Hey! It's been a while, sorry, I haven't been feeling good emotionally lately because well… A lot of bad things have happened since August and I'm slowly finally overcoming them. I still need some time to myself, more like to find myself, but I promise not to leave this story behind! Until I finish it, that's it, and I hope I will be able to finish it next year! Wish me good luck hahaha

I will also try to fix my updating schedule hahaha, at least try to upload a new chapter every 2 months that has something interesting in it, like romantic fluff, side pairings or even smut. I just feel like I want to write everything already but the words don't seem to come up, uh.

Anyway, sorry if this sounds depressing but I'm finally back with a new chapter, and hopefully one of the last of this "Seijirou is probably the worst dad Inazuma has ever had" part. Reviews, favs and follows are more than welcome (special thanks to as always ;) got you on my heart), so feel free to let me know if you like what I write, if you don't and what I can do to improve!

Best regards to everyone, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter and see you, hopefully, in December ;)

When Tatsuya got out of the room he was instantly welcomed by yet another figure, but this one at least didn't seem so menacing. It could be considered friendly, with that arrogant smirk marking its white teeth and those turquoise eyes shining in the complete darkness of the room. And just as he got closer, Tatsuya found himself smiling too.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this angry before." Hitomiko said, her smug smile like a beam of light to Tatsuya.

"I think this is the first time that I've actually been angry." Tatsuya answered, joining her with his back too against the wall and eyeing at the bathroom's door expectantly.

"Weren't you angry with Mido on New Year's? You even broke the crystal cup."

"Nah, I was just upset, and a bit drunk." Tatsuya muttered, and then his eyes turned serious again. "There are things I can't tolerate, and making Hiroto suffer in front of me is one of them."

Hitomiko didn't answer him, she just stood in silence as she continued watching the door, waiting for something to happen. There weren't answers, Hitomiko already knew everything, she had always known it.

"What are you going to do?" Tatsuya asked after a few seconds, his voice completely steady.

"If he lets you two leave together then I'll try to send you some money every month. And if he is against it, I'll help you escape." Hitomiko said decisively, her eyes shining with pride and protectiveness.

If there was one thing that Hitomiko treasured it was definitely Hiroto, and if Tatsuya was the cause of his happiness then she was treasuring him as well. No one, and she repeated to herself, no one had any right to harass Hiroto after what he had been through, and if she had to protect his brother from his very own father, she was willing to take the risk.

"I was talking about you and Ulvida, but thank you anyway. I think I can handle our situation for a few months, I wouldn't wish to bring you more trouble." Tatsuya said, his soothing voice not changing, his eyes not moving.

"It's never a problem if it makes Hiroto happy." Hitomiko simply answered, her eyes darting anxiously at Tatsuya for a brief second.

And Tatsuya noticed it, because he always noticed when things were hard for people he cared about. Perks about being way too caring, or that's what he wanted to think.

"It's a problem, because we both know Hiroto won't be happy if he considers himself as the reason why you can get kicked out too." Tatsuya responded sincerely and logically, and for a moment Hitomiko hated his guts.

"I'm going to be kicked out anyway, it's just a matter of time." She said, but not with pain in her voice, just with anxiety. Because if the Kira's had a thing in common that was definitely their anxiety issues.

Tatsuya let out an exasperated gasp, soon followed by another, and another, and he found himself unable to keep his eyes opened. Tired, he was definitely tired, and way too stressed to discuss what was happening with the other victim of Seijirou's negligence and indifference.

"Would you like to leave with us?" Tatsuya asked, not giving his question a second thought.

"With you two lovebirds? Nah, I'd rather go to a friend's house." Hitomiko answered smugly, causing Tatsuya to smile a bit.

"Good to know you have a place to go, I'm really happy."

Hitomiko paused for a second, looked at Tatsuya deeply in the eyes and smiled. Not smugly, but purely, her smile lightening up her whole face even though they were in complete darkness.

"You still remain too good, but definitely good enough for Hiroto." Hitomiko said, making Tatsuya blush and actually look at her. "Don't give me that surprised look, you already know I like you for my brother, I would even kick his butt if he ever decides to break up with you."

Tatsuya laughed softly and decided to relax, just breathe and try not to think about all the possible outcomes that the conversation between Seijirou and Hiroto could have. Just relax, talk to Hitomiko with confidence and just stop thinking. His brain needed a rest, his whole body needed it, and he suddenly realised that he was close to suffering hypothermia due to how cold his body was.

