After the school bell rang signalling the end of the day, Hitoshi was left with a whole new wave of fear at the idea of having to see Shouta and Hizashi.

"Hey…"

Kacchan ducked into his gaze and offered a smile.

"You're okay. Come on, let's go."

He nodded, reaching to grab his backpack and throwing it over his shoulder.

The hallways were busy, as to be expected, but he couldn't help the way that he moved ever closer to his cousin as they walked towards the lockers.

"Tosh?"

He snapped out of it and turned to see Kacchan offering his hand to him.

The action brought a soft smile to his face as he accepted, taking his hand.

"Everything's going to be fine, it's just Shouza and Uncle Zashi, they're not going to be angry, they'll just be upset that all that crap happened to you." Kacchan whispered. "They love you."

Reaching the locker room he grabbed everything he needed before getting ready to go. Kacchan was waiting for him and took his hand once again as they made their way to the staff room.

The two pros were stood outside as they arrived.

Hizashi noticed him first and his light gasp clearly alerted Shouta who turned to look down the hallway a few seconds later.

Kacchan led him down.

'THANKS'

He pulled his cousin into a hug.

"Don't mention it; I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

He nodded.

"Thanks, Kacchan." Hizashi added.

His cousin waved before heading off.

And then it was just the three of them.

"You got everything?"

'YEAH'

"Come on then."

As they headed out the school there were only a few students still around, the majority clearly already back at the dorms.

Shouta's cane clicking against the steps was calming and familiar.

His Dad's arm came to wrap around his shoulders and pull him into a side hug a few seconds later which brought a smile to his face.

"I don't know if this needs saying, but I'm going to say it anyway just in case." The pro paused. "No one is allowed to do that to you, and no one ever will again, we'd rather die than let that happen."

And with those simple words…

He broke.

Papa closed the distance between them, hands coming to rest on his cheeks before a kiss was pressed to his forehead.

"Oh, Toshi… you are so brave."

He shook his head before he felt Dad's hug tighten.

"Don't put yourself down like that, kiddo. The fact that you just keep going, you keep pushing yourself to make sure you become the hero you want to be, never letting anything hold you back…" He shook his head before a tearful smile came to his face. "Hitoshi you're one of the most incredible people I've ever met."

They thought he was incredible? But why?

"I mean, even now, you're so strong." Dad paused with a sniffle. "But you don't have to go through all this on your own."

Hizashi nodded.

"We're here for you, Tosh, and we always will be. Now I know that really we haven't really known each other for that long despite the fact it does feel like years since you first came to stay with us, but still, like Shou said, we'd lay our lives down for you in a second, that's just how much we've come to love you as our own."

Hitoshi's hand came to clamp over his mouth as he held back a sob, tears trickling down his cheeks.

"But with that, we want you to be able to open up about these things to us. You shouldn't ever have to deal with all of those awful things on your own, not when we're here."

'WHY?'

Hizashi offered a soft smile, wiping a finger across his cheek to remove the tears.

"Because we're your parents, and that's what you do for your kid."

"A-and y-y-ou st-st-ill w-want m-m-me?" He forced out, throat hoarse from lack of use.

Papa's eyes widened and a smile came to Dad's face at his voice.

It was Hizashi's turn to start crying now.

"Oh Toshi…"

Dad's came to crouch in front of him.

"You can't get rid of us that easily, kiddo, you're stuck with us I'm afraid; and we'll keep telling you that as many times as you need to hear it before it sticks. We love you more than anything else on this planet and nothing will ever change that, okay?"

He nodded.

"O-okay."

Shouta smiled, ruffling his hair.

"Okay."

Returning to a stand he flipped down his cane once again before offering his elbow.

Hitoshi linked it.

"Is Papa alright?" Dad asked with a smirk.

Hizashi scoffed, wiping away his own tears.

"Ask me again in five, uhh." He sniffed. "I knew this was going to be a little emotional but my god."

"Sorry."

They both firmly shook their heads.

"No, no, you did absolutely nothing wrong, kiddo, don't think that you did." Hizashi confirmed.

"Yeah, Papa's just emotional." Shouta teased.

Papa kicked Dad's cane lightly.

"Hey!" He turned to him. "Look at this abuse of a blind person." He teased.

Hitoshi giggled.

"Oh sure, and when you and Oboro used to steal my hearing aids that wasn't abuse of a deaf person was it not?"

"Nah." Shouta smirked.

"I thought you'd say that." Hizashi chuckled.

"Come on, let's go home."

And Hitoshi could only smile.