The middle child no one expected...

Enjoy~

Ever since Yuu became a part of their everyday life, there was nearly not a day Koushi didn't feel grateful. He who had stop dreaming of being a parent was blessed with a daughter. This is enough. His loved ones, both Daichi and Yuu were with him. There couldn't possibly be more he could ask for. But then approximately one year later, Koushi was again, faced with another trial to overcome, another big decision to make.

"C-Can… can I come again?"

The grey-haired man put on a gentle smile. "Of course, Chikara-kun. Come here anytime. But don't forget to tell your mom, okay?"

"Y-Yes! Thank you!"

That was all, in the beginning. Koushi had yet to understand the sparkle in the little boy's eyes when he was told he was welcomed in the Sawamura's.

Yuu, being the sociable child she is, often brought over her friends from both school and day care centre to their house to play. Expectedly, with the way Yuu is, most of her friends are boys. Ryuunosuke were one of them, the little brother of Koushi and Daichi's acquaintance that happened to be in the same class with her.

But one day, she brought home an unknown kid two years beneath her, claiming they met at the park in the neighbourhood. The little boy named Chikara was a timid one. He appeared to always be obedient and selfless towards everything. It wasn't until the third visit that he started enjoying himself eating and playing in their house.

Strangely though, neither Koushi nor Daichi had ever heard and knew of Chikara's parents or any family member. He wouldn't be open about it, not until they found him one day, wandering in the streets alone first thing in the morning. Koushi would not be able to forget how the boy broke down and cried his lungs out like the little child he was, when he never acted like one before.

Chikara lived alone with his mother in a small room in a run-down flat. She rarely came home and when she did, she paid no attention to him. The 5 year old had never known of a mother's love despite having one. All he knew was to not be a trouble to her. To make it worse, she left—taking all her belongings and left the house Chikara had stayed at and always waited for her to start loving him—while he was asleep.

"I-I don't wanna…! Don't wanna… be alone anymore…" the boy struggled to say in between his sobbing.

It broke Koushi's heart. He hugged him tightly, attempting to protect him from anything that would harm him in this world. "It's alright. I won't let you be alone."

The moment those words left his mouth, deep down he knew what he was thinking of doing already. It seemed hasty. His words would sound irresponsible. People might say he wasn't thinking clearly, that he was under the feeling of sympathy. He began to doubt himself as well. Is it really a wise decision if he took the boy into the family that was already not easy to attain in the first place?

"What are you even unsure of?"

"Huh? Have you been listening, Daichi? I said—"

Daichi cleared his throat. "Oh, let me rephrase that. Why do you even want to take him in?"

"I…" Koushi looked down, replaying everything in his head to find out the first thing that triggered the idea. "I want him to be happy."

"And that has to be in here?"

"…"

"You know, there could be some wealthy, good folks taking him in from the orphanage and he can have a family and be happy just fine."

"Well, there's that possibility too. But until then, he has to be alone again, isn't it? Besides…"

"Besides?"

"I won't be the one taking care of him."

Daichi was stunned. He then let out a surrender laugh. "So, are you saying 'we' can give him a home? A loving home? Despite how 'we' are?"

Koushi lifted his brows at the emphasized 'we' and answered, this time confidently. "Yes."

The other man went silent for a moment, though his facial expression didn't show any opposition or the sort. They locked gazes and he opened his mouth not long after. "Understood." Daichi turned around, looking for the figure of his daughter sitting in the dinner table. "Yuu, come here!"

"Whaaat~?" the girl bounced to where her parents were in a few seconds.

"Sit down here."

So she sat on the floor right next to Daichi, in a formal manner as well after seeing how they did.

"Suga."

"Yes?"

"Other than me, now there's one other family member you should ask before making a big decision like this."

Koushi averted his eyes from Daichi to Yuu, who looked equally as confused as he is. But it didn't take long for the words to register his mind. A smile decorated his face as he blinked once to cast away the upcoming tears in his eyes. He then inhaled and started. "Listen, Yuu."

The next day after Chikara moved into the house, when Yuu bragged nonstop to her friends, Koushi knew there was actually nothing he and Daichi should worry about.

"Ryuu, I have a lil' bro now!" said her in a proud wide grin.

"What? That's cool!"

"I know right?"

"Then you can play every day! Ughh… I wish I have a bro instead of my loud sister at home."

"But Saeko-neesan is cool too!"

Koushi chuckled as he watched from the kitchen. He never thought that after Daichi, he would be supported by his daughter as well. Small her body it may, yet her presence and mentality are stronger than anyone.

"I can't lose to the two of you, can I?" Koushi sighed as he leant on Daichi.

"What?"

"I'm just thinking that I'm saved again, by Daichi and Yuu."

Chikara came out of the bedroom right at that time. He walked toward the both of them and exclaimed. "Suga-san!"

"What is it?"

"I tidied up the toys!"

"Oh, really? Thank you, you're a big help!" Koushi patted him on the head. "Now, go play with Neechan until the food is ready."

The boy dashed away after nodding with a bright smile.

"And maybe by Chikara too from now on."

Daichi ruffled his partner's light grey hair. "Nah, Suga, you yourself have changed plenty too." and he smiled gently.

Koushi only chuckled. "I wish I did."

im sorry ennoshita's mom for making u a btch here
anw pls love bby chikara

Thanks for reading~
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