"Thank you. I hope you don't mind me asking but, why are you here?" Tatsuya asked softly, his eyes finally regaining their innocence and his words flying around through the air without any kind of chains.

"Pfff, let's just say that after you threatened my father in the restaurant I gave him a small talk about accepting gay people, and to at least try taking the first step: see his son as a person in its entirety, and not just as a gay, or bi, or whatever Hiroto is." Hitomiko commented, her eyes deep in thought and her voice turning softer. "After that he went… Braindead? Is that what you call it when we go useless?"

"Yeah that's the term, and it usually happens around gay matters."

"Nailed it. He went braindead and after 5 minutes asked me if I knew what you two exactly are."

"Oh my God, please don't tell me he's here to ask Hiroto about it."

"Considering we share the same brain cell? He probably is."

Tatsuya went speechless at that, completely and utterly silent. How could Seijirou not know it? It didn't make sense, nothing made sense anymore, and Tatsuya felt as if his exhausted brain was emanating fire. It was truly incredible, he felt his patience almost running out and he forced himself to inhale and exhale deeply.

Calm, he had to calm himself, and hope for the best. If Seijirou wanted to talk that could be considered as a good sign, right? He had even caught them kissing, and hadn't backed away nor looked at them with anger, only confusion and a slight hint of disappointment could be seen in his eyes. Not that bad, it could be worse.

"In our family we really are stupid when it comes to romance, uh?" Hitomiko said, closing her eyes and trying to give her brain a rest too.

"Totally, if I had any doubts left they have just vanished with what you've told me."

Hitomiko looked at Tatsuya, something playful shining on her turquoise eyes before she exploded laughing softly. Soon enough Tatsuya followed her, his laugh even softer than hers as he decided to let his head lay on her shoulder, looking for a bit of support on those hard moments. Hitomiko didn't seem bothered by it, immediately wrapping his shoulders too and giving them a friendly, delicate squeeze.

She knew Tatsuya was emotional, and that he had no problems in showing his emotions, most of the time at least. She also knew when he wasn't able to do so, she was aware of his story after all, she had heard it when he had first arrived at the orphanage, and couldn't help but to feel her eyes watering.

It was happening again, his worst nightmare was coming back, and he couldn't do anything to stop it.

"Tatsuya, are you-" Hitomiko started saying, her voice the softest Tatsuya had ever heard her be.

"I'm fine, I just need to stop letting the memories in." Tatsuya answered fastly, not wanting to keep that conversation going.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, now's not the time."

"You always say that" Hitomiko replied, voice still soft and steady, hands refusing to leave Tatsuya "Does Hiroto even know about it?"

She didn't get an answer, not a verbal answer at least, Hitomiko only received Tatsuya's most vulnerable stare in exchange. Green eyes glowing weakly in the dark, not even his red hair could resemble fire. The darkness seemed to become much more intense, enveloping them inside its emptiness and leaving them to be consumed by despair. It had always been like that, whenever Tatsuya lost his light everything seemed to get much more ominous, deadly, tenebrous. And this time, Hitomiko felt how much Tatsuya had been fighting to not let that side of him pop out.

"He knows they didn't like me, and that's more than enough." Tatsuya said after what felt like hours, his voice so weak and rotten that Hitomiko almost felt like giving up.

"Tatsuya… Hiroto would appreciate it, you know, learning about you, about what happened, about why you always fight so much for people you love, about why you are so careful… About your past in general. You have to tell him, you need to tell him everything, Tatsuya."

"I will, when the time comes." Tatsuya replied, voice hoarse and his eyes deeply lost in thought "Hiroto doesn't know how to handle his emotions, and I don't want to break his small stability with my problems. Now's not the time, I repeat."

Strong, as if he had never been fearful, just strong. His green eyes were glowing intensely, wiping out that darkness that had once surrounded them and replacing it with power and determination. Not cheerful, not happy, but at least willing to keep holding on.

"Do you want to talk to me instead? I may not help you like Hiroto, or your friends, or the guys at the orphanage could but, I can listen."

Tatsuya paused for a moment, took his eyes off the door so as to look at Hitomiko instead and gave her a soft, shy smile, his eyes glowing dimly against the dark environment.

"Thank you, but you don't have to worry, I'm better now after hearing you." Tatsuya answered delicately, his voice getting back at being soft and his eyes watering slightly, but not enough to cry.

