she went back to the stove. "How come you haven't visited more often?" She asked, and Mahiro tensed slightly.

"Um, well, with school.. it's been busy." Mahiro said, blushing slightly. That was such a lie. The reason he'd been so busy was Ryouta.

"Are you sure you haven't been busy with other things?" His mother half-smirked, and Mahiro could feel his heart start up again. Before he could answer, his mother hummed, turning off the burning stove. "Mahiro, be a dear and go get the boys." Mahiro smiled nervously and nodded, heading upstairs to find his younger brothers.

"Ren, Souma, dinner's ready." Mahiro knocked on the door. When he got no answer, he poked his head in. The twin boys both had their headsets on, clicking away at some game on their respective computers. "Guys, come on. Dinner's rea-"

"No!" Ren shouted, and Mahiro jumped slightly. "Focus.. No! Run!"

"Ren?" Mahiro stepped closer, raising an eyebrow.

"Damn it!" Souma piped up, curling his hands in his hair as his screen went gray. "They got me Ren!"

"I told you to run!" Ren shouted, turning to glare at his brother.

"I'm sorry! I thought I was going to be okay!" Souma cried, taking off the oversized headset before turning to Ren. Mahiro saw his opportunity.

"Souma, dinner's ready" He said, eyes widening as Souma jumped up, turning around to grin.

"Onii-chan!" He shrieked, leaping into the older boy and hugging him tightly, "I thought you were never going to come back!" He nuzzled into Mahiro as the brunet ruffled his black hair and laughed softly. Souma was always so hyper and childish, even for a fourteen year old. "How's Ryouta?" Mahiro tensed, and Souma looked at him curiously.

"He's good. Same as ever." Souma looked at him before sighing, nuzzling into him again.

"You're gonna tell them, aren't you?" Mahiro nodded. "Onii-chan, I'm sure they'll understand! It's gonna be okay Onii-chan." Souma smiled.

"Yo, Souma, you respawned." Ren glared at the two of them. Souma pulled away, sitting back down in his chair and preparing to play again. Mahiro opened his mouth to speak, but Ren beat him to it. "Yeah, yeah, I know dinner's ready." Mahiro closed his mouth, then opened it again to speak. "Yes, I heard you the first time. Yes, pretended not to hear you. Yes, I know it's rude. No, I don't care. And congratulations. You'll be fine."

Mahiro sighed, buckling down to wait out the twins video game while his stomach did twists inside him.

Dinner was awkwardly silent. Well, on his end anyways, seeing as his father wouldn't stop talking, but Mahiro didn't mind. It was only when Takahiro mentioned his clear lack of a girlfriend that Mahiro felt his unease flooding back to him. His stomach churned with anticipation, his hands shaking so much that he almost dropped his chopsticks.

"Dad, I, uh.." There was a pause as his father's unknowing eyes blinked at him from behind thick lenses. The chopsticks were placed on the table gently, shaking hands coming up to clasp together under his chin. "I have something to tell you." Mahiro's voice cracked a little, heart pounding against his ribcage. He watched his family closely, noting the looks of encouragement from Ren and Souma, and the looks of confusion from his parents. He paused, blood rushing into his cheeks as he lowered his gaze to the table. "I'm gay." He spoke quietly, looking up at his parents when he did not hear a response. As soon he did, his grey eyes clouded with tears.

His father sat at the end of the table, visibly frozen, whereas his mother looked away from the scene, shaking her head slightly. Mahiro watched as she stood, clasping her hands to her chest as she disappeared into the kitchen. Ren and Souma, eyes widened, both stared at Takahiro, then back at Mahiro.

"O-Onii-chan, it's okay. You don't have to cry." Souma murmured, standing to hug his brother. Ren stood as well, bending to wipe away Mahiro's tears.

"It's just how you are, Maachan." Ren murmured, crouching beneath him to brush his bangs away with gentle caresses. Mahiro let himself be coddled by his siblings, hands clenching in the fabric of his half-shorts as his eyes slid shut in relief. His dirty little secret was a secret no more, and his chest felt a bit lighter at the expense of his parent's love.

"Y-You're gay?" Takahiro's questioning voice arose from the other side of the table, and Mahiro's gaze rose to find his father's eyes, sniffling pathetically as he wiped at his eyes.

"Yeah," Mahiro answered, watching warily as his father rose from his seat, placing his chopsticks on the table. His eyes showed hurt, clouded emotion that Mahiro couldn't quite decipher.

"Mahiro," Takahiro whispered, dropping down in front of the boys seat and wrapping his long arms around his son. "I don't care what you are, you're still my son, and I still love you with all my heart."

Mahiro was silent, eyes widening as his own arms came to lock behind Takahiro's back. "I-I thought you would be angry with me." Mahiro cried softly, burying his head into his father's shoulder.

Mahiro's mother reappeared, clutching a small journal to her chest. She smiled, setting the journal aside as she dropped to her knees to wrap her arms around the two of them. "You'll always be my baby boy." She whispered, kissing his cheek softly. Mahiro hugged them both, clutching to them with desperation. At that moment, his chest felt the lightest it had been in years.

"How did it go?" Ryouta questioned from the couch as Mahiro stepped through their apartment door. The redhead watched as the other man smiled, stepping closer.

"It went well." Mahiro's smile widened, removing his coat and hanging it in the closet before placing his mother's leftover stir fry and journal on the small table in the entryway. Ryouta smiled, placing the book he had been reading on the side table and standing to hug the brunet.

"I'm so proud of you." He whispered, pulling back slightly to kiss Mahiro. "I love you so much."

A/N: I have no words other than I am so sorry this hasn't been updated in forever! It's been over a year and I feel terrible, but here it is. Thank you all who reviewed and I have no idea when the next chapter will be, or what it will be about, so if you guys have any ideas/requests, don't hesitate to let me know. I really like writing this story, but senior year is a bitch so I might not have that much free time to write this.