"I'm glad to have been of help." Hitomiko said, squeezing a bit tighter Tatsuya's shoulder. "You know… I kind of consider you as my family. Not blood related, just… I think that my brother's soulmate deserves to be treated as a family member."

And this time, he cried, and he cried like he had never cried before of gratefulness. The tears were streaming down his face, staining it with pain and sorrow as Hitomiko wrapped him in a hug. And the tears only got stronger, but the pain started disappearing as Tatsuya started saying his thoughts out loud, as he complained about the situation and he repeatedly thanked Hitomiko for her kind words.

The eldest just listened to Tatsuya's cries, heard how his breathing was slowly becoming steady again and getting back to normal, because even if she wanted to show her care, she didn't know how. So she just stayed, pulled Tatsuya tighter into a hug and waited for everything to be over, waited for Hiroto to come back to them and hopefully, just hopefully, fix what was going wrong in their lives.

"What do you want?" Hiroto asked, his voice regaining its strength, just as if Hiroto hadn't been completely broken before his eyes.

Seijirou didn't immediately answer, mostly because he still didn't know what to tell Hiroto. Why was he there in the first place? Just to check on his son? To see how he was doing with his… boyfriend? To observe his mental state? Just to…? Bring him back? Tell him farewell?

Seijirou didn't know, he never knew.

"You." He said after a few minutes.

"That's too bad, I ain't staying with you. I don't want you." Hiroto spouted angrily.

Seijirou looked at Hiroto deeply in the eyes for a few instants, seconds, minutes, who knew? Not him, nor Hiroto, they never knew how to talk to each other. So he breathed in, breathed out, and closed his eyes as he let his lips speak:

"We could… try to reach an agreement."

"I'm not breaking up with him." Hiroto immediately said, and even if Seijirou had his eyes closed, he just felt his son's fierce, angry eyes on him "You are not going to make me leave the love of my life just because you don't want your son to be gay."

"... "

It was hard, harder than anything he had ever done in his life. Seijirou opened his eyes slowly, receiving Hiroto's threatening eyes just after completely parting them. So, it was true, Hiroto despised him, hated him with all of his might and will, and in all honesty, Seijirou couldn't even blame him because Hiroto had plenty of reasons to be upset.

"What is he-" Seijirou tried to say but he was cut off by Hiroto's hateful words.

"He has a name, and you know it."

Of course he knew him, but Seijirou was not strong enough to address him, to recognize that those two were… a thing. Not so soon, not so… fast, not so… abruptly.

"What is Kiyama to you, Hiroto?" He ended up saying, using the surname just as a way to not be reminded who they were talking about. It was a pitiful escaping manoeuvre, and he just hoped that Hiroto wouldn't catch it, but just as he saw his son's pink eyes darkening he realised that he had pissed Hiroto even more.

"Tatsuya is my boyfriend. My everything." Hiroto replied strongly, his eyes never losing that piercing gaze.

"And… What are your plans with him?"

Hiroto tilted his face to the left, his anger levels decreasing a bit at hearing his father use something close to concern in his emotionless voice. It was the first time that he was seeing him so… small, almost scared of talking to him, and for a moment all of Hiroto's insecurities threatened to enter his weak system.

"Be with him. Just, continue being together."

"Is that what you truly desire, Hiroto? Is that the only thing you want to do with him?" Seijirou asked, his indifferent voice bringing back all of Hiroto's insecurities, much to his dismay.

"Yes, I only want him." Hiroto started saying, voice weak and eyes lost on the pool Tatsuya had left. "I want to, you know, share a normal relationship with him. Watch movies, have dates, go out for walks… just those silly, dumb things. Hold his hand while we're walking down the street, hear how he speaks about the stars and listen to music together. Just… stupid, romantic shit I guess."

Silence, for a few seconds, everything became silent. Not uncomfortable, not painful, just silence. Seijirou was still looking at him, his eyes expressing nothing, and Hiroto's insecurities hidden very well inside him. Because he had just exposed himself, and he had nothing left, nothing left to lose and nothing left to gain. He just had his words, and an absent father that was finally opening his mouth to break the silence:

"And do you think you both can do those things in private?"

Could they? Probably, but why was the old man asking him that? Out of all the things he could be asking he was just wondering what they could do.

"I guess so? I mean, you haven't realised it until now and we literally live under the same roof. And no paparazzis have appeared at the mansion asking about us, so yeah, I believe we are not quite close to being exhibicionists." Hiroto answered, voice cracking up due to the sudden coldness he was just feeling.

Perhaps it was signalling something bad was about to happen. Or maybe his body had finally realised that he was in freezing water. Hiroto didn't know, and neither did he care about it; his father's blank, lost stare making him forget about his own feelings. It was painful, it hurt him knowing that his very own dad that didn't care about him, didn't mind what was going on in his life unless he were to risk his public image.

So that was what he truly was to his father, uh? Just public image.

"If you promise me that nobody will ever know about your… thing with him, maybe I…" Seijirou started saying, his voice suddenly cracking up and his eyes looking at the floor.

Wait… was the old man embarrassed of him? No… That wasn't it. It was something much more mysterious, odd and wicked, just as if Seijirou didn't want to say those words. Just as if he was ashamed of what his mind was telling him.

Hiroto gulped and his eyes became strong again, but not because he was feeling it, no, it was because he wanted to look powerful. He was feeling anxious, nervous, completely out of place and alien to the situation he was living. With his deep voice, he decided it was about time to end up that useless conversation:

"Maybe you? You what?"

And just as he thought, he didn't get an answer, because his father never answered him. Never talked, never congratulated, never discussed, never did anything apart from focusing on his very own well being. And Hiroto was tired, so fucking tired from dealing with that injustice and pain that he got up from the tub, his bones cracking as he took some steps forward.

He had to get out, there was no point in staying, there never was a point in being with someone who didn't care about him.

But just when he was side by side with his father, the old man spoke:

"Maybe I could… overlook it and… give you two a place where you can be… together… As long as you keep it a secret that's it."

…

Wait.

"AH!? YOU WHAT!?" Hiroto shouted as he grabbed his father so as to look at him directly.

Did he… Did the old man really…?

"Don't make me say it again, Hiroto." Seijirou said, eyes still not daring to look at Hiroto and voice as monotone as ever, just as if he was talking about the weather. "You tell me which place you like and you get it, but you return home on the weekends and you can't go there until classes start. No one has to know about it, no one, for the world you two are just best friends living together, nothing more, and we will deal with the future later. Enough of this."

Hiroto didn't answer, didn't react, didn't respond, his mind was unable to register the information. It was… something close to being a miracle, almost like a dream. He suddenly felt all the cold becoming warm, an enthusiastic gasp making its way through his lips and getting out before Hiroto could even try to hold it back.

Holy, fucking, shit.

Hiroto made a run towards the door, opened it maybe using too much force and got out of the bathroom without looking back, without answering back to his father, without even trying to get a grasp of what was happening. He just knew he had to get out and tell his boyfriend, his Tatsuya, what he had just heard, even if he couldn't quite believe it.

But when he settled his vision on the hall, he saw that Tatsuya was accompanied by another person, by his older sister. They both looked worried, Tatsuya even had tears on his beautiful green eyes and Hitomiko looked as if she wanted to pull him in a hug, but now was not the time for that.

Tatsuya… he needed him, and so he went for it. With his arms already stretched forward, his eyes focusing on his perfect features and his heart beating as if desiring to leave his ribcage in order to enter Tatsuya's being. And just as Hiroto came in contact with his boyfriend's strong arms, he broke down for the hundredth time on that day.

And, as always, Tatsuya gave him his calm, his composure, his comfort and his love, patiently running his cold hands through his back, helping him calm down. Without hurry, without anxiety, just pure calmness and care as he whispered sweet nothings that went from adorable nicknames to fucking cheesy sentences about how much he loved him.

Hiroto felt like melting on those freezing arms, his sister still looking at them with worry and other feelings Hiroto couldn't quite catch but that surely made him feel loved. Feel… just as if he had found his true happiness. Just as if he had finally found himself.

"Hiroto, my love, my dear beloved." Tatsuya whispered, and Hiroto sobbed even harder than before.

What had he done… to be allowed to have everything he had ever wanted?

"You did good, Hiroto, and you did more than enough. Let's get us some new, clean, and hopefully warmer clothes, okay? Probably something hot to drink too, would you like that?" Tatsuya continued saying ever so carefully, his voice so melodical that Hiroto felt his eyelids getting heavy.

It was… too much. Too many feelings, too many emotions, and too many complications to explain them. Hell, he couldn't even manage to nod his head in agreement.

"Hiroto, could you tell us what happened?" Hitomiko said her first words, and Hiroto couldn't help but to soften at how his sister had changed her usual tone of voice into a softer one to make him feel better.

Again… how was he allowed to have them?

"But don't force yourself, love, we will be waiting for your answer. Don't pressure yourself and tell us when you're ready." Tatsuya informed as carefully as ever, his hands never ceasing to massage Hiroto's back in such a calming way that he finally felt strong.

Or at least, strong enough to tell his boyfriend that they were able to continue being together.

"I… The old man he… We- a deal. Private."

"Is the deal private?" Hitomiko asked, clearly not understanding what Hiroto had told them, and in all honesty, it was perfectly normal.

"Or do we have to keep our relationship in private to continue being together?"

Goal, Tatsuya always scored.

Hiroto nodded his head, and Hitomiko raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"Tatsu, you're the expert in here, which option is it?" Hitomiko said, and got closer.

But Tatsuya didn't answer, he just squealed and gave Hiroto a bone-wrecking hug signaling that, as always, he had understood what Hiroto had meant. And it felt good, so fucking good to feel Tatsuya's powerful arms holding him so close that Hiroto didn't feel like warning his boyfriend about how he was probably causing some bruises on his ribs.

He didn't care about that, fuck it, he was going to be able to continue being with his boyfriend and he wasn't even going to lose his sister. He had everything he had ever desired, they only had to keep it secret, and even if they both wanted to share a "normal" relationship with each other, considering the circunstances the deal was fucking awesome.

"Oh God Hiroto, I can't believe it. We really can… can be together." Tatsuya said, voice muffled as it was pressed hard against Hiroto's shoulder but the enthusiasm that it carried still managing to hang in the air.

"Yes, babe, and- we will have a lovenest just for us… Just for the both of us so we can be with each other privately." Hiroto stammered, finally pulling away from Tatsuya's hug and grabbing his cheeks with his hands, feeling the tears wetting his hands.

Tatsuya was crying again, but this time of happiness, and Hiroto couldn't resist crying alongside with him. Emotions, too many emotions that alternated between fuzzy, loving feelings to uncertainty about the future. But they couldn't care less, because they could still be with each other, and that's all it mattered.

"Oh my God, Hiroto." Tatsuya sobbed, his eyes so full of tears but his smile so radiant and loving that Hiroto felt another starstruck of love moving his whole system. Gorgeous, his boyfriend really was gorgeous, his crystalized eyes glowing affectionately and his smile heating every recondit space of his being.

So beautiful…

But before they could say anything more, Seijirou appeared once again in the scene. But this time, at least, he didn't look meanencing nor disappointed, he was just standing by the door emotionless. Just like always, just as if nothing had changed at all and remained… absent.

"Fa-" Tatsuya started saying, but quickly cut his words. No, he shouldn't call him by that name ever again. "Seijirou, are you willing to accept it? To accept us?"

Sincere as ever, and with that usual determination burning inside his eyes, making the previous tears seem nonexistent. Hiroto stiffened at hearing his boyfriend address his old man, and turned around to see if he was truly standing there. And of course there he was, not even faced by what was happening, with his breathing completely stable and his eyes showing nothing. Not pain, not regret, just utter nothing.

And for the first time, Hiroto loved that fucking indifference.

"I- I still need time to think about you two as… something… romantic." Seijirou said, feeling the pressure of their eyes on his very own soul "But I think that for now… I can accept you as Hiroto's happiness."

Did he just say that to evade the situation? Probably, but Hitomiko wasn't going to mention it, and neither would Tatsuya. Mostly because they didn't want to put Hiroto through more pain and sorrow, so they just nodded their heads, Tatsuya smiled softly and Hitomiko hardened her gaze. They would definitely have a talk concerning Hiroto, and she wasn't going to let her brother alone ever again.

"That's… better." Tatsuya answered, quickly grabbing Hiroto's hand as he regained his constant calm "I can't wait to see the day when I can finally be introduced to you as his romantic partner, but until then, we'll give you time to think and assimilate it if you maintain your promise of giving us space to be alone."

Seijirou nodded, because what else could he do in that situation?

"Goodbye, Father. Let's continue with this pleasing trip." Tatsuya said, politely bowing his head as Hiroto and Hitomiko were already exiting the room.

Not looking back, not even recognizing their father's presence, not even saying a small goodbye. Just… leaving in complete silence, as if nothing had happened.

So that's how it felt… receiving the indifference he had always given them.

"Yes, Tatsuya." Seijirou said back, and Tatsuya got out of the room too…

Leaving him all alone with those dark thoughts that he found unable to control.